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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:19 pm
Aki listened.
Most of what Hayato said, he already knew. From what Yuuji had pulled together, the man knew about Jun's relationship with Naoko and that it was, more than likely this man, who was responsible for the pianist's three month disappearance.
What he didn't know however... was the bit regarding Shou.
'So... Naoko and Shou are brothers... that is something I will be keeping quite close to the vest...' the chairman thought as he continued to listen.
The bit about the house though... and Hayato's murder... was also new. He knew that something had happened with Naoko and Ryuukaze simply from the fact that the two had been put into the hospital at almost the same time as his grandson.
When Jun was finished, Aki carefully poured the young man another glass of water, then refilled his own. "That's a lot of information to be telling me, Jun-san." the chairman spoke, choosing his words carefully. "Most of it I already knew, though some bits were particularly interesting. Now... I suppose I should share a bit with you, hmm? Though, I do ask that you guarantee the strictest secrecy here. I wouldn't want your boss finding this out, especially given that his little side assignments to you are probably less savory than you'd like." he sipped the water before continuing. "You were the one who kidnapped and hurt Izzy Lucky, weren't you?" the man asked, sitting back in his chair calmly. "No doubt you did it under Matsumoto's orders. He was rather angry with my grandson and Izzy was an easier target than Akihiko. I also know... that you were the one who hurt Narcissus as well. I have video evidence of both incidents, though I currently can not give this evidence up to a court as I would like to. In Izzy's case, your face was hidden... but not so in that of my grandson." carefully, Aki set his glass of water down on the table between the two men. "Tell me, Jun... do you enjoy hurting others? Aside from what you say about your brother's philosophy... did you enjoy it? You very nearly killed my grandson, you know."
Strangely, there was no anger or tension in Aki's voice. It was simply a calmly proposed question...
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:20 pm
Nezumi stopped before he got more than halfway to the door. He was being addressed by Narcissus...something he neither expected or didn't expect. Turning around, he faced the vocalist and listened carefully.
"I don't expect anything from you that you do not directly wish for, Narcissus-san. If this is how it is, then that's just how it is. Yes sir, I do understand." he smiled as he gazed back at Narcisus from behind his glasses. There was a slight hint of sadness to his smile, though. Narcissus didn't like him, at all. While he wasn't surprised to hear that...it still hurt his feelings a bit. Nobody ever really seemed to like him, it seemed. That was at least how he felt, most of the time. At least Hiroki seemed friendly toward him...though he wondered if it would last.
"Is there anything else you would like to discuss?" he asked his star, being as polite and kind as he could be.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:25 pm
Akihiko pointed to the studio door. "There are two tracks on a cd in there, already burned. I want you to take that cd and listen to it. Write out your comments so that later we can discuss them. You don't get the final say in what I do as far as my music, but I will consider your opinion." the musician was clear about the fact that Nezumi was here to do a job.
Just... a job...
"If you had managed Chiyou better, I might not dislike you as I do now. However, you failed him as a manager. If you fail me as one, Nezumi... you'll be out of a job. I can certainly guarantee that." from the way Narcissus talked, their conversation was over.
In other words, Nezumi was to take the cd with the first two tracks on it, and leave. Akihiko really didn't care what the mousy manager did after that.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:36 pm
I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...
Hearing what Aki had to say, Jun paled. Paled so white it looked as though he might faint. "Yes. Yes sir, I...hurt Izzy Lucky. It was Matsumoto's order, to get revenge for Narcissus turning him down. If I could take it back, I would. A thousand times over, I would. I wanted to make it up to him, somehow...but I couldn't. Even if I had the chance...what do you do to make up for such a vile thing? He was a good man. Such a good man. Kami-sama...please forgive me..." tears spilled down his cheeks. He sincerely regretted what he had done. "But...but I never hurt your grandson. I didn't do anything to Narcissus. I don't understand..." he then stuttered. Obviously, he was confused as hell. This man was saying he had done something that he knew damn well he had no part in...but he was being told there was definitive evidence? How? "I don't understand? I didn't....couldn't have...." Suddenly, he zoned out, images of needles sinking into veins...the sound of a man crying, begging...the sound of his laughter... Oh god...could he have? "Please...please tell me I didn't. Not him....please. I don't remember. No...no I don't enjoy it. I can't bear it! I can't stand myself for it! Perhaps I enjoyed hurting people when I was out of my mind, when I was trying to fix what was broken by taking pieces of others...but I know I was wrong. I hate it. I don't ever want to do it again. That's why I don't want to go back!" he cried, hysterical at this point. He was in a cold sweat, totally freaked out. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." he sobbed, putting his head down on the table. At this moment, he wished he would die. Really and truly...he just wanted the world to go away. It should have been him instead of Shou and Izzy, anyway. As distraught as he was, he mumbled as much. Should have been him... Hide it, Hide it Hide me...
