-Jesus. Has it really been over four months since my last update? I wonder how many of you are still even bothering to read this story anymore…xP-
-Well, thanks to, like, the two or three people who reviewed last chapter. You guys all rock. And hopefully, I didn't totally lose you guys in this delay/drought of any particular plot twists-
-Anyways, here we go. Chappy number six, commence-
Chapter VI: She Caught Him By The Mouth
Tap. Tap. Tap. The pencil lazily struck the cherry-colored wood desk, a repetitive sound that stirred the acids of the three stomachs in front of the desk. Cigar smoke billowed out of an ashtray that lay dormant on the desk, giving the air a smoky nutty quality. The room itself was brightly lit, as three luminescent lamps formed a Bermuda triangle around the room. Gold records riddled the walls surrounding them, records of past successes surely.
The manager pensively tapped his pencil, and looked over the records of Blazing Darkness. This included everything: what and where they had played, lyrics to their songs, band bio info, a brief synopsis of their lives, where they had met, their partners and friends, et cetera. Riku's biography, he had noticed, had even specified his eye color- not just "blue" but "aquamarine." Damn, these guys are good.
The manager was an eclectic sort, no doubt. He had glowing orange eyes and gray hair, though it was a darker shade of gray than Riku's, and it probably was actual gray hair. The man, who went by the name of Xemnas, was the CEO of Xemnas Amps and additionally, one of the most powerful men in the state of Washington, but he certainly didn't look it. He wore a black t-shirt and pants to work, not a suit.
Xemnas glanced up from the papers to once-over the band members, who immediately flashed a cheesy grin his direction. He put down the papers, and turned to Xigbar, who was standing right beside him, like military personnel at attention. "Play for me that clip again, if you would," he said slowly and smoothly.
Xigbar nodded, and pressed the "play" button on the stereo he was standing next to. Suddenly, the room was filled with the sounds of angst-ridden music, as Axel's guitars wailed, and Riku sang, "I can't hold on to me/Wonder what's wrong with me/Lithium." Riku snorted. Is THAT what I sound like when I sing? My God. No wonder I'm never invited to many parties. Internally, he giggled.
Xemnas did not consider it to be nearly as atrocious as Riku did; on the contrary, Xemnas' head slowly began to bob, and his eyes closed as he tried to envision a music video for it. His eyes suddenly shot open and, after barking the command "stop," his lips curled in a smile. "Well, gentlemen, you may breathe again. It appears as if we, Xemnas Amps, may be able to support you with one of our renowned contracts." Xemnas had a way, you see, of making everything he said sound more formal than it needed to be.
That, however, did not deter the band from ecstasy. The smiles they wore after Xemnas had said this were far beyond any that had ever graced their faces yet. Axel and Riku gave each other a high-five, while Leon, as always, played it cool with just a satisfied smirk.
The excitement faded, however, when Xemnas continued with, "there is one issue, though." With this, the band grew more solemn, and once again stood politely, waiting to hear the bad news.
Xemnas folded his hands together on the desk and sighed soberly. "Gentlemen, Xemnas Amps has nothing against homosexuality. In fact, one of our biggest successes, The Nameless, The Faceless, have a lead singer and guitarist that are in a relationship, and have been for over three years."
Riku started. "The Nameless, The Faceless? With the lead singer Zexion and guitarist Demyx? But I thought Demyx was single for now, and Zexion had a girlfriend, that, erm…Marluxia chick?"
Xemnas burst out laughing. "Sir, that 'Marluxia chick' is a guy."
Riku deadpanned, along with the rest of the band. Seeing their stunned expressions, Xemnas segued into what he was really getting at. "You're right, though. We make the public think that Marluxia is a girl, when in actuality, he has the same organs as you do. He's just extremely…effeminate." Xemnas cleared his throat. "Now, what I'm getting at is, Xemnas Amps has nothing against homosexuals, but a large portion of the public still does today. It is shameful to think some cannot look past sexuality and see powerful music, but rather, they are blind sighted by…"
"Sir, with all due respect," Xigbar interrupted, "I think you're boring the life out of the band. Better cut to the chase."
Xemnas chuckled. "Very well. Whatever or WHOever you elect to do in your spare time is up to you. However, whenever you venture into a public setting, we at Xemnas Amps, in order to agree to sign you, ask that you pretend to be into the girlfriend we have already assigned for you."
"You assigned us girlfriends? What is this, a school play?" Axel asked, incredulous.
Xemnas chose to ignore this comment and instead pushed a button on the desk. "Xaldin! Send the girls in!"
A moment passed, until finally the reply came: "All right, sir. They should be coming in through the door right about now."
As if on a cue, three girls trudged in, two of which the band immediately recognized. The girl on the left had pink hair, traveling down to her shoulder blades. She was dressed in a short, pink mini-skirt, and large white shoes. Her blue eyes reminded Riku of a certain someone's… "I know you! You're Kairi Sonota, lead singer of the band Dreamers!" shouted Axel suddenly at her. She jumped slightly, but smiled at the recognition
The center girl was dressed in a more gothic fashion than the other two. She wore a skin-tight black shirt with the words "Blazing Darkness" scrawled across the chest in fancy lettering. She matched these with black jeans and black shoes. She had bright blonde hair and sea green eyes, though despite the bright color hair and eyes, she had a dark demeanor about her. She looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but there. Riku quietly identified her as Larxene, the bass guitarist from the more gothic band Shokker.
The girl on the right was dressed much like the first, except the mini-skirt was extended to a full-length dress, and her hair was held up by a pink and white ribbon. She had a gentler look to her than any of the other two, with chestnut blonde hair and dark blue eyes. A smile graced her lips from the moment she walked in the room. "Hi guys, I'm Aeris. I'm a backup singer for the singer Tifa Lockheart."
Xemnas smiled, satisfied, as the band members migrated over to, coincidentally, exactly who Xemnas had planned them to be with. Riku went over, and shook Kairi's hand, though she yanked it, causing him to fall forward into her open and waiting arms. Axel shyly approached Larxene, and got just a snarl to welcome him. Leon and Aeris quietly chatted away from everyone else.
Somewhere, deep down inside him, Riku got the feeling he was making a lethal mistake.
UL: -- I should be shunned from the literati. I suck at writing.
Sora: No you don't!
Axel: Yeah, he does.
Riku: He is to writing as to Pamela Anderson was to Tommy Lee's co-
UL: AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY, HO-KAY, SHUT THE HELL UP RIKU. Sora, tell the good readers what they win if they review.
Sora: You win a short video of Axel and Roxas…y'know…doing what people tend to do alone. It's set to the tune of "You Spin Me Right Round Baby" by Dead or Alive. ;D
Axel + Roxas: GIVE ME THAT.
Sora: NEVER.