Chapter 1

The Musician



Fuuko looked up to see her friend staring at her intently. "Are you sure you want to go, Fuuko?" Masuki asked her, a sad expression on her face. "Are you really thinking of leaving your dad and I?"

Fuuko smiles. "I'm sorry, Masuki-chan," she said. "But I have to go. I can't find my destiny here—I can only find it at New York City. And besides, you can visit me anytime you want, and I can come back to this town to visit you guys anytime I want."

Masuki pouted her beautiful lips. "Okay, then. At least I could help with your moving," she said, smiling back.

Fuuko just laughed at Masuki's statement. "All right, Masuki. You made your point. I just hope mom would be all right once I've gone."

******

"I'm going to miss you so much, Fuuko…" her mom said, tears brimming in her eyes. "You promise you'll visit me when you get famous?" she said jokingly.

Fuuko laughed. "Oh, mom, don't worry. I'll be fine."

"I know. You always came through. You're always such an independent woman."

"A tomboy," Masuki butted in, smiling.

Fuuko slapped Masuki and smiles. "I'll see you later, mom." She hugged Mrs. Kirisawa and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you."

"And I you."

"Let's go, Fuuko-sama!" Masuki called out to Fuuko, motioning the car that was ready to take Fuuko to New York City, where her life would be changed forever.

"Bye mom!"

"Bye, Mrs. Kirisawa!"

"Bye Fuuko! You're not eloping, are you, Masuki?"

"Nanii?"

******

"Oh, Fuuko, this place looks so…fallen apart." Masuki looked around the place that was supposed to be furnished and ready for Fuuko to move in. It looked like someone had a party there and burnt everything they had. Masuki was right, the place was fallen apart.

"Oh, that's okay," Fuuko answered, setting her baggage down and placing her beloved musical instruments on the kitchen table. "I know what to do to a place like this. I don't live with my mom without inheriting anything, you know?" She smiles cheekily.

Masuki just looked at the place and crinkled her nose in disgust. "Well…I know I can't do it. Trust me, this place looks bad," she said. "But if you're sure you could do it, I'm not stopping you."

"Thanks, Masuki," Fuuko said, hugging Masuki. She and Masuki had been friends for God knows how long… They would miss each other so much. But Fuuko must reach her destiny—she wants to be a well-known musician. She's willing to do anything.

Masuki was reluctant to live. She sighed. "Well, if you really are going to stay here, I'm giving you some money—in case for a rainy day, you know?" Masuki said, smiling as she puts a parchment roll of money into the top fridge.

"But—"

"No buts, Fuuko," Masuki said, smiling. "I'd do anything for my friend, won't I? Good luck, and trust me, I'm behind you—always!"

Tears brimming in their eyes, the two best friends hugged each other, as if to say "goodbye". With that, Masuki left Fuuko with her new "apartment", which wasn't much.

******

Fuuko began her job-searching the next morning, hoping that someone would take her as a lyricist. But her mission proved to be vain, of course, as none would take the risk of hiring a non-professional lyricist or bargirl.

Fuuko was about to give up when she reached a bar that caught her attention almost immediately. "Heavens", it reads. Hmm, sounds peculiar, she thought. I'd give it a try. Peculiar is my kind of alley.

Finding the one in charge of the bar was harder than Fuuko thought. Shed' probably fight better than she had searching for jobs. But she couldn't just beat up some guys just to get some jobs—besides, force is not really the way.

She drank a few drops of wine when her eyes caught attention of a guy. He was asking around everybody in the bar, and he was quite peculiar. She looked at him when he finally looked her way. She smiles. He smiles back.

"Hey," she said to the bartender. "Who's that guy there? Is he in charge of the bar?"

The bartender smiles. "Yeah. Everybody loves that guy."

Fuuko nodded, draining her glass. Hmm, she thought. I could give my demo tape to him… "Where can I find him? I mean, where's his office?" she said.

"At the kitchen."

"His office is at the kitchen?" she said, incredulous.

"Yep."

Peculiar as it sounds, Fuuko decided to give it a try. She got up and walked to the kitchen. As soon as she reached the kitchen, smokes filled her nostrils. "Ugh," she muttered to herself, fighting off all the smokes.

"Hello, I don't believe we've met."

In front of her stood the man who was in charge of the bar. He was handsome, no doubt about it. His silvery hair was tied back into a ponytail, and he's wearing a casual outfit. His eyes are piercing blue, and his smile was definitely genuine.

"Um, hi," Fuuko stumbled. She reached into her purse. "Hi, I just want to see you because I want to give you my demo tape, you know…? Um…I understand you're the one in charge…?"

The man was almost laughing. He scoffed. "What? Me?"

Just at that second, the man was called. "Tokiya! Get over here! The food's burning!"

"Food?" Fuuko questioned him, sounding confused.

"Um, yeah, always happy to help around the kitchen—I'm a natural," he said, laughing a little. "I'll see you, uh, later." With that, he hurried off somewhere else.

Fuuko sighed. "Great," she said to herself as she went back to the bar. "Another shut down."

She got out of the bar a little late, but she was composed. She stayed there just to get that guy to have her demo tape. It's her only chance of ever getting a job.

She got out through the back door and saw the guy with the bartender and three other people she didn't know. She stepped toward him and spoke to him. "Um, excuse me…?" she said. "Can I speak to you for a while?"

The guy looked nervous and uncomfortable, but he followed Fuuko while the bartender laughed. "What can I help you with?" he said, smiling.

