#dhbtb

<< This idea has changed so much :3 let’s see how it goes

Thoughts are with ::thought as it seemed messy :/ >>

*bzzzt* *bzzt*

Gaaaahhh I have had the worst day today. I almost dying from all the work I've got. I BLAME YOU FOR NOT BEING HERE TO HELP >:(

She simply glanced at her phone and put it back. She wasn't allowed to use her phone on the job. Consequences would....definitely not be pretty. She had to focus, focus...

*bzzzt**bzzt*

I BLAME THEEEEEEE

Her eyes drifted to the phone. One more red strike and she wouldn't be able to keep her phone with her any longer. She had to resist.

*bzzzt**bzzt* THEEEEEEE~

She glanced up and about at her surroundings quickly. Upon ensuring there was no one, she began typing a quick message back.

Don't blame me for all your problems~

She noticed a figure approaching and quickly hid her phone, switching to work mode. With a smile, she gave the usual business greeting.

"Good evening, I see you've finally made it here- oh shi"

"Using your device again I see~ Don't you ever learn?"

Her mouth turned dry. She tried to stutter out an excuse but her phone was whipped out of her hands before she could say anything.

Gone. Her only solitude.

Now she would have to survive this hell of a job without it.

Of course that demon would do this.

She looked straight at her phone. Taped to the space in front of her with the touch functions broken. At least she was able to read.

*bzzt**bzzt*

Got a lower score than last time on my tests today. Need to do betterrrrr

She took it back. There was no better torture than being able to see but unable to do anything. Hopefully she'd get the rights back for phone usage soon.

The curry for lunch was great~ Where's my reply >:O . . . It's boring when we don't get to chat.. :(

.

.

. are you angry?

There's this brunette girl around me recently. She seems fun~

No. She had to reply immediately. This was dangerous! She tapped at the phone desperately but to no avail. The screen's touch functions were dead after all.

She panicked. She was at her job 24/7, without her phone, she wouldn't be able to communicate. She had to warn the other. To stay away. stay away. Before it was too late.

We had sushi today! Here's pictures~

I'm so obsessed with this song recently. We both listen to it a lot!

We're practically inseperable~ still miss talking to you though.

The other was getting closer to the brunette. Getting deceived. Soon she would be forgotten.  She didn't want to be.

:: That's not me. Don't get close.

*bzzt**bzzzt* Hey. I know we haven't spoken in a while. I really need talk. I've been feeling weird lately. The brunette just seems off. She's invasive and asks weird things, it scares me at times.

*bzzt**bzzzt* We haven't talked in a while. And I miss it. Talking with you is fun and you always manage to comfort me. When we started chatting in the game chat online, we just.... clicked. You're special. It feels like I've known you for ages.

*bzzt**bzzzt*

Please reply me. I'm starting to doubt myself. I'm starting to think that maybe you aren't real and I just imagined you for my own convienience.

*bzzt**bzzzt* Please call me, just this once. I need to know you're real. Or this will be the last time I do this.

She stared at the phone in horror. Tapping desperately at the screen although it was a wasteful effort.

::No. No. I need this. Come on.

"You seem like you want something~"

She looked up to the figure before her.

"Please." She cried desperately. "Just this once."

The figure before her smiled. "There will be consequences. But I see you won't care. So.... alright. One call. The first and last you’ll have."

She'd never typed faster in her life.

"Hey."

"......”

"I'm sorry."

"...you sound a lot more different than I imagined."

:: And you sound exactly the same

"What, you thought I was high-pitched and squeaky?"

"No. I just- I really am speaking to you aren't I?"

"The one and only magnificent me."

"I'm more awesome than you."

:: ...you speak exactly the same too

"You wish~ sorry I haven't replied lately, I've been working."

"For four months?"

"Yeah... some technical difficulties. I missed talking to you too."

"Of course you did. Who can even resist me~"

"Ewwww~"

"I'm just so glad you're actually real."

She broke into a grin hearing this and leaned towards the phone. It was so nice to hear the other again after so long.

"Of course I'm real~ I forgive you for doubting yourself, I am too perfect after all."

"Perfectly full of flaws you mean! It's just that someone around me's been acting weird and I'm being paranoid."

This was her chance! She had to warn the other before it was too late.

"About the brunette, you really should-

The phone was swatted out of her hands before she could finish the sentence.

"Terrible! I won't let you ruin my fun."

She stared, eyes full of hate at the brunette in front of her.

"You don't like this haircut? I thought it would suit, seeing as the trends changed and all. Mortal whims are so hard to follow after all~ I'm not going to let you spoil all my fun. This was our agreement after all. You forfeit those rights to me, remember?"

