Queen Sunstar: I love the Vocaloids! My favorite is Kaito. Normally, I listen to instrumental stuff. I am mostly deaf, but I can hear. I don't hear high notes or sounds, but I can hear low notes and sounds. Kaito's voice sits in the low sound range I can hear, and my favorite song is Tell Your World by Kaito. It is in Japanese, and I happen to be able to understand Japanese. I can't speak the language other than counting to ten and a few words. I'm sorry to Akaito, but he is fun to torture. Every Vocaloid in this tale is most likely a little OC. If someone is not acting as they should, I apologize. Sorry, no shipping here. Kaito and Akaito are twins, and it may feel like a shipping at times, but they are not lovers. I own only Dr. She, and the plot.
One of his headaches was coming on. Kaito moved toward his bed and sat down, the growing headache reaching migraine status. He reached for the top drawer of his night table. His vision swam. He blinked, his hand closing around the bottle of prescription pain medication. He managed to swallow two pills before collapsing onto his bed. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pounding to stop. His stomach lurched painfully. Kaito breathed slowly, fighting the rising nausea. He careened out of bed and rushed toward the bathroom. His vision swam again. He stumbled up against the wall. A knock sounded at his bedroom door.
"Kaito, are you okay in there?" It was Miku.
Kaito knew if he opened his mouth, he would vomit. He took a deep breath, and made it to the bathroom to collapse in front of the toilet. His last meal came up in a wave of bloody froth. He coughed harshly, bringing up another wave of bloody froth.
"Kaito? I'm coming in!" Miku sounded worried. She opened the door and rushed to the bathroom where Kaito was currently huddled over the toilet, "Kaito, what is wrong?"
"I'm not feeling well." Kaito groaned, and vomited some more into the toilet, "It's one of my migraines..."
"There is no way you are going to be able to perform tonight." Miku rubbed Kaito's back, "I'm going to have to come up with something or else I'll have to cancel the concert. I bet I could convince Akaito to do your parts. The two of you sound alike. Sadly, he is a klutz."
"Guy's got two left feet." Kaito closed his eyes, "I hate this."
"I hate seeing you this way. You think you are done?" Miku asked.
"Yea. I'm feeling a little better." Kaito rose, and swayed, catching the wall to keep himself up. He staggered back to his bed and folded onto it like a stack of cards.
"Let's get you into your pajamas and into bed." Miku decided.
Kaito was too dizzy to manage the task by himself. Miku had to help him. She left and returned with a bowl and a glass of water. Kaito had managed to get under the covers. Miku placed the items on the night table.
"Thanks, Miku." Kaito replied.
"You are welcome, Kaito. Get better soon." Miku headed downstairs.
Luka was waiting along with Akaito.
"What is going on, Miku?" Akaito asked.
"Kaito's sick. There is no way he can perform tonight." Miku sat down.
"We can't cancel the concert!" Luka cried out.
"That is why I asked you two to come here. Gakapo and Len are doing who knows what, Rin is too busy coordinating tonight's performance, and Mieko is not performing tonight. Akaito could handle Kaito's parts." Miku said.
"Are you serious? Akaito can't dance to save his life!" Luka cried out.
"I'm sitting right here!" Akaito snapped, "I can dance!"
"You don't dance. You fall!" Luka shot back.
"I do not! The floor is mean to me!"
"Hey!" Miku called out, "That is enough!"
"I really can dance." Akaito pouted.
"You better know Kaito's parts." Luka hissed.
"What about the song Kaito and I were going to do together?" Akaito ignored her.
"That song has been removed from the line up." Miku answered, "You are going to do a solo. I'm thinking maybe a love song."
"Ooh! He could do I Thought She Loved Me!" Luka called out.
The sound of vomiting drifted downstairs. Miku got up and went upstairs. She returned a few moments later.
"He is real out of it. He is nearly as white as his jacket. I don't want to leave him alone like this." Miku said.
"Mieko could watch him while we perform tonight." Luka replied, "So, will Akaito sing the song I chose?"
"Why didn't she love me? Why did she leave? Was it me? Was it something I did?" Akaito answered in song.
