Yay! Chapter two! I love writing this fic... I just have to make sure I keep up with my other now too, lol.
Again, special thanks to the translator who did the fan translation for the manga on the site I've been viewing it! I'm really enjoying the correct dialogue!
So say thanks to Shayla Hidaka! Her translations are fantastic!
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"No, most definitely not." K-san barks out with finality.
I throw him my best pout.
"But Noriko NEEDS me, K!" I groan, chewing on Kuma's right ear.
"And?"
K-san can be so very mean sometimes, but I deal. But right now, I must win...
"Well...she's called this in as a personal favor! And, And, she even called later to tell me that- well, Tohma's in London with his wife, so he won't even be in the country! It's perfect timing!" I wiggle in place, pout still plastered on my face.
Kuma's ear is now sopping wet.
"Nope. Not risking it." he glares, clacking his fingers against the gun holster on his hip.
His guns no longer faze me. Rubber bullets can only go so far, and he only carries one hand gun with real ones on him at a time, as a just incase. He's not shot at me with either, since Nittle Grasper was all together.
Time for the ranting...
"But...but K!" I gasp, rushing forward to tug at his shirt. "Think of the music! THE MUSIC! Shuichi Shindou NEEDS me! Noriko says she's gonna bust him over the head with her synth if he doesn't shape up! Do you know how much it hurts when she does that? Do you? Cuz I do! It hurts a LOT! They're very heavy and angular!"
K winces, although I'm sure it's because I'm going off, rather than the synth bashing talk. Pain does not faze K.
"Noriko says Shindou-san reminds her of me! ME! Isn't that awesome! I'm soooo unique! He's got to be amazing if he's like me, don't you think?" I turn on the crocodile tears, and he groans.
"Dude, no... stop that indecent crying! I'm not letting you set one foot in Japan, whether Shindou or Noriko need you or not. You'll end up going, you'll see Noriko, you'll see this kid. You'll see the crowd, you'll be on the stage, and you'll get home sick, and mopey on me, and it will take WEEKS to get you whipped back into shape and in a good mood." he grumbles, crossing his arms.
I didn't want to pull my trump card. It's low for even me, but then again, it's the truth... and if I have to step in, I will. I pray luck is with him, and I won't.
"But... K..."
I stare at the ground. All tears have stopped, the childish mask has retreated. This is me, all me... and I frighten K when I'm myself.
The blonde flinches, and stares at me intently.
"Shindou san is working for Tohma. He's working with Noriko... and by some freak accident, he's in a relationship with Eiri-san." K freezes, and his breath hitches in his throat.
He now realizes the seriousness of the situation.
"That's a deadly mix... poor kid..." he murmurs.
I nod.
"Yes...we've already seen what Tohma can do when provoked and Eiri-san is involved. Lives go down the drain. People die. If Shindou doesn't tread lightly, he could get hurt... and this is only factoring Tohma in. Eiri-san has been unstable since then. You saw it. I saw it... I know him well. Noriko has reported that he's not gotten much better over the years. Who knows what Eiri-san as an adult is capable of."
K sighs heavily, and collapses onto the couch with a grunt.
"What's he doing screwing around with some kid? A guy none the less? Thought he was the ultimate ladies man?" He pulls out his cigarettes, and lights one, taking a long steady drag.
"He... evidently kinda just wiggled himself into his life..."
I hear K-san's thoughts without him even having to say anything.
'Sounds familiar.'
I sigh, and flop down onto the couch next to him.
"Is it some rule that every famous lead singer needs a sexy blonde bastard? I don't think that's fair... do you?" I ask, staring at the ceiling.
"No, it's not fair..." He agrees, reluctantly.
He knows he's already lost.
"I have to go K. If only just for a day or so, I have to go. It could make all the difference in the world."
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I leaned against the back wall, watching the crowd. Shindou-san was happily singing away on stage, although rather jumpy. Noriko looked tense, and the guitarist definitely seemed nervous. But the set up was grand, and the crowd was large.
Sanosuke Sakano picked me up at the airport. Haven't seen him in years. He's a tad more neurotic than I remember... but he works for Tohma. K-san had been on the plane with me, but had disappeared before Sano had arrived. He could be anywhere.
