A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to review. Your feedback means a lot to me.
Nibutani couldn't breathe. She felt an overwhelming pressure on her chest. It felt like a snake was coiling around her, slowly crushing her chest with every second. She tried shifting her body's position, but no matter which way she moved, she still felt the constricting presence of this unknown force. Nibutani, still half asleep, panicked.
What's happening to me? Am I still asleep? Is this a dream? I can't move my body at all. Is this what sleep paralysis feels like? I don't know what to do. I can't breathe, and it feels like my lungs are about to collapse. What do I do?
Nibutani slowly opened her eyes. She took a moment to adjust to the change of lighting, and then looked down at her chest, attempting to locate the source of pressure. Nibutani felt a vein bulge in her forehead when she noticed that her body was trapped in Dekomori's vice-like grip. The younger girl had managed to wrap both her arms around Nibutani while she was sleeping. It seemed like she was having a nightmare, as she would squeeze Nibutani tighter every few seconds.
Feeling her chest begin to ache, Nibutani grabbed the back of Dekomori's pajamas and tugged at them, trying to pry the smaller girl off of her. No matter how much Nibutani pulled, Dekomori would not ease her hold on her. Nibutani heard Dekomori mumble "Fake Summer" in her sleep before she felt the blonde girl tighten her arms around her once again.
Nibutani, tired of being crushed by Dekomori's surprisingly powerful hold, yelled, "Let go of me, you idiot! You're going to kill me!" The shout was effective in waking Dekomori up. The first year sprang up and looked around frantically.
"What is the meaning of this, Fake Summer?" Dekomori asked, still groggy. "You have a lot of nerve waking the Mjolnir Hammer from her slumber." Nibutani bristled.
"I wouldn't have had to if you weren't clinging to me and squeezing the life out of me!" Nibutani roared.
Dekomori blushed, "I see no evidence that supports your claims, fake Mori Summer."
"You could check my torso! I probably have bruises all over…" Nibutani growled in frustration and rubbed at the sore spots on her body.
"Would you two please shut up? If you want to fight, do it outside," Mitsuki groaned. She grabbed her pillow and placed it over her head, attempting to drown out the sound of the two bickering girls.
Nibutani sighed. She might as well get changed. There was no way she would be able to fall asleep again, especially now that she was aware of the threat that laid beside her. Nibutani flushed slightly. Even though it had been excruciatingly painful, the blonde girl had wrapped her arms around her, and Nibutani felt slightly pleased that it had happened. She hoped the tiny girl would do it more often in the future, preferably with less force.
Nibutani grabbed a change of clothes and walked down the hall towards the bathroom. As she was about to close the door, she felt someone push it from the other side, preventing it from closing all the way. Nibutani peered around the side of the door and saw Dekomori standing in the hallway, her own bundle of clothes in her arms.
Nibutani squinted. "No. You wait your turn." It wasn't uncommon for girls to change together, but the situation was very different in her case. Nibutani knew she wouldn't be able to handle it. The thought of changing together in the same room embarrassed her beyond belief.
"Let me in, fake. Why are you so embarrassed? Your body isn't that ba-" Dekomori was cut off as Nibutani slammed the door shut. She could hear Dekomori snort in annoyance. Too bad. You're just going to have to deal with it.
Nibutani sighed. That was the one thing she didn't like about her feelings. They made everything feel more awkward than they probably should. Even the smallest bit of contact made her knees shake and her mind stop working. Nibutani wondered if that would stop if she ever managed to confess to the small blonde girl.
As Nibutani changed into fresh clothes, she decided to check her torso to see if Dekomori actually did leave a mark. She was relieved to see that she hadn't. Nibutani had to admit that she was impressed by the younger girl's strength. She wouldn't have expected someone so tiny to be able to inflict that much pain. She'd have to be more careful during their fights in the future.
A loud rapping on the door interrupted Nibutani's thoughts. She heard Dekomori shout, "Hurry up, Fake Summer! You're taking too long!" Nibutani sighed and finished getting dressed. When she opened the bathroom door, she saw Dekomori leaning on the opposite wall, annoyed.
"It's about time. You're way too slow. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You are a weak being after all." Dekomori grinned cheekily. Nibutani huffed in irritation and shoved the younger girl into the bathroom. She waited outside until the twin tailed girl was finished. Dekomori walked out dressed in a green and yellow one piece swimming suit with blue jean shorts.
"What do you think you're doing?" Nibutani asked, exasperated.
