Authoress here. And singing show tunes AGAIN. 'We're heading for ha cha, ha cha cha cha!'
Ahem. Anyways. Here we are. Moving along.
Shout out to the Aida folks. It was amazing. And I'm not saying this because I'm biased. Even if I am a little biased. Oh well.
'We're in the MONEY! We got a lot of what it takes to get along!'
Speaking of musicals and show tunes, the lyrics in this chapter belong to me. And I had them written this last summer, so I'm excited to finally be able to use them.
CHAPPIE!
Breaking the Tie
Chapter Fifteen: Stages of Healing
Next day, morning of the Bad Luck concert
Gravitation
A loud snore jerked Shuichi awake. He blushed a little, for the snore that woke him up was his own. He blinked a little in the bright white light that flooded his senses. He lifted his head up, confused as to where he was. He was lying prone in a bed somewhere, an IV poking into one wrist. His head hurt, and his right hand felt very warm and comfortable, neither thing bringing much light onto his situation. The last thing he recalled was mahogany wood rushing towards his face at a remarkable speed.
From the perfect looks of the room, he was in a hospital. The room was in pristine condition, and completely white. From his white bedspread, to the white walls, to the white window shade, to the mass of blonde hair on his bed next to him- Blonde hair? Yuki?
And Yuki it was, snoring softly himself. He was sitting on a spindly chair, in a position that Shuichi couldn't imagine to be too comfortable. He was sleeping soundly, head on the bed, and his hand wrapped loosely around Shuichi's own.
Shuichi gazed down at the sleeping figure. Yuki's face always lost its ferocity when he was asleep, relaxed and peaceful in slumber. He almost looked cuddly like this, but Shuichi knew better. But all the same, Shuichi thought, smiling. I do like him all peaceful like this.
Forgetting he had an IV in one wrist, Shuichi went to stroke the blonde hair away from Yuki's face. As he jerked the IV chord unintentionally the needle slipped out of his arm, and Shuichi gave a yelp. Yuki came awake suddenly, nearly coming off the chair.
"Hi, Yuki."
"Hello, dolt. What'd you do now?"
Shuichi picked up the IV needle gingerly from where it fell on his bedspread. "I killed it."
"Give it here."
"Shouldn't we have a nurse do that?" Shuichi said nervously as Yuki took the needle. The author was holding it in a manner akin to wielding a lance.
"Tough." Yuki held his wrist firmly, and inserted the needle smoothly. Shuichi looked at Yuki.
"Where'd you learn to do that?"
"When you visit the doctor as much as I did, you pick things up." Yuki shrugged.
"Oh." Shuichi paused, quiet. "Yuki?"
"Hmm?"
"What time is it?"
"Noon. You conked out yesterday night. I'll bring you home in a bit to get ready for the concert tonight."
"Oh, thanks. Yuki?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
Shuichi felt the warmth of Yuki's hand enfold his own again. "You shouldn't be."
"What?"
"I… should be the one apologizing." Yuki fidgeted a little on his chair. "I was being too abrupt. I know it was important to you, and I didn't really… well, anyways, neither of us get to attack Suguru."
"Why not?"
"Aoyou paid him a visit. She called me last night while you were still sleeping."
"And what happened?" Shuichi asked eagerly.
"She said she told him very calmly not to bother Toshi again."
"So…. How beaten up is he?"
Yuki smirked. "She got him one in the cash cow with her boot heel."
Shuichi winced, unconsciously pulling his legs together beneath the blankets. "Yeesh. And I thought kicking him out of Bad Luck was bad, but…"
"About that." Yuki was serious again. "That's a mistake."
Shuichi frowned a little, sitting up further. "How so?"
"You'd be a hypocrite if you did. Think about it; in that situation, Toshi is you, and Suguru was being me. In essence, that is, we aren't too different. So… I think we live and let it lie."
