Program: Kokoro

Chapter 5
Memories

Rin opened her eyes. Today, she would not wait anymore. Her objective was clear.

She would go against Professor Len's orders. Program: KOKORO will now be opened. Rin walked over to the master computer. She connected the necessary plugs and started typing the commands.

I want to know what Professor was working on...

"ID AUTHENTICATED VOCALOID 02 KAGAMINE RIN," the master computer bleeped. Familiar sounds of the machine whirring to life filled the room.

...till the end of his life...

"PERFORMING THE KOKORO PROGRAM."

Before the program could be executed, a warning bell started to ring. The screens on the computers flashed violently.

"CRITICAL ERROR. CRITICAL ERROR. THERE IS AN UNKNOWN VIRUS IN CV 02."

"Virus...? It's impossible," Rin muttered as she hastily began typing. "According to the program, there's nothing wrong. Professor created...a miraculous robot. Isn't that right, Professor?"

A loud thump beat in her chest.

"Professor?"

Another followed.

"PROFESSOR...!"

"THE ERROR HAS BEEN FIXED. INSTALLING KOKORO."

Higher up on a screen, a message slowly typed itself out. Rin turned to the screen.

The third miracle starts...

The thumping in her chest slowly followed a rhythm. As a stronger, steady set of 'heart beats' began, a memory clicked in the memory bank. Rin opened the file.

"...n..."

"Rin..."

The memory slowly cleared up. The room Rin saw was different from the laboratory she was used to seeing the memories take place at. Instead of computers and dust bunnies, the room was clean and seemed to be free of any dust. Rin's eyes panned over to Len and her younger self.

"You know, the Kokoro program will be completed," Len told Rin, lying in a hospital bed. His torso was wrapped in bandages. His skin was pale, and he seemed as fragile as a young child.

"Not now, but in the far future, after I die... By a miraculous chain of events...a miracle with happen. Perhaps you won't understand, but it will happen. ...Ah, but.. It'll be too much for you... Leaving you alone, for a long time..."

"I'm sorry, Rin...but forgive me to say..." Len took a painful breath. He winced, struggling to say the words he wished that could be unsaid.

"Thank you."

Before she knew it, a stream of tears erupted from her eyes. Fast and hot, Rin almost didn't believe what was happening. Her face was steadily growing warm. These tears, and a wave of...sadness...

She was...crying...

Rin had obtained KOKORO.

But why was it so sad?

"What...? Why...?" she heard herself cry out. Her voice sounded strange. Instead of the deadpan, robotic tone she always had, one of emotion, one of feelings had replaced it. Even her own 'breath' had taken on gasping, sobbing sounds.

"Why...am I crying...?"

Questions, suddenly rising, suddenly growing, they rose to the surface. And Rin couldn't contain them all. KOKORO, it seems, has done its job well.

"Why am I shaking? Is this..."

Rin fell to the ground. She collapsed, unable to contain the tears and sadness inside her.

"What I had for... K O K O R O ?"

Rin lifted her face from her hands, her body turned to the chair where the professor had once occupied. She could almost see him now, scratching his head in puzzlement. His voice, bright and cheery. But...Professor was not here. All that was left was his lab cat, tattered, ripped, and dirtied from time. Rin slowly stood, placing her hand on the lab coat. The strong sea of tears now lightened to a small river. They dripped from her face onto the coat.

Fushigi, Kokoro, Fushigi...

A memory of Len's smile and his laugh filled her mind. She smiled through the tears.

"I now know what it's like to be happy."

Fushigi, Kokoro, Fushigi.

"I now know what it's like to feel sad."

Memories flooded in, causing Rin to laugh, cry, and smile all at the same time. The times she and Len spent together, combined with these new-found emotions...

"How meaningful and heartbreaking..." She sobbed harder, her voice hoarse from the cries.

A shrill cry seemed to pierce the skies.

. . .

Rin ran away from the laboratory, dropping Len's coat in the process. She couldn't stay in the place that contained almost all of those painful memories. Conflicting emotions stabbed at her mind, creating more tears. Why was KOKORO so sad...?

She found herself, standing at the highest hill of the city. The tombstone was no longer empty. The grave now had a corpse that was buried.

Kagamine Len.

Rin read the carved name, over and over.

I now know why I was created in this world, she thought with sudden clarity. Having nobody to share your memories with must be lonely.

A memory played. Len's words resonated within her.

"Humans will die someday. It's inevitable," he said thoughtfully. Len slowly sat down on the grass across from Rin. "So I wanted to hand down songs as heritage."

"Humans in danger generally put priority on continued existence," Rin said.

"Other scientists have already preserved DNA. Music is wonderful. It can go beyond language barriers."

He paused to think about this.

"You inherit music, Rin."

"Is that so, Doctor," she repeated. She didn't bother adding in a questioning tone.

"...Well, sounds great, but..."

Len paused again to brush away a tear from his eye.

"Now I'm just so happy to have you by my side."

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and smiled at Rin. The tears kept coming, so he stopped trying to prevent them.

"You mean the world to me."

"Doctor, a salty substance is coming out from your eyes."

"They're just tears, Rin. I'll be fine..." Len felt a strong breeze blow by.

"It's getting windy, Rin. Let's go home," he said, standing up and lending out his hand.

Rin sat there, staring blankly at it.

"Ah.. Still, you have no idea what to do," Len commented as he pulled her up.

Rin felt her own hand raising towards the sky. A new, fresh wave of tears blurred her vision. Followed was a different kind of sadness.

I was supposed to take your hand... she cried in her mind. ...I didn't even say a word...