"Yes he is totally singing that one." Miku replied, picking up the phone to call Mieko. Mieko agreed to watch Kaito.
Hours later, Mieko arrived. The three performers left for the concert. Mieko went upstairs to Kaito's room and went in. Kaito was asleep. She sat in his desk chair and watched over him as he slept. The stark whiteness of his skin made his blue hair stand out even more. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. Mieko stood and placed a cool hand on Kaito's forehead.
"You are burning up." Mieko went and found a thermometer. She slipped it into Kaito's mouth. It beeped after a few moments.
"104.3. that is quite high. I need to cool you down." Mieko went and got a bowl of cold water and a washcloth. She began to wipe the sweat off of Kaito's brow. The blue haired singer seemed to sigh in relief. "That feels good, huh?"
Sometime later, Mieko checked Kaito's temperature, "102.8. That is better."
"Hmm..."
"Waking up?"
"Mieko?"
"Yes? I've been taking care of you."
"Thanks."
"You are welcome. I hope you don't mind, but I've been watching the concert on TV."
"You could turn it up."
"Okay." Mieko turned the volume up. On TV, Akaito was singing I Thought She Loved Me. Kaito began to nod along to the beat of the music. The next performance was by Miku and Gakupo. The next song, Miku sung alone
Kaito yawned, feeling tired. He fell asleep listening to Len and Luka sing. Mieko considered turning the volume down, but left it where it was. She yawned, feeling tired herself. It was late, and the concert would end in two hours. She struggled to stay awake but ended up dosing instead. The sound of coughing woke her up. Kaito was nearly doubled over, his body shaking from coughing so hard. He slumped backward with a tired sigh. Mieko gasped, staring at the blood on the blanket.
"Kaito? Are you okay?" Mieko asked.
Kaito's answer was to grab the bowl and vomit. It was entirely blood. He couldn't seem to stop. After finally stopping, he fell backward with a shudder, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.
"Kaito? Kaito! Wake up!" Mieko shook him, getting no response. "I'm calling for help!"
"That was a good concert." Miku said as they walked home from the concert hall.
An ambulance sped by, stopping in front of a house.
"Wonder what happened." Akaito said.
"That's my house!" Miku realized.
"You don't think?" Luka worried.
"Kaito?" Akaito ran. The others ran behind him to the house. Mieko was on the stairs, crying.
"What happened?" Akaito asked, his voice colored by fear.
"It's Kaito!" Mieko cried, "He just fainted and I couldn't wake him!"
"Everyone, into the living room." Miku ordered as everyone followed. It wasn't long before the paramedics came down the stairs carrying Kaito on a gurney.
"We are taking him to the hospital, Providence General Hospital. His heart is working too hard, and he is not moving oxygen too well." A Paramedic said, "One of you can ride with us."
"I will." Akaito said.
"I'll drive." Miku nodded.
"So, brother?" The paramedic asked later in the ambulance.
"We're twins." Akaito responded, "We are identical twins. Before you even ask, no, we can't feel what the other is feeling, nor can we talk telepathically to the other. No twin powers here, other than knowing when the other needs the other. There have been times when we have sensed the other twin in danger, but that is it. I didn't sense anything was wrong until I saw the ambulance."
The ambulance arrived at the hospital and Akaito followed the gurney as far as he was allowed to go. The others met him in the waiting area. It would be a long wait. Morning broke, coloring the sky in pink and gold hues as the sun rose. Miku, Luka, and Mieko dosed. Akaito paced. A doctor entered the room.
"Kaito?" She called.
The group gathered around her.
"My name is Dr. She, and I'm an infectious disease specialist. Kaito is under my care. He has a severe lung infection that has spread to his blood. It is starting to infect his heart, liver, and kidneys. It appears to be a virus of some kind, and I'm running tests to determine what it is. Right now, he is in isolation and it appears he has fallen into a coma. We are breathing for him right now, and you will see a lot of wiring. He is in room four of the isolation ward. This way." Dr. She led them to the isolation ward. They gathered around a window. Inside the room, doctors in hazmat suits moved around, tending to Kaito. "We don't know if this is contagious yet."
"Mieko and I have been taking care of him, and Akaito was with him in the ambulance!" Miku's eyes went wide.