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:46 pm
Doing as he was told, the mouse marched right to the studio, took the CD, and slipped it into his coat.
What Narcissus said after that...it stung the manager to the core. Nobody understood what had happened there...so of course they would just think he was a total failure. Well...to a degree, he was.
As he made his way to the door again, he opened it, then paused.
"I regret how I went about working with Chiyou. I could have done far better. Even so...perhaps there is a reason it's best for some managers to refrain from becoming too close to their stars. I fell in love with him...and when he rejected me, well...I suppose I dealt with it by rejecting him back. I was wrong, and I will certainly do better by your career than I did for his. My apologies for giving you such a negative opinion. It was my wrong, and I admit it." he spoke softly, barely glancing at the vocalist before he stepped out, closing the door behind him, heading back to his own room.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:47 pm
"I don't know if you truly realize the gravity of what you did." Aki spoke, watching as the musician broke down into a million pieces before him.
"Izzy Lucky's entire home, everything he owned, was burned to the ground. His body beaten and abused by you and other men. Akihiko became addicted to heroine and cocaine and very nearly died from the speedball effect which your administration of the drugs caused." shaking his head, Aki steepled his fingers on his lap. "Saying your sorry doesn't erase the crimes. You have to atone for them. You have to tell Matsumoto that you're not going to hurt people for him anymore. Besides... I think he's already found someone else to do your dirty work... though I haven't been able to uncover the culprit of the recent attacks on Chiyou... yet."
The older man's blue gaze was as sharp as his grandson's, and he focused it on the musician before him. "I am showing you kindness out of pity. Matsumoto is a monster that is trying to take what I call my family. I will NOT allow him to harm anyone I care for again. I'm telling you this, Jun, because you would do well to remain here in Hawaii for as long as possible. A war is brewing between SMASH and Ohayou, a war that your boss doesn't seem to think is coming. If you return to Japan, you will be caught in the middle and asked, no doubt, to fight again by Matsumoto. After all... what harm is there in losing a pawn that has already been exposed to the enemy?"
Aki stood from his chair and paced to the window, looking out over a section of the Hawaiian coast that hadn't been ravaged by the tsunami.
"Your actions caused Akihiko to nearly die... then to lose his memories... and now to have nearly gone mad because of his health problems brought on by your abuse. If I weren't a gentleman, I'd have Yuuji shoot you where you stand. And believe me... he's in the room."
Which was true...
Only, Jun wouldn't have ever been able to tell exactly where the man was... Nor that he had a silencer with scope trained on the back of Hayato's neck this entire time.
"I should hate and despise you, Jun... but I pity you. Your a product of hatred and greed and insanity. Shou-san seemed to be your saving grace. It is time you found a new savior, Jun... because even I can't help you when your madness returns in full."
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:48 pm
Call me Ishmael who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth------------------------------------------------}:-
"Stop looking at me!" Shou hissed at Izzy and then grabbed his head. Izzy backed off and crawled up to the bow looking away as the man had another 'moment'. He could hear Shou muttering under his breath then yelling at Izzy again to never look him in the face. "I can't believe there's no makeup on this miserable ship!"
It seemed like a cycle that happened whenever Shou found the mirror that Izzy had taken to hiding. But somehow the star seemed to uncover it ever now and then. Izzy sighed and stared up at the sunny skies knowing that eventually, the star would go through a calmer stage. It was an odd stage because it always came with a regretful apology.
"I'm sorry, Ishi-san." said Sai slowly as he pulled himself upon the bow beside the much changed manager. Sai's head pounded as he leaned back letting the warmth hit his body praying that they'd find land soon.
