Chapter 27

Kaito Shion walked hunched over. He mumbled and groaned to himself letting out the occasional curse or so as he disposed of the detritus the group had left behind. He usually didn't get depressed or generally bothered, but as he walked left to clean up everyone's scraps; including his own, he sighed heavily. He couldn't help it; everyone seemed to have a match except him.

They'd been divided into groups as they went off to walk the forest paths. Luka had partnered with Mikuo. They'd been rather close since he'd told her off in the rainstorm. Lucky jerk, if Kaito had done such a thing to Luka like Mikuo had, Luka would've ripped him a new one. The second group had been Miku and Len. Len who seemed rather uninterested in the whole activity but had gone along anyway. Whether for the experience or not Kaito couldn't tell. Even Teto was accompanied by Rin, both of them the last to leave.

Then there was him. Walking alone at the beach. He sighed heavily and adjusted the garbage bag he was carrying. Since when had he been the pack mule? The maid? Everyone seemed to be enjoying the company of someone else except him.

He hated this feeling but hadn't been quite up for joining one of the twosomes. He didn't want to be the third wheel. Lord knows he didn't need to be the third wheel. So he settled for mindlessly stating he didn't want to participate and instead insisted on cleaning up their garbage. Which could be considered equally weird in his opinion.

He couldn't possibly have been the only one who noticed it, but it had been going on all day. Anytime Len would wander off to speak to Rin, Miku always seemed to need him for something. He and Len weren't close, but Kaito doubted Len would appreciate the clinginess.

He couldn't remember when he'd got tired of observing while he was bluntly left out. Still, here he was. Kaito settled for checking out the beach sights for a second. The moon loomed over everything, its light casting eerie shadows and conjuring monstrosities in the dark. Things seemed to waver without the light as if their life was dying out.

Truthfully, Kaito really didn't need to clean up; Luka easily could've called someone to do the cleaning for them. She'd mentioned a twenty-four hour cleanup crew her family had employed for the Megurine's private beach somewhere off the coast. Momentarily, Kaito wondered if there was anything the Megurine's didn't have. He considered the question till a paper slapped him in his face.

Kaito dropped everything he was carrying in response and yanked the paper away from his face. The paper was actually a sheet of wrinkled tin foil that had blown off their table. He scowled, crumpled it up and whipped it into the garbage bag. After doing so, he sighed heavily.

"You look like you need some assistance," A voice called from behind him. Kaito took note of the high, intense cuteness of the voice. It was quite girlish. Kaito grinned broadly; somehow, his luck seemed to be looking up. He turned smoothly.

"Yeah, I'm just cleaning up the beach. Can you believe all this garbage? Who would do something so...so," he paused feigning offense at the lack of care for the beach. When in actuality, he and the rest of the group had left it in such a state. "Wretched to such beauty!"

There was a rather adorable girl in front of him and he had to admit, she was gorgeous; his type really. The girl's skin was pale but it had a glow to it. Her cheek bones were high and she was relatively his age. Her hair was lengthy, purple and it tumbled forward over her shoulders and parted two ways in a lustrous cascade. Everything about her seemed to be neon purple; her eyes especially that seemed to slice through the night light. She had on a silky violet long sleeve shirt and low light grey shorts.

Shorts that revealed just enough, and tightened in the right places just to Kaito's liking.

"You're caring for the beach huh?" She asked. Kaito nodded silently and shifted to take her hand. It was cold, deathly cold but he didn't mind. All the more heat he'd give her to heat up a little.

"I have a fondness for beautiful things, like nature; especially females." The mysterious girl giggled sweetly and Kaito smirked the most charming smirk he could muster. Up close she was slightly shorter than him but it was adorable all the same. Not in too much of a defenseless way though, the delinquent in him noticed her balance. Even though such things didn't matter to him.

"So, mind sharing with me that lovely name of yours?" Kaito asked. The girl tilted her head to an angle and smiled at him.

"I didn't tell you? Wow how rude of me huh? I'm Yuzuki Yakari. You can call me Yuzu if you like?" Yuzuki replied politely. A shiver ran through Kaito as he heard the name.

"Then it would be my pleasure to call you Yuzu, Yuzuki." Kaito held her hand in his but something felt off. The edge of her sleeve brushed his skin and it felt wet. He would've assumed it was cold but the dampness was too noticeable. He glanced down and the bright red liquid on her rim caught his eye. Was that...blood?

