Insert A Cool, Mind Blowing Author's Note Here.

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Blind-Sightless

"Does it matter that I comprehend what your eyes cannot?"

Light. It was just ahead of her, just out of her reach. She strode through the world of color, unblinded by the splashes of rainbow hues and did not shiver as the droplets dribbled down the back of her neck and spine. She was walking down the lime green street as it continued to rain those strange rainbow droplets from the neon purple sky with the sky blue grass and the orange trees and...and yet...

And yet she was strangely at peace. She had no thoughts whatsoever that the colors were in the wrong place. Oh yes, she knew for certain they were quite inaccurate. But as the rainbow drizzle glided down from the neon heavens, Miku was at ease. Completely, wholly, and utterly at a state of tranquility.

Floating down, down, down into an ocean of gray nonchalance. To a place where Miku could finally relax. To a place where Miku could finally and truly be at ease.

But this wasn't it.

The teen blinked slowly as her fingertips stroked the page of her book, wishing she could feel the words on the page. It was easy feeling color-color was natural and infallible. Reading and words were foreign and irresolute. Miss Andy sat with another student now-a deaf kindergardener who was just comprehending sign. Miku could sense his dubious feelings all the way from where she sat, perched on a bench across the playground. She was too old for recess, yet the teacher insisted that she still needed some time to clear her mind during the day. Miku didn't mind-the outdoors was where she could be herself. Where the air was clear and every sound was crisp and precise. Where she knew exactly where she was at just by the sloping terrain.

"Whatcha readin'?"

Miku glanced up, extending a hand till it rested on a mop of white ringlets.

"I'm not sure, actually." Miku told the young girl as she closed her book.

"Not sure? How can you be not sure?"

"I'm blind. I can't see."

"Oh..." the sad, pitiful tone. Miku was sure the little girl was about to wander away. There was a moment of silence, but Miku's acute ears could still pick up the dull heartbeat of the little girl. The book was then taken from her hand.

"Why don't ya git it in Braille or somethin'?"

"You know about Braille?" Miku inquired, sitting up so her body was no longer hunched as she cocked her head.

"My brodder is blind. He taught me how to read Braille," the young girl said matter-of-factly as she plopped down beside Miku. "What's your name?"

"Miku."

"I'm Raoi and I'm eight."

"Raido?" Miku tried, fixing the edges of her shirt with nimble fingers.

"No, no, no. Ray-ee-oo. 'Most like da Sting Ray," Raoi snickered. "I like dis book, dough,"

Miku hesitated. "Can you read?"

"Duh. I'm eight, so 'course I can silly goose. Best rea'er in my class. Not the best talker o'course but..."

"Raoi?"

Raoi glanced up at her. "Whut-ah?"

"Do you...do you think you could read it to me? Maybe?"

"Sure I guess I could. But, like I said, I'm not da best talker."

"Why?" Miku questioned, raising an eyebrow as her hand drummed on her chin.

"Use to not be able to talk. Got dis weirdo surgery on mah neck 'bout two weeks ago," the girl grabbed Miku's hand and let Miku trace the small horizontal scar on her neck before continuing. "Dat's why I'm a practicin' mah talkin'. I git called a chatter box, but really I jus' wanna learn how to correctly talk. It's hard, ya know?"

"Oh I know," Miku reassured her with a sigh as the bell rang. "I know."

"Well, I'll be seein' ya 'round?" The girl got to her feet, brushing off her dress. Miku's wrist grazed the fabric, coming back with a sky blue.

"Sure. One thing, Raoi-can you tell me what this book is called?"

Raoi studied the book for a moment. "Dit's called Wither. Not really sure wut's dit's 'bout but it looks good just from the cover picture."

"Thanks Raoi," Miku smiled, pivoting and striding back toward the school. Out here it was safe and warm with an open sky and friends like Raoi. Inside, Miku had to go back in her obscure and hazy prison.

'Is it sad that my only other friend in this school besides Mackenzie is in the third or fourth grade?' Miku thought to herself as she placed her hand on the stair railing. 'Maybe...maybe not.'

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Deaf-Soundless

"No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen."

With a slight tap on the back of his hand, Len swiveled to the right and found his sister smiling at him. Rin was beaming, but her eyes were slightly questioning.

'I'm fine. Totally fine,' Len wanted to tell her, but he knew it would be close to impossible. Instead he gave her a reassuring nod and leaned against the flag post, his guitar case in hand. He knew that they were going over to Luka's to play their instruments, but that was about as much as he knew. Len remembered when Luka first moved into the school and a lot of kids wanted rides on her wheelchair. But when they got to middle school, that all stopped. Luka was no longer cool. But what did he know? He was never cool and never would be.

Where is Luka? He quickly signed to his twin. She shrugged.

Probably stuck in traffic. Rin responded lightly just as Luka wheeled to them. She spoke to Rin for a moment before Rin took his hand and they followed Luka down the sidewalk. It was a short walk to the Megurine house hold, but when they finally strode up, Len couldn't help but admire the house. It was simple and large; blue in color with a white trim and flowers in the windows. It seemed something out of a story book with the driveway that matched the trim. A woman who highly resembled Luka down to the last strand of pink hair stood outside, watering the flower boxes. She pivoted, beaming at Luka and then her entourage. She continued to smile, crow's feet creasing at the corner of her eyes and a twinkle in her familiar blue eyes. As Luka grinned, Len noticed the dimple the mother and daughter shared on their left cheek. Rin nodded and too smiled as Luka talked, probably introducing him and Rin.

