Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.
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CHAPTER TEN: The Play
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Sakurako, Yuki and Shigeru were all excited as they ate at the Makino's breakfast table since it was the day for their performance at the record company they signed at. But before that, they're going to watch and help Tsukushi prepare for her ballet performance at the school that late afternoon.
"Morning guys!" Tsukushi greeted, a huge bag was slung on her shoulder.
"You look like you're in a hurry." Yuki noticed. Tsukushi didn't bother to sit down on the table while finishing her glass of fresh milk.
"I am, got a practice today before the performance later."
"Then we'll be going to school with you to watch and help for the stage." Sakurako said.
"And for the background music too." Shigeru added.
"Thank you, guys."
Umi entered the dining hall that moment, she looked at Tsukushi with a frown. "What's up, cuz?"
"Got a ballet play later at school."
"I bet all the Doumyouji's would be there, so I'll be watching too." She smiled cheerfully.
"I thought so."
"Anyway, I've got a problem cousin…" Umi suddenly looked worried.
"You," Sakurako pointed out with a raised brow and a sarcastic smile, "Have a problem?"
Umi nodded with a pout.
"What, can't decide where to buy some nail polish?" Sakurako taunted. They knew how shallow Umi could be. They bet she and Asai and her gang would build a fast friendship together when they meet.
"Actually no, much worse than that."
"What?" Tsukushi asked in a hurried voice. She really didn't care about her shallow cousin's problem, but that's it, she's her cousin and has the duty to hear her out. Not to mention that she's a guest at the house.
"You see, I know you know about it already since you're the one who saw me and Tsukasa kissing here at the couch…" Umi said with a sigh.
Sakurako rolled her eyes while the others gave an 'I knew it' look to each other. "Geez, I thought it's a matter of life and death."
"But it is!" Umi whined as she flipped her hair backwards. "You see, I really like Seinosuke, very much, I feel that we have this connection…then there's also Tsukasa, I mean, we kissed, it's so intense, I could feel myself being drawn to him…" she sighed. "You see my biggest problem now, I'm having a hard time making my decision who's to keep between them two."
"Boy, I'm surprise you didn't bother mentioning Akira, Soujirou and that irritating Rui." Shigeru said sarcastically.
"Thank kami or I'll deal with a worst problem." She sighed again.
"You know what?" Tsukushi said after a while, she tried her hardest not to be sarcastic. "Why don't you just let time take care of itself, you know, don't think about it too much."
Umi's face brightened, "You're right, maybe I'll just enjoy dating either Seinosuke or Tsukasa, I mean whoever between them is fine, ne?" then she stood up with a bounce. "I'll be going then, ja."
When she was gone Sakurako shook her head, "I bet it's only her who felt that connection thing with Seinosuke…"
"She's really shallow, I can't pinpoint how her brain really works." Yuki muttered before she took a bite with her bacon.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Doumyouji Mansion….
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"So, you gonna watch the program later?" Soujirou asked Rui.
Rui looked up from the TV, "Yeah, I bet that Ms. Loudmouth would be there." He grinned.
"Loudmouth eh…..maybe what you meant was love-mouth…."Soujirou snickered as he drank from his soda. Rui glared at him.
"Damn, it's full moon tonight!" Tsukasa muttered as he descent from the grand staircase.
Akira raised his brow, "So?"
"Remember that I marked Tsukushi, and you know what that means…."
"Don't worry bro, it's not like you're the only one…" Akira motioned his head sideward to Rui's direction.
Tsukasa shrugged as he sat next to Rui and grabbed some fries on Rui's bowl. "So, any plans for tonight, about your lady love I mean?"
"Why the sudden interest about my affairs?" Rui frowned as he scooted his bowl of fries away from his brothers, since Akira and Soujirou also grabbed a handful.
"Since we have the same predicament, dummy!"
Rui shrugged again as he burrow deeply on the couch, "Nothing really…..que serra serra…"
Tsukasa's vein popped. He was about to say something when Tsubaki spoke from somewhere before she appeared. "Anyone saw Seinosuke?"
Akira looked up, "He said something about going to the bookstore…"
"First it's Umi, and now a cashier…." Soujirou snickered.
"Bookstore rendezvous, eh." The duo chuckled.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Eitoku, Auditorium…
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Yuki, Sakurako, and Shigeru were already decorating the stage. They even asked permission to skip class for the event later.
"So, d'you think this stuff are enough?" Shigeru asked as she looked at their half finished work. She was standing in the middle of the stage, arms akimbo.
Sakurako frowned as she studied the decorations herself. "Ummm…..i think we just need to add some more flowers and fairy mushrooms on the sides and near-front of the stage. It's a fairy-thing to do, you know." She pointed out.
