Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Yeah...I'm sort of waiting for others to post. Nil has something to post for Asato and Koyasu. Another collaborative post. But she's not gotten it up yet. LOL...and I could post something for Shou but the rest of the band hasn't showed up. ))

((Not sure where Gal is...))

(( o.O -slink slink...quietly hiding in the corner behind my boys - O.o Ani-chan is scary! ))

(((OOC:
It was obvious to the singer that NAKO wasn't looking for that—with Kai, at least—either. They were on the same page with each other, and Kai had the vague feeling that there wouldn't be sex for a while either between them, if ever again.

DAMN! Foiled again... hehehehe

Kaiko, do you want me to post up the stuff with Koy and Hiroki? I was confused on if you wanted it up yet or not, hehe. Damn I need to post for Naoko... stupid being stuck in the hospital room... OH! Gal, Kai still has a text to answer from him btw, hehe.

AS TO WHERE I WAS.... (because I was MIA for a week)

OKAY here's what happened to me to make me all MIA, hehe.
Sunday I got home from work then went BACK to work to eat dinner. When I got home I was feeling kinda bleh so I went to bed.
Monday... I was hit with my worst flu in memory.
I ended up being curled into a ball of agony and misery Mon-Thurs.
Friday, I actually started to feel better... but Mon-Thurs I was so sick I couldn't get out of bed. I didn't sleep at all Monday or Wednesday.
The sucky thing was I worked every day last week, so I had to call in and miss a week of work! I felt so horrible about it!
But then I felt better on Friday and then went to work Saturday evening.
I worked this morning too, so now I'm alive!
Oh, but I'll be out of town Tues and Wednesday (maybe not Wed night). I don't work tomorrow though, thank goodness...)))

Rain
It was really the last thing that Koyasu Akihiko needed.
Luckily, he had about enough yen in his pocket to buy a few subway tickets. One of which, was going to take him exactly where he wanted.
Halfway from the station to Hiroki Asato's apartment however, his phone short-circuited.
It shouldn't have mattered.
But strangely, to Akihiko right then... it mattered a great deal.
He had called every contact in his phone, everyone that he though might somehow let him into their place for a few days.
And he had been turned down, every single time.
'I'm out of the country, Narcissus. So sorry. Maybe next time.' or 'I just got into a steady relationship. How do you think she'd react with you around? Sorry, man.'
By the afternoon, by the time that the rain started to fall heavily, Akihiko had heard back from them all.
And he was sorely out of options.
Without enough money to even rent a dingy hotel room, the musician had two options left to him.
Izzy Lucky... and Hiroki Asato.
And the latter sounded like a much more interesting encounter.
Tossing the cell phone to the pavement, Narcissus stepped on it with one booted heel, driving the plastic into the watery concrete.
He didn't need THEM.
What he needed... was to vent his anger. To find the one responsible and make him understand what the hell he had just done.
Thus, with rain soaked clothing and damp hair, Narcissus banged on the front door of Hiroki Asato's flat.


~ ~ ~

Asato was tired and this was only Day 1. He wasn't able to perform at his peak with all the interruptions and it was almost a bad case of instant stardom. Not that he hadn't been in the shadow of one of the more powerful men in the Japanese Music Industry but he hadn't been the one to be in the lime light to such a degree. He was working to adapt fast to it because he was determined to play his part for Chairman and Company.
So when the knocking came to the door, he didn't feel like answering. In fact, he had to wonder which magazine might be flashing a camera in his face if he even looked out. So instead, he glanced up from his couch and asked his newly assigned bodyguard if he'd be kind enough to check it out.
The man obliged understanding Hiroki's need at this point in time. It couldn't be helped. So the guard came ot the door and opened it carefully considering the loud banging upon it. "May I help you?" the man asked well prepared for reporter or otherwise.

~ ~ ~


This was new.
"Looks like the old man wasn't stupid..." Narcissus spoke, sizing up the brick wall of a man that, he knew, was a bodyguard. "Where's Hiroki Asato?" he asked plainly. "There's a little something I'd like to discuss with him."
It was the truth.
Plus, Akihiko knew that if he just tried to barge in immediately... well... the burly man would toss him out.


