No... please let this be a joke...

"So~?" Linda smirked with all the attitude of a toddler in the pantry. "Pretty sweet right?"

If this crack den of a joint was what her new roommate was calling 'sweet', then Kurome figured toughing it out on the streets might be better for her health.

So this is poverty, huh? The place was squished between two larger buildings, one being a café filled with gangsters playing a round of Nepopoly, and the other was a weapons shop, with a large neon rifle hung across the facing, followed by the words 'Gun'na Get'chu'. Disregarding the awkward placement Kurome could see they had no windows in their place, with only some moldy looking drapes strung up to keep out the flies and mosquitoes she was certain would visit in summer. Is it too late to pass out on the road again, maybe this time not wake up?

"Hello?" Several snaps before her eyes again, and an off-putting look from the very apparent 'hood-rat'. "Gamindustri to Kurome. Damn, you need to stop spacing out."

Sighing in defeat, the beyond disappointed girl wore a face of tired acceptance; ready to succumb to her seemingly certain fate as 'the goth girl next door'.

"Can we just go in?"

"Then keep up. I don't wanna be waking you every few seconds, and you don't wanna be caught slacking in this hood." Linda appeared to shudder a little. "Last time I took a street nap I woke to them playing 'tic tack toe' on my thighs; creepy."

With that incredibly disturbing image filed permanently in her mind, Kurome followed after as Linda lead them into the sorry excuse for a house. Inside she was accosted by a withered staircase, as well as two rooms and a hall; one room left, one room right, and the hall stretching past the stairs, which lead into a turn. Linda took the right, and they found themselves in a filthy kitchen. Stepping up to the rusted refrigerator the dirty-hooded figure pulled the door off the device, and the light flickered on. She set it down beside and reached in.

"Want a drink?" She offered, holding out a can of what the dark twin could only assume was alcoholic in some capacity; due to the stark silver of the metal. Taking into account they were in a dangerous looking neighborhood, and that Kurome was not in fact comically stupid, she declined.

"No thanks."

"Meh, suit yourself. Beer then?"

"Beer?" Kurome squinted her eyes as she focused. "Wait, what were you offering me before?"

"Grape slurpy." Kurome's look of 'huh' appeared to click the pieces together, and Linda's expression lit up as the circuits connected; the lightbulb of understanding had flicked on. "Soda, it's soda. Did you think it was liquor?"

"Yes."

"Hah!" She sent a cheeky look. "Guess I really do look the part of a hardcore girl. Nah, even I don't drink this early. So, change your mind?"

"I suppose." Kurome didn't want to end up with too many questions, and so opted to accept defeat once more; a trend she wasn't liking.

"Catch." Linda tossed the silver can, and she caught it with ease, noting how the word 'grape' was just scribbled on.

"Where did you buy this?" It didn't seem like any brand she recognised, and when you were part of a reality hopping pair that was saying something.

"I know a guy." Linda spoke nonchalantly as she put the door back on the fridge and popped open hers. The overly cocky girl took a seat and leaned back in one of the chairs; which looked like it'd drop at any moment. "He's trying to set up a thing for our hood. Likes to experiment with different flavors of soda, and best of all they're cheaper than anything in the shops."

Suddenly Kurome regretted changing her mind, but she had enough defeat for today and figured that if Linda could down it, then it was safe enough. Knowing she'd faced worse in life - and willing to take out any gained illnesses and frustrations on Linda physically - she reluctantly took it down.

Grape.

On it's own the description didn't quite do it justice. It wasn't just grape flavored, it tasted like actual grapes. Imagine drinking a grape itself, but it's got the texture of mushed up crackers, and even so it goes down like any other soda; slightly stingy in the back of your throat. In her mind Kurome was wondering just how the ever-loving hell this 'guy' Linda knew pulled off such sorcery. In her inebriation of incomprehensible thought the 'hood-rat' as it were could be heard laughing.

"Good stuff right?" Her smirk went from taunting to playful. "I'd like to see anyone else try the insanity that this here brings."

"H-how?"

"Passion." Linda told as she stretched a little and relaxed more. "Or so he tells everybody anyway. I haven't failed a drug test so far, so I doubt he's put anything crazy in it. Still though, it's wild how me makes them taste exactly as they're labelled."

