Ne, where is da love when ya need it. In this chapter, love will be in the air…while they continue recording the album. Go figure. Hint, hint, hint: Ran continues to lose her virginity, and rightfully so…thanks to Ayu's spirit…poor gal.
*************
The Platform Surfers
Chapter 7:
Recording Session, Part Two
It seemed there was no helping it now. There was a large crowd, possibly 100-200 or more, outside the Serenity Studios complex. They kept on cheering Ayumi's name behind the closed doors, and a security guard keeping watch, who, in a matter of minutes, would be overwhelmed by the already-increasing sea of humanity fans.
Ran just winced at this scenario, now already revived from fainting. She sipped some tea made by Usagi. The band was still in the middle of their break, and everyone, save Ran, was nervously looking out the window.
"Well, Ran, whaddaya think?" asked Ayumi in Ran's head.
"God, it couldn't get any better," came the weary response. "I'll learn to not mess around cemeteries again, Ayu. They know it, you're alive."
Ayumi just giggled hysterically. "Wonderful. I wonder how Max is thinking about this."
"Max? Who's Max?"
"Masato 'Max' Matsuura, my former agent. He discovered me a long time ago."
"Discovered?"
"I used to be a swimsuit model, but after Max discovered me and sent me to New York to practice singing. My first single, Poker Face, was a product of my hard work and training. Now I basically write my own songs, and also benefit from my fashion statements. Statements which you emulated, right?"
"Oh, right. You know what, Ayu?"
"What?"
"I guess me and Tatsukichi are cool. I think he's the coolest guy that I know."
"?"
"And you know what?"
"What?"
"I think I'll marry him!"
"Holy cow! Already, Ran!?" Ayumi let out a wave of hysterical laughter. "That's my girl. You're kidding right?"
"I don't know, Ayu. I'm actually torn."
"Torn? You're weird, Ran. Real weird."
"So are you!"
"Am not!"
"Am too!"
The mental conversation kept going, until Tatsuki came. "Ran-pyon, you're all right?"
"Um, ah, you see…"
"Oh, I guess it's nothing. I'll just leave you and-AH!" He was grabbed on the belt by Ran, pulling him to her. "Ran-pyon, what are you-"
"Tatsukichi, I want to have sex with you."
"NANI!!!!??? What the fuck!? No way!!! What are you saying!? You're friggin' kidding, right? Do you want me to call the mental authorities and-"
"It doesn't matter. I think I like you to the fact that we'll live together, happy forever. Sweet, huh?" She was doing a headlock on him.
"Ran…pyon…you're…cho…king…me…ah…"
"Tatsukichi…my little Tatsukichi…"
"Hey, what are you two doing?" asked Rei, watching Ran and Tatsuki perform a rather compromisingly suggestive maneuver. Suddenly, he couldn't help it. He began to laugh hysterically. "Hey, Yuuya, everyone, look at them!" Everyone watched as Ran and Tatsukichi performed some more suggestive wrestling moves. They laughed too.
"Uncle, uncle, uncle! Ukiiiiiiii!" wailed Tatsuki. "Please, Ran-pyon, stop! Uncle!"
"No! You must say that you will marry me in the next five years, then I'll stop."
"Okay, okay, okay! Everyone, I'm gonna marry Ran-pyon in the next five years!" They all cheered.
"My gosh, Kotobuki's grown up," cried Mami, shedding a tear.
"This is a dumb turn of events," said Miyu.
"You're telling me," said Aya, rolling her eyes. "Ran's not herself today…"
"Oh my god!" yelled Sayo. "Ran and her boyfriend are doing some intercourse! They're having sex! Masato-kun, get your camera!"
"Ah! Damn it! I forgot it!" came the response. "Nooooo!!"
"Not to worry," said Naoki, pulling out his. "I got it," he said, taking a picture.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?" asked Mamoru, opening the door. "We have to finish the album, everyone. Are you going to do it, you guys, or not?"
"Understood," said everyone, as they stopped everything they did, opting to trudge out the door, and back to the recording studio, the crowd cheering below. Mamoru rolled his eyes at the crowd. Same old, same old, he thought.
