A/N : So, it's the first chapter. I'm sorry for making you all wait too long, because I had to prepare my exams and I was waiting for the result, even I planned to update it after July 7th (just ask my friend alicetsuki13). But I then realized that it was so egoistic, so, I update it now. Thank you for your patience. From now on, Ib was 15 y.o (nearly 16). Firstly, I want to give my thanks for my reviewers in the previous chapter: alicetsuki13, somewhataftertherain, Shadow Veli, Kage Hatake-chan, Aureuscus, and Marli-chan Tuchanka. Please keep reviewing for me, guys. It really makes me happy :))and to all of you, even you decided to become silent readers :)

And, does anyone notice that the genre of the story had been changed? Yep, I changed the genre to supernatural and mystery (which was mystery and romance). I decided to make the romance as a sub-genre, since I wouldn't really focuse on that, but I promise to make some development on our favorite pairing :)

Okay, since Kouri didn't inform us about Ib and Garry' family name, I just picked it for them. Don't ask me why I gave them Japanese family name or why I should place them somewhere in Japan, because I myself don't know. And I'm too lazy to search any other name. Ib' family name means 'red flower' or 'red rose' and Garry' means 'blue forest'. Unlike Ib' family name (which I carefully picked it), Garry' family name just popped up in my mind, so yeah... uhm.

I. still. own. nothing

The Game is (Not) Over

an Ib fanfiction by Mizumori Fumaira

Disclaimer : Ib©Kouri

Chapter #1~ Unexpected Reunion(s)

*drip drip*

Ib glanced to the ceiling above her. A blood dripped right into her face. Suddenly, from the place where the blood dripped, she saw a body slowly reached down the earth. Its face came first, showing a horrible face of a man. She couldn't help but stare at the man, as his body slowly became more visible. He wore a familiar grey long-sleeved t-shirt with a series of numbers in the middle of it.

6295. The Hanged Man.

For her, after reading so many articles, books, and everything about Guertena' artworks, it wasn't difficult to remember them and their short history. Ib knew, before her battle began, she should have been know everything about her opponent.

Moreover, who would forget them if someone was used to see them every day for almost seven years?

As the body came closer, she tried to avert her gaze from him—which unexpectedly so hard, or else he would suffocate her and showered her with the blood which would come from his mouth. She had experienced that for one week, and the day before she knew what should she do.

She concentrated, giving her mind and her body a suggestion that she was able to move, and it worked.

She then ran away from the hanged man, but the door was blocked by the headless statue. She got ready, and pushed it aside. She should thank her dad because he agreed when she asked to learn Aikido which could make her became stronger than she was before, despite her mother who was really afraid that it could hurt her.

But unfortunately, when she reached the doorknob, it was still locked, and suddenly The Lady in Red, came out of nowhere, crawled to her, and grabbed her ankle. The Lady in Red focused her gaze to Ib' rose, and smiled wickedly.

"Rose… rose… I want your rose…" she said as she scratched Ib' legs.

"!"

Ib woke up suddenly. After seven years having nightmare, she could manage it without waking up her parents. For the first month, she had made her parents worried; even they'd called several psychologists—which was really pointless, to help her. But as the time passed by, she could face it without screaming. And she found something which could soothe her after having those nightmares.

She reached a lemon candy from a box near her nightstand. She popped the candy to her mouth; let the sweet yet sour lemon flavored candy soothe her nerve.

"Morning Ib. How are you feeling?"

Every time she ate the candy, she could remember when he greeted her after she had fainted at the parallel world. She knew that she wouldn't meet him again—it really had very slim possibility to meet with him, and only made her filled with emptiness.

She couldn't help that, but remembering that he had ever been right on her side was enough for her.

'I'm really pathetic, huh?' she noted to herself.

Suddenly, she felt sleepy again. She usually did not sleep after that, but she couldn't resist the warmth of her bed, so she let her eyes fluttering close, hoping she got a dreamless sleep.

She found herself surrounded by thousands will-o-wisps. Though it was really dark, but it was so peaceful there.

'Not a dreamless sleep, then. So, what is going to happen?' She mused.

The sounds of footsteps made her gasped from her mind. She turned to the source of the voice. Again, she gasped. Her body trembled so badly.

"Long time no see, Ib. Wow, you really become a beautiful young lady!"

Ib' tears streamed down her cheeks. The blonde haired girl widened her eyes in surprise.

Oh… how Ib missed and felt really guilty to her…

"Mary…"

"Hey! Hey! Don't cry! Sheesh, I don't remember that you are such a crybaby," Mary approached her, and stroked her back as she fell down on her knees. Mary just let out a sigh and hugged Ib.

