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Author Topic: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 10[updated 30/9]  (Read 16661 times)

Offline Hirasawaizumi

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Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 1

Watch this series. It's pretty bad, but it's also so damn good. hahahah. This is my re-imagining of the series with extra scenes and shenanigans. And just want people to know that I'm gonna be using my creative license freely. You have been warned. Oh, and a big thank you to mysoju, tranquilsprings and subbers who decided to undertake the mendol project. :D Without the subs, I would not be writing this... so you can either regret subbing it or pat yourself on the back hahaha.

extra language note: I kept some Japanese in this fic cuz it doesn't translate so well into English...

shachou -- president

onee-chan -- older sister

yoroshiku onegaishimasu -- please take care of me

samui -- cold

denpa -- electro-magnetic wave


I want to be an idol!

That was the thought that was pulsating through all the minds of the girls in the room.

I want to be an idol!

However, that phrase rung with a certain desperation in one girl's head. Decked in her school uniform, Wakamatsu Asahi had auditioned more times than she could remember and had failed each and every time. While most people would have given up after the third time, Wakamatsu Asahi was absolutely determined to be an ido even after failing again and again.

This had been her dream, ever since she was young. She wanted to be in the spotlight, not because she wanted fame or money (though those were pretty good reasons too), but because she wanted to make people happy. All of this, this dream of being an idol, stemmed from an experience Asahi had had when she was just a little girl.

When she was young, her and her family had gone to Osaka to visit some relatives and she had gotten lost in the hustle and bustle of Osaka station. Being young and alone had been terrifying and Asahi had wandered around, sobbing and calling for her parents.

All of a sudden, THEY had appeared.

Just a group of musicians promoting their music near the train station, making use of some of the stairs nearby as a makeshift stage, singing their songs in acapella. One of the girls of the group had seen her, walked forward and plucked Asahi out of the crowd that was threatening to engulf her. Trying to cheer up tiny Asahi, this woman had given her a tambourine while one of the guys in this troupe lifted her up on to his shoulder, asking her what her name was.

Soon, the entire group was belting out her name in tune with the music and asking her parents to 'please come find their adorable Asahi-chan'. Her parents who had been half-crazed with worry at losing her, heard the song and had come rushing to find her giggling breathlessly at the funny faces the man who was carrying her was pulling. While her parents tearfully thanked the group over and over, the woman who had saved Asahi from the crowd had bent down to wink at the young child.

"Thank you, onee-san." Asahi had thanked the woman shyly.

"Not scared anymore?" The beautiful woman teased softly, her warm brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Noooo..." Asahi puffed up indignantly, not wanting her parents to know she had been crying.

"Well," The man who had been holding her knelt down so he was eye-level with Asahi. "Did you have fun?"

"Yup!" Asahi grinned and nodded enthusiastically.

"Good, good." He beamed at her and nodded, rubbing the top of Asahi's head. "That's our job as idols. To make sure you're happy when you're sad."

Wakamatsu Asahi had decided then and there, that she was going to be like these people, these idols. She was going to be an idol, to make people happy! And the effects of singers, actors, musicians--idols, all of them--had been a continual one. Whenever she was sad, whenever she was unhappy, it was the songs, the drama, the charisma of idols that put a smile on her face. But it was that little group that had made such a huge impact on her. Even though the faces of her saviours that day had faded away to nothing in her memory, she remembered the comfort and joy they provided her in that one moment of mind-numbing childish terror.

"Next!"

Asahi blinked, shocked out of her memory, her nerves overwhelming her again. But she could do this! She could! She just had to put her best foot forward and she was sure one of these producer-types would see her potential!

She just needed a chance.

"I'm number seven, Wakamatsu Asahi." She gave a brilliant, confident smile. "Yumeoka Public School, third year. In the future, I want to be an idol, just like Ray-san!"

Ray was at the top of the charts right now, one of the most charismatic songstresses of her time. Asahi always strived to be like the idols at the top, because that was where the most hard-working, the most dedicated, the most-talented idol of the time was and that was where Asahi wanted to be!

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" Asahi gave another bright smile, her heart hammering in her chest. She'd done this SO many times before, this HAD to be the time when all the auditioning paid off and they at least gave her a chance to--

"Hm." The sleazy looking man in the sunglasses (why was he wearing sunglasses indoors? Who did he think he was?), sneered a little bit and turned to speak to one of the people sitting with him. "Reminds me of my kid back home."

"Right. Next!"

All the hope she had, of this being the audition where they would finally SEE what she could offer to the world, dashed to the ground. Pouting slightly, she walked back to her seat. It was sad, but she was used to disappointment by now. The first time she had been rejected at an audition, she had held in her tears until she could leave the audition room, then walked as nonchalantly as she could to the washroom and cried her heart out. But that was in the past! She wouldn't let minor hurdles get in her way! She would persevere!

"Number eight, Kawachi Nami." The girl named Nami introduced herself casually, her whole body radiating nervous energy, as if she was more used to being in constant motion than standing still. Some of her brown hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and held in place with a yellow scrunchy. "I'm currently working part-time at a convenience store, but I wanna be a singer! I like to be noisy, seriously!"

Her voice was a pleasant alto, but coupled with the ridiculousness of her statement, Asahi feel embarassed for the girl.

"Baaaka." Asahi muttered under her breath as several other girls waiting in the room voiced the same thing. This girl was a bit of an idiot, but Asahi could see that Nami honestly wanted to impress the producers and hoped that this girl would at least get one favorable mention for her enthusiasm...

"Totally NOT sexy at all!" The sleazy man curled up his lip in disgust.

'Well, you're one to talk.' Asahi thought viciously at the sleazy producer, feeling sorry for the boisterous girl. Nami went back to her seat, looking slightly deflated and angry. The next girl, though, caught everybody's attention.

But not in a good way.

"I'm number nine, attending Shirobara Girls' Academy, third year, Otawa Hinata!" It wasn't her perky voice that caught people's attention, nor her big round eyes. It was just an aura of... something that came off the girl.

"My dream," Hinata pressed a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Is to be an angel on Earth!"

"An angel on earth?" Asahi gaped.

"Samui!" Sitting next to each other, Asahi and Nami got a full case of the shivers, like the shivers one gets from nails screeching down a blackboard. Then, Otawa Hinata proceeded to do her tenshi dance.

"Ten-ten-tenshi, tenshi, yo!" It was like feedback from a microphone that was too close to the speaker. All the auditioners cringed, squeezed their eyes shut and covered their ears. So it went unnoticed to them as they were trying to block out the ten-ten-ing, that the sleazy producer was the only one who didn't seem affected by Hinata. In fact, he seemed disturbingly interested in her...

After everybody had auditioned, the producers had a small discussion amongst themselves. All the girls who had auditioned were on the edge of their seats, most notably Asahi, Nami and Hinata.

"Well then... I'm gonna announce the applicants who were successful today." The man announcing the results of the audition kept his eyes studiously on the clipboard he was holding. "Okay, today's successful applicants are..."

Everyone waited with bated breaths.

"No-one!"

---

Asahi let out a huge, weary sigh, day planner in hand as she counted out how many times she had auditioned.

"Forty-nine applications, forty-nine unsuccessful, huh... the next application will be... the fiftieth one?!"

"Seriously?!" A hand spun her around and she was faced with the energetic Kawachi Nami and her gleeful expression. "During the audition, you didn't look THAT bad."

Asahi clutched her day planner to her chest not liking how Nami was looking so incredibly happy at the fact that Asahi had failed AGAIN.

"But this is great!" Nami clenched her hands into fists, raising them slightly in relief and triumph. "There's someone who's worse off than me! And this is only my 38th time!"

Asahi spun on the shorter woman, indignant. "That's nothing to be proud of, is it?"

"Hinata has over a hundred times!" A cheery voice exclaimed.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Nami and Asahi both turned to gape at the owner of the voice, then immediately pointed at the pink-clad woman, screaming their surprise. "AHHH! Denpa!"

"Denpa?" Hinata tilted her head to the side, confused.

Nami pulled a face. "You frequently release electric waves, don't you?"

Nami and Asahi looked at each other and as if on cue, they did Hinata's tenshi dance. "Ten-ten-tenshi, tenshi, yo!"

Hinata smiled, confused. Electric waves? What was wrong with her tenshi dance?

"The two of you are in grade twelve, right?" Nami directed their conversation back on track: their auditions. "Which means that you're 18 years old, right? That's kinda really late to debut, right?"

Even though Asahi was pretty sure that this short girl hadn't meant to make her feel bad, what she said sent a cold knife through her chest. Nami continued talking, not noticing the affect she had on Asahi.

"Recently, elementary school students, no, even kindergarten students are participating in idol competitions!" Nami was on a roll and it was hard for her to stop. It was like... an inevitable car crash. Nami was at the wheel and Asahi was the proverbial car's victim. However, Nami's morbid speel was interrupted by Hinata's peppy voice.

"Then the three of us are the 'long-overdue comrades'!" Hinata grinned, pulling at Asahi's arm and bringing the two of them closer to Nami. "We'll audition together until we're finally discovered!"

Her enthusiasm was pretty infectious. "Ten-ten-tenshi, tenshi, yo! Come on, do it with me!"

Nami and Asahi had been feeling pretty down at being rejected again, but seeing this girl who had failed her auditions more than a hundred times... they felt slightly embarassed at their own discouragement.

"Ten-ten-tenshi, tenshi, yo!" The three chanted together while trying to find their way out of the underground parking lot. The sudden chirping noise from Hinata's cellphone stopped their little group chant, though.

Moshi-moshi, this is Hinata... Really?... okay!" Hinata hung up on the caller then turned around to face her two companions with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry! Hinata's not a comrade anymore!"

"Eh?" Nami and Asahi gaped at Hinata. No way!

"The producer called me just now," Hinata bubbled excitedly. "and told me he has something to tell me tonight! Seeya!"

And with that, the little pink tornado swept out of there, leaving as abruptly as she had arrived.

"Traitor!" Nami kicked out half-heartedly, though she felt kind of good for the girl. After a hundred auditions? Why, what kind of person would Nami be if she didn't feel at least a little bit happy for the denpa?

"Ah!"

Asahi's little scream of delight caught Nami's attention. There was something on the ground and Asahi crouched down to pick it up.

"What is it?"

"It's a purupuru!" Asahi clutched at the toy and pressed it against her face. "It feels goooooood!"

'Is she an idiot?' Nami wondered. 'Who picks things off the ground and presses it against their face?'

Asahi, meanwhile, was just rejoicing. She had found it! This toy, a limited edition purupuru! At one of Ray-san's press conferences, this toy had been released to the press as a thank you for their continued support. Asahi had tried going online to buy the toy but either nobody was willing to part with it, or the toys' price had been knocked sky-high by people trying to outbid each other.

The two girls were suddenly blinded by the headlights of a car that stopped right in front of them. The sound of people filing out was all they heard as the two girls tried to blink the spots out of their eyes. The light went away when the three men who had been inside the car loomed in front of them, their suited bodies casting long shadows.

"Give that to me." The man in the grey suit and sunglasses, with hair slicked back and shiny patent leather shoes pointed at the purupuru in Asahi's hands. He seemed to be the leader this small group. Asahi immediately bristled at the tone. No way was she going to lose this purupuru to some otaku!

"Finder's keepers!" Asahi pouted, not wanting to give up her new-found toy. Wthout even a warning, the man pulled out a gun and pointed it at Asahi's head threateningly. "Eh?"

They stood like that, frozen for a few long seconds, Asahi staring down into the muzzle of the gun. Just when Asahi was going through her flight-or-fight choice, Nami's voice cut through the fear that was starting to take over Asahi. "Ah! I know! You're filming a scene, right?"

"Ah, you're right!" Asahi laughed, feeling the tension go out of her shoulders. Really, who in Japan owned a gun except the yakuza? And even though this man looked the part--he looked TOO in character. It *must* be a costume!

"If not, he wouldn't be staring at us like a snake, right?" Nami said cheerfully, eyes bright with excitement. "Where's the camera?"

Asahi started casting around desperately for a camera. Maybe they were on a reality show! Maybe they could get discovered that way! She had to make sure the camera was filming her more photogenic side!

"Is it here?" Nami poked her finger into the gun's muzzle cheerfully. She loved reality shows! There was always that one person who was an idiot and didn't figure out the joke was on them, but not Nami! The audience would love her for being so quick on her feet--

The snakeman jerked his arm back and fired the gun into the air. Both girls screamed in fear and jumped into each other's arms as an airduct started spraying out steam from the ceiling and creating a hot steam wall between them and the men.

"RUN AWAY!" Asahi grabbed hold of Nami's hand and ran back in the direction of the studio.

"What the hell was that?" Nami screamed as they raced back into the studio. The sound of pursuing footsteps and a quick glance behind them confirmed that they were being chased by the strange men, though thankfully, the gun had been put away so they would be less conspicuous inside the studio. But it was no less scary.

"AHHHH!" The girls screamed, Nami cast around desperately for a way out. Spotting a door leading to a stairwell, she pulled Asahi inside with her.

"GO GO GO GO GO!" Nami squealed as she pushed Asahi ahead of her. The loud bang of the stairwell door bursting open told them their pursuers were hot on their heels.

"Who are they? Why do they have guns?!" Asahi raced up the stairs, two at a time. Despite Nami's short legs, she too, scaled the stairs faster than expected.

"How do I know? They're not filming or anything!" Nami babbled, wheezing a little bit at the pace they were going. Bursting through the third floor door, they looked up and down the crowded halls frantically, then set off in a random direction, heedless of the people they were bumping in to.

"Scuze me! Sorry! Coming through!" Ducking aside into a slightly quieter hall, they yanked open a door and slipped into this dark storage room before closing the door as quietly as they could behind them. Not a second later, they heard two men cursing profusely as they raced past their door.

Trying hard to keep as quiet as they could while catching their breaths, the two girls froze at the sound of a woman's voice. Ducking down behind a bunch of chairs and tables stacked near the door, the girls peered over them curiously to see two women arguing with each other. There was one with black hair cut at some very sharp angles; she had a look on her face that was equal parts smug and unapologetic. The other woman with lighter, slightly wavy hair seemed furious and whom she was angry at was made very clear when her hand shot out and smacked the dark-haired woman across the face.

"Tell me, which woman were you with yesterday?" The hurt was apparent in her eyes though the wronged party held on to her anger tightly. Nami and Asahi both felt their jaws hit their chest as the dark-haired woman, instead of answering, darted forward to claim the other woman's mouth in a passionate kiss. Their tongues twisted and danced with one another's wetly, their loud and laboured breathing echoed in the empty storage room. When they at last parted, mouths bruised from the ferociousness of their make-out session, the anger seemed to have completely gone from the lighter-haired woman.

"Are you jealous?" the dark-haired woman cooed.

"Wha... whatever you say..." all the fight seemed to have gone out of the brown-haired woman.

"Oh? Well then... one more time?"

This time, the make-out session got a little bit heavy as the dark-haired woman pushed the other one back until their backwards motion was stopped by a desk. The light-haired woman was pushed on top of it, the blazer she was wearing slipping from her shoulders and a black-gloved hand moving down the light-haired woman's body slowly to palm and knead her thigh...

"Marilyn... so cute..." The dark-haired woman groaned, sucking on her partner's neck.

Asahi watched in a mixture of fascination and shock, unsure of what to do. Nami, however, was trying to fight down the violent disgust she felt at the sight of the two women kissing each other.

"Uwaaaahhh!" Nami backed away, groping backwards blindly. In doing so, she managed to knock down a whole stack of chairs and a desk. The two women, who had thought they were alone, immediately caught sight of the two girls.

"Uh..." Asahi gave a super polite bow, not really sure if what she was doing was the right reaction to circumstances like this. "Sorry for disturbing you two! Um, please continue!"

Nami also flashed a fake smile, nodding in agreement with Asahi's reaction, before the two fled the little storage room. Rushing into a room marked 'Changing Room 2', they found themselves amidst racks and racks of various clothes, costumes, footwear, headgear and accessories.

"That was a live action L show just now!" Nami exclaimed, disgust still etched in her face.

"What's 'L'?" Asahi blinked, confusion apparent on her face.

"Don't you know?" Nami gaped at the innocence her companion showed and took it upon herself to enlighten the other girl. "The world of L, females kissing... and making love to each other... it's just so sickening!"

Nami shivered and rubbed her arms furiously, feeling a full case of the heebie-jeebies.

"Lets not talk about that," Asahi sighed in frustration, annoyed that the other girl could get side-tracked by kissing women so easily. "We better concentrate on how to escape from those guys! How did we even get involved in this? I seriously don't understand!"

Those men were probably combing the building looking for them so they couldn't possibly leave this room and looking at her cellphone, she realized calling the police wasn't even an option since she had no reception! What could she do? Asahi leaned against a rack of costumes when it suddenly dawned on her. Throwing her bag to the ground, she kicked off her shoes and started taking off her school uniform. Turning, she could see Nami watching her, bug-eyed.

"You have to take off your clothes too!" Asahi reached for Nami's shirt to help the shell-shocked girl, but Nami pushed her away, horrified.

"What are you doing?! Don't tell me you wanna--"

"Stupid!" Asahi barked out. Seriously, this girl was so stuck on the L thing! "We're going to disguise ourselves!"

"Eh?" Nami blinked stupidly then took a look around. Realization dawned on her face. "OH!"

Without another word, the two stripped out of their clothing and picked matching outfits. Hiding their hair underneath a toque and donning baggy jeans, sunglasses that covered most of their face, boots, a loose tee, clunky silver accessories and a faux-leather jacket, they checked each other's appearances before opening the door to the changeroom and peeking out.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Asahi took the lead. "Let's go!"

Walking down the crowded hallways, pretending to look like they had business there, was nerve-wracking. There was a whole bunch of girls mingling around and it seemed like they were all staring at them.

"Shitshitshitshit!" Nami swore under her breath. "What are we gonna do?! Our disguises suck! They probably know we're girls dressed as guys!"

"Calm down!" Asahi whispered back frantically. "They don't know that! They don't!"

"Hey," A girl in a bunny suit called out to them. They stiffened and turned towards her, a smile frozen on their face. the bunny-girl's friends pushed their blushing representative forward, giggling. "Um, are you guys lost? Could we help you?"

"Uh, no..." Realization dawned on Asahi. She had seen girls act like this before. She knew because she had acted like this before in front of cute guys. Oh my god, they thought she, Wakamatsu Asahi, WAS the cute guy! Nami seemed to realize the same thing and was about to give a--probaby rude--retort when she caught sight of something over Asahi's shoulder and a look of panic crossed her face. Nami turned to face the bunny-girl, leaning against one of the walls to try and look cool.

"Yeaaahhh... we're a bit lost." Nami drawled, trying to deepen her voice without sounding ridiculous. "Ahem. Uh, we were just wondering if you girls could, uh, take us to the... uh..."

Asahi glanced behind her shoulder, wondering what had freaked Nami out. The sight of their pursuers sent her to the side of the one of the bunny-girl's friends, who was decked out as a cheerleader.

"Auditions! The men's auditions! Yeah, uh," Asahi coughed, deepening her voice too. Putting an arm awkwardly around the cheerleader's shoulders, she grimaced when she felt the girl swoon a little bit. This was so not how she pictured today going. "Could you? This studio is kinda big."

With two girls on their arms and the rest of bunny-girl's friends following them, they passed the men in dark suits--who gave only a cursory glance at the girls surrounding Asahi and Nami--then continued off.

"Safe!" Nami breathed out.

"Did you say something?" the bunny-girl smiled prettily at Nami and the girl-disguised-as-a-guy shuddered at the sight of bunny-girl batting her eyelashes at her.

Asahi quickly tried to cover for her comrade. "Uh, he meant, 'safe', cuz we won't be late for our audition cuz of you girls, right?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Nami nodded enthusiastically and gave Asahi a thumbs-up. "Good cover-up!"

"Cover up?" the girls looked at Nami curiously again.

"Look, here we are!" Nami pointed to a sign on a big set of double doors that said 'auditions - men', happy to distract the girls away from her 'cover up' slip. "Well, it was nice meeting you girls butwehavetogetgoingnowbye!"

"Bye!" The girls waved goodbye, looking seriously disappointed. "Come find us afterwards, ok?"

"Yeah, sure!" Nami gave them a big fake grin, her dimples coming in to play. The girls sighed or squealed in pleasure, startling Nami, who jumped behind Asahi to hide from their love-stricken stares.

"Uh, thanks girls." Asahi gave them a tiny wave and a small smile. The girls gave the same reaction to Asahi as they did to Nami and Asahi found herself so startled by their blatant admiration that she stumbled backwards right into Nami and through the doors to the men's auditions. Girls were damn scary! And Asahi was about to say that aloud when bright lights suddenly blinded them.

"We're starting! Please get in line!" A voice, made loud through a megaphone, crackled.

"What the--" A group of guys who were dressed quite similar to the two girls ran right into them, pushing them right into the area where the guys were lining up to begin dancing while cameras filmed them, probably for a screen test. Asahi and Nami were pushed right in front of the camera as the guys all danced an obviously pre-rehearsed dance.

