She stands before the final staircase, her world turned upside down.

The Messiah grips the unlit torch in her hand in an unsteady, fragile hold- weak enough for a gust of wind to blow it away. Tears stream endlessly down her cheeks, and she can't bear the thought of walking up the stairs alone.

Especially when she knows full well that she was supposed to have nine others beside her that are no longer by her side.

Everything is so wrong, misleading, confused- she doesn't understand.

Her world is bleak, cruel, and she can't fathom when everything changed.

How did things… end this way?

Before she takes those final steps, Miku once more rolls through the memories of her life up to this point, the years she had spent in the care of her family.

The family that, in the end, betrayed her.

.X.

.x.X.x.

.X.

Coughing up dirt, a little girl tenderly crawls along barren land.

The sun above beats down on her, her small frame covered in sweat and exhausted. Her strength wanes with every movement she makes, and she knows it won't be long before she gives in completely. The dirty floor below her is beginning to seem more and more welcoming, and there's only so much willpower she has left to keep going.

Especially without having anywhere to go.

She has nowhere to return to, no home, no family. Alone, left to her own devices in this deceptively beautiful yet unforgiving world.

She hates it.

Her throat is painfully dry, having not had anything to drink for over two days. Yet still she trudges on, searching for any kind of refuge, a kind face.

Nothing, nothing, nothing awaits her. She's turned away as a disgusting urchin, as little more than trash beneath their feet.

Why?

In her young, bitterly stained mind of eight, she can't understand why they hate her so much. Isn't she just like them? Aren't they all human in this place, trying to help one another live the best lives?

Why can't they help her, too?

Finally falling to her knees, she succumbs to the pain in her exhausted limbs, the tired ache spreading out to the tips of her fingers and toes and encompassing her. She can't keep going. She can't keep walking endlessly, searching for aid she'll never receive.

Is this… where she'll stop trying?

Having wandered by herself for so long, strove to live, will this be where she finally gives up?

Her breathing is shallow as tears flow down her cheeks, wasting what remains of her hydration, and she peers up into the sweetly beautiful blue sky. Not a cloud in sight- the sun radiant, lighting up the world and momentarily blinding her.

Until something moves before her and blocks out the invading brightness, a shadow to shield her.

As her eyes readjust and focus on the shadow, she realizes it's not one, but nine others. Kids, she notices, varying in maturity yet seeming around her age. They're dressed in somewhat clean clothes, a vast contrast to her soiled state, yet they're not cringing at her appearance or laughing at her. Instead, they all seem to be… worried?

"Hello," the one standing in front of her speaks calmly, quietly. She thinks he's the eldest, judging by how he seems to be leading the band of children. His hair is the darkest shade of sapphire, and it matches his serious yet gleaming eyes. His expression is kind, and he reminds her of a cool waterfall.

"Are you alone?" he asks her, seemingly trying not to scare her away as he continues in his steady tone.

If she's honest, she is scared. These strange children, all staring at her with different ranges of curiosity, are terrifying. What do they want? The clothes off her back, to take her long teal hair, to hurt her for fun like she'd been in the past?

But she's too tired to run away, and all she can do is stare helplessly up at him, her tear-streaked features answering for her.

At her silence, he smiles in response.

"We were all alone, too," he says. "But… we're not anymore. We've made a family together, with all of us. D'you maybe... want to join us?"

...Eh?

Her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates, uncomprehending. Involuntarily, her gaze scans over the others, her mouth sharply dry.

Are they serious?

The equally eager looks on their faces correspond with the bluenet's, and she forces herself to register that they really mean it.

Join… them?

"...Why?" she finally rasps, meeting his gaze once more, trying to find a trace of deceit hidden in the oceanic irises. Rubbing her face with one hand, she forces out the words. "Why… me?"

"Huh?" For a moment the boy looks unbelievably confused, his brows knitting together. "What do you mean?"

"What do you want? Why do you want me with you…?" Her pert mouth pinches together.

She doesn't understand.

These kids look happy, well cared for. Why do they want to deal with her? Is this some strange version of a joke?

Thinking her question will make them come clean about their motives, she stares the boy down, daring him to lie to her.

They don't really care, right?

It takes him a moment to respond; then he smiles, the action lighting up his youthful features.

"Because you look so sad," he says genuinely. "You look like someone who needs a family. All of us… all nine of us, are a family. We share in joy and pain, and if you'll let us, we'll share with you, too."

His words are so sincere that it takes her breath away, and she's left dumbfounded for a moment, unable to muster a response.

"All of us were alone. But we found each other, and we stuck together just like a real family. You don't want to be by yourself anymore, do you?" His eyes twinkle.

"My name is Mayu!" A little, straw-haired girl says happily, dragging a reluctant, shy older girl with a short braid closer. "An' this's Ia, my big sis! We're really nice, promise."

"I'm Luka," a mature pinkette says next to a stern-faced, purple-haired boy, smiling at the kneeling tealette softly, welcomingly. "This is Gakupo."

"My name's Meiko," the roughened brunette girl beside the leader says, brushing a few stray locks of her hair behind her ear anxiously. "I look tough, y'know, but… I'm pretty friendly. "

A pair of blondes- a thin boy and willowy girl- move forward, and the girl grins at her happily. "I'm Rin, and this is my brother Len. It's nice to meet you, um…" She fumbles for the stranger's name, turning sheepish.

"We haven't even asked her name yet, dummy," a fiesty greenette says from nearby, her eyes searching over her quickly before she smiles too. "I'm Gumi. Um… I hope we can be friends."

The tealette sits there in shock, staring at each face in turn, the most confused she's been in her short years of life- before she notices the blue-headed leader has extended his hand to her.

"My name is Kaito," he tells her, still with that soft expression over his face. "And, if you want to let us, we'll share in your joy and pain, too. You won't have to suffer alone anymore."

For a breathless moment she gazes at his hand. Her mind reels with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

A… family?

People who would care about her, help her, keep her safe? Friends to stick by forever?

Is this real, or a dream?

"Do… Do you really mean it?" she squeaks.

He blinks, and then laughs. "Yeah! We'll take care of you. Take my hand, and we'll make sure you're always able to smile with us."

Captured in her moment, she sees the group outlined in pleasant orange glow, the sun tinging them all heavenly shades. Without her realizing, they brought that light into darkness she hadn't even known had taken over.

If they could really… be her family, would that be okay?

Maybe together, they could make this evil world happier?

Inhaling deeply, she reaches up and tentatively places her hand in Kaito's, looking up at him and letting what may be her first real smile light up her face, quickly joined by everyone else's matching reactions.

"...My name is Miku."

.x.X.x.

That day was ingrained in her memories forever.

Along with every moment she was allowed to spend with them.

.x.X.x.

"Letting your thoughts overwhelm you?"

Miku jumps lightly at the familiar voice, turning to face the bluenet teen who'd suddenly appeared behind her. "Oh, Kaito. I didn't realize you were there, I'm sorry."

Moving to join her on the balcony, the older male simply smiles at her, chuckling under his breath.

"I don't blame you. The sky's beautiful tonight," he says, raising a hand to gesture at the vast array of stars above their heads. "I'd be getting lost in it too, if I could see it like this all the time."

"I'm not always spacing out," she protests, and he laughs again.

"I didn't say you were. But, it'd be nice if I could daydream half as much as you," he tells her gently, his mature eyes twinkling with mirth as he leans into the steady rail.

The tealette examines him, the way he's matured over the years. He already has laugh lines etched into the corners of his mouth, yet his jaw is firm, strong. He's become so different from when they were children, but thankfully still carries his air of leadership. She admires everything about him.

Noticing her gaze trained on him, he raises a brow. "Something wrong?"

