The sun was a blazing bright ball in an almost cloudless sky having burned off all but a few thin trailing wisps of cottony looking streamers here and there in the sky, but even still the fiery orb wasn't managing to do more than take the stab of chill out of the air. As late as it was into winter there was still no snow which was unusual for this time of year but not unheard of. Still, it was the kind of cold Haku enjoyed, and she turned her face up into the breeze whenever it buffeted her with a tiny smile playing at her lips. She glanced around at the other girl's with her in the massive park and couldn't stop a giggle. Teto and Gumi were arguing over a scarf and Miku and Luka were fighting over a snack. It was typical of them but Haku was warmed inside just watching them interact. Her closest friends in the world and she wouldn't have them any other way. Well… maybe two of them… in a little different way…

"The purple and green clash with your seafoam colored coat, Gumi-chin." Teto informed the curvy green haired girl as though it were the most obvious thing in the world as she held on to one end of the cute scarf.

"So?!" Gumi retorted keeping hold of the other end. "I don't think it fits with your red curls!" Teto's hair, normally done in short pointed conical twintails that didn't quite brush her shoulders, was brushed out in curly waves today, and the stoic redhead just stared in response.

"But I'm huuuuuuuuuuungry!" Miku whined at Luka making a grab at the idol's dango, the white plastic hair clips with blue LED strips around the edges holding her twintails in place bouncing slightly as she did.

The pink haired beauty shifted her arm away being careful not to tilt the stick too far lest she lose the sweet all together. "You already ate yours, Miku-chan. If you want another one go get one." Her dark red coat contrasted sharply with Miku's sky blue one. It would have looked good on Teto but the stoic redhead was wearing a pure white parka of all things.

Haku put a hand to her mouth and let out another giggle and the white bow holding back her cascading snowy locks bobbed a little behind her head. She had been having a fantastic time the entire afternoon with the others all together, though Gumi was still having a hard time getting over the fact that she was attending a festival with Luka, or as part of a group with the idol at any rate. The short haired girl was a little star struck when it came to the great Megurine Luka, a fact which the others took great amusement in whenever Gumi tripped over her own words or stumbled in her stride or anything else when addressing Luka. Even still, the afternoon had been going well enough and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves quite thoroughly, and it was no wonder. At any given moment there was any number of attractions and entertainment within easy eyeshot. Food and drink and souvenir vendors every few meters, tumblers and jugglers and musicians plying their arts for all to appreciate, and any number of hawkers and fortune tellers and painters and anything else that an event could draw out to help entice a crowd. They'd been walking around for a couple of hours just enjoying the sights and sounds and smells and it didn't seem like any of them wanted it to end any time soon.

Moving along the roadway they stopped at an acrobat stage and stood watching the tumblers for a bit. All five of them oohed and aahed at the show when one of the acrobats pulled off a particularly difficult spin or flip or somersault. Haku was less impressed by the show itself than she was by the performers themselves. Slim and athletic of build they were all very agile, very light on their feet. She wished she could be more like, but her chest was too big and her hips too rounded for her to have much tumbling ability. She'd stick to dancing she thought, at least in private. There was no doubt she had a dancer's build, but she still got nervous whenever people were watching. Miku and Luka had been trying to convince her ever since her fan display for Miku's birthday yesterday that she'd make a fantastic idol, but she doubted it.

As they moved away from the tumblers Haku spotted a man with a tray of the dango and she stopped to buy one, removing one of her black velvety gloves to produce a few coins for it from a pocket of her silver coat. The weather was too cold for her parka so she'd bought something heavier. Hurrying to catch up to the others she held out the stick to Miku with a smile. Miku blinked when she noticed and let out a little squee of delight. "Haku-chan! Thank you!" She took it eagerly and took a big bite. "Mmmmf! Sho goof! You shafed my life!"

"Miku-chan, don't talk with your mouth full." Luka admonished the twintailed girl but she couldn't hide a slight smile of amusement. Her flowing pink hair rustled in the slight breeze. She wore it down and loose today, kept out of her face only by a golden hair band atop her head. "Seriously, how can you eat so much when you're so petite? Where do you put it all?"

Miku swallowed her bite and put on a big smile as she began to babble. "Mom says I'm a growing girl and need all my energy and food gives you energy so why not taste everything I can while I'm still growing so I don't get fat later on when my metabolism slows down when I get older besides I don't like being so petite I really wish I was a little bigger especially in the chest area like you OHHHH! or Haku-chan oh my gosh have you seen her in the bath I can't even believe how gifted she is I think she might even be a little bigger than you Luka-chin but of course it's hard to tell with polite accidental glances I'd have to really get in and compare but that's rude and I hey wait where's Haku-chan going?!"

Miku flashed an apologetic smile but Haku was already gone again. She'd spotted another vendor selling hats and sunglasses and the like and she hurried over tugging her glove back on as much to get away from her bubbling friend's comments as because of what she saw in the stall. She found a scarf similar to the one Gumi and Teto had ahold of but darker and more of a patterned spiral than swirls of color and she bought it and made her way back to her friends with it behind her back in one hand so they couldn't see it. She held out her other hand and tilted her head. "Let me have it?"

The other two girls exchanged glances as they all stopped by a fountain. Miku and Luka turned around to watch as Gumi and Teto looked to each other before handing the scarf over hesitantly. Haku shuffled them around behind her back then tilted her head at the pair. "I'm thinking of a number between one and one hundred. Whoever guesses closer goes first." She told them, visualizing a fifty.

They blinked in confusion but Gumi threw her hand up in the air. "Seventy-seven!"

