Glancing out the window slightly, Haku watched the road passing by. Ted and Akaito's arguments didn't seem to be annoying her.
In fact, as strange as it sounded, she seemed to enjoy their bickering. It was refreshing to hear a voice other than Dell's around, seeing as she almost never met anyone when she got a chance to leave the house.
"I still can't believe she thought that! Ha!"
"Will you GET OFF the subject already!?"
"Both of you, just cut it out!" The girl cried out. Haku has since learned her name was Muri, and that she was Akaito's girlfriend. She'd felt silly for assuming them to be siblings, but Muri had said it was fine, they got that a lot.
"Siblings, twins, parents, fiance...You name it, we've been called it."
"Oi, Haku?"
Snapping up, Haku looked forward at Akaito, who glanced into the mirror to see her. "You're quiet. Know how to talk?" He joked.
"U-Um...It's just...I don't really...Know you..."
"Yeah, Aki-chan! It wasn't like she was expecting us specifically to come and get her, you know."
"Sorry..." Muttered Akaito.
The car turned the corner, and the lights of the mansion could be made out up ahead. Haku stared in slight awe. She'd been here before, but never late at night. The lights shown brilliantly across the lawn.
It was most definatly fancier than anything she had back home.
Home...Dell...
She shook her head and took a breath. As long as she stuck according to plan, everything would be okay.
Just come, try and talk to someone, sing if desperate, then get home before Dell realizes she's been gone too long to have simply just snuck to the bar.
Pulling the car round and onto the lawn, Akaito switched off the ignition and stepped out, the others following. Haku attempted to sneak off, figuring that after being stuck in a car with her simply to take her here, they were probably going to go off on their own anyway.
"Ne, Haku? Where are you going?"
Turning back, she was graced with Muri's ever present smile. "Stay awhile! Unless there's someone you're here to meet."
"W...Well no...I'm not really meeting anyone...I don't have anyone to actually go and talk to though, so..."
"Then that's just all the more reason to stay!"
She had no time to react as her hand was grabbed and she was dragged off with the three inside.
--
Despite not having come here for a long time, the building was just about as big as Haku could remember, if not even bigger. There were people in every corner of any room they were allowed into.
The entire downstairs area had been converted into a suitable place to party. Both Vocaloids and fans alike were somehow making peace around here, something seemingly impossible.
"Whoa! Check it out, it's a real party pad!" Ted thrust his arm in the air, laughing. It only earned him a few eye rolls, but he didn't appear to notice.
A nudge hit Haku's shoulder, making her wince. She looked behind her at Akaito.
"Look around for someone with a yellow scarf."
"...Why?"
"Do you have to ask questions?" He sighed.
Haku opened her mouth to ask something more, but closed it fast once Akaito gave her a look.
Looking among the crowds, she could hear brief snippets of conversations, and sometimes even a voice she recognized. Somewhere in the crowd, she could hear Miku's giggle, and in another part, the twins bickering.
Yet she couldn't see them over so many people.
A hand closed around her arm again, and she was suddenly dragged violently across the floor, barely able to move herself along.
"He's over there!"
When Haku could finally stand, she looked at the person in question. He looked much like both Kaito and Akaito, with yellow hair. His scarf was plain yellow on one side, but on the other, it had a pattern of CDs and piano keys.
His limbs, however, were easy to tell that they were robotic. She shuddered at this. How is it that she could forget they were Vocaloids? It was amazing that technology could make them forget something like that...
"Ah, Akaito-san, I'm glad that you could make it." Even his voice sounded strangely robotic as well. Perhaps he was a prototype like she was?
"What, you didn't think I was coming?" Akaito asked, raising an eyebrow. "Noooo...I'm just going to forget about the party and leave you here the entire time waiting for me. OF COURSE I CAME!"
"No need to be getting fussy, now. I'm well aware you wouldn't leave me alone."
"You always have me!" Ted jumped over, patting his shoulder a bit too hard.
"...Right then..." He looked over at Haku, staring at the newcomer. "And who do we have here?"
He was tall, so had to kneel to her slightly, but Haku felt strangely calm, instead of shy for once.
"You seem quite familier...Are you by any chance Haku Yowane?"
She nodded.