****************
"So, this is the spot, eh, Tails?" said the blue-spiked hunk to his friend, seeing the crowd surrounding the building in Azabu-Juban.
"Yep," said Miles. "Ayumi is alive and well!"
Sonikku only shook his head. "Where's Amy?"
"Over here!" said a high-pitched voice. Out popped from the crowd a pink-haired gal with a red miniskirt and a red headband. "How ya guys doin'?"
"Okay, Amy, what's the deal here. Why did you tell us to come here. These folks are cheering on nothing. There's just a tall, boring-looking building here. Nothing interesting."
"Well, Sonikku, I asked these people the same thing, and they said that Ayumi Hamasaki has to be inside this building. The crowd can't come in, because the doors are shut. But I really want to go inside and meet her! I wanna, I wanna, I wanna!!!!" She was basically jumping up and down, whining lackadaisically, that it made Sonic roll his eyes.
"Look Amy, I could spin dash a hole in a wall, but I would be arrested for that. You know what happened a long time ago when the army interrogated me for a crime that I didn't commit, right?"
"Yeah, but that was then, Sonikku. This is now. And I want to see Ayu! She's my heeeeeerooooo!"
"Our hero!" added/corrected Miles, and the two gave each other a high-five.
"Oh, you guys, aren't I your hero?" asked Sonikku to them.
"Yeah, but you're nowhere close to Ayumi!" Now that made Sonikku mad!
"Hey, do you want me to dump you?" he said to Amy.
"N-NO!" Amy cried. "I still love you!"
"Then say that I am your hero! Me, me, me!"
"I will if you put a hole in the wall so that I can get in…"
Sonic pondered for a moment, then something came to mind. "Follow me, you guys."
"Hey, Sonikku, where are you going?" asked Miles.
"Just follow me. I know a way to get inside." Miles and Amy followed Sonikku to a part of the building that didn't have the crowd surrounding it. It was well hidden. "Now stand back, you two…" He performed a Spin Dash that created a wide hole in the building. "Let's go inside!"
"Sankyu, Sonikku!" cried Amy as she put her arms around Sonikku. "You're my hero!"
"…" said Sonikku. The three of them hurried on to the top of the building.
*******************
So far, the band completed recording 17 of the 23 songs for their album. The first three songs were done without delay: "Surf Guitar", "Aitsu", and "Let's Go", which Ran picked up easily. "Kanari Kiteru Koi" was done in 7 takes, and "C.M.B." in 3. Ran, Miyu, Aya, and Mami took a breather as Yuuya took over on drums, and Tatsuki, Masato and Naoki took over on guitar and vocals for "Fat Charlie", the Ziggens song that Rei was hinting at.
Ran also wrote a song that was based on some of the poetry that she wrote when she was in middle school, which was clumped together to form "Hiru Ni Miru Yume." It took 11 takes to complete it. "Sex Crimes" had Rei take the licks, while "I Will" had Miyu on lead guitar and lead vocals, with Ran and Aya on backing vocals.
After a 10-minute break, the guys took over again for the Clash's "I Fought The Law" and "Rock the Casbah," and for the Cure's "Just Like Heaven," completed in 9 takes. Then the gals took over for "Bombora," "Yozora No Hoshi," and "Surf Rider." Now, these three songs were music that Rei knew, and he showed Ran the chords and tabs, which she picked up quite well.
Usagi was rather amazed at the pace that the Platform Surfers were recording. "Amazing, isn't it, Mamo-chan?" she hinted to her husband.
"Mmm-hmmm. They seem to have execution and a no-frills, no-nonsense approach to their music. As if they don't need training. How do they do it!?"
"That's what makes them so special."
At this point, the band was a bit exhausted from recording. Usagi asked the band for a one-hour break, which they complied. And so they trudged back on to the lounge. It was 8:03 P.M. Ran's cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Ran, my little darling, how are you?' asked Kiyoka over the phone.
"Mom! Hi."
"Listen Ran, me and your dad discussed whether or not you should be a police officer next year, and we decided that you don't need to be a police officer anymore, and neither does Sayo."
The decision caused Ran to go sugar-crazy. "Thank you! Is Satsuki feeling better?"
