Chapter 43

Len was truly astounded when he awoke to find he was alive. The joy he felt undeniably and mercilessly succumbed to suffocation not a moment later. Something hammered down in Len's stomach and twirled his vision, his head surged. He lurched forward involuntarily and threw up. The movement brought a violent resurgence of the sudden inferno that was all his pain. When he threw up, the pieces of food he'd stomached somehow were the lesser of the contents. To his horror and dismay there was blood there; a good sum of it. And with all of that went his stamina. Len sank from his propped position on the wall and dropped to the cold tile beneath him. It was a wonder in itself that he'd managed to fall away from his vomit and not into it.

Len allowed himself the merit of a shiver. It only served to rupture the holding well of any comfort he had left. Fresh agony collapsed in on him and the savage pain of it shocked him to full consciousness. He was disorientated; his head spinning, his mind blank. Where was he? Where was everyone else? It was a startling thought he'd managed to reach in the vise-like grip of his pain. He wanted to look and see where he was but he couldn't move. His body wouldn't listen to him any farther than he'd already pushed it. Len dared not put up a fight so he laid there as comfortably as he could. He was human. There was no way he could suffice the pain anymore movement brought him. He couldn't do it. In all the years he'd ever been in brawls never had he felt torment such as this. It was too surreal. The only thought that stabbed through the pain was the ice of bright pink eyes. He remembered the smidgen of the inferno he'd freed from whom possessed those eyes. Len would not move. Not now and not ever. Where he was happened to be somewhere pink eyes did not dwell. If he wasn't out there then he would not happen across Luki. Len was petrified.

His only working hand was touched by a hot dampness that dripped off from his cheek. At first Len dismissed it as blood but more of it came and with a glance down he realized what it really was. He muttered oaths and those in itself were a crusade to coax from his lips. Len ordered himself to stop crying, but he choked on the words and the tears did not cease. He swore to stop his ridiculous moment of weakness but the effort produced no fruit. Such skirmishes with himself would serve no purpose and progress no goals. Somewhere buried in his mind in all the suffering was a sliver of clarity begging for him to grasp. He wouldn't make the effort. Only misery and despair was to come from moving. If he moved he'd notify Luki that he was alive. So, Len laid there as motionless as a stone slab.

"Get up, Len," A voice chided.

"No, it'll hurt too much," Len cried. "I don't want anymore pain. I'd kill myself before I let Luki have the pleasure of doing it."

"Get up, Len." The voice ordered indifferently.

"I can't," Len sobbed.

"So you'll die laying down?" the voice mocked, "The great Len Kagamine, always so high and mighty, dying in the fetal position at the mercy of another. Mother would be proud."

"Easy for you to say. I'm the one that has to face Luki."

"We've all got our shit to shovel, Len," the voice affirmed. Len let out another sob.

"I didn't sign up for that job."

"So are you going to back out? How cowardly are you, my kid brother? You accepted the job as shit shoveler, now you've gotta finish it. Get up."

And somehow through the torture Len managed to sit up again. He swayed dangerously and the shift in position kindled the bright fire of his pain, he came within a breath of laying down again, but he managed. Len stayed sitting up despite the thousand lashes that struck his back with every breath. The world was distant and blurry from the furious tears of pain before him. Len was sure he would've thrown up if there'd been anything left in his stomach to do so. He managed a few raspy breaths before he took his bearings.

Len found himself in a dome shaped room, yet, the architecture resembled that of a green house. There were wild assortments of exotic plants and vines of morning glory grew along the ceiling.

The walls were made of glass. Tiny panels set in a latticework using hundreds of different coloured squares. The design covered the entire floor and continued up the walls towards the ceiling until it ended abruptly in the maze of vines. All the glass glowed with an unearthly light and branded their shapes into the brain. The well lit nature of the place gave off a warming atmosphere that everything was safe. Len was wise enough to know otherwise. Just like he knew he possessed absolutely no chance of ever defeating Luki.

At the far end Len spotted Kaito. He was watching Len from a distance and did not approach. Kaito's eyes were cool and his face was solid, practically stony. Len wavered on whether to be offended that Kaito hadn't offered to help him in some way or to respect that Kaito had left him to his ruins. Less anger spurred in him at the second option, so he let it be. Deep down Len was a tad glad that Kaito hadn't approached him during the ordeal. They'd have to talk now however.

