Chapter 10 is finally here :)

Disclaimer: I do not own VOCALOID! They all belong to their repsected owners!

Chapter Ten:

Promises and Reasons

~REI~

Rin…She looked so upset but she wouldn't tell me the why.

"You can trust me Rin, I won't tell a soul so pl-,"

"Rei, just…just stop. I don't want to talk about it." She cut off and sighed. Her eyes were puffy, meaning she cried over it. I know that I didn't have the right to pry on her affairs but just looking at her and doing nothing was making me look useless.

"Rin…you promised remember? You're not the only one allowed to hear out on other people's problems. When you told me I could lean on you for help, it also meant that you could lean on me when you need help too. Don't keep it to yourself and sulk abou-,"

"What do you know about keeping promises Rei!"

"Their only meant to be broken and replaced! That's all what promises are." She added angrily.

"What you're talking of is empty promises Rin! I never make an empty promise." I countered. She glared at me angrily and was about to storm off- I quickly grabbed her arm and took her away from the dance hall…away from the onlookers who wanted to see what our fight was about.

"Where are you taking me!"

"Where we first met." I replied as I took her to the maze of roses and finally to the white pavilion where I first met her. I let Rin sit on the marble chair waiting for her to settle down.

"Why did you take me here?" She asked her voice in a soft whisper but with a hint of annoyance in it almost like she was sulking.

"To settle this little spat."

"It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't butt into my affairs." She retorted slightly annoyed. I then sat next to her, my hands clasped together and placed on my lap. Her eyes followed my every movement until I looked at her directly forcing her to look away.

"It was a promise so I have the right to butt in."

"I told you before promises were-," She was about to say had I not cut her off.

"-meant to be broken, so on and so forth. Goodness Rin! Does that make our promise a while back useless? Then what was the point of making it if you're just going to talk about how useless it was?"

"It wasn't a promise Rei."

"Give one good reason for it to not be considered a promise?" I asked. Rin thought hard for moment before giving me her answer.

"Because I didn't say 'promise'"

"Promises don't need those kinds of words to make it a promise Rin. Just swearing or vowing to it is what makes it a promise." I answered back.

"Fine! So what we said a while back was a promise, even if I told you what my problem was about…you wouldn't be able to do anything."

"Try me." I dared. Rin was taken aback by my sudden act. I was glad she was though; I wanted her to think I could help her no matter what her problems were.

"Rei, really I think it's best that we-,"

"Rin! You can trust me." I assured her. Rin nodded reluctantly while fidgeting with her gown.

"It's…about a promise, I made with Len."

~RIN~

I turned to him waiting for a reply.

This was the whole reason why I didn't want to tell him. I tried to make sure we never talked about him whenever we were together. Now I just crossed the line.

"And what promise is that?" Rei asked. His face was unreadable making me even more nervous.

"It was made long before I met you so it's nothing to talk about-,"

"I was asking what the promise was Rin not when it was made." He cut off. What would be his reaction if I told him? Would he be upset? Angry? Or Hurt? I was too afraid to tell him. Why did I even have to tell him about all of this?

"What's with the long pause Ri-," Rei asked.

"To be by my side when I needed him!" I shouted back cutting him off. Silence soon followed making me even more worried. I was afraid to look at him so it was hard for me to tell if he was either angry or just upset. I mustered my strength to look and saw Rei looking down, his reaction hidden by the shadow of the night.

"R-Rei?" I tried to reach out but he just looked away. Was he angry?

"Rin, why are you so upset over something like that?" He asked as he looked at the sky. His eyes were hazy as if he was deep in thought.

"Rei, it was a promise we made back then…he vowed he'd keep it but in the end he failed. Wouldn't you be upset if a friend of yours did that to you too?" I answered back.

"I would but I wouldn't cry about it. He lost a great friend Rin; you didn't lose him…he lost you." Rei looked at me and smiled faintly.

"If he couldn't keep it then let me take his place." He added in a faint whisper.

