Arigato to all my pika pika reviewers who have made Reiannah oh so very happy! Because of you, here is the long awaited chapter seven, which finally reveals the truth about Shuichi and NG Corps! And this time I will not be evil and do a chapter that is completely different from what was originally promised... even though I am slightly tempted by the idea of asserting my evil self. wistfully contemplates evil thoughts And as always, the same rules apply as before... you must thoroughly review this chapter or else I will refuse to upload the next one for a long time to come. MWUHAHAHAHA!!! Don't even say it... everyone already knows... I AM EVIL. Due to circumstances beyond my control, updates will most likely be limited to once or twice a week for a while... I have a lot going on. Gomen... don't hate me!
Oi, Darksaphire-chan... I hope you have fun on your trip... and I also hope you take heed of my survival tips. evil grin this chapter goes out to you while you are in the midst of the wilderness... I miss you already! You'd better review this as soon as you return... and I expect a review per chapter as usual!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Disclaimer: You should already know this by now... I don't own Gravitation- never have, never will. The almighty Goddess of Gravitation, Maki Murikami has already laid down her claim at the copyright bureau. I on the other hand lay my claim down on... on... uh... well, I'll find something... ask me later. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Regular italicized writing indicates thoughts
Bold italicized writing indicates conscience
Chapter 8: Never Settle for Less
"NANI?!" The voice of the usually calm and collected President of NG Corps echoed down the hall from his office. The ear-shattering scream of Nittle Grasper's male keyboardist was at a decibel even the best soundproofing couldn't conceal.
Inside his office, Seguchi Tohma was on the brink of a heart attack. Never in his thirty-three years on earth had he ever lost control of his emotions to the point of screaming at anyone. Scold, yes. Yell, maybe. But a blood curdling scream straight from a horror movie, hell no! He was far too dignified. But this time would be the exception, not the norm. After all, he had never received such news as he had just then from the attorneys of NG Corps. For little less than fifteen minutes ago, they had received a certified document declaring the impossible. The NG lawyers were about to have kittens.
The fax machine hummed as a twelve-page document began to spool through, straight into the executive's shaking hands.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So he did both. On his desk, a hysterically lawyer babbled incoherently over the speakerphone. Not able to come up with any answers for the attorneys, he simple walked back to his desk and ripped out the wires from the phone.
He continued to chuckle maniacally to himself, all the while ignoring the tears that continued to drip down his face. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about this situation. The Grasper unclenched his hand from the faxed document, glowering at it in resentment.
He very briefly considered dealing with a certain pink-haired vocalist the same way he had dealt with Aizawa Taki. But that thought was immediately squashed by a very guilty conscience. Not just guilty on Eiri's behalf, but in some strange and uncomfortable way, he himself had grown attached to the genki boy.
Kuso! Why the hell did Eiri do this? First he leaves Japan without a trace, now this...?
Seguchi growled at himself. The tears had stopped by now, leaving behind a swarm of chaotic thoughts.
Eiri, you bastard. Is this any way to treat your brother-in-law? I love you to pieces, but is unforgivable! How could you betray me like this?!
The keyboardist glared at the papers, wishing that they would disappear. He let out a sigh of frustration, smoothing out the crumpled documents on his desk.
"Previous shares of NG Corps were held as follows:
Investors: 41%- each investor holds less than 1% each
Sakano: 1%- via NG production
Crawd K. Winchester: 1%- via NG management
Suguru Fujisaki: 3%- via Bad Luck
Hiroshi Nagano: 3%- via Bad Luck
Shuichi Shindou: 6%- via Bad Luck
Noriko Ukai: 7%- via Nittle Grasper
Ryuichi Sakuma: 8%- via Nittle Grasper
Eiri Uesugi: 12%- via NG Corps Administration
Tohma Seguchi: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Nittle Grasper"
Upon the creation of NG Corps, the Tohma had given Eiri 12% of the company as a 21st birthday present. It had never been publicized, but besides the President of NG, there wasn't anyone who held as much ownership over the company as his own brother-in-law. But now, that had all changed. Tohma had never considered the idea of the novelist ever giving away his share of the company. But he had. And because of it, the President of NG was no longer alone in his position as CEO of NG Corps.
