Disclaimer: I don't own Vocaloid in any way, shape of form.
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Navigating through the spidery array of alleyways in this city that I've claimed as my own, I spy a familiar short wall. Under the spotlight of the sun, the gray and worn brick shines. Slowly crumbling from its repeated battles against the elements, this wall looks weirdly majestic despite its deteriorating form.
I never knew that.
Under the cover of the night, when the stars provide the barest of lights, this wall is merely a wall. A deep shadow with an obscure form. Nothing special, nothing worth appreciating. It's funny how everything changes under the light. Does this mean that I've changed too?
But whether I've changed or not - that doesn't matter to me. I simply don't care. Because now, I've finally found my place in this beautiful world filled with light! And it's all thanks to him, my darling boy, my dangerous thief. It would be so easy to leave him behind. So easy! To turn my back, close my eyes, end this mad pursuit. But that'd be pointless – because then, everything would be pointless! Absolutely pointless!
Running with the wind, my teal twin tails lift and soar into the sky. For the first time in my life, the desired future lies in my hands. Oh, what a wonderful feeling it is!
Leaping onto the wall, my fingers land and kiss the worn and gray brick. Exchanging brief greetings, the two quickly part. There on top of the wall, the sun warms my skin, the sound of my footsteps are the lightest of taps. Under my weight, miniscule pieces of the wall shatter and fall to the ground below, never to be seen again.
Crossing over to the roof of a close-by house, the view from a place so high above is breathtaking. An endless amount of buildings. The shine of the sun against their ebony colored roofs. The birds resting and chattering on the highest of points. It's so ordinary, so mundane and yet somehow, so beautiful. I'll definitely have to show this to Len someday.
With professional ease, my feet dash across the crooked slants of the ebony rooftops, easily keeping their grip on the slippery surface.
I should be worried.
Under the sun's bright rays, my teal locks shine brightly against the blue sky. Teal. The color of a foreigner. An 'unnatural' color when compared to the colors of this city's residents. It would be so easy to point me out, to identify me as the person on the roof. And it's not like anyone can travel so easily on the expanse of a rooftop. I could be called out. My motives could be questioned. I could be tagged as an escaping criminal, which in reality is not too far off from the truth. There is just so much that could go wrong, up here in the light, right in plain sight.
But I can't turn back. I won't turn back. I will rescue Len if it's the last thing I do. A fear as basic as being sighted won't stand in way of this determination of mine. I won't let it. But it's more than that. Living in this city day in and day out, there are so many things that I've realized. No one will bother to look up onto the roof. This I know. The people of this city are so caught up on their selves and the stresses of their lives; no one ever bothers to look up anymore. This is the fact that I'm betting on. And even if I'm wrong, even if someone decided to look up and see me by a moment of coincidence, I know that all they'd see is a flash a teal. A sight that could only be regarded as figment of imagination, surely.
But that's not the real issue. Getting sighted was never the real issue. That's just something to distract myself from the true failure of this rescue mission. What if….what if…..what if I'm heading the wrong way? The possibilities of where Len could be taken are endless. He could currently be on the way to police headquarters, which is a deadly labyrinth all in itself. He could be on the way to any of this city's numerous courthouses or detainment centers and to search through them all could take days if not weeks. The what-ifs describing his circumstances are endless and this entire ordeal could be too much for just one person, even if that one person is one of Admodia's deadliest assassins.
But I must remember: Len is special. He's always been special. So of course, it could only be safe to assume that his circumstances would be special too. After all, why would Kiyoteru Hiyama of all detectives bother with such a person? The Len I know is no more than a petty thief – one no different than all of the other thousand of thieves roaming this city. So why point him out? Why bother to hire Admodia's best to capture a single thief amidst thousands?