"Woah." Nami and Asahi watched the guys going through the simple repetitive choreography, unconsciously memorizing the footwork and dance moves as they stood a little bit off to the side. Asahi looked around the room, feeling slightly embarassed that they had crashed an audition--but the embarassment turned to panic again when she saw the man who had pulled the gun on them, lurking behind the cameras and looking around for them.

"Dance!" Asahi pushed Nami towards the middle of the group of guys.

Nami looked bewildered. "Eh?"

"Those guys are here!" hissed Asahi. Nami caught sight of them and ran into the middle of the group, both of them hoping they would be indistinguishable from the dancing guys. It only took them half a beat to fall into step with the rest of the dancers and they put their all into it, desperately. Their efforts didn't go unnoticed as the producer in charge of the set and his guest noticed them right away.

"Ara ara," The producer smiled a bit, looking at the two in the back. "And here I thought they couldn't dance! They're pretty good!"

The woman in all black with her black hair cut at sharp angles had her eyes locked on the two figures, a small smile pulling up one corner of her lips. Their view of the dancers was momentarily ruined though, by three men in dark suits who walked across the set, ignoring the rolling cameras and the cries of dismay from the crew.

"Hey!" The producer left his guest's side, shouting at the intruders. "Who are you people and why are you on my set?!"

At the distraction, Asahi pulled Nami away and they ran off in the opposite direction of the men in suits. The producer, however, caught sight of the two running for it and immediately gave chase after the promising young 'men'.

"Hey, wait! Please, don't go, wait just a moment--" He went flying as the dark-haired woman pushed him away in her bid to chase down the two disguised girls. Asahi and Nami, meanwhile, had run off to an empty set, slowing when they saw that no-one was following them. Their relief was short-lived though, when a voice called to them from the shadows of the opposite end of the room.

"Excuse me." They froze and turned around, seeing the snake-guy walking towards them with his two lackeys right behind him. "Have you seen two high school girls?"

Struck speechless with fear, they could only keep their eyes on the floor and stay silent, sure that he would be able to tell they were girls as soon as he got a closer look at them or heard them speak.

"I've seen them." A voice rang out. Spinning around, Asahi and Nami immediately recognized the woman they had accidentally spied on in the storage room.

"L!" Nami exclaimed. Asahi immediately clamped her hand over Nami's mouth, hoping to god that this woman wouldn't give up their identities to these men. Although their disguise had fooled the girls from before, Asahi got the impression from this dark-haired woman that she was absolutely NOT fooled. The mischievous smile on her face while the 'L' woman pranced over filled Asahi with dread and anxiety.

"They went that way." The unexpected reply unleashed a flood of relief in the two disguised girls as the snake-guy offered a curt 'excuse me', and he and his men were gone without a second glance at Asahi or Nami.

"Ah, we're saved!" Nami let out an explosive sigh of relief as soon as the men had left.

Asahi was relieved and grateful at being delivered from the gun-wielding men and bowed politely to the black-haired woman. "Thank you very much!"

Instead of answering, the woman walked forward and took off both their toques and their sunglasses, allowing their long hair and feminine features to be seen.

"As I thought," The woman was talking to herself and seemed extremely excited, ignoring Asahi's expression of gratitude. "This is great!"

Before either of them could ask the strange woman what she meant, her eyes focused on the two girls in front of them and she clapped them on the shoulders soundly. "Do the two of you want to be idols?"

"Idols?!"

---

Asahi and Nami had been whisked away in a van with tinted windows, to a charming house that served as both an office and living quarters. They were seated on a beautiful white chaise where two pens and two contracts had immediately been placed on the coffee table in front of them.

"Here you go," The dark-haired woman outlined the dotted line on both contracts with her hand. "You have to sign here."

Everything was coming together for Asahi and Nami! The two girls who had gone to collectively eighty-seven auditions, were finally seeing the fruits of their labours. Their eagerness to achieve their dreams was no excuse, however, for them not reading the contract as they gave a happy affirmative and signed away.

"Here!" They both handed the contract back to the dark-haired woman, who gave them a pleased smile as the contracts were placed in her hands.

"Congratulations. From now on, the both of you are members of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency. I'm the agency's president, Kamonohatsu Saeko." The dark-haired woman finally had a name. Motioning to the bubbly woman beside her, Saeko continued speaking. "This is my secretary--"

"I'm Marilyn!" The light-haired woman waved, her sunny personality bubbling to the surface.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" Asahi and Nami both stood up and bowed super-politely, retreated into the prescribed formalities assigned to them by their society. They were just so excited! And Nami, hyperactive with happiness turned to Asahi and grasped the other girl's hand.

"Finally, we can be idols now!" Nami was jumping up and down in excitement and Asahi joined in with her, close to tears.

"Finally, our dreams have been fulfilled!"

While they were squealing excitedly, Marilyn had leaned in to look them over with fascination. "The both of you are exactly what the shachou is looking for to fit the Ikemen image!"

"Really?" Nami was ecstatic that they fit the mold the president was looking for! "Exactly like an ikemen--eh?"

Both Asahi and Nami's excitement was put on hold by their... confusion. Ikemen? Good-looking guy? Was there some mistake?

"Ike...men?"

Kamonohatsu Saeko smirked and brandished the contracts that they had signed so the two girls could read the script that they had ignored before.

"Debuting as a..." Both girls read the line out lout. "male idol?"

"What is this?" Nami demanded. Saeko just threw back her head and laughed, a truly evil kind of laughter that made both girls shiver. Saeko passed the contracts to her secretary and rounded on the two newly made idols.

"This is me, Kamonohatsu Saeko's bet on a wild ambitious start!" Saeko raised her hand in the air, full of confidence.

"Shachou, you're wonderful!" Marilyn cooed at her beloved president with adoring eyes.
"My ambition is to introduce the most ikemen idols to the public, and thus, raise the entertainment world to a whole new level!" Saeko explained, going from slightly frenzied to drastically calm in the next sentence. "However, I haven't found any suitable males who matched my requirements for the past few years."

The level of excitement raised again as Saeko focused on Asahi and Nami. "When I first saw the two of you--" Saeko mimed being shot. "It was like being shot. If males are no good, then we'll use females, females disguised as males, to unify the entertainment industry!"

The same sentence was running through Nami and Asahi's head at this point. 'She's crazy.'

"Why do I have to become a guy?" Nami argued, still not quite believing that this was happening to her.

"That's right," Asahi frowned. "I want to be a normal idol!"

"Ordinary." The president of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency said in a bored voice.

"Ordinary?" Asahi and Nami gaped at the president.

"I dare and am quite positive to say that the two of you are absolutely ordinary." Saeko deadpanned. Marilyn gave a little giggle at that pronouncement. "People like the two of you have only one route in the entertainment industry..." Saeko paused while the girls leaned in, eager to learn what route this was. "..and that is to become men. If the two of you, who are VERY ordinary girls become men, then the two of you will become the very best!"

Saeko reached up and pulled a rope attached to the ceiling. Immediately, a white screen with two head-shaped holes unfurled from the ceiling right in front of the started Asahi and Nami. Well, white sheet from the girls' vantage points. As they poked their heads out of the holes, they realized it was a drawing of two men's bodies in suits, with the face part cut out so when Nami and Asahi looked through the holes, they looked like they had men's bodies!

"I can see it!" Saeko came forward, eyes agleam. "The light of the future! From now on, you will be Riku" Saeko pointed at Asahi then at Nami. "--and Kai! Your group name will be Persona! The meaning will literally mean that the sky's wearing a mask!"

"Persona?" Asahi frowned.

"Mask?" Nami joined Asahi in the frowning.

"Females disguising themselves in the masks of men!" Saeko continued, unperturbed by their lack of enthusiasm. She pranced over to a mannequin she had in the corner and removed the mask it had been wearing, placing it over her own face. "I'm such a genius!"

Asahi and Nami just stared at Saeko in disbelief as the president started hyperventilating from how excited she was getting.

"Shachou, don't get so worked up!" Marilyn fretted, immediately at her president's side with a paper bag. Nami took this opportunity to brush the giant screen away and confront the L's.

"You've gotta be joking!" Nami growled angrily. "Regarding this, we will definitely--"

"Do it!" Asahi was at Nami's side in a second and interrupted her.

"That's right! We'll definitely do it!" Nami said angrily. It took a second for what Asahi said to sink in. "Eh?"

"Please, you've got to let me do it!" Asahi continued, a little bit of desperation creeping in to her voice.

"Eh?!" Nami gaped at Asahi. What the hell was her 'long-overdue comrade' doing?!

Marilyn and the president exchanged a glance and Saeko murmurred to her secretary, "Surprisingly, this is going smoother than I expected."

Marilyn took everything in stride though. She knew her shachou could do it! Saeko was incredibly resourceful when she wanted to be, just one of the many things that Marilyn admired about the other woman! One of the MANY things.

"Well then, let me give you a tour of the house!" Marilyn bounced over to the office. "This is the office," Marilyn skipped back out. "We're in the living room right now..." The two girls followed her to a door next to the door to the office. "The kitchen, the closet, the washroom, the front foyer! Now lets go upstairs!"

Nami was swept up in the whirlwind known as Marilyn, unable to get a word in edge-wise. Soon, they were pushed into a relatively large room that seemed a little bit crowded because of the furniture in the room. It was comfortable though and brightly lit.

"This will be your room!" Marilyn flung her arms out proudly. She had decorated this room herself! Two mattresses and bedsets on the floor told the girls where they were expected to sleep. It was all a little too much for Nami. "Even though you two are women, no-one will know! From now on, the two of you will be living here!"

"Don't worry," Saeko said soothingly to the two girls. "I'll contact both of your parents. I'll say, for the sake of learning the arts, the both of you are studying abroad in Las Vegas!"

"Like our parents would believe that..." Nami groaned as Saeko swept out of the room.

"Unless they're very stupid parents." Asahi commented thinking of her own parents. Nami realized that her own parents would probably fit under that description too. Mama and Papa Kawachi also had a large brood of children, of which Nami was one of them, so it was hard to keep track of everyone. They would be happy that someone had taken their most energetic child, under their wing.

"The basic things you need have been prepared, feel free to use them!" Marilyn poked them in the middle of their foreheads, then bounced out of the room giddily, happy that they had people signed on at the agency.

"Geez, I hope that there aren't any problems with this agency." Nami spoke her fears aloud, never one to keep quiet when things bothered her, regardless of the fact that what said could offend people or make them unhappy. "That assistant's kinda odd. And now, it's like there's only the two of us." Nami shivered and raised her hands up in the air in anguish. "On top of that, the president's an 'L' and we have to debut disguised as men..."

The energetic girl fell bonelessly to one of the mattresses on the floor, sprawling face-down on the sheets, exhuasted by the day's events.

"Debuting disguised as men, huh?" Asahi rolled the idea around in her head. For some odd reason, she didn't have as much of a problem with it as Nami seemed to.

"Ah yes," Nami suddenly perked up, lifting her face from the comforter. "I almost forgot about it. We haven't called the police yet 'bout that snakeguy!"

The pursuit by the men in suits came back to Asahi. The long-haired girl took out the purupuru from her bag and wondered why grown men were willing to shoot at girls just to get a purupuru. The sound of Nami dialing the number for the police pulled Asahi out of her thoughts and she dived for Nami's phone, closing the flip-phone and ending the call.

"Don't call the police!" Asahi could hear Saeko's voice in her head, telling her and Nami that the only route the two of them could take to become idols was to disguise themselves as men.

"Why not?" Nami tried to grab her phone back. "We could be in danger!"

"In the future, we'll be performing in our disguises," Asahi explained. "So we shouldn't get involved in this."

"But those guys have guns!" Nami protested. Guns! And Nami had stuck her finger in the muzzle thinking it was a camera!

"Don't do it if you're just going to stir up trouble!" Asahi was close to snapping at the other girl. "I'm betting on this chance. I'm already eighteen years old, this could be my last shot at becoming an idol!"

Nami, for once, kept silent, waiting for Asahi to finish what she wanted to say.

"Besides that," Asahi suddenly looked troubled. "Haven't we suffered enough from continuously auditioning? Having perverted old men trying to do things with us, being thrown around like trash... plus, being told really... upsetting things."

The two of them had had all of these things happen to them and had suffered through it bravely, hoping that one day their sacrifices woud pay off. Today, for Asahi, it seemed that this was the pay-off, this was her chance to be an idol. Despite the pretending-to-be-a-man part, this was the opportunity she had been so desperately wishing for.

"I want to be Music 10's top idol and flaunt it in their faces." Asahi remembered all the disgust she felt when she was pawed by perverted producer-types. Remembered how each and every time, she had put her best foot forward and was shot down. Remembered the comments; too fat, too skinny, no boobs, no hips, ugly, stupid, not sexy... she didn't want to audition anymore. And she wanted to show all those people who made her feel like nothing that she was something. That she could make it and she would shine. "Becoming a guy... I don't care how difficult it is; I'm definitely not going to let them see me fail!"

Nami looked up at Asahi and gave the girl a wry smile, the expression on her face one of resignation and wary hope. Maybe with this girl, together they could go places.

Getting up off the floor, Nami tilted her head upwards lightly, nodding at Asahi. "I'm Nami. And you?"

Asahi smiled at Nami, her new partner-in-manhood. "I'm Asahi."

Next chapter (if there IS a next chapter, anyways) might feature more 'scenes' that weren't included in the series. I always thought Mendol coulda been fleshed out some more and drawn out into a long ass series... :banghead:
 :welcome :lol: :lol:
« Last Edit: September 30, 2013, 05:32:12 PM by Hirasawaizumi »

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline Sydney W

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2013, 09:26:17 AM »
Finally there is mendol fic. Looking forward to the next update.

Offline blakwhite

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2013, 10:57:46 AM »
intresting, pls continue  :thumbsup :twothumbs

Offline cisda83

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2013, 11:53:31 AM »
I like this Mendol story.

Can't wait to see how you see going to develop it

Thank you

 :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs

Offline RJay

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2013, 03:06:55 PM »
Not to offend you Hirasawaizumi-san but I believe this is plagiarism.

I have read the exact same story in fanfiction.net written by immo. If you are that writer, I am very sorry for accusing you however, if you are not, then I suggest you to not take other people's work and make it as yours.

And I have exact proof to prove it; here is the link where the exact same story is found,

http://m.fanfiction.net/s/5598310/1/Mendol-Ikemen-Idol

I'll say "I love you" to the person I love
Even if these feelings aren't returned, saying "I love you" to the person you love
That is the most beautiful thing in the world

Offline Hirasawaizumi

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2013, 05:01:35 PM »
Not to offend you Hirasawaizumi-san but I believe this is plagiarism.

I have read the exact same story in fanfiction.net written by immo. If you are that writer, I am very sorry for accusing you however, if you are not, then I suggest you to not take other people's work and make it as yours.

And I have exact proof to prove it; here is the link where the exact same story is found,

http://m.fanfiction.net/s/5598310/1/Mendol-Ikemen-Idol
Ah, I suppost I've not clear myself. sorry bout that.
I'm the author. IMMO. thanks. I'm just reposting it. and IMMO this name is my other name that I use in fanfiction.net

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline Hirasawaizumi

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2013, 05:02:51 PM »
Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 2

author's note: Hey, so we're back :D And since this fic assumes they are speaking in Japanese... even though it's all in English... anything that is said in English will be italisized. And the non-Japanese people who don't know Japanese that well will reflect it in their speech and it's not a typo or grammar error. Got that? Good! And when Asahi and Nami are in their Riku and Kai persona(haha), I'll be using male pronouns. That goes with Hinata/Kuu too, once she/he shows up.

language! If it was covered last chapter, I'm not going over it again, hahaha:

kochira koso -- me too

-san -- added at the end of a name, sorta like 'Mr/Miss'. But at the end

-sama -- suffix used at the end for someone really important, more respectful

hai -- yes

ara -- sorta like 'oh my', or something along that line of exclamation

tenshi -- angel

kouhai -- lower classmen

---

After the tour of the house and introducing themselves to each other formally, Nami and Asahi excused themselves to go back to their respective homes for some clothes and toiletries. They said good-bye to their families and went back to Kamonohatsu house that they would be sharing together.

"Tadaima," both of the girls dragged their suitcases and various bags into the house, closing the door behind them.

"Okaerinasai!" Marilyn was there to greet them. "Shachou has gone for the day to take care of some things, so the both of you will be working with me today!"

"Hai!" They both replied enthusiastically. "We'll just put these upstairs and then we'll start right away!"

"Oh!" Marilyn seemed to finally notice their luggage. "Well, I'll show you where you can store these. You won't be wearing much of your girl clothes anyways."

"What?" Nami blinked stupidly at Marilyn, pausing half-way up the stairs. Marilyn giggled at Nami's state of confusion.

"Well, the both of you ARE debuting as male idols. You'll have to keep up appearances!" Marilyn bounced up the stairs past them and turned to two other rooms that they had not had not been shown to them earlier. Opening the door to one of the rooms, the girls were faced with racks and racks of clothes obscured in darkness. The only window had heavy curtains blocking the light from coming through and a flick of the lightswitch showed the girls exactly what kind of clothes these were. Men's clothes.

"While you were gone, I called up the station and borrowed some clothes!" Marilyn said cheerily. "I asked for size small to medium in men's size. Clothes for every ocassion from formal to casual; but your stage clothes will be made as soon as I take exact measurements."

"So we'll have to wear men's clothes all the time?" Nami cringed, looking through men's dress shirts in her size. They were nice, sure, but she REALLY liked her own clothes!

Marilyn put a well-manicured finger to her cheek in thought. "Well, no, not ALL the time. Like now, Persona hasn't even made their first appearance and nobody knows you. So you're free to take your free time in your regular clothes. However, you do understand appearances have to be kept up when your job calls for it, right?"

"Haiiii..." Nami and Asahi pouted, dragging their suitcases to a corner of the room Marilyn pointed to. But they couldn't help being a little bit excited. This was it, this was their chance.

"You should change into your male disguises now, though. We have to get to the studio to work on your first song!" A little thrill of pleasure ran through Asahi and Nami's body. Working on a song! They were actually doing this!

"Hai!" They chirped together enthusiastically. At the stern look she got from Marilyn, they lowered their voice a bit. "HAI!"

"Here, you'll need these." Marilyn handed them both a tanktop. This was a special top, though, with extra lycra for extra compression power to bind their breasts down. "Instead of bras, you can wear this! It'll keep your breasts flat and give you a molded, defined men's chest!"

"You've thought about this quite a bit, haven't you?" Nami thought gloomily, looking at the small white tanktop with disgust.

Marilyn ignored Nami's gloomy look. "Come on, we don't have time to dawdle, we have the studio booked and they'll give it to someone else if we're late!"

"Hai!" The girls jumped to it, immediately stripping out of their clothes as soon as Marilyn shut the door. Slipping out of their bras, they donned their binding shirts, struggling a little with the tight fit but paused afterwards to grudgingly admire their now square, masculine chests.

"This is amazing!" Asahi poked at her chest, noting that it felt like hard muscle underneath her fingers. Her usually soft upper body was compacted to a more masculine shape with the ingenuous binding and the hidden extra padding in the tanktop. Plus, it didn't restrict her breathing too much!

"Huh..." Nami poked at her stomach after feeling her chest, goofily smiling at how the top flattened her stomach and made it look like she had abdominal muscles. She'd always wanted a six-pack! "But will this top make our breasts mold into a weird shape?"

"Nothing a nice massage won't fix!" Marilyn called from outside the door. "How long are you girls going to take?"

"3 seconds!" Asahi called back as they both hurried out of their clothes and grabbed a set of clothes while singing quietly to herself, not even really knowing she was doing it. "Sanbyou mitsumeru dake de..."

"Otoshite miseyou ka," Nami laughing sung, making up the following lyrics on the spot. Asahi grinned at Nami as she buttoned up her shirt, the two falling silent as they cast around for clothes and dressed. Meanwhile, Marilyn stood outside the door, stunned. Had shachou discovered... naturals? Shachou had said they were quick to pick up dance steps they didn't know, were they naturally inclined towards making music?

Only one way to find out!

"Here." The two exited the room to be confronted by Marilyn holding out two heads by the neck.

"AGH!!!"

"What are you two screaming about?" Marilyn pouted, brandishing polystyrene heads and looking curiously at the two girls. "Pick a wig. It'll be your hair from now on."

The two girls coughed, embarassed at their own reaction, then concentrated on the wigs on top of the two dummies.

"Hmm..." Asahi pressed a finger to her lips. "Which one..."

Both were short, men-style wigs. One was a stylishly-cut dark brown wig with parts of it highlighted red while the other was a multi-faceted blonde, the style a bit longer and shaggier than the brown. They were excellent wigs and would pass for real hair with no problems.

"Lets try them on." Nami suggested. Marilyn showed them quickly how to tie and clip their hair into place, then put a thin stocking cap on top of it. Then, they were taught how to put the wig on.

"Hm." Asahi ducked back into the change room to look at herself in the full length mirror in the change room, making a face at her blonde hair. "That doesn't look good at all."

"Me too." Nami grimaced, right beside Asahi. "This looks horrible on me. Switch?"