Now there would be a power struggle.
"Current shares of NG Corps are held as follows:
Investors: 41%- each investor holds less than 1% each
Sakano: 1%- via NG production
Crawd K. Winchester: 1%- via NG management
Suguru Fujisaki: 3%- via Bad Luck
Hiroshi Nagano: 3%- via Bad Luck
Noriko Ukai: 7%- via Nittle Grasper
Ryuichi Sakuma: 8%- via Nittle Grasper
Shuichi Shindou: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Bad Luck
Tohma Seguchi: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Nittle Grasper"
The President of NG Corps reached into his drawer to withdraw a bottle of aspirin. Popping a random amount into his mouth, he swallowed them dry.
It's going to be a long, long day. What are you plotting, Eiri?
{Hiro's apartment}
"Hiro! Listen! You have to believe me!" Shuichi tried to convince his best friend, to no avail. The guitarist knew that the singer had a tendency to over exaggerate therefore didn't believe a words that his friend was saying.
Except at that exact moment, his doorbell rang. After telling the vocalist to hold on for a minute, Hiro got up from his bed to open the door, phone still in hand.
At the door, a courier was waiting. In one hand he held a thick envelope, in the other was a clipboard for the recipient to sign. It was a courier deliver; return receipt requested.
The guitarist for Bad Luck suddenly got a strange twisting feeling in his stomach. He signed the paper on the clipboard and accepted the thick manila envelope. Slowly, he opened the envelope, dreading what it would contain.
After skimming through the contents quickly, he felt a little dizzy. The most unlikely thing had just happened and to Shuichi nonetheless. Leaning against the doorway for support, he raised the phone back to his ear.
"Congratulations, Shindou Shuichi... you really ARE the new CEO of NG Corps."
On the other end, the pink-haired boy smirked.
"I told you so."
{General}
In various parts of Japan, several other people had the same experience. And they also had the same reaction.
Their jaws dropped.
Sakano fainted. As usual.
K dropped his gun. Not usual.
Suguru took a cold shower than reread the papers. He had to take another one after that.
Noriko laughed hysterically... thoroughly amused by the turn of events.
Ryuichi celebrated with Kumagorou over a box of strawberry Pocky and Ramune soda.
And all the way in the United States, Yuki raised his dry martini on the rocks to salute the new CEO.
The writer wore a satisfied grin of his own.
So what do you think of me now, Shuichi?
The blonde man sipped his drink, contemplating everyone's reactions.
You have all the power you need... but the question is, what will you do with it? Do you have the nerve to defy Tohma, if need be?
The novelist twirled the decorative umbrella between his thumb and forefinger.
Will you find the strength to make the changes NG needs in order to grow? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make Bad Luck number one?
Yuki Eiri rested his chin on the back of his hands, smile growing in anticipation.
Now this... this will be interesting.
With that, the writer dropped a fifty-dollar bill onto the counter and left the bar. He was hit with a sudden wave of inspiration for his next novel. Without wasting even a single moment to throw a second glance at his female admirers, he hailed a taxi to drive him back to his hotel. He didn't want to lose this sudden inspiration, especially after the dry spell he had been stuck in. He was finally realizing the source of his inspiration... the only one who had a chance to find forever.
Yuki smirked at his own sentimentality, amused at how much of a sap he was becoming.
Is this what you do to everyone that is around you. Do you turn them all into mush, Shuichi? You're infectious... but maybe that's a good thing.
You know, he could be the one.
The one? The one what?
You know... THE one.
The one WHAT?
The one that can save you from yourself. The one that will love you not just despite who you are, but because of who you are.
Hmph. If I can't save myself, how can someone else?
It's possible because they can forgive you for things you can't forgive yourself for.
I don't think that's possible.
Hmm. I think you'll eventually change your mind.
If you say so.
In your heart, you believe it to be true as well; otherwise I wouldn't be saying so.
Yuki closed his eyes, contemplating his conscience's final words. Gazing out the taxi's window out into the glaring lights of the city, he let his thoughts linger in the silence.
