Chasing Shadows: An Alice In Borderlands Fanfic (Completed)

EPILOGUE

One Week Later

I stood in front of a different window, watching Arisu and Usagi laugh as she sat on his hospital bed.

I had to check on them. Them and Chishiya. Chishiya had awoken from his coma not remembering anything from Borderland, which I found out was typical of my friends.

Arisu and Usagi felt there was something between them when they met at a vending machine in the hospital, but they weren't sure what it was. It was enough for them to become fast friends, though, which made me happy.

As far as how everyone ended up in Borderland in the first place? Arisu and his Karube along with their friend Chota had been struck by a car on the busy Tokyo streets. Usagi had fallen off a cliff while mourning the death of her father. And Chishiya had attempted suicide after becoming disinterested in the world.

I turned from the windows and they darkened, leaving me to bask in my own glow. Tomorrow, we were opening Chasing Shadows to the residents of the Fringe. I was excited to get started.

The door to my room opened and Niragi stepped inside. It was strange seeing him without his rifle. Those two had been more inseparable than he and I, I swear. He looked naked without it. "Whatcha doing?" he asked.

"Just checking on our friends. Everyone is doing okay."

"They were never my friends."

"Whose fault is that?" I smirked at him.

He growled. "Why are you so mean to me?"

"What? The great Niragi is having his feelings hurt?" I laughed out loud at that. "Poor baby."

He stalked into the room. "Have you decided yet?"

I knew this was coming. "Karube and I talked about it. As you know, he's already said he's okay with it. But, Niragi, are you sure you want to do this? It would just be sex. I don't love you. Not like I love him."

"I know. It's just...I mean..." He rubbed the back of his head. "I just need someone. I need you. You're the only one that put up with me in Borderland. And you're the only one I want. Even if it's just sex. Besides, we're going to be here for a long time, right? And we all need to get along."

I chuckled. "Sure." I needed to change the subject. "So, are you ready for tomorrow's grand opening?"

"I guess. But I'm not sure I'm cut out for this. I mean, when you think of helping people, I don't exactly come to mind, right?"

"I think you'll be better at it than you think." I kept a pleasant smile on my face, but he was inching closer and that made me nervous...

...it made me nervous because my body was betraying me and getting turned on by his proximity.

I backed up until I hit the wall. Niragi held me in place with the weight of his body. "Remember the first time we met?"

I swallowed. "Yes. You were in my room as I slept."

"I saw you at the pool and I wanted you so bad. I would have had you that night if we hadn't been so rudely interrupted."

"All you would have gotten from me that night would have been a knee to the junk."

Niragi snorted. "I doubt it. You know you wanted this." And he waggled his tongue at me.

He bent close to me and brushed his lips against mine. After a moment, he drew back, a confused look on his face.