Shigeru made a face, while Yuki was mixing paint. "How are we going to manage that many fairy flowers and mushroom? It'll take a whole day which we don't have."
"But we can't leave this stage looking so dull."
Their chatters ended when someone cleared their throat as if to cut in.
"No fear, my dear, we're here to help." Rui said as he walked toward Shigeru and held her at the waist.
Shigeru lifted a brow as she inched away from Rui, "We'll appreciate your help but that doesn't mean that you're allowed to hold me around. We're not that close you know!"
Rui grinned as he slowly said, "You have no idea…"
Shigeru rolled her eyes before she went back near Yuki to help.
"Geez, you two lovebirds always manage to give us a public show." Akira snickered as he walked toward Sakurako and gave her a kiss.
"Excuse me! We're not love birds!" Shigeru contradicted. "Especially not to that weird brother of yours! He's the last man I'll ever like, if that's even possible!"
Rui just smirked with amusement while Akira and Soujirou laughed.
"Man, the irony of it all!" Soujirou bursted.
Shigeru just 'hmped' before she focused with her work, totally oblivious about what Soujirou meant.
Tsukasa rolled his eyes, "Anyway, what can we help you with?" he asked, changing the topic.
"Oh," Sakurako snapped her fingers. "Lots of big fairy flowers and mushrooms, that means its either we use a Styrofoam, huge boxes, or solidified huge papers, and then we'll paint it later."
"I think we'll go for the boxes since there's a lot of it here." Rui said as he scanned the room.
"Hmm….I'm surprise you could think…" Shigeru taunted.
Rui just shrugged, promising himself that he would definitely hunt her down later.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Later at the Auditorium…..Start of the play…
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"Goodluck Tsukushi, do your best!" Shigeru squealed as she hugged her friend, they were all at the back stage saying their wishes to their friend before the play started.
"I will!" Tsukushi smiled.
"We'll see you later then…"
Tsukushi nodded.
The girls were already on their way to their seats while Tsukushi was warming up when Tsukasa approached her.
"Hey." Tsukasa greeted, he was standing just behind Tsukushi.
Tsukushi turned and looked up, a bit surprised, "Hi, Tsukasa." Then she looked around.
"What are you looking around for?" Tsukasa frowned.
"I thought Umi's with you."
Tsukasa rolled his eyes. "I'm not her keeper." Then he gave a bunch of roses to her in pink colors with sweet scent. "Anyway, these are for you."
"Tsukasa, you're supposed to give them after the play." Tsukushi smiled, touched at Tsukasa's gesture. "At least after you decided you like the show."
"Whatever," Tsukasa shrugged. "I know it'll be great, after all. But don't worry, I didn't say I won't be giving anything to you later."
Tsukushi stared at the young man in front of her, disbelief in her eyes. "I know you're filthy rich Tsukasa but you don't have to give me so many flowers."
"But I want to," he shrugged. "Anyway, goodluck, dollface." He said before he walked away.
Tsukushi raised her brow, a small smile curved at her mouth as she brought the flowers to her nose.
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5 minutes later….
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After some introductory music, the play started with the drawing of the curtain…
Fairy dancers came into view, they were dancing in a soft and enchanting music. The fairy prince dancing with loneliness with the other fairies because he has no special someone to dance with. The music seemed to follow the mood of the dancers and not to mention the expressions of their emotions.
The dance took some several minutes, the audience were struck in awe.
In the F4's and the girl's rows, Tsukasa frowned, "Where the heck is she? I only came to watch because of her!"
"Patience, brother, she'll be on the next dance…" Soujirou reminded him.
Akira laughed, "You do realize that patience is not part of his vocabulary."
Tsukasa glared at them, "Shut up before I turn my thinning patience to the both of you!"
Before anyone could speak anymore, someone interrupted them. "Hey, did I miss anything?" Seinosuke asked.
Four inquiring brows raised toward him since he has a girl with him while behind them was a scowling Umi.
"Oh, everyone, I would all like you to meet, Mars…(Ehem ..hehe)…" Seinosuke introduced her with a boyish grin.
Mars nodded at them with a shy smile, "Hello, nice to meet all of you."
The girls greeted her back with a smile, while the two playboys nodded as Tsukasa kept on scowling.
"Oh, the bookstore girl!" Soujirou snapped his fingers. "I knew it!"
"Hmp!" Umi made a snotty noise before she went over to Tsukasa and clung to his arms as she whispered, "So much for choosing."
The Hana's just exchanged an amuse smile, while Tsukasa gave a disgruntled look.
Back at the stage…a more romantic music came from the background…
The fairy prince as Junpei was wandering around the fairy garden, he spotted a young and beautiful lady dancing around, she looked like a fairy and yet she has no wings.
