Hey everybody! I'm back, again! I've been on spring vacation, working on other fanfiction, homework, state standardized testing! I'm just glad to finally come here. I know you missed me. Or just the story. Heh...

Chapter 10: Sibling Rivalry

Len's POV

Rin and I said good-bye to our senpais, Miku and Gumi, and went on our way home. I thought back to Haruto's mysterious message. Warning Rin and I not to let Miku get in the way of our sibling bond; what a strange guy. Besides, it was not any of his business for how I woo Miku. Or how I get Rin out of the way. The next day, Mrs. Tona announced to the class that they would be starting a new part of our learning. We would learn to play an instrument. We were not allowed to play an instrument we already knew how to use. I ended up going with the trumpet. Rin decided to do the xylophone, and Miku went with flute. She wasn't a great flute player, but I'd listen to her all day if it meant she'd smile at me.

Mrs. Tona left us to experiment with our instruments. Miku was sitting near Rin and her xylophone. I walked over. They were talking about some trivial girl thing that I wouldn't understand in a million years.

"Hey Miku," I said, "listen to how amazing my trumpet playing skills are becoming." I pursed my lips and blew. The sound was pathetically squeaky at first, but eventually grew into a beautiful melody. The music took me away on its warm tones. As I finished the last note, I turned to Miku. She had closed her eyes and was humming. She opened them and smiled that wonderful, angel smile.

"That was lovely Len. You're really coming along. I wish I could be as good as you." My face grew hotter, and I couldn't help but give a little smirk.

"Well, I don't know that much about flute playing, but I'm sure I could teach you one thing or another." Smooth.

"Miku Miku, my xylophone playing is so much cooler than my younger brother, you have to listen." Excuse me? Rin twirled her mallets and struck the table instrument. She played a colorful array of sounds, high and low, dramatic and energetic. Her music seemed to charm Miku, but I crossed my arms and glared. Rin looked up from her playing, her tongue sticking out at me. Oh, how dare she! Suddenly a plan popped into my head. Something to get Miku's attention back on me and make Rin look silly.

"Is that all the energy you got? Pretty lame Miss Immature" I taunted cooly. Rin growled. She started smacking the keys even harder. A lock of teal hair was out of place on my crush. Even more perfect. I came close to Miku, stroking her cheek lightly as I put the hair around her ear. She gasped, her cheeks turning a light pink. Rin karate chopped the keys. One of them flew up and struck her face. That's what you get when you let you emotions run wild.

"Oh no, are you okay?" Miku laughed.

"I'm fine." I ignored Rin's pointed, annoyed stare.

"Ah, and thank you Len. I think."

The day continued on with generally the same set up; I would try to allure Miku when Rin would barge in and ruin the whole plan. If only I didn't have such a bothersome sister. I finished packing up my backpack before Rin did and raced to Miku's locker. This would be a great opportunity to take her away somewhere Rin couldn't get to us. Heh heh, just thinking about it made me all aflutter. I reached my love's locker, banging onto the left of it, still keeping my cool.

"Hey" I said eagerly.

"Hey back" Miku replied.

"Are you doing anything later today?"

"No, not especially."

"Um, would you like hang out with me?"

"Sure. Where we going?" Oh. I did not think that far ahead. "Uh-um, I don't really know..."

"Ha ha, maybe next time you should come with a plan Len. How about we go to this café near the school. My family drove by there when we were first moving here." Thank the heavens that Miku knew what she was doing.

"Okay. Great idea. Let's go then."

"Don't you two even think of leaving me behind" Rin said as she caught up to us. "Len, you should have told me that you were going. It's unfair that you get more time with our best friend." I glared at Rin to which she answered with equal fierceness.

"Aw Rin, you're too sweet. I value all my friends the same. Both of you of course are my closest ones but that doesn't change how I feel about my other friends" Miku explained, patting Rin gently on the shoulder. Only Miku could be so affectionate while killing my sister's chance at her.

"But I didn't want to get left out" she whined with what I was almost mistaken to believe was desperation.

"Come with us then. We wouldn't want to abandon you anyways." Yeah, we sure wouldn't.

"Thanks Miku" she beamed.

"Can I go too?" Kaito asked out of nowhere.

"Kaito!" we cried.

"I haven't really spent time with you guys and it would be a pleasant activity to spend my afternoon with... Plus Meiko wants me to get her a coffee they only sell at this café." Ugh, of all people, Kaito! He's such an idiot. Now I have to deal with him and Rin.

"Yeah you can come. The more the merrier" Miku cheered. Miku, save me...

We walked a block away to the café with Kaito carrying all our backpacks. Rin had hoisted her backpack on to him with the excuse that since he butted into our group, he had to make up for it by carrying her backpack. I just decided to follow her lead. Miku did too.

"Are we there yet?" Kaito gasped.

"It's one street away! Are you seriously that out of shape?" Rin asked in a snide way.

