Prism = Heart
Rated T for Teen for Violence, Blood, Crime, Language, and Sexual Behaviors.
I do not own the Vocaloid Software (Yamaha) OR any of the Voicebanks, which belong to Crypton Future Media, Internet Co., AHS, PowerFX, Zero-G, Yamaha, Sony, B-Plats, Voctro Labs, and ST MEDiA. Characters may not appear right away in early chapters, and may not appear until the middle of the series, or the end.
A.N: This will be a 17 Chapter series. Everything is planned out. Please enjoy!
Chapter 1: RED "Baby When I look at you, all I see is Red, Red, Red, Red!"
Luka Akarine stepped into her small bathroom, facing the mirror that had always been cracked in the corner. Her red and pink manicured nails glided through her long pink locks as she gussied herself up. Her twilight eyes shone bright under the mirror's blinding lights, a smile on her pale face. Today was another day for the aspiring artist.
The young woman had been living at the Yamanet Apartments for two years, having obtained a graphic design degree at the local community college in the city. Luka was talented, having knacks for colors. As a freelance graphic designer, Luka had found her best clientele to be those working in the romance department: dating apps, Valentine's Day promotions, weddings, anniversaries. The colors simply could click inside of her head, and translated efficiently to the digital screen. Many were astounded by the young woman's knack with the clientele; Luka herself had never dated which often added to the shock. Yet, Luka never questioned it. She was happy to support herself in such a difficult economic climate. After all, there were perks to living at the Yamanet Apartments…
"Next is," Luka clicked her tongue as she thumbed her emails, "A specialty Valentine's Day card for a Mister Fukase Mikarenji…" Daytime soap operas droned on as background noise in the apartment.
Luka's desk was in her kitchen, though positioned to face the living room, and ultimately the TV. The window was to her left, the red curtains opened just a hair to let the sunlight filter in. One could see out to the other complexes. Each apartment was either a single bedroom, or double bedroom, and each was its own small building. A row of about 20 were lined up and down, forming Yamanet Apartments, or at least their North Side branch. While not a traditional apartment complex, Luka preferred this setup as opposed to having to walk up and down stairs. The set up also offered the positive of being able to meet your neighbors in a friendlier setting.
"Mmm, it's only January but he already wants a Valentine's Day card?" Luka mused as she began her work, setting up her go-to template for cards, "I'm shocked a college student is offering me $50 for a card, but I can't complain. I'll make it worth his money," She giggled to herself. Whoever was receiving this card, was surely a lucky, loved person.
Luka didn't finish until 6pm, having poured as much of her inspiration possible into the card. She beamed at the card and emailed it over, asking to see if it was to her client's standard. Luka stood up from her wood chair, stretching.
"Oh my, it's already 6?" She glanced at the clock on the wall, "I suppose I should grab something to eat." Luka grabbed her coat, hanging on a nook, and slid it over her turtleneck dress, "Hmm, I know where."
Luka stepped out of the apartment, locking the door behind her. She began walking towards the parking lot to her car, chilled by the cold winter weather. She crossed paths with her neighbor; He warmly smiled at her, offering a simple, "Hey" as he briskly walked to his own apartment. Luka smiled, face flushed, and continued to her car in high spirits.
Luka's neighbor was a kind, handsome young man. He had been at the apartments since she had moved in the summer of graduation. He had helped her move-in, though she had worried about being unable to pay him back at the time. Her neighbor laughed it off, chalking it up to 'it's what neighbors do.' He lived alone, and working some 9-5 job in the city area. Luka was unsure what her favorite thing about him was. It could be his smile, or perhaps his personality. That warm, personable personality made her heart beat fast, and red. Her face lit up, just as red, every time he so much as glanced in her general direction. In truth, he was the inspiration for her graphic design work. Her neighbor alone fueled her desire for becoming a freelance artist, for her clientele to be in the romance area of humans, for her to be content in life. Yet, despite all of it, Luka was too shy to admit this out loud, let alone the man. Deep down, the 24-year-old woman would rather break to pieces than tell the truth of her reddening feelings. She had often spent nights in bed, mentally writhing on if perhaps designing a card for him would be enough to spell out her feelings. Her confidence was too shaky in entrusting her feelings to a card. Her palms were too sweaty, her face too flushed, her speech faltering. Still, she loved her neighbor.
Luka returned home, having ate at a nearby café. She walked up to her apartment, seeing a girl with short, green hair at her neighbor's door. The girl smiled at Luka and waved, warm and friendly. Luka smiled back. The girl often came over to the house. She presumed they were siblings, given their matching eye color, and the girl seemed nice, as far as Luka was aware.
"Maybe tonight I can work myself up to it," Luka muttered to herself as she stepped inside her home, "First, I need to see if that Fukase guy responded…" Luka logged back into her laptop, and saw a reply from the man: Perfect. Luka smiled. Another satisfied customer.
