A/N: I don't own the songs if I did I would have been richer than my current status suggests. The names of my OCs are so... Western [I think that's the right description].
This is a One-shot from me. The double life of U. Naruto, a.k.a. You'll-find-out.
He sighed, his head falling on his waiting palms; he could hear the loud yells and cheers outside. Music played all around him but soon turned numb on his ears; he drowned himself in his brooding and self-loathing. It was cool where he sat, there was no immense body heat that brought the temperature up like the ones in front of him. He needed the cool off from the previously, distressful event playing in a never-ending replay of events.
He should be happy…but for those past nine and a quarter year of his life wondering what he did wrong; it all made sense, but now it proved to him that things like friendship, respect and love were all out of his reach. If it took someone's death or his -for that matter- for them to realize he was not what everyone rumored him to be…he'd rather be alone, no matter how depressing that realization was.
He rubbed his face as if he was trying to rid of his tainted, cursed being. Another sigh escaped; he should file away his thoughts; take his depression and erase it from his face. They need not know what transpired prior to his arrival. He had more pressing matters to proceed to.
As if on cue a voice called over.
"Akini!" [Aki = bright, clear, crystal, or autumn. Ni = day or sun]
Said person looked up to see who called his pseudo name. His expression symbolizing a 'what?'
A messy mop of hair appeared in his line of vision, grinning from ear to ear, a gleam in his eyes as he jumped up and down like a hyperactive kid. "It's almost time! Come on!" With that, Akini was grabbed and pulled to the gathered group of five other people.
One of them pulled himself out of the heated discussion and raised an eyebrow, his foot tapping in an irate pattern. The one beside him snickered his tapping friend and mocked him, "You look like a woman, tapping your foot like that." The others were snickering as well and his glare was sent back to them it didn't stop.
The one pulling Akini waved frantically at them his grin still plastered on his face. "Sorry guys, Akini was being the emo-brooder again."
"Really?"
"At his corner again?"
"Acting like a kicked puppy." He grinned.
Akini scoffed "What like you when chocolate wasn't there?"
"Hey!"
One of them nodded in agreement as he was growled at. He shrugged, "Well he does make a point."
"Maybe I should point out about your failed courting again?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
He was hit on his head from the remark.
"Wha-hey!" He rubbed his head before glaring at his target, "It's true!"
"Being violent will chase the girls away." Another piped in.
"Hah!" He pointed, "That's probably why they all ran away-"
"Verbally abusing them is worse though as it affects them internally rather than physically."
Akini sighed at the bickering members. "Okay people, put aside your arguments for now. We have more important things to do; high expectations are once again upon us."
"Patty started it."
"At least I wasn't acting like a child like a certain someone with the name Tim."
"Tim, Patty you are acting one right now."
"Shut your trap, Jake!" Tim snarled.
"I think not."
"Listen to Akini we have more pressing matters at hand." The fifth voice popped in.
"Fine," Patty grumbled.
"Only because you said it nicely," Tim mumbled.
"Well, thanks for bringing their attention back to the living world, Mike." Greeted Akini as he shook his hands.
"Anytime, though you yourself-"
"It won't affect the performance," Akini replied quickly.
"Better hope not." With that, Mike retreated with his co-workers.
Akini turned back to his friends and found them glaring back at each other. "Let's go, resolve this later guys. We are being cheered loudly to get our butts out there."
With that statement all four of them gathered their equipment's and stood behind the curtains, their breathing calming down as the cheers blocked outside interruptions. With a nod to each other, they made their way to their stations and smiled as the curtains parted.
"Now…the band you're all waiting for… The Clovers!" The commentary introduced them. Immediately the cheers exploded and the cool temperature drastically heightened from the shouts, body heat and sweat from the audience.
Tim started with his beat followed by Patty's stringing of his bass; Jake's gliding his hands over the keyboard and Akini grabbing the mike. The tune bringing smiles to their faces, and with practice ease gave the audience their desired performance.
I think I'm drowning, asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell that you've created
You're something beautiful, a contradiction
I wanna play the game, I want the friction
Jake: You will be the death of me
Yeah, you will be the death of me
Bury it, I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
Akini: I wanted freedom, bound and restricted
I tried to give you up but I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped, sense of elation
You'd never dream of breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it, I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Akini and Jake: Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah you, will suck the life out of me
Bury it, I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Jake: Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
Akini and Jake: How did it come to this?
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
As the last tune played Akini begun to string to an upbeat song followed soon after by Patty, their arguments, gone. It was them doing what they love. It was Jake who took the lead in vocals as his fingers danced over the keys a smirk appearing on his face.
