That last one was a bit on the short side. This one is definitely longer. Anyway, I'd like to thank sharkoal for helping me decide which to post next. I decided with Reincarnate. So, on with the story!

Prompt Word #25: Reincarnate

Ib happily finished off the final bit of her macaroon, the promptly downing it with her last swig of apple juice. Across from her sat Garry, who had long ago finished his pastries and coffee, and was just now snuffing out his cigarette. His head turned away to blow out the cloud of smoke away from Ib's general direction.

She liked coming to the cafe with Garry. The macaroons were tasty, and she really enjoyed carrying conversations with her companion. It was routine for them to always go to the cafe, always order the same thing, and always pick the same table to sit at. The two of them had unconsciously chosen this table because of one feature it had. All of the tables had a vase with some flowers in it. On theirs, was a vase full of roses. Yellow roses.

Ib glanced down at the table in thought. "You ever think about Mary?" she asked suddenly. Every time she saw those yellow roses, she couldn't help but think of the blonde-haired blue-eyed girl that lived in the Fabricated World.

"Sometimes," Garry said, resting his elbow on the table to hold his head up with his palm. "Apart from her going a little...insane... she really was a sweet girl. Just trying to make a friend."

That was true. Mary's actions were wrong, but she had probably suffered from rejection from other "visitors" far too often. So much so, that she had to become a little more persuasive. Ib truly felt bad for the girl. Sometimes Ib would imagine Mary sitting with her and Garry, chomping down on macaroons and just talking about practically nothing. Just talking, having a good time, things like that. Ib sighed.

Mary had only wanted a friend. And Ib really wanted to be her friend. Garry, too.

"Do you ever feel bad about.. you know." Ib trailed off, turning her attention elsewhere.

"If we hadn't," Garry began in a low voice, "she probably would have.. would have killed us." Garry tried to think of a more delicate way of putting it, but that was the cold and ugly truth.

Ib absentmindedly reached for her can of apple juice and turned it upside down above her lips, trying to get any remaining liquid out of the can. She was suddenly thirsty.

"Garry, can I get another drink?" Ib asked.

"Certainly." With that, her and Garry stood up, pushed in their chairs and made their way to the counter. The two of them waited in line patiently, the person ahead of them taking their sweet time.

"Mommy, please, can you get me a macaroon, pleeeease?" A voice of a bubbly girl sounded behind Ib. They had just taken a spot in line behind them, waiting to order.

"Honey, we came here to pick up some desserts for your sick brother," her mother—at least, Ib presumed as much—responded regrettably. "I don't have a whole lot of money on me, either."

Ib stole a glance behind her. And her jaw fell open. She saw bright, blue eyes begin filling with tears and very familiar blonde locks falling in her face. Her clothing was different—this girl wore a white long sleeve shirt with a blue scarf around her neck. At her hips swayed a green plaid skirt. And the more Ib thought, the more her voice even sounded familiar. Her hand grasped Garry's coat, and tugged at it.

"Hm? What is—w-whoa.." Garry stopped himself as he caught sight of the girl behind them. Her pouting face was just like hers when she was upset. Ib recalled how sad she got when she answered the blonde girl's hypothetical question in the gallery. Ib had told her she would sacrifice herself, and the look of horror on her face was almost exactly like the pouting girl before them.

"She..." Ib began in a quiet voice, finally tearing her eyes off the familiar girl to look up at Garry. "She looks just like Mary, doesn't she?"

"Y-yeah," he said, swallowing his stomach back in place.

"But Mommy!" the girl had argued.

"Honey, please don't throw a fit," her mother said, a slight groan in her voice. "I told you, I don't have the money."

Ib's gaze settled on the bills in Garry's hand. Her fingertips slipped them from his hands, and when he felt her tug at it, he released his light grip. Garry smiled at Ib as she walked over and handed the money over to the crying girl.

"Here you go," Ib said, giving the girl her bright smile. "I changed my mind. You can have it."

The girl's bloodshot eyes widened at Ib. She looked at the money in her hand. Then back to her face. Then back to the money. Then she looked to her mother, "Mommy, can I?"

Her mother gave Ib a light smile, "yes. What a nice young lady. Thank you." The girl's mother stole a glance at Garry. "You raised a good girl."

Garry fought back a laugh, politely smiling at the woman instead. Ignorance was bliss.

The blonde girl slowly reached her hand out and took the bill from Ib's hand, "thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Her mouth formed into a huge grin. Just like Mary's.

"You're welcome," Ib said, gesturing her hand in a way that said 'it was nothing.' She cupped a hand over her mouth and whispered, "get a strawberry macaroon. It's sooo yummy!"

With that, Ib waved the girl goodbye, and she and Garry let her and her mother have their spot in line.

And there you have it! Also, a little note to shamanhearts.. I'll try and post "Complaint" here soon, but that's one of the ones I haven't gotten a chance to write yet, though I do have an idea of what I want in it. I think what I'll do is put an edit in the first chapter of this story where the list of prompt words are, and indicate the ones I've written so far, and the ones I have ideas for. So if you'd like, you can check back there. But as always, thank you all for reading and reviewing. Until next time!