Four
Confrontation
(...well, sort of)
The memory of Len's outburst the day before had affixed itself onto Rin's mind like an unpleasant layer of sweat on skin. Yuuma, being the gentleman he was, had told her not to waste her time and energy pondering over the situation with the reason "boys forget these things rather quickly". Despite his advice and Miku's almost-successful antics to perk her up, Rin found it impossible to shove the thoughts away. On one hand, she felt that Len's infuriated lashing was natural as they had been at each other's throats for a while. On the other hand, however…
It was just plain odd to her. Perhaps that was why she couldn't accept just leaving the matter as it was.
After a simple dinner, the hotheaded boy had left the table without uttering a word. That was completely normal, given his warped personality. She only grew curious when Miku and Yuuma conveniently excused themselves to talk on the porch. Scratch that, they weren't even talking, but whispering. She stood up immediately when she heard Miku gasp in astonishment.
"Hey, what's up?" she had asked. Her best friend's face had lost a bit of color.
Instead of an answer, Miku turned to Yuuma and the two had what seemed to be an eye-to-eye, telepathic conversation. Rin's interest was established when Yuuma shook his head and Miku replied with "oh, it's nothing! Don't worry about it!"
Just what the hell is going on?
"Miku, this is driving me nuts!" Rin whined over lunch. The whole time, from what she saw, it seemed like the two were exchanging information with the curt nod, glance and smile. Throughout, neither of them had called on her to discuss whatever they had in mind. She was being kept in the dark, and it was vexing her.
The said girl put her utensils down and looked at her innocently. "Why, is something wrong?"
"You and Yuuma were talking about something last night…?" Rin suggested.
"It's really nothing to worry about, Rinnie," Miku insisted, shaking her head.
"Indeed," Yuuma murmured from across the table as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Rin suspiciously scrutinized her best friend. "Is it… something you can't tell me?" Miku's acting was reputable enough to make her doubt her own thoughts.
Her façade could only hold for so long. "That's not true, Rinnie! I can share anything with my best girlfriend," Miku blurted carelessly. She seemed insulted by the question.
"Then tell me what this is all about," Rin demanded hotly.
"Miss Rin," Yuuma interrupted, "your friend does trust you, but this is a special case, especially because…" The butler cut himself off, as though he was about to trip over exposed wire.
Rin slammed her palms on the table and stood up. "Do you think I'm some kid who can't hear bad words or something?! I'm seventeen, for goodness' sake!"
Neither Miku nor Yuuma offered a response. They consulted each other again with the same wordless conversation, looking panicked.
Miku was the more concerned of the two. "Should we tell her after all?" She asked Yuuma meekly.
Yuuma stared at Rin's eyes. Rin froze and glared back to prove herself. After a moment, the butler said, "no, not right now."
"Screw you!" Rin screamed. She snatched a piece of bread from her plate and hurled it directly at Yuuma and stormed out of the kitchen before she could see him catch it.
Miku sighed morosely. "Now we have two angry teenagers to take care of."
Rin figured that her friend would know less about the situation, so she decided to try her luck and pester Yuuma, the man who knew Len inside-out, instead. She took care to bring her soiled laundry with her to the basement where he was busily folding up a batch of yellow shirts. To her dismay, it didn't take long for him to feel her presence.
"Hello there, Rin," Yuuma greeted. "Are you feeling better?"
He was referring to her tantrum at lunchtime. Rin blushed in embarrassment. "Well, yeah. I guess…" She set her clothes down on the counter and opened up the washing machine. Hopefully she would be able to set him at ease, at least enough to discover what they were trying so hard to keep quiet about.
"Allow me," Yuuma said.
"Huh?"
He picked up her laundry and set up the wash cycle in a flourish.
"Uhh, thanks," Rin mumbled shyly. She was suddenly conscious of her inability to operate the appliance. He didn't say a word when she started on folding up Miku's freshly-dried articles. It seemed like Yuuma had, in fact, completely avoided them, judging from how much there was compared to his employer's.
