Chapter 28

Cold bitter wind struck Len's cheeks as he sat awaiting the arrival of Rin and Teto. He couldn't remember how long he'd truthfully been waiting; just that it had been a while. He and Miku had effortlessly made their way through the forest lost in idle conversation. It wasn't a laborious task-that much he knew-in fact it was mere child's play. Uneasiness started to prod at Len's gut.

He kept confiding in himself that everything was okay. Kept repeating the phrase like it would save him. However, he had not the slightest idea why he felt so uneasy. Rin wasn't in there alone as Teto was with her. He knew this, had even validated it himself before he'd gone. Rin wasn't alone, she wasn't about to leave or go missing like before. Len found his fists tightened at his thoughts.

Was this what it was like to worry about someone? About a late sibling, family member or friend? His stomach kept twisting into tight knots and his fingers twitched. This trepidatious feeling was too much. He'd never felt this way before and the new emotional territory rattled him. He thought he might have heard a sort of explosion off in the distance, but he paid it no mind in his frustration.

He'd grown tired of speaking with everyone and had taken a place on a smooth-faced boulder. Len forced himself not to gaze at the greenery of trees and the silent sway of the forest. He pretended not to notice the fact time still ticked on and his sangfroid exterior was breaking. He didn't want to seem like a reprobate, nor was he one. By sheer force of will and pride, did he not sprint into the forest. Such a foolhardy move would be degrading.

So here he sat, marveled that his hair wasn't grey. Estranged from the others of the group. His pulse jumped when the trees ruffled and never so quickly had he been on his feet. He'd been lither than defending himself against the girl with the lily in her hair at the supermarket.

Momentarily, Len wondered how things were there: he'd not gone back since. When the trees shifted aside, Len released a heavy sigh in utter relief; his breath hitched and twisted into a lump when he saw who emerged from them. It was not Rin, but Teto who stepped out of the forest. Teto's tendrils were perfectly drill like and other than the smeared on dirt and meager leaves; she was fine. Dread gripped Len tighter than a crazed fan. He managed to muffle his sudden panic under his calm exterior.

"Where's-" But Len was cut off.

"Everyone! Rin had a few things she needed to go and take care of. She hopes we all understand," Teto said before smiling sweetly. The group seemed to nod in mindless compliance, but that was an answer Len couldn't accept. Not while his edgy nerves carved holes into him.

"What do you mean she had to take care of things?" Len asked. He strode forward, his eyes narrowed directly at Teto. "Rin wouldn't just...just leave without-"

"Len," Teto said stridently. "When a girl says she needs to take care of things, she gets them done and returns. Surely you wouldn't question that logic." Teto's eyes seemed to cut at him, to slice away the remains of his armor of confidence and innocent question. It stripped him down to the very bone, as if she could see the panic beneath the surface. She was still smiling sweetly but Len shivered. His skin burned with cold fire.

Teto's gaze was a challenge. A lucid declaration of any possible defiance's he might have. There was a newfound burning in her eyes. It was a challenge Len decided not to take up. Teto had something rather powerful behind her. A secret locked and cremated in amber. Whatever it was, shrieked not to be trifled with. So he backed down. A logical response to a battle he wouldn't win.

"No, I was just wondering. Anyone would after..." Len's voice trailed.

"She told me to pass you this note though." And then a slip of paper was between Len's fingers. With a single flip, Len unfolded the paper and read the message.

Len, I'll be back and I won't get into any trouble, I promise.

Len frowned at the message. It was inadequate and lacking all the details he believed he deserved. Despite that, at least Rin hadn't taken off without at least a few words to him. For that, he was grateful.

"She'll be fine," Teto said, sensing Len's restlessness. He simply grunted in agreement though he was still rather troubled. What else could he do really? Rin was already gone; it wasn't as if she had a cellphone either. When he looked up it was only then that he noticed Teto had taken a leave of absence. Mikuo too, was gone.

