"So I think that would be the best plan as far as lighting goes for the stage, Megurine-san."
"Mhm…"
"It would give the best backdrop even if it does get in your eyes a little too much."
"Mhm…"
"Good, and as far as the seating arrangements are concerned, the venue has said they can accommodate a large number of standing audience if we removed the back row of seating to sell more tickets, but that would mean less people in their seats and more flailing around. That wouldn't hinder you I'm certain but it would mean an increased need for security presence, and the cost of pay for them might offset the added revenue from the extra tickets and-"
Luka was not listening. Her head swam with images and thoughts of a certain beautifully exotic silvery white haired girl with a bow in her hair; her chest felt ready to burst with the emotions roiling through her. She couldn't believe how blissful the last couple of days had been. Luka tended to get up each morning before Haku and the past few days when she had woken she had slipped out of her room and into Haku's. She'd been surprised and pleased when Haku wanted the room beside hers when she'd first moved into the Vocaloid Compound, and she would close the door quietly and slip into Haku's bed careful not to disturb her and doze there with the exotic beauty until she woke up, fluttering her mysterious red eyes and giving the cutest little yawn…
"-really think we ought to set up an autograph booth for after. I know you don't like doing that Megurine-san, but you have to sometimes and you didn't at the last two events, especially if you wear that little black number of yours for the show instead of the red and white one, so-"
She had never really believed in love at first sight or any of the romanticised tales of affairs that started hot and burned fast, but from the moment she had seen Haku on the train as that creature had been sucking out her lifeforce she had felt SOMEthing. Guilt certainly, she had been hunting it after all, but more than that. She'd been worried Haku would hate her, but far from it. They had formed an instant connection, she was sure of it, especially when Haku had so heartbreakingly asked her to stay when she needed help afterward, turning to her idol…
"Megurine-san?"
And that kiss… oh that kiss still made her weak in the knees and warm inside just remembering it days later. She had been so afraid it was too fast, so afraid of accidentally scaring the snowy haired beauty away. But the feel of Haku's lips on hers, the softness of their tongues twining, the press of their bodies as Haku lay atop her in the grass… the joy, the intimacy, had gone on forever, had ended far too quickly...
"Megurine-san! Are you listening?!"
"Ha?" Luka gave a little start, her blue eyes going wide and she clutched her chair's arms coming back to herself suddenly.
Hojoto Hime, Luka's talent manager, narrowed her eyes and gave a stern look at the idol over her narrow reading glasses. Somewhere just shy of her middle years, Hime was a handsome woman rather than pretty though to hear her tell it she had been ravishing in her younger years. Now she was all stern business woman with her dark hair pulled back and wound up in a professional bun to compliment her skirt suit. "You've been extremely distracted ever since you got here. Are you alright?"
Luka flushed as she thought back over the past hour or so. Had she really been daydreaming? She shook her head, she shouldn't be letting her mind wander like that. But thinking about Haku it was so hard not to…
She gave another little shake of her head. "Lights, seating, security, autographs, I heard everything you said, Hojoto-san. No lights in my eyes, I want to be able to see my audience as much as possible. Extra standing room for more tickets is fine, even if it doesn't mean extra money for me it still means extra revenue for the venue so we make a good impression on them for the future, and besides the more tickets sold the wider the audience and the more publicity we generate. Completely worth it. And autographs… I suppose, if I have to… but I'm wearing the red and white." Haku looked good in black… maybe she could take the black dress home…
Her manager was taking notes but casting more of those looks at her over the edges of her glasses. "Your business instincts are as sharp as ever. It's why I agreed to work with you after you managed to break your contact with that lout."
"Mhm…" Haku might help her publicity too if she showed up in that dress, with her silver white cascading hair tied in her black ribbon and her red eyes taking absolutely everything in the way they did when she had that mysterious serene mood going…
"Megurine-san!"
"Ha?" Luka jumped.
Hime started sternly before a sly smile crept onto her lips. "I get it now, I recognise that look on your face, the slight flush, the constant distractions."
Luka's flush deepened. "Wha- what do you mean?"
Hime set her pen down and leaned forward on her elbows against her desk. "Spill it. Who is he?"
Luka blinked in confusion. "Who's who?"
"The boy who has you so distracted of course!" Hime chortled. "Some man has caught your attentions; you've got that dreamy look in your eye. Come on, spill it."
Luka's face was hot now and she tilted her head down to stare at her black knee high stiletto boots and began picking idly at her black designer jeans. "N-no one…"
Hime snorted. "Oh come now. Remember I was quite a ravishing thing in my youth, I recognise the signs!"
"There's no man, Hojoto-san." Luka said firmly, and, well, quite honestly. "Can we please get back to the show demographics?"
Hime held up her hands in a pacifying gesture. "Okay, fine, don't tell me now, we can talk about it some other time." She picked her pen back up and scanned her notes. "Regarding the pre show opening-"
Luka was already gone again, a beautiful snowy hair framed face filling her mind's eye. She wondered what Haku was doing right then. Was Haku thinking about her, too?
… … … … ...
Director Hatsune's deep bass voice reverberated off the walls as well as the heavy wood conference table as it had for the past hour. "So you see Yowane-san, we aren't upset that you helped but that you disregarded orders to do so, even if the results of your actions were inherently positive."
"Mhm…"
"Our organization's greatest concern aside from the souldrinkers is secrecy. We have to maintain ourselves and conduct our affairs carefully until we decide to go public or tell the government."