"Haha! Not bad, developers put in a lot of effort." I nod, continuing to survey the surroundings.
Poor Sano beside me has the jitters far worse than those on stage. Poor guy. Has too much pressure on him for his own stability.
"Yes, I've worked hard." He says, wiping his brow.
At least he's proud of himself.
"It's so dark, can't see a thing..." I sigh with a frown.
The man gives me an odd look.
"That's because you're wearing shades."
I totally knew that... honest...
I flush a deep magenta, and turn back to the Shindou kid. He's keeping it together, but is still unnerved. It's a wonder he's covering himself so well. The crowd is none the wiser. I'll give him that.
"He's really nervous." Sano squeaks out.
Personally, he seems more nervous and stressed out than the kid up on stage.
"You think so?" I mumbled, pushing the shades back up the bridge of my nose. "Oh well, no matter what I'll still have to go on stage." I chuckled, and batted a hand at the man. "Okay, here comes the savior Ryuichi." I smirk, and walk off.
The color drains from Sano's face, and he attempts to run off after me into the crowd, but doesn't have the strength to push himself through.
"WHA! Wait a minute! Special guests have to wait at least until the encore!"
I ignored him. The man will learn eventually that I never listen to what I'm told.
I'm on a mission, I can't be stopped.
"Sorry, comin' through.." I grunt, pushing past countless rude fangirls.
If they only knew who they were shoving and sending rude unnecessary comments at... They'll all be wetting themselves once I step on stage, squealing such things as 'I touched him!' or 'He groped me!' in the case of the sexy blonde a few feet back.
I've always had a thing for blondes... such a downfall for me...
Suddenly, without warning, the singing stopped, causing me to jolt my head up at the stage. I listened to this song tons of times, there was not supposed to be a pause here.
Shuichi had suddenly froze, and both Noriko and the guitarist seemed extraordinarily alarmed.
Shit was going to hit the fan...
I sped up my trip through the shovey crowd.
And then my worst fears come true as Shindou starts rambling his little head off, smack dab in the middle of the song. The guitarist flubbed on his rifts and stared at the teen, where as Noriko just stopped playing all together, looking ready to hack his head off.
I couldn't understand... Why was he doing this? It could be career suicide!
I tried to stop him, but my voice wouldn't carry over the crowd.
"Eek! Are you a moron!"
Okay... I could have been a tad nicer, but he couldn't hear me regardless...
"YUKI IS ALL MINE!"
I nearly fell over.
Was he talking about Eiri-san?
Why the hell would he announce something like that on stage!
Scratch that... the look on Noriko's face is priceless... this is totally something I'd pull, but for my own sick amusements, not a lover's declaration. At the very least, I'd never voiced my claims over anyone via concert stage...not even when Mika had appeared on those very few occasions...
I have SOME self control.
I take the crowd's shock for granted, and pull myself up on stage. No one even realized I was there right away in all the chaos.
Up close and under all the stage lights, I'm finally able to see Shuichi Shindou clearly for the first time. I concluded immediately that Shuichi (Yes, he's now earned rights to first name basis...) Is adorable. Nori was right, very much like a young me.
"Stop right there." I grinned, poking him in the cheek, sunglasses now out of sight.
Score! Noriko's flipping out behind us now. Evidently she's finally noticed that I'm here. I love messing with her... must be left over need for revenge from the days when she hated my guts...
"This is a tricky situation, and if you don't treat it right, Sakano will hang himself."
Seriously, poor Sano doesn't take stress too well...
"Let an old pro show you how it's done!" I winked, reaching out my hand.
Shuichi gapped at me, but passed me the microphone obediently.
"Hey! Ryu! Aren't you coming out just a bit too early!" Noriko screeched, leaning over her synth.
I continued to ignore her, after all, she should already expect this of me.
The microphone looked...odd. Not one I normally use...
"Eh... the name of this is... eh... GOOD MAC?" Damn, I hate kanji... "Ah, nope...NIKMOR, is that right? Ah, I don't care..." I grumbled to myself.
Must be a new Japanese brand? That, or just total crap.
Shuichi suddenly began spazzing, mumbling and stuttering to no one in particular as he partially collapsed to the floor.
I eyed him worriedly, and shuffled over to the long haired male.
