Chapter 3 – The New Band
A distance voice was calling, "Shuichi… Shuichi… Please don't hate him; it's my fault…" Something was ringing in the background, but the voice continued, "Please love… forgive and forget…" The ringing noise continued to vibrate and woke Shuichi from his sleep.
"Hgh?" The boy reached up to his night stand and picked up his cell phone. He tiredly answered it, "Oh, it's you. Good Morning."
"Good morning?" The red haired boy at the other end of the receiver mocked. "Where are you?" He asked boldly.
Shuichi yawned, "In bed."
Hiro was puzzled by his sleepy friend's response, "What? It's one o'clock and you're supposed to be here half an hour ago."
"What are you talking about?"
"Suguru and I are at NG. Don't tell me that you've forgot about the audition today."
"Oh, Sh…! It's today?" The sleepy boy sat up.
"Duh?" He mocked again. "Come quickly, we still have another half an hour to get ready."
"Okay, I'm on my way." At that, Shuichi dropped the phone and found the front lobby of NG Corporation. 'Wow! Instant teleportation,' he thought to himself and then he realized that he forgot to ask Hiro where the audition was being held. He tried the reception's desk, but no one was there. It looked like everyone was taking a break. He wondered around the hallway to see if he could hear music playing, that's probably where the audition was being held, but every room he passed by was playing music and all the hallways looked the same. He was lost, "Why didn't I asked Hiro where it is when he called earlier?" He cried. "Oh where, oh where, where is that damn room! I'll miss the audition at this rate." He started scratching his head and pulling his pink hair upward, "No, I have to do this for Ryuichi Sakuma. I HAVE TO FIND THAT ROOOOOOM!"
Shuichi was running back and fort in the hallways, on the first floor, on the second, and on the third, then back to the second and as he ran down the stairs back to the first floor he smashed into a tall blonde man. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you all right?" He apologized.
"I'm fine, no harm done here." The man replied with a funny accent, but Shuichi didn't notice it.
He was relieved that he had collided with another soul in the building and started to weep, "Oh, I'm so very glad to see you. Can you help me? You see, I'm lost. I'm supposed to be in an audition today for a new band, and I don't recall which room it's being held at."
The man stared at younger boy and laughed.
"Huh?" What was so funny? The blonde man was laughing hysterically; his golden pony tail jumped up and down along with his masculine body. It continued to elevate in the air and back down to his waist. His deep blue eyes were getting misty. They looked like they were about to cry from laughing too hard. Shuichi stood there observing the man, 'He's an American,' he thought to himself, "and a creepy one too. Why is he carrying weapons in a place like this? He's armed with two 9mm guns buckled to his shoulder's straps. I don't think I want to know why or what purpose he uses them for; I hope that I wouldn't have to work with this nut ball.'
"Here it is, studio one. I don't know how you've missed it." Still laughing. The American turned the boy around 180 degrees and pointed to the room that was behind him.
On the door, there was a mounted sign labeled 'Audition Room'. It was about five inches wide and twenty inches long with bold prints and all capital letters. 'How could I've missed this?' Shuichi thought to himself feeling like a fool.
The older man opened the door and strolled in, "Hey, Mr. Sakano, are you missing someone?"
"Mr. K, what are you doing here? I thought that you're with Ryuichi." The other man questioned.
"Yea... I was, but Ryuichi is having one of his momentums and he's driving me crazy!" The American replied.
'Look who's talking', the other man thought to himself.
"I've found this kid wandering around looking for this room. Can you believe it? He missed that big sign in front?" He cracked some silent chuckles as he grabbed a seat next to the other man. "Hey, you don't mind if I stay, right?"
