Disclaimer: Paradise Kiss is property of Yazawa Ai and not me. Sorry, you can't sue me. Besides, I'm broke.


Strings

by Boomerang Butterfly

Chapter 5

"New Grounds"

"ARASHI!"

"WOT!"

"ARE YOU DONE PACKING YET?"

"HUH?"

"I SAID, ARE YOU DONE PACKING YET?"

"I DIDN'T HEAR YA! CAN YA SAY IT AGAIN?"

Yukari growled and rolled her eyes, dropping her carry-on on the floor and stomping across the hall to Arashi's room. The door was wide open, but loud, thunderous guitar poured from the room, drowning out her words so that he only heard her voice and not what she said. He was currently throwing clothes into a worn suitcase, which sat on the bed and was on the verge of overflowing. Yukari shook her head and going over to the CD player, pressed paused, earning a glare from Arashi.

"Ahhh, I was listenin' to that!" "I know," she said and stumbled cautiously into the clothes strewn room, trying not to fall over the mounds that littered the floor. "But you couldn't hear what I said." Arashi shrugged, stuffing another pair of pants into the full bag. "Well, you got meh attention now. What'd ya say?" "I asked if you were done packing, but it doesn't look that way." Arashi grinned. "I figured we might go out on the town and so I wanna look meh best. Trouble is, I can't just pick one outfit, ya know?" Yukari couldn't help but laugh, because, she really did know. "I swear, Arashi, you've got more fashion sense than some women." "And more trouble pickin' out threads," he added.

Break

It had been one week and two days since she'd asked Arashi to come with her to New York. One week and two days since he'd gotten fired. One week and two days since she lost her savings. One week and two days since they'd promised each other they'd take it one day at a time. Tomorrow, Yukari would've been enjoying her last day as a bachelorette with her friends, laughing over tea and cake at her bridal luncheon. Tomorrow, Arashi would've been getting everything ready for Hiro's bachelor party.

But instead, they were packing for a trip to New York, a trip that would've been Yukari and Hiro's honeymoon. They were going to go to the Broadway show that would showcase costumes designed by the brilliant Koizumi Johji, and they were going to spend those two weeks soaking in what the Big Apple had to offer, spending time with friends that neither had seen in years.

In other words, Yukari was not about to let those plane tickets go to waste.

So, one week and two days ago, sitting on Arashi's bed after his breakdown, she'd asked him if he wanted to go to New York with her. He had stared, blankly, for a second and then stammered, "Well, sure, yeah, if you want me to go." Yukari was thrilled; she ran into her room and came back out with a notepad and begin jotting down a list of things that needed to be done before they left, like getting Arashi a passport and what she wanted to buy for the trip. And then, some where into to making the list, she realized she didn't have any clothes. None of hers, anyway. All of her clothes were at Hiro's boxed and in bags because she had planned on moving in before the wedding. And along with her clothes, were two plane tickets to New York City, along with two tickets to the Broadway show.

Basically, if Yukari and Arashi were going anywhere, they were going to have to get everything that belonged to her from Hiro's flat.

Yukari shuddered at the thought. "How in the world…I'm not ready yet, Arashi. What if I can't face him without breaking down?"

Arashi shrugged, and dug his hands into his pockets. "Who ever said you had to go when he was home?" Yukari opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She finally found words and stared confused at him. "You don't expect me to break in, do you!" Arashi shook his head. "Course not. I'm no criminal, ya know." "Well how do you expect me to get into his apartment without a…oh…right…" Yukari then realized she had a key to that apartment still, seeing as she had planned to move there. And since she hadn't seen Hiro in four days, she hadn't had a chance to give him the key back.

Arashi just sighed, as if the obvious had been in front of her the whole. "Oh shut up," she muttered as she jotted down 'get my things from Hiro's' on her notepad. "I wasn't thinking." He gave her a lopsided grin. "I guess you ain't a model for nothing, eh Yukari." He just barely missed the pillow that was hurled to harshly at his head. She stood up once she was finished and was headed to the kitchen for something to eat, but paused at the door and turned toward him.

"You'll go with me, won't you?" she asked a bit tensely.

