Well this is the first time I've written an anime story in FOREVER…What can I say? I loved the show FLCL, watched the whole thing in one night. I love Haruko…is that wrong to say? Does that make me a bad person? Nah…
Anyway, this will be an FLCL story, placed after the last episode, with one added character, its only one so don't complain. I do have to give some kind of background on him though.
Disclaimer: I don't own FLCL obviously; a few companies (Gainax and others) own it.
On with story then?
Was this all worth it..? A young man of 17 asked himself. A crowd of many thousands can be heard cheering in the background, they love him, they want more of him, they don't understand that if he ends the way he always does they will…
"CJ, hurry up already, they want more, can't you tell?" The young man's friend and agent tells him. They appear to be the same in age.
"CHRIS! CHRIS! CHRIS!" The chant from thousands of adoring fans continues.
"Kyle…I have enough power, we don't need to do this anymore." The one known as Chris almost pleas to his friend, Kyle Landros. For two years now, he's done the same thing over and over, it isn't right, it's selfish. His being was already the most powerful on the planet.
"CJ, listen to me. Those people," Kyle points to the crowd from their backstage position, "They KNOW what happens when they go to one of your touring concerts. They KNOW it's a mistake, yet they come. And CJ, there is no such thing as too much power, you should know as well as I do what happens to those that are weak. If stealing the power of others means we never have to go back to our weakness, then so be it. I'm not gonna let you mess things up for us." Kyle is nearly yelling at the end, not because of Chris but because of their lonely childhoods, spent on the streets.
Chris sighs, he never liked being called CJ, but Kyle is his friend.
"Alright…" Chris admits defeat for now, because unbeknownst to Kyle, Chris planned to bail before the next concert, on his up and coming Japan tour…
"Atta boy, CJ." Kyle pats Chris on the back, "Knock 'em dead buddy." Kyle chuckles at his poor attempt at a joke, no one ever really dies on these tours…With Kyle gone, Chris takes his below stage position, surrounded by pitch black, he takes a few deep breaths as the grip on the bass neck of his double neck Fender Stratocaster/Gibson Ripper guitar tightens. He loved that guitar, it was his brain child. Flat black (even the necks and stocks were black), with an inlaid design resembling barbed wire down both necks, and a Punisher skull between the two sets of pick ups. Simple…but amazing to him. Besides, it went with his black concert suit.
Even in the pitch black he knew what to do, with his explosion into popularity 2 years ago, he had been doing the same thing every night for a long time. He began strumming the bass part of his guitar, making for a loud, driving bass riff which emanated from the speakers up top. The crowd went wild. People loved his music, but this cover was his signature…
The bass riff progressed, being picked up by his backup bassist who was coming on stage above. Chris began to slowly drag his pick along the thickest string of the guitar neck of his double instrument while his drummer established a rhythm. Then the platform began to rise…
When the platform reached stage level, the main guitar riff began, a high pitched sound that every one of his fans loved with a passion. With the end of his guitar riff, he picked up the driving bass again and began to sing in a high and quiet voice…
It's bugging me
Grating me
And twisting me around
Yeah, I'm endlessly
Caving in
And turning inside out
He switched back to his guitar, power chords this time, while raising his voice…
'Cause I want it now
I want it now
Give me your heart and your soul
And I'm breaking out
I'm breaking out
Last chance to lose control
Chris could already see the eyes of those in the front row begin to dim as he sang, their cheering undeterred…Back to the high pitched riff…No more, bass time, he'd become an expert at this…
It's holding me, morphing me
And forcing me to strive
To be endlessly cold within
And dreaming I'm alive
Power chords…Chris could feel his massive power increasing…
'Cause I want it now
I want it now
Give me your heart and your soul
I'm not breaking down
I'm breaking out
Last chance to lose control
A new bass progression…Chris knew the crowd was giving itself up to his, giving him some of what they had…enough to be "out of it" for a week…Solo time, Chris poured himself into his music, he loved it…
More power chords…almost done…he began nearly screaming into the mic to build the effect…
And I want you now
I want you now
I feel my heart implode
And I'm breaking out
Escaping now
Feeling my faith erode
And top it off with bass…some flashing lights, fireworks…darkness…cheering…Chris disappeared from the stage, empowered but with guilt strewn across his face because he knew he loved the power…
Chris could see Kyle giving him a thumbs up from the other side of backstage but he took no pride in what he had done. He left backstage for his car, a Lamborghini Murcielago, black of course. It had been a bitch to get this car at only 17 but money talks to everyone. Chris jumped into the car and sped off from the concert, his music blaring from speakers behind him. He was going to disappear in some hotel complex only to be found the next morning like always, but at least he could get away from this shit for a night.