"We've been around them!" Luka realized.
"That's not good. I'm putting you in room five. You'll still be able to watch Kaito through the window in there." Dr. She opened the door and they trooped in. They all went to the window.
"What if Kaito dies?" Luka broke the silence.
"No. He will survive." Akaito responded, "He has to survive!" He watched as Kaito's chest rose and fell rhythmically. He could tell his brother was in pain the way his jaw was set around the breathing tube. His hands clenched and unclenched with each breath. A doctor injected something into the IV in his arm. Kaito relaxed as his pain was taken away. It really hurt to see him like this. He prayed Kaito would recover. He had to recover.
Several hours went by. Dr. She entered the room.
"Good news, it is not contagious. Bad news, he has TMV, Tyrants Multicomplex Virus. His case is very advanced. Unfortunately, this is a virus we can't treat with antivirals. It all depends on his immune system to fight the virus. We will provide supportive care. He will be moved to the ICU. You are free to leave." Dr. She explained, "TMV is rare. It starts as a simple throat virus that mutates into the TMV virus. We do not yet understand how this happens."
They returned to the waiting area for a bit before being led to the ICU. Due to being so severely ill, Kaito had been placed in the area in front of the nurse's station. The area was crowded with machinery, wires and tubes nearly covering Kaito's body.
"Why does Kaito look a bit blue?" Akaito asked.
"That's called Cyanosis. It means he's not getting enough oxygen." Dr. She made a few adjustments, "If this keeps up, we have a problem. He'll need to be put on an ECMO, which the hospital does not have. ECMO stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator."
"Do you think he'll get better?" Luka asked sometime later as they sat in chairs around Kaito's bed.
"He will pull through." Miku replied, "He is a fighter. I know he can beat this."
"Kaito, fight! Don't give in!" Luka begged the sick blue haired singer.
"Miku, you will need to call Rin and see if she can get our remaining concerts canceled." Mieko replied, "None of us are going to want to leave Kaito's side."
"I will go make the call." Miku left.
The heart monitor started beeping rapidly. It was clear that Kaito was struggling to get more air. A nurse raced over and made a few adjustments. Dr. She dashed in.
"I want the ventilator wide open, and run a central line!" Dr. She ordered, "I have to try to increase the amount of oxygen in his blood!" She drew a vial of blood, "You, run this to the lab and tell them to step on it! I want results ASAP!" A nurse took the vial and ran off.
"V-fib!" a male nurse called out, "Somebody get cardiology up here!"
"You bag! You find me a defibrillator, and I'll do chest compressions!" nurses and doctors swarmed over Kaito.
"I can't get a pulse!"
"Where is that dang defibrillator?"
"Cardiology is on line one!"
"Tell them I need them here, not on the phone!"
"Found one!" A nurse rushed the crash cart over to Dr. She.
"Charging, give me 200 joules! Clear!"
Kaito's body lurched under the shock.
"Still nothing! Resuming chest compressions!"
"Hold! He's flat lining!"
"Clear!" The team dove away as Kaito lurched again.
"I've got a pulse! Blood pressure is rising! He's stabilizing!"
"Somebody want cardiology?"
"You are a little late! We got him back, but I'm worried. I think the virus made it to his heart."
"Let's see. There is a murmur going on. I'd say you are right. The virus is attacking the valve that prevents backflow. I may have to call in a cardio surgeon assess the heart."
"It's okay, the crisis is over. We got him back." Dr. She turned to the Vocaloids, "It's in his heart. Another episode like this, and we may not be able to get him back. He is touch and go right now, and I am searching for a way to treat this. There are experimental treatments I am looking into. You may stay with him."
Akaito was the first to reach his brother's side.
"Kaito, its Akaito. You need to fight hard for me. I believe in you. I know you can beat this. Please, don't go where I can't follow! I don't want a future without you in it! You are going to beat this!" Akaito sniffled, "What good is a twin missing his other half?"
Kaito was watching from his place against the wall. It had been a shock to wake up to find that he was invisible, and unable to interact with the world around him. He heard everything that was being said, and watched as the staff fought to bring him back. Wait, if he were to die, would he be stuck in this between world forever?