~ ~ ~

"Asato-sama is here but I will ask if he is available to speak. Please wait here." said the man politely but very aware of Narcissus as he spoke. Obviously, the guard had a briefing on the situation. He closed the door and returned to Asato. "Sir, Narcissus is outside the door and wishes to speak with you."
These words brought dread to Hiroki because Koyasu-kun probably was various shades of pissed or well beyond that right now. If he let him in, that might be trouble but if he wasn't at least a bit...cordial that might make matters worse. "Let him in, but.. please do not leave my side." he answered the guard, who knowing nodded and stretched his fingers. "I will protect you, sir. You've nothing to fear."
The guard walked off and to the door, opening it part way and looked down at Narcissus sizing him up and looking for 'weapons' as he did. "Asato-sama will see you in the living room." he finally said as he let Narcissus in the door.
He walked Narcissus into the living room and Asato waved to a chair opposite his own. The flat was a nicer place. Not by any means a mansion, but suiting to the position Hiroki held. He looked up from his chair at Koyasu-kun and saw how soaked he was and almost felt bad for him inside but then again...Wasn't this the same b*****d that had tricked him not to long ago.
"Hello Narcissus. I'd ask what brings you here but I think I know the answer to that question already." he said with calm and reserved gaze.
"But I was told you had something you wanted to discuss?"

~ ~ ~


"I could have a myriad of things to discuss." Akihiko spoke, moving gracefully into the living room.
But there was a sharpness to his movements, just slightly, something that anyone who truly knew the man would pick up on.
He was pissed.
"Though, the thought that is coming to the forefront of my mind right now, Asato," he sat down in the offered chair, crossing one knee over the other. "Is the fact that it's pouring rain outside, I have no money, no transportation, not even a place to sleep... and that's due, in a very large part... to you." he leveled Hiroki with his ice blue gaze. "I just figured you MIGHT feel a tad bit bad for helping to ruin my life."
Of course it wasn't ALL the secretary's fault, but then again, Narcissus knew this. He was to blame because he had asked for the bargain and said a few misleading words...
But in the young musician's mind... Hiroki was just as much to blame for taking the bargain... and the bait.


~ ~ ~

"Feel a tad bit..." he answered as his eyes met the cold ones. There wasn't cruelty there, it was the same man in many ways but the silk suit was definite Koyasu-sama's touch. "Of course I feel for you. But I did say I would speak with your Grandfather so he could choose if I would stay or go and at the time, you said he'd probably keep me on. I was honest with him...answered every question he asked. His decision afterward...wasn't mine to make. I didn't ruin your life Koyasu-kun."
He held his hands together and looked down at them, "You've brought this on to yourself. And I'm sure you don't see that...or want to see that. Hell, I never asked for what your Grandfather asks of me now. But I do love the man, and the company more than think you could understand. I'll see it through even if it's this road to follow. Maybe you can turn things around, but I can't turn them around for you." Glancing up again, he sighed, "You probably don't even realize how hard this was for your Grandfather to do."

~ ~ ~


Those blue eyes narrowed just a tad bit more, "You expect me to believe that you didn't suggest a punishment for me? That you didn't hint that you wanted this to happen?" Hiroki's hands curled into fists on the armrests of the chair, but he didn't move any more than that. "I was testing your loyalty. If what I'd done had driven you to leave the company, then you weren't worth keeping around. Obviously you passed my damned test or you wouldn't be sitting there with a thug for a bodyguard standing in your doorway. No offense Sal." the musician glanced at the bodyguard. He knew the burly man, after all. Sal had been a bodyguard for his grandfather in the past at certain events.
Sighing, Narcissus crossed his arms over his chest, "Besides, you made the deal and you were even ready to go through with the deal. So why the hell whine to my grandfather about it? Just because I suggested that you were drugged? I didn't do a thing to you, baka."


