Try as she might, Miku could not stop shaking as she made her way down the empty hall, Len by her side as the three girls led the way. Luka and IA were discussing plans for the war, and Yukari hummed along even though it was obvious to Miku that the girl was listening in on her best friend's conversation. Len had yet to let go of Miku's hand, and neither did she want him to. If he wasn't there to be her rock, Miku probably would have collapsed from trembling so much by now.
"Relax, Miku," Len whispered in her ear, "it's going to be okay."
"That doesn't mean my anxiety will disappear," Miku said as she gripped Len's hand tighter. She knew her grip was so tight Len's hand would bruise, but being a fast healing wolf was all Miku had to tell herself to not loosen her grip. Just because Len had to be careful didn't mean she had to be.
"No matter how bad it gets, I promise to support you one hundred and ten percent," Len vowed.
"Too bad it's not you I'm trying to impress," Miku sighed. "Do you . . . Do you think they will like me?"
"I don't know," Len honestly replied. "However, if they don't fall in love with you immediately they'll eventually grow to. You're a very likable person."
"That doesn't mean I won't have haters," Miku said. After taking a deep breath she said, "Okay, I will stop worrying so much. I can't stop being nervous, but I can push aside the worst-case-scenario thoughts."
"That's my girl," Len smiled, giving her hand a slight squeeze.
Miku squeezed back, but her grip on his hand turned deadly when she walked into the room and people she didn't recognize looked up at her.
There were at least a dozen men and women, all of whom were middle aged. The youngest council member, Miku guessed, was Dr. VY, or at least the doctor didn't look old. Miku had always assumed Dr. VY was in her late twenties, and there wasn't a doubt in Miku's mind everyone else was at least forty-five. It was to her relief she recognized two other teens.
"Haku? Neru? What are you two doing here?" Miku asked, her lips spreading into a giant smile.
"My dad's a member of the council," Haku shyly answered.
"And I'm her protector so of course I'm here," Neru shrugged.
"You have no idea how relieved I am to see you two," Miku said. "With everything going on there hasn't been time to hang out."
"There'll be plenty of time for that after all of this crud is settled," Neru said, "but right now . . ."
"Of course," Miku said quietly as she took a seat next to Luka, Len sitting next to her. Meiko and Kaito stood behind Luka, and Rin sat with IA and Yukari on Luka's left. Miku noticed how tired Rin appeared to be, and it made Miku want to bring whoever did that to Rin to justice.
Len was Miku's rock, and Rin her biggest reason. Her and the twins' lives were intertwined at every twist and turn. Regardless of everything that happened in the past, Miku was fated to meet Rin and Len. Though it was Len Miku was in love with, Rin was just as important to Miku. She couldn't imagine her life without the either of them. They were living extensions of who she was, and vice versa. When Rin passes away there will be a hole in Miku's and Len's hearts that will never be full again. If not for her deceased biology family, if not for the community, and if not for the future, Miku was fighting for Rin. Miku would do anything to be sure that Rin's death would not be in vain.
"I will now call the meeting to order," Luka said, snapping Miku out of her thoughts. "As you all know, my mother, Lady Corra Megurine, has been missing for the past week now. With no clue or lead as to where she may be I have decided that, since the fate of the Lady is unknown, we need to move on and accept new leadership. I have called this meeting in order to gain your approval, for I am unaware that unless a body of the last Lady can be produced I cannot take her place unless the council agrees."
"And why such urgency?" a man with orange hair asked. "Certainly you don't believe your mother is dead, do you?"
"I hope my mother is alive," Luka insisted, "honestly I do. However, war is upon us whether we are ready or not. I believe it would be better to not go into this leaderless."
"Is that why those strange girls are here?" a woman with powdered blue hair asked, referring to IA and Yukari.
"It would do you well to not refer to me as strange," IA said, her tone flat. She was speaking with that same serious voice she used on Miku the day they met. "My name is Princess Aria Hatsune of the Lian tribe. And no, I am not another Hatsune. I only bear the name, not the blood."
"Why would a princess of another tribe be here?" a man Miku suspected was Haku's father asked.
"If tonight goes the way I want it to," IA flipped some hair over her shoulder, "I would be willing to allow my people to fight in the war."
Silence followed. It was as if no one was expecting to find a princess so willing to aid a community she had no part of. Finally Mr. Kagamine, who was sitting at the end of the room, asked, "At what price are you offering this help?"
Luka almost slapped herself right then. How foolish did she have to be to expect IA would do all of this for nothing?
"Nothing much," IA examined her nails as if she had no interest in the meeting and couldn't care less of the outcome. "All my people want in exchange is to be allowed to live here with your family."
"But you're part of a royal family," Mrs. Kagamine pointed out.
