Notes: I hadn't been paying much attention to the series lately, so within three days, I got caught up with the manga, then watched the third season dub. I started this story afterward, and oddly enough, just a few hours before I learned that the manga would end in three more chapters. And I had just written the first scene when I saw what could be spoilers for the manga's end. But I decided to keep going with the story for three reasons. First, if the spoilers are real, there are some things I don't agree with already. Second, I'm curious to see how close to the actual end this story will be. Not very, I suspect. Third, I thought I could get this done fairly quickly.

WARNING: If it's not obvious already, this may contain spoilers for the manga's end. I can't be sure, as I haven't actually seen the end yet, but again, I have seen what could be spoilers for the end. And in case they're accurate, I don't want to ruin it for anyone who'd rather it not be spoiled. If that's you, you may flee now.

The Berry Toll

A Rozen Maiden Fanfic by

Nate Grey (xman0123-at-aol-dot-com)

Chapter 1: The Seventh Maiden's Heart

The Alice Game was sure to end in a loss for everyone involved, Sakurada Jun finally realized. Perhaps he hadn't really been paying attention, when his younger self first said it. But now, it was all too obvious. Kirakishou was gradually destroying her sisters, and even if she was declared the victor, then what? Kaito was, from all appearances, even more insane than her. As if she wasn't enough of a patchwork project already, a doll's mind in a human body. Kaito would probably "perfect" her by tearing off her arms and sewing them onto her legs. He was just twisted enough to think that was an improvement.

In that moment, Jun was faced with a growing realization. Kirakishou wasn't the villain of the story, and she never truly had been. Certainly she was more ruthless than any of her sisters, but the concept of the Alice Game had always involved cruelty, even if Kirakishou never had any interest in it. Suigintou had been just as cruel at times. But her general meanness and eternal rivalry with Shinku aside, no one else seemed to think Suigintou needed to be defeated anymore. Shinku had even been convinced to work alongside her multiple times, if only to ensure their survival long enough to see Kirakishou's plans fail.

But there was no rule in the Alice Game that said any sister had to be merciful. So as horrible as Kirakishou had been and still was, it technically would have been allowed. Unlimited as her power seemed to be at times, she was still a Rozen Maiden, and still bound by the rules that bound them all. It was why Jun becoming Souseiseki's Master had ejected Kirakishou from Souseiseki's body.

Kaito was another story, entirely. Jun did not believe for one second that he was Rozen, and that was before his younger self had said as much. From what he could tell, the Rozen Maidens had been antiques long before his younger self encountered Shinku, so Rozen had to be pretty much ancient, and not some snobby kid in a school uniform. Likewise, none of the Rozen Maidens save Kirakishou had acknowledged him as their maker. And since she was totally nuts, that wasn't exactly a solid reference. And for some reason, Kaito was obsessed with "remaking" the Rozen Maidens by grossly disfiguring them, something Rozen never could have wanted, to have given them such beauty in the first place.

But Kirakishou, desperate and insane as she was, could not recognize that Kaito was the greater monster of the two of them. And while it was debatable what sort of fate she deserved, Jun did not think anything living deserved to suffer Kaito's constant attention. Nor could he deny that the connection that Kirakishou had forced upon him was still a very real thing, no matter how he felt about it. And he did feel something, that was the truly frightening part. He was not Kirakishou's Master... but he easily could be, still. She had once recognized him as such, and the numerous little dolls with tiny portions of her soul followed his orders without question. She was loyal to Kaito now, accepting him as Rozen, but Jun believed, or at least hoped, that this was based primarily on his own rejection of her. That maybe, if he changed his mind, Kirakishou would prove loyal to only him once more, and he could still preserve and repair all of the Rozen Maidens, before they suffered injuries too great to return from.

All he had to do was sacrifice himself to Kirakishou's will, and hope that her new body had made her more humane. He wasn't about to hold his breath, though, because if Kakizaki Megu had wanted this for herself, then she was just as crazy as Kirakishou and Kaito.

"Do you still love me, Kirakishou?"

The battle came to an abrupt halt as Unwound Jun walked across the giant chessboard, his gaze fixed solely on his target. He ignored Shinku and Suigintou, who were still recovering from the last attack. He moved past the brainwashed Suiseiseki, who was now unresponsive and fortunately no longer trying to harm the younger Jun. He put the loud, worried protests of Mitsu out of his mind. And he did his best to ignore Kaito and that stupid, superior smirk on his face. Only the target mattered now.

