Chapter 3: Miku's Corruption
Neru texted MEIKO that she was on her way to the Complex.
MEIKO was relieved to see her phone go off, as she got up to make sure Neru was able to come back safely.
"You're late." Luka spoke, as she was sitting on the couch in the dark when they walked in.
"Yeah well, I got what you wanted." Neru said, as she handed her a bag.
Luka didn't say anything and walked off with her stuff.
"Thank you for listening, Neru." MEIKO said, as she shut the front door behind her. "I was right about the patrol officers. I'm glad you're able to get by."
"Kinda have to." Neru said bluntly. "Here."
Neru handed MEIKO something.
"What's this?" MEIKO said, as she caught it in her hands.
"It's helpful for headaches, especially for hangovers." Neru said.
"Okay? Thanks?" MEIKO said, as she looked down at Neru's bag. "You brought everyone else something?"
"Yeah, I figured it would make Miku get off my back." Neru said.
MEIKO smiled.
They both heard a scream coming from Miku's room. Both of them turned and ran to her.
"Miku?!" MEIKO yelled.
Neru saw Miku shaking and screaming like before. It frightened her.
MEIKO tried to wake her up.
Miku finally opened her eyes, as MEIKO shook her. She had tears falling.
"What is wrong with you?!" MEIKO screamed.
"Meiko...?" Miku cried. "I don't want to sleep anymore..."
"Why?!" MEIKO asked, as Miku held onto her.
MEIKO tried to get her off, but Miku was scared.
"I'll call the hospital!" Neru said.
"Thank you, Neru." MEIKO said.
"Neru?" Miku questioned. "But I don't wanna go to the hospital!"
Miku was taken by the same ambulance from before. MEIKO made sure that they were able to get by without any suspicion throughout the Complex. Neru was in the waiting rooms, while MEIKO was there to watch the process of scanning Miku and going over the results of her mental and physical state.
Momone Momo, the doctor that had helped Miku when she collapsed.
She was the founder of Momo's Medical Facility.
She was kind, soft spoken, and incredibly intelligent.
This was the first time meeting her, since MEIKO had never been to this hospital before. She was told to use Crypton's resources to treat any injuries or accidents that may have happened, but something about this place felt comfortable. Regardless of all the nurses and doctors looking the exact same, it was some place she thought would help them.
Momo was talking to MEIKO about the stress Miku was undergoing, as if there was some suppression and trauma developing in her mind. It was causing severe psychological damage. If they were to continue, then Miku will cause herself to lose sleep, loss of proper function, and anxiety.
"What do you suggest?" MEIKO asked.
"Well, I might have to keep her here, and continue to analyze these readings." Momo said.
"Keep her here?" MEIKO questioned.
"I understand there are restrictive rules, given your line of work, but Miku may not be able to return to work unless I figure out her condition." Momo suggested. "Crypton will have to be notified, if this gets worse."
MEIKO looked worried, unsure of how their superiors were going to react to Miku's state.
"Please tell me if there is anything else we can do." MEIKO said.
"Well, therapy works for most people suffering any kind of trauma." Momo said. "As far as physical mentorship, she will have to remain here at the hospital for testing."
As they were talking, Miku came up to a large window in the room, where Momo and MEIKO said they would be.
"Meiko?" Miku said.
"Yes, Miku?" MEIKO said.
"I want to go home..." Miku asked.
"Miku, you may have to stay here for further testing." MEIKO replied.
"No. I want to go home now." Miku said.
"Doctor, what do we do?" MEIKO said.
"I'm sorry Meiko, but without Miku's consent. I will have to let you leave." Momo said. "However, I will continue to analyze these results, and try to find the best solution for Miku."
MEIKO didn't like the sound of this.
"Miku?" Momo asked.
"Yes?" Miku said.
"Do you want me to help you at home?" Momo asked.
"No. I just want to be left alone and be in my room." Miku said.
"Okay." Momo said. "I'm afraid I cannot continue."
"But she's not an adult! I can't let you make Miku go back home without proper treatment!" MEIKO yelled.
"I'm sorry, but without parental or guardian's permission, with a girl who is over 15 years of age, I can't do anything." Momo pleaded. "Maybe being home might work for her."
"I am her guardian, and I say she's staying." MEIKO stated.
"Let's check if that's the case." Momo said.
Momo scanned MEIKO, and the results came out negative, she was not formally known as Miku's guardian.
