AAAHHHHHH! It's been a month! I'm soooo sorry guys! So many things are happening AND I have a MEGA HUGE writor's block! I'm actually typing random words for this chapter! Me soo sorry guys!

The Wolf who fell in Love with Red Riding Hood

Torn Hearts

Once upon a time, there lived a girl. The girl was an innocent and pure being. She was the dreamy type and always spaced out. Like all girls, she dreamed of being swept off her feet by her prince charming. Little did she know, her dream will come true. One day, she bumped into a boy. They spent many times together and soon the girl grew quite close to the boy.

Could this be my prince charming? She thought.

Everything seemed happy but unfortunately that didn't last long. One day, another boy stepped into the girl's life. The girl and the new boy talked and she felt happy while spending time with him. Then she realized she had feelings for both boys. The girl kept distressing over the matter, and soon she felt her heart tearing into two.

Rin, using a blue pencil, shaded in the last hue of blue into her picture. She placed the pencil down on her desk and smiled.

Holding up her sketch pad, she cried out with flourish, "Done!"

Rin had drawn a detailed picture of a wolf. She had especially put a lot of effort in colouring its blue eyes. Rin placed the pad back on her desk. She turned to the blue bead that had inspired her to sketch the picture. It was the same bead that Len had given her a few weeks before.

She haven't seen him since the creature had rampaged through her grandmother's house. Now that she thought about it, Rin hadn't seen Len since… Rei entered into her life. The guilty feeling started to creep back to her.

I had to admit, Rei is a really nice person but…

She gripped the hem of her dress

…he's not the same as Len…

Rin stared at the bead. She smiled at the thought how it reminded her so much of Len's eyes. She opened her desk drawers to put her sketch pad back (she didn't want her mother to find the sketch) when she noticed a strong-looking piece of string. An idea popped into her head. Rin grabbed the string and threaded it through the hole of the bead. She then tied it around her slim her neck.

There I'll always have something that reminded me of you.

Everything was quiet. Frogs' croaking died away and all the pond creatures had stopped. Rui stood out in the middle of the lake. She stood on the tips of her toes on the water's surface as if it was glass. Rui had her eyes closed, showing off her long black lashes.

Taking a deep breath, Rui started to slowly flap her arms up and down, like a swan stretching its wings. The water underneath her, rippled. Now, standing on one leg, Rui bent down and touched her supporting leg. Then straightened up and laid her arm on the air, as if someone held her empty hand.

Dancing a pas de deux by myself… The black swan shall remain forever alone… Only to toy with people's hearts… (A/N: I'm trying my best to describe these ballet movements. A 'pas de deux' is a dance that needs two people. In French it means 'two steps')

Rui twirled around.

She remembered Rei's words; "She's beautiful and very sweet…her laugh was like little bells and her hand felt gentle."

A scowl came to Rui's face and her swan-like movements suddenly changed. She curled her fingers making them look like claws. Tears shone in her lashes.

What does he see in her?!

Rui, with one leg on her knee, started to spin around and around. Tears spilled down her pale cheek.

Red Riding Hood! You don't deserve to live!

"Rui?"

Her eyes flew open and she stopped. Len was standing at the bank. Rui stared at him with her honey gold eyes. She let out a small sigh and leapt over to the bank.

A swan who toys with people's feelings… that is my role…

Neru walked around the village. She scanned the area with her yellow eyes.

That boy… he has to be around here…unless he doesn't live in the village…

Popping a gobstopper in her mouth, Neru continued her search.

That boy… what did he do to Rin?

The Sleeping Beauty blended into the crowd.

"It's been cloudy lately," Rin mused.

She was staring at the dusty grey sky as she walked to her grandmother's house. She placed her hand on her new necklace that hid underneath her dress. She could feel its cool and smooth surface against her skin. Rin stopped for a moment when she came to the fork in the road. Instead of turning to the right, she went to the left.

Will he be there?

She silently hoped for the possibility. The giant tree came to view…but there was no boy or wolf underneath. Rin's shoulders dropped. She forced herself to keep walking.

As the days passes, without seeing him… this empty, pained feeling grows bigger… I don't understand… why?

"Your jobs are to rip them apart. Do you understand? Do it correctly, you'll be rewarded with your desired 'happy ending'."

Rui was sitting down the bank. Len had noticed she was being unusually quiet.

"Rui, are you-"

She cut him off before he could finish,"Len, what do you think of me?" she asked.

He blinked, "What?"

Rui looked at him seriously. "What do you think of me?" she repeated.

"Well, I-" he mumbled.

"Answer it truthfully," Rui commanded.

