(Disclaimer: Ikigami manga belongs solely to Mase Motoro, but Sasuke Mura and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. The story is just based on the plot line of the manga. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)
KChanDreams: Well this took a while to update. People who are still reading this might be wondering what happened to me. Well, I do have a life and that life was currently attached to work and college. I got that balanaced out, so I decided to update today with three new chapters.
Angel: You actually didn't want to update until you finished with the story.
KChanDreams: That's true. This story is complete, but I will post the chapters when I have the time.
Angel: She is also still working on the other story for Full Metal Alchemist, which will have a new chapter later on.
KChanDreams: That's right, so please review and just to let you know, I suck at medical stuff, so the Moon CHild will have some errors.
Angel: And your major is in the medical field?
KChanDreams: ....please enjoy the new chapters.
Chapter 5: A Song to be sung
In a Government building in Japan, many council men were gathered in a meeting. A man around his twenties stood above all of the other council members. He looked at them seriously as he spoke.
"I have gathered you here today because one of the individuals destined to die by Ikigami law is still alive."
All the council men were shocked.
"How is this possible? When did this happen?"
The man sighed and said, "It happened about a week ago when we went to give the family government money to the Ohtori family. We ran some tests to find the cause of the failure of his death, but surprisingly found nothing."
"Could it have been a mistake?"
The man shook his head and said, "Our system did not make a mistake. The pill was in Yoshiro Ohtori according to our files."
"So did the pill fail to erupt?"
The man shook his head and said, "Like I said before, we ran some tests, but found nothing. The pill was completely gone."
"Could it have been removed?" asked one of the council men. Another council man looked at him and said, "There's no way a surgery could be done on a pulmonary artery. The individual would die during the surgery." The others nodded in agreement.
The man smirked and said, "That's true, but if a surgery really was done then this surgeon would be the greatest doctor around." The man entwined his fingers and added, "I believe there was a surgery, even though there were no traces of it because the individual stated when we did tests on him that he was saved by the Moon Child."
"Moon Child?"
The man nodded and continued, "I believe that if there are other individuals who survive the Nano pill later on, they will say the same thing."
"What makes you so sure, Sakuya Mizuno sir?"
The man, known as Sakuya, smirked and said, "A person like that wouldn't stop at one person."
Meanwhile, Sasuke was sitting in her classroom listening to the lesson of Mr. Fujioka. Sasuke gave a small yawn as she took notes.
I haven't been able to sleep well ever since Yoshiro was taken. At least he's back now.
Sasuke suddenly saw a folded piece of paper land on her notebook. She opened it and saw that it was a message from Erin.
Are you free today?
Sasuke wrote on a piece of paper and tossed it to Erin's desk. Erin opened it and smiled.
I'm free. Want to go karaoke?
Erin wrote back right away. Sasuke read the note.
Of course, but we have to leave afterwards around eight.
Sasuke blinked in confusion. She tossed Erin a new note. Erin opened it up and read it.
Why eight?
Erin tossed a new note to Sasuke. Sasuke read the new note and smiled.
I have two concert tickets, so be ready. ^_^
Sasuke looked at her friend and nodded. Erin smirked. Erin was suddenly hit on the head by a new piece of folded paper. She opened it up and groaned.
Pay attention in class or I will cut your grade.
Erin looked up at Mr. Fujioka, who was smirking at her with arms crossed. The others laughed causing Erin to blush. Sasuke sighed at her friend.
When class was over, they headed down the hall. Erin looked at Sasuke happily and asked, "So what song are you planning to sing?" Sasuke thought awhile and said, "I'll see when I get there." Erin gave a pout.
"You always say that. Make a decision before getting there, so you can sing your heart out," urged Erin. Sasuke giggled at her friend's comment.
"Going karaoke?"
Sasuke flinched and turned around only to see Jiro smiling at her with arms crossed. Sasuke sighed and asked, "What do you want Yuki-San?" Jiro chuckled.
"Call me Jiro, Sasuke," said Jiro. Sasuke ignored his comment and repeated her question.
"I wanted to ask you out on a date, but it seems you already have plans with Kumi-San," said Jiro as he eyed Erin. Erin just glared at him. Jiro cleared his throat and asked, "Karaoke sounds fun so can I come along?" Erin growled and flung her arm around Sasuke's free arm.
"You can't come. This is supposed to be a date with just me and Sasuke-Chan," said Erin angrily. Jiro groaned as he looked at Erin. He smirked and said, "Fine, but I might just pass by there by chance." With that, Jiro walked off down the opposite end of the hall.
