Chapter 9

Sightseeing

From what stood behind her only a couple of meters, this felt like a completely different world. Once again were Iori's feet upon marble floors, but beyond that this was an entirely new experience. It was a long and wide hall, branching into separate paths somewhere in the distance. The chimes and dings of the casino seemed so far away. For a moment she believed she had stepped outside, but this was all an illusion. Beautifully painted on the entirety of the ceiling was the sky, complete with clouds and the warm tint of the sun. Stone archways, Roman architecture, all elaborately detailed in exquisite textures.

Shops lined the walls as far as she could see. Clothing, antique, jewelry, toy, and electronics stores were but a few that were selling their wares. There were perhaps no themes or planning in their order, but all were marvelous in their display and extravagant in their product. If anything about this trip had gone according to plan thus far, once the other girls and her had a free moment they would have gone shopping in these very stores. Well, they might still get that opportunity, but only if she can find her friends posthaste. Thousands of dollars worth of traveler's checks are within her luggage, though they are all but worthless if they are not within her possession.

Not to say there isn't a reason to enjoy herself. She can still return later, and this way when she does, she'll already have a distinct layout and plan of attack formulated inside her head. It's always good to be prepared.

Iori was the very definition of an impulse shopper, though because of the wealth accumulated by her family it was of no surprise. In contrast with most of the other idols, it was none more so then her very best friend Yayoi, who was such a tightwad that if she wasted a single yen she'd become physically bedridden. While interacting with her friends and learning the value of being employed, some of these traits have been diminished, but walking by all these shops without a yen to her name still slightly stung.

Still, had she been alone it'd be a very different situation. Being lost in a foreign country would always be frightening, no matter how brave a face she put forward. Truth be told she was absolutely terrified when she realized that the cab driver had brought her to the wrong casino. Hence the reason she initially rejected Jordan's aid when they first met. When panicked, instead of freezing up in fear or fluttering about helplessly, Iori tended to shut herself away and build up her defense. Very likely this was a product of her upbringing. For most of her life people have done things for her without her even needing to ask. Perhaps a lesser person would have accepted the situation and abused the silver spoon for all it's worth. However, Iori rebelled and sought to create her own path. Both her brothers are considered extremely successful, but had they not been children of Minase, their outcomes would have greatly differed. Iori wanted to prove that she could still be Iori if she were born to a different family. This was why she became an idol. Money and influence could get you only so far, what was really necessary was talent. Talent cannot be bred and it cannot be taught. Singing and dancing as a performer was something unheard of in the Minase family, so that's why when Iori realized that this was something she could do, she jumped at the opportunity. However determined she may be to carve her own path, there was one thing she learned the hard way, over and over; that she couldn't do it alone.

The president, her producer, her fellow group members, all of these needed to exist for Iori to reach this point. This was not a story that she like to share, but no one was more opposed to forming Ryuuguu Komachi than her. Iori wanted to stand on stage by herself, and make it to the top by only her own power. She now knows that it would have been a bad move, but habits are hard to break, and often people repeat the same mistake repeatedly. It's simply human nature. Almost had she made the same mistake again. Once she made the decision to surrender her trust, even if she is only a small single step closer to achieving her goal, her spirits were high and her resolution firm.

What sounded like thunder struck. While she knew it was nothing more then a recorded file playing over the hidden speakers, the illusion it crafted was very real. In this part of the forum the painted sky had gradually darkened to night. When this had taken place she didn't realize, but now she appeared to be in the middle of a storm.

Currently they stood before a fountain, and spotlights from overhead illuminated the three central statues.

"It's starting," Jordan whispered.

What was starting? She didn't know. For the past few minutes she'd been slightly zoned out.

It was a show filled with animatronics, thundering sound effects, and geysers of water and fire. It was the story of Atlantis and it's fall. Having birthed two children, the king couldn't decide to whom he would bestow the throne. The siblings fight, but their bickering bring neither closer to the crown. Angered by their scuffle, the gods seek the destruction of Atlantis and sent a dragon as their avatar. Burning everything to cinders, the fate of Atlantis is wrought as it sinks into the ocean.

