AN: Hi all. Miss me?? I missed ya too! Sorry about the lack of updates. But, if it makes you feel better, I stayed up until 1 am (started at 7 pm) writing this chapter (and man, is it LONG). *yawn* Hope you enjoy. Another note - the situations are getting a bit more mature. No lemons or limes, but things are implied. After all, they *are* adults. Also, the story is going to take a bit more mature route as of this chapter.
Ohkami stood out on the hotel balcony, admiring the moon. Ever since he was a child, the night comforted him, like a large, never-ending security blanket. His younger twin, Usagi, had often teased his liking of the night to the root of his name, wolf. Just howl at the moon, Onii-chan! Call out to your brothers to help us!
He sneaked a look at Aya, who lay on the bed, sound asleep. "Girls always seem to look more beautiful asleep," he muttered and returned his gaze to the stars. In Tokyo, no matter where you stood, the stars seemed dimmer, like a vanishing hope. Look Onii-chan! I see the Big Dipper! See! See!
Shut up Usagi! There's no stars in Tokyo. Besides, if Tou-san hears you, then we'll both be in trouble. Ohkami sighed and leaned forward against the railing, staring down at the street lights, the occasional car, and the long, black river of road. Nothing beautiful here, only man's cursed creations and greed.
"Ohkami," Aya said as she opened the sliding door. Ohkami snapped out of his melancholic state, turned, and grinned sheepishly at Aya. She smiled back, slightly, as if she saw past his facade, and stood next to him, putting her hands on the railing. "Nights are different here, eh," she whispered, looking up at the moon, "You can't see much stars, but you can always see the moon. But the moon is much prettier than the stars."
"Why," he asked, looking up at the full, round, pregnant rock. The shadows made a face, then morphed into a rabbit. See the pun in our names, Onii-chan? Rabbit of the moon and a wolf that howls at the moon!
"It requires more faith than the stars. The stars are always there, like a stopped clock. But the moon disappears for moments, then reappears just as quickly. It's a metaphor of life, I guess." Ohkami grunted his reply, obviously far away from the earth. Aya smiled sadly, then sighed. "Thinking of Usagi-san?"
"I never wanted to come here again after the incident. Tokyo is a sad place at heart. At least for me. I wish I had friends like yours when I was growing up. Would've been nice." Aya said nothing, unable to reply. Ohkami was rarely serious, and Aya had learned to treasure the moments when he showed the other side of him. A serious, sad, side.
"The search for her hasn't ended," he continued, "I wish they would just give up and tell me that she's did. Killed herself, abducted by aliens, drowned in the Japan Sea, or ran off to America. Anything but making me think that she's still here." Aya frowned and her eyes began to water. A smile slowly spread on Ohkami's face as he wiped away a tear from Aya's cheek. "Don't cry for me Babe. This is just an old, overplayed blues song. It's time we got to sleep anyway. Wouldn't want to miss the picnic tomorrow."
Aya looked into his eyes, debating whether or not to question him. Ohkami's eyes were still somewhat jaded, hiding his pain. "Ohkami . . . you would tell me if something was wrong, right?" Ohkami snapped out of his trance, looked at her oddly, then nodded.
"You're silly sometimes, you know that?"
"I'm worried about you."
"Don't," he ordered, "Don't you ever worry about me."
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"Wow, the moon's really bright tonight," Ran whispered as she looked toward the sky. Her graveyard shift had just ended, which had no exciting chases, busts, nor calls. A normal, boring night. "Hm. . . picnic tomorrow. Gotta call and remind Aya. . . shoot! I completely forgot!"
She dashed back into the station and began pulling out files. "Aya said that Ohkami had a bad past. Could it be a criminal record?" After about a half hour of rummaging, a file on a missing girl appeared. She looked about twelve, with a gap between her front teeth, rich wavy black hair down to her shoulders, bright brown eyes, and ivory skin.
"Part of a pair of twins, daughter to a single parent. . . . family, father Mikeru, son and twin, Ohkami. There's no denying it! It's Ohkami's sister. But . . . she was never found." Ran lay down on her back, sighing. "She left in her middle year of Jr. High, and hasn't been seen since. There was an intense search that went on for a few months, but she still wasn't found and presumed to be a runaway." Ran's eyes widened slightly. Common practice told the families that the child was dead, to ease the pain of losing a child.
