"Where have you been?"

I hated the emotions on Fukase's face—confusion, concern, frustration, disappointment. Not that I could blame him.

"It's just as I said earlier," I sighed as I pushed past him through the doorway. "I wanted to go for a walk and explore our surroundings."

Fukase stared at me in disbelief. A part of me didn't even want to know what he was thinking. My own mind was jumbled enough. Out of all the things I imagined might happen when I stepped out of the cabin, meeting Rin was plenty far from any of them.

For once, I was thankful for Fukase's silence as I made my way to my room. A part of me wanted to ignore what was happening, but another part of me couldn't stop thinking about it.

Rin and Len were kidnapped years ago. So how were they here... on vacation, no less? Nothing added up.

I sighed. "What am I supposed to do from here..."

~~~

I'm not doing this because I want to, but I have to.

This was the mantra Rin kept chanting as she made her way back to the headquarters where her brother and higher-ups would be waiting for her report. Guilt steadily ate away at her, but what choice did she have but to ignore it?

"Rin! Over here!" Flower bounded over to her with Piko and Len close in tow. Flower was bright and cheery as usual, but Len wore a grim expression that Rin was sure matched her own. And Piko was, unsurprisingly, as nonchalant as ever.

They weren't far from headquarters, so Rin walked back with the others.

"I assume everything went smoothly?" Piko asked.

"Of course," Rin replied, trying her best not to stammer.

She took a breath to say something more, but Piko cut her off. "The president wants to see you. Make sure you're presentable and we'll take you to her at your soonest convenience. Okay?"

"Yeah."

"Len, you're invited too."

"Understood."

A few moments later, they came to a shimmering glade. Dewy grass shone a shimmering jade and the air seemed to still around the party of four. The forest sounds grew muted as if mufflers had been placed over their ears.

And then, as if time was unpaused, the wind and the sounds resumed as a tall, blue building glimmered into view.

Whether it was magic or unfathomable technology, no one knew. The first time Rin and Len had been here, they were astounded at the surrealism of it all—but now, the glamoured headquarters had just become another part of their mundane reality.

The window panes glinted in the dappled sunlight as it stretched up and into the forest's canopy and Rin shivered as she passed under the building's shadow.

She and Len split off from the group to freshen up in their own rooms. The east wing of their headquarters was the residential area, where all of the President's underlings stayed. Len and Rin's rooms were separate but conjoined; it was a convenient setup for both of them.

Rin tried her best to calm her sputtering heart as she washed her face, but couldn't help recalling Oliver's shocked expression when she had run into him in the forest. He had changed so much—no doubt she had, too. Four years was a long time, after all.

But more than that, the guilt from what she had done before was growing unbearable.

She had led Oliver and Fukase to the edge of a waterfall—they could've died if something went wrong. And then she had the nerve to break into the hidden cabin while he was sleeping and drug him? Oliver, her best childhood friend?

What kind of monster had this island turned her into?

It's not my fault. It wasn't my fault, I swear... Rin slowed her breathing like her mother had taught her numerous years ago. Once she had gotten her breathing and heart rate in check, she left her room to regroup with the others.

Flower and Piko "escorted" the twins to the President's room, but in reality, the twins were like a storm cloud that shadowed their higher-ups through the halls. Flower had her arm linked with Piko's as she chattered loudly about some cool frog she found in the forest, and Rin nodded along gloomily until they reached their destination.

"You've been here long enough, so we'll skip the formalities of reviewing the rules," Piko said, unlocking the door. He stepped inside to inform the President of their arrival.

No more than a few moments later, the President's voice rang out. "You may enter." Her voice flowed out into the hallway, tingling Rin's senses with frost. She and Len slipped inside, and the door was shut behind them.

Before them sat the President at the head of her table. Her sea-green hair tumbled about her shoulders in two long twintails, rivers of color against her pale skin which shone like moonlight on a midnight sea.

Everything about her radiated ethereal beauty. Rin resisted the urge to shudder as the President's calm, sapphire eyes bore into her. She was too perfect—terrifyingly so.

"Rin and Len! I was looking forward to meeting you today. Please, take a seat and help yourself." She gestured to the assortment of sweets and desserts that decorated the table before her. The sickly sweet scent was enough to make Rin's head spin.

"Thank you for your hospitality, my Lady," Len's calm voice reverberated through the room, grounding her. As they sat down, the President's name tag resting on the table shook, and its metal caught Rin's eye. President Miku Hatsune.

The President waited for them to get settled before continuing. "I presume the seeds have been planted?"

