Vox de la Morte
1
The sun didn't even have time to wake him up. The boy was up, three in the morning… four in the morning… somewhere around then. He rubbed his eyes, and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He had been seeing one of those again…
One of those… visions that often mixed his memories with another person's memories. He did not like them, as it often left him sweating and melancholic or weeping whatever time he woke up at. And of course he couldn't tell it to anybody. Then where would he be in life? A subject to poke rods at and laugh at?
He understood what most of it meant… But other parts of it… It had just been muddled together, and now he couldn't understand any of it. The boy shook his head and smacked his alarm clock when it laughed annoyingly at his guess on time. So it was five in the morning. He always guessed wrong.
The boy lifted himself out of his uncomfortable bed and looked around the room he had spent most of the last three years in. Ever since then… he had isolated himself from society. Ran away from the life that was meant for his greatness and superiority over other musical equations, but he had decided to live it in the trenches of fear. Well… Besides going into the bars to perform. But his only friend would never let him explore. And there was a hunger there that no flavor of pocky could feed.
"Hiro…" he muttered, groping around in the darkness. Just where was he when you needed him… "Where are the lights?" he asked, feeling around in the darkness. Finally, his fingers felt a switch of some kind, and he lifted it to hurl his face away from the bright light. "Damn…" he muttered quietly.
He lifted his eyes to an even brighter light, making his pupils dilate. "Hiro!" he screeched, grabbing the flashlight and turning it off. "Stop it! Stop it with the flashlight thing! It's getting very annoying…"
The taller and darker boy, Hiro, chuckled at his friend since the olden times. "But you make it so easy to tease!" he shouted, waving a box of strawberry pocky in the air, a.k.a. breakfast. The two fought over the box, each complaining that one had one too many or one too less.
By the time it had hit seven, the two were ready for yet another gig in a bar that would probably ignore them the whole way through. Least they got money. That's all that really mattered to some… Yet the two wanted more. They really wanted to get the people's attention and had even considered playing "The Surprise Song" every now and then. Hey, it was worth a try.
But alas… it was another day, just sitting there and smiling at the comatose audience who didn't even give a shit.
"Shuichi…" Hiro had muttered every now and then, "We've really got to find a new gig… All I ever see are mugs filled with beer…"
"Right! But we'll do that AFTER we conquer this bar!" Shuichi would always scream and shout, drunk on soda and strawberry pocky. "And after this bar… Who knows… Maybe… THE WORLD!"
"Right…" Hiro muttered now, grinning at his over zealous friend. "Well, you sure know how to pick interesting bars… I give up on this place… Let's go."
Shuichi glared sadly at the people who he had already sung for in about two years. Still they paid no attention… "You're right…" he muttered, crestfallen on his discovery. "Let's go home."
"Oh, come on!" his friend had soothed. "Why don't we go to… a bakery and we can get whatever we want! How's that?"
"Hai, hai…" Shuichi muttered, not really caring as his friend led him through the through putting their stuff away and then driving up and down the streets, looking for a good fast food restaurant instead.
"You know what, why don't I park the car, and you can sit here while I get us something? How's that?" Hiro asked, making sure his friend was as comfortable as he could possibly be.
Shuichi watched him leave the car and sighed hopelessly. Surely Hiro wouldn't notice if he just walked out of the car and somehow managed to get lost? No… He would probably find him in second's haste… Shuichi chuckled at his version of Hiro as Sherlock Holmes. Surely he wouldn't notice.
Shuichi bravely stepped out of the car and looked both ways, hoping Hiro was no where to be found. Smiling at his clever escape, Shuichi quickly ran off to explore the world that he had been kept away from.
This was what he had been missing all this time. The stores, the people, and the crowded streets! Oh, this must have been what he was missing! How he wanted to run up and down the streets and just run right into people, but his fascination had taken hold of his pacing.
"Wait…" he muttered, picturing the face of a sad and worried Hiro holding a lonely box of food and looking in the car. "That's right… I left him all alone… Well now, there must be some way to save a lone best friend…"
Shuichi spun around, racing back to find the car that he and his friend had drove in. Maybe he forgot about me… Maybe he drove off without me… Maybe this was his plan to get rid of me-Nah. Maybe-ITAI!
