So yeah... following Yuu-chan here
though completely different fic. I've been sitting on this a while worried about posting it, but I'm hoping maybe if people post reactions it might give me motivation ^^ So please let me know what you think!!
Stardom
PrologueReina Tanaka looked out the modest square window at the gleaming white slope beyond, where she spotted specks sliding seemingly slowly down it. She knew they weren’t actually slow though, but some of the most skilled skiers in the world attempting a remote but grand mountain. A mountain, in fact, designed specifically for leisure and entertainment. It was now known as the Eastern Matterhorn, but only the bravest dared its gleaming slopes and breathtaking cliffs.
Sighing, she turned around to once again face the girl seated at the large, ornate dining table before her. This was a girl – Reina supposed she really was a woman now, but could never call her that – a girl who certainly wouldn’t count herself among one of those bravest. She was here for quite a different reason. And oh, something else different from those vacationers seeking a getaway resort was that she lived here, and had for the past two years.
She walked over to the fireplace, which gaped wider than she was tall, and warmed her hands. Just being near the window had given her a chill again.
“I really don’t know how you’ve gotten used to the cold here, Eririn. I mean, it’s April! Back in Japan the cherry blossoms are blooming, and the sun’s shining…” She trailed off uncomfortably, but the girl just smiled back at her.
“You always did get cold easily,” Eri replied. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt to build some muscle one of these days Reina. Would you like some hot green tea?”
“Nah…” Reina said, tapping her food with arms crossed, pondering. “I want something sweet. Hot cocoa?”
Eri smiled. “I think I might have some around here. Jasja!”
Her fierce-faced Russian maid quickly came out of the door to the kitchen and bowed to Eri. “What may I do for you, Miss?”
“Hot cocoa for Reina here,” Eri said. “I’ll take…” she caught Reina’s eyes for a moment. “Some nice black tea.”
“As you wish,” the maid said with another slight bow, and left again for the kitchen.
Seeing Reina’s raised eyebrow, Eri rolled her own eyes. “She’s as proper as I tell her to be, Reina,” the girl said curtly. “Makes me feel all wiggy hearing foreigners be so subservient like that. I’m not like you wanting everyone to bow down to me and do what I say.”
“I always thought you were weird,” Reina said fondly. Then she walked over to Eri and laid a hand on her wrist, her gold bracelets clicking together with the movement. Eri stared at her hand a moment before looking disbelievingly up to her eyes. “Eririn, really, how long are you going to stay up here? I mean, it’s nice and all I guess,” she said, glancing back to the window and around the room at the expensive furnishings and décor, “but everyone misses you.”
“I miss them too,” Eri said faintly, a faraway look coming to her eyes. “I’m… I’m not sure I can go back though.”
“What did the doctor say?” Reina asked. “You have seen someone recently, right? You’re getting treatment.”
Eri nodded slowly. “I flew down to Sapporo last week. He said… he said the treatment is going well. I’ll never be completely healed, but I’m about to the best I’m going to be, and where it won’t really affect anything.”
“Then come home, Eri,” Reina said sympathetically. Eri just kept staring at Reina’s hand on her wrist.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to go back to that,” she replied softly. “I’m just…”
“It was okay to be insecure then,” Reina said, bluntly but kindly, “But like your doctor told you, you’re better now. I just see a… a beautiful girl who’s locking herself away on some godforsaken mountain in the middle of nowhere. I mean you’re not even skiing!”
“I’ve tried the bunny hill sometimes!” Eri protested defensively.
The girls then stared at each other while Reina’s face slowly broke into a grin, and eventually broke out into a giggle. That then spread to Eri, and she slapped playfully at Reina’s wrist as she laughed.
“Maybe if you stay here long enough, one of these days I’ll join you out there,” Reina said, continuing to grin.
“So are you trying to make me stay or leave?” Eri asked teasingly.
“Shut up,” Reina replied, and idly dug in a pocket for her cell phone, bringing it up to check its display. “Well I guess I should be getting back… I’m already worried if they’ve destroyed the place while I’ve been gone.”