"I know Shou-san. It's just an insane amount of cabin fever and believe me, I can understand how amazingly hard it is sitting here unable to do nothing more than ride this current and teach me." Izzy answered as he continued to look out towards the ocean.
"Ah...yes...cabin fever. It really does get to me." Sai lied but what else could he say. That he was Oumuri Sai and the guy that Izzy knew so well lately was his other personality, who didn't even know he existed but had a very protective instinct over his person. Yeah that wouldn't fly too well and Sai knew that.
-:{------------------------------------------------ever stands forth his own inexorable self O Nature, and O soul of man!
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 10:53 am
Goshiro watched the news with steepled fingers; Ohayou and Smash were reeling in their own problems right now and that was fine by the man. Even though the other two Chairmen were older, Goshiro had long since taken into account those things and made up for the wisdom he lacked with shrewd business diversity. He'd never be like Matsumoto Izo, who sheerly relied on the strength of one of the finest Visual Kei stars ever to hit Japan and abroad. He'd never be the one to turn a blind eye as Koyasu Aki, to his spoiled son's issues. Go Records in its own right was always 3rd place in the line of notable Labels but at least, it was sturdy fruitful company.
However, as he watched Izzy Lucky's heart wrenching performance, he realized that sometimes talent had a way of hiding just outside of his perfect vision. Here was a man that took a Narcissus song and made it his own. Obviously much to the chagrin of the superstar. Can't have your own manager outshining you...of course not. If the manager was still alive on the isle. Goshiro certainly had an offer. Yes, he did.
Picking up his phone, he put in a call to a 'contact' and asked him for an update. Once received, he deployed his man to investigate...and see what he could dig up. The collector hung up the phone and chuckled just a little. It would be very interesting if he could pull this off under their noses. But nothing was guaranteed. Goshiro would have to wait as they all fished around in the haystack for that one needle.
His fingers stroke the edge of the latest Oricon ratings. His pop flavored girl bands had reached 1 and 2 this week. And a few of the boy bands looked good as well. Nothing as monumental as Shou...Narcissus....etc. But men like them were legacy builders. Goshiro wouldn't mind having one of those types in his portfolio but for now he'd bide his time.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 4:09 pm
Let the Memories of the Evening be... the first think that you think of------------------------------------------------}:- Tanaka Michi Physical Therapist
Fingertips...walking up your spine...a tongue sliding right behind..
"I'm sorry that I had the news on. I really didn't expect that. I didn't know anyone had caught Ishi-san and everyone on camera." he said as he picked up his sandwich and stared at its contents for a moment.
As he thought about it he finally said after Nezumi had left, "But Man that was harsh. I think Nezumi-san gets the picture with out you grinding his nose in it." While he didn't know Nezumi that well, he didn't think he was entirely a bad guy. "You know, treating him like crap just because he failed before isn't the way to improve a man. You don't have to fall for him, you just need his help so you can focus on music. But still...treat him like a human being not like a dog." Michi knew that Akihiko felt stung by the images he saw but he also knew that the man couldn't just step on people like that all the time.
-:{------------------------------------------------when you open up your smile and see me. ...Dark Star.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 4:15 pm
"It's not in my contract to be nice to my manager." Akihiko spoke plainly, picking up his sandwich and standing. "You're not psychic, Michi. You couldn't have known what would be on the news." he grabbed his bottle of water as well, heading toward the studio door.
But then the musician stopped and looked back at the other man. "Come on. I'll show you something you'll need to learn soon enough anyway. Might as well get you familiar with a recording studio before you have to actually use one." Narcissus opened the door, fully intending to eat in the studio.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 4:23 pm
Let the Memories of the Evening be... the first think that you think of------------------------------------------------}:- Tanaka Michi Physical Therapist
Fingertips...walking up your spine...a tongue sliding right behind..
Michi picked up his sandwiched and followed. Huffing inside his head at the stubborn musician before him. It just irked him no end how damn frustrating Akihko was at times. In some ways, Akihiko changed, in others it was completely what the man used to be.
But rather than jump Akihiiko's case some more he'd wait until the man healed a few more weeks. Just seeing Ishi's face probably trudged up memories that were ugly.
"Alright...sounds interesting." Michi answered as he walked in. Really he had only been in a studio before when Nezumi made him sing and when he had followed Akihiko around but at those times he was paying attention to Akihiko's physical posture and muscular health not the room.