"Ouch!" Shuichi squeaked, when he rebounded off of the figure at hand. "Su…mi…ma…sen…" he muttered, as he looked up at the man. Something's wrong… I know something's wrong… He thought as the pictures of the beast from his dream came to mind. But what was it… what was wrong with the picture…
"Just don't do it again", he muttered, walking off. Shuichi growled vehemently, and ran to catch up with the man and his long strides.
"Excuse me, but I said excuse me. Don't just run off like that-Hey!" he shouted, trying to catch up with the tall man with blond hair. You're not getting away that easily! He thought, as he tried to keep up by jogging now. "Excuse me!" he shouted, louder this time. "But could you just stop and say you're sorry?"
The man finally turned around and stared at Shuichi, coldly. Almost burning through his innocent blue eyes. "S… Sorry…" Shuichi began, but it didn't stop the chill going up and down his spine.
He had short blond hair, a cup of coffee in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. Oh, how was he supposed to get through to this man? Maybe… If he just put out his point clear into the next street, he would be able to make him apologize. Yes! He would make him apologize, and by god, he would mean it.
"What do you want?" the man asked, boredom rolling into his voice. He looked the boy up and down; wondering exactly how old was he. Ah, just another kid, probably asking you if you have any candy…
"You bumped into me! Say you're sorry!" he shouted, not really noticing how loud he was shouting, or how demanding he seemed. And by now, his determination was a steaming red bull, just waiting to run over the man and to force him to apologize. Damn, he would apologize, no matter what.
A mocking chuckle came out of his mouth, as he muttered, "I'm sorry you bumped into me kid, I guess I was just in your way."
Shuichi pouted, forgetting all together about poor Hiro who was now looking up and down the streets for his companion. Making this man pay for what he had done was way more important. "Apology not taken. Say it like you mean it."
"Hey…" the man muttered. "You play in that bar over there, don't you?" Shuichi nodded eagerly, waiting for some praise. "Try something different. You guys stink."
"Na… What…" he muttered, taken aback, and falling back somewhat. "How dare you!" he shouted, fires blazing in his eyes. Now was the time for pay back. Now he could rip this man apart and have a good story to tell to the police. And now he could attack him in anyway he pleased.
But the man started to walk away again. With all his might, he rushed forward and raised his hand in a "Stop" motion as if it would actually work. He was just almost about to hit the man's back, so close to giving him a whammy, when- the man grabbed Shuichi's wrist, and shoved him to the wall, pinning his arms to the side.
"Iie!" he shrieked, already cowering to anything he could see. "Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me…" he whispered. He opened his eyes, looking very angelically at the man. Maybe if he acted cute… he would leave him alone. Then he would never have to see this evil man. He shuddered under his hold, suddenly aware that the man was loosening his grip.
Shuichi watched the man twitch a little, then slowly let Shuichi go. He shook his head, as if saying, "Don't… Don't…"
"Get lost…" he muttered, shoving Shuichi the other way. Shuichi caught himself before he could fall flat on his face, and ran off into the distance. "Cute kid…" he muttered very quietly, once the boy was out of sight.
Shuichi ran off, and bumped into another person, while they said at the same time, "Sumimasen… Hey!"
"Shuichi! Where did you go off to?"
"Hiro! So you didn't leave me!"
"Why would you think that?"
"I was just over there!"
Explanations ensued. And it ended with the joy of having fast food and sweets. As Shuichi told everything about the man to Hiro, he only nodded whenever Shuichi expressed an opinion. "Yes, Shuichi, I believe you're right. Exactly, Shuichi, you should've told him that. Are you ready to go home now?"
"Yeah… I guess…" Shuichi muttered, taking one last look at the streets. Maybe… Maybe he could come back someday.
**
The man quietly walked back to his apartment, now with a cigarette in his mouth as he fiddled with the newspaper. He kept thinking about that kid he had seen. Where had he come from? Who was he? And why did he get a weird feeling around him? There was only one way to find out.
