Chapter 26: Luo Tianyi

Oliver's POV

"So, Rin, huh?" Lily grinned lopsidedly, "she seems cool."

Me and Lily were walking home from school. The path gates to our neighbourhood rose in front of us like a castle. Heh, it's funny because the neighbourhood residents weren't exactly 'royals'.

But this was the best our relatives could get us, and its better than nothing.

"I hope James won't bother me today." Lily breathed out, scratching her head in annoyance. Me and her are so used to talking about Bird James and Bro James, that we don't have to say anything else but 'James' and we'd still understand the other.

It's become a skill really.

Oh, and Lily's talking about bird James. Our baby brother wouldn't waste, as he calls it—'valuable and irreplaceable', time. Our brother isn't your typical 11 year old who only cares about ice cream and playtimes, he's very mature for his age.

That's what happens when you're raised without—

"I doubt it." I said, wriggling due to the weight of my bag. "James would be too busy being spoilt by James. You'll have enough time to grab a packet of lemons and isolate yourself in your room."

Lily laughed. "That bird never hesitates to mess with me!"

We walked up the stairs, the ones that followed after the gates, and it wasn't an easy task. Yep, our neighbourhood is above sea level so if a flood ever occurred, we wouldn't be in too much danger.

Our house wasn't far from the entrance. One of the nearest actually. But the houses were separated by a huge amount of space that we had to keep walking and walking and walking until we finally reached our house.

The house we owned wasn't any different from the rest. Two storeys high, white doors and round windows, a spacious lawn, a driveway we'll never use, a backyard, a slanted roof with an attic underneath and beige painted concrete walls.

Japan is actually very modern.

"We're home!" Lily sang quietly after opening the front door. She was greeted with silence, as usual.

James was probably feeding the other James in our kitchen. "I'll get the lemons." I said monotonously, after removing my black shoes and tremendously heavy backpack. Lily quietly thanked me.

With his arms spread across the table, my baby brother, James, sat soundlessly on a wooden chair with a solemn expression. The American Goldfinch was in his cage, chirping humorously as he watched James.

Was he laughing?

"How was school?" I asked, my voice sounding surprisingly uninterested. I grabbed the packet of lemons before James could see. Thank goodness, he didn't see me smuggling like a drug dealer.

He shrugged. "I couldn't confess to Iroha again."

I laughed as I threw the bag into the hallway. James cringed when I slid my arms around his tiny figure. "It's alright... I can feel your pain."

James couldn't hold it in, I'm guessing. First he shook uncontrollably, then wet dots fell onto my bare arms. He was crying.

Crying...I haven't done that in years...

Lily walked into the kitchen, a lemon stuffed into her mouth. When she saw us, she stopped and stared. With slow movements, she took the lemon out her mouth and sat beside us as we cried.

"Y'know, I like a guy too." Lily sighed, quivering. "But he likes someone else. A girl—Lenka. She's my friend, and she was the first person who talked to me at school." Before she knew it, Lily was crying too. "I'm going to ignore my feelings, for the sake of our friendship. I will, I will."

Lily hugged us. She captured us into her arms, long arm-like noodles, and let us cry into her chest. She was crying too, but she only whimpered, unlike us who howled and screamed, and a few droplets fell into my hair.

My vision became blurry, and all I could see was my bird tilting his head in confusion and flapping his wings. Memories were bubbling in my head, the burning and old hatred rising in my weak heart.

It still lived inside me until this day...

"Breaking News! A couple, who were on their way to immigrate to the United States of America, were involved in a terrible car accident before they could make their way to the airport."

The man beside the woman nodded, absorbed in his job. "I heard their children are currently staying with their relatives."

"You are right Akio-san, Olivia and Jack Masuda's children are residing in their aunt's house before everything clears up."

A flashing sign at the bottom showed the following: Lily (13 Today), Oliver (11) and James (6).

"They took the death of their parents quite maturely, right Haruka-chan?"

"Indeed. To see more about the car accident, stay tuned after the commercial." The woman smiled at the camera and nodded at the man beside her.

"Bringing you breaking news and reports with my coworker, Furata Akio, I'm Anzai Haruka and this is your afternoon news broadcast."

The screen clicked off, and a loud voice rang violently in the boy's head. It was enough to make his eardrums burst.

"Oliver, don't watch that. You'll start to cry!" A blonde haired girl turned off the TV, abruptly, with the remote, her hair sticking up and eyes flared.

The small boy glared at his sister. "I don't cry."

The other girl threw the remote on the ground and folded her arms, scoffing "Right, like I'd believe that."