Oops. "Uh, no, sorry." Moving to take her place beside him, she feels her cheeks flare up. It'd be a little embarrassing to admit her crush on him right here and now, so she'll keep it to herself.

A peaceful lull of silence takes place between them, and she lets it wash over her, her mind drifting again into the deep realm of her thoughts. With him beside her, she feels the resulting calm aura he emanates aiding her mind. She's always at ease beside Kaito, though she can't begin to explain why.

Perhaps it was because it was him that reached out to her first. His smile, his voice to guide her, his willpower and the strength he showed her that fateful day so long ago. Maybe the awe and excitement she'd felt then still influences her feelings about him today.

"What is it you're so focused on?" he asks from her side, drawing her back to reality, and she offers a sheepish smile.

"Nothing really. Just… remembering the past," she replies softly.

"Oh?" The familiar quirk of his mouth signals his curiosity. "What about it?"

"I was recalling the day you found me. The day we became a complete family." With him she can always be honest. Miku knows he'll never laugh at her inner monologue, or where her thoughts take her. Kaito has proven himself time and time again as a wonderful confidante.

"It still… makes me wonder, you know? Why you saw me and thought to bring me into your family." She shrugs. "I guess I still don't understand."

She squeaks when he reaches over to ruffle her teal locks, the strands freed from their normal twintail confines.

"I told you back then why." Smiling at her, the stars twinkling in his irises, he reminds her. "You were scared, alone, sad. Just like us. One of us- our last missing piece."

She blushes. "How could you have been so sure? You were only ten years old."

"I just knew. Call it a gut feeling." Removing his hand to prop his chin up, he gazes at her fondly. "I guess I just knew that someday, we would share our pain and joy together."

Feeling the heat in her cheeks flare over her neck and ears, she sputters, leaning back. "Are you always this cheesy after midnight? That can't have been the real reason."

He shrugs, straightening up and pinching her cheek despite her protest. "Must be because it's you, y'know? Believe what you want, but I'll stand by what I said back then, and today too."

Waving a hand, he shoves both palms into his pockets and walks away, disappearing back inside where the others are. She stares after him, the night breeze brushing her hair around her face.

If she allows herself, she does have to admit she believes in his words. That it was destiny that they met that day. Fate that she'd decide on a whim to take his hand and believe then in what he wished.

The day that changed her life.

.x.X.x.

"Are you giving up already?"

"Meiko, please. I can't do this anymore, I'm exhausted."

"What kind of talk is that? You'll never get better at it if you don't try harder."

"We've been practicing for three hours, try it with someone else!"

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Miku observes her friends in the grass nearby, beside Gumi and Mayu. Meiko on the left, a fiery determination lit in her lovely brown eyes, and Rin on the right, looking battered and bruised. Both are holding wooden swords and facing off against one another, though the blonde throws her weapon down a moment later.

"Seriously. I quit. Try it with Miku or something," the girl gestures nearby where the tealette sits watching them, to which she immediately balks.

"What? No, not me," Miku tries to protest, waving her hands as the brunette nears her, looming over her younger friend. "I- I don't know the first thing about fighting, really, I can't do this, besides, I'm wearing a dress-"

"Oh, shush," Meiko says, retrieving the sword the angry blonde had thrown aside and tossing it to Miku, who feels the air whoosh out of her lungs at the impact to her chest. "Now's a good time to start, and wearing a dress doesn't make a difference when it comes down to it. I've never practiced with you, so this should be a nice change. One match, then."

Waving her callused hand, Meiko gestures her to the makeshift arena and stands in the center. (Nothing more than a few hay bales lined around to create a loose, wide circle. Apparently that's all she needed.)

Miku casts a worried look at Rin nearby, who sips from a water container nearby and simply raises a brow, as if to say 'She's your problem now'.

Sighing, the tealette rises from where she'd been keeping careful eyes over the match. It's become a pastime to come every now and then to watch her friends battle- or as Meiko puts it, 'train for inevitable battle'. Today the sun shines down unbearably bright, illuminating the area in gold hues.

If she's honest, she doesn't come specifically for the matches- she comes for the peaceful area. This clearing is set a ways from their village, in the forest. When there isn't the sounds of clashing wood and battle cries, it's a tranquil place to relax.

"C'mon, what are you waiting for?" Meiko insists, interrupting her inner monologue.

"Really, Mei, I don't have a clue what to do," Miku says genuinely, stepping forward uncertainly. "You'd be better of training with someone who's, um… done this before."

Meiko points her sword at the tealette suddenly, who backs up a step.

"Those are the kind of thought processes that'll tear you down. You've never tried, right? So try! Hit me, right now," she challenges. "Show me how much strength you have."

"I…" Frowning down at the roughly made wooden blade in her hand, Miku internally debates before sighing. Maybe if she's terrible enough, Meiko will let her go.

Gripping the handle in both hands, she runs forward and attempts to hit the older girl's shoulder with the blade. However, seconds before she would've connected, Meiko sidesteps and swipes the bluntly wielded weapon out of Miku's hands with ease, earning a shocked gasp.

"Not bad," Meiko grins. "But try harder. It'll take more than blindly running forward to take me down."

Picking the sword back up hesitantly, Miku glances at the girl. She honestly doesn't know the first thing to do in this situation, but… she'd never really been one to just step down from a challenge.

"Fine- let me go first then!" Meiko says suddenly, and sprints forward.

Miku's eyes widen, and she shrieks as her friend's weapon comes down on her, instinctively moving her only line of defense in the way of the blow.

She hears the clank of wood and the force of impact, but no pain like she expects. Meiko's sword and hers make contact, but Miku fends off the hit, pushing her back and away.

The brunette smiles widely as she takes a step back from her friend. "There we go," she says triumphantly. "You might have some inner power you haven't tapped into yet, Miku. That was pretty good."

Miku exhales loudly. She can't believe she actually… managed that.

She can't help but feel a bit proud.

"Maybe you and I should practice more," Meiko says, ruffling Miku's hair. "You're not too bad. I always knew you had something hiding away in there. You're stronger than you think."

The tealette pauses, then smiles. "...Thanks, Mei."

"Excuse me," a familiar voices calls from nearby. The two turn to face her, and it's only then that Miku realizes that she and the older girl are the last ones left in the clearing, facing a peeved-looking pinkette.

"I've been calling for you both for hours," Luka says with annoyance. "Ia's decided to make dinner for everyone tonight. Hurry and come get cleaned up."

Miku glances at Meiko, then elbows her. "I'll race you," she says mischievously.

The girl beside her blinks, then her own matching playful expression appears. "Hell yeah. You're on," she agrees.

There's a moment of countdown, and then they're both flying through the trees back to the village, past Luka, laughing.

And all Miku can do is bask in the moment, feel the heavy breeze in her hair, the sunshine beating down on her-

-and run.

.x.X.x.

"You're doing just fine."

Miku glances up at the white-haired girl gently smiling at her. In her hands is a mound of pale-colored dough, which she starts rolling out on a counter nearby.

The tealette shakes her head, risking a look down at her own task and grimacing. Her hands are coated in flour and remnants of cream, and she's currently trying to ice a two layer chocolate cake. Keyword being trying; having never attempted before, she's absolutely dreadful at creating the little light pink icing flowers on its top. She pauses to examine the one she'd done, the disappointment evident and growing.

So much for aiding the slightly older girl with her workload. She can barely frost one dessert, let alone having tried various other things in the past few hours. Most had been a mess or a mockery of an effort, and it bothers her.

"It doesn't feel like it," she says, laughing halfheartedly as she tries to make a less sloppy puff atop the light cream. "I'm terrible at this- I'm sorry."

"Nonsense." Ia is quick to dismiss the unneeded apology, moving around the large kitchen expertly as she lays a few more loaves of unrisen bread in a bowl. After finishing, she comes to stand beside Miku, peering over her shoulder. "It really isn't all that bad, you know?"