"You won't be here forever. You are only here until you ether recover or die."
Kaito jumped and turned, "You can see me?"
"Duh, I'm a reaper. My name is Kiki." The girl was short, and sported short purple hair with red eyes. She was wearing a black and red version of Miku's outfit minus the tie.
"Reaper, as in Grim Reaper? Aren't you supposed to be tall skeleton, in a black robe, carrying a scythe? I'm dying, right?" Kaito asked.
"That was back in the middle ages. We change with time, and I'm a girl, so back then I would appear as an old withering crone. Considering the fact you are deteriorating, yes. At the rate you are fading, you've got four to six hours at most." Kiki also held a glaive. Kaito wondered how he had missed that.
"How do I live? I've got ice cream yet to be devoured, songs to write and sing, and did I mention the ice cream yet to be eaten?" Kaito teared up, thinking about the stash of chocolate chip cookie dough mint pistachio ice cream he had been planning to eat before the migraine hit.
"There is a chance, a very slim one that you can pull through." Kiki answered.
"What do I do?"
"Nothing, except will yourself to fight hard. You are fighting TMV, which is fatal nearly 95% of the time. You are young, and that helps you. Your diet of ice cream on the other hand, not so much." Kiki rolled her eyes.
"Hey! Ice cream can be healthy!"
"When was the last time you ate something other than ice cream?"
"Um, oh! About four weeks ago, I had the flu, and I got force fed leek soup!"
"Oh crap. You are going to die."
"Why?"
"That flu? That was the onset of phase one of TMV. You are in phase three, the fatal phase. Phase two is the vomiting phase. Tell me, have you vomited blood?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, but you are at the end. I can take you now."
"No. I'm not leaving!"
"You don't get a choice."
"I don't care!"
The next thing Kaito knew, the glaive was at his neck. He dared not to swallow, or breathe.
"I do care. Six hours. You show improvement, I'll let you keep fighting. No improvement, I take you away."
"Deal." Kaito turned to face himself in the bed, "This is a battle I can't afford to lose. If I'm going down, I'm going down fighting."
Len and Gakupo entered the concert hall together. They headed to the dressing area and went in, only to stop short.
"Why is Akaito tied to the chair with his own scarf, and why is Luka trying to put makeup on him?" Len asked, "Why is Miku banging her head against the wall?"
"Where is Kaito at?" Gakupo looked around.
"Somebody help me!" Akaito wailed.
"Hold still or I'll poke your eye out!" Luka shot back, a mascara wand in her hand.
"I'm going to die!" Akaito sobbed.
"It's just a little makeup! It won't kill you!"
"I don't care!"
"Would you stop crying? This isn't waterproof!"
"I can't!"
Len and Gakupo looked at each other. Gakupo put his fingers into his mouth and whistled sharply. Everyone jumped.
"What is going on here?" Len asked.
"Luka won't stop torturing Akaito, Mieko is taking forever in the bathroom, and I'm worried about Kaito!" Miku snapped, "I'm getting a headache because of those two!"
"I think you got a headache because you were banging your head against the wall." Len quipped, only to find himself running for his life which Miku behind him, hurling insults and threats about what she was going to do when she caught him.
"My eye!" Akaito screamed.
"I told you not to move!" Luka snarled.
"I can't see!"
"Whose fault is that?"
"I'm in hell!"
Gakupo sighed and whistled a second time, only to be smacked by Mieko, who thought he had whistled at her. Gakupo soon joined Len in the run for his life.
"Oh no, I'm not wearing lipstick!" Akaito cried out.
"It's lip gloss, you big baby!" Luka hissed.
"I don't ca-miff! I think I'm going to be sick! That stuff tastes awful!"
"You are not supposed to eat it!"
"You put it in my mouth!"
"You opened your mouth!"
"Oh god, is that blush?"
"That's next."
"Somebody kill me now!"
*FWEEET!*
Once again, everybody jumped. Poor Akaito wound up stabbed in the other eye by the lip gloss wand.
"What is going on here?" It was Rin, "Luka, lip gloss goes on the lips, not on the eye, Mieko and Miku, unhand the boys! Also, where is Kaito?"
