Chapter Eleven
Inksewn: Thank you for all your wonderful reviews and birthday greetings! :) I hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter.
Kaito: I needed a better role. :U I only had, like, two lines!
Luka: You wouldn't be able to say any more lines without them being a complete failure.
Inksewn: *facepalm* Okay, today I've decided to do something different. Each reviewer gets a VOCALOID reply instead of one from me! :3
Miku: Of course, it's much more interesting!
Inksewn: -.- This is also going to be for the next chapter (only!) so be sure to ask some questions if you have any!
Otaku4life – Miku: She is quite good, but I'm sure it would be better if I was the main character! Everybody would love me and then they'd help me with all my problems—
Inksewn: Miku? That's called a Mary-Sue.
RPR – Rin: Actually, I was thinking about that.
Len: Oh no! Keep your pranking away from me!
Rin: *evil eye glint*
Gumi: … Should I be concerned…?
Orange Chupa – Gumi: D'awww, thanks!
Kaito: Wow, you actually read the fanfiction for two hours! I can't even read for five minutes!
Luka: Hence 'failure'.
Katty Taco Kisses – Luka: *searching dictionary* Super-ultra-mega-awesome…
Gakupo: Chill, Luka. Try making some words up.
Luka: NO! *grammar Hitler face*
Gakupo: *sigh* Inksewn says thanks for the congratulations and stuff.
Marshmallow Ninja – Meiko: … Who's Noah?
Inksewn: YOU KNOW TOO MUCH! *tries to fix the fourth wall*
poweredtoenail – Miku: D'aww, little Gum-Gum got hurt on the swing, does your boo-boo still hurt? 3:
Gumi: Knock it off!
Inksewn: Cool. *ignoring Miku and Gumi*
LeebiLong – Rin: Welcome to our humble fanfiction.
Len: It's not exactly 'ours'…
Rin: Shush! We have a guest!
Cake Goes Rawr – Rin: Can I have the cookie? 3:
Miku: Swimming is evil.
Meiko: …
TheSilverWisp – Meiko: Miku was acting since she was a baby.
Miku: No joke. I acted hungry so that my parents would give me more candy.
Meiko: … I was joking.
Miku: Really?
Inksewn: Well, today's chapter is about Magnet. I suggest you listen to the songs first. ^^; Kaito x Gakupo, Luka x Miku and Len x Rin… There will be some… well, subtle bashing (?) of GakuKai and MiLu. Don't read if you support these pairings and might find this offensive on your part. Thanks! Also, please take note that I am not against homosexual people (all people deserve to be treated equally!) and I do not mean to offend anyone with this.
Seme – dominant
Uke – submissive
Luka: Disclaimer. Vocaloid is owned by Crypton and Yamaha. Also Internet Co. Ltd. Thank you for reading.
"It's February!" Rin squealed, prancing around, "Pinch, punch; first day of the month!" She gave Miku a pinch on the leg (to which she yelped), a soft punch on the shoulder (to which she grimaced) and a great big hug. "Month of love! It's almost Valentine's Day!"
She grinned at all of the Vocaloids. Len gave her a thumbs up and an apologetic smile to the others. Gumi gave her a smile. However, the other Vocaloids groaned.
"What's so wrong about Valentine's Day?" Gumi asked. They were all relaxing in the lobby lounge, which consisted of a few sleek, black couches and a large, round glass table. It was very modern and professional, much like the lobby itself. Gumi took another sip of iced tea from her glass.
"Well, err…" Gakupo paused, looking down at his shoes.
"All of our Valentine's Days have been crappy," Luka replied casually, "Well, except for Rin and Len, but that's because they're too young to understand—"
"Hey!" Len answered indignantly, but Luka ignored him.
"What happened?" Gumi asked in curiosity.
"Before I came to Vocaloid, I accidentally sent two valentines texts to two girls, and they wouldn't believe me when I told them that it was an accident, so I was never asked to Valentine's again," Kaito said, putting another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
"Before I came to Vocaloid, most of the people at my high school thought I was a flat-chested girl," said Gakupo, leaning back into his chair and sighing.
"People thought I was a nerd at my high school," Luka said bitterly, "because I read books. Most people were, and are, shallow idiots. And anybody who did ask me just wanted me to do their homework."
"Oh," Gumi replied, her enthusiasm going limp, "That's okay, guys."
"Guys, Boss has a new script for us!" Meiko came rushing in to the lounge with several stapled bits of paper clutched in her hands, "Same Valentines songs. You know our fans."
"As long as I don't have to be in another dress—" Len said as he received his script from Meiko; his eyes widened. "Nevermind. I want the dress."