Despite the enchanting design, aside from them - and the small futon that laid next to Len, and a small fridge that was pressed firmly against a back wall- the place was empty. Thankfully the decor was enough for it not to take on a completely isolated and barren atmosphere. And yet, their dilemma was the same. Len was still in critical condition, Kaito was still acting weird, and they still had no idea who was the sole leader to it all. This situation wasn't a dream. If Len himself didn't get the proper medical attention he needed to live: Len shuddered.

Len chanced a glance at Kaito but he no longer stood where he had been standing. The moment what short lived however as Kaito re-entered the room gracefully, it took Len a second to realize who he'd walked in with: Yuzuki. And she was as worse for wear as he was. All of her clothes were torn and slathered in blood. Her shirt hung off her in jutting and ragged angles and revealed bruised skin where it wasn't cut. Her usually flawless hair was matted with dry blood. Where there had once been even and lush locks of purple hair, stood tatters similar to her clothes. Parts of her hair that had once been long were unevenly cut or missing all together. Vicious gashes clung and swelled on her once fair skin like long ugly leeches. She moved with a limp with noticeable labor despite her determination. Other parts of her beautiful flesh were shredded; at least in the places they weren't burned or covered in blood.

Len bit his lower lip to keep from making a sound as Kaito helped Yuzuki along. He must have given something away however, as Yuzuki tried to give him an assuring smile when she reached his side.

"I'll be okay, Kagamine boy. Most of it isn't mine anyway," she laughed but Len knew it wasn't true. Then she was as stony as Kaito suddenly, "You're the one who's in the most immediate danger," Yuzuki said. Len winced as he sat a little straighter.

"What are you talking about? You're the one who needs medical attention," Len argued but Yuzuki shook her head.

"I'm sure even you know by now that I'm not entirely human, Kagamine boy." Len didn't argue. He couldn't argue because thanks to Luki and Rin there was no argument to form. Yuzuki began assessing his injuries as gently as she could yet she looked distracted as she did so. Kaito beat Len to the question.

"What's wrong, Yuzuki?" Kaito asked. The question hung in the air for a moment before Yuzuki decided to answer it.

"If Luki had wanted to kill me...he would've. Something else caught his attention. Luki isn't easily distracted and he doesn't ever not go for a kill. Unless..." Yuzuki didn't finish the rest of what she was going to say.

"Yuzuki?" Len said with noticeable concern. She didn't look at him.

"Keep your concern to yourself, Kagamine," she spat. "We don't have much time." This close, it was impossible not to notice that Yuzuki was missing at least two of her fingers. There were charred stumps where whole fingers used to be; Len's stomach lurched. Yuzuki did her best to hide the injury the moment he noticed it. "I'll live," she assured. "I'm not human after all." Len's response was immediate.

"Then what are you?" Yuzuki didn't answer. She didn't even flinch. "Yuzuki?"

"I need to heal these injuries, Kagamine boy," she said curtly. Len swallowed hard.

"How?"

"It's going to take a lot of my energy to do this." Yuzuki glanced at Kaito, he'd gone back to leaning against the far wall. "I have a feeling he'll take care of me though. I'll warn you now Kagamine boy, it's gonna hurt. Most likely worse than your injuries. Luki never half does anything."

Len shuddered, "Hurt more?" Yuzuki nodded.

"We need to do this. You'll die if anyone tries to take you to a hospital."

"But-"

"I know," Yuzuki said abruptly cutting Len's protest off. "Yuma has people loyal to him in them. He would not be so kind as to see you die by overdose or an injection of poison. You'd be better off dying here than trying to go there." There was no humor in Yuzuki's voice.

"Hospitals," Len scoffed. It was laced with pain. "Out then."

Yuzuki straightened and placed her better hand over Len's, though what Yuzuki had said earlier really struck at Len. Why hadn't Luki finished her if he never let a kill go? He decided to ask as such.

"Yuzuki, why didn't Luki-What reason did he have for..."

"Leaving me alive?" she finished. Len chanced the nod and grimaced at the stab of pain. Yuzuki's gaze was suddenly very stern.

"Kagamine boy, I'm going to be truthful with you here. It could be that he was summoned or that he simply decided it wasn't worth it to kill me," Yuzuki avoided Len's gaze for a moment before she finished, "the second is highly unlikely."

"Why?" Len asked. He regretted saying it the moment it left his mouth. Something in his mind nagged at him; it already knew the answer. He just wanted to not believe it. He wanted not to believe it so badly that the pain he felt receded to a murmur of background noise.

