Shade: Ok folks, now that Eggplant Head is dead and buried, let's have some fun and give love to our dear servant, shall we?
After several weeks, winter finally arrived with all its strength to the entire region of Evillious. This time the sun hid, and it wouldn't appear again for now. A wide white mantle covered all the fields and roads. Snowflakes covered the terraces and the roofs now had curious white hats. Whirlpools of snow were waving the branches and lifted the coats. The rivers froze and to get water it was necessary to do it with blows of axe. A cold air that didn't respect the stones to shudder the limbs of the body even inside the furs.
In Asmodín, as Len had long anticipated, there was a winter of hunger.
There, the half kilogram of wheat was selling at sixty pieces of gold and the half-bundle of old fuelwood at thirty-five, price never reached. The last crops were destroyed and buried to more than five meters underground. The cattle were dying of lack of forage and the people were fighting for the remains of the quartering. Once again, the old cemetery returned to be crowded and many disconsolate mothers buried their children in the place, next to the old common graves where the bones of Rin and Len's parents rested. The bad harvest, the scandal of the Duke of Venomania and his women, his mysterious and violent murder and the expiatory purge after his fall, were feeding to the tragic popular imagination. Many of the victims, including Miku, Luka and Gumi, took their things and left the cursed town forever, quickly falling into oblivion…
Let's leave this town that is sinking and let's go a few kilometers to East...
...
Len pushed aside the long curtain that was covering the large windows to let some clarity to enter in the room. Since dawn he was awake, because he had got used to always getting up early to do the domestic chores of the castle… He startled on having realized that he wouldn't have to do anything of that; he wouldn't be longer "the girl of service", the title that Gakupo used to name him behind his back. He made the bones of the shoulders and hands creak.
Really had all this happened? He was feeling as if everything what had happened in Asmodín's castle hadn't happened in a couple of weeks, but years. He had the sensation of having made a trip of hundreds of thousands of kilometers… It was a terrifying and at the same time liberating feeling. The lost life seemed so distant and palpable at the same time: "I feel like if in one stroke I'm fifty years old, and I'm not even fifteen yet. You've lost your mind, Lenny," he said to himself, shaking his head.
From the dawning in which they escaped in the small carriage to skirt the fields devastated by the storm and then reach the Blue Kingdom border, like a hungry person who gets fed up with food thinking never be satisfied, Len took possession of the universe with his gaze. The prospect of being free and having Rin safe with him caused him a kind of vertigo.
"Will I get used to freedom again?" he wondered.
Ateliesta (1), population of the Blue Kingdom and, therefore, a Kaito´s and Meiko's main residence, looked like one of those small towns shown in picture books and postcards. That place was characterized by its eternal air of markets, flour with butter and smoky green logs. The stoned and wooden houses, the needle-shaped roofs and their walls of more than 500 years old that surrounded it, added everything to the winter, gave it a curious aspect of a Christmas village. Soon they arrived at the home of Kaito and Meiko, a castle smaller than Gakupo's, but certainly cozier according to Len, remembering the cold and shady vaults of the cellars, where they oozed dampness. Meiko, who governed the house (with an iron fist and a bottle of wine at the same time), designated them a room for each one. There, in that residence among evergreen pine forests, the twins knew the winter of freedom.
Now he looked around his room: A small room, with scanty but agreeable movable, a small desk, cupboard, and bookcase of dark wood. A large bed placed to the west wing of the room, which the only ornament was a shield at the head, placed in the exact place where there was a crucifix before, which Len deliberately removed. On the large guillotine-shaped windows they were hanging a few icicles of ice and there were tracks of slush in the crystals. In the most remote corner, a water kettle was resting. Simple room, but better than the cockpit where he used to sleep.
Len let out a little sigh and turned around, since someone knocked on his door and he ran to open: On the threshold of the room was his sister, looking like she had just got up. She had in hand a tray of biscuits and two cups of tea. Although winter maintained the same bloodless pallor of her cheeks, Rin looked physically better. Len had also regained some muscle strength in recent weeks; In truth, this change of fortune was very kind to them.
—Good morning, Rin. Did you sleep well?
—Yes, very well— she answered in a faint voice—. Ehm ... Kaito-nii and Meiko-nee are to go out and they asked me to give you this, because you must be hungry… —She didn't even look at him. —; Well... I… I'm leaving now... — And she backed away to leave the room… Something that Len avoided, holding her wrist gently.
