Lola: New chapter. Wow. For once in the past few months.
Paris: no kidding. You think you could have taken any frickin longer?
Lola: Possibly. But something this crappy doesn't do much.
Paris: Touché.
Lola: Oy! TMM! Disclaimer please!TMM: Lola-Gurl doesn't own Fruits Basket or any of its characters. She does own Akemi Kamikara and co. (except Amaya, who belongs to Paris Rose of course) Also, the following songs don't belong to her:
"Everywhere". It belongs to Michelle Branch.
"What it is". That belongs to the Good Luck Joes (I luv the Joes!)
"Fly Me to the Moon" Yea, that belongs to Sinatra. Or somebody. Whatever.
"Unsung" belongs to Vanessa Carlton.
Lola: Just so you know, song lyrics are in italics. So with that, begin.
Bright and Beautiful
Chapter Six:
Lessons
Amaya waited outside the bathroom door for her sister to come out. The tense silence between them was almost unbearable. Eventually, Amaya gave up and left the room, shutting the door with a snap. Akemi perked her head up from inside the bathroom and slowly got up. She opened the door slightly and peeked her head out, to make sure Amaya was not in her room (she checked the other door too, just in case Amaya was in her own room)
Sighing, she flopped down on her bed. She had no intention of talking to her sister at the moment. Once again, Amaya jumped at the chance to be noticed and to stand out. It wasn't as if Akemi didn't want to, she just felt uncomfortable with the circumstances.
###FLASHBACK###
"Momma, I don't really wanna go to Piano lessons," Akemi said quietly. She was 7 years old. She had dreaded Piano since she had first started it the year before. Her mother gave her a stern look.
"Akemi Yoku Kamikara! You'll do as I ask you. Now you KNOW that you're good at Piano, so you're going to go. You should be happy that you have a Kamikara teaching you. It's someone you can trust." She pulled her by the hand up to the doorway and rang the door.
It was true, her teacher, Kanaye Kamikara was related to her. But barely. He was her father's 15th cousin on his mother's side. That didn't make him any trustworthier. The Kamikara family was a large one, so he was a stranger anyway.
"Good afternoon, Akemi. How nice to see you again." He gave her a vague smile, which made her shiver. He had a long crooked nose and daunting eyes. He was quite tall, and slouched slightly. His long, nimble fingers were perfect for piano playing (and for frightening little children) His kind act did not fool Akemi in the slightest. Her mother was different.
"Kanaye, it's very nice to see you again. You understand that we've been busy. But Akemi has been practicing," Her mother pushed her foreword into the doorway. "I'll be back later, sweetie. Lots of love!" She blew a kiss and left.
The second the door had closed, Kanaye's smile immediately turned to a frown. "Get to work. Now."
###END FLASHBACK###
Akemi slowly drew a deep breath. It was a haunting memory; one that she had repressed years ago. She wished not to think about it, but resurfacing memories couldn't be controlled.
"Akemi, Dinner!"
Sighing, she stood up and left her room. When she reached the dining room, she realized the crowd of people was larger than her own immediate family. Her face was drained of all its color when she saw who had come to call.
"Akemi dear, how nice to see you again."
That smile. It had never fooled her. It didn't now either.
"H-hello," Akemi managed to stutter as she looked down at her feet. It was all she could do to restrain herself from kicking and screaming like a child for him to leave. But he must, after all, live nearby, since he was a Kamikara. Along with Kanaye, was his family (Akemi only saw them sparingly) His frail looking daughter, who was an exact replica of her mother. His wife did not smile at Akemi, neither did her daughter.
"Kanaye and his family have come for a visit. Why not play them something on the piano, Akemi?" Her mother said lightly. She had completely forgotten, hadn't she?
###FLASHBACK###
It was 11:30 at night. A young girl sat at her piano relentlessly the same part over and over. If her staccatos weren't short enough, or the legatos smooth enough, or one key pressed wrong, she would start again. Her eyes were tired and her fingers were numb. But with her piano teacher's words beating down on her.
She was a disappointment. She couldn't do anything right. As long as she made mistakes she wasn't good enough for the Kamikara name.
Everything he said put her down.
