Vocalising Desires: AMPLIFIED/Ask Us!
Author: A joint thing I'm doing. So please read both. 'Ask Us' is going to be a small interview with the character Miku, Len and Tsuki (from Singing Swords) as we ask each other about the two current Vocaloid stories I am writing.
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN VOCALOID! I DON'T OWN ANY SONGS/SONG TITLES/LYRICS. ORANGE RANGE OWN KIZUNA AND GREEN DAY OWN REDUNDANT. I ONLY USE SONG LYRICS TO ENHANCE THE STORY I AM TELLING AND NOTHING ELSE! I DO NOT CLAIM THEM TO BE MY SONGS OR TITLES OR LYRICS OR MELODY!
Chapter 5: Deadbeat Holiday (Part 1: Wake Up the House is on Fire and The Cat's Caught in the Dryer)
-Miku's POV-
I have been quite happy this past week, Len was teaching me how to play Redundant on guitar and I must say he is a good teacher and guitar player. I learnt the song by Thursday and then was too caught up in releasing a cover version of the song on my channel and doing school work to even consider the fact…I didn't confess to him, or interact with the boy since that Thursday. But now I was in the music class with people singing their songs.
SeeU sung Spicks and Specks by the Bee Gees. It was a beautiful song made in the 1960's. My brother and I watch 'The Walking Dead' and I am surprised to recognise that the same song was in the show as well!
Akaito sang a song called Rank-n-File. It seemed…very anti-war and seemed to call to people rally. A protest song. It was good but I only saw his eyes watch my reaction and I felt a little disgusted. If you sing songs about a certain subject you sing about it not try and impress a girl! Sick bastard.
Then Len went up sitting down at the piano. He took a deep breath.
"Ima nani shiteru ka na/Kimi mo mite iru ka na /Orenji iro ni somaru sora wo /Asahi ni kawaru yuuhi wo" Len sung the first verse with a calm and soft voice, letting the song seemingly roll off his own fingers and voice like water running down a smooth rock in a rainforest. I was mesmerised.
"Namida koboshiatte naita yoru mo /Kudaranai hanashi de asa made waratte hibi mo /Wasurenai ima no boku wo sasaeru takaramono dakara /Hanarete itemo kanjiru anata no yasashisa /Dakara doko ni itatte mou hitori ja nai /Donna koto attemo kujikenai" Len continued and I noticed that the tempo of the piano changed as did the tone and feel of the song. It was almost like if he was connecting, no he was connected with the song, evident with the way he was swaying his body side-to-side like a metronome.
"Sora to umi ga kasanatta ano shima no you na /Hanaretemo onaji iro ni yasashiku mazariau /Hora yorisou kizuna" I heard the tone change again, slightly change but a change nevertheless. I have heard Orange Range before, they have three vocalists. Each vocalist had a different pitch. Len was changing his pitch depending on the small solo each vocalist had, I guessed. But in the small three line verse, they all sung together and I heard him neutralise the ranges and use his own pitch, a neutral one but each line he would change it slightly. So he covered all the pitches and vocals, what a smart guy.
"Naninani wo shittari naninani wo shiranakattari /Tomattari mae ni sundari ushiro ni sagattari/Mizukara korogaru toki mo areba te wo karite korogaru toki mo aru /Karan koron mata hirogaru /Karan koron mata korogaru" I see Meiko swaying, see never did that with the other students, Len was affecting her mind, I realised.
"Sotto mune ni te wo atete nemurenai yoru wa /Yume no naka de mata aeru kikoeru komoriuta/Senaka wo osu kizuna/Lalala... /Hora yorisou kizuna" Len and Meiko sung together. Both of them harmonising their voices, Len was surprised for sure and I was guessing the even Meiko-sensei didn't know that she was singing along to the song.
"Tomo no koe ga mune ni hibiita namida de nijinja michi wa mienain da /Ima get up! miagen da hora onaji sora kesshite kodoku ja neen da /Subete seoikomu koto wa nai sa ii ka minna inda ima shinjirun da kizuna /Kuzurenai kienai sa kore dake wa saa ikun da!" Len and Meiko sung in a fast paced melody, their voices slightly deepened as well. Some of my classmates began to join in, the ones who knew the song.
