Rin was curled tightly in a ball as she sat on the corner of the couch, resting her chin on her knees and staring at nothing in particular. Her turquoise eyes that once screamed life now looked glassy and as if no life lied behind them. Nero had tried time and time again to bring her around, but nothing he did worked. Rin just sat there as if she were not living. Nero knew he had to do something, but he wasn't sure just what to do.
Nero, in an attempt to try something, walked into the kitchen to get Rin something to drink. After looking in every cupboard he finally found the cups. He took out a glass and grabbed the jug of orange juice from the fridge. Nero poured the juice into the glass, put the jug back up, and took the glass to Rin.
"Here Rinny," he said, "I got you some OJ." Rin didn't move or say anything; she just sat on the edge of the couch as she continued looking off into space. "I have a glass of orange juice for you," Nero tried again. Rin still sat like an emotionless statue, not even acknowledging his presence. Nero rolled his eyes, sat the glass on the table, and sat next to Rin. "Rinny, say something." Nothing. This time Nero grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "Rinny, stop all this sulking. I know you're upset, but if you don't eat or drink you're only going to get worse."
"Why do you care?" Rin finally said. Her voice and tone were both dead and emotionless.
"Len put me in charge of you," Nero said, "and I don't plan on having you thirst to death while I'm here."
Rin only looked away from him and mumbled a "whatever."
"I'm amazed you haven't protested to Len putting me in charge of you," Nero said. "I thought you hate me."
"I do," Rin said, "but right now I have no energy to hate you."
"So I can get away with anything right now, right Rinny?" Nero said teasingly.
Rin looked as if she tried to care but didn't succeed. "Yeah, pretty much."
"Now drink your darn juice!" Nero said. "It's not going to taste good when it's warm so you had better drink it now."
Rin didn't budge. "I'm too upset to eat."
"That's why I brought you juice," Nero mumble. He wasn't going to give up no matter how much Rin refused. He picked up the glass, put his other hand behind her head to keep her still, quickly put the glass to her lips, and forced some sips into her mouth. Only when Rin showed signs of chocking did he pull the glass away and let Rin cough it out.
"Are you trying to drown me?!" Rin asked when her coughing subsided.
"If I were I don't think I would use orange juice," Nero answered while looking at the glass. He smiled at himself, he managed to get Rin to drink half of it.
"This isn't funny!" Rin raised her voice. "You could've killed me!"
"I pulled the glass away when you started chocking, didn't I?" Nero pointed out.
Rin crossed her arms. "I hate you."
"Rinny is back, ladies and gentlemen," Nero laughed.
"You have such a stupid laugh," Rin said but, despite the situation and her current mood, laughed herself.
"And you have such a cute laugh," Nero said out of the blue.
Rin stopped laughing and looked Nero in the eyes. "Really?" she asked with disbelief.
"No, you laugh like a donkey," Nero replied. He held up the glass and said, "Now finish your juice before I shove it down your throat again."
Rin, not wanted to risk drowning in the hands of Nero, snatched the glass and slowly drank every last drop. Setting the glass down she mumbled a "thank you."
"Wait," Nero cupped his ear. "Did Rinny, the girl who hates me with all her guts, say something nice to me?"
Rin realized too late that she had thanked him. "No! I-"
"You're grateful for me," Nero teased.
"It's not like that!" Rin said
"Then what's it like? Hmm?"
Rin wanted nothing more than to smack that smile off Nero's face, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Thinking fast she said, "I'm hungry, what's for dinner?"
"So now you want to eat?" Nero rolled his eyes. "First you're too upset to eat so I have to force juice down your throat, and now you're cheerful enough to eat dinner? I think you may be bipolar."
"Just shut up," Rin buried her face into her knees.
Nero stood up, patted Rin on the back, picked up the empty glass, and walked back into the kitchen. Nero, being the master chief that he was, had no idea what to make with all the ingredients he found in the Kagamine kitchen, so instead he made a mean bowl of cereal. Walking back to the living room he said, "I have one bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and one bowl of Fruity Pebbles. Which do you prefer?"