The pedal had dampened the sound of the piano, but it couldn't fool Amaya. She peeked into the living room to see her little sister quietly playing again and again. She wanted to say something.... anything, to get her sister to go to bed. But nothing word work. Akemi would push herself to the end of time if it meant pleasing someone.
###END FLASHBACK###
Of all the excuses running through Akemi's head, she decided to pick the most logical. "We don't have a piano." She said flatly.
Her mother frowned. "Oh. What a shame. I'd be sure your grandfather would have one somewhere around here. Now come and sit down for dinner." For a moment Akemi didn't move at all. But when she saw the stern look on her mother's face, along with the patient one of her father, she realized she'd have to sit through hell. At least for the evening, anyway. Kanaye and his family chatted with her parents lightly. Although he smiled his same fake smile, he was even less believable now that she was older.
She wanted to scream. Point at them and scream until her throat was raw. They were all so fake. It made her sick.
"Akemi, have you ever thought about starting lessons again?" her mother asked suddenly.
Akemi was on the verge of tears. This is not how she wanted the conversation to go. It was then Amaya slammed her hands down on the table and stood up. "Mom, how can you be so careless?!" She yelled. The whole room was deathly silent.
Amaya looked at her mother sternly. "Do you even remember what happened to Akemi? Maybe if you cared a little more, you'd remember." She glanced down at her younger sister for a moment, and then continued, "And if she doesn't want to do something...don't make her do it."
It was ironic hearing her say this, after she had pestered Akemi into going to the audition.
Amaya turned a threatening glare to Kanaye and his family. "Stay the hell away from Akemi. You've caused her enough problems." Without another word, Amaya grabbed her sister's wrist and dragged her off down the hallway.
"Amaya where are we go-" Amaya pushed her sister through the door to her bedroom and shut the door before Akemi could finish.
"Listen. I know what I did was wrong. I should have never signed us up for the audition without asking your permission. I know I wasn't thinking. But that bastard-" She turned her to look at the door, then turned back. "Has no right to be here. You can't let mom push you around like that Akemi."
Akemi was silent for a moment. She was deep in thought.
"I'll do it." She said suddenly. Amaya cocked her head. "What?"
"The audition. I'll do it." She said firmly. She grabbed her elder sister's hand. "If it's that important to you...I'll do it."
For a moment Amaya looked as if SHE was about to cry. Then she through her arms around Akemi's neck, nearly strangling her in the process. "Thank you, Akemi, thank you! You don't know how much this means to me! You won't regret it, I promise!"
Akemi nodded in reply, but wasn't sure that she was right. A nervous feeling settled in her stomach and plainly pointed out that it wasn't going to leave.
The two girls stayed in their own rooms silently for the rest of the night. Later on, their mother came into Amaya's room and scolded her for her bad manners in front of their guests. Akemi put her head in her hands and tried to shut it all out. None of it was Amaya's fault. Kanaye had ruined her love of piano once. It was noble for Amaya to stop him from doing it again.
"You're doing what?!" Uo yelled loudly, raising her pencil thin eyebrows as high as she could. It had been a week since Akemi had made Akemi slumped in her chair bashfully. "Yes, we're going to audition, but you can't tell anybody. It's at 9:00 Thursday night at a place called 'The New Tomorrow'. We'll have to sneak out of the house. I hope my parents don't catch us, but and god knows, they're still really busy with unpacking."
"Are you sure you're not going to get in trouble?" Tohru asked, concerned. Akemi shrugged. "I hope not. Amaya guarantees we won't, but I don't trust her fully." 'And with good reason' she added mentally.
"Have the two of you decided on what you're performing?" Hana asked.
Akemi nodded. "I think so. Amaya's really in to American stuff. She wants to do some songs in English. She said most of the people there'd be tourists. It's supposed to be a pretty high-class lounge club. So let me think.... Sinatra's "Fly me to the Moon", Amaya's 'super cool' version of "Everywhere" by Michelle Branch and "Unsung" by Vanessa Carlton."
Uo raised her eyebrows again. "I've never heard any of those songs," she admitted truthfully. "Neither have I," Hana said, nodding. Akemi shrugged. "What can I say? I listen to a lot of foreign stuff. American, German, lots."
"Well good luck!" Tohru said squeezing her hand. Akemi smiled brightly. "Thank you! That means so much to hear!"