"Ippo ippo tada mae e ippo ippo hohaba awase /Korobisou nara sou te wo tsukame say wo! Wo! Minna de utae /Ippo ippo tada mae e ippo ippo hohaba awase /Korobisou nara sou te wo tsukame say wo! Wo! Minna de utae" many people including me sung the second last verse. A perfect connection to the song.
"Ima nani shiteru ka na kimi mo mite iru ka na /Ame wa yami sora ni kakaru aachi niji de tsunagaru kimi to boku" Len sung the last verse alone with a calm and soft voice and finished the last bit of piano. Got up bowed and without a single clap from us or a thanks from him, he sat down at the back. I think we were all stunned by the song and Len.
-Len's POV-
I was happy that I heard people join in with my singing. But no applause made me a little sad, I was surprised that the teal haired girl who hung around me constantly didn't clap. For some reason…I felt a stab of disappointment.
"Miku is going to sing Redundant now" Meiko-sansei said after shaking her head recovering from the fact she sung with me. Miku stood up and sat on a chair in front of the class, took up her guitar and strummed a few notes, tuned it and nodded several times trying to get the beat and rhythm right.
"We are living in repetition/Content in the same old shmick again/Now the routines turned into contention/Like a production line going over and over and over" Miku sung in a dull voice, slightly deep but clear as a bell, it was a long stretch away from her usual happy, cheerful and crisp voice. Now it was slightly dulled, depressed and gone down (as in deepened). I watched in interest now.
"Now I cannot speak/I've lost my voice/Speechless and redundant/'Cause, 'I love you's' not enough/I'm lost for words" Miku sung the chorus and I see Akaito and Rei frown, at the line 'I love you's not enough. She continues, people are amazed by her vocals.
"Choreographed and lack of passion/Prototypes of what we were/Went full circle 'til I'm nauseous/Taken for granted/Now I wasted it, faked it, hate it, now I ate it" my jaw drops, the hate and hurt in her voice was evident. It was amazing!
"Now I cannot speak/I've lost my voice/Speechless and redundant/'cause 'I love you's' not enough/I'm lost for words" I nod my head at the beat of the song, slow but there. Then everyone hears her amazing instrumental piece of guitar. It was sending out the idea of the dull and repetitive meaning of the song itself.
"Now I cannot speak/I've lost my voice/Speechless and redundant/ 'cause 'I love you's' not enough/I'm lost for words"
"Now I cannot speak/I've lost my voice/Speechless and redundant/'cause 'I love you's' not enough/I'm lost for words" the last chorus was genius, in my point of view. The entire song was almost monotone, no emotion except for the boredom it seemed to radiate, now hearing the last chorus, I can hear the yearning, the pain, the longing. What the whole song is about: forgiveness. Trying to explain the fact that the composer is lost for words. Thathe cannot speak. He is speechless and he knows no matter how much he says "I love you", it was just an empty phrase to repeat the same argument or fight. Miku nailed that song! It was the last verse that gave out the emotion and the feeling. She let people be mesmerised by her change but at the saw time never let on the true emotion in the last verse because the meaning suddenly comes to light in an impact.
Many would disagree and say that the song had no emotion and was boring. That was the whole point! The title says it, Redundant. But I think that the last moment truly enhanced the rest of the song in a big way. And I glance to see Akaito and Rei muttering to each other and I frown, what were they thinking about?
A few days later…
I look up at the music notice for our class. People were muttering and giving me dark looks, hmph, just because I…and Miku came first in the class…
…
….
…
….
…!
MIKU ANS I TIED EQUAL FIRST?! I groaned and face palmed. So why was that such a bad thing? I guess people now think that just because we tied we would be a 'couple' but a bunch of idiotic, mindless, horny, motherfucking assholes. Christ alive, if that were true then people who tie would be a couple meaning that there would a mixture of gay and bi-sexual couples in Elementary and Middle School. These people were morons. But on a good note, my insomnia has been solved! I don't even take meds anymore! For some reason, recently I have been going to bed normally! Woo! Rin also says that my aura has changed from gloomy to…Len-like. Whatever that means. But I admit I have pulled all nighters still.
"Hey Miku what did you mean by singing that song?" I hear kaito ask a passing by Miku.
"Nothing" Miku replied gritting her teeth. I guess by her attitude this isn't the first time Akaito had asked that question. Geez, people now-a-days.
