Another filler chapter were not much happens. I had intended to have more done by this chapter but it didn't work out that way. Well if I have to I'll just make episode nine longer than four parts. Expect more frequent updates by new year. Please enjoy!
Rozen Maiden: Märchen
EPISODE NINE
On Reflection
Kirakishou sat atop her case, which was itself resting atop a crystal altar in the middle of a crystal room, inside her crystal castle. She hugged her knees tightly to her chest and drew comfort from the warmth of the substantial body she now finally possessed. She'd made a fool of herself! In front of Father no less! Oh yes, it was him sure enough. Truly he transcended time, and had come to them whilst still just a boy. Yet it was him. Father. And she'd run away from him like a frightened little girl, which in some ways she was.
He had given her the Pandora key because he didn't want her to fight her sisters. He'd given her a means to become Alice without playing the Alice Game. And she'd gone right ahead and fought them in front of him regardless. She tried to tell herself that he'd be impressed with the ease with which she defeated her fellow Rozen Maidens, but the truth was he hadn't sounded very happy when he'd confronted her. No, he'd scolded her instead. Her! The greatest of his creations, told off like a spoiled little brat.
So here she was, sitting alone inside her N-Field. Always alone. She had tried to befriend Suigintou by fixing her broken Medium, but her efforts only seemed to have driven her big sis further away from her. And she'd hardly made herself loved with her other sisters, had she? She had no Medium of her own either. All alone in a sparkling palace.
Not exactly...
"Pitiful," said an all too familiar voice, "You are so pitiful."
Kirakishou looked up and saw Barasuishou's face reflected back at her from every crystal facet in the room. The reflection of her twin was wearing the rose eye patch once more, and there was no compassion in that single merciless yellow eye. The Enju doll smirked at her.
"You have no friends. No Medium. Your sisters do not want to see you. Your father is disappointed with you. You are nothing."
Kirakishou's own eye narrowed. "I am Kirakishou. The seventh Rozen Maiden doll."
"And that is all that you are. Nothing less ... and nothing more."
Kirakishou said nothing, because she couldn't argue with the sentiment. In fact she agreed with it, loathe though she was to do so. She wanted to be more though. Wanted to be the perfect girl. Wanted to be loved. Why did everyone hate her then?
"Because you are insane," Barasuishou answered for her, knowing her every thought as if they were her own, "You cannot tell right from wrong. You treat others as objects. The love you carry has been twisted and deformed like a distorted reflection, until you have forgotten how it should truly look."
Kirakishou tried to look away from that accusing cyclops stare, but everywhere she turned her twin's face was reflected back at her. She scowled at the plain truth Barasuishou gave to her. "As if you were any better," she countered feebly.
"I was becoming something better. But then you wanted what I had and you did not. And you took without my consent. And now I am you. Tell me, was it worth it?"
No, Kirakishou thought, because I am still alone.
Jun hadn't been to the Enju Doll shop since the events last year drew him there. It had sat in silence ever since, its doors locked, its shadowy interior still filled with the lifelike dolls made by its former owner. He had wondered how they would get in there this time but was surprised to find that the front door was ajar. He hesitated for a moment to consider just why this might be the case, but Rozen was so enthralled by the sight of the dolls that he strode right in without a moments pause.
"Amazing," he breathed, gazing about at the shelves and cabinets. Jun followed him in as he stopped and leaned on his knees to get a good look at one of the dolls, his green eyes ablaze with wonder. "Aren't they marvellous? The craftsmanship is incredible."
"Well it was your apprentice that made them."
Rozen stood and stared at Jun. "I have an apprentice?"
"Huh, yeah, and not a very nice one either. I'd warn you not to waste your time with him if it weren't likely to cause a time paradox or something."
"Is someone there?" a voice called out from the back. Jun almost jumped with fright but frowned instead as the sound of the voice struck a chord with his memory. Sure enough a moment later Mitsu Kusabue emerged from the back of the shop, Kanaria riding on her shoulders like a child. They all stared at each other for a long moment before Mitsu's face lit up with joy and she squealed with delight.
"Jun-jun! I was hoping to run into you."
"Miss Micchan? What are you doing here?"
"I own the place! Can you believe it? I used to come here often to buy things for Kanaria, but it closed down last year. Kanaria told me how Barasuishou felt sad for all the dolls here, so I looked into buying the place up."
Kanaria laughed and extended her hands out sideways. "It was real easy, y'know? Since that Enju guy vanished without a trace we were able to acquire the shop for next to nothing, dolls and all. Pretty cool, right?"
"I guess," said Jun, rubbing the side of his head. He really shouldn't be surprised, after all Mitsu was the most doll obsessed person he knew of next to Rozen. Owning a doll shop was pretty much a logical conclusion for her. But then... "What are you going to do with the place? I mean don't you already have a job?"
