Hey-ho, ladies and gentlefolks! I am back with the (hopefully) long awaited ninth chapter of my Vocaloid OC story, You Don't Know Me, starring my very own OC, Miyako Nakamura. Mimi goes a little bit weird in this chapter, just warning you there. Haha, anyway...
I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger last time, didn't I? *understatement of the century* So yeah, there will be answers and confessions and other various dramatic moments in this, and I hope you enjoy it ^^
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~Chapter Nine: Breakdown~
~Len's POV~
I lean against a tree, tears streaking my cheeks. How could she do this to me? How could she lie to me and everyone else? I thought I meant something to her, but I'm obviously just one of the people she used to get what she wanted.
Did you even listen to her?
Did you see that picture?
Did you? Really?
I put my hand in my pocket to find the crumpled photo that someone shoved into my hands as they ran past. Why I didn't tear it apart right then, I don't know. I sigh and open up the picture.
Yeah, Mimi's kissing Kaito. Simple.
You sure it's not the other way around?
I look again. I must admit, Mimi's a good actor. She can look innocent in a split second.
Wait. I narrow my eyes and look closer. Mimi does look honestly surprised, and while Kaito looks entirely comfortable, she is stiff and awkward looking. Also, she has her eyes wide open, while his are closed. The final thing I notice is that Mimi's arms are by her side, rigid, fists clenched, while Kaito's are wrapped snugly around her waist. Suddenly, I realise how wrong I've been about all of this.
Told you so.
"Baka!" I curse myself, slamming the hell of my hand into my forehead repeatedly. Some people give me odd glances, but I leg it before they get chance to call a nearby mental asylum.
"Mimi!" She's not in her house.
"Mimi?" Not at the park. Where is she?
"Mi-" The sharp sound of a train's whistle drowns out my speech.
Wait.
Train whistle.
Train.
Oh, God. She's not leaving town, is she? Oh, this is all my fault!
Do something about it then, genius.
I break into a flat out sprint towards the train station. Oh, please, mother of God and bananas, don't let her have left yet!
I skid to a stop as I approach the platform, looking around for her. Finally my eyes rest on her. At first, I don't recognise her. Her hair is obscuring most of her face, but as she's looking to the side, I can just see her piercing dark eyes, and the dark circles underneath that are major contrasts to her pale skin. Her leather boots look two sizes too big, and her school uniform is practically falling off her. God, is she really that thin? She looks like she hasn't eaten in days. She sways slightly, and I see the glisten of tears in her eyes. Oh, Mimi..
The train whistles again, and Mimi sighs. Her mouth shapes words, but I don't know what she's saying. What is the doing here? Come on, Len, do something! The girl you love is leaving!
"Have your tickets ready, please. The train is about to enter the station!" a cheerful voice from the tannoy says cheerfully, but no one is there to get on the train except for Mimi. Dammit, Len, go stop her!
Maybe she will be okay without me. Maybe she'll be better off. I sigh. Man, I'm such a lousy human being. Ah, screw it. I'm saying goodbye. It's the least I can do. Then maybe she'll leave happier.
Go convince her to stay, dumbass.
No.
Why the hell not?
She'll be better off without me.
Wimp.
Oh, shut up.
Make me.
Maybe I will.
Dude, get over yourself. I'm in your head.
Ugh..
Tick tock.
Fine!
Excellent.
I roll my eyes and look at Mimi again. She is staring down at the track. The train is speeding into the station, and I begin to walk towards Mimi, rehearsing what I will say mentally.
"Mi-" I freeze, my eyes going bowling ball wide. What is she doing?
Oh, God, no. No, no, no, no!
I try to scream, to call her name, but all I can do is watch as she closes her eyes and lifts her foot onto the track. The train is about to arrive, and it's pelting down the track with speed.
Screw it. I run forward, rubbing tears out of my eyes furiously. I reach out my arms, and dash the last few feet, yelling. Mimi doesn't notice me. Come on, Len!
