MoNoChRoMaDdiCt here with another chapter of Proof of Life!

Thanks for the reviews, favorites and follows :3

So~ this chapter is dedicated to: kAlEIdIOscOpIc

Because she is my beloved cousin and this is a birthday present for her. Though it is very~ late Dx

Review Replies at the bottom

Rated: T, Mystery/Hurt-Comfort + Romance

Rin x Len x ?

Feel free to give constructive criticism it has been a while since I've written I probably need to improve.

Disclaimer: I do not own Vocaloid, its characters or songs or anything but the story idea. I also do not own any of the songs or lyrics referenced within this fanfic.

Enjoy~

Chapter 3: Kuro Neko

Sunlight shone through the blinds of an upstairs window casting rays upon the shelves and floor of the dark room. It was a perfectly kept place looking as if it had never even known dust. Books were stacked neatly in their spot even arranged in an alphabetical order for easy picking.

Below the bookshelf, on the top of a dresser, beautiful pink and white flowers sat in a sparkling crystal vase, each turning their petals upwards to greet the sunlight hitting it just right from the way they were settled. The owner certainly knew how to take good care of the plants.

The bureau and bedside table were made of fine wood that still had its new sheen as if it had recently been purchased. Each was veiled in black lace fabrics perhaps made of some sort of crochet. On the top of the table there was a lamp, off at the moment with a lamp shade that made it look like stars were in the room, like a piece of the cosmos had entered there.

If only the stars on the ceiling would grant wishes.

The bed was made up, with black sheets of a gorgeous silk and two fluffed pillows. Another shelf sat above the bed where a few frilly bows and hair accessories sat between photographs. Each one was also black, like the three rugs atop green carpet.

In the kind of symmetry that would satisfy even death, everything was organized very neatly. A row of pictures angled towards the center of the shelf displayed smiling faces of a few children. The outer most pictures showed the younger years, as if by following along the path you could literally see the owner of the room growing up.

The center most pictures were adorned in the shiniest of metal frames, standing out above the others. Only two people's faces were reflected back in the pictures; one a grinning blonde boy with two shining pools of blue-green for eyes, the other a stunning beauty with strangely colored locks.

The two looked very happy smiling at the camera with their arms looped around each other. The second picture displayed the same two dressed similarly in school uniform and holding up plaques. They had both won an award that day.

The door to the neat room opened and a girl entered. Walking swiftly and knowingly to the closet on the opposite side of the room she removed a well pressed blazer and skirt. She slipped on the jacket over a white button up and yellow sweater vest. Then stepped into the same colored skirt fastening it over shorts she already wore.

Closing the closet door completely she then moved to a floor length mirror directly next to it and lifted two long black knee high socks from the neatly folded pile upon a bench. Her hair hung over her shoulder, areas of it longer in the front than the bobbed look in the back. Pulling each sock on, she then evened them out and placed the shoes on the rug below her before looking up.

Green eyes met her reflection, but she saw no color in them. Butterfly like lashes circled her eyes making them stand out against her paled skin. She stared at the person in the mirror for a moment and withdrew a red ribbon from her pocket. She looked at the little piece of fabric for a short while before tilting her hand and allowing it to fall onto the bench.

Turning to the bed-stand, she took one of the black ribbons and tied it into a bow around her collar, replacing the one that should have gone there. Graceful fingers moved to the buttons of the blazer, moving all the way up the coat until none of the clothing underneath shown. Returning to the mirrors gaze again she stared within the glass and withdrew with a satisfied smile.

Turning her head to the door as if she had heard some unknown noise, she quickly slipped her feet into dark shoes, tapping them against the floor and fled from the room. As the door closed behind her it fluttered the curtains a part of the room not dyed in black, revealing another table with a newspaper clipping on it. It looked a little faded, and torn, the words hard to make out as if it had water dropped onto it.

The headline was still mostly visible.

.

.

.

Written in a bold font

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.

.

"Boy Found Dead in His Own Room"

Chapter 3

"I need to find out how I died."

Was it just her or did the atmosphere get really tense all of a sudden? She couldn't help but be startled. This boy, who had before been so calm and inexpressive, looked so serious as he said those words that Rin merely stared at him.

Len saw the look and returned it with one of confusion. "Oh, is that going to be difficult?" he asked. His eyes shifted to the floor and then back up to Rin who quickly snapped out of it.

"Wha!? Y-Yes! I mean no. No of course not." Running a hand through her still damp hair, Rin reminded herself that he hadn't even known he was dead until then. She felt stupid for reacting so dramatically, or at least it seemed so to her. Len looked confused still, making Rin sigh. "No it won't be something difficult at all, I'm just tired! You can't expect me to function properly when I haven't slept in too long!" she huffed.

Len blinked tilting his head in one way that made him seem strangely like an animal. Rin found the look, oddly cute. 'Ahhh~ I'm just too sleepy,' she thought countering her previous opinions. "It's not an issue. Besides the important thing is to figure out how we're going to find this all out."

Len could have been dead for ages, Rin didn't know and he certainly wouldn't be able to remember such a thing. Perhaps they could try a library and look for articles with him in it, if it wasn't too far in the past. Rin glanced at Len who stared back at her, and she realized he wasn't able to hear her thinking, she should speak aloud.

"Ah I'm just thinking of some ideas of what to do" she informed him with a weak wave of her hand as if she was some queen dismissing her subjects. Rin began tapping a finger against the left side of her face as she went into more thought about the subject. "How would you find out information like that? Police? The morgue?"