Teto eyed the green haired girl then shrugged. "Thirty-nine."

Haku tilted her head at the redhead. "Pick a hand, Teto." With a suspicious look Teto pointed at Haku's right arm. She pulled her hands out from behind her back to hold out her right hand toward Teto which contained the darker scarf Haku had just bought, and her left hand toward Gumi holding the original scarf. All four girls blinked then began giggling at the silliness of the situation but they smiled at her anyway.

"Thank you Haku-chan." Gumi smiled taking her prize and wrapped the scarf around her neck.

"Thank you." Teto echoed, doing the same.

"You're so generous Haku-chan!" Miku giggled and they all turned to continue on through the fairgrounds.

The thing that really captured their attention were the musicians. No matter whether drums, horns, brass, flutes or even keyboards they stopped to appreciate each one they came across. Haku could tell it wasn't just her; all five of them seemed drawn to music like moths to flame. At each one they paused to listen for a bit, to nod along, or sometimes even to turn a few dance steps, though Haku held back on that more than the others. She was so self conscious still it was hard for her to really put herself out there like that. She always felt like she was just putting herself on display, which is what she told Luka when the pink haired beauty tried to pull her out to dance at a large gathering of people around a bassist and guitar pair and she reluctantly let herself be pulled along.

The idol let out a gentle laugh at that, but it wasn't a mocking laugh, just amusement. "Of course that's what you're doing, Haku-chin. It's part of what makes us so much more vibrant than everyone else." She emphasized "us" in such a way as to leave no doubt she meant Vocaloids but Haku flushed slightly anyway. Weeks and months of training and she still felt embarrassed when anyone appreciated her form or beauty. Well… anyone besides Luka and Miku that was… her blush deepened at the thought and Luka let out another laugh, her crystalline voice light and lilting. "Besides, you're a wonderful dancer."

"Do you… really think I'm so great?" Haku mumbled as they swayed to the music together.

"Of course I do! I tell you all the time don't I?" That amused playful smile never wavered on Luka's face.

"Only about every day…" Haku replied pointedly.

"Is that all?" The idol's voice was like a crystal ringing beautifully in the air. "Hm. I'll have to tell you more often then."

"I'm being serious, Luka-chan." Haku didn't whine. She didn't!

Luka stopped a moment mid step and leveled a look at the snowy haired girl. Then she reached up to brush the fingers of one hand against Haku's chin and jaw. "So am I." She replied evenly. "I honestly don't understand your self deprications and low self confidence Haku-chin. You're elegant, graceful, serene, delicate, tender… Truly, I think you're an angel."

Haku felt her cheeks burning and she dropped her gaze in embarrassment, but Luka's playfulness was back and she just hugged the snowy haired girl. So Haku danced with Luka, enjoying how fluidly graceful the pink haired beauty was in every step, every motion. Then later at another musician's stop, a trumpeter, she danced with Miku. The pretty light blue haired girl looked up at Haku with her big green eyes locking on to red and a silent moment passed between them. They had very nearly kissed the day before on Miku's birthday and apparently they were both still thinking about it. Then again, Luka had very nearly kissed Haku a few days before that. Gods I'm awful… Haku thought, her cheeks heating with shame this time rather than embarrassment. She couldn't understand why caring so deeply for them hurt so much at the same time. She felt like she could break down in tears any minute whenever she looked at either girl. Still, she enjoyed dancing with her friend. Miku was a fantastic dancer, every bit Luka's equal even if their styles did differ significantly. Where Luka was the embodiment of elegance and poise Miku was bubbly and energetic. Everything about Hatsune Miku was cute.

Gumi was dragging Teto along at every stop, taking her hands and forcing the redhead to dance with her, though in truth despite Teto's perpetual long suffering look it seemed obvious to Haku that she was enjoying the curvy green haired girl's attentions. She let herself be pulled along at every turn with never a word of complaint, and the edges of her eyes and ever so slightly upturned corners of her lips spoke of a hidden smile. Gumi was every bit as bubbly and energetic as was Miku and at times the two of them would stop at a vendor and gush over something cute or amazing, pointing and gesticulating wildly while Haku stood back with Luka and Teto, all three of them watching and shaking their heads or rolling their eyes at each other in shared commiseration.

It was at a huge drumming pavilion that they were captured by a crowd. The performers all had various sizes of drums and sticks, some small and carried or worn on straps and some so large they had to be set up on stands to be played, and they were all wearing very authentic looking traditional garb. A large mass of people were gathered apparently waiting on a performance but not a note was being struck. The five walked up curiously and suddenly someone pointed and shouted, "By the gods! It's Hatsune Miku and Megurine Luka!" The audience surged forward as one all yelling wildly and despite the sudden mob of people Luka and Miku seemed delighted to have been recognized, Miku more so than Luka, the twintailed girl positively beaming as she raised her hands to wave around at the crowd. People were beginning to shout things, asking when and where their next show was our requesting autographs, but the biggest sentiment was something about the drummers. It was then that a broad shouldered man wearing a robe and carrying a large drum walked up to the five girls and the crowd hushed. The man spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Either fortune smiles upon me this day or you have the most amazing timing I've ever seen. Three of my band members are late showing up and they hold critical spots on the biggest drums." He hiked a thumb over his shoulder indicating three huge round canvas tops bigger around than a man was tall. "I never thought to meet such famous idols in person, but if I might presume to impose by asking a favor…?"

Miku's face lit up before he was even finished talking as soon as she saw where this was going and by the time the question was hanging in the air she was practically bouncing from foot to foot. "Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaase tell me your asking us to play giant drums for you!"

