And here we have it, the final part of episode two. This episode turned out to be a lot longer than I had originally planned. This chapter in particular turned out longer than I was expecting, and I had to cut short some of the final scenes to avoid having it run too long. I hope it's okay, and not just a big gibbering mess. I'll be taking a short break before writing episode three in order to catch up on my other work, but knowing how much fun this is I shouldn't be away from it for very long. Many thanks to everyone who is following and reviewing this, you're all absolutely fantabulous!

Rozen Maiden: Märchen

EPISODE 2

Forest for the Trees

Jun landed on his head. He always seemed to land in his head. Interdimensional travel just wasn't his thing. It was especially annoying since the dolls always seemed to float gently down unharmed. He picked himself up and rubbed his bruised scalp, wondering if all these rough landings were causing any sort of permanent harm. Shinku and Suiseiseki were already checking out their new surroundings, and it didn't take Suigintou long to arrive and join them.

"Hmm," she said after doing a slow three-sixty, "It would seem our dear little sister is not as big a fool as I'd imagined."

"You can say that again," remarked Jun as he recovered his wits and took in their immediate environment, "Just remind me - we're looking for a tree, right?"

"Yup," said Suiseiseki with less than enthusiasm.

"That could be a problem..."

They had followed the branches and roots of Yggdrasil from Jun's dream to this place - an N-Field in the form of a giant greenhouse, filled to the brim with all manner of plant life and trees. It was like a miniature jungle sauna in here. Jun could already feel himself starting to sweat. How the heck were they supposed to find one tree among this veritable forest? They didn't even know what Tomoe's tree looked like.

"Oh man, this is gonna be like trying to find a needle in a haystack," lamented Jun, his shoulders slumping. Suiseiseki stamped her foot and clenched her hands in frustrated annoyance.

"That Kirakishou is really starting to piss me off!"

Suigintou sneered at her back. "My, what eloquent language for a Rozen Maiden."

Jun had to impose himself between the two dolls before a fight broke out. He held his hands out towards each of them. "Knock it off, we don't have much time!"

"We should split up and search," said Shinku, briefly checking her ornate pocket watch, "Suigintou and I shall start here and work our way outwards. I suggest that Jun and Suiseiseki begin at the edge of the greenhouse and move around the perimeter."

Jun shrugged. "But how will we know what to look for? Will it be anything like my tree?"

Suiseiseki snorted and shook her head. "Certainly not; a person's tree is a representation of their soul. Your tree is small and stunted because you're such a puny little runt. Tomoe's tree will likewise reflect her personality, which is very different from yours, human."

Jun ground his teeth, fighting the urge to snap at her for continuing to insult him. That wouldn't help matters, and besides, Suiseiseki was as close to an expert on these matters as there was. He needed her help. Unfortunately. "Well then what will it look like?"

Suiseiseki seemed to consider for a second. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, as if praying. Jun waited silently for several long moments before his patience wore thin.

"Suiseiseki?"

"Shhh! I'm thinking. Oh!" She opened her eyes wide and extended her index finger in a eureka moment, "Of course, it must be a Cherry Blossom tree. Probably about the same size as Shinku. I'll know for sure when I see it, so if you find one just bring it to me and I'll tell you if that's it or not. Simple."

In theory. Jun had a bad feeling about this, and not all of the sweat forming on his brow was caused by the intense heat and humidity of this place. They set off in the pairs Shinku had selected. Jun was almost relieved to be out of her sight. It wasn't that she was glaring at him, it was that she wasn't glaring at him, despite the fact that he'd kissed Tomoe. He could tell it was bothering her by the fact that she was very pointedly not being bothered by it. Like the way someone could make a resolute silence sound like an angry shout. Shinku's silence towards him was screaming at him so loudly it hurt. He glanced down at Suiseiseki, who was striding down the paved greenhouse path beside him. Should he say something to her? Perhaps, but only if he could withstand the inevitable stream of denigrating insults she'd throw his way.

"Shouldn't you be looking for Tomoe's tree instead of staring at me?" Suiseiseki said suddenly, her gaze still sweeping the rows of greenery for any sign of the aforementioned tree. Jun's eyes widened a little as he realised he had been staring at her, and he hurriedly looked away. The greenhouse was huge, but they eventually reached the edge of it. On the other side of the glass paned walls they could see only more plant life. This could easily have been Suiseiseki or Souseiseki's N-Field. As they stopped, Jun tried to decide whether they should head left or right, but Suiseiseki was more interested in him.

