A gift for CheriiboiPanda for being awesome and helping to get me writing something again.

Please note the rating and warnings for this fic may change dramatically, and this will likely become a kink fic, since that was the intention when I started writing this. You've been given the heads-up. ^^ Clearly, I'll update the summary and warnings when that happens to mirror the changes.

...

Notes: I designated Master as being named "Tsun" (taken from tsundere, which isn't entirely applicable to his character, but, ehh, placeholder name for one chapter only) for the sake of convenience in chapter 1 of this story, but it's not really a name so much as a placeholder. And, despite my desire to make Master purely female in this story, he ended up with male pronouns anyways. Maybe he'll be a futanari. That might be fun.

Likewise, "Kuu" is also a placeholder name (taken from kuudere) and is also not applicable to the personality of her character. If I could have gotten away with it, they would have been "New Master" and "Friend-chan" but... yeah.

I feel a little weird posting a first chapter that feels so Master-centric. But I guess if I keep second-guessing everything I write I'll just continue to not write stuff, so, that's it I guess.

Anyways, after some of the vicious horrible things poor Kaito has had happen to him in some of my other fics, maybe he deserves some more unadulterated and low-plot fluffiness.

...

"What do you think? They're cute, aren't they?" A friendly looking female tilted her head slightly and gave a full-on beaming smile to her friend. The said friend tried to smile back, but was clearly not getting into the Vocaloid shopping.

"I suppose," was the noncommittal answer. The friend was clearly trying not to start a fight, but didn't seem too interested, and was fidgeting slightly as if wanting to leave.

"Look! This model is adorable, I'll bet she has the sweetest singing voice!" The female friend turned her dazzling smile on a petite, teal-haired model with long pigtails. The Vocaloid in question perked up and smiled adorably back, giggling; apparently very happy with the stranger customer's praise.

"Thank you, Master!" The Vocaloid answered in a voice that was indeed very cute and rather high pitched. "My name is Miku. Are you looking for a Vocaloid to take home with you today? I will sing very hard for you!"

"Miku! What a cute name. I'm Kuu, it's nice to meet you!" The customer replied. "Actually, I thought I'd check out the new Vocaloids in stock, but, I'm really here to try to convince my friend here to pick up a model. Miku, this is my friend, Tsun." Turning her eyes to her friend, Kuu flashed yet another smile. "What do you think, Tsun-chan? Maybe Miku here would make a good companion to you! If you don't pick her up, I might scoop her up out from underneath you."

Taking the friendly teasing in stride, Tsun smiled. It was a friendly smile, but it came with a negative reply. "I'm just not really into this whole Vocaloid thing. I'm sorry, Kuu-chan. Sorry, Miku."

"That's just because you haven't found the right model yet," Kuu decided stubbornly on her own, undeterred. "You'll see, once you get one, it'll change your life. You'll wonder why you never got one sooner! And they can do all sorts of things; sing, or dance. Some of them have domestic skills. You're so nice, Tsun, but, you seem like you're lonely sometimes. A Vocaloid will always be your companion, so when we find the right one for you, it'll be a match made in heaven!"

"Well, maybe," Tsun sweatdropped. "The model seems friendly and she is cute but..."

"Masters, there are a few other new models in our other show rooms. Would you like me to guide you there? Maybe you will find a different Vocaloid you would like. And we'll be here for you, if you decide you'd like to come back another time," Miku offered, voice still cheerful, although she seemed a little disappointed that she probably would not be purchased by these particular Masters.

"Thanks, Miku. You're cute, and helpful, too!" Kuu shot a meaningful side glance at her friend, who just sweatdropped again, and followed the two girls as they walked from the entrance show room deeper into the sprawling Vocaloid model store.

...

"This new model is already very popular. He's the second top seller right now, which is why he's in one of the premiere show rooms. His name is Gakupo! He has a wide vocal range, and has many impressive skills," Miku introduced a male Vocaloid with long purple hair. He stood straight and tall, and wore an interesting and intricate outfit reminiscent of a samurai, even including a sword strapped to one of his hips. This Vocaloid seemed self-assured and had a positive, calm attitude.

"Is there a particular skill set you are looking for, Master?" Gakupo asked in a vibrant voice.

"I don't know, what do you think, Tsun-chan?" Kuu looked over at her friend.

"Not really," Tsun said apologetically, glancing back over at the door, and wondering how long Kuu would make them stay in the store before she was satisfied. "Kuu-chan, why don't we check out that new frozen yogurt place? I hear they have all kinds of things there, even some really unusual flavors nobody else has."

"Your distractions won't work on me, Tsun," Kuu leveled a displeased look back at her uncooperative friend. "Now stop it, and really look at these models. I'm trying to help you, stop pushing me away, okay?"

Tsun bit back the urge to groan, and nodded, defeated. When Kuu-chan got stubborn, it was best to just do what she wanted until she got bored of it.