Len's shoulders lifted and fell again in a shrug. "I don't know…" he spoke softly blinking again. His eyes showed that he was trying hard to think and yet couldn't come up with an answer. Which made Rin think; he must have been gone for quite some time to forget all of his life.

"Ah right of course you don't silly me." She raised a hand to her mouth stifling an incoming yawn. Dropping her hand again, "Ah, why was I given such an incompetent ghost?" she groaned looking up towards the ceiling as she stretched her arms above her. Rin shivered slightly and moved to tear the covers from the bed to wrap around herself as she continued to think.

Len made no reaction to her insult except to almost apologize before remembering that Rin had told him not to anymore. His cerulean eyes traveled around the room, as if trying to find anything that would jog his own memory. Tucking her knees to her chin, Rin pulled the blanket in tighter as she watched Len through her fringe.

"Well I guess we can try them all, so long as it doesn't take too much time. I don't want people making weird assumptions about me when I only just got here." She closed her eyes for a minute and opened them again seeing Len had moved from the window to a picture frame.

Another yawn escaped the tired teen and she rested her head a top her knees. Len turned from the pictures Rin couldn't see from her position and looked at her. At first she thought he would be apologizing for having been wandering about her room without permission, not that she cared. However Len had other thoughts.

"You're tired."

No duh Sherlock! Rin wanted to give a comeback but she could barely keep her eyes open. "It's fine if I use up all my strength" she mumbled sleepily. "I'll just sleep a lot later." She shifted her position to where she left her phone and looked at the screen. It was past four at this rate dawn would come and night would pass by her quickly.

"You should sleep. I can leave."

She nodded dropping the phone onto the mattress and then snapped her head up. "What?" her comfortable and warm blanket slid from her shoulder with the action as she saw Len moving back towards the window. Geez use a door like normal people.

He paused, turning his blonde head back. "Don't tire yourself out thinking of this, it's better to try when you are more awake." He clarified. "I don't want to disturb you so I'll go." He offered.

Rin shook her head, spraying her blankets with left over water. "You don't have a place to go though, since you don't remember." Len nodded slowly. "Well then it's not like it's too big a deal for you to stay here. I-I mean as long as you don't stare at me. If you do that I swear I really won't help you." She crossed her arms over her chest a defiant look but her eyes were hopeful.

"Is that alright..?" Len inquired turning his head from the path of the window.

Rin looked away. "It's not like I mind. Besides a house is better than that cemetery right? You can look at the books and such that I have, but nothing weird, got it!" she shot a finger in his direction.

"Yes. I got it."

Len replied straightening up, almost as if he was accepting it as orders from a high official. Rin's smile was interrupted by a third yawn. "Good" she pushed her covers around so that she could lie back against her pillows. Before she rested against them she looked at Len again.

"You know, you're probably the first one… I mean you know, 'ghost' that I've actually talked to." She admitted almost shyly. Len paused as he made to return to looking at the pictures. "Ah, I'm sorry, I don't know why, I just when I saw you there I just 'felt' like you were someone who could help me. Forgive me if I'm wrong." He bowed his head slightly.

Rin bit her lip but decided to ignore that he had apologized again. The words he said seemed to unnerve her somewhat. She pulled her covers up to her chin as she relaxed. "A forgetful ghost who is too nice for his own good, just 'feeling' like I can help. Wonderful, I must be really unlucky."

And with that she flipped herself over to her side, burying herself in the blankets and went to sleep.

She was standing in a dark place, the kind of darkness that you couldn't even see your hands in front of your face. It surprised her, as she jolted slightly alarmed by the fact. Was this related to Len's death, she wondered. Rin wasn't scared though; at least she kept telling herself that. Wishing for a way out of the black, suddenly she saw a light far above her and then one more and more.

Before she knew it there were millions of lights surrounding her in the no-longer shadowy place. The tiny lights were like stars in a cosmos overstretching above her. It made her eyes bright with interest as she peered around. Was she in some sort of observatory? Astrology had always fascinated her in a way other things couldn't. It was like a bit of knowledge if not proof that something else existed out there and made her feel better about being someone who saw ghosts.

Continuing to stare upwards, Rin looked around trying to pick out the different constellations. However, due to some odd reason they didn't seem to be there. Instead the stars were all spread out in a different pattern. As she tried to decipher it, a strange feeling grew in her stomach. It was like something was telling her to stop. Gulping once she decided to look away before biting that feeling. Who cared, she would look if she wanted to. But instead of seeing stars, Rin found herself looking upon some trees.

This was confusing, how did some trees suddenly appear? She questioned though she didn't speak. Thinking it a trick she rubbed her eyes twice and dropped her hands again for a second glance. It was still trees that caught her vision. Shrugging it off she assumed that they had always been there and it had been enough time for her eyes to have adjusted to the light.

The thing was, Rin couldn't remember how she got into a forest at all. It brought that strange feeling back in her and she unconsciously rubbed her arms. "It's just trees" she told herself many, many times. Yet, though the thoughts could be very convincing, it still didn't cease the eerie feelings that Rin was experiencing.

Deciding to find an exit, the blonde began walking around the trees. If there was anything that could jog her memory certainly she would see it at some point. After walking for a bit, she saw something or someone ahead of her. A shadowy shape stood not too far off.

"W-Who's there?"

Rin called out her voice having a slight shake to it. The figure though distant, did have a distinct shape. It was definitely a person and male from the looks. She couldn't see them clearly but in their lighted path she could perceive the way the glow made their hair shine. It was a blonde male, but who? Her first thoughts jumped to the one she remembered seeing previously.

