Re Birthday

Chapter 2

Back to my childhood first...yes I remembered. Both my twin and I learned at a young age that much was expected of us, being told that Church bells blessed us, at the time we didn't understand what that meant, nor did we really care. The two of us were content sitting under a large shaded tree, we'd play imaginary games, I'd make tiaras for her out of grass, twigs and flowers, she'd parade around wearing these gifts I made for her, oblivious to the irony symbolised in these poorly made tiaras, not realising she would really rise to the throne one day. When we were a little older we sat playing under our tree one day, when my dear twin was snatched away from me, no explanation, no apology, I cried out, tried to fight these people off, but I was held back, forced to watch my twin sister being dragged away crying for me. How could they possibly expect two children to know or even understand that she was being taught to become a Princess. We just thought they were being 'mean'.

As my sister was taught to rule over our country, I was taught to serve her, I didn't mind the idea, I loved her, there was no one else I'd rather devote my life to. My sister rose to the throne at a very young age, she was still a little girl, she didn't really know what she was doing despite being taught, she was left alone to decide things for herself. We were only children, while she ruled I served her, though some days I'd sneak her out of the confines of the castle dressed in my clothes, and we'd go into the small village.

Sometimes I'd take her down to the Sea shore, simply so she could get some air, she looked so pale and miserable, being stuck inside for so long was making her sick. It didn't only affect her appearance though, she'd throw tantrums, she'd scream, cry until she got what she wanted, she would fly into a rage over small things. I was the only one who could calm her down, I'd run into town and purchase whatever she wanted, just to see her smile again. Sometimes it wasn't something material she wanted, sometimes she'd get frustrated, being so young and having so much responsibility. Some of her servants called her spoilt, violent, even evil, this angered me, I knew she was none of those things, she was a lonely child, forced to do a job even an adult would find difficult, her only comfort her twin brother who was forced into serving her.

On one of the few days we had managed to escape to the sea shore, I watched her standing at the edge of the sand, letting the sea lap playfully at her bare feet. She'd taken off the hat I'd lent her so that the wind could blow it gently. She looked unhappy, this made me feel unhappy as well, I stared out at the sea sadly, when a glimmer of light caught my attention. I saw that the light had come from an empty glass bottle floating further out into the sea; I frowned, knowing some drunken fool had most likely dropped it last night, polluting the beauty of the ocean. A story suddenly came to mind, one I had read somewhere a long time ago, of messages in bottles granting wishes. I turned to my dear Rin and smiled broadly, she looked up noticing my sudden change of mood.

"What is it?" She asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"You'll see" I continued to grin, winking at her as I made my way out into the water, it was cold as I began to make my way further in, letting it rise above my ankles, rolling my pants up so I could wade further, I shivered a little as my sister commanded me to return at once, I ignored her for once, and kept going until I had reached the glass bottle. I retrieved it before making my way back to the shore, as I stepped back on to the dryer sand; I smiled, holding the bottle up as if showing her a prize worth a great fortune.

"All of that for a silly bottle?" She smiled a little at this, for once she didn't understand what I was thinking. I didn't mind, at least she was a little happier now. I shook the water from the bottle, drying it as much as I could.

" You know I read a story a long time ago in a book I can't recall, about putting messages in bottles" I began, shivering as I did, she blinked at me, silently telling me to continue.

"I read that if you write a wish on paper and you put it in a bottle, you drop it into the ocean and watch it fade away, if the bottle doesn't break-" I was interrupted. Something Rin didn't do a lot.

"-Then surely that is a wish that will be granted" She too was grinning now, she laughed her adorable little laugh, before gently slapping my arm. I was stunned. She didn't usually slap me.

"What is it? What's so funny?" I asked, feeling a little offended, I thought for sure she'd find my story magical, mesmerizing, yet I couldn't stay mad, I'd made her laugh at least, that's all that mattered.

"I am sorry, it is just I know that story as well, and I was thinking about it as you went to retrieve that bottle you now hold in your hands" She giggled, she was adorable when she laughed.

"Isn't it funny how we both think of the same things even when we aren't even speaking?" I laughed with her now. After this she looked up at me and smiled ever so sweetly before asking

"So shall we?" She looked her age now, laughing and smiling like a child should, not like the Queen she was forced to be.

"Shall we what?" I asked, now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow in confusion, she shoved me playfully, giggling again, it was nice to see her happy for the first time in weeks. There wasn't much for her to be happy about lately.

" Write our greatest wish on a piece of paper, and send it out to sea in that bottle of yours...that is why you went to get it is it not?" She asked, brushing her blonde hair away from her face, deciding that it had been more convenient tied up, she scraped it back into a messy ponytail the same as mine.

"Yes you're right that's why I have the bottle...all we need is some paper and something to write with" I looked around the deserted beach, not expecting to be so lucky as to find writing utensils as well.

"It is not a problem, we can simply purchase these items from a nearby shop" Rin smiled at me once again, seeing her mischievous grin, I realised by 'we' she meant me. I told her it wasn't a problem, and that she should wait for me while I found the necessary items.

I returned with the items we needed a short while later, seeing Rin was once again deep in thought, this time I decided to pry, as she'd seemed so happy only moments ago when I'd left. The sky had become and even brighter blue as the Sun shone brilliantly down on her blonde head, making her look as if she were glowing.

"May I ask what's bothering you my Lady" I knelt down next to her, watching her startled expression as she turned to look me in the eye, obviously she hadn't heard me approaching.
She looked down at the utensils I had purchased and smiled a soft smile at me before speaking.

"I see you had no trouble finding our equipment?" I nodded; still she hadn't answered my question so I pressed her for more.

"Yes my Lady but please what's bothering you?" I asked again, aware that I didn't want to bother her so much that she became irritable.

"Well I was just wondering...what shall we write on the paper? What do we both wish for?" She paused before continuing, smiling another mischievous smile,"And I wish you would call me Rin, when we are alone there is no need for formalities I am your sister" she scolded me, frowning a little, a small pout gracing her pink lips. She looked like a little doll.

"My only wish is to be able to protect you Rin..." I blushed, it had sounded like I was sucking up after displeasing her. I quickly looked away to watch the gentle waves of the water again, spotting a few fish swimming around.

"Such a good brother but is that really your wish?" She asked tilting her head a little, when I nodded; she smiled again, and thought about what she wanted. She tilted her head to lean on my shoulder as she continued to think. Her head suddenly snapped back up, surely she had thought of something.

"Okay, I know, I want you to be there for me especially at that time when I may need you the most" She looked at me, completely sincere, not mocking my wish. So we wrote each of our wishes on a small slip of paper, though really they both had the same meaning. I noticed how elegant Rin's handwriting was compared to mine; I suspected this was something she had been taught at a young age.

I want to be able to protect my sister during that time when she needs me most
Len Kagamine

I want my brother to be there for me at that time when I need him the most
Rin Kagamine

We both signed our names, before sliding the tiny scroll of paper into the neck of the bottle. I replaced the cork as tightly as I could before the two of us released the bottle back into the water where it had been discovered in the first place. We stood next to one another; I held her hand in mine as we watched the bottle as it seemed to grow smaller, fading into the horizon. We continued to watch the calm shimmer of the water long after the bottle had disappeared; both of us hoping our wishes would come true. As the water stopped shimmering, and the Sun began to disappear, we decided it was time to leave, back to the castle of rules and regime.