Arashi gave her a bit of a smile and nodded. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"


Next day, Wednesday, Yukari was the first one to get out at the complex in her car, staring up at the sixth floor that was Hiro's flat. Arashi was right behind her in his pickup, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he stared up at the building. "So this is it, huh?" She nodded silently and with a mental push, walked toward the complex.

They were both quiet on the elevator trip up to the sixth floor. Arashi tried shifting his mind away from the fact that he was going to the apartment where the woman he loved was now living with his best friend. Yukari hoped and prayed no one was home, so she wouldn't have to confront either Miwako or Hiro. But if she was right, they were both at work; Hiro at the office and Miwako at Happy Berry. When they got to apartment 608, Yukari stood outside the door just staring at it, her thoughts in a scramble, her hands reluctant to put the key in the door. But Arashi squeezed her shoulder comfortingly and her hand somehow managed to put the key in the know, turn it and open the door.

The apartment was large, a spacious flat Yukari and Hiro had picked out together. Hiro moved in first because it had taken longer for her to break her lease than he. His presence was well established in the flat, painfully for Yukari, and she walked slowly through the door, pausing to take a glance around. Her things were still boxed up in a corner of the living room just as they'd been when she had begun moving in a week before, behind the sofa, the tape still securely in place. She walked slowly over to where the sat and gently touched one of the boxes, one labled 'shoes' and drew in a breath.

It was all surreal. This was it, this was the catalyst. There was no going back now. If she took everything, if she packed up and left she knew she wouldn't come back. Could she forgive Hiro? She didn't know, but she knew now that he and she would never be.

It was overwhelming.

Yukari choked back a sob and nearly sank towards the floor, the bitter reality suddenly sinking in. This was no joke. It hadn't been all a dream. But before she knew, Arashi's strong arms were there to hold her up, cradling her to his chest as she sobbed. "It's okay," he whispered softly, smoothing her hair back from her face, "Go ahead and cry." She cried for a good five minutes or so, messing up Arashi's shirt but he didn't mind. He knew that had that been him in her spot, she'd have done the same, and had done so last night. It never occurred to him that it may have seemed strange that he, of all people, was offering comfort. It never crossed his mind that he was letting a side of him that he rarely ever showed anyone shine through-the dependable, sturdy, reliable Arashi. He merely did what came natural at the moment. And the one thing he could think to do was offer a shoulder for a friend to cry on.

When Yukari had cried out, she stood up, sniffling but a little bit more resolved to get her things and go. It wasn't fair that he made her feel so terrible while he and his lover were so happy together. She narrowed her eyes and wiping them, stomped resolutely over to one box, heaved it up, and began walking towards the door. "Where ya goin'?" Arashi asked. She hadn't said anything after her cry; she merely had stood and grabbed a box, looking determined as she did so. "I'm moving out, Arashi," she said, some strength in her voice, fueled by her anger towards her ex-fiancée and her ex-best friend. "Are you gonna help, or what?" Arashi stood stunned for a minute, but hopped to it and taking two boxes, followed his comrade towards the door.


They worked for three straight hours, taking Yukari's boxes and bags downstairs via elevator to her car, and when it filled, his truck. She walked around the apartment once the boxes were done and found things of hers she had already unpacked, like the dishes in the cupboard (hers), the comforter in the linen closet (hers) and even the bed that was currently set up in Hiro (and now Miwako's ) room. "So you're gonna take the whole bed with ya?" Arashi had asked, confused. She nodded vigorously, already advancing toward it with a screwdriver and an Allen wrench. "It's mine, I bought it." No use in arguing with that logic. Arashi watched from the doorway as she piece by piece brought the bed down. She took the mattresses off (also hers) and had his help in setting them aside, then began working on the headboard, the frame, the footboard, until the entire bed lay on the floor in pieces.

Arashi glanced around the room while she worked, his heart thudding painfully each time he saw a piece of Miwako about the room. Which was a lot. She had, in only four days, nearly completely moved into the apartment, her touch on many parts of the bedroom especially. Happy Berry merchandise hung from a chair, strawberry scented air fresheners sat on the desk, and a pair of her pink maryjanes sat in the open closet, along with her clothes. He fought every urge he had to just turn around and leave, but stayed to help Yukari. He figured it would help solidify the fact that she was gone if he saw it for himself first hand.