He barely recognized his own voice as he spoke, "They have Rin don't they...?" Yuzuki didn't look at him. Len felt dread that surpassed any he'd ever felt before.

"That is the last reason I could think of," Yuzuki replied grimly. Len felt as if he'd just sunk through the floor. As if he'd been stripped of his pride and single ray of hope all in one. He felt powerless and it sickened him.

"We have to get her out of there, Yuzuki," Len whispered. "Please, you have to help me."

"I am," she muttered. "It's just..."

"It's just what?" Len asked with sudden alarm.

"Once I do this...I'll be powerless to help you anymore. I'm damaged, Kagamine boy. I have to go back to the agency to heal...if I even live that long. He doesn't stand for treachery and I just committed treason. I'll heal but I'm going on the assumption that I won't live long." Len felt the swell of terror rising in him like a tsunami: unstoppable.

"What am I supposed to do then? I need you, Yuzuki. Kaito and I can't do anything by ourselves."

"Kaito can't stay here either," Yuzuki stated solemnly. Len felt gutted

"What?"

"I'm a beacon, Len," Kaito interrupted. Yuzuki nodded.

"He's tied to Luki now, Kagamine boy. If I leave him here then Luki can track him no matter where you go."

Len swore. "So I'm on my own after this? Where the hell have you even taken me?"

"Something tells me you'll handle yourself just fine, Kagamine boy." Len let out a harsh laugh.

"Yeah, human me against supernatural, psychotic Luki. You haven't even told me anything!"

"I can't. That is a solution you have to figure it out on your own, Kagamine boy, I do not have the answer to that but perhaps Ted Kasane does." And then Len felt a sudden rush of more agony than he'd dealt with earlier. He didn't have time to go into shock. Darkness simply took him.

...

Luki didn't fancy being in his father's office out off all the places to be in the agency. Especially not when he'd been doing something crucially important earlier too. He didn't have time to waste sitting here but he kept such thoughts to himself. He'd certainly get nowhere by voicing them. Still, he was irritated even if it wasn't visible. He was irritated solely because it was not his father whom was present before him in the office. It was Lily. She stood before him leaned against Yuma's desk.

"Good evening, Luki." She surveyed his clothing. His face remained a blank slate though he was covered in blood. None of it was his anyway. Lily let out a short laugh. "Seems you've been busy tonight." Luki didn't answer and as always that was a problem. "Luki? I've spoken to you, you do know that right?"

"Good evening," he replied without any feeling. Lily smiled and relaxed.

"Are you all right? she asked. "I was worried about you. All those late night outings are just impossible on my sanity."

"Since when have you cared for affairs that did not directly affect you?" Luki almost laughed but didn't bother. "I highly doubt that you've bothered to stress about me for anything other than person gain. If you seek to gain my favor then you've already long lost it. So let's skip the formalities. Why are you here instead of my father and what do you want from me?" Lily's smile didn't fade from her features however.

"My, my, you've still got that smart tongue of yours. Is that any way to treat a lady?" she chuckled. It was then Luki laughed and his gaze caught the goosebumps form on Lily's skin. The moment passed as easily as it had come however, and it was only a moment later that Luki again watched with the same disinterest.

"It would make more sense for Ted to be standing here in front of me instead of you, Lily," Luki commented lightly. His fingers stroked the sheathe of Ein's blade though his eyes never left Lily's. Her solid exterior was beginning to falter after all.

"I wanted to speak to you," she spat sourly. She finally scowled but it was only for a moment as Lily cherished her beauty far too much to hold such a dour expression for long. Though Lily wasn't Yuma's closest confidant, simply leaving the room wasn't an option either. Luki abandoned the thought of leaving the room he'd been entertaining since he caught sight of her. Lily wouldn't be deterred even if he did attempt to ignore her. He got straight to the point

"What do you want to talk about?" Luki asked dryly.

"Well, for starters, Rin is back." Luki couldn't breathe for a moment. He'd known Rin was present the moment he'd entered. The smile that spread across Lily's face was proof she knew he already knew, then she laughed. He was reminded why he hated this woman so much; this snake.

"You really do amuse me, Luki. You're already so well informed. Sometimes it's hard to think that you're Yuma's son. He's nowhere near as caring as you are. You have but one flaw. You need to be needed, desired, by at least someone. I can't help but notice how crazy you've driven yourself with the absence of the one person who provided it."

Luki shrugged noncommittally. "If you're through wasting my time then I'll be on my way."

