Finally, after a bit more than a month-long break, welcome to the final part of this story! As with the other two parts, it'll be five chapters long, and hopefully will be updated regularly, on weekends.

Encore et toujours, many thanks to Kokodoru for the beta-reading. :)

THIS IS PART THREE OF THREE! SPOILERS AHEAD FOR PARTS 1 AND 2. RUIN AND REMEDY BOTH NEED TO BE READ IN ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

Enjoy!


At first, Luka was scared. But after the administration had kicked in, all she had to do was follow orders and answer questions. She did not need to think, not even in the most complicated situation, for she was continuously completely honest. There were no stories to invent or reasons to fabricate. Nothing to hide, or deny. After being told of all of the charges held against her, she plead guilty. There was everything she had expected: kidnapping, harassment, breaking and entering, assault, conspiracy, trespassing, attempted manslaughter. Some had specific degrees or a certain number of counts, but Luka couldn't keep track of it all. Sometimes, she would wonder if all of these charges were pulled from what they had gleaned from the letters, or if they had already spoken to Miku and her parents. Either way, it was all there, and as far as she was concerned, it was all correct.

Guilty.

There was more to know, and Luka learned that it was in her right to have a speedy trial, and it was also her right to waive it. She refused to that last one: get it over with, she thought. She wasn't going to stretch her freedom. Despite that, it all took longer than she had hoped. She spent many empty days simply waiting. Her parents visited. They didn't talk much. They promised to be there for her, but Luka suspected that they wouldn't stay on her team for very long. Her father found her a good lawyer who promised to get her out as free as a bird. Luka wasn't after that, however. Just tell them how it is. If they try to make it worse than the truth, stop them. But stop them if they're making it better, too. Make it fair. Nothing more. Nothing less.

She wasn't sure he got it, but at least he agreed.

When the trial did start, she was surprised that it wasn't Miku's parents sitting right there, hoping to get her in prison. And because of that, she never really bothered to remember who exactly it was. A prosecutor, she was told.

It was all far too complicated for her to follow. All she wanted was to get what she deserved.

It didn't help that there was so much to see, to hear, and so many people. An abhorrent amount of witnesses came forward, half of which had next to nothing to say. Some neighbors of the Hatsune family had overheard some moments when Luka had caused chaos in the household. Some people claimed they had seen Luka a few times on the street. But that was hardly interesting.

A few objects were brought forward. The letter paper was there, being compared. Her handwriting was put on display, too. The knife she'd used to pry open the little door to the hollow, the photos she's taken of the house. Luka was happy: everything was moving forward, guaranteeing that she was to be put behind bars for a long, long time. Everybody agreed on what she had done, and there was never any doubt. Her story matched the evidence.

Luka briefly wondered why they held the entire circus act, if she had plead guilty to begin with. Even her friends and family, who had once rooted for her, were faced with the naked truth: Luka was guilty. She did it all. She was a stalker, a ghost. An attempted murderer.

But a single question seemed to confuse everyone: why? Some were confused as to why she took on the job, others wondered why she kidnapped the girl instead of killing her as instructed. Every order was followed down to a T, right up until that point. Everybody argued and went in circles in order to find the answer, and asking her for her opinion wasn't enough. Was she a sadist? Was she money-hungry? Was she simply scared?

Nobody could agree, and Luka didn't care. What did the motive matter, she thought, if the crime was there? But they spent hours poring over the chronology: was Luka threatened before, or after, she agreed to do the job? Luka couldn't remember, the letters didn't help. They simply kept arguing.

But then Miku had something to say.


Luka wasn't sure if she was excited or not. The years of the prison routine were void of exciting surprises, and yet, now that finally, something was happening, she couldn't conjure a proper response.

Parole.

She had been a bit surprised, at first, when they had approached her, telling her that she was eligible for a parole hearing, and even more so when they had announced that it had gone well, meaning she could walk out relatively free after only three years.

"Do you understand the conditions?"

"Yes."

Prison wasn't exactly hell, or boring, nor was it a particularly great place to be. She was fed, clothed, had a place to sleep. At first, she had spoken to the on-site therapist, who had helped her bind off the loose ends that had floated around. The feeling of 'deserving' prison became less harsh, and she was less bitter about the relatively lenient sentence she had been given. And less bitter in general. Plus, all leftover guilt, fear, and paranoia were effectively squashed. Other than that, the company was fair: she hadn't been put with the dangerous types, but not everyone understood that she wasn't much for conversation. She spent most of her time in the vast library, brushing up her history. Sometimes, she liked to spend time in the workshop, carving and cutting and painting. She wasn't much of an artist, but it was good to get her mind out of the daily grind. Often, she helped out in the kitchen, making sure her skills wouldn't deteriorate.

All in all, it had been monotonous.

Her day clothes were returned to her. She got changed, was led to the door. She wondered if she would have to let her parents know that she was free, or if they'd already been notified. She wondered what had become of her studio: had it been taken care of? Had it and all of its contents been sold? Before she could ask, she was told that someone was there to pick her up and that all other arrangements had been made. She wondered who it could be: after she had asked that nobody come visit her, almost nobody had insisted. She didn't even want to receive letters, but couldn't help but wonder if anybody would understand. She was afraid that she'd accidentally cut everybody out of her life, so hearing that someone was actually there to pick her up was something she hadn't expected. She was almost scared of who she might find. Her parents, there to bring her home, only to find out that she couldn't leave the city? Or- No. She didn't want to think about it too much.

She simply stepped outside and hoped for the best.

The prison parking lot was partly empty. The weather was nice. Luka looked around, wondering who she was searching for. Would her parents really cross the country to retrieve her? Did any of her friends still remember her? Nervously, she walked through the lot, quickly coming to the decision that if she were to wait more than twenty minutes, she would walk home. Suddenly, a car honked, and Luka turned to see a silver, old car she vaguely recognized. Behind the wheel sat Lily, who was waving at her.

Luka gulped. Lily, her oldest friend. A friend who had hadn't seen in over three years. What did she think of her?