"You're too nice. It looks like I slopped frosting on it," the seamstress protests.

Reaching over, the fair-haired girl guides her hands gently over the cake.

"It's alright, honestly. I'm just glad you decided to help me," she says with a tinge of gratefulness as she helps her friend create a much prettier rose beside the other. "Besides, no matter what the cake looks like, it'll taste the same. Don't worry so much."

Miku lets out a bit of a sigh, carefully memorizing the way the baker had done it and, after she's let go, attempting it herself. The end result is actually much better than her first, and she beams in self-satisfaction.

"Hah… I won't become a baker for sure," she notes with amusement. "But it's not completely awful, I think."

"That's a much better approach," Ia says good-naturedly, brushing her slender hands off on her apron, her single braid sliding along her shoulder. "You can't expect to be amazing in a day, you know."

She lays a hand on Miku's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"And, like I said, I'm just happy you're helping me out. It's hard running the new store, so I'm really glad you offered until I can bring in workers beside Mayu."

"Of course. I knew you'd need help, and I have time, so I really don't mind." The tealette returns the bright smile aimed her direction, her expression changing a little as she winces. "Um… Maybe I'll get better if I practice more."

"You'll have plenty of time to practice here," Ia remarks, taking the cake and moving it out for all to see in the front of her shop, the bright midday sunshine filtering through the wide window of her bakery. "I know how hard you work when it comes to your own tasks; you've always been a quick learner. Are you sure I can keep you away from it?"

"Huh? O-Oh, no, that won't be a problem really... " Miku blinks, shaking her head as she retrieves a cloth and wipes down the somewhat messy counter. "It wouldn't matter if I was too busy, because I already know you need me more right now."

She jerks slightly when she feels a soft weight land on her shoulder. Turning her head to see the girl who had moved with the grace of a shadow, she meets the kind expression on her friend's face.

"You have no idea how much I appreciate it," she says genuinely, her fingertips squeezing through the cloth of her dress. "You're always so helpful- we all appreciate how much you do for us. Someday, we'll all end up paying you back for it."

"What? But, I don't want anything-" Her protests are halted easily as she's released from the older girl's grasp.

"Maybe not, but I think in the future there'll be something that you desperately need help for- and when that day comes, we'll all pitch in and be there to give you all the support you'll need. That's what a family's for, isn't it?"

With that parting word, Ia tilts her head and softly laughs, before moving on to take care of someone who'd just walked into the bakery. Leaving Miku to stand there, the cloth limp in her hand as she ponders her words.

Someday, she'll need them… ?

Ah, how silly.

She needs them now, all the time. Her precious family… There's not a day that goes by when she doesn't interact with them, grow closer, strengthen their bonds.

She's never thought about a time when they wouldn't be there to keep her steady if she fell.

That kind of situation, the possibly negative connotations her thoughts conjure for her…

...None of that is possible.

.x.X.x.

"We're- we're counting on you!"

"I know, I know. I'll be extra thorough, alright?"

Smiling reassuringly, Miku grips her candleholder within her fingers, seated comfortably at the foot of Mayu's bed.

The girl was staying overnight at the two sisters' house to watch over the youngest of the group while Ia spent a few days away from home to restock her store. She had been headed off to bed when she heard the fair-haired girl crying out for her, and blue nightgown and all she'd rushed to see what the problem was.

Only to discover that it's not problem at all, but Mayu's fear of the dark and the creatures residing within causing the distress.

"M-Make sure to… to check everywhere," she squeaks from her snug space within her blankets, her light yellow and frilled nightgown peeking out from her cocoon. In her arms is a tightly clutched brown teddy bear, whom the girl is holding onto for dear life. The dim lighting of the candle beside her bed and in Miku's grasp send flickering shadows to decorate her lightly colored walls.

"I will, I promise," the tealette assures her, slipping off of the soft coverlet.

Apparently Ia and Mayu both have a sort of routine, where every night the eldest scans the dark recesses of her sister's bedroom for monsters. Now that she's not here, it falls to Miku to take care of the duty.

She doesn't necessarily mind, truthfully. After all, she can't exactly judge the girl for her fear. It's a justifiable one at the least- it's a fear that even she herself once had.

A fear of being trapped, rather than of being attacked. But, with her family by her side now… she no longer fears the darkness.

Waving the candle gently, Miku moves to the nearby closet, opening it and pushing the candle inside to illuminate its depths. From behind her she hears Mayu let out a breath of relief.

"Nothing here," the tealette says, closing the door again softly and walking back to the bed. "Now let's see…"

She kneels down onto the hardwood floor, glancing at the wide-eyed child above her, and then checks underneath the bed as well, making sure to make a large sweep of the candle to emphasize the lack of beasts beneath her.

Picking herself from the floor, Miku offer another sincere smile toward the now somewhat-relaxed girl, placing her candle beside her bed.

"It seems that there's not a single soul besides us in your room. I checked all the corners and every dark place, so now we know you're safe."

Shrinking down against her pillow, Mayu bites into her lip, looking a mixture between embarrassed and ashamed.

"...Thank you," she whispers softly, drawing the edge of her blanket up to her chin.

"Do you think you'll be able to sleep now?" Miku asks.

A hesitant pause, and the girl's golden eyes shift to somewhere near the bottom of her bed, carefully avoiding the older girl's.

"...I'm used to having Ia here with me," she admits. "She always protects me. Now that she isn't... "

She trails off, and Miku gets the sense that she's not quite comfortable simply accepting her words as reassurances to her safety.

"Mm… Would you like me to stay with you?" she questions after a moment.

"Huh? You- you'd do that?" Mayu suddenly looks more alert, surprised.

Miku nods, a soft expression placing itself over her features.. "If it makes you feel better, I can stay here until you fall asleep."

The fair-haired girl stares at her for a second, and then reaches over to hug the tealette's waist, taking her off guard.

"P-Please…?" She turns hopeful eyes up towards her.

Miku hums to herself, then pats her soft hair fondly.

"Alright- go ahead and get comfortable."

A few moments of rustling blankets and adjustments later, Mayu is snuggled up within her covers, her long hair splayed out along her pillow.

Watching her carefully, Miku keeps guard near the middle of the bed, letting her thoughts take over. If she's honest, she has to say that she's flattered that Mayu was so welcoming to allow her to 'protect her' until she fell asleep.

Something about taking care of her… it reminds the older girl of the rest of her family, the ones she tries her best to look after and whom look after her as well. It makes her chest fill with warm light, a pleasant and comforting feeling.

Light snoring brings Miku's attention back to the girl, instantly realizing she'd fallen asleep rather easily once she'd calmed down. Smiling to herself and chuckling softly, she brushes Mayu's hair from her face softly.

She'll always take care of them.

That thought in her mind, she leans over and blows out the candle's flame.

.x.X.x.

"I believe in your ability."

Scratching out the mistake she'd made on the paper in front of her, Miku sighs with exasperation as her purple-haired friend leans over the table to peer at her notes.

"I'm glad that someone does," she laughs nervously. "But today just… doesn't seem to be my day."

"There are no right or wrong days to learn, Miku." Gakupo places himself back in his seat beside her, retrieving his book and moving it closer. "There is only the want to do so, which fluctuates depending on your subjects, I've noticed."

Oops. He saw that she was practically falling asleep hearing him lecture about the origins of some kind of famous philosopher. She's not really a big fan of history itself, actually preferring to study things like flowers or nature itself.

"I'm- I'm sorry," she quickly apologizes. "I know you're doing your best to teach me the important things, I just-"

"Don't worry over it." He is quick to cut her off. "Every student is strong in something, and weak in others. I'm pleased that you do keep trying to learn things that don't catch your interest particularly- it's always a good idea to have knowledge you may never know if you'll need later, as it can always save you in a pinch."