"Mhm…"
"Good. Now, it's been nearly three months and your introductory lessons are proceeding at pace. We have full confidence that before long-"
Haku was not listening. Her head swam with images and thoughts of a certain graceful and ravishing idol with her long flowing loose pink ponytail tied high behind her head. She couldn't believe how blissful the last couple of days had been. Haku was by no means a late sleeper, in fact she enjoyed the morning hours and was regularly up early; she was beginning to suspect the idol was purposely setting her alarm early, but Luka tended to get up each morning before her these past few days and when she had woken up with a little yawn and opened her eyes she'd find Luka half dozing in her bed beside her, just idly watching her sleep. She would smile the most radiant smile and say good morning and Haku couldn't imagine a more wonderful way to wake up…
"-really think it would be best if you began thinking about your future here with us. Everyone contributes in some way, whether by working directly for us in some capacity or by maintaining their own outside lives while helping us with other types of support. You've been here such a short time we don't know what to expect of you and-"
She had never really thought about love at first sight, or about any sort of love really. That sort of thing seemed like it had belonged in movies or on TV and her shut in world had always been far too dreary for anything like that. Be that as it may, if she were being honest with herself, she had always felt drawn to the beautiful idol even before meeting her on that fateful day on the train. Luka had saved her life, in every way a person could save someone, rescuing her from death and then changing her life for the better. Even if Haku had already had the power inside her, she never would have known it without Luka…
"Yowane-san?"
And that kiss… oh that kiss still made her melt inside and giddy all over just thinking about it days later. She had been so afraid she was rushing into it too fast, that Luka would think her stupid or star struck by the gorgeous idol, but her head had moved in just as fast as Haku's had. Their lips pressed together, their soft tongues twining, the sheer need to be with the other woman… the heat, the happiness, had lasted forever, had ended far too quickly…
"Yowane-san! Are you listening?!"
"Ha?" Haku gave a little start, her red eyes going wide and she clutched her chair's arms coming back to herself suddenly.
Director Hatsune ran the fingers of one hand through his short military crew cut teal hair. No real expression showed on his square jawed hard face but he still seemed distinctly annoyed though she couldn't have said what gave her the impression. Even so his words weren't entirely unkind. "You've seemed distracted since you came into my office. Are you well, Yowane-san?"
Haku flushed as she thought back over the past hour or so. Had she really been daydreaming? She shook her head, she shouldn't be letting her mind wander like that. But thinking about Luka it was so hard not to…
She gave another little shake of her head. "Orders, secrecy, lessons, contributions, future plans. I heard everything you said Director Hatsune. Please forgive me for the disobedience, but I'm not sorry I did it. They needed my help, and I would do it again." Haku drew that calm serenity around herself. She found people really did respond to it even if they didn't realize, and besides it kept them from seeing her as a stuttering nervous wreck, which is what she imagined everyone saw her as that first day. "I will try to be more careful in the future but if I can help those I care about I always will. As to the future, I don't know. I was in University before this, and I didn't think I have any especially useful skills to draw on that could contribute, but I will however I can."
Director Hatsune was considering her as she spoke, having steepled his fingers together and rested his elbows on the the conference table to gaze at her over his knuckles in a rather imperious fashion. "Yowane-san, I believe you have the potential be a great asset to the Vocaloids, and I want you to do whatever you think will make you happy. But if you wish to stay here, then everything you do must have our organization's well being at it's core."
"Mhm…" She couldn't use her parent's money for anything related to the Vocaloids, she had to find something else. Maybe she could do something with Luka…? It would certainly let them be together more, and she'd get to see the beautiful pink haired girl in some of her pretty stage outfits up close…
"Yowane-san!"
"Ha?" Haku jumped.
Director Hatsune peered over his steepled fingers. "You are certain you're well? You seem distracted and flushed."
Haku's flush deepened. "I'm fine, Director."
"Because if there's something bothering you which could be a potential issue for our organization I should be made aware of it."
She shook her head, "No director, nothing at all like that I promise."
"Very well. You are dismissed, Yowane-san."
Haku stood and gave a small curtsey before turning to leave but she was already gone in her mind again, a beautiful pink hair framed face filling her mind's eye. She wondered what Luka was doing right then. Was Luka thinking about her, too?
As she departed the conference room she passed the other directors beginning to file in from the hallway, for some meeting presumably. She stood aside politely to let them pass and pulled out her pink sparkly iPhone. Luka and Miku both swore to her that Android was better but Haku had modified her iPhone heavily and was reluctant to have to start over with a new one. She tapped the text message folder hopefully but it had no new notifications, so she tapped Luka's name and sent her one. "I miss you." Once the directors had all gone by she went off in search of Miku. Her light blue haired friend had been avoiding her the past few days, ever since the park… She felt so upset for Miku but couldn't quite put her finger on why. She cared about Miku as much as she did about Luka, but she couldn't sort out what exactly was going on or why it hurt so bad getting closer to Luka when Miku was near. She wanted to talk to her friend, to clear things up, but she had to pin her down first. So she went about her search through the Compound. She started with her bedroom, then checked the bathroom and the dance studio she used as an art gallery but they were all empty. She poked her head into the relaxation room on her way passed and saw nothing and continued down the corridor to the small cafeteria which is where Haku found her, sitting with two other girls talking at a table.