Carefully taking off their wigs so it wouldn't disturb their real hair underneath, they traded and carefully put on the hairpieces.

"This..." The transformed Kai looked at himself in the mirror, unable to stop a grin from appearing on his face. "This is me!"

"And this is me." Riku was grinning too, fiddling with a few strands of errant hair on his head, but otherwise satisfied with his appearance. This hairstyle was edgy and bold, a hairstyle that told whoever looked at it that the owner had impeccable and demanding tastes. Also, it told whoever looked at Riku that he could afford a stylist skilled enough to give him such a perfect cut. The shaggy blonde hair hadn't been 'Riku'. This smart cut with the bold red streaks definitely suited him. Meanwhile, Kai's longer, blonde shaggy hair seemed to match Kai's outspoken personality and lengthen his face, making it a bit more angular and sharp and less feminine

"You look like a yanki," Riku laughed, nudging Kai with his shoulder good-naturedly.

"Shut up!" Kai nudged back, a smile on his face to show he was joking. Kai was very pleased with his new hair. It didn't require too much extra primping, like with Riku's hair and Kai actually liked longer styles on guys anyways. It made them look a bit more dangerous and bad boy and Kai would have to say that with the type of company Nami hung around with, she would've totally been the bad boy type if she had actually been a guy.

"Now, pin it to your heads with these bobby pins!" Marilyn helped them out, showing them how to do it so the bobby pin was invisible and the wig held tight. "See? Because of these strategically placed pins, now even a good sharp pull--" Marilyn pulled at Kai's hair, causing him to scream girlishly. "--won't take it off easily!"

"Right," Riku took a step away from Marilyn nervously. Riku was decked out in a nice black suit with a suit jacket, looking incredibly good-looking and polished. His thin tie was tightened close around his neck in a perfect Windsor knot (how did Asahi even know how to tie a knot like that?), the cufflinks were elegeant and tasteful and the shoes she had donned were patent leather and fit her whole outfit spectacularly well. Kai on the other hand, even though he was wearing a suit too, had a totally different feel about him. He wore his white shirt untucked and cuffs and collar unbuttoned, tie tied loosely around his neck, with his pants hanging low and a wide white belt to compliment his attire. His suit jacket was a silvery-grey and instead of lapels, the jacket had a thin mandarin collar. Kai's clunky boots added a few more inches to his height (which he needed, really) and the large scuffed metal bracelets on his wrists gave him a bit more of an edge. Even though they still had girlish mannerisms, Kai and Riku were trying and if Marilyn wasn't in on the secret, she probably wouldn't have guessed. But they still had a long way to go.

"Okay, this will be your first time out in your male disguises, so remember to always be aware of three things," Marilyn held up three fingers and pointed to the first one. "How you walk, how you talk, how you act. You'll be working with people in the industry now and they all gossip; rumours get around fast. So keep in mind that the two of you are men now! Men amongst men!"

"Doesn't walk fall under act--"

"Completely different!" Marilyn sing-songed. "Com-pu-lete-ly dif-fer-rent! Now, lets head to the studio instead of standing around splitting hairs!"

In no time at all, they were at the studio. The two boys hesitated at the door when they saw a bunch of people look up from their workstation or instruments to stare at them.

"Good afternoon!" Marilyn chirped cheerily. Everybody gave the customary reply, still staring at Kai and Riku curiously.

"Osu!" Both Riku and Kai deepened their voice and greeted the men and women in the room. They all muttered their greetings, the women giggling a bit.

"Uh," Riku stammered, tugging at his suddenly too-tight necktie. "Hi. I'm Riku."

"Hey." Kai gave a nervous smile. "I'm Kai."

A round of 'yoroshiku onegaishimasu's and 'kochira koso's were exchanged. These were the people in the studio that would be helping them out. There was, of course, Marilyn who would be shadowing them everywhere and helping wherever she can, Kurokawa Nao-san who would be providing technical support on the mixing console with Utaka Hideki-san and finally, the musicians who might be rotating throughout their music-making.

"Kurokawa-san and Utaka-san are very good at what they do," Marilyn introduced the techs. Kurokawa Nao was a young woman with long brown-black hair tied up in a loose bun on top of her head. She had a pair of rectangle frame glasses perched on her nose that made her look very librarian-ish, her overall look giving Riku and Kai the feel of someone who was very professional and wanted others to take her seriously. Utaka Hideki, however, looked like a regular tech guy with messy hair, an untucked t-shirt under an untucked and unbuttoned button-up shirt. His jeans were slightly ripped and his sneakers had seen better days. But he carried an air of confidence about him that put Riku and Kai at ease.

"Shachou thought that these musicians might be able to find that sound you're looking for. They're also really good at what they do." Marilyn introduced the musicians, a slightly short (the height of the foreigner surprised Riku but delighted Kai for some reason) bearded New Zealander named Paul who insisted that they call him 'Just Paul' and a small and cute, bright-eyed drummer named Candy from Hong Kong who just nodded shyly at them.

"Candy and Paul aren't completely fluent in Japanese, so you'll have to talk slowly and use simple words." Marilyn told the members of Persona.

"Yes, we are idiots." Paul joked, overhearing them.

"No, no!" Kai tried out her English. "Your Japanese, good!"

"Your English is pretty good too!" Paul replied.

"Yes, pretty?" Riku tilted his head to the side, smiling in confusion. Did Paul just call them 'pretty'?

"Your English really good. Right, Candy?" Paul tried again in Japanese. Candy nodded again, agreeing with Paul but keeping quiet.

"They're so cool!" Kai leaned over to whisper to Riku. They rarely had any kind of interaction with foreigners and Paul's soft, New Zealander accent and Candy's mysteriousness was exciting!

"Well, we hope we can make you look cool too." Paul grinned at them, his fingers plucking a few strings on his bass. "We were just finished warming up. Now what sound you looking for?"

"Well, just... something like..." Riku floundered a bit, looking around the room. He had never done this before!

"Something like this," Kai swooped in to cover for Riku, humming the few lines that they had made up on the spot when they had been changing. "--something like that."

"Good, good..." Paul mumbled, picking up his electric guitar to play the notes Kai had hummed while Candy immediately started writing down notes on a music sheet.

"And this follows it," Riku hummed the next line. The four worked out the notes while Kurokawa-san and Utaka-san pulled up chairs to join them and add their inputs. They also took the time to show Riku and Kai the audio mixer ("My baby," Nao cooed, dropping a little bit of her professionalism) and the equipment in the studio. Before they knew it, they had whiled away a couple of hours and Marilyn had watched, fascinated as the two members of Persona charmed their unsuspecting audience.

'Shachou had wanted to test their appeal, and look at that, they've already won some unknowing fans!' Marilyn was cheering silently in her head. 'They've gotten to calling Kurokawa-san and Utaka-san by their first names and Paul seems to have taken to them. Even Candy seems delighted with them!'

Indeed, with Kai talking animatedly with Utaka-san and Candy, who just nodded or shook her head in reply to Kai's torrent of words, Kai was obviously a hit. The shy girl from Hong Kong who was usually so reserved even LAUGHED a bit at something the energetic blonde said!

Riku wasn't to be left out and sat with Paul and Kurokawa-san, going over the music they had written down and discussing the evolution of the music industry. Riku's serious side was incredibly charming and the way he unknowingly touched Nao's bicep as he talked to her... well, lets say Kurokawa-san's reputation as an ice-queen was melting quite swiftly.

'Oh my, they ARE naturals!' Marilyn smiled widely at the scene before her.

"Man, so that's when *I* said, what the hell?!" Kai finished his story, making Hideki erupt into laughter and Candy try to hide her fit of giggles behind her hand. "Wow. I think maybe I had a bit too much water before, 'scuse me."

Kai left Hideki and Candy's side to stroll over to Marilyn.

"Where's the lady's room?" Kai asked, a little bit too loudly. But fortunately, nobody was really paying attention. Marilyn smacked Kai on the arm anyways.

"Ow!"

"Oh, Kai, you're such a joker!" Marilyn laughed a bit too loudly, staring daggers at the blonde. "The MEN'S washrooms are just down the hall. You have to turn left at the end of the hall, then right, then it's the door on the left. Just follow the signs!"

"Men's?" Kai mouthed to Marilyn. "Seriously?!"

"Just pretend it's a unisex washroom!" Marilyn whispered and winked. Grumbling mutinously, Kai headed out to the washroom, finding it with little to no problem and did his business. But it was trying to get back to the studio that was hard.

"Where the hell am I...?" Kai muttered, wandering around. He had been wandering for a good couple of minutes and was seriously lost. "Maybe this door..."

Kai opened the door and was immediately greeted by a high, feminine yelp.

"Get out!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Kai immediately turned around and closed the door behind him. All he had seen was some woman, wiping at her face with her sleeve. Kai hadn't been able to see her face at all because of that and the fact that the woman had immediately turned away from the door.

"What was that?" Kai frowned a bit. Looking up and down the hallway, he groaned in frustration again. At this rate, he'd NEVER get back to the studio! Taking a deep breath, Kai turned back around and knocked on the door before pushing it open a bit.

"Excuse me--"

"Don't look at me!"

"Okay, okay!" Kai averted his face. "Geez... I was just, uh, wondering if you knew where recording studio five was?"

"I don't k-know! Leave m-me alone!" The woman's voice hitched on a sob, her voice nasally from a stuffed nose.

"Um..." Kai kept his face averted, the sob having caught his attention. He had wanted to leave but he just couldn't. Crying girls were a weakness of his. "You okay?"

"I'll be better i-if you l-leave!" The fact that this girl was obviously hiding out somewhere crying alone pulled at Kai's heartstrings. He could imagine himself in her place, maybe having failed an audition, disappointed and humiliated. Walking backwards into the room, he dug into his pocket and produced his favourite hankerchief, still white and soft because of Kai's diligent care.

"Here." Kai waved the hankerchief backwards, hoping the woman would see it. The woman still had her back to him but she could see the waving piece of cloth out of the corner of her eyes. Sniffling, the crying woman took the hankerchief.

There was a long silence as the woman wiped at her face and nose.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about it." Kai shrugged his shoulders. "Just... you okay?"

There was another long pause. Then, finally, "No."

"Um. Are you gonna be okay?"

"Nothing's going to be o-okay! I'm trying my best, but it's just not good enough!" The woman's voice was self-deprecating and angry. "I'm trying so h-hard!"

"It'll be alright. Things get tough, you just gotta keep at it! It'll work out in the end!" Kai encouraged the mystery woman.

"You don't know t-that. That it'll a-all work out in t-the end."

"Well, even if it doesn't, you've tried your best, right? Shouldn't you be proud of your effort?" Kai paused. "And the people who don't appreciate you, well, they don't know nothing! Don't give up cuz I bet there's so many people out there who are just waiting for you to shine! Just keep going to your auditions--"

"Auditions?"

"Yeah, just keep at it! You'll be discovered soon!"

There was another long silence, then finally, the woman's voice broke the silence again.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Um... no. ShouldI? I don't really recognize your voice. Did we go to auditions together?" Kai still had his back to the woman and was severely tempted to turn around and take a look, but didn't. She HAD said she didn't want Kai to look at her and Kai understood why that would be. When Nami cried, she didn't want anybody to see her moment of weakness either.

"Nevermind." The woman laughed a bit.

Kai's mouth tweaked up in a crooked smile, pleased to hear such a pretty laugh. "Feeling better?"

"Yes." pause. "Thank you."

"No problem."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Nami--uh. I mean. No. Um--that's not my name--"

"You sure?" The voice held a bit of amusement now. "Your hankerchief says 'Nami'."

Kai cursed sharply. He had forgotten his name was on the hankerchief!

"Um, that is... yeah. Um. Igottagobye!" Kai raced out the door, slipping out before the woman could turn around to face him.

"Strange." The gorgeous woman with red-rimmed eyes sniffled and touched the hankerchief to her nose. It smelled of soap. "She'd forgotten this too..."

"Ray!" Her manager's voice carried down the hall. The long-haired woman, now standing alone in the room, had a pair of fashionably large sunglasses hanging from the front of her shirt and she lifted it up to her face to wear them now. She could see her manager pass by the room, glance in, then come back to do a double-take.

"Ray! Baby!" Her manager entered the room and walked towards her hurriedly, the oily tone of voice he always used to talk to her grating on her nerves. "It was just a little change in the music, why are you so upset?"

"Those were my lyrics!" Ray crossed her arms, feeling all the frustration welling up again, the calming affect Nami had had on her slipping too.

"And they're such good lyrics! They're deep and really full of meaning!" Her manager tried to sooth her. "BUUUUT... they just weren't, sexy, baby. And sexy sells CDs!"

"Ugh." Ray scrunched up the hankerchief in her hands. "Whatever. I'm taking the rest of the day off."

"But-but, Ray! Everyone's here waiting for you! Ray!" But Ray was already out the door and heading towards the escalators that would take her down to the ground floor and out the building. The man watched the diva storm out and blew out a breath, frustrated with the girl. If only she wasn't so willful! Then she woulda been perfect!

"Damnit," Sarukawa Keiji took a glance at his rolex. And he had so wanted to show off Ray to Saeko! Guess he'd just have to meet Saeko's new talents alone...

---

"Kai, it's a good thing we found you... how did you get lost anyways? Come on, before you guys are late," Marilyn was walking incredibly fast in her heels and Riku and Kai were trying hard to keep up. "Shachou told us she has someone important for you two to meet!"

"Who?" Riku asked, impressed with Marilyn's speed.

"You'll see!" Marilyn chirped back mysteriously. Whoever it was, though, was pretty important as they went all the way up to the top floor. The large mahogany double doors were truly impressive and the name 'Sarukawa Keiji - Monkey Productions' on the door told them who they were going to meet.

"Who's that?" Kai squinted at the name on the door. Marilyn knocked on the door, ignoring the question.

"Come in!" A jovial voice boomed from inside. Marilyn pushed the doors open, then casually pushed the the two members of Persona inside, almost toppling them into the room. With a quick 'excuse me', Marilyn had closed the door again. A man currently had his back to them and was talking on his phone behind a large wooden desk with a simple golden plaque that said 'president'. Saeko was sitting on one of the big plush couches in the sitting area of the extravagent room and motioned for the two young men to sit down on the couch next to her.

"Fix yourselves." Saeko hissed at them. They quick walk--more of a jog--to this office had made them slightly breathless and caused them to look slightly ruffled. Riku's hands immediately went to his hair to make sure each strand was in place, while Kai smoothed down his jacket, not really caring about his hair.

"Sorry, we've just run into a bit of difficulty with a recording today." The man who was obviously Sarukawa Keiji, came over and plopped himself down on the couch opposite them. He had thinning hair dyed a copper-brown and wore a dark purple suit with a loud tie.

THIS was the person they were supposed to meet?

Even though his words were directed at Saeko, Sarukawa Keiji's eyes were on the boys in front of him and he leaned forward to study the two sitting on his couch."These are the ones you told me about on the phone?"

"Yes indeed, Sarukawa-shachou! They are..." Saeko turned to look at Riku and Kai, her eyes widening when she saw how they were sitting. Coughing loudly to mask her words, she gave their legs a pointed look. "*cough*Legs*cough*placeyourlegsproperly*cough*cough*!"

The young men quickly uncrossed their legs, spreading them out a bit.

"Hohohoho!" Saeko's laughter was shrill and scary. "Quick, introduce yourself!"

Riku nodded, standing up and puffing out his chest. "OSU! I'm Riku from Persona!"

"OSU!" Kai shot up too, tilting his chin up a bit to look down his nose at Sarukawa-shachou. "I'm Kai!"

Sarukawa gave a little laugh, sitting back to look up at the two men. "You DID say they had an imposing manner... but they also have very cute appearances..."

Saeko gave another one of her shrill laughs as Riku and Kai fidgetted nervously under Sarukawa Keiji's scrutiny.

"Today we have come specially to give our regards to the President of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency's parent company, Monkey Productions," Saeko motioned for the boys to sit down. "Sarukawa-shachou."

"Don't tell me you're here to ask me for a favour." The President of Monkey Productions crossed his legs, a smirk on his face.

"Actually," Saeko returned the smirk with a smile of her own. Raising slowly from her seat, she meandered slowly over to Sarukawa-shachou, looking very much like a cat who had just spotted prey. "I would like you to let them participate in Music 10's next 'The Indies' performance."

Keiji scoffed, his genial attitude disappearing almost immediately. "These kids? No matter how much you beg me, I can't do it."

"You should be able to," Saeko sat down on the armrest of Keiji's couch, invading his personal space. "After all, you ARE Sarukawa-shachou, the manager of Music 10's Number One, Ray, and the President of the entertainment giant, Monkey Productions."

Saeko's hand had found its way to Keiji's knee and was slowly running up his thigh while Riku and Kai watched, open-mouthed in shock. Sarukawa Keiji didn't have a chance as his brain turned off and all his thinking was done with his groin.

"The both of you," Keiji's voice was rough and low. Motioning to them impatiently, he pointed to the door. "Leave us! Go!"

"OSU!" Kai and Riku were glad to be out of there.

---

Things were happening faster and faster. Saeko had managed to pull some strings, using methods that Kai and Riku didn't want to dwell on and after three days of hurriedly writing their first single and working out the dance steps, they practiced and practiced for their debut. Saeko had even managed to get them fitted for their stage costumes and had them delivered to the office the night before the Indies. The stage outfits actually just looked like a more stylized and fitted version of what the two had picked to wear the first day. The main difference from their outfit at the beginng was that Kai's grey jacket was gone and he sported a black jacket now with a white edge running down the lapels. Riku's clean-cut look from day one had been relaxed and he sported some fingerless gloves to appear tougher. Last, but not least, there were some eye-catching accessories pinned to their jackets.

"Three days... of hellishly styled dance routines..." Riku groaned, feeling all of his muscles complaining. They were up at the crack of dawn for three days either at the recording studio or the dance studio. Sometimes, they would even be at the two studios late in to the night. Riku was really grateful to everyone at the recording studio for getting up early when they needed to, or staying late in to the night.

Kai nodded in agreement, hissing through his teeth as that movement sent muscles twinging. "We'll be dead before we get on stage!"

"Saeko-chan!"

Riku and Kai looked up to see two men approaching them, recognizing them immediately. They were the producers that had auditioned them! But seeing the two men give them only a brief glance and seem to not recognize them at all, Riku and Kai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Producer Kaga!" Saeko greeted the man, bowing and trading words. "Please take good care of us!"

While their manager and Marilyn talked to the two men, Riku glanced around the backstage area. The Indies performance was help in the park near TV Tohto, with a stage set up and all the performers hiding out backstage, waiting for their turn. There was a whole kaleidoscope of genres represented by the artists that had come to perform and Riku knew this was a big deal. Every year at the Indies, bands who did really well and stood out had a huge chance of being pushed in to the mainstream and Riku knew this was what Saeko was aiming for. The sound of the MC introducing the next group to go up and the roar of the large crowd outside sent Riku's heart pounding. They would be going up soon too! They were finally doing this!

"Ahhh... I'm feeling so nervous!" Riku squeaked quietly to himself, looking around at all the other artists backstage trying to keep quiet while trying to rehearse whatever they were going to perform. There were also various crew members running about, making sure everything was running smoothly. Through the hustle and bustle, everybody looked like they were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Except for one person, who seemed out of place. A young man with badly dyed hair wandered around and trying to act inconspicuous, playing with his camera.

"Hm?" Riku did a double-take. "Jiro?!"

"Wait a minute," Marilyn was beside Riku in a heartbeat. "Don't tell me that's someone you know!"

"He lives near my house," Riku confessed, frowning a bit. "Ever since kindergarten, he's kept saying that he wanted to marry me. He's an annoying and persistant idiot."

"Fiance?" Marilyn's voice was on the verge of glee. It was like she hadn't heard anything Riku had said except for 'marry'.

"That's not it," Riku said sullenly. "that's only what he thinks! Three years ago, he left home saying he wanted to be a photographer. I wonder why he's here now?"

Jiro, meanwhile, was mumbling to himself while checking his camera. He wasn't a very good-looking man, with his dull hair and the awkward air around him. As Riku watched Jiro wandering around with his eyes on his camera, he accidentally bumped into the two producers Saeko had been talking to before. There was an exchange of words where Jiro looked sufficiently intimidated.

"Well," Marilyn drew Riku's attention away from Asahi's childhood friend. "Good luck and give it your best shot!"

"Hai!" Riku said smartly and looked around, finally noticing that Kai wasn't by his side. "Ara... Where's Nami?"

Riku finally saw Kai, standing near the entrance to the stage, looking out at the band performing. The crowd wasn't reacting too well to this group of punk rockers and the bad atmosphere was affecting Kai.

"I-I'm going back!" Kai turned away from the stage, eyes wide with fright. "I can't do it! To perform on a stage like that, I can't do it!"

Stage fright had hit Kai hard and it was starting to affect Riku's own confidence.

"Well, that was alright, wasn't it?" The MC's words traveled backstage, along with the boos of the crowd. "Come on everyone, give them a hand!"

There was a grudging round of applause, but the boos persisted.