Len rubbed the back of his neck, "Why do-"

"Answer it," Rui ordered.

Len dropped his arm and sighed. There was an awful silent.

"I think you're a nice person," he said, "True, your role may be the Black Swan, but I think you have a good heart."

Rui clutched the edge of her tutu. That wasn't the answer she was looking for. Len had misunderstood the question.

Taking a deep breath, Rui said bluntly, "Do you love me, Len?"

Len was taken back at the question.

"What?!" he cried.

"Answer it!" Rui demanded.

Len bit his lip, uncomfortably. Rui stared at him with a stone expression. He ran his clawed hand through his gold hair.

Finally he replied, "…I'm sorry, no. I only view you as a friend."

A smile came to Rui's face.

"Thank you," she said, "For answering truthfully," Rui looked into Len's azure eyes, "So who is she?"

Len looked at her, startled.

Rin stared. Rei was crouching down and fixing the front door of Grandmother's house. When he looked up, a smile came to his face.

"Hello Rin!" he greeted.

"H-Hi," Rin replied.

"Rin-chan, is that you?"

Grandmother appeared in the doorway, "I see you know Rei-kun," she smiled, "He's helping me to fix the door."

"I-I see," Rin stuttered.

Grandmother beckoned her to come in so she obeyed. Rin glanced at Rei as she walked passed him.

Is it me or do I see Rei quite often?

Rin unpacked the food from her basket. Suddenly Rei stood up and dusted his hands.

"I'm done Kagamine-san!" he announced.

"Splendid job!" cried Grandmother, "As always Rei-kun!"

Rei smiled modestly and turned to Rin. Feeling his gaze on her, a small blush came to her face.

"Do you always come to your Grandmother's to deliver food?" he asked.

Rin nodded, "Yes. Every afternoon I walk here," she replied, "My mother worries about Grandmother's health so she makes me deliver food to her."

Rei's smile deepened, "That's very kind of you," he remarked, "You're willing to go back and forth just to deliver food for your Grandmother."

Rin's blush grew redder. Grandmother came over with a plate of sponge cake.

"Here. Have some," she offered, "For the hard work you've done! You too Rin-chan! Eat up! And sit down, take a seat~!"

She made Rin and Rei sit down on the couch. Rin shifted uncomfortably. They're only a few centimetres apart. An awkward silence descended on the two.

"W-We seem to cross each other a lot," Rin remarked, deciding to break the silence, "As if Fate to bringing us together."

"Yes…we do," Rei muttered.

Was it her or did Rei's eyes just hardened for a moment? The grandfather clock in the living room gave a chime and Rin quickly stood up.

"I better go," she announced.

Rei stood up as well, "I'll accompany you," he offered.

"Thank you," smiled Rin.

The two bid farewell to Grandmother and started to walk along the forest path when a mist started to roll in.

"It's too dangerous to be walking out here now," said Rei, "Come follow me."

And he took Rin's hand and led her away.

Rui hugged on her legs closed to her body. She was sitting on the water's surface. She watched as the mist swirled around her. It felt damp on her skin. Len had left just before the mist descended. Rui closed her gold eyes as she remembered their previous conversation.

Flashback

"What do you mean?" asked Len.

"Don't play dumb," Rui said bluntly, "You're in love with someone, aren't you?"

His cheeks grew pink. Rui smiled. He looks funny when he's blushing.

"Who is she?" she asked kindly.

Len rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…," he started, "Her name is Rin. She's Little Red Riding Hood."

Rui's eyes widened.

Little Red Riding Hood? No, it can't be.

Rui quickly cleared her throat, "What made you like her in the first place?" she asked.

A wistful look came to Len's azure eyes.

"She saved my life," he replied, "I was looking for food in the forest. I didn't see a steel trap, hidden in a pile of dry leaves until it was too late. I stepped in it."

Rui cringed.

"The pain was…indescribable," Len continued, "I struggled to free myself but all of my efforts were in vain. Until… she came. At first I didn't trust her, but when she freed and treated my wounds…I couldn't help but feel…"

Len paused for a moment. His eyes closed.

"The wolf is meant to devour Red Riding Hood, huh?"

Rui's eyes widened. Len laughed softly. Tears were visible in his eyes.

"She likes the woodcutter…," he whispered, "…She's scared of me. And I'm to die at his hands, huh?"

Rui looked down to the ground, her gold eyes filled with guilt. Len stood up.

"I must go," he solemnly announced and walked away.

End of flashback

She opened her eyes.

"So…he knows his fate. I've asked the question too soon." Rui whispered into the silent air.

She gripped her tutu tightly.

