All Arina characters belong to Arina Tanemura. Of course, copyrights and all. 2002-2005 and beyond…

A Yankee And A Singer

Chapter 3:

Haine

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She knew it. She just knew it. She wasn't worth anything. To be chosen only for looks, but not for the way she sung seemed to be internalized in her, and it really hurt. She had a promise to make, with Shizumasa. But it seemed that the promise wouldn't be fulfilled. And the reason? Because she didn't believe in herself. Heck, she didn't know what "confidence" was. Perhaps it was one of those clichés that celebrities say they have, but in the back of their minds, really lack, unless you were sent down from heaven to proclaim the Good News of Entertainment, whatever the heck that meant. But what did it all mean for Haine? What DID it all mean?

"Nothing," she answered to herself. "I failed myself. Hallelujah. Praise to whoever is giving me my plan. I just want to die now." That wouldn't happen though, because she remembered what Izumi said: Somebody was trying to prevent that from happening. Perhaps the Man with the Plan was calling the shots on this one. Whatever that is, she thought, tousling her hair a bit idly.

"Izumi, Haine got accepted because of you!" Meroko exclaimed.

"I apologized, Me-chan," he said with a laugh.

"But why were you zoning out, stupid?"

"Because Takuto did so."

Now Meroko was full of it. "Because Takuto did so…what kind of an excuse is that? (And I don't care about Takuto either, I only care about you!) Answer my question now, before I bring out my bullwhip and a naughty episode of the Masochism Tango! Plus, we don't know who the hell is trying to intervene with her fate?"

Izumi laughed hesitantly. "Eheheh…it's not my fault, okay? We can do the lashings later…ne?"

"The song I sang at the audition was by this band called Changin' My Life," explained Haine. "And it was covered by F…"

"We know who you're talking about," the two shinigamis said.

"…You do?" She blinked.

"Well, it's nothing of your concern," Izumi said. Haine sneaked a leer of suspicion. Something was up.

"Hmmmm…well, can you folks change me back? I can't go home like this."

"Yeah, yeah," Izumi replied. A snap of his fingers, and Haine was back in her form. "Haine…do you really want to become a singer?" She was silent, and found herself at a crossroads. "Look, you only have a year. Don't you want to get the surgery taken care of so that you can live your life or is that just impossible?"

"Maybe it is. I probably thought about it, but…I don't know. I could go either way on this one."

"Damn," thought Izumi. "She's a highly unpredictable little ragamuffin, isn't she? I like her. I might have a tough time with this one. She's not a Lolita, for starters." He had a bit of a grin on his face, the sadist spirit rearing its ugly head. Izumi Lio respected Haine's spunk, in spite of her lack of confidence and direction.

"But," Haine said, "whatever choice I make….this heart won't stop beating." She said this with a giggle.

Izumi decided, "Okay then, me and Me-chan will help you out for one year. Here's a whistle," he said as he handed one to Haine. "If you need help, call me by blowing on this."

"Thanks a lot, Shinigami-san!" Haine said.

"It's Izumi, okay?"

"Oh nooo," Meroko said. "Here we go again."

Suddenly, Dr. Ishihara found Haine, and grabbed her. "I got you know, Princess. Why are you mumbling to yourself?"

"Dr. Ishihara? Why are you here? And my mumbling is none of your business!" exclaimed Haine.

"I thought you would be here." The two of them went into his car, Meroko and Izumi in the back.

"Ryokka-san and Itsuki-san are very worried that you might not be well, after what has happened," explained Dr. Ishihara.

"Yeah, but don't they know that I'm okay?" Haine pouted.

"They're just worried, that's all. I promised them…that I would protect you."

"You know what, Dr. Ishihara? You're like Shizumasa-sama in a way. He was kind to me when he showed me that book, 'The Unforgettable Song of the Witch.' He was so nice. And he even prevented me from getting myself killed as a yankee."

"I know."

"And then I got this nasty cancer, and that's when you came."

"Yeah. Do you want me to call Shizumasa, and tell him how you feel?"

"No, it's okay. I want to sing to him first. And then maybe he'll come back and find me."

"Sounds like a wonderful love story, made for television."