"You're wondering if you hurt Shinku's feelings, aren't you?" She asked abruptly, startling Jun. He gaped at her.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" he said, trying to play dumb.

"Don't try and play dumb with me," Suiseiseki countered, "I'm far too used to it to be fooled. Even a puny human runt like you is perceptive towards other people's emotions, and you're worried that Shinku is upset because you kissed Tomoe. Well? Aren't you?"

Jun opened his mouth to argue, but then decided not to waste his time. It was true, and at least Suiseiseki had brought the issue up instead of him. He shut his mouth and nodded very slightly. Suiseiseki folded her arms and fixed him with a stern expression.

"Well she is. Shinku's been jealous of you and Tomoe for a while now, and she's really in love with you. If you were to ask me how she's feeling right now, I'd have to say heartbroken and betrayed."

Jun almost swooned, a distinctly unmanly behaviour. Shinku was in love with him? He rubbed his head in a dazed fashion as he stared off into space, not quite willing to believe it. "Seriously? Shinku? Jealous?"

Suiseiseki rolled her eyes and counted off on her fingers, "Yes, yes, and yes. Honestly human, I swear, sometimes you're just completely hopeless. Shinku is afraid that you've gone and fallen in love with Tomoe, and who can blame her after what just happened?"

"That wasn't my fault! I never wanted to kiss her!"

"Didn't you?"

He froze. Didn't he? Well? Wasn't it true that Tomoe had a way of making him feel awkward and self-conscious when she was around? And wasn't it also true that he enjoyed spending time with her, despite that? Some of his dreams had prominently featured her of late as well. He blushed just thinking about them.

"I ask because Suigintou's plan actually worked - the kiss you gave Tomoe formed an extremely strong bond between you that allowed us to find this place after all. That wouldn't have happened unless you really felt something for her."

Jun clutched his head and screwed his eyes shut, as if that would help him shut out his own jumbled feelings. "Ohhh, I don't know!" he wailed, "I care about both of them, but I can't really do anything about it with Shinku. At least Tomoe doesn't make fun of me, or hit me if I even think of touching her."

"Oh, so you've been touching her have you?" Suiseiseki said accusingly, "When was this?

Jun opened his eyes and lowered his hands a fraction. "What? I ... no! Look, you've got it all wrong-"

Suiseiseki stamped her foot suddenly, cutting him off. "Has it occurred to you you bumbling buffoon that maybe Shinku finds it as difficult as you do to express just how much she cares for you? It's especially painful when you're afraid the person you love is in love with someone else!"

Jun almost growled in frustration. "Well what do you want me to do about it?"

Suiseiseki was shocked by his evident stupidity, despite her insistence that she was used to it by now. "If you don't know then you're even dumber than I thought, and that's saying something. It's so simple even that puny Ichigo could figure it out!" She waved her arms at him to hammer the point home, "Shinku loves you. You love Shinku. If you want to be with her then tell her. If not, then tell her that. And then wait for me to turn you into the next Kunkun murder victim. Moron."

Shinku and Suigintou were moving outwards in a circular, spiral motion, carefully searching for some sign of a Cherry tree. Well, Shinku was searching carefully, Suigintou was more along for the ride. Under normal circumstance Shinku might have been overjoyed to be working side by side with Suigintou after so many years of bitter animosity between them. Recent events however had her mind occupied elsewhere, and Suigintou was able to sense her sister's desire not to talk. Which of course meant that she had a sudden desire to talk.

"A little bird told me that you've done an astonishingly foolish thing and fallen in love with that insipid Medium of yours," she said as casually as one might discuss the weather, "Please tell me you're not that stupid, Shinku."

Shinku actually scowled. "I do not wish to discuss it."

"Oh?" Suigintou chuckled, "So it's true then. How disappointing. I thought you had more sense than that. Not to mention better taste."

"Jun is my servant, nothing more," Shinku insisted, her scowl deepening. Suigintou moved to stand in front of Shinku, blocking her way.

"But you wish it was more," She teased, "You wish you could give him everything a human girl could. Everything a growing boy like Jun desires. Alas, the charms of a doll begin to lose their appeal when faced with a girl like Tomoe. Am I right?"

Shinku decided to try a different tact. "Father told us that we should never harm humans, a rule that Kirakishou has once again disregarded. As Rozen Maiden it is our duty to protect those humans she brings harm to. It is therefore imperative that we find Miss Kashiwaba's tree as soon as possible."

Suigintou bowed and stood to one side to allow Shinku past, smirking a little as she did so. "If you want my humble advice Shinku, forget about Jun. You'll never be able to give him what he wants."

