Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Vocaloid. Please enjoy the story and I would appreciate reviewing!

Beep! Beep! Beep!

When the noise startled me awake, I sat upright and clicked the OFF button on my digital watch as fast as possible. I look over to see that Miku, now facing me, was fast asleep. Phew. She was quite the light sleeper and so far, things were going smoothly. Of course, this is barely just the beginning.

I gently stepped out of bed. It was 5AM. I usually wake up around six thirty in order to get ready and have breakfast before school starts at eight. I felt like a zombie, but when I remembered my cause, I was revived a bit. Downstairs, I leaned against the kitchen counter. My voice would not be able to travel upstairs from here. I flipped open my cell phone and scrolled down my list of contacts. I happen to be quite popular at school, so the list is quite long. Even so, they are all boys. Miku doesn't like me having other girls' phone numbers. However, I scrolled down to the one exception.

"Call me." I typed into a text message. Best to keep it vague. Just in case. I pressed "SEND". Soon enough, my demand was met and I answered the phone before it could ring twice.

"Hello?" said a groggy, high-pitched voice.

"Rin?"

"Kaito? What are you calling for at a time like this? Is everything all right?" she asked.

One day when I was in the hospital, Rin and I exchanged numbers. Miku didn't know about it, of course, and I asked Rin to keep it a secret.

"Sorry about this." I began. "I'm glad you answered so quickly. I didn't want to wake Len up. This is about him. He's not listening, is he?" I felt bad that I might worry her but this would pay off in the end.

"No, he's asleep." She said. "What's going on?"

"Well…To begin, I guess…Len and I, we're sort of…"

"I know that much. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Oh." I said with a bit of embarrassment. "Thank you. Anyway, since Len and I…well, since I'm his boyfriend…" The word tasted odd on my tongue. I did consider myself Len's boyfriend, didn't I? It just sounded so strange to use Len's name instead of Miku's in that sentence. I decided I liked it. "I'm concerned about Len. I…well, I was wondering if you would be able to give me a copy of his schedule?"

There was a pause on the other line. My heart tripped over a beat. I never had so many secrets going on in my life at once. It was difficult to keep up with.

"I'm sorry, I know that sounds bad." I said to Rin. "I promise, it's only for today. It's not like I plan on stalking him or I need to always know where he is…I just…"

"Sorry about that. I thought Len was going to wake up."

"It's fine."

"Kaito…"

"Yes?"

"Is this about the bruises?"

"You know? Does he tell you what they're from?"

"No…He never hides these things from me. He'll just say he tripped or something. I was hoping you knew. I'm worried…"

I felt my lip pucker for a moment. I set my jaw with a determined expression. "It's okay, Rin. Today, I'll get to the bottom of this. We won't have to worry about Len anymore."

"I'm glad. I'll have the paper ready."

"Okay, pass it to me while walking to school. Thanks, a lot, Rin." I said graciously.

"Wait! Um…"

"What is it?" I said.

"I'm glad you're the one Len likes, Kaito."

My heart swelled a bit. "Thanks, Rin…"

"See you at school."

"Bye."

Just as planned, when everyone was walking towards the school building, Rin inconspicuously slipped a crumpled paper ball into my hands during some of Gakupo's commotion. Nobody noticed and I was able to look at it during second period. Miku didn't share second period with me, in fact, only Neru had the same second period I did. Just to be extra cautious, since Neru is always on the hunt for gossip to one up Miku, I made sure she was not looking. Neru's attention was fixated upon her cell phone, which she was trying to text without the teacher seeing. I heard that she even has a spare in case a teacher catches her with her phone during class but, then again, I heard that from Miku and that says enough by itself, just as it would for Neru.

I scanned my eyes down to fourth period.

It seems Len has Art fourth period. Hmm…It makes sense…I mean, she would have plenty of time just to get there…

I sat at my desk, fiddling with my wristwatch and waiting for the clock's seconds to tick faster. I felt like I spent too much of my life watching the clock anymore. Finally, I gave up and raised my hand.

"Yes, Mr. Shion?"

"May I be excused? I need to use the restroom."

