"I'm burning! Please someone help me!!" She tried to mouth with no sound, as she stood struggling for a way out of the fire; the hem of her skirt had started to catch fire and was slowly eating poor Kasane Teto alive. A pitiful April fool's joke was all she was, nobody expected her to sing anymore, she was a sham, a charade, a dull glimpse of a fallen diva.
It seemed like years before the raging licks of bright orange and yellow died down to glowing embers, Teto was barely holding onto life, her body charred and melted into a black fragile form. Her lungs were filled with ash and smoke, and for a second she thought she could see her heart through her burnt skin, but that couldn't be possible, she didn't have a heart.
A chimera was supposed to be born from a fire, right? How ironic, maybe one day I'll be born again… Then maybe I'll have a voice…
"Over here! I saw them throw her here!"
"Are you sure, Rin?"
Are… Are they talking about me?
"Positive! Hurry up Len!! Miku, I found her!!"
"Oh my god, is it too late?"
M-Miku? The legendary Miku?! Am I dead?
"….! No! She's still breathing! She's still alive, c'mon let's get going!!"
"Hang on miss; you'll be alright, de gozaru."
De Gozaru… What a strange saying. I thought only Samurai said that…
And with that, Kasane Teto had let herself succumb to sleep, but would hold on to her life… Maybe just a little longer.
When Kasane Teto awoke she found herself in a hospital bed, as she struggled to sit up, she grunted, and to her surprise, she felt a vibration in her throat. She touched her neck skeptical of her vocal abilities. Too speechless to think of what to say, a visitor entered the room.
"Ah, you're awake. Consider yourself lucky, we've fixed you up right in the nick of time." A man with dark brown hair approached her.
Too ashamed to speak she stayed silent.
"Ah! Excuse my manners. My name is Dr. Hiyama; here maybe this will explain everything." Kiyoteru handed Teto the mirror.
Teto gazed into the mirror with awe. Her shining red hair was held up in full curls on each side of her head. Her deep crimson eyes pierced anything that she would set her sight on. Her skin was not charred, but a soft pale ivory, which emphasized the girl's scarlet features. One thing struck her as odd, for she had the numbers 0401 tattooed high on her arm in purple letters.
Dr. Hiyama chuckled as he watched the girl stare intently at herself. She was a beautiful girl.
"I was informed you have visitors, Teto. I have other patients to attend to." Kiyoteru stood up. "Oh and before I forget, Happy Birthday Teto." He waved goodbye as he exited with a wink.
Birthday…? Was it my birthday today? I never had a birthday…
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!" a loud group of persons barricaded through the door and swarmed to Teto's bed, scaring the poor girl witless.
A girl with long light blue hair had stepped forward; it was the vocaloid goddess herself:
Miku Hatsune.
She smiled, and sang a starting note. Leading an orchestra of vocaloid, they sang happy birthday to Teto, and they sounded amazing. The notes they hit were beautiful and everyone was on key, it made Teto happy and she wished to sing along as well.
"…Happy Birthday to Teto-"
They all cut off and waited with anticipation for Teto. As if they expected her to sing or something. Miku in the middle gestured her to sing the end, but Teto simple shook her head 'No'. Teto knew she couldn't sing, she was just a fake.
That day, Teto was given a special gift that could ever be received; she was given that extra courage to try again. Miku held Teto's hand to give the girl hope, and to start her off on her new life. Taking a deep breath, the crimson chimera opened her mouth.
...
"Happy Birthday… To me!"