"I…I'm sorry…"

"Don't be," Mary replied quickly. "You didn't do anything wrong!"

"But I'd burnt you!"

The blonde girl chuckled as she let Ib from her embrace.

"Yes you had. But you did the right thing, Ib."

Ib stared at the petite figure confusedly.

"Wh... what do you mean?"

"Alright, listen, Ib. I'll tell you the truth…"

"The truth?"

Mary took a deep breath then started,

"The painting you'd burnt, it was the artificial painting. The real one has been founded by Ousama just a couple weeks ago. But Ousama didn't mind that, and he placed an evil spirit in every artwork, including my artificial painting. Yes, it was still me and I acknowledged that my artificial painting was possessed by evil spirit, but it was more dominant than me. By you burned the artificial painting; you had exorcised the evil spirit. And I could be my real self." She smiled. "So I should thank you, Ib, and Garry too…"

When Mary said his name, she noticed that Ib' face became… hard?

'She was still unreadable,' Mary thought.

"By the way, have Garry known about your encounter with Ousama?" Mary asked. Even she knew that Ib'd never met him since their first meeting, she decided to pretend that she didn't know anything.

"No. I haven't met him since we got back from the parallel world, by the way…"

Mary looked at her in a serious look, throwing a glare to her, and cut her off,

"Listen, Ib. Maybe you have a confidence to face them alone since you've faced them every day, but…"

"Wait, why do you know about my encounter with Ousama and I've faced them every day in my dreams?" Ib cut her off, staring with a suspicious glance to her.

"Because, Ib, I know everything that Ousama do, since I practically 'live' with him. He placed me in his parallel world again; even I want to be exhibited in your world. And I am the one who give you such horrible nightmares…"

Ib sent her deathly glare to her, but she just shrugged it off, "Hey, come on, Ib! Don't be angry. I just kindly give you time to practice. But still, I doubt that he would use the same evil spirits and the same tricks, since you and Garry were able to escape seven years ago. I'm afraid they'll be stronger, faster, and crueler," she said apologetically.

Ib just let a small smile came across her face.

"Thank you, Mary. That's really kind of you. By the way, can we meet again somewhere?"

"Once you come to his new 'spooky amusement park', my spirit would meet you, somewhere near the place where he caged me. Because it was difficult, since he have limited my movement. It was because I refused an evil spirit to possess my painting, so he was afraid that I will backfire him, which I really want to do," she said, trying to show some disgust to him, but her childish expression just make her cuter.

Then Ib realized. Seven years ago, Mary' eyes was cold and like hiding something else. But that time, the 'Mary' which stood before her had really beautiful and warm eyes just like blue sky, a clear blue sky.

Ib smiled. Then an idea hit her mind. Although she knew it would be more difficult by a new task, she was happy that she had a possibility to do it.

"Hey, Mary, are you like school building?" Ib suddenly asked.

"Of course! I wish I were a student, and could explore and learn with my friends in a school., and go to the karaoke after school, and join any club, and…" her voice trailed off as she saw Ib smiled to her. "Why do you ask, Ib?"

"Nothing, I just got an idea," Ib smiled secretly.

From a far, they could hear an alarm clock ringing loudly.

"Better to wake up, Ib. It's your first day in high school, right?"

"Un." Ib smiled. "Hope I can have new friends like you out there."

Ib didn't know how happy Marry was when Ib admitted her as one of her friend.

"I guess you'll at least have one," Mary said sarcastically. "But it'd be hard to find someone like me," she grinned.

They laughed together. When Ib took her leave, Mary shouted,

"Don't forget to join art club, Ib!"

"Why?" Ib asked confusedly. Mary just smiled secretly.

"I heard that Hoshizora Gakuen' art club is good." Mary pushed Ib lightly.

"Alright, I'll take a peek. See you then!" Ib said, and the darkness was absorbed by the light.

Ib opened her eyes. A ray of sun came through the window, making her bedroom lightier. She woke up and rubbed her eyes, climbing out from her bed. She glanced at the wall calendar which hung beside her mirror that reflected her figure.

It was 30 days before the game began.

She crossed that day's date, noted to herself that she only had 29 days for preparing the game.

Realized that it was already six in morning, she hurried to go to bathroom, for taking a shower. Since her school was a bit far— one hour by a bus, she had to hurry, or else she'd be late in her first day.

For Ib, it was just only her first day in high school. But she didn't know that was a day when the faith began to put its hand to her life.