Slowly, she got in the passenger seat. Lily was wearing sunglasses and light clothes: perfect for the late spring; Luka felt overdressed with her dark jeans and long-sleeved shirt, which only multiplied how uncomfortable she felt. She resisted the urge to squirm.

She hadn't seen her friend in three years. Three years. She wondered what she would say to her. How she would explain herself. Timidly, she shut the door behind her, ready to face the silence of the drive.

But Lily wouldn't have that. The moment the door closed, she took off her glasses and smiled at her old friend.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hey," Luka replied. "So. It's been a while."

Lily chuckled, putting on her glasses and turning the key. The car roared to life. "Three years, Luka. You look great."

"So do you."

"I know, I know."

They drove off. Luka sighed. They sat in silence for a few minutes, during which the pinkette dared cast a few short, uncertain gazes in the blonde's direction. When the car stopped at a red light, she stated, "You're not mad at me."

"Oh hell no. Most everybody else is though. Thought I'd let you know."

"Everybody?"

"My parents, your parents, your other friends. All they heard was 'twelve years of prison', and that was enough to brand you as a criminal."

The light turned green. Luka sighed again. "Well... They're technically correct."

"Yeah, sure, technically. But you're bigger than that."

For the first time in months, Luka smiled.


Instead of going straight home, Lily took her best friend out for lunch to celebrate her freedom. It was a welcome change of pace for the pinkette. Seeing the people come and go, sitting on a terrace in the sun with her best friend, she finally felt like she could connect with someone again. Lily met her halfway and immediately started catching her up on the general situation.

While Luka was away, Lily had moved into her place and lived there in her stead, which answered the pinkette's question about her home's fate. Lily had done so partly because, otherwise, somebody else would have done something else, and partly to get away from the fight back home. It wasn't all that bad, Lily promised her: the Megurine family was simply simmering in sour disappointment, and didn't know exactly how to handle the situation. The Masuda tribe, on the other hand, had started talking poorly of the pinkette, and as her best friend, Lily couldn't and didn't stand for it. A short spat later and the blonde was well settled in Luka's studio. Quickly, she had found employment and paid the rent. Much like Luka had isolated herself in prison, Lily isolated herself as well. She still spoke to her parents and to Luka's family, but they tended to avoid the topic of the imprisoned friend.

"I think your folks will hear you out. In what, two years, you'll probably be welcomed by everyone at the Christmas dinner."

"I won't be able to be there for the next five years."

"Huh?"

Then it was Luka's turn to share, though not about how it had been, but how it was going to be. Being on parole had a lot of strict rules and the more the pinkette spoke, the more bewildered Lily looked. A parole officer, who she had to meet on a regular basis, was the biggest rule, right alongside the fact that the officer could visit her at any time, to make sure she wasn't breaking any of her other promises. No excess alcohol, no drugs. Finding a job. But the most difficult for Lily to understand was that Luka couldn't leave the city for the following five years.

"No travel, at all? And you've got regular dates with a dude who's supposed to know pretty much everything about your personal life?"

"And I need to find a job."

"And if you don't follow any of the rules, it's back to jail for you."

"That's the story."

"So, you're practically still in prison."

"Yes, but if I'm working, at least I'm participating in society."

"Geez."

By then, the food had arrived, and Luka hungrily dug in. Prison food wasn't bad, especially when the others put in their effort for a meal. There was something about professionally-prepared pasta, though, something she didn't even realize she'd craved in all those years. Plus, the company was a precious element: she had missed hanging out with Lily, she had missed their easy friendship. But before she could even get halfway through her plate, she was already beginning to fear Lily's inevitable departure, the return of her solitude. Almost as if she sensed it, Lily easily confessed, in a way that only old friends who could no longer anger one another could do, that she wasn't quite ready to move out of Luka's apartment.

"I'll be honest: the date of your release kind of snuck up on me, so I didn't put in my two weeks' notice, and they need me. Not enough potential waitresses floating around to replace me within a day. I mean hey, the job is yours' if you want, but according to the contract I got to stick around a little bit longer."

"It's no issue," assured Luka.

"Just in case it might have been," Lily teased, knowing fully well that both knew that it would never have been a problem, "I did get a cheap rollaway bed I can crash on. Also, I plan on using my free time to go job and apartment hunting: now that I've tasted freedom from living with my parents, I don't plan on going back just quite yet."

Secretly, Luka was relieved: the thought of living in her studio all on her own wasn't a pleasant one. The mere mental image of getting up, alone, and coming home to an empty space made her sick to the stomach. She didn't say anything though, and the sickness wasn't enough to completely kill her appetite. They finished their plates, returning to conversation.

"By the way…" Lily started, a bit hesitant. "You know how I said that 'most' everybody hates you?"

"Yeah?"

"Truth is, apart from our families, those who cared to read the headlines kind of hated you. Those who bothered to actually find out what went on actually… They admire you."

Luka was gobsmacked. "What?"

Lily giggled timidly. "You didn't pay much attention to what happened out here after your arrest, right?"

"Right."

"So you didn't see the gorgeous consequences of totally dismantling the underground crime scene. Crimes here have been at an all-time low. You've wiped it all away."

Luka remembered with a start what exactly her friend was talking about.

"I can't take credit for that," she said, hiding her discomfort with a quick sip of water.

"Of course you can!" Lily exclaimed. "You stood up to them! Without you, they would still rule the streets! What you did was amazing!"

A looming sense of horror grew inside the pinkette. "The employee who turned in the evidence is the hero of that story," she spoke, slowly. "I'm not."

Lily noticed she didn't like the topic but pushed anyway. "But you-"

"I'm not," repeated the pinkette. "Please. We'll talk about it if you want, but understand that I had no hand in their defeat."

"So what did you do?"

"...I'll tell you at home."

"Alright."

