Chapter 1: Broken Promise

In the city of Yoshida, one of the largest economically growing cities in the off shores of Japan, featuring Crypton Future Media Corporation. It's a branch of the entertainment and manufacturing conglomerate, Yamaha Industries. Within the studios of entertainment and media lies the Crypton Complex.

Crypton has expanded to teach and house many of the industry's top artists. One of which has been dubbed the face of the music industry, a cultural icon, a pop-star diva, named Hatsune Miku.

She, along with a few artists under Crypton, are currently living in the Complex.

The Complex currently has six rooms, but with only five occupants. The Complex features all their basic utilities and lounge-like furniture, two bathrooms on each end with two master bedrooms along the side of them. One large kitchen in the center with food provided by Crypton each and every month. This was all due to an artist's compensation agreement for making millions for the industry. (However, they are not receiving any of the money themselves.)

The Complex was heavily under the protection of Crypton's security, so fan communities of the artists didn't invade their premises.

However, there was one individual in particular that has found a way to enter and exit the facility without any suspicion. Her name was Akita Neru. She has been living under the Crypton Complex in secret for the past few months, living in the unoccupied sixth room.

Neru returned from a long weekend away with a fairly close friend she met weeks ago. While everyone else was busy with their scheduled studio recordings, she thought she could get by without anyone noticing her absence. It was a long and much needed weekend.

Neru was four foot and eleven inches, a little stocky due to her shortness, however, not entirely curvy. Her eyes were like a dull vermilion, which complemented her dirty blonde hair color that was tied down, hanging off to the right side of her head, that draped down to her knees. She had enough bangs to cover her ears and forehead.

As she entered the front door of the Complex, there appeared to be someone home to greet her.

"Hey Neru!" A girl with long turquoise hair said.

Neru was startled to see Hatsune Miku sitting in the living room, watching TV, with a bowl of piping-hot, green onion flavored ramen sitting on her lap.

"Where have you been?" Miku said.

She was five foot four, a little too skinny to have any shape. Her eyes like glistening gemstones that matched her turquoise hair, which was captivating with naivety and innocence. Her hair draped down all the way to her ankles, tied down with two vibrant, glowing hair straps held down on each side of her head as two twin pigtails.

Miku was clearly left home alone as it appears that no one else was present.

"Neru?" Miku continued.

"I was nowhere." Neru said plainly.

"Oh, c'mon Neru!" Miku said, trying to get her to talk. "It must have been important, since you were gone for the whole weekend!"

"Hmph!" Neru said, in a disgusted tone. "Whatever."

Neru didn't see Miku as a friend, but rather a nuisance to her existence.

"So, what's his name?" Miku continued, as she was laying on the couch with her head resting on her arms from the top part of the cushion, smiling at Neru. "Oh, it must be someone you've met at the party!"

"What?" Neru questioned. "What party?"

"Don't you remember?" Miku asked. "Our collaboration with the UTAU program after party? I bet you got with someone from the UTAU program!"

"Wow... a way to make it sound so derivative!" Neru said, with a hint of sarcasm. "Anyway, why are you assuming it was with a boy?"

"I didn't know you would swing that way..."

"Ah! No! T-that's not what I meant!" Neru interrupted, as she was flustered. "I mean why did you assume I was on a date with someone!"

"Well, it had to have been important, right?"

"As if it's any of your business?!"

"Well, did you happen to meet anyone at the party?"

"Again, none of your business!" Neru was clearly not in a good mood.

From that moment on, Miku kept asking questions, as Neru's patience and sanity was slowly losing control, rolling her eyes, trying to make her way to her bedroom. It wasn't until Miku asked a very specific question which made her snap into focus.

"What?" Neru asked.

"What's the name of your friend?" Miku asked Neru.

"What friend?"

"You mentioned a friend that you've been seeing."

"I said that?"

"Yeah. You okay Neru?"

Neru thought about it, and it seems Miku was baiting her to say something to gossip about to her friends. She didn't mention anything to her, and Miku's conniving attitude almost made her mention something to her that she obviously didn't want her to know about.

"I'm going now." Neru said, as she tried to bolt it to the hallway.

"No wait. At least give me the name?" Miku begged.

"Why does that matter to you at all?"

"Well, I know quite a few people, maybe I might know who?"

"I highly doubt it."

"Please..."

Neru was seriously done with this meaningless conversation, so in order for her to be quiet and leave her alone, she decided to just give her the name of a friend she had met.

"It's Yowane Haku."

"Huh?"

"You asked for the name, it is Yowane Haku." Neru said blatantly. "Now, goodbye."

Neru started to walk down the hallway to her bedroom, she overheard Miku repeating the name as if she was trying to remember if she heard that name before. Neru didn't care either way, and just headed for her bedroom.

