A/N: Wow …..So much done XD Now I just have to finish chapter 10!!! Thank Tina again!!!! Happy New Year Everyone!!!
"So how did it go?"
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Fuji, don't be stubborn," he growled. "You've kept quiet for three days. It's not natural"
Not natural? I've been mute for near enough a month..... Silently, noiselessly, deadly quiet!
I continued stirring the pot on top of the oven with a tight grip, smiling naughtily as I dropped in four heavy spoonfuls of wasabi paste and mixed them in. It was times like this I enjoyed cooking.
"Well, if you're gonna be that way," he sighed, a tune in his voice. "I'll just give Tezuka-san a call and say you're not interested any mo-"
-Splat-
He shut up as today's lunch hit the wall besides him. Well, a spoonful at least. It wouldn't do good to waste such good food, that and the fact I wasn't about to throw away something I hadn't eaten in almost a month thanks to surgery.
If it just happened to land on that mans face... Saa, it wasn't my fault.
"You're cleaning that up," he glared. "Damn kid can't even take a joke. I take him in, build up his whole reputation, get him a good career with a top company, and give him a roof over his head and this is how he thanks me."
If I could have groaned audibly I would have; loudly. I'd heard that speech plenty of times since I had met him and it never really changed. But it was amusing. Even if there was the sad fact my career was, at best, questionable.
I swayed the spoon backwards and forwards in my hand, childishly miming his actions and words behind his back, before turning around just in time to not be caught.
"So how did it go Fuji?" He asked again, sounding like a parent. I just point the handle of the spoon towards the table where my notebook sat, purposely dripping the sauce over the clean floor.
"Fuji!"
Ha-ha, it's not like I won't clean it up afterwards, he over reacts too much sometimes.
I watched as he picked it up and skimmed over the contents, before humming and bobbing his head.
"Sounds good," he spoke up. "Maybe I should have come with you."
...And maybe I should squeeze the whole tube of wasabi in your lunch. You left me stranded and I did just fine, it's you're own fault if you missed out on viewing it.
"Oh by the way," he spoke up. I didn't stop cooking, to save time, and waited for him to continue. "The old man at ICN wanted to have a word with you. I set up a meeting for you later, after lunch. So get ready for it."
I almost knocked the pot of the stand and hissed as I caught the side of my hand on the hot metal pot.
"Fuji? You okay?"
I nodded briefly, biting my lip and running my hand under the tap.
Why would shacho want a meeting with me now? I thought we had already spoken about my 'problem'. Why...? Unless they....oh Kami no! Please no.
Turning around, with the still burning part of my hand in the sink, I looked at him to carry on.
"I can't help you kid. I was just asked to set up a meeting," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I wasn't told what the meeting concerned."
....Then, that could mean anything, right?
It was silent for a beat before I nodded, ignoring the sensation on my hand and turned around to complete my chore of the day.
I served it up in two thermos flasks and chucked one to him, which he caught before whipping around and pulling his jacket.
"See you later kid, I'll be back here early today," he called, leaving the house. "Gambatte."
The door slammed shut and the silence that echoed through the place was deafening......definitive even.
I smacked my hand on the counter, gripping it loosely as I sank to the floor and lent my head on the cupboard door.
Maybe they'd found a loop hole in my contract, maybe they wanted me to resign or maybe they just wanted talk....
Dammit, who knew what those corporate bastards wanted! But...I might be loosing my job...or worse; I might get dropped from the record label completely. I'll be just another forgotten one hit wonder so to speak.
Somehow, I felt like I couldn't breathe, my throat had gone dry and I had to pull myself up awkwardly. I pulled off the apron and chucked it on the side, walking, for the entire world, calm and normally to the sofa where I lied down trying to think of a possible explanation for this.
Maybe I should have continued with those vocal lessons. Though I doubt it would have improved anything, it would have probably been a good thing to talk.... Communicate to them about. Having a doctor saying if you made progress was certainly a benefit but....
