Shrimpy: So...ah...Miku and Len are a little more aware of what they feel. Good, hmm? That means this thing is progressing and we're all moving forward. There are a few major decisions that must be made soon. Otherwise this will end in a rut OnO but don't worry, I'm try to make them as best as possible. Also, since I possess no social life and procrastination is my best friend when it comes to school work, I wrote this.

BLEUGH BOOOOOOOOO shut up! I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible! Hmph. Okay, here's the chapter I promised. Um...there's also some otherwise unexpected profanities up ahead. SHE MEANS SOMEONE IS GOING TO SWEAR LIKE A TRUCKER WHO DROPPED HIS TWINKIE OUT THE WINDOW DURING LUNCHTIME

Len's POV

"So did you hear? Len Kagamine, that cute guy from our science class, has a crush on Hatsune." I looked up, noticing a couple of girls talking about me. I don't suppose anyone knows it. Most people fall in love with or have a crush on someone loved by everyone. But...I liked someone who was hated by our peers. Maybe someone does know it, but it hurts to watch people do such things to the person that you like. I'm...I'm not denying it anymore. I really do care, really do like her. It's just that she's the kind of person with her head in the clouds. And how I could tell, I didn't know.

What really irked me was that Rin didn't tell anyone. She was that firm with the secret love letter thing. But somehow, someone managed to feed the crowd all this information. "It makes you wonder if there's really someone amazing hiding under that Hatsune Miku," the other girl replied with a nod. "Our maybe he has a thing for the crazy chicks. Guess that means I have to be diagnosed with schizophrenia to ask him for his number." "Hey, not true! He's friends with sane people." I sighed. But this time it wasn't because I missed Oliver or Wales or, strange enough, my old home.

My next period was science, but that was where rumors tended to fly. Akita Sensei was okay with gossip as long as it was something that couldn't get anybody killed or psychologically wounded. There wasn't a large amount of those, which was why even the laid back science teacher wasn't considered very fun. And it was also why there was a lot of talk about Miku. I sat in my seat just as the song "Jingle Bell Rock" began to play. Luka claimed the principal thought it would be fun to play at the beginning of the year, but the recording got stuck and we were stuck with it "for eternity until Santa Claus got sick of it."

The sound played and I looked up at Akita Sensei. He was furiously typing something into his cellphone, then stopped and looked up. "Okay, so we're trying to bring a rat back to life with electricity, but obviously we need to know a thing or two about conductors. Can anyone name one simple conductor?" He asked.

Rei Kagene raised his hand. "Are we talking about the underground railroad? Because I didn't study-" "Rei Kagene, we are talking about electricity. Two more and it's a detention." "I'm sorry, but I genuinely didn't know. Yesterday we were taking about Carbon-14, then you changed the subject to the anatomy of a bear." Akita Sensei rolled his yellow, cat-like eyes. "May be that way, but being an actor here this should come easy to you." Rei sighed. "Yes, Sensei." He nodded. "Alright. Roll call. Aoki Lapis?" "Here." "Hatsune Miku?" No one answered. That was an immediate indication that something was wrong. But I didn't know what. "Has anyone seen Hatsune-san?" He asked, looking around.

Rei raised his hands once more. "I saw her, in the hall today. Maybe she spazzed out again and ran away?" Students nodded in agreement. "Hatsune-san? Hallucinating in the morning? That is likely. I'll get the school nurse and-" "Actually, Akita Sensei, Kagamine-kun is pretty good at calming her down. He should go, too, in case she has a fit," Lapis said. "Hey, since when have people known that?" I asked, turning to her. She shrugged. "I heard someone saw you calming her down when she was yelling about some chick falling." There was a low murmur going among the students. "Alright, order in the court. Kagamine-san shall go looking for her while you peasants sit and learn about electrical currents," Akita Sensei declared loudly.

He nodded in my direction and I just stood up.

Walking through the hall, I saw a couple of people but not many. For some reason, I bumped into Rin. "Len? What are you doing out of class?" She asked, folding her hands. "Something is wrong. Miku didn't show up to class today, but we know she's here. Have you seen her?" Rin looked up at the ceiling and tapped her chin. "Come to think of it, no one really knows where. I saw something strange today," she responded. She fiddled with her bow and then looked me dead in the eye. "When she was walking away, I thought I saw someone suspicious watching her, too." She froze up for a second, then gasped. "Hatsune-san!"

It took no more words between the two of us to understand she had adopted my goal. She followed me in a tense stalk through the building. "She could be in trouble!" She yelped, biting her lip. "HATSUNE-SAN!" Rin called suddenly through the mostly empty hall. "HATSUNE-SAN!" "This is really, really bad," I muttered. I knew all too well that there were people who totally hated her. That girl with that emotionless haze, always dreaming about the past...the girl with her head in the clouds was in trouble.