"Doesn't matter," Rin said. When Nero placed the bowl in her hands Rin looked at it and said, "Why did you give me the Fruity Pebbles?"
"You said it didn't matter," Nero reminded her.
"I thought it would be obvious to give the girl the cinnamon cereal!" Rin said.
"Well I like cinnamon too!" Nero stated.
Rin huffed and, with no energy to continue an argument, began to eat her cereal. Before she put the first spoonful into her mouth Nero took away the Fruity Pebbles and put the Cinnamon Toast Crunch into her hands. Rin gave him a confused look, but he just shrugged and began eating the pebbles. Rin stirred the spoon around before she began forcing the cereal into her mouth, but she eventually ate every bite.
As she stood up to at least attempt taking the bowl to the kitchen Nero said, "I'll get it for you," as he took the bowl from her and left. Nero's actions were beginng to confuse Rin. Didn't he hate her as much as she hated him? "Do you want anything to drink?" Nero asked from the kitchen.
"I-Iced water," Rin answered. When Nero came back he had a glass of iced water in one hand and a glass of iced soda in the other. Rin accepted the water but looked at his soda.
"What?" Nero asked when he noticed her looking at his glass. "Do you want my soda, too?"
"No," Rin looked away. "Soda isn't good for you."
"Says the girl who eats half a dozen hot dogs," Nero said. Rin's face turned a bright shade of red. Some days she was sure she was a reincarnation of Conchita. Nero laughed at her. "I've never seen your face so red!"
"Shut up!" Rin hid her face.
"Awww," Nero teased, "somebody's blushing."
Rin buried her face into a pillow. "I hate you, Nero Akita."
"Tell me something I don't already know," he said. Nero was glad that she had eaten and was going back to her normal self. He decided to turn on the TV, but when he reached for the remote he noticed a cell phone. "Is this yours?" he asked.
Rin took the phone and inspected it. "It's Len's," she observed. Then it hit her. "How are we going to know if Miku's all right if Len doesn't have his cell phone?!"
"Calm down," Nero said as he tried to calm her. "Len will get Miku and they will be back before you know it."
"But what if there are vampires? Bad vampires?" Rin's eyes produced tears. "Len can't fight as well as I can. I should've gone! I shouldn't be here like this, I should be out there right now!" Rin stood up. "I'm going to find them!"
Before she could take a step, Nero wrapped his arms tightly around Rin. "I'm not letting you go anywhere!" he announced.
"Let me go!" Rin cried. "Let go of me, you big doof! I need to help Len!"
"You can help him by staying here so he won't have to worry about you!" Nero said over her cries. "You're too upset to think properly! You need to calm down, Rin!"
"Let go!" Rin yelled. She tried to free herself but it was no use, Nero was too strong for her. "I can't just sit here and do nothing! Let me go!" Nero continued to hold onto Rin as she fought, and after several minutes Rin gave up and just cried.
Nero turned Rin around so that she was facing him and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know you want to help, but you're in no condition to be out there."
Rin only sobbed into his shirt. She was fully aware that if she wasn't breaking down like this then she would not be allowing this to happen, but she didn't care. Nero pet the back of her head as she continued to cry. "Why-why are y-you d-d-doing this?" Rin hiccuped.
"I'm not heartless, Rin," was all Nero said.
Rin nodded a little bit then went back to her crying. Rin knew that she must seem like a wreck, and the way she was acting would give Nero something to tease her about for a long time, but she didn't care. "I just want to help find Miku," Rin whispered.
"I want to, too," Nero said, "but you can't go on your ankle, and I was put in charge of you so you wouldn't try to run off."
"Len's too smart for me," Rin admitted. "Even if both of my legs were broken I would still try to go."
Nero laughed. "Let's hope it never comes down to that. You're too much trouble."
After a few minutes Rin said, "Thanks for putting up with me. I know you would rather be out there than in here."
"No problem," Nero said. "You should probably sit down now."
Rin allowed Nero to help her sit down and didn't protest when he sat next to her. Neither knew how it happened, but they spent the rest of the night telling funny childhood stories as if they were friends and not truly the enemies that they were.