Before she got to open her bedroom door, she heard a loud thump coming from the living room. Neru hesitantly looked back to see what Miku was doing.

She saw Miku lying on the floor with the bowl of ramen spilt all over the rug and slowly pacing its way onto the floor.

Miku was twitching with her arms and hands curled up to her chest and her legs moving sporadically along the floor. She was having a seizure.

Neru dropped her pack of clothes on the floor and ran to her as quickly as she could.

Miku's face was swelling with pain, as she was breathing rapidly, and her eyes were filled with tears which were streaming down as she continually shook.

"Oh my God!" Neru yelled. "Miku!" Neru quickly grabbed her phone from her bag's side pack pocket and dialed 911.

"911, what is your emergency?" A person on the emergency dispatch said.

"Hello? I-I have… a person undergoing a seizure. I need an ambulance, right away!"

It took a few minutes for the ambulance to arrive. They rushed Miku to the nearest hospital. Neru was in utter shock at how quickly things escalated. It made Neru regret the way she had treated Miku, in fact, anytime she did mistreat her.

She was taken outside for questioning once the police arrived to examine the incident. The police wanted to know what she was doing there, and details of what had happened.

Just a few seconds later, the Crypton security arrived to raise hell on the police and Neru. They were about to charge Neru for breaking and entering, however, the police just wanted to pardon Neru because she had just saved Hatsune Miku from what could have led to her death.

As they both debated on the acts of heroism or invasion of property, a woman, with short brown hair, waving off to the left, wearing an open red jacket with a black t-shirt and tight blue jeans with red, high-heeled boots, stormed in to calm the press and authorities.

She had recognized Neru sitting there on a sofa in the living room. She saw the shock in Neru's eyes.

The lady in red had taken control of the situation and talked with police and Crypton security. They would listen to her, for she was with the industry since it began, she is known as MEIKO.

Her original workings with the industry started up with a small company called Zero-G, after that small company's retirement and loss of popularity, led to her being handed off to Crypton. She was kept in charge of the new artists of Crypton. She was met with little to no recognition or demand of her voice in the music industry as of the present.

MEIKO worked it out with the police which led her to ask to speak with Neru for a brief moment. From the look on her face, she was upset.

"What were you thinking?" MEIKO said. "You're lucky I was just on my way to get Miku for a quick rundown of her next album!"

"I panicked." Neru said softly. "I'm sorry."

"If you want to continue living here in secret, you have to remain anonymous and unseen."

"I said I was sorry!" Neru yelled, which made MEIKO furious.

"Look, I would like to thank you. But there is too much going on and it will get everyone involved."

"What are we going to do?"

"I don't know. They are going to continue to ask questions on what happened, and what led you to enter through without security clearance."

"I know. But I don't think I can't do this."

"We have a few minutes to think, okay?"

"It wasn't my fault! I didn't know what happened!"

"Please keep it down! We are surrounded by the authorities remember!"

"I'm going to be sick."

"You've got to buck up! And think for a moment!"

After a few moments of silence, Neru thought of a way to get through to them.

"How about this?" Neru asked. "I was hired as a cleaning lady, and I was doing my usual rounds when I saw Miku unusually having a seizure?"

"It might not work." MEIKO said, shutting her down. "We have disbanded cleaning workers since the incident."

"What incident?"

"We had a few people who were fans disguised as cleaning workers before, to try and trick our security."

"Great..."

"But... it might have to do. I'll just say I personally hired you."

"But... what if..."

"I know, it's a risk. But we have to know what is going on with Miku and get her back as soon as possible. Agree?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good."

As predicted, the policemen and Crypton Security had entered through after they had their discussion. They asked MEIKO to step away, and she stood in the back of the Crypton Security to make sure she was able to listen in.

About an hour later, MEIKO received a call from the hospital.

"Hello, is this MEIKO from Crypton Future Media?" The receptionist asked.

"Yes, this is her." MEIKO replied.

"Okay, I'm just letting you know that Hatsune Miku is resting as of now, there appears to be okay for now, but she does appear to have some head injuries, probably due to her blacking out, she might have hit her head. I will help return Miku to the Complex, as well as giving you some medicine to help relieve the pain. Just make sure she gets some rest."

"Okay, and how long until she's coming back?"

"She will be on her way in an hour or so. It is unclear if she will be feeling well and moving normally right away. But I will have to give her a doctor's excuse for the rest of today."

"That's unfortunate."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, thank you."

"You're welcome, have a nice day!"

MEIKO was worried. What happened to her? She asked herself. Why now of all days?

Neru was released from questioning, and believed she was a cleaning lady hired by MEIKO herself.

