Author's Note: I'm late, I'm lazy, and I've been an ass to my readers. For a while, I was hitting a dead-end in writing, losing inspiration. It was quite troublesome but I've tried to get back into it. Then the week before blew my brain apart and have creativity seep in. To make a long story short, Tuesday was the best day of my life while Thursday was the worst. That's when it hit me like a sack of bricks (and yes, you can throw bricks at me for this unexpected hiatus) and I started rewriting the entire chapter except for the first segment down below.
So, please enjoy this chapter as I finally make my return.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
[Individuality for an other self is something that is never obtained, it's earned]
Geshumaru closed the door behind her before she started taking off her shoes, looking around the place she has called "home" for almost a year now. She walked towards the stairs before heading up, pushing back thoughts of what has happened today in favor of getting some sleep before she has to work again. The result of her actions would have to be corrected as she had no idea what kind of problems her powers would affect people until today and it shown itself to be problematic. She would rather have an other self die than the real self, death in the real world was something she couldn't stand unless it was for a just cause. Geshumaru reached the end of the stairs and walked through the hallway to her bedroom, a place where she could find sanctum and think while reflecting on her past and how it led her up to now.
[Existence, experience, and errors are what makes individuality unique in our real selves]
She opened her room door and entered, closing the door silently as she head towards her bed, her left arm throbbing with familiarity to it all. Her room was pretty bland, no unique color and just a couple of posters of her real self's favorite bands. Sitting on her bed, Geshumaru looked at her left hand and wondered where everything went wrong, figuring that everything has been fine up until now. No, that was a complete lie and she knew it; denying it wouldn't do a single thing for her, especially after what she has done to get to where she is now. Laying down on her back, Geshumaru could hear the last advice her teacher told her before she departed to parts unknown in the Otherworld.
[No regrets, no mercy; humans, as they're called in the real world, are beings who have their own individuality but we're nothing more than hollow shells of who they are, constructed by their feelings and personality that's predetermined by their birth, so we can't gain individuality by simple, trivial means]
"You're a liar... I have my individuality," Geshumaru mutter, "But you were right about it not being gained by simple, trivial means as I gained mine from the death of someone close to me..."
[There will always be a great price for gaining individuality and even if we become whole, there will still be regrets, but it will be ours and there will be no way to correct it]
"But we can always work towards making a better future..?" Geshumaru said to herself, unsure if truly believed what came out of her mouth.
[That's why we gain our individuality from experiencing what it means to live, to die, to remember, to experience everything possible while developing the one thing that the overall majority of other selves, like you, lack...]
"And that's emotions..." Geshumaru murmured as she felt tiredness overwhelming her body until she fell completely asleep.
B RS rolled to the side to avoid the macaroon-like bullets, memories coming back to her bit by bit as Chariot continued her attack. The moment B RS saw Kagari inside Chariot, she knew that in order for Chariot to stop attacking, Kagari would have to wake up and snap back to reality. As long as Kagari was still under Geshumaru's influence, Chariot would continue with her task and the cycle would be never-ending. Plus, the fight was too risky as their real selves could get hurt or worse, killed. This was a possibility that B RS didn't want to happen, and the only way to stop her is beat her senseless while Mato tries to wake Kagari.
"Okay, you want to shoot me down?" B RS stated as a smirk stretch across her mouth, "Then bring it on, I'm right here!"
B RS stopped herself and stood her ground, standing there as Chariot narrowed her eyes, aiming the cannon at her. A swarm of macaroon bullets came out of the cannon, coming straight at B RS. Gripping her axe tightly, B RS twisted her body to the left. A surge of black flames appeared on the blade as B RS twisted her body back, letting the black flames extend and devour the bullets in the blaze. Mato felt the power surge as B RS completed her attack, questioning if it was normal for an other self to have that much power before remembering she used a similar power before when she fought again B RS.
"Mato, get ready!" B RS alerted.
Shaking the thoughts away, Mato prepared herself as B RS dashed through the field, using the blast smoke as a covering. On the other side of the blast smoke, Chariot looked around the area, trying to find B RS. With the entire area up in smoke, it was hard to look through to find her target, especially when it was one who could make use of practically anything. Catching something from the corner of her eye, Chariot turned towards it and started firing, thinking it was B RS coming out of the field of smoke. Chariot stopped firing and took a second look, noticing that it was only B RS's jacket that took the hit.
"You know, that command that Geshumaru gave you needs to be a bit more... precise!" Chariot heard from behind.
Turning around, Chariot came in contact with B RS's fist, being blown back several feet from where she stood. Flexing her fingers a bit, B RS dashed forwards as Chariot was trying to get up, pinning her to the ground. Chariot tried to swing her arms, get a single hit on the white-haired girl who was pinning her down on the ground, but B RS grabbed her arms and kept them down. Deep onyx met hollowed topaz before B RS flipped Chariot on her stomach and kept her pinned, placing her in a full nelson.