Kurome was so befuddled on what she just put in her mouth that all sound had been drowned out, and even Linda's explanation had fallen on deaf ears. The much less shocked girl however still had senses sharp as a knife, and the sound of someone opening and shutting the door was crystal clear to her.

"I'm back, chu!" Warechu called from the hall.

"Hey, come look at this; her face is all funny." Linda in turn called back, and Warechu wandered in to the sight of Kurome still processing if she was in the world.

"Geeze, chu. What did you do to her?"

"Grape slurpy."

"Yep, that'd do it, chu." He faced Linda. "So we getting pizza or what?"

"Pepperoni?"

"I'm feeling deluxe, chu."

It would take the saucy sent of the grease pie to wake Kurome from her complex theories of how such a flavor of soda was possible, and the moment she returned she realized the emptiness of the kitchen. Standing, and now willing to accept the eternal mystery of the soda, Kurome followed the scent back to the hall and across into the other room. A dirty couch, a bean bag, and a small television propped on a night-stand; both her roommates were seated with a box of pizza sitting innocently open on the small coffee table before the couch.

"Yo, you're finally up." Linda called from the squished bean bag, rolling over as her eyes focused back on what Kurome assumed was a movie. "Told you to stop spacing, didn't I, so what had you out so hard; with how you were frozen I'd assume the can was spiked, if I didn't know better anyway."

"Yeah, chu." Warechu was sat lazily on the couch, remote on the arm and a pizza slice resting on his slouched gut. "You were dead for like... twenty minutes, chu."

"Just... thinking about the soda." Slowly and tiredly she made for the other end of the couch, sitting down right as her body gave out again.

"Sorry about that, chu. Guessing Linda didn't warn you before hand just how real the soda tasted."

"How is it even possible?"

"Beats me, chu. Linda gets it from a local seller, so we haven't a clue how it's even made." Warechu reached over to the pizza box and pushed it a little towards Kurome. "Hear, chu, relax a little. We don't have anything else to do today, and it's starting to get dark out, chu."

The spazzed out woman did just that, slipping a slice of gooey slop free of it's rectangular prison and away from it's equally unhealthy brothers, and then shoving the end into her mouth lifelessly as her mind dulled in an attempt to relax. Kurome made damn sure the mass of cheese and other diced veggies empathised with her mental frustrations, and so it was she spent the next twelve minutes slowly slobbering away the lone bit of food.

However a peculiar sight slapped her from the worn out stress, and finishing up Kurome was able to speak her mind, all the while focused on the woman waving on the TV.

"Wait... isn't that Nepgear?" She asked, to which Linda threw her hands up in frustration.

"Oh come on! I can't even escape those lousy idiots in the comfort of my own home?!"

"Relax, chu." The mouse pointed towards the picture box. "It's just the broadcast of that gaming competition they're holding. We delivered the games remember?"

"Wait..." Kurome interrupted as she shot a glance to Warechu. "That's what we delivered, just a bunch of games?" Her pupil's dilated. "To them, right there, at the competition."

"Yep, chu." Warechu lazed further with a cheeky look. "Heh, luck is on our side for once. My guess is we just missed stupid hags."

Kurome, in that horrid instant, was swamped in understanding, a horrendously ironic understanding that taunted her brutally with truth. If Nepgear was at the competition, then there was a good chance that her other half, Uzume, was there as well; she was so close.

And she walked away from them.

"Hey, chu, something wrong?" Warechu tried as Kurome stood. He could not reach her though, as Kurome simply ignored the mouse and turned to face the couch. Both Linda and him stared as Kurome got on her knees, pressed her face into the cushion she was just sitting at, and let out a series of half-muffled swears and screams.

"I... think we should go." Linda began, and Warechu nodded.

"Agreed, chu. Seems we've got another crazy."

"I'll be in the kitchen having a few beers till she cools down." Linda told as she wandered out, only to be followed by Warechu.

"Count me in, chu."

Kurome continued to scream.

.

.

"Huh." IF began, watching as Nepgear absolutely dominated some poor sop in the fighting game displayed on the big screen. "Never thought Gear would be so good at this, especially given her fear of speaking in front of large crowds."

