{Vocaloid} Where the Odd Ones Lie

Incidents❦Recuperation

Hey y'all! This chapter includes an injury in it. It's not too descriptive, but it can be disturbing to some readers. Whenever it is mentioned, I'll put a little ♧︎ or a ♪. A ☘︎︎ or a ♫ will signify it's over.
Thanks for reading :)

♧︎
There Mayu was, in an estranged back bend, her stomach flat on the ground, her lower body rolled to her top half, her feet dangling daintily in front of her face. This would be a beautiful demonstration of Mayu's flexibility, if only she'd fell with more control.
She'd landed straight on her neck, her eyes agape and her breathing staggered. Her arms spread out on either side of her. Her throat, on the outside the slightest sickly blue bruise; on the inside, concaved inward and crushed in on itself.  Oh god....how...how did..

☘︎︎

Flower was the first to utter a scream, followed by Piko and the singers and everyone else. V rushed down her podium, bending down to Mayu's body.
Mayu looked up at V weakly. V had a grim sympathy on her face.
"H-hi..." Mayu croaked. V starred a moment more, until she put her face in her hands. Mayu couldn't do anything but stare. Is this real? Is this really real?

V slowly set Mayu's body down flat. She groaned as her head shifted softly, her cheek mashed lazily into the straw floor. She'd lost mobility from her collarbone up; the only part she could move were her eyes and mandible. Her body lay limp and she felt the drowsy feeling of sleep seeping from behind her eyes.

"Mayu, you need to stay awake." V's deep voice mimicked it's equivalent to a shriek. Mayu's eyelids continued to get weaker.

Piko ran over, his hands crumpled around the middle of his waistcoat. He didn't want to double-over; even with the sickly feeling in his stomach, he still didn't want to be rude. "V, what do we do? What are we going to do?" his sentence was hushed at first, having to increase his volume as the chaos from the other members grew louder.

V looked at Piko for a moment, her gaze either fixated on him or something behind him; he couldn't tell. She turned back to Mayu. Her pitiful expression was too much to bare. She looked too accepting of her condition. Like it was all okay. It was concerning to say the least.

"Mayu, you are going to be alright. I promise. You are going to be alright."

After some of the commotion calmed, Miku shakily went to go get Al. V attempted at first to carry Mayu herself, but the weight of holding Mayu's head up separate from the rest of her body presented challenging. Mayu began to respond less and less, to everyone's horror. The towels wrapped around her small body began to drip.

They decided finally to lay her body back on the ground, a top a blanket. This would horrify Mayu later; blankets were rare to come by for them, she would hate to know she'd caused them so much trouble. The sowed twins helped give orders, understanding personally how to deal with this kind of thing.

This isn't something any of them were accustomed to, however. Members were only really injured outside of practice. The only people who knew about Fukase...were Mayu and Piko.

Al slowly entered the tent, keeping composure, with eyes filled with concern. His presence reined a solemn familiarity. Vflower noticed this;he seemed to know exactly what was going on.

Al slowly raised Mayu's body effortlessly, cradling her and her injury. The blood on her red leotard soaked into the skin on Al's hands. He remained unbothered, making Vflower more suspicious. He starred down at Mayu's pale face, the emotion in his face finally coming forth.

He looked up to face everyone. Gently, he said, "Please, do not worry. Truly, everything will be okay." He let his words rest in the air, studying everyone's faces, until making his leave with Mayu's body.

Vflower sat on her knees, her face a soft neutral. Everyone felt as they breath easier. Piko fought the inclination to follow after Al, at least until after everyone tried to go to their tasks.

❁❁❁

Al retreated into the darkness of his father's train cart, slowly shifting Mayu into one arm to grasp hold of a lantern. The hoards of trinkets and precious metals adorning the walls and crevices of the cart were illuminated by the lantern. It'd all be so beautiful, Al thought. If it only it weren't his father's.

He went to the far back of the cart, where Master performed his operations. He crept into one room, his light barely shining upon a small bed. Luka was there, breathing heavily and in a deep sleep. This brought Al a sense of comfort as he left the room.

The next room was larger, and had a strong smell of incense hung in the air. Al walked towards the middle of the room. There was a strong oak table, atop was a porcelain bed sheet lined with linen. Atop the bed sheet lie Fukase, completely still. Al looked upon his bruised torso dejectedly, trying to grasp onto his memories of former Fukase. How young and lively he used to be. Al applauded him for keeping fragments of his boisterous spirit, considering all he'd gone through.

Al searched around the room awhile. He found a small metal table and wheeled next to the table holding Fukase. He slowly rested Mayu's body on top of the table. ♪ He slipped a little, not setting her down gently enough. Her eyed opened, starring blankly and dully skewed. Her body lay straight up and down, all but her neck. Sickly twisted was her poor neck; her body drained of all fluids. It was a terrible sight, but at least Al knew she was going to be okay; he could guarantee it.

♫

He took Fukase's hand, and rested it in Mayu's. He stepped back to examine his work, and smiled. His victory was short lived, however. The sight of it buried itself behind his eyes, joining all of the other grotesque and strange scenes he'd witnessed.

He slowly exited the room, completely oblivious to anyone else in the room, to a hiding Piko's pleasant delight.