Author's Note: First chapter post-high school. Got some things to explain after the chapter.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
Geshumaru laid on her bed, looking around the room as she went over her conversation with Mato, wondering if she managed to screw it up. Apologies aren't her forte, and she rather feel someone punch her in anger if it meant they would get better, and not have them accept an uncertain sorry. She needed something to take her mind off it all, otherwise she'll overwhelm herself with thinking too much. She heard a soft rap on her door and sighed, figuring who it could be that wanted to talk to her, regardless of what she says. The door opened and Kanna stepped inside the bedroom, watching Geshumaru stare off into space.
"Hey Naomi, what's up?" Kanna asked, arching an eyebrow.
Geshumaru stared at Kanna, watching her fiddle a bit with her reading glasses, "What do you mean?"
"You got in so quickly and rushed to your room," Kanna explained, frowning a bit, "What's going on in this tremulous life of yours?"
Geshumaru looked towards the wall, "Eh, I just needed to think to myself, and I didn't want anyone to bother me..."
Kanna frowned even more, "Well, that was an odd way of wanting to think to yourself"
Geshumaru cringed a bit, figuring she made a slip that caught Kanna's eyes, someone who was already skeptical about her. Geshumaru couldn't back away from the situation before her, but she couldn't lie her way out, which is forcing her hand to do something she never done before. On the opposite side of things, Kanna was still questioning Geshumaru's actions, piecing things that she saw throughout the year. From an incident like that, Naomi would probably have PTSD or something close to it, Kanna thought to herself, understanding the difference between what could have been and Geshumaru's introverted personality. Kanna sighed and walked up to the bed, sitting on it while Geshumaru shifted, having her back to Kanna's.
"What's happening to the sister I once knew?" Kanna asked, arching an eyebrow.
Kanna felt the bed shift slightly as Geshumaru laid on her back, sighing, "L-let me tell you something..."
"Okay, but then I want answers," Kanna told her.
Geshumaru nodded before speaking, "A year ago, I started hearing a voice in my head, but I couldn't understand it since I thought I was just hearing things
"It kept going all day until I fell asleep, and I thought I was dreaming until I heard the same voice in my head, but more clearly," Geshumaru said, biting her lip, "I saw an older woman looking at me before I looked at a mirror and saw my reflection, but it didn't feel like it was me..."
"What is she talking about..?" Kanna wondered, confused.
"I felt so confused until the voice talked to me, and I fumbled around with my words before I could even say something," Geshumaru smiled slightly, remembering the meeting between her and Naomi, "The voice told me, no, that other me about where I am and that I wasn't dreaming... I was in this alternate reality called the Otherworld..."
Kanna turned her head slightly to the side, "Otherworld..? Okay, something isn't right here..."
"I couldn't believe it at first, but as days went by, I kept on hearing the same voice in my head that I couldn't ignore it," Geshumaru said, "So I started interacting with this other me and learned about this Otherworld, wondering for a moment if I was going crazy until we decided to switch places for a few days, it was surreal...
"When I opened my eyes, I was in her world, experiencing everything that she experienced and interacting with her so-called teacher, whose name was weird: Dragon Slayer," Geshumaru told Kanna, "It was very weird, but very real and after we switched back, I just knew that there was more to everything than what I thought"
Kanna's mind was in jumbles, but she decided to "follow" what Geshumaru was telling her, "So, what happened?"
"I would help her out with any problems that she had to deal with, and this lasted until Dragon Slayer created her a partner," Geshumaru said softly, "She told me to relax and have fun with my family, so I did and I was slowly getting back to my life when the car accident happened...
"I didn't know why, but I felt like I was in limbo, talking with my other self," Geshumaru said, "We both 'died' in our own side of reality, but I could let her die so easily, especially since I had no problems that would disappear"
"So?"
"I don't know, the next moment was all a blur..." Geshumaru lied.
Kanna turned so she could see Geshumaru's face, their eyes meeting each other for a moment as Kanna processed what she just heard. Each second felt like a minute for Geshumaru, she wasn't sure what would happen if Kanna figures out the story behind it all. Geshumaru was almost about to twitch when she saw Kanna's chest go up and down as she started to chuckle before it turned into a full-blown laugh. It was hard to know if her laugh was because she couldn't take the story seriously since she has no knowledge of the Otherworld, of just a toss of salt into wounds that are still healing. Kanna started to calm herself down, but there were a few hints of her laughter left as she tried to speak.