"Oh yes, about your friend. Yes, she is having dinner with us right now. She's feeling much better right now. High spirits, I should add. She's even helping around the house."
That made Ran even more genki. "Mom! Thank you so much!"
"However, I have some bad news."
"What…is it?" Suddenly Ran's emotions hit a pole.
"Your brother is in the hospital…again."
"What? Again! Aniki is in the hospital???"
"Actually, it's not so bad. He got injured a bit a work, but he will be fine. He just had some bruises, but he will be fine. So it's not that severe."
"Oh, Mom, I'm so glad aniki is fine. He always gets into things, hmmm…"
"What happened to Yamato-kun?" asked Miyu to Ran.
"Shhh! Okay Mom, ja!" She hung up the phone.
"What happened to my Yamato-kun?"
"Hospital, again."
"Ehhhh!?"
"Don't worry, he only had some bruises, but he will be back and ready, Miyu."
"Oh, Yamato-kun…" Tears were about to come out of her eyes. She retired to a sofa, where Aya and Rei comforted her. "Oh, please be okay, Yamato-kun…"
Ran wandered off to a secluded part of the lounge to control and appease her thoughts, her emotions, her fatigue. She saw a figure in shadow, with long, blue, spiky hair.
"Hello, Ran Kotobuki," said the figure. "Or should I say, Ayumi Hamasaki?" He threw his head back and laughed like a maniac.
Ran's skin began to crawl. She had bad vibes abut this. "Wh…who are you?"
"Heh, heh, heh, heh, I'm your worst nightmare, you little fuckin' bitch. And you'd better know it. You're the worst piece of fuckin' trash that I fuckin' knew. Or will know, for that matter…" He continued to throw his head back, and laugh insanely. Ran just stood there in front of the figure, and for the first time in her entire life, she felt the specter of fear enveloping her. What else could go wrong?
*****************
End Chapter 7
Notice that I'm keeping it short at this point. I'm gonna make a long one soon. When that will be, I don't know. Only Jo-Ryan's pen knows…
Things just keep getting twisted, no? Next chapter, a conversation with the figure, and the conclusion of the recording session, which goes into the wee hours of night…keep reviewing, please! I feed off feedback, but only the positive ones.
*************
The Platform Surfers
Chapter 7:
Recording Session, Part Two
It seemed there was no helping it now. There was a large crowd, possibly 100-200 or more, outside the Serenity Studios complex. They kept on cheering Ayumi's name behind the closed doors, and a security guard keeping watch, who, in a matter of minutes, would be overwhelmed by the already-increasing sea of humanity fans.
Ran just winced at this scenario, now already revived from fainting. She sipped some tea made by Usagi. The band was still in the middle of their break, and everyone, save Ran, was nervously looking out the window.
"Well, Ran, whaddaya think?" asked Ayumi in Ran's head.
"God, it couldn't get any better," came the weary response. "I'll learn to not mess around cemeteries again, Ayu. They know it, you're alive."
Ayumi just giggled hysterically. "Wonderful. I wonder how Max is thinking about this."
"Max? Who's Max?"
"Masato 'Max' Matsuura, my former agent. He discovered me a long time ago."
"Discovered?"
"I used to be a swimsuit model, but after Max discovered me and sent me to New York to practice singing. My first single, Poker Face, was a product of my hard work and training. Now I basically write my own songs, and also benefit from my fashion statements. Statements which you emulated, right?"
"Oh, right. You know what, Ayu?"
"What?"
"I guess me and Tatsukichi are cool. I think he's the coolest guy that I know."
"?"
"And you know what?"
"What?"
"I think I'll marry him!"
"Holy cow! Already, Ran!?" Ayumi let out a wave of hysterical laughter. "That's my girl. You're kidding right?"
"I don't know, Ayu. I'm actually torn."
"Torn? You're weird, Ran. Real weird."
"So are you!"
"Am not!"
"Am too!"
The mental conversation kept going, until Tatsuki came. "Ran-pyon, you're all right?"
"Um, ah, you see…"
"Oh, I guess it's nothing. I'll just leave you and-AH!" He was grabbed on the belt by Ran, pulling him to her. "Ran-pyon, what are you-"
"Tatsukichi, I want to have sex with you."
