The Taming of Gods
An Akito X OC fanfiction story. Please leave a review.
Musical inspiration: "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, "Young Blood" by Bea Miller
The fair was in town and Kyo, Yuki, Hatsuharu and Meda were enjoying a well-deserved weekend break. Shortly upon arriving, Saki and Arisa had joined them, watching protectively over their friend and glaring at Shigure and Ayame whenever they started revealing the more lecherous side of their nature.
The atmosphere was brilliant: the scent of candyfloss and popcorn floated through the air- both of which Meda was desperate to try, and the music, laughter and decorations created a jovial environment that was just what she needed to lift her mind off the argument she had with Akito the previous night. Kyo was interested in the Takoyaki stalls, while Yuki was drawn in the opposite direction to the sushi stalls. As a result, a small squabble broke out, though the Meda's excitement was too great to be put out and super contagious so eventually even Kyo and Yuki came to a truce for the day. Merely half an hour later, they were stuffed and a feeling of contentment hung over all of them as they moved from stall to stall.
'Oh! I'd like to try that game!' Meda said excitedly, dragging Arisa and Kyo over to a fair ground game stall. A row of mechanical ducks moved at the back of the stage and the aim was to knock them over by firing small foam pellets at them using the guns fixed at the front of the stall. Two tries later, Meda had still been unsuccessful in winning the fluffy panda bear she'd had her heart set on.
'Don't pout Meda. I'll win it for you!' Kyo said, stepping up and proudly puffing out his chest.
'Oh please, don't make me gag. How cliché.' Arisa snorted, ignoring the withering glare Kyo shot her.
Fifteen minutes later Kyo hadn't managed to win anything more than a small stuffed crocodile. Before he could look disheartened, however, Meda had mustered her happiest face and gave his hand a small squeeze.
'Thank you so much! I love it. It's absolutely adorable!' She lied in an attempt to cheer him up as he visibly deflated.
'Step aside, loser. Let me show you how it's done.' Arisa declared, grabbing the gun from his hands and slapping a 100-yen note on the counter.
Three minutes later they left the stall with Meda carrying a huge stuffed panda bear and a glum Kyo and smug Arisa following close behind.
'Haha! Beat that, Kyo!' Arisa laughed while Meda watched with mild concern at the murderous expression on Kyo's face. Before her friends could tear each other apart, she hurried them over to join the rest of the group.
'Hey! There you guys are- we've been looking for you everywhere!' Hatsuharu exclaimed as soon as he saw them.
'Sorry! There was a bit of a competition going on over by the shoot-a-duck stall. However, I got my prize so I'm not going to complain!' Meda laughed, waving the giant panda bear in his face.
'Ah, let me guess. Kyo, being the capable and chivalrous gentleman he is, won you that ridiculous, oversized ball of fur?' Yuki asked dryly, jealousy burning in his eyes at the thought of Kyo trying to win over Meda, though thankfully no one else seemed to notice it.
'Shut up you damn rat!' Kyo muttered, before storming away.
'What's wrong with him?' Yuki raised an elegant eyebrow.
'Well…'
'I won her that bear. Carrot-top tried like 50 times but he couldn't win anything more than a measly little crocodile plushie.' Arisa said scornfully. Yuki and Haru burst out laughing and despite showing great restraint, soon Meda cracked up as well.
'Come on! Let's get him before he breaks the place.' She hurried off in the direction Kyo had disappeared, with the others following close behind.
Kyo came to a halt in front of a large stage that had been built in the centre of the huge fair ground. Evening was beginning to fall and the stage was lit up with show lights and a small, bright jumbotron in the centre announced a Karaoke competition with first prize of 40 000 yen.
'Whoa…' Kyo thought, taking in the scene with mild fascination. A huge crowd of people stood before the stage; the fairground now glittered with festival lights and a high tech speaker sound system blared out music as various people tried their luck in the competition.
'A karaoke competition?' Arisa asked aloud in surprise, coming up behind Kyo. 'Wanna try your luck, carrot-top? Maybe this is more your speed?' She taunted, while Meda rolled her eyes and pulled a fuming Kyo away from her before he broke her neck or worse.
'40 000 yen? That's a quite a bit.' Saki commented.
'Maybe we should have a go.' Haru suggested, a familiar darkness settling over his features. 'I can think of a lot of things I can do with that money- maybe buy a new guitar, or amps. Hell yeah! This is going to rock!' He whooped, signing up for a turn on the stage.
'Umm… I didn't know you sang, Haru.' Meda said, eyeing him slightly sceptically.
'Well, I mostly like to play lead guitar but I can sing a bit. I rap a lot.'
'How typically black of you.' Yuki raised his eyebrows at the overly excited cow.
'Oooh. It'll be fun. Good luck Haru.' Meda gave him a rewarding smile and Hatsuharu felt his heart give an unexpected jump.
As the crowd cheered for the performing contestants on stage, the small group of friends felt themselves being swept away by the general air of excitement. Soon Meda was singing along, at the top of her voice, though the noise of the crowd drowned out most of her words. Yuki watched adoringly, laughing encouragingly when she turned to face him.