"Mato, do it now while I still got Chariot pinned..!" B RS told her real self.
Taking a deep breath, Mato focused and tried to connect to Chariot and - possibly - Kagari...
"Hmm..?" Dragon Slayer hummed as she looked over her cloister fountain, "Now isn't this an interesting sight"
Dragon Slayer was, at first, preoccupied with her book in her study, trying to decipher the complex writing structure when the water from her fountain glowed. Deciding that deciphering the book would have to take a back seat, she got up from her chair and walked to her fountain. To say she was surprised would have been an understatement, but her curiosity made itself evident on her face. Through the water, she was examining the fight between B RS and Chariot, noticing how B RS was completely on the defensive except for a few moments. Her lips curled up as she watched B RS making use of her powers to create a smoke screen before dashing inside.
"I certainly didn't expect her to get into a fight so soon, but sometimes, reality can be a bitch," Dragon Slayer said to herself before walking to the bookcase placed behind her desk.
Her fingertips drummed against the spine of every book before stopping, feeling the worn out texture of the book she was looking for. Taking the book out of the shelf, she carefully placed it on her desk, making sure that it didn't split apart. The cover of the book was plain, with a beige felt texture and text disappearing with age. Opening it slowly, she skipped through the pages before resting somewhere in the middle of the book, the pages old and blank. Dragon Slayer waved her hand above the pages and lettering started appearing on the blank pages as well as a small image resting on the top left corner.
"Let's see," Dragon Slayer hummed, "Chariot, the other self to Izuriha Kagari, created when Kagari was involved in a car accident which caused her to handicap herself through trauma and mental suggestion"
The smile on Dragon Slayer's face grew, "So, she was already connected to the Otherworld and at such an early age, but she wasn't aware of this until after that 'insane' moment"
"Now, there's probably more..." Dragon Slayer started before the smile on her face disappeared, "... That naïve girl, such an idiot..."
Dragon Slayer slammed the book close before walking around her desk back to her chair, contemplating about what she had just read. Geshumaru was a fool for giving such an order with a broad meaning. The effect an order like that would have is beyond reasonable, especially when it has the potential to end one's life. Now it was starting to make sense why B RS and Chariot are fighting, and if nothing's done to stop it, someone might wound up dead. Taking her jacket from her chair, she walked to the double doors, resting her hands on each one.
"I can't believe her, and after what I taught her about messing with something she can't control..." Dragon Slayer grunted.
She pushed the doors open before leaving her study, and then, her home...
When Mato opened her eyes, she noticed that she was inside a swirling, destructive tunnel. It was as if being placed inside a maelström with nothing to protect you, but nothing to harm you either. The flow was blowing against Mato as she tried to get through, heading straight to where she believes Kagari is at. Pushing through, Mato swam as hard as she could, trying to escape the flow of the tunnel-like maelström. As Mato pushed through, signs of yellow was appearing in the tunnel as well as hints of blue, mixing in together. As Mato kept on pushing through, the flow kept on getting weaker and weaker, similar to being in the eye of a hurricane.
"Almost there..." Mato grunted.
A bright light was not far from Mato and she tried to reach for it, inching closer and closer with all of her strength. Her hand phased through the light and she grabbed a hold before pulling herself through, escaping the torrent. When Mato passed through the light, she noticed she was in a similar place like she once was in, except there were chains surrounded in blue light all around. Mato floated around, looking through the entire place, as if she couldn't believe that this is where Kagari is now. Even though it really was like being in the eye of a hurricane, it felt just as menacing as being in the storm.
"I can't believe it, so this is what Geshumaru done to her..." Mato mumbled before something caught her eye.
She looked to her left and her eyes widened, realizing what the chains are here for. Right in the center of the place was Kagari, trapped in some spherical cocoon as chains were bound to her, keeping her still and subservient. Mato floated towards Kagari as quickly as possible, hellbent on getting Kagari to wake up and escape her bindings. As Mato got close, she felt her heart beating quickly and wasn't sure why it was beating so fast. Mato slowed down as she was near the cocoon and tried to touch it, but when she did, sparks of electricity struck her arm, shredding it.
"Gah!" Mato screamed as she pulled away, examining her arm.
It was like her arm got tossed into a grinder and the skin got ripped apart before it stopped. Mato felt like throwing up at the site of her arm, but cooled down when she remember she suffered through worse than her arm being shredded. Clutching her arm, Mato looked at the cocoon, wondering it there was a better way of getting to Kagari without killing herself. Looking at the chains, Mato went to the nearest one and touched it with her remaining hand, but instantly regretted it when she felt the power imbedded in the chains burning it. It was like there was nothing she could do to save Kagari and stopping her and Chariot from their brainwashed frenzy.
