AN: Sorry for the bit of delay! I had a science project to do, and I've also been working on a little oneshot. Hopefully there are few or no errors. Feel free to point them out in a pm or something if you find them. I'm using this story in my writing club, and we're getting our stories published. I don't want any errors. Hmm...I might actually have it up for sale. I'm also thinking about making an art book or something related to it. I draw a lot of stuff based on it. Thinking of animating too, for my senior project. What do you all think? Hah, I'm biting off more than I can chew as usual... Anyways, I really hope you all enjoy this chapter. It's very important to the story line. Also, did anyone guess who Len's mom is by something I said last chapter? Kudos if you caught it! She'll be making an entrance with Akaito again either next chapter or chapter 10. Ah~ The havoc she will cause~ Hee. Well, as usual thank you for the positive feedback! I'll keep writing~
(Miku's POV)
I let out a truly content sigh.
The sun is shining with no clouds in sight; the wind is blowing ever so slightly… It's just a perfect day. And there is no other way that I rather spend a perfect day than a rooftop picnic with good friends- especially one with my beloved Rin.
I giggle, stretching out my arms as I do so. "Aha~ isn't this great? It's so nice that it was warm enough today to eat on the roof. Before you know it, we'll be in our short sleeved uniforms!"
Luka on my left says nothing. She's too busy stuffing her face with tuna. I gaze over at Rin on my right. She looks at me and smiles, nodding. The short-haired goddess turns her attention back to the small rice ball in her hand. I also look back at my own lunch, and pick up some rice with my chopsticks. I slowly bring it to my mouth, acting as lady-like as possible. Careful not to drop a single grain, I slide the ends of my eating utensils between my lips. I swallow, lowering my chopsticks down. I reach for another bite, but Luka intervenes with her own chopsticks.
"Hmm?" I look up at Luka. Her mouth is still full. I gaze down to find her bento box practically empty.
"Hey Miku, mind if I steal a bit of your octopus?"
"Luka, you're a glutton, you know that? But I guess its okay…"
"Hah, thanks~!" The pink-haired girl untangles her chopsticks from mine, and stabs them into one of the pieces of octopus in my bento. She swiftly sticks it in her mouth and swallows without really chewing. I laugh.
"Luka, I thought you knew how to use chopsticks!" I prod one of her oversized breasts with the end of the stick. "You don't just shank them into your food…"
"I know, I know…" Luka pushes the utensil away from her chest.
"Then use them right!"
"But~" She jabs them into another piece. "This way is much easier!"
I begin to giggle again. Luka is only half Japanese, so it sort of made sense that she didn't use chopsticks right. The older female continues to pick at the rest of my lunch. I turn to look at Rin. She's staring off in the other direction, still nibbling on the same rice ball. I gaze down at her lunch. All she brought was two rice balls and a bottle of water.
"Hey Rin, do you want some of my lunch? You barely have anything…"
Rin turns to me, her aqua eyes gleaming slightly in the light. My face's temperature increases a small bit.
"Ah… no thank you, Miku. I'm not that hungry…"
"You never are…" I hear Luka remark. I scoff at her.
"Look who's talking! You're a living trash can."
Luka sticks her tongue out at me. Rin begins to giggle. We eat in silence afterwards for a few minutes. I finish the last bit of rice in my bento while Rin sips at her water. Luka speaks up.
"So, Rin~ it's been a while since we've seen your boyfriend, how is he?"
I resist the urge to hit Luka. It wasn't too long ago that I finally moved that boy to the back of my head. Rin stops drinking and her face turns red. She quickly screws the top back on the bottle. I look down.
"Uhm… He is doing okay…"
"His name was Len, right? All I can remember really is his cute face…"
"Y-yeah, Mas…" Rin stops and corrects herself. "….Yeah, that's his name."
I gaze back up at the blonde girl. I try not to raise an eyebrow.
"…Oh, hey Rin…"
"Yes, Miku?"
"Why do we never see him around during the day? What school does he go to? Where does he live?"
"Ah, well, uhm…"
"Miku, weren't you paying attention when we were out with him? He's homeschooled. And he lives right outside of town." Luka jumps in. I notice Rin let out a sigh of relief, as if she had just dodged a bullet. It seems a bit suspicious…
"So…when will we get to see him again?" I ask.
