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 Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 6:42 pm
Leaning close, Katsu smirked. "You forget... I've heard him... in a way... at least far more intimately than anyone sitting here has heard him. He isn't playing HIS music... which is partly why I decided to run that lyrics contest I told him about. I'll pick Ko-kun's song naturally... reel him in just a bit more... because Shou-san is far too wary of the spider in his web."
Azriel wagged a gloved finger as he said this but then turned his attention back to the other musicians.
"Shou-san is fantastic. Narcissus-san is... raw?" Katsu tilted his head to the side, considering that choice of words. "Lots of insecurities up there... even if he talks like it's nothing. His music hurts whereas Shou-san's music feels nice even if he was being stabbed on stage. It's odd. I had thought Narcissus-san's music to be akin to Shou-san's... but this is a strange level to take it to... He'll lose people who feel the deeper music but he'll gain fans who enjoy that overly personal touch."
Reading a person through song was easier than reading one through speech. Hell the reader side didn't even need to be present for Azriel to garner a jist of everything about the performer in that single moment.
Sipping his ginger ale, Katsumi's dark eyes fell on Izo again. "Ko-kun's own music is gorgeous... kind of pisses me off that he was such a success..."
'Whereas I have failed in many ways.' he thought bitterly to himself before shrugging.
"Either way, signing Ko-kun will be difficult. Shou-san doesn't like you, as I've said, and he's more apt to let the boy sign with Ohayou because of his relationship with Lucky-san... and of course because of... extended family as well." there was a knowing look in Katsu's eyes.
He'd figured out the puzzle...
At least in part.
Ko-kun was, obviously, the lost package. That much he knew. He knew that the boy couldn't have come from Shou or any of SMASH's stars... so it seemed only fitting that the child with the golden fingers was from the rival camp.
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:18 pm
What I want, I get...
No matter the method------------------------------------------------}:-  Matsumoto Izo
Chairman - SMASH
The itsy bitsy spider...
The spider listened and most of it seemed like a fair assessment. "No, he's not playing his music. I believe the closest thing to his music was the intermission earlier. Although, I think the child was just fooling around. However, by the way people were dancing that song probably should be played again for the club circuit." Oh yes, Izo had taken in that music realizing the child probably could poor out popular music behind whatever singer he was placed with...and create hot dancing music too. He wasn't limited to a specific style or taste. Maybe he didn't even care about style or tastes of music. He just played for....fun.
"Well, we will see how far you can reel him in. Shou is leery of me after all this time. But, I'm sure he's leery of you as well. You're music is not exactly child safe." Izo was amused by that dark thought, however, Ko did seem to be drawn to musically inclined people. That was the plus for Katsumi but he wasn't sure if there were any other bonuses there. Ko was pretty close to Shou's orbit right now.
"Shou's album is going to be a winner. Of that I'm confident. I know there is a bit of envy from my rivals over there from his performance tonight. After tonight, he'll be in the studio cutting that album that everyone has just had a taste. But Narcissus' music tonight....Mmm...he's billed himself as Koyasu Akihiko and this is nothing like his normal stage show. The album is strong but I agree, his fans will be mixed on it. The diehards won't care as long as it's him. And while masterfully done, I'm not sure how his fan base will grasp it. He'll find a new set of fans from this album certainly. It might be a wash. I'd say he has at least one song in the bunch that will be an Oricon hit. If not two." Izo had a good sense of the business, and he knew Shou's album would set his fan base on fire. There was at least one song that would make the top 10 in the Oricon charts. Of that he was certain.
Then he laughed, and looked at Katsumi squarely in the eyes, "You're talented, handsome and have many songs within you to tell the world. And...because your success won't come instantly you'll find in the future that you'll cherish it far more once you've reached that point. There's nothing wrong with fighting your way to the top. I'll tell you right now, it feels far better when you earn it than when it's given to you on a golden platter."
Then Izo took a deep drink of his beer and this time plucked a napkin from the bar to wipe his lips, He knew exactly what Katsumi meant but he wouldn't go any deeper into it so near the public. "Yes...that might be true. And if that does happen, I'll bid my time until I own Ohayou. Then, he'll be mine. Long term planning. If I thought of things as a loss now, I'd truly be frustrated. Chances are, Ko-kun won't sign with more difficult targets like GO. Genki probably can't afford him because they've purchased some talent recently. Ko's price will be very high. Nihon might make a bid. Mm...I expect all of them will bid no matter what Narcissus has requested."
"Oh...yes, and what did you think of the two opening acts? Any thoughts?" Izo leaned back against the bar so he could glance down at the stage. Looked like Narcissus would be starting up soon but it seemed like they were waiting for the boy to get his keyboard set up. "Geesh...and what is that keyboard that Ko is using. It looks like....mm...It looks like one from Shou's old club circuit days. I think it is." Izo frowned because he was certain that Shou could afford better for the boy. Ok maybe he didn't have time but old tech frustrated Izo when newer items were far more suitable.
-:{------------------------------------------------No matter the cost.
...Prepare to pay up!
