It's been a while since I've updated, so I'm afraid I'm a little rusty. *Cracks knuckles* I've also been going through some horrible writer's block, but hopefully this FanFiction marks the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own VOCALOID, which belongs to Yamaha, nor the song this is based off, which is Soleli by TravoltaP.

"I'm sorry...Rin. I - I can't suppress it any longer… I wish we could have had more time together..." Kaito forced a sad smile, though his words were pained. His body twisted and contorted in a last-ditch attempt to fight off his internal enemy who had been winning for so long.

The darkness crept up the blue-haired man's neck and pooled into his eyes. It had finally won and surrendered his body to evil.

"Kaito!" Rin screamed as the other boy accompanying her, Len, drew his dagger. The children could only watch in horror as two massive black wings sprouted out his back, making a painful crackling sound as they grew. The once handsome man morphed into a grotesque monster and lost all control of his body.

"Kaito? Can you hear me? It's Rin! Remember?" It was clear he couldn't recall the girl, though, as he sped forward, claws swiping across her raised arm and leaving three deep gashes. She cried out, knocked backwards by the blow, and hit her head hard on the ground.

Len trembled as he watched his only friend collapse. He didn't want to fight Kaito after all he had done, but he knew deep down that this creature was no longer their friend and only sought to cause death and destruction.

A sudden intense rage burned in his eyes as he charged forward, dagger drawn, letting out a battle cry. "How dare you!" he screamed. "You'll pay for that - for hurting Rin!"

"Rin, I'm hungry." The ponytailed boy, his head rested on Rin's shoulder, glanced upwards. He was pale, with sunken cheeks, and his voice was weak.

"I know," she answered, sounding drained as well. She exhaled, pressing her back to the wall and stretching her spine. Getting substantial food would be near impossible. They were almost always hungry; no one wanted to feed the 'demon girl' and her 'pet.' Lately, all they had managed to get were scraps from various garbage cans, and they were much too malnourished to leave town.

As horrible as it sounded, Rin almost regretted helping Len. Both wouldn't be dying if she had just stayed away. Well, at least she wouldn't, and that thought alone was selfish and rotten. Besides, the time she had spent with Len had been some of the greatest in her life. She had come to love him like the brother she never had, and everything about him was so kind, warm, and genuine. He didn't care that by being her friend, he would be treated like the lowest of the low. He just wanted to be with Rin.

A sudden clinking noise sounded, sending her thoughts scattering. A blue-haired man had tossed a few glittering gold coins at the pitiful duo. From the way he was dressed, he looked exceptionally rich. He certainly wasn't from this village - probably one of the neighboring wealthier districts.

"Thank you," Len grumbled, though he too knew well that no one would sell the two 'devil's spawn' food. Money was practically useless at this point, but he still appreciated the thought, he supposed.

"Sir, do you have any food?" Since this man was willing to assist the two, Rin figured she should get as much out of him as possible. An opportunity like this was rare.

"Give me a moment," he answered, heading off with a brisk walk. Several minutes passed as Rin and Len's eagerness faded.

"He was probably trying to politely ditch us," Len said. "I bet he was worried we would swindle him out of everything he has." Moments later, however, he returned with a steaming loaf of bread.

"T- Thank you!" Rin exclaimed, taking it in her hands and breaking off the end. She gave some to Len and then stuffed her own piece in her mouth. How good food tasted after being so deprived!

"I'm Kaito," the man said warmly, holding out his hand to shake. Rin took it and answered. "I'm Rin, and this is my friend, Len."

"What are a couple of you kids doing out here? Isn't there anywhere for you to stay?"

"We've got no families, and no one will take us," Len grimly answered. "This is our only option."

"Really?" Kaito murmured, raising his eyebrows. He knew he had other business to attend to, but he couldn't just leave them there. If he was in that situation, he would want to be helped. "Come with me. Let's find an orphanage."

…

"Get those two out of my sight!" the woman screeched, backing up behind her desk with a terrified look in her eyes. "That girl's pure evil herself! She and her friend are nothing but trouble!"