"I… I don't know, it really all depends on him, I guess…"
It's quiet again. Rin opens the water bottle again. I fumble with my chopsticks before setting them down in my bento box. I start asking questions again.
"Rin…"
"Y-yeah?"
"…You go to see Len every night, right? Or is it just certain days…?"
"I…I go to see him every night, yes…" Rin holds the mouth of the bottle to her lips.
"What do you two…usually do?"
She waits a moment. Her eyes slowly climb to the clear blue sky above. The sunlight hits her soft white skin just perfectly. My heart threatens to jump out of my chest.
"Well… Sometimes we'll read books together, or play a game. Sometimes, we'll just simply talk with each other. I know it isn't much but…I really value the time I get to spend with him, and I'm simply happy just to be in his presence…" Rin smiles sincerely. Luka starts to clap.
"Awww, that's so sweet! A bit cheesy…but sweet!"
Rin's smile drops like a rock. She quickly looks down, blushing.
"Is it really that cheesy? Oh God…." She chuckles slightly. Looking back at the bottle in her hands, Rin goes to take another sip. I redden and look away in the other direction.
"Y-Yeah…that's all good and such, Rin. But come on, he must be a pain in the neck sometimes…"
Water spews from Rin's mouth. I twitch and scoot back. Rin begins to cough. Luka quickly stands up and jumps over to her. She pats Rin on the back.
"R-Rin, are you okay?!"
Rin takes a sharp breath before answering Luka. "…Yes, I'm sorry about…that…Ah, Miku… uhm, he has never been a pain in the neck before…"
She rubs her neck. I give her a confused look. Part of me was starting to get a bit interested in Len… Luka backs away from Rin and goes back to her spot. The pink-haired girl begins picking up her lunch stuff.
"C'mon you two, lunch should just about be over…"
Rin and I nod and begin cleaning up. My eyes remain on her as we do. The sailor collar of her shirt wavers gently in the breeze. So does her long, dark blue skirt. Once everything is up, Luka waves and heads back to her class. Rin begins to leave as well, but I grab her hand.
"…Oh Miku, what is it?"
"Next Monday night…my parents are going out for the week. Kaito will be home, but…I was wondering if I could stay with you…"
"Eh, I guess… I'll think about it." She blushes. I let go. We both take a final look at the sky before heading in.
(Rin's POV)
I unlock the door to my apartment, Miku right behind me. We walk in and drop our things in the entryway.
"Thanks for letting me stay over for a few nights, Rin~" I hear the aqua-haired girl giggle. I smile to myself. I had asked Master Len about Miku staying with me, and he said that it was fine. He'd just call me later at night, hopefully when she's asleep.
I lead her to my semi-empty room. She has a sleeping mat in her arms. Miku gives my room a once over before entering.
"Wow, you don't have much furniture, do you…"
"N-no, not really. But I don't mind it at all." I plop down on my bed. The twin-tailed teen smirks and sets her things down.
"One day we should take you furniture shopping… Oh hey, when do you usually eat dinner?"
"Eh, to be honest…I don't eat dinner that much…I'm usually with...you know who." I blush.
"What?" Miku glares at me. I look away, her eyes feeling as if they'd burn my own if I looked back. I twiddle my thumbs a bit. She quickly joins me on the bed.
"You seriously need to eat more…you don't eat much for lunch, and now you're telling me that you skip dinner, too? Good grief, you're gonna end up just being skin and bones… And that boyfriend of yours should at least help to feed you too…" She pokes my stomach. I block her with my hands.
'I worry about feeding Master more than myself…I'm also used to not eating much as it is…' My mind trails off. We're both quiet for a few minutes. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Miku stand up. The aqua-haired girl heads out of the room. I rise from the bed and quickly follow.
"Eh, Miku?"
"Rin, you at least have some food, right? And a rice cooker?"
"Y-yes…" I follow her into the kitchen. Miku stops suddenly, and I bump into her back. I step back as she turns to face me. She has a strange smirk on her face.
"You're going to have a good meal tonight, got it?"
