Chapter six is now out!

I was inspired more than ever when i heard Rin's song "Secret Crush" and the Kagamine's duo "Hello Again"

Disclaimer: I do not own VOCALOID or the songs Rin sang here! They all belong to their respected owners.

Chapter Six:

Holding On

~REI~

"Do you have a partner for the ball Rei?" Miku asked me one day. Miku's pre-engagement ball was nearing and sadly I had no partner as of late. Sure many girls invited to the ball asked me but there was no one that I wanted to accept. I wanted to invite Rin but she didn't have an invitation so she couldn't come. That is unless…

"I actually have one but she lost her invitation."

"Well that's not such a problem Rei, here take this one." Miku handed me a white envelope and I smiled. "Thanks a lot Miku." I replied, getting up. I quickly grabbed my coat, got out the manor and entered the coach.

"To the town please." I ordered and the coach driver pulled the bridle and we were off.

Now the matter of importance is that if Rin would agree to come…

"Excuse me but does Rin work in this shop?" I asked the store clerk named Meiko. She looked at me warily but I assured her that I was an old friend of Rin and meant no harm.

"Yes she does work here, wait for a while I call for her." Meiko ordered the tall blue-haired man to keep an eye on me while she went out. Seriously, Nii-sama was well known here and yet I am his younger brother and no one even recognizes me.

"So an old acquaintance of Rin eh~" The man asked and I nodded.

"Well now how well do you know Rin then chap?" He added curiously.

"She worked as a maid of my brother's fiancée once. I'm more of a close friend you see." I replied casually. Really how long do they plan to keep me cooped up here? The man looked at me intently but his death stares didn't seem to scare me at all.

"I assure your sir I mean no harm to her."

"Right, I hear that all the time." The man replied sarcastically. I was about to start a very tiring argument with him if Rin hadn't appeared right on time.

"Rei! What are you doing here?" I was about to walk up to her when I saw a boy with snowy-white hair behind her. He gave me a somewhat look of worry and whispered something to Rin.

"Don't worry Piko he means no harm and stop scaring Rei already Kaito!" The man behind me sighed and nodded but I didn't care about him. I was actually looking more at the boy behind Rin. So this was the renowned Piko that Miku mentioned. He didn't look much and how is he even 'perfect' for Rin when he looks to frail and weak to even protect her?

Rin deserved someone better than him.

"Can we have this somewhere else private Rin?" I asked while I eyed the boy. Rin then excused herself and made a promise to be back before nightfall. The boy continued to glare at me but none of those threats bothered me. I gestured Rin out the door and quickly closed it shut.

"So Rei…what makes this conversation important that we had to leave the shop?" Rin asked curiously. I took out the white envelope and gave it to her. She opened it and read the contents. At first she seemed to take it in real slowly but when she reached the end she crumpled the paper and tossed it back to me.

"What was that for Rei! I thought we were friends and yet you hand me that."

"Allow me to explain Rin." I begged. Rin looked hurt again and this time it was my fault. Damn it! Could I never make her happy?

"That paper already says it all Rei! Tell me who had you send it, Miku? Len?"

"It was my idea Rin, I didn't have a partner for the ball so decided to ask you instead." I was practically pleading now. I could see she was fuming. It was either she said yes or I'd leave the place without a partner for the ball and a cheeky grin from that 'Piko' kid.

"There are lots of beautiful girls invited to the ball; at least one of them was enough to catch your attention. Besides, what can a maid like me do to gain your attention!"

"Everything!" I shouted back. She clammed up instantly and stared at me for a long time. I was blushing deep red and I can tell by the way she's looking at me that she can clearly see it.

"Please Rin…" I begged and she sighed, probably trying to consider her options. She turned back to me and to my complete surprise she nodded.

"Fine just this once Rei." I hugged her tightly and spun her in circles. She tried to pry herself free but I wouldn't let go. I was so happy that I wanted to kiss her on the spot.

"Rei! You're smothering me…" Rin pushed herself free and gasped for air. She immediately tried to whack me on the head but I quickly dodged it and caught her in the arm. Her face was so close to mine and yet I could never kiss her. I didn't want to lose this friendship. She's been through a lot that I didn't want to add this anymore than what she already has.

No matter what happens, I will hold on to our promise.

~RIN~

Rei gave Piko a long glare before he turned to me and waved goodbye. Men…When you say yes to them, they always tend to do strange actions. Piko slammed the door and turned to me with a pouting face. He always acted like a child whenever he was with me which was a bit annoying. Can't for once he act like a grown up and talk to me properly.

"Neh~ Rin who was that guy?" Meiko and Kaito were asleep and so Piko and I had the whole shop to ourselves. I then took my seat on a brown stool and turned to him.

"An old friend of mine Piko, his name is Rei."

"Rei as in Rei Kagamine? The youngest son of Valice's duke." I nodded trying to hide my pained expression from him. That name…How long has it been since I last heard it.

"Then that makes him Len Kagamine's brother and Mistress Miku's future brother-in-la-," I cut him short and shook my head. Of all things for him to talk about it had to be this one. Piko took my 'no' seriously and nodded in agreement to never talk about it.

"Well then with that settled why don't we go back to bed?" I replied changing the topic. Piko frowned and got up. He opened the door and eyed me for a while.