The body of Megu twitched yet again, possibly a sign that the fusion was not as complete or stable as Kaito claimed. And though her eyes remained shut, her head turned unmistakably towards Jun's voice. Her lips trembled, then parted to speak. "M-Master?" she whispered.

"You offered to help me, to change my world in any way that I wanted. Only someone who loved me would do that."

"But you said... that you didn't need me," Kirakishou murmured, the hurt plain in her voice.

"I know. I didn't understand then. I had only just found out what a Rozen Maiden was. I was frightened, and foolish, and inconsiderate. I didn't know what you were feeling. I'm sorry, Kirakishou. I'm sorry that I caused you pain and pushed you away, when you were only trying to prove your love for me. You didn't deserve that. Was it too much? Is there no way you can forgive me? Is there nothing I can offer you now?"

Ever so slowly, Megu's body opened her left eye, and it fixed solely upon his extended hand. "Master... offers his hand to me?" she noted with growing excitement. "Master wishes to make a contract with me?"

Jun nodded. "If you still want me, Kirakishou, I will be your Master. And I won't make the same mistakes again. I won't reject your love this time."

Kaito laughed. "Yes, you can be her Master, alright. And you can go to sleep forever, just like her last Master. Go on, Kirakishou, give him your ring, if you like. Then lock him away, just as you did with all your other playmates."

"That would be such a waste, though," Jun quickly added. "Kirakishou, you have a human body now. Do you know what that means? We can be together all the time. You can live with me, go where I go, do what I do. No one would try to separate us. But what's the point if you just lock me away? If that's all you want for me, what was the point of getting this new body?"

"To become Father's perfect girl," Kirakishou answered at once. "To become Alice."

"What made you think you weren't perfect before, Kirakishou? Who told you that you needed to change?"

"But... I had no organic body."

"And in that state, you were more powerful than all of your sisters combined. Maybe you were made this way for a reason. You were made by Rozen, you have a Rosa Mystica. That was all you needed to be a Rozen Maiden. Why would you ever need a material body? Why would you want to weaken yourself in that way? You were invincible."

"It's no use trying to confuse my Alice," Kaito said sharply, clearly starting to lose his temper. "Whatever she was then, she is perfect now, and there is no point in focusing on the past."

Jun shook his head, because he could see that Kirakishou was confused, and that was just how he wanted her. "Every Rozen Maiden needs a Master. You chose me for a reason, Kirakishou. Was it just because your sisters were fighting over me?"

She shook her head. "No, Master. I wanted to help you. You were sad and lonely, just like me. I wanted to save you from your solitude."

"Do you still feel that way? Come back to me, Kirakishou. Let me show you that I've changed. That I'm ready to accept you as you are."

"But I... I have Father now," Kirakishou murmured, glancing at Kaito. "And a Master of my own."

"If you mean that medium that you're only using for power," Suigintou chimed in, "how is she any different from any other power source in your seedbed? That's not all that a Master is, little sister. Who repairs you when you're broken? Who searches for you when you're lost? Who actually chooses to be with you?"

"Father does all of those things," Kirakishou replied at once.

"Then why doesn't he want to be your Master?" Jun asked. "Why wouldn't he want to be the Master of a perfect girl?"

"But... Father is better than a Master," Kirakishou insisted, but it was clear to everyone that this was a concept she had never given much thought to.

Suigintou laughed, cruelly and loudly. "Is that what he told you, little sister? Then allow me, the oldest and wisest sister, to educate about exactly what Father is! Father is days upon weeks upon years of never seeing him, wondering if he'll ever return for you! Father is inventing other dolls because you weren't good enough to become his perfect little princess! Father is forcing you to fight for his love, even though you rightly deserve to have it given to you! Father is never, ever coming back no matter how much his daughters long for him! I didn't take a Master because I needed the power, or even because all the others had! I took one because Father doesn't exist anymore! If he did, do you think he'd let this little pretender or anyone else replace him? He may be your Father, but he didn't make me or any of the others, and that makes him nothing to us! So take my advice: find yourself a real Master, because they can't so easily abandon you the way Father did all of us, including you!"

"Suigintou," Kirakishou whispered softly. A single tear dropped from her open left eye. "You aren't... lying to me. I can feel that you're not."

"No, I'm not. And if you're so sure that fake Father loves you so very much, ask him to be your Master, and see what he says!"