Gumi in a well cut plain black t-shirt and jeans and Teto with her hair back in short pigtails that were curled into spirals that tapered down into points just short of her shoulders wearing a deep red one piece dress with frilly lace at the hem around her knees. Their tones of voice sounded serious with Gumi and Teto leaning in toward Miku intently. "You're sure it's as bad as all that?" Gumi asked tentatively. "I mean, I know things have gotten intense but…"
Haku stopped by the edge of the doorway uncertain if she should interrupt, watching the pretty blue haired girl fiddle with a packet of pocky. "It's… not great, Gumi." The plastic wrap twisted in her grasp making crinkling noises but didn't actually give. Miku twisted harder at the plastic.
"Maybe there's some kind of misunderstanding…?" Teto ventured, and Haku blinked. How much had Miku told the other two? Surely not all of it…? She found herself replaying the last few weeks in her head, specifically the past couple of days, trying to think of what all had been said or done in front of Teto and Gumi.
"No, I don't think there is… not from what I saw…" Miku's face was anguished and Haku wanted to run out and hug her but shame kept her rooted to the spot. She cared so much for Miku but she didn't know what to do. Miku twisted the pocky packet the other way and her naturally chime like voice grew strained. "I just… I hope they're happy, honestly. I just… want them to be happy…" A tear hit the top of the table in front of the pocky in her grip and her hands began to tremble.
"Miku…" Gumi sounded sorrowful. "Maybe… maybe we could help? Teto-chin and I… we could talk to them for you and-"
"No!" Miku's shaking hands gave a convulsive twist on the packet as she exclaimed her objection and the plastic tore free violently. Sticks of pocky exploded everywhere, scattering across part of the table and raining down over the edge of it onto the floor. The other girls jumped at the sudden spray of sweets but Miku started at them blankly for a moment as the chocolate covered biscuit sticks settled where they landed, then she gently set the ruined packet down, propped her elbows on the table, and put her face in her hands. "It's kind of you to offer, but no thank you." Came her voice, muffled through her fingers and around her palms.
Haku couldn't take it anymore and moved into the little cafeteria and up to the table. Gumi and Teto jumped at her silent approach and Gumi stammered in surprise, "H-Haku!" Which was all the confirmation she needed that they'd been talking about her and what had happened in the park. She wondered how much Miku had told them but that didn't seem important right then. Miku's head came up in startelement when she heard Gumi say her name but Haku just knelt down and began calmly scooping the scattered pocky on the floor into a pile. The other three watched her silently, Miku with intent green eyes, the other two afraid of saying anything that might cause an outburst. Once she had collected all the pocky on one spot on the floor she gathered them up and moved over to dump them in a trash bin, then went to the sink for a napkin and came back to the table. She laid it down delicately and collected what was left of the sticks on the table onto it, then finally looked up to the twintailed girl. Miku was still staring at her intently and Haku offered a calm smile and gently pushed the napkin over in front of Miku.
"It works better if you put them in your mouth, Miku-chan."
Abruptly Miku threw her arms around Haku's waist and squeezed her in an awkward sideways hug. Gumi giggled and Teto smiled ever so faintly and Haku blushed a little bit. "Haku-chan! Thank you." She didn't think Miku meant for the pocky but when her friend pulled back she was wiping at her eyes. "Here, sit with us!"
Haku pulled a chair out between Miku and the redhead and sat carefully arranging the plain black skirt she was wearing. She'd developed a taste for the silk blouses that Miku seemed so fond of even if they did seem to cling in overly flattering ways, and she wore a deep dark red one now with a black bow keeping her snowy white hair back behind her head. Miku had on a bright purple blouse and dark purple skirt. Haku smiled pleasantly making sure she was still wrapped in her outward serene calm. Her friend seemed to want to gloss over what had happened for the time being, so Haku went along with it. Maybe she'd bring it up later.
Miku smiled but her pretty green eyes seemed a little strained at the corners, and Haku thought it best to start the conversation on a different topic. "I was wondering Miku-chan. Why did you never tell me before about how you're an idol like Luka-chin? I only heard you mention it for the first time the other day."
Miku sighed and shot a piercing look at Gumi who shrank back a bit but kept smiling. It had come up in conversation at the fair the other day and Gumi talked a lot. "I used to be, I'm not anymore." Miku said turning back to Haku. "I had… problems with it." She picked up one of her rescued pocky sticks and inspected it closely for a moment before putting the tip between her lips.
Haku saw motion out of the corner of her eye and glanced over. Teto was staring at the vending machines with a wistful expression. They were all empty. The cafeteria really wasn't great. She glanced back at Miku. "What happened?"
Miku let out a frustrated sigh and waved the stick in an annoyed gesture. "My managers just never wanted to let me do things my way. I wish I'd had the manager Luka-chin has now. She seems great."
"So you really do miss it?" Haku asked curiously. "All those eyes on you?" Haku couldn't imagine.
"Of course she misses it! Who wouldn't?" Gumi practically bubbled, and Haku couldn't help staring at her. Who would have thought there was someone even bubblier than Miku?
For her part Miku looked annoyed more than anything right that moment. "It doesn't matter if there's one pair of eyes on you or a hundred, or a thousand. A true idol doesn't perform because of the size of the crowd, but for the expression of the art. The managers I always had never seemed to get that. So I quit."
The look on Gumi's face said that wasn't exactly right, or maybe only a part of the story, but Haku felt her heart going out to the pretty blue haired girl and suddenly she found herself getting an idea of sorts. She wasn't sure how possible it would be, but…
At that moment she heard a loud gurgling and everyone's heads whipped around to Teto. The red haired girl flushed in embarrassment and Gumi let out a bubbly laugh. "Breakfast was hours ago huh? Too bad there's nothing here." Miku smiled a bit, relieved at the change of topic, but Haku thought maybe her friend was just covering it up.