Her eyes blazed with anger. That precious phone call was cut off by this...thing.

"That beautiful, beautiful hateful gaze. I can't wait to see how you'll react when I push your beloved dark-haired girl further. And it's makes me absolutely ecstatic to be amidst all this drama. I'm experiencing all my dramas in real life!" "This wasn't our agreement."

"My, you didn't ask. You shouldn't pin this on me, really, how irresponsible. I'm not an angel. I'm a merchant. Well, you are now at least. Should I really be blamed for your faults? And now, your beloved will be toyed with by me until I see fit, she'll even come to me easier now, seeing as you hanged her call. I did warn that there'd be consequences."

"I didn't hang-"

"My, but it seems you did. And seeing as you'll never speak to her again, she'll face me even more. It was a good idea to leave you the phone after all, I never knew you would self-destruct like this!"

She...caused this? The merchant had known. They had known all along of her actions. She thought she was hiding it well, she thought she had outsmarted them. She thought-

"This is why it's fun to toy with mortals. They're egoistical, think highly of themselves and never give up."

"It's my win this time~ let's compete again in her next life!"

As the merchant walked away, she realised what she had done. She thought by agreeing, she would finally help them both and that it'd be easy to get out. But she had doomed herself to being simply a watcher, and had doomed the black-haired girl to the merchant's whims as well.

She should have never taken the deal.

I grew up with beatings. Hangars, canes, chains. You name it and I've probably been hit with it at least once. It's a typical story. Spare the rod and spoil the child. That's the motto that my mother raised me on. And indeed, I have grown up to be a smart, successful woman bubbling with resentment for my mother. The things she did were inhumane. And I- no, I won't even think of that.

I always wanted to escape her grasp. And as soon as graduated from college, I clinched a job as a respectable business woman, grabbed my savings and left her with a resolve. I would spare the rod, and still raise my child right. After all, she was wrong.

She was never right.

========================================================

"God. You messed up everything again. Can't you even do something as simple as this right?"

This brunette girl was absolutely frustrating. I could have forgiven her if she was an inexperienced teenager. But having such an incompetent subordinate that was the same age as me? Intolerable.

She glanced up, her eyes teary. She seemed to only shrink smaller with every second that passed.

"I'm s-sorry. I just keep messing up and I can't do anything right."

A sigh escaped from my lips. She was really hopeless.

"I'm sorry I ever had expectations for you. I'll get someone else to do them."

A squeak of desperation escaped from her as I walked away.

Useless.

Useless children are not needed in this world.

N-No. I am different.

"Once more chance. And I'll even personally teach you how to use Excel."

Waves of gratitude gushed forth from the brunette once those words escaped my lips.

They are not right.

========================================================

Being able to delete everything after finally completing it in the longest time ever recorded? Only something the brunette could have done. Stereotypes were that blondes were stupid, but maybe brunettes were worse? Or maybe she had just dyed her hair brunette. I had walked out of the room after that mistake. Breathing the same air as her would cause high blood pressure.

Maybe she was hopeless after all.

I guess coal will never become a diamond. Just like you.

My fists clenched instinctively. No. One more try.

As I turned to head back to the room. I was met with a grinning brunette holding a printed report.

"I did it! And it was all thanks to you! I'll definitely be able to hand this in now!"

Done in half the time it originally took. Amazing.

"Let's go out for supper. My treat."

As the brunette sprinted back to the room happily to get her things, I flipped through the report. A smile spread across my face as I read the contents.

Coal can become diamonds.

Mother was wrong.

======================================================

You didn’t get straight As again? What an incompetent child.

*smack*

Even this cane is worth more than you. I never wanted you.

*smack*

Maybe if you didn’t exist. Your father wouldn’t have left.

*smack**smack*

The child of that man can’t possibly be so useless. You must just be a parasite.

And I want nothing to do with a thing like you.

======================================================

The brunette had gotten sick after the supper and couldn't come to work the next day. Having to retrieve urgent documents from her, I had to send them to her place.

As I began to knock, the door creaked open. She had left it unlocked, how careless. I pushed open the door and was horrified by the sight before me. Empty cup noodle bowls all over the room, laundry strewn over the floor, sink full of dishes. This place was a pigsty.

As I scanned disgustedly the room, she stumbled out, sporting untamed hair and mismatched clothes.

"W-what? Wh-Why I wha?" she mumbled out incoherently.

Just like a child.

"Do you… not know how to clean up after yourself?”

