12/7/13 - Do you remember TISIKE of CHAPTER 9? If you don't, go back and re-read! Oh, and, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUO TIANYI! Woot!

Chapter 25: Oliver Has a Surname?!

Rin's POV

As usual, Lenka wasn't too pleased with me and my chosen outfit.

"Lenka, calm down." I yelled from the kitchen as another thump resounds from upstairs. I continued my breakfast, completely used to Lenka's mini fits.

There was another thump, followed by heavy footsteps descending from the stairs. Lenka proudly marched into the kitchen, taking a seat across from me. I sighed.

"Lenka, no matter how many things you throw, I can't change the fact that Yamaha insists on wearing a uniform." I pushed her plate of eggs and rice to her. "Now eat. You'll be hungry at school."

Even though she made a stubborn 'humph', she still picked up her fork and spoon and began eating. She looked back at me, almost pleadingly. "You could still roll your skirt up, open up a few buttons and wear tiny heels! Instead of skirts that hover above your knees, tight blouses and flats!"

I frowned at her. "Lenka, as far as you know, I am not a desperate person who wants to get harassed by the monkeys of our school."

Lenka scooped up a big spoonful of rice, cocking her head to the side before taking a big bite. "I'm not talking about that! I'm talking about the weather. It's spring, Rin! Cherry blossoms, festivals, warm weather, season before summer—loosen your uniform a bit!"

"Fine." I grumbled, defeated, standing up to put my plate in the sink and started to untie my school tie, open at least two buttons on my blouse, roll up my sleeves on my cardigan—wait.

I pointed at Lenka, gritting my teeth in annoyance. "Make my skirt higher? Wear heels? That doesn't have anything to do with spring!"

Lenka waved her fork about. "Murr, Murr, Murr. It doesn't matter! Just do it, please!" She placed this really creepy (I think she was trying to be cute) sad puppy face. I cringed, swearing and folding my skirt so it was shorter looking and swapped my shoes.

I stared at myself through the full length mirror. I looked...awful. Kill me.

"You look so cute!" Lenka squealed as I re-entered the kitchen. I was ready to fly away and go to space. She wiped her hands on the rag, meaning she just washed the plates. At least she did something in return for making me wear this, this—horrific outfit!

"By the way, where's Len?" I asked as I handed Lenka her bento. She shrugged. "I think he's still at home. He might've missed sleeping here, but he won't skip school!"

She then added dubiously. "I hope."

"Urgh, he better be there. Or else I'd be responsible, as always." I gritted my teeth, unable to hide the irritated feeling I was experiencing at that second. We both got our bags, Lenka rushing out once I opened the door.

Lenka hopped out onto my lawn, twirling around and swinging her skirt around. Ugh, and to think this happy-go-lucky girl nearly threw my bed out the window this morning.

I pulled my jangly keys, choosing the golden one with the initials KR burnt in. I locked the front door and turned around to see Lenka waiting for me outside the gates.

"Come on, Rin-chan!" She whined playfully. "I saw some college guys over there ! Let's get a move on!"

Oh help.

The day went smoothly, I guess.

It was like every other day. We went to our classes, we breathed, we talked, we walked. Nothing special today.

I sat cross legged on the grass of the slightly steep hill, watching some 3rd Year's play a football match. Luka and Neru sat at the right side of me, Miku sat at the left. The boys—Kaito, Gakupo, Yuuma and Dell—sat behind us. We were currently eating our lunch, we refused to eat in the warm classes and voted on eating out here.

As expected, Len didn't come to school today. Oh noodles.

I was watching Miku and Kaito closely. Miku was munching on her raw leek quietly, green eyes glued to the match. Kaito was the farthest from the guys, he sat nowhere near his girlfriend. He licked his ice pop without talking to anyone. Are they having a fight?

"Who do you think'll win the match?" Neru asked, turning back to look at the boys with a mouthful of mango.

Dell scoffed. "It's obvious that team will win." He pointed at the group who wore the yellow jerseys.

Gakupo laughed at Neru and Dell's erupted and heated argument over yellow team or red team. "Guys, its just a freestyle match. Not a serious one!"

