"According to our intelligence unit, our target is going to be on assignment to kill one Mr. Ichirou Nakahara," General Megurine explained to Lieutenant Len Kagamine. "Your job is to cut her off before she kills him and attempt to take her prisoner." Her eyes grew urgent. "Keep her alive, Lieutenant. At all costs. She may be insane, but she could provide some critical information."

Len nodded, removing his hat and running a hand through his platinum blond hair. "If killing her is out of the question, shouldn't we be carrying tranquilizers instead of live rounds?"

"…this division didn't become as elite and infamous as it is today by rushing into battle with darts," Luka pressed, her eyes dull with disappointment. "Really, lieutenant?"

Len flushed and nodded at her. "Apologies."

Luka looked back down at her notes. "Ichirou Nakahara is a bond trader living in Tokyo. Rumor has it he also operates a large underground drug empire. If you catch Hatsune's killer, perhaps we can validate Mr. Nakahara's second income." A smirk showed on Luka's face. "Two birds with one stone. Maybe even enough to land you another promotion, Kagamine."

Len's mouth lifted on one side. "It sounds like a plan, ma'am."

Luka stood, rolling her shoulders back. "I suppose that does it, then. I'll be sending you out within the week."

Len stood and bowed at his superior.

"Salute, Lieutenant."

Len stood upright and folded his right arm across his chest. Luka nodded at him and then at the door before turning away to gather her paperwork. Len saw himself out and closed the door behind him, leaning against it. He'd spent four years preparing himself for the day he'd see the girl who haunted his dreams brought to her knees. His only fear was that he wouldn't be able to pull the trigger when he finally had the chance. She reminded him so much of her…the lawyer's daughter.

Len shook his head and replaced his hat, straightening his structured black uniform before making his way down the hallway. He had only a few days to ensure that he was ready to lead his soldiers into what could become their deaths, but just the thought of his allies' killer's resemblance to Rin was dizzying. He knew it was just coincidence. He and Rin each had heterochromatic eyes – one red and one blue. The girl he'd come face-to-face with had only one eye, blood red. She was clearly blind in her left eye, as made obvious by the bandage covering it. Rin was also a very caring person, and couldn't bring herself to hurt anyone or anything, no matter the circumstances. Aside from spiders, Len amended with a chuckle. No spider lasted ten seconds after she spotted it.

After returning to his quarters, Len hung his hat and the jacket of his uniform on their respective hooks by the door and collapsed on the couch, removing his eyepatch and setting it on the end table. He covered his eyes with his forearm, sighing as fatigue began to snuff out his consciousness.

She appeared to him again as sleep claimed him.

The same revolver that had ended his fellow soldiers' lives danced around her long, slender, red-nailed fingers as she strode toward him, her walk jaunty and seductive. She smirked as she drew near him, her furisode left open to reveal the red kimono-style spaghetti-strap mini-dress, white thigh-highs, and the smooth, white stretch of leg between.

Len was frozen as she sauntered closer and closer until her chest was just centimeters from his. The hand free of the gun traveled up his arm to his chest, where they eased the buttons through their loopholes before dancing across his skin. Each teasing touch left an electrifying sting which lingered for several seconds after she moved on.

She stood on her tiptoes and pressed closer to Len, her breath tickling his ear. "I remind you of someone special…don't I?" she purred, her lips brushing his ear. Len started and struggled to muster up the willpower to push her away. He failed, but she moved away from him, looking up at him with all the innocence Rin might have. "Don't I look like her?" she asked sweetly, reaching up and removing the ribbon and flower from her hair. She shook her head, allowing the locks of sunlight atop her head to fall to her shoulders. She then removed the bandage from her scarred eye and let it fall to the ground, both eyes closed. When she opened her eyes again, Len woke from his nearly erotic nightmare in a cold sweat.

Her damaged eye was blue.

It couldn't be Rin. It couldn't. Miku Hatsune had kidnapped her, but she turned up dead.

…right?