"I'm blind!" Akaito sobbed.
"I've been wondering where Kaito is too." Len crept away from Miku.
"Yeah, where is he?" Gakupo asked, moving well out of Mieko's reach.
Miku, Mieko, Akaito, and Luka froze. They looked at one another.
"Luka, I thought you were going to tell them." Mieko said.
"I forgot." Luka answered, "I was too busy worrying."
"Nobody thought to tell them?" Miku asked.
"Somebody please just tell us what is going on!" Rin screamed.
The four singers eyed each other.
"Somebody say something, before Gakupo decides to go samurai on us." Luka realized Gakupo's hand was going for his sword.
"Kaito is dying." Akaito was blunt.
Rin turned white and passed out. Len fell against the door. Gakupo sank into a chair.
"This had better be a joke!" Gakupo spat.
"Akaito! Did you have to be so blunt?" Mieko slapped the red head, hard.
"You left a mark!" Akaito wailed.
"I wish it were a joke, but it is not." Miku filled them in after waking Rin with a dire threat involving Kaito, and ice cream.
"And nobody thought to call us?" Gakupo asked.
"It was the last thing on our minds." Luka said.
"We should be with Kaito!" Len cried out, "The concert should have been cancelled!"
"That's what I told Miku!" Akaito said.
"I tried. This one couldn't be cancelled, but I got the rest of our performances on hold." Miku walked toward the door, "Akaito is doing Kaito's parts, and is doing solos for the songs he was going to duet with Kaito." They headed toward the stage.
"Hey! Wait! I'm still tied up!" Akaito called. Gakupo ran back in, grabbed the chair, and wheeled Akaito out. "The point was that you untie me!"
"No time, you'll kill me if I cut your scarf, and you are up!" Gakupo shoved the chair toward the stage. The chair was stopped by Luka, who quickly cleaned and reapplied the makeup. Hearing the beat of the first song starting, she gave the chair a swift kick. As the chair was sent flying, Akaito realized the chair was not going to stop on the stage. He did the only thing he could do. He let out a high pitched very feminine scream.
"Well what do you know, he can hit high notes." Len quipped.
Akaito vanished through the opposite door. There came a lot of noise attenuated by high screams. It got quiet.
"Akaito?" Miku called.
"Can someone please untie me now?" Came the pained reply over her headset.
"Luka, you tied him, you go untie him, now." Miku ordered.
Luka left, and in a few moments, Akaito stumbled onto the stage, his eyes replaced by swirls. He shook his head, and returned to normal.
"Tick tock, tick tock, four hours until you are mine."
Again, Kaito jumped.
"Would you quit sneaking up on me like that?" Kaito turned, only to find he was alone, "I'm totally living."
"Omigosh! You're Kaito!"
Kaito jumped for the third time, "Why must people sneak up on me?" he turned, "I take it you are a fan?"
"I'm a huge fan! I just love your rendition of Tell Your World!" The black haired green eyed boy said, "I'm Saito."
"Why aren't you by your body?" Kaito asked.
"You can move around the hospital here in the Between World, but you can't leave the Hospital. You don't look very good." Saito said, "I'm here because I have HBD, Heart Beat Disorder. My heart is shaped like an upside down pear. My left ventricle ruptured, and I'm dying."
"I'm not dying." Kaito said.
"Tick tock, tick tock, three hours until you are mine." Kiki appeared, "Saito, it is time."
"I'm ready." Saito smiled, "Well, I got to meet my favorite singer."
Kiki brought her glaive to bear, "This won't hurt at all." She plunged her glaive into Saito's chest. The 7 year old boy smiled as his body turned to dust and floated away.
"From the dust we are born, and back to dust we go when it is time. I hate taking the young, but it was Saito's destiny to die. He has contributed to science, and will contribute even more with his death. He will pave the way for a cure for HBD, and in the future, he will live on as an Internet Navigator."
"You will not take me without a fight."
"For the last time, you don't get a choice, and bribery won't work as I'm not a living human, and no, I can't take your place." Kiki explained, "Hmm, looks like they are putting you on dialysis. Must be kidney failure." Kiki watched.