Here we stand
Worlds apart
Hearts broken in two, two, two
Sleepless nights
Losing ground
I'm reaching for you, you, you
Feelin' that it's gone
Can't change your mind
If we can't go on
To survive the tide
Love divides
Someday love will find you
Break those chains that bind you
One night will remind you
How we touched
And went our separate ways
If he ever hurts you
True love won't desert you
You know I still love you
Though we touched
And went our separate ways
Reckless hearts
Caught between confusions and pain, pain, pain
Distant eyes
Promises we made were in vain
In vain, vain
Akini: If you must go
I wish you love
You'll never walk alone
Take care my love
Miss you love
Akini and Jake: Someday love will find you
Break those chains that bind you
One night will remind you
How we touched
And went our separate ways
If he ever hurts you
True love won't desert you
You know I still love you
Though we touched
And went our separate ways
[Instrumental Interlude]
Oooooooooh
Jake and Patty: Someday love will find you
Break those chains that bind you
One night will remind you
If he ever hurts you
True love won't desert you
You know I still love you
Jake: I still love you, girl
I really love you, girl
And if he ever hurts you
True love won't desert you
Nooooooooo
Nooooooooo
By then the crowds were screaming their lungs off, their bodies jumping excitedly as if they just got candy. Somewhere behind the scene, Mike smiled proudly at the band, nodding to himself and ordered another bottle of beer.
Another six songs later, the members of The Clovers were sweating that trailed their red face from their performance and slowly the tune slowed to calm the upbeat songs they had performed. It was back to Akini and the crowd knew what was coming cheered more. He cleared his throat and forced out emotions he never felt when he wasn't performing and opened his mouth.
It feels like a fire that burns in my heart
Every single moment that we spend apart
I need you around for every day to start
I haven't left you alone
There's something about you, I stare in your eyes
And everything I'm looking for I seem to find
All this time away is killing me inside
I need your love in my life
Everyone: I wanna spend time till it ends
I wanna fall with you again
Like we did when we first met
I wanna fall with you again
Akini: We fought in a battle, nobody won
And now we face a mountain to be overcome
You can't turn away, the past is said and done
I need us to carry on
Everyone: I wanna spend time till it ends
I wanna fall with you again
Like we did when we first met
I wanna fall with you again
Akini: You'll try everything you never thought would work before
When you live, when you love
And you give them your all
You can always give up some more
Baby, nothing means anything
Unless you're here to share it with me
I can breathe, I can bleed, I can die in my sleep
'Cause you're always there in my dreams
Everyone: I wanna spend time till it ends
I wanna fall with you again
Like we did when we first met
I wanna fall with you again
I wanna spend time till it ends
I wanna fall with you again
Like we did when we first met
Akini: I wanna fall with you again
You again
As the last words embraced everyone the curtains came together blocking the band members from view. The cheers and claps were heard more than a mile away and they smiled. After all, it was only half-time before they had to go out again and perform at least eight more songs.
There was clapping from behind them and Mike smiled at them, a tint of red on his cheeks. "Brats, you all did well, performed greater than any could have thought and if it was possible that you could be better than this than I'd treat you all free dinner for a whole week!"
They laughed and clapped each other's works. The backstage workers passed them their meals and two bottles of water each.
Tim was stuffing himself with chocolates becoming more hyped than he already was and Patty took it upon himself to smack him over with his plastic bottle.
"Geez, one would think that you were actually five." He remarked earning a thrown wrapper at his face.
"His appearance may be eighteen but his mentality remained at five." Jake piped in earning laughter from everyone except Tim.
"That's not nice!"
"I didn't ask for your opinion…Timmy." Jake smirked.
The face on Tim's face was that of a gaping fish, failing to close his mouth. Taking advantage of this situation Akini threw and successfully -he might add- the broccoli, -Tim's most hated nemesis- in his mouth. The result? He swallowed out of shock.
Tim saw Akini's innocent face and squirted water to him, his face enraged, glaring at everyone laughing. Akini took his revenge and poured Mike's cold bottle over his body and smiled at the expression. This started a major water fight backstage; the outsiders, none the wiser.
By the time everyone had calmed down from the adrenaline, the staff, other band members and the band that started it all were all drenched to the bone. The majority were now glaring at The Clovers whilst Mike growled under his breath, behind him were the drench puppies aka Jake, Patty, Tim and Akini all grinning sheepishly.
Closing the door of the changing rooms Mike turned slowly at them, his face the epitome of the devil's wife. Patty wisely kept his mouth shut not wanting any harm on his being.
"Now…" He began but Tim butted in.
"Akini started it!"
Swiveling around so fast, Akini scowled at Tim. "Excuse me? You're the one who squirted water at me first!"
"I squirted! Not pour the whole bottle on you!"
"Clearly a misunderstanding, but you're the one who missed the target and drenched Jake."
"Well, you dodged!"
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked rhetorically. "Be a sitting duck?"
"YES!"
