A/N: Well I was charmed by this anime and had an idea for a story. So here we are. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: The only characters I own are those from ICE FIRE. Any 'songs', if you can call them that, appearing in this story were written by me.
Chapter One
Ice Fire
The Shining Agency dormitories were quiet. The last of the summer sun pressed against the arced windows, casting bronze beams across the floor. The rooms were empty, the halls quiet. Most of the idols were away on tour, taking advantage of every last day before fall came around and young fans returned to school. The members of STARISH, however, gathered around the coffee table in the lounge. Haruka Nanami had just finished a new score. She stood fidgeting by the table as the boys silently ran their eyes over the music.
"Hm," Tokiya Ichinose was the first to make a sound. He set the sheet on the table, blue eyes cast upon an attentive Haruka. "It's good," he praised.
Haruka unleashed a sigh of relief, the tension lifting from her shoulders. Otoya Ittoki looked up with a grin, red eyes gleaming and eager. "It's great!" he said enthusiastically. "I can't wait to write the lyrics, Nanami!"
"Yeah!" Syo Kurusu agreed, pumping a fist in the air. "I'm getting worked up just thinking about it! What're we waiting for? Let's get started!"
Haruka smiled. "Ittoki-kun. Kurusu-kun. I'm so glad you like it!" she said happily.
The two boys exchanged a look and blushed, sheepishly rubbing their necks. "You're improving every day, Little Lamb," Ren Jinguuji praised. He looked Haruka over with a wolfish smile. "My, my. I might even say you're maturing."
"Oy! Shut it, Ren!" Syo snapped, whirling on the long haired man with gritted teeth.
"What?" Ren helplessly shrugged his shoulders. "You agree with me. Don't you, Masato?"
Masato Hijirikawa swiftly turned his head, cheeks blazed ever slightly red. "We should get to work," Tokiya interjected.
"You're right. This is our last performance of the summer," Shinomiya Natsuki pointed out with a pleasant smile.
"Yeah!" Otoya agreed. "We need to make it count!" He plucked a pencil from a cup on the table and set it against the sheet music. "So why don't we open like this…"
Haruka smiled happily as the boys set to work, collaborating and musing over the best possible lyrics for the summer melody. Her bright eyes glazed with happiness. After winning the UtaPri, work had flowed in for STARISH in the form of gigs, concerts, photo shoots, dramas, commercials, and more. The only thing missing was Cecil, but he was expected to return from visiting his family any day now. It couldn't get any more perfect than this.
The door slammed open, followed by deep and booming laughter. Haruka let out a startled yelp and scampered back. Shining Saotome burst into the room, belly protruding and hands set to his hips. "STAAARISH!" he called.
"P-President!" Otoya gawped.
"Listen carefully!" Shining roared. He brought up a finger. "You're all taking a trip to the city!"
The boys looked amongst themselves, sharing a confused, "What?" and "Eh?"
"That's right!" Shining went on. "It's time you boys learned about the nightclub scene. You too, Miss Composer."
"E-Eh? Me?" Haruka pointed to herself, eyes dazed. "A-A nightclub?"
"Hm." Shining nodded once. "I want you to listen to the music there. I've organized a meeting with the idols at Club Access."
"Access?" Tokiya echoed.
"Oh?" Ren leaned a little farther in his seat, lips slightly parted, eyes filled with intrigue.
"What is it? Do you know it, Tokiya?" Otoya asked.
"It's an exclusive venue," Tokiya explained.
Shining chuckled. "That's right. It's also where ICE FIRE is playing tonight."
Syo let out an intrigued gasp. "ICE FIRE?" he repeated. "They're huge! But President, I don't understand."
"Really? I've never heard of them," Otoya admitted sheepishly.
"Of course you haven't," Tokiya sighed disapprovingly.
"Eh? Kurusu-kun? What don't you understand?" Haruka asked.
"Well..." Syo glanced at her. "ICE FIRE has a different sound than us," he explained.
"More than different. Opposite," Tokiya added. "Just what are you planning, President?"