At which point Kirakishou seemed to melt out of the tree behind Suigintou and proceeded to wrap herself around her elder sister. "Oh I don't know," she said in a sweetly seductive voice, "I think us dolls can be quite pleasing when we want to be..."

"Kirakishou!" Shinku shifted into a combat stance, her hand extended ready to send an attack at the seventh doll. Kirakishou tightened her grip on Suigintou and twisted, causing Suigintou's features to contort with pain.

"Now now, Shinku, you wouldn't want to hurt dear Suigintou. Not after the two of you have just made up."

Suigintou snarled defiantly and struggled to free herself. "Ignore her, Shinku, attack!"

Shinku hesitated for a moment, and a moment was all it took for Kirakishou to act. She summoned a mass of writhing rose vines that ensnared Shinku, wrapping themselves around her limbs and swiftly constricting her until she was completely immobile. Shinku tried to break free, yet her attempts were futile. Kirakishou giggled and released Suigintou. Within seconds she too was wrapped in a cocoon of rose vines.

"Much better," said Kirakishou as she stalked around the two trapped dolls. She leaned over and pressed her face close to Shinku's. To Shinku's disgust the white rose that existed in place of her second eye extended from her eye socket and brushed against her cheek. She winced and tried to turn away, prompting Kirakishou to snigger. "Honestly now Shinku, did you really think I would be fooled twice? Of course I knew that Jun would find another way. All I had to do was wait for you to show up. And here you are. Now I can take your Rosa Mystica and destroy the girl's tree. Poor Jun will be devastated."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Shinku demanded, "What has Jun done to provoke such a despicable ploy?"

Kirakishou stood upright, her rose eye retracting once more. "Done? Why, nothing. It's what he's capable of that interests me."

"Jun isn't capable of anything other than being an insufferable nuisance," Suigintou snapped, still fighting in vain against her bindings. Kirakishou sneered at her.

"Such a poor liar, Suigintou," she said scathingly, "Jun has the potential to be Father's next apprentice. Don't tell me you didn't know. You saw what he did - he repaired the damage you inflicted upon Shinku. Only Father could do that. Father, or someone with the same gift as father."

"Jun..." Shinku stopped struggling and wondered briefly where he was, and what Kirakishou had in store for him. The seventh doll turned her full attention on Suigintou now and knelt down beside her, brushing the tips of her fingers lightly across her face.

"I wont harm you, though, Suigintou. Once I'm done here you will be free to go. I do so hope we can be friends. Don't you want to be friends, Suigintou?" She suddenly cupped Suigintou's face with her hand and moved her own close enough to kiss her. Suigintou managed a sneer that easily trumped the one Kirakishou had given her earlier.

"You are such an insolent little sister. Do you really think I'd let you take Shinku's Rosa Mystica and then simply walk away?"

Kirakishou bobbed her head this way and that, a coy smile spreading across her face. "Is that all that bothers you? If you like, I'll give you Shinku's Rosa Mystica. I don't need it..."

Suigintou's expression tightened. "I don't need you to give it to me. If I want her Rosa Mystica I can take it for myself."

Kirakishou brushed the tip of her nose against Suigintou's and then leaned around to whisper into her ear; "Then take it."

She stood and gestured, prompting the mass of vines that held Shinku to move, shifting her closer to Suigintou. Shinku's eyes widened as she was thrust in front of her elder sister, while Kirakishou stood behind Suigintou and laid a hand on her shoulder. The vines around Suigintou's right arm uncoiled, allowing her to move the limb freely, though the rest of her body remained imprisoned.

"Go on, Suigintou," urged Kirakishou in her soft, almost sing-song voice, "You want Shinku's Rosa Mystica. You've always wanted it. All you have to do is reach out and take it. She cant stop you."

Suigintou locked her eyes upon Shinku's, which were actually afraid. Shinku didn't struggle, she simply looked pleadingly at Suigintou.

"Suigintou, please..."

"Yes Suigintou, please," Kirakishou mocked. She bowed low and spoke into Suigintou's ear once more, "Please take it. She's begging you. She wants you to take her Rosa Mystica."

Suigintou was torn. This was what she'd wanted ever since the feud between her and Shinku had begun all those years ago. Across the ages the desire to defeat Shinku and take her Rosa Mystica had driven her like an obsession. It was all she thought about. Shinku was her white whale. And yet ... things had changed. Shinku had defeated her, and she'd returned only to lose at the Alice Game a second time. Her burning hatred for Shinku had started to wane. Even Shinku herself had regrets about their past differences, about the hurtful things she'd said and done. She'd said as much to Suigintou before, and now ... now those words came back to her.

