It was silent as that last note rang through the air and then seemed to flutter out the window.

I stared at the woman in front of me with wide eyes. She in turn looked at me through half-lidded blue eyes and didn't seem bothered at all that I had just burst into the room. We stood there for what seemed like forever when she suddenly smiled and took a step towards me. I spazzed out and took two steps backward. My mind went on a fritz; I couldn't think clearly. Who was this lady? Why do I feel like I know her? My eyes darted back to her. She was still smiling that odd smile—it was seriously scaring me a little. I was about to turn and leave with my tail between my legs when she spoke.

"Rin." Her crystal-clear voice rang out and stopped me short.

She knew my name…?

I turned back around, slowly. She still stood where she had been after taking that first step. Her smile had dimmed a little but her eyes sparkled with something I couldn't grasp. Her long, fluffy pink hair trailed down her back and fluttered a little by the breeze as she stared at me.

Wait a minute…cotton candy hair…?

My eyes widened as something clicked in my brain. "Wait, you're the Luka-senpai?" I exclaimed, stabbing a finger in her direction. She looked a little surprised. Then she smiled, looking laughingly amused. "Yes. I am Megurine Luka." I felt a sudden burst of triumph. Yes, one mystery down, one to go!

"Rin." Huh? I came down from my little high and looked at her, inquiringly. Wait, wait, back up. My name—how does she know it? Before I could voice this, she smiled and swept towards me, all blue skirts and cotton-candy hair and engulfed me in a hug. I stiffened, melted and then stiffened again. What in the world is happening why is she hugging me what the freak I'm so confused asjdhfhkdflgsjkfgs-!

She laughed and pulled away, holding me out at arm's length. A brilliant smile lit up her face. I simply stared back, wide-eyed and trying not to die of disproportionate ratio of blood to head. Giggling, she took my hand and pulled me out the door and down the hall in a flurry of pink and blue, rambling on the whole time. "Oh, I'm so glad to finally meet you, Rin! I heard your voice on the CD and it's absolutely perfect! Lily-nee wasn't joking when she said you had a beautiful singing voice. You really take after her, y'know. I knew it was you as soon as I saw you. It's cruel how Lily-nee doesn't send me pictures of you. I mean, I am your godmother after all. Hah, it's odd how you look so much like Len-kun. Ah, well, it's somewhat cute. I think—huh?"

I dug my heels into the sleek marble and dragged us to a stop. Luka stopped and turned around, surprised, confused. "Ah, is something the matter, Rin?" she asked, blue eyes big. I huffed and stared at her, a little upset. "You know my mother?" I shouted. She blinked. "And you're my godmother?"She blinked again as I panted from my outburst. If my mind was muddled then, it was in complete anarchy now. Luka stared at me before sighing and bringing her other hand to sweep her bangs from her face, suddenly looking really pissed. Her big blue eyes were now narrowed and dangerous. "I can't believe that Lily-nee…" she muttered more to herself than to me. "How could she not tell you about me?" I sweatdropped as she continued to mumble to herself. This lady was crazy…wait a minute…I stared at her harder.

Now that I think about it…those eyes, that hair, that voice…it's all coming back to me now!

"I remember you!"

She stopped mumbling to herself and stared at me with big eyes. "You do?"

I nodded vigorously. "I remember you used to visit when I was a little kid." I paused and thought hard for a moment. "You had shorter hair then. I remember. You used to pick me up a lot and hug me and stuff." I felt a little triumphant and proud—I've always had such a bad memory. A bright smile stretched across her face at my words and her anger disappeared just as quickly as it had come. Before I could say anything else, she proceeded to suffocating me in a bear-hug. "I'm so glad you remember me, Rinny! I'm so glad you're here! "

I managed a smile. At least someone here was making me feel welcome. Even if I was losing oxygen, I was happy. I don't know—I guess I'm just happy I found someone I could call family other than my mom. So I sucked it up (haha…I wish I had some air to suck up) and let her hug me. Suddenly another flicker of a memory flashed through my brain. Singing it was…Luka's voice but it was softer and more girlish…I closed my eyes and remembered.

"You sang to me, too. I remember it now." I whispered as the melody wavered in my memory. And the words.

I opened my mouth.

Anata no koto ga suki desu uso desu

dakedo hontou wa... hmmm~

anata no koto ga kirai desu uso desu.

datte hontou wa... hmmm~

I don't know what happened but the words just came out and I found myself singing a song that was so profoundly familiar and…sad. I closed my mouth and clenched my eyes closed tighter.

sunao ni narenai yuuki ga narinakute

uso tsuite baka... nekokaburi

itsu no mani ka watashi no naka ni iru

The same lilting voice reached my ears and I opened my eyes to see Luka singing, her eyes half-lidded as if in remembrance and a small smile on her face.

