Disclaimer: I do not own VOCALOID! They all belong to their respected owners!

Chapter Fifteen

Forgotten Memory

~RIN~

"Did the visit with the duke go well Rei?" I asked while taking a sip from my cup. After we had docked, Rei decided to treat us to a nearby store. Meiko and I agreed but Len excused himself, insisted that he would be the one to ready the inn for us, and walked off, which was fine with me, seeing, as I did not want him in my line of sight today after what he had done. Meiko went ahead after a few sips to see the innkeeper and left both Rei and I in our own little world.

"Rin…I don't mean to be rude but did something happen between you and nii-sama?" The moment Rei asked me, my face grew dark. I did not want him to worry after all the effort he did to get here just to see me but I did not want to break my promise by keeping secrets from him…

"And if I said there was? What would you do?" I suddenly asked and turned to him waiting for an answer.

"Punch him in the face." Rei shrugged and I frowned.

"I mean in an ethical way Rei. That option sounds like something that could land you in deep trouble." I chided and he chuckled making me turn red.

"It's not funny Rei, I don't want you both fighting because of something I stupidly did. You're siblings and I don't want to destroy that connection."

"Rin, relax I won't do anything to tarnish my beloved brother's name." Rei replied sarcastically, with a hint of malice emphasized on Len, and I sighed.

"Look Rin, I mean it. If he does anything to hurt you or upset you I swear I might end up hitting him even if he's my brother." Rei added, his tone serious, meaning he meant every word he said which made me worried.

If he landed in a bind because of me…I could never forgive myself.

"Aw come on Rin, cheer up! You're ruining the day here." Rei pouted. I tried to smile and act that I was fine but looking at Rei- his face showed that he was not being convinced by my acting.

"Come here." He quickly took me by the hand and dragged me out of the café.

"Where are we going Rei?" I asked every time we made a turn but Rei would never turn to me and reply to my question.

"Rei!" I finally said and Rei paused, causing me to nearly bump into him.

"Were here Rin!" He turned with a smile on his face and I looked behind to him to find the huge ocean before us.

Rei had taken me to a beach!

"Well, what do you think Rin, is it enough to cheer you up?" Rei asked and I smacked him playfully on the shoulder.

"Man Rei, you scared the hell out of me when you dragged me out of the café! I should be upset but…seeing as you did try to make it up to me. I forgive you." I smiled and ran to the beach. The gulls flew from above and the smell of saltwater seemed all so calming to me as I ran around playing with the water.

"Hey Rei! Aren't you joining?" I shouted when I saw him watching me from the distance. He only shook his head and still sat there. I then ran to him and half-dragged him to the water.

"Rin! Nooo!" Rei shouted but his shout was drowned by the sound of his face hitting the water.

"Now you asked for it Rin!" He chuckled and tried to drag me down as well, I tried to fight back but the sand made me slip, making me hit the water.

"Hah! Now were even." Rei laughed before he dodged the water I tried to spray at him.

How long has it been since I had this so much fun? The bright sun, the cool water, the noisy gulls- they all seemed so refreshing as if rejuvenating my worn out body. I feel thankful for having Rei here…for being there for me when I needed some fun…almost made me ashamed to accept his warmth when I for one could not give him one. Sure, he complained sometimes when he saw that I cared for Len more than him but he never hated me for not liking him back…

He accepted it even if he wished for it to be more than this, making me almost feel guilty.

"Rin! Rei! So you were the ones causing the ruckus out here!" We both turned to find Meiko running out to us. I quickly got up and ran to where she was.

"Meiko! How did you find us?"

"It's hard to miss you guys when you're shouting so loudly at the back of the inn we're staying in." Meiko replied and pointed to a huge cottage not too far from where we are. It looked worn out but I guess with a few repairs, it would look like as how it had been when it was first built.

"Meiko, care to introduce me to these young kids?" A man with long violet hair approached us. He looked about a few years older than Meiko and one thing's for sure he looked odd. Not only did his hair stand out because it was long but his outfit looked almost like he was a duke, with all that eye-catching gems and that long sword strapped to his left.

"Well if it isn't the second son of the duke of Burmyn, Gakupo." Rei bowed as he got up.

