Chapter 12! Sooooooorrrrry for the long update!
Disclaimer: I do not own VOCALOID! They all belong to their respected owners!
Chapter Twelve
The Truth Hidden
~RIN~
"Take care and make sure you both stay safe." Kaito gives me and Meiko a tight hug before giving Len his own good bye too. Mistress Miku gave Len a small kiss on the cheek, wishing him to take care and keep safe. It stung, yes I admit to see them like, so happy and in love…whereas I on the other hand -
"Come back as soon as you can okay Rin." Rei's voice from behind me snapped me back to reality. I was expecting him to leave for Burmyn by now so seeing him here to say good bye made my heart leap with joy. He was willing to at least be a little late just so he could say his farewell.
"Rei… Aren't you a little worried that the duke might not agree with you being late?"
"It doesn't matter, he'll forget about it. I couldn't help but see you off before I go that's all."
"My, my, Rei another bold move for you~" Miku appeared suddenly beside me, looking at Rei with those eyes of hers. Rei cringes at her sight and blushes red making me giggle.
"What's so funny?" Len starts walking towards us. Rei expression suddenly darkens as if a storm had suddenly entered.
Did he and Len have a fight?
I wanted to ask Rei but the moment I tried to, he suddenly approached Len and whispered something to his ears. Len looked at him confusingly making Rei frown and walk away. I tried to catch up to Rei but Len grabbed me by the arm and forced me to face him.
"We have to go, wouldn't want to miss the boat." He said urgently. The boat wasn't set to leave yet so why is he trying to rush me?
"~Len!" Just when I thought that I had no way of escape, Mistress comes in and saves me. The moment Len loses his grip on me, Mistress gives me a wink and I ran as fast as I could and grab Rei by his arm before he could enter the carriage.
"Wait!" I shouted while gasping for air.
"What is it? I haven't got all day!" He barks back at me making me flinch. He looks at me-surprised at his sudden action.
"Sorry…" I apologized. Maybe he's mad because I didn't let him know sooner of my agreement with Len.
"No I should be the one apologizing…it's just that…of all people why him?" He wondered to himself. The moment I was about to give him my reply, Len ran towards us and told of the boat's nearing departure.
"We have to go already." Len said while glancing at his watch but for a split second I saw him eye Rei before turning to me. Rei turned to me with one last look before turning to Len.
"Your promise nii-sama… You made a vow be very careful not to break it." He warned Len before getting in the carriage.
A vow? A vow of what?
"Your promise nii-sama… You made a vow be very careful not to break it." Rei's words…What did he mean by them? What kind of vow could he be referring to?
"Len…Rei mentioned a vow. What did he mean by that?" I asked, it took Len a while to respond but when he did he looked more confused than I was.
"I'm not sure Rin…I was expecting you to be the one who knew what he was trying to say." Len admitted as we got in the boat.
"He specifically said them to you Len not me, so you should be the one who knows what he's talking about."
"I wouldn't be asking if I knew right." He pointed out.
"True…" I replied. Vow is a promise…a promise for what though? It must be something important that Rei had to remind Len about it… But why did he seem mad about it?
"Well no use worrying about it right?" Len replied suddenly. A sudden change in the topic…what is Len trying to avoid?
"Wait! We should be-,"
"Then what's the point of this vacation if you can't even enjoy a little?"
"Vacation! Len this is not a vacation, this is a-,"
"A vacation! Come one Rin stop being so uptight and enjoy a little. You'll look younger that way." Len laughed. Y-younger! Do I look really that old? I try to feel my face for any signs of wrinkles and when I feel none I suddenly hear Len laugh again
"Stop it! It's not a laughing matter." I shouted embarrassingly. Len raises his hands in surrender but I know he's trying to hold his laughter.
"I'm sorry Rin…it's just been so long." He chuckled.
"So long since I saw you laugh like this." I added, trying to hide the smile creeping up.
"Well, well enjoying the time now are we." Meiko's voice said from behind me.
"Yes we were, and you Meiko, seemed to have spoiled it." Len replied, before getting nearly hit on the face with Meiko's purse.
"Being cheeky now are we, you may be the son of a duke but that doesn't mean that you have to disrespect your elders." Meiko huffed. Len just shrugged at her reply but a smile was tugging from his lips – a sure sign he wasn't sorry for what he did.
*Plip*
A small drop of water fell on my arm making me look up. The sky above was greyish in colour and claps of distant thunder echoed from the far-off parts of the ocean. Before I could comment on the weather, the rain started to pour down fast. Meiko and Len stopped arguing and were now assisting each other in carrying the luggage.
"This way!" Meiko shouted as we ran to the ship's hallways.
"I'm soaking wet!" Meiko moaned while we waited in our room for the rain to end.
"You're not the only one who is wet Meiko." I pointed out, seeing as I'm drenched in water and shivering from the cold air our room gave off.
"We should take a bath, getting drenched in rainwater might get us sick." Len advised as he handed us our towels.
"Very well, then I'll go first." Meiko volunteered. As we watched her enter the bath room, Meiko turned to us with her face turning slightly red.
"Ummm…shouldn't you both be heading to your rooms now?"
"Aren't we sharing one room?" I wondered. Meiko sighed and pointed at the small bed we were sitting on and then tossed us a key.
"As if we'd fit on such a small bed, now hurry on before we all catch a cold." She replied as she pushed us out of her room.
"Um…Only one key?" I stared at the small gold key on my palm.
"Is there a problem with that? It's not like we'd do anything right?" Len replied, a smile playing on his lips.
"No! That's not what I meant."
Len just shrugged and turned left, following the numbers engraved on the door.
