New One shot story

Here is a new little story – different writing style.

Memories of Los Angeles…

L.A.. Los Angeles. Our big live debut to our Western fans…It was supposed to be a happy time…I should have felt happy being there. I hated every minute of it. No…not because of the fans – they were incredible. I hated that wonderful time in Los Angeles because of you…

You’d been my best friend since we joined Morning Musume…I don’t know when I fell in love with you. I was afraid to tell you my feelings – I didn’t want to lose you and we were in the same group…it would have been awkward. I tried to hide my feelings…but they ripped me to shreds inside – and our friendship began to fade…I tried to hide in another friendship – she’s nice… and an amazing friend… but she wasn’t you.

I worked on building up my courage… I eventually decided that the best time to tell you would be our first trip to America – because we would surely room together…

We didn’t… we were given a choice… and before I could ask you…you picked her…

On the plane …you sat next to her…

On the bus…fortunately she sat with Junjun…

Everywhere we went… you were with her… you didn’t even notice me… are you that blind to my feelings?... or do you not care?

I plastered a smile on my face anyway… at least the fans helped my spirits a bit…there was even this one guy…he had Kame’s name on his arm… I don’t think that she got that it was a tattoo…I digress…

I’m fortunate that our positions in the group forced you to sit next to me during all of the events … I was even a bit happy that she was at the far end of the table – thank you Kami for the group hierarchy!...

Even that brief respite from watching you two together … was shattered the next time I saw you holding hands. You two seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

You always went to her after the events – especially after the second fan signing…you two giggling over at the window, looking out at the Expo…

My heart broke every time I saw you two together. I should be happy for you…that you’ve found someone… even if she isn’t me… but I can’t… I found only sadness and anger in my heart.

I’m angry that you chose her over me… someone you’ve known for much longer… your best friend…

Why not me Ai? … why not me?

Chapter 5 of And so the Morning

Sorry for not posting this sooner.

05.

Eri rubbed her eyes, trying to keep her sleepy mind focused on the computer screen in front of her. The room behind her was filled with a soft blue glow. She clicked away something on the screen and began to type when she felt a hand on her shoulder and the smell of warm tea and honey filled the air in front of the turtle’s nose.

“I thought you could use this.”

Eri turns around in her chair to accept Risa’s offering of tea. Risa glides over to the table and picks up a second cup for herself before sitting across from the Turtle, on the bed behind the computer chair.

“Thank you Risa-chan.” Eri mumbled sleepily, sipping the hot tea carefully.

“You should get some sleep. I thought you were done with that demo.”

“I’m working on something else now…” Eri sipped her tea again.

“You work too hard Turtle-girl” Kame glared sleepily at the nickname.

“Kawaii!” Risa reached over a squeezed the sleepy girl’s cheek. Kame tried to bite her in response.

“Itai!...I should start calling you ‘snapping turtle’.” Risa grinned.

“You should get to bed Reaction Queen.” Kame smirked. “You have an early day tomorrow.”

“… Don’t remind me…”

Kame grinned over her still warm cup of tea.

“Kame… do I have to go to that concert tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Mou… why?” Risa pouted.

“Because you promised… and you don’t want to make me sad do you?”

“…No.”

“I’ll meet you after I finish up my studio work… how about you come over after practice and wait in the studio building… just text me when you get there, ok?”

“Hai...goodnight Kame-chan… don’t stay up too late.” Risa walked out of the room to return the tea cup to the kitchen before returning to the bed behind Kame and curling up in the semi-darkness.

******

Ai and Lin arrived at their venue early - First, to get a lay of the land, and second, to relax on the beach for a little while before the show.

Lin sat on the large beach blanket she had packed for the two of them, her sundress rippling in the warm summer breeze. Lin looked out at the ocean, the waves crashing gently to the shore before retreating once again. In particular she watched her roommate enjoying herself walking along the water’s edge.

I wish I had half the figure she does…

Lin looked down at her own sundress covered body and frowned.

“Why the frown Lin-chan?” Lin was startled when she looked up and saw Ai standing in front of her.

“No reason Ai-chan…”

“Why don’t you come join me by the water?…I know you have your swimsuit under that dress - let’s enjoy the beach!”

Lin looked down at herself for a second time and frowned again.

“Come on Lin-chan…it’s a cute swimsuit and you look amazing in it… it’d be a shame to hide your cuteness from the world.”

Ai leaned over as she said this, reaching her hand out to help the younger woman up. Lin accepted her hand with a shy smile. She pulled off the sundress, laying it beneath her beach bag, and followed Ai down to the water. She looked up and saw Ai smiling at her, and couldn’t help but smile back.

“That’s better Lin-chan.” Ai smiled impishly before splashing the younger girl.

“I’ll get you for that!” Lin laughed as she tried to get Ai back.

******

Evening had fallen and the venue was about to start. Several other bands participating had already played their sets. Reina sat with Jun at the back of the audience, near the bar. They were joined by Aika, Koharu, Sayumi, and a Turtle-less Risa.

“Where is Kame?” Jun questioned the former sub leader.

“OH...she’s helping one of the groups… I don’t think they have a name.”

“oh…” Jun turned to Sayumi and began to chat about some fashion thing they both knew about.

“Aneki… how have you been this week? … I haven’t seen you since your concert.” The youngest asked.

“Oh…not too busy… just a few meetings here and there actually.” the yankii replied.

The band that had playing finally walked off the stage and the MC came back to center-stage.

“Ladies and Gentleman. I am pleased to announce that our final performers have come here from Tokyo to share their gift of music with you… so without further ado I present to you the musical stylings of Takahashi Ai and Lin Qian, with Kamei Eri.”

The crowd clapped and a few cheered. The former members of Morning Musume looked on in anticipation, waiting to see the missing pieces of their former life. Lin walked out first, guitar in hand; followed by Eri, who walked over to a programming board; and who was then followed by a microphone wielding Ai.

The music starts. The song that had drawn the member’s tears was now floating through the air.

******

Ai began the song, her lyrics almost a whisper at first before the energy began to build. She laid eyes on her friends in the crowd and her smile grew. The song continued and her eyes closed. She heard Lin’s voice join her after the first verse. Kame’s programming filled in the holes a live band would have. The music settled back down in the second verse, this time a piano joined the guitar. Ai turned around and smiled when she saw Jun standing behind the venue keyboard. Next came a bass line, Koharu. Then came the drums, Sayumi. Aika joined up singing backing vocals for the song. As the final chorus rolled around two more vocals entered the fray. Ai looked up and saw Reina and Risa walking towards her, tears flowing down their cheeks. They wrapped their arms around her waist as they helped to finish out the final chorus. Ai choked up before the end and sank down onto the stage. Lin finished out her vocals so that nothing was missing from the song.

The crowd cheered the nine girls, not realizing the history behind what had just happened. All they knew was that the music was good. This was to be the start of a new beginning. Morning Musume may not be anymore, but the family behind it had finally returned to their place, beside each other.