"Well enjoy the ball then Rin…" He didn't wait for a reply and closed the door.

Really Rin what have you gotten yourself into?

~LEN~

Rei came home unexpectedly late.

Truth be told I wasn't worried about his nightly strolls but coming home with a grin on his face in the dead of night…something's off.

"Hey Rei where were you?" I asked as he handed his coat to one of the maids. Rei just flashed me a smile making me slightly irritated. Of all brothers why couldn't I have a serious one?

"Hello brother…"

"And what brings you home in the middle of the night with a smile on your face Rei? Something good must've happened then."

"Yes indeed Nii-sama, if you'll excuse me please." He talked no more and strode up the stairs. Miku appeared afterwards and sat next to me.

"Imagine Len, a few weeks from now our pre-engagement ball will be held…Will I look beautiful if you saw me?"

"Silly, of course you would, if I were the Prince then that would make you my Cinderella." Miku giggled at my comment making me smile.

"Will you look at no one else but me then Len? Like a spell Cinderella unknowingly casted on the Prince?" Miku asked and I nodded. She was the only one I positively would look on and no one else.

I wonder why Miku asked such a question.

It was already six in the evening by the time we were through.

Miku decided to have a small celebration on its success and decided to have a feast. While the rest were busy preparing, Miku asked me to buy some wine from town. I refused at first since not all of us in the manor drink but Miku persisted of it and sent me out to buy. She could've sent someone else…Why did it have to be me?

"That'll be one hundred gold pieces." I handed the clerk the pouch of money before leaving the building. Rain began to fall from the sky forcing me to make a run for it towards the coach. I soon passed by an empty park and saw a familiar figure sitting on a marble bench. I stepped back a bit and walked the other way instead but her soft voice made me stop and listen.

"As I try to hate you, my love towards you is overwhelming…So, I wish I could forget all the feelings I have for you. Let me get soaked with sweet time just for now, I know what is true." She sang before she broke into soft sobs. I could only stare at her from the distance, wasn't I suppose to hate her? And yet here I am listening to her sing her heart out.

"Please at the very least let me hear you call my name, Even if one day these feelings go away…I want you in my heart to stay as you were at that time forever, Please keep smiling… More than you are now. As long as you're smiling under the unknown starry sky I'm satisfied, the words I couldn't tell you are scrabbling in my mind even now… So I'll tell it without sounds." She was hesitant in the last part as if she knew I was watching her. She then turned to my direction behind the gates. The rain was strong making it impossible to see clearly so when she suddenly turned to my direction, it made me flinch. I knew it was her from her voice and the white ribbon Rei had given her, but in her point of view I would've looked just like any other ordinary passer-by. We stared at each other for a long time until Rin gave off a faint smile and said the last line of the song.

"I loved you so much…" When did she say these lines again? Now I remembered –When I sent her out the manor. I got over it afterwards though but after she said it to me again here, it made me feel wrong inside. Why is she making me feel so troubled lately? Even after what happened to Miku I still felt like I had to forgive her?

Why is she making me doubt my actions even more?

~RIN~

Even if it the rain was strong I still knew it was him. No matter how far apart we are I could still tell if it was him watching me or not.

He just stood there looking at me with those eyes I could no longer read. Even after I said that last line to him he still looked at me like that. I wonder why I keep on hoping. As if a small voice in my mind is telling me that there's still a chance.

"Len!" I shouted back. He seemed surprised I called him but he didn't leave his spot. Besides, I couldn't reach him. The locked gates of the park made sure of it. We were silent again; there were no more words to exchange after all. The memories we had of each other no longer lingered; only the feeling of bitter pain was left.

"Len!" I called out again this time my voice sounding desperate. For once couldn't he just reply? Please if miracles really existed at least make him answer back. I stared at him and still he didn't move. His gaze was fixed on me.

"What do you want!" He replied as if irritated but I could sense his voice quivering. I rubbed the tears from my eyes and forced a smile at him. "I was just wondering how you were."

"Very much fine after you left." He shouted but he didn't seem to mind as I approached him. Only the gate was the wall between us so maybe he didn't mind my presence close to his.

"Really?" I asked back. For a bit he looked away as if he was guilty of something…as if he was regretting something. I would if I could, reach out to him but he'd just brush me aside. He hated me after all.

"Yes really, and if you don't mind I have to get going now." He was about to walk off but I reached my hand out and grabbed him by the sleeve. Not yet…don't go just yet. Tears were escaping my eyes again and it was futile to hide them. He saw them completely well; I fumbled for the words to say. It took a while but he didn't seem to notice the time it took, that to me was alright.

"Good luck Len, as always I wish the best of happiness." I murmured while I gripped his sleeve tightly as if it were my life. I would have to let go sooner or later. I wasn't the only wanting him here by my side even if for just a moment. My hand loosened and no sooner had I done it, he ran off. As his figure vanished from my sight, I then fell to the ground and cried as if there was no tomorrow.

When the time comes Len…Please hold on as well and don't let go.

Sorry if I hadn't updated for a long time… School just started and we had home works to do! I did my best to write it quickly but the assignments got in the way. But finally I am done! Thank you so much for being patient with me and I hope you R&R.

-xXGemini14Xx-