Disclaimer: Me no own Ib... -tries not to cry- but I do own any poems or songs unless stated otherwise.

Note: There are some OCs, 'cause the Ib cast is very small.

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

-Pablo Picasso

Small dark spots loitered sluggishly. All the dots giving the impression of rapid, blinking motions. They formed all kinds of odds and ends, not leaving any room before blurring into something new. Sometimes they formed numbers, other times what looked like moving strands of DNA. They only came in two colours: black and white. Sometimes, when one closes their eyes, they can change colours.

Ib blinked, taking in all the dots that were merely particles, and turned onto her side before sitting up. She tiredly glanced down at Amelia, who was half sprawled out on the floor. Sleeping. Slowly, her mind began to process the reason behind Amelia's sleeping presence in her room. This sluggishness wasn't something Ib was used to, but the memory eventually did come to mind.

Ib had gotten back to the dorm and Amelia had intercepted her. The girl had followed her back to her room and they spent most of the night talking and eating chips... wherever Amelia had gotten those from. That's right, the wheat-haired girl had given Ib a small crash course on boys. Ib still wasn't too sure as to what she should make about it, but it was very... interesting. To say the least.

With a yawn, Ib stood up only to squat down and shake Amelia's shoulder. The other girl groaned, starting to awaken. She rolled onto her side only for her legs to slide off the bed. They landed on the floor with a thud and Amelia groaned at the minimal pain.

"Amelia, it is time to wake up. We're going to be late." Ib glanced at the clock as she said this, assuring herself that she wouldn't be late. However, Amelia didn't need to know that. Besides, the desired effect hadn't even been achieved. The girl had sat up far enough to look at the clock, then plopped back down with her arm over her eyes.

"Five more minutes," she mumbled in reply.

Ib sighed to herself, deciding to dress herself for the day. She would deal with Amelia afterwards. However, just as she finished dressing there was a knock at her door. She headed over, stepping over Amelia's crumpled spare uniform that she brought over, and opened the door.

"Good morning, Ib. Is Amelia still asleep in there?" Lumi asked, waiting for Ib to let her in. She took one look at the prone girl and sighed. "Oh, Amelia, it's a war-zone no matter where you fall asleep. Sorry, Ib. I'll have her up in no time... you might want to take a step back."

Once Ib took the precautionary step back, Lumi bent down close to the sleeping girl's ear and exclaimed, "Free ice-cream! Limited time offer!"

Amelia bolted up and ripped off her nightgown as she struggled to put her uniform on at the same time, screaming about getting in line and flavors. Lumi only backed up to where Ib was and gestured for them to leave, and quickly. Which had been a great idea, for as soon as Amelia became aware of herself she started yelling through the door at Lumi.

Ib watched the fair blonde chuckle. "Well, that's one of the safer ways to wake Amelia up."

"Safer?"

"Yes, if you try to drag her out of bed or shake her there's a high possibility of being kicked, punched, or even both." Lumi smiled and gestured for them to continue walking. Ib followed her out of the dorms and towards the academy, chatting about this and that as they went.

Even though the conversation was on happier topics, Ib felt weighted. Every time she closed her eyes she could see Mary, the small blonde crying for Ib not to leave her behind. Strangely, she felt like she had heard Mary tell her that before. However, Ib hadn't ever encountered the girl until last night. There was also the fact that Ib hadn't grown any closer to finding Kate last night. Instead she had gotten lost, met Mary and a strange figure, had encountered Garry, again, and then they left. However, Ib had acquired a rose. Oddly, it wasn't with her when she crossed back over. Ib decided to ask Garry if he still had his, if not then perhaps the roses only existed in that place.

They got in line for food, sliding their trays across the metal bars. It was an early morning process: choose a line and give a few replies to the lunch ladies/men and then proceed to a table after taking food.

Ib and Lumi sat at the normal table where Garry and Soaru were already sitting. They exchanged greetings and moved on to small talk, however Ib and Garry shared a look. "I think I forgot a spoon," Garry interjected, standing up to go get one. Ib also stood up, quietly following to fetch a few more napkins that she didn't need.

Garry slowed for her to catch up and they conversed quietly. "I don't know what to say. I-I... Whatever that place is can't be normal. Last night feels like a big illusion and, even though I know it wasn't, I don't even have that rose anymore to assure myself."

Ib nodded, telling him that she no longer had her's either.

