She checked her phone again nervously. The event was about to start and no one had showed. She knew it was a risk, seeing as they could hardly get together and practice. Working with this band was like herding cats and her patience was running thin. She was only in this band as a favor to her roommate, and if she was going to be completely honest, they weren't that good.
Yes, each member had some level of talent, but they had very little cohesion and even less drive. Some days she felt she cared more than the rest of them.
"Where's your band?" The director for the night's event asked, startling Nari out of her thoughts. She whipped around and looked at him. Dave was the bar owner and she knew him well enough to fear him.
"They're coming, can't someone go on before us?" Nari pleaded, not understanding why her group had to go first. The man with the clipboard just looked at her in disbelief?
"Are you serious?" He asked, his voice gentle but condescending. "You guys have little gig experience. We always put the worst acts first, save the best for later." Nari scowled.
"You're being a dick, Dave. Besides, how do you know we're the worst?" She asked and crossed her arms. He just looked her over and laughed quietly.
"Well, considering it's just you…"
"What do you mean?" She interrupted. "Just give us five more minutes!" She begged. The man sighed and grabbed her wrist. Nari left her guitar as the man dragged her to the edge of backstage. Nari's heart raced as she saw the single spotlight at the mic. Panic set in. "I can't go on alone!" She hissed.
"You can, and you will." He told her simply, ignoring her distress. "Just sing one song-"
"I can't, I'm just the back up. I can't sing without music!" Nari hissed at him Dave just rolled his eyes and stepped behind her. "Look, just sing the first song, I'll have someone play the track."
"Did you know this would happen?" Nari asked accusingly as she stared at the stage as though it were a monster.
"I like to be prepared. Don't get boo'ed off stage. No pressure!" He cheered and pushed her onto the stage without regret.
"Glad you could make it." Konan teased him for his tardiness as Pein slid into the booth next to her. They were sitting in one of the booths that lined the room. They sat in the dark towards the back, a small light as the centerpiece, casting a soft glow at each table. He looked at her and sighed through his nose, making her giggle softly. "You look like you could use a drink." She offered and slid over the drink she had ordered for him. He took it and nodded in thanks.
"I need a vacation." He admitted with a sigh after knocking back the drink. He looked at her and she just smiled softly at him.
"If you want to go home and get some sleep, you can." She offered, placing a gentle hand on his. His fingers wrapped around hers.
"I'm the manager." He said simply and flagged down a waitress. "We need a new guitarist and it's my job to find one." He turned to the waitress and ordered another round of drinks before turning his attention back to Konan.
"I've been to enough of these to be able to sort out what you don't like." She pointed out. "So, if there's something I think you might like, I'll get their info to you." Pein looked at her in the dim light, her pale skin glowing against her blue hair. He thought on her offer but before he could decide someone tumbled out onto stage. Pein sighed and leaned back, shoulders slumping in defeat.
"If this is the type of talent we're stuck with, we might as well leave now." He said lowly, irritation slipping into his voice. Konan gripped his hand tighter.
"Give her a chance." She told him as her eyes examined the woman on stage. She looked her over, studying her look and demeanor. The woman was short with long fire engine red hair that had been pulled into a messy punkish looking ponytail. Her lips matched the shade of her hair and her eyes were lined lightly. Nice balance. Konan made a mental note to herself. Most newbies tended to go heavy on the stage makeup to avoid being washed out. Often times it ended up being too much. Her outfit was pretty simple as well but it showed off her curves while still allowing her the ability to move. Konan watched as she slowly walked over to the mic, timidly adjusting it to her height. Her red hair was falling hover her shoulder, standing out against the white tank top that hugged her chest. Konan could see her tattoos on her chest and arm, but couldn't make out what they were. Next, Konan looked at the girl's shoes and smiled. They were boots that laced up to her knee and had a think, medium sized heel, giving her some height, but was clearly something she could walk in. The boots were black and almost blended into the tight black pants. She wasn't meant to stand out and Konan wondered if she wasn't a solo act.
"Thank you for your patience." Nari spoke into the mic after clearing her throat. She felt her phone buzz in her back pocket and she prayed it was her band. She looked to the side, hoping to see them filing in and rushing to save her from the stage. Instead she got Dave's shit eating grin and a thumbs up. Nari looked and could see the silhouettes of everyone staring at her. The room began to spin as her heartbeat thudded in her ears louder than the drummer in her favorite band. She swallowed thickly and did was she does best: crack a terrible unfunny joke.
