Chapter 20: Japanese Lunch Time Rush!

Len POV:

" Riiin, this isn't fair!" I whined. " Why does Nero get to taste your cooking and I don't!"

" Because Nero is my boyfriend! You're my brother!" she said hastily. " Now move before the rice boils over!"

I pouted and stepped aside, watching her closely as she moved it off the burner. She said that, but her cheeks were slowly turning pink. Oh Rin. Rinny, Rin, Rinnian, Rinny, Rin. Surely you can't possibly pull the whole, " You're my brother, it isn't right" thing now can you?

" Well what if Nero doesn't like it?" I asked. " What if in the end, he's a real jerk and he hates your cooking and says, ' Ah, I'm sorry Rin. I really liked you until I tasted your crap cooking. I like girls who make five star gourmet food'? Then you'd come crying to me who'll say ' Oh my adorable little Rin, I could never hate your food, because I love you and your bad cooking unconditionally' !"

" Is that really any better?" she replied. " Both of you are criticizing my cooking!"

" It is better! I'm not being a dick head about it!" I interjected. " I said I love you before I said it, see?"

Rin rolled her eyes and went back to preparing them bento, spooning equal amounts of rice into each container.

" If you want a bento so bad, go to the convenience store and get one," she said.

" Now you know those come with the awful sushi that's guaranteed to give you mass diarrhea," I pouted. " I have a game Friday! Besides, it's gotta have special food made with my cute little sister's love!"

" Then just grab a container and put the food in yourself. There should be enough left over."

" No!" I whined. " You have to put it in for me!"

" Jeez, why're you such a baby! Are you sure you're older?" she snapped.

" Well, I know where the birth certificates are if you need the proof," I said simply. " And the reports cards, where mine is always better than yours, and the tro-"

I shut my mouth immediately and looked away before Rin could meet my eyes.

" Tro? Were you about to say trophies?"

" Now why would I say trophies?" I laughed nervously. " I was so gonna say Trojan Horse."

" You're lying!"

" If you think I'm lying, you are obviously blind to my extreme love of horses!"

" You're terrified of horses!"

" Am not!"

" Are so!"

I slammed my hands on the counter and glared at her. " You missy, are getting more and more out of control every day."

" Say the guy who paraded through school Monday and nearly got the entire soccer team suspended," Rin scoffed.

" That wasn't being out of control, that was exercising our athletic right!"

" I bet things would've been fine if you guys hadn't decided you needed to 'exercise your athletic right' while the girls' PE class was changing," Rin muttered.

" Oh yeah, I think Akaito mentioned something like that beforehand," I said slowly. " But hey, it's not like I didn't enjoy it."

Rin paused for a second and continued.

" Perverted onii-chan. Now you're really not getting any."

" Eh?! What did I-"

" GET OUT!"

Rin then threw me out and I landed quite uncomfortable on the floor. Jeez, what did I do! She's the one who wouldn't make me a bento in the first place!

" Master Len?"

" Ahh! Shizuki! What do I do, Rin won't make me a bento!" I complained. " It's not fair!"

My butler sighed and pushed up his glasses before saying, " Maybe Mistress Rin would make you a bento if you apologized."

" Apologize for needing to eat?!"

" Apologize for being rude," he said helping me up. " You must've said something to make her throw you out so viciously. You may want to think on it. Now hurry, the bus is coming for you both soon. You're visiting Sanjou High School today aren't you?"

" Oh yeah! I forgot!" I said. " Rin! Hurry up! We're gonna be late!"

" Shut up stupid! I can handle myself!"

" Man, you try to be helpful," I muttered. " I'll see you later Shizuki. I'll tell you all about how I became emperor of the high school soccer team later."

" Good bye Master- wait, what?"

Just I walked out the house, the pulled up. Normally, Mikuo would lean his entire body out the window and wave at me. But no one did. Curious, I put aside the food drama with Rin and stalked up to the bus, boarding it and looking around for Mikuo. I heard the bus doors close and quickly checked to make sure Rin got on, before commencing my search for Mikuo.

And there the little bastard was, slouched in his seat. Avoiding me.

" Excuse me sir, " I said yanking him up. " I expect to be waved at when I come out my damn house in the mornings!"

" Hm? Oh, sorry.."

I frowned and plopped down next to him, though the expression on his face told me he didn't exactly want me there. I ignored it (since I oh so graciously gave him his space yesterday), and began to pry. Pry like a fucking prying mantis.

" What's wrong?"

" Nothing."