Kaito could only stare in shock at what was unfolding in front of him. People had stared strangely at him when he was walking down the street, but the orphanage owner looked like she would have a heart attack right then and there. He thought the two were wonderful people, too. They were very polite and sweet to him - nothing like stereotypical scrappy 'street kids.'

"I said GET OUT!"

…

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to help you," Kaito said. He had gone all over town with no avail. The two didn't seem surprised at all; they looked like they had expected this outcome all along. If anything, Rin appeared exhausted enough to pass out any minute.

"Come with me back to my house," he offered. "You'll have somewhere safe and warm to rest."

…

"Not you too." Rin strided forward and placed her hands on his arm. Black splotches snaked up and around it, almost reaching his shoulder. He had always hid his arms by wearing long sleeves or jackets, not wanting to worry the children, but he couldn't keep a secret forever.

"You know what this is?"

"You've been claimed by the darkness," the blonde answered, voice slightly shaking, "And it wants to take you away."

"I didn't think you two needed to know," he said. "I didn't want you to be scared since it's incurable."

"No."

"What?"

"There is a way to cure the darkness; I can take it on from you."

Kaito was shocked. You would have to be mad to want to take someone's darkness. Everyone could do it with a little willpower, but why would anyone want to carry such a burden? "Rin, as much as I appreciate your willingness to do this, I must decline. By taking on others' darknesses, you're only causing more pain and suffering for yourself. You're barely a teenager with so much left ahead of you." Kaito shook his head. "I took you and Len in and I've cared for you ever since like you were my own children, and a father always puts his children first."

"Let me help you, Kaito. I need to repay you for what you've done for me."

"No," he sharply answered, drawing his arm back. "I won't allow it. This is my problem, and the last thing I want is to worsen your troubles. People already treat you horribly enough."

"But you'll die!"

"We all do at some point."

The monster let out an ear-splitting screech, thrashing about as Len plunged his dagger into its gums. He was trying to hold the mouth shut and prevent it from approaching Rin once more. He needed to defend her while she was unconscious. Rin and Kaito were his only 'family,' and now that he had lost one, he couldn't go on without the other.

"I won't let you hurt her!" Len sifted the dagger around, blood spraying onto his shirt and arms before yanking it out and narrowly missing being crushed by its jaws. He continued hacking away, knowing if he kept it occupied it would be angry with him and attack him. That also meant it would stay away from Rin.

This creature needed to be destroyed before it destroyed everything else. The darkness's only motive - its only purpose was to cause as much pain and suffering as possible .That's how it lived, and that's what it fed off of. If Len could end it now, the nearby town would be safe.

"Stop." A gentle hand grabbed his shoulder before he could land another attack, and Rin pulled him back, striding ahead.

"What are you-?"

"It's okay," she murmured, cradling the monster's head in her arms. She held its mouth shut in her immensely firm grasp and nuzzled her face into it. Even though Kaito didn't want this, she knew it was all her fault - if she had taken his darkness away before, he would have never transformed and he would still be alive.

"I can't turn you human again, but it's okay. I'll change your form into that of a bird." Rin smiled as white feathers began to sprout across its body. It's mouth elongated into a beak, and claws turned to talons. At the same time, blackness formed in scattered locations across her skin.

Len wanted to beg her to stop, but he knew he was in no position to say that.

For a brief moment, a white-winged ghost of Kaito stood in front of the bird, staring sadly at Rin, holding her outstretched hand. Then his body disappeared into nothing. "Goodbye...Kaito…"

As the bird soared into the sky, Rin felt her throat begin to get tight and burn, tears stinging the corners of her eyes and threatening to spill over. Moments later, they were streaming down her cheeks. "Kaito!" She fell to her knees, shaking violently as Len ran over to comfort her.

Her faithful friend grabbed her and pulled her close, holding her tight as if to shield her from all the harshness of reality. Burying her face into his chest, she let out heaving sobs, unable to stop. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry."

Rin, why are you doing this to yourself?