~ ~ ~

Hiroki's brown eyes kept hold of those blue ones and he remained in control as he answered, "No I don't. Even if I said I didn't you'd not believe me. However, if you think I've that much control over your Grandfather's decision making, I'd be surprised as well."
The next lines however, really didn't set well with Hiroki. The cruel methods only made him loathe the possibility of Koyasu-kun ever running Ohayou. Even if he were shrewd in other ventures this was one area that Narcissus truly was a monster. "I am amazed how you thought that could be a test of loyalty. I think it was more a thrill than a test. And well, you didn't care one way or another how you victimized me during your experiment. You're really an a**, Narcissus. Testing me for Loyalty when I have been nothing but that to your Grandfather and the company seems ridiculous. If anything, you just wanted to get your jollies. Because you could never shake my trust in your Grandfather. However, right now, I don't see how I could ever trust you."
Then he paused and reflected on what Narcissus had said. "You ask me why I'd talk to you Grandfather. As I said before, I wanted to make sure he still had faith in me that I could do the job...at the time I did not have faith in myself after being your victim. You did make me me question my own abilities. And if he would have cast me out, I would have accepted that. You knew I was going to speak with him so I guess you must have thought he'd let your actions slide yet again." Sitting up a little taller, his jaw set a little tighter, " I didn't ask for what your grandfather wants of me now, but my heart, soul and every skill I have will be bent toward making his vision for the future a success."

~ ~ ~


Akihiko smirked, "So what I understand is that we made a deal and I won that deal. You had sex with me, only I mislead you into thinking that you had no choice in the matter and that soon I was going to do what I wanted with you body SO in turn you got to play seme for ten minutes. Where in afterward I tell you that you simply jumped to conclusion and somehow YOU felt violated by the process. Interesting concept there." standing, Narcissus paced slowly in front of his own chair. "What I don't get is how I am worth nothing more than a passing glance by anyone anymore, how I'm homeless and penniless... and you are suddenly the talk of the town." He stopped, icey gaze focused on Asato. "You told me it's hard on the old man for doing this... but I think you're lying. I think you're enjoying this. All of it. You got to let yourself go for once in your life... and yet somehow this entire mess is my fault... and I'm paying the price." the dark haired man began to laugh softly. "I couldn't have concocted a better scheme... though I suppose this all goes hand in hand with the 'teach Akihiko some compassion' lesson now... doesn't it? Well, if you want me to learn anything... it'd probably be a good idea to teach me when I'm not a homeless wreck starving and freezing on the street now... isn't it?"


~ ~ ~

Hiroki watch the man with a internal exasperation and slowly seething frustration, "You really think I got my jollies out of all of this. I can't believe it." He shook his head at the mind boggling surrealness of it all. "You know, I might have let myself go but I didn't have a damn bit of fun doing so. If you thought I really had a great time, you're sadly mistaken. In fact it was one of the Least enjoyable experiences I've had."
Each word spewing from Narcissus' mouth really did tell him how much he was out of touch with reality, "Maybe your friends weren't really friends at all. Did you ever think that they only feared you. But now they don't have to worry about that do they? You're in the same boat they are now."
Standing up, he was just amazed that even now Narcissus couldn't see the forest from the trees. Couldn't even see his Grandfather's pain...love...or concern. "Compassion...? No, Narcissus...I cannot teach you compassion, love or anything else. That well ran dry when you failed your Grandfather and broke his heart. I've no time to teach you...because I must become what you cannot. You put me in the shoes you should have been filling. But you're too spoiled, screwed up as your stage name."
Sal had said nothing in this matter. It wasn't his place but he did have his directive handed down from the master above. "I think it is time for you to leave Narcissus. Asato-sama has said his piece and you will not be allowed to stay here."

~ ~ ~


"You're seriously going to kick me out?" Akihiko asked, gaze focused on Hiroki. "You? The only person in this damned world who MIGHT have some shred of sympathy for me because YOU helped make this happen... and you're going to kick me out onto the street?"
His left eye twitched slightly, a very sure sign to Asato that the musician was about to explode.
"Well, I suppose when the press finally figures out where the hell I went... and they get my side of the story... I can just as easily screw you over as well, can't I, Asato Hiroki? I mean, after all... they know I'm lose. But you? Mister straight-laced... you'll be hounded day and night to answer about the 'rumors'... and you damn well know it."
In other words, Koyasu Akihito was offering a deal. If Hiroki let him stay at his flat... well, Narcissus would keep his mouth shut. The man honestly didn't care if rumors started regarding his own career. But Hiroki's... that was a different story altogether.


