PURE MADNESS

Chapter 2

Rin fell out of her bed as an awful screeching filled her dreams. She cracked her eyes barely open, then closed them again. She was a deep sleeper. Unfortunately, the screeching filled the air again.

"What the-"

She looked at her bracelet, which was yelling, "Kitchen!"

It was 5:00.

5:00.

And he wanted...food?

Rin grumbled to herself angrily as she quickly pinned up her hair, sticking the clips in it as she raced downstairs.

She almost fell down the marble planks from sleepiness, then regained herself, trotting into the kitchen.

"Yes...*yawn* Master?" Rin yawned, steadying herself against the wall. She was nodding off against it when his cool voice clipped through the air.

"Ah, Rinto. I was assuming you'd be wide awake and ready to show excellent service."

"Huh-? Oh...Yeah." Rin rubbed her eyes and saluted limply.

He looked almost amused, but then stern lines creased his face. He gently brushed aside silken violet locks as he surveyed her through oceanic orbs. Rin squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Rinto... You look strikingly familiar."

"Huh? Really? Er...Why is that, Master?" Rin mumbled, trying to shake herself awake.

"I don't know. Now go prepare some hot tea and eggs. Omelets, please."

"Yes, Master."

Rin was so achingly tired that her muscles complained, almost reducing her to a noodle-like mess. She trudged to the stove, turned it on, and put a pot of water on the stove. Unfortunately, while she filled water in the pot, she couldn't help but begin to daydream, and that led to blissful...sleep...

GAKUPO~

He had to chuckle as he saw the boy resting his head against the cabinet, snoozing away. He tapped his finger against his chin as he saw the pot of still cool water on the stove. Nimbly, he grabbed the pot and overturned it on Rinto's head.

And he didn't stir.

What?

Gakupo's mouth opened in shock as he watched the boy barely crack his blue eyes open, then close them again, water dripping from his hair and down his face.

Gakupo shook his head in bemusement. Leaning down, he shook Rinto's shoulder.

Still no reaction.

Gakupo had no choice but to actually hit the boy with the pot. He sat up, alarmed.

"OW!" The boy examined his clothes and shook his head. "Wh-Why am I all wet?"

Gakupo rolled his eyes. "Surely you don't expect me to make myself tea?" His distracted eyes wandered downwards to Rinto's clothes, which were hugging his frame. Truth be known, he really could have passed as a girl. The athletic, lithe, build signified a fast runner and an escapee. Actually...The wide, silver flecked eyes matched the one's of the girl's...

Who stormed by his house every day...

Glaring ahead.

Pouty lips, long, delicate blond lashes...

Absolutely preposterous.

Gakupo himself had asked an elderly woman, Teto's aunt, where Rin was. And the elder woman replied that Rin had gone to the city with a friend, Teto. And Teto was gone, too.

Slowly, Gakupo turned to watch the boy rub his neck. He slowly stood and looked around, confused. Then, he turned to the stove and replaced the water.

"Sorry, Master," he mumbled apologetically. Gakupo shook his head again. That girl would never submit to him, let alone come into his house and work for him.

Like he said, preposterous.

He walked outside, fighting with his thoughts.

RINTO/RIN~

Rin slowly flipped the omelet, decorated the edges with vegetables, and poured the hot tea into a cup. She dipped a spoon in and tasted it. It was way too bitter, so she decided to put some sugar in. She dumped two spoonfuls in and tasted it.

Salt. She'd put salt instead of sugar. Stupid!

As she was redoing it, Gakupo came in.

"Where's my tea- Oh, there it is." He came over and picked up the teacup.

"Master- Ah, um, Master. That one has-" Rin stammered. Gakupo swallowed half the cup. Rin watched in fascinated horror as his face deformed. He swallowed with difficulty and grabbed her collar. Rin squeaked as he glared down at her.

"Were you trying to kill me through awful tasting tea?"

"N-No, I p-put s-salt instead of s-sugar, Master, really," Rin said, the dark look in his eyes scaring her senseless.

He let go of her disgustedly.

"Another antic like that, you're out of here."

"Yes M-Master," Rin bowed her head, but a secret little smile played with her lips. Perhaps it was a cruel unintended trick, but he was a no-good friend-stealer!

Rin lifted her head to see him stride outside. She heard the faint pounding of a brass knocker and the doorbell ring, and poked her head outside to see who it was.

A beautiful golden haired girl waltzed in. She had deep azure eyes and a warm smile. Her hair seemed a little bit...Ah, shifty, but Gakupo looked entranced. He led her to the living room and bowed.

"Hello, Ms. Rion."

The girl giggled and spoke with a smooth, rehearsed, voice.

"Hello, Duke. How do you do?"

