Bloody Roses

VOCALOID – 02

By: Chi~

Disclaimer: Yes, yes, we all know that I'm basically torturing Rin. But I assure you, I only own the OC and that's it. Crypton has Rin and Len, got it? No! Not the meat cleaver again :is struck:! OUCH!!!

A/N: So I was looking at my magical tablet (a.k.a. my planning and idea tablet for stories) and I noticed that I fucked up my plot a little. Oh well~. The beauty of being an author is the ability to manipulate and change your story whenever you want. :giggles to self:

Anyways, carry on, yeah?

Read in ½ to feel the boiling point of this climbing plot. Hehehe~!

Bloody Roses

IIII

Tickle Me Pink

When Rin and I were eight, we tickled each other a lot. I don't remember why, but we just found it amazing that we could make each other laugh to tears just by jabbing our fingers in each other's ribs.

The laughing was contagious.

Soon, it became a game. If we caught the other at the right moment when they were unawares, we would attack and tickle the day lights out of the other.

It sure was fun those days, when we had nothing to worry about and we could just play with our hearts content.

But it's different.

It wasn't a difference I liked either. Not one bit.

For the next month, Rin and I never saw each other. We had our own business to take care of. I had two jobs and tutoring. Rin had a job, tutoring, and a boyfriend to satisfy.

I worried for her, night and day and wondered when the blissful day would come where we would finally cross each other and actually hold some eye contact. I was worried to a point where my stomach kept turning and my eyes kept burning with tears I couldn't shed. I didn't care what we would do if we ever saw each other for once.

I just wanted to see her.

I just wanted to be with her.

I just wanted her to be alright.

When will it happen? I just go to work and put on a smile and act like my best friend isn't deteriorating somewhere out of my reach; where I can't touch her. I just act like I'm taking care of myself (which I'm not) because I'm worrying so much. I can't eat. I can't sleep properly. It's making me sick because she's somewhere else with a guy I can't and won't ever trust.

And not only that, but I'm so depressed that she's with someone else. Someone else's arms. Someone else's bed.

Having sex with someone else.

It makes me sick. Sick to my stomach.

Sure, if I love the girl, I would definitely envision us having sex. I would imagine her lips upon mine and her touching me so intimately that it made me shiver. I'd imagine all the things I could do to her, just to hear the beautiful sounds that would leave her mouth. I could see the way she'd wiggle under my touch, groaning my name and crying out whenever I did something interesting.

I'd imagine her literally crying out her love to me as I took her, over and over again, making her mine so nobody else could have her. And I would show her how much I loved her by kissing her tears away and taking her harder than before.

But, the fantasies and the anger didn't clutch onto me like most bad influences would. I'm a good person. I couldn't take doing something dark. Jealousy brought hate, and no matter how much I wanted to hate Kale, I never would.

Though, I will protect Rin. He'll have to learn that for himself.

What went from a strong friendship to a silent relationship, Rin and I were not together as much as we were comfortable with. I hope and pray she's thinking about me too. Our friendship was flushing down the drain…

What would be left in the end?

For yet another month, the days rolled by; same old, same old. Nothing new happened, except I finally got to have a glimpse of her blond hair before she'd walk out the door.

I never stopped worrying. Never stopped wondering and loving her.

And I kept working, keeping my mind on work whenever the time came for it because I couldn't slip up – I'd end up losing my job and then what? Rin and I can't afford to have financial problems right now.

In the morning I would eat my cereal in silence, thinking about Rin, wondering if she would stumble through the door exhaustedly like that one morning or if she was sleeping. In the afternoon, while eating a bento I packed for myself, I'd think of her and smile, knowing she was eating the bento I packed for her as well. And at night, I would cook dinner, eat alone, think about her again as I made her plate, wrapped it up and put it in the fridge.

Rin, Rin, and Rin. That's all I thought about. Two months I hadn't seen her. Hadn't talked to her. Hadn't…touched her…

What was she doing with Kale right now? Will I see her for dinner again?

Will I ever see her again?

The day went by pretty slow today. My first job, which is in the morning, was pretty tiring. My co-worker, Kaito, had a pretty bad day today and almost got fired for stupid mistakes. I finally had to step in and help him out a little while juggling my own work, which I got done (it was a miracle). After that was the usual five hours of tutoring at the local library. Such a drag. Then, next up was my evening job, which lasted from five to nine tonight, since it's Saturday and I take the night shift on Saturdays (it's pretty short).

It was all just hectic. It helped a little. A bit. A smidge.