"I will abdicate my throne then," IA said matter-of-factly. "A place for my family to call home after scores of traveling would mean much more to me than a crown. I would rather not be queen at all than be queen of a tribe with no place to belong."
"And what about you, my dear?" Mr. Yowane asked.
"My family is an extension of the Lian tribe just as the Yowanes and the Megpoids are an extension of the Megurine tribe," Yukari answered. Seeing everyone stare at her with amazement Yukari said, "I did my research."
Miku could only raise an eyebrow. She had no idea what it meant to be an extension.
"White Flowers don't traditionally change their surnames when they marry," Len whispered into her ear, explaining to Miku what she would dare not ask aloud. "However, after our community moved here all of the Megurines began changing their names upon marriage, leaving Luka and her mother as 'the last Megurines.' The use of 'an extension' means you truly originate from one tribe but you don't use that surname. Like Haku is a descendant of a Megurine and is thus one herself, but her family hasn't held the name for three generations."
Miku only nodded as a response. She had always wondered why there were no other Megurines around, but she couldn't find any appropriate time to ask. Len sat straight again, making it appear as if he didn't whisper in Miku's ear while everyone discussed IA's family coming to live in the community.
"Look," IA threw her hands up, silencing the argument that had broken out while Len explained extension to Miku, "I'm only offering help, but it means nothing if you don't have a leader to accept it."
"Get yourselves a new Lady and then we can plan how to kill a bunch of vampires," Yukari offered.
"Now that we are back on the main subject," Luka said after a moment of peace, "I want to gain your approval for new leadership."
"Are you suggesting that you become the new Lady?" Mr. Kagamine asked.
"No," Miku said. She wasn't sure why she did, but Miku stood to her feet, releasing Len's hand in the process. "I am a Hatsune. Despite the odds being that I never should have been born, I'm alive and I'm here. It is my birthright to become your queen." Scanning the group, Miku asked, "All of you are aware of how the Hatsune tribe originally leaded this community, right?"
"We are completely aware of your kind," Mr. Kagamine said, not even bothering to hide his annoyance. The way he said "your kind" made Miku's skin crawl. Clearly he was against every right Miku held.
"So you wish to become queen?" a woman with yellow green hair asked. "Because if that is the case you need not our permission. As the rightful princess you have no need for our approval."
"Perhaps so," Miku replied, "but I don't plan on becoming queen." Before anyone could say anything, Miku continued, "I never liked the idea of being a princess. I loathed it, to be honest. I didn't want anyone giving me special treatment all because of a bloodline I never asked for. Had the situation been not what it is, I would have given up my crown and let the Megurine tribe continue the work they have been doing thus far.
"The only problem is the situation calls for a lot more than that. It is my birthright to be your leader, and I will lead you, if you are willing. Only I will not reign as queen. I do not wish to become Queen Miku Hatsune, but instead I would like to become Lady Miku Hatsune along with my sister in the community, Lady Luka Megurine." The whole room went silent in surprise. No one was expecting Miku to suggest leading the people as a Lady instead of a queen, and alongside Luka to top it off.
"I don't want absolute power," Miku explained. "Power corrupts, and I don't want to be destroyed by the one thing I originally intended to use for good. That is why I'm instead asking that Luka leads with me. Not as an advisor, not as a second command, but as an equal. I have no power over her, and she has no power over me. We lead as one, and if we ever fail to agree upon something it shall be put to a vote by the council." Looking at Luka, Miku used her eyes to say So history will not have to repeat itself. So jealously will not rise up and destroy anything like this ever again.
Understanding Miku's silent statement, Luka mouthed a "Thank you" to the girl. When Miku came forth with the idea Luka was surprised and had her secret doubts, but now seeing how Miku spoke to the council made Luka look at things in a whole new light. Both girls were too young to be leaders of an entire community, and not to mention how little Miku knew. Luka would have to spend a long time teaching Miku everything she needed to know, and it would take Miku even longer to grasp it all, but in the long run neither of them would have to carry the burden alone.
"And another thing, for I rather tell you all now rather than have you find out later," Miku began, "but from now on I don't want the council to be hand picked. I mean, it must be honoring to have the Lady want you on the council, but it's not going to used any longer. Instead I believe everyone in the community should have a right to vote who they want in the council. I mean, this is America for the love of God. How can we live in a country built by democracy and live under absolute monarchy? Not that I believe there's anything wrong with that, but I believe everyone has a right to say who leads them."
"Can't say I disagree with her," Mr. Yowane admitted. "What about the role of Lady?"
"The role of Lady will remain as it is," Miku said. "Hereditary and for life. The only major change I believe should be made is the council, with the council lasting in two year long terms instead of until the Lady wants to replace you."
"Not bad views for one so young," the oldest looking man said. "I like her."
"Me, too," Mr. Yowane agreed.