Apparently satisfied, Kuu nodded and her face returned to her usual smiling manner. "Good! That's the spirit. So, what about this Gakupo model? What do you think about him? Maybe you can get some ideas about what you're looking for."

"Uh," Tsun glanced back at the proudly standing Vocaloid male, who waited patiently for his potential new owner's judgement. "He's pretty cool, and his voice is nice, I guess." A quick disapproving scowl from Kuu made Tsun quickly amend, "Very nice. It's a good voice. And he, uh, seems... samurai-like?"

Kuu's approving squeal made Tsun wince slightly. "You're right, he does look just like a samurai! See, you're already finding some things you like about these Vocaloids! I knew it was the right choice to bring you here."

"Yeah... thanks for... looking out for me," Tsun finished lamely. Deciding on a plan of attack, Tsun turned back to Miku. "Can you show me the rest of the new models?"

After all, the sooner the pair of friends looked at every model, like Kuu apparently wanted, they could leave, and go back to their loosely planned day of sweets and maybe a movie. Miku nodded, and Gakupo gave a little wave of his hand as the trio left for the next room.

The next show room was huge. Perhaps a dozen different Vocaloid models of all sizes, shapes, colors, and genders milled about or reclined comfortably while waiting for customers to show up. Many of the models perked up instantly and approached the potential new Masters, and a chorus of, "Welcome, Masters!" chimed out in a friendly manner.

"Here we go! This is a great place to start. Gosh, I don't even recognize many of these models," Kuu exclaimed as a naughty-looking female Vocaloid with crimson, cork-screw-like pigtails grinned back with all her straight white teeth showing. Tsun nodded distractedly, and made a little effort to greet and interact with the Vocaloids who approached, one by one.

...

"I'm also really good at moving equipment!" A cute, energetic and bubbly blonde female squeaked out in a very high pitched voice. "I can do lots of things that will be helpful to you, Master!"

"Moving equipment..? What does that mean, Rin?" Tsun's brow furrowed, getting a bit of a headache after nearly an hour of interacting with Vocaloid after Vocaloid.

"Yeah, like road rollers," Rin's adorable voice took on a sadistically gleeful tone, and Tsun backed up half a step before realizing it.

"I... see, that's good to know. You're cute too, are you a popular model as well?" Tsun desperately tried to steer the conversation somewhere less dangerous.

"Yes, every model in this room is a popular model! Our less popular models and older or discounted models are all in the back rooms of the store, of course," Rin confided, happy to not be counted in amongst those disgraced models that failed to sell enough units.

"I see, I see, thank you, Rin. I will keep you in mind," Tsun ended the conversation and exhaled a long, deep breath, turning to Kuu with a look of exhaustion and hope that they could now leave. "I think I'll just have to think about it, Kuu-chan. Sorry, but, I think none of these are the right model for me."

"Well, what about the back room?" Kuu pouted in her own stubborn frustration. "Or the discounted models. I know you like sale items!... Though... if nobody buys them there might be a reason... oh, this is so discouraging. I really want you to find a model that you love, Tsun-chan!"

Tsun smiled despite being tired. Kuu-chan was really cute, and she did actually try her best. Not a lot of people took the time and effort to befriend Tsun, so Kuu-chan's friendship and caring was special. Even if it meant wasting an hour in a store with merchandise that didn't appeal to Tsun.

"Okay. We'll look at the back room, but then I want to go. Okay, Kuu? And... if we go see a movie, I get to pick which one," Tsun sneakily added in the distraction.

"What! No! You'll just pick some dumb action flick," Kuu-chan's cheeks puffed outwards in outrage. "I want to see a romance comedy!"

"Now I'm DEFINITELY picking the movie," Tsun teased and grinned back. "No way do I want to watch some romance comedy. So, which way is the back room, then? Over here?"

Miku had returned to the first show room a long time ago, so the two potential Masters made their way on their own. Kuu poked her head around one corner triumphantly as she found a less crowded, but equally large room at the end of one short hallway. A few assorted Vocaloids looked up. One slunk behind a cushy chair and stared at them with just his eyes peeking over the top of the furniture as he hid. Another crossed her arms and sulked. Yet another took a quick step backwards and nervously put his thumbnail in his mouth, then realized what he was doing and shamefacedly blushed and hid his hands behind his back, staring at the ground as if embarassed at being caught doing something unattractive.

Kuu turned back to Tsun and opened her mouth to speak in a laughing but embarrassed tone about the models in this room being a little different than the previous set, but stopped before her words made it past her lips. Tsun was staring at the blue-haired male model that was staring at the floor in misery, whose hand was tightly held behind his back.

"Huh?" Kuu asked intelligently, blinking. "Do you like that model? He doesn't seem very friendly, though."

