A/N: Even though this story's basically a deserted wasteland, I'm still going to bring this to a close, or, try to at least. I've been editing best I can so I apologize if everything seems 'wonky' but I really hope you get the plot.

I swear I am not this bad at writing ;-; but my creative drive has been low for a while. So I'm making up these words on a 'whim' and not really planning this out. If it's boring so far as well, I apologize, the ball will really get rolling next chapter let's get to shoutouts then we'll begin.

Xu Lu: Thank you for following this story I hope you'll enjoy the ride. And yes, Rin x Len is apparently dead I agree a lot. As for your criticism don't expect it to take effect till Chapt 4 (at the time of writing) but I appreciate the criticism.

As for the "sparkling" part, it's mostly sarcasm from how the person reacts. It's to empathize on how annoyed the character is with the person or the action is familiar to Rin. This is a story mostly told from 3rd person view, so I can see how it'll be confusing but thank you for your criticism I appreciate it!

Now let's begin after a little disclaimer,

Disclaimer: Vocaloid / Crypton Future Media isn't owned by me.

Chapter Three

Lunch Thursday

"Sorry, I do sports and I have no time for music. Good luck though on your search!" the freshman with pink hair walked away, joining his friends back towards the cafeteria.

Len sighed and crossed another name off his list. One person left, and Iroha was absent that day so he couldn't ask her. He walked past the library and joined Kaito at the corridor. He and Kaito decided to ask around today and left Miku and Gumi to their own thing.

"This is exhausting." Kaito sighed, "I'm sorry it's not working out."

Len nodded, "It's alright. I dragged you along anyways, and it looks like I have to draw inspiration from somewhere else I guess." Kaito and Len walked through the hallway, chattering of idle students were not high so they talked normally.

Soon, Kaito's cousin, Akaito approached them, "Hey Kaito mind helping me with physics?" he asked.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, "Did you forget to do your homework again in other words?"

Akaito sighed, "Yeah…"

Kaito made his farewells towards Len, and they parted. Miku was gone somewhere which who knows really, Gumi was in the computer lab working on programming, Kaito just left...so he could try to find Neru.

As Len decided to go search for Neru he heard distinctive voices. In a 'dead end' part of the school, he walked over and saw it was the theatre classroom.

"You think I'm mad right? Crazy? Insane? Fairly so, you have the right to think that, after all, I did just murder my mother. Surely the news would have spreaded by now, a parricide is sensational and can spread fast. Right? So what did you do with the chemical? Toluene, tell me where is it! I need it, I need it or else this has no meaning!" a voice shouted and laughed an insane laugh.

Len was unsure to enter the room, but he got curious and opened the door and saw a group of students in there. Luka, two students who looked like twins, and Mikuo all in the classroom, along with the teacher, Yowane supervising them. He raised an eyebrow, and the group stared at the "intruding" person.

Mikuo had recognized him as 'Len' and the same guy who asked him yesterday about writing. He had been watching one of the members enacting a scene with Luka for the third act of a play, where the murderer goes insane trying to find a 'cure'. Rei and Rui were the main characters of the first two acts.

This was awkward, as Len just walked into a murderer's monologue basically. If Len was a normal sane person, he should probably back away, but the teacher looked at him gleefully.

"You're Len Kagamine right?" She asked.

Len nodded, "Yes."

"What brings you here?"

"I just heard people and got curious. This is very far away from the main sector of the school, I just realized." Len bemused.

Ms. Yowane nodded, "It is, but it helps keeps us quiet supposedly."

Len then stood there awkwardly, "You're looking for a songwriter I heard?" Ms. Yowane asked.

"Yup, so far no luck. Iroha is the last on the list afterwards I'll just wing it," Len shrugged, "I'll get going." He wanted to leave and felt awkward standing by the door.

The teacher wished him well, and Len then left the room, shutting the door.

Miku and Rin sat under the cherry blossom tree (autumn tree though), admiring the scenery and cool breeze of the courtyard. Sooner or later it'd get too cold to be outside, as they live in Japan, Numazu city. It was a small seaside city, and had many great views, and Miku and Rin were blessed to live there but cursed the cold seasons as well.