"H-huh? Oh Miku, I can't let you cook for me, you're my guest!" I wave my hands, trying to dismiss the idea. She merely grabs me by the shoulders and stares into my eyes. My face heats up.
"Think nothing of it. I want to do this for you, Rin…" I can tell that Miku's face is reddening as well. She forces me to turn around and face the other direction.
"Now, go start your homework while I cook."
"B-but Miku-"
"Don't worry about it!"
I don't bother to fight with her. I sigh and head back to my room. Pulling out my homework, I realize that I don't understand it at all. I stare at it for an hour or so. Miku calls for me. I stuff the homework back into my bag and walk to the living room.
I'm greeted by a small arrangement of foods. I sit down as Miku exits the kitchen, carting a large bowl of rice.
"W-wow, Miku….this looks amazing… I…I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, just eat. Ah, you didn't have much, but I seemed to manage alright…"
She sits down across from me and smiles. I smile back.
"Ah, thank you for the meal…" I take a small sample of rice and slip it between my lips. It's a bit overcooked, but still edible. Miku watches me from across the table.
"..Well, is it okay?"
I gaze down at my chopsticks for a moment before looking back at Miku.
"Y-yeah, it's good…"
Miku turns a deep shade of red for some reason. A large grin engulfs her face. I look at her, slightly confused.
"A-ah!" She giggles. "I'm so glad you like it! Kaito always says my cooking isn't very good…So I'm happy that it came out okay."
My face reddens as well. We both giggle.
(Miku's POV)
The rest of the evening goes by relatively smooth. It's so nice being around her, even while doing boring things like homework and cleaning. Her presence just does something to me I guess. I bet my face has been red the entire time I've been here. I hope she hasn't noticed too much.
For some reason, Rin insisted that we went to bed kind of early. It was only 9:30 when we changed into our nightgowns. I lay out the mat I brought to sleep on right next to her bed. Crawling into it, I look up to see Rin propped up on a pillow on her bed.
"H-hey Miku, you sure you want to sleep on the floor? You can come up here if you want."
"No, it's alright, really." The truth is, I'm afraid to sleep with Rin. I've had a few…dreams about her, and sleeping in the same bed with her… Let's just say it would be a bad idea. Then again, she could just be offering to sleep on the floor and me in her bed…
Rin jumps over me and walks over to the light switch on the wall. She turns it off and returns to bed. While she pulls back the comforter, I crawl out of the mat and over to my bag sitting in front of the closet. I pull out a watch and turn on the backlight. I move back to my sleeping place and set the now glowing watch by my pillow. Moving around slightly, I make myself comfortable.
"Goodnight, Miku~" I hear Rin say. I blush.
"G-goodnight, Rin…"
I close my eyes, my back towards Rin. Sleep comes after a while. But… It doesn't last for long.
I've always been a very light sleeper, probably even more so since I'm with Rin tonight. Quiet noises from Rin's bed stir me from my gentle slumber. I crack one eye open and look at the watch sitting nearby. It's 12:47 AM.
'What the heck…is Rin doing up at this hour? Maybe she's getting a drink or going to the bathroom or something…'
I try to shake the noises off. But my curiosity keeps me awake. I close my eye, pretending to be asleep. I hear Rin get up from bed. Several other noises follow. It sounds as if she's putting something on…
I hear the door open and close. Curiosity grows.
I wait a moment before sitting up and looking around in the dark. Rin's gone, her bed unmade. I stand up and make my way to the light switch. I flip it on and take another look. Her jacket is gone. I open the door and head to the entryway. My shoes are the only one by the door.
'…Where could she have gone….?'
I go back to her room and grab my jacket. Slipping both my jacket and shoes on, I exit the small apartment, slightly suspicious. I close the door before darting down the stairs. I arrive outside just in time to see Rin running down the street.
"Where is she going in such a rush?" I huff to myself. She turns a corner. I start following.
I keep my distance as I chase after the blonde. It isn't long until we reach the end of the city. Rin keeps going. I keep following.
Tree branches soon begin to intertwine above us. It's a bit of a tunnel effect. In the dark, it is a little uncomforting. But I try my hardest to stay on Rin's tail. She still has yet to realize I'm tailing her.
'Rin, where are you headed?!'
