The story so far:

Prolog – Mayumi Osaka finds herself in a horrific situation while on a pleasure ride aboard a multimillionaire's yacht.

Chapter I, Subpar – Serena resolves to win the love of someone she admires by altering herself.

Chapter II, Calamity – The wellbeing of Naru's mother, Mayumi, is called into question when her cruise vacation is cut short by a sudden epidemic aboard a luxury liner.

Chapter III, Tryst – Serena's unusual morning ends off with meeting a strange girl and a controversial item in her possession.

Chapter IV, Friction – An interesting item catches Serena's attention at a boutique, and later, she finds herself heatedly defending her contentious decision to take drastic means to change her appearance.

Chapter V, Outsider – Serena cuts class to satisfy a curiosity but instead finds herself wondering how she appears in the eyes of others.

Chapter VI, Reveiller – A disturbing wakeup call has Serena rushing to Naru's house at 3 AM, ending in unspeakable tragedy.

Chapter VII, Fragments – Serena is tormented by her actions and struggles to come to terms with her guilt.

Chapter VIII, Encounter – Serena sees Naru for the first time after the fateful night when their lives changed forever.

Chapter IX, Pressure – The police become involved in Serena's troubles. She tries her best to keep her secret while also maintaining her sanity after she remembers she left behind a vital clue at the crime scene...

MARIONETTES

Part I: Disingenuous

- X -

Facade

"Ouch!" Serena mumbled out loud, her voice muted and laboured. She rubbed her forehead, easing away the dull pain. As her surroundings came into focus, she slowly realized she was in the family car. She figured she must have slouched off, her head nestled between her shoulder and the window. Her neck ached, seemingly corroborating her reconstruction. Her father had likely hit a bump in the road and she had struck her head.

"Are you buckled in back there?" Kenji asked. His tone was cold, rather than caring.

"Yes, daddy," Serena replied, looking at her father's bespectacled reflection in the rearview mirror.

He did not contest her words. After nothing but a brief glimpse, he shifted his eyes back onto the road ahead and continued to drive in silence.

"About time you stopped snoring," Shingo muttered. "I was tired of hearing your wheezing."

Rather than responding verbally, Serena just glared at her brother in annoyance. She was certain she did not snore. She was not sure how she knew - after all, she was asleep when it supposedly happened - but she was certain she did not. This was nothing but Shingo just being his usual self, trying to get under her skin and get her worked up. She was not going to play into his trap. Not after his shenanigans that got her enrolled in cram school. No doubt he was still relishing that underhanded act.

When had she fallen asleep? Serena did not remember, but it must have been pretty soon after getting into the vehicle - not that she had a clear recollection of that either. Evidently, her exhaustion had completely overwhelmed her as soon as her body had a chance to rest and her eyes had shut out the world. It came as a surprise to her that she had even fallen asleep - the last thing she clearly remembered was her mind racing non-stop when she was questioned by the detectives. After that, there was only the brief memory of the rush of the wind on her face as she had run home. She had been exceedingly tired then, too, but an explosive mix of adrenaline and caffeine had provided the burst of energy she needed to get there.

Serena looked down at her hands and examined both sides. They were trembling, which was unusual. Although her latest dose of pills had upped her already doubled quantity to quadruple the recommendation, she was inclined to believe her unsteady hands were from fatigue than signs of an overdose. Either way, even if it were, she owed being in the car to the energy from the pills; if it were not for them, she doubted she would have been able get ready in time for the evening. And plus, she was still losing weight - she had not lost sight of that goal, which remained paramount amidst the chaos in her life.

From her spot in the back, Serena observed that the passenger-side seat was vacant. "Where's mom?" she asked her brother quietly, hoping her dad would not pick up on her cluelessness.

"What?" Shingo twisted his face into an ugly scowl. Her question must have been more stupid to him than she had first considered.

"Why isn't mom with us?" she rephrased.

"Did you hit your head that hard or are you just that dumb? She went to get Naru ready." It was the classic Shingo response - an answer to the question, but not before a condescending remark. Clearly, the recent events had not affected him too much. Things seemed to remain normal for him. How she envied him for it.

"Oh… yeah. Right. Sorry, I… "

"Whatever," he dismissed his sister, turning his head back to look out his window.

How had she not remembered about her mother? Not only did she feel her world was crumbling around her, but she was unravelling as well. This sudden inability to recall basic information and waking up dazed was worrisome. Why were simple details becoming obscured behind a mental fog? Her very thoughts seemed clouded over. She pondered for a long while, either recalling information or convincing herself that her recollections were indeed actual memories - it was hard to distinguish between the two. Of course she had known about her mom. Earlier in the day, Ikuko had gone back to Furukawabashi Hospital to help Naru get ready, taking with her everything she and her would-be daughter would need to prepare for the ceremonies.