"Rin, have you decided what you're going to do about auditioning? Today's the last day, there's still time," Miku stated munching on her leek.

Rin looked up towards the sky, shrugging, "You know my answer, why should I repeat it?"

"I mean about being a songwriter."

Rin whirled her face towards Miku, shocked, "H-How did you know?"

"Well you and Mikuo don't talk quietly for starters," Miku chuckled, "And you've written songs before in the past. So you're more legible than anyone to me to write songs."

Rin flushed, feeling flustered but quickly pushed away her blush, "I told Mikuo I'll sign up tomorrow if nobody is found."

"Rin," Miku snapped, causing her friend to flinch, "Are you doing this because you want to, or because you feel pressured from the teacher to do so? You have to make your own decisions, and trying to prolong a result is ridiculous. It's not an 'if' it's a do or don't."

Rin squirmed under her gaze, "But-"

"But nothing. You know for a fact you are capable of being a songwriter, and I've known you since I was a child and I know you want to do this deep down. It's your hesitation stopping you, what will you do if Len does find another songwriter?" Miku paused, watching her friend sit in silence knowing she's considering her words, "Iroha may be his 'last hope' but there's chances of her accepting the invitation to be a songwriter. And then what? You'll miss out on an opportunity route you've never even tried, or wanted to and could regret it years later."

Rin looked down, her eyes showing unknown emotions, but it was clear to Miku she had gone to far. Miku patted Rin's head, "Hey, sorry I went to far. But I just really want the best for you, and you're my best friend! So don't take what I said harshly, but really consider it."

Soon it was silent, the air was slightly tensed. Only the rustling of leaves falling, and students chattering filled the voice of silence. The two girls sat next to each other, wondering their next step.

"I want to do this, it's just what if I'm caught?" Rin thought to herself.

"Then I will help you not get caught, I will be the decoy."

Rin looked up, seeing Miku no longer sitting but standing in front of her. She realized she had said her thoughts out loud, and Miku had answered them.

"I will sing for you, I will introduce your songs and sing them myself," Miku smiled widely, in that moment her eyes shined beautifully, sparking with determination, "I will sing them, and when you get caught we'll wait for those odds and ends to happen. I will sing loud for you so you can hide in the quiet shadows."

"I will sing loud for you, and let your words carry through my voice! And when you are ready to sing we will sing together," she held out her hand, "So please, stop hesitating."

Rin's eyes teared, before she brushed away those tears, taking Miku's handing forming a small hopeful smile, "I want to believe you. And I will believe in you," she paused, "I have an idea on a song you can sing."
Miku raised her eyebrow, confused as to what her friend was saying. Rin smirked, "Come on, to the music room."

Rin grabbed Miku's hand dragging her along, "Wait! I'm glad your motivated Rin but-"

"But what?" Rin asked, not wanting to stop.

The bell rang, causing the girls to stop in their stride. "The bell, we have classes" Miku facepalmed.

Rin sighed, "We'll do it tomorrow then."

"Wait tomorrow?!"

Rin had already left Miku in the courtyard, causing her friend to run to try and catch up and demand answers that wouldn't be given until the time is right.

After School Thursday

"Sorry, but your voice isn't good, please leave." Len sighed, signaling yet another girl to go off stage.

The girl cried, running off stage whilst screaming, "I STILL LOVE YOU LEN!"

Gumi snickered, "What fangirls."

Len rolled his eyes, "Alright next person-"

BANG!

The door slammed open, revealing Miku huffing and panting, she was holding sheets of papers in her hands.

"Len you can play the piano right?" she asked suddenly.

Len raised his eyebrow, "Yes wh-"
"Start playing it now!" Miku shouted, eyes flaring with subtle anger.

Kaito made a 'stop' motion with his hands, "Wait, wait, Miku what's the meaning of this? First, you show up late now you're screaming every-"

"Shut it Kaito unless you want me to throw out your secret ice cream storage out into the streets," Miku glared, her eyes gleaming with anger.