I'm scared to believe.
{Next day at NG Studios}
"Congratulations, Shindou-san! I can't believe Yuki-san did this for you!" Suguru had finally acknowledged the truth of the situation after several cold showers and a confirmation phone to his cousin. He sensed that the change in chain-of-command had been as much a surprise to the NG President as it had been to the rest of them.
"It is quite a revelation for Yuki-san to have done something so considerate without any outside persuasion. I wonder what the reasoning behind it was." Hiro wondered how the normally cold and indifferent man could behave so out-of-character.
"That does not matter in the slightest bit! What does matter is that Shuichi now has equal standing to the President himself! This will be a magnificent new beginning for Bad Luck!" K's exultation at the news spread throughout the entire studio where the members and staff of Bad Luck were currently having a celebratory meeting at Shuichi's unexpected promotion. The manager had even abstained from waving any lethal weapons at the group, which both surprised and delighted everyone.
"Oh, Shindou-san... this promotion will cause even more rivalry between Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper! I'm sure Seguchi-san is outraged at this turn of event! What shall we do?!" As usual, their producer worked himself into hysterics and began to sway hinting at another fainting spell. The excitement was just too much for Sakano.
"You worry too much." A voice interrupted Sakano's panic attack. The group turned to face the President of NG Corps himself. At that point, Bad Luck's manager threw himself at the Grasper's feet in homage, all the while pleading for mercy. Everyone else immediately became motionless at the sudden appearance of their boss, not knowing what to expect.
Shuichi finally managed to throw a friendly smile at the blond keyboardist; his own way of extending the olive branch of peace. Tohma smiled back; his way of accepting the said peace symbol.
"Ohayo, Seguchi-san!" The executive inclined his head just the slightest bit in greeting.
"Ohayo, Shindou-san. I came here to congratulate you on your recent promotion. I was quite surprised at the news." Bad Luck's singer wrinkled his forehead, hoping that his senior wasn't too angry at the change in power.
"Ano... so was I. I didn't really expect anything like this to happen. Especially coming from... him." The president nodded, his smile faltering slightly.
"Ah, so he didn't inform you of his plans before he carried them out?" The younger boy shook his head in negation.
"Iie. I didn't know that he even still gave a damn about me until... well, until he came to visit me at the hospital." The blonde's eyes widen in surprise at the startling piece of information his subordinate gave him. He hadn't been informed that any other visitors had come to see the pink- haired idol. Obviously, a hospital worker had been paid off by his brother- in-law to keep the visit as quiet as possible.
Now other questions began to plague the keyboardist's mind. What were the singer's plans for NG Corps' future? Tohma had a feeling that as childish and immature the boy acted, the vocalist had priorities that would eventually interfere with his own.
"So, Shindou-san... what do you plan to do with your newfound influence?" Though the words were spoken in the most casual manner, the singer sensed that the President of NG was genuinely interested in the answer. The boy raised an eyebrow at the question.
Could it be...? Does he actually feel threatened by my new power?
An evil smirk spread across boy's face. As much of a bastard as the executive had been to him, it was finally the singer's chance for a little sweet revenge. Bad Luck's star was quite sure that a certain novelist wouldn't have minded either.
"Well... Seguchi-san..."
"Hai?"
"Nittle Grasper has always been my inspiration and idol...."
"I am aware of that."
"But even more than that... Nittle Grasper is my goal." Shuichi smiled sweetly at his boss. The executive felt his own slowly disappear from his lips, apprehensive of what the vocalist would say next.
"Your... goal...?" The blond man slowly began to understand the direction in which the vocalist was going with his speech.
"Hai. But before, Nittle Grasper always had the advantage. After all, their keyboardist is the owner of the most powerful record label, the one that features Bad Luck no less."
"I see."
"Bad Luck was always in Nittle Grasper's shadow, only able to trail behind.
"I see."
"But now, we have a chance to shine beyond Nittle Grasper. Now we can lead the world of music." A triumphant grin played at the singer's lips. For once, Shuichi looked like the hunter and Tohma looked like the hunted.
