Moshi Moshi!

I'm on spring break officially! X3 which means more time to write! So, I bring you this LONG chapter that took me all day to write!
As always, Enjoy!

Review-y peoples for chpt 42:

`arosecas4

`Black White and Superstitious

`mlkqueen12

`zhane 17

`MinaBlahBlahBlahAnimeFan

`awesome dt

`iDontCare

`Icelandicpuffincat

`Gumi Megpoid

~Tiruneko ;3

X~43~X

Gentle sunlight streams in through the closed blinds and dances on Miku's hair, illuminating it to a bright and neon teal. She rolls over, her arm falling over her face, smacking herself in the nose. She jolts upright, rubbing the small injury.

"Ow…" Miku says wearily, blinking her eyes and yawning a little.

Her room is mostly lit except for the shadows in the corners of furniture that cast their dark light over the hardwood flooring. The blankets are tangled around Miku's feet and legs, her hair a knotted mess. A copy of a dictionary lies just beside her pillow, open to the C section. A red pen and a highlighter are also buried somewhere underneath the tangled heap of pillows and blankets as well as a bottle of water.

Miku slowly sits up, throwing the sheets off of herself and standing with sleep heavy in her eyes.

"I slept by myself…" Miku smiles slightly in light of her latest achievement. Sleeping alone is terrifying and this was her first successful night of it. She can't help but grin, just a little. Then the thought crosses her mind, will I do it again tonight? She gulps and slips on a pair of filthy white socks. No reason to strain yourself, right?

Miku gently eases open the door of her room after re making her bed and setting her dictionary aside. She had begun to read it, well, the parts she could understand and sound out correctly. The last time she tried to use some of the words around the rest of the group, Rin laughed so hard she had to leave the room and Gumi, through tears had to explain to Miku that she pronounced everything she said wrong. Miku wasn't ready to do that again but she still wanted to pursue reading.

At least then I won't be completely helpless… She thinks as she walks softly out of her room, the smallest one, and into the bathroom across the hall. She stands in the mirror, sighing at her mass of hair. She'll need Rin's help this morning.

Miku creeps out of the bathroom and down the hall, into the living room where Rin normally is. Oliver is sleeping heavily on the couch, again. Maps and assorted pages of notes and Gumi's disturbing doodles lie strewn across the coffee table and some of the chairs. Rin's usual jumbo coffee mug is gone and a large orange sticky note is stuck to the TV screen. Miku walks over carefully so as not to wake Oliver.

Gone to do stuff w/ crowbar girl

Be back later (maybe)

*R

At the bottom of the note is a small drawing done in permanent marker of a bear with an obscurely large head sitting on a washing machine while eating a waffle. No doubt the work of Gumi. Miku sighs, now how is she going to fix her hair? She picks up a strand and sighs, returning softly to the bathroom.

She frowns at her reflection in the mirror and winces as her comb pulls on a knot.

"Morning." A voice says. Miku yelps in surprise and jumps a foot in the air. "Sheesh, calm down, Miku." Len says as he ties his own hair up into the usual high and small pony tail. He isn't wearing a shirt. Len picks up his toothbrush and glances at Miku who hides her face behind her scarf. "Everything okay?" She nods. "Where's Rin?"

"She left a note." Miku hands the now folded scrap of paper to Len.

He sighs bitterly as he squirts toothpaste onto the brush. The two stand quietly beside each other as Len brushes his teeth and Miku paws at her hair, frustrated. Len sets his tooth brush down and looks at Miku. She sighs in defeat and turns to walk out of the bathroom.

"I got it." Len says, stopping her and beginning to move the comb up and down through her silky hair. Miku stands silent and as still as a rock. For some reason Len can't help but feel his heart start beating a little faster. He picks up the last rubber band and steps back, smirking at his accomplishment. "There."

Miku's hair is pulled into two neat and perfectly symmetrical pony tails. Her bangs are free of tangles and knots and fall gently just above her line of vision. She stares in awe. Even Rin can't do it this well.

"Thank you, Len!" Miku says, smiling.

"Yeah, no problem." Miku walks out of the bathroom and hears Len close the door behind her. A few moments later she hears the sound of water hissing out of the shower from the kitchen and smiles softly to herself.

Outside of the back door is the patio and the pink and orange sky. A lone bird soars from a tree to another and Miku closes her eyes, inhaling deeply. The air must smell amazing right now, if only-

Miku sighs in defeat. She can't possibly go outside on her own without Gumi or Len or Rin knowing, and there is no way she can get Oliver to care. She frowns.

