[I haven't updated in forever, my lovelies. I apologize. Life... Yeah... So I'll put up four, five, and six tonight as a weak attempt to make up for it. :/ Sorry.]

…::::VERSE FOUR::::…

[I've Decided - Gumi's departure]

-'I am not afraid to keep on living
I am not afraid to walk this world alone
Honey if you stay, I'll be forgiven
Nothing you can say can stop me going home'-

It was ten in the morning. Late enough that all the Vocaloids were awake (even Haku, lazy ass that she was), but early enough that they hadn't left the house yet.

Gumi called a little 'team meeting' in the living room.

So the Vocaloids assembled, trickling in in twos and threes, some looking completely ready for the day, some still in their pajamas with unbrushed hair, until they were all present.

All the while, Gakupo stood with Gumi in the front of the room, trying to look strong and supportive, but inside feeling as if he might shatter at any moment.

"Good morning." Gumi finally said, when they had all gotten quiet. She had on a sad smile.

She got a few responses back, but most of them just watched and listened.

"I just wanted to inform you that… Yes, the rumors are true. The stuff you've been hearing, it's all true. We got drunk. We did things we shouldn't have. I wanted to apologize. That's why I called you here."

She paused.

"I realize that my own selfish actions may have portrayed all of us, as a group, in a bad light. And I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to, and don't ever want to, make you guys look bad, because you're my family, and you've helped me so much over the years, and I can't think of anyone I'd have rather shared this whole experience with than all of you."

"If you feel so bad, then why'd you do it!" Meiko blurted out, a scowl across her face.

"I wasn't in my right mind. I was drunk. Too drunk to reason. I was celebrating a new album, and I guess we both celebrated a bit too much. And things just got worse and worse, and we ended up in the situation we ended up in. I didn't intend for any of it to happen. Gakupo and I, we're just close friends."

"Very close friends." Piko whispered, elbowing Miki next to him. Miki, in reply, stepped on his foot.

It was too late, however, as Gumi had heard and seen the exchange.

She smiled like 'I deserved that'.

"You were drunk." Meiko continued, "So that gives you an excuse to make all of us look bad? That gives you an excuse to make the Vocaloid girls look like sluts? I go drinking. So does Miku, and Luka, and Haku, -She numbered them off on her fingers- and some of the others. You don't see us on the front of magazines sucking cock!"

The other Vocaloids only watched this exchange, feeling tense and awkward, looking from one to the other, like a tennis match.

"No. No, you don't. Because you all possess more self-control than I do. And I should have more. I was wrong. What I did was wrong. And to avoid any other situation like this happening ever again… I've decided to quit the band."

The room exploded with voices.

Some, like Miki, Rin, Len, and Miku, protested, begging her to reconsider.

"Gumi, you don't have to!"

"We totally forgive you!"

"It'll be fine, you can stay!"

"No, you can't leave!"

Others, however, like Luka, Meiko, and Kaito, wholeheartedly agreed with her decision.

"Good. Good riddance."

"Can we say we kicked you out?"

"Have fun wherever you're going. Just try not to get caught having fun."

Gakupo scowled. "You're just gonna let them say that stuff to you? Come on, Gumi, you're better than that." He said, under his breath to her.

"I want everyone to know I left of my own accord. So no, Meiko. Other than that, I thank you for wanting me to stay, but, as you see, I can't. I've already made arrangements, and packed up all my things. I won't be troubling you any longer. So goodbye."

She turned and left the room, leaving the rest of the singers in states of surprise or anger.

Gakupo followed her out to her car, which was already packed up with her belongings.

"Gumi?" He grabbed her hand, holding it in his much larger one.

She turned and looked at him, her eyes devoid of any feeling.

"I'll miss you."

She smiled sadly. "I'll miss you too. But I've got to do this."

"You're not… afraid? Of whatever's out there? I mean, since Vocaloid, everything's been, I dunno, certain. Secure. You know everyone here. You know what you have to do. You're sure you'll be okay just… Starting over?"

"I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid of being alone. I don't like being alone, but it's better than being surrounded by people that hate me." She smiled, matter-of-factly.

"You're sure you'll be okay? I still feel bad for letting you just go off into the world, all by yourself."

"This is… This is what I need right now." She nodded, resolutely, and that was that.

"You'll know where I am."

"Goodbye, Gakupo." She opened the car door and got in.

He leaned down so they were at eye level with each other.

He grabbed her face in his hands, gently, and kissed her. And she didn't pull away.

And Gumi knew she didn't just love him when she was drunk. She loved him now, and all the rest of the time they were together. She loved him. And he loved her back. She could feel it, and it was almost too much to bear. She could almost stay, if Gakupo was there to help her through everything. She could almost stay if he would never stop loving her. She could almost stay for moments like this.

"Goodbye, Gumi." He whispered, his forehead pressed against hers.

He made a move to back up, but she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in for another kiss.

It wasn't rough, but it wasn't gentle either. More than anything, it was demanding. It was needy. They knew they wouldn't see each other again, and that things would never be the same, and they just wanted to hold onto this, whatever this was, for one more moment.

"You little slut! Get out of here!" Luka screamed, from the front step, some of the other Vocaloids behind her, just inside the door, nosily watching Gumi and Gakupo's last exchange.

They both turned to look at her, then looked at each other. Gakupo stepped back, and Gumi shut the door.

She started the engine, pulled out of the driveway, and then she was gone.

Gakupo stood, rooted to the spot, unable to move.

The taste of Gumi's mouth was still on his tongue. The look on her face after they'd kissed the first time was burned into his brain. The warm softness of her skin, the soft smell of sweet citrus, the feeling of her breath on his face, the sound of her voice, all of it was still so fresh in his mind. It had all happened too fast, it had been too real for her to just be gone now.

He loved her. He'd loved her all along. And never told her. And if all this had just happened, did she feel the same way? Or was it just some sort of parting gift, for being so kind to her? It could have easily just been an impulse, a spur-of-the-moment decision ruled by the way she felt at that one point in time, and no other.

"Come inside." Luka said, gently. "It's okay, she's gone now."

Gakupo burned. His whole being burned at what Luka had just said.

He did, in fact, go inside. And he stormed right past Luka and her sleazy attempt to comfort him.

…::::VERSE FOUR END::::…