DISCLAIMER: I do not own Vocaloid. Or their songs.

Here's my birthday tribute to our favorite diva.

I realize that this is three days late (in my time zone), but let's ignore that. In my defense, this is placed yesterday, the day after her birthday - so I'm really only two days late. And I've been dealing with school. So . . . yeah.

Never mind. Those are weak defenses. I'm sorry, Miku. *bows*

Enjoy!

Birthday Luck - Part 1

"Cut!"

I gratefully stood up and stretched, yawning widely.

"That's good enough, for now," the director sighed. "Miku, what will we do with you?"

Well, excuse me for being tired and crabby at eight o'clock in the morning.

"A day off would be great," I cheerily replied.

He wearily ran a hand through his graying hair, checked the time on his gigantic Quartz watch, and then relented, "Technically, I'm not allowed to do this, but since you're obviously not intending to make this day easy, what do you say about getting the rest of the day off?"

Skillfully hiding my surprise, I lifted my chin and thrust my chest out. "I say that it's only to be expected. After all, I am the princess."

Actually, the princess was trapped in a maze in an icy, dark castle with no way out – not exactly worthy of any envy. But I chose to ignore that fact.

All the crew members, who had obviously been eavesdropping, cheered.

"Thanks, Miku!" yelled Miriam, my make-up artist.

"You're welcome!" I yelled back, curtsying in their general direction.

"You're only a princess in the movie," a voice said from behind me. I whirled around to see Hiyama Kiyoteru, the lead actor, holding a bowl of shaved ice. "You have to admit, she's pretty pathetic. And in reality, you're a wannabe diva. Tell me, how is either of those a desirable role?" He smirked and slowly lifted his spoon to his lips, sliding the ice into his open mouth.

I felt my face grow hot and prayed that it wasn't red.

"Don't tease your partner," the director scolded him. "She's tired. Actually, I'm sorry that I didn't give you the day off on your birthday. That was yesterday, right?"

I froze. "How'd you know that?"

"Please," Kiyoteru scoffed. "You should be used to this right now – nothing in your life is private. Have you never heard of media? Or fans?"

"I have, thank you very much. They're something I have and you don't," I calmly retorted, tying my long teal hair into two pigtails.

"You deserved that," Miriam said as she passed by. She patted Kiyoteru on the head, like he was a little kid. "And she does have more than you."

Ignoring them, I slung my bag over my head so that its strap crossed from my right shoulder down to my left hip. Then I put on my dark sunglasses, tied the pigtails into a bun, and put on a beige beanie. I always hated going out in disguise, but my hair was just too obvious.

"Then, director, I'll be leaving. Thanks for the vacation!"

He blew me a kiss and waved good-bye. The rest of crew followed his example. I set out at a brisk walk, heading back home.

My bodyguards, Leon and Lola Zero, trailed me, trying to be as inconspicuous as two beautiful, blonde foreigners could possibly be.

I was exhausted. Who knew acting could be so tiring? It was pretty lucky that the director decided to be nice and give us the rest of the day off.

"Hey, Miku!"

Internally, I groaned and prayed that the voice didn't belong to who I thought it belonged to. I sped up a little.

"Miku!"

I sped up again.

A hand latched onto my wrist and spun me around, bringing me face-to-face with Kiyoteru. As a disguise, he wore glasses and a brown hoodie.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm walking you home, of course." He rolled his eyes like it was obvious.

"What if I don't want to be walked home?"

"You're stuck with me."

I sighed and linked my arm with his, leaning against him.

"W-What are you doing?" he stuttered. "Do you know what would happen if we stumbled across any paparazzi right now?"

"Calm down. We're in disguise. I'm tired. I need sleep. Gosh, I've been dreaming of taking nap for so long . . . do you know what five hours of sleep every night can do to a girl?"

"Um, no. But you asked for it."

"Technically, I agreed without knowing what I was getting myself into. I'm a singer! I do not act!"

"I'm a singer too, and I act. You're not terrible."

I put my head against his shoulder, amazed by my own boldness. "That must be the first near-compliment you've ever given me."

"You're welcome."

"I wasn't thanking you."

"Don't worry about technicalities."

We arrived at a crossroads. Kiyoteru stopped, failing to notice that there were no cars in sight.

"Move it," I sighed, closing my eyes as we walked across the street. "By the way, what's with the hoodie? It's blazing hot outside."

"My bodyguard made me." He pointed his thumb behind us, where our bodyguards were walking side by side.

"He's new."

"Yeah – Al moved on to bigger and better things. But don't look down on him. Those noodle arms are freakishly strong. And he moves like a ghost, pops up out of nowhere."

"Name?"

"Utatane Piko."

"Leon and Lola Zero."