"We're no closer to finding Kate and then there's that Mary girl you told me about... We said we'd go back for her."

"We will. Kate might still be there; there's nowhere else she can be." Ib stated, taking a few napkins from the dispenser.

Garry nodded, "Alright, but we should be better prepared this time. I'll meet you before lunch so that we can plan."

Ib nodded again as they turned to walk back. She glanced over at Garry and was pleasantly happy that he was going to go through with this. A part of her had been worried that he would have cut off all ties and claimed that she was crazy. Anyone else probably would have.

They had just arrived back at the table when Amelia suddenly pounced upon poor Garry, wrapping him in a choke-hold, "I know what you did, you vile fiend! How could you? She was so pure and defenseless!"

"Amelia, what the hell?" Dmitri shouted, raising a brow at the scene.

"You can't touch my poor baby anymore!" Amelia yelled at Garry, who was trying to get her off of him without harming the strong girl.

"What is going on?" Soaru, ever the voice of reason, asked calmly as he laid a hand on Amelia's shoulder. It seemed to work. Amelia released Garry, allowing him to start breathing, in favor of grabbing Soaru dramatically by the shirt.

"Oh, it was terrible! Dastardly! My poor baby has been tainted!" Amelia let go off his shirt and pounced upon Ib, hugging the girl as she cooed, "It's alright, he won't bother you anymore."

Dmitri rolled his eyes as Gillian joined in, "What did he do, bump into her?"

Amelia "hmphed" and looked over at Soaru instead, "Things I cannot say! He's confusing my poor baby and it must be stopped!"

At this point Ib and Garry had given up and decided to just eat. Garry a bit more bitter about the chokehold, but wasn't one to hold a grudge. Amelia was just being dramatic, again. The conversation eventually was redirected to Lumi, who the two had just realized was missing.

"She left with Neah." Soaru stated, ignoring Luno's frown.

"Woah! I thought Neah was already in class!" Amelia said in relative surprise. Soaru nodded at her, "He was excused due to the concert coming up."

"Concert?" Garry inquired. He had heard about showcases but not concerts.

"Oh, you guys don't know?" Amelia didn't wait for a reply as she launched into the answer, "Yeah, well, the school holds concerts just for the students. It's usually really cool and it's really beneficial to newbies!"

"Basically, it's the calm before the storm," Soaru simplified as he retook his own seat. "Showcases are prepared for months in advance, so the school usually holds a concert right before the truly crazy season starts. As of right now, the deadline is far enough away that many are still calm but, as the deadlines grow closer, both the faculty and students become chaotic."

"No need to scare them," Dmitri stated before turning to Ib and Garry, "You guys transferred here at an ideal time. People will probably help you with anything you need so you shouldn't let this 'deadline' freak you out, yes?"

Garry nodded, still a bit worried about what was to come during this crazy period as the showcase neared. "When's the concert?"

"In four days!" Amelia beamed, her leg bouncing against her chair happily. "I can't wait! I don't think I've told you guys, but Lumi and Neah are going to be the ending act!"

"Really? We'll have to get some really good seats." Gillian gushed, "Do you know what she'll be wearing? I want to photo-"

"We're eating, Gilly!" Dmitri interjected. Gillian pouted but didn't continue.

Dmitri turned back to Ib and Garry, "Seeing as no one is saying anything, I'll tell you, yes? Neah is this academy's most recognized musician. He was known for playing solos, but during his first year here he was paired up with Lumi for a showcase. I'll let you be the judges of if you like it or not, but apparently the performance raked in millions from sponsors."

"Yeah, only Luno and Kate were here at the time! I arrived a few months after the showcase." Amelia said, not noticing as Garry choked on his drink or how Ib stiffened.

The two shared a look, trying to recall if they had ever asked the girl as to whether she remembered Kate or not. Taking a small step of faith, Garry interjected into the conversation, "Who's Kate?"

"Well, which one? Cute Kate, adorable Kate, or tiny Kate?" Gillian asked, gushing about something else again.

Garry quickly listed some characteristics that Ib had told him that Kate Gridlings had.

"No, I don't think so. However, I don't really know most of the fashion students." Dmitri stated with a shrug.

"Guys! Really, Kate! That one girl who hung out with Lumi for a while!" Amelia stated incredulously. "I think something happened to her yesterday."

"I don't remember anything." Gillian stated with a shrug.