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Len's POV

Before long, everyone realized how serious Miku's sudden disappearance. People were taking, suggesting to me places I should check. But none of them were correct. I didn't really understand Miku that well. I knew she was relatively calm. And, more importantly, I knew that she at least would hide in a place of comfort. Thinking about it, she would hide no where near the stairwell. She proved that to me when she bit me. The room with that piano she liked so much? Probably. But there was something about the way she acted in that room that indicated it was kinda important. I honestly think I should be a detective; in conclusion she would never hide in that room because she wouldn't want to lead her attackers in that room.

I gulped when I thought of that word. Attackers. There was a violent feeling I got. I realized that there were a lot so could fit under that description. And that made me feel like I couldn't trust anyone anymore. Is this how Miku feels? Scared and unable to trust?

Everyone seemed to treat it like a normal thing at first. I understood that she skipped many classes and didn't speak much. Then the principal got very worried and asked the students to "help the Kagamine twins and the nurse in their efforts to locate Hatsune-san." It wasn't very long until the principal would go into panic and call her parents along with the police. I was too worried to think about class, to pay attention.

I wonder, how long did it take to realize it? I was heading to lunch when it clicked. Miku hated the dark. She mumbled something about it when she was passing out, as I vaguely recalled. I mean, if she could scream that, she's probably would. And what if...depending on whether or not she was attacked...She had been so desperate to run away that she had run into some place dark?

Instantly in my mind, I created mental images of dark places. An unused room, a closet. Somewhere with a convenient amount of shadows, helping a scared person hide. "Rin," I said. She looked up from the papers she was reading. "Huh?" "I think I know whet Miku might be."

She nodded, but I wondered if she was understanding it or not when I grabbed her hands and dragged her to the nearest closet. So, I explained, "We have to search dark places that sometime could hide in. I'm positive Miku was attacked." She looked sad, but she understood now. "The basement. That's the darkest place she could be," she confirmed as we continued walking. "How do we get in? I think that if we tell the principal, she'll have someone else look, and..."

I didn't know how to end that sentence. But she understood that, too. I think that's the best and worst part of having a twin. "Leave it to the awesome big sister to crack this case wide open," she proclaimed, her grin returning. We walked around the students, weaved through those crazy crowds pouring into the cafeteria. Then we stopped at a grey door hidden under the shadow of the stairs. I was about to say it was locked, there was no way of getting past that. Then she pulled one of her white hairpins off her bangs. She stuck it into the lock and picked around for a bit. Then there was a click. She pulled it out and snapped it back into place on her bangs. "Well, open it," she instructed.

Obediently and in awe I turned the knob. It went without force and we stared at the steps. "Ladies first," I reminded her.

"I wonder what kinds of stuff they put down here?" Rin mused as we descended the wide steps. The echo was ever present and eerie. "Left overs of models and broken things. Luka told us this is like an underground junkyard." The answer hung in the still and cool air. There was a bluish, haunting glow coming not far from ol the bottom step. Rin didn't seem disturbed, but we were both dreading the last step. There was the horrifying possibility that I was wrong, and Miku had truly disappeared.

This time I couldn't say "Ladies first" to Rin, so I had to step forward. I gulped and closed the gap between me and the basement. It was genuinely weird, but there were halls. The blue glow was some lamp on the wall that looked suspiciously similar to a bug zapper. Then I saw something that made my heart lift. A figure slumped against the wall, hugging their knees tightly. In the cold light, their long hair looked like ashen blue.

"Miku," I said, sighing in relief. She flinched at the sound of her name. Then she looked up. She had that deer in the headlights look, and then I realized something. Her jacket was torn in certain areas by the seams, a bruise forming on her hairline and more on her hands. There was blood. It stained some of her hair, some of her skin. It was oozing from scratches and wounds, and actually becoming a puddle on the floor. My heart sank. "Miku..." I took a minute or two for all of it to sink in. Her busted lip and ripped socks coupled with the lost look in her face made something grow. Something negative.

"Who did this to you?" I asked, walking over immediately. She winced, looking down at her shoes. Then she looked up at me with eyes that were too...I can't even describe it with words. "Bruno." My eyes widened. "Rin, please takes Miku to the nurse's office. I'm going to notify someone about this," I said. Rin stared at me, gaping. But she obeyed what I said and walked off to Miku. "Hatsune-san, please come with me," she said softly. That was unusual for her.

The anger that I felt was extreme. It used to be irritation, about how people could be so mean. Seeing her changed that. She was wounded and alone, probably even too afraid to leave the dark and get help. GOD, what kind of BASTARD would do that? Bruno.

I didn't notice how many people I passed by. I just calmly went over to Bruno's usual spot in the hall. He was leaning next to the lockers, his back to me. Determination and anger boiled beneath the surface, and it had never been easier to walk up to him. Gakupo was standing there, too. Then I realized something that I had been blind to for a week. It had bugged Gakupo, kept him silent at lunch. Bruno had asked him to help him in his quest for revenge, and he hadn't known what to say. That fueled something else, and I tapped Bruno's shoulder.

