Finally after three years...A new chapter!

**And I'd like to apologize in advance if I insulted anyone's beliefs in this chapter and throughout the story~

DISCLAIMER! I don't own any of the characters of CCS, only the plot of this story =)

Blessed Thirteen

Colourless flakes of snow gently drift around us, as if they were the pure white feathers of a fallen angel. My emerald eyes gazed intently into his amber ones as my hand tightly grasped the cold handle of my pistol, aimed unswervingly towards his chest. With only the howls of the wind sounding in the atmosphere I spoke with my voice filled with undeniable coldness. "You know, if you're not careful this dismal day may end with the snow tainted by the deep crimson colour of your blood, just like the day we first met." I paused; reminiscing that day, the day when it all began, the day when you changed my fate, the fate that I didn't want to change. I shook my head, 'everything will be fine, if you'd just died'. I linked my eyes with his again; a bitter smile gracing my cerise lips. "So try not to disappoint me, okay? My most beloved, beloved…-"

'Enemy.'

'Ding dong'

'My life is worthless'.

'Ding dong'

'This world is worthless.'

'Ding dong'

'The people in this worthless world are worthless.'

'Ding dong'

'Such as people like-'

'Ding dong'

'People like-'

'Ding dong.'

I let out a frustrated sigh as I stormed to the door. 'Especially people like-' I opened the door my eyes greeted by the sight of Tanabe-san. I took a deep breathe and gave her a sugar coated smile. '-like this infuriating woman.' As I finished my thought I continued to smile at her and used a sickly sweet voice that surely didn't belong to me as I said cheerfully, "Why good morning Tanabe-san, what a…pleasant surprise for a Sunday morning." 'It's 5'oclock in the morning woman! Way too early for a crazy woman like you to be knocking on my door.'

"Oh, you're always such a bundle of joy, Mika. Here, I brought you some of my homemade peanut butter cookies!" She shoved the cookies to me as she giggled hysterically like those drama-overdosed high school girls.

My brow furrowed slightly. Seriously lady, you're already 70 years old, way past the age of a high school student. As I kept my thoughts to myself, I took the cookies and set it down beside me, as I found myself replying pleasantly. "Anyone would become one once they talk to a joyful woman such as you Tanabe-san. And thank you for the cookies." This got her going; whenever I try to compliment her or flatter her she would blush, go into a series of squeals and non-stop gossip talk, a self-defence mechanism when she's embarrassed I suppose.

Now usually, I wouldn't act this way to anyone, especially to her, but she was, after all, the wife of my landlord and I wouldn't want to be kicked out of my new house when I just only moved in a few days ago would I? Well I wouldn't actually mind that much if this house wasn't the cheapest in my school's vicinity. Plus she adores me, every time she comes over she brings a gift, and I don't mean those small-time gifts., I mean like new cooking ware and kitchen utensils to help me move in, or clothes she bought for her beloved "daughter". Since I moved in a week ago I didn't need to buy a single thing for myself. I don't really know why Tanabe-san loves me so much, but I can guess.

The gossiping neighbours mentioned to me quite a few times of how much I look like Tanabe-san's daughter when she was young. Every time I remember this fact I roll my eyes in mockery, just because I look like her daughter doesn't exactly give her the right to change my name to Mika. Well, it doesn't actually matter, since even if she called me by the name I gave her she'd get it wrong anyway, after all, it's just one of my many, many identities. I turned my gaze to Tanabe-san, and no matter how I looked at her; she still had an uncanny and strong resemblance to a penguin.

When I first met her I actually thought she resembled a pig but after I saw her practically waddle towards me, I've changed my mind. Her youthful ponytail started to fall apart as she continued to converse with me enthusiastically, which was basically her talking to herself. When I heard her try to call my attention, my eyes focused on her once again. I saw her baby blue eyes staring intently at me, which made me confused at her sudden silence, only then realizing she was waiting for my reply; I smiled nervously at her, trying to show a childish apology for missing what she said. "Pardon, Tanabe-san?"

"Well Mika, I was just wondering if you'd like to go to church with me next Sunday." She asked coyly.

I gaped at her; she wants me to go to a church? A place we wasted our resources on to build so that we can pray to some old geezer who doesn't give a damn about anything in our lives or may not even exist? I quickly regained my composure when I realized she was waiting for my obvious reply. I tried to reject her offer in the most non-sarcastic way possible. "I'm sorry Tanabe-san, but I am not one of the religious types."

"You don't have to be religious Mika," she giggled.