Within an hour, Yukari had finished taking the bed apart and he and she were dragging mattresses and frames towards the elevator. It was tiring work, but they got it done, fueled by Yukari's itching to out of Hiro's apartment, and his life. Once everything of hers was downstairs in either her car or Arashi's truck, she sat, exhausted, against the bar in the kitchen and stared at the wall, trying the catch her breath and wondering where all this stuff was going to fit in Arashi's apartment. "So," she breathed, tilting her head towards Arashi, "What do we do now?" Arashi wiped sweat from his brow and sighed. "We go home." Then he stood up, and offered her his hand.


The rest of the week was rather uneventful. Arashi searched the classifieds for a job and Yukari unpacked some of her things during the morning, after breakfast. Most afternoons, if they weren't watching television or listening to music, he helped her email or call the wedding guests to let them know that the wedding had been cancelled. Yukari got many inquiries about what went wrong, but simply said that 'something had come up' and apologized for the inconvenience. She surprised Arashi and herself with how strong she was when making the calls, knowing that each one reminded her of what she could've had. And when it was evening time, Arashi cooked dinner and they ate in front of the TV or Yukari drove them downtown for a dinner at one of her favorite restaurants.

In the days ahead, the both of them got a little bit stronger everyday. It still hurt to think about what had happened. It still was painful when they thought about Hiro and Miwako. But it was slowly getting better. She still cried and so did he. But neither were ever alone to grieve. They had each other, though neither of them really realized it, to lean on, to cry with, and to talk to.


One week and two days after she'd gotten her things from Hiro's, Yukari and Arashi were pulling up in a taxi to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Arashi had been hanging out the out the window, staring wide eyed at the birthplace of "CBGB's, Yukari, God, the best place in the world to play music!" and "The Ramones, the New York Dolls, Patti Smith, just to name a few." He'd never been to New York before, and it had been his ambition to go just once in his life if he could help it. This, in some ways, was a dream come true. Yukari just stared at the passing cars and traffic nonchalantly, as in her ten year modeling career, she'd been to New York several times. But inside, she was secretly nervous, her insides shaking, her heart thudding rapidly every time she thought about the reason they were here.

She was going to see George for the first time in almost a decade.

It wasn't so much that she was scared to see him in that she wasn't sure what he would be like after all this time. Would he still be the same old George? And would seeing him spark something inside her that she thought had been buried for years? She had convinced her self long ago that she wasn't in love with him anymore. But the very thought of seeing him, of hearing his voice, of smelling his cologne, made her more nervous than she thought imaginable.

"Yukari."

"Hmmm?"

"I think we're here now."

"Oh, okay."


"You alright?" he asked in their room, she sitting on the single bed and he making the couch up to sleep on. "Hmm?" she turned around and started, lost in thoughts and memories of George. Arashi shook his head. "You're not gettin' nervous are ya, Yukari?" She spun around and starred at him dumbfounded, a frown on her face. "How'd you even know it was him I was thinking about?" Arashi laughed. "C'mon, it's so obvious. I mean, you're about to meet a man you fell in love with ten years ago for the first time in a decade. I'd be nervous too." Yukari fell back on the bed and starred at the ceiling. "God, Arashi, I swear, you know too much." He chuckled and sat down on the other side of the bed. "Nah, I just got good intuition, that's all."

"Intuition, huh? Or is it just written all over my face?"

Arashi tapped his chin, as if in thought. "Ahhh…I'd say the latter, actually. Anybody who knew you and what happened between you two would know what was swimmin' in that head of yours." She sighed and rubbed her temples. "What am I gonna do, Arashi?" she moaned, letting a whine out. "What d'ya mean, what are ya gonna do? You're gonna go to that play and give him a hello, that's what cha gonna do." "I didn't mean that," she murmured. "I mean, once I get to the point where I actually have to speak to him. What if nothing comes out, what if I freeze? What if…"

"What if you start feelin' things for him you thought you didn't no more?"

She was still for a moment but sat up and turned to stare at him, a pout plastered on her beautiful face. "Yeah, exactly." "I'm guessing," he said, pulling a new cigarette out of his pocket, "that you don't wanna see him because you think you'll fall for him all over again, am I right?" She nodded begrudgingly. "Does he still have that much of a hold on ya, Yukari?" he asked gently. She frowned and stared down at the comforter on the bed, tracing the pattern with her finger. "I…I don't really know. That's what I'm afraid of." "Of what?" "Of…myself. That I'll slip right back into the old Yukari, the needy and jealous and…and…"

"And 'head over heels for an idiot' one?"

