The blinds hid the dreary New York Sky line. Light seemed to seep slowly through the cracks, as though it was water, and the effect seemed to mellow out the sharp hotel décor. Oh sure, the room was spacious enough- it being a suit and at Waldorf, it had more class then the luncheonettes he was constantly going to.
But still, Yamato still couldn't help but feel as though something was missing, something, something irreplaceable. But what could it be? He had everything. He had the money, the popularity, the looks, and the band. He had homes all over the world, he had had the girlfriends, and secretly the boyfriends. Yamato didn't care about himself being gay, hell, he'd come out at their next show, however, the managers were afraid of record decline. And what his managers said, goes.
Maybe that was it, the fact that he had no control over his actions, he was not himself, and he was what they wanted him to be. No, he shook his head, that's not it either, what the hell is wrong with me! for Fucks sake! He savagely ripped the blinds from the window, yanking it open, and holding his head out, feeling the slight breeze of New York air. It was odd, New York air, You would believe it smoggy and crummy, but in reality, it was a crisp chilling that made you open you eyes, clear you head and focus. He gulped it down.
Finally after his head had begun to numb, he pulled himself back in and shook his blue blood back into his mind. He glanced around the straightened room, clock, dresser, television, bathroom, couch, and radio…? The radio, he hadn't heard it since their slam into mainstream. Maybe he could just listen for a little smudge of time. He rose from the bed again, hand dangled just over reaching for the remote, when…
Knock Knock Knock
"Ishida! You packed? Move your sorry ass! We've got Seattle to make in an day!" Yamato grumbled and retreated to the door, where he forcefully slammed it open, glaring at the assistant manager.
"Yes Hamabe can I fucking help you!?" Ice eyes narrowed into slits.
"H-Hiroke! He s-sent me to tell you t-that WERE LEAVING!" the assistant manager let put a tremendous wail and left running down the corridor. Yamato smirked, and ran a hand through his hair, looking around the impeccably clean room. Nothing, no stains, close or anything broken in anyway-you wouldn't have thought a rock star lives there, you would have believed some anal-government official was the occupier. Yamato didn't see the true point of pulling clothing out from his bag and putting it away like the other band members-its was quiet stupid really. They always left two or three days latter, what is the point of packing?
Knocking at his door, and the rough voice of his body guard made him grab his duffel and head down the stairs.
-
The Seattle streets were cold- horridly cold, colder then usual for a winter weathers, and bleak. A news stand stood open among the throngs of gated businesses. He jogged across the quiet street, in clear white letters, with the 'O' blinking, it read "OPEN" . A kind-old Japanese woman stood at the counter.
"Konnichiwa." He said with a bow of his head.
The woman gave him a funny look, but he forgot it, and zoomed into the magazine section. He passed by all the trash-y American shit "World news:" screamed that "Bat-boy was lost again!", while "Newsy:" said the "…original bearded woman went back to 6bc!". He passed those by, and grabbed the usual. Rolling stones, Seattle weekly, Spin, and Blender, were normal for what everyone thought, however, in-between there was a stray "Business week In review".
In Truth, Matt wouldn't have cared about the economy, here there or anywhere in-between, Except that his bother was working his way up the Japan-America Trade. And so while he was on the road, and therefore incapable of actually meeting his brother, friends, or family, he did what he could to keep up with there lives. God knew he didn't need to send them letters to keep up with his life.
He made his way towards the counter and pushed the merchandise towards the lady, "Ohayo" he said smiling slightly. The lady stared at him blankly before replying with a Californian accent, "What? $14.72." Yamato handed over the money, feeling slightly depressed that the Japanese woman didn't eve speak her own tongue.
He walked the fourteen blocks back to the hotel.
They played their Seattle concert the next night, crowd blaring and everything.
-
Taichi Yagami entered the drip-gray sky scraper at precisely nine-five am, and swiped his security card at nine-seven. He entered the old ground floor elevator at nine-twelve, and was at his boss' office by nine-fifteen.
"Tai! Your story for now is an interview, here's the package!" The beefy man ordered, Tai exited quickly and walked the impossibly long aisle of white-block offices. Finding his in the corner by the window, he sat down. Jokushi had just popped his head into the cubical when Tai began to run his fingers over the manila seal.
"Coffee?" he said hopefully, shaking the Starbucks coffee in his face.
"Lay it down." Taichi said distractedly, Jokushi left right after. He watched the steam poor off it before he began breaking the seal on his latest job case. A single piece of paper fell out and on to the floor.
Tokyo Weekly
Assignment- Interview Ishida Takeru. Your flight will leave at seven tonight, from TIA, You are flying to the USA, Chicago to be exact. He will be giving a speech and a business proposal, along with numerous other issues. Your trip is one week, it will end on next Friday, and your weekend stay is negotiable. You will be following him around, and getting exact details. Recording studios, television interviews, what ever he does, you do to. Hes traveling around the Us, Friday he will be in New York for his last stop.
Story deadline-Monday you get back. FIND OUT ANYTHING YOU CAN. PERSONAL LIFE. HIS BROTHERS CAREER, ANYTHING!
Tai let the paper flitter on to his desk and signed. He picked up his coffee to drink, only to find out that it was stale and cold. He swallowed it anyway.
"…and your weekend stay is negotiable" he mumble off his tongue. Well, he did need a nice break; And Chicago might be nice. A weekend trip could do. He didn't even have to go or do anything, just soak in the tub all day, turn into a prune. Another plus would be seeing TK again.
Something was unsettling about this assignment. He knew exactly what it was, who it always was, "…HIS BROTHERS CAREER" was what shot out at him, this wasn't about the rising star, it was about the star. Tai glared though his paper white walls at the door of his boss' office. He gathered the things he would need for his work and set off for home.
-
The plane ride was fine, first class as usual. Flight assistants persistent and attractive. No nosy child running, crying or beating your seat. Tai even managed to swaddle his favorite position, the window seat. The landing was soft, And airport was only slightly crowded. Everything was just peachy.
His hotel was up to standards, the bed large enough for fifty, and the food was fantastic to say the least, and it was high tech enough for even a kings standards. Taichi fell asleep that night instantaneously.
Authors Note: This is a mix of chapter 1, & 2. It doesn't have the significant changes as the next ones will. Next update is Wednesday, or Thursday.