Neru retreated off somewhere to be out of the way, as she was unsure of how to proceed with the developments of this odd day. She couldn't go back to her room, or even be at the Complex to settle.

She sat on a bench not far down the street from the Complex. She saw the ambulance pass by, and she wanted to see if it was heading for the Complex.

It was parked alongside the police vehicles.

"Miku?" Neru said softly.

She saw a nurse carrying Miku back into the Complex.

She was unsure of what was going on, but the police questioned the nurse, as she handed them a document, possibly containing the information of what happened to Miku.

The nurse returned to the ambulance and rode back to the hospital. Neru quickly glanced at the ambulance to see where it was heading to. It read: Momo's Medical Facility.

She returned to look at what was happening at the Complex. The police looked through the documents, but they were swiped away from Crypton security. It appears they still were not working together. She couldn't tell who was worse?

They all started to dissipate throughout the city. It was about an hour before the last remaining officers took off.

Neru was relieved to see it was clear to head back.

MEIKO and Neru entered Hatsune's room.

Furthest from the door was Miku's bed.

"Miku, we are coming in to check on you!" MEIKO announced.

Neru was hesitant to walk in, as she thought it was all her fault. It kept arguing with her mind that she shouldn't have ever mentioned Haku. But she was also wondering why her name would cause her to have a seizure. There must have been something behind this incident, Neru thought.

"Miku, how are you feeling?" MEIKO continued, with a soothing voice to help nurture Miku's emotional state.

"I'm not feeling so good." Miku answered.

"Why, what's wrong?" MEIKO asked.

"Miku?" Neru whispered.

"I-I... don't know..." Miku cried.

"Okay, here. The doctor asked me to give you these. It says to take two, but if your headache doesn't go away, then let me know. I also have some sleep aids to help you." MEIKO said.

"Thank you, do mind giving me some water?" Miku asked.

"Of course." MEIKO said.

MEIKO left the room to fetch a glass of water. Neru stepped in to see Miku.

"Miku?" Neru said, as she saw Miku staring at the ceiling.

"What?" Miku questioned.

"I can't explain how this happened, but you blacked out once I mentioned Haku, why?" Neru continued.

"I don't know..." Miku said.

"Does it have something to do with her?" Neru questioned.

"Neru please..." Miku said calmly.

Neru exhaled.

"Are you at least, okay?" Neru asked.

"Oh, now you care?" Miku said harshly.

Neru was angrily silenced.

"Forget what I asked!" Neru yelled.

Miku looked at her, she saw that Neru was, at least, being considerate of her.

"Sorry. It's just that... I wanted to be friends with you... but you never liked me." Miku cried.

"Miku... I'm sorry... it's just that I don't like it here... you understand, right?" Neru said. "It's not like I was trying to be mean to you... you're just too much sometimes." Neru started sobbing. "As much as you are trying to be my friend and want to do stuff together... I just have other things to deal with right now... okay?"

"I understand, Neru..." Miku said. "Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and for helping me get treated." Miku smiled.

Neru didn't answer but looked down at her saddened smiling face. It was like she was meeting her for the first time. She was confused and felt something different about Miku. But there was something still on her mind.

"But what does this have to do with Haku?" Neru continued.

"Neru!" MEIKO said, as she stepped through the door. "That is enough. Let her rest please." As MEIKO went to place a glass of water on the nightstand beside the bed.

"Why? I need to know!" Neru argued.

"Not right now, okay?" MEIKO responded, looking back at her, looking like she was about to slap her.

Neru was about to bolt out of the room.

"Wait, Neru!" Miku yelled, as she tugged her arm, to turn back to face her.

"What?!" Neru yelled.

"Please, don't be angry with me?" Miku pleaded.

"How could I not?" Neru asked.

"Just don't. Please." Miku said.

Neru swiped her arm away, making Miku flinch, and ran out the door.

"Miku?" MEIKO asked.

"It's okay, thanks Meiko." Miku said.

"Do you think you will be able to do your recordings tomorrow?" MEIKO said.

"I don't know..." Miku replied.

"Alright, let me know if you need anything." MEIKO said, as she walked out.

Neru walked into her room and slammed the door with force. She kicked the side of the bed, as she was unsure of what to think. Does Miku know something? Neru thought to herself. What has she been hiding? She heard a knock on her door. Neru answered.

"What?!" Neru yelled.

"Don't use that tone of voice on me!" MEIKO yelled.

"What do you want?" Neru said in a calm, yet sarcastic tone.

"Neru, that was too close. Where have you been all weekend?" MEIKO asked.

"Out. Why?" Neru taunted.

MEIKO sighed.

"Look, I need to know because I need to be here when you leave the Complex from now on." MEIKO said. "I can't let you go out whenever."