"So... there's this alternate reality that has another version of you and both of your 'deaths' resulted in you being introverted?" Kanna said before chuckling again, "Typical Naomi, she would definitely make a story like that..."
Geshumaru was about to laugh too until she noticed what Kanna said, "What..?"
Kanna looked at her, a frown clear on her face, "... You're not Naomi, are you?"
Geshumaru didn't need to hear anything else, Kanna knew, or is figuring that she isn't Naomi without taking the story literally, which was a huge possibility. It was bound to come out sooner or later, but the damage would have been worse if it came out later, that's guaranteed. Geshumaru thought about how she should tell Kanna about who she is, but the piercing glare she was receiving wasn't helping one bit. Kanna didn't have to say a word to show she's pissed, then again, what could she say? Gritting her teeth, Geshumaru locked eyes with Kanna and let out a breath she was holding inside her.
"My name is Geshumaru, and I'm Naomi's other self..." Geshumaru said bluntly.
Kanna clicked her teeth, "Really, you expect me to believe that, who the hell are you?!"
"Figures, I guess I'll have to show her..." Geshumaru thought as Kanna reached for her.
Reacting fast, Geshumaru's right hand went to the side of Kanna's head and her fingertips brushed against it as her blue eyes glowed, catching Kanna by surprise. Kanna couldn't react in time as she felt everything shift around her while her stomach lurched, the bedroom shifting into something else, something vast. She noticed Geshumaru wearing her Otherworld clothes before looking down at the Otherworld itself, the hints of various colors glowing in certain sections. It was breath-taking and frightening at the same time, and Kanna felt as if she could stare at the world forever while drifting around in this unusual space. Geshumaru removed her hand from Kanna's head and the scene changed back into the bedroom, Kanna scrambling back before she fell to the floor, staring at Geshumaru as if she grew another head.
"What was..?" Kanna mumbled.
"That was the Otherworld, seen from our version of space," Geshumaru told her, "Believe me now?"
"No way... there's a real alternate reality, that's just..." Kanna mumbled to herself before looking at Geshumaru, "Just how does it exist?"
"Consider it, Earth existed for hundreds of thousands of years, same for humans," Geshumaru explained, "As long as Earth exists, the Otherworld will remain"
Kanna arched an eyebrow, "And these so-called 'other selves'?"
"We're 'born' when our real selves are born, but we don't meet each other unless something triggers a set of events, whether here or there," Geshumaru told Kanna, "We bear or real selves guilt and sadness, or we bear their happiness, it all depends on our existence"
Geshumaru could tell Kanna was trying to process everything told to her along with the view of the Otherworld plaguing her head. The results were coming as expected, the atmosphere was a bit heavy for Geshumaru to deal with. She watched Kanna get up from the floor and walk towards the door, her head low as she reached for the doorknob, ready to leave the room. There was nothing Geshumaru could do, she told someone about the Otherworld and that someone is in disbelief. Opening the door, Kanna took a couple of steps out of the room before raising her head and looking back at Geshumaru, who was frowning to herself.
"Keep lying, for them," Kanna told her, her lips pursed into a straight line, "Even if the happiness comes from lies, I don't think they could take it"
Geshumaru watch the door close behind Kanna, sighing as she fell back on the bed, "Great..."
Dragon Slayer walked around the palace, admiring the craft of every detail in the hallways as she let her mind wander around, allowing a hint of peace in her somewhat troublesome existence. It wasn't everyday that an other self snapped, much less an Anomaly, so the granted silence of Geshumaru's absence really made up things. Dragon Slayer came to a halt and walked backwards for a couple of steps before she found a hint of white far off in the hallway. It was a strange sight finding B RS in the palace, then again, she was here before she went off and fought Geshumaru in the real world. Letting her thoughts snap back to reality, Dragon Slayer walked up to the girl, noting that she looked like she went to hell and back; probably remembers her past life, Dragon Slayer mused silently.
"So, how are things?" Dragon Slayer asked her as she neared.
