The "Flying on your Wings" saga has been revived!

So yes, I'm working on this series of short stories and anecdotes that will happen and has happened in the "Flying on your Wings" universe. Requests are open – just tell me what you want to see and I will write them as part of the series (: I will PM you once it is done.

For those who are reading this before reading my other story "Flying on your Wings", it might be clearer to read that first so as to get the full story! ^^

I might not update frequently, but rest assured the After Stories will not be halted.

Hope you are like me, who wishes the feathers of Rin and Len's story to continue flying in the vast blue sky.

EDIT 8/8/12: I just realized that I've missed out one sentence in the middle of this story in this version DD: Sorry guys! Also amended some grammar mistakes I've spotted.

Phase 1: (request by CatPhones)

A Hypothesized Beginning

Characters:

The Scientists (Kaito, Miku, Luka, Gakupo)

Brief appearance of Rin and Len…?

Outline:

Insights into the life of the four scientists before the main plot begins. No matter what they have become, they were living, breathing humans with their own dreams and life goals too. It is also the small things that count in life, isn't it? See how everything is connected through thin but palpable threads, where everything began, in this story.

October 3, 2009.

"If only we can work together~ ne, isn't it, Kaito?" A green-haired girl smiled and looked into the clouds, leaning her head onto the man beside her. He raised his arm that has circled around her shoulder and gently brushed her locks.

"Don't be silly, Miku, my dear." The blue-haired man, Kaito, replied with a joyful laugh. "How long have we known each other? We've studied together, graduated together, and worked in the same field together. Isn't that great?" He reached his other hand into a packet of sunflower seeds and scattered them over the tiled floor. Moments later, three sparrows flew down from the air and moved towards them gingerly. Sensing no dangers, they stood over the seeds and started pecking.

The wind blew, caressing the couple's hair with light breeze.

The duo sat on the bench of an empty top floor of the APPEND corporation building, which they have been working at. In front of them was a vast, bustling city. Tall skyscrapers seek to touch the sky, busy office workers and students rushed on the streets…

But out of all of these, the APPEND corporation was the grandest. It specialized in scientific advancements, taking in personnel from all fields and conduct researches on biological sectors. Dr Kaito was one of the lead researchers in this corporation, while Professor Miku was a renowned epidemiologist. Recently, due to her job scope, the company has decided to appoint Miku along with an external epidemiologist Professor Luka to a remote area so as to conduct a screening for an infectious disease. They would be gone for how long, nobody knows – for time span was always an uncertain factor in the field of scientific researches.

"Don't worry about it, alright?" Kaito smiled and faced her, and she looked to the man beside her. His smile was bright like an angel's, with the afternoon sun gleaming behind him. "Your expedition will be a short one – I assure you, we will see each other again in the future not long ahead, and let us conduct a joint research together once more, yes?"

Miku smiled back, knowing that this man she loved always kept his promise. "I'll finish what I have to do quickly and come back." She leaned her head onto his chest, looking out into the serene landscape. The sparrows sang to themselves, and the winds seemed to whisper gently in their ears. Secretly she wished that time would stop at this moment, with just her and Kaito, without any regards on this world.

The blue-haired scientist lowered his head onto Miku's cheek, and softly kissed her.

"I love you."

December 17, 2009.

He tied his long purple hair into a long ponytail, and put on his lab coat. He put down his pair of spectacles and replaced it with safety goggles.

"Time to get to work." He mumbled to no one in particular as he pushed open the door of his laboratory.

"Dr Gakupo, you're early!" A female lab technician looked up from her computer and exclaimed.

"Of course I am – I'm always early." Gakupo replied in a flat tone, but there were no hint of annoyance in his voice. "How's it going?"

She nodded and moved away from the computer, allowing the biologist to sit down. "As you can see here from the analysis, the DNA from the cells you have harvested from Sample A has 80% similarity with that of Sample B…"

Dedicating himself in the fields of Evolutionary Studies and Microbiology, Gakupo was a serious man who was focused in his works. He has a particular interest in not only the biological relationship between organisms, but the phenomenon of "Bottle-neck Effect" as well. He wished that perhaps one day, he would be able to take part in such studies and be there to witness the undeniable change of the natural world.

He sat down comfortably in his office chair while checking his emails. He looked down on his watch – 6.15 pm – and decided to call it a day. Gakupo was saving his research paper on his laptop that he has been working on when his mobile phone rang.

"Told you not to call me during my office hours, Kaito." Gakupo picked up his phone and said nonchalantly. The voice at the other side of the phone laughed.

"It's way past your working hours by 15 minutes, Mr Eggplant." The jovial scientist jested. "You ready to knock off now? Let's go get some food and some drinks."

"You're only calling me because your girl is overseas now, eh?" Gakupo snickered as he lied back on his arm-chair.

"Truly my buddy! You know me well."