“N-no! I do! I forgot this week and I-”

Her stomach growled loudly before she could continue her sentence.

She couldn’t clean. She couldn’t do her work.  She always needed someone to take care of everything.

What a hopeless child.

I don't need you.

Mother didn't. But the brunette did.

I could shape her.

======================================================

Your aunt visited today. With her perfect husband and perfect child. Her perfect family.

I can’t even make you like her. Maybe your father would have stayed if I had her instead.

I never wanted you. We never wanted you. Just disappear from my life.

======================================================

“I-I’ve already recovered you know? You really don’t need to keep helping me clean up. ”

I froze after hearing that.

I never wanted you

No. No. It was different. This one needs me.

I turned around, smiled and stroked her hair.

“Don’t be silly. You don’t even know how to do your own laundry. I’ll handle it for you so don’t complain like a child. Dinner will be ready in a second, just go ahead and settle all your documents. Alright?”

She opened up as if to protest. But she crumbled into a scowl and walked away.

“Yes MOM. I’ll get it done.”

Mom? Did she just-

Don’t call me mother. It makes me sick.

Mother was wrong. As the smile spreads on my face, I know mother is wrong.

It makes me feel so happy.

======================================================

Where are you going with that luggage? 

You’re going to leave me? What an ungrateful child. 

Do you resent me so much? Mother only did what’s best for you.

Mother knows best.

======================================================

I've moved in with my child. I help with all the housework, the cooking, almost everything. We have a perfect relationship. She’s reliant on me and needs me. More than anyone else has ever had.

“Hey~ I’m leaving, alright? Please make corn soup today! I know you can do it! Love you!”

My child is truly so helpless without me. Asking for even such a thing. She could never accomplish it on her own. She can’t cook the foods she wants, can’t clean up after herself. I had to quit my job and get a small part-time job at a store just so I can look after her.

But I enjoy it. The feeling of her entirely needing me. The feeling of raising a child right. It’s rewarding.

Mother is wrong. Sparing the rod can raise a child right.

Useless children are not needed in this world.

My child was necessary.

I guess coal will never become a diamond. Just like you.

I made her into a diamond.

I don't need you.

My child was important.

Don’t call me mother. It makes me sick.

She calls me mother often. Bringing me such joy.

Mother knows best.

Mother never knew anything. Mother was wrong.

I win, Mother.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Spare the rod and spoil the child. Of course that saying is right.

Growing up, I was beaten by my parents. But I learned how to act from that. I learned what behavior got me sweets. I learnt what makes others happy. I learnt that it was never good to be the one submitting. It was best to be in control.

And thus, I learnt which poor saps were easy to target.

I mean of course, it’s usually always men. It’s easy. Batt a few eyelashes, pitch your tone slightly higher, and they’ll give you everything you want.

But when I met my steely successful black-haired superior. I immediately decided that she was mine. It was easy to tell. She never joined in when people talked about their families or parenting. Her hands shook once the word “Mother” was mentioned. She flew into a rage when someone mentioned caning their child.

She was just like me. At least, me if I didn’t learn to act.

The week’s been a blast. She’s paid for everything. She takes care of everything. Even when I go out to meet my other targets, she never questions anything.

What a good, obedient child. Learning how to play house.

Spare the rod and spoil the child? Indeed, if she acts in a way I dislike, I start acting like I will leave her, and she goes back to normal. My rod is smarter than mother’s, more of a psychological attack.

If you don’t want to be beaten. Smarten up.

And I did.

For Mother is always right.

After all, Mother knows best.

Announcer #2: OKAY so I'm broke, desperate, and need the cash so let's go! Today we have TDHTB!

The Dark Haired Girl (D): No, no, it's DHBTB!

The Brunette (B): Wasn't it DHGBG?

D: Was it?

B and D: ..............

Announcer #2: How can you both not even know your own tag?

B: How can an announcer forget his own cues?

D: Let alone refer to guests wrongly~

Announcer #2: Hey! The actual tag doesn't make sense on it's own so it's not my fault! Let's get on to the more interesting issues. So, after the last round, we of course know you're The Dark Haired Girl and The Brunette, and that you've both died plenty of times. But I'm sure we're all dying~ to know more about you both! So let's start with, how tall are you both?

D: I'm 1-

B: *pets D's head* She's shorter than me.

D: *murderous look shot at B*

Announcer #2: A-alright, don't fight. How about your weights instead?

B: I'm 40kg.

D: I'm 35kg.

Announcer #2: *loud laugh* Clearly that's a huge lie. I mean look at your waistlines....

The announcer trails off as he feels a chill run down his spine from their piercing gazes.