"I guess I should try…" She mumbles under her breath, stepping out of the kitchen and into the living room. She hovers over the couch and Oliver's sleeping form. Only, he isn't sleeping.

He's on his side, facing the back of the couch with his one good eye open and facing down. Go away go away go away go away… He thinks bitterly. The presence above him doesn't move. Are these people so ignorant to think that I've been sleeping all this time? How can I possibly sleep at all in a situation like this? Oliver groans under his breath and sits up to face whoever is standing behind him. Miku jumps backwards and tugs her scarf over her mouth, gazing down at the floor sadly.

"What?" Oliver hisses.

"Sorry…" Miku shifts uncomfortably. "Sorry… it's nothing… sorry…" she says before scurrying away back into the kitchen. Oliver flops back down, covering his eyes and listening to the soft whirr of the fan.

Miku leans against over the kitchen sink, feeling like she's about to throw up. Or cry. Either one, possibly. She turns back to the door and decides she'll do it. Miku slides open the glass and locks it behind her, stepping on the other side and surrounding herself in the cool and calm winter breeze.

A thin sheet of frost covers the remaining blades of grass that lie in patches and heaps under crumbled and dying orange leaves. The bare branches of trees crash gently against each other with a whoosh of air, almost as if they speak to each other. Miku sighs, leaning against the deck and pushing her sock covered toe into the leaves. She smiles to herself. If only IA was here…

Miku didn't want to be rude, in fact, she feels terrible even having such thoughts, but Miki wasn't such a prominent figure in her life as IA. Miki made her choice and something about it frustrates Miku. Miki could have gone with them, she had the chance. Her choice saved them but did she not care for herself at all anymore? Miku understood that Miki was grief stricken but something about her made Miku frustrated and almost a little angry. If she had to choose, which she hopes she never has to, she would pick IA over the red head. Is that so terrible to think? Miku places her thumb to her lips and inhales the crisp morning air again.

Then she hears a noise. A tiny little yelp and the crunch of leaves. Miku feels her blood run cold and she quickly bolts to her feet, spinning on her heel and facing the side of the cabin. A tiny flash of neon blue is visible and then is gone just as fast. Miku holds her breath in anticipation and backs away slowly.

"H-hello?" She calls out softly yet loud enough to be heard. The silence that hangs in the air rings with violent intensity. Footsteps erupt into a frantic pattern of running and Miku jumps backwards, bumping into the glass. The figure, now just a tiny silhouette on the other side of the house, bolts into the tree line of the forest and immediately disappears.

Miku gulps and with shaking hands flings open the sliding glass door and locks it behind her. Once inside she runs clumsily down the hall and comes to a skidding stop in front of Len and Rin's room, panting. She frantically knocks with shaking hands.

Len opens the door, expecting to see Rin. Instead he comes face to face with a panicking Miku, her face filled with fear, her nose red from the cold, and her shoulders quivering. Her voice is shaking and Len is startled instantly. He has just pulled his usual white shirt on and his hair is still dripping from his shower. Droplets of water still cling to his arms.

"Miku? What happened?" He steps forward, reaching a hand out to see if she's injured. Miku crashes into him, hyperventilating.

"I-I-I think s-someone's outside!"

~ ~ ~X~ ~ ~X~ ~ ~

"Ready?"

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Gumo's dirty."

"Gumo?" Rin asks, leaning against a tree, facing Gumi. "You named your crowbar, Gumo?"

"Of course! What else was I going to name him?" Gumi says, brushing her sleeve against the handle of the sleek yellow, almost orange tool.

"You named him after yourself?"

"Who else was I going to name him after?" Gumi states simply, shrugging her shoulders and standing, leaning on the crowbar. "Besides, I am pretty awesome."

Rin scoffs. "Keep telling yourself that…" Rin stands up straight, taking her jacket off and tossing it aside. It falls in a heap on the ground, sending leaves around it scattering away in the air.

"Okay, I'm ready now." Gumi eases into a standing position and clasps Gumo in her hands. She flicks her goggles down over her eyes and they narrow to a playful glare. She smirks devilishly and smacks her crowbar into the palm of her gloved hand. "Let's do it."

