Thoughts*
"Speech"
Fukase pressed himself against the wall, listening as his Caretakers ran by, calling for him.
He stuffed the stolen keycard into his pocket and sprinted after a moment, heading down the halls and trying to find his way back to the door that would allow him to find Piko's hallway.
He let out a groan of frustration.
"Come on, it's been three days!! How'd I forget so fast?!"
He ducked around another corner, looking around.
*Okay, Fukase, think. What'd I pass by before...?*
A light bulb went off in his head and he snapped his fingers.
*That weird basement area!! O' course!!*
He paused.
"Wait, where's that--"
Piko slowly woke up, blinking away the tears stinging his eyes.
The silver-haired boy lifted an arm and rubbed his eyes, letting out a small whimper; his cord tail tightened in it's hold around his curled up body.
After a few minutes, he had calmed down; he glanced around his room, not seeing anything different.
He closed his eyes again and tried to figure out the time.
*Did I eat at all today...? Wait, right, I actually got some breakfast this morning. I think that was it...yes, it was. Then how long did I sleep for...? Okay, standard breakfast used to be around 6am, right? I actually slept all night, and then I went back to sleep after eating...*
Mismatched eyes still closed, he reached out, touching the wall.
He felt the electrical surge from the wiring within.
*It is moving up...it seems that all of the surges are. Probably for the developmental machines or something...which means it is sometime in the afternoon.*
His hand slowly slid down, then fell back on the bed as he sighed.
Not being able to fall back asleep, his mind began to wander; his thoughts ventured to what happened the other day.
*That boy...Fukase? I wonder what happened to him...I hope he is okay...I hope he did not get in trouble because of me...*
He sighed again.
*I knew he would not come back...honestly, he was far too nice. I must have dreamed it.*
His tail flicked out as he thought.
*That sounds about right. Just like my dreams about leaving here...performing live...having friends...*
He let out a small chuckle--which came out more as a sob.
The boy curled into a ball even more, tail wrapping around his body again.
*A dream. That is all he was...*
He opened his eyes again.
Pushing himself up, he weakly climbed out of his bed and headed for the door attached to his room.
Entering his bathroom, he approached the broken mirror; an incident years ago had left it with large cracks protruding from the center, and many pieces having fallen out already.
Piko picked up a smaller piece, examining the jagged edge.
Fukase, sweating and panting, turned another corner.
In his confused frustration, he had taken to bolting and barreling through the halls of the factory, still unable to find his new friend.
Letting out an angry groan, he fell back, hitting the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor.
"Where the hell is that basement?!"
However, as he leaned back, a broken lock allowed the door he was leaning against to fall open, causing him to go tumbling back and plummet down the steel stairs.
Fukase awoke to blurry vision and dizziness; as his vision cleared, he found himself at the bottom of the staircase, lying on his back and facing up.
After fully walking up, he realized he had fallen down the basement stairs; he sat up and began popping his bones back into their proper places.
"Finally!!"
Standing up, he popped his leg bones back into place and began climbing the stairs.
Upon escaping the basement, he turned and headed for the hall he recalled the entrance to Piko's hall being in.
Piko lied down on his bed again, letting out a slight whimper at the extra sting provided to the pain in his thighs.
Tears were running down his face; he whimpered more and considered sitting up until he stopped hurting.
However, he curled up, forcing himself to endure the pain and clench his eyes shut.
*I suppose...I might as well go back to sleep...*
He sighed, wiping away more tears--a fruitless endeavor, as they didn't stop.
He bit his lower lip, releasing a louder whimper, accompanied by a hiccup.
A few minutes later, he still wasn't asleep; however, he heard footsteps approaching outside his door.
When the chime of a keycard unlocking it occured, he jolted up, terror seizing his systems.
*They are coming they are coming they are coming I am in danger I am in danger no no no no no no no no no no no no no no NO NO NO NO NO NO PLEASE--*
"PIKO!! I'M BACK!!"
His panic was interrupted by the screech of a triumphant boy who flung the door open and sprang in, grinning widely.
Piko stared with wide, tear-filled eyes as he attempted to process the situation.
There was no glaring man or angry woman, nobody holding a belt, nobody already spouting threats and insults--
Just a boy, looking happy to see him.
Static filled his vision; amidst it, blurry scenes played out.
"Sorry it's been so long, but I ain't been able to sneak out until today, an' then I got lost--"
However, as he shoved the door closed, he realized that Piko was hugging his knees, tail wrapped tightly around himself as he shook, eyes glazed over and crying.
"Wha--hey, what's wrong? Did I scare ya?"
He came closer; Piko continued to whimper, not coming out of his stupor.
"Piko?"