"So what will you do?" The keyboardist managed to ask the question without his voice cracking, though it was. The pink-haired boy merely smiled.
"He plans to rise above Nittle Grasper." Another voice entered the room. Once again everyone turned to see who it was, only to have a very serious Ryuichi storm into the room to stand beside Tohma. Noriko followed closely behind, positioning herself on the other side of the President of NG.
The executive breathed a silent sigh of relief at having his friends come to his aid in opposition to the newest CEO of NG Corps. Unfazed, the vocalist of Bad Luck simply gazed at his idols. The smile never left his face.
"Hai. Nittle Grasper was my dream. And now I have a chance to make it a reality."
"You think you have what it takes to advance to our level?" The usually childish man didn't have a trace of his playful attitude. Instead, it had been replace by an unwaveringly profound manner. This was no longer a friend conversing with a friend. It was a legend challenging the novice.
"We have the ambition and the talent. All we needed was the chance to make it happen. This just happens to be the window that let us in."
"So, I guess this means Nittle Grasper has to work even harder so Bad Luck won't be able to reach us." The God of J-pop's eye blazed with intensity unfamiliar to anyone except those who knew him the best. The younger boy was familiar with it though. He had seen it before when Bad Luck's up and coming stardom had threatened Nittle Grasper's celebrity. It wasn't personal- it was business.
"There isn't anywhere Nittle Grasper goes that Bad Luck can't go as well."
"Iie... I will take Nittle Grasper to a level even Bad Luck can't touch. I will make sure of it." With those final words, Ryuichi turned sharply and left the studio as silently as he had appeared in it.
"See you at the top of the charts, Shuichi! Don't fall before you get there!" Noriko threw a wicked grin in Shuichi's direction before following suit.
Tohma in the meantime had regained his signature smile of courtesy. Turning to follow his comrades, he put in his last two cents.
"Well, I guess we will see you on stage, Shindou-san. But I'm pretty sure Nittle Grasper won't make it very easy for you." After the President of NG Corps had left the studio, a hushed mood left the room silent for a few minutes until Shuichi finally broke it.
"I never thought for a moment that it would be easy. But Bad Luck will become legends too. I refuse to settle for second place any longerss."
TBC...
Hope everyone enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Let me know what you thought about it! Review or else I will not update for a long, long time! pout Onegai...? I miss my reviews! I cry and get writer's block without them! So be nice and review as soon as you find out this was uploaded! Ja ne!
Oi, Darksaphire-chan... I hope you have fun on your trip... and I also hope you take heed of my survival tips. evil grin this chapter goes out to you while you are in the midst of the wilderness... I miss you already! You'd better review this as soon as you return... and I expect a review per chapter as usual!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Disclaimer: You should already know this by now... I don't own Gravitation- never have, never will. The almighty Goddess of Gravitation, Maki Murikami has already laid down her claim at the copyright bureau. I on the other hand lay my claim down on... on... uh... well, I'll find something... ask me later. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Regular italicized writing indicates thoughts
Bold italicized writing indicates conscience
Chapter 8: Never Settle for Less
"NANI?!" The voice of the usually calm and collected President of NG Corps echoed down the hall from his office. The ear-shattering scream of Nittle Grasper's male keyboardist was at a decibel even the best soundproofing couldn't conceal.
Inside his office, Seguchi Tohma was on the brink of a heart attack. Never in his thirty-three years on earth had he ever lost control of his emotions to the point of screaming at anyone. Scold, yes. Yell, maybe. But a blood curdling scream straight from a horror movie, hell no! He was far too dignified. But this time would be the exception, not the norm. After all, he had never received such news as he had just then from the attorneys of NG Corps. For little less than fifteen minutes ago, they had received a certified document declaring the impossible. The NG lawyers were about to have kittens.
The fax machine hummed as a twelve-page document began to spool through, straight into the executive's shaking hands.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So he did both. On his desk, a hysterically lawyer babbled incoherently over the speakerphone. Not able to come up with any answers for the attorneys, he simple walked back to his desk and ripped out the wires from the phone.
He continued to chuckle maniacally to himself, all the while ignoring the tears that continued to drip down his face. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about this situation. The Grasper unclenched his hand from the faxed document, glowering at it in resentment.