How long do nightmares last? There was a part of Serena that wondered if this was all still a grotesque dream. Perhaps it was too hopeful, but a part of her still ambitiously held out for that possibility. Neither Shingo nor Kenji had their eyes on her, so she took the opportune moment to wishfully peel the sleeve of her peacoat up her arm. Unfortunately, as she neared her elbow, the yellow-green bruises still remained. The ones on her back would likely be no different. This is still really happening...

Serena rolled her sleeve back down and pressed her forehead against the window once again, disappointment weighing her head down as much as fatigue. As she eyed the crowded streets of Minato, she struggled to find a proverbial silver lining to her situation. It was not an easy task, and eventually settled with being thankful that the weather was kind and it was not too hot for her attire. Not that the temperature mattered - had it been hotter, she still would have had to wear the peacoat, lest she wanted to reveal her piebald arms to everyone. There would have been no alternative but to suffer through it and sweat the way she did when she was questioned by the detectives.

Before long, Kenji wound the car around to the south side of the hospital. He set the car to idle in the pickup loop and sent a quick text message from his phone. "They should be out in a minute," he said quietly as he placed the phone back into the inside breast pocket of his black suit. The three of them waited patiently for the two females to exit the building.

Ikuko, like Naru, was extremely punctual, and within moments could be seen making her way out of the building with her ward. The brown-framed automatic doors slid open as they neared and Kenji exited the vehicle to assist his wife.

The sight of her friend approaching the car was one of the saddest things Serena had ever seen. Naru, who no doubt had been dressed by Ikuko, sat half-asleep in a wheelchair, palpably barely a half a day out her coma, while Ikuko rolled her gently toward the family car. Her mother had taken great care to make Naru presentable, but she still looked frail and emaciated behind the light touch of blush on her cheeks. Naru seemed even paler in the light of the sun; its rays created dark shadows on the features of her sunken face. It would take a lot more than makeup to hide her encounter with the wither.

Shingo and Serena remained quiet in the back seat, while their parents eased Naru into the passenger seat and then folded the wheelchair into the trunk. Naru relinquished her tenuous grasp on wakefulness and quickly fell completely asleep in her seat. From her spot, Serena could see that her friend's hair had been brushed and tied back with a black bow tie hairpin, in place of Naru's usual green one. Her mouth was partly open as she dozed with her head heavily slumped over to one side, resting partly on her shoulder and partly against the window, just as Serena had found herself only a few moments before.

Her mother placed herself behind Kenji, forcing Shingo to squeeze right up against Serena. It was uncomfortable, but neither of them complained about the lack of space. The very few words that were spoken during the car ride were almost inaudible whispers to keep their passenger from waking. Their short utterances conveyed only basic information and no pleasantries. Serena was fine with the quietude, save those occasions where her stomach started to rumble. With a hand over her abdomen, she hoped the sounds of traffic would be enough to drown out the moans of her starving body.

As the waning, late afternoon sun hid behind some errant clouds, they pulled up to the funeral home for the viewing. The Tsukino parents helped the sleepy Naru out of the car and wheeled her to the entrance of the somber building. Serena walked slowly behind everyone else as she crossed the parking lot, her body once again shifting to autopilot as she became consumed in her own thoughts. The irony was not lost on her. How could I ever show up to a funeral where I'm the one responsible for killing the person being mourned?

She looked at her shell of a friend, so frail, so... dead. This was not the exuberant Naru she had always known. Friends are supposed to be honest to each other, aren't they? But how could I possibly tell her what I did? Showing up at the funeral and even pretending she had nothing to do with its cause left her scraping at the dregs of reason. The more she thought, the more disgusted she became. The details were more revulsive at every turn. It made her feel like throwing up all over again and she found herself spot-checking for the nearest garbage can.

However deranged Mayumi had become, there was no way to explain it to her grieving, bereft daughter. There was no chance she could ever remotely justify her actions to Naru, but she just wanted to let her know. Yet, by speaking up, there would be consequences; the detectives had been clear - they were out to catch a killer and put them away. The forced silence was choking. She was at an impasse.

Confession. Liberation. Incarceration.

Maybe if I told her about the pink glow... She was unable to explain the aura that had surrounded her body that night. It had not come again since the incident. At this point, she was becoming convinced that it had been a hallucination brought on by the beating she received from Mayumi. There was no other logical explanation. Retinas can become detached… weird things can happen then… but, can they become reattached? Her knowledge on the matter was too limited to draw any conclusions. The jury was still out on the tiara, too. The way it had shot out from her hand had been completely unnatural. She was unable to explain the lethality of the projectile. The glow - if it even was real - might have had something to do with it, but when she looked down at her own hands, they remained entirely mundane and ordinary, as if exculpating themselves from the surreal matter altogether. It was as though some other set of hands had been responsible, not her own.