"Well, she's been practicing a whole lot recently." Compa said from IF's side, wearing a soft smile as she gently rubbed the back of a sickly looking Uzume; who appeared visually as a quivering mess on the bench. "Remember, she told us she wanted to meet with Uni in the finals. The two have been going hard all week from what Nep-Nep said."

"Yeah, but still." IF flinched as Nepgear unleashed a twelve-string combo, knocking her opponents health to zero on only the second hit; leaving the other ten as purely overkill. "I expected something like this from Uzume, speaking of..." Casting a glance to Big Nep, IF leaned her back off the tree she was resting against. "How did she even end up like this?"

"Well..." The older looking Neptune started sheepishly. "It began earlier today when Uzume found a weird cartridge on our way back to Hyper Dimension.

Uzume shut out her friends explanation; just wanting to let her stomach settle. Her knees were still weak, and her bottom was aching; at least the feeling in her gut had passed entirely. She still felt a small prick of unease in her chest, but the sickly pain and emptiness had all but faded, and she shuddered at the memory of how.

Upon taking Big Nep's offer for candy the two had gotten some things from the cart, among said things were a couple bottles of soda. Uzume, being a fan of soda in general, had opted to start off with that; she wasn't feeling up to the sugar high Nep wanted, and felt it best to just sip on the drink instead. This, in turn, would prove to be her downfall. No less than five minutes after taking a few gulps had the rumbling in her lower gut began, and all of a sudden that emptiness inside started shifting.

What followed was a two hour span of suffering in the washroom as her insides proceeded to spill themselves outside, along with Big Nep doing her best to council her through it.

"I-I..." Uzume tried to stand a little, only to fall back to the seat as her breathing started again.

"Easy." Compa told as she continued to overlook the crimson haired girl. "Don't move so much; your body needs time to rest."

"I... I'm good, I promise." Uzume sent a sweat covered look of false bravado. "This is... is nothing."

"Please let your body rest." Compa tried once more, worry written into her expression. "Diarrhea isn't fun for anyone. You need to drink lots of water-"

"N-no more, please." Uzume's face was red underneath all that sweat. "Please don't talk about it. I get it okay, I'll rest a bit."

Uzume was in no mood for talk about that, especially considering how the feeling of loneliness from before was still in her chest. Sure it was small and manageable now, but just knowing it was there had her confused a bit. Throughout her time suffering on the toilet she'd accepted that her 'sickness' might have been what caused the intense sour feelings earlier. While that was partially the case she noted how the feeling had not left her chest completely, like it had her lower stomach area. Even so she reasoned that it might be because she wasn't fully better yet.

"Alright now." Compa, ever the angel, started up again. "Did you eat anything strange today, Uzume?"

"N-no." The red-head answered, a little strained but still legible. IF, this time with a bit of irritation, started some questioning of her own; she was fed up with how sour things were turning.

"Well, what did you eat?" She began with crossed arms, hiding her annoyance as best as she could. Sure she felt bad for Uzume, but considering this was such a dirty sickness IF knew it had to be something the girl ate.

"We had s-some pizza on our way back to Hyper Dimension." Uzume started, and IF nodded.

"Okay."

"And some fried chicken."

"Go on."

"Followed by smoked ham, glazed in syrup and pineapple juice."

"Right..."

"And-" Uzume clenched her gut again as she quivered, with Compa on her as before. Big Nep cut in this time.

"I'll continue for us, Uzume seems to be making herself sick thinking about it all."

"I'll say." IF let her cross look show. "Let me guess, everything coming up was greasy food, right?"

"Ever the prophet I see." Big Nep smiled. "So how could you tell?"

"Are you freaking kidding me!?" The Nep bounced back a little in fear. "How could I not? No wonder Uzume's so sick, you two have eaten nothing but junk all day; too much grease for her to handle."

"S-sorry." Uzume offered quietly through deep breaths. "We weren't paying attention; we were excited to see all of you again."

IF sighed and eased up to a more pitiful expression.

"Geeze, what are you two, a bunch of little kids?"

"Iffy." Compa called carefully. "I think Uzume's suffering enough. I'm certain she's learned her lesson."

"I know I know, sheesh." IF sighed as she rested herself against the tree beside their bench once more, looking ahead to the competition at the stage. "Fine, I'll cut you some slack this time, but only because Compa's so worried about you."