"The bell's going to ring. Can you wait?"

"I'm afraid not, sir." Believe me, I tried.

"Well, where are you going next period? I'll write you a pass."

Once I finally got out of that class, I rushed to the eastern wing of the school. This wing was mostly elective classes such as art, cooking, computer lab, fashion design. I checked my watch. Only a minute left until the bell. I hid myself.

Boooop.

The hall filled with students, hustling and bustling to their next class. Me, I had free period next. With the way things have been going lately, I knew something was bound to erupt. I could sense it in the air, the way an animal can sense a storm before it arrives. I was willing to sit here every day at this spot if necessary. However, to my surprise, today must already be the day. When I caught sight of my targets, they met up with one another, as I presumed they would. They disappeared into a small hallway, the one by the utility closet. There were no cameras and nobody went back there. I prepared myself, mentally, followed at a safe distance and pressed my back to the wall. Just around the corner from me were Miku and Len. Everything so far had gone according to plan. This is what I expected. I'll listen for now, Len. I'm sorry I can't spare you yet, but I have to catch Miku.

When I heard her voice, the venom dripping off every word, I was a little surprised. It hurt me when I though those words were directed at Len, but I bit my lip for now.

"I really thought you'd get the hint by now."

"…"

"You knew it was me. All of those 'accidents', all of those 'pranks'. Why didn't you tell Kaito?"

"I didn't want to make him worry about me…"

I heard Len speak and felt my heart tighten a little. His voice sounded certain but it was too quiet to be called confident.

"Hah! Worry about you? He wouldn't worry about a brat like you."

I gritted my teeth.

"He would…Kaito would. He's a good person. He cares for me…"

"Cares for you?" Miku's words were piercing. "Kaito doesn't care for you at all! In fact, he DOES know! He knows what I do to you. He's not worried at all. He's let it happen all along."

My jaw dropped. No! Don't believe it, Len!

"That's not true."

"Oh, it's true. I told him. Do you think he would try to stop me? No, he wouldn't. Do you know what he did when I told him?"

"…"

"He laughed!"

I could feel the rage surge through me. It took everything in my body to cling to that wall.

"Kaito told me all about you. You're nothing but his plaything. It's funny, how good he has you fooled. But then again, I don't think you'd need to be a great actor to make someone as desperate as you convinced. It really is pitiful."

"It's not true…" Len said again, quieter.

"Kaito already has me. What would he need you for? Do you think you're special? You're not popular, you're not cute, you're not good at anything in particular, you're just a sad little boy!"

"I…I won't give up…." Len's voice was shaking.

"You just can't let it go, can you? I didn't want to make this difficult."

"I won't believe anything you say…"

"Don't worry, we're through talking."

WHAM!

At that moment, I spun around the corner into the hallway. Miku's fist connected with Len's cheek with enough force to knock him over. It was the cheek I had just caressed yesterday, underneath the maple…

When Len picked himself up, Miku made another effort, but this time I caught her arm mid-swing. She gasped loudly and turned to face me with fear in her eyes. Len stood now, his cheekbone already discoloring into a black eye.

I never felt so angry in my life. Len was the best thing I ever had. I had him all to myself and now Miku wanted to take him away from me. I couldn't take it. My grip on her wrist tightened until she flinched. I wanted to hit her. I never wanted to hit a girl until now. It would feel so good to give her a black eye to match Len's. To cause her the same pain. To make her pretty face ugly. But…I let her go.

"Kaito…" she opened her eyes.

"Just go, Miku."

"B-but…!" a few tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Go!" I yelled. She fled.

Len watched me with wide blue eyes. I hated to show this anger in front of him, this ugliness. I hated what Miku always made me do.

"Kaito…"

I embraced him. "I'm sorry, Len. I'm sorry I took so long to realize. I'm sorry I didn't catch her in time."

Len's hands clutched my shirt. He buried his face into my chest to hide his tears. I continued to mutter my apologies into his hair until he stopped me.

"I don't care. You saved me, I don't care about these bruises."

"But…" I trailed my finger along his cheekbone with feather light touch. He flinched slightly.

