Mirror Image

Chapter 26: Len and Mikuo's Past

Len was a young boy and beside him stood Kamui Gakupo, her father. Knowing this had left Rin in a state of shock. Her blood had gone cold and her body left numb. This was...even though she could see it right in front of her, it was still so hard to comprehend. This was a dream of the past. There was no other explanation, though Rin wasn't reliving the events unfolding in front of her, a 'vision' seemed like a more appropriate term.

Rin quieted her thoughts as she stared at her father. Her heart wrenched at the sight of him. He was exactly as she remembered him. He had the same beautiful face, kind smile, and calming aura. She saw no hint of sickness in his gentle features. Seeing him again filled Rin with so many forgotten memories, they rushed through her mind, one after the other, filling Rin with bliss. While Rin reminisced her joyful past, a small part of her had to wonder, what was her father doing in the mirrored world? Rin knew of no one but herself that had a connection to the mirrored world. Could it be? Was it her father that held the key to all the answers?

Rin stared at the gift her father had given Len. A mirror. It was a strange gift for a child, yet the young Len was more absorbed in his gift than any present he had received so far. Her eyes moved towards his reflection, towards her. Rin wore the same look he did. She remembered this day. She remembered it well, despite being so young. It had been her fourth birthday. She had spent most of the day out with her mother, and when she had returned home, the moment she glanced into her reflection, she'd been in for a big surprise. When she saw her mother the next morning, she asked her about her distorted image right away. Of course, her mother had brushed off her question as she rushed off to work, leaving Rin to her curiosity.

Still, if she remembered correctly, her father passed just two months before. No, that couldn't be right. Her father seemed so full of life. This had to be a different time, yet the elegantly drawn banner hanging above the King's throne clearly stated the fourth birthday of Len Kagamine. Rin frowned. Something wasn't right here. Rin's eyes bore into her father's skull, as if staring at him with such intensity would get his attention.

She sighed. How was she supposed to understand anything if he and nobody else in the room could see her? Rin was practically a ghost! She gnawed on her thumbnail, trying to find the answers to her questions. Her father was dead in her world, yet still lived in this one? Had her father's death been a sham? Her mother never spoke of her father after his death, and she never did wear a mournful expression when speaking of him.

A blush of shame crept up her cheeks, and Rin immediately ceased the thought. How could she even think of such a thing? Her father had died right in front of her, and yet she had the nerve to question his death? Had she forgotten the pain of watching her father grow weaker by the day? Or her father patting her cheek assuring her he'd be okay when her eyes would wander to his thin, frail wrists?

"Young prince, will you promise me something?" said her father. Len reluctantly looked away from the mirror, staring at the blind male. The other merchants muttered among themselves, questioning her father's actions. Who was a lowly merchant to ask something of a royal?

"W...What is it?" he asked shyly.

Rin had to turn away at this point. For a moment, she thought (much to her embarrassment) that little Len was a little too cute for her liking. She still held a grudge against him. She had yet to teach herself to truly despise Len. She couldn't afford to hold such light hearted feelings for the Len, even if the young Len had yet to become evil.

"Never break that mirror, alright?" he smiled.

He furiously shook his head. "I won't."

The gift giving continued. Merchants practically shoved presents into the timid Len's arms in hopes of pleasing him as much as her father had. As this happened, her father began to slip away into the crowd. Rin looked between Len and her father, unsure of who she should follow. She took one last glance at Len before making her ultimate choice and running after her father.

Her father moved fast. Rin had to quicken her steps to catch up to her father's pace. Where was he going, she wondered as she followed him through several halls, walking up flights of stairs and even more maze-like halls. Did he even know where he was going? She recalled Mikuo saying his master had been blinded by sickness. How could he walk with such confidence? Rin was always cautious of her steps when she herself had been blinded.

Even in her transparent body, Rin quickly grew tired. When she stopped to take a breath, her father had abruptly stopped walking. She peered over to him, raising a curious brow. Was...was he waiting for her? She carefully walked over to him, standing over to his front side. Slowly raising her arm, she waved her hand over his face, receiving no reaction from his end. Not that she expected one, but disappointment still weighed heavily in her chest.

Her heart clenched, and she suddenly regretted following him. It hurt. She'd been so happy to see him alive and well, but the fact that she couldn't share this happiness with him deeply pained her. She hated seeing his blank expression. His one and only daughter was standing in front of him for goodness sake! She was all grown up and raised without his guidance. It was the first time in twelve long years were they together, reunited. She wanted to see a different expression other than his blank impassive one. It depressed her.