*whispers*

D: we know where you live.

B: we hang out on your roof all the time.

*whispers*

Announcer #2: .... of course you'd both be waaay lighter than that! Look at those beautifully slim bodies! A-ahem, alright, lets try something else. *looks at cue cards* Your 3 sizes...... oh god who the hell made these questions!?

*whispers*

D: we could always bring gasoline~ (^O^)/

B: or make you go bankrupt~~  \(owo)

*whispers*

The announcer shuffles through his cards hastily.

Announcer #2: ahaha.. I must've read that wrong! I mean- Since we've already heard from both of you what you think of the stories/deaths so far, what would you wish for if you could control the next story?

D: That's easy! I would like to not die or be killed for once. 

Announcer #2: Well that's a great answer, and to that- O-oh? What's this? I just received a word from backstage saying that you should ask for something possible.

D: Wait so we're going to die either way!? If that's going to happen then I wish that at least the next story is freaking fluffy and doesn't break us apart.

Voice from backstage: Not within budget! Something else please!

D: This is a useless talk-show! We can't wish for anything! 

B: I want a cat.

D: ..... what? 

B: Hey, if I'm going to die I want at least something I can take comfort in.

D: God dammit you brunette. Do our lives mean less to you than a cat?

B: HEY. You're the one who reset and killed me 6 times in Dead End. You're clearly the one who values my life lowly.

D: Well clearly, of course a bottom's value is low! Plus, you slashed me too in Forfeit! We're even.

B: Okay, okay you denial-bottom. So let's both agree on something for the wish.

They both lit up suddenly and turned to stare at each other instinctively. A wide grin grew on both their faces. 

D & B: LETS. GO. TO. JAPAN. 

They both burst into giggles.

B: Alllllright! This is exactly what we've always wanted!

D: A trip for the 2 of us! We'll go to Akihabara's shops, visit butler cafes, eat sushi~ it'll be great!

Announcer #2: Aaaaaand that suspiciously sounds like a honeymoon! Again, here comes the juicy part that was avoided before. So what exactly are you guys to each other?

D: Frrrrriiiiieeeeennnndddssssssssss?

B: I don't think that's going to work this time. 

D: You really want to tell them the truth?

B: Well~ we're not going to get anywhere else by lying. 

D: Alright then. The truth.

Announcer #2: Oh my stars, I'm actually doing my job right for once! Maybe I'll even get a raise! So yes, what exactly is the answer that everyone has been waiting for? Aaaaaand drumroll please~

*drumrolls~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

*drum falls off stage from rolling~ *

B: I guess there's no point trying to hide anymore. I'm the top and she's my loyal obeying botto-

D: HEY. KNOW YOUR PLACE YOU POWERLESS BOTTOM.

B: Aww~ you're so cute thinking you can try and stand up to me <3

D: Ha! I don't even have to stand up to you! One word and you'll be grovelling at my feet.

B: Well you-

Announcer #2: FROM the past talk show, we all know that this will just escalate and since the prison locking up the rest of the characters isn’t exactly the most secure, let's just change the question! Choose. Friendship or love?

D: Well, neither.

B: Exactly.

Announcer #2: You both don't even care about those two things? But that's what your relationship is!

B: No. What we have is......

Overlapping B and D: Love/Lub.

D: You really can't spell.

B: And you really don't make sense.

D: I make dollars~

B: And I'll get a bank card~

Announcer #2: I don't have either dollars or cents right now. But please clarify. What is lobe, exactly?

B: AHEM LUB.

Announcer #2: I DON'T CARE I JUST WANT MY PAY

D: Well you see, LOBE is simply-

???: -a meaningless word that doesn't matter.

From behind the curtains walks out two familiar boys, one with a perpetual frown and spiky black hair and another smiling with a brown bob-cut.

Announcer #2: CRAP WHY DID YOU BOTH APPEAR. 

Qexyr: We clearly have a stronger bond then you two.

Fay(e?) : Something you wouldn't usually admit my great leader~

B: Oh gosh.

D & B: Yaoi~

As the Paradoxymoron pair shoots a look at the both of them, a group of people can be heard approaching.

???: We're going to get our places back phin!

???: Absolutely sharky! It's our right!

???: We want our screentime!!

Announcer #2: This can't be happening. How did you all even escape!?

A Simple Merchant: Well. It's more interesting this way.

Announcer #2: How did you even get the keys?! And why is your voice already identified?!

A Simple Charming Karma Merchant: Ah, I'm afraid I cannot reveal such things to you. If you would like though, we can make a deal in the future.