She scowled at him but nodded anyway. "Precisely." "Well," Arashi said, "there's not much you can do about that but face it head on. I mean, to truly know if you're over someone, you gotta be able to look at 'em, face 'em without it goin' to ya heart, ya know?" Yukari thought about it for a moment and realized he was right. "Just like I'm not ready to face Hiro yet, cause I know I'm not over him?" she asked quietly, and slowly, he nodded. "And the same with me and Miwako. I still love her, God help me, I still do." He took a drag of his ciggie and leaned back on the bed. "So I know I ain't no where near ready to look her in her eyes and not see how much I do."

They both sat quiet for a while after that, Yukari mulling over both Hiro and George and Arashi over Miwako. Then, "That's why he went after Miwako," she said so softly Arashi almost didn't hear her. "Wot?" he asked, his full attention on her now. "That's why Hiro cheated on me with Miwako." Arashi frowned. "Wot is why Hiro left you for Miwako?" Yukari, still and taut, sat on the bed, not really sure of how to say what she had just discovered. Staring blankly at the headboard of the bed, she took in a shaky breath and whispered,

"I didn't love him enough."

Arashi's eyes widened, and then narrowed incredulously. "That's ridiculous, Yukari and you know it." She shook her head violently. "No, Arashi, it's true!" Her voice was on the verge of breaking, her eyes still staring unblinking at the headboard. "It's true…I didn't love Hiro enough. I wasn't there, I wasn't enough. I was always busy. My work came before him, when he needed me I wasn't there, but he always had Miwako." Then, she choked on a sob and clasped her hand on her mouth.

"I didn't love him enough cause I was still in love with…with…George!"

She stood up abruptly and went to the window, watching the snow fall through silent tears, her hand still by her mouth, her shoulders shaking. Arashi, not knowing what to do, followed and stood beside her, putting his arm around her with a sad sigh. "Well," he said, "if you didn't love him enough, I guess I didn't love her enough either." And with that, she closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, letting her tears fall freely.


Arashi loved New York. It was a brilliant place, busy and bustling like Tokyo but different in many ways. Over the next two days, Yukari and Arashi explored what the Big Apple had to offer, even though they merely scratched the surface. The first place they went, of course, was CBGB's and later that night was treated to a show, though Yukari wasn't sure how'd she fit in. She took the safe route and wore some of Arashi's clothes, letting him pick out the pieces for her, one of which was those leather pants with the chains and zippers, and do her hair and makeup. By the time she was done, she could blend in just as well with any of the locals in New York's punk scene, with a little bit of her own personal flair and some of Arashi's style to set her apart.

Arashi didn't really like the first band, but it was merely the idea that so many of the bands that he admired and respected had made their mark here. Yukari couldn't help but smile at the glow in his eyes when he walked into the place; she realized he only had that look in his eyes one of two time-when he was with Miwako or when he was listening to or playing music.

The second band, however, was a cover band, playing all the biggest punk hits, all of which Arashi eagerly sang along to. It wasn't so much of singing as it was shouting. The place got loud almost instantly, from the moment that "Blitzkrieg Bop" started to the last chords of "London Calling". Arashi was thrashing and dancing and moshing along with all the songs, nonstop almost, in a surge of energy that only music could bring out. Yukari hadn't planned on any thrashing, but got caught up in the music when he drug her out to the floor, and found she actually liked the music. It was wild, unapologetic, energized, crazy, and all around loud, something she normally wouldn't have leaned to, but she was enjoying herself immensely, without even thinking about it. By then end of the night, when the last song had been played and everyone was clearing the club, Yukari was sweaty and breathless but happier than she'd been in almost two weeks.

"How'd ya like it?" Arashi asked as they walked, his arm linked in hers, down the street towards the subway that would take them back to their hotel. "Oh, I loved it!" she exclaimed. "I've never had so much fun! Is it like that all the time?" He nodded and gave her a huge grin. "All the time. It's somethin' you just can't put into words, ya know?" She nodded in agreement, because for the first time, she did know. "And you can play stuff like that?" He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so. I think I'm pretty good, but apparently the other guys didn't."