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 7:32 pm
"Then it's a damn good thing... I'm making a more family friendly persona." Katsumi replied with a wicked smirk, though he didn't elaborate. Instead, the young man sipped his drink. "It doesn't matter if his new album is a hit or not. The songs weren't made for his fans and I don't think he gives a damn if they like them or not."
There was a bit of a faraway look in the bat's eyes as he spoke.
"I want to see Narcissus-san... not Koyasu Akihiko. Seems I'll have to wait to watch my real rival but..." suddenly Katsu looked at Izo with a mixture of surprise and suspicion in his gaze.
"Golden platter? Hardly. Try a blood stained wash bin..." shaking his head, Azriel focused on his drink again. "Why do you think I'm here tonight? I don't stop fighting. I hurt like ******** hell, Matsumoto-san... but I'm here nevertheless."
This pain, after all, was nothing compared to the mental anguish he'd suffered the last few days with the reader.
Tempted to throw his drink at the bar and watch the glass smash into a thousand pieces, Katsu reigned in that violent temper and instead focused on his father's words once more. "Ko-kun and I are a lot alike... and I think he'll really warm up to me. After all, look at how he's playing for Narcissus-san... and that friendship didn't take much time at all. I'm thinking of seeing if the boy will teach me piano. I think you'll regret not reeling the boy in before now... but perhaps I can fix the mistakes of the shark, hmm?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, obviously enjoying the idea of one-uping that damn Ishihara. "I doubt MeKA will bid. Or... maybe they will... and the boy will be whisked away out of your reach?"
It was a very real possibility after all.
"Tanaka Michi will become popular. He'll be the next sex symbol of the industry. Izzy Lucky however will skyrocket to fame thanks to being so closely tied to Narcissus-san. Not that Tanaka-san won't be able to suck in a little of that as well... but Lucky-san has the added bonus of Shou-san's fans as well. He's the one to worry about profit-wise. No doubt MeKA will use him too... I thought he wasn't even signed..." there was a knowing look in the bat's eyes.
After all, Azriel had seen that contract burned... literally... in Izo's office.
Izzy wasn't attached to a label.
Made him more dangerous.
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:11 pm
What I want, I get...
No matter the method------------------------------------------------}:- Matsumoto Izo
Chairman - SMASH
The itsy bitsy spider...
"More friendly persona?" Izo raised an eyebrow and looked at his son certainly questioning that idea inside his head. Although he didn't ask anything it just seemed a bit....odd. Maybe a passing phase with the young man? He'd wait and see.
Izo didn't allow Katsumi's words to get to him. Of course, Ko's success was from a blood stained wash bin but...Narcissus. No that was a golden platter. "I wasn't speaking of Ko-kun....but that's beside the point. You will be successful, Katsumi. Because you'll strive for that as a personal goal."
One day, the doctor certainly would wish to perform that experiment again. However, he had to wonder if the doctor had really perfected the process. And yet again, the doctor wasn't exactly in Izo's good graces at the moment. However, he tried not to dwell on this matter here at the club. He had to wonder if the doctor's experimentation was a fluke or not. Maybe Katsumi would learn more once he started managing at Prospero's.
"I'm sure you'll never stop fighting. That's a fine trait to hold on to when things are rough." Eventually Katsumi would build up his own defenses, Izo would be glad for that day. But then again, on the other side of the coin, it would make Katsumi far more difficult to control. Always a trade off. However, that was the price of creating a child into a man. At least, by the time Izo left this world, he could at least tell Kaori that her son would survive and prosper.
"Hmm...I suppose you do have a few things in common with the boy. And maybe he will follow through and teach you piano. But, I'm sure he won't initiate that offer unless you ask. He's a child an his attention span probably is focused on certain things but not others. Yes, I'm sure I'll regret several things in the future, but...as for not pulling in the boy, it was far saner to leave him there, than to pull him away from Shou." Izo knew that Shou's reactions couldn't be predicted most days. He wasn't stable. Just like tonight....completely impulsive.
"As for fixing the Shark's mistake, I'd say, you shouldn't be so harsh. While he should have been searching for a particular package, I sent him to help you acquire said pet. So, maybe you should blame me instead for putting your success above my own." His gaze settled upon Katsumi as he finished his beer and pushed the glass back to the barkeep. Yes, Ishihara should have been package hunting at the time, but he wasn't...and the reason he wasn't was standing across the room watching the show.
"I agree about Tanaka Michi. He has a lot of sex appeal and once he's more comfortable I'm sure he'll flaunt it. Izzy Lucky....Mmm...his stardom is a definite. If he doesn't take the charts by storm, eventually...." he glanced over at Ishi Rukuro. "Eventually, he'll have an empire of his own. The wolves of MeKA are very shrewd and clever. He isn't signed as far as I know. I don't think Ohayou or MeKA have announced...well, tonight Narcissus announced his bit about them but...I don't think it's been set in writing. Izzy Lucky might be trying to figure out what road he wished to follow....Mmm..." Izo wondered what he could do there but Izzy was a well protected piece on two boards at the moment, even if one board's master had recently passed away. That vacant seat...those last moves. Yeah enough to protect Aki's pawns for a little while. The man did think ahead some. But that protection would diminish which meant the real guardians to watch for were the wolves. They wouldn't allow their heir to be compromised. Izzy Lucky was...very lucky.
