(NTM enters, carrying a big machine gun)
NTM: Hello! NTM Here! Now that I've got Sarai and Tatsuha under control… It's time for me to once again take the stage! I've brought Mr. K here to do the disclaimer.
K: The only reason I'm doing this is because you took my gun…
NTM: (holding his gun behind her back) Tee hee!
K: Neko Tenshi Miyoko does not own Gravitation. She does own One Desire and their songs…and at the moment…she owns my gun.
NTM: Nyah!
K: I hate authors…
NTM: Anyways, on with the show! Here's the next episode!
Track 8- My Inspiration
-NG records, 5 days till the Tokyo Concert-
"I can't believe it…"
Kiyuri and Taiko sat in the studio, awestruck at what just happened.
"Sarai…" said Taiko, clutching her coat. "She left us…"
-Flashback-
Sarai walked past them.
"Sarai?" said Kiyuri. "What's wrong?"
Sarai just walked to the scooter, and turned the key.
"Sarai wait!"
Tohma, K, and Shuichi ran towards her. She started the scooter and drove off.
"Mr. Seguchi?" said Kiyuri. "What's wrong with Sarai?"
Taiko ran towards them.
"Hey, wasn't that Sarai?" she said. "Where is she going?"
Tohma sighed.
"I'm afraid that Sarai, has quit One Desire…"
Everyone gasped.
"SHE QUIT!"
-End Flashback-
Kiyuri played a few notes on the keyboard.
"It's been 2 days since she left…" she said. "Sarai-chan…I miss her Tai-Tai…"
Taiko took out her guitar and played a few chords.
"I wonder where she is now…"
-Kyoto, Japan-
Ahiru lay asleep in her bed.
"Ahiru?"
Her mother opened the door and walked in.
"Ahiru sweetie…" she said. "It's time to get up…"
Ahiru yawned and stretched, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning Mom…" she said.
Her mother smiled at her.
"Get up Ahiru and come down to breakfast…" she said. "I've made your favorite…French toast and scrambled eggs."
Ahiru slowly sat up in her bed.
"Okay Mom…" said Ahiru. "I'll be there in a minute."
Her mother ruffled her daughter's hair. Then, she kissed her on the forehead and walked out of the room. Ahiru sat on the bed, staring out the window.
"It's good to be home…" she said, in a sad voice.
She stood up and walked to the closet.
"I hope my friends won't be too upset with my decision…"
-Back at NG records-
Taiko slammed her fist on the ground.
"That's it!" she said. "We can't just sit here and worry!"
She stood up and walked over to the door.
"Where are you going Tai-Tai?" said Kiyuri.
"I'm going to Tohma's office and demand an explanation!"
Taiko stomped out of the studio.
"Tai-Tai!" said Kiyuri. "Wait for me!"
They ran out the studio, towards the elevator.
--Back in Kyoto--
Ahiru finished her breakfast and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"Hiwu!"
Her little brother Toshi leaped onto Ahiru.
"Toshi!" she said. "Get off of me!"
"Weeeee!" he said. "Me wanna pway wit Hiwu!"
Ahiru smiled.
"I'll play with you…but you have to let me clean up first…"
"YAAAAY!"
He hugged Ahiru, and ran out the door. Ahiru picked up the dishes and walked over to the sink.
"My little three-year-old brother…now I can play with him as long as I want to…"
She finished cleaning the dishes, and turned around to walk out of the room.
"Mew?"
A gold and white cat walked into the room.
"Hey Momoko…" said Ahiru.
The cat affectionately nuzzled her leg.
"Mew!"
Momoko jumped into Ahiru's arms, snuggling deeply in her jacket.
"Momo-chan…" she said. "I missed you too…"
The cat purred in her arms.
"HIWU!"
Toshi stood at the entrance, wearing his jacket.
"Mom said we go-go to pawk!" he said, smiling.
She laughed and set Momoko down.
"Okay Toshi…we'll go to the park…"
She followed the little kid to the front door.
"We're going to the park Mom!" she shouted. "Be back in time for lunch!"
"Okay Ahiru, but keep an eye on him!"
"I will!"
They opened the front door and walked outside.
--Back at NG Records--
Taiko and Kiyuri reached Mr. Seguchi's office.
"Do you think that Tohma will know where Sarai-chan is?" said Kiyuri.
Taiko nodded.
"I'm sure of it…"
They were about to knock on the door, when it opened.
"KYAAAAAH!"
The two girls jumped in the air in surprise.
"Hey Kiyu! Hey Tai!"
Shuichi appeared through the door. Taiko and Kiyuri glared at him.
"What?' he said. "What did I do?"
Taiko grabbed him by the shirt.
"YOU BAKA! DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! YOU NEARLY GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!"
The pink-haired singer smiled sheepishly, a big sweatdrop on his forehead.
"Sorry Tai…" he said.
"What were you doing in Seguchi-san's office Shu-Shu?" said Kiyuri.
Taiko sat the pink-haired singer down on the ground.
"Yeah…" she said. "I'd like to know the same thing…"
Shuichi sighed.
