Six Different Kinds of Love

Ice Witch

I awake with a dull pain underlying the numbness in my head, and am enveloped by an agitating feeling that I had left something behind...For some reason.

Even before I open my eyes I know that something is wrong.
What happened?
Hang on-where am I?
When I do decide to open my eyes my vision is sleep-blurred and untrustworthy.
All I see are moving shapes of-what look like-people.
I try to rub away the sleep fogging my vision with the fingers of my left hand and while I do, a large group of people are crowded around me, they're eyes red and tired.

They look like they haven't slept in months.
This is....peculiar.
I also notice that I'm not just surrounded by ordinary people, but by a group of girls who all look....very...incredibly familiar.
After I'm finally able to speak, I try to say something that wouldn't seem too panicked. Although, I really was panicking.

"Oh my god-guys I think she's waking up."

Hang on...a blue haired...a pastel haired...a blondie....and...Is this....Is this what I think it is?

"Umm...Ahem...Hello. Before any introductions are made, is it alright for me to confirm that we're all acquaintanced...? And that I'm also not going...unforgivably mad?"

Did that...sound alright?
I sounded normal...what's going on here?
They looked at me as if I spoke a different language.
But...I didn't.
We're they foreign perhaps...?

"Ah-I see-You're not familiar with my tone?"

They looked...almost...disgusted? I honestly couldn't read their expressions however...they looked so familiar.
Is that...Is that Deralto?
No it cannot be...hang on that's hardly possible.

"Deralto-Is that you?"

I poked her cheek.
It was the same softness as usual.
But what was she wearing?
So...covered up and baggy.
Not something Deralto would wear.

"Uh-Hi. Aki it's me...are you ok?"

She spoke with such a high-pitched and soft tone.
That is...Deralto isn't it?

"Y-Yes I'm Akimato Tenebris."

She looked so concerned I...I don't think I've ever seen that much expression in Deralto's face before.
It took me a long few moments to actually realise that everyone was sitting right infront of me.
Even the Kohei.

"Oh-Yukachan fancy seeing you here at a time like this? That's remarkable. Wasn't too rough in the PD I hope."

The green-haired ninja looked at me, also, as if I had gone mad.
But...I don't get it how did we get across to the other side already?
I have no recollection of me and Deralto making it through the Phantom Domain.
Last I remember we were by...
....Maybe I...forgot? Some form of memory loss?
A memory loss caster on the way?

"H-Hey Kohei...I have a questi-"

"Alright Aki. This really isn't funny. You've been bloody unconscious for god knows how long-and then you start playing up as if this is all some joke?"

Oh-The Miss Yamasaki is here.

"Oh-My deepest apologies for not noticing you there Mackenzie."

I'm glad to know they're all safe but...where is the Mistress?
Did she not...make it back...?

"It's amazing to see you all made it but-where is Isabella?"

They again, looked at me as if I was the delusional one here.
Had they seen what they were wearing?
It was...so shocking it was...slightly awful...really.

"Yamachan-you have no protective suit on? Did Miss Lumikki give you a protection spell or are you just...un..protected? Is this place really that safe?"