A/N: Here's the next chapter! I'm gonna try to upload the next 5 chapters in the next 2 weeks but, really, don't word me since I have finals and everything else during that time. But now, didn't y'all like that chapter? It was happy! This one will be a little serious compared to the last but now my full cast of characters will finally get personalities other than 'ass' or 'bitch'. Really. Finally.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vocaloid. Though I'd love to finally see it in English.

Thank you to MaxJacksonCullengirl, MusicGamer, Silver Rowdyruff Girl, x-Rinny-Lenny, ReturnoftheWings, Campanella, Sweet Lollita, Bloody Black Rabbit, Tragic Universe, c0baltMiku-san, akichanz, Pomegranata, chibis of evil, Pink Bottle of Kiseki, and CluelessLeaf for reviewing! Glad you liked the last chapter!

And thank you to my beloved betas, MusicGamer and CluelessLeaf!

Summary: Memories: They hold the very things we love and the very things we despise. Well, for this girl, Rin Kagamine, her memories are the link, the link that ties everyone and everything, including this story together. First part of the Memories Series! RinxLen

Chapter 9: Unwinding

(Rin's POV)

Luka Megurine. A girl who was a huge part of my former life, serving as one of my most trusted friends who eventually left me, paving the way for me to enter my new life. Throughout my time with her, Luka was always mature, seemingly perfect and motherly. Though after years of time with her, I learned and witnessed the unwinding of her perfect exterior to see a very vulnerable, dependent, lonesome girl who loses herself when she's completely alone. But despite her meekness, she still shares her motherly warmth to everyone to this day, everyone except for…well, me.

Luka Megurine, the girl who now hates me, is currently waiting awkwardly outside my doorstep, fidgeting in my confused stare.

Her visit was, to say the least, surprising and unexpected, by me or my companions who stand next to me, who are fully aware of her meaning in my life, a life they have no idea I am trying to shed. I felt somewhat disturbed by her sudden appearance a day after my oath to change, serving as a memento to my old life, but I pushed the thought out of my mind as soon as I saw the urgency in her face.

"Megurine-san?" I call out, trying my best not to put a single feeling of familiarity in my voice, my first step in rebirth. "What do you need? Did Akita-san send you here?" Her gaze swiftly changes from the ground to straight into my eyes – which are refusing to betray another emotion besides confusion – then back to the ground again in a panicked flurry because of my sudden confidence and apathy.

Truthfully, I'm shocked of my voice as well. And looking at the fearful frown on Luka's delicate face, I feel guilty that I'm testing my first stage on her, the emotionally weakest. I feel like I'm picking on the weak and willing, and I hate it, even though that was what described myself just two days ago.

She meets my gaze, as well as the looks Miku, Mikuo, and Kei are giving her, and mumbles, "Y-yes… Neru-san asked me to call you over s-so we can discuss the festival..." She eyes Miku and I cautiously. "After, y-you know, the first ended in a b-bust."

I sigh despite myself. I knew the time would come eventually, though I certainly did not mind putting off our eventual meeting as much as I could. Now, I just need to mentally and emotionally prepare myself to the upcoming trial of my will.

"Okay..." I let out dejectedly. I suddenly look down at my overly casual pajamas compared to Luka's elegant skirt and bolero. "Just let us get prepared first." She nods weakly and turns to back off, looking as lost as ever in the dove white snow, and before I notice it, I hear my voice calling out to her, "Would you like to come in and wait for us in there?"

She turns around, looking surprised but relieved, and mumbles out an agreement before treading inside with us. Miku gives me a look of apprehension and whispers discreetly, "Rin, are you sure you know what you're doing? They could threaten you again."

I give her a reassuring smile and reply, "I'm sure. I mean, I have you, Mikuo, and Kei-kun to protect me, right?"

Miku smirks and comments, "I wouldn't rely on those two sissies too much. They bruise easily; I should know." I giggle as I head upstairs with Miku and the boys to get dressed, leaving Luka in the loft with a cup of tea.

When we return, fully dressed for the cold, we see Luka roaming around the living room in a daze, observing pictures on the wall and little trinkets of mine scattered on the floor. Confused, I call out to her, "Megurine-san?" She turns to us, a blush lining her face, totally embarrassed for snooping.

"I-I'm sorry, Ri- er, Kagamine-san," She looks at me meekly. "I was just curious about where you live now. We kind of missed being neighbo-" She stops herself from traveling into that emotional road of our memories and I do the same, putting the reminders of my past into the back of my mind. "W-well, we're all ready…why don't we h-head out?" Luka tries to recover swiftly, bent on letting go of the previous events.

I agreed and with that, we were out into the cold, anticipating what would come next. We followed Luka toward our destination - a café - the whole trip lined with the conversations between the Hatsune twins. But despite that, Luka and I stayed silent the whole way, afraid for both of our sakes to let our memories unravel.