From outside the auditorium, Mikuo and Rin were watching the scene from behind Miku.

Rin started, "You know she may be energetic and cute-"
"She can be deadly when she's angry as well." Mikuo finished. They both look simultaneously at each other and sweatdropped. Then continued to watch the scene in front of them unfold.

Kaito whimpered, "Len just do as she says." and started nudging Len to go play the piano in the auditorium.

"Wait, what? Gumi help me here!" Len exclaimed, looking for support from his other friend. Who only looked back at him in a smirking manner, one look and he knew he was being betrayed.

Looking back at Miku, he saw her glare and just sighed, surrendering, walking over to the piano across the room, sitting at the bench. Miku headed over and handed Len the papers of an instrumental that she and Rin had made together.

"What is this?" Len asked, examining the papers, "I've never played this before?"

Miku shrugged, "First time for everything right?"
Len raised an eyebrow, "What are you even planning to do?"

"A favor for someone," Miku smirked. She then sashayed onto the stage and took the microphone.

Gumi questioned her actions, in an amused tone, "Miku what is the special occasion? You've already auditioned.

"But my friend hasn't!" Miku winked, "Let me begin."

She signaled Len to start playing, which he did, and then took a deep breath and started singing. (A/N: You can start playing Odds&Ends if you haven't figured it out)

"Itsu datte kimi wa waraware mono da

Yaru koto nasu koto tsui tenakute

Ageku ni ame ni furare

Okini no kasa wa kaze de tonde tte

Soko no nora wa gokurou sama to

Ashi wo fundzuke tetta

Itsumo doori kimi wa kira ware monoda

Nani ni mo sezutomo toozake rarete

Doryoku wo shite miru kedo

Sono riyuu nante "nantonaku?" de

Kimi wa tohou ni kurete kanashin deta

Nara atashi no koe wo tsukaeba ii yo

Hito ni yotte wa rikai funoude

Nante mimizawari, hidoi koe date

Iwa reru kedo

Kitto kimi no chikara ni nareru

Dakara atashi wo utawa sete mite

Sou kimi no kimi dake no kotobade sa

Tsudzutte tsuranete

Atashi ga sono kotoba wo sakebukara

Egaite risou wo

Sono omoi wa dare nimo fure sasenai

Garakuta no koe wa soshite hibiku

Ari no mama wo bukiyou ni tsunaide

Seiippai ni omoi wo ageru

Itsu kara ka kimi wa ninkimono da

Takusan no hito ni motehayasa re atashimo hanagatakai

Demo itsu kara ka kimi wa kawatta

Tsumetaku natte dakedo sabishi sou datta

Mou kikai no koe nante takusanda

Boku wa boku jishin'na nda yotte

Tsuini kimi wa osae kirenaku natte

Atashi wo kiratta

Kimi no ushiro de dareka ga iu

"Tora no i wo karu kitsune no kuse ni" tte

Kimi wa hitori de nai teta nda ne

Kikoeru? Kono koe

Atashi ga sono kotoba wo kaki kesu kara

Kaitte ru hontou wa

Kimi ga dare yori yasashi itte koto wo

Garakuta no koe wa soshite uta tta

Hoka no dare demonai kimi no tame ni

Kishi nde ku genkai wo koete

Futari wa don'nani takusan no

Kotoba wo omoi tsuita kotodarou

Dakedo ima wa nani hitotsu omoi tsukanakute

Dakedo nani mo kamo

Wakatta "Souka, kitto koreha yume da

Eien ni same nai, kimi to ae ta, sonna yume"

Garakuta wa shiawase souna egao wo shita mama

Dore dake yon demo mou ugokanai

Nozonda hazu no ketsumatsu ni kimi wa nakisakebu

Usodaro usodaro tte sou nakisakebu

"Boku wa muryokuda.