They both kept silent; one person was engrossed in the task at hand and the other was busy attempting to look occupied. To Rin, the low hum of the washing machine seemed to stretch on for ages.
She finally spoke up and asked, "Yuuma?"
"Yes, how may I help you?" He was studying her face. Rin chose not to give herself away.
"… Sorry about the bread."
The black-haired man nodded. "No worries."
Rin let out a long groan and threw her arms in the air. "Why is it so awkward down here anyway?!"
"I believe it was caused by a flying loaf."
Rin lightly punched his arm. "Hey, I already apologized for that!" They both laughed.
"So…" Yuuma cleared his throat. "What are you here for?"
"Wha— no, I just came to get my clothes washed. There's never enough, right?" Rin hastily denied. She had been fooled by his placid demeanor. He was eerily sharp.
Yuuma raised an eyebrow. "Really? Your friend took care to mention that you were lax with house chores."
"Damn you, Yuuma," Rin sighed. "What else did Miku tell you?"
To her increased annoyance, he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well?" Rin crossed her arms. "You know why I'm here."
It was Yuuma's turn to sigh. "Like I mentioned before, Rin, I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
He didn't answer.
Rin suddenly felt the need to seize his neck and begin strangling him. She let her nails dig into her palms. "Give me a hint or something, anything. Is… is it related to him?"
Yuuma stroked his chin. "Well, it is linked to Master Len, if that's what you're asking."
Rin blinked. "Hold on, what do you mean exact—" Yuuma had gone back to folding up the shirts, as if to tell her not to probe further. "Seriously? He's the guy and I'm supposed to do the job of going after him?"
"If you do, you'll be the first, and he'll be after you like a lovesick drunkard."
"Huh? Did you say something?"
Yuuma smiled. "No, not at all."
"Miku!"
The teal haired girl clumsily caught her makeup case in her hands before it hit the floor. "W-what?"
Rin barged into the bathroom. "What did you tell Yuuma?"
Miku's eyes widened. She turned away and continued applying beige powder on her face.
"He told me that you told him, that I hate chores."
"Oh, whoops," Miku tittered sheepishly. "He was being so nice and handsome and all, and before I knew it, I told him a ton of stuff."
"So he's nice and handsome… Are you telling me that you like Yuuma?" Rin wagged her eyebrows suggestively. She had been oblivious to this, so it could one way or another be a useful weapon, right?
"I… I think he's a really cool guy, that's all!" Miku protested with a pink face.
Rin reached for the doorknob, deciding that her friend was too in love to be of help. "Okay, I'm gonna tell him. Hey Yuuma, Miku thinks you're a stud, so could you ask her out?" She teased in a high voice.
"Rinnie!" Miku cried.
"What's wrong, girlfriend?" Rin asked sweetly.
Miku put her hands on her hips. "Is this what he and I were discussing about?" She, like Yuuma, was perceptive as well. Her defensiveness made Rin chuckle.
"How about a trade: that info, for my sealed lips about your obsession with Yuuma?"
"I-I don't see him like that, come on!" Miku groaned. Her face was still a rosy pink. "That's not even a bargain, try harder."
"Try this: that info, for me to keep it a secret and not help Yuuma cook."
Rin had refused to admit time and again, but her cooking skills were comparable to a troll's. It was hard to restrain from hollering when her best friend turned white at the memory.
"You have a deal." Miku was pouting as they shook hands. "For starters, you do know where it went wrong, right?"
"Not really."
Miku looked up thoughtfully. "Ah, let's see… it was when you said that Len wasn't like Lenka at all cos he was on his man period."
"I don't get it at all!" Rin yelled in exasperation. "What's wrong with that? It was just a normal insult! Is he an untouchable baby prince or what?!"
"But this is really serious, Rinnie." Miku's expression had morphed into one of distress. The shift in mood caught her off guard and she involuntarily shuddered. "Actually, Len is…"
"You look ill, Rin," Yuuma said at dinnertime. "Did I forget to add something to the food?"