The other man said nothing. He walked up to Shuichi who was still standing at the door admiring the audition room. This room was very similar to the one at Suguru's place, but bigger. There was a second room where he could see Hiro and Suguru through the glass wall that separated the two rooms. His friends were adjusting their instruments and didn't notice that he had arrived. "You must be Shindo. I'm Mr. Sakano. We've been waiting for you; your band is the last to perform, please get in the recording room behind those doors and be ready in five minutes." He greeted Shuichi showing no interest in the boy, but yet managed a smile as he led the boy to the second set of doors in the room.
Shuichi greeted his friends with a big smile which quickly turned into an unpleasant frown. He crawled onto his knees and sat down to let go all the excitement that he had earlier. "Hiro, I couldn't find you anywhere. I was lost. I was scared. Why didn't you guys go and look for me?" His brows puckered up as he cried.
"I thought that I'd told you where to go yesterday." Hiro replied.
"I don't remember that." He snorted back.
"Why didn't you call me on my cell?"
"I…ya forgot."
"Same old same old, Shuichi." Suguru shook his head. "I think that we'd probably repeated ourselves a thousand times and you'd never seem to listen."
Shuichi tried to defend himself, "But if I did remember, I wouldn't be able to call you anyways."
"Why not?" Hiro questioned.
"I dropped my cell phone at home."
"You idiot!" Hiro exclaimed.
Meanwhile the band was getting ready; Mr. Sakano sat in his chair and sighed, he seemed to be in a slum and was not very interested in the last band. He looked at the band members, a tall red head with dark eyes, an average pink head with purple eyes and short green head with chocolate eyes. 'What an odd combination?' He thought to himself and heavily sighed again.
"What's wrong, Mr. Sakano? Have you found any talent among these youngsters?" K asked.
"Unfortunately, no." He groaned. "Most of the bands so far are good, but not… What should I say? Not gifted." He sighed again and started babbling in tears; his arms were moving in all direction, "Ooooh! I'm a failure! Mr. Seguchi is going to fire me now! I'm no good to anyone! I need to bury myself in a hole somewhere and just die!"
"Pipe down, you're over reacting. There is still one band left." K was staring through the glass wall and looking in particularly at the pink boy.
"But, those kids…? They don't seem like they're very serious. After all, that Shindo was late and he looks like he's all worked up." He paused. "Oh…Oh…Oh… this cannot be happening to me." He cried again and dark brown eyes flooded in tears like a waterfall.
"Actually, I think that you'll find this band interesting." K smirked with an evil grin on his face like he was planning something, something mischievous.
Mr. Sakano's brows rose and in a half cheerful voice he asked, "What make you say that?"
K replied, "That pink mop that I rescued earlier is a lot like someone we know. There is something about him very… um… interesting. I think that he might have some talent."
"Oh, we'll have to see about that won't we?" Mr. Sakano replied calmly as he spoke into the microphone to prompt the band. "Okay, Bad Luck, let start the count down, five, four, three, two, one and play."
'Hmm… Bad Luck. What an awful name, but it does have a kick to it.' K thought in silence.
The band started playing the Rage Beat; the new song that they had been practiced for this event. While they were playing in the recording room, a teddy bear peeked in through the door and asked in a child voice, "K? Who are those kids in there?" The bear pointed to the group behind the glass wall.
"I think that I've found you a new friend." K replied bluntly.
"Really, is that him over there, the vocalist?" The bear asked.
"Yes, indeed." Again, he said with an evil grin.
"Wow, sparkling! He's sparkling! He's great! I can't wait to play with him." The teddy bear cheerfully spoke again.
Mr. Sakano cried again, "Oh…Oh…Oh… they great! They're the one! They're…," and he dropped happily on the floor in his puddle of tears.
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A week later, Bad Luck was invited back to NG to sign the endorsement. NG had accepted liability and will support the band development and prosperity. Mr. Sakano was assigned to the band as their producer by the company president, Mr. Seguchi.
"Congratulation! I hope that we will work well together." Mr. Sakano greeted the band and walked them to the conference room. "You're manager will be here shortly to introduce himself."
