"Did it work? Is she... going to be okay?"
"Don't worry, Hatsune. Nero's skills are unparalleled. Being deactivated for such a long time, she can't just wake up automatically. It's only been three hours. Be patient. Come on, let's go see what the others are up to."
"Do you think her senses are returning?"
"Most likely. Let's let her wake up on her own."
My eyes fluttered open with curiosity. My head throbbed, a sign of oversleep. But how long exactly? I ran a hand through the blonde mess of tendrils that stuck to my forehead. My hand stretched out before me, flexing my fingers. How... was I here? The deactivation was the last thing I remember... And what were the two voices talking about? Who was Nero? And... why was I brought back now? As I stood up, my legs threatened to give out under me. I hastily grabbed the headboard, which creaked under my grasp. In the corner of the room, there sat a full body mirror.
The girl looking back at me was foreign, an unrecognizable stranger. The girl here was taller, a lot skinnier. Her cerulean eyes were brighter than before, lined with thick lashes which resembled professionally-done eyeliner. Her shiny blonde hair danced in curls, falling down to her waist. She was fuller, she actually had curves and an hourglass figure, accented with an airy, V-neck white dress. I twirled around in the mirror, the girl following my every move. She was... beautiful. This couldn't be the young, feeble, bullied Rin Kagamine that deactivated who knows how long ago. I reached out to the mirror, the cold glass sending chills down my fingertips. Amazing.
I snapped from my thoughts as footsteps rang out right outside of the room. A boy's face peered out from the hall. I held my breath, taking in his features. His silky teal hair fell in soft spikes against his pale face. His rosy cheeks were puffed out inquisitively. His unbelievably smooth lips were puckered as his eyes searched the room. And his eyes... oh, his eyes as they locked with mine. The dazzling blue orbs twinkled, intoxicating me in a way unimaginable. They were round in the most adorable child-like way possible. A smile bloomed across his beautiful face, making me light-headed.
"Rin! You're finally awake!" he walked up to me in two simple strides, gracefully pulling me into a soft hug. His scent, a sweet foresty blend, could've put me back into my coma. I could feel the pleasurable tickle of his breath on my neck, the amazingly soft strands of cyan hair kissing my cheek. A soft sigh betrayed my lips, urging me to breathe again. The boy sensed this and quickly released his hug to my disapproval. Though my heart faltered again as his face flushed with the most delicious red color.
"I'm sorry, please excuse my outburst. I'm just so glad you're finally awake. Uh, my name's Mikuo. Hatsune Mikuo." he extended his hand out to me in the cutest manner. My face flushed deeper as I accepted the warm offering. Our link lasted too long and he drew back, chuckling nervously. "Uh... heh... I should, uh, probably go tell Meito you're awake," he stuttered with a goofy grin and quickly exited the room. My hand flew up to my head in a dramatic light. Oh my. That was... fever-inducing. Though... Mikuo Hatsune and Meito...? The question of how long I was out became bolder than ever in my mind. From the hall came Mikuo, followed by a tall brown-haired boy. His sharp red eyes softened as they landed on me and he closed the small book in his hand.
"Well, look who rose back from the dead. Nice to see your eyes open for a change," his smirk practically screamed Meiko. He looked like her, he talked in the same arrogant manner as her (when she was sober), he even had the same taste in books: sappy, stupid, lovey-dovey romance novels! I plastered a smile on my face.
"You must be Meito-san. Uh, nice to meet you," I shook his hand, and he laughed.
"Always so formal. Just like Rinto." that laugh, that tone, it suddenly made sense to me. They were alternates of the Vocaloids that I once knew! A gender-bend or something on that line.
"I don't mean to be frank, but how long have I been out? What happened to the Vocaloids? And how come you're just like them... but the opposite gender?" the two exchanged cautious glances, biting their lips and stuttering over their inaudible words. I eyed both of them with suspicion. What were they hiding?
"This should be interesting." a boy with light pink hair stood in the doorway, arms crossed with a mature air. His bored turquoise eyes scanned me, his nonchalant expression making me feel self-conscious. Mikuo glared at him, muttering warnings and possible threats as the boy strides over. Meito frowned.
"Luki, show some etiquette. Rin just woke up and she doesn't need your sharp tongue clattering on as it usually does." he said, losing interest and reopening his book.
"As you're any better, Meito. She's not a puppy, she can handle it. Luki Megurine, your apparent tour guide." a smile arose on his lips, sending chills down my spine. "You must be the last Vocaloid, Rin Kagamine. A pleasure," My eyebrows furrowed together as I searched his face, so closely resembling Luka's.
"The last... Vocaloid?"
"Well, yes. Are you sure you want me to go on? You will here some unpleasant information." I nodded my head impatiently.
"Okay, here's the deal. 25 years ago, a feud between the Vocaloids and Utaus rang out. None of us really know why, we have theories, but all of a sudden, the Utaus ambushed a few Vocaloids and killed them. This spiked a full-on war between them, but the Vocaloids faltered without the leadership of Vocaloid 01, Miku Hatsune, who went abroad and never came back. The leadership would go to the next Vocaloid, but Len was unfit, not only physically but emotionally. He gave his life as a peace offering to the Utaus, but 8 years later they went back on that promise and bombed Vocaloid territory. There were no survivors.
"But what they weren't expecting were the derivatives. The derivatives, hated and abused Vocaloids said to be copies, invaders of the originals. Haku Yowane, a urged the others to side with the Vocaloids despite the discrimination they received from them, who were persistent on staying neutral. Neru Akita, a specialist in technology, married and had us, infusing us with the last of the data from the original Vocaloids. But there was a spy of the Utaus under the guise of Teto Kasane and she killed all of the derivatives except Neru. Doing everything she could to protect us, Neru moved here and trained us until we were old enough to fend for our selves. Four years ago, she said she'd be back in a few minutes and..." they all looked away. "And she never came back.
"Since then, we've carried on her mission, doing whatever it takes to end this war. It's a small band of us, about ten or eleven. Then, about a month ago, we found you deactivated. Len definitely had your body under serious security. It was nearly impossible for even Nero to get past all that high-tech security."
I raised an eyebrow. "I've been meaning to ask, who is this Nero you guys talk so much about?" Luki and Meito smirked and exchanged knowing glances. Mikuo scoffed.
"The most annoying, incompetent, sarcastic, unsympathetic, retarded, insignificant, untrustworthy-"
"Mikuo just loves him, doesn't he? Nero is the brains of our team. Kinda like the geek, but all those very nice words Mikuo uses to describe him. We could introduce him if you like," Luki's smile grew wider with sarcastic humor.
"Not a chance." Mikuo snapped at the two, but I was already catching up to Meito into the hall.