Miku scoffs slightly, twirling her quill in one hand. "Trying? Not very hard…"

Gakupo gazes at her a moment, and then reaches over, flicking his fingertips against her forehead and eliciting an immediate protest.

While she rubs the spot with annoyance, he speaks seriously. "Miku, I see all attempts at something as valuable. It doesn't matter how many times you try, nor how many times you fail it. A wise man once said 'To try is to risk failure. However, in trying, you have already succeeded.'"

Her mouth quirks good-naturedly. "A wise man? Who?"

Gakupo's own smile crosses his face. "Actually, that was myself. But I do believe that even if you're consistently trying and you still haven't gotten to the place you desire, then you've still succeeded in not giving up or quitting. Just like every Messiah who has journeyed to the Tower of Ai. Do you think they all succeeded their first attempt? No- each one of them was faced with their own obstacles. They had trial and error, fought their way there even when they felt the need to turn back and give up. Inspiring, really."

His voice is passionate as he talks, admiring, and she can't help but feel the same thrill he does. The people chosen for said journey were all simple, normal individuals, and yet they still had enough strength and perseverance to continue on such a dangerous path, especially alone. The rocky, unknown and ever-changing path to the mystical Tower of Ai...

Quieting a moment, Miku glances at Gakupo. "Mm… Gakupo? I do have a question, if you don't mind my asking."

"I enjoy answering questions. It's part of my job, you know," he says with a smile. "What is it?"

"Well, I never really thought to ask, but… How did the Tower of Ai come into existence? Was it built after the world fell into suffering?" Her words are soft, curious.

He raises a brow. "...Actually, no. The Tower of Ai was not built by man. It is a wondrous structure, built of unbreakable stone that doesn't come from this world."

Leaning on his elbows, he continues. "Though I can't know for sure, there is a very realistic legend as to its creation. When the world began to deteriorate from God's wrath, there was a fierce flash of light that blinded every person on the face of it. When they could finally see, the sky had begun spinning in a vortex, where at its center the Tower had suddenly come to reside. That was when God left the prophecy of the Messiah. It says that the tower simply appeared, as if a beacon for the people, a ray of hope."

Enraptured, Miku can only absorb his words. She's only heard stories of the magnificence of the tower, of the raw material of its creation and the doors that stay tightly locked until a Messiah has been chosen. Placed where nearly everyone calls 'The Edge of The World', she's only seen pictures of it standing tall and looming, intimidating even in illustration.

"Now," Gakupo says, quick to change the subject. "As much as I enjoy your taste for knowledge, we can discuss the tower another time. For now, I highly suggest studying up on the great Confucius. He was a very knowledgeable man as well, and you may find his history to be very interesting as well…"

As her friend begins going on about his new subject of intrigue, Miku lets her thoughts roam away again, her mind still playing through the tale of the tower.

What if one day, she could see it in person? The tower that is said to emanate magic in the very air surrounding it… would she someday be able to see it?

She sighs.

It's not very likely.

.x.X.x.

"C'mon, Miku, you've never let me down before."

Soft grass, emerald green and rippling in the light breeze of summer. Miku can feel it tickling her face, arms, and legs as she lays against it. The sun beats down on her and the greenette beside her, but it's a pleasant warmth that allows her to close her eyes and bask in it, even though it's bright enough to blind her even without seeing.

The day is beautiful and she can only allow herself to thrive in its loveliness.

"Are you sure? That really isn't my forte." she murmurs, not bothering to look over at her friend, too comfortable as she is. Her hands are clasped over her stomach, nicely warmed by the rays of sunlight ebbing over them both.

"It doesn't have to be. I just really need you to try it," Gumi pleads further, the sound of an ink pen scratching against paper contrasting to the lovely natural surroundings. "For me? Please?"

"Gumi, I've never written a poem before. If you had asked me to make you a dress, I would've agreed in a heartbeat. But I'm not cut out for writing stories or poetry, you know that. Why do you want me to write one, anyway?" The tealette lets out a sigh of exasperation.

"Because you're my best friend, and I need both new material and a beginner's perspective. All I want is maybe a haiku, perhaps a sonnet… Hell, I'll be fine even if you write me a limerick. It doesn't have to be perfect, but if you could just give it a chance…"

Adjusting herself and turning on her side, Miku finally opens her eyes to gaze at her friend. The girl is furiously scribbling away at her newest addition to her poetry collection, something themed around the beauty of forestry. Her creativity never fails to impress Miku, as she's always writing in that precious notepad of hers. She never goes anywhere without it.

Giving in to her whims, the girl sighs. "Alright. Fine. I'll write a poem. But please don't expect much of it, I can't imagine it'll be good."

The beaming smile on Gumi's face is immediate, her pen halting for a moment as she turns to gaze at Miku, her expression gleeful. "Wait, really?"

"Yes. But… I don't have the first clue about what kind of poem to write about," she emphasizes, frowning to herself as she looks past the greenette, looking over the well-maintained trees, the natural gorgeousness of the outdoors.

"It can be anything," Gumi says, resuming her pen to paper, albeit with more cheer. "Write about the fierceness of hurricanes, the intricate patterns of flower petals, the smile of someone you love. Write about sadness, of being left in the rain alone- or about happiness, of finding the brightest star in the sky. Write about whatever it is that inspires you the most," she suggests.

Whatever inspires her the most…?

The first thing to pop into her head is her friends. Each one of them strong, determined, pushing their way through life and never stopping. If anything's inspirational, it would be them. She always admires them.

"...What about family?" she asks. "What if I write it about you all?"

Gumi blinks in surprise. "Us? Why?"

"Because you're admirable. You're like my superheroes. I've always looked up to each one of you ever since the day I became part of this family. I think it'd be a fitting poem if it was written with you in mind… right?"

There's a pregnant pause as the poet takes in her friend's words. Then her expression becomes radiant, a light laugh escaping her mouth.

"A poem about us…" she says with wonder. "I wish I'd have thought of that. It's a great idea."

Miku smiles in return, sighing and dropping back against the grass.

"...Hey, Miku?"

"Mm?"

"Do you ever regret…agreeing to be part of us that day?"

The tealette's eyes widen in shock, her head turning to stare at Gumi, who now looks serious.

"What? Why?"

"I- well… I don't know. I guess it's a bit of a fear I have. That maybe you sometimes wish you'd never met us." There's a tinge of concern in her voice.

She honestly can't believe what she's hearing. Gumi really thinks that she might regret becoming included in their group?

No. Never.

"Gumi- no. No, I've never thought like that. The day you found me was probably the happiest day of my life. I didn't have anyone. I didn't have a home, or a family to call my own; I was alone. But then… Then you welcomed me into yours. If I'd have never met you, I wouldn't have nine friends to rely on, who also rely on me. I wouldn't change it for the world," she says firmly, biting the inside of her cheek.

"...I'm glad," the greenette murmurs, appeased. "I wouldn't change it either."

The two settle into friendly silence, only interrupted by the chirps of free-flying birds and the scratch of Gumi's pen, and Miku lets out a long exhale.

Before she met them, the world was dark and she hated it, hated its existence and wished it would just destroy itself.

Now… Now she loves it. Loves the prettiness of its surface, the people in it, the hope and the wishes that are put into making every day livable.

Without them, she'd be trapped in that dark place forever.

She will always be thankful for the chance she was given that day to live a life she enjoys.

She would never, ever, change the choices she's made.

.x.X.x.

"You can't let something like this scare you."

Soft alto vocals reassure the teal-headed girl, while deft fingers pull her hair into a wrap around crowning braid atop her head. Kind oceanic eyes peer at her in the nearby mirror, met by uncertain turquoise.

