SPICE! Chapter 8

Len had been seething in his room all day. He did not go to the beach. He did not participate in class activities. He repeatedly dunked himself in a tub of cold water so he'd get a cold and wouldn't have to do anything with anybody that day.

I feel like total crap, Len thought. I mean, sure, I did things with Miku, but I wasn't in the right state of mind and I'll never do it again! It didn't give Meiko any right to go off like that!

He had been holding an ice pack against his cheek all day. It still throbbed as if he had been burned.

I don't want to see any of them, Len thought. Not Miku, not Meiko, not Gakupo, and not even Rin. I just want to be left alone for awhile!

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Go away, Gakupo," Len snapped. "You were here only an hour ago. What do you want now?"

"It's not Gakupo," someone said, opening the door. It was Miku.

"You don't want to speak to me right now," Len said. "I don't want to make another person hate me today."

"I—I just wanted to see if you're all right. I heard you had a cold, and—oh, it's all my fault," Miku sighed.

"I actually feel fine," Len said. "But, I'd rather be alone now. Thanks for checking on me, though. At least someone cares…" There was an awkward moment of silence.

"Wh—what Sakine-san did was wrong!" Miku cried, piercing the air.

"I don't believe in hitting girls," Len sighed. "But I really wish I could hit Sakine, just once. But I don't believe in violence either…"

"You're a good boy, Len-kun," Miku said. "Th—that's why I like you. As for me, I'm a terrible person. I get carried away really easily, like last night. You said no—I shouldn't have forced you. You're too young. I've tarnished your kind innocence, Len-kun, and now—now I just feel terrible!" She started to cry.

"D—don't cry!" Len gasped. "I should be the one who's ashamed right now! It was my fault! I made the choice to do it, so don't worry! Please—just stop crying…please…" Len hated moments like this. Every time he was with a girl, she'd either get mad at him or burst into tears eventually.

Like with Rin-chan, Len thought tenderly. I—I could never protect her when we were little. It was always the opposite!

"It—it was only my second time drinking, really," Miku sobbed. "I—I know it's bad for you, and I don't like it. But the people around me all said it was cool and sophisticated to drink, that it showed maturity. But when you do—you just end up looking like a fool and making horrible choices, and you feel like a worthless piece of crap afterward! I—I'll never do that to you again, Len-kun. And not to myself either. Not to anyone else…"

Len was stunned. Miku's outburst was spontaneous, and although it didn't quite relate to what they were talking about, Len had no choice but to listen. He wrapped Miku in his arms to make her feel better.

"You're so caring," Miku said, wiping her tears. "You—you aren't mad at me either, are you?"

"Why would I?" Len asked.

"Oh, thank goodness. It took a lot of courage for me to manage to come up here and see your face," Miku said. "I thought you'd be furious…I mean, I did make you break up with your girlfriend and all, but—but I wonder how Sakine-san found out?"

"It couldn't have been Rin-chan," Len said. "She's too nice. I do remember that before we all headed back to the hotel Sakine wanted to spend time with me, but because of the rules we couldn't. Also, she saw you and I talking when we arrived, so maybe she was suspicious?"

"Yeah, maybe she was," Miku said. "She acts so high-and-mighty but she's probably still cherry."

"Ch—cherry?" Len asked, shocked. He started to blush.

"You know, cherry. A…virgin, yes?" Miku replied. "Why are you acting so uncomfortable? Your right eye is twitching and you're as red as a fire truck. Len-kun?"

"Er…" Len said. The cat definitely got his tongue.

"You mean you—"

"Um—"

"Have already—"

"About that—"

"Done—"

"It's—it's not what you think!"

"So, you—you know—with that Sakine girl?" Miku gasped.

"Y—yeah…" Len said awkwardly. "She wanted to, so, um…"

"Goodness! Kids don't waste time nowadays, do they!" Miku breathed.

"You sound like a grandmother," Len sighed.

"Are you implying that I'm old?" Miku snapped. "I—I'm only eighteen, you know!"

"I didn't mean it in a bad way, of course not!" Len gasped. Miku pushed him down forcefully onto the bed and started to kiss him.

"Mmm—"

"Can an old lady do that?" Miku said softly.

"No, Miku-chan," Len said. "No…"

"I'll be the one to make you feel better, Len-kun," Miku smirked, starting to take off her shirt.

"Miku-chan, wait—"

"It's okay. I promise I won't be the rebound girl," Miku said. "I promise I won't hurt you ever again, Len-kun…"

"Miku…chan…." Len let himself get lost in the sea of Miku's soft, angelic blue-green hair.

Rin sat on a swing hanging from a palm tree, dangling her feet in the clear aquamarine water. It gently lapped against her toes.

"Oh…" Rin sighed. "Len-kun hasn't come out of his room all day. I wonder how he's feeling…it must hurt."

