Even a full hour later and the news still seemed unreal to Miku. I'm a Lady now. The council loved her idea to lead alongside Luka and found Miku's willingness to be an equal instead of an absolute ruler a very humbling trait. Every one of them adored Luka, and they found Miku just as charming. "These two as Ladies might be just what this community needs," the oldest council member had said with a smile.

"You alive in there?" Len asked as he playfully shook her shoulder.

"Pay attention to the road," Miku answered. Neither of Miku's parents were supposed to be home until ten, but being that Miku is grounded and should be home at the moment was enough for Miku to pressure Len into driving her home instead of walking. She may have half an hour to spare, but the last thing she wanted to do was push her luck.

"You're a Lady now," Len said as he reached out and took a lock of Miku's turquoise hair. "Shall I start calling you Lady Hatsune?"

"Just call me Miku," she responded, her tone distant.

"Are you okay?" Len asked. "I was only teasing."

"It's not that," Miku answered as she quickly shook her head, "it's only so much has happened today. This morning I was a grounded teenage girl, and now I'm a Lady of an entire community I've never been a part of. Then Rin . . . Oh, Rin."

"I'm going to really miss her," Len confessed. "I want to believe she's going to be all right, but I can't help but think 'what if.'" Len released his hold on Miku's hair and returned that hand to the steering wheel.

"I wish I could do something to save her," Miku sighed.

"I do, too," Len replied.

Even when Len parked his car in front of Miku's house, the girl still sat in the passenger seat. "My parents don't even know who I really am," Miku whispered.

"You can always tell them, if you want," Len said. "I trust them to not tell anyone."

"No, I don't want to burden them like that," Miku replied. "I would rather they think of me as a normal teenager. I want . . . I want to have at least some normalicy in my life, and parents who know I'm now a leader over two hundred people isn't by most standards normal."

"Life is never going to be the same again," Len warned.

"Doesn't mean I have to quit cold turkey," Miku responded.

"Miku."

Slowly turning her head, Miku saw Len looking intently at her. "Len."

Len carefully reached out and cupped Miku's cheek, and she leaned into his warmth. He then slid his hand down to her chin and tilted her face so that he could observe her at a new angle. Leaning forward, Len began to close the gap between Miku and himself. Miku followed suit, and within seconds their breaths were mingling in the air, their lips only half an inch apart. They hovered in that position and drank in each other's scent.

"I'm ready," Miku whispered, her breath against his skin giving Len goosebumps. Closing her eyes, Miku added, "I want you to kiss me."

Even without seeing the blond Miku could feel him smiling. "I'm afraid I'm the one who's not ready yet," he replied just as quietly before placing a kiss on her nose.

Miku opened her eyes, and Len was thankful it was curiosity instead of disappointment that reflected out of her turquoise orbs. "What do you mean?" Miku asked.

"I mean I don't think I can kiss you right now," Len answered. "I haven't asked Al for permission to date his daughter."

A giggle escaped Miku's lips. "You're too old fashioned."

"I want to do this right," Len stated. "I want to ask your dad for permission to court you, and I want our first kiss to be something you'll always remember with a smile on your face."

"Do you really think you can face my dad and ask he allow me to date you?" Miku meant to sound like she was teasing Len, but her voice didn't hide the worry she felt. Al didn't like Len enough as it was, what would he say if the blond teen asked to go out with Miku?

"For you, it will be worth it," Len said as he brushed some of Miku's hair behind her ear. "I want to give you something."

"Hmmm?" Miku hummed with curiosity as Len dug into his pockets.

Taking Miku's left hand, Len slid something on her ring finger and said, "I want this to be a symbol of the promise I'm making to you. When this war is done and over with I will go straight to Big Al and ask his permission to start a relationship more than friendship with you. If he denies me, I will ask again. If he denies me that time, I will ask again another day, and so on until he agrees."

"He will have to admire your persistence," Miku smiled.

"After a million times of my asking him and he finally agrees just to shut me up," Len continued as he held Miku's left hand in his right and his other hand stroked her face, "we won't have to push aside our feelings anymore. I can ask you to be my girlfriend without fear of any negative consequences."

"And I will say 'yes' because screw consequences I just want to be with you," Miku added, leaning into Len's palm. She couldn't wait much longer. She wanted to be Len's girlfriend, and she wanted Len to be her boyfriend. As impatient as she was, Miku really admired how willing to wait Len was, how he wanted to ask her father's permission to take his relationship with Miku to a romantic level.

"After we have been dating some time," Len said, "then I will kiss you. I will kiss you and finally discover what your lips taste like."

Miku began to laugh, Len following right behind her. "I think that's a good plan," she nodded, happy tears falling from her eyes.