And that is where the answer lies. Kiyoteru Hiyama was never hired to arrest Len the thief. No. That was never his objective at all. Kiyoteru Hiyama was hired to detain Len Kagamine, heir of the Kagamine fortune. It's the only option that would make sense. After all, Len must be coming of age. If that family of his wants to continue living in luxury, they'll need Len to sign off on his inheritance.
Gambling off of these facts, there's only one place where they could be headed: Kagamine mansion.
I've never had to kill a Kagamine before. But I'm lucky that we live in such a small world. The current head of that house is actually one of Sir's most frequent clients. I've seen his open file on Sir's desk more times than I could bother to count. I've long ago memorized the address of that place without meaning too. Who knew it would actually ever come in handy?
Looming over in the distance, the electric fence that enforces the security of the Central Blok comes into view. Ever from where I am, it's easy to see the blue sparks snapping into the air. One single touch would mean instant death. And that is why most thieves don't bother sneaking in the way I do – they value their lives too much to even try. But that's one of the most convenient parts of being an assassin – we fear little because we value little. We live because we have to and so risking one's life is something that just comes naturally with the job.
Of course, that statement no longer applies to a person such as I. I live because I want to and I value more than I should. But I've done this act too many times to develop a fear of it now. Heading for the usual blind spot between guards, I take extra care to make such I'm not accidentally spotted by the overconfident men that rest in the guard towers.
My legs push off into the air. Arching gracefully through the sky, I am surrounded by a beautiful blue. A bird soars into view. A puffy white cloud slowly moves by. And life continues on. The ground rushes up and I land upright, kicking up a small patch of dust into the air.
Stifling a cough, I dust off my dress. Hidden by the building of a confectionary shop, I think about my next move. From what I know, the Kagamine Mansion is extremely secluded and on the very outskirts of the Central Blok. It would take hours for me to get there by foot. I could steal a bike but I have no idea where to get one on such short notice. And even so, I never bothered to learn how to manuever such a contraption anyways. So really, my only viable option would have to be….a...a car.
The thought freezes me in place. Gasping lightly, I'm tempted to turn back. Wait – turn back where? That's not even an option, now is it? Len. This is all for Len. He needs me right now. I have to save him. And to do that, I need to ride in a car. I can do this….I can do this….If I can take a life, then I can most certainly ride in one of those godforsaken cars. After all, we have so many similarities – they kill people, I kill people. See? So alike. Yes. It'll be fine. It'll all be fine.
Gathering my courage, I head out towards the street. Flickering my eyes into the bustling crowd, I search for a person who's most likely to drive me where I need to go without raising too many questions.
A man in his middle years? No….Usually too prideful….won't even spare me a second glance.
Grandfather type? No….he'll ask too many questions.
A young guy? No….he might try to rape me.
A young woman? No….too cautious against "the poor" and thievery.
A young couple? Aggghhhh….but their car doesn't even seem to be nearby!
There!
A couple feet away, a glamorously dressed woman with short reddish brown hair makes her way towards a car. Following behind her is a young child – a girl – of about nine years old. Hoping for a compassionate mother, I quickly make my way towards them. Redirecting my gaze towards the ground, my voice comes out timid and hopefully, harmless.
"E-Excuse m-me, ma-madam."
The look she gives me is one of disgust and contempt. It is clear that she thinks that I do not deserve to breathe the same air as she, let alone to stand in her presence. Ugh. It seems that I assumed wrong. Glancing of the bottle of sake peeking out of her handbag, my heart drops further. The chances of this woman driving me anywhere are pretty much slim to none…
Looking at me as if I were worth garbage, she spits out, "What?"
Finishing up what I started, I respond, "I-I a-am a new m-maid at the K-Kagamine Mansion b-but t-t-the c-car n-never came for m-me. I-If madam w-would s-so kind to d-drive m-me?"
Shock crosses her face before laughing out loud. "Hah! What do you think I am, a charity service? Listen girl, I don't have time to be driving you to the next street over, let alone the Kagamine Mansion! So why don't you find some other poor sap to pick pockets from?"
