Ch12

Someone strange came to the house today. I was peeking through the crack of the door to my room, the guy said I've been sent from Crypton to check your lab. The Doctor mutters oh god and then says come in, come in.

And then the man says who is that? And I hide in my room and shut the door. Banana meows and I say shh! Then I hear the guy say who is that? This is secret work to the public, they absolutely cannot know, please ask them to leave. And the Doctor says no it's okay, Len, come out, we know you're there. So I poke my head out the door.

The guys says wow, is this your work? It's amazing, it looks just like Len Kagamine, they were right. Is it repaired? The Doctor says oh, well unfortunately I've been unable to fix it, it's absolutely hopeless. And the man says that's too bad, does Rin Kagamine work? And the Doctor says oh yes, she and the other models besides this one have all been successful. They're all human through and through.

I walk over to them and look up at the strange guy and say, I'm not an it, mister, I'm a person, too. And the guy laughs and pats my head and says, of course you are. And then he and the Doctor go to walk in the lab, and I hear the guy saying wow, his voice is a perfect replica, this is incredible, how do you do it? And I listen until their voices fade.

I'm not an it, right? I'm a person, too..

~.~.~.~

Len, Len, I've gotten a second chance from Crypton. That's what the Doctor says and he's smiling at me instead of avoiding me or glaring at me or making me feel like he's going to kill me right now. No no he's smiling, it's almost scary the way he is though. He says Crypton said just let the current completed projects find out what they are, it doesn't matter, they don't matter anyway. I agree with what they said. They told me use your People Creator to recreate the Vocaloids, but this time give them no memory, they will be made pure Vocaloids, made only to sing. And Doctor smiles and says, we have another chance, this is our new chance to be rich and famous.

Correction, Doctor, you, I'm going to be dead. But Doctor, if you make new Vocaloids, what happens to Rin and Kaito and Luka and everyone? I don't know, we might just dispose of them if they still decide to become singers after they find out they're Vocaloids. This new generation will be twice as—

Doctor, you're going to kill them? You can't! They're people, they're people too, they've only been alive for a little while but they're human Doctor you can't kill them! The Doctor says sure I can, they're not actually really people. They are, but I believe even you have pointed out that their memory is simply fabricated, fake.

I did? Did I say that out loud? Ooh… I hope I'm not saying all my thoughts out loud all this time. The Doctor says only recently. I don't like that thought at all.

I don't like the Doctor like this. I liked him better when he was angry at me and ready to kill me. I ask Doctor, what about me? I'm not a normal Vocaloids like the others but I still am. What are you going to do with me? He says I don't know, just let you continue on your current path. You won't last another year, any way.

~.~.~.~

Rin and I are whispering at the lunch table. She says that Christmas Break is already coming up fast. And Len, you know our birthday is coming up too, right? And I remember oh yeah, I almost forgot, Rin, what do we do? And she says I don't know, we should do something special. We'll be four – or I guess, well, how old would we be? Umm, we were made four years ago, I don't know if I went to middle school or that was fake. And I say Rin I'm so confused. And she says me too, I can't even figure out how old I am! And I say well most everyone in this grade is fifteen, but our birthday is in December, so—and Rin says oh, so I guess I'm sixteen?

I shrug. It's so confusing. And then I say, only you Rin, because I'm still fourteen and always will be. And then we stop talking and I put my head on her shoulder and she puts her head on mine and we just sit and listen to everyone else talk.

~.~.~.~

Len, meet Meiko two. Meiko two, this is Len one. Len one? I'm Len one? Oh oh she's still there oh um hi, I'm Len. Hi! I'm Meiko, but of course you know that right? Can I call you Lenny? Ah ah ah please don't, umm s see… And the Doctor says it's okay, she knows what she is and that there was another Meiko before her. And I say ohh um um well the the um other Meiko called me that…

And she laughs and says oh okay, I'll think of some better name then. Hey Len, can you sing? And I say umm no not really, I don't sound too pretty. And she says aww, come on try please? Umm no thanks, and I leave.

I want the real Meiko back. This isn't Meiko.

~.~.~.~

The Doctor says these Vocaloid twos will be so much easier to make, I don't have to program memories at all, just some common knowledge and they're good to go. The world can find out about my Vocaloids any day, any day now, I'll become rich for sure. Meiko two says that sounds fun, can I live with you?

And the Doctor says if you want, I have a feeling you'll be busy travelling the world, singing. Meiko two's face lights up and she says, that's even better!