As he entered his apartment, he flicked the lights on and threw the newspaper on the ground instinctively. He sat down in a chair, almost expecting to hear that same voice again. And there he was, sitting across from him. His black hair gave away who he was immediately. The man only knew one person with hair that dark.
"Aizawa…" he muttered, looking for something more interesting to look at. The boy growled, but simply subdued his anger by hmphfing. "What do you want now? I got your last three victims for you, I bought you a pet dog, and I even was your messenger boy to the older and the more… what is it… experienced."
Aizawa growled louder, showing his fangs this time. "I only tolerate you because I owe you more than I can pay. But just wait until the years slide by. Then I won't need you anymore."
"Right…" the man muttered, unfazed by Aizawa's anger. He had plenty of years to find out how to take advantage of his anger.
"Listen…" he hissed, keeping a hold on his anger. "You bumped into a kid this morning. Pink hair, blue eyes… Yeah, you remember him…" he muttered, hearing the man groan. "We can do it like we always did. You go out and find him. Bring him to me, the end. No more problems for another hundred years. That simple, Eiri. And you know I only want you on the job…" he muttered, ending with a grin.
Eiri could see the kid again, with all his innocence and his determination to make him apologize. Cute little kid definitely, but soon to be dead cute little kid. "Why?" he questioned, hoping this time Aizawa would give him a reason for his wants and needs.
"Why?" he asked back, skeptically. "Because, that's why. You're not that old. You can't order answers out of me quite yet. Just bring me the kid, and as soon as you do that, I'll bring a little something special."
Eiri shrugged, picking up an old journal and writing once again. For now, he could ignore the pain at his side, trying to read what he was writing. "Eiri?" he asked, very politely now.
"Fine."
Aizawa disappeared without a trace, away to a realm that Eiri had never been to before.
**
"Same morning… Same annoying morning…" Shuichi mumbled as he brushed his teeth. He wasn't used to getting up this early, but Hiro had scheduled them in really early, this time. "Fine… I'll do what you say now, but wait until we're famous. Then I'll tell you what to do Hiroshi…"
He trotted down the stairs, hoping to smell the usual smell of toast and cereal. "Well if you wanna be me, then be me… And if you wanna be you, be you…" he sang, playing a game of jumping on one stair, and walking on another.
After breakfast and performing, the two were washed out once again. Another bar, the same thing, all over again. Nobody paying attention as they worked their butts off, trying to maybe just make one person glance up. Shuichi and Hiro sighed at each other, glaring at the people as they drank their water without sugar.
"I give up", Hiro finally surrendered. "Nobody pays attention to us. Let's just go home and stay there…"
"I told you so…" Shuichi muttered back. After their last song, Shuichi started putting things away, and Hiro tapped his shoulder. The two were amazed. In fact, they were stunned for the first few seconds. Somebody was clapping.
"Isn't it the most beautiful sound you've ever heard?" Hiro asked, making the same nodding motion as Shuichi. "I… I never thought I'd live to hear this!"
"We're making progress!" Shuichi murmured, glittering lights blinking on and off in his eyes. Hiro hugged his friend around the shoulders, somewhat affectionately. "Quick! Let's go home and practice!"
The two nodded and began packing immediately. On the way out, Shuichi swore he could still hear the clapping sound. They had clapped for them. They had clapped for Hiro and Shuichi… This is so cool…Maybe next time there will be more clapping! In fact-ITAI!
There it was again. He had bumped into someone once again. But this time it wasn't his fault! He swore it wasn't his fault! "Sumi- Oh, it's you…" he muttered, seeing the man from yesterday again. "Look, I'm not even going to try to make you say you're sorry today, so just go on with your life and stop bumping into me."
"Can be obnoxious, now can't he…" Eiri whispered to himself. Coughing, he said, "You weren't that bad today. Nothing like some of the great people we have today, but good enough."
"You're being sarcastic…" Shuichi muttered.
Eiri flinched. "I… know where you could maybe… get a recording deal. I could also… help out a bit", he muttered. "But I really think you need a few more years of practice. Just because you get up early in the morning is no reason to forget to tune up."