Suddenly, Shuichi felt a chill running down his spine. Something bad was going to happen and he just knew it. "Can I ask who the manager is?" Shuichi questioned his producer.
Mr. Sakano tensed up as he answered, "You've met him back in the audition room last week. He's Mr. K."
"No! You've gotta be kidding me! That crazy man! I don't wanna work with him. He's nuts!"
"Shuichi, what are you talking about?" Hiro asked.
"You'll know what I mean when you meet him." Shuichi pouted.
"Halloo!" A teddy bear stuck its head in through the conference's door and greeted the band. "My friend and I came to congratulate you." Ryuichi Sakuma stepped forward and gave everyone a big welcome smile.
Shuichi couldn't believe it. His idol was standing before him, "Ryuichi Sakuma! It's really you. I love you! Can I get your autograph?" His purple eyes glittered up as he pleaded. He had been a fan of Ryuichi for the longest time; Ryuichi Sakuma, the vocalist of his favorite band, Nittle Gasper. He was the reason why, Shuichi started singing and started the music club back in high school.
Ryuichi walked up to meet the sparkling vocalist, "You're the one I saw singing the other day. You were great!" He complimented Shuichi. "Do you want to be our friend? Mr. Bear and I would love to play with you." He asked in a very childish way.
"FREEZE!" K jumped out between the door frames and stuck out his two 9mm guns. "Don't move an inch or I'll shoot!" He demanded.
"What are you doing, Mr. K?" Mr. Sakano cried with his hand raised.
"I told you, this guy is crazy! I'm not working with him!" Shuichi disregarded the guns and ran out. He ran into the lobby where he collided into another blonde, a wheat blonde this time. He fell onto his buttock while the other man fumbled back a few steps yet kept his balance. Shuichi looked up to meet the other man's jade green eyes; they were cold, they were staring at him, observing him and making him feeling uneasy. He was nervous, the moisture in the air was burnt at the present of this man, making his breath shorten as his gasped for air. He recognized those eyes; he'd seen them before, but where he couldn't remember.
"Shuichi! Are you alright?" Hiro and the Suguru came running after him.
"Uh-huh." He managed and Hiro pulled his friend up to his feet.
"Don't you go and scare us like that again!" Suguru landed a fist right on Shuichi's cheek. "You could've been killed, if it were to be someone else. You moron!"
"What's all the commotion?" The wheat blonde asked.
"Hi there, Touma!" K came to the scene, "I was just having a little fun introducing myself to my new subjects. I guessed I scared the little guy." He replied.
"So, these are the new members of NG's new promotion." Touma took a second to glance at each member of the band. "Welcome on board!" He continued.
Shuichi regained his normal breathing, yet he was still focusing on Touma, he couldn't remember where he'd seen Touma before. "Had we meet somewhere before?" He asked. "You looked very familiar."
"You idiot! He's Touma Seguchi, the pianist of Nittle Gasper, you favorite band in Japan!" Suguru reminded his forgetful friend.
"And the president of NG." K added.
"Oh… so that's why he looked so familiar." Shuichi said forcing a smile onto his face.
Ryuichi came out of nowhere and gave Touma a big friendly hug, "Hallo, Touma! Did you meet my new friend, Shuichi?"
Mr. Sakano slowly caught up with them into the lobby.
"Yes, we've just met." Touma replied.
"Isn't he great? He's a vocalist just like me!" Ryuichi praised childishly.
Touma looked at Ryuichi then to Shuichi and back to Ryuichi, "Yes. I can see the resemblance." He chuckled.
"Touma?" The childish pop-star asked.
"Yes." He answered with a flat tone of voice.
Ryuichi was rotating his upper body left to right with his teddy bear hanging from his hand swinging up and down. "I have a great idea!" He grinned widely. "Our up coming concert at Zap Tokyo on the 16th, I wanna sing with my new friend on stage."
"No."
"Why not? Do you not like Shuichi?" He looked at Touma with puppy eyes.
