The Very Exciting Authors' Note!
Cha-Cha: Hiya guys! It's me, the magnificent Cha-Cha, and I'm bringing you chapter three of Silence!
Mugi: And I'm going to contribute to this chapter!
Cha-Cha: *clapping* Well done, Mugi. Finally. You've kinda been absorbed in the new K-On! Series, haven't you?
Mugi: You betcha!
Rikuto: Okay, time to answer all the reviews! *grabs out a cue card written up by Cha-Cha* Starting with Yowaki, on the Prologue!
Dango: Hi, Master!
Rikuto: Okay, in answer to your review: Thanks for being patient. Don't worry, the story will get much better from now on :D
"Drake Nolsa, chapter 2: Neither do I, but some people hate the explainy stuff and want to skip straight to the action. I find I'm kind of a rambly person, so this fic is going to be a challenge, seeing as it's based around fighting and war (not my best genre to write about).
Kyon-Is-Haruhi's-Slave00, chapter 2: I sure hope a soldier won't die this chapter! Such scary thoughts! Anyway, glad you liked this chapter! And don't worry, we were only joking about Hiroyuki being dodgy xD
Superstarultra, chapter 2: I'm glad you liked this chapter, and I am super happy that the explainy bits gave a good idea of the plot, because explaining is not something that I'm good at x) Please keep supporting it, and remember, if you have an OC idea or anything, please feel free to add him to our story =)
Mr Wang 330, chapter 2: I'm glad that the OCs are acting the way most OCs should without being annoying ^^ And I agree that the prologue was pretty random and all, but I based it off of the first episode of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood where they stop some one-episode character dude from freezing Central, and… yeah. Anyway, I hope that Takeo's ready for a little sis, because that's what he's getting! :D
Brendan Rizzo, chapter 2: I didn't recognise you at first because you changed your name. Congratulations! I get a warm feeling when I change my username. It's a fresh start =) I'm sorry that you didn't get who's POV it was at first, but I did try my best to make it sound chatty and Hotaru-ish. That said, I'm still a growing author. I'll work on it. And as for Rikuto's ESP… That'll be revealed in time :] Have patience! PS. I laughed when I heard you thought the IM conversation was funny. I thought it was pretty funny too, even though I wrote it. Maybe I should do an Alternate Endings chapter of IM convos.
Yowaki, chapter 2: Erm… I'll look into it when more OCs have joined. Because while it would be funny (there could be some dramatic points, as well as some Hotaru jealousy) thanks to my bonehead move I made Hotaru and Dango friends, and based from her personality, I think that she's a loyal enough friend to put Hotaru's happiness first. We'll keep up the good work!" :D
Cha-Cha: Rikuto! Replying to the reviews is MY thing! Not yours. MINE!
Rikuto: I'm sorry ¬_¬ Anyway, enjoy the latest chapter.
Mugi: No! You forgot about the new OC that's joined us! His name is Joseph, and he was created by Discrimo.
Joseph: Hi guys. I'm a human - well, that's what I think - and I'm the peacemaker of the group, I guess. I'm hoping that I can get Rikuto into meditation or something.
Rikuto: Do you have a surname yet, Joseph?
Joseph: Nope, but hopefully my master will come up with one soon :D
Mugi and Cha-Cha: Okay, here's chapter 3! It's going to be from Momoka's POV this time.
Mugi: I feel oddly nervous because this'll be the first time I've written from the point of view of an OC that doesn't belong to me or Cha-Cha. :S I hope I don't screw up!
Anyway, here's chapter 3! Please leave a review or add an OC in our forum, it'd be greatly appreciated! :D
XXX
Silence
This is infuriating. When will this group actually do some fighting? I didn't join so that I could sit around feeling homey (or at least trying to) while we could be winning this war and returning the world to normal. I wasted enough of my life waiting around for an opportunity to put my fighting skills to work.
I glared at the empty plate in front of me. They picked out pizza for supper. I hate pizza.
I know that Hotaru chick doesn't like me, but is it my fault that I pointed the finger for a second? She's an alien. Aliens are deeply despised, thanks to the fact that they're all for conquering the world. And now she's ignoring me.
She's the one that I actually wanted to be friends with. I mean, sure, Mr Koizumi's son is… Mr Koizumi's son. He has to be nice to me. He seemed friendly enough, like a dog or something, but I don't like people that are too eager to link arms with you. I really thought, for a second, Hotaru and I could be friends.
No one spoke a word to me throughout the meal, so I was only half-listening. They mentioned time-travelling, and all that. I really didn't care. And then Hotaru left the room.
"U-Um… well." Mr Koizumi's son looked a bit put-out at the awkward silence that had swallowed the room.
"… I'll take the plates in." Mr Koizumi stood up, smiling, and took away our plates. Then he disappeared into the kitchen. When he reappeared, everyone relaxed slightly.
"So, er, Momoka… you'll be in the dorms, like Miss Mori," Mr Koizumi said, trying to brighten the mood. He smiled uneasily, but I could totally tell that he was faking it. Since the war has started, no one has really smiled like they mean it, so I'm pretty sure here is the same.
