Chapter 7

"A festival?" Alexiel nodded in response before continuing to speak. "The shrine usually runs the festival every year, although not everyone has to do anything. Since my father is in charge, he says I can just enjoy myself. So, I was wondering if you would like to go with me." He heard a chuckle on the other line, and he almost regretted asking Len to accompany him. Alexiel lowered his head, preparing himself for the rejection until Len spoke. "Are you asking me on a date?"

"W-What!?" The lavender blonde's face turned beet red, and he became a sputtering mess and almost dropped his phone, causing Len to chuckle again. "I'm only kidding, Alexiel. Of course I'll go with you. I mean, you wouldn't like going alone, would you?"

"N-No," Alexiel replied. "I'd rather be with you." His face transformed into a darker shade once he realized what had come out of his mouth. He waited for a response and hoped that he hadn't made the conversation awkward for the two of them. "So should we meet up at your place or at the manor?"

"The manor is fine." Alexiel replied with a nod, the color in his cheeks fading.

"Alright. See you then." The blonde hung up the phone and fell back on the bed, pulling the fox plushie closer to him with a smile. Ever since receiving Len's number, the two of them spent every day talking to each other the phone if they weren't able to see each other in person. Their usual calls consisted of Len cheering up the poor blonde when he was feeling down because of his stepsisters' scolding, or they talked about whatever came to mind. Alexiel seemed to enjoy the other's company, and smiled whenever his words touched his heart.

He turned over on his side and nuzzled into the comforter, feeling loneliness swell in his chest. He held the plushie in his arms and looked over on the shelf to see another looking like the one in his arms: while it looked similar to his image and had fox ears, it instead had a side ponytail and a red skirt with matching eyes. He gave the plushie a sad look before getting off of the bed and grabbing it. "You seem lonely," He muttered quietly before pulling to his chest. "You must be since she's not here anymore."

All of a sudden, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and he collapsed on his knees in response. Alexiel took in a few deeps breaths before composing himself. "You can't come out. You'll be a Wander if you ever leave," He got to his feet and set both plushies on the bed and proceeded to take a walk in the woods. "I mean both of you."


Two nights later, Alexiel made his way towards the manor, the lights of the festival shining behind him. He brushed off whatever dust was on his clothes smoothed out his hair before opening the door. As he expected, the manor was dark and empty, save for the moonlight emitting from the window. He took a step forward and sat on the staircase to wait for the other blonde to arrive.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Alexiel lifted his head to see Len enter the main lobby with quiet steps. The older blonde smiled at him and closed the door. "You look nice."

"T-Thank you." Alexiel replied with a light blush and lowered his head. Len couldn't help but smile in return before gently grabbing the other's wrist and pulling him towards the door. "We should get going before we're too late."

"R-Right." The lavender-eyed blonde followed Len towards the festival lights, the lonely feeling in his heart beginning to fade. He smiled as he stepped forward at the blonde's side as they talked and laughed.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the festival, and the two of them glanced around the various booths and shops, wondering what they should do first. Alexiel continued to look until he saw a tent with tables and chairs, instantly knowing that it was the cafe tent. "Do you want something to eat first?" He asked the blonde next to him. Len gazed in his direction with a lifted eyebrow before nodding. In a matter of minutes, the two sat alone with food in front of them. "I haven't gotten a chance to eat since I left. Everyone was so busy and I was dragged to all sorts of places."

"Sounds like you have a rough day," Len replied before taking a bite out of a hamburger. "Is it always like that when you run a festival?"

"Yes. It's even more chaotic during New Years," Alexiel nodded and sipped his drink. "Everyone is crowding around at the shrine and leaving a mess, and then leaving the shrine maidens and the monks to take care of it. And by the time we finish, it's almost sunrise."

"And you don't get a break?" Alexiel shook his head sadly and lowered his gaze. Len sighed and placed an elbow on the table with a thoughtful look. He gazed back at the other blonde and sat up. "Maybe I can help you next time New Years rolls around."

"R-Really? You would do that?" Len nodded with a smile, having Alexiel's eyes light up with happiness. "Thank you so much."

"It's not a problem."

The two blondes began to enjoy the rest of the night by taking in the sights of the festival and playing various games. Of course, Alexiel didn't forget to pay a visit to the shrine due to his father's request to meet the boy he had become friends with. The duo began to make their way up the stairs, and the lavender-eyed blonde felt nervous. "You know, he's going to be surprised that I have a friend," He explained. "And ever since I mentioned it, he's wanted to meet you."

"And this is the guy who married your stepmom?"

"Yes," Alexiel lowered his head and stopped near the top of the staircase. "I've lost trust in my father since then because he only tells me not to worry about my stepsisters, but I can only do that for so long. He thinks it's something I can shake off easily, but I can't. He says that he defends me, but there are times where he agrees with that woman and I hate it."

Len placed a hand on his shoulder with a comforting gaze and gave him a calm smile. "How about this: try talking with you father about this. Maybe he'll understand then." Alexiel paused for a few moments before looking back at the other blonde with a sad glance. He lowered his head once again before continuing to walk. "I hope that works."

