'To Hell with Fame – Haunting of the Purple Sakura Tree'
(Author's Note - Kyo returns for a fifth time. I didn't think I'd love fanfic writing as much as drawing, but well, I told me, now didn't I?
Well, now this is the THIRD part in the 'To Hell With the Fame' series, which is my Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi Fanfic seriies that seems to be more popular than I thought. But remember, if you never read my other two fanfics, Fall of the Rock Goddess and Wilting of a Pink Rose, then you MIGHT want to stop, read those first, get up to speed and jump back to this. Now, in this latest installment of my Puffy Shoujo-Ai Drama series, Ami and Yumi finally return to Japan for a little R 'n' R. Would be romantic for a shoujo-ai couple, hm? Would be easier if Yumi's past didn't catch up with her, probably forcing her into doing something that not even SHE would want to do. What is it that pushes Yumi to making this decision, and what about poor Ami? Can her body handle anymore stress that Yumi brings on to her, physically and emotionally? Man! The inspiration and ideas once more came from my buddy Dave. Also, I'm getting some ideas from my friend Neko-chan as well. Also, once more, I think I was inspired by ShadowTheHedgehog92's fanfic 'Seicha' for the inspiration for this. This is rated 'T', because of the swearing, the violence that shows up later, some suggestive themes, use of tobbaco and/or alcohol, and of course some shoujo-ai, with plenty of drama. Remember, constructive criticism and comments, ideas and pats-on-the-backs are great. Immature flamers get rocked, got it? You don't want to hear my voice (Or read my text?) so, bump that, sit back and enjoy the good.
- The Luminous Kyo)
Chapter 1 – The Girls Are Back in Town
'Ah man…it feels good to be back in Tokyo…'
This was the exact thought of Yumi Yoshimura, the, uh, 'badass force' of the Puffy duo. It seems after touring for a few months, Kaz was actually nice enough to suggest a long break for the girls, mostly because of the drama that has been going on within the group, ESPECIALLY since the two girls decided it would be a good idea to hook up, so to speak. The other half, the much sweeter of the two, Ami Onuki was Yumi's better half. 'I know what we can do for vacation, Yumi!' The ever-so-peppy (Or was that preppy?) pink-haired girl suggested to Yumi. 'Let's go someplace we haven't been to in a long time – let's go back to Japan!'
'Personally, I'll take Osaka over this town any day, but why should I bitch? It's a well-deserved break!' Yumi stretched and yawned as was just waking up from a nice nap on a couch found in their 'summer house' of sorts on the outskirts of Tokyo. She then sits up to release yet another sigh. 'Finally, to actually have some ME time again… I forgot how long it's been.' Of course, this moment of self-peace was interrupted by an uppity 'HI HI!' Yumi jumped out of the couch only to land on her front. 'Gah, Ami…'
The innocent-looking pink haired girl stood there, now wearing a fuchsia-colored spaghetti strap, and some dark purple bell-bottom pants, which was of the jean material. For the first time in what seems forever, Ami let her hair down! That little flower thing is still in it though. 'I'm sorry I woke you up, Yumi, but it's a bright day out there! We should go out and enjoy it; we've never had any time to ourselves in forever!
'If you say so…' Yumi was thinking to herself as she got up to brush herself off. 'Ami, I'm still kinda suffering a bit of jetlag, so what if I just rested today?' Yumi was dead-set on sleeping all day. Ami was dying for the opposite; to spend time with her girlfriend. 'Come on… I bought you new clothes and everything and was hoping to see you in them… y'know, I think you look… well, "oishii!" Hm?' To this, Yumi just blushed deeply and sighed. 'Get me my clothes, I'll change…'
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The busy streets of Tokyo were over-populated with all sorts of people, people going to school, the usual teenage street punks, people on their way to work, and just random people doing their thing. To blend in with the crowd, Ami and Yumi wore different clothing, and boy did it help. As we all know what Ami wore, Yumi wore something a tad bit different, yet still the same she usually wears; She wore a black elbow-long sleeve shirt with a 'Rockers A-Rockin' logo on there. She wore a beanie with her trademark 'skull' on it; to say the least, it literally was a skullcap now. She wore blood-red baggy jeans, the kind that covers up her shoes, specifically her boots. She WASN'T going to change her footwear for anything. Of course, against stepping outside of her comfort zone, which was the couch, she put her hands in her pockets, just trying to cope with it. Suddenly she turned her head when her arm was grabbed and clung-on to. It was none other than Ami, blushing and resting her head on Yumi's shoulders. Simply blushing, Yumi gritted her teeth, before stating what was on her mind – 'Ami, what are you doing? Not in public…' Ami just playfully stuck her tongue out at the stubborn Osakan. 'I know you're not ashamed of me, but just afraid of how others would re-act if they questioned. Suck it up, Yumi.' She then smiled at her sweetly. The indigo-haired woman just shifted her eyes to her side and scoffed. 'Yeah, whatever. Do what you want…' Ami rolled her eyes. 'Yup, it's just not Yumi without her trying to pass off as some sort of badass in public…'
Like a scene from a movie, Ami and Yumi were at an outdoor café, Ami sipping on some sort of mocha frappuccino, and Yumi just resting her head in her elbows, which lay on the table. 'Honestly, Yumi – you can sleep whenever, let's just actually enjoy today together!' Against her will, Yumi got up and groaned a bit, now resting her head on the palm of her hand which was held up by her elbow on the table. 'Man… couldn't we just snuggle or whatever? Something that doesn't require me to leave the house…' Just then, a male's voice which sounded a tad raspy but dark at the same time was heard. 'God, after all this time all that bitching and whining hasn't changed.' Ami put her cup down when she heard this. 'Well, there are some rude people here, don't you agree, Yumi-chan?' Yumi's head bolted up the second she heard the male's voice. 'That voice… I only know one bonehead who sounds like that!' The second she turned around, her eyes widened like seeing a ghost back from the dead or something. Her heart stopped and her arm just dropped off the table. In her vision was a tall man, his dark-blue hair spiked, yet slicked back. He wore black and red shades, while sporting a black trench coat over a mesh shirt and baggy black pants. Luckily for him, it wasn't that sunny; bright enough to be considered a good day, but it felt nice to be wearing all black. This dude had a smug look on his face. 'Jeez, you haven't changed much…'
'T-Takeru Kageyama!' Yumi couldn't believe who it was. Someone from her past. Ami saw her in this state and just nudged her with a poke from her finger. 'So… I take it you KNOW this ruffian.' Ami just gave the guy a sneer look. Takeru just looked at her back, with the 'God, I want to hit you in the face' look. Yumi got up from where she was sitting just to pause and hug Takeru greatly. 'Just a very OLD friend of mine.' Yumi didn't want to let go, but she drew some attention, so she let go of him, kind of blushing a bit.