"I want to go to the pool!" Dekomori answered. "I promised my servant that we would hunt for the demon beast today, and it can only be found in a location that is highly populated and filled with water! I can feel its presence, and the pool is the only place that meets the requirements!"
Nibutani let out a loud sigh, "Do we even have time to go to the pool? We have to leave today, remember?" Nibutani wasn't sure when they were supposed to head back to the train station. She had forgotten to check the ticket for the time. She had intended to ask Yuuta about it.
"Our ride doesn't depart until the sun begins its descent into the other world!" Dekomori explained. That meant that the train wouldn't be leaving until much later in the day, so they had several hours to kill.
"Yeah, well, I didn't bring a swimsuit. In fact, I think you're the only one who did. No one expected to be coming to a luxury hotel." Nibutani crossed her arms.
Dekomori chuckled, "I informed everyone beforehand that there would be a swimming facility at the temporary headquarters, so they all came equipped for battle. I must have forgotten to mention it to you. I suppose if you get on your knees and beg, I could arrange for the proper battle attire to be delivered here." A devilish grin spread across the first year's face.
Nibutani felt her blood boil. Her body shook, ready to explode in rage. Suddenly, Nibutani's body stilled. She turned and marched down the hallway, Dekomori looking on in curiosity. Nibutani made her way to a small mini fridge that sat near the dining table. She opened it and inspected its contents. Since Dekomori's father was covering all expenses, it probably wouldn't matter if she took something small from the fridge.
Nibutani heard Dekomori approach behind her. She stood up slowly, emitting a low ominous laugh. Nibutani whipped her body around and showed off the object she had pulled from the fridge. It was a small bottle of milk. Nibutani could see the color drain from Dekomori's face.
"I've had enough of you," Nibutani muttered. "This time you'll go down for good."
Dekomori stood in her place, eyes wide. Dekomori, who had been momentarily frozen in fear, suddenly bolted back down the hallway. Nibutani sprang after her. She saw the younger girl run back into the girl's bedroom. When Nibutani entered, she noticed Dekomori taking refuge behind the bed that the three other girls were sleeping on. The blonde girl was swinging her pigtails in circles, ready to put up a fight.
The only things separating Nibutani from her target were the three sleeping girls. She would need to make her next move carefully so she wouldn't wake them up. Armed with the milk bottle, Nibutani inched closer to the bed. As she slowly approached the twin tailed girl's location, Dekomori swung one of her pigtails in Nibutani's direction, causing Nibutani to put her arms up in defense, and then scrambled across the top of the bed, waking the other girls up.
Dekomori jumped on top of the bed they had shared the night before, and took her battle position. When Nibutani tried to approach, Dekomori threw a kick at her. Nibutani, growing increasingly impatient, lunged at Dekomori and knocked the small girl down. She grabbed the younger girl's jaw, attempting to force her mouth open. Dekomori pressed one hand against Nibutani's cheek and pushed, while the other grasped the wrist of the hand that held the milk bottle.
"Do those two ever stop?" Mitsuki grumbled. She turned to Rikka. "Can't you do something about this? Sanae was your former servant. Surely you are powerful enough to stop this quarrel."
"Since Dekomori is no longer my servant, I cannot interfere in her battles. It is not my place." Rikka answered.
Suddenly, Kumin sat up and commented, "Those two make a cute couple."
Nibutani and Dekomori instantly turned their attention to Kumin, their faces red, and began to protest. They spoke simultaneously, so their words came out as incoherent shouts. Mitsuki groaned in annoyance.
Rikka turned to Kumin. "I'm impressed that you managed to launch a psychological attack of that level. Well done." Kumin giggled at the praise.
"Well, we're up now," Mitsuki grumbled. "We have a lot of time to kill. What should we do?" Dekomori's eyes glittered.
"This idiot wants to go to the pool," Nibutani replied. Mitsuki responded with a grunt, avoiding eye contact with the second year. Nibutani felt slightly apprehensive.
"Rikka, you should go wake up Yuuta so we can get ready to go. I guess we're heading to the pool," Mitsuki said. Rikka nodded and rushed off.
Nibutani and Dekomori waited out in the main room while the others got changed into their swimsuits. Nibutani thought back to Mitsuki's lack of communication with her. After everything that happened between the two of them, Nibutani wasn't surprised that the purple haired girl wasn't keen on speaking to her, but she couldn't help but feel like there was more to it. She felt anxiety in the pit of her stomach.
