I really shouldn't be updating this since I updated it recently, and I have other stories to update as well, but... I COULDN'T RESIST! (*sob*)

By the way, I based Meiko's story off of Madam Red's (from Kuroshitsuji). I will forever be a Rachel (my name! Even though I'm not even white -.-" Long story)xVincent fan... SCREW MADAM RED! (*ehem*) Sorry 'bout that.

Disclaimer: Not mine... never was...

"Hold on a second... You're my WHAT?!" I screamed, totally confused. As I screamed this out loud, I somehow was up on my feet, tea split all over the floor.

"Yup," she said while calmly taking a sip of her tea. "And you're my daughter." From behind me, Len shifted uncomfortably, probably somewhat embarrassed to be there.

"YOU'RE WHAT?!"

"Sit down, and I'll tell you the story," Meiko said as she waved her hand. A maid came from the entry way, and quickly cleaned up the split tea. After that, she repoured me a cup, bowed, and quickly exited the room.

"I was close to both of your parents- in fact, I was the one who introduced them to each other," Meiko started off. A servant brought in some biscuits for us to have with our tea, but I didn't touch them. "Leon... he was perfect, to me. I had grown up in England, although I was Japanese, and was terribly aware of this simple fact. I was self-conscious about my dark, brown hair, and my Japanese eyes. My English was decent, but I had a Japanese accent. All in all, I thought that I was overly weird and creepy looking.

"Until, of course, Leon complimented me on my looks. He said I looked exotic, and I took that to heart. And, in that moment, I fell for him, as shallow as it may sound. So, four years later, even though I had had no progress, I was still happy to be by his side. When I was told that I had was to move back to Japan for high school, I through a fit, not wanting to be away from Leon, obviously. Eventually, my parents won, and I came back.

"I forgot about him in high school, surprisingly. Well, maybe not so surprisingly... he was, after all, just a middle school crush. Instead, my days were filled with goofing off with my new best friend, Lola, dating random boys here and there, although Lola never dated anyone, due to her fear... Lola and I ended up going to the same college, even being room mates. Nothing could really break our bond...

"Well, maybe nothing but a boy."

She was staring down at the tea cup, hard, refusing to look me in the eyes, as she told the story. Len sat next to me, taking small sips and throwing me worried glances every once and a while. I just sat, trying to absorb the story, but not truly comprehending.

"We both began working at a bar together, in a way to pay off our student loans. Most people liked me- I was flirty, and even went on a few dates with men here and there. Lola, however, was a different story altogether. She didn't flirt, didn't really smile, not while she was working. She did have, after all, have a secret fear of men that she kept quiet about. Her father was abusive and had raped her when she was younger, thus causing a permanent fear. She kept a pleasant face, yes, and that was it. No speaking to men unless needed, no flirting back, nothing."

What? What? I had never heard about this... any of this. When I asked about my parents first meeting, they told me they meet in a bar, but not that my mother had worked there, or that Meiko had introduced them, or that my mother had been raped.

Funny how I still think of Lola as my mother, although I know it's not true anymore.

Actually, no. She still is my mother- my loving, caring mother, who brought me up. Meiko is just my birth mother, and that is it. Nothing more, nothing less. I have no interest in devolving a relationship with her.

Right?

"Imagine my surprise when one night, Leon, of all people, appeared during my shift. We realized who the other person was immediately, and then, suddenly, I was remembering my middle school crush. He had grown up to be a fine man, I suppose, and was wealthy enough. Kind, too. After work, we went out to a coffee shop and got a drink together, Lola tagging along. I could tell that he enjoyed talking to her, even if she said a few words to him at most, and then I began feeling uneasy. Jealous.

"I was always the type to feel jealously, rather than be supportive, I suppose. Always have, always will." She said the words frankly, bluntly. "However, even though I felt jealous, I knew that the relationship Leon was hoping for wouldn't go anywhere due to Lola's fear. So I began to support him. Why? Because I knew that she would end up hating him.

"And then I felt guilt. She was my best friend, he was my childhood friend, what was I doing? And yet, I carried on, even through moments of guilt. And, for this, I am terribly ashamed of... although my shame becomes worse..."

Meiko's voice trailed off at this, and her grip on the tea cup become harder. She was still staring at her tea, never taking a sip, her words still blunt and frank although her voice shook. What I was to make of her, I have no idea. I just kept my eyes on her face, looking nowhere else. Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell that Len was staring at me.

"Although, my plan backfired on me, sadly. They became close, Lola began opening up to all people, including men. I remember the night where I had let it slip that Lola had been raped and abused by her father. I don't remember what I was thinking, honestly. Leon had come over for a drink, and he was spilling too much of his moments with Lola, of their kisses, of everything. He, in all honesty, loved and adored her. And I was jealous.

"Somehow, through that jealously, I had somehow thought that he would find her impure if she was raped. I was slightly drunk, so that may have something to do with it.