Jake rolled his eyes at Tim's stupidity, "Idiot." He muttered to himself but Tim with a surprisingly good hearing swiveled around to face him.
Before any words escaped his mouth, Mike's eyebrow had been twitching throughout the ordeal, yelled, "Enough!"
They froze and turned frightened to come face to face with a very twitchy manager.
"Get yourselves dried and changed, you perform in five minutes. Unless you wish to let your fans see how childish you are." With that, he turned and slammed the door behind him.
"This is all your fault." Patty accused.
"Who was the one who hit me with a bottle when I did nothing to you?" Tim rhetorically accused.
"You were annoying-"
"In my defense, I was eating chocolate! Or are you blind?"
"Will you two shut it!" Jake shouted. He rubbed his temples and turned to get an inspiration from Akini. He found him all dried and changed waiting calmly at the exit.
"If you don't hurry you'll give this band a bad reputation," Akini stated offhandedly. Startled from this realization the other three rushed and tripped to get their selves ready.
They now stood behind the curtains once again, five seconds before it parted. The spotlight shone on them, the cheers erasing all previous thoughts and they stepped forward together. The loud cheers boosting their confidence; they called their names; confessing their love and the colored lights swept over their fans faces. It was their job to bring them what they want and with a nod towards Tim, they all shouted:
E: Jump!
Patty: I don't wanna wake up today
Cause everyday's the same
And I'd been waiting so long
For things to change
I'm sick of this town
Sick of my job
Sick of my friends 'cause everyone's jaded
Sick of this place, I wanna break free
I'm so frustrated, I just wanna
Everyone: Jump! (Jump!)
Patty: Don't wanna think about tomorrow (Jump!)
I just don't care tonight
Everyone: I just wanna jump (Jump!)
Don't wanna think about my sorrow
Let's go
Forget your problems
I just wanna jump
Patty: I don't wanna wake up one day
And find out it's too late
To do all the things I wanna do
So I'm gonna pack up my bags
I'm never coming back
'Cause the years are passing by
And I'm wasting all my ti-ti-time
Sick of this house
Sick of being broke
Sick of this town, that's bringing me down
I'm sick of this place, I wanna break free,
I'm so frustrated, I just wanna jump
Everyone: Jump! (Jump!)
Patty: Don't wanna think about tomorrow (E: Jump!)
I just don't care tonight,
I just wanna jump (E: Jump!)
Don't wanna think about my sorrow
Let's go
Forget your problems
I just wanna jump
I just wanna jump
I can't take it anymore [x3]
Forget tomorrow, I just wanna jump (E: Jump!)
Don't wanna think about tomorrow (E: Jump!)
I just don't care tonight,
I just wanna jump (E: Jump!)
Don't wanna think about my sorrow
Let's go
Forget your problems
It's time to let them go
Forget tomorrow, I just wanna jump (E: Jump!)
I just wanna jump
By the end, even the cohorts backstage was all jumping from excitement and joy of the start-off song. The members of clovers were also jumping with their fans eliciting a great deal amount of interacting. This, of course, gave the Clovers more energy like some steroids or an overload of chocolates in their system.
All of them were all going out on their performance, not once in their live concerts had they ever had any less. Probably that's how they managed to get their faithful fans in a short amount of time since they were first created.
They were all on high and when Jake changed the pace to something slow, their heart pulsed wildly still but their energies finally draining from the performances. It was their last song for the night. It was time to calm everyone down before they stampede on them.
Broken bottles in the hotel lobby
Seems to me like I'm just scared of never feeling it again
I know it's crazy to believe in silly things
But it's not that easy
I remember it now, it takes me back to when it all first started
But I've only got myself to blame for it, and I accept it now
It's time to let it go, go out and start again
But it's not that easy
But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, when it all comes to an end
But the world keeps spinning around
And in my dreams, I meet the ghosts of all the people who have come and gone
Memories, they seem to show up so quick but they leave you far too soon
Naïve I was just staring at the barrel of a gun
And I do believe that, yeah
But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, oh, when it all comes to an end
Now the world keeps spinning
Yeah, the world keeps spinning around
High hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, oh,
And the world keeps spinning
Ooh, yeah, this world keeps spinning
How this world keeps spinning around…
He stared blankly at the ceiling again, his memories replaying from the activities of last night. He felt like an important meeting was slipping away from the morning grog. His body twitched to get out of the couch he crashed last night. Right, he had one of their big concerts held at least three times a year last night. His body was both physically and emotionally exhausted from the encounter with his traitorous former teacher and his band-
He bolted upright and a sharp spasm passed through his spine. We winced, his legs were numb but he got up anyway. His feet bent unnaturally but he was too numb to care; he wobbled from the numb feeling of his feet not feeling anything – not even the cold tiled floor- not that he'd know that.