Luka was sorely disappointed. Of course, she was glad to be outside, to be with her friend again, but the thought that the only reason why her friend was so accepting of her, was because of such a terrible disillusion, was heartbreaking. Sooner, rather than later, she'd have to make it clear to Lily what her exact role was in the entire affair. She didn't look forward to it, though. There was the possibility that her friend wouldn't receive the news well, a possibility she hated to imagine.

After lunch, Lily drove her home, unlocked her own door for her, then showed her that everything was still in its place. In fact, the blonde had cleaned up considerably: the fridge, while stocked, was clean; all of the pinkette's clothes had been returned to the closet; the floor and carpet had been vacuumed; all the metal, sinks, handles, had been polished. She stared at 'her' room, at a space she hadn't seen in three years but somehow, it still felt like home. Lily's stuff was already put in various bags she promised she could live out of with no problem, and the rollaway propped in the same location Luka had put her makeshift pillow-bed, back in the day.

"I promise I'll be the perfect roommate!" cheered Lily, worries over lunch forgotten. "My job makes me come home late sometimes, but I'll be quiet."

Luka laughed, "It's fine. You're welcome to stay."

In a question of minutes, both made themselves at home. It did take Luka a little while longer to get used to her room again, though, even without the recent concerns cluttering her mind. She didn't recognize the pair of shoes that sat next to hers', by the door. The brush in the bathroom had a different color hair caught in the teeth. The books in the bookcase, while dust-free, didn't look like they had been opened at all. It was something between unsettling, refreshing and saddening: something Luka didn't want to feel and didn't want to think about. She easily pretended nothing was wrong, accepting how things were going to be from that point on, at least at surface-level.

"So, a job. Any ideas what you're going for?" asked Lily, stretching on the couch.

"Not sure. Anything, really. I can't afford to be picky, right now."

"I can ask my manager, since I'm going out and you're moving in. How about that, being a waitress right next door?"

"I'd appreciate it if you asked."

Unfortunately, the pancake place had already found someone to replace Lily (much to the blonde's anger: 'No potential waitresses floating around, my ass'), so Luka was forced to go hunting. Over the course of the following two days, she carefully put together a CV, numerous letters of all kinds, along with checking and double checking that she had all the paperwork. She expected that finding a job would be a challenge, and she was right. After all, who would employ her? She knew that some prisoners received assistance when it came to this subject or were given contacts or information about companies who would more readily hire them. But she was left in the dark.

She didn't know where to aim. No point in attempting a glorious return: after all, she had been all for replacing Lily. But honestly, she desperately hoped to avoid becoming a cashier. She sent her CV to the local library, a quiet place where she would probably be recognized, but left alone. She did the same to the city's public transportation company, remembering the lie she'd told her parents about working there. Both CVs were accompanied by all the necessary documents. To be sure, she did apply online for the local fast food joints. Maybe she could stock things in the back or something. She wasn't sure how it all worked. One thing was clear, though: she didn't want to face people, especially with what Lily had taught her. Either people hated her, either they admired her, or they had forgotten her. Luka hated the idea of coming across either of the first two. Being spat in the face and being praised for something she hadn't done were both things that made her stomach churn. She refused to look up the full extent of her fame and her infamy online, though. She feared what she would find.

Unfortunately, regardless of her notoriety, she still couldn't afford to be picky.

While she toiled about getting a job, Lily worked at hers. Her friend was out for every lunch and dinner rush, usually 'til well past midnight. She slept on the rollaway and would keep sleeping well into the morning. Her late-rising reminded Luka of her previous roommate, but that was about as far as the similarities went: Lily was unendingly energetic, optimistic and emotional. Just like Luka, she showered in the morning, and unlike her, she didn't like cooking much. Of course, the pinkette appreciated the company all the same: her isolation in prison was necessary, she felt, but she hadn't wanted it to go on for much longer. Getting out of prison so soon was probably a boon, really. Going out for lunch with her friend, simply speaking with a cashier, it all felt...nice. If she hadn't made parole, she wondered how much longer she would have denied mail and contact. Not for very long, she thought.

The third day, Luka had to visit her parole officer, Kaito, and she felt surprisingly nervous about it. That morning, while she brushed her teeth and Lily dried her hair, she admitted that she wasn't looking forward to meeting the man who would watch her like a hawk for the following years.

"Oh, it's fine, Luka. It's his job. He probably works with nutcases all the time. In fact, he might be happy about meeting someone like you for once!"

She laughed but remained unconvinced. Less than an hour later, she walked up to the police station. She entered the building and was met by the sight of a distraught family filling out a form, which was, understandably, ideal for setting the mood. She suppressed a shiver then introduced herself to the man sitting behind the desk.

"I'm here to see Kaito Shion," she said, still nervous.

"Of course. Just head through that door, then the first door on your right."

"Thanks."

Kaito was already there, looking at a few documents of his own. When she entered, he looked up, smiled, and shook her hand. "A pleasure to meet you," he greeted, his voice calm.

"Likewise."

They sat down. He asked a few questions. She thought it was kind of silly. It would be so easy to lie to his face about everything. But she didn't. She had no reason to.

"You are aware that I can visit you at your home, unannounced?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Wonderful." He scribbled some notes in a booklet. "And how is the job hunt going?"

She listed the companies she sent her CV to. He nodded, and recommended she contact the temp agency, should all of them reply negatively, if at all.

"They know who will be willing to hire you, part- or full-time. Maybe you could try a few different things out at first, but you will need to get something stable as soon as possible. No worries, though, no real pressure quite yet. As long as you try, you're ok. I'll let you know when you can start to get concerned," he teased.

She nodded, allowing herself to relax.

"Anything you think I should know?"

"Well, my friend Lily is staying with me for a while."

"Alright, for how long?"

"Just under two weeks."

"Very well."

He reviewed his notes one last time before looking up at her with a smile. "That's about it. I hope I haven't been too scary, this first meeting; we'll be seeing each other quite frequently for the next few years."

"How long will this go on, exactly?"

"Usually, parole would go on to the end of the prison sentence. But because of the details of your case, your general character, and with how well the hearing went, we're looking at five years, right now. It would be a bit ironic for us to follow you like this for ten full years, don't you think?"