"You don't have to Rei."

"Why then? Don't tell me that you're still hoping he hasn't forgotten about it." Rei asked with a hint of pain in his voice.

"What's wrong if I hope Rei?"

"It's because I hate when I see you like this! Always suffering…always hoping, so what if he remembers it then? He won't be able to even keep it since he already has someone to protect right? He will swear that oath on the day of their marriage Rin so-," Rei shouted angrily. Now he was angry, just when I thought that we finally understood each other this happens.

"Stop it! I don't want to hear any more of this Rei. You said you'd help me but truth be told you're not. So if you have nothing helpful to say then don't say anything at all!" I answered back while getting up. I give up…We're failing at this and there's nothing I can do.

"Wait just a minute Rin!" Rei quickly grabbed me by the arm and pinned me down on the marble chair.

"Re-Rei! What on earth are you doi-,"

"Please Rin hear me out…please." He whispered his face completely unreadable as he lay on top of me. T-this…W-what is he doing! And that anger awhile back…Where did it all go?

"Why do you have to look beyond what you already have Rin? Am I not enough?" Rei asked.

"What are you talking about Rei?" Somehow those words he said struck me. Not enough? I did my best to free him from Len's shadow.

So… what am I missing?

"Reason, Rin…Give me a reason to keep on moving forward." He replied as if he knew what I was thinking.

"I'm trying but still you're not satisfied…What kind of reason do you even want!" I asked…no pleaded to him. Rei, what kind of reason are you really looking for? I gave all that I could think of. What else do you want from me? It's all too confusing that I'm losing my mind here.

"I don't know either! That's why I'm asking you Rin. I'm confused and I don't know what to do anymore." As soon as he said those words, something wet brushed against my cheek.

Was he crying?

"I'm sorry okay - I don't know what to answer back either. I'm as confused as you are right now Rei…I don't even know what my reason is either." I murmured. All this time, Len was the sole reason I had to move forward…to strive for happiness but right now…after all of this…

Just what is my reason for moving forward?

"Then I'll be your reason Rin." Rei replied. What did he say? Will I bargain all my hope again like last time for a reason?

"If it all goes wrong…I'll have nothing left to give…" I answered back to him with reluctance. Is it worth it? Bargaining whatever hope I have left just to feel it again? To be able to feel complete…To be able to tell myself again that I can still move forward and hope for a future I deserve.

"It won't Rin! I swear on it that I won't fail. Whatever power I have I'll do whatever it takes to protect it." He shouted back. Protect. There it was again- that word; for him to swear on something that ruined me…

"Promise?" I asked taking him by surprise. Strange, suddenly making the same promise to a different person; But I have every right to do so right? Len made the same thing to Miku…so why can't I too?

"I promise Rin so please don't give up on me. I'll be your reason and you'll become mine." He vowed. Me? His reason? I'm making him suffer here and yet he makes me his reason; such a thing, is he really that stupid? To go to such an extent to prove that he can be something Len couldn't- trying to surpass his own brother.

"Tell me one thing Rei…Why do all of this? To such an extent- am I truly worth your reason?" I asked him. Of all people Rei- why me?

"You are Rin- more than you know it. I want you to become my Raison d'être; it means-,"

"Reason for existence…" I continued.

Such a heavy word to carry.

"Rei what if I fail you…Are you sure of all this?" I added. He says he won't fail me but what about me failing him? I don't know what will become of us if such a disaster were to happen.

"You won't Rin- I know you won't."

"You believe in me that much?" I asked him. I've let him down countless of times and did my best to fix them. Even after all of it he still trusts in me?

"Is it wrong to trust in you Rin?" He asked me.

"Rei! I've failed you so many times, I did my best to fix them but afterwards…"

"I wouldn't be here right now if you've truly failed me Rin. Remember; 'you're not alone'." He smiled faintly.

Not alone… Was I truly never alone?