The path finally ends at what looks to be an abandoned house. Rin runs through the overgrown lawn, and I hide behind a nearby tree. The moonlight gives me just enough light to watch what she's doing. The teen looks around before pulling at the door. It opens despite being seemingly nailed shut. She quickly walks inside, closing the door behind her. I jump from behind the tree and run to the door. I turn the doorknob and the door creaks open. I slip inside.
Three paths now face me, but the sound of footsteps easily tells me which one to take. Now I'm extremely curious to why Rin is in an abandoned house. I slowly descend one of the staircases. Before reaching the bottom, I pause, just making out Rin's form at the end. She's fumbling around with something; it's too dark to tell though. I'm silently amazing that she hasn't noticed me, but I'm not giving away my presence just yet.
I hear something similar to a lock unlocking. Rin steps back and opens what I guess is another door. A small trickle of light breaks the darkness of the stairwell. She pauses before bowing. My patience is gone. My curiosity is at an all time high. I run down the last few steps, accidentally tripping on the last one. I stumble, calling out Rin's name. She lifts her head just in time to see me fall on top of her. We both go rolling through the open door.
I rub my head and groan, eyes closed. I hear Rin groan as well beneath me. Shaking my head slightly, I open my eyes to a dark wood floor and a pair of black dress shoes. My gaze slowly travels upward. The shoes belong to a boy, who is also wearing a wrinkled dress shirt and pants. It takes me a moment to realize that it was Len. But he looks different. His eyes are red. The exact same shade that I saw them flash the night we first met.
He's glaring at me. I gulp. I guess curiosity really did kill the cat…
(Rin's POV)
"GET THESE STUPID CHAINS OFF!! RIN, DON'T JUST STARE AT ME, DO SOMETHING!!"
I watch Miku struggle in silence. Something in the pit of my stomach told me that letting her spend the night was a bad idea, but I could have never imagined her following me to see Master Len. But I guess what's done is done. I don't think Miku has realized what Master is yet, but he said we can't take any chances.
I remember my nightmare for a spilt second. We really can't take any chances.
Miku continues to kick at thin air, wanting to be free from the chains that once bounded me. Master had somehow shortened them though- she can barely move. I gaze away, guilt stricken and blushing. Miku starts yelling again.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! LET ME GO!!"
Master Len seems to be blocking out the noise. He adjusts some pillows on his bed before walking over to me by the door. I take a step back from him, expecting him to be disappointed or mad. He just looks at me for a moment, expressionless. I finally speak up.
"A-ah…please forgive me. This is my fault…" I quickly bow. After a second, I find Master's hands cradling my face. I blush as he lifts my head to look at me. I try my hardest to make eye contact without my face catching on fire. He smiles softly.
"My Doll, It's not fully your fault, don't worry about it." Master pauses. I look straight at him. Master Len begins tugging my cheeks outward. I close my eyes from the slight amount of pain.
"Please be more aware of your surroundings." He states in a flat tone.
"Eh, y-yes…" My words come out slightly garbled from my cheeks being pulled. He lets go. I rub one of my cheeks, them both turning more red then before.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO RIN OVER THERE?!" Miku screams from the other side of the room. I blush and sigh. I lower my voice to a whisper.
"Hey, Master…Are you sure her staying here will be okay?"
"It's better than having her out in public, that's for sure."
"But, I don't think she even realizes you're a vampire yet…"
"I don't…I don't want to push it. Anyways, she's going to start asking questions and find out anyway."
"So…it's not possible to erase her memory or something?"
"Eh, there's a rumor that really old vampires can do that…but I can't."
"A-ah…"
"HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE?! DON'T FORGET LITTLE OLD MIKU OVER HERE."
Master Len sighs.
"Eh… Rin, why don't you just go home for the night…It's really late. You won't be able to get up for school…"
"E-eh, Master Len? But you haven't been fed tonight…"
"Just go, I can survive one night. I'll probably call you a bit earlier tomorrow night though, if that's alright."
"Y-yeah, I guess so… But Miku-"
"I'll take care of her, now go." Master kisses me on the cheek before waving me off. I blush and bow again. Turning to leave, I take one final look at Miku. She looks quite irate. It's a bit scary…
"M-Miku…please calm down, everything will be fine. J-just stay here for the night, I'll be back…"
"RIN, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!"