"You already have been working me like a slave, what more do you want?" Neru said.

"It's not my fault, I'm only doing what I can for you!" MEIKO argued. "I'm doing my best?"

Neru ignored, as she rolled her eyes.

"I know it's hard for you, but haven't I done what I can to keep you here? If they found out..."

"I know what will happen!" Neru interrupted. "I'm not perfect Meiko, I'm not the one who had to have a stroke. You're even lucky I was here!"

"Okay, okay." MEIKO said calmly. "Thank you, you're right. If it wasn't for you, things would turn out way worse than it is." MEIKO admitted, as she scratched her head. "But, I just want there to be less trouble, and the only way to do that... is to compromise... they might even start patrolling around the perimeter simply because of these events. You're safety matters to me too, you know?"

Neru was starting to calm down, because the reasoning was fair.

"I feel like I am being trapped here." Neru said. "Not only that, but I've been doing everything around here, I really am just the cleaning lady!"

"I know." MEIKO said, as she sat down with her on her bed. "But, I want to help you. As much as I am at work, having to deal with everyone, I'm exhausted. I know you're exhausted as well, working to earn your own keep at this place. I know. It seems unfair, but you've done a lot for us. And I don't want to lose you, because you are helpful." MEIKO said.

"Fine..." Neru said. "I'll listen."

"Thank you, Neru." MEIKO said, as she walked out and shut the door.

Neru sat down on her bed. she pulled out her phone, to speak with someone.

Miku was beginning to feel drowsy with the medicine she took.

She felt cold, no matter how much she wrapped herself up within the sheets and blankets. Her stomach felt like it was sick as if it was something she ate earlier.

The name kept circulating around in her head, like a plague. Why was that name so familiar, yet never hearing it before? Miku questioned herself. Haku? Who is Haku? Is she a friend? An enemy? A fan? Who is she?

Throughout the emptiness, the darkness surrounded, and there was silence. The name Haku was echoing as she remembered hearing it in the back of her mind. It remained a mystery.

She started to hear her heartbeat in her head. The beating pounded, making her head feel weak, and heavy, like an anchor hitting the seafloor. It became almost unbearable to feel, as it escalated. The sounds deepened.

Miku awoke, needing to use the restroom.

She threw up her ramen, the taste of a slobbery waste of salt and vinegar, mixed with the smelly leeks, as chunks of it were regurgitated out of her throat and into her mouth, hitting the back of the toilet bowl.

Barely making it, as tears and snot came rushing out after.

The lump in her throat continued to make her gag at the thought of the food she ate.

Heaving, until she felt there was nothing left in her stomach to throw out.

She wiped herself with a couple of rings of toilet paper around her hand, then threw it in the toilet to hide the disgusting undigested food.

She wiped her eyes, and grabbed a couple more papers to clean her nose, blowing into it, and dropping it in the toilet along with the others.

She got up to clean herself in the sink, using the lukewarm water streaming from the faucet to run down into her cupped hands, and wiping her face down.

She turned it off to look at herself in the mirror, however... she saw herself, covered in a black goo. Her eyes are sparkling red. I looked like madness overcame them in the reflection.

Miku screamed.

Miku was hyperventilating in her room. As one of the other singers from another room rushed in to see her.

"Miku?" They said, as they held her hand. "Miku?!"

MEIKO rushed to the bedroom.

"Kagamine, move!" MEIKO yelled.

MEIKO knelt down to the bed, and woke her up.

Miku opened her eyes, and started to calm down. Miku had tears and sweat streaming down her face, as she began to calmly breathe in and out.

"Sorry." Miku said.

"Are you alright Miku?" MEIKO said. "Are you okay?"

"I... I think so..." Miku said, as she held her head.

"Meiko, what's happening?" Kagamine asked.

"It's alright, just get back to bed." MEIKO demanded.

Kagamine was suspicious, however, they went back to their rooms.

As they headed out the door, they saw a woman down the hallway, and a guy peeking out of his bedroom door. She asked what was wrong. Kagamine shrugged.

She went back down the hallway, as the guy went back into the room and shut the door.

"Meiko, am I going to be okay?" Miku asked.

"Yes. You'll be fine. I just need to ask the doctor if these pills are safe for you to take." MEIKO said.

"You promise?" Miku said.

MEIKO looked at her with a confused look on her face.

"What?" MEIKO asked.

"Promise?" Miku continued, as she held her pinkie out.

"Fine." MEIKO dropped her hand down and locked her pinkie with Miku's.

As she did, Miku saw in a split second, a vision of a cold, pale hand locking pinkies with her.

"I promise." MEIKO said, as walked out of her bedroom. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight..." Miku whispered, as she thought about the vision of someone. "Have I seen that before?"