Announcer #2: DON’T JUST CASUALLY MAKE YOUR NAME COOLER!

The Elegant Dark-Haired Girl: Awesome! We can do that too!

The Beautiful Brunette: We should have done this earlier!

Sushi Freak: Hey! Don't mess with my name!

Cat-obsessed Idiot: Grr... pot calling the kettle black.

The previous announcer appears, looking weak.

Announcer: D-don't. Run. Save yourself....

Announcer #2: You got locked in too!? ....THE MONEY ISN'T WORTH IT. I QUIT!

Announcer #2 runs off in the sunset, deciding finally to screw his pay (FINALLY. The innuendo you sick people have been waiting for) as the stampede of people approaches.

Authors: Ahem ahem. Once again, our weak replacement announcer has too, decided to forfeit his pay. Well, no worries as everyone in this timeline will be wiped and a new alternate dimension will arise. So see you then~

The Simple Charming Admirable Helpful Karma Merchant: To the people here who will be erased from the timeline, fear not. By simply fulfilling the criteria, you may-

Authors: NO PRODUCT PLACEMENT!

The word 'forfeit' was not in my dictionary. It never was. It never would.

As a counter puncher in tennis, it was my job to return every single shot. Every.Single.One. My opponent always had so much glee in their eyes, toying with me, watching me dance frantically across the court chasing after a single green ball; From the left to the right, from the back of the court to the net.

That was until they realized that all the shots were returned successfully, without exceptions. Then it was no longer a one sided power play, not like it ever was.

Shots flew back and forth across the net again and again and again. I ran here and there and returned the shots, each one of them. When would this rally end, surely the question nagged in the opponent's mind, begging to be answered. The desperation to end this physical torture, the longing for a relief from this mental game. The question could not be ignored. My opponent was too weak to ignore them.

The ball hit the net. It was my point. I threw my head back, laughing. Every single one of my joints were creaking in pain from overexertion, from the dashing and the hitting and the jumping. The match was far from ending. It was a laugh of misery, I recognized it well. It hurt. It was painful.

'I can end it all for you. Just say the word, and it will be all over.'

I would not say the word. No one could make me, not even my own body.

It started with an introduction.

"I'm _____" What was his name again? I could not recall. He shook my hand.

Next was a date.

"I think the club could use some of this, don't you think?" He asked. I was not listening.

Then he moved on to gifts.

"It's just for fun." He reasoned. I threw the gifts away.

His last attack was a direct confrontation.

"I love you." He said.

I wanted to reply. No, no I could not. Not my honest answer.

'Say it, lil girl. Let me have your lil brunette friend, and I'll let you go'

"I don't." My voice croaked.

That vile word had no place in my life.

Had I been wrong all this time?

It hurts…

My vision was blurry. The concrete was cold. My body felt cold. I could feel the crimson liquid soaking into my shirt, my dark strands of hair. Unpleasant. Familiar. Disgusting.

It hurts!

Years might have passed, but could not get rid of that vile stench from my body, no matter how much soap I use, no matter how hard I scrubbed. Even if I peeled off all my skin, it persisted there, choking me, threatening to take me helplessly again. That…that vile word was my only safe key, one that locked those stained memories from haunting me; The one thing that convinced me that I had been strong, and I should remain strong, for someone.

'Such a good little girl. For your friend, yes?'

Now that someone was towering over me, standing there, admiring the art she had created.

That someone used to visit this house. There would be dolls and cooking toys and make up.

And there was him. And there was frenzy and pain and cries. All mine.

'Yes, take it. Take it all, for your brunette friend.'

Was all that I did in naught? Why had she looked so vengeful then? Why had she swung the blade to my abdomen?

Should I have let him take her that day instead?

"I should have given up…" A derisive cry escaped parched lips. My voice was raw. I was once again, helpless.

No matter how hard I had tried, how stubborn I had been, all for naught.

I might as well say it.

"I should have given you up."

That person turned her back and walked towards me.

SLASH!

SLASH!SLASH!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Piece my lips together and you would find a smile. How satisfying, that vile word.

<< I am but a simple merchant, what can I do for you today? 

Theme: Forfeit

by Sharky >>

What exactly is the afterlife? Is it an eternal paradise where people live with their loved ones forever? Does there exist a hell where people suffer for their sins? Or is the theory of reincarnation true, where people get a second chance at life?

The answer is, it all is true. Upon death, the deceased are led along a long path. Everyone travels for a day and night, walking along the same long road to reach the eternal gates where they shall be thus judged and all their deeds will be weighed. They'll live accordingly to whatever deeds they have done, the good to live happily, the bad to work jobs and the even worse to... well, we'll save that for next time.