She shuddered slightly and turned her face away, avoiding his gaze. Len knew exactly what she was thinking and feeling. In them, the famous "telepathy of twins" wasn't something unknown. He made her turn to him carefully and wrapped his arms around her, without saying a word.
Since their arrival, Len was falling apart in consolation for Rin: The teenager had recovered most of her unconscious memories of the castle and that had terrified her greatly. She cried and sobbed, terrified with the frightful idea of having served as a sexual slave of the Duke of Venomania, without even knowing it, which made it even more terrible. She shut herself up and didn't talk to anyone, she could stay for hours looking at the emptiness. One day Len found her curled up in a corner of the bathroom, fully dressed, soaking in hot water, crying… That image broke his heart. Without thinking it, Len went inside, not caring to get soaked too, to cradle her in his chest and comfort her, also in need of support:
—Everything will be fine, Rin… I'm here now. Don't cry, don't cry, please… No one will hurt you again—he had whispered her on that occasion.
Len just wanted his princess to smile again. He was all the time to her side. He took her on walks around the house, to encourage and distract her. He talked to her for hours, about the green fields in the summer, about curious childhood anecdotes, about anything. When he saw her sad or depressed, Len showed her as affectionate and attentive as he could. When he heard her screaming at night for a nightmare, which were quite frequent, Len ran to her room and huddled with her; He embraced her and consoled her; he told her that everything would be fine, that no one would hurt her again; He rocked her and cooed her with her favorite lullabies and stayed by her side until the next morning. Rin sometimes begged him to tell him exactly everything that had happened in the castle, and Len did it… omitting certain details, to not hurting her more…
…Among these details was, of course, witchcraft: Len swore to himself that this aspect of his already finished life would be kept secret until his mouth is filled with dirt.
The room had been silent. The only thing that was heard, something audible, was the girl's breathing on her brother's shoulder. The former servant was desperate. What would he do to return that magical smile on her face, which he so much wanted to see? Suddenly an idea occurred to him. It was a Christmas gift, but still…
—Rin… I want to show you something.
The blonde lifted her head slightly, finding that Len had extracted a small packet out of his pocket and placed it in her lap. It was square, wrapped in satin paper and adorned with a simple ribbon. She stared at it, not knowing what to say or do. Len smiled languidly, in a gesture that meant: "Open it." She untied the ribbon, broke the wrap and opened the box: A golden glow made her momentarily open-mouthed. It was…
—Len… This is…
—Ehmm… I was thinking about giving it to you at Christmas, but I couldn't resist waiting so long— Len said, scratching the back of his neck—. Will you let me put it on you…?
Rin nodded, letting Len place behind her, passing the gold chain around her neck and closing it with the little brooch. At last the reliquary had returned with its true owner. She opened the golden doors to see the tiny picture of both, taken almost fifteen years ago. Fifteen years that went flying and in which they lived many things that others would never wish to live…
She turned and faced his brother… Len remained in ecstatic air, because something wonderful happened: From the corners of Rin's lips came something that looked like a smile, but after weeks of not doing it, for Len it was much more valuable than all the power and gold of the world, because for many people, there is nothing more precious than a gesture of the beloved one. Len extended his arms once more; As if she were a sleepwalker, the blonde snuggled back into his chest, not for comfort, but for the pleasure of feeling that warmth that her brother used to give off. It was simply wonderful: Len there, embracing her with such force and infinite tenderness, as if he didn't want to let her go.
—I know that now are not easy times, Rin… But I want you to know that I will always be here for you; No matter what happened, you will always be my little sister and I will always love you. We'll get through this together, I promise—Len muttered, posing his hands on her cheeks, caressing them. —. Smile, my princess. Please… smile for me.
Rin was touched by those words and smiled faintly, to the boy's pleasure. They took each other's hands, which no longer fit; Len's were a little longer and stronger than hers. Their fingers met (those of Rin, soft and dainty; those of Len, hard and callused), interrogated and interlaced, in a tender gesture that was safer than a kiss, as if the hands of two beings were united in a single prayer…
—I love you, Len—muttered Rin after a moment in silence. — Thank you, for everything.
