Hydrogen
"I'm home!"
The girl was on her feet and sprinting for the door before her emerald eyes had even opened. Silky teal hair trailed behind her like a flowing river.
"KAITOOOOOO"
The blue haired man was suddenly embraced by the petite girl. Her rash actions stunned the two blondes behind him.
"Oh, Kaito, you took sooooo long! I was sooooo lonely. Why would you leave me like that? Weren't you going to help me do that? Waaaaah!"
Kaito ignored her fake tears and flipped his blue hair as he let out a sigh. "Yeah, well, Miku-chan, I was busy bringing back the new additions to our lovely household."
The teal haired girl abruptly stopped 'crying' to stare at the newcomers. Her silence unnerved them, and they began to fidget, until…
"SO CUUUTE!"
The hyper girl suddenly glomped both of them, trapping them in a massive hug. "Naw, you guys are definitely the cutest kids I have ever laid my eyes on. Oh my God, you even have a bow! So adorable XD"
As poor Len was being squeezed half to death, he silently made a note to stay away from the crazy woman with the unimaginably long and strangely coloured hair.
"Eh, Miku-chan, don't kill Len and Rin-chan yet!"
Len was pissed at how informally Kaito was addressing his older twin sister, but was even more irked at Kaito's lack of honorific when addressing his own name.
"Rin-chan? Len-chan?" Miku took a second to process the new information. "OH MY GOD THAT IS SOOOOO CUTE! Even your names are similar XD" The hyper girl took some time to get over her squealing. "Welcome to the family Rin-chan! Len-chan! Let me take you inside~" She grabbed Rin's hand and dragged her inside, much to Len's chagrin.
"Wai-"
"Wait Miku-chan. Rin's blind."
Another second of silence, then Len hastily dragged the blue haired male away as Miku began to fawn over "poor, little Rin-chan!"
"You!" When Len was sure they were out of earshot of the girls, he roughly let go of the other male. "How did you know Rin was blind?"
Kaito gave a knowing smirk. "Honestly, I was surprised at how cautious you were acting around her in your apartment, and she didn't even flinch when she saw a stranger dressed like I was in the house. But what gave it away was her look. It's like she's always staring off into space." His casual explanation infuriated the blonde even more.
"You basta-"
"Kaito! Len-chan! The great Miku-sama and little Rin-chan have finally found you~!" Miku struck a heroic pose, causing Rin to giggle. "…I say, what are you guys doing?"
Kaito had his back to her but he turned around at her question.
"…Naw, they're hugging~"
"Eh? Really?" Rin's squeaky voice piped in.
"Ah, hey Miku-chan. Len here was just getting a bit homesick. We've got to try our best to make these two feel as comfortable as they can."
"R-right!" Miku had sparkles in her eyes. She had completely fallen for his pretence.
Wai-Wait. That's not it! Let go, you bastard!
Len's protests were muffled by the fabric of Kaito's dark shirt. The fist he was intending to punch the bastard with had been stopped by Kaito's much larger hand, and with his other arm wrapped tightly around Len's waist, the blonde couldn't move.
"Ah-that's right! I almost forgot what we were going to tell you hehe. Well, the thing is, I've decided I'm going to restore Rin-chan's eyesight!"
"Wh-What?" The shock was enough for Len to free his head, all his anger having been forgotten.
"That's right Len-chan! I, the great Miku-sama, will use my amazing genius to restore poor little Rin-chan's eyesight!"
Len was too shocked to speak of the absurdity of her claims. Rin had been blind as long as he could remember, and this crazy chick is claiming she can fix that!
"Don't be stu-"
"I think that's a great idea Miku-chan!" Kaito's uncharacteristically bubbly voice overpowered Len's own argument. "While you work on that, Len and I have some stuff to do." He winked at the teal haired girl, causing her to giggle.
