A/N Well… this is it, the last and final chapter in my Beck journey. I hope you all like it. I may be a little long…
A BIG shout out to: thecupcakedealer, thecosmickid, rutger5000, ReikiConvulsion, and EatMyMusicRawr. Thanks for your comments, suggestions, ideas and support. I couldn't have done it without you. Also thanks to everyone who have added the story to his or her favourites. Oh and in the story is a shout out to one of my favourite bands, thanks providing a soundtrack to keep my fingers moving.
We met at the front door and after I made a small comment about how good she looked that night, I introduced Serene to the rest of my group, as weird and immature as they may be. Ray thanked her for the help on the web page, and suggested that if she needed anything, to ask now, before they became famous, because he couldn't promise anything in the future. She replied that she couldn't think of anything, but not to worry as she was glad to be of service.
Chiba slapped by back playfully as he went in, and puckered his lips making fish faces at us. I blushed, my hands balling into fists as I shook silently in embarrassment and anger.
She turned towards me laughing, "I will defiantly pick up some slang words, if I am around your friends too long," she looked at me closely, her brow furrowing. "Oh do not worry Taira! No harm done. I already adore them, and I can see they care about you too, even though they tease."
" Yeah I guess you're right. Look I have to go do a sound check, but you better leave now if you want a front row seat, uh, place I guess." I didn't think there were tables in this joint but you'd never know.
She merely nodded. "Right, see you then." She turned her back on me and vanished into the growing crowd.
I went into the back room, and started to get ready for the gig. Sound check complete, I stretched out the ligaments in my fretting hand, and wiggled my fingers expectantly, no pain no stiffness, grunting approval I looked to the others waiting. "OK let's do this." I growled.
I was a long night, we breezed through our first numbers, and the crowd lapped it up. They were cheering, and moshing, and sometime through our third song, I threw my shirt out to the crowd, who weirdly enough pounced on it. I kept scanning for Serene, but didn't see her. I wondered fleetingly if she had left, but I quickly pushed it out of my mind, as we neared the end of our gig.
It had been a long night, but we made it to the final set, the crowd was hysterical. I moved my fingers through the rhythms that were pulsing to the beat, which gave structure and body to the music. Sweat dripped down my bare back, and I raised my head, just long enough to scan the crowd once again for Serene. Finally, I notice her close to the edge of the stage. I smiled and closed my eyes once again to prevent sweat from running into them, which undoubtedly would cause a horrible stinging, burning sensation. Oh yes I had learned my lesson from many previous gigs where I was too stupid to close my eyes, thus blinding me momentarily. Ha.
I continue to hammer out the steady thrums of the bass. My fingers started to cramp on the frets, and the ends of my fingers long ago numbed, by the vibrations, started to slow down with the end of the song. I sigh heavily as the set ends. I sweep my hand up into a wave as I turn and walk towards the edge of the stage, motioning to Serene, as the cheers rose to a crescendo in front of me. I reach out for her hand.
"Wait for me afterwards." I pant. She nodded and said something but I didn't catch it. I bent down closer.
She looked up and repeated her last phrase, "Taira bring everyone with you."
I was about to ask why, but she interrupted me. "Please just do it Taira, it will be a good thing I promise…" I nodded, questioning her with my eyes, but she ducked out of view. I glimpse her spiky dark hair weave in and out of the crowd, until she was close to a woman who bent down to say something in her ear.
I ignore the other hands reaching out to me, as I walk back towards my band-mates, I beckon for them to come backstage with me.
After we packed up the gear, and cleaned ourselves up a bit, we sauntered over to the appointed meeting place near the bar. Serene was standing close to the woman who had spoken to her earlier. Before we even got close I could make out the resemblance, marking this woman as Serene's mother. She was very tall, in contrast to Serene's shortness, and had wavy blond, shoulder length hair. She stood tall and rigid, her blazer and slacks, standing out among the jeans and T-shirts of our fans. However, she had Serene's smile, and the sparkle in her blue eyes that hinted of mischief in her youth.
She held out her hand as we walked up, and introduced herself in far more formal Japanese, than Serene's had been when we first met. "I have the pleasure of meeting Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad do I not?" We nodded, skeptically. "I am Diana Corner, lead scout for Island Records." Our jaws dropped. A scout here? From a major label? Unbelievable!
She continued oblivious to our shock. "Do you mind very much if I switch to English? It is much easier for me as I usually live in America. Serene can translate if you wish."
Ryusuke took his cue. "No need Mrs. Corner," he replied in perfect English. "I'm Ryusuke founder and lead guitarist of Beck."
They continued speaking in English, which I still had trouble understanding aside from some swear, and slang words that Ray had taught us on our last trip abroad, so it was pretty much above my head. I kept stealing glanced at Serene however, who noticed in short time and came to stand beside us. "Good news?" I asked wondering if I should put my arm protectively around her waist, to ward off the onlookers who would have eaten a foreign girl for breakfast. She nodded slightly, and pressed closer to whisper.
"Island records wants to cut a deal with Beck." She replied casually. Really? I thought. It didn't show on Ray's face, as it was impassive and cool as ever. Nope, Nada. His face was dead. Unlike Chiba's whole body, which you could read like a book, and who was currently about to open his big mouth to ask something. I caught his sleeve and shook my head slightly, then released him. His brows furrowed and he frowned but luckily, he didn't comment. Saku and Koyuki were watching Ray and Diana with casual interest nothing more. I chose not to comment. Instead, I asked her if she brought this on.