—Me too, Rin— Len replied in a whisper—. There's no need, my princess.
...
We might say that this winter served just to heal. Locked up in the house by the snowfall, the young twins had a lot of time to talk, to search in the other support and company.
With the passage of time, Rin was recovering of the trauma: She was smiling more often and was more active, and she was not sinking in those worrying silences that filled with distress her brother, she was feeling calmer; Rin finally understood that it was not healthy to stay stuck in pain and hatred… that the best thing she could do for herself was to move forward. A rape is never overcome, that is the truth, but it is possible to cope with it in the best possible way.
With everything, Rin wanted to take the next step in her rehabilitation and it was this: Getting rid of all the past and starting over again. With that in mind, she managed to convince Len to allow her to leave the Crypton Conservatoire.
—I never felt very happy there, you know? It was like a kind of snobbish, exclusive and discriminatory club. I never really had friends there, the girls treated me badly because I always played the leading role, envy corrupted them, and the old teachers were the same. I felt so lonely there, I missed Len to destroy things! —She said to Meiko.
Really, she missed those days! Whenever she was looking at the tiny picture in the locket, Rin returned to the fields of lilies and sunflowers, where she and Len used to run and fight in the bogs, then they were running to rolling in the hay of the stables. Sometimes she saw in the street children to play in the snow and immediately she was imagining Len and herself as children, doing the same thing as them.
—Do you remember, Len, when we played in the basement of the orphanage and we thought we were pirates? —Rin sighed one afternoon as they drank tea. Her brother smiled at her. The fact that Rin no longer wanted to talk about the Duke of Venomania and now only about memories of childhood, was an unmistakable sign of recovery… and a window to those distant memories.
—Yes, I remember. Do you know something? Kaito told me about the attic that hasn't been opened in years. Do you want to look?
Rin bit her lip. A dirty and dusty attic suddenly became a treasure cave, however…—But Len… we don´t have nine years old anymore—She reminded him.
—So what? We will be bored when we're eighty and we cannot move from the seats. Rin, you promised me in your letters that we would have fun! Let's take advantage of them that they are not in home! —Len said getting up extending the hand to her. A gesture that later would have another meaning…
Len's enthusiasm was amazing compared to the four years of despair that he lived in the castle. We would say that slowly, Len recovered the desire to live and appeased the inner demons that pushed him to Evil. Having Rin with him, healthy and happy, contributed powerfully in this.
For Rin and Len, forced by the difficulties to mature too soon and leave the childishness behind, the following days were an escape valve to any negative feeling: They explored the land surrounding the house and the village, organized cross-country horseback riding and armed epic battles of snow. On having fallen down the afternoon, tired and happy, Len and Rin sat, waffle in hand, to watch the sunset.
December went fast. Since it fell a monumental snowfall that literally buried everything, Kaito, Meiko, Rin and Len spent Christmas, the birthday of the Kagamine and New Year in the living room. The tragedy and the passed time ended for joining deeply the four; in those days they laughed out loud when Kaito was moaning of happiness with his five boxes of premium ice cream Hagen Daaz, Meiko laughed at him was weighing her fifteen bottles of cognac, and the young twins stuffed themselves into each other's mouths, big scoops of caramel flan. On the birthday of the twins, as they devoured the pieces of their orange cake with banana cream, Rin was surprised to see the size and brightness of the precious stones in the scarves. Open-mouthed, when he asked Len where he got them from, he shrugged.
—That doesn't matter, Rin—He answered cheerfully—. The important here is that with this we will have more than enough to have our own house. Kaito-nii and Meiko-nee will get married very soon and they will need all this place to have their family. Wouldn't you like it? Live in your own home like a princess?
Rin blushed slightly. Sometimes she remembered with nostalgia in their poor house in the town, which had been closed in the epidemic. Even so, the idea of living with Len, as a family again, excited her. She felt very grateful for all the discomfort that the blond had taken for her: "What a good brother I have, he always think of me" she said herself tenderly.
An entire log, on incandescent embers, was consuming whole in the chimney. In the closest window, the midday of March rose, greedy of light. Rin had been sitting for hours, trying to concentrate on her lacy work, ending for returning to look at the window. Len was not there. He had gone out with Kaito to… well, he didn't exactly tell her where: "It's a surprise," he had said to her. And because of it she was waiting for him… and in the meantime, she was trying to distract herself from the sea of thoughts that haunted her mind.
