A/N: Managed to get this one done in time! So, here it is...also, I'm changing the update schedule for every Friday instead of Monday, unless I finished a chapter earlier, of course...although I might be stuck making corrections and fixing mistakes before posting.

But updates will be now on Fridays.

See you next time!

7 / Twelve Months of Death and Time

...ichigatsu

Time is cruel, Junko realized. It moves too slow, too fast. There was always time, there was always no time. More time, more time, more time, no time, no time. It was always that way. There was always no time, more time, no time to beg, no time to die.

Junko had thought she had all the time in the world, no matter how fast it was going. Concerts, television appearances, you name it. Her schedule was packed. She had time, she had drive.

She also had not been dead.

Nowadays, Junko Konno was dead...and pretending she was not. It was complicated.

She had been so excited about the calendar, about revisiting the Showa era that she had forgotten that she was dead. She had forgotten for a moment that she was back then, not now, and had gotten lost in her thoughts. Not anymore, though.

Now, as she stared at the old dress, she realized it looked familiar. Junko remembered wearing a similar dress before. It was for one of her shows, she remembers now. One of her shows, so long ago.

Nearby, Ai Mizuno fixed her own dress, so similar to Junko's, so similar to the past. The younger idol was a bit unsure, frowning a bit at the strange style, as if something was wrong with it.

Too long, too short.

(but time had been too short for Junko Konno, too short)

The Showa era idol let herself smile as she looked at her friend. "It isn't too short, is it?" It was a modest, one piece dress, long sleeves, the colar a little too loose around the neck, a reminder.

Ai just laughed, shaking her head.

"It's either that or I'm too tall." Ai was wearing an identical dress to Junko's, hers blue in color. A jet black jacket hugged her shoulders, courtesy of Saki, who told her to look a little dangerous for the camera much to Ai and Junko's shared amusement.

In contrast, Junko's dress was a light gray, and unlike the dangerous Mizuno (Saki's idea), Junko wore the jacket properly. It was a rather nostalgic look. She remembered wearing a similar outfit during a show that aired on the tube.

(but no one was watching the tube looking for Junko Konno, who was dead)

Junko must have spaced out for a few seconds because next thing she knew, she felt someone grab unto her hand. Turning, she spotted the worried face of Ai. "You okay, Junko?"

The young woman couldn't help the sad smile that decorated her lips; the mirror showed her how much time she had missed when she turned to stare. "I suppose," she began, still looking at the mirror, grabbing a bit of the dress with her free hand before letting it fall. "It's...just...well...it's just…" Junko trailed off, not knowing what to say, her eyes on the mirror. Ai turned to stare at their reflection. Two girls. Two lost girls, lost to time.

(time didn't stop for the dead)

But then, Ai's reflection smiled, still grabbing Junko's hand and nodded. "I see...it is too short, isn't it?"

For a moment, Junko doesn't know how to respond but the next, she giggles. Ai laughs with her, still holding unto her hand. "Yes," Junko remarks, unshed tears on her eyes and a smile in her face. "I guess it is a little too short...a little...and I...I suppose I missed them."

(Time, time, All gone, gone)

Ai nodded, her smile soft. She understood.

The two girls stood there, holding hands, watching their reflection, watching time. Tears fell from Junko's eyes, small, tiny little tears that ruined a bit of the makeup but Ai was there to wipe them away. Junko leaned her head on Ai's shoulder, and just watched her reflection.

They stayed there, in front of the mirror, waiting, waiting.

And then, Kotaro's yelling filled the room, ordering them to get ready, that it was there turn. The girls blinked, fixed their makeup, covered their tears and stared at their reflection one last time.

Ai still held unto Junko's hand, whispering, "Don't worry...I got your back."

(time was too short and Junko missed the old days, yet this new life, this present, she wouldn't trade it for the world)

...nigatsu

Sakura and Lily watched as Yugiri helped Saki with her hair, the ex-biker trying not to fidget too much.

"...ugh...sis...how much longer?"

"A few more minutes, I'm afraid…"

"Ugh…"

Lily pouted Saki's way. "Come on, Saki! Stay still! You're gonna make Yugiri last longer!"

Saki just groaned louder.

Sakura, hidden behind Yugiri and Lily, sighed.

