SONG/S FEATURED:
Hot
sung
by Avril
Lavigne—suggested
by aprilXXX
(anon.).
Breathe
sung
by Michelle
Branch—suggested
by RanbowPrincess326;
song picked by Jemelle
(anon.).
Turn
the Music Up
Written
by: Aminatsu032
O:o:o:o:o:O
"I challenge you to a song showdown…and whoever of us makes the better song,"—she pauses for a moment to gather her thoughts—"gets Natsume!" she said out of the blue.
What did she say? Gets who?
"Excuse me?"
"You don't have to hide it, bru-nette!" Sumire said in a loud tone, "That nurse told me!"
A vein popped on my head. That Yakako…
I wanted to object and blurt out: "What the hell? What's wrong with you? There is nothing—absolutely NOTHING—going on with me and Natsume!", but instead I blurt out, "Whatever—bring it on!"
O:o:o:o:o:O
VERSE SEVEN:
Sumire's eyes widened. Ha! She thought I was too chicken to accept her challenge!
My head was held up high, seeing Sumire so angry.
She sighed and finally spoke, after we took time glaring at each other. "Fine then. Next week, seven days from now, we'll be singing original compositions."—Permy turns around and started to walk away when she turned to me again—"Oh yeah, I forgot something."
She got something from her handbag—a cell phone.
"Hello?" I heard her say, "Yes, this is Sumire Shouda."—she pauses and then glances at me—"Inform the media that Sumire Shouda and Mikan Sakura are having a showdown—LIVE."—pause—"Oh, shut up! Just inform all media network—NOW!" When Permy ended the call, she held her head up high and gave me a painful glare.
My jaw locks open. Live? All media network? Has she gone nuts, or she was born nuts?!
I heard someone behind me and looked around. "Hotaru-chan!"
She was still as emotionless as ever, but I could sense there was some strange vibration. She had both her hands holding a brown tray with her lunch.
"D-did you see what she did?" I said, trying to get her go to my side.
"I did, but I also saw what you did," she said, giving emphasis to the word 'you'.
"M-me?!" I said, shocked, "Wha—what did I do?"
Hotaru didn't answer my question, but continued, "I think it was right for her to call you a 'pride-ish airhead'."
I stayed quiet, feeling a little disappointed at myself.
"Remember this," Hotaru said to me, "You'll never be a proper singer until you realize that music is not for selfish desires."
At that, Hotaru left.
She was right. I accepted the showdown because I didn't want to be humiliated by her again…I forgot all about Natsume. I'm so selfish. I'm the one to be called the 'pride-ish airhead' after all…
"When I first saw you, I knew you were someone that can change the people around you."
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
"Mikan! Mikan! Come quick!" I heard my mother say.
Quickly, I left my room and abandoned my iPod and went to the living room. I immediately saw Sumire's face on the television.
"What's up?" I asked.
"This is a live interview about a certain 'showdown'…" Mom paused and turned to me. "…a showdown you didn't tell me about?"
I sighed and sat on the couch. "Sorry, Mom, I was planning to tell you."
Mom crossed her arms but said nothing. Still, I could see she was as disappointed as Hotaru was.
"And there, people, a LIVE showdown of former Stellar lead singer, Sumire Shouda, and the current lead singer of the said group, Mikan Sakura, next week at seven at the Twin Tower Stadium. Who will wi—" Mom already turned the TV off before I could hear the rest of what the reporter said.
She looked at me and sat next to me. "Honey, tell me," she said to me, "is this the reason why you've been looking so down since you got home?"
I looked at her straight in the eye, and then looked away. "No," I said, "That's not it."
"Then what?" she said with her caring, motherly tone.
I stayed quiet for a while. "Mom, if you accepted a challenge for your selfish desires, is that wrong?" I asked her, indirectly answering her question.
She looked at me with concern, and then kissed my forehead. "Oh, honey, is that what this is all about?"
I didn't answer, so she must've sensed that I was really depressed.
She put her arms around me after a long silence between the two of us. "I think…" she said, "if you accepted it for yourself, do it for others."
I looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Hm…let me see," she continued. "For example you bought a burger for yourself, but then you saw someone very hungry, you give it to that person. What I'm saying is that, 'You can't change the past, but you can change the future.' Who cares if you accepted it for yourself? You can change your goal—which is to do it for the person you are supposed to do it for."
I took my time thinking of what mother said…and she was right!
I smiled and hugged her tight. "Oh, Mom, you're the best!"
Mom laughed, "Anything for my dear daughter."
"I love you, Mom."
"'Love you, too."
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
"Another person…" I said, playing with my ball pen, "only express through music…another…person…"—I pause for a moment—"I've got it!"
I was about to write down the lyrics on my mind when I remembered something. Running outside my room, to the telephone, I dialed a number.
"Hello. You are calling the Imai residence. Nobody is here at the moment, so please just leave a message after the beep—BEEEEEP!"
I take a deep breath and say what I have to say, "Hello, Hotaru? This is Mikan. I'm sorry for a while ago…but please do me a favor. Watch me next week—I want to show you the true me."
I ended the message and smiled at myself. Somehow, I feel better. One more call…
"Hello, Anna? This is Mikan."—I pause—"Really? Nonoko-chan is with you?"—pause—"Listen, I need you to do me a favor…"
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
I play with my mic while thinking of my song when I heard footsteps coming near me. A week has already passed. Right now, there is only four hours before the showdown starts.
"Ready to loose, Sakura?"—Sumire. Who else?
I smile at her and stop playing with my mic. "Right now, I don't care if I loose or not. What's important is that I give the message to the person I want to give the message to."
That smug on Permy's face suddenly disappeared. She rolled her eyes and walked away.
I sighed. "I'm ready," I said.
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the showdown of the century, with Sumire Shouda and Mikan Sakura! And now, current teen solo sensation, Sumire Shouda, singing to us her original composition!"
A lot of people clapped when Sumire stepped on the stage. Suddenly, I felt so nervous. I look at the crowd to see if Hotaru was there, when someone caught my eye—Natsume Hyuuga.
'He's here!' I heard a voice inside of me, 'He's here! What are you going to do?'
I exhale to keep myself calm. 'This is it. This…is it.'
"Ah,
ah ah
You're so good to me baby, baby"
Finally, Sumire started her song…and of course, the crowd cheered for her.
"I
wanna lock you up in my closet when no one's around
I wanna put
your hand in my pocket because you're allowed
I wanna drive you
into the corner and kiss you without a sound
I wanna stay this way
forever I'll say it loud"
Wha—? What kind of song is this?!
"Now you're in, and you can't get out
You make me so hot
Make me
wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly
breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're
so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me baby, baby
I
can make you feel all better, just take it in
And I can show you
all the places you've never been
And I can make you say everything
that you've never said
And I will let you do anything again and
again
Now you're in, and you can't get out"
I look at Natsume in the crowd. He was expressionless and I couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
"You
make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can
barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna
scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby,
baby
You're so good to me baby, baby
Kiss me gently
Always
I know
Hold me, love me
Don't ever go
Ooh, yeah yeah
You
make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can
barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna
scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby,
baby
You're so good to me baby, baby
You make me so
hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely
stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so
fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby
You're so good to me
baby, baby
You're so good."
The crowd cheered for her—so loud! Now, I feel so down…I think I'll never win this showdown.
I sigh and see Sumire raise her eyebrow.
"Break a leg," she said as she started to walk away.
"People, that was Sumire Shouda! Now, the new Stellar lead singer, Mikan Sakura, will sing to us her song!"
I walk slowly to the stage. I examine the crowd and my eyes glue to Natsume again. He was looking at me back. He was wearing a red, long-sleeve T-shirt with his blue polo, unbuttoned. Beside him was Ruka.
Realizing that I've been staring at him for so long, I examine the crowd again.
I take a deep breath and spoke, "Hi…um…good evening."
The crowd stayed silent.
"When I accepted this challenge, I was only thinking of myself. But then I…I realized that I can't gain anything with selfishness," I continue, "So I don't care anymore if I win this or not. The most important thing is…I can say what I want to say to the person…"—I pause for a short while—"that I wrote this to."