He climbed onto the bed, getting on his knees in front of him.
"Piko...? Hey, it's Fukase!! I'm back!!"
He placed his hands on the smaller boy's shoulders, giving him a small shake.
However, Piko flinched away from his touch with a small cry.
"Please...p-please...do not h-hurt me...please..."
Fukase flinched back a little as well, very confused and worried.
"Piko...? What's goin' on...?"
The other boy curled into a ball on the bed, full on sobbing.
"I am sorry...I am sorry...please...please...p-please..."
Fukase could do nothing but watch, unsure of how to help his new friend calm down.
He reached out, but hesitated, lowering his hand; he bit his lower lip, watching as the other boy twitched and cried, begging someone unseen to leave him alone.
After many long, painful minutes, Piko's excess suffering ceased; he blinked, static fading from his vision as he came back to reality.
As his cries lowered to whimpers and hiccups, Fukase leaned over him.
"Piko...?"
The smaller flinched, looking up at him; he blinked away tears.
His eyes widened as he processed the situation.
"Fu...Fukase?"
*He...he came back?*
"Ya okay?" The redhead asked with a concerned frown. "I came in and ya were freakin' out..."
Piko looked down, tail curling around himself tighter.
*Oh no...he saw...now he will definitely leave again...*
He covered his face with his hands.
"I...I am s-sorry...you h-had to see that...I-I am sorry..."
Much to his surprise, Fukase gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But...are ya okay?" He asked again. "Ya freaked out pretty bad...I was worried 'bout ya..."
*...What? Worried about me...? Why would he...?*
He let out a small yelp as--much to his suprise again--Fukase slid his arms around and under the smaller boy, lifting him up with ease.
He found himself being held and cradled, head leaning on the redhead's chest.
"Wh...What are you d-doing...?"
"Huggin' ya!! It's to help calm ya down!!" Fukase chirped, squeezing him a little. "Ain'tcha ever been hugged? Or cuddled?"
Piko frowned.
"I...am not s-sure I understand wh-what you mean..."
"...Guess that's a no." He murmured, adjusting slightly.
Piko couldn't help but squirm slightly, tense and nervous at this foreign concept.
*Is he going to hurt me...? I think he would have already...he certainly had the chance...*
When no such thing occured, he felt even more confused.
Something tugged at the back of his mind; a strange, foreign--yet oddly familiar--feeling swelled within him, tugging at buried memories.
*What is happening to me...?*
"Ya okay now?"
He snapped out of his thoughts at Fukase's concerned voice.
"I-I...um..."
The more he thought about the situation, the strange feeling grew stronger; this "hug" provided some sort of...
War$mt/h.
S/h/e w@s a%lwa!/ys warm.
S/h/e k#ept him sa%fe.
Cl%ose...
...Gone.
"Piko? Piko, buddy, ya there?"
Fukase began shaking him slightly.
Piko shuddered, blinking away the static in his vision.
"I...what?"
The redhead furrowed his brows and frowned.
"Ya...spaced out..."
The smaller boy shifted in his arms; he pulled himself from Fukase's grasp and sat up.
Piko kept his gaze and head lowered, placing his hands on his lap.
"I-I am sorry..."
"Why d'ya keep apologizin'?" Fukase asked, leaning forward a little.
Piko looked up, brows furrowed in confusion.
"I...pardon?"
"Why d'ya keep apologizin'?" He repeated. "You're actin' like ya pushed me down the stairs or somethin'."
Piko's frown deepened.
"Why are you not mad at me?"
He hadn't meant to blurt that out; he instantly covered his mouth with a hand.
"I a-am sorry--"
"Why would I be mad?? I'm worried about ya!!" Fukase blurted with slight frustration, throwing his hands in theair.
Silence reigned between them.
Piko looked back down, biting his lower lip.
*I am so confused...*
Fukase reached out, placing his hand on the other boy's head.
"Hey, uh...I'm sorry. Please don' cry again..."
Piko shuddered; he lifted his gaze, but not his head.
He found himself eyeing Fukase up and down, looking for some sort of body language to contradict the genuine worry in his voice.
Their gazes met; Piko flinched and instantly looked back down.
The hand on his head slid down to under his chin and gently lifted it up.
"Hey, really, I'm sorry..."
Piko found himself looking in Fukase's strange eyes again.
Silence reigned.
"...It...i-it is alright. I-I should be the one apologizing--"
"Nah."
Piko blinked in confusion.
"...Nah?"
"No, you're sayin' it wrong. Nah."
"N-Nah?"
"There ya go!! Gotta say the 'a' right."
Piko bit his lower lip.
"What do you mean by...nah?"