"Fine, and may I say how beautiful you look tonight?" He loaded on the charm, and his smoky purple eyes peeked at her from under his lashes. Rin had to admit that he looked very handsome, and she went back to the kitchen to finish the dishes remaining from the tea fiasco.

"Rinto! Bring some tea for Ms. Rion! And make sure to put two teaspoons of sugar." He emphasized on sugar, and Rin scowled and made a face at the door.

"Yes, Master," She called back, and hurriedly finishing the tea on the stove, she fluidly crossed the floor to the lady.

"Here you are, Miss."

"Why, aren't you the cutest thing?" She teased, pinching Rin's cheeks. Rin, close up now, could see defined cheekbones, something she only noticed on males. She cleared her throat, smiled in a pained way, and bowed before leaving the room.

Something was up, and she intended to figure out what it was.

GAKUPO~

Gakupo watched as Rinto hurried to the kitchen, almost tripping over his own feet. He cast an uncomfortable look at the woman across from him and disappeared.

Interesting.

Gakupo returned his attention to the Ms. Rion and smirked at her.

"Would you like to stay the night?"

"Well," She purred. "Depends on what we'd do, hm?"

Suddenly, her phone rang.

"Oh!" She answered, her voice dropping a notch.

"Hello? Yes. No. Oh, no. I'll be right there. Immediately." She stood up, a frown on her face. "It seems that I won't be able to make an appearance tonight. I'm very sorry."

"That's fine." Gakupo dismissed her apology. "Maybe some other time."

She touched his cheek, smiling. "I'd look forward to that."

Funny, by now most girls wouldn't have been able to fight the urge. Maybe it was a serious emergency.

She hurried outside and shut the door behind her. Gakupo waited a minute, then crossed the floor to the kitchen.

"Rinto," he barked. The boy hopped a foot, almost spilling scalding water on himself.

"Y-Y-Yes...Master?" His nervous cerulean eyes widened.

"Why did you run away like something was biting at your heels? That's terrible manners." He reprimanded. "As punishment, you will spend a good portion of the night sweeping the rooms of the third floor and polishing all of my antiques." He pointed upstairs to a room on the right. "They're in that room."

Rinto sighed. "Yes Master."

Giving the boy something to do would enable Gakupo to have some fun in the basement.

"Anyways, today we're going out to buy some food. I am clear out of a good amount of vegetables."

"Will I be paying or will you?"

"Who has the money?" he replied. "I would like to be back promptly at four, so hurry and get your clothes together."

"Um, Master, about that..." The boy sheepishly tugged at his shirt. "I only have one set."

"Very well, we'll buy some clothes too. We can't have you looking like a beggar."

Rinto looked down at his white cotton shirt and pulled it outwards. "Okay." He paused. "Master."

Gakupo silently observed him. For a boy, he was cute. He pouted as he glared up at the antique room. Again, Gakupo was hit with nostalgia. The same amount that the beautiful silver-flecked eyes widened. The same glare. The same uplift of the small nose.

"Do you know a girl with the last name of Kagamine?" The words were out before he could stop them.

The boy choked. His wild eyes stared up at Gakupo, then composed themselves.

"Yes! She's my cousin!" He blurted out.

Gakupo raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah," he laughed nervously, scratching his head.

"Can you tell me anything about her?" He asked, making his voice velvety with persuasion.

"Um, she likes orange. And uh, oranges. And she went to the city recently," The boy prattled, listing off facts that Gakupo already knew. He'd seen the orange stickers on her binder. Smelled the citrus perfume blowing in wisps towards his nose. Watched her buy a ripe, juicy, orange every day after school when he followed her to the market.

He drummed his fingers impatiently. "Uh-huh. Anything else?"

"Well, uh," The boy let an interesting smile cross his face. "She likes this dude, Rei."

Gakupo squeezed the thin-stemmed glass until it broke into two. As the shards glittered on the ground, Gakupo spoke.

"What."

"Yeah, he's got, like, black hair, and amber eyes and stuff. She's crazy for him."

"And you know this how," Gakupo continued, voice low. No way was he losing Rin to a greasy competitor like the one Rinto was talking about. He knew Rei, oh, he knew him. He was his archenemy.

"Oh, he talks to her at school, you know. And flirts with her. And she stares at him in class. I live only a few houses down from her, and he visits a lot." The boy waved his hand carelessly. "Anyways, why do you wanna know?"

"You're positive about this," Gakupo glared at the boy. "Because if you're not..."

"Forgive me, Master." The boy did a tiny bow of his head. "I'm only relating what I see."

"You're dismissed," Gakupo said quietly. "Go clean the third floor."

As the boy tromped slowly upstairs, Gakupo thoughtfully bent to pick up a shard of glass.

"Perhaps," he murmured. "It's time to visit Rei."