That annoying giggle again. How on earth does she expect me to continue being nice to her if she keeps acting so annoying? When I felt her eyes upon me again I faked another sugary innocent smile. "I know, but the thing is Tanabe-san, I don't think someone who doesn't really believe in God or doubts that if he even exists should go to a church and pray. You see, I'm an…atheist so please don't take any offence." 'Not to mention that I've said this every time you talked to me you irritating woman!'

"Of course I won't Mika; I don't just expect everyone to follow the same ways and morals I live by." She smiled; I sighed lightly in relief, but I was just a few second to early. "But," she begins and paused as she grasped my hands tightly with a grin upon her face. "That's exactly why it will be so exciting to teach you!"

I chuckled nervously at her freeing my hands from her clutches, no matter what this woman says I am certainly not crossing the threshold of a church. As I listened to her babble on with the things she wanted to do with me, such as mother and daughter events that we were not even qualified to go to. I continued to stare at her blankly, not even doubting for a second that my facial expression was starting to portray signs of annoyance. Though, her oblivious nature probably caused her to miss it.

I bet that nobody would believe in the seven days since I've moved here, that Tanabe-san has tried to talk to me about going to church with her multiple times, well hinting it to be exact. 'But really, who cares about such minor details like that? Either way it's a pain in the ass.' Like, how persistent can a person get? I mean even if she is lonely since her daughter died in a plane crash and that she just happened to decide to make me her replacement. I've better things to do than baby-sit an old granny drowning in loneliness. I felt my annoyance bubbling the more I thought about it, even though I think like that, how am I going to get away this time? If I'm rude and offend her, I might get kicked out! I swear I can feel mind screaming 'I don't want to get kicked out of the cheapest house I ever found!' but I am sure as hell not going to enter the domain of a church.

I held my end up trying to signify her to stop in the most polite way possible, "Tanabe-san, I really must insist on the fact that I'm not fit to go. I'm sure that the things you have planned for us are fun and all-"

"You think so too?" She interrupted me once again. "Then you simply must come with me to church on Sundays from now on! Okay Mika?"

I saw the overwhelming excitement sparkling in her eyes; I immediately knew that I had less than one percent chance of getting out of this mess. But I was never the one to give up till the chances were at zero. "Tanabe-san-"

"I can barely wait till next week!" She squealed.

"Sorry but I-"

"Imagine all the things we could do!" She interrupted yet again.

"Excuse me-"

"We could do one of those family activities that happen after choir!"

I growled, once again I felt my irritation beginning to rise, 'why can't she shut up for one second? And we aren't family!' "Please just a-"

"And you'd love the tea and cookies Mika, they are simply scrumptious. We have them every Sunday after prayer."

'I don't even know what to do in a damn church anyway.' I raised my voice slightly trying to force my point across, but she was speaking so fast I could barely fit a few words in. "Wait a minute-"

"Oh! And aren't you entering school tomorrow as a transfer student? If you're nervous about making friends you can ask our Lord for good luck or any other wishes you may have. He would surely listen to your pleas!" She laughed heartily.

My eyes narrowed at those words because I honestly didn't care what beliefs she wanted to push upon me. It was just her usual drivel she tried to get me interested in. I've always acted sweet and calm around her so I would never get on her bad side. And I know I shouldn't care what she thinks, or what she says but-

"Tanabe-san!" I yelled so loudly, that even she stopped to listen to me. When I saw her cobalt eyes finally look at me, I took a deep breath as I lowered my voice before I began verbalizing my excess anger. "Tanabe-san," I repeated again to calm myself. "Because you don't really seem to understand my former words, I will repeat them once again." I could hear my voice shaking from anger as I gritted my teeth taking my full effort to try to seem calm. I took a quick glance at her to see if she was really listening to me this time, she was, looking quite shocked actually. Guess she never thought that here sweet and kind 'Mika' would have an outbursts like this, I was totally out of character right now, but I suppose I don't really care about that right now.

I took a gulp of air to try calming myself once again, "I am an atheist, in short it means I neither believe in nor have a God. I thank you for your efforts but I-" I paused, thinking of the right words. "I, don't think that some almighty higher being whom none of us have ever seen before could possibly exist on earth let alone in the sky. I'm the type of person who has to see it before believing it."