Shuichi chewed on his lip, thinking. Suguru was a good friend, and a valuable member of Bad Luck. He was usually very honest, upbeat, and creative. He was good with fans, wonderful with handling the media, and had a level head.
And I guess we aren't that different….
"'Kay." Shuichi announced. "I won't kick him out. Maybe I'll just give him the silent treatment so he knows he didn't get away with it."
"I think his black and blue balls will remind him of that fact for awhile." Yuki smirked. "If they're still connected, that is."
Shuichi, (very carefully, as not to disturb the newly inserted IV) gave Yuki a one arm hug. "I like not being mad at you."
Yuki wrapped his arms around the bubblegum-haired singer, holding him gently. "Yeah… me too."
Toshi Shindou
I have a plan.
Tonight was the concert. Tonight I had to perform with Keyara as if nothing was wrong. She'd smile, I'd smile, Seiya would probably raise her middle finger to the crowd while grinning madly, and everything would seem fine.
Not anymore. Keyara was not going to get away with this, with assuming I'd let her walk all over me. I won't publicly humiliate her (although a vindictive side I never knew I possessed is telling me too) I have a plan.
I divulged my idea to Seiya, who is backing me completely. In fact, she was so impressed by my plans she gave me a huge hug.
"So you DO have it in you to be evil every now and then!"
I only grinned back at her.
I had already emailed the lyrics to Keyara before I went to Suguru's to work on the violin parts. She had all of her cues, all of her music ready. What she didn't know was that I changed the lyrics.
This was going to be good.
Gravitation
That night, the Bad Luck concert
"I'm nervous." Shuichi, clad in bright yellow leather pants and a leopard print tank that put Doctor Umeda's collection to shame, gnawed nervously on his fingernails. He and Aoyou were backstage with Hiro. Suguru was still in costume and make up, getting ready.
"Honey, you've done hundreds of shows." Aoyou soothed. "Don't worry."
"I'm not worried about Bad Luck." Shuichi whined. "I know we'll have a standing ovation. It's Protégé I'm worried about."
"Knowing Toshi, he'll eat it up." Hiro cut in. "Besides, with your genes, how could he not?"
Shuichi and Aoyou exchanged glances. They hadn't yet told Hiro of the DNA test, or the results. Hiro noticed the look.
"What?"
"We'll tell you after the show." Aoyou said kindly. "Oh, Ayaka, hello!"
The pretty young woman came up to the trio and wrapped her arms around Hiro's waist. "Hey, Aoyou, Shuichi. Excited about Protégé?" She giggled a little. "I know I am."
Hiro threw an arm over her shoulder. "Hey, hon. Yeah, we're all pretty hyped. Say, we're you goin' to be watching the show from?"
Aoyou smiled at Ayaka. "We decided on a wife/girlfriend's night out. We'll be back here, watching."
Ayaka laughed in return, gesturing to her bulging purse. "I brought the pretzels and chocolate."
Aoyou grinned. "And I have enough… adult liquid to keep us loose for the performances!"
"What those women do without us!" Hiro teased, giving his wife a poke in the side. "Shuichi, we should round up Suguru and Yuki and go out for some bar hopping and lecherous, lewd acts after the show!"
"Two girls for every boy!" Shuichi quoted the Beach Boys tune in a sing-song voice, grinning back at Hiro mischievously. "And a margarita with a couple shots of whiskey…"
"-Maybe some strippers-" Hiro chimed in.
"Definitely." Shuichi nodded. "Maybe some karaoke, pole dancing-"
"You or the strippers?" Ayaka interrupted, grinning. "Because if it's you guys, save me a seat! I want to see Hiro try to pole dance."
"Excuse me!" Hiro protested vainly while Aoyou, Ayaka and Shuichi dissolved into pealing laughter. "I'm very accomplished with a pole!"
That only made them laugh harder, and when Hiro realized what he said he laughed too. Indeed, they were laughing so hard they didn't notice Toshi standing next to them until he spoke.
"How much did you all drink before you came here?"
