A/N: In this chapter we see what I meant by "not everyone they meet is so welcoming"...
Disclaimer: I don't own Gravitation, "Days Inn Memphis at Graceland" hotel, "Classic Hitz", Elvis's music, any aspect of Graceland, information from civilrightsmuseum , or any contents at said site. Researching all this info about my own country makes me wish I could zig-zag across the map and learn more about it's history, and of course visit many places.
Caution: Language, violence
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Chap 4: "Graceland"
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After Claude Winchester kissed his wife and child goodbye, making sure they had more than enough money to spend on whatever they pleased, the bands and romance novelist were hunted down by fans. After signing numerous autographs, they began the ten hour "road-trip" to Tennessee. Instead of stopping to rest at a hotel en-route, Tohma hired two limo drivers, who would trade-off between hours driving and resting. Nittle Grasper had an easy time falling asleep in the luxury vehicle, as did Tohma and his relatives, and Shuichi "could sleep through an explosion", while Hiroshi wasn't so lucky.
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Reaching the "Days Inn Memphis at Graceland", the CEO stretched his legs as they climbed out of the limousine "Okay everyone, shower and change so we can head out for our first combined U.S show".
"Nakano-san please", the young keyboardist pushed the heavy arm off his shoulder, "Snap out of it, our performance is in thirty minutes".
"Just gimme some sake and I'll be good to go"
"I'm not old enough to buy alcohol, and wouldn't anyway"
"Besides Mr. Nakano, in America we drink beer, tequila, wine, rum!" the thirty six year old informed, pulling out a half-filled bottle marked "Bacardi". Eiri noticed, but had no obligation to warn his boyfriend's band-mate as the fool quickly drank large gulps the first taste of rum in his life.
Coughing, Hiro spit onto the street, but could already feel the burn in his throat and stomach. When he could, he glared at the gun lover.
"As the manager of Bad Luck, and former manager of Nittle Grasper, it is my responsibility to ensure the concerts go well".
"Probably shoot me in the leg if I said I want to leave" Hiro grumbled sarcastically, surely more awake now.
"K-san is highly devoted to his job" his boss stated, entering the hotel.
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A master of time management, Seguchi Tohma rounded up the group and got them outside just as the limousine pulled up with a new driver. "The show begins five-o-clock, you know shortcuts Mr. Grey"
"Yes Mr. Tohma".
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It made no difference to them that most of the "Classic Hitz" club's patrons were Caucasian people. Some guests were there for the show, mostly young people, while others were there because they enjoyed being in the club.
While they set up their instruments, a number of the Americans glared angrily at their attire. As Shuichi kissed him before they began, Eiri felt the glares.
"Hey y'all! Claysic Hitz weylcomes y'all to th first combaand show of "Neytle Graysper" aynd "Bayd Luck", pop stars straight from Japayn!" an employee shouted through the microphone. Their supporters cheered.
To begin their two and one half hour show, they performed renditions of several Elvis Presley songs, with Suguru playing drums, and Tohma and Noriko as background singers.
With each Elvis song the music sped up; "500 miles", "All shook up", "Devil in disguise", "A little less conversation", "Hound dog", "Don't be cruel"...
Upon finishing the "Dedication to Elvis" set, Hiro re-tuned his guitar as Tohma, Noriko, and Suguru brought their instruments out.
With ease, both pop-singers transitioned back to their usual music, along with a few of their songs translated into English. Sipping his beer Eiri mused with a hidden smile, "His vocals do have surprising range". He truly felt his boyfriend deserved his worldwide stardom.
Finishing, they signed more autographs, and helped clean up the area where they performed. Noriko checked her watch, "We still have some hours left, who wants to check out the town?"
Before anyone could reply, they heard "Hey!"
"Is he talking to us?" Hiro asked. Shuichi turned to the man, seeing that there was a group. "Are you talking to us?" he asked with a heavy accent. One of the red-faced white men walked up to him.
"Waa caynt y'all faggits stay in ur own dang Chinky-Jap cuntray?!" he pounded his right fist into his left hand, with the rest of his pals edging forward, some showing knives and one dragging a metal bat against the rocky sidewalk. Tohma silently had Ryu, his cousin, and Noriko back away.
As the first man reached into his pocket, Eiri stepped in front of Shuichi. Lifting the troublemaker by the collar he asked with a darkness in blue eyes "Would you kill for the person you love?".
The hideous man chuckled then quickly proclaimed "Hell naw, I layk ma woman stayin' in her plaice, an if thayt plaice in th ground, thayt where she stays... dis fags belongs there too, specully cuz dey J-". Disgusted, Eiri used his fist too, knocking out several of the lead fool's teeth and breaking his jaw bone. The rest of the white-supremacists lunged forward to help their friend, but Hiroshi and Tohma stopped them.
In short time, the Japanese won this fight.
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That evening...
As Eiri turned off the light on the bedside table, Shuichi closed the short distance between them, tenderly kissing his chest, neck, cheeks. He spoke the words for the emotion that never left his heart, "I love you".
"I love you" the blonde whispered, pressing their lips together. All he could think of as the American attempted to harm Shuichi was the injuries he sustained months ago, for the sake of his honor. He would never allow anyone to lay their filthy hands on his boyfriend again.
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The following afternoon, the younger band stared in awe at "Graceland Mansion". Ryu and Kuma were also particularly amazed.
"See see Tohma, isn't it better this way? We get to tour Elvis' house with a buuunch of people nah-no-dah!" The CEO wasn't thrilled with the notion, since they received a death-threat at the hotel that morning, which he didn't mention to anyone but for Mr. K. He was certain the firearms specialist would take care of that issue.
While they were out today, he had assistants packing up their belongings so they could catch the plane soonest flight to their next destination.
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"I wish my house had every room just like the Jungle Room" mused the indigo-haired woman.
"Ryu's favorite was the Trophy Building" said singer shouted dreamily.
Lifting her hands from her ears, Noriko patted her band-mate on the head, "We all know that very well Ryu". Everyone present recalled him running around and reading the words on every award three times each.
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Their final Memphis, Tennessee destination was "National Civil Rights Museum" at 450 Mulberry Street. With tickets purchased at Graceland, they entered the historic location.
This time they did not join a tour group, but did hear one of the guides say as they walked in, *"The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was tragically assassinated April 4, 1968, is the world's first and only comprehensive overview of the civil rights movement in exhibit form."
Neither singer made a ruckus here; Ryuichi and Shuichi became most serious as they viewed each exhibit.
The Rise of Jim Crow
Separate is Not Equal
The Year They Walked
Standing Up by Sitting Down
We are Prepared to Die
The Children Shall Lead Them
For Jobs and Freedom
Is This America?
How Long? Not Long.
What Do We Want?
Join the Movement
World in Transition
I Am A Man
King's Last Hours
At the final exhibit an elder African American woman cried quietly, whispering "We miss you doctor King". As a young woman, she attended many of his speeches. As her tears fell, the room became filled with silent reverence.
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End of Chap 4
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I'm glad for the research I've done for this fic, I want very much to visit "The National Civil Rights Museum".
*Note: I don't support gay-bashing, prejudice, or racism.