"Hey, are you really going to sneak out?" She heard Kyo say from behind her. She immediately blushed at the interruption and nodded meekly. "Yea, we are."
"Well that's stupid! Especially since it was your dumb sister's idea! What the hell are you thinking?" Kyo said, his voice loud enough for the whole class to hear. Akemi furrowed her eyebrows. "It's not stupid. It's important to Amaya. So I'm going to do it."
Before Kyo could utter a word other than 'you', his cousin promptly smacked him upside the head.
"Don't mind him, Akemi. This idiot is just trying to show his concern by yelling at you. And I want to wish you the best of luck."
Akemi relaxed a little and nodded. "Thank you Yuki-kun, that's very nice of you."
Yuki walked away towards the other side of the room, followed by Tohru, Hana and Uo.
Kyo said nothing. The unsaid tension between him and Akemi was thick. Suddenly he sighed. "Ok, the damn rat is right. Good luck at your stupid audition, ok?" Akemi's face suddenly burst into a bright smile.
"Kyo-kun...thank you. Thank you very much!" Kyo looked at her awkwardly, then felt his face twitch. He was almost smiling. But if Yuki or the others saw it, there was no way he'd live it down. "Yea, whatever," He said as he walked away. She was so much like Tohru when she smiled.
"Dammit," Amaya cursed as she hung up the phone. It was finally Thursday.
Akemi looked up from her homework. "What?" "Those stupid people at 'The New Tomorrow' want me to bring everything. Not only do I have to bring my violin, I've got to carry my base, my electric AND my acoustic."
"Just be lucky they aren't making you bring the amps," Akemi reminded her.
Amaya nodded. "Thanks. There you are, being so optimistic again. How do you do it?"
Akemi shrugged. "I can't do it all the time. I'm half pessimist, half optimist. My own problems involve the pessimistic side of me. Other people's problems aren't nearly as tough to be bright about."
Amaya gave a nod. "Touché."
Akemi heaved a sigh. "Do you think we can do this? Really?" Amaya nodded. "Of course we can. We've practiced for god knows how long. And remember, you don't have anything to worry about. We're a team, and you don't have to be scared about disappointing me, because nothing will. And nobody else we know is going to be there. So relax."
Akemi turned to her sister. "Who's optimistic now?"
Amaya shrugged. "I guess you were right. It's easier to be optimistic about somebody else's problems."
At 8:30, the girls began to get ready. Akemi had decided on something simple; a pair of blue jeans and a nice crop t-shirt. Amaya, on the other hand, had gone all out. She had light green studs in her newly pierced ears, which brought out her vivid green eyes. Her shirt was a bright, florescent yellow with a red hibiscus in the center. Her jeans were covered with belts and décor. Akemi looked at her skeptically.
"We look a tad bit strange together, don't you think?"
"Who gives? They shouldn't worry about that. It's about the talent. Duh," Amaya said, flicking her sister's forehead.
The two carefully snuck around the corner of the bedroom to their parents room. They were still busy at work moving around furniture and unpacking the many boxes. Her parents were so busy with their own predicament, they didn't even hear Amaya drop her violin in the hallway and curse it to hell.
When they were in the car, Akemi began to fiddle with her seatbelt. Amaya could tell she was nervous. "Oh stop. Just relax. Take a deep breath and a few chill pills. Trust me, you NEED them."
Akemi glared at her sister's comments. Amaya shrugged.
As Amaya had described, the lounge was nice. It had two levels: The lower one, which had a large bar and tables facing the stage, and the upper one, which featured small booths in a restaurant like fashion. The stairs leading up to this balcony like area came close to the stage, which was generally small. There was enough room to place all of Amaya's stuff, plus a drum set, amps and an upright piano (for Akemi, of course).
"When are we scheduled to go?" Akemi asked her sister as they sat backstage, patiently waiting.
"Soon," Amaya assured her. "We've got this next band, and then we're next. I forgot to tell you the manager wants-" But before she could finish, the sudden sound of a chord struck the air. The band was playing. Akemi thought they were quite good, but in a much different style than she and her sister sang. The groups that had gone before them were very talented, and Akemi found herself wondering why she was even there. She felt incredibly foolish, like she was a child masquerading among a party of adults.