"Hey, he's kinda...high?" I muttered to the guitarist.
Or so I thought... to be totally honest, I thought the only person that ever acted so off the wall, strange, and like me was...well, me.
Duh.
The guitarist shook his head sadly.
"Eh... no, he's just insane."
Sounds familiar...
Suddenly, Shuichi righted himself and held a piece of paper and a pen out to me. No idea where he produced the two items from...
"Please...sign and autograph for me."
Awwz! Even though he's become a big shot himself he's still a fan boy.
"SHUICHI!" Noriko roars from behind us.
I think I felt her vocal vibrations even across the stage...scary...
She's starting to sound really angry... this is GREAT!
"If you want an autograph, do it later! Don't you realize what kind of situation this is right now!" She panted. "And you, hey!"
She then froze, eyes narrowing at me... I continued to play dumb, ignoring her, and just signed the sheet of paper for the kid.
Suddenly, she whapped me upside the head with her equipment.
Like I'd told K-san just days prior, it hurt like hell, but I ignored it.
I can't help it, angering Noriko is amusing...
Unfortunately, this autograph situation, combined with the cuteness of Shuichi has gotten the concert way off topic, and I've still yet to preform damage control. The crowd had also caught on, and was now murmuring about me.
"But who is Yuki?" I catch from one of the younger girls, a brunette, up in front.
Yes, damage control is most definitely in order...
"HI! Hello everyone!" I cheered, grabbing everyone's attention. "This is actually the 'Punish Shuichi Game", yesterday we played rock, paper, scissors, and we bet that the loser had to do something embarrassing today." I rambled on, making this up as I went. "Then Shuichi said 'What if I lose?' Then I said 'When you sing, halfway through, make a speech about ownership of Yuki.' Shuichi said, 'Ah?' I said, 'Really.'" I laughed.
Sometimes I crack myself up with my elaborate off the wall plots...
Noriko began to whine to the guitarist about how embarrassed she was, and how stupid I am...
I totally win...
I've really got to remember that guy's name though...
"By the way, might want to mention this. This is Yuki." I stayed calm, pulling out a white bun-bun plushie.
Where did I get it? Don't ask questions. I'm magical...
"I'm the little white bunny Yuki, pleased to meet ya!" I squeak out.
Noriko looked faint.
I think I may have to apologize for this one later... oh well.
"Very good!" I'm so awesome... "Shuichi's explosive confessing speech, and ass wiping is done! I'm so good!"
Both Shu-kun and the guitarist cheered.
I've decided on pet names for him now as well...
"Explosively sexy sister Noriko, can we continue with a song?" I pled with a cute face.
"Ha! Whatever... "She grumbled.
Yes! I was totally forgiven... and she even blushed!
I'm apparently on a role tonight.
I tossed Shu-kun his mic back. He caught it with both hands, and stared at it as it lay in them, seemingly amazed to be holding it after me. He really is adorable. I'll have to thank Nori later for the chance at this experience.
Someday I'll have to get Shu to be normal around me. Then we'll be best buds, I can feel it!
I turned towards the guitarist and grinned.
"I'm borrowing your microphone, Takashi." God, I hope that's his name... "Our concert is only beginning! Let's sing the live house ceiling down!"
Shuichi flushed.
"Eh...okay!"
Shuichi's riled me up so much, I'm gonna have a blast!
I spun and rose a hand into the air.
"ARE WE READY!" Shuichi danced beside me as I addressed the crowd. "Hyper Jungle Mega-mix SU-BA-RU!"
Shuichi joined in, and Noriko went to work from in back.
I couldn't regret coming to japan... not after this. I needed it.
We had a blast... me... Shu-kun... Nori... and even Nakano, the guitarist.
Yes, I eventually learned his name...psh...
I would NEVER forget this night.
After messing around, Noriko tried to get me off stage in a calm manner, asking the crowd to thank me, but I wasn't finished.
"Ya, how embarrassing. Created such a scene..." It was fun... "But this kid is a total idiot."
Shuichi's eyes bulged at my comment, but I continued.
"BUT, taunting an idiot is quite fun. Wouldn't it be quite boring if everyone who came here was proper and prim?" I asked with a laugh. "What I'm trying to say is, in a moment, will be their true concert for tonight. Everyone please enjoy it. So...I'm going to quietly retreat once more. Then, Bad Luck will soon give out their new single, but first-" I snapped the mic back into it's stand, "I'll sing a song for them as a gift of GOOD luck."