Garakuta hitotsu datte sukue yashinai"

Omoi wa namida ni

Potsuri potsuri to sono hoho wo nurasu

Sono toki sekai wa totan ni sono iro wo oukiku kaeru

Kanashimi yorokobi subete wo hitori to hitotsu wa shitta

Kotoba wa uta ni nari kono sekai wo

Futatabi kake meguru kimi no tameni

Sono koe ni ishi wo yado shite

Ima omoi ga hibiku"

Miku then breathed heavily, "God, one day I'm going to kill my lungs."

Everyone in the room looked at Miku bewildered, Len looked over the music sheet again, "I've never seen this song before, Miku what song is this?" He asked.

"It's a song a friend of mine wrote, she gets good grades in the writing courses, and I helped with the instrumental." She explained.

"And the name of the song?"

Miku paused for a moment, thinking of a name, "Odds & Ends is what it's called. "she smiled, remembering how Rin came up with the idea.

Gumi looked at Kaito, "I mean it's not that bad to be honest, the lyrics are nice as well."

"Yeah, so…" Kaito looked over at Len, "Up to you buddy whether or not you want to invite the song writer."

Len looked stunned, before processing the question, "Yes! Of course, I want her on the team, she can clearly write and has amazing talent! I'd like to meet her!" he shouted excitedly, looking at Miku eagerly to introduce him to the 'mystery' songwriter.

Miku made a face that looked doubtful, "Thing is, she can't play instruments or sing well…"
"I can help her learn how to play the piano! Miku, you have no idea how helpful you are right now!" Len exclaimed, he wanted to meet this girl, this songwriter. He would be very grateful to meet this girl who could very well save his joy in life.

From outside the room, Rin was blushing with embarrassment. Mikuo kindly smiled at her, seeing emotions show on her face that rarely ever come across.

Miku smirked, "She won't introduce herself yet."

Len's smiling face fell, "What? Why not?"

"She'll introduce herself tomorrow, she wants to make this worth her time," Miku explained, "She doesn't want to join a team just to be used for song lyrics. And I care for this friend a lot, she deserves to be valued as well."

Len nodded in understanding, "I see your point." After all, the way he's been acting these few days, he can understand why this person may be intimidated into joining.

"So just wait till tomorrow after school and I'll introduce her to you." Miku smiled, "And if you try to look for her beforehand she won't join."

Len sweatdropped, "Understood ma'm."

Tomorrow, they'd meet this mystery song writer, and there was no need for Iroha which was a good thing. So Iroha can focus on whatever she was doing, and Len knew herself that Iroha doesn't have much interest in music anyways, and was a crazy fangirl over him in a sort of way.

"Let's wrap up for today!" Kaito shouted, "And go home."

Rin and Mikuo took that as a signal to slip away, and so they did, and started to head home together and wait for Miku to arrive as well.

After School Friday

It was tense in the music room, or so Rin felt. She saw the group's eyes staring intensely at her, making her want to run away and hide into the theatre room.

Behind her, was Miku and her theatre teacher, Ms. Yowane, the music teacher, Mr. Al, and the writing teacher, Ms. Momone. All had accompanied Rin to provide reasons why they should accept her, in case Len suddenly changed his mind.

Rin decided to keep a poker face, and just listen to what people were saying. "Rin has one of the highest marks in my class for writing, she may seem dull right now but she is a bright student, and a very intriguing person." Ms. Momone smiled politely.

"My question is how come I didn't see her on the list of students with those highest marks," Len questioned, looking through the list of students that he had questioned before, "Nowhere have I seen someone with the name, Rin Kagene."

Miku didn't know whether to smack Len for being blind, or just stay quiet, but for Rin's sake, staying quiet is probably the best. "She usually stays below the radar, and she asked us specifically never to put her name onto the board for highest marks." Ms. Yowane explained.

"She's terrible at music," Mr. Al said bluntly, "But, I'm sure you guys can help her with that, and she can help you with other things."

"Other things? All we need is a writer." Gumi suspiciously looked at Rin, but nonetheless continued to listen.