~ ~ ~

Hiroki eyes drifted over to Sal knowing he had not said anything about Narcissus leaving but...he didn't have real control over Sal or anything that the Chairman might have ordered him to do. He could even see what Narcissus was trying to do and that in itself made him realize that Narcissus might not change at all. That if he gave in to this deal, there would be no remote possibility of changing the man. Even if it somehow affected his own career. However, he imagined that the Chairman was already one step ahead of the game....and this could be another TEST on him.
"Yes, Narcissus." He said slowly and softer as his brow furrowed a little. "You cannot stay here. You're trying to play on my sympathies...but if situations were reversed you'd have none. So maybe I can learn from you too? Yes...I can learn from you.."
Then, he waved rather flippantly to the side almost imitating one of Naricissus attitudes in kind, "Tell the press, if they will listen. Mock me if you will but..I'm sure they won't...believe you. Why should they? Money can by so many things. Isn't that what you've always said?"
His finger tips gestured to Sal, "Please escort Narcissus out." His eyes taking in his bodyguard's for a brief moment almost certain he had passed the Chairman's test....

~ ~ ~


For a split second, Akihiko didn't know what to say.
Then he dashed forward and pinned Asato to the man's chair. "You'd better be damn glad you've got a bodyguard, Hiroki." Narcissus whispered, his voice nearly silent. "Because this isn't the first time today I've felt like killing the b*****d before me."
Though whether Asato would think he had thought about killing him before this moment... or killing someone else... was up to the secretary's interpretation.
Inwardly, Akihiko knew the other man was right. Ohayou would counter anything Narcissus said, and probably cover it up.
But the fact that the man literally had nowhere to go and no one to turn to... right now, that fact was staring Narcissus in the face... and scaring the s**t out of him.
He wanted to forget what was happening, to forget everything... to get his mind off his problem.
When Sal put a hand on his shoulder to pull him away, well... the prospect of a fight certainly seemed like more fun than the hell he had suddenly found himself in.
So, with everything he had, Akihiko turned and slammed his fist into the side of the bodyguard's face.


~ ~ ~

Asato's eyes widened as he was grabbed and pinned. His first reaction was to grab against the hands that held him. Although he should have been aware that Narcissus would act this way. No he had been watching for it but was still caught in the moment of his own revelation of how he needed to act in front of the man. That had been his small mistake but at least his rescuer was at hand to save him. But the thought that Narcissus even considered killing him did twist Hiroki's stomach even as Sal dragged him off. He was scared....terrified that this man could have been considered to replace the Chairman.

Sal took the hit but with a grunt returned the strike with one of his own before grabbing the man again to start dragging him out of the Flat. If Narcissus wanted a fight, he sure found the right man to give him one because his lip was now as bloody as Sal's. The words ripped from Sal's lips as he yelled, "You better stop it now Koyasu-san, because I will kick your a**!'

Hiroki could only stare as Sal punched Narcissus hard in the face. Blood flying as Narcissus' head swung to the side. Maybe he should have stopped him because Narcissus was still a Star in Ohayou's stables but.... somehow, he couldn't find the words to do that. In fact, this was the first time he ever saw anyone return fire on Narcissus.

~ ~ ~


Narcissus tasted blood before he even realized that he'd been hit.
"You'll kick my a**, huh?" he asked, laughing darkly.
The musician picked himself up completely, blue gaze deadly as he glared at Sal.
"Well then... what are you waiting for?"
So maybe Akihiko felt a little suicidal right now. Maybe a part of him liked the pain. At least it made him forget the fact that his existence had been reduced to nothing.
Spinning fast, the prodigy's lithe yet lean body displayed exactly why he was a terrific stage performer.
The white coat flared out as his booted foot connected in a vicious roundhouse kick, with Sal's head.


~ ~ ~

Sai went flying but landed with a roll and picked himself up quickly. "Guess you really do want to see why I was hired by Koyasu-sama" he said as he wiped his lip. Oh tomorrow he'd be hurting but Koyasu-kun would be soon feeling it more. Sal was a black belt and now it was time to make it apparent. He whipped around and brought his foot squarely into the man's stomach, sending Narcissus flying into the wall and breaking a picture frame.
Then he leaped forward and grabbed Narcissus by the chest throwing him down to the ground to try and get a lock on the man, "You're going out....Now...quietly. Or we are going to have a serious problem, Narcissus."

~ ~ ~


"And if I decide not to?" Akihiko asked, a bit breathlessly.
That kick had phased him more than he cared to admit. Something was bruised at least. Being pinned to the floor however, was badly limiting his movements.
Laughing darkly, his blue gaze focused on the staring figure of Hiroki. "Must look awfully familiar." he hissed.