After a heavy silence was thrown upon the siblings, the young boy spoke up again. "It wasn't an accident."

His sister looked at him, confused. "What are you trying to say, Oliver?"

The boy—Oliver—ignored her. He was staring at his hands; his bruised and bloody hands. "They were killed. Someone wanted to kill Mama and Papa. They wanted them dead."

His sister—Lily—sighed. "Did you get that feeling too? Like Mama and Papa were running away? Running away from us, and the world?"

Oliver nodded. "I'll find them, and kill them."

Lily laughed. She knew who he was talking about. Their parents' killers. "Shouldn't you find out why they did it?"

Oliver turned to his blonde haired sister, eyes glazed over with deep darkness. "Isn't it obvious? Our parents had done something they didn't want us to know or find out." Oliver stood up, balled fists and eyes fired up. "And I will find out."

Lily stared at him before chuckling. "Forbidden love, perhaps? A rival must've loved our mom, or dad, so much they decided to kill them both out of hatred."

He knew she was joking. Her carefree laugh and assuring smile, she was kidding. Wanting to help him, she joked around. She didn't.

"We won't end up like our parents, right, Ollie?" She cocked her head to the side, releasing her hearty laughter. "We'll survive."

Oliver sat back down, but his shoulders didn't relax. And, secretly, Lily knew that he took what she said seriously. The eldest sibling was right beyond doubt.

He was still thinking about it, five years later.

She was just joking...

...right?

Lenka's POV

"Ahaha! I win!" Kaiko howled with victory. She gathered all the sweets on the table with a satisfied moan. We were in Rinto-kun's house, supposedly playing Go Fish. But gambling sweets.

Kaito's sister was winning by a long shot, she was undefeated for 12 rounds straight. Luki had given up a long time ago, and was snoring away on Rinto's couch. Kiyoteru was using strategies against her, but Kaiko was just using tricks and illusions against his attacks.

Gakuko never wanted to play as she sat beside me and Kiyoteru, giving us her meek support. Rinto nearly defeated Kaiko several times, and to no avail too, because Kaiko did exactly that to him.

Mikuo, me and Kiyoteru were the only ones at the bottom. Mikuo was praying for luck that was never going to come. I trusted on my plain dumb instincts. Yep, Go Fish can be extreme.

"13 rounds, and Kaiko still wins. I'm fried." I said, throwing my cards into the middle. Mikuo did the same and fell backwards.

"I want a rematch!" Kiyoteru yelled, and gathered the fallen cards. This guy doesn't know when to stop. He didn't even have any sweets left.

Kaiko just grinned. The brunette looked at Rinto-kun from the corner of his eye, "you still in, Rinto?"

He nodded and crossed his legs, preparing for the next match. Kaiko was stuffing her mouth with gum drops as she eyed Kiyoteru's amazing shuffling skills.

Everyday I'm—

"Hey," Mikuo placed his big hand, compared to mine, on my hand, gently. He looked at me, a sense of evilness surrounding him. "Wanna wake Luki up?"

"Oh yeah." I said, nodding my head like the gangster I was. Me and Mikuo stood up and walked away from the circle consisting of Rinto, Kaiko, Kiyoteru and Gakuko.

The brunette was still shuffling the cards, earning claps and woots from Gakuko and Kaiko. Rinto narrowed his eyes at me, but said nothing.

"What should we do?" I asked when we were crouched beside Luki's peaceful face.

Mikuo's blunt answer was, "pee."

And then I was like, "no. I will not urinate on his face."

"Aw."

"Are you harassing Lenka." It didn't sound like Rinto was asking, more like demanding. Mikuo blushed and half shouted, "I wouldn't do that!"

"Anyway, putting aside your pee plan, what else do you have in mind?" I asked, turning to the leek lover.

He thought carefully. Not. "Lets just dump cold water down his pants."

I was about to protest when he bolted upright and dashed into Rinto-kun's kitchen. That idiot.

I sighed, resting my head on Luki's. "I'm so sorry, Luki-kun." I whispered knowing Mikuo was merciless with his pranks.

Speaking of the devil, he soon returned with a bag of ice cubes. Oh help.

"I was going to fill a bucket of cold water, buuuuut there were these ice cubes lying around and I thought, 'Why not?'" Mikuo explained plainly.

He was so simple minded.

"Well, Lenka..." He said slowly, indicating at Luki with his eyes. "Go on..."

Wha—Oh wait.

"I am NOT opening Luki's pants!" I screamed, jerking away from the sleeping rosette. Mikuo looked depressed all of the sudden.

"Why not?" He mewled, dragging each word he said.

"That's a guy, I'm a girl who's still pure!" I protested, my glare shaking as I looked back at Luki.