Before he got too much of a good look at it, she was behind him and staring at the ocean. She was lighter on her feet than he'd ever seen or given anyone credit for.

"Hey are you hurt? I saw blood on your-"

"I didn't get your name you know," Yuzuki giggled again. She was suddenly in front of him and Kaito wasn't sure if she'd always been there. In the end, he settled on the fact that he'd blinked too quickly or had been too dazed by her beauty to care about such things. Another shiver ran through Kaito.

"My name's Kaito, Kaito Shion." He swore Yuzu frowned but it was just a flash and was gone before he could dwell on it.

"That's a nice name," Yuzuki commented and swiftly Kaito lowered himself to kiss her hand.

"Definitely, not as nice as you." However Yuzuki didn't smile at the comment. Didn't even blush.

"What flattery, I'm not nice at all. Not in the slightest. Not nice at all..." Yuzu's voice seemed to drag now, but she let it fade. Kaito was momentarily puzzled by the fact she'd repeated herself, but she was beautiful. The first girl that had talked to him in days really, so he didn't care.

"That was a compliment if you didn't notice dear," Kaito mentioned and Yuzuki cut him a glance. She seemed disinterested all of a sudden.

"Was it now?" she smiled. A smile that left Kaito breathless with its brightness. He tried hard not to blush, and yet knew he was. Yuzuki stepped away from him and another tremor ran through him. For a few seconds, he focused realizing what was off about her.

Whether he realized from keen sense or not; Yuzuki made no sound in the sand. It should've crunched and cried underneath her, but it didn't. Goosebumps formed on his skin from the abnormality. He would've thought about it more, but suddenly Yuzuki's hands were on his cheeks. Kaito knew he was virtually irresistible, but really?

"I've seen you a few times around here Kaito. I," Yuzuki was flustered all of a sudden. "I thought you were rather cute and that maybe we should get a bit...closer." Kaito had to fight to keep a wide grin off his face. He cleared his throat.

"That sounds very, intriguing. Whereabouts do you live? I'm sure I could disappear for a few minutes."

"I live in many places." Yuzuki smiled.

"Riddles huh, interesting."

"Aren't they? Haha, aren't they? Besides, we won't need to go far; we are on this secluded beach." Kaito felt his heart jolt, he raised an eyebrow.

"That's rather bold Yuzu."

"I live a bold life. Besides, why waste time when I have needs and you have needs."

"Sure, it's good to skip formalities. By the way, who's your friend over there?" Kaito couldn't help but ask, gesturing a finger in the mysterious figures direction.

A boy with light pink hair was standing not too far away in the distance. Kaito wouldn't have noticed him if not for his pink hair. It flared with life in the darkness, the moonlight making it so bright it was almost silver. When Kaito met his eyes the boy glared with such intensity, he thought it'd kill him. And maybe if his gaze wouldn't, he could. He didn't have the look of a delinquent but was deadly all the same. The aura around him just reeked of distaste, dislike, hatred, bitterness, and death.

From what Kaito could make out, he was wearing faded jeans and a jet-black shirt with a skull on the front so lifelike; Kaito felt it'd grab him. Possibly crush him if he gave it the chance. The dark night's luminous touch added to the creepy effect of the shirt. Kaito was hit with a strong impulse that the boy was going to kill something. He had that look about him.

"He's not really important," Yuzuki laughed. Kaito saw no movement from the guy. He was still stone silent and even more solid than a statue.

"Well, if you say so. He just looks like he's going to kill somebody."

"In a sense I guess. But nothing you have to worry about," And to affirm this, Kaito suddenly found Yuzuki kissing him. He usually was the first to initiate such moves but he didn't mind.

Her lips were soft, beyond it actually. They brushed his lightly at first and then with more intensity soon enough. Kaito pulled Yuzuki closer, savoring the taste of her. She had a certain taste to her lips like candied apples from so many carnivals he'd attended as a kid. Something about...jellybeans?

Kaito's head started to feel light and the world around him dazed. It faded from his sight, his focus rendering one thing. The world seemed to drain of color and life. Kaito felt the weight of his strength being abnormally drained and attempted to pull back from Yuzuki, however she didn't allow such a feat. Her arms were locked tightly around him and he couldn't pull away. Such a petite girl, how was it possible that she could be so strong?