"I already knew that."

"Don't worry about technicalities."

He frowned.

I giggled and let go of his arm. "I think I feel more awake now. Thanks!"

"You're welcome. You never told me – what're your bodyguards like?"

"Oh, Lola's the silent type. But she takes care of me pretty well. And Leon is our clown and maid."

"Utatane-kun still won't let me use his first name."

"Well, they're foreigners, so it's a little different. Plus, we're family! It must be because you have a mom, and I don't."

"Yeah . . . so, how's your family doing?"

"Good, I guess. The twins have been acting up. I think they're planning something. And Meiko's drinking less, which is good but also suspicious."

"Is that so?" He cleared his throat and looked away. My apartment building came into sight.

"You can drop me off here, thanks," I said, stretching my arms and yawning.

"Nah, I'll walk you back to your door."

"If you insist." I rolled my eyes and pretended to be indifferent. Inside, I was jumping for joy.

So, I admit, I had a tiny crush on Kiyoteru. But why wouldn't I? Aside from his cluelessness and his tendency to make fun of me, he was a cool guy. Nobody's perfect.

"I bet I could beat you if we raced up those stairs," Kiyoteru suddenly said. I looked at the spiraling stairwell and gulped. My place was on the third floor.

"You mean - running?"

"What else?" he laughed.

"Miku and Running don't really-"

"Are you scared? Because we can just walk up, if you'd like," he interrupted. His eyes danced.

"I'm not scared," I quickly replied. "But next time, just challenge me outright. Don't play mind games." He was trying to make me angry, and it was working.

"How was that a mind game?"

"Ready-set-go!"

I shot upwards, ahead by five steps.

"No fair!"

"You should've been more alert!"

"You're a cheater!"

"Save your breath and run!"

He frowned and suddenly sped up, very quickly. My mouth fell open, and then closed, and my legs pumped up and down faster and faster. No way was I losing to him!

My foot touched the third floor a millisecond before his.

"I win!" I yelled, jumping excitedly.

"Did not!"

"Did too! You're a sore loser!"

"You cheat!"

We laughed and leaned against the outside railing.

"So that makes it seven to zero," I said.

"I definitely won at least once!"

"Fine, seven to one."

"No, six to one."

"Seven."

"I'll let you off this time, but only because you're a girl."

"Thanks for walking me home again," I exhaled, putting my hand against the door handle, "and for letting me off again."

"You're welcome. Are you going in?"

"What do you think?" I sarcastically asked, turning the doorknob.

He smirked again and muttered, "Have fun."

I rolled my eyes and pushed open the door.

Then the world exploded.

~=O=~

So, it didn't actually explode. In reality, I exploded.

"What the hell are you thinking?" I screeched, lifting my hands away from my still-ringing ears.

"Sorry," Rin sheepishly apologized.

"All we did was say, 'Happy Birthday'," grumbled Len.

"But you screamed it! Right in my ears!"

I glanced at the twins once, looked away, and then did a double take. Where were the usual sweatpants and T-shirts? Why was Rin wearing a skirt and a . . . blouse?

Wait – scratch that – why was she wearing my blouse? And why was Len wearing clean jeans?

"What's going on?" I asked suspiciously.

"Len, apologize." Rin nudged him in the side, completely ignoring my question.

"No!"

"But you're being-"

"I know, I know, I'm being rude. God, can't-"

"I'm tired," I cut in. "Good morning. I'm going to sleep. Thanks, Kiyoteru, for all that stuff I mentioned before."

"But you have to come with us," Rin exclaimed. "We're going to celebrate your birthday!"

"The one that was yesterday? No thanks. Besides, I already told you guys not to make it a big deal. Anyways, the company's throwing its annual birthday bash tomorrow."

"But Miku," Len whined. "Meiko even drank less for you, and Kiyoteru even agreed to play along. You'll have fun, we promise!"

"Agree already," Meiko said from her position in front of my bedroom door.

"Please?" Rin joined in. She widened her eyes.

Uh-oh.

I averted my gaze. "I'll be going to my room . . ." I trailed off as I remembered that Meiko was currently blocking the doorway. "This is blackmail!"

"Not really," said Kiyoteru.

"Shut up."

"Please?" Rin repeated. Her eyes got wider, somehow.

"Rin, you know, that attack doesn't work anymore . . . how the hell do they get so big? No! I will not be persuaded!"

I obstinately glared at the ceiling. Someone stepped on my foot. I instinctively wrenched the throbbing limb into the air and, consequently, was forced to lower my head.

"Ow! What the-"

Kiyoteru clapped a hand over my mouth and turned my head towards the twins, who were standing side by side, fixating me with those adorable azure eyes of theirs.

