I'M BACK FROM THE DEAD! Sorry, it's been awhile since I updated this. But that's ok cause here's chapter 3! Now I just have to get round to writing the second half of my EXTREMELY LATE birthday special for Rin and Len on Bows and Bananas *sighs* But no fear! Anyone here who follows Bows and Bananas will be glad to know it's coming soon!
I do not own Vocaloid!
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There's A First Time For Everything
Chapter 3: First Visit
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I stood in front of an ordinary house. It was painted just off white and had a bright green front door. The were several plants hanging around the door frame. It was rather pretty actually. I checked the paper in my hand once again. I was definitely at the right house, unless Rin had given me the wrong address.
This was my first time ever going round a frie- no – a classmate's house. I began panicking. How was I supposed to get in again? I felt rather stupid when I noticed the doorbell. I cautiously reached out and pressed it.
I shivered as I heard a ring echo through the house, shortly followed by footsteps. I clutched the shoulder strap of my rucksack tightly and held my breath as the door slowly opened. There stood Rin, all smiles and eyes as big and blue as ever.
"Hi, Len! Come right in," she chirped.
I followed her inside to what seemed to be the living room. All the walls were a beige colour and the carpets cream. There were various ornaments on display and photos on the walls. There was a brown couch to the side of the room, an armchair and a normal sized TV.
"It's not much, but I like it," commented Rin. "Are you thirsty? Wanna drink?"
"No thanks," I replied not wanting to be a bother. She shrugged and pranced off into the kitchen. She shortly returned with a glass of orange juice and a glass of water. "I got you some water anyway."
"Thanks," I said and took the glass, my fingers gently brushing hers as I did.
"I guess we should go up to my room," said Rin. After seeing the look on my face she explained, "There's a big desk in there. My parents aren't home so they wont know about the drinks and don't worry! It's tidy."
She winked and hopped off. I followed her up the stairs and into what I guessed was her room. Unlike the rest of the house the walls, carpets, curtains and most of the furniture were orange. Rin sat down at a desk to the right side of the room and I was about to join her when I noticed a keyboard, guitar and microphone in the corner of the room.
"You play?" I asked.
"I play and write actually," she said shyly.
I thought for a moment. I'd written a song before. I bought books on the guitar and taught myself to play because I wasn't able to have normal lessons due to constantly moving. I wasn't the best musician but I had an idea or two about song writing.
"Could I hear you?" I asked, suddenly really interested. I didn't know where my nervous feeling had gone.
"I'm not that good…"
"Please!" I pleaded and put my hands together. I realised what I was doing, rubbed the back of my neck and awkwardly said, "B-but if you don't want to then it d-doesn't matter."
Rin looked at me curiously then let out a little giggle. "It's funny how you go from one personality and then suddenly you're nervous, little Lenny again. You changed in the cafeteria too."
"What are you talking about? I d-don't. Plus, I'm taller than you and don't call me Lenny!" I exclaimed rather embarrassed.
"Ok, Len-Len. You can hear me play," she giggled. That bloomin nickname was worse than the first. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Rin got up and went over to her instruments. I watched her puzzle over something for a few minutes. "Darn it," she sighed.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"I want you to hear my best song. The beat is saved but somehow the melody recording on my keyboard had deleted itself. If I only play keyboard it won't sound as good!"
'No, Len. Stop. Don't say it. You'll embarrass yourself. Get that thought out of your mind!'
"I could play the guitar for you…"
'Damn it, Len. Damn it."
"Really? I've got the sheet music. You sure it wont be too hard?"
"Not a problem!" I said. I dropped my rucksack and went to pick up Rin's guitar. Rin handed me some sheet music. The tune looked hard but then I glanced at Rin's music sheet and my eyes widened. It looks like something a pro would play.
"Three, two, one, go!" said Rin as she started playing the intro. So far it sounded brilliant. "Len, you come in on three, ok? One, two, three, play!"
I started playing. It wasn't too hard and it was quite a nice tune. I already thought the song was amazing but then Rin started singing. I couldn't hear the instruments anymore. Only Rin and her what seemed like angelic voice. After the first verse I snapped out of my trance and actually started paying attention to the lyrics.
