Trapped in the Fandom Net
Moon: Hello people! Finally, the REAL stuff starts happening!
Neko: Should I be concerned?
Moon: Sort of, yes. That neon-eyed soulless was NOT there for decoration.
Neko: BladeofMoonlight does not own TMM or MMP. Nor does she own the story Paranoia, it belongs to Devilish Aisha.
Chapter 5: Horror...and Shinyru
Ichigo swallowed nervously as Moon lead her through the old, creaky mansion that was the Horror genre. She could hear the dark, soulful lyrics to Evanescence's Haunted playing softly from somewhere nearby, and that did NOT help the mood. The floorboards creaked, there were severed body parts in various places, and the whole time she felt like someone was running a finger down her back. The fur on her ears was standing straight up and she scooted closer to Kish and the others, fearing that a goblin or something like it would jump out at her if she stayed to far from the group.
"This place is so creepy!" She exclaimed finally.
Moon smirked. "I know." She lead them all into the basement, where the theater screen was waiting. Ichigo sat down on the chairs waiting, and latched onto Kish's arm. Pudding was hiding behind Tart, who was shivering himself. Neko smiled at their antics and sat down next to Pudding, in case it got too scary for her and Tart.
Moon took out a jet black card with the Horror crest and a red scar-like line on it out of her pocket and inserted it. The screen turned blue before beginning to play the movie.
The title was, Paranoia, by Devilish Aisha.
"Kitten? You're cutting off the circulation in my arm..."
Ichigo finally seemed to realize she was holding his arm and quickly pulled away. "S-Sorry. I didn't do that!
The familiar sound of the bell went, as the school day had ended. Three of the girls were a little slow at leaving, and remained in the locker room.
"Bye, Izumi-san! Bye, Misako-kun!" Ichigo called to the passing students.
"Ichigo has really become an extrovert, hasn't she, Moe?" Miwa and Moe watched an eager Ichigo wave to everyone in their class as they exited the gates.
"You're right, Miwa. It must have been her vacation." Moe replied. Since they were unknowing of Ichigo being one of the heroines of Tokyo, they guessed her leave was due to a holiday.
"Hello Miwa, Moe! Should we walk home together?" Once everybody had left she turned to them. The deafening silence rung through the room, and the door opened. It was Masaya Aoyama, who left his Kendo gear behind.
Kish inhailed sharply at the sight of Ichigo's schoolgirl crush. Ichigo went into fangirl mode, and Ryou just snorted in disgust. Pudding, fearing that something was about to go wrong, hid her head in Neko's passive embrace, while Tart looked pretty close to doing the same thing.
"Aoyama-kun! I need to talk to you!" Miwa ran off after him, before Ichigo could even say hello.
While they went off together, Ichigo and Moe sat together.
"So, what's up with them?" Ichigo lost her hyperactivity, and becoming quiet and calm. This made Moe curious, but decided not to investigate further.
"Oh, they've been out together when you were gone. She said it was the best time she's ever had in her life." Moe explained.
"I see." Ichigo said. She brought back memories of the day.
"Kya, Aoyama-kun is the nicest guy ever!"
"And he helped me like this, and that was so nice of him!"
"Ichigo, you're lucky. I want a boy who's sweet and caring and kind. Can you pair me up with anybody?"
Ichigo bent her head down. That flirting b&tch! She dare, flirt with Aoyama-kun behind her back? She was meant to be her friend! She was meant to keep girls of her boyfriend when she was absent, not play around with him! That is what true friends do! She knew Miwa and Moe since early elementary school. Never had she seen this side of her!
She'll pay, Ichigo thought. Pay for being an untrusting friend, a flirt, and countless other things.
"GEEZ ICHIGO!" Mint exclaimed. "No one said they were going out!"
Ichigo kinda stared blankly at her, bewildered, before slowly turning back to the screen.
"Bye bye, Aoyama-kun!" Miwa and Masaya returned, and Miwa waved him off.
"Goodbye Ichigo, Miwa, Moe." as he pushed open the door and exited the school.
"Let's go Ichigo!" they called to a stony and silent Ichigo.
"Ichigo? Are you alright?" Miwa asked.
Ichigo began to chuckling, and broke into a crazed laugh.
"Funny! You want to know how I feel! How ironic!" she screamed. Her eyes rolled into her skull, her estranged laughter continuing, and Miwa and Moe shook with fear.
"Ichigo, I don't know what's wrong with you, but please calm down!" Miwa tried to calm her, but to no avail.
"YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG! YOU WERE FLIRTING WITH AOYAMA-KUN!" she yelled herself hoarse.
"But, but I, Ichigo…" Miwa stuttered.
"It. Isn't. About. You. Ichigo!" This show seemed to really annoy Mint.
"Hey!" Ichigo protested.
"The fact that this is actually possible makes my stomach flip over." The blue mew huffed.
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT HORRORS I'VE FACED? DO YOU? AND I COME BACK TO HEAR YOU WERE FLIRTING WITH THE BOY I LOVE?" she went on.
"I didn't. I wasn't." she tried to go on, but Ichigo interrupted her.
"Don't, try that with me." Ichigo spoke in a deadly whisper, and brandished the same knife she ate lunch with, and charged at Miwa.
"Ichigo, no!" Moe wailed, but the first blow went into Miwa's back. She gave an agonised scream, and Ichigo gave another one, staining her clothes with Miwa's blood.
One by one, the blows went into her back, splashing blood on the lockers, the floors, and their satchels. Screams of pain came until Miwa could feel no more. Her empty shell of a body lay with her eyes gazing wide open at Ichigo, with signs of disappointment in her face.
Ichigo's jaw practically hit the floor.
"SEE?" Mint fumed. "You and your stupid obsession with that boy is going to get someone killed!"
Tart hid behind Neko, and Pudding started sobbing. The cat girl tightened her grip, murmuring calming words. The other mews had gone into shock, and Ryou was just shaking his head in disappointment.
Moe stared at Miwa's limp body, and looked up at Ichigo with potential anger.(a.n, it's potential, like energy)
"Ichigo. You. HOW DARE YOU!" she exploded with rage.
Back to normal, Ichigo blinked in confusion.
"SHE WAS NEVER FLIRTING WITH HIM! THEY WENT TO A SUMMER CAMP TOGETHER! YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT HIM, WHAT AM I TO YOU? WHAT WAS MIWA TO YOU? WE WERE ALWAYS LAST AFTER YOUR CAFE FRIENDS AND AOYAMA! " Moe's shrieks of rage pounded on to Ichigo's ears.
"I hate you, Ichigo. Get out of my freaking life!" She gave a final holler, and ran off.
Ichigo stood in silence, and collapsed to her knees in tears.
"How, how could I do this? Is this all I'm meant to do now?" Tears rolled down her cheeks, and felt as warm as hellfire on her pale cheeks. She sat alone, as the light of day passed. She knew her parents would wonder where she was, but she didn't care. She couldn't care about anything.
The screen went black, and Moon shook her head like a mother looking at the consequence of the actions of a disobedient child. "tsk tsk, Ichigo. A boy isn't worth killing for."
Ichigo opened her mouth. Ichigo closed her mouth.
When Neko finally succeeded in calming Pudding and Tart, the group walked out of the Horror genre. Again, Ichigo felt like she was being watched. Turning around, she saw that same neon-eyed boy following them.
She quickly matched paces with Moon. "Uhh, Moon? Is it possible for a Soulless to leave the net and attack different worlds?"
"Uhh, not really. I mean, only really powerful Soulless are capable of leaving, or getting past a Gatekeeper unnoticed."
"Soo...have you ever seen a Soulless who attacked and killed someone from an outside world?"
Suddenly Moon was tense. "Why are you asking?"
Ichigo looked over her shoulder. A pair of neon eyes stared back at her, as if challenging her to speak. "Well...I've seen this Soulless. Twice, actually...when we were leaving the Drama Genre. He asked me if I could smell the blood on his claws." Pointing, she added. "He's right there!"
Moon spun around fully, a ball of white fire appearing in her hands. The boy smirked, and a note flew out of the shadows and landed at their feet. Neko picked it up, and she vanished.
Moon turned to Neko. "What does it say?"
"I have broken the seals of a god by spilling the blood of his weakling host." Neko read aloud. "And I go now to lead the Syndicate. Prepare yourselves. Magical teardrops won't save you this time, cat." she shook her head. "signed, Shinyru. There's a Phoenix mark next to his name."
Moon spat a vile curse under her breath. "This is so not good. Playtime's over people, come this way." She held her key in the air, and a door appeared.
"Where are we going?" Lettuce asked.
"To the Gatekeeper Council." Moon replied. She and Neko stepped inside, signaling for the others to follow.
End Chapter
Uh-oh...I smell trouble~! If you would like to be part of the council, tell me in your review and I'll make sure you appear!
Next chapter: Revalations at the Council; the Wrath of Shinryu.