"Rinny-!"

A rustle of movement, arms encircling the slightly older girl's waist. A small stumble, a gasp.

"Ahhh, careful, Len! I almost fell!"

A brilliant smile, and the scent of oranges. Len loved the sweet citrus aroma that followed her everywhere.

"Sorry sorry, sis! But you know I love you!"

Childish happiness even in the dark, peeking through with sunlight brightness to color the black depths.

A light laugh.

"I love you too, Len. Always and forever!"

Always and forever.

He would love her, too. Always her, for eternity, more than anything.

Len loved his big sister more than anyone else ever could.

.x.X.x.

Growing up in harsh reality was quick to teach Len many lessons of life.

The black cold of empty alleys, the nauseating smell of food that had been in the garbage too long, the angry and cruel people who would spare no beggar a single cent- these were what he faced. In the midst of an unforgiving world that was miles from perfect, he was forced to understand life's truth.

No matter how ideal it seemed, how flawless and beautiful the 'world' they lived in portrayed itself, it was nothing more than a shell. It was a place full of darkness, full of shadows and hurtful souls and cutting emotions. It was no such thing as 'blessed', like it should have been.

It made him hate them. Those that had brought God's wrath upon them, taken his and Rin's parents, made them into dirtied, tainted orphans with no future. He hated them all, loathed their existences, envied them their luxury and happiness.

How unfair that those who didn't deserve it, were allowed to have the most.

Yet, the reason why he held on- why he learned to smile, to bear with whatever hardships came his way, was because of her.

His sweet, enthusiastic, strong sister.

Rin was always by his side. When he had no one, there was always her presence to guide him. She took care of him like she was his mother, yet became his best friend. He needed her, and he liked to think she needed him, too. When she fought to keep them going, he fought alongside her, determined to not let her efforts be in vain.

She chose to believe in a world filled with happiness, lying in wait for them.

He, in turn, chose to believe in her.

They found, despite all odds, a group they could call their own. Though at first he and his sister both seemed afraid of them, of being betrayed- it soon proved to be misplaced distrust. They eased into being what they had sorely lacked; a real family. The strangers who had at first earned his ire for approaching his sister soon became loyal allies, even friends.

Finally, he could see Rin smile without there being an underlying layer of sadness.

Years went on. They aged, became more mature, stronger. The ten of them strengthened one another, grew into new selves- and one day he found himself glancing into a mirror and seeing someone else's reflection.

He barely recognized himself. He had changed from the scrawny, wispy child who had held Rin's hand like a kicked puppy, into a slender, well-built man. He hadn't seen the toll time had taken on his body- and because of it, he didn't realize she had changed too.

Len started noticing her, the little things that had become different about her he had failed to see before. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way she walked, the light tinkle of her laugh that reminded him of bell chimes. Little things, to the way her hug had become more rounded out and warm, and not nearly as skin and bones as she had once been. The fiery trail she left when she kissed his cheek and smiled at him, full of affection. The fact that he, for some insane reason, couldn't stop noticing.

It was only a matter of time before he realized that not only did he love his sister- but he was also in love with her.

It was a matter of denial and acceptance. He denied it with every fiber in his being, refused to acknowledge it. He hid it away even from himself, tried not to dwell on the ever-flawed emotions and feelings he held for her. She was his damned sister. He loved her like a sister- he repeated the words like a mantra, tried to make them sink in, make them real instead of as flimsy and see-through as the clouds. It was sick, and sad. Len felt like he was standing on the precipice of a great height, waiting for the ground to crumble beneath him and send him tumbling into hell.

Yet, he had no choice but accept what he was. It followed him like a shadow, trailed his every move, burned in his gaze every single time he looked at her. It was impossible to avoid, lingering in his mind when he would catch himself staring at her, admiring her will, her beauty, her optimism. Rin was like the stars- precious, and so very far from his reach.

She had become his light in the darkness- and in his strides to be the same for her, he had instead become the very black he had despised.

Yet to her, he hadn't become any different. She treated him like she treated everyone else, like he was still the same weeping child who hid behind her for safety. She still made herself protect him, care for him as if he still couldn't do it himself.

It infuriated him.