"The lighter's all out of oil
The pit of my stomach is on fire
If everything is such a lie
Then it really would be better…"
The song Rin was singing sounded rather sad. I hope it wasn't how she was really feeling. I don't want to brag but we sounded rather good. Brilliant even! I don't know how I arrived at Rin's house feeling so nervous and about half an hour later we were performing together. What had happened to me? Rin got on to what seemed to be the chorus.
"I want to dive into
a nuclear reactor, I wanna fly
My body surrounded by beautiful blue lights
If I dive into
the nuclear reactor
then I can let all my sins go…"
I was mesmerised by Rin's voice. It was just…stunning. We eventually got to the end. Rin played the last note and everything stopped. Rin and I looked at each other and we began beaming at each other. Rin was even laughing a bit.. We didn't know why we were acting that way, we just were. Suddenly Rin flew towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"That was amazing, Len!" she exclaimed and hugged me tightly. I didn't know what to say. I was being hugged by a girl and that girl wasn't Lily and one of her death hugs. I'd never been hugged by another girl before. Both the feeling of Rin's soft body pressed up against mine and the thought of it all started to make me blush. I could feel my face burning up.
Then I heard an odd noise. I turned to the doorway (which I'd left open behind me) to see a man and woman clapping. I guessed right away they were Rin's parents and I blushed even harder. Rin carefully removed her arms.
"Rin, that was great!" said her father.
"Our daughter, the little singer," sighed her mother.
Rin scowled, "I'm not little."
"Well, compared to Rinto you are. We just got back from our meal with him. His work is coming along so well!" said her mother.
"Yes, such a clever lad," added her father. "And who is this?" he said, giving me one of those father looks.
"O-oh, this is Len. We're working on a project together for school," Rin explained.
"A music project?" asked her father.
"N-no, s-science…"
"Well why aren't you doing it then? For goodness sake child!" scolded her mother. Ok, now I was confused. One second Rin was being praised then the next she's getting a row? What was with her parents?
"You should be working hard and studying properly! Did Rinto get to where he is now by writing songs about nuclear reactors?"
"No, mum. No," sighed Rin.
"Then stop lazing around and get your damn work done!" yelled her father and slammed Rin's bedroom door.
Rin poked her tongue out at the closed door and let out a big sigh. She stood up and trudged back over to her desk. I removed the guitar strap from my shoulder, carefully placed the instrument down and made my way over to her. She wasn't crying but she looked pretty depressed.
"What was that about?" I asked softly as I sat down next to her.
"Rinto," she murmured and pointed to a photo frame on her desk. I picked it up to have a look. It was a picture of Rin and an older boy who looked very much like her. Even more than I did. He was giving her a little, snow white rabbit and Rin had that big grin of hers plastered on her face. I could tell the picture was taken a few years back.
"He's my big brother. He's twenty four and just started a business with his girlfriend, Lenka. Compared to him, mum and dad think I'm nothing," she explained. "Don't get me wrong! I love Rinto to death but…I just wish mum and dad didn't have a favourite."
I didn't really know what to do. I could never imagine my parents favouring Lenka over me. Just like Rin, I loved my elder sibling (even though she was a flipping pain in the backside) but it would be hard coping with knowing the fact mum and dad preferred her.
'Should I try comforting her? But in what way? I've only known her since yesterday! But she hugged me earlier… No, that was just a one off. But she didn't seem to mind being close to me. She's been right next to me since I defended her. But what if she DOES find it weird if I hug her?'
During my inner war with myself, my hand had subconsciously rested onto Rin's shoulder. She looked up at me. Plain misery was what I saw. Suddenly I felt something really weird. That feeling…what was it? There was anger and annoyance for sure but there was something else. Maybe I was worried? Understandable, I guessed. There was one other thing but I didn't really know what it was.
But I did know I just wanted Rin to smile.
I pushed my hand further so it travelled along the bottom of her neck and found its way to her other shoulder. I draped by arm carefully around her and squeezed gently.
That war inside myself was getting more ferocious by the second. However, surprisingly that new, weird feeling was winning causing me to say, "Your parents are missing out. Hearing that song, I know that you have a gift for music. You play beautifully and your voice it gorgeous. Don't let them tell you otherwise. And I'm quite sure Rinto is proud to have a little sister like you. What's your song called anyway? I mean it, it's great!"