Neru and Dell glared at him. "We don't care!" They screamed in unison to his face.

"It's okay, buddy." Yuuma cooed, patting his friend's back gently, as the samurai-in-training began sulking quietly.

"I heard Gumi's coming back to school next week." Luka said, scooting away from the yelling Neru. Yuuma nodded happily. "I'm so glad she's finally coming back!"

I eyed them carefully. Why was Yuuma so happy? It's not like Gumi was in any trouble or anything... She was just down with the flu...

Oh well.

"Rin?" I was surprised by the familiar sounding voice, and whirled around to see Lenka carrying a stack of three boxes.

"Lenka?" I squeaked. "What are you doing here?"

She grunted in response. "We have to do this job for our teacher."

"We?"

"Oh yeah, you haven't met them before. I'll introduce them to you and your friends!" With that, she wobbled away like a penguin.

Miku looked at me, suspiciously. "Who was that?"

"The sister of Len." Kaito butted in, making Miku wince and scoot away.

Luka came into the conversation too. "Lenka? The one who is living with you for a few weeks?"

I nodded. "Don't misunderstand, guys." I gestured at the boys.

"Oh that's fine. We know anyway." Yuuma shook it off.

"Yeah, Rin. They'd know, obviously. They're friends with Len, of course he'd tell them." Neru rolled her eyes as she joined our talk.

"Gee, thanks Neru for your sarcasm." I said, coincidently being sarcastic.

She stood up and bowed. "You are welcome."

Lenka came running back, as we were finishing our lunch, with her friends behind her.

Oliver had been held back by a job, and he only met up with us a few minutes ago. He was now sitting beside Yuuma and Dell, eating a ham sandwich with extra lettuce.

"Lenka!" I exclaimed, the blonde haired girl falling onto the ground, out of breath. She stood up, slowly and groggily, holding onto a teal haired guy's hand.

"Okay, Lenka, this is Miku, Luka, Neru, Yuuma, Oliver, Dell, Kaito and Gakupo—all of you, except for Oliver, know her—this is Len's sister, Lenka." I pointed at them individually, and then beckoned at Lenka. "Lenka, this is Miku, Luka, Neru, Yuuma, Oliver, Dell, Kaito and Gakupo."

"Hi!" Lenka, and my friends (?) cried at the same time.

Then Lenka pulled her own friends closer. "Guys, this is Kamui Gakuko, Gakupo's sister."

Gakuko was a purple haired girl, who was rather strong looking and was tall like her brother.

"This is Shion Kaiko, Kaito's sister."

Kaiko was a short girl, unlike Kaito, who was like, more than 6 feet. She has short and fluffy blue hair too.

"Hiyama Kiyoteru."

He had chocolate brown hair, thick black glasses and a tall structure.

Pretty smart looking.

"Megurine Luki."

Like his sister, Luka, he's tall. Plus an athlete body, a charming and goofy smile, a big patch of pink hair and blue eyes. Meh.

"Hatsune Mikuo."

I met him before. He's Miku's brother. So he pretty much looks like her but with abs and a you-know-what.

"Kagami Rinto."

He looked like...me! So, its the same thing as Mikuo, but, me version.

"And this is a friend I made just a few days ago, Masuda—"

"—Lily!" Oliver shouted over Lenka, standing and furiously pointing at the grinning blonde haired girl.

"Hello," she grinned even wider, "little brother."

We all gasped. Masuda Oliver? It actually has a nice ring to it.

"Oh! So that's your last name! I thought you were just Oliver!" Kaito laughed, holding his bouncing stomach in joy.

Oh Kaito.

Third Person's POV

A red haired girl leaned down, crouched and stealthy, slammed her hands down on her friend's shoulders. Startled, her friend, a blonde girl with long hair tied to the side, screamed.

The redhead giggled at her friend. "Akita-san, yo-yo-your ex-e-expression was h-hi-hilarious!"

Akita Neru, now flustered and angry, poked her friend in the stomach. "That's revenge for shocking me, Tisike!"

The girl fell onto the floor, laughing harder than she was originally. Neru's mad grimace slowly cracked into a laugh. She couldn't stay mad at her friend.