~ ~ ~

Hiroki stared on and gripped the edge of his chair and the words caused him to pale but even before he could open his mouth, Sal slapped Narcissus across the face. "I think that's enough, Narcissus." Sal could afford to remain calm even while his lip bled. He grabbed him by a nerve point on his hand and yanked it around. "Time to get up and go Narcissus. And well, if you decide not to....I won't be held responsible for the shape I leave you in." These were his last words before he started to drag him out once more.
Hiroki finally said, "Familiar? You're disgusting, Narcissus. I can't believe even now you're thinking about that. Only to push my buttons. You should think about saving your own skin..."

~ ~ ~


"Why should I care what happens to me?" Akihiko asked seriously, standing and being pushed through the room by a rather insisting Sal.
His ribs hurt as did his back. He was bleeding from a slight cut to the forehead, and his split lip. A dark bruise had even formed just under his left eye.
"Have fun in your new life, Hiroki. Maybe it won't drive you crazy, hmm?"
He wrenched himself out of Sal's grasp and walked forward, slamming the door to the loft closed behind him.
Sighing slightly, Narcissus headed back into the rain.
What he had said was true though... Akihiko hadn't always been a b*****d.
He was a genius and he knew it... that, and the constant attention of the world on his career had driven him to be who he was.
Perhaps now, Hiroki might start to understand a little of the pressure of stardom...


~ ~ ~

The words really stabbed at Hiroki because in truth he had only wanted to be a good Assistant, he never had wished to be the Heir. But now...why oh why couldn't Narcissus see what he was doing. Hiroki wasn't meant for this role but now he felt that he had to make up for everything Narcissus failed at. No, this wasn't what he wanted but...what could he do. Nothing. He had to play the role he was given...Play his Part.
Sal frowned as he pushed Narcissus along, "You know, you're asking the wrong person about that, Koyasu-san. You should be asking that of yourself." It wasn't like Sal enjoyed beating Narcissus into a pulp but this just was par for the course and his orders had been laid out clearly by the Master. Fortunately, he didn't have to pursue the matter further when the man walked himself out. However, even as Sal locked the door and looked back at the pale assistant. He wondered how well Hiroki would handle the world around him. If he only knew that Narcissus had thoughts that sort of reflected his own.
"Asato-sama, you should go to bed now. And reflect on tomorrow's game. I'll protect you from the physical masses but you'll have to be ready for a far different assault. You must become Ohayou's Prince. You must not fail in this." Yes, it was strong advice but it snapped Hiroki back on track. And he gave a sharp nod turning on his heels.
"You won't have to tell me twice, Sal-kun. " he answered as he walked to his room. As he closed the door he leaned back on it and rubbed his head knowing that this was going to be much harder than he thought. Tomorrow, he would change in many ways but for tonight, he would be just Asato Hiroki.

~~~

((OOC: Joint work between Kaikoloren and myself!)))

(( Hehe...It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out. I've no idea who will end up with whom! But it will be fun to see if any of them can match up. ))

“I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.”

((OOC: Sorry I disappeared this time... I've been working a lot, and I just started dating this gorgeous angel of a girl, so I have been a bit distracted. Mah bad...))

Ryu was taken aback by the sudden question. After contemplating it silently for a moment, he smiled a sad smile, lifting his head to look in Kai's eyes, a shimmer of his old self sparkling somewhere behind the defeat that was so painfully apparent in his own.
"Because, if you love someone, it is best to let them go. Either he will find his happiness out there, or he will come back to me if it is right for us to be together."
In his heart, Ryu knew that this was absolutely true, and if he were going to be fair to Naoko or to himself, then letting go was the only thing he could do.
Granted, he wanted to be selfish, to cry and beg and demand...but love is never about one's own happiness. To love someone means many times to sacrifice your own happiness for that of another.
At least...that is how the former vocalist felt.
"Don't get me wrong, though, Kai. I do hope you are right. I hope Naoko does love me...but I have many reasons to believe right now that maybe it isn't that sort of love, and that maybe this just isn't right. I only want to do what's right, you know?"
With a slow, deliberate motion, Ryu lifted his hands from his lap and released the brake on his wheelchair, using his uninjured arm to glide himself forward just a bit, stopping himself directly in front of the blond vocalist and reaching out to run a hand through the soft locks.
"Besides, no matter what, I know I will be alright." Ryu smiled again, a somewhat stronger smile.

“For Love is Immortality.”