It was cool summer day when I started running. I was running from.....everything. Everything in my life. Everything in my life was terrible. The constant beatings I had to endure. Every single one of those terrible words echoing in my ears.
“What’re you looking at you freak?!”
“You’re Mommy and Daddy are dead, aren’t they Viktorjia?”
    And, worst of all, “Nobody likes a freak, Viktorjia. Why don’t you just run off and kill yourself! That would make us all feel better!”
    I had never wanted to let them bully me. They kept saying it would be better if I had run away, but I hadn’t wanted to give them that satisfaction. I refused to ‘feed the bully’ as the guidance counselor said at school. But I couldn’t take it. With every one of the words my brain just starting splitting and splitting until I couldn’t take it.
    I normally lived with my foster mother, but she was enough torture. According to her, I was her slave. I had to clean every inch of her house, and if she didn’t like what I did to her room, she would beat me. There would be whips on my back. It felt like she had chained my soul. One day, I did such a bad job cleaning the bathroom that she had whipped me so brutally I had decided to run. I didn’t know where I would go, who I would stay with, but I knew I couldn’t continue staying where I was staying then.
    Basically the only safe house I had was school. Barely. All the kids called me a freak. They saw the whip marks on my back. They saw the bruises on my arms on legs. But I didn’t care. I thought the cuts and bruises  said something about me. That I was a survivor. A warrior. But I did not think I looked like a freak with these scars. I didn’t want to look like this or have to live like this, did I? No. But apparently the kids at school thought it was a voluntary thing. If only you knew, I thought as I walked out of the locker room one day.
    I walked down the hallway from gym, head hanging down. I sprinted right through the front doors, not bothering to get my backpack or books.  Just sprinted down the street.  I just kept running and running. I slowed down for a bit, not wanting to faint. Knowing fainting would lead me straight back to my foster mother’s home.
    Running into an old abandoned warehouse by the school, I felt like something was wrong. Like something felt odd or suspicious about this place. Normally whenever I came here it never felt like this. But not this time. Something in my brain was telling me Run. Run! There’s something in here! But I ignored that message.  I noticed some dust on my jet-black clothing. Then, there was somebody there. It was a girl. She was wearing a plaid skirt and a cut off blouse showing her stomach. On her feet were sandals. I walked towards her. She mirrored me. I did all sorts of weird things. Then I thought it might’ve been a mirror. I reached out towards her, and she did the same. When our hands touched, I could feel her. Only it didn’t feel like normal human skin. It felt like aluminum.
    I was suddenly given a boost of courage. I had no knowledge of where it came from, or why it had happened. I felt like I could trust this girl forever.
    “I’m Viktorjia. Who are you?”
    “Konichiwa. Kajo Hatsune Miku.”
    “Hatsune Miku?”
    “Yes. But you call me Miku. I am singing Vocaloid.” She must’ve noticed the quizzical look on my face because she said “A Vocaloid is singing Japanese robot. I runaway too.”
    “How did you know I was a runaway?” I asked meekly.
    “I sense it. I think you are running away from mother and kids?”
    “Sort of.”
    “Well, I talk to you if it make you feel any better.”
    “I’m kind of more interested in your story.”
    “Ok. I tell you then. Sit down on crate and I tell you.”
    I obediently sat down, staring into her turquoise eyes.
    “I made originally from computer program. Then Japanese made all of Vocaloids into robots. We put on shows for them, and in return they don’t make us poof. But our owners started being very bad. They make date and other insulting things. But I no take it. So I runaway from with the Vocaloid I truly love. Only Vocaloid I love is first male Vocaloid and most famous male Vocaloid. I am first female Vocaloid and most famous. We are in love, only the humans make him love other Vocaloid named Meiko.”