'Having fun then?' He asked with a small chuckle as her slightly tan, freckled cheeks flushed bright red.
'Yeah, sorry. I think I might have gotten a bit carried away there.' She laughed good naturedly.
'Don't worry about it. You look super cute when you're singing.' Yuki said.
'What? I can't hear you.' Meda shouted over the noise of the crowd who had broken into thunderous applause as the singer on stage finally ended his rendition of 'Hall of Fame' by The Script.
'Never mind!' Yuki shouted, blushing profusely. Thankfully, Meda was distracted as Haru came onto stage.
'He looks like he was born to be on a stage, rocking out for hundreds of fans.' Kyo smirked as Haru proudly strutted across the stage belting out 'Can't hold us':
'Here we go back, this is the moment,
Tonight is the night, we'll fight till it's over,
So we put our hands up, like the ceiling can't hold us!'
The crowd screamed in appreciation, mostly girls fawning over the handsome figure he was cutting, up on stage.
'Whooo! Go Haru!' Meda cheered, grabbing Saki and Arisa's hands before holding them up in the air. They laughed and cheered for their friend; Meda completely forgot about the stressful meeting with Akito she had endured the previous day. For now, everything was good.
'What a brilliant performance by Hatsuharu Sohma! The crowd seems to agree: I can't even hear myself announce the next contestant over the noise you lot are making.' The competition host said good naturedly as Haru took a bow, an unbelievably smug expression on his face.
'Our last contestant of the night is…' The host peered down at the list, 'Meda Sohma!'
'What?!' She gasped, her eyes going as wide as saucers as her friends all turned their eyes to her. 'I bet Hatsuharu signed me up for this… I'm gonna kill that little-'
'Hey, come on! You sing really well. We've all heard you humming or singing while doing the chores. I think you have a real shot at winning this competition. ' Yuki said reassuringly.
'Yeah, go on Meda. We're rooting for you.' Arisa seconded.
'I bet you're much better than that stupid cow.' Kyo agreed, pushing her towards the stage.
'Uhhh!' Meda half groaned and whimpered as she tried to conquer the dizzying feeling of stage fright beginning to come over her.
'Your song tonight: 'Young Blood' by Bea Miller!' The host announced happily, oblivious to the nerve-wrecked girl standing in the spotlight, looking uncannily like a deer caught in the headlights.
The music started, softly, spreading like a melodious blanket into the warm evening air. Focusing on her friends, standing in the midst of the swaying crowd, she tried to push away her nervousness as she began to sing, her voice weak and quiet at first.
'We were making history
Breaking rules and breaking free
Questioning the writing on the wall.'
As she began to sing, she blocked out the crowd, the noise, the atmosphere, focusing on a new face in her mind- one that inexplicably set her mind at ease: Akito. All of a sudden, her voice grew stronger, soaring into a powerful and rousing chorus.
'We've got young blood
Can't destroy us
We make our own luck in this world,
We've got young blood,
No one chose us
We make our own love in this world.'
Yuki, Kyo, Arisa and Haru watched in shock as their quiet friend took on a whole new form; transforming into a striking and powerful figure. In an unexpected turn of events, the fireworks show on the far side of the fairground started up, providing a spectacular finale as Meda stood on stage, framed by soaring sparks in the sky around her, the song coming to a rousing finish. The karaoke competition had become the centre of attention, by this point, as everyone on the fairground had gathered round. The crowd cheered at the top of their voices as Meda took a bow on the stage, panting slightly though beaming with a hundred watt smile.
'Well folks, that thunderous round of applause and you screams have left no doubt as to the winners of this competition. But, as a mere formality, judges your scores please!' The host announced, as the jumbotron switched, from the lyrics of the song, to an image of the judges table.
10. 10 . 10. 10.
'A perfect score: placing her at the top of the chart. Congratulations, Meda Sohma. You are this year's winner of the Samsung 2015 Karaoke Competition and the lucky winner of 40 000 yen!' The host laughed at the incredulous look on her face as he handed her the cheque and a beautiful, golden trophy. She stumbled off stage, clutching her wins and still looking a little stupefied, right into the waiting arms of her friends.
'Well done! That was amazing. I never imagined our quiet little Meda to turn out to be such a rockstar! Tell me, what changed?' Arisa asked teasingly, though Meda's smile suddenly faded as she remembered the face that had given her an unexpected burst of confidence.
'Why did I think of Akito, all of a sudden?' She wondered, frowning inwardly. She tuned out the chatter of the others as they made their way home, thinking about what it meant. Neither her prophetic powers nor her psychic ones proffered any help in this situation. Why was it that Akito gave her a sense of confidence, power, even reassurance? It was illogical. It was counterintuitive. If there was anything her last encounter with the man had shown her, it was that he was dangerous, cruel and not to be trusted. Right?
'Agh! What the hell is wrong with me?!' She yelled at herself mentally, frustration colouring her vision. She was disorientated by her own emotional turmoil, and the confusion was overwhelming. 'I guess the only way to figure this out is to pay him another visit.' She decided reluctantly.