I was up all day getting this done. I just cant get it out of my mind.
As promised, a longer chapter 1 :)
for those who just happened to open this, please take time to read Sakuras & Swords as this story is the sequel
Gakuen Alice is not mine, never will be. No claims of ownership as well to the songs mentioned in this chapter ;)
Chapter 1 The Beginning
I scream out of frustration as I turn my apartment upside down. For the life of me, I cannot find my damned keys and to top it all off, I am officially late for work. I want to tear out my hair but I don't. 'It will only make you lose more time to fix it back up again.' I said to myself. 'Think! What did you do when you got home last night?'
After my shift last night, I was going to go straight home to this dingy apartment, but Hayate, the new guy from work asked me if I wanted to go out with the rest of the wait staff for drinks. Yeah, that seems about right. So we went to this place, what was that bar again? Oh yeah, MacLaren's. So there we were, Rui, Hajime, Yuri, Megane , Hayate and myself, having drinks at MacLaren's. I remember Hayate spurting beer through his nose when I told the waiter what I was having.
"Hey there, what will you guys have?" the waiter asked me with a wink.
"A Nympho for Rui, a Redheaded Slut for Hajime, a Kinky Orgasm for Yuri, Megane's having a Wet Dream, and Sex on the Beach for me." I said without batting an eyelash and a sweet smile. We've been drinking here most of the time anyways.
**PFFFFFFFTTTTTTT* "WH-WHAT THE FUCK?" Hayate could barely get the words out in between tweaking his nose where his beer came shooting out and coughing. We all looked at him like he was crazy.
"Dude, are you alright?" Megane asked him albeit laughing.
"Is this some kind of brothel or something?" I smack him in the head with the back of my hand.
"Take a chill pill new guy, those were cocktails I just ordered. Jeez, must be a really long dry spell for you huh?" I smirked at him much to the amusement and snickering of our friends. He turned tomato-like red and mumbled something indecipherable under his breath. Ok, so I'm rambling in my thoughts now. I remember being drunk, called a cab and got home. Right! When I got here, I put the keys on the drawer next to the mail. Finally, I remember..
I strode over to my mail table and found the keys under junk mail which I flip through. 'Bills, Bills, Bills, Letter, Bills, Bills' Wait. Hold up. Letter from him again. I just throw it all in the trash bin and run downstairs to catch the bus. I make it in to the Piano Bar just 10 minutes late. I tiptoe around the service entrance and hope that my manager doesn't –
"YOU ARE LATE AGAIN! WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE THIS TIME?" Jin Jin, the manager looks at me through his spectacles. He has this frog toy on his shoulder that looks kind of ridiculous but, well, to each his own , right? We all have our dirty little secrets.
"Gomen'nasai Jin Jin, I mean Jinno Sir. I lost my keys and had to find them . Plus the bus was so crowded and traffic was bad. You know how bad traffic– "
"Shut it! I'm tired of your excu –"
~Do you believe in life after love, I can feel something inside myself~
We both froze looking puzzled. Then I tried hard to stifle my laughter because I realized it was his ringtone! Who knew Jin Jin was a fan of Cher? With a face flushed from embarrassment, he quickly took out the phone.
"Jinno here. No, she's not here yet. Wait. What? WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE CAN'T PERFORM TONIGHT? I UNDERSTAND THAT – BUT- YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN TELL HER TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER GIG COZ SHE'S FIRED!" 'Uh-Oh' sounds like trouble.
"You!" He pointed at me. "Go to the dressing rooms and change into the singer's dress. You are performing tonight."
"Oh.. no no no.. you have got to be fucking kidding me? I'm ten minutes late for work and you punish me by doing that? HELLLL NOOOOOO." I prolonged the Os on the no for more emphasis while wagging my finger.
"Either you go in and do it or you don't come back here at all." He said calmly. Jin Jin must really hate me that much. He must really be looking for a way to get me fired.
"Fine." I said defeatedly.
"You've been working here for a year now, you know the songs." He turns and simply walks away.
This is the fucking worst day ever.
I remember the last time I was on a stage. It was a happier time back then. It made me think of him. Then I started to feel like I wanted to puke now. Ugggghhhh bile is rising up my throat and I just want to back out. 'You need this job.' I take a few moments to calm my breathing. 'I can do this.'
Yuri passes by bringing a tray of champagne on her hand. She does a double take seeing me in this stupid dress. It was black, low cut showing off too much for my own comfort with a long slit in the side coming up to my thigh.