    I noticed a changing in her eyes. They went from the robotic turquoise eyes she earlier had into a deep red. Miku’s eyes must change with her mood I thought. And when she’s feeling no expression her eyes are the turquoise color they made them be.
    “We were so mad at them we ran away. We ran to America, because we know it safe here. We ran to Los Angeles where we find this abandoned warehouse. And we hide here so they can’t find us.”
    “Where is the Vocaloid you truly love?” I ask. I can’t help wondering about the hardships Miku must’ve had to endure.
    “He should be somewhere, probably charging.” She said.
    “Charging?”
    “Yes, you humans sleep, we charge.”
     “Oh.”
    “Anyway, I call him right now.”
    “Okay.”
    “Kaito! Kaito please wake up we have a visitor!”
    “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake him up.”
    “It fine.   I needed to wake him anyway.”
    Suddenly a tall, slim boy came in. I realized this must be Kaito. He had short, choppy blue hair. He was wearing a pair of black pants, and a black shoes. On top of the black shirt he was wearing was a blue and white overcoat. Then on top of the overcoat was a long blue scarf.
    “Hello. Is this the visitor you were talking about?”
    “Yes. Her name is Viktorjia.”
    “Viktorjia?”
    “Yes. She too is a runaway.”
    “Ah.”
    Kaito turned toward me. His hand reached out for mine, and mine reached for his. We shook hands and then he turned back to Miku.
    “Are we telling her our history?”
    “Yes, that is why I called. She was wondering about the Vocaloids.”
    “That makes more sense.”
       Kaito turned to me again.
    “What were you wondering about?”He asked.
    “Well...”I said. I wanted to say “I want to know everything! I want to know everything about the Vocaloids!”But I was afraid that would make me seem like some weirdo.
    “I don’t know really know. I guess.....just start at the beginning.”It seemed strange, asking these unknown people about a computer program that made their life torture.
    “It started in 2002. Someone who worked for the Japanese music company Yamaha had decided that it would we great if their were an application where you could make your own music using robotic voices that were they recorded.”Miku said.
    “This application was called Vocaloid 2. Vocaloid 2 only had four voices. They decided to name these voices. So they called the first four voices Hatsune Miku, Kaito, Kagamine Len, and Kagamine Rin.”Kaito added.
    “They were so excited they added more voices. They added Meiko Kaji, Megurine Luka, Haku Yowane, and Neru Akita. They also made Vocaloid 3 more complex they gave it better quality and more editing. Then somebody from Yamaha decided that they should make a software that allows them to make music videos for all the songs they had created.”Miku explained.
    “This breakthrough led to the application MikuMikuDance. They made all sorts of different costumes and models for the us. They could change our costumes, our bodies, everything. They also had all of us look like humans....kind of.”Kaito remarked.
     “For me they had me with long turquoise hair tied in two tall ponytails on the side of my head. They also gave me bangs and a headset with a microphone. For Kaito they gave him a short, choppy hair cut and blue hair. They also made him rather tall. For Haku they gave her a gray ponytail tied at the bottom of her head with a large bow. Meiko had short red hair the. She also was given a little bit of height. Everybody was given a headset.”Miku commented.
    “For Megurine Luka they gave her long, light pink hair. For Neru Akita, they gave her hair kind of like mine. Only hers was one ponytail and was blonde.”Kaito continued.
    “That’s the story?” I asked. I expected more for the story.
    “Well....”Miku heaved a sigh. “That’s the good part. We were created.”
    “But things got ugly after that.”Kaito added.
    “We were forced to be programmed. We could not live like normal humans. They also forcefully made us permanently remember songs. But we wanted to remember songs like a human could.”Miku said.
    “What did you sound like?”I asked. I wondered about everything. I had no knowledge of them.
    “We sounded like this.”Miku played a track. “I record all of our songs.”
    
