Title: Just Another Mistake

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Synopsis: Who knew she was the perfect candidate for a specific, otherworldly being? What could possibly go wrong.

A/N: This is kind of like, a continuation of the last chapter, branching off into a new chapter. Which will explain the weird pacing about 1/4th of the way in. oh what am i saying, that probably happens more then once lol.

Also this chapter goes out to the dude/ette who asked me how the next chapter was going, and all the fabulous reviewers. Stay wonderful guys


"I love Luka and I just want what's best for her, why is that so difficult for everyone to process?"

Luka's jaw worked, but she couldn't get words to form. Part of her wanted to make a joke, another part wanted to claim Miku was insane. It was like no matter how she worked it out, it just wouldn't click. Meiko wasn't stupid, sure she did dumb things, but if Luka was going to make it out of this without Miku being found out, she was going to need either a miracle, or a stupidly good idea.

Glancing quickly up into the rear view mirror, Luka found Miku sitting with her knees drawn up to her chin, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. After yelling that little tidbit, Miku didn't seem to know what else to say. Which was kind of surprising, considering the fact that Miku seemed to always have something to say at the least opportune time. And at a time like this, if Miku were to suddenly go off on a tangent, maybe she could throw Meiko off the subject.

"Luka," Or not. Bracing herself for the inevitable, Luka has to physically stop herself from wiping at the beads of sweat collecting on her eyebrow. "Okay, I knew she had a fucking crush on you, but this is some deep shit. Like with her constantly yelling about you being her's and stuff like that." If anything, the brunette seemed, well, uncomfortable. She fidgeted with the sleeves of her shirt, making sure to hold eye contact for a few seconds before looking at something on the dashboard.

Luka tries not to let out a sigh of relief. Yeah, this isn't the best situation to be a part of, but at least Meiko didn't mention the 'freaky eye thing' again. In fact, it was just a giant stroke of luck that Meiko wasn't currently screaming. "I, yes, this is a bit ... over the top." She has no idea how else to put this. The best thing to do, Luka figures, is pretend Miku isn't sitting right behind her. "It's kind of funny how-"

Meiko immediately squawks, "Funny?" Unbuckling her seat belt to stare Luka down, Meiko continues, "Lulu, you ran screaming from a mixer just a few days ago. Why isn't this bothering you more? What makes her feelings so much different?"

Maybe because the fact she's supposedly 'in love' with me, versus her being an actual alien, the alien part bothers me more?

Luka's life is literally spinning out of control at the slowest, mundane pace possible. "Well, it kind of helps that Hatsune-san is so tiny." She chuckled, trying to find some kind of metaphorical ground to stand on.

Meiko's jaw dropped, pretty much taking whatever grasp Luka thought she had on the situation. "Tiny? Tiny? The reason why you're okay with all of this, is because she's fucking pint sized?"

Shifting nervously, running a hand through her hair, Luka sighs, "What else do you want me to say? I can't kick her out, she won't stop with her feelings. I don't know what you want me to say."

"Something else would be fucking grand right about now. So far all you've done is agree with me. She likes you, and you, what? Just let it go?" She scoffs, throwing a glare over her shoulder towards Miku. Luka couldn't help but feel kind of bad for her, sitting by herself in silence. "Send her back home, tell her to stop, do something! You can't just let it go. What about her parents? Do they know she's out here? What am I-"

Luka at least processed the semblance of mind to not scream as she watched her friends body slouch, the light in her eyes fading away, the bright chocolate brown becoming little more then a tinted murky haze. It all happened so fast, Luka wasn't even sure if this was even real. She felt like she should be used to things of this caliber by now, but it was one thing to know its possible, and for it to actually happen.

What had stopped her from shaking the brunette was Miku's head popping up between the seats. Luka hissed, "What are you doing?" It was very disturbing to say the least, and while Luka thought of Miku as Legally Insane, she didn't think she would actually kill the brunette. It took a lot of will power not to shove Miku away, but the look of concentration kept her from it. Watching Miku crawl between the front seats, firmly plant herself on the gear shift, two of her fingers touching firmly to Meiko's temple, ruffles from her white dress riding up as she shifted.

"I am going to conduct a very peculiar experiment on your ... acquaintance." Miku's lips pulled down at the edges, her nose crinkling, her voice suddenly grave/ Maybe seeing Luka fight a losing battle had reigned Miku's craziness in. "If anyone were to discover my alien heritage before having achieved my goal ... it might have serious repercussions." Or maybe not.

'But what about the people you almost killed!' Luka wanted to wail, all this time it had seemed like Miku didn't give a fuck about what people thought or discovered. Flying up two stories, and imploding glass, fighting off hoards of men with shining eyes, and barely any sense of gravity whatsoever. But seeing her now tightly pinched eyebrows, as her eyes glazed in concentration, Luka couldn't help but wonder what made her change her mind? Luka narrowed her eyes, trying to figure it out, only to recoil when Miku took a deep breath. It startled Luka as she watched the brunette exhale with her.

Feeling goosebumps prickle at her limbs, Luka crossed her arms to try to feel less spooked. "... What made you think about that now of all times?"

"She mentioned sending me back from where I came!" Miku's sudden explosion rattled Luka to the bone. She didn't think she'd ever heard Miku yell, even though it wasn't exactly directed at her, she still felt it beneath her skin. "That isn't possible until I complete my mission, and the direction the conversation had gone, might have led her to discovering everything. She could potentially ruin everything." At the end of her rant, Miku's voice sounded much more delicate than usual. Gone was the bravado, and confidence she seemed to spew from every pour.