B RS glanced at her before looking forward, "Fine..."
"Okay, she's definitely regressing," Dragon Slayer thought, "You know, I have to thank you for teaching Geshumaru a lesson, even though it was already predetermined from the moment I warned her"
B RS pushed off the wall she was leaning on and started to walk away, trying to drown out Dragon Slayer, a challenge in its own right. Her mind was in shambles after all that happened yesterday and the day before. There was so many things that she could think of: the real world, her memories, Geshumaru, and everyone involved in this mess. No one could understand what happened to her within that time span, even other selves would crack from everything that she saw in the time she was on the other plane of reality. Feeling a hand grip her arm and turn her around, B RS glared at Dragon Slayer, who just stared back at her with no expression on her face.
"Cut this bullshit Shooter, what's going on in that head of yours?" Dragon Slayer inquired, her voice sending chills down B RS's spine.
"Nothing," B RS responded.
"You're lying, and I don't have to do anything to figure that out," Dragon Slayer told her, narrowing her eyes, "The events in the real world changed you and Geshumaru, but she was already experienced, you're not"
B RS shook Dragon Slayer's hand away from her arm, "What do you know about it..?"
"More than you, but that isn't what this is about, it's about you regressing to your persona while you were just an average other self," Dragon Slayer told her, "Granted, an advance one, but that doesn't mean you can comprehend complex emotions and just shut them away, we don't work like that"
B RS grunted, "But I'm not like you, and I'm not like Geshumaru"
"No, but you're certainly not like your past self nor the humane side of yourself," Dragon Slayer noted, "You're lost..."
Dragon Slayer didn't wait for B RS to respond, she grabbed her by the arm and walked her away from the hallway, "Let me bring you somewhere so you can clear your head with this identity crisis; this is the last thing I want to deal with..."
"Where?" B RS inquired, trying to break out of Dragon Slayer's grip on her arm.
"Simple, there's an area that Geshumaru usually trains and relaxes, I'm taking you there to get your thoughts and priorities organized," Dragon Slayer said to her, heading towards an exit, "This area is full of life unlike the rest of the Otherworld, but in order for vegetation to grow, they need a water source"
B RS didn't do anything, she just let herself get caught up in her thoughts, which aggravated Dragon Slayer a bit. What was the point in helping someone who is lost between the identity she has and the identity that she used to have? As they exited the palace and walked through the lush field, Dragon Slayer eyed the chains that connected to the ground, watching them shake slightly. Tremors weren't a usual concept of the Otherworld, regardless of the area unless someone cataclysmic was happening, which would result in evacuation. Dragon Slayer looked forward and took B RS into the forest, following a set pathway made by Geshumaru, her ears catching the sound of trees rustling up above.
B RS heard the faint sound of running water, something she never heard before as they neared the waterfall, the trees around the pool of water scuffed with slash marks. She couldn't help but eye the markings on the trees, marveling at how much Geshumaru kept hacking away, just to improve her style. Dragon Slayer brought B RS to the pool of water and tossed her into it, watching the girl get up and glare at her. Despite helping each other out, B RS still hated Dragon Slayer, albeit to a lesser degree which goes around the scale depending on her actions. Dragon Slayer walked away from the pool of water and headed towards the trees, leaning against one of them while staring at B RS with an inquisitive stare.
"If you want to get rid of those doubts, look at your reflection," Dragon Slayer told her, "This is to open your eyes to who you are, not the identities you had; other selves are a troublesome bunch, Anomalies are no different"
B RS grimaced, "What's the point of all this..?"
Dragon Slayer huffed slightly, "A reflection can seem like nothing, but it speaks to you about your character, your personality; in this case, it's the bridge between you and the fragment inside you"
"So, you're telling me to talk to her, when she wants me dead?" B RS inquired.
"I didn't say anything about talking, I'm telling you to sort out your head by looking at your reflection and tell yourself what you see," Dragon Slayer explained, "I did this when I performed something unrealistic and impossible, just so I can figure out who I am and why I did that"
"I'm not you..." B RS mumbled.
"It's not a matter of becoming or being me, so stop avoiding yourself and wise up," Dragon Slater told her, her voice full of disdain as she turned around and left.