"Ok, we're next," Amaya suddenly said. "Get warmed up and ready to go." Akemi flexed her fingers and gave a slight cough. She couldn't' believe she was doing this. It all seemed suddenly surreal, as if none of it was REALLY happening. She quickly hummed up and down a few scales and made vocalizations. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her breathing. In and out....in...and out....
"Alright, come on," Amaya grabbed her sisters hand lightly. Akemi's eyes snapped open to attention to see her grinning sister with her electric guitar strapped across her shoulder. "Time to rock and roll."
"Or have fun," Akemi said sarcastically.
"And now, our youngest act to date...Please Welcome Amaya and Akemi Kamikara!" Taking a deep breath, Akemi stepped on stage. The bright lights seemed to drain all color from her face (if any was left) The tons of eyes upon them was unnerving. Akemi took her place at the piano, fingers clenching and unclenching. A microphone was placed next to her so she could sing and play at the same time.
As soon as she began to play, a familiar sensation rushed through her. It was just like practicing. The notes, rhythms and words had never changed. She had. As she and Amaya sang and played, she tried not to look at anyone. Playing to one person alone could only make things worse.
Unsung went fine, as Akemi had expected it to. She had pounded it out on the piano for the past week and a half, and knew it well enough. Fly me to the moon was next. Amaya played her violin flawlessly. Except for a small mishap on Amaya's part during the second time through, the song was unblemished.
Then came Everywhere. It was the first song Akemi got a break from on the piano. Now she would have to concentrate on the people and not the piano. 'Just my luck' she thought, standing. She dragged the microphone over near Amaya and stood behind it.
Although Akemi couldn't believe it, the audience actually seemed to be enjoying them. They cheered and clapped their hands, as well as stood and hollered. It was much different than piano recitals, where everyone was stone faced and intimidating. Akemi sang her best, inspired by the crowds enthusiasm.
After the three songs were over, she went to leave. Amaya didn't follow. She turned back to look at her elder sister, who stood still. "Amaya, aren't you coming?" She hissed. Amaya shook her head. "No, they wanted me to do a song by myself-"
An oh-so-familiar feeling of jealousy and anger crept its way into Akemi's heart. "Oh so that's it isn't? There you go again, stealing all the attention! That' s all you ever care about! You didn't even need me to be here, you couldn't have done it by yourself. I'm leaving. Thanks for nothing." Akemi turned her heel sharply and went to leave stage. "Akemi, wait!" But Akemi had walked off before Amaya could stop her.
Sighing, Amaya stepped up to the microphone. "This is a little song called 'What it Is'" She began to strike chords on her guitar as the beat of the drums fell behind her. She began to sing, her energizing soulful voice adding more excitement to the audience.
Pardon my displeasure
What's the difference,
There's no change in me now
Disregard my feelings
Cuz' what they want is what
I'll never be now.
It's what it is
And will always be
It's what it is
Someday they'll see...
As she continued to sing and play, she occasionally looked at the door, hoping Akemi would walk back in. She never did.
Take a look in the mirror my friend
What do you see?
Don't see me
Don't see me
Don't see me
She finished the song with one last regretful chord. The audience cheered. Amaya bit her lip. If her sister didn't come back, they were both done for.
Akemi was about to storm out of the building when one of the employees caught her. "Miss Kamikara! You can't leave yet! Please! You've still got another act to do!"
Akemi stopped at looked at him quizzically. "Another act? What the hell are you talking about?" Ignoring her use of bad language, the employee said, "The manager wanted you to do a song on your own, as your sister just did. Weren't you informed?" She shook her head in reply. The employee pushed her back towards the stage. "Well just get up there and play something!"
Akemi walked back onto stage reluctantly. She didn't want to even look her sister in the eye. She had jumped to conclusions, and bad ones at that. She had taken a giant leap into a false generalization. And she would pay now. Instead of being upset, Amaya came over and hugged her sister. "Good luck. Whatever you do, it'll be fine. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. Now go get 'em!"
Shakily, Akemi walked back up to the piano.
A/N: Oooh, I made a cliffie. Nuts. I'm sorry this took so long, I'm horrible, I know. And yes, this chapter was HORRIBLY written. I've been so stressed and busy lately, so nothing in my life make sense (including my writing) So bear with me, I'll write again as soon as possible. Luv ya'll!
Lola