Luka didn't exactly care. Her voice held edge as she bit out, "Why didn't you think about that before yelling at us?" They would not have still been here, cramped in a tiny sports car, with Miku trying to pack in between two seats, if she had kept her mouth shut. By this point though, that seemed like common knowledge.

Miku shifted some, trying to find a spot to sit as she turned to face Luka fully. As their eyes met the singer felt uneasy, staring straight into Miku's eyes, which seemed particularly brighter than normal. It felt as if Miku were staring straight through her, and the sudden urge to flee was great. It only lasted a moment, before Miku hung her head, seemingly lifting the suddenly dark air that permitted them. "I had not thought before I spoke."

Pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes, Luka exhaled sharply. "No, you didn't." Taking a moment, Luka dropped her hands, and couldn't help but honestly ask, "Why?"

"You seemed ... very troubled, explaining how I feel about you." Luka didn't know what to say, she's been very troubled the last few days. This wasn't anything new. Perhaps more direct, but not new. The day had been really stressful, and it had seemed never-ending, and when Meiko turned towards her in stunned silence, demanding why Miku stays with her. She felt just, so done. Luka didn't think she was going to get out of it, and there was no way she could lie and explain actually reciprocating the aliens feelings. Which would then make Meiko question why she even allowed this obvious stalker to live with her. Which, actually already happened. Really, it was this one thing that was going to bring them both down.

Luka just couldn't decode Miku's almost melancholic tone, or even place her finger on the emotions playing across Miku's face. It was then that Miku turned to face Meiko, leaving her back to Luka. "I abhor her."

"Hatsune-san," Luka figures she needs to tread carefully. While every fiber in her being begged her to scream, she knew she shouldn't. She's already said several things, that Luka supposed were unnecessary. With Meiko's life possibly in Miku's very hands this moment, Luka decides the last thing they should do, is discuss Miku's great abhorrence. "We should probably focus on what we're doing now."

Miku shifts again, this time letting her other hand come to the other side of Meiko's head, Luka thanks every god that the car still happened to be in park. She nods some, "I can't alter her memories, but I can ... urge her to not ask personal questions about me. At least for a little while. If my skills are up to par." Turning back around to face Luka again, Miku's tongue poking out in concentration.

Luka frowns, trying not to let the distaste show as Miku's eyes seem to flash, from teal to grey, very slightly. "Okay, ... so we do it your way." She starts, thinking about how quickly down hill the discussion had gone. "Meiko will stop raving for, what, a few hours, maybe a few days? How is this actually going to help us? Meiko won't forget this, and she's going to continue to be, for lack of better words, pissed."

Luka hadn't the slightest idea of what Meiko was in the middle of saying before all of this, but she had seen the emotions on her friends face. They probably would have been here, in this parking lot, with her perishables, for hours. Talking, and yelling, back and forth about whether Miku should stay or go, and really, Luka had no control over that. Her hands are tied, but in Meiko's eyes, it probably seemed like, well, Luka wanted the attention.

Which she didn't.


Maybe, just maybe, giving an alien full house rights is—was, an extremely bad idea.

It's one Luka didn't really stop to consider, well, she sort of did consider it. It would be a lie to say she didn't consider it. She considers the whole 'living together' thing a lot. Who wouldn't? Not only is she an alien, but she's also an alien who has some kind of penchant for her, and they live under the same roof, and really it just sounds like a bad porn in the making. What she means though, is she really didn't like the thought of Miku snooping through her stuff, but since the small alien helped keep the house clean, Luka really couldn't complain. Or even restrict her from use of certain items or rooms. Because then those rooms wouldn't get clean. Like her bedroom.

Luka still can't believe Meiko didn't know she had hard wood floors.

Luka tilts her head to the side, trying not to think about the other day. The other day had ended an almost disaster. Sure, Miku did the thing, but just because Meiko didn't seem to care about the how's and why's, that didn't mean she suddenly forgot about Miku screaming about love. Meiko nearly driving them into the grocery store. Luka didn't think she would be able to talk Meiko out of questions. Well, she didn't, in all honesty, Miku did. Yeah, just take a moment to let that sink in. The perks to being an empath seemed never-ending, at least in Luka's eyes. She didn't think about the flight as all that amazing, that was a bother and it was creepy. Being able to read her feelings was also extremely creepy.

Being able to self-impose feelings, and urge certain thought processes on other beings though? That was a fucking blessing. (Yet also, slightly creepy.)

Obviously, by that point Luka didn't have much of a choice, either let Meiko scream about sending Miku back skywards, or have her forget she even mentioned it. It seemed like an invasion of privacy but, Luka thought, just let this slide at least until she could think of a better lie. The stress and anxiety really got to her. When Meiko came too, she hadn't asked any questions, merely put the car in drive and started towards Luka's home. She helped her unload the groceries, made a joke about needing a drink, and went home. Luka hasn't seen her in almost five odd days. It wasn't like Meiko didn't try to contact her though, several unanswered calls, and a couple odd texts still sat untouched on her phone.