When Jiro was out of sight, Erin groaned and looked at Sasuke.
"What nerve? Doesn't he know that friends like us just want to be alone together?" said Erin angrily. Sasuke looked down at her angered friend and smiled.
"Thanks for saving me, but I bet that if it was Takimura-San, you would have agreed in a heartbeat," said Sasuke playfully. Erin blushed brightly and began to hit Sasuke in a comical way.
"Don't say that out loud," said Erin bright red. Sasuke laughed as she blocked her friend's attacks.
Sasuke and Erin soon left the institution and were on their way to the Karaoke bar. Erin groaned as she walked.
"Why didn't you bring your car today?" asked Erin tiredly. Sasuke smiled and stated, "Walking is good exercise." Erin sighed.
"Your mind set on things is so weird," stated Erin. Sasuke giggled.
They soon reached the karaoke bar and walked in. Erin was basically covered in sweat, while Sasuke looked refreshed. The woman at the counter smiled at the two and asked, "Is it two people today?" Sasuke nodded. The woman pulled out a key with a number one tag attached to it and handed it to Sasuke.
"Room number one. That will be twenty dollars."
Sasuke nodded as she pulled out her wallet from her bag. She pulled out some money and handed it to the woman. Sasuke smiled and said, "You can keep the change as tip." The woman nodded. Sasuke and Erin left the desk. When they were gone, the woman looked at the money Sasuke gave her and gasped in surprise. In her hand she held a hundred dollar bill.
Sasuke opened the door to room number one allowing Erin to run in. Erin collapsed into the sofa of the room and sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness these rooms come with a sofa," said Erin. Sasuke nodded in agreement. Sasuke approached the karaoke machine and switched it on. She looked back at Erin and asked, "What song do you want to sing?" Erin picked up the song list manual from the middle table and flipped through it. She found and song and looked at Sasuke.
"Type in 4001," said Erin. Sasuke nodded as she did what she was told. The song name popped onto the screen causing Sasuke to giggle. The name of the song was "Waka Laka" and Sasuke remembered that it was from a dance game called "Dance Dance Revolution." Sasuke looked at her friend and asked, "Are you sure you want to sing this?" Erin nodded as she took the microphone.
"This song is fun to sing to," said Erin happily. Sasuke smiled and nodded. The song started and Erin immediately began to sing, while dancing around the room. Sasuke laughed as she watched Erin dance around. Erin wasn't the greatest singer in the world, but she was still entertaining to watch. Erin then pulled Sasuke up and began to dance with her causing Sasuke to laugh even more. When the song was complete, Erin gave out a sigh and giggled.
"That was fun," said Erin in triumph. Sasuke nodded in agreement. Erin handed Sasuke the song list and microphone and said, "Your turn." Sasuke nodded as she flipped through the song list. She spotted a song and smiled.
"Type in 9007," said Sasuke. Erin nodded and typed in the numbers. When the song popped up, Erin looked at Sasuke confusingly.
"This is a really an old song. Are you sure you want this?" asked Erin. Sasuke nodded. The name of the song was "Moon Romance." Sasuke held the microphone firmly as the music started. Sasuke closed her eyes as she began to sing making Erin even more confused. Sasuke sang the words of the song with so much feeling without looking at the screen. Erin smiled at Sasuke.
"So you know the words from heart," said Erin amused. Sasuke nodded as she continued to sing. Her voice radiated throughout the room and one would mistake it as a voice of an angel. Erin felt refreshed as she listened to Sasuke sing. Sasuke was the better singer compared to her.
As Sasuke sang she remembered, her late parents. She used to hear her parents sing the song to each other on their anniversary. She remembered that they told her that the song was playing when they decided to get married at a young age. They sang the song to remember each other and it was the reason why they gave Sasuke her name. Sasuke felt a small tear escape from her eye as she sang.
When the song ended, Erin clapped happily.
"Your singing really is the best. Maybe you should have pursued the career of a singer," said Erin. Sasuke giggled and said, "I rather sing as a hobby than as a job." Erin gave a shrug.
Erin looked at the time and gasped. She grabbed Sasuke's hand and said, "We better get going if we want to catch the concert." Sasuke nodded as she was led out of the room by Erin.
They ran out of the karaoke bar after giving thanks to the woman at the desk and rushed toward the stadium where the concert was supposed to take place.
When they reached the concert, Erin presented the two tickets to the man at the gate. The man took them and gave a nod giving them the OK to go in. Erin and Sasuke walked in and saw a massive amount of people in front of a stage. Erin smiled and exclaimed, "I can't wait!" Sasuke looked at Erin and asked, "So who is the singer?"
