Chapter 21- Ritual

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A/N: :3 It's April 8th. That's how short of time I'm using to my advantage.

:DDDDD

The Revamp of Chappy 2 is in progress, along with the uploading of Chappy three...

Enjoy.

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I wake up to throbbing pain. I groan, then sit up with some difficulty. My limbs are super stiff from having slept on the ground. Through my eyelids, the sunrise behind me is powerfully blinding, so I face west, towards the town.

I still have things to do there.

So, it's with a heavy heart that I shake Piko awake.

Go ahead.

I sigh.

"I'll be back in about three hours unless something goes wrong."

... I'll be here.

I get up, stretch a bit, then shuffle down the now routine path to the town.

Well, at least I know what I have to do...

..and what I want to do.

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"Gumi..." Rin shuffles uncomfortably.

"She's gone." I can tell by her black clothes, her lace veil, her tears. "How and when?"

"L-last night... she was going to follow you, but she didn't come back... and we found her... near the school." Rin was choking on her tears. "She- she was all bloody... like she'd been tor-tortured..." Then, she shook. I nodded.

"Was there anything by the crime scene?"

"No... it was... j-just her..."

I feel a bit worried as Rin begins to gasp for breath.

"Rin, breathe." She calms a little, but not much.

"She... she was... murdered!" Then, she breaks down, crumpling to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

I see myself there, in front of the easel again, crying.

How odd.

Then, I crouch down and pat her on the back a little.

"Rin, get up. Would Miku want for you to act like this, ever?"

"N-no... but she's dead!" This time, she howled, as if in physical pain.

"It's no different than if she'd just left to go on vacation, Rin. Think of it like that." I had a plan formulating in my mind as I said this.

"B-but she c-can't come b-back..." She sniffled, looking up at me.

Being only eleven, Rin was more emotional than me or Miku. Although she didn't look it, Miku was 14.

I felt a bit nauseaous, then felt my left leg throb even though I hadn't moved it.

Then...

I had to hurry.

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It was a few hours later that the room of Miku's mourners was empty, and I double-checked.

Then, I lifted open the coffin lid.

There she was, a cut visage, a very beautiful teal, bohemian style dress- I think- that she'd gotten during March last year, with her hair up in very beautiful pigtails. She had green roses- which had been created for this purpose- and white ones in her hands. Their petals were strewn inside with her.

It was a beautifully scary thing.

I stared, then knelt.

All you have to do is ask...

Then I will.

I checked again for anyone who might be there. Nobody was in here but myself.

I shut my eyes, Miku's pale, cut face still etched into my brain.

Let her return...

I felt a small tear. Miku was an amazing person, a beautiful singer.

Let her return.

I felt my heart rise into my throat.

Let her return.

I accompanied this with a soft "aah"...

Let her return.

Again, but louder, I began a tune that she'd called Greensleeves- a song that she'd found ages ago. It was her favorite, and it posted more memories of her deeper into my mind.

Let her return.

A soft light came through my dark world, shining brighter by the moment. I swayed a little.

Let her return.

The white light got brighter.

Let her return...

Then, the light blotted out all else, leaving a sort of high-pitched voice in my ears.

She has returned.

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I came to moments later to see Miku, still pale and limp.

My body sagged from something, although my clouded mind could not understand the source.

That is, until Miku blinked, colour suffusing her face.

Then, it all became clear.

My eyes widened as she winced from her cuts, then sat up, her bouquets tumbling into her lap. She blinked, then looked around, eventually seeing me.

I felt a bit faint.

Then, I walked fowards, smiling.

"It worked," I whispered, then embraced her tightly. She was confused, and lightly returned my hug.

"What... Gumi..."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Err..." She blinks a few more times, then continues, "This guy, who held me and was cutting me... he had brown hair..." She blinks.

"What happened?" I wasn't sure if I should tell her the exact truth or bend it for everyone.

Well, it's not like I'm going to be on the loose much longer.

"You... were killed, Miku... so I asked for you to return, and it seems that I have been granted that wish. Here, hold on..." Her cuts were bleeding copiously. I took a few strips of linen out from my pocket and began to wrap her confused, scared face. "There. It should stop bleeding in a few days, so you should be good to go."

"I was... killed? Then... how am I alive?"

"Because I asked for you to become so, Miku."

Then, a gasp resounded in the room, and I silently cursed myself for forgetting to check for others. I ran towards the source, to see someone go quickly. I tried feeling their presence, but they were fast, and long gone. Probably some little kid.

Then, the door opened, revealing the group of mourners, not really noticing who stood in front of them. They were crying.

It was her mother who saw her for real first.

"Miku!" She ran, then swept the tealette into her arms, crying. Everyone turned, looking at the woman embracing the girl who was supposed to be dead. Next was Rin, who screamed, then ran over to hug Miku too. Then, slowly, everyone but me touched a bit of Miku- her hair, her hand, her face...

I managed to slip out during it all, then ran back to the cliffside.

If all I had to do was ask...

..then I would ask for my biggest wish.

He could lie, but he couldn't truly hide it.

He would like it too.

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