I glance at Natsume who was still looking at me, and then I heard the intro starting to play.
I open my mouth and took a deep breath.
"I've
been driving for an hour
Just talking to the rain
You say I've
been driving you crazy
and its keeping you away
So just give me
one good reason
Tell me why I should stay
'Cause I don't
wanna waste another moment
in saying things we never meant to say
And
I Take it just a little bit
I, hold my breath and count to ten
I,
I've been waiting for a chance to let you in"
Now I've started singing, I feel all my worries go away, but I keep in mind the people I care for.
"If
I just breathe
Let it fill the space between
I'll know
everything is alright
Breathe
Every little piece of me
You'll
see
Everything is alright
If I just breathe
Well it's
all so overrated
In not saying how you feel
So you end up
watching chances fade
And wondering what's real
And I Give
you just a little time
I, Wonder if you realize
I've been
waiting till I see it in your eyes
If I just breathe
Let it
fill the space between
I'll know everything is
alright
Breathe,
Every little piece of me
You'll
see
Everything is alright
If I just breathe
Breathe
So
I whisper in the dark,
Hoping you hear me
Do you hear me?
If
I just breathe
Let it fill the space between
I'll know
everything is alright
Breathe,
Every little piece of me
You'll
see
Everything is alright
Everything is alright if i just
breathe... breathe
I've been driving for an hour
Just
talking to the rain…"
I bow as I close my eyes. But then, unexpected, the crowd cheered for me…even louder than Sumire's!
I smile and glance at the place where Natsume was standing, my smile fades realizing he was no longer there. But still, I'm glad to know that he was here.
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
"And now," I hear the host say, "the result of the showdown!"
The crowd murmured and I felt so tense.
"…and the winner is…"
"Get ready to loose," Sumire murmured to me.
I said nothing and completely ignored her comment.
"…Mikan Sakura!"
I cover my mouth in shock as the crowd cheered loud for me.
I…don't believe it! I…I won?!
O:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:O
After so many congratulations from different people, I go back to the backstage and overhear Sumire talking to someone—or rather, shouting.
"I am telling you! There must be a mistake! That…that stupid girl! She…she cheated!" I heard her say. Right now, I feel so pissed, but I try to hold myself.
"I'm sorry, Miss Shouda," the person she was talking to said. I think it was the host, "We asked the opinion of Mr. Hyuuga as you said, and he chose Miss Sakura."
What? Natsume? Chose me?
Before I could hear more, Sumire comes running pass me. It looked like she didn't notice me standing here.
Quietly, I follow her and eventually hear her tantrums again.
"Why?! Why did you choose that girl?!" I think she was talking to Natsume.
Her voice was coming from a room. I lean on the wall so they wouldn't see me.
"Natsume! Answer me!" Sumire continued yelling.
I heard a chair move so Natsume must've stood up.
"That's enough!" he said, which stopped Sumire.
There was a long silence between the two. I felt I shouldn't be here but I, myself, wanted to know why Natsume chose me.
"I chose her because…" My heartbeat became faster. 'Calm down, Mikan. Calm down.' "…because she actually thinks of others before herself."
The last eight words felt so fragile. I didn't know how to react, I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to say!
Just then, Natsume walks out of the room. When he saw me, he stared at me for a while, giving me a painful look and then walks away.
DOKI-DOKI! DOKI-DOKI!
What is this? Why is my heartbeat so fast?
I ran as fast as I could, before Sumire sees me, too. But then, I stop. I suddenly became weak.
Why is my heart so painful? Why am I…feeling so broken?
That look… Natsume…who are you to me?
-
-end of chapter-
Author's Notes—
Long chapter. (nods, nods) Loooong chapter. (Long pause.) GAWD! I'm so prowdd of me! I can't believe I updated three-times in a row! I'll keep it up! Promise!! XD
KYA—!! Keep those suggestions and reviews coming so that I'll update faster and faster!! XD XD
Loving
you now and forever,
Faye-chan. Ü