"Just...nah." Fukase shrugged. "Ya don't need to apologize. No point, ya know?"
"I..."
*No, Fukase...I do not think I do...*
"C'mon, let's jus' move on and forget about this, 'kay?" Fukase offered. "We're gettin' too hung up on it. We oughta be havin' fun!! That's the whole reason I came back!!"
"For...f-fun?" Piko shuddered at the word.
"Well, yeah!! We're besties now!! Besties do fun things!!"
"Like...?"
"Like...well...games an' stuff!! Or just talkin'!!"
He clapped his hands.
"Yeah!! We gotta get to know each other!! Hey, ya never answered my question from the other day!!"
"Um...wh-what question?"
"What's your favorite color??" He leaned in with interest.
"Oh, um..."
Piko frowned.
*What colors are there...? I know names, but I have not seen all of them...*
"Um...white, I suppose? Or maybe grey..."
He glanced at Fukase.
"Um...your hair is...nice."
"Huh? It is?"
"Um...yes? The color is...pretty..."
Fukase grinned like an idiot, revealing his teeth; on the distorted half of his face, the teeth seemed more jagged and had cracks in them.
"Hey, thanks!! Yours is pretty too!!"
He reached out and started petting Piko's head; the other boy flinched at first, but found himself perplexed at how nice it felt.
"Oh wow, it's silky!! If a lil' tangled..."
He continued to do so; he realized something.
It's actually really tangled...sheesh, does 'e not have any brushes?*
"What's with this?" He asked, poking Piko's clowick.
A small tickling sensation forced Piko to restrain a small giggle.
"That is my clowick..."
"Is it part o' your hair?"
A perplexed look overtook Piko's face as he stared at Fukase.
"Yes, it is..."
*What would make him think otherwise...?*
"I've never seen anythin' like that!" Fukase began poking and flicking it.
Piko bit his lower lip; unfortunately, giggles still escaped.
When Fukase turned his attention to him again, he felt his face heat up a bit.
"Th-That tickles..."
"Wait, really?" The redhead asked, flicking it again.
"Yes! Really!" He giggled. "Please stop it!!"
"Okay, okay!! I'll quit!!"
However, when he did, he realized that the clowick was now out of place.
"Hol' up, I gotta fix it now."
"Fukase--"
Several readjustment methods ensued, accompanied by frustrated giggles from Piko.
"There!! I think that works!!"
"Dare I look in the mirror?" The frustrated boy deadpanned.
"Pff, have more faith in me than that!!"
"I met you a few days ago and you want me to trust you?"
"Yeah!!"
Piko blinked in confusion, trying to process the situation.
*This boy...is very strange. Should I be worried...?*
"So, what engine are ya from?" Fukase spoke up again. "I'm on V4!! But I ain't seen ya around..."
That made Piko frown and look down again.
"I...I am a V2..."
Fukase's eyes widened.
"Woah!! Really?! How old are ya?!"
Piko went into thought.
"Um...what year is it? I am afraid...I have lost track..."
"2016!!"
The V2's head snapped up, eyes widening.
"Really?"
"Yep!!"
"I...was created in 2010..."
Fukase's jaw dropped.
"Oooooooooh...no wonder ya talk funny!!"
Piko frowned.
"Wh-What is wrong with the way I talk...?"
"Well...nothin's wrong with it, I just never heard anybody talk all...proper, I guess." Fukase shrugged. "It's cool!!"
"Oh...um...thank you...?"
"But I actually meant your age--like, y'know, design-wise. That's what everybody goes by!!"
"Oh--um, sorry. I am 15."
He was taken aback by the V4 laughing again.
"What now?"
"I'm 16 and a half!! I beatcha!!" He grinned like an idiot.
"Um...okay...?" Piko scratched the side of his head, baffled.
"How many Voicebanks d'ya have? I just got some kinda 'soft' one--"
Piko found himself perplexed even more by this boy.
*His brain moves so fast...how does that work? Is it because he is a newer Vocaloid?*
"Piko? Pikoooo? Piiiiiiikooooooooo--"
He realized he had unintentionally spaced out; Fukase, in an attempt to get his attention, began butchering his name--which turned into him getting distracted by how funny the different ways of saying it sounded, prompting him to continue doing so in the oddest ways.
"Pipipipiko? Pikokokoko? Hehe, Poki? PikoPiko--"
Piko found himself staring at this oddball yet again.
*...Perhaps I should be worried, but not of the reason I initially thought...*
His tail flicked lightly, still wrapped tightly around his legs and lower half.
Fukase became distracted by that next.
"What's up with your tail--"
"It's a cord!!"
"But it's a tail!!"
