Chapter Two
"Find desire with your hands
Set love ablaze with your hands
A love, when it's believed in, can be so beautiful
Dispel any doubts about your lips with your body
Elevate all emotions with your body
A love crazy woman can be so beautiful
The wind rubs and strikes my cheek, calling forth tears
It's becoming a habit, I can't run away tonight either*"
Seiya Kou smiled as she watched the aqua-marine haired woman's voice reach octaves that no one would ever imagine coming out of her. She was honored to be the first to hear Michiru Kisaki sing, and not only sing, but compose the song.
The raven haired woman sighed, slightly worried thinking about the future at hand. It wasn't that Michiru wasn't talented... Seiya's worries were over the fact Tennou's expectations were probably some crazily auto-tuned pop song for teens; considering the woman's current line-up with her agency. Nothing but idols and solo singers that were by no doubt popular; it just wasn't Michiru's style. The woman was beautiful and classy. She attracted everyone without trying. She didn't need a particular style to attract teenagers. They just liked her for who she was. They would claim that she was their goal to obtain when they were older due to her mature aura that she constantly tried to maintain.
"I want to grow up to be just like Onee-san," they would claim proudly in admiration at the meet and greets.
Then again, Michiru was also elegantly sexy in her own way to appeal to the older audiences as well. She didn't near to expose her skin or have designer brands on to give herself her name.
"I would give anything to date Michiru Kisaki. There's no woman that can replicate what she has! Not even by ten percent! She's no slut! She's not an easy girl who pretends to be innocent! Michi-chan is the real deal!" the older men would whine.
She lived up to her name all of her own-being the empress of true beauty...or so everyone thought. Easily molded by the ocean... Seiya chuckled in amusement as she thought, 'She has a little too much water in her.' Mainly because unbeknownst to other people, Michiru's emotions and anxiousness swayed like the ocean. While she could maintain her imagery towards her audience, the truth was behind the curtains and in plain sight to those who really knew her.
"Good work! We're finished for today!" Seiya exclaimed as Michiru finished. The staff around then stood responding quickly before taking their leave for the day.
"It's quite the number..." Seiya complimented as she stood.
"It took a while, but I'm glad that it's been well received. Especially by you Seiya-kun," Michiru answered as she gathered her things.
"I don't think Tennou-san will be expecting it out of you at all. She's only seen your modeling. Everything from Westwood, or things as simplistic as Liz Lisa, but she hasn't heard your voice," Seiya mused.
Michiru looked up and smiled, "Exactly. I'm more than just a pretty face and that's what I want to convey to the world. I have a background beyond just my modeling career, and I want to take everyone by shock. Once an artist, always an artist."
"I'm sure we'll be fine."
"You've never lead me wrong Seiya. I've trusted you with everything that you've done for me…"
Seiya looked away slightly embarrassed, "I-It's just part of my job description."
Michiru giggled at such a rare sight. It wasn't often that she could ruffle her manager's feathers. Things had changed greatly since the day Michiru had decided to make a name for herself. Her reasons and motives had changed over time, but for some reason they were easing back to the old motivation that pushed her to out herself…
Not that anyone from high school could really notice her even as Kisaki, Michiru... There were things that Michiru had done-things that hated to admit to. But like any model or idol in the industry; surgery was almost necessary. She didn't think of it as a correction for her true self but merely an enhancement. Between that and the personal trainers, fancy clothes, and make-up artists Michiru Kaiou was unrecognizable to those that might have noticed her other wise.
Michiru was under the management of Kou, Seiya; who she could proudly say-was her best friend, manager, and someone that she trusted her with her life.
Seiya saw through all of her walls and masks that Michiru had placed up. She admired her for her work and her character. She wasn't judged for being a nobody or criticized for her decision to use cosmetic surgery for a way to cope with her insecurities. Seiya had looked past it all and offered Michiru her hand to help her gain not just the nation, but the world. The artist gladly accepted once she was pestered enough.
Matter of fact, Michiru smiled to herself as she continued to gather up her sheet music and organize it; Seiya was the one who helped her get over Tennou, Haruka.
"What a stupid reason...And here I thought you were intelligent!" Seiya exclaimed her blue eyes glaring at the girl who held her cheek that had just been slapped.
"You don't understand...it's not you Seiya! The way it was handled-" Michiru began in protest.
"Was so fucking high school! Fuck her Michiru! She's not worth your time or efforts. You're more than on her level now, and can surpass it by shocking the hell out of her one day. I have faith in you more than anyone else. You have so much unseen potential. You don't need that fucking cunt to bring it out of you! I know you can do it on your own without that being your drive. I'm sure you had an identity before she entered your life," snapped Seiya.
Michiru blinked shocked... The woman in front of her really did believe in her. Despite the harshness and tough-love act that Seiya was giving her, she understood completely.
"Thank you for still being here and for still guiding me and giving me direction that I need.." was all she could say back.
Seiya sighed and hugged her friend tight, "She's truly an idiot. Don't you hate it Michiru? Love I mean. Love can make you do the stupidest things. Someone walks straight into your life right when you tell yourself, no you're not gonna fall in love-and then, bam! Fucking strikes you like an accident..."