I was wrong before. It was wrong of me to call you a piece of junk.

As long as one heeds the voice that calls them, no one can ever turn you into junk. None of us were ever junk to begin with. We all carry the radiance that makes us worthy of becoming Alice.

And so ... I am sorry.

"Suigintou..."

She blinked and narrowed her eyes. "Well Shinku, are you ready?"

Behind her, Kirakishou giggled and turned her eye on Shinku expectantly. It came as something of a shock then when Suigintou was suddenly enveloped in blue flames, burning the rose vines that held her and singeing Kirakishou as well, who was forced to jump back. Suigintou wasted no time and swiftly burned away the vines holding Shinku as well, freeing the startled blue-eyed doll.

Suigintou spun about and stood side by side with Shinku as they faced Kirakishou together, who brushed her dress and looked mildly annoyed. "You've changed, Suigintou."

"For the better," said Shinku, summoning a cloud of glowing rose petals. Kirakishou tilted her head sideways and let her hands hang limply at her side.

"Your hatred of Shinku used to make you strong. Now you are just another weak, helpless little doll. So sad."

Suigintou's wings extended and she blew Kirakishou a kiss, sending the point of a black feather shooting at her leering face. Kirakishou deftly caught the feather and straightened her head, peering at it closely.

"I think you'll find that I am still strong enough to teach an insolent little sister a lesson about respect," said Suigintou, her words filled with all her usual self-assured arrogance. Grinning despite the circumstances, Kirakishou reached up and neatly tucked the black feather into her hair.

"Shall we dance?" she said.

Jun winced in pain and clutched at his hand. The rose ring on his finger flared brightly as it grew increasingly hot. That could only mean one thing.

"Shinku ... she's in trouble," he managed to gasp between clenched teeth. Suiseiseki tugged at his trousers and pointed.

"Look, Jun!"

A dozen feet down the path on their left was a stunningly beautiful Cherry Blossom tree. It glowed faintly as it nestled there amongst the surrounding plants, beckoning to them. They ran together down the path, eager to retrieve it and get out of this place before anything worse happened. Things were seldom that easy however, and as they drew near the tree a bright white light appeared out of nowhere and shot towards them. Suiseiseki threw herself to the ground and covered her head with her hands, whilst Jun was sent tumbling head over heels from the force of the impact.

"What the hell?" he sat up and blinked several times, mildly dazed by the attack. Suiseiseki lowered her hands and peeked around. The light hovered a few feet away, pulsating in a menacing manner.

"It must be Kirakishou's artificial spirit," she observed. Jun got up and glared at the thing.

"Oh, is that all?" he cracked his knuckles and waited for it try again, evidently seeing the spirit as little more than a nuisance. It surged forwards without warning and struck him in the stomach, shoving him backwards and causing him trip over Suiseiseki, who cried out in alarm. When she recovered she turned and snarled at the puny human.

"What do you think you're doing you great big dolt? Leave it to me!"

She summoned her watering can and proceeded to spray the surrounding plants and trees. Their branches and leaves swelled in size and reached out, engulfing the hostile spirit completely.

"Ha! You see? Suiseiseki saves the day once again."

The foliage prison exploded, showering the pair with bits of scorched bark and petals. The spirit, Rosary, expanded to more than ten times its normal size and hurtled towards them with alarming speed, threatening to crush them into the ground with ease. Suiseiseki squealed with fright and flinched. Her impending status as a smear was postponed when Jun threw his arms around her and held his rose ring in front of them defensively. It shone with a brilliant emerald green light and kept Rosary at bay with a crackling energy shield.

"Any more brilliant ideas?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Barasuishou shut the magazine, slid off the bed and silently replaced it on the shelf. She sighed. She'd now read everything in the house. Every book, every pamphlet, every magazine. She'd even read the backs of the food packaging and DVD's. It had helped her pass the time, but now she didn't know what to do. She felt like a loose end. The house was empty save for herself and Nori, and Nori was sleeping soundly in her room. She supposed she could go to sleep herself, but she didn't feel particularly tired.

She needed a distraction. Something to take her mind off itself. Lately if she just sat around, memories would start to surface, and without the emotional suppression of her rose eyepatch those memories now stirred feelings inside of her. She hated having feelings. They were useless; they clouded her mind and her judgement. Some of them even caused her pain. How did people cope with them? Her past deeds were almost constantly stinging her conscience, something she'd never had to deal with before. It was getting worse, too. It pained her to even look at Shinku now.