And I WOULD retreat...I'd be back in the states in no time, and all of this would be a fond memory.
For both Shuichi, and Myself.
The lights beamed on me... the crowd cheered...and Shu-kun gave me his full undying attention.
And much to my shock... I never felt more at home.
I sung my forgotten heart out...
And Shuichi Shindou cried.
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After the concert ended, Noriko grabbed me and threw me into the staff room with the band, instead of letting me make my getaway. I already knew her big blow up was coming...I could at least spare Shu-kun the worst of it by playing her main target.
After slamming the door behind us, the inevitable snarl ripped from her throat.
"What the hell were you two thinking about! MORONS! The most similar thing between you two is that you're both MORONS!"
Shuichi bowed his head, murmuring his apologies. I on the other hand, had to prove her wrong, and began my work, holding up a quickly scribbled on sheet of paper.
"Lookie, lookie! I realized that we write our names the same way!" Despite my horrid Hiragana, you could make out what I was getting at.
Noriko looked ready to murder me.
"Just how stupid are you going to get..." she groaned, balling her fists in my shirt, hanging her head.
Have I mentioned that I like making her insane?
"Wah... I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I laughed nervously.
She sighed, blushing as she raked a hand through her hair.
"Well, I was getting into it out there too..."
I grinned, and beamed at her.
I was happy to see that she'd enjoyed herself as well.
"Yup, yup, yup! You seemed so happy out there, and happiness is all you need." I nodded.
"It's my fault..." Shuichi muttered beside me.
Eh?
I spun to face him.
"Sakuma-san was just following along..."
I grinned, and patted his head, sitting down beside him.
"Don't mention it! Our concert couldn't have gone better, right?" I chuckled.
To be totally honest, I'd not have preferred the concert to be any other way. I'd fully enjoyed myself.
Unfortunately, this didn't seem to console the boy at all, and the water works started once more.
I've never been good with others crying in front of me, I've always been at a loss for what to do.
"Okay! I know...It's your fault, just don't cry anymore." I whined, putting on my best pouty face.
Unfortunately...Shuichi started full fledged balling...and Noriko looked just as panicked as I.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" I groaned, face palming. "I seemed to have said some pretty useless things...I didn't think..."
At times, I can be such a daft screw up... this was not the way I wanted to end such a good night...
"Noriko said you were coming! I was scared to death..." The boy sobbed.
He was scared? Because he wanted to make a good impression on me?
Is it wrong to be touched?
I ended up a teary mess myself.
Noriko is evil... I've said it a thousand times by now...
"How terrible! Awful!" Bad, bad, Noriko... "You didn't have to scare him like that!" I pointed at Shuichi dramatically.
Our sobfest was cut short as a random intruder to our staff room rant party stepped in to talk to Shu-kun.
Long hair, pretty, proper looking... not my type, but to each their own.
"That Yuki, is this her? Didn't think you had it in you Shuichi."
Oh wait... Yuki is Eiri-san... My bad. Oh well, I'll play the ignorant one. Might be easier to talk to the boy if he thinks I don't know.
Shu-kun talks things out with this Ayaka chick on his own by the door. Turns out she's Eiri-san's arranged marriage fiancé.
Yea... like that will go over well. Living in presence of Eiri-san all those years has given me a pretty good idea of his personality. Poor, pretty, proper, temple girl don't stand a chance. Eiri-san's not one to be forced into things.
She's not Eiri-san's type either.
He and I can agree only on one thing, and one thing alone... and that's our tastes in women.
And men...
To pass the time during their long, drawn out conversation, I ordered food. After such a long night, I'm starving. I should have eaten before the show started.
Noriko ignores me for the most part as a babble on the phone, and simply tosses a juice box my way. I find it funny, that even without her daughter present, she's still carrying juice...
"I'm sorry, bit distracted, I need the take out bento." I laugh nervously into the receiver, slurping up the juice through the straw.
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Chapter two is finally completed! Hope you enjoyed it, I'm really getting into this fic!
Hope to hear from you all! Chapter 3 will be here soon!