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Chapter Fourteen

Uninvited Welcome

~LEN~

I opened my eyes and sighed.

"Gods, what have I done." I told myself the third time. She's probably still crying right now…all because of me. I gave her too much false hopes that she became blinded to the truth. Maybe she was right, I was too naïve to ever understand the situation I have put myself in to.

*Knock, Knock!*

Consecutive knocks on my door forced me back to reality.

"Len? Are you there, it's me Meiko." The moment I heard her voice, my entire body froze. Did she find out I wonder? Of what happened between Rin and me. If she did, then she'd kill me if I ever opened the door. Nevertheless, I guess I deserved it, after all, it was my fault Rin got hurt.

I opened the door waiting for my fate but froze when I saw Meiko crying in front of me. Her hair was completely windblown and her dress a total mess. She looked at me as though I was her only hope and collapsed to the ground still sobbing.

"M-Meiko? What on eart-,"

"Gods Len! It's Rin, I can't find her and the ships almost about to land. I searched everywhere for her but all to no avail. I even asked some of the crew if they saw her b-but- where could she be Len. Some of them said that maybe she jumped ship but I doubt Rin was the suicidal type. " She panicked but I was too stunned to speak. For Meiko to break down like this…goes to show how much she cares for Rin.

Unlike you

I shoved the thoughts away and helped Meiko up. I care for Rin too, I care for her so much that I had to tell her the truth- to save her, to let her know that she had to let go…

"Len…did something happen between you and Rin. Did she tell you? There's no way Rin would run off like that unless-,"

"We talked Meiko and yes, she told me but I…I rejected her. She had to know Meiko, she had to let go." I interjected and in turn received a slap from Meiko. It stung but I didn't feel surprised. I knew it was coming after all.

"You could never understand Meiko…how painful it was to tell your friend those words. To see them break so easily. Rin and I were meant to be nothing more but friends but Rin…I ruined the bond that connected us- heh, didn't I always do…and in the end, she always suffered for it." I added and chuckled bitterly as I slammed my fist angrily to the wall. So this was how weak I was, what kind of friend am I even to her? All I do is hurt her…the smiles she gave have all turned sour because of me.

"Don't tell it to me Len, I'm not Rin. For once, stop waiting for things to move as they are. Move on your own, don't let people dictate your life for you."

"You should know that it's easier said than done right?" I reminded her but Meiko shook her head.

"Those who say that are those who are afraid to take action Len. If you really want it, you will strive for it, so stop saying that it is hard."

"Just a second ago, you raised a hand on me because I hurt Rin and yet…why are you asking for my help?" I wondered aloud. I looked at her, waiting for her reply and saw her face darken.

"I have no choice Len. Between the two of us, I am nothing compared to you…That is why, please find her. I don't want to lose another family member Len, that's why please." She begged, the sound almost like a desperate cry, before walking out of the room, not waiting for another reply.

~RIN~

The scent of the ocean was the only thing trying to keep me calm.

Never before had I felt so shaken, so rattled like this. I looked at my palms and saw them tremble violently. Meiko must be worried by now; I have been gone far too long now- long enough to get Meiko panicking. Judging from where I am hiding, I doubt that she could find me; well is not that the purpose of hiding? To never be found.

I looked down at the water and wondered to myself if I jumped. It was common anyway for people to jump ship during a trip. Would anyone miss me I wonder? Would they cry even after all I have done to them; what would Meiko, Piko and Kaito think when they suddenly realize that they wasted away their time caring for me only to realize that I had just wasted it away? What about Rei, will he be angry for me deserting him, letting him think that I could be his reason and him mine, after all he's done for me?

But, most of all, what about Miku and Len?

Miku would cry no doubt. She loved me even if I loved her fiancé, just goes to show how cruel I am to her. And Len? He would shed a tear all right but only briefly…after all a friend just died. It seems enough to shed only a few tears for a friend.

"Rin!" Len shouted making me flinch but I dared not turn. How did he find me? I made sure to stay hidden, meaning even the crew men did not notice me hide here.

"Who are you!? You are no longer the same girl I shared my life with when I was young. Your sweet smiles, that laughter that brought life to the house…Where did it go. Tell me, why are you covered in so much regret?" Len's words echoed in my mind making me shudder.

"Stay back!" I shouted, my voice quivering and heard the footsteps stop a few feet from me. He is not supposed to be here, to see me like this, to be the person he could no longer recall.

"Rin please come down from there!" He shouted but it only made me grip the railings tighter. I heard the footsteps running towards me now but I did not move. I could not move, not when he is here to see- to think that I am going crazy. The feeling of his hands on mine snapped me back to reality, somehow without me knowing, he managed to get me down from the railing and now- I was on the ground; my tears, uncontrollable as I continued to sob.

"What on earth were you doing!? Were you really trying to kill yourself?" He shouted crossly. I looked up and saw his eyes full of concern as he held me there, trying to keep me from trying to run. His warmth so close…I didn't know if I should be happy that he held me protectively as if he was afraid to lose me or maybe because he was afraid to be tormented by his conscience because of what he had done to me.

Between the two, I no longer knew which was right or wrong.