"Why not?" she asks, trying hard to stay firm as the sounds of voices waft in from downstairs. "This- I don't feel ready for this."

"Relax," Luka assures her, finishing fixing her hair and then placing her hand gently over her shoulder. "You've been waiting for this, haven't you? For years you've been waiting for today, and it's here. You don't have anything to fear."

Miku's frown only increases in volume, and she can't help the internal anxious feelings bubbling in her stomach, nearly making her nauseous.

Downstairs, awaiting her arrival, is a room full of people. People she knows, and even more she's never met. All of them waiting for her to appear, and commence the party as guest of honor.

All of it because of the grand opening of her new tailoring store.

Turning to look at the older girl, her expression is pained. "I know. I know that, but… Everyone down there will expect so much from me. I want to do my best, but this is the first time I'll start sewing for someone who isn't part of the family. What if I make too many mistakes?"

"Everyone makes mistakes, it's only human nature," the pinkette tells her, lightly squeezing her shoulder. "You can't expect to be perfect. But the nine of us know how good you really are. We know you can do it- and we're all here today, too. Each of us is here to celebrate your dream coming true. We'll support you your entire journey."

Miku swallows thickly, the knot of anxiousness undoing itself a little. "...Thanks, Luka."

"It's nothing. Now," Luka says, reaching down to grip the girl's wrist and tug her from her chair. "All you need to focus on is looking beautiful in your own dress, remembering your speech, and making that room proud of you. Don't worry over the little things. It's natural to slip up a little, so if you have to, adlib. It's time to go."

The seamstress glances down at herself, taking in the dress she'd sewn specifically for this event. A translucent teal color to match her eyes and hair, with bell sleeves and a flowing skirt. One of her better works, being showcased first hand on her own body along with the several being displayed below.

Her dream of making beautiful dresses and clothes, of watching smiles light on the faces of many at their new outfits. Little girls in delicate lace, boys in silk, fine women in shining satin- to create a different kind of happiness.

"...Are you sure I can do this?" Miku asks once more, meeting the caring gaze of her friend.

"Of course I am. I've never stopped being sure. We're rooting for you, so go downstairs and make your debut. Go on," she says, giving the girl a small shove. "I'm right behind you."

Miku stumbles just a bit to the door, and then glances at Luka, who smiles back at her. It's reassuring in a way, comforting. It gives her the courage she needs.

"Thank you," she murmurs.

Then she faces forward, walking down the stairs with as much dignity as she can muster.

And when the eyes below turn up to see her gliding toward them in one of the most elegant dresses they've seen, the picture of grace, it's worth it.

Because no matter who saw her, she could only focus on nine pairs of eyes who do nothing more than give her the confidence she needs.

.x.X.x.

"I've never stopped believing in us, you know?"

Dainty, gentle fingers brush over the vibrant crimson petals of a rose. Loving, admiring the softness and the colors of the flowers surrounding them. Every color blossom visible from where the two stand.

Miku tilts her head in a bit of confusion, facing the blonde girl who'd spoken and clasping her hands in front of her. The girls had chosen to take a walk through the village gardens to spend time together, and they'd been happily chatting away until Rin fell quiet and began admiring the roses- which led to this rather odd question.

"Hmm?" The tealette asks. "What do you mean?"

"Um..." Rin offers a small smile, which lights up her doll-like features. "I was just thinking about our group. About how each of us had so many problems of our own to take care of. Each of us came from a dark place, and then we found one other. I'm really glad that I kept believing in everyone."

Miku pauses, gazing at Rin curiously for a moment. Although she's known the girl for several years now, her knowledge of the blonde's history is spotty at best. She's never really divulged her past or Len's. The others were more free with theirs, open about it, honest- but for some reason, the siblings have kept quiet about who they were before they became part of the group of ten.

The girl notices Miku's eyes trained on her, and her brows furrow. "...What?"

"Hey, Rin…" Deciding to act on her curiosity, Miku takes a hesitant step forward with her words. "What was your life like? Before… Before Kaito accepted you into the family?"

There's a moment of tense silence as a flash of darkness crosses the blonde's face.

"...Awful," she finally answers, stroking the head of one of the fully blossomed roses she adores. "Before Len and I had all of you, we were alone. It was… the two of us, against the entire world. Our parents died when he and I were very little. Orphans, without anywhere to go. It was only Len and me, and everyone else was the enemy. Those days… I like to forget that time in our lives."

Feeling she's stepping into territory she's not allowed especially seeing how her friend's expression has changed, Miku backpedals. "I- sorry, I shouldn't have asked…"

"It's okay," Rin assures her, shaking her head. "I'm not offended. It's not a secret or anything. It just… hurts to remember. We didn't have anyone to come home to- or even a home at all. We were both so young, but we had to grow up fast to survive. Living in alleys and scrounging for food no decent human being would eat. Dirty, scorned by everyone, it was… it was our darkest time. But we had each other, and that's all that mattered then. As long as I kept Len safe, I could deal with anything."

Is this… what having a sibling bond looks like? Miku wonders, her lips pursed. "That's… That's really terrible."

"Thinking back on it now, I was so different from today," the girl beside her remarks, seemingly lost in her own thoughts now. "I tried to be optimistic, but it was so forced. I kept smiling to keep Len happy, I kept trying, and trying, even when we kept losing hope. All I could think back then was how cruel the world was to us. I was so… angry. Angry at everyone for hating us, at God for giving us such an imperfect world, at Fate itself for having taken our family away. But then… Then we found Kaito," she says, her eyes brightening considerably. "He made me see that everything wasn't so black and white, as I'd thought. He gave us a home, a family, a new perspective. When I saw that even my little brother trusted him, I managed to… smile for real. That was my happiest day."

Noting she's gone off on her own tangent, Rin rubs her head apologetically. "Ah, sorry, you- you didn't ask about all of that."

"No, no, it's fine. Actually, I'm glad you told me," Miku quickly reassures her. "It makes me feel like I know you a little better now."

The answering smile on her friend's face is priceless. "I'm glad," she says softly.

Gently, with expertise from spending quite a lot of days roaming the gardens, Rin plucks the flower at its base, evading its thorns and loosening the blossom from its place. Turning to the seamstress, she reaches up to pin the flower under her gold strands.

"You know," she continues in a delicate tone. "I always thought that fate was cruel to us. That we'd never be given the family we wanted, or a life without pain in it. But I was proven wrong when I met you all, and I'm so glad that I was. I get stronger each and every day, not only to protect Len now, but to protect all of you. You're all like- like special flowers to me," she says with determination. "People that I can call my own. I'd never, ever, change my destiny. And, now that I have this necklace you gave me, it helps me feel even more connected to you."

As she speaks, she gestures to the gleaming red amulet lying at the hollow of her throat, her smile light and kind, yet a bit fragile.

Miku feels her heart ache somewhat under her chest. Rin's own heartfelt words strike her deeply, and she feels the oddest urge to just reach over and hug the girl. Having come from a life of loneliness and despair where her only source of comfort was her brother, it reminds the tealette a lot of herself and her own past. The darkest reaches she'd had to tread through to get here… it resonates with her.

"I wouldn't either," Miku tells her, reaching out to gently pat her friend's shoulder. "We're all together now, and I promise you won't have to be alone anymore. We'll protect you, too. That's what we do- we protect each other."

Rin stares at her a moment, before laughing lightly under her breath, her blue eyes shining like polished crystal.

"...Don't worry. I don't feel alone anymore. And I'll always make sure you're safe."

.x.X.x.

"What are you waiting for?"

Those words ring in Miku's head, making her jump in shock from her seat on her favorite rock. Whirling to gaze back at the angered blond, she simply shakes her head, turning her eyes back to the ground.

"Go away, Len."