I think I need to tell Rin before the Doctor makes more people.

~.~.~.~

See you guys next year! Haha, bye! That's Rin, today's the last day of school until after Christmas Break. I say um Rin, can you come back to my house with me? I have a little problem. And she says uh oh, that's not good, sure I'll come. So I open the front door and Kaito is standing in my house. Oh, hi there! Who're you?

Rin says Kaito? What are you doing? Of course you— and I say Kaito, Kaito two already? But but the Doctor had Meiko two only a little while ago, and and and! Kaito two says whoa, are you okay? You – actually both look sick, here sit down? Did you eat too much ice cream?

Rin whispers in my ear, oh my god Len, what is going on? And I say, Rin Rin this is my problem! And she says my God Len, this isn't a little problem! This is a big problem! And then I say come on I'll tell you and we walk past the kitchen and Meiko two is vaccuming. Hi Len! She says and then keeps humming to herself.

Rin stares wide eyed and I grab her hand and pull her to my room and Banana follows us and I close the door. And we sit on the bed and she says Len what on earth is going on? I say Rin, Rin, the Doctor is making more Vocaloids, Rin, and he's going to kill the old ones, like you and Kaito and Meiko and Luka and everyone, because there can't be two of the same person, and I and I ahhh I don't know what to do! My brain hurts, my brain hurts, my brain hurts! I feel like I'm going to explode!

And Rin says gosh Len, calm down, we can figure this out calmly! But it really, really, really hurts! I feel like my head is going zshwa zshwa boom! I try to smush my head with my hands but it doesn't feel any better.

Rin leans forward and puts her hands on my shoulders and says Len? But I'm like ow ow it's exploding in there! And she tries to lean over more but we fall off the bed and Rin is all on top of me but my head stopped hurting. And Rin says ahh ah Len are you okay? My face feels really hot, Rin is sitting on me like like like that thing I saw on the internet.

Um um um um um umum um I'm fine! And she says, haha Len you're blushing, wh—and then she realizes that she's sitting me and says ahh sorry Len! And sits on the floor next to me. And then we're quiet for a while and I'm still laying down on the floor, and then Banana walks on me and curls up on my stomach and goes to sleep.

Umm Rin? Y yes? I still need to tell you about the problem. And she says, o oh yeah. Okay, start from the beginning?

~.~.~.~

So, Len, what do you think? All they do is hum, there's more on the way, they're born Vocaloids. I wish I had thought if this, instead of making them human with memories… this is so much more efficient, isn't it?

Not really Doctor, it's even grosser, now they're people without anything but a personality! That's what I want to tell him. But I say ummmm I don't know. And then I go back to my room. I don't feel safe walking around my own house any more.

~.~.~.~

Hey Len, do you want to come over to my house for Christmas? That's what Rin came to ask me today. Oh oh sure! Is what I say. Last Christmas the Doctor gave me Banana in a box, but I'm scared this year he's going to give me a clone of Banana in a box! So I tell Rin okay I'll definitely come. And she smiles and says yay! And then runs off from my front doorstep.

Since I learned that people give each other presents for Christmas, I'm trying to think of something for Rin. But I can't think of anything.

~.~.~.~

Oh oh good morning Len, hey hey hey wanna hear a song I made up? It's about Christmas ice cream! No thanks Kaito two um I'm busy I'm going out for today, okay? Banana! C'mon, I'm leaving without you. And then Banana runs over and I pick him up and put him on my head and we go to Rin's house.

Ohh Len, come in! Rin's upstairs, you know where her room is. Oh? Cute cat you have there, what's it's name? Banana. Banana? Rin's dad laughs and says that's a cute name. And then he lets me in with Banana on my head and I go up to Rin's room.

I was going to yell hi Rin! But she was asleep on her bed. I didn't want to wake her up, so I sat on the floor next to her bed and leaned against the bed and was going to wait for her to wake up. Banana decided not to wait on my head though and curled up against Rin, but I was waiting and accidentally fell asleep.

Len, Rin, wake up, you two! I opened my eyes and Rin was sleeping off the bed now and her head was on my lap. I blinked because I thought oh my gosh this is dream is so so so so and then Rin says oh what huh? And then she rolls over and we're looking at each other in the eyes and Rin is so sleepy she just kind of looks dazed and I say um um hi Rin?

