This was quite unexpected. I was intending to edit just a bit...but I ended up adding a lot to this chapter. However, I must say that I really like this chapter because this is going to be the beginning to where the forbidden romance between Rin and Len begins. Ah so excited for the next chapter! /w/ I know it's not much but I like it to go more smoothly. So, enjoy!

Chapter 6

"Father! What is this about you calling me, claiming such urgency? This had not better be one of those-" my words died in my mouth realising father's unwavering expression as he sat in front of his table with a letter placed neatly before him. I walked up to him and sat down silently, curious of what this matter would be concerning of.

As I removed my mask, he slid the cream coloured letter to me with his right hand and spoke with a serious tone as he withdraw his hand. "Do you remember the name Megurine Luka from my dear friend's family, a long line of dancers and scholars?" He knew or more accurately, expected that of me and I simply nodded in response. "Her parents demand of your reuniting with their daughter. Your ignorance has been going on long enough. It is time that the two of you meet."

"If our meeting is that of importance to you, then I would gladly do it," I paused and stared into his eyes knowing what his true intent was. "However, father, you know that relationships or marriage for that matter is something that I consider insignificant right now. Time is not something that I can simply waste on that especially in my position."

"May I also remind you that you are not growing any younger," he slammed his hand against the table in frustration. "You are no longer a boy. That is very clear to you however your marriage and succeeding the family line is also your responsibility as a son."

I suppose that it is time for me to stop avoiding this. As much as I would want to, regardless of whether or not we are related by blood, fulfilling my duty as a son is not one I can treat as a trivial matter. "Very well. If this will ease your mind, then I will do this," I sighed as I read the letter he slid to me. The more I kept reading, the more I got even more alarmed. "Father! How can you not inform this to me earlier?"

He simply snickered and took the letter from my hands. "If I were to tell you this in advanced, there is a slight possibility that you would be using your work as an excuse to not see her."

"So you decided to tell me on the very day she arrived?" I bit my lip in frustration. I have got to admit though, that was a cheeky move he did. He knows me well.

In the end, I admitted defeat. Sometimes I do worry of the promises I make with him. This "him" I have been mentioning is actually Kagamine Ryou, the son-in-law of the man who got me out of that slavery house. Why did I get into this situation?, it was quite complicated. Ryou-san lost his son to a fatal genetic disease a few days before his father met me. Coincidentally, the boy was exactly my age. Ashiya Keita-san was heartbroken to see his son-in-law in such a suffering state especially when he had experienced loss from his wife, so when he found me, he figured that maybe I could fill in that boy's shoes. Of course, that was a tough role to fill in.

I have never kept any hatred towards them. I have never hated Kagamine Ryou-san. After all, he was the one who gave me an opportunity to see Rin again and I will not waste the things that I have learned. I must rescue Rin from all these impurities even if this is the last thing I will ever do.

"I have to go now. There is a matter that I must tend to," my eye twitched in annoyance as I took a letter out of my kimono sleeve and placed it in Rin's small, cold hands. "Give this to Hiragi-san and tell him that...I am expecting his response in the next few days."

She sighed silently and forced a sad smile as she lowered her hands to her side. "Of course...remember Len, do not do anything rash. It will only cause you more pain."

I gently cupped her face with my hand and rested my forehead against hers as I whispered in pain, "That could never compare to the amount of harm caused to you all these years." I pulled away and smiled as I wore my mask, "As for rashness, of all the years of working in the Imperial Court, I know better than to do anything I would regret."

"-friends...all we gotta do, just be friends. It's time to say good bye," a girl sang along to her music box by the pond in the garden. She was probably a year or two older than me judging by her lilac kouchiki and the tone of her voice, however if you looked closely, she looks fairly younger. The girl was sitting down leaning into the pond and her long cherry blossom hair flowed endlessly down her back. She looks just like a doll however, her face was as pale as that of a dead man's, her lips were just as white.

I gazed curiously through the dark as I slowly approached her. "Who is there? Show yourself," she spoke up without a hint of fear in her voice. "Ka-Kagamine Len-sama?"

"That would be my name," I walked closer to her. "Forgive me for making you wait for so long."

The girl got up on her feet weakly and patted off the dirt from her kouchiki. "That is alright. You are a busy man after all. I understand," she smiled gently as she gazed into my eyes, "I heard rumours of how you have always worn a mask since you were12 but I had never expected it to be true."

Even if she smiled so cheerfully, I cannot help myself but wonder why she looked so anaemic. "Are you alright though? You look awfully pale."