As the show finishes and the area is returned to it's normal business hour lighting, the audience that had gathered applauds. Iori never realized they were there as Jordan had brought her to the very edge of the fountain for a first row seat. Though they might have been elementary, the effects were spectacular. Iori had been so mesmerized by the performance that she had no idea that 10 minutes had passed already.

"How'd you like it?" Jordan asked. "So much ingenuity and effort went into this, that there are people who walked right by and never gave it a second thought."

Iori felt as if this was personal to Jordan. In a way it was personal to her too. Is this the fate of those who rely on the heredity through life? While not to diminish their achievements, but neither of her brothers would have the success they currently own without the influence of their father. Could it be that her two brothers are battling to be their father's successor? The daughter and younger sister couldn't care less about leading the family, and figuratively stepped out of the line of succession. Would the two fight and compete so hard that they bring ruin to the Minase Conglomerate, and share the same fate as Atlantis? Iori figured it was possible. Nothing lasts forever.

"Hmph," calculating her response, "I've seen better."

A large hand dropped on top of Iori's head and began ruffling her hair.

"You cheeky little brat," his speech was playful. "I was watching you. You were all awestruck and frozen. The way you cringed when the brother and sister were fighting, and flinched by heat of the fire; you were totally into it."

Though the technology was antiquated, he had a point. She was totally enraptured. Many ballets, concerts, operas, and other wide array of entertainment had she witnessed. By that standard, this was nothing more than a child's play in comparison. Yet there was something about this atmosphere that multiplied the affect of the presentation. It wasn't exactly a mystery. Even if she didn't want to admit so to herself, it was because he was there.

After ducking away and removing herself from his grip. She said, "You should consider it an honor to be able to watch such a show as my escort," knowing the exact opposite was true.

"Yes yes, my little princess. It's an honor and a delight to guide little lost children to their homes. I'm the very picture of a humanitarian."

If anyone else had called her "little" twice in a row, she would be in a rage, but there wasn't a shred of hostility that she possessed. It surprised even her. If the same thing was said from Miki Hoshii (and it has, on more than one occasion), she'd become irate and somehow be backed into a corner. At that point Iori would have fallen completely to Miki's whims. Why doesn't it feel like that now?

"With you're beard, long hair, and that bike you ride, you're more like a hentai."

Jordan's face stiffened, and the corner of his eyebrow twitched, "I don't know what you called me, but I don't like it."

"Nihihihihi~" she giggled.

"Anyway, we should think about getting going."

While he said that, they didn't leave in any particular hurry. Their destination was the exit on the far side of the forum, and between the Atlantis Fountain and there, there was still plenty to see. Statues, architecture, fountains, murals, so much art crammed into one place this just as well could have been a gallery instead of a mall. At this point she almost didn't care that she had no money, but there were definitely things she saw that she wanted to buy. Some habits simply couldn't be broken in a day.

Outside Iori was taken to a bus stop, where the nearby décor was just as extravagant as it was on the inside. There was a lush, beautiful garden, large statues carved from stone, and even more of those water fountains. While considerably lower traffic then the inside, they spared no expense and no small detail in the construction of this casino. Iori thought, If this was a pleasure trip, this is where I want to stay,but knowing the state of finances for 765 Productions, Ryuuguu Komachi definitely is not staying here.

"Keep going," Jordan was suddenly well ahead of her.

In advance she figured that they'd be taking the bus, and here was a bus stop. So why did he keep walking? Surely they weren't going to walk the whole way?

"Of course not," Jordan answered when asked. "Take a look at this stop. Look at all the people already packed here. It'd take us 45 minutes just to go a block. No, we're going to the next bus stop. It's much better."

