A/N: Goddamn you, educational establishment. Taking away all my fanfiction time... -shakes fist-

Song by the wonderfully creep-tastic Lady Gaga.

This one's a little confusing. The sections that are in italics are flashbacks.

–

You and I:

Two years.

Rin glanced up at the Vocaloid household. It's been two years since she and her brother had left this place, hungry for travel and whatever else the world could offer. They left Japan and their friends behind, only keeping in occasional contact whenever they crossed their minds. To be honest, the two siblings hadn't really thought that much about what their extended family had been doing all this time. They were too busy living for themselves. A few weeks ago, however, they decided that it was time to go back home. They got their taste of life, and now they missed what they once had.

Even with each other, it had been lonely.

Len gripped his sister's hand in his own, and she turned to smile at his comfort. Like herself, the male Kagamine had grown in the last years, if not physically, then mentally. The two blondes grabbed their bags before approaching the large door that brought back so many memories.

–

"God-freaking-dammit!" Rin cursed, kicking the closed front door. Awesome. She and her lover would forget their keys in the middle of a thunder storm. Through her wet bangs, she glared up at the purple-haired man, as if he were reason she was soaked to her bone and cold out of her wits.

He smiled gently at her, shaking his head—and spewing water from his long hair in the process—in an amused manner, as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. With a scowl marring her pretty features, she promptly flipped him off. Asshole.

The man ignored it, however, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards his car. She resisted at first, but soon realized that his dry car would be better, so she went along with him.

He unlocked the door as quickly as possibly, and they climbed inside hurriedly. Rin was still shivering. Stupid old car, took forever to heat up.

Her boyfriend noticed, and quickly pulled her over to his side so that he could hold her. She shivered again, because he was just as cold as she was. Blushing prettily, she tugged at his wet shirt. "Survival 101," she murmured in an embarrassed fashion, "Take off your clothes."

–

Shaking her head, she rose her hand, knocking on the door loudly. It was midday—someone was bound to be up and about around the house by now. She had only hit the wood once before the entrance flung open and a pair of arms engulfed her and Len in a hug. Teal hair covered her eyes as she felt wet droplets hit her shoulder.

Dropping her bag, she eagerly wrapped her arms around Hatsune Miku, still her best friend in the whole world. Miku began talking to her, too fast and loud for Rin to actually understand, so the blonde started talking, too. The words jumbled together in high-pitched squeals, soon attracting attention from the others. One by one, each Vocaloid ended up at the door, showering the two previously missed members with hugs and kisses and stories. The overwhelmed blonde's heart twisted painfully at how much she really missed all them.

At the back of the room, she saw long purple hair for a moment before it disappeared around a corner and into the kitchen.

–

The blonde girl sat on her suitcase, overflowing with clothes and other essentials, trying to zipper it while atop the bag. It was the only way the stubborn thing would close. Her weight, it seemed, was not enough for it, though.

Her bedroom door creaked open, and in came Kamui Gakupo. The stupid, narcissistic, flamboyant man she just so happened to be head over heels for. "What are you doing?" he asked, surprised. He was in his pajamas, and she assumed that he had wanted to spend the night. Apparently, it would be difficult, given the fact her suitcase and other bags were strewn across her bed.

Rin turned around. "Oh, yeah. Me and Len are going on a trip next month. Sorry I forgot to tell you." That was a lie. She'd been too much of a baby to say anything to him about it earlier. She didn't want to say or do anything embarrassing. Like tell him that she would miss him and cry in his arms. That was a big no-no.

She heard him sigh, and could practically see him crossing his arms over his chest and wrinkling his nose in what she had dubbed his Rin-this-isn't-funny-and-I-really-wish-I-could-hit-you-but-I'm-a-gentleman pose. He asked in a low voice, "How long are you going to be gone?"

She shrugged, still not facing him. "Dunno. A while. Probably more than a year," she answered. She turned slightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. His fingers were clutching on his arms tightly, and shadows fell over his eyes from his hair. He was standing stiff, at his full height, and he. actually looked... kind of intimidating like that. Averting her gaze once more, she approached her vanity, grabbing perfumes and make-up.

Suddenly, two arms trapped her in. She turned, ready to give Gakupo a piece of her mind, but the look on the normally go-lucky man's face made the words die in her throat as he leaned down, kissing her roughly, and not at all like he usually did. Before she could punch herself for thinking she could differ Gakupo's moods by his kisses, she noticed something important.

His mouth was on her own desperately, as if trying to convey a message. While he seemed like a mellow person, Gakupo was actually just as prideful as her.

He wasn't going to ask her to stay.

–

Rin sighed, spinning around in her old bedroom. It still looked the same—orange painted walls, an oversized bed pushed into the corner. Her vanity sat on the other side of the room, and desk across from it which held all her musical things. A dresser was next to her vanity, and her closet was across from her bed. A bean bag chair sat in the center. The room was very neat. So unlike herself. Heaving a sigh, she swung her suitcase into the room, shutting the door carefully behind her so that she could begin unpacking.