" Liar! It's your hair isn't it. Dude, it's gonna come out."

" I know Len. It's not my hair."

" Is it the baseball team? I'm sure Oliver will keep those guys whipped buddy."

" It's not baseball."

" Are you sexually frustrated? Because if you are, Lily knows a guy with some-"

" LEN, it's nothing!" he snapped. " Piss off!"

I blinked in shock, unsure of what to say next. Mikuo never blew up. And more imortantly, no one ever blew up at me. I'm LEN MOTHERFUCKING KAGAMINE. Everyone loves me!

Dear God, I may have a mental break down.

Okay, deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. Don't you dare cry, you are a man.

" Mikuo?" I said softly. " Hey, Mikuoo.."

He ignored me, staring intently out the window as if he were searching for something. I pouted and resisted the urge to shove him into the side of the bus. Damn that leek headed freak. Today is a field trip day. Not a fucking feels trip day. We are not gonna be sad, or mad, or angry, or frustrated, or gloomy, or melancholy, or depressed, or anything that gives someone a frowny face!

" Mikuo! You've got to cheer up!" I said. " Me, you, Nero, Gumo, and quite possibly Akaito if he's not on his period, are going to run that school! Show them that we are boss! Come onn!"

" Hey, Len," he muttered. " Can you do something for me?"

" YES! ANYTHING SO LONG AS YOU TALK TO ME!" I blurted.

And with the straightest face I'd ever seen him pull, he said plainly, " Sit out this season."

"...huh?"

" Don't play this season," he said again.

" But...why?" I asked laughing slightly. " It's my last season, I've got to play. I'm captain, my team is-"

" I know Len," he interrupted. " But you just can't play. Especially Friday. Please?"

" What, do you think I'm gonna get hurt? I can handle a fracture or something if that's-"

" Len, listen," he said irrtably. " You can't play. Just do that for me okay? Please?"

I stared at him, trying to figure out what he was hiding. Mikuo wouldn't suddenly tell me not to play; in fact, he's never missed one of my games! He'll be in the stands with giant posters and flags and his entire body painted with my name on it! Mikuo is my number one fan! Something was definitely up.

" I refuse!" I exclaimed. " Why would you want me to sit out though?"

Mikuo was silent for a minute before saying, " You know I'd never willingly betray you right?"

" Of course, this isn't Julius Caesar," I scoffed. I looked at him thoughtfully, taking in his disturbed expression. " Mikuo, really, what's wrong."

" ...Nothing, I guess I'm just a little nervous about entrance exams," he said faking a nervous laugh.

He wouldn't speak anymore, and we both lapsed into a silence, the entire bus brimming with life without us. We got off, still not saying a word to one another, even though we totally needed to get our act together for the field trip today.

Because dude.

We've gotta make our mark.

" Nero! Gumo! Akaito! Assemble!" I called out.

Nero glanced at me with a irritable look on his face and trudged up with Akaito and Gumo, the latter seeming a lot more pumped than the other two.

" Gentlemen," I said haughtily. " Today, is a grand day. Today is the day we make history. Today, we set in stone our fate. TODAY-"

" Hate to drop kick you off your soap box, but my class is halfway across campus," Akaito butt in. " So, if you could just do this later-"

" Bitch, you're gonna listen, I sat down and wrote this speech," I hissed. " IN CALLIGRAPHY."

" But-!"

" SILENCE HUMAN, YOUR GOD IS SPEAKING."

Mikuo POV:

Sometime during Len's forced speech I snuck off. God, how was I gonna go about this? This whole Rui situation is seriously cramping my style. I rubbed my hands down my face and began to roam around campus, aimlessly trying to come up with a solution.

" Mikuo?"

I glanced up and saw that during my musings, I'd somehow made it to the library and for some reason, Neru was holding a dictionary like it was her child.

" You seem perplexed," she said. " I think I used that right, this book is kinda confusing."

" I'm sure you did," I said waving my hand. " It's nothing, run off blondie."

Her cheeks flushed as she stepped into my path, indignantly saying," Tell me now or so help me God I'll take that stupid baseball bat you have and shove it up your-!"

" Okay! Okay!" I said. " I'm just worried about..entrance exams."

She relaxed slightly, though her eyes continuously searched mine as though she didn't believe me.

" Seriously, I'm fine," I smiled. " The tour's gonna start soon, you should catch up with the others."

Neru started off and for a second, look back at me with an odd look in her eyes before walking away. Behind me, slow clapping echoed.

" Bravo Mikuo, Bravo."