Mikuo sighed dramatically. "Hold the ice. I'll do all the work then." He handed me the freezing bag, that was painful to touch for more than five seconds, and patted my head assuringly. This guy is so weird.

Stealthily, Mikuo began to undo Luki's belt. I didn't watch any further (I'm chaste!) but heard Mikuo's quick hands unbuckle the belt and unzipping the pants.

He impatiently beckoned at me to bring the bag over. With my eyes sealed shut, I carefully waddled over and, after many fail tries, successfully handed it over.

The zip, I heard, was unlocked and Mikuo positioned himself in front of Luki, who was still pathetically snoring his life away.

"Open your eyes, Lenka! You can't miss this!" Mikuo said, not caring that his voice was loud and pitchy.

"Oh God." Kiyoteru said, standing up and frowning. "We better go to your room, Rinto. I don't want to see what happens after the ice is down the pants."

The girls agreed, even Kaiko, who would've taken thousands of photos of Luki half naked if it wasn't for the card game she was winning in. Rinto was hesitant, but left without saying a word. Mysterious as always.

Mikuo waited until the four of them disappeared up the stairs before getting hyped up again. "Get ready!"

He pulled Luki's boxers (?!) down and dumped the freezing frozen cubes into his...parts.

What could I have expected less than what actually happened? Oh yeah.

Nothing.

Luki woke up instantly and removed all his clothes in a rush and ran into Rinto's boiler room. Mikuo was dying of laughter, and had collapsed onto the carpeted ground as he held his stomach in pain and joy.

I stood there, somewhat laughing, but also kinda guilty.

When Mikuo recovered from his hippo-like laughing fit, we made our way to the boiler room, finding the door locked tightly.

"Hey, Luki, did it fall off due to hypothermia?" Mikuo asked, and knocked on the door lightly. I couldn't help but snigger.

"I-I think so!" Now Mikuo sniggered. "I hope it doesn't. I still wanna have children someday!"

And then we just laughed out loud so hard, snot flew out my nose at one point.

"Wait...are these melted ice cubes?" Luki's voice said slowly, only realising what we have done now.

Me and Mikuo braced ourselves.

"Oh, it's just sweat."

What an idiot.

So after several useless lectures and dramatic hand gestures, Mikuo, somehow, convinced Luki into leaving the boiler room. I screamed thinking Luki had nothing on, but he did, and it was some blue briefs.

"You wear briefs under your boxers?" Mikuo asked and Luki nodded like it was the most normal thing that was said in the entire planet.

When the rosette was dried up and less shaky, the others came back downstairs except...

"Where's Rinto-kun?" I asked, hoping the desperation in my voice was hidden behind a strained smile.

Kiyoteru pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before flipping his hair in a weird manner. "He wants to stay upstairs."

"We already told him we're leaving." Gakuko explained, snatching her lavender purse from the thieving hands of Kaiko. "He's kinda down due to being second in every round."

"We're going?" Mikuo asked, clearly not focused on their conversation.

"Exactly that."

"Good." Luki sighed in relief as he stood up off the couch. "I don't want to break out more cold sweat."

This guy is so...pitiful.

Kaiko was about to ask what the heck he was talking about (because she was as slow as Luki) but Gakuko quickly shut her mouth with her hand.

"By the way," Mikuo turned to me, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Are you coming too, Lenka? We can drop you off at Rin's."

I shook my head. "Nah, I'll stay here. Don't worry about me, Mikuo."

Mikuo raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

They left in a frenzy of clumsy 'goodbyes' and many attempts to keep Kaiko's dodgy mouth from saying anything to give us away.

When they were gone, and I was left in a deserted living room. I decided to turn the TV on, to keep me from getting too lonely, but nothing was fun to watch.

"Lenka." A voice mumbled hoarsely, the whisper resounding from the stairs.

"Ah!—Rinto-kun!" I gasped slightly, breathing a sigh of calmness after finding the blonde haired boy staring at me from above. His hair was in a big mess and his eyes seemed to droop and shed hostility.

He walked down the steps and I rushed to his side, to help; he looked like he needed it. "Rinto-kun, what's—"

"You're being unfair, Lenka." He said with much anger and bitterness.

"What do you mean?"

"So, you can call Mikuo's name without honourifics and I can call your name without it, but you can't call me without the '-kun'?" Rinto's eyes had turned a blackish blue, if that's even possible, but it was happening before my eyes so surely it was real.

He was looking down on me from where he stood, a disgusted snarl on his supposedly angelic face.