The conversation quickly ended as it was time to get to class. They all stood up and departed, some going off in groups to their classes. As Ib and Garry walked they quietly conversed about Amelia.

"She remembers Kate, but why don't the others?" Garry ran his hand through his hair once before looking down at Ib, "Do you think we should tell her?"

Ib wasn't too sure. It could just be by chance that Amelia remembered Kate, a simple lapse in memory. However, that place was dangerous and Ib didn't want to involve an innocent bystander. Amelia wasn't sucked into it, she didn't know about anything. It should stay that way.

"No."

Garry nodded. He had already known that her answer would be the same as his, "So, what was Amelia yelling about this morning anyway?"

Ib pointedly did not say anything, too embarrassed. Amelia's little crash course had popped back into her mind and she wasn't too sure about most of them but, apparently, falling on boys may give them-as Amelia put it-"raunchy ideas of impurity."

Garry called after her, hurrying to catch up when she began to walk faster. "Ib, what's wrong?"

Ib arrived at her third class, which was painting, feeling nervous for reasons she didn't know. It had all started that morning when she had entered her first period class. The teacher had instructed them to construct-through any art medium-something surreal. It could be something like angels, scenery, or wishes. Ib hadn't really been meaning to, but she ended up drawing the cloaked figure. The simple sketch gave her chills just remembering the events that transpired.

During her second period she had drawn one of the vases, feeling immediately better and well collected. However, she had left the two sketches by themselves for just a moment to fetch a pencil sharpener as Ib had left her bag in her room that morning by mistake. When she had come back, sharp point in hand, the drawings had... changed.

The vase had a crack in it that hadn't been there before. The water had diminished almost entirely and it was now on a table that highly resembled the one she had tripped over just last night. The other sketch was somehow lighter than it should have been, the cloaked figure now closer than Ib remembered having drawn.

It had been unnerving and she could feel her panic rising. No matter how many times she blinked or flipped the pictures over the images stayed the same. Her originals were gone, these warped ones left in its wake. Oddly, Ib had been thinking about running away from the cloaked figure and about how the water in the vase had revitalized her rose.

Inwardly shaking her head, Ib went to fetch some art supplies. In this class she wouldn't draw anything from that place. Instead, she already had an idea as to what to draw. The prompt had to with painting indoor landscapes, such as rooms, so she was going to paint her living room back at home.

Halfway through, Ib had gotten up to let the first layer dry. It had been an opportune time to fetch a refill on paint for her pallette. However, upon returning her painting had changed somehow. Everything looked nearly the same, but Ib caught that a strange painting was hanging on one of the walls. She peered closer, her nose hovering just a fraction away from the canvas. Inside that tiny painting frame was something gray. Hesitantly, she reached her smallest finger out, which was her pinky, and lightly touched it.

Jolts of electricity raced up her body as the crumbling hallway Garry and her had gotten separated in rapidly flashed into her mind. Next came the canvas she had found on the ground, the empty one. Only that blank space now was dripping vermillion and a hand was in it, reaching out in a gesture for help, a familiar ring on that lone hand. As quickly as it appeared the images were gone, leaving Ib with her original painting, the small outlier no longer present.

The brunette shook, her palette wobbling unsteadily in her hands. This had never happened before, but she had this dreaded feeling that this wouldn't be the last time something like this happened. She should probably tell Garry about this, lunch was right after this class was over anyway. Maybe she wasn't the only one.

"Hey, are you alright there?" Ib turned to the other girl who's name she couldn't remember. She nodded at the blonde girl, trying not to look into her brown eyes to avoid any problems. The blonde only stepped closer, "Are you sure? Ya look a little spooked, like you saw a ghost or something."

"Yes, I'm fine now, thank you." The girl flashed her a large smile before she looked over at Ib's painting. "Is that based on your own house?"

Ib nodded, "My living room."

Ib watched Lucy's awed face, feeling happy at her awed face. "Wow! It's really pretty and the walls are such a nice colour!"

"Thank you." Ib mumbled, shuffling her feet in embarrassment at the compliment. The girl smiled over at her, "My names Lucy."

"Ib."

"Huh, what a strange name, but oddly cute." Lucy stated with her index finger on her chin in a thoughtful pose. "Do you like books?"