Side Story – And So the Morning…

Chapter one of my first series of side stories. Enjoy.

Side story 01 – Part 1

Light, like the limbs of a tree, filled the sky. It was night and the moon was full, though no one could tell it. Clouds hung low over the city of Tokyo. The sounds of thunder echoed off of the steel and glass monoliths that sprung forth into the night sky. Rain, like tear drops, ran down the windows of a darkened apartment. Two figures sat on the couch, one sitting up, and the other laying with her head in the other’s lap. A long since thawed cold compress had fallen off the swollen cheek of the girl who had lain down, while the other girl dozed, her head falling forward every so often, her hand absently running itself through the other’s hair.

A clap of thunder boomed closer to the apartment window. The window rattled a bit due to the exploding air disturbing the sleep of the girl lying on the couch. She blinked a bit in the darkness, trying to get her bearings. The dull pain from her cheek flashed back into her psyche, still foggy with sleep. The fog lifted when she felt a hand moving gently through her hair, almost caressing her face and neck. She glanced up and saw the dozing girl, in whose lap her head now lay. The momentary light flashing in through the window would cast shadows across the sleeping girl’s face, but also just enough light for Ai to see sure sign of tears. The memories of the past day flashed through her mind as her had gingerly rubbed her swollen cheek.

Another thunderclap woke the other sleeping girl, her head snapping up, and the hand not in Ai’s hair moving up to rub her neck. She groaned a bit, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. She looked down at Ai for a moment before realizing what her hand was doing, which she instantly removed.

“You didn’t have to stop…” Ai pouted.

“Sorry Ai-chan…” Lin laughed shyly.

“Why are you apologizing?” Ai smiled up at Lin.

“I don….are you ok?” Lin picked up the cold compress and was about to go get a fresh one, but Ai wouldn’t move. Instead, she snuggled closer to the other girl.

“Yeah…I’m alright… of course I’m sad about everything…but I have a clear conscience at least…”

Ai looked up at Lin again before continuing.

“Please don’t hate them… don’t hate Reina for this” she pointed to her face, “Don’t….” A tear trickled down the bruised cheek. Without thinking Lin wiped it gently away. Ai shivered at the touch.

A few moments of silence passed by before either decided to talk.

“Lin… would you like to move in together?... It’ll help financially, and help keep you and me from being lonely.”

“Are those the only reasons you want me to move in?”

“No…” Ai turned her face away from the younger girl, trying to hide the red that was creeping across her face.

“Ok Ai-chan…you convinced me … but who will do the cooking?”

“You better take that amused look off your face… we’ll both do our share.” Ai mock glared at the younger girl after turning back over in her lap.

“Let me go get another compress for your cheek.” Linlin began to stand up, lifting Ai’s head gently.

“No…I don’t need another one…” Ai tried to prevent the other girl from getting up.

“You at least need some medicine.”

“Mou…”

Ai pouted again, but let Lin get up. Lin walked to the medicine cabinet in the kitchen, while Ai sat up, pulling her knees up to her chest. She watched as Lin walked away…

Ai…stop it! She’s 18…

Lin smiled at her on her way back from the medicine cabinet when she noticed Ai looking at her.

…what’s going on with me?...

Ai smiled back, averting her eyes and hiding her face behind her knees. Lin handed her the medicine before rejoining her on the couch.

“Ai-chan… are you sure you’re ok?” Lin’s face betrayed her concern.

“Yes…”

“Are we moving in here?” Lin tried to change the subject when she noticed the expression on Ai’s face.

“No…I want to get out of here…we’ll try and find a new place soon. We’ll stay here until then.”

“Ok Ai-chan… we should get some sleep…even though we napped a bit… I’ll sleep here.”

“No!... I mean…don’t worry about it…we can share – the bed is big enough.” Ai smiled a bit trying to convince the younger girl.

“Ok Ai-chan…” Lin got up and followed Ai to the bedroom.

Ai walked into the bathroom, coming out a few moments later in blue pajama pants. The white camisole she wore caused her skin to glow in the lightning light.

“You can borrow something of mine. We’ll go get your stuff tomorrow.”

Ai handed Lin some clothes to change into. Lin walked into the bathroom and got changed quickly, grabbing her discarded clothing and folding it up. Lin walked back out into the darkness of the bedroom. Ai took her hand and led her to the bed - her eyes finally adjusting to the darkness when she laid down. The two girls laid side-by-side, facing the ceiling, silence passing between the claps of thunder. Ai rolled onto her side, wrapping her arm around Lin’s torso.

“Thank you Lin-chan…for staying with me…for defending me…” Ai sniffled a bit.

“You don’t need to thank me Ai-chan…”

“Yes I do!” Ai embraced Lin a bit tighter.

Lin wrapped Ai in an embrace of her own, bringing her head to rest on Lin’s chest. Ai laid in Lin’s embrace, her breathing slowly becoming regulating as sleep finally took her. The storm outside passed into nothingness as sleep took the two girls… the storm of memories stayed behind and would take much longer for it to pass…

Chapter 4

Sorry for the short update. I’ll try to update again soon.

 

04.

Two years has passed. Two years since Reina had punched her former leader. Two years since her shell cracked and the tears fell. Two years since she finally let Jun in.

After Morning Musume disbanded, Reina had begun a successful solo career with another large company. Reina had quickly discovered that the life of a musician is very different from the life of an idol. The pressure of training early on had been rough on the yankii girl, but she had support. Jun.

While Reina continued in music, Jun had decided to go into modeling and design. She wasn’t widely known yet, but her boutique was doing well. Both were relatively happy.

Reina had seen most of the former members. She and Aika still spent time together. Sayumi would see Jun every now and again at fashion events, and Jun would invite her to dinner with Reina. Reina would see Koharu on various music shows. Koharu was still doing younger music and had developed quite a fan base with children. Reina had even kept in touch with Eri and Risa, although their paths rarely crossed. Lin had vanished off the face of the earth, and Ai…Reina couldn’t bring herself to face her.

Reina regretted not trusting her leader. She regretted letting her anger control her. Her shame, mixed with a bit of her old yankii pride, would not let her contact her former leader.

“I heard about Ai today… apparently she had an audition at my company…”

“Reina…you should talk to her.” Jun replied, placing another piece of beef into her mouth.

“You know I can’t…” Reina’s face fell.

“I still think you should.” Jun’s face was stern. Reina stood up.

“I need to get ready for my night concert.”

Reina instantly regretted her cold response.

“I’m sorry Jun-chan… I just need time…”

“It’s been two years Reina…how long do you intend to wait?”

“I…”

“You know, Eri sent us something – a demo CD she’s been working on.”

Reina’s brow furrowed.

“Why would she send us some…oh… does she want me to give it to the company?”

“No. She wants you to listen to it.” Jun reached into her bag and pulled out a thin CD jewel case.

“Ok. Ok… I’ll listen to it on my way to the concert.”

“Reina…she also wants us to come to a show in Shibuya.”