Tomorrow they left for Japan and he could get away and stay away this time, he had a plan.
My name is Chris Johnson and I'm an orphan, internationally renowned musician, energy stealer, and demigod in terms of power, all at the young age of 17. Yes I am human but something about me is different…I can steal the will and strength of others with my words. I never wanted to but my friend Kyle, another orphan, demanded I do it to keep ourselves safe.
Music is the easiest way I know how to do this so two years ago we managed to get a record deal with a major label and my popularity immediately began exploding. After only a few months I was on tour…Massive amounts of people in a small area, perfect for stealing power…I don't like doing it, it's like one of those guilty pleasures to me, something you enjoy but regret later...
I've never been able to get away from all of this because we only ever toured in the U.S. and Kyle knows me like the back of his hand. But in Japan…I'll have the upper hand…Again, my name is Chris Johnson, and I'm going to finally be free soon…
Nothing amazing happens here…
Everything is ordinary…
These were the thoughts of a kid living his life in the town of Mabase. That kid is the now 14-year-old Naota Nandaba who, after two years, hasn't changed much, although he has grown somewhat and taken up hat wearing, and treats the amazing events of 2 years ago almost as a dream, they seemed unrealistic, they seemed impossible, the fantasies of his childhood. And that girl…
Haruko…
She could have just as easily been a dream, a girl his mind fabricated to replace Mamimi, a girl he cared for but saw as too clingy, or to be a symbol of the exciting, the amazing. But he knew she was real, everything that happened was real. In fact he was reminded each day by the city still being repaired and the blue Rickenbacker sitting in the corner of his room…which occasionally made noise of its own accord. But again…nothing amazing happens here.
It just so happened that currently Naota was currently sitting under the bridge he had so many times with Mamimi. Yea, he missed her, so what? She was off in America doing other things…Naota sat doing his homework, he had left his friends a while ago to come here and sit. Maybe it was nostalgia value, yes even teens can feel nostalgia, a throwback to what used to be ordinary, or maybe it was his dad at home who refused to grow up…Either way it made for a good place to do homework.
Haruko…Then a noise could be heard causing Naota to look up at the bridge. It sounded like a scooter…
It can't be…Naota dropped his homework and sprinted up to the side of the road, sure enough, it was a scooter. Not the scooter he had been hoping for…This one was black with a rider decked out it black, even with a large black helmet. They looked like one of those motorcycle riders which seemed like too much for the scooter they were riding, probably a rental anyway. The scooter driver went past Naota, but glanced at him in the process, something didn't feel right about that glance.
Naota sighed and turned back to go to his homework, I miss her…Naota thought, he was thinking about his lost love that hadn't come back yet, whom he believed would come back one day. But then something odd happened Naota missed, the scooter driver stopped and turned around.
"Hey kid!" A presumably male voice yelled.
Naota glanced back at the scooter driver, then around himself before pointing to himself. This made the scooter driver nod. The scooter driver had pulled onto the sidewalk.
"I've got a question for you kid." The scooter driver told Naota. This made Naota raise an eyebrow.
"Go find someone else." Naota turned around and began walking down to his homework. The scooter driver took off his helmet, revealing short brown hair, green eyes, a thin, clean shaven face; and a twitching eyebrow.
"Get back here, kid!" The scooter driver revved his scooter, going after Naota. Naota looked back just in time to see the driver lose control on the hill behind him and fly toward him at a million miles an hour before smashing into him.
Not again…Were his only thoughts as he was smashed into and everything went black. Naota flew through the air, the scooter driver fell off the back of his scooter, and his scooter tumbled over Naota and into the river…
"Shit! Now I have to buy that damn rental company…" Then he noticed Naota face down in the grass out cold, "Holy crap!" The scooter driver ran over to Naota.
"Kid! Kid! You ok?" The scooter driver shook Naota silly, flipping him over so he could breathe. "I killed him!" The scooter driver shook harder, Naota flopping around limply.
"What are you doing?" The scooter driver froze, before slowly turning his head to see a tall girl with purplish hair.
"I, uh…I…I'm just playin' with this kid here." The scooter driver was laughing oddly and rubbing the back of his head.