Yukari frowned and snuggled into her coat, getting colder as they walked along. "What do you mean? Are you talking about The Babys?" Arashi nodded. "I'd wondered what happened to you guys," she mused. "I mean, the band's gotten big at home, but I had wondered why you had quit." He was quiet, looking ahead at the sidewalk with a sullen look on his face. Suddenly, Yukari got it. "Oh…you didn't quit, did you?" "Nope," Arashi responded. "I got fired. In fact that was the second job I was fired from." "But you're such a good singer! Why'd they fire you?" "Creative differences," he said simply. "They wanted a softer, more balladry sound and I wanted to go more punk. Plus, they blamed the fact that after five years we still didn't have a deal on me." Yukari formed a small 'o' with her lips. "But I guess it's for the best, ya know. They've been doin' real good. I went to one of their shows about a year back, sounds alright, but just not what I was into."

"Have you thought about starting a new band?" she asked, mostly out of curiosity to hear what he would say. He brightened at the mention of this. "Actually, yeah, but I hadn't any time, tryin' to support Miwako and all." He shrugged. "I guess I got all the time in the world now, huh?" She smiled as they walked into the subway. "I guess so. When we get home, I think you should get back focused on your music. New band members, songs, management, the works. Let's see...You play guitar, so all you'd need is a bass player and a drummer, right?" He cocked his head to the side and thought. "I suppose. But two guitarists make it louder. I'd probably look for another guitarist, too." "As if punk rock could get any louder," she said grinning. "Oh, it could," he responded smiling, and gave her a wink.


The next day, they went shopping. Arashi spent the rest of his paycheck and she took a little out of her bank account and they just splurged, hitting Neiman Marcus and Prada. Arashi found a thrift store that had an old Sid Vicious tee shirt and bought it for Yukari, and she got him a CBGB hoodie with studs on it. Lunch was at a local pizza parlor, then it was off to Sam Goody, where he introduce Yukari to some mainstream punk legends. For the underground stuff, it was off to a local indie shop, and Arashi dived right in. Some of the bands he hadn't even heard before but loved the look of the CD cover and bought it anyway. Others, the owner had available to listen to and he bought some from just hearing the first songs. Even Yukari bought a few others for herself, and by the time dinner rolled around, they were really near broke but were laughing too hard and singing too loud to notice.


She was nervous, but Arashi was there, so that made it a little better.

Smoothing the front of her lace ivory gown-the one she'd picked out as her wedding dress but didn't have anywhere else to where-Yukari swallowed a few times and pulled out her compact to make sure she looked okay. "You can stop doin' that, ya know," Arashi said, smiling reassuringly. "Ya look fantastic." She smiled back, but couldn't help the butterflies in her tummy. Deciding that it wouldn't help to look like a stuttering, blushing school girl in front of her ex-flame when in actuality she was an elegant, graceful, world renowned model, Yukari tried focusing on something else.

Like what Arashi was wearing.

He had stunned her when she saw him initially, dressed in a pair of black pinstripe slacks, a white button down shirt and a black blazer. He had opted to only a few of his numerous piercings, taking the pin out his lip and eyebrow, but leaving some in his ears. But what had her stunned the most what that his usually blond spiky hair wasn't spiky. It was straight. And hanging down to nearly his shoulders, swinging beautifully with every movement he made. Her mouth had dropped when she saw, her eyes widening, and he had given her a shy grin. "Thought I'd do somethin' a lil' bit different, that's all." Yukari hadn't been able to resist the urge to run her fingers through the blond strands, gasping softly at how silky and soft his hair was when it wasn't stiff from gobs and gobs of gel and hairspray.

That had been three hours ago.

The play had been lovely, funny just like it had advertised. And yet, Yukari couldn't help but cry by the end, just like she had thought she would upon receiving the tickets. The costumes were so George it almost hurt, old memories flooding back into her mind of years gone, when Paradise Kiss was what she lived for and her life had just begun. She could see it all-the atelier, the old sewing machines, the pool table (and Arashi and Miwako on it…), Isabella cooking lunch, George sitting on the barstool with his latest designs. It was all there, etched in her memories forever where she wanted them to be, resurfaced fully once she saw the costumes live, on stage. For two hours she had held out from crying, but it was the ending, with all the actors on stage, that brought tears. It was all George Koizumi, as they called him here in New York, laid bare on the stage.