Shuichi flinched this time. "How do you know?" he inquired. "You're not one of those weirdoes, who sign a contract to people like me and then steal everything I get, now are you?"
"No! No, in fact, I'm not", he said as he put a cigarette to his lips. Lighting it, he muttered, "I just happen to take an interest in people who could do better if they tried harder. You two are just so down that nobody's listening that you don't play as well as you did when you first came here. Besides, who's heard of a band with only two members? You need a drummer."
"Thank you for the advice, but I'm sure I don't need it", he muttered, slamming the trunk of the car. Who was he to tell Shuichi about music?
"Oh, I'm sure you do. You have lots of potential. You just need someone to… help you. And I'm pretty sure I could be that man for you. In fact, I've been thinking of signing you up with a friend of mine…"
Finally the words registered in Shuichi's brain. "YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR LITTLE ME?!" Eiri nodded quickly, hoping the kid wouldn't kill him if he said no. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Eiri couldn't feel Aizawa's presence around him, and almost felt like he had a newfound freedom. And he could extend that freedom, now couldn't he? Rule number one in the book: Never get personal with a victim.
"By the way, I never caught hint of your name", he muttered.
"Neither did I, which is strange. I'm used to catching people's names…" he said quietly to himself. "Anyway, I'm Shindo Shuichi."
"Right…" he muttered. "Name's Yuki Eiri."
"Hiro! Hiro!" he called, his friend coming over. Eiri cringed at the thought of the other one getting into this business. "Look, this man's going to help us! He's going to help us become a real band!"
"Really?" his friend seemed as happy as Shuichi, but wasn't so ecstatic as Shuichi.
"Thank you…" Shuichi murmured, hugging Eiri.
"Um… Shuichi?"
"Yes?"
"Don't hug me."
"Oh."
**
A/N: TO BE EXPLAINED! And… sorry for my "Bad-Chapter-One" syndrome. I always seem to screw up on it, but I'm so lazy that I never go back and check it… Oh well. And did I mention this story was totally Alternate Universe? I think so… Anyway, Ja Ne for now. 'Till chapter two!
1
The sun didn't even have time to wake him up. The boy was up, three in the morning… four in the morning… somewhere around then. He rubbed his eyes, and wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He had been seeing one of those again…
One of those… visions that often mixed his memories with another person's memories. He did not like them, as it often left him sweating and melancholic or weeping whatever time he woke up at. And of course he couldn't tell it to anybody. Then where would he be in life? A subject to poke rods at and laugh at?
He understood what most of it meant… But other parts of it… It had just been muddled together, and now he couldn't understand any of it. The boy shook his head and smacked his alarm clock when it laughed annoyingly at his guess on time. So it was five in the morning. He always guessed wrong.
The boy lifted himself out of his uncomfortable bed and looked around the room he had spent most of the last three years in. Ever since then… he had isolated himself from society. Ran away from the life that was meant for his greatness and superiority over other musical equations, but he had decided to live it in the trenches of fear. Well… Besides going into the bars to perform. But his only friend would never let him explore. And there was a hunger there that no flavor of pocky could feed.
"Hiro…" he muttered, groping around in the darkness. Just where was he when you needed him… "Where are the lights?" he asked, feeling around in the darkness. Finally, his fingers felt a switch of some kind, and he lifted it to hurl his face away from the bright light. "Damn…" he muttered quietly.
He lifted his eyes to an even brighter light, making his pupils dilate. "Hiro!" he screeched, grabbing the flashlight and turning it off. "Stop it! Stop it with the flashlight thing! It's getting very annoying…"
The taller and darker boy, Hiro, chuckled at his friend since the olden times. "But you make it so easy to tease!" he shouted, waving a box of strawberry pocky in the air, a.k.a. breakfast. The two fought over the box, each complaining that one had one too many or one too less.
By the time it had hit seven, the two were ready for yet another gig in a bar that would probably ignore them the whole way through. Least they got money. That's all that really mattered to some… Yet the two wanted more. They really wanted to get the people's attention and had even considered playing "The Surprise Song" every now and then. Hey, it was worth a try.
But alas… it was another day, just sitting there and smiling at the comatose audience who didn't even give a shit.