The baked salmon was scrumptious, but… Rin's stomach was churning restlessly, enough to make her forget her appetite and stop eating altogether. "It's great, Yuuma, really." She speared some fish and stuffed her face, trying her best to flash her jolly smile. In a few moments she swallowed the food and sunk onto the table, moaning.
"Rinnie, don't die on me!" Miku cried, patting her back.
"I just feel nauseated, that's all. And stop slapping my back!"
Yuuma's brows creased and his lips thinned. "Miku, did you tell her…?" Rin thought she was hallucinating, but Miku seemed to jolt upon being addressed. She laughed halfheartedly, wringing her hands.
"I did, earlier on."
"I guess the perfect moment has come, then."
Rin, who was expecting the butler to lecture Miku, tilted her head. "Wait, what?" She glanced at her friend questioningly as Yuuma got up and headed for the basement. He returned with a red basket filled with the shirts he had been folding. The sight of Yuuma abruptly stopping dinner to fetch a basket of clothes perplexed her even further.
He motioned for her to get up. "I assume you're done with dinner?"
Her plate was three-quarters full. "Uh, yeah… Sorry, I'll eat it again tomorrow."
"That's alright. Come with me."
Miku waved and cheered ecstatically as Yuuma led her away. "Good luck, Rinnie! Go get him, sister!"
"I don't even know what's going on!" Rin shouted back. A part of her was dreading to see her enemy again after a day of peace. Len had gotten Yuuma to bring food to his room so it was safe to say that he had never emerged at all, save for the toilet trips she didn't notice.
"What exactly are you planning?" Rin whispered when they stood in front of Len's room. The peculiar smell of bananas already made her want to barf.
Yuuma knocked thrice on the door.
"Hey, wait!" Rin hissed.
"Master Len, I've brought your laundry," Yuuma said loudly. He always spoke so gently, but his voice was perfectly capable of piercing through if he needed it to, Rin thought admiringly. Yuuma leaned forward to the door to hear. Rin held her breath.
There was an audible grunt.
She frowned. He was so rude!
Yuuma tapped her shoulder lightly. "It's your turn now." She accepted the laundry basket with shaking hands. "Master Len dislikes superficial people."
"What—" Before she could ask, she had been shoved through the entrance. Whatever courage she had gathered dissipated with the click of the doorknob. Rin scanned the room with distrusting, fearful eyes. Every light in the room was shut off, limiting her vision. Very slowly and agonizingly, she tiptoed across the carpeted floor. When she made it safely, she was relieved that Len hadn't left any large objects lying around.
She used her toes to feel for an empty space and set the basket down as inaudibly as possible. Eventually, her eyes began to adjust to suit the lack of light. She was at the side of the room, right? Rin reached into the shadows and made out a wall and a sharp corner.
The doorknob clicked a second time, making her jump. Rin bit her lip to stop the yelp that was escaping. Ah, so this is when Yuuma supposedly leaves the room, she realized.
Was she supposed to leave, or…? Rin crept toward the window. The only source of light was from the moon, so it was impossible to make out if he was there in the darkness, watching her with eyes of hatred. The thought made her queasy. She peered outside to get a better view.
Len was sitting on the roof.
Rin scrambled back into the shadows. For a moment, she hoped that the pounding of her heart wasn't too loud. What was she supposed to do? She had successfully infiltrated the base of the banana freak, but now what? She sat on the floor and took deep breaths.
Was all this done with the aim of… helping her talk to him? Why was he such a recluse anyway, she wondered sourly.
"I guess this is my only chance," Rin sighed. "Here goes nothing!"
Clank.
Len looked up, startled. He had been alone on the roof for a while, drowning himself in upbeat music to take his mind off the previous day while watching the sun sink into the sharp shadows of the mountains. Evading the bitch wasn't too difficult—he even doubted if she was around. He even took the time to tell Yuuma to forbid anyone from entering. Did he imagine the sound after all? Len pulled his ear pods out and rubbed his head. It was probably a headache.