She was still cleaning up the saliva that Tae had left behind when the unawakened zombie had confused Sakura's hair bun for food, for some reason. Now, she was trying to clean her hair as best as possible, unaware that Tae was behind her, munching on a loose strand of dark pink hair, watching Saki complain the day away.

...sangatsu

Tae had behaved quite well when it was time to take the picture.

It was fair to say that was probably because all she had to do was lie down, holding unto Lily and Yugiri's hands as they lay with her.

Sakura had just shrugged when Saki had pointed at the scene in amazement.

Tae was usually still if she was lying down.

At least she wasn't trying to eat the camera...no, wait. Tae had almost jumped at Kotaro when he passed by, the courtesan and the child actress holding her back.

Sakura sighed.

...shigatsu

Sakura gave her friends an unimpressed stare as she and Yugiri posed for April.

The courtesan leaned against her, looking as charming as ever, a pleasant smile on her face, hair flowing in the wind as the desk fan hit them and the pink petals danced around them before falling gracefully on the floor.

Her friends tried not to laugh at the expression Sakura was making their way.

"...really?"

Yugiri couldn't help the giggle that escaped her as the rest of the band, minus a confused Tae, laughed.

...gogatsu

Junko stared at her reflection, slightly unsure, tugging the sleeves of the leather jacket down, as if wanting it to stretch longer than it needed to. The jacket was a little too tight. Maybe. Junko wasn't really used to wearing leather, even when she had performed when alive.

Glancing at the mirror, she noticed Ai and Sakura trying to stop Tae from biting into her leather jacket. Then she was seeing Saki, coming closer and closer until they both stood there facing the mirror, leather darker than the night.

Their leader looked surprisingly intimidating with those jacket and jeans, not that Saki had never not been intimidating. She was friendly, alright. And she had also been the co-leader of an infamous biker gang. Or rather, Junko still remembers Saki knocking out poor Mr. Go with that kick. Maybe that was it.

"How you holding there, girl? Too much leather for your tastes?"

Junko smiled. "I'm alright...it's just...is this really what you wore when you were in Dorami…? Leather…?"

Saki chuckled, shaking her head. "Nah. You remember those long ass jackets we wore for that performances with the uniforms?" The former idol nodded. "That's what we wore...most of the time. Well, I sure as hell didn't. Neither did Reiko nor most of the girls, but a few of them, that's what they wore. School uniforms under the jackets."

"Ah…"

"Besides, the whole leather business is from this movies Shades showed us...trust me, we didn't wear this much leather when I was in Dorami. Hell, neither did Reiko's kid." Saki eyed herself in the mirror. "We look badass enough. Maybe if this idol stuff doesn't end up working we can hit the road," she put an arm around Junko, grinning, "what do ya say, Junko? Ready to bust some heads?"

Junko laughed, a small blush on her cheeks. "Sakura wouldn't approve…" Saki chuckled.

"Hah! Wouldn't really doubt it for a miー"

"Ah! Tae!" The reflections of Sakura and Ai struggled against Tae, who had the leather in her mouth and was biting hard. "Don't you'llー" RIPPPPP!

Saki and Junko turned away from the mirror, eyes wide, as Tae ripped the sleeve of her leather jacket off and began to eat it. Ai's eyebrow twitched as she stared at her friend while Sakura, standing next to her, placed a hand on her forehead and began to shake her head.

"O-oh…"

"...Huh."

Sakura with some help from Saki and Junko, who rushed towards her, managed to stop Tae in time before she started biting unto Ai's own leather jacket next.

...rokugatsu

Sakura and Lily finished the photoshoot without problems…except when a small drizzle caught them by surprise right in the middle of it, washing their makeup off.

The two of them quickly applied makeup again after the rain had stopped; Kotaro had tried to use that waterproof spray (for shoes) on them before Saki kicked him.

...shichigatsu

Yugiri examined the garments she wore with slight interest; they looked pretty enough, seemed fashionable enough but they confused her.

Fashions moved, so did time. How odd that they seemed to walk hand in hand.

(how many heads had to roll for that one?)

The courtesan sometimes let her mind wander. It was safe. It was comforting. She used to let her mind wander during particular hard days; she had been taught all her life to be in control, to satisfy, to be elegant, to not question, to go with the flow. But sometimes it was too difficult to keep on pretending.