"Shuichi…" Hiro had muttered every now and then, "We've really got to find a new gig… All I ever see are mugs filled with beer…"
"Right! But we'll do that AFTER we conquer this bar!" Shuichi would always scream and shout, drunk on soda and strawberry pocky. "And after this bar… Who knows… Maybe… THE WORLD!"
"Right…" Hiro muttered now, grinning at his over zealous friend. "Well, you sure know how to pick interesting bars… I give up on this place… Let's go."
Shuichi glared sadly at the people who he had already sung for in about two years. Still they paid no attention… "You're right…" he muttered, crestfallen on his discovery. "Let's go home."
"Oh, come on!" his friend had soothed. "Why don't we go to… a bakery and we can get whatever we want! How's that?"
"Hai, hai…" Shuichi muttered, not really caring as his friend led him through the through putting their stuff away and then driving up and down the streets, looking for a good fast food restaurant instead.
"You know what, why don't I park the car, and you can sit here while I get us something? How's that?" Hiro asked, making sure his friend was as comfortable as he could possibly be.
Shuichi watched him leave the car and sighed hopelessly. Surely Hiro wouldn't notice if he just walked out of the car and somehow managed to get lost? No… He would probably find him in second's haste… Shuichi chuckled at his version of Hiro as Sherlock Holmes. Surely he wouldn't notice.
Shuichi bravely stepped out of the car and looked both ways, hoping Hiro was no where to be found. Smiling at his clever escape, Shuichi quickly ran off to explore the world that he had been kept away from.
This was what he had been missing all this time. The stores, the people, and the crowded streets! Oh, this must have been what he was missing! How he wanted to run up and down the streets and just run right into people, but his fascination had taken hold of his pacing.
"Wait…" he muttered, picturing the face of a sad and worried Hiro holding a lonely box of food and looking in the car. "That's right… I left him all alone… Well now, there must be some way to save a lone best friend…"
Shuichi spun around, racing back to find the car that he and his friend had drove in. Maybe he forgot about me… Maybe he drove off without me… Maybe this was his plan to get rid of me-Nah. Maybe-ITAI!
"Ouch!" Shuichi squeaked, when he rebounded off of the figure at hand. "Su…mi…ma…sen…" he muttered, as he looked up at the man. Something's wrong… I know something's wrong… He thought as the pictures of the beast from his dream came to mind. But what was it… what was wrong with the picture…
"Just don't do it again", he muttered, walking off. Shuichi growled vehemently, and ran to catch up with the man and his long strides.
"Excuse me, but I said excuse me. Don't just run off like that-Hey!" he shouted, trying to catch up with the tall man with blond hair. You're not getting away that easily! He thought, as he tried to keep up by jogging now. "Excuse me!" he shouted, louder this time. "But could you just stop and say you're sorry?"
The man finally turned around and stared at Shuichi, coldly. Almost burning through his innocent blue eyes. "S… Sorry…" Shuichi began, but it didn't stop the chill going up and down his spine.
He had short blond hair, a cup of coffee in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. Oh, how was he supposed to get through to this man? Maybe… If he just put out his point clear into the next street, he would be able to make him apologize. Yes! He would make him apologize, and by god, he would mean it.
"What do you want?" the man asked, boredom rolling into his voice. He looked the boy up and down; wondering exactly how old was he. Ah, just another kid, probably asking you if you have any candy…
"You bumped into me! Say you're sorry!" he shouted, not really noticing how loud he was shouting, or how demanding he seemed. And by now, his determination was a steaming red bull, just waiting to run over the man and to force him to apologize. Damn, he would apologize, no matter what.
A mocking chuckle came out of his mouth, as he muttered, "I'm sorry you bumped into me kid, I guess I was just in your way."
Shuichi pouted, forgetting all together about poor Hiro who was now looking up and down the streets for his companion. Making this man pay for what he had done was way more important. "Apology not taken. Say it like you mean it."
"Hey…" the man muttered. "You play in that bar over there, don't you?" Shuichi nodded eagerly, waiting for some praise. "Try something different. You guys stink."