"Goodnight, Princess," Len said as he reminded her she needed to get inside soon least they be caught.

"I'm not a princess anymore," Miku reminded him, and the words felt great exiting her mouth. Never has a girl been so full of joy at losing her title as princess.

"You will always be my princess," Len whispered against her forehead before placing a kiss below her hairline.

As Miku made her way in the house and to her room, she admired the ring Len gave her. The band was silver colored, and on the top was a diamond shaped glass painted turquoise. Miku smiled. It may have been a cheap ring, but to her it was priceless. It was the proof that Len had actually promised to court her, to one day kiss her. Miku brought the ring to her lips. One day soon she and Len will not have to hide their love, but until that day comes Miku will have to hang on just a little longer.

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Rin, dressed in black work out shorts and a gray tank top, sat by her dresser and looked into its mirror as she brushed her hair. The blonde locks were beginning to pass her shoulders, signaling it was time to get it cut again. "I'm thinking about growing out my hair," Rin said when she noticed her mother standing in the reflection.

Mrs. Kagamine entered the room and closed the door behind her. She sat on the foot of Rin's bed and observed her only daughter as the teen brushed out the last of the tangles. "I always wondered what you would look like with long hair," Mrs. Kagamine mused.

"I always wanted long hair," Rin said. If there was one thing Rin hated about being a wolf it was that she had to keep her hair short. "Perhaps know that I'm like this we don't have to worry about cutting my hair every month."

"Don't talk like that," Mrs. Kagamine told her daughter. "You're going to be all right."

"I was bit by a vampire, Mom; I didn't catch a cold," Rin said as she set down her hair brush. "The venom content in my blood was higher than normal, so the odds are I'm never going to be a wolf again." That is if I live. Rin inwardly sighed. There was no way she could tell her own mother the truth behind the bite. If Mrs. Kagamine knew Rin was dying . . . No, Rin didn't want to imagine it nor find out.

"Negative thinking is not how you're going to get around in life," Mrs. Kagamine said. "Trust me, you're going to be all right."

"How can you say that with such certainty?" Rin asked.

"You're my daughter," Mrs. Kagamine answered. "Believe it or not, but I was just like you when I was your age."

"Kinda hard to imagine," Rin replied. Her mother was the calmest, most level headed person Rin knew, making the image of a rebellious teenage Clarissa extremely difficult to imagine.

"I was a total brat," Mrs. Kagamine said, the smile on her face telling Rin the woman was remembering some pretty bad things she did, things she would never tell Rin as to not give her daughter any ideas. "When I was just a bit younger than you, Mama - your grandmother - used to yell as if it was an Egyptian curse 'Clary, I hope you have a daughter just like you!' That's basically why you don't have any aunts or uncles, after me my parents decided one was enough."

"They must have been mighty thrilled when I was born if I'm so much like you," Rin said.

"Believe me, they were," Mrs. Kagamine laughed. "It truly is such a shame they can't see you today."

It was with a sigh Rin remembered the night her mom received a phone call during a game of Monopoly she was playing with the twins. Their grandparents had been in a wreck, hit by a drunk driver, and neither of them had made it. Rin and Len were only eight at the time, but the memory still made Rin sad.

"Anyway," Mrs. Kagamine said as she put a hand on Rin's knee, "I know you're going to be okay because you're a fighter, Rin. It's not in your nature to give up."

"You're right," Rin sighed, "but I don't want to expect the best and get the worst. I'd rather have it the other way around."

"Not the kind of thinking I would encourage, but if that's what you want," Mrs. Kagamine said as she returned her hand to her lap.

In an attempt to be somewhat cheerful, Rin asked, "So until I can phase again, can I skip out on the haircuts?"

With a smile on her face, Mrs. Kagamine answered, "Of course, Dear, you may."

"Thanks, Mom," Rin smiled as she looked back at her mirror. "What if I can never change form again?" she suddenly asked. "Not thinking negatively," because it's positive thinking I'll survive the venom in my bloodstream "but I want to know what I should expect from life if that's the case."

"One thing for sure is that you can't be Miku's protector anymore," Mrs. Kagamine replied. Rin thought back how before he drove Miku home Len had told the girls that Nero had taken up role as Miku's other protector until further notice. She may have had conflicting feelings about the guy, but Rin was glad it was Nero she could count on to protect Miku. "Other than that, life won't be so different," Mrs. Kagamine continued. "Actually, without having to dedicate your life to protecting someone you are free to live your life any way you chose."

"I guess that's not all that bad," Rin shrugged, her voice monotone.

"That's why I'm telling you to stop thinking like that," Mrs. Kagamine said. "You won't get anywhere in life if you're full of doubts."