His energy continued to drain away at a rapid rate and soon he felt himself slipping. Settling even as he was pulled back into a sort of warmth inside himself. The dark void was so tempting, so irregularly alluring that he felt himself drawn to it. Similar as an ant to its home.

He felt an obligation to the void. So when it extended its hand towards him in a gesture of friendship, welcoming, he accepted it like an old friend.

Off on a different side of the beach, a side with dense trees that resembled the forest of an earlier night was Rin. Trekking through the woods still proved to be no minor task no matter how many times she'd done it. Brush still managed to scrape her legs and she was thankful nobody could see her abnormally fast healing in this darkness. She wasn't hurt by the cuts too much but it was uncomfortable all the same.

Teto and she had been the last group on this trail walking to another side of the beach. It was beyond dark, and Rin couldn't imagine why this was fun in any regard. Especially when they'd almost lost people the other day. Specifically Miku, Len and herself. She also couldn't fathom how the group had been so ready to jump into another forest considering what had transpired. In the end, she settled on the fact that delinquents never took harsh lessons too personally.

Or learned from them for that matter.

The other groups were ahead, way ahead of them. Possibly on the other side by now even as Teto kept stopping every once in a while claiming she was tired. Luka had been paired with Mikuo, Miku with Len, and Rin with Teto. Kaito hadn't wanted to join so Luka had entrusted him with barbecue clean up. And so clean up he was doing. Rin doubted his abilities in cleaning, but anything Luka wanted done would be done; and properly at that.

Though walking through the forest wasn't Rin's favorite thing to do, she kept going. The minor pain helped to keep her mind off things that troubled her. Still that sense of foreboding jabbed at her mind. It was a mental dagger to her sanity, screaming not to be ignored. Every prickle caused the hairs on the back of Rin's neck to rise. She couldn't even begin to grasp why unfortunately.

Other than that, thoughts of Miku ravaged her mind like the plague. Rin wanted so badly to apologize but knew no such thing would work or help Miku. She seemed to burn with a resentment that would only quell when she could either truly claim Len as hers or harm Rin. She seemed hell bent on doing both.

Rin needed to speak to someone, but not just anyone. She'd wanted to tell Len, had yearned too. She'd refrained though, for her sake as well as Miku's. If Rin had told Len one truth she was sure everything else would've spilled out as well. All in gruesome and graphic detail where Len wouldn't glance at her again in the same way.

He'd said they were in this together. That he would protect her and in return she would protect him. In a sense, this was her protection. Just not physically. It was more of a mental protection.

"Rin, you seem troubled." Teto's voice broke into her thoughts. Not in the way the voice did or he did, but it disrupted her with its suddenness.

"What makes you say that?" Rin asked politely. She did her best to smile for Teto. However Teto stopped and frowned, obviously not buying it. Her blazing gaze pierced Rin like a spear and she almost flinched under it. "Okay well, maybe a few things have been bothering me..." Rin admitted. She shifted under Teto's gaze.

"Well, go on then," Teto said, she seated herself on a nearby rock.

"It's just," Rin started, she felt wary under Teto's gaze. "Everyone seems so much more hostile towards me..." Rin finally stated, she felt her shoulders slack and frowned along with the sudden sense of tiredness. "I don't know why, I mean...have I done something wrong?" Rin sat down next to Teto who created room for her. It was soothing to have the touch of a friend on her back rubbing and patting in small circles.

"Hey, it's going to be all right," Teto said softly, patting Rin's back gently. Teto smiled at her, but Rin couldn't bring herself to smile back. She felt parts of her had broken. Like she'd been used and thrown away holding less value than a child's toy when something new came along. "You don't need to be sad," Teto assured. "Your kind doesn't belong among humans anyway. It's only natural you'd get hurt and left out."

That's when Rin jolted. Suddenly Teto's pats on her back weren't so assuring anymore. She'd spoken in a tone as if everything had finally righted itself. As if Rin was the one sole object that had set everything out of place.

"What do you mean my kind?" Rin seemed to growl. She hadn't meant to sound angry, not in the slightest.

"I mean, that we are human and you are you. A Doll to be specific," Teto said. The words rolled off her tongue easily, effortlessly and in possibly the sweetest way possible. She laughed soundlessly for a second before she continued. "In my opinion you got what you deserved."

