Chapter Text
"Is it okay, if she stays with us for a while, Master?" Mikuo asked quietly as he watched Taito and Rin sitting together in the living room, working on a puzzle together. Well, Rin was working on the puzzle. Taito was watching her working on it, occassionally giving her a random piece, as if somehow that was helpful, which she would take, look at, arch her eyebrow at the dark-purple haired Vocaloid, and then place back down with the other currently useless pieces.
"Well, it's fine by me," Master watched the pair also, his brow wrinkling slightly in concern for the blonde female. "But under normal circumstances, she would need to be returned immediately to the store that she was purchased from."
"You mean, like used merchandise?" Mikuo felt appalled, the words had a nasty taste in his mouth. "I've never heard of that... actually happening before."
"Well, it's pretty uncommon, but it does happen. She might have a little trouble being repurchased though, considering her condition," Master paused, then explained, "But, it's not impossible. You know, Taito was a return, too, when I picked him up."
Mikuo's attention focused intensely on his Master. "I... didn't know that. What happened?"
"The details weren't given to me," Master admitted, his eyes still watching his Vocaloid male, as Taito offered yet another useless piece, and Rin smacked him lightly on the back of the head. The dark-purple haired Vocaloid smiled his quirky half-smile. Master smiled at the sight.
Taito rose to his feet suddenly, and walked over to where Mikuo and Master were speaking softly. He stood quietly, looking at the pair, and crossed his arms over his chest, frowning.
"Taito? How are you feeling?" Master had asked him so many times since he had come home that morning. Taito didn't respond, just staring Master down with his one remaining purple eye, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Master sweatdropped.
"I want to keep her," Taito stated bluntly. Master blinked. So did Mikuo.
"Don't return her," was all he said, before he left the pair, walking into his room and closing the door behind him. Mikuo and Master stared after him in disbelief, then exchanged their own glances.
"I... I'd like that too, Master," Mikuo admitted, a blush staining his cheeks and nose. Master put his hand up to his face and scrubbed it against his eyes and cheeks.
"You know, I think that's the first time I've /ever/ heard Taito ask for anything," Master mumbled through his hand. He dropped his hand back down to his side, staring at Rin, who was standing up and rubbing her palm against her thin shoulder, as if it ached.
Mikuo glanced back at Master. Master sighed a very, very long sigh, but then smiled, running his hand through his hair.
"Hey... Rin? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Master summoned the petite blonde female, who turned her head at his words. Rin nodded, her blue eyes solemn, and walked over to join Master.
Mikuo watched the two walk away into the dining room to talk. He turned to go to Taito's room, a hidden, happy smile threatening to break out on his face. He knew that look of Master's very well. Mikuo knocked on Taito's door.
"What?" The light voice called back from the other side.
"I'm coming in," Mikuo said, and turned the knob. Taito glanced up at the teal-haired male with a blank look. Mikuo let his smile beam forth.
Taito stared at Mikuo for a long moment, then slowly, slowly, smiled back.
...
"I'm a little scared," Kaito admitted, anxiously. "What if your Master doesn't like me? What if he doesn't want me to stay?"
Gakupo tried to smile encouragingly. He and Kaito were getting ready to pick Master up from the airport. "We'll just have to see how it goes, I guess. But it's okay. Whatever happens, I've got your back. You know that."
Kaito nodded, but he looked unhappy and worried.
The ride to the airport was silent and tense. Gakupo's hands clenched the steering wheel hard as he drove.
The airplane was late. The line of passengers coming out seemed never ending. Kaito's anxiety at being around so many people was palpable. Gakupo kept his arm tightly around the bluenette, providing nonverbal support. The bluenette was wearing one of Gakupo's slightly oversized shirts, the long sleeves hanging down over his stumps, disguising them to some extent.
"There he is," Gakupo announced after what felt like an eternity. The violette moved forwards, dropping his arm from Kaito, to greet his returning Master. Kaito swallowed against his nervousness, hard, and followed closely. The man that Gakupo approached was tall, with broad, muscular shoulders.
"Ah! Gakupo!" Master smiled brightly at Gakupo, his dark skin making his white teeth seem impossibly bright. He turned his chocolate brown eyes towards Kaito, who was hovering directly next to his violet-haired Vocaloid, leaning towards Gakupo as if to draw strength from his presence. "Ah... who's this?"
"Master.. this.. is Kaito." Gakupo tried a smile, then turned to the bluenette. "Kaito, this is my Master."
Kaito stuttered, his eyes a little wide from fear, "H-hello."
The bluenette pulled even closer to Gakupo, and Gakupo's eyes softened. Gakupo put his arm out again, pulling Kaito suddenly closer into a half embrace, looking into the bluenette's eyes with an encouraging, soft smile. Gakupo's Master watched the interaction, his eyes widening slightly.
"Master, welcome home. I'm sorry to spring this on you suddenly, but... some things have happened. Kaito has been staying at our house for the past two weeks, while you have been gone on your tour. Is it alright, for him to return with us, and I can tell you all about what has gone on while you were gone," Gakupo turned serious, anxious eyes back towards his Master. "It is not a good story, and Kaito's Master is... gone, now."
The buff, dark-skinned man frowned, and the slight, almost unrecognizable blush that was on his face cleared a little. He made a soft, thoughtful sound for a moment, as he regarded the two Vocaloids, how closely they were standing, and Gakupo's serious, earnest looking violet eyes.
"I... see," Master finally answered. He looked strongly at Kaito, who looked frightened, back at him, with beautiful blue eyes. "So, what's his singing voice like?" Master finally asked, flashing that easy, bright white smile once again. Gakupo's eyes went wide, and his body sagged in sudden, overwhelming relief. He hugged the bluenette even tighter against him, turning his eyes to look at Kaito, smiling openly.
"It's beautiful," Gakupo mumured, and stared happily into Kaito's eyes. The bluenette blushed and ducked his head away, then peeked back up underneath his eyelashes at the violette.
"You... haven't even heard me sing," Kaito mumbled. Gakupo's smile widened.
"Oh... yes, I think I have," The purring tone made Kaito's eyes widen, and his blush increased by tenfold, as his mind worked out what it was that Gakupo was implying.
Master threw back his head and laughed easily, his deep voice booming through the airport terminal. Travellers stopped in their tracks at the noise, staring at the threesome.
"I've worried about leaving you alone while I'm gone for so long on my tours, Gakupo. But maybe, just maybe, I won't have to worry about that again, in the future, eh?" Master threw a knowing wink at the Vocaloids, and even Gakupo blushed at that. But Kaito just ducked his head again, and found himself smiling in pleased embarassment.
"Good. Now, help me with my bags. I'm beat, and want to get home." Master instructed, and turned to find the baggage claim, not waiting for the Vocaloids to follow him.
Kaito's eyes followed Master shyly as the large, muscular man walked away.
"He seems... nice," Kaito said, with a wistful tone to his voice.
"He is," Gakupo replied approvingly, his smile still in place. "And that went better than I could have hoped." Gakupo paused, glancing down at Kaito, and smiling once again. "Let's not tell him that we've been sleeping in his bed, though, okay, Kaito?"
The bluenette flushed and grinned in embarassed amusement, shaking his soft hair slightly. "I promise."
Gakupo laughed lightly and pulled the bluenette in for a quick hug, then released Kaito, and turned to follow his Master to the baggage claim. Kaito stayed close behind him, running for a few steps to catch up with his lover. Gakupo put an easy arm back around Kaito's shoulder as they continued their walk forward.