"Can't win them all, can we?" The MC chuckled. "Next, we have a new group performing today, please put your hands together for 'PERSONA'!!!"

"Come on, you guys are up, go go go!" A guy with a clipboard and a headset was pushing them on stage. Suddenly, Riku and Kai found themselves in the spotlight, with their microphones in hand and a crowd of people staring at them and clapping.

"Osu!" Riku shook himself out of his stupor. "I'm Riku from Persona!"

"K-K-Kai, I'm," Kai stammered. Riku and Kai both froze after that.

"Opening lines!" Marilyn hissed from the side of the stage. "Opening lines! Say the opening lines you rehearsed!"

Riku nodded, taking the reins. "The both of us are men amongst men, that's why we'll always greet you with an 'OSU'! And you guys can reply with a 'BEST'! Lets try it out! OSU!"

Kai raised his hand, struggling to keep a hold of his stage fright. "OSU!"

The line was supposed to be delivered in a witty way and meant to elicit laughter and response, but it just ended up sounding corny. Paul, Candy, Nao and Hideki were in the audience and they all winced a bit as the crowd booed them for such a horrible line.

"Jesus," Paul grimaced. "Even though I don't really understand Japanese, that was still pretty bad."

Candy nodded, folding her arms across her chest. Nao and Hideki also agreed, having understood basically what Paul had said in English.

"Shachou, that was such an awkward scene!" Marilyn was at Saeko's side, wringing her hands. "Maybe it's too soon for them to debut?"

"This is a test." Saeko replied stonily. She had given Persona several tests since they had signed on. Nao and Hideki were a test, because they had seen many of these idols come and go and their interest and approval was a sign that Saeko had picked the right people. Candy and Paul, as foreigners, had little to no interest in Japanese pop stars beyond the customary 'oh, that's interesting'. The fact that they were here, rooting for Persona meant something. "If they can't handle this, they won't be able to make a name for themselves even though they're disguised as men."

"Anyways, please listen to us," Riku charged forward desperately, he could see his dream going down the drain... "Persona's--"

As Persona floundered, drowned out by the heckling of the audience, there was suddenly a flash of pink and a girl in a frilly dress ran on stage.

"Stop that girl!" Security were on the stage including stage-hands and the two producers from before. They all tried to grab the girl, but a boxcutter kept them away. The crowd gasped as a collective whole, watching the girl waving the sharp object around and holding the security guards at bay.

"Don't come closer! I'll do it!" She held the blade to her throat and the security guards froze, some even backing up a few steps. Cameras started flashing.

"Denpa?!" Kai immediately recognized their long-overdue-comrade.

"What is that girl doing?" Riku grabbed at Kai and whispered harshly into his ear.

"Hinata wants to die!" The Lolita-style girl screamed at the security people, announcing her intent, the box cutter inches away from her own throat. "I've always wanted to be an idol, for that I've been to more than a hundred auditions and at last I thought I'd suceeded."

Denpa's eyes sought out Producer Kaga and rested on him. "I was tricked by Music 10's producer, Kaga!"

The man started visibly and looked around, guilt apparent on his face as all eyes turned to him.

"He said such venomous words to Hinata and..." Hinata's voice dropped a bit, but her voice was still audible to all on stage. "...he tried to... he tried to... do bad things to Hinata..."

Riku felt a chill run down his spine, his heart clenching in sympathy on hearing what Hinata had gone through.

"W-What are you saying?" Kaga laughed nervously, then shouted at the girl. "I didn't do anything at all!"

"Stop pretending! Hinata will definitely not forgive you!" Hinata brandished the sharp blade, warning the people away as they tried to approach her again. "If Hinata dies here, everything will be alright again!"

"Don't do anything stupid!" Kaga screamed out, half out of his mind with fear. If this girl killed herself on the stage of Music 10's The Indies performance, it would ruin everything! And who would the guys on top blame? Since Kaga was the producer in charge and was seen to be somehow involved in this mess, Kaga would definitely be in hot water!

"This doesn't look good, Denpa's snapped!" Kai's fretting pushed Riku into action and he stepped forward to call out to Hinata, trying to calm her down.

"Tenshi!"

The frills-clad girl paused, looking over at the person who had called her 'Angel'.

"You're an angel on Earth!" Riku called out, wincing at how bad that sounded, but knowing it would appeal to the half-crazed Denpa. "An angel."

"What?" Hinata croaked out, barely able to speak past the tears clogging up her throat. She had tried so hard, SO HARD. She had believed that one day someone would look at her and tell her she could do what she always wanted to do: make people happy. Then, Kaga had taken that all away, tricked her and then tried to force himself on her. Thank god she always double-triple-quadruple tied her corsets! But the things he had said after... calling her ugly, worthless... she had tried. She had tried SO. HARD. And for what?

"I know that you're an angel on Earth." Riku looked over at Kai, trying to signal the blonde to help him out.

"Uh, that's right." Kai stepped forward, putting on his best 'convincing' face. "A pure angel on Earth!"

"But if you really are an angel on Earth, you have to bring happiness to everybody." Riku shot a sideways look at Kai and took a step forward too.

"Yeah, an angel would never bring sadness." Kai inched even closer, encouraged by Hinata's immobile state and how she was completely focused on them.

"It's hard, but if it's you, you can do it." Riku delivered his speech with gusto. "You can totally make people happy. But if you end it here, you'll never get that chance."

"Really?" Hinata sniffled, her hands trembling, blade still at her own throat. It was as if these two people knew who she was and what she wanted to do! "I could be an angel? No matter how old I am?"

"Yeah," Riku nodded. "Even if you're eighteen years old--"

"--Even if you're over eighteen!" Kai was an arms-length away from Hinata now.

"You're an angel on Earth." Both of them held out their hands to the girl tentatively. Hinata smiled at them, a genuine smile. All she needed was for someone to tell her she could do it. She had tried... and these performers knew. Noted her effort and told her to keep going. Nobody had thought she could do it and everybody had tried to discourage her. Not these two. There was a charged pause before the boxcutter fell to the stage floor and Hinata took Riku and Kai's hands. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as stage-hands and security swarmed the stage, police had even been called up. They quickly and gently pulled Hinata away from Riku and Kai, reassuring the two young men who had just stopped a suicide that they would take care of everything.

"Well," Riku blinked as the stage cleared and the MC grinned from the sidelines, motioning for them to continue.

"RIKU, YOU'RE SO COOL!!!!!" Paul screamed out from the crowd, eliciting a chuckle from his female companions.

"KAI, I WANT TO HAVE YOUR BABIES!!!!" Hideki, not to be outdone, decided to add his little bit in.

"Uh," Riku and Kai laughed into their mics as similar calls started pouring out from the crowd.

"Sorry bout that, folks." Kai gave a wave. "But we had to help out a bit."

"Today, please let Persona sing on behalf of all the angels on Earth." Riku spoke into his mic, clearly and calmly. He felt no fear now. He remembered why he wanted to be an idol now, remembered a young girl from long ago, lost in the crowds. And how a bunch of performing musicians had saved her.

"Persona's '3 Seconds'!" Kai and Riku said the title together. As their song began, Candy started jumping and clapping, starting a mini moshpit around her that spread quickly until it seemed everybody in the audience was screaming and clapping for Persona.

"So cool!" Jiro crowed. Having been put right near the front of the stage with the rest of the press and photographers, he had caught the whole drama on stage and knew that he would be eating tonight! The story of how Persona saved that girl was going to be news and he had the pictures for it! And this band... they were just too cool for words!

As Persona sang, only aware of the audience and blinded by the lights, something was happening backstage. Performers parted like the red sea for Sarukawa Keiji, leading a bunch of assistants, hair stylists, make-up artists and a group of three bodyguards who kept their precious cargo within their protective circle. As they passed, musicians bowed respectfully to the imposing entourage, like they would to royalty passing by. The woman nestled in the middle of her protectorate was known from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Even people out in the boonies knew who she was!

And as the group made their way to just off-stage, the bodyguards loosened their circle so Ray could see what was happening on stage and the eyes glued to this entourage could see the charismatic diva in all her glory. Ray was decked out in a simple one-piece cashmere sweater that bared her shoulders and clung to her figure in all the right places, ending just a little above mid-thigh. The dress showed off her gorgeously long legs and she had complimented the outfit with simple white stilettos. Simple. But stunning.

"What was that?" Ray took off her sunglasses, eyes following the two performers on stage, hearing the crowd scream for them. Ray hadn't heard this kind of reaction at the Indies since... well, since she herself had performed back when she was still trying to make a name for herself.

"This is becoming interesting, isn't it, Ray?" Sarukawa watched the boys on stage too, pleased that the performance had been saved since he had a few of his artists performing today... but now, he was wary of Saeko's young talents. Best way to keep his people at the top, Keiji had found out, was to make sure the promising young idols in other agencies didn't get a chance. Nip it in the bud.

Ray was wrapped up in her own thoughts as she watched the two young men on stage performing. She had come just to see if there would be anything interesting since she was around the area. Now she just couldn't stop looking at this new group. Ray also found it highly disconcerting that throughout Persona's performance, her eyes would somehow always manage to zoom in on the blonde performer's figure and his pretty face.

"Arrange for me to meet them." Ray said suddenly. Her bodyguards exchanged glances, a bit surprised. Ray NEVER wanted to meet people and Sarukawa arranged Ray's schedule with that in mind. The idol had a public face for her fans; gracious, grateful, charming and humble. But in reality, Ray wanted as little to do with other people as possible. She never wanted to meet her kouhais in her agency, nor help them unless it was absolutely necessary. For her to want to meet some new kids in some other agency was odd.

"What?" Sarukawa Keiji was thinking along the same lines as the bodyguards and gaped at Ray like she had just sprouted a horn. "You want to meet them?"

"Arrange it." Ray shot him a look that said 'or else'. Then she turned to one of her assistants who winced as soon as the diva's eyes rested on her. "What do I have now?"

"Um..." The assistant tapped at her PDA with trembling fingers. "Y-you have a photoshoot and i-interview with Harper's Bazaar, Ray-sama."

"Well," Ray put on her sunglasses again, stealing one last look at the blonde singer. "We don't want to be late, do we?"

The entourage agreed with the diva enthusiastically and they quickly swept out of the area without Persona ever knowing that Ray, the charismatic diva, had been there watching them.

---

"Persona's the best!" Kai and Riku shouted, walking through one of the hallways of the TV Tohto building, heading to the dressing room the tv station had provided for them to rest and refresh in. After Persona had saved Hinata from killing herself, the station had been unbelievably grateful. The station had served Kaga with his termination letter, lined up some interviews that the TV Tohto wanted to do with Persona and wanted to talk further about letting the upcoming group have some late-night air-time! All in all, a productive day!

Pushing open the door to their dressing room, still high from their success, the two guys, their manager and her secretary didn't notice the person in the room until they had closed the door behind them.

"What..."

In a baseball cap, a zip up hoodie and baggy pants, the boy that turned to face them was quite pretty. Very pretty in fact.

"Let-me-join-too!" The pretty boy smiled at them.

"Huh?" Kai frowned, looking at this boy. He *knew* that face. Both Kai and Riku stepped closer, getting the eerie feeling that they, in fact, DID know this person. And this person seemed to know who they were. Who they really really were!

"AH!" Riku pointed at the stranger wearing the baseball cap. "DENPA!"

"AH!" Kai's eyes lit up in recognition. With her long hair under the baseball cap and the boyish clothes, Hinata was actually pretty indistinguishable from a teenage boy!

"An angel on Earth, eighteen years old." Hinata lowered her voice, the natural smoothness plus the huskiness actually sounded pleasant. "I remember what the both of you said to me! We're auditioning comrades, right? Let me join too!"

"What are you saying?" Riku crossed his arms and pouted, remembering how Hinata had ran off that night. And didn't Persona just debut as a two-person group? "Wanting to join us now is--"

"You're in!" Saeko brushed Riku aside.

"Hai?"

"Huh?!"

"HAH?!"

"Your stage name will be," Saeko placed a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "Kuu. From now on, Persona will be a three person group!"

Marilyn was quick to catch on to what Saeko was doing and started clapping excitedly, happy that Persona's manager had solved what could have been a pretty sticky problem. This girl had almost killed herself today because she was so depressed. She also had immediately seen through Kai and Riku's disguises. There was no telling what this 'Denpa' girl would do.

"As expected of the president!" Marilyn cheered. THIS was why she loved Saeko!

"Yay!" Kuu gave a girly cheer then looked at his new groupmates expectantly.

"Yay." The half-hearted cheer made Kuu stick out his lower lip.

"Not like that!" Kuu punched the air with her fist. "Yay!"

"Yay!"

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline DiVAGal2458

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2013, 07:00:30 PM »
Not to offend you Hirasawaizumi-san but I believe this is plagiarism.

I have read the exact same story in fanfiction.net written by immo. If you are that writer, I am very sorry for accusing you however, if you are not, then I suggest you to not take other people's work and make it as yours.

And I have exact proof to prove it; here is the link where the exact same story is found,

http://m.fanfiction.net/s/5598310/1/Mendol-Ikemen-Idol

Ever thought that they could be the same user on different sites or that THIS user is just Posting it here so more sttantion can be gain encoureging the writter to post more?
On another note...I enjoyed reading this...even though I've seen the show  :P
Various Pairings?...does that mean the other AKB girls are gonna make appearances?  :?
If so...I hope one of them is Sae  :wub:
Keep up the good work  :twothumbs
I can't wait for the next part!...if there will be one... :panic:

Offline RJay

  • AtsuMina & MariHaru FOR LIFE!!!!
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  • Don't give up! Keep moving forward!
Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 1
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2013, 07:01:59 PM »
Not to offend you Hirasawaizumi-san but I believe this is plagiarism.

I have read the exact same story in fanfiction.net written by immo. If you are that writer, I am very sorry for accusing you however, if you are not, then I suggest you to not take other people's work and make it as yours.

And I have exact proof to prove it; here is the link where the exact same story is found,

http://m.fanfiction.net/s/5598310/1/Mendol-Ikemen-Idol
Ah, I suppost I've not clear myself. sorry bout that.
I'm the author. IMMO. thanks. I'm just reposting it. and IMMO this name is my other name that I use in fanfiction.net

Then I apologize for accusing you for plagiarism. :nervous

'Coz I read that story about a year ago and I became a huge fan of it. Well, I have to admit though that you should have said it in the beginning since I feel like a real idiot right now for accusing you.

Again, I'm really really sorry about that. I hope you would forgive me. :bow: :bow: :bow:

I really like that fic of yours, make that I loved it; I've read it like twice or three times, I guess.
I found it really funny and very interesting. It's amazing really. :) :lol: XD
I'll say "I love you" to the person I love
Even if these feelings aren't returned, saying "I love you" to the person you love
That is the most beautiful thing in the world

Offline Tanchan

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2013, 08:22:53 PM »
I've already read this before from that site but I'm not gonna spoil the ending, even though some of you will later on find out that the ending won't be as how you might have  expected XD, but that doesn't mean it's not good okay, don't take it as a discouraging message and stop reading the story because if you do, you would have missed a great story with a lot of hilarious moments and and amazing plot, okay I've said enough XD.

P.S.: Can you pls write another mendol/AKB story with my favorite pairing ending up together this time?

Offline Yuseichaaan48

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2013, 01:06:55 AM »
It says "Medol X AKB48" so I assume AKB girls will make and appearance? That would be awesome!!  :)

I watched the actual drama and I liked it so this FanFic is very interesting to me!

I hope to see an update soon! Keep it up  :thumbup

Offline cisda83

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2013, 03:54:28 AM »
Yeah I thought I read it before at fanfiction.net

So it is the same story... Yeah I liked the story so much.

I do hope for you to make a sequel on it.

And also please update 'painter of the wind: butterflies and flowers' that is at fanfiction.net please

Thank you for the clarification.

 :twothumbs :twothumbs :twothumbs
« Last Edit: August 11, 2013, 12:03:40 PM by cisda83 »

Offline theblueknight

  • Theblueknight a.k.a oneyugigirl fan of Hatsune Miku/HANDMC/AKB48 and Im IN LOVE with Shinoda Mariko mi linda esposa(waifu) <3
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  • love knows no gender
Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2013, 09:28:16 AM »
wow cant believe this story is up here too!!!  :w00t: I read this back in like prob jan after watching mendol for the first time and well im truly surprise and happy that's its up here I recently reread it on fanfiction.net so im happy about this  :twothumbs  I truly love this story its one of my favs and my first mendol or akb fic so its something when I see it up here :) I hope that there might be new stuff incorporated into this story I love all the interactions between ray and kai/nami , all the crazy stuff that happen in Okinawa etc I wont go into more details since I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet but heres hoping that you might do maybe a little bit something to the ending of the story it was funny epic funny but I was hoping hinata would end up with you know who yeah and asahi with you know which female its was kinda sad that well kai had someone but they didn't if you get what I mean heres hoping for new surprises in this story if not its still awesome I love this story!!!  :inlove: :twothumbs
« Last Edit: August 11, 2013, 09:42:56 AM by theblueknight »
Spanish original name es mary es mi amor por leo dan:
Mari(mariko)es mi amor, solo con ella
vivo la felicidad yo se que nunca a nadie
mas podria amar, por que la quiero de
verdad por eso mary por favor dame tu
mano continuemos siempre asi
despues de todo que mas te puedo
pedir si soy feliz...muy feliz.
Si un dia me faltas tu que
Dios me ayude a morir ya que
no volvera a hacer en esta vida feliz
sin ti mari...sin ti mari...si estoy
viviendo por ti... 
--------<@
English ver dow originally name mary is my love by leo dan :
My love is Mari, just with her
I live in happiness
I know I will never again
fall in love with nobody, because I
feel a true love Because of that,
Mari, give me your hand we'll
forever continue this way After all,
what can I ask you more if I am happy...
very happy If one day I will miss you,
God help me to die ,
without you Mari...
If i live my life for you...  -----------<@

Offline Prataz

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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2013, 11:14:53 AM »
Finally, one of the best mendol fic writer has posted the works over here. I really enjoyed your story and please! DO A PART 2! I really love how you write!

Offline Hirasawaizumi

  • Atsumina & Kojiyuu FTW
  • ecchi
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  • AKB48! daisuki dayo
Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2013, 03:50:19 PM »
@RJay: Nah, It was my fault who didn't clarify myself in the first place. I change my nickname from IMMO to Hirasawaizumi cause it's more japanese-like  :P Anyway, I forgive you.  :lol: No big deal lol

@theblueknight: Ah, I'm just posting old chapters here... to those who haven't read the story.  :lol:

@prataz: Thanks!  :lol:


Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 3

author's note: Every time I watch Mendol, it cracks me up, lol

language!:

daisuki -- I really like you

---

"Goddamn that 'L' woman!" Kai cursed. Having just finished recording a show that would air late night, the young men that made up 'Persona' were in the process of changing.

"Mou!" Kuu agreed, rubbing his back against the wall while trying to slip into a pair of grey baggy sweatpants and force his feet into his pair of white sneakers. Kuu shook his head to keep his longish black hair off the back of his neck, the dark-blue highlights in his hair flashing in the flourescent lights.

"Don't do that!" Riku smacked Kuu on the arm while wiggling about in itchiness-induced agony. Saeko had taken their comfortable binding tanktops and made them try binding themselves with bandages. Why? In case their tanktops were misplaced, they would always have ace bandages handy in first aid kits. Biting his lip against the maddening itchiness, Riku tugged on a pair of nicely-pressed khaki slacks, then proceeded to change into a nice blue button-up shirt.

"The only reason we'd lose our tops is if Saeko took them." Kai said bitterly, having already changed into a white, v-neck cotton shirt coupled with a pair of scuffed jeans and black boots. He was currently in the process of reaching under said shirt to get at the scratchy bandages to his chest. They each owned several of these binding tanktops so if one was in the wash, they would have replacements. Saeko was just being overly cautious now! These past few days had been hell, all three of them trying to stop from wriggling from the itchiness while doing late-night segments and such. It was maddening and took all of their will-power to not scratch like flea-invested dogs.

"I'm sooo itchy!" Kuu whined.

"Hey!" The door to the small closet/changeroom burst open, revealing two guys looking in eagerly.

"KYAAA!" Instinct born from years of juvenile attempts at glimpsing girls half-naked from boys prompted the group to action, even though all three were completely dressed. The three 'men amongst men' gave a high-pitched scream, covering their chests with their hands and turning away from the two men.

"What's with those girlish screams?" One of the guys asked, feeling like he happened across a group of girls changing. "But anyways, I got a question for you guys."

Riku squared his shoulders, scowling at the men as he pulled on a nice light-coloured blazer and slipped nto a pair of nice brown loafers. Kai took this opportunity to pull on his biker-inspired leather jacket that matched his whole 'bad-boy' image, while Kuu slipped on his red hoodie and zipped up, snug and comfortable. "What do you want?"

The two guys had magazines in their hands and held up their treasures proudly. The pages of the magazines had half-naked women spread across them, in various erotic poses.

"These breasts," The guy with the goatee, or as Persona liked to call, Guy #1, held up his magazine, then pointed to his friend's. "and these breasts. Which is better?"

