Tricked and Treat

Len woke up bright and early the next morning. He stretched, yawned, and walked to the bathroom to wash his face. He heard the sounds of singing in the other bathroom in which Len suspected it could've been Kuroneko. The voice was muffled so Len payed no attention. As he brushed his teeth, Rin walked in as well, rubbing her eyes.

"Morning," Len greeted.

"Ohayou," Rin said sleepily. "Where's Kuro-chan?"

Len shrugged. "Taking a shower, I guess. I heard her in the other room."

Rin yawned. Then she became serious. "Remember, be nice to her, Len."

The boy sighed. "Yeah, yeah, just let me shower up." He pushed past her and went back to his bedroom. Grabbing a towel and some clothes, he walked to the other bathroom.

Len didn't know that Kuro was still in the shower and was still singing. Before he walked into the room, he could hear her singing very clearly. Believe it or not, Len's first thought was, Wow. He peeked through the door just a tiny bit and listened contently. Apparently to him, Kuro was an excellent singer. She was even singing one of his songs, 'Orange':

Orenji no kyoushitsu ni ukabu kimi no sugata ga

Nanika o sagashite sora o miru madogi wa no kimi ga

Fuzakete aruku kaerimichi no ano egao ga mada

Boku o kurushimeru n da

If even she sounded a little bit like a boy, she was really good. Len could hear the passion in her voice and he knew she sang with all her heart. He almost just kept standing there, listening to her every word, when Kuro stepped out of the shower room. Len quickly moved away and continued to wait outside for his turn.

A few minutes later, Kuro stepped out of the bathroom wearing a purple and black striped loose shirt over a purple tank top, black leggings, and her black boots. Of course, she also had her chain pierced on. She gave Len a friendly smile. "Good morning, Len-kun!"

The shota sighed. Back on the "Len-kun" basis. "Ohayou, Kuro-chan."

Kuro smiled more brightly after that. "Are you excited on our first day working together?"

'Not really,' Len thought. "Uh, yeah," he lied. "Can't wait to get started." He forced a small smile.

Kuro laughed and glomped him. Again. "You really are so cute, Len-kun!"

Len was surprised by the glomp and tried to push her away. "Shut up! I told you, I'm not!"

Kuro just laughed. "Yeah, you are!" She was getting all giddy and squeezed him harder. She was also breathing heavily on him!

Len got annoyed, creeped out, and squirmish all at the same time. He pushed her away so hard, he almost broke her arms. Luckily, she didn't but she broke apart from him anyway. "Quit it, will you?!" Len grumbled.

Kuro only laughed again and went to her room. Len sighed and took a quick shower. He came out with his hair in his usual ponytail while wearing a yellow shirt, blue shorts, and yellow and white sneakers.

He walked to the kitchen where the two girls were sitting at the dining table. Kuro was sipping some tapioca and Rin was eating an orange. She had her orange T-shirt, yellow leggings, and orange platform sandals on. Len grabbed a banana and sat with them. "So, will we walk to Crypton?"

"As usual," Rin replied.

"Usually, I take a bus to get to Utaite," Kuro said. "But I guess walking is fine."

"You sure you won't mind?" Rin asked.

"Yeah, I need the exercise anyway." Kuro smiled, eyes shining.

Len couldn't care less and just ate his banana.

As decided, the three left the apartment and headed for Crypton. Rin and Kuro were talking again. Len didn't pay attention and just counted the black concrete posts as they walked.

"Earth to Len?" Rin said, snapping her fingers in front of his face.

"Huh? What?" Len said, snapping back to reality.

Kuro smirked. "I was asking if you could give a suggestion on what song I could sing for the testing later on."

"Oh!" Len hesitated. "Maybe, 'Trick and Treat'? I dunno."

"Len, you need two people to sing that!" Rin scolded. "Plus, Halloween ended only a few months ago!"

"Oh…right."

"Hmm…" Kuro said, tapping her chin. "Actually…it just might work."

Rin and Len exchanged glances. And for once, Len wondered what was on her mind.

