"They say that a single event, no matter how insignificant, changes you for the better."
Rubbish.
"You all have encountered events in your life that, whatever they may have been, have brought you here. It's time to change for the better, and each of you will be responsible for that."
We'll kill each other first.
"Now, lets' begin with the new members of our group. Akita Neru, Honne Dell; introduce yourselves."
I'd rather not.
Silence enveloped the room as all eyes continued to stare at the conductor.
Today, inside Vocaspeak Mental Institution, two new members are diagnosed and insinuated into a group of mentally ill patients. The same group that's supervised by one of the brightest therapists in the district; Miss Megurine Luka.
"Miss Akita, Mr. Honne; would one of you please introduce yourself and tell us why you are here? Unless, of course, you would prefer that I explain?"
The two remained silent, displeasing their therapist greatly. She didn't like it when people ignored her, especially if they were her patients.
"I guess I have no choice." Neru thought, taking a deep breath as she pushed her back against the cold plastic chair.
"Yo, the name's Akita, Neru Akita. Don't think I'll get along with you people; I already don't like you all, especially that scum bag." She hissed, pointing at the silver-haired male that sat to her left.
He sighed when she mentioned his new nickname; one in many, he presumed. He didn't want to be there either, but he didn't voice his disgust like she did. It was a waste of breath, energy, and down-right pathetic. Spending time on fiddling with the lighter in his pocket while contemplating if he should set himself on fire, however, was a better use of time; that, or continuing to watch and see where life would take him.
"So tell us, Miss Ak-"
"Neru. I don't like it when people refer to me with honorifics. If you know me then call me Neru, if you don't then don't bother calling my name."
"Feisty." The group thought, their eyes averting from their therapist to the blond girl in question. It was a group of -including Neru and Dell- six problematic people. Each one of them, with their respective problems and differences, were all there for the same purpose; progress.
"Well then, Neru; please share with us the reason why you are here."
"I'm here because of this cancer stick." she answered, still pointing her thumb at Dell.
"It's your fault, not mine, don't go blaming me." he shot back, avoiding her heated glare and thumb that just seemed iching to jab itself into his eye.
"Oh really? Last time I check, you're the one who wouldn't get out of the way, even when I asked." Oh, the urge to slap a sucker.
"Neru, please don't fight with Mr. Honne. Start from the beginning."
"The beginning? What even qualifies as the beginning? The part where he got in my way, or the part where I knocked him out?" A small smirk etched itself on her lip as the last words slipped from her tongue.
"Listen, Akita; I didn't see that coming. If I did, I would have defended myself and we wouldn't be here in this nut house with all these psychos." Now he was looking straight at her, venom seeping out of each word.
"Mr. Honne, I'd appreciate it if you refrain from calling this establishment a 'nut house' and your companions 'psychos'." Luka interrupted; soft ice countering raw acid.
Contrary to the tense aura of the room, a bell-like giggle bounced across the cream walls of the medium-sized room. All eyes shifted to teal. A girl, with closed eyes and a dainty hand placed delicately over her smiling lips, continued to giggle amidst the tension.
"You two act like an old married couple; it's very cute." She spoke between giggles, eyes open and watching the 'couple' stare at her.
They weren't as amused with the comparison as she was, and the roaring laughter to Neru's right made the pairs negativity rise.
"Ya know, Pigtails is right, you guys do bicker like an old couple. Yeah! Just like in em' old sitcoms." She laughed and nudged Neru's rib cage with her elbow, as though they were old friends speaking of a forgotten joke.
Neru was tempted to nudge her face into the ground, but refrained from doing so in fear that she'd get into deeper trouble than she was in.
"It started with lemonade." Her mouth spilled as her eyes traveled from the blond, to the ceiling, to Dell again.
The room felt suffocating; Neru felt small. Sure, she loved to command attention, along with respect, but when it came to the 'all eyes on you' scene, her stature suddenly made all the difference in the world. Her back drooped to a slouch reminiscent of Dell's position. The difference: she did it to get comfortable, he did it naturally.