"Any way, here's Wonderwall." She smiled to herself as she heard groans and boo's being tossed at her from the crowd. She laughed to herself and tried to breathe in. "I'm kidding, I wouldn't do that to you." Her voice was quiet over the mic, almost relaxing even with the bad joke that had made Konan laugh quietly in her seat.
"She's got some humor." Konan elbowed Pein. Something about the girl stood out to Konan and she felt the urge to try and sell her to Pein. Konan wanted her even though she didn't know why.
"She's quiet." Pein pointed out. "They'd eat her alive. We need someone with more presence." Konan pursed her lips as she looked him over. She turned her attention back to the stage as the notes of a piano played over the speakers.
Nari opened her mouth to sing and the lyrics of the old song she loved poured out of her mouth. They were only allowed to do covers tonight and she thanked the stars above her band agreed on Evanescence.
Pein stared in surprise as the strong, clear voice of the girl filled the room. Evanescence was a difficult band to cover well for vocalists, they needed almost an opera level of chest strength. Yet this timid girl nailed almost every note perfectly, holding them just as long as was needed. Her breathing never hitched, she never stumbled or gasped and she stayed on track with the music. Konan smirked at Pein as the two listened. She didn't get drowned out by the introduction of the louder instruments. She was projecting her voice just enough and Pein wondered if she even needed the mic.
Nari sang her heart out, releasing all of her anxiety and frustration into the song she knew by heart. She kept her eyes closed and her hands on the mic, keeping her from losing her balance. She could feel more buzzes from her phone as she sang out every note.
Finally, after three and a half minutes, the song was over. She opened her eyes as the room clapped for her. Her vision swam as she caught her breath. She could hear some of her coworkers behind the bar whistling and she giggled to herself, leaning away from the mic as she did. Feeling a little more confident now that she was free, she did a lazy curtsey, putting one leg hind the other and bending at the knee for a moment, nodding her head in thanks to the audience before spinning on her heel and walking off stage.
"That's it?" Pein asked, turning to Konan. "I thought each set was three songs?" Konan smirked at him and quirked her eyebrow.
"I thought you said she was too quiet." Konan challenged and Pein narrowed his eyes at her.
"She's good." He admitted and took a sip from his glass. "But I still don't think she's Akatsuki material. Besides, we're looking for a guitarist, not another singer. We have enough of a diva in Hidan." Konan looked at him. He was right but she wasn't about to let a girl with a voice like that just slip away. She head a clear strong voice that would clash beautifully with Hidan's rough vocals. This conversation wasn't over and she leaned back, sipping her own drink.
Nari was met by a grinning Dave and she held back the urge to slap him, settling for leaning against the wall and catching her breath.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" He told her, slapping a hand onto her shoulder. "Since you're done early, wanna hop behind the bar and make a little extra money? Traci called out again." Nari stared at him for a minute before shaking her head.
"It's my night off, Dave." She told him and pushed off the wall, picking up her discarded guitar. "I'm catching up on some sleep." Nari picked up her leather jacket and threw it on before stepping out into the parking lot. Her breath floated out in a cloud and she looked up, just breathing in the cold.
I can't believe I just did that. She thought to herself. Yes, she'd sung on stage before, but not like that, and not alone. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket again and she sighed, pulling it out. Nari groaned and rolled her eyes before climbing into her car, slamming the door shut in anger.
Can you pick up more booze? The text from her roommate read. It would be just like her roommate to throw a party instead of go to a gig. Some days Nari even wondered if she just wanted the band for party perks.
Rather than picking up more alcohol and going home, she drove over to her boyfriend's place, climbing up the steps and knocking on the door. He opened the door and the smell of weed wafted out after him. Nari wrinkled her nose at the stink and he coughed, smoke trailing out of him.
"Goddamn, Eric." Nari muttered under her breath. "Leasing office is gonna have a field day with you."
"Nah, they don't even know." He waved her off and stepped inside. "So how'd it go?" He asked her. Nari set down her guitar and shed her jacket as he closed the door.
"You'd know if you were there." She told him tiredly. She was hurt he felt staying home and smoking pot was more important than coming out to support her.
"Don't be like that." Eric sighed and grabbed her hips, pulling her back against his chest. She felt him kissing her neck and her skin crawled as his hands trailed over her. "Let me make it up to you." He offered and she gently stepped away.