"Okay, I think I'll actually listen this time," Rin weakly smiled. "I'm going to bed now, today was really rough."

"Wow, this has to be the first time in ten years you are actually going to bed earlier than midnight without my having to force you," Mrs. Kagamine said, her eyes twinkling with a funny memory.

"I'm just tired is all," Rin said as she stood up from the chair by the dresser. Mrs. Kagamine had gotten off the bed so Rin could climb on it. "Mom," Rin called before the woman could leave the room. When she had her mother's attention Rin asked, "Why is Dad so against Miku?"

Heavily sighing, Mrs. Kagamine answered, "It's not that he's against Miku, but he's still extremely loyal to Lady - I'm sorry, she doesn't hold that tile anymore - Ms. Megurine."

"Loyal?" Rin questioned.

"Think of it like this," Mrs. Kagamine explained, "let's say twenty years from now Miku goes missing and this young girl comes in and tries to take Miku's place. Would you be okay with some teenage girl replacing your best friend as an important person in the community?"

"Hell no."

"Watch your language, Erin."

"Sorry, Mom."

"Anyway," Mrs. Kagamine went on, "that's how it is for your father. He, Corra, and I have been friends since we were preteens. You can't expect him to be all right with a girl who didn't even grow up here taking Ms. Megurine's place as Lady."

"Now that I think about it that way I can't say I don't understand where he's coming from," Rin admitted, "but why does Dad hate Len being in love with Miku?"

"It's not that he hates his son's chose in romantic interest, but he doesn't want his son to mess around with anyone, especially if she's a princess."

"But Len and Miku never messed around! If I know Len he probably just passed up an opportunity to kiss Miku because he hasn't asked permission to date her or something!"

"And I don't have a doubt in my mind that Miku and Len aren't acting on hormones," Mrs. Kagamine said, "but not everyone knows Miku and your brother like you do so naturally they're going to expect the most inappropriate things."

"Len doesn't even get dirty jokes," Rin commented.

"A fact I am grateful for," Mrs. Kagamine replied. "Trust me, Rin, your Father does care for Miku, even if he has a lousy way of showing it."

"Especially tonight," Rin rolled her eyes.

"As I already said," Mrs. Kagamine responded point blank, "he's still loyal to Ms. Megurine, even if it's to the point he would try to turn everyone against Miku. He's also too prideful to admit he's wrong."

"The only thing I got from him," Rin mumbled.

"Your father loves you, Rin," Mrs. Kagamine kissed her daughter on the forehead, "and so do I."

"I love you too, Mom," Rin replied.

After Mrs. Kagamine shut the door, Rin rolled on her side and began to ponder what she and her mother had discussed. It was too late she noticed what her mother may have unintentionally implied. Why would Mom not be as loyal to Ms. Megurine? She may not be shallow minded, but wouldn't she admit to having conflicting feelings about Miku being Lady if she was still loyal to Luka's mom?

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Len's easy going attitude vanished into non existence when he stepped through the front door and was met by his father. "Len, may I speak with you-" Mr. Kagamine didn't finish for Len hook punched his dad in the jaw.

Shaking out his hand, Len growled, "I will not forgive you for what you did tonight. Miku and I are just friends. There hasn't been a chance for us to be anything more, yet here you are lying - and knowing what you are saying is a lie! - to the council."

"Don't get that attitude with me," Mr. Kagamine warned as he rubbed his sore jaw.

"Fine," Len said. "Actions speak louder than words, anyway."

Len tried to hit his father with a throat punch, but Mr. Kagamine caught his son's arm and swung Len into the corner of the wall. He then proceeded to punch the dazed Len in the nose before pushing him to the floor. "Don't forget who taught you everything you know," Mr. Kagamine warned. "Just because you're my son does not mean I will be going easy on you if you try to challenge me."

"Go to Hell," Len sneered as he pushed himself off the ground, blood gushing out of his now broken nose.

"Jebediah!" a woman's voice shrieked.

"Hey Mom," Len said as he attempted to wipe some of the blood from his nose. He would have to be certain to set his nose if needed be so that it wouldn't heal crooked.

Walking down the stairs and turning to her husband, Mrs. Kagamine said, "I don't know what to be more upset about: Your slamming our son against the wall before punching him in the face, or your pushing him where he could get his blood on Grandma's rug!"

"Love you too, Mom," Len said as he stood to his feet, careful to keep from staining the carpet.

"Len, you're a protector," Mrs. Kagamine said. "I've prepared myself for the worst a long time ago so sorry a broken nose won't receive the attention it usually deserves."

Opening his mouth before immediately closing it again, Len decided his mother was right. A protector could die of anything, meaning a broken nose was the last thing that kept his mother awake late at night.