"Damn it, this isn't fair," Mato grumbled, tears welling up in her eyes, "How the hell am I suppose to help her if I can't do anything!"
[Perhaps you're in need of help?]
Mato looked around the area, trying to find the source of the voice before she noticing something coming towards her. She never seen anything that big, but she figured that whatever the thing before her was, its intent is probably genuine. The robot passed Mato before reaching the cocoon and pushing its hands through, ignoring the destruction being caused to its arms. It looked back to Mato as it opened up a hole in the cocoon, nodding its head as a sign of taking the initiative. Mato nodded and pushed forward, passing through the cocoon and stopping before Kagari.
"Great... now what..?" Mato thought; she didn't expect to get this far.
[Can you please hurry... I'd rather have both arms at the end of this...]
Mato looked back at the machine, noticing how the destructive power coming from the cocoon was trying to rip apart its arms, despite it being heavily armored. Mato nodded and looked back at Kagari, now knowing what she had to do. Taking a deep breath and mustering up her courage, she grabbed Kagari's head and did the first thing that came to her head. Their foreheads connected and Mato reeled back in pain, rubbing her forehead to soothe the pain from the headbutt. Mato heard a groan coming from Kagari and noticed how she was pulling up her head, trying to rub her forehead as her eyes fluttered.
"Damn it, whose bright idea was it to..." Kagari grunted out before she focused her eyes and looked around, "Wait, where the hell am I?!"
Mato smiled and hugged Kagari, catching the blond-haired girl off guard, "You're back!"
"What?" Kagari said before she noticed the chains, "Hold on, these chains, that color..."
Mato was still smiling after the hug, but when she noticed Kagari's face twisting in anger, she stopped smiling and exited the cocoon. The robot removed its arms and pulled back, resting where Mato is. They watched Kagari throw a fit, cussing and screaming as she grabbed the chains and tried to yank them off her. It would have been a humorous sight if it wasn't for the fact that there was still one pressing issue. Mato looked to her right, but noticed the machine was gone, probably going back to where it came from.
"Hey, Kagari's back," Mato told B RS, "But how are things on your end..?"
On the other side of things, B RS narrowed her eyes, "Not so good..."
Getting Kagari back was a good thing, but there was still the issue with Chariot, who was going ballistic now. Her yellow, hollowed out eyes was encased in blue as chains were popping out of the ground where she was. She was gripping her head as she screamed, her entire body straining under handling Geshumaru's command completely without Kagari to support her. The ground was cracking and caving in, forcing B RS to go up to avoid falling to the unknown abyss. Summoning her axe again, B RS stood up, analyzing her situation.
"Great, we managed to save Kagari, but in turn, Chariot's losing it," B RS mumbled, "If I was to get close, those chains might attack me, but if I don't, Chariot will rip herself apart..."
With a click of her tongue, B RS crouched down before dashing towards Chariot, black flames surrounding her axe again. The moment she touched what remained of the ground, the chains came after her, trying to stab her and rip her apart. With timed movements, B RS passed through the field of chains; dodging, jumping, and twisting her body around to avoid getting pierced. The chains circled around and aimed to trap her, prevent her from getting through then so she can stop Chariot. B RS looked behind, wondering if the chains could actually trap her before she was hit across the stomach, forcing her back a bit.
"Well, I should have expected that..." B RS mumbled as a swarm of chains dropped from above.
Drops of blood dripped through the chains before they shook, the sound of them rattling getting to Chariot. She looked towards them and saw the chains be sliced apart by B RS, who had open cuts around her body. A black flame circled around her left eyes as she walked out from her former prison. Chariot saw her weapon, but was more frightened by the black phantasm form of it. It had the shape of the axe, but the blade was large and the handle was at least six to seven feet long. B RS stopped before Chariot, staring at her as she gripped her weapon with both hands.
"Enough... is enough," B RS said.
She swung with her axe, the phantasm blade cutting through Chariot without leaving a trace. When B RS finished her arc, the phantasmal form of her axe disappeared along with her black flame. Chariot dropped to her knees, staring at B RS as her eyes corrected themselves. the blue encasements disappearing as the hollowness in her eyes disappeared. She blinked a few times before noticing B RS offering her a helping hand. She took it and stood up, examining her home and how ruined it became.
"Better?" B RS asked, emotionless.
Chariot nodded, "I don't know how this happened but..."
"Of course you don't, it's because one girl decided to manipulate Kagari to get what she wanted," They heard from above.
They looked up and saw Dragon Slayer sitting on a rock formation caused by the destruction, "Geshumaru is rather unaware of her powers and how a command with a broad message can translate to something more..."
