{Vocaloid} Where the Odd Ones Lie

It Gets Cold

          "Mayu, are you alright??"
She jolted awake, lying flat on her back in the middle of the forest. She stared at V as consciousness slowly began to sink in. She was extremely numb and sore, but didn't have the energy to react to it.
"How long have I been here?"
V's expression turns to concern. "I'm not sure, but when Miku came out here looking for you and saw you she thought you were...gone."

This wasn't uncommon for Mayu to hear. When the temperatures begin to drop, her body becomes extremely cold, internally and externally. She never had an explanation for it, and neither did anyone else. And what didn't help was how much she resembles a corpse when she slept.
"Where did Miku go??"

"Running to me. She couldn't bare the sight, but I didn't let myself believe you were dead, so I came to get you myself."

Mayu slowly prompt herself up and sat on her knees. Her entire body was stiff and ached. Even though it was all normal to her, it didn't subdue the pain.

"V..could you help me up."
V went back to her regular, monotonous expression and slowly scooped up little Mayu bridal style.

"Are you sure you're okay?"
V's breath on her neck sent shivers through Mayu.
"I-I think so."
🥀🥀🥀
Slowly but surely, the two made it back to the tent. Everyone looked apprehensive and Luka was comforting Miku in the corner.
"Hi everyone."
Everyone looked into her eyes at once. She only looked into Miku's. There was so much pain in them, but she just couldn't look away.
"I don't understand...I don't understand .." she whispered over and over. The tears began to pour faster.
V put Mayu down and everyone rushed to her side.
"Are you okay? What happened?"
"Are you hurt?"
   Evryone crowded her, but she kept her gaze over Miku. She looked scared more than anything. That worried Mayu more than she'd like to admit.
    She slowly broke from the crowd and inched towards Miku. With every step she took, Miku became visibly tenser.
"Miku..." she couldn't really find the words. She didn't need any though, for Miku was already bawling on her shoulder.
"I know what I saw!! I know what I saw!!" she screamed over and over, she was an absolute mess. This was all familiar to Mayu. It felt even worse knowing how much pain Miku was in physically and emotionally.
V taped her lightly on the shoulder. "Mayu, we're all really worried. We'd really like explanation, if you have one."
She scanned the crowd. V was right; even Fukase seemed a bit uneasy. She looked down at het arms. The skin so fragile and cold, her veins shone like sapphire through her translucent skin. She looked like a corpse, and she felt like one too.
"I really...I really don't know. It's just always been this way, and I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to startle anyone-" she went on and on, never once looking up from the ground. She felt so nervous and ashamed, and felt their stares pierce into her.
V could tell how distressed she was, and placed a hand at the base of her back. Mayu shivered, and eventually relaxed under V's hold. She gave her a reassuring look, and Mayu began to become lost in her dreamy, lavender eyes. Mayu looked away, only for her to lift her chin to look into her eyes once more. A faint bit of warmth began to creep its way amongst Mayu's cold, blue cheeks.
"It's okay. We'll save our questions for later. Right now you need to rest."
V escorted Mayu to a nice, cozy corner in the cart. "Don't hesitate to ask for something. Anything."
Mayu barely heard V as her lashes slowly began to flutter, trying desperately to fight the exhaustion. It caught up to her eventually.
🥀🥀🥀
Practice that evening was planned out to be as simple as possible. Everyone was already a little stressed amd uneasy after the morning's spook.
Mayu headed off to the dressing portion of the tent. She loved the way it looked, from the pastel green drappes on the walls, to the big stage mirrors, to all of the stringed, Christmas lights. It felt warm and at home.
She began to undress, but soon after someone bursted into her stall. She shut her eyes right as the door swung open. With the faintest scent of rose and vanilla, she knew exactly who it was and the heat rose immensely in her body. It was Fukase.
He was holding on to her waist, seeming to search for something. "What are you doing in-" she began to scream, only to have him palm her mouth.
"You're hiding something. I know it."
He shut the door behind him and unclasped the back of her leotard, making her hold the fabric to her body desperately. His hands wondered on her skin as Mayu shoved and squirmed.
"Hold still!"
"Get off of me!"
He pinned her by the hip against the back wall, looking her in the eyes. He looked the determined, but the look in his eye was soft, almost sympathetic.
"Mayu, I've gotta know." he whispered under his breath. He began to unbutton his shirt. She opened her mouth in protest, but couldnt think of what to say. There was nothing she could say.
He tossed his shirt to the side, still silent, still looking at her. She examined him, waiting for some sort of explanation. She wanted to look away, but couldn't seem to. Her grip on the fabric tightened.
He placed a hand on his chest, and her eyes wondered back upwards. She gasped in utter disbelief. There was a scar. A small, blackened, twisted scar directly over his heart. He slowly approached her and pushed her hands away from the chest. The same scar, right over her heart. What the hell? How is this real?
Both of them began to breath harder, still staring into each other's eyes. His expression began to soften more, a heavy blush circling his freckles. "Mayu, I-"
Before he could finish, the stall door swing open. It was Piko, and he looked very unhappy.
"What is all this racket?! For heaven's sake, why-" he began to rant, ignoring the statw they were in.
His words began to falter as he looked the two up and down, still holding on to each other.
"I'm quite sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
Mayu's eyes widened. She pushed Fukase away, and he fell onto the ground.
"Don't worry yourself, Piko. He was just leaving."
🥀🥀🥀

Mayu couldn't seem to sleep that night. She was so confused and had so many questions. She didn't even know what she didn't know. She looked over at Fukase, who was sleeping soundly.
She lay back down and touched her chest. It was almost like she could still feel his fingers lingering there. It was the first she'd ever had feeling emmit from her scar. It felt like two heartbeats. The steady rhythm eventually led her to doze, and finally into deep, deep slumber.