A/N: Ah, sorry for my really late update. It's been months since I last updated this story...

Um, I'm sorry if I made mistakes and rushed the story. I wanted to write this chapter before my finals.

Disclaimer: Nope. No. Yes. Haha, no.


Chapter 2: Being Mistaken

Len's POV:

I noticed the tattered clothing that wrapped around her body. Her only source of warmth. Parting her dried lips, she stammered, "L-Len, w-why are you here?"

That was what I wanted to ask her first.

Rin looked the same as when I first saw her. Except she looked weaker. Thinner.

I walked towards her, unbuttoning my jacket. My boots echoed when it made contact with the grimy alley. The night had gotten brighter with lights, illuminating dimly in the alley. I wrapped the jacket around her fragile body.

Fingering the jacket with her nimble fingers, she said, "I can't accept this, Len."

I leaned forward, meeting eye level with her. I pulled my jacket closer around her. "I want you to keep it." I leaned back on the wall, sitting next to her. Remembering that I haven't answered her question, I said, "I was…disowned."

I heard a small gasp. Her eyes widened. She knew my family got along together. Well, my mom and I. But she never met my father before. "W-what about Miku? She'd never disown you. She loved you. I know that."

I froze. Becoming tense all of a sudden. Mom. It was my fault that she was like this now. I relaxed when a pair of small hands were on my shoulder. Sighing, I leaned my head on her shoulder. She didn't refuse. "She's still sick," my voice lowered to a whisper, "but my father, my stepfather, disowned me. He didn't want me anymore…"

I knew how I had to call him, 'dad'. That's what my mother wanted. For us to be a family. But I was never going to call that bastard 'dad' again.

"I-I'm sorry, Len. I didn't know."

"Course you didn't. It's nothing anyways," I lied. "I don't even know why she still stayed with him," my voice lowered further. "He didn't even love her…" I felt tears start to erupt from my eyes. The same pair of hands on my shoulder pulled me into an embrace. My throat became tighter when I tried to speak, "Wh-Why am I so weak? It's all my fault. Everything."

Rin gently rubbed my head. I could feel her smile on my cheek. She answered, "It's not your fault, Len. Don't blame yourself."

Her attempt to make me feel less guilty, didn't work. I sobbed harder. She just continued to brush my hair and pat my back.

Finally recovering my sniffles, I heard her say, "You don't have to talk about it, Len."

I know I had to. Sooner or later. "I missed you."

She smiled. "I miss you too. It was hard to deal with that place, without you or Miku."

Pulling away from her embrace, I wiped my remaining tears on my sleeve. Hearing Rin's stomach growl, I stifled a snort. She said, embarrassed, "S-shut up…"

I dug into my jeans pocket, pulling out some candy I had saved leftover. "Here," I said, putting my palms before her.

She shakily grasped them, muttering, "Thanks."

She unwrapped the candy, putting it into her mouth. Rin gave me a thumbs-up, saying, "It's good."

I nodded. Leaning my head on the wall, I sighed. The night continued onwards. Silence filled the alley where we were. But outside, the night became alive. Smells from vendors filled even the nooks and crannies of the alley. They were so close, it was like I could taste them myself.

Interrupting my imagination of food, was my stomach. I realized I hadn't eaten anything yet. I grabbed my stomach, hoping it would shut up. Turning on my side, away from Rin, I tried to ignore that I was hungry. To try to go to sleep. It was no use.

I heard rustling of wrappers under my tightly shut eyelids. Hearing my name being called, I glance behind my shoulders. "What is it, Rin?"

In her hands was a small loaf of bread, wrapped around a wrapper. "Here," she pushed it into my hands. "You should eat it. I found it in your jacket pocket."

Oh, now I remembered a neighbor giving me that bread in the morning. They remembered how I didn't like to eat breakfast at my house. I shook my head. "No, you should eat it."

She continued to shove it in my hands. "No, it's yours. And I already had my share."

I sighed, looking away, I replied, "It's fine. Keep it."

I heard more rustling of the wrapper. Followed by a tear. I tried to block out all the noise. But my eyes slammed open when I felt something on my lips. A piece of bread. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. She continued to hold the bread in front of me. I turned to face her, completely smelling the aroma of the bread now. It was tempting. "Open up."

She continued to hold the bread in front of my lips. I wanted to refuse, but knew what she was going to do if I did - shove it down my throat. I looked away, feeling my cheeks heat up from embarrassment. I opened my mouth, allowing her to feed me.

"Good boy, Len." She grinned at me.

I scowled. "I'm not a dog…"

She just laughed.

I opened my eyes to the bright sun that shined from above. Rubbing my eyes, I glanced down, feeling a weight on my chest. It was Rin. She was cuddled against my chest, while I was still leaning against the wall. I remembered how she was sleeping beside me, leaning on my shoulder. Gently putting her down on the piece of cardboard beside us, I struggled to stand up. Pushing myself up, I stumbled forwards.