"Very pleased to meet you. I am Kikaito Shion." So she had been right, he was one of Kaito and Akaito's many siblings.
"...So...Are we going to party, or what?" Muri asked, leaning on Akaito's shoulder.
Whatever happened after that seemed like a blur to Haku.
--
How long had she stayed out? What time was it right now, anyway?
The music blaring out from the speakers was still caught in her head. She could remember one saying words about a samurai, and something about a servant. Still, another about some girl's heart. She wasn't quite sure if that had all been one song, or many.
She attempted to sit up, but her head was killing her.
"Ne, rest why don't you? It's been quite a long night." A voice said above her.
Haku shifted around slightly on whatever she was laying on. It felt like she was laying in someone's lap.
Fragmented memories came back slowly.
Muri telling her to dance, that's what parties are for.
Ted and Akaito getting into some argument again, this time seemingly over food, but she couldn't exactly hear them.
Kikaito going to the punchbowl and bringing her back a drink, giving her a polite smile and promising he'd make sure no one dared to spike it with anything.
Other little memories come back, such as getting bold enough to yell something at Miku, though she was too far away and it was too loud to be heard. Though, it was probably best she didn't hear it.
"Where am I...?"
"In the lobby of the mansion." The voice replies back. She knows who it is, but...What's his name again...
"...Kikaito?"
"Yes?"
Ah, she was right. But there's still something wrong...Why does the back of her head feel so numb?
"You still must be a bit delirious...Do you remember what happened?"
"...I'm...Not quite sure..." She reached up and rubbed her head, feeling a rough texture. Like bandages...
"Well...Ted was trying to get you to dance with him, but he got a bit...Er...Violent in his dancing. He accidentally let go of you and you hit your head on a table...You've been out cold for a bit, but we've bandaged you up quite well...I do hope you will be alright."
Out cold? For how long?
"What time is it now...?"
Kikaito looked over at the clock on the wall. "It is...Goodness, almost two in the morning. I am sorry for how late it has become in your abscence."
It wasn't so bad. She had stayed out at a bar until two in the morning one time, and when Dell had found her drunk and asleep, he'd gotten mad enough to-
Oh, crap. Dell. She'd forgotten about Dell! He was probably out looking for her, if not having done so already!
"I have to...I have to go home...Right now...!" She was panicking slightly.
Kikaito simply nodded, understanding. He called Akaito over and told him that they had to bring Haku home right away.
"Huh? Why? The party is getting good!" His complaints fell upon deaf ears when Kikaito gave him a small glare.
"If she wishes to go home, then you willbring her to her home. She was your guest, Akaito-san, and as a host of that kind, you must abide by what she says."
Akaito hated all this talk, especially with Kikaito's supposedly 'smart words.' Heaving a sigh, he figured it best to just take the girl home if that was what she wanted. The hard part was trying to get Ted and Muri back in that car, but it would be worth it.
While he went to fetch them, Haku tried her best to stand as Kikaito helped her along.
"You seem dizzy..."
"I'm fine...I just...I have to get home right away..."
--
"You didn't have to drag me with, you know. I could have found another way home, but nooooo..." Ted stared out the window his arms crossed, looking stubborn.
Akaito didn't bother trying to argue with him. He was more tired than he'd thought, to the point where he was a little worried of driving.
In the back, Haku sat between Muri and Kikaito, eyes closed. What could she say to Dell to explain why she'd been gone for so long? He was sure to have looked in all her usual places already.
"Ah, we'll have to do this again sometime!" Muri looked at Haku hopefully.
Merely shrugging, Haku looked at where they were and realized they had pulled right up to the old place. Oh, how she hated that Akaito at this moment, how she hated...
"Haku? This is your home, is it not?" Kikaito asking, shaking her slightly.
"I-It is..." Stepping over him, she got out of the car and slammed the door, walking towards the house. She heard goodbyes called at her until the car sped away.
Reaching behind her head slightly, she was tempted to undo the bandages, but she was worried it might start bleeding, if it hadn't done so before.
When she got on the front step, the door opened before she even reached for it.
Dell stood in front of her, arms crossed, face stern.
"Haku."
She knew he knew. But that didn't stop him from asking.
"Where the Hell have you been?"