All that could be heard coming from the adjacent room was a quiet, almost persistent, deep sigh. It was barely audible above the air conditioner blaring in the distance, pumping out a mammoth amount of cool, pleasant air, which was welcome given that it was the middle of summer in Germany. The city of Berlin was just now waking up from its peaceful night slumber, the sun slowly creeping above the eastern horizon. Germans were barely managing to struggle out of their beds on this beautiful, clear morning. Many of them were clambering into cabs and buses immediately below the grand hotel that jutted into the sky in the middle of the city. On the top floor, reserved for only the most ravishing guests, the sun reflected off of the clear windows and spilled into room number 905, straight into the eyes of the figures crouched on the floor, their knees aching from having been in this precarious position for almost fifteen minutes.
Nicol had to squint his eyes in order to keep the sun out of them and was barely kept from making a cry from his throat by the quick hand of Yzak which came across his mouth. "Damn it Nicol, what's wrong?"
"Sorry!" Nicol retorted in a whisper. "Sun was in my eyes." He shook his head quickly and turned back to his work. A small hole that had once been an electrical outlet, now stripped of wires and other dangerous material that would hamper his work. "This is delicate work you know. One wrong move and I'm turned into a neon hotel sign." Nicol's hands were grasped around a small piece of plastic chord that was extended into one end of the cleared outlet, which was connected to the room next door. Fortunately enough for the three people crouched against the wall, besides Nicol and Yzak, Dearka was also pressed up against the dull gray wall, it didn't appear as though the people in the next room had heard a sound. "Almost got it," Nicol said, his voice barely audible.
"You sure you got it programmed right?" Dearka asked quietly.
"I think so. You wanted Rocket in there right?"
"Uh-huh," Yzak said. "That's the only one that could possibly work. Provided that it's in the right spot."
"It is, don't worry," Nicol responded. He let loose a tad bit more of the chord and managed to get it to barely rub against something soft and springy. "I got it to the mattress."
"Move it up," Yzak ordered. "We got to get it next to him for it work."
"For what to work?" came a voice from beside them. Nicol jumped backwards and landed in Yzak's lap sending him flying backwards onto the floor. Dearka flattened himself against the corner of the room and all three of them managed to take in Athrun's commanding figure standing just a few feet away, his green eyes visibly sleep deprived. "What...are you guys doing...?"
"Uh...well...we were...uh..." Nicol's voice was stammered as he tried to get the words to come out right.
Athrun squatted down on his knees and glanced at the plastic chord that extended through the hollowed electric outlet and into the next room. "Why'd you guys rip out an outlet? Are you trying to literally leave your mark on this hotel?"
"Uh..." all three managed to mutter, not giving Athrun a clear answer.
Athrun stared at the outlet for a second, then picked up the chord in his hands and studied it carefully. Then he realized something. He turned to his friends and asked, "That's Kira's room isn't it?"
The trio paused uneasily. "Yeah...it is..." Nicol managed to utter. Dearka and Yzak looked slightly discouraged as he said those words, practically giving away their secret objective.
Athrun too paused for a few seconds. "Were you guys trying to...?"
"Yeah," Dearka answered quickly. "Revenge."
"Comic retribution is more accurate," Nicol put in. "We were only trying to get him back for the last time. You remember."
"The super lax brownies?" Each one of the terrible trio nodded slowly and Athrun shook his head for a moment. Then he smiled. "Can't still figure out how he got us on that."
The others were a bit taken back by Athrun's words and eventually Yzak said, "This was going to be our little way of getting back at him for all that, but now that you're here..."
"Sorry did I spoil the surprise?" Athrun asked sheepishly.
"Not as of yet..." Nicol managed. "But...since you're here..."
Athrun paused and glanced seriously at his friends. They all averted their gaze for a moment, looking rather foolish for trying to pull such a childish retaliation. But then, much to everyone's surprise, Athrun said, "Why didn't you tell me about it earlier? I've would've joined you guys in a heartbeat!" While Nicol's mouth dropped a slight bit, Yzak and Dearka chuckled in a whisper. Athrun grinned like a school boy as he crept along the wall and added, "You forget, he got me with those brownies too. Now...how's this thing work?"
"There's a speaker attached to the other end," Nicol whispered quickly. "We send it into the room while he's sleeping and programmed a single playback from one song into it."