B RS watched her walk away before looking down at the water, watching her reflection ripple as she remembered what happened when she was fighting against the other Geshumaru. The moment they met, she could feel the hatred, something she couldn't quite grasp at from her adventure. She could figure out whether she is different from Dragon Slayer and Geshumaru or whether her process got stinted - incomplete as she came back and laid waste to a giant machine guard of sorts. That brought her to a different topic: her friends, or who she thought were her friends. Her memories spoke volumes about what she did, and she had to ask herself the biggest question about that: what was the point of killing most of them when nothing could be gained from it?
"Am I... really a distorted being..?" B RS asked herself as the reflection smoothed out, but what she saw surprised her.
Her reflection in the water looked like her, but it didn't look like her nor her past self, which surprised her more than anything now. A stab of pain struck her brain as she got up from the water and gripped her head, backing away as she tried to remove the pain she was feeling. It wasn't like when she had to contain the pain from regaining her memories, it was like she herself as a whole was trying to reject what she saw. While she was trying to suppress the pain, she didn't notice Dragon Slayer watching her from the treetops, her amber-colored eyes narrowing as she took in B RS's actions. She watched her entire body tremble as her brain connected the pieces in her head, her fingers flexing as several bones cracked in one fluid motion.
"Well, it looks like you found the source of your problem," Dragon Slayer said, watching B RS leave from the pool of water and walk away, "The question that you have to ask yourself is 'can I solve this myself without Mato to help me?'"
At certain points in her life, Mato has experienced various emotions that ranged from happiness and despair, and she would always go back and be herself. Right now, she wasn't sure what she was feeling as she watched the scene that was right before her, Yuu, Yomi, and Kagari. Geshumaru, in a different school's uniform, sitting on the couch and drinking what appeared as a cup of coffee with Saya. Even thought she was lost in her emotions, trying to understand the scene before her and what she was feeling, she could guess what the others were feeling. While Yomi and Yuu have a part in her problem, they weren't exactly victims so to say, but Kagari however...
If the eye twitch and teeth grinding wasn't enough of a sign, Kagari grabbing Geshumaru by her school's jacket with death in her eyes were.
"Why are you here, and tell me why I shouldn't kick your ass from here back to the Otherworld?!" Kagari snarled, receiving only a blink from Geshumaru.
Geshumaru looked at Mato, "I have classes I have to attend soon, so could you ask her to let go of me?"
"Oh no, I got you right here, bitch," Kagari told her, smirking as she raised a fist, "Better wise up..!"
"Actually Kagari, Geshumaru and I were talking about some important stuff, so I'd appreciate if you let her go," Saya told her as she lowered her cup, "She nice to talk to about what goes on in the world... as long as she isn't after your head"
"Thank you, that's really helping my case," Geshumaru said, mixing her deadpanned expression with a sarcastic tone.
"Sorry Saya, but she brainwashed me into attacking Mato," Kagari told her, her eyebrows furrowed, "Sure, I land an occasional punch, but she made me go too far..."
Mato laughed slightly, unsure, "Uh... me and Geshumaru talked on the weekend and she already apologized, so could you put her down?"
Kagari looked at Mato, wondering if she lost her mind in some way throughout the weekend, before noting that she said that they met during the weekend, probably after the debacle over at Saya's. Subconsciously, Kagari let go of Geshumaru's jacket and she straightened herself out before sitting down on the couch, drinking her coffee. Mato, Yomi, and Yuu shuffled in while sliding the door closed, watching Kagari's expression shift ever so slightly as she tried to grasp what she understood. Saya counted to three in her head as she sipped a cup of café au lait, hearing Kagari thrash around on the floor as the blonde-haired girl screamed in frustration. Everyone stared at her as she laid on the floor, watching her wave her hand in dismissal before they looked at each other.
"I understand that she's angry at me about hypnotizing her," Geshumaru started, "But why is she taking it so personally?"
Yomi chuckled before straightening herself out, "Well, anyone would be angry, but Kagari's anger is a unique one, so it's best that you don't question it..."
"Anyways, before all of you arrived and Kagari had her fit," Saya said, earning a glare from said girl, "Geshumaru was telling me that the Otherworld is at risk"
Kagari stared at the ceiling, "By what, a unique blue-eyed being of higher power that's hell-bent on ruining everything?"