"A-ah, forgive me Miku!" I turn and speed walk through the door. I hear Miku call after me, repeating my name. I try to ignore it, telling myself that it's really for the best.
The next day, people question me about the aqua-haired girl's whereabouts. I sleepily lie that she isn't feeling well and decided to stay home. Luckily everyone buys it, and the day crawls on. Master and Miku stay in my thoughts all the way up until the final bell rings. Tonight, I'm not going to wait for his call. I say goodbye to Luka and rush to the so called abandoned property.
I calmly unlock the door and step inside. Miku is sitting in her corner, tugging at her restraints. She doesn't even notice me enter. I look over to Master's bed. At this time, he'd normally still be fast asleep. But he's awake for once. He's holding one of the pillows over his head. Master's fingers dig deeply into it. They loosen after a second, and he removes the pillow. Master's hair is down and a mess. He sits up and gazes over to me.
"…My Doll…"
Miku halts what she's doing and looks up at me. Her face is plastered with a mixture of anger and confusion.
"H-hey! This isn't the time for pet names!"
We both look over to Miku, then back to each other. I bow.
"G-good evening, Master Len."
(Miku's POV)
…
Did…Rin just call him 'Master'? What type of relationship do these two have?! Hopefully, they won't have a relationship for much longer. I mean, Len is pretty much holding me hostage! I haven't done anything! And I still want to know why the heck his eyes are red, and why he's living in an old house… I'm really starting to wonder if he's even human!
I watch the two supposed lovebirds in silent shock. My kidnapper smiles that stupid annoying smile. He outstretches a hand towards Rin. I notice in the dim light…his fingernails look more animal than human. Sort of like claws…
"…Good evening, My Doll." He says. I sense a slightly seductive tone in his voice. I try not to mentally gag. What's with this whole 'Master' and 'Doll' thing anyway? This is all too weird…
Rin quickly makes her way over to Len. She takes his claw-like hand, and they move into an embrace on the bed. I've seen enough.
"LET GO OF HER!!" I yell as loud as I can. I see the blonde-haired teens twitch slightly before slowly turning to look at me. They stay in each other's arms. Rin stutters as she speaks.
"M-Miku…"
"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON NOW."
Rin and Len twitch again at the volume of my voice. I pull at the chains restricting me. She looks away from me, blushing. Len looks down as well. Silence engulfs the surrounding air. My kidnapper finally speaks.
"…I guess we have no choice but to show you now, I guess."
Both Rin and I look at him, confusion on our faces. Len looks to the girl in his arms.
"Rin…I'm hungry, is it alright if I…" He trails off. Rin's expression loses its confusion.
"Ah…of course, Master. But Miku…" She gazes in my direction, then back to Len.
"Don't worry about her. Or… I guess I can manage another day. It's up to you…"
"N-no, Master Len! You can…"
I stare, still not sure what was going on. Were they just going to eat in front of me? I mean, it's rude to, but it isn't that bad… It wouldn't answer my question, either. So I decide to simply watch and see what happens.
That's probably a big mistake on my part.
The two exchange a peck on the lips. Their embrace is broken, and Rin turns to the edge of the bed. She leans her head to the side, sweeping her short golden locks away from her neck. Len proceeds to pull down her uniform collar slightly, exposing more of her shoulder and neck. A pink bra strap is visible.
'W-what…is he doing..?'
I continue to observe, unable to do much else. The boy presses his lips to Rin's bare skin. It's silent. Len takes a final look at me before closing his eyes. He holds her in front of him, his mouth still on her neck. I can feel my heart race. My eyes dilate. Rin takes in a deep breath.
"…Thank you for the meal." Len whispers into her skin. Even I can barely hear it.
He uses his tongue to trace a part of her neck. He then kisses the spot, and opens his mouth. The candlelight reveals pearly white fangs. I stop breathing as he sinks them into her soft skin. Rin twitches slightly.
It takes me a moment to remember to breathe. When I do, I gasp.