When Miku was chosen for the 'highly-honored' position of Messiah, it was part of the reason why he was quick to agree to the plan Kaito conjured. Sure, he felt awful the tealette was forced to participate in the cruel plan the God had cursed their world with. She was a bubbly, happy girl who didn't realize what it meant, or what lay in store for her. It was a tragedy in itself, seeing her so cheerful about bringing the next bout of calm to the world.

Yet it was Rin, always Rin, that hurt the most.

When hearing the news, she had simply smiled at Miku, shielding her emotions well. He saw through her, saw the fear and sadness and pain resound. It stung him, knowing she'd do anything to help Miku, to fix what had been crushed. After finally finding a place they belonged, with people they trusted- it would be ruined.

He couldn't sit by and watch her suffer like that. Before she would sacrifice herself, he would always be one step ahead.

Never again would he let her bear the brunt of the storm.

As they had listened to Kaito, later that night huddled in his home, he had watched her expression. Her face changed multiple times as he observed, ranging from fear, to horror, to grim determination and sadness. It was the most awful mix he'd ever seen on her delicate features. He wanted to escape, crawl under the ground with her and stay there until the world either saved itself or was destroyed. Anything else besides the turn of events given to them.

It registered, somewhere deep in his mind, that they would go along with the plan. Rin most certainly would. Though she would be terrified, she'd hold onto him and face up to the destinies awaiting them.

Which meant he would follow her, no matter where or what she chose. If she were to pick saving Miku and easing her journey as Messiah, at the cost of her life- he would do the same. He would traverse after her to the end of the world itself if it made her happier.

After he had volunteered himself willing to accept an atonement (with her following quickly after), they were home packing things away for the journey they wouldn't return from and allowing silence to reign. He was carefully avoiding her gaze, avoiding the obvious dread that left the air heavy and difficult to breathe.

"Len," her voice called him, and like a moth drawn to flame he looked at her. She was standing beside him, having moved without his notice, and her blue eyes were calm despite the internal tundra of emotions she must've been experiencing. Just her proximity made his heartbeat thunder erratically.

"Yes, dear sister?" he answered coolly, turning away from her again and fixing his gaze on the small bag he was bringing to make himself keep composed.

"...Are you sure?"

He froze. "Sure about…?"

"This." He felt the hesitance in her tone, the uncertainty. "About… the journey. Len, I… If we do this, then we won't…"

When he met her eyes again, he wanted to tug her into his embrace and whisper every reassuring word in his vocabulary. Nothing was enough, nothing nearly enough to face her like this.

It was at that moment he realized that not only would they lose their friends- he would also lose her.

The instant, yawning gap that opened in his heart was horrifying.

With gentle hands he placed on her shoulders (though he didn't deserve to touch her skin) he inhaled deeply.

"Rin," he said, her name silky sweet on his tongue. "If you want to back out, then we can. I don't… I don't want to lose you. We've been through everything together. I know this seems like… like after everything we've worked so hard to achieve, we're throwing it away. But I also know you and I both won't be able to live with ourselves if we don't do something. I'm willing to do whatever you want, Rin."

Even if he would rather never let go of her, run away with her, hide and keep her to himself.

He'd much rather save her.

The blonde girl stared back at him, as if processing his words. Then she smiled, a watery gesture that tore at his chest and ripped his heart to tiny pieces.

Leaning her forehead against his, she laughed. "Since when did you become the mature one?"

His breath caught in his throat, and he couldn't help but copy her, a wispy chuckle escaping his dry mouth. "I learned from the best role model."

"Ah…" Her hands found his cheeks, cupping his face tenderly (an action that sent blood blazing under his skin.) Gazing into his eyes, searching them deeply, she continued. "So… even if we die tomorrow? If… If we can save Miku, then… It's worth it, isn't it?"

No. Nothing would ever be enough for his loss of her.

"Y-yeah. Don't worry, Rin… I'll be by your side no matter what. Always," he told her sincerely, moving to ghost a short-lived kiss across the corner of her mouth despite himself. "That's… what brothers are for, right?"

What a liar he turned out to be.

The day came too soon. After journeying for what seemed too short a time, they finally found themselves standing before the mystical Tower of Ai. Looming over them, the dark tower looked like the very epitome of a bad omen.

He feared it. It screamed despair, terror, pain- and yet, when he looked at his sister and saw the unwavering determination on her face, along with everyone else just as brave, he felt it strengthen his own resolve.

No matter what it took, he would go through with it. For Rin, for Miku, for each of the people he had grown to care for.