"No," Geshumaru told her, her eyebrow twitching, "I was telling... Saya here about a giant mechanical dragon that could possible be about three blocks in size"
That comment got Kagari to get up and look at Geshumaru, arching her eyebrows, "What..?"
Everyone but Mato and Saya stared at Geshumaru in confusion, wondering what she was talking about when she said "Big mechanical dragon" to them. Mato knew where all this was leading to, but said nothing as Geshumaru started explaining to everyone else what she already told Saya. There was a bone-chilling silence as they soaked in every detail, thinking about what the machine could do to the Otherworld. As Geshumaru started to wrap up the explanation about the Spirit Eater, Saya set down her cup and let out a breath she was holding, her thoughts sorting themselves out. The air around the room shifted all around, and it seemed that whatever happens next could change everything again, a fate Mato resigned herself to after everything that occurred.
"So, I understand there's no time-table for its awakening, but you want us to connect with our other selves?" Saya inquired, cupping her chin.
"It would be the proper counter-measure, but I'm not sure how effective it would be," Geshumaru told her, "Still, I know Dragon Slayer enough to know she's probably thinking the same thing"
Kagari stretched out her back, "This doesn't change anything, but I'm wondering... who the hell is Dragon Slayer?"
There was a dead silence as Geshumaru averted her eyes and stared at a wall, "Let's just say... she's someone who can aggravate you, but also knock you around silly if she wanted to"
"She's not that bad, right?" Kagari asked.
Yomi flinched as she remembered her experience with Dragon Slayer and what she did while she was in Dead Master's body. The fact that Geshumaru is talking about Dragon Slayer just tells Yomi that she isn't dead after being beheaded, if that was even possible. Geshumaru watched Yomi's reactions, but didn't say anything about it, lest she throws salt in some healing wounds. Looking up at the clock, Geshumaru took note of the time and got up from the chair she was sitting in. Lunch was almost done, so she has to get back quickly or else suspicion will rise.
"Well, I better leave, I'm cutting it too close," Geshumaru told them as she walked up to the window and slid it open, letting in the Autumn air.
Mato looked at her, "So, why are you helping us?"
"I'm not... in a way," Geshumaru told her, hopping through the window and landing outside, "I thought that it would be best if I had more help, and it isn't like I could go to anyone about it"
Mato watch Geshumaru dash away, sighing, "I may never get her..."
"I still don't trust the bitch, but if she's telling the truth..." Kagari cut off.
"We all have our own suspicion of her, but I wouldn't take it with a grain of salt," Saya said, scratching her head, "Tonight, when we're sleeping, I want us to link up with our other selves"
Yuu frowned, "You have a bad feeling, right?"
"I think we all have one," Saya said as she looked up at the clock, "Head back to class and go about the day, remember, connect with them tonight"
Kagari huffed as she headed towards the door, "Geez, who died and made you leader..?"
Saya didn't say anything as everyone left, the next period starting up as she was left in the room to think to herself.
The trees within the surrounding forest rustled as wind started coming in, picking up speed as the sky twisted up above as a vortex formed. Faint beams of light shined down from the sky as four figures came out of the vortex and were falling to the ground, gravity taking effect. Gold Saw tried to respond quickly by ripping through reality with her King Saw, but it didn't do much as she, along with Dead Master, STR, and Chariot hit the ground within seconds of her trying to soften the blow in some way. Gold Saw got up and brushed her back, removing the pebbles that managed to pierce her as she examined the area, noting the familiarity. She walked through the trees as everyone else was getting up, looking out from where she was as she found the palace within her line of sight.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Dragon Slayer asked as she walked up to Gold Saw.
Gold Saw frowned, "This isn't a coincidence, why are we back here?"
"Well, I didn't have to tell you where you were going," Dragon Slayer explained, "That tower in the Sky Gates isn't normal based on its construction, but I digress; this is a time for us to prepare ourselves for anything"
"Which is why we're here, correct?" Dead Master inquired.
Dragon Slayer looked back at her, "Of course, though, if you want to know more about the palace, then I can't help you"
"Then who..?" STR was about to ask as she saw the robot walking up to them.