Luka couldn't laugh.

"Well," he held out his hand with a kind smile. "See you Tuesday, Luka. Same time, same place."

She thanked him and left. That was quick. Then, she walked around for hours; Lily was already at work by then, and there was nothing else to do or see. Part of her wanted to test the waters, see how the streets had changed. Maybe she could see the consequences of the lack of an underground crime scene. There wasn't anything obvious, though, much to her disappointment. In the end, the walk was uneventful, the only highlight being a street that had been renovated. When she did get home, just in time to start cooking dinner, she uploaded her CV to the local temp agency. After that, she went to bed, knowing that Lily would be there around midnight, and would be there when she would wake up early the next morning.

That day, Sunday, Lily had no work, and both women spent the afternoon catching up. Luka had anticipated the day off and hoped to take the occasion to explain to her friend, clearly, what she really did. She couldn't help but hesitate somewhat, unsure of how she'd react, enjoying how they got along too much to sacrifice it so easily. The blonde had numerous stories to tell about her trip abroad which filled the time easily, to which Luka replied with a few interesting anecdotes about prison. One cellmate, in particular, was an endless source of entertainment, who played ceaselessly with cards. She made them spin and fly and fan out effortlessly, but fortunately, she had a much shorter sentence than Luka's.

The pinkette was happy to tell and hear of various stories, but didn't expect Lily to ask about her previous job.

"What was it like, living in that house with them?"

It was the perfect opening to explain the situation. Maybe the blonde had sensed she'd wanted to talk about it, too. She was her best friend, after all. Once again, Lily had asked the question effortlessly. Luka still squirmed somewhat, hoping if she could balance being honest, realistic and friendly.

"At first, terrifying. Then it was a thrill. And then..." Luka's voice caught in her throat. She remembered the wine cellar, the birthday parties, the crying. So much crying. "And then it just killed me."

She opened up about the consequences of her job: endless cash, no time to eat or sleep, no room for emotion. The heart of steel and the soul-destroying perseverance. How she was put on a special diet in prison in order for her to regain a regular body weight, how she had to tie off many, many fears with the on-site therapist.

"But you're ok, now, right?" asked Lily with concern.

"Sure. I'm fine. Worst I still get nowadays are the occasional nightmares, but I don't think those will ever stop."

"What did you dream about?"

Luka looked away. "You know what made me bring her home?"

"Well, you were told to kill her."

"I tried, Lily. I tried to kill her."

At those words, Lily sat up straight. "No way."

The pinkette could only nod. Lily thought about it for a long time.

"Damn, Luka. I didn't know that. What actually happened?"

Luka recounted the blurry memories of that night, how she had tried to use a pillow, how she had all but collapsed. She couldn't put the sight of Miku's empty eyes to words, so she skipped over that entirely. After that, there was her awakening, her change of heart.

"I could finally fix it," Luka explained. "Somehow, I got her to follow me. The rest is history."

"Holy shit."

Luka couldn't stop herself after that. She dove straight into how she wasn't, at all, responsible for her employer's downfall. She'd waited, nothing more, nothing less, paralyzed by paranoia, announcing her presence only when the beast had been killed. She had no part in that. She'd followed orders, blindly, only ever daring to lift a finger in protestation, as long as that finger couldn't be seen.

Lily remained quiet for a few moments, so Luka went to get something to drink. When she returned, Lily said, somewhat subdued "Don't worry. I'm not going to judge you for what you did in that situation. Your whole state of mind must have been fucked up."

"It was."

"I'm just glad you were strong enough to do the right thing, no matter what."

Luka nodded, but couldn't find much to say. She could sense that Lily wasn't exactly fond of what she'd learned. Was it disappointment? Or was the news still sinking in?

"You didn't have to be the hero," Lily stated suddenly, her voice surprisingly strong. "You don't have to be the greatest person this city has ever seen. You saved us. And you saved her. I'm glad you managed to find the strength to do the right thing when you had to."

"As am I. If I hadn't-"

"If you hadn't, everybody we know and love would have been dead. I never forgot that, Luka. When everybody tried to forget that you did what you did because their lives were on the line, I forced myself to remember. So thanks, I suppose. For kidnapping her."

Luka chuckled. "Yeah, you're welcome."

Lily didn't continue, so the pinkette gave her to time to digest. She checked her emails and job possibilities while Lily thought. Finally, the blonde asked, "Any news of her, by the way?"

Luka didn't have to ask who she was talking about. "No. None at all."

"Does she even know that you're out?"

"...I guess she has to."

"Would you want to catch up with her?" Luka hesitated, and Lily noticed. "Eesh, no good friendship there?"

"No, we're friends," Luka assured, remembering her promise. "It's just that during the trial, euh, something happened."

"Do tell," urged the blonde with a grin, but Luka frowned.

"You weren't there?" she asked.

"I couldn't be there. I only heard what the news told us. What, don't tell me you're holding that against me."

"No, I'm not. But I don't want to talk about it. If you can figure out what happened from recordings or transcripts, then fine. It's not something I'm going to share, though."

"What, why not?"

"It's not my secret to share."

Lily didn't push any further. That evening, sick of job hunting, Luka picked up an old book she had already read, once long ago. Rather, she decided to read it properly: there were quite a few novels she had used to distract herself while she was holed up in the wall of the Hatsune residence, but she hadn't truly read them. She couldn't remember the characters, the plots. Why not read them again? Besides, she didn't have much else to do, really. She'd explored, no, combed through the job market, signed up for dozens of positions online, etc. Her next step, if none of that worked, would be to go from store to store and hand in her CV and other documents by hand. In the meantime, she waited, reading a book for the 'first' time, Lily keeping quiet company. The blonde preferred to spend time on her phone instead of reading, but Luka hardly minded.