Train.
Whistle.
Station.
Tracks.
Boots.
Hair.
Eyes.
Uniform.
Foot.
Run.
Reach.
Yell...
Mimi.
~Mimi's POV (that last Lenny bit was slightly weird, but just carry on reading xD)~
Am I dead?
Someone is breathing heavily behind me. My arms are pinned to my sides, but I can't tell what the source of the pressure is, as I am surrounded by utter darkness. Something is causing my foot to hover above something.
Well, that was quick. I felt no pain whatsoever. The sound of the train is still ringing in my ears, so I'm guessing the after effects of...well...death, haven't really kicked in yet. I wait, the weight not yet lifted from my arms.
So, is this it? I just wait for something to happen? For a dude with a pitchfork and horns to take me to my fate?
There's that word again. Fate. It can bring people together, or tear them apart. It's an unstoppable force of nature. No one has any control over it. It just is.
By the way, don't even talk to me about angels. I've given up believing in miracles. They just don't happen to a girl like me.
What about Len?
What about him? He hates me. He's better off without me; they all are.
Aren't you sad you couldn't say goodbye?
I don't answer that question. There's no point. No point to anything anymore. If they leave me here in the dark, I'll slowly become more and more insane, until one day I won't be able to say one word without bursting into hysteria. Insanity. It seems quite a dangerous word, but infact, I think it sounds quite peaceful. I'm free now. Free from the restricting chains of life. Free from my mistakes. Free from myself. I'm drifting through eternity's blissful abyss. Drifting slowly into madness...ha...haha...
"Please," a voice whispers hoarsely, making me jump right out of my crazy session. What the heck happened there? I turn my head to the side, listening, but nothing else is said. I feel the instinct to open my eyes, and the backs of my eyelids turn red as a light glows from the other side. Huh? Where'd the light come from? Something is trembling behind me, and I sigh, giving into temptation at last.
As soon as my gaze focuses on the world around me, I become aware that I'm still standing on the edge of a platform at the train station. I suck in a breath in shock. Is this some sick twisted joke? Something to help me along the path to total insanity?
"Please," the voice says again, sobbing, and I look down to see two arms wrapped around my shoulders. So that's why I couldn't move...the arms wrapped around me are cool but shaking madly. My foot, which is becoming pretty numb, is still hovering in midair next to the track. The train is presently speeding off along said track, away from me. Damn. Missed it.
I notice that someone's still holding me. Who the...? I turn my head as far as I can go with the grip on my arms, and catch a flash of blonde hair.
"Rin?" I ask, and the person behind me suddenly stiffens up again. The arms tighten as if the owner doesn't want to let me go...or as if they're afraid to. Okay, seriously, what's going on? "Rin, what's going on?"
The arms suddenly move to grip my shoulders and I'm spun around until I'm face to face with none other than...Len Kagamine?
"Len?" I ask, eyes bowling ball wide. Len's face is unmistakably furious, although his cheeks are bright red and streaked with tears.
"Are you completely stupid?" Len yells. I take a step back towards the track, but he grabs my arms.
"Len, I-"
"You're such an idiot!"
I suddenly become angry, and shove him back with all the strength I can muster. He glares at me, but after a while, he closes his eyes and bows his head. His eyebrows are still set in an angry position, but he's muttering to himself.
"Baka!" he hisses under his breath. "Should never have..."
"Come?" I suddenly say, and it comes out harsher than intended.
"I didn't know, I-"
"You didn't want to know!" I yell, cutting him off.
"If I hadn't come you'd be dead right now!" Len says, his voice rising to the same volume as mine. I shake my head, smiling at the ground, although endless floods of tears are now freely making their way down my face.
"Maybe that's a good thing," I whisper, stunning Len into absolute silence. I look up. Even the birds stop chirping in the nearby trees. I look at Len, still tearfully half smiling, and then shrug. My anger seeps away almost instantly as he clenches his fists and as I see the glisten of tears in his eyes. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from losing it entirely.