Nibutani's thoughts were cut short when the rest of the group emerged from the hallway. They all donned their usual swimsuits. Nibutani suddenly realized that something was missing.
"I just realized that since that first year forgot to mention the pool to me, I don't have a swimsuit with me." Nibutani said. She glared at Dekomori.
"Have no fear, fake Mori Summer. I arranged for a swimsuit to be delivered here." Dekomori grinned triumphantly. She seemed pleased that Nibutani was forced to rely on her. The blonde girl pointed to a bag near the door. She must have made the arrangements beforehand, knowing that this conflict would come up. Nibutani sighed, feeling annoyed.
Nibutani grabbed the bag and began walking towards the hall. Before reaching the bathroom, she stopped, turned around, and said, "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up."
"You sure?" Yuuta asked. Nibutani smiled and nodded.
Nibutani entered the bathroom and pulled the swimsuit out of the bag. It was a blue two piece with white polka dots. At least that idiot didn't pick out something ugly. I can work with this. Would it have killed her to tell me about the swimming situation though? She can be so annoying sometimes…
When Nibutani finished changing and left the bathroom, she was hit with another feeling of apprehension. Her heart thumped as she slowly moved down the hall in anticipation. Upon reaching the main room, she looked around, but she didn't spot anyone in the immediate vicinity. Nibutani made her way to the door, and as she was about to reach for the handle, she felt something grab her shoulder. Nibutani whipped around and noticed Mitsuki standing before her.
"I want to speak to you for a second," Mitsuki stated.
"That's fine, but could you have asked without scaring me half to death?" Nibutani asked.
Mitsuki ignored her and walked over to the grey couch in front of the tv and sat down. Nibutani followed her and sat on the opposite end.
"I know what's going on." Mitsuki said, her tone emphasizing her frustration.
"What are you talking about?" Nibutani asked. She felt incredibly nervous. It was obvious that she had done something to provoke the purple haired girl, and Nibutani knew she was about to face the consequences.
"I'm not stupid, you know. Yesterday at the festival, when Kumin told Dekomori to go with you, I knew the intention behind that. Kumin may have lied for you by saying it was because she wanted to spend time with me, but I knew that wasn't true. I do have to admit, I'm impressed that you came up with something like that. You had everyone else fooled, Sanae included, but I'm not that easy to trick," Mitsuki sneered.
"Once again, you're misunderstanding everything." Nibutani sighed. "That little plan was concocted by Kumin alone. I had nothing to do with it. Why do you even care anyway? It wasn't that big a deal." There was no way Nibutani could come clean about the small intimate moments between her and Dekomori. It would only serve to strengthen Mitsuki's point.
"Anyone can see that Sanae is extremely fond of you. It's been made clear to me that it was intended for this trip to make you two grow even closer. This worries me immensely." Mitsuki turned and glared at Nibutani.
"Right, right. It's because I'm like that Aya person from your past. I get it, you don't trust me, but you really need to understand that you have no say in what bonds Dekomori chooses to form. It's solely her decision. You need to realize that Dekomori is an independent person, and she will gravitate towards people who treat her as one. Just let her make her own decisions. I think that could solve a lot of your problems." Nibutani took a deep breath. She hoped that her words had managed to knock some sense into the girl.
Mitsuki looked deep in thought. After a few moments, she said, "I understand. You're right. Sanae is her own person, and I should allow her to think for herself." Nibutani felt a wave of relief. Maybe now the hostilities would end.
Mitsuki looked up at Nibutani and said, "Thanks. I know what I need to do now."
Nibutani felt a small warning signal go off in the back of her mind, but she chose to ignore it. "I'm glad you understood what I was getting at. Come on, let's go join the others."
Mitsuki nodded and the two girls made their way to the pool on the first floor.
Nibutani gawked. The pool was absolutely magnificent. The were tall white arches that lined every side. The bottom of the pool was covered in designs of various sea creatures. There were large white pool chairs strewn across the area. Nibutani noticed that the others were already in the pool. Yuuta was lounging on top of a float while Rikka and Dekomori were shooting each other with small water guns. Kumin was asleep on one of the pool chairs.
"Those two are going to get us all in trouble." Nibutani sighed. "Are we even allowed to bring water guns to a pool like this?"