"It was about a week ago. You see, I really like lemonade. Not as much as my cell phone, but it's up there. So every morning before school, I walk to this convenience store near my house to buy some lemonade from the vending machine outside. You know, at the corner of the shop a bit to the right of the sliding door. Now that scum bag-"
"Neru, use his name; be polite."
"Yeah Akita, be polite." Dell mimicked, the corner of his lip twitching; it was a sign of a held back smile.
Don't punch him again.
"Dell. So, that day Dell was standing in front of my machine. So what do I do? Tell him to get out."
"Did you ask politely?" The teal-haired girl asked.
At this, a small sound similar to a chuckle trickled out of Dell's lips. As for Neru, she glared at the curious girl, wishing for nothing more than to yank that happy smile off of her innocent looking face.
Congrats brat, you just made the top of my hate list.
"No." She spat, golden eyes shifting to the left to stare at the one guy who would look at anything but her.
"I betcha she probably glared at him and was all like 'get out old man!'" The strawberry-blond added.
"Pretty much. Isn't she a doll?" Sarcastic tone and dull eyes glistening with mischief, directed themselves towards the scowling blond to his right.
"Yeah yeah, whatever. So I impolitely told him to get out, he kept smoking his cancer stick, blew a few toxic puffs in my face, and smirked at me. So I got mad, punched him in the face, got my lemonade, and walked away." She finished her tale with a perfectly executed arm-cross and glare, targeted at the 'leader' of this group.
"Did you at least step on his face before you left?"
"Lily! That's very mean, even more so than punching someone."
"What? I would've done it like that. He should be honored if I did it though; these boots ain't cheap." Lily rebutted, placing her left foot on top of her right thigh, not caring that her short skirt might become shorter with the move.
"That's mean. Why would you step on such a nice, cute guy? Sure he was in your way, but maybe if you asked politely he would have moved."
The look of sheer horror and disgust on the trios' faces couldn't be described using simple words.
This chick really is insane.
"U-umm...H-Hatsune-san...De-Dell wouldn't have m-moved even if you asked. He's a very stubborn person. Notinanoffensivewaythough!"
"Geeze Haku, if you're going to speak the quit. Stuttering." Neru's words blended with an exasperated, much-needed sigh.
Round curves and alabaster skin sunk deeper into silver plastic, bringing up its legs to rest on the edge of its seat. It-she buried her head into herself, hoping that, if in the fetal position, she'd be able disappear from the room. Oblivion seemed better than being stuck between Dell and Miku.
"I still can't believe you're related to this jerk and didn't tell me anything." Neru continued, gaze shifting to her favorite spot in the room. No ceiling was as attractive as this one, it seemed.
"You never asked..."
Even though she was able to hear those words, Neru decided to ignore them like she ignored whatever she didn't like to hear.
"Happy now?" Neru directed her question to 'Miss Megurine', gold meeting ice blue.
Luka sat farther away from the oval; it was safer there than close to them. That, and it made her status linger over their heads. Hey, she didn't have to be a perfect therapist who cared about every little word that left their lips. All she had to do was help and get paid, which was why she ignored Neru's sarcastic question. It was better for everyone if Luka kept to writing notes on her hot pink clipboard, hand gliding smoothly across the blue lined paper. No one needed to see a peeved Megurine.
"Good luck trying to get her attention. Once we start talkin', Ice Queen over there keeps her yapper shut until she feels like butting in." Lily interjected as she shifted into a better position, one where she could actually take in Neru's form. "By the way, name's Lily and the chick in teal's Hatsune Miku."
"Most people here just call me Hatsune, but you can call me Miku if you wish." Miku pointed a long, freshly manicured index finger at herself. "As for Haku, it seems you both already know her."
"We're related."
"We're best friends."
Even though their words were spoken lightly, they seemed to weigh down Haku's shoulders. She dug herself deeper into her skirt, to the point of slight suffocation.
"The dude sittin' next to me is Shion Taito. Ya can just call him Taito." A yellow-painted digit pointed itself at the only person in the group who hadn't spoken a word.
"Man he looks beaten up. Either he gets into lots of fights, or..."
"And that's why I didn't come over yesterday."
"Wow Neru, how is it that you're always able to attract trouble? Are you like a magnet for it?" Gumi asked, looking both ways before skipping along the street.