Mitsu reached up and removed Kanaria from around her neck, before carefully placing the doll on the counter top. "I was thinking of opening it up at the weekends, maybe hiring someone part-time to deal with the customers. Interested?"
In working at a doll shop? Ha! Well it would certainly fit with his life so far, that much was true. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Maybe. I'll let you know."
Mitsu finally noticed Rozen standing by his side, who had kept silent throughout the exchange. She pressed her hands together and beamed at him. "Well Jun-jun, aren't you going to introduce me to your cute friend?"
Jun opened his mouth to do just that but was stopped by Rozen himself, who grabbed a hold of Jun's arm and grinned mischievously back at Mitsu. "I'm Jun's new boyfriend! Pleased to meet you!"
To say that Jun was shocked would be the understatement of the entire of human history. He felt as if someone had just slapped him across the face with a wet fish. While Mitsu stared gob smacked at them, Jun turned and glared at Rozen as if he'd gone insane, a notion he'd strongly suspected for some time now.
"W-what? Why the hell did you tell her that?"
Rozen actually gave him a hurt, wide-eyed look as if to suggest that Jun had said something insensitive. "Did last night mean nothing to you?" he pouted. Pouted. Boys should not pout, of that Jun was certain.
"Wow, I had no idea," said Kanaria in a hushed voice. Jun wanted to yank his arm away from the demented dollmaker and then quite probably punch him for good measure, but the sheer audacity of it all had him rooted to the spot, unable to do anything but gape in horror. Mitsu meanwhile gave the pair a look most people usually reserved for kittens and puppies.
"I knew it! I mean when I saw how much you enjoyed doing that photo shoot I kind of had a feeling you might be that way Jun-jun, but when you called me up and said you wanted to do more I just knew!"
"Hold on, he is not my boyfriend!" Jun insisted emphatically, "I'm not ... I am not into guys, okay? He's just joking around!"
Mitsu nodded in understanding and wiped a joyful tear from under one eye. "It's alright Jun, you don't have to explain to me. Just know that you have my full support when you eventually decide to come out of the closet."
Jun groaned loudly and pressed a hand to his face as if that would somehow make all of this go away. When it (inevitably) didn't, he adjusted his glasses and glowered at Rozen. "I hate you."
"Thin line, Jun, thin line," Rozen released his arm and patted him on the shoulder, before turning his attention to Kanaria. He approached the counter and shamelessly stroked the doll's grey hair with a wide smile on his face. "Well aren't you just adorable?"
Kanaria growled and shook his hand off. "Hey hey, hands off the merchandise! Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to touch a lady without her permission?"
"Uh, Kanaria, do you know who you're talking to?" said Jun. Rozen held up his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.
"No, she's quite right. I apologise profusely Miss Kanaria. I was simply so overcome by your cuteness that all thought of etiquette completely escaped me."
Kanaria seemed suitably flattered by this admission that her initial anger quickly faded away. She put her hands on her hips and turned her head slightly, nose in the air and eyes briefly closed. "Well I'll forgive you this time, since you obviously have impeccable taste," her green eyes flicked open and she jabbed a finger at her father, "Just watch it, y'hear? I got my eye on you, mister."
Remembering what they had actually come for in the first place, Jun asked Mitsu about the potted plant Kohaku had mentioned in her letter. Sure enough she had found a plant whilst checking the place over, and rummaged around in the back of the shop for a few minutes before bringing it out. She set it down on the counter and Jun picked it up and examined it. Not being an expert on plant life, all he could tell of it was that it was a trimming taken from a tree. It was still healthy and vibrant, its leaves a vivid shade of green. It reminded him of Suiseiseki, prompting a guilty grimace of recollection at how he'd spoken to her at breakfast. Getting the help of that particular doll and her twin sister might just prove a bit tricky.
"Suiseiseki, calm down!" Souseiseki urged, before hastily ducking from one of Jun's school books hurled across the room.
"How can I possibly remain calm? Did you not hear what he called us?" The gardener doll yanked the sheets and pillows off Jun's bed and then began jumping up on down on them in outrage. She'd been at it for quite some time, as attested by the disastrous state of the room in general. The window was broken, as was the computer monitor. Books were scattered everywhere, and she'd tipped the waste basket over. Judging by the enthusiasm with which she now ripped open Jun's pillows she was only just getting started. "Freak!" she screamed, "The only freak around here is that puny moronic doll-loving cross-dressing four-eyed RUNT!"
"I'm sure he didn't really mean it, Suiseiseki," her twin desperately tried to placate her. She'd been just as hurt by Jun's outburst at breakfast but was obviously coping a lot better. Or at least a lot quieter. Suiseiseki responded by ripping the computer mouse out of its port and then swinging it around the room like a morning star.