The band leader laughed. "Just until our delayed members arrive, if you'd be so kind?"

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" Miku cheered, causing the crowd to cheer as well, and the pretty light blue haired girl spun around to Luka and Haku grabbing one of either of their hands and beginning to tug them forward. "Come on!"

Luka stepped forward willingly enough with that mysterious smile of hers but Haku felt her anxiety spike and she pulled back hesitantly. "Uhhhhh…. I don't know how… you two go ahead. Uhm. I'll just watch…?"

Miku stopped dead and stared at Haku for a long intense moment. She didn't say anything, didn't scowl or frown or make any negative outward sign, yet Haku knew down to her core that her friend was deeply disappointed. Then the moment burst like a popped bubble and Miku turned toward Gumi and grabbed her hand instead. "Come on!" The three of them moved off toward the giant drums and the audience cheered again. A chant went up in the crowd alternating with "Lu-ka! Mi-ku! Lu-ka! Mi-ku! Lu-ka! Mi-ku!" Then the drummers began playing and the three girls picked up huge drinking sticks and began to pound theirs in time. The beat was heavy and hard and the drummers wove it ever more intricately as each measure of the song went by, almost as though passing it around and building it up.

Even just banging a stick on a drumhead their individual styles shone through. Luka's stick seemed alive in her hands, flowing through the air as though directed by a force of nature in a fluid way, her body shifting and bending in ways so beautiful it was hard for Haku to keep her eyes off the idol, except when looking at her other friend. Miku's bubbliness had her bouncing cutely all over the place. She hit the drum exactly in time but with flourishes of her stick and poses of her body with her arms up and smiling so radiantly it was obvious she was having a grand time of it. Haku's conversation with Teto and Gumi the other day came back to her, about how Miku had once been an idol and had only retired because of unfortunate circumstances. She loved being recognized, resented it when she wasn't and Luka was even if she never complained about it, and Haku had seen the videos online of the petty girl. She had a huge following in every country in the world. Suddenly Haku's mind began turning. Miku obviously still had a passion for this, and had wanted to share it with Haku… and she'd refused. No wonder she'd been disappointed…

"They're so beautiful…" The redhead spoke up suddenly beside her, startling Haku out of her reverie.

"Eh?" She blinked from the scene before her to Teto then back again. "Oh. Yeah. They are."

"Natural performers for sure, all three of them." She added.

Haku pulled her eyes away from Luka and Miku to watch Gumi for a moment. Somewhere between the other two she worked her drum as enthusiastically as Miku but with an easy flowing motion. She twirled her sticks occasionally and posed all the same, and after a few moments Haku nodded. "That they are."

"Gumi-chin wants to be an idol like Megurine-san." Teto said.

"She'll do well in that." Haku replied.

"Only if I do to." The redhead responded and when Haku tilted her head curiously she added "She won't do it unless I do it with her. She wants us to share in it because she's so passionate about it."

Haku had spent a good deal of time practicing and training with Teto and Gumi but this was the first time the more reserved redhead had opened up to her before. She tilted her head in a more curious way and asked, "Are you going to?"

Teto shifted her gaze back to Gumi and was silent for a couple of moments as the loud THOOM THOOM BOOMBOOMBOOM THOOM THOOM BOOMBOOMBOOM washed over them before answering with a question of her own. "Can I tell you something, Yowane-san? Something I would appreciate if you kept to yourself?" When Haku only nodded she went on. "Being in front of people terrifies me. The thought of being the sole subject the center of attention for however many dozens or hundreds of people all at once sends a cold wave of fear through me that freezes me in place. I don't understand how idols do it."

"I know what you mean." Haku replied gently shifting her gaze back to her friends on the drums. Miku was dancing about and around her drum in little spinning circles while somehow managing to maintain her rhythmic banging between that and posing, and Luka was twirling her sticks in ever more intricate circles and patterns as she kept her tempo going.

"You do?" Teto asked in surprise. "But you're so serene and collected all the time. I thought nothing bothered you."

Haku couldn't stop a small chuckle at that. "It's an act. Miku-chan told me when I first joined the Vocaloids that a lot of idols and other performers adopt a stage presence for their acts to make being in front of people easier, so I took that idea and altered it for my own use. In truth I struggle internally at times… a lot of the time really, and the mask of calm is sometimes all that keeps me from breaking down."

Teto started at her for a long time in surprise then suddenly smiled. Haku didn't think she'd ever seen the redhead smile before and it was beautiful. "Thank you for sharing that… Haku."

Haku smiled back. "You shared, so I did."

Teto looked around before answering the earlier question. "Yes, I'll do it. For Gumi, I'll try to be an idol with her."

Haku blinked, and again started at Miku and Luka. For them… if it was for them… Not the crowds, not the public, not herself… for them… suddenly she turned to the redhead, an impulse seizing her suddenly. "Teto… let's show them. Right now. Let's show them our feelings."

"Eh?" Teto blinked.

"We can't tell them, it's too hard. Let's show them together. It'll be easier if we do it together, right?"

Teto stared at her for a long few moments before her small smile came back and she nodded. Haku took her by the hand and led her out in front of the drums. She positioned herself so she was facing the big drums her friends were playing as much as she was the crowd before letting of Teto, and it took a few moments before Luka, Miku and Gumi noticed them, but when they did their faces lit up with delight. The tempo of the of the music shifted and Haku prepared herself.

"What do I do?" Teto asked quietly, almost too quietly to be heard over the beat of the drums.

"Just do it like dance practice." Haku answered. "There's no right or wrong, just move how it feels right. Instinct and intuition right? Ignore the crowd, just dance for Gumi."