The family made their way up the wheelchair access ramp, which was lined with low-rising bushes and other muted greenery. Shingo ran ahead to open the ornate wooden doors at the front of the building. Serena had not recognized the unassuming building from the outside, but upon making her way indoors, its interior of darkly-stained wood and furniture, along with teal carpeting and yellow flowers in blue and white vases triggered a sudden flashback. They were back at the same location as the wake.

The funeral director calmly greeted the family. The modestly-dressed middle-aged woman offered her condolences to Naru, although considering how often she dealt with the deceased and bereaved, Serena doubted how sincere those words actually were - after all, how much empathy and compassion could one person possibly have? Nevertheless, her own words had not been any more honest and she was in no position to criticize others for their falsehoods.

If the funeral director can be dishonest, can't I? A part of her desired to be more like the apathetic director. She wanted to be detached and aloof but was failing miserably. It doesn't bother her. She looks so… normal.

"Miss? Everything alright?" the funeral director asked Serena.

Serena had been so preoccupied that she had zoned out. Had she been staring at the funeral director this whole time? She hastily tried to come up with an excuse. "Sorry, I'm… I haven't been myself since this happened." The words were surprisingly true. If she was not careful, she might let another bit of truth out, one which could hurt her. She had to be more cautious. Truth was dangerous.

The funeral director looked at Serena as though she could feel her pain. "Bereavement affects all of us. What you may be feeling surely hurts, but it is healthy. It's completely normal."

'Normal'?! Is she joking? Decapitating a friend of the family and making a furtive attempt to keep it a secret all the while trying to remain grounded in reality certainly did not belong in that category. 'I'm losing my fucking mind!' Serena wanted to cathartically cry out and vigorously shake the woman until her head fell off. Thankfully, she managed to deliver a more measured and socially acceptable response.

The director offered to lead the family to the viewing room, as guests would be coming for the service shortly. Ikuko excused herself along with Naru, and they disappeared into the washroom, no doubt to make last minute touch-ups on the young girl who would be at the center of offerings of condolences. The two Tsukino males offered to wait, but Serena refused to stay still. Slowly, she made her way to their designated room, wondering if she could pick out the chair she had sat on during the wake. The heavy doors opened with a strong pull, which flared up the dormant pain in her muscles. She peeked into the room, which was a mirror image from her memory. Despite easing her worries over her recollection, her search was abruptly interrupted by the sight of something that almost made her heart stop. During her last visit, the back of the room had displayed nothing more than a large, framed photo of the deceased. Now, that portrait was accompanied by something that paralyzed Serena with dread. The solid black item was large and imposing, far bigger than she would have imagined it to be. Staring at it made her bruises ignite with a burning pain and fear. The longer she stared, the more she remembered the flurry of kicks and stomps that had nearly ended her life. The casket gazed back, unyieldingly, like the eyes that had haunted Serena in her sleep.

Why had her parents not mentioned that Mayumi would also be present? Serena felt irritated, almost even angry. Sure, her parents were busy people and had other matters to attend to, yet this whole funeral had been thrust upon them to settle. Nevertheless, she could not shake the feeling that she should have been given prior notice about the casket.

"We'll be sitting at the front again," Kenji appeared behind her, speaking softly. Obviously, he had taken note of his daughter's preoccupation with the interior of the viewing room. He gently nudged Serena from behind, forcing her to take a reluctant step into the room.

The black sheen on the casket was remarkable. It was like a mirror; the details of the room were neatly reflected upon its polished surface. The lid was closed, though Serena briefly wondered if they would open it up for the viewing. There was a morbid curiosity that wanted to know just what was inside. She pictured an even more shriveled Mayumi Osaka - if that was even possible, considering what she had looked like on that last night she was alive - with her head stitched back onto her neck. With such a grisly sight just under its closed lid, it was likely that the casket would remain that way.

"It won't be opened. Don't worry."

It's not about what I might see that I'm terrified about. The casket's dark presence made Serena feel unsafe, as though a zombified Mayumi would throw the lid wide open to finish the job she had failed to complete nights prior.

A part of her wanted to protest. Did she really have to be a part of this? Did she have to sit at the front? The casket seemed much too close to those chairs than she ever would have liked. It was like some cruel, ironic punishment handed down to her by cosmic forces. Karma, some would call it. She had never given the concept any credence, but this instance seemed far too coincidental.