Rin clutched the fabric over her chest. It was as if her heart had been pierced by a thousand needles. She lowered her head, a sharp tooth biting down on her lower lip. She knew it. She knew she'd feel this way. She heaved a heavy sigh as she walked around her father. She didn't know what to do now. Maybe she'd wait until she woke up from this dream/vision, she thought. As Rin stalked off, she heard her father speak.

"It seems you've grown up, Rin."

She stopped in her tracks.

"But you're still as attached as ever." She turned around. Her father remained in his place, and for a moment, Rin thought it had all been her imagination, but then he spoke again. "Did you know―"

She didn't let him finish. She'd turned around so fast, her ankles almost twisted. She ran up to the tall amethyst haired man, and hugged him from behind. She didn't fall through his body, instead came to a stop as her arms wrapped tightly around him. "Dad, I've missed you so much." she said sincerely, but reality soon washed over her. "But what are you doing here?" she asked, pulling away. "You're eyes and...aren't supposed to be..." The word was caught in her throat. She couldn't bear the thought of saying it out loud, of confirming that this was all just a dream.

Her father didn't turn around. "Unlike your world, this world, the mirrored world, is painfully unbalance." He continued to speak from his cut off sentence. "That's why the goddess, Sasari, created people like us."

She raised her head. "People like us?" she repeated.

"Yes," he nodded. "There is no such thing as good without evil and evil without good, and that my dear is where we step in."

She was about to ask what he ment by that when he father turned to face her. He offered Rin a hand, which she didn't hesitate to take. Energy surged through her body, dizzying her from the sudden rush of power. Her world spun as her surroundings changed. A sharp wind blew, deafening her ears, but her father's voice was clear and sharp in her mind. Would you like to know about strike two? She was about to question what he meant by that, but soon remembered. Strike two for Len's transformation to evil. Rin nodded in response, though she didn't have to. They had arrived.

They stood in a quiet, desolate city with nothing but the breeze to fill the silence. Rin followed her father through the barren streets of the town, her heat beating madly in her chest. She couldn't help but feel something was wrong. The emptiness of what should of been a prosperous town worried her. It reminded her of Rojin. "Dad, why are we―" she began, but was cut off by the wave of her father's hand. He placed a finger to his lips, motioning her to be quiet before moving forward. She slowly nodded, following him in silence. She would glance up at her father every now and then, making sure he was still there.

They stopped in front of a large mansion. Without even a knock, Rin's father stepped inside, and Rin hesitantly followed. She bowed upon her entrance. Sorry for intruding, she thought as she caught up with her father. Rin marvelled at the grandness of the mansion before the two entered a dark basement, the stairs creaking with every step on the way down.

Rin looked around the basement, her eyes squinting through the pitch blackness. She searched for the wall, her hand meeting with crusted paper. She pulled her hand back, surprised by the unexpectedly rough texture. She leaned close to the wall, trying to identify the item. It seemed to be a soldier recruitment poster. Her eyes stung, as she tried to make out the letters of the poster. "Down with the King!", "Equality for all!" it said, but the rest was lost to her. "What does this mean?" she muttered. She turned to ask her father, but she couldn't find his shadowy figure.

She began to panic, but relief washed over her as she caught her father's bright violet ponytail. "Dad, wait!" She chased after him, reaching out to touch him, but he stopped her. "What's the matter..." she trailed off, her eyes finding their way to another being. In the corner of the room there sat a boy with frightened, angry eyes. He trembled, holding a sword too big for him. Looking close, she saw his clothes were stained with blood.

Her father crouched down to eyes level with the boy. "Are you alright?"

The boy was fighting tears. "F―Father told me to stay down here, but I didn't," he stammered. "They took everyone. Father, Mother, the uncle next door. Everyone, and I―" He could say no more. He sobbed heavily. Rin's father brought him close to a tight embrace, smoothing his hair to ease his stress. He gently spoke words of comfort until his sobs quieted.

"How would you like to stay with me?"

The boy was unnerved. "Who are you?"

He chuckled. "No need to be weary of me, young one. I am Kamui Gakupo, a friend, and you?"

"H―Hatsune Mikuo," he stuttered.

It was in a blink of an eye, did their surroundings change once again. They were back in the throne room of the palace. Rin stumbled back a bit, unsure of what had just happened. Things were moving to fast for her pace. She didn't like it. She still had so many questions she wanted to ask her father. What had been strike two? What exactly was her father? What exactly was she? She knew now that this was more than a dream or vision, she couldn't quite explain it, but she had a feeling she wouldn't like this.