And then there was Kirakishou. The true seventh doll, the one she had tried to measure up to and failed. Kirakishou was only even awake because of her. The seventh doll was meant to sleep until the final stage of the Alice Game, when only one of the Rozen Maidens was left standing. When that time came, Kirakishou would appear and challenge that doll for the right to become Alice. That should have been her, Barasuishou. She should have fought that final battle and won. Except it hadn't quite worked out that way, had it? The Rosa Mystica had destroyed her instead. Despite that, she had still created the conditions for the seventh doll to awaken, and now Kirakishou had no clear challenger to face and was instead causing all manner of trouble. All her fault.

"Why?" she whispered to the empty room. She whirled around and stared up at the ceiling, her eyes desperate, pleading for an answer. "Why? Why did you bring me back? I have no reason for being any more. I don't belong here. You should have left me in pieces. It's no more than I deserved." She bowed her head and blinked back tears. Stupid, useless tears. She hated them, and she hated that she hated them. She threw back her head and cried out. "Answer me! Give me a reason! Why am I here? What am I meant to do?"

There was only silence. No answer came, and she hadn't really expected one. She'd simply felt some kind of need to talk, to say something, even to an empty room. She sagged and wiped her eyes, trying her best to put a lid on the simmering pot that was her emotions. She noticed something out of the corner of her eye, and turned to see a glowing red light floating towards her through the gap in the bedroom door. It was Holie - Shinku's artificial spirit. Barasuishou frowned as it zipped up to her and bobbed about frantically, as if trying to get her attention.

"What? What is it?"

Holie pulsed several times, but Barasuishou could only vaguely understand it. She was not a true Rozen Maiden and thus had no artificial spirit herself. From what she could gather though, Shinku and the others were in some kind of trouble and needed help.

"Show me," she said.

Rosary relented in its attack, shrinking back down to normal size and zipping sideways. Jun sagged and Suiseiseki let out a sigh of relief.

"I guess it's a good thing I have you as a Medium," she remarked. Jun leaned on his knees and tried with difficulty to ignore the burning pain of the ring, which was glowing red now. Shinku was still in trouble. He puffed and nodded.

"Not so bad for a puny human, huh?"

Suiseiseki smirked a little. "You have your moments. Now what do you say we get that tree and beat a hasty retreat?"

Tomoe's tree was, as Suiseiseki had predicted, about the size of Shinku. Kirakishou had been considerate enough to pot it after stealing it, which would make carrying it out much easier. He picked it up and tried not to think about the fact that he was essentially holding Tomoe's soul. That said though, it was a very beautiful tree, especially compared to his own. Tomoe was as pretty on the inside as she was on the outside.

... and he did not just think that.

"Okay Jun, I'll open a doorway for you back to Yggdrasil," said Suiseiseki, "then I'll find Shinku and get her out of here as well."

"And Suigintou."

"... oh yes. How could I forget."

Before she could do as she intended, Rosary chose that moment to swoop in and attack again. Caught unawares they both flinched, but were surprised when a hand came out of nowhere and caught the artificial spirit in mid flight. Jun blinked and looked across. It was Barasuishou.

"You? What are you doing here?"

Barasuishou took a step towards them and Holie floated out from behind her. "I heard you were in need of help. I came."

Suiseiseki was even more shocked than Jun. She watched the soft white glow that seeped from Barasuishou's hand, the one holding Rosary, and then narrowed her eyes at the new arrival. "Yeah, well don't expect any thanks!"

"I don't," said Barasuishou, "Where is Shinku?"

Jun would have pointed but his hands were busy holding Tomoe's tree. He turned and nodded in the direction instead. "She said she was going to search in the middle of the greenhouse and work her way out. I think she's fighting someone. Could be Kirakishou."

"Could be Suigintou," Suiseiseki added bitterly. Barasuishou glanced over her shoulder in the direction he indicated.

"I will go. You should leave."

"You don't need to tell me twice," said Jun. He nudged Suiseiseki, who scowled and set about opening a doorway out of there.

Shinku flexed her hand and sent a jet of crimson rose petals at Kirakishou. The seventh doll dispersed them with an idle wave of her own hand and returned the gesture, unleashing a torrent of white rose petals upon Shinku. Suigintou put herself in the path of the attack and blocked it by folding her wings in front of herself protectively. When she unfurled her wings, Kirakishou had vanished. She reappeared behind Shinku and shoved her into Suigintou, sending both dolls sprawling. They recovered just in time to doge a hail of crystal shards.