Teto followed closely behind Mikuo. He'd asked if he could talk to her and here they were, walking away a good distance so the rest of the group wouldn't hear. She had a feeling he was just going to ask her a few questions she could easily answer; if anything avoid. He stood silently not too far away from her. He wasn't particularly watching her and the silence lingered between them for a second.

In that moment, Teto found herself simply questioning who Mikuo was as a person. He'd been fairly kind and quite frankly aloof. Somehow though, this trip seemed to have changed him. Then with a second thought, Teto knew otherwise. He'd always been mature, just desired to be more fun and easygoing.

It wasn't all too strange, she too didn't act how she really felt. Mostly because she felt nothing. She had no emotions anymore; they'd all long since been broken. Stolen effortlessly from her just like her family. That's when Mikuo said something completely opposite of what she'd been expecting.

"Teto, I don't know exactly what it is you're planning...but don't do it," Mikuo warned. His eyes suddenly locked on her and Teto was surprised she hadn't flinched from the suddenness. His gaze was penetrating but it didn't quite cut her. It was as if, his gaze had a different purpose.

"Mikuo? What on earth are you talking about?" Teto said clearly. She dropped her fake smile of innocence for a more confused expression.

"You can't fool me Teto." Mikuo hadn't said it like a threat, but Teto felt it. "You're giving off this malicious intent nowadays." Mikuo straightened and strode towards her. Teto squared her shoulders as Mikuo set his hands there. "Whatever you think you have to do, it isn't who you are or who you want to be. You'll regret everything when they don't go as planned..."

The words lacked to shake Teto and she remained coherent despite Mikuo's questioning. She did however arch an eyebrow and allowed a small smile to curve her mouth. It was not a kind smile and Mikuo seemed to waver on whether to move away: he didn't.

"I'm sorry, how do you know all this?" Teto asked. If Mikuo hadn't looked so stern, so sincere Teto would've laughed; straight in his face actually.

"Your eyes..."

If it had been possible for Teto to look vulnerable, she would've looked it right then and there. However if the situation didn't involve her brother, nothing would show on her face. Anything that did was a forced farce. Teto shrugged him off.

"Don't touch me Mikuo, don't look at me or lecture me either because I don't have a choice..."

"Teto, just bring Rin back...whatever happens to her is on you," Mikuo stated. He was looking straight at Teto; a cold considering look. Teto met his look evenly for a second and with that, strode away.

When Teto passed by Len he felt a sudden impulse to reach out and stop her. The look she'd shot him however, kept him from doing just that. He berated himself for not stopping her anyway, what on earth had turned him into this? This...wimp. Again he was sitting on the boulder he'd been on earlier. Thinking so deeply he could waste away in his thoughts if he wanted too. It was only when he heard a thick sigh that his thought bubble burst, allowing this intruder inside.

"I knew she'd do something like this...," Miku sighed, Len glanced at her. "I just didn't think she'd go through with it." She gave him a sideways glance from the position she was standing in and seemed to materialize by his shoulder.

She'd sounded so lost and almost disappointed. Both were apparent in her voice. Hearing the comment any other day Len would've brushed it off, but today it chanced upon his interest.

"What do you mean?" Len asked. Miku simply took a seat next to him: she looked rather solemn.

"Earlier today Len, Rin and I had a fight. I just got so angry that she was going to treat you like that..."

"Like what?"

"She told me she intended on leaving. When I asked her about how you'd feel about it she just blew me off. Like you weren't even worth her time, like none of us were." Len sat straighter.

"That's not true," he said firmly though his throat was suddenly dry. "Rin would never say anything like that. She...she cherishes everyone here." But Miku simply shook her head.

"I wish it weren't true too Len...but Rin hates me. You should see the way she treats me. I did tell her to at least leave a note for you though. I doubt she did it."

"She did," Len assured. He opened his palm to reveal the slip of paper from Rin. Miku grasped Len's hand and squeezed tightly. After a few brief seconds, she let go.

"At least she did that." Miku got up to go after she'd said her peace. What she'd said left Len more confused than before. He felt his brows furrowing at Miku's words.