We reached the dainty, little cafe after a few minutes of walking in the snow. I kept my eyes on the ground, anxious of the coming meeting. To my confusion, Luka seemed anxious of the following meeting as well. Our gazes met more than once, though I convinced myself not to care. I'm not supposed to care anymore, I repeat to myself.

I look up at the first time and take in my surroundings. What I see is a cute boutique-like café – small, yellow, and cozy, with a banner reading 'Eien Cafe'. Though I've neither seen nor heard about the cafe before concluding that it was a new addition to the neighborhood, the area we stand in is so familiar to me. The cafe is located in the elite part of town, apparent with the larger houses with their well-kept yards and high iron fences in plain sight. Of course they would choose a place like this. It's convenient for them and it's a way to show how superior they are to us. And it might have been accidental, but by choosing this place, it also mocks me, giving me the haunting feeling that I'll never be able to move on, for even after all that happened, I am back to my former residence, waiting to serve them yet again with not even a welcome in greeting.

I look through the window and I see them: Kaito, Meiko, Gakupo. Neru, and Len, huddled near a couch, oblivious of our presence outside the shop. Kaito and Len have huge ice cream sundaes despite the cold and are scarfing them down without a care - most likely competing on who can eat the fastest, a tradition the two have been keeping up for years. Gakupo has a hot coffee and is cheering for them to continue, pounding the table and chanting in beat. Meiko has a devilish grin as she suddenly grabs Kaito's head and shoves him into his bowl causing him to get ice cream all over his face and on the floor. Kaito laughs it off and grabs a napkin to wipe his face before continuing. Len suddenly tenses up as he bolts upright with a grimace and he appears to whine holding his head, most likely because of brain freeze. Neru looks at Len worriedly and cautiously pats his head, stroking his hair with a slight blush on her face. She looks so different than what she usually does; she looks more carefree, happy, and even shy.

Looking at the scene, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic; I was reminded of all our escapades as little children. I remember picnics we had at the park, trips we collectively took to the beach, and jumping into leaf piles in autumn. I imagine myself in Neru's place, once again by their sides. I would be the one rubbing Len's head in an effort to calm him. I would be the one cheering for Kaito, for it would be obvious he would win. I would be the one giggling at the boys' immaturity, feeling refreshed by it. I would be the one with them.

NO, Rin! No! I scold myself. I can't be with them. That time is over and I need to get over it. I need to stop thinking these stupid thoughts. I promised myself I would let go of the past. I have a new life. I take a deep breath as I continuously repeat that statement in my head. And I've got to show them that I'm over them.

And with that, I walked past Kei, Mikuo, Miku, and Luka, who have been eyeing me concernedly, and walked right through the door, hearing the ring of the bell sound in my ears.

I am met with five cold gazes as a greeting. The laughter dies down as well as the mirth, instead being replaced by the masks of indifference they usually wear. I meet their gaze for once, proudly and defiantly hold my ground, refusing to be pushed yet again. Kei, Miku, and Mikuo find their way behind me, ready to defend me at moment's notice, though I wouldn't let them. This is my battle. Even if I end up beaten or bruised physically or emotionally, I would still end up victorious as I would have still gotten past them.

I see in the corner of my eye Luka awkwardly trotting to the other side of the room where they are and try to grab Gakupo's attention with a light tap. Gakupo nonchalantly shrugs her off, keeping all his focus on me. For a moment I alter my gaze to meet Luka's and see her emotions unwind. I see the loneliness, uncertainty, and rejection lingering in her eyes, and I get the feeling that this has happened before - that she has been ignored and shrugged off before because of her lack of cruelty. And I'm sad to say that I know those feelings all too well.

And because of those feelings, I find myself trudging over to her nonchalantly, past the incredulous glares of the five individuals of front of her. I shrug past Kaito and Meiko, not caring to even peek at their facial expressions, knowing they would show shock and offence respectively. I look at Neru's insulted glare for a second before I shrug her off as well, effectively challenging her superiority. I allow myself to bump into Len's frame, still as ice, causing him to flinch at our touch as if he touched a rod of electricity. I ignore Gakupo completely and focus my attention fully on Luka.

"Thank you for your assistance, Megurine-san." I say in a kind, innocent voice. "Though I think it's a shame, for after doing the unbearable by helping me, your reward is to be shrugged off like you were." I sigh dramatically. My voice never loses its pep as I say, "Though I'd hate to say it, but your efforts have been in vain, for while you've been a polite hostess as expected, I sense that I'm unwelcome here by everyone else and it'd be better if I just take our leave." I look at the insulted face of the crowd before us and Luka's shocked face.

"W-wait, what!" Luka stammers. "What about the festival?"

