Wow, I was really, REALLY exited by all the feedback this story has gotten. I really like the idea, but I'm afraid that I'm kind of ruining it by writing it down... I don't know. ANYWAYS, here's the next chapter~!
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Riii-iiinnn..."
Emptyness. That was the one thing Rin was feeling right now. She felt like a doll, a fake smile plastered across her face, a fake sparkle of happyness in her eyes. As she stared down at the 16 orange candles placed neatly around the words "Happy Birthday" written in orange icing on the white frosting, she felt empty. As if something was missing. The feeling was not new to her, she often got moments like this. She knew it would pass, like it always did, so she kept the smile firmly in place as the singing finished.
"Happy birthday to yooouuuuu!" As the voices sang the last line, Rin smiled wider, the expression becoming genuine as the odd feeling faded. She took a deep breath and blew out all the candles on one try. The cheers of her family and few friends made her grin wider than ever.
"Thanks, everyone! Let's eat!" The cake was Rin's favorite-white, with vanilla frosting and orange flavored icing. Many thought the orange-flavor was odd, but Rin loved the citrus-y taste. Mrs. Kagamine cut out a large slice for Rin, making sure to get plenty of the orange writing on the slice. The smile on her face did not reach her eyes. Rin was used to this. Mrs. Kagamine always seemed a bit sad on Rin's birthdays, for some reason. As if it was a reason to mourn, not celebrate. Rin didn't really understand it. Her mother loved her, after all.
Rin opened up her presents after that. A new cellphone from her parents (her old one had an unfortunate incident with the washing machine, and she was currently using and older, clunky one) was a sleek and shiny, very new. Best of all, it was orange! Rin hugged her mother and father exitedly. Her Aunt Meiko gave her a necklace, not quite looking Rin in the eyes as she handed over the wrapped gift. Meiko never seemed comfortable around the girl. It seemed that Rin remembered her babysitting her, once... but the memory was very vaugue. The necklace was beautiful, of course-Meiko was fashionable and rather rich. Her cousin Neru gave her a charm for her cell phone. A cell phone themed gift coming from the girl didn't suprise Rin in the least-the girl never stopped texting.
Miku, who was probably her best friend, came next. She had to leave soon, because she was meeting with a "friend." Rin assumed it was Luka. Miku wasn't incredibly popular, but she still had a bit more of a social standing than Rin did. Luka was an outcast, but Miku had formed an unlikely bond with the pinkette. Rin chose not to question it, and took the new barettes Miku gave her with a smile.
The party soon ended, and the Kagamines were left with a mess of torn wrapping paper (Rin hadn't been very neat getting to the presents) and empty plates and cups. "You go upstairs, love," Mrs. Kagamine told her daughter, smiling, "Your father and I will clean up."
Rin smiled, hugging first her mother, then her father. "Okay. Goodnight, Okaa-san, Otou-san~!" The girl skipped up the stairs to her room, changing into pajamas and taking out her various hair clips, finally untying the large white bow that rested on the top of her head. She looked around the room. Clothes littered the floor, along with crumpled papers that were half-written songs and musical scores. Fuzzy orange carpet rested under the girl's feet, and her walls were almost white, with a slightly orange tint. The bedspread was black, but it had orange polka-dots on it. Miku often teased the girl about her orange obsession, which Rin would quickly counter with a comment about the other girl's obsession with the color teal. She had even dyed her long hair teal! At least Rin's blonde locks were completely natural.
Rin kept staring at the room. Everything was exactly the same as it always was. Not a thing was out of place, unless you counted the clothing strewn hap-hazardly about the ground. And yet... Rin felt that something was wrong. She just didn't know what. The room just seemed... empty. Empty like her.
The feeling hit again, overpowering this time. The feeling of being completely alone. The feeling that something was missing. It drove Rin to knees, and she clutched her head in her hands, closing her eyes as tightly as she could. Her breath came in short gasps as she leaned forward, panic washing over her. "No, no, no, no, no, please, go away, not now, not ever, not again, please, no, no, no..." The chant passed through her lips as barely a whisper. She had panic attacks before, and she didn't want another one. She knew what she was supposed to do, but she couldn't think, couldn't remember, couldn't...
"Rin."
A soft voice. She didn't recognize it, but it was familier. She could only whimper, not looking up. She was alone in the room. No one was there, no one was there, no one was there. She was ALONE! The thought made her even more paniced.
"Rin, breathe. Please, relax. Sit down. Put your head between your legs. You're okay." One hand rubbed her back comfortingly as another guided her to do as the voice suggested. Rin couldn't speak, couldn't even ask who it was. She couldn't do anything but keep her eyes closed tightly.
Slowly, almost maddeningly slowly, the feeling of panic faded, leaving only exaustion. The soft voice, the soft touch, it all seemed like a dream. Rin became convinced that she had imagined it. Slowly, she opened her eyes and raised her head.
A boy was standing in front of her.
He looked like her, nearly. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. His features were even similar to her's! Her heart sped up as she thought of something... a memory maybe, or a dream. She spoke without meaning to, the single word falling from her lips without her even trying. "Len."
The boy's face split into a smile. "Rin... you remember."
Rin squinted her eyes, trying to make sense of this. Why didn't she feel upset, scared? There was an unknown boy in her room. But... he was so familier... "We were... friends... friends when we were kids. Then... then... you..." He waited patiently as she struggled, looking almost worried about something. Suddenly, Rin remembered, and she gasped. "You aren't real!"
Len looked a bit sad. "Rin." She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him. He'd go away, he'd go away just like he did before. "Rin." She felt his hands on her's. "Feel me, Rin. I'm real, please believe me, I'm real!" Rin opened her eyes. Len was staring at her, the sadness obvious on his face. Slowly, Rin raised a trembling hand to touch his cheek. It was solid. He was really here, really back.
Flinging herself into his arms, Rin burst into tears.
After she had calmed down, she demanded an explanation from him. "Why did you leave me?"
He looked uneasy, and sat down next to her on her bed. "Rin... remember when I said I was real?" She only nodded, waiting for him to continue. "Well... I am... but I'm not really alive."
Rin didn't understand. "So you're... a ghost?" She touched his cheek again. "But... I can feel you. How can you be a ghost?"
Len shook his head, holding her hand in his. "No, Rin. I'm not a ghost. I'm an angel. You're gardian angel, actually. And... you aren't really supposed to see me. I missed you, though. I'm sorry." He looked down, staring at his lap. Droplets of water hit his legs, and Rin realized he was crying.
"Len... please, don't cry..." She was the one comforting now, wrapping her arms around him carefully. She drew him close to her. "You shouldn't cry... it's okay."
"It's not!" He held her tightly, clutching at her. "I'm breaking the rules, Rin!"
Rin's heart broke. She couldn't bare to see him like this.
So she kissed him.
He was shocked by it, but he didn't pull away. Soon, he responded to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer. She could taste his tears, the ones that were still flowing. Like a child who knows he's doing something wrong.
Eventually, she pulled away, laying down and smiling slightly. "We can talk tomorrow. You won't leave again, right?"
He sighed, wiping tears from his eyes before lying next to her with a sigh. "No. Never again, I promise."
Rin smiled. "Okay. Goodnight, Len."
Len reached out and took her hands in his. The gesture was so warm and familier that Rin sighed in contentment, tilting her head forward so their foreheads rested against eachother as she closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, Rin."
Waaahhh! I lied about the four chapter thing. This might actually end up being five chapters. Or maybe not. You never know~! I hope you liked this. Uhm... reveiw?