Now, she stood anxiously in the lobby waiting for him and Isabella to finish with everything backstage. Isabella had called her cell yesterday night, setting up a time that the four of them (which had meant Hiro, sense neither Isabella nor George knew about the breakup yet) could meet, and saying that she had made dinner at her and George's apartment just for the occasion. Any second now, and she would see her first love, for the first time in ten years, and it was taking a toll on her nerves. The diversion of Arashi's appearance had helped a bit but pretty soon her thoughts were on the blue haired fashion genius again. Would he still be the same old George she had fallen in love with? She was almost scared he would be.

Then she was snapped out her thoughts by Arashi's voice. "Ahhh, there they are!"

Yukari, biting her lip, snapped her compact closed and slipped it into her matching clutch, then gathered her courage and stared straight ahead, catching her first glance of George in a decade.

He was still breathtaking, and maybe even more so, sophistication and elegance oozing from him with every step toward her he took. On the outside, she was calm, poised, set and ready to greet him as if he was really just an old friend and not her first love. On the inside, she was a jumbling mess. And yet, she found that it was strange how her heart didn't pound almost painfully when he looked at her, or how she didn't get that feeling, that certain melting feeling when she saw him smile. He was smiling now and all she could deduce was that she was nervous.

Mission accomplished! You haven't fallen in love again yet!

Of course, he still hadn't spoken yet. That was test two.

"Carrie!" It was Isabella that spoke first, looking as gorgeous as ever, tall and stunning in what she could only guess was a George creation. "Oh, Carrie, it's so wonderful to see you!" Isabella rushed over to Yukari and gathered her in a hug, Yukari smiling and taking in the warmth of her old friend. "Isabella, it's so nice to see you too," she said and stepped back to get a good look. "You look fantastic, as always." Isabella blushed. "Oh stop it! Not as nearly as beautiful as you." Then, turning her ornately adorned head, she gasped at seeing Arashi instead of Hiro. "Arashi! What are you doing here?" Arashi smiled and cocked his brow, glancing at Yukari who now had her eyes on a still silent George.

"You hadn't told em, yet, eh Yukari-girl?" Arashi asked, and she shook her head. "I guess it slipped my mind," she said softly, her eyes still locked with George. He smiled, that same old smile, and she smiled back, extending her hand to his, taking in the warmth when he reached for her.

"Ten years and all I get is a handshake, Yukari?"

There it was! That voice! Oh, that voice…that once had done things to her that nothing else could, but only sparked more memories and threatened to bring fresh tears. He pulled her in for a hug and she returned it hesitantly at first, but sank into him a few seconds later, breathing in his cologne (still the same old cologne) and marveling at how he still felt the same. "George," she breathed, once he let go, and blinked so she wouldn't cry. "It's been a while hasn't it?" He nodded and settled his eyes with hers, sparkling as he looked at her. He looked exhausted, but in a good way, as if he had just accomplished something so amazing, so phenomenal, that all his energy had been expended and yet he was still radiant. "A while yet," he answered, then shifted his gaze to Arashi.

"I must say," he quipped, taking the other man's hand, "I surely wasn't expecting you here." Arashi shrugged, grinning and scratched the back of his neck. "Neither was I," he responded, then grinned at Yukari who gave a soft giggle and blushed. "Come now," Isabella said suddenly, dusting imaginary dirt from her hands, "You've got to tell us what's been going on!"

Then George took Isabella's arm and Yukari took George's and Arashi's and all four, four fifths of Paradise Kiss-the label, the legend, the one thing that had made them-walked out the theater and into the waiting New York January night.


Yes, chapter five was a bit more upbeat than the last four. Chapter six gets better. Wanna preview? Well, lets just say that Yukari and Arashi make the most of their time in NYC (enjoying their vaca, getting a break from the Hiro/Miwako thing, getting set to start Arashi's new band) and Yukari and George get reaquainted...to find that things aren't the same as they used to be.

So, till then, do review, and see ya next time!