“Geez…the girl doesn’t ask much of us does she…” Reina smirked. Jun laughed.

“Ok, we can go…” Reina continued. She placed her hand on Jun’s shoulder and squeezed it a bit before walking out the door.

Reina climbed into the company car waiting for her outside the restaurant. She handed the demo CD to the driver and asked him to play it. Soft guitar rhythms surrounded Reina. Then, the voice started.

Ai…chan…

Tears blossomed from Reina’s eyes as quiet sobs wracked her small frame.

********

Reina is doing so well.

Ai cheered for her friend. She had forgiven her long ago and whenever Reina held a concert in Tokyo she would go with Lin to help cheer on the former Musume. The concert atmosphere brought back fond memories as well as feelings about her and Lin’s upcoming show. They would be playing a small venue at the beach and, as far as Ai knew, Eri was using this event to try and draw the members back together.

Thank you Eririn.

Chapter 3 of And so the Morning…

Here is the third chapter of my ongoing fanfic. Enjoy.

03.

A year had passed since the confrontation in the dance studio that truly broke apart Morning Musume. Eleven months since all the girls had been together. Even after the fight they were forced to prepare and perform for one last concert. The fans that attended that concert reacted in two very different manners: one group cheered and tried to make their memories of Morning Musume end on a high note, the other acted a bit more violently.

Ai walked down the street – her feet leading her home. Her mind was locked on the moment Risa walked out of the room. Her small hands were stuffed in her brown jacket, trying to avoid the bite of the wind. A white confetti of snow fell softly to the ground, as if the world were celebrating the upcoming New Year. Ai was in no mood for celebration.

Another audition down…probably another rejection.

A sigh escaped her lips. Her long brown hair blew in the wind. Her ears were red, the color now flushing into her cheeks. As she walked with her eyes to the ground the smell of ramen floated past her nose and she found herself standing in front of her favorite ramen stall close to home. On a whim she decided to indulge her stomach and slid into the warmth of the small ramen restaurant. She stared at the menu intently, for she was next in line – that is until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Ai spun around and came face-to-face with one of the last people she expected to see, but one who had been in her mind for quite some time.

“Hello Ai-chan.” The girl bowed formally.

“Kame…Eri?” the former leader’s eyes bulged, an audible gasp escaping her lungs.

“Would you mind having dinner with me? I would like to talk to you…so fortunate I felt in the mood for ramen.” The turtle girl laughed nervously, running her hand through her black hair, pushing the right side behind her ear.

“I would love to Er…Kame-chan.”

The younger girl smiled and bowed for a second time, her hair falling past her chin as she stood upright once more.

The two reached the counter, Ai refusing to let Eri pay for their food, and they found a seat in the corner of the restaurant – as far away from the counter as they could get.

“So… Kame-chan? What is it you would like to talk to me about after all this time?”

Ai winced as her words came out colder than intended. She noticed Eri cringe a bit before trying to smile again.

“First… I want to say that I miss you. So does Gaki-san.” Eri mumbled.

Ai perked up at the mention of her friend.

Former friend.

“Oh she does, does she?... I’m sorry Kame-chan… I hope my reactions are understandable.”

“Ai-chan…please… “ Eri looked at her ramen and sighed before looking directly at her former leader.

“I came here without Risa knowing.”

Ai’s brows furrowed at the turtle’s use of the former subleader’s given name. Eri continued.

“She misses you…I know she does. She mumbles your name when she sleeps.”

Ai’s brows furrowed a bit deeper at this statement.

“I can try to convince her to talk to you … to let you two talk it out?”

“You can try Kame-chan…not sure if she’ll listen.” The last look Risa gave her still haunted Ai. It was not a look of contempt, but one of complete emotional devastation.

The two slurped their less than hot ramen for a while before the ice was broken again.

“So Kame-chan… how are you? What have you done with your life so far?”

Eri smiled.

“Risa and I moved in together. Figured it be better to be roomies. I’ve been going to school, music production and performance. I figured I could use what I knew…turned out I knew nothing.” Eri laughed, much more calmly than she used to.

“Risa’s also in school, specializing in vocals.”

“Putting her talents to good use I see…” Ai smiled slightly, sitting back from her now empty ramen bowl.

“Hai… that she is… oh crap…I’d better run…Risa might get suspicious if I’m too late.” Eri jumped up from her chair after looking at her watch.

“Ok Kame-chan. I’m glad I ran into you. We need to do this again sometime.”

“Yes we do. May I?” Eri opened her arms. Ai nodded and accepted the turtle’s embrace. Eri hugged her former leader with all the feeling a year of separation will bring. She said her goodbyes before disappearing into the whiteness.

Dammit….it’s become a blizzard…

Ai pulled her jacket tighter around her, shoved her hands back into her pockets before barreling back out into the snow. Her pace quickened as she rounded the corner and her apartment complex came into view. She unlocked the door and made her way up to the fourteenth floor via the elevator.

After entering her apartment she slid her shoes off and hung her damp coat on the coat hook near the door.

“Tadaima!”

“Welcome home Ai-chan.” Lin paused to look up from the guitar in her lap. “How was the audition?”

“It went well… I guess.” The lack of energy in her voice told the younger girl all she needed to know.

“I ran into Eri…”

“EHHHHH?!” Lin jumped out of her seat, laying the guitar down before doing so.

“Yeah…I ran into her at the ramen stall down the street. I think it was accidentally on purpose.”

“Oh?”

Ai began to recount the story to her roommate.

********

Winter gave way to the blossoms of spring. Eri had met with Ai and Lin twice a month since that first meeting. Ai told Eri that she and Lin had teamed up to sing in various music contests. Lin would play guitar and sing with Ai. During one of the later meetings Eri offered to use her newly acquired music production knowledge to help the two create a demo CD. It was Lin’s idea to use this new demo CD for Eri to broach the subject of Ai with Risa.

“What are we listening to?” Risa asked the turtle as Eri walked back from the CD player.

“Oh…some new project I’m working on …just wanting another opinion.”

“Oh…ok.”

Risa looked up from the food she was preparing to pay attention to the new music. The soft strums of a guitar flowed from the speakers…then the voice started. Risa’s eyebrows furrowed as the vocalist expertly constructed the melody of the song.

Something is familiar though…that voice…

“Who did you say was part of this project?”

“I didn’t.” Eri replied, a bit too quickly.

“Kame, do you think we could see the band live?” Risa asked quietly, her mind still dwelling on the vocals of the song.

“I’ll have to find out when they play live again, is that ok?”

“Sure.” Risa replied, her mind still elsewhere.

“I’m going to bed now Gaki-san.” Kame walked into her bedroom and closed the door.

*FLASHBACK*

“Risa. I don’t want to fight with any of you… I love you all too much. You are my family – not just my members…please believe me.”

Risa stared at her leader kneeling on the floor and bowing before her.

I can’t be mad at her...but…didn’t she throw us away?

A part of her wanted to go to Ai right then, but her stubbornness prevented an instant reconciliation….

