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/Yaoi. Transsexualism. Smut (in later chapters).
A/N: I am uncomfortable to two reasons. One. I don't know how people feel about this story. Is it really... interesting?
And Two! I am slowly creeping towards where I am stuck! (I'm up to chapter 12, but it's such a difficult chapter to write ) So that's why uploads have been slow. I like to be ahead by a couple of chapters in case I mess something up or have to do touch ups. Plus... this chapter feels like a... filler. Plus side, we get a scene between Ryu and Len (YAY!) Ryu isn't my favourite OC, but he's pretty special. My favourite is probably Hibiki, but you won't find out until later ;) I have big plans for Aiko, Hibiki, Katsurou and Ryunnosuke! Keep you're eye peals for those ^^
Chapter Eight
Kagamine Len was going to murder Hatsune Miku the next time he saw her. He had homework due today and not to mention Shion-kun's thing was tonight. Hell, he still needed to sweet talk Gakupo into taking care of Rin tonight since he doubt he was going to be home anywhere before nine (or at all if Shion-kun had his way). Still, Len had to go since he'd already made that commitment. Len hated breaking commitments and promises.
The hallways of the school were quiet this time of morning. Gakupo said he'd drop Rin off so Len could come in early and finish his homework. Their school, thankfully, opened early for teachers, and most of them were fine if students were here early. Some students did have early practice after all, which meant there wasn't much choice in the matter. So, Len would sometimes come in early to finish off things if he need that extra time away.
He came to the door that lead into the class and took a deep breath. Just as he pulled it open, he heard a noise and stopped. The noise was gone, but Len had a feeling someone was inside. Now he didn't want to go in. Stop being stupid! Len told himself and opened the door, stepping into the class room only lit up by the morning sun. Sure enough someone was here. A young, red haired man sat in the chair that was in the second row up from the front, and a column over from the seats by the window. He looked dazed, his eyes half closed as if he was falling asleep. On his desk were two textbooks. Looks like someone else hadn't done their homework either.
Len stared at him for a moment, trying to work out who he was when emerald eyes looked at him, and suddenly a shy, wary smile was shone at Len. Oh, he remembered who this was. Akiyama Ryunnosuke was a friend of Kaito as well as an old friend of Len's. Well, not quite a friend, but Ryunnosuke and Miku were constantly clashing whenever it involved Len. Ryunnosuke wasn't a man of many words, but when he spoke, he was serious business. Suppose that's what happened when your father was in the Yakaza. Ryunnosuke had once told Len he wanted nothing to do with his father, so lived with his grandparents on his mother's side. Nevertheless, he had the same presence, and was pretty scary when angry.
Yet, Ryunnosuke was very kind to Len. It was probably why Miku put up with him, because at least he cared. "G-Good morning," Len said, bowing his head slightly. They hadn't spoken since starting high school… he blamed Chiyoko for that.
"Good morning," Ryunnosuke replied quietly, the sleepy smile never dropping. Shion-senpai had said Ryunnosuke was the one who knocked sense into everyone, and Len hadn't found the chance to tell him thanks. He was going to say it now while he had the chance t- "How are you feeling this morning?" Ryunnosuke asked, cutting off Len's train of thought.
"I-I'm really good… thank you for the other day… for standing up… for me…"
"I was sick and tired of the shit," Ryunnosuke's smile dropped and he looked away. "I was charmed by Kaito-san when he stood up and said he'd partner up with you. I was going to, but Chiyoko was giving me that look. He took it seriously, got angry for you and defended you in history class. However… I didn't think he was dumb to say stupid things."
"H-He was just worried."
"No, he was labelling you subconsciously. He should never have said what he did. I guess I had enough of it, and after you ran out, I had to speak up. I suppose in some ways I'm returning the favour," Ryunnosuke said.
"For what?"
"For stand up for me in middle school. I was going through some tough times, and I'd had enough of everyone's crap. Remember I was going to beat the shit out of that kid, yet you stood between us. You'd never spoken to anyone before then, but hearing you speak out and telling me violence wasn't the answer… I guess I didn't want the same violence directed at you, even if it was verbal."
"Ryu-san…"
Ryunnosuke smiled again. "I miss the old days when we'd hang out in the drama room, you and Miku-chan singing while I played the guitar. It's sad we all went separate ways when we came the high school."
"I… didn't join the drama club here," Len whispered.
"You should. They're looking for people."
"I never performed though. I was just there because I had to do something."
"You were still pretty good. In the library, at lunch, you'd read the script to us. You loved it then…" Len almost asked why Ryunnosuke stopped playing music, but didn't. Somehow, the red haired boy knew what Len was going to say. "I crushed my hand in the holidays before coming here. It hurts to play the guitar now, but sometimes I get an itch the play."
"I'm… sorry."
"Wasn't your fault," Ryunnosuke shrugged. "Len… despite all the shit that happened, give Kaito-san a shot. He generally wants to get to know you… and it'll be nice to start spending time with you whenever I can. Maybe on days Chiyoko has club, we could hang out?"
Len smiled, nodding. "Whenever I'm not working… I think I'd like that."
Ryunnosuke returned Len's smile with one that charmed Len. Then, he pulled the desk beside him next to his and patted the chair. "We both look like we have the same things to complete, so let's do them together."
