Happy Sunday!

Miku's heart thudded as the calliope music started.

The tune seemed louder than usual, tonight. She cast her mind back, trying to remember how she felt as she walked through the woods that night that felt like a lifetime ago. When the song had seemed inviting instead of terrifying, and her biggest concern was if she'd be able to finish her homework when she returned home.

It seemed very important that she remembered all of this, because at that very moment, a girl with pink hair was being lured through the woods in much the same way she had been. She imagined her looking up at the paper lanterns strung around the trees, wrapping her arms around herself as couples past her by while she walked, alone, aching for someone she didn't even know yet.

Luka.

And, suddenly, it wasn't the teenager walking towards her that came to mind. It was that long-ago mage, the beautiful blossom that was far past anyone's help.

Luka. I want to protect you … From the one I couldn't protect you from, all those years ago. Just once, I want to keep you from this.

The thoughts were strange, coming from beyond her. It was as if she were thinking for not only herself, but for everyone who had once held a part of the first Miku's soul in her heart.

The first Miku. There was a thrill of recognition in that, seated deep within her stomach.

"Miku?" She whispered under her breath. "Miku, are you here?"

No more words came. But the magic slithered against the inside of her stomach, and she realized that she was asking a question that she already knew the answer to. Taking a deep breath, she asked the question that really mattered.

"Will you help me?"

Kaito leapt at the peephole by his cage. The shrieks of the first patrons did not quite mask the answer that echoed, deep within her.

Yes.

Miku did not shy away from the eyes that peered into her cage tonight. She stared into brown, and green, and gray, watching silently as she waited for that particular shade of blue to show itself, the blue that had haunted her dreams every night.

You could call out to them, if you wanted.

It was true. Meiko had not put a spell on her voice, either because she figured it wasn't worth it or because she didn't think it would be able to last. Whatever the reason, Miku didn't bother calling out for help. If she did, Luka would be lost, and she couldn't allow that.

She looked down at her body, trying to see herself through the eyes of the patrons on the other side of the peephole. The white and yellow flowers bloomed in lumpy, awkward clumps, making her look misshapen and strange. A few patches of bare skin could still be seen, but one would have to be really looking for it.

What did people think when they saw her eyes peering out from among the flowers? Were they as disgusted with her as they were with the twins and Kaito?

She was still staring when Ruko and Ritsu came to get her.

"Your last performance," Ruko sneered under their breath.

"Make it a good one," taunted Ritsu.

Miku didn't pay any attention to them. Rin and Len were chattering animatedly with someone at their peephole, and she knew from their words who they must have been talking to. It was no surprise that, right before she was wheeled from the tent, she locked eyes with that beautiful, aching shade of blue through the peephole.

Then the cover was thrown under her cage unceremoniously, and she was bustled from the main tent. She thought she heard a low, melodic voice calling out for the clowns to wait, but perhaps that was just wishful thinking. At any rate, the clowns didn't slow or even acknowledge her.

It was Meiko who whisked off her cover in the main tent. She tossed it aside indifferently and looked into the cage with a smile.

"Well, well. Looks like your run is coming to an end." She laughed lowly, leaning forward to make eye contact with Miku. "You've caused me a lot of annoyance, I'll give you that. But do you want to know the funny thing? You didn't really make a difference here, at all."

Miku looked levelly into Meiko's eyes. "I know a few who might disagree," she said. She only wished that her voice didn't tremble when she said it.

Meiko laughed again. "Oh, sure, I'm out a few performers. But this circus has thrived for hundreds of years before them, and it's going to keep thriving after them. There will always be fools to take their place … Just like that little pink-haired wench is going to take yours tonight."

Miku clenched her fists, looking away. Part of her wanted to threaten Meiko for that, but she knew that doing anything to let on that she had more power than she did would reveal too much for the time being. She would have to – very soon, at that – but for now, it was best to stay quiet.

Meiko, taking this silence as defeat, went on. "Oh, yes. Can I let you in on a little secret? I always have much more fun with the beautiful blossoms. They'll do anything if they think it will help them get their freedom. Oh, don't get me wrong, it's great fun to watch the little flowers like you wither and die. But the things I can take from those women …" Meiko grinned. "Do you understand what I'm saying, little flower?"

"Shut up." Miku's face worked, as she tried not to cry. She could only imagine what all of the diva's bearing Luka's hair and eyes suffered … What of Haruko? That diva whose mournful eyes had lightened, just slightly, when they saw Miku's face?

With a flourish of her hand, Meiko grinned. "I guess I don't have time to explain. My act is bound to start any moment. But do try and think on it while you're waiting for your song." And, content in having the last word, Meiko went off to prepare.

Miku trembled, but it wasn't with fear. It was with rage. And, deep within her, that voice that was almost hers spoke.

It's alright. You can get back at her. We must make her angry for this to work.

