Chapter Twelve:

The One I Love...

Despite Rin's disappearance, life had continued on without her. Just seeing the happy villagers working and laughing made her realize this. Children ran through the village, playing games while adults finished up their chores for the evening. Women hanged laundry and families began closing down shops. The village had been bigger than Rin remembered, it had really prospered in the half a year she had been gone. No one seemed to pay Rin any mind as she wandered through the village, but Rin wasn't bothered by it. Everyone had moved on and Rin felt happy for them.

"How many times have I told you not to run around like that? Of course, you'd get hurt like this!" yelled a familiar voice.

Rin peaked around an old oak tree. She couldn't believe what she saw, Mieko, scolding some young children for running around the village. One had a scraped knee and Mieko began cleaning it. "You need to be more careful... And don't go near the woods, alright? I don't want you to disappear too..." Rin couldn't believe what she was hearing, Mieko, angry Mieko, being sweet and kind.

Mieko watched them run off again, obviously ignoring everything she'd just told them before turning in Rin's direction. Her eyes grew wide and then she shook her head, as if trying to wake herself from a dream. Her head hung low and Rin thought she saw tears come to her eyes.

"Mieko? What's wrong?" Kaito had walked up behind the brunette and placed his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"It's nothing... I just... I thought I saw Rin, but... that's silly, isn't it? She's been missing for half a year, there's no way she'd be here..." Mieko told him, her voice heavy with sadness. The sight almost made tears come to Rin's eyes. There was no reason for Mieko to feel so sad, it wasn't her fault. It was only a matter of time before Rin would have left on her own.

The news seemed to surprise Kaito, instead of dismissing it like Mieko had, Kaito had seemed to actually believe in the possibility that Rin really was there. Rin backed away from the scene, she wasn't entirely sure why she felt she had to avoid them. All she had wanted to know was that they were safe and happy and then she could leave peacefully.

The sun began to set as Rin explored every corner of her old home, even stopping by the house she used to live. It was in better shape than when she had lived in it, but to Rin's surprise, no one lived in it. Everything inside was just as she had left it, even the black rose still lay on the white sheets of her bed. Rin picked it up, gently brushing her fingers against the delicate petals. She had nearly forgotten how magical it felt to just hold it in her hands. It was beautiful and it smelled just like Len. Rin began yearning for home, to be wrapped up in Len's arms and breathe in his familiar scent.

It was time to go home, to her real home. Visiting the village again made it clear, she didn't belong here and she never had. She took her time walking back through the village, enjoying the sight of lantern flames dancing in the darkening streets. When she reached the forests' edge she took one last look back at the village just as she once had the forests when she was young.

"Rin?" Rin jumped in surprise, every hair standing on the back of her neck. Her mind screamed for her not to turn around, but her body didn't listen and her eyes met the ocean deep eyes that she had not wanted to face.

"Kaito..." Rin spoke softly. He shouldn't have found her, it would only cause him more pain when she left.

"Rin! It is you! Where have you been? God, how I've missed you!" Kaito said, trapping her in a hug and lifting her off the ground before setting her down again. Rin had to pushed herself out of her arms, somehow this felt wrong. "Rin...?"

"I can't stay, Kaito... I have to go..." Rin said, not looking him in the face. Kaito had wanted to ask why, wanted to drag her back with him, but then he saw the rose in her hands and he knew why.

Something in Kaito had finally gave. He took Rin's hand in a bone-crushing grasp, forcing her delicate hand to crush the petals it held so gingerly. Rin looked horrified, resisting uselessly to pull her hand away. The rose fell to the ground, petals scattering at their feet. "I won't let that world take you away from me again!"

"Kaito, what the hell are you-?" Rin began, thinking he had lost his mind and perhaps he had. He had to be mad to go through with what he was about to do.

"Rin, I love you! I always have! I'll protect you so stay with me!" Rin was about to reject him, Kaito could see it in her eyes, but he didn't want to hear it, he didn't wanted to hear those words. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her to him, finally kissing those lips he had so longed to capture. It was bitter sweet, he got to kiss the girl he loved...while she was struggling to escape his grip. This wasn't how he had wanted this to happen, but if Rin wouldn't come on her own then he would force her.

Rin tried kicking and hitting, but Kaito's grip stayed firm. Everything in Rin screamed that this was wrong, that she had to escape. Images of Len flashed through her mind and tears came to rest in the corners of her eyes, refusing to overflow. Len had never kissed her, never told her that he loved her, but still Rin felt as though she was betraying him by kissing Kaito.

Rin had begun crying, tears streaming down her face, making Kaito question himself. How could he say he loved her when he was treating her like this? He was just about to release her and let her make her choice when he noticed the change in Rin's eyes. He loosened his grip, allowing Rin to push him away from her.