I giggle a giggle similar to Miku's and answer, "Well, I'll just do what I intended from the start and believe in the talents of Akita-san in taking care of the festival. Akita-san, you'd be able to take care of it, right?" I ask sweetly to Neru.

She huffs defiantly as she answers a haughty, "Of course!"

"Okay, then. That would mean you wouldn't need us then. In that case, we'll take our leave," I say matter-of-factly. And with that, I leave them, pulling along a shocked Kei and Mikuo and a giggling Miku with me, proclaiming this encounter ended in my sweet victory.

We left in a huff, rushing to leave before one of them can follow us to leave a comment. When we're out of the elite area, we stop to catch our breaths.

Miku then giggles before commenting, "Wow, Rinny! You sure gave them a piece of your mind."

Kei continues worriedly, "Really, Rin. What were you thinking? Aren't those the people that go out of their way to try and hurt you?"

Miku motions right next to me and says to the exasperated Kei, "Lighten up, Kei-pon. What Rin did was badass." Cue Miku's signature giggle.

I laugh along with her and answer Kei proudly, "I just wanted to stand up to them for once." I give Kei a smile which he reddens to. Probably because of the wind. "So no need to worry!"

Mikuo pipes up, "Sure Rin, you were great standing up for yourself, don't get me wrong. But just don't be too much like Miku. I swear, that giggle, as hot as it sounds on you, is just a little creepy on her."

I find myself laughing as Miku of course proceeds to abuse her twin. As soon as Miku finished punishing her brother, she casually asks, "So where are we off to now?"

"I need to go home for a while..." Kei comments. "Just to get things I need for the rest of the week. I'll just meet up with you guys later."

"I think we should do the same, sis," Mikuo suggests after recovering from Miku's strikes.

"Awww... I don't wanna leave Rinny alone!" Miku complains.

I assure her that it's okay, and soon enough, the three of them leave me alone after promising to meet up later on. I use this time to just drift and ponder over the current events. Looking back, a lot happened over the last month. I met Miku, Mikuo, and Kei, who would inspire me to change my life. I was volunteered to handle a festival with the very people who I associate the festival with. I promised myself to be a new person. And just recently, I succeeded in my first steps. And I couldn't be prouder of myself.

While lost in my train of thought, I found myself in front of a familiar looking house. Somehow, I ended up back in the elite area. Despite my common sense saying to just leave before I get confronted, my curiosity piques when I see two familiar figures at the doorway of the house. The boy had long exotic hair while the girl's pink hair flows along her curiosity overtakes me as I get closer to hear the two talk.

"Can you believe what that Kagamine did at the cafe?" Gakupo inquires. "She insulted all of us with that little stunt, Lu."

Luka sighs tiredly. "It wasn't that bad, Gaku. And can you call her Rin? She does have a name and it's hard to tell sometimes whether you're talking about her or Len." Luka turns so she faces Gakupo directly and changes the subject. "Hey, thanks for walking me home."

Gakupo just mumbles in response.

Luka looks at him for a long while before taking a deep breath. Her face flushes red as she breaths out, "Gaku, ar-are y-you busy t-tomorrow? Cuz if y-you're not, I-I was hoping we c-could go out and eat t-t-together." Luka turns even redder though by the looks of it, Gakupo didn't hear a singe thing after being occupied by his own thoughts. "S-so, Gaku, w-what do you s-say?"

He would say yes. He has to. He and Luka have been friends longer than any of us has been. They've alway been together ever since they were born. The two were naturally close despite being different as Luka was ladylike and poised and Gakupo was carefree and laid-back. But despite this, it was as if the two were destined to be together and it only proved true when Luka developed a crush on Gakupo at the age of 6. It was kind of like how Len and I were inseparable. We would do everything together like them, except that there was nothing romantic ever between me and Len. Len never liked me or at least made his feelings clear and for all I knew, I didn't like him either. But even if I did, at this point it would be impossible to have a relationship with him, unlike Gakupo and Luka who's just a few baby steps away from getting there.

Gakupo looks up into the sky and sighs. After a while, he looks back at Luka and gives her an answer: a curt yes. Luka was of course overjoyed and rushed back inside her house ecstatic. I smile to myself even though I'm supposed to let go of this; things like this are safe to enjoy.

The next day went by in a blur. The Hatsunes and Kei returned before me last night and we enjoyed another night with each other. The day continued on with a visit to the marketplace recently stripped of the holiday decor. I expected to be confronted by Neru or one of her group, judging by yesterday and Gakupo's individual reaction, but surprisingly - and thankfully - no one came. By 8:00, the four of us were already home. Before I could go to bed, Teto called me down to ask me to go to the post office and deliver a letter to her husband Ted, who was away in the military. I agreed since I loved Ted as much as Teto, thinking of him as my surrogate father, just as I thought of Teto as a mother.

