I Am Deaf

Chapter 14

Len POV

What the heck? Rin just fainted on the ground. I looked down, shocked and unknowing. Then I sprung into action.

"Rin, Rin!" I shook her, but then remembered she was, uh, deaf.

I shook her shoulders hard, but, wait, she looked warm. Her face was reddish. I lay the back of my hand against her forehead, but pulled away in pain, because it was burning.

"You were sick." I smacked my hand against my forehead. Excellent. Now I had to go buy medicine. I picked Rin up and slung her gently over my shoulder. She had already woken up, and made a faint sound of protest.

"Urusai, you silly baka." I grumbled, and then remembered she couldn't hear me.

"Lennn." She groaned.

"You aren't gonna throw up are you?" I asked nervously, straining to look at her and eyeing my white uniform. She sighed and let herself be carried without protesting.

No protesting? Something MUST be wrong.

I talked to the Principal briefly, and then carried Rin in my arms bridal-style. Don't I wish she was my bri-...? Er, never mind. I sighed and kissed her on the cheek, when she was unwilling to hit me. She winced, gritting her teeth.

Was I actually in love with her?

Did she love me?

Well, I did kiss her...

But still...

Did I want to hurt her?

She didn't know, obviously, that I was moving. In a month. If I left her behind, who would take care of her? I couldn't tell her, she might commit suicide or something. Mikuo would take care of her, I'll tell him. Oh, Rin, what will I do without you? How can I live without you? How can I leave you, to fend for yourself? Against your Dad? Rei? Neru? Miku? Kaito? Oh yeah, that reminds me...

I set Rin on the ground, and she toppled back against me. I caught her and straightened her up.

"Len, Len it hurts." She gasped. I looked at her, tormented, then held her hand and led her towards the Sakura tree, where I knew Miku and Kaito would be.

"Oh, 'S you." snapped Miku. Kaito glowered at Rin, whose eyes were squeezed shut.

"You know, there was a murder scene. I wanted to know if you guys knew about it." I said nonchalantly.

"Uh, who was murdered?"

"Rinto."

"Rinto..."

"Rinto Kagamine."

They whirled to look at Rin. Rin's eyes slowly opened. She looked at me weirdly.

"Ha ha! Your brother died? HA HA! Bet it was suicide because he couldn't stand you!" Miku laughed.

Un-be-lie-va-ble.

Tears were spilling over Rin's cerulean eyes, and she looked ready to fall apart. I threw away my pride, seeing her broken expression. I stormed up to Miku, but Rin intervened. She slapped Miku right across her conceited face. Miku screamed and scrabbled to grab her face. I grabbed Rin and pulled her away hastily before Kaito got his hands on her, or, scarier, she got her hands on Kaito. I high-fived her, and she smiled very wearily before dozing off again.

I took her to my house, lay her there, and took off for some medicine.

I was behind a chatty woman when I overheard a weird conversation between her and this overly made-up woman.

"Yeah, I know. Poor boy, he was only sixteen..."

"Yes, I think he has a sister right?"

"Uh, Rimi? Rini? Oh, right! Rin!"

"My son overheard a boy in his class say she was deaf." Me, talking to myself probably. I thought guiltily.

"Her dad knows, right?"

"He doesn't! Apparently, he doesn't know about her deafness! If she even is deaf."

"What?"

"That's right, um, because, remember? He broke the boy's leg, when he believed he was useless...?"

"Really!"

"Yes! And if he realizes the girl is deaf, he may do away with her as well!"

"As well? You think HE'S the one that murdered the boy and threw him into the river?"

"Think? I KNOW. Oh, and did you hear that other story...?"

I broke away, then realized the time and smacked my head.

"Rin!"

And with that, I grabbed the medicine and raced home.

What greeted me when I threw open the door was...