Nekomiya stood inside the old metro residence. Everything felt so unreal for her, almost like a dream. There's children running around and playing, clueless of the horrors beyond these crumbling walls. Men and women helping the elderly as they tried to get by, abandoned by their so called leader and governor.
The worst part is, she's seen all this before...
"Hah..." Nekomiya clenched her fist. "It's okay nya..." she whispered to herself. "You've done this before, you can do it again," she closed her eyes for a moment. A flash memory came upon her, a joyful picture of her, sharing mackerel with her new family, the happiest moment in her life.
The girl snapped her eyes open, fighting back the tears. She stepped deeper into the settlement, some people giving her curious looks, some elderly giving her a kind smile. She recognized some of these people, they were once friends and neighbors.
"Ah, Nekomiya," an old lady walked up to her. "Oh, what a sight to sore eyes, it's been too long since the last time we saw you," she gave Nekomiya a warm smile. "Are you hungry dear? We have some dried fish and rice..."
"N-no thank you!" Nekomiya raised her hands, but the frail aged hand managed to drag her down in front of a make shift pot. A thin piece of plastic carpet separates her legs from the ground as the kind old lady handed her a bowl of rice topped with dried fish. She realized now that she haven't eaten since she arrived in this... reality.
"Thank you..." Nekomiya muttered taking a spoonful. It was saltier than she expected, perhaps because of her tears mixing with the rice. She quickly finished it all in one go and looked down. "That was delicious," she sniffed.
"Ohoho, I'm glad," the old woman was about to give her another, but Nekomiya quickly stood up.
"It's... okay..." she smiled. "That was enough, I'm already full, really, please give it to the rest," she looked around at all the other resident. "Umm, by the way, did anyone wearing public security uniform went here?"
"Hmm? Public Security? I haven't seen those folks ever since the Hollow appeared," the old lady replied.
"I'm early," Nekomiya said to herself. She looked around and nodded, steeling herself. "If... any of those people appear, let me know, okay? I have to go real quick!" she turned around and quickly left the settlement, wiping back her tears and preparing her blade.
The thiren knows nothing about dimensional stuff or anything like that. But the kindness she saw there, it was exactly the same as she's seen before. There's no reason to believe that the people behind her isn't real. There's no reason for her to believe that this world is anything different.
So... why...
Why is she alone?
Footsteps rang from a distance snapping Nekomiya out of her stupor. A group of Vision employee stood in front of her, led by a masked man.
"Out of the way kitten!" one of the men shouted. "Official Public Security business,"
Nekomiya took a deep breath, steeling herself. "No can do nyaa~" she smiled at them, clutching her blade. "This is the Red Fang gang's turf, no entry permitted,"
"Red Fang... Ah! You're Nekomiya aren't you? Didn't expect you to be alive and kicking, looks like the hare missed one!" one of the raiders yelled. "Go home kitty cat!"
Nekomiya narrowed her eyes. "Go home? I am home dimwit, this place IS my home," she glared at home. "And don't you think I'm stupid, I know what your plans are, you're planning to blow us up!"
The raiders looked at each other for a moment. "Well, looks like the cat's out of the bag," one of them said. "Let's just get rid of her quickly so we can continue with our job,"
"Yeah!"
Nekomiya took a deep breath, preparing herself. If there's anything different between her and this world's Nekomiya, she realized. Is that she is far, far more powerful.
'CLANG'
Her blade parried a strike from one of the raider as her blade cleaved through uniforms and cut through shoulders. Her claws rend flesh and screams of agony rang true across the Hollow. She couldn't really care less, really, these people are here to kill innocent, there's no reason for her to be merciful.
Gunshots rang, but she didn't falter. She's dodged something faster before. She danced through the sea of bodies, dual blades crippling raiders left and right.
"FUCK! The hares! Call the hares!!!" one of the raiders shouted.
Nekomiya froze for a split second before kicking away another raider. There's no way right? There's no way, in any world, is there a version of the Cunning Hares who's siding with Vision, right? There's no way she'll have cross sword with her family look alike, right?
"Oh look, it's the kitty cat,"
The familiar voice rang through the battlefield. But it wasn't the warm playful voice she knew and love, it was a cold and deadly taunt that gnaws at her heart. She froze, finding herself surrounded by dozens and dozens of Raiders with a single girl walking towards her.
The girl looked just like Nicole. Pink hair, green eyes, smug grin. She can smell the same brand of cologne and shampoo. She recognizes the same clothes she always wears. But... all her instinct screamed at her that it's not her, that the woman in front of her is dangerous.