"Sanae's father is friends with the owner, so I can't imagine they'd do anything, even if it wasn't allowed," Mitsuki replied. "Plus, it looks like fun. I'm going to go join them." Mitsuki jumped into the pool after them. Nibutani walked over to the edge and sat down, dipping her legs in the water.
Dekomori called out to her, "Fake Summer, this is the only time you will hear me say this, but I require your assistance on an important mission!"
Nibutani slid into the pool and walked over to the younger girl. "What do possibly need my help for?" she asked.
"I am about to partake in the most important battle of my existence. The Wicked Eye has challenged to me a fight to the death in our super powerful robot forms!" Dekomori explained.
Nibutani looked over at Rikka. The young girl had climbed up on Yuuta's shoulders. She held the water pistol in her right hand, and she looked poised for battle.
"Let me guess," Nibutani said, "I'm supposed to act as your robot form. Am I correct?" Dekomori nodded.
Nibutani rolled her eyes and pointed to her shoulders. "Hop on."
Dekomori grinned and climbed up Nibutani's shoulders. Nibutani wrapped her arms around the younger girls legs so she wouldn't fall. Dekomori and Rikka aimed their water pistols at each other.
"It must be fate that we meet on the battlefield once again." Rikka said. "Ever since you gained a servant of your own, I have been unable to properly assess your growth in battle. I am truly grateful that it is you who I am facing in this death match."
"Indeed." Dekomori replied. "I could not wish for a worthier opponent. While I did serve as your servant for many lifetimes, do not expect me to hold back. It is my destiny to defeat you today!"
Nibutani and Yuuta looked at each other in exasperation. It was tiring holding up the two girls. They sighed in relief when they were directed to stand on opposite sides of the pool. They stood in four foot deep water, leaning against the walls of the pool. Dekomori and Rikka aimed their water pistols at each other. Mitsuki's cheers for Dekomori could be heard on the sideline.
Rikka and Dekomori yelled "charge" and Nibutani and Yuuta waddled their way to the center of the pool. Nibutani could hear the sound of water gun triggers being pulled. When Yuuta and Nibutani met at the center, they clasped their hands together and attempted to push the other over. Nibutani noticed that the two girls had discarded their water guns and were now swiping at each other.
Nibutani could feel her competitiveness kick in. She pushed harder, but Yuuta wouldn't budge. Nibutani decided to try another tactic. She kicked at Yuuta's legs, which eventually caused him to lose his balance. Rikka and Yuuta tumbled into the water.
"Victory!" Dekomori cheered. A huge smile spread across her face. Nibutani let Dekomori down from her shoulders. The blonde girl held up her hand for a high five, which Nibutani happily returned.
Rikka surfaced and said, "I'm impressed that you managed to defeat me. I have trained you well. Luckily for me, the Wicked Eye has many lives, so I may continue to dwell on this plane of existence."
"They only won because Nibutani fought dirty," Yuuta grumbled.
"It's your fault for coming poorly prepared to a battle," Dekomori countered. "You should have known that my robot is capable of many amazing feats." Dekomori shot a thumbs up at Nibutani.
"That's right," Nibutani agreed. She smiled smugly.
Mitsuki swam over to the rest of the group. "That battle was amazing, Master! You really showed how powerful you are! Now that you have claimed victory, we should begin our hunt for the demon beast! If we don't start soon, it might get away!"
"You're right!" Dekomori exclaimed. "We must move quickly!" The two girls swam to the deep end of the pool.
Nibutani decided to take this time to rest. She got out of the pool and sat in a chair next to the sleeping Kumin. Nibutani could feel herself getting drowsy. Dekomori had woken her up pretty early, so taking a swim in the pool had tired her out. Nibutani closed her eyes and felt herself drift asleep.
Nibutani dreamt that she was back at school in the club room. She was alone with Dekomori in the room. The two girls were leaning against the wall nearest to the window. It seemed like the younger girl was speaking to her, but Nibutani couldn't make out what was being said. Suddenly, Dekomori grabbed Nibutani's hand and interlaced their fingers. The blonde girl leaned her head against Nibutani's shoulder, causing the second year's heart to race.
Nibutani awoke when she heard the sharp sound of people whispering. She opened her eyes and saw Dekomori and Mitsuki looking down at her, appearing slightly concerned.
"Oh! She isn't dead after all!" Mitsuki said.
"That's good. I would have been extremely disappointed if Fake Summer fell that easily." Dekomori stated.
"What are you two doing anyway?" Nibutani asked sleepily.