"They really set up a nice room for you in here." he said as he looked around. Michi never requested to come in this room since it seemed like Akihiko kind of made this a private sanctuary for himself.
-:{------------------------------------------------when you open up your smile and see me. ...Dark Star.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 5:22 pm
"Ojisan knew what I'd need after everything that's happened." Akihiko spoke as he set his sandwich and water down on an empty table. "There's a piano and drum set... and he flew over my bass and guitar just so I could do some work."
Turning to Michi, Narcissus leaned against the console, pushing a button that would fill the room with the soft sound of the tracks he had just laid. "Tell me... since you're worried about me, do you think this the best use of my time right now? Throwing myself into my work, that is."
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 5:36 pm
Let the Memories of the Evening be... the first think that you think of------------------------------------------------}:- Tanaka Michi Physical Therapist
Fingertips...walking up your spine...a tongue sliding right behind..
"Best use of your time....well..." he reflected on the thought for a moment. "You're pouring out music from your soul and I think its a mixture of heartfelt grieving and personal therapy so...yeah I think so."
He paused for a moment to take a bit of his sandwich feeling the tension had diminished some. "But like you said on your hospital bed, you don't want to leave behind the worst of impressions in everyone either. So, I think maybe you need to look in your soul and temper yourself while you're here too. You lashed out at Nezumi-san. Whether or not that was because of Ishi-san's voice, Nezumi-san's past record or just your anger at yoruself, I don't know. But the point is, if you were serious upon that bed, then think before lashing out. You don't have to be nice to everyone but...you know, sometimes an encouraging word gets more than a barbed tongue."
-:{------------------------------------------------when you open up your smile and see me. ...Dark Star.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 5:36 pm
I can no longer return to those days free of bloodshed These deep scars rooted within me will not disappear...
"I did not burn Izzy's home. That was done before I was even given my...assignment." he said the word as though it made him choke, "But I swear to you...I don't remember ever laying a hand on Narcissus....not...not really. I don't think....I don't know, but I can't help but believe you. You say you have tape...and...you don't seem the type of man to lie, honestly. It makes me sick, thinking about it. Narcissus was so kind to me...I...hate myself for hurting him and his manager. I'll do anything to pay for what I've done. Anything, no matter how long it takes me." Jun declared, his red eyes aflame with determination and regret. "Chiyou...." he paused for a moment, "The boy? Kami-sama...he's just a child." the vocalist said, his tone regretful and sad. Obviously, he did not by any means agree with the harming of children. Sure, Chiyou may have been 18...but you could look at the boy and tell he was still a child. "Matsumoto is a monster, Koyasu-san. And I will remain here in Hawaii for as long as possible. If I return and find myself faced with the issue of Izo, I will refuse him. I give you my word...I will never again harm another living being that is not directly trying to harm me or someone I care about. I owe Narcissus-san, and yourself, my life...if you should ever need it, I will lay it down." Jun swore, essentially pledging himself to the Koyasu family and Ohayou. It might cost him his life, in the long run...but that option didn't seem as grim as it probably should. "Oh...and one more thing...Yuuji....if I ever, ever go mad again, if I ever harm anyone who doesn't blatantly deserve it again...end me. Put me down like an animal. I'm sure one of you will find out, one way or the other, if such a thing happens...so I'm asking you now...promise me that much. Will you, Yuuji-san?" the vocalist called out to the darkness behind him, waiting to hear an answer. Hide it, Hide it Hide me...
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 5:57 pm
"I was being honest with him." Akihiko spoke, picking up his bottle of water and taking a sip. "Think about it for a moment, Michi... Nezumi flat out told me he had fallen in love with Chiyou, AND that it had impaired his judgement because, obviously Chiyou didn't return that love. No doubt this also made Nezumi jealous of Izzy who Chiyou only had eyes for."
Sandwich in hand, Akihiko took a bite, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. "Yes... I was harsh and I did lash out at him, but I'm not actually in a good mood if you hadn't noticed. PLUS he had just told me he was my new manager. I don't care if he claims he's not replacing Izzy... he is. Maybe not in the same capacity... but he's got Izzy's job..."
Blue eyes were focused on the sandwich in his hand. "And I don't really want anyone else taking that place."
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