The laughter of kids and chatter of people echoed through the busy street Miku always took home after school. The lively street had a calming effect on the girl for some reason, most probably the feeling of familiarity as she had taken this route back home for several years.
As the sun began to set slowly, Miku walked home alone as usual due to the fact that most of her friends live on the other side of town. She was just enjoying the evening breeze as something caught her eye. A new shop that was never there before was now taking up a spot at the corner of the shop lots. It did not attract much attention because it looked somewhat plain and dull but Miku couldn't resist her curiosity and went to check it out.
As she peeked through one of the windows of the shop, she could see that it was filled with old antiques and artifacts. This piqued her interest even more and encouraged her to enter the shop. At a push of the heavy wooden door, the light ringing of a bell could be heard over it signaling a customer. After a few seconds when no one came to the door, Miku decided to wander around and take a look at what they had. The shop was filled with beautiful and unique things, ranging from ornaments that seemed to be from the Jin Dynasty in China to battered old armor that seemed to be from the Middle Ages in England.
There was so much wonder and amazement in the young girl's eyes as she continued to look around the shop. At every corner, she would find a new item she had never seen before and be intrigued by it. After wandering around for a while, a small object caught her eye more than anything else, a pink stained glass necklace in the shape of a butterfly. It seemed to be calling out to her as Miku didn't want to leave it.
Her hands reached out to it, picking it up gently as if it would break at any moment and she carefully examined it. The craftsmanship was exquisite, it had sophisticated swirls around the edges of the butterfly and in the middle were three diamond like crystals aligned in a straight line on the body of the butterfly. The whole necklace was perfectly symmetrical as each side was the perfect copy of the other. As she took a look at the price tag, her mood dropped a little as the price range was a little over her budget.
"Ah, I see you have good taste." said a purple haired man who he suddenly appeared behind the now startled girl. "Do you wanna hear a story about the necklace you have there?" asked the shopkeeper who Miku identified as Gakupo due to the name tag on the dusty old apron he was wearing. Interested, Miku nodded her head enthusiastically. Chuckling at the scene before him, the man pushed his glasses slightly higher up the bridge of his nose and began his short story.
"That necklace was crafted around the 17th century. It is said that it belonged to a young lady of noble blood who was killed at the age of 18. The people back then had accused her of witchcraft and burnt her at the stake. When the fire was put out, nothing was there, no ashes nor burnt flesh, the only thing that was left behind was the necklace she had worn into the fire which somehow remained unharmed. It was her most prized possession as it was a family heirloom passed down to her from her parents. Now, in the present, to be the owner of this necklace is said to be a blessing and a curse at the same time as there's a spirit that still lingers around it."
By the end of the story, Miku's ears were perked up high, eager to hear more. "So, what do you think of the story?" inquired the shopkeeper. "It was... Gripping." said the now excited girl.
"Would you like to purchase it?" asked Gakupo as he lead the girl and the necklace to the counter. "I would if I could, but the price is a little over my budget." explained Miku as she regretfully passed the necklace back to the purple haired man.
"How about I make you a deal? I'll lower the price a little just for you but in return you have to come back here and tell me if you've got any luck with the necklace?" offered the shopkeeper with a kind smile.
"Really?" exclaimed Miku with a huge smile. She then thanked the man and bought the necklace. After she handed him the money, she quickly rushed back home as it was already dark.
After reaching home, her mother interrogated her on why she was so late and lectured her on how she should get home earlier next time. After the long speech from her mother, Miku then ran up to her room and took the necklace out of the small paper bag Gakupo packed it into. It was still a little dusty so Miku grabbed a slightly wet cloth and began to wipe off the dust on it.
After a few rubs, Miku's room was suddenly covered in a thick fog that was filled with the light scent of lavender. It was so thick that she could hardly see anything. Grabbing a piece of paper, she tried to fan it away with little success. After the fog started to clear up, the scent of lavender remained and there was a pink haired lady dressed in an old Victorian dress, she wore a sour expression as if she was just woken up from a much needed nap.
"What in the world! Who are you and how did you get my necklace?!" yelled the pink haired lady in a very irritated voice.
"Huh? Are you the lady who was burnt in the fire? Are you the spirit that lingers around this necklace? This is so cool!" exclaimed a very excited Miku.
"I asked first! So you answer me first." demanded the lady with an arrogant tone.
"Oh! I'm Miku and I got your necklace from a antique shop that just opened up just now." explained the younger girl. "Miku! Who are you talking to up there?" shouted her mother from downstairs.
"I'm on the phone, mom!" Miku shouted back as a reply quickly but then returned her attention to the pink haired beauty in front of her. She didn't get the chance earlier but no that she was up close to the lady, she could see the dress she wore hugged her body perfectly, showing curves at the right places but not showing too much. Her eyes were the shades of cerulean and it seemed like you could get lost in them forever.
As Miku continued to ogle at the lady, she failed to hear what she had been saying for the past two minutes. "Hey! Are you even listening to me?" said the pink haired lady as she shook Miku out of her daze. "Huh? Oh, sorry. It was just that you're so pretty." and with that said, the previously arrogant and irritated face morphed into one of blushing embarrassment.
"W-What are you saying?" stuttered the embarrassed lady as she took a few steps back with her face red as a tomato. "I'm just stating the truth." Miku said as if it was the most obvious thing. The pink haired beauty then took a few seconds to calm herself down and then repeated what she asked earlier when Miku wasn't listening. "Was the person who sold you my necklace a tall purple haired man with a long ponytail and a pair of frameless glasses?"
"Yep! How'd you know?" Miku said in a curious tone. "Psychic. Now bring me to him." ordered the pink haired beauty but was replied with a shake of Miku's head. "It's too late now, I'm already about to get ready for bed. I'll bring you tomorrow after school. That sound okay to you?"
"Fine! But don't expect me to cramp back into that necklace, it's too much of a hassle. I'll be taking this side of the bed." said the pink haired lady and with a snap of her fingers, her clothes transformed from the Victorian dress to a more comfy attire similar to a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. She slid into the right side of the bed and hugged Miku's leek pillow as she started to drift off to sleep.
"Hey! That's my side!" pouted Miku as she slid into her usually empty left side of the bed and sulked as her favourite leek pillow was now in the arms of a lady who came out of a necklace. "Hey..." the younger girl trailed off as she nudged the half asleep lady. "Hmm... Go away..." mumbled the lady who was trying to get some sleep.
"Miku! Hurry up and take your bath already! And get to bed! It's already very late!" another shout came from her mother as she heard footsteps come up the stairs. Giving up, Miku quickly left the room to get a shower so that her mother won't come into the room and see a stranger in her bed.
"Not as elegant as you try to be, eh?" Miku said to herself after seeing the sight before her when she got back from her shower. The pink haired lady was now sprawled out over at least two thirds of Miku's bed which put her in a not very ladylike position.
"Never got your name now did I?" muttered Miku as she took a look at the necklace one last time. Observing the necklace much more closely this time, she saw a small engraving on the back of the necklace. As she squinted her eyes to see the small lettering on the necklace, she could barely make out what it said.
"L-U-K-A. Luka... I'm guessing that's your name... Good night, Luka" Said Miku as she slid into the tiny spot that was left next to Luka. The scent of lavender suddenly invaded her nose once again as she let a small yawn escape and slowly drifted off to sleep.