Clank.
That confirmed his suspicions. Len shifted closer to the edge, unnerved.
Clank.
There was a… foot?
Reality mercilessly hit him when a familiar blonde head emerged. Tentatively, Rin clambered onto the rooftop. Damn it, why couldn't he react? She was already so close and he couldn't move an inch.
"W-what the hell is this?! Why are you here?" He sputtered.
The rabbit girl spent the next few seconds adjusting to comfort, before she turned to him. "Hi." She ran a hand through her short hair and let some strands fall on her face. Was she embarrassed? Whatever the case was, she wasn't supposed to be here.
"I'll push you off," Len snarled.
Bunny girl turned to him with an incredulous look. "Really, after I made the effort to come and apologize?"
"Apologize? Don't make me laugh," Len scoffed. "The day you say sorry is the day pigs fly."
To his confusion, she didn't retort like he anticipated. "Flying pigs, where? I bet they taste really good." It was an awful comeback, so she was serious. Len didn't reply and focused his eyes on the starry night sky. What was he supposed to say in this situation? Did Lenka teach him anything about this? And why did his face feel so warm? His palms were starting to get sweaty, too.
Rin coughed awkwardly. He saw her hug her knees in his peripheral vision. "So… uhh, I'm sorry for what I said that day…" She turned quickly to the side. She was expecting a reply, wasn't she?
Well, Len? Aren't you going to say anything?
…I don't feel like talking to her.
Then again, he did want to reply. The more Len thought of what to say, the stronger the prickling sensation at his chest became. Damn it, why was she even trying? "You're not kidding, right?"
"Huh?"
"Um..." There was just so much tension, too much.
"I guess I shouldn't disturb you," Rin said hastily, getting up. "Um, I'm just gonna go—" Her foot lost balance and slapped on the smooth brick tiles. In a flash, she was sliding over the edge.
Shit!
Len grabbed her arm just before she disappeared from view and froze. He saw her tightly-shut eyes and felt the trembling from her body. It somehow sent a surge of adrenaline and energy through his body. Using the window frame as a grip, he hoisted her up without a second thought.
He continued holding onto her arm as she reoriented herself. "Ow, crap." He looked down and saw a long yawning cut on her left leg. It took him a bit to realize that it was the roof and his yanking that created it. Len bit his lip, guilty.
"We should go back," he offered quietly.
"You don't mind?" Why was she so surprised?
Len clenched his fists. "You just cut your leg and you're asking if I mind letting you treat it in my room? What the hell?" He shouted at her.
"I can hear you fine, you don't have to yell," Rin said irritably.
Len sagged inside. He had done it again.
The teens found no suitable words to converse with as Len searched for a bandage. Rin sat on the lemon yellow floor, one hand on the carpet to keep her balance and the other pinching the injury to keep the sting away. She watched as the boy frantically tossed out the contents of each drawer. He cursed loudly when he found nothing useful.
"You know, I'm perfectly okay just consulting Yuuma about this," she said timidly.
"No! If Yuuma sees you with that he's going to think I did that on purpose!" Len protested, taking her aback. "Just… just wait till I find something." He shrank back to his reserved self. Rin couldn't help but grin.
"Well, thanks anyway, for helping me there."
"Were you expecting me to let you drop or something?" Rin glimpsed at him to see a frown.
"Not that I was, but I wasn't predicting that at all."
Len sighed. "I didn't predict that you would actually slip. You're clumsy as shit."
"Like I said," Rin said through grit teeth. "Thanks for helping me."
"Y-you're not special," Len mumbled. "It's natural to want to stop someone from falling anyway." Rin couldn't guess what face he had with his back turned to her. The mood had lightened considerably, though. Did he accept her apology? Len rummaged through the yellow cabinets and grabbed a towel.
He knelt down to look at her wound. "It's not bleeding, so I guess a wet towel can help… right?"