Something unpleasant flashed in Lily's eyes before her expression hardened. Luki couldn't care less. He rose and was nearly through the door when Lily had the audacity to speak again.

"You sure have a lot of things to do for someone who's lusting after his own sister." The words burned Luki hotter than anything else ever had and he'd received many physical and emotional burns. He glared cold fire at Lily over his shoulder, but the smile she returned the glare with possessed lethal ice.

"How long has it been Luki?" Lily snickered. "Oh, pardon me, it's been since she was born, hasn't it? She isn't even of age as you are. Honestly, how sickening." Frost formed over all the surfaces in the office but Luki kept quiet still. "Even though you loved her she bluntly left you."

"Shut your mouth, Lily," Luki gritted out hotly, he clenched his fists and the room returned to normal temperature. Nothing got to him. Nothing ever got to Luki, but Rin was a separate subject all together. Nonetheless, he had far more control than what he was displaying for Lily.

"Return to this seat, Luki," she ordered. So Luki turned and began returning to the seat. He detested every step. Despite the control he convinced himself he possessed, just how sensitive the subject of Rin was became evident in the ruined marble he left with each footstep. Lily only giggled and circled his chair once he sat down, her fingers softly trailing over his shoulders.

"What delicious pain in your features. Such the likes I've never seen before. Such thing as physical torments don't truly hurt you, do they Luki? Oh, how I thirst to wonder just how much you've been tormented over this."

"It's not as if she's my biological sister," Luki hissed. Lily only laughed.

"That may be true but it's not as if she knows that now. Now that she's erased you from all of her memories. Now that you are as insubstantial to her as the dirt she steps on. You have to start again from nothing, Lucarious. Perhaps she already loves another an-"

It was then that Lily crumpled to the floor as if she'd been forced down by something invisible. She sputtered and thrashed uselessly as Luki drained the very life from her with nothing but jealousy as hot as a sea of lava as his weapon. She stopped thrashing before long and met his gaze as well as the inferno of hate deep within it. Her features grew more pale as seconds wore on. The stamp of the agency on her wrist flared with an unearthly pink light and fed on her life as a living thing. There was no doubt to where all the energy she possessed was going. Then as her death drew closer she began to plead. There was no outright begging of course for Lily had far too much pride for that. She begged with her eyes all the words she would not say.

"That's very much enough, Luki," A commanding voice came. Luki released Lily: reluctantly. The colour rushed back into her and she gasped. Yuma stepped into his office.

"I told you, Yuma," Lily coughed as she sat up. Yuma didn't eye his son with any particular disgust. He merely nodded.

"Yes, I witnessed. I am no fool however. No matter how impassive he may be I have long since noticed how he looks at Rin." Luki felt bile rise in his throat but his face remained unresponsive.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Luki said casually. Yuma smiled at him but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"Play innocent if it makes you feel better, my son. I'm a very intelligent man, Luki. I see everything that happens within my agency. Do not act like I do not. Such would be a foolish move."

Luki was unconcerned. "I already know this."

"Good. Then you won't mind me bringing up the fact that Rin has more than just your love." Luki's jaw tensed. He eyed the door but it was impassable. His father blocked it and was casting him a disappointed look. "I wish you hadn't been so hasty in giving away such a thing, Luki. You are young though so you are forgiven."

"I appreciate it," Luki replied unenthusiastically. He crossed the office to walk past his father. Naturally Yuma set a hand down on his shoulder.

"If you have no real business with me-"

"Do not forget she possess mine as well, son," Yuma stated calmly. Luki was silent. "She is within our custody now but the boy she's been with proves to be...a problem. We also have, a traitor in our midst." Luki glanced up at his father and only then met his father's gaze.

"Who would be stupid enough to betray you?" Yuma's gaze stabbed right through him but Luki held his ground. It seemed for a moment that Yuma would tell him who the traitors were but thought otherwise.

"All I need you to do is follow all my orders, Luki," Yuma stated.

"So nothing I haven't already been doing," Luki stated. Yuma smiled again.

"Of course, but I meant to the letter," Yuma added. Then Yuma strode past him but not without signalling him to follow and Lily to leave. She immediately made herself sparse and was instantly no longer an issue. Yuma seated himself at his desk and Luki sat in the same chair he'd occupied only earlier.

It was silent between the two for an extended portion of time. Oddly enough, that time was neither awkward or wasted. Luki met his father's gaze even if the boredom wouldn't show. He'd already stared into his father's eyes enough in his life.

