A/N: I'm glad all of you loved it so far. That means that I'm doing something right! I love you guys!

IMPORTANT NOTICE : Please, for those who have read this fic so far, I advise you to read the summary (chapter 1) again. I changed something a bit, nothing much, just the rankings because, the way I portray them now (and in the future) will be different from the summary as it is IMPORTANT for the plot. I also removed some of the pairings, only focusing on Rin and Len as I will probably won't find an opening for their relationship. The summary is more or less the same; just the year when the war started, but just in case of future confusion, I advise to just check :) Nothing major or anything, guys. So don't panic.

Anyway, I'm glad that everyone enjoyed the fight XD! It was fun. A lot of you thought that the reason Rin surrendered because she fell for Len the second she saw him. Love at first sight! It kinda amused me, like, 'did I really hinted for a love at first sight?' hahaha! Sorry guys, but no. Rin in a tough case ;)

Oh, and blame me! I've been watching and reading Naruto, Bleach, Ranma 1/2 and Yu Yu Hakusho since forever that I guess my imagination for action got influenced. HA!

Rin's chanting from the previous chapter is Latin. From Google translate since the only language I do speak aside from English is Japanese. So, for those who do speak or know Latin, I ask of you if it's correct or alright...ish... I'm babbling.

I still find Rin hot in Karakuri Burst. Just saying

The first thing he felt when consciousness started to reach Len was that, everything hurts. His entire body felt numb, yet every limb and muscle felt like it would tear apart. His throat felt dry from lack of water and the way his shirt clung to him - damped with sweat and blood - made him feel disgusted at himself. Groaning, his head pulsed in pain the second he started moving his body; slowly and gentle from all the aching in his body. He brought both of his hands up to his side with his palms facing down. He sucked in a breath, composing himself.

Counting down in his head, he pushed himself up to sit, wincing from the numbness in his body as all his joints made a sickening pop as he sat up, rolling his shoulders.

"Finally, he's awake."

Jade green eyes narrowed towards a tree where a certain blonde witch sat slump, throwing him a coy smile when he glared at her.

"Good evening, Sleeping Beauty."

Len snarled, moving his gaze over his surroundings at the same time he chose to ignore the witch before him.

"You were out for about ten hours since then," Rin shrugged, staring at her fingers, willing them to move. "Left me bored..." she muttered to herself.

Len frowned when her words reached him, glancing at the sky to see that it was already getting dark with the moon glowing behind dark clouds, casting enough light for him to see. He had left that inn around eight o'clock in the morning, and he was guessing that it was around six or so already, if what the witch said was true.

"How long am I gonna stay frozen?"

Len looked at her, arching a brow at her grumbling tone and watching her glare down on her hands. "About twenty-four hours." he replied, getting up in a stand.

Rin rolled her eyes, frowning. She blinked at Len when he let out a wince, his hand flying to his abdomen. Her eyes swept over him, lingering on the bruises and scratches marring his skin. She couldn't see all with the dark, but she bet it's a lot for him to handle. She observed him go around the area, picking up sticks and logs until he got an armful of them. Her lips twitched upwards when he staggered a little, having difficulty with a simple task when his arms probably felt like jelly. She watched him when he dumped the gathered wood before her, dusting of his hands and wiping it on his pants.

She grinned. "You do know you left your bag back on the road."

Len tensed, sneaking a quick, annoyed glance towards her way before trudging back through the woods towards the road to get his bag. He ignored the quiet chuckle from the witch.

Len sighed when he set a fairly enough distance for her not to hear him, his mind scattered with the memory of the fight and her words. He didn't know how he was able to manage it, but he did. He got the infamous Pumpkin. Although he was certain that he was going to lose back then. He had resorted with the trap the 5th Squad made; a long string attached with needles that can be used as a trap that with a single pull, would set the needles firing. He managed to lure her in, but thinking about it now, he wasn't so sure how he was able to do it.

"I merely just went on what would seem your full capability."