She looked at me and smiled an almost motherly smile.

"Eto, eto ne e Toeto." She finished, tapping me on the nose playfully. I blushed. She looked nostalgically happy. "You remember the song. I used to sing that to you when you were a kid. " she said, smiling with a faraway look in her eyes. "I always called you Toeto, because you were such a shy little thing then." She looked back to me and grinned. "I suppose you still are." I flushed, totally embarrassed. I know that already. It doesn't need to be voiced. She laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Ok, Rinny. Let's go."

I blinked. What? "Huh? Where? " I asked. She looked at me teasingly. "First period, silly." I paled.

Oh. I shook my head, suddenly feeling really nervous. "Uh, no—I mean…yeah, no." She sent me a confused look. "Rin?" I gulped. "Er...well…"

"What is it?" She prodded gently. "You're nervous?"

I hesitated before nodding. I expected her to tease me again but she simply smiled that gentle smile I was becoming to remember again. She put a hand on my shoulder and gazed down at me with soft blue eyes. "It's ok. I'll come with you."

I opened my mouth to say she didn't have to but she grabbed my hand and we flew down the hallway like a breeze. As I stumbled behind her, I couldn't help the small happy smile blooming on my face.

By the time we got to the music building—which I discovered was called the Senbonzakura building—the whole place was positively bustling with students. I even recognized a few from TV and music videos.

Ohhh, yeah. I so do not belong here. I was about to turn tail and hide in a corner to grow mushrooms when Luka grabbed me by the hand and pulled me into the crowd. As we got closer, I could feel a huge tidal wave of anxiety beginning to wash over me, like it always did when I was around a lot of people. I tried to get away but my new-found godmother had a surprisingly strong grip for a woman like her and soon I found myself in a sea of people—fashionable, hip, cool, rich people. I felt my circuits beginning to go on a fritz. Let me out of here! I'm gonna asphyxiate in all this expensive perfume and professionally tailored uniforms! As Luka pushed through the crowds, I noticed the staring had all began to rivet to me and the pink-haired woman. Feeling nervous, I cowered behind her and hid my face with my hair.

"Who is that?"

"Why is she with Luka-senpai?"

"She kind of looks like Len-sama."

"Who is she?"

"She looks like a nerd."

"Does she really have talent? Doesn't look like much."

I clenched my fists and forced tears back. Crowds, whispers, gossip already? Seriously? Don't people have better things to do than to patronize me? They don't even know me. I want to leave. I want to get out of this place.

"Rin."

I lifted my head to stare at the back of Luka's head. She was still walking briskly through the crowd, parting it like it was The Red Sea and she was Moses. At first, I thought she hadn't spoken but after a second, her mature voice rang in my ears like a bell.

"Don't mind them. They can't be the judges of your ability when they haven't even witnessed it firsthand." She said, softly. "That's why, Rin. You have to show them who you really are—a beautiful young woman with an incredible voice."

I stared at her with wide eyes and it was a surprise I didn't trip. Part of me was thankful and touched that she'd say such a thing but another part of me was doubtful—she didn't know me. I mean, she might think she really knows me, but I've grown up since then. Grown up a lot. I'm not as great as she thinks…

Just as doubt began to fill my mind again, Luka turned around and shot me a brilliant smile. It was a smile of pure faith. And it completely floored me.

"Try your best, Rinny!" she said, cheerily. I stared at her in shock before a smile began to spread across my face.

"Please take care of me, Luka-senpai!" I answered back, grinning like a madman, happiness bubbling up in my chest for the second time today. She laughed and pulled me up a flight of stairs before stopping right in front of a classroom. I looked up at the plaque in front of the door and saw it said," Music II". Wait, this was the room Piko showed to me this morning! Before I could comment on the absolute coincidence, Luka ushered me into the room with a few coaxing words. I stumbled in like a dork, tugging my skirt down and pushing my bangs out of my face, before I looked up and met about twenty pairs of eyes. I stood ramrod-straight and started to break out in a cold sweat. Wh-What? I didn't notice Luka walking up to the front of the class until she began to speak.

"Okay, everyone. This is Kagamine Rin. She will be joining us from today onwards. I want everyone to treat her nicely." She paused and got a dangerous glint in her eye. "Or else. Got it?"