"I didn't think you'd allow me—"

"What makes you sure of that?" He snapped back, his tone sharp and impatient. "I would've been honoured if you were actually comfortable enough to call me by my name with ease."

His voice was soft like clouds when he said that line.

I sighed. "If you want," I smirked cheekily. "Rinto."

The blonde boy's face went from shockingly pale to the brightest red I've seen. "S-top i-it, Le-Lenka...you're saying things that make me want to..."

He was so cute. Despite his split personality, he can become genuinely sweet without having to put up a show.

"Now..." Rinto, his face the normal shade again, walked down the remaining steps, speaking huskily as he went, "let me hear you scream my name, Lenka-chan~"

I gulped and took a step back. What's happening?

Rinto pulled out a Nintendo DS, and chuckled. "As I beat you, hardcore and no holding back, in Mario Kart."

I relaxed my tense shoulders and laughed.

I didn't know, at that time, that his split personality controls were spinning out of control, and that I'd be the one to suffer from the consequences.

Len's POV

KaitoKaito - Bro, you missed something incredible today.

YellowBoy - Do I want to know...?

KaitoKaito - It involves Rin.

YellowBoy - Well...

KaitoKaito - Your sister had convinced her to wear her skirt high, wear high heels, unbutton her shirt and—she actually looked like a girl for once...don't tell her I said that.

YellowBoy - Your point...?

KaitoKaito - You missed the view, man. Oliver had her all to himself, aren't you jealous?

YellowBoy - Envy is a deadly sin.

KaitoKaito - So is Lust.

YellowBoy - Touché, Kaito, touché.

When the blue haired giant didn't reply, I decided to get straight to what I wanted to know.

YellowBoy - Are you and Miku heading... to Splitsville?

KaitoKaito - Why do you ask?

YellowBoy - Curious.

KaitoKaito - I don't know anymore. I got mad at her, she got mad at me, and, well, things went south from there.

YellowBoy - You slapped her?!

KaitoKaito - How did you know?! And it was in the heat of the moment!111!

YellowBoy - I just guessed.

Several minutes later, realisation dawned on me.

YellowBoy - YOU SLAPPED MIKU?! DUDE, YOUR BALLS WILL BE CHOPPED OFF AND FED TO WILD DOGS, MAN, YOU DON'T SLAP GuRlls, ESPECIALLY MIKUUUUUU.

KaitoKaito - You don't think I know that?! Anyway, Meiko wanted to talk to her countless of times but she said Miku became...distant.

YellowBoy - You don't saaaaaaay.

KaitoKaito - *angry emoticon* Y'know, if all you're going to do is make me feel bad, I'm leaving this chat.

YellowBoy - Be my guest.

KaitoKaito - I can't believe it—you'd really just let me leave without trying to stop me?!

YellowBoy - What am I? Your girlfriend?

KaitoKaito - No, just forget about. In reality, I actually have to leave. Kaiko just came home, and she has a ton of sweets with her!

YellowBoy - Good for you (?)

KaitoKaito left the conversation.

YellowBoy left the conversation.

After that short yet interesting convo with Kaito, as usual, my head hurts from talking too much with an idiot like him. My phone flew out of my hand as I continued to ponder on the subject. Sometimes I think Meiko's influence has made a huge impact on him in the past or he was, as Lady Gaga put it, 'Born This Way'?

I didn't dwell on the thought, it wasn't helping the painful aching that thrashed about in my skull. I sorta sank down into my bed, my overly large bed that could fit a bus of people—no exaggeration, and did my usual routine when I wanted to see her.

All feeling from my toes to my fingers just melted away; like the sun evaporating water with a slight grace to it. I took in slow and steady breaths in, letting my eyelids subconsciously slide over my eyeballs and darkened my line of vision.

I felt numb all over.

I was, somewhat, dead...but breathing normally. I wasn't moving, but I could if I wanted to. My eyes were shut although it wasn't that hard to lift them up again. I was going to see her, despite her constant babying, nagging and lecturing. Ah, the person I could talk to without refrain.

I was standing in that white and plain room again; the place we always met in. As always, there was a round and modern white table in the middle with four chairs trapping it inside their rag circle. A TV, white as snow, hung down without a wall. The vicinity was endless, the white and flat road never ending.

The sound of your shoes walking over the floor was inaudible. The screen of the television was blaring though. And she sat bored and cross armed as she watched the people on the high definition TV with a frown.

Her features never seemed to change. High cheekbones, eyes like slits, creamy skin, long limbs and a height that wasn't impressive. She was Chinese, obviously, the way a big symbol of 'water' was imprinted on her deep blue tee and some traditional Chinese mafia rings were displayed on her fingers and visible tattoos sprawled on her skin.

