Disclaimer: Yet again, I don't own this.

Toys N the Attic: Blehness. Excuse my typos and I apologize for it being so short. x.x

Fade to Black
Chapter 3

How the hell did we wind up like this?
Why weren't we able, to see the signs that we missed
And try turn the tables

I wish you'd unclench your fists, and unpack your suitcase
Lately there's been too much of this
But don't think it's too late

Nothing's wrong, just as long as
You know that someday I will

Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when

Well I'd hope that since we're here anyway
That we could end up saying
Things we've always needed to say
So we could end up staying
Now the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Let's rewrite an ending that fits
Instead of a Hollywood horror

Nothing's wrong, just as long as
You know that someday I will

Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow
I'm gonna make it all right but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
-Nickelback SOMEDAY

The sound of hard metal against stone echoed in the semi peaceful city of Mac Anu.
Mimiru's emerald eyes gazed foreward.. Why had she come back here? How could she be such an idiot? To apologize? no. Then what for? She pressed her back up against a nearby building, catching her breath. Hidden in shadow she looked up at the twilight sky. The sky.. Even if this was all just a big mistake, even if this place wasn't real, she couldn't leave this place..

I vowed to never leave this hopeless world. Never to remove the head set and remember what breathing was, with real air in my lungs and feel the heat of the sun ever again.

Mimiru's emerald gaze fell to the ground.. They were after her now. She was just like Sora.

No.. she was worse.

The memory came back to her like a crushing blow to the head. How she remembered Subaru.. Her eyes still gazing absently at her and seeing her own reflection in the sapphire orbs; her face frozen in mid-word until it all faded away.

fade away..

She could hear them searching just down the street on the bridge she had only previously spoke with Bear on. It was not more then a week before.. how could this all happen in an instant like that? Despite this horror, she did not feel scared. Why was she running then? Because that was all she knew how to do..

Mimiru turned her neck slightly, looking back over the corner at the bridge down the stone road. They were coming this way.. and the chaos gate was across the bridge.. They were all just fools, she thought, they all trying to search for a peace that could never of existed in the first place. Did they believe there really was a justice in a world that wasn't real? There wasn't justice anywhere--ever.

A line of white reflected on Mimiru's blade as drew it from the sheath on her back silently. The mirror surface reflecting the crimson-orange twilight above her. They would never imprison her. Mimiru heavy blade would just be another bitter pill to swallow to the scarlet knights that sought the imaginary justice. It was just a game after all.

Her back foot pushed off the cold stone ground behind her and darted around the corner of the building, into the light of the setting sun, her blade out to her right side, held by the hilt with both hands. Her face was left unchanged.. no eagerness to kill nor fear of being captured. Dust picked up when she hurled herself up in the air, above the heads of the Scarlet Knights and on the other side of the river, almost home bound to the chaos gate. She heard orders being shouted out behind her, and kept going.. only a few yards..

"Mimiru, stop..!" called a voice behind her.. that of a friend.

As she ran, she glanced back behind her.. Kurim..? His face watched her sadly as he landed not too far behind her, obviously mimicking her leap for escape. His spear out to his side and running after her..

He was just like them.

Mimiru shot him a glare, before jumping up the steps of the platform, mouthing three keywords and disappearing in the chaos gate. It all seemed so counted out as if time had slowed down.

Kurim stopped at the bottom of the steps, looking up at the spinning chaos gate and sighing to himself. The other Scarlet Knights joined him at the base of the small steps of stairs, seeming to wait his instructions. He shook his head. "We will wait for her.."

xxxxxx

"Mimiru, get off! Come on.. you can't just sit her all day!" An older blonde woman nudged the girl with a head set over her eyes. "Mimiru!!"

There was no response from the girl with the cracked headset, she did not even move.. nothing at all.

The older blonde woman seemed angry as she tore the head set off the brunette's head. The girl only hung her head and her eyes were closed, as if she were dead.. her skin pale and cold, but her pulse was still felt at the touch.

The older blonde woman watched the girl, with a hand over her mouth.. before touching her fingers to the phone.

"Tsukasa.." escaped in a faint whisper passed the girl with cracked headset's lips.

xxxxxx

She looked up through the mosaic glass of the circular window, at the full moon and the only light source in the church. Her eyes reflecting the soon-to-be tears that began to form. She brushed her cerulean hair behind her ear and sighed. Subaru's grip on her heavy axe tightened. She was killed. Why would anyone do it to her? Her: Subaru. She tried to hold up to law and make everyone happy. That is all it was. Why did Mimiru lose her temper like that? That wasn't Mimiru at all..

Subaru turned, looking over the ghostly pews of the church field. It was silent.. and not even the wind was heard in the virtual reality. She felt sick.. perhaps it was guilt that ate at her. Subaru wondered why it would be that? She hadn't done anything at all, but do as she was told. Tsukasa told her not to reveal any information to anyone.. and she knew why, but couldn't tell Mimiru or anyone else for that matter. Mimiru was more attached then she had thought.

