The Concert

As always, Cul felt the swell of the crowd before the song even began. The order of the track selection had already been explained to her, and a little plucking on the chords she had difficulty with for practice before the drumstick claps set the tempo told her that she was ready for this. A deep inhale through her nose and a soft, long exhale through her mouth only further assured her that the roof would blow off this joint by the time they were through. Her lips quirked up in adrenaline-induced delight.

Someone gave the motion for everyone to head to his or her position as marked by the tape on the stage, and the guitarist eagerly followed the others. As expected, microphones had been set up beforehand, although for her back up vocals, another one quickly was brought over and adjusted. Just as that started getting all cleared up, the dolled up princess of the evening strode on stage with his red hair flowing behind him like a cape. The fans pleaded and roared for his attention. Giving a little wink over to the musician's section that made his quickly made girlfriend's heart hiccup, Ritsu took his own mic in hand and turned to face the bellows of approval from the mass of faces.

It really didn't matter how he introduced himself; all the fans in attendance already knew who he was and what he stood for. Apparently the lead drummer took notice of a certain gesture signifying the end of his opening gloating and clapped the drumsticks together in time. One, two, three, GO!

The melodies rolled off the strings so easily over the buzz of the approval of the stadium. Note after chord after measure after song, the Vocaloid strummed passionately, providing the back-up vocalists for the Utau, and she could've sworn something magical happened with that on the stage. The other instruments, the rousing chorus of cheers: everything fell away and the spotlight of the world only shone on the two of them once again, creating that link two artists have when rocking a duet, practically synchronizing down to the most minute of fluctuations. She hadn't felt a concert vibe this strong in ages, and she was transported back to her first concerts, glittering with fireworks of promises of stardom and fame. She thought the sparks had faded. Instead, one of the embers hit another wick and lit a whole new inferno right under her ass. Even the breaks between songs couldn't sober the disguised rebel of her delicious ambition.

This, she thought to herself, is just the kind of music revolution I was looking for.

Cheers of boisterous praise and applause melded with the fading notes of the last song, and the star idol captivated attention with his own twist of narcissism, gratitude, and witty words of farewell. One dramatic curtsey and flick of the hair over the shoulder later, and the cross dresser turned on his heel and strutted proudly off the stage with a grin that told the whole tale of absorbing the same haze that took over his newfound counterpart, both blissfully ignorant to the hell unleashed on the net.

Back at the Vocaloid Mansion

Pink eyebrows knitted together in concern. "These rumors just keep getting more and more weird," she commented thickly. Lazily lolling her head to the side, the blonde next to the tabloid spectator flicked her blue eyes over the small mobile screen. "What's goin' on now?" she asked. The other shook her head.

"Apparently it centers around an unidentified new guitarist at the Utau concert tonight credited with the stage name 'Lucky'. Next to nothing is known about her except that this is her first appearance and that she provided secondary guitar and back-up vocals for only that new kid's performance," Luka explained slowly.

"What's the big deal then?" Lily sighed, sitting back with her hands behind her head idly.

"The big deal, then, is the previously released rumor said there was a Vocaloid VIP. Now, don't we know somebody who isn't here tonight who happens to play guitar and has a knack for being dangerously impulsive?" the more modest of the two pointed out.

The lesser so shot upright, leaning in more closely. "What!? You don't really think she's that much of a dumbass, do you?" she exclaimed, pausing for a moment to turn the television to the channel the local news ran on. Surely enough, full concert coverage flashed on the set, even referencing the rumor circulating. A close up shot of the mysterious extra appeared on screen, followed by official footage featuring her back up vocals being provided behind the Utau's.

Luka and Lily shared a look of disbelief, followed by similar crossed arms and a synchronized nod of understanding. "Okay, I take it back," the blonde groaned, "She is that much of a dumbass."

"This begs the question, though," the other mused, crossing her legs and tapping her chin in contemplation, "Of who exactly started the initial rumor and why? I mean, no one else besides someone who really knew her up close could tell that that's her under that hair dye and contacts."

"Well, I don't know about you, but if I were out to sabotage her record for some reason, I'd certainly spread the word like how you said—"

"Anonymously," the calmer of the two provided.

"—Yeah, that. And then I'd watch the shit hit the fan all on its own," the taller chuckled.

A short silence fell between the two of them. "You really are secretly a diabolical mastermind, aren't you?"

"Bitch, I might be," Lily snarked.

The other sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Now, two things. One, how long can we keep it hidden that the rumors are true, and two, how are we going to make her pay for being a pain in the ass?"

"What's going on here?" a stern-looking samurai inquired, crossing his arms, causing the duo to exchange a look as they mentally tried to figure out whether or not to tell him the situation.

"Uhh, Kamui," Lily started with a nervous laugh, "We think Cul broke the 'no scandals' rule."