She was happy that Lily had taken the news of her not-so-glorious past so well. In the end, she had remembered what had mattered, and that made her indescribably happy. That somebody, anybody, acknowledged the reason behind her tortured efforts was a true and deep relief. Of course, maybe they had been acknowledged during the trial, making for the short total of years she was to serve, but having somebody she'd struggled to keep alive thank her was actually tangible.

Thanks to that, she could truly relax in her home. She could ignore all of the little details that reminded her of something different, of someone different, and truly reconnect with her old friend. She could finally look towards the future.

The following day, just as she wondered what other jobs she could apply for online, someone did call, and Luka didn't know who to expect. She picked up the phone and introduced herself while Lily eyed her from the bathroom. Luka shrugged at her questioning gaze, hoping to concentrate properly on the person on the other end of the line.

The answer wasn't one she had expected: it was Meiko Sakine, from the Public Transportation company. They had reviewed her application and CV, and were inviting her over for an interview.

"We will be able to see you tomorrow, or Wednesday. Both at 9:30."

"I can't make it tomorrow; I have to meet my parole officer," she admitted.

"Ah, I see. Wednesday it is, then."

"Yeah."

"We'll see you then, Miss Megurine. Have a nice day."

"You, too."

Meiko hung up first. Luka was a bit stunned.

"And?" asked Lily.

"Public Transport," the pinkette answered.

Lily laughed, "I can't believe it. An interview?"

"Yeah."

"Looks like your long-lasting lie is going to become a reality!" joked the blonde.

Luka could barely chuckle. "I suppose it is."

In truth, she was a bit stunned. She didn't expect them to be so unfazed by her criminal history: revealing that she had a meeting with her parole officer had been disclosed almost entirely by accident. Maybe they were used to employing people like her? Maybe they needed someone to sort out the thousands of fines they wrote. Maybe they needed someone to mop the floors. She didn't think they'd send her out to check the tickets. Not someone like her.

Though, she had boasted about the intimate knowledge of the city streets. Maybe that skill would be of use? Who knew. Lily had faith in her, as always, and told her that she'd rock.

The next day, as she had told Meiko, she saw Kaito again. He asked the same questions, and she updated him on the job situation. He was happy that she had followed his recommendation, and that it was progressing so quickly.

"If you do get hired, I'll need your employer's contacts, as well as your working hours. It's out of the question that you get time off from work in order to see me: getting re-integrated into society takes priority."

The sentence made Luka a little bit giddy. It was completely unexpected. After a second's hesitation, she mumbled, "Of course," while mentally repeating the words Kaito had just spoken.

"Well, that's it, again," he said with a smile. "So, good luck with you interview, Miss Megurine. And if you need to schedule something on the day and hour we're supposed to meet again, just give me a call and we'll re-schedule."

Luka nodded, said goodbye, and left.

Re-integration into society? The phrase stuck to her, as if it was finally dawning on her that not only did she have a future, she was finally going back to a normal life. Normal, as in jobs, relationships, friends. Working, hanging out, getting drunk (though, admittedly, not within the following five years) and being happy. Four years of abnormality and suddenly she was sinking back into the tub of 'normal life'.

She felt like she could fly. Even if the interview would go poorly, she had people at her back who would help, and that only made her even happier. Things were going well, she told herself. Things were actually going well and she had no reason to be afraid, she had nobody to protect, she had nothing to hide. She had friends, support.

So it was no surprise to her that she was totally relaxed for the interview. Lily's super-energetic pep-speech definitely helped, too. She was positively beaming. The huge building didn't scare her. The grumpy receptionist couldn't faze her. She managed to find the room with relative ease, she was perfectly on time, and she felt like she was on top of the world.

"Miss Megurine?" asked a tall brunette. "I'm Meiko Sakine."

"How do you do," greeted the pinkette, shaking the woman's hand with a confident smile.

She smiled in return, and lead the ex-convict to the room where the interview would take place. Even though she hadn't ever had a real job interview before, Luka wasn't nervous or scared. She remembered her encounter with the big boss in person and felt stronger still. Halfway through the interview, a man whose name she'd already forgotten asked, with words of his own, if her history, or her conditions of parole, would be a bother.

"Not at all. None of the conditions I need to follow will prevent me from doing this job. I simply can't leave the city."

Meiko smiled, and said that it wouldn't be a problem.

They didn't ask any silly questions, and before the pinkette knew it, the interview was over. She shook everyone's hand and left, feeling as if she had sprouted wings.

Everything was normal. She was finally going back to normal.

And she loved it.

Lily congratulated her on the interview well done. That evening, Lily came home early with free pancakes for a 'celebration dinner'. They splurged on the syrup, jam and Lily's favorite: dulce de leche. The slept in, waking up only when the phone rang.

It was Meiko.

"Congratulations, you're hired."

Luka, still half-asleep, could only mumble, "Why?"

She brunette laughed. "Because you're the best person who applied for the job. How about you come by tomorrow afternoon? I'll show you what you'll need to know, the equipment you need, all that jazz."

"Alright."

"Perfect. How's two?"

"That works."

"See you tomorrow, then! Goodbye."

Meiko hung up first again, leaving Luka completely stunned.

"Who was that?" groaned Lily from the rollaway.

"My new boss."

Lily cheered and barely an hour later, for a late breakfast shortly before noon, they went out to a fancy Italian place to celebrate again.

"So, any idea what you'll be doing?" asked Lily.

"No, but apparently, I'm going to need training."

"Hmm. Don't forget that you can debate your pay. That's a right you have."

"Right," Luka said with a grin. "Can't believe I'm landing a job so quick."

"Nah, I can believe it. You're terrific. You'll tell me how it goes, right?"

"Of course."

They ate in silence for a while. Then, out of the blue, Lily confessed, "God, I'm going to miss you when I leave. It's only been a few days and it's like everything has gone back to normal."

Luka could only hug her, right there in the restaurant.

The next day, shortly after Lily left to help with the lunch rush, Luka was at the central building, perfectly on time. Meiko was already there and didn't waste any time in showing her the basics. To Luka's surprise, she actually would be checking tickets. She would be given a uniform she would be required to wear, and she would need to memorize a bunch of things, like prices, and how the pricing zones work. When the brunette mentioned that Luka would need to memorize as much of the transportation network as possible, the pinkette replied that she had already done so.