Hah! Compassionate mother, my ass. Gritting my teeth, I gather my breath for one last attempt. But a small voice speaks up before I do. "Mother, why be so rude?"
Redirecting my gaze to the small girl standing nearby, I'm surprised to see the authority shining in her eyes. Such a small girl, so innocently dressed, and yet so powerful in character. Hmm…maybe there's still hope left after all….
"You know it would take hours for this girl to get to Kagamine Mansion on her own! Surely, it wouldn't be too much trouble to just drive her there."
This little girl's eyes blaze with a force that refuses to be denied. Staring up forcibly at her mother, I can't help but feel mild respect for the girl. I can see it already – give her a couple of years and she'll be ruling this city's politics singlehandedly.
Gazing down at her daughter, the woman speaks up. "Yuki! How many times have I told you? The rats that come from beyond the Central Blok are good for absolutely nothing! She'll pick your pockets clean and promptly be on her way!"
Placing her hands on her hips, the girl, no Yuki, retorts, "Mother! If that were the case, then why would she still be standing here now? Wouldn't she have moved on already? Really now!"
Grabbing onto my hand, she tugs me toward the car without so much a backwards glance towards her mother. I have to say, people from the Central Blok sure are weird. If I pulled that stunt with my parents when I was a kid…..yeesh.
Pulling open the door, Yuki smiles at me and says "After you."
Bowing my head, I step into the vehicle. Settling into the leathered seats, I act as if this is something I've done before. But it's only when the door closes behind me does the reality of my situation hit me.
Car….I'm inside a car….
Fear spikes and floods throughout my entire body. Scrambling for something to hold on to, my fingernails scratch against the seats of the car before roughly clenching on to the material of my dress; it takes all of my willpower to stay seated. Biting down roughly on my bottom lip, my throat threatens to close up on me. Glancing around frantically, my options for escape all of a sudden seem nonexistent. With my lack of knowledge, I couldn't open the car door to my side even if I wanted to. Oh, how I want to.
In the distance, a second and third door opens and closes. The woman grumbles to herself, letting loose a flow of remarks that I can't bother to understand. A small body sidles up next to me.
"Here you go."
Turning my head to face the source of the gentle voice beside me, my eyes meet with Yuki's amber ones. Steady and confident, they hold no fear for the stranger sitting beside her. For such a small body, she seems so mature; it's as if she's older beyond her years….
"Um…Miss?"
Confusion tints those eyes. Looking down at her hands, I see some sort of contraption in them. A strap maybe?
Understanding lights up in those eyes. "Oh! Could this be your first time inside a car?"
A snort full of contempt comes from the front of the car. Glaring at the noise, Yuki quickly turns back and smiles at me kindly. Pulling on the…the….strap, she climbs over my body. And as she does, she says, "This is a seatbelt. It's to keep you safe in case the car crashes."
At the word 'crash', my body unconsciously stiffens. Light and shallow gasps echo into the otherwise silent air. Staring straight ahead at the seat in front of me, it takes everything within me to keep it together.
A metallic click resounds into the air. That's it. I'm strapped in. I'm...I'm seatbelted. I can't move... I can't get out... Out... Out... I want to get out! I don't want be in here. I don't wanna be in here! Get me out! Get me OUT! GET ME OUT! Please…Please! Get me out of here!
A second hand covers one of my own. Glancing out of the side of my eye, I watch Yuki slowly ease my hand from the material of my dress. Staring at her silently, I don't do a thing to either help her or stop her. Breathing heavily, she clasps my hand in her own, smiling while doing so. Looking at such a reassuring smile, I can't help but feel pathetic. My hand clearly trembles within hers - but I couldn't have stopped its motion even if I tried.
