CHAPTER 10: Aimless Imitation Musical Chairs part 2; Monkey's Paw

Miku will admit she can be a spiteful person.

She stared coldly at Mikuo as she said with a malicious smile. "There's someone we cant live without."

After all...She did enjoy striking a nerve in other people.

That day when she was waiting for Rin to come to the old music room, her irritation suddenly came back to her when the first person to come into the room was Mikuo.

"Hey Miku-chan you're early today arent you?" Because of the way Mikuo spoke to her with his usual smile. Her irritation was steadily rising so she decided to tease him just a little bit.

"Yes." She said. "Its because I wanted to speak with you, Mikuo-san."

Some might say she might be going to far with her 'teasing' if they knew what she was pointing out with Mikuo but he was just so annoying Miku just wanted to anger him.

"In truth, you know what I mean. That you, yourself are an empty existence."She explained. Miku looked at him in sadistic amusement when Mikuo looked at her in shock as she continued. "If you dont find your own reason for existing inside of someone else, you wouldnt even be able to live. In truth, you're meaningless, powerless..."

"What are you saying?!" He demanded angrily, his hands curling into fists. Miku stared at him and clicked her tongue. He was so annoying. Wasn't her explanation not clear enough for him? "Its only been a short period of time but when I look at you...I'm annoyed." She admitted with a sigh and cupped her cheek. "Its as if...you are a mirror of me. After all, you have realized it havent you?"

She smiled sinisterly and continued. "If one day, the other party has- No, its possible that already, they may no longer have any need for you, its just that you dont have the courage to confirm it and your own-"

"Shut up." Mikuo sneered. He glared furiously at her as if looks could kill but Miku was unfazed by it and she just smiled slyly before she snickered.

Miku noticed that just by pointing out things that people would rather not talk about, they would grow annoyed by this. She stood up from the chair and chuckled.

"Ufufu, its a joke." She said and turned away from him. "I think that despite this, I would like to become friends with you Mikuo-san." She decided then she glanced at him over her shoulder. Mikuo was quiet, his lips formed a thin line as he glared her. Miku thought it was a rather scary face for someone who seemed so easy going and she grinned.

"Considering the mutual benefits for each other, its not something you cant understand right?" Miku giggled.

Miku will not deny that what she said to Mikuo was very true. She was just like Mikuo in a way. She, too didn't care about anyone but the person she can't live without. She only cared about her dearest Rin.

The door slid open and Len and Rin walked in, surprise to see the two already in. "Huh? Mikuo?" Len started, followed by Rin. "Ah, Miku, you're early. What're you doing?" Miku instantly brightened as she walked over to Rin. "Rin-chan!" She exclaimed, happy that her beloved Rin was here. She couldn't stand being the same room with Mikuo. "I was just having a conversation with Mikuo-san."

Miku turned to Mikuo as she forged a grin. "Right Mikuo-san?" Mikuo narrowed his eyes at her before slowly nodding. "Yeah...Just small talk."

Miku didn't care about what other people would thought about her but she soon realized that she couldn't deny the fact that despite her thoughts were her own...she began doubting that they were hers and were actually someone else's and that thought scared her.

Miku stared at the sky as she sat on the rooftop at the corner. The forecast did say that there was a chance of rain but she didn't dislike it. She looked at her wrist watch to check the time. She should be coming soon.

And in cue, the door of the rooftop opened and a blond haired girl watched onto the roof with a sigh. "Rin-chaaaan!" She called out and Rin flinched in surprise, she turned around to see Miku waving at her. Rin sighed and walked over to her. "As I thought you're here again, Miku." She said.

"Eh~ Its just a coincidence." Miku giggled and Rin sat next to her. "But you know, I never get to talk to Rin-chan like this so I'm happy that we can when we're here." Miku said. Rin blinked in confusion. "Why's that? Just come up and talk to me then."

Miku paused for a moment and fidget with her fingers. "But..." She started. "There's always so many people around you." Rin hummed. "Hmm, well you've got a point." She said while scratching her head sheepishly. "Well, you shouldnt worry about it so much, you know?"

Rin's followers...well, Miku wouldn't really call them that but every time Miku saw Rin in the hallways there was always someone around her and since Miku was from another class, she didn't have a chance to go up and talk to her which was very frustrating in Miku's part.

Miku smiled and shook her head. "I don't." She said. "But I like Rin-chan so I'm just happy we're able to talk." Rin laughed awkwardly. "Thanks." Rin smiled back at her.

When it came to Miku's unabashed kindness, Rin was bewildered by it at first and would be embarrassed with Miku found it cute but gradually, whether it was because she finally gave up or simply saw it as a joke, Rin had come to stop commenting about it altogether.