Then the tempo broke and they began to dance. There were no words, there didn't need to be. They stepped and stomped and twisted and bent and swayed to the constant pounding of the rhythm of the drums. Gumi's eyes seemed to drink in Teto in the same way that Haku could feel Luka and Miku's gazes devouring her own movements but no one faltered in what they were doing, though Miku did have to stop dancing in circles around her drum in order to keep Haku in eyeshot. For an entire song they danced. Two songs. Three. Five. She moved and swayed her hips, put her arms over her head and turned, ducked and weaved and rolled her hips as sensually and elegantly as she could possibly manage. The rest of the world seemed to fall away for Haku; all there was, all that existed, was Miku and Luka and the dance. She poured all her feelings for them into it. She still didn't understand them all herself, didn't entirely get why she was so completely enraptured by these two lovely creatures, but right then it didn't seem to matter. The emotion was all, the dance was all. Their eyes were round and hungry, a light of desire in both of their faces.

Suddenly she became aware that they were no longer on the drums, they were right beside her and the music had stopped. The crowd was cheering wildly and Luka and Miku's faces were flushed with far more than the adrenaline of the performance. "Haku-chin…' Luka's crystalline voice was low and smokey for some reason and she seemed at a loss to say more than that as she team her hands up and down Haku's left arm.

Miku reached to touch Haku's cheek affectionately with the tips of the fingers of her left hand and Haku swallowed a lump in her throat. "Miku-chan I'm sorry I-" Miku moved her fingers from Haku's cheek to her lips and shook her head, smiling and looking just as flushed as Luka. For a couple of seconds the three of them simply stood there together sharing a moment. In the peripheral of her vision Haku could see Teto and Gumi staring deeply into each other's eyes having a similar moment of their own.

The magic ended abruptly as the band leader came over to the five girls laughing. "Thank you so much for playing until my boys arrived! The people loved it! Especially that dancing!" He turned to Haku and Teto. "Are you girls idol friends of Megurine-san and Hatsune-san? I'm ashamed to say I don't recognize you."

Haku opened her mouth to object and could see the same words forming on Teto's lips but Miku cut in smoothly. "That's right! Yowane Haku, Kasane Teto, and Megpoid Gumi! They're new, but you'll be seeing a lot more of them I'm sure!" Haku blinked at her friend and Miku just smiled back. Teto and Gumi looked poleaxed but the bandleader just let out a laugh.

"New huh? They looked like pros to me, but if you say it Hatsune-san I believe it."

"They're still just shy yet." Luka added giving Haku a gentle nudge with her her shoulder and one of her small private smiles. Haku felt her insides melt a little at the pink haired beauty's attention.

"Well I shouldn't keep you distracted all day, but I wonder if you might do us the honor of a parting song? This crowd looks fit to go wild any moment!"

Luka smiled up at the man, a more general sort of smile than the one she gave Haku. "The honor would be ours." Miku nodded enthusiastic agreement.

"Wonderful! We can drum along to any song o'course, but the more beat the better obviously."

Miku looked at Luka then back to the man and spoke at the same time. "Senbonzakura."

Haku blinked then her red eyes widened. "Oh! But I don't have my fans…"

"You don't need them, we'll just do the dance." Miku said and as she had done earlier reached out to take her hand and Luka's. This time Haku let her pull her along beside the idol. She had butterflies in her stomach at the thought of dancing before a crowd, a real show, but she told herself it was just a festival event not like a real performance, and that she was really dancing for her friends anyway.

The bandleader led them over to a little prop table where a laptop had been set up so they could queue up the song. Miku looked up at Haku and Luka. "Do either of you have it? … in digital form?" They both understood what she meant, that it might not be wise to be using their Vocaloid abilities so openly for music. Luka shook her head but Haku reached into her pocket and produced her pink and white flower patterned USB drive and handed it to Miku, who took it and plugged it into a free port.

"Haku look at this." Gumi said, drawing Haku's attention away to turn and look in the direction the short haired girl was pointing. There was some kind of procession going by in the distance with a huge dragon on poles held up by a dozen people making it look as though it were flying and weaving through the air above the crowd. The girls clapped in delight at the display and Haku wondered what the puppet was made out of.

"Haku-chin, there's nothing on this flash drive." Came Miku's voice and Haku turned back to the laptop.

"What do you mean? I use it all the time."

"I mean it's blank. Look." The light blue twintailed girl pointed at the screen. Haku started at the empty window in confusion.

"How can that be? I just used it recently. I've had it for months."

"Maybe it just went out this morning?" Miku suggested. "Nevermind, I'll pull the song up online."

Haku reached down to retrieve the drive then paused with her hand still in the air. The little pink LED on the drive was blinking as though it were processing data. She frowned at it. How could it be blank but still process data? Her frown deepened and she pulled the drive free and stared at it in her palm considering.

"Don't frown Haku-chin, you'll get wrinkles." Came Luka's crystal voice and Haku looked up to see the idol watching her with a teasing smile. "It's just a flash drive. Don't worry we'll get you a new one."

Haku opened her mouth to reply but Miku jumped up excitedly. "Got it! We're ready!"