"Luki, you are my son," Yuma stated matter-of-factly. Luki only continued to stare. "However, you are not stronger than I am. Mere strength will only guide you so far, it is how you apply that strength that will determine who shall win the battle." Yuma stopped again and stared at Luki. Luki wasn't sure what exactly Yuma was looking for in his expression, but whatever he found seemed to be adequate because he continued, "And in that regard it's a foolish endeavor to attempt to better me. Have not I taught you better than this, my son?" Yuma didn't stop for a response. "Nevertheless, Rin has returned. Venturing outside this building will no longer be required for the time."

"But Yuzuki has-"

"Been lead astray by the false prophets of her emotions," Yuma interjected.

"How do you intend to deal with such treachery?"

"We will not," Yuma said simply. He leaned back in his chair.

"Then death?"

Yuma laughed. "No, of course not! Something so swift and easy as death? My son, please, I hoped you would realize she is useless to me in death. She will return before long. She has to after all. She is without a choice and will be met with open arms. And then . . ."

Luki considered the matter for a moment, and smiled. "I am to keep an eye on things, perhaps?"

"More than just that," Yuma said with a fond smile. "You will personally see to the destruction of all traitors in my agency. However, we will strike when they least expect. I have begun to grow incredibly tired of those around me taking me for a fool." Luki had a feeling that his father had no more to say on the matter. Correspondingly, he stayed put.

"Father, that could not be all that you have drawn together this meeting for. One does not prosper in this agency without knowing all possible patterns of events before they form. What of how proceedings continue with, Rin? What of the boy, Len Kagamine? There are many outsiders who have been affiliated with, Rin. I've also caught word of what became of your dealing with Teto Kasane. Both twins now bear a grudge as they always have, what will become of them?" Luki watched as Yuma rose from his seat and strolled over to one of the scenic tinted windows.

"Ted has...no doubt always been determined to stray from me," Yuma spoke gently.

"He is still no more attached to this agency than the day he arrived. You've failed, father," Luki stated with the utmost respect.

"Have I?" Yuma turned to face him. "Luki, why did I bother to send Teto out to find Rin in the first place?"

"She was absolutely driven to save her brother and you exploited that to bring Rin back here."

"If the soul purpose was simply to find Rin do you think I would've sent Teto of all people? Would not I have sent you, perhaps? Even Yuzuki would prove to be far more effective than Teto."

"I thought it was simply because you could not locate, Rin."

"That was a factor, yes." Yuma strode forward and Luki felt his commanding presence behind his chair just as quickly. His father's hands on his shoulders. "You are missing the main purpose, my son," Yuma said gently. It was a moment before Luki felt the light of understanding.

"Ted Kasane . . . All of it was a trigger. You're boxing everyone in further, is that it? Rin possesses the only loop hole ever know to this place and you knew. Then it was all a matter of securing someone who would have enough conviction to study her intimately enough to create an imitation of that loop hole for you. Is that it?" Yuma simply shook his head.

"Why would I go through all that trouble to seal one hole, Luki? Think on a much broader scale. I know all that goes on with those in my agency, my son. Every last bit of it." Then with the removal of his father's hands, Luki was free to go.

Luki didn't bother replying to his father, he didn't know the true answer or at least the answer his father was looking for. He buried himself in possible solutions and hardly realized when he'd made it to his room. His legs failed him once inside and he sank against the door. Something was shaking. It was only a moment later that he realized it was himself. He sank flat against the door and waited for the attack of another layer of rune removal to be over. It was hot, uncomfortably hot as denied power fed into him like a IV. Of course the fact that visible steam came off his body meant the heat was inhumanly hot and could've done substantial damage if he'd been human.

If only he were human...

A soft hand touched his cheek but he shoved it away more viciously than he'd meant to. "Go away, Ein. I don't need your comfort," Luki grumbled.

"Lucarious..." she whispered. He felt the cool breeze that came with her kneeling next to him and the soft brush of her fingers that pushed fringe away from his face. For the most part he ignored her but her touch was soothing; that was a fact he couldn't deny. Despite that, Luki didn't bother to look up at her again.

"He's wrong," Luki muttered. "I am far superior than he is."

"For who's sake do you need to be superior for, Luki?"

"Rin. I have to make all the hard choices for her. I never want her to go through such things. I have to protect her." To that, Ein didn't reply and only in the silence did Luki miss Ein's voice

"Say something..." Luki muttered.

"Not all females are damsels in distress, Lucarious, and not all easy routes are gifts. Please do remember that."

Then Ein was gone.