"Right." Rin snaps into a sideways fighting stance, holding one arm out and clasping her hand into a fist and bringing her other arm parallel yet folded inwards and only extended as far as her other arm's elbow. She brings her head down, closer to her chest and breathes in.

The world snaps into place all at once with a jolting snap. Gumi launces forward sloppily, careening at Rin with Gumo raised in the air above her head. Rin shoots backwards to dodge but at the last second Gumi changes position, sending Gumo hurling into Rin's stomach. Rin takes advantage of the mere second in which Gumi lowered her guard and her fist flies out. It makes contact with metal and Gumi uses her crowbar to push Rin off. Rin skids a few feet away and tenses.

Rin is the one to move this time. She spins forward, jumping a little in the air and bringing her knee up into Gumi's open palm. She was expecting the blow. Rin brings her leg down with incredible speed and it smashes into Gumi's unexpected foot. In that moment they both move simultaneously, Gumi lurching forward with the crowbar raised high above her head, and Rin with her elbow. The two girls fly apart, Rin crashing to the ground and Gumi smashing into a tree.

Rin recovers the quickest while Gumi stays down but a second longer. Rin swings her fist into the side of Gumi's head and Gumi spins with the blunt side of her crowbar facing out. She throws her strength into the blow and sends Rin tumbling. Gumi brings her foot up to Rin's chin and presses her head into the ground. Rin sinks in the leaves, laughing.

Gumi folds her fingers into a gun and holds it out, pointing down at Rin.

"Bang." The two burst out laughing. Rin stands slowly beside Gumi as she brushes a little bit of blood off of her crowbar.

"You win. Three to two." Rin says. "You're always one step ahead…"

"Yours or mine?" Gumi says, pointing at the blood stain. The two girls do a quick check.

"Mine." Rin announces, showing Gumi a small cut on her knuckle.

"Gumo!" Gumi scolds her crowbar.

Rin gives her a cockeyed sideways glance. "Yeah, keep doing that. I'm sure it'll help."

Footsteps slowly become audible off in the near-distance.

"Shh." Gumi says, holding up her hand. The two stand, silent.

The one pair of running footsteps becomes two and the girls exchange a glance.

"Race you." Gumi calls after Rin who has already sprinted away with her jacket and knife in hand. Gumi jogs after. The two run after the other two runners, joining a frantic chase. Rin is a little faster than Gumi, only by a hair. Rin has pulled her jacket back on while running and has her knife drawn, yet concealed in her sleeve. The second pursuer becomes visible.

"Len?!" Rin shouts after the person.

"Yeah! Someone found us! Can't see 'em, go around!" He shouts without turning.

Gumi and Rin shoot opposite directions, curling around and presumably surrounding their prey.

Rin, being the fastest, gets the closest. She seems to be parallel with the fleeing person, but she still can't see them. The thick and plentiful trees and piles of leaves block her vision. So she judges off of sound.

"Three, two, one." Rin takes a deep breath and throws herself to the side. She crashes violently through the trees and undergrowth. She feels her body collide with another and the two roll down a steep hill. "Shit!" Rin hisses. The other person in Rin's grip yelps in pain and tries to tug away as they roll down the hill.

"Rin!" She hears Len call from up the hill. Rin feels her back hit something hard and painful, but she doesn't let go of her captive. She rolls over them and pushes the person bellow her into the ground.

Their hands swat and flail around trying to hit Rin. Rin eventually finds the person's wrists and forces them painfully into the ground.

"Ghack!" The person exclaims in pain. Rin blinks the hair out of her eyes and glares down at the person pinned beneath her.

Under her is a startled girl. Her arms are thin and bony, her face is flawless and fair, her cheeks dirt smeared with a bleeding cut just above her left eye. Her hair is bright, luminescent, deep neon blue. Her clothes are dirty and torn, even blood stained in parts. Just out of her reach is a kitchen knife. Lapis frantically struggles for it. Rin's burning red eyes strike terror into her and makes her plight even more frantic. Rin kicks the blade away and pushes her knee into Lapis' gut.

"S-stop!" She chokes out in pain.

Len comes skidding into the clearing with Gumi at his heels. Len's eyes fall on Rin and part of him becomes relieved. Then his eyes travel downwards to the person Rin is glaring at so intently.

"You!?" Len shouts in surprise.

"Eh?" Gumi lays her crowbar across her shoulders and leans against the trunk of a tree.

"You know her?" Rin seethes, not even turning her head. She pushes Lapis further into the ground and she winces.