"Wait, wait, wait. Did you really set fire to the living room rug?" Rin asked Nero.
He held up two fingers. "Twice."
Rin mouthed a "wow" over this. "And I felt bad for braking a lamp. But you, you broke two vases, a picture frame, three plates, a cake dish, five fish bowls, and set fire to the living room rug . . . twice."
"And that is why I'm never invited to formal events," Nero laughed. "Or have a pet fish."
Rin looked into the kitchen. "You didn't break anything, did you?"
"Not yet," Nero joked.
Rin shook her head. "Poor Neru. I felt bad for her having to be your sister, but now I pity her."
Nero laughed some more as he got up. "Do you have any hot chocolate?"
"Why would you drink that in the summer?" Rin asked.
"Do you have any hot chocolate?" Nero repeated.
"Yes," Rin sighed in defeat.
"Do you want some?"
"Yes, please," Rin answered.
"I'll make some," Nero said, "while you try to find something to watch."
So while Nero was in the kitchen making hot chocolate, Rin was flipping through the channels when she came across a movie. "Do you like Star Wars?" she asked.
"I love Star Wars," Nero answered from the kitchen.
"Too bad, I don't," Rin said as she continued to channel surf. "How about Eragon?"
"Not as good as the book."
"So Len says, but I'm too lazy to read. Twilight?"
"Hell no!"
Rin flipped through more channels. "Spongebob Squarepants?"
"YES!"
So Rin left it on Spongebob and adjusted herself on the couch. After a few minutes Nero walked in and handed her a mug of hot chocolate. "Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Nero said. When Spongebob went to commercial he laughed in said "Who would've ever thought this would be possible?"
"What would be possible?" Rin asked, slightly raising an eyebrow.
"This," Nero answered as he made a circular motion with his finger. "You and me sitting together like normal people and not going at each others' throats."
Rin shrugged. "I honestly would have slapped whoever said I'd ever be sitting in the same room as you while not trying to kill you, but I guess after being forced to get along with you I find that you're not . . ." Rin trailed off. She was beginning to realize that she was being nice to Nero not because she knew of his past condition, but that she was just genuinally being nice to him. What on earth was happening to her?
"I'm not what?" Nero asked.
"You're not too bad," Rin admitted. "You're actually . . . pretty cool."
Nero smiled. "You're not so bad yourself. You're a really cool gal. When you're not trying to kill me, that is."
Rin laughed. "Don't get used to it."
"I know to not hold my breath with you," Nero said, "but could we at least come to some terms?"
"Like what?" Rin questioned.
"Like maybe get along a percentage of the time," Nero suggested.
Rin shrugged. "Don't push my buttons and I won't insult you."
"Okay, Rinny," Nero said, "you have a deal."
"Don't call me 'Rinny'," Rin said quietly. Maybe Nero wasn't so bad after all. He was willing to care for her despite their rivalry, something she knew she never would have done if she were in his place. The night continued to wear on until Nero suggested she go to bed. "How am I going to get to my room?" Rin asked.
"I'll carry you," Nero answered.
"Up the stairs!" Rin snorted, not that she was pleased with the idea of Nero carrying her either. She shrugged as she said, "I'll just sleep on the couch."
"Then where am I going to sleep?" Nero asked.
"Go home."
"But I'm in charge of you, I need to make sure you don't go anywhere."
"I won't go anywhere." Rin noticed the doubt in Nero's eyes. "I promise I won't," she said.
Nero rolled his eyes. "You sleep on the couch while I'll sleep on the floor." Before Rin had time to protest, Nero left her on the couch as he went to search for blankets. He returned with a blanket and pillow for the both of them. "Here, let me help you," Nero said as he helped Rin get comfortable. Once she was set he lied on the floor.
"I can't do this," Rin suddenly said.
"Do what?" Nero asked, confused.
"Let you sleep on the floor," Rin answered. "It doesn't feel right."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Rin was hesitant. "Maybe . . . Maybe you can sleep on the couch with me."
"What?!" Nero was in disbelief. "Do you have a fever? You're not yourself."