Her eyes widened in some sort of surprise. She cupped both sides of her face as she continued, "Oh dear. Forgive me for facing you like this," she laughed nervously, "I am naturally pale-looking. That is why my mother insists on me wearing make-up. Um...my name is Megurine Luka but I do not expect you to know me."

"You are right, I am not familiar of you but I admit it is quite normal for me to not know or remember. I barely remember half of the names of the people I work alongside with for the past years."

She laughed lightly. "It is getting quite late now, I should go to bed. It is not good for young girls to be up late, as what my mother always says."

I bowed as she walked away. My thought right then was why does she degrade herself? This girl, Luka seemed like a nice, intelligent, and matured person however, she had the hint of sadness in her eyes and voice. Then again, it has nothing to do with me. If father is happy about me considering this and will not question my work, so be it. I realize that my intensions are selfish and I might hurt many people, including that girl but if this action could possibly save Rin, I care not of the method. After all, she has been damaged far too many times for me to let it continue.

~.~.~.~

I have had countless sleepless nights and yesterday was no exception. My face was getting paler and paler each passing day, my strength drained completely. I am surprised that I even have the will to go to the Hiragi manor. One thing was for certain that day, by all means, avoid Rin because what comes out of it is me getting distracted.

"Kagamine Len, are you even listening to anything I have been saying for the past hour and a half?"

I shook my head, forcing my heavy eyelids to open. "I am terribly sorry. Would you mind to repeat again?"

"Like I said, these cases have been left rotting on the shelves. We must look into this matter," he groaned in frustration as he pushed the stack of dusty files across the table. "Thankfully, only minor cases have transpired recently. Nothing we should ponder on however. Hence, we have more time to rest."

Nothing? You, a high officer of the Minister of Justice chose to keep an innocent girl enslaved and forcing her to relieve your lust for God knows how long, I thought in disgust as I gave an intense glare. As much as I would be more than willing to lift up the letter cutter and pierce it into his eye sockets, remind myself I must of being patient. It would be futile and troublesome to slaughter him when he can do it himself by his repulsive actions.

"If that is all, best I be on my way," I held the documents against my robes, trying hard not to sneeze.

Right before I walked through the door, Hiragi spoke up, "I heard of your long hours in the palace archives for the past month, or perhaps two."

"What of it?" coldly, I replied. Though this man is intolerable, he clearly is not dense, that part I am very aware of.

"I do not need to know the details of your work however, you have been too tired lately and this may disrupt our work," the dark-brown haired man smiled sarcastically, "Besides, young people should not be too engrossed in work or you might end up growing old and lonesome."

"I don't think I should worry myself of this subject," I said sarcastically, "My father seems to have it settled already and do not worry of me, I will make sure I have enough rest," then I continued the sentence in my head, after I get you kneeling down in front of the emperor.

~.~.~.~

As I walked along the walkway above the pond, I sneaked desperate glances around me, making sure that there was no one there. I gave out a sigh as I leaned onto the wooden balustrade, facing down at the pond. I gazed intently at the reflection, my reflection. Though a lot of people have told me so, I have just come to notice that this mask that I have been wearing for such a long time does seem silly. I supposed the fact that I was masking a dead person would be disturbing, however this mask can be of use in times like hiding this exhausted and pale face of mine. My life is too complicated...

"The sun has barely dawned and you are falling asleep" a soft, familiar voice spoke behind me with the slightest amusement in her tone.

I jolted up and turned around immediately to face a smiling Rin, hiding her face under the shadows of her kouchiki that covered her head. I could feel the mixed emotions running through my body. Clearly, I was happy to finally see her again without having the trouble to remember what she had looked, sounded and acted like for the past two months, however in me I felt the alarm go off.

"It has been a long time since we have seen each other. I trust that besides the lacking of sleep, your health is well," she spoke softly and apprehensively. "Once I heard of your arrival here, I had thought of greeting you however..."

It was as if the both of us had forgotten the truth about the other's existence. As much as I wanted to grab her wrist and pull her away from this hell hole, the both of us knew that it was not as simple as that. If by any chance, were we to be found out, it would only destroy us both and allow Hiragi a chance of escape. It was better off this way for now, I reminded myself.

Seeing as she was tensing up and her struggle of words, I cut her sentence with mine, "Yes, I am well. Thank you for your concern," I bit my lip as I continued with a lie, "I would love to continue on chatting with you but there are urgent matters I must tend to."

"So soon?" her eyes widened of realization and covered her mouth. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn. Do not let me hold you here any longer."

