All right everyone sorry for the long wait but at long last, here is chapter 8!

Disclaimer: We own nothing. Also, the song "Journey to You" belongs to Kimoto Keiko.


Just the Beginning, Ch. 8

"Enough," Ms. Darbus said harshly. "You did not get her autograph because Lenne Liengod is..."

"Excuse me," said someone from the doorway.

The class shifted their attention to the figure in the door. "Your Tomah Seguchi, Lenne's producer and the president of N-G," said Darbus rather dumbly.

"Yes," said Tomah.

"It's an honor to meet you but why are you here," asked Ms. Darbus.

"Well you see I'm here to give back…" Tomah was then cut off by another voice.

"Ugh! Tomah, how long does it take to give a wallet back?" Lenne asked angrily as she came to the doorway. "Just..." She shook her head and took the wallet. "Here you go," she said handing the wallet to Troy.

Troy just looked at the figure standing in front of him, "I...uh..."

"You left it at the studio the other day," Lenne said. She turned to go.

"See Ms. Darbus we really were there Right Lenne," said Kelsi.

"Yeah," said Lenne as she sat on Darbus's desk and gave a wink to Kelsi, causing her to blush.

"Thanks for the wallet," said Troy as he opened it. "Hey wait a second there was a 20 in here."

"Yeah about that. I was sad so I looked to my two best friends in America and they helped cheer me up. And since Ben and Jerry's doesn't take Japanese Yen. I sort of used your cash. Gomen," said Lenne.

Gabi gave Lenne a look, "Gomen?"

"Yes," Lenne said giving the look back to her. "It's Japanese for sorry."

"Well," Ms. Darbus said as she gained her composure, "It is an honor to meet you Miss Liengod," she said as she extended her hand.

Lenne smiled, "Thank you; it is nice to meet you as well," she said as she shook her hand. "So," said Lenne.

"Class this is the real Lenne Liengod," said Ms. Darbus as she introduced the celebrity in front of her class.

The class cheered and Troy just stared dumbly at Lenne. "You know it's rude to stare right," said Lenne as she directed her comment to Troy. Troy just blushed and Gabi began to fume with jealousy.

Lenne smiled to herself when she saw Gabi's face. "Anyway I should probably be getting back to the studio," she said once everyone had quieted down.

"Aw darn," Gabi said sarcastically. "And we wanted you to stay so badly."

"Shut up Gabi," Troy hissed.

Tomah stepped in, "She really does need to go; after all she is recording a new song."

"Oh by the way your new song was great," said Ms. Darbus after she had Lenne sign just about every piece of property she owned.

"How did you know she had a new song," asked Tomah.

"I think I might get carpel tunnel if this keeps up," she said as she signed the stuff Darbus had just placed on in front of Lenne.

"Oh Miss Montez brought in the CD," said Ms. Darbus.

"I thought she said she found it out side the studio Tomah. Gee now I'm confused," said Lenne as she nursed her hand after signing a few papers for the few daring students that asked for her autograph.

Ms. Darbus looked over at Gabi, "Exactly how did you get that CD Gabriella?"

"I...uh..."

Lenne shook her head, "It doesn't matter. What's done is done right?" She gave Gabi a fake smile.

Gabi smiled back in relief. She wasn't about to tell her teacher, let alone a famous singer that she took the CD from someone.

"Ms. Liengod would you sing for my class," asked Ms. Darbus with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"I don't know" said Lenne as she looked at Tomah.

"Its up to you, just mind the time," said Tomah.

"Well..."

"Please," Troy asked.

"I don't think I can; my voice has not been properly warmed up," she said when she saw Ryan giving her a strange look.

'Why does she seem so familiar,' Ryan thought to himself. 'She sounds familiar too.'

"That's because you're not as good as you think you say. You just go lucky," said Gabi to herself. However Tomah picked up on it.

"So you think that Lenne sucks is that it," said Tomah rather bluntly.

"Well I don't think she sucks. I just don't think she is as great as everyone makes her out to be," said Gabi.