Haku's iPhone buzzed and she lifted it to check the screen. A text from Luka?! She opened the notification and saw it. "I miss you too. Lunch?"
"Haven't you switched to an Android yet, Haku-chan?" Miku teased but Haku just flashed her a small smile before replying. "Can Miku-chan and her two friends come?"
Gumi glanced from Haku to Miku. "She's so mysterious isn't she? That serene calm with those red eyes."
"She is." Miku giggled.
"Maybe she really is a witch or something." Teto said with a flat tone, but it sounded more playful than mocking and it wasn't the first time she'd made the joke. Haku thought they must be teasing her because she was being rude and texting.
"Of course they can. Marajin. Miku knows where it is. I'm close, I'll get a table." Came the text reply. Haku looked up up and slid her phone into a little fold in the skirt that concealed a secret pocket. Handy, that. She hated having to carry a handbag. "I'm sorry for being rude with my phone, but that was Luka-chin. Would everyone like to come out for lunch? Our treat." She said 'our' because she wasn't sure from the way Luka answered who would be paying for the meal but she was happy to if her idol didn't.
It certainly had an effect at the table. Teto blinked and nodded eagerly and Gumi got all wide eyed at the notion of having lunch with Luka but she threw her hand up and gave a little cheer. Miku smiled in a way that, to Haku at least, seemed both pleased but sad at the same time. Maybe it was the further tightening at the corners of her blue eyes? She wasn't sure, but everyone agreed so they all got up from the table and filed out of the little cafeteria. Haku took out her iPhone once more. "I'll let Luka-chin know we're all on the way." She said and began typing out a text as they walked, only paying half attention. "We're all on the way-"
"Oh, Haku-chan, that reminds me." Miku said, drawing a keycard with a chip embedded in it from her handbag. She apparently had no problem carrying one. The keycard was white with a sky blue bordered edge and had her picture on it with her name printed beneath it, but no other details. She waved it at Haku by way of emphasizing it, and Haku nodded, she had her own in her pocket. "Mom said to tell you your ID badge security chip has had it's accesses cleared for additional use since you've been out in the field a couple of times now, but you won't have authorization for everything all at once. Things come in time."
"Access to what kinds of things? The cars? I don't even know how to drive." Haku asked curiously as she looked at Miku's card and finished the text without thinking with the other. "-be there soon, chu!"
"Really? Driving is easy. Yeah, the cars, some of them anyway, certain computer terminals for network access, the underground areas." Miku blinked and winced at herself. "Nevermind that last part…"
Haku would have responded with intense curiosity (all the high tech in the Vocaloid Compound fascinated her to no end) but she was rather distracted by what she had just texted without thinking. She stared at her phone with a flush in her cheeks and a look on her face like it had somehow betrayed her. She had already hit send, she couldn't take it back without adding another text and looking foolish. Did she want to take it back though…?
Miku caught a look at her face and glanced down at Haku's phone. "What's wrong Haku-chan?" The other two looked back and Haku hurriedly held her phone down by her leg so they couldn't see it. "N-Nothing!"
But the damage was done, Miku had seen. She laughed and shook her head, her light blue side ponytails swishing about her. "Don't worry Haku-chan, it's probably fine."
"Fine?! But what if it's not fine?! She hasn't answered yet! What's taking so long to-!" She cut off as she realized she might be saying too much in front of Teto and Gumi, and she took a couple of deep breaths to pull her serenity back to herself, but she couldn't make the flush go away entirely.
After a long couple of moments her iPhone plinged and her arm jerked up so she could stare at the response text. "Chu! 3" Haku's insides turned to butter and she felt warm all over. Teto and Gumi exchanged looks and Miku giggled and got them moving again toward the garages, Haku too busy staring at the screen to notice the even further tightening at the corners of her friend's eyes.
The garage was emptier than usual. Even though it was never anywhere near capacity several of the spaces which were normally occupied were out. Miku began to lead them toward a giant black SUV and when she caught an odd questioning look from Haku she let out a sigh. "Daddy revoked my authorization to access the Ferrari for a week as punishment."
"Punishment for wha-" Haku started, then winced and bit back the question as she realized, but Miku nodded anyway as she threw the driver door of the SUV open. "For disobeying an order from a director when I let you come with me to the park the other day." She hopped in and the door slammed shut loudly to show what she thought of that.
Haku wondered if it would be rude to just assume the front seat but the decision was taken from her as Gumi and Teto both took back seats. She wondered why they had done that but got in beside Miku anyway. Then she got at least a partial answer as Miku inserted her ID card into the chip reader built into the dash to activate the SUV with her credentials and started the engine. She didn't think anyone was supposed to hear besides Gumi but Teto's voice floated up to her, probably because the redhead was in the seat right behind hers.
"I hope they have good bread wherever we're going."
Whatever Gumi replied was swallowed by the sound of the garage door cranking as Miku pulled the vehicle out of the garage and out onto the street with much less zeal than she had shown in the Ferrari. Then the green haired girl spoke up from behind Miku.
"So where are we going?"
Miku blinked and glanced briefly at Haku. "Where ARE we going?"
"Oh!" Haku realized she hadn't actually said. "Luka-chin said some place called Marajin? She said you'd know where it was, Miku-chan."