Gold Saw tightened her grip on King Saw as the robot stopped next to Dragon Slayer, "I assume they're here because you invited them?"
"This here is Geshumaru, the 'other' Geshumaru who resides here," Dragon Slayer told them, avoiding the question the machine asked her, "He, or rather 'it', will guide you through the palace until the real Geshumaru appears"
"What's going though your head Dragon Slayer?" The robot inquired, blue smoke emerging from the mouth piece.
Dragon Slayer turned around and started walking away, "Nothing that isn't already in motion"
The robot was silent before it started walking away, gesturing to the other to follow it to the palace as Dragon Slayer hopped to a chain and start walking up on it. She found B RS leaning against a railing on one of the platforms, looking out to the horizon. Dragon Slayer looked up to see hints of storm clouds looming in the distance before refocusing on B RS, jumping off the chain. B RS turned around as she heard Dragon Slayer land on the platform, her Black Blade out and pointed at Dragon Slayer's neck. It unnerved the blue-eyed girl to see Dragon Slayer not react to having a sword pointed at her as a threat, it was like her instincts just took action regardless of anything that happens.
"So, are you going to keep that sword up, or do I have to rip it out of your hands?" Dragon Slayer asked, smirking a bit.
B RS lowered her arm, glaring at the older being, "That did nothing for me, finding 'inner peace'"
"I also didn't say it would be easy, then again, when is it ever..?" Dragon Slayer said, trailing off as she noticed the storm getting closer.
Dragon Slayer let out a sigh before looking at B RS, "You know, the weather in this area makes me wonder what risks we all had to make, and how it affected the Otherworld as a whole"
"Why would it make you think?" B RS inquired.
"We exist based on our real self's attributes, but the reasons behind our existence just causes destruction to come about," Dragon Slayer explained, looking back at the looming clouds, "The actions we take doesn't do anything but make the Otherworld become a barren wasteland, but maybe this time, everything will change with one simple action"
"Right," B RS mumbled as she felt a surge of energy come from several meters away, "I guess Geshumaru is back, hun..."
Dragon Slayer looked behind her, watching the girl head inside the palace from down below, "Well, I guess our break is over"
"I'm not staying, no point for me stick around," B RS told her, turning around and gripping the railing, "Good luck with whatever..."
B RS was about to hop over when she felt Dragon Slayer grip her arm, the pressure breaking the bones and muscles in her arm, "Wait, Shooter..."
Geshumaru walked through the hallways, sighing in exasperation as she tried to focus on the now instead of the one thing that still eludes her: school. There's something about her attending a specific all-girls school that seems too weird for her. She figured she will never understand how Naomi got though it, or how she even restrained her free-spirit nature when attending. Entering the cylindrical tower, Geshumaru saw her partner talking to the other selves Dragon Slayer probably enlisted for help. The fact that they still don't like her is very high, it obvious in Kagari, and she isn't an other self who was either threatened or something.
"I'm guessing this is all we're getting for help?" Geshumaru asked, watching Gold Saw glare at her slightly.
Her partner looked back at her, "Yes, their real selves are sleeping, but that certainly doesn't deter the connection"
"I'm not worried about that, but thanks for informing me," Geshumaru said as she walked up to Gold Saw, "Saya, can you hear me..?"
"We all can hear you, priss," Kagari's voice came from Chariot, "Just where is this Spirit Eater?"
Geshumaru pointed to the black hexagonal tower and everyone looked at it, causing various expression to occur upon their faces, meaning they're definitely having dual control with their other selves. It isn't an easy ability to learn or use, but if both sides are in agreement, then it's a very unique weapon to use. Geshumaru could only see one downside to that and it all came down to the emotions, if one cracked and let their emotions dominate while they're connected, then it will spell doom. The chains around the tower started to rattle as silent footsteps rushed around, causing Geshumaru to narrow her eyes in suspicion, a slight hint of paranoia enveloping her. It isn't usual for the chains to react that way, which meant something was happening in the shadows.
"Hey, where is Dragon Slayer?" Geshumaru inquired.
"She split off from the group before I took them inside," The robot stated, "She was with Shooter last time I checked"
Geshumaru looked around, "I see..."
"What's wrong, is something bothering you?" The machine asked.