"Nicole..." Nekomiya felt her throat tighten, but she forced a smirk. "Didn't expect the Cunning Hares themselves would stoop this low," she gripped her sword. "Killing innocents for dennies? I like you better when you were swindling loan sharks for cash,"
"Oh it's just the economy darling," Nicole purred, walking closer towards her. "You see, things happen and we realize that... we had enough of living off scraps, you know?" she began circling the cat. "Why swindle some low lives if we can get a hold of big wig's pocket? Perlman paid us handsomely for our troubles,"
Nekomiya ignored the burning pain in her chest. Every word she said hurts more than gunshot. It took everything in her power to keep up her act. "Heh... I see..." she forced back the tears, not wanting to show weakness. "Sorry... You just look like someone precious to me,"
Nicole raised an eyebrow. "She must be a hottie then,"
"Yeah, but you're not her," Nekomiya took a deep breath. "You're not the Nicole I know," she took another deep breath. "And if you take another step, I will have to kill you,"
Nicole smirked and raised her hands. "Okay, fine, I'll stay right here," her grin turned deadly as the sky above her began to darken. "But will you? Because I suggest you start running,"
Droplets began to fell from the sky, or rather, fell up to the sky. Clouds formed, sparkling like static as thunder boomed above them. Nekomiya gulped, she's only seen this phenomenon before and it was not a pretty memory.
"What are you planning Nicole?" Nekomiya asked.
"Hmm? I'm just standing here like you're telling me to,"
The Hollow Raiders and Vision Employee began fleeing the screen as blackened spire shot out of the ground. Pulsating neon light shone from cracks forming on the ground. The train's siren blows as every Hollow Raider and Vision Employee evacuated the premise.
A howling sound and thunderous crash appear in the distance. "We're... alone now Nicole, you can drop the act..." Nekomiya gritted her teeth and closed her eyes. "Drop the act, please, I'm so scared,"
"If you're so scared, why don't you run along now kitty cat?" Nicole walked closer to her and Nekomiya has never felt so desperate before. "The Dead-End Butcher will handle the relocation, if you catch my drift."
"That's not funny Nicole..." Nekomiya clenched her fist.
"I think it's pretty funny, it's end of the line, you see?" Nicole walked closer to her.
"Nicole, please..." she choked back a sob.
"Oh boo hoo, little kitten scared of an ethereal..." the woman leaned down to Nekomiya's level. "Run along now kitty cat... Don't be a hero..."
There's no way, there's no way...
"Why are you doing this?" Nekomiya sobbed. "I don't understand... Why would you... why are you so different..."
"Oh darling, don't you know?" Nicole lifted her chin up, forcing her to meet her cold gaze. "When business come knocking, it's kill or be killed..."
Nicole's words echoed in her head and the dam broke. She fell on her knees, sword clattering on the ground, hands clawing at the ground. "JUST KILL ME!!!" she howled in sorrow, the world around her turning into a blur of static grey. "I want to go back! I want my Nicole back! Please!!!"
"Anby was the same..." Nekomiya sobbed. "I thought... I thought I can..." she clawed at the ground. "I was finally happy dammit AAAALLLL!!!!" she howled with all her might. "I want my family back! Just kill me!!!"
'CLANG'
A thunderous shockwave swept through the area. Nekomiya dared to look up and saw the sight of a gigantic ethereal carrying a cleaver. Anby and Billy clashed off against it and Nekomiya, as delusional as it may be, dared to hope one last time.
"Belobog will handle the relocation of the residence, go back in and find someone named Grace. She'll let you know of the plan," Anby spoke calmly. "We'll get back to you once we defeat the Dead-End Butcher," she added.
Nekomiya blinked, processing Anby's words. She turned towards Nicole, who's already preparing her suitcase gun. "You're... going to save those people?"
"Well yea, we tried to scare everyone out of here so we can deal with this thing!" Nicole shot the Dead-End Butcher with her suitcase gun. "I tried to scare you off but you just..."
"I WAS SO SCARED YOU IDIOT!!!" Nekomiya cried, this time out of joy and relief. "GODS! Why do you have to keep LARPing as a villain! I thought you're going to kill off these people for real!!!" she smacked Nicole with the flat of her blade for good measure.
"Hey, watch it!" Nicole yelled.
"I don't care!!! You owe me a whole tuna for pulling that off you hear me!?" she wiped the tears off her face. "Stupid, stupid..." she sniffed and start running. "You better finish that thing off quick or I will run you over with a car!!!"