Haine giggled. She probably knew the situation more than he did.

As the two of them went back to her house, Izumi's eyes were like fire. "You wanted to be the singer for the sake of a guy?"
"He's still alive, you know," Haine said annoyingly.

"It doesn't matter. Forget about him. He's a nobody."

"Izumi he's a SOMEBODY! You know what, you're starting to get rather annoying, you dog-faced twat."

"Ah, a sly one. You know, Haine, I'm starting to like you."

"Eh?" She blushed wildly.

"If I could have made love to Mitsuki, I would have taken her soul as well. Ah well, I guess I have time for a substitute…"

"Baka!" Meroko yelled, punching Izumi to the sky. "I love you, Izumi. Quit acting all loving dovey on Haine, dammit! She's already taken! Don't you freaking realize that?"

"Hahahaha…" Izumi said, and he was being chased by a rather upset Meroko.

"Haine-chan, where have you been?" Ryokka said. "We were all worried about you."

"Yeah, nee-sama," Kusame said. "What's up with that?"

"Oh mom, Kusame," Haine said, "I'm just fine." She started to cough a bit. Ryokka gave her some medication, and she took it. "Okay, maybe not."

"Go get some rest now, okay?" said Ryokka. "Dad will be here in a few hours. He wants to see you sleep soundly, okay, Haine-chan?"

"All right mom," Haine said. "And quit acting silly, Kusame. You're starting to get on my nerves."

"Nee-san no baka!" Kusame said with a laugh. Haine let out a grunt of anger, and she went to her room.

An hour of contemplation about Haine and Shizumasa followed. "Oh Shizumasa-sama," she said, "If I could be rid of my cancer, would you still love me? I still want to be with you. My Shizumasa-sama…" She started to cry, holding Izumi and Meroko as plushies. "Why did this have to happen to me? It's not fair."

"Life's not fair," Meroko said, jumping out and turning to her regular self. "But you have a mission: to make the most of it. I know I'm having the most of it with my wittle Izumiwumi, isn't that right, Izumi?" She squeezed and kissed the poor guy, who blushed incessantly. Laughter took away the hell Haine was going through. For some reason, it made her life a bit…longer.

"You know what? You may be right," Haine said, as she turned on the TV.

"Today, on NHK News Tonight, a special exclusive. Kiryuu Akiyoshi, a young piano prodigy from Otani Music School, has received a scholarship to the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. This young man, who is only 12 years old, has been given the right to study with the greatest musicians of the fine arts in all of Japan," the reported said. "Our report will be later in the broadcast. But first, our top story: a new successor to Full Moon has been found…"

"EEEEEEK!" Haine screeched, Meroko and Izumi tense.

"Are you okay up there, honey?" Ryokka said.

"N…nandemonai!"

"…her name is Haine Otomiya, a 16-year old sensation who has been chosen to be the next great idol since Mitsuki Kouyama, also known as Full Moon. Shun Yanagisawa has the report…"

Haine turned off the TV. "I hope my mom and dad didn't hear that. Or that brat Kusame either…" Kusame was asleep, having rather crude fantasies of him and Komaki in the same bed, so he had no idea what was going on.

"Heh. Seems you're now known overnight," Izumi replied.

"I guess so," she said with a laugh. She was midway through a chuckle when the phone rang. "Eh?" She picked it up. "Moshi Moshi?"

"Hello, are you Haine Otomiya?" the voice said over the phone.

"H…hai."

"Wonderful. My name is Oshige Masami, and I have been chosen to be your manager."

"Oshige Masami….where have I heard of that name." Her eyes widened as she realized who she was talking to. "You….you're Full Moon's former manager!"

"That's right," she said. "And I am a loving wife to your producer, Wakaoji Keiichi, who called your personal doctor, Dr. Ishihara. He said that he will be your doctor from now on. He bought Ishihara out for 100,000 yen."

"Wow…so Dr. Wakaoji's going to be my new physician. He was Full Moon's physician, too, right?"

"Yes, so you will get the best treatment possible. Dr.Wakaoji has won numerous awards for his research on cancer, and not only that, he has been producer of the year 3 years straight."