Rin couldn't speak. She couldn't breathe either. The words wounded Rin and she stood, not wanting to sit next to Teto anymore. Rin wanted to show the pain on her face but something inside her restrained her and disabled the action.

"Teto..." Rin started breathlessly, "How could you say something like that? I-" But Teto cut her off.

"You're right, how could I say something like that." Teto gripped at her heart and for a second Rin thought maybe Teto would apologize. That she'd thought better of her, saw things from Rin's point of view. But it was then that Rin saw through Teto's false smile. It had been a farce.

Simmering in her gaze was hatred and cold anger. Anger that had been left for too long without the ability to be unleashed. Much like Rin's power. Teto must have noticed because she no longer smiled or even attempted to smile. There was nothing.

Her emotions and face were broken, blank and dejected. A face that burned Rin worse than the hottest fire. She couldn't understand why Teto would hate her. What had she done to her? To Miku? To anyone really? And yet she was hated. Hated for something she hadn't even become; wasn't trying to become.

"What I really meant to say," Teto spat with heartless venom. "Was that you haven't even begun to receive what you deserve. Miku didn't hurt you as much as I expected." And Teto actually laughed afterwards a sick and broken noise. "Why on earth did I leave that gutless wretch to do everything? She's worthless, less than worthless even. I've stepped on ants with more courage than her."

Rin was appalled by how easily Teto could insult a former friend.

"Teto, surely you don't mean that about a friend..." Rin spoke weakly, she resisted the urge to gasp for the air she needed. Teto who had been so kind couldn't be like this. The only friend Rin had out of the girls left couldn't abandon her as well. Even if she did have Len. That thought alone allowed a certain calm to creep back into her.

Teto noticed and her anger seemed to flare. Like any chance of Rin's happiness was tinder to her flame. Teto rose calmly, but as she raised Rin took a cautious step back. Teto stepped into her personal space, very close and very personal. Rin could feel Teto's breath on her face and she forced herself to hold her ground.

The intensity of Teto's gaze was killer up close. Rin gripped her hands into fists tightly to avoid trembling.

"Oh, I mean every last word of it that I say Rin. You also go on about friends as if you'd ever had any. It's sickening. Miku only existed to be used by me and others just the same. I mean every word I say unlike others who adore holding their tongues. You are even more worthless than Miku to me, and can die a rabid dog's death for all I care." All Teto's words shot bullets of acid at Rin, it burned more because as she said them Teto's face was smooth and unburdened as glass. Her hate was the only emotion on the surface.

"Why are you doing this?" Rin demanded, pleading to Teto. "You asked me to share my worries with you and I did. How could you-"

"How could I?" Teto cackled. "How could you, Rin? Dare walk among mortals as if you've wronged no one, as if you've not done anything. How can you look yourself in the mirror and stand next to Len as if you're innocent? How much of a delusion are you going to create for yourself until you are satisfied?"

"I've moved on from that Teto. If I believe that I'm better and become better maybe-"

"Maybe what Rin? Pretending as if you've done nothing will fix everything? Why don't you step into the homes of the families you've destroyed and tell them that? If they just believe their loved ones will come back to them. How many of those miracles have happened Rin? Where a father you've slaughtered rose from the grave in pristine condition? I would love to hear," Teto spat mockingly. The truth to her words gutted Rin. She tried to speak but found she couldn't, not in Teto's presence.

"None, am I correct?" Teto said. "Because all is forgiven if you become a different person and allow yourself pleasantries you stole from others."

"I haven't stolen anything..." Rin replied weakly. "I'm trying to change Teto, even you can see that."

"And that automatically rights all your wrongs? Suffices for all the suffering you've caused? I almost forgot how little lives meant to you. Someone who has one that will be so long."

"I'm sorry..." Rin croaked, she could no longer meet Teto's eyes.

"Yes, please do look away and forget like you have so far Rin. That makes everything better, that makes everything okay," Teto hissed. "I'd rather a monster not look me in the eyes anyway. You're also a fool for daring to think of such an escape."

"I'm sorry," Rin cried again. She forced her hands over her ears. Not wanting to hear Teto anymore; wanting to retreat. But where could she go where such voices wouldn't follow her?

She fought the thoughts but by far they were much stronger than her and Rin was weak. She could crumble, would crumble under the thick weight of her sins. And imagine of Len's smiling face flashed through her mind. The brilliant light of the thought fought against the dark truth for her but Rin snuffed the memory.

