disclaimer: nope, not mine. harold sakuishi owns Beck: MCS.


Chapter 8

Anna occupied herself with the myriad of details that kept popping up.

CD sales was doing a brisk business. Maho had been right on when she insisted that only CDs bought at the store, with a receipt as proof, be accepted for signing.

The store was packed and with the band tuning up in the background, the air was like any livehouse except for the absence of stale cigarette smoke and free flowing booze.

Anna surveyed the crowd from the door of the back office.

If one looked closely, one could see the small cliques clustered in groups throughout the store. The counter was mobbed by giggling fan girls. The ages ranged from fifteen to the early twenties but they all sounded like high schoolers. In front of the stage were young boys, Saku and Koyuki were probably only a couple of years older than them.

Anna smiled when Ray played to the crowd with a couple of heavy riffs.

Interspersed in the growing audience were men with a cloud of arrogance hanging around them. They regarded the rest of the audience with the barest hint of disdain and only deigned to acknowledge the performers onstage. Small nods were exchanged that amounted to salutes. From music man to music man.

Anna couldn't help the grin that spread on her face.

If there was one thing she loved about this industry it was that it brought all kinds of people together and when the music started playing all lines were blurred.

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Taira fumbled and broke off midchord. He shook his head at the questioning look Ryusuuke shot over his shoulder.

He had never been so discomposed in his life and even if he felt like hitting the grinning idiot, Saku, over the head with his guitar he appreciated the sympathetic look Chiba passed his way.

He glanced at Koyuki. The kid only had eyes for Maho.

He knew exactly how that felt since he had been tracking Anna with his eyes the whole time since they had gotten in.

She was avoiding him. And now she had totally disarmed him with just one smile.

He could no longer count the times he had played this song, he could probably do it even in his sleep but all Anna had to do was smile and he was all fingers.

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Anna caught the note that went off and immediately thought a snapped string. The smile on her lips died when she realized Taira was staring at her. Did he make a mistake?

"Ooooh… That is one heavy look!" Mari gushed in her ear and Anna had to blink a couple of times before she could extract herself from Tairaland. This was exactly the reason why she had avoided him since the band had stepped into the store.

"So, are you going to take the offer?" Mari continued, oblivious to the distances her mind had flown off to.

"I'm not sure but Ray is really insistent. I did say I would think about it first but things are just so complicated now."

"Oh." Mari nodded sagely and shifted her gaze back to Taira. "Well, that would be a problem."

He should be taking his shirt off right about now, Anna thought, looking back to the stage. There was a lull between songs and the audience was calling out requests.

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It had been Koyuki's idea. Which wasn't really surprising since he was the only one with a steady girlfriend and it should probably tell the rest of the band something.

An unassuming kid who had once been called a pencil-dick on a gig had managed to hold onto a whirlwind like Maho and apparently kept her happy.

They had been deciding on what songs to put on the set and Koyuki had efficiently slipped in the suggestion.

The songs were usually decided on by Ryusuuke and Chiba and Taira only stepped in if he felt something was off.

"We should give at least one song to Anna."

"But we don't have any songs like that, except maybe for *Sister, and that one's for Maho. So what song should we do?" Chiba had cut in.

"Stellar." Taira had spoken without thinking.

Ryusuuke nodded. "Anna is stellar. Koyuki can sing it."

The younger boy blanched. "Uh-uh. No way. That song's too personal." Saku made whip cracking noises in the background and the whole group laughed.

"Seriously, I can't sing that song for some other girl. It would just be weird. Taira should sing it." The younger boy added.

Taira shook his head. "Not if you want anybody to take Beck seriously. One line out of my mouth and you might as well say goodbye to anymore bookings. You sing it, Ray." He turned to the other man.

Ryusuuke didn't bother arguing. Koyuki could wrench hearts when he sang, Chiba always got the vibe going, and he could belt out a tune or two but the only times Taira sang was when he was drunk and it was never a pretty sound.