*End Flashback*

That was the last time she saw Ai, not counting the farewell concert. Risa still felt sorry for the fan reaction towards Ai… the violent crowd had been…well…violent. The look on Ai’s face had almost destroyed the former subleader.

Wait… why am I?...That’s it! It was Ai-chan!!!!!

Risa restarted the CD, and as the song began to play once more, her eyes filled with the tears she had held back…

Ai-chan…I miss you…

Chapter 2 of And so the Morning…

Here is chapter 2 everyone!

02.

Morning Musume to Disband. That was the headline that started it all. The beginning of the end. As Takahashi Ai read the line her face took on a whitewashed pallor.

Oh shit…

“What is wrong Ai-chan?”

Ai looked up from her seat at the hospital bed next to her.

“Oh Lin-chan! You’re awake. How are you? Do you need anything?”

“Don’t change the subject, Leader-san.”

Ai cringed at the use of her official title by the younger member, but she acquiesced and showed Lin the headline. She noticed a similar reaction on the other girl’s face.

“Ano…Ai-chan?”

“Yes Lin-chan?”

“Did you read beyond the headline?”

“…no…I didn’t.”

“You should.” Lin said softly as she sat up in the bed.

…The decision to disband was brought before management on behalf of the other members by the leader, Takahashi Ai….

Oh shit….oh shit….o shit!

“Is it true Ai-chan?” The younger girl sniffed a bit and watched Ai’s face for any sign.

“Not a word.” Ai summoned the courage to look the girl in the eyes.

“I went to management to ask for a hiatus, so that we could all rest…and so…you could have time to get better Lin-chan.”

The older girl watched the younger’s face for the contempt she was sure would come.

“I believe you, Ai-chan. Arigatou for your concern about me…” the younger mumbled the last part.

“Li…” Ai began, but her phone buzzed in her jacket pocket.

Oh shit…

Ai was now worried about the reaction of the other members because she wasn’t around to explain. She cringed as she opened her phone.

From: Risa

Ai. We need to talk. Meet at the dance studio. Everyone will be there.

Oh shit….oh shit…..

“Lin-chan… I’m going to go talk to the doctor.”

“Ok Ai-chan.” She replied as Ai walked out of the room. Ai stopped as the door closed and faced the wall. She laid her head on the wall before walking to the nurses’ station located at the middle of the floor.

“Ma’am, when can Lin go home? She’s the girl in room 405.”

“Hold on one second.” The woman typed away at the computer. “Ok…the doctor just needs to check her out to assess her condition.”

“Great! When can the doctor come?”

“She’s on rounds…so within the hour I would guess.”

“Thank you ma’am!” Ai walked back to Lin’s room, typing a response to Risa.

******

From: Ai

I’ll be there as soon as the doctor lets Lin out. Should be an hour until then, so expect me around 3:00PM. I have a lot to explain to all of you.

Damn right she does!

Risa sat alone in the dark dancing studio. She messaged the other members about the meeting time, making sure to tell Kamei the time was 30 minutes earlier than it was.

Morning Musume…ending…

Tears came to her eyes and she held her head in her hands as if trying to force her emotions back into check.

******

Reina was angry. The scrapes on her hand and the hole in the wall in her room could vouch for that. To keep from punching everyone she saw she kept her face down, hidden under a baseball hat and her hoodie.

******

Risa looked up from the floor when she heard the door open. To her surprise the first one to the meeting was Morning Musume’s turtle, Kamei Eri. Eri looked as bewildered and disheveled as Risa felt.

“Gaki-san.” Her voice held none of its usual energy. She shuffled over and slumped down beside the other half of GakiKame.

“Hey Kame-chan.”

Risa sighed and laid her head on Kame’s shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re here… I hate being alone.”

Time passed between the two friends quietly until the other 5 girls began to wander in. First was Reina, who blew into the room like a typhoon and sat down in the far corner. Next came Koharu, looking more out of it than usual. She meandered her way toward the duo before sitting down next to her Sub-leader. The next member was Sayumi, followed closely by Junjun and Aika. Sayu sat on Kame’s right, while Jun and Aika were the only ones to brave the wrath of Hurricane Reina.

After the members sat Risa spoke up, assuming the tone of Sub-leader.

“Now everyone, we have to listen to Ai-chan’s explanation. There must be some misunderstanding.”

How can I say that? I don’t even believe what I say…

“God dammit! I’m going to punch her!” Reina growled from her corner, Aika trying to hold back the girl she called her sister.

“Reina! Shut up! We must hear her out!” Risa snapped back at the yankii member.

“Don’t tell me to shut up.” The younger girl spat.

“Please calm down aneki.” The soft words of the youngest member drenched the flames that had sprung between the two.

Thank you Mittsi.

No more words were spoken for fear that the tension would start another war of words.

******

“Now, remember Lin-chan, no one is mad with you. It is me they will want to yell at…so please don’t try to defend me. Let’s hope they listen to my words.”

Ai looked to Lin for confirmation before walking through the door into the dance studio.

Oh shit….

“Takahashi Ai! I’m going to kill you!!!” Reina yelled from the far corner, and she looked as if she would have if Jun had not held her back.

“Reina!” Risa yelled at the girl before turning on the leader.

“Ai…why did you do this?!”

Tears were in her eyes already, her love for Morning Musume shining through them.

“Risa, I would never make a decision like this without you all being there with me. You know that. You know me. I only asked that we have a bit of time to rest. I know we are all tired, so I thought it would be best for the group.”

“I thought I knew you Takahashi Ai. You never asked what we wanted – you were too blinded by your own wants and…” She looks at Lin. “…by your worry for your beloved kouhai.”

Risa’s eyes were cold. Most in the room gasped at the accusation. A certain yankii still struggled to escape from the grip of Junjun.

“Risa, don’t you dare bring her into this. Be angry with me, not her!”

“Fine Leader.” The venom in the last word would have been enough to drop an elephant, but Ai stood firm.

“You never think of others once you’ve made up your mind! Did you really think about what we wanted!” Risa continued, her voice almost faltering.

“Risa, please listen to me. I did not do this. Do you honestly think that if I had wanted to disband Morning Musume – that I would have stayed around here and faced you?!”

Ai fell to her knees, Risa’s eyes opened widely. Ai continued.

“Risa. I don’t want to fight with any of you… I love you all too much. You are my family – not just my members…please believe me.” She bowed before the startled subleader.

Risa began to walk towards the door, stopping to look back at the bowed leader once before leaving. The other members followed. First Eri, then Sayu and Koharu, then Aika and Junjun – who still held Reina, that is until she walked past Ai. Reina ran over to Ai and flipped her out of her bow. The sound of fist on face filled the room. Reina tried to punch Ai once more, but Lin had thrown herself in front of the leader.

“You would protect her!” Reina spat as she climbed up, straightened her clothes and followed Jun out of the room.

“Ai-chan, are you ok?” Lin asked helping the older girl into a sitting position.