"I'm so sorry for being so weak Rei. I'm so useless that I hate it." Tears streamed my face as I told him this. I look so pathetic, always crying, always relying on others to shoulder my own burdens. I created my own loneliness thinking that I had nothing left to move forward and yet here was Rei, telling me that I was never alone.

"Hey, you don't have to cry. No matter what, I'll protect your smile and prevent it from fading. So Rin; smile for me will you?" Rei encouraged me. I did my best and somehow I managed to force a slight smile.

"Thanks Rei."

"For you Rin…I'd do anything."

"Really now?" I asked and he nodded.

"Of course. Just say the word and I'll do it." Rei grinned.

"Mind getting off me then?" I asked him. It took him a minute to digest the words but when he saw my face below him; he quickly turned scarlet red and got off me.

"You are just like a little kid you know that Rei, hehehe~." I giggled.

"Stop it Rin! It's not funny at all." Rei replied, slightly embarrassed and annoyed. At least our little argument is finally over. I hope that this will be the last, it'd just hurt us more if things like this always happen.

Please do not let the happy moments that come by be nothing more but short-lived happiness.

"Go Rei! I just need to settle some matters. I'll meet you at the dancehall by the time I'm done with it." I said as I pushed him in the room. He was reluctant to leave, thinking that I might still be upset over our little fight, but I assured him it that I was not upset about it.

"Make sure you're back before twelve Rin." He replied and handed me his gold pocket watch to make sure that I didn't forget.

"I'll be back Rei so don't worry." I smiled and walked away after saying 'good-bye' and 'I'll be back' to him. I had to go back to that place, it hurts me to do so but I had to tell myself;

That it was time to let it go.

I looked at the building, still unsure whether or not I was ready for it. Taking in a deep breathe, I opened the door of the building and ascended its steps quietly; afraid that maybe he was still there with her and that they'd hear footsteps and look out to find me. As I reached the last step, I saw the balcony empty; no one was in here except for me. I sighed in relief and walked towards the balcony's end and looked at the night sky full of stars.

Again, Gemini was nowhere to be seen that night.

"Looking for Gemini again Rin?" I spun to the source of the voice and found Len leaning by the balustrade.

"Such a shame though that it's not out tonight. I rarely see it nowadays. " I replied partly surprised by his sudden appearance and here I thought that they had finally left the area.

"It actually is. if you look carefully you can still see Castor and Pollux." Len replied while getting up and then looking at the sky as well.

"I guess Gemini is getting too far for me to see it clearly now." I admitted. Len chuckled and pointed at the two bright stars that were shining beside each other.

"The stars never move Rin; look they've been there since the first time we saw it."

"I guess so; Maybe, I'm just forgetting where it is that's all." I replied the moment I finally caught sight of the stars.

"Well that's odd; you were always the one reminding me where and how to find it."

"It's been so long since I last saw it…" I mumbled while leaning by the railings of the balcony. It's been a month since the accident…months since I last looked up at the sky, looking for the star that only belonged to us- but tonight…this'll be the last time I'll be looking at it;

Because this star no longer belonged to us but them.

"I have to go Len. Rei might be getting worried now." I finally said while checking the pocket watch.

"Rei?"

"Yeah, he told me to be back before midnight. He tends to get worried sometimes so I have to hurry back." I said while placing the watch back in my pocket.

"Rei worrying? Hmmm…Rei's changed huh. He was never concerned about other people other than me or Miku; surprised me that he finally started talking to other people besides us." Len replied slightly surprised.

"Yeah I guess you can say that he's changed a bit."

"I owe it all to you Rin, so thanks." Len smiled.

"But I'm just curious~ are you and Rei like an item? For you to change him that much is really odd…unless you are his lov-,"

"W-what! Rei's a very close friend of mine Len. W-why would you think of such a thing?" I almost shouted out of embarrassment.

"Hahaha! Oh Rin, your face is priceless." Len laughed.