Silence for a while.
More silence.
Eventually, neither of us can take it anymore, and he holds out his arms and I practically fall into him, crying. He clamps me tight to him in a hug that Rin would be proud of.
"I'm s-sorry," I sob. Len just holds me tight, gently rocking me, safe in his arms.
"Hey, shh, shh," he whispers softly, stroking my hair. I bury my face in his chest, and he rests his head on my shoulder. "Don't do that to me again. Ever."
"I-I-"
"Promise me."
"I promise," I sigh. Len smiles his heart racing, heart stopping, almost heartbroken smile...okay, I lied. I'm not immune...and I just melt, my face burning red. Then Len moves and I move and his lips meet mine and the world just...explodes into light around us. Definitely not candy. Man, if Rin saw us, she'd have her phone out, recording us, or something. I freeze.
Rin.
Rin. Neru.
Rin Neru SeeU Lily MeikoTetoKaitoSeeULilyRin...
Kaito.
Oh, crap.
I pull apart from Len with a jolt and his hands go to my face.
"What? Mimi, what's wrong?"
"I...can't go back..."
"What?"
"They all hate me! Don't you see! I can never go back there!"
"Mimi, shh, shh, it's okay. I'm here, shh!"
"I can't go...back..." I say, my pitch heightening and quickening.
"Mimi...shh...shh, shh, shh, it's alright!" he soothes like I'm a little kid, but I'm not listening. Not anymore. None of it matters.
"Can't...go...back...ha..."
I giggle madly, my sanity slipping away gradually until my mind is a crazy haze.
"I don't care who I am anymore. I don't care about anything or anyone. I don't care. Caring is so normal...insanity is much, much more fun, don't you think? Haha! Am I saying this out loud? Huh...oh, wait...I don't care! Ha ha ha!"
As I, and everything that makes me who I am, slowly slip away from me, I think...or say - I really don't care - one last thought of complete calm.
"Len, I love you."
~Len POV (relatively short)~
"Can't...go...back...ha..."
What is going on? Just a second ago, Mimi was in my arms, we were fine. Well, not fine, but you know what I mean. Now, why is she acting so-
"Ha, ha!" A crazy giggle escapes Mimi's lips, and her eyes are not really focusing on anything at all. What the...she begins to talk to herself, but I can't pick up too many words. I do catch the occasional one or two, though:
"...don't care...anymore...anything or anyone...so normal...insanity is much more fun...haha!"
I swallow hard and force her to look at me. "Mimi, what's wrong?" But she's on a roll now, and she just laughs madly in my face and stares right into my soul, grinning. Mimi...I know I have to do something, before she hurts me, or worse, herself. But what?
Got it.
"Mimi, I'm sorry..." I whisper, and for a second she is completely sane again, her eyes huge and pleading, but I can't take the risk. I spin around her, wrapping one arm firmly around her waist from behind and clamping my other hand over her mouth and nose. It shouldn't take long before she becomes unconscious...at least then she can't hurt herself. Then I'll have to move her, and fast, before she wakes up.
It won't hurt her, Len, don't worry.
Why does it always happen to her? She hasn't done anything to anyone!
She'll be fine. Just do it. It's the best thing to do at the moment.
...okay. I tighten my hand over her mouth, ignoring her insane protests and giggles. They slowly become weaker and less frequent, and after a while her legs give way and she collapses. As she slips into unconsciousness, I catch a last sentence from her, one that breaks my heart all over again.
"Len, I love you." Then her head droops and she becomes limp in my arms. I stare at her dark head for a second, but soon my mind snaps me back to reality, and not a moment too soon.
Okay, now run! Take her to Rin's house! Just go, go, go!
Got it. I lift Mimi so she's in a loose piggyback position. She's still light, if not lighter, than she was the last time I had to carry, her but I don't think a tonne of bricks would have slowed me down. Not today. I run quicker than I've ever run before, down streets and alleys, until I finally reach Rin's home. I knock the door frantically and yell for her to come to the door.
