Summary: Kagamine Len is a "freak". At least, that's what his parents say to him. He is at odds with his own gender identity, unsure if his a male, or if he's meant to be female. Everyone that should love him, treats him differently and shows no love, only regret in his "birth". Because of this, Len is so scared for anyone to find out what's wrong with him. So afraid he hasn't been able to make friends. He just doesn't want people to realise he's not like the other guys.

Warnings: BL aka Boys Love aka Yaoi. Transsexualism. Smut.

A/N: So, welcome to chapter two. I'm currently in the middle of prac, which is exhausting. Who would have thought taking care of little babies was hard? So many nappies changed, beds made, bottles prepared, noses blown and cuddles after tears. Back is dead, legs swollen, knees bruised, hands throbbing... and I still have two... more... days...

Chapter Two

Shion Kaito wasn't really the most popular guy around. Maybe amongst the first years, but nowhere else. He had this air around him that made people relax, and had an uncanny habit of flashing that contagious smile of his whenever he looked at someone. It was probably why Len liked him so much, yet despite all that he never really had the guts to walk over and say hi. The only interaction they had was after P.E, where Shion-senpai praised him for trying hard. Otherwise, Shion-senpai was out in the front row seat, chatting to his friends that walked over at the beginning of class. Len, being the loner he was, sat at the far back, close to the door so he could escape quickly if he needed to.

Still, today was one of those unusual days where the roster was called out, and Len found out he had after class duties… with Shion-senpai. All week. Of course, there were a few complaints about it, something about Shion-senpai was having a party one afternoon for some reason, however, and Shion-senpai told them it'll work out. Of course, Len was too focused on his own thoughts rather than what was going on in the classroom, so much that he missed the glance Shion-senpai gave him by mere seconds.

Class continued on, and as lunch break came around, Len bolted from the room to find his only true friend to tell him the good news.

"Hmm, so you and Shion-san are on duty this week?"

Len sat in front of a senior, who happened to be his close friend and fellow secret keeper. He'd stumbled across the "truth" by mere accident when he came around to introduce himself. Kamui Gakupo-senpai happened to live down the hall from his apartment. Though he was only there half the time (sometimes he returned home while others he worked with his father at the shop, though Kamui-senpai never told him what shop); so it had been about a week before he came over to introduce himself. It had been a horrible start, with Len trying to get Rin in the shower. Considering Len had never owned a place on his own and never really had such responsibilities before, he hadn't noticed the front door was open and slightly ajar.

It could have been worse, Len told himself. Kamui-senpai had been composed, never spoke one word about Len's or Rin's body, but instead offered to help Len get her showered and into bed. They talked for a while afterwards, where Kamui-senpai found out Len was about to attend his high school. Since then, if Len ran into trouble or had work (which school actually allowed as Len was a special case because of his situation) Kamui-senpai would take care of Rin. It worked most of the time, but if Kamui-senpai couldn't, normally his mother would pop over until either of them got back.

It was strange, actually; Kamui-senpai's mother also knew, yet she treated them as if they were just normal children. It had been so surreal, considering the family they'd come from. Sometimes, Len had to pinch himself just to make sure he wasn't dreaming it.

"So is this why you look ready to jump off the walls?" he asked, a slight grin on his pale lips.

Len nodded enthusiastically. "This will be the first time I talk to him without his crew being with him, senpai! It's just what I needed to speak to him."

"I don't see why you've had trouble so far," Gakupo shrugged, taking a sip from his juice bottle. "He's an easy-going guy to speak to, and just because he has heaps of friends doesn't change him at all."

"It's not him, it's his friends! He's never alone, never. I just can't wander over there, it's too crowded and dangerous."

Gakupo laughed. "It's not dangerous, Len. You're just intimidated by them. After all, you are pretty short."

Len stuck his tongue out at him. "I'm not that short!"

"Short enough," Gakupo chuckled, watching Len as he sulked. "Alright, I'm sorry. It doesn't change the situation that you are intimidated by them. They're all pretty territorial of Shion-kun. However, that's the type of people they are. Close nit; if someone has a problem, it's their problem as well. Besides, they all what Shion-kun to be happy. After last year, he needs all the support he can get."

Len sat there, chewing his bottom lip. To be honest, he didn't know what happened last year. He never wanted to ask, simply because it was rude. Besides, if Shion-senpai wanted him to know, he would have said something… right?