Ran frowned and wondered what to do. She could ask Tatsuki if he'd seen a girl like that in the club, but a dated description wouldn't help any. Aya? But then Aya would know that she snooped. Telling Miyu was like telling Nii-san her deed, which left. . . Otohata. Ran glanced at the clock on the side wall; three seventeen am. Not that late, right?
The phone rang several times before a groggy Otohata answered the phone with a 'Who are you?'
"Otohata? It's me."
"Damn it Kotobuki, it's three in the morning!"
"I know," she replied as if it were nothing. "Listen, you know Ohkami has a twin sister? And she's been missing since they were twelve?"
"And," he replied, voice gruff. "Hold on, let me guess. You want to know what you should do, right? You want to find her, but don't know exactly where you should start."
Ran beamed, "I knew you'd understand! Now where should we--"
"We are going to do nothing. All we would do is bring more pain to Ohkami. Besides, it's between him and his family."
"Baka. I'm a police officer. This is my business." Rei sighed on the other line, making loud wind-like noises on Ran's end.
"You're too persistent," he muttered, "But you should still stay out of it." Ran frowned. She'd called Rei think he'd give her advice and maybe help her start out. But he wasn't like that. Tatsuki was. "Something wrong?"
"No, I was just thinking."
"If he wants us to know, he'll tell us."
"But I just can't sit around and not do anything!" If he wasn't half-asleep and annoyed, Rei would've laughed at her response. Her personality was almost predictable. "Rei? You there?"
"Just don't tell anyone else. I'll think of something after I sleep. Bye," then click and the dull ringtone. Ran stared at the phone is disbelief. Did Otohata just agree to help her? Score! They would have to meet later to discuss plans, then walk around asking questions, and go wherever their leads take them . . . . but that was in dreams. She would be lucky if the suggestion he gave her wasn't another 'butt out'.
The clock chimed four times, and Ran sighed and walked out of the station, saying a quick goodbye to the other two officers in the front.
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"Tatsuki," Aki whispered, running her fingers through his silky blonde hair. He smiled slightly at her, then kissed her forehead softly. "Do you love me?"
"Do you love me? No, what she means is - Are you ready to commit? I want a steady relationship," Tatsuki thought and fought a frown. "It takes more than a couple of months for me to love someone truly," he replied, caressing her cheek. Surprisingly, Aki's expression didn't change, and she nodded, running her fingers down his back.
"Somehow, I knew that. But, I'll wait for you. You're still not over Ran," she replied, wrapping a blanket around her body and rising. "Don't worry, I'm not jealous anymore. I've been acting a but immature lately, ne," she asked and stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Is something wrong? You're not yourself."
"I saw him again," she replied, sighing. "You didn't tell me you hired him at your bar." Tatsuki frowned again and got out of the bed and walked toward Aki, wrapping his arms around her in a backwards hug then kissing the nape of her neck gently.
"Me and you," he whispered, "Seem to be caught in the past." Both laughed at that comment, bitterly and miserably. "Maybe that's why we're together." Aki smiled and turned, then kissed him deeply.
"And so, we derive pleasure from our pain. . ."
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"Damn Kotobuki," Rei muttered as the time changed to 4 am, "I can't go back to sleep." I can't sit down and not do anything! "I can't either," he admitted to himself, indulging in the flashback of her voice, "Why do you think I became a doctor?" But that didn't mean it was okay to butt into a stranger's life.
After trying yet again to fall asleep, Rei got out of bed and threw on a dress shirt, black pants, and shoes; grabbed his keys and drove out into the dark road. He turned the radio on rock, then put the volume full blast as he headed for a country road. A honk at a red-light diverted his plans, for fate decided to put Ran and him at the same light.
Ran motioned for him to follow her, and after debating leaving her, followed. "My luck," he muttered as she pulled into a parking lot. They were at Niwa, the park where they were to eat tomorrow. (Or today, depending on how you see it) Groundlights lit up the trail around the park, and the occasional postlight made it ideal for night walks.
"Imagine meeting you out here," she greeted, somewhat nervously. Although why she was nervous was beyond his comphrension. "Where were you going?"
"Wherever the road took me. I couldn't sleep after you called." Ran shrugged, an offhand apology.
"You were the only one I could call. Anyway, wanna walk with me and talk about it?" Rei studied her in the dim light. Her eyes were dull, lacking the enthusiastic energy she usually radiated, and her body slumped slightly of tiredness.
A chill ran down Ran's body as Rei's eyes scrutinized her. "He can tell," she noted, and shook her head at her thought. Rei always, no matter what, seemed to see through her. It was as if those brown gems were x-ray glasses.