    vaacharu to genjitsu no hazama de
watashi wa umare  aisarete kita
ima dake  onegai  yume wo misasete

natsu no owari ni watashi ga umareta
atsui hi ga tsudzuku kono basho de
machi nozondeta minna wa watashi ni
suteki na uta wo okutte kureta

vaacharu to genjitsu no hazama de
watashi wa umare  aisarete kita
riaru na sekai wa  fukuzatsu sugite  tsukarechau
tada suteki na uta ga kikitakute
minna watashi wo sodatete kureta
ima dake  onegai  yume wo misasete

tanoshii hibi mo  itsuka wa owaru to
wakatte iru kedo  ima dake wa
anata ga kureta  suteki na uta wo
utatte itai  nee  ii desho...?

Innocence.... (inosensu)

vaacharu to genjitsu no hazama de
watashi wa umare  aisarete kita
riaru na sekai wa  fukuzatsu sugite  tsukarechau
tada suteki na uta ga kikitakute
minna watashi wo  sodatete kureta
ima dake  onegai  yume wo misasete

Innocence.... (inosensu)
Innocence.... (inosensu)

    “Wow. That’s a beautiful song. What do the words mean?” I asked.
    “The words are standard Japanese- Romaji. But I could teach you the english words.” Miku replied.
    “Really?” I questioned.
    “Oh yes, she knows all the words in both Japanese and English.” Kaito said.
    “Thank you so much!” I replied. Then a thought occurred to me. I couldn’t stay here forever. That would be taking advantage of them. But I was interested in Vocaloids.
    “I was wondering....” I asked
    “Yes?” Kaito responded. I could tell in Kaito’s cold, meaningless, computer programmed eyes that there was a spark. A spark of energy, of assurance.
    “Could I live with you? Until I die?” I asked. It sounded pushy.
    “Why of course!” Miku and Kaito responded in unison. Then there was something in Miku’s eyes. Like maybe there was a real girl in her robotic, aluminum body after all.
    “But first, we must give you a makeover.” Miku said coolly.
    “Why?” I inquired.
    “I think it is best that if you stay with us, you must look like us so if our Creators come after us they’ll get confused and we can run away.” Kaito replied.
    “Okay.” I answered.
    I smiled up at Miku, who smiled back down at me. Miku lead to a small closet in the back of the warehouse where there was a mountain of wigs, make-up kits, costumes, shoes, and a bazillion headsets. All of them looked like the clothing that Miku and Kaito had described that they wore.
    “Please, sit down in that chair over there.” Miku said, pointing.
    I walked over to the chair and sat down. I ran my hand on the fabric, and it felt soft to the touch.
    “How are you going to make me look like you?” I inquired again. They had these big eyes that were about half of their head, and the tiniest nose and mouth.
    “That is easy. I have been studying for a long time on this subject, and now I can do this sort of thing better than just about anybody in the world. I can make your eyes look as big and robotic as ours look, your nose as small and undetectable as ours, you voice as high as ours, and your hair as unusual as ours. We just need you to trust us.” Miku responded.
    “I trust you.” I said.
    “Good. Now close your eyes, and don’t say anything.” Miku said back sweetly.
    
    
    . . .

As I opened my eyes I could instantly feel something different about myself.
    “Well, how do you feel?” Miku asked.
    “I feel, weird.” I replied.
    “You’ll get used to it. It’s not everyday an average person undergoes major cosmetic and mechanical surgery.” Miku said.
    “Cosmetic? Surgery?” I replied. “You mean....”
    “Yep. I would’ve told you, only I thought it might be fun to not expect it.” Miku said.
    “Can I see a mirror?” I asked.
    “Sure! I think I might have one somewhere here......” Miku replied. She then scaled the giant mountain of clothing, wigs, and headsets until she found an opening and dove through it. I saw a small thing sticking out, and then part of a mirror, and then a giant mirror was in front of my eyes.
    I looked into it, not saying anything. My eyes had become as large as hers were, and my nose was, as she said, small and undetectable. My arms had become as skinny and perfect as hers, and my hands were much smaller.
    My hair was a deep, ebony-like black. My deep, insane black hair was in a low ponytail at the back of my head with a huge bow. There were two pieces of my hair hanging off my bangs. The headset was like a headband, only it had two medium sized ear pieces covering my ears. There was a microphone on the  left ear piece, and it just barely reached my mouth.
    I looked in the mirror, and realized she had done something to my legs. I was now as tall as Kaito, and my legs had become skinnier like Miku’s. My ‘on-stage’ costume was deep-V neck black sailor top, a pair of black shorts that had a black and yellow suspender-like strings hanging off it that crossed and attached in the back, a pair of fishnets reaching just below the shorts, and a pair of black knee-high combat boots.
    I also noticed that my eyes were the same color as my hair, along with my finger nails.
    “What do you think?” Kaito asked.
    “Well..I certainly look different.” I responded.
    “Certainly.” Miku agreed.
    “Actually, never mind. I love it!” I declared.
    “Really!?” Miku and Kaito both exclaimed.
    “Wait. How come you two are wearing normal clothes and I’m wearing this?” I asked.
    Kaito laughed. “We just wanted you to get used to looking like this. You can go put your black clothes on. They’re on a crate right outside here.”
    I walked out and there my clothes were. They looked much smaller than they did before. I picked them up and walked back into the closet.
    “How come these clothes look smaller than they did before?” I asked.
    “We had to alter your body in order to fit what we looked like.  You’ll also notice your skin is a reasonably lighter skin tone than it was before, almost a white. Us vocaloids are rather fair-skinned.” Miku replied.
    “Wait, so you mean......” I looked down at my legs.
    “Yep! We extended your legs. And widened your hips. And made your waist smaller. All so that you could fit what we look like.” Kaito said. 
    “Wow. I look crazy. But I like it.”
    “So now, you must learn the songs. Let’s try the first one.” Miku replied.
    “But how will I know the Japanese?” I asked.
    “Simple. We installed a computer chip in your brain and took out your pituitary gland.”
    “So you mean...?” I guessed.
    “Yep. Eventually, you will be computer-generated like us.” Miku replied.
    “So now let’s try that song. We’ll start off with Innocence, because it’s such a beautiful song. Just be careful. Your voice is about 7 octaves higher than your normal voice.”
    Before I could realize it, I started singing.