Once the spirits want or need to move on, they'll reach reincarnation. All the accumulated karma will matter there. The next lives will be lived either fortunately or horribly all depending on their deeds till that moment. Of course, the evil will definitely have a horrible time ahead of them.

But, there is a certain way to escape this. Simply speaking, that is us. 

Good evening. I am a karma merchant.

It's hard to happen upon us. Usually we'll only appear before the very desperate. The very needy. Or the very greedy. Someone like you. To those that satisfy such criteria, a forked road will appear upon nearing the judgement gates. If you wander down that rocky path, you'll probably happen upon me or one of my fellow merchants. 

So now that you know how exactly you got here, let me explain what exactly we do. Well we - sorry, I in this case - take all your bad karma off of your shoulders. Completely and fully.  You'll live in the eternal grounds blissfully, without a worry for your next life. This also comes with the perk that you'll be able to choose what species you would like to be next! Isn't that wonderful?

.... what? What's the catch? 

Well, you indeed are a clever one aren't you? Of course you would be wary, you poor thing. Living through every life without ever being with your beloved. You both are always separated one way or another. When you were both dogs, you got sent to the pound. When you were a gazelle, she tore out your throat. When you were a shark, you became shark fin soup in front of her! My my, how terribly delightful!

Why that face my dear? The most beautiful one has yet to come, hasn't it? I see you were finally both human this time round, just like the first time you both met. Yes, yes, you're both girls too! How lucky you are that same-sex marriage is legalized this time round! But oh- how horrible horrible horrible that he would have that you're both siblings. After all, it's never meant to be, is it-

Dear customer, do not make that face! You could be one of the guards of hell right now! Maybe you should have made that face when your religious father found out and locked you up. Or maybe when he began to-

Now now now, you can't hurt me, you may stop trying now. I'm so sorry about making light of your situation, it's just that mortal disputes have become so interesting after all these decades, like soap operas if you must compare it. I almost don't want to make a deal with you. 

Don't worry, I am a professional after all. Let me extend my offer. You fulfill all the criteria. You're desperate to be with her. You're needy for it. And most importantly, I love that burning greed of yours. The fact that you won't be satisfied with her just knowing of your existence. That you want it all. I'll make you a special offer. I'll give you a guarantee that you'll live the most happy loving life possible with her in the next round. In exchange for something else.

I want you to forfeit your right to reincarnate. You've peaked my interest in human affairs and I would love to go and dabble in them for the next few centuries or so. So you'll forfeit that right to me. You'll take my place and be a karma merchant, until I say so.

Wouldn't you want that? To be able to stroke her soft black hair. To be able to look into her dark orbs and see only you. To grow old with her and always be by her side?

You've got nothing more to lose. Well - just your right to reincarnate anyway. So what do you say? 

And today’s headline news! I meet deadlines. Enjoy!

 ~Sharky >>

BH: "That was cheating! That was totally cheating and you know it!"

B: "Hmmm....oh? What's that I hear? Sounds like a sore loser whining~"

BH: "This. Is. Total. Bullshit. I'm going to uncover your stealthy rotten sneaking in the next part."

B: "Objection! I call for a case of false charge your honour. Also, case cannot be followed through with as sequel disc cannot be found."

The black-haired girl stared disbelievingly at the brunette. Surely the other must be joking, how could anyone lose the disc when both discs were in the same package?

As if reading the black-haired girl's thoughts, the brunette quickly jumped up, backing away.

B: "Buuuuut, this gives us a perfect opportunity to test out hypnotism! I knew you'd definitely be interested to try it out, so I created a chance for you! Aren't you thankful?" the brunette squeaked out unconvincingly, fluttering her eyelashes rapidly.

The black-haired girl smacked the other on the head, going on about the danger of amateur hypnotism. She knew there were risks, and didn’t want the other facing them.

B: “So what, you’re too chicken?”

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A glare and another smack later, the situation ended up with the brunette lying on the sofa and the black haired girl sitting at her side.

BH: “Alright, relax your muscles and focus on your breathing-”

B: “Where’s the swinging pendulum?”

BH: “That’s not how it works so just keep quiet and listen to me you forgetful goldfish.”

B: “…”

BH: “Good, now take a deep breath in, and out. In. And out again. Now continue doing that but now focus on the ceiling light as well. Let your eyelids relax, grow heavy. Relax your body part by part and let yourself sink in.”

BH: “My every word is pulling you deeper and deeper, making you more and more relaxed.”