Kurim wasn't even searching for her. Did he care? Mimiru was dangerous to everyone around her and even possibly herself.. Subaru sat in the second row and rested her forehead on the back of the pew before her. Light reflected off the small bead salt water bead that streamed down a cheek. She did not love Tsukasa.. Why did Mimiru think she did? Tsukasa was her best friend in the whole world.. Sure, she thought she had feelings, but they were all just of friendship in the end. She wondered how Tsukasa thought of Mimiru. Subaru never really spoke about Mimiru to her. Mimiru was too distant to really have much to talk about anyways. Tsukasa always just enjoyed the fact of being in the real world and even told Subaru she would never go back and Subaru couldn't blame her.

Mimiru had changed for the worse. It only made her wonder even more, but why was it any of her business? Kurim didn't meddle, but he did care... Subaru lifted her head, looking forward at the moon beam streaming through the dusty light, the tears drying and anger seemed to build. Mimiru could not do this to her.. What would she do to Tsukasa when she met her? She would die from a heart attack.. Tsukasa was a female, a girl and a fragile girl at that. Subaru swore to herself she would stand strong and not let Mimiru shatter everything around her. Subaru pulled herself up from the pew and turned to the exit of the church. If Mimiru had any means to break something she would be broken herself.

xxxxxx

Bear looked up at the clouds of the blue sky above. It was quite in this floating isle field. The wind swooped over the lush grass lazily and swayed Bear's clothes as he leaned against the odd symbolic structure. Colorful, wind sock-like, paper cut outs flopped in the wind as they hung from stone polls.. His peace was interrupted when the sound of an instant message popped up in his inbox. Bear concentrated on it for a moment, before realizing Kurim was going to be there in a few moments.

He looked up as the sound of someone entering flowed through the field in a vision of floating gold rings. The long arm looked at him with an emotionless expression and all Bear did was smile at him. "You wanted to talk to me?"

The blue-haired spears man nodded, walking towards him slowly. "I seek an answer to a long sought question I have." He stopped in front of him, sticking the end of his spear harder into the ground, as if clarifying where he stood.

Bear raised an eyebrow, his arms still crossed. "I will try to answer it the best I can.."

"Do you believe.. that what happened to Tsukasa could happen again?" he asked, his face still firm.

Bear look taken back by the question and then shook his head. "I don't believe it could. Why do you ask?"

Kurim closed his eyes and put his finger to his chin in thought then lowering it and opening his eyes. "I believe it could happen if one wanted it enough.."

Bear, put his muscular arms to his sides. "Why are you saying this? Is that why you have contacted me?"

Kurim sighed and nodded. "I have been talking to some closer er..people to Mimiru lately and I believe it has happened to her.."

Bear shook his head and chuckled. "Mimiru does not wish to remain in The World like Tsukasa was.."

"I am worried about her, Bear." Kurim sighed and looked out. "She has become a Player Killer."

"What???" Bear blinked, as if not absorbing what Kurim had just obviously stated.

Kurim looked back at him. "She PKed Subaru the day before yesturday, Bear.. she is wanted by the scarlet knights."

Bear's eyes saddened some and he looked down. "Should of seen this coming.

"Hn..?" Kurim blinked, his spear head lowering to the ground now.

Bear looked back at him. "Nevermind.. but we need to find Mimiru.. How is Subaru?"

"She is all right, but shaken.."

Bear sighed. "I will message you in the future then.."

Kurim watched him. "All right.. I will tell you about any actions the knights are taking.. Perhaps she was under bad influence."

"By who?" Bear blinked.

"By Sora.." Kurim shook his head, closing his eyes.

Bear looked back up. "If anyone knows Mimiru, it's me." He looked back at him. "She tends to act on impulse."

"Then.. I guess we will see if her record improves." Kurim's eyes closed. "Don't message me, I will message you." He turned, gating out.

Bear still watched after him. Wondering if the message really mattered.

xxxxxx

The grunty nuzzled Mimiru as she lay in the shade of a giant rock in a red desert field. Her face was buried in her arm as she lay on her side, spread on the ground and her eyes closed. Her face showed her wincing in pain. Oh how it hurt.. why did it hurt so much? A wound wrought itself around her stomach and another on her legs. It was deep, but it did not bleed. They always said that the wounds that didn't bleed always hurt like hell. It was a rated PG game, but this hurt worse.. She let it happen, it was her own fault. She could stand up to the Scarlet Knights, but not to Him.

Mimiru opened her eyes slightly and looked at her grunty. She raised her arm she hadn't been laying on and rested it atop the grunty's head and scratched lightly. This creature did not fear her. It did not take over her. It did not haunt her. It was there and that was all it did. It wasn't even real.. She watched it with sad eyes, and looked out at the desert.. it was empty and yet warm, but then again it wasn't alive either. It was peaceful none-the-less and it seemed to welcome her. Perhaps she would see the desert in real life one day.. no. She would never see the real thing. It would be all right..this was better.

She closed her eyes, feeling a wave of pain over her. Mimiru didn't recall it hurting this bad last she remembered. It felt as though this pain was really happening. Was it real?? Why did she have to wait for Bear? Did he know? Was he ignoring her email? She felt herself slipping out of consciousness and the occasional grunty noise that called her back. Her form loosened and she felt calm..no longer caring about Bear, Subaru, Sora.. Kurim or even Tsukasa and there wasn't anymore pain.. it was all black. That was all there was. It was just..
.. black.