I jerked around and glared at Rui, that smug look on her face compelling me to knock her out right then and there. But classy ass gentlemen don't hit women.

" Screw off Rui, I'm not in the mood for your bullshit," I muttered.

" I'd watch my tone if I were you, I just might-"

" Might what? Ruin Len's game instead of me?" I spat. " Go ahead, when you do, I'll be the first one to point to you."

" You know what they say, point one finger at someone else and there's always three pointing right back at you," she smirked.

" What is the point of even doing this?" I exclaimed. " Len's been nothing but nice to you!"

" I just want to ensure my victory is all," she said examining her nails.

" Wh-WHAT VICTORY?!" I exploded.

She dainitly raised her eyebrows and smiled, as if my outburst amused her. She opened her mouth and suddenly striaghtened and stared bashfully at the ground, as if she was suddenly embarrassed.

" Mikuo! Hey, Mikuo- ohh..."

Dear God, why Nero. He glanced back and forth between Rui and I and grinned suggestively at me.

" Am I interrupting something?" he asked.

" No," I said bluntly. " You're interrupting nothing important. Let's go."

I grabbed the collar of his shirt and dragged him away, leaving a suddenly shy and quiet Rui behind.

" Dude, hey, dude- Mikuo, couldn't you have been a little less harsh?" he said struggling against me.

" Harsh? About what? Nothing was going on," I replied.

Nero jerked out of my grip and frowned at me. " Look, I know you're in a mood for some unknown reason, but you don't need to be a dick to a girl who's confessed to you because of it."

Confessed?!

" Rui?" I exclaimed Incredously. " Confess to me?"

I burst out laughing barely able to contain myself, and stopped abruptly when I said Nero's expression hadn't cracked a bit.

" Nero, what in the hell makes you think Rui likes me," I repleid seriously. " If anything she hates me."

" I don't know what kind of tsundere act you think she's pulling, but Rui likes you," he said gravely. " And-"

" Nero, Rui. Did not. Confess. To me," I said pointedly. " Ever. We were just...talking. Why would I lie about that."

" Well...it just looked like.." he began.

" I don't know what it looked like, but I'm telling you what happened," I said tiredly. " Believe me or not, I don't care. I'm not about to sit here and argue-"

" Okay! Okay!" Nero said quickly. " Sorry, it's just...Rui's a sweet girl and I'd hate to see her get hurt you know? And the fact that this drama between Len and Rin and I just got resolved..."

I stared at him for a second, all of a sudden realizing something critical.

" You said she's sweet?"

" Uh yeah?"

" SWEET? HER?"

" What's the big deal?" Nero frowned.

I took in a deep breath. " I'm..I'm gonna tell you something, but you have to swear to not...flip out."

" Yeah, sure, okay," he said crossing his arms.

Okay, calm Mikuo, CALM.

" Rui is going to try and sabotage Len before his game Friday. I don't know how or why but she's been trying to get me to do it. And Nero, I-"

" Stop." Nero stared at me, unreadable for a moment before turning his back to me and walking away.

" Wha-! Where are you going!"

" I have low tolerance for bull shit Mikuo."

I stood there slack-jawed as I watched his walk away, yelling furiously after him, " LOW TOLERANCE FOR BULLSHIT? YOU ACT LIKE THAT DRAMA WITH LEN WASN'T!"

My mind reeled at how easily my claims had been rejected. I grabbed a handful of my hair and tugged roughly at it, biting my lip in frustration. Stupid, stupid Mikuo! That guy had just finished fussing at you for "hurting" Rui! Did you really think he'd listen to whatever slander you had to say about her?

" Wow, I never thought you guys' bonds would be so fragile."

I turned slowly around, rage coming off me in waves as Rui made her appearance once more.

" Our bonds aren't fragile," I hissed. " When you go through with your bitch plan, you'll be exposed."

" Mikuo, you can't possibly think I'm so stupid," she said with a smug grin. She glanced at her watch before saying. " We may want to head back, the school tour looks to be starting soon."

And on that note, she flounced away, a slight spring in her step as if nothing in her world could possibly go wrong. I could only stare after her, gears in my head turning viciously before I reluctantly followed behind her.

Len POV:

Okay. So the Kagamine Soccer Empire Takeover was a huge bust. Something about "pull-something-like-that-again-and-you'll-be-expelled-before-you-even-take-the-entrance-exam".

Pffft. Sooo bluffing.