Still though, as Luka thought about it she felt ... odd. She sighed, touching her forehead slightly. Altering Meiko's feelings ... seemed wrong. Like, really wrong. But at the time, there hadn't been a way to get out of it. It was rare, moments few and far between when Luka couldn't smooth talk her way out of something. Ever since she was a small child, it was what she did best. Luka always figured it came with being pretty, no one seemed to doubt a pretty face. That was how Luka stabbed them in the back.

Okay, this might be a tad bit too dark, even for me.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Luka placed her hands on her hips, and decided to deal with the present. She'd woken up this morning, ambled out of bed, and stubbed her toe again, in the same spot as yesterday, and the day before that. This time, without any distractions, she got a good look. Staring down at this heavy metallic object laying on said wooden floor, Luka wonders if it was something that could kill, hurt, or maim her. It's just this giant bulky thing, it looks a bit like a bench weight, but where the weights would be were two, circular fan-looking things, that glowed a very dim pink. The bar in the middle was thicker, more angular then a normal weight bar. And it spanned about as long as her coffee table. This ... weight thing, has been sitting outside of her room since they went grocery shopping. She's stubbed her toe on it one too many times, and today is the last day it's going to sit here.

It's going outside.

Luka nods with herself, considering when to actually follow through with it. Like, she wants it outside. It's going to go outside. This is her house damn it, and it's going outside.-Is what she keeps telling herself. So far, she's stuck to walking around the bulky object and poking it with her toe, pink nails scrapping along cold metal. It's alien technology! It makes total sense why she isn't actually moving it, but it's really bothering her that it's just sitting outside of her room, waiting for her to stub her stupid toe again.

A tiny tap on Luka's living room window brings Luka out of her thoughts. Having become accustomed to it, she didn't brush the sound off, and instead checked the window near her kitchen. She looks up to see Miku's hands pressed against the glass, a giant smile beaming on her face, teal eyes twinkling. Sighing heavily, Luka pads over to the window, unlocks it, and easily raises it up.

It's not even half way before Miku's chimes, "I could have opened it myself, but since you instructed me not to sneak up on you, I decided I ought not. Have I done you well?" Miku's eyes beam with such excitement that Luka rolls her eyes. The small girl is not even half way through the raised window when Luka spots this... thing, wrapped around Miku's arm. The thing moves, and it's green, and when Miku is more then half way through the window it hisses.

"Is that a ... snake?" Luka asks, outwardly oddly unperturbed, but on the inside she's screaming. She doesn't want this. She didn't ask for this. Luka watches as Miku seems to freeze during her slow trek into the house, possibly sensing Luka's well hidden rage. "Get out." And then, good idea or not, Luka tries to forcibly close the window on Miku. Luka has better things to do.

Like move that bloody weight.

Logically she realizes this is a horrible thing to do and will probably hurt a lot, but logic is lost on Luka. Who is terrified of snakes with a capital T.

Miku spazzes out for a moment, shrieking. "W-wait, Luka, it's hurt and I can help it!" Miku rolls onto her back to place her hands on the window to stop it from possibly crushing her. Out of all the character traits she knew Luka possessed, 'inhumane murderer' hadn't been one.

"No." Luka says, again oddly calm, because it's a snake and it's in her house. And when did she sign up for this? Housing an alien, okay, dealing with said aliens love for her, okay, stubbing the same toe every day for like five days, slightly less okay, brainwashing her best friend, well, but snakes. Snakes? Luka shakes her head. No. This is where she draws the line. This moment.

They battle for about a minute, Luka trying to close the window so the snake doesn't eat her soul, Miku trying to stop Luka from possibly crushing her. Of course, if it were a battle of strength, Miku would probably win. Luka knows, or well, assumes such, but at the moment she can't careless, opting instead to force the alien out under any and all circumstances. Eventually Miku will have to tire of this right?

Or well, maybe not.

Miku's eyebrows bunch up, her nose wrinkling as she throws a hand out suddenly. Luka stops for a second to consider the hand, and Miku's desperate face. "Wait, I love you!" Luka kind of freezes at the sudden declaration, flashing back to her younger years, and then just a few days ago. Her cheeks darkening with rosy color, and Miku uses this time to add a little more pressure to the window, causing it to raise just high enough for her to belt into the house.

It takes a second for Luka to finally snap out of it. The heat she feels on her face, a mix of anger, and embarrassment, all it does is full the rage within her. Utterly pissed, Luka slams the window back down, spins around to face Miku who's currently cooing softly to the snake wrapped around her arm. Mentally adding 'can apparently communicate with animals' to Miku's list of skills, Luka makes sure to keep her distance, choosing to stand a few feet away.

"You don't get to just ... use that against me whenever you please, Hatsune-san!" It irritates Luka endlessly how all these phrases get thrown around all the time. Pretty soon they're going to mean nothing, well, they actually mean nothing now, and it just bothers Luka so much." And this is my house, I don't want that thing in it."

"It is not a thing, and I think that is very unkind!" Miku stands her ground, frowning, "It eats, breathes, sleeps, and has feelings! It is a living creature. Look!" Miku holds her arm out as if to prove a point, only to have the snake hiss and bare its fangs at Luka. The said singer jumps back, eyes widening in fear.

Luka waits about a beat, a very long moment where she literally just stares at the unwavering girl. Luka can't help but feel, underneath her anger and fear, just a bit confused. Just about a day ago Miku had been very obedient and willing to listen, and—wait, then again. When has Miku ever listened? When does she ever listen? All Miku does, is talk shit about being polite, but this is Luka's house. It should be Luka's final say, about anything and everything.