Len allowed his mind to wonder over her words, subconsciously furrowing his eyebrows. If what she said was true, then it would be like, he was – more or less – fighting himself. His stronger self to...

Len frowned. Because to 'improved himself' definitely goes against witch logic. So, no. But why?

Len chewed on his bottom lip when he spotted his bag on the road, glad that it had not been stolen while he was... unconscious. Walking towards it, he hauled it over his shoulder, wincing at the weight. He started walking towards the woods, his steps small and careful when a thought made him pause, narrowing his eyes.

The witch was fast, as fast as the light even, dare he say it. And even if the 5th Squad made something that could whisk faster than a naked eye could see, she was faster. Not using her magic or not, she is. She could have run out of the way with either minimum damage or no damage at all. Besides, she could have used her powers from a risky position if she didn't kept her "word"... Or she could just break it. Witches don't do words or promises.

But then why?

Shaking his head, Len trudged back towards where he left said witch, calming and assuring himself that he did managed to win either by a miracle.

Not that she held back for some unknown reason.

Rin had been watching over him when he fainted, mildly amused that he snores. Faintly, but he does. Although she grew bored by not being able to move anything but her head, she entertained herself by hissing and scaring the few animals - mostly squirrels and other harmless ones - that dare goes near the human and her, chuckling at the way they ran off with their tails between their legs.

And right now, she's doing it again, arching her brow at the warm heat the small bonfire gives off. Len sat a bit far away, his shirt discarded and tending to his wounds after setting the fire. Rin glanced at the multiples scratches trailing down her bare legs. Her feet were most likely bleeding from having no protection. Her long sleeves hid her arms, allowing only her fingers to see. But she bet that they're the same, especially her left arm.

Her eyes slowly traveled towards the fire, the heat and the sight of dancing fire enticing her. She glanced at the human on the other side, a made bed roll already prepared beside him with his bag placed next to it. She found him strange with his hair down, just tickling past his chin with his brows furrowed in a scowl as he roll a bandage over his arm, covering if from the shoulder down to the end of his fingertips. His other arm was the same, only starting from the elbow. His abdomen was wrapped around with bandage too, and all of his wounds were cleaned and done by now.

From the very first word he uttered, Rin already knew this guy is the silent type. She finds it weird – and utterly annoying yet, arguably, amusing – that most human female organism are allured towards males like him, when obviously, he had more interest on anything other than them.

"So..." Rin drawled, trying to break the silent. She saw Len paused for a second, before continuing on his task. "What now?"

Len sighed, shoving down the medical supplies back in his bag and throwing the bloodied cottons and rags away. His body still pulsed in pain, making even a simple action of 'moving' a difficult task already. He glanced at Rin, already knowing that she's staring at him the whole time. She had been doing so since he got back. Rummaging further in his bag, Len kept his attention on her on the corner of his eyes, tensed. He couldn't help it, and he hated himself for it. But this witch get on his nerves more, yet at the same time, he harbored a small fear towards her.

Finally finding what he was looking for, he pulled it out before walking towards Rin, keeping his eyes away from hers as he moved warily.

Rin fought hard on the laugh she so badly wanted to let go. "Hey, I'm freaking paralyzed here and you're acting like I can bite your head off." she chuckled, pausing when she realized that, maybe, she could.

"Be quiet." Len warned with a glare.

Crouching down before her, Len grabbed hold of her stock-still hands, before holding out the thick lead cuffs and putting it on her. He ignored the way her eyebrows go up in disbelief, locking the cuffs in place. It was designed to seal the power of a witch, rendering them weak without their witchcraft. Although she can very well fight without her power, Len would much prefer to be on the cautious side and avoid her using her power once she could move again, unless he wanted to die for real. And with these on, it would not only seal off her powers, it can also slow her movements, and that sits well with Len.

"Cuffs." Rin deadpanned, staring at her joined hands, the thick cuffs tight around her wrists and joined together by a short – probably three inches short – stick rod. There was a thin sort of foam on the insides of the cuffs, protecting her skin from burning on the lead. But the use was to seal of her powers.