"I as well," Dr. VY smiled.
"What about you, Luka?" Mrs. Kagamine asked. "What are your feelings on the subject."
"I completely and wholeheartedly agree with Miku," Luka answered. "Either we leave here tonight with her views beginning to take action, or we end here the same way we came, leaderless and approaching unavoidable war."
"Is there anything else that needs to be said?" the old man said.
"How about the Hatsune girl breaking the law?"
To no surprise, it was Mr. Kagamine who brought up the subject. Len had to keep from jumping over the table and ripping his father's eyes out.
"What do you mean?" the woman with powdered blue hair asked.
Staring at Miku, Mr. Kagamine answered, "It is against the law for a White Flower to be in love with her protector, yet the girl and her protector have been in a secret relationship for weeks now."
Miku balled her hands into fists under the table. Not only did Mr. Kagamine not acknowledge Len as his son, but he told a bold faced lie to the council just to make Miku look bad. She and Len weren't boyfriend and girlfriend . . . yet. They had been keeping their relationship as best friends who were in love. With everything that was going on neither of them had the chance to properly have a decent romantic relationship. Len still had yet to kiss Miku, so if anything they were still nothing more than best friends.
"Who freaking cares?" Rin suddenly said, speaking for the first time.
"You are not in position to speak," Mr. Kagamine warned.
"Do you honestly expect that to stop me?" Rin asked, making it obvious that the question was rhetorical. Continuing she said, "Miku is not some stupid sixteen-year-old who is only thinking about how she has the hots for Len. Miku is stepping up and doing all she can to prevent our community from falling. She has asked to work with Luka as our community's leader instead of just taking up role of an all powerful queen. You have before you a girl who is clearly not power hungry and wants to give everyone a right to vote for who's on the council, and you're going to worry about something as stupid as her being in love with my twin brother? If anyone I should be the one with the problem. Like, what sane girl wants her best friend and brother to get together? Should I be on meds because I'm totally cool with it?"
"But the law," Mr. Kagamine started.
"Damn the law!" Rin exclaimed, making everyone jump with her language. "Okay, I obviously should have chosen my words more carefully," Rin admitted, "but are you really going to throw away the only hope we have all because of some stupid law that hasn't had a reason to exist for centuries?"
"I would like to throw out here that if Miku and Luka are not made Ladies tonight then I will leave and tell my tribe they have no reason to bother risking their lives for a war that has no leader," IA stated. "I truly want to help, but I will not be playing some fool's game."
"I agree with Rin and Miss Aria," Haku - shy, shy Haku - said with such boldness that everyone who knew her was shocked. "The law needs to retire, and I don't doubt many will agree with me. Until then we should ignore it. Miku was brought to us for a reason. Who knows? We probably need her, need her an awful lot more than she needs us. If you don't accept her as Lady just because she loves someone she shouldn't, then you all are a pitiful group of fools."
Everyone was too stunned to immediately reply. Finally Dr. VY said, "I, too, agree. I've known Luka ever since she was little, and I've been teaching her for years. I wish I could say the same about Miku, but what I can say is she's a talented girl with the purest heart I have ever seen. If you reject Miku all because of who she loves, then you turn away Luka as well. Would you really denounce the girl who was raised for this position all because the other broke a law she never knew existed?"
Silence followed before Len finally stood and added to the growing pile of speeches. "I know what I have to say doesn't really matter, but I can't find any fault in what had been said. I'm not saying the law was created for a bad purpose, and even though I would love to see it go I will admit it's not the main point here. We need a leader over our community. We need someone to lead us into battle. Miku and Luka, the most wonderful White Flowers you could ever meet, have agreed to work together and lead the community together. We need a leader. We need Miku and Luka. Without them we have nothing to hope for."
"I can't believe so many of you would defend a law breaker," Mr. Kagamine said, his face red with anger.
"You have known that law breaker since she was a child," Mrs. Kagamine scolded her husband. "Can you not let go of your foolish pride for one night and see just how strong a woman she is becoming?"
Mr. Kagamine was about to respond, but the old council member said, "I believe we have heard quit enough. Unless anyone here wants to have wasted the whole evening and leave in the exact same position in which he came, I believe it is time to vote."
Author's Note: I have planned from the beginning that Miku-Sama would never be queen but instead chose to lead alongside Luka-San. For those of you who wanted Luka-San to be Lady you no longer have to worry about Miku-Sama snatching the position from her.
Oh! And has anyone noticed the new cover art? My lovely friend Kouta-Chan (or Kate, or whatever she goes by these days) of The Super Twins drew it for me! :3 I didn't ask her to or anything like that, she just drew it. She's my closest friend on this site and I love her to pieces. If anyone tries to steal her from me I will fight you. She's my best bud, go find your own!
Love ya, K-Chan!
-Ray