"Their band is new and they…"
Ryuichi stopped Touma before he could finish his sentence, "Why? Why? Whhyyy?" He cried. "Mr. Bear hates you! If Shuichi is not singing with me, then Mr. Bear is not going to the concert and if Mr. Bear is not going, then I'm not going either." He rolled his violet eyes away from Touma and held his teddy bear tightly against his chest.
"We could have them open for the concert. I've heard them played and they're
p-r-e-t-t-y good." K suggested with a snickering tone.
"If this makes Ryuichi happy, then it has to do." Touma couldn't say no to Ryuichi without the vocalist the concert couldn't take place. "Does this make Mr. Bear happy, Ryuichi?" Touma asked his childish band mate.
"Let me ask Mr. Bear. Mr. Bear, will this make you happy?" The teddy bear nodded with Ryuichi's help. "Yes, it does, it makes Mr. Bear happy." Ryuichi replied.
"This is great!" Hiro pulled both of his band mates in for a group hug.
"We have two weeks to practice." K instructed the producer. "Mr. Sakano, please get all the preparation ready."
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The night before the concert Shuichi got so excited that he couldn't sleep. "What to do? What to do?" He circled around his room for what seemed like forever, and then he lay on bed, dropping his head upside down. "What should I do? At this pace, I'll stay up all night and have big puffy eyes. I'll look awful for the concert tomorrow." He sighed. "I know I'll call Hiro." He picked up the phone and started dialing. "Come on, Hiro, pick up the damn phone!" He didn't receive any response from the other end, so now, still unsure of what to do; he made another 360 degree lap around his room and got an idea.
Someone was pounding on the door. Thudded, thudded, thudded and thudded the sound was getting louder, faster and harder. Hiro dragged himself out of bed to answer the annoying disturbance. "Shuichi?" He yawned, yet not surprise. If any idiot would be at his door at this hour then of course, it would be his best friend. "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought that I'll sleep here tonight. This way you can wake me up in the morning."
"You've must be kidding me, right?" He yawned again, a little wider this time.
"Come on, Hiro! Don't be a jerk! I'm too excited to sleep and the least you can do is to comfort me." Shuichi whined, looking hurt.
"Alright, come on in. You can take the bed and I'll sleep on the couch tonight."
"Thank you! You're a life saver." Shuichi smiled as he welcomed himself into the soft bed. "I'm so happy. I can't believe that tomorrow is the day."
Hiro agreed with his sleepless friend, "Uh-huh."
Shuichi continued to babble away while his friend sat by his headboard listening. After a couple of hours, he drifted to sleep.
Hiro tucked his friend in and stood there for a moment to admire his young friend lying in his bed sleeping, so peaceful and innocent.
In Shuichi's deep slumber, he heard a familiar voice, "Please live on for me…"
"NO!" A second voice screamed.
The familiar voice continued, "I'll wait for you… No matter where… No matter when… No matter how long… I'll wait for you."
"I'll find you, wherever you may be." A third voice spoke gently. "Even if it takes the rest of eternity."
The familiar voice continued, "I'll wait for you… for only you… Please find me."
Another voice was transmitting to him. It was getting louder, louder and louder. "Shuichi, wake up!" The voice was getting stronger, "WAKE UP!" and clearer, "WAKE UP! YOU DAMNED IDIOIT! WAKE UP!"
Shuichi slowly opened his eyes, but quickly shut them back from the brightness of the room reflected from the sun's ray. Slowly adjusting to the light, he gained consciousness and re-opened them. 'This is not my room," he thought to himself, "Where am I?" He spoke lightly.
"Thank goodness! You're okay." Hiro expressed his relief.
Shuichi was confused, "Hiro? What happened, where am I?"
"You don't remember barging into my house last night and took over my bed?"
"Oh, that's right." He breathed heavily, "What happened? Why do I feel so exhausted?"