"Geez! Len…do not joke around like that." I pouted while placing my hands to my hips. Len raised his hands in surrender, telling me that he was sorry. There are really times that Len never failed to act like an annoying little kid.

"Not a lover then? Then what is Rei to you?" Len wondered making me blush redder.

"H-hey your still up to it! Seriously Len, enough with this nonsense thought. Rei is a very close friend of mine. Surely as his older brother, Rei would have told you about our relationship if ever there was something more right? Since he has not as I can see, then it only means that there is nothing more going on between us."

"No need to explain too much Rin. Goodness! You've never changed at all." Len said while putting up a smile.

"But don't you miss these kinds of things Rin…The fun times; time moves just too fast." Len added. Somehow his tone changed; it was almost like he was reminiscing.

"Say Len…Where is Mistress Miku? It's rare for me to find you here alone. She usually stays by your side except when you're out of town." I asked, changing the topic. I missed those times- I really do but I already decided to let go.

So whatever happened before I have to do my best to forget it.

"Miku wanted to meet with her parent's friends. She went ahead of me but she was very upset about me wanting to stay longer, she may even be still upset till now."

"Well then you better hurry to her side then- before she runs back here and drag you there." I joked. Finally, a slightly more normal conversation between us, truly I am finally moving forward.

"But how about you Rin? Did you not say that Rei would be worried had you not made it back to the hall before his curfew?" Len reminded me. I quickly pulled out Rei's watch and noticed that five minutes have passed since Rei's curfew.

"I am late! So late, Rei will be upset with me. I'm sorry Len but I have to go."

"Then I'll come with you. Miku might be looking for me as well." Len replied as he walked pass by me.

"Aren't you in a hurry?" Len added as he turned to me.

"I'm starting to regret heading back too early now." Len said when we finally exited the conservatory. First he says that he wants to go back to Miku, and then the next minute he starts to get nervous and decides to go back. Seriously, he needs to be firm in his decisions.

"Why are you regretting? You decided to accompany me back right? Backing out is very unbecoming of a gentleman Len." I reminded him. Len frowned as if the comment was like a slight slap to his pride.

"I would never decline to accompany you Rin. It's just that…it's Miku. If I return to her this late- She'll be upset and ignore me the whole night."

"Afraid of Mistress Miku eh? Have you become this weak as the years wore on Len? Whatever happened to you being the braver one of us both?" I giggled while watching his worried expression. I sighed when I noticed that he wasn't properly listening.

"In front of all those people, I doubt that she'd ignore you. Besides, she acts less childish in front of others unlike some people I know of." I assured him but with a slightly playful insult in it to sheer him up. It took him a few minutes to comprehend who I meant but when he got it…he was definitely not happy about it.

"Ch-childish! Whatever made you think that I acted childish in front of others?" Len shouted.

"I never said that the person was you Len. I just said 'some people' not 'Len'." I taunted playfully.

"Now you've done it Rin! Prepare to be punished." Len raised his hands into a strange formation. A strange aura was emitting out of him. Did he finally snap?

Did I overdo it too much?

"W-what kind of pose is that Len." I asked while taking a step back while I positioned both my hands in a cross formation. Len moved forward as if waiting for me to make a very wrong move.

"Prepare for your punishment Rin! Prepare to be tickled to death." Len shouted as he tried to catch me. A tickle fight? Truly Len still acts too childish but….This is just outrageous.

"Are you doing this to avert the idea of ever walking back to Miku!" I shouted but he wasn't listening. I dodged him again and steadied myself.

"Len! Stop it already, this is just too childish!" I said panicking, I never could get away from him when he starts acting up like this and during these times its best I just run away till he gets tired of it and give up.

"Get ready Rin!" Len shouted making me step back as quickly as I could. Had I made a mistake Len would have caught me by the hem.

"You'll never catch me!" I replied adding it with loud laughter as if all my problems just disappeared into oblivion. I ran away as fast as I could, made a sharp turn to the left and skidded straight into Rei forcing both of us to trip and slam to the ground.