Later, they arrived at Crypton Future Media and headed straight for the recording room. All the Vocaloids were there, including Mr. Hiroyuki. Miku and Kaito were just finishing up with their song, 'Cendrillon'. The president nodded 'good job' to them and the two stepped out of the room.

"Ah, Rin, Len, and Kuro," Mr. Hiroyuki greeted them. "I see you're all here to see Kuro perform. Which, by the way, have you already decided on which song to sing?"

"Yep!" Kuro replied. "I know exactly what to sing!"

"Is she really gonna sing 'Trick and Treat'?" Rin asked Len.

Len shrugged. "I don't know, but I'd like to see how things will turn out."

Kuro whispered something to the DJ and he nodded. She stepped inside the recording room and placed herself in front of the mic. Mr. Hiroyuki said, "We're ready when you are." Kuro gave a thumbs up and the music started:

(A/N: In case you don't know, this means Kuro's high voice, this means her low voice, and this means both)

aa…hassei renshuu

boku ga non de imouto ga non dakara

MAMA no oppai!

de naku nattaaaaaaa

fukai fukai kiri no naka youen ni hibiku koe

(uwaaaaaaaahahhahhahhahha!)

oide oide kono mori no motto oku fukaku made

hayaku hayaku isogi ashi de dekiru dake chikaku ni

(TOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKO TOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTOKOTO KOTOKOTO)

oide oide saa tanoshii

asobi wo hajimeyou

SHINAMON SUTIKKU wa mahou no SUTEKKI

hito furi suru dake de SHIROPPU ga fueru

nigasa sae wasurete amai yume no naka

tengai ni mamorarete

nemuri ni ochi zzzz

see~nta joba~da~

kashi wo~ wasureta~heei

mekakushi wo hazushicha omoshirokunai desho

RA~RARA~RARAHOHHO~YA~

RAHHO~I YAHOHHO~

RA~RARA~RAAHOHHOYA~

RAHOHHO~IYA~

trick or treat

okashi wo…choudai?

ya~da yo~be!

hehehe

juu-gatsu san-juu-ichi nichi wa, kodomotachi no daisuki na HAROUIN no hi

sono hi no ban kasou wo shite okashi wo morau…

futari no kodomo wa kuchi wo soroete kou itta…

trick or treat…

okashi wo kure nakya…

itazura suru zo…?

choudai? hayaku…

yokose…

hayaku…

okashi wo…

choudai?

(choudai?)

itsukaraka ginen no yaiba ga miekakure suru

(manji kai…dai guren…! BURIIt! w)

ai to iu menzaifu nado wa sonzari rurerora

(anata no koto gaa suki dakaraa!)

mekakushi no sukima kara nozoki mita PANTII ga

(IYAAN!)

utsushi dashita kage ni omowazu

minoke ga yodatta

(BURUBURUBURUBURUBURUBURUBURUBURU)

oyaoya warui ko mou omezame desu ka?

(ohayo~gozaima~su!)

mekakushi ga toketa nara moumoku ni shiyou ka?

(sayo~nara~!)

horahora warainasai kawaii okao de

kegawa wo mata koumutte

shibai ni modoru

yokkoisho…

HA!? Σ(ﾟДﾟﾉ)ﾉ

"…nee, choudai?"

YARANAIKA?

doushita no sonna me de karada wo furuwasete

atatakai MIRUKU de motenashite hoshii no?

saa naka ni ohairi koko wa totemo atatakai

mikaeri wa POKETTO no nakami de ii kara

choudai hayaku hayaku

nee hora ima sugu ni

nisha takuitsu no gensoku wo kanagurisute

mayakashi de motenashite amai mitsu wo sutte

choudai yokose hora ima sugu ni

choudai

trick or treat…

okashi wo kuretemo

itazura suru zo

Len was shocked. Not only was Kuro able to sing the song perfectly; but she changed the lyrics completely as well! And for some reason…that made Len mad. 'Why would she change the lyrics like that?!' Len thought angrily. 'She had no right!'