The King sat in his throne, Len stood close beside him. He wasn't as young as she last saw him. He seemed to be around eight to ten years of age, the same went for Mikuo who stood below the royals with his master.

"My son will be the greatest swordsman in the land. I expect you'll teach him well," said the King.

"Of course, your highness."

He nodded, his eyes moving towards the boy beside the blinded swordsman. His face seemed somewhat familiar, and he wielded a black sword identical to his son's white one. The only one that should have held that sword was General Hatsune, a long time traitor and an old friend of his. He was long dead now, resting six feet under the prisoners' grave. "That sword..." he began. "Where did you get it?"

"It was my fa―"

"Sold to us at a very reasonable price," her father interjected.

"Oh...I see."

"Well, I will begin the prince's training as soon as possible. We can even start today, if you'd like." Len smiled, vigorously nodding his head.

Mikuo and Len were trained together, and it was through their training that they were able to become friends. Len and Mikuo were total opposites. Len was shy, quiet, appeared to be fragile, and seemed to prefer having his head in a book than sparring with his teal haired friend. Mikuo couldn't have been any more different. He had more of an edge to him compared to his royal counterpart. He was strong even while being so young, and was always looking for a fight, but despite their many differences, Len and Mikuo were the best of friends.

Such a pure friendship would have brought a smile onto the lips of the carefully watching Rin, yet she frowned. She knew that this friendship wouldn't last. Something had come between them, destroying their friendship forever, but what had it been? Could it be? Was it just their friendship that turned Len into the spawn of Satan? She shook her head. A friendship so pure couldn't turn someone so evil, but then what had it been?

Time moved so fast, years past, and Len and Mikuo had grown from children to young men. Though time was moving fast, Rin didn't miss watching any part of of their growth. Len never told anyone about Rin, his distorted image. He kept it secret, and found enjoyment in having a gender bent reflection rather than seeing it as a curse like Rin had. Len and Mikuo grew bigger, their friendship deeper, she sensed no rift in their relationship, but then, that day came. The day of the King and Queen of Yamis' tragic passing.

It had happened so fast. For political reasons, the royal couple had travelled to Xie-hong, an eastern country named after its first King. They stayed there for a week, and upon their return were killed by the few surviving members of General Hatsune's rebellion unit. Those few surviving members had been exiled to the prison camps of the eastern country. They covered up the royals deaths as a fret accident with their carriage, but those within the palace walls knew better. In the end, the lie was carried out to avoid conflict with Xie-hong.

Len took the place of his father place as King of Yamis the week after his mother and father's funeral. Things were moving too fast for him, but he kept his face neutral and free of worry throughout his unexpected transition from prince to King. He had been careful not to shed a tear during the public funeral. As the new King, he was to throw away his humanity for his country, just like his father and his father before him.

Len had longed decided that he wouldn't follow the ways of his ancestors. He would find his own way of ruling, using peaceful means. It went against the Kagamine way, but he would make it work.

Len sighed. He hadn't seen Mikuo for so long. Though he was only fourteen years of age, he was quickly climbing up the ranks of a soldier. They were no longer dispels for Master Gakupo, and so Len couldn't meet with Mikuo as often as he wanted, even though he lived within the palace walls. Looking away from his work, he wondered if he should meet with him. Mikuo was truly his only friend, and the only person he could be open―human with. He had so much he wanted to tell him, and so much he wanted to share. He sought comfort and advice from his friend. Mikuo had a rough exterior, but was kind and always willing to lend and ear. He could finish his work later.

Len left his study, walking through the halls to the soldier's quarters, Rin following his every step. Soldiers he passed bowed in the newly crowned King's presence.

Rin was first to catch Mikuo. He stood speaking with a few of his subordinates. A friendship that led to a false betrayal was the second strike that lead Len becoming of evil. It was her father's voice again. He was nowhere to be seen, but he spoke as if he knew what was happening at this very moment, and maybe he did.

Mikuo spoke about the King, Len's father, she noted as she listened into his conversation. The soldiers he spoke to seemed to agree to what he said, but looked very uncomfortable. "Our King was a tyrant. He never cared for his people, at least the ones living outside the Capitol. Even my father, a previous citizen of this city saw the error in his rule. He was a friend of the King, but ended up dead for disagreeing with him."

Rin gasped, looking over at Len. He was frozen, his eyes wide with shock. He had heard it all.

"Um, isn't the current King a friend of yours?"