"I was asking Tohma if there was anyway to convince Sarai-chan to come back…"
They all sadly sighed.
"We sure do miss her…" said Kiyuri.
"Yeah…but we don't know where she is…knowing her…she could be back home in Kyoto…" said Taiko.
Their eyes lit up.
"Of course!" said Kiyuri. "She must be in Kyoto! Why didn't we think of that before?"
Taiko and Shuichi both fainted.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" she said. "Let's go to Kyoto!"
"Yuki can drive us there!" said Shuichi.
"Why can't you drive?" said Taiko.
"Uhhh…" said Shuichi. "I crashed Yuki's car once, so he won't let me drive again…"
Kiyuri and Taiko both fainted.
--Tokyo General Hospital--
"NO FAIR!"
Ryuichi was having another temper tantrum.
"Why can't Ryu-chan see Ahiru-chan?" he said.
K placed a gun to the green-haired boy's forehead.
"Settle down…" he said, blowing smoke from the cigarette in his mouth.
Ryu was silent, and K lowered the gun.
"I said that you can't see Ahiru yet…" said K.
"WHY K-san?"
He reached into his vest. Ryu thought that he was going to pull out another gun. Ryu ducked under the covers.
"Get out from under there…" said the American.
Ryu peeked from the covers, and there was Kumagoro, with a note attached to it.
"Kumagoro!" he said. "But I gave it to Ahiru-chan…"
K sighed, and grabbed the note, handing it to Ryuichi.
"She's gone missing…this was attached to the rabbit…"
Ryuichi opened up the note, and gasped.
"K-san…" he said, a little more maturely. "Is this true?"
The American slowly nodded.
"I'm sorry Ryuichi…" he said in a low, soft voice.
He stared at the note again.
Ryuichi,
By the time you get this, I'll be gone.
My heart cannot take the pain anymore,
It's my fault you are in the hospital…
I feel empty inside…I want the pain to stop.
Without you by my side, I can't write or sing…
Mom was right…love changes a woman…
And my dream was foolish…
So I'm returning home to Kyoto.
I hope that we meet again someday…
Tell Kiyuri and Taiko and Shuichi and Tohma
And everyone else that I'm sorry…
Your Friend for life,
Ahiru Surimata
P.S. Take care of Kumagoro for me…he's a good friend…
Ryuichi clutched the bunny, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Why K-san…Why would Ahiru-chan leave?"
K sighed, placing another cigarette in his mouth.
"Isn't it obvious…" he said.
Ryuichi looked up at the American.
"What?" he said.
The blond sighed, taking the lighter and lighting the cigarette.
"She loves you Ryu…" he said, blowing out smoke. "To her…you're like…her inspiration…"
Ryuichi sat out of the bed.
"Ryu has to go find her…" he said. "Ryu has to tell her…Ryu must…"
K shook his head.
"You're not ready to leave yet…" he said.
"But--"
"I'm sorry Ryu…"
The nurse appeared from the front door.
"Visiting hours are over Mr. K…and there is no smoking in the hospital…"
K put out the cigarette and walked towards the door.
"We'll find her…" he said. "So don't worry…"
Ryuichi fell onto the bed, sobbing deeply.
"Ahiru-chan is hurt…and Ryu can't help…No fair…"
--Eiri Yuki's apartment--
"Please?"
"No…"
"Please?"
"NO!"
Shuichi was trying to convince Yuki to drive them to Kyoto.
"PLEEEEEEEEASE YUKIIIIIIII!" whined Shuichi.
Yuki took the cigarette out of his mouth, and blew smoke.
"Why should I?" he said.
"Ahiru is our teammate Yuki-Yuki!" said Kiyuri.
"No…I'm not going to take up one day of my schedule to go drive a bunch of kids to Kyoto for some stupid girl--Ack!"
Taiko yanked Yuki by the shirt down to meet her eyes.
"You listen to me Eiri Yuki..." she said angrily. "Ahiru is our friend, and the reason that you and Shuichi are together again…she always puts the needs of others before herself…now she needs our help…and you are going to be selfish and not drive us to Kyoto just to help a friend who's broken?"
Yuki grumbled.
"Fine…but I want something out of the deal…"
"Anything Yuki-Yuki!" said Kiyuri.
"You three have to clean my house for three weeks…"
"Yukiiii…" whined Shuichi. "I hate cleaning…"
"Either that, or no deal…"
"Fine!" said Taiko. "We'll clean your ho--"
"In French maid outfits…"
"WHAT! NO WAY!"
"Tai-Tai!" said Kiyuri. "We have to! It's the only way he'll take us to Ahiru-chan!"
Taiko grumbled.
"Fine…you got yourself a deal…"
They shook hands.
"Okay…" said Yuki. "My car's out back…"
"YAY!" said Kiyuri. "We're going to Kyoto to bring back Ahiru-chan!"
They all headed towards the parking lot.
"Don't worry Ahiru…" said Taiko. "We're coming to get you!
--Kyoto Park--
"Weeeeee! Go higher!"
Ahiru was pushing Toshi on the swing.