"I get it. Give me some time to pack up. I'll meet you at 6.30pm, at the bar opposite the street?"

"'The Synthesizer' huh? Alright, see you there!" A jolly voice replied, and the phone was hung up.

Gakupo put down his phone and smiled bitterly at his old friend's behaviour. "Still the same after so many years huh." He picked up his belongings, switched off the lights, and walked out of his office.

…

"So what have you been up to?" Kaito asked while waiting for his after-meal dessert – ice cream sundae.

"Nothing amazing – recently I'm just studying about possible diseases that may wipe out populations, you know, like how the smallpox destroyed an ethnic group." Gakupo replied as he took a gulp of mocktail – he needs to drive back home tonight, and he won't risk drunk driving.

"Sounds interesting! Well, I have just completed my research, so I'm pretty free on my mind now-" So that's why you called me out only now even though Miku has been gone for 1 month, huh. Gakupo thought and smirked. I know you too well. "-and my next project will be on flu virus. I sensed that I'll have a breakthrough… Ah! Thank you very much." The waitress put down his plate of icy confectionary and the scientist started digging in.

"I see. I'll be done with my review paper too – perhaps I can join you on your next project if you deemed fit?" Gakupo stated.

Busy with his dessert, Kaito merely flashed his friend a thumbs-up and a grin with his mouth full. Gakupo shook his head while smirking. He knew that this ice-cream fanatic in front of him would not bother about anything else until the plate of sweets has been eliminated. He turned his head and looked around the surroundings.

'The Synthesizer' was a busy bar, with most of the patrons coming from the APPEND corporation. Gakupo could spot a number of lab technicians drinking in one corner, and some lonesome scientist in one corner – depressed about his experiment, perhaps? Gakupo continued to drink his beverage.

"So so so~ Miku will be back around next year. I hope to plan a surprise Valentine's Day celebration for her even though she is still overseas." Kaito resumed his chattering once the ice cream has been annihilated.

"And would it be the flu virus research?"

"Hahaha, Gakupo – your sense of humour is so uniquely you." Kaito said while grinning. "I have yet to plan. But I'm thinking of getting her a cat, now that we have a dog."

(Author: hey hey hey Kaito are you serious? Aren't you afraid of your dog being bullied by the cat? XD Anyway, you shouldn't be buying pets as gifts! It's a really irresponsible action.)

"…You are keeping a dog now?"

"Yep! As a matter of fact, I've just sent it to the veterinarians for a regular checkup – I'll be picking it up afterwards."

"The vets huh…I don't remember having any vet clinic in this city, though."

"It's the one not far away from here – a 20 minutes drive perhaps? Speaking of the vets, those two are pretty young, but they are really skilled. It's situated in a nice, quiet town at the countryside – maybe you should visit there one day to relax, you looked so tensed." Kaito poked fun at the purple-haired biologist, in which he replied with a snort.

"That's nice to hear. What's the clinic's name? The lab tech at my workplace was thinking of getting her rabbit checked as well but couldn't find a good place."

"I don't remember the name…" Kaito scratched his head. A sweatdrop formed on Gakupo's foreheard. Are you sure you're a scientist? "But! I remember the vets' names. Dr Kagamine Rin and Dr Kagamine Len."

February 14, 2010.

In a certain part of a tropical remote country, two women worked relentlessly under the scorching sun in a poorly-ventilated tent. They wore sleeveless tops and shorts under the lab coat in the makeshift laboratory – though under-furbished, it was still fully functional, with microscopes and computers and small freezers to store blood samples.

The duo were none other than epidemiologists Professor Miku and Luka, classmates of the same university but have parted ways when different companies have hired them. But now they have the chance to work together once more in this project to gather information about a disease in this region, as well as distributing vaccines.

They have been working here for 3 months now, yet their job has only started – there was still a long way of screening to go.

"Let's take a break, Miku." The pink-haired lady called out to her fellow researcher who was sorting out samples in the freezer. She then opened another mini-fridge they used to keep their foodstuffs, and threw a can of soft drink. Miku caught the ice-cold beverage and smiled a 'thanks' as she stopped her work and sat down. Luka did the same.

"Quite a big feat eh, Miku." Luke smiled as she lied back on a semi-broken sofa, but that was better than nothing. Her lab coat was half-unbuttoned, the low-cut shirt she wore underneath was the same colour as her hair.

"It is, we've came a long way but there's still a long~ way to go." Miku answered back while laughing as she opened her mailbox on the computer. She deleted some junk mails here and there, when…

"!" Miku gasped, making Luka sat up with a frown. She trotted to the teal-haired girl's side and looked over the computer screen.

"It's Kaito!" Miku pointed to the email in excitement. Luka smirked, poking at Miku in the ribs with her elbow.