She lets out a small whistle. "Ooooh Girl, don't you look smashin, cleaned up like that?" She teased. I rolled my eyes.
Megane and Rui turn and start to do that stupid wolf whistle you see in cartoons. "Dayuuuum," they both said at the same time.
"If I wasn't into boys, I'd definitely hook up with you." Rui said slapping my butt. I swatted his hand away. It's almost time for me to go up. I approach the curtain to the side of the stage as the lights go dim. I sit on the stool as the music from the piano starts.
~Please don't see just a girl caught up in dreams and fantasies.~
~Please see me reaching out for someone I can't see~
~Take my hand, let's see where we wake up tomorrow~
~Best laid plans sometimes are just a one night stand~
~I'd be damned Cupid's demanding back his arrow.~
~So let's get drunk on our tears and~
I forget the crowd and just focus on the music. Lost in my own little world.
~God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young~
~It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
~Searching for meaning
~But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?~
~Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?~
~Woe is me, if we're not careful turns into reality.~
~Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
~Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer. Turn the page maybe we'll find a brand new ending.~
~Where we're dancing in our tears and~
~God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young~
~It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run~
~Searching for meaning~
~But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?~
I didn't notice the tears coming from my eyes. I didn't feel anything but this song.
~I thought I saw you out there crying.~
~I thought I heard you call my name.~
~I thought I heard you out there crying
~Just the same~
The song was almost ending, but I never opened my eyes.
~But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?
~But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?
When I did, I was surprised. Everyone was staring at me. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. And when that imaginary pin did drop, I was almost deaf by the sound that came next. Applause. Standing ovations. I noticed Hayate with his phone held up, pointed at me, but thought nothing of it.
The night went by so fast. Soon, I was back in my apartment after Rui dropped me off. I didn't bother taking off my clothes and just threw myself on the bed. No use running away from it now. The moon was up in the sky, the only light coming in through the window of my dark room. I curled up in a ball, willing myself to have a dreamless sleep. And of course, fate doesn't comply because I dream of him again.
~OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA , OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA, OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA OOGA CHAKA OOGA OOGA~
I groan to myself as the chanting intro of Blue Swede's 'Hooked on a Feeling' sounds off on my phone alerting me of a call. Who can blame me? I loved Guardians of the Galaxy, it was like my all time favorite super hero movie!
"What?" I said crankily on the phone.
"OPEN YOUR FUCKING LAPTOP AND GO TO YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW!" It was Hajime.
"Why is youtube important at this time of the day?" I asked him annoyed.
"Open your email and click on the link Hayate sent you! Hurry!"
"Alright, alright. If it will keep you off my back. " I cradle the phone in between my ear and my right shoulder while reaching for my laptop with my other hand. I opened the email and clicked on the youtube link.
"OH MY FUCKING GOD, IS THAT–"
"HELL YEAH ! THAT'S YOU BABY! 3 MILLION HITS AND COUNTING!" He was practically shouting on the phone.
"But that's crazy?! It's only been a few hours." I couldn't believe my eyes.
"You're a star. Why didn't you tell us you could sing like that?" He asked, his tone sounding like he was sulking.
"I don't. I don't know, ok? Stages are like a Major No-No for me." *Sigh* How can I even begin to explain this.
"You're gonna have to thank Jin Jin and Hayate for this." He said softly.
I slumped back on the bed. "Ugggh , I didn't want this Haj, you know me. I'm a backstage kind of person."
"Not anymore. Jin Jin just sent me a text. You're on for tonight."
"WHHHAAAAT?" The bird outside my windowsill flew away startled.
" My eardrums just shattered. And Yep. Reservations suddenly doubled after the 'Mystery Singer' with no name became a youtube sensation."
"….."
"Hey, are you listening to me?" He asked, annoyed that I spaced out.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"You're gonna need a stage name you know, Your name's kinda ugly!" he teased.
"Is not!"
"So what's it gonna be?"
I opened my mouth to answer, then closed it again. I spent a few seconds thinking. I closed my eyes and saw crimson.
"Crimson Rose"
"Cool, name's got a ring to it."
"I'm gonna go back to sleep now ok Haj? Pick me up later?" I asked him. Hajime was a really cool guy. He tried to ask me out a couple of times but I said I didn't want to but we remained good friends. They have always been bugging me why I don't want to date. And usually I just answer with a shrug.
3 months down the road
"Shiki-san, do I really need to do this?" I pouted and he gave me the 'stern-dad' look.
