Chapter 81
"You idiot!" Neptune punches me in the face, sending me to the ground. I'm not going to fight back against her this time. Even if I did stand my ground I would've been knocked back by Neptune's immense strength.
Neptune leans back for another punch but stops halfway through. Maybe she realized that I wasn't even flinching at that last one. She stands back up fully and lowers her head to face the ground. I don't care though, whether she hits me or not doesn't even matter.
Silence is all that remains between me and Neptune, her just just lowering her head and me just lying on the ground, pain swelling up in my jaw from how hard she hit me.
"*hic*" Neptune softly whimpers in place, light tear streaks are coming from her eyes. Normally I'd get up to see her. But all I want to do is stare at the ceiling right now. I wish she would say something so we could get this over with. I know that something bad happened. And I know that I could've tried harder to protect Nepgear.
"My sister *hic*, is gone. Because of *hic* you..." I've never heard Neptune get this depressed before. I've heard her be sad, but I've never actually heard her voice have depression and sorrow in it. I can't blame her, her sister just got kidnapped and she couldn't do anything, and neither could I.
"He had... a knife to my throat... I was pinned to the ground... I'm sorry..." No, that's an excuse, Nepgear's gone because she wanted to protect me. Maybe if we ran away we could've avoided this. Maybe if I tried to think we could've avoided this.
Maybe... if I relied on Blake we could've avoided this. If I had to let him take control to save Nepgear then I would let it happen, even if I could never come back.
I lean myself up to her coffee table and take a deep breath. But as I lay my back against it Neptune's tears are only getting harder. Just from the innate connection we share from the sharicite, a feeling of dread washes over me. That means she can feel what I'm feeling too.
"You once told me *hic* that you wouldn't do anything to harm Nepgear..." Neptune falls to her knees and covers her face. Her cries are muffled now, but I can still feel all the pain coursing through her right now. Even in my current state her emotions are starting to affect me.
"You let me wail on you *hic*..." The physical pain of when Neptune hurt me so I could prove my devotion to Nepgear. Physical and emotional pain from everything that's happened tonight are making me feel even worse than I've ever felt before.
"Did you... lie to me?" Neptune looks me in the eyes through her fingers with her own puffy irritated eyes. I didn't lie to her, I tried my hardest to keep her safe. It was just out of my control.
"No... I love your sister... and I'd do anything to get her back for us..." That wasn't a lie Neptune. If you can read my thoughts, sense my emotions and whatever else you can do to me because of what Nepgear put inside of me, then know that I won't lie to you about this.
Neptune uncovers her face and looks somewhat confused and irritated at me. I don't know why other than the sting of this whole situation still burns within her. I didn't do anything wrong... I just want to make things right though.
"Grr... Are you... trying to hurt me?" That irritation is turning more into rage, and its directed at me. Is it because Nepgear got kidnapped? Does it have something to do with my eye turning red? I wish I just had the fucking answer right now!
"I just want to get your sister back... we need to think about this Neptune..." No matter how much anger I feel inside. No matter how bad things get. I don't want to turn my back on any of my friends or make them angry at me. Neptune's my friend after all.
"Why can I feel more Arfoire than Planeptune inside you now?" I don't know how any of this shit works Neptune. It's from your dimension after all, and I'm an outsider to it all.
"That doesn't matter, I'm on your side and not theirs." Why can't I get through to Neptune? I'm not betraying her. We're on the same team after all.
"It does matter since her shares corrupt people. How do I know this didn't happen because of that?" That's oddly logical for Neptune I'll give her that. But I wasn't being manipulated at all. The enemy was one step ahead and we were unprepared.
This hits me right at the core. I never knew how much having a friend not trust you could hurt. It makes my throat tight and sore. I just want to cry. I just want to scream. I just want Neptune to trust me, that's the only way we're getting Nepgear back safely.
"I'm sorry..." That's all that manages to leave my lips as pathetically as I sounded there.
"Huh?" For some reason this time it takes Neptune aback. Maybe it's because of the tears that are falling down my cheeks. Maybe it's the shaky voice I'm speaking in. Or maybe... she can finally feel my emotions, my true emotions not clouded by Arfoire's Sharicite.
"I'm sorry Neptune... I let him get away..." More tears are coming from me now. I'm letting out all of my emotions in front of someone who I never thought I could do this in front of.
"I'm sorry that I'm weak compared to them..." I look Neptune in her soul. The way that my body feels right now after our Sharicite's connection seems to be stronger is more than enough to convey my emotions.
"But I'll do everything I can to get your sister back." For the first time since I made it back to Neptune's apartment I spoke to her with confidence. Even if I don't believe in my own words, I just need Neptune to believe in them if only for a night.
My breathing becomes heavier after I let that off my chest. At first I thought I couldn't feel anything after my encounter with the Bound Deity. But after seeing what happened because of his actions I know what I need to do. He's already hurt one of my friends, I don't want him to hurt anymore of them indirectly.
Neptune's face is odd even by her standards. I don't know if she looks worried or relieved at my response. Whatever it is, I wasn't lying to her.
"I'm... sorry too..." I didn't expect to hear that from her.
"I... shouldn't have jumped that far. You've already proven yourself to us." It doesn't matter with what you thought, what matters is that we work together in this.
"It's just... I was so angry when you told me a Deity took Nepgear... She's my kid sister, and... I don't want her to be in danger right now!"
I manage to move forward and crawl to Neptune, then I wrap my arms around her tightly. I feel her pain right now, if I can do anything to ease it then I will. We've both lost something precious to us today, and we're going to get it back.
"We're going to make it through this. We're going to get her back."
"Tomorrow, let's go search for clues in Gamindustri after school ends." I don't see why we'd even go to school at a time like this, especially her since she's not a part of our world. But it could be a little distraction from everything going on.
"Alright, let's find her." For a moment we remain like this. In a strange way I do love Neptune by extension from Nepgear, but this time it's one broken person comforting another. Right now, this is what we need to stay calm.
"I'm going to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Neptune seems to have fallen asleep in place on the floor after I let go of her. I cover her with a nearby blanket and walk back to my apartment in a short but cold walk.
Nepgear... I'm going to come find you. No matter what it takes.
A/N: A little bit of a short chapter this time but it has its purpose. Apologies for the low quality in writing for this one, but I've been going through some shit lately and needed to write to vent just a little bit. Or maybe it's perfectly fine and I'm overthinking things.
Whatever the case I'm happy to be able to write for you guys, even if it does suck. Still, I like to hear about what you guys think. I'm actually a little excited to write what's about to happen in the story.
Neptune and Jack have resolved themselves to find Nepgear after the enemy strikes at their new home base. What secrets will be uncovered in the quest to find Nepgear? Or is the answer they find not going to be very pretty?
I guess you'll just have to wait for the next update.