"Hey Akaito!" I said to him, walking up to him and tapping his shoulder.
"What?" he barked and my macho had gone.
"L-l-leave Miku-san alone, can't you see she is trying not to k-k-kill you" I stuttered slightly, Akaito was a bigger boy than me obviously. He grabbed me by the collar and pulled me in close to him. Pulling back his right fist.
"What was that loser?" Akaito asked and a closed my eyes awaiting the punch.
"Mr. Shion please put down Mr. Kagamine" a teal haired man said politely. I open my eyes to see Mr. Mikuo. He was tall with teal eyes and teal hair. He was very young to be our science teacher and was an honour student here about six months ago. He worked in America I heard for a few months helping out as an assistant to a college lecturer. So he was very smart and rumours said that he was also training in the American military while he was there for his short stay. Now that I think of it, his full name is Hatsune Mikuo…is he related to Miku? I would not be surprised. Akaito gasped as Mikuo's hand rolled the bones in Akaito's wrist. Now people would say this is child abuse. But Mikuo was only 19 and a teacher but he was incredibly discreet.
"Brother?" Miku exclaimed. That confirmed it. I fall on my ass as Akaito dropped me. I see tears form in his red eyes.
"Now run along and don't ever annoy Miku, Len, Rin or me. Got it?" Mikuo-sensei said, his eyes seemed to burn with black flames and Akaito nodded fearfully and was let go. "Good now off to class, the lot of you"
We all nodded and went off to class, noticeably with Akaito running for it and Miku standing beside me the whole way. I wonder why I never saw the resemblance. Oh yeah, cause I don't notice this stuff.
-Miku's POV-
Lunch time! Yay! Yay! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY!
I love lunch, freedom and Lenny! I ran up to the rooftop and slammed the door open and spun around in a circle and opened my eyes to gasp to see Len on the ground, beaten up and bruised. He had some cuts on his body and I bent down to examine his wounds.
"Len. LEN! LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNN!" I shouted, shaking his limp body. I can feel a beat in his heart, like a marching band's drum. His breathing his a little raspy and his eyes completely closed. He muttered and he opened his eyes suddenly leaping back and huddling up to the railing behind him. Fear filled his blues eyes which seemed to shrink in horror and fear. I tried to touch him but he scrambled back further. I was a little confused, just before classes started earlier today, he was normal, calm, peaceful and confident. Now it was gone. And what replaced it was the scared and fearful, quiet Len.
"Len?" I hear a voice say behind me. And he got up and leapt in Rin's arms and she seemingly glared at me buti put my hands up in defence.
"Rin…it hurt" Len muttered into her shoulder.
"Miku…what happened?" Rin asked with a murderous smile. I shudder, I didn't do anything.
"Nothing, I opened the door, spun in a circle and found Len lying on the ground. When I tried to waken him, he jumped back and tried to fit through the fence I think" I replied honestly. Why was Len acting like this? Rin placed her brother down in the shade and let him calm down.
"Hmmm, bruising…a few cuts here and there…nothing broken…a few small wells of blood evident that he was being poked by needles or pins" Rin muttered and I looked at my friend with horror.
"Then…he is being bullied!" I exclaim.
"Most likely and things like this bring him bad memories. I'll take him home, tell the teacher, mine and his why we are away, just say: Len is sick" Rin said and I nodded lettingher know I will do so.
"I will" I said bowing.
"Thank you" Rin replied and she let Len lean on her as they walked away. I watched in wonder why would anyone hurt Len. I instantly think Akaito but what proof did I have! I sigh…
While walking home, which I am doing now. I think of a new song in my head. The title will be Odds & Ends. I have already thought of the lyrics and the tunes and rhythm of the song. Ryo will be please to know the song. He is from a band called supercell. Sometimes he gave me songs, other times I would.
"Hey Ryo" I said as he picked up. I called him as I walked.
"Oh hey Miku, let me guess…more songs, eh?" he replied knowing the answer in the background I hear laughs and conversations from his band members.
"Yeah"
"By the way Miku. I am going to…work with other singers for a while so whatever you have is going to be our last song for a while…maybe forever" Ryo said sadly and he was confident in what he was going to do but he didn't want to hurt my feelings I knew.
"That's alright Ryo. I am going to send you the song and you can work out the instruments and stuff" I said smiling, Ryo was the one who gave me the fame in the first place.