"I know most of the city by heart, really," she admitted.

"That's excellent!"

She would work with a co-worker the first few weeks, so she could get a chance to sink into the situation. Meiko then showed her where 'her office' would be.

"It's a big room with a few computers and a coffee machine," Meiko explained. They entered the room, and sure enough, there were a few employees, a coffee machine, and a big board on the wall. "You guys get to choose which lines you want to check, just like the drivers can decide which routes they want to drive. Keeps monotony out of the whole job. But keep in mind that every slot has to be filled, and if you're the last to pick, you gotta deal with it."

Luka looked around. In the corner, a few of her to-be co-workers were having a very late lunch. They paid her no mind, which she appreciated for the time being: she was still reeling from all of the new information.

"What else is there?" pondered Meiko. "If you can't make it one day, please let us know as soon as possible. Between shifts, when you're in the city and have to keep the uniform on, please make an effort to keep your act together: when you're wearing the company's name, you represent us."

"Of course."

"Hmm..." Meiko looked around, then called for one of the employees sitting at a computer. "Hey, Gakupo, could you come here for a second, please?"

Before the man could even stand, Luka understood that he would be working with her the first few weeks. He was an exceptionally tall man, with long purple hair. His stride was long, and his handshake firm. Yet, there was something kind, warm and welcoming about him. Maybe his smile.

"You two will be working together," explained the brunette. "Gakupo, she'll need to be shown all of the details. Clocking in, pricing system, the various protocols we have in place." He nodded, still with that slight smile. Meiko then turned towards her, asking "Any other questions?"

Luka shook her head.

"Perfect. Back to my office we go. See you, Gakupo!"

Because he offered, Luka shook his hand again. "I look forward to working with you," he said.

She couldn't rein in her smile. "Likewise."

Back in Meiko's office, the brunette opened a drawer and pulled out a small stack of papers. Luka was handed the various contacts she would need, such as Meiko's number, and Gakupo's, and a copy she could give to Kaito. Then there were lists of things she could start memorizing, as well as the job contract.

"I'll let you read that, take your time," Meiko said. "If need be, I'll answer any question you might still have."

Luka nodded and read through it. Conditions were acceptable, from the trial period to the pay to the working hours. Health insurance was included, covering various accidents that could happen while she was on the job.

"Oh, would you prefer a skirt or pants for your uniform?" asked Meiko. "We have both, so it's your choice, especially with this nice weather."

Luka chose the pants. Easier to walk around in. Meiko then handed her two plastic bags each containing a uniform. "You take that home and try them on. If they don't fit or if they're uncomfortable, we'll get another size. If you get past the trial period, we'll have them tailored."

They discussed some of the extra details, and then the contract was signed. Luka was slightly thrilled, all of a sudden. To have an actual job again. She remembered back when she needed to answer phones all day. Stability. Regular income. Nothing complicated or illegal. She could barely keep her composure.

"Excellent," said the brunette. "So, we'll be giving you the weekend to go over it all, and try the uniform. If it doesn't fit, just come back tomorrow, around two. But it's got to be ready for Monday."

"Understood."

"Well then," Meiko shook her hand. "Welcome on board."

Luka nodded.

She left with everything wedged under her arm, her heart pounding in her chest. In a good way. She was excited in a good way. She was happy.

She was finally happy.

Without Lily to keep her company— or to distract her — Luka went straight to business. She viewed the things she needed to memorize. Prices and their zones, protocols. Boring and dull, but important, stuff. Then she tried both uniforms. They were identical and fit like a glove, and she was somewhat relieved that she didn't have to go back there again before Monday. She was excited, but wanted to be able to think about it all first.

For a few minutes, she looked at her reflection. Most of the fabric was a dark, near-black blue, with sharp red accents. The name of the company was embroidered on the chest, to her left. Under the jacket, she wore a white shirt with a short tie. Briefly, she examined the buttons, also dark blue. Her pants were devoid of details with the exception of the pockets, which were decorated with a red line. She wore her own shoes, a pair that she had used back in the day. Dark and discreet, they weren't as neat as some boots, but they didn't clash with the uniform like sneakers would.

She liked it. More importantly, she liked how she filled it. Gone was the bony frame, the thin, wiry muscles. She took pride in her image for once. Though...she didn't quite appreciate how her hair pooled in the collar of her jacket. After some rummaging, she found a few hair ties, with which she put her hair up in a ponytail.

Perfect.

She didn't let the shoes, the fact that she was, once again, wearing a ponytail, remind her of back then. The dark clothes, the carefully-chosen attire, it might have forced upon her that sour, somber memory. But no, this was something else. Something new. She wasn't crawling alone in the dark, she was going to go out and face the people, participate in society.

True to her obligations, she called Kaito and let him know of all of the updates. Since the work hours were free to pick, she said that she'd try to keep evenings free. Then she texted Lily, to let her know that it had gone well.

Everything was going well.

The next day, when she visited Kaito, she gave him a copy of the relevant information. Then, with a giddy excitement, her uniforms ready and hanging on a clothes hanger, she waited for Monday so that she could finally start her job.

Everything was suddenly so perfect. Luka couldn't imagine much that would make it all even better. The only thing that disappointed her somewhat was the fact that Lily was due to leave soon: the upcoming Thursday, she would be left alone again. But there was so much potential waiting for her. After Monday, she would have coworkers, and they might become new friends. And maybe, when her situation would finally be stable, she could call her parents, invite them over to talk. So much good could happen, was waiting to happen.