Miku was quite happy with the little relationship she has with Rin right now...but in the same time was saddened by it...because she knew they would never go beyond that...

Rin then looked up at the cloudy sky. "Kinda looks like its gonna rain again huh?" Miku looked up as well and nodded. "Yeah, it does."

"I heard that Kagami's impostor appeared." The two flinched when they suddenly heard someone's voice. It was such a good thing that they were hidden from sight or else things wouldn't go very well.

"What do you mean by impostor?" The other student asked. "Like, while Kagami's in her house, someone that looks just like her is going around places at night?" The first student explained.

"Eh? What? Like some kind of monster or something?"

"I dunno but you know, Kagami's a nice girl so it feels like it'll build up."

Miku tried hushing Rin, who looked like she was on the verge of exploding either from embarrassment or in anger...probably both but Miku couldn't help but listen. Impostor? Rin's impostor?

"Build up? What will?!"

"That's not what I mean. You're taking it too far." The person chuckled. "But I heard there's people that really saw it."

Miku narrowed her eyes. She knew this was another rumor that Len had made up again. Ah~ How annoying.

As soon as the students left, Rin was shaking. "How dare he..." She grunted. Miku could tell that Rin already knew who the culprit was behind the rumor. "This is the last straw!" Miku couldn't help but giggle. "Rin-chan is cute when she's angry too!"

"I'm going straight to the old building after school." Miku nodded and followed after the irked Rin, who stomped into the school. "Alright.

Rain fell from the sky as Miku followed Rin through the halls of the old school building. Rin threw the door of the music room and entered it.

"Oh? You seem awfully angry today." Mikuo commented. "Cant you do something about that childhood friend of yours? Mikuo." Rin demanded. Miku simply watched them with a small smile until the door opened once again.

"Hey." Len greeted in his usual blank tone while Rin huffed and stomped towards him. "Oh dont "hey" me." Miku mentally frowned in distaste at the sight of Len, who was the other reason of her irritation. She watched them as they argued about the rumor.

"I only meant it as a little prank." She heard Len say. Rin groaned. "You...Are you trying to get back on me now?"

"Look, if you arent careful, when people see your usual modest and elegant self, they're thinking 'Its an impostor!'"

Rin flinched. "Wha-! Are you threatening me? I'm serious, if you dont stop right now...!"

Miku's heart skipped a beat when she notice how close they were together and that sent a ripple of jealousy through her. She clicked her tongue and quickly cut in. "-But..." She started. "I think its wonderful that Rin-chan has a dual nature." Rin stopped and turned to her with a pout. "Miku." She sighed. "Dual nature? You're saying it like I have a split personality.."

Miku laughed. "Well, to be honest its at a level that it seems you really might." Rin pouted even more. "Pfft." Mikuo snorted a laugh. "As usual, Rin has a soft spot for Miku, huh?"

"Shut up Mikuo!"

Usually, they have been gathering twice a week but, after Len's discovery, they all began to meet each other almost every day.

The reason they began meeting more often was because of a diary from ten years ago. A few days ago, apparently when she wasn't around, the three of them actually tried doing 'kokkuri-san', according to the rules written in the diary.

Although, Miku wasn't there at that time, it seemed they stopped mid-way because of their fear and it ended as a failure. After that, Len began talking about how he had felt someone's gaze on him.

And if 'it could have something to do with the 'Bookmark of Demise''

Len quietly stood up and Miku, to her annoyance, knew what he was about to say. "Let's do it one more time."

It was to be expected and they began the ritual of 'Kokkuri-san' as written in the diary in order to obtain the "Bookmark of Demise"

Somehow, Miku though the atmosphere was oddly calm but in the same time, it was tense and it gave her a very bad feeling.

The game went on and soon it was Rin's turn. "...Does Rin have a crush on anyone?" Len asked and Rin's face went red. "W-W-What kind of question is that?!" Rin exclaimed. "Look Rin-chan." Miku started. "Its no good if you dont calm down-" Even though she said that, Miku didn't expect Len to ask that either and wasn't very calm in the inside. As she thought about it, her whole body prickled with jealousy. The person Rin likes...

The coin slowly moved. "It says yes?..huh." Len said, uninterested. Rin twitched. "Hey! If you're going to ask, why're you reacting like that?!" Rin yelled as she grabbed his collar tightly and Len put his hands up in an surrender motion.

As the two once again quarreled. Miku couldn't help but think. Rin had someone she liked... Miku glanced at the two. She already knew that, after all...

Miku glared at Len furiously without him noticing. She had been watching Rin for a very long time. However not matter she tries to reach out to Rin, she'll never...