What was the use? I rolled over and faced the back cushion of the couch, allowing sleep to take over. The appointment wasn't until quarter past two any how...I had a while.
__
I opened my eyes blearily, looking around the brightly lit room as the afternoon sun shone through the window. With a silent yawn I sat up and checked the clock on the wall. I was thankful enough to notice it was only half one. That gave me an hour to get there.
Frowning at the floor, I stood up and stretched, walking over to the counter where my bag sat with my lunch inside it. I grabbed it and walked over to the cabinet, taking down a small box with my prescription wrote on it.
I placed the box inside my pocket and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. I didn't even look back as I moved towards the door, pulling on a light jacket and opening the lock. I switched off the lights after putting my shoes on and left the house, locking the door behind me.
The hallway to the apartment complexes lift was a short walk, just past the residents next door. This place wasn't like the estate I had gone to see Tezuka's home at, this was an apartment complex; high rise buildings, with spaced out homes which only wealthy people could really afford. The building was white and well managed, always clean, and the neighbor's doors were quite far apart as opposed to the five doors in a row I saw at Tezuka's… Our next door neighbor's home was about ten meters away.
The lift came quickly, too quickly for my liking, but I stepped inside anyway. The annoying music that played there was overly cheerful, sounding very spring time and lovely. It was a great opening for my soon to be bad day, because honestly, if the shacho called me in for a meeting…I hardly doubt it would end well.
Contrary to what I first thought when I came here; there was no doorman like in the movies. It was just a fancy building, with rooms too big and too spacious, and walls that were far too white.
I kept walking as I left the building, straight to the bus stop whilst not even paying the slightest bit of attention to the scenery. It was just as bad as the central city; tall buildings and cars every where. Luckily enough though, my bus was here on time and I got on straight away, paying the fare and finding a seat. Once I was settled I pulled out that box, opening it and pushing out two tablets from the plastic they were in. With a troubled frown at the small white circles, I stuck them in my mouth and downed them with the water, shuddering slightly at the taste they left on my tongue. They were meant to be helping me though, so I couldn't exactly complain. They were, after all, made to improve your health, not to satisfy your mouth.
The bus shuddered and jerked as it made its way slowly through the traffic, its bell sounding every now and then as other passenger's stops came. Some how, I found myself wishing I had took the train…but that would have been more crowded.
Yawning lightly, I pulled at the hood I had over my head, adjusting the silly shaded glasses I had become so used to wearing out in public. It wouldn't do me any good if I had a thousand fans noticing me and wanting answers. I wouldn't be able to give any, and I certainly didn't enjoy the prospect of being chased by a million odd fan girls either.
Finally my stop came and I pushed the button, standing up to make my way to the door. The bus slowed, and I and several others got off, walking our separate ways. Most of them were probably heading off to work, same as me, but it was a fair bet that they were actually going to work. I couldn't…in fact I doubt I'll ever be able to. But I don't want to loose this job, I don't want them to tell me I'm fired, I don—
"Fuji-san?" The voice of a lady broke my thoughts and I looked up, noticing I was inside the ICN building. "Ohashiburi desu ne, Fuji-san?"
It was the receptionist; a middle aged brunette with a kind smile. She was always here and always polite to everyone. Out of choice that is, not because it was her job. Everyone loved her here and she was one of the few good workers the company actually valued, even if they thought her job was just a small thing.
I smiled back to her and waved, nodding my head as I pointed at the gate blocking my way in.
"Hai Fuji-san," she smiled. "I'll let you in. But remember your pass next time, you may be a teenager but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be responsible."
Ah yes…exactly what she said to me over three weeks ago. She was almost like my okaa-san…
I shook my head and went through the turnstile gate, giving her a cheeky salute once I was through. She grinned back and waved me on, telling me to hurry up. I guess she was yet another reason I didn't want to leave here.