"What's so bad that you want a dress, Len—" Meiko thrust Kaito's script in front of his eyes. He stood up. "WHAT?" He and Gakupo exchanged horrified looks. "They can't do this to me! I-I'm a… homophobe!"
"No wonder you won't read the yuri manga Akaito sends you," Gakupo laughed. Kaito glared at him.
"This is unacceptable!" Miku cried, thrashing around in her seat, "People actually pair me with… Luka? Her? That's just stupid!"
"Let me see that," Gumi said, seeing as she hadn't been passed a script. Miku tossed the paper towards her, acting as though she was fainting as she laid down, her head cushioned on Kaito's lap. Gumi read the heading quickly.
Magnet – Luka x Miku, Kaito x Gakupo, Len x Rin
She didn't go on.
"Why aren't you going to sing this?" Miku asked Gumi and Meiko bitterly, sitting up as Kaito sighed in relief.
"Boss said that Gumi can't sing it because the debut is still sinking in, and he said that he's planning a new song for me concerning Mothy-P," Meiko replied casually, "So it's just you guys."
"Dammit!" Miku yelled, pounding the table. Luka was frozen in shock.
"Well, I'm sure if we were in a relationship—not that we are," he said hastily as Kaito raised a brow, "I would be the seme. I'm much taller."
"What? I would be seme, I'm older than you, and older beats taller!" Kaito cried indignantly.
"I have a six pack!" Gakupo lifted up his shirt and traced his abdomen.
"Well, I have—" Kaito patted his stomach, "Nevermind."
"Guys, there are much more important things than who is se—se—whatever!" Miku wailed, "I don't want people pairing me up with… her!"
Luka coughed.
"C'mon guys, it isn't so bad," Len reasoned. They all glared at him.
"You have a heterosexual song," said Luka.
"But it's with my sister! At least you guys don't have to kiss your siblings!" Rin nodded weakly at Len's statement.
Kaito laughed, "Yeah, imagine Luka and Luki—"
"Shut up!" Luka yelled, throwing a wadded up table mat at him.
"Guys, can we stop fighting?" Meiko sighed as Kaito retaliated by throwing some spoons, "It's just a song. You guys aren't this upset when it comes to romance songs." She picked up a stray bit of cutlery and tossed it onto the table.
"But, like I said, I'm a homophobe!" Kaito yelled, loosening his scarf. His blue hair was glistening with sweat.
"And I don't like being mistaken for a lesbian!" Miku pouted, her hands on her hips. Meiko sighed.
"But you guys have to do this properly!" Meiko insisted. Gakupo raised a brow.
"Why?"
"Mr. Crypton knew you guys would blow it off, so he's brought Kiyoteru and Yuki in to grade you."
"No, Kiyoteru-sensei, you can't let them do this to me," Miku said, biting her lip slightly as she fixed her miniskirt. She looked into his brown eyes, "Please?"
"Miss Hatsune, I do not respond to flirting," Kiyoteru replied wearily, "I believe that it is a form lower than bribery. Besides, we already agreed to do this for Mr. Crypton, he's raising our pay for the extra work."
Yuki nodded sternly, "Yes, Miku. You agreed to this anyway, you've signed a contract."
"The contract mentioned nothing about homosexual relationship songs!" Miku insisted.
"But you agreed to be able to do anything in general," Yuki said.
"But—but—ARGH! The next time… I swear, I'm going to hire a lawyer…" Miku stormed off, muttering things under her breath. Meiko and Gumi watched her exit the floor, going up in the elevator, and they then went to approach the two teachers themselves.
"Kiyoteru-sensei, Yuki-sensei, you asked us to come to your office?" Gumi asked as Yuki had almost finished packing up.
"Ah, yes," Kiyoteru answered, adjusting his rectangular glasses, "As you know, Yuki and I aren't very specialized in… the arts." He fidgeted uncomfortably, but Yuki whispered something into his ear. Gumi caught the words 'Daddy' and 'hurry'.
"So we would like you to help us judge the acting and singing of your friends who are participating in the Magnet project."
"What?" Meiko and Gumi exclaimed. They glanced at each other, and then at Kiyoteru and Yuki.
"Well… that's okay…" Meiko mumbled.
"We'll do it!" Gumi yelped. Everyone's mouths were agape, including Gumi's.
"Er… thank you, girls," Kiyoteru nodded, "The shooting starts at two this afternoon; don't be late." And so the two left, leaving Meiko and Gumi wide eyed and shocked.
"We can't grade them… if we grade truthfully, they might kill us, and if we don't grade truthfully, Kiyoteru-sensei and Yuki-sensei might get suspicious!" Meiko whispered. Gumi nodded.
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't worry. It's not until two… we'll figure something out. Library?"
"Library."
