Chapter 2

(A/N: I didn't put this at the beginning of the first chapter, so I will put it here.

Disclaimer: I do not own BRS, Innocent Souls, or any BRS storylines or characters. I, however, do own Black Sword Cross and Black Dust Angel.)

"Wait, Threshold?" Cross said, trying to keep his voice from shaking, "I was just in Otherworld… How'd I end up here?"

"What's Otherworld?" Rock asked, leaning in close, her eyes full of curiosity, "Sounds cool,"

"It's my home…" he said, half paying attention to her. His mind was racing. What did this mean? "Where's my sword?"

"What?" Cecil said, tilting her head to the side.

"It looks like a cross," Cross said, "Hence my name,"

"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Cecil said, "I'll be right back," She bolted out the door. As soon as she was out of the room, Rock gave him a suspicious look.

"You're no stagnant soul, and you certainly aren't a Black Star," she said, "So what are you?" Cecil ran back into the room.

"Uh, we got a problem…" she said, fiddling with her fingers.

"What kind of problem?" Rock asked.

"Dead," Cecil said, "She has Cross's sword.

-\\\/-

Black Gold Saw's arm was getting tired. She had been hanging off Angel's leg for hours, and they had looking for Cross the entire time.

"Dammit, where is he?" Angel muttered, his green eyes scanning the barren wasteland of Otherworld.

"Either the desert took him, or he was attacked by the others on Otherworld," Saw said, with certainty.

"No," Angel said, shaking his head, "Cross is way too tough for that. He'd at least leave a trail of destruction anyway. I'm not seeing anything,"

"Then land, you moron, before I bring us both down!" Saw demanded. Angel tucked in his wings and they plummeted towards the ground. Saw screamed in terror, clambering up Angel's leg and wrapped her arms around his neck. He let his wings out at the last second and they landed safely, Angel holding a terrified Black Gold Saw in his arms. She waited until she stopped breathing heavily to beat him with the guard of her sword.

"Ow! OW! What the hell?!" Angel moaned.

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO, KILL US?!" Saw roared, mercilessly pounding every inch of his body with the pommel of her sword.

"I thought it was funny," Angel muttered under his breath. Saw quit beating him, and sheathed her giant blade. She turned away, crossing her arms as she did so, hiding her embarrassment from her ally.

"I don't take kindly to pranks, vermin," she said, "Remember that,"

"Yes ma'am," Angel said, dusting himself off as he rose off the ground. He paused as he and Saw both felt a strange wind. It was cold, which wasn't normal for Otherworld.

"What… is that?" Saw asked, trying to find the source of the cold wind. Angel had frozen in place, an absolutely frightened look on his face.

"No…" he muttered, scared, "It's not possible. We defeated this threat a long time ago. This shouldn't be here," Saw waved her hand in front of the skinny boys face and he looked at her with a look of pure, absolute fear. Saw was amazed at this. This guy had seemed tough back at the crater. "We have to keep going. Find the source of that cold," Saw stared at him. One second he had been making a prank, now he was dead serious.

"What the hell is going on here?" she demanded, "I know where that cold is coming from but I'm not going anywhere without some answers!" Angel looked at her, and then sighed.

"Alright," he said, "Well, we aren't from this world,"

"Bull," she said.

"I'm serious! Look, I have lots of explaining to do, and little time to do it. Can we walk and talk?"

-\\\/-

Cross stormed into the main room to see a girl with spine-like horns and a three-bladed sword playing with his sword.

"This is a good sword," she said, weighing his sword in her hand, "A little heavy for my taste, but I can adapt," He walked up and she gave him a cold smile.

"That would be mine," he said, holding out his hand, "I'd like it back,"

"This is your sword?" Dead mused, turning the sword in her hands, "I thought it would belong to someone more… impressive," His eye twitched at that.

"I wouldn't underestimate me if I were you," he said, trying to control his voice. Dead looked at him, her fake smile still on her face.

"Please. You wouldn't last ten seconds against me," She froze as Cross disappeared and reappeared behind her. She whirled around, curious and angry.

"Like I said," Cross said, "Don't underestimate me," Rock ran up and pulled the two out of each other's faces.

"Dead! You know better than this!" she moaned, "Give the guy his sword back," Dead growled, but returned Cross's sword. He took it, swung it a few times, and then placed it on his back.

"I'm the only one who can wield this sword the way it is meant to be wielded," he said, slight malice in his voice, "And I hate people who think they can handle something they don't know about,"

"How dare you!" Dead snarled, "I know the perfect way to settle this,"

"Dead, no!" Rock moaned again, putting her head in her hands.

"If you want to fight," Cross said, his hand resting on his swords grip, "I will oblige," Dead growled and lifted her three-pronged blade. Cecil came running in, waving her arms.

"Don't fight in here! If the house gets destroyed, I won't be able to explain it to mom!" she demanded. Cross took his hand off his sword and sighed.

"Whatever. Besides, I'm not staying," he turned to the door and pushed it open, letting the slight wind blow across his face. He pulled his jacket around him, really wishing he had a shirt.

-\\\/-

"So, you and Cross are the only ones left who can cross plains of reality?" Saw questioned. Angel nodded. "I don't know whether I should believe you or pummel you again,"

"Hey, it's the truth," Angel said. He felt out with his hand, and he felt the winds origin. "Got it! They're in a world really close by. It's really hazy, but I think…" He put his hands together, palms out, and pushed outward. A door appeared, apparently made of a stained glass, depicting the features of a girl in white and black, with two lopsided pigtails.