I took one last glance at her confused and embarrassed image, noticing how she lowers down her head too much that one could barely see her face but there is one habit that she was not conscious of. That was jolting up her head, high enough that people could clearly see her beautiful face, bright turquoise eyes that were framed by the same silky blond hair I remembered. Of course, that person would be sharp and attentive enough to catch that 2 second reflex.

"Well, I suppose I too should be on my way before he notices my absence," she uttered with a sadden smile and slowly walked by me. "I missed you, onii-sama," her gentle, angel-like voice whispered soft enough for only my ears to hear.

Upon hearing those words, I could no longer restrain myself. My heart could no longer bare the pain of her absence. I swiftly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me close enough for my lips to feel the warmth of her breath. For a moment, time seemed to have frozen. It did not matter whether or not this was the Hiragi manor or the possibility of someone catching a glimpse of us...or even the fact that this golden-haired girl before me was my own sister. It was the first time I had ever noticed such beauty from her; her skin was as fair as snow, flawless. Her cerulean eyes were as bright and clear as the most valuable gems of any land. Her lips were as pink as the beautiful ruffle-edged peach-pink daylilies...soft as I would hope they would be.

My heart was pounding against my chest so loud I begun to wonder if she could hear it. I was aching to inch in further, to capture those lips but the violent trembling of her body caught my senses. I pulled back only to witness a frightened Rin. Her eyes were widened of fear, her body was shivering far too much for her to even pull back. My heart sank at the sight of her and I cursed in my heart. I let her hand fall to her side from my grasp and without a word, I walked away as I put my mask back on. That was dangerous, Len...far too dangerous. I could hardly believe that I would even attempt to do such a thing...to my own sister. How could my heart move for her? How could I even attempt to sully her even more? The heavens will punish me for having such thoughts...but I could no longer resist. I was confused...

This is precisely why I had been trying desperately to avoid her. Slowly, memories of both sweet and bitter of the past had started creeping back into my mind. The countless times when I would hear my dear sister screaming and crying from a distance, when I would witness her being beaten by the mistress helplessly, through all that, I remained useless to her. I could not protect or defend her in any way at all. At least now, I have been reminded of the reason of my living.

~.~.~.~

The dark-pink haired maiden raised her eyes from her calligraphy and gasped with widened eyes, "Kagamine-san...ah!"

I watched silently as the girl panicked when the cup of ink tripped over and spilled the ink all over the calligraphy. The sight was amusing, I dare say. Her face grew red with panic and she was fidgeting over the mess but had not thought to grab the dirty cloth on the table and stop the dark liquid from dripping down onto her silk robes. I smiled and did just that. "Was my coming here that much of a shock to you?" I faced her and noticed that our faces were just inches apart.

Her pale face reddened in embarrassment and immediately diverted her eyes away from me, "Yes—no—I mean...," she shook her head, "Your arrival was much earlier than had I expected."

"Had I arrived as late as usual, my father would be more than glad to chop my head off especially with you here," I stood up from the table, "Would you mind calling the maids here to clean the mess up?"

"Oh. Of course, I will."

As soon as Luka left, with my mind drifting away and my eyelids threatening to shut, I took off my cold mask and lay down by the window. With eyes closed, I felt the rushing chilly wind against my face and listened attentively to the waving trees as its leaves swayed down one by one.

The land glowed of a soft white, the once luscious green grass covered in a blanket of snow, the trees of the forest, one by one, stripped of their wilting leaves, and the breeze of the night was a breath of winter. Surrounded by such darkness, one can barely notice the difference of each tree and bush that they pass. Even the air started to thicken with fog, stranding those who wonder about. I could not tell my way, yet the hopes of returning to a smiling Rin had me venture further. It was not long ago since I was taken away from that wretched house, however time seemed to pass slower than I thought it would without my sister. The thought of Rin alone with that wench and without anyone to protect her, how can I not worry of her? I must see her, even for another day.

"Ah," my knees finally gave in to the hours of walking with only hope that I was on the right path. My hands were numb, my eyes tired, my stomach screamed of hunger; the cold winter night was finally taking affect. I leaned my back against the hard and cold surface of a tree and tucked myself into a ball to salvage whatever warmth there was left. Slowly my eyes blurred and I drifted into a cold slumber.

Faint sounds of a man struggling with his barking dog started to grow even louder. "Come here, Gumo! You must not run off like that...my, my. What have you found here? A boy?"

~.~.~.~.~.~

"What in heavens would this young boy be doing in the forest in the middle of the night?" the voice of a woman spoke in a puzzling tone as she took the damp cloth off my forehead.

A voice, the same voice of a man I remembered before I passed out sighed as he said, "Who knows? The boy is as thin as a stray dog dying of hunger in the streets."

