Chapter 2

The limo ride was turning out to be anything but thrilling. Before today if anyone had bothered to ask if Yamato Ishida was caught up in the rock-star lifestyle Takeru would have denied it vehemently. Now however he knew he could never truthfully say Yamato was clean. Sitting next to him was Akevi, who was tossing back drinks and flirting with Hikari non-stop. Itsu and Takahashi on the other hand where to busy drinking and arguing to notice, and Yamato, well all he did was talk on his cell phone. Takeru felt trapped. Hikari was silently pleading for him to rescue her from Akevi but all Takeru wanted was an escape from this dimension back to his reality. True Yamato had made no move to touch the alcohol...yet but was mostly due to the fiery argument he was having with whoever was on the other end of that call.

One thing that continued to plague him was; why Yamato was so insistent to go to that hotel? Didn't he realize that he could stay with their mom? Granted the apartment was small but wasn't staying with family better than staying at some impersonal hotel. Itsu, Akevi and Takahashi had said nothing about visiting their families either, did the Wolves suddenly decide they where to good for their family and friends? What was going on?

"Hey onichan?" Takeru said as Yamato ended his phone conversation.

"Huh? Oh what is it Takeru?"

"Why aren't you staying with mom and me?" Takeru managed to stutter out just as Akevi began to laugh hysterically.

"What! What's so funny?" Takeru asked bordering on hysteria.

"Nothing, nothing's funny." Yamato replied calmly shooting a glare in Akevi's direction silencing him immediately.

"Now I don't feel like discussing that right now." Yamato said raising a hand to silence Takeru's further comments. "Now enjoy some refreshments, when we arrive at the hotel we'll discuss this matter then. Now have a drink and relax." Yamato spoke solemnly while shoving a martini into Takeru's hands.

"I don't drink." Takeru stated firmly not liking his brother's superior attitude at all.

"Have it your way."

The rest of the trip was made in semi-silence, with only the band talking and enjoying themselves, while Hikari and Takeru sat quietly like scolded children. 'Maybe Hikari's right' Takeru thought suddenly watching the stranger in front of him enjoy himself 'Maybe he is no longer the I knew and loved.'

'I shouldn't have been so cold, its not his fault he doesn't know; there's no way he could know otherwise he wouldn't have been happy to see me. Unless...could Natsuko have told him? Is that why ha wants me to see her, does he want to get rid of me that bad?' Despite the smug smile he wore on his face, and the cruel jokes he cracked Yamato Ishida was anything but at ease. Across from him sat his brother, the only person he knew who had appeared saddened by his departure last year, and now there he sat desolate across from him and he was to blame. 'Why did I have to be so cruel to him? He doesn't know why I'm really here. As far as Takeru's concerned we're here to give a concert, he doesn't know that when I leave this time I'll be leaving for good.'

"Did you hear me Yamato?" Itsu asked waving a hand in front of his face, startling him out of his revere.

"Uh, sorry Itsu I must've zoned out, jet-lag I guess."

"That's okay , guess we're all tired." Itsu sighed stealing a glance at the solemn faces of Hikari and Takeru. "What's a matter with them?"

"Nothing that concerns us." Yamato replied tartly. "And there's the hotel, the best in Odaiba for the best band." Yamato stated glancing out the window at the approaching hotel.

"You booked us into Imperial Suites!" Akevi squeaked.

"Yup."

"Oh man oh man never did I think we'd ever be in there. Man we have truly hit the big time!" Itsu cried out suddenly rushing towards the window. "Dude we rock!" he exclaimed lowering the window, sticking his head out and shouting "Odaiba kiss my ass!"

"Itsu! You idiot get back in here!" Takahashi exclaimed dragging Itsu back into the vehicle.

"What! What'd I do?" Itsu cried out amongst the chorus of laughter, managing even to make Hikari and Takeru smile.

"I'm surprised you lot even get anything accomplished, what with Itsu around." Hikari managed to get out between fits of giggles.