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Anna signaled Mari to check on the autograph area. The band was nearing the end of their set and would start signing CDs and answering fans' questions soon. Her mental check listing was cut off when her name was spoken over the speakers.

It was Ryusuuke. Anna smothered the wave of disappointment in her heart. Silly to think that it would be Taira.

"This song is for the lady who got this gig together. We have a lot to thank you for, Anna. Our bassist friend here especially chose this song for you, so have a listen and we hope you like it."

Anna's eyes darted straight to Taira's as the opening chords started.

Meet me in outer space,

We could spend the night

Watch the earth come up.

Holding her gaze, Taira tilted his guitar to her in a silent tribute. Taira had chosen this song for her. The noise of the crowd dimmed.

I've grown tired of this place

Won't you come with me?

We could spend the day.

Anna felt as if a tunnel had come up around her and Taira was at the other end.

How do you do it?

Make me feel like I do.

How do you do it?

Better than I ever knew.

She could see Taira's lips moving. He was singing with Ryusuuke. She wished she could hear him.

Meet me in outer space,

I will hold you close

If you're afraid of heights.

Was that a promise?

I need you to see this place

It might be the only way

I can show you how

It feels to be inside you.

She felt the smile grow on her lips.

How do you do it?

Make me feel like I do.

How do you do it?

Better than I ever knew.

That clinched it. She was probably making the biggest mistake of her life but it oddly felt so right.

You're stellar.

The last strains of the song died out. The crowd hushed.

This was the first time Beck had played an Incubus song and Ray had done it more than enough justice. He sketched a little bow and got the audience going wild.

Anna moved towards the autograph area but unable to resist, she looked back at Taira.

Looking across the room at Anna, Taira felt his heart soar. He swore her green eyes were glowing.

Anna smiled.

The exact same smile she gave him on that golden afternoon when he woke up in her bed.

He couldn't help the stupid grin that had plastered itself on his face. Fool-happy, Saku had called him. And it was apt but he didn't give a damn.

His Anna… No, his Julianna had smiled her smile at him.

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After the last CD was signed and the last gushing fan had left, Taira pushed away from the table.

"Oh man, my ass is cramping!" Saku whined.

A grin was all he got from Taira. Ryusuuke had gone ahead to the back so Taira walked in the direction of Anna's office.

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"Is that a yes?" Ray grinned down at her.

"Yes! It's a yes." Anna grinned right back. Her eyes widened when, letting out a whoop, he planted a big fat one right on her lips.

"Hey! You're crushing my flowers!" Anna giggled as she tried to escape his arms and save the bouquet Maho had given her.

The loud slam of the door on the wall broke them apart. Anna just caught the raw fury on Taira's face before he turned around and walked right out of her office.

"Taira! Wait!" Anna started to go after him but was stopped when Ray pulled her back.

"No, not when he's like that, Anna. Let me talk to him."

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Taira pulled off his shirt and mopped his face with it. His shirt was crumpled and he noted that his hands were shaking. Violently.

Ray didn't step into the room. He wasn't voluntarily going alone in a room with Taira in this state. Unconsciously, he wiggled his jaw. He could almost feel the ache that had stayed for more than a week when his face had met Leon Sykes' fist years ago.

"Look man, it's not what you're thinking. I was just asking An-"

"Ryusuuke, just get out." Taira's voice was strained and his shoulders were heaving.

"At least talk to Anna, man."

"Get. Out." Taira bit off the words.

Ryusuuke winced. He swore the ache in his jaw just got sharper. Without another word he walked back to Anna's office.

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Taira fought to control his breathing.

His chest was burning and he couldn't erase the sight of Ryusuuke kissing Anna.

He scrubbed his shirt over his face again but it simply wouldn't dispel the sight. It was firmly lodged in his mind.

He had trusted that fucking bastard and he had gone right behind his back and…

Taira threw down his shirt and walked back to Anna's office.