"He's so cute," Tsun said quietly, unthinkingly. Slowly, Tsun walked to stand in front of the shamefaced, upset Vocaloid who was still averting his gaze. "It's okay. You can put it in your mouth if you want to. What is your model called?"

The blue-haired Vocaloid flushed with deeper shame at the verbal confirmation that he had been caught with his finger in his mouth. "I'm Kaito, M-master..." Blue eyes glanced up and then returned to studying the floor in quiet misery. "My model isn't very popular, that's why... the store has only sold a few units. I'm... a fail, Master... I'm sorry."

The bluenette's quietly unhappy voice was almost a tearful whisper by the time he finished speaking. Apparently this model didn't have too much in the line of self-esteem, at direct counterpoint to the previous show room's Vocaloids, who were all almost overly proud at having apparently sold many units of their particular model.

Tsun's hand reached out of its own accord and brushed the short blue hair away from Kaito's downturned, disheartened face. It was soft and felt nice. Lingering, and smiling encouragingly, Tsun touched Kaito's cheek briefly. It too, was soft, and a little pudgy, though not fat. One of Kaito's eyes closed in response as the finger touching him moved a little too close to his eye.

"You're so cute and sweet," Tsun murmured as Kaito allowed the touch anxiously, staring back. "Why would anyone not want you? What a lovely child... And your voice is so beautiful, too... What kind of a precious treasure is this?"

There was a strange edge that sounded like longing in the strange Master's voice as Kaito's blue eyes rounded in disbelief and his face caught on fire from the unexpected and extremely uncommon compliment. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the face of the one who touched him gently, then pulled back and smiled a happy smile, just at him.

"Masu...ta?" Kaito asked quietly, his English pronounciation slipping a little bit from his confusion and uncertainty at Tsun.

"I want you to come home with me, Kaito. Would you do that? Would you like to stay with me?" Tsun asked, and was so transfixed on the Vocaloid male's face that Kuu-chan's humorous double-take was completely missed. "Would you let me be your Master and take care of you from now on?"

"I..." Kaito's mouth dropped a little bit as if he couldn't believe that the person in front of him would want him, after all this time of not being wanted or loved by /anybody/. "I'd like that... Master..."

The sudden hopeful light in Kaito's blue eyes made Tsun catch his breath. Uncaring of whether it was against rules to handle the merchandise or not, he sharply pulled Kaito against his chest, unbalancing the Vocaloid badly and causing him to stumble and lose his balance as he was unexpectedly hugged forcefully.

A deeply blushing, wide-eyed face looked gaped out from between Tsun's arms and chest for several long moments as he was wrapped into the warm and forceful hug.

"Um, Tsun-chan..?" Kuu's voice broke the spell and Tsun opened his eyes to look back at her, Kaito still squished to his chest rather awkwardly.

"Yes?" The reply was devoid of tone and sounded very distracted.

"Maybe... you should worry about doing that, uh, after you buy the model?" Kuu couldn't help herself as she finished her question and she began to grin happily. Despite all his protests, Tsun had found a Vocaloid model he was enamored of after all, just like she knew he would. Kuu felt pretty pleased with herself and for forcing her friend to look.

"Hn," Tsun grunted in mild displeasure but released Kaito from the hold. The blue-haired Vocaloid male straightened slowly, still not sure whether to really believe he was actually going to be purchased or not. "Oh. Right. And there was the ice cream place after this, too," Tsun said to himself, frowning at the wrench thrown into their plans, but feeling unwilling to let this Vocaloid model remain unpurchased for someone else to perhaps buy before Tsun could come back for him.

"Ice cream?" The soft, shy voice of a few moments ago that was barely more than a whisper exclaimed almost aggressively as Kaito moved like a flash of light and grabbed his new Master's hands, serious, intense blue eyes burning into his Master's startled eyes. A tiny glisten of drool puddled in the corner of Kaito's mouth as stars shone fanatically in his eyes. "You're going to have ice cream, Master?!"

Recovering quickly, Tsun's astonished grin looked a little weird on his face as he felt the warm and tight grip of Kaito's hands grasping him with desperate intensity.

"Maybe Kaito could come with us?" Tsun felt a little bad, in the background of his mind, for Kuu-chan. Mainly because he didn't think he'd be able to tear his eyes away from the new Vocaloid in front of him right now, even if Kuu-chan walked out into the middle of traffic. Kaito may have been in the "discounted" portion of the store, but Tsun didn't care what he cost. Kaito's new Master had to have him. There was no way he was leaving without the ice-cream obsessed blue-headed Vocaloid baby. Not even if it changed their entire plans for that day.

Kaito nodded enthusiastically, his shyness and shame momentarily forgotten from the excitement of ice cream. Tsun grinned, and even though he didn't see it, so focused was he on Kaito's intense look of craving, so did Kuu.