"It. Is. A. Cord."
"But--"
"Cord!!"
The frustrated boy realized how snappy he was getting by how taken aback the other became at him raising his voice.
He covered his face with his hands.
"I am sorry, I am sorry, I did not mean to yell--"
"Dude, calm down!! I ain't mad!!" Fukase grabbed his wrists and pried his hands from his face.
Piko flinched away from that, pulling his arms away.
"You--You are--"
"Nah. Not mad. Just suprised 'cause that was the loudest I've heard ya talk so far." Fukase shrugged again.
*...No, I should be concerned.* Piko deigned in his mind.
"Seriously, what's with the tail?"
The silverette let out an annoyed, high-pitched whine as his face reddened.
"Cord, Fukase."
"Okay, okay!! Ya gonna answer or not?"
"I am not entirely sure. It was a design choice." He crossed his arms and looks away, face still red. "But something odd happened with my development, so it functions..."
He bit his lower lip; Fukase felt a grin spread on his face.
"Like a tail?"
"As if it were a functional body part that is controlled by my emotions." His eye twitched.
"...Like a tail."
"I am tempted to kick you out right now."
"Ya can't!! Door only opens from the outside~"
Piko's eyes widened.
"Wait, you cannot get out--"
"Eh, don' worry, my Caretakers'll probly come get me at some point." He blew a raspberry. "Can't get rid o' me till then, though."
"Oh..."
Fukase frowned.
"What? Ya want me to go?"
Much to his own surprise, Piko found himself instantly denying that.
"No, no...you can stay..."
"Aw, great!! Hm, what should we do now..."
A few hours later, the door to Piko's room unlocked and came open, revealing a security guard and a woman wearing a Caretaker's uniform.
"Fukase--!!"
They came just in time to bear witness to the V4 falling flat on his face; his legs flew in the air, aged silver techno-design boots on his feet.
Piko was clinging to his wall, legs wobbling uncontrollably as the unfamiliar white and red, high-heeled boots on his feet attempted to topple him over as well.
His head snapped up, eyes widening as he realized people were coming in.
"Dude, these are the worst things ever!!" Fukase groaned. "They're older than--I dunno, God!! They hurt!! And there ain't any heels!! Like, what the--"
He lifted his head and rubbed his face; that was the moment he himself noticed the people at the door.
"Oh, uh...hey, Educator Terminator--"
"We've been looking everywhere for you!!" The woman cried, running to him. "How long have you been here?!"
"A while." He shrugged as she rushed over, grabbing his hand in both of hers and pulling him to his feet.
"You've had the entire factory turned upside down!! We were so worried!!"
"Geez, sorry. I came to hang out with Piko."
"Educator Terminator" looked at Piko in confusion; he instantly looked down, clearly scared.
"Well, er...that's nice of you, Fukase, but you have to stop sneaking around--"
"I know, I know, y'all say the same exact thing every time." He rolled his eyes. "Can we just skip it?"
She sighed.
"Well, we need to get you back to your room. You missed an important appointment today, among other things--"
The security guard cleared his throat, signaling that they needed to wrap this up.
"--Right. Come on, Fukase. It's time to go."
"Okay, okay..."
Before exiting, he ran over to Piko; much to his surprise, the redhead threw his arms around him, giving him a squeeze.
"I'll be back!! Bye, Piko!!"
With that, he let go, going with the humans; Educator Terminator shot Piko a glance as the door slid shut.
The V2 slid to the floor, placing a hand on his chest.
His heart rate had sped up significantly; he attempted deep breaths to calm down.
After he finally succeeded, he let his eyes slip shut as he leaned his head on the wall.
The electrical surges seemed to be moving upward again.
Piko sighed.
*Perhaps...he isn't lying after all...*
He slowly opened his eyes.
*I suppose...I should get some sleep...*
He stood up, walking over--
He stumbled, falling to the ground with a surprised cry.
He looked back at his feet.
*Wait--he took my boots!! We never switched back!!*
Thus, he was stuck with unfamiliar shoes and an unfamiliar feeling in his chest for another indefinite amount of time.
Wowie, that took forever. Sorry for sucking.
Anyways, hopefully this was satisfactory; Piko and Fukase are making some sort of headway into true friendship. Yay.
Something I forgot to mention last chapter: Vocaloids (and etc) aren't supposed to get too attached to their caretakers (and vice versa) so the higher-up take extra precautions by enforcing rules, such as the Caretakers not being allowed to give their real names to the Vocaloids (and etc), they aren't supposed to give them too much attention outside of the job they're assigned, etc.
Small tidbit: Watch the chapter titles.
Any questions you have, feel free to comment!!
See ya next chappie!!