A Yankee And A Singer
Chapter 5:
Haine

She hit the big time. Haine, the Sounds of the Ashes, exploded from her shell, gained her wings, and came through like a phoenix on Shizumasa's birthday. Her year of glory had hit the ground running. Her lyrics were like blazing embers that lit up the Tokyo skyline and made feathers fly into the streets, and into the atmosphere. And she was happy to begin singing for Shizumasa. That young wonder who made Waltzhaagen a place of redemption for a witch, and princess, and a song. That was Shizumasa, and he received her message in another part of the world.

And naturally, the deals had to come. Next up were a couple of fragrances T.A. Cosmetics made, that were competing for popularity among the female consumer market, as well as the attraction of young male heathens dressed in T-shirts and baggy denims, wife-beaters by the handful. SoA was on the make for the breaks, and nothing would stop her now from going forward with fortune and fame.

Or was there?

"Wow, I'm going to be in a fragrance commercial?" Haine asked eagerly to Ms. Oshige, who nodded.
"Yep, you're on!"
"So that means…" She could imagine the publicity she could receive in the commercial.
"But, you'll have to face your rival, Komaki Kamiya, who debuts for the same rival agency as Madoka Wakamatsu before she retired to become her own manager. Actually, she's now the manager for Komaki. Her first client ever."
"A competition, huh?" She smirked. This would be something.
"The meeting is at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow. See you there," she said, as she dropped off Haine, handing her a copy of "Firebird." But the possibility of Haine starring in a fragrance commercial warmed her up. The scent of femininity, the cause of attraction, the bane of sex and rock and roll…well, sort of. But the though made Haine feel like she was gliding on air, as if she was Cinderella, and her prince made love to her without inhibitions. All because of the scent of pleasure and desire, that burned from within.

That was the goal for Haine's next aim at success. The foundation has been set, and the wheel of stone moved forward in anticipation of El Camino Del Opportunidad: The Road of Opportunity, as Itsuki told her one time when she first started living with them. Itsuki told her straight from the barrel that she would be on a road to opportunity, and not even the cobblestones in the road-that was the cancer-could derail such a destiny. He said this to her as she slept, holding that book Shizumasa gave her as he left for America. That book, that inspiration, the bane of her existence as a new shining pop star to be.

But first, some sleep was in order. As Haine arrived home to a quiet house (everyone was sleeping), Haine slowly but surely crept into her bedroom, where she found Meroko sleeping in her rather racy nightshirt and shorts, a nose bubble coming in and out between snores that shook the house silently. As Haine turned on the tape after placing some headphones on the rabbit shinigami, she squealed in horror.

"Aiyeeeeee! What the hell are you doing, you little ragamuffin?" an infuriated Meroko screamed, chasing Haine around effortlessly before she fell awkwardly to the ground. "I was trying to get some sleep, you know!"
"Oh, that's right," Haine said. "Izumi said that he likes me." Meroko froze in absolute horror and disgust. "Actually, he was trying to make a move on me, thinking he has the game in hand. I shoved him off."
"That…bastard….oh that Izumi will pay for trying to make a pass on you instead of me. Why does he want to elope with you, of all people, huh?"
"E-to…" She had no idea.
"Hey Haine," Izumi said, coming in. "What the heck are you trying to do!"
"Um, actually, that is to say…"
"Izumi-kun…did you just try to make a move on Haine, instead of me?"
He sweated, shook, and turned red. "Me-chan…"
"You know what happens when you try to do some adultery on Meroko-sama, right…dummy?"
"Oh no."
No sooner did he say this that Meroko chasing a laughing Izumi around the house. Haine yawned and just went to sleep, leaving the two to commiserate on a plan gone awry.

The next day, Haine was feeling rather down, after turning back to her regular self. What to do about Izumi having feelings for her instead of Meroko. She knew that she was taken already, but why now? Why would Izumi take a pass at her? It just did not make sense.
"Hey nee-san," Kusame said, munching on some toast, "what's wrong? Did you have a bad dream or something?"
She was irked. "It's…none of your business, Kusame."
"Awww, but I'm concerned. What if your cancer gets worse because of it? What will you do then?"
"I told you, it's none of your business! Geez, why won't you understand that, huh?"
"Now, now, Haine-chan," Ryokka said, "finish your breakfast, and head over to class. You're going to Imperial Academy next year, and we created funds to pay for your education, so we want you to do well in the upcoming exam next month."
"Yes, mother," Haine said in a droning tone. She was destined for Imperial Academy in April, but that was a non-issue to her.
"And, we have to do something about the cancer in your throat. We have to take it out as soon as possible. The surgery is next September, so you have to get ready for that as well."
"Hai."