In the latter times, Rin felt that she had lived through three lives, completely different. It's as if a Rin different from each other was occupying this life: The first began as a happy and capricious little girl, playing with his brother in the fields and ending tragically with the death of their parents and her separation of Len. The second was the most confusing, but also the most horrifying: She remembered climbing the steps to the vestibule of that dark castle, seeing among the shadows the penetrating red eyes of the Duke of Venomania and from there sinking into a strange and diffuse world, which she woke violently in Len's arms, stained with blood. And the last of those lives was now, in which, enjoying a relative and serene calm, she was waiting for the arrival of her brother.
Three lives so different… and the only constant in them was the figure, whether absent or plethoric, of Len.
Thinking of Len precisely… Rin had to admit that lately she had strange feelings for him. She was really grateful for everything Len had done for her. From rescuing her to offering comfort and a refuge against all her terrors… However, that gratitude changed into something deeper: She blushed when Len took her by the hand when they went out to play outside. Although she no longer had nightmares about Venomania, Rin still couldn't resist getting out of bed and cuddling with Len in his room, not out of fear, but out of the need to feel the warmth of his brother's chest, the softness of his arms surrounding her, and that aura of protection that he radiated. Such harmless acts that Len gave her as a kiss on the forehead or a hand caressing her cheek or hair, were gestures that blushed her the most, and gave her a huge meaning…
On the other hand, the religious teachings imposed on her at the orphanage and in the Conservatoire continued to harass her… Incest was considered a sin. It was something monstrous, almost animal. Deserved of 999 thrown stones from everyone… Rin sometimes felt panic for having this cross of feelings for Len and more than once the blonde wondered with horror if what she felt for Len was a cruel sequel to her past traumas (2). She doesn´t know what to do. She had no answers… and what tormented her the most was that she did not know what Len felt for her… Internally, Rin kept the senseless hope that Len would look at her not as a sister, but as a woman.
—Hey, Rin—Meiko appeared and sat on the window with her—. You're not going to wait for Len all afternoon, are you? Knowing Bakaito, don´t doubt that he will give Len a tour of all the ice cream shops in the town— She added with a vein from her swollen appareled—; I was wondering… If you would like to go out with me to a bar that is close to here. I'll teach you to drink and… who knows, you might even meet some guy that you like. What do you say?
Rin pretended that her proposal didn't interest her—Thank you, Meiko-nee, but now I don't feel like meeting anyone.
—Ah come on, Rin! Are not you supposed to have already cured that depression you had? Do not let what happened in the past ruin and embitter your life! The past is past, okay? Virginity is not "a seal of guarantee" as those stupid old folks of the Church say (with your forgiveness for saying that, of course). I'm sure you can find someone who loves you for who you are, and you worth it, Rin. You deserve to be happy.
—Thanks for those words, Meiko.
—You're welcome, dear… But you still have not told me why you don't want to go! Is that, or… Or do you already like someone? —Although she tried to deny it, Rin's blush gave her away—. Aha! I knew it! Who is he?
Rin was silent a few minutes. She didn't know whether to tell Meiko about who was the man that she was in love with. How would she react? Would she throw them out of her house? Although Meiko was very kind to Len and her, Rin remembered with fear the famous "Face of the Consequences" of Meiko, where her head was inflated to unimaginable limits.
—Come on, Rin, don't be bad: Give me a clue… Or… —Rin looked at her eyes fearing what she would say: —, …Aren't you in love with Kaito, eh?
—What?! No! No! No!
—Relax, I was joking, hehe. I know that Bakaito is crazy about me. Well, will you never tell me who he is, Rinny?
—I'm sorry, Meiko-nee. But is better to not tell you… yet. Because, I still don't know if he likes me as I would like…—with those sighed words, Rin let see what she felt for Len ... without saying his name, of course.
—Well, my dear friend—Meiko replied smiling as she unleashed a bottle of sake—. You will never know if you don't ask. Answer me something: Will he be at my wedding? —After thinking about it, Rin nodded—. Perfect! There you will have the opportunity. Just don't be so direct and let things take their course… If he breaks your heart, just tell me who he is, and I assure you that he will leave my party with a broken nose and limping. How about that?