"Rin, off!" Len moves forward, grabbing his twin by the shoulders and violently tugging her off. Lapis exhales sharply a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. She sighs in relief and slowly staggers to her feet.

"Len! Are you even thinking? She could be a threat!" Rin practically screams.

"Shut up! Do you want everyone to hear you?" Len hisses through clenched teeth. Lapis slowly stands and Len turns around to face her. Lapis jumps in surprise. "Why are you here?" He asks sharply, narrowing his eyes.

"I-I-I came to find you!" She squeaks, flustered.

"See?!" Rin groans loudly, picking up her knife. Lapis flinches.

"L-Let me explain! After you saved me-"

"You what?!" Rin erupts from behind Len. "Do you want to get us killed?" She throws her hands up in the air and stalks away muttering to herself.

"After you dropped me off my father took me back to our hotel. I overheard him having a conversation about… killing people and the incident at the subway station… So I thought he was a cop or something and I started searching his room…" Lapis looks down at her feet, suddenly saddened. "I found a bunch of files… Your real name is Len, right?" Len steps backwards, a little startled.

"If your father had files…"

"Demon's Crow is working with the police now, huh?"

"N-no, you misunderstood me. My dad works for Demon's Crow." Len shifts into a fighting stance and Rin spins around, stalking forward. Gumi opens one eye and glances at Lapis before sighing. She closes her eyes again and then walks forward.

Lapis begins to back away hurriedly, panicking, she flounders. "I-I r-read everything and- erm- I came to-" Rin pushes her arm into Lapis' neck. She forces her against a tree and holds her above the ground. She pushes a knife against Lapis' throat. The blue haired girl stifles a scream. "P-please I-I wanna h-help!" She gags.

Gumi places her hand on Rin's shoulder.

"Get off!" She shouts, enraged. Gumi increases the pressure and Rin caves. Gumi tugs her away and Lapis falls to the ground, gagging and coughing.

"You better start talking, 'cause she's like a time bomb. I can only subdue her for so long." Gumi whispers to Lapis, giving her a tiny smile. She turns, leading Rin away as she cusses angrily under her breath.

Lapis staggers to her feet. "I-I know you don't want to trust me, and you probably shouldn't but, I came because I want to help."

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why?" Len repeats.

"… Because I want to do something with my life, or else I don't deserve to have a life at all."

"That's pretty bold for a weak little bitch like you." Rin chirps from the other side of the clearing. Gumi snickers quietly. Lapis blushes.

"It's true though, once my time comes, and I know it eventually will, I want to be able to say I did something meaningful with my existence." Lapis shifts uncomfortably as a drop of blood falls off her eye lash. Her palm flies to cover her eye. The cut stings and her stomach is throbbing and she'll probably have some new bruises by tomorrow, but Lapis is ecstatic. She finally found them.

"Just curious, which one of the assholes is your father?" Rin asks.

"His name is Kaito. We have different last names though, I kept my mothers." Rin's blood runs cold.

"How long have you been following us?" Len asks, quickly changing the subject.

"Since a week after you found me." Lapis states simply, wiping away some of the blood from her hand to her shirt. She puts her palm back over her eye.

"Come on, we should go clean that out." Len walks forward, exiting the clearing and walking back up the hill. Lapis trudges after him and Rin and Gumi not far behind.

"She's got quite a complex, huh?" Rin seethes to Gumi.

"This could prove interesting…" Gumi says, clipping Gumi back onto her belt.

"Are you kidding me? She's just another liability, one we don't need."

"Like I said, interesting."

~ ~ ~X~ ~ ~X~ ~ ~

Yuuma pushes open his bedroom door, his thoughts restless and festering. He's so wrapped up he bumps straight into Teto, nearly toppling her.

"Hi! How was your first day of the Upper Levels trip?" His mother asks from the kitchen.

Yuuma doesn't respond.

Not because he doesn't know what to say, but because he knows exactly what to say.

Yuuma smirks.

Oh yes, he knows exactly what to say.

But it's a secret.

Character Pole:

IA- 2

IO- 2

Kaito- 1

Lapis- 2

Len- 5

Miku- 7

Rin- 8

Oliver- 2

Luka- 1

Gumi- 4 (+1 from me too, cause I LOVE writing her)

Teto-

Gumo- [NEW]

Heheheheh me and my cliffhangers~!

~Tiruneko ;3