The Chinese zodiac animals danced on her silver skinny jeans, and her long black hair was tied back roughly with a black scrunchie.

Intimidating, cold, bitter, bored, impatient, short midget, dangerous, furious temper, easily provoked, non hesitant when invited to fight, anti social, vicious, sharp fangs, fierce, not-your-stereotypical-girly-girl who likes cute things despite her manliness, kuudere to the max, iron fisted, quick, heavy when she throws her punches, and the list goes on.

"Well, well. Lenny, what a pleasant (not) surprise." She said sweetly, secretly hiding her motives behind a sugar coated happy face.

"Nice to see you too, Luo." I muttered sarcastically and took a seat across from her.

My eyes drifted to the TV, and saw an outstanding goal scored by an English footballer. "Watching some sports, again, huh, Luo?" I asked mischievously. She scoffed. "It was boring waiting for you. Especially in this weather."

She was kidding. Honestly, anyone would know that if they understood Luo's personality. In this place you could feel, taste, breathe, walk, smell—but nothing from the outside could make a major affect on us in this dream-like-world. Even the rising temperature outside.

"So, anything new?" I asked, but I knew Luo would be vague about it. She never really opened up to me, saying she'll tell me everything about us when it's the right time, and I only ever opened up to her. Yes, the guy is the one spilling his troubles, problem?

Luo is one of the few outsiders, except my family and family staff, that knows about my neglected past. All my friends know, but someone I've never in my whole entire life have met before, knows. Which is Luo.

I pestered her about it, thinking she was the daughter of a nosy paparazzi, but she said she wasn't. She didn't stoop so low to stalk celebrities and rich people. I believed her. She looked more like a delinquent, and when I got to know her better (which took a heck load of time), she was actually pretty smart and intellectual.

I didn't know what linked us together, but Luo did. She knew everything I didn't. My grandma was a sensitive topic for her, more sensitive than me, even though I suffered her wrath more than anyone. Luo would slightly tear up for a nanosecond then is back normal at the blink of an eye.

She knows about me and the whole 'Allen fiasco' and Rin and everything else. And trust me, she found that out by herself. I only told her a few things, and sometimes she even knew what I was about to say!

I wondered if she was real, and that question accidentally slipped out during one of our friendly sessions in this white and plain place. She called me an idiot before saying she was real and a human and that she'd fully explain things when it was, and I quote, "the right damn time, you shota."

Oh, I nearly forgot to add, she's quite rude too.

"No, just the same things." She mumbled, tracing the invisible patterns on the table. "You?"

I was reluctant, but Luo would surely squeeze it out of me. "Ditched school, things have been hectic in my brain."

"Memories of you and Rin when you were still Allen? Yeah, I hear that a lot." Luo chuckled and cocked her head to the side, which she did when she was being cheeky and curt.

I nodded. "There was one where Rin was kicking my butt in a racing game and she was laughing and she was smiling at me, only me. Now she smiles at everyone, at Oliver, at her friends, at her—"

"Oh shut your trap, you shotacon!" Luo snapped and threw some popcorn at me. It didn't hurt, though I whimpered in pain.

In this place you can materialise anything you wish to have, but you can never—and I mean NEVER—bring it with you to the real world. It broke the rules of hyper space and illusional psychology.

I don't understand why Luo wanted popcorn right now.

"When are you going to get Rin back? Isn't she the whole reason why you abandoned Allen?"

I sighed. "I wish it was that easy."

Luo leant into the table, swiping her hand over the table, a thick photo album sizzled into view. She flipped the pages, each containing a picture of Allen and Rin.

"Feel free to use this as a guide." Luo smiled acidly, before throwing her bucket of popcorn over her shoulder and it disappeared in a puff of smoke. "I need to go, later."

She walked out into the vicinity, her hair moving flawlessly without air. She soon faded away with nothing left behind. I sat, speechless, and looked down at the book.

It held every single thing I wanted to know. I sighed inwardly. Has Rin forgotten about Allen?

I sure hope so.

30/7/13 - It's nearly August! *flops and flails* Then school again, whoopee. Hopefully, after I finish My Little Sister's Best Friend's 'Return From Hiatus' celebration, I can write the next chapter which is 2/3 planned out.

Just to answer a random question, Luo's character was not something I just pulled out of my head. She has a big connection with the Kagamines, especially Len's grandmother. The secret behind Lisa Kagamine's intentions are only known by her so she has to stick around and I can't kill her off, or else Len won't find out why what happened, happened.

And we finally find out why Oliver hasn't been around lately, he's too busy being a little detective. *laughs*