He looked around to see the expressions of the others. He expected them to be mad as well. But no. What he saw on their faces was the complete opposite of what he was thinking. Everyone wasn't mad or upset. But they were…smiling? A few chuckled. The rest just burst out laughing. Why were they so happy? What Kuro did was unacceptable! Right?

Len looked at Mr. Hiroyuki. He was smiling too! "I can see why Utaite chose you as their best female singer," he complimented.

Len's eyes grew wide. He even complimented her! Len was confused. What had she done right?

Mr. Hiroyuki nodded to the DJ. "I think this song deserves to be put on air. After a few tweaks, I think we can make it work. What do you think, Kuro?"

"That would be great!" she exclaimed.

"What?!" Len exclaimed as well.

"Woo-hoo!" Rin punched the air. "Go, Kuro-chan!" The other Vocaloids looked at one another and clapped happily. Miku smiled and stepped forward.

"That was excellent work, Kuro-chan!" she said. "We're lucky to have you on board!"

Kuro smirked. "Too bad I'm only staying here a few months."

"Yeah, too bad!" Miku laughed and looked at Len. "Right, Len?"

Len was too shocked to answer. He opened his mouth to speak but Mr. Hiroyuki interrupted, saying, "All right, let's continue."

The day went on. The rest had their songs recorded and aired. They were also uploaded in the website. However, Kuro's version of 'Trick and Treat' got the most likes. Everyone congratulated her for it while Len was still confused and mad. Before everyone left, he had a little talk with Mr. Hiroyuki.

"Sir, why did everyone like Kuro's version of our song?" Len asked. "Why did she get more credit?"

"Like I said yesterday, Len," Mr. Hiroyuki started. "You need to sing these songs better. And apparently, what Kuro sang was-"

"Better?" Len interrupted.

"Well…yes, but that doesn't mean the original isn't good! We received a few good likes when we first uploaded 'Trick and Treat' right?"

"Right…" Len said sadly.

Mr. Hiroyuki sighed. "Look, you can still do better. That's why you have Kuro. She's here to help this company get to the next level!" He smiled as if it were a good thing.

Len nodded reluctantly and walked away. He caught up with Rin and Kuro as they were about to walk home. Unfortunately, Kuro had news.

"Mr. Hiroyuki said I needed to stay here for a little while and work on my voicing," she declared. "So, I need to get to the apartment late."

"Seriously?" Even Len was surprised by this. "He made you stay on a weekend?"

Kuro shrugged. "I can't help it. He says I need to work on other stuff too."

"I can stay up a few hours and wait for you," Rin offered.

"Nah, I'm good. Heck, I could sleep right there and then." She smiled, her red eyes flashing again. "See you guys tomorrow!" With that, she took off into the building.

Len and Rin continued to walk towards their apartment. Rin decided to start up a conversation: "So, didn't you think Kuro's version of 'Trick and Treat' was cool?"

Len frowned. "She was ok…but she completely messed up our song!"

"Oh, come on, Len, you know that's how things are done in Utaite! Getting a song and trying to make it better?"

"No, I didn't know," Len grumbled. "Thanks for telling me."

Rin sighed. "Len, you need to learn to get used to new people around you."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean! I see the way you act around Kuro-chan. She's really nice, Len! She was able to make friends with everyone in Crypton except you."

Len glared at her. "There! You said it! She made friends with everyone. Why would she care about me? Because I'm assigned as her partner?"

"Not just that! She likes you, Len."

Len stumbled a bit. That sure was unexpected. "No, she doesn't!"

"Yeah, she does. I can sense it! She may like you!"

"Key word: may."

"There's a possibility! And still, Len, she just wants to be friends. Is that so hard to ask?" Without waiting for his response, she trudged ahead.

Len stared at her. Then he frowned slightly. "No," he whispered quietly.

Reason why we didn't update last week: my lazy brother didn't bother making this chapter. So I did it instead. -_- Well, can't blame him. We're under pressure right now, actually. You know, school and stuff? Never mind, we're not gonna take our anger out at you guys. Enjoy this chapter! -Ridaa