HW: Okay, LVJ, Raissa, are you ready to continue?
LiLVarajon: Sure. Ready, Raissa?
Raissa: You know it.
HW: You know the drill.
LiLVarajon: Right. HW does not own Digimon, nor does she claim to, but the little voices in her head tell her to go to Japan and make the writer's let her help. Anyone want to help? Oh, but she does own Wakoki Records because it doesn't exist and is a figment of her imagination.
Raissa: Shout outs to (deep breath) Dreamer4, Dark Gamer, Light Gamer, EeyoreP, SaturnsChild, Knight, EvilTenchi, Fallen angel of Hope, Immia, AlexPG13, Wolfie, PhoenixChild, TogetherAgain, AAUK, Arylwren, and Digicowboy. Wow, that list is getting long.
LiLVarajon: This is Chapter 2 of The Ishida Brothers. So the boys have a gig one night. But amongst the audience of drunks is a very unexpected person. Who might it be? Read to find out.
HW: Very suspenseful, LVJ.
Raissa: Here's Chapter 2: Look Who's Watching.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Ishida Brothers
By: Hopeful Writer
Dictated by: LiLVarajon and Raissa
Chapter 2: Look Who's Watching
"Another day, another night in that gross bar," Corey chirped, smiling at the reproachful whacks his brothers gave him.
'Poor kid,' TK thought. 'This isn't fair to him. He's so young and has so much potential. Why's he sticking with us?' He didn't open his mouth, but it seemed that Corey understood anyway, though the young boy only smiled knowingly.
They came to a fork in the road they were walking on. Corbette nodded to Kevin and Corey. "We'll see you guys after school," he promised the younger boys. They nodded and walked off in one direction.
"Good kids," Matt mumbled as they started in the other direction. "They don't deserve to have to work in bars, especially that young."
"Yeah," Corbette agreed, staring at the ground, a moment of seriousness out of the normally joking boy.
TK knew that, no matter what insecurities he had, he had to stay strong. He may not have been the oldest, but he found himself protecting them as much as they protected him sometimes. "We won't be in bars forever, guys. We'll get a record deal soon. I just know we will."
Matt patted the tall boy's shoulder. "Okay, buddy. If you say so." TK could tell that the twins didn't believe him anymore.
* * * * * * * *
School was not a bad place for Kevin. He liked to learn, even though he wasn't really smart. He had a good group of friends, even if they could give him a hard time sometimes.
Kevin's best friend, Conor Thompson, slapped him five. "Hey, Kevin. How's life in the boy band world?"
Kevin shrugged. "No different than yesterday."
Conor grinned. "You know, you're one of the bravest people I know to keep sticking with this."
Kevin couldn't contain a small blush. "Thanks. TK's convinced we're going to get a record deal soon. He said if we just keep working, we'll get noticed eventually."
"I think he's right."
"Maybe." To be honest, Kevin wasn't that sure. But woe be him if he ever told anyone that.
* * * * * * * *
That night, Corbette and Matt had another fight over who would drive the car to "work," ended with TK hopping into the driver's seat and starting the car. When the twins stared at him like he was crazy, he flashed his newly obtained permit at them, causing them to groan in disgust. Kevin got out of the car. "TK driving is a hazard to my health," he insisted, smirking at his older brother in an infuriating way.
"Get in or you're staying home," Corbette ordered, hopping into the passenger's seat and checking for his driver's license. Kevin obliged, grumbling the whole time.
With TK driving, they arrived in record time, yet the boy was a very careful driver. "You're better than Corbette," Corey praised sincerely, not noticing the younger twin glaring at him.
TK flushed. "Thanks, kid."
They performed better that night than they had in a long time. It was as if they knew that destiny was in the audience, having a drink, one of the only sober ones in the house.
After the concert, as the boys were leaving, one of the drunk men started to make some rather rude jeers at them. He came towards Kevin mockingly, while the slightly short boy stood his ground. Matt looked ready to pounce.
The man suddenly took a swing at Kevin. As he got ready to block and punch, Matt threw himself in the way, taking the blow and knocking the guy out in the same moment. Kevin immediately spun on his brother. "You know, I can take care of myself!" he cried, his fists clenched and his lips twisted in disgust. "I've had a rougher time than any of you and I've been through a lot more. I'm thirteen, not three. Let me fight my own battles."
Matt looked abashed at Kevin's outburst. Corbette gave the former a gentle push towards the door. Corey followed, but TK lagged behind to wait for Kevin. The younger boy let his eyes roam over the cigarette-covered floor before joining his brothers at the door. There they were cut off by a tall man with dark eyes and the blackest hair they'd ever seen.
"Excuse me," Corbette said politely.
"Actually, I'd like to beg a moment of your time," he requested, his words forming complete, intelligible sentences.
Corbette looked at Matt, who was already looking back. "Okay," the latter replied, not quite sure what to say to that.
The man led them to a table and bought a beer, knowing that the boys were too young for alcohol consumption. "My name is Jack. Jack Sanders. I represent Wakoki Records. One of my workers was here the other day when you performed and he couldn't stop talking about you and how good you were, so I thought I'd come and check you out. And I was very surprised to find that he was right, especially after seeing how young you all were."
"Thanks," Corey piped up, making Jack Sanders laugh.
"What I'm trying to say, boys, and I've never been good with words and sentences, but we'd like to offer you a record deal. I would become your manager and you would have choreographers and vocal teachers. Not that you really need it," he added, seeing a flash of skepticism cross Corbette's face.
"Yes!" TK exclaimed.
"We'll talk about it," Matt corrected sternly. "Is there a place we can reach you in a few days?"
Jack Sanders looked more pleased at Matt's response than TK's. He pulled a small piece of paper from his sports coat. "Sure. Here's my business card. You can reach me at this number before six, and this number after," he instructed, indicating two separate phone numbers.
"Okay. We have to go now, Mr. Sanders. We have a curfew."
Jack Sanders chuckled. "Okay. I'll be in touch with you in a few days, I suppose. Good bye."
"Bye," Corey chirped as they left the bar.
"Why didn't you say yes?" TK demanded as soon as they had exited the building, his hands on his hips.
Matt slid into the driver's seat, this time with no complaint from Corbette. "Because we need to talk about it first. I know it's what we've been waiting for, but there are pros and cons, just like everything else."
TK looked a little pouty, but listened anyway. "Pro," Corey called out, "no more working in bars."
"Con," Matt retorted, "strict hours."
"Pro," TK piped up, "We finally get what we've been working towards."
"Con," Corbette added, "Someone else dictates how we sing and dance." He *had* been bothered by the choreographer and the vocal instructor.
"Pro," commented Kevin, the last one to speak up, "people will know who we are and the people we play for won't be stone-drunk."
Matt and Corbette were silent for a moment as they mulled that over. "Okay," Matt finally agreed. "We'll call him tomorrow and tell him we say yes."
"Yea!" The back seat of the car bust into cheers.
'What did I just get us into?' Matt wondered as he carefully drove home. But even he couldn't fathom what they would soon be up against.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
HW: That's all for Chapter 2: Look Who's Watching. Next is Chapter 3: In The Beginning.
Raissa: Please review. Flames accepted, criticism appreciated, compliments worshipped.
LiLVarajon: You will be laughed at for your flames, just a small warning.
HW: But they're good for s'mores, so send away if you really want. §LaTa§ -- hW
