Rating: G

Note: this is one of my alternate X futures, like Lights of Saint Denis or You Can Be Me When I'm Gone.

Disclaimer: Not mine, Clamp's. Playing.

VIRTUAL FUTURE: It's only rock and roll (but I like it)

by Beth (renfri@astercity.net)

"Welcome to Nano Music, Tokyo's best pirate music television! It's great to have you here!"

"It's great to be here. Should I introduce myself?" A blinding smile, the teeth even whiter than his skin.

"After the last few weeks there's not a person in Tokyo who doesn't know your name. How does it feel to be an overnight success?"

"It might be overnight to you, but I've been working on it for the past few years. I just had those songs inside of me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I got them out."

"You mean, of course, since the earthquakes - and it's a wonder that just as critics pronounced the public has had enough of the past, your album of earthquake songs hits number one all over Japan."

"Not only Japan - Rainbow Bridge Tragedy's currently at number three in the Billboard chart, and heading up. I like to think of my songs as universal."

"Speaking of Rainbow Bridge Tragedy, I was very impressed by the way you described the earthquake as a battle between estranged lovers. Or that crazy future-seeing girl in Little Bird Lost - you create the most fascinating characters."

Eyes demurely lowered. "They created themselves. I just tell their stories."

"But still, putting them in such fantastic situations... Anyway, I'd like to ask you about the title of your album. Many people think that calling it 'Promised Day' is evidence of your messianic tendencies."

"No way, I don't want nothing to do with the Messiah gig!" Laughter. "Rock and roll's good enough for me."

"And it's been very good for you - I can hear the fans gathered outside the studio. Listen, they're calling out your name!"

It is a rhythmic chant, a primal beat taking you back to people wrapped in animal skins, gathered around bonfires.

"Ka - mu - i! Ka - mu - i! Ka - mu - i!"

!FINIS!