"I guess," I said, staring at my place-mat.
Mr Koizumi's son gave me a smile that made me want to vomit rainbows and fairy dust.
"Miss Mori's great Miss Murakami, she's brilliant. And she used to work with my dad when he was my age-"
"My name's Momoka."
Koizumi's son blushed and looked down at his empty plate. I felt a slight twinge of satisfaction, but tried not to show it.
"Ah, er, yes, it is. Erm… well, Momoka-"
"Whatever. You bore me. Don't bother talking to me again."
I stood up abruptly, my chair slamming to the ground behind me, and left the room. Though I said I was going, I actually had no idea where I was going to go. I hadn't asked Mr Koizumi where the dorms were, and besides, I had no intention of spending any time there if I could help it. As I walked down winding, dimly lit corridors, I counted things in my head. I'm not crazy, I'm really not. I just like to count things. Nothing wrong with that.
1 - daughter of a goddess, held hostage by alien bastards.
2 - annoying teenagers that just pissed me off.
3 - weeks (about) that I will be able to stay sane in this dump.
4 - doors down is… Hotaru's room?
I stopped then, the echoes of my footsteps fading into the eerie silence. Hotaru's door was a sugar pink, completely clashing with her fiery personality, or so I had seen so far. Maybe she did have a sweet side. I wouldn't know. A small sign hung high on the door, a shiny black oblong with miniscule golden dots scattered aimlessly across it. 'Hotaru' was scribbled though the middle.
I don't know why I was so fascinated with this door. With this girl. Since when did I, Momoka Murakami, ever bother befriending people? Wasn't it I that pointed out that friendships made you weak? Allies made you strong, but if you depended on others too much, you'd be destined to fail. There's no point befriending your comrades in war. It's not worth the pain.
And besides, she's an alien. End of.
Hotaru stared at me with eyes that could kill. The door was open now, and I hadn't even realised, I was so deep in thought. I shook my head, in a desperate attempt to regain my dignity, slapping on my pissed off expression once again.
"How long are you going to stand there?"
Hotaru sounded bored out of her mind, blowing on freshly painted nails. This surprised me a little. She didn't seem a girly type at all. Maybe there was more to her than I thought.
"That's none of your business," I snapped, folding my arms. She raised her eyes, which I seriously did not appreciate.
"Whatever pipsqueak. Just curious." Hotaru shrugged, walking back into her room, but leaving her door wide open. I huffed, seriously frustrated, although I wasn't sure why. I bit my tongue, but still called out;
"Hey, you bitch, don't use that tone with me!"
I wanted to storm right in there and knock some sense into her, but I suddenly realised the open door was an invitation. If I took it, she won. Like that was going to happen. I turned on my heel and stomped away (as hard as I could, so she could hear all the way down the corridor).
"…Are you mentally insane? Like, seriously? I heard you muttering to yourself down the corridor. Do you hear voices in your head?"
I turned swiftly, shooting daggers at the pastel pink door.
"…Cause, I mean, no sane person would talk to themselves, or count things out loud- is that why you're here? Are they going to do tests on you? Are you a lab rat?"
Her voice was low now, and her tone had changed; I did not like it one bit. It was as if she were daring me to respond, to see how I'd react. I held my breath, heart racing. She didn't scare me. Of course she didn't. I'm Momoka Murakami. I'm not scared of anything.
"Or are you just lonely? You don't talk to people. You're horrible to everyone you meet. Nobody likes you. So you only have yourself to talk to."
I balled my hands up into fists, feeling my nails dig into the skin.
"Oh! Are you trying to win over Rikuto? You think because you're a loner, he'll take pity on you? You think-?"
She stopped, and I let out a sigh as a shrill bell rang out down the corridor. I ran into Hotaru's room, to find her calmly slipping her laptop into a shiny purple case and flinging it over her shoulder. She picked up a red backpack with the word 'Hotaru' scribbled across in Sharpie and flung a shoulder bag over to me.
"You can carry this," she said with a grimace, "looks like we're moving."
"What?"
Hotaru was already off down the corridor so, reluctantly, I had to follow and get my answers later. But I had a pretty good gist of the situation anyway.
"We're under attack? Wha- How did they find us?"
Hotaru shrugged as we raced down the corridor towards the kitchen, where we'd all eaten together twenty minutes ago. People were pushing past us, yelling orders across the room, the noise ringing in my ears.
"Rikuto? Kazue? Where are you?"
Hotaru scanned the room, her expression pained.
"Mr Koizumi? Mikuru? Anyone?"
I sighed, my breathing shaky, to my frustration, and call out too.
"Mr Koizumi?"
"Rikuto?"
"Mrs Koizumi?"
"Mikuru?"
"Mr Koizumi?"
"Rikuto?"
"Mrs Koizu-"
"Rikuto?"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT RIKUTO!"
I shoved Hotaru with all the force I could muster, which is a lot, I must say. She fell down, scraping her knee on the rough stone floor. Her eyes were flaming.