Rin couldn't help laughing. Maybe Meiko's idea was not so bad ... She could try it, couldn't she? Nothing is lost with it. Smiling at her, Rin nodded.
—Then, don't say more. Come on, Rin! It's my bachelorette party and I want to reinforce my reservations, if you understand what I'm saying—Meiko said, waving the bottle, now half empty—. Maybe with some vodka and orange juice, you can clarify the ideas of your big head with the mysterious boy and come up with a plan.
...
—Look at the little bird! —Gachapoid told them when he pressed the button of the heavy photography device.
In the picture they looked very smiling Kaito and Meiko. It wasn't for less: It was their wedding.
They had celebrated it in the evening of the small chapel of the town. After enduring for almost an hour the tirades of the anchorite of the friar, so boring that Len almost fell asleep on his bench, Kaito and Meiko finally said "Yes, I do". For the moment in which they had to say the vows, our poor Kaito, prisoner of his nerves, was often make mistakes and even his tongue got stuck in the palate; almost at the end he forgot the last sentence and remained there, with a grimace of panic, before the menacing look of his girlfriend. Luckily, Len had help him (forced him, rather) to learn the parliaments and whispered to Kaito the following, as if they were two schoolchildren copying themselves on an exam. After that there were no more problems and they kissed in the middle of an exclamation and general applause… and snapped their fingers, because Kaito was hanging from Meiko for a ridiculously long time.
In the photo, Meiko without that mountain of veils and beads on top, looked very beautiful and composed (Sober, for now); She hung on the arm of Kaito, who had his inseparable blue scarf, despite Meiko and Rin's bad comments. On her right, also holding by arms, were the Kagamine twins. Rin looked very pretty, in a white dress with lace ruffles and braided hair; Len, in turn, looked very elegant in a ruffled white shirt and green moss vest, emblazoned with a striking yellow tie and wearing dark high boots. They were chosen as wedding godparents (The story was really like this: When Meiko asked her boyfriend if he had already chosen the wedding godparents, Bakaito's response was: "Oops... I forgot, Meiko") and they accepted happily.
Now there was a cheerful theme with cellos; that kind of tune that you want to get up to shake your legs and spinning. Rin was sitting where moments before the happy couple was and Meiko, in the joy of the drunkenness, dragged the poor Kaito to the dance floor, between laughs of the guests. The blonde moved her feet to the sound of the music… And that gesture wasn't unnoticed by Len, who was a few meters away from her. He wanted to dance with her, before one of the male guests noticed the innocent charm of his little sister and they took her out before him. The problem is… Len didn't know how to dance. Gakupo had never taught him, not even to do the miserable waltz, and now he looked puzzled at the guest's movements, wondering how on earth he could imitate that without making a fool of himself.
Even so, what he wanted more than ever in these moments of wanting to get her to dance, to surround her little body with his arms, to hold her hand against his and maybe… just maybe, to reflect to her his feelings. Although there was also the latent fear that she would reject him as a sick person. Len hadn't kissed her again asleep since they got there. He brought the half-empty bottle of claret wine mechanically to his mouth to lessen his blush.
—Hello… We've seen each other before, right?
Len looked up at a face from the past, whom he didn't recognize at first, but then he remembered. The green hair with straight cuts on his forehead, the same color as his eyes, dressed in a beautiful suit of silver and green, corresponded to one of the Duke's old friends.
—I didn't expect to see you here—He continued, sitting down beside him—. We met about a year ago, didn't we? —His face reflected some of discomfort—. I'm Hatsune Mikuo.
—Nice to meet you—The blond said, something sharp—. I'm Kagamine Len.
Len had very good reasons to be tense. They had met at the dinner of the Duke of Venomania. What had happened there left poor Len and Duke Hatsune, a trauma for life. The horrible and disturbing image of that young woman dancing almost naked… It was evident that both men thought the same thing.
—Look… Len—Mikuo began, looking at him seriously—. I can swear to you by my mother and our Holy Mother that I had no idea about… the secret of Duke Gakupo. I would never have come to his dinner if I had known what horrors he was hiding in his house… As soon as you left you I knew something was very wrong, so I faked a stomachache to leave that crazy house. Everyone kept talking about the scandal of these women… Then, I heard that the Duke was murdered—He lowered his voice to a murmur. Although his tone was not censorship, Len did not stop feeling uneasy. Would he be thinking that it was him? —… And even if it was you, I don't blame you at all, because what Duke Gakupo did is unforgivable.