"Like hell," he answers back, moving to stand back in front of her, making his presence undeniable. "Are you just going to sit there and pretend nothing happened?"

Heheheh… He's just like Rin. Shares her cerulean gaze, the same expressions. Identical siblings, really. Down to their stubbornness and refusal to back down, they're far too similar.

It'd all been a mistake, really. She hadn't meant to snap the way she did.

It's just… she's had so much pressure on her lately. Her tailoring shop has been so packed lately, she's constantly working. Her friends have tried to help, and Rin… well, she'd tried too. Tried harder than anyone, and yet… when she'd made one tiny mistake…

...Miku unleashed her frustration on her. Told her to get out, plainly ignored her and then stormed out because she knew that the blonde girl was hurt by it. She knew she hadn't earned the tealette's ire nor had she deserved it in any way.

That's why she came here, to clear her head, to mope by herself about how she'd made a mistake.

"No," she replies, glancing up at him. His mouth is twisted into a grimace, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Just- Just leave me alone, okay? I need to think-"

"About what?" he demands, the bottom of his favorite crook pounding down against the hard soil. "What is there to think about?"

"Look, I know I shouldn't have yelled at Rin, okay?" The girl says in frustration, waving her hands. "But I-"

"If you know it, then why are you out here wading in self-pity?" His tone is irritated, mirroring his sister's eerily well. "You and I both know that Rin didn't deserve that, but instead of trying to fix it, you're just sitting here feeling sorry for yourself."

Her brows knit together, her expression turning sour. "What is your problem? I didn't ask for this, it's not like I meant to hurt her-"

"But you did," he accuses. "I'm her brother, and I know her better than anyone. You should also know by now that she'll act like she's fine, but you're one of the people she trusts and this did hurt her. Rin isn't a damn robot."

Her chest clenches a little, because she knows how tough the other girl acts and that she's always been too strong for her own good. Guilt is setting in far too deeply. "I- I'm sorry…"

She squeaks in pain when he bonks her in the head with his crook, seething.

"Don't tell me," he says, shaking his head and crossing his arms. "Just- Just go and apologize to her, okay? She'll probably forgive you if you go now. I don't want to have to come find you again and act as peacemaker. I'm sure she's just smiling again, like she always does when she's upset. I hate when she does that," he says, though his tone suggests otherwise, along with his wistful expression.

Miku, rubbing her head, chuckles under her breath. Raising a brow at the blond, she notes, "You're such a protective younger brother, aren't you?"

Red travels up over his cheeks like he's been awash with lava. "S-Shut up!" he exclaims, turning away. "Go find Rin already, Miku. I'm going back."

Flustered, he stomps off back the way he came toward the town without another word, and Miku can only stare his direction.

She remembers a time… where if she'd been that angry, no one would've cared or tried to make it better. Where if she'd thrown a fit or screamed, it wouldn't have made a bit of difference, because no one would've been there to hear it.

Ah… she really is foolish sometimes, isn't she? Taking out her anger on Rin and the others, threatening her family with her frustration when they've done nothing but help her… how cruel she is. She's been so used to being alone, that she'd forgotten for a moment that they're her friends.

How silly. She definitely can't let it continue that way.

Rising from her rock, she closes her eyes and inhales the fresh scent of the forest, the billowing breeze that waves her teal locks like aquatic curtains behind her back, and a soft smile settles over her lips. With purpose she heads back, ready to make amends for her outburst.

She'll apologize to them all, and start anew once again.

She knows they'll be there, always, to help her through the hard times. While she'll do her best to do just the same.

.x.X.x.

The day the message comes is a pleasant afternoon at the end of summer, entering autumn's cool days.

Soft laughter trickles through the air as the family of ten spend a day together. Miku had invited them all to dinner that morning just to see each of them, and they had all agreed to. Their lives may always be hectic and messy, but they always find time to see each other.

Hearing their voices, the chatter and their light smiles, the soft notes of music playing from the corner of the room, and the slowly dimming sunlight cascading through the room of people- it feels gentle. Serene in a way, to have them all with her to enjoy the lovely day of blue skies.

She was basking in her own happy glow, talking with Gumi, when she heard the knock at her door.

Not expecting visitors, she excuses herself and walks away from the noisy room, opening her door to see who it could be.

A young boy stands there. No older than twelve or thirteen, with his blond hair shielding half of his youthful features. Upon seeing her in the doorway, his expression becomes serious, his hand tightening around a scroll in his hand.

"Are you Miku Hatsune?" he asks in clear falsetto.

Tilting her head, the tealette can only nod, scanning over his clothes. Rich fibers, of blues and gold- a royal messenger, perhaps? "I am."

Her thoughts are confirmed when he opens the scroll before her, clearing his throat.

"The prophet has declared our next Messiah, a seamstress girl named Miku Hatsune," he states. "You have been prophesied as our next Savior. Please set forth on your journey to the Tower of Ai as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."

It's as if time itself stops in that moment.

This very moment, where her heart pounds wildly in her chest and her eyes are wide and suddenly her palms are far too sweaty, her world stops spinning.

She is… the next Messiah.

Announced by a prophet who has never been wrong, by fate itself- she is the newly chosen Savior.

Her duty to bring this world to paradise once more, to collect the destined blessings and offer herself to God on her knees- to save her friend's lives. The weight of such a task falls upon her shoulders.

But she doesn't shun it. She doesn't want to scream or cry. No, she can only feel excitement.

This is her time. This is her chosen path, her destiny to save this wretched world and make it a better place. Of every person on the surface of this world, it was her and only her that was given this honor.

She will not back down from it.

Retrieving a coin from her pocket, she hands it to the boy, smiling all the while- yet he looks fairly withdrawn.

"Thank you," she says, accepting the scroll with a firm grip. "Please return safely."

Without another word the boy presses his thin lips together and then starts running in the opposite direction, as if fire were at his heels.

When Miku closes the door and returns to the room full of her family, they have noticed her absence.

"Where did you go?" Gumi asks, her gaze traveling down her form to the formal-looking scroll in her hand. "What is that?"

The room hushes, chatter ceasing as she raises the parchment, unravels it, and her eyes scan over them all. The variously changing expressions around her- not quite of the same excitement as hers, strangely. None of them seem nearly as happy as her about this glorious day, this time in her life when she'll finally do what she was meant to do.

Save this world, and them within it.

There can be no greater honor than journeying to the Tower of Ai with her head held high, maybe even with her friends if they dare go with her.

I cannot fail this. For each of you, I will thrive.

We will begin the world anew again.

"I… I have been chosen as the next Messiah!"

.x.X.x.

All she wanted was to save them.

Even if she couldn't save the rest of the world, even if she failed her mission-

-she wanted to protect the only family she'd ever known.

If only she had known the truth.

.x.X.x.

There it is.

Beautiful. The word rings in her ears, haunting, melodic.

The Tower of Ai truly is… beautiful.

Standing at the precipice of a great height, Miku's aqua eyes gaze ahead to the building her fate lies within. The wind picks up to whip across her face, as if trying to prevent her passage with its force alone.

No… Nothing can stop her now.

After traveling day and night, rocky paths and uphill climbs, dealing with vagabonds and those who would further hinder their passage- they have finally arrived.

Across this stretch of land, looming high enough to pierce the sky, is the ever fabled tower at the edge of the world. The structure is made of sheer stone, encased in golden hues from the sun. It sits near the turquoise blue of the ocean, the rippling waves lapping up near its base and yet never touching.

It is beautiful as it is intimidating. But she is not afraid.

If she had been alone facing this, she might've felt fear. If she had traversed this way by herself and had no one to be by her side, she might've felt the want to run away from such a heavy responsibility. This is no laughing matter- the fate of the world is hers to undertake.

And yet, she is not alone.