"Don't listen to them, my Alice," Kaito said. "Father is better than any Master."

"But a Master is closer to you than Father will ever be," Suigintou countered. "Father always remains just out of reach, but a Master wears your ring and supports you directly. Admit it, little sister, it's a Master you truly desire. That's why you captured all of ours, even the ones that no longer have a ring. You wanted one so badly that any would do. But you can't capture a Father, can you? They're like smoke, vanishing the moment you get close. But you can always reach out and touch a Master. And that's why your precious Father will never agree to wear your ring. With that, you could command him, touch him whenever you wanted."

Kirakishou hesitantly turned to Katio. "Father... would you wear my ring? Please? You said you loved me, and I don't ever want you to become like smoke..."

Kaito glared at her. "Haven't I just told you, Father is better than any Master! We don't need a stupid ring!"

Jun shook his head. "That doesn't sound at all like a Master, who takes pride in empowering his Rozen Maiden. You were able to harness my energy before, even without a contract. Do it now, and feel my pride in having made your former body with my own hands. Your father may have fused you to Megu, but he didn't give birth to her. He can't understand this pride that you and I share, Kirakishou. A Master's pride in his creation, a Rozen Maiden's pride in protecting her Master. You said that you'd forgive me for choosing Shinku, so long as I changed my mind and chose you. I'm choosing you now. Tell me that you still want me to be your Master!"

"I... but I wanted a Master of my very own. And you made a contract with Souseiseki instead, and cast me out of her body. You still hold that contract with her, so why...?"

"Because the past does matter, Kirakishou, no matter what your new Father says. Because in the past, Souseiseki's body was our bond, the very symbol of our shared pride. How could I throw her away? She is as much a part of our bond as your ring will be. Come back to us, and we can be a real family."

"Don't listen to him!" Kaito snapped. "You have Megu's body, don't you? That makes you your own Master!"

Kirakishou stared at him, having never considered this. "I am... my own Master?"

Kaito smiled at her. "Yes, of course. You're perfect in every way. You don't need another Master."

"But if... I am my own Master, then... I can have as many contracts as I can support. Just like Master."

"What?! No, you fool! You can't do that! You would squander all of that power on something so meaningless?! You've evolved beyond the need for contracts!"

"You see, little sister!" Suigintou laughed. "Anything to keep you at a distance! Perfect now, and still not good enough for the little fake! You would have been better off using Hinaichigo's body to compete in the Alice Game with the rest of us."

"If there's one thing I've learned," Jun said, "it's that everyone lives in a world of invisible choices. If you think you have none, you just aren't looking hard enough. What do you want most, Kirakishou?"

"I want... to be with you, Master. To be loved. To be surrounded by my dear sisters."

"What?! No!" Kaito roared. "You want to be perfect! My perfect Alice!"

Kirakishou turned to him and smiled. "You already made me perfect, Father, and I thank you for that. But I want more than you can give. Or perhaps, more than you are willing to give. I would have gladly accepted you as my Master, but now... I feel I was destined to have only one Master, maybe."

"Stop talking like those accursed, corrupted dolls! I gave you this body! I made sisters just for you!"

"And I love all of my precious little sisters, Father. You made them so well. But I can't forget about my dear older sisters. I'm certain Suigintou wouldn't let me."

Kaito sneered at her. "I am your Father, and those children I made are mine! They belong to me, just as you do, and you will do what I say!"

Kirakishou blinked slowly. "You were an acceptable substitute, for a while, you know. I think, with enough time, I could have grown to truly love you. But eventually, I would have asked for a contract, and if you had refused, you would have joined the others in my seedbed. It looks like that time has arrived already, false Father."

Kaito stared at her as if he'd never seen her before. "You... always intended to betray me?"

Kirakishou smiled and reached out to stroke his cheek. "My true Father would have known my true nature. And he never would have allowed himself to become my food. Farewell, false Father."

Before Kaito could respond, white vines slithered out of his sleeves, seized his neck, and tightened until he knew nothing but darkness.

No one dared to move as they watched Kirakishou seal Kaito into one of her giant crystals. Even Jun felt it was too early to celebrate. They had only managed to turn Kirakishou against Kaito, but that didn't mean she would forgive and forget. Jun was still a little surprised that Suigintou had both caught onto his plan then helped it along without being asked. It was probably self-serving, however, because her determination to get her medium back was plain to anyone. And with Kaito out of the way, there was a least a slightly better chance of that. But Jun wasn't so sure that Suigintou's wish could be granted. Even if there was a way to separate Kirakishou from Megu's body, he doubted either one really wanted that.