Len stared at him: In Mikuo's green pupils, they left no hint of doubt or pretense: It was true that he hadn't knowledge of the horrors of his former master. He smiled at him in appreciation and gave him a handshake.
—Thank you. I imagine that you live here more calmly, right…? Oh! Good evening, miss. —He bowed to Rin, who had just approached them. Mikuo, after looking at her for a few seconds, felt suddenly disturbed: He recognized in her the same young woman from Duke Gakupo's infamous dinner. Although he blushed enormously, he didn't comment about that—. My name is Hatsune Mikuo, what's your name?
—Kagamine Rin, a pleasure. —said the girl, returning the bow.
—Oh! Are you siblings? —Mikuo asked in surprise, then he laughed—. Although the question is not necessary, if you're identical!
Rin and Len were petrified at the words: "Are you siblings?" "Are you siblings" "…Siblings?" Siblings… Those words thrown without malice and innocent in appearance, hurt them deeply. There it was again: Guilt and remorse kicking the liver. Len looked at the floor and Rin's ears buzzed, and she almost didn't hear what Mikuo said next:
—I was wondering… if you would like to dance with me, miss Rin.
—Sure…—She muttered like an automaton and rose languidly to walk next to him as if she were dreaming, to the dance floor.
Meiko-nee watched the whole scene closely since the conversation began, and she was already pondering and assembling the pieces of suspicion. "Could be him?" she wondered when she saw Rin swaying beside the attractive gentleman. "It cannot be: He just told her his name… Although it could also be a trap, in order to not upset Len." She turned to see Len, who was following the couple's movement with his eyes. His bluish gaze reflected a tangle of strange feelings… "Rin never told me who liked her… Could it be...?" She muttered internally and looked back at the dancing couple. Rin's expression was the same of her brother: languid, almost absent.
—Meiko, why are you laughing? —Kaito asked her, pulling her out of her cloud of thoughts.
—I laugh at you, Bakaito—Meiko lied quickly—; You're really dumb to be wearing that stupid scarf that doesn't match at all with your suit; Besides, you almost made a fool of yourself by saying the vows… but I still love you—She added to avoid further questions from his clueless husband and kissed him at the corners of his mouth.
"Lenny and Rinny..." she thought as she kissed him, "there's something strange between those two…"
From that place, the crescent moon was drawing a perfect arc between the clouds and showed chiaroscuro traces on the tapestry that closed the large window. Some pinpricks of cold made the branches of the trees outside tremble. A solitary and full of dust pouf was the only furniture of that hidden corner.
The blond boy ran his hands over his face, trying to dispel the displeasure. And the fact that the rumble of the party was faintly heard from there didn't help much. So many hopes to the pipe! There he was, all his chance and he lost it! Why wasn't he brave and asked Rin to dance with him before Mikuo did that? Now surely, he had taken stuck on her and wouldn't leave her… Len's mind, expert in annoying him with tricks, again upset him with the image of Rin, dressed in white, marrying someone… Someone that wasn't him.
Maybe it was better that way, right? Rin deserved it: A man of lineage, noble and clean of soul, as was that Duke… not a former servant with rotten soul and who, to make matters worse, was her own twin. He could get over it, right? Len was strong; If he could survive four years of purple hell in that house, (with psychological trauma included), he could also do this, couldn't he?
—This is my punishment, right, God? —Len whispered to himself, looking at the sky with disdain—. I deserve it for be a warlock, it's true, but don't think you can gloat, old man; I don't regret anything in what I did: I did it for Rin, and if I must go back to disguising myself as a woman to see her free and happy, I would do it again. Did you hear me ...? —Although he said the last ting hesitant and embarrassed—. Just to see that beautiful smile that has and that doesn't compare to anything else…
Len should have died of shame and cut his tongue if he had noticed that the person for whom he was justifying all his sins and faults to the Creator was just behind him, half hidden in the doorway.