She turns her head to look around her, at the people bravely standing with her, with their heads held high. The nine others who had selflessly chosen to wander beside her, to give her strength and courage during her time in the Tower. Each one agreeing, smiling, ready to keep her protected.

Her friends; her family. Each one at this same precipice. Every face solemn, serious, always taking it seriously. She envies their steadfast nature, the inner courage of her own friends to take this dangerous journey with her.

Yet, it's already almost over. It had gone by in a flash with them. Her days were filled with laughter and the gleaming sun, their smiles and their comforts. They never, not once, let her feel even a drop of doubt in her mind.

It's thanks to them that she's made it so far. From the day she met them, a ragged urchin with no home, to today- she is thankful. She can now look forward and offer her own smile, feel her excitement and willpower grow in her chest. She won't back down, and she won't turn back.

This is her time to make things right, just like every Messiah before her. To collect the blessings, plead with God to give their world another fifteen years. Maybe even offer herself to give this doomed planet more time.

Anything to save them all.

May they all find the world's peace at the very end of the Tower of Ai.

May her family be safe.

.x.X.x.

The floor is harsh, rough against her skin, easily tearing part of her dress when she makes impact.

A whimper of pain leaves her throat as she lies there a moment, trying to get her bearings, make sense of it all. Her heart is pounding, erratic, terrified, confused- what is happening?!

No, no, no- something is wrong. Something is horribly wrong.

Kaito… Kaito pushed her. Shoved her out of the way like an empty bag, hurt her, Kaito Kaito Kaito-

She doesn't understand. She can't understand why.

They were gazing at the blessing together- the ocean blue ethereal beauty capturing her, enrapturing them both. Then, suddenly, when she reached out to take it, he'd- he'd-

"We have always shared joy and pain. But... I won't let you have this!"

He was her source of courage. When she stepped up to that pedestal and felt the tiniest bit of fear, he had smiled, hadn't he? Hadn't he promised to help her? Hadn't he promised her that he would be by her side, wasn't it him that told her that they were family-

His wicked laugh keeps replaying in her head- and it's followed by the slam of the door between them, sealing him inside.

She can't breathe. Her heart is going to stop, and she can't draw air into her lungs. Her eyes are glued to the spot he had stood, where he had pushed her aside and taken the blessing.

He stole it. Kaito stole her first blessing.

A traitor, he'd… He'd taken it away from her, let his selfishness take over and rule his actions. He'd craved the powers of the Messiah, the sacred blessings given only to those worthy.

Become her enemy, in his lust of greed.

No, no, this- this isn't right.

But when Miku manages to pick her shaky body from the dusty, aged floor to see her friends, she can't help herself from feeling the most intense, yawning despair she's ever had.

Their faces are so dark. So cold, bitter, unrelenting, just as traitorous as Kaito's had been. All of them- the family she'd made, the friends she'd had beside her…. They aren't there anymore. These are strangers, traitors, she doesn't know these people.

Had it all been lies? Have their entire lives together been lies, and they were waiting for their chance to destroy her? Has every day with them, every moment, every single minute she spent with them leading up to this moment where they crush her?

She only wanted to protect them, she only wanted to make the world perfect for them. She never cared about the rest of this damnable world, she just wanted to make it good enough for them.

No! This isn't real, this is all a dream, please let her wake up!

But she knows, from the pain in her side and the memory of Kaito's hand roughly pushed into her back, that this is no illusion. This is her painful reality, and they are all going to betray her.

All nine of them are traitors.

This wasn't how it was supposed to be. This wasn't how they were supposed to lose themselves, she wanted to cherish having them with her until the very end. Her memories of them before now were beautiful, they gave her the will to continue, but- but

They have been corrupted.

No matter how much she screams, no matter how she cries or begs them to stop, to become her friends again, she knows that they won't.

She has lost the people she needed the most, and she will never get them back. These are liars, thieves, they have betrayed her.

Was it always this way? Were they always traitors, were they always waiting for their chance to take away her happiness? Lying, deceiving her, ready to smash her under the heel of their shoes. She hates this, hates everything involved with this, this world and this tower-

She hates them.

(But even when Miku's mind whispers it, she knows that it's a lie, too.)

.X.

.x.X.x.

.X.

This is the end.

In her hand is her torch, to light the altar at the top of the tower. It's dark, held lifeless in her white fingers.

Her face is streaked with dried tears, her eyes puffy- but she's stopped crying. She can't cry anymore.

Feeling like her soul has been stained black, like her world is upside down and broken- Miku forces herself to keep walking. One foot after another, up the solid steps to the end of her journey.

Her mind's eye keeps replaying visions of her friends and their deceit, the repeated horror of watching them take away the blessing with malicious expressions. It's like reliving a horrific nightmare, and she can't ever wake up from it.

Her heart has broken within the crushing cage of her ribs. Been completely destroyed by the individuals she'd once called friends.

Eyes flickering to the unlit torch in her hand, she lets out a deep exhale. Pushing thoughts of them from her mind for a moment, Miku presses forward, trying to ignore the darkness welling in her chest.

When she crests the top of the stairs, she's blinded by strange, overpowering sunlight. She squints her weary eyes, trying to ease through the painful brightness- and when she finally regains her sight, her stomach drops to her feet.

A pedestal stands in the center of the round tower's core, the final altar to be activated where she'll rekindle the earth's flame underneath a now overcast, stormy gray sky that hadn't been there before. But that isn't what stops her in her tracks.

Instead, it is the nine statues holding blood-red candles surrounding it, that make her body freeze.

Those… Those are for…

...The blessings?

Suddenly something slams through her, cleaving it's way into her soul and sharply cutting into her body. It awakens horrible sights and sounds into her mind, things she'd never heard but can now unmistakably feel, flooding her mind. It hurts, stabbing into her consciousness, but through the numbing pain, she hears voices.

Familiar voices. Ones she'd heard half her life, that had encouraged her to get here, to keep going, to push on even when her life seemed darkest. Voices that had both given her happiness, and taken it away. The same voices that had betrayed her and crushed her hopes and dreams to tiny pieces.

Her… family…?

Their screams echo in her mind, a slideshow of images passing by her inner eye in awful flashes that make her gasp. She doesn't know what to make of it, what to do. They're suffering, crying out, in pain.

All of them, enduring agony.

Each one flickers through her head like a candle's flickering shadow; Kaito, drowning beneath unforgiving ocean waves. Meiko, being burned alive in ceaseless flame. Ia, gasping for air, clutching her throat as she dried away to dust. Mayu, pulling her hair as she was encased in a world of monsters and darkness. Gakupo, being swallowed whole and crushed beneath the world's crust. Gumi, being hit with thunderous strikes of hot lightning. Luka, being ripped apart in a never-ending cyclone. Rin, freezing to death in a garden of silver flowers. Len, left to melt away within the hottest lava.

Her friends, dying. Over and over again, suffering, crying for help. Dying, dead, killed, maimed, destroyed-

What… is this…!?

A different voice, soft like the breeze itself and ethereal, speaks in her ear, brought to her by a shadowy silhouette at the edge of the tower's roof. As she speaks, each candle in the statues hands begin to light, collecting the souls of those who had given their lives.

"They chose to endure your punishments. They died in order to save you, to prevent you from suffering all of God's costly atonements for this perfect world."

No… No, this…

They can't be…

Tears flow freely down her cheeks as realization finally dawns on her, made clear thanks to the mystic power of the Tower. Hot, sorrowful tears roll off her skin to drop across the stone below, a wail leaving her throat.

The blessings… They were never really 'blessings' at all. They were the real lies, threats under the veil of honorable power. Instead they were each a single punishment meant for her, in exchange for granting her another reprieve for their world.

Instead of her accepting them, her friends… They had taken them. "Stolen' them from her, as it had seemed. But they hadn't.