"Hiwu! Go Higher!" said Toshi, giggling.
"If I push you any higher, you'll go over the bar Toshi!"
Toshi and Ahiru both laughed.
"Wanna go slide!" he said. "Wanna go slide!"
Ahiru smiled.
"Okay, I'll just sit by the park bench and watch you. Now you better be careful!"
"I will!"
Toshi ran towards the slide.
"Little brother…" she said softly.
She walked over to a picnic bench. A person in an orange jumpsuit was picking up trash with a stick nearby.
"Excuse me…" she said. "Is this seat taken?"
"No…" said the person. "I'm just cleaning…"
Ahiru sat on the park bench.
"You sound kind of familiar…" she said.
"Maybe that's because we met before…Ahiru…"
She looked up and saw a familiar pair of purple eyes.
"Ayashi?" said Ahiru.
The girl in the jumpsuit smirked.
"Well," she said, picking up another piece of trash. "I never thought I'd see you here…"
Ahiru glared angrily at her.
"What are you doing here?" she said. "You're the reason I can't write or sing anymore--"
"Hold on…" said Ayashi. "Did you say that you can't write or sing anymore?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I never expected that from you…" she said.
Ahiru sighed.
"I'm so worried about Ryuichi…that I can't concentrate on my music…so I left…"
Ayashi sat next to her.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this but…Atsushi used to tell me that one of your best qualities was that you would give up your own life to protect your friends…"
"Atsushi told you that?"
"Yeah…"
"But why were you trying to kill me?"
"I kinda felt like you do right now when Atsushi died…"
Ahiru took off her orange cap.
"What do you mean?" she said.
Ayashi sighed.
"When Atsushi died…I felt so lonely…you have to understand…that he was my only friend…I guess I couldn't handle it…and I lost my sanity…"
She looked at the orange jumpsuit she was wearing.
"Listen to me Ahiru…don't make the same mistake…stick to your friends…they care about you…you're not alone…"
"What about Ryu?" said Ahiru, tears forming in her eyes. "What if he never comes back?"
"He will. I didn't stab him that hard…"
Ahiru stared at Ayashi. She held the stick in her hand.
"I never meant to kill you…just wound you…but I forgot one little detail, that singer…I never thought that Ryuichi Sakuma would care about you so much that he'd risk his own life to save you…It kind of brought me back to sanity…I realized that I had held on to the past for too long…and I brought my own fate upon me…now that I realize it…it's too late to save me… "
Ahiru held the cap in her hands.
"Ayashi…why didn't you tell me how you felt?"
"I couldn't do it…"
Ahiru stared at the cap in her hands.
"Ayashi…"
Ayashi looked up at Ahiru. Ahiru held the cap out to Ayashi.
"Take this…" she said. "It was the only thing they found in the wreckage of his home that survived…"
Ayashi stared at the cap.
"I can't…" she said.
"I want you to have it…" said Ahiru.
Ayashi took the cap, tears in her eyes.
"But I tried to kill you…" she said in between sobs. "How can you be so forgiving?"
Ahiru smiled.
"I was once told that you can't let the past harm your future…besides, once you get out of prison…I hope that we can be good friends…"
Ayashi smiled.
"Can you wait for about 20 years?"
Ahiru nodded.
"Yeah…"
Ayashi embraced Ahiru, tears falling down her face.
"You are a true friend…" she said.
"HEY! Prisoner 54162! Get back to work!"
Ayashi sighed.
"I better get back to picking up trash…the warden gets mighty sore if I act lazy…"
She stood up and began to pick up trash with her stick. Ahiru waved to her, and stood up from the bench.
"HIWU!"
Toshi ran to her, carrying a frog.
"Lookie what I found!" he said.
"Toshi!" said Ahiru. "You put that frog back!"
"No!"
He took off running.
"Come back here!"
Ahiru ran after him.
Thanks Ayashi…she thought. That was really good advice…
--On the highway--
"Are we there yet?"
"No…"
"Are we there yet?"
"NO!"
"Are we there yet?"
"NO! AND IF YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME I'LL TURN THIS CAR AROUND!"
"No you won't Yuki…"
"I don't know why I even decided to take you guys to Kyoto…you drive me crazy!"
"Because we have a deal Yuki-Yuki!"
"Stop calling me that Kiyuri!"
"But it's cute…"
"Are we there yet?"
"STOP SAYING THAT SHUICHI!"
"Tai-Tai…calm down!"
"Be quiet all of you! The sooner we get to Kyoto…the better!"
"Hold on Sarai-chan! We're coming to get you!"
Well, that's it for this chapter…many thanks to Momoko, Keia, and Tsuki for more reviews! As a special treat…I'm going to make you a cameo appearance in my story! YAY! And you get Pocky!
(gives them Pocky)
Next time, the gang arrives in Kyoto, but the clock is ticking! Can they convince her to come back? Will Sarai/Ahiru decide to go back and become a rock star, or will she stay in Kyoto and have a normal life? Plus, a little background info on Sarai's past! And will Ryuichi ever get out of the hospital? Find out in the next episode!
Next time: Track 9- The Real Me