"NANI!!!!??? What the fuck!? No way!!! What are you saying!? You're friggin' kidding, right? Do you want me to call the mental authorities and-"
"It doesn't matter. I think I like you to the fact that we'll live together, happy forever. Sweet, huh?" She was doing a headlock on him.
"Ran…pyon…you're…cho…king…me…ah…"
"Tatsukichi…my little Tatsukichi…"
"Hey, what are you two doing?" asked Rei, watching Ran and Tatsuki perform a rather compromisingly suggestive maneuver. Suddenly, he couldn't help it. He began to laugh hysterically. "Hey, Yuuya, everyone, look at them!" Everyone watched as Ran and Tatsukichi performed some more suggestive wrestling moves. They laughed too.
"Uncle, uncle, uncle! Ukiiiiiiii!" wailed Tatsuki. "Please, Ran-pyon, stop! Uncle!"
"No! You must say that you will marry me in the next five years, then I'll stop."
"Okay, okay, okay! Everyone, I'm gonna marry Ran-pyon in the next five years!" They all cheered.
"My gosh, Kotobuki's grown up," cried Mami, shedding a tear.
"This is a dumb turn of events," said Miyu.
"You're telling me," said Aya, rolling her eyes. "Ran's not herself today…"
"Oh my god!" yelled Sayo. "Ran and her boyfriend are doing some intercourse! They're having sex! Masato-kun, get your camera!"
"Ah! Damn it! I forgot it!" came the response. "Nooooo!!"
"Not to worry," said Naoki, pulling out his. "I got it," he said, taking a picture.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?" asked Mamoru, opening the door. "We have to finish the album, everyone. Are you going to do it, you guys, or not?"
"Understood," said everyone, as they stopped everything they did, opting to trudge out the door, and back to the recording studio, the crowd cheering below. Mamoru rolled his eyes at the crowd. Same old, same old, he thought.
****************
"So, this is the spot, eh, Tails?" said the blue-spiked hunk to his friend, seeing the crowd surrounding the building in Azabu-Juban.
"Yep," said Miles. "Ayumi is alive and well!"
Sonikku only shook his head. "Where's Amy?"
"Over here!" said a high-pitched voice. Out popped from the crowd a pink-haired gal with a red miniskirt and a red headband. "How ya guys doin'?"
"Okay, Amy, what's the deal here. Why did you tell us to come here. These folks are cheering on nothing. There's just a tall, boring-looking building here. Nothing interesting."
"Well, Sonikku, I asked these people the same thing, and they said that Ayumi Hamasaki has to be inside this building. The crowd can't come in, because the doors are shut. But I really want to go inside and meet her! I wanna, I wanna, I wanna!!!!" She was basically jumping up and down, whining lackadaisically, that it made Sonic roll his eyes.
"Look Amy, I could spin dash a hole in a wall, but I would be arrested for that. You know what happened a long time ago when the army interrogated me for a crime that I didn't commit, right?"
"Yeah, but that was then, Sonikku. This is now. And I want to see Ayu! She's my heeeeeerooooo!"
"Our hero!" added/corrected Miles, and the two gave each other a high-five.
"Oh, you guys, aren't I your hero?" asked Sonikku to them.
"Yeah, but you're nowhere close to Ayumi!" Now that made Sonikku mad!
"Hey, do you want me to dump you?" he said to Amy.
"N-NO!" Amy cried. "I still love you!"
"Then say that I am your hero! Me, me, me!"
"I will if you put a hole in the wall so that I can get in…"
Sonic pondered for a moment, then something came to mind. "Follow me, you guys."
"Hey, Sonikku, where are you going?" asked Miles.
"Just follow me. I know a way to get inside." Miles and Amy followed Sonikku to a part of the building that didn't have the crowd surrounding it. It was well hidden. "Now stand back, you two…" He performed a Spin Dash that created a wide hole in the building. "Let's go inside!"
"Sankyu, Sonikku!" cried Amy as she put her arms around Sonikku. "You're my hero!"
"…" said Sonikku. The three of them hurried on to the top of the building.