They five of them moved to the middle of the pavilion as the first notes began to play from speakers built into the pavilion so stealthily it seemed the music came from nowhere, then right as they stepped off Miku, Luka, Gumi and Teto all took a small step back as one to either side and Haku suddenly found herself with center stage. She very nearly froze but when the music picked up it claimed her, and whether they were using their powers or not Haku could still feel the energies of the other Vocaloids flowing out towards her. Or maybe just flowing out around her, around them all. Either way she didn't want to disappoint Miku and Luka, so she let the music carry her on. The crowd was cheering and jumping in time with what was apparently a well liked song. It was popular enough she knew and the five of them moved in unison. She didn't know how Teto and Gumi knew the steps or if they were just moving by instinct and intuition as so much of their Vocaloid abilities were so guided, but she herself felt as though she knew which steps were conning even before she hit them and thought she would have even if she hadn't spent recent weeks practicing the song for her fan dancing.

When the final notes faded the five of them struck a pose for the small audience who cheered wildly with their arms up in the air and shouted all manner of praises, and Haku had to admit when it was all said and done that it hadn't been so bad as she'd thought performing in front of people, though this was surely nothing compared to a real show with an enormous audience. The drums shifted smoothly into their normal rhythms and the crowd ate it up. The five Vocaloids found themselves nearly free to go about their day if not quite; now that they'd captured public recognition nothing seemed to do but that a few autographs get signed, and Miku and Luka shortly found themselves with pens pushed into their hands. They didn't seem to mind it though and signed happily for the fun of the impromptu performance.

What really surprised Haku however was that quite a few people approached her for her autograph as well. She'd never signed one before and wasn't sure if she even should. She wasn't a real idol like her two friends after all and didn't think she had the right, but she didn't want to be rude or cause a fuss so she signed. What really caught her off guard however were the compliments. Person after person told her how beautiful she was, how gracefully she danced, how wonderful she looked beside the likes of other famous idols like Megurine Luka and Hatsune Miku, and what a brilliant career as an idol she was sure to have. One little girl of about eight or ten years of age with long dark hair and brown eyes that looked a lot like she used to before her change from the souldrinker attack what felt a lifetime ago now told Haku in no uncertain terms that she thought Haku was absolutely the prettiest and coolest singer she'd ever seen. Haku was a little taken aback but on impulse she smiled and reached up behind her head, tugging the bow holding her snowy cascading locks back loose, then she bent down to the girl and gave her the velvety white ribbon. Wide eyed the girl let out a squee of delight and thanked Haku profusely before turning excitedly to show off her prize to her parents.

The sentiments of the crowd were similar to those expressed by her friends, and it made her happy inside to hear it whenever they said it, but she could dismiss them as overly kind words from friends. These were strangers who had never seen her before today. If they were saying things like this... It was a little much for her to the in. She'd spent the greater part of her life shut away from most public interaction and didn't have a lot experience interacting with people or even really understanding the difference between genetic politeness and genuine sentiment. She didn't know how to handle it and began just thanking the people when they would express such things and glance away embarrassed. Whenever She did she caught sight of Gumi and Teto with pens in their hands as well.

"That was so much fun!" Miku exclaimed stretching her arms high up over her head as they all finally made their way through the crowd away from the drummers. "I wish it had lasted longer though."

"You really miss it, don't you." Luka said, a statement not a question

Miku hesitated then looked up at the pink haired beauty. "Of course I do. But… well…" she paused a moment then gave a small shrug. "There is no better feeling than to be appreciated for something you put effort into, for an artist to be liked and cheered for their craft. Of course I miss it…" she trailed off and no one seemed to want to press her on the subject. Haku couldn't help turning it over in her mind though, wondering at how she might go about finding a solution for her friend. She was startled out of her reverie when her friend's phone began to ring, 'Twinkle Days' filling the air before Miku could pull it from a pocket and check the screen before putting it to her ear, answering with a bubbly, "Hi mom! I was just down the street here at the festival with everyone and-" Her flow of words cut off abruptly and the pretty girl's face grew deadly serious at whatever Doctor Hatsune was saying on the other end of the phone. After a few moment's pause she nodded. "I understand, we'll go immediately." Then she turned off the phone and slid it into her pocket before looking around at the others. "Luka-chin and I have to go. Can the rest of you stay here, maybe enjoy the festival a little longer?"

"What is it? What's happening?" Haku had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach suddenly.

"Souldrinker attack?" Luka asked the twintailed girl. All amusement and playfulness was gone from her voice, the idol now in her calm serious mode that made Haku think of her as the warrior Luka.

Miku hesitated a moment seemingly trying to decide if she should say, then she let out a little sigh. "Several of them have been detected in a public park… in Sector four one delta. Hunting them can be a pain sometimes, but when they're hungry they usually aren't very smart. These ones are hiding in public areas. They've… gotten two people already."

Gumi's jaw dropped a bit. "They… they take more than… one at a time?"

Miku shrugged, "I dunno, I guess they can feed as much as they want, but this isn't usual behavior. It's a public park, and there's any number of possible casualties, and…" she hesitated again and apparently couldn't bring herself to say it.

Haku filled it in, seeing the problem right away. "And places for them to hide and ambush us…" She swallowed but suddenly that cloak of calm serenity she'd been working on these past months was easy to find and pull over herself, her red eyes showing steely determination. "I'm going."

Luka shook her head. "No you're not."

Miku flinched. "Mom said you couldn't-"

"I don't care what Doctor Hatsune said." Haku's smooth silvery voice held a tone of solid intent. "I'm going, Miku-chan, Luka-chan. I can't leave you two to… I mean you're my…" she shook her head. "You've both saved my life…" she trailed off.

Luka opened her mouth to object but then closed it again as she stared at Haku. Miku too stared at the snowy haired girl for a long few moments before finally nodding. "Ok, Haku-chan. But if anything goes wrong, anything at all, you stay behind me, okay? You're not fully trained yet."