"Oi, you bitch!"
"Come on!"
I pulled her to her feet and we ran, dodging random espers and time travellers and making our way towards the exit.
"The front exit? What, are you nuts? You're actually crazy!"
I ignored Hotaru's acid tones, shoving through the crowd with all my might. I could smell burning.
"S-Smoke! I can smell smoke!"
Hotaru wrinkled her nose and tugged on my hand, changing our direction. Instead of escaping the building, we were heading back inside.
"What are you doing? And you call me crazy!"
"Just trust me!"
I held my breath as we ran down a run-down set of stairs, smoke choking my lungs and stinging my eyes.
"Ho-Hotaru, we're g-getting closer to the fire you- you-"
"TRUST ME!"
Smoke burned my lungs, making me splutter and choke. I was forced to squeeze my eyes shut, simply letting Hotaru guide me blindly through the smog. I couldn't even think until I felt Hotaru grab my shoulders and shake me violently.
"Momoka, open your eyes for gods sake!"
I obliged, raising one eyelid cautiously. We seemed to be in a corridor, not unlike the ones we were just running down, but it was creepily silent. Even our breathing echoed, sending strange sounds echoing around us.
"Where are we?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. Hotaru was breathing heavily too, her eyes darting around, as if expecting something to jump out at her at any second. She grinned uneasily.
"Cupboard under the stairs. It's our ticket outta here. Hopefully, the aliens wont have discovered this route, it takes us all the way to the other side of town, to our second HQ. I want you to go down, out of the way. They should know by now what's happened. Once you get there, ask the first person you see to take you to Dango Yowaki. I need you to pass on this message to her. Tell her-"
"I'm not your servant! Don't tell me what to do!"
I was even surprised at what had just blurted out of my mouth. But it's not like I could just skip over to the other base and relax while everyone there was fighting for their lives.
"I want to fight! That's what I'm here for! You should send that big breasted redhead over there! She's useless! But I'm needed here! And I- I can't just leave you here by yourself! What if you get hurt? Or the aliens find this tunnel? We need to protect it! I can't just leave!"
I expected Hotaru to face palm and complain or shoot something spiteful at me. What I hadn't expected was for her to laugh - not a spiteful laugh, but an actual heartfelt chuckle; she even doubled over.
"Hahahaha! You think you're so important! You think I need you of all people! Hahaha! You're so full of yourself!"
I pout, unsure whether I was happy with her reaction.
"W-what the hell? I'm being serious!"
Hotaru stopped laughing and glared at me.
"Don't be."
She placed the palm of her hand gently on the wall and a sudden rumbling filled the hallway; I covered my head with my arms as a loud crack caused me to believe the ceiling was caving in. I coughed harshly as the dust cleared, showing a neat wall of rock cutting between Hotaru and me. It was smoothed perfectly, like a normal wall, as though it was supposed to be there.
"Hotaru? HOTARU!"
"Right here, dummy."
I could hear her voice faintly behind the solid stone wall.
"Why'd you-?"
"Because," Hotaru butted in loudly, "I knew you'd refuse to follow my orders! So now I've made it impossible for you not to! The only way out of this place is through Second HQ. So go there, okay?"
I punched the wall in anger - how dare she trick me like this! As soon as my fingers connected with the sturdy surface, I heard a scary crunching sound and shrieked in pain, clutching my fist. I hoped it wasn't broken. I could just imagine Hotaru's face if she found out how I did it.
"Okay."
And without waiting for a reply, I slipped my hands into my pockets and prepared for a long, long, long walk.
"Momoka! Tell Dango! Tell her 'I'm going to find her! I promise!'"
I looked back at the plain grey wall, imagining Hotaru slumped against it dramatically and chuckled to myself, taking my first step forwards towards HQ2.
XXX
Mugi: Phew. Dammit, this is terrible! It's horrible! Cha-Cha, you write this chapter!
Cha-Cha: No way! I wrote the first two chapters and one prologue, so you have to contribute a bit! It's on your account!
Mugi: T_T sniffle! I hate it! You're so much better than me!
Rikuto: I was hardly in this chapter, damn you!
Kazue: I didn't even get a line! I need a hug! *snuggles Rikuto*
Rikuto: Ah, mom, get off!
Momoka: You were a total bitch in this chapter, Hotaru!
Hotaru: *shrugs* Whatever. Anyway, if you like it, you should review, if you don't like it, you should still review. REVIEW BITCH!
Mugi: Hotaru! We are open to constructive criticism but no flames please! They make me sad D: Reviews are appreciated, as they make me feel like I'm not just writing to myself. ^^ Oh, and look forward to a LOT of action next chapter. And maybe some deep Mikuru moments too.
Cha-Cha: Deep Mikuru? How can this beeeeee? Everyone knows Mikuru's about as shallow as a deflated kiddy pool!
Mikuru: Huh? What do you mean?
Cha-Cha: Seeeeeee you soon! Hopefully…
Mugi: WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?