'Yumi, let's blow this pop-stand. We need to catch up. NOW.' He just sternly said.
'Uh…' Yumi looks back to Ami, who was now looking annoyed, getting up from where she was sitting and started walking off. 'Yeah, yeah, just do what you want then, Yumi. I'll go shopping or something…jeez.' As Ami headed for the closest shopping center, Yumi simply said under her breath 'Sorry…' and then looked back to Takeru.
'So, shall we go to the old hang-out spot, like old times?' The tall dude just patted his hand on top of Yumi's head. 'Tonbo's waiting for me, and I'm pretty sure he'd be shocked as HELL to see you come back.'
Yumi couldn't help but giggle. 'Hah, the crazy dragonfly. I can assume he hasn't changed much.' Yumi may have been an Osakan girl, but a good part of her life was spent in a small 'family' she adopted when she first came to Tokyo ages ago.
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An old rundown warehouse. Outside that was a smaller scale of a 'park', but not as grassy as most would be. Over on the somewhat old picnic tables, a man slightly smaller than Takeru sat on there, wearing a dark-green jumpsuit, playing with his lighter, and sporting a blood-red ponytail. His eyes were like a shiny honey color, the kind that would attract the ladies. This would be Tonbo, the eternal dragonfly of Japan as he calls himself. Next to him is Takeru enjoying a good smoke and near her is a very nervous looking Yumi, who is happy and shocked to be with her 'second family'.
'So… five, six years, boys?' Yumi broke the silence with this question. Tonbo stopped playing his lighter and smirked mischievously. 'The Legendary Rock Goddess – wasn't that who you wanted to be? What are you doing back here with us?'
'N-No reason. I just wanted to see some old friends, you know?' Takeru just cocked an eyebrow to her. 'Just… friends?' To this, Yumi just gave a disgusted look and looked the other way. 'Takeru, stop it.' Takeru then got up and moved closer to her, to give her a light hug, Yumi trying to break this hug. 'Takeru, we're history. I just… no, I – ' She was then cut off by Takeru holding a cigarette to her. Trying to cut an old habit yet never looked down on a good smoke, Yumi took the cig in her mouth, only to have Takeru light it for her. After a small puff, Yumi pulled the cig out of her mouth with two of her fingers, exhaling softly, which drew Takeru's attention to her pale, yet soft-looking lips. He just released a sigh to this.
'Takeru, I've changed over the years. The Yumi Yoshimura you knew died, only to be replaced with the miserable woman who has to deal with a bunch of inner demons…' Yumi took another small puff of the cig, now crossing her legs. 'So then, how's SHE different from the one I fell in love with? You know, the one who kept crying over and over how the world is collapsing on her and she's alone and no one would accept her for anything more but a cold-hearted b-' Right before he could finish that last word, he was met by a cigarette being put out on his collar bone by Yumi. 'I don't REALLY smile upon people who mock me, so STOP pissing me off.' Yumi flings the dead butt, only to steal the one Takeru had in his mouth and continued to puff on that. 'Heh, still a cold-hearted bitch… I don't know why but I thought it was hot…'
'And I don't know why I was ever head-over-heels for you…' Yumi retorted, exhaling another soft puff. 'Yet, you were the first person I ever actually, well… trusted with my life.'
'Only because you and Takeru are practically the same.' Tonbo finally spoke again, jumping up onto his feet. The guy only stood slightly smaller than Yumi, but made sure he was in charge with his Lupin-esque smile. 'Not that it bugged me or anything, you two can REALLY handle a knife pretty well.'
Yumi simply looked down, now sighing deeply. 'Well, yeah… better days, eh?'
Tonbo put his hand on Yumi's shoulder, glaring his pearly whites. 'I'll say. I hope you still know how to wield one of those…' Yumi quickly snapped her head up to meet him in eye level, still holding her cig with her fingers. She had a puzzled look on her face.
'Hm, why? What did you have in mind for me…'END OF CHAPTER 1. NEXT – FEELINGS, LIKE KNIVES, CUT SKIN DEEP.
Yup, it would seem my favorite character Yumi is about to be dragged into some old habits again. It's kinda cool, because this automatically writes the next chapter for me, thus making this easy. Well, R&R. Til next time true believers, I'm going to sleep. - Kyo