Haku had absolutely zero intention of doing any such thing if it came down to it, but she would have agreed to anything if they would let her go. By the look in Miku's green eyes she knew that already, but she turned them around toward the festival's exits with a muttered, "This is a bad idea…"

"If Haku's going so are we!" Gumi chirped throwing her hand in the air, though her usually bubbly countenance was laced with uncertainty and maybe even a little fear.

"Absolutely not." Luka replied as they all moved swiftly out of the gates then turned down a side street. "Haku-chin has had a little experience already in the field and is further along in her training than you both are. It's not safe."

"We don't know how many there are." Teto's voice was even yet determined. "If you had an exact number wouldn't you have said? It only makes sense to have as many of us as we can."

"This isn't mathematics, it's a dangerous situation." Miku said defiantly. "You two aren't coming."

"That's not fair!" Gumi was nearly on the point of shouting. "We can help! I know we could do something!"

They rounded the last block as they argued and the Compound came into sight. They stopped partway between the front gates and the garage side door and Luka pointed at the gates. "This isn't a debate you two, it's an order from a higher ranking Vocaloid. You're not coming. I'm sorry, but it's for your own good."

Teto and Gumi both opened their mouths with angry looks on their faces but Haku stepped forward and put a hand out to either of their arms. "If you want to help, you can do so from here. Tell Director Hatsune we're unsure of their numbers and that we may need additional support. You can always come later with the backup."

The two of them stared at her for a minute then finally nodded their agreement. "Okay…" Gumi said, "But be careful alright? Well be out soon." Haku nodded as they turned to head inside and she faced Luka and Miku. The two powerful Vocaloids were trading dubious glances before turning to Haku.

"You know that's not how this works, right?" Miku asked bluntly. "Mom and dad and the team analyze the readings and dispatch who they think is necessary, no more. No unnecessary risks. There won't be any backup."

Haku nodded. "I know, and likely so so Teto and Gumi, but I don't think they really wanted to go, and this way they won't come after us and at least can feel as though they're a part what's going on."

They looked at her incredulously then each let out a little giggle. "Oh Haku-chin you're so polite and diplomatic." Luka smiled one of those small private smiles again. "It's absolutely adorable." She looked to Miku and cast a thumb over her shoulder at the garages. "We need speed. I'll go on ahead. You two can catch up."

Miku grinned wickedly, a playful competitive sort of smirk. "Catch up? I'll bet we beat you there!"

They entered the garages which held any number of inconspicuous black vehicles for official use, some large SUVs, some smaller plain cars, and a few motorcycles. Luka flashed one last smile before pulling her black and pink helmet on, hitting the garage door control on her handlebars, kicking her bike into gear, gunning the engine and roaring out of the garage with her flowing silky pink hair streaming out behind her. Miku walked passed all of the other vehicles with Haku in tow to an angular expensive looking sporty foreign import.

"What... kind of car is this?" Haku blinked in surprise. She wasn't a car person but this was very pretty.

Miku smiled fondly at it. "A Ferrari. This is my baby. I drive it whenever I can." She opened the driver side door which was apparently not locked and got in, leaving Haku to do the same on the passenger side. Once in Haku found why it wasn't locked. Miku pulled her ID badge with it's electronic chip embedded in it and inserted it in a slot in the dashboard where the keyhole should have been, except there was no keyhole only a chip reader. Then she pushed a button that said "Start/Stop Engine" and the black Ferrari roared to life and Miku grinned. "It's technically for official use, but it's our fastest car and only a couple people have clearance to use it." She winked, slammed the Ferrari into reverse, threw the wheel over and stepped on the gas all in rapid fire succession.

Haku couldn't help but let out a little squeal and grab hold of the door and seat handles as the tires screamed against the pavement as they backed out of the garage at a breakneck speed, just barely clearing the garage door coming back down after Luka's departure. Once outside Miku barely let the the Ferrari slow before slamming it into gear and taking off down the street. Haku wasn't sure how they didn't get pulled over on the way to the park but with Luka's life potentially on the line showing up ahead of them and alone she wasn't about to object.

There was a small parking area at the park and Miku wheeled the Ferrari around into a spot, cut the engine, snagged her ID badge and hopped out. Haku got out too, some small part of her noting that Miku's parking job was terrible but it wasn't like they had the time for such small things. The idol's bike was parked off to the side already. Luka was scouting ahead, maybe already finding the souldrinkers, maybe already in trouble. She followed Miku into the park and they began to slowly circle it. There were people everywhere, some on picnics, some out with pets, a few sitting and reading or studying.

Haku was antsy from the slow pace and wanted to run. They had to find Luka! "Shouldn't we be moving faster?" She asked making an effort not to bolt.

Miku shook her head. "We don't want to alarm anyone or tip our hand to the souldrinkers." She said quietly enough that she wouldn't have been heard more than a few feet away. "One of our biggest rules is not to ever do anything that can get us noticed as an organization. Just keep your eyes open, we'll find them, or we'll find Luka-chin."

The park was lush and green and laid out in such a way so the path would take them around trees or flower bushes or small ponds to display them at the best possible angle while walking. They strode along through the park for several minutes which stretched into ten, then a quarter of an hour, then half an hour. Haku could feel herself growing antsier and more anxious with every passing minute. Miku was with her and she took comfort from that presence, but Luka was out there, alone and outnumbered and potentially in trouble. Soon she felt like she was going to explode from the levels of anxiety wracking through her, yet all she could do was walk along beside the pretty light blue haired girl and try not to chew too much on her lower lip with worry as they moved down the park trails. Periodically along the path the foliage opened up to reveal a secluded spot with benches or the like for relaxing in the shade. At one split in the path they saw a glimpse of paper white skin flash around the edge of abush.