It's this thought that leaves Luka almost quaking in rage, "Well you know what? If it has feelings, go understand each other some where else. Take yourself, your snake, and your thing out of my house!" To punctuate her sentence, Luka rears one leg back, and with an almost crazed grin, kicks at the thing sitting in front of her room. It clatters with a dull thud, and hurts, but it served to show Miku how serious Luka felt. She's at kicking-things level of rage right now, it all seems so justifiable.

And then the weight hisses.

Miku shrieks, almost as a warning, and simultaneously all the electrical appliances turn off. It's day though, so the only real difference is the TV flickering, the sudden crackle that sounds across the entire house. Luka jumps at the sound of one of her light bulbs bursting like something straight out of fucking paranormal activities.

And then, Luka can hear the toaster oven turning on with a sharp 'bing!', followed by the TV, and actually literally everything else seems to turn on all at once. Right before Luka can question it, everything shuts down, with a final snap!. The phone in her pocket buzzes, and sparks, it almost feels like its burning her skin. Luka quickly pulls it out of her sweats pocket to fling it to the ground.

"What the hell... ?" Luka examines the phone, watches it buzz on the ground, and then as if on cue, the sound of her phone whacking against the ground is followed closely by all of the windows in the room shattering dramatically. Leaving the pair of them blanketed in just soft streams of sun light, nothing on, and the smell of fresh air and burning electronics all too prominent.

Thankfully, the pieces of the shattered windows seem to fly outwards. If it hadn't, Luka would've been in some serious trouble, considering how close the windows were. Luka backs away from the window, and tries to find a spot in the room where there isn't an electrical appliance, or broken light bulb pieces. The best location she can find is the couch.

She accepts it graciously, collapsing, quite literally, onto it to catch her breath, as she does such she hears Miku thundering over. "These are expensive floaters!" Miku shouts, dropping to her knees to place a concerned hand on the hunk of metal that nearly killed them both. "Inducing damage while it is charging is like asking for an electrical imbalance to occur, and back lash of a high density EMP outburst."

Luka can barely hear Miku over the white noise in her head. Her heart feels like its about to burst. "EMP?" Luka repeats, placing a hand on to her clammy forehead. "Are you serious?" Of course she doesn't actually mean the question. Luka can't even give one flying fuck about all of that.

"I am quite serious, Luka." Miku's voice raises sharply, "We have just experienced a lot of damage, why would I joke at a time like this? I am assuming you are going to be needing someone of a certain skill level to properly fix all of your electrical appliances."

It takes everything in Luka's power not to get up and just leave the entire universe. Phase through the couch and just, stop. Everything in her house decided it wanted to play peek-a-boo with the power, and she almost probably died somehow, and Miku is trying to explain things. And Luka is just, here, in her tank top, and grey sweats with the little pink bunny in the corner. She doesn't even care anymore. Not like she originally did, but if she did, she would not. That's how finished she is with all of this. Miku is running, and ruining her life.

Luka snorts. Or well, whatever is left of it.

Luka thinks of the costs for the electrician, and adds it up with the costs for the repair man to come and replace her windows because she sure as hell isn't doing that, and then she adds it with the costs of extra food. In Luka's mind, little dollar signs fly straight out of window. This is actually one of the main reasons why Luka doesn't have a pet. Extra costs. Look at her now. Housing an alien, losing thousands in just a few short days.

Looking down at the tealette, Luka can see despite her serious expression, Miku looks some how considerably at fault. With her head tucked down, and her hands clasped over her knees. She tilts her head this way and that, refusing to meet Luka's eyes. Possibly waiting for Luka to jump up and scream 'this is all your fault!'. Because well, it kind of is, not counting the fact Luka kicked the ... thing.

Meiko was right. She's pretty much a puppy.

Luka blinks once, incredibly slowly, drawing it out so she doesn't have to look at the cherub like face before her. "... Yes. Well, considering all of this damage, I think I need to make a few calls. Please, do not move from that spot, Hatsune-san. And keep your ... pet, to yourself." The disgust practically drips from Luka's voice.

"My—" Miku looks up, seeming to freeze on spot. Luka raises an elegant eyebrow, watching the shorter girl scramble around the room on her hands and knees. After about a minute, Miku crawls towards the couch, her face flushed with delicate pink dots. She doesn't say anything for a second, and it's then when Luka realizes where this is going. "I lost the snake." She whispers with such intensity that, for a second, Luka wonders if she should care.

"Of—Of course you did." Luka places a hand to her face, barely holding in the need to curse and rave around, and she just sighs. She reaches for her cellphone which is on the ground nearby, blatantly ignores Miku's eyes (which are pleading for forgiveness in the most adorable of ways), and turns it on. Thankfully, maybe by an act of god, it switches on. Though Luka is positive that's because it isn't directly hooked to any outputs in her house. Or maybe because it's Nokia. With a sigh, she ignores the few missed calls from Meiko, punches in the number for an electrician. It's going to be kind of difficult explaining the situation, but one thing Luka happens to be amazing at is lying so she'll find a way.

About ten minutes later, Luka is cradling her face in her hands wondering where her life went so wrong. Well. Of course that started with Gakupo, but really. Even that's beginning to seem like nothing what with the whole alien-fiasco going on right now. The exact moment Luka thinks that though, she groans, shutting her eyes tighter.