"What's bothering you," he asked finally, deciding not to drop the subject.
"What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong. I'm in love with Tatsuki (at least I think I am), but when I'm with you I get nervous and my heart races and my palms sweat. Then Aya comes and brings along her 'boyfriend' and they seem immune to mine and Tatsuki's pushes, and Aki, who seems to like making me miserable, actually shows a bright and cheerful side that makes me understand why Tatsuki would like her! And you - you're the worst of them all! I don't know why I told about Ohkami, especially since I knew how you'd react. You're always so cold and I can't read you half the time, but every once in awhile you'll do something that makes me think that you're an okay guy and you understand and know people's pain. And then you go and look at me with those eyes of yours and it sends chills through my body," Ran thought, and should've said, but, as situations and pride goes, she replied,
"Life. Life is bothering me." Rei chuckled softly, then walked over and put his arm around her. Ran's eyes widened - no, this wasn't the usual Otohata. "W-what are you doing?"
"You've matured a bit since I last saw you," he replied, ignoring her question or answering it in his unique way. "You seem so strong willed and independent, but like the rest of us, you get lonely."
X-ray eyes, mind reader, psychic. Or maybe evil twin. This wasn't like Otohata. Ran laughed dryly, "You've got it all wrong," she replied, gaining courage to look in his eyes, "I was born alone, I'll die alone." Rei's eyes held a questionable skepticism, but he questioned her no further. Instead, he kissed her forehead, then walked back to his car.
It took a couple of steps, because neither of them had the courage to actually walk the midnight lover's trail that Niwa provided. Ran stared, stunned, as Otohata climbed back into his car, then sped off into the night. "Was this . . . an illusion," she whispered and touched her forehead.
After about two minutes she climbed back into her car and began to slowly drive home.
We have a special treat tonight for you insomniacs. Beck's new single, "Habit" sung by that ever so cute Koyuki and with an amazing solo by Ryosuke!
Maybe I was too young
Maybe you were too
But at the time,
All I could think about was you
Eternity doesn't exist
I wonder when I realized that
Love is an intense emotion
Worn away by time
Maybe it was too fast
Maybe it was too slow
But at the time,
Time stood still
At first it was hard to say goodbye
Now I can leave without looking back
When did my feelings go astray?
Why is this love a habit?
Maybe I was too young
Maybe you were too
But at the time,
All I could think about was you
Maybe it was too fast
Maybe it was too slow
But at the time,
Time stood still
Why is it so easy to say goodbye?
Why is this love a habit?
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"Hey, Princess, wake up," Ohkami said as he shook Aya. Aya moaned and pulled him close, then kissed him. Ohkami, thanking God for the opportunity in his head, deepened the kiss, which, of coarse, woke up Aya.
"M-molester," she yelped, pushing Ohkami away and burrowing herself into the comforters, "Don't scare me like that!"
"But you molested me when I tried to wake you!"
Aya's eyes widened in innocence. "I did?" Ohkami nodded, then pounced on the bed, and touched their noses.
"You get cuter each day Princess." Aya blushed but didn't look away. Ohkami leaned forward and kissed her softly while running his fingers through her hair. "I don't think I can stay your prince much longer," he whispered, voice slightly husky, "You make me want to become a wolf," a harder, needier kiss that was abruptly broken. Aya stared, eyes slightly wide, lips a bruised red, heart erratic.
"Sorry Aya," Ohkami apologized, then he reluctantly got off her bed, grabbed a change of clothes, and went to go take shower. "I'm so stupid," he cursed as he looked at himself in the mirror. Eyes wild, hair mussed, lips that kept the taste of her mouth. Every cell in his body seemed to scream for her. "I'm losing my self control. . . ."
"Ohkami," Aya whispered, touching her lips. "He's never been that forward," she thought and felt her face redden. "His eyes, they looked wild, almost uncontrollable . . ." She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves and heartbeat. All of his kisses prior had been soft, playful, innocent. But that last one . . . she felt his desire. A soaring, erratic aura.
She didn't know what to think of it, and rather sit on her bed and obsess about it she stood and began getting ready for their day out in the town.
Ohkami opened the bathroom door, dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, with the towel around his neck. The primal desire was gone from his eyes, which held the playful glint Aya was used to. She smiled and put a back on a pearl stud earring.
"You look happy," Ohkami commented before coming and embracing her from behind. "You're so huggable, you know that?" Aya giggled and playfully punched his arm.