It all just didn't make sense. He knew he shouldn't doubt Rin; she'd given him no reason to do so. But...he couldn't deny the facts either. Rin had left again; she had left him a vague note about her reasons as well. Obviously deeming them not important enough to share with him. His mind wandered away to how she'd been reluctant to speak with him earlier on the beach.

All the facts added up more or less. Then there were those that didn't. If Rin really hadn't cared for him then why...? Len dropped his head in his hands. His rattled emotions didn't allow him the logic to believe anyone. Rin had smiled so sweetly at him: had been so sincere. It couldn't have all been a charade.

Len let his thoughts fall silent for a few moments. Part of him was convinced he should trust Rin, while the other half was declaring tacitly that he had been fooled before. Len didn't take kindly to being fooled. He had great veneration in himself and his logic was often unequivocal. Surely he couldn't have judged Rin wrong. He couldn't have...could he?

She was...he just...but he'd been wrong before. Len wasn't a fool, for it was only fools and half-brains that didn't admit their faults. There was no sure evidence this was a fault though. Yet, just as much evidence that there wasn't. There was no definite answer, like trying to solve certain crosswords. So when the group got up to go, Len followed wordlessly. Too busy contemplating the answer and lost deep in his thoughts to pay attention to much of anything.

"Everything is in order sir. With experiments at an all-time high, the scientific department has managed to perfect our newest alchemic concoction," Lily declared proudly in front of the boss's desk. He seemed aloof and quite frankly distant just staring out his window like he was. But Lily knew the man was anything but. He was deadly and capable consistently, no matter what his mood or outer exterior.

"Sir?" Lily called, when he still stared out the window. She stepped onto the marble slab platform and came to stand beside him. She held her clipboard tighter to her chest. "Our cleaning services have also been working as efficiently as always though a fellow named Evan tripped and broke a vase yesterday. Would you have him terminated or forgive-" The deafening crash of a body through a window was Lily's answer. "Oh yes sir, silly of me to suggest the alternative."

She couldn't help but shudder and stare at him longingly. He was a gorgeous man and Lily ached for him to be hers. For her to be his one and only worry. She hoped he would completely give his heart to her and only her. She didn't find it awful to feel like this, even if he was older than her. By how many years, maybe even millennia she didn't know and didn't care. Her joints weakened as she was assailed by sudden thoughts of him. The very aura of him was a succulent delicacy to her.

"Sir, I hate to see you deteriorating like this. Rin is still alive but she's a danger...I've always said we should have a tighter hold on the Dolls. Preferably strip them of their human traits and just control them completely. Maybe then we could-" Lily began to suggest.

"Get out...," the boss ordered suddenly and without warning. Lily was stunned for a few seconds but remained where she was. Part of her thoughts grew immediately frantic and told her to flee, the other half of her yearned to stand her ground and be next to him.

She decided to try her luck and stay. Lily placed a hand cautiously on the boss's firm shoulder as a gesture of support and comfort. A string of stimulating thoughts surged through her mind that were disreputable and absolute sacrilege against someone of such a high position. Yet while others detested this man, she had more than a fondness for him. Others feelings of him were of respect, fear and hate; hers were anything but platonic.

"Please do just consider the thought," Lily proposed. "If we do this, the Dolls won't be able to go anywhere without orders or commands." The second she'd finished speaking the boss stood up, knocking his chair back violently. Lily yanked her hand away from him. A wise safety concern more than fear.

"We will never resort to taking such measures and that is final! Get out of my office Lily!"

Lily stared at him with her mouth open. He was flushed with anger, but nothing showed in his expression. His face was entirely blank but his eyes flamed. She couldn't help but take notice of the way he yelled at her and the exposed skin from the V-neck of his common shirt. Her eyes drifted towards the lean, thick muscle of his arms and she swallowed hard to keep from salivating. He reeked of money, power and exotic spices.

Lily felt the tightening of her own skin and the chilly goosebumps forming over her. She avoided looking at him any further and instead focused on the bridge of his nose-which was equally stunning-it was hard to hate someone like him.

