FIRST PUBLISHED ON WATTPAD MAY 31, 2019
CHAPTER 50: THE WIND BENEATH OUR WINGS (II)
The concert was about to begin. Kaori was seated with her by-now closest friend, Hiroko Seto, and sitting next to Hiroko were Brian and Lisa. The atmosphere at Towa Hall for this memorial concert was somber. The 600-strong crowd, from Japan and all across the world, began to become silent, as a 40-something man in a tuxedo came to the center of the stage.
"Good afternoon, musicians of Japan, and across the world. I am Shigeru Okada, the emcee for this concert. Today, we are here to gather and remember our beloved Kousei Arima. On September 10th, Kousei Arima's life, after a few months of struggles, came to a tragic and abrupt end. However, even in his all-too short life, it should be known that he had touched many lives, here in Japan, and even across the globe. We are here today, as a group of musicians from both Japan and abroad come together to help remember Kousei Arima, and while he may be gone, the love for him and his music will live on forever. Our first performance will be the Bette Midler song Wind Beneath My Wings on piano. To perform the piece, from Japan, Keiko Tamura, and performing vocals, from Canada, Michelle Weiss."
Keiko was on the grand piano, wearing a black mourning dress. In the center of the stage was Michelle, who had chestnut brown hair and was in a white dress. Keiko started playing the song on the piano, and Michelle began to sing.
MUSICAL NOTE: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler
Ohhhh, oh, oh, oh, ohhh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
So high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
Thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
The audience applauded lightly. Shigeru got back on stage, and Keiko and Michelle left the stage. "Our next performance is the Mr. Mister song Broken Wings. On vocals, from the United States, David Madigan, and performing on clarinet, from Japan, Akihiko Fujimoto, and on piano, from Germany, Chiara Schulte."
Brian told Kaori and Hiroko: "David's my brother."
MUSICAL NOTE: "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister
Baby, I don't understand
Why we can't just hold on
To each other's hands
This time will be the last
I fear unless I make it all too clear
I need you so
Take these broken wings
And learn to fly again
And learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Take these broken wings
Baby, I think tonight
We can take what was wrong
And make it right
Baby, it's all I know
That you're half of the flesh
And blood makes me whole
I need you so
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again
Learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Take these broken wings
You've got to learn to fly, learn to live, love so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in yeah, yeah
Let us in
Let us in
Baby, it's all I know that you're half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
You got to learn to fly, learn to live and love so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up for us and let us in
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
More light applause followed. The three performers left the stage. Shigeru then announced the next performers. "Our next song will be If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark. Performing on vocals, from Canada, Jennifer Warren, and on piano, from Japan, Mayumi Imoto, and on violin, from Brazil, Almir Amaral.
MUSICAL NOTE: "If You Leave" by Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark
If you leave, don't leave now
Please don't take my heart away
Promise me just one more night
Then we'll go our separate ways
We've always had time on our sides
But now it's fading fast
Every second
Every moment
We've got to, we've gotta make it last
I touch you once I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I needed you then
You always said we'd still be friends someday
If you leave
I won't cry
I won't waste one single day
But if you leave, don't look back
I'll be running the other way
Seven years went under the bridge
Like time was standing still
Heaven knows what happens now
You've got to, you've gotta say you will
I touch you once, I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again
I touch you once I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd still be friends
I touch you once I touch you twice
I won't let go at any price
I need you now like I need you then
You always said we'd meet again someday
If you leave
If you leave
If you leave
Don't look back
Don't look back
The concert went on for two hours. All in all, both ballads from the 1980s and classical musical pieces were played. When it was all over, the host said "This has been our memorial concert for Kousei Arima: The Wind Beneath Our Wings. On behalf of all the young musicians in Japan and across the world today, thank you for coming, and goodbye." The crowd then murmured as the concert came to an end. Kaori was not able to find his uncle Seiya, until Seiya, a 30-something man with glasses and short hair, found the blond-haired girl in the hallway. "Seiya!" Kaori said to his uncle.
"Dearest Kaori! I haven't seen you in a while!" The two hugged each other as they met. "My dear cousin... How are you, Kaori? I've heard you've been distressed. I came in from Vancouver yesterday, and things have been hectic..." Kaori replied with "Imagine so, we haven't seen each other in so long. I thank you for the Rider gear." Seiya smiled "No problem, Kaori. I love the Riders, Kaori. I'm glad you like them, too. Not ashamed of it. Who's this nice lady that's with you here, and these two new people? Just asking."
Kaori then introduced Hiroko, Brian and Lisa to Seiya. "This is Hiroko Seto." Hiroko then went up to Seiya and shook his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Seiya. I was Kousei's mentor and tutor." Lisa then introduced herself. "My name is Lisa Deslauriers, I am a pianist from Canada." Brian was next. "And I am Brian Madigan, I am a clarinetist from the United States." Seiya then said "I see. Nice to meet you all here. Kaori, you've told me about Kousei Arima. I understand that he died recently, which is why I'm here today. You've told me he meant a lot to you..."
Kaori said "Yeah, he was important to me. He was the man I loved." Seiya then said "I see. It's really heartbreaking to hear that, my dear niece... I heard his music, and he was enthralling." Kaori replied with "Yeah, he was so amazing..." Seiya had an idea. "Say, Kaori, Hiroko, Brian and Lisa, do you have some time? We should have dinner together." All five of them nodded in agreement. "Yeah!"
The five went off to Murphy Fries, and all five of them had a good time, talking about how Kousei would always be remembered. Even though this was a sad day, the fact that Kaori and Hiroko got to meet some new friends from half a world away helped allay the pain of the loss of Kousei a little. It also made them feel less lonely in the world, as well.