He was going to pound that pretty boy's face until even his mother wouldn't recognize him. The beating he had gotten from Leon Sykes was going to look like a walk in the park when Taira was done with him.

"You fucking bastard!"

Chiba let out a shout as he tried to get hold of Taira who had taken a swing at Ryusuuke.

"Jesus, man! Hold up! Let him explain first okay?" Saku hissed in his ear as he moved to help Chiba hold on to the blond. He swore. Taira had blood in his eye and it was going to take more than just the two of them to hold him down. He cast a look in Koyuki's direction. The younger boy immediately jumped to help. Anna's office was starting to feel like a sardine can.

"I was just asking her to be the band's manager, man! I wasn't doing anything to Anna." Saku swore he had never seen Ryusuuke move as fast as he did when he jumped over Anna's desk, still running at the mouth, explaining himself to Taira. He couldn't help it. The laugh was going to let loose. He let out a snort. Chiba looked at him, clearly horrified that he found the situation funny.

The two girls flanked Anna's desk.

"Stop it Taira! Just sto-" Anna's eyes dropped to his chest. Something had caught her eye. The yellow pickpocket was hanging askew and it was right above a new tattoo on his left chest. The edges of the words inked in black across his chest were still red. "Taira…" Anna's vision was going blurry.

Saku felt the fight go out of Taira when Anna started to leak. Jesus Christ. This was why he'd rather play the field than try to keep up with the way a girl's mind worked. They let the blond go. Maho herded them out of the office but Ryusuuke was way ahead of them.

Taira stopped a step in front of Anna. He reached out a hand and when she batted it away, his heart fell.

"You are so stupid!" Anna looked up at him and frowned at the sadness she saw in the brown eyes.

"Anna. I-"

"Don't call me that. It's Julianna." Unable to stop herself, Anna slapped him on the chest. He let her. "First you seduce me in my own kitchen, then you send me flowers, you sing me a song, and now this? You do the most wonderful things but your timing is all wrong!"

Relief unfolded in Taira's chest. He was going to let his Julianna shout all she want. This was much better than when she didn't talk to him at all. He didn't have a handkerchief and he didn't even have a shirt so with both hands he grasped her face and tried to brush away her tears with his thumbs.

"Julianna…" Taira kissed her forehead.

"Ray wants me to be your manager. That was all that was going on in here." He almost smiled at the sulk he heard in her voice. Things were going to be alright.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I just can't think clearly when it comes to you. I lose all my moves."

"Is this why you didn't take off your shirt?" Anna asked. Her fingers traced the tattoo lightly.

"Yes, I wanted you to be the first to see it. I guess you did."

Neither can the floods drown it. It was the second half of the tattoo on her back. Taira had remembered it and now it was on his chest.

"There's something I want you to know Anna." Taira moved them to the chair in front of her desk and settled her on his lap.

"My father left us for another woman when I was really young and I swore I would never do the things he did. But it turns out that I did the exact same thing. I turned my back on the woman who would love me for all she's worth. I only found out later that she's the only woman I could love because it seems she's ruined me for all others. My mom was fortunate enough to find the man who would love her as she deserved to be loved and I think of him as my real father. If you would let me, Julianna, please let me take care of you, let me love you as you deserve to be loved." Tensed, Taira waited for her reply.

Anna smoothed his bleached hair over his forehead. She let the soft strands feather over her fingers before she spoke. "I couldn't resist you in my kitchen, so what makes you think that I could resist you now after all the beautiful things you've said? How can I still resist you after this?" she laid her palm on the tattoo on his chest. She felt the slight difference in temperature in the still fresh wound. "I'm just glad it didn't take you that long to make up your mind. It certainly saved me the trouble of going after you even after you all but dumped me." She smiled beatifically at the wince on Taira's face.

Closing his eyes Taira savored the barb Anna just dealt him and smiled. "I love you, Julianna."

"And I love you, Taira."


it's done.

so what do you think? R&R please...

and now...

how about Track 2: Saku

What kind of girl would the laidback drummer take seriously?