Hyperdimension: A Thief's Tale

Chapter 21: Meeting Her

Y/n's pov

We countinued to walk around the wasteland. I still couldn't think of how a place like this was destroyed. I needed to help out Uzume, and prevent something like this from happening to other dimensions. We were standing on an edge.

Uzume: we'll have to go that way.
Y/n: are you sure? How do you know?

My question was interrupted by a cracking sound. I looked underneath me and saw that the floor around my feet was cracking.

Everyone: Y/N!!!

The floor fell and i went into a hole. I kicked the walls around me to make myself fall a little more slowly. I landed on my feet and saw i was deep inside the hole. I looked up and saw that my team was ok.

Uzume: Y/- I mean Zero! If you can hear us, try to look for a way out!
Y/n: continue forward! I'll find a way to reunite with you all!
Neptune: please don't die down there!
Y/n: i won't let it all end for me here!
Uzume: i know i already called him cool. But even his will to move on is awesome.

I needed to continue. I found a tunnel and followed it. After a while of walking foward i found a ladder.

Y/n: (in head) it doesn't look like there's anywhere else to go.

I grabbed the ladder and climbed until i found a hatch. I opened it and found myself in what appeared to be a lab.

Y/n: (in head) what is this place?
???: so you've come?

I pulled out my gun and swiftly turned. I saw Uzume, but... Different. She had the same clothing but they were darker and she had dark blue hair.

???: try what you will. It won't save you.

I fired a few shots at her, but they were deflected by what looked like a barrier of darkness.

???: as i've said, it's futile

I stretched my arm out and surrounded myself with a dark aura. I fired an orb of dark energy at her, which took her by surprise.

???: you... Can controll negative energy... As well as i can?
Y/n: I'm not so sure about that.

I turned my back and walked away from her.

???: what are you doing?
Y/n: i must find my team.
???: why care for those people?
Y/n: ... They helped me. They saved me from loneliness. I care for them the same way they care for me.
???: is... That so?
Y/n: yes. I admit that i can be weak sometimes. But with the help of my friends i know that i am capable of doing incredible things. But... Right now... I'm lost... I'm back to being am existence that walks alone...
???: you seem like a person who's too interesting to kill right here. Tell me, what is your name?
Y/n: my name is y/n. Do you have one?
Kurome: it's Kurome Ankokuboshi

I just met the person who was believed to be evil. She's a manifestation of Uzume's desire for vengeance. Could i really call her evil? We shook hands.

Kurome: i... Don't know what it's like to be around someone who wants to be a friend.

I held her hand.

Y/n: i'll be by your side to teach you.

I saw that she was blushing lightly.

Kurome: th-thanks...

A new card appeared in front of me when she walked away a little.

Y/n: there really was no reason to be calling her evil.

I grabbed the card amd felt my power grow with Kurome's.
I caught up with her and spent some time with her. She told me more about herself and showed me that she had her own personal room. We sat down next to each other and exchanged our stories. We laughed a few times while we felt bad for one another sometimes. She was alone. I was once like her before befriending my team. Isolation felt natural for me. But i knew that loneliness wasn't a good thing. And so i told her my story of how i came here and all my adventures and my thieving reputation.
After a while we stopped talking and Kurome sat more close to me.

Kurome: hey... I need to tell you something... Important...
Y/n: is something wrong?
Kurome: no. Your the first person who didn't try to avoid me. Your friendship may have awoken something new in me.
Y/n: so what will you do now?
Kurome: i will create a different path. But... I couldn't have done it without you. There's something i should tell you.
Y/n: what is it?
Kurome: i know that your team is still after me. But know this: no matter what choice you make, i know you'll make the choice you need to make for the greater good.

She gave me a kiss on the cheek of my mask

Kurome: do it for your friends. Do it for me.

I rested my head on Kurome's lap amd drifted off to sleep. I felt the power of the Tower card reach its full strength. I was going to tell my team that i have managed to make a person believed to be evil into a person who can be caring deep inside. But i didn't really know how my team would react to these new circumstances. I guess i'll just have to find out when the time comes.