"Yes, Luka-senpai!"

The cheery smile popped back onto her face as she walked over to me and put her hands on my shoulders. "Okay, why don't you say a few things about yourself, Rin?" She cooed.

I gulped and bore holes into the perfectly shiny marble floor. "Uh…um…e-eto…well…I like computers…and,uh…I like other types of technology…and…yeah…" I mumbled, my face burning red.

And yeah? What the heck is wrong with me?

There was an awkward silence until Luka broke it, laughing like what I said was the coolest thing she had ever heard. "How interesting, right? Ok, Rin. Go sit by the window behind Gumi-chan and in front of Mikuo-kun. Guys, please raise your hands!"

I looked up to see a girl with green hair waving her hand in the air like a maniac and a boy with blue hair with his hand propped on his head like it was boneless. I gulped and glanced at Luka. She smiled and shooed me towards the seats. I shuffled down the aisles, avoiding the inquiring and condescending stares of my new classmates. Gosh, gotta focus on getting out of here alive. I can tell I'd be mauled in a second if Luka wasn't here. I finally got to my seat and slipped in, wringing my hands.

"Ne, you're the Rin, huh?" A badly-whispered voice asked excitedly from in front of me. I raised my head and met huge green eyes. I blinked. "Um, I guess." I answered lamely. The girl grinned and stuck out a hand. "Hi, I'm Megpoid Gumi! Nice to meetcha!"

I took her hand and offered a smile. "Nice to meet you." She smiled so widely, I was afraid her face would rip right in half. But she was nice; really friendly. I was about to ask why it seemed like everyone knew me already when someone tugged on my ribbon. Hard.

I squeaked and fell back into my chair. What the flipping 'ay? I spun around and met a mischievously grinning face. I paled. A boy with teal hair and matching eyes stared back at me. Oh, gosh, not another boy. He tilted his head as an enigmatic smile replaced his wide grin. "Hi-ho, I'm Hatsune Mikuo." He purred. I hesitated before sticking out my hand to him. "Hi, I'm—"

"Kagamine Rin, yes. I heard from the rest." He totally ignored my outstretched "ready-for-a-decent-handshake" hand and reached up to tug at my ribbon again, making me flinch. "Being allowed to enter, with Luka as your mentor; it's a refreshing turn of events, wrapped in a cute little present." He smirked cattily and tugged at my ribbon as if to emphasize his point. I only stared at him. Why was he talking in rhymes? Was he some sort of poet aficionado or something? Or was he just a weirdo? But, hey, the name Hatsune sounded familiar…

"Mou, Mikuo-kun, stop stealing her away!"

I turned around to see Gumi pouting. "Baka, get away!" she hissed at the teal-haired boy. He simply smirked but released my ribbon, sending me a provocative wink. I blushed and hurriedly turned back around. Geez, what's with the boys at this place? I reached up and fixed the white silk on my head, gently. Grr, it could've gotten rumpled…

"Rin-chan?"

I moved my gaze to Gumi and the excited grin on her face. "Are you sitting with anybody at lunch today?"

I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Sadly, no."

She positively beamed as soon as I said those words—I could practically see the rainbows surrounding her like a halo. "Great! Do you want to sit with me then? I could introduce you to my friends! They're all really nice and I'm sure they'd love to meet you." I blinked at her sudden offer and mulled over it a little.

Eh…why not? I smiled politely and nodded. "Sure, sounds good."

She cheered but slapped a hand over her mouth as soon as Luka sent her "The Look". She crouched lower in her chair and sent me a bright grin. "Sweet! I'll meet you here after 4th,'kay?"

I nodded and she turned back around, practically bouncing in her seat. I grinned to myself.

Even though I was now sitting in between two weirdoes with one being my potential friends, I didn't really mind it. I caught Luka's eye as she drew something on the chalkboard and she winked.

I smiled and glanced out the window, watching as the sunshine streamed from between the trees. Hey, might be a good day after all.

AbomiT: Hey-ya! I hoped you liked this chapter!

It was pretty fun to write and I got to squeeze in two more Vocaloids today! :D

I hope you all enjoyed Mikuo and Gumi. It took me forever to find words that rhymed well enough. D;

Len and Piko should be making an entrance again soon along with a whole slew of other Vocaloids.

Oh, heads up: I just posted a poll on my profile for what song Rin and Len could sing together for their first song in DLB. I would really appreciate if you'd all stop by and vote.

I'd like to thank all my reviewers for their great reviews!

Thank you to all and please review!