"Are you enjoying this?"
"Yes, yes I am. It is not often I get to watch my victims die."
"I'm not dying."
"You are in denial. That is normal."
"I'm not in denial!"
"I'm glad that is over." Rin replied as they walked toward the hospital, "Gakupo, next time, avoid the carbonated drinks."
"I didn't mean to burp in the middle of our duet! I'm never going to live this down, right?" Gakupo turned away.
"Probably never." Rin said.
"I'm pretty sure I broke something falling down the stairs while tied by my own scarf to the chair." Akaito grumbled.
"Yes, you broke the chair. Now you owe me a new one." Luka replied.
"Really, I'm not in the mood to listen to you lot bicker, okay? I just want to return to Kaito's side." Miku growled, "The next person to argue, I'll tell Kaito it was you that threw out his ice cream."
"That was Akaito!" Luka cried.
"It was for his own good!" Akaito added.
"You know he won't see it that way." Gakupo pointed out, "If he ever finds out, nice knowing you, Akaito."
They quieted down as they entered the hospital. Dr. She was waiting for them with an iPad. Fear flickered in Akaito's eyes.
"Did anything happen?" Akaito asked.
"Since you are his brother, you need to come with me. First, his kidneys have shut down, and his liver is failing. He is in the same area as before, and I have a nurse watching over him." Everyone but Akaito took off. "This will be easier in my office." Dr. She led Akaito to her office where they sat down. "Have you thought about end of life care?"
"What? You think my brother is dying!"
"Calm down. I only want you to be prepared. Now, what about end of life care?"
"We talked about that back when he first started getting his migraines. He told me he did not want to be kept alive by machine. He does not want to be resuscitated." Akaito explained, "I wanted to ask about bringing him home. I'd rather he die in a familiar place surrounded by family and friends."
"I'll see if that can be arranged. If that can't be arranged, we'll make sure his passing is as painless and comfortable as possible. We'll shut life support off and let him go. It may take some time, but it will be peaceful." Dr. She said, "I may have found a treatment. It is called the Milwaukee Protocol. We bring him to the edge of death to protect his brain, giving time for his immune system to fight off the virus. It is only effective 20% of the time, and with Kaito's current state, he may have only a 5% chance to survive. It is up to you."
"Do it. I'd rather lose my brother knowing we tried everything. I wouldn't be able to live with myself wondering what if." Akaito did not have to think about his answer.
"Okay, I need your signature here and here, giving us permission to do the Protocol." Dr. She gave Akaito some papers to sign.
"He looks terrible." Gakupo whispered.
"Well duh. People tend to not look good when they are sick." Len said, "I've heard that sometimes, a person in a coma can hear loved ones talking. I wonder if Kaito hear us?"
"All we can do is wait and pray." Mieko sat down in a chair, "I know Akaito is not taking this well. It has to hurt, seeing your own twin in this condition. Oh, here is Akaito now. Well, what did the doctor say?"
"Dr. She wanted to know about my decision on end of life care. I am honoring Kaito's wishes. He is not to be kept alive on machines, and he is not to be resuscitated ether. If it is possible, I plan to bring him home to die." Akaito forced his tears back, "I never thought I would have to make those kinds of decisions for my brother." He desperately wanted to give voice to his grief and pain. He never thought that losing Kaito would hurt this bad. Carefully avoiding the tubes and wires, Akaito joined Kaito in the bed, his hand taking Kaito's cold hand, "I'm here, Kaito."
"Tick tock, tick tock, one hour until you are mine."
Kaito sighed. He was really beginning to despise Kiki. He had followed Akaito into the doctor's office, and learned that his brother would honor his wish to not be kept alive by machine, nor be resuscitated. Akaito was right about one thing. Kaito would rather pass at home. He watched as Akaito joined him in the bed. Closing his eyes, he could just picture Akaito's comforting pressure on his hand.
"I can't leave." He whispered softly, "I can't do that to Akaito, or to the Vocaloids. They need me as much as I need them."
"Yet you know you can't stay."
"Kiki, please not now."
"You know you are at the end."
"I'm still going to fight!"