He shrugged. "That doesn't change my opinion of the matter. If the King's tyranny is passed down to Len, my thoughts on the previous King will be his as well." There was a silence. Len bit on his bottom lip, his eyes angry. It almost looked like he was about to cry. His hands were balled into fists. For a moment, Rin thought he would strike Mikuo, but he didn't. Instead, he turned away from the group, storming off.

Rin stared at Mikuo with disbelief when he laughed, confusing both her and the soldiers. "I was kidding, about Len anyway. He's not like his ancestors." He smiled. "He's sure to become a great King."

"That's not funny," she screamed. "Len misunderstood, go after him," she ordered, but her efforts were futile. No one could see or hear her. She grit her teeth, running after Len. All there was left was strike three. Dad, can't you stop him? She pleaded. Of course, he didn't answer.

She followed Len into his room. He looked like he'd was about to go mad. He took his frustrations out on his personal items, sending vases shattering on the floor, paintings shredded to bits, and sheets strips from their bed, but it's what Len did next that truly disturbed her. He stared at a mirror hanging at the corner of the room, it was father's present to Len. He glared at his reflection, at Rin, and picked up a wooden stool, screaming as he threw it across the room. It was then Rin's father's words crawled their way into her head. Strike three occurred when Len broke the mirror.

"No!" She yelled, but it was too late. The stool hit the mirror, the mirror shattering into a thousand tiny shards.

Len drew a sharp breath, shocked by his own actions. "I...I...what have I done?" he said in a small voice.

What happens now, she thought feeling worried. She slowly approached Len with caution. "It's okay," she said. "It's alright." It wasn't. They both knew that. She was closely coming into reach, only millimetres away from touching him when it happened. A look of pain flashed over his face and he clutched his chest, breathing ragged breaths as he collapsed onto the floor. "Len!"

She tried to help, but she only brought cold shivers onto his already trembling body. A familiar jade light shone from within him. The body of his subconscious floated above his materialized being. It was his subconscious, it was the real Len slowly floating away from her once again. "No, don't go." She didn't want to lose the true Len, not again. The subconscious shook his head, smiling at her sadly. He was unwillingly sucked into the broken glass shards of the mirror to be forever trapped within until Rin set him free, by killing him.

When Len opened his eyes, he had become The Dark Lord Rin and the rest of Yamis quickly grew to fear. His eyes were sharp and angry, knowing of no other feelings but hate and revenge. It was with one look, Rin knew. He didn't know who she was. He had glanced quizzically at the broken mirror, as if unsure of what it was or what had happened to it.

He stood up, dusting himself off from any lint or dirt stuck to his clothing when he laughed. "Oh Mikuo..." he shook his head. "I'll show you what a true tyrant is."

Things had gone downhill from there. Mikuo had been exiled the day he wanted to introduce Len to his childhood friend, Kaiko. Len's attitude had made a one hundred and eighty degree turn from there. As none expected, Len ruled the country not as a 'puppet king', the term Rin heard thrown around the kingdom, but as a true leader. He was good to the people of the Capitol as his father had once been, but beyond the gates of the Capitol, it was madness. Blood was easily shed for the smallest of acts, and hate quickly began to brew throughout the Yamis country.

Mikuo wasn't quick to act on the forming of the rebellion army. Despite all he had done, he believed in Len, but after a run in at Hanoi village, Mikuo had declared war.

Rin soon came to present day. She opened her eyes to the darkened alleyway She stood up, a mix of emotions gathering in her chest. She didn't know how she should feel. She was angry, disappointed, relieved, and saddened, all at the same time, and so when Rin's father appeared by her side, all she could say was, "You knew he would break that mirror, didn't you."

There was a long silence before he spoke. "I did."

"Why?" she snapped. "Len and Mikuo look up to you." They still wore their hair in a ponytail like their master did. "Yet all this time...you used them. You wanted them to turn against each other. Len and Mikuo were closer than brothers, but you ripped their hearts to shreds. If only you didn't give Len that stupid mirror, then they could have talked themselves out of the misunderstanding. So many lives would have been spared. This country would be peaceful, but you...you." She was crying now. "Why?"

"I had no choice. It was Sasari's wish, she let me live for this purpose, and now, with a price, of course," he said, his fingers brushing against his closed eyelids," but I'm alive. Now, it's your turn, Rin. Restore the peace."

She buried her face in her hands. She was tired, so very tired. "What's the point?" she cried. "Even if I kill Len, evil will come once again. Aren't we just going around in circles?"

"Maybe," he said turning away. "but we have to do what must be done."

Rin watched her father leave, but this time she didn't follow.