"I'm tired." She told him and Nari stopped when she heard him huff. He followed her and gently turned to her to face him. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the foul smell of his breath in her face as he wrapped his arms around her.
"C'mon, I missed you." He begged and kissed her. Nari grimaced against the kiss but put up no further struggle, too tired to argue any more. The sooner he got what he wanted, the sooner she could get to sleep.
Konan returned to the bar the next evening, before they officially opened, wanting the list of the bands and singers who performed the previous night. She stepped in and looked around for someone who would be in charge. Several workers dressed in black walked around preparing for the shift, carrying boxes, making sure the place was cleaned, unloading dishes and restocking the bar for anything that could be needed. Konan walked up to the bar, her heels clicking on the floor as she carefully stepped around piles of dust someone had swept.
"Bar's closed." A young man told her as he put away the glasses, his muscles bulging under his black polo shirt.
"I'm not here for a drink." She answered calmly with a smile as she sat herself on a barstool. "Where is your manager?"
"Busy, can I take a message?" He answered rudely, wanting to just finish up his work. He looked tired and was sporting a bit of stubble.
"I want the list of bands and singers from last night." Konan told him, unfazed by his lack of customer service. How could she expect perfect attitudes from people before they were even technically open?
"Well, sweat heart." He told her sarcastically, bracing himself on the bar as he leaned in. Konan leaned in with a polite smile. "You ain't getting' it. So why don't you walk your tight little ass out of here."
"John," A sharp voice cut through, catching their attention. Konan's eyes sparkled as the object of her desires entered the scene, tossing a rag in the face of the rude man. "Stop being a dick and go do something useful." Nari scolded and Konan raised her eyebrows. The bright red hair was pulled into two tight braids over her scalp and down her back. Nari placed herself infront of the blue haired woman with a polite smile. "Sorry, ma'am. We aren't open right now."
"I was actually hoping to get a list of the bands and singers that played last night." Konan explained and noticed Nari's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "But, I believe you are actually the person I want to speak to." Nari's face went blank and stared as Konan continued. "You were the first on stage, right?"
"Right." Nari nodded. Her entire demeanor changed. The Nari that was confident enough to shoo away the lumbering ass hole was now replaced by the same timid girl on stage. Konan noticed she was fiddling with something in her hands nervously and couldn't help but laugh.
"You've got the worst case of stage fright I've ever seen." Konan teased. "You get all worked up even talking about performing." Nari laughed nervously along and once the laughter cleared from the two, Konan slide her card across the bar. "I work for a popular band and I'd like you to come by for us sometime." Without looking at the card, Nari nodded and picked it up, racking her brain for an excuse.
"Well, I'm actually part of a band." She said, hoping that would deter her.
"Some bad to leave you hanging like that." Konan pointed out.
"I uh, have work every evening and I'm busy in the days." Nari blurted out the lie, falling over her words. Konan just chuckled and shook her head before taking out a check book. Nari watched as the dangerous woman gently ripped it out and slid it across the bar.
"If you ever want a night off, this should cover it." Konan explained and clicked her pen before placing the items back into the bag. "So how about it? Want to come by this week?" Nari looked at the check she wrote and her breath caught in her throat. The amount written on the check was more than she'd make in a month. Nari looked back at Konan and without breaking eye contact she pulled out a shot glass, grabbed some random rail liquor, poured it in and took the shot. She needed the courage for the next sentence she was about to say. The burn of the alcohol broke her out of whatever stupor she was in and she slid the check across the counter.
"I can't." She mumbled and Konan flattened her lips into a thin line and hopped off the stool, pulling her bag over her shoulder.
"Think it over." She offered gently with a smile. "Consider that check an investment. If you don't want it, just rip it up." Konan turned on her heel and walked out, praying the girl would reconsider. She wasn't above kidnapping and she was getting close to having to resort to it.
Nari watched her leave. John was right about her having a tight ass. In the pencil skirt she work, it looked like you could bounce a coin off it. Nari was more distracted by the woman's hair. She had noticed the blue color before, but now that she could see the back of the bun, she could see the white flower that seemed so familiar. Her stomach sank and she slowly looked down at the card in her hand and her world spun in horror.
The card was matte black with slick blood red writing in a dramatic font and she ran her fingers over the raised lettering. The woman she had just spoken to was Konan, the PR rep for her favorite band: The Akatsuki.