"Okay, okay, what?!" she shouts, opening the door. She freezes as she sees Mimi resting on my back, completely unconscious. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"
"Mimi, she...she tried to...I..."
"She did NOT."
"Yeah. And then she went kind of crazy!"
"Crazy how?"
"Like, all giggly and insane and...scared like hell. She said she couldn't go back.."
"Oh, CRAP, this is not good! Okay, uh...bring her inside, now, lay her on the sofa. My mom's at work, so, uh...oh, God, what do we do?!"
"I don't know! And, what do you mean this isn't good? I mean-"
"Shh," Rin says as we lay Mimi down onto the sofa gently. Rin adjusts a blanket over her, and whips out her mobile. "I've gotta call Kaito."
"THAT BAS-"
"YES, THAT BASTARD! HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP HER RIGHT NOW!" Rin shouts so loud I think the whole street hears her.
"What? Help her? What's wrong with her?!"
"S-She warned us this would happen...after what h-happened with her parents..."
"You knew?"
"Of course I knew. She can't keep everything secret, hard as she tries. I don't think she knows I know, though. She said some things that I just can't bring myself to say, and she warned us that something like this would happen.."
"But why?"
"I DON'T BLOODY WELL KNOW! JUST SHUT UP AND WAIT A SECOND!"
"Okay!" I say, slumping to my knees beside Mimi, defeated. "Okay, just...just call him."
"She'll be okay," Rin whispers, near tears. Then she dials Kaito's number and waits. "Kaito! Oh, my God, thank God you picked up! Mimi's here...yeah...she tried to...SPEAKING OF WHICH, YOU'RE SO DEAD WHEN THIS IS DONE, ASSHOLE! Anyway...yeah, I know...yeah...yeah, it...it's happening. JUST GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW!" She flips her phone shut and puts it away, and then turns to me, sinking down beside me. I wrap an arm around her shoulder and she leans on me, sobbing. "I don't want her to get hurt...not again."
"S-She'll be fine," I say, though I'm not sure. We remain there in silence for a few minutes, and Mimi remains unconscious, occasionally muttering things of complete non-sense. Jesus, I hope she'll be okay...
BANG!
"What the f-" I say, but suddenly Kaito appears in the doorway, his blue scarf trailing behind him to his knees, looking bedraggled and very, very depressed. He sees me, and his fists clench, and I notice that mine have, too. Okay, that's it...I get to my feet, and Kaito steps towards me. Suddenly, Rin is between us, arms outstretched.
"Guys! Please don't fight right now! I know you both want to punch each other in the face," she says. She turns to Kaito. "For the record, I want to punch you in the face, too, but jeez, wait until Mimi's alright first, okay?" Kaito's eyes meet hers for a second, and then he nods and goes to kneel beside Mimi. I still feel like ripping his head off, but I can wait. Mimi comes first. Kaito takes her hand, and whispers to her gently.
"Hey," he says. "Mimi, it's me, Kaito. I don't know if you can hear me right now, but I swear, it's a good thing you're unconscious, right? Because if you weren't, my head would be on the floor right now, right? I know how much you want to hit me right now."
"Good," I mutter.
"But I just want to tell you I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I don't know what I'll do if you get hurt again."
"Die? Preferably thanks to me."
"Len, shut up a second," Rin says, elbowing me.
"You shut up," I growl. "He deserves it."
"You deserve a punch, Len," Kaito hisses.
"You're hardly in a position to talk, Shion," Rin mutters.
"Would you all just shut up?!" a hoarse voice shouts, and we all turn to see Mimi sitting up, rubbing her head. She doesn't look insane anymore.
"Mimi!" Rin squeals, hugging her tight. Mimi smiles over her shoulder, hugging her back.
"Hey, kiddo," she laughs. "Did I scare you?"
"Pssh, no. I knew you'd be okay," Rin says, trying to be cool, but she can't help giggling (or is it crying?).
