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.
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