-:{------------------------------------------------No matter the cost.
...Prepare to pay up!
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:23 pm
"Funny. I wasn't talking about Ko-kun either." Katsumi replied, looked pointedly at Izo, one finger taping the side of his head as an indicator.
He would be successful or die trying. Both men knew that. Azriel wanted the empire of the spider... wanted his own empire to do with as he pleased... and he wouldn't stop clawing and biting until he got it.
It's how he'd survived the pit.
"He was also busy getting shot if I recall." the bat spoke suddenly, "Then again, I suppose he was hunting in that sense as well." sighing, Katsu leaned against the bar as well, though he didn't dare press his back against it and, instead, put his elbows on the wood.
"Too bad Lucky-san can't sign with you, ne? I'm sure he's got his price... everyone does... I'm sure even Narcissus-san has his price... then again..." Azriel shrugged slightly. "Lucky-san will have his empire... Narcissus-san will have his empire... and you will have yours. This makes it two against one though, Matsumoto-san. Not very good odds. If Ohayou and MeKA merged... could you take them on? Surely they would do this before handing the reigns over to you. The entire Ohayou lot hates your guts, my pet included."
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 8:50 pm
What I want, I get...
No matter the method------------------------------------------------}:- Matsumoto Izo
Chairman - SMASH
The itsy bitsy spider...
Izo didn't comment on Ishihara's bad luck. Being shot, and becoming a complete mess that needed the doctor's skilled hands to fix was surely something that Ishihara You would not be forgetting anytime soon.
"I suspect that is possible..." he didn't elaborate on his deeper thoughts not in this crowd. "But...you see, Katsumi. Years ago, Smash was much smaller, and now it has reached this point. Ohayou doesn't have it's mastermind anymore. And MeKA....Yes, well Crystal and Rukoro are quite a pair. They understand this game. So if I must look over the chessboard, I would say one real opponent and a lessor one trying to figure out his water wings still. Merging would be Ohayou's best defense. But I doubt Narcissus wants that for Ohayou. And yes, and that would be a much bigger problem. However, unlike years ago, Smash is far more capable. And still, that one against one..."
He laughed and turned to head back to his seat, "Yes, they do hate my guts, but...that doesn't really matter does it?"
-:{------------------------------------------------No matter the cost.
...Prepare to pay up!
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:03 pm
"Perhaps it doesn't matter..." Azriel replied with a slight sigh, his dark gaze watching Izo as he looked back to the table he had vacated. "Then again... if you want then to stay with Ohayou... or Smash once it's acquired the label... it would be best if they didn't run the first chance their contracts allowed. How will you top that, hmm?" the bat asked, continuing to watch Matsumoto with that same expression.
Love and hate... He hated the spider's guts... but once again he loved the man at the same time. It was such a confusing concept for Katsumi. He had more right to hate Izo than anyone, hell even moreso than Izzy Lucky. And yet...
"Waiting is such a b***h." he sighed again, moving his body slightly to alleviate the ache in one hip. Damn Ishihara. "If only you could take what you want now..."
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:14 pm
It took a little while to get Ko back into his seat. One glance backstage as he was doing this was all that Narcissus needed to confirm his suspicions.
Shou was going to kill him.
Izzy might be right there in line to as well.
But oddly enough... Yuuji just smirked at him.
The young tiger could take that as a good or a bad thing. He knew his cousin wouldn't physically harm him... least ways not until after the next two shows. But there really was no saving grace after that. If Akihiko couldn't convince Yuuji that what he'd done, he'd done for the boy and for him alone... well... so be it.
Ko was already different enough. No need to alienate him on stage as well. The others didn't know what it was like... being a child and everyone watching your fingertips move... having adults clapping politely and praising you for a job well done... while at the same time making you feel out of place, like a freak of nature sitting at the keys for their own amusement.
Narcissus didn't want that for Ko.
And thus, he would treat the boy just as he did the rest of his band. A job well done, in the young Koyasu's mind, had to be rewarded and he just didn't really give a damn if the others saw it that way.
Because they simply didn't understand. Maybe Shou would, but of course Akihiko didn't know if Shou was a musical prodigy as a child. Izzy certainly wasn't, nor was Yuuji even though the latter had been to enough of the young tiger's childhood performances to grasp some form of it all. Then again, Izzy had worked with child stars before... certainly he could appreciate the need for normalcy in the whirlwind of a life that poor Ko was thrust into after being taken from his parents.
"Right. 'In Flames'. Don't worry. Just four more songs and you can grab something from the buffet. I can hear your stomach growling." the musician whispered to Ko, again to where the microphone wouldn't pick up.
Then he turned, letting the boy get perfectly settled while he walked back over to the middle of the stage. Quickly Narcissus nodded to Jaz, which would be the signal... he hoped... to dim the lights out again for the next song.
Darkness descended on the stage and those assembled... and then softly the music began again.