"What?!" MEIKO said. "But I signed papers saying I should be their guardian!"
"Hmm... as these documents state, it was only signed that you would be the overseer of Kagamine and Miku, but not legally as their guardian." Momo said.
"This... can't be..." MEIKO said.
"Would you like help in acquiring legal custody of Miku and Kagamine?" Momo asked. "I do know the laws and I also provide social work services."
"Okay. But..." MEIKO stuttered.
"Take her home, and I'll do what I do best." Momo said, as she smiled.
They quietly returned to the Complex.
"Miku?" MEIKO said, with a serious tone.
Miku ran to her room and shut the door.
"Gah!" MEIKO yelled, as she stomped her foot on the floor.
MEIKO sighed.
"Meiko?" Neru said.
"What?!" MEIKO yelled.
"I'm sorry about earlier." Neru said sincerely. "I just hope things work out for us."
MEIKO calmed herself down.
"That's alright, Neru." MEIKO responded. "I just worry about what the industry would do about Miku being under this amount of stress. They are not going to like this at all."
"Okay. Let me know if there's anything else we need." Neru said, as she walked down the hallway to her bedroom.
"Thanks, Neru." MEIKO said, as she rubbed her eyes, disgusted and exhausted. "I need a drink."
During the rest of the week, Miku has not shown up for work, which made the industry upset over the amount of people begging for Miku to appear for recordings, classes, and permissions for their advertisements. As these events continued to unfold, the industry had to initiate a suspension for Crypton until Miku was fully recovered.
They came to see Miku, but they could not get her to cooperate.
Miku refused treatment and resented being instituted to help her recover.
The industry had become displeased with the results, allowing Miku to be under quarantine, until they figured out what was causing her to have issues.
"This sucks!" Neru said, as she laid in MEIKO's bed.
MEIKO was lying beside her.
"I know, but this is what we have to do in order for you to be kept under radar!" MEIKO said.
"How much longer until we have to stay like this?" Neru asked.
"I don't know." MEIKO said. "I know this is a troubling time, but I need you to do something for me."
"What is it?" Neru asked.
"I'm going to be out, after hours to do necessary work for the industry, so I will need you along with Kaito and Luka to watch out for each other, and make sure everyone is fed." MEIKO requested.
"Why me?" Neru said.
"I trust you. More than the other two, but if I don't include them, they will be even more upset at you as is." MEIKO said.
"Fine." Neru said.
"Don't tell them about it, okay?" Neru said.
"I won't." MEIKO said. "As far as I know, they will probably be asking you to do most of the work regardless."
Neru sighed.
"Yeah, I know." Neru agreed.
"Thank you, Neru." MEIKO said.
The doctors and nurses involved to help Miku recover halted because of her reluctance.
Neru was allowed to be back to her own room, and even security had no reason to be there which allowed Neru to have more freedom to leave and return without suspicion.
None of them were satisfied with Miku's behavior, and it resulted in MEIKO staying late almost every night to give updates.
Both Kaito and Luka were not pleased with what's been going on, especially when MEIKO was out late. MEIKO insisted that she needed their help.
She could not address anything to anyone, or else they will be held liable for any of the damages done toward their company.
During the most dreadful week for Neru and the Complex, Neru checked on Haku with any of the spare time she had. Haku was ignoring her calls and text messages that she sent every day.
Neru contemplated leaving on multiple occasions, considering everyone else outside of the Complex would never tolerate this type of stress. But she felt somewhat responsible for Miku's problems, which made her stay. She wondered if it was the right choice.
Miku was already having trouble sleeping. The cyclical nights and days, almost entirely awake to hear the voices in her head, the shadows in the corner of her eyes, and the nightmares she would have. She felt like her life was on repeat with the same thing happening every day and every night. She would try her best to sleep, but there were these nights of feeling like she was being isolated inside a house she could not remember being in. It was always the same.
She had a feeling in her stomach that ached and felt like she was always constipated.
Her head would be filled with weights and noises that would pound in her eardrums, almost as if there was some sort of white noise ringing somewhere.
As the woman, with the large claws, pale skin, and demonic eyes reaching out for her. Waking up to the sight of its shadow in the corner of her room.
Miku feared for her life, unsure of what to do with herself.
She would keep her distance from the others.
All Kaito and Luka could do was make sure they were fed and clothed.
After a week with little to no sleep, Miku got out of bed for once to eat breakfast.
Neru presented her a plate full of maggots, squirming around a pile of shit.