"What?" Persona, as a group, blinked in confusion, slightly disgusted by the two guys in front of them.

"I look at the size of the nipples to pick the winner," Guy #2 explained, circling the large diameter of the nipples in his magazine. "This guy says the smaller the nipples, the better!"

"The ones here are better, right?" Guy #1 pushed the magazine forward eagerly.

"No way," Guy #2 scoffed. "The ones here are better."

"Get outta my way." Riku snorted and rolled his eyes, pushing past the two.

Kai followed after, giving a derisive sniff. "Hmph."

"Bleh!" Kuu sneered at the men. It sucked sharing rooms with other people. After the first day of being spoiled by TV Tohto, they were quickly pushed into a dark corner and it was hard work all the way. They even had to share a dressing room... They didn't mind it though, and even accepted the fact that they hardly got any spending money from Saeko and it felt like everything was working against them...

"Men are the worse!" Kuu whispered conspiratorially with Kai.

"You're right about that." Kai grumbled back, shooting a dirty look over at some of the guys. The sour expression on his face melted when he caught sight of some of the shirtless guys walking around. "But maybe not all of them..."

Kai and Kuu had matching dreamy looks as they ogled the men. Kuu's dreamy sigh made Riku roll his eyes.

"Men are THE BEST!"

Kai turned to Kuu, gushing quietly. "The best part of a man is his strong arms!"

"I want to be held against a man's strong chest." Kuu cooed.

Riku gave a weary sigh. "Maybe women are the worst of all."

The door suddenly burst open and Marilyn, obviously excited, rushed in, not caring that this was an all-men's dressing room. Unsurprisingly, none of the men minded that the woman with the short pencil skirt and low-neckline blouse had popped in.

"Hey you guys!" Marilyn gushed, happy to see her three favourite 'boys'. Persona smiled back at Saeko's peppy secretary. They loved Marilyn; she was easy to get along with and was passionate about pushing them to the top. "The release date of Persona's CD has been confirmed!"

"Seriously?!" Kai squealed. Guys #1 and #2 looked up from their respective girly magazines to look weirdly in Persona's direction.

"Uh," Kai cleared his throat, trying to take on a deeper tone of voice. "I mean, is that so?"

"It's true!" Marilyn continued gushing, incredibly excited for what this news meant to the boys. "On top of that, the distributing company is Japan's #1 Top Seller: Sunny Music Company!"

"Awesome!" Kuu squealed, clapping excitedly. Guys #1 and #2, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, gave Persona another strange glance. Kuu quickly amended his statement, lowering his voice to a ridiculous baritone. "Er... THAT'S GREAT."

"Right now, the president's off to fetch an influential member of Sunny Music Company!"

Riku clasped his hands in front of his chest, ecstatic at the news. "It's a dream come truuuue!" Another look from the girlie-magazine guys prompted Riku to change his tone of voice. "Uh. I mean. It's like a dream come true, yo."

"You're not dreaming," Kai grinned, pinching Riku's cheek. "Here, here..."

"Me too!" Kuu started pinching Riku's other cheek.

Not to be left out, Marilyn reached forward and pinch Riku's nose. "And here too!"

"Stop it, Kai, Kuu and Marilyn too!" Riku pushed their hands away, a gruff look on his face. But he was so happy. So incredibly happy.

"Isn't it wonderful," Guy #1's loud voice carried over to them easily as he nearly shouted at his partner. "to have an influential person backing you? No talent at all, but you can still debut!"

"Ryoji!" His partner hissed, looking over at Persona nervously. But everybody in the dressing room had heard and while Persona as a group was angry at the accusation, Kai was too hot-tempered to not do something about it.

"You got a problem or something?" Kai's naturally boyish nature and quick tongue caused him to move forward on the two, even though Ryoji topped Kai by at least a head. Riku and Kuu were quick on Kai's heels, holding back the quick-tempered blonde.

"Watch that tone of voice when you're talking to me," Ryoji stood up and looked down on Kai threateningly while his partner clung to his arm in distress, trying to calm his friend down. "We've been in the industry for ten years already."

"What, ten years?" Kai scoffed as Kuu hit the blonde young man repeatedly on the shoulder, trying to get the hot-headed Kai to shut up. "Never heard of you, that's some talent you have there, huh?"

"What'd you say?!" Ryoji was at near roaring volume. "You wanna go?!"

"Yeah, come on, let's fight one to one!" Kai shot back. Marilyn had a grip on Kai's shirt and immediately lost that when Kai pulled loose to lead the way out of the dressing room and into the hallway.

'Kai sure is manly!' Marilyn thought, pleased. But worried. Definitely worried.

"Don't be like this Ryoji--" Guy #2 tried to hold back his friend.

"Come on, give me your best shot!" Kai taunted, loosening his tie and throwing off his jacket. Infuriated by Kai's cocky attitude, Ryoji pushed his friend aside roughly.

"Kai!" Riku called out, following the stream of young men eager to watch the fight. Riku grabbed Kai's arm, leaning in to hiss into his ear. "You idiot! If you slip your gender here by getting in trouble, what are we going to do?"

"That's right!" Kuu agreed, nodding nervously. Kuu hated fighting!

"Let go of me!" Kai brushed his bandmates away, surprisingly strong. Then he turned back to Ryoji, his chest puffed out and sneering slightly at the taller man. Kai was high on an adrenaline rush and the crowd goading the two combatants on only set his blood racing more. "I dislike, no, I *hate* guys like you who don't do anything but whine all day!"

Kai cracked his knuckles, all set to throw down with the other guy.

"You have a death wish, don't you?!" Ryoji roared, throwing his body into a wild right hook. Kai saw that coming from a mile away and quickly ducked under Ryoji's arm, turning to watch the bigger man's momentum. The blonde's smirk died on his lips as he realized the big man's fist was on a crash course with Riku's face.

"KYAAAA!" Kuu screamed in a high-pitched voice, then quickly amended his voice. "No, I mean, AUGHHHH!!!"

Thankfully, just as Riku was about to be hit, some guy ran in front of Riku and intercepted Ryoji's punch, which K-O'd the interloper effectively. The fight was quickly abandoned as everyone gathered around the fallen man, to look at him curiously.

"Who is he?"

---

"Ow ow ow!" The man with the fashionably-permed and dyed hair shrank away from the hot towel in pain. They had managed to wake him up and help him back to their crowded dressing room where he sat on a chair now, tended by Marilyn. This man had an air of importance around him... or maybe it was just just many assistants fluttering around uselessly that gave Persona that impression.

"Does it feel better?" Marilyn asked meekly, shooting Kai a dark look.

'What?' Kai spread out his hands in a gesture of innocence.

"I apologize sincerely," Saeko bowed formally, her expression one of intense remorse and anxiety. "to have allowed you, Katsuyuki-san, the director of Sunny Music, into harm's way."

"Sunny music?" Kuu tilted his head to one side in confusion. Wasn't the director of Sunny Music an old man? Or, at least that was what Kuu expected...

"Katsuyuki-san is the successor of Sunny Music, and he became the director at such a young age!" Saeko frowned at her charges. They always seemed to be causing trouble!

"Nah, my father's success is due to Saeko-san's care and I wanted to help out as soon as I could." Katsuyuki was fresh-faced and had a neatly trimmed beard growing on his chin. His good looks and breeding were coupled with a gracious mannerism; coupled with his heroics from before, he seemed like the perfect man!

"Ah, I want to take good care of Katsuyuki-san too," Saeko fluttered her eyebrows at the young man, approaching him. For some odd and scary reason, Riku felt that Saeko was radiating the persona of a black widow spider at the moment. Marilyn, meanwhile, was glaring at her lover in frustrated anger. The boys of Persona, used to Saeko's quirks, shuffled off to the side to gossip.

"He's really cool!" Kai gushed quietly.

"And I don't see any wedding ring which means.." Kuu grinned at his bandmates. "...he's single!"

"This isn't the time to talk about relationships!" Riku scolded, though he had to admit that the young director was really good-looking. "We're guys now!"

Kuu and Kai were off in their own dream world as they clasped hands and swung them giddily. "A true ikemen!!"

"Hey, you three!" Saeko's bark snapped the three to attention. "Get over here and apologize to Katsuyuki-san!"

Riku and Kuu walked over quickly while Kai grudgingly lagged a bit behind. He didn't do ANYTHING wrong! But still, he apologized with Riku and Kuu.

"We're really sorry."

"It's okay." Katsuyuki waved off their apology and got up from his seat. Walking behind them, he placed his hands on Kai and Kuu's shoulders, in a friendly manner. "Picking a fight, huh? It's really rare to see young men with backbones nowadays."

"Young men?" Kuu blinked and frowned. "You know, actually, Hinata is--"

Kai and Riku both covered Kuu's mouth with their hands, frantically pulling the boy away from Katsuyuki-san.

"Were you about to say something?" Katsuyuki looked at the three, puzzled.

"No, nothing." Riku's grin was a little bit too wide.

"Yeah," Kai elbowed Kuu in the ribs while keeping his hand over the talkative young man's mouth. "nothing!"

"Well, they're off work on their album and finish recording their studio." Saeko bowed low, drawing attention away from her 'boys'. "Thank you so much for coming by and showing an interest in them."

"It was my pleasure." Katsuyuki smiled and returned the bow. He snapped his fingers, as if suddenly remembering something and turned to Persona. "You guys are new in town, right? I'm always looking for people to party with. Why don't you give me your cell and I'll take you out? Sort of a welcome to Sunny Music party."

"Well..." Riku glanced over at Saeko, not knowing how to respond. At their manager's frantic nod, Riku gave her cell number to the young director.

"Marilyn, take them to the recording studio." Saeko said breezily. "I'll walk with Katsuyuki-san to the entrance."

"I--yes. Of course." Marilyn pouted, her bad mood readily apparent. "Come on, you three! You have a lot of work to do!"

The three gave Katsuyuki a short bow and an 'OSU!' then ran off to follow Marilyn.

"The nerve of her!" Marilyn muttered, power-walking through the hallways.

"Marilyn," Kuu raced up beside the other woman, eager to please. The third member of Persona was distinctly different from her bandmates. While Riku was professional and serious, and Kai was brash and cool, Kuu was sweet and eager to please. "Don't be upset! Shachou loves you!"

"She loves a lot of people, but most of all herself." Marilyn muttered darkly. She gave Kuu a weak smile though, seeing that he so wanted to please. "Don't worry, Kuu. I'm alright."

They arrived at the recording studio soon enough and greeted the regulars in the room. Paul, Candy, Nao and Hideki bowed at them cheerfully.

"Kuuuu!" Nao crooked her finger towards the young man, who eagerly trotted over to Nao. "Sit!"

Kuu joking crouched down on the ground in front of Nao.

"Hand!"

Kuu immediately placed his hand on Nao's outstretched one.

"Speak!"

"Nao, DAISUKI!" Kuu said cheerfully and was immediately gathered into Nao's arms joyfully. Nao's reputation as the ice queen in the recording studios had been completely demolished by Persona and she didn't seem to mind one bit.

"Good boy, you're such a good boy!" Nao cooed. Everybody chuckled and shook their heads. Since Kuu's introduction to the group, he had quickly slipped into the flow of things with little to no resistance. Nao had taken to him like fire to gasoline and so had the guys in the recording studio. Candy also seemed to like him well enough, but since she never really talked, it was hard to know for sure.

"What's up?" Kai went over to Paul and Candy, who had been jamming together before they came in. Candy smiled at Kai and motioned to her drums and drummed a quick beat, communicating quite well was was up.
"Waiting for you guys." Paul pointed to his watch and grinned. "You fight?"
"How does news travel so fast here?" Kai demanded to know, shaking his head a bit.
"Working on 'Water'?" Riku sat next to Hideki, immediately serious. They had a good list of songs half-written for their first CD, but there was still some so much to be done. It was getting easier though, and with Kuu in the mix, it was actually even better. Kuu was, to say the least, a musical genius. Apparently, he knew how to play the violin and the piano quite well, compose music and add the necessary layers to a song that needed just that little bit more. 'Water', the second song on their album, was almost all Kuu with input on lyrics supplied by Riku and Kai. This song was going to be a song with just strings and piano. It made for a very clean sound and had more of an R&B feel to it. 'Water' mixed in well with the other distinct songs on the album but one could tell, after a listen at the half-finished music, that it all would form a cohesive whole. Persona had a good sound going for them with a few surprises and everybody working on the album was enthusiastic about the group's first CD.

"No 'Water', guys." Marilyn said firmly. "All of you need to finish recording '3 Seconds'! We have a single to put out soon so today you boys will be singing mostly."

"Okay..." The 'men amongst men' let out a sigh. They loved their '3 Seconds' song... but seriously, they've been singing it non-stop! It would be nice to work on something different.

"That's how to industry works, guys." Nao gave them a cheery smile. "Sing until you're sick of it! Then, hope that you could only be so lucky to hear your song played-out on the radio stations! So come on, all together now!"

Everybody in the recording studio raised a fist up in the air in solidarity. "OSU!"

They got through their day with little to no problems, working hard and giving it their best. When they were finally back at the Kamonohatsu house, the disguises they wore to transform into the dashing young men of 'Persona' was stripped away and only the three girls, Hinata, Asahi and Nami remained.

"Awwww, why do I have to be disguised as a man?" Nami grumbled.

Hinata had something to say too. "Everything might work out if Hinata could get closer to Katsuyuki-san..."

"You two," Asahi sighed, watching the girls flop down onto their futons.

"Whaaaat?" The two grumbled.

'Children,' Asahi thought internally, trying to draw from her supply of patience. 'They're just like children.'

Just about to explain to them AGAIN why they couldn't just reveal their identity to the director of Sunny Music, a loud crash from downstairs and Marilyn's raised voice traveled up to their rooms.

"What's the meaning of this?"

The three girls exchanged looks. All thoughts of Katsuyuki-san were pushed aside and the girls rose as one to tiptoe out of their room to check out what was going on.
"Looking after Katsuyuki-san's father? Taking care of the bottom part of that perverted president?" Marilyn's accusations flew fast and furious. "Even though you said yourself that men are filthy!"

"I would do everything to help these kids debut." Saeko's back was turned to Marilyn. "Persona is my, Kamonohatsu Saeko, own ambition. No matter how I *bleep* and *bleep* with men, I definitely did it because I want to help them become Japan's Number 1 Top Idol group!"

"But you don't have to *bleep*."

The girls listened on in shock and felt their eyes moisten a bit at the hardship that their manager had gone through for them. But their tearful eyes quickly dried up when Saeko turned to Marilyn, a devilish look on her face and a feather in her hand.

"You're jealous, aren't you?" purred the dark-haired manager, running the feather lightly over Marilyn's exposed skin, made possible by the secretary's usual low-cut blouses.

"Even if you say that, I'm..." Marilyn gasped, obviously turned on. "I'm... not letting you off!"

"Is that so?" Saeko moved behind the secretary, her near proximity and the danger radiating off the manager a complete and utter turn-on to the sexy secretary. The buxom assistant let out a low groan as Saeko alternated between kissing and licking that spot on her neck that she liked so much.

'I'm... letting... her off again...' Marilyn thought hazily before all her thought-processes were put on hold by Saeko's expert ministrations.

"Those two are doing L again!" The three girls whispered in dismay.

Nami felt like she was going to throw up a bit in her mouth. The other two girls didn't have as big a reaction as Nami but it was still really, REALLY awkward when Saeko and Marilyn decided to do it in public places where the girls were likely to stumble upon them!

---

"Sugu ni, ugokenaku naru! Sanbyou mitsumeru dake de," It was recording time in the studio again and Persona was giving their all. Everybody was in casual clothes again today, since all they'd be doing was staying in the recording studio.

"Otoshite miseyou ka!"

They were all in tune and everybody was singing at their very best. Except for one group member, that was, who was trying his hardest to get rid of the distracting thoughts running through his head. These thoughts were of a certain manager and a certain secretary going at it on the couch in the Kamonohatsu house living room, an image that had burned into his head before he had had the chance to retreat and run screaming to the room Asahi, Hinata and Nami shared.

"OmaaaE nO aiii nanteee..." Kai's singing was being affected by his seriously disturbed psyche. Paul, who was hanging around the studio even though it was his day off, watched from behind the soundproof glass that gave a view into the recording room. Frowning a bit at the odd notes coming from out of Kai's throat, he nudged Hideki and nodded towards Kai.

"He's been like that since he came in." Hideki explained and shrugged. "I tried to ask him--"

"UWAAA!!!" The feedback made Nao and Hideki yank off their headphones and look into the recording room just in time to see Riku and Kuu mirror their reaction and Kai freak out.

"I can't take it anymore!" Kai shouted, the look of horror on his face was almost comical. "I'm going to escape the clutches of the L's! Staying there with them SICKENS MEEEE!!!"

"What are you saying?" Riku and Kuu made a grab for Kai before he could run for it. Kai, the guy who seemed unafraid of anything, had reached his limits with the L. Kuu and Riku didn't really have a problem with 'L's or 'Gay's (except for when they have sex in public places... and that goes for boy/girl couples too!), but Kai was going a little overboard.

"Let go of me!" Kai tugged against his bandmates' grasp. "I hate L the most!"

Finally managing to shake off their restraining hands, he ran for the door just as it opened. Like a football player, Kai tried to slip past whoever was blocking the doorway and since Kai was no football player, he only managed to knock right into the man blocking his path.

"WAAAH!" The man was no other than Sarukawa Keiji, president of Monkey Productions. Knocked down to the ground, Sarukawa let out some low-pitched whining while he rubbed his sore arm.

"Sarukawa-shachou!" Riku was quick to act, rushing to greet the man as his bandmates lined up beside Riku. Keiji got to his feet, managing a smile at the three young men.

"Osu!" Riku greeted, giving a quick bow that Kai immediately mimed while Kuu watched the proceedings curiously, unsure of who this man was. Riku pulled Kuu forward and directed Keiji's attention to their newst member. "This is the first time you've seen Kuu, isn't it? Kuu, This is Sarukawa-shachou. He's the President of Monkey Productions, the parent company of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency."

"Osu! Kuu-su!" Kuu stood up a bit straighter and smiled brightly at the man.

"Ah, so you're the new member. I've heard from Saeko." Keiji grinned at them. "Actually, today I've brought a special guest here."

Taking a step away from the doorway to the side, Keiji allowed for a woman with large sunglasses on, decked out in a white dress that fell just above the knees to walk into the recording studio. She wore a faux-fur vest and supplemented her outfit with long strings of pearls and a lacy scarf that went almost all the way down to her feet, looking like she had just stepped off a cover of a magazine in her fashionable white boots. A large bulky man who looked like he benched 500 pounds everyday walked in after her.

The mystery guest had looked extremely familiar to Persona when she had walked in and as soon as she took off her sunglasses, all three of the young men in the room recognized her immediately.

"R-Ray?!" Riku stuttered, completely stunned that his idol was right in front of him.

"Seriously?" Kai's jaw fell open.

Kuu shot off a line of info, too shocked to do anything else. "Ranked No. 1 continuously for ten weeks on Music 10, the very charismatic singer, Ray! Here! In this studio! Right now! AT THIS MOMENT--"

Only a quick nudge from Riku shut up the babbling Kuu.

Keiji grinned, always proud of the fact that his girl, his Ray, reflected what he, Sarukawa Keiji, had been all those years ago. Number one in the whole of Japan! Persona stood there, in slight awe of the woman in front of them and all three of the men that made up this boyband wore identical shit-eating grins on their faces even though Kai tried really hard to keep his smile in control. He had to be cool! He had to be calm... but... but it was Ray! She was right there, in front of them!

"Ray is under our main department and now is our company's best-selling artist." Keiji pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket, absentmindedly dusting Ray as if she was some sort of golden statue. Ray had to give a discreet cough before her overzealous manager backed off. Seriously. She needed better management.

While her manager gave the group a long list of the awards and honours Ray had received, the Diva studied the three young men in front of her. She noted that while two of them were average height, the blonde one was pretty short for a guy. What had caught her attention then? What about the blonde made it impossible for her eyes to not to follow his figure when he was performing on The Indies' stage? She had been mesmerized by his soft face...

"Ano..." Riku interrupted her thoughts and when the singer looked at him, he fidgeted nervously in place. "I've always been a fan of Ray's. If you don't mind, could I please shake hands with you?"

Kai and Kuu both nodded eagerly but before they even had a chance, someone had beaten them to the punch.

Jumping in front of Riku, a tall man in the light green jumpsuit of a janitorial staff grasped Ray's hands in both of his own, shaking her hand enthusiastically, while professing how honoured he was to be able to meet the songstress.

"Oi!" Kai grabbed the taller man's shoulders before Ray's bodyguard could move into action, then blinked in surprise, recognizing the man with the goatee from yesterday's fight.

"AH! You're that idiot from yesterday!" Kai withdrew her hand, not eager to touch him for more than a moment. "Why the hell are YOU here?"