"Get out before I escort you out myself," he hissed with such intensity Lily's head throbbed. As if he intended it to implode. Lightheadedness overtook her just the same but she stood firm and nodded sharply.

"Yes sir, right away," Lily said, obliging to his order. The air seemed to be tainted with poison and gripping her clipboard to keep herself sturdy, Lily exited his office. She seemed to glide across the floor on her way out: clacking all the way down the lengthy halls as she went.

The darkness of the prison cell was more profound than any darkness Kaito had ever known. He couldn't see his hands in front of his face, couldn't even make out any figures in the elusive darkness and quite frankly, he didn't want to. Beings seemed to call out him and things creaked. They cried out for his soul like it was the rarest delicacy for their taking. Kaito had never been scared of the dark, not even the slightest, but this darkness was something else altogether.

He didn't know the length of his cell, or frankly how he'd gotten here. He however did know that his wrists were in shackles and he'd been locked away like some criminal. Maybe that's what he was to them, whoever these people were. His memories were hazy and the darkness didn't help him with his thoughts. The stone floor was bitterly cold under his feet: he'd been stripped of his shoes. He also could no longer feel his wallet or cellphone in his pocket.

He didn't know how they'd expect him to escape with those items and yet they'd taken them. He also deemed they'd still be useless even if he did have them. This didn't seem like the place for a great signal and his wallet held little significance in a prison.

His right wrist was raw and skinned from the panic that had enveloped him when he had awakened. He swore he'd gone blind and forced his eyes opened and closed again to confirm otherwise. Not knowing what time it was, or how long he'd been gone was unsettling and momentarily Kaito wondered if the group would be looking for him. In a quicker thought, he wondered who his captors were exactly.

Were they going to kill him? The suddenness of the thought shot fear through Kaito. He didn't know if he'd ever see the sun again. If he'd ever see his parents or his friends. There was so much he had yet to experience, he couldn't die young! Soft tears spilled down his cheeks as he tried to handle the situation. He didn't know where he was or why he was here. It took all his willpower not to break down and scream for his mother.

It was so dark...so painstakingly dark. The panic set in again and Kaito screamed. He hollered and bellowed as loud as he could. "Let me out of here!" His throat was hoarse, and his wrists sore from tugging away from the wall with his shackles. Each tug bit a chunk into his skin but he continued anyway. It was pointless, he knew, as no one was coming to save him. So he screamed and shouted because it was the only think he could think to do given the circumstances.

Then suddenly, there was light. It burned into Kaito's eyes and blinded him for a short duration of time till his eyes adjusted. The shackles fell from around his wrists and he heard his cell door creak open. The metal gave a deafening wail but he celebrated the sound.

Two men with trim silhouettes appeared from the light and strode forward in unison towards him. They gripped his arms and hauled him high enough that his escape was impossible. Their shoes slammed against the tile in rhythmic cracks. It wasn't long before he felt himself thrown into a plush seat; one he sank into.

"Thank you, you may be excused," a feminine voice spoke to the men. They also left in unison, heading outside a bright red door which clicked shut behind them. Kaito knew they'd still be at the door. He scrambled to his feet and came to face a young woman sitting in a plush love seat across from him. She held a cup of what he assumed was tea based on the cup she held. "I apologize for their rough treatment."

Kaito stared hard at the ravishing woman. Her hair was a radiant color of blonde, perfectly straightened and seemed to fall in an envious unison with no stragglers. Her eyes were a bold radiant blue others were easily jealous of. They ran over him like a trickle of freezing water, raking him over from his sandy jeans to his pretty face, to his eyes, and stayed there. Kaito noticed how slender she was even sitting down, she was also fairly tall.

Despite the gravity of the situation, he found comfort in examining her. She wore tall high heeled boots a linear shade of white. She had on simple black tights that tugged at her waist and hugged her curves under a simple button up blouse. Her collar was set like a perfectionist. She was gorgeous, and Kaito's mouth dried instantly free of any moisture. He'd long since forgotten the throbbing pain in his raw wrists.