He very briefly considered dealing with a certain pink-haired vocalist the same way he had dealt with Aizawa Taki. But that thought was immediately squashed by a very guilty conscience. Not just guilty on Eiri's behalf, but in some strange and uncomfortable way, he himself had grown attached to the genki boy.
Kuso! Why the hell did Eiri do this? First he leaves Japan without a trace, now this...?
Seguchi growled at himself. The tears had stopped by now, leaving behind a swarm of chaotic thoughts.
Eiri, you bastard. Is this any way to treat your brother-in-law? I love you to pieces, but is unforgivable! How could you betray me like this?!
The keyboardist glared at the papers, wishing that they would disappear. He let out a sigh of frustration, smoothing out the crumpled documents on his desk.
"Previous shares of NG Corps were held as follows:
Investors: 41%- each investor holds less than 1% each
Sakano: 1%- via NG production
Crawd K. Winchester: 1%- via NG management
Suguru Fujisaki: 3%- via Bad Luck
Hiroshi Nagano: 3%- via Bad Luck
Shuichi Shindou: 6%- via Bad Luck
Noriko Ukai: 7%- via Nittle Grasper
Ryuichi Sakuma: 8%- via Nittle Grasper
Eiri Uesugi: 12%- via NG Corps Administration
Tohma Seguchi: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Nittle Grasper"
Upon the creation of NG Corps, the Tohma had given Eiri 12% of the company as a 21st birthday present. It had never been publicized, but besides the President of NG, there wasn't anyone who held as much ownership over the company as his own brother-in-law. But now, that had all changed. Tohma had never considered the idea of the novelist ever giving away his share of the company. But he had. And because of it, the President of NG was no longer alone in his position as CEO of NG Corps.
Now there would be a power struggle.
"Current shares of NG Corps are held as follows:
Investors: 41%- each investor holds less than 1% each
Sakano: 1%- via NG production
Crawd K. Winchester: 1%- via NG management
Suguru Fujisaki: 3%- via Bad Luck
Hiroshi Nagano: 3%- via Bad Luck
Noriko Ukai: 7%- via Nittle Grasper
Ryuichi Sakuma: 8%- via Nittle Grasper
Shuichi Shindou: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Bad Luck
Tohma Seguchi: 18%- via NG Corps Administration & Nittle Grasper"
The President of NG Corps reached into his drawer to withdraw a bottle of aspirin. Popping a random amount into his mouth, he swallowed them dry.
It's going to be a long, long day. What are you plotting, Eiri?
{Hiro's apartment}
"Hiro! Listen! You have to believe me!" Shuichi tried to convince his best friend, to no avail. The guitarist knew that the singer had a tendency to over exaggerate therefore didn't believe a words that his friend was saying.
Except at that exact moment, his doorbell rang. After telling the vocalist to hold on for a minute, Hiro got up from his bed to open the door, phone still in hand.
At the door, a courier was waiting. In one hand he held a thick envelope, in the other was a clipboard for the recipient to sign. It was a courier deliver; return receipt requested.
The guitarist for Bad Luck suddenly got a strange twisting feeling in his stomach. He signed the paper on the clipboard and accepted the thick manila envelope. Slowly, he opened the envelope, dreading what it would contain.
After skimming through the contents quickly, he felt a little dizzy. The most unlikely thing had just happened and to Shuichi nonetheless. Leaning against the doorway for support, he raised the phone back to his ear.
"Congratulations, Shindou Shuichi... you really ARE the new CEO of NG Corps."
On the other end, the pink-haired boy smirked.
"I told you so."
{General}
In various parts of Japan, several other people had the same experience. And they also had the same reaction.
Their jaws dropped.
Sakano fainted. As usual.
K dropped his gun. Not usual.
Suguru took a cold shower than reread the papers. He had to take another one after that.
Noriko laughed hysterically... thoroughly amused by the turn of events.
Ryuichi celebrated with Kumagorou over a box of strawberry Pocky and Ramune soda.
And all the way in the United States, Yuki raised his dry martini on the rocks to salute the new CEO.