Ib paused before nodding, which prompted Lucy to ask her if she knew so-and-so series. The two discussed book series for another few minutes before another girl joined in. This girl had strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes. She was shorter than Lucy, but four inches taller than Ib was. Ib found herself softly smiling at the two's antics, having a feeling that they were rather close to one another.

"Well, his last book is coming out this year, right before Christmas." Rose explained enthusiastically to the two, using her hands to communicate, "Oh, I can't wait! They're also making the series into a TV show!"

"Really? Do you know who's going to play Blake or Sergio yet?" Lucy asked, moving from foot to foot in excitement. The other girl shook her head, "No, but there are rumors that it might be some unknown actors."

Ib paid attention to the conversation, but was unable to add much. She hadn't any idea about the last book or the series becoming a TV show. She had never payed much attention to those type of things. However, she could speculate on certain characteristics the actors would have to have to make it believable. After all, imagining had nearly nothing to do with reality.

"Neh, neh, Ib," Lucy started as she returned to her canvas, which was right next to Ib, "Maybe us three could watch his other series later on, like this weekend?"

Ib nodded in agreement hesitantly, but it brought a smile to Lucy's face all the same. "Great! I'll talk more about details with you later."

After another coat of paint class ended. Ib began to take down her painting to carefully store away when someone roughly bumped into her. The painting fell to the ground as the girl told her to "watch it" before sauntering out the door. Ib bent down to pick it up, frowning at the picture; there was a speck of dirt in the center. Carefully, she tried to lightly scratch it off, but it was no use. She would have to repaint over it and hope for the best.

After placing the painting in her assigned cubby, Ib left the room. Once in the hallway she spotted Garry leaning against the wall. Once he spotted her, he walked over with a smile, "Hey, Ib."

"Hello," she replied back softly. The two fell into step with one another and started to walk, both unsure of how to start off the conversation. "So-" they both started before pausing, "What were you-" the two paused and Ib felt herself let out a small laugh at the same time Garry did.

"I think we both know what we need to talk about," Garry said as they continued walking. Ib nodded, "We're going back tonight then?"

"Yeah, we promised Mary. We also need to find out about Kate." Ib paused in her steps.

"Garry, I want you to look at something." The lavenderette paused and watched as Ib pulled out two drawings from her bag. She showed up of them to him, "I didn't draw them like this."

Garry looked confused by this, "Why do you mean? How could you not have drawn them like this?"

"I.. don't know. They changed. This cloaked figure was further away and the vase was full and not cracked." Ib slowly looked around the wall before taking a different route towards the cafeteria.

"Wait, Ib, where are we going?"

"To check that one canvas."

"You mean the one that was blank?" Ib merely nodded. She had a bad feeling about it, about the whole situation in general.

The two carefully looked to make sure the coast was clear before crossing under the tape, not wanting to be caught. They descended down the hall before Ib paused. The two stared at the prone canvas, a feeling of trepidation coursing through them. Ib gingerly turned the canvas over, her eyes widening to see that the once blank canvas now had some colour. It was still mostly blank, but the corners were now bleeding pink and in the center was the start of what appeared to be the outline of a figure.

"What.. but it was blank just yesterday!" Garry exclaimed, thoroughly taken aback by this sudden change. Ib remained quiet as she looked over at the wall where a small nail was hammered in. Standing on the tips of her toes she placed the canvas on the wall. The two stared at it just before Ib began to walk further down.

Garry hurried to follow after her, wanting to ask her where she was headed to, but he already knew the answer for himself. So, against his better judgement, he allowed her to reach the door at the end of the hall and step through, following after her. He had not the faintest idea as to why, but there was just this feeling within him that he would, more than likely, follow her no matter how many more times they had to step through this door or go to that world.

He gulped, nearly afraid of his own strong feelings. He had only known Ib for a couple days, but it felt like he'd known her for so much longer. He shrugged the strange nostalgic feeling off and followed her over to another door.

She carefully turned the knob and the next thing he knew, Garry was submerged in deep blue.

AN: Yeah, I'm going to cut it here for now. This was taking way too long to update, sorry about that everyone! I had AP tests awhile back and finals, but I wrote most of this during one of my electives and just finished the last bites on and off. It was the last three paragraphs I just wrote earlier this mornings so sorry if they seem a bit out of place.

Anyway, without further ado, I hope you all enjoyed this shorter-than-normal chapter and get back to me.

P.S. For some peculiar reason fanfiction isn't sending me notifications on ANYTHING, anyone know what's up with that?