"Uh," she said, still bewildered by his sudden display of concern, "anything's fine."
If the situation earlier was already awkward, there would be a lack of description for when Len brought back the towel and tried to wipe her leg.
"I can handle it from here," Rin said when she noticed how reluctant he was. "Ouch." Thankfully, the fabric was warm to provide some degree of comfort. Her eyes met Len's again when she looked up. "What?"
Len shook his head (rather roughly) and turned away from her. "I-is that all you need?"
"Um, I'm good for now." Despite their uneasiness with each other, Rin found it amusing to observe his expression change from worry, to relief, and then to something else she couldn't decode.
The boy sat a distance away from her and watched till she was done wiping the cut. "Hey, why did you even bother?" He asked.
"Bother with what?"
"With apologizing, why did you?"
Rin tossed the towel to him. "Isn't it normal to want to say sorry after a big fight?"
Len's eyes narrowed. "But I never apologized to you."
"Either way, I wanted some peace," Rin explained, "I pulled the trigger, anyway."
She wanted to melt into the floor when Len perked up and shifted a little closer. "What do you mean, you pulled the trigger?" He asked coldly.
"For starters, I know that you're…" Rin gulped.
"Go on," he pressed.
"You're adopted." She wanted to take back her words as soon as she said them.
Len looked like he wanted to hit something, her specifically. He had the same terrifying face as when he exploded the day before. Silence shrouded them so rapidly Rin could hear his deep breaths, as though he was trying to put out an internal fire. "Who told you?" His voice was hoarse and threatening.
"Miku did," Rin paused. "B-but it was Yuuma originally. He was worried about you."
She jolted when Len leapt off the floor. He retreated into the bathroom, where she heard the sounds of a running tap and the squelching noise of a cloth being dried. Rin tried not to look at his face when he returned. "Um, I'm sorry, I really didn't know."
"Do you mind?"
"Huh?" Her curiosity willed her to look up. He's not angry? Len had not a face of rage, but one of profound loneliness.
"Does it matter that I'm not related to Lenka?"
Rin quickly shook her head. "Why would it matter? You two get along well, and you even look like her real brother, so it doesn't—"
"Thank goodness," Len breathed. He sat back on the floor, slightly nearer. Rin noticed that his facial features were significantly more relaxed as opposed to the frowns and scowls earlier. Did her words mean that much? It felt like this was one of the few times anyone had told him the same thing.
"So, Len," Rin asked carefully, "Are we cool?"
The remaining tension washed away when Len, for the first time, smiled sincerely at her. "Yeah, it's cool."
It feels more awkward now, though, Rin thought, averting her gaze to the wall. "Well, I should go tell Yuuma and Miku that I passed with flying colors," she chortled. She stretched her legs and prepared to lift herself when she felt a tug on her shirt sleeve.
"Hmm, what is it?"
"I-I don't mind if you…"
"Huh?"
"You can stay if you want," Len muttered.
"Wow, I thought you despised my existence."
"It's different now, moron!" His arguments didn't sound insulting now. "What?" He asked when she extended a hand to him.
Rin grinned. "We haven't done a proper introduction, so… It's nice to meet you, Len Kagamine."
His hand was cold, and sort of moist. She paid no mind. "N-nice to meet you too, Rin Kagamine."
"Oh my god, they're so cute!" Miku squealed, pressing her ear on the door. "What do you think, Yuuma?"
The butler was resting against the wall. "I'm just glad Master Len didn't chase her out. And he could have apologized to her for all the trouble he's been causing…"
"This is the best we can get outta him for now, I guess," Miku said resignedly. "But you need to be more enthusiastic about this!"
Yuuma lazily lifted his arm. "Hooray, they managed to get along. Woo hoo."
"Yuuma, please!"
Four: end
Author's note
Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry for how long this took!
The writing style is a little different due to the huge time gap. I hope it's alright!
Aah, gosh. I really need to get used to this.