There was a gasp from Teto, a low whistle of awe from Gumi, and a wince from Miku. No doubt about it, her friend definitely winced. They had been spending a lot of time together the past few months; singing practice, dance lessons, talking idly, sharing meals. Most friendships developed slowly over weeks or months of seeing a person only an hour or two a day in public settings, but they had been nearly constant companions the past few moons and she had been seeing Miku get more agitated by the day. In fact if she was being honest with herself she didn't think she could have gotten by without Miku's support. Haku didn't need any of that though to recognize a wince.
"What's wrong? Do you not know it?" Haku asked.
"Oh, I know it. It's where Luka-chin and I had our first- conversation."
Haku didn't think the two in the back seat could have caught the slight stumble in the pretty blue haired girl's words, and they certainly couldn't see her blushing, but Haku could and did. She opened her mouth to say something but she got such a steely warning glance from Miku that she shut her mouth again. The silence didn't last long as the girls in the backseat were apparently oblivious to all this and still caught up on their destination.
"Marajin is like super high class." Gumi blurted. "Will they really let us in?" She paused a moment eying everyone's clothing in the car. "Well you're all dressed well enough but I'm not!"
"It's fine, Luka-chin and I know the managers. It'll be okay with them since you're with us." Miku reassured her.
"Wow I almost feel like I'm important now." Gumi giggled.
"Or you're some kind of groupie." Teto scoffed then let out a squeaked "Ow!" when Gumi pinched her leg.
"If I'm a groupie then so are you." Gumi declared and got a glare from Teto.
"I'm not a groupie, I'm just connected to one."
"Hey that's not nice!"
They continued the back and forth like that the entire way to the restaurant until finally Miku pulled the big black SUV into the parking lot. The girls all got out and closed their doors and filed inside the reception area where there was a pretty hostess seating people.
"Greetings and welcome to Marajin. Table for-" She paused a moment eyeing their clothes. Designer or not from what Haku could see of the other guests they were a few digits shy of the clientele's average price range. Then she saw Miku and her eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, Hatsune-sama, hello. It has been some time. Table for- four?" She barely paused this time. Miku really did have pull here.
"Hello, Orona-san. Actually Megurine Luka should already be waiting for us."
The hostess looked over her list then nodded. "Ah yes Megurine-sama came in not long ago. She asked for your favorite table. If you will please all follow me?"
Marajin really was high class, everything about it was lush and grand. The furniture was all carved and finely gilded, the table cloths were delicately patterned with lacework, the plates were all expensive China, the utensils were all fine porcelain or glinted like they might actually be silver, the lights and light frames had the finest rice paper covers with some of the most gorgeous patterns Haku had ever seen, even the carpet was soft and shiny.
The table the hostess led them too was in a far back corner, a round table rather than square, and Luka rose from her seat as they approached. Haku felt herself grow warm all over as the ravishing pink haired idol's gaze met hers and they smiled at each other a little nervously, momentarily oblivious to the rest of the world despite sudden anxiety. Luka ran an unconscious hand over her sides to smooth her flower patterned red designer shirt then she twitched toward the seat next to hers like she wanted to offer it but then stopped and winced a bit.
All at once the world rushed back in and it became painfully obvious that that they were behaving foolishly in public. More, that no one had sat at the table because of them and were looking at them, Teto and Gumi in confusion, Miku with a sympathetic look yet with that same tightening at the corners of her eyes. They both flushed and Haku was so embarrassed she looked away but Luka, ever the confident in charge type, covered smoothly, gesturing at the table, "Please, will everyone join me?"
Regardless of the awkwardness Haku was still quick to sit beside her idol, pulling the chair out beside the pink haired beauty and seating herself. Miku took the seat on her other side, then Teto beside Miku, and Gumi between Teto and Luka. They received their menus and there was a great chorus of appreciative murmurs and shock at the prices on the fancy restaurant's menu. Haku had been to places like this before on the rare times her parents were around so she wasn't surprised, but she didn't tend to frequent these sorts of places often. Miku and Luka however acted as though there were nothing out of the ordinary, considering what they wanted as normal. When the waitress came and took their orders Luka spoke up first without preamble, again taking the lead as she always seemed to.
"Can we start with a group order of sushi? A few of each roll please."
"And a couple of sweet bread plates?" Haku spoke up, then gave a sly conspiratorial wink at Teto, receiving a surprised blink in return.
Luka smiled, "And sweet bread." Then they went around the table and ordered a side dish each to go with the sushi, various types of noodles mostly, and the server collected their menus and went back to have their order prepared. Luka turned to the rest of the table. "It's good to see you again Kasane-san, Megpoid-san. How has your training been going?" Haku blinked at that, realizing the idol had only really interacted with the two the other day at the festival. Haku herself had made good friends with them in the times when Miku and Luka weren't around, so she'd sort of gotten used to them.
"F-Fine, Megurine-san!" Gumi said practically quivering with glee at being addressed by the idol.
Teto rolled her eyes. "She's lying because she wants you to like her, Megurine-san."
Gumi shot Teto an offended look. "Teto!"
Teto's mouth curled into a little mocking smile. "Am I wrong? Why don't you sing a few bars for Megurine-san?"
Gumi flushed deeply and hissed at her again, "Teto, stop it!"
"Why don't you, Teto-chan?" Miku asked casually, and the redhead's cheeks colored faintly.
Haku hid a smile at their antics by taking a sip of water, and Miku managed a slightly more sympathetic smile. "Learning to control the sound waves can be tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it." The twintailed girl had sponsored the other two so she knew precisely how far along their training was.