"And I suppose you think your better then her," said Tomah.

"Well I have been told that I have one of the nicest voices in the school," she bragged.

"Yeah right," Lenne said under her breath.

Tomah thought for a moment, "I have an idea."

"Uh oh," Lenne said. Whenever Tomah had an idea, it was always something big; it was never anything simple.

He gave Lenne a look, "I think you will like this one Lenne." He turned to Gabi, "If you think you are better than Lenne here, why don't we have...oh what do you call it...a contest," he suggested.

"Oh man," Lenne said so quietly that no one could hear her. "That is the dumbest thing in the world. So she claims to have a nice voice. So what; she is an egotistical brat that thinks she's prefect at everything," said Lenne.

"What? That is not true. Just because I beat Sharpay in getting the lead in the musical last year…" said Gabi with a smug look.

"Oooh wow a school musical. I bet this Sharpay didn't even try," said Lenne knowingly.

"Excuse me? Are you saying that I have a bad voice," Gabi asked, her voice rising.

Lenne did not want to seem like a jerk so instead of insulting her, she simply looked at Gabi, "I never said you had a bad voice; I just think that a contest would make you look kind of...embarrassed."

"And why would I look embarrassed?"

"Girls..." Ms. Darbus said.

"This is why we should have a contest," Tomah said as he took Lenne's hand and brought her to the door so she wouldn't do anything that she would later regret.

"What's the point Tomah," said Lenne.

"What are you afraid to lose to me," said Gabi with an over-confident look.

"No because you have zero talent," said Lenne.

"Hey I beat Sharpay," said Gabi.

"And yet who cares, baka," said Lenne. This of course caused Gabi to become even angrier. (A/N: Baka means idiot in Japanese)

Gabi stood up and walked over to Lenne, "You know what? I bet you don't even do the singing! I bet it's lip-synching," Gabi said with a sneer.

Lenne wanted so badly to punch Gabi in the face. She turned to Tomah, "You know what? A contest is a great idea," she said as she turned back around to look at Gabi, "I think it's exactly what I need before I head home."

Tomah smiled, "Wonderful." He turned to the class, "Oh and you are all invited as well. When would you two like to do this?"

"Right here, Right now," said the girls.

"Very well do you have a stage or something and please call your principal down. You, he, and I will be the judges of the competition," said Tomah to Ms. Darbus.

"Yes. Please follow me. Class follow as well," said Ms. Darbus.

The class stood up and followed Ms. Darbus to the auditorium.

She turned to Tomah, "We can use this area," she said gesturing to the stage. "Now if you'll excuse me I am just going to get the principal." Ms. Darbus hurried out of the auditorium.

Lenne turned to Tomah, "And just what am I supposed to sing," she asked in Japanese, not wanting Gabi to overhear or understand them for that matter.

"Well what song seems appropriate to you," Tomah asked, also in Japanese.

Lenne thought for a moment and the perfect song came to her.

Ms. Darbus soon returned with the principal in tow. After getting everyone seated, Lenne and Gabi sat to the side of the stage waiting to be called.

"All right first we have Gabriella Montez. Gabi if you please," said Ms. Darbus.

"Before we begin, Ms. Montez if you somehow manage to beat Lenne I will offer you a recording contract," said Tomah.

"Are you serious," said Gabi.

"Quite. However you shouldn't under estimate Lenne. Sometimes it's not the words that matter; it's the meaning behind them," said Tomah.

"What's that supposed to mean? Sounds like a load of crap. Music isn't about meaning," said Gabi.

Lenne held back a chuckle, "That is where you are wrong Miss Ego," she said.

"Oh please," Gabi said, too excited about what Tomah had just offered.

"Anyway," Ms. Darbus said, "Gabriella whenever you are ready."

Gabi made her way to the stage and sang "Toxic" by Britney Spears.

Once she was finished, the class burst into applause, thinking she had done it; she had every word and every move down.

"That was very good Ms. Montez," said Ms. Darbus as the principal nodded in agreement.