"Len?"

Rin called out moving closer slowly. It was possible she could be wrong. The person lifted his head and Rin froze. 'His eyes' choking on a breath Rin froze in place staring ahead at the figure and then without another word or thought she started to run.

However running didn't seem to be getting her anywhere for as much as she ran the male seemed to just be getting more and more distant. It was like they were on a moving sidewalk. Rin reached out a hand grasping and stretching as far as she could. Yet, by some inevitability she couldn't seem to make it to the spot in the light where the male stood.

Unrelenting as she was, she wouldn't give up the chase, then just as she thought she could make it, just as time seemed to stop moving she found her legs being prevented from going forward. Looking down, Rin saw to her horror vines had wrapped themselves around her.

Unable to pry the tree roots from her feet, she could no longer keep chasing after the boy. The vines climbed her body wounding around her entire lower half. Seeing the boy ahead of her, turn to walk away she cried without any tears or the like.

'No-'

She couldn't move her legs at all, they were entirely tangled up.

"Oiiii Rinnie!~ It's your dad!"

'Huh Dad?' taken aback she looked around but didn't see the man.

"Rin pick up the phone!"

'Wait, where is that voice coming from? I can't move'

"I'm going to keep calling until you pick up~"

'Dad?'

Eyes flying open, Rin jolted upward. The forest was gone replaced with the not-so-familiar insides of her childhood room. She stared around her brain complete mush at the moment. Then she realized her phone was ringing. Looking around her bed wildly she couldn't seem to spot the vicious object. Trying to reach for the table beside the bed she realized that her legs were wrapped up in her blankets.

RIIIIIIIIIIIING

"Okay! I'm coming hold your noise for a moment!"

Rin yelled to the phone while pulling and undoing the blankets which had tangled themselves around her legs. As she finally got free she jumped for the table where her phone sat ringing for a third time. She flipped open her phone.

"WHAT?!"

Rin's angry morning voice greeted the unlucky person on the other line.

"Oh! Looks like I got the Wild-Cat side of my daughter this morning." The answering voice of her father chuckled from the speaker.

"D-Dad?!"

"Yes. It is I your father. Are you fully awake yet or do I need to call you a few more times?"

Rin's cheeks puffed out in irritation. "I'm awake! What are you calling for?"

Her father sounded hurt. "I can't just call to talk to my beloved daughter? I haven't seen you in so long."

Rin sighed, adjusting her legs over the bed and looking around the empty room. "It hasn't been that long… but okay. What's up?" she spoke slightly irritated having really just been woken.

"I was just calling to tell you that you left your school things behind. I won't have time to mail you any so you'll have to buy new supplies and such. I've already informed Haku about this so-"

"Wait what?!" Rin interrupted his speaking jumping to her feet.

"Haku, we've been over this Rin. Haku is your mother."

"Not that!" she ran a hand through her messy and knotted hair. "School!? What are you talking about? I don't go to school here!" she reminded him. Her father could get quite forgetful. At least he was smart enough to let her do the shopping or she would be left without her oranges.

"Of course school honey! Don't worry, I've already called in and got you enrolled you'll start tomorrow."

"T-Tomorrow!? Wait, what?! I don't get this; I already told my teachers that I was taking a break." Rin was confused, scratching at her messy nest called hair. "Dad! I can't go to school here!" she complained.

"Of course you can. It's right near your old school so it's not hard to find at all. I'm sure you will adjust nicely. We even made sure to order you a uniform early so you should be able to wear it. Haku probably has everything set for you."

"I'm not going to school here!" Rin couldn't believe it, it was all THAT woman's doing. Normally her father wouldn't think of something like that, it was Rin's own job to get up, get ready and go to school since he was often working early. SHE must have put him up to it.

Her father's voice changed tone, no longer the silly slightly scatter-brained voice he usually had but the voice of a stern father. "Rin Hitoshi, you will do as I say whether you like it or not. You are going to school. I won't have you losing all the information in your head for these three months. Education is an important part of a growing child's life. You will go to school tomorrow and that is final!" with that his voice went quiet.

Standing there, one hand stuck in her own locks, Rin merely blinked shocked. Finally she sighed, "Yes, Dad" her reply was an unwilling one but she knew that she still had to listen to him or the consequences would be terrible.

"Good girl! I'll be calling the school tomorrow to make sure you attended!~" the phone clicked off, prompted by his end leaving Rin with only a low buzzing sound. Heaving another sigh she dropped her arm and bottom to the bed at the same time.

"How unfair~" Rin groaned falling back against her rumpled covers. Staring up at the ceiling for a moment she thought about the strange dream. It seemed real enough to her, just about in the same way ghosts were.

'Ghost's! Len!'

Springing up again, her hands free of any blonde strands she looked around for the pale blonde boy. But she didn't see any sign of him. Not near the window or the books she had pointed him to. Frowning slightly she wondered where he had gone.

"Humph it's not as if it really matters. He can do what he wants; he doesn't have to tell me."

Although she said that she found herself feeling somehow dejected. 'It's all THAT woman's fault' Rin reminded herself. She would show her. Standing up again Rin went for the door, passing a mirror above the dresser she halted. Perhaps it would be better to brush it before going downstairs to meet her foe.

Stomping on her way down, in a horse-like fashion Rin with hair neat and bow attached made an effort to make as much racket as possible for the unsuspecting beast somewhere on the lower level of the house. Surely she would learn not to mess with Rin.