"It's true," Luka added reaching for her own water glass. "Not everyone manages it their first few times, or even the first week or two sometimes."
"Really?" Teto asked mildly, but she looked slightly relieved. Teto was definitely not one to wear her emotions on her sleeve.
Haku set her own water glass down but left her hand on it incase she had to hide another smile, but she tried to keep her outer serene calm in place instead.
Gumi had her face screwed up in a dubious way and she glanced from Miku to Haku to Luka and back again. "But we heard that Yowane-san got it her first try! Her first test even, without any training!"
"Haku-chin is an unusual case." Luka said, her hand coming down with her water glass. Having used the hand nearest Haku when she set it down their hands bumped and their arms brushed. They both stopped and looked then glanced at each other before flushing and jerking their arms apart, Haku nearly knocking her glass over in the process but managing to catch it at the last instant. Why was this so awkward?! It wasn't like it was a… a date…!
Miku rolled her eyes at the awkward pair and looked at Gumi. "Haku-chan is a first, we've never seen anyone do what she has in so short a time, and she has higher potential than anyone we've ever seen, even higher than Luka-chin and myself. If it makes you feel better even I couldn't get a sonic wave until my second test."
The two girls turned big round eyes on Haku who shrank back a bit at the intense looks. "Even stronger than you two?!" Gumi gushed.
"Not… not THAT much stronger…" Haku murmured
"She's not stronger yet, she has a little higher potential." Luka added. She sounded proud of course, but there was a tiny note of… jealousy? Haku doubted anyone else heard it, but she could. The pink haired beauty was definitely the competitive type, and before Haku she'd rated highest in potential. She supposed it was only natural for Luka to resent it a little. But… Haku couldn't help wonder… did she hold it against her…?
"Right now Haku-chan isn't much stronger than you two!" Miku said brightly. "In fact, we could probably do some group practice later, get everyone harmonizing. Maaaaaaaaaaybe even try your guys' first Resonances."
That caused everyone's heads to turn, even Luka's. "Are you sure that's…"
Miku waved a dismissive hand. "It's fine, we'll both be there." She leveled a meaningful look at Luka, her green eyes glinting in the soft light of the restaurant. Luka met the gaze without so much as a blink and gave a nod. Haku stopped a moment to glance between the two, her head turning side to side. It had never occurred to Haku before that moment that for all of Miku's cutesy bubbly girly exterior there was a will of iron beneath. Suddenly she saw her friend in a new light, like a sword wrapped in a silk sheath. It would be a tough call who would win that staring contest, but fortunately there was no need to find out. The two powerful Vocaloids seemed to come to an agreement and broke eye contact simultaneously.
Teto's face remained passive but Gumi's face fell. "How can we practice with the likes of Yowane-san if she's the highest potential ever? That makes you three the only S Rank Vocaloids. Teto and I are only A Ranks. We're like ten factors weaker than you guys."
"That doesn't matter." Luka said with a kindly smile. "All that's required is that you're the same strength right now. Down the road if the story changes, then all you have to do is avoid a few missteps and you'll be fine."
They both brightened at that, even Teto. She really did have a pretty face, her frown just distracted from it a bit. "I bet we would make a great practice group." Haku told them with a smile, to even brighter looks.
Just then the sweet breads and sushi plates started coming out, a couple of servers with trays bringing them with extra plates. Teto went right for the bread with the first genuinely delighted look Haku had ever seen on her face, and Gumi put a couple of maki on her plate. Haku wasn't actually that hungry so she just sort of sat back and watched the others. She noted with some interest that Luka seemed to be most partial to spicy sauces and crunchy tempura as well as anything with shrimp, while Miku's favorites apparently revolved around seaweed and crab, though they both took a little of everything. At some point Luka noticed she wasn't eating and an impulse seemed to overtake the pink haired beauty.
"Here, Haku-chin, try this. Ahhhh!" She raised her own chopsticks with a bit of shrimp tempura roll.
Haku flushed deeply at being fed like this in front of everyone, but a quick glance showed the other girls seemed to be absorbed in their own food at the moment, so she leaned forward for the bite. Luka teased her a bit, pulling the chopsticks back a little at the last moment, making her stretch for it but let her have it with a soft giggle. Her own cheeks were slightly flushed but nowhere near as bad as Haku's own were. She caught a glance of Miku out of the corner of her eye, and her light blue haired friend seemed… maybe a little too absorbed in her spider roll.
Haku's obvious embarrassment didn't seem to deter the idol in the least. She got another bite pushed toward her, eating purely because of the pleasure of having her idol feeding her and no other reason. She heard a giggle from across the table and caught Gumi staring at them with a sly look in her eye. What must they all be thinking of her? Her flush deepened further and thankfully Luka went back to eating her own sushi. She seemed to realize she'd caused a lot of embarrassment however because Haku suddenly felt Luka's free left hand on her knee under the table. Haku took a moment to pull her calm serenity over herself once more and waited for her blush to die down then she casually slid her right hand under the table to grip Luka's. They each gave the other a little squeeze and Luka continued the conversation with the other girls where it had left off, offering pointers and tips for training.
Suddenly Miku pushed her plate back and stood up from the table. She gave a muttered "Excuse me a moment…" and walked off toward the back of the restaurant and the 'restroom' signs. Haku watched her go with an odd look on her face. Had… her eyes been wet?
Haku waited a few moments for decency then said, "Me too." And stood up to follow.