"I guess so." Neru shrugged as she spoke, eyes traveling down to stare at the grey asphalt concrete.
The two girls were walking home after a long day of school. Since the two friends had no classes together, they usually spent the walk speaking of their day and any new stories they might have. Usually it was Gumi who would do all the talking, but today Neru had something to say. At least, something she felt that she needed to saying.
"I'm not surprised you punched him though, you do have quite a temper~" Gumi sung, opening her arms wide like an airplane whille walking on the corner of the sidewalk as though it were a trapeze.
Neru chose to stare at the road ahead than to respond. She might be extremely talkative on the phone, but when it came to people in real life, she didn't talk a lot. Unless, of course, the conversation interested her.
"Hey Neru, what's the guy's name? The one you punched." Gumi asked, looking back at the seemingly dazed teen.
"Honne Dell."
"You mean the store owner? The one where you get your lemonade from?"
"What are you talking about?"
Without stopping to speak, Gumi turned on her heels and began to walk backwards, giving Neru a questioning look to match hers.
"Neru, how can you go to the same store for months and not notice the owner? He's always there, sitting on the counter with a laptop next to the cash register just typing his life away. You know, one time I heard he does illegal work for the JSDF, crazy right?" Gumi continued to speak, not realizing that Neru attention was on a completely different person.
If you squint your eyes, look past the semi-old cash register, in between the last two aisles on the far left side of the store, you would see a speck of silver and bubblegum pink together. A man and a girl, one familiar and the other a stranger, kissing between various canned goods.
So the scum bag has a girl.
"I mean, sure Iroha isn't the most reliable source, but I'm sure th-Neru? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go and personally get my lemonade. Don't bother waiting, I'll text you later." Were her last words as she shut the glass door.
Gumi stared, lost and confused. It wasn't the first time her 'best friend' abandoned her, but it still left questions hanging in the air. That was, until she noticed Neru walking towards the aisle where a certain couple fought a stalemate tongue war.
Guess who's going to get their sassy harass mode on tonight? If you guessed Gumi, boy you're good.
Were stores supposed to reek of cigarettes and perfume? The perfume part made sense; she'd spray anything to get rid of the stench. The second thing she noticed was, as she walked by, the aisles seemed both clean yet messy, a complex combination. The third thing she noticed: Dell kisses like those guys in the Spanish soap operas Gumi loves to watch.
"That's disgusting."
Both heads separated and turned to see a scowling Neru, standing straight with her arms crossed as though they were beneath her.
"What are you doing here?"
Neru payed no attention to Dell's words. Instead, she directed her attention towards the female beside him. She had long pink hair tied into twin tails, similar to Miku. The girl looked roughly around her age, possibly seventeen or sixteen. Her taste in clothes and accessories made her look like a rocker; as for her eyes, they looked as though they were able to seduce any man's heart with a simple gaze and strum of the guitar.
So he's into the sexy rocker type.
"So Honne, who's your friend?" Neru pointed her thumb at the girl. Eye contact was crucial; it showed who was weak and who was strong. Neru was no weakling.
He was going to tell her to buzz off, that it wasn't any of her concern and that she shouldn't even be here, but the girl silenced him with a hand on his chest.
"You sure got some nerve, shrimp. The name's Hagane Miku. I'm his girlfriend, and you are?"
You just made me hate l-
"Miku? You're Miku?" Neru blurted out, the thought of the innocent looking teal-haired girl popping into her mind.
"You deaf too? Yeah, Miku's my name, what's it to ya?"
She couldn't believe it, there was no way that the irritatingly sweet Miku she had met yesterday and the sassy rocker standing before her could be the same person.
This has to be a joke.
"What happened to your hair and why are you wearing those clothes?" Neru asked, ignoring her rough tone and acidic attitude.
"It's called hair dye and style. Now if you're done asking stupid questions, get out."
Hagane was testing her, seeing how much she could take before she'd snap and have a fit. Dell had told her about Neru, the punch, but what she didn't know was something else, something he purposely left out.
"Why you littl-"
"Enough. Either buy something or get out." There was no way he was going to be a bystander in the middle of a cat-fight in his shop.