" Hello everyone, I'm your student council vice president, Megurine Luka," said the chick who'd just walked up. I raised my eyes and scanned her up and down in awe. Dude, high school girls are on a whole other level!

" I'm a second year, and unfortunately, haven't had much experience giving tours," she said laughing slightly. " But, bear with me okay? We'll be learning together. Now if you'll follow me..."

We all shuffled to move behind her and I heard Gumo give a choked gasp behind me.

" What dude?"

" Those...those...MELONS."

" Oh grow up Gumo," Rin said rolling her eyes.

" Oh you're just jealous!" he said sharply. " Even Akaito agrees! Right man?"

The redhead's face flared up as he stammered a bullshit reply about how he likes girls for their intelligence. What kind of teenage guy 100 percent means that?

" Nero! You saw 'em right! Those are like, the perfect tits!" Gumo exclaimed.

" I would've agreed with you until you said the word 'tits'," Nero said calmly, and upon receiving a vicious blow to the stomach from Rin he immediately saw the error of his ways and rushed after her when she stormed away.

" Rin!" I called. " Your dear older brother likes them small! Hell, it's great you're a washboard! Rin!"

The sound of dragging feet behind me wouldn't have halted my endeavors until I took an irritated glance behind me and saw that it was Mikuo. And boy, did he look hell of a lot worse.

" Mikuo? Hey, buddy, are you-"

" Len," he said heavily. " Unless you're thinking about what I said earlier and taking me up on it, don't bother talking."

" What's your problem already?" I said growing slightly irritated. " You know, this random bitter attitude of yours is kind of getting old."

" You say that like I have a choice," he bit back bitterly.

" Well, when your friends are trying to help you, you do have a choice," I snapped. " Either pipe the fuck down and accept the hand that's being offered, or expect to feel as alone and bitter as you're acting."

Mikuo bit his lip nervously, the fury in his face morphing into anxiety and panic.

" Len," he muttered. " Look...Nero didn't believe me okay. If I tell you-"

" Guys!" Rin turned back to us with a finger to her lips, urgently quieting us as Megurine-senpai continued her lecture about the school and it's achievements.

Which let's be honest here, until I hit that soccer team, what achievements do they really have?

But anyway, Mikuo glanced at me nervously and mouthed that he would tell me later. Normally, I'd have relaxed that finally, he felt comfortable in confiding in me. And yet, his body was still tense as if he were going to snap at any moment; and if he wasn't the least bit relaxed, why should I be?

" Riiiin! It's almost lunch, you've got to share!" I whined.

" Well maybe you shouldn't have shared your opinion about how much of a washboard I am," she pouted.

" But I love washboards! Didn't you hear that part? I love how they clean clothes and stuff, and what man doesn't love a nice basket of clean clothes?"

" YOU. You do everything in your power to prevent your clothes from getting washed!"

" I don't believe in today's technology," I said after a moment. " It shall be the downfall of our society."

" Oh that is bull-"

" GUYS!" Gumo ran towards us, clothes practically torn apart, and out of breath. " The lunch rush is INSANE."

" Coming from you, it obviously must not be," Miku replied.

" I tell you, I was thrown across the cafeteria and back! I just wanted a sub man! and I felt the entire science hall rush me from the left, and all the second years on my right!"

" He's exaggerating," Rin said.

" And then, God shone in front of me, and handed the sandwich to me in a shower of gold light," Gumo said in a daze. " And He spoke, and you know what He said?"

" What did he say?" I said boredly.

" He said," Gumo paused to collect himself, " he said...that'll be 250 yen."

" A true miracle right," Nero said.

" You had to be there man," Gumo exclaimed. He then grabbed Nero and began to drag him off towards the main building, screaming about having to experience the Lord for himself.

" Gumo! Gumo! You can't drag people to their death against their will!" Rin cried and started after them, leaving Miku and I alone.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling her gaze penetrating me as though I had something to hide.

" So uh..."

Stay calm man, stay calm.

" During the tour, anything to kiss? I mean cool! I meant cool! Awesome!"

" Those two words don't even sound similar Len," Miku smiled.

" They both make the 'k' sound!"

Miku's smile faded and she regarded me solemnly before saying, " Len...how are you?"

" Heh, wh-what do you mean?"

" I mean," she lowered her voice, " the whole kiss business. Rin told me."

I groaned and buried my face in my hands. " first Mikuo, now you...look it was...I..I don't know why I did it okay. It was just impulse."

" Wait, wait," Miku said. " Mikuo knows?"

" Just about the kiss," I said quickly. " he kind of saw it firsthand."

