A/N: Finally! After the long wait I had fixed my laptop and its AC! I know you guys missed this story and so have I! Let's not delay any further then? Okay hold your horses and let's go!

Disclaimer:VK is not mine

Chapter 26:Marie doesn't give up

Rima sighed. another mundane day. the usual. It was tiring how she had to repeat everything everyday. It made her baffled at times, because she couldn't remember anything special. classes, always classes. Never a time for herself.

"Ich liebe dich,means?" The professor, balding and old looked around the room. "Ms. Touya?"

"I love you." She answered, absent-minded.

"Good."

Rima sighed. yes, everything was completely the same. A total lack of excitement. She had no friends. Well, she did. But they were nothing compared to Takuma. He would listen, give her advice. comfort her. He was all anyone would kill to have as a friend. She fumbled with her pen and doodled on her sketch pad.

"Excuse me."

She turned.

A human, with brunette hair and green eyes smiled at her.

"Yes?"

"I believe this is yours." He indicated a silver ring.

Rima checked her hand and didn't manage to stifle her gasp. "Oh, yes. that is mine. thank you."

She hastily placed it on her pocket.

He beamed at her. "I'm Antoine"

"Rima" She returned his smile.

"I have noticed that ring from under your chair and I was aware that you didn't notice it gone. so yeah, I think I just saved a life." He joked.

She laughed a little. "That's nice of you."

Rima had noticed how he had such bright green eyes. then another gasp was threatening to pour on her. Takuma Ichijo's eyes.

Antoine and Takuma had the very same eyes. She quickly averted his gaze and returned to the German lecture. Her fist were iron clenched. That was it. She couldn't take the intoxication any longer. It would choke her up. She knew she could kill a person or suck their blood, just to return back to Tokyo.

Problem was, she couldn't.

Couldn't return to Tokyo because she lacked financial support. Couldn't return to Tokyo because she wasn't sure if she'd regret it or not. Rima's heart suddenly pounded hard. Maybe.. she was just in need of fresh air.

"I want you to come with me."

"And why should I? So that I could see you get your happily ever after with her? Damn straight Senri , damn straight."

"No." replied Shiki through clenched teeth. "I want you by my side as the best friend."

He heard Takuma chuckle in an occult way.

"I still am your best friend?" then a snort. "really?"

"Yes." but it seems like Senri was telling this to himself more.

The truth was , they seldom met since Rima arrived. They had been more on the compete side since then. Senri couldn't believe either , that a girl could break that strong bond between him and Takuma. It was not just right. Senri was here , to tie it all back like the rope it had been before.

"Did you see how everything resulted to everyone in pain?" Takuma asked. His stormy eyes were narrowed a fraction. "especially me?"

Senri heaved a sigh. "yes."

"Did you see how — how such an ass you were because you spoke up too late? Senri , man , you are full of simp. And you always will be."

"yes." Senri agreed.

Takuma smirked , it was never for him to smirk. But even in these past occurrence , after all he'd been through , who could stop scorn radiating out of his face?

His blond hair swayed slightly as he sat up straighter on his chair. "You know how much of a scum you are then." he pointed his index finger to him , across.

"Yes." was Senri's thrice.

"Good." There was a sense of jubilation building up on Takuma's heart. "Good you know and you deserve to be buried on the deepest pit hole in hell."

Senri's knuckles tightened. He did not have much patience for this talk because he was already liable for his actions. But he held his temper and let Takuma explode it all to him because he was right — he deserved it.

"But nonetheless , I still think you have the chance at this affair you have." said Takuma silently. "I think that you still are my best friend even if we had compete a lot. And I still think that you deserve her." a shuffling of shoes was heard. "and yes , I will go with you , even if you sometimes are an arsehole."

"Thank you man."

"We should not waste time." Takuma replied. "I heard Marie is out in Paris the moment we speak."

The little shops were very remarkable. Rima looked around, enthralled at the sights in front of her. There were only little people out shopping in Paris today and that they were dressed fashionably. She hoped she wasn't too under dressed. She spotted an ice cream parlor from across the street. An ice cream always cheer her up.

walking lithely, she arrived and paid for a parfait. She sat alone, beside the glass window, allowing her thoughts to run. It was a lonely dusk for her. Even if it was lovely outside, with the sun and it's red streaks, she couldn't even see it clearly. For her, the shops were all gray. all gloom and doom. She saw a couple walking hand-in-hand, strolling in the bricked streets,laughing cheerfully. Rima couldn't remember the last time she laughed like her life depended on it.

She scooped the vanilla ice cream,and it reached half-way her mouth when she remembered that she and Takuma had once ate at an ice cream parlor, criticizing vanilla because the color was exactly like Marie's hair. She gave a small melancholic sigh.

The parfait had four layers, all strawberry and vanilla. Without thinking about it, she picked her spoon and mixed the two flavors together, mashing them. When she had tried the new straw-nilla flavor,she paused, allowing the creamy substance to melt freely on her tongue, then she contemplated..she wanted to smack her head. Oh how silly they had been with Takuma! Vanilla and Strawberry tasted more delicious when combined.

Straw-nilla. she liked how that sounds very much. It reminded her of ordinary days in Tokyo.

Rima burped,loudly. She turned to look around, crimson on her cheeks. Even if there weren't any people who had heard, she was still embarrassed. Maybe she shouldn't linger on this place for too long.

The parfait cup was empty. only the spoon and some traces of melted vanilla and strawberry remained. She left some money on the table and slowly stood up to leave. After all, she still had lots of homework to do. The last thing she ever wanted was some scolding.

"Well, we met again."

She looked up and her purse dropped on the floor.

"Oh."

"Hello, Rima."

Marie.

Marie! Goodness. pale,blond,tall,blindingly beautiful. in front of her,and them, in front of the shabby-looking ice cream parlor with all it's blue and white striped umbrellas. Rima's heart clenched painfully. remembering the past was painful. But seeing something from past was searingly atrocious.

"Oh." She muttered again. unable to absorb it all. She wanted to know if this was real. because if it wasn't real, she was sleeping then. The parfait wasn't real. The straw-nilla ice cream never existed and Marie would vanish into a puff inside her head.

Maybe Rima was waiting for it all to happen. The quippy sound of her alarm clock. Then she'd wake up and see the beige ceiling of her dorm,back in le fait, with the comfort of her bed. Then she'd sigh and mumble about how real the straw-nilla was. Then she had burped and was thankful that no one noticed it, even if it was a dream. She was waiting for her to rise on her bed. panting and sweating, because she saw Marie in front of her. here, in Paris.

But no matter how long she waited, paused , and expected for the alarm clock, It didn't arrive. Hence, this was real.

well, fuck.

Rima blinked a couple of times, like an eye adjusting to light.

"I'm real. you can touch me to prove it." The girl across from her giggled. Then she showed her hand. Rima frowned at it. Where was her voice now when she needed it most? And also , on Marie's hand , Rima saw an engagement ring nice and shiny.

A/N: I got the straw-nilla idea from an ingenious reviewer : shikixxrima. Thank you!

P.S. I'd like to remind all of you that this story is already done. I mean finished writing and all and there are only four chapters left. Please Review! :)