Yugiri wasn't a fool.

She had been raised to be a courtesan, nothing else mattered.

And yet, she was bothered. What was it? What could it be?

(it wasn't the clothes, it wasn't the fact she was dead and had been brought back, it wasn't the fact that she had lost her head)

Yugiri let out a small hum, unsure.

Fashion. Fashion.

Was it really fair for fashion (time) to change so fast?

"Yugiri?"

Was it the fashions or was it the ever changing tides that was time?

"Yugiri…?"

The courtesan suddenly blinked, barely taking note of Sakura standing nearby, her red eyes looking at her with concern. "Is...is something wrong?"

(time was wrong)

Be in control, Yugiri's thoughts whispered, don't think, just be. Old teachings seemed to echo in her thoughts, telling her, teaching her...this is a life of vice, of pleasure.

(get used to it)

And Sakura was still there, standing, worried, echoing a different set of words, offering her comfort that she could not find among others of her ilk. But Yugiri's mind was already travelling somewhere else.

Nothing was wrong. Her head was still attached, the stitches and decay had been covered by the makeup and it was fine. Her death had been quick. Yugiri could still remember the fear and the struggle that in the end amounted to nothing. For Sakura, she couldn't really say the same; the scar in the middle seemed to be the only thing holding the younger woman's head from splitting open, the small little stitches in her legs were barely noticeable but the bandage in her arm, the bandages in her legs...so close to…

Had Sakura suffered? Had her death been as swift as hers when the time came?

And yet, that wasn't what was wrong, and she let Sakura know so, with a small smile and a nod.

"Do not worry. Nothing is wrong...I was just...thinking…" It was obvious Sakura didn't believe her, if that raised eyebrow was any indication. Change the subject...distract….be in control. "Styles are forever changing, are they not?" Sakura blinked at the question, unsure of what to think before she glanced to the side, shrugging and then, she smiled. It was a nervous sort of smile, the kind Sakura would offer if there was something bothering her but couldn't express herself well.

Still, she played along with Yugiri's distraction. "Well...I suppose they do. Junko's probably more used to these types of dresses than we are...maybe even Saki but she's not really into fashion." Yugiri turned away from Sakura, distracting herself in the mirror and that's when she caught her fellow zombie's reflection; hands behind her back, looking unsure. "...but that's not it, is it?" Yugiri blinked again, eyeing the girl behind her through the mirror. Then, she smiled...go with the flow...and shook her head.

"Ah, forgive me, Lady Sakura...I was just letting my mind wander...a silly habit of mine, I suppose."

"Are...are you sure…?"

"I am sure."

(time wasn't)

And yet, Sakura wasn't so sure. She stood there, still, unsure of whether to keep on questioning her or move on. Yugiri knew that Sakura wouldn't let the matter rest. She was so different from the girls back in the brothel...so different from her old manager...so different from her.

"ACK!"

Sakura almost jumped. Yugiri barely reacted.

They heard Saki struggling with Tae to "get off of the camera, damn it!" Sakura turned back once, and then turned back to the smiling Yugiri, who seemed to be amused by recent events. Sakura gave her a nervous smile and muttered, "Umm...excuse me...Tae!" And she was gone, allowing Yugiri to breathe a sigh of relief.

Be elegant.

Be in control.

(you're dead)

...hachigatsu

"Where did you even get that bag of plastic leaves?"

"Tatsumi had them in the attic...along with the sakura petals."

"Hurry up! Tae's trying to eat the darn things again!"

...kugatsu

Lily made a small twirl, grinning from ear to ear as she admired her sailor uniform, Yugiri and Sakura watching her with matching smiles. Sakura herself was fixing her hair into a ponytail as she watched. Behind them, Junko smiled shyly admiring her uniform in the mirror while Ai, looking on, complimented her on something or the other.

Saki watched her friends, a big grin on her face. "I guess it's back to school again, huh?" she asked Tae, who just groaned in response.

...jūgatsu

Romero let out a delighted bark as he sat on Lily's lap.