Tsukushi dances gracefully around the stage as her emotions being portrayed on the dance. Her, as a fairy being sad because she was alone and she has no wings that was why others were taunting her because she was different. She doesn't belong.
As she made some pirouette and she twirled and twirled around the stage smoothly, she stopped with surprise when a young fairy-man met her at the end of her turn. The fairy-man held her and they both dance, love in their movements and in their faces. Suddenly, as their dance progresses…a wing sprout on Tsukushi's back (I have no idea how did they do that….frown the power of fanfic), making her a fairy princess being in love with a fairy prince.
The audience clapped their hands as the emotional dance ended. And before it all ended, at the last scene, Tsukushi and Junpei danced the Thumbelina music 'Let me be your wings.'
Some of the audience cried, others emotional and some feeling the love. While not very far, a curly haired guy being furious with jealousy at the sweetness he was seeing on the stage even though it was only a show. His possessive instinct taking place and not to mention that it was the night where his other self, so are his brothers, time of transformation.
Everyone applauded as the show ended.
The emcee and the ballet teacher appeared to thank the audience and to introduce the closing number.
The Hana's on their seat stood, Soujirou looked at them with a frown. "Where are you girls going?"
"We're playing a music for the closing number…" Shigeru answered.
"I know it'll be awesome like your previous performance." Rui said with adoration.
Shigeru rolled her eyes, "I won't be surprise if we start to suck now." She huffed before she walked away, leaving a laughing Rui.
The F3 looked at him in disbelief. Rui never laughed.
"Ohhh….this is the first time I'll see them perform." Tsubaki said with excitement.
"Me too." Seinosuke second the motion.
"There's only one thing to say," The F4 almost said in unison, "They're great!"
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
After a while…at the stage…
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As the equipment being ready, the emcee walked again in the middle of the stage… "I know many of you loved their songs, that's why we're bringing them to all of you before this play ended…"
The student body clapped and cheered while the parents were just watching with intrigue and anticipation.
"…but before anything else…I would like to congratulate them for winning the band competition that would lead them to being a famous rock chicks. I, together with the school are very proud to have them as students here…imagine them, schooling HERE…others would envy us!"
The audience laughed.
"Anyway, I know you'd rather see them play than me blabbering here…so without further hindrance…here's what you all have been waiting for…..The Hana's!" the emcee walked out of the stage.
Shigeru, Yuki, and Sakurako walked to their designated instrument, they were wearing their same tight-low waist jeans and black blouse, part of their belly were revealed. Tsukushi followed, she changed her clothes like the other three. She took the mic from its stand as she smiled.
"Hello everyone…well, thanks for watching the show and I hope you enjoyed it…and since you've been watching mellow-romantic play earlier…well it's time for us to rock your world!" Tsukushi said in a half yelling voice so the crowds could hear her.
The audience cheered.
"But before that, I would also like to thanks my bandmates, well, obviously without each one of them here on the stage, The Hana's won't be here, so a big-huge-mega thanks, love you guys…" then she looked at Shigeru.
Shigeru nodded as she raised her arms and making some countdown-noise with her drum sticks. Tsukushi made a half crouch position as she waited for Shigeru's drum roll and the follow up instruments.
Long lost words whisper slowly to me, still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside, I know you're still there
Watching me wanting me, I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you loving you, I won't let you pull me down
Sakurako and Yuki heightened their guitars rythmn in cadence with Shigeru's drum, Tsukushi started walking here and about, head-banging and slight-jumping for a while before she resumed in her crouch-like stance, face down as if getting all her concentration with singing, both her hands were clasping the head of her mic.
"They're good!" Tsubaki and Seinosuke said in admiration.
Mars nodded, "Uhuh…I used to dream on being part of a band too…" her hands clasped on her lap.
Umi just pouted as she clung on Tsukasa who heed no mind to her as his full attention was on the girl singing on the stage. As always, their song was as cryptic like the others.
Hunting you I can smell you----alive, your heart pounding in my head
Tsukushi stared at the crowd as if in a trance, her voice looming and affecting them. She head-banged as she twirled around and jumped slightly, letting the loud music lead her.
Shigeru banged her head in the air as she drummed away….that was the same with Yuki and Sakurako as they jumped like lunatics just like Tsukushi as they guitar away.
Tsukushi stopped dead as she stood still, her head bowed but her eyes trailing at the crowds…
And then her eyes unintentionally stopped and stared at Tsukasa…
Watching me wanting me, I can feel you pull me down
Saving me raping me, watching me, I can feel you pull me down…..
Tsukasa could feel his blood boiling as his other half wanted to take control. Tsukushi repeated the chorus 'till it fades, her eyes not leaving Tsukasa as if daring him. To what? She didn't know.