"Look at you…this is my entire fault." Suddenly his eyes turned hazy as he murmured those words. I felt his grip tighten and then suddenly he crushed me a bear-tight hug as if afraid to let me go. Seemed ironic for him to hug me like this when just last I night I did the very same thing and yet he pulled away. I wanted to push him away and show him what I felt and yet I could not do it. Even if I wanted to hate him, I could never do it-

Because no matter how much I denied it, I was too much in love with him.

"You can hit me for all I care Rin but I don't care. You're safe and sound and that's that."

"You know very well that I could never hit you Len. But I still hate you; hate you so much I want you to suffer." I saw his eyes grow wide and I quickly pulled away from him.

"Damn it Len! Why do you torment me like this? Are you happy to see me suffer? And when I'm at the depths of hell, you come along like a knight in shining armour, ready to save me then stab me at the back when it's all going wrong." I cried in agony.

"Shut up! Look at me Rin! Look at me! Do you think I want any of this? I do not want to see you destroy yourself like this Rin. I could never stab you Rin, hell I could never even bear it to see you degrade yourself like this because of me." He said through gritted teeth, trying to control the anger and anguish from erupting.

"If you want me dead fine! If that makes you happy then I'd gladly do it."

"There you go again Len! Just how much do I even mean to you?"

"Everything!" He bellowed but I controlled the urge to slap him.

"More than Miku!?" The moment I shouted her name Len's eyes grew wide and soon he was too speechless to speak. And for that moment, I knew the answer.

"Never say things you can't keep and mean Len…Never ever do that, especially to me." Was all I said before I stormed off.

I slammed the door shut and plopped myself on my bed.

Yes, he valued Miku more than me. After all, she is the fiancée and I am just the friend. That is why I hated it when Len said those words. He should know that those words he said are nothing more but empty promises. He always loved making those kinds of promises to me. Always watching me writhe in agony even if he didn't mean it.

"I never should've agreed…Rei was right I should never have agreed to any of this." I muttered to myself as I started to get up and pull out my suitcase. I thought that this trip to repair those damages from before but somehow it just made things worse. Everything I try to do always goes bad.

"Rin! Are you there? Gods Rin speak up will you!" I heard Meiko's voice from the door. I stopped packing and walked to open the door.

Before I could recollect myself, Meiko pushed the door open and hugged me tightly. She looked bedraggled and her eyes bloodshot as if she'd gone mad.

"Meiko how on earth-,"

"Goodness! Thank Goodness, you are safe Rin. Gods, I didn't know what I would've done had I lost you." Meiko sniffled as while robbing the air out of me from her hug. What a cruel person have I become. To make Meiko worried this much all because I cared for no one but myself. I tried my best and hugged her back, trying to calm her down as sobbed.

"I'm so sorry for making you worry Meiko. It was cruel of me to do this to you…." I apologized, I knew it wasn't enough to make up for what I had done but with my state right now- it was the only thing I could give.

"Never do this again to me Rin! You hear me!?" She pulled me away and now started to scold me but I was not mad or upset. Because truth be told, this was the Meiko I always wanted to see and not the crying one.

"Why are you smiling? This is not a laughing matter Rin."

"Oh Meiko, I'm glad to see you are now lightening up."

"Gods Rin, I forgive you but please never do this to me again. It was a good thing Len found where you were hiding." The moment Meiko mentioned Len, the aura of the room suddenly turned cold and my face started to darken.

"Rin are you alright?"

"So you sent him to look for me…Why?" I asked her and suddenly her face turned serious.

"Because you need to settle this issue. I know I'm prying Rin but to see you suffer like that, like the world suddenly ended, I couldn't bare it. Asking for Len's help was done because I had no choice. I didn't want to ask him but between the two us- he had to because he had to settle it with you."

"I know you mean well Meiko but this is something beyond what you can comprehend."

"I know Rin but…"

"I don't want to talk it anymore Meiko." Was all I said and Meiko accepted it.

"Very well Rin, I'll accept it since it is for you to decide not me. We're about to depart so get ready okay." She just replied and got up.

"Meiko?"

"Yeah?" She turned to look at me.

"Thank you." With that Meiko smiled and turned to the door and left.

My decisions huh?

~LEN~

I glanced at the watch and then back to Meiko and Rin who were now approaching the docking point.

It seemed awkward to be next to Rin after what happened. The two hated me that much I know since they both acted as if I did not exist. Well they had the right to since I caused the trip to turn sour. That was why decided to head back to Valice when I touched land. Because right now, the only medicine Rin needed was if I wasn't there to make her suffer. I didn't want to inform them though of the whole thing, seeing as they didn't care anyways, so I decided to keep it to myself as the bridge went down and we started to file out of the ship.

One by one we all started, Meiko and Rin not to far while I walked behind them. Below the ship, I saw countless of people, their hands waving and eyes searching for any of their loved ones that were on board the ship.

"H-how, wh-when did you get here!?" The sound of Rin's voice mad me turn to their direction.

My eyes grew wide as I stared at the boy grinning as he talked with Rin and Meiko. As if sensing my presence, his honey-colour eyes turned to me and the smile on his face widens, as if I was the best thing he had seen in his life. Even if he was, my brother- to see him smile like that unnerved me in every way.

"Hello nii-sama." He bowed in respect.

"Hello to you as well…Rei."

Finally done. Sorry if it's too short after all the months you had to wait…I'm sorry I could never stick to those promises about trying to update as fast as I could! Please don't kill me for it. Hoped you like the chapter and please R&R :)

-xXGemini14Xx-