Erin looked at Sasuke with bright eyes and said, "It's supposed to be a new singer who appeared a year ago. She was a no name singer, but her career began to sky rocket with her new album. She is known as Sakura Child." Erin was growing excited as she spoke. Sasuke smiled and said, "She must be very talented." Erin nodded.
"She is, but her singing still doesn't compare to yours," said Erin proudly as if Sasuke's singing voice was her own. Sasuke giggled.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke flinched when she recognized the voice to be Jiro. Sasuke looked back at Jiro, who was smiling at her, and asked, "Why are you here?"
Jiro smirked and said, "I was just passing by and saw you run into the concert event. I just so happened to have tickets too." Erin groaned and exclaimed, "Liar! I bet you paid the gate keeper off. You were just stalking Sasuke-Chan again." Jiro glared at Erin and Erin glared back at him. Sasuke laughed uneasily.
"Well he's already here, so I guess he can watch with us," said Sasuke trying to calm the mood. Erin gave a pout, while Jiro chuckled. Sasuke sighed wondering if it was really a good idea to go out.
"Why are you here?"
Sasuke flinched and looked back only to see Shiro in a leather jacket looking at her with crossed arms.
"Takimura-San," said Sasuke in surprise. Erin immediately perked up when she heard her beloved's name. Erin looked toward Shiro with bright eyes and gave him a greeting. Shiro just nodded at her and looked back at Sasuke.
"Why are you here?" Shiro repeated. Sasuke held a hand to Erin and said, "I was just hanging out with Erin." Shiro stared at Sasuke making her confused.
"Is something wrong?" asked Sasuke. Shiro sighed and said, "I wouldn't expect to see you in a concert with your grades." Sasuke smirked.
"Look who's talking. You got great grades too and you are also here," pointed out Sasuke. Erin and Jiro nodded in agreement. Shiro gave a pout.
"I'm just here because of business," said Shiro in an annoyed tone. With that, he walked off with his hands in his side pockets.
When he was gone, Erin looked at Sasuke in exasperation.
"Could he be here because of a date?" asked Erin nervously. Before Sasuke could answer, Jiro interrupted.
"That is a possibility," said Jiro in a teasing matter. Erin turned pale. Sasuke shook her head and said, "I'm sure that's not the case." Sasuke patted Erin's back and then glared at Jiro causing him to chuckle.
"I really love it when you look at me," said Jiro in total bliss. Sasuke sighed wondering if Jiro was right in the head. Sasuke looked in the direction Shiro went and wondered what his business was.
They waited for the concert to start, while sitting in the front row, which Erin managed to attain. Erin was excited as she stared up at the stage. Sasuke smiled at her friend, but then showed a frown when Jiro was starting to talk about his rich family again. Sasuke sighed wishing for Jiro to be quiet.
The lights suddenly became dim causing the audience to fall silent. A spotlight focused on the stage. The cheers began, but slowly dispersed as a man in a black suit walked onto the stage. He had a look of disappointment upon his face.
Sasuke looked at Erin and asked, "Is this part of the show?" Erin shook her head.
The man looked at the audience and said, "I'm sorry to say that Sakura Child has decided to leave the singing world, so the concert of today is canceled. I apologize for the inconvenience." The man did a deep bow. The audience began to boo demanding for their money back. Erin was just as angry.
"That's not fair!" screamed Erin. Sasuke was about to calm Erin down, but stopped when she heard Jiro yelling out complaints too. Sasuke gave out a sigh.
Erin suddenly looked down at Sasuke and said, "I came here for a concert and this is what I get." Sasuke smiled at Erin and said, "Try to find a positive side." Erin thought awhile. She snapped her fingers and immediately walked onto the stage causing Jiro and Sasuke to gasp in surprise.
Erin approached the man on the stage and forced him to stand straight making the man confused. Erin smiled and said, "Sakura Child won't be singing today, so how about getting a replacement for now." The man blinked in confusion. The audience heard what Erin said and began to chant for a replacement. The man grew nervous and looked back at the stage. The people back stage just gave a shrug. The man sighed and looked at Erin.
"All right, so are you going to sing?" asked the man. Erin shook her head and ran to the edge of the stage. She held her hand to Sasuke and said, "You sing." Sasuke gasped and shook her head.
"I can't do that and this could get me in trouble with the institution," whispered Sasuke. Jiro smiled at Sasuke and said, "I always wanted to hear you sing." Sasuke glared at Jiro. Erin thought awhile and came up with an idea. She removed her lab coat and placed it over Sasuke's head causing Sasuke to gasp.