As she walked to school, the thoughts of the surgery and Imperial Academy sunk in. It was between those two and singing. Balancing all three, given her health, would become a challenge with consequences.
The voices rang in her head. Well, they had to, otherwise it wouldn't be an issue. But it was. Fleetwood Mac was touring Japan by this time, and the song "Tusk" was in her head. Haine loved Fleetwood Mac's easygoing sound. It wasn't too sweet, not too strong. It was just the right blend of sugar, spice, and melody that was nice. Just like how little primpy daughters of Rhiannon would look like. Sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Cinderella was that way, too. As she pondered the lesson in class, she had to work on an essay regarding fantasy and reality. Cinderella was the perfect background. And with that thought, an epiphany for her debut album would come out. It would be called "Cinderella." The thought of an album straight out of a fairy tale. Perhaps his prince, Shizumasa, would come in an listen to her melody.
She went to the campus library, and lost herself in the story of Cinderella. The lace, the frills, the feeling of what it was like to be a virgin maiden, waiting to be swept away like lovers would by the moonlight. Yes, that was what Haine was pondering. What was it like to actually be a lover, and to fall in love for good? But no, Haine, you have never fallen in love before, so why would it matter? Because, a voice said in her head, "in life, you need someone to love. If not, you will never find your prince, and one who will be your soulmate. You need to find him, before it is too late.
Those were the thoughts that were dancing in her head. Idly, she drew a picture of her as Cinderella, with the low eyes and the half-hearted commitment, the eyes that cried a river, the eyes of torment and fear and uncertainty, raging, raging, raging…

"I don't want you to help Haine," Meroko said to Izumi, as they sat together on top of a windmill. The windmill was off for the day, because there was no breeze from the Ryukyus to generate it.
"Why won't I?" he said. "Me-chan?"
"Don't you see? We're supposed to take her life, and just talk with her as she gets ready. We can't change anything. We just have to do what your buddy Sheldan told us."
"Sheldan…" AKA Jonathan, that bumbly ghost who liked to be a showoff at inopportune times. But now as Sheldan, he and Mystere the Death Master would oversee the dying day of Haine. Those were days gone by. Now it was just him and Meroko. Milmake, the Shinigami pair of vitamin spirit. That was their union then, and their union now. "I forgot really."
Meroko was not pleased. She knocked Izumi to the sky. "Izumi no BAKA!" And she flew away in disgust.
"How rude," Izumi sneered. "Just for that, I'm gonna have to do it again…Oops." He was stubborn, but true to his intentions. Whether or not it was good or bad was up to anyone's guess, even Meroko's. That mysterious air around Izumi Lio came in like a fog. It wavered acrossed the Tokyo streets, following him. It dissipated when he saw Haine Otomiya leaving campus for the day.

She looked over her shoulder. "Hello Clarisse," a certain butch blonde boy in a dog cap said with a sneer of snide.
"Kyaaaaa! Izumi, don't scare me like that!"
"I know, you're still thinking about that day back then, am I right?"
"It's…none of business!" she said with a pout?
"Oh really? Well, as a shinigami, it is my duty to see your past, to prepare you for your future, and so I-argh!" A jab on the face.
"You know what, I don't need you to be controlling me…I have someone controlling me already" She tried to continue, but she collapsed. "Shizumasa-sama…" she whispered.
"Grrr, if only you were here, you worthless piece of...ARGH!" Izumi threw his cap in anger. Slowly walking to Haine, he was enraged. "Why didn't that good-for-nothing bastard return. Damn you!"
But his feelings for lust proved too strong. Carrying him invisibly to an empty room in a nearby hotel, Izumi set Haine on the bed, and for a fleeting moment of minutes, kissed her incessantly. He was soaked in the moment. It was a violation of forces that be, but to just savor the essence of beauty that was Haine, dear god, it was too strong to pass up. He had to save her now, or else…what good was it to sneak into a love hotel for free?

What good was it to live without love anyway?

END CHAPTER 5