I saw her try to argue with me so I held up my hand signifying her to stop because I wasn't near done yet. 'For once in your life lady listen to someone else talk.' I swallowed before continuing. "And even if he existed I truly doubt the fact that he would spend time to listen to us, 'small beings'." I raised my hands to show the imaginary quotes; sarcasm was slipping into my voice. "Therefore when people beg God for forgiveness for some sin they committed or confess to it, I doubt God was even listening to them, and even if He was, just how do people know that He has granted them forgiveness or not? More importantly, why do we even have to go to Him for forgiveness? I mean He was never in any way part of our problems, so if we want forgiveness so much we should go get it from the people we wronged." Okay, well even I thought I wasn't making any sense there, but you know when I'm mad I usually just say anything that comes to mind. At least I sound like I have a lot of logical reasons. 'But wow I might end up talking more than Tanabe-san, which would make a world record.'

"Also, when people say things like how the bread and wine you eat is the flesh and blood of the son of God, Jesus Christ as you call him. No matter how put it, bread is bread and wine is wine, and even if you really want to believe that it's the limbs and blood of Jesus, are you or are you not basically admitting that you want to kill and eat Jesus which by the way is cannibalism. Or how they talk about how Jesus died on what we now call Good Friday and raised from the dead after 3 days of worship or whatever, I really wonder, and no offence Tanabe-san, how on earth can you believe such idiocy? Because no matter how hard you desire it, the dead cannot come back to life, it virtually defies all scientific reason. And honestly, it's like you're ridiculing the value of human life, actually, all life forms really."

I glimpsed at her wondering if her insignificant mind could comprehend what I was saying. I was genuinely surprised that she had a serious look on her face. 'Wow, for once in her life she's taking me seriously.' I shook my head. 'Correction, the first time she took anyone seriously.' "No matter how-"I swallowed again I swear if I keep this up I might end up swallowing my tongue, my voice was shaking, I griped my hands, my eyes closed, 'even if my voice is wavering, my resolve to reach my goal never will.'

My eyes opened, their gaze filled with unspoken melancholy. I spoke, my voice barely higher than a whisper. "No matter how many times you pray for it, no matter how hard you wish for something. Nothing, nothing will or would ever happen, there's not a single possibility on this planet, on this universe of anyone granting your wish." My eyes darkened, as I gave a crooked smirk, 'that's right, no matter how much you wish for it, your desire won't be fulfilled.' "Nothing can happen because not a single being in this world can hear what your desire is, nor will they bother to help because human beings are just simply selfish. Neither God nor Jesus would help either, and you know why? It's because, as I stated previously, God never even existed in the first place."

I faced her again, relieved that I got all that bottled up annoyance off my chest and probably got out of going to the Church but… my chances of staying in my house begs to differ. After talking like that to a person who's practically my landlord, I was so going to get kicked out. I sighed inwardly, 'and it was so cheap too.'

Tanabe-san's lips parted, I expected her begin reprimanding me for criticizing her religion but all she said was. "Mika." Her tone didn't sound angry or annoyed but rather as if she pitied me. Her eyes were definitely conveying that message.

My eyes darkened, anger, yelling, and fury I can handle, but pity? You've got to be kidding me; I will never in my life accept pity from anyone. I am not some run of the mill girl who lost her way; I simply know what the cold hard facts are in life. Unlike this ironic woman 'I need to get away before her idiocy spreads', I gritted my teeth. "Sorry Tanabe-san but you'll have to excuse me for today; I'm feeling a bit." I paused. "A bit under the weather." Before she could even try to stop me I closed the door on her.

I heaved a sigh of exhaustion, as I slid my back down my door. I raked my hands through my hair, 'with all this stress building up maybe I should start smoking.' I snorted at the thought, 'yeah right, if I did how could I still expect to keep up my stamina? Or my athletic body? No I need to keep my health in check if I want to accomplish my goal.' I thought back to Tanabe-san, 'who's she kidding? Her little fantasies of life are shocking, really. How I survived talking to her for six days before this is beyond me.' I walked back towards my bed and picked up my journal that I was writing in before Tanabe-san interrupted me with her non-stop doorbell ringing.

I scanned my neat cursive writing from today, as it explained why and how insignificant this world was. Ever since that day 13 years ago I never failed to write my assessment for the week. I gave a deriding smirk, 13 years was it? What a lucky, lucky number, perhaps if it wasn't for that day I wouldn't be so paranoid, if it wasn't for that day I probably wouldn't be so against the idea of belief or God. If it wasn't for that day I probably would be like any other normal girl, if it wasn't for that day I wouldn't be seeking anything with such persistence. None of this would have happened, if it wasn't for that day, when I lost it all.

~So how was it? Yeah I know, the first chapter isn't all that exciting T.T usually isnt, hope my next chapter is an attention grabber!

Thanxx for reading! xoxo YuukiRi