On my way back from the post office, little flakes of snow started falling from the sky. I found myself giggling and once again running and playing in the snow. The wind picked up and I ran with it, giving me the feeling that made me feel I was soaring in the air. It seemed that nothing could stop me until I reached a quaint playground.

There, I saw her. She was on the swing her hanging face covered by her rose colored hair, which, by the looks of it, were at one point arranged in a gorgeous bun but was messily rearranged and covered with snow for some reason. Her dress, a gray a line dress with a white shawl, would have looked gorgeous on her amazing body if not for being drenched to the bone by the snow and the bottom being partially torn from what looks like running. Past her wall of hair, her makeup was arranged perfectly until tears pitifully falling from her eyes ruined it. All in all, Megurine Luka, the girl with a perfect exterior, looked broken, inside and out.

I cautiously move over to her, no longer feeling in the mood to run around in the snow, and instead wanting to help her out. As much as I shouldn't be doing this, I have to since I can't stand to see any of them hurt again, even if they hurt me. And judging from how she looks and acts, Luka is hurt terribly. She remains oblivious to my presence until I sit down on the swing next to her, after which she jumps up, startled, as her eyes meet up with mine. What I see in her eyes is just what her body language tells me: hurt.

She looks down again, feeling vulnerable and weak under my gaze. I bring the tip of my finger and push up her face so she faces me. "Megurine-san, why are you out here in the cold?"

Luka looks at me straight in the eye, not answering me yet, most likely having an inner conflict on whether she should tell me, an individual who she lost trust for years ago. But just looking at her, any more conflict would be too much for her as tears spill out of her eyes and so do her feeble explanation: "Gakupo, h-he never came..."

Anyone else would have been confused by her minimal words. For me, however, it's enough. From those four words, she told me about the whole situation: that Gakupo never came for her, never even called. That she's been waiting out here in the cold all of this time and ran away in tears when she's given up hope. That, right now, her heart is broken by the boy she's been with forever. And because I'm the only person, I know, I'm also the only person who can make things better.

I give her a hug, shocking her, and whisper comfortingly in her ear, "It's okay, Luka-chan." I don't even bother with impersonal formalities because this moment is as personal as it could be. "It's okay, it's okay. Gakupo-san probably just forgot. You know how he's like..." I do my best to comfort her by making excuses for Gakupo though I know they are untrue. And she does as well.

Which causes her to ask me this next question. "Why?" The desperation in her question was just like the desperation I had just a few weeks ago. So I know exactly what she's asking for. And just like Miku did to me those few weeks ago, I would do to Luka.

"Because I still care for you after all these years." I let out the unedited truth that would be more than enough to answer her question. She looks at me shocked, and before she can say anything else, I continue. "And before you ask why, it's because I never got over you guys, the past." I look away from her for a moment before I can finally say something I've been trying to deny this whole time. "I don't think I can ever get over the past..." Since it keeps coming back to me, I thought bitterly.

Luka's sobbing into me now, and I let her do as she pleases. She tries to regain herself as she lets out, "I-I missed you Rin. I missed you so much!" She tries to stop her cries and continues, "We've never been the same without you Rin." She looks deep in my eyes and I see desperation in hers. She whimpers in a ghostly wail, "I need you back into my life, Rin. I need you! Rin, please..."

I stare deep into her eyes, her doorway to her soul and all I see is true honesty. And just I was about to agree to go back into her life, I am reminded of my promise to be reborn into a stronger person. And it is because of that reminder that I make my choice.

"No," I say quietly with a thoughtful smile on my face. With my rejection, Luka's face only contorts to make her look even more hopeless, even more lost. But just as she was about to leave in defeat, I call out, "Luka-chan, you didn't let me finish." She looks back at me bewildered while I offer her a smile.

"I won't go back to the past, because all that'll show is that I'm still weak and resentful. And I'm not anymore. But just because I'm not gonna crawl back into my memories, doesn't mean I won't be by your side." I look at her shocked face and thinkYes, this is right. Making amends with the past is just another way to get over it. I take a deep breath and continue, "So that's why I want us to start over. To start our friendship new as total strangers and just rebuild our old relationship into a new, stronger one without the baggage of our past. So what do you say?"

Without hesitation, she goes up and hug me declaring a multitude of "Yes, Rin, Yes!" towards me. And at this very moment, I felt so many things unwind. All the doubts of forever being stuck in the past cleared from my head. Fear of my future caused by my past subsided as well. But most of all, I felt all of Luka's hate and resentment towards me unwind, allowing us space to start anew.

A/N: Gosh guys, sorry for the lateness! This took a lot longer than what I planned! It's just been so hectic for me recently! I wanna thank all of you for reviewing and just hope you forgive me~! R&R!