He was not going to argue with that since Ryunnosuke was better at Maths than Len was.
"…You've… never had…" Shion-senpai looked like he'd been slapped across the face. He just stared, wide-eyed then shook his head. "Y-You've had cake, yes?"
"Well, yes," Len admittedly nervously. "I mean, who hasn't had cake… I've just never had…" He frowned. "I've never had mud cake… doesn't sound appealing though."
"Mud cake is freaking amazing," Shion-senpai choked out. "There is no way you can go on another day without trying it," he added, before stepping back into class, dragging Len behind him. "We need to go now and hunt down somewhere that has mud cake. This is blasphemy! No one can say they have had cake without trying mud cake."
Everyone was crowed around Aiko-san's desk, talking when they turned and stared at Shion-senpai. Katsurou, a black-blue haired boy who sat behind Shion-senpai in class was currently sitting in Len's seat looking awfully pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but Chiyoko bet him to the chase and spoke up. "Mud cake? It's not that great," Chiyoko said, clutching Ryunnosuke's arm. "Right, Ryu-ryu?"
"I don't… really like sweets," he replied awkwardly. What a liar. Len remember quite well the Ryunnosuke loved sweet things, and always looked please when Miku mysterious present sweets and cakes during their meet ups at her place. He knew that was a lie, and somehow, Ryunnosuke noticed Len staring at him, coughed and looked away. Len was going to pester him about that then when they had a minute alone.
"Why does it matter? He's had cake right?" Hibiki said. "I love chocolate cake… ah man, I want cake now."
Katsurou cleared his throat, looking almost green. Aiko-san noticed this and gave him a funny look. "What's wrong Katsu-kun?"
"C-Can we not talk about… mud cake…" he said shakily. "Just the word… makes me wanna barf."
"Why?"
"T-Too rich… I can't eat that and dark chocolate… unless you wanna clean up puke later?"
"Nope," Aiko-san said, giving him a sympathetic smile. Then she looked up at Len, grinning. "Have you ever hand Marble cake?"
Len shook his head.
"Tiramisu?"
"No…"
"C-Coffee Cake? Fondant Fancy? P-Pavlova? What about Baumkuchen?"
"No… I've never tried them." Didn't mean he hadn't made them before. After all, some of them they served at the café he worked at.
"That's it! TO THE CAKE SHOP!" Aiko-san cried out, startling everyone as she jumped from her seat. "THAT IS BLASPHEMY! YOU CAN NOT GO ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT THIS! I SHALL MAKE IT MY DUTY THAT YOU TRY WHATEVER YOU WANT!"
"Y-You're going to force me to eat cake before I get in the pool?"
Everyone went silent, and suddenly, Shion-senpai sighed. "Good point, being bloated when getting in the pool is a terrible idea. That's why we decided to eat after we went swimming…"
Hibiki frowned to himself. "So… we aren't getting cake?"
"Surely Shion will have a cake there for us, right?" Katsurou said, having regained his composure. He still looked a little sick, but he'd clearly shrugged it off. "Right?"
"Of course," Shion-senpai replied, nodding. "My mother is going to make it. She didn't tell me what flavour it was going to be, only that there was going to be cake."
"I bet its strawberry cake," Hibiki said, chirping loudly. "I love the strawberry cakes you're mother makes. They're freaking amazing, with all the whipped cream and strawberry on that lovely sponge cake…"
It didn't sound too bad… but with Hibiki drooling like that, Len felt a little uncomfortable. Clearly Shion-senpai felt the same. "Hibiki, stop drooling. You look stupid when you do that."
"But!"
"No buts!" Shion-senpai snapped back then looked at Len. "Tomorrow, we'll go cake hunting."
Nope, nope, definitely not! "I can't… I have work," Len quickly lied. He normally did work Sundays, but before he left home, he was informed there wasn't work for the next few days because of a leak that happened in the kitchen. Business resumed Monday, however.
Shion-senpai stared at him, trying to work out if that was a lie or not. Clearly, he was suspicious but no one-
Nope, now Ryunnosuke was looking at him, looking very suspicious. Of course, he knew where Len worked because he'd gotten the job during their last year in Junior High. He just gave Len this weird look like he knew Len was lying, but thankfully, he kept his mouth shut. He didn't have proof either that Len was lying… yet.
"Oh!" Chiyoko suddenly spoke out, turning to Aiko-san with big, bright eyes. "I found a really cute café the other day. I'd never seen it before, but it looks amazing. I asked around about it and apparently they make some of the best Pavlova in town."
"Really?" Aiko-san looked extremely happy for some odd reason. "Why is this the first time I heard of this?"
"Aiko-san really loves her Pavlova, huh?" Katsurou laughed. "Now you're drooling."
"I am not!"
She didn't need to drool, her eyes said enough as it was.
A/N: CAKIE! And lol Katsurou is a man after my heart. Hears the word "chocolate mud cake" and heads for the nearest toilet. Just can't eat it, that or dark chocolate. ANYWAYS! Filler chapter, but what is this cafe Chiyoko mentioned? ;) That's for later too... still.. chapter 12 man, why must it be so complicated to write?! Let's pray I swing back into it so I don't have to worry about having nothing to upload!