"What in heavens were you thinking, running blindly like that Rin?" Rei asked worriedly as he helped me up. I did my best to explain to Rei my problem but my heart was beating too fast that I was almost gasping for air.

"Rin!" Len shouted from across the hall. I hid behind Rei as I watched Len approaching us.

"Forgive me Rei!" I shouted to him, Before Rei could ask what the problem was I was already gone from his sight.

Why did I even get myself into this mess?

"You won't be able to get away Rin!" Len laughed. Wait, now he's laughing? What is so fun about running around the dance hall in circles acting like a bunch of children who were deprived of playtime when they were young? Truly he is becoming demented.

I ran as quickly as my feet allowed me arriving at the garden. Luckily, I spotted a huge bush just the right size for a person with my body frame to hide in. I made no hesitations and hid behind it waiting for Len to pass by. Minutes later, Len came running out of the corner and passed by my hiding place.

"Finally, I lost him." I sighed in relief as I stepped out of my hiding place. He seems to be enjoying this too much that it's annoying me. So he feels insulted by what I said? It doesn't excuse him from acting like a demented person.

"Caught you!" Len shouted while his two hands wound around me. I struggled from his grasp but in doing so, it sent us tumbling down - towards the row of rosebushes.

I half-opened my eyes and saw myself covered in rose petals. My white dress was slightly torn and covered in dirt while my hair was messy and covered in leaves.

"Oh! Now you've done it Len, my dress is ruined. Rei will be very upset!" I shouted angrily as I vainly tried to clean off some of the dirt. Len just laughed as if tormenting me was a natural thing for him to do.

"Are you even listening Len?"

"Relax Rin! You look fine. You were never this uptight before."

"That was before Len! As the son of the duke of Valice, you should know when to act like an adult." I chided while he sat up.

"My life's becoming too suffocating Rin. Weren't you the one who always told me that I have to spend my life as how I wanted it? Well I want it to have a little fun in it, not having to follow those orders once in a while. Life's just too short, so I have to enjoy it to the fullest right?"

"Well that's a very mature answer coming from a kid like you."

"Well thank you very much for your kind compliments Rin." Len replied while he got up. He was about to extend his hand to help me up when he suddenly froze as if listening for something.

"What's wrong Len, why did you suddenly-," Len quickly covered my mouth and kneeled closely to me.

"Whumph ifs wrumpfs wif fyump!" I tried to shout.

"Shh! They'll hear you Rin." Len whispered. Seconds later, two pairs of footsteps made their way by the maze. Len and I did our best to keep quiet while we watched the two figures walk by. It was too dark to see their faces but it was noticeable that one was a woman and the other was a young kid. They seemed to be carrying a lot of things as they passed us by.

"Nee-san! These flowers are too heavy." The young boy, judging by his voice, said to the woman walking next to him. The voice sounded very familiar, like I've heard it before.

"Here let me carry some for you Piko." The woman replied while she placed her cargo on the ground. She called the boy Piko…could it be that the woman is Meiko?

"Where do you think you're going?" Len whispered as I fumbled to get up.

"I know them Len so don't worry."

"Wait Rin-," Len grabbed me by the arm but his pull was too strong that I stumbled forward while dragging him with me.

"Rin! Is that you?" I looked up and sure enough, Meiko was looking down at me with a worried look plastered across her face.

"Goodness Rin! What did you do to your gown?" She added worriedly while helping me up.

"It's nothing Meiko, besides the party will be ending soon anyways. No one will notice me in this mess since its dark already." I could only force up a smile as I told her more of what happened. Meiko took it in well while passing glances at Len who was busy talking to Piko.

"Neh~ Rin, isn't he Len Kagamine, the son of Valice's duke?" Meiko whispered to my ear. I nodded in reply while following Meiko's gaze. Piko was busy talking to Len about Miku and the mansion. Len would reply but the smiles he gave Piko looked forced as if he wasn't enjoying this conversation at all.