"Wait!" Mitsu suddenly cried in alarm. "Don't go! It's dangerous!"

Jun looked down to see that his little nameless doll, the Kirakishou replica that had proved so helpful to them, was moving toward the original, either unaware of the danger of doing so, or knowing there was none. All Jun knew was that he didn't want to see her destroyed, even if it meant that she had been working for Kirakishou all along.

Kirakishou knelt and picked up the little doll. "You watched over Master, and brought him back to me," she murmured, stroking the doll's hair. "Even though I threatened your very existence, you helped me. Thank you, little one."

The little doll briefly touched Kirakishou's cheek, then pointed toward Mitsu, who was still holding Kanaria's unmoving body.

"I see. She has run of energy, and you want me to help her. That's easily done."

A single white vine emerged from the floor, curled around Kanaria's ankle, and began to glow brightly as Kirakishou poured her own energy into Kanaria.

A moment later, Kanaria's body twitched, and she blinked twice. "Micchan, I'm hungry," she murmured.

"Kana-chan!" Mitsu cried, hugging her doll tightly. "You're okay!"

Kanaria frowned and touched her own chest. "Yes, but... this power inside me. It feels different, maybe. Where did it-?" She stopped, noticing the white vine that was uncurling from her leg. "Kirakishou... you saved me?" she asked. "Why?"

Kirakishou smiled, gently stroking the cheek of the doll now perched on her shoulder. "This little one asked me to, and she has been ever so helpful to me." Kirakishou turned to Jun. "Master, I really think you should give her a name of her very own. She's earned it."

"Hold it!" Suigintou shouted. "I've waited long enough! Kirakishou, hand over Megu's body right now!"

Kirakishou stared at her. "It's okay if you hate me for it, Suigintou. But Megu is no longer here. She made a contract with me. She agreed to give me her body, if I agreed to devour her mind afterward. It was the only death I could give her that benefited us both."

"You're lying!" Suigintou screamed. "She's in there! I know she is!"

"I no longer have a reason to lie to you. I have become Alice. The Alice Game is over. The only thing that remains is to restore our sisters to their rightful state, as Father would want."

Suigintou glared at her. "Oh, really? Then I suppose you're just going to put Hinaichigo back together, and then ask me to return Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica? Get real, little sister! You were never a part of our Alice Game, so your so-called victory means nothing to us!"

"Must I take all of your Rosae Mysticae right now for you to consider the Alice Game ended?" Kirakishou asked. "I could do it, Suigintou, if you insist."

"There is a very simple way to resolve this," Shinku said. "Kirakishou, if you are telling the truth, and Megu no longer exists, then neither does the contract she made with Suigintou. If that is true, then Suigintou should have her ring back."

Kirakishou nodded. "Suigintou, you and Megu swore that only death would separate you. Your oath is fulfilled now." She stretched out her hand, revealing Suigintou's ring in her palm.

"Put it on!" Suigintou demanded. "Whether Megu's alive or dead, it's your fault she's not here right now! I'll have you take responsibility, and supply me with the energy she would have! You're such a leech, you should have plenty to spare!"

"If that is what you wish," Kirakishou agreed. "But I will only accept that contract after Master accepts mine."

"Jun, wait," Shinku protested. "You don't have to-"

"Yes, I do," Jun disagreed. "I'm the only one who can be her Master. She knew it then, and I know it now. I brought her to my world, and she's my responsibility. Besides, I made a promise to Suigintou, and this way I can still keep it."

Suigintou stared at him in shock. "You fool, why would you bring that up now? I had forgotten! Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore!"

Jun smiled at her. "That doesn't make it any less a part of my destiny, though. Right?"

Suigintou's cheeks flushed. "I... stop using my words against me, human!"

"Nothing you say changes the fact that Kirakishou is mine. That means everything she's done is my fault. That means I owe you a Master, Suigintou. If you want to make a contract with me, I'll do it, but I think Kirakishou can provide you with far more energy than I ever could."

"Don't be stupid! You aren't worthy to be my Master, and she's the one who wronged me before we ever came to your world, so she's the only who will be paying me back! So hurry up and put on her ring, so she can put on mine!"

Jun nodded. "You're right. She's waited long enough."