"No problem, I can collaborate with you on the lyrics, I want to do one about my music career if you don't mind" Ryo said and I hesitated, I wanted to do on about what I was experiencing now but…
"If you can keep about 50% of my lyrics, you have a deal" I said bargaining with the songwriter/composer.
"Done, I will talk with my band and I will send you over what lyrics we have and we'll sort this out over time, eh?"Ryo said.
"Thanks Ryo" I said.
"Again, no problem…no let's smash this last song!" Ryo exclaimed and I smiled as I reached my apartment and unlocked the door.
"Yes, let's do so" I said laughing.
Author: Odds & Ends was the last song Ryo did using Hatsune Miku in 2012. It is one (I have said this like a million times) my favourite song by Hatsune Miku and it still brings tears to my eyes. Yes the next chapter will be: Odds & Ends (Part 1). Also if you were wondering about this chapter. Deadbeat Holiday is by Green Day from their album Warning. The Part title is the first two lines of the song: wake up the house is on fire/and the cat's caught in the dryer. It sounds like chaos, right? Well that is what the last bit with Len was. Chaos, emotional chaos for him. He has just woken up from horror and fear. So yeah, next bit is a promotional episode of 'Ask Us!' it is not published yet and I am still wondering if I should it in script form or as paragraphs and stuff, like a story. So enjoy!
Ask Us!
Episode 1: Promotion and Singing Swords
Guests: Hatsune Miku and Kagamine Len
Host: Author – Four4Two
Co-host: Yamamoto 'Iota' Tsuki
This story has been interrupted by this special section on the story.
Author: Welcome to the post-chapter episode of Ask Us! Seeing as many people aren't giving me questions, I am going to start of the project with a discussion with Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Len and with my co-host Yamamoto 'Iota' Tsuki!
Miku: Hey everyone! [eating a leek]
Len: 'sup [peeling a banana]
Tsuki: damn it is hot in here [drinking some water]
Author: alright then welcome guys, I hope you like what I am doing with you guys in the stories I have put with you in it [takes a sip of cider]
Miku: yeah, I like this new version of 'Vocalising Desires'. There is so much more detail and events that happen and I like the way you use song titles as chapter names!
Len: I like 'Singing Swords' I like the fact that it is new, a little confusing but it isn't…too simple to follow but at the same time it is, you have to remember a lot about the characters. But what I like is the secrets you are withholding from the readers. I like that because you are trying to get them engaged.
Tsuki: I like both, but I guess both have their flaws but at the same time make that up with creativity and some originality.
Author: Thanks guys, so you like what you are doing in your stories?
Miku and Len: YEAH!
Tsuki: I don't mind, as long as I can be liked by our readers.
Author: this is a little awkward. Considering you Tsuki is the love interest of Miku in 'Singing Swords' but in 'Vocalising Desires: AMPLIFIED' Len is the love interest of Miku.
Tsuki: Yeah, I don't really mind actually. I actually thought you would pair me with that tuna smelling Luka.
Luka: I can hear you!
Author: yeah I did try and do that, but it felt…off in my perspective so I changed it, because Miku needed an important part in the story and I felt like I neglected her.
Miku: yeah. You did.
Len: But I know you. You had changed the story three times for chapter 4 and 5.
Author: I did. The fourth chapter was supposed to span a year or two after the events of chapter 3 but I decided it wouldn't be good material.
Miku: So why have us like the character of you own story?
Author: I wanted to add some of you in there but decided against it, it would have been weird but now I think 'Singing Swords' is the official plot for my 'Seven Crow Cry' universe.
Tsuki: you usually add many original characters into your stories why?
Author: to have some originality into the plot, story and events. I know even one OC character can change an entire personality of one actual character in a story.
Len: Why are you drinking?
Author: really? [takes out another bottle of cider]
Len: yeah
Author: Hey, I'm of age and I can drink if I want, but I do so responsibly…maybe in Singing Swords, you can get fucked up…
[Len trembles in fear]
Tsuki: why is Len looking very scared for?
Author: Len…then…had…a drinking competition…with …Meiko…and IA… [typing]
Len: Why? Why would you make me do that?
Author: cause I am EVIL!
Miku: So what is your plan for upcoming chapters and stories?