"Neh~ Len, when you become a duke does it mean that you get to have many wives?" Piko asked taking us all by surprise. Wh-where did he have the courage to put up a question like that?

"W-what on earth are you talking about!" Len replied turning red.

"Well there's a duke I heard of once that had ten wives; the people in his town said that it was because he was a duke that he could have many wives…So I thought that…" Piko wondered aloud. Len glared daggers at him from behind as if he was going to strangle him then and there.

"L-Len he just misunderstood it no need to be mad…" I tried to explain.

"H-he just insulted my relationship with Miku! He deserves to be-,"

"So Rin have you made a decision yet?" Meiko quickly interjected to change the topic.

"Decision? About what?"

"Oh! I must've forgotten to tell you about it Rin." Meiko giggled. Okay….I think she's gone too far with the changing the topic thing.

"A day from now you and I will be going overseas. There's this town somewhere in the continent of Fenmyrrh that sells beautiful breeds of flowers. The shop keeper there agreed to sell some of his seeds to us but I have to talk with him about it first before I agree."

"Why me? Couldn't Kaito or Piko accompany you, I still have much to learn." I replied. Overseas with Meiko? It's been long since I last travelled on a ship.

"Kaito's watching the shop with Piko. Besides, this is to test you out right Rin."

"I suppose…how long will we be staying there anyway?" I asked.

"Probably a week since the travel there takes about a day and the owner's out of town and won't be back in four days… I might not be able to accompany you all the time while we're there so I suggest you bring someone along."

"Me! Can I please come too Meiko nee-chan!" Piko begged but Meiko shook her head.

"Sorry but no, someone has to keep an eye on the shop and that flirtatious man Kaito." Meiko said while emphasizing flirtatious. It looked like Meiko wanted Piko to keep an eye on Kaito more than the shop itself.

"I know maybe Rei can come along with us." I suggested.

"I'm sure Rei would enjoy it there too. Remember to tell him that we leave on the day after tomorrow okay." Meiko reminded me and I nodded in agreement. I can't wait to tell Rei all about this. A trip with just the three of us, it'll be very exciting.

"Don't forget to tell him Rin! I'll see you tomorrow then to talk about the arrangement okay Rin." Meiko replied while lifting the boxes again and said good-bye as she walked away with Piko.

"I doubt it that Rei would be able to come." Len suddenly blurted out.

"What are you talking about? Rei is sure to come…I'm sure of it."

"Then why is there a tone of hesitation in your voice? If you trust Rei then you have to believe in him right? Since it almost looks as if I'm already replaced as your best friend, Right Rin?" Len smiled. Where is this conversation heading off now?

"I don't doubt Rei and his actions, I have nothing against him. He's a good friend so I'll understand if he can't come." I admitted flashing him a smile as well.

"I have to go now Rin; Miku might already be worried about me… Thanks for enjoying this night with me though."

"You're welcome Len; I have to go too since Rei might be looking for me as well." I replied while watching him walk back first.

"Rin." Len called and stopped walking.

"Yes Len?"

"If Rei can't come…You can always ask me i-if it's alright with you. I'm not forcing you to accept just consider it as my last time becoming your best friend and accompany you like last time." Len replied while refusing to turn around and face me.

"It's fine by me Len! But make sure you ask Mistress Miku's permission first."

"Heh~ sure I'll tell her." Len said before waving good-bye and running off. Even if we've been childhood friends there are just some times I could never understand Len. There are times his actions never fail to take me off guard but that what I used to like about him. He always makes me want to anticipate what will happen tomorrow.

"You were never replaced Len…I still consider you my precious friend…I just need to fix my own path first before I try to find the answers to correct this mess." I murmured to myself while walking back to the dance hall.

When the time comes…I'll tell you all of this for sure.

Finally done! Whoo! I tried to make it as long as I could since this is the tenth chapter. Thanks so much for all the views and comments guys! It makes me want to work harder on it more ;)

-xXGemini14Xx-