Breaking Ties and Making Ties
"Luka! Shut up and get your laundry out of the dryer!"
"Coming," Luka grumbled, closing the book and getting out of the chair. "You don't need to be so rude, Rin."
Rin bobbed in frustration. "Just get your clothes," she insisted. "I have an outfit I need to wash as soon as possible."
"Okay, okay, keep your head on," Luka muttered. "I'm getting it."
As Luka folded her laundry in her room, she mused over Rin's behavior. Ever since Neru's visit, the sassy girl had been rude and ignorant. She locked herself in her room often, talking to who-knows-what and playing a song over and over again. Len looked so hurt at his sister's behavior and blamed himself. It's not his fault, Luka decided. I don't know what's wrong with Rin, but it's definitely not Len's fault.
Luka heard the door open and Gumi's greeting: "Hey, Gakupo." Her heart skipped a beat; the samurai had been gone for two days on a trip. Luka put away the last skirt and changed clothes, eager to look presentable.
She hurried out of her room and to the front hallway. "Hello, Gakupo," she said, trying to catch his eye.
The man didn't even look at her. "Luka."
Luka followed him, silently pleading. "How was your trip?"
"Fine."
"I'm glad you're back."
"As am I." He disappeared into his room.
Luka stomped her foot. I missed my chance! Why won't he ever pay attention to me?
Kaito walked by. "Hi, Luka," he said.
"Hey," she grumped.
"Something wrong?"
Luka whirled around, her frustration channeling out. "Is something wrong? Everything's wrong! I'm being stalked by a piece of toast, Rin's avoiding everyone, Len's got hurt feelings, Gakupo's ignoring me, and life is fantastic!"
"Gakupo ignores everyone," Kaito pointed out.
Luka sighed deeply, unwilling to accept it.
"Meanwhile, maybe you could talk to Rin, see what's up with her. Maybe she'll tell you what you want to hear."
Luka blinked. You've told me what I want to hear. "Thanks, Kaito."
Kaito dipped his head, eyes sparkling, before going into his room.
Luka took a deep breath and went down the hall to Rin's room. The song was playing once more, and there was a husky voice that was too quiet for Luka to make out. After the song ended, Luka knocked on the door.
"Rin? Are you in there?"
"Luka!" Rin's voice rang out jubilantly. "Perfect timing! Come in, come in!"
Mystified at the sudden change in the girl's behavior, Luka entered the room.
Rin was sitting on her bed with a wide grin on her face. "I've just finished it," she proclaimed proudly. "I made something for you, since you've been so stressed out lately. Come over here!"
Rin led Luka over to her laptop and monitor on her desk. Rin took a seat and fiddled with the computer for a bit before giving her seat to Luka.
"Behold my wonderful video!"
She clicked once, and the screen went black.
On the dark display, yellow words appeared:
Kagamine Rin Productions presents…
…an all-new song and dance from this particular Vocaloid…
…may I proudly present with prideful pride…
DANCING SAMURAI COVERED BY KAGAMINE RIN!
Luka watched with widened eyes as the familiar young teenager sang and danced one of Luka's favorite songs. It was kind of funny, actually, to see the video. Rin was in one of Gakupo's outfits, and it was far too big for her. And, since Rin was neither a man nor a samurai, Luka found the whole concept amusing. If not for the complex dance moves, Luka would have been bored.
After the video ended, Luka clapped politely. It must have been very difficult for Rin to learn the song and dance by heart. She grinned at Rin, who beamed back.
"There's just the credits," Rin pointed out.
Luka turned her attention back to the computer monitor. Samurai-Rin was on screen with several pieces of paper.
"Presented to Megurine Luka by Kagamine Rin," she read.
She switched papers.
"Original song and dance is 'Dancing Samurai' by Kamui Gakupo," she continued.
She switched papers once more.
"Inspired by Luka's feelings for Kamui Gakupo, and my new best friend," she concluded.