"But It's my birthday today!" I tried giving him the puppy dog eyes but failed miserably.
"You know it won't work on me young lady." He said with a teasing laugh. "Anyway, it's just for a couple of hours. Then we get a complimentary dinner at the hotel plus I might be able to talk them into giving you a caramel cake since it's your birthday." He winked and offered me his arm.
I took his arm and we proceeded to the fancy hotel. I never regretted the decision to hire Shiki-san as my agent/manager. Ever since that day at the piano bar, my life was an even bigger mess than it was before. I needed a stabilizer and he came along. He led me to one of the hotel's rooms where I could get dressed and left me to talk to the dining hall's maître'd. I put on the silver dress and fix my hair and make up. Gone were the days that I would be out drinking with my friends from the Piano bar. We still kept in touch but I've just been too busy.
A knock on the door alerts me that it's time. I strode purposefully to the stage, all signs of stage fright gone except for a slight tingling in my hands. I gaze at the people in the dining hall,noticing most of them are my age. I give Shiki the signal and the music track starts. Everything goes smoothly for the next hour and a half. I take five before I am down to my last song when a group of people enter the dining hall and I suddenly froze. I had just stepped down from the small stage when I saw them. Shiki looks at me, worried.
"Are you okay?" he asked me.
"I'm fine. Can you, do me a favor Shiki-san?" He nods and looks at me expectantly. I whisper into his ear and he listens with a puzzled expression on his face. He stares at me oddly but then nods his head , turning to talk to the maitre'd again.
The lights in the hall turn dim leaving just a small light, where people could barely see. I breathe a sigh of relief. Then take my place on a stool placed in the middle of the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, with her last song for tonight, let's give it up for Crimson Rose!"
The music track starts, the beat matching the fast beating of my heart. And for the first time, I sang without closing my eyes.
~He said, let's get out of this town, drive out of the city, away from the crowds~
~I thought heaven can't help me now. Nothing lasts forever.~
~But this is gonna take me down.~
~He's so tall, and handsome as hell.~
~He's so bad but he does it so well.~
~I can see the end as it begins, my one condition is~
I look in the direction of where the group was sitting. They're busy eating. All except for one. He's staring at me. I stare back at him.
~Say you'll remember me, standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe.
~Red lips and rosy cheeks, say you'll see me again, even if it's just in your wildest dreams ahhhh ahhhh ahhh
Wildest dreams ahhhh ahhh ahhhh
This goes on throughout the song. His eyes never strayed and neither did mine. I sing through it flawlessly. I let out all my emotions into this song. Living the song. Letting them experience the song.
~You see me in hindsight, tangled up with you all night, burning it down~
~Someday when you leave me, I bet these memories follow you around~
~You see me in hindsight, tangled up with you all night, burning it down~
~Someday when you leave me, I bet these memories follow you around~
~follow you around~
~Say you'll remember me, standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe~
~Red lips and rosy cheeks, say you'll see me again, even if it's just pretend.~
My tears start to fall by the end of the song. Silent tears, my voice never breaking as I pull off the last note without a hitch.
~Say you'll remember me, standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe.~
~Red lips and rosy cheeks, say you'll see me again, even if it's just in your wildest dreams ahhhh ahhhh ahhh~
~In your wildest dreams ahhhh ahhh ahhhh~
It's then I notice that the music has stopped and the lights are back on. Everybody was applauding on their feet. I make the mistake of looking in their direction and he's looking at me funny, like he knew me. I give a small curtsy, give a small smile, turn around and walk away. I make it to the lobby before I start to tremble all over. I feel like I'm going to faint when a strong pair of hands grip my shoulders. I stiffened and fainted.
I woke up disoriented in my hotel room. I sit up and feel woozy. My eyes are stinging. I grab the end table next to the bed to steady myself and stand to go to the mini fridge to grab some water. I passed by the mirror and gasped.
"Who are you really?" Shiki asked me.
"Fuck!" I screamed. "Don't do that Shiki-san, you scared me."
"Not as scared as I was when I saw you faint. Good thing I caught you just in time." He said still looking serious.
"You look better as a brunette." I don't answer him. I grab a bottle of Evian from the mini fridge. Then he let out a long sigh and sat back on the chair he was sitting on.
"No explanation at all? Fine, let me tell you what I saw." He said suddenly.