"Stay here!" Miku said and took off, but Haku had no intention of waiting. What if that thing had Luka?! They came around the edge of the large outcropping of foliage to see two pale people with black orbs for eyes, one a man holding a preteen boy in his grip, the other a woman presumably the one they had just been chasing. The odds would have effectively been two on one as Haku wasn't trained enough for this, but the souldrinkers were distracted and Miku got the drop on them. Her movements were as fluid as ever as she spun and ducked and moved her arms in great arcs in the air, and the ultra high frequency sonic booms were enough send the pair to the ground in moments with flashes of light blue light only the two of them could see. The second the boy was free he made a break for it and Miku let him go. "He's not important, even if he saw anything noteworthy no one would believe him off by himself like this. Come on, let's keep looking for Luka-chin."

It was at another such opening at a split in the path several branches down some ten more minutes later that they saw a small walled gazebo and finally caught a flash of pink hair around the back of the structure. "There she is!" Haku said and made as if to run to Luka's side, but Miku caught her arm.

"Haku-chan, wait. She might be stalking it, and you don't want to interrupt." Miku looked around and pointed to a spot by the side of the building where they could observe. "Let's wait over there."

They made their way around the edge of the gazebo's clearing and waited behind a tree peeking out from behind it. Luka was in clear view now, her dark red coat sliding soundlessly against her wall as she craned her neck to peer around the structure. She was standing against the wall and watching one of the gazebo's doors intently, her long flowing pink hair streaming loose behind her with the diamond studded sunglasses Haku had given her up on her head for easy reach. She was a huntress focused on her prey.

Miku let out a soft hiss and Haku glanced at her, seeing her looking toward the front of the building, and turned her own head that way. A man of average height and build with short dark hair was making his way around the building, creeping up behind Luka. A man with a papery white face and all black eyes.

Everything happened at once. Haku again made as if to run out to Luka, but Miku took off first, shoving her away. "Stay back!" She half shouted, and it wasn't entirely clear if she was talking to Haku or the souldrinker. The creature's head whipped around at the shout as did Luka's, and the two girls spun to confront the man. Miku took up a dancing pose with one arm around her middle and the other curved over her head, but Luka got a good look at the man's face and looked confused. "That's not the same-'

At that moment Haku saw a second man coming out of the door Luka had been watching with the same pale skin and all black eyes. Time seemed to slow down for Haku, like a digital video that had been set to a tiny fraction of normal playback speed. She felt like she could have moved ten or twenty steps to every one the creature took. Miku was in mid dance step, a furious tempo coming from her as she moved to her own music, and to Haku's red eyes flashes of light blue tinted light were coming out of her hands or elbows or feet just as they had in the dance studio the day of her show match with Mokoto, only this time directed at the souldrinker who had been sneaking up on them. Luka was still turning around in confusion, trusting the new threat to Miku to deal with as she searched for her earlier quarry, but the other one was sprinting for her. She didn't have enough time.

Haku couldn't let anything happen to Luka. She wouldn't! She let her instincts take over, let her emotions run wild, all the concern and worry she was feeling backed up by the feelings she had been having for the pink haired beauty. She took a quick step out, bent a knee, threw her head back so she was looking down her nose at her target, and thrust her hands up, one behind her head with her elbow out to the side and the other hand extended toward the souldrinker, palm up with her pinky and ring fingers curled as though to pluck him out of the air with her first three fingers. Her body focused, directed, vibrated, and she let the note out, a low terrible resonating note like a death knell. "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

The white sonic energy wave ripped through the air toward the man to slam into his chest. There was a snarl, the sound of angry bestial rage, but it staggered him knocking him out of his sprint, throwing him off balance. Her miniscule half-trained power didn't seem to have harmed him in the slightest, but it gave Luka the moment she needed to complete her turn, coming smoothly up into a pose of her own, and then she too began to dance.

Haku was in awe of the pretty pair before her. Back to back they danced, pink hair and light blue swishing around them as they ducked, weaved, and turned. Somehow Haku could instinctively tell that they were not Resonating, simply focusing on their own individual targets. For the first time Haku was getting to truly see the Odoru no Budo in action, the way a Vocaloid fought, the Martial Art of Dance. These souldrinkers seemed to be stronger than the one that had attacked her on the train and the two from the alley that night, and even though the pair of girls didn't actually sing any lyrics, the tune was almost recognizable, or perhaps it was just because they were harmonizing even while facing away from each other toward different foes. Where as her lesson in the dance studio had been a show match, this was a real battle for their lives. Every hand gesture, every elbow thrust, every kick out or hip pop, was aimed at the enemies surrounding them, but unlike the show match where Miku and Makoto never got close to each other, these creatures actively attempted to reach the two girls, tried to strike them, hit them or kick them or something to overpower them. The sonic energy buffets from their attacks were precisely aimed to keep them back. Miku and Luka were like Haku in terms of body strength, like any girl. Their edge was not strength but speed, agility, and sonic energy. The souldrinker's bodies were kept at bay by specifically directed sonic energy buffets which turned aside or countered their blows as surely as any traditional martial arts arm or leg block or parry.