Hasegawa Tisike rolled on the grass, her laughter calmly sizzling away.

She had raspberry red hair that was loosely placed on the side, the strands settling on her left shoulder, a white ribbon securing the near ends of her hair. Tisike was a pretty girl, with her gentle movements and caring personality. She scolds Neru on a daily basis, but forgives and forgets.

Neru felt inferior when she was next to her. Neru had a round face, choppy hair, short height, petite structure, plain taste when it comes to fashion, and a rude and horrible attitude. Even though she was afraid that Tisike would hate her for all those flaws, she never said a word about it.

She overlooked everything bad, and saw her qualities.

That's how they became friends.

"So, I heard Hijame broke up with his girlfriend." Tisike started, resting her head on her palms, "why don't you take this opportunity to, you know, go in for the kill?"

Neru shrugged. "No. Hijame-kun wouldn't want to jump into another relationship too soon. Besides, I'd have no chance."

"Well, you have to confess someday." Tisike said, getting up and dusting her skirt. "We should head to our classes, I don't want another scolding from my mom."

Neru nodded, gathering her stuff off the grass and standing up while holding onto Tisike's hand.

"Let's go!" The redhead grinned, swinging her bag over her shoulders, and pointing towards the school.

"Oh no."

Neru wandered around the empty and silent hallways, completely lost. This school was too big! Neru found a 'No Students Allowed' sign on a door and thought, 'I have nothing to lose' and opened the red rusted door.

It lead to the roof. The blonde haired girl ran up the stairs, her shoes tapping lightly on the concrete steps. When she reached the top, gushing wind hit her almost immediately, making her shiver and wince.

"I-I l-li-like y-you...!" A tiny voice shouted, but it didn't really make a difference since her voice was so small that her shout sounded normal.

Neru hid behind the wall, afraid of being caught. Someone was being confessed to! She felt so bad. But she couldn't leave now! The door would make a sound, louder than a herd of elephants, and then they'd know she'd been here.

Urgh, might as well find out who's confessing and who's being confessed to. Neru peered her head from behind the wall, and saw a short and moe type of girl, eyes closed and trembling as she faced a guy. That guy was tall and brown haired. He watched the girl, sad and regretful.

"I'm sorry, I like someone else." He said apologetically.

The girl nodded, suddenly grabbing his shirt. "But let me like you, Takisa-kun!"

Takisa...? Is it Hijame? No, it can't be. Hijame looks different. Is that his relative, or something...?

Thoughts were racing around Neru's head like bees. She couldn't help but feel her stomach tighten and she was ready to give her breakfast down the toilet.

The boy sighed. "Promise me you won't be upset when I find love."

The girl did not hesitate. "Of course!"

They began mumbling in low words before heading towards Neru. She felt her heartbeat increase rapidly, and she couldn't breathe anymore. Ditching her fears, she screwed sticking around and fled down the stairs and out the door.

She ran into the janitor's closet, locking herself inside before falling onto the cold floor. She'll just stay here and wait them out. Yeah. That doesn't sound too bad.

Neru closed her locker, turning to her red haired friend who was nervously checking her phone. "Where is he? Where is he?" Tisike repeated over and over again, shaking her phone in frustration.

Her boyfriend has been on holidays in another prefecture for two weeks now and he hasn't called Tisike since he left.

Neru watched her friend. "I'm sure he's fine, Tisike." Neru got her bag and hung it onto her shoulders. "Now, you go ahead. I need to do some stuff."

Her friend gave her a hard stare before sighing and leaving.

The blonde looked about the corridor, cautious about her surroundings, then walked to the red door. She walked up the steps, her mind and expression neutral.

The wind greeted her once again with its strong and violent gusts of wind. A male figure waited for her at the top. Neru shrugged her bag off, letting it fall onto the concrete.

"You called me. I'm here." Neru lifted her arms, the wind blowing her hair and clothes around.

The guy, the one from before, stared at her with his crystal emerald eyes. "You were there, right? When Maki-chan was confessing to me."

Neru's hands fell to her sides. With the help of her right foot, Neru charged at the boy, catching hold of his collar and pulling him down to her height. "It was by accident, alright? I'm not some creep who eavesdrops to peoples' conversations." She hissed into his ear.