Ib approached by a raven haired girl. She was Misora Maya, Ib' (only) friend once she was middle school. She was the only one who keen about being Ib' friend, since the other found that Ib was extremely silent girl.

But Maya knew, that Ib was a good friend. She might be silent, but once you became her friend, she wasn't as silent as they thought. And on her silent, Ib always thought about others. She rarely thought about herself, which sometimes almost put her in many troubles, Maya noted.

"Morning, Ib! Have you decided which club that you'll join?" Maya asked as they walked to the school's hall to attend opening ceremony.

Ib took a glance to pamphlets beside her which were promoting so many clubs.

"There's no one that catch my attention."

"Eh? But they say we should, at least, join one club."

"Is that so?" Ib asked. Seeing Maya nodded, she sighed.

"Any suggestion?"

"Well, since you're good on art, why don't you join an art club? This school' art club is really well-known in this prefecture, because they always receive many achievements."

Ib remembered that Mary suggest the art club too. She wondered why…

"So, Ib?" Maya' voice made her snapped from her own mind.

"Sounds good for me," Ib smiled.

"But to be the art club' member is kinda hard, you know. There's so many applicants," Maya sighed.

"Why?"

"Of course, it's because that the club advisor is Aomori-sensei!"

Seeing Ib gave her confused look, she then remembered something.

"Oh, well. You didn't come to this school cultural festival last month. You see, Aomori-sensei was an art teacher who teach 3rd year students. He is, well… kinda good looking; so many students want to join the art club because of him…" Maya said, rolling her hazel eyes.

"Then, what should I do?"

"All the applicants should make an artworks; such as painting, sculptures, etc, which have to be assembled with this form," Maya gave her a sheet of paper.

"I see. Well, thank you, Maya. By the way, have you decided to join any club?"

"Oh, Ib, I bet you know it," Maya grinned.

"Photography club, then, like in middle school, right?" Maya nodded.

When the bell rang, they quickly ran to the hall.

'Don't worry, Ib. I'm sure they'll accept you,' Maya hoped in her mind.

24 days before the game

A man in his early twenty with rather unnatural hair color entered a room. Since it was already evening, he found the room was empty, just filled by bunches of applicant's artworks.

He just grimaced. After three years since he advised the art club, he knew that many applicants just joined the club because of him.

He suddenly remembered his first year as advisor. He accepted all the applicants, and for his surprise just a little of them that joined the club because they enjoyed making and appreciating arts. So, since his second years, he had to select the applicants for joining the art club. By seeing their artworks, he could know who talented and appreciating arts were. And it made the art club received many achievements in every contest.

He sorted the artworks. The artworks which passed his qualifications would be stored on the art club' room and would be displayed Art Club' gallery several days later, when the other would be sent to the owner.

After two hours or so, it was just only four artworks which passed his qualifications. There's just one artwork—a painting, left there, so he excitedly grabbed that.

And for his surprise, the painting made his heart skipped a bit.

It was a painting, without too many colors. But the painter painted it with so deep emotions, and with a good technique, too. It was a simple painting of two silhouettes, one was older and taller than the other—which resembled a figure of a little girl, walking side by side, holding each other hand through a dark hallway. In the floor, their footprints were symbolized by rose petals; the older was blue rose petals while the little girl was red rose petals.

He found himself lost on his mind. It really brought up the memory when he trapped in the 'bizarre gallery'. The memory with her…

Then he snapped.

'Could it be…?'

He turned the painting and read the applicant's form.

"!"

"Ib! Hey, have you checked the Art Club' gallery?" Maya suddenly appeared in front of her desk with excitement.

"Nope. Why?"

"Then, follow me! Come on!" Maya grinned as she grabbed Ib' hands and dragged her to the aforementioned place.

When they arrived, Ib' eyes widened in shock.

"Ma…Maya… what does this mean?" Ib felt like she was going to fall to his knees, but she managed to stood still. Her voice was trembling, as the result of being too shocked.

"That means you are accepted in Art Club, Ib! Congratulation!" Maya chirped happily.

Ib felt really embarrassed as she saw her painting was displayed in their gallery. Sure, she had many paintings, but she only showed them to her parents and Maya. Seeing her painting was seen by other students made her feel… nervous.

But when she heard that many of them liked it, she felt happy, really happy. She was happy because her painting could make other people smiled.

"You see, Ib. This year it was only 5 artworks which were displayed. It means that this year they only accepted 5 peoples!" Maya said excitedly.