Kirakishou smiled and drifted closer to Jun. "You remember where I keep my ring, don't you, Master?"

Jun laughed nervously. "It's pretty hard to forget something like that, you know."

Kirakishou cupped his face in her hands and drew his head to hers. "Give me your lips, Master," she whispered.

Blushing, Jun closed his eyes and was immediately drawn into the kiss. Perhaps part of his mind had expected the kiss to be horrible, because he could not imagine that Kirakishou or Megu had much experience in that area. But it was instantly clear that at least one of them was a spectacular kisser, and was very eager to make him aware of that fact. It was easily the best kiss that Jun had ever experienced, not that there had been many to compare it to. But something was wrong, and it wasn't until Kirakishou broke the kiss that Jun realized what it was.

"Um... Kirakishou? Not that I'm complaining, but wasn't there supposed to be a ring in there somewhere?"

She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yes, Master. I must have forgotten."

It was terribly obvious to everyone that she had not forgotten at all, but Jun wasn't sure how to address the matter without offending her. Fortunately, he got some help.

"If you're quite done assaulting my medium's body, get on with the contract!" Suigintou demanded.

Sighing, Kirakishou began to lean in again, but Jun stopped her with a finger on her chin.

"No offense, but maybe you'd better let me see the ring this time?" he suggested.

She pouted, but eventually stuck out her tongue, revealing the glistening ring resting on it. Jun tried not to think too much as he leaned in and carefully kissed the ring. To his great surprise and slight disappointment, Kirakishou did not try to pull him in for another kiss. Nor did she make any move to transfer the ring to his hand. Instead, she appeared to swallow the ring. Yet, an instant later, Jun found a ring, still slightly wet, sparkling on his finger.

"Now I will accept your contract, sister," Kirakishou said, extending her hand to Suigintou. "You should put your ring on me, just to make it official."

Grumbling the whole time, Suigintou practically jammed her ring onto Kirakishou's finger. She stopped complaining once the action rewarded her with a flood of energy, far more than she had expected, or could possibly need outside of combat.

"That's all well and good," Shinku said, "but how do you intend to restore our sisters, Kirakishou? You took Hinaichigo's body yourself, Suiseiseki has been altered by your false Father, and though I hate to admit it, Souseiseki promised her Rosa Mystica to Suigintou."

Kirakishou shook her head. "But I've told you, the Alice Game is over. There is no reason for us to fight anymore, and thus no reason to view each other as anything other than sisters."

"Wrong!" Suigintou shouted. "You can call yourself Alice all you like, but your victory is invalid! You only defeated Hinaichigo, and you only have one Rosa Mystica! There's no way you could be our Father's Alice, so the Alice Game is still on!"

"It seems we disagree. Perhaps we should leave it to our sisters to vote? The Alice Game depends on their participation, and if enough of them are unwilling, there can be no Alice Game."

"That's wrong, too! So long as even one of us is able and willing to defeat the others, the Alice Game goes on!"

Kirakishou sighed. "Suigintou, your pride and obsession blinds you. You may not care enough about your sisters to see them restored, but I am your medium now. While it is not against the rules for you to attack me, what do you think would happen to this body if you took my Rosa Mystica from it? It is my heart, now more than ever, which organic bodies cannot survive without. So if the Alice Game continues, I am either Alice, or I am dead. Of course, if you agree that the Alice Game is over and return Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica to her, this is not an issue. Remember, I wear your ring now. It's not as if I could escape you."

Shinku looked at Suigintou, who was still furious. "Suigintou, I know you have no sympathy for Hinaichigo and Souseiseki, who were defeated in the course of the Alice Game. But even you can't pretend that was the case for Suiseiseki. Look at what she's become. It would be far kinder to destroy her body, than to allow her to remain as she is. Father would never want that for any of us, and you know it. If you won't end the Alice Game and restore our sisters, then at least destroy Suiseiseki's body, and if it will accept you, take her Rosa Mystica."

Suigintou suddenly gasped sharply and clutched at her chest. "What's happening? What did you...?" She froze, her eyes narrowing. "Souseiseki, you're rejecting me again? You won't allow your twin to stay this way? Fine, I'll end her!"

The words were barely out of her mouth when Suiseiseki's body jerked, then collapsed face-down on the floor. A moment later, Sui Dream flew overhead, carrying a Rosa Mystica. It hovered uncertainly in the air for a few seconds, as if torn between joining Souseiseki within Suigintou, or Hinaichigo within Shinku. Finally, however, it choose neither of them, but instead landed in Kirakishou's hands.

