"No."
That one word was what crashed upon the small joy Haku had grasped in the moment.
"But...But Dell-san..."
"No buts. We're not going." He scoffed, looking at the invitation in his hand again. The little letter had come in a plain envelope with a red wax stamp to keep it shut. How very...fancy.
Crumpling it, Dell threw it towards the trash. It missed and hit the wall before rolling on the floor. He grumbled, but didn't bother to go pick it up. He had better things to do than go to some party.
"Everyone would be there...And we...We might get some...Attention..." Haku stuttered, practically pleading with her brother.
She really wanted to go to this. To see what their lives were like, and maybe, just maybe, find a way to improve her and Dell's lives. That is, if Dell would stop being stubborn.
"They just invited us because they hadto. Orders of the manager, no less...They don't want us there, and even if they did, it isn't like anyone's going to be watching us."
Oh, great, another headache was coming on. Grabbing up a cigarette from his pocket, Dell flicked his lighter and took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent and taste.
Haku, however, wasn't ready to give in.
Kneeling to the ground her knees, she bowed down to him.
"Please, Dell-san...If you don't want to go...T-That's fine...But I want to..." She looked to him, but all she saw in his red eyes was denial.
"I'm not letting you go and embarrass yourself in front of all those people, Haku. You're not allowed to go."
"But-!"
"This conversation is over." He headed for the door. "I have work to do now, so don't bother me. I need to start using that new laptop, after all. It's more efficient than that old computer and..."
He trailed off with his words as he walked down the hallway.
--
She wasn't sure how long she stayed on the floor before finally getting up. Bending down and picking up the invitation, Haku carefully smoothed it out, trying to get the creases back in shape.
"You are cordially invited to a get together this upcoming Sunday at 9PM at the Vocaloid Mansion. Please dress in formal clothing and act rightfully. Any guests that you wish to have accompany you are more than welcome to come. And don't forget to come with a fun attitude!"
As if anyone would actually listen to those rules. Formal clothing was rare in the Vocaloids, even for those who seemed to wear it normally took it for granted.
Just because Dell had said no wasn't going to stop her.
Haku would find a way there, even if it meant disobeying her brother's order. He wasn't her boss. No one was, not even Master.
The only problem left, however, was figuring out how she could sneak out without her brother noticing, stay out and not have him notice, and then get home without arousing suspicion.
No matter...Time for a master plan...
--
"Dell-san, I'm going out for awhile."
"Where?" He answered right away.
Haku had to be ready for that one. Any other night, her brother wouldn't really ask her where she as going, because it was either into town or at the bar.
But tonight was the night of the party, and while he was sure she wasn't going to actually go and do anything strange, he was in that overprotective brother mode.
"Just into town...Why?"
"When will you be back?" Another question he rarely asked.
"I'm not sure...Late?"
Dell sighed and glanced back at her. She was leaning in the doorway to his bedroom, squinting so the bright light of the laptop didn't hurt her eyes.
"...Fine. But Haku, for the love of God, and the sake of my sanity, please don't drink tonight. Please."
The way he said those words...She just had to stifle a laugh. It wasn't often that he would get so pleading, unlike her.
"I won't...I promise, Dell-san."
Well...Technically, there was the chance that alcohol couldbe at the party. After all, Meiko would sometimes be spotted down at the bar, and occasionally, Haku witnessed other Vocaloids taking a few sips of wine, or even rum if they felt bold, or if they just were just plain stupid.
"Haku." Dell spoke, startling Haku from her thoughts. "Are you sure there is nothing else you want to tell me?"
"N-No...Why would I?"
"...No reason...Just...Don't stay out too late..."
Turning away from her in his chair, he began typing on his laptop again until he heard the door shut. At that, he stopped abruptly and stared down, eyes cast to the floor.
"...Liar..."
--
Walking down the street towards the corner, Haku studied the streets carefully. She couldn't walk to the mansion, but there was an easy way around that.
As casually as she could, she'd called the number listed at the bottom of the invitation, simply saying she would be there, she needed a ride, and to come by the corner.
A small thrill went through her body. She'd actually gone against Dell's words, something she had never done. But the rush she got from it was amazing!
She didn't have to turn around and ask Dell if they should go this way, or do that thing. No, it was all her.
Dell wasn't bossy, per se. He had his kind moments, but...He had a controlling side. An overly brotherly controlling side, and it didn't help Haku that she herself was a bit of a submissive person by nature.
Leaning against a stop sign, she looked back and forth down the street, keeping herself hidden slightly.
A red car suddenly pulled up alongside her. The window rolled down on the drivers side to reveal a red-haired male. If Haku remembered people's looks correctly, he looked almost exactly like Kaito.
"Are you Haku?" He asked, like it wasn't obvious at all.
"Y-Yeah..."
He pointed towards the back seat.
"Well, get in then."
Opening the left door, Haku slid in and shut the door, looking around.
The red-haired boy sat in the drivers seat, rolling up the window and driving again. Beside him sat another male with long pink hair, ending in a curl like a tornado. He looked back at Haku and gave her a smile.
Haku smiled back nervously before looking to her side.
Beside her sat a girl with red hair in pigtails. She wore a white shirt and a red and black skirt. Glancing from the boy driving to the girl beside her, Haku swore their hair matched perfectly.
"So you're Haku, huh?" Said the pink boy.
"Um, yes...Who might you be?" She asked nervously.
"Ohhh...Right! Sorry about that..."
The red haired boy sighed. "Ted, you are such a..."
"Just keep driving, Akaito." Ted glared at him slightly.
"Ted...Ted Kasane?" Haku asked. She'd certainly met Teto and heard of Ted, but never once imagined how alike the two were.
"Ha! Yep, that's me."
A small smile came to Haku. They seemed nice enough...
"Do you know who I am? Hm?" The red haired girl asked. Haku looked from her to Akaito.
"Um...Akaito's...Sister?"
Ted leaned back in his seat, laughing as hard as he could. "Sister!! Good one! Oi, Akaito, how many different things have they guessed her to be related to you as now?"
He shut up only when Akaito pulled over on the side and proceeded to hit him in the shoulder.
The girl sighed and looked at Haku with a friendly expression. A warm feeling came to Haku's chest. What was this? Is this what people called companionship?
"Sorry about them...They don't exactly get along the best but..."
"...It's fine..."
The smile on Haku's face was too obvious now, and she almost laughed. It was a good feeling, being surrounded by these three and feeling like she belonged.
It almost made her forget the lies she had told.