So many memories, in this one little space. It was hard to separate them. At this point, they blurred together with her recent adventures.

She almost regretted leaving.

She scowled at no one in particular. Why would she feel guilty over it? It was an amazing opportunity, and she met many new people and had fun. In fact, she wouldn't mind returning to the States someday, where she discovered that New York was very promising. The loved the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

Deciding to unpack later, she opened her door and made her way down the long, quiet hall way. She looked out a window, and noticed it was around sunset. She'd been reminiscing with everyone for hours now. The silence was strange—not what she was used to anymore, after jumping from hotel to hotel, meeting people just like her, trying to stumble their way into life.

Shaking her head, she rubbed the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb. She was becoming a damn philosopher now. How lame.

Rin quietly tiptoed down the stairs, not really wanting another montage of hugs and tears from her family. She had enough embraces and cuddles to last a life time, thank you. Not that she didn't appreciate the love; she did, but she could only take so much at a time.

She turned left once she hit the bottom of the stairs, toward the living room. She could hear voices, but they sounded like they were coming from the TV, so she assumed it was safe. Entering the room, however, she saw a mass of long, purple hair hanging over the back of the couch, as well as an arm. He probably couldn't see her, though, because he was facing the opposite direction and the lights were off, only the TV illuminating the space.

She stopped immediately, though. Gakupo had been strangely quiet the whole reunion, smiling, but not all there. To see him in such a familiar position made her freeze.

–

The small blonde girl stomped angrily to the couch, where her boyfriend was laying about lazily. What an ass. He never seemed to do anything other than watch the damn television nowadays! It irked her to an insane degree. It was the middle of the night. He should be sleeping. (Or be with her, but she'd never say that out loud.)

Rin maneuvered around the couch, standing in front of the man with her arms crossed in front of her angrily. Gakupo looked up at her in curiosity before craning his neck around her to see the TV. She stomped her foot.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked, sweeping her eyes over him and not bothering to be quiet. Everyone was either out of the house, sleeping, or drunk. She knew she wouldn't wake anybody. Gakupo himself looked ready for bed, in a pair of sweatpants and shirtless. She tried to ignore this.

He smiled up at her sheepishly. "Watching a show... Why?"

Glaring at him, she announced, "You've been sitting on this couch for days. Get up and do something proactive."

The jerk's smile was a little more confident this time. "Oh, Rin," he said on a faux sigh, "Don't tell me that you actually miss me?"

Heat rushed to her cheeks as she stuttered out a negative answer and an insult. Gakupo ignored her, reaching forward to grab her by her wrist, uncrossing her arms in the process while pulling her to sit on his lap so that he could wrap his arms around her.

"Why would I ever miss you?" she murmured under her breath, still blushing. God, what was it with this man? "I mean, it's not like I'm in love with you. O-Or anything..."

The purple-haired man finally tore his gaze away from the program, even going as far as to pick up the remote and turn the television off. Huh. That was weird. He stared at her, and she shifted uncomfortably in his lap. "Wh-What?" she shot in embarrassment.

"Nothing," he answered, still staring at her in wonder. "You know, that was the closest you ever were to admitting that you were in love with me."

She blanched. "What do you mean, 'admitting?' There's nothing to admit!"

He didn't say anything, just gave her a smile that made her heart thunder in her chest. They sat in awkward silence for a moment. "Hey, Rin?" he finally said.

"Mm?"

"I love you."

The blonde didn't get a chance to react. His mouth was on her. He was on her, and she was on him. Tongues and hands wandered, clothing being discarded as the nuisances they were, and finally they were bare, pure, together, and she was happy.

As she lay her head on her lover's chest, she noticed that she never got a chance to respond to him earlier. She didn't say the words on her tongue, though. Just basked in the after-glow.

–

Rin shifted nervously on her feet. God damn. She was never nervous, not before she left. She used to take everything head on, including Gakupo. She had been the one to first initiate their relationship. He shouldn't make her so... weird now. It was out of character, and she hated it.

"You know," a husky voice suddenly said, causing her to jump, "I can hear you back there."

Face reddening at being caught in the thought, she tried to save herself a little embarrassment by stalking over to the couch, slumping down a good two feet away from Gakupo. She crossed her arms over her chest, and made a point to stare straight in front of her. When the purple-haired man didn't say anything, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye to see him take a swing of something out of a silver flask.

She turned to face him, too curious to pretend to ignore him. "You drink now?" she asked?

He shrugged.

Her lower lip stuck out in a pout. He's not supposed to be giving her the silent treatment. That had always been her job. But, to be honest, what did she expect after leaving for two years? For him to do one of those cheesy, romantic embraces that happens in movies whenever a partner leaves for a long amount of time? Gakupo may be a cliché, but he wasn't quite at that level. After all, he could hold his grudges as well as she could. "Idiot," she mumbled under her breath, loud enough for him to hear, but he didn't comment on it, anyway.