The writer wore a satisfied grin of his own.
So what do you think of me now, Shuichi?
The blonde man sipped his drink, contemplating everyone's reactions.
You have all the power you need... but the question is, what will you do with it? Do you have the nerve to defy Tohma, if need be?
The novelist twirled the decorative umbrella between his thumb and forefinger.
Will you find the strength to make the changes NG needs in order to grow? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make Bad Luck number one?
Yuki Eiri rested his chin on the back of his hands, smile growing in anticipation.
Now this... this will be interesting.
With that, the writer dropped a fifty-dollar bill onto the counter and left the bar. He was hit with a sudden wave of inspiration for his next novel. Without wasting even a single moment to throw a second glance at his female admirers, he hailed a taxi to drive him back to his hotel. He didn't want to lose this sudden inspiration, especially after the dry spell he had been stuck in. He was finally realizing the source of his inspiration... the only one who had a chance to find forever.
Yuki smirked at his own sentimentality, amused at how much of a sap he was becoming.
Is this what you do to everyone that is around you. Do you turn them all into mush, Shuichi? You're infectious... but maybe that's a good thing.
You know, he could be the one.
The one? The one what?
You know... THE one.
The one WHAT?
The one that can save you from yourself. The one that will love you not just despite who you are, but because of who you are.
Hmph. If I can't save myself, how can someone else?
It's possible because they can forgive you for things you can't forgive yourself for.
I don't think that's possible.
Hmm. I think you'll eventually change your mind.
If you say so.
In your heart, you believe it to be true as well; otherwise I wouldn't be saying so.
Yuki closed his eyes, contemplating his conscience's final words. Gazing out the taxi's window out into the glaring lights of the city, he let his thoughts linger in the silence.
I'm scared to believe.
{Next day at NG Studios}
"Congratulations, Shindou-san! I can't believe Yuki-san did this for you!" Suguru had finally acknowledged the truth of the situation after several cold showers and a confirmation phone to his cousin. He sensed that the change in chain-of-command had been as much a surprise to the NG President as it had been to the rest of them.
"It is quite a revelation for Yuki-san to have done something so considerate without any outside persuasion. I wonder what the reasoning behind it was." Hiro wondered how the normally cold and indifferent man could behave so out-of-character.
"That does not matter in the slightest bit! What does matter is that Shuichi now has equal standing to the President himself! This will be a magnificent new beginning for Bad Luck!" K's exultation at the news spread throughout the entire studio where the members and staff of Bad Luck were currently having a celebratory meeting at Shuichi's unexpected promotion. The manager had even abstained from waving any lethal weapons at the group, which both surprised and delighted everyone.
"Oh, Shindou-san... this promotion will cause even more rivalry between Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper! I'm sure Seguchi-san is outraged at this turn of event! What shall we do?!" As usual, their producer worked himself into hysterics and began to sway hinting at another fainting spell. The excitement was just too much for Sakano.
"You worry too much." A voice interrupted Sakano's panic attack. The group turned to face the President of NG Corps himself. At that point, Bad Luck's manager threw himself at the Grasper's feet in homage, all the while pleading for mercy. Everyone else immediately became motionless at the sudden appearance of their boss, not knowing what to expect.
Shuichi finally managed to throw a friendly smile at the blond keyboardist; his own way of extending the olive branch of peace. Tohma smiled back; his way of accepting the said peace symbol.
"Ohayo, Seguchi-san!" The executive inclined his head just the slightest bit in greeting.
"Ohayo, Shindou-san. I came here to congratulate you on your recent promotion. I was quite surprised at the news." Bad Luck's singer wrinkled his forehead, hoping that his senior wasn't too angry at the change in power.
"Ano... so was I. I didn't really expect anything like this to happen. Especially coming from... him." The president nodded, his smile faltering slightly.
"Ah, so he didn't inform you of his plans before he carried them out?" The younger boy shook his head in negation.
"Iie. I didn't know that he even still gave a damn about me until... well, until he came to visit me at the hospital." The blonde's eyes widen in surprise at the startling piece of information his subordinate gave him. He hadn't been informed that any other visitors had come to see the pink- haired idol. Obviously, a hospital worker had been paid off by his brother- in-law to keep the visit as quiet as possible.
