Hello wonderful readers!
I sincerly apoligize for the long wait for chapter one, I managed to lose the files by accidentally naming them wrong and it's taken me ages to find them before making the nessesarily tweaks so that their suitable for publishing. Hopefully you enjoy this first chapter:) It is a little slow moving since it's just starting out but hopefully you'll stick with me while I start laying the basic groundwork for this. Definitely let me know what you think of this first chapter:)
Enjoy!
Welcome to LME
Night was sitting in first class on a flight over to Japan. She was flipping through a magazine oriented towards musicians and watching out the window.
"Can I get you something?"
Night looked up and gave a polite smile.
"Just water and that cheese, sausage, cracker, olive box thingy."
The stewardess nodded and handed her the box while she poured the water.
"So what brings you to Japan?"
"Business."
The stewardess cocked her head.
"No time for fun?"
Night smiled.
"I'll be living there so I'll have plenty chances to go do fun things."
"That's good. Oh! My name is Cassie, what's yours?"
Night laughed softly. .
"My name is Night."
"Well Night, I'm quite glad to have met you. I need to take care of the rest of the plane but perhaps I'll be the stewardess that stops by later for he dinner menu."
Night smiled and watched the stewardess walk away for a moment before turning back to her notebook. She slipped earbuds in and turned her music on, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a long breath before opening her eyes and focusing back on the notebook in front of her.
Only a few more hours and she would step off this plane into a new life.
Ren walked into the president's office, smirking as Yashiro snuck off to take his girlfriends call. Ever since Yashiro had gotten a love life Ren actually had something to torment his manager and friend with when Yashiro tried to meddle in his relationship, or lack thereof, with Kyoko.
He rapped on the presidents door and he heard Lory yell out.
"Come in!"
Ren stepped inside and closed the door behind him before turning to Lory.
"What can I do for you?"
"Ren! Wonderful, just the person I wanted to see! Will you be available at six this evening to come by and meet someone?"
Ren thought for a second before shaking his head.
"Yes. I'm off at four today. Why?"
"I have a new member of LME coming. A singer. She is quite like you with the circumstances that are bringing here to my agency and I would like you to at least meet. Her name is Night and she's eighteen
Ren took a seat on a chair across the desk from Lory with a mildly interested expression.
"A past like mine?"
"And darker in some aspects. I am telling you this in the strictest confidence, because I want you to have patience with the fact that she may be extremely standoffish and curt with you and maybe even Kyoko. I do not want you under any circumstance to snap at her or get angry with her in anyway. If there is a problem you take it to me."
Ren nodded solemnly. He remembered what he had been like when he had first arrived in Japan.
"Of course."
"I will see you at six then?"
Ren nodded before rising.
"I'll see you this evening."
Night was watching out the window as they landed with her carry-on clutched in her hands tightly.
Once the plane had stopped they were able to finally disembark and Night made her way off the plane an through the airport until she reached the baggage claim. She grabbed a cart and loaded her four suitcases onto it before pushing them towards the exit.
Outside a limo waited with a card and the name Night written on it in kanji's.
"That would be me." She said cooly as she approached the chauffeur.
He nodded and opened the trunk, taking her bags from the cart and loading them up. She smiled in thanks as he opened the door for her as a airport attendant retuned the cart for her. She climbed in and settled into the plush leather seat, letting out a long sigh as the door closed.
She was finally here.
The drive took what felt like forever although it was only a hour before they arrived at LME.
The sight of the glass building only made her even more excited as she climbed out of the limo with a bright sparkle in her eyes.
"Wow..."
"Just give your name to the receptionist at the front desk and someone will take you straight up to the president's office. I will be around back waiting to take you and your luggage to your new apartment building. I will also serve as you and your managers chauffeur in a much more normal car for running your errands such as getting a new car and all the new clothes you will need."
Night thanked the man before hesitantly heading inside the gleaming building. Her combat boots clicked on the marble floor as she walked over to the large desk.
"May I help you?"
"Yes. I'm Night and I have a appointment with the president." Night informed the woman, her messenger bag now slung over her shoulder.
"Oh of course. I'll have-...oh Kimiko! How convenient! Would you please show this young woman up to the president's office on your way up to meet with Yashiro-san?
A beautiful young woman with wavy black hair and bright sparkling brown eyes beamed at the receptionist and Night.
"Of course! Follow me!"
Night followed the young woman to a elevator and entered behind her. As the doors closed the young woman turned to face her.
"What's your name?"
"Night. Yours is Kimiko I assume."
Kimiko nodded and smiled again.
"Are you a friend of the president's?'
"No. I'm a singer that is now part of the agency. This is my first day in Japan and I'm supposed to meet my new manager today."
Kimiko looked excited.
"A new singer? How exciting! What stage name are you going by?" She asked.
"I'm just going to go by Night."
"Neat!" Kimiko exclaimed.
Night nodded and smiled, genuinely this time. The girl made a aha noise before pulling a piece of paper out of a briefcase before scribbling something down on it and handing it to Night.
"I know what it's like to find yourself surrounded by superstars in a world that can be quite stressful. If you ever want to go out for coffee or go shopping or something feel free to call me." The girl said suddenly.
Night accepted the paper in surprise, looking down at it to see a phone number.
"Oh! Uh, thanks."
Kimiko shot her a easy smile.
"No problem!"