Following the numerous other people to the lift, I watched my feet as I walked across the marble flooring. I took off the silly glasses and stuffed them in my pocket, feeling the weight of the pills box there too. Every time I remembered it, I sighed in some melancholy attitude. It was just another reminder of what I lost, and what I could be about to loose.
I got in the lift with several others and annoyingly, it stopped to open at every floor. People flooded in and out. Singers and bands under the same label as me, editors, managers, lyricists, all sorts of people had come in and out to get to their floor. Finally I was almost there and smiled widely as the door opened and I got out of that box. The impromptu music was killing me and the company in the confined space was more soul destroying then anything.
I followed the main corridor towards a mahogany door and looked at the name plate. This was definitely the shacho's office. I gulped as I walked over to where his personal assistant sat and pulled out my I.D card.
"Fuji Syuusuke?" She smirked. "Go right on in; you're pretty lucky his meeting just ended."
She really was a cow. Many, many times she had tried to pursue me. I honestly never thought she understood the concept of the word 'no'. Without thanking her, I turned and knocked on the door, opening it slightly with the -recently new- emotion of nervousness flooding my system.
"Ah, Fuji-kun! Get in here and take a seat," he called, causing me to be incredibly confused. But I did as I was asked and walked further into the room….noticing the rest of the ICN's director board. I had never had to fight to hold my mask in place so hard.
I took the seat left empty for me near the front of the desk, and watched as our shacho took the seat at the head of the table. "Do you know why you're here Fuji-kun?"
I shook my head in all honesty, my hands resting lightly on the table as I tried to stay intact. I didn't know why I was here at all… I was only guessing at what might happen.
With a tight smile I pulled out my small note pad and left it on the table, ready to write.
"I see you're voice is still gone then," he spoke sternly. "Well, those medics did say it'd take a while. How's the vocal training going Fuji-kun? Any improvement?"
Shit. I inwardly whacked my head and wrote down, very carefully what I was going to say. I couldn't just tell him I quit because I thought it was hopeless.
I'm no longer attending them. I found it only did my throat more damage and I found the nurse unhelpful.
Well…it was partly true. The lady had been next to useless; I didn't get on with her at all.
"That's a shame," the man across from me spoke. He didn't sound too nice. "We were hoping to hear of some improvement. This is your voice we're talking about after all Fuji-kun, the instrument that holds your career in the balance."
I definitely didn't like him. That sounded like a threat to me.
I'm looking for a new coach, someone who is capable in what they do and can help me where the other lady couldn't.
"See, Hazuo-san?" Shacho spoke, sounding mildly pleasant. "Our kid's looking out for himself. Don't worry so much."
"A singer who can't sing, I wonder how valuable he is to the company?" Spoke the man to my right. I frowned, having to sit next to such a person. His voice sounded dark, ominous.
"We've been looking at your contract Fuji-san," he spoke, leafing through some files. "You have another year on this and I hardly doubt you're going to get your voice back in time for that. Currently we're not even considering renewing it."
Well that was….blunt. I was about to write a reply when the woman seated opposite from him voiced her opinion.
"That's not necessarily true Yamada," her voice was sharp with a bite, making me feel as though I had to sit a bit straighter in her presence. The man next to me, Yamada-san, glared at her. "We were considering for you to sign a legal document, terminating your contract. That is, if your voice doesn't return."
"Haruko-san, don't be like that," Shacho ordered, picking up his own papers. "Fuji-kun, do you think you can get any where in this business with out trying?"
No.
"Exactly. So get back on those lessons or we will terminate your contract," he spoke, his tone final and sending my blood cold. "We'll give you until your contract runs out. If we don't see an improvement within…let's say the next four months, then we will call you back for another meeting. That meeting will be your last Fuji-kun. You're an excellent vocalist, a tensai even, but if you can't sell albums or even do karaoke, you're no good here."