揺らめく白連の影
唇重ね合わせて
最後の奇跡を願う
The wavering shadow of the white lotus
covers your lips
wishing for a final miracle
息が止まるほど美しく
溶けていくガラスのように
灼熱の炎に抱かれ
So beautiful I hold my breath
like melting glass
enveloped in scorching flames
叫ぶ夜が月を切り裂いた
別れを告げた雨の吐息だけが夜空に響いた
The screaming night carved up the moon
Only the sigh of the rain that announced our parting echoed in the night sky
There was sound like rain that mingled with Narcissus' voice as he sang. The lights of the stage were a strange color of white and blue, casting shadows and making it seem like a deep midnight had come on them. Slowly as he sang, there were flickers of red and orange light that began to build. The smoke machines gave an eerie effect to the entire scene, making it appear as if, through sight and sound, that rain was trying to staunch the fire that had sprung up.
目を閉じて燃え散るキミは花びらのように
夜闇を朱く染め続けてゆく
風よ舞え哀しみは舞い散る灰に乗せて
ゆらゆらとキミは闇に消えた
With eyes closed, your burning form scatters like petals
continuing to stain the darkness of night crimson
Dance, oh wind, the sadness carries the fluttering, falling ash
with a flicker, you vanished into darkness
As Akihiko hit the chorus, the flames sprang to a new life of their own, consuming the midnight lights and bathing everything in an orange glow. His voice rose into a higher more feminine pitch, seeming to calm the raging inferno and once more bringing the midnight back with the soft sounds of rain and, every so often, a distant thunderclap. He held the microphone but didn't move much aside from his free hand.
ちらつく夜の陽炎
降り出した雨に靠れ
別れの夜が直に終わる
The heat haze of the shimmering night
held up by the rain that began to fall
the night of our parting ended in an instant
夜空を纏う月の哀しみは
涙流すことも許されずにただ疎まれ...
Clothed in the night sky, the moon's sadness
pushes me away without even allowing my tears to fall...
指先に触れた微笑も涙も今は
キミの名を叫ぶことしかできない
漆黒の羽根は散切れることが運命なら
僕だけはキミの月になろう
The smile and the tears I touched with my fingertips
now can do nothing but scream your name
If it is fate that the jet black wings be cut to pieces
then I alone will be your moon
Again the flames burst forth, overpowering the sound of the rain with their crackling. The words tore themselves from Akihiko's throat as he tilted his head back, eyes closed, as if standing in the midst of a downpour of rain and just savoring the feeling of it on his skin. That final guitar chord struck and he brought the microphone back to his lips, eyes still closed as he sang.
花は静かに
その身を焦がし
黄泉を彩る
The flowers quietly
scorch your body
painting hell
目を閉じて燃え散るキミは花びらのように
夜闇を朱く染め続けてゆく
風よ舞え哀しみは舞い散る灰に乗せて
ゆらゆらとキミは闇に消えた
With eyes closed, your burning form scatters like petals
continuing to stain the darkness of night crimson
Dance, oh wind, the sadness carries the fluttering, falling ash
with a flicker, you vanished into darkness
There were flashes of lightning now intermingled with the flames. Thunder and crackling and the sound of a pelting rain... and somehow Narcissus sang over it all. Once more the rain began to beat back the fire and as the song slowly faded out, the flames began to die until once more the entire stage was cast into midnight. And then... the lights simply went out once more.
It was time for the next song...
三日月を抱いた君に呟いた
「粉雪と踊る君に逢いたい…」
たった一つだけの想いを乗せて
紅く染まる雪を宙に散りばめた
I whispered to you who embraced the crescent moon
"I want to see you dancing with the powder snow..."
Carrying just one single thought
I starred the sky with crimson dyed snow
君を抱きしめる花となれ
募る想いめぐらせ咲き乱れ
心奪われるほど君を愛せたことを
何度も…何度も…夜空に叫んだ
I can become flowers to embrace you
The feelings welling up bloom wildly surrounding us
I screamed over and over into the night sky
that I could have loved you so much it stole my heart away
So many things happened at once as Narcissus sang. The lights went up to once again plunged the stage and club into a sort of twilight with a spotlight fitted with a crescent shape mimicked the moon. It was this moon that Akihiko focused on as he sang. The lights around the base of the stage turned blood red with little patches of white here and there to imitate the bloody snow. And then came the sakura petals that fell from the ceiling, landing on the stage alone.
吐息紅く染めて詠い続けてた
「今宵の夢にぞ君が姿を…」
君の消えた季節がもうすぐ終わる
最後の涙 重ね、粉雪に変えて見せよう
I kept singing, staining my breath red
"In my dream this evening, thy image..."
The season you vanished is soon to end
I'll add up the tears and change them to powder snow to show you
君を抱きしめる雪となれ
募る想い散りばめ舞い踊れ
傷を隠そうとするほど何故か涙が溢れて
君の微笑みが今、霞んで見えないよ
I can become snow to embrace you
Dance, scattering the feelings that well up
As much as I try to hide the wounds
Somehow, the tears overflow
Your smiling face has grown hazy, I can no longer see it
The imagery changed once more and now it looked as if just snow were on the stage instead of the blood red color. Fake snow fell from the ceiling this time as the chorus rang out. But still Narcissus sang toward that crescent moon across the club, projected via spotlight on a far wall.