Now other questions began to plague the keyboardist's mind. What were the singer's plans for NG Corps' future? Tohma had a feeling that as childish and immature the boy acted, the vocalist had priorities that would eventually interfere with his own.
"So, Shindou-san... what do you plan to do with your newfound influence?" Though the words were spoken in the most casual manner, the singer sensed that the President of NG was genuinely interested in the answer. The boy raised an eyebrow at the question.
Could it be...? Does he actually feel threatened by my new power?
An evil smirk spread across boy's face. As much of a bastard as the executive had been to him, it was finally the singer's chance for a little sweet revenge. Bad Luck's star was quite sure that a certain novelist wouldn't have minded either.
"Well... Seguchi-san..."
"Hai?"
"Nittle Grasper has always been my inspiration and idol...."
"I am aware of that."
"But even more than that... Nittle Grasper is my goal." Shuichi smiled sweetly at his boss. The executive felt his own slowly disappear from his lips, apprehensive of what the vocalist would say next.
"Your... goal...?" The blond man slowly began to understand the direction in which the vocalist was going with his speech.
"Hai. But before, Nittle Grasper always had the advantage. After all, their keyboardist is the owner of the most powerful record label, the one that features Bad Luck no less."
"I see."
"Bad Luck was always in Nittle Grasper's shadow, only able to trail behind.
"I see."
"But now, we have a chance to shine beyond Nittle Grasper. Now we can lead the world of music." A triumphant grin played at the singer's lips. For once, Shuichi looked like the hunter and Tohma looked like the hunted.
"So what will you do?" The keyboardist managed to ask the question without his voice cracking, though it was. The pink-haired boy merely smiled.
"He plans to rise above Nittle Grasper." Another voice entered the room. Once again everyone turned to see who it was, only to have a very serious Ryuichi storm into the room to stand beside Tohma. Noriko followed closely behind, positioning herself on the other side of the President of NG.
The executive breathed a silent sigh of relief at having his friends come to his aid in opposition to the newest CEO of NG Corps. Unfazed, the vocalist of Bad Luck simply gazed at his idols. The smile never left his face.
"Hai. Nittle Grasper was my dream. And now I have a chance to make it a reality."
"You think you have what it takes to advance to our level?" The usually childish man didn't have a trace of his playful attitude. Instead, it had been replace by an unwaveringly profound manner. This was no longer a friend conversing with a friend. It was a legend challenging the novice.
"We have the ambition and the talent. All we needed was the chance to make it happen. This just happens to be the window that let us in."
"So, I guess this means Nittle Grasper has to work even harder so Bad Luck won't be able to reach us." The God of J-pop's eye blazed with intensity unfamiliar to anyone except those who knew him the best. The younger boy was familiar with it though. He had seen it before when Bad Luck's up and coming stardom had threatened Nittle Grasper's celebrity. It wasn't personal- it was business.
"There isn't anywhere Nittle Grasper goes that Bad Luck can't go as well."
"Iie... I will take Nittle Grasper to a level even Bad Luck can't touch. I will make sure of it." With those final words, Ryuichi turned sharply and left the studio as silently as he had appeared in it.
"See you at the top of the charts, Shuichi! Don't fall before you get there!" Noriko threw a wicked grin in Shuichi's direction before following suit.
Tohma in the meantime had regained his signature smile of courtesy. Turning to follow his comrades, he put in his last two cents.
"Well, I guess we will see you on stage, Shindou-san. But I'm pretty sure Nittle Grasper won't make it very easy for you." After the President of NG Corps had left the studio, a hushed mood left the room silent for a few minutes until Shuichi finally broke it.
"I never thought for a moment that it would be easy. But Bad Luck will become legends too. I refuse to settle for second place any longerss."
TBC...
Hope everyone enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Let me know what you thought about it! Review or else I will not update for a long, long time! pout Onegai...? I miss my reviews! I cry and get writer's block without them! So be nice and review as soon as you find out this was uploaded! Ja ne!