The first one- Kaito- was the hardest to watch. Len stood back behind with the others as the sapphire haired boy pushed Miku away and claimed the atonement. He caught the pain on the older man's face, the one who was the most courageous of them all, before he was shut inside the tower's walls.

Then, one by one, the rest followed. Meiko, Ia, Mayu, Gakupo; in no spoken order they filed into their fates, each with grim faces, playing their roles perfectly to the very end.

Each time the doors shut, he found himself scanning Miku's face. With each passing, she became paler, more withdrawn. It was like the life leached out of her, taken by each betrayal.

And Rin.

He couldn't help watching over her, ready to stop her should she make for a blessing. He wasn't ready to watch her walk away from him, to separate. He wanted to go first, to be the one to take the lead this time. To finally prove he was mature enough to say goodbye.

(Dying would be so much easier as long as he knew, for a fleeting moment, she was safe for just a little longer.)

Soon it was left to only the three of them left. Him, Rin, and Miku. The air was quiet and chilling, and not one of them dared speak. It was heavy, weighing on each of them. Bitterness was laden throughout the room, the shadows outnumbering the light the closer they came to the top of the tower.

He knew it. His time was coming, when he'd have to look his sister in the eye and force out that final goodbye. In his heart, he knew that he wished there was a way to evade this entire scenario, to instead say 'see you' and mean it.

God, if he could be given the chance to see her again at least once, he'd do whatever it took. He didn't care if it meant dying over and over, reliving whatever pain was in store for him. Just to hug her, catch her sweet citrus scent that always put his mind at ease, hear the light chime of her laugh- it'd be worth it.

The trio stood before an ice blue blessing, and he felt the need to reach for it, to capture it before the thought could cross his sister's mind to do the same. Then doubt took over, and he found himself questioning everything he'd done up to that point.

Was it right? Was anything they had done really the right path? Could they have chosen another, was there any other way they could have gone that wouldn't have ended with each of them dying? Was it a fruitless hope that there might have been the slightest chance that they all could've made it out alive?

It wasn't the time for regret, but at that moment he let his heart falter- and it was his own mistake.

In a moment he felt a slim hand push at his chest, moving him aside none too gently. His breath caught in his throat as he snapped back into reality and saw Rin stride forward, facing away from him, approaching the blessing he was going to claim.

No no no no-

He flung his hand out to stop her, stumbling forward to take her by the arm, horror etching itself across his features as he realized, with a sickeningly empty feeling in his chest, that she was going to leave and he wasn't ready. He never was.

He hadn't truly been prepared to watch her disappear right in front of his eyes, and he knew with sudden clarity that he never would be, that instead somewhere in his foolish heart he'd prayed to a far-too-cruel god to spare them both.

How utterly stupid he was.

"Rin!" Her name flew from his lips, and he desperately clung to his wish that she'd turn around and let him retrieve her, maybe even take Miku and flee, run as far away as they could. Just go, never look back, let selfishness reign just one time and let him keep the one thing he saw as precious to him.

Instead, Len was forced to watch as his sister stopped before the atonement and spun to face them. His heart cracked and splintered into two when he saw the faux smile on her face, laced in poison and sadness- but what broke him completely were the unshed, crystalline tears in the beautiful blue irises he had watched go through hardship after hardship.

She looked so sad inside- but the outside was the tough shell she'd built over the years, finally replacing itself over her features. He'd long thought he'd never again have to see such a cold look on her face.

Something sharp stabbed through him when she spoke, her voice hard and icy like the severe breeze fluttering around them.

"I'll see you soon."

No!

Those were his words. They were the very thing he was going to utter, a promise to her that he'd meet her again, that he'd see her-

Why why why why them-

"Riiiiiiiiin!"

The echoing slam of the door closing them was more pain than he could bear, slicing through him like his heart was nothing more than rice paper.

Then he was alone with Miku, the final survivors, the last of their friends.

Eight of them, dead.

One of them, his very own sister.

He wanted to mourn his loss, to bemoan losing her to the atonement and cry until he had her back. All the years of maturing he'd done faded for a moment, lost without her.

Her beautiful smile- would he never see it again?

A slim hand placed itself on his shoulder, and Len found himself glancing into teal that suddenly looked hopeful, less afraid.

As if he was just like her- betrayed, double-crossed by their friends, by his own family.