—Rin was the only reason why I kept my sanity and gave me strength to continue. Her. Only her. Yes… I know it was wrong to lie in bed and kiss her every night; but I don't regret it at all. But… if she wants to be happy with another… I should accept it, right? I want her to be happy. I love her more than anything, and I do not give a damn that is my sister and I must roast in Purgatory for that.
The blonde was amazed, keeping a hand against her mouth to avoid letting out a moan, unable to believe what she was hearing of this divine protest: In all this time Len had loved her, not as a sister, but as a woman. Then… it wasn't a hallucination: Once… Rin had dreamed that a man sang a beautiful and melancholy song in her ear and then kiss her; those lips didn't taste as an eggplant… Tasted like bananas. And who eat more bananas than a monkey, but Len? She felt a sense of almost infinite happiness, looking at her twin's back. She smiled mischievously: She got an idea
—Len…
The poor former servant almost died of a heart attack. He turned so abruptly that he almost hurt his neck. He rubbed it while staring with wide eyes at the sudden appearance of his sister.
—R-Rin…—Len stammered, his face with a darker shade of red, fortunately the darkness hid him. —. What the hell are you doing here? We-weren't you with Mikuo? Since when are you here?
—Humm, a few seconds ago—Rin replied, pretending innocence, having a great deal of fun with making her brother blush. Remembering Meiko's advice: "Just don't be so direct and let everything take its course", caressed a project: — I didn't know where you were, you had me worried. What a beautiful sight, don't you think? — She said, pointing to the moon, rubbing against Len, causing him a chill. Internally she smiled—. Why did you leave, Len?
—Because… —"Come on Len, tell her" said a small voice in his head. "Are you crazy?" said another voice, very similar to Kaito's: "Don't be stupid, invent an excuse, Lenny, say that…" —…I don't know to dance. Come on, laugh at me.
—I don't laugh at you, Len—Rin replied sweetly. "Nice excuse" she thought "Although it might be useful..." She adopted a tender and compassionate look—. Many people don't know how to dance. But it's very easy: Do you want me to teach you?
—Eh, well… I... —But Rin had already come closer to him, staying face to face. How she had fun, and at the same time, how afraid she was! Rin dispelled those bad thoughts and concentrated on her goal. Len babbled again: —. But Rin… there's no music here…
—That didn't stop us before. —With this phrase, Rin reminded him of those games-dances like "Kagome-Kagome" which they played as children… But they were not children anymore. They were teenagers: Full adolescence, and with it, feelings on the surface…
—Surround my waist—Rin whispered. Nervously, Len obeyed and put an arm around his companion's delicate little waist. The blonde shuddered at that contact. She placed a hand on her brother's shoulder, urging him to tighten more. She interlaced her free hand with Len's other, now with both faces flushed. —And now… let yourself go. —And with this, Rin started swinging from one side to the other. Len managed to imitate her, at first somewhat clumsy, for fear of accidentally stepping on her foot.
Soon the shyness was replaced by laughs. Both let themselves be carried to the beat of an imaginary music, coming from the inside of their hearts. In one part of the dance, Rin leaned against her partner's shoulder, trying to hide a nervous giggle. Len had never felt so happy. He surrounded his sister's body with his arms, completely glued to each other. So close… so close to doing his greatest wish: Rin's lips, pink and soft, a few inches away from him… It was too good to be real. He should talk, let her know…
On the other hand, Mikuo's words came back to him: "Are you siblings?" Ugh, there it was again… This wasn't right. Rin was his sister, his family, the only living person he had left. It seemed as if he wanted to take advantage of her, just getting out of her trauma, but it wasn't like that!
What could he do? Protect Rin from his sin? Give up to her, after all he spent and let her go? Or rather send everything to hell, kiss her once and don't give her to anyone? He didn't want Rin to be contaminated by his faults, he wanted to protect her… That would be the right thing to do, wouldn't it? Why is it always easier to do the wrong thing? Why he cannot take a damn decision for Rin's sake...? ...And why was Rin approaching him that way...?
—Rin, I…
As if propelled by an unknown force, Rin took the last impulse: She stood on tiptoe a few inches and gently brushed her brother's lips. Her heart and stomach turned. She felt a box of fireworks explode inside her. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for him to respond, or would Len push her away from him? It couldn't be… She had just heard his feelings…
Poor Len was catatonic at first, but then he threw all moral and guilt overboard and embraced her with all his strength, returning the kiss with a passion that overwhelmed everything. It was a dream come true: Rin, in his arms, surrendering in a kiss like no other. It was simply love. Natural, human and real, without any witchcraft or satanic pact to support it. Overflowing happiness, Rin buried her hands in the golden hair of her twin. They heard a door be closed… They didn't care in the least.
