Chapter Eight
The Secret Is Out
"Gentlemen." Senator Stampingston announced, standing before the Tribunal. A large wide screen television flickered on behind him, displaying an image of Dethklok to the left, and opposite of that an image of the Barbed Brothers. "It appears Dethklok has decided to keep their opening act, this could prove to be a colossal problem."
"I don't see what we have to fear out of this fool band." Vater Orlaag spat, "What threat could they possibly pose?"
On the monitor behind the senator another image of the Barbed Brothers covered the screen. "They pose no threat alone. We are more concerned about what impact the bands will have on each other."
"What do you mean?" General Crozier asked, the rest of the Tribunal silently wondered the same thing.
"These two bands are vastly different, and they will be constantly together for the duration of Dethklok's upcoming tour. It is currently unclear whether their interactions will matter at all, but if it is as we have predicted, either Dethklok will mold them into a force to be reckoned with, or they will give Dethklok the extra push it needs to take control of the world."
General Crozier stared down at his folded hands, "I see…"
"We have full background reports on each member." Senator Stampingston said, an image of a young man with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes appeared on the screen. "Allow me to introduce Leonardo "Leo" Xavier Harrison, lead singer and guitarist of the Barbed Brothers. He is the son of world renowned defense contractor William Harrison, and sole heir of the Vital Dynamics weaponry fortune. He is characterized as a very impulsive and arrogant individual, and has already had several conflicts with Dethklok."
The image on the screen shifted to another young man with charcoal colored hair and glasses, "On bass we have Alvin Scott Li, his parents run a small chain of Korean cuisine restaurants in southern California. Out of his rather large family he appears to be the only one who has not graduated from college, making him the black sheep of the family. He is deemed the 'den mother' of the band, and stays out of Dethklok's way for the most part."
"And finally," the Senator said as the image changed once more to a girl with short black hair in pigtails, "We have Kyrie Elizabeth Skuld, the bands misfit drummer. She is the daughter of a bold single mother who's neglect and various addictions have had an immense negative impact on the girl. Inorder to cope with her abusive childhood, it appears that she has adopted a childlike personality; much like that of Toki Wartooth's. She is very comfortable with Dethklok, and has been getting dangerously close to the band."
General Crozier studied the girl's image, recognizing her from the pictures Leo had taken. 'She could prove to be quiet useful later on.'
"Have you obtained any new information about the status of the bands, General?" Senator Stampingston asked.
The Tribunal's eyes fell on the Crozier, "I've been using the leader of the Barbed Brothers to spy on Dethklok and gather information about the tour. So far his findings have been fruitless, Dethklok's manager seems to be keeping a sharp eye on the band."
"We should take this opportunity to get rid of the opening act now, before the bands even have a chance to influence each other." Vater Orlaag suggested.
"No." Mr. Selatcia hissed, "The time is not right. We will allow the bands to intermingle, for now…"
x - x - x - x - x - x - x
Kyrie surfed through the channels on the small TV in her room. It was 3 P.M., just about the time Dethklok Minute came on. The girl had finally taken Alvin's advice and decided to watch the show for herself,
"Tell me if Skwisgaar is a bad guy or my special someone." She demanded from the black box.
The classic tune ring out, and a man with spiked dirty blond hair appeared on the television, "The world is going crazy over Dethklok's latest tour and after doing some research of our own, we've found out it will be titled 'Dethcapade'." On the television a faded image of Dethklok appeared, with the outline of an ice mountain behind it, "The tour will kick off on Mount Karpinsky in northern Siberia, so be sure to bundle up because it's freezing out there."
Kyrie cocked her head, "Dethcapade sounds stupid."
The image changed once more, revealing an image of Dethklok and the Barbed Brothers together. Kyrie liked the picture, she was able to stand near her beloved Skwisgaar during the photo shoot to promote the tour. "Although Dethklok's opening act has been under scrutiny in the media for possibly being the most un-metal band of all time, Dethklok front man Nathan Explosion had this to say: "
"We are keeping this band because it is our goal to make every music genre metal, dark, and most of all, brutal." He roared in a deep dark voice. "And we don't want to go through the selection process again. THAT IS ALL."
Kyrie giggled at Nathan's comment as the blond man appeared on the television once more, "We promise to keep you updated about the progress of the tour, and that's the Dethklok Minute."