"When there's no music jobs, I'm here doing janitorial work as part-time to earn some cash." Ryoji growled, a bit angry that the cocky young man from yesterday was interrupting the moment he was having with Ray. Her hand still in his grasping ones, Ryoji grinned at her again, not seeing the boyguard behind him move forward threateningly. Nor did he see Ray's narrowed eyes look over the musician/janitor's shoulder to stop her guard in his tracks.

Ray would deal with this problem herself.

"I... I've always wanted to stand on the same stage with Ray--"

She slapped his hands away. Outwardly, she could have been a sculpture shaped out of ice... inside a storm howled, raging inside of her. The frustration from having her creative input dismissed, the outrage she felt from having some JANITOR be able to sneak past her incompetent bodyguard to paw at her and her natural prickliness found a convenient target.

"That's so old-fashioned."

"Old-fashioned?" Ryoji blinked. Ray's true personality was like an unpleasant splash of icy cold water to all in the room who did not have daily contact with Ray.

"Old-fashioned?" Persona echoed, shocked at how Ray was treating one of her fans. Even if he WAS an idiot.

"Hmm." Ray shook her head, her expression thoughtful. Hiro, her bodyguard, winced at that look. He had seen Ray like this a few times before, right before she pulled out something extremely hurtful to say. Nobody deserved to be on the Diva's bad side.

"Not old-fashioned," Ray rocked on her heels, eyes sharp and cold. "If I'm top-grade caviar, you'd be shark faeces."

'Where the hell does she get these comparisons?' Hiro wondered, feeling sympathy pains for Ryoji who looked ready to cry. The joy that had been lifting him up before quickly disappeared along with his self-worth.

"How could shit and caviar be on the same stage?" Ray turned away, her tone still light and casual, as if asking a question about the weather. "It's sickening just thinking about it."

She strolled over to the little couch in the room and sat down, crossing her legs, a haughty air about her. Kai had watched this all unfold, feeling a righteous anger bubbling up inside him that he was trying to control... but every other word out of Ray's mouth made Kai want to slap her.

"Um... uh..." Ryoji lowered his head a bit, accepting the devastating blows to his pride, unable to defend himself.

"If your status doesn't meet your dreams, you're better off waking up." Ray delivered her finishing blow coldly. "And disappearing."

"Yo, you ugly hag! What the hell is your problem?" Kai couldn't take it anymore and blurted out the words that had been just dying to come out. Ray looked up at Kai from her spot on the couch, trying not to show how shocked she was that someone had DARED to talk back to her.

"What's wrong with peole who want to achieve their dreams? I don't care if you're the most popular singer or whatever! A woman with an ugly character like yours is nothing to rejoice about!"

Actually, everybody was in total and utter shock at Kai's words, not just Ray. Riku was the only one able to shake herself out of it though, horrified at the thought of the trouble Kai's mouth would get them into.

"Oi, how can you say that to Ray-san?" Riku scolded Kai and the blonde bristled. Was EVERYBODY on this spoiled princess' side? Sure, that idiot Ryoji was one of the biggest idiots Kai had ever met, but even HE didn't deserve to be berated like that!

"Get offa me!" Kai pushed Riku back roughly, his attention still on the Diva sitting on the couch. Riku's momentum knocked him back onto his ass and into a small table, upending a glass of water all over the young brunette man.

"Riku!" Kuu used the sleeves of his flannel shirt to try and pat dry Riku's hair, worried that his bandmates' wig might be ruined.

"Listen here!" Kai grabbed Ray's wrist and pulled her up in one fluid motion, getting right up in the Diva's face despite the height difference. Ray's eyes were locked on Kai's, her expression was a bit softer and looking just a bit hurt by Kai's words. "If you don't fix that attitude of yours, you're gonna be lonely for the rest of your life."

Before Kai could continue his rant, Saeko burst into the room and ran at the blonde, pushing him out of the way. Immediately, she turned to Ray, looking completely apologetic.

"I AM SINCERELY SORRY!" Saeko bowed as low as she could without losing her balance, hoping her apology would placate the Diva and Saeko wouldn't immediately have to slaughter Kai to appease Music 10's Number One.

Instead of exploding though, Ray was motionless, her eyes trained on Kai who was picking himself off the ground and grumbling about abusive 'L' managers... before Kai could dust himself off and face Ray again, the Diva had turned around and stormed out of the room.

"Ray!" Keiji and Hiro ran after the singer, but not before Keiji threw a furious look in Kai's direction. Running to catch up to the big bodyguard, Keiji vented on the big man.

"Why didn't you stop that kid from talking like that to Ray?! Now we'll never get anything done today!" Keiji hissed.

"Why didn't YOU do something?" Hiro raised an eyebrow at Keiji. He was being slightly disrespectful, he knew, but Hiro also knew that there were few people Ray could stand and he was one of the few she tolerated around her day and night. So Keiji wouldn't be firing him soon.

'But I messed up big time.' Hiro thought darkly. He had let his guard down, thinking that they were inside the workplace and there wouldn't be crazies around trying to tear off a piece of Ray. Even though that janitor was harmless, what if he hadn't been?

"Ray!" Hiro called out, leaving Sarukawa behind to catch up with the songstress ahead. She had her sunglasses on already and the main bulk of her staff who had been waiting in the hallways while Ray visited with Persona, swarmed around her.

"Yo, man. What happened?" Another bodyguard walked along side Hiro, his voice low. He had heard the raised voices inside the recording room and was in the process of going in to check up on Ray before he was nearly bowled over by her royal highness. Hiro gave a small shake of his head: this was not a good time to be talking about it. The other bodyguard nodded, understood what Hiro was trying to say and knew exactly what kind of stink the Diva could kick up when she was in a bad mood.

"What do I have today?" Ray barked down at a mousy assistant following her. The assistant eeped and quickly rattled off Ray's schedule.

"Fine. But cancel my dinner appointment with what's-his-face." Ray's face brooked no argument.

"Ray," Keiji waded through the crowd. "Ray, I'll get someone to take care of those boys. They won't work in this town, let alone this country--"

"Don't you dare." Ray came to a screeching halt and several people almost toppled over trying to hold themselves back and away from the Diva so they wouldn't crash into her from her sudden stop. "It... it was a misunderstanding, that's all." Her eyes sought out her manager's, the expression in her eyes sharp and unforgiving. "Don't let me find out you've done something stupid."

"Oh... kay." Hiro was starting to get weirded out. Was this really the Ray he knew? Was she... trying to PROTECT someone instead of ruthlessly stamping them out under her heel?

"What's his name?" Ray ignored her flabbergasted manager and asked her assistant softly. "The short, blonde one."

"Um," The assistant blinked rapidly, unused to this side of Ray. "Uh, his name, um... Kai. His name is Kai."

"Kai." Ray smiled a bit. The name fit.

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline Hirasawaizumi

  • Atsumina & Kojiyuu FTW
  • ecchi
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  • AKB48! daisuki dayo
Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2013, 03:51:28 PM »
Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 4

author's note: Who else is watching Majisuka Gakuen? :D And just a heads-up to all the AKB48 fans that might be reading this fic -- there definitely will be some guest appearances later on from certain members. :D

language!:

gomen nasai - sorry

ecchi - pervert

ohayo (gozaimasu) - good morning

"Why are we here again?" Kuu muttered unhappily, surrounded by girls who were trying to press drinks into his hands. The boys were in nice dress shirts and slacks, Riku had even opted to wear a tie while Kuu and Kai decided to do without. Persona had decided to go out after getting a call from Katsuyuki-san to join him at a very exclusive club. Riku had thought this was the only way to lift the heavy mood from before, after sharing with Hinata the story of Nami and Asahi's brush with the snake-guy. Saeko had allowed them to go, albeit grudgingly, with conditions and a curfew. Riku, Kuu and Kai had all complained at the mention of a curfew but now they wished the curfew was earlier. This was NOT the type of fun they had in mind.

"He's the director of Sunny Music, this is work." Riku explained weakly. He had no idea this was going to be THAT kinda club when he had accepted Katsuyuki-san's invitation.

"Gaaah! Don't touch me there!" Kai hissed, his face scrunched up in pain. Some girls seemed to have taken a shine to Kai and they leaned closer at his exclamation, cooing about how they would 'kiss Kai's boo-boo all better'. Where was Kai's boo-boo? Well... Kai had paid dearly for telling off Ray. Saeko and Marilyn had been furious at Kai's lack of respect and as a way to keep the hot-tempered Nami in check, they had held her down and whipped her ass to drive the point home.

"Don't even THINK about kissing me there! Hentai, get offa me!" Kai was blushing a bright red and his cute sputtering only served to attract even MORE girls to him. It was like dumping a bucketful of blood into the ocean; sharks were bound to appear.

"Ne, ne, we saw how you guys saved that girl on stage during the Indies," The woman on the left of Riku cooed. "It was soooo cool!"

"Ha, yeah..." Riku kept trying to pull his arm out of the woman's grasp, his own face going red when she kept rubbing her two very big assets against his trapped arm. This was not turning out like Riku had planned. The level-headed one of Persona had imagined that they would all go out to eat, have a little to drink and then head home just in time for curfew. He had NOT imagined being surrounded by women who were a bit more touchy-feely than he was used to or comfortable with.

They had had such a difficult morning... besides Kai's argument with Ray, Asahi had bumped into Jiro in her girl form! Riku's entire outfit had gotten wet during Kai's scuffle with Ray and instead of going to the changeroom to change, Asahi had just picked a random empty meeting room to use. Kuu had left his red hoodie with Asahi and then ran to get dry clothes for her. With her wig and pants off, Asahi had snuggled into Kuu's big hoodie and settled down to wait when Jiro had tumbled through an open window.

'Thank god that idiot had jumped to a conclusion right away and left.' Riku sighed, still trying to pull away from the woman holding on to her arm. Now, stupid Jiro thought she was working as an idol and had finally achieved her dream... well... he was right on most points but Riku guessed that Jiro wouldn't have thought that Asahi would be debuting as a man.

"Really," Riku tried to be polite as the woman pressed closer. "You don't really have to hold on to me like this."

"But I feel so good!" Riku's companion fluttered her eyelashes at the young man.

"SAVE...ME..." Kuu was pinned between two women who were arguing heatedly about who Kuu would prefer.

"Oh, sorry for calling you guys out suddenly like that." Katsuyuki-san had two girls on either side of him and he hugged them close, grinning at the three young men. "I'm picking up the tab tonight so everyone, party hard!"

All the other men with them, young up and comers and some older executive types who worked in the industry were there and all of them cheered, ecstatic to hear that the young director was treating.

"Excuse me," The tone of Riku's voice was bordering on annoyed. "What is this place?"

"What?" Katsuyuki-san stopped necking some girl to look over at the young brunette in astonishment. "Haven't you heard of the Fast Club?"

"What, don't tell me it's your first time!" The girl on Katsuyuki's arm was on Riku immediately. "That's sooo cute!"

"Come on, it's okay to touch." The girl was cute, her hair in relaxed curls down her bare shoulders. For some odd reason, all the girls were wearing swimsuits that all seemed a size too small. Letting slip that this was the first time Persona had been to Fast Club was a big mistake as the working girls all focused on the newbies, delighted that there was fresh blood.

"Stupid, leeeeet goooo of meeeeeee!" Kai's horrified cry was lost in the loud music and the giggles of the girls as they pounced on the three boys.

"Nooooo!" Kuu's high-pitched whisper reached Riku's ear as the young man tried hard to push a swimsuit-clad girl off her lap as politely as possible.

"This is wonderful!" Katsuyuki-san turned to one of the other men that had joined him on this outing and they all laughed, enjoying the girls of Fast Club a lot more than the boys of Persona were. Thankfully, a whistle suddenly sounded and most of the girls--including the ones on Kuu, Kai and Riku's laps--vacated the area.

"Your time is up!" A man in a waiter's uniform came up and bowed politely to the customers. "Thank you very much!"

"Thank you very much!" The girls echoed cheerfully before prancing off to see to other guests.

"Byebye!" Katsuyuki-san waved cheerfully. "See you again soon!" As soon as they left, the director sat down next to Riku, a lecherous smirk on his face. "It's not bad, right? The theme's 'High School Girls'. They wear school swimsuits during Physical Education and aprons during Home Ec."

"Katsuyuki-san's a regular here," One of the girls that had stayed, introduced as Aiko, poured a whiskey on the rocks for the director and snuggled up next to him, pouting. "However, he has ten lovers and doesn't come here often."

"But I keep coming back because of you, Aiko." Katsuyuki rubbed Aiko's shoulders, cooing in baby-talk with her as she played the part of the spurned lover.

"Ten?" Kuu pulled a face, his opinion of Katsuyuki falling fast.

Kai leaned over to Kuu. "What a horrible guy."

"Eh?" Katsuyuki sat up a bit, frowning, having caught the end of that.

"No, well, don't worry about it. Um, well, I wanted to thank you for yesterday." Riku said quickly while discreetly pinching Kai's bottom.

"GYAH!!" Jumping up a bit, Kai glared at Riku as everyone at their table looked at the blonde strangely.

"Yesterday?" The young director seemed confused... and a bit distracted since his fingers were dancing lightly over Aiko's breasts.

"Ah yes, you protected Riku from getting punched." Kuu supplied.

"Ah, that!" Katsuyuki grinned, remembering the occasion. "Nah, it wasn't like I wanted to protect him. That time, I was just heading into the building with your manager when we saw you guys fighting. Saeko had run up to seperate you two and I had run after her. I didn't anticipate the fact that she'd stop short of you guys and I bumped into her and tripped a bit. My momentum sorta put me right in front of that guy's fist."

"That means... it's just a coincidence?" Riku was crushed. He had thought he had found a prince, a real man amongst men! But... Katsuyuki-san was turning out to be quite disappointing.

"I have nothing to say." Kai folded his arms, shaking his head.

"Well, forget about that, it's in the past." Katsuyuki motioned to Aiko who had already started preparing drinks for the three members of Persona while other girls were pouring out drinks for the other men sitting at their table. "Come on, drink up."

"No thanks," Riku rejected the offer quickly. "We're still underage."

"What?" Katsuyuki-san scoffed. Everybody else was downing their drinks. "Then... sing!"

"Sing?"

"You guys are singers, right?" Katsuyuki had a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he stood up and clapped, getting everyone's attention. "Hey, everyone! Gather up, the popular group, Persona is going to sing for us!"

There were cheers as everyone enthusiastically agreed to Katsuyuki's idea, extolling his genius and how much they had wanted to hear Persona sing, too. To Kuu, it sounded like everyone was just brown-nosing but hey, what did he know?

"Why must we sing in this place?" Kai grumbled as he and his bandmates were pushed to the centre of the room with mics pressed into their hands and the music in the club turned off. Riku had to agree with Kai this time. He felt like he was a trained monkey and when Katsuyuki said 'dance' they were supposed to dance.

"Hinata doesn't want to sing," Kuu pouted.

"That's Sunny Music's successor, we'd better not upset him." Riku rationalized, making a point in his head to politely put off Katsuyuki-san next time he invited them out at night.

"Hey, hurry up and sing!" Katsuyuki shouted. The other guys at the table joined in on the heckling, starting a chant.

Riku frowned but brought the mic up. "Well then, please listen to us, Persona's--"

A whistle sounded, interrupting them along with the suddenly loud generic music that had been playing in the background. The girls that had left their table before came back in just aprons and lacey lingerie, flooding the table with their girlish giggles and immediately pouncing on Persona.

"Wait a moment--don't--!" Riku barely managed to jump away as hands grabbed at her pants.

"Don'ttakeitoffdon'ttakeitoff!" Kai clutched at his shirt, trying to stop questing hands from popping the buttons on his shirt.

"Pleeeease stop that--" Kuu started off in a girly voice then quickly tried to amend his mistake, sounding like a boy just going through puberty. "I mean, uh, STOP THAT."

The three young men all exchanged frantic looks and all came to a similar consensus: EVERYBODY FOR THEMSELVES!

With that in mind, Riku, Kai and Kuu all ducked down, slipping from the scantily-clad women's grasps. Riku broke free first, glancing behind him to see that his two bandmates had been caught.

"GOMEN NASAI!" Riku blurted out before running away from several girly pursuants who thought this all was a game.

"TRAITORRR!" Kai and Kuu screamed as they were dragged back into the mob of giggling girls. Riku ran for his life, not understanding why she was so deathly afraid of them catching up to her... and the GIGGLING. The giggles were soul-chilling! Ducking around a corner, Riku hid off to the side, waiting for the footsteps of the girls chasing him to fade away.

'But they could come back!' Riku's eyes darted around and he noticed the fire escape. The roof!

"WAAAHHH!!!" Rushing up the stairs, Riku burst through the door, relieved to be away from the suffocating atmosphere of the Fast Club. "What the hell is up with that Katsuyuki? Even though he saved me... but that's just a coincidence." Riku continued muttering to himself, moving to the barrier around the roof. "Asking us to sing, yet indulging himself with women. "As I expected, men are the worst!"

The door to the roof suddenly flying open scared the hell out of Riku, but instead of the pursuing girls he had expected, Katsuyuki-san stumbled through the door with a bottle of cognac.

"What are you doin' up'ere?" Katsuyuki-san slurred.

"Ah, nothing," Riku said hurriedly. He did NOT want to be alone with this idiot. "We should be getting back."

But just as he passed Katsuyuki-san, the young director grabbed a hold of his arm, stopping Riku in his tracks. The tall director regarded Riku with a frown, his breath smelling of strong liquor. "You're a weird guy, you know? A really weird guy."

"Hey," Riku tried to keep his nerves in check, putting a scowl on his face and pulling out of Katsuyuki-san's grasp. But inside, Riku was freaking out. What if the director knew Persona's secret?! What would happen then?! "What do you mean by 'weird guy'?"

Katsuyuki gave Riku a bitter half-smile now. He was tipsy, but he was still thinking quite clearly. "Normally, people will always try to flatter me. If I bring them to places like this, they'll listen to whatever I say." Katsuyuki put down his bottle of cognac on the balcony edge. "But you guys are different."

"That's nothing to be happy about." Riku muttered to himself. They were too different, different enough for other people to notice. They weren't like normal guys. This was bad.

"Eh?"

"Uh, nothing. Well, you know, we're men amongst men." Riku said, hoping Katsuyuki-san would take that excuse. He walked up to lean against the balcony beside Katsuyuki-san as the director gave the young man an appraising look. If anybody else had said they were 'men amongst men', Katsuyuki would have laughed at them. But when this guy said it... well, Katsuyuki believed him.

"I have yet to have someone like that by my side. That's why I've been ordering those around me like idiots." Katsuyuki smiled self-deprecatingly. "I'm the worst of them all."

"It's true that men are the worst." Riku turned to Katsuyuki, suddenly wanting to cheer up the young director. It was just... heart-breaking seeing that hardened bitter look in Katsuyuki-san's eyes. "But because of that, everything becomes interesting."

"Interesting?"

"They're the worst and surprisingly idiotic. But even if they are the worst, if you know the reason their like that, you will know that they're a little interesting." Riku tried to explain, a bit frustrated that she couldn't explain her feelings better. "I mean... Katsuyuki-san, what makes you act the way you do?"

Katsuyuki turned away from Riku, looking out at the city lights. Everything was so pretty...

"My father." Katsuyuki said suddenly.

"Eh?"

"My father, I guess. I feel like everybody expects a lot from me, because of my father." Katsuyuki said slowly. "But most of all, father expects the most from me. And I'm trying... trying really hard, to be more like him. But it feels like I can't be myself. I'm trying to do what my father would do, but I feel like I make bad decisions--"

"But what would Katsuyuki-san do?" Riku tilted his head to the side. "You're trying so hard to be like someone you're not, why not try being yourself?"

Katsuyuki was stunned by the simple, yet insightful answer Riku had given him. It was an answer, really, that anyone would have given him and had been giving him. But when other people said 'Be yourself' they actually meant 'Be like your father. That is who you are'. From this... kid in the industry... it felt like something.

"What was that--" Katsuyuki grinned foolishly, wanting to make light of the suddenly heavy atmosphere. He was a bit drunker than he thought though and tripped over his own feet. Thankfully, Riku was there to steady him.

"Are you alright?" Riku had a firm grip on his arm, pulling Katsuyuki back up.

"Geez," Katsuyuki straightened up, patting Riku's body in appreciation. "Riku, you ARE really manly. You have a small physique..."

'What... what... is going on?' Riku frowned, the girl part of his brain was sounding the alarm. Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong.

"But your chest is surprisingly solid, huh." Katsuyuki continued pressing his hands against Riku's, chest, palming the flesh in his hands to better appreciate how solid Riku was. Riku, meanwhile, was staring at Katsuyuki in slack-jawed horror.

"ECCHI!" Riku shouted and pushed Katsuyuki away with all his might. Being a bit drunk, Katsuyuki fell like a tree.

"What the hell!" Katsuyuki growled up at Riku, then paused, noticing Riku's tomato-red face and commented on it stupidly. "Your face is really red."

Riku had no words. First, Katsuyuki-san was nice, then they found out it was all an accident AND THEN he's some womanizer and after THAT he seemed really sad and NOW he was feeling Riku up! Without another word, Riku ran back to the doors that lead down to Fast Club. Hurrying down the stairs, he marched back to the main room of Fast Club, determined to gather her group mates and get back home.