"Just use that to cover yourself while you sing. No one will know it is you and this will be a part of my positive thinking," whispered Erin. Sasuke thought awhile and sighed in defeat.
Sasuke entered the stage with the lab coat over her head. Erin pushed Sasuke next to the man and said, "This is the singer." The man stared at Sasuke, who was covering her face with the lab coat, and said, "Are you sure?" Erin nodded and looked at the crowd.
"Who wants to hear her sing?" asked Erin. The crowds erupted into applause, but were confused on what was going on. Erin nodded and looked back at the man.
"The people want to hear her sing," said Erin. The man nodded. He looked at the audience and said, "The shrouded maiden here will sing for today." With that he walked off stage with Erin in toll.
Sasuke looked at the people nervously as the light shined down on her. Sasuke pulled the microphone from its stand. She held it to her mouth through the lab coat. She looked toward the people backstage and asked, "Can you start the music please?" They nodded wondering if she would improvise on the words.
When the music started, Sasuke began to sing meaningful words that went with the music. As she sang, the audience began to cheer. Erin, backstage, was smiling as she watched her friend sing. The people in the back were mesmerized by her voice. Sasuke pulled the lab coat over her head more when she felt it begin to slip. Sasuke let out the final note of the song as the music stopped. The people continued to cheer begging for more. Sasuke gave a small bow and walked off the stage to the back curtain.
When Sasuke was behind the curtain, Erin embraced her happily.
"You were great!" cheered Erin. Sasuke thanked her with a smile. She heard the clapping of the people and then noticed that the stage staff clapping too. The man in the suit among the staff went up to Sasuke and asked, "Would you like to sign a contract with my company?"
Sasuke gasped in disbelief. The man smiled and added, "Your talent can reach places and it will solve the problem with Sakura Child quitting on us." Sasuke thought awhile and looked at Erin, who was still smiling brightly. Sasuke gave a small smile and looked at the man with the lab coat still covering her face.
"I refuse," said Sasuke making the man surprised. Sasuke gave a small giggle and stated, "I can't fulfill my dreams as a singer, so please find a different talent." The man was shocked.
"Then why did you sing today?" he asked in disbelief. Sasuke held a hand to her friend and said, "Because my friend wanted me too." Sasuke bowed to him.
"Thank you for your time," said Sasuke and began to walk off with Erin holding her arm. The man watched Sasuke leave and gritted his teeth.
"How can a talent like her refuse such a chance, just who is she?" the man asked himself in displeasure. The man at that moment wished that he could see Sasuke's true face behind the lab coat.
When Sasuke and Erin were out behind the concert hall, Sasuke removed the lab coat from over her head. Sasuke wiped the sweat off her forehead as she handed Erin back her lab coat.
"Don't ever make me do that again," said Sasuke as she fixed her hair. Erin giggled and said, "At least I got something good to think about." Sasuke gave a small nod. Erin slipped her lab coat on and looked at Sasuke.
"It's too bad that you refused to sign the contract to be a singer. You would have been number one in no time," said Erin. Sasuke giggled and said, "Like I said before, I rather sing as a hobby than as a job." Erin smiled and hugged Sasuke.
"That means only I can hear your beautiful voice," cheered Erin. Sasuke nodded.
They walked to the front and saw the people exiting the building with big smiles.
"I'm disappointed that Sakura Child didn't perform, but that Shrouded Maiden was great."
"She sounded better than Sakura Child compared on the radio."
"I wonder if she's going to be a new talent."
"I would buy all her CDs."
"I bet she looks hot under that coat she was wearing over her head."
"I'm glad I came today."
Sasuke and Erin heard them talking about the performance continuously. Erin giggled and said, "You definitely would have been famous." Sasuke sighed.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke flinched and looked up only to see Jiro approaching her. Sasuke sighed and asked, "What do you want now?" Jiro smirked and said, "I just wanted to say that your singing voice was great and now I am more motivated to pursue you." Sasuke groaned.
Jiro chuckled and added, "I can't wait to tell the others at the institution." Sasuke glared at Jiro causing him to flinch.
"Don't tell anyone that I sang today," warned Sasuke. Jiro laughed uneasily and agreed not to tell.
Erin suddenly pulled Sasuke's arm and said, "Let's go get ice cream." Sasuke nodded and began to walk off with Erin. Jiro was about to follow, but Erin glared back at him forcing him to stay away.
As Erin and Sasuke walked, Sasuke began to wonder why Sakura Child wanted to leave the singing world.