I Am Deaf

Chapter 13

Rin POV

My eyes snapped open.

Pale, rings beneath closed eyes.

Dead.

A scream left my throat.

He was dead.

Dead.

Len raced towards me.

"Rin, Rin, it's okay, really."

I couldn't be calmed; I was hysteric. I screamed, thrashing against the cage Len had me in.

"Let me GO! I have to see him! Rinto!" I shrieked. "Wait for me! I'm s-s-sorry..." I collapsed into tears, sobbing into Len's arms.

"Shhh...Hush, sweetheart. I'm here, I'm here for you." He said, after tilting my head to face his. His hands swept away my tears, but they kept coming.

"Let go of me, Len!" I screamed, my throat feeling hoarse. I kept hitting him, but he wouldn't let go.

"Let GO of me!"

"No."

"LEN!"

"Rin."

"I HAVE TO FIND HIM!"

"Rin." He said harshly, looking straight at me, but this time for impact. "He's dead. You won't find him alive."

We stared at each other, but then, the horrifying realization actually hit me: Rinto was dead.

I burst into tears all over again, burying my face into his baggy sleeve, my fingers clutching so tightly, it would take him eons to pry me off. He stroked my hair, mouth forming words I couldn't...exactly...hear.

"Rin, I'm sorry."

I don't care.

"Why?" I looked up at him, tears drenching my face.

"I shouldn't have fought with you, and then you wouldn't have run off." His face was 100 % serious.

"And because..." he continued apologetically. "...I have to take you to school today."

"No." I buried my face into his chest.

"Ah-Gomen, but yeah, I do."

"But...but...Rinto." I whispered, thinking of my sweet brother, who lay dead in the river.

"I can't go to school." I said, suddenly feeling very sick. Something flamed in me.

"I have to take you," Len said sternly.

And so we did go to school. Miku and Kaito were typically mean, shooting death glares at me, flicking my ears, and tripping me. Len tried to stop them as much as he could, but he often got called out of the tutor sessions for some student council thingy. The feeling in my stomach was still burning freshly, and I was suddenly very warm in my school outfit.

"Rin...is...person?" Len asked me, pointing at a guy on the page. I sighed.

"I...can't...understand...you." I said, bonking him on the head.

"Mmmm, Gomen." I turned away, looking in the direction of the Carmeline.

Len caught me looking and turned me to face him.

"Rin..."

"Stop looking at me like that." I snapped, trying to avoid his puppy face.

"Aw, Bunny, listen to me at least once. At least listen to what I'm saying."

I raised my eyebrows.

He caught himself. "Er, I mean, read my lips."

He leaned over suddenly and kissed the tip of my nose. I swatted at him.

"C'mon, Bunny. Just a bit more Social Studies..."

I scowled, but relented, still repressing the urge to throw up. I clutched the sides of my seat.

"Rin... Are you okay?" Len asked, worried.

"Ahhh~ Ummm, yeah." I bit my lip.

"Rin? No, you're not!" Len leaned forward, looking alarmed.

I felt horrible.

Oh god.

"Len." I gritted my teeth. "I'm fine."

He narrowed his eyes, but nodded. With difficulty, I tried to read his lips and get what he was saying. Something about Egyptians...?

"Rin!"

"Mmmm- Ahhh." I almost fell on the floor. Wait, I think I did. I clutched my head in extreme dizziness.

"Rin?" He was mouthing my name repeatedly.

And it was the last thing I saw before blacking out.