"Kai, Kuu, lets go back!" Riku shouted crossly as he entered the loud room. It had been loud before, but now the place was near deafening with the excited shrieks from the girls of Fast Club.

"Kai-chan and--" Kai was swaying tipsily.

"Kuu-nyaa are--" Kuu was also swaying from side to side.

"ABOUT TO START!"

The girls shrieked again as the guys started dancing to the music, funny enough, ridiculously in time to the beat and totally a hit with the girls. Riku wouldn't have minded so much if it was just the dancing, but when Kuu started undoing his belt and suggestively thrusting his hips at some girl, Riku knew he had to do something! Rushing forward, he tried frantically to buckle Kuu's belt again, to the displeasure of both Kai and Kuu. From his proximity, Riku could smell the fumes of alcohol coming off the two in waves. Kai and Kuu were drunk off their rockers!

"We're just about to start our happy time!" Kuu was a little bit too loud and a lot more boyish than usual.

"Thas'right," Kai pulled at Riku's shirt clumsily. "Riku has to take it off too!"

"No, no, Saeko will kill us!" Riku hissed. That seemed to cut through the alcoholic haze Kai and Kuu were in.

"No more whippings!" Kai blurted out fearfully.

Kuu nodded. "No, no, we'll be good!"

"Buuuut..." A sly smile passed over Kai's face. "A drink'sa'right!"

"A glass of shochu on rock, coming up!" A peppy girl was at their side in a moment, holding a too-large glass of alcohol. With his arms held on either side by Kuu and Kai, Riku found the drink pressed to his lips and the surprisingly smooth drink going down his throat.

'Oh, hell.'

And that was the last coherent thought Riku would have all night.

---

"My head huuuurts..." Nami groaned. Every chirp from the birds outside was like a nail driving into her skull. They had somehow all arrived home, changed and slipped in to their futons in the room they shared. Of course, they all smelled of smoke and alcohol and the scent permeated the room.

"Ahhh... Hinata's about to diiieeee..." Hinata agreed.

"We have to get up quickly." Asahi groaned, glancing at the clock on the wall. They were going to be late... "If shachou finds out--"

"Ohayo." Two voices, not very happy-sounding voices, greeted them. Shachou and Marilyn! The three girls promptly jumped to their feet.

"OHAYO GOZAI--" All three stopped as vertigo hit them at the same time, along with nausea and pain.

"GAH!" Nami clutched her head in agony.

"I feel terrible." Hinata clamped a hand over her mouth, hoping nothing would come up.

"It's nothing," Asahi said quickly. "We'll change our clothes as soon as possible--urk."

Saeko took a step closer and took a tentative sniff. She immediately regretted it as the smell of stagnant alcohol hit her.

"Stinks." Saeko coughed, hoping that she wouldn't upchuck the breakfast Marilyn had prepared for her. Holding out a hand, she was happy to feel the familiar handle of her whip in her palm within moments. Marilyn was not just a pretty face, she was an amazing assistant/secretary!

"Seems like the three of you have been out partying, huh?" Saeko glowered at them. The things she had told them not to do they did! They had broken curfew AND they had been drinking! Saeko didn't even want to THINK about any of the girls smoking!

"WHIP." The girls cringed, recognizing the instrument of torture immediately.

"ATTENTION!" Marilyn barked. The girls immediately straightened up, dreading what was to come.

"TURN RIGHT!" The girls all turned until their backs were facing Marilyn and Saeko.

"STICK OUT YOUR BUTTS!"

The girls did so.

"This will make you remember for a hundred years!" Saeko brought the whip down on Asahi's butt as hard as she could.

"AH!"

"You have to be aware of your image as an idol!" Hinata was next in line and Saeko didn't play favourites: Hinata got just as good as Asahi did.

"YAHH!"

"You haven't learned at all from the previous experience, huh?" Saeko came to the last in line and this time, wound up for the strike. Saeko played no favourites, but she seemed to have chosen a favourite whipping-boy... or girl... or boy... whatever... to whip.

"UWAAAAHHHH!!!!!"

---

"It seems as if there are people looking for Nami-chan and Asahi-chan." Marilyn leaned forward to whisper to Saeko. The president of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency gave a barely perceivable nod of her head as she kept her eyes on her charges in the recording studio. Saeko had already gotten a heads-up about Nami and Asahi's pursuers after 'overhearing' (hidden mics were okay in private spaces like bedrooms, cameras were not) the girls talking about their encounter with the 'snake-guy', Saeko had been prepared for this. Why hadn't that stupid girl Asahi given that purupuru to the men when they had asked for it?

"We'll just have to watch them more closely now. But," Saeko glanced at Marilyn. "Make sure nothing leads back to us. We have to protect these boys."

"Hai." Marilyn said smartly, her stomach fluttering a bit at how intense shachou was. Saeko was just so awesome! Even with a frown marring the dark-haired shachou's face. A frown? Marilyn followed Saeko's gaze, through the sound-proof glass, into the recording room. The problem was apparent: Kai was messing up the recording.

"I don't feel so good." Kai gagged, clapping his hands over his mouth. They had showered and dressed in casuals again, Kai and Kuu going a bit more casual than usual and had opted to just wear sweat pants, hoodies and t-shirts. Even the normally straight-laced Riku was in a t-shirt, casual jacket and jeans.

"You idiot, we're going to get whipped again if you do that!" Kuu pointed discreetly at the window. Saeko stared back at them and brandished her whip. Riku and Kuu smiled pleasantly and gave Saeko a small nod, feeling cold sweat bloom on their foreheads.

"I know, but I--" Kai practically threw off his headphones as he gagged again, making a mad dash for the exit. Ignoring Riku calling his name, Kai got out of the recording room and headed towards the door marked exit.

'Fresh air fresh air fresh air fresh air--' With that mantra repeating in his head, Kai pounded up the stairs and exploded out on to the roof.

"I can't take it anymore, my head hurts and I feel like barfing." Kai leaned against the roof's railings, feeling just a little better now that he was outside. But with that said, the blonde still felt like shit and was thankful that the sky was a bit dim today. If there was sunlight, it would've been like knives sticking into his eyes. As Kai moaned quietly to himself, he was unaware that there was someone else on the rooftop and that someone was slowly walking towards Kai.

Ray had come up to the rooftop to get some air and think. She had worked the whole day yesterday and gone home early just so she could relax. But she just couldn't seem to. Ever since Kai yelled at her yesterday, Ray had been feeling... odd, to say the least. Nobody, and that included her family, NOBODY had ever yelled at her before. Nobody had had to. She was the perfect child and if she was out of line, it was acceptable because she was Ray.

But then, Kai had yelled at her. It had been a shock, to say the least. And it had been... different. People 'suggested' things to Ray. They never yelled. And over the years, Ray had realized something. It seemed as if everybody held her at arms-length. Everybody asked her politely or told her things matter-of-factly. Everybody kept a detached air around her, even her bodyguards and personal assistants knew better than to cross that line with Ray. But Kai had not only crossed that line, he seemed to have completely disregarded it and had gotten right into her face to tell Ray what was wrong.

It had come to her that night, when Ray was curled up alone in her condo watching a movie alone, why what Kai had said struck her so much. Ray had always had people extolling her virtues... but nobody who cared enough to yell at her. As long as she was selling, as long as her music was good and the face she showed the public was the one they wanted to see, nobody cared how she really acted.

But Kai had scolded her. And strangely enough, she knew it was strange... but she felt incredible. Ray wasn't a masochist or anything... but... it had, for the longest time, felt like nobody cared about her enough to scold her. To want her to stop being the spoiled princess that she was. She was incredibly happy that someone cared about her enough to yell at her like that.

Ray approached the blonde, unsure of how to begin a conversation with the other singer. He obviously cared about her, but was he still angry at her for yesterday?

"Do you have a hangover?" Ray cursed herself for sounding so unsure, but at least her question got Kai's attention.

"R-Ray...-san." Kai blinked rapidly, pushing himself off the railings to face the Diva. "Why are you here?"

Ray's heart was pounding... why did she feel so nervous around this young man? He was short and brash. Not at all like some of the tall and suave men that had tried to win her heart. When had she completely fallen for this blonde?

"Um, actually," Kai rubbed his sweaty hands on his sweatpants. "I'm really sorry about the previous time we met. I have no hard feelings and I was just casually saying what came to mind, no, I mean that... um..."

His stuttering apology was just SO cute! Obviously Kai was having difficulties telling Ray how he felt about her and Ray had always been a go-getter. She didn't mind making the first move at all. With a pleased smile, Ray took the last few steps forward and placed her hands on his shoulders. The songstress did not see the look of utter shock on Kai's face as she leaned down to claim Kai's in a soft kiss.

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline Hirasawaizumi

  • Atsumina & Kojiyuu FTW
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Re: [Mendol X AKB48] Ikemen Idol-[various parings]--Chapter 2[updated 10/8]
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2013, 03:52:13 PM »
Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 5

author's note: AKB48 is taking over my life!!!!! But it's alllll good.

Language!

Aniki -- Older brother

Hentai -- pervert

Kawaii -- cute

I~TE! -- ouch (pronounced ee-tay)

newhalf -- new half. Transexuals, in the case of Ai-chan and Fuu-chan, female-to-male transexuals

---

Kai's eyes had widened to the size of saucers as Ray's lips moved so slowly against his own. The blonde was drawing a blank as his brain shut down momentarily, overpowered by the furious hammering of his heart and the thundering rush of blood to his face. It felt like Kai was going hot and cold at the same time and this indescribable feeling of sheer ADRENALINE was overwhelming his limbs, confusing him---

"WAH!" Kai pushed Ray away, the confusing feelings disappearing along with Ray's lips, replaced by horror. "What are you doing?!"

Ray just smiled at him again, the smile managing to stun Kai.

'So this is the power of the Diva...' Kai's brain mused, the blonde shut down once more as Ray's lips pressed against his own, his lower lip caught in between Ray's own. He could feel his own lips responding minutely, TOTALLY against his will. But the soft tickling of the songstress' long eyelashes coupled with the electric feel of Ray's mouth was just SO inviting, so soft and warm and wet...

Ray was practically BUZZING from her connection with Kai. It felt like the first time she had gotten to number one on Music 10, except A MILLION times better. The feelings blossoming in her chest was like fireworks blowing up inside of her... the soft brush of Kai's nose against her cheek, the feel of his lips suddenly moving oh so carefully, as if tentatively exploring the feelings Ray had for Kai...

Carefully, the Diva moved her hand up to cup the back of Kai's neck, trying to deepen the kiss--but the moment was shattered when flashes from a camera blinded and interrupted her and Kai's moment. Kai pulling away from her so quickly was like... being in an extremely warm and comfortable lodge and then suddenly being thrown out into the middle of the bitterest, coldest winter storm.

"A scoop!" the oily-haired paparazzo screeched, running away from the scene. "A scoop, I've got it!"

'Shit!' Kai thought, seeing his bandmates there on the roof. They had seen everything! Thankfully, though, Kuu was in too much of a shock to do much except gape at Kai and Ray, while Riku ran after the paparazzo.

Paparazzo.

"OH SHIT!" Kai pushed Ray away roughly and managed to not only NOT budge the Diva much, but trip and fall on his ass. "What are you doing?!"

"We've been photographed, huh?" Ray's amused voice, showing none of the panic that Kai felt, scared Kai even more as he struggled back to his feet.

"Why are you saying that like it's not a big deal?" Kai wiped the gravel from off his sweatpants angrily, frustrated with the other singer's lacklustre reaction to compromising photo that had just been taken of them. "You're Japan's No. 1 Diva! This'll be scandalous! It won't look good for you!"

'Kai's looking out for me!' Ray was delighted. And Ray really, REALLY could care less if the photos were publicized. In fact, she would LOVE IT if the whole world knew that she and Kai were an item! Sarukawa-shochou had always been trying to pair her up with random good-looking men, even some of the Johnny boys, but she would have none of that now! Her heart belonged to one and ONLY one!

"It's fine, because I belong to Kai now!" Ray said blithely, not aware of the huge panic attack the announcement was causing Kai.

"HUH?!"

"I'm actually glad that a magazine or entertainment reporter took our photo." Ray continued, transferring the straps of her handbag from the crook of her elbow to her hands and swinging said handbag to-and-fro girlishly. "I belong to Kai and Kai belongs to me! And now, I can tell everyone!"

"I feel dizzy right now," Kai didn't know if it was the hangover or the overwhelming situation that he had just been put in. What the hell had just happened?

"What the hell?" Kuu, who had ducked back around the corner to peek at Kai and Ray, shook his head, flabbergasted. "How did things get like this?!"

"I'm..." Ray blushed girlishly. "really happy about those things you said to me yesterday."

THIS was why Ray was suddenly in love with her? Kai racked his brain. What HAD he said to her? All he remembered was cussing the Diva off for being so rude to that idiot--

"That?!" Kai gaped in astonishment.

Still eaves-dropping, Kuu's lip twitched in disbelief. "Happy?"

"I'm very successful in the industry," Ray explained, suddenly unable to look Kai in the eye. He was just so cute! "So no one dares to lecture me even when I'm being selfish."

"That's not something to be proud of," Kai muttered to himself, hoping that his heart would stop its hammering rhythym.

"But now I understand," Ray spun back to Kai, grasping the blonde's hand in both of her own, the very image of girlish delight. "Kai, you said those mean words to me because you care for me. Those words were your expression of love!"

"You've got it all wrong!" Kai blurted out, dashing away Ray's hand. "I was just telling the tru--"

The heartbroken look on Ray's face froze Kai. Ray's lower lip was quivering and the look of sheer sorrow on the Diva's face was unbearable.

"You mean to say... you really don't like me?" Ray's voice ended in a high squeak that surprisingly, sent a painful stab into Kai's heart.

"That is... I mean..." Kai panicked again. He hated it when girls cried! And if he made the Diva unhappy again... Saeko would KILL HIM! "You just... we have to... take things... slow?"

Ray sniffled, the soul-crushing disappointment she had felt before lifted and a grin nearly split her face in half. It wasn't an entirely charming smile, Sarukawa-shachou had told her, so she rarely smiled too wide, if at all. But Ray just couldn't help herself. "Kai...?"

"It's... I--um... well that is..." The blonde sputtered, trying to make everything right. He didn't want to die, he didn't want Ray all over him, and he didn't want THIS! "We don't really know each other..."

"Well, since we're dating now, we'll get to know each other over time!" Ray said hurriedly. THAT was why Kai was so unsure! He wanted to get to know her better! He really DID care about her! "Kai, I'm so happy!"

Before Kai could say anything to the contrary, Ray had thrown her arms around Kai's neck and attacked his lips with a fervour that the Diva never ever showed before with anyone else. Kai made her hot and cold at the same time, made her feel things that she had never felt before. Her body was hot against his and all she wanted to do, even though there was barely any space in between them, was make it so they were even CLOSER. Oblivious to Kai's flaying arms, Ray raised her hand, hoping to bury her fingers in Kai's soft-looking blonde hair--

A loud... screaming noise that was slowly getting louder registered somewhere in Ray's brain, but she paid no attention to it until with no warning at all, Kai was snatched away from her arms.

"Kai!" Ray looked around, dazed, finally focusing on one of Kai's bandmates--the source of afore-mentioned screaming--running away from her with Kai in tow. "Hey! That's mine!"

Kuu ran with Kai, down the stairs, back into the recording studio. Screaming, the both of them ran past people, not caring where they were running but just RUNNING. Finally, Kuu pulled open a door, saw that there was no-one inside, pushed Kai inside before jumping in also and shutting the door behind them.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Kai screamed, clutching his head in shock.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Kuu agreed, screaming.

"WHAT THE HELLLLL!!!!!!"

Getting that out of their system, Kai cutched at the front of Kuu's t-shirt and hissed at his dark-haired bandmate. "Why the HELL did it take you so long to save me?!"

"I was in shock!" Kuu protested. "You were kissing her!"

"She was kissing ME!" Kai shook Kuu, her eyes shining with anger. "Get that right! SHE kissed ME! Ughh... I *hatehatehatehateHATE* L!!!"

"Well, it's not really L if she thinks you're a guy--"

"SHUT UP!"

---

"So Jiro thinks you're like some superman," Kuu mused. The three were back at Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency after a long, LONG day. The paparazzo had turned out to be Riku's childhood friend, Jiro. The oily-haired photog had been casing Ray for quite a while now and the shot he got would've been a bomb on the entertanment world if it had gone out.

"And shachou managed to delete the pictures he had of Kai and Ray kissing. All in all, a good day." Riku said cheerfully. It had all worked out. Saeko had prevented the pictures from gong out; explaining to Riku that Sarukawa-shachou might not like having to deal with that kind of publicity with Ray especially if he didn't orchestrate it himself. Sarukawa-shachou might make working hard for Persona if Ray's popularity took a dive. Also, Jiro hadn't recognized Asahi in her Riku disguise, which meant something to the tallest member of Persona. If even her childhood friend could be fooled, than it set Riku's mind at ease about people finding out that the male-group Persona was actually made up of three girls.

"Ahhh, you've got to be kidding me!" Kai groaned. After Kai had left the recording studio, he had bought a bottle of Listerine and had continuously been gargling to rid himself of the taste of Ray's french-vanilla lipgloss, which was persistantly staying behind! "Why's my first kiss gotta be with another woman?!"

"First kiss?" Kuu and Riku's interest perked up.

'Shit.' thought Kai.

"Ah... no... that... uh..."

"Acting as if you're experienced with men..." Riku grinned, sidling up on Kai's left. One late night conversation, they had been taking about the handsome Katsuyuki-san and Asahi's relationship with Jiro when Nami had started giving in-depth insight about men and how they thought. Which lead to Hinata and Asahi assuming that Nami was really experienced with men and Nami had never corrected them. The outspoken girl indeed had a lot of experience dealing with guys... because she had a lot of guy friends and her guys all treated her as one of them and talked freely about their relationships, thoughts and feelings with Nami.

Kuu sidled up on to Kai's right. "But you've never actually been in a relationship before?"

"Shut up!" Kai pushed them off. "There are a lot of people wooing me, it's just that I haven't picked anyone yet."

Kuu and Riku shared knowing looks. "Hmmm."

"Anyways," Kai was blushing furiously. "I don't wanna be a guy anymore." Undoing the bobby pins that kept Kai's hair in place, Nami pulled off her wig and threw it on the ground, her shoulder-length growth of hair immediately softening her features so there was absolutely no mistaking Nami for a boy.

"I'm not going to stay in the world of L," Nami proclaimed. "I'm definitely, DEFINITELY not doing this anymore!"

"There always will be scandals happening behind an artist's back," Saeko's smooth voice silenced the up-and-coming group.

"But lets not dwell on that!" Marilyn chirped cheerfully. "The date for the photo shoot for your upcoming single's cover has been finalized! In addition, the photographer is--"

"Tenka's Shiroyama Kichin." Saeko said smugly, a proud look on her face.

"Ten--" Riku's eyes widened as he recognized the name of the magazine. "Isn't that the most popular erotic magazine in the country?"

Nami's mouth fell open. Shiroyama--she KNEW that name! Again, because she had lots of guy friends and they had those types of magazines around all the time and discussed the contents of such magazines as if it was THE most important thing in the world!

"Shiroyama, the expert in erotica?!" Nami shook Riku in excitement then turned to Kuu and did the same thing. "That's awesome! That's TOTALLY awesome! Wait 'til the guys hear about this--"

"Nami, didn't you say you were quitting?" Kuu raised an eyebrow at Nami's enthusiasm.

"It's a completely different matter when you're gonna be photographed by Shiroyama Kichin!" Nami pulled Kuu's arm back and forth excitedly, eliciting a small pink smile from Kuu even though he was still leery of Nami changing her mind so much.

"Our ideal image is going to be perfect." Saeko announced, ignoring Nami's excited babbling. "Our Persona's first CD jacket."

The energy coming off of Saeko was infectious and the three member-group found themselves leaning forward. "In other words: Riku."

Riku nodded, fired up.

"Kai."

Nami couldn't contain her ear to ear grin.

"Kuu."

Kuu raised a fist, energized.

"The three of you are going to be nude!"

The three young singers paused, hoping that they had heard wrong. But a quick look at each other and they knew they had all heard the same thing.

"EHH?!"

"The radiant skins," Saeko started off, and Persona knew the president of Kamonohatsu Entertainment Agency was off in her own world again. "The sexiness of taking it all off! Exceeding the extremes of Michaelangelo's sculpture of David! The nude body of a man!"

The excitement was too much for Saeko as her frenzy started her hyperventilating.

"Shachou!" Marilyn bounced forward with a paper bag that she always seemed to have handy.

Persona was less worried about their shachou, who had these attacks everytime she had a stroke of 'brilliance', and more about what Saeko had just revealed to them about their photo shoot. "Nude?!"

---

Persona, now out of 'costume', were in their shared room furiously doing stretches, push-ups and sit-ups.

"We definitely won't be able to pull off nude!" Nami, who some might say was quite pessimistic, was actually just the most realistic one of the group. This was their reality: Persona could NOT do nude.