She loomed up in front of him, placing a hand on the small of his back. "Sit down," she ordered. Yet Kaito was confused, for he was already sitting. He did sit up straighter which earned a sharp flash of annoyance from the woman's eyes. "Here, on the couch." Kaito tacitly complied. He mindlessly got up and sat in the wake of danger wondering if at any point in time this girl's tights might slip. He'd reprieve himself of the anger and question at his kidnapping just for a glance at her. Surreptitiously, he kept an eye on her thighs.

She sank down onto the soft cushion next to him. A waft of her scent engulfed him: it was floral.

"Is there anything I could get for you?" she asked with the voice of an angel. "Something to drink? Something to eat?"

"Depends what we're eating," Kaito hinted slyly with a muffled voice. The woman frowned momentarily at his advances and Kaito changed the subject. "I'd like to know where I am..."

"You're at Vocal Corp, an agency that dabbles in science and manufacturing," she admitted out right. "My name is Lily and I'm second in command of the scientific department. I'm also dually responsible for any secretary needs to the head of this organization."

Vocal Corp? Kaito was suddenly confused. But at least he knew where he was. Still he had no idea how he'd gotten here or why he was here. Then a thought crossed his mind, what kind of organization kidnaps people? Let alone locks them in a pitch black cell? What use was he to them?

"Why am I here Lily?" Kaito asked.

"Because we thought you could help us Kaito. I do apologize for our rough treatment of you. We can't afford for company secrets to get out as we have many enemies and competitors." Everything that came out of her beautiful mouth made sense to Kaito. He nodded in agreement.

"That makes sense, but I'm regular what could you want with me?"

"Oh nothing in particular, we just wanted to hear about your buddy Len." Kaito found it odd the woman gripped a cup and yet, she did not drink out of it.

"Me and him aren't the closest," Kaito admitted frankly. "I can't tell you much about someone I'm not all that close too." She frowned and that had heartbreaking effects on Kaito. He risked a glance into her eyes but his eyes dropped when he heard a button pop.

"That really is too bad...I was hoping you could provide me even adequate information on him," Lily cooed. Her disappointment struck hard at Kaito so he decided to correct his statement.

"I mean I'm not all that close to him but I could tell you what I know." Instantly Lily brightened. "Is that good?"

"It's better than good Kaito." Lily smiled. "Make sure not to leave out any details, we need to know everything we can about Len." Kaito nodded.

"Yeah..., mind if I ask what this is for?" Lily shifted her cup in her hands and her hands seemed to clasp tighter around it.

"He's been offered a job here and we need a reference and some background info," Lily said. After she'd spoke, Kaito swore he'd heard some sort of whisper...a name of some kind?

"Then why was I locked in a cell?'

"What do you mean Shion? You walked straight through the front door." Came a new voice. A sharply dressed young man walked through the doorway and into the interview.

He had light pink hair and strode forward like a hunter. When Kaito met his eyes the boy was stern, the kind of person who had his principles in order. He wore thin black glasses and an even darker suit. Kaito felt utterly out of place among them. His mind rang out with a comparison to someone he'd met before but as Kaito tried to remember...his face contorted as he tried to remember; nothing came to mind. He'd never seen anyone like this before.

He did however remember walking up the front steps into Vocal Corporation and being led to this very room by Lily. His wrists throbbed.

"Then why are my wrists bleeding?" Kaito asked. He was confused when both the pink haired boy and Lily shot him a confused and concerned look. Lily reached a hand out to him but he couldn't understand why.

"Mr. Shion...why don't you hand me the cup of tea. I think that could be the reason you're acting so strangely," Lily said, she sounded creeped out like he was some sort of lunatic.

And just as Lily had said, he was holding a cup of tea. What looked to be Green tea, as he knew the aroma. His wrists were also completely fine and he didn't know why he'd been so confused or panicked.