"Well I'll feel guilty if you slept on the floor, and if I'm guilty I can't sleep," Rin said.
"Are you sure about this?" Nero carefully asked the blonde.
"I'm sure." Rin let out a weak laugh. "It's not like we're doing anything."
Nero slowly got up and lied beside her on the couch. He was positioned between the back and Rin, having him squished in the middle. "You're really going to allow us being so close together? Aren't you disgusted?"
"Just scared," Rin whispered.
"Scared about what?" Nero asked. Rin was slow to answer but still spoke.
"I'm afraid for Miku. I'm afraid for Len." Rin took a deep breath. "They love each other, but it's not allowed. Miku and Len were willing to push their feelings aside so that they wouldn't be separated, but in the end it wasn't enough. However, they still love each other in such a pure way. I'm afraid that their love is going to kill them."
"Aren't you being a little dramatic?" Nero asked.
Rin laughed. "Maybe, but I still worry. In a way," Rin said the next words slowly, "I'm a little jealous. I wish I had a relationship like theirs . . . not forbidden, but filled with pure love."
Nero seemed confused. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I don't know," Rin admitted, "but I know I'm wasting my time. There isn't a single guy out there who would ever love me."
"And you're right," Nero laughed, earning him an elbow to his ribs.
"I feel sorry for any girl who likes you. Must be hard living with poor judgment."
Instead of using a witty comeback, Nero surprised Rin. "I'm sure there's a guy out there who likes you, Rinny. What's not to like? You're pretty, smart, funny, and just so open and honest. Any guy would be lucky to have you."
"Why are you lying to me?" Rin asked.
"Because I hate you," he answered.
Rin wanted to just drop the conversation right there, but she had just one more thing she wanted to ask. "Why did you save me?" she asked.
"What?" Nero sounded confused. "Rinny, what are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the night at the formal event, when there was vampire attack."
"Rinny," Nero sighed, "I wasn't even there."
"Well who was it then?" Rin asked. "I know the shapeshifter was yellow, and don't you say it was a trick of the lighting because I know better, but the only yellow wolves in this tribe are you, me, Len, and Neru. There's no way it was me, unless I went back in time to save myself, Len says it wasn't him, and Neru was with Miku the whole time. That only leaves you. Just because you weren't at the event doesn't mean that you couldn't have happened to be running by when you smelled the vampires. So tell me Nero, did you or did you not save me?"
"Well you have your facts straight," Nero observed.
"So you admit it?" Rin questioned.
"No sense in lying to you," Nero said. "Yes, I was there; and yes, I did save your life."
"Why would you save me if you hate me?" Rin asked.
"Rin," Nero sounded genuinely surprised, "I don't want you to die. You have to hate someone an awful lot if you would really want them to die. Come on, Rinny, can you honestly say that you hate me enough to kill me in my sleep tonight and have no regrets afterwards?"
Rin kelt her lips sealed. She knew the answer was "no," but she didn't want to make herself seem weak either. She opened her mouth and finally said "What kind of girl would I be if I killed a man in his sleep. What kind of challenge is that?"
"Well it's just you and me," Nero reminded her. "You could just tell everyone that I put up a fight, but you still came out on top despite being smaller and having a broken ankle."
"Do you want me to kill you?" Rin asked.
"I don't think you can," Nero answered.
Not wanting to talk further, Rin closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She heard as Nero's breath slowed to that of him being asleep, but what surprised her was when Nero unconsciously wrapped his arms around her. Fighting off her first instinct, which was to punch him in the face, Rin allowed herself to fall asleep in Nero's arms.
Author's Note: I. Am. So. Very. Very. Sorry. I have been so neglectful in all of my fanfics and I just feel so bad for it. First I have been busy with NaNoWriMo (which I have epically failed, but at least I tried), then I was on vacation for a week and had no Internet access. Overall I have been an awful fanfic author. I'll try to do better.
Now that my apologies are out of the way, I hope a lot of you liked this chapter. I know most people don't like (or pair) RinXNero, but the more of it I write the more I love it. All honestly, I was kind of fangirling while writing this so . . . *sweat drops* Hehehe~.
-Ray