The women's room was empty except for Miku so far as Haku could see as she eased the door open as gently and soundlessly as possible. She was right, her friend was crying, a soft sobbing that shook her shoulders slightly as she hunched over a sink with her back to the door. She didn't want to alarm the pretty light blue haired girl but she wanted to help so she let out a soft tentative, "Miku-chan? What's wrong?"
Miku's entire body tensed up and her sobbing abruptly cut off with a choked sound, but her shoulders continued to shake gently. "N-Nothing…" She couldn't stop her voice cracking. "P-Please… Haku-chan… c-can you j-just… give me a m-minute…?"
Haku's heart was breaking a little for her friend. It was true that they had become close very quickly, but then she and Luka had progressed quickly too, in part due to the fact that Haku had latched on quickly because she had never had any real friends before in her whole life, and also in part because they were Vocaloids; their lives depended on each other and their powers were driven by instinct and emotion, which caused them to act more quickly than might seem normal or even appropriate to most. She didn't know what was going on, but was beginning to learn to listen to her instincts, and her instincts were telling her now that something was wrong between her and her friend and her idol.
On the spur of the moment she rushed forward and gave the other girl a quick hug and whispered into her ear, "When you want to talk, please come to me, I want to help." She squeezed Miku around the shoulders, but the other girl didn't move or reply so Haku left the restroom and went back to the table. She found the other three absorbed in their noodles and idle chatter so she walked up behind Luka and rather than sit she leaned down and pitched her voice low for the idol's ear. "Can we talk outside for a moment?"
Luka started to grin at the implications but when she caught Haku's worried tone she turned more somber and nodded. They excused themselves and stepped out the back door to the alley way. Once outside Haku didn't waste time. "I think there's something wrong with Miku-chan." She told the gorgeous pink haired girl. She related everything she had been seeing but only just now was connecting in her head. Miku's odd pauses, the tightening of her eyes at moments when Haku was being absorbed in Luka's attentions, and now the crying in the bathroom. "I think…" she paused a second and squared her shoulders, taking a deep breath. Neither of them were going to like this. "I think you and I need to have a conversation about yours and Miku-chan's… involvement."
Luka didn't so much as bat an eyelash at that. As cool under pressure as a mountain lake was her idol, and though it was likely a very uncomfortable topic she had to talk about it. "I suppose I owe you an explanation, Haku-chin." She said quietly but resolutely. She glanced back toward the restaurant door before closing her blue eyes all together as she looked inward for a moment. Then when she opened them she asked, "How much has Miku-chan told you?"
"Nothing." Haku said honestly without hesitation. "She wanted us to talk first, and she's trying not to force it, but something about this situation is hurting her, and… and…" She took another deep breath. "Luka-chin I…" Her heart was racing and she didn't want to say this but she had to. "I can't tell you how hard and fast my feelings have been developing, but… if there's something going on here… I don't… I don't want to hurt anyone…" Her red eyes began to tear up, but her outward calm was like iron.
Luka's own eyes looked moist but her grace and composure never wavered outwardly. Inwardly however she must have been a storm because she reached out for Haku's arm. "Haku-chin… you don't know what you mean to me…"
"I know." Haku whispered. "You know I know, you know what you saved me from. I don't want to hurt you, but I don't want to hurt her either. I have to know."
Luka swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded. "We'll talk, I promise. But not here, not right now. Let's… let's get Miku-chan home first, then we'll talk in private okay?"
Haku hesitated only a moment before giving a nod of acceptance and the two turned to head back into the restaurant, Luka putting a hand on Haku's arm again, and they both froze. Standing there in the doorway back into Marajin was a woman they had never seen before. She was darkly beautiful dressed all in black silks and lace from her neck to her skirts. She had flowing dark red hair nearly as long as Haku's held back by a black headband and red-orange eyes. Luka's grip tightened on Haku's arm as the woman raised one hand to point straight at the snowy white haired girl.
"Yowane Haku." She said in a voice perhaps a full scale step lower than Miku's. "You are mine."
Haku was speechless, but Luka didn't seem to be suffering from any such issue. "What do you want? Who are you?"
The woman turned her red-orange gaze on the idol with a curious cant to her head, as though only just noticing her. "My name is Juon Kiku, Vocaloid. Your interference with my children is bad enough, yet now you would lay claim to that which is mine?" There was no doubt that she was referring to Haku.
Luka scowled and used her free hand to swipe at the air in front of her in a defiant gesture. "Haku-chin is not yours to take."
The slight cant to Kiku's head increased to a full tilt. "She survived the turning process by one of my children. This makes her mine. You may not have her."
The idol put herself between Haku and the darkly beautiful woman, her earlier coolness under fire back, her crystal voice like a frozen mountain glacier. "If you want to take her you will have to go through me."
Kiku looked at the idol for a moment or two before nodding. "I accept your terms." Kiku lifted her arms in a slow graceful arch in front of her, and Luka responded with a cross step and a wrist flick. Both women let out a note at the same time, the idol's a high pitched piercing note, the darkly beautiful woman's a low reverberating tone as dark as she. There was a double boom to Haku's ear at least, one she knew no non-Vocaloid would be able to hear, and the sonic energies collided and…
Luka's higher sonic wave seemed to shatter from the reverberation of the lower one which came on. Luka was too experienced a Vocaloid to not already be changing steps, her instincts driving her movements, but she was caught unaware by the attack, surprised that this woman they had never seen before could possess the power of a trained Vocaloid. The lower energy wave caught the idol in the chest and Luka was sent flying backward to crash into some trash cans against the opposite wall of the back alley. There was a small sonic vibration even as she hit, cushioning her landing with another low note, but she still went down. The lingering energy waves from Kiku were dark and continued reverberating around Luka even after the idol lay still, seeming to sap at her strength and she let out a low moan.