She refused to allow the warm memories to burrow into her. She didn't deserve them even if Len said she did. Even if someone wrote it in the stars for her. She forced the happy thoughts back and allowed the acid in Teto's words to slice her.

The memory of Len forced its way back into her mind. Fighting not to be ignored, driving away Teto's harsh hatred. It succeeded in dwindling the force of the words and stood its ground firmly in Rin's mind.

That's when warm hands violently ripped Rin's hands away from her ears. Pain throbbed through Rin's wrist as Teto gripped it tightly.

"You can avoid my gaze but you will hear the truth," she hissed and Rin thrashed for Teto to release her but she didn't. Panic shook Rin and the ground in her mind shifted.

"The truth is Rin, that you harm everyone with your very existence," Teto bit.

"No...Please stop," Rin pleaded, but Teto continued.

"You've slaughtered millions just as easily as a child plays. Crushed everyone and everything in your wake leaving nothing behind. Not even the scraps of memories for families to hang on to."

"Teto..."

"You couldn't take the pressure could you? So you cracked, and you ran. Forcing yourself to forget everything, pretending to be innocent."

"I didn't..." But Rin cried, tears streaming down her cheeks and she shook.

"You've deluded yourself into your innocence."

"I don't want to hurt anyone anymore..."

"Lies!" Teto screamed, gripping Rin's wrist so tightly her fingers broke the skin. "You've deluded yourself just so you could destroy some more. Where you could have more fun than just committing mindless violence."

"I'm sorry..."

"You're really the worst. All you do is take. You're just like him. Your resemblance to him is nauseating." Teto dropped one of Rin's wrist and Rin felt fingers dig into her slender chin. Teto's nails cut her as she was forced to stare into Teto's gaze again.

Teto's eyes pierced and stared dead into Rin's. They held a cold abyss of void. One Rin wished she didn't have to look at, wished desperately not to look at. Teto was a symbol of all she'd feared, all she'd pushed away. A scar that lingered on her that lived and breathed with her as one like her memories.

Teto was smiling at her. Still baring the hard stone exterior that made her emotionless. It was a cold icy smile like icicles shimmering in the night. A stab of pain hit Rin that made her skin freeze where Teto gripped her. Rin gasped for air but the ice sliced her lungs.

Rin gripped that light of Len in her mind. She held on for dear life to it as the darkness threatened to overwhelm her. It was slipping from her grasp like soap as it seemed the tighter she held on, the more it slipped.

The darkness nipped at the edges of her mind. Stabbing, prodding, poking, jabbing her in rapid succession. Every word from Teto was like a blow to the cranium as Rin fought. Teto smiled slyly at her, pleased by the anguish Rin was feeling. It was a true joy, one real emotion on Teto's face.

"You're different Rin, disgusting even. Don't you think it's only a matter of time before Len thinks so as well?"

That comment was the final move. A blow to the gut that caused Rin to drop her only light into the depths of her mind below.

"Len...Len doesn't think that..." Rin spoke breathlessly in an exhale of air. Air she very much needed at the present. She felt heavy, labored, and couldn't breathe. Teto only laughed, directly at her.

"Does Len know what you are? Tell me Rin, have you bothered to share that much with him?" The look the flashed across Rin's face was all Teto needed as an answer. "You haven't have you? Tell me then, why not?" Teto released her and Rin sagged, her knees buckled and she dropped to the ground lifelessly and limp.

"It doesn't matter, Len allowed me to have a place next to him." Rin heard her voice distantly.

"Doesn't mean you belong there." Another blow stabbed at Rin. It came with such force that Rin knew Teto didn't need a weapon. The moisture in Rin's mouth was gone.

"I'm sorry Teto; if I've done something to you...I'm sorry..." Rin cried, she wiped furiously at her tears. Teto stopped her from doing that also.

"No, continue to shed those tears. I'm relishing in the joy of them." Teto grinned sadistically, her eyes gorging into Rin's like a beast. Devouring her sadness, her guilt and anguish.

"Teto, I'm so sorry, I'll do anything for you...so please..."

"I don't want your apology! I don't want anything from you! I hate you! All I want is my brother!" Teto screamed. The force of her sudden rage threatened Rin. "You and your kind took him from me! He's not the same anymore because of you!" she shrieked.

