Chasing Shadows: An Alice In Borderlands Fanfic (Completed)

Chapter 20: Through the Looking Glass

Niragi wasn't looking too good as Kuina and I settled him back in his chair.

"Can we go home now?" he mumbled. His face was raw and red where I'd rubbed it into the concrete path. I think his cheekbone was showing.

I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

If he hadn't needlessly murdered so many players during the ten of hearts game. If he hadn't been such a fucking creep, maybe I would have showed more compassion.

Mira reappeared in the room. "Congratulations, players. You have earned a trip home. Or you may stay as a citizen if you like. The choice is yours."

Arisu stalked over to her. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

The Queen of Hearts flashed a wicked smile. "I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean?"

"The game. It was the same one where I lost my friends. You knew that! So that's why you chose it. Tell me, in that deck you had me pull from, were there any other cards? Or just the queen of hearts...your 'dealer's choice'?"

"Oh, you're a smart one, aren't you, my dear Arisu."

"And what of my friends? If I go back, will they be there?"

"If you die in Borderland, you die in your world. There's no going back, only moving on."

His look hardened. If Usagi hadn't pulled him back to his seat, I swear he would have killed Mira.

"You three were too close together. I wanted to test that. Seems you chose the wrong friends."

Usagi stood and slammed her hands on the table as we all gaped at what the Queen had said. "That's enough! Can't you see he's already hurting?"

Mira ignored her and Arisu's barely contained rage and turned to a panel on the wall. She hit a button and a colorful, shimmering portal appeared. "This is your way home. If you choose to go, I will give you this coin, which will allow you access to the portal from the other side for twenty-four hours, in case you change your mind."

She went around the table asking us our choice. All but Kuina chose home. Niragi could barely hold his coin. I had to stuff it in a pocket for him.

Looking at my own coin, thoughts of my husband filled my head. I couldn't wait to see him again. I missed Karube more than anything. Being brought here without him had been a major blow to me. In Tokyo we'd been inseparable. Even problems with the bar hadn't torn us apart.

I slipped the coin in my jeans pocket.

Then Mira let out a little cry of alarm. "What is this?"

We all looked in the direction of the portal. The purples and pinks darkened. The center turned grey before switching to an angry black.

The first thing I saw was the muzzle of a gun. Before anyone could react other than with gasps, my husband stepped through the portal. At least, I think he was my husband.

Arisu and I bolted to our feet at the same time, simultaneously calling, "Karube!"

Karube paid no attention to either of us, focused on something else. The gun went off and Niragi jerked back in his seat before slumping over, a bullet in his skull.

Everyone shrieked. I stood, dumbfounded, as Niragi's body flopped to the floor.

In the ensuing panic, Karube tossed the rifle aside, which looked suspiciously like Niragi's, and reached his hand out to me. "Jen! Let's go!" I didn't have much choice. He was my husband, after all. I grabbed his hand.

As he pulled me with him through the portal, I saw Arisu racing for the rifle, but I was dragged to the other side before I saw what he did with it.

I could only imagine.

***

We came out in an alley, surrounded by lively sounds. Life. Tokyo was alive again.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, Karube swung me to face him. "Are you okay? Are you burned?"

Why was he asking me such a specific question? "Wh-why would I be burned?"

"Helping Niragi. The other Jen was burned."

What in the world was he talking about? "Other...Jen?"

"Yes. She stopped me from entering the alley with you. She saved my life."

"She what?" I was so confused I felt dizzy. When I fell against him, he helped me sit on the ground and settled beside me, leaning against a dumpster as I keaned against him.

"Maybe I should start from the beginning. When you ducked down the alley, I heard you call me from across the street. Another you. And Niragi was with you."

"I...another me was with Niragi? Why would I ever do that?"

"I died in Borderland. You and I went in, and I died in the first game. You blamed yourself and, well, oddly enough, Niragi saved you, gave you a purpose to keep going. Then you saved him by deflecting a fire attack from someone named...Chi...uh..."

"Chishiya." Thinking of the Niragi I knew, that seemed like a long shot--why would I want to protect someone like him?-- but I also knew Borderland changed people.

"But, he killed you...the other you."

Oh. That was a shocker. "I died?"

"Yes. In our apartment. He was aiming at me, but you pushed me out of the way and took a bullet to the chest." Karube stopped, gathering his courage. I saw tears brimming in his eyes. "I thought I lost you forever, but you gave me a coin and told me my Jen was waiting for me in Borderland." The tears overflowed and trailed down his cheeks. "I held you until you passed on. I-I told you I was sorry, but I couldn't make myself say I love you." He wiped the tears away. "I feel horrible that I didn't."

I put my arms around him and pulled him to me. "It's okay. I knew. I always knew." I could say that with confidence. I knew no one better than myself.

He gave me a sad smile and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. "We should get home. I'm sure you'd like to eat and shower."

"Mm. A nice, hot shower sounds divine. I never felt clean in Borderland, even at the Beach which had hot showers."

"First, hand me your coin."

"Hmm?" Curious, I dug the black coin out of my pocket and handed it to him. As soon as it left my hand, the portal vanished to my eyes.

Karube stood, took both coins and lobbed them at the portal. As they hit it, it flared into being for one brilliant second. In that second I caught a glimpse of Arisu, rifle in hand, fighting Chishiya, Usagi, and Kuina as they tried to stop him from shooting the Queen of Hearts. Then the vision was gone along with the portal.

My husband helped me to my feet and we headed home.

Home.

I thought I'd never see it again.

When Karube slipped his hand in mine, I squeezed it and gave him the biggest, most genuine smile I had.