Sweat poured on the Hana's face and body as they smiled after their song then Shigeru started another beat…
"Hey, did you think it's already finish…well, it's not…" Tsukushi said after breaking her eye contact with Tsukasa. She couldn't understand but there was a part of her waiting and expecting for something but she couldn't name it.
The girls jumped and head banged some more as Tsukushi rounded the stage.
Now i will tell you what i've done for you, 50 thousand tears I've cried
Screaming deceiving and bleeding for you, and you still won't hear me
Don't want your hand this time I'll save myself, maybe I'll wake up for once
Not tormented daily defeated by you, just when i thought i reached the bottom
I'm dying again, I'm going under, drowning in you, I'm falling forever
I've got to break through, I'm going under
Tsukushi walked down the isle and toward the crowds as she let some on-the-way student sang with her…
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies, so i don't know what's real and what's not
Always confusing the thoughts in my head, so i can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again
She nodded her thanks to the girl and walked near the F4's seat and held her mic with a raised brow, daring one of them to sing with her…Umi turned her nose up and looked away…Tsukushi shrugged…Mars stood up and raised her hand in the air as she slightly banged her head in cadence with Tsukushi and the very loud music…
I'm going under, drowning in you, I'm falling forever
I've got to break through, so go on and scream, scream at me I'm so far away
I won't be broken again, I've got to breathe I can't keep going under
Tsukushi and Mars laughed and sang to their hearts content, Tsubaki stood and sing with them, Tsukushi tripped slightly as she moved backwards to give room to Tsubaki and half sitting on Tsukasa before she re-instilled her bearing and bow as a thanks as she left and walked toward the stage while she continued singing…she walked up the stage and went toward Yuki and Sakurako to sing with them the chorus till it fade…
I'm going under, drowning in you
I'm falling forever, I've got to break through…..
Tsukushi sang aloud as she jumped and crouch…her vocal nerves revealing its color on her neck slightly as Shigeru rolled her drums away…Yuki kept on playing while Sakurako smash her guitar on the ground a few times in cadence with the song and the music…
As the song finished…The Hana huffed and bowed before they left the stage…the crowd cheered…and the emcee appeared once again…
"Thank you, The Hana's…geez they're sooo hot…everyone, I would like to say that go grab your opportunity to talk to them, picture with them, take videos and their signatures, even have an off-the-market making the video thingy of them, even on-the-campus hidden or snapshots videos 'coz I'm telling you they'll be hotstuff a few weeks from now…and you won't get your chance anymore once they become public property. Since they're signing a contract with one of the biggest music company here in japan and abroad…and you'll barely get a hold of them…so grab your chance now!" the emcee laughed. "I myself did all those, even getting their signatures on my car. The school principal even has their hands printed on the wall! Man, I'm making an ad on them, am I?" he nodded his head. "Years from now, they'll be the music goddesses…think U2, Linkin Park…..etc.." then he sighed. "So guys out there, court them now or you'll be sorry later…" then he waved. "Well, goodbye now and see you on some other programs later…ciao…"
He walked away, the lights dimmed as the Hana's demo song drifted in the air as a background music.
The F4, Tsubaki, Mars, Seinosuke, and a reluctant Umi went at the backstage, and congratulated the girls.
Umi who saw Junpei smiled a wolfish smile and left with him after saying her goodbye's to the others. The girls rolling their eyes with amusement.
Tsubaki kissed each of them in the cheek, so was Mars and Seinosuke before they said their goodbye also.
"See you girls later I guess…" Mars said with a shy smile. "I'll be your number one fan."
The girls grinned as they waved goodbye to the three.
The F4 were the last to say their congrats and peck a kiss on the Hana's cheek.
"Hey, we gotta get moving if we don't want to be late on our meeting at our record label!" Sakurako remarked.
"Well, we better go too," Soujirou said as he gave a meaningful look to his brothers.
"But what about our band's play?" Yuki frowned.
"We'll be there promise, we just…uhh…need to be somewhere right now…" he gave a kiss on Yuki before he left with the others.
"Well, I gotta get my ballet things and stuff home, so I'll catch up later…" Tsukushi shrugged before waving and walking away.
Shigeru then frowned as she scratched her head. "And I gotta get some stuff and my spare clothes on my locker so I'll see you two too later."
"And we'll be on our way, we guess…" Sakurako and Yuki shrugged.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Starting next chapter, I would upped this fic for rated M.
And thanks to: aliof1873, xcb, devilish angel 4eva, Alicia, macjill, kenni – my apology if it bothers you so much but don't forget that this is only fanfiction and I'm not the only one using these kinds of themes…and since this is a dark fic so yeah, things like killing should be expected, that's why I'm putting some romance, humors, and feelings to it. But if this bothers you so, my only suggestion is to not read it. Deb, kaori-angel, mangadreams, miki hanazawa, danny10.
Well, here's next chapter. Yorishiku!