"Mr. Shion? If we could continue..." The pink haired boy spoke flashing Kaito a smile that was almost sinister due to his good looks. So Kaito told them, as Len's reference everything he knew about Len Kagamine. Including his family, past friends and girlfriends as well as current friends. The relationship he usually had with others including his family. The exact school he attended, at what times and classes he took when the pink haired boy asked him. Kaito later found out his name when he'd almost rudely asked what it was again.

By the time the interview was done Kaito had told Lily and Luki everything he knew about Len. Kaito didn't feel as if he'd told them much, but they said his help had been appreciated all the same. He was seen off and he was driven back to the Megurine's hotel where the group would be waiting.

Or at least, that's what Luki had made Kaito think.

Yuzuki stood nearby as Lily concluded her interrogation session with Kaito. She'd made him spill all he knew about Len due to the gaps she'd forced in her own memory so she wouldn't have been of much use to Lily. It had been a risky move, and was risky still as she'd gone and deleted her encounter with Kagamine in her head before Lily had the chance to pry. Even she couldn't remember much about Len Kagamine, so this information was new to her. She watched with sheer pity as Luki easily fooled the human using Jezebel. He'd needed to wield the specific blade for this one; the spell was also at its maximum thanks to tasting Kaito's blood. Kaito waved madly like a patient from a mental institution as he thought he was walking down steps and getting into a car.

She regretted that she'd drugged poor Kaito and brought him here. He was an innocent after all and didn't deserve to have his mind toyed with as such. However, she knew if she'd betrayed Rin to Lily, she would've regretted it worse.

To Kaito, this whole dealing had been a pleasant interview of questions thanks to Luki. In actuality, he was strapped down in a chair, full of delirium as to what he was doing. His wrists were still bleeding madly, flaky skin sticking to his wrists. Yuzuki was a Doll, and frankly this made her sick. It was times like these when she wondered if being exactly like Luki...might benefit her.

Finally, Lily stood up and stretched.

"Well, that wasn't so hard was it?" Lily chuckled. Kaito was rocking side to side; obviously deceived into thinking he was listening to a radio station.

"You really are low," Yuzu said. She felt her stomach twisting into multiple knots.

"An innocent human being was harmed thanks to your folly Yuzuki; I hope you reflect on this." Then Lily-like always-strutted out of the room with indifference off to do different things. "Dispose of him for me Luki."

"Yes, Lily..."

Flipping the blade out of his belt and into his hand again, Luki bared it against Kaito's throat. Kaito, the innocent civilian who didn't even know he was in any kind of danger.

Jezebel's blade was a slick ebony like the rest except the hilt had a silencing blood smeared handprint engraved into it. The hand was missing one finger, the index finger that people usually used to silence someone with a soft 'shh.' Deep in the background were mounds of skulls and screaming angels. The swirling lines that looked like licks of fire surrounded it all.

"Luki...," Yuzu called weakly. "You don't want to do this. Kaito isn't even armed...he...he can't even defend himself!"

"That kind of soft thinking will get you killed." The lack of inflection in his voice was more disconcerting than a threat or harsh warning.

"Luki...please let's just let him go," Yuzuki begged. "He's got no solid reason to die. We can erase his memory and set him free. If we hurry we can even get him back to the beach for him to think he's been cleaning this whole time." Still Luki didn't let up. The aura around him was threatening and dark. He wanted to harm Kaito, to harm something or somebody and soon. Most of all, he wanted to follow orders.

Yuzuki strode over to Luki and set a hand on him. "Luki...please what would Rin want you to do?" And only then did he stiffen. "Even if we don't know them, even if you hate them...these are Rin's important people right now."

With a single flick of the wrist, Luki sheathed his blade and returned it to his belt. "Get him out of here before I change my mind." Yuzuki frantically ripped off Kaito's restraints. The metal snapping underneath her inhuman strength. Luki spoke a string of words to cleanse his memory and place him in a brief sleep. Yuzuki would've thanked him, would've hugged him even, but by the time she'd turned around to do so; Luki was gone.