"Fine, fine!" I yelled in a muffled voice, glaring at Kiyoteru. He removed his hand. "I'll go! But you two have to promise never to gang up on me ever again."

"Eh? Why?"

Now that Len had gotten what he wanted, the cute façade had vanished.

"Are we going or not? I might change my mind. . . ."

"Let's go, then!" Meiko yelled, suddenly full of energy. She pushed me towards the open door of the apartment. "Move those legs!"

"I'm tired and lazy," I protested.

"Meiko, haven't you forgotten something?" Kiyoteru patiently reminded her.

She froze, as if remembering something, and then dashed away. I stumbled backwards and managed to catch myself on the doorway.

"Wait right there!" Meiko called from her bedroom. We could hear her banging and cursing as she searched for the missing item.

"Let me get my bag," Rin said, beaming.

Len mumbled something.

Rin's eyes narrowed. "Len, did you or did you not get everything ready last night like I told you to?"

He mumbled something else.

"Len! How could you?"

"How could you not notice? We share a room."

"Because you go to sleep at four in the – never mind, there's no time for this! Let's hurry. If I help, you'll pack faster!"

She dragged him into their room, ignoring his protests.

"How much could they need?" I muttered, readjusting my beanie.

"Got it!" Meiko yelled, running through her door, carrying a bright red backpack decorated with the caps of sake bottles.

"There's so much One Cup Ozeki," Kiyoteru remarked.

"It's her favorite."

"Let's go, then!"

"Big sister, dear, your other two siblings are busy gathering their belongings."

"Len!" Rin shouted from inside their room.

I vaguely wondered what he could have done.

"Do you really think-" He collapsed into high-pitched giggles.

"Give it back!"

Rin stumbled past the threshold, her eyes watery. "Miku, Len stole my orange!"

"Hey, I'm the oldest here," Meiko protested as I took Rin's hand. "You should come to me for help."

Ignoring her, I led Rin into her room and immediately spotted a very useful item. Whooping with victory, I snatched up the banana.

"Trade," I said in an authoritative voice.

"My banana," Len gasped.

"You were so giddy that you forgot to guard your own precious snack. Drop the orange."

We slowly set the fruit down on the floor, warily eyeing each other.

"Go!" I yelled, running towards the orange. I picked it up just as Len reached the banana. "Here you go." I handed the orange to Rin. "Now you've got your snacks, and we can go on whatever trip you have planned."

"Thanks, Miku," Rin sniffled. Then, in the blink of an eye, her expression completely changed. "Now leave," she ordered.

"I just helped you!"

"But we're not done. Len, you leave too. You're no help."

She pushed us out, handed Len his dirty yellow backpack, and slammed the door in our faces.

I dutifully waited next to Kiyoteru, Meiko, and Len, who kept grumbling and tossing his banana into the air. Meiko started to complain about her dry throat.

Rin emerged from her room a few minutes later. A gigantic, bright yellow bag hung from one shoulder.

We gaped.

"That's too heavy," Len said, running over to her. "Put some stuff in my bag."

"I can handle it," she replied, disregarding his protests. "To the car!"

"There's a car?" I asked.

"Mine," answered Kiyoteru. "I'll be driving."

The two of us walked outside, followed by a complaining Meiko and the bickering twins. Our voices rose into the air as we shouted over each other.

"You can drive? You have a car?"

"Rin, you're a girl. Girls should be taken care of by guys!"

"Yes, I can drive. And I can certainly afford a car."

"I want water, or sake! Give me something to drink!"

"Len, you sexist pig! For your information, I am fine."

"What about the bodyguards? Will they follow in another car?"

"Girls are so stupid! Fine then! When you collapse from exhaustion, see if I care!"

"I sent away my bodyguard. Yours are relaxing in your apartment right now."

"When did you send them away? I never noticed anything."

"I'm thirsty!"

"Well, I won't collapse, because I can carry this much!"

And so on.

Around this time, we arrived at the car. It was sleek and dark blue. This was the extent of my knowledge of the subject.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I settled into the passenger seat. Meiko sat behind me, while Rin plopped herself into the middle seat, studiously ignoring her brother.

Kiyoteru handed Meiko a bottle of water and answered, "Somewhere special." He grinned widely, revealing one dimple and two rows of pearly white teeth.

I had to look away so he wouldn't see me blush.

Yes, it's an awkward ending (my opinion), but it was the best place I could find.

Cookies to anyone who can figure out who's saying what in the patch of dialogue above. It shouldn't be hard.

Speaking of cookies - who else loves Pepperidge Farm?

The next part should be up tomorrow.

I really hope I don't dream about homework again. -_- School is slowly destroying my sanity.

Anyways, sweet dreams to all you wonderful people . . .