“Yes Lin-chan… I deserved that…”

All of the calm Ai had fell away and tears began to flow from her eyes. She cried out and fell into Lin’s arms. Both girls sobbed in the middle of the dark dance studio…both for the same reason. They had lost their family….

Morning Musume is gone…

My family is no more…

And so the Morning…

This is the first chapter of a serial fanfiction I am working on. Enjoy!

01.

“OI! OI! OI! OI!”

Shouts rang out from the fans. Various colored lights flashed out in the darkness. Nine girls danced at various points on the stage, some held their microphones out to capture the energy radiating off the crowd while the others sang. Sweat poured down their smiling faces. Their hair looked as if they had just climbed out of the shower.

The song ended. The crowds roared. One girl didn’t hear or see any of it, however.

The stage faded, and the girls left the crowd behind. Shouts for a second encore passed into nothing. Two of the girls, their hats lazily pinned up sideways, walked and laughed on their way to the shared dressing rooms. A taller girl followed them, trying to talk to the older of the two.

Two others followed the first three conversing about some random topic, who knew what it was about with them involved….

Another tall girl, one with a perpetual smile that only spoke to a fraction of her energy, followed an older girl, whose cuteness belied her intelligence, attempting to get her to talk.

The final two girls walked slowly behind the other seven, thanking the staff members that the others forgot. The younger of the two still breathed heavily, her face showed none of the usual glow it bore, rather, all color had vanished. Unlike the others, despite having worked up a sweat on stage, she was completely dry. The older of the two turned from the staff members when her companion stumbled towards the wall and sat against it. Her eyes were closed.

“Call an ambulance!” the leader shouted to the staff that now looked on in horror.

“Linlin?”

The younger girl could make out her friend, and leader’s voice – but the sound was muffled – as if she were hearing the voice through a wall. She tried to open her eyes, but whatever strength she had, left her at that moment. Then, silence.

******

Morning Musume member Linlin collapses after Concert. Read the newspapers that carried the story. The concert staff had leaked the story to the press. The agency was on damage control alert.

Tsunku, the producer of Morning Musume, and the rest of Hello! Project, sat across from the head of the agency that oversaw the Project, Up Front International/Works/ Agency. Tsunku’s eyebrows furrowed as the other man continued to talk about something he had long since lost track of.

“We need to use this to our advantage and get Musume back on top.”

“Let them rest” Tsunku said, a feeling of déjà vu taking over the conversation. He had argued this point before.

“We have to strike while the iron is hot.” The other man hadn’t heard him.

How typical.

A knock on the door saved the producer from the other man’s rants. The president consented and in walked Takahashi Ai, the current leader of Morning Musume.

Impeccable timing.

“Sir.” She bowed to the president. “Tsunku-san.” She bowed to her producer.

Still polite, aren’t you…

“Sir. As much as I and the other girls enjoy working so much – I would like to request a brief hiatus… Sir. We are tired. One of the members is sick …she needs time to recover.”

She went straight to the heart of the matter….how uncharacteristic…

“You really think you need a break?” the president asked.

“Yes sir.”

“Ok then. Take your hiatus.”

“Arigatou President-san.” She bowed again, a bit lower than the first time. Then she left; a mixture of relief and worry spread across her face as she turned.

As soon as the door closed the president turned to Tsunku and said.

“Musume has run its course. It’s time for something new. Something better.”

“You can’t mean that?!” Shock and anger spilled into his voice.

“You will tell them… Now. Go.”

Tsunku stood up and made his way out of the office. As much as he wanted…there was nothing he can do. The contract the agency had him under bound him to the will of the president, lest he be cast aside. As soon as the doors of the elevator closed his fist cracked against the metal wall.

I’m so sorry girls…Please forgive me…

Part 2 is here…

A bit different – be warned…lol.

Racing…

“Kame-hame-ha!!!!”

What the hell?

A pair of groggy eyelids slowly pull themselves apart. Eyes returned to focus and settle on the still playing television which was currently showing a familiar anime.

Where...am I?...oh yeah…Lin-chan’s apartment…

Her mind returned to the events of the previous evening, the tears that the younger girl had shed; the warmth of Lin’s hand as she held it. Her eyes finally travelled to the bed that she had just lifted her head from. Her had was empty. So was the bed.

Ai jumped up with a start, knocking over the chair she had been sitting in.

I shouldn’t have done that…

She placed her hand on her back as she fell forward onto the bed. Her face squeezed together in pain.

Dammit… I should not have fallen asleep in that chair…

Ai forced herself to stand once again and ran to the bathroom.

She’s not in here… Oh no…

Her eyes instinctively scanned the apartment, even though there weren’t any places to hide. She leaped to the table and snatched her phone out of the bag she had placed there the night before, not caring that the contents of her bag now lay sprawled across the table. The phone rang. Finally someone answered.

*“Moshi Moshi.”

“Risa…she’s gone!” Tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

*“Ai-chan?...wait…who’s gone?”

“Lin-chan!...Dammit…I shouldn’t have fallen asleep!”

*“Ai-chan…” Ai wasn’t listening.

“What if something happens to her?!”

*“Ai-chan!” Still nothing.

“I’ll never forgive myself if she gets hurt!” Tears fell freely now.

*“Takahashi Ai! Baka! Shut up!” Ai gasped at the sub-leader’s tone. “Ai…calm down. I’ll call the others. We’ll meet at my place ok?”

“Ok Gaki-san… Risa…thank you.” Ai’s mind was finally working rationally again.

*”Ai-chan… I’m your best friend. Don’t thank me. Let’s find your Linko.”

Ai blushed, even though she knew the other girl couldn’t see her.

“Ok. See you in a bit.” Ai closed the phone, shoved the fallen stuff into her bag, and ran out the door.

*******

Ai wandered the streets on her way to the sub-leader’s apartment. Her eyes flitted from place to place, person to person, looking for the short brown hair of the younger girl she had grown close to during the more than two years they had known each other. With every face that went by that wasn’t Lin’s, Ai’s panic began to reassert itself.

*CRACK*

Rain began to pour from the darkened sky. She hadn’t noticed the clouds before. She knew it was cliché, but she felt that the weather was mirroring her own feelings. The thunder continued to echo off the tall buildings on either side of her. Despite the rain, Ai continued to search the faces of the crowd. She set off across a small park. She didn’t know what led her to take the shortcut to Risa’s, rather than her normal route following the streets. The park, because of the rain, was empty. No one noticed the young woman’s brisk pace across the grass or that the drenched woman was the current leader of Morning Musume.

“AHHHHHHHHH!!!” A scream reached the Musume-Leader’s ears. Normally she would have avoided the source of such commotion, but on this day the normally dense leader noticed that the scream was one of utter despair. Not to mention that the voice was somewhat familiar, and in her panicked state she wanted to latch on to any hope of finding Lin. She heard the scream a few more times, drawing closer each time, until she finally laid eyes on the source.