Rin gave a little chuckle and replied, "Meltdown. Thanks, Len. That means a lot. I feel stupid now, why am I telling you all this? We only met yesterday and I'm telling you my life story? Sorry…"
"Nah. It's alright. As long as your happier now," I said, smiling slightly.
"And by the way… You did it again. You changed."
I instantly removed my arm and said rather flustered, "I do NOT change! I'm not a freaking werewolf so get that idea out of your head about me changing and stuff!"
Rin burst into laughter. "You're funny when you're angry, Len!"
"S-shut up," I said, crossing my arms and scowling.
We FINALLY got round to doing what I had come over for in the first place. Rin was awfully eager to do forest animals so I just went along with it. While I was writing out the last paragraph I noticed Rin doodling in a notebook. I wrote the last sentence then nosed over to her.
"Is that a duck?" I asked, pointing to the thing Rin had just finished.
"It was supposed to be a rabbit," sighed Rin. "There's the bunny ears."
"I'm sorry! It just looks like a duck's beak to me."
"If you're so clever, why don't you draw the rabbit?" she challenged and handed me the pencil she'd been using.
I took the pencil without hesitating, grabbed her notebook and drew a quick sketch of a rabbit. I smiled at my work and handed the pencil back to the gaping Rin. "There."
"How do you draw so well?" she whined, tracing over my line art.
"I'm into anime, manga, that sort of thing," I said while fiddling with an eraser.
"Really? Which ones?" she asked. "I've seem Ouran High School Host Club before. Oh, and Fruits Basket! Rinto also introduced me to Ryuu and the Dusk Dragon."
"Ryuu's my favourite," I said, rather happy I'd found someone else who'd seen it. I pulled the notebook back towards me and started drawing a chibi Ryuu.
"Cool! I really like it too but the part where Minoru goes back in time just muddles me up," she said with a puzzled look on her face.
"She doesn't go back in time! She goes to the Aerophal world where the Bonos are trying to trick her by acting out lies from her past," I explained. It always annoyed me that everyone seemed to get that part confused. I don't know why people didn't get it! It was bloomin obvious!
"Ooooohhhhh! Still don't get it," said Rin, smiling sheepishly. "You'll have to watch it through with me sometime!"
"Yeah…I guess," I replied. I wasn't sure, it was something I always did by myself. It would be odd having a friend – CLASSMATE – watching with me. And what was it with Rin? Why was she so enthusiastic about everything? I guessed I still had loads to learn about her.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Rin. I could feel her hovering over my shoulder as I went on to drawing a chibi Minoru next to Ryuu.
"You just did," I replied, still focused on my sketch.
"Can…can you dr-draw me?"
I stopped drawing and sat up straight to get a good look at Rin. "Why?" I asked.
"I just think it would be cool, having a manga styled drawing of me. Drawn by you too!" she said happily. I couldn't help but notice the faint blush on her cheeks. I had to admit Rin was pretty cute, she'd be a nice person to draw.
"Um, alright then," I said.
"Yay! Thanks!" she chirped, the blush fading.
Not long after I gathered up my things to leave. I'd stayed over Rin's way longer than I'd intended and now it was nearly time for tea. Luckily, Rin's parents were in the kitchen so she walked me through to the front door.
"Thanks Len, I've really enjoyed your company. Oh, hang on a second!"
She still had her notebook on her and quickly scribbled something down. She ripped out the page, folded it and handed it to me.
"See you, Len! Bye!" she said, waving and hopped back indoors.
Feeling rather dazed I opened the note which read:
Here's my mobile number!
000-000-000
Feel free to text me whenever!
-Rin :3
I sighed, smiled, put the paper in my pocket and made my way home.
Thank Kami-sama my parents weren't in the house. Neither was Lily so I was rather happy. Sweet, peaceful Len-time. I grabbed a banana from the kitchen and went upstairs to my bedroom. I ate it quickly. The next thing I did was grab my sketchpad, a decent pencil, a clean eraser and got to work.
When my family did get home I didn't pay much attention to them and ignored all of their pestering questions about Rin's house. I ate my tea at record breaking speed and went right back to my sketch pad.
Somehow, and I don't know how, I was up until two o'clock in the morning drawing Rin's portrait.
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Aww, I think I'm turning Lenny into a slight tsundere. :3 Just so you know I really am making up that very random Ryuu anime as I go along. And bunnies might be a bit important later on! XD Ah, well… I'll update quicker next time! :D