"You are unbelievable sometimes, you know that?"
"I know," he replied in a sing-song inflection, "But that's why you love me."
"If someone can love the big bad wolf."
"Bad? Then will you punish me?"
"Ohkami!" Both locked eyes, then began laughing. "Ecchi," she teased.
"You know you wouldn't have it any other way," he replied as he kissed her gently. He broke the kiss, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. "Come on, you know how those crowds get." Aya nodded, retrieved her purse, then both left to the amusement park.
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"Hey Takui, get your head out of the clouds."
"Sorry Kira. Got a bit sidetracked," Takui replied, tuning his guitar. Several sour notes were made before a nice sound came out. Kira stood, watching their lead guitarist and vocalist, with mild amusement. Of the three, he was the only one to have a taste of stardom, only to have it snatched away by - a girl.
Shortly after, according to Takui, he became gay, then deciding he adored the female sex too much, bi. Kira shrugged at his thought, as long as he never made a move on him, he was okay. That Ran chick at the bar was tasty looking though.
Kira wondered for a moment if Takui regretted being here, Ryo's run-down garage, with cheap instruments, trying to find a sound unique to them. Although Ryo begged him to do Embryo's sound, Takui refused. It was understandable. Not only would 'Untitled-as-of-now' have an orginal sound, but it would also keep memories of Embryo tucked away.
"Hey, you guys wanna try that new song I wrote?" Kira smirked at Ryo's suggestion. His lyrics were perverted, but only if the listener chose to intrepret them that way. Truly a genius in Kira's opinion.
Takui looked up at the eager, brown haired green-eyed drummer, nodded, and began fingering the opening notes. The song started with only the guitar, then slowly added the bass, then, at the chorus, the drums. This pattern continued throughout the whole song, producing, in 'Untitled-as-of-now's opinion, an awesome song.
They had yet to do a live, so whether or not they were good was unknown. Takui closed his eyes, listened to his guitar, then began singing. As soon as the first word left his mouth, the familiar aura of the musical 'spell' overwhelmed him, and he became one with the music.
the moonlight caresses your crimson lips
where light had yet to touch
erupting feelings as glorious as a falling star
Unsure eyes gaze back at me
wanting to know the truth
were these feelings to fade
as fast as that falling star
"Why does everything have to be true?"
I just want you to let me love you
in ways other than a simple kiss
joining our bodies is my wish
You say to take it slow
But I want it fast
I know these feelings cannot last
break
Unsure eyes gaze back at me
wanting to know the truth
were these feelings to fade
as fast as that falling star
Heartbeats as one
Souls intertwined
Screams of pleasure
"Why does everything have to be true?"
I just want you to let me love you
in ways other than a simple kiss
joining our bodies is my wish
I need you now
Because I know these feelings cannot last
Soon after the last line was sung, the aura slowly disappeared. It was the same with Embryo. Each player would get so caught up in the spell that time seemed to stop. Kira seemed to worry that they wouldn't be able to reach the top, a record label. When embryo was going to sign, each member was about 19. And Takui had only improved since then. Reach the top? Not a possibility, a certainty.
"You know," Ryo said, "When you really get into singing, your guitar playing goes to crap." Takui laughed, feeling a spell of deja vu snatch him. It was the same six years ago. Kira chuckled, which was the equivelent of a laugh coming from him.
"It's kinda hard to do both at the same time, you know." Kira and Ryo shrugged. "We'll just have to find a new guitarist, eh? Don't worry you guys. We're going to the top. Not only do we have talent and sound, but I know two of the best promoters in this city." Both men nodded and they started the song once more.
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AN: That's it!! Yep, you read me! That's all folks! Teehee! This could be called a teaser, because that's what it is! . .. . . Actually, this is about 1,000 words longer than a normal chapter, and about 10 pages long. Because I don't want to give you a 20 page chapter, I'm going to post this, along with a little mini-poll.
I currently have about five storylines going on right now = Aya and Ohkami; Aki, Tatsuki, and Ran; Ran and Rei; Takui, Ryo, Aki, Kira; and Ran, Tatsuki, Takui, Rei, Aki, and several unnamed members of Embryo. (later chapter idea) What I want to know is which one do you want developed faster? I'll get to them all eventually, but I want to know which one you want the most. And what should I call 'Untitled-as-of-now'? Waiting for your input!! (The faster I get your opinions, the faster I'll update; after all, I don't want to post a chapter about something you don't want to read!)
*huggles* Thank you all for reading and posting!! You make my day!!