Prancing into the kitchen with a triumphant grin Rin found herself not face to face with a silver haired woman, but a piece of paper attached to the fridge with a cat shaped magnet.

"Huh?"

Moving forward slowly to inspect it, aka read it Rin found that to her discontent the woman she intended to seek revenge on wasn't present in the house.

Went out. There is food in the fridge to cook for breakfast. I left some money on the table for school supplies. Won't be back till late.

-Haku

Tearing the note and crumpling it at once Rin tossed it with a fury to the trash can across the room, only to miss it by a yard. With a roar of anger she bent to retrieve it to dispose of it properly. Moving to the table she saw, amid a bunch of newspapers, another piece of paper reading only "House key" with a few bills and a key atop it.

Ignoring it for now, Rin looked around. Well, at least she could enjoy her morning without having to worry about how to behave around Haku. Not hungry as of yet, the blonde got an idea. Why not try some exploring.

Rin moved from the kitchen back into the hall and looked down the long space that led to the rest of the lower floor. Upstairs was pretty much the same would it be similar for the rest? She could only find out. Walking along the hallway Rin observed the walls and doors leading to separate rooms.

The living room was closest to the kitchen having a sort of window separating the two rooms rather than a wall. From this you could watch TV while still eating in the kitchen. It was an idea her father came up with when making the layout for their house. She wasn't too into watching TV at her age though. Passing up the living room she came to another door which led to a rest room.

Rin ignored those doors seeing that they would have nothing of value to her. Nor did she want to be caught in Haku's domain. After a turn and a shorter hall she arrived at a room for washing clothes. Two doors remained through the coming hallway. One was a linen closet set aside for towels another one like it was on the second floor. Rin came to a stop at the last door on the hall.

"What room was this again?" she thought aloud. Reaching a hand forward she made to turn the doorknob but before her hand reached it.

"What are you doing?"

Rin leaped back a look of guilt on her features. "I-wasn'-" she broke off realizing that it wasn't Haku who had spoken so suddenly.

"L-Len?!"

"Hmm? Yes Rin-san?"

The ghost boy she met the night before stood in the hallway with her, feet just ever so slightly off the floor as he looked at her with a blank look in his blue-green gaze.

Cheeks red from her mistake, Rin turned her head away. "Geez get a bell or something. Can't you like give me a warning? Don't just suddenly appear." She instructed.

"Ah But I didn't." he started

Grrrrrraaaaaaaarrrrrrggggum

A sudden noise made Len stop speaking. Rin's face went red and she wrapped her arms around her stomach. "Wh-What are you looking at?!" she shot at him.

The monster had awakened.

Sounds of cooking filled the room as Rin shuffled about the kitchen sporting a white apron with yellow hearts. It was small but still fit her just fine. She grumbled unintelligibly to herself as she bored over a pan holding a half made omelet-rice. (1)

Len stood near the table looking down at the newspapers pilled there beside the bowl of fruits. His eyes wandered the words, facing upside down. Yet he didn't seem to be bothered maybe he could read it fine. As he continued to scan the page he suddenly gasped.

"AH!"

Started, from her cooking Rin jumped nearly knocking her food into the air. The furious blonde turned to face him, holding the spatula in one hand like a weapon. "What is it? You almost made me ruin my perfect breakfast! This had better be good!" she huffed.

Wide eyed and unfazed by Rin's anger Len simply pointed to the newspaper pile, his see-through hand hovering just above one of the pages. Curiosity filling her, Rin put down the spatula and moved towards the table to see what it was that Len was pointing at. If it was something uninteresting she swore she would slap him with her spatula whether it would go through him or not.

It was the thought that counted.

Spotting the exact one he pointed to Rin fished it from the pile, scanning the page with her own eyes as Len poked a finger at the page again, it slipping through the packet. A second later Rin seemed to have spotted what Len did.

"AH!"

She gasped herself. "Len Kagamine! It's talking about you!" she exclaimed, pulling the page closer to read it clearer.

"The funeral following the death of Len Kagamine, boy of only 17 will be held August 31st three days after his tragic death." She read. "August 31st! That was 3 weeks ago!"(2) Rin gasped. "You mean you only just died?!" she blurted her questions looking up at Len.

"If it says I did." He responded softly, not as surprised as her.

"Whaaaaat~ and here I've been thinking that you were someone who lived in the long ago past. Like when my great-grand mother was a child!" It was definitely news to her discovering that the ghost in the room with her was just a little older than she.

It also kind of explained how he didn't remember much. If he was freshly dead, she couldn't really blame him for not knowing anything about his life. However the knowledge was also helpful in a way for now it should be easier to investigate.

Looking up she remembered her food and tossed the paper, to, well through Len to run to the stove. To her luck she arrived in time before the breakfast could burn. Scooping the meal onto a plate she lifted the two platters and brought it to the table.

Placing one in front of the chair in front of her and another near to where Len stood staring at the paper on the floor. Pulling out her chair Rin took a seat clapping her hands together. "Itadakimasu!~" she chanted before grabbing her fork.

Looking up at Len she motioned to the chair. "Well what are you waiting for; it to grow mold? Dig in!" she began cutting off pieces of her own food before realizing Len hadn't moved. His stare had moved to the plate before the chair with confusion.

Rin slapped her head. "Oh! Sorry! I-I usually cook for my Dad. Guess I got carried away." She leaned over the table and grabbed the other plate bringing it closer to her. "Can't waste it I guess I'll just have to eat it." She mumbled moving back to eat properly.

