Ghosts'Ghoul Gang

Ritual

It was 11:34 pm where three ghouls were scattered about the kitchen area, there was no light coming in from the windows, the nearby towns were silent with rest. Floorboards creaked under weight shifted, window panes rattling in the wind; the only sounds in the night came from the ghouls about their temporary homing situation. There was no central heating so most of the rooms were almost the same temperature as outside, except in the kitchen where the three ghouls found themselves.

Cirrus stood at the sink washing the dishes the earth ghoul dirtied- Cirrus often 'cooked' with Cumulus and Mountain, but after months of burning almost everything to the pan she was condemned to just helping out around the kitchen. Mountain worked circles around the kitchen as he used the vast counter space to work, gently setting dishes next to Cirrus with sheepish grins. And sat on a barstool, tucked out of the way, with her head in her hands, sat Sunshine; the taller of the three fem ghouls shifted her gaze to watch Cirrus work. Mountain, who was crossing the kitchen with a spice jar in hand, b lined to lean on the counter space free in front of Sunshine.

"Whatcha thinkin about?" the earth ghoul asked.

Golden eyes met his, Sunshines kind cool voice saying "My death- or rather my ritual." she laughed light like a scoff.

Mountain understood; it made sense the newly added ghoul was reliving that extraneous process. For ghouls to become what they are they had to experience a death- some were more violent than others- then being chosen by Sister and the clergy for resurrection with Papa. As Sunshine sat there she could still remember how her lips tingled as she repeated after Papa 'All of my devils are dead, and I will see them once I'm finally laid to rest'.

"Are you grieving?" Mountain asked.

She gave this some thought before answering " No."

"Good." Cirrus said, "Don't waste your time thinking over the unchangeable, paranoia will only do you harm."

Sunshine nodded, she knew this much after having this conversation many times over with the other fem ghouls in private. Sunshine heaved a sigh as she slid from her seat.

"I'm gonna go get the other ghouls."

Mountain smiled, "Don't be long, it's warmer in here."

"Trust me, I know." Sunshine returned his smile.

Though the doorway was open, stepping out of the kitchen and into the rest of the building was a vast difference in temperature, Sunshine bit back a shiver as she started down the hall ahead of her. Her boots echoed with every step forward, the walls still with silence. On a windowsill up ahead sunshine sees a rat, reaching up to hold it softly while asking how it had gotten there; knowing she wouldn't get a response Sunshine lowered the rat to the ground before continuing on. In another room down the hall she found Swiss and Cumulus both sat silently on the couch, both taking quiet comfort in each others presence as they read separate books. Sunshine knocked on the nearby wall, stifling a laugh as both ghouls looked up simultaneously.

"Mountains almost done." Sunshine said.

"Ooo is it good?" Swiss set his book face down on the coffee table.

"I won't tell. Do you know where i could find Aether, Rain, or Sodo?"

Cumulus shrugged as she looked upset by Swiss' book, putting a bookmark in her own book before setting it down.

Swiss said "You tried their rooms yet?"

Sunshine shook her head.

Swiss offered her a sympathetic smile, "Good luck."

Sunshine nodded once before she spun out of the room, continuing down the hall, the rat now nowhere to be seen or heard. When she got to a crossroads in the hallway the ghouls ignored the signs for 'Clergy' and 'Resting Wards', instead continuing forward down an unmarked hall and taking the first stairs up. As she climbed the stairs she prayed to Cirice she wouldn't be walking in on anything she didn't need to be; and after listening carefully her ears came back with untraumatized silence. She stopped at Aethers door, knocked several times, and got no responses. So she climbed the stairs again and went to Rains door, knocking and still nothing. With a sigh Sunshine turned around to face Sodo's door and knocked, but instead of the short fire ghouls she was met with taller cool blue eyes.

"Snacks should be ready." Sunshine told Rain.

"Yes!"

Sunshine heard Aethers triumphant voice before she saw him, only a moment later he was pushing past Rain into the hall; Sodo stepped out and the group hung back as he locked his bedroom door. The fire ghouls lead their way back downstairs, Rain fell in beside the short male; leaving the quintessence ghoul and Sunshine in the back.

"You okay?" Aether asked "You feel off."

Sunshine looked at the ghoul, shrugged a little and said cryptically, "I just find it funny how death isn't as permanent as everyones led to believe."

Her statement got the attention of the two ghouls ahead of them; Sodo looking back before his eyes flickered to Rain, Aether patting her shoulder in silent support.

"Not all ghouls stay." Rain said with practiced ease Sunshine didn't believe, "Some go."

"Really?"

Rains mask nodded up and down, "Only Papa and the Sister knows why."

"Its not often." the fire ghoul added, "Getting rid of ghouls isn't like sign a paper to release them, it's complicated."

"Do you?" Aether asked, "Do you want to be separated?"

"What? No! " Sunshine tried not to feel hurt, "I just find the life cycles ironically amusing. It never really ends, even after it has, it just cycles over again."

"Sounds a little like existentialism." Sodo said.

"Maybe" Sunshine shrugged, "Or i'm being real."

"None of us are real." Sodo argued, "We're ghouls."

"You know what i mean-"

"Put that down!" they heard Cumulus' voice boom, "Save some for the others."

The four of them rounded the corner into the common room, snacks now plated out over the coffee table. Swiss had an oversized muffin in his hand where he was halted in his movement, Cumulus stood with her hands on her popped hips, Sunshine hid her smile. Sodo crossed the room without slowing, taking the muffin from Swiss' hand, sitting back onto the couch while taking a bite.

"You don't even like banana nut!" Swiss complained.

"You're right." Sodo said, "Aether?"

Aether crossed the room to accept the muffin happily, taking a spot on the arm of the couch next to the fire ghoul. When Swiss leaned forward for another muffin Rain took it with a soft smile.

"You guys are dicks." Swiss said sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest.

Sunshine knelt on the ground next to the table, she was reaching for a snack when Cirrus knelt next to her with two mugs of tea. None of the ghouls would know whats to happen next- where the next move would be or what the next big problem would be- but it didn't matter. The move now was to let go, to sit back and face things as they come. Let go of the idea of controlling the situation. Just sit back and take comfort in the unknown.

A/N: 1197 w