But when I walked out of my second job and into the parking lot, I was hit with Rin's face and the worry that came with it all over again. What was she doing? How was she doing? Was she eating enough? Did she see the bento I packed for her today? I know she had work too; I wonder how that went?

All these damn questions plagued and fried my mind on a frying pan of misery until I finally reached home. I felt a little irritable and in need of a crisp, biting soda as I jammed my key into the door knob and twisted it with murderous intent. Gosh, so annoyed.

As I slammed the door shut and slid off my jacket, I had to stop for a second to listen to my surrounds, since I'd heard something peculiar.

…The T.V.'s on?

Kicking off my shoes in an almost painful manner and rushing through the doorway to the kitchen, I looked over to the living room area and met the gaze of those bright blues eyes I never thought I'd ever see again.

I rushed over to the island and dropped my keys next to hers, walked over to her with the biggest, most stupidest smile on my face. Finally…finally…

She's right next to me, in my sight, out of trouble; out of danger. Whatever is ruining her, hurting her – or something. She looks worse than before, very tired, and her hair seemed to have lost its shine, but it was still my Rin.

Her eyes brightened as I sat down next to her and she gave me a lazy, crooked smile. "Hey."

"Hey," I said back, cocking my head over to the T.V. while still looking at her. "What are you watching?"

"Nothing. I can't find anything good on." She flipped a channel just to prove that there literally was nothing good on. She seemed bummed about it.

"I can go dig out our favorite movie from our DVD collection," I suggested. "We can watch that as I make us something to snack on."

She turned to me, looked me in the eye and she smiled that beautiful smile of hers. I couldn't help but smile back; it was very, very good to see it again.

Though, this time, it didn't reach her eyes. Not entirely.

But she was there, in front of me. Within touching distance. In one piece.

You have no idea how much that calms me down.

I placed my hand on the top of her head, ruffled her slightly long hair (it's grown since the last time I actually saw it) affectionately. She just closed her eyes, her smile growing small.

I got up and started for my room. I just needed to change before grabbing that movie for us to watch. After I changed into my comfortable gray sweats and grabbed Rin and I's favorite movie from my bookshelf, I excitedly charged out of my room and back to the living room.

I handed her the movie with a smile. "Put that in and I'll grill us some fish."

She nodded dazedly, seeming far away, which I didn't know why and wanted to ask about desperately, but I had to fight it off. She didn't want to talk about anything, it seemed. Perhaps she just wanted to relax…

As the previews played, I quickly cut up some bits of fish (catfish, to be exact), grilled them in some fine cooking wine (man, that stuff was expensive), and cooked some fries on the side. I managed to get the plates ready and get them over to the living room before the loading menu came on.

She muttered her thanks as I handed her a plate and I settled down next to her.

"All right," I exclaimed brightly, causing her to lightly grin like I knew it would. "Let's start this. We haven't seen this in a few months."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, probably thinking of the last time we actually last seen it, before she nodded enthusiastically, chewing on a piece of catfish.

I pushed the fact that she had eaten almost all her plate's contents out of my mind and made the movie turn on.

She hadn't even had the plate longer than a minute…

I chewed my fries stiffly, staring at the opening credits without much interest.

Oh, Rin, what's going on…?

I sat closer to her when I noticed she was shivering a little, however. Had to be there for her as much as I can, especially if this will be the only time I'll get to spend with her…

She set down her plate, engrossed in the movie (it seemed) about a second later. (Man, why is she just inhaling her food? Has she even been eating…?)

She leaned in closer to me, rested her head on my shoulder. She felt a little cold to me, so I settled my plate in my lap to wrap an arm around her, just to warm her up.

The only time I get to have actual physical contact is when she's as cold as a popsicle. What the heck is going on…?

She tensed a little, looked up at me. I looked down to her, gazed into her still vibrant azure eyes with honest affection. God…no matter what…I've missed her.

She searched my eyes for a while; I don't know what she was looking for, I showed my honest feelings. That I would be there for her; always.

When she almost eagerly pressed herself against me, I didn't let any questions plague my mind and cause hesitation; I wasn't letting this opportunity pass me by.

I held her to me tightly, gave her my warmth. She wasn't the Rin I knew; I realized when she clutched at my shirt and buried her face there. She was like a scared little girl, finding comfort in her best friend to protect her from some…monster…

Rin mumbled something in my shirt as I set my plate down on the floor.

"Hmm," I asked softly, immediately turning to her and wrapping both of my arms around her.