'I forgot he can't eat…'

Rin thought, fork hanging lopsided from her mouth as she stared at her abundance of food. Swallowing a mouthful and cutting off another bite with her fork she looked at Len who was now looking at her with a sort of smile on his face.

Rin's cheeks warmed. "W-What?!" she accused. "Can't a girl enjoy a meal in peace? I told you not to stare at me anyways!"

Still with that sort-of-smile, Len turned to look the other way. Rin huffed, cutting off a smaller bite thinking Len was making fun of her or something.

The door shut with a clicking sound and Rin put the key in locking it and giving it an extra tug for good measure. Once satisfied she stepped back and down the elevated area near the doorway. Catching up to Len, who's form floated at the end of the driveway the two set off.

There was a slight chill in the air, so Rin was thankful for her three colored jacket with a single star dangling from the zipper. Her usual hair style was tied back into a ponytail and topped with her signature ribbon and she wore shorts with dark tinted leggings underneath finishing off the look with a pair of sneakers.(3)

She walked at a moderately slow pace holding the newspaper and a hand written shopping list in one of her hands. Beside her Len followed looking the same way he first appeared to her in a white shirt that nearly faded into nothing at places, with a tan colored long sweater that buttoned twice in the front. For the bottom, black pants that looked neat possibly belonging to a uniform or maybe he just dressed decently. Each of the items looked faded but that was probably because he wasn't exactly tangible.

Len's ocean-like eyes trailed to Rin as she appeared to be stomping rather than walking down the pathway and he blinked. "Do... you know where we are going?" he asked voice calm and nearly without any feeling.

Rin paused, flipping her head towards him with an offended huff. "O-Of course I do! I just have to remember where everything is in this town." she began walking again, although she seemed to be making more effort in her pace.

Yes, she had a few ideas as of where to go when it came to their pursuit but that wasn't the cause of her stomping. No, that was because she had received yet another call telling her to make sure to pick up school supplies and there was absolutely no way she could seem to avoid it as much as she didn't want to go to school.

She wasn't giving up though

'Rin Hitoshi does not give up!'

She thought dramatically fastening her pace again without realizing it almost starting to run. "If you move too fast aren't you sure to miss something?" Len's voice trailed to her snapping her from her thoughts. Rin stopped again, agitated already. "Don't lecture me. Why don't you be helpful and fly ahead or something so I know where were at!" she shot at him.

Len blinked confused mouthing the word 'fly' and blinking again as if he couldn't comprehend her words. Rin rolled her eyes. "Honestly you think the police station would be easier to find around here, I thought it was a small town." she said with a grimace and continued on staring at the ground, it was a few seconds later when she noticed Len wasn't following.

"Len! Hey Len." she tried and failed to gain his attention. "Asking me to do this and not helping at all... honestly what do you take me for..." Rin grumbled, with a sigh and nearly threw the papers she held into the air before stomping back over to the boy who had stopped and was staring with a blank look to the left.

"Hello, anyone home?" she inquired waving a hand in front of Len's vacant face making his eyes flutter and his body turn to her after a moment. "What?" his tone wasn't harsh but Rin took it that way.

"What do you mean what!? I am trying to help you and you aren't being any use at all!" she nearly shouted, grabbing at her hair in frustration. She really shouldn't be taking it out on him, but at the moment she wasn't really thinking of others well-being.

Len responded by turning his head back towards the left, making Rin confused. "What are you looking at? Look, if you want to find anything we have to get information first. So help me find the police station or something." she sighed again, smoothing the frizz she had created in her fringe.

"If it's the police station you're looking for... then we don't need to look anymore."

Len replied softly and glanced at her before glancing back in his previous direction. "Ugh, this is getting us nowhere!" Rin threw out her arms and spun back around to walk in her original direction but not before Len's arm shot out and she stepped right through it feeling a rush of ice cold air spike throughout her chest and abdomen.

"W-w-w-what was that for?" she stuttered shivering as she rounded on him only to notice that his arm was still out, his finger extended and pointing to the left of them. Giving Len the benefit of the doubt, Rin turned to look and her jaw dropped slowly open at the sight of the building standing there, they had been right outside of the entire time

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"

Drumming her fingers along the counter that she could barely reach, Rin was almost more irritated than she was when she initially left the house. She gave the two men behind said counter a menacing glare, well at least she thought it was.

"Unauthorized!" she spat. "What do you mean! This was in the newspapers, how am I unauthorized to receive any information!?"

"Miss you have to calm down or you will be throw out." the uniformed man replied in a deep monotone which only spiked Rin's anger. "If you are so concerned why don't you go read the newspapers you keep talking about?" he added with a slight smirk making Rin attempt to launch herself over the counter at him.

"Rin maybe we should look somewhere else. These guys don't seem to be releasing anything any time soon." Len offered earning a quick glance from the fuming blonde as she scrambled on the counter edge having not been successful in her attempts to reach the scoffing man behind it.

"If you can't help then shut up!" Rin hissed at Len, making the officer out of her reach call for assistance as if it were the last straw. Another man appeared quite literally out of nowhere, at least it seemed so to Rin who suddenly found herself lifted by her jacket and carried to the doorway by another officer who was twice the size of the first.

All her words were lost at once as he placed her down outside the door and went back inside closing the door in her face. "H-Hey! I'M A LADY! Don't lift me!" she shouted in vain as Len materialized beside her. "I did warn you." he spoke matter-of-factually.