"Which one?"
"Rocket, the chorus section," Nicol confirmed.
Athrun shook his head and closed his eyes. "Talk about a wake up call. My only question is what's gonna happen when-?"
"He's not gonna do anything, remember. He's been busy enough as it is tonight," Yzak reminded him. Athrun nodded his head and Nicol set back to work.
On the other side of the wall, the tiny speaker on the end of the plastic chord was maneuvered upwards from its original resting place on the ground. It crept up the white mattress like a tiny ant stalking a piece of bread crumb and eventually made its way up to the top, where blankets lay strewn about. Suddenly, the speaker touched something soft and warm. The object moved slightly, turning over onto its back, nearly crushing the speaker as it did so. Retreating rather quickly, the ant-like speaker readjusted itself on the mattress and finally found its resting place on the soft, white sheet just behind a pillow like object that was just as soft and smooth. After a few seconds of delay, a soft click could be heard on the other side of the wall as the people on the other side held their collective breath and tried desperately not to laugh. The speaker opened its voice and sang out into the quiet at the top of its volume level.
Rocket! Yeah! Satellite of Love!
Kira's violet eyes flashed open as he cried out in anguish. The sheets that barely covered him went flying as he sat up quickly and nearly toppled over the side of the bed. He gasped loudly and frequently as his mind raced and tried to ascertain what in the hell had just happened. He could still hear the loud voice emanating from somewhere in this room and his eyes darted this way and that as he tried to locate the source. Kira managed to pull the sheet around his waist as his ears followed the continuing chorus to the source just beneath his pillow. He spotted the speaker that was no bigger than an ant and picked it up gently between his index finger and thumb. He listened carefully and then it hit him right in the head. It was his own voice that he was hearing. His own voice singing the title track to Iron Fist's new album, scheduled for release in two weeks. And there was only one explanation as to how this was already being played over a speaker system.
Kira shook his head and managed a small grin. He noted the plastic chord attached to the end of the speaker and saw that it went through a hollowed out electrical outlet into the next room. That was where Nicol and Yzak were bunking while the band was in Berlin for the weekend. Kira's mind flashed back to the previous year...when he had conveniently slipped in a batch of chocolate super lax into a batch of brownies he had cooked for the band. That was retaliation of course for the frozen bottle of shaving cream that Yzak had laid in his traveling bag on the previous tour, only to have it explode all over Kira's personal belongings. This was common among the members of the band...one of them would play a practical joke on one member and then that member would retaliate. But this act would no doubtedly involve more than just one individual. Kira shook his head once again and leaned up against the wall behind the bed.
"Very funny, you guys. You got me, I admit it!" he called. On the other side of the wall, Kira heard the barely audible sound of resounding laughter coming from the mouths of his friends. Kira smiled an even brighter smile as he heard their laughter. At least this proved that the band was sticking together through thick and through thin.
"I'm guessing that was payback." Kira did not move at the sound of the quiet, peaceful voice in the bed next to him. He just closed his eyes and sighed happily.
"Yeah," he whispered. "I gotta admit, they know how to retaliate." Almost as gently as a quiet breeze flowing across him, the body of the beautiful pink haired princess slowly pressed herself against Kira's side and laid her beautiful head against his left shoulder. Kira brought his free hand up to stroke the smooth skin of her shoulder as Lacus Clyne breathed gently against him. "You okay? That didn't wake you did it?"
"Of course it did, silly," Lacus answered. "How could I not recognize your sweet voice, Kira?"
"You mean you're not upset?" Kira asked thoughtfully, his eyes taking in her beautiful form, naked beneath the sheet that concealed her from him as evidenced by the night of long overdue passion they had shared the night before. That was probably why Athrun, Yzak, and everyone else had picked tonight for their retaliation on him.
Lacus smiled. "Why should I be? This just proves to me that you have some great friends who will never let you feel lonely when I'm away, Kira. I'm indebted to them for that. They keep my big, strong teddy bear company while I'm away." Lacus' voice took a playful tone when she added, "And make sure he doesn't get any funny ideas when he's on the road. Right?"
"Never, Miss Lacus," Kira hissed. "Not a chance in hell would I even think of breaking your heart."
