Chapter 2. Breakdown?
With a cleansed body and fresh clothes on, I walked down the stairs where everyone was waiting for me. "Sorry for the wait. So, can anyone time me anything?" I asked. Everyone exchanged glances with each other. "I guess I have no choice…" Aoba sighed. "So you're finally going to tell me everything?" I asked, arms crossed.
Aoba began explaining from the beginning after I had left. Most of the things he told me shocked me. Apparently, Aoba has this mind power and Toue was behind it all. Toue forced Aoba into Platinum Jail so he could have control of him but Aoba had overpowered him and destroyed Platinum Jail. "So then, how did Ren end up with this body?" I asked. "About that-" Ren was cut off by Aoba. "Ren's allmate form wasn't safe anymore so I had his mind transferred into this artificial body" Aoba answered.
I raised an eyebrow, "So you're saying you can take someone's own mind out of a body and transfer it into another one?" I asked. He nodded, "That's right" He affirmed. I shook my head and sighed, "This is too unbelievable…" I muttered and then glared around at everyone, "You all aren't trying to prank me are you? If you're all trying to prank me I'm not going to be happy" Aoba shook his head, "This is all true". I look towards Echo who nodded in confirmation.
I groaned, "This is such bullshit". Echo ruffled my hair and I swatted her hand away with a playful smile, "Hey! I'm not a kid!~" Echo rolled her eyes but smiled back. "I'm glad to see that you remained unphased as all that time passed by" She admitted. I punched her lightly on the arm, "Yeah, like a year tour could change me~" I laughed. "So does anyone want breakfast?"
Echo then felt my forehead, "Are you feeling alright? Since when did you offer to cook food for people you just met?" Echo asked. I shook my head, "Honestly Echo, I just want to get to know everyone since all of this had occurred" I answered. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea" Virus commented. "As much as I'd hate to say this, I agree with him. Since you were only a year old I couldn't really get to know you but now that you're 19 I can" Koujaku said. "Me too!~ Me too!~ I want to know master's sister too!~" Clear shouted enthusiastically. "I could use more information" Noiz spoke to himself. Mink just stared at me quietly but I could take it as he was also interested in knowing me. "Well, I guess I should stay too" Mizuki sighed. Slightly, in the corner of my eyes, I can see Echo cast Mizuki a mischievous grin.
Everyone waited patiently at the table while I prepared the food. "Ikumi-chan, do you need help making anything?" Clear had peaked his head into the kitchen. I shook my head, "Thank you for the kind gesture Clear but as a guest I cannot allow you to help me. Please rest while I prepare the food" I smiled. He looked at me for a moment before cheerfully shouting, "Okay!~" and walking back into the other room. Clear seemed like a nice person, however, I didn't like that he was wearing a gas mask. It was somewhat suspicious. Continuing cooking, I had begun contemplating why he was wearing the mask.
"Please help yourselves!~" I sang and began setting the different foods onto the table. "Ikumi, you've prepared quite the meal. I feel like I'm a queen with all this food you made" Echo joked, smiling widely. I rolled my eyes but still smiled at the comment. Indeed, I did make a lot of food but when I thought about how much a guy can eat I made sure I made enough. Aoba was staring in complete shock at the meal still. "Ikumi, you didn't need to make this much…." Aoba finally spoke. I shrugged, "Making a lot is being than making too little. I don't know how much you all can eat so I decided to make a lot. Also, if I didn't make this much and someone didn't feel full I would feel bad about it" I answered.
"This looks fantastic Ikumi, thank you for the meal!~" Koujaku cheered before he began digging into the large piles of food. "Thank you Ikumi" Virus and Trip chorused before, they too, dug in. Everyone had then began thanking me one after the other. While eating I began looking around and couldn't help to wonder if Clear was actually eating. As I casted my gaze over towards him I could faintly see his gas mask moving. Weird enough, I never even saw him lift the thing.
"Clear?" I called. Clear turned towards me, "Yes?" He asked. "If you don't mind me asking, are you even eating? I never saw you lifting up your mask or getting food" I questioned. Clear had nodded. "I'm eating. It's very delicious by the way, Ikumi-chan is a very good cook!~" Clear chirped. I looked at him questioningly, "How are you eating if your mask is still on your face?". It was really confusing me how he was eating with a mask on. Was he really not eating and just trying to fool me?
Clear then took a Tamagoyaki and demonstrated how he eats by pointing to a hole in his mask and dropping the Tamagoyaki down the hole. Instantaneously, the mask began moving a little indicating that he was in fact eating the Tamagoyaki. "Mmm~" Clear moaned. I blushed and looked down, "You don't have to exaggerate Clear, my cooking isn't that good" I mumbled shyly. "Hey", Echo hit my head lightly, "You are a wonderful cook. Quit being so negative about yourself~" Echo scolded. I looked towards her apologetically, "Sorry, I guess I'm just used to negative thinking"
When everyone was finished with breakfast I began receiving questions, "So, how and when did you manage to get into the music industry?" Koujaku began. It was a lie if I said I wasn't expecting this kind of question to appear. "When I was 13 I was spotted by a big company producer on the streets. He liked the way I looked and asked if I could perform for him and so I did. In the end the man liked me and signed me onto his label" I answered. "I have a question!~" Clear bursted and raised his hand frantically. Yup, this dude was a complete weirdo. "Yes?" I asked. "Can you sing for us?" He burst out happily.