Roaring with life, the car starts up. A squeak slips from my lips in surprise. A little more and it would have been a scream. The woman in front doesn't bother to cover up her laugh. It's full of cruel amusement. The people beyond the window move at a rate that's practically impossible. Except they're not the ones moving – I am. I'm moving. Faster and faster – at a speed that's faster than a running man…
Out. Out. Out! I want to get out! Let me out! I don't like this! I don't like this at all! I don't like this odd sense of unnatural movement! There's not enough air to go around. I feel trapped. I can't move! I don't like this! Save me! Save me….Len….
Biting my lips, it's a struggle to keep these words that echo within my body trapped inside. Shaking with the force, my sense of reality slips.
"You're crying."
A small hand rests on my cheek. Soft and innocent – you're not Len. To whom does this hand belong too? Where am I? What is going on?
"It's going to be ok. You aren't going to get hurt."
That's right. Car. I'm inside a car. I'm on the way to Kagamine Mansion. I'm going to save Len. I'm supposed to be a new maid. This little girl is named Yuki. She has a rude mom. Reassuring myself with these small facts, I find the strength to respond to the child next to me. However, instead of the clear and confident voice I hoped for, it's a ragged breath that flows from my lips. "H-How do you know?"
Wiping at the tears rolling down my face, Yuki solemnly responds, "I don't."
My eyes land on this young child with a voice well beyond her years. Are all children from the Central Blok like this? Smiling up at me, she says, "But I'm sure it will be. Despite her personality and her dangerous driving habits, I have faith in Mother's driving abilities. She will not crash this car. That is something I am sure of. And that's why I can say that everything will be ok."
There's something about this childish yet mature voice that calms me. Sensing this change in me, Yuki continues to speak. "Hey…I know! Let's be friends. My name is Yuki, what's yours?"
Looking at this child, full of a kindness that's somewhat foreign to me, I hesitantly respond, "Miku. My name is Miku."
At my response, Yuki's face glows with childlike delight. Her legs bounce against her seat. "Wow! What a beautiful name! It's so pretty. It's a much better than Yuki."
Finding myself smiling at her pouting face, I squeeze her hand tightly. "Well I think it's a beautiful name."
Suspicion shines in her eyes. "You really think so?"
Nodding my head yes, I tell her "I really think so." And with my words, the remnants of the cool and mature person she was moments before fades to something much more appropriate to her age.
"Hey Miku, why work at Kagamine Mansion? Surely you've heard the rumors right? Is it the high pay?"
Her question quirks my curiosity; maybe this is information that could be useful. "Rumors?"
"Yeah…" Her voice drops to a whisper. "According to what the maids in my house says….the young master of the Kagamine Mansion has a habit of…..ravaging the help….."
A knowing smile crosses my lips. "I see…well thank you for the warning Yuki but I'll take my chances…."
Shock crosses her small face. "But why?! Surely you could work elsewhere. I know! I'll hire you! I'll give you a salary that matches the one offered to you!"
A smirk crosses my face. "Oh? And you have the money for that?"
With my words, the determination on her face falters. "N-no. But I'm sure Papa would give me the money if I asked for it! …..Please….don't work there…."
My second hand comes up to run through her hair. Stroking it gently, I tell her, "What a kind girl you are….don't let strangers take advantage of you, ok?"
Pouting, she replies, "I-I won't! It's…It's just for you!"
My, children are such interesting creatures. Adults one moment, children the next. Such a calming presence indeed. "Well, then I'm honored to receive this offer from you….but unfortunately, there is someone I want….no need….to meet."
Clear, amber eyes stare up at me. "And that person is at Kagamine Mansion?"
"Yes."
Frowning lightly, she asks, "Do you love that person?"
"I do."
Letting her head fall between us, she responds, "Ok….I get it…"
Silence falls between to two of us. Holding hands, I notice that my body no longer trembles. Sitting calmly in a car of all things, I take a deep breath. Feeling the air rush into my body, this vehicle isn't such a fearful object as it once was. I'd still prefer to get out of this thing as soon as possible…but I think I'll be able to endure it for just a few minutes more…Running my fingers through the hair of the young girl next to me, I marvel at the wonders this world has presented to me once again….