She let him go, sneering and picking her discarded bag off the ground. "Nobody needs to know what happened between us." The blonde haired girl turned around once more, seeing his fallen figure and hidden face. "Don't tell Maki-chan."

She left soon after, slamming the door with much force at the bottom of the stairs.

Takeshi Takisa was leaning against the wired fence, that covered the perimeter of the roof, speechless and flustered.

Takisa Neru. It has a nice ring to it.

Neru's POV

I sat on a fallen tree, sharpening my dagger and checking my empty pistol. Disappointed, I kicked a few leaves that had come from the tree.

"Tsk, no more ammo." I growled, stuffing my Facón into my leg sheath. I watched the clouds drift by, slow and puffy, and I began thinking about a lot of things.

It was weird.

One day your life is normal and you're living happily in your hometown, then you and your friend nearly get attacked by your 'boyfriend' then you move away because of your mom's promotion, and then you make friends with random and troubled girls. A few years later, you reunite with the guy who nearly attacked you and then you help him and his brother out with gang wars against their uncle.

Weird, indeed.

Takeshi wasn't around most of the time. He was off, helping a girl he said. Okay, sounds like something Takeshi would. But sometimes I think he's just avoiding the violence.

Death during one of our fights is actually, shockingly, rare. Severely injured, but alive and breathing.

I lost the group around an hour ago. It's about 7 now.

The schoolday went from smooth to bumpy the minute Kaito realised Oliver was a living human and had a surname like all of us.

That blonde haired boy in particular wasn't very happy after his sister met the rest of us. He began sulking in every corner he could find. Lily wasn't that bad though. She was pretty cool, very down to earth, and was sarcastic yet witty. Ah-mazing.

I left at 4 and met up with the gang in our hideout in an abandoned and worn out office building.

They were rushing to prepare for another fight, against Lewis and his mega hulks, that they didn't have much time to talk.

Grabbing my AutoMag, Facón, some ammo and a bulletproof vest, we headed out to the new venue that was where the next battle would take place—the forest.

When Lewis and his crew, aka LC, smoke bombarded our temporary base, I got separated from the others.

I was out ammo, and in a situation like this, I'm most likely to die than survive. I thought I could kill a hare, or anything with meaty flesh, with my AutoMag but missed at all my attempts. I am so pathetic.

Hijame gave me a pistol and a dagger, just because I was a newbie. Urgh, I wanted a better gun with a bigger ammo capacity. But no. Me a newbie, no better gun. Great, absolutely adorable.

Hungry, tired, lost and desperate for a sign of humanity, I crawled into a tiny ball and laid my back on the tree.

This is where I die, huh.

I thought I'd die after eating too much mangoes, but meh. I closed my eyes, and let myself go.

"Dell! She's awake! She's awake!" A voice cried louder than my ears can handle. I wanted to reach out and slap the voice, if that was physically possible, but there a little problem. I couldn't move!

I was all stiff and stone. I could only manage to grunt like a pig. I wasn't even capable of opening my eyes.

I heard quick and hurried footsteps run towards where I was, and all I could do was make very animal-like noises. They will surely mistake me as a half human, half pig hybrid. Out of all the things to happen to me.

"How on Earth is she awake? She's not even moving!" A deep voice calmly yet angrily stated.

I felt the person beside me cringe. "Well, no duh! She's still breathing though. Good sign! Plus, her wound on her torso re-opened and it bled like crazy! We're just lucky she's still alive!"

There was a thin silence before a calloused hand slid across my stomach, tracing the bandages wrapped around me.

"We'll just have to wait." The deeper voice sighed before letting his grip on me go. Footsteps leading out of the room were heard and the person taking care of me, sighed.

"Oh, Neru-chan, please wake up. Oniichan is so worried about you. Please wake up." They pleaded. I wanted to move, very much that I was actually feeling jolts of pain whenever I kicked and punched the air, but I was bound to this statue-like state and I wasn't having any fun at all.

Urgh.

"Thank goodness! You are actually awake now!"