"Offended," Mimi sniffs, grinning.
"Omigod, just don't do it again!" Rin says.
"Yes, ma'am." Mimi turns to me, and shock flashes across her features. "Len? I-I'm sorry, I-"
"Shh," I say, hugging her in turn and kissing her lightly. "You're okay now."
"Thank you," she says, her arms tightening around my neck.
"You're thanking me for knocking you out?"
"Yes. For saving me from...myself." I nod and step back. Then Kaito steps over, and everyone goes tense, especially Mimi. She jerks away from him, huddling deep into the sofa.
"Mimi, I-"
"Get away from me, Kaito," she whispers.
"But- OW!" he yells, and I see that Rin has just smacked him hard around the back of the head. Rin's slaps come hard. I should know.
"Suffer, bastard!"
"Guys, I-"
"Why would you DO something like that?"
"Like what?"
"Oh, hell no. You know perfectly well what."
"When I...oh."
"YES, 'OH'!" Rin screams. "YOU ALMOST GOT HER KILLED!"
"I said I was sorry!"
"What were you going to say if Len hadn't been there to save her?"
"I-"
"Were you going to say sorry when she was buried underground?"
"Rin.." Mimi whispers, and Rin goes to stand behind her, with me on the other side.
"I'm sorry, Mimi, but he deserves to suffer."
"..."
"Kaito, just leave. Before I hurt you," Rin threatens, eyes narrowed. Kaito looks at all of us, his look turning from defiance and loss (Rin), to love and loss (Mimi - I swear I'm going to hit him, and I will not be held responsible for my actions) to hate and...well, just hate, when he looks at me.
"Get out," I say. Mimi sinks lower into the sofa, and Kaito looks at her, his last hope. She meets his gaze, but after a while she shakes her head.
"Please just go," she murmurs, tears filling her eyes. "Go, Kaito."
Kaito just looks at all of us, and then his face contorts and he turns on his heels, storming out and slamming the door so hard a crack appears.
"Well, that could have gone better," Rin mutters.
"I swear to God," I start, but I'm distracted by Mimi's crumpled face and hunched body. "Mimi.."
"I'm fine," she whispers, and Rin and I sit on either side of her and hold her close to us. She's ice cold, so I take one of her hands in both of mine and rub them until they feel warm enough. I move on to the other hand, and when she's warm enough, Rin sighs.
"I suppose we should try to do something vaguely normal...TV?" she suggests. Mimi laughs, slightly sadly.
"Anything normal will make me feel much better after today's amazing events," she replies, and I nod in agreement. Rin grabs the TV remote and flicks onto the music channel. Two males and a female are singing.
"Oh, my God! It's Kiyoteru~!" Rin squeals, pointing at a brown haired guy with glasses. Mimi giggles and points at a pink haired guy that looks suspiciously like he's related to Luka Megurine at school. Huh, must be the light. Maybe he's her cousin or something.
"And Luke Megurine!" she grins. "Wow, how did they get Aoki Lapis in that?"
"Kiyoteru's so cuuuuute~" Rin sings.
"No way, it's Luke forever!" Mimi giggles. She sneaks a glance at me and I feel a wave of jealousy pass over me. Oh, my God, Len, it's a singer on a programme, stop getting so jealous. Rin looks over at me as well, and then the girls exchange glances and burst into peals of giggles.
"Your face!" Rin splutters.
"I'm kidding, Len!" Mimi says, kissing my cheek. I laugh, mainly at myself for being so silly.
"Where's my camera?" Rin laughs.
"I don't need a camera, that's embedded forever!"
"Guuuuuuuuys~" I whine.
"Okay, okay!" Mimi smiles. She waits a while. "He is pretty cute, though.." She sees the look on my face and bursts out laughing again. "Joke!"
"Oh, my God, guys, stop flirting!" Rin protests. "I'm trying to watch this!"