There was little time for childish fracases, however. Within a few minutes, a small gathering had already arrived. Within half an hour, there was little room left to walk. The number of people present was impressive, along with their sorrow and love, which simultaneously filled the room with both tears and laughter. From every direction Serena could hear fragments of anecdotes about Mayumi's life; she loved art and going to museums, she once had a pet cat, she once tripped in front of an important client, she loved horror movies.

Never had Serena felt more out of place in her entire life than she felt at this very moment. Embarrassing falls in gym class or feeling inadequate in the change room were one thing; feeling like a deceitful traitor amongst friends and family was far worse. These people genuinely cared for Mayumi.

They never harmed her. You killed her. The critical voice echoed inside Serena's head once again, but she shook the unpleasant words away, and tried to busy herself by studying all those who had shown up. Not that she cared to find out who these individuals were - she just wanted anything to distract her from her guilt and the funerary box that was only but a meter away from her.

To her left, a teary-eyed, sorrowful Naru was now the recipient of the endless stream of condolences and black envelopes. There were so many more people this time than at the wake, from what fragmented details Serena could recollect, at least. She was unsure if even her parents knew who all these individuals were. Many of them were exquisitely dressed. Certainly, many of them were also jewelers and fashionistas from Shibuya. It was clear that the community was deeply impacted by Mayumi's death. Evidently, her amicability had made many friends out of customers and competitors alike.

Somehow, word had gotten around about the homicide investigation - it only ever took one person in a crowd to disseminate this kind of information before it spread wildly. As soon as she caught a whiff of the whispers, Serena tried very hard not to envision the service as a testimony hearing, every condolence a testament against her actions. Yet, that proved impossible for her. All the comments everyone makes about the 'scoundrel' or 'scumbag' or 'bastard' who broke into the Osaka residence... they're really talking about me. Everyone hates me. At least these were just friends and family; one day she might have to face a real jury who would deliberate her conviction. It was a frightening possibility.

Serena dismissed the disconcerting thought of jail. Even at this ceremony, during her friend's hour of need, all she could think about was herself. Had her sense of empathy died on that night too? If she could not be there for Naru in deed, she should at least be present in spirit.

The bereaved girl looked like she had risen from the dead herself, yet somehow she still managed to shed tears. The box of tissues that had been placed next to her ran empty. Naru meekly tipped the box to look inside, to make sure it was truly depleted. This was the one occasion Serena felt she could help her friend, even if it was only a small gesture. She reached into her pocket to take out tissues and realized she had forgotten about the earrings she had shoved into her pockets during the wake! The texture of the blue velvet case was unmistakable. Her fingers coiled back like a shadow from light.

"Monster in your pocket?" Naru asked. Evidently, Serena's expression had given away her surprise. The last thing she expected was a joke from her sickly friend.

"Here," Serena reached hastily for the tissue box on a nearby side table, hoping to distract her friend and change the topic altogether. It did not work, however, and moments later, she had drawn out the velvet case for Naru to see. Her friend was touched by the gesture, and much to Serena's reluctance, this time she could not escape putting them on. It felt incredibly wrong to have them on her ears, but she had to smile nonetheless, pretending everything was okay.

"Mama would've been happy to see you wearing them," Naru stated. Her friend meant well, she knew, but it only exacerbated her misgivings over being an impostor. Serena just continued to smile in response.

Much to Serena's contentment, the funeral director interrupted the awkward moment between them by gathering everyone's attention as she took her spot on the elevated podium. Everyone, whether standing or sitting, directed their attention toward her. She delivered a morose, yet comforting speech about passing on. The room was completely silent, Serena could almost hear people nodding their heads whenever the director made a point about struggling on and accepting loss. The director quietly vacated the podium after her short speech, and her words were followed by a heartfelt eulogy by Ikuko, whose sadness and grief did not prevent her from recounting several joyful anecdotes about Mayumi from different points in her life. Each delightful tale highlighted Mayumi's many admirable qualities and brought a well of tears to every eye in the room. Ikuko's composure was remarkable. She came to tears only at the very end, as she thanked everyone in attendance for coming together to celebrate the life of a dear friend.

At that point, Kenji joined his wife at the podium and placed a soothing hand on her back. The funeral director declared that it was time for the procession to the interment site and the funeral home staff began to carry the casket down the aisle. Serena knew that since her parents were now Naru's guardians, they would be the first to exit the funeral home, and they would be leading the procession. She rose up and straightened out her black funeral dress. Ikuko once again proceeded to wheel Naru, like a protective mother looking out for her child. Serena felt it was something she could have done, but it was a mother that Naru needed now, not a friend.