Okay maybe not. That still hurts to think about.

"What is bothering you, Luka?"

Miku nudges her leg a bit with her hand, and Luka visibly finches away. She drops her hands to see Miku trying, and down right failing, at concealing her pain at that simple gesture. As if she didn't think Luka would jump from her touch as if it burned. Luka sighs, you can't really blame her though.

"The electrician says we need to leave, because 'it might not be safe'. He's never heard of a case so," She pauses, finding the next words to be particularly annoying. "Alien before. So we need to take precaution, and stay somewhere else for the day, while he comes over with a small crew to fix the lights, replace the windows, clean the mess, and check the breakers."

Miku sits by her legs, her face almost unreadable for a second. She shifts some, tugs absently at her hair, before facing Luka once more. "I understand. Where are we going to take shelter?"

Dragging a hand through her hair, Luka's lips pull into a thin line. "Where else can we go?"


"Really? Are you testing my loyalty for you as a friend."

Luka rubs at her temples with the palms of her hands, two heavy suitcases by her legs. It's not even midday yet and her day is already going—correction-gone, to pot. Starting with the whole snake fiasco (god knows where that thing is now, probably having little ugly snake babies everywhere), the electricity, scrounging up wearable clothes for Miku, and then actually driving here.

Luka hasn't driven her car in months. Hell. She hasn't actually sat in on the drivers side of a car since even slightly before her breakup. Crypton spoiled her silly with limousine rides, and a personal chauffeur. After all of that, driving is almost unfamiliar territory for her, so of course it makes sense she almost got into a wreck on the way. Meiko only lives like six to ten miles from her own house. Yet somehow she still managed to almost get towed, crashed into, and obliterated by at least three other cars, a pedestrian, and two stop signs.

While Luka knew she wasn't familiar with driving, being reminded exactly how absolutely terrible she is at it, is a little disheartening. Really though, after seeing how Miku faired in a car with Meiko last time, doing that again probably isn't the best option. Ever again. Which makes Luka ask herself, if she doesn't want Miku in a car with Meiko, why the bloody hell are they going to stay with them? Well, obviously because her only friend right now is Meiko. Sadly enough.

Staring at Meiko over her glasses, with dark rimmed eyes, Luka sighs. Miku bristles near her side, and Luka has to actually tilts her head towards her and give her a 'don't even try it' look, before she turns back to a now on guard Meiko, to explain for what feels like the umpteenth time. "Hatsune-san cut off the power, and it's going to take at least twenty four to forty eight hours, for the electrician to fix it. The electrician thinks it's a broken breaker." It was obviously a lot more damage then that. But Luka isn't sure if mentioning the word alien, would trigger a sudden mountain of questions or not. Luka didn't know how the whole empath memory block thing worked. If Meiko honestly forgot, or if she remembered and couldn't care anymore.

Meiko groans, opening the door a little wider to allow Luka and Miku to shimmy past, Luka dragging her suitcases behind herself. And while she does so with grace, Miku does so clumsily, scowling on the way. "I don't remember you being afraid of the dark." Meiko quips, though still good naturally.

Luka blinks, "Hatsune-san lost a snake somewhere in the house."

"Hell no." Meiko swivels her head to stare Miku down, "Are you kidding me?"

Miku opens her mouth to say something, but then seems to think better of it and instead kind of shrugs. "I will track it down to it's location soon." Miku trails off, and Luka wonders what could have possibly made Miku reconsider her words. The tealette in question tilts her head away to shake her head, and almost on cue adds, "Not as if a human savage would understand the feelings of another being."

Luka sighs, loudly, and just watches as Meiko fumes. The brunette turns back around, scowling at Luka as she jabs a finger in Miku's general direction. "Are you kidding me right now with this?"

"I'm sorry Meiko, can you please just deal with it for today?" Luka's voice is borderline begging. Borderline because Luka does not beg. Luka meets Meiko's eyes and the two kind of stare at each other for a bit, Luka conveying her need to just go inside and possibly sleep till the end of the world.

The brunette opens her mouth, possibly to mention all the unanswered calls and texts, maybe even complain about the short notice, but instead she closes her mouth and stands in silence. After what seems like ages, Meiko groans, scratching at her head. "Agh! You know I can't just say no, ... it can't be helped I guess." She reaches over and without warning snatches the handles for Luka's two bags. "Alright you two, follow me, I have company so behave." Luka shoots Meiko a tight lipped smile as they trek through Meiko's humble home, the brunette in question falters. "I'm meant the midget."

"Midget?" Miku echoes, trailing behind Luka, a look of confusion on her face. Her lips purse, eyebrows furrow, for just a second. "Excuse me, that is entirely rude! What does my height have to do with anything? That is discriminatory."

While Luka is somewhat surprised Miku even knows what that means, Meiko groans again, stopping at the threshold of her living room. "I don't have time to argue with a child, go do something important!"

"There are twenty four hours in a day, there are roughly nine hours and 45 minutes more left in this one." The shorter girl counters, placing her hands on her hips. And if Luka wasn't so fed up right now, she probably would have applauded her comeback, not like she planned on actually checking to see if she was correct. "Please explain to me how speaking to your guest like this is acceptable behavior."

Meiko opens her mouth to say something, possibly curse Miku out to kingdom come, but Luka swiftly cuts her off. "Shion is with you today?" Luka's voice had taken on a slightly more lithe tune, snapping Meiko out of her trace shuddering, side stepping away.

