SOMETHING BIG AND ROMANTIC IN THIS CHAPTER!

Rin POV

Rinto.

My brother.

One of my best friends.

"He's dead?" Len's face was ashen.

"N-n-n-no. H-he d-d-d-disappeared, l-l-last n-n-night." My voice was terrible. It felt raw, though I couldn't hear it.

"Rin..." Len looked pained.

I looked at his sleeves.

He leaned down, and his head touched mine.

"I'm here." he said, meeting my eyes.

I collapsed into tears again, my crying muffled in his sleeve.

"Come on." He led me to his house, not caring about school.

I sat on the couch.

"Why isn't there anyone in the house, Len?"

He froze, and then relaxed, smiling reassuringly at me.

"They're out...at work and stuff." He brought me a plate of sliced fruits.

I knew he was lying, and I felt hurt, but I shrugged it off and looked sadly at the oranges.

Oranges.

"R-R-Rinto l-l-loved oranges!" I cried, thinking of my brother with his loving blue eyes.

I felt Len tapping my shoulder. I looked up to see his blue eyes caring and...Loving, too.

"Here." he held out the plate and a fork. "Say aaah."

I blushed. "L-L-Len."

"C'mon, Rin." He fake-scowled, then sat next to me.

"Open up!"

"M-m." I shook my head, mouth clamped shut.

"Rin." He waved the butter knife threateningly.

"Mataku!" I opened my mouth and he shoved the oranges in.

"Ne... You put sugar on these?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded.

"They're good. For a shota." I giggled, but it felt forced.

"A what?" He glowered at me.

I patted his head, still snickering, despite Rinto. "My little shota Len."

He looked straight at me, but his teeth were bared so I couldn't tell what he said.

Suddenly, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me towards him.

"Ne! What're you doing?"

He smirked. What had happened to him?

"You are totally gonna regret calling me a shota." He looked straight at me so I could tell what he was saying.

Then, I felt the ticklish sensations shoot into my ribs, my feet, and my neck.

"Nooo! Len! DON'T! AHA HA HA HA! STOOOP!" I shrieked (or it felt loud, so I assumed I was shrieking), grabbing at his shirt wildly. I thrashed as he tickled my neck relentlessly.

"AAH! LE-E-E-EN! STOP! PLEEEASE! AHA HA HA!" I screamed and laughed like crazy, as his hands pulled away.

"Well, look who's ticklish."

I stared at him, a terrified look in my blue eyes. I was still breathing quickly. He smiled and cradled me in his lap.

After a few hysterical moments, I calmed down. I thought about my messed up family. I needed to tell Len about Dad. And I had to ask him if he'd help me find Rinto... but how to break it to him about my dad?

"Len... I know you don't know my dad very well." I said.

He turned red, but he looked down, and I couldn't tell what he said.

"Huh?"

"Well, I was watching you once, and I kind of saw him abusing you." He winced as I took on a disbelieving look.

"You...what?"

"Gomen..." I shot him a look.

Suddenly, I felt tears stinging my eyes. Without Rinto... Without Rinto... how would I ever survive? I loved him, with his warm smile and his soft eyes as he looked at me. Where did he go? Where is he?

Len poked me. "Um... This house is...and...with me?" He had looked down for half the sentence. I frowned.

"What?"

He turned red. "This house is very spacious; would you like to stay here with me?"

I turned bright pink. "Really? Can I?"

"Y...Ye...Yes..."