""No one, asked you." she huffed and walked down the steps storming down the street as if she were a coming tempest. "Honestly" Rin spoke again as soon as her companion caught up. "They could have at least told me something instead of being so rude! Who do they think they are treating me that way?! I'm a delicate flower after all(4). I swear next time I see that guy I'm going to stuff soo~ many oranges down his throat he'll never be free of their citrusy taste! That'll teach him to mess with Rin Hitoshi!"

She cut off looking at Len who wore an amused look making her flush with embarrassment. "W-What did I say? It's highly possible, although I would never sacrifice such a thing on a jerk like that."

Len shifted his eyes shaking his head. "It's not that... uhm, You're making a scene." he motioned to the people who were staring at her strangely as they gathered on opposite sides of the street.

"Who is she talking to?"

"Is she speaking to herself?"

"In public...how weird.."

Rin's face slowly went red as she realized that she had been openly speaking aloud to Len, a person that no one else could see. Unless they saw ghosts like her, which was unlikely. So they obviously thought she was crazy.

Waving her hand awkwardly in a there's-nothing-to-see-here kind of way, Rin quickly hurried out of the area hoping that no one got some bright idea to follow her. After making it down the street she slowed down.

"Maybe use another method of speaking?" Len suggested moving beside her not tired of her constant change of gait. Rin's eyes widened and she stuffed her fingers into the pocket of her shots removing her cell-phone.

"Like this?" she questioned. Len blinked for a moment and then nodded. With a sigh Rin flipped open the phone and pressed it to her ear. "Got any ideas of where to look next?" she asked unsure, feeling kind of weird to be talking on a phone that had no one on the other line.

"Well the officer suggested reading the newspapers...so.. Library?"

"Library it is!"

She was a little more cheerful as she walked off again, Len observed.

"Aruuuuugh! Another lost cause! I must be really unlucky!" Rin groaned. Time had passed since their unfortunate trip to the Police Station and all the rest of the places seemed to have the same result...

None.

"Library closed, Book stores don't carry newspapers and no one seems to even know who you are. I swear this town hates me." she grumbled. "That's not true, perhaps we just aren't searching the correct place." Len replied softly maybe in an attempt to cheer her up. "Whatever, I'm tired let's rest." she resigned.

The two stopped outside a store which Rin decided to enter a moment later. The reason, those darn school supplies that she would get in trouble for not purchasing. Rin decided that she might as well buy some grocery items as well since she refused to eat anything THAT woman prepared.

So, stepping through the self-opening doors the two blondes began strolling through the isles as Rin gathered items into a basket she carried on her arm. Len followed along after her not saying anything to disturb her and paying attention to the world around them so he didn't accidentally walk through someone. He knew Rin didn't seem to like it so by assumption others wouldn't either.

Rin couldn't hold her phone and gather the items at the same time so neither of them was speaking to one another both lost in their own worlds. Just as Rin was trying to decide on a notebook to buy voices from another group drifted over.

"But I want the yellow one!" A child was complaining.

"He already has a yellow choose a different one. Maybe the stripes?" another voice suggested, presumably the child's mother.

Something about the situation made Rin freeze while reaching for a notebook. The situation seemed awfully familiar to her, a story in the same words, causing her arm to drop by her side a frown turning down her lips. 'Will I not notice it as it is?' she thought 'While I vowed that I would not even care about that'. Without warning a memory came to her.

"Do you know the reason Rin-chan was born for?"

"Huh?" Looking up from her toys the four year old Rin directed her attention to the speaker not clearly having heard them. "Whatcha mean?"

"I think Rin-chan was born to show the world her cute smiles because when Rin-chan smiles it's like watching the stars in the night sky." the person explained.

Rin tiled her head in confusion. "But, what about when it's day time or when there are no stars?" she wondered aloud making a worried expression.

With a small chuckle the other replied. "Then it's even better then, because you carry their brightness with you."

she puffed her cheeks still confused by the words that were spoken after a moment she looked back up. "Then what about you? What were you born for?" She asked innocently moving closer.

The speaker picked up a yellow and orange striped cup and took a sip of it before answering. The impatient Rin, moved closer again bouncing on her toes.

"To meet you, I was born for the sake of that."

came the reply. Rin's eyes sparkled in delight although she still found it confusing and she smiled widely. "Then I will definitely smile!"

Rin blinked as the store shelves became more clear to her and she chose a plain colored notebook standing back up. "Rin?" Len noticed her empty look and was about to ask what was wrong when another voice called out.

"LEN!"

Both blondes heads snapped up to find a girl rushing towards them. Clothed in black from head to toe, her shimmering green hair contrasted her appearance. In her hand she carried an umbrella which was unsurprisingly black making Rin think that she was like a black cat. Her eyes widened as she came to the realization. 'Did she say Len? Can she see him?' turning her head, Rin gave a sideways look to Len who had his eyes wide in surprise and mouth slightly open.

"Wait do y-" Rin was cut off as the girl reached them and threw her arms around Rin's neck enveloping her in a tight hug. "Wah!? W-w-w-what are you doing?!" she exclaimed completely stunned by the strange girl's advancements.

"Oh Len! I didn't think I'd ever see you again, I thought I would grow up and forget all about you and-"

with a short movement of her arm Rin gave her a little push making the girl look up at Rin properly. 'Wow, she's really pretty.' Rin noted feeling suddenly very inferior to the girl's obvious beauty. Dark eyelashes fluttering a few times the girl jumped back and bowed her head apologizing frantically.