"Go to bed," Mrs. Kagamine ordered her son. "We will discuss this in the morning." To her husband, "You and I will discuss this as you get a pillow and blanket to sleep on the couch with."

Not bothering to hide a smirk from his dad, Len left the room and jogged up the stairs. His first order of business was straightening his nose. One of the best things about being a fast healer was that broken noses healed almost instantly, but if left unchecked a nose could heal crooked due to the bone not setting correctly before it's mended.

After setting his nose Len mentally debated whether or not he wanted to eavesdrop on his parents' conversation. In the end he decided against it in favor of a shower. A lot needed to be done before the ceremony, and he still had a lot of training he needed to do before the war. If only they knew when the vampires planned to attack.

It was nearing midnight as Len switched off the lights and slipped under the covers. Sleeping would be difficult when there was a lot going on, but Len knew there was no current reason to worry. Nero volunteered to circle the perimeter of Miku's home in case of danger, and the girl still stunk from her blood transfusion. Nobody would be getting to Miku any time soon. Tomorrow will be a new day, and along with it new worries will come, but for now everything was calm.

Len was half asleep when a creaking noise woke him up. Standing in his doorway was a skinny figure visible from the downstairs lights making their way to his room, illuminating the silhouette. In a matter of seconds Len jumped to his feet and grabbed the nearest object - a book - to use as a weapon against the intruder.

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A million things were flying through Luka's head at once as she sat in the passenger seat of Meiko's truck. She was Lady alongside Miku now, meaning she was now responsible for leading two hundred people. There was a ceremony to plan to make hers and Miku's new title official and a war Luka didn't know too much about. Ever since Zatsune disappeared the news from the rebels stopped reaching Luka, and the pinkette began to wonder if they were still willing to help. Not to mention the White Flowers fighting as well has yet to be brought up to the public Luka sighed.

"You okay?" Meiko asked as she parked in front of Luka's house.

"I'm about as okay as I'm going to get," Luka answered as she removed the seat belt. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Are you sure you don't want me to walk you in?"

"I'm good," Luka said. "It's just my house, what's the worst that can happen?"

With a wave goodnight, Luka unlocked the front door and entered the main room. After she had shut the door did Luka sense something was wrong. Luka couldn't place her finger on it, but something was . . . off. She had debated whether or not to get Meiko, but Luka shrugged her suspicious feeling off as being paranoia.

Flipping on a light switch, Luka set her purse on the kitchen counter. She froze in place when she felt eyes drilling into her back. Turning very slowly, Lukas heart dropped to the floor when she saw a man sitting on her couch. It was the man Luka and Meiko had spotted Lady Megurine with at the Cherry Grill Bar.

Before she could let out the scream, the man ran up to Luka and covered her mouth. Luka tried to fight him, and he responded by pressing her back against the wall. He was too strong for her, and Luka had nobody there to protect her. All the teen could do was scream despite her cries being muffled.

"Luka, be quiet," the man said, his voice so calm that it surprised Luka to silence. How does he know my name? Luka wondered. "Luka," the vampire began, "I'm not going to hurt you, okay? Trust me, I don't want any harm to come to you."

All Luka could do was shake her head. With his hand still over her mouth Luka could not communicate what she was thinking. How could she trust him when she didn't know him? Never mind he's a vampire, Luka knew better than to trust strange men, especially when they break into your house uninvited.

"Luka, please listen to me," the man insisted. "You're a friend of Zatsune's, right?" Luka froze at the name, her eyes widening to twice their size. She wouldn't say Zatsune was her friend, but Zatsune was the only vampire Luka trusted. "Zatsune has been taken prisoner," the man continued, "and I can't free her because I'll be killed on spot if I try. I do have contact with the rebels if you need a messenger, but I can't do that if you don't trust me."

I don't even know who you are Luka said with her eyes. The vampire seemed to understand for he sighed and took his away from Luka's mouth. Instead of screaming, Luka waited for an answer.

"My name is Cole," the vampire introduced himself. "Luka, I'm your . . . I'm a friend of your mother's."


Author's Note: With 3,995 words (not counting the author's note) this is easily the longest chapter in this fanfic, actually beating the RinXNero chapter (though that one would have to be my favorite chapter for multiple reasons). This was originally shorter, but I decided to add some of the next chapter into this and add the rest into what was supposed to be the chapter after it.

Also I think it's romantic for a boy to ask the father's permission to date the daughter. I know that's basically extinct, but given how respective of everyone (minus his dad) I made Len-Kun for this story it wouldn't be right for him to not ask Big Al permission to court Miku-Sama. (For those who don't know, "court" is like "date" except it's more serious because marriage is actually in consideration.)

-Ray