"Hey! I can be quite serious when I want to be." Itsu defended in a faux British accent.

"Yeah right." Akevi snorted.

"Yes right! With Yama all serious someone has to liven up this party!" A series of groans was all the response Itsu got.

As the limos pulled up a swarm of fans flocked to the limos en mass hoping to get a chance to touch one of their idols.

"Great, they beat us here...again." Takahashi groaned.

"Time for Tets and the other bg's to earn their paychecks." Akevi commented as Tetsuro and the other bodyguards pushed the crowd aside allowing the Wolves to scramble into the hotel safe and sound.

"Listen Takeru we're gonna get settled in and un pack" Yamato began as they entered the suite he was sharing with Akevi.

"Oh wow!" Takeru breathed, totally amazed by the splendor and extravagance of the room. "This place is so cool!"

"Uh yeah. Listen Takeru like I said we're gonna unpack and then we, the guys and me have to meet with um...some very important people so you and Hikari just chill out here and stay out of trouble. Okay?"

"Stop doing that!"

"Doing what?"

"Treating me like a kid" Takeru exclaimed incredulously, "I'm not a little kid anymore I can take care of myself you know."

"Is that so?" Yamato asked quirking an eyebrow.

"That's so!"

"Well then I'll just leave you alone now if you don't mind." And with that Yamato turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

"What did you say?" Hikari questioned timidly, walking back into the room.

"I don't know, but that's not what bothers me."

"Oh? And what does?"

"The fact that he's treating me like some insignificant bug."

"Maybe it's your hat?" Hikari mumbled.

"I heard that! Besides who are these 'very important people' Yamato's meeting with, why couldn't he just say who they where; why is he keeping things secret from me?" Takeru asked slumping down onto the couch, his head in his hands.

"Well, you two haven't been close in a while not to mention the fact that he's a celebrity now." Hikari said as she placed a hand on Takeru's back.

"What's being a celebrity got to do with it?"

"Well...they always are doing things secretly, contracts and all."

"Maybe, but..." Takeru started.

"But?"

"Nothing. Come on." Takeru said rising from the couch and heading out the door.

"Where? Takeru we're supposed to wait for your brother here! Takeru! Oh fine then." and with a sigh Hikari followed behind.

"Now if only I could find Yamato, he was supposed to meet us down here." Natsuko Takaishi explained apologetically.

"It's quite alright ma'am, I understand completely. Teenagers today can be so irresponsible, especially famous ones." My Yuoto replied smoothly.

"I suppose your right." Natsuko agreed.

"Perhaps we should attempt to start this without them." Mr. Yuoto suggested glancing around the lobby of the hotel once more, "seeing as how he's not here yet."

"Okaasan? What are you doing here?" Takeru exclaimed enveloping his mother in a hug.

"Takeru, I could ask the same of you."

"Well Yamato invited me..."

"Yamato invited you?" Mrs. Takaishi exclaimed in disbelief.

"That's right I did." Yamato Yamato stated approaching them from behind. "Now if you don't mind I'd like to skip all the unnecessary pleasantries and cut right to the chase. May I introduce you to Mr. Lindsey McDonald, my lawyer."

"Lawyer? Why is there a lawyer here?" Takeru questioned excitedly.

"Now Mrs. Takaishi we have secured a small conference room its much more private than this lobby, now if you and your lawyer will follow me we can get this whole business out of the way and done with before lunch." Lindsey said with a glance at his watch.

"Business what business? Would somebody please fill me in as to what's going on here!" Takeru cried.

"Yamato Ishida. I wish you had not brought your brother into this, whatever it is I did to make you hate me so much I'm sorry." Natsuko Takaishi exclaimed sadly.

"It's a little late for that Natsuko, a little to late."

~Okay I shall have the next chapter up within a day or two, hope you can stand the suspense. And yes Yamato's lawyer is that fine ass lawyer from Wolfram and Hart on the WB's Angel.