In this, to avoid confusion that I don't want to PM you all to explain or explain next chapter, in this chapter, we have a bond 'made'. In short:

Suiseiseki and Souseiseki = broken bond

Suiseiseki and Hinaichigo = made bond

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...I wasn't really expecting any since I uploaded this really soon after uploading the last chapter.

'Trust in yourself, or you'll never trust others.

Yet, who do you trust, if you trust nobody?'

-Marina, Rozen Maiden Vertrauen

Jun, Nori and Hina were surprised to see Shinku leading a teary faced Suiseiseki through into the living room. Neither acknowledged the three sitting at the dining table, about to tuck into Nori's Flower-topped Hamburgers. Shinku led the brunette to the couch, and said in a comforting voice, "Wait here. Jun will make you some hot, fresh tea. It will calm you down." Jun, hearing this, just stood and set to work, too shocked by Suiseiseki's behaviour to argue or comment. Hina jumped down from the table and walked over to the doll.

"Suiseiseki? What's wrong?" Suiseiseki hesitated, but, just when she seemed about ready to answer, a recent memory stopped her and she started crying again. But what shocked and surprised everyone most was, even though muffled by her hands, what she said.

"Oh Souseiseki, how could you?"

Marina looked into the mirror. Souseiseki was downstairs, with Mr. and Mrs. Shibasaki. She furrowed her brow in frustration.

"Okay, show yourself. I know you're there, waiting. Come on, show yourself. Explain." Barasuishou appeared in the mirror reflection, a smirk on her features.

"Why hello there, child. You've been causing me trouble. Did you think you were playing hide and seek?" Marina's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't know I was being searched for until Suiseiseki disappeared. What did you do to her?" The doll in the mirror chuckled.

"Nothing. I swear." Marina bared her teeth.

"You must've done something, otherwise Suiseiseki wouldn't have left. And I saw the letter. What did you tell her about Souseiseki?" Barasuishou narrowed her eyes in mischief.

"I only told her the truth. I was helping her." Marina snorted.

"Why don't I believe that?" Barasuishou smiled, though it wasn't a warm smile.

"I showed her that she couldn't trust Souseiseki. That Souseiseki says things about her when she's not around. In fact, why am I saying this? You were there." Barasuishou leaned forward, her head and shoulders coming out of the mirror, far enough that she could whisper in Marina's ear, "You want to know something?"

"What?"

"She was quick to defend you asking all those questions, instead of her own sister, who answered them all." She leaned back into the mirror.

"And, if you ask me, I'm sure that Souseiseki was totally honest in her answers. She truly does believe that Suiseiseki is weak." Marina growled, but there was a knocking at the door before she could say anything about Barasuishou's accusation. The doll disappeared just as Mrs. Shibasaki opened the door.

"Oh, Marina-chan, I didn't know you were in here, I thought Souseiseki was here," she said, her voice cracked with grief. Marina blinked.

"Souseiseki?" She nodded, her hands shaking. She was holding a lacy handkerchief, which she rubbed her wet cheek with.

"Yes, she came upstairs. I thought she came in here. Where could she be?" Marina turned back to the mirror, this time, her own worried reflection stared back at her. She remembered that during her talk with Barasuishou, she had heard a shuffling outside the door. It wasn't loud enough to scare off the other doll like Mrs. Shibasaki's arrival had, but Marina had heard it. She'd paid it no attention, until then. She came to a conclusion.

Souseiseki had over heard them and had set out to try and find Suiseiseki.

Hina sat on her stomach, drawing in Jun's room. She already had a pile of finished drawings next to her, and her spirit Berrybell was hovering over her. She looked up as Suiseiseki entered. Her head was down and her sleeves and parts of the skirt of her dress were stained with tears. She sniffed a few times as she made her way towards the cases set up beside the shelves. Hina watched as she pulled Shinku's out and opened it.

"Unyuu?" Suiseiseki jumped and turned, seeing Hina for the first time.

"O-oh, puny ichigo! Wh-what are you doing here?" Hina tilted her head slightly.

"Hina lives here. Hina thought that Suiseiseki was with Sou-"

"Do not say her name!" Hina jumped as Suiseiseki snapped. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes, and she collapsed to her knees.

"Please, just don't say it. Don't say it, don't say it," she sobbed, her shoulders shaking as her tears washed through her hands and dripped onto the floor. Hina frowned, worried. She'd seen Suiseiseki cry before, but she'd never seen her this sad. Hina got to her feet and walked over to the grief stricken doll.

"Suiseiseki, please don't cry. Please." Suiseiseki looked up, and was surprised to find Hina's cheeks glistening with tears. Although hesitant at first, the older doll grabbed the tiny blonde in a comforting hug.

"You are such a crybaby, puny ichigo," she said, though it was more joking than teasing. Hina sniffed, and hiccupped.

"You're such a crybaby, Suiseiseki." The doll smiled for the first time that day.

"Yeah. I guess."

Hinaichigo: Suiseiseki, do you want to talk?

Suiseiseki: Sure. Maybe it could help.

Marina: It seems those two are closer.

Barasuishou: And who have you got to thank?

Marina: Not you that's for sure. And where's Souseiseki?

Barasuishou: How should I know? Ask Suiseiseki.

Suiseiseki: Next time, on Rozen Maiden Vertrauen...

Hinaichigo: Its secrets cannot be trusted.