Miku curled her hands into fists. "How?"

It wasn't until she heard Meiko's song begin that she realized what had to be done.

"Deep, deep in the heart of the forest, there you'll find that circus," Meiko sang to her enraptured audience. "With its ringmaster, wide-eyed and ten meters tall."

The audience gasped, and Miku knew that they were seeing Meiko's own shadow elongate until it became as tall as Haku and Neru. She remembered being just as shocked as that spindly shadow had waltzed around the ring before breaking into pieces, each piece taking on the features of a performer.

"All the performers are so happy," Meiko assured the audience, "though their appearances are bizzare."

Liar. Miku's hands curled into fists. If the circus-goers knew what the performers were really subjected to, would they find the show as appealing? Every night, they heard her Circus Monster song, but it was melodramatic and easy to not take seriously. Of course, that was just what Meiko had intended when she wrote it.

"The Dark Woods Circus is such fun," Meiko sang, and Miku's cage began to roll forward.

Wait. That was Miku's voice, the original Miku. Her voice was stronger than ever now. And so was her magic, apparently. It was through the mage that Miku's cage rolled forward, stopping just on the outskirts of the center ring. The audience could not see her, but she could see the stage.

Miku watched as the shadows across the floor writhed, taking on Rin and Len's shape, Kaito's … and her own. "Come see the two-headed freak and the wonderous siren," Meiko sang, "And watch as the blue beast eats dreadful things."

Now! A sudden gust of magic pulsed out through the center ring, pushing Miku forward into it. Meiko's shadows withered and died, leaving all attention on Miku. Meiko opened her mouth to shout … And didn't make a sound. Miku grinned.

It's not that we wished to be born into these forms," Miku sang. She took Meiko's melody, but used lyrics of her own. "Why are you looking at us like that? Such a rotten face."

Although her lyrics were mournful, she felt powerful. For the first time, she saw eyes looking on her in pity. People were beginning to realize the cruelty of the place. They looked around, mumbling to each other, as if waking up from a dream.

Meiko stared at her in anger. Miku could feel the other's magic pushing against her, trying to overpower her. She fought against it, singing for as long as she could. " 'This life is horrid, yes, it can't help but be so.' That's what she said; and yet, the show goes on."

Meiko wrestled control from her all at once, rushing to enrapture the audience once more. "What fun, what fun! This circus is great," she sang, but it was short lived. More power pulsed from her, aching deep in her stomach, but she didn't mind it. She took control of the song again.

"You can see it in our rotting faces, melting eyes, and festering skin," Miku sang in reply. The music swelled, and she knew she only had a final verse to leave a lasting impression.

Go! The strongest magic yet ripped through her, and suddenly every performer in the center ring was singing – including a furious Meiko, her lips moving against her will.

"I want to die, I want to die, get me out of here, please." Miku clung to the bars of her cage as she sang. She knew that this wasn't going to last, but a few more moments was all she needed.

In the audience, she saw a familiar face staring at her in shock. Her pink hair spilled over the shoulders of her brown hoodie. The second they locked eyes, she felt the remainder of her skin bloom, at least ten new flowers sprouting all at once.

Miku felt her control slipping. The performers stopped singing, one by one, until only Miku was left. "But I feel like someone said to me …"

The music stopped abruptly. The lights went out in a shower of sparks. All around her, there were screams of confusion. And, above it all, there was Meiko's voice.

"That will never happen!"

In the dark, there was the sensation of falling dizzily, and then Miku was back in the tattered brown tent. She wasn't alone. All of the performers had been transported with her.

"You little bitch!" Meiko threw herself against the bars of the cage. "Who do you think you are!"

Miku's stomach ached and her skin was rife with the new flowers. Looking down, she wasn't surprised to see red blossoms nestled amongst the white and yellow. And, yet, she felt no defeat. She didn't feel herself slipping away the way she had after helping Lily.

Finish this. I'm with you. Miku looked up at Meiko and began to laugh.

"Who do I think I am? I'm the name you dare not say, red rose." Meiko recoiled as if slapped. Miku laughed harder. "Why don't you say it? Does it truly frighten you that much? Miku, Miku, Miku!"

"Shut up!" Meiko screamed. Miku could have spoken right through it, but thought it better to remain silent. "Strong words for someone whose life is almost over." The taunts came out angry and terse, unlike her usual mocking. "Just wait for your little beloved to come to the cage, Miku. This entire circus will be here to watch you die."

So! My first note is that the translation for the Dark Woods Circus lyrics came from ArtemisA on the animelyrics website.

As for the story, at this time next week, it should be finished! I've been working on it for so long, it's weird to think about. But I've also been working on other things, so don't worry about me being too absent! I'll let you know what I have planned in the last chapter here.

I can't wait to hear what you think!

- Jillian Maria