'…L-Len...is...a…a…'
A vampire. Rin's boyfriend is a vampire. And right now…he's drinking her blood…
"…N-NO! GET YOUR DIRTY FANGS OUT OF HER YOU…YOU…MONSTER!!" Yelling is the only thing I can think to do.
"LET HER GO, LEAVE HER ALONE!! DON'T YOU DARE KILL HER!! RIN!! YOU-"
"M-Miku!"
I shut up at the sound of Rin's voice. I stare with wide eyes, full of fear. Tears threaten to fall as well. Rin raises her hand and waves at me, as if dismissing me.
"M-Miku, please… Please calm down…I'm fine, really…"
"R-Rin…"
I don't…know what to say. So I say nothing, and go back to watching. After a time period that feels like forever, the vampire removes himself from Rin's neck. Crimson red liquid slowly drips out, a rivulet running down into her school shirt. He hastily licks it up. Rin turns her head to look at me, her expression filled with content and languidness. I'm still in too much shock to do anything. Len presses his lips to the spot where he bit her. Rin sighs and leans back into his arms.
"A-ah, Miku…" Her voice is shaky and weak. It's most likely a side effect from having her blood drained. I'm feeling a bit weak myself.
"Rin…w-why, Rin….?" I stutter. Her eyes look away, and she smiles slightly.
"Miku, you know…when I first came to school, when we first met?"
"…Of course."
"I told you…about why I lived alone…"
"Y-yeah…"
"…I…I lied."
"Rin…"
It's silent for a moment.
"Maybe…it's time to tell the truth, huh?"
I sit and stare at the floor, my mind the only thing moving. It tries to contemplate everything learned in the last hour or so. Rin already left by now, and that… that thing is over on the other side of the room. He's silent as well, looking through a bookcase.
'…I know that he saved her and all, but…why would she be in love... with a vampire, a monster, a-a demon…'
"I sometimes ask myself the same thing."
My head shoots up and I look at Len. He's looking at me out of the corner of his blood-red eyes. His tone is dull and emotionless.
"Don't get me wrong. I know exactly what I am. I know that Rin probably deserves much better than me. But I'm just too damn selfish."
I let what he says sink in slightly. I look back down. The floor creaks slightly as he walks over. He sits on his knees in front of me. I look up at him again.
"…Miku. I want to make a deal with you."
"H-huh?"
"…I'll let you go tomorrow night if you do this."
"…What do you want?" My tone sounds a bit harsh.
"Promise you won't tell anyone anything about me."
"D-deal."
"That's not all. During the day…I want you to watch over Rin, alright?"
"I…I already do that…"
"But… I also want you to escort her to and from here every night."
"W-what? Why?"
"Do you agree, or not?"
I think for a moment. I finally sigh.
"Alright, I will…"
Len stares at me before finally standing up and walking away. The rest of the night is spent in complete silence. The next evening finally arrives, though. The vampire has his meal before removing the chains on my body. I say nothing during this time.
Once Rin has had a bit of time to rest, we both leave together.
"S-so, Miku…You won't tell anyone, right?" Rin speaks up. I gaze over at her, and then look down at the ground as we walk.
"I guess not…But hah, if everyone in town knew there was a vampire… wow, I can just imagine the uproar." I continue to walk, but Rin pauses. After a moment, I feel her grab my arm. I stop.
"H-huh?"
"Miku, do you promise to not tell?!"
I look at Rin, but she refuses to return it. She's looking down, her face red.
"R-Rin…"
"I can't…I can't let you go any further unless you promise not to tell anyone."
"Rin, why do you care so much? He's a vampire, and-"
Her grip on me tightens.
"Miku… My greatest fear is losing Master. I…I had a dream once that he was killed….killed right in front of me, and I couldn't do anything…" She sniffles. My heart sinks.
"R-Rin? Are you…crying...?"
"Miku, if you tell anyone about Master, it…It could make that dream…that nightmare come true. And I…I…" Rin looks at me in the eyes. Hers are filled with tears.
"…I can't let that happen!"
We're both quiet. Rin wipes the water from her eyes. I look down.
"…I won't Rin. If it would hurt you that much…"
"…T-thank you, Miku." She lets go of me, and we continue to head back home. As we reach her apartment, I have a strong feeling that things between Rin and I will never be the same again.