"Na… What…" he muttered, taken aback, and falling back somewhat. "How dare you!" he shouted, fires blazing in his eyes. Now was the time for pay back. Now he could rip this man apart and have a good story to tell to the police. And now he could attack him in anyway he pleased.
But the man started to walk away again. With all his might, he rushed forward and raised his hand in a "Stop" motion as if it would actually work. He was just almost about to hit the man's back, so close to giving him a whammy, when- the man grabbed Shuichi's wrist, and shoved him to the wall, pinning his arms to the side.
"Iie!" he shrieked, already cowering to anything he could see. "Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me…" he whispered. He opened his eyes, looking very angelically at the man. Maybe if he acted cute… he would leave him alone. Then he would never have to see this evil man. He shuddered under his hold, suddenly aware that the man was loosening his grip.
Shuichi watched the man twitch a little, then slowly let Shuichi go. He shook his head, as if saying, "Don't… Don't…"
"Get lost…" he muttered, shoving Shuichi the other way. Shuichi caught himself before he could fall flat on his face, and ran off into the distance. "Cute kid…" he muttered very quietly, once the boy was out of sight.
Shuichi ran off, and bumped into another person, while they said at the same time, "Sumimasen… Hey!"
"Shuichi! Where did you go off to?"
"Hiro! So you didn't leave me!"
"Why would you think that?"
"I was just over there!"
Explanations ensued. And it ended with the joy of having fast food and sweets. As Shuichi told everything about the man to Hiro, he only nodded whenever Shuichi expressed an opinion. "Yes, Shuichi, I believe you're right. Exactly, Shuichi, you should've told him that. Are you ready to go home now?"
"Yeah… I guess…" Shuichi muttered, taking one last look at the streets. Maybe… Maybe he could come back someday.
**
The man quietly walked back to his apartment, now with a cigarette in his mouth as he fiddled with the newspaper. He kept thinking about that kid he had seen. Where had he come from? Who was he? And why did he get a weird feeling around him? There was only one way to find out.
As he entered his apartment, he flicked the lights on and threw the newspaper on the ground instinctively. He sat down in a chair, almost expecting to hear that same voice again. And there he was, sitting across from him. His black hair gave away who he was immediately. The man only knew one person with hair that dark.
"Aizawa…" he muttered, looking for something more interesting to look at. The boy growled, but simply subdued his anger by hmphfing. "What do you want now? I got your last three victims for you, I bought you a pet dog, and I even was your messenger boy to the older and the more… what is it… experienced."
Aizawa growled louder, showing his fangs this time. "I only tolerate you because I owe you more than I can pay. But just wait until the years slide by. Then I won't need you anymore."
"Right…" the man muttered, unfazed by Aizawa's anger. He had plenty of years to find out how to take advantage of his anger.
"Listen…" he hissed, keeping a hold on his anger. "You bumped into a kid this morning. Pink hair, blue eyes… Yeah, you remember him…" he muttered, hearing the man groan. "We can do it like we always did. You go out and find him. Bring him to me, the end. No more problems for another hundred years. That simple, Eiri. And you know I only want you on the job…" he muttered, ending with a grin.
Eiri could see the kid again, with all his innocence and his determination to make him apologize. Cute little kid definitely, but soon to be dead cute little kid. "Why?" he questioned, hoping this time Aizawa would give him a reason for his wants and needs.
"Why?" he asked back, skeptically. "Because, that's why. You're not that old. You can't order answers out of me quite yet. Just bring me the kid, and as soon as you do that, I'll bring a little something special."
Eiri shrugged, picking up an old journal and writing once again. For now, he could ignore the pain at his side, trying to read what he was writing. "Eiri?" he asked, very politely now.
"Fine."
Aizawa disappeared without a trace, away to a realm that Eiri had never been to before.
**
"Same morning… Same annoying morning…" Shuichi mumbled as he brushed his teeth. He wasn't used to getting up this early, but Hiro had scheduled them in really early, this time. "Fine… I'll do what you say now, but wait until we're famous. Then I'll tell you what to do Hiroshi…"
He trotted down the stairs, hoping to smell the usual smell of toast and cereal. "Well if you wanna be me, then be me… And if you wanna be you, be you…" he sang, playing a game of jumping on one stair, and walking on another.