How one bus stop could differ from another she didn't know, but he was the local and expert, so there was little option other then accepting his decision.

They prompted to take some stairs, go over a bridge, a path that lead through a casino, and was once again outside. It was quite an arduous journey just to cross the street.

Now they were currently in front of the casino that was most visible from Jordan's apartment balcony. From their brief venture inside to move from bridge to ground floor, the hotel appeared Victorian in design. Outside it looked just as it did from the apartment, but there was a vast pool/lake that spanned nearly the entire property. Light music was humming from some speakers that were hidden somewhere nearby.

"Wow," she could keep herself from mumbling.

Iori expected her sudden slip to draw the attention of her companion and his quick wit, but he seemed otherwise distracted.

"Hey, what time is it?"

No sooner that he said that had a large bell rung a toll of one. Then something odd occurred. What before had been light music suddenly vanished. Almost eerily quiet, those in the vicinity too noticed that something had happened and anticipation was filling the air. Those in the know turned to the fountain. Iori was about to ask Jordan, but then,

"Bright light city gonna set my soul

Gonna set my soul on fire~"

Simultaneously what could only be described as an eruption occurs. A powerful jet spews water a dozen or two meters into the air. Synchronized with the tempo of the music the jets continue to blow in an aquatic ballet.

"Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn,

So get those stakes up higher~"

Jordan steps up to the railing, leaning over and drawing himself that much closer to the gigantic fountain. Glancing over he motions towards Iori to join him.

"There's a thousand pretty women waitin out there

And they're all livin devil may care

And I'm just the devil with love to spare~"

The jets continue to blast away as The King continues to sing. After each beat the streams create a vapor that fogs the surroundings and all in attendance. The temperature drops a quick 10 degrees.

"Viva Las Vegas, viva Las Vegas~"

Iori feels a pulse underneath her feet as Jordan taps his foot to the beat of the music. There's a smile drawn across his face and there's a youthful aura that hadn't been present before. While it seemed impossible to pinpoint his true age, there were deep wrinkles around his eyes yet a strong cheekbone and tight skin around his face and neck. Parts of him seemed older then the rest, but at this moment everything seemed young. Energy sizzled from the tips of his hairs and fingertips, and Iori almost believed he was about to break out in dance. However, that never came. There was a restrained attitude in his tapping away with the music.

It was at this time Iori realized she was paying too much attention to her partner and none to the grand presentation before her. In time for the second verse, the young girl joined him at the stone railing. Although, Jordan was arched as he leaned over the railing, and Iori barely peeked over the barrier standing fully erect.

The song continued for only two minutes, but the lavish waterworks show made it seem longer. At the end there was a round of yelling and applause, as if the conductor of the orchestra was in attendance. Of course, Iori joined in. Even if the one responsible couldn't hear their acclaim, the sentiment must surely have been carried over the hundreds, or thousands, of times it had received applause.

"You know," Jordan turns to Iori and says, "This show-Oh shoot!"

Suddenly he grabs Iori by the arm and starts off at a brisk pace.

"What are you doing!" she shouts in an embarrassed confusion.

"The bus!" and they start into a gallop.

Iori was trying to keep pace, and she thought she was a decent runner, but with the man's massive stride she was little more then being dragged by him. Being an idol meant being physically fit, and while she wasn't nor wanted to be a bodybuilder, she was thankful for the amount of muscle she'd built. Otherwise Jordan would likely have pulled her entire arm out of it's socket. Perhaps at this sprint he was even faster than Makoto Kikuchi, the most athletic idol at 765 Pro.

They made it in time by sliding into the rearmost door only moments before it closed. Leaning against a nearby standing rail, Jordan was breathing heavily in recovery. Feeling somewhat guilty because he did most of the work, Iori simply took a nearby open chair.

Jordan glances towards the front of the double-long bus. Scanning what's ahead of him, he concludes, "Good, there are no checkers this time."

For a moment she was confused, but eventually she realized they hadn't paid a fare.