"Why are you so worked up about her, Len? She's just a subject. One of your many subjects," Rei walked down the frozen streets of the downtown, eyes fixated on the distance. The night was too chilly this time of the day compared yesterday. He had seen in the news that some parts of the city had started to snow. Highlands included. He continued to walk in silence, anticipating a reply he expected from the blond. And here Rei was, pressing on the issue to elicit the missing link of the mystery back in their college days.
Why the blond prodigy lost his grand prize-winner artwork.
Len stopped on his tracks, kicking a pebble on the ground and watched it roll away. A wisp of his blond hair fell loosely on his face, whilst the white air he puffed clouded his vision. It was such a tiring day, he thought, and answering Rei's question was making him more exhausted.
The raven boy must know the answers already, his queries were just making fun of him. Len knew it, he knew Rei just like the lines on his palms. The blond knew where this interrogation would lead to. Sighing, the thin white breath wafted in front him once more.
The two continued to walk, on Len's lead. Walking along them was the thick silence which made Len awkward. Yes, only Len. Rei was enjoying himself so much, to see Len at such state was delightful for him. Seeing the blond dejected and broken hearted was just plain funny. Nevertheless, it was a rare sight so he really would enjoy it.
"Aa, since when did you like giving people a cold shoulder, Len? Come on, spill. Who knows, I might help," Rei spoke, burying his gloved hands in the pocket of his coat.
Len's flat was a few lots away. It would leave Rei dissatisfied if he wouldn't hear Len talk to him. Ever since they chose to send Fukase back to his apartment, Len did not entertain any questions about his subject and the art which returned to his place after several years.
When Len entered his room earlier that afternoon, weary and sad from an hour drive, the first thing he saw was the two intruders seated in front his TV, watching some Disney movie while empty cans of beers surrounded them. The redhead was singing along the Disney princess, his thick-framed spectacles were noticeably not perched on the bridge of his nose. Fukase's voice resonated in Len's small flat, still it could be also heard along the halls. He was drunk, that was for sure, as he continued to wave his arms in the air.
Rei was just smiling when Len entered, waving his hand a little as though welcoming the blond. Rei was completely sober to give him that smirk—that knowing smirk which the blond hated the most. The raven haired picked up the remote and muted the TV, annoying the drunk redhead along the process.
"Why'd you do that? Can't see I'm singing, huh?" Fukase slurred and crawled to steal the remote back, only to be kicked on his stomach.
"The owner's here. You want to be kicked out? — Hey, Len! How's the trip? How is the girlfriend subject of yours?" Rei turned to face Len. The blond shrugged and slumped on the space next to the raven haired. Even in the dimness of the room, Rei saw how worn out Len was.
"I'm tired. Hand me a beer," Len murmured. When Rei ignored him, the blond stood and picked up one on the coffee table, then proceeded to his room.
"Oi, got a present there anyway. On your desk, it's a painting." Rei watched the blond in the corner of his eyes, Len's listless body pushed its way to his room. The door swung open and the light flickered. The blond walked in and Rei counted mentally, until he heard the can of beer drop on the ground. "Voila."
"Rei! Where did you find this?" Len scampered out of his room, holding the long lost painting in his arms. His listless form was now hyped, energized and, well, alert? The blond's saucer eyes anticipated an answer from Rei, but to his disappointment, the studio director just gave him a nod...a nod that pushed his dark fringe away from his eyes.
"Shouldn't the question be...where did that painting go for these past, what, four years?" Rei smirked. Amber clashed with cobalt blue, both stared into each other with intensity. "Did you give it to her, Len?"
Len huffed, a little puzzled with Rei's weird queries. Was he trying to act like a detective? Answering a question with a question made him sound idiotic. "What are you saying, Rei? Answer me, how did you find it?"
Rei tutted and winced. Fukase remained on the ground, half-dozing as he tried listening to the two. "No, Len. Answer me. Why was she keeping this painting?"
Blinking in mild surprise, Len tried to rationalize what the hell was going on. "Hang on a moment..." the blond pinched the bridge of his nose in deep thought, "Who the fuck is that 'she' you're rambling about?" If his memory served him right, Len never associated himself to any girl romantically.
What surprised the blond more was Rei's evil, dramatic laughter echoing inside his flat. "Don't give me that butt-look, Len. I know that you know who I am talking about. The model of that painting had been keeping that art for so long! That painting which could reunite you and your brother had been in someone's care all this time! And here we are thinking that it was robbed or some sort. So tell me, why did she have it?"
"You've gone nuts," the blond marched back in his room, completely ignorant of whatever Rei was talking about. "First of all, we won't talk about how this painting would mend Leon's pride, Rei. Second of all, I don't remember the model of this painting anymore. So get your shit collected and stop interrogating me like a stupid investigator."
Mystified, Rei jumped out of his seat and followed Len in his room. Back in their college days, Leon and Len had been in poor terms as siblings attending the same college. It was an understatement that the younger blond was constantly compared to the achievements of his elder brother, and Len couldn't care less. He really never pursued his studies to be a second version, a replica of his brother. But instead, he wished to have a name of his own. Len bore a reputation opposite of his brother. He even called Leon a teacher's puppet, for he easily pleased their professors by doing what he was expected to do. Len did the otherwise.
Leon was very annoyed with how Len behaved in class—and this irritation began since elementary days—and thus, he tried to discipline Len in every possible way. Only for Len to become more defiant and uncaged. He had the talent, Leon told Rei one time during their mutual break time. Len was a talented young man, his talent—if given more attention and practice—could surpass Leon himself. However, Len didn't want to stick with the conventions and continued to learn the hard way. He refused to join art contests to avoid meeting Leon's standards. It was Len's own way if protesting against his brother. So when the news that Len won a grand prize in a contest reached Leon, the elder brother hurried to see the art...only to find it missing.
"You didn't want to make up with Leon?" Rei peered inside the blond's room, eyes darting everywhere. He must be hiding in his walk-in closet again. "If you told us that she had it all these years, Leon wouldn't be mad."
"Rei, why are you so concerned about Leon?" Len walked out of his closet, arms free from the painted canvas earlier. "You're like them. You only wanted to please Leon." Once again, amber clashed with cobalt blue.
"Maybe I am," Rei chuckled, stepping inside Len's room. The warm air hit his bare face, and he realized that the heatet was turned on. "Maybe I am trying to please, Leon. But we both know only you can do that. Tell me, Len. What inspired you when you painted that?"
"The model? I don't know. I can't remember anymore."
"Really," the studio director rolled his eyes and stood before the parted curtains to stare at the empty street below them. "How can you forget Miku Hatsune, Len? Isn't she that girl?"
"She has nothing to do with me. She's just a subject...my latest subject. Someone who got my attention," the blond drew the curtains together, a scowl adorned his lips. The way his blue eyes looked distant, it seemed like Len couldn't remember who was Miku in his past.
The two remained silent for a good half minute, but the trance was cut when they heard a groan from the living room. Fukase was saying he was about to throw up, so the two rushed to the redhead and decided to escort him back home.
Happy new year, everyone. I have got a cold, sadly.
Anyway, cheers for my 11th chapter!
- ivan.