"No need for the formalities Rei, I heard about you from my Father, thank you for back then." Gakupo bowed back and then smiled when he saw the shocked expressions plastered on both my face and Meiko's.

"D-Duke, all this time I-I-," Meiko was too baffled to speak as she suddenly backed away from the Gakupo. Gakupo chuckled and turned to me making me nervous.

"You must be Rin then? I heard you from Len."

"Len?"

"Len did say that two girls were accompanying him…Seeing as the woman here is Meiko then that must mean you're Rin." He replied and looked up at the sky.

"I believe it is getting dark, you'll get sick if you don't change from those wet clothes." He finally said and helped us into the cabin.

~LEN~

I was waiting by the porch when they walked up to the inn.

Rin avoided my presence and continued to walk up even after seeing the worried look I had plastered on my face. Just because we fought does not mean that I have no right to worry for her.

"Giving me the silent treatment isn't going to work Rin. Yes, I admit it is my fault but that does not mean you will not let me have the right to worry." I grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face me. Rei, Meiko and Gakupo looked at both of us, completely surprised.

"Why does it concern you what I do Len? Do you not have any other more pressing matters to attend to?" She retorted while giving me the glare. I returned the look as well but refused to let go of her arm. Rei came to her rescue, as always, when he tried to pry her from my grasp but I refused to budge.

"Nii-sama, may we discuss this some other time? It's not right to keep a lady cold like this right?" Rei replied and I sighed.

"I guess you're right." With that, I put my coat around her and freed her from Rei before running off with Rin in tow.

"Nii-sama!" I could hear Rei shout as he followed us into the inn. I continued to climb the steps while I did my best keep Rin from prying my hands off her. I continued walking until we reached the attic and closed the door while barricading it with lots of wood and chairs. Rei continued to bang at the door while cursing but I paid no heed as I forced Rin to sit on an old stool positioned under the light.

"We have nothing to discuss." She only said and tried to get up but I forced me to sit down.

"No, we have a lot of things to discuss about."

"The way I see things Rin, you are no different from me." I added taking her by surprise.

"What are you talking about; we are nothing alike at all."

"I feel sorry for my own brother for loving someone like you Rin…" It sounded like I was looking down on her but she had to know.

It was time I exorcised this demon that was destroying Rin.

"I'm sorry for Rei but it's not like I wanted him to love me." She replied rather angrily which all the more made me upset.

"Neither was it in any of my intention to make you love me as well. Looking at things Rin, do you not see how alike we are? You hate me for not loving you back don't you think that you should go check on Rei and see if he hates you for not loving him back!" I nearly shouted making her jump. It was about time we settled it, we always tried but it always ended up getting worse and worse until the fuel had become a fire we could not put out. This time I was betting on it that this would be settled right then and now.

"I know what he feels but…"

"Now you know what I feel, how can you expect someone to love you back when you corner them like that? I love you Rin but not in the way you think, stop forcing people into doing something they don't or cannot do." I leaned by the table barricading the door and sighed to myself. I wonder if she understood this, judging from the look of shock she is giving me…

"I need some time to think." She only said and tried to get up but I stopped her. He looked at me angrily but ignored it and made her sit down again.

"No running away again Rin. We'll face this and end it now."

"If it was never your intention for making me love you then those promises back then mean nothing after all." She replied.

"Promise?" I asked and watched Rin flinch and clench her fist tightly.

"No matter what I swear I will protect you and stay by your side!" She suddenly cried taking me by surprise. How did she know of my promise with Miku?

"How did you know that?" I asked and in turn received a slap, shocking me even more.

"How could you forget Len!? Are you really that dense or maybe you're right and I'm starting to become demented."

"You made that promise to me long ago first. I was first not Miku, how could you be so forgetful! Maybe that's all I am to you after all a forgotten memory." She snapped back and pushed me aside trying to move the table out of the way.

Wait that promise was with Rin? When did I make it? How… I turned to Rin and forced her to face me again. As usual she was crying but out of anger and disappointment not pain. Just when though that this finally going right for once.

Am I really just tearing her apart because of this?

I'm sooooooooo sorry this was so short and late! Man I'm so bad at making updates. I can express my gratitude for you guys for being so patient. Please R&R, I need to know what you think and if there is anything you hate don't hesitate to PM me and ask. Just no flaming okay

-xXGemini14Xx-