"Oho." Shining grinned, tilting his head so that the evening light flashed across his shades. "Nothing at all, Ichinose. It's just a field trip," he said reasonably. "Now go!" He threw his arms up in the air. "See what you can learn from the best Shining Agency has to offer!"
Everyone stared in awe as he twirled out of the room, laughing greatly. As the door slammed after him, they exchanged worried looks. Masato was the first to rise, calm and collected. He headed for the door, then glanced back at everyone, still rooted to their seats. "We should go," he advised.
"O-Oh. Right," Otoya nodded. He and the others stood to their feet.
"Someone's eager to check out the nightlife," Ren teased.
Masato cast him a sharp glare then defiantly turned his head.
"You too, Haru-chan," Natsuki said with a friendly smile.
"Eh? O-Okay," Haruka mumbled, following along. She frowned slightly. For some reason, maybe because it was on the President's orders, she had a bad feeling about this.
By the time they reached the city, night had fallen. A line of excitable young adults had developed outside of Club Access. One of the bouncer's, a large man wearing shades and a suit, called them over. "STARISH, right?" he said gruffly. Tokiya nodded in affirmation. The bouncer jerked his head. "Go on in," he said. Everyone passed him, warily gazing up at him in awe. The bouncer stared back at Haruka, who quickened her step inside.
They were hit with the beating pulse of electronic dance music. It battered at their ears and rattled their bones. Haruka's eyes widened, overwhelmed by the sensation. She gasped as an arm wrapped around her shoulders. "This way, Little Lamb. Stay close and you won't get lost," Ren breathed in her ear.
Haruka shivered as her hair fluttered to his voice. "E-Eh… O-Okay," she stammered as she was led through the dancers.
The music died. The crowd gathered to the stage, sharing eager murmurs of baited anticipation. Fog spilled out of the stage. A single spotlight shot through it. A silhouette stood in the center field, posed and ready. Two more spotlights switched on, purple and green. A girl stepped forward, dressed in leather, curls of dark brown hair bouncing around her shoulders. Sharp green eyes stared into the crowd. The crowd instantly began cheering, jumping up and throwing their hands into the air in greeting. The girl raised a finger to the sky, hips slack. "Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yes!" the crowd roared.
"Are you set?" the girl demanded.
"Yes!" the crowd clamored.
The girl smirked, eyes smiling. "Go!" she called. Two more girls appeared at her back, walking up to her, bent low. The music started, low and quiet, like a tremor in the night. The song started at a chilling whisper.
Ice fire, ice fire
Burning brightly in the mire
Ice Fire, ice fire
Hot as breath with deep desire
The lead girl jumped up, dancing as she sang with a voice as beautiful as it was venomous. Haruka openly gawped, taken aback by the edge this idol had. When she looked around, she found the boys to be as equally floored.
Viper's tongue
I've come undone
You're tearing into me
and I can't hear anyone
The backup girls sang with a hushed pitch.
(Drown me out!)
The lead girl's dancing turned desperate, pained, writhing as though entranced by some horror.
I'm caught in your dream
Your mad perception
I open my lips wide
I can't even scream
The backup girls danced around the lead girl, switching sides, momentarily swooping in the front.
(Please drown me out!)
The lead girl shook her head and her hips, the thick of her hair whipping harshly in the light and smoke.
Baby just let it out!
Stream your hair and give a shout!
Her voice calmed, dripping with sorrow.
These tears won't stick
Time's passing by
Still singing, she pushed her shoulders back and tilted her head up, long neck exposed.
If you give and let go
Surely I'll di~e!
The backup singers closed in.
(Drown me out!)
Don't drown me out!
The two girls wrapped an arm around the singer's thighs as if to pull her down.
(Please drown me out!)
The lead singer took a deep breath, her voice desperate and strong.
Don't drown me ou~t!
She fell to a knee, fist against the floor, head bowed. The lights switched off, bathing the stage in darkness. Silence. The crowd exploded with applause. "We love you Rin-sama!" a loud girl cried.
Haruka turned to the others with a question on her lips, but their eyes were still cast to the stage, sharing parted lips, furrowed brows, and tensed backs. She frowned, sensing both a mixture of awe and worry. Had their perfect summer already come to an end?