Oh my…Lin-chan…

The younger girl was hardly recognizable. Completely drenched from the rain, her short brown hair was plastered to her face and neck and her normally loose clothing now clung to her small frame. Her one-piece was ringed in mud and the hem now fell in ribbons around her bruised legs. She appeared to have taken several hard falls since her escape from her own apartment. She still hadn’t realized someone had found her, that is, until Ai walked up to her. Ai noticed the girl’s visible flinch and that her tear filled eyes looked at everything other than her, as if looking for a way to escape. Fortunately Ai reached the Lin before the younger girl’s mind could work out an escape strategy. Her arms wrapped around Lin, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Lin-chan, please…let me take you home…”

The girl struggled in Ai’s arms.

“LET ME GO!!!” She tried to force her way out of Ai’s surprisingly strong arms. Punching and slapping at the older girl’s torso.

“Lin-chan… I don’t care how much you fight. I’m not letting you go.” Ai’s voice remained calm despite the tears that ran down her face, mingling with the heavenly tears that fell from the sky. Lin continued to try to escape Ai’s grasp.

“LET ME GO…LET ME BE ALONE…SEEMS TO BE MY DESTINY IN THIS LIFE!” she screamed as she resumed her assault on the older girl. Ai’s feelings finally reached her vocal chords.

“DAMMIT LIN!... *sigh*… don’t you realize that you are not alone! … You have the eight of us in Morning Musume, I meant it when I said that we are family. *sigh* But above that…you have me…” The final words were barely audible, but Lin’s assault faltered before stopping altogether.

“…Take me home…” Lin still refused to look at the older girl.

Ai wrapped her arm around the shivering girl’s shoulder as she began to lead her out of the inundated park.

******

After reaching Lin’s apartment, in an effort to combat the shivers both girls we suffering from, Ai led the younger girl to the bathroom - cranking up the hand shower’s temperature and using the warm water to clean the mud from Lin’s bruised legs. After cleaning the girl as best as she could, Ai pulled the one piece that was still stuck to Lin’s small frame over the younger girl’s head.

Try not to blush…now is not the time Ai.

Fortunately her body listened to her… however the other girl still refused to look her in the eye.

She’s standing here in her underwear…yet she doesn’t care…is she that far gone?

Ai, again, pulled the younger girl into her embrace.

“Lin-chan…please look at me… “

The girl no longer cried. She didn’t do anything, just looked through her… as if she didn’t exist.

“Lin-chan…please look at me… you aren’t alone. I’m here…as long as I am here you’ll never be alone anymore.” Finally, Lin’s eyes settled on her face.

“You say that now… All of you will leave me too… you can’t promise that…”

Her voice dripped with venom. Her face contorted in grief. Ai was…grateful… that she finally elicited a response out of the younger girl.

“Lin-chan…I’m not going anywhere….”

I care for you too much…

“Why do you keep saying that?! Why do you act like you care…”

*SLAP*

“Stop saying that!! I told you we were family two years ago…but feelings changed…”

Lin looked at the older girl, her hand resting on the reddened cheek Ai has slapped. A look of bewilderment replaced the pain that had previously contorted her face.

“I’m sorry Lin-chan…you don’t seem to realize how much it hurts me to see you like this… I know I could never understand the pain you are going through … I’m just asking you to let me be your support…”

“…I’m cold…”

Ai turned the water off. She ran to the closet and grabbed a change of clothes for the younger girl. She helped her change.

“Ai…you can borrow some of my clothes…” Ai returned to the closet and chose a second pair of clothes and returned to the bathroom to change.

“Ai-chan…” Lin mumbled. Ai spun around, her shirt not yet on. Lin walked over to her and wrapped Ai in a tight embrace, nestling her damp head into Ai’s chest. Ai blushed slightly at the contact.

Stupid blushing fool… you just helped her change… stop blushing!

“You promise Ai-chan?” Lin questioned as she lifted her head to look the other girl in the eyes.

“Hmm….of course. I promise to be by your side for as long as this world allows…it’s all I can do. I don’t want to make exaggerated promises that I have no power to keep – you deserve truth.”

I can’t say it… why can’t I tell…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a quick, light pressure on her lips.

Did she....kiss me?

As inner Ai danced for joy, outer Ai remained stunned.

“Ai…thank you.”

“For what Lin-chan?”

“For being my support – for always being there – for loving me despite all my problems…” As Lin said this, she placed her lips on Ai’s cheek.

“How’d you know?”

Lin pulled back a bit and smiled wearily as Ai mumbled this. Her smile would have been larger…but this day took all of her energy.

“I didn’t… but I hoped.” She again placed her lips on Ai’s. This time Ai reciprocated.

“Please stay with me…” Lin said as she pulled back from Ai.

“Of course …” Ai’s heart raced for the second time that day. This time, however, worry did not drive that rate hike, but love.

Lin led Ai to the bed and welcomed her under the covers. Ai fell asleep in Lin’s arms.

Meanwhile…Ai’s cell phone continued to buzz from all the unread messages from the members she had forgotten. Lin picked up the phone, which sat in Ai’s bag that had fallen next to the bed. She opened the phone, typed in a few words and closed the phone with a smile before nestling into Ai’s shoulder.

Gaki-san. We’re Ok. Ai-chan is sleeping. Today wore her out. Thank you for being such a great family.

A bit of a change up…

Yep. I have written another fanfiction. This one continues the story of the other two that I have posted previously. Please read and comment.

Comfort and Pain

A car crash. The news came suddenly. She hadn’t heard from her parents in a week, now she knew why. That was two weeks ago. No one knew. She was good at plastering a smile on her face and passing by unnoticed. She had learned long ago how to cover up her tears – a little more makeup here and there. For now, though, she didn’t have to hide them. She lay curled up on top of the covers of her single bed, not bothering to change out of the day’s clothes. Tears traced their way down the side of her face before soaking into the blanket – her now damp brown hair sticking to her cheek.

Thoughts refused to coalesce, yet her brain wouldn’t…no, couldn’t stop working. Sleep wouldn’t come. Her dinner sat half eaten on the small table near the kitchen of her tiny apartment. The TV, perpetually tuned to an all anime network, droned on in the background, playing to the empty couch nestled against the wall. An acoustic guitar sat cradled in its stand, the brand lettering all but worn away by time. The instrument had been a gift from her mother.

Sleep refused to come for several hours. Tears continued to wind their way down the paths their predecessors etched in her wet, hair-matted cheek.

Sleep finally did take the distressed girl, even if a fitful one.

******

TAP TAP TAP

Huh?...what’s that noise?

The girl’s mind struggled to function after the fitful rest she had obtained the night before. Her eyes, encrusted by her tears, finally wrenched themselves open as she fell off the bed, landing with a *thud* on the floor and startling the breath out of her.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Someone’s at the door.

Her mind registered the thought as she pushed herself up off the floor. She stumbled over to the door, tripping over a kitchen chair along the way. Upon reaching the door she looked through the peep hole, turned the lock, and pulled open the door coming face to face with the worried face of her leader, Ai Takahashi.