Miku blinked in surprise but quickly shook her head. " Not what I wanted to talk about. Look, I think you know as well as I do why you did it. Len, just say it already."

" Say what?"

" That you love Rin."

" As a sister?"

" As a woman."

" What is this, a soap opera?"

Miku sighed and said, " Rin isn't going to put up much longer with you and your 'impulse'. And honestly, although nero and you have made amends, if you keep with these subtle acts of imposing on Rin, Nero's going to think that something...is up."

I frowned and looked away from her, not exactly wanting to acknowledge the fact that she was right.

" Len," she said again. " At this point, how do you see yourself and Rin?"

" She's...my adorable little sister," i said mechanically. " Of course I love her..."

" Of course naturally," Miku agreed.

I looked up at her, my heart pounding in my ears as I weighed what she was saying. What I had told Rin had only been a few days ago, and yet it felt like ages. Even though I was being stubborn and persistent in that I didn't know how I felt about her, I couldn't help but see Nero as my rival. I couldn't help but feel the need to claim Rin as my own.

Maybe I do love Rin. But...I can't say that out loud...can I..?

" I...I..."

"Miku," Mikuo appeared and I took a deep breath in relief. Miku glared at me slightly before turning her attention to Mikuo. " I... need a moment alone with Len. It's pretty important. Do you mind?"

" Not at all," she said sweetly. " If anything, it may help him. "

And on that note, she stood up, gave me a sweetly venous smile and practically stomped away. Well, it being Miku, it was more delicate and ladylike, but it was still stomping!

" Is this about earlier?" I asked. " because if so, just know that you can trust me man. I am the yin to your yang, the peanut butter to your jelly, the salt to your pepper, the Will Herondale to your-"

" Len," Mikuo interrupted. " We have no time for cliche analogies. Or Infernal Devices references."

Mikuo took a deep breath and stared out in front of him for a moment. " This whole, skipping the game stuff. You know I wouldn't just ask you that without a good reason."

" Yes, yes, I am well aware."

" And...I swore to not tell about you and Rin right?"

My heart froze and all the blood drained from my face. " Dear God, Mikuo...you aren't going to tell are you?!"

"N-no...I'm not," he said slowly. " But...if you play...it might get out.."

I stared at him, unable to see the situation for anything other than it was, no matter how badly I wanted to.

" Are you blackmailing me."

" No!" Mikuo said quickly. " It's not me! It's...someone else."

" Some else?" I said in disbelief. " Like who? Only you and Miku know."

Mikuo glanced away, his face becoming and even more deathly shade of white.

" What? Did you tell someone?" I whispered.

" I-"

" You lied to me?"

" No, that's not it Len."

" So you're blackmailing me. For what? What good will me not playing do you?"

" It's not for me!"

" Then for who? You aren't making any-!"

" RUI! It's Rui! She's the perpetrator here! Not me!"

Mikuo sat o his knees before me, panting wildly as if he'd been running and getting that message out enabled him to stop. I could only stare at him, uncertain as to how I should process what he just said.

" It's Rui Len," he said desperately. " She...she..."

He bit his lip and didn't continue, keeping his gaze averted from mine as if no explanation he had would be good enough.

" Mikuo..is this going to end well," I said darkly.

He remained silent.

" Mikuo. Are you telling me the truth. No, let me rephrase that. Are you telling me the full truth."

He looked up at me, clearly despairing and just as uncertain as I as to what he should do. His shoulders drooped and his face battered and worn as if he'd been through a thousand trial in a thousand lives, and that this moment right now, was just too much for him.

" Len, we're friends right? Best friends," he said.

I sat staring at him, and off in the distance, I could Gumo's incessant yelling about the insane lunch rush that was coming to an end.

" I hope so Mikuo. I hope so."

Author's Note: Gah, what is my problem, I promised more updating and bleh. Nothing. In my feeble attempt at defense, I actually wanted this to be a funny, light-hearted chapter, but...I felt like I already dug these guys' graves for drama and it was practically impossible to write it without it!

So if you're still reading and feel like this story still makes sense (and I hope it does because I know long periods without updates makes me forget an entire plotline with stories I watch), I am so grateful. Thank you for reading so long and keeping up with these guys! In all honesty, I may cut the story a bit short from it's original plotline, but I promise it won't detract from the incest and the cruel plotting of Rui and the mysterious amnesia of Rin! God I hope that didn't give anything away.

Okay, so thank again for reading and Favorite, Alert, and Review!