    Between the virtual and the real
    I was born and have been given much love.
    Only now, please,
    Let me have my own dreams.
    
    I was born at the end of summer,
    In this place, the days being hot.
    You all were waiting for my coming,
    and handed me many precious songs.

    Between the ideal and the real
    I was born and have been given much love.
    This real world is too complicated and makes me tired.
    Just wanna listen to beautiful songs
    You have all raised me with much love.
    Only now, please.
    Let me have my own dreams.
    
    I know these happy days will have their end
    But, only now
    I wanna keep singing this precious song you’ve handed me.
    Dear, let me keep singing...

    Innocence

    Between the real and ideal
    I was born and have been given much love
    This real world is too complicated and makes me tired.
    Just wanna listen to beautiful songs
    You have all raised me with love
    Only now, please, let me have my own dreams.

    Innocence



    Innocence



    The music slowed down and stopped, and I stopped singing. I noticed tears in Kaito’s eyes as I stopped.
    “Is anything wrong, Kaito?” I asked.
    “Yeah, it’s just. The last time we heard that song, it was in Japan. It reminds me so much of when we were just born, so naïve. It’s just so beautiful, hearing you sing.”
    I noticed tears in Miku’s too.
    “Miku, you too?” I asked again.
    “Yes, my friend. We are always reminded of our home Japan, but this is the only time we really feel a connection.” Miku responded.
    “Don’t worry, it’ll be okay. Good things always come to those who believe. Human, or computer-generated.” I replied, smiling.
    Miku and Kaito wiped the tears from their eyes, and started smiling.
    “Yes, I suppose that is so.” Kaito replied.
    “Now, let’s focus. Did you contact Taito on when they were coming?” Miku asked.
    “Yep. Taito is arriving tomorrow, and Taiko will be arriving the day after that.” Kaito said.
    “Taito? Taiko?” I asked.
    “Taito and Taiko are all other vocaloids. As you can tell, they are a derivative of Kaito. Taiko is Taito’s girl version.” Miku said.
    “So that means...there’s a Kaiko?” I asked.
    “Oh yes. And there’s a Mikuo, he’s Miku’s brother.” Kaito replied.
    “Wow.” I replied.
    “What should her name be?” Miku asked.
    “I don’t know. It must be something that reflects her.” Kaito said.
  "What about Hisakata Yami?" Miku suggested.

"That might work." Kaito said.

"Well, I'm glad you got this figured out, but what did you mean when you said that when you were 'just born' you were so naïve?" I asked.

"We mean, Yami-chan, that when we were just born, we didn't know anything about the world. We were just handed these beautiful songs, and we just thought that so long as we slept and charged, that's all we would do. At first we loved it." Kaito said.

"But as we started 'growing up', we learned more about the world and it's evil." Miku said.

"Every day our creators, the people who work at Yamaha, pull innocent Japanese teenagers off the street and start developing them into Vocaloids. But only one or two teens are allowed to be Vocaloids." Kaito said.

"So what happens to those who don't make the cut?" I asked, deeply interested.

"They are.....killed." Miku replied.

"So you ran away, because" I said.

"We couldn't bear seeing those innocent civilians die." Kaito said.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

"Don't cry, Yami-chan." Miku soothed.

Miku walked over to me and hugged me. Kaito walked over and hugged me too. I felt instantly rejuvenated.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"Your welcome." They both whispered back.