Yuuta answered, "It's about time we head up to change. We need to leave for the train station soon."
How long was I asleep? It only felt like a couple of minutes. I must have been really tired….
Nibutani got up and followed the rest of the group up towards the elevator. Upon approaching the elevators, Nibutani noticed Mitsuki pull Dekomori aside and whisper into her ear. Nibutani felt instantly suspicious.
When the elevator doors opened, Dekomori said, "We'll catch up to you in a few. Mitsuki wishes to speak to me about something of great importance!" The two walked off.
Nibutani couldn't stop the nagging feeling in the back of her mind that something big was about to happen. It bothered her, but there wasn't much she could do about it, so she ultimately decided to ignore it. Once they got back to the hotel room, Nibutani began to gather her belongings. She wondered if Dekomori would sit by her on the train again. She was curious to see how it would affect Mitsuki, taking their earlier conversation into account. If that girl really had agreed with her, maybe it wouldn't be a big deal.
Nibutani finished packing her things when she heard the front door open. Nibutani assumed that the two first years had returned from their chat. Her thoughts were confirmed when Mitsuki walked into the room, a slightly smug smile on her face. Dekomori entered the room after her. To Nibutani's surprise, the twin tailed girl said nothing.
"Hey, make sure you don't forget anything," Nibutani stressed. "I really don't want to have to deal with your whining if you forget to pack something." Dekomori didn't respond. Nibutani walked over to her and waved her hand in front of the tiny girl's face.
Dekomori snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh? Oh yeah, I'll make sure to check carefully." The girl fell back into silence and resumed her packing.
That's strange. She's rarely ever this quiet. I hope nothing bad happened between the two of them. We definitely don't need anymore drama right now. Plus, this trip was meant to be relaxing, not stressful.
Nibutani watched Dekomori with worry. The familiar feeling of apprehension came over her once again. She had a bad feeling about this. Nibutani decided that she would keep a close eye on Dekomori. Last time something upsetting happened to her, Nibutani wasn't around to help her through it. Nibutani was going to make sure she didn't make that same mistake again.
Once the group finished packing their things, they made their way to the train station. Dekomori had been silent the whole way there. Nibutani considered confronting Mitsuki about Dekomori's strange behavior, but she was too afraid of what the purple haired girl might say. Nibutani cursed herself for letting her cowardice get the better of her.
Nibutani attempted to talk the twin tailed girl as well, but the conversation was too one sided to be of any use. Dekomori was far too lost in her in thoughts to speak to anyone. This only made Nibutani worry more. She took a quick glance at Mitsuki, who seemed unaffected by this situation. She was chatting happily with Kumin. Nibutani felt a stab of anger. Dekomori's behavior was obviously a result of their talk, and it annoyed Nibutani that Mitsuki seemed okay with this result.
When they arrived at the station and boarded the train, Dekomori confirmed Nibutani's earlier thoughts by sitting next to her on the train. Nibutani felt slightly relieved. At least one thing remained unchanged. The normally energetic first year gazed out the window for the duration of the train ride. Everyone else, excluding Nibutani, had fallen asleep, tired from their earlier activities. Dekomori didn't take her eyes off the scenery outside, which only served to add to Nibutani's growing anxiety.
Nibutani couldn't take her eyes off the small blonde girl. It felt like if she removed her watchful gaze for even just a second, Dekomori would disappear. She remembered seeing Dekomori's slouched form as she entered the club room before they reunited. She had looked so tired and defeated. Nibutani wasn't sure if whatever was going on in Dekomori's head was as severe as before, but she wasn't about to abandon her again.
The train pulled in at their home station after a stressful four hour long ride. By the time they reached the station, it was already dark out. The group decided to split off at the train station and head home. Before Dekomori could walk away, Nibutani grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.
"Are you okay?" Nibutani asked. "You haven't said a single word since we left the hotel. It's unlike you."
"I'm fine," Dekomori answered. "I'm just tired." Nibutani didn't buy that for a second.
"You and I both know that isn't true. Come on, you're making me worry about you…" Nibutani mumbled.
Dekomori looked up and held Nibutani's gaze. Nibutani's heart beat faster. She could feel herself shake in anxiety. Nibutani attempted to put up a strong front to encourage the younger girl to open up about what was bothering her, but that front shattered when Dekomori whispered, "Mitsuki confessed to me."
A/N: Yeah, sorry, that was pretty much a set up chapter. It was also kinda bleh, so I might rewrite it.