Night slipped the paper into her messenger bag before looking back up at her escort.
"What part of the agency do you work in?"
"I don't. I'm the assistant to a up and coming director in the industry Director Ogata. I'm just here to pick up my boyfriend so that we can make our dinner date." Kimiko informed her.
Night made a noise of understanding as the elevator door opened and Night stepped into the empty hall. There was a desk but no one behind it and Kimiko led her past the desk to a door before smiling and gesturing for her to knock.
Night took a deep breath before raising her hand and knocking sharply on the door.
Ren had been sitting and talking with Lory and a sweet young woman named Ayame who was going to be Night's new manager. Ayame had been showing the president pictures of her and her husbands honeymoon which of course had Lory all absorbed.
Suddenly a knock could be heard and Lory leapt to his feet before running over and opening the door.
"Just delivering your next appointment sir." He heard Yashiro's girlfriend Kimiko say softly.
"Of course! Thank you so much my dear. Yashiro is in the LME room waiting."
A set of steps could be heard walking away as Ren waited impatiently for his first glance at this new singer.
Then Lory stepped aside and a young woman stepped into the room making Ren's brows raise slightly.
A tall girl stood before him, black ripped jeans and a low cut violet top with something written in Russian on it to match her startling purple eyes. Her gaze held no warmth and her expression was cold as she took a seat in a chair. She brushed dark coco brown hair behind her ear as she glanced around the room.
Lory pranced back to his chair before dropping down.
"Welcome to the LME building my dear! I'm so glad to finally have you here."
Night gave a curt nod and a slight smile.
"I'm really glad to be here as well sir."
"Such good manners!" Lory cooed.
Ren resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the president. Then Lory sat straight.
"As happy as I would be to chat I called you here today for a specific reason. I would like to introduce you to your new manager, Ayame."
Night looked over to the woman and smiled politely.
"It's very nice to meet you Ayame."
Ayame giggled.
"I'm so excited to work with you!" She said as she held a hand out to Night to shake.
Night seemed to hesitate for a moment before accepting the offered hand. As soon as she did she relaxed and shot Lory a thankful look which made Ren blink. That was a odd interaction.
"You and your manager live in the same apartment building which I thought would be convenient." Lory informed the teen who looked over at Lory in surprise.
"Really? That's great!"
Lory nodded and grabbed a small card sleeve before handing it to Night.
"Here is three room keys, your new credit card, licence and ID that's all under the name Night Inoue. Your parents also asked me to let you know that there is no spending limit on the card which I'm sure you already knew as well as the apartment is fully furnished."
Night accepted the cards and put them in her messenger bag.
"Yes, before I left Russia they called to inform me of that. They also asked me to visit within the next couple of months now that I'm here in Japan." She said quietly.
Lory gave her a sympathetic look before turning to Ren.
"Ah, Night I would like you to meet one of the best actors in the industry and the shining gem of LME! This is Ren Tsuruga."
Ren shot her a gentlemanly smile and offered a hand. Night glanced at him with a spark of what almost looked like fear in her eyes before they widened slightly and she folded her own pointedly in her lap.
"I dislike physical contact. I would prefer to just bow if you feel that formalities are necessary." Night stated cooly.
Ren pulled his hand back in surprise at her words. He covered that he was startled with a easy laugh.
"Of course. It's nice to meet you Night-san."
"Likewise."
"I thought that I would introduce the two of you and if you have any questions feel free to approach him. Ren understands what it's like to move to another country and settle here in Japan since that's how he got signed on with LME himself."
Night looked over at Ren in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. You came from Russia? But I thought you said that your parents wanted you to visit now that your in Japan."
Night's face tightened.
"I don't live with my parents." Her voice made it very clear that Ren had stepped on some sort of land mine and he closed him mouth tightly.
With one dark look at Ren she then turned her attention to Lory.
"Now that I've met the people I need to meet and picked up the things I need from you I wish to head to my new apartment. You said that it was fully furnished?"
Lory nodded and stood to his feet, picking up a file with what looked like registration papers.
"Yes. And your car is registered under your name and is waiting to be picked up tomorrow." Lory told the girl with a grin.
For the first time since arriving Ren saw the girl in front of him smile.
"Seriously? Sweet! I can't wait to pick it up!" She exclaimed.
Lory laughed and Ayame and Night stood to their feet, wishing him and Lory a goodnight before leaving the office.
The door closed behind them and Ren sat silent for a moment before letting out a low whistle.
"My god, that girl is about as shut off from people as you can get! I don't think I've ever met someone in the entertainment industry as closed off as her. I was angry, but I wasn't a ice cube. How on earth is she going to make it here?"
Lory smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"Just watch. What you saw is a very tiny piece of what she can act like. That girl has something like a switch that she flips and suddenly turns into a icy but sexy beauty. She won't have any problem gaining fans with the genre she's going into."
"And that is?"
"Visual Kei."
Ren gaped at the president.
"Visual Kei! Yeah she wears slightly gothic clothes but I would hardly say that she's Visual Kei material."
Lory smirked.
"She just got off a airplane, of course she isn't wearing the kind of clothes you'd expect from a Visual Kei artist. But when you see her in a couple of days I think you'll understand."
"We'll see."
So what did you think? Reviews are more then welcome! Flames shall be laughed at, posted for others to laugh at, and ignored as I continue the story.