"I'm sorry."

"If you were really sorry you'd go back," Teto spat, stabbing a finger accusingly at Rin.

"I don't know where to go back to!" Rin shouted back, tears blinding her.

"Then I'll take you," Teto offered. It took Rin a few seconds to register that Teto was in fact, extending a hand to her.

"What...about Len?" Rin asked, her voice stumbling.

"Do you want Len or do you want me to forgive you?" Rin swallowed hard and stared at the ground. Her mouth was dry and her eyes stung.

No matter what, she couldn't just leave Len. He'd told her not to leave him again. Not to scare him again. They were equals but in a way those were orders. Orders for her to stay. Soon enough Teto's hand was gone, clenched into a solid fist at her side.

"Len right? You're despicable Rin, but so am I." Teto smiled cruelly.

"I can't help it! I...I love Len..."Rin mumbled, she felt sick and tired. Drained for the most part. Her entire body ached and she hadn't fought physically. She forced herself to stand anyway but then she was down again. Pain exploding over her cheek. Rin crumpled easily to the ground from the force of Teto's slap.

"You don't deserve love or happiness!" Teto wailed. "You're an abomination that my brother created! He's going to die because of you! Because you're alive! Go back to where you belong Rin! You think Len truly accepts you? Does he know what you can do?"

"Len told me that I'm me, no matter what," Rin replied.

"Really?" Teto's laugh was another mocking sound, this time of disbelief. "Then show him what you can really do, what your purpose really is."

"If I did that-"

"He'd reject you right?"

"No! Len wouldn't!"

"Then show him, I'd love to be proven wrong."

Rin couldn't. She wanted to tell Len but she couldn't. Len's rejection would be the most painful of all. She could bear Miku's, Luka's, maybe even everyone else's, but not Len's. Len's rejection would mortally injure her, maybe even kill her.

"Well, what's your answer to that Rin?" Teto asked none too kindly.

"No," Rin said. "I won't, I can't."

"See? Even you admit you're a monster," Teto declared. Proving her words through Rin.

"I can change!" Rin shouted.

"You can't!" Teto screamed.

"I can change if I put my mind to it!"

"What does that fix? Yourself? You're selfish, just like him."

"I'm not like anyone! I'm not a monster, I can change."

"Then tell Len coward! What are you waiting for?"
"STOP!" Rin shrieked. Her head throbbed and the darkness all ganged up in her, kicking at her.

She felt her other self among them adding to the attack. Teto's right, her other self-chanted repeatedly. Over and over the words ravaged Rin's mental state. She sang it in Rin's mind with morbid beauty, dedicating herself to the task like a demonic chant.

Rin felt pinned and stripped. Stripped of her dignity, her pride, her joy, her happiness. Stripped of Len and everything she'd made for herself. She wanted nothing more for Teto to be wrong. To be silent. She felt heat building within her, power that threatened to overflow.

"You're exactly like him Rin," Teto started. "You destroy everything, even the kindest gentlest things. You take and you take some more, offering nothing in return. Giving nothing back-leaving anything for anyone!"

"No! I'm not like him! You're wrong Teto! You're wrong!" And in the distance was the most deafening explosion.

Rin turned around slowly. She couldn't bear to look, couldn't do it. Teto's mouth hung open gaping at the scene. When Rin saw it, she too was silent.

Behind them four houses in the distance had combusted into flames. The fire was still licking the ground. The forest in front of them had all collapsed in a bulldozed trail. They weren't just fallen over; they'd been ripped from their core. Straight from their roots and hacked to pieces. Down the block, houses were falling over onto the next. Smashing into each other like demented dominos.

It went on for three miles in every direction. All sorts of things crumbled and snapped and broke. Pieces shattered, unrepairable. And the fire, the fire ate the remains.

"I...I didn't do this..." Rin heard her own voice distant. She could deny it all she wanted, but who else could've done such a thing? She thought of all the families' homes she'd destroyed. All their memories, their treasures. Dear lord if there were still people inside...if there were still people inside. She'd done it, unintentionally, but it was already done. The heat inside her simmered. "No, I-I couldn't have..."