"Oh my goodness I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to jump on you like that it's just I thought you were my... someone else and so sorry for mistaking you." she muttered growing flustered. Rin blinked twice as it dawned on her. No, she couldn't see Len. She thought Rin was Len.

WAIT WHAT?!

Rin was obviously a girl! How dare this pretty green-haired girl even assume anything otherwise. She didn't know whether to yell at the girl for her mistakes or inwardly sulk about the predicament later... Wait, she said Len so that means. She knows Len! It's a successful search after all!

"It's the ponytail you see and...Yeah so I'm sorry. I'll be going now." the girl finished her apology and turned to leave.

"Gumi..."

Len spoke by Rin's side watching the girl. Understanding fast Rin repeated the word, most likely her name, louder.

"GUMI!"

and the girl, Gumi stopped in her tracks and turned around in a slow manner simultaneously lifting her head to look at them, well Rin rather. "Yes?" she asked her tone different than moments earlier, guarded.

Rin paled, 'shoot! I'm not the one who knows her! What do I say?' Gumi was waiting though and Rin foolishly gave a forced laugh. "I think you were in my 3rd grade class" she said quickly. Gumi's expression hardened. "Third grade... I was home-schooled" she replied flatly.

Rin felt like she would sweat drop. 'Dammit Len help me!' she thought but the boy was still staring at Gumi with an unreadable expression. "Oh, maybe I mistook you as someone else" Rin chuckled nervously. "There was a girl, oh Rumi! the names are soo similar. My bad." she covered up hoping Gumi wouldn't be suspicious.

Her green eyes stared at Rin from the short distance as if she wasn't buying it for a second and then she burst into laughter effectively surprising the hell out of Rin. 'What did I do!?'

Gumi raised a gloved hand to her face as she laughed and moved forward, closer to them.

"We both mistook each other as other people." she explained upon seeing Rin's confused and worried look. Blinking a few times Rin started laughing as well and soon the two girls were having a giggle fit in the middle of the school supply isle.

And a friendship was born.

"Well I'm Gumi Nakajima." she held out a hand "and you are?"

"A-Ah. Rin. Rin Hitoshi."

Mild surprise flashed through Gumi's green orbs. "Rin, wow that's so similar to Len." she giggled softly, fondly. "You even look so alike you could be twins." she observed. Rin laughed at that glancing at the boy for a split second. "Ah ha no I-I don't have any siblings." she replied feeling a little nervous. Changing the subject she continued "So uh this Len.. was... I-Is he a good friend of yours?" she might as well see if she could get some information from her.

The smile on Gumi's face faltered and she looked down observing the handle of her umbrella. "Uh...you could say that." she nearly whispered. "Did you two have a fight or did he move away?" she pressed a little further. The greenete was silent for a moment before speaking softly.

"He's gone..."

she didn't say anything else and Rin could already sense the tension. "Ah, do you go to school around here? That's a uniform you're wearing right?" Gumi's head snapped back up and then down as she looked at her uniform. "More or less. I attend Shou High(5) and you?" she seemed confused after all the town was small so only one high school existed.

"Oh well, I just sort of moved back here, but I'll be going to school tomorrow what grade are you in?"

"I'm 17 and third year."

"Aww, so that means you're my Sempai!" Rin exclaimed feeling a lot better at the prospect of attending school now.

"Then I'll look forward to seeing you in school tomorrow Hitoshi-san." Gumi smiled.

"A-Ah just Rin is fine." Rin waved a hand feeling embarrassed at being addressed by her surname.

"Rin-san then. I should be getting back home now. It was nice meeting you have a nice evening." she announced with a small bow and turned to walk off.

"Uh! Yes! Bye!" Rin gave a short wave which Gumi returned and left the aisle. Stopping just at the end of it she looked back at Rin who appeared to be speaking to herself as she retrieved her items. Gumi sighed a melancholic look on on features. "You two are more alike than I thought...

…

Len"

"So who is Gumi anyways Len? The way you looked at her back there was like you were seeing a ghost- No offense!"

The two were walking back from the store, Rin carrying a few bags holding her school things and some foods she often ate. Lucky for them no one was around to see her 'talking to herself' as she had almost neared the house.

"I'm not sure..." he finally answered. "I know I recognize her and yet... I don't."

That didn't make any sense.

"She's...different than my memory serves me?"

"You're saying that like it's a question." Rin remarked. "Was she a close friend, your girl friend perhaps?" she spun around bags hitting against her legs as she stopped right in front of Len almost making him pass through her again.

"..."

He stared at her blankly and then walked around her. "What? It was a joke!" she huffed. "No way Len could get a girl that~ pretty" she teased. But Len said nothing in response making the remainder of the walk awkward.

Soon the blondes found themselves back within the confines of the house and after a quick search Rin discovered the 'monster' wasn't home yet, to her immediate delight. She put her items away and prepared a microwaveable meal for herself as she was too tired to cook something. Really she just wanted to avoid the mistake she made that morning.

Kicking back on the couch she ate her meal while Len stood by a chair on the opposite side of the room. It was quiet but that was fine, Rin preferred to eat without having to worry about talking at the wrong moment. Her thoughts trailed to the events of that day mostly Gumi and how mysterious she seemed. She probably knew more about Len than she was letting on, but Rin didn't want to force the answers out of her.

Perhaps it would be better to find out slowly. After all if she could spend time with Gumi at school chances are she would eventually warm up to Rin and tell her. It's not like Len was a huge bother to have around and he didn't seem desperate to find out what he wanted, so if she could have a slowly growing friendship Rin didn't see a problem with that.