"I know, husband," Lacus whispered, snuggling her pink locks into his strong and equally sexy chest. "But...just to be sure...you'll have to prove it to me."
Kira smiled. "It would be my pleasure to, my princess." Their lips met in a sweet kiss and they let the passion overcome their bodies once again.
"It's official! Iron Fist has once again shattered the records! Their newly released fourth album, Rocket, has set the record for most sales in its first week of release, selling over 200,000 worldwide. The band featuring rising stars Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, Nicol Amalfi, and Dearka Elsman have their sights set on the stars. Their tour kicked off last week in Munich, Germany to a resounding response from their fans as the first concert was sold out in just ten minutes!"
"After Germany, the group tore across the northern part of Europe hitting stops in Norway, France, and Spain before finally returning for one last show in Berlin, scheduled to go tonight. And as a special treat for their fans and others, it was announced only last week that the group will share the spotlight on that fantastic night with none other than Kira's beautiful wife and pop sensation, Lacus Clyne! That show has become the hottest ticket to have in the history of music and entertainment. Not since the Beatles invaded America has anything like this been seen in the entire world and the universe!"
The radio announcer's voice could barely be heard as Miriallia stepped cautiously out of the shower in her hotel room and turned the knob to shut off the water. The droplets dripped off of her beautiful figure as she dried her brown hair with a warm, fluffy towel and glanced at herself in the mirror. Wrapping herself in a beautiful white robe, Miriallia walked gingerly out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of her makeshift bed and began brushing out the knots in her hair. As she did so, she thought about the few weeks she had spent on tour with the band and the sights she had witnessed. Thousands of fans packed into arenas all across Europe, cheering their heads off for the quintet of friends. She was backstage for all of their concerts, completely exhilarated and blown away at the spectacle of the group. Kira dancing around the stage as he belted notes and kept the beat with his red, white, and blue guitar. Yzak hammering out the heavy lead guitar solos on his gray, blue, and white guitar while Athrun provided the bass line with his bright red guitar. Nicol danced in place on the platform that supported his keyboard and Dearka's drumset. What captured Miriallia's imagination the most however, was Dearka, smashing away with his drumsticks and feet as he mashed the pedals and produced the magnetic tom-tom roll that was the focal point of their newest single and some of their classic songs. He never seemed to lose the cocky smile that was always plastered across his face, which made him seem almost god-like atop the platform. His blonde hair swayed as he moved and looked like rolling waves on a mass of blonde ocean. Sometimes, she was almost embarrassed to admit it, Miriallia found herself staring at the young drummer, completely at a loss for words at his motions and sound. Sometimes, Dearka would catch her staring at him and he would smile peacefully at her in between songs. Miriallia would blush bright red as she caught herself staring. As a journalist, she was supposed to be neutral about these sort of things, but she really couldn't help it. After all, Dearka was rather charming and he was funny so that helped him in some areas-.
"Hey, Mir, you in here?" The door opened quickly as Dearka pushed his head inside the gap and peered inside the room. His brown eyes widened instantly at the sight of her and he just as quickly retreated back behind the door. Miriallia shrieked as she pulled the edges of her open robe together to conceal herself. Dearka blushed bright crimson at what he'd just witnessed. Damn it you moron, you saw her naked...wait, you saw her naked, what are you upset about! "Uh...I'm sorry, Mir," he managed to utter from behind the door.
"Don't worry," Miriallia gasped quietly. "It's okay." She took a deep breath and sat back down on the bed, making sure to tie the sash on her robe this time. "What do you want?"
"I...was just making sure that you were ready to go to the concert tonight..." Dearka stammered.
Miriallia quickly answered, "Give me a minute." She made her way over to the suitcase she had set up behind the edge of her bed and rummaged through it for something to change into. "I'll be right there," she called to him.
"We'll be downstairs waiting, okay," Dearka said. Then, cautiously, he asked, "You are okay aren't you? I said I was sorry, so-."
"Don't worry about it," Miriallia assured him kindly. "I wouldn't expect nothing less from you as it is," she added humorously.
Dearka sighed. "Uh, should I take that as a compliment or a threat?" Miriallia couldn't help but laugh. Dearka did as well.