I don't know when, or how, I woke up. The last thing I knew, after floating around in darkness for what seemed like years, my eyes were opened. I was talking, breathing, moving—awake and alive.

The girl in front of me smiled. Her hair was long, like Miku's, the shade darker than metal. It was tied hallway down her back by a dark purple ribbon, and wow. Her chest was unique.

We were in a cottage. Japan has cottages? I thought as I took a good look at the room. It was small, worn out couch, white walls, flowery wallpaper and real flowers decorated the room, a dead fireplace and a bookshelf.

I was holding a mug with hot chocolate as it's contents. The girl sitting right in front of me was holding a mug similar to mine but it looked like the insides were green tea.

"Hello? Neru-chan! Dell's gonna come back with food soon." The girl said happily, practically bouncing in her chair. "Oh by the way, I'm Dell and Yuuma's little sister, Haku!"

I didn't know how to react. Dell and Yuuma did say they have a sister, though I never knew she looked more like Dell than Yuuma. Twins perhaps?

No, that can't be. Haku is one year younger. What am I saying?

"So...the Honnes live here?" I asked, taking another huge look at the place. Haku wriggled on her stool.

"No, this is my—our little hangout." Haku immediately changed her wording when Dell came back with a boar and a hunting rifle in his hands.

"Here, Haku, dinner. Make it." He turned to me after handing the animal to his sister. "I bet you have a lot of questions to ask. Well, so do I."

"I'm asking first." I said, ignoring Haku's groans and grunts as she dragged the dead animal into the kitchen. Dell shrugged. "Ask away."

"Hangout? Why are you guys in the forest?"

Dell sighed. "When Haku makes our meals, she likes to use home grown plants—like herbs that grow in the forest—and sometimes she can't make it home before sunset so she stays here for the night then proceeds with her journey home in the morning. Sometimes me and Yuuma stay here to keep an eye on her or just have some alone time. Next question."

He was answering these without hesitation. Hm. "Where did you get that rifle?"

Dell had thrown the gun on the couch opposite of where I sat. He looked at me blankly. "Haku found it in this house. The previous owner must've been married to a hunter. There was also lots of ammunition in the closet."

I nodded. "Why were you two in the forest today? Why am I here?"

"Haku was insisting on going deeper into the forest. Of course, as her older and smarter brother, I had to make sure she didn't do it. We only knew a fraction of the forest, and we couldn't get lost in a place the government doesn't own anymore. That's why this place is dangerous."

Dell raised his knitted eyebrows at my other question. "Why are you here? We wouldn't just leave you. Not in this crazy maze. We're also staying here for the night. It's not like you're in a rush or anything. The city is also pretty far from here. 45 minutes on foot, 30 in a car."

"And the landlord allows you to live here?"

"There is no landlord. This cottage could've possibly been a part of the city, years ago, but nature overgrew and this place was forgotten. And besides, if I hadn't chased Haku through the forest, because she was really curious about the other parts of this place, we wouldn't have found you."

It was starting to make sense. I'm out of things to ask. I looked at Dell, hard. "I'm done, now you."

Dell took a deep breath, before returning the stare. "What's been going on with you Neru? First you have a slice on your right palm, you're coming to school late and sleepy, you talk less, you don't go out with your friends anymore. Then you have a fresh cut on your stomach, and me and Haku find you famished in this place—" Dell abruptly stopped, to check if I was still listening; I was taking in every damn word. "why were you carrying a pistol and a knife with you?"

I frantically checked my pockets, my leg sheaths, my belt—no weapons. "Where did you put it?"

Dell glared at me. "Answer the question, Neru."

"I've been in some gang wars, alright? That's it. I'm going back." I stood up, but the sharp pain that struck my belly sent me sitting back down. No. I forced myself up, and began searching the room, clutching my aching torso.

Eventually, I found my weapons and the whole time I was fumbling around, Dell watched calmly. Did he not care?

For some reason it hurt knowing he didn't.

I began making my way to the front door, limping because of the wound on my tummy. It was easy finding the door, this cottage was smaller than an apartment room, and I opened it, finding it conveniently unlocked.