"We're going to be wearing great big bugs on our ears?" asked Kaito as he looked distastefully at the fake, purple butterfly wings attached to a set of headphones.
"I like them," Rin said cheerily, putting the yellow butterfly headphones on her head and running around. All of them, excluding Len, stared at her bitterly, and Rin took off the headset.
"And this," Miku commented on the flowy, turquoise dress she had been assigned to wear, "does not go with my shoes. The shoes should be open-toed, or the dress should be less… thin."
"I don't like this at all," Luka said as she came out of the dressing room wearing a very short dress. The skirt ended in the middle of her upper thighs. "Stop staring, Gakupo."
"S-sorry," he said, "Well, I have to wear lip gloss. Lip gloss! Have you ever heard of a samurai wearing lip gloss?"
"You wore lip gloss in Madness of Duke Venomania," Len pointed out, carefully adjusting his set of butterfly headphones as he gazed at the mirror.
"Well, I had a harem in that song, that made up for all the ridiculous make-up I had to wear," Gakupo reasoned, resentfully putting his sheathed sword onto the chair beside him. He sighed, letting a brush go through his ponytailed hair and gazing at Luka, who was putting on her own make-up in the mirror next to Len's.
"Guys, just chill," Len said, putting the finishing touches to his blond hair, "It's only one song."
"But it's… wait, let me see the script." Kaito caught Gakupo's script and read through it. "Uh huh… uh huh… a kiss. We're screwed." Kaito's face was drained of all color as Len patted him on the back.
"I can always imagine you as a girl, right? I mean, it's pretty eas—"
"Shut it."
"Calling Miss Hatsune and Miss Megurine!" A red-haired lady with a headset on opened the door and beckoned the two girls. Miku tensed up and Luka seemed to sway on the spot. Rin gave both of them a good push, causing Miku to grab Luka's arm and break into a run.
"Let's get this over with." The door shut, and Gakupo began pacing around the room.
"Okay, very well girls, I am glad you've taken this quite calmly," said Mr. Crypton said, sitting at what looked like a Judges' table next to Kiyoteru, Yuki… Meiko and Gumi? Luka blinked twice and Gumi gave her a nervous smile.
"Sure. Calmly," Miku said stiffly as her hands balled into fists. Luka nudged her.
"Well, let's get this started… You've memorized your lyrics, correct?"
"Yes," Luka replied. She could hear Miku mumble, "Easiest bit," under her breath. Luka gave her a quicker and sharper nudge than before.
"Okay then… let's get started." Mr. Crypton whipped out two expensive looking parker pens and handed them to Kiyoteru and Yuki. Miku gave Yuki a death glare (to which she glared back) and Luka shivered constantly in her spot. She didn't like her dress one bit. The two stood together and held each other's hands at chest height.
"Music please!" Mr. Crypton waved a hand towards the band, who started playing the intro. The cameraman started recording as soon as they played. Kiyoteru and Yuki readied their pens. Gumi clung to her chair. Miku sung first.
"Kahosoi hi gakokoro no haji ni tomoru
itsu no manika moe hirogaru netsujou
watashi no choufukisoku ni tobi mawari
anata no te ni rinpun wo tsuketa…"
Meiko sighed in relief, as did Gumi. At least Miku could do it correctly… so far. She didn't know what would come up. They continued singing, making a good harmony. Luka and Miku did not make a couple. Definitely not. However, their voices created an amazing harmony. The song neared the end, and Mr. Crypton held up a large card. Meiko leaned over and whispered into Gumi's ear.
"It says 'slow kiss'."
Gumi bit her lip and looked away.
Luka and Miku neared each other, Luka looking as if she was about to cry. Miku's eyes were filled with indignity. Their lips were getting nearer and nearer—
"No, I can't do this!" Miku screeched, jumping away from Luka. The band's music faltered. Mr. Crypton stood up.
"Miku, wai—"
"You can't do this to me! I'M A STAR! I CAN'T BE TREATED THIS WAY!" She stormed out, making hissing noises and muttering. She threw her butterfly headphones onto the ground and blew a raspberry at the camera. The door was slammed shut and Luka stood there, looking as if she was about to faint. Kiyoteru scratched his head.
"Okay then…" he scribbled something onto his notebook, as did Yuki. Meiko and Gumi exchanged scared looks.
"Err… Miku's acting was very good," Meiko pointed out, talking in a loud voice so that the two teachers could hear her.
"Yeah… and Luka's singing was remarkable!" Gumi said, playing along with the brunette. Kiyoteru and Yuki looked at each other, and then they seemed to be drawing something onto their notebooks. One, two… three stars.
Close enough.