Dropping her fork onto the empty tray she looked up at Len. "Hey Len, do you think Gumi considers me her friend?" she wondered.

The blonde boy appeared to be distracted staring into space with the same puzzled look he always wore.

"Leeeen~" she tried again.

"Huh?" his head snapped to her. "I'm sorry were you saying something?" Rin nearly face palmed. "I have never met a ghost who was such a space-case" she muttered "and polite. Didn't I tell you to stop apologizing so much?" she demanded though without much force.

He looked down as if ashamed and then back up. Standing from the cushions Rin moved to the other room tossing away the trash she could still see Len through the opened wall-like separation between the living room and kitchen.

"Hey" she looked to see if she still had his attention before continuing. "Can you do all those ghosty things?" she was curious. "Ghost-y?" Len cocked his head in a slightly adorable manner. "Yeah, you know like floating, moving things, making lights flicker, flying, picking up objects and throwing them, those ghosty things." she explained.

Len blinked and shook his head. "I haven't really figured them out..." he said honestly. Maybe he had tried or maybe he found no use for them. Rin could only hope he didn't ever use them against her, ghosts were scary enough just being able to see them. She didn't need to be afraid of him, although he seemed completely harmless.

After washing her hands, Rin made to return to the living room but a phone call stopped her short. With a roll of her eyes she flicked open the device not bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Yes, am I speaking to Rin Hitoshi?" a woman's voice responded it was mature sounding and ringing with authority making Rin shiver.

"W-Who is this?" she tried to keep the stutter from her voice and failed.

"I am Chief Meiko from the Police Department" the woman replied.

Rin froze, 'Chief?! Police?! No Way did those guys tell on me!? I swear I will get them!'

"Are you still there?"

"Ah yes? Mam, I didn't do anything wrong! I'm just an innocent high school girl!"

"You're not in trouble Rin." Meiko spoke informally "I was just calling to apologize for the lunkheads of subordinates I have." there was a loud sound followed by a yelp that made it sound like someone was getting beaten up in the background and then Meiko's voice reappeared.

"Sorry about that. I don't know why they treated you so harshly you can trust that justice will be served. About your request though..." she paused.

"Y-Yes?" Rin couldn't figure out why but this woman made her extremely nervous.

"Yes about the Kagamine kid's death. Well it's not like it's a secret file or anything... so I don't see a reason why you shouldn't know. In fact I'm surprised you don't already"

Rin's heart was beating fast, she was moments away from hearing exactly what she had been waiting for all day. Looking up at Len who had moved a little closer in curiosity Rin felt the urge to grin at him.

"Kagamine Len's death..."

…

The phone slipped from her fingers landing with a rough clack on the floor as Rin stared wide eyed across the room at the confused translucent boy she had just heard the answer to.

…

"Was ruled as Suicide"

Kuro Neko/Black cat is by Akagami. I used many references to this song as well as an English adaption for the lyrics by Berry Subs.

Footnotes

(1)Omelet-Rice: It's 11:05 PM as I'm tying and I really want to eat this right now. *Q*

(2) August 31st, that was three weeks ago: Two notes here. One: August 31st is Miku's birthday. I chose this day only because Len was supposed to die in August and I couldn't find any important Vocaloid related days in August. Second: Three weeks ago. Just confirming for readers, the day that Rin arrived in town was not the same day as the funeral for Len.

(3) I suck at explaining clothes, so this is her 'Juvenile' outfit for anyone who was wondering.

(4) delicate flower- reference to Mekaku City Actors, a line from Takane.

(5) Shou High: Due to the fact that the uniform choice I made was from 'Orange' by ShounenT, I chose to have the school name be based on it. So "Shou" from "Shounen" yup. Lame~ me coming up with names. XD

Review Replies

ResonanceLullaby (Guest): You lost your password. That really sucks, why not just make a new account? xD Reviews are still reviews though. Thankyuu, I like this story a lot so I hope I can update faster than the other one. I loved your art it was so creative and fit my expectations almost perfectly. The other entries were great as well. If it weren't for the fact that I am such a slow writer I would award all of you. My cousin made the cover for this one, and put so much hard work into it. I need to thank her more. She probably deserves a prize as well x3 Here is the update! Thanks for your support

(Guest): I will, but I am no energizer bunny, more like a turtle xD Here is the update!

Rin's Len (Guest): What an enthusiastic review xD You can hug Len all you want, I have to warn you though. You will end up passing right through just like Rin's hand. Nice user name btw. Len should always belong to Rin; I won't have it any other way. Thanks for the review! Here is the update!

Afiction: That game, I don't know it. The "ghost unfinished business thing" I kind of thought it was just a general idea people associated with ghosts. If it isn't then I guess I got it from the TV show "Ghost Whisperer". Ah Tokyo Teddy Bear, I was wondering how many of my readers started from reading that one. Yes, I do aim to continue it, but it won't be right away. I am still trying to get back to a more normal writing pace. It took me over a month to update from chapter 1 to 2 of PoL so once I can get up to faster updates I will start writing TTB again. Thanks for reading!

The Hatsune Miku: Ah thanks but I don't really like oranges xD Ah so people still read that story. I need to update it, it's been forever. I just haven't wanted to write it at all. Thank you for liking my style of writing though. Here is the update!

Question of the Chapter: Did anyone know it was Gumi before this chapter?

Constructive criticism is welcome! Review PLEASE!

~ MoNoChRoMaDdiCt