"His rage was... I'm not sure words can even describe."

Her hand shook as Meiko said this, and I just stared, numbly comprehending what she was saying.

"He left my apartment and immediately looked for her. The next day they announced that they were engaged. I drank all day, my rage and sorrow overflowing. And, in that moment, I realized that I was both a, in love with Leon, and b, a complete dickhead. I was trying to break up my best friend and the man of her - our - dreams.

"Months of planning their wedding, and, suddenly, it was cut short. A family emergency; Lola had to go back to her hometown, back to her sick mother. Leon stayed - his work could not, would not permit him to leave. As Lola was there she told me about how her mother was trying to pressure her into an arranged marriage, as her fine wish, and was unsure of what to do.

"I, being the sick brat that I am, passed this news onto Leon, who quite his job, right there and then, and then raced back to her hometown. When he came back, Lola wasn't with him. She had chosen to stay with her family, chosen another man for their sake.

"I took advantage of this time. While Lola was gone, with Leon's heart broken... it was too easy. He crashed at my apartment, as he had lost his due to him not paying the bill, and one night I managed to seduce him. He was more than ready, wanting to let go of all his anger and sorrows just for one, simple night. Now, of course, I am ashamed. Then? Not so much. I took advantage of a man in the darkest time of his life, and used it against him. I was happy, and the night should have been perfect, right?

"Except he called out Lola's name instead of my own.

"Afterwards, I chose to go to Lola's hometown, taking Leon with me, to break off her marriage. I was down playing whatever it was... it... he loved her too much. There was no point. It was fabulous, though... Leon stormed in their wedding, grabbed her, and ran with all his might. Lola was more than willingly to comply, and then they practically eloped. I was, happy for them, sad for myself. But it was okay.

"Okay until I figured out I was with child."

Ah. There it is.

"That was you, of course, Rin. We had used to protection that night - the thought hadn't even occurred to us. It was then I told everything to Lola, who agreed to raise the child of her own. Was she mad? I couldn't tell. Her face remained blank the entire time I told her, begged her for her forgiveness. Did she forgive me? I did not know. I never will know.

"Eight and half months later, I had you. I took you once, but all I felt was shame."

Shame.

No love, nothing.

Shame, of all things.

"After that one time, I signed all papers, giving Lola and Leon guardianship, or whatever. After that one time, I never saw you again, and although I did wonder sometimes about how you were, I didn't bother to investigate. My business took off. All was good. I didn't really think about you, my lost child. A couple of years later, Leon told me that they had had a second child- this one an albino male. I didn't know what to say. They were happy, I suppose, so all was good.

"And then the accident came. After a year of debating with myself, I chose to take y'all in. Yet, when I looked at your face from a distance, all I felt was shame and anger at myself. I couldn't take it. I couldn't handle it. I still took you, however, and then sent you away."

"That's where you're wrong," I finally cut in. I was done listening. "You took Piko in, you payed for my bills. I'm sorry, but after all of this, I still think of Lola as my mother." I slowly rose and bowed. "Thank you for your time," I said, my voice strange and alien like. There was a clump in my throat I couldn't get out, and my heart wouldn't stop pounding. I walked to the door, Len following behind me.

As I prepared to exit, Meiko said, "Wait!" I turned and she hurried over. "We... we could still make a relationship, if you want." She said the words sweetly, but her eyes were guarded, and I could still tell that she was still feeling ashamed. I flushed, turning a dark red, as anger flowed through me.

"Thanks but no thanks. I don't need your pity," I said, and then stormed out of the house.

Because, that's all it was. Pity. She only said that out of obligation. Not even that, out of guilt, due to my death soon approaching. Meiko would always feel the same way about me, and no matter what I said or did, her opinion wouldn't change.

"Rin... you okay?" Len asked as he set down a tray onto the table, a cup of tea and some cake on it. An apron was tied around his waist, and he looked relatively relaxed.

"I'm... I'm good. Just a little shocked, that's all," I said while quietly taking a sip. I lifted my notebook up and showed it to him. "I have, say, two and a half more weeks left? I'm getting weaker - I can feel it - so we should probably hurry. I would say that I truthfully have, about a week and a half out... the last week, I'll probably have to remain in the hospital." I said these words casually, ignoring the shivers of fear that raced down my spine.

"Rin, you don't have to... you can cry if you want to," Len offered.

"I know," I said. "I don't want to. A slight problem, however, is that I'm going to be in the hospital during Gumi Megpoid's concert... hm. I guess we'll figure that out. Another one is that it's winter, which means snow, which means no beach. Hm. What do you want to do?"

"We could go to the beach. It would just be cold, and winter like, and, um, yeah."

"Sounds fun," I said in a dull voice. "But I'll pass."

