With a rose collar around your neck and a silver chain in your mouth...
...once again tonight, I despise you for finishing alone.
Kneel down and lap up the bitter dewdrops of love.
Inexperienced discipline administered upon the angel.
In the coffin called "the self," my soul is still astir.
Torn wings return to life in the moonlight, becoming gossamer.
More frightening than the darkness is solitude.
Let us indulge in the proof of our unity beneath the Cross.
Removing the rose handcuffs and crossing pale wrists.
The miracle of this rapport, you are so dear to me.
Kneel down and make this offering, the painful words of love.
They are a red arabesque staining the gauze.
I don't care if it's a sin. Tell me you love these forbidden lips.
Shinku, it's morning.
Good morning!
And thus starts another tedious day with the puny human.
Shinku still hasn't said good morning?
No.
Shinku, it's morning!
You'll get scolded if you don't open your eyes.
She just won't wake up.
Maybe she was damaged in her fight with that Suigintou doll.
Hina doesn't know.
Since it's come to this, I've no choice.
I'll take her place and make you my servants.
Come along.
Like hell I'll become your servant, you rotten doll.
Why so worked up? Do you prefer Shinku after all?
D-Don't be stupid.
That's not what I meant.
Dreams
U-Um, here.
I'm sorry. We don't accept solicitors.
Door-to-door sales pitches are getting more elaborate lately.
Jun-kun, is there a fire?
Oh, it was alarm clocks. I thought it was a fire alarm.
Do we have a fire alarm?
Shinku-chan isn't up yet?
No. Nori, what'll we do?
Well, I don't know much about magical dolls either, so...
Really, you're all such softies. Come back to the day before yesterday.
What? Then you know how to wake her up?
Of course.
What is this?
When the medium that provides their power is in danger...
...dolls tend to respond.
Hey, wait! Hey!
Here goes.
Stop!
No sign of waking.
That's strange. Then an even greater danger...
I'll die! That'll kill me!
Oh? What's this hole?
Oh, that's...
Damn, don't say unnecessary things.
You rotten doll. You knew?
Thank goodness! She should wake up now!
Thank goodness my ass!
This should...
Hey, wake up.
Come on, wake up.
Shinku's not waking up.
That can't be. Shinku? Shinku.
This is so impossible.
Watch our serious marionette drama mystery!
Oh, it's Kun-kun!
Shinku, it's Detective Kun-kun.
What are you doing?
She'll wake up if Kun-kun does it.
Me?
You're the only one who can do Kun-kun!
Hi, Shinku, thanks for always supporting me.
Actually, I want you to help with an investigation.
Won't you open your eyes? What's wrong?
Could it be someone's threatening you so you can't talk?
Or are you too embarrassed to say anything?
Shinku...
Jun-kun...
We won't know if you don't talk to us.
What's wrong?
Shinku...
Jun-kun, I'll try to think of some ideas while I'm at school too.
So don't give up. Let's keep at it.
Keep out of it. We finally got rid of one, and it's quieter.
You puny human.
Don't worry.
Jun-kun will do something. I'm sure of it.
How long has it been since I've seen him look like that?
"Rozen Maiden.
Dolls allegedly created by legendary doll maker Rozen.
They are masterpieces referred to as 'living dolls.'
But no one's ever seen them...
...and there are doubts whether they even exist."
No matter where I look, it's always the same information.
I know. I think I saw a site once...
Doll Lovers' Society
Does anyone know anything about Rozen Maidens?
JUN> Does anyone know anything about Rozen Maidens?
Yoshimoto> By Rozen Maidens, you mean that Rozen?
Mitsue> But I heard it was a made-up story*
akane> I heard it wasn't true too.
MATSUO> You believe that stuff? No way it exists.
They do exist. Right here.
Sheesh...
Jun, are you napping?
You really are good for nothing. And at a time like this.
What'll happen to Shinku at this rate?
She'll continue to dream.
Dream?
Dolls dream when they enter a deep sleep.
Born as dolls, the meetings we experience over and over...
Our feelings for Father in distant memory...
And the sudden darkness...
An eternal sleep, denied even death.
Encased in blackness, unable to even move...
Despair and anticipation. Joy and pain.
Her feelings since being born a doll...
She'll just relive all those memories over and over.
Damn it...
"They aren't fictional. I believe the title is..."
What is it, Jun?
You stay with Shinku. Don't answer the door for anyone.