"We're here anyways" Miku said. We went inside and stood on line. "Does everyone know what they're getting?" We looked at the menu-board and nodded. We each took our turn ordering our coffee or other drink. Kaito spotted a bunch of people leave the bar seats and ran towards it, snagging us a place to sit down and enjoy our drinks. I guess he wasn't completely useless after all.

We sat down, Kaito on the edge of the bar, Rin on his right, Miku in the middle, and I on the other end of the bar. We all small talked each other, Miku really being the one to keep things lively. I was still miffed with Rin for bothering me all day and with Kaito for bothering me now. Why can't they leave me alone! I want Miku for myself! I grumbled and sipped my coffee in silence.

"Hey you haven't taken a sip of your coffee yet" commented Kaito. Miku blinked at him before her mouth opened.

"Oh yes, I forgot!"

"Forgot what?" She turned and rummaged around in her jacket.

"Aha!" she said, "Here we go." Miku plopped a miniature leek into her cup. "Perfect!" The rest of us stared at the drink with a confused expression on our poor faces.

"Um, why?" Rin asked her.

"Akito's leeks are the best. They are deliciously fresh! I bought a bunch of portable-sized leeks to take with me wherever I go so that I can eat them whenever I want. I bet they'll make my coffee taste even better." How creative! Miku has both the beauty and the brains.

"I want to try some of this. Leeks and coffee; it'll probably taste like a green house's garden" Rin said aloud.

"I'll go ask for another cup" Miku replied. Before she could get up, Rin grabbed her cup, placing her lips on the straw in the cup. She sucked up the coffee in a, ugh, cute way with her cheeks puffing out. An angry shiver moved up my spine. My face must have turned red for I felt a tremendous hot energy coursing through my blood. Rin kissed Miku! Well she used the same straw that Miku did which is basically a kiss. How dare she, especially before me! A sneaky kiss on the straw. I could never forgive her for this treachery.

Miku blushed and brought a fist to her face, hiding her mouth and averting her eyes. "Hey, I could have gotten you your own one" she mumbled. Rin gave her a cheeky smile.

"That is a very effective way to spread disease, you know" Kaito said in a matter-of-fact manner. Rin glared at him as to say, "Don't ruin my moment." I looked away, unable to bear with this terrible turn of events. I drank my coffee, my only escape at the time. A few minutes later, Miku started talking again.

"Ah Len. You have some coffee on your face." I turned to her. She moved a napkin across my mouth. Why...why was it making me so happy? Her attention only on me, taking care and being compassionate; I swear I must have been giving her puppy eyes. She smiled to me, unaware of my racing heart. Miku, you didn't have to, but please keep going. Rin gritted her teeth as she watched us. "Not cool" she mouthed behind me. I winked at her, the only way I could communicate without moving the grin on my face. Her eye twitched uncontrollably.

"Can you wipe the coffee from my lips too?" Kaito piped up.

"That's it! I can't take it anymore!" Rin hollered.

"Rin?" Miku said. The blonde stormed out of the café. As her twin, I was forced to go after her, no matter how much I didn't want to. I ran out of the café.

"Rin where are you going?" I yelled.

Rin spun and shouted, "Anywhere but here with you annoying guys! I can't take you two hogging Miku for yourselves, and Kaito was the limit!"

"We have a right to her too!" Rin stomped her foot.

"You boys are all the same; dumb tagalongs that always bother me!"

"You're just being a selfish brat who can't share a crush! Now get back inside so that Miku doesn't worry." At that moment, Miku and Kaito came to join us.

"Rin, please, why are you angry?" Miku asked.

"I don't want to explain it" she replied, but with less force in Miku's presence.

"Wah, I just wanted to enjoy my iced coffee" Kaito cried. That seemed to enrage Rin further.

"No one asked for your opinion, dimwit! I'm leaving!"

"You can't go anywhere you bossy, impulsive, stupid girl!" I roared. Rin's eyes began to water.

She closed them and screamed from the top of her lungs, "Don't you ever talk to me you lazy, brain-dead, vile shota!" I pulled at my hair, baring my teeth.

"I hate having a horrible sister like you!"

"Well I don't want a brother with masculinity issues!" Rin and I both turned around and ran in the opposite directions.

"Len..." Miku said. I ignored her, my pride and feelings too broken.

"This turned out terribly" Kaito commented and Miku finally frowned at him.

"Oh dear," she sighed, "what are we going to do?"

Oh my gosh everybody, it's a cliffhanger! *Shriek* Yes you will have to wait in agonizing pain for the next time I update to see if our favorite love triangle is still intact. I always wanted to do a cliffhanger. The chapter really seemed to lead up to the conflict of the moment. I'm sorry if it seemed boring to you or anticlimactic. Like I said, this is my first time at a dramatic cliffhanger. I also had a few problems trying to come up with accurate, hurtful insults for Rin and Len to fling at each other so sorry if someone says something not equally hurtful as the other. I was going for the whole twin-balance thing. Rest assured, there will be more romance in the future so stay tuned!