"They don't matter if you're here with me. I don't want you to worry anymore."

"I won't let Miku hurt you ever again, Len. I'm going to break up with her. You're my one and only, Len. I love you."

"I love you too, Kaito."

After the incident, I took Len to the nurse's office and we both left school early. I made sure Len texted Rin to let her know he was okay and I texted her myself when he was in the office. "Thank you. Len is safe now." Since it was lunch time, and we didn't want to part, I took him out for a small lunch. It made me sad to look at his black eye but we laughed during our meal and the happiness in Len's eyes made my heart beat stronger. When we finally had to go our separate ways, I kissed him with much fervor and bid him farewell. I always missed him even before he was out of sight.

When I got home, I took my time settling in. Miku was up in the bedroom, staying quiet. I knew she was up there dreading my arrival and I guess that gave me some satisfaction. I loosened my tie and took off my shoes. I read a book without reading it and took off my wristwatch. When I made dinner and she still did not come down, I finished my meal and went up to talk to her. I knocked before entering, something she never felt necessary, but I always did for her anyway. I entered.

"Miku?"

She sat on the bed, still in her uniform. She looked in my direction, towards the ground and nodded once. I passed her and went into the bathroom and got ready for bed. When I was finished, I sat down next to her wordlessly. I didn't shut my light off, and waited for her to speak.

After what seemed like ages, she finally muttered "You should have hit me."

"I wanted to, I'll admit."

"You should have. You can hit me now if you want." She met my eyes, then quickly dropped my gaze, as if my eyes were burning her.

"I won't do that."

"Why? I won't care if you do! I deserve it! I said so many hurtful things. I did it on purpose. I knew what I was doing when I was doing it. Hit me. You can punch me and beat me up. I don't care if I look ugly after. I'll go to school with my face bloody, if you want."

"Be quiet."

She made a pained, frustrated noise. "Please…So I can look at you again…."

I frowned. I raised my hand and she did not flinch this time. She looked up expectantly. My frown deepened, as my intention was not to hit her. I merely place my finger under her chin, made her face me. Her expression became sad.

"You're really a despicable thing…Do you feel sorry for what you did to Len or only what you did to me? You just want to be on my good side again, make it easier to live with me or what?"

"No!" She began to weep. "It's not like that…I am sorry. I really regret it."

I felt it hard to watch her cry now. She was serious. I knew what it looked like when Miku cried to get attention or when she cried because she wanted something and could not have it. I knew what her fake tears looked like. I haven't seen her real tears since aunt and uncle's funeral.

"It's always been only us. It's always been Kaito and Miku. I love us. It's fun when people say we look nice together. But what I really and truly love is sitting here with you every night. Getting ready for school together in the morning. Telling you the latest gossip. Watching you eat ice cream. Making you go shopping with me. Having someone to lean on. You're the one and only person who truly understands me…" She looked up at me with those heartbroken eyes. "I'm sorry I got so carried away. I couldn't help it when I thought of how much you like him. You're always thinking of him, you even talk in your sleep about him. I don't want to lose you to someone else. You're all that I have left!"

I hugged her to my side. I didn't plan on doing this when I walked into the room but things were different now. "You won't lose me to Len." I assured her. "I'm not going to run away and leave you with a look back. You should know that after all we've been through. But you're not the only person in my life anymore and I shouldn't be the only one in yours. I've been lucky enough to find Len. I really love him. Let me have him." Miku sniffled. "You should find someone for yourself."

"No one would want me. I'm a rotten girl. Once they find out what I'm really like, they're sure to hate me."

"I know you and I don't hate you. If they love you for your good traits over your bad then they're right for you."

"I don't think there's anyone like that except for you."

"You'll never know until you try. You might get hurt in the process but when you find the right person, it'll all be worth it."

Miku wiped her eyes and hugged me. I was glad she seemed to understand. "Thanks, Kaito. I guess I'd better get some beauty sleep so my eyes don't look puffy in the morning. After all, I've got to find me a date. We're officially through!"

"I guess I've been dumped." I said with a chuckle. "Goodnight, Miku."