“Lin-cha….what the?

Ai had seen the look of surprise, and the evidence of the tears the girl had fought to hide. Lin turned away.

“Go away!...Please leave me alone Ai-chan.” Lin choked out, trying to run to the only place she could hide from her leader – her bathroom. Ai was too fast however, and she caught up to Lin as the younger girl once again tripped over the same chair she had fallen over on the way to the door. The two girls landed sprawled out on the floor, Ai landing on the back of the other. Ai quickly pushed herself up and pulled Lin into her arms before the girl could run away again.

“Lin-chan!? What’s wrong?!”

Tears fell freely from the younger girls eyes and her face drew tight in her refusal to answer her leader’s plea.

“Dammit Qian Lin! Stop hiding! Am I not important enough to you for you to be honest with me?!” Ai shouted, her eyes flaring with anger as she grabbed Lin’s face in her hands forcing the girl to look at her.

Lin’s eyes snapped open and she finally brought herself to look Ai in the eyes.

“Lin……Lin-chan…” Ai’s tone softened. “I’m here…please tell me…”

“…car accident…parents…” were the only words Lin could manage before sobs wracked her small frame once again. Ai pulled the sobbing girl closer and wrapping her arms as tightly as she could around Lin. As the sobs continued to come, Ai felt her own eyes welling up but attempted to show strength by holding her own tears in. She ran her hands through the girl’s hair and held her until Lin’s cries subsided and soft, steady breathing remained. The comfort of sleep had taken her. Ai lifted her up and carried Lin over to the slightly mussed bed, laying her down and pulling the blanket over the sleeping girl. Ai’s cell phone vibrated – she walked to the kitchen before answering .

“Moshi moshi?”

*pause*

“Yes, I found her.”

*pause*

“No, you stay with Reina, Junjun.”

*pause*

“I’ll stay with her. Call Gaki-san and tell her to run practice for the rest of you this evening.”

*pause*

“Hai. Arigatou Jun. Ja matta ne.”

Ai closed the phone and returned it to her bag. She laid her bag on the table and cleaned up the leftover dinner. Ai lifted up the fallen chair and carried it over to Lin’s bedside. She sat down in the chair and wrapped her hands around Lin’s hand.

“Don’t worry Lin-chan. I’m here with you. You don’t have to go through anything alone anymore.” She whispered to the sleeping girl.

I’ll do everything in my power to stay with you…

Another fanfic

Just trying to get rid of my writers block – so I decided to write some fictional accounts about real people. This new fic is a sort of continuation of the last one. Please enjoy and comment.

A birthday in a faraway land…

A young woman sat curled up against the pine headboard of her bed staring at the alarm clock that served as her small apartment’s only time-telling device.

It’s been 4 months since Chun and I moved into separate apartments…..I still can’t get used to living on my own…

She pulled the blankets around her, shivering a bit, despite the apartment’s heating system working perfectly. A low drone filled the room as a forgotten TV sat playing a random anime show to an empty sofa. She didn’t know which anime it was, nor did she care.

She looked at her cell phone sitting darkly next to the timepiece glowing red. 11:58pm. A sigh escaped from her lungs. She glanced at the calendar pinned to the wall. Two minutes until March 11th, the date circled on the calendar.

My second birthday away from home…

The room smelled of the night’s dinner – soy sauce, daikon… - food she had purchased from the konbini near the station. She made no secret of the fact that she couldn’t cook very well, a fact her fellow members knew well because she had yet to cook for them.

She looked at the clock again. 11:59. One more minute. Another sigh escaped her lips.

My first birthday as a member of Morning Musume...I wonder if anyone will remember…

She tried to force a smile onto her face, of course they would remember – that’s the reason she looked at the clock so intently. The group was practicing for their upcoming concert tour set to begin in 12…11 days. No celebrations tomorrow, not that she was hoping for one…

Who am I kidding?......Of course I want to celebrate…at least it’ll get my mind off….

The red numbers flashed in her periphery. 12:00. Her birthday. On this day 17 years ago she was born. She looked at her phone again…expectantly. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but it surely wasn’t a dark, quiet phone. She snatched it up and flipped it open. Yes. It was on. No, she wasn’t imagining it…no one had emailed her yet.

Perhaps I’m being impatient……just slow down Lin…give them time…

Lin fell onto her side causing the bedsprings to compress beneath her weight. She turned her attention to the new random anime that was just starting on her TV screen. Her phone was still clutched in her hands. She tried to stare past her hands at the glowing box, trying to keep her mind off of phone watch. Her eyes clouded over and she clenched them shut.

I’m not going to ….

Soon, soft breathing was the only other sound in the room other than the TV. The lonely girl had fallen asleep.

***********

“Ohayou gozaimasu,” Lin mumbled as she shuffled into the dance studio.

“Ohayou Lin-chan,” smiled Ai Takahashi, the leader.

The others waved to her saying their own version of hello. Practice moved along as usual and Lin was only scolded a couple of times for losing her place in the dance routine. After several hours the girls were released from practice. Lin wandered over to her bag and grabbed her towel to dry her face and neck. She lifted the bag to her shoulder and began to walk through the door……

“Lin-chan, can you stay for a moment?” she heard Ai from across the room.

“Yes, Takahashi –san.”

She returned the bag to its previous resting place and walks over to where the leader was standing. She watched as the other girls filed out – a few pausing to give her a raised fist in a “ganbatte” pose. She nodded at each ganbatte.

“Lin-chan. How are you?”

Lin looked at her leader with surprise clearly written on her face. Whatever she was expecting of this encounter…this wasn’t it.

“Takaha…Ai-chan? I don’t understand?” She said switching to Ai’s nickname because occasion seemed to call for it.

“You were a bit distracted today.”

“Gomen nasai.”

“No apologies Lin-chan…” she began before stopping and running over to her bag.

“…come here Lin.”

“Ha….Hai.”

Lin walked over to her leader and pulled back with a start when said leader spun around.

“I just wanted to say Happy Birthday…but I didn’t know what to get you. So…I’m inviting you to come with me…don’t ask where. It’s a surprise.” She said, extending her hand.

“Hai Ai-chan.” Lin replied, a smile finally cracking the solemn look she had plastered on her face all day.

As the two walked out of the dance studio Onna ni Sachi Are began to play. Lin dug through her bag until she found her phone. She flipped it open to find her email inbox full of messages from the other members…

“I asked them to wait to send their birthday wishes to you, because I wanted to be able to tell you in person. We will be busy in a few days… and probably won’t have much time off…so I wanted to make your birthday a bit special – since it is your first as a member.”

Lin looked at the older girl and saw a bright smile upon her face. Lin stopped walking as her eyes began to cloud up for the second time in as many days …this time for different reasons. She noticed the leader’s eyes also mist up before she buried herself in Ai’s shirt, trying to hide her own tears.

“Thank you…again…Ai-chan.” She mumbled into the embrace.