"That's what I want to know. I've been trying to wait you up for the last hour."
"Really?"
"Yeah, for a moment there, I thought that you were going to sleep forever." Hiro exhaled. "It looked like you were in some kind a trance. At first, I didn't give it much thought, I tried to wake you up earlier, but you didn't respond, so I thought that you wanted to snooze. I'd left you alone and went to the kitchen to make some coffee. When I came back with the coffee and you were still in bed, in the same position that I last saw you. I gave you a few kicks and still you didn't move. I thought that you were playing games with me, so I ignored you and when to bathroom to take a shower. When I got out of the shower and came back to the room to get a change of clothing. I found you in the position that I'd last left you; it didn't seem right, so I held you up nervously and shook you like crazy while calling out your name. Then you slowly woke up and here we are."
"I was dreaming again…" Shuichi managed to speak, slowly. "Do you remember the dream that I'd told you last month in the coffee shop?"
"How can I forget?"
"Well after that night, I'd been dreaming on and off about her, but I could never see a clear picture of what was happening." He paused. "Last night's dream was different, I wasn't able to see anything; everything was dark. All I could do was hearing voices, difference voices were in the background, so I follow them and started walking. I kept on walking and walking and walking for what seemed like it would never end." He looked worried.
"Were you scared?" Hiro asked with concern.
"A little." Shuichi replied breathing easier. "I heard a couple of difference voices, two, no three voices. One of them belonged to her, but the other two, I didn't recognized them. I don't know who they were or why they showed up in my dream. I couldn't even remember what they were saying."
"Do you think that this is another sign, that you'll meet that guy again?" Hiro asked calmly.
"I don't know." He paused and remembered something from the dream, "I think she was saying something like 'I'll wait for you and only you,' or something around that line." Shuichi spoke with a clearer voice.
"That's it then." Hiro squeezed his friend's forearm. "I'll bet my money on it. I'm sure that you'll meet that guy again."
"You really think so?"
"I do." Hiro replied looking at his friend with a serious face. "We have a long day ahead of us. Will you be able to perform tonight? Or should we…"
"No, I'm okay. I want to… for our band."
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The Concert started and the crowd was wild, screaming, yelling and cheering. "Good evening, everyone!" Shuichi greeted the audience while standing on stage with band mates. "We're a new band call BAD LUCK, and tonight for the first time ever, we'll perform just for YOU!
"YEAAHHH! WOO-WHOOO!" The audience responded.
"Okay guys, let play!"
While the band was performing the Rage Beat, a group of friends were admiring the new band's members.
"Wow! Do you see that guy? He's so dreamy…" The first girl asked her friends in the pool of people.
"Who? Do you mean the pianist?" The second girl answered with a question.
"NO! It's the guitarist, the red head, his hair… he looks so sexy!"
"I think that the pianist is cuter! I want him… Oohh… god, make him mine…" The second girl fantasized.
"No way! The red head is HOTTER! What you do think?" The first girl asked another friend in the pool of people.
"I think that all three of them look lovely, but I like the singer." The third girl replied gently.
"What that pink head? He looks ridiculous! He looks like a girl!"
"I agreed." The second girl concurred.
"I like his voice. Don't you think that he has a lovely voice?" The third girl asked.
"Yeah! I guess you're right!" The first girl agreed.
"They kick ass!" The second girl screamed.
"And now, the moment that you've been waiting for, I give you NITTLE GASPER!" Shuichi screamed into this microphone.
"YEEAAAHHHH! WE LOVE YOU! RYUICHI SAKUMA!"
"This is the best concert ever!" The first girl stated.
"Ryuichi is so amazing and the new band was great too! I'll be keeping an eye on them," said the second girl.
"Yes, me too." The third girl concurred and they slowly exited the club house.