"You just need to have confidence." Len replied as he followed the other. The two reached the top of the stairs and Alexiel made his way towards the house and stepped inside. Len followed him into the living room to see Rinto sitting on the couch looking over documents. He took in a deep breath before speaking up. "Excuse me Father, but there's someone I want you to meet if you don't mind." Rinto lifted his head to glance at the two blondes, raising an eyebrow at Len. "Oh? And who's this?"

"This is the friend I was telling you about," Alexiel explained with a smile. "This is Len Kagamine."

"It's nice to meet you." Len stepped forward and held out a hand. Rinto held his gaze before shaking the other's hand with a blank glance. "You as well," He replied, slowly bringing a smile to his face. "I'm glad that my son is able to find a friend in someone like you." Alexiel's face fell into a slight frown upon hearing those words. To him, it sounded as though his father had said "I can't believe an outsider like yourself is able to take him off my hands." He kept his eyes on the other blonde and kept his hands behind his back, listening to the their conversation quietly until he was asked. Of course, he only gave answers that would have Rinto nodding in approval.

An hour later, the two blondes left the house and began to walk around the shrine, making sure that they didn't run into the rest of the Lucifen family. "The fireworks will start soon," The lavender-eyed blonde said as they traveled up the hill. "We should get a good view."

"I'd like that," The two sat on the hill and Len checked his phone for the time. "Anytime now."

"You know," Alexiel brought his knees closer with a smile. "I thought I was going to see the fireworks by myself, but I'm glad that you're here with me." Len leaned back and used his arms to balance his torso off of the ground, smiling at the comment. "I never really found an interest in the festivals, so I never went. But, I think I'll go to hang out with you."

Alexiel blushed in response and averted his gaze towards the ground, and the other blonde laughed. "No need to feel so embarrassed. You're a good friend of mine."

"Right." The two were quiet as time passed by, the wind blowing through their hair and the grass underneath them. Alexiel placed one of his hands on the ground next to him with a sigh. The silence was beginning to bother him, although he had no idea what to talk about. He gave a quiet sigh and only began to talk about whatever came to mind. "Umm." Len turned to the other with a curious gaze. "I-"

The boom of a firework interrupted him, and the two saw the bright colors that lit up the sky. Len smiled in response and lifted his head. "I have to admit, this is pretty nice."

"Yes." The lavender-eyed blonde was brought back to a memory of the year before and smiled, remembering the girl he had spent his entire life with. He was snapped out of thought when he felt a hand above his own. Alexiel glanced down to see the other blonde's hand on top of his, and instantly, the two pulled away. "Sorry," Len replied with a cough. "I didn't notice your hand."

"I-It's alright." Alexiel replied with a light blush spread across his cheeks. They spent the rest of the night watching the fireworks, and once the festival came to a close, the two blondes began to make their way down the hill and back to the shrine. "I enjoyed this," Len said with his hands in his pockets with a grin. He turned to the other blonde with a satisfied look on his face. "We should do this next year."

"We should." Alexiel replied with a smile and a wave. Len winked at him before making his way down the stairs and back into town. The lavender-eyed blonde sighed and turned his heel to head back into the house, feeling exhausted from the festival and hoping for some sleep.


Len closed the door to his house with a sigh and leaned against the wood. He slid to the floor, gazing down the hall with a sad look on his face. He honestly didn't want to leave the younger teen by himself, but knew that he could see him again another time.

It didn't take him long to realize that someone else was in the house with him. He stepped towards the living room to see a woman with pink hair sitting on the couch and watching TV. She noticed his presence and turned around with a smirk. "I was waiting for you." She said.

"Yeah yeah," Len replied with a hand on his hip. "I don't want to deal with you, so would you mind please leaving?"

"Now now don't be like that," The woman pushed herself off of the couch and strode over towards him, lifting his head with a few fingers to meet her gaze. "You know why I'm here."

"And I'm not in the mood, so go home already." Len pulled away with a glare and she pouted in response. "You're no fun," She responded. "Maybe one of the others I have on my list can entertain me."

"Whatever." As the pinkette made her way towards the front door, she paused to turn her head to gaze at him. "You know, you should really blame your family for this." She closed the door behind her as she left, and Len sighed in response. He sat in the loveseat next to the couch and tilted his head back with a blank look, trying to fill his mind with Alexiel instead of the woman. A smile grew on his face when he remembered the happy look on the other blonde's face whenever the two hung out. The memory only made him feel lonely.

He sat up and looked around, noticing the emptiness of the house, and lowered his head sadly. "If only he was here," He muttered. "Then I wouldn't feel like this."

Me: So this is the first chapter posted in 2017. Man this is gonna be a shitty year like 2016, but hey. We got a few good things *cough cough* Yuri On Ice *coughs*. And the first show that I finish in 2017 is Gravity Falls(only watched an episode half a year ago and it took me this long to binge watch it all the way through). Anyway I wanted to add more moments with Len and Alexiel, but I think it's time that this chapter had a stopping point. Don't worry I plan on explaining more later. So if you like this chapter, be sure to follow, favorite, review, and await the next chapter.