"Okie-dokie~I'll leave you to your business then. Come on Rin-chan, I'll show you your new room~" The dense girl took Rin away, leaving Len fuming at his inability to do anything.
After a moment, Kaito spoke.
"You can let go now."
Len hurriedly removed his arm that had been trapped on Kaito's waist. He had also unfurled his fist without him realising. Just like how he failed to realise exactly when it was that the blue haired man had released him in the first place.
Len's face was beet red. He was too embarrassed to speak, which suited Kaito just fine.
"Come on kid, you're coming with me for your first job."
Len was freezing. It must have been two or three in the morning, and he was clad in nothing more than one of Kaito's old black shirt and shorts (his previous attire had been deemed too "conspicuous").
"What the hell are we doing here at bloody two in the morning?" Len growled.
"Well little Len-chan, I was just about to tell you but you interrupted me."
Len growled again. "Don't call me that."
"Call you what, Len-chan?"
"That"
"Ah, but Miku-chan calls you that."
"That's because she's Miku-chan. She sounds fine calling us that, when you do it you just sound creepy."
In response, Kaito gave a creepy smile. "I like being creepy~"
Len shivered.
"Okay, enough mucking around. The sooner we get this done the sooner we can go home."
"That's the best thing you've said since I met you."
"Stop interrupting or we will suffer here forever."
"…"
"Moving on, here's the deal."
On the morning of the previous day, Miku is seen walking a dog as petite and as adorable as herself. A tiny green collar around the pale yellow Chihuahua reveals its strange name, Negi. The tiny dog gives an abrupt bark and races ahead, dragging the poor maiden forward. Suddenly, our lovely heroine is intercepted by a fat, rotund man in an expensive-looking suit and impressive handlebar moustache. The grey bulldog by his side, with leathery bags concealing its tiny eyes, and drool slobbering all over the sidewalk, looks as lovable as its owner.
The teal haired maiden smiles cutely, revealing rows of perfect pearly whites. She politely gives a small bow befitting that of a princess. In response, the man only sneers. His pet is only slightly better. The ugly brute rudely sniffs at her baby Negi's cute little bottom, before giving her a harsh nip to the tail. The lovely girl's squeal is as loud as her puppy's as she kneels to the ground in despair.
"Negi!" she cries. "Negi! Hang in there baby!"
Her desperate pleas remain unnoticed as the horrid man laughs wickedly, passing her by, leaving her in the dust with her beloved pet…
Miku sighs dramatically with tears in her eyes. "And that is the tragedy that befell my poor Negi."
Rin remains unfazed by the tragic tale, enjoying the feel of soft fur as she pats Miku's Chihuahua, who looks anything but the victim in Miku's eloquent tale, lying contentedly in a heap on the fluffy bed.
"…Wow Miku-chan. I only asked what its name was…"
"So you're telling me, we are doing this to avenge a dog…"
"Not just any dog. Miku-chan's dog."
Len is beginning to doubt the sanity of the man before him, who merely smiles as if they were having a pleasant walk in a park.
"…"
Len is speechless for only a moment.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS? WE ARE STORMING THIS GUY'S HOUSE FOR THE SAKE OF A FREAKIN' DOG? THIS IS BREAKING AND ENTERING! VANDALISM! WE COULD GET IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF WE ARE CAUGHT FOR THIS!"
Kaito remains unfazed.
"So don't get caught."
"Listen, Len. This guy here is seriously rich. Just look at his house!"
"Uh-huh. All the more reason to not do this."
Calling the thing a house was an understatement. It was nothing less of a mansion. All the lights were off, yet this only emphasised the true beauty of the polished white outer walls as it shone in the moonlight. A carved iron gate loomed ahead of them, menacing yet beautiful.
"Look, Len. We'll make a bit of a mess but we won't even steal anything. We'll make it look like a bunch of delinquents did it. It's three in the morning. Nobody will see us."
"…" Len turned around, looking like he was about to walk away.