"Yes, when we were working on the webpage, I ripped some of the music that you had wanted to post. I brought it home and told mom about it. She wanted to listen, she was impressed, so here she is."
"But…but why do this for me…us? You're the one who helped me, worked with me, and I didn't do much for you in return."
"No, you are wrong Taira!" She said back urgently. "You have done much for me. Before I met you, I did not really leave the house except for work, shopping…" She was getting really worked up now, I noticed, the others start to turn towards us, so I steered us away from them slightly. She looked at me closely before continuing. "You showed me what it was like to live again, to be a girl again, to…to love again. No matter what happens Taira I will always be thankful to you for that!" I couldn't begin to reply to that, so I just stayed silent, squeezing Serene to me more tightly.
Ray and Diana finished promising to meet tomorrow afternoon at Diana's downtown office to finalize the deal and go over the details. Before they could leave, I asked Serene to meet me in the park by my house afterwards if she wasn't busy. She asked me to call her when we had completed the contract, and squeezing my hand in goodbye, she climbed into Diana's shiny black SUV.
Ray was ecstatic; he went over some of the details with us on the drive to his place. None of us wanted to stay out late drinking for once, all of us wanted to go home and reflect upon our good fortune. Finally, Beck was going somewhere.
The next morning, we all woke up early, to pile into the van. Catching breakfast before we went to Diana's office, we stayed silent for once, each not wanting to jinx our good fortune by getting thrown out of the joint for some reason or another. I was eerie seeing Chiba like that but the nerves must have been getting to him. He fidgeted and fussed until I couldn't take it anymore and hurried us all to the van. I wanted to get this over with sometime today, not tomorrow, today.
At Diana's office we mulled through the contract, or was it contracts? I couldn't keep it straight. It all happened so fast, there was something about royalties after we cut the new album we were working on too. Finally we went over the itinerary of the American tour. American tour! Oh god yes! With a group called FOB, which was short for something but I didn't know what. Fall Out Boy maybe? But that couldn't be right it could it? Maybe I heard wrong. Oh well I guess we will find out later.
Then I realized that we would be away from Japan for an extended tour, three months maybe more. How could I leave Serene now? We only just met, and there wasn't a hope in hell that I could make this work over long distance. Half the time there would be no phone, no internet , no nothing. I left the office feeling divided.
We climbed into the van, and I took my usual place behind the wheel, Ray had sauntered off somewhere, saying he would call us later. I was lost within my thoughts when Chiba's voice cut in over the din of the engine. "What is with the long face bud?"
"Who? Me?"
"Yeah you, spill it."
"I bet I know," Koyuki chimed in. I just raised my eyebrows. This would be interesting. "You are thinking about leaving Serene alone here in Japan aren't you? You only just met and it will be a long three months maybe more? Am I right? I know how you feel man. I felt the same way about leaving Maho the first time."
Wow. I took my time answering. "Got it in one shot kid." I murmured.
"But you're going with us aren't you Tai?" Saku asked hurriedly, his eyes widening. "We can do this without you."
I sighed." I know! I know! Don't worry. I won't throw this away for some girl." No matter how special she is, I thought. I tried smiling but it came out more like a grimace. The others thankfully remained silent for the rest of the way home.
We met at the park later that night. The cool air felt crisp and refreshing, after the long day spent in Diana's office mulling over the details of the contract and tour. We sat on a bench and I poured out all the details, pausing now and then to breathe and to take her hand, only to drop it when I became over exuberant. I was acting more like Koyuki, rather than my stoic self, and I forgot all of my previous worries, but Serene seemed understand and took it all in stride. She seldom commented but she always smiled encouragement, and when I told her about the extended tour, she didn't break down in tears like the other girls I had met over the years. I looked at her baffled and asked her why this was so.
"Well Taira,' she said quietly. "Firstly, I know you would come back to Japan someday and I would wait for you, if you still cared about what we have. You don't seem like the kind of guy who would "love them and leave them", or am I wrong?" I shook my head no vehemently. She continued satisfied. "Secondly you do not know my mother that well yet. She will want to protect her "new investment", make sure you do not get into trouble in America. She will send a chaperone, a translator, someone who knows the customs. Me. And another agent of her choice. We have already talked about it."
"Y-you?"
"Yes silly! Me! What did you think I did for a living?"
I was star struck, flabbergasted but extremely happy. I spluttered and gestured wildly not forming coherent words. Serene's hand reached out to stroke my face gently, calming me instantly.
"What are you thinking dear heart?" she asked quietly, concern showing on her beautiful face, her blue, blue eyes staring into the depth of my soul. Her dark hair shadowed her face, hiding her features partially from view, making it mysterious.
"I'm thinking I need to brush up on my English." I said as I stood up and gently pulled her to her feet. "And I know just the place." I suggested.
"And I know just the computer program for you," she giggled as she placed her arms around my neck. As I leaned in to kiss her, I drew back slightly, and realized what she had said.
"Good god not that damn machine again, I won't take it…I-I'll chuck it out the window! I swear I will!"
She only laughed and then pulled my head down so she could kiss me tenderly, gently, but passionately. The world slipped away, I forgot about Beck, forgot about America, and forgot that damn computer, and I only thought about embracing the woman I realized at very moment I loved.