I looked at the end of the alley, where the light was the brightest. Morning, a time of the day when people tend to pickpocket the most.

I glanced at her sleeping face. The sun had shined on her, making her cringe. I grinned when she was rubbing her eyes. "Mornin', Rin."

"'Morning."

I looked from the alley, outside towards where things really happened. The real world. "Rin," I said, looking around the small shops and stores, "is…bread fine?"

She looked at me in surprise. "What?"

I grinned. "Breakfast."

"'Kay, here's the plan. Rin, you'll have to distract the seller," I pointed at the old lady selling bread. She looked like the easiest target. I continued, "and then I'll steal the bread, got it?"

She looked hesitant at first. "B-but stealing is wrong…"

I smirked at her. "Shouldn't I be saying that? With my 'goody goody' attitude?"

Rin giggled. "Yeah, Len. So why are you rebelling and want to steal?"

Smiling, I replied, "'Cause, it's interesting. And I read some books. It's simple really, playing on people's emotions." My smile faltered. It's because I also changed…

"Huh, so what do I do?"

"Well, whatever you want to distract her, I guess. Whatever works."

"Keep in mind, Len. I never did this before."

My smile curved upwards. "Survival, Rin. Survival," I repeated. "You do whatever it takes to be alive. That's the only rules now."

We went our separate ways. Rin stumbled towards the old lady, beginning to play her role. I could make out what they were saying from the stall I was standing at. "G-Grams? "

The old lady gasped. "What's wrong, dear?"

Rin looked down, beginning to sniff, "I-I was tackled by someone in the streets. A-and he stole the money m-my brother gave to me before he…he-"

"W-Who would do such a thing to you?"

I smirked, this was going all to plan. And Rin had a hang for this. She glanced at me and nodded, not breaking her façade.

I strolled over to her vendor. Keeping an eye on the both of them as well as my surroundings. No one was looking. Grabbing a piece of bread off the table, I snuck it into my jacket that Rin gave back to me for this occasion. Shit. The old lady suddenly turned around, probably hearing something to the side. I smiled, politely asking her, "Ah, grams, how much is this bread?" I pointed at the loaf on the side.

She smiled back. "It's $4."

"Oh, thanks, but I don't have enough money. Some other time then."

"Wait," the old lady said with a serious tone. I stopped, and froze in my tracks. Did she figure it out? Turning around, I waited for her to continue. "Can you…show me what's inside of your pocket?"

Shit. I looked at her curiously, replying, "Um, can I ask you why you need to?"

"Oh well, there are many people around here that pickpocket, so I need to know."

Damn. Now we're screwed. "I…I-"

Rin interrupted me. She started coughing violently. I looked wide-eyed at her. It didn't sound like she was faking it. The old lady ran towards her when she fell on her knees, clutching her chest. I stood there, worried. Hearing something next to me, I turned my head. It was a boy, doing the same thing I was. Stealing.

He snickered. Muttering, "Old lady can't keep track, huh?"

The old lady turned around, looking shocked. She forgot about Rin and tried to stop him. The kid just ran away. She was yelling, "Pickpocket," while trying to chase after him. But she couldn't keep up. It looked like time had stopped when people from other small vendors scrammed to stop him. More coughing brought me to reality.

I grabbed two more pieces of bread off the counter. Stumbling towards Rin, I asked, "You okay?"

She nodded her head. But I knew she wasn't. I reached out to her, pulling her forwards. "Rin, we have to go," I muttered in a soft whisper.

She nodded again, but struggled to sit up, continuing to cough. I knew she had taken medication at the orphanage, but now she couldn't. I sat crouched in front of her. Pointing at my back, I said, "Get on."

Rin wrapped her arms around my neck, while I put my arms around her legs, making sure she wouldn't fall. I stood up. Balancing the weight, I sprinted forwards. I Passed some people, hearing them say, 'Jeez, what's the rush?' 'Aw, how cute, siblings.'

Siblings? Sure we looked alike, but didn't think we looked like siblings. Well, I do treat Rin like a sibling…

I heard my boots make pitter-patter sound when they came in contact with the same tile street. I turned into the same alley, where the light was dim. Where a poster was nearby. Slowing my pace, I ran my palm into the rough wall. Crouching down, I let her get off my back. Her coughing had gotten better.

"Rin, what's wrong?"

She shook her head, avoiding eye contact with me. "It's nothing."

I looked at her with concern. "It's not nothing when you keep on coughing like that."

"It's nothing," she repeated.

I sighed. "I'm worried about you, Rin. Please tell me?" I pleaded her, knowing that something was wrong.

"I-I'm not going to live any longer…"


A/N: Oh wow. I think I'm gonna rewrite this chapter after finals. Seeing how it sucked... But, um, yeah. Jeez, it was kinda hard writing this chapter, not gonna lie. Since it's been awhile and I don't remember anything. haha.

Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome! So, please review and tell me what you think!