THE CRYPTON CREW

By MargaritaDaemonelix

Chapter 7: Lights Gone Out

"Now, choose!"

Tei's simple words rang in Rin's ears like a bell, shaking her down to her core.

This sick woman… She's trying to hurt so many people, all at once! She knows that no matter what I choose, we can't win, she thought frantically. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luka holding her hands together, silently praying. Gumi looked like she was about to cry. Len looked like someone had drained all the life out of him.

I guess it would be best to leave Len here… She pondered, but… I can't let that happen! What if Tei kills him?! How would I be able to forgive myself for that?

As if sensing her indecisiveness, Tei chuckled. "Well, then, Rin, you have a minute left to make your decision, before I make mine."

Rin turned her head ever so slightly as Lily nudged her. Your friends, mouthed the woman. A little confused, Rin looked around and realized what Lily meant.

She locked eyes with Meiko, who was closest to Tei, and Luka, who was close enough to Yuki, and made her decision.

She pulled the revolver out of her sleeve, aimed, and fired at Tei's forehead.

Naturally, she missed. That didn't stop Tei from leaping out of the way, however.

In the moment of confusion that followed, Meiko leapt at Tei and tackled the white-haired woman to the ground, while Luka dragged Yuki out of the way. Somewhere, Kaito, Gackpo and Prima were working on securing the other members of UTAU-Ruko included. Gumi leapt into the scene to try and free Yuki as well, while Rin continued to saw at Lily's bindings.

As the last rope snapped, Lily stood up. "Thank you, Rin!" She said, her voice a little hoarse, and began to run towards Yuki and Oliver, who were being untied by Gumi and Len, respectively.

THUNK.

"LILY!" Screamed Yuki. At first, Rin couldn't tell what was happening. It was all a blur of screaming and wild hair colours and the scent of blood.

Blood?

Lily suddenly collapsed in front of her, clutching her chest. Only then did Rin see the knife.

Tei smirked, even as Meiko pulled the handcuffs around her wrists tighter and pushed her to the floor. "That'll teach you to mess with UTAU."

Gumi broke the last binding on Yuki, who leapt up and ran to see her wounded guardian. "Lily," she sobbed, kneeling beside the blonde woman.

Lily smiled softly and reached up to stroke Yuki's face, wiping away some of the girl's tears. Despite the tears in her own eyes, she continued smiling. "Yuki," she said, though Rin had to strain to hear her voice. "Sweetheart, I can see your parents."

"NO!" Screamed Yuki, flailing wildly. Oliver placed a hand on her shoulder, allowing the petite girl to cry into his shirt.

"I'm sorry, miss Lily, I couldn't help."

Lily shook her head. "You helped just fine. Please take care of Yuki."

She focused her gaze on Rin, who was still trying to stop the bleeding from her wound. "Rin-that is your name, right?" Asked Lily. Rin nodded.

"Rin, can I trust you with something?"

Again, Rin nodded, tears beginning to flood her eyes.

"Please, Rin, take care of Yuki and Oliver," whispered Lily, her breath coming in short bursts. "Yuki's parents died in a car crash when she was young. I am… I was all she had left. I may not know much about Oliver, but I do know that he's a lovely young boy, and needs a good family to take care of him. And that's what I see in you."

"Take… Care of them… And yourself… Please…"

Even as the words left her lips, her eyes focused somewhere a million years away, never to return. Yuki buried her face into Oliver's shoulder and wailed, while the blonde boy, tears seeping out of his good eye and mingling with the blood from his destroyed one, tried his hardest to hold the tears back. Rin sat beside Lily for a moment, shocked. Finally, saying a prayer for her soul, she closed Lily's beautiful blue eyes.

"Rin?" Asked Miku, her voice trembling, as she put a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Please give me a moment," murmured Rin, lowering her face so no one could make eye contact with her. Before anyone could say anything else, she dashed off like a golden bullet towards the trapdoor, wiping back tears even as she climbed the ladder and ultimately collapsing in the dead grass outside, sobbing.

Why didn't I just let Tei have Len? Does he still even mean anything to me anymore?

Now Lily is dead, and it's all my fault.

I really am… A monster...


It rained on the day of Lily's funeral.

The Crypton Crew stood around the tombstone, all wearing black overcoats and holding golden lilies, waiting for their turns to say their final words to her.

Except Rin. Instead of flowers, she held Yuki in her arms, with Oliver gripping her elbow. He held the lilies for all three of them. Even with his eye bandaged, he could still see out of the other, and was crying silently beside them.

Meiko was the first to approach Lily. "I'm sorry I didn't know you for long," she said softly, "but I wish you happiness in your next life." Pressing her lips to a petal on her lily, she gave it a brief kiss before laying it on the dirt.

The next to give her speech was Luka, who had known Lily for some time, unlike Meiko. "Hey, Lils," she said, laughing dryly through her tears, "do you remember that time when my mom did her mother chicken thing on you, and you were all flustered? Well, I wish you have two happy parents in your next life, who can take care of you well." She delicately kissed the petals on her lily and laid it down, stepping aside for Miku.

"Hullo, Lily," said the teal-haired girl, holding her lily with both hands tightly. "I suppose I ought to say something, but I can't think of much. You were a great friend, and I wish you have friends just as great in the next life."