And then she blinks and says ahh ahh oh Len ah! And she sits and wipes her mouth and said ahh I'm sorry I drooled all over your lap! And I look down and there's Rin drool on my pants and I say oh um it's okay. And then Rin's mom laughs and she says well good morning, dinner's ready, after that we're doing presents, come on you two.

And Rin says after her mom leaves, Len does the Doctor celebrate Christmas? Umm no I don't think so but he gave me Banana last year. And then we both look at the bed and Banana is still sleeping on the bed. Rin stands up and says c'mon Len, and then she reaches her hand and I grab it and stand up and then we go out into the hallway and it smells so good!

Rin says just eat what you can, it's okay, I told my mom you're a really picky eater. Any I say ahh umm okay. So we go down and Rin's table is just covered with food! It was so exciting. So there was lots of food and I was so full!

And then Rin says come on Len, come in here, and she pulls me off the chair and I feel like I'm a big ball that's going to roll over and smush her. But then there's this big tree inside the house and I don't feel like a fat ball anymore and I say Rin how did you grow this on the carpet? And she laughs her tinkly laugh and says we didn't grow it off the carpet, Len, it grows outside in places all over the world and we bring it in, see under it?

And I say what, there's lots of presents and boxes. I don't see—and then I see a little green thing underneath that the tree is stuck to. See, Len? They attach the base of the tree to that so it stands up. And I say ooooh. And then she says come on Len, sit down, I got a present for you.

Oh no, oh no, I still didn't think of something for Rin, oh no and now she has something for me and I don't have anything for her! And then I see Rin's parents standing in the door smiling, and oh no oh no I don't have anything! Then Banana runs down the stairs and he comes and sits next to Rin like come on Len give her something but aaahhh I don't have anything!

Here, Len, and Rin gets up and goes away for a minute and comes back with a big big present and says here. And I take it and then I can't see over it because it's big. And I say umm umm Rin I d—and then she says stop talking and open it! So I say okay okay I'm opening and then I try to look for a place where it opens and I can't find one, where does this open?

And Rin laughs her tinkly laugh and says Len, you rip it, you really don't know anything about Chirstmas do you? And I say ummm no, I guess not. So I don't really want to rip it because the paper is pretty but since I have to rip it I poke my finger and Rin laughs and says you always have to do things the hard way and she says Len, just rip it, you're supposed to! And I say ahhh okay and then this time I rip it and then there's a banana inside! A big big big big banana, and then I squish it and oh it's a pillow!

And Rin says I was in the store and I saw it and I had to get it for you. And then she looks at Banana and says and I have something for you too, and she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a yellow collar with a little bell. And Banana meows like he's saying what's that? And Rin says if Banana ever gets lost, someone'll know that he already belongs to someone. And then she puts the collar on Banana's neck and he shakes his head and it dings.

And then I hug my banana pillow and scoot over to Rin and I whisper in her ear um um Rin I c couldn't th think of anything t to give you s so is it okay if my present is a b birthday present too? And then Rin looks at me and I wish I knew what she was thinking because I feel hot like I'm radiating heat like the sun.

And then she laughs and says Len, you don't have to give me anything! And I feel so embarrassed because her parents are right there! And I say shh shh don't say it so loud Rin I promise I'll give you something.

And she says if you can't figure out what to give me, I'll tell you on our birthday, okay? And I say but Rin how do I give you your present on our birthday if you don't tell me what you want until our birthday? And she says you'll know, trust me. And then I say ummm okay. And then she says guess what we do now?

Umm I don't know. And she says now it's time to just do weird stuff! And I want to ask her about the other presents under the tree but I think they'll do them when I leave. Then Rin says c'mon Len, let's build a fire! Have you ever felt a fire? And I say umm I don't think so? And so she says oh oh Dad can you help us build a fire?

So Rin's dad comes over and he has a box thingy with sticks in it and he says I need you two to go get firewood, it's stacked out in the backyard, Rin you know where it is. So me and Rin go outside and get firewood and come back in and he puts it in the fireplace and says okay, now let's stuff some newspaper in. So we crumple up newspapers and put them in, and then Rin's dad sets it all on fire and in a second it's blazing like fwooosh. But it's hot and kind of scary. But it's all orangey and it crackles and it's kind of nice, too. It makes me hot but a nice hot.

And then me and Rin lay down in front of it on our backs and watch it burn, and we just sat there silently for a really really long time until we fell asleep.