Turning away from him, she stared back at the TV. Her fingernails dug into her arms in annoyance. Or maybe it was because she was a little... hurt.

Why wouldn't he talk to her?

She bit her lip. "How..." She began meekly. Licking her lips, she tried again, "How've you been?"

"Fine." There was a pause, and then a reluctant, "You?"

"Don't ask if you don't care!" she snapped. However, she then said, "And I've been great! Freakin' awesome! I mean, you should see how cool the world is. And I made a bunch of friends in NYC. You know, that big city in the States? Yeah. It's... awesome. A-And I've been thinking of going back. To, you know, move there permanently. Except Len says he wants to stay here. For some reason, he's homesick or something." She gave a laugh that sounded forced even to herself. "Seriously, what's there to miss back here, right?"

Nothing was said in response.

...Whoever said silence is golden had been seriously crazy. The quiet was killing her.

Her eyes narrowed in front of her, where some guy was getting eaten by a zombie. Grabbing the remote, she hit the mute button, causing Gakupo to look over at her curiously for the first time that night. "...Something you want to say?" he asked casually. Casually. As if this didn't bother him at all.

"Hell if I know!" she threw up both her hands in exasperation, shifting on the couch so that she was kneeling towards him. "Didn't you miss me at all? You didn't call me—didn't write or attempt to contact me in any way. Then I come back and you totally ignore my very existence! What the fuck is this!" She punched the now wide-eyed man in the side, causing him let out a pained noise. "You're just this cryptic, silent bastard who won't even look at me now. I-I know two years is a long time, but..." her voice cracked, and damn, she felt tears well up in her eyes. Hopefully, the room was dark enough so that he wouldn't see them.

"Why am I the bad guy?" the man suddenly barked. Rin looked up at him in confusion. "Maybe... Maybe I didn't try to get in touch with you, but you were the one who left in the first place, Rin. You didn't give me a backwards glance as you walked out." His lips thinned in an angry slash as he growled, "I may be a cryptic bastard, but you're the sadist bitch who came to me in the first place."

Rin didn't know what to do. Gakupo never, ever yelled at her or said anything demeaning towards her. He might have been a pervert, but he was a gentleman when it really came down to it. And the words hurt, because they were kind of true.

–

"Doesn't your family miss you?"

Rin looked up from the video game she was playing to her new roommate, Alice. She had met her while she and Len were looking for an apartment, and they ended up rooming together eventually. They became fast friends, and taking on New York City together.

The blonde shrugged, avoiding Alice's probing gaze. "Well... I did have this boyfriend of sorts. He was an idiot."

Alice sat down next to her. "And?" she prodded.

Rin smiled wryly. "He hasn't called since I left. I... I miss him more than anything." Straightening, she stared at her friend bluntly. "If you tell anyone I said that, I'll deny it and tear your guts out."

–

Realizing that Gakupo was staring at her and still waiting for a response, she punched him again, this time in his shoulder. "Idiot!" she yelled angrily. "Who are you to be calling me names?" She hit him once more, to his chest. "You're not the boss of me!" A kick to his shins. "Why didn't you say that you wanted me to stay?" A slap to his cheek. "Why didn't you come after me?" A pinch to his stomach. "Why didn't you..." Salty water fell down her cheeks, and Rin realized belatedly that she was crying. "Why didn't you tell me that you hated when I was gone and ask me to never do that again?"

This was so stupid. She shouldn't be crying. It was weak and idiotic and wrong for her character. She was acting like a wimp. She dropped her face into her hands, determined to hide her tears.

Nothing happened for a few moments, but then a pair of strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a warm chest. From beneath her palms, Rin's eyes widened. "What...?"

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'm... sorry."

–

A week later, and everything was almost back to normal. Almost.

Rin and Gakupo were together, though sometimes not happily. They tended to fight often about miniscule things, but that had always happened, and was accepted. There were still old wounds present, though they were studiously ignored more often than not.

When Rin's New York friend called and requested her to visit, Gakupo gave her a pointed glare.

"You're not going, are you?" he asked.

She scoffed at him. "What are you, my dad?"

He shook his head. "I just don't want a repeat performance... I did miss you, you know."

A jolt went through the small girl's body. She was glad he missed her. It meant she wasn't entirely crazy. "W-well," she said meekly, turning away from him and crossing her arms, "I was going to ask you to come with me this time. I..." She turned back to him, blushing slightly. "I'm not going anywhere without you, okay?"

A pair of lips descended on her own at the confession, and she smiled into the kiss. Yeah. This was how it was supposed to be.

It's been a long time since I came around,
been a long time, but I'm back in town.
This time I'm not leaving without you.
You taste like whiskey when you kiss me;
I'd give anything again to be your baby doll.
This time I'm not leaving without you

–

A/N : THIS TOOK ME FOREVER TO WRITE. Sorry for the angst. But, well, my cat died on last week, and I recently got into a new relationship, and I know you don't really care about my personal problems, but I feel like tell you anyway~ Ahem. Well, here's the long awaited new chapter.

R&R!