I breathed in steadily. I understand shacho. I'll find a new vocal coach soon, demo I can't guarantee my voice coming back. The doctors gave me such a small percentage. I won't give up though.
"You're a good kid, we don't want to loose you," the lady sitting next to my diagonal smiled. "But we have to think about what's best for the company as well as the public; our buyers. Think long and hard about this Fuji-kun. You're future in this company all depends on the decisions you make."
Shacho cleared his throat. "Arrange an appointment to come back here in two weeks. I want your decision by then. If you choose to stay on here, we'll get you a reputable vocal coach instead of a hospital sent one. We like to keep valuable artists with us."
I thought I already made my decision. I'll work harder. I won't lose my place here.
"Just take that time to think about Fuji-kun," he sighed. "It's a big decision. Come back when you no longer have doubts."
I frowned and sat back, watching the board shuffle through their files and as shacho stood up. "Right, let's clear this place out. I have a meeting at three. See you in two weeks Fuji-kun."
Saying that, the board bowed to him, as did I and I left as the others did. He wanted me to think on this… what else have I been doing since I was placed in hospital; thinking about what's for lunch, or what channel to watch on the TV? Of course not, I've done nothing but think about my future.
I fumed as I handed the P.A my note and she gave me back a scheduled time. I smirked at the fact she was too scared to look at me, which made me think about that manager of mine. I wondered if maybe I should have put more wasabi into his food.
Oh but who was I kidding, it wasn't their fault for this. It was my own, somehow. Even still, it wound me up, especially as I got into the lift, having to stand there with those three board members on each side of me; one talking into his blue tooth ear piece, another going through her papers, whilst the last just smiled. I noticed the head phone in her ear and smiled angelically. She was the least harsh of the lot and it was amusing to know she hated the lifts music as much as me.
I left the building quickly, nodding a curt thanks to the reception lady as she let me out, walking to the bus stop just as it pulled into the bay. Well, there was some luck…or so I thought. The ride home was full of traffic, it got to the point I even ate my lunch on the bus, glaring moodily out of my sunglasses at the passing pedestrians, who walked faster than the bus.
By the time I got to what was currently my 'home', I was about ready to murder someone. Not that I let it show, still smiling ever so nicely so I didn't scare half the people who saw me to death, though maybe I wasn't holding as good today, since several people crossed the street to get away from me.
With an aggravated sigh, I unlocked the door and kicked off my shoes, slamming it behind me as I walked in, before dropping my bag heavily on the table. I didn't even make it to the sofa before footsteps came stomping into the front room.
"Fuji, you little bastard!" My raging manager yelled, sounding very hoarse. "What the hell did you put in my food?"
Ah, so he did eat it. I grinned sadistically and tilted my head in wonder.
"Don't play games with me ya little brat," he growled, moving to grab me. To which I, ever so gracefully, stepped aside, making him lose balance. "I can barely breathe because of you. Hell, I can't even taste!"
Hontou? I mouthed, not bothered to go get my writing stuff.
"You're unbelievable," he sighed, running a hand through his hair through stress. "How anyone thought you were a lovely kid is beyond me."
Saa, you just don't appreciate my sense of humour, I sung in my head. Without effort I flopped down on the couch and lay back, closing my eyes and sighing outwardly. Nothing seemed that great any more, I was even finding it hard to enjoy his flushed face and sore throat.
The room was silent for a moment before I watched him sit in the chair opposite. "So how did it go?"
If the look on my face was any indication, then he certainly got the message. "That bad huh? Well then… I guess you could do with some good news, even if you don't deserve it."
I waited, ignoring the comment. What on Earth could be considered as good news right now? It seemed damn well impossible.
My manager grinned, almost too happily. "You're moving out."
… I blinked, mouthing my question. Nani?
"Tezuka-san turned down the other offers, seems you were the best candidate," he laughed. "You've got yourself a home Fuji."
I…I got the place!?