"N-Next is Miku's turn. Here I go!" Rin exclaimed. Miku blinked in surprise. "Okay." She said and smiled. "Go ahead." She already knew what might be her question but she didn't say anything. "Does Miku have a crush on anyone?" Miku wasn't fazed but the expected question and just continued smiling.

"Are you fine with it being such a boring question?" She asked. Even though, she understood that they might think of it as a joke but to Miku, she took the question seriously.

The coin moved once again. "Huh, so Miku-chan has someone she likes too?" Miku grinned at Len. "Eh? Thats because I love Rin-chan." Rin looked at her uncomfortably but Miku didn't care and smiled.

The game went on and finally it was the last round of the game until...

ZZZZTTT!

That was went the old television suddenly burst into life.

"-Due to a single traitor, a "fox", the game has begun." A high pitched voice said.

"If you wish to escape, please pay attention to the following conditions and seek the end..."

All of them stared at the television in shock at the voice continued.

"To reach the end of the game, you must kill the "fox." If you are unable to find the "fox" everyone dies, while searching for the "fox" you must follow kokkuri-san's demands.

Kokkuri-san's demands are delivered via letters, you are allowed one week to fulfill kokkuri-san's demands. In the case, that you ignore the demand, you will die. If the contents of the demand are seen or discovered by an outsider, that person will die until you reach the end of the game, there is no way out.

Until the end of the game is reached, you absolutely cannot escape..."

Miku couldn't understand the enumeration of indifferently said words but she felt absolute fear as she listened to those words. The TV instantly shut down and there was silence.

"W-What was that...j-just now?" Rin questioned. No one said a word.

And so, the beginning was signaled with that simple meeting. As though to prove it...the very next day, A classmate had died, his body was sliced in two.

The news was heard nearly everywhere in the school. Miku sat on her desk with a blank expression as she thought about the news. Could this be the work of the 'Bookmark of Demise'?

Then she remembered how terrified Rin looked yesterday, there was no doubt that she'll be even more scared after today's news. Miku sighed as she thought of the best way to comfort Rin.

"...Calm down."

"Calm down? Do you think I can calm down in this sort of situation?" Rin yelled as the others tried calming her down. "We...dont even know for sure yet...it might just be a coincidence." But Rin continued shrieking angrily. "There is no way that this is a coincidence!"

"I said calm down!" Mikuo yelled and Rin flinched.

Silence.

"You dont want to die from getting any more involve in this, do you?"

Rin flinched and bit her lip. "...Tch!" Mikuo sighed. "In any case, someone received a letter, which was seen by him...In other words, that means its all true...right?"

The atmosphere was suffocating. "The letter has already been sent to someone."

"Thats right, yeah...so thats why..."

Everyone knew what that means... Miku decided to voice out their thoughts. "One of us is going to die in one week..."

As twisted as this seemed...Miku was actually trying to frightened them even more, especially Rin.

"What are we going to do? What should we do?" Rin grabbed Miku's arm and held it for comfort, her eyes watery with tears. Miku mentally smirked at the action. She wanted her to be more afraid and then she'll comfort her.

More, More, More, More, More, More, More, Be More Afraid!

"For now, all we could do is wait and see." Mikuo said.

"...Since its the kind of case, they'll find the culprit quickly...right?!" Rin tried laughing despite the desperation and fear in her tone. No one in the room answered.

'That is, if there is a culprit in the first.'

"Rin-chan..." Miku said as she reached out and place her hand on top of Rin's. "Are you okay?" They were in a library where Miku tried comforting Rin after such a stressful day.

Rin slowly pulled her hand out of Miku's and nodded slightly. "Yeah..." She mumbled quietly and Miku frowned but said nothing. Although...Miku looked at her hand that touched Rin's and clenched it. If only Rin just let their hands stay together a bit longer...

"I'm sorry that I lost it..." Rin said as she stared down onto her lap. "...Its okay." Miku replied.

There was silence between them before Rin started. "This isnt a dream, is it? Even now I still cant believe it..." Miku wasnt sure how to answer that and nodded. "Yeah.."

"I-I've been a little curious about..." Rin trailed off and inhaled deeply. "Well, its not like we obtained the book or the bookmark so..."

Miku decided to just go along with it. "Yeah.." Rin dug her hands into her lap. "Thats why I believe...it wont be like ten years ago so..." This time, Miku didnt reply and looked at Rin worriedly. "Rin-chan..." Miku started until Rin started laughing. "Sorry! I know that I'm a liar...and its useless no matter what a big liar like me says but...I didnt betray anyone and I wouldnt ever-"

"Rin-chan!" Miku suddenly exclaimed loudly. Rin turned to her and Miku's heart skipped a beat at the frightened face she was making, her eyes filled with tear that were threatening to fall. Miku thought the face she was making...was beautiful.