君を照らし出す月になれるなら
夜空に星 散りばめて
君を捜そう
躰 朽ち果てても…
If I can become the moon that illuminates you
I'll search for you
setting stars across the sky
Even if my body rots...
君を抱きしめる雪となれ
夜空の君を彩る花になれ
君に触れようとするほど掴んでは消える…“雪の華”
何度も…何度も…夜空に
叫び続けた
君に届きますように…
I can become snow to embrace you
I can become flowers to colour the image of you in the night sky
As much as I try to touch you
you vanish in my grasp...the "flower of snow"
I kept screaming over and over into the night sky
To reach you...
Holding out a hand, Narcissus caught falling sakura and fake snow, for they had mingled together now. He held that hand out, as if offering the gifts to the moon and pleading with the celestial sphere to reach that one person...
The lights went out again, though there was a spotlight on Akihiko and the moon was still visible as he sang the last words of the song. With the last strike of a note, even those two lights vanished and everything went dark again.
(((OOC: Songs used are "In Flames" from the cd single "Flower" and "Setsugekka -The End of Silence-" from the cd single "Setsugekka -The End of Silence-" both of which are by GACKT.)))
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:44 pm
NIGHT IN THE CITY The Club Comes Alive!
On stage, Ko nodded. as his tummy growled again. "Ok...4 songs then food." he answered then cracked his small knuckles and placed his fingers on the keyboard. As the lights went down, and the music started Ko didn't think too much about the audience because his ears were filled with Akihiko's voice and the other music around him. It made things easy for him to play and pay attention to the cues.
The fans really were in awe of the child on stage. He really could play! Proof was seeing. How many children could be good enough to play on stage with a man like Narcissus? And it made the music that Narcissus sang all the more interesting. The fans closest to the front were swaying with the music. Other obviously were trying to sneak phone camera shots of Narcissus and Ko. Even as Narcisssus sang, he probably could guess the headlines coming soon.
-------
Izo didn't answer how he'd top that. He had ideas but he wasn't about to start laying out everything half baked in a club. As he walked over to his seat, he paused and looked towards the back of the 2nd floor. For a moment, he thought he had recognized someone but then when he turned to look again that person was going out of view. Maybe nothing. The second floor was filled with celebrities beyond the music industry.
------
Meanwhile, in the back, Shou said very little. He listened to the music but he had also gone to change his clothes out of the heavy costume into something more comfortable that was laid out for him by his designer. He had to cool his jets and pacing away from the stage helped. At least, the dressing room was empty. No...not completely empty. Shou glanced over at his designer who had shifted back from the gorgeous kimono to the black robes. "I thank you again for the beauty you bring to my stagecraft. It really does bring the magic alive. And...thank you for dancing with me. I know it's quite rare for you to display that side of you. But...it was most appreciated by me tonight."
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 9:59 pm
The new song finally got rid of that dark midnight feeling. In fact, the darkness... that night... had been used to personally symbolize those first few nights when Narcissus had realized that Izzy and Shou were both lost. His lover and his rival... Those nights where he'd lost hope and had stopped looking to the news or to reports from Yuuji about their recovery.
Now, as the stage lightened to a sort of grey rainy day... Narcissus was singing while he walked back and forth on the stage. He wasn't staying stationary but he also wasn't dancing... partly because the stage was littered with fake snow and sakura petals from before but also because he'd promised NOT to dance. Narcissus was smiling as he sang because this song, while emotional as well, held a note of hope to it.
Because the sun would eventually come out again...
降り続く雨の中で
虚ろげに空を見上げていた
限り無く広がる果てに
自由を求める鳥の群れが鳴いていた
失った笑顔の数だけ
決して裏切ることは出来ないのだと
何度もそう心で呟いた
Standing in the falling rain,
I was gazing up at the sky with my vacant eyes.
AS the ends of the earth stretch out into eternity,
I hear songs of birds seeking for freedom.
"I can only lose so many smiling faces.
I am never capable of betrayal"
...I kept on whispering so to myself.
たとえどんなに傷ついても
どれだけ傷つくことになっても
誰にも僕は止められない
僅かな光を見つければいい
今は太陽があがらなくても
「降り出した雨はいつかやむんだね…」
No matter how much I get hurt
Or even if I get thrown into despair in the future,
Nobody can stop me.
Just try to find the smallest light in the darkness.
The sun may not rise today, but
"The rain will stop eventually, won't it..."
It had been Akihiko's fierce determination that hadn't turned him into a crying sobbing mess. He wanted to focus... to feel the music and create something beautiful out of tragedy. Sleepless days that, no doubt his doctor would've frowned upon so soon after surgery, had found him playing instrument after instrument and recording himself in that hotel room. His vocals had been laid out for that benefit first cut cd... and if it hadn't been for the music and for Michi-kun keeping him sane, the young man probably would've found himself locked away like he had done as a boy... refusing to see reality... hiding from the truth.
But in this case... in this glorious case... the rain would stop eventually and the sun would rise and, unlike before, what he thought he had lost would find it's way back to him.