"Actually yeah, don't kill him or anything though." Meiko muttered, just as Kaito wondered out of the kitchen.

Luka looks up just in time to see Kaito freezing quite comically in front of them. Donning a pair of knee length jean shorts, and a blue tank top, with a bucket of ice cream snug between his hands. What Luka would give to just slap the entire thing out of his hands. That wouldn't be very polite, but she would be lying if she said it wouldn't bring her much joy.

"Oh, um ... Mei didn't say she was having company... um," The tall man nervously glanced around, blue hair bopping with each motion as he tenderly sits down, Luka watching all the while. Anyone with eyes could see how uncomfortable he seemed to be feeling. "Hi."

Just hearing that stupid 'hi' sends Luka swirling back in time, to a time when she remembers barely being able to respond to greetings.

Luka's met Kaito a handful of times, the very first time being at some kind of vocal idol competition. Years ago, during the beginning of Luka's career, Crypton had been searching for another new idol, and Kaito had made it to the final ten to preform live. Despite still being new and fresh and young in the industry, Crypton decided to be a giant raging douchebag, forcing the still green-Luka to be judge. Her, at that point in her life, a judge.

Luka wasn't the shyest person, at the tender age of sixteen, but she had been pretty quiet. Her gaze not as calculating, leaving her to be the victim of many pranks, as even Meiko would recall. Being a judge for such an important event had left Luka almost shell shocked, trying to feel grateful despite feeling swindled. Crypton just didn't want to shell out the extra money for proper hosts and judges.

Luka shakes her head ruefully, recalling that back then she had been a little reserved. Or well, really reserved. She'd worked up the courage to do what none of the other judges wanted to do, walked up to introduce herself to all the contestants. None of the judges wanted to do it, because they felt that as 'seniors' they didn't need too. When Luka got to Kaito to shake his hand, Kaito had groped her.

Yes. Groped. Like some kind of violent retribution for accidental infringement anime.

This is real life though, and not an anime, so understandably that makes Kaito a molester to some degree. He apologized, how it was even possible, with Luka's almost superior height, but that's not really good enough in Luka's eyes.

Really, it's been years, and Luka still has this burning need to, as Meiko would brashly say, punch him in the face every time she sees him. It wasn't really the act itself, just that when it happened Luka had been young, she felt mortified, it ruined her whole day, and the senior singers had laughed at her for months. Luka knew deep down that Kaito was a good man, but, well, it was buried underneath this ingrained need to hate him. Pictures of the event had shown up on every Luka-fan blog, it had been tweeted, vlogged, blogged, anything, you name it. Forgetting that day, would be like trying to forget the day she first walked outside in a tracksuit. Completely impossible.

Actually punching him wouldn't be very in character though, so she makes due with treating him like crap, in the politest of ways.

Luka smiles, it's soft, almost inviting. "Hi, Shion. It's been a while." Luka gestures to Miku, turning to introduce the two. Miku perks up, curiously looking over Luka's shoulder in a way that Luka can't really feel irritated about. "This is Hatsune Miku, she's my current house guest, and I suppose she's kind of like my maid."

Even from where they were standing, Luka could see Kaito's eyes shine brighter then a shooting star, "Hatsune Miku-chan?" Luka cringes at the incredibly informal speech, Miku takes a step forward, as if to complain, but Kaito stands up, practically rushing over to hold his hand out, "Miku-san, please, call me Kaito." The smile that lights up his face is almost cute, almost being a key word.

Luka steps away, watching the exchange with little interest. Waiting for Miku to bash the man down with harsh words of 'that is not very polite'. Instead, Miku extends her arm out, slowly taking Kaito's hand with her own, almost experimentally. She gives his hand a slight squeeze, then nods her head, as if pleased with the sudden development. A small smile coming to her face, "Kaito-san, it's nice to meet you! If you do not mind me inquiring, what are you eating?"

"Oh that? It's just ice cream." When Miku stares, not even blinking, Kaito looks back at the bucket. "Haven't you ever tried ice cream?"

Miku seems to think about it for a moment, and honestly Miku thinking makes Luka sort of uncomfortable. Luka feels like she has to now always assume something really inappropriate or misplaced will come out of Miku's mouth if she starts to think before she speaks. Instead, Miku steps closer, peering into the bucket herself. "No, I have not tried it. Is it a delicacy?"

Kaito shrugs, leading Miku over to the bucket of ice cream. He grabs one of the spoons from the bucket, hands it over to Miku. "It is to me, a very rare delicacy. Because I hate grocery shopping."

Miku stares at the spoon, curiously watching the cold substance melt. Luka just wants it all to be over. Finally, Miku lifts the spoon to her mouth and takes it in, as if on cue the most obscene moan rumbles from her chest. Dropping her jaw in almost mortification, Luka can hear Meiko makes this strangled choking sound somewhere in the distance followed by a muffled 'this isn't porn!', but really Luka's way too thrown off to do or say anything, or even make a joke. Looking towards the flush faced Kaito, Luka knows Miku has taken it one (read: several) step(s) too far.

Eyes shining, not even aware, Miku practically vibrates in place, hoping up and down. "This, this is so sweet. If possible, may I have a lot more of this... cold substance?" Miku's eyebrows push together as she studies the spoon in her hand, "Food? Yes, this cold food. It's more then wonderful. I require all that you have."