I wasn't sure what to do first because this guy was nice however…. "Sorry, if you want to hear me sing you'll have to attend one of my performances" I sighed. "Ikumi probably doesn't want extra work" Koujaku reasoned. "I guess you can say that however that's not really the case" I said. Koujaku looked at me confused while the others started to look interested. "What's the case then?" Koujaku asked. Before I could answer, Echo had cut me off, "I think it'd be better if Ikumi didn't answer that one" Echo said.
I shook my head, "It's fine Echo, I don't like putting up on front all the time especially if they're people I'm going to be around often" Echo gave me a worried look before she looked to the ground in defeat. "The truth is I hate performing" I said nonchalantly. "If you hate performing why are you in the business?" Noiz inquired boredly. "Simple. I want to financially secure granny and Aoba. I want to help them out as much as I can and also help out my friends. I don't care what I have to do but if I can help my friends and family in any way I will do it" I informed. "So you're performing for the sake for your family and friends?" Mink asked. I nodded. "Ikumi, we have a question~" Virus announced. I looked towards the duo with a raised brow. "And what may that be?"
"Why do you exactly hate performing?" Trip smirked together with Virus. "You really want to know?" I sighed. Echo took Virus and Trip by the ear. "Hey! You two are up to something! Knock it off~" Echo barked. I grabbed Echo's shoulder, "It's fine" I interrupted. Echo gave me a confused and sad look. "But Ikumi-" Echo was about to start but I cut her off, "It's fine" I repeated. Echo released the duos' ears reluctantly. "I hate performing because I detest myself"
The room went silent and people stared at me in disbelief, sadness, shock, and interest. "Oh? Why do you detest yourself? You seem like a wonderful person" Virus continued. I shook my head and glared down. "I'm disgusting and filthy. So many people think I'm beautiful and my voice is beautiful but it isn't. I abhor this voice, it's disgusting. This body is so filthy" Unconsciously I start scratching at my arms, my fingernails digging deeply into my skin, "Why do people love such a grotesque voice and body?! It's filthy! I wish they would just shut up and quit looking at me!" I had begun shouting, tear welling in my eyes, "I hate this body! This throat!" I then began clawing at my throat, "IKUMI NO!" Echo shouted however I pushed her away, "DON'T STOP ME!" I yelled back towards me.
"Every time I perform I'm just reminded of the same of memory! I'm sick of it! Every day, all the time I can feel hands all over my body and pain! My voice is so sore but I can't stop singing or else- or else!" I collapsed to the ground. Mizuki, Echo, Aoba, and Ren running towards me worriedly. "Ikumi snap out of it!" They shouted. Ren and Mizuki grabbed ahold of my arms so I couldn't scratch at my body. Echo then slapped me. As I saw her heartbroken, tear-stained face I was pulled back into reality. "Echo…. I'm sorry" I looked down to the floor ashamed. Aoba took hold of my face to make me look at him, "Ikumi, you don't have to worry anymore. We're all here for you, we'll protect you" Aoba consoled.
My body was shaking with tears and I wrapped myself tightly to Aoba. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" I continuously apologized. "Ah, Ikumi-chan…" I pulled my head from Aoba's chest to see Clear kneeling before me. "Please don't feel sad anymore, I promise I won't ask you something like that anymore" Clear mumbled, guilt in his voice. I felt bad, Clear thought it was his fault that I broke down…. That wasn't right of me to let him feel this way. "Ikumi, I'm sorry as well. I was snooping in something that wasn't my business…" Koujaku, too, held guilt in his voice.
I looked to the floor, ashamed with myself, "I'm sorry everyone. I just had a little breakdown, it's normal for stars so don't feel bad!~" I cheered. "If you want I can sing for you!~" Clear shook his head rapidly, "No, Ikumi-chan said she doesn't like it so I you shouldn't have to sing!" Clear rejected. "Clear is right. Ikumi, I think you should also stop performing. I can see that performing really bothers you and if you are holding back all of these feelings it's just going to kill you" Koujaku added.
I refused, "Sorry but I'm going to continue performing because it's the only thing I'm good at doing" I answered. "You can cook can't you? Why don't you do that?" Mink noted. I shook my head, "My cooking is like I said, average. I'm not good enough to be a cook. Also, being a performer is one of the most high paying jobs so I must stick to it".
"Ikumi" Virus and Trip called. I looked towards them. "Why torture yourself further? Just give up and be a cook" Virus said. "Or do you secretly like being a performer?" Trip ended. Echo and I glared at the both of them. "YOU TWO!~" She shouted, getting ready to kick some ass. I grabbed her hand. "Echo, I'm sure you were wanting me to visit the gang right?" I asked. She nodded and smiled softly, "They all greatly missed you" She confirmed. I nodded and with another apology, I left the house with Echo to visit our gang, Taikyokuzu.
Thank you for reading again!~ I do not own DRAMAtical Murder nor do I own any of the characters. The only characters that I own are Ikumi Seragaki and Kei. Echo is owned by Randomatic7/ Joy Mamitag so I still want to thank her for allowing me to use Echo in my story!~ Thank you and please continue reading my fanfiction!~ 3