"Ahh~ Your cute boyfriend back in the city eh~" She read the first few lines and stuck her tongue out. "The mushy-ness in this give me goosebumps~"

"Hahaha, don't laugh at me, Luka." Miku grinned, but her eyes never left the screen. "He wished me Happy Valentine's Day-"

"That's not very sweet of him, through an email." Luka joked, but there were no malice in her voice.

"-and…oh! Seems like he has started on a new research. Let's see…aha! He is now focusing on the flu virus – the Orthomyxovirus – and he has managed isolate a new strain. Oh my god! It's a breakthrough!" Miku squealed in exhilaration. "And he has asked us to form a team with him once we're done – he will be waiting for our expertise in this field." She continued reading the email while Luka just stood behind her, respecting her privacy. Suddenly, Miku looked up and it was her turn to smirk evilly at Luka.

"…What." Luka eyed her suspiciously. What's this girl up to?

"And it seems like Kaito's old friend, not to mention your crush – Gakupo – will be joining us as well once he returns from some rainforest which he is currently conducting fieldwork at." Miku grinned at her friend, who by now has red blush across her cheeks.

"N-no, whoever m-mentioned that I like h-him?" Luka pouted and turned her head away, but she couldn't hide a tiny smile away from her best friend.

Miku laughed and hugged Luka from behind teasingly. "Don't try to trick me~ I have known you since our schooldays, how can I not know what you're thinking?" She then let go and stood up. Luka turned to face her, puzzled.

"That being the case, shouldn't we hurry and return as soon as possible, and see our loved ones again?" Her smile like gentle rays of sun, warm and tender.

Luka couldn't help but smile back, and nodded.

October 19, 2010.

"Kaitoooooooooo!" The plane has just landed on the airport, and once she stepped out of the arrival hall, she could see Kaito waiting at the gates. With the sunlight that shined through the glass panels, Kaito looked even more handsome and gentle than she remembered. She ran and hugged him, with Luka trailing slowly behind her with all their luggage.

"Welcome back." Kaito's smile was the same as he hugged back and caressed her hair. There were tears of joy in her eyes as he tenderly wiped it away. "Silly girl."

April 3, 2011.

The three scientists were working in their laboratory as they struggled with their researches. It was tiring work, with long working hours and many uncertainties. But they were content – what could be better for a researcher, when good friends are working on the same project, working towards the same goal?

Suddenly, the door to the lab opened. Kaito, Miku and Luka wheeled back in surprise – this was a highly secured lab due to the high virulence of the pathogen, and there were no one else other than them working on it. Who could this intruder be?

The tall man walked into the lab in tidy lab attire, his lab coat with the name "Dr Gakupo" strewn on it. The man tied back his long purple hair and looked at the stunned scientists from behind his spectacles.

"Hello, old friends."

"Gakupo! You're back!" Kaito and Miku exclaimed with joy at the same time. Luka, on the other hand, waved at him while whispering 'Welcome Back' with a red blush on her face.

"It has been a long time – so I heard you guys are working on this project on this Orthomyxovirus strain, and I heard I'm on the boat, am I right?" He smirked. "It's good to be back."

They stopped what they are doing, and before leaving the lab they made sure all the safety precautions were done right – both to secure the health of themselves as well as making sure that their precious work aren't contaminated.

Upon walking out of the lab and with the door automatically locked behind them, the conversations exploded. Most were excited blabbers from Kaito and Miku, with the occasional soft (?) greetings from Luka.

"Anyway, thanks for accepting my invitation to join this team." Kaito smiled and patted Gakupo on the back. "This is truly the dream team." Gakupo merely smiled back and nodded, obviously tired from all the talking.

"Hey! Before we officially start work as a team, let's take a photograph to commemorate this day where we come together for this research!" Miku announced as she fished out an instant film camera. "Everyone~ Come on!"

Kaito hugged his arms around Miku's neck with his hand up in a 'V' sign. Miku stood in front as she held the camera with her left hand. Luka stood to her left and winked. Gakupo has plunk himself behind Luka and smirked at the camera with hands in his lab coat pockets.

The camera flashed.

April 14, 2011

"Miku my dear queen~ what are you writing?" Kaito approached the green-haired scientist and leaned over her. It was lunch hour, and both Luka and Gakupo have gone to the cafeteria. Miku sat by herself at her office desk, and Kaito has just finished viewing his slides on the microscope when he walked past the girl.

Miku smiled back without turning her head as she continued to scribble on a notebook.

"It's a diary – a logbook – for me to write down the progress and events of our research work. So that one day we can look back on our achievements, and perhaps show the later generations what we've done." She snuggled into Kaito's chest.

"Hahaha, I see~ That's a really good idea. But let's pause it for now – wanna go for lunch with me?"

"Sure!" She closed the leather-bound book and placed it neatly on the desk before standing up.

"We'll definitely make history, Miku. What we're doing now…it is a huge breakthrough; it is a turning point in human history. I know – I have this strong feeling – that this research…

…will change the world."