As she laid her lily down, Gumi stepped forwards, clinging onto Gackpo. She was crying, and it didn't look like she'd stop anytime soon. "Lily," wept Gumi, "we're all so sorry. I wish that in your next life, you'll be able to live in a violence free world." She held the lily up to her lips with trembling hands before dropping it on the dirt with the rest and burying her face in Gackpo's chest.

Gackpo wrapped one hand around Gumi before saying his prayer. "You were a wonderful older sister to both Gumi and I. I wish that you'll find the same sibling love in your next life."

He managed to steer Gumi off to the side as Kaito stepped forwards. "Thank you, Lily, for everything you've done for us," he murmured, glancing at Meiko. "I hope you'll find love in your next life, like the love you've given us."

Len walked up to the tombstone, his left hand in his pocket and his right holding the lily. "I wish you have a loving family in the next life, Lily," he said simply, placing his flower on the dirt.

As he walked back to where he'd been standing, Rin brushed his shoulder walking towards the tombstone. Yuki dropped out of her arms and snatched a lily from Oliver. "Lily, I miss you already," she cried, "but I know you're up there, watching us all. You've taken such good care of me, Lily. I wish that I can take just as good care of you in your next life."

She kissed the petals of her flower and dropped it on the dirt, returning to Rin's side. Oliver went next, holding his lily meekly. "I know we didn't know each other for long," he said, "but in that time, you were like my guardian angel. I wish that in your next life, I could be your guardian angel as well. Thank you, Lily."

He only pressed the flower to his lips for a second before placing it on the grave. Rin stepped forwards, and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I had the chance to save you, and I couldn't. I'll never forgive myself for it. I only hope that you can forgive me for it," she said, clasping her hands in prayer over her chest.

"Lily… I wish that in your next life, I will be able to protect you."

She held the lily up and gingerly pressed a trembling kiss to its petals. "To Lily," she murmured, placing the flower down on the grave.

Someone handed her a piece of paper. She looked down to see a poem, one that she didn't recognise. She read it anyways.

"A golden leaf drifts

Through wind and sky

Though gone in airlift

It will never die."

The poem was short, but Rin found that it fit Lily. Slowly, the last few people who were standing around the tombstone began to walk away.

Except Rin. Holding the hands of both children, she knelt down by the grave. "Rin?" Asked Oliver, a little hesitantly.

The blonde girl let out a sob before gathering both children in her arms and holding them tightly. These were two angels that Lily had entrusted to her.

And she would have to dedicate her lives to them now.


"I'm leaving the Crypton Crew."

The entire crew turned their heads to look at Rin, who had announced this in the middle of dinner one night. "What?" Spluttered Kaito, dropping his chopsticks to properly fold his hands over his lap and glare.

Rin scoffed. "You heard me right. I'm leaving the Crypton Crew."

"But Rinny, your three months aren't up yet-" Began Miku, but the blonde cut her off.

"So what? I promised Lily that I would take care of Yuki and Oliver, and the first step to that is to make sure they don't get hurt!" She shouted. "Look what happened to Lily! She was murdered because- What did Officer Prima say? Because UTAU wanted to take over Crypton via Lily's boyfriend's assistant's older sister's boss? For something as meaningless as that, an innocent, beautiful life was taken. I can't let that happen to two children with bright futures, so I am taking them and leaving. I'm sorry, I had fun with you guys, but this is it." She glared as if to emphasize it.

"But Miss Rin, I like it here!" Said Yuki, her voice full of worry. Rin turned around to look at her, the fire in her eyes somewhat diluted.

"Yuki, I'd love to stay too, but it isn't safe here."

Len reached across the table. "Rin, please, just hear me out-"

"NO!" She snapped, the fire burning again. Somehow, she found herself repeating the same words that she'd whispered into her cell phone, just a year ago, except this time, it was after a period time of not talking to Len, instead of before. "Thank you for being concerned, but I assure you, I am alright as I am. Don't come after me. I've gone through a lot of betrayal and plotting behind my back. Just stay where you are, and let me live my own life."

She paused at the door for a moment to glare at the group one last time. "For once."

"Rin-"

Flinging open the door, she stepped out and slammed it shut.

What is wrong with all this?

I can't hate him after all this.

The only person I hate right now… Is me.

And because she had no other options, she ran.


As the door slammed behind Rin, the Crypton Crew sat in silence at the dinner table. Yuki burst into tears and sobbed into the nice clean tablecloth.

"... Did that actually just happen?" Blurted Kaito.

Teto pressed her palm to her forehead. "Yes it did, Kaito," she muttered.

The rest of the Crew began chittering in hushed tones about the events that had just gone down. Meiko stood up and went into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of sake, which she promptly began to chug. Kaito began to whisper to Gackpo, throwing glances at Len. One member, however, was getting progressively redder in the face, until she finally snapped.

Standing up, Gumi stabbed her chopsticks down into the table so hard that they actually ripped through the tablecloth and got impaled in the hardwood surface. Everyone stared at her in shock as she glared daggers at one particular member.

"Len. Spill."


A/N: This had to be the hardest chapter to write. I'm so sorry, Lily.

Again, the rest of the notes are at my Tumblr( .com). If you can't get to it, there's a link in my profile.

Happy Lunar New Years! Gong hei fat choi, or, if you're like me, gong xi fa cai!