The girl threw her head back and sighed, "You didn't tell me anything I wanted to know, stupid TV."
"Kyrie!" Toki whined, banging on her room door. "Hurry's up before they burns!"
She jumped up worriedly, "I'm coming, I'm coming!" Toki had admitted he was horrible at anything relating to cooking, but she had only left him alone in the kitchen for 10 minutes…what could he have possibly done? When she opened the door Toki grabbed her hand, running down the hall and speaking faster than she could comprehend.
Kyrie smiled to herself as he pulled her along. Over the past week she and Toki had bonded, simply because it seemed every time she turned around, there he was. She loved the attention, the silly discussions, and the childish games they would play with one another. She felt as if they were kindred spirits, rediscovering each other for the first time in ages.
"T—Toki slow down!" she cried as he dragged her the rest of the way. He pushed open the kitchen doors, and stopped in front of the counter.
"Ok's! Now how I finish this Happy Cake's?" He asked with a smile.
Kyrie noticed the baking pans on the counter, "I thought you said they were going to burn?"
"Oh…I wanted you's to hurry, before they got cold!" he lied, he had only wanted to impress the girl with his solo work, "The guys is waiting for me to finish but I needed you's help."
Kyrie giggled, "Ok, so what do we do after we get them out the oven, Toki?"
"Frosting's!" He went to the refrigerator and pulled out a small white container, and Kyrie retrieved two butter knives from the drawer.
"Make sure you only use a little." The girl instructed, as they began applying the strawberry frosting.
Toki hummed to himself, mimicking Kyrie's gentle strokes while they decorated the small cakes. Since they had grown closer the girl had insisted on baking a special kind of cake for Toki, which she had labeled 'Happy Cake'. It was a mixture of various ingredients, and an additional secret item which she had refused to reveal. Toki found it both exciting and cute, and wanted to share his own batch of the yellow cakes with his friends.
"All done!" Kyrie said, the half dozen mini cakes were coated with a thin layer of pink frosting. "Where is everyone?"
"I think they's practicing or something." Toki responded, placing the cakes on a silver tray and leading the girl to Dethklok.
As they made their way to the band, Kyrie looked up at Toki, "Hey, how come you aren't practicing too?"
Toki shrugged his shoulders, "I's just not feels like it."
"But the tour starts in a couple months, don't you need to practice?"
"No's, I'll be fine." He calmly responded.
She wondered how he could possibly be so confident, Kyrie had practiced everyday as much as possible, and even with Pickles help she still didn't feel ready. 'I guess when you're in the most popular band in the world you're allowed to slack with practice…' she thought to herself.
A Roadie opened the door for the two, and Kyrie could clearly hear (and see) Dethklok in the middle of rehearsal.
"You, will most likely die,
By the hands of my arm,
When I come and fly,
And take off your face,
With the front of my Hatredcopter
Kyrie blinked, "Pickles can sing?"
"He can's really good!" Toki laughed, "Hey guys, the cakes is done!" he yelled, drawing attention to the two. The music stopped, and the band seemed to glare at them.
"Toki why did you do that?" Kyrie whispered, feeling nervous. She knew she wasn't allowed in this room, and was afraid her presence had pissed the band off.
"Don'ts worry about it." Toki whispered reassuringly, and moved towards the band. "Me and Kyrie makes cakes for you's guys!"
Skwisgaar seemed the most irritated, "What is this Toki's? Instead of preparing for 'de concert you's cooking like a lady's!"
"It's not's like a lady!" Toki retorted, distributing the cakes, "Me and Kyrie make it together, to help with practice."
"Pfbt," Skwisgaar grumbled, taking a bite out of the cake, "You and you's stupid girlfriend."
Toki grinned, he didn't mind the teasing anymore. "This aint half bad." Pickles said, Murderface agreed but refused to utter a compliment.
Nathan let out a moan of pleasure, having already devoured his cake. "It's so damn good Zoom Zoom, where did you learn to cook stuff like this?"
"I just made the batter, Toki did the rest." She said, sitting on top of a large speaker. Toki scooted next to her, handing her the final cake. "I been wondering, Nathan, why do you call me Zoom Zoom?"