She gave Len a blank look. "Cuffs."

Rolling his eyes, Len fixed her a glare, standing up from his spot and making his way towards his bed roll. He still ached all over.

Rin tilted her head, her eyes still on her hands. "Kinky."

Len growled.

Rin sighed with relief, rolling her shoulders, moaning in satisfaction as she moved her stiff muscles. Glancing on both sides, she eyed the empty road, having just got out from the woods. Her skin felt tingly under the heat of the sun, and she tilted her head up to savor the warmth. She liked it; warmth. She had first decided on that when she stared at the bonfire all night, frowning when it died somewhere near midnight.

She wasn't even able to make one step when a blade was immediately on her neck, freezing as her blood run cold.

"Where do you think you're going." Len growled, his eyes ablaze with burning fury. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles popping from the action.

Rin stared back at him with a blank look, clenching her cuffed hands. She glanced at the small crack on his sword for a moment, bringing it back on Len when he inched the sword closer towards the vein on her neck.

"Aren't you supposed to bring me somewhere," Rin arched a brow, glaring back in annoyance. "Human?"

Narrowing his eyes in warning, Len dropped his sword, although he kept it just over her waist.

Rin didn't fought the smirk that graced her lips, seeing the way his eyes flicker in thought. She could practically see the gears turning in his head, searching and creating a possible reason for her previous statement. Sighing, she decided to burst his bubble.

"Look, human, you defeated me fair and square,"

Len raised a brow at the understatement.

"And you did your job. And my job is to follow you because with these shackles –" she shook her cuffed hands. "– I ain't going nowhere!"

Rin groaned when Len didn't drop his glare. 'Just how much does he hates me!?' she wrinkled her nose at the thought. Of course, it was a stupid one. Of course he hates her. And saying that would only put it lightly. All humans hated witches with a burning passion, and the fact that she can't justify her crimes is also a reason.

Sighing, Rin mumbled. "Just go already."

Len didn't answer, simply nudging his sword at her to walk and following behind her as she begrudgingly started walking, stomping her feet in annoyance. His eyes twitched in irritation, mentally easing himself to control the anger and hatred bubbling in him. He refused to act unprofessional again, following behind Rin as she walked. The roads here went straight, and he calculated that it would take at least an hour to reach the next village with their pace.

Holding his sigh, Len allowed his gaze to drop on the ground, watching his boots as he walked. He had stayed up all night, staying away from the witch and sitting on a low branch to 'keep watch'. The cold chilled his skin during the night, but he had brushed it off, keeping his mind busy with his own thoughts. His body still ached with pain, although he was accustomed to it now, he ignored it. His bag was once again slung on his shoulders, leaving out some weapons hidden on himself in case, leaving only his blade out in warning.

Usually, Dell would send out the Gatherers – the people who picks up the witches they caught and escorts it to Reyn themselves or straight towards the 5th division to be examined. By then, he would have gone back to Yamaha or continue to his next mission. But this time is different. For one, Dell's running low on Hunters; two, Gatherers can only handle a weak or average witch. A Rogue can get them killed before they could even reach their destination, and hence, only an Elite could do it, as they are trained for Rogues.

Sneaking a glance at Rin, he wasn't so sure. He almost died, but now she's willing enough – dare he say it – to follow him. No witch had act like that before, and he assumed that a Rogue would be no less different. After hearing about Kaito, he had expected the same treatment, if not more. This has been the first time, in this generation, that Rogues showed up. But this has been the first time ever to have more than one.

Frowning, Len's scowl deepened, looking at the bouncing bow on the witch's head as she skipped along, setting a few distance away from him. Len quickened his pace, wanting to yank her back so as to not lose her. He suddenly wished that he could have some sort of leash or the cage the Gatherers built in their TopKick truck for witches. In fact, just a vehicle would be nice, just to rid of the witch faster. Unfortunately – as the situation is now – their resources are limited to only Gatherers. It seems to Len that Yamaha is losing its days ever since crusade started. He couldn't help but feel like they should do something. Once and for all.