"That's BRS," Saw said in awe, "But… that's not possible,"

"Actually, she's been in every world we've ever visited," Angel said, totally serious, "She's usually the same; quiet and reserved. I wonder how she'll be in this world…" the door opened and the wind got stronger. "Ready, Saw?"

"I guess…" she said shakily. They walked through the door and it closed behind them, disappearing as if it had never existed.

-\\\/-

Cross opened the door to the high school that had just appeared in his way. It was devoid of students, and quiet as a graveyard. He drew his sword. Having it in his hand always comforted him. He made it to the first doorway when he heard a small, "Hi there," He whirled, nearly cutting the head off a snake-like thing that was just floating there.

"Jesus, don't cut me apart!" it said, backing up fast, "Rock would kill me if I died again!"

"Rock?" Cross said, "Short, black hair, wears some poncho thingy?" the snake thought for a moment.

"Wow, you basically just summed her up," he said, astonished, "I'm Ron. I guess you could say I'm her partner-in-crime," Cross rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," he muttered, lowering the point of his sword, "Where is Rock? Isn't investigating this kind of her thing?"

"Right here," a familiar voice said. Cross didn't even have to look to know Rock was standing against the door he'd just entered. "And yeah, I investigate this kind of thing," She walked toward him, Ron slithering up her arm, draping himself across her neck.

"So, what is this place? I'm getting a really weird feeling," Cross asked, resting his sword against his shoulder.

"I don't know," Rock said, putting a finger to her chin, "It kind of looks like the place we faced Hanako, right Ron?"

"Yeah, a bit," Ron said, "Though it's different too,"

"Well, I feel something deeper in, and I'm going to get to it," Cross stated, feeling the cold wind of the plain gate. He started walking before Rocks hand grabbed his arm.

"Hold it," she said, "You never told me. What are you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cross said, yanking his arm free.

"Look, even here in the Threshold, guys with swords don't just randomly appear," Rock said, walking in front of him, forcing him to face her, "What I want to know, is just who you are. You're certainly no Black Star," Cross opened his mouth to answer, but a harsh laugh out from seemingly everywhere.

"What the hell was that?" Ron asked, his voice showing he was on high alert.

"Crap," Cross muttered, "Get behind me," He pushed Rock behind him, his sword at the ready.

"I don't need your protection!" Rock protested, "I can handle it!"

"You won't be able to handle this," Cross said, his voice steely and angry.

"He's right you know," the voice that had laughed rang out again, "Nothing can stop us. We are all, we are one. We will devour everything," Cross's grip on his hand tightened. No sooner had the voice vanished with another laugh, a figure stepped from the shadows. He wore a long blue trench coat and bleach white pants. His hair was as white as snow, and his skin was almost the same shade. His hand was wrapped around a sword that looked like it had been woven out of thorns.

"Black Requiem Defender?" Cross said, slightly lowering his sword, "How are you even alive?!" A hiss of laughter emanated from Defenders' mouth and he turned towards them, his eyes as red as blood.

"Black Requiem Defender is no more," the voice that inhabited Defender hissed, "Only the Never exists now!" With that, he raised his sword and slashed at Cross, pushing him into Rock. They fell down, Cross on top of Rock.

"Dammit!" Cross growled, going for his sword, "Defender…" his former friend stomped on his arm, causing him to cry out in pain.

"Now, it's time for you to die!" Defender hissed. He raised his sword for the kill, but a blast of blue energy hit him, causing him to stagger backwards. He growled as steam curled off his chest, and Rock stood in front of Cross, Ron having transformed into his cannon form.

"I don't know who you are," she said, Ron transforming back into a snake, "But there's no way in hell that I am just gonna let you kill me! Ron!" Her partner transformed again, this time into a sword. She grabbed the grip and charged him, Cross trying to get on his feet.

"Hey!" he yelled, grabbing his sword, "Back off! I've got to do this!" He charged as well, his sword already slightly glowing red. He jumped as he approached Defender, and brought his sword down, but Defender's arm shot up, blocking the attack.

"Pathetic," he laughed, his eyes glowing purple for a second. Cross's own eyes turned purple and he doubled over in pain. "I see you still can't control the power you gained by fighting us," Defender mocked, kicking Rock out of the way.

"Shut up!" Cross growled, charging him again, but Defender's eyes flashed purple again, and he doubled over again. Defender kicked him in the face, sending him flying against the far wall. He laughed as he heard Cross's arm snap.

"It is funny really," he smirked, blocking an attack from Rock, "You both have so much fighting spirit and I admire that. However," he grabbed Rock's sword arm and positioned his sword, "I must kill you,"

"NO!" Cross roared, getting up, his broken arm hanging limp, "I won't let you!" His eyes glowed purple, and a white mask with three black streaks appeared in his hand, "Not while I can still fight!" He slammed the mask onto his face, and his eyes glowed even brighter. He let out an animalistic scream, and faced Defender. "This time, Defender," his voice was warped, like it was being doubled, "I won't lose!"

-\\\/-

Angel froze as he felt something new wash over him. It was dense and thick, like…

"Crap!" he yelled breaking into a run.

"What?!" Saw yelled, sprinting to keep up, "What's wrong?!"

"I hope I'm wrong," Angel shouted back, "but I just felt something really familiar!"

"Another doorway?" Saw asked, getting beside him.

"Worse," Angel said grimly, "The power took over Cross again!"

(And there's chapter 2. Thanks to my reviewers for giving me feedback! You guys rock! And also, the next chapter will contain flashbacks, so the story behind Defender, Cross and Angel will be more clear.)