Chapter 04: Neophyte
Reino leaned back into the chair feeling the cool leather stick to his bare back. His elongated fingers strummed roughly upon the guitar creating an emotional flourish of melancholic sound. As he opened his mouth to put his new lyrics to the sounds, the thick doors of his private studio flew open. His older brother strode into the large space, face painted with concern. "Miroku what's the matter?" Reino asked placing his guitar carefully in its case, which sat on the black ottoman in front of him.
"We have a problem," Miroku said seriously as he quietly closed the door and walked across the room to the large flat screen that hung on the wall. Pulling the remote off the lower entertainment center his fingers danced across the buttons. "There is a new star in town Reino. His song is stealing the charts all over the country."
Reino could feel the burden of stress beginning to weigh heavily upon his shoulders. Miroku always maintained a cool attitude. Competition in the industry never stirred him because he knew that in the end all rookies were just flavors for the moment. No one has ever taken the throne of music royalty from Vie Ghoul, at least not for the past three years. If something, someone had his older brother this shaken up then he must be of some great import. He placed his clammy hands upon the leather seat and pushed up into a standing position, taking his place beside his brother. "Newcomers are a natural occurrence brother. I don't understand the big deal of this one." He looked carefully upon the taller man's face and felt a large lump formulate in his esophagus.
"It is not just him Reino. His song has an unbelievable amount of energy," Miroku replied turning his face and looking deeply into those empty lavender orbs. "If I can feel something from him then I have no doubt in my mind that you will too, given your abilities." Turning his back to the TV, he tapped a couple more buttons.
Reino turned to face the large monitor as it settled on the most privileged music channel. The anchorwoman was a chic, rocker who looked to be in her early twenties with long black hair that had vibrant red tips at the ends. "This is the most exclusive music channel in the country. They never showcase up and rising stars," he muttered more to himself than his company.
"Exactly," Miroku emphasized.
As the anchorwoman introduced the singer, his music began to play in the background. She looked down, smiling beautifully as she listened to the song. After fifteen, maybe twenty seconds, she looked back up to the camera. "Here is the footage from his most recent performance in Tokyo," she said as the scene changed.
Drums and electric guitar harmoniously began thumping away. The singer nodded his head to the rhythm with a face that wholly illustrated a broken and longing heart. Thick, nicely shaped brows cringed as he closed his eyes and parted his lips. His deep voice spilled out in front of a crowed of tens of thousands of people. As his words echoes from the television into the ears of the lead singer, his eyes widened and lips parted lightly in utter awe.
As I sit in my car
Listening to the pounding of my heart
I realize of what I have lost
I realize the dreadful cost
I see through these burning eyes
For the first time of your reasons why
I grip this wheel and choose my fate
Peace and serenity or misery and hate
She screams and shrieks for me
My veins soar and push me
My grip tightens as I realize
What I need is the peace of your eyes
My haven, my sweet paradise
Yet, you refuse even now as I die
I shift into the sixth gear of death
In your memory I take thy last breath
My heart beats faster with every passing mile
My hurts burns yearning for your precious smile
I push down on harder on this cold pedal
Feeling the embrace of this harsh metal
I close my eyes one final time for you
That smile, those eyes, cherished visions of you
As tears release, my emotions unleash
For years later, I finally feel free
"You see what I mean…" Miroku said as he looked over at Reino, but found his voice lost to mist at the expression upon his younger sibling's face. "Reino?" He called out quietly, eyebrows furrowing with concern and confusion.
The musician could not shake free from the powerful meaning behind the subtle notes and sounds. The singer's voice was filled with an excruciating loss, but his simple lyrics held an even deeper meaning. As he listened, Reino could see flashes of love lost and hearts shattered. When the song ended his eyes ached with unshed moisture. "You're…right," he finally answered Miroku, voice husky. "You're right. He's not like the others."
Miroku couldn't take his eyes of his best friend and brother. The empathy lacing his eyes was so clearly evident that Miroku's hands tightened around the small remote control. This must mean that you have lost something grand. What could it have been and why don't I know of it? What are you hiding brother?
"What was his name again?" Reino asked finally breaking gaze from the monitor and meeting Miroku's grey-eyed stare.
"Sho, Fuwa Sho." Miroku replied simply. "The song is 'As I die.'"
Kyoko stood completely frozen in front of the electronics shop. The myriad TVs on display all head the same picture—Fuwa Sho. Taking a step closer, she wrapped her white wool coat tightly around herself and watched as his lips parted, singing silent words. His large brown eyes held such a saddened haze that it melted her heart. As her eyes skidded across his face—his lips, eyes and finally his head full of blonde hair—a long-forgotten part of her ached. Wide honey-eyed eyes filled with tears as she watched his performance. "Sho…" she whispered into the icy-cold weather. She took another step closer and reached out with her right hand, placing it upon the cold glass. "Oh my god, is that truly you?"
Clad entirely in a black leather tux, his ringed fingers gripped the microphone, tilting it forward as he screamed the last few lines from the very pit of his soul. His face was dampened with sweat, cheeks lightly tinted with color from the heat. When he finished, he pulled the mic back up and set it aside. Taking a few steps forward, he reached the edge of the stage, spread his arms out about him and bowed deeply to the numerous shrieking fans that filled the outdoor auditorium.
"Quite dreamy isn't he," a feminine voice said from beside her. As light tears streamed down her frozen cheeks, he turned her head to the teenage girl standing beside her. She was wearing a red and black plaid pleated miniskirt with knee high black leather boots and a black leather jacket. The red and black plaid flannel scarf muffled her voice a bit, but Kyoko could hear her with ease.
"Who is he?" Kyoko asked desperately seeking confirmation that her eyes were not deceiving her.
"His name is Fuwa Sho. Apparently he is new in the industry, but he's so damn good!" She replied excitedly, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "His songs are filled with so much sadness that it just totally breaks your heart. People say that he sings of great love lost. Isn't that romantic?" The teen reached out and gently rubbed Kyoko's arm while tilting her head. "I see he has moved you to tears. The same thing happened to me the first time I saw him perform." Dropping her hand the teen offered the raven haired woman a smile before departing.
"So it is you Sho…" Kyoko whispered. Braving another glance to the TVs, she watched as they showed an interview between him and the rocker host of the Music broadcast. Feeling her reverberating pulse, Kyoko stepped backwards as all emotion overwhelmed. She shook her head with dismay and ran off as fast and hard as she could. "No, I have to forget you!" She screamed as she ran and ran, bumping into random people in her path.
When she finally stopped, she found herself standing at the mouth of a dark, quiet ally. Panting heavily, Kyoko looked around and the darted into the ally. She ran hard all the way to the end, placing her hand against the damn brick wall to keep from colliding into it. Dropping her head, she breathed air in large gulps. After a few moments, she turned her back to the wall and slid to the ground. Kyoko wrapped her arms around the top of her legs and buried her face into its warmth. Her mouth parted as screams of pure torment left her lungs.
A/N: I want to give a huge shout of thanks to Scarletnights16. She introduced me to a song that helped accomplish this chapter. The song I used for inspiration was Flower by Gackt. The only thing that I will stake a claim to in this chapter is Sho's song "As I Die." It is a poem that I wrote for my ex-girlfriend and I thought it was perfect for this scene. Anyway, if you get a chance, drop me a line. Take care friends. Thank you once again Scarletnights16! You're awesome. :)
