"And here we go." A sweet smile graced his face in a way only he could pull off. "This is the Music II room. Year one vocalists start off here." I gulped and nodded, afraid if I opened my big mouth that I'd say something dumb. And I couldn't. Not in front of Piko. He turned to look at me, an expression of puzzlement marring his face. "Is something the matter, Rin? You haven't been speaking." I opened my mouth to say something, anything really. But my brain drew a blank so I just stood there with my mouth gaping wide like a Magikarp. He sent me a half amused, half confused look and laughed at my idiocy. Ah! I turned away with a red face and squeezed my eyes shut. Geez, what's with me lately? I'm usually not this much of a retard! Huh, well, I'm not usually around boys all that much, but that's really not much of an excuse! Half the world's population is boys—how do I plan to survive if I don't interact with the opposite gender?

Huh, well…probably pretty well. I mean, look how I turned out.

Wait, no, that's not really a good example…forget I said that!

"Rin, you're doing it again."

I eep-ed and turned back to him with a sheepish smile. "Er, sorry, Piko." His blue and green eyes twinkled good-naturedly down at me and gave me a small bit of courage. I squared my shoulders and nodded to myself.

"Um, Piko?" I asked, trying my hardest to look him in the eyes.

He cocked his head, wisps of snowy hair brushing his cheek. "Hm?"

My face felt hot, but I ignored the strange building feeling in my gut (colon? No, kidney..?). "What art do you major in?" At his inquiring look, I started to freak out. "I mean, I know you're, like, super awesome in music since you're the school's lead musician like the TV guy said, but I was wondering, like, if you, I dunno, specialize in something more specific. Crap! I mean—" I was beginning to lose oxygen halfway through my rant when I found a warm hand covering my mouth. My eyes widened 'til I thought they'd pop out of my sockets and my heartbeat skyrocketed. It was all I could hear for a few seconds. I stared imploringly at Piko, half dying of a panic attack and half dying due to lack of oxygen. Right when I thought I'd pass out, he withdrew his hand. I gulped in mouthful after mouthful of air until I felt like I was ok enough to not faint. Dang, he's strong!

I looked at him with surprise and he returned it with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't know how else to make you take a breath." He said, quietly.

Oh. What a weird way to make someone shut up.

He chuckled and that pretty smile fluttered back to his face. "I didn't want you to go back to being quiet again." And then he sighed and leaned against the door of the classroom. "I'm a music major here, yes. But I first realized my love for music through singing." He paused to look at me with dark blue and green eyes. I stared back, completely enthralled by his suddenly very serious way of speaking. I mean, I may be a moron when it comes to anything social, but I wasn't a complete idiot at everything else. I knew that this was a pretty touchy subject for him. But…

"What first made you want to sing?" I asked without even knowing I did. As the words left my mouth, I felt my heart begin to flutter wildly.

He studied me with unreadable blue and green eyes. Strangely, I found I wanted him to trust me. I know I just met him, like—what? An hour ago? But I felt this weird connection with him. Just like with Len.

Something in his eyes suddenly darkened and I felt my heart take a sudden lurching drop. Another smile graced his face, but this one was hollow and void of real feeling. It hit me then like a tsunami.

He didn't trust me.

Why did this make me so sad?

"Ah, well, my mother. She always was such a beautiful singer." He replied, cheerily. I smiled in reply, but couldn't help feeling a little empty on the inside. I tried to shake it off. Was it so surprising that he didn't trust me? He has a right. I mean, I'm only that weird new girl after all. As he smiled that fake smile, I felt sad and lonely again.

Breaking the silence, I straightened and turned away, pretending to stare down the hall. "I think I'll go check out the rest of the school myself. I like to explore. I know I won't get lost this time." I held up the map and grinned. He stared at me and looked like he wanted to say something, but I didn't want to talk anymore. I darted down the hall with no more than a wave goodbye to him.

