Chapter 10: House of Cards

That feeling still bothered Yomi the next day. All throughout classes the next day, she found herself playing that same scene again and again in her mind. After fainting, Kagari had slept for ten minutes. When she woke up again, all she did was smile softly and answer questions she was asked. It was as if she were a completely different person, and that simply could not be right.

As soon as the bell for lunch rang, Yomi was out of her seat. "Save a place for me, I have something I need to go do first," She called to Mato. She raced down the hall, and in another minute was standing in the door of the counsellor's office.

"Ah! Yomi-chan. I was wondering if I would be hearing from you today." Yomi would not call it animosity exactly, but there was a definite edge to Saya-chan's voice. "Would you like coffee or tea?"

"Saya, there's one thing I need to ask you about."

"I'd say we definitely do. But please, have some coffee."

It was only after both of them were sitting down with a cup of coffee each that Saya would let their conversation continue.

"So, do you want to talk about yesterday?"

Yomi nodded. "When I was arguing with Kagari-chan, something weird happened."

"Weird how?"

"It was sort of like being in both places at once. I wasn't just seeing what Dead Master was seeing, it was far beyond that. It was more like the time before when she had control, but I was also still me, in this world." She looked up at Saya. "That can't be right, can it?"

Saya swirled her tea before taking a long sip. "I can't be entirely certain about it. I don't even know my own Otherworld half as well as Strength does, let alone how your world's other selves are different. I can only give you a good guess at this point. First, though, answer me one thing; when you were arguing with Kagari, what did you want to do?"

"I wanted to tell her what she was doing to herself. What she was doing to me too."

"Just that; just tell her?"

"Of course! What else would I do?

"You're lying. You'd tried just telling her before, didn't you? That did nothing. I think what you really wanted to do was hurt her."

"What? Why would—"

"—Because you wanted to get back at her. I understand perfectly; she did nothing but abuse you the entire time you were here, and you wanted to make her suffer the way you had." Saya stood, and began to wash out her cup. "I don't know for certain, but I think that whenever your goals become the same as hers, Dead Master can take over. Back in your world, you secretly started to hate Mato for abandoning you for Yuu and, lo and behold, Dead Master appears, who hates Black Rock Shooter more than anything. Then, when you argued with Kagari, all you wanted was to hurt her, the way that Dead Master wanted to hurt Chariot. You're two sides of the same coin, and when you start thinking like her she becomes more powerful."

"What should I do then?"

"I don't see that there really is much you can do except be careful. But if you start feeling emotions that you don't think you should, or start feeling like you're inside Dead Master again, take a step back and think about the situation, and if it's something that leads you in the direction of Dead Master, then reconsider your actions."

Yomi finished her tea. "Thank you, Saya-chan." She looked at her watch, then stood. "I need to get to class."

Saya called to her as she left. "One other thing. It's about Mato."

Yomi stopped. "What about her?"

"You shouldn't become friends with her in this world."

"Why not?"

"You getting close to Mato brought Dead Master together with our Reality's Black Rock Shooter. Both of you are dangerous enough on your own, but put Dead Master together with Black Rock Shooter and that entire world could go up in flames."

"Isn't the whole point that we're trying to get me back to my own world, and that Dead Master would follow me?"

"That's the problem though. Even if you don't care anything about our otherworld, then do it for your own sake. You don't belong in this world, and growing attached to this world's Mato will just make it more difficult to go back where you came from."

"But I can't just ignore her! I mean; Mato is my oldest friend!"

"You keep forgetting that she's not your Mato. She may look like her and act like her, but she isn't her. She isn't the person you've known for more than a year, and she certainly isn't the person that saved you. Or do you really believe that your relationship with her was so cheap that you could replace it? Because that's all your friendship with our world's Mato would be; you using her to replace your best friend. It's not fair to her, and not helpful to us."

It was as if Saya had slapped her. Her ears rang as Saya's accusation washed over her. Was it true? Was that what Yomi was trying to do? Recreate her old life in this new world?

Without saying another word, Yomi bolted from the room. She ran, ran the way she had the way she had on her second day in this upside-down world. She wanted to run away back to the way things had been before all of this.

Yomi stopped at the end of the empty hallway. Running was not going to send her home; not running in this world at least. She stared out the window into the school's courtyard. All the strange things that ever had happened to her had their root in that Other World. That was where she had to find her answers, not here.

As Yomi stared into the glass of the window, she saw the image shift. It was only in her mind, it had to be, but to her it became the horned figure of her other self. Dead Master's voice echoed in her head, and a silent dialogue began.

What's wrong, my dear little Yomi?

You know perfectly well what's wrong. You've been listening in to everything, after all. Just like you always do.

Oh, come now. I'm here to help you. Tell me what's troubling you.

Yomi sighed. Everything I'm doing here is completely pointless. Any friends I make, any place I go, I'm just wasting time. It's just like Saya-chan said; I don't belong here.

Did you really think that Saya could help you out of this? She doesn't care about you, not whether you get back home. She never has.

Yomi began pounding on the window. I hate her! I hate them all! Kagari, Saya, Strength, all of them! She sniveled. I…I want to go home!

By now you know that I am as trapped here as you are. Dead master extended a clawed hand to Yomi, out of the reflection. You need me to get out, and I need you.

Like before, you mean?

Dead Master nodded. Like before.

Yomi stared at her other self for a long moment. It was strange how like and yet unlike the two of them were. Dead Master had the bearing of a queen; haughty and condescending. She was Yomi's other self, yet her opposite. If they were to find a solution to this, then was it not best for them to work as one?

She took Dead Master's offered hand. "What other choice do we have?"

And then Yomi felt herself falling.