"He must have been walking for days. His feet are purple from the cold snow. It must have been torture to move," she placed the warm cloth back onto my forehead. A drop of water from the cloth dropped onto my left eye, making it twitch in irritation. "I think he is waking up...are you alright, boy?"

I opened my eyes to a fairly new environment and weakly stared at the old couple in dull kimonos. "Who...where-"

"I found you in the forest while I was looking for firewood with my dog. Had I not brought him, I would not have noticed your body lying there beside the bushes..." the old man said while warming his hands by the pot of stew cooking in the middle of the room.

The woman took the warm cloth I handed to her as I sat up. "What were you doing? The woods are full of wolves in the night. I am quite surprised you did not suffer from any injuries from encountering those pests."

"What was I doing?" I uttered weakly. It was all still a blur until one by one, memories rushed in and I started to panic. "Where am I?"

"Hold on there, boy. You are in my home near the forest of Yuki."

"Forest of Yuki? Where the Sakura trees blossom into the middle of autumn at the shrine?" I was praying for him to say yes. I was close...close to that house.

"Well, yes."

In desperation, I lowered my head as low as the floor would allow me to and pleaded to their knees, "Please, I beg of you, show me the way to the house by the paddy fields."

"What? That slavery house? Are you...no. If you escaped, you must never go back."

"I am willing to do anything for you if you would. My sister...I must see her," my eyes blurred with tears and the wound on my cheek stung in pain as they streamed down. "She has no one...but me."

The couple stared at each other with sympathy but hesitant. It was to be expected. A slavery house would only bring trouble, especially one with that much children in. With a grieving emperor on the throne and the price of life for those who involve themselves with such inhumane affair, only fools would go against the word of the son of the land. Upon my constant pestering, the old man finally agreed to show me the way with only silence as a price I had to pay.

~.~.~.~

"Len! What are you doing here?" a voice of a young boy spoke from behind. "The Mistress will be enraged to find you here. Go...be gone."

The thought of being beaten by her did not move me. Compared to the suffering Rin has gone through, mine would not be one to take note of. I glared at the boy as I demanded, "Where is Rin? I must see her."

For a moment, it seemed as if he was repeating those words to himself, reassuring himself that he did not hear incorrectly. "You are too late. She is gone..." he said in a disheartened tone.

"What do you mean gone? She could not have! The Mistress...she promised me-"

"Len...she is not to be trusted, you of all people should know this," he spoke as he looked around for any sign of that wretched woman. "A man that the stench of sake on him bought her right after you left. Any more than that, I am not at liberty to say."

I felt my nails digging into my palm in attempt to numb the pain in my chest...Rin. I refused to believe this however, deep inside, I knew that I will never be reunited with my beloved sister again. That thought destroyed me...

Slowly, my hearing started to sharpen and my conscious regained however, there was this icy-cold but soft feeling that was pressing against my lips. I wondered but whatever it was, there was nothing but numbness. I opened my eyes and was shocked to see a figure of a girl beside me with her lips pressing on mine. Immediately, I pulled away and sat up, covering my lips. I gazed right into the soft pair of eyes and whispered in disbelief, "Megurine-san?"

The girl sat there in silence, returning my gaze with her unwavering one before saying, "Forgive me for acting rashly but I cannot apologize or so much as regret my actions. I am more than aware that to you, our engagement is nothing but fulfilling our responsibilities to our parents."

"Then why? Your words are far from making any bit of sense to you kissing me," I said, shaken up by the situation.

"Do not question it. I beg of you," with eyes clouding up with tears, she firmly said but turned to grin as she continued, "I do not think that you would realize that we have met once before, a long time ago. Then again, it was not you whom I met."

My eyes shot wide open with shock. That is not possible, I thought to myself. Kaito was sickly and had too much of a weak body to be able to get out of the house. Ashiya-san nor father recalled of approving anyone from visiting him. How was it possible?

"You must be pondering on how we met," Luka laughed softly. "Do not waste your time. What should be on your mind now is accepting our engagement. And if you do not, I am afraid that not a lot of people will be comfortable to be holding ties with a family of such secrecy. I must wonder how that would make Kagamine-san feel."

Okay! How was it? Good? Bad? Yeah, I have to give you guys a bit of a warning, it might be confusing from here on but bare with me. PLEASE give a review~ I would also appreciate some suggestions too ^^ (I apologize for the grammar mistakes in this chapter 3) If you really like it, remember to put this story on your radar okay w0

Ps. I seriously apologize about the little 'moment' between Rin and Len. I had hoped to write in a more beautiful way without having them to say anything at all but...ah well, I seriously tried.