"This evening was definitely" ... he paused, searching for the right word. "different. I noticed your demeanor change before your last song. When a Japanese group came in. Then you asked to have the lights dimmed. You sang with your eyes open the entire song staring at some guy. It was a powerful performance by the way. I'm guessing you knew them but you looked like you had seen a ghost. Then ran away after, leaving your birthday dinner, and your caramel cake which the chef was kind enough to offer for free because you fainted. Then when I carry you to your room, another surprise. Your hair got caught in the elevator and came off! It took me a full minute to realize it was A DAMN WIG! A WIG!" He was holding it in his hand, waving it like a pompom. " Tell me something I don't know Amanatsu." I winced.
"It's Mikan actually." I said with a defeated sigh.
"I beg your pardon?" he cocked his eyebrow. I shrugged and decided to tell him the truth. I stood up and went to my small case. I took out the contact lens case and took off my blue-green contacts in front of him. I placed them back in the case.
"Ever wonder why I never have anyone sleep in my room when doing gigs like this? Why I do my own hair and make up? Why I am so private with my life, Shiki?" I asked him. He didn't answer.
"It's because my life is a lie. Because I am not Amanatsu Hinata. I am Mikan Sakura. Actually no, I'm Mikan Yukihara. And that group of people out there, were the people who destroyed my life, my spirit, and my heart." I couldn't stop the tears now. "That guy I was staring at? That was Natsume Hyuuga. He declared to the whole world that he loved me. HE FUCKING LOVED ME. HE SAID SO! AT THE FUCKING STAPLES CENTER ON INTERNATIONAL TV!" I was hysterical now. "ONLY FOR ME TO FUCKING FIND HIM MONTHS LATER WITH MY BEST FRIEND WRAPPED IN HIS ARMS." I cried and cried and cried. I could feel Shiki near me, hesitant to touch me so I continued talking.
"It happened three years ago. I ran away when I saw that. I just couldn't believe it. They were my family. And she betrayed me. He betrayed me. They betrayed me. I got run over , was in the hospital for a few months. Turns out I have an uncle. The great Kazumi Yukihara. When Mikan Sakura got run over, she died. At least that's what everybody who knew me, was told. He helped me get a new identity. Remember when I said today is my birthday? It's because today is the day 3 years ago that I became Amanatsu Hinata. My uncle wanted me to go back to Tokyo but I didn't want that. This is where I belonged. He understood. He wanted to give me what I needed but I told him the new life was enough. He's looking over me for sure. Waiting for me to call on him. Who knows? Sooner or later I might just go back there." I didn't realize I was kneeling on the carpet. "When I got run over, my face wasn't that affected, thank God. There was internal bleeding and if my uncle hadn't found me, I was as good as dead. When I got better and decided to stay here, I used the wig and the contacts to ensure anonymity. I changed the way I acted around people. I hardened my heart and.. here I am. " I was surprised to feel him wrap his arms around me.
"You should've told me." He said softly, leading me to sit on the bed.
"I was afraid. I'm always afraid. I've lost so much already. I don't think I could bear to lose anymore." He stroked my hair and wiped my tear stained face.
"I'm always here for you Amanatsu. You're the daughter I never had." I just cry pitifully as he hugs me to his chest.
"I won't ever leave you. I will protect you no matter what. Ok?" He tilts my chin up for me to look at him and I nodded meekly.
"What do you want to do?" He asked me.
"I love singing. I never knew I had this passion in me. I mean, I always loved music but I guess I got too wrapped up in my life before that I didn't pursue it." I said sheepishly.
"Then, let's make you an even bigger star eh?" He said chuckling.
He tucked me into bed, turned off the light, and left. For the first time in three years, I slept a dreamless, peaceful sleep.
And so ends Chapter 1
Songs mentioned:
"Believe" - Cher
"Lost Stars" - Kiera Knightley version (Begin Again OST)
"Hooked on a Feeling"- Blue Swede (Coz GOTG is my favorite super hero movie of all time)
"Wildest Dreams" - Taylor Swift
A chance encounter leads a panicked Mikan to blow her cover. What happens next? stay tuned to find out ;)
shoutout to these awesome followers!
chewybillabong - Thank you. and here you go! :)
Nikinora96 - good guess Niki-san! ;) and yes no mention of her singing though she did have a background in Music (chapter 1 of Sakuras & Swords).
Guest - I take it this is a good OMG OMG OMG? :D
Anilissa - yeah. you really didn't have to wait that long . And yeah, i just like roses. ;)
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xoxo Lexi1989