Maybe there was a tiny bit of apprehension towards her job. While she did know most of the city like the back of her hand, and she knew every bus stop, she hadn't ever actually taken the bus. Plus, the pricing zones weren't things she had ever needed to learn. As for how the ticket-checking process would happen? She knew that the underground metro had gates to check tickets: no ticket, no entry. But how did the ticket checking happen on the bus? Would people expect her and her coworker's arrival, or would it be surprise, semi-random checks? How many people would try to get away with a free ride? Would she have to give fines to kids, too? She had many questions, but somehow, she knew that her coworker, Gakupo, would show her the ropes. There was something about his smile, his relaxed posture, that told her that he knew what he was talking about and that everything would be alright. How long had he been working there, she wondered? How long would he show her around? How many people would they work with? Did they work in groups?

The next day was Sunday again, and again she and Lily spent most of the day chatting. Mostly about her job, her questions about it, and Lily was unbelievably reassuring. She even teased her about Gakupo, asking what kind of a dude he was. Was he a hunk? With the sexy shoulders and the gorgeous eyes? Luka only rolled her eyes at those questions, but couldn't help but admit that she was looking forward to working with him.

And suddenly, Monday! Luka woke up at six in the morning, having barely slept because of excitement and nerves. Lily woke up just as early just to see her out, pep-speech at the ready, complimenting her on how well the uniform suited her, telling her that she would rock and that it would be amazing and that she was amazing and that she had nothing to fear and Luka was so giddy she almost jumped down the stairs and out the door.

Gakupo greeted her at the entrance, a little past seven in the morning. He was much more relaxed than when they had first met, but still, he had this kind and confident aura. They skipped the formal handshake, straight to the small talk. How are you doing, good, and you. Then he smiled a bit wider, his eyes grew a bit softer, and he said, "I've booked us a full morning and afternoon, with two hours for lunch. It should be enough to show you everything you need to see. That ok?"

"Sure."

"We'll walk to the bus stop. I'm guessing that won't be an issue."

"It's fine."

He told her where they were going, and immediately she was grateful: she knew exactly where that was, so she didn't have to follow him around in the dark. And before an uncomfortable silence could settle, he started explaining various things. What to do when a customer doesn't have a ticket, when they claim they have a pass but left it at home. He showed her how the little booklet with special paper worked, how she had to take a white and pink sheet, put the cardboard separator behind them, and like that, whatever she wrote would be transferred to the second sheet.

At that point, they had arrived at the stop. It was a stop in the middle of the bus's route, between two popular stops, so that they could check the maximum number of people. Two other employees arrived shortly after they did, and they greeted them warmly. Gakupo explained that they worked in teams of three at minimum to cover all of the doors of the bus, but since Luka was new, the two of them counted as one person.

The bus arrived, and they got on. The two others covered the middle and back doors, while Luka and Gakupo entered in the front. People pulled out tickets, passes, which Gakupo checked. He showed her what he looked at when it came to paper tickets, and how to use the machine for the plastic cards. Of course, someone hadn't paid their fare, so Gakupo wrote him a ticket, quickly walking the pinkette through the process. Throughout it all, he was kind and calm, and never Luka felt nervous or apprehensive.

They got off of the bus a few stops later, then started for another bus line nearby. The other two employees followed at a distance, letting Gakupo teach the pinkette about other protocols: what to do about drunk or unruly passengers, lost children. He gave her the book, asking if she felt comfortable with writing the next fine. She did, and in the next bus, she wrote three of them. She couldn't really feel bad for punishing those who hadn't paid for their trip, despite the glares and complaints. After all, she had just gotten out of prison herself, and understood more than ever that actions had consequences. Gakupo applauded her thick skin as they walked to yet another bus, congratulating her on how quickly she had picked up on the system. Luka couldn't help but beam at his words. By the time noon had arrived, she could confidently check tickets and write fines. Gakupo only had to deal with the plastic cards with his scanner most of the time.

"You're catching on really quickly," he complimented. They were sitting down in a small restaurant for their lunch break. "Most newcomers struggle with how busy it gets in those busses and fumble around a lot."

Luka, still happy but already tired, could only honestly reply, "It's straightforward enough."

He chuckled. "You'd think. Last person I had to train left in tears because he couldn't handle being insulted."

"Huh."

"Hm. I think you'll do really well here."

Before Luka could answer, their food was delivered, so Luka mumbled a quick 'thank you' and dove straight into her meal: she was surprisingly hungry. Gakupo did the same, but seemed to want to ask a question at one point. Luka paused so that they could speak.

"I'm sorry for being blunt," he started. "I'd prefer to get it over with, though. I just wanted to let you know that everyone in the office knows about what you did. Prison and all."

Luka couldn't be too surprised, but experienced that old stage fright all over. She'd almost forgotten her worries about being recognized in her glee of resuming a normal life. Of course, nobody had reacted to her in a particular way, so she couldn't be too infamous. But her coworkers almost had to know about her past. They still could have their opinions about her, her actions. "That's fine," she replied, swallowing past the quickly-growing lump in her throat.

"I simply wanted to give you a heads-up. Some will carry some prejudice against you."

She couldn't help but deflate slightly. But she expected nothing less, and said so, her tone even.

He looked at her for a long moment, even taking another bite, but said eventually, "Well, I won't judge you for anything," he stated. "In fact-" he paused, and Luka repressed the memory of a certain tealette who had trouble finding her words one morning. "Well, I'm not sure how I would phrase this without seeming rude or pretentious. But, well, I know that all of the money you had was confiscated. It was in the news."

"Of course it was, it was from an illegal source. They wanted to try to get it back where it belonged."

"Exactly. So, if you want, I can pay for your lunch. If you want. At least until your first paycheck arrives this Friday."

Luka put down her fork, unable to find words at first. "It's- It's fine. I have some money to help me get through the first months. I'll have to pay it back, eventually."

"Then please, allow me to alleviate that a little. It's just lunch, you shouldn't have to owe that to anybody."

"How about you?"

"It's on me, no need to pay it back. Really."

Luka took a sip, and felt a little moved. "Why help me?"