歩き疲れていた君は
手の中で消えてゆく夢を抱いていた
この命が尽きたとしても
忘れられない大切なことがある
同じ時代を共に戦ったこと
You've grown tired of walking.
Yet your hands you still hold on to a fading dream.
Even if I come to the end of my life,
There's something important that I shall never forget.
It's the fact I lived the same moment together with you.
たとえこの声が届かなくても
二度とあの頃に戻れなくても
叫び続ける僕がいる
どれだけ時代が流れても
体を揺さぶる想いのままに…
戦い続けた証は残るから
So even when my voice doesn't reach you,
And even if I can never go back to that precious time,
I will continue to stand here and cry out to you.
No matter how much the time passed by me,
I will follow this firm will of mine that stimulates my body
because I know the evidence of our struggle will live forever.
As Akihiko dove into the bridge of the song, he walked to each different band member and danced a bit, though it was really just moving to the music, a smile on his face as he did so. What better way to showcase each instrument and musician that were adding to the effect of his songs. He even made his way over to Ko and spun around the keyboard, careful of the wires, and it was here that he sang the bridge itself before moving off to 'bug' Yammi this time.
誰もが生まれてきた意味を
探し続けている
We are always searching
for our own reason of existence.
As the finale of the song came up, Narcissus somewhat skipped across the stage to get in the center again, microphone in both hands as he moved to the music. A sad song that held a ray of hope... he never stopped smiling.
たとえどんなに傷ついても
どれだけ傷つくことになっても
誰にも僕は止められない
僅かな光を見つければいい
今は太陽があがらなくても
「降り出した雨はいつかやむんだね…」
「そうさ、この雨はいつかやむんだね…」
So, no matter how much I get hurt,
Or even if I get thrown into despair in a future,
Nothing can stop me anymore.
Just try to find the smallest light in the darkness.
The sun may not rise today, but
"The rain will stop eventually, won't it..."
"That's right, the rain will stop eventually, won't it..."
The song ended and as the music faded away, Narcissus winked to the crowd before the spotlight that had fallen on him and him alone, blinked out of existence.
That was all that was on the original set... but Akihiko had talked to the band earlier and let them know he wanted to do a finale song... something that summed up all of his feelings when writing the cd... the song which, Narcissus felt, was the centerpiece of the album itself.
The encore then began...
安らぎにさそわれて
ふり返るといつも君が側にいた
君はただ・・・はにかんで
僕の指先にふれる
I was invited by your tranquility
and whenever I looked back, you were always there beside me
You were just...shy
I touched you with my fingertips
始まりはいつもとつぜんで
街かどで僕は君に恋をした
君はただ・・・微笑んで
不思議そうに僕を見てた
Beginnings are always sudden
I fell in love with you on a street corner
You were just...smiling
Watching me with curiosity
壊れそうな細いからだ出会った頃の
優しい笑顔のおもかげさえも残さずに
目が覚めれば涙の訳を時間をかけて話すから・・・
I happened to encounter your broken, slender body
and even if, only traces of your gentle smile are left behind
If you awake, with time, you'll be able to speak of the reason for your tears
どうして誰もいないこの部屋で
からだが震えるんだろう
教えて・・・
Why, alone in this room,
does my body seem to be shaking
Tell me...
During the darkness at the beginning of the song, not only had Yammi switched guitars to an acoustic... but Narcissus himself had picked up a guitar and had a headset on. Of course it was easier for him because he had until the lyrics started to remain shadowed.
For a long while he just sang, standing in the middle of the stage, his headset microphone off, and using the mic in the stand instead. During the song's bridge however... the young tiger stepped back from the microphone and began to play, his fingers flying over the strings.
Not long later, Yammi joined him in a duet, both guitars melding into perfect harmony. Until once again Akihiko went back to the mic, both hands around it as he sang.
消えてしまいそうになるその小さな声
僕の名前を呼ぶすがたが忘れられなくて
振り返ればあの時のままの君が今もいるようで・・・
In that tiny voice that seems to be vanishing,
you called out my name, and I will never forget it
If I look back now, it'll be just like that time and you'll still be here with me...
どうして誰もいないこの部屋で
からだが震えるんだろう
教えて・・・
Why, alone in this room,
does my body seem to be shaking
Tell me...
どうして誰もいないこの部屋で
涙がこぼれるんだろう
教えて・・・
Why, alone in this room,
do my tears seem to overflow
Tell me...
どうして誰もいないこの部屋で
からだが震えるんだろう
教えて・・・
Why, alone in this room,
does my body seem to be shaking
Tell me...
どうして誰もいないこの部屋で
涙がこぼれるんだろう
もう一度抱きしめさせて・・・
Why, alone in this room,
do my tears seem to overflow
Let me hold you one more time...
At the end of the song was a surprise for everyone... Shou included. During the course of the afternoon, Akihiko had pulled little Ko aside and asked him for a very special favor. All the boy would have to do was sing in time with the end of the song... which was all the easier because that song didn't need his fingers on the keyboard.