“Family Lin-chan. Family. No need to thank me… how about you read those messages before we go?”

“Ok…” Lin replied, wiping her eyes, and flipping her phone open.

*From: Reina-kitty

Happy Birthday Linlin! :3

From: Sayu

Have a good birthday. Usa-peace! Work on your cuteness.

Lin laughed at Sayu’s message…so typical.

From: Chun

Happy birthday Lin. I would have sent this earlier….but I was distracted by a…nevermi…

From: Mittsi :3

Happy Birthday Princess Linlin!

From: Turtle

I almost messaged you last night…but I would have been scolded… Omedetto Linlin! :-D

From: Miracle!

HI LINLIN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

From: Risa

I hope you have a happy birthday Linko!!! Wish we could all celebrate together! We love you!

Lin smiled at all the messages.

Linko?....oh no….another nickname…

She laughed at the thought as Ai looked at her with a bemused expression on her face.

“Let’s go Lin-chan!”

Lin couldn’t be sad anymore. It was her birthday and she was with family…

Ai-chan…

She smiled as she took her leader’s hand an continued to walk out of the dance studio.

A new fanfiction….finally.

Hello to those who actually read this blog (not many of you I guess). This is a fanfic that I have posted on Musume-Central and JPH!P. Thought I would share it with a wider audience – comments are welcome.

Arigatou Ai-chan….

Kami-sama…so tired……

A young woman gathered her bag from the corner of a deserted dance studio. She let her long brown hair fall from the clip she kept it in during practice before placing the clip in a side pocket of her bag and grabbing the Rakuten baseball cap she was given for promoting their team…

How long has it been?...four years already…

The girl sighed at the thought, her eyes glistening for a moment as she thought of how much everything had changed since then. She had gone from being the girl no one could understand to the leader of Morning Musume in that span of time. She checked her bag one last time and looked across the darkened dance studio to make sure no one forgot anything.

It’d be just like Eri to forget something…

She laughed to herself despite the room’s emptiness. Lifting the bag up to her shoulder and pulling the hat down over her eyes she shuffled along to the door, quietly, gracefully, as if her muscles remembered the years of ballet training she had. She pushed through the door and edged along the hallway making her way to the elevator.

SLAP!

Her bag fell to the cool ground and the sound rebounded in the empty hallway. She had zoned out and missed the elevators.

What the hell?....maybe being a leader does something …wait?

The leader noticed that she now stood next to one of the stairwells. Echoes whispered from behind the cold door.

Is someone crying?....No….just leave it alone Ai…it’s not any of your business.

Her body betrayed her brain as she pushed the heavy metal door open and came face-to-face with a pair of puffy, red, surprised eyes belonging to the younger of the two newest additions to Morning Musume. The girl was sitting at the top of the stairs with her back to the door. The noise of the door opening had scared her out of whatever private misery she was in.

“Taka…Takahashi-…san?” she stumbled over her words as she rushed to wipe her eyes dry.

Ai sat down beside the leaking girl.

“Takaha…” Linlin began.

“Call me Ai-chan,” Ai smiled at the younger girl.

Ai decided not to pry into the reason for her Kouhai’s puffy eyes, instead deciding to sit with her on the cold stairs. She silently thanked kami-sama that she had decided to keep her long pants on after practice. The two girls sat in silence for a while, time creeping by as both girls thought about what to say to the other.

“Taka…Ai-chan…you don’t have to sit here with me. I’ll be fine…” Linlin finally broke the silence, sounding a bit more like her normal self.

“Lin, I want you to know that you can come to me at any time – if you’re worried, sad, happy – it doesn’t matter. When you joined Morning Musume, you became part of a family…”

Ai didn’t know what came over her as she said the words, but she knew she meant them. At the mention of the word family Linlin sniffled a bit. Ai-chan, normally the dense one, noticed the effect her words had on the younger girl and decided to pull her into a sideways embrace. Her shoulder soon became wet, so Ai hugged Linlin tighter.

The two sat in the stairwell, the older embracing the younger, the waning sun’s rays passing into the lone window of the stairwell, until Linlin’s cries subsided to mild sniffles.

“…Ai-chan?” the girl mumbled into Ai’s shoulder.

“Yes Lin-chan?” Ai replied, easily adopting the familiar nickname.

“Thank you…”

“There is no need to thank me Lin-chan, we are family.” Ai smiled as the younger girl pulled slowly out of her embrace.

Linlin returned the smile.

She’s smiling again…

“Come on Lin-chan.” Ai stood up abruptly and extended her had towards Linlin.

“Ai-chan?” Linlin looked confused.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“……no…”

“My treat…then I’ll make sure you get home ok.”

Ai’s smile grew as the younger girl took her hand and allowed Ai to help her up……

Just a thought

I was reading something tonight that sparked a few emotions/thoughts in me. The only thing I can say is that love is love - It does not matter who you fall in love with. I feel anger when people say love is wrong - I want to hate the people who think that way, but I cannot allow myself to sink to their level. If this post makes anyone upset - so be it. No this has nothing to do with my own life....it's just a thought. I think Keith Olbermann says everything I want to say best in this special comment. I know this isn't my usual fare - then again I don't post often enough to have a usual fare..... Goodnight.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

New updates to come.

I know this place has been dead for a while. I plan to start posting more about J-pop and K-pop. (Probably use this as a place to drool about DAI's new album). Maybe up reviews of Momusu singles and whatnot.

So for those of you who actually read this blog (are there any?) stay tuned.

Not “one Nation”

America is not one nation. Since the days of our Founding Fathers there have always been multiple conceptions of what this nation should be.

                    

Thomas Jefferson believed that the nation should be primarily agrarian, with most of the power residing with the states, and a smaller federal government

His political rival was Alexander Hamilton, who believed that the nation should have a centralized federal government which had the power to impose laws that could not be superseded

One can see the remnants of these two political philosophies in today’s current political parties. The Republicans being similar to Jefferson, believing that the federal government should be small; and the Democrats being similar to Hamilton and believing in a larger federal government with a large number of programs to promote the social welfare of the nation’s citizens.

The nation’s foreign policy has divided the definition of what America is to people both foreign and domestic. The images that follow represent two of the most controversial foreign engagements the United States has been involved in. The pictures, for the most part, represent domestic opinion in this nation, as well as the images the world had access to.

 

 

 

Beyond these images, and the conflicts they represent are the truths about our nation. While our nation can be a place of great opportunity those opportunities have had to be fought for…

Despite the example of our worst nature, the angels of our better nature move us forward, from legalized racial segregation to a more perfect union. While we are not perfect yet, nor probably ever will be, there is a responsibility we hold as citizens of this planet we call Earth – to make the world a better place for our fellow men and women, before we are to consider ourselves.

Here is an example of a result of our better angels working in this nation. Can we make a more perfect union? I’ll let these pictures speak for me.

Beware the next post

My next post will be part of a project for school. Just a little heads up to those who follow this blog. Comment if you wish… it will be highly political in nature.