"Well that was the worst thing I have ever heard," said Rick as he entered the auditorium.

"What are you doing here," asked Lenne.

"Well I'm here to ask Tomah about what I should do with the...um...thing sitting in the car since it's been over 20 minutes since I got it and we're bored. So I came in to see what's taking so long. Though I didn't know you were going to have a contest without me," said Rick as his finger hurt.

"I wasn't overly impressed. Sure you can sing well, but that isn't enough to make a great songstress," said Tomah.

"Lenne you're up," said Ms. Darbus.

"Right," said Lenne.

She walked up to the stage and looked at everyone, "I will be singing Kimi he no Tabi," she said.

"Excuse me," Ms. Darbus said, quite confused.

Lenne sighed, remembering that the class nor did anyone except Tomah and Rick spoke Japanese. "It translates to Journey to You."

"Ah, I see," Ms. Darbus said.

Lenne then began to sing.

When I walked together with you
I believed without reason
That it would be that way forever

In the fragments that you left behind
The warmth of your smile and your gentleness
Still faintly linger

Though we're apart, we can feel each other
Closing my eyes, I think of you

One more time, we meet by chance
Surely something is guiding us
I can hear
your whispers
Loneliness becomes my strength
Sadness becomes my power
If I wish it from my heart
A miracle is born

Now, my journey is beginning

Trying and losing, I notice for the first time
The peace and the happiness
They were always nearby

Held in my arms, on the nights we sleep
Even the darkness, we didn't fear

When I'm feeling broken,
I look up at the sky
Which stretches on forever-
Stretches on to you
I can't see the end of this
I don't know the answer
If I want it from my heart
I'll find you for sure

This is my journey to you

One more time, we meet by chance
Surely something is guiding us
I can hear
your whispers
Loneliness becomes my strength
Sadness becomes my power
If I wish it from my heart
A miracle is born

By the end of the song there wasn't one dry eye. For whatever the reason, the entire audience had tears running down there face. When Lenne finished the last word, the entire audience was quite.

"Well it looks like I win," said Gabi with a smug look on her face.

"Don't be too sure of yourself," said Lenne.

"Hey I got a tone of applause and you got nothing," said Gabi.

"Then why are they crying," said Lenne.

"Well you were obviously terrible and you must have hurt their ears," Gabi said with a chuckle.

Tomah, Ms. Darbus, and the principal talked quietly for a moment. Tomah then stood up, "We have determined who our winner is," he said looking from Lenne to Gabi.

Gabi simply smiled, knowing that she had won; why else would Tomah be looking at her right now?

"The winner is clearly Lenne," said Tomah.

"What," said Gabi. At that time the entire audience stood up and cheered. "Why," said Gabi.

"It doesn't reach out," said Rick.

"What do you mean," asked Gabi.

"Your singing," Rick said, "It held no..."

"It held no emotion whatsoever," Tomah finished. "That is what singing is all about. Passion."

Lenne just looked over at Gabi, "See?"

"Just...I don't believe this!" Gabi yelled.

"It's over," said Lenne.

"But why, why can't I sing like you," asked Gabi.

"Why do you sing," asked Lenne.

"Because its fun and I'm good at it," said Gabi.

"But that's just it. You need more than being good at it. Sure it helps if you enjoy it, but unless you have a true reason for why you're singing then your songs will never reach out," said Tomah.

"Why do you sing Lenne," asked Ms. Darbus.

"I don't have a reason," said Lenne.

"See then that proves that it doesn't matter," said Gabi.

"I don't have a reason because in the entire world there is only one person that I sing for. Even though others may hear my songs I sing for one person only," said Lenne.

As Lenne said this, a female figure appeared at the back of the auditorium. She just stood there and watched as Lenne spoke. She placed her hand on her heart, "Lenne-chan," she said to herself.


Yes, we are evil. It looks like you are just going to have to wait for the next chapter to find out who is standing in the back of the auditorium! Please review and thanks for reading!