Miku gagged and threw her plate on the floor. The smell of it was worse, as she continued to choke on the sight of it.
She ran back to her room and slammed the door once again.
Neru felt terrible for Miku, unsure of what to think of her, since she just handed her a plate of eggs and bacon, which she ended up wasting the last of it on the floor.
Luka was there to witness as she was already displeased with Neru, asking her what she did for their breakfast.
They both ended up arguing, which could be heard in MEIKO's bedroom, where she laid there, too tired to get up like usual.
Her hair was scruffy, and her body felt dense. Being unable to move her limbs. She got up, the second she heard Neru and Luka fighting in the kitchen.
"What's going on?!" MEIKO yelled.
"Neru did something to our food!" Luka responded.
"I did not! I cooked them like how I always have!" Neru replied.
"She's trying to poison us!" Luka yelled to Neru. "Like she did with Miku!"
"You're lying, I would never do such a thing!" Neru replied.
"Enough!" MEIKO said. "Clean this up, the both of you! Now!" As MEIKO pointed at Miku's leftover spaghetti noodles on the floor, along with her broken plate that had a couple slices of bacon and scrambled eggs.
Neru got down to clean up Miku's puke, whipping it with a dusty rag meant for the stove, while Luka was reluctant to touch any of the glass and the food. Barely lifting a single piece from off the floor.
Neru and Luka both continued to have displeasing thoughts as they looked each other in the eyes.
MEIKO grunted, as she went back to sleep.
All the while Kagamine was sitting in the living room with Kaito, as they were relieved to not be in the middle of the situation. But felt worthless as things continued to progressively get worse.
Miku was continuing to have severe stomach pains, as if something was eating her alive on the inside. What she saw, she couldn't explain why it was happening to her. The thought of it made her want to hack up everything left in her stomach. She let it out in a small garbage bin, sitting underneath her desk. The emptiness in her system, as she couldn't pick herself up from the floor, she laid there, hoping for her pain to end.
About a week later, Miku had barricaded herself in her room. No longer receiving any help from anyone. All the plates and cups they used for her, never came back from that room. As well as their food resources started to deplete.
The industry announced that they would stop initiating their agreement to the singer's compensation until Miku comes out of her room to finally get herself treated.
The Complex no longer received food, or any kind of service from the industry, which Neru had a part to play to help them get through the week.
It was cruel what the industry was doing, neither of this was in any way moral, however, returning to the contract if they refused to work, they refused to provide services.
Luckily for the Complex, Neru was still working, and was able to provide for them.
MEIKO was still having to be called in for meetings, explaining what has been going on in the Complex.
Luka finally had enough of having to look after everyone throughout the evenings while MEIKO was absent.
MEIKO would return at the dead of night and the break of dawn.
Luka confronted her about it, but MEIKO was too exhausted to listen to her, as she would drop to the floor and her eyes would shut.
One night she opened her eyes, she saw herself being lifted up off the ground, and felt someone carry her to her bedroom.
She was thrown into bed, and she only saw the silhouette of a young teenage girl, with her hair draped to the right side.
The girl immediately shut the door, and there was total darkness.
MEIKO fell into it alone, even for being helped, and being carried by a young angel. She couldn't help but feel the bittersweet end she would face if she had just let them go, no longer giving into the pain and hurt she always felt.
No one else was by her side, except for her.
MEIKO got up that next morning and wobbled her way to the restroom.
She slowly undressed.
All of the tension in her arms and back ached, as she slowly took off each of her clothing. She saw the bruises, and the marks left on her skin. Having to oblige to every order she was given.
A cold stream of water poured down her neck, falling down her back, giving her goosebumps. She reminisces the childlike feeling of playing in the sprinkler throughout those hot summers. Her body at least still felt something, after the shame and torment she had been put through. The vulnerability of her soft skin, as it touches the stream, slightly getting hotter as it continued to fall.
The bathroom was covered in a dense cloud. She rubbed her hand against the bathroom mirror to look at herself.
The horror and desperation in her eyes.
She knew she didn't have anyone else to rely on, even Neru. She has done everything she possibly can, but somehow is the one that takes the fall.
MEIKO looked back.
She saw the rage, and the darkness of her eyelids closing in.
Her fist clenching the bathroom sink. As the adrenaline circulated through her weakened veins.
She was done playing the victim and decided to finally take some action.
MEIKO stormed off down the hallway and came up to Miku's door.