Miku reached out and held her hand. "I will protect you, Rin-chan." She declared. "So please dont worry."

Protect...a word that Miku didn't understand completely and it was nothing more than an empty promise.

Rin's eyes widened and she sighed, feeling a little bit more calm than before. "Thank you." She said, smiling at Miku. Ah~ If Rin continued looking at her like that, even though she said those words...

Miku nodded eagerly. "I love you, Rin-chan so of course I would protect you." Rin simply laughed. "I guess so. Thank you, I really like you too." Suddenly Miku frowned.

She didn't understand she meant...But its better to express it in action huh?

Miku stood up, much to Rin's confusion. "Miku?" She leaned down until the tips of their noses touch and looked at her seriously. "It wasnt a lie you know?" Miku muttered. "That I mean."

With that, Miku gently kissed Rin on the lips. As she pulled away, Rin just stared at her in shock. "W-Wha-" She looked confused and it made Miku feel giddy inside. Miku smiled at her and picked up her bag. "I'll be going home now." She said and left just like that, leaving behind a speechless Rin alone in the library.

After Miku left, she went to a nearby cafe and into the ladies' restroom. She stared at her reflection and her hand slowly went up to her lips. She did it. She kissed Rin.

It didn't completely sink in on what she had just done and Miku's cheeks went red as she smiled happily at her reflection. "I just had my first kiss." She sighed to herself.

She felt so happy and in love that the fact one of her schoolmates had just died this afternoon felt like a trivial and insignificant thing now.

Clatter.

Miku snapped out of her daze and glanced at her bag. Did something fall out of place in her bag? Maybe it was her phone. She reached out for her bag and unzip the zipper. Oddly enough, inside it was a wooden box. Since when did she have this in her bag? Miku cautious opened the box and peered inside it then her eyes widened and leaped away from it with a gasp.

Inside the box was an old, dried up, hand.

"W-What is this?" Miku couldn't believe her eyes, and then she noticed next to the box was a white envelope. She hesitantly opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. Miku looked at the letter in confusion.

"Use the Monkey's Paw and defy fate."

What the heck does that mean? Miku suddenly remembered hearing about this from Len once. It was about an urban legend about an item that can grant wishes- The Monkey's Paw.

Unfortunately, Miku can't remember the rest of it and shook her head. "How silly..." She sighed, she doesn't believe in urban legends or myths but... "Any wish huh?"

Miku chuckled. Might as well test it out. "Rin-chan's ribbon..." She whispered. "I wish I had that..."

Snap.

Miku blinked and looked at her bag. "Huh?" No way. It can't be... She opened her bag and there she saw it. A big white ribbon was laying on top of the Monkey's Paw. Miku also noticed that the thumb of the hand was folded but that didn't matter at the moment, right now the ribbon of her dear Rin appeared out of nowhere and was right there.

Miku slowly pick the ribbon up and grinned widely. There was no mistake of it. Miku had always been looking at it so there was no way she could mistake it for an ordinary ribbon. Yes, this was it. Rin-chan's ribbon.

She felt her heart beat race as she looked at the ribbon happily like a child who just received a brand new toy. Miku quickly removed her pigtails and tied the ridiculously large ribbon on top of her head. She stared at her reflection and frowned. "That's not right..."

Miku looked into her bag and pulled out a pair of scissors and then began her work.

Snip, Snip, Snip, Snip, Snip, Snip.

Miku looked at her face proudly. Her once waist long hair now reached to her shoulders. She ran a hand through her new hairstyle and she giggled madly before gathering her things and left the restroom.

Ah~ What a wonderful turn of events.

Of course, Miku wasn't afraid of having such a wonderful item. What should she? There was nothing to fear anyway.

Miku hugged her bag against her chest and her grin widened ear to ear as a craze look in her eyes suddenly glint.

After all, with this item and its last wish, she could just say something like 'Save Rin-chan and I' and then...everything would be fine!

She quickly entered her house, ignoring her parents who questioned (more like demanded) her new hairstyle. If she saved the last wish, there would still be three more wishes.

"What should I wish for next..?" She wondered as she sat on her bed. "Something I want to do huh..." Miku slowly touched the ribbon on her head. That's right...

"I want to...be just the slightest bit closer to Rin..."

At that point, Miku recalled...how she had felt when she used to talk to Aria.

A/N: That ends chapter 10. I'm still shock with how much free time I'm getting from my vacation. I'm actually going to Singapore in April but until then I'm overflowing with free time.

Anyways two more chapters and its the end of this story. I have officially decided to make a sequel for this...even though its not very popular though it would hurt but try.

Please review and tell me what you think of this story okay?

Next Chapter: CHAPTER 11: Aimless Imitation Musical Chairs part 3; Taking Disasters

-Yugao702