As he exited, Kenji gave directions to the crowd and pointed out those who could accommodate giving rides to those who had taken transit. Leave it to her dad to organize and sort. Even in tragic times, he remained himself.

A metallic black hearse, polished to a lustrous shine, waited for them outside. The descending sun hit its surface so that one had to squint when looking at it directly. The funeral home staff loaded the casket into the back of the hearse with routine finesse. The Tsukinos were permitted to pull up first in line after the vehicle carrying the deceased. Within moments, a trail of cars followed the hearse as it snaked its way to the upscale cemetery where the remains of Mayumi Osaka would be inhumed. Serena looked back, but could not see where the procession ended. On a few turns, she had managed to count seven cars with the funeral sign attached to the hood. No doubt, there were countless more behind those.

Before long, they found themselves at their destination, Aoyama Cemetery. It was not far from her school or home, but Serena had never bothered to pay much attention to it. She knew it to be one of the few cemeteries to house foreigners and the Hachiko memorial, but that was about it. As they drove along one of its sides, she noticed some of the uniquely Christian tombstones, which were spread further apart and stood in stark contrast to Shinto ones, which were narrower and more tightly-packed.

This was an uncommon place for someone to be buried, but it was also unusual to bury someone without cremating them first. Serena wondered if Mayumi being Christian had something to do with it. Despite her own hand in the events that resulted in the need for this procession, this experience was unlike any other funeral she had witnessed. As she eyed the hearse as it slowly wound around the narrow, paved road up to the grave site, where it eventually came to a stop, her father was pulling into a parking spot. With a turn of the ignition key, the rumble of the engine died and its silence marked the nearing of the end; the final moments of togetherness between mother and daughter were drawing nearer.

The late afternoon had melted into mid-evening, and now the sun was partly hidden behind buildings to the west. Cherry blossom trees adorned the sides of the cobblestone path. They had shed their colourful leaves long ago, so the spriggy branches that met in the middle of the path and formed a natural canopy, cast jagged, elongated shadows. A large brood of cicadas, hidden among the branches, buzzed their high-pitched, overwhelming hum. They seemed like the noisiest bunch Serena had ever heard. Thankfully, the brief nap she had taken in the car had gone a long way in reducing the echo in her ears.

Naru leaned on Serena as she eased herself into the wheelchair held from behind by Ikuko.

"I can push her," Serena offered, reaching for the handles. The expression on her mother's face made it clear that she was fatigued.

"That's alright. I can do this," Ikuko blocked her daughter's hands as she reached out. "I want you to be one of the pallbearers instead. I'm sure Naru would appreciate the gesture from her best friend."

Serena almost froze in her tracks at the very suggestion. Her mother, like Kaguya, had put her into a dead end situation. With Naru immediately to her left, there was no way Serena could decline such a direct proposal, especially now that Naru's expectant, doe-eyed gaze fell squarely on her.

"I... it would be... Yes," she stammered, suddenly self-conscious of her voice, which seemingly betrayed her silent guilt.

There were other people closer to Mayumi who would have a greater claim to the honoured role. Yet, those who had known and loved Mayumi and her daughter knew all too well that it was Naru who would have to be the one to endure bereavement. Seeing friends, rather than strangers, caring for her mother would likely soothe her more.

"Thank you," Naru clasped Serena's hand, a damp tissue under her clammy palm.

At the top of the hill, after all the mourners were present, it was decided that three other of Naru's closest classmates would join Serena in bringing out the funerary box. Upon the instruction of the Christian pastor who would be orating the burial, they hoisted the black casket, beginning the short procession to Mayumi's final resting spot. Eyes welled with tears, save those of Serena, which had remained dry even during viewing. Her deceit had already tainted the honour of her position, but there was no reason she should not look like every other mourner present. She tried to force herself to cry, but simply could not. Once known to be a cry baby at the drop of a hat, Serena could not even muster up crocodile tears in this instance.

The incredible weight of the casket, which she felt immediately after its uppermost edge slid off the back of the hearse, reminded Serena of her physical weakness, which became all too apparent to her as she struggled to keep her end raised. Skipping meals had made her weak, but she had lost three whole kilograms already, so it did not matter that she could not remember the last time she had a proper meal. Dropping her end of the casket would be a complete disaster, however. She readjusted her grip as best as she could; the golden handle of the heavy wooden casket dug deeply - cut - into her palm. Am I going to bleed pink now? That was the last thing she needed.

The glossy black casket reflected back a twisted reflection of herself. The misshapen caricature shone brightly, mocking Serena's attempts to carry the load. The pain bore deep into her, far down enough that actual tears were now on their way up. These were still dishonest tears, but she was glad they were surfacing. They stubbornly ventured past her eyelids, but at least she felt she could now pass as a mourner too.