Hiro, Shuichi and Aoyou were sent back into chuckles, so Ayaka answered him. "Oh, nothing. We were just being silly."
"Heya, God-Mom." Toshi grinned, going to give her a hug. Ayaka detangled herself from her husband to squeeze him tightly.
"Oh, Toshi, we're all so proud of you." She held him away at arm's length to view his outfit. "Very rock, Toshi. Nice."
Toshi grinned. He was wearing a black version of Shuichi's leather pants with a silver belt, and an artfully ripped dark maroon tee shirt. His hair was messy, flopping into his face in a sexy sort of way. Under his left eye he had applied a rectangular patch of black duct tape. Aoyou noticed it, wondering what it was.
"Toshi, what's the tape for?"
"At the audition I broke my top string." Toshi explained. "When I did, it whipped back and cut my cheek. So, it's sort of a shield for if that happens tonight." He paused, grinning. "And, it kind of looks cool, kind of tough guy."
"You're right." Ayaka smiled at him, and then gave him a motherly kiss on the cheek. "Break a leg, Toshi."
"Thanks, God-Mom. Actually, could I talk to Dad for a minute?"
"Sure." Everyone hastily excused themselves, Aoyou lingering to kiss Toshi's forehead.
"Good luck."
Toshi smiled at her and she hurried after Ayaka, leaving Toshi with Shuichi.
"Say, Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't care about whose son I am. You're still my dad."
Shuichi's eyes were curiously over-bright as he pulled Toshi into a bone-crushing hug. "I know, Tosh, I know. I just… forgot that yesterday. Thank you for... for being my kid."
"No problem, Dad." Toshi hugged back. He pulled away to look at Shuichi's face. "Dad, I'm a little nervous."
"S'okay." Shuichi assured him. "As long as you don't envision everyone in their underwear, it's okay. I tried that my first concert, saw your father in the back of the hall, and got too horny to sing."
"TOO MUCH INFORMATION!" Toshi covered his ears, a playful grin on his face.
"Well, it's true!" Shuichi protested. With a grin, he mock-punched Toshi in the arm. "It's almost time for sound check, kid. Go do what you need to do to warm up."
"Okay. See you on stage!"
Toshi hurried off, leaving Shuichi to hastily wipe his eyes.
Half hour later
"Ladies and gentleman, Bad Luck fans alike, are you ready for some music?-!"
The crowd screamed in response to the voice that boomed over the loudspeakers. They were working themselves into a frenzy, shouting and waving posters, stamping and clapping themselves fit to burst.
"Be prepared, 'cause you asked for it… opening for Bad Luck tonight, is Protégé!"
The cheers from the crowd weren't as excited as before, but at least they made some noise. Not like this calmed Toshi, Seiya, or Keyara's nerves at all.
Their entrance, like at any concert, was not just a regular stroll onto stage. A huge round of fireworks went off, filling the open-air stadium with multi-colored smoke. Hidden under its cover, the three members of Protégé hurried to their spots, preparing themselves to perform. Toshi set his bow to his shoulder, going over the intro to their song in his head. His heart pounded a terrified staccato against his rib cage, and he felt like his lungs were being squeezed of air. He willed himself to relax, but his body wasn't listening. He could only wait and hope that Seiya wouldn't freeze up.
She didn't. As soon as their cue came with flashing white lights, she jammed the first few chords out perfectly, filling the stadium with a wicked wailing guitar sound. Keyara came in next, with synthesized drums and piano. The feel of the song was a fast, slightly peppy beat. The crowd loved it; it was almost exactly what they expected for a Bad Luck opener.
Then Toshi started sawing away, adding a sort of angry feel into the music, changing the feel subtly enough to fit his lyrics. The original lyrics that Keyara thought they were performing started this way as well, so she didn't notice anything different.
The smoke had cleared, and Toshi could see the audience now. He willed himself to shut his eyes and concentrate, changing chords and pulling his bow across the strings in perfect unison with the guitar pattern. He applied the electric pedal, and the violin wailed out in an eerie, smashing melody. After another measure of pedal, took the violin off of his shoulder and stepped to the mike.