Kaito smiles, though its actually kind of more like a leer, "I think we're going to be fast friends."

Luka presses a hand to her face, she could tell, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between idiots. Really, really, dumb idiots.

Meiko just places a hand on Luka's shoulder, "As if you didn't see it coming."

"Be quiet."


Luka sips patiently at her wine, trying to take her time. She knows if she doesn't pace herself, she'll end up trying to stay on track with Meiko and it takes what feels like dozens of bottles of alcohol to get that one drunk. Luka though, can hold about a few cups of wine like a normal person before feeling slightly tipsy. So Luka takes her time, savoring the after taste, letting the sharp, fruity liquid rest on her tongue, while Meiko guzzles like a champ.

Miku had taken a liking to Kaito, somehow finding him incredibly 'polite' and as much as that made Luka gnash her teeth together, she had no right trying to impose her personal feelings about Kaito on the innocent dove that is Miku, so she let her stay in the kitchen with Kaito, to try more 'frozen cream product, varying from a milk based substance' or however the alien would put it. At least the relationship was somewhat normal, Luka only hoped frequent socialization would normalize Miku's conduct. Maybe. In a perfect world.

Luka shakes her head, while this is probably the most irritation she's had to deal with in months now, it's nothing a little wine can't help mask. As she sips at her drink, her chest warming with the beverage, Luka considers asking Meiko why Kaito had been over. Usually he'd visit for cards, or drinking games, between her and a few others from Kaito's job. Maybe-

"So when the midget said she loved you."

The wine hasn't even kicked in yet, dammit. Honestly, Luka knew it was going to come at some point, her phone still riddled with (Meiko: w/ the fuc! Miku is like 15! /: ) texts, all spanning across the five day gap. Luka had tactfully ignored each one, and now that she felt the questions wouldn't get any more personal, she also felt like she had the right to ignore Meiko's stupid questions.

Regretting her decision to not down her drink in one go, Luka coughs immediately, choking on her drink. Really, she's not exactly surprised Meiko decided to actually, literally, bring it up. Luka had been expecting it. But, not to sound like a broken record, so soon? As much as Luka wants to admit she had been planning on what to say, she kind of just shoved the entire situation into a crack in her mind where she wouldn't have to look at it, or think about it, or worry about it. It's a lot easier to ignore things, then to actually, you know, fix them.

Luka rubs at her collar, clearing her throat to try and stop the coughing. "Hatsune-san is... still a child." Luka clumsily tries to explain, knowing damn well that Miku isn't, "She doesn't... It's just a little crush." She can't really stop the slight doubt from leaking into her voice. While Luka is positive Miku doesn't understand love, categorizing Miku's whatever as an innocent crush didn't really seem to fit. At all. Luka honestly can't remember wanting to sleep with one of the backstreet boys when she was a kid.

Meiko's face screws up, she leans forward, pokes Luka's shoulder. "A crush." She splutters, eyes narrowing, "Tell me, when have you ever professed your love for a crush in a car with someone else you barely know there?"

Luka represses the urge to groan, Miku apparently didn't help at all. Instead, she kind of grimaces, shutting her eyes tightly. The last time she said she loved someone was forever ago, and it still hurts, and really she feels like crap now. "Oh. Wait. Lulu, I didn't mean-"

Luka merely waves her hand, trying not to show how uncomfortable the situation is by smiling, her smile sort of pinched at the edges. "I suppose so, but really, for her it's just a crush. Don't forget she's not from here." Luka feels like as she tells this Meiko, she's in a way trying to convince herself as well. "You can only expect so much from someone, especially when they don't know how things work in the area."

"... I guess, but, look, don't you think living with someone who's all hot and bothered for you is a bad idea?" While Meiko can be crass, the sentence still brings a light pink hue to her normally olive skin. Luka frowns, watching the brunette swing her bottle around, "I mean, to me it looks like she, y'know, really has it out for you."

Luka shrugs it off mentally, outwardly she chuckles, like bells. "I doubt she has plans to take me down, Meiko. She isn't trying to kill me." Luka tips her head back, taking another, longer, sip of wine. She can do this. She can totally BS her way out of this conversation.

"Okay maybe not take you down." Meiko seems to pause, eyes unfocused on a spot just beyond Luka's head, "Oh, well, actually, yeah that does sound-"

Luka splutters again, coughing, snatching a napkin from the coffee table. "Don't be crass," She scolds, shaking her head, "I'm telling you, it's not like that." The more irritated Luka feels, the easier it is to believe her own words. The easier it is to lie. "She's just a kid."

"She likes you!" Meiko exchanges her bottle for another one, and takes a huge gulp. "She does, I see it. I thought you said she was legal, or was that a lie."

Luka almost screams in frustration, "What else do you want me to tell you Meiko? It's impossible to know for certain, the only thing that should matter to you is whether or not I have feelings for her." Meiko stares, her eyebrows knitted together, face flushed due to alcohol and possibly nerves. Luka shifts uncomfortably under Meiko's unwavering gaze, she unzips part of her track suit jacket, and fiddles with the stem of her glass, finally Luka can't help but snap, "What?"

"Well do you?" Her voice has taken on a bit of a slur now, Luka pinches the bridge of her nose, trying not to snap. "Like you know, like her, in a not professional way. In a more-then-friends kind of way. Like as in-"

"No!" Luka shrieks, almost losing her (very false) composure. "Why would you even ask that?" Luka is sure Meiko is only asking because she's slightly more then tipsy right about now.