The girls were all in their casual clothes, their makeup wiped off. They were all cuddling together in a big pile of pillows, Junko, Ai and Yugiri in the back, Lily in the middle, and in the front, Sakura, Tae and Saki.

Kotaro stood nearby, trying to find the right angle to take the picture from.

Romero barks again. Hurry up, he seemed to be saying.

"Do you think we look dead enough?" Saki asked, turning towards Sakura who just looked quizzically back at her.

"How much more dead do you want us to be?" The ex-biker sent Sakura an unamused stare before she began grinning. Sakura didn't have time to react before Saki reached over and separated her head from her body. "HEY!"

Saki turned to Yugiri, Sakura's head in hand. "Big sis! Catch! Quick!"

"Saki!" the head cried, landing on Yugiri's arms, the courtesan smiling in amusement all the way.

Lily, suddenly inspired, turned to whisper at Ai. The former idol looked a bit confused before she sighed and detached her own head and gave it to Junko to hold.

Romero barked again.

Hurry! Hurry!

"Will you stupid zombies stop moving around!?" Kotaro yelled, pointing the camera towards them. "Stay still!"

Sakura just resigned herself to her fate, her body crossing its arms over her chest while her head glared at Saki, who tried to control her laughter. Ai's head just sighed, a smile on her lips, her body still as a stone. Lily and Junko giggled. Yugiri held Sakura's head close as Romero barked.

"Woof!"

...jūichigatsu

"...are we really doing this again?"

"What's wrong, Egghead? Don't like your namesake flying around?"

"That's not it…Tae is eating them off of the floor."

"She's been eating the little plastics since the beginning, why is it bothering you now?"

"Because she's trying to eat the desk fan this time."

"Whoa! Hey! Hey! Shrimpy, Sis! Stop that girl!"

...jūnigatsu

Sakura let out a sigh, falling into her futon.

It had been a long day.

Tae had lost her head again, courtesy of little Romero. They had chased the pooch all over the room before finally retrieving their friend's head. Said friend had started biting things again but at least the camera was safe.

Still…

Sakura glanced at Yugiri, the older woman busy brushing her hair; the others were already getting ready for bed, Ai and Junko were getting up from the couch talking about tomorrow's practice, Saki and Lily were having a conversation about what the calendar would look like on the side, already settled on their futons and Tae had already fallen asleep on hers.

The pink haired zombie frowned slightly as she continued watching Yugiri, recalling that particular interaction when they were taking the pictures for July. Sakura couldn't really pinpoint what had bothered her when she had seen Yugiri looking so lost, or maybe she had just imagined it. But Yugiri had seemed so...the zombie couldn't really explain it. The courtesan had obviously been thinking about something.

Was it because of the calendar, maybe?

Had it awakened past memories that Yugiri would rather they remained buried?

Sakura preferred not to think too much of the past. It brought back bad memories, brought back reminders of how her bad luck had ruined her days. Not everything was bad she knew but when it came to Yugiri, when it came to everyone else, who could say.

For Junko, and to a lesser extent Saki, time had moved a little too fast but it had stopped at a place that still felt familiar to them; for Yugiri, time had moved too fast, too far out of her reach. Sakura and Ai had lost ten years, Lily just seven, Saki over twenty, Junko going to forty but Yugiri had lost more than a century.

Tae, no one was so sure, but she was probably up there with Saki or Junko in years lost. Not that the older woman cared. She wasn't conscious to care beyond her friends.

Sakura sighed, turning her head away as Yugiri finally finished brushing her hair.

The zombie recalled the massages Yugiri had offered a while back, when she was feeling down, even if it had been a group effort, Sakura appreciated the care she gave her. It was only fair to return the favor, right?

She'll be here if Yugiri needed to talk.

She knew they all would.

/…..

A week later, after one of their mini concerts was over, the girls were rather shocked to see the calendars fly off the table in less than an hour.

They had sold better than anyone expected, forcing their manager to print even more for future events under the guise of "fan demand". As a plus, the photos that had decorated the calendar were sold separately to the calendar on the next event. They sold twice as fast, earning them a considerable boost in cash by the end of a third concert before the month was over.

And somewhere out in Saga, in a small apartment, in a modest house, in a clinic and in a dark room, the past watched the present, smiling, crying and laughing at the familiar faces that stared back.