"Naota, you ok?" The purple haired girl called out, making the scooter driver freeze in hysterical shock. This made the girl show a smirk. "I guess that's a no…" She walked down to them.
"Er…I didn't…you know…uh…lets keep this a secret? Ok?" The scooter driver more stated than requested. The girl raised an eyebrow at him. Naota groaned, still out like a light…
"Who are you anyway?"
"Just call me Chris…"
"You're American…"She stated but he took it as more of a question by nodding.
"Yup…So what should we do about your friend here?" He looked up at her. She considering telling this Chris to just leave him, which could be funny, or she could stay with Naota alone…
"I know where he lives, so you can carry him, I'll show you the way." She turned and started heading in the direction of what Chris assumed to be Naota's house. This made him panic.
"H-Hey, wait up!" She was already up the hill by the time he managed to pull Naota onto his shoulders. She looked back for a moment and continued walking as Chris scrambled up the hill with a kid on his shoulder. Conveniently for Chris, Naota didn't live TOO far away…
Upon the door being opened, Chris fell to the floor, Naota rolling off his shoulder, "That was ridiculous…!" Chris complained, his face in the floor.
"Quit being such a baby." The girl walked past Chris, calling for Naota's guardians presumably, "Kamon, Shigekuni, Naota here needs help." Chris raised his head from the floor and propped it up on his hand.
"What's your name anyway?"
"Ninamori." The girl sat down on what looked like a porch inside while a man with a pigtail and glasses come into the hall from another room.
"Hmm? What are you doing here Ninamori-chan?" The new man asked before noticing Naota on the floor, "Naota-kun? What's wrong? Wake up!" The man shook his son, slapping him across the face. Chris looked at the father and son in awe before moving to sit next to Ninamori.
"Are they always like that?" Chris asked Ninamori, poking his thumb in their direction. She only nodded in response, she didn't show it but she was worried about Naota. All of a sudden Chris remembered something. This kid Naota had power coming from his head…That gives me an idea…Chris stood up causing Ninamori to glance at him. Chris walked over to Kamon who didn't notice him for a moment but then looked up from his obvious child abuse questioningly.
"Who are you?" Kamon asked.
"Chris, now if you'll move, I think I can help your kid." Kamon had seen and dealt with weirder when Haruko-chan had been there so he stood and stepped aside. Chris cracked his knuckles before pulling a black double necked guitar seemingly from no where and bringing it down on Naota's head, which broke through the floor. Ninamori and Kamon looked at Chris in shock.
"What?" Chris asked them. All of a sudden Naota sat up, gripping his head, which now had a bright red mark on it.
"Owwww!" Naota yelled out in pain.
"Naota-kun, you're awake!" Ninamori and Kamon exclaimed. Haruko was the only person they had ever seen do something like that. Chris swung the guitar up and onto his shoulder.
"All better." Chris grinned down at Naota, who had his back to Chris. Naota looked back at Chris, old pain, new face.
"Y-you're the one who ran me over!" Naota pointed an excusatory finger at Chris.
"I have no idea what you're talking about…" Chris shrugged, "must be that hit from the guitar, sorry kid. By the way, where am I?"
"Mabase." Ninamori stated since Naota was too busy staring in disbelief at Chris and Kamon was too busy staring in shock. It wasn't a big deal…
"Hmm? Mabase? Where's that?" Chris looked at her questioningly. He figured it was nowhere, but might as well check.
"No where." She replies. He knew it. It was perfect. Where better to stay hidden than no where? By now Kamon had snapped out of his shock, although he wasn't too happy that the floor would need replacing, then again Kanti could always do it…
"Thank you, Chris-san, for waking my Naota-kun." Kamon thanked Chris.
"Dad! He was the one who knocked me out in the first place!" Naota exclaimed in disbelief.
"Eri, you saw him run me over, right?" Naota was grasping for an argument, Ninamori only shrugged, this was funny. Naota gawked at her.
"Chris-san, you don't look familiar, are you new in town?" Kamon asked of Chris.
"Yea. I was kind of heading no where in particular. It seems I found it. You know of a place I could stay for a bit? My transportation is kind of…washed up right now…" Kamon nodded, his fingers to his chin.
"I see I see, you could stay" Suddenly a door slammed open, an old man standing in the door way, "What was with all that racket in here?" The old man yelled out before noticing Chris. His eyebrow twitched…Another guitar swinger…The door immediately slammed shut. Haruko was fine, not a second one. Chris looked questioningly at the door that was now closed.