"We're just showing this guy a lesson. Don't mess with the weak. Something valiant like that. I tell you, I've been spying on the guy since yesterday after Miku came and tattled on him, so I know he's a really horrible guy."
Kaito caught the obscure movement of Len's head slowly moving back to face him. He had finally piqued his interest.
"Get this. Last night, when the old geezer's wife was working late, the guy went out to a bar to pick up younger ladies and wasn't back until like, ten in the morning! Tonight, his wife is working late again, so I know he'll do the same. Come on, Len. Let's teach this guy a lesson. It'll be fun!"
"…"
"Please Len~"
"…fine…"
Len seriously felt like kicking himself.
Their first obstacle was the gate. It was beautiful, but it was high, and despite the fancy designs there were very little footholds to climb over it.
But the great Mastermind Kaito had a solution to all.
"A-Are you sure about this?" Len was clinging to the tree branch like his life depended on it. It was part of a large tree that just reached the second story window of the mansion, but it was so smooth and so slender, he was definitely going to slip right off, if the howling wind didn't snap it first. Oh, speak of the devil. "K-Kaitooooo…"
"Relax Len, and just follow me." Kaito gracefully strode across the branch like a cat. A great big ugly blue cat. As if in response to his insulting thought, Kaito suddenly sprung right off the branch, flying in a graceful arc and landing right on the windowsill like a perfect acrobat. However, his sudden movement caused Len's branch to jolt like a spring. Len was left dangling like a rag doll, gripping onto the wood for dear life.
"K-Kaito!"
The much more graceful man turned around. "Oh Len, do you require assistance from the great me?"
Len's pride prevented him from answering honestly. He looked to the side and pouted. "I never said that."
SNAP! Len felt himself tumbling to the ground as the stupid branch finally snapped.
"Oho Len, you're too heavy!"
"Sh-Shut up!" Len's face was beet red.
"Alright Len, you can stay there. Wait for me to finish my job," Kaito gave a smirk before continuing. "And don't be afraid to scream if you need help~ nobody else can hear you anyway. This guy's neighbours are miles away, 'cause he owns all this land!"
Kaito ducked as the broken branch came flying at him, effectively smashing the window. "Oh nice throw there! See you soon!" He entered the room and smirked as he realised he was in the master bedroom. His smirk grew when he heard the infuriated yells of his little accomplice.
"BASTAAAAARD!"
Branches snapped as Len crashed onto the perfectly manicured front lawn beside the great gate.
"Soooo boooring…"
Through his peripheral vision, he could see Kaito mustering up his artistic creativity to decorate the outer walls with the most sophisticated form of vandalism he had seen.
"Just how many spray cans do you have?"
"Do you like my masterpiece? I call it, 'Rainbow on the Old Geezer's house'"
"Pfft. That's ridiculous."
"Oh don't deny it. I know you're marvelling at its irresistible beauty."
"No, on the contrary. I'm marvelling at your stupidity. Who in their right mind would cover a whole mansion in spray paint?"
"Hehe, well then, witness history in the making!"
Len rolled his eyes.
"It must be like, six in the morning by now…"
"Relax Len, I'm almost done. Whoop~" The man leapt from the wall like some attacking spider and landed in a clump of hedges adorning the edges of the walls.
"Grrrr…"
"…Eh?"
Len was more than a little surprised when he saw Kaito spring right onto the tree from the ground. Well, it was still very cat-like of him, but he seemed way too fast. He continued to watch as the man jumped from the top of the tree without hesitating to land heavily on his feet right beside Len.
"Watch it, you almost killed me there."
"Len, there's-"
"Grrr…"
Len's heart almost stopped when he saw the brute stepping out from the shadows, fangs bared and ready to attack.
"Sh-Shoot, there was a dog-door in that gate?"
"Is that the old geezer's dog?"
The thing was huge, a fitting guard for the massive mansion. If it stood on its hind legs it could easily push Len to the ground.
