Chapter Four

Another Attempt

A Week Later

Neru's House

Gakupo leaves his house around midafternoon and walks the streets with his head bowed low. He walks up to a yellow and black house not knowing that its Neru's and knocks on the front door. Nero walks to the door and opens it with a grilled cheese sandwich by his mouth and he looks up at Gakupo slightly.

"Oh hey… Are you big sis Neru's friend?" Nero asked. Gakupo nods slightly.

"Though I really need to use the restroom…" Gakupo said.

"Um sure, just down the hall…" Nero points to the door with the hand holding the sandwich as he opens the door completely letting Gakupo in. The Samurai goes into the house and walks down the hall to the bathroom.

"Thanks," the purple-haired samurai said. Nero closes the front door.

"No problem," Nero said before yelling in a loud tone. "SIS I NEED ANOTHER!" Gakupo goes into the bathroom closing the door behind him.

"All right! Shut up! I'm working on it!" Neru said irritated. Neru continues making the grilled cheese sandwiches. Gakupo flushes the toilet washes his hands when he is finished, and then he opens the door walking out of the bathroom.

"Is Neru here?" Gakupo asked. Nero is sitting on the couch and plays "Prototype" on the XBOX 360.

"Yeah, she is in the kitchen…" Nero answered. Gakupo quietly walks to the kitchen door, leans on the doorframe, and watches Neru make grilled cheese sandwiches. Haku is sitting at the kitchen table reading a magazine. Nero starts to get angry at the game. "GAH! YOU STUPID DEAD THING! DIE! DIE! DIE!" Gakupo flinches from the loudness of Nero's voice.

"NERO!" Neru yelled. Nero flinches at Neru's yell. Neru turns around after finishing the grilled cheese, she looks right at Gakupo. "Damn it, pervert. How'd you get in here?"

"Sorry sis…" Nero said.

"Your brother let me in to use the restroom," Gakupo answered Neru.

"NERO!" Neru yelled again.

"Sorry!" her brother said.

"I guess I will be going now…" Gakupo said in a low voice. He places a small black box on the counter before leaving the kitchen.

"Neru-chan…" Haku said.

"I guess you can stay. Just don't be a pervert," Neru said with a huff. Gakupo looks at Neru.

"I don't want to impose where I am not wanted." Gakupo said.

"It's fine. You can stay," Neru said rudely. Neru looks away, then she walks around him and over to Nero and gives him the other grilled cheese sandwich. Her brother takes the sandwich and eats it while still playing the game. Gakupo stands there somewhat dumbstruck. "Look. You either accept the offer or get out and don't bother talking to me again…" She walks over to the counter as Gakupo goes and sits on the couch next to Nero.

"Gomen…" Gakupo said. Neru looks at the box on the counter. Gakupo watches Nero play Prototype. The younger boy starts getting aggravated with the game again. The box has a small red bow on top. The Samurai just continues to watch Nero play the game. Neru looks at the bow and unties it with a sigh. The Samurai watches Nero play his game not noticing Neru is opening the box that he left on the counter.

Neru opens the box. She sees a small silver ring with her name engraved on the band and a diamond on the top. She groans deeply and throws the ring in the garbage can. There is a disgusted look on her face. Gakupo closes his eyes as he hears the ring clang in the can.

I am not good enough for her… Gakupo thought to himself.

"Is something wrong, man?" Nero asked. Gakupo shakes his head and stands up.

"I seem to have overstayed my welcome. I will be going now…" Gakupo said and goes to the front door and looks at Neru with a tear in his eye. "Later Neru-chan."

"Neru…" Haku said. Gakupo opens the front door and leaves the house closing it behind him. Haku follows Gakupo outside. "Um… W-what's your name?" He looks at Haku tears staining his usually warm face.

"My name?" he asked.

"Yes… Please tell me your name… I'm Haku Yowane."

"My name is… Gakupo Kamui… I am no one special…" Gakupo said rather reluctantly.

"Are you saying that because of Neru-chan," Haku asked with a frown. Gakupo nods his head slowly. "Every one of us is special. You are a Vocaloid. You see Neru is only like this because she and I am actually fan made so we are just extras. She is the way she is…because she got her feeling hurt…since she didn't have a voice she was rejected many times."

"But I-I…"

"Please forgive her. She is mean to people because she doesn't trust them. So to keep her from getting hurt again, she is mean to keep others away…it's like her wall of protection. She was mean to me at first, too."

"But I-I…l-love…her…"

"I noticed…" Haku said with a smile. Gakupo looks away sadly.

"I should not even love her. I am no good for her. She said so herself."

"Maybe that's what she needs to break the wall. If you keep trying I'm sure she'll give in eventually."

"I doubt it."

"Well, if you think like that…then maybe you aren't good enough for her. If you truly love Neru-chan, you wouldn't give up on her. That's part of being trustworthy."

"I will never give up on her…"

"Okay then," Haku said smiling again.

"I will see you another time. Here, can you give this to Neru-chan?" He hands Haku a slip of paper with his cell number on it. Haku takes the paper and looks at it.

"Oh, okay." Then Haku goes back inside the house.