"We're here."
Pulling up in the drive, the woman in front lets out a string of curses. In out path sits another parked car, taking up all possible space. Staring at it intently, I note how it's eerily familiar to the car I saw weeks ago with Len. Actually….I think it's the same exact car…..Huh. So that must been Kiyoteru's car then. Perfect. It seems I put my money in the right place after all….
Silently, Yuki releases her... seatbelt before reaching over to release my own. With the push of a button the seatbelt slithers away from my body. Put off by the movement, I take a deep breath, relishing the newfound freedom of my body. Still leaning over my lap, Yuki pulls on some sort of lever and opens the door for me. Fresh air flows into the once closed space.
Staring out the door, the sprawling size of the mansion gives me slight anxiety. How will I ever find Len in there? But, then again, nothing was ever achieved by just sitting and staring. Stepping out of the car, a pair of small arms wrap around me from behind. A small voice whispers, "Don't go."
Patting the small hands gripping onto the front of my dress, I respond, "But I must."
Shaking her head against the small of my back, she stubbornly replies, "No! You could stay with me! I can be your new important person! We could be friends for forever and ever! …..Don't go into that house…."
Looking up into the blue sky, clouds slowly float by, changing shape at every passing second.. "Sorry Yuki…but this is something I have to do for myself."
The fabric from the small of my back is starting to dampen. "Miku…. Don't let the young master hurt you…"
Smiling to myself, I reassure the young girl I somehow managed to befriend in such a short period of time. "Don't worry…I won't. I'll leave as soon as I can…"
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Those small hands slowly let me go. With wobbly steps, I move out of the car.
"W-Wait!"
Looking behind me, Yuki looks at me with a tear streaked face. Thrusting a scrap of paper into my hands, she says, "My phone number! C-Call me if you need help…"
Slipping the paper into the pocket of my dress, I lean down and press a soft kiss onto her forehead. Whispering gently, I tell her the truth of the moment. "Yuki, thank you for being my friend. I would have never made it through that car ride without you." Tears slip from her eyes. It seems that in the end, a child is just a child.
Pulling back and waving goodbye, I head to the sprawling mansion before me. However, I don't travel far before I'm called from the window of the car. "Hey girl!"
Looking back to meet the eyes of Yuki's mom, she smirks at me and says, "We don't accept brats at our place. So if you plan on eventually coming over, make sure that young master of yours uses a condom!"
Shocked at her crude form of acceptance, a chuckle escapes from my lips. Smirking right back at her, I yell back "I'll think about it!"
With their eyes on my back, I head towards the front door, keeping up my façade of the new maid until the very end. I'm sure they know that my intentions aren't as simple as I made them out to be but that's a secret to be kept between the three of us….
Pulling open the door, I'm relived to see that it isn't locked. Slipping silently past the door, I make my way inside. Only to come face to face with Kiyoteru Hiyama.
Hello my chickadees!
Here's the update for ya! Hope you like it ^^ You know, writing this chapter was one of those moments where I question my past decisions lol. For example: "GAHHH! Kagamine Mansion is on the outskirts of the frigging Blok or whatever! How the hell is Miku supposed to get there NOW?" You know, moments like those XD But I did it! Miku got there, safe, sound, sane and with a (pair?) of new friends.
Ok, so this time, I'd like to thank R.J. Niner, Guest, iDontCare, Simone13, Shannykitty and Airlit City (and the favorite - thanks dear!) for reviewing - it's always so fun to read your reviews and yes - I'll consider what to do with our darling Kaito ;)
I'd also like to thank Vocaloid 01 Hatsune Miku for following along with WonderRin for following/giving me so much love ^^
And of course, a thank you for all of my silent birdies! Love you all!
Until next time :)
-Sunset