Haku absorbed all this as she watched, her first real look at field work, but even as she watched Miku and Luka gained the upper hand quickly enough. These souldrinkers weren't weak, yet they were still clearly outclassed. The two beauties weren't even breathing hard as they pressed their advantage, and within only a few chords of their harmonizing chorus Haku saw the trick to it. The hand motions, body twists, and leg kicks were in part meant to defend against their attackers, yet the real intent was the same as in a traditional martial arts fight in which you use those movements to attempt to open up a hole in the opponent's defense to strike a vital area. Which is exactly what they did. Almost simultaneously, just like the crescendo of a choreographed song and dance number, one of Luka's energy waves dazed her foe and made him pull back as Miku managed to knock her souldrinker back with a blast to the head. Both creatures recoiled stunned, and the harmonizing tempo between the girls peaked. Elbow, hip, arm, hip, hand, foot, elbow, foot, blow after blow of sonic energies as they danced on rammed into the head and chest of two out matched creatures and they finally fell, all black eyes staring up at the sky already glazing over.

Haku didn't wait, she sprinted straight for her beautiful idol and Luka had time enough only to turn a baffled look on the silvery white haired girl as she tackled her and they went down to the soft grass in a crescendo of grunts, Haku atop Luka as their bodies pressed together and red eyes stared intently down into blue-grey.

"Ha- Haku-chin." Luka breathed. She seemed flustered but not from her fight, that had been all too easy for her. Both of their faces flushed deeply at the contact but Haku wouldn't be deterred.

"Luka-chan, I was so worried for you. I…" Haku stopped and swallowed hard, but she maintained the intent stare, and Luka didn't seem inclined to break the eye contact.

"Haku-chin, you may have just saved my life." Luka said, then she winced. "I'm sorry I jeopardized yours, I shouldn't have let you come today, I don't deserve-"

Haku shook her head firmly in denial. "No. NO! You didn't fail me, you saved me! You saved me in every way one person CAN save another. You kept me from the fate of being devoured by a souldrinker weeks ago, and you changed my life, saving me from the dreary dullness that it was." She reached a hand up to the pink haired beauty's cheek and stroked it gently with her fingertips. "You gave me a future, something to look forward to. Helping you is the least I could do, is all I WANT to do." The feelings she'd been pouring over for months now seemed to crystallize in her head to at least a small degree and she wanted Luka to understand them, to feel them with her.

"Haku-chin…" Surprisingly Luka's eyes were tearing up a bit, but it wasn't from upset or hurt, it was just the flood of emotions, the intensity from one to another after a second shared near death experience since they'd known each other.

"Luka-chan…" Haku whispered, and she tilted her head to line up their mouths, inching downward slowly.

"You don't…" Luka swallowed hard, her cheeks on fire now. "You don't… think this is too sudden, do you? I mean… too fast? It's only been a couple of months…"

"You say this now? You were the one… in the bath last week…"

"I know… I just… I was worried…"

"Sometimes two people just click." Haku whispered repeating Miku's earlier words, then added Makoto's as well. "We are Vocaloids. We do everything fast." With that she let her mouth descend faster, but she was no quicker down than Luka was leaning her head up. Their lips met, their eyes closed, fireworks exploded in their heads and the rest of the world fell away. There was only each other, their soft lips pressing together gently but insistently, their tongues dipping out to meet the others and roll together, their hands on the other's cheeks carasseing tenderly, and the heat building within them like a blazing inferno. Neither was sure how long they lay there in the embrace, clinging to each other unwilling to let go, but eventually their lungs forced them to part with gasps for air, so intent had they been on the other that the simple biological need for oxygen had been forgotten all together. They looked at each other for a few long moments, their tongues still extended part way and their eyes hazy with the pleasure of the taste of the other still on their lips.

A choked little sound brought both of their heads up to see Miku standing a few feet away with a huge round eyed look on her face, her mouth in a little 'o' shape. Abruptly all three of them broke out into blushes and Miku spun away. Haku scrambled backward off of Luka quickly but the idol caught her hand and held tight, and though she felt certain that she would die of embarrassment any second she didn't resist the pink haired beauties hold on her hand. Luka shifted her gaze from Haku to look at Miku's back, the twintailed girl standing stock still in a rigid back straight posture. "Miku-chan…?" Her crystal voice came out gently.

Miku didn't move or say anything for a very long very heavy few moments, then she put her hand into her coat pocket and drew her phone out. She tapped the few screen a few times and held it up to her ear. "Hatsune. Dispatched four. Needing cleanup."

"I took one before you arrived." Luka allowed.

"Correction. Dispatched five." Then she hung up and slid her phone back into her pocket.

"Miku-chan, I-" Haku tried, her silvery voice quavering tremulously.

"I need to get back." Miku's usually chime like voice was as flat and neutral as Teto's right that moment. "I'll see you both… later." And with that she marched off.

Haku felt her eyes sting with tears and she reached up a hand in a vain attempt to stop a sniffle that made it passed her palm anyway. Why did it hurt so much? Why did caring hurt so very much? She thought if the situations had been reversed and she'd been searching the park with Luka trying to find Miku things would have played out exactly as they just had only it would be Luka marching off now. She didn't understand, couldn't fathom why things were the way they were, but she was absolutely certain about one thing now: she cared deeply for both of these girls, so deeply it hurt. If she lost either one… if one or the other ended up hating her…

A hand on her shoulder brought Haku's tear streaked face up to meet Luka's gaze. The idol had unshed tears shining in her blue eyes but she had a small smile on her lips, that small private smile. "It will be okay, Haku-chin. I know it will."

Haku opened her mouth to object, to ask how she could know that, to try to say anything at all really, but her voice stuck in her throat and all she could managed was a little raspy noise. But finally after a moment she just nodded. "I hope so…" The pair of them held hands all the way back to Luka's motorcycle, neither caring that anyone they passed would see two girls with their arms together.