"Luka!" Haku cried out turning to move toward her, but Kiku was right there beside her in a flash, staring into Haku's face… with now black swirling orb-like eyes.
"Yowane-Haku. You belong to me."
The door to the back of the restaurant bust open and Haku caught sight of swirling light blue pig tails as Miku ran over to Haku, then knelt down beside Luka. "I heard the sonics, are you hurt?"
"Only my pride." Luka responded as she got to her feet between the two. Haku could see Gumi and Teto in the doorway as well but they weren't coming out of the restaurant. Luka was a powerful Vocaloid and if she had been knocked flat they didn't have a chance with their half training.
"Yowane-Haku is mine." Kiku repeated to the three standing before her. She raised her arms in that fluid graceful motion again.
There were no words between them, there didn't seem to be a need for any. Luka and Miku stepped forward as one between Haku and Kiku. They stepped in unison, Luka cross stepping left foot over right, Miku right foot over left. Luka's left arm arched up over her head, left wrist roll, right hand on hip, Miku's right arm arched up over her head, right wrist roll, left hand on hip. Their voices harmonized perfectly from the first note even as Kiku's low reverberating tone sounded again. The two powerful Vocaloid's voices seemed to combine together on the second note of the scale, merge on the third, and was one voice on the fourth, and the light of the sonic wave forming seemed to envelop them both together, light pink and light blue blending together as one yet not changing color.
Haku's red eyes went wide as she instinctively understood, but she heard a gasp from the restaurant doorway from Gumi. "Resonance…"
The low reverberating note from Kiku seemed to slam into the light enveloping the pair and simply melt away. Kiku blinked in surprise, uncertainty showing in her red-orange eyes for the first time since she had shown up. Then the scale the pair were harmonizing suddenly changed pitched to a thunderous tempo, and the light pulsed, then came the boom. Haku threw her arms up to shield her eyes from the glare as a pure radiant light seemed to engulf the ally completely, but even despite that she couldn't take her eyes off the majestic sight.
Luka and Miku let the note fall away. The light faded, the sound died out, but they held their pose on the verge of unleashing it again. There didn't seem to be a need however. Kiku was picking herself up unsteadily from the opposite end of the alleyway some dozen meters away. She cast a dark glower at the pair and all but snarled, "This is not over, Vocaloids." Then she was gone, ducking out of the alley into the street beyond.
Miku made as if to chase her but Luka wavered unsteadily on her feet. Mid step the light blue haired girl swiveled as if to catch the idol but she wasn't as fast as Haku who was already right there, arms going around Luka's middle to hold her.
"I'm… I'm alright." Luka muttered. "Just… tired."
"We need to get her back." Miku said. "Wait here, I'll get the car." She ducked out of their end of the alley as Teto and Gumi came out, eyes wide at the scene. The raw display of power the two girls had put on had been impressive to say the least, and the evidence was all up and down the absolutely thrashed alley. Nothing stood upright; trash cans, boxes, bags, anything that had been out there had been blasted over like leaves in the wind by the sonic waves.
Haku reached into her pocket to take out a credit card and held it out toward the two. "Will you guys go in and settle the bill while Miku and I get Luka into the car?"
They nodded eager to be of help. Luka tried to object that she was going to get the meal but Haku shushed her as Gumi took the card and they disappeared back into the restaurant. Then they were alone for the moment, and Haku's worry finally surfaced.
"Don't scare me like that, Luka-chin…" She whispered to her idol as she helped hold her upright.
"Had to protect you… Haku-chin…" Luka smiled, her beautiful pink hair a tousled mess but not detracting from her appeal in the least.
Haku realized that her eyes were getting moist again. Why would she be this scared after it was all over yet not during the confrontation? "You were wonderful, Luka-chin. You really were…"
The roar of the engine announced Miku's arrival with the car at the mouth of the alley. Haku helped Luka into the back third row seat, and the idol lay out across it with her head on Haku's lap. "Teto and Gumi are coming." Haku said up to Miku in the front who nodded back. The two weren't long in returning and in only a few short moments they were on the road again heading back to the Compound.
"Is she okay?" Gumi asked looking over the back of the middle seat she was sitting in as she handed Haku back the credit card..
"I'm okay…" Luka murmured.
"Shhh." Haku whispered soothingly, gently running a hand over the top of Luka's head in her lap.
"Did she take a hit?" Miku asked from the front.
"She got thrown back into the trash cans, but she got up afterward, it seemed like she was fine." Haku said, trying hard to keep the worry out of her voice. "It didn't look like a lot of energy to me, just one overpowering wave, but there was this odd dark effect of some kind, I don't know."
"Shattered… my wave…" Luka sounded like she'd be asleep any minute, so Haku repeated for Miku's to hear up front.
Miku glanced back in the rearview mirror. "That explains it. The energy expended to make a wave is intense, but having it shattered is a lot like running at a dead sprint then getting the wind knocked out of you all at once. That combined with our Resonance, which also takes a lot of energy, and whatever this dark effect was you're talking about, it's a wonder she's still awake. She'll probably sleep the rest of the day and night away."
"Then she's okay?" The pleading in Haku's voice was very unbecoming, and enough to draw every eye in the SUV with an appraising look, but Miku's voice floated back quietly.
"She'll be fine, Haku-chan… just relax…"