"No! We should go! I have a friend whom's car I can borrow, and then we can drive down there... oh, and we can light fireworks, and everything! Come on, when else you are going to do it?"

I visibly flinched.

"N-No, I didn't mean it like that... l-like... Uh..."

"It's cool," I said while smiling sadly.

"Think of it as our first official date as a couple!"

"A cold day at the beach. Interesting for a first date," I said with a smile, and Len brightened up when he saw that I wasn't holding what he said against him or anything.

"Whatever. I'll call her up right now," Len said as he dialed the number. My ears perked at the word 'her,' but I didn't say anything. His side of the conversation went something like this:

"Hey, Aoki?... Yeah... It's Len... From class 2-A?... Yeah. Nice hearing you... Can I borrow you car? I want to go to the beach with a friend... Yes, I know it's December... Yes, it's- I mean she! She's a female... Yes, we want to launch fireworks in the winter... STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS, GOD DAMNIT! CAN WE BORROW YOU'RE CAR OR NOT?!... No... I do not want to be killed... I'm sorry... Thanks, bye."

"I take it that she said yes?"

"Yes with a pleasant death threat that if I were ever rude to her again, she would kill me."

"Ah."

Awkward silence.

It was then I realized that I really don't know that much about Len, even though I feel like he knows a lot about me. I suppose it's not hard to know much about me- there isn't that much to my life, spending four of my years in the hospital.

"How long is the car ride?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"A couple of hours?" Len said, stating it more like a question rather than a statement. I shrugged. "When do you want to go?"

"Tomorrow I suppose. We don't exactly have time to put it off."

"Tell me about your time in high school."

"What?"

"Eyes on the road," I warned Len as he turned to stare at me. "Anyways, tell me about yourself in high school. Friends... things like that, I suppose."

"Girlfriends?" Len said with a playful smirk.

"No," I replied with a scowl while slapping his arm lightly. "Just... I mean, I feel like you know everything about me. The only thing I got to keep as a secret from you is that I'm dying, and that came out rather soon!"

"Don't say stuff like that so lightly," Len said, his voice heavy.

"Sorry," I mumbled. I suppose that I shouldn't take it lightly, not one bit, but that's the only way I can really deal with it.

Laughing it off? I suppose that's what I'm trying to do. If I cry, I'll end up feeling like one of those pathetic girls from a manga.

"High school? I feel like an old man, talking about it like this," Len said, earning a laugh from me. "Well, my freshmen year I was bullied."

"Ah. So it's one of those experiences?"

"I suppose. I was a scholarship, and I was 'showing them up' because I was smarter than any of them without trying," Len said, his eyes never looking off the road. "It was one of those kind of stories. I was on a Music and Academic Scholarship, and, well... they would steal my violin, cut the strings, throw my text books away... Mind you, all of this costed money, which, as I told you, I didn't have much to begin with, because I had to provide for my uncle and myself."

"That..." I said, but I wasn't sure what to say exactly. What were you supposed to say?

"It's okay, Rin," Len said while smiling at me sympathetically. "Things could have been worse." I nodded my head numbly, understanding what he was trying to say. My situation was worse by a long shot. "I suppose things got better when I began dating this girl named Aoki Lapis."

This is her car.

He talked to her last night.

"Aoki?"

"Yeah. She was popular and pretty; smart and athletic; the perfect model for a high school girl."

I hear tenderness in his voice.

"We dated for three years, and somehow through that I had managed to make friends with all people through that," Len said, his voice lighter.

"Why did you break up?" I asked as Len pulled into a gas station for a short break. I hate how my voice is tight. This shouldn't mean anything. Len gave me a long sideways look, a smirk on his face. "What?" I demanded.

"You jealous?" Len asked, a sly look on his face.

"Why would I?" I said, letting out out a small puff of air and looking away.

His hand was suddenly on my cheek and he moved my face to look at me. A slight smirk was playing on Len's lips, his eyes light-humored. "You're jealous," Len said, this time it not being a question.

"Yeah... well, of course I am," I admitted. He let out a light chuckle before kissing me.

When did kissing Len start feeling so good?

"You're cute when you're jealous," Len said, smiling down at me.

"You-" I started, but was suddenly cut of by a loud, "EWWW!"

I looked out of our car window to see a group of children staring at us, from the ages five to seven, a school bus in the distance.

"Ew, Onii-chan is kissing Onee-chan," A little boy said.

"Cooties!"

"Yes yes, little children," Len said through the window. "Now, if you don't want to get cooties, scram!" The little kids ran back to the school bus, still making faces at each other.

"Romantic mood ruined?" Len asked me, a sad look on his face. "I mean, we could always go to a love hotel and have hot, doki-doki sexytime!"

"'Rapid Heart Beat' sexytime?" I asked.

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Just take me to the damn beach."

Lame ending for the win! I needed to post something, since I haven't in two weeks... oops.

Reviews, please?