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Every good thing had to take a break; the concert was over and the guests were emptying the building. Shuichi was all high spirited and happy; he was happy to be here tonight, he was happy to perform live with his two best friends, and he was happy to be back stage while seeing Ryuichi Sakuma performed. The concert tonight was unbelievable; it would be one of the most memorable events of his life. Still thrilled by all that happened, he decided to give Ryuichi a visit before he left for the night.
"Ryuichi." He called to the Nittle Gasper's dressing room, but no one answered, so he opened the unlock door and welcomed himself in. He froze instantly staring at his idol. Ryuichi was still dressing; he was half naked from the top with his jean aligned along his waistline and his fly still opened. Shuichi gasped and held onto his breath. He felt his blood boiling inside of him; he didn't like this feeling. Why was he getting all worked up seeing Ryuichi like this? Was it because he had never seen Ryuichi like this before or was it something else? Ryuichi looked so much older and mature with his broad shoulders and masculine feature displayed. He was so hot! 'What am I thinking? Am I into this kind of stuff?' He questioned himself. "I'm sorry Ryuichi, I'll come back later." He turned around and started twisting the door knob.
Ryuichi stopped him with a big hug from the behind pulling him into his chest. 'Blushing! Burning! Hot!' Shuichi turned into a steamed tomato. "Shuichi! You were great! I love your song! Keep on signing and keep on sparkling!" Ryuichi's childish compliment cooled off the steam and returned Shuichi to normal.
"Thank you." He replied as he escaped Ryuichi's arms, "You were great too! I wanted to thank you for today. I've always loved Nittle Gasper during high school and I've never imagined being here on the same stage with you." He started babbling.
Ryuichi leaned forward forcing Shuichi back against the door. His violet eyes met Shuichi's purple ones, and with a serious tone he asked, "How did it feel? Was it great?" With Ryuichi only inches away from him, it made him nervous; he took in little breaths and nodded his answer. Ryuichi moved in closer, "Remember, when you sing, you're singing for you, for those who admire you and for those who love you. You have a gift, Shuichi, so keep on singing."
Shuichi couldn't believed what he'd just heard, of the little time that he'd known Ryuichi, this was the first time his idol was being so calm and serious. The shock put him into a daze and before he could respond, the door suddenly swung opened slamming his body into Ryuichi as he grabbed hold of his idol's arms for support.
"Ryuichi Sakuma!" A male voice called out his name. He closed the door behind him and found the pop-star half naked with a pink head pressing against his chest. "I'm sorry, I wanted to see Ryuichi, I didn't mean to... um…um…"
"No, it's not what you think!" Shuichi objected and let go of Ryuichi's arms. He turned around slowly and found himself in another shock. He couldn't believe it, it was him, but no… it wasn't him. This man was different.
"Oh." He replied.
"Hi there!" Ryuichi returned to his childish self. "So, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes! Yes! I'm your number one fan; can I get your autograph?" The young man pleaded, his dark eyes glittered and his blue black hair danced with joy.
"There you go. Isn't my scribble great?" Ryuichi praised himself as he signed the music album.
"Excuse, me?" Shuichi interrupted their conversation. He couldn't let go the fact that this young man was a split image of the guy that he met in the park a month ago.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
Shuichi was feeling a bit nervous but he knew that now was his chance, he need to go forward and find out what his dream was trying to tell him, "I ya… You um… look like someone."
"Yeah?"
"I've met this guy that looked very much like you a few weeks ago."
"I see. He must be BRO." He replied.
"You have a brother?" Shuichi voice rose with curiosity.
The young man found it interesting that the lead singer of the new band had so much interest in his brother, "Yah, he's a few years older than I. If I were to have his bright blonde hair and dazzling golden eyes, then we could've been identical twins."
Shuichi agreed with a nod.
"What's your name kid?" Ryuichi asked.
"I'm not a kid!" He snapped. "I'm eighteen and name is Tatsuha Uesugi. And if you might be wondering." He smirked. "My bro's name is Eiri… Eiri Uesugi. He is also known as Eiri Yuki."