They didn't betray her.

They saved her.

They died for her. Her family that had promised to be by her side, fought to mislead her and make her believe that they were traitors, had died in exchange for her life. Each one dying a gruesome, heartless death that no one deserved to feel.

"Why…?" The screams tears from her chest, as she stumbles forward a step and falls to her knees. She can't bear the sight of the statues, looming around her, tearing into her soul. Guilt and loss strike through her like being torn to shreds. It's as if they're there, mocking her from within their stone prisons.

They did this, but why? Why for her? Why do this and die for her, why choose this fate in her stead?!

How could they? How could they do this, pretend to betray her and hurt her, just to save her?

Her shoulders shake uncontrollably as she cries, wracking sobs leaving her trembling on the ground, unable to stand. She can't do this. She can't face them now, when they lost their lives for someone like her. After everything, she even questioned their loyalty, their bonds together. Now- Now she's a worthless little girl again, weeping against the ground, ready to accept her own death. If it meant she'd see them again, she'd take it.

God, what has she done?

"Miku."

That… voice…

Swallowing deeply, she dares to look up through her tears- only to stare in wondrous confusion.

Before her stand the very friends that had perished in such horrific ways. Together, glowing and seeming both real and an illusion. None of them have the awful, mocking expressions they'd had when they'd abandoned her. Now they all share the same wistful, sad smiles.

Her breath catches in her throat, disbelieving that they're actually there. Her heart is thumping, painfully throbbing, aching with the sight of them again. The family she'd loved so much before this had become their fate.

"Are you letting your thoughts overwhelm you?" Kaito asks her.

"Are you giving up already?" Meiko is next, her brown eyes glimmering.

"You're doing just fine," Ia reassures her, tilting her head next to her sister.

"We're counting on you!" Mayu's childish smile seems to widen, her youthful face cheerful as she clings to Ia's arm.

"I believe in your abilities," Gakupo tells her, nodding his head and letting a knowing smile cross his face.

"C'mon, Miku," Gumi says, her tone a bit sad as she address her best friend. "You've never let me down before."

"You can't let something like this scare you." Luka's voice is soft, airy, but encouraging as she brushes her long hair from her face.

"I've never… stopped believing in us, you know?" Rin's sweet soprano tells her, her fingers reaching up to play with the amulet around her neck.

"What are you waiting for?" Len's serious but kind tone demands, his hand tightening around his older sister's, their fingers interlocked.

Miku's sobs have turned to hiccups, but she can't stop staring at them, at her loved ones before her offering their own comforts even after they've died.

"I- I can't!" She says, shaking her head. "Not without you, I- I'm so sorry, I-"

She silences when Kaito offers his hand to her, an action eerily similar to what he'd done nearly ten years ago when they'd met. His smile is identical, soft and kind- and the others behind him are just the same.

"We're still here," he tells her. "We'll always be here. With you, Miku. Just like we'd promised. We will always share your joy, and your pain."

That very promise, the one that had brought her out of her darkness- she clings to those words, to that sweet day when she'd been given her very own place to call home, and a family that loved her.

Her hand, now dirtied with dust, raises, daring to touch his, to accept the promise again-

-but inches before she can make contact, his hand fades.

She chokes on air as she is forced to watch her smiling family, her precious, beloved friends, as they become transparent, ephemeral, and disappear. As if they were a figment of her imagination, and yet she knows within herself that they were there. Heartbreak rears its ugly head as she loses them again, right before her eyes.

God, how she misses them so already.

We're still here, Kaito had said, promising, all of them forgiving her without reason. She never deserved such love, but she won't disappoint them.

She won't let them die in vain like that. Not after everything they went through.

Pushing her weak body up, she watches as the crimson candle wax floods down from the statues and falls into the waiting carved path below. Much like their blood, shed to give her this one chance to give this wretched, undeserving world more time.

It blends together, each candle's melted substance turning into the perfect formation around the pedestal. As if triggering it, a flickering flame appears on the pedestals top, awaiting her final actions.

The wind blows, pushing at her, as if to shove her from the roof and into the waiting ground hundreds of feet below. But she has a new kind of inner strength, and she will never yield. She can't back down.

For them, and for herself, she will finish her destiny.

Closing her eyes, she takes a step forward, and another.

"We'll always be here. With you, Miku."

Their whispering voices, threading through her head, all at once and without end. Slowly driving her to the brink of insanity, but she doesn't care. The further she falls into psychosis, the louder their voices become, and the easier she can pretend they're there with her, ready to take the same plunge.

The very air seems to thrum with electricity, a symbol of the storm now threatening to break open over her head as she grips tightly into the torch in her hand. Her knuckles are white against it's ridged surface, but she can't feel anything. Nothing but grim determination, strength that is not her own.

All she can think of is them, and that is all she needs.

She throws her hands toward that fire, her torch lighting immediately and activating its power, giving herself to its heat and letting the fire course up her arms. Like flicking a switch, she feels the very earth itself click with resonance, the raw and unbridled power that instantly pushes into her body's chosen vessel and into the planet itself, giving it the life force it needs to survive. The blinding light from before flashes by, and then blinds her completely as she burns within it, her eyes still closed.

Behind her eyelids, she sees her family. Smiling, waving, urging her toward them to join her.

And she lets herself run toward them, a twisted smile crossing her face as she opens her eyes and allows them to embrace her, her world going dark and her strength draining into oblivion.

.x.X.x.

And in that moment, the world was reborn anew.

A/N: This is Unbeta'd, and written listening to 'Blessed Messiah and The Tower of Ai'- Vocaloid 10, 'This Game' - No Game No Life OP, 'Reversible Campaign' - Len K, 'To You Feeling The Blues' -Len and Rin K, 'Can't I Even Dream?' -Len K, and 'That King Was Born From Mud' - Len K.

And with that, Blessed Messiah and The Nine Tragedies comes to a close.

I can't begin to tell all of you what a ride this has been. I went through tears, blood, sweat. Months of research and adlibbing, making up my own story to fit Yamashizuku's mold. Learning and relearning the characters, memorizing the lyrics and listening to it over and over again, keeping careful track of my plot.

This has been a roller coaster that I wasn't even sure if I'd finish- but I did. At a whopping, nearly 13,000 words, this last chapter took me a month to write because it was such a monster. I never wanted it to be this long. Hell, I'd actually intended for BMATNT to be no more than 10k at best.

But I fell in love with it, gave it everything I had, and it became, well... this.

I don't know if it's good. I don't know if it was worth reading through the full 30,000 words of this fic to get here, or if my ending was unsatisfying. But I'm happy with the way I ended it, and personally, I'm both sad and happy it's over. I loved it, but it took the life out of me.

I just want to say thank you. Thank you to those who have just found this, to those who stuck around to the excruciating end, and those who've been with me since the beginning. Thank you to the favoriters, the followers, the reviewers. Thank you to everyone who enjoyed this as much as I did, and I hope to the merciless God above that you don't regret reading this.

Either way, I appreciate each and every one of you, and without your encouragement and the excitement of finally finishing this, I never would have. I'd have given up long ago. But I didn't, and I'm proud of myself.

So thank you, and if you enjoyed this, please stick around for future works of mine. Though I may be trying to settle into original works currently, I'll never just stop writing fanfiction. I've made a home here, and even if the Vocaloid fandom dies, I'll keep writing for Len and Rin, because I love them.

(And yes, I've apologized profusely to all of the Vocaloids for killing them. It's been a sad time.)

Holy hell this got long. Anyway, thank you for reading BMATNT, and please let me know what you thought of it. I'll be waiting, at the top of ym own tower.

Read on~

~Disclaimer~ I own only tie-in secrets, inner psychosis and a family I love. Nothing more.