"I take it back," Teto said. Rin hadn't remembered turning to look at Teto. The way Teto looked at her was mortifying. Her face had been drained of all color, even her hair seemed a fading white. "You're not like him Rin...you're worse than him. You have the potential to be worse than he is." Rin shook. Wishing Teto wouldn't look at her. Wishing Teto would take her words back.

"You slaughter and destroy just like he does. Worse than he does. You delude yourself where he doesn't. He may be sickening and evil, but you're worse. Doing...doing this," Teto threw her hand out violently towards the destruction. "And still wishing to be loved. Still looking yourself in the mirror and calling yourself normal. Saying you have a handle on it all."

Teto's laugh was high and sharp. Bitter and brittle without humor.

"You don't Rin! You don't have anything under control! You're unstable; you're a dangerous hysteric lunatic hell bent on destruction! You don't belong here among humans, among anything! You and the Dolls should burn. You should perish. Go back to the institute Rin! It's only a matter of time before you kill Len! Before you kill us all." That was it, Rin had heard enough.

She'd heard enough from Miku and Luka who'd abandoned her despite her innocence. Of Mikuo who always looked at her strangely, as if he was afraid and could see into her. She'd had enough of Teto's accusing words. She'd had enough of being an outcast.

Before she could stop them her hands were up and-

No! Rin had snapped back into reality. She saw what was around her. Saw her other self-standing a ways away in front of her. Teto saw her too and gasped. She fell back into the sandy forest, arms behind her to brace her fall.

Then her other self was on Teto, gripping Teto by her throat. Teto gagged and coughed. Her hands were frantic, clawing away at her other self's arms. They gripped nothing, she was only a hologram. Something like data and only flickered when Teto touched her.

Rin didn't know what she was doing but she was light on her feet. She slammed into her other self, surprised by the contact. Both were sent sprawling and Teto was gasping for air as she hit the ground with a heavy thud. Rin sat up first expecting a blow from her other self, but there wasn't one. There was only her and Teto who looked at her incredulously.

"You...you-"

"I'm sorry Teto but believe me when I say that wasn't me," Rin interrupted. "There's another me, but I'm different now. I-"

"You should've let me die." Was all Teto said in reply. Her facial expression had dropped. Blank again of any emotions. "I won't live in your debt. I hate you, I always will until my brother is with me." Then Teto was on her feet, walking away from Rin faster than she could imagine without a single lick of gratitude. She walked fast and Rin ran to catch up with her.

"I didn't do it so you were in my debt Teto," Rin affirmed. "Doing this all for your brother. What do you think he'd say to this? To how you're acting? You ought to know better-"

"What else can I do Rin?" Teto screamed. "You put yourself in my shoes and act; think of something right to do. Tell me you wouldn't have done what I did!" Rin's head smashed into the ground as Teto tackled and pinned her. "Tell me what you would've done! What I could've done!"

"Nothing."

It was a simple reply, a lonesome whisper on the breeze. A faithless real answer that brought reality to light.

"Nothing?" Teto scoffed. "Nothing? So you would've just sat by and watched the mental state of the person you loved deteriorate? Into fragments? Into nothing? Into a memory so void they couldn't even remember who you were?"

"That's not what I meant Teto," Rin croaked, her head felt heavy; so did her heart.

"Really?" She laughed soundlessly without humor. "Because that's what nothing gets you." Teto let go. She stood limply, lifelessly, her face nothing but a shadow and walked away.

Rin's wrists throbbed, but she didn't dare speak. Not again, not anymore. Not to Teto who didn't want to hear it. Not to Teto who'd been through so much. There was nothing she could say to Teto. Nothing she said would have any effect. The only thing Rin could do for her, for anyone, was to do her best. They only thing she could do for everyone. She wasn't useful like this; to anyone.

"Teto, where's your brother?" Rin asked, her voice caught in her throat. Somehow, she'd managed the question. Teto stopped momentarily but kept walking.

"What does it matter to you?"

"Because I want to help you, I'm...I'll go back." Teto froze. "To the agency, I'll go so you can get your brother back."

"That's not funny Rin..." Teto said. Her voice wavered and for the first time vulnerability leaked through it.

"I wasn't kidding," Rin declared. "If you'll forgive me, if we can be friends and it helps you then I'll go."

Rin knew it was a risk, more than a risk. But it was for Teto. Teto who'd already been through so much. She couldn't right her wrongs by ignoring them, so she'd face them head on the only way she knew how. "Which way?"