Another clumsy step and his feet finally regained their touch; he bit his lip to stop the cry of pain that he felt. Great, both of his feet was either broken or sprained. Now that he could feel it, walking didn't sound such a great idea. But as soon as it came the pain fled, leaving him staring impassively at his healed foot. Probably thanks to his helpful tenant. He was about to walk again when a voice interrupted him.
"Akini?" That voice was definitely Mike as his voice was slightly disorientated from his hangover.
Akini lifted his hands to greet, "Yeah…"
Mike strode in step with him as they made their way down to the bar. "I thought you left after the concert."
He smiled sheepishly and habitually rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, well I seem to have crashed the night on the couch."
Mike nodded in understanding but stared at him, searching for something to which Akini had no clue. "Normally, yes. But, you usually would be bouncing and ready to go home after the performance, even as big as last night."
Whatever Mike was suggesting at Akini shrugged and their conversation ended as they reached the bar stool.
The bartender was a man in his early twenties, his white hair that was tinted with dark blue fell on his shoulders in a ponytail. His eyes were green with hints of purple in their depths and placed just under his right eye almost invisible with a single or five glances were traces of scar that ran to his temple. He wore the normal bartender uniform; collared shirt with a tie and black pants with a black apron. His hands were busy drying a wine cup with a towel, twisting it with experienced ease.
He looked up at the two newcomers and did a double-take. Next to the man that was practically living in the bar was the lead member of the Clovers, Akini. His knee-length silver hair with red strands appearing was tied in a messy side pony as if he had slept with it last night. Tan features were clearly seen in the skin tight black singlet his usual coat lied on his left arm. His eyes were the colors of lilac and mahogany that seemed to fit perfectly together with his features; unusual but that was what attracted many to him. He wore straight, black denim pants with the silver chain flashing under the light before disappearing under his singlet. The silver rectangular pendant that had a blue swirl pattern hung loosely in their chains on his neck. Above that was just a plain black choker, whether it was leather or just cloth he would never know. Akini stood at five-foot-seven, just an inch or two shorter than him considering that the singer was only eighteen. On his left wrist was another black band just like his choker wrapping like another skin. All in all, to see a celebrity closing in on him made him nearly want to scream to the world that he got up close with the ever famous enigma of the Clovers.
He was still in his little world when the voice that was supposedly unfitting for Akini but was, of course, suited him brought him back to reality. He gaped at the sound. It was not too deep but it was smooth, gentle that sent his stomach doing somersaults. It sounded just like a… he gulped at the possibilities.
The bartender was doing it again. His face was glazed, his mouth agape and the blunt signs of a blush forming was evident to what he was thinking. At the corner of his eyes he saw his manager stifling a laugh, obviously not working as he heard him. He glared at him but that seemed to urge him more and settled with rolling his eyes. It wasn't his fault that he barely had time to deal with situations like this, it was his first time. His manager should be helping him not laugh at his expenses!
Deciding that fake coughing or something like that wasn't his character, he did what he always did, well sometimes. "Hey…" He began when the bartender started and stared back at him wide-eyed as if he was caught like a frantic rabbit. He continued, however, ignoring the less subtle formations of incoming questions. "Anyways, do you have anything that I could eat for breakfast?"
He watched as the bartender snapped out of his daze again and nodded vigorously before dashing into the staff area. When he was gone he glared at the now calm manager.
"You should be helping me." He said, clearly wanting to yell.
Mike shrugged and smirked, "Serves you right for never being there for your fans."
Akini ran a hand through his hair and untied the messy pony. His fingers twirling as he did the fishnet plaits with expertise. "You know very well that I am busy." Not even deeming to look at him.
Mike stared at the lazy poise Akini seemed to always have, his fingers dancing through the threads of his hair. It was fascinating for some reason unknown to him as he watched those hands do their work. He knew the truth hidden behind the lazy posture of the singer. He smiled sadly but didn't pursue their conversation. He ordered a bottle of water with pills to stop his splitting headache. Just contently watching the fingers do their magic. They were brought out of their trance from an excited yell. "Your order is ready!" The bartender placed his food gently as if it was a priceless material before Akini.
He brought his hands to take the utensils and ate very unnerved from the constant watch of the bartender. His stomach filled with energy he looked up to see the bartender still beaming at him. He raised a brow and smiled politely which brought another dazed expression on the bartender's face.
"Thank you for your hospitality." He left before the guy could pester him. As he walked out the back door and into an alley he knew he was forgetting something very important. If it was so important why did it always evade him? He sighed in frustration. The sun was rising well into the sky, beating down his irate body with its warmth.
He saw a flash of silver metal blur the insignia of his home. Then it hit him like a pile of bricks. He was getting his placements today! He saw another flash of silver but it was attached to him. He had to go home, change, and shower by the way he smelt; the day was starting off brilliantly.
-The Clovers Chapter End-