"But," she sighed, "I know I don't love him and he doesn't love me. I can no longer toy with people's hearts. I refuse to do it…if only… if only he sees it that way…"

Rei led Rin to a small yet sturdy hut.

"In here," he beckoned.

The hut only had one room. On one side of the hut there was a small table, complete with a single chair. Tucked away in a far corner was a single bed. Leaning on another wall was a tiny book case. And a small stone fireplace completed the hut's interior.

Rei walked over to the fireplace and placed more firewood. He stirred the ambers to awaken them. Rin looked around the place. Everything was simple. She thought her mother and her was quite poor but this… this was very different to their place.

"We'll wait here until the mist moves on," said Rei, "Would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, no thank you," Rin replied.

I can't bother him with refreshments if he…lived in this condition.

A smile came to Rei's face.

"Have…have you been living alone?" Rin asked quietly.

Rei nodded, "Yes," he replied, "Ever since my parents passed away."

Rin stared at him. "I-I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"It's alright!" Rei reassured, "I've gotten over it."

Rin noticed some wooden ornaments resting on the book case.

"Did you make these?" she asked.

He nodded. Rin then noticed one of the ornaments was a girl…in a hood. She carefully picked it up.

"Is this…?" she began.

"Yep," said Rei as he stood up, "It's you."

Rin slightly blushed, "B-But…why?" she spluttered.

"You're a perfect model," chuckled Rei, "Small, fragile and beautiful."

Rin's blush deepened.

"You can keep it," Rei smiled.

"Are you sure?" Rin asked.

"Of course," he replied, "Think it as a gift from me to you."

She smiled, "T-Thank you Rei."

As Rin walked to her hood, which was hanging on the cloak hanger, her bead necklace slipped out. Rei's eyes caught the glint of blue in the dim room. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I just love misty days~!" Zatsune sang, "You can frolic about and no one can see you~!"

Zeito chuckled, "Just be careful," he warned.

"No need to worry!" reassured Zatsune, "I'm not going to-"

Suddenly she stumbled over a tree root.

"Ack! Who put that there?!" she huffed.

"I told you," laughed Zeito.

Zatsune grumbled under her breath. The silver clouds drift around them. Suddenly they both sensed a presence. Zeito and Zatsune sharply turned to a certain direction. A young boy was walking through the mist.

Zatsune smiled, "Aha, what's our little wolf doing out here?" she whispered.

Len was walking through the misty forest when he had the strange sensation someone was watching him. He swiftly turned to a certain direction but there was no one there.

Giving the last glance around the area, he continued in the direction of the village. Pulling his hood over his head, Len stepped into the village. There were not many people wondering through the misty place, they mostly stayed inside.

At least no one is here to see me…

Just as he thought that, a hand reached out and grabbed Len's collar. He yelped. Luckily, his hood didn't come off. He was thrown against a brick wall. Bright yellow eyes locked into his azure blue eyes.

"What did you do to her?!" snapped a voice.

A girl with sandy yellow hair tied in a side ponytail was glaring at him.

"W-What do you mean?" he spluttered.

"Rin!" the girl growled, "What did you do to Rin?!"

Len straightened up, "I didn't do anything to her!" he cried, "I would never do anything that would hurt her!" he then stared at the strange girl, "…I may ask, who are you?"

The girl looked at him suspiciously and stepped away from him.

"Neru," she replied, "Akita Neru. I take the role of Sleeping Beauty. I'm a friend to Rin."

Len nodded, "Nice to meet you," he said, "Why do you ask if I have done something to Rin?"

Neru looked at him carefully, "She's been…acting strange lately," she explained, "Ever since we mentioned you to her when she came back from a walk with the woodcutter."

Underneath his hood, Len's ears twitched.

"She hangs out with the woodcutter lately," Neru went on, "But, every time I see, although she has a smile on her face… her eyes… they look sad." Len took this new piece of vital information.

Sadness…why would she be sad?

"Now that I think about it, that woodcutter seems to know when to appear," Neru muttered, "He just appears out of nowhere… Oh, what's your name?"

He appears out of nowhere?

In the distant, Zatsune and Zeito watched them with smirks.

The mist finally cleared. Rei had insisted to walk Rin back to the village. The mist had left dewdrops on the grass blades and they sparkled in the sunshine.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" breathed Rin.

Rei nodded. A rabbit hopped out of the bushes and basked in the sunlight.

"Aww cute," Rin cooed.

"Yes there are lots of animals that dwell here," he said, "I've seen rabbits, deer, even wolves."

Rin drew a sharp breath.

"I've also seen an unusual wolf roaming about," Rei continued, "It has blue eyes, almost like your bead necklace."