He turned to face me. The second he did, I drew my fist back and gave my attempt to punch his lights out. Pain shot through my knuckles, wrist and elbow, but I didn't care. He gave a groan of pain and reeled back. "That's for hurting Miku, you son of a bitch!" I snapped. He was still in shock that such a weakling would hit so hard. Then I took the opportunity to punch him again. I could hear a crack. Whether it came from my sore knuckles or his surprised face, I don't think I'll ever know. "That's because Rin just doesn't fucking like you." He wiped the easily gushing blood from his nose. "You wanna go, Tinkerbell?" "Hey!" Gakupo put himself between the two of us. "This is your fault too. Why didn't you fucking tell me? Why didn't you say anything?" I demanded. He went silent. Huh. How easy it is to get angry.

"That slut had it coming," Bruno growled. "She got me a suspension and a stab in the arm." "You'd better shut the hell up, you asshole. If you go near her again, I swear to FUCKING GOD I will-" "You'll what? What can you do?" "Lots of things, Bruno. You never know, a hit and run happens every. Single. Day." I shot him a smile I had never worn before. One that showed because I was pleased with the shock on his face.

I turned away and started walking. Once I was out if earshot, I sighed. I said so many things I wasn't proud of. They were just there in the heat of the moment. I wished, more importantly, that I hadn't said those things to Gakupo. He was just a friend stuck between two sides. I was positive he never meant any harm to Miku, which was why he wanted to back out so badly.

But I wasn't going to apologize to them. I was headed for the nurse's office, to see if Miku was going to be alright. The principal had probably called her parents.

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Miku's POV

Where's Len? It's stupid, but I'm wondering why he didn't come with me. It seemed unlikely.

And I didn't tell anyone what I was thinking. I didn't tell anyone anything. "I'm not speaking without my lawyer present," I say stubbornly. "And you don't count Father, because frankly we're related. Nepotism." "Nepotism doesn't count when you absolutely despise me," he countered. Ah, the lawyer. I wonder, is that why Yokune Ruko went for him? Is that why she became Hatsune Ruko?

"I want my own attorney. It's either that, or you're getting nothing out of me." The peroxide the Nurse put on my skin stung, but I held my own. And my breath, as the pain was sharp. "You don't want to name the person or people who hurt you? Really Miku?" Ruko rubbing her temples. Ruko was tall. She was taller, though not really noticed, than my father.

"Technically, you can't," the nurse said, looking up. Ruko and Father shot her their synchronized glare and she pressed her lips closed. "Don't hurt the poor woman because she agrees with me. If you would please, I'd like to be left alone," I said. "Screw it. Miku isn't talking," Ruko threw up her arms and wandered through the door. "You are a perfect example of disobeying the second commandment," he accused.

"Fifth."

Like Ruko, he threw up his own hands and walked out the door. "We're taking you home shortly."

The nurse glanced up at me. "Nothing here is severe. No scars, just weeks with stinging." "I'm no cheerleader, Miss. I couldn't care less," I replied dully. "Really? You seem pretty enough. Well, I'm new here. Wouldn't know. My name is Sonika," she said. She gave a smile, then set the bottle down. "Sit tight for a moment. I need to grab some gauze for this nasty cut over here." She patted my hand and walked deeper into the office.

"...Ah...hey." Len forced a smile. But it made me sad, rather than secure. That was the same for all fake smiles. He sat down next to me. "What did you do?" I asked solemnly. He sighs. "Something I kinda wish I hadn't." He looked up from the floor to meet my eyes. The blue gaze seemed hollow, making me even more unhappy. "I was just...I punched Bruno." This was something interesting. He took a deep breath. Tired. He seemed so tired. "And I said something to Gakupo that could have been a lot better said." I let out a small giggle. It's dry of any amusement and joy that could have been. "Hey, lean closer." "Eh? Okay..." he did as I said, but only so much. He was angled closer like he was expecting me to whisper a secret. So I did something unreasonable. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, resting his head on my shoulder. I could feel him tense up.

I was doing something strange. Something I didn't usually do. Something I never did. "What you did was very, very stupid," I said softly. "You not only regret it, but you hurt your friend without a doubt, may have destroyed several friendships, and Bruno will want revenge soon enough." "I thought this was supposed to comfort me," he muttered. "No, just make it easier to accept the terms of reality. It isn't working, though." He sighed. Was it my imagination, was it really that loud, or was it just because he was close? The sound seemed loud to me. "I dunno. I'm comfortable here."

I didn't understand. One minute he could be smiling like a child, the next blushing bright red about something he said. And now here he was in my arms, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world. Were human emotions that strong and vivid? Really that easy to change?

I'm glad I couldn't carry the same.

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Shrimpy: I sincerely apologize!

That was super long, shocking, and there were strong emotions I was hoping for others to feel. I wish there was some kind of sixth sense I could use to see how many people said "OH SNAP HOLY CRAP GLAD I'M NOT BRUNO", but no one's going to just say that. It's actually really dumb. I didn't even intend for it to rhyme.