I limped outside, seeing the cottage set up in a wide clearing. "And where do you think you're going?" A deep voice called out, making me turn around in surprise.

Dell was there, leaning against the old wooden doorframe with a smug expression. "You're out of ammunition, you don't know where your crew is, it's going to be nightfall soon, and you're injured. You haven't even ate some of Haku's deer stew. You won't last for more than half an hour."

"I have a knife. The wound will heal soon, then I could hunt." I said, pulling the sharp weapon out.

"At night? In the dark? What if—" He gasped as I threw the dagger at him, and no I wasn't going to kill him. It landed on the wall, just beside his right eye, like I planned.

I walked over to retrieve the blade, when Dell grabbed it and ran out onto the clearing, where I was originally standing. He held it over his head, mockingly. "Give it back!"

I ran, more like limp-ran, to him, and I've never hated my height before but, dammit he was taller and his arm was longer!

"Why do you wanna go back so much?"

"I have to help them; I have to!" I went on my tippy toes, reaching out in vain. My face was being stained with tears or rain. Maybe both.

It was a light drizzle at first. Then it was a full time storm.

"Why are you crying?" Dell's voice was soft as I gave up, relaxing my shoulders and leaning against his body, and whimpered like a child.

How did he know, despite the water falling from the sky?

"I don't know." I mumbled into his soggy shirt, "maybe it's because you care. Why?"

"You think I don't care? What am I to you? A person who watches people suffer? Cut me some slack, woman." He teased lightly, his arm falling to his side.

I gritted my teeth. Cruel. This was cruel. "What I'm saying is," I grabbed his shirt, and looked into his eyes, hoping for a playful glint, anything—anything that could prove he was lying, "why do you care so much? Aside from your fear of being beaten up by my friends, you don't have to care so much! Just keep it a secret, let me go out there and die. Pretend you never saw me."

Dell didn't move. "Why would I do that?" I looked up at him, he was scaring me. "Your friends beat me up, lie about our encounter in the forest—what exactly do you want me to do? Live with guilt?"

"Just stop acting so sincere and heroic. I'm not pathetic. I'll die when I want to."

Dell was angry now. Was he always? Was he holding it in? What, he thought I couldn't handle it? Why won't he stop babying me?! "I'm not letting go of this blade, or you."

"Why not?!"

Dell, he was filled with so much emotions I couldn't even tell his expression on his face. "I've held back for too long."

I gave him an odd look. "What—"

He was swift and careful. He lifted my chin and pressed his mouth against mine. It was weird. This sensation, this feeling. Dell held the kiss for a long time until we parted for air. I looked at Dell, wide eyes and confused. My head was heavy and all the desire to get my dagger back vanished.

He grabbed my waist, smashing our bodies together and his warm lips was pressed hungrily and passionately on my mouth again. "I love you, Neru." He whispered huskily, into my ear. His voice sounded so lonely and...afraid. I felt that he could crumble in my arms at any second. "Don't go, don't go out there. Stay with me for one night, stay."

I don't know what happened next. It was weird.

That morning, I found me and Dell laying beside each other in bed, clothes nowhere to be found. My wound was better and I was scrambling to my feet.

Oh no, no, no, no.

I love you, Neru.

When I was dressed and packed, I looked back at Dell on the bed, snoring away. I mouthed a small 'sorry' before running out the cottage.

I ran across Haku sleeping on the couch. Does she know what happened? I didn't dwell on the thought. When I was out of the clearing, I glanced at the cottage again. What have I done?

I love you.

I ran for hours, I think, before stumbling at a campsite. Is this where the gang was? "Hello?" I called out, receiving no answer in return.

Then a man I never met walked out of a blue tent, a rifle in his hand. Suddenly I was surrounded, trapped and defenceless.

I don't know what happened next. It was weird. Maybe I was knocked out. And carried to a hole and was buried alive. Oh well. Dell, you were right. I didn't know where I was going, I had no ammo; I was naive.

Don't go.

Now I'm actually going to die. And there is no Dell or The PFEs to save me.

Oh god, what have I done.

15/7/13 - Well done, Neru! *smiles* This chapter is officially over. NeruxDell fans out there, hope you're happy!