He smiled again. "For a few reasons, I suppose. You're only human, a person who just got out of a tough place. There are people who won't understand that you're just trying to come back to normalcy, so I'm willing to be the person who goes against them and helps you, instead." Luka briefly wondered if he knew someone who had been in her position. "Plus, well, even if you were convicted for, what was it, twelve years?" She nodded. "You're out quite early, and parole must be earned, I've read. Then, throughout the entire trial with all of the news coverage, all I could understand was that you're a good person who got stuck with the wrong people. So please, let me help."

"...Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Luka wasn't sure how she felt about it at all. Moved, flattered, maybe a little bit upset, maybe a little bit optimistic. Something to think about.

After lunch, they visited a few more bus routes, wrote a few more fines, and checked a lot of tickets. By mid-afternoon, they returned back to the office. He showed her where they had to deliver the fines they'd written. "It's imperative they all get processed before the day ends. The earlier you get back, the earlier you need to hand them in so that the staff who handles this don't get swamped in the evening."

"Understood."

Then, he showed her how to log their hours on the computer, the routes they'd visited. They tried to keep a relatively random yet reliable pattern to make their interceptions unpredictable but frequent. Then he showed her how to choose a route and the hour on the board. Her name tag was purple, as was his, meaning that they had to work together for the time being and counted as a single person. Others were also in pairs, in different colors.

"How about you choose where we go tomorrow?" he suggested.

"Alright."

She thought about it for a while, and decided on the more touristic parts of the city, to view the monuments she knew all about but had never had the time to visit.

"Ah, good choice. I love the museum there," he commented as she placed the tags.

"I've never been there," she replied, to which he scoffed.

"Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "Really? Then we must remedy that. You are getting into that museum tomorrow."

"Would we have time?"

"Make time! Let's make it our lunch break. The museum has excellent sandwiches; I can guarantee it."

Luka couldn't help but smile. Just then, Meiko knocked on the door.

"Hello!" she greeted. "How was the first day?"

"It went well."

"She's learning very quickly," he complimented with a smile. "And she has beautiful handwriting: I've never seen such elegant fines!"

Luka couldn't find an answer to that. Meiko just grinned and thanked them for the good work. Before she left, however, she gave Luka a thumbs-up. "Uniform looks good, Luka! Especially with the ponytail!"

Gakupo then announced happily that he had nothing else to show her. Of course, they would continue working together for a few days, and would surely come across rare situations that he had forgotten about.

"You'd think that it's a pretty simple job, but when you're working with people, you can expect anything."

Luka nodded. Then they said goodbye, and she went home.

During her walk, she processed her day. Mostly, she thought about Gakupo. He was kind, and she liked the way he would do his best to explain things in advance, and telling her where they were going, so she didn't have to follow him around. He was open, and honest, even about her potential co-workers not being open-minded about her past. As she had said, it was to be expected, but before he had mentioned it, it hadn't really crossed her mind. That might have curbed her enthusiasm, but Gakupo had said that he'd stand with her, he'd help her. The fact that he had paid for her lunch moved her more than she wanted to admit. Of course, Lily had done the same when she had heard that all of Luka's money was basically a loan, but Luka didn't expect that kind of gesture from a relative stranger. He was, definitely, someone she looked forward to seeing again.

She supposed that she was looking forward to the next day. The task wasn't too difficult and it wasn't dull, either. She got to walk around, which she liked a lot, and maybe she could show off her shortcuts one day. And who knew, maybe she would change everybody's mind with time, and they'd forgive, if not forget, what she'd done.

She smiled, remembering how Gakupo had explained why he was on her side. He understood that she wasn't that kind of person, that she wasn't evil, and it touched her. Even if the job would eventually turn monotonous, she concluded, she'd still look forward to it, because she'd get to see him.

When she finally got home, she was giddy again. Yes, despite the minor setbacks, everything really was looking up. Everything was going back to normal and she had more help than ever. No more looking back, she told herself. Go to the bright future that awaits you! With a tired happiness and a content peace of mind, she took off her uniform and washed it, smoothing out the wrinkles and picking off the pieces of dust she found from the second set, preparing it for the next day. It really did suit her, she decided as she pulled out her ponytail. It was a nice uniform with nice colors and she looked great in it. If one day she would quit or be fired (she dreaded the thought), she would miss it.

Wearier than ever, Luka opened her closet to pull on something more relaxed. Jeans and an oversized t-shirt, maybe. Something roomier. She clumsily rummaged through her stuff: while Lily had been kind enough to put all of her clothes back, even after a week Luka still hadn't quite sorted out where she had put everything. Finally, she found something that looked familiar, but when she unfolded it, it was more than a size too small. Confused, she wondered if it was Lily's, but it would have been too small for her, too. It was too familiar to be Lily's, too. She had purchased it, she remembered with certainty. But why was it so-

It hit her like a ton of bricks.

She had bought this shirt for Miku.

It was still clean, wasn't it? Three years... Had the tealette picked up her other things? She must have; Luka hadn't found anything else that belonged to her. Had she forgotten this one?

Luka realized she was shaking slightly. One of the first shirts she had bought, that day after Miku's arrival. Was it a coincidence? Could it be?

With trembling hands, she felt the fabric. Cotton. She always bought cotton or wool; she despised synthetics. It was a plain shirt, a pale blue. The kind of color Miku usually wore. No text or markings, it wasn't even from a particular brand. A generic, cheap shirt that would suit the young woman just fine, given the circumstances. It was perfect to dress the girl who had only the pajamas on her back. Vaguely, Luka remembered she'd also bought a few other, similar shirts in other, bright tones, a sweater, and a few pairs of pants that were probably just a bit too big, but that had a rope go through the waistline that she could tighten. And the shoes.

She sunk to her knees, clinging to the shirt. With a start, she noticed that Lily hadn't washed it; it still smelled of her.

The memories assaulted her so violently it hurt. She remembered how they would chat for hours on end. The hot cocoa they had every evening. How she helped her dry her hair and how Miku would inevitably fall asleep, and she would follow. How she curled up against her when she couldn't sleep, how she held her. She remembered her bright laugh, her bitter tears. She remembered the trial.

Luka cried.