{Vocaloid} Where the Odd Ones Lie

Beginnings

A small, white bathroom. Sitting in the huge tub as cold water nipped at my skin. Hunched over and holding my body gently. My porcelain skin healing quickly. My skin doesn't turn red when I'm hurt. It never has. Until...

       My mother and father send me to my aunt when they can't deal with me. They become so frustrated with me. My sister has gone off, and I don't know who to tell. About how I feel. About anything.

       My aunt has always been like a mother to me. She and my mother are polar opposites. My aunt is kind to me. She listens to me. She gives me as much space as I need. The cold bath cools my nerves, but after a while I don't feel the temperature. It's just water. Slow, still water.

        Today my skin turned pink when I fell. It's never done that before. The small scratch healed quickly, and it hurt more than I thought it would. I won't tell my aunt. It'd be too confusing. I tried to make it happen again. It didn't.
♔♔♔♔

Mayu sat upright in a sweaty haze, not knowing what to make of her dream. If she'd had it any time earlier, she'd have been in utter disarray. But now, to her surprise, she felt safe in the empty calmness of the cart. She felt warm despite the cold. It was new to her.
She layed back down gently. The pounding in her head was quite unpleasant. She waited for the tears to come and.....nothing. No sadness. No stress.
.....but why was that?
This was her first time recalling her past & not immediately becoming emotional. It was comforting. It was somewhat.....
No. It doesn't feel quite right.

Mayu slowly pressed the lock of the bolted door, but to her surprise it was already open; the dull winter sky gently seeped through the door wedge.
        Flower and Piko were sitting outside, talking to one another peacefully on the hard, slick ground.
    "What are you all doing up so early?" Mayu said, approaching then softly. If she made any sudden movement, she felt she'd collapse. It wasn't the cold that was weakening her spirits. It was a feeling she couldn't place. That didn't happen often.
       "We were just planning the next part of our routine. Our show's been delayed, so we have more prep time." Piko spoke up, his voice also softer than usual. It seemed he was still flustered from the other day. Mayu took that into consideration when sitting herself down next to them.
       "Mayu, how are you feeling?" Flower asked, reaching over to place a hand on her cold knee.
    Mayu smiled shyly. "I'm quite alright. Got good sleep actually." She wrapped her arms around herself, fingers trembling ever so slightly.
     Flower nodded and smiled. "That's a good attitude. Especially today. We're going to have a lot of practice today."
     She hugged herself tighter. She didn't want to practice at all today...not at all.
    "Alright." She said finally.
   "Meet me in the tent when you're ready. I'll go get a head start." Flower took off towards the tent, looking back every now and then. Mayu made sure to flash her a faint smile.
    She and Piko sat in silence for a while. They felt so...different. Their moods were the same but it felt so...off.
    Piko finally laid his hand over Mayu's. They both sighed in relief as they tried to enjoy some form of contentment. It felt like an itch that needed to be scratched...
                                      ☘︎︎☘︎︎☘︎︎

       "Alright, Mayu. Our new routine is simple!" Flower was very enthusiastic about this show. This time, she was Mayu's main partner rather than V.
      V demonstrated the routine with her sister first. Mayu was to balance on the wire between the two platforms. The sisters were in either platform, twirling loops. Mayu, at a certain point in the music, was to jump backward and land in the middle of the dancers. Their routine, as always, was near the end of the song.
     Mayu really did love the idea. The thought of practicing just...
     "Alright. I've got it." Mayu began to climb the left platform using the ladder in the back of it rather than the one in front.
     She ascended and began to steady herself of the wire. The sisters watched from below, watching her every move.
     She was feeling genuine confidence despite her mood, going as far as to bounce a little. The sisters looked up at her in delight.
     She was almost to the center of the wire when...the itch.
    She tried to ignore it, which only upset her even more. She lost concentration and....
                   ☘︎︎☘︎︎☘︎︎