Got it?
I swear. That runt really pisses me off.
Library
Doll lore, Rozen's dolls, doll creation list, Dolls Rosa, Doll Maker's World
There it is.
B-6... B-7...
Those books aren't here.
The library's being renovated, so they're at another location.
Where is that?
That middle school. You know it, don't you?
That Sakurada...
W-Who said that?
Hey, did you hear? That Sakurada-kun...
Who's there? Stop it.
S-Stop it!
Stop it! Please stop!
Um...
What?
Hina-Ichigo gets her share of power from Shinku.
Without Shinku, her power is gone.
No way...
If you're Shinku's servant, do something!
Use that mini-mini-brain and think, you good-for-nothing!
Shut up!
So I'm a good-for-nothing.
Hina-chan's asleep too?
Yes.
Where's Jun-kun?
He really is a good-for-nothing.
He's been in his room awhile.
I see.
Jun-kun, what about dinner?
Don't want any.
Could we talk a bit?
No way.
Then I'll just talk. When I saw your serious face this morning...
...I was reminded of our youth.
Remember?
When I lost my stuffed animal.
You worked so hard to make one for me.
I was so surprised.
I never dreamed you were able to make one all by yourself.
I thought you could do anything then...
Shut up! I keep saying I don't want comfort!
Don't give me hollow words! I'm a good-for-nothing anyway.
I can't even get into school!
Jun-kun...
I'm finished already!
I can only stay cooped up in the house! I can't do anything!
If you get that, hurry up and leave!
Leave!
You know, Jun-kun...
Shinku-chan loves you, Jun-kun.
Shinku thinks of me that way?
There's no way...
You're wonderful, Jun.
It's as if your fingers produce a beautiful melody.
Sakurada-kun...
Morning.
Oh, good morning.
Were you looking at something?
Oh, no. Nothing.
Well, I'll see you later.
Library
Huh?
It's locked in the mornings.
Why not wear your uniform if you were coming?
N-None of your business.
Did you want to get in? I happen to be researching for a teacher.
Then Hina-Ichigo's asleep too?
Japanese Literature Collection
Pretty much.
Japanese Literature Collection So you came all this way?
I-It's not really like that.
This is it.
Rozen...
...Maiden.
It's German.
"What I'm about to write is word about the doll maker Rozen...
...and this is advance warning that its veracity is not certain."
When Hina-Ichigo showed up, I researched.
Then what about repairs?
I didn't get that far.
But it's probably here.
This book can't be checked out. We'll have to start reading now.
Different method.
Fix. Try to entrust.
What's this "naturgeist"?
It's a spirit.
Spirit?
We're supposed to entrust the matter to something like that?
Do you know how to summon that artificial spirit?
I can probably find out from that rotten doll.
Kashiwaba, you in there?
Come this way.
No one's here now. You know the back gate, right?
Y-Yeah.
Hurry.
Um, s-sorry for dragging you into this.
Here goes.
The back?
Shinku...
Shinku!
Ow...
Honestly. You took too long to wake me.
Such a useless servant. A little thought should have solved this.
W-Why you...
I was worried...
Were you?
N-No...
Your eyes seem too red for that, Jun-kun.
Well, I will at least voice my appreciation.
Thank you, Jun.
How long do you plan to sleep? Wake up.
Shinku...
Jun, hurry up and bring me tea.
W-Why me?
What a vexing servant. I told you that it was your duty.
I don't recall that!
Your heart's as mini as ever.
What's that?
Come now. Wake up.
Shut up...
He's suddenly energetic now that Shinku's awake.
Don't be stupid!
That's right, Shinku.
You can't break down yet.
I'll be the one to turn you into junk.
As the heart slows to a halt...
...it steals away beloved memories.
Beyond the trembling fingertips...
...the sky there is colorless.
But there is a soft voice that can be heard from far away...
...and I hope it will reach deep within those closed eyes.
The soaring, silver feathers rain down upon your body.
A melody echoing eternally unto the distant, phantasmal moon.
What is it, Suiseiseki?
N-Nothing.
I'm just a little worried about how that branch is growing.
If she were here, she could trim everything neatly.
We may never reach an understanding.
Don't say such sorrowful things.
She is your beloved younger twin sister.
Next time on Rozen Maiden...
Swear upon this rose ring.
Chapter 8 Souseiseki Swear upon this rose ring.
Chapter 8 Souseiseki