The mother stepped forward, shaking his hand. Len nodded, a small smile tugging on the side of his lip. A man with fair brown hair exited the house, kissing Luka's mother on the cheek before turning towards Rin and Len. Len was quietly dying of curiosity on the inside, wondering what they were talking about and if Luka had explained why neither of them were talking.

"Have a good time, you three," Len caught, just barley managing to read the mother's lips. Rin tapped his hand, and he was dragged into the house.

"My room-play-there-cookies?" Len accomplished to catch snippets of what Luka must have been saying. Rin nodded, pointing to the plate of cookies on the counter. He snatched one up, shoving the chocolate goodness into his mouth, chewing in bliss. A pang of depression struck him suddenly as he imagined his own mother bustling around the kitchen, making her children cookies, always grinning and laughing. He saw his father walk through the door and kiss his mother before pecking Rin on the cheek and patting Len on the back before taking a cookie himself. They could all sit and eat in happiness, not even appreciating what they had-

Len shook away his melancholy thoughts, observing the house and furniture around him, trying not to think of his mother, which was becoming hard to do the longer he stood there.

Come on, Len, we're going to Luka's room! Rin signed, tweaking his nose. Len scowled playfully, trailing after his sister to Luka's room.

Well, he was dead wrong when he had imagined the room to be pink and frilly.

The walls were a watermelon green and covered in posters of bands and singers. The left side of the room was an elevated platform with a ramp where a pink drum kit, an amp, and a microphone with a stand rested. On the other side was her bed that was watermelon pink with a few seeds dotting the blankets. There was a window, a white desk with a matching closet, and a dresser. The biggest poster in the room was across from Luka's bed which was blue with the word Vocaloid on it.

Len tapped on Luka's shoulder, jabbing a thumb in the poster's direction. Luka said something, and Rin quickly translated.

She said it's a poster of her most favorite group, a group called Vocaloid. They take gifted children from out of nowhere and make them superstars. She's only been to one of their concerts, but she say's the creators and producers of Vocaloid work magic.

Len inclined his head, wandering towards the drum set.

So, are we going to play or not? Len inquired with an arching smirk, gesturing towards the drum set and his guitar.

"Of course," Luka's mouth curled in a lighthearted simper as she rolled towards the drums, picking up her drumsticks before positioning herself behind the kit. She took a deep breath and began tapping out a soft drumroll before moving into an all right hammering on the drums and cymbals. Len felt his eyes widen as the rhythm pounded through him, rattling his bones. He quickly unzipped his guitar, slipped the strap over his shoulder, and began strumming out a tune to go with the fast paced beat. Rin chimed in with the bass, adding in a steady note or two, adding to the flow of music. Sure, Len couldn't hear it with his ears, but the tune existed in his heart and soul as the vibrations hummed through his torso.

"Grrat!" Len couldn't help but exclaim happily when the bass finally played it's last notes and the room was silent. Rin grinned, her eyes twinkling.

You mean great? Rin questioned, but Len didn't respond, he was so happy.

We should form a band! Len signed, overjoyed. Rin relayed the message by pen to Luka.

She agrees. Rin replied merrily. She thinks we could play at the talent show coming up, you know, the one combined with the high school on the other side of town?

Let's do it! Len nodded rapidly. He sunk back onto the floor with a smile. This was the happiest he had been in a long time.

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Disabled-Standless

"If you push me down, I'll only get back up, no matter what."

"See you guys later!" Luka waved to the Kagamine twins as they headed down the driveway. "We should get together soon and start practicing-it is next week after all!"

"They were nice, the poor dears," her mother said with a dispirited sigh. "Deaf and mute, unfortunate little ones...and their mother has past way to top it all off..."

"Kids aren't nice to them at school," Luka muttered. "But then again, no one is nice to me either."

"Luka!" Her father called from inside the house. Luka rolled back inside towards her father.

"Yes, Dad?"

"You should call Ms. Winters and tell her that you want to enter the show, Luka-Bear," he said, holding the phone out to Luka. Luka smiled, thanked him, and dialed Ms. Winters' number as she made her way back to her room.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ms. Winters?" Luka asked.

"Is this Luka?"

"Yes, yes it is,"

"Why, hello, Luka! May I ask why you are calling?"

"I'm calling about the talent show next week. A few friends and I would like to audition this Friday so we can preform next Friday?"

"Of course you can! Meet me in the choir room after school on Friday then. Oh boy, I'm exited!"

"You don't need to be so excited for the audition, Ms. Winters," Luka felt herself blushing slightly.

"Well, of course I'm excited for that, but what I'm really excited about is our special guests! Should I tell you, should I not and make it a surprise...?"

"Oh, please tell me, Ms. Winters!" Luka chirped. "What's happening?"

"The Head Director of Vocaloid is going to attend our talent show. He's looking for some new members to hire!"

Luka almost dropped the phone in shock as her stomach roiled. "WHAT?"

"Really, Luka! I'm not even joking! Oh, this is so exciting. I need to get planning, so I'll see you later, okay? 'Bye now!"

With a click the conversation ended, leaving Luka in astonishment, and her mind spinning with thoughts.

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And that's the chapter! Now, may I direct you to the blue button below? :3

~Illumini~