Ib looked at other artworks. There was a painting of scenery by Ninomiya Natsu— colorful and was looked so beautiful, a carving of dragon by Kitahara Meirin— it was so detailed when Ib caressed the carving, a ceramic porcelain with beautiful cherry blossoms pattern with a dried flower on it by Nakahara Miya— Ib sure that someone who arranged the flower had ever learnt ikebana at least for a year, and an abstract sculpture by Nakahara Yuki— it was carved from marble.

"Look, Ib. It said that you should go to the Art Club' room this afternoon."

"Alright."

Ib came early since her last class was a free period. She then knocked the door lightly.

"Come in," the sound from inside gave her permission. Somehow she felt that the voice from behind the door was… familiar.

She gripped the doorknob, slide the door softly.

As she opened the door, she suddenly gasped.

After dismissing his class, he decided to go to the Art Club' room. Once he arrived there, he pulled a book of Van Gogh' Artworks.

When he was reading, suddenly the door was knocked.

'Maybe it was one of the new members,' he thought.

"Come in," he replied without bothering him to avert his gaze from the book on his lap.

When he heard the sound of sliding door, he averted his gaze to the door.

And he gasped.

For her surprise, she didn't know or even dream to meet him there, in her school. But he was there, sitting on the chair with a book on his hand, staring her back with a surprised look.

He was barely changed. His purplish hair was as messy as the last time she met him, covering his left eye. Instead of tattered blue coat, he wore a blue shirt with black vest. Then Ib noticed that he used a pair of glasses.

And for him, he looked surprised nonetheless. Even he knew that he would meet her sooner or later, but Ib' appearances made him startled.

She was changing, a lot. She was, of course, a feet taller than the last time he met her, approximately 5'6" at least. Her hair reached—which was mid-long, became longer, reaching her waist. And her face became more mature, and more… beautiful than before.

If she was a rose, she'd reached her full bloom.

"Garry?" she squeaked softly.

Garry snapped from his mind, and then gave her a wide smile.

"Wow, you really change a lot, Ib. You become more beautiful than last time we met," he said.

Ib averted her gaze to anywhere except him.

She was embarrassed, he noted.

"It has been a while, huh?" Garry closed his book as Ib took a sit near him.

"Un," she smiled. "How are you, Aomori-sensei?"

"Me? I'm fine. And please just call me Garry when we are alone. It makes me feel like an old man if you called me like that," he pouted.

"I just thought that you have already become an old man," Ib said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Garry just snorted in disagreement.

But then, they laughed together.

Ib couldn't help but feel happy that she could meet him again. Though the reunion was far from her imagination, but she was still grateful nonetheless.

It's better late than never, right?

They soon chatted about some arts and others.

"By the way, Ib. Have you heard that Guertena' Gallery will be closed in the middle of this month?" Garry changed the topic out of sudden.

"No, I haven't."

"Apparently, some visitors had complained that they had experienced strange occurrences in the museum, such as seeing silhouette run through the empty corridor, sudden blackout in every afternoon, temperature dropping significantly, and many more…" he took a deep breath, and continued, " Even the guards didn't want to enter the gallery in nighttime."

Ib gulped, "Why?"

Garry took a deep breath, and then continued, "Because one day, a security guard wandered in the gallery alone, in his night shift. When strange occurrences started to happen, he couldn't get out of the building. The door was unlocked mysteriously. And when he was found the day after that, he was lying unconsciously, and decided to resign since he was somehow… traumatized."

"Anybody hurts? Or lost?" her voice became a small squeak, almost whispered.

"No. But since it kinda makes uncomfortable, they decided to close the gallery," Garry sighed.

"Then, what about the artwork?"

"They said that they will sell them in the next month and they will move them first to a warehouse in another city. They should prepare the auction since Guertena' artworks are popular. Many people thought that it is a pity since Guertena' artwork is liked by many people. But somehow, I am grateful with their decision, before someone trapped in his 'spooky amusement park' and not able to get out from there. Our case is a special one, all because of you, Ib. I don't think I could manage it without you," he smiled softly.

Ib bent down her face. She wasn't that brave. If the half of her journey wasn't accompanied by him, she doubted herself that she was able to back.

'Maybe Mary's right… Maybe It'd be better if I told him…' Ib thought. Moreover, Mary had told her that she was worried Ib' safety if she faced it all alone, right?

So, she lifted her face, looking right into his eyes.

"Actually, Garry, I…"

A/N : Ookay..! this is the end of the first chapter. Hope you like it guys!

and please do review to support me :))

-Japanese word-

Aikido : one of Japanese' martial arts. It is well known because of its elegant movement *just my opinion*

okaa- san : mom

otou-san: dad

Ikebana : Japanese' art of arranging flowers