"Don't worry, that's just my father," Kamon said, "You can stay here for at least the night for waking my son." Chris was apprehensive, considering not 30 minutes ago he'd run this guy's kid over with a scooter.
"Sure, why not?" Chris shrugged. "Thanks by the way." Then a robot peeked into the hall from the kitchen. Chris reacted by jumping back and screaming, "W-w-what's that?" It looked like a TV with a body.
"That's our robot, his name's Kanti…" The still mad Naota stated.
"Robot?" Chris questioned as Naota stood and walked upstairs to his room. The smell of food could be discerned in the hall so Chris assumed what the others already knew; Kanti was a service bot and was cooking something. It smelled spicy.
"Naota-kun, it's almost dinner time." Kamon called after Naota.
"I'm not hungry." Naota seemed mad, which he was. Dinner with a robot, an old man, a crazy man, and a quiet girl made for an interesting experience for Chris although they all thought the same that night, There's something off about this kid…Even Kanti's motherboard came to the same conclusion. Despite their noise Naota went up to his room and fell face first into his bed. He'd been hoping Haruko had come back…Instead he gets a scooter and guitar in the face from some stranger, stuff only Haruko had done to him before. With thoughts of Haruko and ponderings on Chris in his head Naota drifted off to sleep.
Much later Naota peeked open his eyes, it was dark in his room, dark and quiet…wait…no it wasn't quite quiet. There was a faint sound coming from somewhere outside his room. Naota sat up before standing. He looked around his room, there was definitely some sound coming from downstairs but he couldn't tell what it was. Naota opened his door and could discern a guitar being played softly and a voice, male, singing quietly. Words could faintly be heard.
…
And you feel the eyes upon you
As you're shakin' off the cold
You pretend it doesn't bother you
But you just want to explode
Naota walked down the stairs slowly, only to spot Chris, no longer in his black, rather in a blank white tee and jeans, playing his guitar and singing with his eyes closed. Naota stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching Chris as he continued.
Most times you can't hear 'em talk,
Other times you can
All the same old clichés,
"Is that a woman or a man?"
And you always seem outnumbered,
You don't dare make a stand
Here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
Here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page…
Suddenly Chris stopped. "I know you're there, kid." Chris stated plainly. This surprised Naota, he thought he had been silent.
"You're good…" Naota commented. Chris shrugged.
"I'm sorry for running you over Naota, that's your name, right?" Chris asked. Naota nodded.
"No apology for the guitar being smashed into my head?" Naota asked of Chris, raising an eyebrow at the older teen. Chris chuckled.
"Noooo, no apology for that, it was the only way I had to guarantee that you woke up. I wasn't doing CPR, sorry buddy." Chris laughed, Naota thought, Great, another immature adult… It then hit Naota that he was missing something.
"Wait, where's my stuff from the river?" Naota needed his homework for school.
"You mean this?" Chris pulled a bag from no where, as far as Naota could see, with a proud grin on his face.
"That's not mine…" Chris did a double take.
"It isn't?" Naota shook his head in response. "Shit…gimme a sec." Chris began pulling a multitude of items from no where; even things that shouldn't have been possible including a scooter wheel…Finally Chris pulled a bag out, giving Naota a questioning look. Naota nodded, standing up and walking over to take the bag from Chris.
"What are you doing here?" Naota asked of Chris, looking down at him.
"Well…I'm kind of running right now." Chris admitted.
"Running from what..?" Naota wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"From the devil…" Chris gave Naota an evil look to emphasize his new creepy tone. Naota took a step back from Chris, eyebrow twitching. Chris grinned, changing his whole demeanor.
"Nah, I'm just playing, Naota." Chris laughed. That was something Haruko might try to pull… "I'm just trying to hide from some person who doesn't see eye to eye with me right now." Naota squinted at Chris, almost a glare, for acting like that.
That's when it happened, a loud crash outside, probably someone or something smashing into a house. However it wasn't a normal kind of crash, it sounded like a cave-in more than a crash…
Well that's the first chapter, not much else I have to say on that other than…Cliffhanger? Aww damn, son. What happened? Anyway for those that might see me and think this is my first story, it isn't. It's just the first with this profile, which I made because I forgot my other password…Hope you liked it, I'm trying to stay true to the characters. I'd ask you to review but I don't really care if you do or don't, I'm writing this for myself.
First song was Hysteria by Muse
Second song (portion) was Turn the Page by Bob Seger (or Metallica if you like).