"Len," Miku whispered, offering a tiny smile. "Y-You won't betray me too… right? Please, Len… I trust you."

Don't, he wanted to beg. Don't trust me, please- it'll just hurt you in the end.

But he bit back the words, swallowed them where they'd stay forever buried in his chest. He had no other options; Rin's departure had sealed his fate.

If she would accept death in his stead, he would follow suit. Until the very end, he would follow her example.

So he looked Miku in the eye, shook his head, and uttered one of his final lies.

"I promise."

Together, they went to the floor where the last blessing lay. He stood beside Miku as the door parted, revealing the final atonement sat upon its pedestal, blood crimson and shining, beckoning to them. Gripping his crook, he took in the sight of it, the heat emanating from its presence.

Luring them in to capture one and destroy them without mercy. Torture in exchange for paradise- what kind of fair exchange was that, he mused within, his heart cold.

As they stepped forward, Miku beside him, it took him only a second before he threw his crook toward her to halt her path. His eyes turned steely, reminiscent of Rin's as he met the shocked, broken gaze of the tealette. Her mouth moved in confusion, recognition lighting on her pale features.

He's sure, if his sister could see him, she'd be proud that he played the part of his own betrayal well.

"Len, you promised! You promised!" He heard Miku's screams, the weeping notes in her tone as he moved to claim the fiery blessing.

He had nothing to say, nothing to excuse his actions- so he simply looked at her and offered a harsh, frozen smile as the doors closed between them.

That was it. He was the final sacrifice, the last of their friends. Miku would alone rise to the final floor and ask God for forgiveness and another fifteen years of peace. Their betrayal would make her stronger, powerful enough to take on her final task.

Hopefully it'd be enough. That his friends and himself wouldn't be wasting their lives in vain, that Miku could handle it.

He exhaled shakily as he grazed his fingers over the burning edge of the atonement, the red brightening and melting to look at. The final act he had to play out- accept what he had so cruelly taken.

He only had to wait a moment to let it accept him- then suddenly his body was thrown forward, into red heat he knew hadn't been there before. Falling in, his limbs flailed as he took a dip into a bottomless pit of lava.

Len let out a horrified scream, feeling the blazing liquid sear over every single inch of his skin, entering his mouth, ruining him from the inside out. There was nothing left untouched as it roared, dragging him deeper and deeper into its clutches, sapping his strength and making him absorb the most intense fire he'd ever come into contact with.

Rin's face flashed before his mind's eye, along with each of his friends. He was reminded of their kindness, their unselfish acts as they put themselves through their own personal hell. He curled in on himself, trying to escape the heat but unable to be free.

Is this my punishment, for loving her? He asked of God, his eyes closing as he felt his life flicker. Am I doomed to burn forever, for loving my sister? Is this my rightful punishment for desiring her and being selfish enough to want to save them all?

His heart thumped, painful, screaming for freedom, for the days they had spent together. Yet he felt at peace as he was destroyed within the fiery depths.

Then… I accept it. But please, please…

He made one final wish, before he succumbed his sinful soul to its eternal atonement.

...Please let me see her again.

A/N: This is unbeta'd.

And this, my friends, is literally the second to last chapter. The next is the final installment to this fic, and then it's complete. *wipes brow* I never thought I'd get this far, I'm actually shocked.

I'm gonna save the mushy thanks and everything for next chapter's author note, and for now stick with going hot damn this chapter is longer than I wanted. Over 3k words, guys. It really got out of hand. (Must be because it's Len and incest. My strong points, apparently.)

Either way, I hope you enjoy it. Please leave me your thoughts, too, because it all matters to me. I know some of you are angry because you're not kosher with incest, but it's a fic and my own re-telling of BMATTOA and I chose to include it. I've taken many liberties with the story,a nd I can only hope that I haven't shamed Hitoshizuku with this as of yet.

For now, anyway, I hope you've all got your tissues. Prepare yourselves. Thanks for sticking around this far, and I hope the update will come by the beginning of November.

This was written while listening to 'BMATTOA', 'Jekyll & Hyde' (LenRin ver.), 'Nobore! Susume!', annnnnnnd 'Happy Halloween'.

Read on~!

~Disclaimer~ I own only an intrigue for incest, selfish desires, and a want to help everyone even when I can't. Nothing else, unfortunately.