"That's, uh, what everyone else calls you, isn't it?" Nathan asked. She shook her head no.
"I told you I don't even know how many times, Nat'an. Her name is Kyrie, not Zoo Zoo." Pickles corrected.
"Zoom Zoom." Nathan said, trying to correct the drummer.
"Zuuuuum-Zuuuum, Zuum-Zuums." Skwisgaar and Toki said, testing out the word.
Pickles rolled his eyes, "Forget it. Why's Leo call you that anyway?"
"Well, he says 'Zuzu'." she said, happy to feel like a part of the group, "I'm not really sure why he does it, he knows I hate being called that."
"Oh! I's just thinks of something." Skwisgaar said, "Pickle you say her name is Kyrie? That brings to my mind's the Valkyrie's."
"Valkyrie?" she asked, growing intrigued.
Toki nodded, "Valkyrie is from Norse mythology, they follow Odin's, and—"
"Yeas," Skwisgaar interrupted, Toki glared at him. "They's uhm, when it's a battle, they fly's down and chooses the mosts heroic men's who died, and they carry's them to Valhalla."
"What were the Valkyrie's like?" Kyrie stared starry eyed at Skwisgaar, feeling as if they were the only two in the room.
The lead guitarist grinned, "They was very beautiful maidens, riding on 'de backs of winged horses. You knows, you sort of's resembles 'dem, you's could maybe—"
"Alright." Pickles said, tapping a cymbal, "We don't have time for this right now."
"Yea." Nathan wiped the crumbs from the cake onto his pants, "We gotta get back to practice, why don't you make us some more cakes Zoom Z…ah, Kyrie."
The girl smiled and hopped off the speaker, "Kay!"
Toki remained seated, staring angrily at Skwisgaar. 'Who he think he is trying to take my friend? He don'ts even like her, I bet it just because me and her pals now…stupid Skwisgaar.'
"Mister Mute?" he heard Kyrie ask, Toki's eyes wandered to the doorway where a Roadie stood in front of the girl. The man handed her a silver object, and then left.
"What 'dat?" Toki asked, peeking over her shoulder.
Kyrie locked her hands around the object, "Nothing!" she quickly said.
"It something." Toki said, trying to pry the object out of her hands.
"Toki no, it's not! I promise!" she pleaded.
Toki snagged the item from her, and held it high above the girl. She jumped to take it back, but couldn't reach high enough. "Go play somewhere else you two." Murderface groused.
The rhythm guitarist popped open the locket, seeing a picture of Skwisgaar on the inside. "Why's you gots a picture of Skwisgaar?" he asked, audible enough for the rest of the band to hear. "Awww, don't tells me you likes him like all the other goils."
Kyrie could feel her face glowing red with embarrassment, she quickly glanced over at Skwisgaar, who curiously eyed the girl. Her mind began to race, everyone knew her secret, what was she going to do?
She yanked Toki's mustache and he released the locket, whining in pain. She grabbed the trinket once it was within reach, and fled from the room.
"Owwie!" Toki whimpered, rubbing his pained face. "Kyrie, wait!" he called out, following after the girl.
"I guess that means no cakes." Nathan scratched his head with the microphone.
"Dude, I told you she liked you." Pickles said to Skwisgaar, who actually seemed a little shocked from the display.
Murderface smashed his bass on the ground, "YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? This is just what we need! Some cry baby she-devil trying to break up the band!!"
Pickles cocked an eyebrow, "Trying to break up the band and having a harmless crush are two very different things."
"Who says it's harmless?!" the bass player shouted.
Skwisgaar said nothing, merely starred at the doorway.
x - x - x - x - x - x - x
Alvin scratched the back of his head as Kyrie sobbed on the bed next to him. "I'm sure it's not that bad."
"You weren't there!" she bawled, "I know Toki didn't mean any harm but…I just felt so stupid, what am I suppose to do now? I can't show my face around them anymore, now he knows!!"
"There, there," he said, patting her back, "Well, you planned on telling him soon anyway, didn't you?"
She glared at him, "Tell him what?! 'Oh, by the way Skwisgaar, I've been in love with you since I was a kid, and I was wondering if we could be together now!' You know how crazy I would sound? Like one of those psycho fan girls or something, and then he'd hate me, and I'd be an outcast, and nobody will want me, I'll be all alone forever!!"