"You?!" Suigintou cried. "But why?!"

"Suiseiseki desires an immediate end to the Alice Game as well," Kirakishou answered. "An end to pain. And now, we can do that, can't we, Suigintou? I know that you have half of the key, just as I do."

Shinku blinked and glanced between them. "Half of what key? What is she talking about, Suigintou?"

Suigintou glared. "Nothing. She's talking crazy. Ignore her, Shinku."

Kirakishou shook her head. "As Father's first and last dolls, Suigintou and I were each entrusted with half of a secret. Only I know that exact location of Father's workshop, and only she knows how to open the door. We can only gain access together, and once inside, any Rozen Maiden will be restored to her original state."

Shinku's eyes widened. "Then Father?!"

"He isn't there," Suigintou said at once. "It could never be that easy, Shinku. He only left us an empty workshop, if one of us was in dire need of repair. But there is a cost. As Kirakishou said, any Rozen Maiden who enters Father's workshop would be restored. So if either of us chose to step inside, we would lose the extra Rosa Mystica we'd gained. And if we were to take Suiseiseki there, Kirakishou would lose-"

"I don't mind that," Kirakishou interrupted. "I would rather see Suiseiseki restored. Perhaps that, too, is why her Rosa Mystica chose me."

"You have never mentioned any of this before, Suigintou," Shinku said accusingly.

Suigintou smirked. "It was never an option before. The process requires both of us to hold two Rosae Mysticae. And besides, it would mean undoing all the work to gain an extra Rosa Mystica. Why would I ever tell you about it, Shinku?"

"But what about Hinaichigo?"

Kirakishou smiled. "Her Rosa Mystica merely needs to be returned to her body, which I surrender happily. She should require nothing else. Suiseiseki is the only sister who requires considerable repair."

"But if only it were that simple, dear lady," said a familiar voice. "I'm afraid there is a penalty that must be paid before any further action is taken."

"Laplace's Demon," Shinku said with a frown as the rabbit appeared before them. "Why have you come?"

"To collect a toll, as it where. Interfering in a world where Rozen Maidens have not been invited is against the rules. As referee, I must enforce the rules. To that end, Shinku, you've earned a red card by thrusting open the door for your sisters. That will be one Rosa Mystica from you, if you please." Noticing her stunned expression, he chose to elaborate. "I suppose I could have come to collect sooner. But I was curious as to how things would play out, and you dolls do amuse me so. But, as the time for fun and Alice Games has passed, I must be about my business, and I must settle all accounts."

"Oh, how delicious!" Suigintou laughed. "Looks like Hinaichigo isn't going to be restored anytime soon, Shinku!"

Shinku shook her head. "As usual, Suigintou, you are both quite loud and quite mistaken. I will surrender a Rosa Mystica, but it will not be Hinaichigo's." She turned to Kanaria. "You once accused me of stealing Hinaichigo's Rosa Mystica, and in that moment, I saw that your love for her was nearly equal to mine."

Kanaria stared at her in shock. "Shinku, you... you're serious? You're going to give up your own, maybe! But your body will only last for so long with her Rosa Mystica! You're only so compatible with each other! You already know that, maybe!"

"You misunderstand me, Kanaria. I am trusting you to return Hinaichigo's Rosa Mystica directly to her body. I will not be using it." Shinku drew Hinaichigo's Rosa Mystica out of her chest and carefully handed it to Kanaria.

"Shinku, you coward!" Suigintou howled. "You are mine to defeat! Your Rosa Mystica belongs to me and no one else! It always has!"

"I am not denying that, Suigintou. But I suppose if you want it badly enough, you could surrender Souseiseki's Rosa Mystica as my toll. Unless you would rather try to take my Rosa Mystica from the rabbit yourself. But I can only imagine what sort of toll he would impose on you as a result."

Suigintou hesitated and glanced at Laplace's Demon, who gave her a smile that made her shiver.

"You only need ask yourself one question, Suigintou," Shinku continued. "Who do you want more, me or Souseiseki? I think we both know the answer. And if it would change anything, I will surrender to you, but only if you formally acknowledge that the Alice Game is at an end. That there could even be an Alice with no clear winner invalidates the competition itself, in my eyes. And even Laplace's Demon agrees that we have come to the end. I owe it to Hinaichigo to bring her back, but only if she will not be made to suffer through the Alice Game anymore. Haven't we all suffered enough, my sister? Haven't you?"