"Oh he so totally meant it!" she growled. She released the mouse, sending it flying into the wall with such force that it split open, revealing its electronic innards. Suiseiseki stood in the middle of the room breathing heavily, hands clenched tight, shoulders trembling with barely suppressed rage. The only reason she'd even stopped was because she was searching for something breakable that she hadn't yet broken.
"My, what a delightful little tantrum," said Suigintou. She was floating just outside the broken window, examining the chaotic scene within with a faintly bemused expression. Her lavender eyes found the shaking shape of her sister and she smirked. "You always did have a temper, Suiseiseki."
"Go away!" she snapped in return. Souseiseki was a bit more gracious.
"What brings you here, Suigintou?" she asked pleasantly, or perhaps simply eager to finally have someone to distract Suiseiseki from her destructive rampage. Suigintou flew in through the empty window frame and settled down on the floor beside her.
"To see Father, of course. Is he here?"
"No, he went out a while ago with Jun. He should be back soon though, so if you'd like to stay..." What she didn't add was: and help calm our violent sister down. Suigintou seemed to pick up on her unspoken words all the same and regarded Suiseiseki.
"I think I shall. Dear me, what a frightful mess you've made, Suiseiseki. Dare I ask if there's a reason for all this mayhem?"
"I'll give you one guess!" she snarled, before folding her arms and turning her back on her two sisters. Suigintou chuckled.
"Jun then. I might have known. Well whatever he has done you have my deepest sympathies." She turned to the currently more level-headed twin and crossed her own arms as well. "So what did that simpering fool do this time?"
Souseiseki hesitated, suddenly embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed red and she rubbed the back of her neck as she nervously sought for some way to phrase her response. Suigintou noticed all of this and peered forwards to examine her closely. "What's this now? Why Souseiseki, I do declare that you are blushing. I must say I'm surprised; I didn't think you had it in you."
Souseiseki exhaled sharply and turned away so she wouldn't have to look her sister in the eye when she spoke. "It's just that ... Suiseiseki and I have been talking about how maybe we'd quite like to ... to ... someday ..."
"Yes, I'm listening," Suigintou purred teasingly. Suiseiseki decided to spare her twin the trouble of trying to spit it out and shouted it out for her.
"Married! Okay? We want to get married! And for that the puny runt called me a twisted little freak!" She stamped her foot impetuously. "I mean talk about the pot calling the kettle, right? He only went and fell in love with Shinku! They're practically different species! At least Souseiseki and I are both dolls!"
Suigintou was too busy laughing to give an answer to that. She covered her mouth with her hand and struggled to suppress the gales of laughter, shoulders shaking with the effort. Suiseiseki glared at her with clenched teeth and demanded to know what was so funny.
"You have to ask? What a simply absurd notion! As if the two of you could ever get married."
"Why not?" Suiseiseki demanded, flailing her arms, "We both love each other! I so don't care that we're sisters! And besides, we all know you feel the same way about Shinku, so don't even start, okay?"
Suigintou held up a hand to stop her and shook her head. "It's not that; you can't get married because you're both dolls, stupid. Just who exactly do you expect to actually marry you? Anyone legally capable would be just as likely to run a mile in terror at being approached by a pair of walking talking dolls. Marriage is a human affair, and has no business with the likes of us Rozen Maiden."
"That didn't stop Shinku from trying to marry Kunkun," Souseiseki pointed out, to which Suigintou grimaced at the memory.
"Don't remind me; that is one day I would much rather forget ever happened." She sighed heavily and closed her eyes for a brief moment. "Suiseiseki, humans will never understand the bond we share with one another. They insist on imposing their own preconceived standards upon us, even though we are not ourselves human. They have the same problem when dealing with others of their kind. All you can do is shake your head at their blind ignorance and continue safe in the knowledge that we are far superior to them in every way, and that their foolish misguided views are of no real importance."
Suiseiseki gaped in astonishment at her little speech. If nothing else Suigintou had succeeded in calming the doll down at least. Souseiseki took a moment to survey the mess her twin had created during her tantrum and gave a subdued groan of despair.
"Jun is going to be very angry when he sees this."
Suigintou scoffed and stirred one of his upturned schoolbooks with the toe of her shoe. "Don't worry yourself so. If he gives you any trouble then I shall simply pin him to the wall and use him as a human dartboard for our amusement."
"You know, I'm actually starting to like you more and more each time you visit," Suiseiseki said, sounding a touch worried by that revelation. Suigintou flashed her a disarming smile.
"Well of course, I'm your big sister after all. Now," she glanced about with disdain at the brutally savaged bedroom before pressing her hands together, "Why don't we all go downstairs and have a nice cup of tea while we wait for Father to get back. You can show me more of this Detective Kunkun show Shinku is so enamoured with; I think I'm actually starting to see the appeal of it."