Luka was confused at first, but then horrified as the evil red-eyed toast hopped out from behind Rin.
"I hope you enjoyed this, Luka," it sneered, "because it'll be the last thing you ever enjoy before I steal your soul."
It cackled, then the video ended.
Luka whirled around, staring fearfully at Rin. "Rin!" she cried. "What have you done? That toast is evil!"
Rin appeared positively perplexed. "It's not toast," she protested, "it's bread. It told me so."
"It's here?" Luka shrieked, glancing around the room as if it was watching her this very second. "Where is it now?"
"Right here," a familiar voice answered.
Luka leapt to her feet as the toast peered out from behind the desk. "What are you so scared of, Luka?" it asked, tilting its head innocently despite lacking a head. "I'm just a piece of bread."
"You little liar!" Luka shouted. "You are a piece of toast with a grudge against me that wants to steal my soul!"
The toast glared at Luka with half-lidded eyes. "Trust me, Megurine Luka," it growled in a voice loud enough for only her to hear. "You'll regret you ever met me. Rin thinks I'm a piece of bread, and I'm not going to let you spoil her dreams, after she won't forgive her brother." The toast leaned in dangerously, eyes glinting. "And I've already read up on how to steal souls."
Luka swallowed hard. I hope someone, anyone, comes in right now.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Rin?"
Rin looked away from Luka and the toast. "What do you want, Len?" she snapped.
"I wanted to see your video. I heard you finished it."
She sighed noisily. "Okay, come in."
Len entered the room. Luka let him get into the chair, not taking her eyes off the toast. A swift glance toward the door told her that it was slightly ajar. There was a white-robed figure in the hallway, too short to be Gakupo. A hand gestured frantically at Luka.
"I'll be right back, bread," she said sweetly. "It was nice to meet you."
The toast dipped its head almost mockingly. "It was nice to meet you, too, Luka."
Luka slipped out of the room and almost collided with Kaito fidgeting urgently. "Sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay," she whispered back. "What's wrong?"
Kaito gestured with his head at Rin's room; the toast was watching through narrowed eyes. "That," he said out of the side of his mouth. "I thought Rin was with it, so I suggested you go see Rin. My suspicions were correct."
"Did you send Len as well?" Luka murmured around a smile, waving at the toast. It falsely grinned back.
"That was a great performance, it seems," Kaito said loudly enough to be heard in Rin's room. "I'm glad Rin is happy."
"I agree," Luka voiced loudly. "It was so sweet of Rin and her friend the bread to make that just for me."
Len's voice echoed out of the room. "Whisper!" he warned. "I'm trying to watch the video!"
"Okay, we'll be quiet," Kaito called. In a deliberately loud whisper he said, "So tell me about the video."
"I can still hear you!" Len shouted.
"Fine, I'll tell him about it in a very quiet whisper!" Luka hollered back. "Hope you're happy!" She looked at Kaito and began gesticulating excitedly, imitating Rin's dancing. Kaito stood back admiringly.
"Did you send Len?" Luka panted, struggling to perform a certain move.
"Did she really do that?" Kaito whispered loudly. More quietly he continued, "Yes, the whispering is part of the plan, too. I figured the toast was in on this."
"And then she did this flip or something," Luka whispered loudly. She commented on Kaito's statement quietly: "After Rin's argument with Len, the toast is posing as bread and is now Rin's best friend."
"You don't have to do it," Kaito interjected loudly. Quietly he added, "I know. I know more than you think. The toast has talked to me, too, saying th-that you hate me. I figured it wasn't true."
"It's not," Luka breathed.
"I'm sorry, you whisper very quietly! I didn't hear you," Kaito called. "Did you say she landed on her knees, or she handed off some cheese?"
Luka laughed. "The first one. Come on, I'm too tired to do the rest of the dance. Bye, bread!"
"Goodbye, Luka," it purred. "See you later."
Okay. That was actually pretty cool. Some more Kaito x Luka, hmm? Please review!