She tried turning the knob, but it wouldn't open.
She slammed her body against the door, as it was banging against objects. She figured Miku placed her furniture to block it.
MEIKO continued until it felt like it was loose enough and kicked it down. The door snapped in half, but she managed to crawl through the small open space into her room.
The other occupants heard the noise and came out of their rooms to witness MEIKO's distress. They could feel an ugly warmth and aroma emanating through the open hole, so they immediately backed away and headed back into their rooms.
Once MEIKO dropped in, she could smell an awful stench of something indescribable.
The air was dense. She felt like the air particles could choke her to death as she continued to snort it in through her nostrils, and the taste of it was making her want to puke it out.
She continued to fumble through the blockage until found the switch lights.
The light had flickered on, and she saw all the food Neru brought to her. It was spoiled and started rotting into the desk that it was placed on. The cups that were filled grew a grayish green fungus as it was left untouched. It was fermenting into a disgusting fume that clenched her stomach.
In the corner of her room, MEIKO saw, where Miku had taken a shit and there was piss spilt all over the floor.
She came across a small garbage bin full of what looked to be a chewed up mess. There was a steam that looked toxic, as it was dark with no other color.
MEIKO felt her organs wanting to come up through her throat, as she held her nose and tried not to open her mouth.
She looked around, but couldn't find Miku anywhere.
She continued, and came to her bed.
She looked underneath, and Miku was lying there. Her skin was pale, her eyes were bloodshot red, and her body looked sunken in, as if she had no fat or muscles left in her small adolescent body.
Miku's eyes were wide open, but she didn't see MEIKO there with her. Luckily, she was still breathing. It was slow, as it looked like her lungs were being overworked with no energy left in her to grasp an ounce of life.
"Miku?!" MEIKO cried out, she crouched down to hold her.
MEIKO let out a tear, hoping Miku would at least look back at her.
MEIKO held her close in her arms.
Miku turned her head slowly, and looked at MEIKO.
"Me... Mei-ko..." Miku whispered under her breath.
"That's right Miku, I'm here..." MEIKO cried.
"Go... away..." Miku said, as she tried to push MEIKO away with what little strength she had.
"Why?" MEIKO said plainly. "I'm not going to."
"Go." Miku said, crawling away from her.
She sat up.
"Go away." Miku continued.
"No." MEIKO continued, as she tried to hunch over and grab her again.
Miku held out her weak arms to push her away.
"It's too dangerous." Miku spoke softly.
"Let me help you, Miku." MEIKO begged.
"No, go away!" Miku said, as she curled up like she did on the floor.
"Miku, I don't care what you say!" MEIKO yelled. "I'm getting you help, right now!"
"Fuck you!" Miku replied.
MEIKO was so shocked, as she couldn't help but slap her across the face.
Miku tumbled back to the floor, and brought her hand up to her cheek.
She was utterly stunned that MEIKO actually slapped her.
"M-m... Meiko..." Miku weeped.
"Miku." MEIKO went over to hug her. "I'm here for you Miku."
Miku cried.
Afterward, MEIKO decided to call Momo to help.
Momo avoided being noticed on camera, as she came and called some of her nurses to help and clean up the mess in Miku's room.
MEIKO and Momo both helped clean Miku up, giving her enough water and food through feeding tubes.
It took another couple days, but MEIKO stood alongside Miku throughout the process. Allowing Miku to hold her hand through the treatments to help her recover.
Momo was finished cleaning the mess that was made, which allowed the rest of the singers to relax about Miku.
Testing and helping her recover took the rest of the week, until Miku was back on her feet.
Once Miku walked out into the waiting room of the hospital, she saw MEIKO there. She ran up to her and held her close.
MEIKO hugged her back.
Momo came up to MEIKO, and she had the official documents to have full custody of Miku and Kagamine.
She signed the papers. She was now legally their guardian.
That same evening, MEIKO helped Miku to bed.
She smiled, when she saw Miku seeming like herself again.
"Thank you." Miku said softly.
MEIKO walked out of the bedroom. She kept it open, just in case she needed her.
As she sat down in her bed, she contemplated something that's been on her mind.
MEIKO never wanted kids. She always wanted to remain young and free, even after agreeing to watch over Miku and Kagamine. She never fully committed to being an actual guardian.
Ever since they replaced her in the industry, she grew jealous of them.
However, they're her responsibility now, and she will do what she must to help them continue for as long as they can.