Sighing inwardly, Len narrowed his eyes on the back of the witch, composing himself and heightening his senses.

Because if anything else, what the witch is doing could be a trap.

This time, Len lead the way through the vast crowd gathering around him, leaving a narrow path for him and the witch behind to follow. He kept his eyes straight, ignoring the whispers and the pointing fingers behind him as he walked.

They had reached the next village next to Fuji, although this is still in South, Len could feel the slight change in temperature. Although still hot, it wasn't as scorching in Fuji. The two had walked in silence over an hour, and Len couldn't help the paranoia building up in him every minute as his mind browsed through every possible reasons why the witch would just tag along just that.

Glancing behind him, Len watched the witch, lazily following him with her head lowered from all the people gathered around them. No one knows what the Pumpkin looks like, and nobody knows his name aside from the academy. The only thing these people know is that he's an Elite with the pin shining proud under the sun on his bag.

They probably guessed that she's a Rogue.

Keeping his eyes back on the road, Len looked around for the nearest inn, ignoring everything around him.

"A Rogue!? Is it real?"

"That witch deserves it. Fucking bitch should just die."

"Thank God..."

Rin kept her face neutral, following Len as he walked around, probably searching for a place to stay. Ever since the second they stepped into the village, she had received nothing but glares, abuse and a few rotten food thrown in her way. She had dodged all of them, merely stopping in her tracks or tilting her head to avoid them. Their aim wasn't good, but Rin felt no need to pay their attention.

"Mama, why is a girl treated like that?"

Glancing at her side, Rin saw a small boy standing beside his, she assumed, his mother, watching in confusion and mild hurt at all the words directed at her. His mother shook her head, face twisted in disgust and hatred.

"She's a witch, Kenta. And they're vile creatures." his mother sneered before adding to herself. "They should just rot in hell."

The boy, Kenta, in which Rin guessed to be about four years old in human age, frowned in anger. "She doesn't look bad!"

Growling in anger, the boy ran towards Rin, making his mother gasp in shock but was too afraid to follow him near the witch.

At the same time, Rin went rigid, glancing at the other side when a shoe was thrown up from a shouting old man that was probably meant for her, if it wasn't for his clumsy aim.

The boy froze, staring wide-eyed at the shoe headed to his face. He flinched when his mother shouted for him to move and come back, but his feet was rooted on the ground. Bringing his arms up to his face, the boy got ready for the impact.

"Kid."

The boy gasped in shock, snapping his head up towards the girl towering over him. He gulped at the dark expression and the glare she has. Grinning, she nudged her head towards his mother.

"You should listen to your mother."

Nodding, the boy ran back, shaking. Jumping on his mother's arms and bawling his eyes out the second he clung onto his mother.

Sighing, Rin continued on her way, blocking out the words from the villagers that were louder than before after witnessing at the kid's reaction. No one noticed the single shoe laying on the ground forgotten. No one noticed the growing bruise on her cheek.

Len shoved a hand on his pocket, leaning his weight on one leg as he listened on the ringing on the phone to his ear. He eyed the display of various wines and sakes and even beers lined up n the shelves behind the counter, mentally imagining Meiko having a field day once she saw this. The girl behind the counter left to give him privacy as soon as he requested for the phone. He didn't have to wait long, however, when a voice answered his call.

"Hello?"

"Dell." Len murmured, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. "It's me, Kagamine."

Len heard him sigh, followed by the shuffling of papers. "I expect this to be important, Kagamine, for you to interrupt me in a discussion. This is not asking for Gumi's whereabouts, I assume."

Len rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore the comment and throw him a question. "Is this line safe?"

"Wait a second..."

Len vaguely heard his Captain's booming voice, demanding someone to check the line. Tapping his foot, Len waited impatiently, paranoia gripping his throat about the lone witch he left in the room.

"Speak now."

Len wasted no time. "I got her. Pumpkin."

"..."

The line went silent, making Len raise a brow and call his Captain a few times to see if he was still on the phone.