The brunette in front of her looked as if she were peacefully asleep, sending the black-haired girl into a panic. Did she do it right?

BH: “R-Remember back to the last day you played the sequel of Shark Bashers, when was it?”

B: “Friday, last week. April 8.”

The black-haired girl rejoiced, giving a silent fist-pump of joy. She had done it! It was almost unbelievable!

BH: “Alright, after you ended the game, what did you do in the next 5 minutes? Do you still remember?”

B: “I ejected the disk and kept my controller. But then I got hungry and went to get some chips from the top drawer of my wardrobe.”

The black-haired girl groaned. Curse her friend and the bottomless pit she called a stomach. She walked over to the wardrobe and slid open the top drawer. Biscuits, cookies, sweets, disc, bread, cookies…wait disc! She removed the disc from the drawer and walked back to her friend. This experience taught her that one, her hypnotism skills were awesome and two, her friend had a snack shop in the top drawer.

She looked over to the brunette, about to wake the other up but then stopped. This was a once in a lifetime chance! She couldn’t possibly waste such a good opportunity… a devilish smirk grew on her face.

BH: “In the last game that we just played, did you cheat?”

B: “Yes. When you went out for a drink, I added boosts to my character.”

Great. Payback time.

BH: “Tell me an embarrassing secret of yours.”

B: “I wetted the bed till I was 13.”

The black-haired girl covered her mouth, barely able to contain her laughter. This was priceless. But it wasn’t enough, the brunette needed to be punished more!

BH: “Tell me a bigger secret. One that you wouldn’t want to tell others.”

B: “I have a twin.”

The black-haired girl was in shock. A twin? The brunette never mentioned it before.

BH: “Tell me more.”

The brunette kept quiet, not responding to the prompt. Was she too soft perhaps?

BH: “Tell me more about it.”

B: “When my mother found out she was pregnant, the doctors told her that she had twins. My parents were ecstatic. Buying two of everything, matching outfits, chairs – the thought of having twins was a wonder to them. They even came up with similar names for us. We were to be a perfect family.

But then a few months later, she went back to the doctor and was told that… there was only one left. My twin had died. And been absorbed by me. We were a case of vanishing twin syndrome. And that’s why my mum hates me. She says I’m a demon child. That absorbing them was akin to eating them. That she can’t bring herself to love me.

My mother can’t get over the loss of my twin. She says she feels a sense of emptiness, of unfulfilment that she could only mother one child. She cries often and tells me she wanted to at least hold the body of her dead child. And I was the one who deprived her of that chance.”

The brunette’s body shook as she said this, her skin almost going pale white. The black-haired girl grabbed her hand hastily, gently stroking it to ease the other. “….why didn’t you tell at least me?”

B: “When I let it slip before in school the others they- shunned me. Everyone treated me the same as mother did. I was avoided, bullied. People looked at me with disgust. Even I feel that way. I’m disgusting. I absorbed my own sibling. Even I don’t feel like I’m worth something. Vanishing twin syndrome occurs when one twin is already dead but I can’t help but doubt, what if I caused it? What if I am, a demon child?

So I’m afraid to let anyone know again. You’re so cool, smart, amazing even, and you make me like myself more. I’m beginning to accept that it’s not my fault and that I’m allowed to be alive but … they’re haunting me. I-I’m afraid that once I tell you the same thing will repeat again and I- I“

The brunette shot up, hyperventilating, her body trembling and skin already ghostly white. She shivered and curled up with her knees to her body. The brunette flinched when the black-haired girl stroked her back, and was close to tears, suffering.

BH: “Deep breaths, deep breaths. Breathe with me alright? In, and out. In, and out.”

But the brunette wasn’t listening. It was as if she couldn’t hear the black-haired girl, and was trapped in a world of her own. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, unable to reflect anything.

The black-haired girl moved to hug the other, whispering to the other in a soft soothing voice. “You’re alright. You’re with me now. Stay calm, stay calm…”

B: “I told you. Oh god I told you. You’re going to leave, you’re going to hate m-”

BH: “I didn’t know cheating in a game was that serious.”

The brunette’s began to reduce to a normal pace. She shifted out of the hug, lifted her head and shot the other a confused gaze. “C-cheating?”

The black-haired girl gave a smile. “Yes, I do indeed know that you cheated in that last game. You really are a dirty, dirty cheater. I knew your skills could never beat me! And you were so~ nervous that you even broke out of my hypnotism! You cheater!”