Michiru laughed loudly at her manager's description. This why she hung around Seiya so much, even outside of work. The girl was just too funny and relatable at times. She was a light in the long dark tunnel of what was the journey of her life. It was a wonder she eventually hadn't fallen in love with Seiya instead... She had the style of Haruka Tennou, but when it came down to it; Seiya wasn't as well versed when it came to the coolness factor. Honestly, the raven haired girl as an all-out dork who tried hard to be everything but one; which made her even more of one. Seiya, despite being bold and all tough-love like, was extremely socially awkward as much as she was hot-headed at times. Regardless, she was a complete dork when she tried to play off cool and it amused Michiru greatly because she had found someone who was as strange as she was, but in a different way.
Seiya was obsessed with her work and everything around work. It was probably why Seiya also hung around Michiru so much because like her, Michiru's life was her career. There were things Michiru liked other than work, such as hitting up classy restaurants to try every type of cuisine possible, traveling to distant countries and cities to explore and educate herself on different arts and cultures... She also had simplistic hobbies such as occasionally walking on the beach and enjoying the sounds of the wind and the water clashing, swimming in the element herself, and collecting high end make-up. Her work just seemed to revolve around those hobbies as well and complimented her lifestyle.
Michiru wasn't a complicated woman to be only twenty-three. She didn't party like most people did on her nights in. She was too busy composing something, painting, or relaxing in her large apartment that overlooked Tokyo's glittering skyline...when she was actually able to be at home that is. If it weren't for her demanding career, she would probably be a shut-in.
Instead, the water empress was ruling her kingdom instead. She was completely content with it being that way. Things perhaps couldn't get any better than this-if she weren't so lonely that is...
"You seem dazed," Seiya pointed out as she assisted her at finishing the sorting.
"What makes you say that?" Michiru asked as she escaped from her trance-like state of mind.
"You stopped sorting for a good minute or so…"
Michiru blinked, rather shocked that she had gotten that lost into her thoughts. Maybe she really was worked up over this transfer... But even so, she had Seiya by her side. She would be fine and Haruka wouldn't even recognize her... The blonde knew her as Kisaki not Kaiou… There was no need for her to feel worried or anxious. She owed that woman nothing but a good act. Michiru knew she was capable of delivering just that.
"Seiya...do you believe in fate?" she asked.
"Of course. Fate is what binds people together but the final outcome is all up to the person as much as the stars are. However, you can decide your own fate if you really do strive for it," answered Seiya.
"You really think that you can really control something so powerful...?"
"My previous teacher Kakyuu was the one who told me that, and I've stood by it ever since."
Michiru smiled… She remembered meeting Kakyuu once before. The red haired woman was incredibly beautiful, and had been Seiya's love interest since for what seemed like forever from how the raven haired woman would describe it. Her manager's personality was much too brash for elegant and refined Kakyuu. There was also a good eleven year age difference between the two on top of that.
Originally, Kakyuu was Seiya's vocal coach before the whole manager thing went through as a career choice. Seiya, once-upon-a-time-ago had been an aspiring singer. It wounded her pride that Kakyuu ended up with her older brother Taiki right before Seiya could confess her feelings to her. Because of this, Seiya had lost her reason for really singing and decided to never sing again.
"Then maybe this whole thing is fate for us to meet again?" Michiru asked.
"Maybe so, but as I said, it's how you want to make it. And if I were you? I'd step all over that bitch in a heartbeat," Seiya answered with a knowing smirk.
Michiru chuckled at the remark, "And what makes you think I wouldn't?"
"You're much too kindhearted. Michiru Kisaki is not only admired for her divine beauty, but her kindness and sincerity to match. Plus, you have a bit of a weak-spot for her, don't you think?"
She sighed in defeat. Her best friend and manager knew her much too well…
"I suppose you are right…" admitted Michiru.
"Don't worry about it. It's why I'm there. Don't think I'm not gonna purposely be a pain in the ass!"
Michiru laughed throwing her head back at the thought of Seiya blowing up a couple of corporate rooms in Tennou's building just to gain some vengeance and amusement. That was another thing about Kou Seiya; she was a total trickster. It was probably the other reason why she couldn't find herself falling in love with her friend.
"Anyway, enough of this silliness. I say we get some really good sake to go with sushi to celebrate the occasion of moving forward. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," she proclaimed as she stood up and moved out of the studio room with Seiya following right behind her.
"Oi! Shouldn't that be MY line? Jeez! You and your motherly instincts...always biting me in the ass after hours!" she whined playfully.
"Oh? You don't like my motherly instincts? Shall take the offer of treating you to dinner back?" Michiru teasingly mused knowing her friend would catch the bait.
"Hey! I never SAID that I didn't mind it! FEED YOUR KID! Or it's child neglect!" protested Seiya.
With that, Michiru and Seiya left to go get their amazing sushi and sake to celebrate the day ahead of them. She was looking forward to it. Despite this whole concept of taking over the world being for herself and not for Haruka anymore; it was kind of nice knowing that she might stand a chance of at least knowing what she was capable of…
'Ugly..mediocre...a waste of time…'
Now, Haruka was wasting time on her. Mediocre? Michiru was far from it. She was taking over the world with her talents... Perhaps the wind was able to move water. Maybe even move it forward. However in the end, the ocean was capable of causing destruction on its own. The king of the wind could still potentially drown in such a harsh current, and Michiru most definitely intended on drowning Haruka Tennou…
***Revision: Edit- Mika Nakashima was who I first associated Michiru with. Her music style changes in later chapters that I've planned thanks to Haruka's influence. However, Mika is super elegant in this PV for "Love Addict" and I felt like the song best represented Michiru.
-Revised 6/16/2016-