Meiko shrugs, throwing her hands up, "I don't know Lulu! I mean, you at least have to admit you both sort of have an unprofessional relationship, who takes their maid with them when the lights go out? I mean jesus, give me a break, I'm not stupid. You're not just an employer and employee. You can't lie about that."

"I-"

As if on cue, Luka catches a flash of teal out the corner of her eyes, tilting her head slightly, Luka can see Miku running over, a bowl filled with ice cream in her hands. "Luka! Luka!" Luka nods her head, wanting Miku to just spit whatever it is out so she can continue arguing with Meiko. "Please, accept this." Miku's voice taking on what Luka can only describe as, 'playfully serious'.

Luka takes it without question, because it's easier then starting another argument. Plus, Miku looks like it might be the end of the world if she doesn't accept it. It's a plain white bowl, with three giant scoops of what looks like strawberry ice cream, drizzles of chocolate sauce, and whip cream and little blue sprinkles. It actually looks pretty good.

"Miku-chan made it herself." Kaito helpfully informs, only to cower back when Luka stares in his direction. "Just in case you wanted to know!"

Sighing at Kaito's man-child tendencies, Luka looks from the bowl back to Miku. "Why are you giving me this?" Luka hopes to god Miku won't make a scene in front of Meiko. That is totally not what she needs right this minute.

"Because it tastes exquisite and I feel as though you should have it, seeing as how it is a rare delicacy. As Kaito-san informed me." Miku nods with herself, "It's the last of the iced cream. Please, accept it."

Luka can hear Meiko murmur under her breath, singsong in a slur 'unprofessional', and Luka wants to laugh in Meiko's face because 'unprofessional relationship' is probably the best way to describe all that's going on. It's like not even a secret. Why even whisper.

Staring up at her, with her brightly shinning eyes that hum with excitement, a little bit of ice cream smudged on her cheek, Luka can't really find it in herself to be too angry. The tiny alien didn't wreck her house on purpose, and she's actually pretty caring and sometimes nice. If Luka looks past the whole 'not-destiny'/'lock-and-key' thing then it's quite easy to see the little alien as a friend. They do live together, and Luka buys her food, and Miku cleans her house. And while Miku is almost obscenely nice, Luka is respectful, and it's kind of like two people in the beginning of a (crazy) friendship, if anything.

Oh. Well. That's a good way to put their relationship that Luka completely glazed over. She never really considered just going the friend route. It's like the veil had been lifted from her eyes, platonic love! Friendship! Suddenly, lying just became a lot more easier.

Smiling almost kindly, or what Luka hopes looks kind, she continues, "I'll accept it, and, well ...thank you. For being such a good friend." Luka stresses the words, hopes they sink in deep into Meiko's mind. Maybe even Miku's as well.

Because 'Friend', has a better ring then lover, to be quite honest.

"Friends!" Meiko shouts, so suddenly that everyone startles, "You're friends." Meiko tries to look skeptical, but looks more confused.

"I can be friends with whoever I want to be friends with, Meiko." Taking the spoon, and frowning almost pointedly in Meiko's direction, Luka begins to spoon the cold delight into her her mouth. "She's been living with me for a couple weeks now, it seems kind of stupid to say no to friendship."

Maybe she's laying it on a bit thick, but with a quick look towards Miku, she notices the strangely confused expression on her face. "Friends...? The relationship that you have with ... that one?" The disgust is very prevalent in her voice.

Clearing her throat, Meiko points her empty bottle at Miku, her voice threatening. "You wanna go?"

Miku chooses toclear her throat as well, taking a step between Luka and Meiko as she asks, in a voice rivaling Meiko's, "Do you mean physical contact?"

Luka can't even find it in herself to stop them from glaring at each other. Miku's cluelessness, and Meiko's agitation just makes for one great laugh sometimes. Choosing instead to eat her ice cream, and watch Miku inch closer to the brunette, serves to be much more entertaining then, say, jumping between them. Licking her lips, Luka pulls her attention from her ... friends, towards Kaito. "So, Shion-san, how have you been?"

Kaito nervously looks between Meiko and Miku, before turning to stare back at the seemingly unaffected Luka, who smiles. "I've uh, I've been fine. You know, singing my heart out." Kaito chooses to sit far away, taking a spot on the bottom stair, half way across the room.

Luka freezes, remembering red hair. That girl, and her lackeys, had been the others to witness Miku's crazy strength and glowing eyes. And they hadn't been subjected to Miku's memory rewriting skills. Whether or not she was in the hospital, and whether or not she actually worked for Crypton, had been two questions that she'd tucked into the far recesses of her mind. Not to mention whether or not they'd remembered anything pertaining to Miku. Feeling somewhat skittish now, Luka placed the ceramic bowl carefully onto the coffee table. Careful not to alert Miku, or even Meiko.

Considering the fact Kaito worked for Crypton, Luka figured she might be able to get some answers out of him. "Do you by any chance know a Cul?"


A/N: If I didn't get notifications for reviews I'd probably forget all about this. Despite my better judgement, I'm going to be uploading another story soon. In my mind, if I juggle two vocaloid stories, maybe I'll pop out more chapters? maybe they'll be better quality? less misspells and less improper use of grammar? perhaps. we'll see.