So as Akihiko began to play the guitar again for the final two choruses, using the headset instead of the stand up microphone, he walked over to where Ko was sitting at the keyboard and gave him a signal as soon as he needed to come in at eighteens beats after Narcissus' last vocal note. Of course the musician pointed at Ko then pointed to himself, mouthing the words "watch me" to get the boy's attention focused in.
As Akihiko mouthed the words that he wanted Ko to sing, the boy began to sing "La... la la la. La la la la la la la... La la la." over and over again. Meanwhile, Narcissus continued to strum away on the guitar and mouth the words to make sure Ko stayed on target until finally, standing where he could make sure Ko could see him, he gave him the head nod signal to stop singing and let the recording of instruments that they didn't exactly have on hand (like a violin) take over.
The music came to a crescendo and then suddenly, all the lights went up in a wall of white that suddenly went dark as the curtain closed and the set ended.
In truth, Akihiko was just damn glad he hadn't passed out and Yammi was still standing. They'd done it... by the skin of their teeth. Now to face an enraged uncle...
(((OOC: Songs used were "Dears" from "0079-0088" and "Kono Dare mo Inai Heya de" from "Mars" and both are by GACKT.)))
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:31 pm
NIGHT IN THE CITY And the Curtain Falls Shut.
Izzy stayed in the back and watched his partner's performance. It had all been an excellent story from beginning to end. He was touched by all the ways he had been thought of in its' making. If he had passed on, it certainly would have been a memory of his connection to Akihiko that would have lasted years beyond their lives. He wondered if the fans appreciated it as much as he even as he heard the cheers from the audience.
As he looked up, and the final curtain closed, he could hoping off his seat quickly. That last moment of the song, those little la la la's had been adorable. The boy still need to learn to sing but his brief moment showed that he wasn't afraid of trying out his little voice. The child would be a child star...Izzy could see it already. He had worked with so many of them but Ko's talent would put him on a different level and he'd need management that understood and could work with him carefully.
Izzy waited for Akihiko to come off stage. He looked forward to congratulating him but on the other side of the coin, he was irritated that Akihiko had caused Shou such anger tonight.
-----
Shou made it back stage by the last encore and smiled as he watched Ko sing his little part. Adorable....Ko really was adorable. His talent, his personality, everything about Ko made Shou's world a little better everyday. The boy didn't seem to mind the exposure either. Ko didn't realize anything was wrong. And that would remain...because Shou wouldn't allow it.
However, Narcissus. Shou's fingers clenched. He watched the man and simmered...waiting.
Once the final curtain closed. Yammi leaned slipped off the guitar and grasped his side. "F...n...crap." he hissed and finally revealed the agony he was in. He started to walk off stage as trying not to stumble. The bassist ran to him saying, "Where's the meds?"
They started walking down into the backstage to a table nearby and Yammi slumped into a chair there while the bassist ran off to get the bottle.
----------
Ko slipped off his chair and looked at Yuuji. "Are we done? I'm Hungry. I wanna eat now!"
--------
Meanwhile, the fans were still cheering for Narcissus....
Although the second floor was slowly emptying.
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:43 pm
Narcissus was faster than the bassist at grabbing Yammi and he half carried him backstage. "Now take something and don't drink. You need to go straight home and get some sleep after we get that rigging off you." the musician was saying as he carefully pulled off his guitarist's shirt and started undoing the guitar harness itself.
Meanwhile, Takagi smiled at Ko and grabbed the boy, hoisting him into the air much as Akihiko had done. Soon Hideo was atop his father's shoulders and the man was walking them both to the buffet. "What do you want, Ko-kun? Not too many sweets though. You've got to be in bed soon."
Once Yammi was taken care of, Akihiko headed back for the dressing room. He needed to just sit down on the sofa in there and cool off. Backstage was hot and there was sweat on his forehead and neck from the lights. In truth, Narcissus hadn't felt this tired in a long time... but it was a good accomplished sort of tired.
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:12 pm
Do you know what you got into
Can you handle what I’m ’bout to do------------------------------------------------}:-  SHOU
No escaping when I start .traeh ruoy nwo I ni m'I ecnO
Beautiful Dreamer
Shou followed Narcissus back to the dressing room. And once inside, he closed the door behind him and locked it. Without further adieu, he strode straight up to Narcissus and in the blink of an eye grabbed the man's collar, shoved him into the wall and punched him straight in the stomach.
The angry behind that half mask upon his face was visible within his stormy eyes. "If you EVER do something like that again, without asking me, without asking your cousin, I swear I'll will leave a lasting impression on that pretty face of your next time!"
His grip didn't lighten, his teeth gritted with the fury he felt within. "I'm Ko's guardian and no matter what you think he needs, he's still a child with adults who have the right to say what's best for him! Those are the people YOU should have spoken with FIRST! Not your fans, not every label that was present tonight but to ME and to Takagi-san! How dare you disrespect me and him. He may put up with your stunts, but I WILL NOT!"
"And....I am amazed that YOU, Izzy and Takagi-san all told me not to put him in the limelight days earlier and even here you said he was a SECRET WEAPON. But YOU did it anyway! I was here to help you out tonight as a favor to Izzy and that band who certainly deserves better than you given them lately...and to be treated like this is inexcusable!" The diva was utterly pissed, his peacock feathers would have been spread the width of the room had they been visible for the world to see.