Author: I might drop all Pokémon stories…possibly. I will release another MikuxLen fanfiction. Maybe a yuri LukaxMiku. And another Singing Swords story with the pairings people want. That's if I can get to it.
Len: WOOHOO! More stories about us! Oh, sorry Tsuki, I forgot you aren't a Vocaloid!
Tsuki: least I am not a piss hair, banana assfucking, shota like you whose voiced by a girl, which makes me think you are in fact a shota…
Len: …
Author: apply cold water to burn…
Miku: wait…another story with Len then another with…Luka?
Author: Hey, I have nothing against homosexuals
Tsuki: I see
Author: Anything else you guys want to add…
Miku: Please support us, so our writer can feel motivated to write
Len: Love what we do; we try our hardest to create a sense of originality in our stories
Tsuki: Vote for me becoming a fanmade Vocaloid
Author: really?
Tsuki: Nah, just know that even a one word review means a lot to us. Favourite a story is a blessing and following makes us happy. We want to be acknowledged for our hard work and our author's aching neck and numb fingers
Author: Thanks, I want to say thanks to everyone who is reviewing, it is a small number but I am very happy. As Tsuki said, a one word review means a lot to me, it means I can work harder. Following a story wants me to put out more chapters and to favourite a story is the same. If can do all three, then I can feel a lot better. I want to be acknowledged as a writer as a whole. I have read a lot of FanFictions and have seen repetition. It is boring and dull. I really can't understand why they get a lot of attention. Can you?
Miku: Yeah, something called mainstream.
Author: don't think that is it Miku.
Tsuki: I can't actually, it is a weird one.
Len: I like some repetitive plots but it depends if the plot has another…unique element in it.
Author: I agree I can't write without some new element in my stories or I would go insane…ARGH! I hate the same old, same old. So support my creativity and new ideas because they are (most of my stories have this). Before you say it, yes FanFiction isn't original but what I put into my stories I think are different from the rest of the run-in-the-mill Vocaloid stories. I will give examples. Many MikuxLen stories have Len as a playboy and Miku as a normal schoolgirl or Len made a promise to Miku long ago and he suddenly goes away and returns to keep his promise. That is a lot of the run-in-the-mill stories I see. No offence but it does get a little boring. I have seen many stories with the unique streak through them. And I like those ones. I also like seeing people who do write the run-in-the-mill stories add some element of originality into them. That is what catches my eye…any also numbers. But anyways. I am not saying that people are bad writers, just saying that the ideas are a little…overdone. Do something new! With this story (Vocalising Desires). I know it is a very run-in-the-mill MikuxLen story…
Len: No shit Sherlock
Miku: hypocrite
Tsuki: …let the man finish…
Author: Cheers, anyways I know this is a very run-in-the-mill MikuxLen high school story but the backstory of the characters are very different to many I have seen. Len is a split character, as in he is physically strong and musically confident but he is mentally and emotionally weak. Miku is a girl who has compassion and helps without trying to be overly girly and I am making her kickass later on. Also a lot of it is very original. While many authors' focus on the school time and stuff. I focus on one class, music. I will focus on more but I only focus on possibly, later one, up to two classes per chapter. I want to focus more on the character development and character interaction than anything else.
Tsuki: makes sense, you were a drama student. Who worked with both cast (actors) and crew (backstage).
Author: that's right, so I know how important character development is. I want people to focus on the characters rather than the place. It is more important unless it is important then…well. Anyways, that is all the time we have for 'Ask Us' please leave a question for us in the review section. Sayonara!
Miku: Sayonara!
Len: Sayonara!
Tsuki: Later motherfuckers!
Author: Thanks for coming along and hearing our thoughts and to my rant. Until next time, good bye!
Please vote for whether you want 'Ask Us!' after stories or as an individual project!
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Coming up next, 'Singing Swords: Arc Two – Episode 5: Return'
What will happen to Iota in Britain? And what surprises await him? And what gets the fellow Holy Knights, Shogun and the Cossack into a state of curiosity?
Then, 'Vocalising Desires: AMPLIFIED – Episode 5: Odds & Ends (Part 1: Since I'll (Try and) Drown Out Those Hurtful Words)
What does Len's past have to do with his current reverting state of mind? What do Miku and Ryo work out for their last song together? And will Rin have a POV?
This is sponsored by 'Four4Two Stories' where new ideas come to life.
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