*******************
So far, the band completed recording 17 of the 23 songs for their album. The first three songs were done without delay: "Surf Guitar", "Aitsu", and "Let's Go", which Ran picked up easily. "Kanari Kiteru Koi" was done in 7 takes, and "C.M.B." in 3. Ran, Miyu, Aya, and Mami took a breather as Yuuya took over on drums, and Tatsuki, Masato and Naoki took over on guitar and vocals for "Fat Charlie", the Ziggens song that Rei was hinting at.
Ran also wrote a song that was based on some of the poetry that she wrote when she was in middle school, which was clumped together to form "Hiru Ni Miru Yume." It took 11 takes to complete it. "Sex Crimes" had Rei take the licks, while "I Will" had Miyu on lead guitar and lead vocals, with Ran and Aya on backing vocals.
After a 10-minute break, the guys took over again for the Clash's "I Fought The Law" and "Rock the Casbah," and for the Cure's "Just Like Heaven," completed in 9 takes. Then the gals took over for "Bombora," "Yozora No Hoshi," and "Surf Rider." Now, these three songs were music that Rei knew, and he showed Ran the chords and tabs, which she picked up quite well.
Usagi was rather amazed at the pace that the Platform Surfers were recording. "Amazing, isn't it, Mamo-chan?" she hinted to her husband.
"Mmm-hmmm. They seem to have execution and a no-frills, no-nonsense approach to their music. As if they don't need training. How do they do it!?"
"That's what makes them so special."
At this point, the band was a bit exhausted from recording. Usagi asked the band for a one-hour break, which they complied. And so they trudged back on to the lounge. It was 8:03 P.M. Ran's cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Ran, my little darling, how are you?' asked Kiyoka over the phone.
"Mom! Hi."
"Listen Ran, me and your dad discussed whether or not you should be a police officer next year, and we decided that you don't need to be a police officer anymore, and neither does Sayo."
The decision caused Ran to go sugar-crazy. "Thank you! Is Satsuki feeling better?"
"Oh yes, about your friend. Yes, she is having dinner with us right now. She's feeling much better right now. High spirits, I should add. She's even helping around the house."
That made Ran even more genki. "Mom! Thank you so much!"
"However, I have some bad news."
"What…is it?" Suddenly Ran's emotions hit a pole.
"Your brother is in the hospital…again."
"What? Again! Aniki is in the hospital???"
"Actually, it's not so bad. He got injured a bit a work, but he will be fine. He just had some bruises, but he will be fine. So it's not that severe."
"Oh, Mom, I'm so glad aniki is fine. He always gets into things, hmmm…"
"What happened to Yamato-kun?" asked Miyu to Ran.
"Shhh! Okay Mom, ja!" She hung up the phone.
"What happened to my Yamato-kun?"
"Hospital, again."
"Ehhhh!?"
"Don't worry, he only had some bruises, but he will be back and ready, Miyu."
"Oh, Yamato-kun…" Tears were about to come out of her eyes. She retired to a sofa, where Aya and Rei comforted her. "Oh, please be okay, Yamato-kun…"
Ran wandered off to a secluded part of the lounge to control and appease her thoughts, her emotions, her fatigue. She saw a figure in shadow, with long, blue, spiky hair.
"Hello, Ran Kotobuki," said the figure. "Or should I say, Ayumi Hamasaki?" He threw his head back and laughed like a maniac.
Ran's skin began to crawl. She had bad vibes abut this. "Wh…who are you?"
"Heh, heh, heh, heh, I'm your worst nightmare, you little fuckin' bitch. And you'd better know it. You're the worst piece of fuckin' trash that I fuckin' knew. Or will know, for that matter…" He continued to throw his head back, and laugh insanely. Ran just stood there in front of the figure, and for the first time in her entire life, she felt the specter of fear enveloping her. What else could go wrong?
*****************
End Chapter 7
Notice that I'm keeping it short at this point. I'm gonna make a long one soon. When that will be, I don't know. Only Jo-Ryan's pen knows…
Things just keep getting twisted, no? Next chapter, a conversation with the figure, and the conclusion of the recording session, which goes into the wee hours of night…keep reviewing, please! I feed off feedback, but only the positive ones.