"…I've missed you, Len," she mumbled more clearly this time, which made my heart flutter and break in my chest at the same time. "I really have…I think about you all the time…"

I felt instant tears come to my eyes and I tightened my hold on her. "That's my line, Rin."

She didn't say anything after that for a while, just snuggled up to me. I was comfortable with just that. When I actually concentrated back on the movie, I realized that the main character, Gakupo, managed to assassinate his target and was currently fleeing from the assassination site, hiding in plain sight. (Rin and I like this movie so much because of the guns, haha.)

Personally, I think knives are cooler.

Anyway, as he ran, he tried his best to hide his super long, bright lavender hair from being seen within the crowds. I don't know why he wouldn't dye his hair a darker, harder-to-notice color if he had a job as an assassin. I mean, that's only practical.

Minutes later – as he ran for his life and disposed of his awesome sniper gun – a white car skid up next to him and suddenly a girl with pink hair and cherry-red eyes yelled at him to get in. It was Miki, Gakupo's girlfriend and partner.

Another thing Rin and I loved about this movie was the funny relationship those two have in that movie. It's actually funny.

I snickered to myself, hearing Miki curse like crazy at him to dye his hair black or something so he wouldn't have so many pursuers. Then Gakupo commented about her "stupid" pink hair as he traveled around the small cavern of the car, shooting at the cars that were trying to stop them.

Rin giggled softly into my shirt, making me laugh a little as well since it was sort of tickling.

I think she noticed because she looked up at me and then began to get a "Cheshire Cat" smile. Oh…crap…

Suddenly, I was lying on the couch, laughing my head off with tears at the corner of my eyes as her small, dainty hands wiggled over my ribs. She giggled as she straddled my hips, continuing her tickle-torture.

I wiggled, told her to stop as coherently as I could since she was tickling so much I couldn't stop laughing, but nothing worked.

So, somehow – I don't even know myself – I flipped us over so she was under me and I could tickle her as much as I wanted.

"Punishment Rin," I chuckled, even though I was heaving for breath since I had been laughing so much. I'm sure my face is flushed or something…ugh…

Her eyes grew and her mischievous smile turned into a very small grin. "Uh-oh~!"

" "Uh-oh~!" indeed!" I smirked devilishly down to her before I attacked her sides with my fingers, making her wiggle and fight, but laugh in the process.

The fact that we hadn't seen each other in almost two to three months didn't matter. The fact that she had a boyfriend occupying most of her time from me didn't matter. It was just her, under me, and me making her laugh.

God knows I haven't heard her laugh in a long time…

"L-Len – haha – stop it! P-P-Please!!" She begged me and wiggled as hard as she could, tears building up in the corners of her eyes as she laughed with her heart's content.

I laughed with her, smiling like I was the most happiest man in the world. This was all I need: Rin under me and smiling as well.

Actually seeming…happy…

Suddenly, though, she stopped laughing, and that caused me to look down. What I saw shocked me…

She was crying. Really crying! Her face was red from the laughing, yeah, but her mouth was in the most biggest frown I'd ever seen in my life and practically a waterfall of tears were rolling down her cheeks.

I stopped what I was doing immediately, got off her and ran off to get some tissues for her. I didn't know what the heck was going on, or why she would just up and cry while we were finally having fun after three months of separation.

Something was obviously up…

When I got to her, I had a huge tissue box in my hand, staring down at her curled up form, crying her poor eyes out.

"C'mon, Rin…what's wrong," I said, shakily. I couldn't help it. It broke my heart whenever Rin would cry. It was rare, sure, because Rin's tougher than me…but whenever she did…it made me want to cry more than she was already crying.

I settled down the tissue box next to my unfinished food, getting on my knees on the floor next to her shaking, sobbing form on the couch. I reached out, settled my hand on her side, rubbed there.

"Did I tickle too hard o-or something," I asked stupidly, trying to find something just to guess why she was crying so she didn't have to tell me in detail. Obviously it didn't work because she didn't even stop to look at me and tell me something – anything. She just laid there, curled up in a tight ball and cringed every single time I'd rub her.

I looked over to where I was rubbing, noticed that my hand had pushed up some of her shirt so I could see part of her small waist.

Then, I noticed the huge purple and black spot on her pale skin.

I looked to see if she knew I'd seen but her face was still in her hands, sobbing. I quickly acted like I was just getting a tissue for her and began to rub her side, like nothing had happened.

My mind was blank. I couldn't think of anything. Didn't want to think of anything.

No, not until Rin was out of the room.