"Caitlyn, can you please call Mister Shion and Mister Kamui? Thank you." The redhead trotted off into the dressing room. A couple of minutes later, Gakupo was following a screaming and thrashing Kaito out of the door as Caitlyn pulled him on set. Meiko gulped.
"Relax, Mister Shion," Mr. Crypton said rather impatiently, "It'll be over in no time if you co-operate."
"No way! I—I—" Kaito struggled against Caitlyn, who gave him an annoyed glare.
The same music came up, and Kaito and Gakupo got into their position. Kaito seemed to be drained of all color. He looked as if he was about to faint.
Gakupo was about to open his mouth when Kaito collapsed to the ground. Meiko ran up to him and helped him up, along with Gakupo. Kaito seemed to be absolutely tired.
"What's wrong with him…?" Mr. Crypton asked.
"I'm a homophobe!" Kaito groaned. Meiko was trying hard to keep him on his feet.
"Well why didn't you say so?" Mr. Crypton said, "That's okay with me."
Kaito was suddenly able to stand up. His eyes turned stony and he faced Mr. Crypton with a cold look on his face. He marched towards him and put two hands on the table.
"That's okay?"
"Yeah."
"GAH!" Kaito ran out of the room. Gakupo gave Mr. Crypton an apologetic smile and followed him out. Meiko ran after the two of them. Gumi caught a glance of Kiyoteru's notebook; one star.
"Kaito and Gakupo did a very good job considering Kaito's a homophobe!" Gumi said to Mr. Crypton. He raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yeah! He did a great job compared to… er… er… another Japanese male singer who sang a song like this!" Gumi stammered, trying to make something up.
"Is that so? Well, I'd better—"
"No! It's not!" Gumi cried out, surprising Yuki on the far end of the table, "Kiyoteru-sensei and Yuki-sensei, please don't give my friends bad grades! I'm sorry for trying to make them look like stars, but I don't want them to—"
"Calm down, Gumi," Kiyoteru cut across her, "It's okay. Besides," he sighed, and then his voice shrunk into a mere whisper, "We're not grading them anyway."
"What?" Gumi shouted, intriguing Mr. Crypton, who was by the water dispenser.
"Shh!" Yuki said, putting a finger to her lips, "We aren't. Mr. Crypton just told us to act like it to pressure your friends. He said he'd give us a pay raise. We're sorry for troubling you, Gumi."
"Don't be sorry," Gumi mumbled. Mr. Crypton then returned to the table and said, "Caitlyn, please tell Mister and Miss Kagamine that they will not be recording. We will just take a snapshot from the videos of the others and ask them to just sing instead."
"Will do, sir—"
"Is it our turn to record?"
Len and Rin burst onto the set, staring at Mr. Crypton. He raised a brow.
"Actually, my dears, your recording is cancelled," he replied, "You may go."
"No!" Rin squealed, "We want to record! It—It would be a terrible waste of money, daddy!" Mr. Crypton blinked at the last word.
"Oh… very well. Just tell me if you can't handle it, okay? You don't know much about love anyway—"
"Yes, we do," said Len firmly, "And we can handle it."
The two got into position and the music played. Gumi was looking at the two carefully. None of them seemed afraid like the others. Was it because their song was easier, or was it because they wanted to prove everybody wrong? Either way, Gumi was confused about their sudden determination.
The words came out their mouths crystal clear. They had a harmony better than Luka and Miku's, and what seemed like a bond that flew out to all of them. Beside her, Mr. Crypton seemed shocked. He lifted up the card slowly; the same one he had lifted to Luka and Miku.
However, none of them flinched. They slowly closed in to each other, looking into each other's eyes—
And they kissed.
Gumi couldn't believe it herself. She could've sworn that she heard Yuki mumbling, "10 stars, yes, 10 stars over 5, I'm adding this to the grade no matter what Boss says…" and seen Kiyoteru adjusting his glasses several times. They pulled apart, both steamy eyed, and the music stopped.
"Well done, my dear children!" Mr. Crypton cheered, giving them both a big hug, "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Not bad at all," Rin replied, and gave her brother a fist bump.
Gakupo: … I still think I would be seme.
Kaito: Have you ever heard of a seme that looks like a girl?
Gakupo: This is samurai hair you are insulting!
Inksewn: … Guys… your conversation is really awkward.
Kaito: …
Gakupo: …
Inksewn: So, again, sorry for the late update. I was seriously busy—
Kaito: Yeah, I remember; "I need to find more pictures of Bolin!"
Gakupo: Who is this 'Bolin'? I thought you only fangirled for me!
Inksewn: Man, Gakupo, where have you been?
REMEMBER TO ASK THE VOCALOIDS YOUR QUESTIONS IN A REVIEW!