"I don't trust Dragon Slayer where she's somewhere alone with someone, it's too problematic," Geshumaru said as she scratched her head, "She's too unpredictable when it comes down to that"
"Oh, I'm hurt that you said that Geshumaru..."
Everyone looked up above and saw Dragon Slayer stare down at them, a chain firmly wrapped around her left boot as she held it, her sword gripped in her right hand. Geshumaru felt something but put it aside, more focused on the feeling she was getting from Dragon Slayer as her amber-eyes looked down on them. There was something dark about them, a hollowness that could never be filled, and yet, a sense of completion that transcended what anyone could expect. The chains started rattling even more as a small tremor shook the palace, the area being covered in a think aura. The tremor stopped, but all of them were on guard; something wasn't adding up and Dragon Slayer wasn't making it easy to figure it out.
"The tremors are picking up and there's a storm outside, enough to state an omen," Dragon Slayer told her, "And since all the pieces are here..."
Geshumaru's eyes glowed, hints of a flame circling around her right eye, "What did you do?"
Dragon Slayer paused as she watched them, "Simple, what needed to happen"
"What did you do?!" Geshumaru shouted as she took a couple of steps forward.
A beam came down before Geshumaru, stopping her where she stood as she looked around, trying to hear the soft sound of something metal hitting the floor. She knew Maid Gunner was sniping at her from a distance, and is probably watching them to prevent anyone from moving forward. Everyone on the walkway started looking around, trying to find Maid Gunner's position while Geshumaru was wondering where Underworld Vulcan is, figuring Dragon Slayer was more ready than anyone. Dragon Slayer lowered the chain, dropping down to their level as she smirked, but it wasn't like the smirks she normally would give. This smirk promised pain, and Geshumaru knew better than anyone that when she reacts like this, she has an agenda aside from her goal.
"Well, you already know my aim, so I don't have to explain that," Dragon Slayer said, "But how is that to go about, I can't do it myself"
Chariot looked at Geshumaru, but Kagari spoke in place of her, "Looks like I found an even bigger bitch than you..."
Geshumaru frowned, focusing on Dragon Slayer, "So what, Maid Gunner and Vulcan is doing it for you?"
"Nope, they would be too preoccupied with their tasks like I will," Dragon Slayer stated, "I needed a juggernaut of sorts, and one that's perfectly malleable for me to make use of, without manipulation of course"
Geshumaru didn't understand what Dragon Slayer meant until something clicked in her head, "You didn't..."
"I had to break a moral code of mine for this, but what do I know about morals," Dragon Slayer said, frowning as her eyes glowed, "Frankly, what do I care about people standing in my way, they are just pawns in this endless game..."
"So what are you, the queen?" Dead Master inquired, gripping her scythe as she and Yomi prepared themselves.
"Ha, I'm no queen in this game, I don't hold the variable that will change everything," Dragon Slayer told them, "I suppose you can call me a knight, ready to follow the queen as she tries to kill the king"
Gold Saw and STR realized what Dragon Slayer was telling them, thinking the same thing as Geshumaru, "Scatter, now!"
The top of the tower exploded as a hail of beams came down upon them, forcing all of them to move away from the walkway except Dragon Slayer, who swung herself to a nearby ledge. A figure jumped from above and landed on the ruined walkway, her appearance surprising everyone including Geshumaru. B RS looked like her old self, except for the various armor part surrounding her body as her eyes stared at them all, red pupils within her violet eyes. Dead Master and Chariot, along with their real selves, watched Gold Saw and STR bodies tense as they saw B RS stare at them with an intensity that matched the aura around the room. She raised her arm and pointed a weapon vastly different from the Rock Cannon at them, numerous sockets around the barrel opening.
"Die," B RS, or rather, I.B RS said.
They dashed out of their spots, I.B RS spinning around with her Insane Cannon Lance as many bullets ripped apart the tower, her eyes barring no emotion. I.B RS pierced the walkway and dropped down to levels below her, breaking any walkway with a simple slash. Geshumaru grunted and gave chase, jumping down along with her partner as a blue flame flared and surrounded her right eye. Gold Saw, Dead Master, STR, and Chariot were about to jump as well when a volley of beams stopped them. Underworld Vulcan walked up to them, one hand gripping a rotary cannon as a supply pack hang around her by a strap.