Rin felt terrible that she was the one who had caused Len and Meiko's spat, which led to their break-up. She did not want to ruin Len's happiness, but she knew the relationship between Len and Meiko had been a toxic one.

"It's for the best, Rin," Rin said to herself. "Even Len himself said he was happy about it. And this will provide a new opportunity for you. Break-ups always hurt afterward, no matter what happens. It's normal. Len will come out eventually…"

Rin had a feeling that Meiko was doing things to Len in order to change him. She was that kind of controlling girl. Little by little she had stolen Len's innocence, Rin was positive about that. There was one thing that she prayed Meiko and Len hadn't done, but she knew they did. It was the one thing she had feared the most.

We're so young though, Rin thought. I know I shouldn't be thinking about these things already, but I am. And it's Len's choice if he wants to do these types of things. We all mature at different rates. I'm so selfish. I'm a sick, sick person. I can never be a bride now…

"Hey, um, Kagamine-san," someone called. "Mind if we share the swing?"

Rin turned around. Much to her surprise, it was Meiko.

"Oh, um, sure, Sakine-san," Rin said. "How are you today?"

"I can barely describe how I feel today," Meiko said, sitting down next to Rin. "I'm not angry or sad, but I'm not happy either. Kind of a neutral feeling, I guess."

"I'm really sorry for what happened between you and Len-kun," Rin said. "It's all my fault…"

"Don't be sorry," Meiko said. "I'm actually really happy that you told me the truth; that you were brave enough to tell the truth, even though you're close friends with Kagamine-kun. Although I don't really know you very well…I just wanted to say thank you."

"Oh, uh, no problem," Rin said.

"I feel it's my fault, really," Meiko said. "I knew Kagamine-kun wasn't 100%-happy with me. But I kept pushing him. I should've let him go free. But he was cute and kind, and the first boy I'd met that treated me normally and wasn't a sleaze. I took advantage of him, and that's why he ran off with another girl. I never allowed him to breathe…I'm a terrible person."

"You aren't all that terrible, Sakine-san," Rin said. Her thoughts had been right on the dot.

"You're just saying that to be nice," Meiko said. "But really…I've always been kind of a shy, awkward girl. So I built this exterior character—this strong, take-charge kind-of-girl character, and I can't seem to get out of my shell. My exterior character kept everything inside. She tried to act mature, and did things even if she knew they were wrong. And now I've messed up and hurt myself and others. I don't want to do this anymore." Rin felt a single tear land on her hand.

"Sakine-san…" Rin put her arm around Meiko. "It's all right. Really…" She never knew that such a sensitive girl was sleeping within Meiko. Rin wasn't sure what to do or say.

"I am a bitch," Meiko said. "I really am. And I want to change that. I'm sure everyone would like to say that to my face. Go ahead, please do it."

"Um…" Rin wasn't a fan of calling people names.

"Go on," Meiko said. "I don't mind."

"You ARE a bitch!" Rin shouted. "It's true what you did to Len-kun was wrong, and it's true that he as well did things that weren't right, either. But now you've learned from this. I was always kind of afraid of you, Sakine-san, but now I see that you aren't all that bad…"

"Thank you," Meiko sobbed. "Shit, this is f*cking embarrassing…I'm crying in front of you…I never cry…"

"Just let it all out," Rin said. "You'll feel much better afterward."

Meiko sobbed for, Rin didn't know how long. It seemed like the world stood still and it was just them, together.

"Oh, I do feel much better," Meiko said, wiping her face.

"I'm happy, Sakine-san," Rin said.

"Um, you can call me Meiko," Meiko said. "May I…call you Rin-chan?"

"Sure…Meiko-chan," Rin said, smiling. They both laughed.

"I think we'll become great friends, Rin-chan," Meiko said.

"Of course!" Rin said.

"I've forgotten all about Kagamine-kun now. We're history. I'm going to be a good girl now," Meiko said.

"I'm happy to get to know you a little better, Meiko-chan," Rin said.

"You too. Nice swimsuit choice, by the way," Meiko said. "I remember modeling for that one."

"Thanks—oh my gosh, you model?" Rin gasped. "That's so cool!"

"I'll take you to one of my shoots sometime, when they come up," Meiko said.

"Oh, I'd love to!" Rin said.

"But first—you're it!" Meiko pushed Rin off the swing. Rin, surprised, grabbed Meiko's foot and pulled her in as well.

I've hurt both Meiko-chan and Len-kun, Rin thought. But things will be all right. I know they will. I just need to make sure I don't get to close to Meiko-chan…or things could get bad. REALLY bad.

Little did Rin know that Len happened to be watching her from the shore.

~CHAPTER 8 – END~

© 2010 Ikuto-sama