With all eyes on her, Suigintou stepped forward and made her choice.

Tomoe knew something had changed even before the younger Jun returned. It should have been odd to her, waiting for him in a house that was technically him, and yet it wasn't. Things that would have once been odd to her simply weren't now, and hadn't been since Hinaichigo had come into her life.

It was something in Jun's eyes, she decided. Something so similar to the look in her own eyes, after Hinaichigo had been cruelly ripped from their lives. Whatever it was, it made Tomoe break her self-imposed vow to never let go of Hinaichigo's body, walk over to Jun, and put her arms around him. Oddly enough, he let her, and even more startling, he desperately clutched at her in return. It was only then that she realized Shinku wasn't with him. She wanted to ask, but found she didn't need to.

Mitsu walked in then, carrying Shinku. That was odd enough, and Kanaria was next, looking very solemn.

"Shinku is gone, then?" Tomoe asked softly.

Mitsu nodded. "She gave up her Rosa Mystica, but she wouldn't let go of Hinaichigo's. She wouldn't give that up for anything in the world."

"I have it here, maybe," Kanaria said, revealing the Rosa Mystica in her hands. "Take it, Tomoe."

Tomoe stared at the glittering stone for a long moment, then at the two lights flying around Kanaria's head. "I won't pretend to know what Berrybell is saying, but if Shinku gave it to you, then I'm sure she wants you to be the one to put it back, Kanaria."

Kanaria looked as if she wanted to argue, but Mitsu nudged her forward. Hesitantly, Kanaria approached the headless body and gently sat it up. "I wish you had called for me," she said softly. "I know why you didn't, but I really wish you had. Maybe I couldn't have protected you as well as Shinku did, but I would have liked the chance to try. So next time you're in trouble, think of me, maybe." With that, she allowed the Rosa Mystica to slip through her fingers and into the doll's body.

Nothing happened.

This was not entirely unexpected, as Tomoe had assumed she would have to wind Hinaichigo up again first. Although the last time she had done so, Hinaichigo's head had still been present and intact. Unfortunately, there had been no sign of the missing head in Kirakishou's storeroom, and Tomoe hadn't wanted to wander too far in search of it, in case she either couldn't find her way back, or the others couldn't find her again if they should find the head.

Jun suddenly knelt down and pressed a trembling finger to the back of Hinaichigo's neck. When this did not produce the desired reaction, he grabbed Tomoe's hand and pressed it over his finger.

Before Tomoe could ask, the spot on her finger where she had previously worn Hinaichigo's ring grew very warm. She knew what would happen, what had to happen, even before it did.

A new head simply sprouted out of Hinaichigo's neck as if she were a plant growing at super speed. Two bright green eyes rose up to fill the empty sockets, fresh hair grew out of her head and instantly curled, and clothing seemed to materialize from nowhere until Hinaichigo was just as she had been the first time Tomoe ever saw her.

"Junjun," Mitsu whispered, her eyes wide. "How did you-?"

"I think... I remembered how," he said. "At least, some me did, and then told me how. I can't explain it any better than that right now."

Tomoe knew that all she had to do was wind Hinaichigo up. But, there was something that she wanted to do before that. She would never have another chance, and in any case, she owed Jun, even if he would never say so. So to the shock of everyone else, she seized Jun's face and kissed him, thoroughly. When she let go, his cheeks were red and his glasses were slightly askew, but he didn't appear to have any complaints. It had been a good first kiss, but an even better last one, Tomoe decided. There would be no more, possibly for either of them, and she was fine with that.

With that taken care of, she produced Hinaichigo's key.

Continued in Chapter 2: Other Worlds Than These

Upon learning of Shinku's fate, Suiseiseki makes a well-intentioned, but rather large mistake. Drifting through darkness, Shinku finds that her Rosa Mystica resonates with another. But the doll who carries it is no Rozen Maiden.

Endnotes:

While I always encourage reviews, I must remind you yet again that I have not seen the manga's end, only possible spoilers. Also, most of the story is already written, so I'm not really looking for suggestions on how it should turn out. That said, I am very open to discussion. And yes, I know some of what's in this first chapter will not agree with the manga. Some of that is done on purpose. Some of it is the result of writing a fanfic based on the manga's end without actually seeing the end first. I'm happy to risk being wrong, or just different, in this case.