The brunette hesitated at this, wiping away her tears. “N-no. I must have told you something more serious. I know something is wrong. I can feel it and I can’t be wrong about thi-”

“Well, you did indeed tell me the serious matter of you being a baby bed-wetter. Maybe you felt so embarrassed about that that you broke out! Hypnotism doesn’t always work fine, you know? Sometimes people wake up in cold sweat and of course, your resistance probably added to that, so of course you woke up uncomfortably!” The black-haired girl claimed in a teasing tone, shooting a grin at the other.

The brunette moved to position herself more steadily. “r-really? T-that’s all?”

The black-haired girl covered her mouth, giving a loud exaggerated gasp. “Scandalous! You have more dirty secrets like that? What is it? Did you poop yourself till you were 10 years old too?”

“N-no!” the brunette gave a slight giggle. “M-maybe you would, but I wouldn’t! ”

“Awww don’t worry! I know you’re a defenceless little baby who can’t defeat a big girl at games. So I’ll go easy on you and comfort you now. I’ll even let you win later, I can’t bully a little child after all~”

The brunette stood up from the sofa, laughing loudly now. “I’m not afraid of someone like you! I’ll go to the kitchen and be right back! Then I’ll crush you even without any help!” She walked off after those words, still swaying a bit in her movement.

The black-haired girl’s smile faded from her face. She hadn’t expected to hear something so serious. The brunette was always so happy when they were together that she thought the brunette never had any troubles. If the brunette had said anymore…she was too afraid to even imagine the consequences. She had hurt her best friend. The situation before was dangerous, and she could only keep it a secret from the other at the moment. If the other found out, who knows what would happen to the her?

She steeled her resolve. She would keep this a secret. At least until the other was ready. Until then, she would have to be by the other’s side, and prevent the other from falling deeper.

“Also, I lied when I said I wetted the bed!” the other yelled from the kitchen.

The black-haired girl snickered.

She thought the next feeling she would feel was the cold blade of the knife slicing through her flesh.

Instead she felt a hard smack towards the ground, accompanied by pain surging through her side.

She opened one of her eyes, peeking out just a bit, perplexed by what had just occured. It shouldn't be possible for her to feel pain now.

Her friend laid in front of her, still as a statue..... but how? They shouldn't be able to see each other in this cycle, let alone speak. As she opened her mouth to say something, she finally noticed.

her hair, her eyes, her arms, her guts, her lungs, her blood.

but where was the dark haired girl's torso?

Screams and shrieks filled the air as the brunette gazed blankly at her best friend.

. . . the reset. where was it?

======================

The next few months felt surreal. She went through the hospital, the funeral, the therapist, the gazes of pity. But she was only waiting for one thing. The reset.

It happened every time, right? It was always the same thing. Her black-haired friend resetted, they spent time together, they were torn apart and the cycle continued. It was always like that. It had to be like that.

So why was she alone? She waited for the breaking railings, the sudden illness -hell even for the illogical swinging blade to fly towards her. She never thought she would, but she prayed to die. But the harbringer of death didn't come to her, never even showing as much as its cloak.

For the past months, she never felt anything but emptiness. But as an idea came to her, her cold dead heart came to life.

I'll just have to do what she did.

A smile stretched across her features. She would build a time machine.

==============================

uselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuselessuseless

She was a useless being. A worthless existence. Scum.

How could she ever hope to reach her friend's genius? Ever since her last resolve, she had worked and worked and worked. Studied, read, slaved over any material she could find. All fueled by the hope that she could meet her friend once again.

Deep inside, she had expected this outcome. Hoping to build a time machine without the basic science foundation her friend possessed was near to impossible. It had already been over a year, waiting longer might render a reset permanently impossible.

As she flung her notes off her desk, she cursed her own incompetence. Why did this cycle leave her? Her friend didn't deserve to die. The black-haired girl had skewed the cycle, and now she just couldn't reset the same way.

Was she stuck with this end?

The glint of the scissors on her workbench acted as the reply.

=============================== It was simple theory.

Say for example, the time machine was the system.

Her friend was always the brain, so she had  powered the system. But when a system's brain is gone, things would definitely stop working.

With her trembling hands, she plunged the scissors' blades into her abdomen.

If her own previous deaths could be counted as an auto reset, then she would just have to carry out a different one now that the system couldn't work.

She dragged the blades to the other side of her abdomen, snipping the scissors as she went.

One that she could do.

She fell to the floor, writhing in pain. She had to make her death similar as the intended end, just to make sure. She wept in pain while pulling out her organs -she wasn't sure what exactly.

A more primitive solution.

Tears obscured her vision as she began fading from reality. She raised her tool and with one last stab, it was done.