Later that night, at the concert venue on the northern side of Berlin, the crowd of almost fifty thousand was going insane as Lacus graced the stage with her stunning beauty. Kira, Athrun, Yzak, Dearka, Nicol, Miriallia, Mwu, and many others watched from backstage as the opening intro to Lacus' final song began playing. The roar of the crowd increased to a pulsating crescendo as the trumpet melody began to call out their graceful notes. They were soon joined by the drums, bass, and keyboard to form a remarkable blend of music that made everyone in the crowd start to dance like they were caught in a trance. Lacus began to sing in her sweet voice shortly thereafter.
Turn around and see you
In a crowded place,
I watch for the emotions
On a guarded face
Saying lead me on!
Victim of a dream
And a memory,
But when I try to break free
You say to me
C'mon and lead me on
A matter out of time
In the reaches of space,
Caught up in the patterns
In a light of a life,
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night
Saying lead me on!
(Lead me on!)
Lead me on!
(On and on!)
The girls in the audience began to scream insanely as the trumpet line began to blare again. Lacus twirled around the stage, her pink hair sailing in the breeze behind her. She seemed to actually be the music to some people in the audience, which just added to her overall mystique. In the middle of her dance, Lacus motioned backstage to Kira for him to come on stage and join her. Kira was reluctant at first, but after a quick series of shoves from Athrun, threw himself onto the stage and was tossed a microphone so he could join in. "Who wants Kira to sing the next line?" Lacus asked the crowd. After a huge cheer, Kira sighed into the microphone and nodded his head.
Meanwhile, Miriallia stood next to Dearka and was completely lost in the beauty of the spectacle. "You like it?" Dearka asked her, playfully elbowing her in the side.
"Yes," Miriallia said happily to him as loudly as she could underneath the massive noise level of the song. "It makes you want to get up and dance seemingly just out of the blue."
"What, you wanna dance?" Dearka asked, out of the blue.
Miriallia stopped in her tracks and stared blankly at him with wide eyes. "What?" she said, smiling.
Dearka shrugged his shoulders. "Just a suggestion!"
Miriallia glanced back on stage where Kira was just now getting ready to belt out the next verse of the song. She turned back to Dearka and took his hands. "Just don't step on my toes!"
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Dearka shouted as he began to twirl her around. Kira's voice then sang the next series of words.
Voices in the night
Chase the demons away!
Looking in the mirror
It's easy to say,
C'mon and lead me on!
The choices of a lifetime
In the dreams of a day,
When the coast is gettin' clearer
I hear you say,
Lead me on!
A matter out of time
In the look on your face,
Caught up in the patterns
In the light of a life,
Walk across the bridge
To the shadows of the night,
Saying lead me on!
(Lead me on!)
Lead me on!
(On and on!)
Lead me on!
Kira and Lacus sang those words together, causing an uproar from the crowd, which was now bordering close to pure ecstasy. Athrun, Nicol, Mwu, and Yzak swayed and danced backstage to the music. Meanwhile, Dearka and Miriallia danced together behind them all and were lost in the motions and movements of the song. They nearly tripped over each others feet several times, partially because neither of them really knew how to dance in the first place, but they didn't let that spoil the moment. This was one of the most fun times they'd had in each of their respective lives and they didn't want to ruin it. Each of their gazes never left each others face as they swayed quickly to the song. Lacus and Kira now sang alternate portions of the last verse.
Talk to me of lightning---I'll hear what you say, my love!
Reaching for the meaning all of the way, I can keep you believing in you and me, my love!
Finding the answers that we need---
Sometimes it's meant to be!
Turn around to see you
In a crowded place,
I watch for the emotions
As they cross your face,
Saying lead me on!
I see you in a dream
And a memory
A captive of the light
You say to me
Lead me on!
As their respective voices interplayed in the lyrics, Kira and Lacus managed to share a quick kiss before they went on singing, moving the crowd to unprecedented points of joy and ecstasy. Through the entire region the sound of music echoed, sending everyone into a frenzy. Everyone at the concert witnessed something they would never again. Total harmony and compete innocence. It was a pure sight to behold. Leaving the concert that night, only one phrase was uttered by every single person. Lead me on!
AN: Lead me On is a song by Teena Marie. I don't own her or the rights to the song.
On a lighter note, I apologize for the unspeakable delay in updating. I have been extremely busy with school and work, so I apologize. I also hope you enjoyed this chapter. Once again, please R&R!