"Maybe I can satisfy him too," Luka sat in her chair, folding her arms on the desk. She rested her chin on her arms, eyes half closed as she thought on it, "But, what if he says no? But, why would he? He's nice, and I'm nice. He knows that. It wouldn't hurt, and he is single." Luka smiled as she attempted to instill confidence into herself.
"But, what if? What if there's a reason he's single?" Luka wondered out loud, "Is he dying? But, he wouldn't be working then. …Oh, I'm overthinking this!" Luka sighed in exasperation, "I'll do it!" She declared boldly, "I'll finally be honest with him!"
And so, Luka began work on a special Valentine's Day card just for her unrequited lover. She opened her infamous card template, and set out to complete her mission. Luka combed through all of her favorite romantic fonts, spending 30 minutes alone on the spacing and position of the font itself. She played with the saturation and brightness of a variety of reds and pinks. She settled on a crimson red after what felt like a tortuous eternity of deciding between that color and a dark cherry red. Luka was more than hell bent on creating the perfect, romantic card for her lover. She was determined. Time ticked on until it was finally midnight. Luka stepped away from the laptop, briskly walking to her printer that hummed. A paper spat out: the card. Luka examined her design thoroughly before smiling in satisfaction.
"Perfect!" Luka contently sighed, an air of excitement laced in. Her masterpiece was complete!
Luka carefully cut out the card, not wanting to leave any white space, but not wanting to cut off her work. Once that was done, all that was left to do now was deliver the card. Luka looked outside the window, staring into the pitch black night.
"It's quite too late to do that now," Luka yawned, turning from the window. She set the card down on the table, "I'll do it in the morning, bright and early! In person!"
With that, Luka retired for the night, dreaming soundly of her soon to be romantic life.
Luka awoke early in the morning at 7am. Despite the earliness, she was bright and awake. She took a brisk shower, and ate a quiet breakfast of scrambled eggs with extra pepper. Luka's face was stuck in a smile, her thoughts zeroed in on her lover. Today was finally the day she had worked up the courage to be honest with him about her feelings. That in itself felt powerful. Her hands trembled in excitement even as she ate her hearty breakfast.
Once the dishes were done, and her nerves mostly settled, Luka gingerly picked up the card. Now was better than never. Luka peeked out the window, wanting to see if anyone else was outside. Instead, she was greeted with a shocking sight.
Her lover was outside with the green haired girl, the two kissing. Her neighbor said something before heading to the parking lot, and the girl going back inside. The card fell to Luka's floor lamely without a sound. Her world was coming down.
This wasn't supposed to happen. She was supposed to be with him, to confess to him on this day.
That girl wasn't his sister. They were lovers.
Luka's heart ached in pain as the realization swept over her. Tears began to form in her twilight eyes, the worst case scenario having happened in front of her. She was certain that all of the luscious, beautiful reds she was accustomed to would become lonesome, sorrowful blues.
…Why was that girl with him? What did she have that Luka didn't? That girl wasn't ugly, nor did Luka know a shred of anything about this mysterious green haired girl, but Luka was more than certain that she was a better lover than that girl could ever be. Luka balled her fists, sucking in her tearful breath. A single tear fell down her cheek, but none more than that.
Luka Akarine had in fact not seen blue from the heartache. She was still seeing, living in the red world she loved. But now, she was seeing a whole new type of red for this girl.
Now it was a matter of getting the girl away from her neighbor. That matter was tricky, and Luka was unsure of where to start. Luka paced her apartment, mulling over her options. She was not morally sick enough to force her lover to cheat on that wench. Even Luka had standards. Yet, Luka knew that she had to remove the girl from the picture somehow. Luka glanced at her TV, droning on and on with soap operas. Luka smiled.
Knock Knock!
Luka stood outside of her neighbor's home, smiling as she normally did. It was the late afternoon, around 3pm, and Luka had spent the day making home-made cookies. The door opened, the green haired girl smiling back.
"Hi, I'm Luka Akarine," Luka introduced herself, "And I don't think we've ever met, you are?" The girl seemed stunned to have heard that, but kept her smile.
"Ah, well, I'm Gumi Megurei," Gumi introduced herself back, "Do you live in this complex?" Luka nodded.
"I actually live next door!" Luka warmly then offered, "Would you like to come over? I actually just baked some cookies earlier." Gumi looked to the side for a moment, considering it.
"Hmmm," She turned back to Luka with a smile, "Sure, just give me a sec!" Perfect.
Gumi came over to Luka's apartment, sitting on the gently used couch. Luka set down a platter of cookies on the coffee table in front of her.
"They might still be a bit hot, so be careful! I'll be right back." Luka smiled at Gumi, heading to the bathroom.
This was her chance. It was probably the only shot she had at getting rid of this girl. Once she was done, there was no going back. Luka coldly stared at the tiled floor of her bathroom, but then decided to go forward without a hint of hesitation. Luka slid her hand into her dress pocket, and firm grip on the knife handle resting inside before heading back out.
"Keh! Kh-" Gumi was coughing up a storm as Luka approached her. She winced out, "Hey, uh, these cookies taste a bit odd?" It was probably the bleach, "What recipe did you use, if you don't mind?"