"Is that the best you have?" Suigintou taunted. She pointed the tips of her wings and released a relentless storm of black feathers against Kirakishou, who simply ignored them. The feathers seemed to swerve around her, as if redirected by some unseen force. She grinned.

"I'm going easy on you because I like you, big sis. If I were truly trying to fight, the battle would already be over."

Shinku and Suigintou launched a renewed wave of attacks, but Kirakishou repeatedly evaded by vanishing and reappearing in a zigzagging pattern, each time moving closer and closer to them. She appeared beside Suigintou and landed a punch on her jaw, staggering her. A split second later she materialised next to Shinku and did the same, then appeared behind both of them and blasted them forwards with a wave of rose petals. They landed in a sprawled heap on the path.

"Pitiful," said Kirakishou, "Is it any wonder Barasuishou was able to defeat you?"

Suigintou pushed herself up and glanced sideways at Shinku. "I can't use my full powers without harming Megu," she said. Shinku nodded in understanding and got to her feet, brushing her dress off. Kirakishou giggled.

"I am going to enjoy breaking you, Shinku," she raised her hand and pointed, "I think I will take your arm first. A reminder of times past."

"I think not," said a familiar voice. Barasuishou grabbed Kirakishou from behind and hurled her down the adjacent path, summoning a veritable minefield of crystal spikes there as she did so. Kirakishou skilfully dodged them, floating, darting and twisting aside to avoid impalement. When the assault stopped, she hovered in the air and watched as the Enju doll laid her hands on Shinku and Suigintou. All three disappeared in a haze of violet light, leaving Kirakishou alone in the greenhouse. She stared in mute shock for several long moments and then threw back her head and screamed, causing every single glass pane in the greenhouse to shatter into a thousand glittering shards.

Suiseiseki dropped out of the swirling vortex and landed lightly on the ground. She dusted her hands off and strolled over to Jun with a look of smug satisfaction on her face.

"One soul tree successfully replanted," she said cheerfully, "Tomoe should be right as rain in no time. I am so totally awesome."

Jun bit his lip in worried anticipation. "Yeah, but what's to stop her from doing it again?"

"This," said Barasuishou, stepping forwards and uncurling her hand. A blue wisp of light floated in the air, prompting Suiseiseki to gasp in astonishment.

"Lempicka! Where did you get that?"

"Kirakishou had it," Barasuishou explained, "I took it from her when I attacked her. I suspect she will not find it so easy to delve into other people's dreams without it." She handed Lempicka to Suiseiseki, who took it with a mixture of amazement and reverence. Suigintou cleared her throat.

"It seems the princess has awakened," she said. Everyone looked around and saw Tomoe sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned.

"Hey guys. Umm, where am I?"

It was well past midnight in the Sakurada house and everyone was sound asleep. Everyone except Shinku. She opened her case and cast her gaze about. The room was bathed in the cool silvery light of the moon, allowing her to see that all was quiet and still. She silently climbed out of her case and closed it. There were two other cases beside hers - Suiseiseki had finally relented and moved back into Jun's room after the night's events.

"Farewell, Suiseiseki," Shinku murmured. She turned away from the cases and stepped towards the shelf where her things were stored. She would have to leave them here. It was a shame, but she had no choice. She reached around and withdrew a slim envelope from her dress, before carefully placing it on the shelf in front of her Kunkun collection. It was addressed to Jun.

Collecting her case, Shinku stopped at the door and glanced back at the sleeping figure of Jun himself. He looked peaceful. It pained her greatly to do this, but she assured herself that it was for the best. She turned back to the door, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Goodbye ... Jun," she whispered.

Then she was gone.

Jun: Shinku's gone! I can't believe she left!

Suiseiseki: This is terrible, this is absolutely terrible! She's gone and fallen down a rabbit hole and now we'll never find her!

Suigintou: Why are you all looking at me? I'm through solving your problems for you. Do your own detective work.

Jun: I wish Kunkun were here. He'd find Shinku in no time.

Suiseiseki: Gah! Get her away from me! Jun, help!

Jun: What is it now?

Suiseiseki: That creepy Barasuishou keeps trying to kiss me! What the heck is the deal with that?

Hina: Oh! Oh! Hina's coming back! Yay!

Shinku: Laplace no Ma, I challenge you.

Laplace: And I accept...

Jun: Next time, on Rozen Maiden: Märchen...

Shinku: The light of truth eludes us.