"Kyrie, you're over reacting…"
"I just, I didn't want it to be this way." She bitterly muttered, worn out from crying. "He probably thinks I'm an idiot, I should just leave."
Alvin shook his head, "This is a stupid reason to leave. You've worked so hard to get to this point, you're excelling as a drummer, you actually seem happy these days, and just, I'd hate to see you leave over this."
"You don't understand…" she murmured, drifting off to sleep. "What am I suppose to do…"
Alvin sighed, resting his head against the wall. 'This girl can be such a handful…' he thought to himself. Skwisgaar was all the drummer spoke of when he had first met her, and regardless of how it happened, at least now the guitarist finally knew how she felt; or at least had some sort of indication of it. He glanced down at the girl asleep on his bed, 'So full of emotion…', she reminded him of his youngest sister.
Alvin raised off the bed, pulling Kyrie up so he could lead the sleeping girl back to her room. She rested her head against his chest as he slowly dragged her along.
It made Alvin happy to think of his sister, an energetic eight year old named Sarah. Out of his entire family she was the only one who didn't ridicule the boy, she adored her older brother. After failing his first few years at becoming a famous bassist, Alvin only continued the monotonous 'rise to fame'-game with Leo to show his sister she was right to have faith in him, and more importantly, to show his parents that he could make it. The constant scrutiny and belittlement of the middle child drove him crazy, as did the constant comparing of him to the other, more successful, siblings.
"The only reason I'd stop now is for Emily." he whispered to himself. As he neared Kyrie's room he noticed someone sitting next to the door. "Uh, hey there?" he asked.
The person seemed startled, "Hey's have you se—oh, you gots her with you?" Toki stood from the ground, looking exhausted.
Alvin nodded, still dragging the girl, "She's sort of sleep, do you think you could give me a hand?" Toki went to help, surprising Alvin by how easily he could lift the girl into his arms.
"How's is she? Is she mad's at me?"
"She's just a little emotional right now." Alvin opened the door so Toki could place the girl on her bed. "I knew once the thing with Skwisgaar was out she'd react this way, she just needs some time to cool off."
Toki placed her gently onto the bed, "I am very sorry's I make you mad Kyrie. I promise I not means to."
"She can't really hear you." Alvin said, unsure if Toki understood that or not. "I think we should just let her sleep it off some."
Toki looked sadly down at Kyrie, "How longs she gunna sleep?"
"Not entirely sure," the boy answered, uncertain why Toki was so concerned. Alvin headed towards the door, and turned to see that Toki hadn't moved from his spot. "We should uh, probably get going, so she can sleep." He said once more.
Toki shook his head, "I thinks I stay in here 'til she wake up."
Alvin eyed Toki suspiciously, and left the room. He spend the next hour in the hall, poking his head into the room every few minutes to ensure nothing was going on. Each time he checked in he saw Toki standing in the same spot, watching over Kyrie as she slept.
The bass player let out a sigh and headed to his bands rehearsal room, feeling confident that he had left Kyrie in good hands.
Notes : Sorta issues with this chapter, I'm not entirely sure if you can have a "weaponry fortune" if you are a defense contractor, or how exactly you would word such a thing. I used 'Hatredcopter' because it's my favorite Dethklok song. C: Chapters after this point will probably remain about this length, which feels shorter to me than usual, but as long as it accomplishes what I need it to, length doesn't really matter. xD The next chapter is going to be a little more...edgy, drifting a little more into the mature category; but just a little. ;D
Reviews make me happy!
Thanks to Luna (I was gunna hold off a few chapters with Kyrie and Toki making up but I didn't want them to stay bitter ;o; Pickles jealous? ...maybe ;D), firefly (Yay deddy fix! Glad you like it! 'o'), Marner (What you said makes sense to me, you interpreted the story perfectly to this point, that makes me happy...like what I'm writing is making sense xD school work is blar ;.; I feel ya on the school work issue tho, I hope you get time to write soon, or atleast post a part of a chapter ;.;), Spike (I'm glad you like it! 'n that my OC's are alright! Made me bubbly-happy to read your review!!), Domi (I agree, Pickles seems like he could function well in society --and with others-- moreso than compared with the rest of the band xD). Thanks to anyone else who may have read too:D