"Sorry, Rinny~" Mimi says in her singsong voice, and we all turn back to the TV, laughing. Eventually, the girls are giggling again.
"What?" I ask.
"Just this song," Mimi smiles michievously.
"What song is it?" It hasn't sunk in yet. Suddenly, Mimi and Rin's voices, sounding amazing, I gotta say, are bursting into the room.
"SHOTA SHOTA BURNING NIGHT~!" Mimi sings, and Rin pulls off that really long high note after the words, and I go bright beetroot red. Suddenly, there's a flash of light infront of my face, and Mimi and Rin are grinning behind a camera.
"Guys, give it back!" I whine, tickling them to make them let it go.
"Okay, okay, truce!" Rin yells in between squeals and giggles.
"Saved forever," Mimi grins, and I glare at her in mock horror. She just carries on grinning.
"Aw, man, this is so much fun...how is tomorrow going to top this?" Rin asks. We all go silent for a second.
"Tell me about it," Mimi murmurs after a few moments.
Yup, tomorrow's gonna be fun.
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Oh, my God, a lot happened in that chapter. It was possibly one of my most intense chapters, and a lot to fit into 3183 or so words. Yeah, it's pretty short, considering. I hoped you liked it all, and I just had to shove in my Shota Shota Burning Night reference to make it a funny moment. Anyway, I don't have much to say, except...
EMMA, I'M SORRY FOR LEAVING OUT YOUR SHOUTOUTS FOR A WHILE, BUT HERE'S ONE NOW:
THIS WHOLE STORY IS DEDICATED TO EMMA - THANK YOU FOR BEING AWESOME, EMMA! Though maybe I should start calling you Elli now? (General Public: you will have NO clue what I'm on about, so just ignore this bit) LOVE YOU EMMA 3
Anyway, I don't have anything to say now, except, roll on the tenth (and possibly/probably last) chapter of this story. BUT FEAR NOT, FOLKS, as Mimi has not reached the end of her story just yet, and I am working on a new sequel, called Vocaloid: Why Can't I Remember? Let me tell you a couple of quotes from the story (in non-bold italics, cos I'm cool like that):
"You shouldn't be around me all the time," Dell sighs. "It's not safe for you."
"But I like hanging out with you," I protest, gripping his sleeve. "What are you, some comic book villain or something?"
"No," he whispers. "I'm way worse than that." - Mimi's POV (somewhere in the middle-end of the story)
"What is your PROBLEM?!" Mimi screams at me, shoving me away from her. I trip and catch myself on the wall at the last minute.
"Mimi-"
"I don't even KNOW you, so don't act like I'm your best friend or something!"
"No, you're more than that! You're much more than that, Mimi. Please, try to remember!"
"Just leave me alone!" she yells, and turns on her heels to walk away, leaving me alone. As she reaches the door, I see a silver haired boy with closed eyes and an expressionless face waiting for her, arms folded. She speaks quietly to him, much calmer but still upset, and he nods. Then she sighs and closes her eyes, looking over her shoulder at me. Before I can call to her, she shakes her head. The silver haired boy looks at her with crimson eyes, and then sighs and takes her arm, leading her towards the ward and leaving me staring at the place where they had been standing, alone. - Len's POV
"We have a new patient on the ward," Nurse Miki tells me, coaxing a response. I just roll my eyes. Another patient? Great, someone else to annoy me.
"Mhm," I say.
"Her name is Miyako Nakamura," the nurse continues. "She's suffering from pretty much complete memory loss."
"She? Memory loss?" I ask.
"Yeah, it's a girl. She was caught in an accident."
"Oh." Memory loss? "Why are you telling me?"
"Because I want you to show her around." Oh, joy. - Unnamed Guy POV (figure this one out, all is revealed in the story)
So, what do you guys think? Cool, huh? I hope you like it. I'm sad this story is coming to an end, but there's another one coming, as you've just seen, so it can't be that bad, right? Haha, see you next time, folks!
~Kitty Kat, away!