Rin stared at Rei.

How did he…?

"W-What do you think of wolves, Rei?" Rin nervously asked.

"They're quite…awe inspiring when they're in the woods," he replied, "They're strong and powerful."

Rin gave a small sigh of relief.

"But," Rei said abruptly.

She looked at him worriedly.

"When they're around humans," he hissed, "They're dangerous creatures."

Rin swallowed the lump in her throat.

The words from 'Little Red Riding Hood' came back to her mind: 'a heroic wood cutter burst in, cut the wolf's stomach open and rescued her grandmother.'

"Oh," was all Rin could say.

She reached up and placed her hand on her chest. She could feel the bead from underneath her dress.

"I-I think," she said.

Rei turned to look at her.

"I think wolves aren't dangerous," she said a little louder.

Her voice trembled slightly, "They become, what we call dangerous, when they feel threatened," she continued, "That's what I think of wolves."

Rei didn't say anything. He just nodded slowly.

The sun was beginning to set, and Rin was back in her cosy bedroom. She was playing with the bead. Her sketch of Len was sitting on the desk. She was thinking about what Rei had said about wolves.

Why can't everyone view wolves the way I do?

She sighed and placed the necklace down. Suddenly Rin heard a noise.

Tap, tap.

Curious, Rin walked over to her window. She gasped when she saw Len smiling at her. She quickly unclasped her window and pushed it open.

"Len!" she cried softly, "Oh, Len… It's been so long since I've seen you!"

Rin's heart was swelling with so much joy; she thought it could burst any minute.

"Where have you been?" she asked, "Are you well?"

Len nodded, "I'm sorry if I didn't come to see you… it's just…," he paused for a moment, "I didn't have the courage to approach you after…" his voice trailed away.

Rin stiffened slightly.

He must be talking about Rei.

She hesitantly reached out and patted Len on the head. His blue eyes widened. This was the first contact Rin had made ever since Len's transformation. She smiled warmly at him.

"I missed you," she whispered.

Len opened his mouth to say something when his body glowed. The sun had disappeared. A wolf now stood in Len's place. Rin felt her heart sank a little. She pitied Len. Suddenly they heard footsteps approaching Rin's door. Len quickly turned and swiftly walked away.

"Len!" Rin hissed.

He stopped for a second.

"I…I hope we meet again!" Rin whispered.

Len quickly disappeared into the shadows, just as Rin's mother opened the door.

"Lights out Rin," she said.

Luckily, she didn't notice Rin's sketch pad. Rin nodded, switched the lights off and crawled into bed.

I have to admit…although Rei is nice…I prefer Len's company. Even though we are different, it doesn't matter…I want Len…

She remembered her story's ending.

But we can't.

Len looked up at the starry night sky.

I'll like to be with Rin but…our story doesn't say that.

The stars were reflected in Rui's golden eyes as she stared up at the sky. Suddenly she heard a snap of a twig breaking. She spun around. Rei walked out of the shades of the trees. Rui immediately relaxed and got up to her feet. She walked up to him, with a slight bounce in her steps.

"Rei!" she greeted cheerfully, "What brings you here? You don't usually come and visit me!"

Her smile faded when Rui saw Rei's solemn expression.

"Rei?"

A shadow was casted over Rei's face.

"Rin…," he muttered, "…I think…I love her."

Rui stared at him. Her heart felt as if it's been stabbed.

"But… she likes that wolf," he spat.

Rei's gold eyes had become cold and steely. Rui clutched her chest and she bit her lip nervously.

Will he ever realize?

Voices echoed in Zatsune's cave.

I want Len.

I'll like to be with Rin.

But…she likes that wolf.

Will he ever realize?

Zatsune was sitting at her desk, listening. Her ruby red eyes narrowed.

"They're resisting," Zeito muttered.

Zatsune tapped her finger on her desk thoughtfully. Her cherry red nail polish shone in the dim light.

"Not knowing one's role can be dangerous," she said softly.

Zeito watched her carefully. "What are we going to do?" he whispered.

Zatsune suddenly stopped tapping.

"Zeito," she announced, "Get the puppet theatre."

A person's heart can be pulled in all sorts of direction, even ripped apart. A person's heart can also be so fragile…just one statement can shatter it. But a person's heart can be toyed with, if you know which string to pull. Yes… we all can be marionettes.

*sigh* I'm actually having thoughts about discontinuing this story. I don't it it's actually good so... maybe I'll discontinue... You can review if you like. I'll like to hear some of your thoughts and if you have some ideas, I'll LOVE to hear them! Thank you~!