Not until I was alone.

Eventually, Rin fell out of her fit of sorrow and accepted my tissue. She blew her nose and I grabbed a few more and handed them to her. She shakily accepted them, gave me an appreciative look before she just shook her head, probably more to herself then me.

"…It's nothing Len. Don't worry about it," she told me, looking me square in the eye. She didn't want an argument.

No matter, I wouldn't give her one anyway. I wasn't even thinking.

"Of course," I lied.

She lowered her stony gaze before blowing her nose again and reached the remote. She turned off the movie, let out a heavy sigh. I helped her up from the couch, knowing she just wanted to go to be now.

She wobbled on her feet a little, and I suddenly noticed that there was a reason why she was eating like a mad-man whenever she was around me.

She was mal-nourished. She didn't have the usual healthy look she had before, when she actually had a fair complexion then the paleness she had now.

She was almost skin and bones…I guess I hadn't noticed it on her face since she was always thin in the first place…

Again, I didn't think of anything. I wouldn't; not until she was out of the room.

She patted my shoulder, kissed my chin as she murmured her appreciation. She told me she would try to see me in the morning, I think – and then she finally left the room.

From there, all I felt was rage. Pure red rage.

Something was going on. Something I don't like. Not at all. There was a reason why she was gone all the time, when I know her schedule and the times when she was free like the back of my hand. There was a reason why she was always tired. There was a reason why she was eating so much in my presence, when she's probably not eating at all when I'm not there (knowing Rin, she'd eat anytime, anywhere – it sure as hell didn't matter who was there or not when she ate)…

There was a reason why she seemed like such a scared child tonight.

There was reason why she was crying so hard.

There was a reason there was a humongous – fucking – bruise on her side.

No, no…I have to be sure, I told myself. I have to confirm this.

I will after I get these damn dishes done.

After I did that and let out some of my anger (a.k.a. kicking the shit out of the lower-level cabinet doors and almost breaking china), I turned off all the lights as I started toward my best friend's room. My Rin. My Rose.

The promise to my mother. That I would protect her.

My Rose.

I opened the door slowly, proud of myself that I had oiled the hinges so they wouldn't creak, and peered inside.

The moon's silvery light brightened the room well enough to where I could see her on her bed, sound asleep. I stepped into her room, tip-toeing on her carpet, and peered down at her small, spread out form.

She didn't even cover herself from the cold, just laid there in only a large over shirt. She must've changed and plopped down on her bed, immediately falling asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

I leaned down a little, gazed at her peaceful, beautiful face from the moon's delicate light. She looked so beautiful…

I moved my hand to the hem of her large over-shirt (apparently she treated it as a nightgown), my hand lightly touching the high of her thigh.

I stilled when she stirred a little, and shifted before staying the way she was, letting out a small moan that sent shivers up my spine.

Slowly, I placed the hem in between my index and middle finger and slowly began to pull it up, exposing her skin and underwear to me moments later.

That wasn't what I was looking for.

I continued to expose her skin to myself, checking for anything out-of-place and foreign and sure enough, when I got to the mid-section…

There were dark spots everywhere. There were even band-aids and steri-strips. Along with the moon's light, everything was exposed to me.

From the mid-sections of her thighs to her very chest, her shoulders, collar bone, and back of her neck – she was covered in spots, bandaged cuts, and plain out bruises.

Each one – every single one – I saw, my rage maelstrom grew bigger – and bigger – until I couldn't even breath properly when I finally decided I had had enough and covered her abused skin from my eyes.

I leaned down to her face, gazed at her for a moment, telling her an apology of some kind – I don't fucking know – before I placed a soft kiss on her creased forehead.

Then I left, closing her door behind me, completely in the dark.

I found my room, closed the door behind me, engulfed in more cold darkness.

I padded over to my bed, lay down roughly and stuffed my head in my pillow so hard I actually felt dizzy.

And then I screamed. Hit and punched at my pillow. Twisted around, growling sickening in my throat and screamed some more in my mattress. Furious tears fell from my eyes; tears for Rin.

I've failed her.

That was going to change.

Kale would pay. He would fucking pay.

I'll make sure of it.

No body does this to my best friend. My love. My Rose.

NO BODY.

• To Be Continued… •

Well…that was pretty fun to write. Next up is Rin and her whole ordeal and secrets and crap. Stay tuned!

Please review the moment you finish this chapter, or I won't update for a week. (Is serious.) This is a crucial chapter, besides the last part, and I REALLY want to know what you thought of it.