Both girls showed their irritation with glares. Hagane was unhappy because she wanted to continue toying with Neru. Neru was unhappy because she getting kicked out of the place as though she was an uninvited guest at a party. Which, technically, she was.
"Listen Honne, I have no clue what's up with the three hundred sixty degree change, but you two weren't so friendly ye-" Neru's words were sealed by a hand over her mouth, another grabbing her by the waist and dragging her limp body towards the door.
Hagane stared at them clueless. She wanted to follow them, to see what she was going to say, but decided against it, knowing that Dell would just push her away if she came close.
"They're not the same. That Miku, Hatsune I think her last name was, is not her." Was his answer the minute the door closed behind them. Of course, he had to let her go. He had to watch her stumble backwards and wonder if it was possible to just gag her and throw her into a river. It was a crime, but society could thank him for it later.
"Ohh come on. You don't expect me to believe that, do you? They could be twin. I wouldn't be surprised if that is her in disguise. Even if they act nothing alike, you have to admit the brat from yesterday and the brat here resemble each other."
"Don't call her a brat. You're the only brat here. Why are you here? Don't you remember the contract you signed? You're not allowed anywhere near me unless it's those stupid classes."
It was true; she signed a sort of restraining order where she wasn't allowed to get close to him, except for the group therapy sessions. She remembered that much...Now. Contract aside, why did she interfere?
"I was curious to see if it was true that you actually were kissing something that isn't a pillow or inflatable dummy. Don't think I care or anything like that, moron."
Five seconds speaking and the two already felt like tearing each other into pieces. Neru would have too, if it wasn't for the fact that he wasn't doing anything that could provoke her full rage.
"Listen up, Akita. Don't go talking about that other Miku to my girlfriend, okay? They're not the same person, and...well...she doesn't know I'm going to that nut house because of you." One of the worst feelings is embarrassment, especially when it's felt thanks to admitting the truth. If only he could rewind the clock...
So you're also a liar.
"Why didn't you tell her? Sure going to a mental institution for group therapy because a girl punched you isn't the most...wonderful story, per say, but doesn't she deserve to know the truth? She is your girlfriend after all. Or are you just afraid that she'll think you're a psycho and dump you?"
"That is none of your concern, Akita. I don't know why you bothered to come here for something that isn't my machine, but I suggest you shut your trap and get out before I call 'Miss Megurine' and get you into deeper trouble than you already are." He was getting defensive; it was pathetic. When he's all alone at home, with nothing but a cigarette and flashing computer screen to keep him company, he'll re-run the entire day in his head and feel like an idiot for every word he spoke.
Who cares if she interrupted his kiss with Hagane, the few minutes they're able to be together before she has to go to her band practice and reemerge late at night with some half eaten chocolate and apology kisses? He didn't, that's for sure. He didn't care about anything except that she was crossing the line -his line- and that wasn't something everyone touched.
"Fine Honne, I will. Just know that you're on my hate list, along with the terrible twins, and you know what else? I don't care about that stupid contract. Now that you're on my list, you can best believe that I won't leave you alone, not until you're on your knees begging for mercy. I'm. Leaving."
"Is that a bet or a promise?"
Even though he was mad at her, he could never pass up a free chance at teasing someone, especially if it was someone like her. The rough types are always the best to tease, or so he believes.
"It's a promise."
Somehow, the anger went away at those words. As she left the scene, her hand slipped into the cell phone pouch connected to her thigh. A mischievous glint reflected on the black screen.
"Challenge accepted."
A/ n:
Well I'm finally writing a fanfic for one of my favorite pairings out there; Neru and Dell. I hope that this first chapter wasn't too confusing, and in case you're wondering how punching a store owner can land you into a Mental Institution, it'll be explain later on. Also, if any of my other fanfic readers are reading this, I'm still writing the chapter for the new stories (writing for What If is starting to feel like a challenge).
Also, I'm going to write this now before I forget:
Disclaimer: I don't own Vocaloids, Boukaloids, Voyakiloids, Fanmades, Pitchloids, etc. The only thing I own is the ideas.
EDIT 1/18/13: My goodness, how did you people put up with all those errors? I couldn't stop cringing as I read this. Still, thank you for reading :)