An ornate burial vault awaited the pallbearers, its top removed so that the casket could be placed neatly inside, while tightly-stretched red ribbons held the entire box over the dark, empty grave. The ten meters to the grave were like an eternity of guilt and shame for Serena. Setting down the casket inside the vault eased the pain in Serena's hand, but it did not remove the burden from her conscience. She had no right to carry Mayumi. There would be no peace in her final rest, knowing that her murderer had made a mockery of her final rites.

The other pallbearers backed away into the crowd of mourners and Serena took her place next to Naru. She found herself looking at her hand to make sure there was no deluge of pink. While no river of blood ran from her palm, her reddened hand seemed to suggest it could come bursting forth at any moment. As clandestinely as possible, Serena rubbed at her palm with the thumb of her other hand, hoping the gesture would dam any possible flood.

Looking back up, Serena realized she had been too busy contending with her inner turmoil to notice the faces of others in the gathering. There were classmates, teachers she knew and many strangers she did not know, tightly packed around the grave. Across from her, she noticed a familiar face, hidden behind a group of unknown adults. Serena would have missed her entirely, were it not for a mother bending to acquiesce her wailing baby.

It was Kaguya.

She looked very different. Gone was the breezy, yellow dress Serena had been accustomed to seeing on her. So, too, was her flowing, loose hair, which had instead been neatly done up in buns on top of her head. Like everyone else, she wore black. Serena could only see the top of her dress, which was a plain A cut. Most notably, however, there were now two long scratches across her cheek, still relatively red and not healed over. The two had parted company so hastily from the Osaka residence that Serena had not noticed the wound on that night. As she examined Kaguya's face, the look of surprise must have been apparent, for the girl just sternly and slowly shook her head slightly in response.

Just as Serena was about to mouth 'Get out' to the intruder, the slender, middle-aged pastor, whose thin hair had receded to the top of his head, began to speak and everyone lowered their heads. Reluctantly, Serena followed suit and listened as the clergyman orated some verses from the Bible. Serena had never actually learned much about its contents. The words were unfamiliar and foreign.

The pastor started by reading something from Isaiah, not that it mattered to Serena, as she knew nothing about this individual, much less why he was considered noteworthy. The words were supposed to be comforting, but Serena found no solace in them.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Serena did not have the slightest clue of what a tabernacle was, but the meaning was still clear enough. Are you so sure about your eternal life? she questioned back in silent defiance. The pastor said the words with conviction but Serena could not bring herself to think of Mayumi as being delighted to be dead and in heaven, leaving her only daughter behind, let alone after first having been afflicted by the wither and then decapitated by her daughter's best friend. Would her head be back on in heaven? Would she be beautiful again? Or was it the headless cadaver that had floated up to the clouds? Serena peeked out, wondering how many of the individuals with bowed heads believed any of this. Her wandering eyes fell back on her friend. Does she believe her mom's in a better place?

The Bible verses flowed from the pastor's lips effortlessly, they even sounded melodic. Yet, Serena could not convince herself to buy into any of it. Mayumi's Christian god had done nothing to protect her from the violent affliction that consumed her or from being decapitated. Similarly, all the times Serena had rattled suzu at a myriad of Shinto temples across numerous holy sites throughout Japan, had not done anything to avert this situation. This was certainly a perverse return on her countless wishes for happiness and good health to all her friends and family. Maybe if I had shaken the ropes harder? Or put more money in the saisen box…?

For the most part, Serena tuned out the pastor and that seemed to work well enough. It was only toward the end of his service that she began to listen in again, as his words performed a delicate dance around the grievous circumstances of Mayumi's passing. He talked about negative feelings and he asked those gathered not to let these feelings consume them. "Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked, for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out." It seemed as though the words were directed straight at Serena and she dared not look up to see if the pastor was eyeing her as he said them. Am I wicked? Will I be punished for what I did? Going to jail in this life, then hell in the afterlife - if such a thing even existed - was a double damnation for her crime. Serena had been lucky enough not to be seen or caught up until now, but did that mean she would never be caught? It seemed she would need to outwit both the authorities and the pastor's almighty Christian sky-god, if He even existed. For now, she was content enough to be one step ahead of just the police. Let's hope it stays that way...

The pastor closed his Bible, indicating the end to his readings and prayers, and stated that it was now time to lower the deceased. He stepped back as the two large men from the funeral home, immaculately dressed in black suits, lifted the cover of the burial vault into place over the casket. Once set, one of them bent down to release the handbrake for the chrome lowering device that surrounded the perimeter of the grave. As the taut ribbon slowly gave way, the casket, encased in its burial vault, gradually descended into the ground to the sounds of much sobbing and crying, stifled and otherwise. It shortly disappeared, swallowed up by the dark pit, Serena wishing it would devour her along with it. She looked about her at all the sorrow and grief. In her mind, there was no doubt that she had been the cause of all of it.