"Um…well," she said, unable to find words. "I just want you to have my demo tape, because I'm out of job, and I need a job. I just…you know, if I'm good, you can hire me or something." Fuuko never felt this vulnerable before. It was unbearable to be so weak.

The guy took the demo tape and looked at Fuuko. "You really thought I'm the manager?" he said.

"What…what do you mean?" Fuuko's face fell. "You mean you're not the manager of that bar?"

"No," the guy said sympathetically. "I'm sorry."

"Oh." With a disappointed look, Fuuko looked down. "Okay. Sorry to bother you so much…"

"How'd you get that idea?"

"Um, the bartender—"

"Ah!" the man laughed. "I'm sorry, but Bernie had been causing so much trouble for all of our customers, and I regret that he's as he is, you know what I mean? Anyway, I'm Tokiya."

"Fuuko," she said. "Can I—can I have my demo tape back?"

"Look, I'll tell you what," he said, smiling at her. "I'm gonna try to hand your demo tape to the real manager, all right? I'm gonna help 'cause you've gone through too much trouble there."

Fuuko smiles. "Thanks, Tokiya."

"You're welcome. Now I have to go and get a drink at somebody else's bar…"

Fuuko just looked at him as he catches up with his friends. He's weird—way weirder than Fuuko thought. She smiles without really thinking of it. So he's weird. Who cares? He just offered to help her. The crowd at New York City is so tough—Fuuko sighed.

She has to get home or she's going to drop dead hungry.

******

Fuuko gaped at her apartment. Someone had broken in her apartment. Her apartment looks…emptier than it was before Fuuko left it. "Oh my God," Fuuko said, her voice croaked. Someone had broken in and had stolen her stuffs.

She looked around and can't help it—she began to cry.

All her stuffs are gone. All of this happened in the daylight?!

Fuuko's eyes opened wide. Is it still there…? She hurried to the fridge and opened the top one. She sighed in amusement and in resignation. The money Masuki had given her was gone too…

Everything's lost…

Fuuko sat down at a corner and began crying.

******

The next morning, regaining her composure, she thanks God that her music instruments were not stolen, since she had hide it somewhere unfound. She has to search for works now—she'll be broke by tomorrow if she doesn't get one.

But first…

Fuuko retraced her steps to where "Heavens" is. She gave her last demo tape to that guy Tokiya. Tokiya had promised he'll help her, but Fuuko thought she would rather do it herself.

"Um, excuse me," she said to Tokiya as she spotted him, cooking with his aprons on. Tokiya turned to look at her. He smiles.

"Oh hey."

"Can I have my tape back?"

"Oh, I was thinking if I could borrow it for a few days—"

"For what?" asked Fuuko suspiciously.

"To cook it," said Tokiya, really sarcastically. "No, I'm trying to find some kind of guy to give it to—I have this guy who has big influence under some music productions."

"Oh," Fuuko said, blushing. She smiles. "Thanks. But I need it back."

"Oh, come on… I can help you."

Fuuko bite her lips and shrugged. "Okay. But if I get a job, I'll be coming back for it," she said. "And that's a promise too."

"All right," Tokiya said, non-committal to the conversation that's going on. "So I'll see you later when you get a job."

******

Fuuko looked around the restaurant she's in. At the rate she's going, she can't afford pancakes anymore. She took a last bite out of her bacon, gulping. She saw a few sexy-looking girls talking and joking. They're very loud—in fact, they're the loudest customers in the restaurant.

"I can't believe you're leaving us, Anisha," a brunette said, smiling at a black girl sitting across her and a black-haired girl.

"Well, good luck!" the black-haired girl said.

"Cheers!" said the black girl.

Fuuko turned to the man who was the one selling the food. "Who are they?" she asked.

"Oh, they're my regular customers here," the man said, smiling. "Unfortunately, one of them is living the bar they work in, and they've come here to 'celebrate' or something."

"Oh." She looked at the girls again. "Where do they work?"

"A bar," the man said. "Coyote Ugly."

"Coyote Ugly?" Fuuko said. She shrugged. "Oh." She'll give it a try. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. She drain her cup and walked out of the restaurant, resolute to find the bar Coyote Ugly.

******

Fuuko stood in front of Coyote Ugly, sighing.

She heard some noises from a basement near the Coyote Ugly building. It must be someone related to the bar… She went down into the basement and found a blonde working her heart out, carrying boxes and arranging it.

"Excuse me," Fuuko said a little shyly.

The blonde turned to her briefly and return to her boxes. "What do you want?" she asked her in a rough manner.

"Um," Fuuko said doubtfully, "I'm wondering if you're the manager of Coyote Ugly. Are you?"

"Yeah," the blonde said briefly. "So?"

"Oh, great!" Fuuko said, smiling. "I'm searching for some works. Unfortunately, can't find some. Anyway, do you have an opening at your bar?"

"Why ask me?"

"You are the manager, aren't you?" Fuuko asked, worried if she's not the manager—déjà vu all over again.

"Yeah."

"Then…"

"I'm working here."

Anger got the best of Fuuko. Fuuko was known to have a bad temper, and it's showing. "Look, I've been to hundred of places and I won't take anymore craps from, from some blond who claimed to be the manager!" she exclaimed angrily.

The blonde stopped working. She turned to Fuuko, looking angry. Fuuko thought she'd blew it. "Come here tonight for audition," she said, turning back to the boxes. "Now scoot before I change my mind."

Fuuko grinned broadly. "Thanks," she said, smiling as she walked out of the basement. This is turning out great. And tonight's the big night.