"Awesome. Your debut will be on October 17," Ms. Oshige said, checking her calendar. That was the same day as something she knew quite well. A special someone. "What do you want to call yourself?"

She thought for a moment, then, in an easy tone, said, "Write this down."

"Okay." She took a pen and a piece of paper.

"I will be called…'SoA.' It's short for Sound of Ashes. We are all human in nature, but when we die, we live a new life that love can only reach…on an angel's wings."

"SoA it is," said Ms. Oshige, finishing taking note. "Okay, Haine, our staff will get to work on the ads for your single."

"That's right, Ms. Oshige, I already wrote lyrics for the song, I will send them to you tomorrow."

"Perfect timing, and then we can start recording the next day. Sounds like a game plan, Haine. Well, see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Ms. Oshige!" And she hung up. She decided to turn on the TV.

"No, you cannot cheat on playing a guitar, like Bernie Leadon-san did," a commentator said with two others on discussion. "You try to get a good sound cheating on the guitar…not gonna happen. Joe Walsh can play the guitar half-drunk that all the other MFers in this damn country, and still make a cleaner sound better that Leadon-san or Felder-san combined!"

"Huh," Haine said. She turned it off.

"You really are on the ball for this one, aren't you?" Meroko said with amazement.

"Yep," she said, yawning. "Good night."

Izumi was already asleep as Meroko soon followed. Tomorrow, it would have to begin.

All around the city, signs could be seen of Haine, her long blonde hair with auburn highlights, and the sign saying, "SoA: Firebird. Debut 10.17." Hawkers were selling posters with reckless abandon of Haine, the Sound of Ashes, and they were huge. It wasn't that hard to take home. Just roll the baby up, and reapply it to your wall. All for 100 yen a pop. Cheap, huge, and nice eye candy to place on a wall. And yes, her skin was like snow. Crisp, and truly a darling of a lot of high school boys fresh from coming of age.

The song "Firebird" was one of thoughtful originality and melody. It didn't take long to write it all out, but the melody took a few hours to make things straight and wonderful. It was October 17, 3 weeks after the production of "Firebird," and the morale was high.

'Here, Haine-chan," Ryokka said, "have some Pocky. We got your favorite, Strawberry!"

"Thanks, mom, I'll enjoy them," said Haine, who was actually Meroko, who transformed into Haine. "Man, why do I have to stay home so Haine can take of business. Mou! Ah well, I got some Pocky, and it seems Izumi will take care of things. As long as he does not try to make one of those…advances?" She got angry and went berserk, eventually flying off to see the two, a box of Pocky in one hand, with some unconsumed sticks in her mouth. "Mou!"

"So I'm having a live performance at Tower Records Shibuya, huh?" Haine said to Ms. Oshige.

"You got it," she said. "A lot of people on the Seed Records website want to see your face."

Those words….from that girl…."They only liked me because of how I looked," Haine thought. But then, an epiphany occurred. She had to tell her now. "Ms. Oshige, it is true that I was judged because of my looks?"
"You know what? Full Moon said the same thing," Ms. Oshige said, with a few whistles. "Everyone, Haine is now a pro!"

"I second that," Dr. Wakaouji said.

"Oh, Dr. Wakouji! I shouldn't have asked that question," Haine said, slapping the doctor lightly on the shoulder. He only blushed.

"Although, you meant well," Izumi added stoically, in dog form.

"It's the same old story, isn't it," Izumi said to Meroko. "I'm working with a coward, and she can't fend for himself. I don't think she minds going through the fire."

"On top of that," added Meroko, "she couldn't even attend school. She wanted to go to Teikoku Gakuen, but now, it's all in vain. Haine was able to socialize when she was younger, but after what has happened…being sold for 50 million yen after not wanting to be an idol for them (which I think is quite unusual in itself), and then getting cancer...not a lot of people can go through that and still be alive."

"Haine wants to be a singer for Shizumasa, so it wouldn't matter about her looks, am I right, Me-chan?"

"No, Izumi-kun, you're wrong. Haine is risking her life, like Mitsuki did. Accept that."

"I got it." And he flew off, leaving Meroko to file her fingernails on the roof.

Haine loved her outfit. It closely resembled Full Moon's first outfit in a way, but had a peach/creamy orange motif.