As I raced through the wide, empty hall, I wondered if I had overreacted.

No. It doesn't matter.

Soon, I saw the large arching exit ahead of me.

Pushing the doors open, I staggered out into the morning sunlight.

I sat on a bench that overlooked the wide courtyard. It was peaceful and relaxing, but I honestly wasn't satisfied.

Actually, I was feeling a little impatient.

I rocked my legs back and forth and focused on the sound of my breathing.

I had decided to stay outside and wait it out until school started. I was getting tired of talking to people.

Leaning back into the bench, I closed my eyes.

Man, what I'd do for my laptop right about now. I furrowed my eyebrows. What I'd do for any piece of technology, really. I let my head loll back.

"Teto, could you get your head out of the clouds for, like, a millisecond please?"

"What're you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your inability to listen to a word I say."

"Geez, exaggeration much, Teddy?"

Instantly, I stiffened into a sitting position, my hands clenched in my lap. What? More people? I groaned. Just my luck. I could hear their footsteps getting closer and soon, so did their voices. I settled to listening innocently at the birds chirping in the trees—ahem—eavesdropping—ahem.

"I told you already. Luka-senpai wanted to work with you on one of your songs."

The bushes rustled dangerously close to me as I heard a rather loud squeal and something crashing to the ground. "OH-EM-GEE! LUKA-SENPAI?"

I hit the deck as my ears popped. Oh, my sweet Lord Jesus. What in the world was that? I could hear ringing in my ear…ow…were my ears bleeding? Incredible…

"GEEZ! TETO!" I could manage to hear, but it was muffled.

A giggle( I think.) "Oops. Sawry, Teds-poo~"

"Freakin' TELL me when you're gonna zero me."

"I said sorry, didn't I?—Oh, my gosh! Are you alright?"

I looked up and saw a girl with big red corkscrew twin tails and matching eyes. This must be that Teto girl. I nodded and smiled weakly. No, I am actually not alright. But the ringing had gone away so I guess that was a plus.

Another flash of red caught my eye and I turned my head dizzily. A tall boy with a long red ponytail with a corkscrew end looked down at my fetal position with similar red eyes. Were they twins or something…? Even their hairstyles were the same. A sudden look of recognition broke across his face and I backed up against the bench in sudden fear. Rape…?

He leaned down and looked me straight in the face until I swear my face was as red as his hair. I could tell something clicked in his brain and a big smile crossed his face. What?

I found his finger poking me in the cheek. "You!" he exclaimed. I stared up at him. Boy, we've got ourselves a genius here.

I pointed at myself hesitantly. "Me?"

He grinned before turning to Teto. "It's her, Teto! Kagamine Rin!"

Huh? They knew me? I immediately straightened up. The redheaded girl's eyes lit up in realization. "Kagamine Rin? The one Luka-senpai was assigned to?" Then a look that could grow mushrooms darkened her face. "No way. No way, no fair! No fair!"

She then proceeded to stomping around like a redheaded Godzilla. Needless to say, I was struck speechless. Man, was I that hated already? And who the heck is this "Luka-senpai" everyone is talking about? What the heck is going on?

"Ah, sorry 'bout that." I turned at the sound of a deeper voice and saw Ted. He was rubbing the back of his head and watching Teto with a mix of embarrassment and apprehension. "She just really idolizes Luka-senpai."

He then turned to me, training ruby eyes on me. And smiled. "My name's Kasane Ted by the way."

I opened my mouth to introduce myself. "I'm—" I was stopped by a hand and a laugh. "I know who you are." He said with that weird grin again. "You're Kagamine Rin, the new student. You must be really good, huh?"