Here goes.
"Stupid is, as stupid does
Justify yourself because
I really need an answer,
Don't expect me to believe
The way you push the way you tease
It eats at me like a cancer,
Yeah, I saw his picture,
Resemblance is striking,
I've seen you brush with your lips,
It's rather frightening,
I'm feeling awfully used, tonight.
I used to wonder why you loved me skin deep,
A revelation has caused me to concede
Please don't do this too me
My heart can't take you using me
Find someone else to pursue
'Cause I don't wanna be his body for you!"
Toshi could have sworn that he heard the piano faltering as he sang, but when he snuck a peek back at Keyara, her face was impassionate.
He faced his back to the crowd, spinning around as Seiya got the lead-in for her solo. She had a satisfied smile on her face, and the solo mirrored her mood. She crashed down scales and wailed up chords, doing some tricky move where she copied a trill between two notes. It brought the audience to a crescendo, screaming their approval.
Toshi picked up his violin and started playing the melody underneath Seiya's solo. She brought her own playing back to the melody and they played in unison for a few seconds. Then Toshi returned to the mike.
"It took me by surprise
To see your face
Covered with lies!
I thought that I was
Something to you
I was something, true…
Two arms, two legs and a face
That made you think of another
And now I've come to discover
The truth behind your love…
I'm feeling awfully used, tonight.
I used to wonder why you loved me skin deep,
A revelation has caused me to concede
Please don't do this too me
My heart can't take you using me
Find someone else to pursue
'Cause I don't wanna be his body for you!"
Toshi screamed the last few lines into the microphone, over the swelling roars from the crowd. He placed his violin on his shoulder, and began his solo.
He played with every intent to make the highest string break. He played lightening fast, high, and loud, applying the pedal to accentuate his playing. Behind him, Seiya and Keyara entered stop-time; a musical background idea where they would play chords short and loud on every fourth beat. It highlighted the wailing and singing of the electric violin, making the entire charisma of the piece explode over the crowd.
He could feel the tension building, and sawed more furiously, going higher and higher until-
SNAP!
The string, under the onslaught of abuse, snapped. The electric pedal magnified the break, picking up on every little overtone the break had made. The effect was chillingly beautiful; the chord was almost chromatic, sounding awful and amazing all at once.
Seiya and Keyara, who had been told to expect this, stopped any note or reverberation on their own instruments. They let the sound fade away before slamming into the ending.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The cymbal crashes from the synth rang throughout the stadium, as well as Seiya's final three raging chords, just as Toshi screamed towards the mike, "Body for you!"
The effect was tremendous.
The crowd was beside themselves, screaming and clapping and yelling. Toshi regained his breath, and grinned, waving at the crowd he was no longer afraid of. Seiya and Keyara joined him at the stage front, waving and smiling as well. As predicted, Seiya made a rude gesture at the audience, which hooted and screamed in delight. Keyara, though, Toshi noticed, was moving in a very mechanical way.
Then, the lights all went off, signaling the beginning of Bad Luck's spot. Toshi and the others hurried off towards the wings of the stage, but not before Keyara spoke into Toshi's ear.
"You made your point, you bastard. I quit." Though from the tone of her voice, Toshi could tell Keyara wasn't serious; she just wanted him to beg her to stay. He decided not to give her the satisfaction.
Toshi turned, only just being able to see her in the dim light from backstage. "Good. Because Seiya and I voted; we really don't want you around here anymore."
As Keyara's jaw dropped in astonishment, Toshi strode off into the wings, feeling triumphant, and most of all, relieved.
End Chapter
THIS WAS A LONG-ASS CHAPTER, if I may say so myself. Hope you liked it!
Special birthday shout-out to my sista JewelValentine, who will be having her day of birth tomorrow! Cheers!
Review, please!