Mr. Al sighed, "My highest students yet remarkably ignorant in some cases. Music isn't just about the song it's also about the meaning behind it."
Len grunted, "My songs do have meaning-"
"Frankly they really don't. Or they're not sung with meaning, your latest song was literally about you having sex with multiple people," Mr. Al said roughly, "Your arrogance is literally blinding you from what music is, you can either accept what I say or you can lose Rin."

Rin flinched slightly, before looking over at Len, which both had then exchanged glances. Rin noticed Len's eyes were showing emotions of anger and desperation at the same time, she felt sorry for him as his work was literally trashed.

Len sighed, "Alright, but what can this person teach us other than writing?" Len looked at her doubtfully.

"She can teach you how to actually sound human in your songs rather than singing like an emotionless robot," Ms. Yowane said sharply, "To do that you must watch her act, be able to act in roles that may not be suited to you."
"But don't I already-"

"Len, I have more emotion in my singing than you do," Miku snapped, not wanting to hear Len keep doubting her own friend. "Rin made me a song that puts my feelings into words, in which I can express emotionally to others. A song is a message, a story, or a melodious rhythm which people can be swayed by, but the bottom line is people must feel the power and emotion from the songs itself."

Rin stepped on Miku's feet, causing her to hiss, "You don't have to be rude Miku." she whispered harshly.

Miku hugged Rin's arm, "But Rinnnn they're doubting your skills!" she whined- loudly if Rin may add.

All of a sudden, everyone else's eyes were on her and Miku, even Neru looked up from her phone to stare. Rin looked at people staring at her, and Len looking at her with hesitation and doubt.

Rin sighed, stepping forward and going over to Len, "I'm not going to sabotage the group or something, if I was going to I'd help Miku be her own idol," she said sarcastically, "But I'm here to help you that's it. I gain nothing from this."
"What do you mean you gain nothing from this?" Len raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"I don't want my name to be credited when the song is finished." Rin deadpanned.

Everyone looked at her shocked, heck even the teachers. "W-what?" Len sputtered, dumbfounded on how someone would request that.

Rin leaned against the piano, "There's no point in crediting my name because I don't even get noticed anyways. You guys proved my point," she explained, "As well as I'd prefer to stick to the shadows and stay in the private. Call me your 'ghostwriter' if you must."
Everyone was silent, the only sounds heard was the occasional rustling of papers as Kaito had been startled to hear that.

"Are you sure about not taking credit though?" Kaito's question broke the silence, "You would never be treated the same as the rest of us. At least receiving credit for writing you'd have some value, if people see you around with us they'll just assume you're an annoying fan."

"That's another thing, I won't be. I'll remain in the audience." the blonde girl literally dumbfounded everyone.

Gumi soon laughed, tears coming out of her green eyes, and her green hair whirling as she kept laughing. Everyone had turned their attention to the girl now, who nearly was falling out of her chair in laughter.

Gumi soon calmed herself down, then looked at Len, grinning, "She's not bad Len. She doesn't benefit from this, nor asked for payment either. You're literally being lucky right now, I'd say take this offering not like you'll get another chance," she paused then continued, "So what if we have to take some acting lessons? Get over it, anything to improve will help us. Why say no?"

Kaito nodded, "I think everyone here thinks she'd be a good addition, it's just you who needs to get over your pride and arrogance. You're not the world's best songwriter Len, and neither is she, you both can help each other if anything."

"All I want is to help this group, I want nothing in return," Rin stated, trying to make her point clear she wanted nothing.

Len turned to Rin, putting out his hand towards her, "Welcome to the team, Rin. We'll be glad to have you." he smiled lightly.

Rin nodded, taking his hand and shaking it, "Pleasure to be on it now." Both of them looked at each other, eyes peering over each other with unknown emotions. But one thing was certain between them, this will be interesting.

A/N: Alright end of the chapter, things sure are getting interesting now aren't they? Also hopefully by Chapt 5 I'll have some sort of cover for this story. I gotta make a 'cover' for this fanfiction and other stuff yeesh. So much work damn. Anyways see ya'll later, and please review! Hope you enjoy!