"You can fight all you want. It won't do you any good. I can see into the future, and it looks like you will suffer a lot before I take you."
"The future isn't fixed. It can be changed."
"Yes, the future can be changed. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do here in the between world. Your brother really cares about you. He is silently crying. I've watched full grown men sob like babies when I take their loved one. This job is not pleasant. I absolutely hate taking babies and young children. They've barely had a chance to live." Kiki pouted.
"Then why do this job?"
"I was created for this job."
"You are lonely, aren't you?"
"Yes, yes I am. This is the first time I've had to talk to someone. Saito was here in this world for seven hours. Some do stay longer, but never for long."
"What about those people who spend years in a coma?"
"I take their souls, but the body remains as a vessel for a new soul to inhabit it. These souls lived once before, but failed to complete their objective. This is their second chance. If they fail again, the soul simply ceases to be. There are no third chances."
Kaito looked back at himself lying on the bed. Akaito was crying silently. He wanted to comfort Akaito and let him know everything would be okay. Would it be okay? Was he really going to die in an hour, no, make that 45 minutes? What could he do? This wasn't right! There had to be some way to change the future, but what? He narrowed his eyes. This was one fight he refused to lose.
"30 minutes. Soon my glaive, very soon."
"Kaito knew what he had to do. He had to wake up.
"I know what you are thinking!"
Kiki was really getting on his nerves. He wondered if it was possible to muffle the reaper.
"I know how to stop you."
"Do you now?"
"I need to wake up."
"Drat. You figured it out. If you do wake up, you will not remember the between world. You've got oh, 25 minutes. If you fail, you are mine."
Just how was he supposed to get himself to wake up? He focused on Akaito. Just maybe, the twin bond would help. Closing his eyes, he focused on the hand in Akaito's hand. If he could just get himself to move…
"I don't know if you can hear me, Kaito, but I'm going to talk anyway. I know you are fighting so hard right now, and I know how easy it would be to let go and slip away. If you need to go, then go. I'll survive somehow. I won't hold it against you if you go. I don't want you to hurt anymore." Akaito stopped to wipe tears from his eyes, "Just know that I'm here, and that I do love you. It will be hard, but somehow the Vocaloids and I will move on. You are probably too deep to hear me." Again, he wiped his eyes. Just how much could he cry? Wait, was that Kaito's hand tightening around his own? No, it wasn't true, just a desperate hope, nothing more. Wait; there was definite pressure on his hand. He didn't dare to look, fearing that this was just false hope. No, it was true. Kaito really was squeezing his hand. That had to be good, right?
"Well, times up." Kiki appeared again, "Time to go."
"I'm not going anywhere." Kaito could feel Akaito's hand holding his own.
"I gave you six hours. You must honor our deal." Kiki snapped.
Kaito knew the reaper was right, "I'm sorry, Akaito." He turned to her, "Make it quick."
"This won't hurt a bit." Kiki brought her glaive to bear. With a quick thrust, she drove it into Akaito's chest. Instead of him fading into dust, the head of the glaive turned white. Kiki pulled it out, "Well what to you know. The guy upstairs has spoken. You are spared. Now, don't make me come back and take you. Go recover." Kiki promptly vanished.
Dr. She came by to check on her patient, and to talk to Akaito. She couldn't help but smile as she saw Akaito lying beside Kaito. The twin bond was strong between them. The rest of the band had left to allow Akaito some time alone with Kaito. She cleared her throat. Akaito moved a bit, sitting up as much as Kaito would allow.
"I have good news. Kaito has been approved for the Milwaukee Protocol. You guys must be very close." Dr. She said.
"That is good. Kaito has been holding my hand, and as you can see, hasn't let me go yet." Akaito smiled, "That is good, right?"
"That is very good. That means that he is aware, and has been taking comfort from you. I have noticed that he does a bit better when you are close by. I'm going to get the ball rolling on getting ready for the Protocol. Your friends are here." Dr. She watched as the other Vocaloids trooped in and took chairs around their fallen friend. "Kaito has been approved for an experimental procedure. It is called the Milwaukee Protocol. Basically, we bring him to the very edge of death itself. To do this, we put him into a deep coma. This will protect his brain, and give time for his immune system to catch up to the virus. Hopefully, this will work. However, there is only a 20% chance of survival, and due to Kaito's current condition, his chances of surviving are far lower, around 5%. It will take eight days for the treatment to be complete. This is basically us putting all our chips in. We will begin the protocol soon. Unfortunately, while under the protocol, Kaito has to be put in isolation to prevent another infection from setting in. While he is in isolation, you all may watch through the window. This is my best shot at saving him, and I pray this works."