I blushed at his comment. What was the big deal? Yeah, I'm new—who cares? "No…well…actually, no, I don't think so." I managed to stutter out. He looked disappointed. "Aw, really? Well, I thought for sure you must be since you got in at such short notice and being mentored by Luka-senpai and stuff." This sorta got my attention. I mean, I still wanted out of this school like an orange baboon but I was curious to know why I had gotten in in the first place. And who this "Luka-senpai" was. Yeah, especially that.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem, hem, so uh, Kasane-san?" He looked at me curiously and did that weird upwards nod guys do. I took that as a sign to continue. "Who's this "Luka-senpai" you're talking about?"

He froze, jaw dropped and eyes wide as flying saucers. "You don't know who she is?" I instantly felt a little derpy. Was I supposed to know…?

"Uh…no?"

As soon as I uttered those words, Ted launched into a loud tirade about "Luka-senpai" and I really don't know what else but I swear I heard something about octopus in there. I stared helplessly at the two possibly insane redheads in front of me—one trampling flowers, grass and any other living thing in one corner and the other screaming to the sky about octopus and "cotton candy hair". I'm honestly scared for my life. If every student here is like them, I'm better off just jumping off a building.

I decided to leave while I still had the chance and slowly but quickly picked up my bag and power-walked out of the clearing, the sounds of shouting and stomping fading into a muffle.

The whole time the words "insane, insane, insane" echoed in my mind like an endless reminder of what my life had suddenly become.

I found myself climbing up a flight of stairs higher and higher. Bright sunshine streamed through the large arched windows, casting zebra stripes of light and shadow on the pristine ivory steps. My steps echoed off from the rafters, making the building seem deserted.

I decided I liked it.

It was quiet, peaceful—just what I needed.

Millions of thoughts ran through my head like a big summer wind and made me dizzy. Everything was happening way to fast; I couldn't keep up with it all.

God, I'm tired. Completely and utterly exhausted.

And school hasn't even started yet.

I sighed heavily and leaned on the railing, letting my head fall back to stare upwards.

Someone save me.

Suddenly, a soft lilting melody wavered through the air.

My eyes widened as every note and word melted into my skin.

I could feel my heart beat faster; my mind blooming like a flower.

anata ni tsutaeru beki kotoba sagasu kedo

mitsukaranai no

tsutaeru koto sae

dekinai no konnanimo

afureteru noni

Suddenly, I was racing up the stairs. I stumbled a few times, even tripped once and landed on my knees but I didn't stop. The melody still echoed all around me until I was wrapped in it. Every word, every syllable, every wavering lilt tugged at me until I felt like I would burst from the inside out. I needed to know.

I needed to know.

Finally, I leapt from the last step and sped down a long white hallway. The singing was getting louder. I had to find it.

That voice.

Warm tears surfaced from somewhere inside of me and threatened to overflow. What was this…? This feeling…

It felt so familiar…

Louder and louder—I could feel it.

Suddenly, I saw a single door at the end of the hallway.

There!

I lunged forward and threw it open.

I felt like I was floating or dreaming.

A woman with long pink hair and a simple blue dress stood at an open window, a gentle breeze running through her hair and ruffling her dress.

She turned to look at me but not before singing one more word, her voice sending tremors up my spine.

hora...

AbomiT: Sooooo sorry for the late update. _

I swear I was working on this but could never get past the Teto and Ted bit.I'm sorry. D;

I hope this chapter isn't too confusing-I know there's alot of jumping about with Rin's feelings and moods, but it's vital to the storyline. :D

FYI-the song from the last part is "You and Beautiful World" by Luka. It is really such a beautiful song;I recommend you all listen to it. This is the translation to the lyrics above:

There is something I need to tell you, and though I look for the words
I cannot find them.
Even though the things to say
Are overflowing.
I still can't do it.
Just look at me...

:'3

Oh!I'd also very much like to thank my beautiful reviewers: PaperTrain,MelancholicBlossom,Kokoru-Hime,ThatLazyOne,S.L. Gibbs,TopazRubyQueen,RisingSparks,Ivyleaf1212 & roosewe

You guys are bomb-diggity! 3

Thank you for reading!Please review! :D