This was their first kiss, the best, the most especial… The one that erased all bad memories with fire, and was the preamble to other better ones…
But not everything lasted forever. After lasting several minutes in that ecstasy, they separated slowly. Rin blushed enormously at what she had done and turned her face away, embarrassed by such an audacious act.
—Well… I…
—Don't say anything— Len whispered, placing a finger on her lips, delineating them. —, then the moment is ruined.
—Is this close to what you were talking about just 20 minutes ago? —Rin muttered mockingly. Len blushed and looked at her with mock reproach.
—You were spying me?
— Who forced you to talk loudly…?
Len realized his comical attitude and laughed with happiness. He pulled her into his arms again and kissed her so long time that she nearly choked.
...
—And well…? —Meiko said maliciously when she saw them return, after several minutes. —Where have you been? You guys missed Bakaito's show: Eat three lemon sundaes at once!
—We… we were walking— Len whispered serenely.
—Walking! Nice place and nice hour for that! —Meiko answered jovially, pated Len on the back and smiled at Rin. Although she blushed, she returned the smile—. Nee, Rin, by the way: Did you have any luck with that boy?
—What boy? —Kaito was surprised.
Rin smiled widely. She had caught the emphasis that Meiko had used on "that" and that confirmed one thing: Meiko-nee had seen them kissing on the railing. Although that made her feel very embarrassed for a moment, she was relieved that she didn't consider them sick, like any other sane and sober person: "God bless the beer" the blonde thought (3)
—That's right, Meiko-nee—Rin said softly, leaving the poor Kaito even more confused than before and her twin somewhat disturbed—. I had lucky with that boy, so there's no need you to break his nose.
"Meiko was going to break my nose?!" thought Len horrified. And the face he put on just thinking about it made both women burst out laughing.
—Hey! I don't get the joke! — Kaito exclaimed, puffing up his cheeks, feeling out of place.
—It's nothing, Kaito-nii. And now excuse me, but I'd like to retire to sleep.
—Sweet dreams, Rin—The chestnut woman wished her—; Hey Len, shouldn't you… accompany her? —She added, using double meaning on purpose.
If it was true that what Meiko had just seen was repulsive to the average Christian, not to our favorite alcoholic: As strange as it is, she knows that in the heart all is allowed and besides, Meiko felt a perverse pleasure living other's loves; and if these were forbidden, better.
—Have a good time, you two—Len wished them, also about to retire to accompany Rin to her room—. Don't make a lot of noise, please.
—You too as well, okay? —Meiko replied jokingly. Len smiled at her in appreciation and with his eyes said: "I do not think it will happen tonight, Onee-san." They said goodbye and disappeared down the stairs.
Meiko sighed and leaned back with a wide smile of satisfaction. Ah, juvenile love! Beautiful age, the truth…
Although what her blond little guests had just done was unseemly, she wasn't going to say anything. Send them to the Inquisition? That would be very horrible by her part, and ungrateful, since was practically Len who had freed her (Yes, Kaito helped too…) She brought another bottle of sake to her lips: She had also heard that drinking alcohol was considered a sin. "We will all go to hell for one reason or another" She had told annoyed to the parish priest who confessed her on one occasion.
She awoke from her reverie when she was gently shaken by her companion.
—Hey Meiko, what did I miss...?
—Bah! It's nothing, Bakaito—Meiko mused sensually, pulling her husband's scarf suggestively towards her, leaving him blushing. —Why don't you better make me the Naked Scarf…?
Shade: It was time for some sweetness with our Kagamine twins! And believe me, we have JUST begun.
Glossary/Author's Note:
(1) Ateliesta comes from a song by Rin and Len called "In the Ruined City, Ateliesta" [Link: watch?v=oXavkIWdzmo]
(2) In the possible traumas caused by a rape, and more if it's frequent, they are the following ones: to develop paraphilias and extreme sexual behaviors, from repression or sexual addiction.
(3) Free advertising: (XD) Slogan owned by Neko C. XD