A big thank you to Spanner! He was the only one who attempted to answer my trivia question. He also got it right. Wamori Midori is his creation, I'm merely borrowing her for a bit. Wamori Midori means 'green, peaceful forest.' Congratulations, Spanner!


Stars Ascend To Heaven

Chapter Five: Planned Meetings And Pure Faith

By

Samanda Hime-sama

"Now will you please tell me where we are going?" An exasperated Mimiru said to Tsukasa as she tugged half heartedly at her blindfold.

"No," Tsukasa told her and smacked at her hand absently.

"Itai!" Mimiru cried out. "That hurt, Tsukasa."

"You'll live," Tsukasa spoke as she checked the area surrounding them. "Here we are. Come on."

Mimiru grumbled but complied with Tsukasa's demand. She trustingly followed Tsukasa's lead as she felt her lead her across a street then over a curb. Her feet passed over a doorstep and after a few more minutes Tsukasa told her to stop.

Mimiru said suddenly. "Where's Subaru anyway?"

Mimiru felt Tsukasa stumble and Mimiru began to laugh, amused that she had disconcerted the other girl. Luckily Tsukasa simply tripped and regained her balance easily.

"She's here." Tsukasa's voice was calm but held a hint of excitement.

"Can I take it off now?" Mimiru begged her friend.

A short pause then Subaru said. "Go ahead."

Mimiru ripped the blindfold off with a happy sigh. She was dizzy for a second and didn't register what was before her until her eyes stopped spinning. She gasped them laughed out loud.

"Who are all these people?" She asked Tsukasa and Subaru, who had moved to stand next to Tsukasa.

"People from The World," An older man rose as he spoke to her.

Mimiru glanced at him. His dark hair was streaked with gray but the crinkles in his face came from smiling and thought, not from frowning. His dark eyes were kind and surprisingly youthful, making him appear as if he was in his late forties. He had dressed up for the occasion in slacks and a dress shirt but somehow they had gotten rumpled. They hung a bit on his slim, tall frame.

"Why I'm hurt," He smiled. "You don't recognize your old friend, Bear?"

"Bear!" Mimiru's eyes lit up and she hugged him.

He smelled faintly of cigarettes. Not the most pleasant of things, Mimiru thought but she gave him an extra hug for good measure.

Bear, who's real name was Masari Ryo, assisted the two main organizers of the event in getting the name of the others present to Mimiru.

"Nice to meet you in real life," Wamori Midori told Mimiru.

Mimiru smiled. "You too, A20."

IRL (or in real life) A20 was slim and petite but she used three inch high heels to make herself look taller. She looked like she had just stepped out of a movie poster with her expertly made up face and dark bouncy curls.

"So what have you been up to?" A feminine voice that could have come from some man's daydream addressed Mimiru's back.

Mimiru turned around and blinked. The woman that stood there looked like she was in her late twenties. She wore only a little makeup because any more would have distracted from her startling face. The only hint that she wasn't pure japanese was her dark blue eyes. Her black hair was long and hung ruler straight down her back.

"BT." She replied to the questioning look in Mimiru's eyes. "Or Yakama Emi to the rest of the world."

"You definitely aren't what I expected." Mimiru said with a wry smile.

BT gave her a wicked smile and said slyly. "Little in life is, don't you agree?"

"Oh too true." Mimiru agreed and excused herself to meet the rest of her guests.

The party went on for several more hours. Despite departures of some of the guests who had to leave for various circumstances, more and more people kept arriving. The hall Bear had rented for the event was never less than a quarter full at any given time.

But evening came and the last of the stragglers said their goodbyes and went on their ways. The nine core planners of the party remained to clean up. Miimiru slumped back in her chair, utterly exhausted. A book crammed full of names, numbers and addresses was had been placed carefully nearby in order that Mimiru would not forget to take it when she left.

"I know you enjoyed yourself." Shin/Krim said, smiling. "But are you tired yet?"

Mimiru laughed and admitted, "Exhausted. I want nothing more than to sleep right now."

"Don't worry." Bear called out from across the Hall. "I'll take you back in a bit."

Mimiru smiled and looked the hall over. "But I don't want this to end." She said softly.

"Who says it has to?" Krim sat beside her and looked into her eyes. "This night will live forever in your heart, Mimiru. In that way, it doesn't have to end."

Mimiru smiled. "You're so wise. Where did you get your wisdom?"

"Age." Krim shrugged. "And experience. When you are as old as I am, you will be wise yourself."

Mimiru snorted. "Hah. You're not so old as that yet. You haven't even hit thirty yet."

"All you have to do is wait." Subaru said as she wheeled herself over to the two.

Mimiru smiled warmly at Subaru. "Thank you for your part in this."

"No thanks are needed. Subaru waved it off. "Seeing you so animated was thanks enough."

Mimiru sighed. "And now its back to boring isolation tomorrow."

Tsukasa approached. "What's happening tomorrow?"

"Chemotherapy." Mimiru shrugged. "The doctors are increasing the dosage since it hasn't had the effect they would like. Tonight is my last night of freedom so to speak, for a while."

"Oh Mimiru." Subaru sighed and reached out to take her hand. "I'm so sorry."

Mimiru took Tsukasa's hand in her free one. "I haven't given up hope yet. There's still a chance."

"There's always a chance." Bear said softly as he approached.

Krim nodded. "That's right."

"I know." Mimiru said to everyone as the other people surrounded her.

Bear, BT, A20, Subaru, Tsukasa and Krim. All well known friends as well as the other three surrounding her that she didn't know quite so well. Ginkan, happy as always to simply be near his Subaru-sama. Balmung, who was cool yet serious and quiet as he calmly planned. The legendary hacker, Helba, who justified paranoia had driven her to disguise herself in order to protect her identity.

They stayed like that for a few minutes before Bear broke in. "I'll take you home now."

Mimiru nodded assent, tired to the point of unconsciousness. "Thank you all for a wonderful time. I hope to get visits from you all soon."