Roses and other flowers Serena did not know by name were tossed to rest on top of Mayumi for eternity as mourners said their final goodbyes. More tears were shed for the departed mother, but Serena's tears remained solely for herself. Self-hate was all she could feel. She found some comfort in that outwardly, it appeared the same; no one could tell the difference. It was entirely dishonest, but from this moment on, falsehood and feigned emotions would be a requisite part of her life for as long as she kept her secret. She was so consumed with her own angst, she had forgotten about Kaguya, who had not budged from her spot, waiting for Serena to snap back into the present.

Serena pardoned herself for a moment, while she darted around others in an attempt to reach the little girl who had the audacity to show up to the service. It would take everything she had to restrain herself from lashing out against Kaguya's effrontery.

"You've got some nerve to come here," Serena filtered her ire through clenched teeth, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention. She locked eyes with Kaguya, ignoring the fresh scabs across her cheek.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your friend. Truly. My condolences." Her tone was distant, cold and apathetic. It almost seemed sarcastic.

"If I had seen you at the beginning, I would have told you to leave right then. You have no right being here."

The girl did not seem fazed by the remark. "I'm here for you."

"No, I'm here because of you," Serena accused. "We all are. If I hadn't run into you that night-"

"-you and your friend would both be dead," Kaguya interjected, also keeping her voice menacingly soft. "Your anger is understandable, but don't direct it at me."

"I want you gone," Serena said firmly, resisting her urge to make a fist. She expected the girl to stubbornly dig her heels in as she had on the night that precipitated all this chaos, but instead, Kaguya smiled back pleasantly.

"Not a problem," she complied. "But before I go…" Kaguya placed a small, oblong box wrapped with an unassuming silver ribbon into Serena's hands. "Here, this is yours."

"I don't want anything from you," Serena tried to ease the parcel back into the hands of Kaguya.

"It's not for me to keep," she refuted, pushing it back into Serena's palms. "We'll be in touch," Kaguya stated with certainty. She turned around and proceeded to walk down the narrow aisle between graves as though enjoying a peaceful walk through a park, without any desire to see Serena open the gift she had given her. As Kaguya walked on, a black cat suddenly bounded out from between the myriad of weathered tombstones and joined the girl as she proceeded toward the entrance gates. Neither of them looked back as they headed out. Serena was angry enough to throw the gift right back at Kaguya and her stupid black cat, but funerals required a certain degree of composure and decorum.

As best she could, Serena put the slender, oblong box into the deep pockets of her peacoat. Only the tail end of the item stuck out. I can just cover this with my arm. She did not want anyone to ask about it and she would put the worthless item into the next garbage can she saw. Nothing good had come out of her short friendship with the mysterious girl. There was no reason to suspect this item would be any different.

Serena turned to her family and Naru. The final remnants of the crowd were sharing their thoughts and prayers with Mayumi's bereaved daughter. Sorrowful condolences were expressed one final time as the crowd of mourners dwindled until only Naru and the Tsukino family remained next to the grave, accompanied only by the droning hum of the cicadas. No one said a word, but although Serena could see that her family was exhausted and emotionally drained, none of them rushed Naru, who sat in her wheelchair, now more fragile than ever.

Serena watched as her mom dabbed away at the mascara that streaked across Naru's face, chillingly similar to how the black bile had marked Mayumi's weathered face.

"What's that?" Shingo pointed at the box at Serena's side. In her careless observing, she had failed to keep it covered.

Of course he'd notice, Serena thought bitterly.

"You didn't have it before," he added.

Serena reluctantly removed the box from her pocket and secured it in her grasp, fearing he would reach out for it as he had with her test. "None of your business," she dismissed him. For once, surprisingly, it was enough to get him to leave her alone. Does he actually feel sad for me? Shingo joined his parents, though neither of them paid him any attention.

Her brother's interest in the box had been contagious. A few minutes ago she had been ready to hurl it, but now her brother's inquisitiveness had made her curious. With Kaguya out of sight, she no longer felt the urge to dump it in the garbage. It was as good a time as any to see what was inside. Kaguya would never find out she had actually taken a peek before throwing out its contents. Serena stepped away from her family to preserve some privacy. She carefully unwrapped the silver ribbon tied around the box. The magnetic snaps opened gently, revealing the contents. Serena almost dropped everything from shock. It all tumbled out of her hands, but she somehow managed to clumsily catch it before it struck the floor, the contents staying inside the box.