"Yes, my Lady," Rin finally found it in her to speak up. "We've made contact with both targets."

"Splendid!" Miku clapped her hands. "You've worked hard these past few years, both of you. Tell me, is there anything you desire?"

Rin glanced at her brother surreptitiously and he nodded for her to go first. She took a deep breath and stated her wish.

"My Lady, as you said, we have worked under you loyally for years. But despite that, we are still very unaware of what your goals are. All I request is that you... you might provide us with some knowledge. Don't make us work in the dark, please."

Miku sat back in her adorned chair and tapped her chin thoughtfully. Her sparkling eyes wandered up to the ceiling as she considered the request. "Why might that be necessary?"

"My Lady, we've been working diligently for you ever since you kindly brought us to this island and generously gave us a home. So please... just tell us what you truly want with our friends. This will only help us aid your cause."

"My, my, bold today, are we?" Lady Miku smiled with chilling grace as her gaze returned to meet Rin's eyes.

Rin could hear her brother suck in a nervous breath from behind her. To her surprise, he spoke. "My Lady, she didn't mean anything by it. Please don't heed her—"

"Len, darling, it's no problem. Really." Her eyes didn't move from where Rin perched at the edge of her chair, head bowed. Her hands grew clammy as Miku's gaze seemed to sharpen. "Come here."

Rin stood up, trying to reject the tremors that wracked her every nerve.

"You understand that what I'm here to do is for the greater good, yes?" Miku asked sweetly. Rin nodded for her to continue. "On this island, I've been collecting people. Like a doll collection! Isn't that wonderful? However, I only collect the most special and gifted people to stay here with me—the most carefully crafted dolls, if you will. This island fuels those people's gifts, and in return, such gifts bring power and life into the world. Do you understand?"

Rin shook her head like a school child who forgot to complete her reading assignment as Len watched with increasing concern.

Miku chuckled with angelic patience. "Let me put it this way.

"If, for example, your friend gives you food in a container to take home, what do you do when you're done with the food?"

"You... return the container, of course."

"But first, you put snacks in the container as a sort of 'thank you' for lending the container and giving you food in the first place. That way, it's an equal exchange between friends and no one feels left out. Here, on this island, it's the same principle. We draw power from the island, and in return, we use that power to help the wider population."

"What does this have to do with Oliver and Fukase, though?"

"Those two boys are very special. Remember what I said about collecting people on the island? Those who I allow on the island must possess some power on their own. Your friends are two such people, which is why I have brought them here."

Rin wanted to ask for more details, but didn't dare to press beyond Miku's patience. She pretended to be satisfied with Miku's explanation and bid her well wishes. She and Len exited the room with quiet caution.

The silence was hurriedly interrupted, though, as they ran into an arguing Flower and Piko.

"Ooh, are those fruit snacks? Gimme one!" Flower grabbed at the packet of fruit snacks in Piko's hand, looping an arm around his neck.

"If I give you a fruit snack, will it get you off of me?"

"Probably not."

Piko sighed and handed her the whole packet of fruit snacks anyway. Flower pumped her fist and, as promised, ate her fruit snacks while glued to Piko's side.

Those two really are inseparable, huh? Rin thought wistfully. She and Oliver used to be like that, back when they lived in London together. For a long time, Rin thought that she'd always be closer to Oliver even than her own brother.

But oh, how wrong she was.

If she and Len had never been brought to the island, she wondered, would she and Oliver have been like Flower and Piko? Maybe she never had a chance to begin with, but it was always easier to romanticize the past.

At least she knew that Len would have her back. Len would protect her and support her as long as he was around. But of course, all of that could change with a snap of Miku's dainty fingers.

"Oh! Rin and Len! Did you get me any snackies from the Prez's room?" Flower peeled herself away from Piko and searched Rin for any sign of cookies or cupcakes or scones.

"Sorry, Flower, we forgot. Maybe next time." Flower harrumphed in dismay and skulked off to bother Piko once more.

Finally, some time alone, Rin thought as she heaved a sigh of relief. It was still early afternoon, so she and Len would have the rest of the day to themselves. Peace and quiet for a few hours would have to be enough.

A/N:

I PRESENT TO YOU, A VERY NOT FILLER CHAPTER!!!! 

You guys all of a sudden this fic is soooo fun to write omg >:D Sorry there was so little olikase in this, but I really wanted to develop the plot from another angle >< I will aim for more olikase next chapter so DO NOT FEAR

Anyway. Thanks as always for reading! I love seeing your comments and your thoughts, too <3 

Catch ya on the flip-side! And have a great weekend~

~Stargazer