"Is it bothering you, not knowing?" Gakupo guessed his thoughts. "It's pretty common knowledge in the school."

"I know… but I haven't heard the story."

"Hmm… maybe he's better asking than I. I only know bits and pieces of it myself."

All people actually knew was one day, early last year, Shion-senpai never attended class. It had been spoke at the assembly the next day he's collapsed and was rushed to hospital… where he stayed for the rest of the year. That was all Len actually knew, but even with that, it was like not knowing at all. Before Len spoke up again, the bells chimed, prompting a groan from the too. "It didn't feel that long."

"That was my fault, since I was talking to sensei," Gakupo ruffled Len's hair before he stood up, stretching his longs arms up into the sky. He let out a loud yawn as he did. "Anyways, a few more hours then we're home free… which reminds me, do you have work tonight, or do you intend to be home?"

Len gave it a moment's thought. "I might be late."

"Alright, I'll pick Rin up and stay with her until you get home," he replied before waving goodbye, heading off before Len. Gakupo didn't care if people knew they were friends, but for Len it was still a touchy subject. It was best people just didn't know. How would he explain it to them anyways?

Len wasn't sure on what to say.

Class was just dismissed and both were going through the day's work, making sure everyone had handed up the appropriate papers and assignments for each class; carefully signing off the people who had submitted and those who hadn't. Next, they'd have to make sure the floor was clean and the chairs on the tables. The board needed to be cleaned as well the erasers. Once done, they were home free.[1] Of course, that didn't change the fact that they hadn't started talking now. Sure, they had all that time, but they should say-

"Hey, Len?"

"Y-YES!" Len cried, jumping a little. Shion-senpai gave him a strange look, chuckled and carried on as if it never happened.

"What are you doing Saturday?"

Well, he had nothing exactly planned for the weekend. Knowing him, he'd probably shut himself away at home and play games all day, or do his homework. "Why?" Len asked nervously.

"Were you paying attention in class today?"

Len blushed and shook his head.

"Didn't think so," Shion-senpai chuckled, finishing off his stack of paper. He stood up and stretched. "I'm having a party Saturday, in celebration of being cancer-free."

Len tensed, sat there and stared. "…Cancer?"

Shion-senpai nodded, giving him a somber look. "I was diagnosed with cancer about four years ago. I'm now finally cancer-free."

"That… was why you were hospitalized last year?"

"Yeah, thing went nasty last year. Too many scares, too many times the doctors said don't expect to see yourself turn eighteen. Yeah, it was pretty scary, but I showed them guys!" Shion-senpai turned, grinning at Len. "I fainted at school last year, you know. I felt really strange and there was so much pain I just collapsed. They rushed me to hospital, and I swear I didn't go outside for the rest of the year. I didn't have time to study, there were always tests and stuff going on that I felt uneasy coming back. I'm a year older than all of you, but I'm surprised how well I've managed to fit it," Shion-senpai's eyes saddened, and he looked away. "I was just like you, you know."

I highly doubt that, Len thought, but didn't say anything. He just let Shion-senpai continue.

"I didn't make friends when I entered high school. I thought along the lines that if I made friends, in months' time, they'd mourn me. I was scared of that happening, and I let that fear get the best of me. It was probably why I collapsed in the end." He went silent for a moment. "Every time I see you, I can't help but think what's holding you back. Why you're scared to integrate." He looked at Len from over his shoulder. "That's why you remind me of myself."

Len looked away, closing his eyes. He wasn't ready to admit anything to Shion-senpai just yet.

"Anyways, what you doing after class?" Len jumped, realising that Shion-senpai was now right in front of him, grinning brightly.

"W-Why?"

"Wanna get something to eat and talk about things. I've gotta find good damn reasons to convince you to come to my party, right?" He winked, giving Len a mischievous smile.

[1] "At the end of the academic day, all students participate in o soji, the cleaning of the school. They sweep the classrooms and the hallways, empty trash cans, clean restrooms, clean chalkboards and chalk erasers, and pick up trash from the school grounds. After o soji, school is dismissed and most students disperse to different parts of the school for club meetings." (quote from Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education)

A/N: There originally was going to be another part to this chapter after that last scene about what they discuss, but it was boring, unrelated and unnecessary. There is no development either, so I felt it wasn't worth putting it in. Plus, it was literally boring hahaha