"Len…"
"H-huh?"
Kaito had sprinted on far ahead.
"RUN!"
"S-Shoot, that thing is fast." Len was panting non-stop.
"You're one to talk." Despite the massive head start, Len had now caught up to Kaito.
"Hah…It doesn't look like it's going to stop soon…How are we going to get rid of it?"
"Oh, I totally forgot. Miku-chan made us these." Kaito produced three round objects from his pants pockets.
"The hell are those?"
"Sleeping pills."
"…they look more like hairballs…"
"Oh be quiet. Miku-chan explicitly told me not to hurt the dog so we will use these."
"…I don't think anything's going to be able to hurt that thing. And why didn't you mention this earlier?"
"Oh be quie-ah, oops."
One of the pills had rolled off the palm of his hand. Both males turned their heads to witness it descend to the ground with a sickening splat.
"Oh, yuk."
"Be quiet, Len. Miku-chan says they are very powerful. One lick will send it into a deep slumber."
The males continued to watch as the dog completely ignored the splattered sleeping pill.
"Well, that's not going to be very helpful unless the thing actually makes contact with it!"
"…"
"Now what? It's gaining on us!"
"Er…" For once, Kaito seemed speechless.
Len started to feel trickles of panic when Kaito's pondering face continued for much too long. Then he really did when the man abruptly stopped and grabbed on to his arm.
"!"
"I've got it!"
"The only thing you've got is my friggin' arm! Let go, the stupid mutt's gonna eat us alive!"
"Nu-uh. Here Len, grab this and don't let go!"
Kaito placed something round and sticky in Len's hand. It was the sleeping pill.
"Oh yu-hey! What are you doing?!"
They were not running anymore. Kaito had now grabbed onto Len's shoulders, and flipped him so the boy's back was on his chest. Len's eyes widened as he was now face-to-face with the raging bulldog.
"Sh-Shoot, Kaito, I'm going to die."
Kaito didn't budge.
"Kaito, let me go!"
The brute leapt from the ground.
"K-Kaito!"
It's pointy fangs were now mere centimetres from Len's face. He squeezed his eyes together, preparing for the inevitable.
"KYAAAA!"
"…"
Len cracked open his eyes.
I'm not dead…
He lowered his eyes. The dog was on the ground, wheezing like an old man.
"W-What happened…?"
"It's asleep now. Hear the snores?"
"…"
"Wow Len-chan really screams like a girl."
Len felt a vein pop.
"DUDE WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? I COULD HAVE FRIGGIN' DIED FROM THAT! WHAT EXACTLY WAS GOING THROUGH THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS?"
Kaito's unwavering smile revealed nothing of his ever-so-complex mind.
"Ah, you were supposed to throw the pill into his mouth. But poor little Len-chan got scared to the point he even closed his eyes~So I had to do it with the last one on me."
"The hell? You told me not to let go of it!"
"…"
"…"
"…sometimes it is wiser not to listen to instructions…"
"Grah, fine! Take this disgusting thing back."
"Ah-Len! You let go of it!"
"!"
The old geezer's wife returned earlier than normal that morning, having completed her work quicker than normal. She was shocked at the damage to the mansion: every inch of the wall was a victim to graffiti, the perfectly manicured lawn looked as if a herd of cows had run over it and the hedge the gardener had so painstakingly trimmed for her was now littered with leaves and branches.
The middle-aged woman went inside to inspect the damage. All the rooms were a mess, tables had flipped over, expensive paintings had been ripped to shreds and the plush carpet was stained with muddy tracks.
"Oh…my….God…"
The bedroom was a nightmare. Ripped curtains and messy bed, but by far the worst were the drawers which had been ruthlessly pulled onto the ground, spilling various pieces of lingerie.
Furious eyes turned as the owner of the house finally came home in a drunken stupor, assisted by some very scantily clad women…
The chaos that erupted only went unnoticed by one bulldog a few metres down the street…