"T-thanks Iffy." Uzume let out, doing her best to focus on remaining in control of her bowels.

Shitting yourself was definitely uncool.

.

.

Finally done with her self-berating, followed by a quick and unexpected nap, Kurome pulled herself from the couch, and once again noticed that everyone was gone. Noting her solitude Kurome opted to fall back onto the couch, thinking over her recent decisions.

On the one hand it sucked that she essentially walked out on the chance to reunite with her other half, but on the other hand there was no real guarantee that Uzume was even in the Hyper Dimension at the moment. With Big Nep being their partner, there was a good chance the two were off in some other land exploring, which meant she herself probably had some time before the two returned.

They'd show up eventually anyway, and with how often trouble showed around the CPU's, Kurome was certain she'd hear about Uzume.

"You're awake, chu?" Looking over she saw Warechu peaking his head in the room.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"How's it going then, you sound kind of blasted, chu."

"I'm fine." Kurome answered, only for Warechu to sigh.

"Whatever you say. Anyways, want to come with us?" This drew Kurome's eye.

"Where are you headed?"

"Just out for a drive, chu. Linda's got the wheel, and now that she's sobered up we felt like having a ride."

"Sobered up?" Her eyes very suddenly narrowed. "You were drinking?"

"We were going to, chu, but Linda decided she wanted to have a night on the town, so she swapped to juice instead."

"Wait, if you weren't drinking then why did you say 'sobered up'?" The dark dressed woman questioned, only for Warechu to motionlessly storm an irritated air around him.

"Because that damn woman is ridiculously indecisive, chu. Took her all of two freaking hours to decide if she wanted to go out. A mouse of my quality and respect can only take so much."

"So you say." Kurome stretched as she stood. "Might as well. I don't have any other plans."

"Well then hurry up; I'm sick of waiting, chu." She ignored him as the two walked out, and in the truck parked just ahead on the edge of the sidewalk they saw Linda already in the drivers seat.

"What took so long, slowpokes." Kurome could feel Warechu's desire to beat ass, but said nothing anyhow; she didn't care. "Hop on in and let's hit the road."

The two 'hopped in' as it were, with Kurome taking the back seat as they started down the street.

"So." The once forgotten woman began with eyes out the window. "Any place we're going in particular?"

"There's this club down on the main strip I wanted to check out." Linda responded with a playful tone.

"What's it called?"

"Don't know." Of course Kurome then remembered who she was talking with; common sense was a myth with these two. "But it's opening tonight, so it should be easy to spot."

"Of course." Kurome leaned back, not planning to sleep, but willing to rest her eyes and enjoy what little of the ride she could. "Call me when we're there."

This peace was - as if on que - torn away as the vehicle shook a little. Everyone felt the sudden pressure that smashed into the back of the truck, and as said pressure repeated Kurome felt her eyes widen as all senses kicked into overdrive once more. Warechu said it best as the torrent of rapid ferocity rained across their truck with - strangely enough - splashes of baby-blue.

"Drive-by, chu!"

Author's note

...

And so it is that peace continues to be an ever-unreachable illusion. Kurome and the crew -as always - are once again in trouble, all the while her other half Uzume faces head-on the dark feeling that was filling her this entire time, or perhaps it's better to say expels what was filling her; poor girl's sick.

Anyway, things are just as wild as ever, and now with the neighborhood showing it's colors, Kurome is going to experience first hand how the team of Warechu and Linda handle things.

"Aw shit, here we go again." - Warechu probably.

Also, we've had our first chapter edit back in chapter 2. Nothing plot-wise, however there was one monumentally stupid mistake I made that has since been corrected. Initially at the end of chapter 2 Linda would hand the wheel to Kurome, hence why she was at the wheel despite Linda jumping in initially after they got the truck back.

I never wrote that part in.

I have no idea how I forgot to include that bit, and so as many of you probably saw, Kurome just suddenly was in the drivers seat. Embarrassing as it was I fixed it now, and spiced up the dialogue a little too; unlike my main story false plot-holes aren't part of the plan - don't question it. There's also a small change to chapter 3 as a result, but it's literally just a sentence extension to make the new change smoother.

Nothing to re-read the chapter over, just a consistency change because of my own lapse in attention; which I clearly fell out of temporarily somehow.

See you later.