"Y-Yes. I'm here." Dell cleared his throat. "Are you alright?"

Len shrugged. "I'll live."

"Good... Where are you now?"

"Yume Village, still in South in an inn."

"Alright, I'll do the reports right away."

Len was silent for a moment, contemplating. He knew Dell felt it too.. Pumpkin was supposed to be the strongest witch, the one who escapes rather easily like it's a child's play. For her to be the first one captive was... off.

"Dell,"

"Ah?"

"I'll contact you whenever I could. This just doesn't sit well with me. Have Lt. Leon check all Witches' activities. Double the Patrols. Anything." Len clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing in nothing in particular.

"The Witch's playing with me. I need to know if something's amiss."

Dell gave a curt 'Sure', catching his drift. He trusted the Elites to make decisions for their country, because they're usually the ones risking their lives out there.

"Careful, Kagamine."

Len nodded, already lowering the phone.

"I know."

Briefly pausing towards the girl in charge to pay for his call. He trudged up the stairs towards his room, preparing himself for another sleepless night to watch over.

Whether it was the witch or himself, he doesn't know.

A/N: I'm having fun writing Rin... hehehe...

JAPAN REVIEW

BloodyPuppet 's question/s: "How old can a woman legally marry in Japan?" and "What's Geisha?"

-Well, women can marry in age 16. And men 18. And let's see, Geisha... A lot can get confused and define Geisha as some sort of whore. They're Japanese females that are trained from an early age (Pre-teens but I'm not sure) to entertain men and be their "companion". They can be trained as singers, dancers, etc. The "Geisha girls" are different and they are the prostitutes who imitated Geisha culture and art. They (the prostitutes) started around the late 1940s (somewhere in 1945-1952). So, the real Geishas are just female entertainers for men. Just that. Hope this answers your question :) I, myself, lack knowledge on this area but do feel free to ask if it doesn't answer everything.

/

Damn You Len - I love your name. Literally. It speaks for itself why I do XD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! It was fun juggling those two.

MysteriousSpottedOwl14 - I'm glad you love this story. And for reading it 5 TIMES! Ya gotl li'l o'l me giggly. *does goofy giggle*

Peachy Crisis-07 - ME TOO! HAPPINESS OVERLOAD CUZ I GOT MY GROOVE BACK! And yeah, Rin is my fav too. She's just too fun to write. Hehe. And yes, to satisfy your curiosity... You just have to read, darling ;)

www - OMG I LOVE NARUTO! Me too, once I was done with writing it I was like, 'It sounds like Naruto dammit' and it wasn't even MEANT to be like that! Oh well, I liked it just as it is and you loved it too so NAWH !

Clockwork Marionette - lol...Rin is a witch. and people don't like (as seen in this chapter) but don't worry... Rinny won't die... ish ;)

Vocaloids x Otakus Nekomimi - YES, MA'AM! HERE IT IS MA'AM XD

mirrors02 - Thank you for not giving up, then! Yes, she did go with him willingly. But she fought him for a reason... A reason that you will find out soon. But, uh, no. Falling in love at first sight is just overused to my taste so yeah.

PureWishes02 - Patience... Len will love her soon. ;)

BloodyPuppet - I hope I answered your question. And yes, Rin will always be stronger, and here we got paranoid Len... Hehe. And I just love Rin! And don't worry, honey! I understand the reason for the question XD! It actually sounds an interesting fanfic... I'll keep an eye on it.

Rikasa - So far, you were the only one who was cool with not being a "love at first sight" thing. And I agree it would be lame cuz then it would be predictable. I don't know why some expected it to be love at first sight for Rinny. That would be the last thing she wanted D: ! I'm glad you enjoyed the fight scene.

QuirkyAwesome - I know right! RIN IS SO HOT

Bubble Smoosher - awww... thank you! I'm glad I had that effect on you, it means that I'm doing something right here. XD Love ya

Shiny Silver Eevee - um, I don't know if you read up to this point but, answering your questions anyway; yes, no, no, and no. Just my wild imagination here, pal XD