After breakfast and performing, the two were washed out once again. Another bar, the same thing, all over again. Nobody paying attention as they worked their butts off, trying to maybe just make one person glance up. Shuichi and Hiro sighed at each other, glaring at the people as they drank their water without sugar.
"I give up", Hiro finally surrendered. "Nobody pays attention to us. Let's just go home and stay there…"
"I told you so…" Shuichi muttered back. After their last song, Shuichi started putting things away, and Hiro tapped his shoulder. The two were amazed. In fact, they were stunned for the first few seconds. Somebody was clapping.
"Isn't it the most beautiful sound you've ever heard?" Hiro asked, making the same nodding motion as Shuichi. "I… I never thought I'd live to hear this!"
"We're making progress!" Shuichi murmured, glittering lights blinking on and off in his eyes. Hiro hugged his friend around the shoulders, somewhat affectionately. "Quick! Let's go home and practice!"
The two nodded and began packing immediately. On the way out, Shuichi swore he could still hear the clapping sound. They had clapped for them. They had clapped for Hiro and Shuichi… This is so cool…Maybe next time there will be more clapping! In fact-ITAI!
There it was again. He had bumped into someone once again. But this time it wasn't his fault! He swore it wasn't his fault! "Sumi- Oh, it's you…" he muttered, seeing the man from yesterday again. "Look, I'm not even going to try to make you say you're sorry today, so just go on with your life and stop bumping into me."
"Can be obnoxious, now can't he…" Eiri whispered to himself. Coughing, he said, "You weren't that bad today. Nothing like some of the great people we have today, but good enough."
"You're being sarcastic…" Shuichi muttered.
Eiri flinched. "I… know where you could maybe… get a recording deal. I could also… help out a bit", he muttered. "But I really think you need a few more years of practice. Just because you get up early in the morning is no reason to forget to tune up."
Shuichi flinched this time. "How do you know?" he inquired. "You're not one of those weirdoes, who sign a contract to people like me and then steal everything I get, now are you?"
"No! No, in fact, I'm not", he said as he put a cigarette to his lips. Lighting it, he muttered, "I just happen to take an interest in people who could do better if they tried harder. You two are just so down that nobody's listening that you don't play as well as you did when you first came here. Besides, who's heard of a band with only two members? You need a drummer."
"Thank you for the advice, but I'm sure I don't need it", he muttered, slamming the trunk of the car. Who was he to tell Shuichi about music?
"Oh, I'm sure you do. You have lots of potential. You just need someone to… help you. And I'm pretty sure I could be that man for you. In fact, I've been thinking of signing you up with a friend of mine…"
Finally the words registered in Shuichi's brain. "YOU WOULD DO THAT FOR LITTLE ME?!" Eiri nodded quickly, hoping the kid wouldn't kill him if he said no. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Eiri couldn't feel Aizawa's presence around him, and almost felt like he had a newfound freedom. And he could extend that freedom, now couldn't he? Rule number one in the book: Never get personal with a victim.
"By the way, I never caught hint of your name", he muttered.
"Neither did I, which is strange. I'm used to catching people's names…" he said quietly to himself. "Anyway, I'm Shindo Shuichi."
"Right…" he muttered. "Name's Yuki Eiri."
"Hiro! Hiro!" he called, his friend coming over. Eiri cringed at the thought of the other one getting into this business. "Look, this man's going to help us! He's going to help us become a real band!"
"Really?" his friend seemed as happy as Shuichi, but wasn't so ecstatic as Shuichi.
"Thank you…" Shuichi murmured, hugging Eiri.
"Um… Shuichi?"
"Yes?"
"Don't hug me."
"Oh."
**
A/N: TO BE EXPLAINED! And… sorry for my "Bad-Chapter-One" syndrome. I always seem to screw up on it, but I'm so lazy that I never go back and check it… Oh well. And did I mention this story was totally Alternate Universe? I think so… Anyway, Ja Ne for now. 'Till chapter two!