"No interference," Vulcan told them, her pink eyes narrowing.
Dead Master heard footsteps and saw Maid Gunner near them, her rifle drawn, "No offense, but orders are orders..."
Gold Saw gripped her King Saw and was about to rip a portal open until a chain wrapped around her neck, forcing her to the railing as Dragon Slayer ran up the pillars, sword drawn. Dragon Slayer jumped up and grabbed Gold Saw before pulling her over the ledge, the chains unraveling around her neck as they traded blows before landing on a walkway. They dashed away from each other as they heard the sound of bullets and bladed weapons above and below them, their eyes locked with each other. Gold Saw barred her teeth while Saya tried to figure out what Dragon Slayer's next move was, while the woman held no expression, dashing forward at an alarming rate. Gold Saw brought King Saw up and blocked the attack, but Dragon Slayer kept at it, her amber-eyes flashing pure gold.
"I don't care if you're Gold Saw or Irino Saya, I'm not letting you pass," Dragon Slayer stated as the space between them rippled, both of them backing away as the a destructive ripping a small chunk of the walkway apart.
They readied themselves before dashing again, their eyes glowing with different ferocity.
B RS grunted as she opened her eyes slowly, being greeted with a iron-cast sky up above as she felt something rough on her back. Getting up slowly, she noticed she was laying inside a building that was leaning at an angle. She didn't expect something like this, nor did she know what was going on after what Dragon Slayer did to her, for her, whatever. Walking up to a broken window, she looked out and noticed how ruined the city was as water rushed down below, dragging various object to depths unknown. There was something off about the entire scene, and B RS couldn't help but wonder what connection that it had to her.
B RS took off, leaving the room as she got to higher levels and got outside, looking at the scene before her. It was like a mix between the real world and the Otherworld from what B RS could make of it, despite the eeriness of the entire area. There were many building still standing, some at an angle others broken and is just usable as a bridge. The water below was complete rapids, destroying anything that fell into it, a fate that B RS wanted to avoid at all cost. The difference behind it all was some floating platforms that looked like they were part of the city at one point, complimented with chains strewn around at selected locations.
"This is unreal, what's going on..?" B RS mumbled to herself.
She took a couple of steps before she felt something come towards her, forcing her to roll on the building's rooftop before hoping off and landing on one that was still standing. Looking up, she saw beams coming towards her and brought out her Rock Cannon, blasting them away as she tried to find the person shooting at her. Keeping her guard, she looked around before heard something in the air and jumped back, watching a figure crash to the roof. B RS kept her Rock Cannon drawn as the dust cleared, revealing who it was that was shooting at her. Shock appeared on B RS's face for a moment before to contorted to complete focus, ignoring the unnaturalness of staring at yourself.
"What's going on..?" B RS inquired, watching her past self's flame surround her left eye.
[It's you... it's always been you...]
"That doesn't make any sense," B RS told her, "What's happening here?"
There was no spoken answer, instead, her past self dashed forward with her Black Blade out and slashed at her, forcing B RS on the defensive as B RS tried to stab her. B RS grunted before dashing away, trying to put as much distance between them as she tried to sort out her mind, trying to figure out what's going on. It's obvious that she was in her mind-scape, that much she could get, but there's something else about all this that isn't clicking. Something big is occurring out there in the Otherworld, but as long as she isn't conscious over there, she's oblivious to what's going on. Pushing the thoughts aside, she figured that dealing with her past self is more of an issue in itself, and that took priority over anything else.
Sadly, they weren't the only ones in the area, and it was definitely far from over...
Author's Note: The setting in the last segment is based on an image on DeviantArt of B RS carrying Mato from a ruined city, based on the Tohoku earthquake. Now, I'm not doing this as a means to bring up some bad memories, that isn't my attention. When I heard about that, I raised awareness on a forum that I'm a part of, so I do care about the lives that were lost during that tragedy. Please note that I'm only trying to set up a background for a cataclysmic battlefield for B RS, something that would match her jumbled thoughts and mixed feelings about everything, as well as the internal conflict. Again I'm sorry if this offended anyone, I don't mean to.
Please review and I'll see you all next chapter.