"It's suite 14 right?" I asked Len. A suite room huh? Why did Meiko stay in such a shabby room when she could afford a suite room like this? Len just nodded and took the key from my hand.
"I guess you're wondering how Meiko afforded such a room for us huh Rin."
"Yeah…but why would she stay in such a poorly kept place, I mean if she had the money then wouldn't she be able to afford one for herself too…Unless-," I quickly spun around to face him.
"What?" Len asked, acting like he was nearly surprised.
"You didn't just kick her out of her own room did you!?" I accused and in that moment Len burst out laughing.
"I'm not that kind of person Rin, and even if I was, I wouldn't even dare to take Meiko's room by force."
"Then how come we have such a fancy room then?" I pointed out.
"I think you already know the answer."
"No I think I don't." I admitted, slightly irritated.
"I'm sure that a duke's son like me has enough money to at least afford a suite like this right."
"Well why didn't you have a room made one for Meiko too then?"
"She refused my offer." He just shrugged as he opened our door and went in.
~LEN~
"Achoo!" Rin sneezed and shivered violently as she wrapped the blanket around her. How would Meiko be able to manage with Rin having a slight fever?
"I never expected you to be the one to catch the flu Rin." I chuckled as I placed a wet folded cloth on her forehead.
"Sorry for spoiling the fun then." She sighed and wrapped the blanket around her tighter. The smell of chicken soup approaching us was a sign Meiko had already finished cooking it.
"Here, they say that it cures fevers, not that I believe in it but at least it's worth a try."
She took the bowl from Meiko's hands and took a sip. The soup tasted good and it wasn't long until she had already finished it.
"Well that's all I can do, but it would be better if you took a long rest right now."
"But what about you Meiko? How will you be able to handle he work without me?" Rin asked worriedly.
"I think I can manage that, besides, what matters to me most is the safety of my employees." She winked before putting Rin to rest and taking her leave.
"If you need me then Rin, I'll be in the other suite." I said while getting my things ready. Rin's eyes popped open and then looked at me.
"Meiko gave us one key, how is it that you have another one?"
"Meiko agreed for me to be the one to pay for our rooms, just to remove the load she would pay for us; I gave your key to her and took mine." I explained and watched her calm herself and settle down.
"Don't worry; I'm just in the other room next to yours." I whispered before taking my leave.
When I opened the door, I saw Meiko leaning by the door looking at the ground.
"I thought you already went to your room Meiko."
"She just your future wife's former maid…but you seem to care for her very much, why is that?" she turned to face me with a quizzical look on her face.
"She's my childhood friend, is it wrong if I worry for her?"
"No it's not."
"Then if you please-," I was about to excuse myself when Meiko suddenly grabbed me by the arm, taking me by surprise.
"In a few months, you'll be married soon. Stop giving false hope to people, not everyone will get what they want but it's better to let them know that, rather than letting them believe in something they know they can't have." She whispered before letting me go and walking away.
I didn't get what she was trying to tell me.
Who was I giving false hope to?
I sighed as I lay on my bed looking up on the roof. Miku was perfectly happy, I loved every bit of her and I knew I wasn't giving her anything false. Me and Rei may have our differences but I loved him like a brother- and Rin, we're the best of friends, sure I may have gotten mad at her and fired her but I regretted it afterwards, she forgave me but I guess our friendship isn't the same as before now. But isn't this the reason I came with her? To repair the damage I created.
"Your promise nii-sama… You made a vow be very careful not to break it." Rei's warning echoes in my mind? Vow…A marriage vow! That's what he was trying to tell me.
But what's my vow to Miku got to do with this?
"Len…" A soft tap from my door followed by Rin's voice snaps me back to reality.
"Shouldn't you be taking a rest right now?" I tell her when I finally had her settled on the couch.
"I know but I got cooped up all alone in my room so I went here, Meiko would scold me if I went to her but I doubt you would."
"Well you thought wrong though, sooner or later you'll have to go back."
"Y-yeah…I know." She sighed before nearly collapsing had I not caught her.
"My God Rin! Your burning." I shouted alarmingly. I then lifted her to the bed and ran to the bathroom to fetch a cloth and a bowl of water.
"You really shouldn't over-exert yourself Rin."
"Sorry just wanted to have a company with me, didn't actually bring anything to pass the time."
"I know but please don't make me worry like that."
"Now you're starting to sound like Meiko." She giggled. I sighed and tried to mimic Meiko by placing my hands to my hips and winking.
"I think I can manage that, besides, what matters to me most is the safety of my employees."
"Hahaha, if she finds out about this she'll scold you for sure." Rin laughs before starting to cough again.
"She wouldn't find out unless you told her but I know you wouldn't." I chuckle as I pull the blanket up to her neck. She snuggles warmly and smiles.
"Thanks a lot Len."
"It's to make up for all those sentry duty you've been doing for me back then." I pat her on the head. Just when I was about to lift my hand, I feel Rin's hand on my mine as if stopping me from leaving.
"Len."
"Yeah?"
"I love you." She mumbles before dozing off. Somehow I feel as if my entire body is rooted on the spot. Had she mouthed it I would have mistaken it for colourful again but this time…she had said it to me.
Meiko's words suddenly made me realize what she was trying to tell me.
"Rin…" I stare at her painfully before taking my leave.
I guess now I know how irreparable my damage to you is.
Soooooooooooo sorrrrrry it took such a long time to update, writer's block keeps getting in the way. I know I promised I'd update as fast as I could but- GAH! I'm so sorry . I'll do the best I can. Again thank you so much for all the reviews and likes, really I appreciate it.
-xXGemini14Xx