"Len!" Rin shouted as soon as she escaped Kaito's kiss. Kaito didn't like the look she had in her eyes when saying this guy's name. His distaste for Len only increased upon seeing him. Kaito recognized hi instantly, the man he had seen over ten years ago standing over Rin's unconscious body. The most unsettling thing was that he hadn't aged a day since then.

"Rin, I came to take you back," Len said, not taking his eyes off of Kaito. His amber eyes were blazing, but Kaito wouldn't give him the satisfaction of looking away.

Rin looked relieved and more than willing to leave this place, but Kaito held out an arm to stop her from moving forward. "She's not going anywhere. She belongs here with humans like her, not with your kind." It didn't take a genius to figure out Len's true identity, the story, the killings, his unaging appearance, it all added up.

"Kaito, you don't understand!" Rin pleaded with him.

"Rin, I understand perfectly! He's a murderer, a monster! How could you even think to trust him over me?" Rin was afraid, not of Kaito, but of what Len might do. She had never seen the look in Len's eyes that he had now, he hadn't even glanced at her, it was as if he was set on Kaito.

A smirk came to Len's face. "It's a shame, but it seems she doesn't return your feelings... So what do you plan on accomplishing? You steal her away and then what? How can a victom expect to love their kidnapper?" Len taunted, knowing full well that every word stung.

"I don't know... How can the hunted love the hunter?" Kaito replied. "What did you plan on doing with her? Keeping her for a pet until you got bored and just finished her off? Unless... Your kidding me right? The lion fell in love with the lamb?"

Len had lost his patience, he was no longer in the mood to play games anymore. He had enjoyed taunting Kaito, but his words had hit home. His veins pulsated, desiring vengeance in blood. He exposed his fangs, showing this boy just what he was dealing with before pouncing.

Everything had gone wrong from that point. The fair skinned neck his fangs pierced was not Kaito's. The rich blood that tasted like heavenly sweet citrus was not the distasteful blood of a man and yet Len could not force himself to stop drinking. By the time his senses had returned and he realized what he had done, it was too late.

It had felt amazing, like nothing she had ever felt before. It was like floating on a cloud and with every drop he took, Rin felt even closer to Len. She was giving him everything she was, her very life. Dying hadn't hurt like she thought it would have. If Miku and the others had died this way, then she knew they went peacefully wrapped in the scent of black rose petals. She might've been insane for stepping in front of Kaito like that, but she hadn't done it for him, she had done it for Len. She was weak, a mere human girl, she couldn't protect Len physically, but she could protect his heart. If Len knew that he had killed someone do cruelly, she knw he'd be wracked with guilt.

"Rin? Rin!" Len cried out to her, trying desperately to get her to stay with him. She had lost so much blood, she looked pale and Len had to hold onto her for her to stand. Kaito stood watching, horrified at seeing her in such a state.

"Len..." Rin said, her voice hoarse and fading, but she had to tell him this one thing if she could do nothing else. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding his head in her hands. "...I... love you...Len..." Rin closed her eyes, which felt so heavy, she would rest just for a while.

"Rin...? Rin! Rin!" Len called, lightly shaking her, but receiving no response.

"And so history repeats itself..." Kaito said just above a whisper.

Len turned on him, his voice full of sorrow and anger as he yelled, "Don't say that! Don't you dare say that! Rin isn't my sister! I might have thought so at first, but Len's stronger than my sister ever was! She didn't run away when things seemed impossible... She didn't cry when things seemed hopeless... She was... She IS Rin and there is no one else like her..."

Kaito didn't like admitting it, but Len seemed to understand Rin more than anyone. He was in love with her and he could see that. He looked down at Rin. In a way, he had won, Rin would die a human and Len would never get the chance to love her, but neither would he. Kaito clenched his fist and battled with his pride over what he should do. Damn Rin, his love for her had won out in the end as Kaito forced Len to look him in the eye. "You need to save her."

"And how would I do that? If you know of some way to bring back the dead then tell me!" Len snapped.

"Your a vampire aren't you? Then turn her into one too."

Len lowered his head. "I can't do that..." Kaito slapped him across the cheek.

"I loved her too! This is what Rin would have wanted..." Kaito yelled.

Len nodded and turned back to Rin, lying limply in his arms. She was so cold, so lifeless. Len had never changed anyone before, he wasn't even sure if he could. His body seemed to move on instinct, as if knowing what he must do. He sank his fangs into his wrist, drawing blood and pouring it into his mouth. He lifted Rin up, tilting her face up to his. His blood-stained lips met her cold ones and the red liquid poured down her throat. Their first kiss, a kiss of life, Len just hoped that Rin would accept that life.

As Len carried Rin away into the forest, he turned back to Kaito, giving a nod of gratitude. If it weren't for him, Len might have sat there and watched the one he loved die a second time.

"Don't thank me. I won't give up just because of this, I will steal her back from you..."

"And when the tie comes when you try, I'll repay you for that smack earlier." Len said, smiling back at him.