"Oh." Luka calmly responded, "Bleach."
Luka pulled the knife out of her pocket and leapt at Gumi like a ferocious lion setting upon a gazelle. Gumi let out a hoarse scream, the remains of her cookie falling to the carpet. She fell back against the couch, Luka on top of her with the knife. Luka's first few attempts at stabbing the girl were missed, thanks to Gumi's raised arms in a futile attempt to defend herself. Luka held back the girl's arms, and finally stabbed the girl in the gut.
"GYA!" Gumi screamed, trying to kick Luka off of her. Luka didn't budge against the girls' struggles. Her adrenaline, her focus was too strong to waver.
"DIE! DIE!" Luka brought the knife down on the girl more, "HE'S MINE! YOU HEAR ME! HE'S MINE!"
"Lu-Lu-Luuuu…." Gumi's body twitched with each stab, blood spilling from her mouth. Her arms fell to her sides, dangling off the couch.
Luka got off of the girl, the bloody knife still in her hand. Gumi's skin was becoming paler by the second, the bright red blood on her body darkening gradually. Her emerald eyes were desaturated, unfocused. She was without a doubt dead.
"I have to clean up this mess." Luka sighed, "Before he comes over."
At 7pm, there was a knock at Luka's door. Luka smiled and answered the door, facing her lover. He seemed a tad nervous, maybe even panicked.
"Luka, right?" The man asked, and quickly said, "Have you seen my girlfriend? Gumi Megurei? She left a note saying she was going over to a neighbor's house, and she's not home." Luka smiled.
"Oh dear, yes," Luka smiled, "How about you come in, so we can talk more about it?" Luka offered ever so warmly. Her cheeks were already flushed red. The man seemed a tiny bit relieved.
"Thank-you, I will." The man sighed in relief. Luka led him into her apartment, a wide smile on her flushed face.
"Sorry it's a bit dark," Luka apologized as she led him in. The kitchen lights were the only lights on, "But please sit in this chair." Luka leaned against the door as her unrequited love sat in her usual work chair. The sight of him being in her house made her heart gush with joy. Her legs were trembling. Luka locked the door, but he didn't notice.
"No worries," The man assured her, immediately asking, "So, you saw Gumi earlier then?"
"Yes, yes I did." Luka nodded as she walked over to him, recounting the afternoon to him, "She came over to my apartment, and enjoyed some cookies I made."
"Did she leave afterwards? Did she say where?" The man asked, sounding a bit panicked. Luka smiled.
"Well, there was a little accident." Luka gently placed her hand over her mouth, "It was unfortunate, really." Luka stepped over to the door again, flicking on the lights.
Gumi's body was still sat on the couch, albeit sans a head. That was resting on the coffee table with the bleach cookie platter. The blood had dried, sticking to the couch and carpet. The man got up from the chair in horror, nearly knocking it over in the process.
"Oh god…Holy…Holy Shit…Gumi…!" He ran over to his lover, unsure of if to cradle her body or her head. He began to uncontrollably sob, his body trembling, "Gumi…Gumi…No…" Luka gracefully walked over to him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a loving embrace.
"Don't worry. We can be together now that she's gone, hehe," Luka whispered into his ear contently, "Whenever I see you, all I see is red baby." Luka licked her lips.
"Why…Why would…" The man sobbed out. Luka stepped away from the man, confused and put off by his reaction towards her.
Why wasn't he holding her? Why was he only paying attention to that little bitch? He should be noticing Luka not some dead girl! Luka's nails dug into hands.
"This is unfortunate." Luka coldly said. She walked back to the kitchen as the man mourned, picking up the freshly washed knife, "How unfortunate." She stabbed the man in the back.
"AHHH!" He fell face forward with a cry filled with agony.
"NOTICE ME!" Luka ripped the knife out of his back and stabbed him again, and again, and again, and again.
His blood splattered all over the carpet, over the couch, over the table, over Luka. Luka must've stabbed him 50 times by the time her wrists were sore, her hands cut up from slipping off the handle and onto the blade. She dropped the knife onto the red mush that was his body. Luka examined the scene around her. Red. Red. Red. Everything was covered in red. He bled a beautiful crimson. He was dead. But Luka wanted more. She wanted more Red.
Red. Red. Red. Red. Red. Red.
She wanted more red. She NEEDED more red. SHE CRAVED MORE RED.
But he was dead. And that girl was dead.
Luka smiled, and picked up the knife once more.
"I must. Have more."
She fell onto her back as the knife plunged into her stomach. Luka pulled it out, a disgusting noise accompanying the action. More red covered the apartment.
Red. Red. Red. Red. Red Red.
It was all that Luka wanted. And, now she seemingly had it.
I've had this idea on the backburner for a whole month! Now that I'm graduating, I have a lot of free time at the moment, so, I might as well pick up the pace on writing. I will still continue my remake of Vocaloid House! This is simply a side project I wanted to get out. – Kingdom Mitsumi