"That might be a bit difficult, considering the fact Kaito is keeping Akaito close." Gakupo said, "You may have to surgically separate them."
"Seriously? At a time like this?" Mieko spun to face the purple haired teen.
"Don't you dare!" Rin got between them.
Gakupo decided he valued his life more than ticking the two girls off, so he wisely chose to keep his mouth shut.
"I need to go for a bit, okay? I'll see you really soon. I promise." Akaito untangled himself from Kaito, "You fight harder then you ever have in your life, got me? Don't lose."
"There is something else you need to know. If Kaito survives, he may not be same boy you know. He will be pretty weak, and he may have to relearn how to walk and do simple tasks, and quite possibly, relearn how to talk. It all depends on how much damage the brain suffers. Even though we are trying to protect the brain, there is a very strong chance that the virus is already attacking there. This will stop the virus from causing any more damage to his brain." Dr. She explained, "I already told Akaito this. While we prepare, take the time to say your goodbyes." She left.
The group eyed each other. Who would be first? Gakupo sighed and walked toward the bed. He looked down at Kaito.
"Kaito, its Gakupo. I don't know what to say. I do know I'm not saying goodbye. I want you to think of this as a samurai match between you and me. You are good enough to beat me, so do it." He walked away.
Miku went next. She felt herself tearing up. "It's Miku." Her tears refused to be stayed, "I promised myself I wouldn't cry. It hurts to see you like this. I can't believe this is happening! Please, don't go!" sniffling, she walked away.
"I'm next." Len moved forward, "Kaito, its Len. This is not and will never be goodbye, you hear? Come back to us." He moved away, hiding the fact he was crying.
"I'll go." Luka walked up to the bed, "its Luka. This is so hard. Why didn't we see it sooner? Why didn't you tell us? I know you hate having to be taken care of, but this never should have happened. I'm not saying goodbye ether. Instead, I will see you later."
"I'm next." Mieko walked past Luka and stood by the bed, "Hey, its Mieko. This too is not good bye. I'm not and will never be ready to say goodbye to you. You can't let it end this way!" Mieko returned to the group, not caring about who saw her tears.
Rin was next. She stared down at Kaito, and choked back her tears. "Hey, Kaito, it's Rin. I'm at loss for words. I know nothing I say will magically make you better. This too is not goodbye ether. Don't leave. Fight hard." Rin went back to the group.
Akaito knew he was up. He went to Kaito's side. "It's me, Akaito. There is so much I could say, but with you, I never needed to say anything. You always knew what I was feeling. Why didn't you confide in me that you weren't well? I don't like seeing you like this. This is not right. Stay with us. Don't go to that place where we can't follow. Fight, and live for us. Live, for me." He returned to the others.
Dr. She came and took them to the isolation room where the group took up places in front of the window. Moments later, Kaito was wheeled in by a doctor in a biohazard suit. The rules were that any doctors going in by Kaito were to suit up to keep themselves from causing another infection from setting in, and to protect themselves from any blood from Kaito. While TMV came from a simple throat virus, once it was in the blood, there was a slim chance of it spreading by contact with said blood. It couldn't spread by air or by most other body fluid. Still, no one was taking any chances. This wait would be a long one.
Queen Sunstar: I couldn't decide which way I wanted to take this, so I'm doing both a sad ending and a happy ending. Like I said earlier, Akaito is fun to torture. Anyway, beside this story, I'm thinking about a crossover between and the Vocaloids. I'll reveal more at the end of my happy ending, but from the ideas my brain cooked up, well, it will be dark. No worries, I likely won't kill anybody, I think. So, how did I do? Feel free to criticize my work. I can't improve without it. If you wish to flame me, feel free, but please explain why.