"What've you got there, honey?" her mother turned to her.

Serena looked down at the closed box, still in disbelief. "Nothing," she replied, hoping the answer would suffice. Thankfully, none of her family members, including Shingo, cared to press the issue. Clearly, they were all too exhausted to care.

As her parents continued to watch over Naru, Serena pried the box open one more time, still in disbelief. Comfortably ensconced in the silky padding inside the box sat the tiara that had cleanly decapitated Mayumi Osaka, its luster every bit as bright as the night of the incident. Serena was angered by Kaguya's brazen audacity to bring to the burial service the very murder weapon that had taken the life of the deceased.

She must have taken it with her before leaving Naru's room... Despite her rage, Serena figured she should be thankful, as her fingerprints and blood were on it. It would have been enough evidence to unquestionably place her at the scene of the murder. Serena closed the box, needing no further reminders of all that had transpired on that night and ever since then. She needed to dispose of the item quickly but not thoughtlessly. She needed to find something more… permanent. Somewhere where it would never be found or traced back to her. The dark, gaping pit a few meters away tempted Serena. It would be filled come dawn. With two meters of dirt stacked on top of it, the detectives would never find it there.

How repugnantly devious and clever, the cold voice that had chastised Serena so many times urged her on. It's perfect. Before she knew it, she was at the edge of the grave, the box in her hand.

"No, this isn't right," Serena whispered to herself. She needed a secure place to discard the weapon, but there was something so uncomfortably wrong about the very act she was contemplating. Mayumi is down there. Do I have no shame? Do I have no decency? She was furious over her situation, which felt devoid of any true options. Was that all there ever was to choose from now on - a choice between awful and worse? Foul and obscene?

Her mom had wanted to know what was in the box. 'Nothing' Serena replayed her response in her scoffed at her reply. That answer could not have been further from the truth. The tiara was everything. None of us would be here if I had never thrown it.

Throw it - again, the voice taunted her. It'll do you good.

Serena peered into the black hole in the ground, her silhouette outlined on the casket's brilliant finish far down below. She wondered just how one lie had just led to another. It was remarkable. Despite her misgivings, it seemed that lying was all that she could do now. It was not only Mayumi who died that night and she was not the only one was interred today; a part of Serena had died and been buried along with her, never to see daylight again, like Mayumi's beheaded corpse. The entrepreneurial mother would never be alone, forever accompanied by the tattered shreds of Serena's innocence.

She wanted to speak up and open the release valve to ease the pressure of her guilt. If only she could tell them all how she had wronged her friend and how she was putting on a charade… but then they would find out what she had become...

Serena, the liar.

Serena, the deceiver.

Serena, the murderer.

That was her identity now. Cry and scream and plead as she might, there was no alternative now. Her false response to her mother was but a minuscule drop in an already overflowing bucket of deceit. More and more, despite her intentions, the facade carried on and had to carry on if she wanted to remain free. It seemed clear that from now on, lies and farces would be the stones that would pave her path to walk on. And of course, there was guilt, but what would that change? At best, it would just be the cement that held everything together. This was the new life of Serena Tsukino. It choked her.

The guilt that slumped her shoulders and knotted her stomach and tormented her dreams... she wanted to let them all know that none of this was by choice - a little girl and her black cat had conned her. 'That's the truth of it,' she would say in defence. But would they believe her? She doubted it. In speaking out, her nobility would not save her from being locked up and certainly would not bring Mayumi back to life. She hated burying her guilt, but it was clear to her that the best course of action would be to just keep her mouth shut.

Serena looked at her mother and saw her in a different light for the first time under the setting sun. For a long time, she had dreaded the thought of turning out like her mother, as most teenage girls felt about their mothers. Now, all she wanted was to be more like her; to be strong, caring and resolute like she was. Somehow she had found the will to remain kind, compassionate and honest throughout this dreadful ordeal. In her eulogy, she had brought others to tears by celebrating the life of her friend. Serena extinguished life. Instead of becoming more like her mother, this twisted catastrophe had contorted Serena into something ugly and unrecognizable. She wanted to be a good daughter. She wanted to be a good friend. But now, the ugliness had dug deep into her core and entangled itself into her being. It was a part of her. It was her. She truly had become the very epitome of the quality she had always despised most in others.

Disingenuous.

A. N. Loved it? Hated it? Doesn't matter! Please leave a comment! (It goes a long way to keep me motivated!) Thanks! ^_^

I respond to all comments and PMs, even if it takes a long time.

Two year gap between chapters is totally unacceptable! Deepest apologies to my readers. Life hit me hard and this project fell by the wayside. Final chapter (Epilogue) to follow soon!