~.~.~.~

Len, wake up! Seriously, what are you, a log? I open my eyes and say wow my back feels stiff, Rin did we fall asleep? And she says yeah, it's tomorrow already, do you want to go back to your house? And I sit up and I say okay, Rin do you want to come? And she says I want to but I should probably stay here. And I say okay Rin, thank you so much, it was so fun. And I grab my pillow and put Banana on my head and his bell jingles. And I say see you tomorrow Rin, and then I start on my way home.

And when I get home Meiko opens the door, oh hi Len one, where were you all night? And I say umm at Rin's house, I fell asleep. And she says oh and then walks off humming. And then I go to my room to put my pillow away.

I hope I can get what Rin asks me for fast tomorrow. Or else I won't be able to keep my promise.

~.~.~.~

Happy birthday to us, happy birthday to us! Right Len? Well I don't know if it can be all that happy because there's so much happening and my brain hurts a lot! And Rin says come on Len, just say happy birthday, it's not a happy birthday if you don't say happy birthday. But I say Rin can't it be a happy birthday if you know it's a happy birthday without saying happy birthday?

And then she says, no wonder your brain hurts.

Hey Rin, are you going to tell me what you wanted now? And she says in a while, but I say Rin I really want to know now. And she laughs and says you're being so impatient. Let's go sit in the tree. So I say fine okay and we go outside and I'm trying to climb into the tree and she says here let me help but I tell her wait wait I want to try and do it myself this time! So I'm trying get myself onto that first branch of the tree and I'm trying and trying and I keep jumping up and Rin says please just let me help you? But I say no I wanna do it myself! And then finally I hold myself up with my foot on the stump and then I'm on the branch on my stomach.

And Rin claps and says good job! Now sit up so I can get up there. So after some difficulty I get sit up and then she swings herself into the tree and I say I'm going to do that someday.

And she says just practice and you will. And then we sit there quietly for a while until I ask Rin what do you want? You still haven't said. And she says, don't rush me! And I wonder what on earth is so hard to ask me for.

Then after a long time she says Len, well, I don't really know how to ask this, since you know, well… No I don't know, please tell me what I'm supposed to know? Rin says Len, will you stay with me, forever? Please? That's what I want. Promise me you'll stay with me forever.

Well I can't stay forever. I wish I could have told her that. But I just couldn't because her face was just so pleading and so so so I don't know, it made my stomach flip. I couldn't think of anything else to say besides I can't even though I want to, so I just nodded yes because I want to and I figure that's okay, I say I promise. I promised her because I want to promise that, maybe if I believe that I'll live forever I will. Even if it's not too likey.

Then she says don't leave, ever, okay? And then she kisses me again but this time it's so different what's Rin doing?

~.~.~.~

Well today I went to go try and get in the tree myself because I just felt like sitting there. But I couldn't get in this time so I gave up and when I opened the front door I was standing right there! And I say ummm a mirror? And I close the door in my face and open it again and I'm still staring at myself with such a confused face! But then I look at my eyes and they're not light glacier ice blue like mine but they're darker and more oceany. And I say why are my eyes different? And then the me says I could ask the same thing?

And then I say wait wait Len two? And he says ohhh you're Len one, man I thought I was going crazy. Geez. And then he walks around me and walks down the sidewalk and I wonder where he's going.

But the Doctor never said anything about making another me. He acted so different from me. I don't like him, I wish the Doctor would stop making more people!

~.~.~.~

Rin Rin Rin it's bad it's bad! Len? What's wrong? Rin Rin the Doctor made me! And Rin says what? The Doctor made me, he made me! And Rin says, uhh… he made me too? And I say no no Rin come on! And I grab her hand and pull her all the way back to my house and then Len two is sitting on the couch eating chips and I point to him and say there there that's him!

And then I, no me me but the other me looks up and says oh hey Rin. And then he looks back at the TV. And Rin says oh my. And then Len two says what? You want some? And the throws the bag of chips at Rin and she catches it and says eww no I don't want any! What is wrong with you? And she throws them back at him.

And he says what? Ohh, you're Rin one. Figures. And then me and Rin look at each other. I don't like that other me. He's not me. He just looks like me. I'm the only real me.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, but you know I'm you now. Soooo….. and the other Len is looking at me and I cover my mouth because I'm just so embarrassed. It's my brain's fault for making me say my thoughts out loud!

~.~.~.~

Next chapter is the last one, guys. I am so sorry, I promise I will not procrastinate putting it up…!