"Hold it," B RS said, taking a few steps towards her, "Which one is Geshumaru, the girl or the machine?"
Dragon Slayer smirked, "Both of them; Geshumaru represents the 'balance' of Anomalies in the Otherworld, because of this, she is a formidable foe but also a complete novice when it comes to her new-found abilities"
"How is there two, did you have a hand in it?" B RS inquired.
Dragon Slayer kept her smirk on her face as she got up from her sitting position. The smirk unnerved B RS, not from the fact that she was keeping something important from her, but from the fact that it was like Dragon Slayer was challenging her. B RS clicked her tongue again, not taking the bait and walking back. Dragon Slayer sighed before leaving, realizing that B RS won't stop till she gets answers but also won't be baited so easily. B RS walked back to Chariot, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Tell everyone to keep an eye out for Geshumaru," B RS told Chariot, "Who knows what she'll do next..."
Chariot nodded, watching B RS go pick up her jacket, "And what will you do?"
"I'll keep on fighting until I get answers to all this," B RS explained, "Geshumaru is after me for some reason, Dragon Slayer is hiding some crucial information, and I need to get my memories back"
"And once all that happens..?" Chariot questioned.
"Then something will happen, don't know what, but it will," B RS said as she placed her jacket back on.
B RS walked away, leaving Chariot to wonder what will come next for B RS and everyone else...
"Oi, Mato, wake up..!"
Mato grunted as she opened her eyes, the blurry image right before her speaking. Blinking a few times, the image refocused into the form of Kagari, staring at her with slightly worried eyes. Kagari pulled back as Mato got up and looked around, taking in the scene. They were back at the meeting place, the moon already out in the sky while the lamppost were on, shining light down to the ground. It seems that after the fight, they were booted back into the real world.
"I... I did it..." Mato mumbled before she suddenly hugged Kagari, "You're back to normal..!"
Kagari pounded Mato's shoulder, "Hey, I get it, now will you pull back!"
Mato moved away before scratching the back of her head, laughing, "Sorry, I'm just glad that you aren't going to kill me"
"Maybe I should..." Kagari deadpanned.
The two girls got off the ground and dusted themselves off, figuring that they were on the ground long enough. Mato took out her cell phone and checked the time before paling. It probably wasn't a good time to go back home, especially after all that happened. Taking their bags, they walked away from the place and headed towards the closest place they could go to. It was a bit of a walk, but it was worth it if it meant Mato got to spend the night at Yomi's house.
As they reached Yomi's house, Mato started to feel a bit weak, but ignored it, figuring it was just her being tired. They walked up the stairs before stopping in front of the house door. Before Kagari could right the door bell, The door opened and they were ushered in by Yomi. They weren't aware that she was waiting for Kagari to come back but after she didn't show up, Yomi started worrying. She started speculating that there was something that was keeping Kagari busy with Mato, but after trying to call them for a while and getting no answers did she feel her heart drop.
"Please don't tell me that..." Yomi started.
"I was manipulated by that crazy chick who's out for Mato and tried to kill her," Kagari explained, "We both wound up in the Otherworld in our other selves and fought against each other before B RS and Mato snapped me and Chariot back to normal..."
Yomi placed a hand where she could feel her heart beating, "Oh, I'm glad you're both alright"
"Yeah, well, it wasn't easy getting Kagari back to normal," Mato pitched in, "I almost got eradicated"
Kagari narrowed her eyes at Mato, Yeah, and I should get you back for that headbutt..."
"Kagari, Mato probably had her reasons," Yomi told her.
Kagari pouted, "But that doesn't give her the right to do that, even if it's to get me back to normal..!"
"Well, is there anything else she could have done other than that?" Yomi questioned, arching an eyebrow.
Kagari was about to say something, but let it die on her lips before crossing her arms and looking away. Yomi giggled, it looks like Kagari won't have much choice but to accept what Mato did, even if it hurt her. Yomi heard something crash on to the floor and looked back at Mato, seeing her curled up and breathing hard. Ignoring the broken vase, Yomi bent down to Mato and tried waking her up, but then discovered the red blotches on Mato's right arm. Touching it and hearing Mato scream was enough for Yomi to realize what's going on.
"Kagari, go wake up my mom," Yomi told her, fear etched on her face, "Mato needs to go to the hospital!"
Author's Note: Alright, throw bricks at me before I explain...
Done, alright then. Well, I'm back and I fell proud of this chapter. I think I rushed with the ending, so sorry about that. I'll probably try to correct it at a later point in time, but not right now. My grammar seems to be improving with this new grammar fixed we now have in the doc manager. If there's some nitpicks here and there, point them out in your review. So, I'm back, here's the new chapter, let's see where I go with this story now.
Until then, ja ne!