-:{------------------------------------------------Cause it’s about to get rough for you
I’m here For Your Entertainment
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Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 11:24 pm
He'd known Shou was following and so when he heard the door close... and lock... the musician turned around, hands up as he was prepared to fully apologize.
Course at that time Akihiko was moving, not of his own free will, slamming against the wall and feeling a fist in his gut. Narcissus gasped and doubled over until Shou's jerking hand pulled his collar again and forced him up.
It took a few seconds for the young tiger to get any breath to even begin to retort, and at first he just winced... damn peacock had hit him hard...
"He's... still a child..." Akihiko spoke, trying to fill his protesting lungs. "That's why I did that. I introduced my entire band. Why leave him out? Why make the boy feel more alien than he already does?" he stopped, taking in a few breaths to center himself. "Were you a child star, Shou? Were you?" Akihiko pointed to the dressing room door. "I know what it's like to balance those keys and a normal life at his age. Don't you think he's rather people know how gifted he is? How beautiful his music is? Or should he hide behind a curtain until we all think the threat's passed? Ko-kun wants to be heard, Shou. Just look at him making that music between sets! He wants to show off and he can't if we keep hiding him. So no, I didn't ask you and I didn't ask Yuuji and yes it's going to drive Yamada-san insane getting offer after offer but he's in the public eye now, Shou. Hidden behind your wings and my claws, protected by Yuuji's watchful eyes and Izzy's levelheadedness. But the world knows about him now, Shou. Matsumoto can't touch him now. Least not illegally anyway." Taking a breath again, Akihiko put his hands up, palms out, on either side of his head as if to say he didn't want to fight.
In truth, decking Shou would make the tiger's bed very very lonely...
"He's still a child... but he's a genius too. Sooner or later he won't be happy playing music just for us to hear or hell even playing our songs. Better the world know about him now so we can protect him better, then someone whisk him away in the middle of the night... again." Narcissus spoke calmly, trying his damnedest not to rile Shou up.
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Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 12:21 am
Do you know what you got into
Can you handle what I’m ’bout to do------------------------------------------------}:- SHOU
No escaping when I start .traeh ruoy nwo I ni m'I ecnO
Beautiful Dreamer
Shou stared at Narcissus as if he had grown a second head. This man was standing here and tell him all this crap and yet he was one of the ones that didn't want Shou to introduce him to the world! "I can't believe you're saying this! After telling me, he should be protected, shouldn't exposed to the lime light. And I shouldn't show him on stage. You're suddenly turning it all around and changing your mind!??"
Then Shou released the man and pushed him away because if he didn't he'd be punching him again. "Alien!...you're completely out of line Narcissus. But you know what...while you're bantering about his musical vanity, I'll tell you this much. He has NONE. That boy is just happy to play to anyone that hears. He hasn't developed that desperation of wanting the whole world to know how gifted he is. It didn't matter to him if he was behind a curtain or not. He wasn't here to impress the fans.He just wanted to Help YOU!" His finger thrust in Narcissus' direction. He never answered Narcissus' question about being a child star, because he knew he couldn't...his memories were shattered mirrors
"I know it's hard to believe because maybe you can't remember the days when music was just so fresh and innocent. But he's still at that point in his life. And Yes, certainly I wanted the world to know of his gift because I knew it would protect him. But YOU, Izzy and Takagi-san wanted me to hold off. I held off! Then you stabbed in he back and do it yourself. No...no matter what you think about this situation, you were still wrong to do it without asking me or Takagi-san."
"And...back to that ALIEN point you're trying to make. His life is as NORMAL as it can be...considering what he went through. I'm sure that for all your childhood issues as a young star you never had to live through what he did. Nor living with someone like me and wearing a mask outside the house so he can have a decent life. But you know what, it doesn't bother him so much to wear that mask. Because then the bad people don't see him. He still gets scared sometimes and we're still working through those issues. Did you ever think of that when you exposed him on the stage?" Shou's eyes bore into Narcissus while his fingers gripped a nearby chair. He was very animated as he yelled but every time he paused it was as if he had to make sure he didn't become anymore violent than he had been.
"I'm happy as a clam he didn't freak out upon seeing all those people because there was a point when he first came to me that he didn't want anyone to touch him!" he hissed. "Yes...he's still a child...a genius too. And a victim of abuse! When you asked me to hold back on his introduction to the world, I thought you had that portion of his being in mind. I agreed with the 3 of you even against my own desire to make it easier for me to protect him realizing that he might need time to heal inside."
The temper of the peacock was nearly inconsolable right now. He was so frustrate with the tiger that his feathers rustled furiously about him. Even if they couldn't be seen, they were there. "But now that the cat's out of the bag. I have to deal with it. Because if you think your threat to those on the second floor truly was taken at any value beyond words, you're sorely mistaken. While you snuggle with that special someone by morning, I'll be dealing with your aftermath. Thank you very much Narcissus." His words were sarcastic as his hands flew up in the air wishing he could just strangle his rival.
-:{------------------------------------------------Cause it’s about to get rough for you
I’m here For Your Entertainment
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