“Are they really that bad?” Eri asked, curiously this time.
“Don’t you get TV up here?” Reina teased back.
“A little bit,” Eri said shyly.
“Come see for yourself,” Reina said, as the maid came out with a tray and two cups. “Mind if I take this for the road?” she asked as she caught the scent of minty chocolate, but then she felt a hand on her own sleeve.
When she looked down, Eri was gazing pleadingly up at her. “How is she doing?” she asked. “Is she all right? I’ve worried ever since… I’ve hardly seen her, and had hoped you’d bring her with you one of these times.”
Reina’s face went blank, and she looked down for a moment. “Don’t worry about her,” she replied finally. “She’s strong. You know that.”
“I know,” Eri said. “But it won’t stop me worrying.”
…
Reina sipped at the wonderful cup of cocoa, which she finally was able to enjoy now she was in the air, as she tried to block out the sound of the rotors above her. She really hoped Eri would come home soon, and enjoyed these little visits when she could have them, but she had to quickly switch her mind back over to what awaited her upon returning.
As the hot drink worked to soothe her, and as she considered her duties when she returned, she began to slowly drift off. After all, it would be a long flight, and she had to take her cat naps when she could get them. Her last thoughts were that she really hoped they hadn’t destroyed the country, or at least the city, while she was gone. Eri really should get a TV up there… That maybe more than anything made her antsy staying there for long. Well, that’s why she had a digital recorder with plenty of space at home.
…
Reina roused out of her sleep only briefly when her chopper stopped in Sapporo to refuel, and the next time she woke, the sun was disappearing beneath the clouds over the hills as she at last approached Tokyo. Trying to fight off the drone of the rotors trying to draw her back into sleep, she sat up and gazed out the window.
The Sky Tree was as usual the first thing she saw, the top glowing in what seemed to be its best imitation of teal. So it was Maa-chan tonight, huh, Reina thought with a grin. The next thing she saw was the Hello! Tower, rising above Tokyo Tower and dominating the Shibuya scenery. As she neared it, she could see the massive screens wrapped around its base, this time playing an interview with the Phoenix girls. Reina sighed, reminiscing to a time when her face was always on those screens.
Of course it had been all over the rest of the city too. And the country. And a little bit of the world. That’s not to say it wasn’t now, as the lights reflected off a large poster on the side of 109 of her advertising an iPhone. That reminded her to pull it out of her pocket, the same one as she used in the ad, and check to see if there were any mails she missed.
Of course there was, from Maa-chan.
Tanasa-taaaan! Did you see Sky Tree on your way back? Isn’t it so pretty nau?Reina let out a long sigh, though she couldn’t help smiling as well. Even though the tower had been lit her color many times by now, the girl never ceased to be amazed by it.
The helicopter approached the landing pad on a terrace at the side of the Hello! Tower, and Reina gratefully stretched her legs after it landed and she jumped off to face the welcoming committee who had come to meet her.
“Did you have a good trip?” her manager asked.
“Glad to see you’re not late this time,” said the Director curtly.
“Kamei-san still not have a TV?” her manager asked astutely, a half-grin on his face. He did know Reina well.
The assistant managers quickly jumped onto the helicopter to grab her baggage, as her manager and the Director escorted her into the building. She quickly doffed her mink coat, though it had been quite cozy to nap in on the way, since it was a pleasant Tokyo night and would be even warmer inside.
“That’s what you’re wearing?” the director said sourly, frowning at her rumpled silk skirt and tights below a velvety purple blouse with diamond studs across the chest. She hardly ever wore anything without jewels anymore, but the Director always wanted more. “We’ll get you a new dress to change into inside. You’ve a videoconference appearance with Li Chun-san on TV Beijing, and then a session with the girls.”
Chinese TV and baby-sitting. Good thing she had that catnap. Ahh, it was great to be home.
Topic: Stardom (Read 2623 times)