"There's a huge crowd outside," Ms. Oshige said. "The people want to see SoA make her debut…" She said this gleefully, with snickers here and there. "Let me get some stuff first," and she walked downstairs to get some material.

"Oy, Haine, you still thinking about your looks?" Izumi said, tousling her hair playfully.

"Argh! What did you do to my hair, you…?"

"If you don't want to be judged by your looks, go out on stage au naturel and give the guys nosebleeds and boners, I don't care. That's what you want, right?"

"Ugh!" Haine let out an uppercut on Izumi. "Pervert! Did you just come here to tease me? You, of all people-"

"It's shinigamis," Izumi said coldly, "And, I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry for thinking that what you were doing was wrong. I thought I would fail you when I judged with the others…"

"…so that's what you did," Haine recalled.

"But you had a wonderful voice, and I could not fail you. Me-chan my say we have another burden on our backs, but I think…it's more of a blessing."

"Izumi…arigato," Haine said, blushing.

"Go get 'em, Tiger," he said, sporting a thumbs-up gesture.

"Hai!" No sooner had she said that when the fan mail cam piling down. "What the hell…waaaah!"

"The radio stations love hearing 'Firebird,'" Ms. Oshige said. "Your fans love it."

Haine beamed brightly. "Sugoi."

"So now will you believe that you were chosen just for your looks?"

They laughed it away. Haine wasn't alone. Not with everyone on her side cheering her on. Perhaps Shizumasa would be hearing this as well?

The stage was set. A large, star-shaped egg was on stage. The audience was leering at the curious object. A star-shaped egg? They anticipated, some with sweaty palms

"Ladies and gentlemen," the MC said, "here she is!" Haine broken out of the egg in a wondrous leap, somersaulted in midair, and midway through, from a snap of the fingers by Izumi, gained her wings. The audience was amazed at the display. These were the words, translated from Japanese

I don't know why I still love you

But it burns like a bird of fire

I don't know why I still want you

But I can't help this flame of desire

I still keep wondering why I couldn't sing

These words to you but then I knew,

Somehow I wanted to reach you, touch you

On angel's wings. Do you love me, too?

Are we lost? A million miles away?

If I even saw your face, I would be

The happiest girl today.

I don't know why I still love you

My heart rises like a bird of fire

I don't know why I still want you

And we can't stop this flame of desire

It's okay if you don't love me

Because I know you lie to yourself

It's okay if you don't want me

Because you've place your heart on the shelf

Why can't you look inside?

You say to yourself, this feeling, passion,

You'll never hide, oh you'll never hide

You'll never know how much I love you

Your body rises like a bird of fire

You'll never know why I still want you

And you'll never stop this flame of desire

I don't know why I still love you

But it burns like a bird of fire

I don't know why I still want you

But I can't help this flame of desire

I don't know why, I don't know why,

But like a firebird, our love will rise again.

You're the reason why I'm still alive.

The audience applauded as her wings became feathers that flew away, into the streets outside. Haine smiled.

"Looks like we'll be on a roll," said Ms. Oshige, beaming like a crazy Cheshire cat.

"Thanks a lot, Izumi-san," Haine said.

"Growing wings was easy," he replied, polishing his fist. "You're quite a spunky girl, Haine. Don't you dare forget that."

"You trying to tease me, Izumi?" Hitting the doggy on the forehead, she said, "You have no spunk, my friend. You're just a dirty dog!"

"Oy, come on now. Me-chan's gonna be angry when you say that!"

They argued lightly for the longest time. Haine still smiled. Her message was sent across. And somewhere in Connecticut, Shizumasa was hearing the news.

"Oy, nee-sama," Kusame said. "Dinner's ready. Get over here. Now." He noticed the door was open, and when he opened it, saw nothing. He couldn't see Meroko snoozing after a round of playing ICO, a bubble coming out of her nose as she snored lightly.

"Mom," Kusame said to Ryokka. "Nee-sama's gone!"

"Oh my," she said. "We'd better get her back." She dialed the emergency number. "Police?"

"Damn that nee-sama…always trying to one-up on her situation…baka…"

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END Part 3