"It's obvious--" Hinata did a sit-up, "we'd expose--" another sit-up. "our female identities!"

"Even if we try our best," Asahi did a push-up, feeling the burn in her arms. "It's useless!"

They let out a huge sigh and flopped down to the ground. They all disagreed with the nude idea, not only because it exposed them as girls, but it just... EXPOSED them. Was that kind of CD jacket even allowed?! But they did believe in Saeko, no matter how sketchy she was some times and her disregard for their innocence when she did 'L' with Marilyn in places they would rather not think of... so the girls spent most of the night thinking about how they could POSSIBLY pose nude without exposing their identities. But no matter how they wracked their brains, there was NOTHING they could think of that could possibly do. So with troubled minds, the girls all went to sleep, hoping an answer would come to them in the morning.

Unfortunately, the answer didn't come at night. Instead, the girls were all plagued with nightmares. Hinata dreamed of Saeko and Marilyn doing 'L' things in the middle of a group of half-naked men, Nami dreamed of Ray chasing her and not being able to run away fast enough to avoid the songstress' assault and Asahi dreamed of Jiro taking pictures of her as she slowly took off her clothes...

"Last night I had a dream. And it was just... horrible." Kai shuddered, remembering his dream in vivid detail. All three were dressed in their stage costumes, the stylized suits that Saeko had had made for them. Today's shooting would be at a warehouse complex and as they made their way up the stairs to the second floor where the photographer was waiting for them, the feelng of dread increased with every step.

"Hinata had an awful dream, too." Kuu shuddered too.

Riku had a full case of the chills as he remembered his own dream. "Ditto."

Finally, scaling the stairs and arriving on the second floor, they pushed open the stairwell door and stepped into their shooting location.

"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu--"

"I refuse to take nude shots of men!" A slightly tubby man in tight red pants, black suspenders and a white shirt unbuttoned to mid-chest stormed by them with Marilyn following close behind him, wringing her hands. "It's true that I've taken up this project. But I, Shiroyama Kichin, even if I'm dying, will only take off women's clothes!"

"Kichin-san!" Marilyn groaned in frustration. Saeko had SAID that Kichin would do nude shots, but now the famous photographer was refusing to! He had claimed it was a momentary lapse of judgement on his part to agree to it, but now that he could think clearly, he absolutely REFUSED!

"Today I'm going to take photos of extremely beautiful men." Kichin grinned. He could work with this, even if his usual subjects were women. He could make this work!

"But that'll go against shachou's radiant concept--"

"It's okay, Marilyn." Saeko's voice interrupted her secretary. "Let's just leave it."

"Seriously?" Kai exchanged gleeful glances with his bandmates.

Kuu nodded, clasping his hands in front of his chest. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Kichin!"

"We don't have to take off our clothes now!" Riku grinned at Kai and Kuu, when suddenly, a big lighting fixture hit him.

"WAAAH!"

"Ahh, sorry--Aniki!" Jiro, Asahi's childhood friend gaped at the de-facto leader of Persona.

What was Jiro doing at the shoot? "Jiro! What are you doing here?"

Before Jiro could explain himself, Kichin's voice roared his displeasure. "YOU DUMBASS!" Rushing the blonde-haired part-time paparazzo, Kichin took a running leap and kicked Jiro right in the chest. "The equipment is more important than your life!"

"I'm really sorry!"

"I only let you come here to help me today because I heard that you have no money." Kichin towered over the fallen Jiro and stomped a foot down on the young man's chest. "I'm only having you as my special assistant for today! If the equipment is damaged in any way, I won't let you off this easy!"

"Hai!" Jiro squeaked, barely able to take a breath before Kichin let up and walked back to the shoot to fiddle with his camera.

"Your childhood friend sure has it tough." Kai leaned over to Riku to whisper sympathetically.

"That has nothing to do with me." Riku said, almost heartlessly. He was bothered by Jiro's abuse, but what could he do? They were at a job.

"Aniki," Jiro was suddenly in Riku's face again, breathing harshly. "I will support you!"

"This has nothing to do with me..." Riku repeated to himself as Jiro raced away to set up the equipment, fired up to help his 'aniki'. "NOTHING to do with me..."

"Alright, we're starting the photo shoot soon!" Kichin shouted. Riku didn't have the chance to dwell on Jiro's fate as they were quickly herded over to make up to touch up their appearance.

There were three seats set up for Persona in front of three mirrors as stylists came to help the boys with their make-up. These two stylists were hired by Marilyn not only because of their skill, but because of their ability to be absolutely discreet. They had been let in on the secret that Persona wore wigs when they were on stage and were under contract not to reveal that trade secret to anyone. Ai-chan and Fuu-chan, both 'newly-made' women, knew the importance of keeping secrets. They had worked for many famous celebrities and were one of the few skilled and trusted enough to tend to those celebrities who had 'special needs' in the make-up and styling department. The stylists introduced themselves quickly before immediately getting down to business.

"Oh, you have such pretty skin." Ai-chan, a buxom faux-blonde fluttered her eyelashes at Kuu, who smiled back, pleased at the compliment.

"Thank you! You have really beautiful skin too!" Kuu chirped back, making Ai-chan swoon a bit. This boy looked soooo cute, he was almost like a girl! Ai-chan LOVED gentle-looking men! Fuu-chan the buxom brunette, on the other hand, liked her men a bit rough but also tall and masculine so she gravitated towards Riku and Kai naturally.

"Well, we'll just be putting on a little powder for you, okay?" Fuu-chan patted Kai's cheek delicately. Kai, still thinking about his dream from last night, nodded distractedly. His stand-offish attitude only made Fuu-chan's heart beat a bit faster.

"He's like that all the time." Riku explained apologetically to Fuu-chan, thinking she was put-off by Kai's demeanour. Fuu-chan let out a dreamy sigh.

'Riku-sama is sooooo caring!' Fuu-chan nodded at Riku's explanation. 'And they didn't even give me or Ai-chan weird looks for being newhalf.' Really, the three-member group did NOT know their stylists were newhalf women, so they had no real reaction to it. The stylists did their jobs quickly and professionally and in five minutes, the boys were ushered over to Kichin for further direction.

"Okay." The famous photographer, not used to shooting male subjects, was drawing a slight blank. Pointing to the grand piano that had been brought to the warehouse as a prop, he ordered them to pose naturally around the piano and he was just going to take some test shots. The three then shuffled themselves over to the piano and started doing some generic poses they had under their belts. Once in a while, Ai-chan or Fuu-chan would hustle forward to get rid of some shine on their nose or fix their hair a bit. All through this, Kichin kept taking photos. But as he took these photos, a strange sensation was coming over him. An... excitement of sorts. When Kuu took off his jacket because of the heat from the bright lights, he felt almost... light-headed.

"Tilt your heads!" Kichin barked out the order, panting heavily. This... this was totally unexpected! Something strange was going on... why WAS he getting so excited?

"Why is he panting?" Kai grinned, speaking through his teeth. Riku and Kuu had noticed the panting too and were getting... nervous.

"Kichin-san," Jiro, who had been holding up a white board to help reflect the light on to the three idols better, voiced their concerns. "Are you alright?"

"This is weird," Kichin stood up, his entire body THROBBING with the same excitement he got from taking pictures of girls. "There's a reaction in my radar!"

"Radar?" Jiro looked down and eeped slightly when he noticed... something... bulging in Kichin's pants.

"STOP!" Saeko shouted in triumph. Everyone stared at her strangely as she started monologuing to Marilyn in a low, harsh whisper. "Kichin has always been like that when he's with women. He becomes really excited and starts panting fast and hard. No matter how hard the three of them try to disguise themselves as men, they won't be able to avoid Kichin's senses. Kichin will DEFINITELY get them to pose nude."

"As expected of shachou!" Marilyn clapped her hands in delight. Saeko was BRILLIANT! "You have everything planned!"

"What the hell... I should only have this reaction with women." Kichin stepped away from the camera, approaching the three 'men'. "Why do I have a reaction with the three of you? Are the three of you... really men?"

The question made the three in question break out in a cold sweat as they felt the eyes of the staff helping out at the photoshoot scrutinizing them.

"Shachou!" Kai mouthed the word, trying desperately to catch Saeko's eye. "SHACHOU!"

"They're too naive. To think I would actually help them..." Saeko was looking Kai directly in the eye from her position far, far from the three young men. "No way would I do that."

"Kichin-san, what are you saying?" Jiro laughed, finding the whole situation ridiculous. SURE, his Aniki was a bit delicate looking, but he was a man amongst men! Riku was awesome! "Aniki's a man amongst men--"

"SHUT UP!" Kichin snarled, still eyeing Persona strangely. "This is strange... something really strange is going on here."

"This is bad!" Kai grimaced.

Kuu nodded, speaking to his bandmates in a low, hushed tone. "At this rate, we'll definitely be exposed!"

Riku, seeing the distress his bandmates was in finally decided to throw in the towel. They needed serious help!

"Shachou! Shachou!" He shot a pleading look in the direction of his shachou--only to find that she wasn't there anymore. And neither was Marilyn! The instant they had taken their eyes off their manager and her secretary, the both of them had DISAPPEARED!!!

"She's gone... this shows that she never wanted to help us in the first place!" Kai's hands tightened to fists, immediately reverting to a familiar emotion: anger.

They needed to get out of this situation, quickly! They needed Kichin to continue thinking they were men, or else they'd have to do a NUDE SHOOT! And a nude shoot meant that they would be EXPOSED!

"Excuse me!" Riku was slightly panicked. "We need a break! Please let us have a break!"

Their break request was okay'd, since Kichin wanted a few moments to sort out his thoughts too. The boys were shown to a medium-sized dressing room with coffee, tea and juice. There were also some plates of light snacks, but the three couldn't appreciate the care that the staff at the photoshoot had put in for them.

"We have to conceal ourselves properly from that Kichin!" Riku huddled with his two bandmates, almost mindless with worry. Where the HELL was Saeko?!

"We've done our best! What else can we do?!" Kai listed off the things they had taken extra care to do that morning. "We wore our tightest binding tanktops, we're in our boxers, I have a roll of socks in my underwear--"

"You have a roll of socks in your underwear?" Kuu blinked. This was news to him! He quickly shook himself out of that line of thought though. The situation they were in was dangerous! "How are we going to convince Kichin that we're men--?"

"KAI!" They're discussion was cut off by the door banging open and someone yelling the blonde's name gleefully. Kai turned just in time to catch Ray in his arms.

"Woah!" Kai kept the grasping soungstress at arms' length, which was harder than it sounded. Ray was like an octopus! She had him and was just REFUSING to let go! "Ray! What are you doing here?!"

Unpeturbed by Kai's display of 'shyness', Ray continued trying to pull the struggling Kai into an embrace. "I heard you were here doing a photo shoot for your CD cover so I came to visit~!"

"Don't touch me!" Kai begged desperately. "Get back you hentai!"

Ray giggled at Kai's almost girlish modesty. "Kai, kawaiiiii!"

While Kai struggled with Ray, Riku suddenly got an idea.

"Oh, I have an idea!"

Quickly pulling Kai aside and placating Ray by telling the songstress they'd give Kai back in a bit, he outlined his plan. Kai was leery of ANY plan involving Ray, but his opinion changed when Riku told him what he had to do.

'I can do this!' Kai gave his groupmates a thumbs-up as they left to lure Kichin to their dressing room. 'This'll be a piece of cake!'

"Kaaaiiiii..." The way Ray said his name, the weight of the Diva and her arms wrapped around his neck from behind... and those two mounds of flesh pressing into Kai's back gave the shortest member of Persona the goosebumps!

'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this...' Kai repeated the mantra in his head, shivering at the feel of Ray's nose nuzzling at his ear. The Diva let out a contented sigh, Kai smelled so good... like soap... the scent was so calming and familiar... where had she smelled this scent before?

"Ray, we have to talk." Kai spun around to grab Ray's hands in his own, looking up at the Diva seriously.

"About?" Ray felt her heart skip a beat at the suddenly intense look Kai had on his face.

"Our relationship... if we're to have one." Kai replied. "I want you to sit down."

Ray's heart was hammering in her chest...they were going to talk? They were going to TALK! About their RELATIONSHIP! Kai lead Ray over to a chair and gently pushed her down into it but instead of immediately saying whatever he was going to say, Kai walked away from her and began to pace the room. The way he was treating this whole relationship, the seriousness of this whole situation made Ray happy. But Ray had to compose herself for her man! He was going to say something important!

Little did the Diva know Kai was just waiting for Riku and Kuu to come back with Kichin and it wasn't long before the blonde saw his friends and Kichin peek in to the room. Kuu waved a little bit and gave Kai a wink. That was the signal! It was time!

"What is it that you wanted to tell me?" Ray grinned at the small blonde's back. He whirled on her now, stomping over like he was on a mission. His hand shot out to grab hold of her chin.

"Stop grinning and listen up!" Kai's voice was a low, dangerous growl. Ray couldn't help smiling at Kai again... he was so close to her she could feel the heat coming off his body! His thumb absentmindedly stroking her jawline made her want to purr, but he wrenched his hand back before she could emit a sound, fire in his eyes.

"You gotta understand, if you wanna be my woman, you--you must not sleep earlier than me!" Kai racked his brain for the most outrageous demands he could think of. "You must not wake up later than me! Your cooking must be good and you haveta always look beautiful!"

"I can do all of that, no problem!" Ray sing-songed. Was that it? Ray was notoriously hard-working and the Diva was pretty sure that her cooking skills were top-notch too! And wasn't Ray the most popular, the most beautiful, the NUMBER ONE idol in Japan right now?

"You have to do better than that!" Kai slapped his hand on the table hard, trying to keep on the facade of the arrogant asshole boyfriend, but his plan hit a snag as pain lanced through his finger and his face contorted into a pained grimace.

"Kai?" Ray's joy disappeared and the worry she felt was... indescribable. What was wrong? How did he hurt himself? WHERE was Kai hurt? How could she help?!

"I~TE!!!!" Kai howled, held up his hand and Ray was able to see that there was a small thumb tack buried in his pointer finger. The blonde wrenched it out and threw it on the ground angrily. "Why the HELL is there a thumb tack here?!"

"Are you alright?" Ray was on her feet so quick, her chair toppled backwards. Grabbing Kai's hand, Ray inspected her beloved's injured finger, feeling an immeasurable amount of relief when she saw that there was only a pinprick of blood to show where he had hurt himself.

'Stupid Kai, I was so worried!' Ray breathed a mental sigh of relief, looking at the young blonde man with a certain amount of fondness. 'I'll have to tease him a bit for scaring me like that...'

"W-What are you going to do?" Kai's spider-sense was suddenly off the charts as Ray pinned him with her bedroom eyes. But it was the thing she did next that short-circuited something in his brain. It all happened in slow motion in Kai's mind, but he just couldn't get his body to obey him! Completely frozen, he couldn't pull his finger away as Ray captured his wounded digit within the warm, wet confines of her mouth. The suction, the heat, the feel of Ray's tongue swirling around Kai's finger was making the blonde extremely light-headed.

"Let go!" Kai pleaded, his voice cracking slightly. "Let go! Let gOooo..."

Ray did, her mouth turned up in a small pink smile as she slipped her tongue out to give his finger a final playful parting lick. She had only sucked on Kai's fingers for a few seconds, but it had felt like HOURS of strange confusing feelings accompanied by the loud roar of waves...

"All better?"

"What the hell!" Kai clutched his hand to his chest, his heart literally thundering a mile a minute--SHIVERS running up and down his spine, spreading goosebumps all over his skin and making the hair on the back of his neck stand at attention.

"Kaiii..." Ray approached the blonde, bright and beautiful, sexy and dangerous. Kai found himself locked in that half-lidded gaze again, turned his head around to desperately search out his bandmates. The sound of his compatriots and Kichin scrambling off made Kai curse them extensively in his head. He cursed even more when he noticed that a table was in the way of his escape and suddenly realized he had made a fatal mistake--breaking eye contact.

"DAMN--"

Ray had him trapped between the table and herself in no time, her arms on either side of Kai's body, her face, too close for comfort as her nose nudged against his cheek softly.
"R-Ray--no!" Kai squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the inevitable. Seeing this reaction, Ray paused and smiled softly at the young man. He was just so cute. Through his bluster and energy, Kai was just a shy young man who had managed to capture a lonely singer's heart. And she just couldn't seem to keep her hands off him, but she... had to try.

"Okay." Ray said relunctantly and gave Kai's cheek a chaste kiss, settling to rest her arms around his neck in a loose embrace. "I don't know why, I just can't keep my hands off you."

"Hentai." Kai muttered, cracking one eye open to look at the songstress. Ray gave a pretty pout.

"Only for you!"

"Don't even say that!" Kai blushed even more. "What if someone heard? Then they'll know me and you are sort of... and then there'll be trouble!"

The smile died from Ray's face as something occurred to her, something quite troubling. "Kai..." Ray was on the verge of tears, just the thought of this being true. "Are you... a-a-ashamed of people finding out we'd be together?"

The quick 180 that Ray had just turned left Kai completely and utterly bewildered. WHAT the HELL was Ray going on about?
"What?" Kai blinked, unable to think of anything to say.

"Y-you're ashamed of me." The frown on Ray's face was growing. "Why? Am I not good enough? I can do ALL of the things you want me to do--except... is it because I'm not beautiful enough?!"

"Huh?!" Now Kai was BEYOND confused. What had just happened?

"That's it, right?" Ray spun away, hugging herself close. Ray knew, without a doubt, that she was beautiful. But the thought of Kai thinking she was ugly in any way, that she didn't fit his ideal... devastated her. Maybe he wanted someone cuter? Someone smaller than him? Ray had been the awkward tall child when she was young, but now her height worked to her advantage. But maybe Kai liked smaller women?

"NO!" Kai shouted in frustration. What the HELL was going on? And what the hell was Ray saying?! "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on! Why would you even think you weren't beautiful enough?! Some guys would crawl through mud to have you just smile at them!"

"Really?" Ray's voice was comically squeaky. Ray was, but would DIE before she'd admit it, a LITTLE self-conscious about her smile. Anybody would be if your manager kept telling you not to smile so much because, and to quote Sarukawa-shachou 'because your smile's too big and it's not attractive'. "Do YOU like my smile?"

"Yeah!" Kai blurted out without thinking. "I think you have the best smile in the world!"

"Kai!" Ray was on Kai like an octopus again and Kai was desperately struggling to keep Ray at arm's length.

"Get off me!" Kai pushed at Ray again, unsure of how he got into this situation but sure of the fact that he needed to get out of it RIGHT AWAY!

---

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

Offline Yuseichaaan48

  • ecchi
  • Member+
  • Posts: 90
Three new chapters on my birthday! That makes my day even better ^_^

This is sooo good!!! You are a great writer! :)

So far I feel like I'm rewatching Mendol!    :hee:

Looking forward to the next update and an AKB girl appearance.  :D

You should make Acchan like a rival of Ray.. hehe.

Keep it up!!  :thumbup

Offline ayase909

  • I'm A Tomo-Holic dechu!
  • Member+
  • Posts: 243
  • miya-airi rabu-rabu
yo immo-san, i read this ff too like a thousand times, i love this thats why imma ask again if ur going to write a sequel. i mean, theres still the story of KojiYuu and MariMii left hanging hahhaha :rofl:




Offline Hirasawaizumi

  • Atsumina & Kojiyuu FTW
  • ecchi
  • Member+
  • Posts: 83
  • AKB48! daisuki dayo
Mendol - Ikemen Idol!

Chapter 6

author's note: And this chapter starts seriously deviating from the series with additional scenes and DUNDUNDUN! guests!

---

"Gaaaah..." Kai shuddered, patting his pockets desperately for salt. He needed to throw some over his shoulders to ward off the miasma of evil Ray brought along every time she came to see Kai. It had taken a while to convince Ray to leave and thankfully, the Diva's handlers (that she had managed to give the slip to before) had tracked her down and helped Kai push/drag her away. But it was all worth it if Kichin believed that they were men. Joining her band mates again, she looked at them eagerly. "So, is Kichin-san convinced that I'm a man amongst men?"

His two bandmates looked at him unhappily and shook their heads. "Failed, Kai."

"Mission failed?!" Kai gaped, feeling like everything he had done before was for nothing. He had let Ray violate his finger with her tongue! He had let Ray grope him! He had let Ray nuzzle her nose in that spot behind his ear that gave him a full case of the chilly-willies! And all of that WAS FOR NOTHING?!

"Well, during the first half, Kai displayed his manliness perfectly..." Riku was pouting at Kai, willing the hot-tempered blonde to calm down. If looks could kill, Kai would've already killed Riku and Kuu ten times over!

"But," Kuu piped up. "after Kichin-san saw Ray sucking on your finger, he panted even harder!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Kai blurted out. "I had a hard enough time convincing Ray to leave! I refuse to do this again!"

"But if we can't hide the truth from Kichin.." Kuu trailed off. All three of them knew what would happen. They would be totally exposed!

Speak of the devil, Kichin walked past them, scrutinizing them from head to toe. "This is strange..."

The three young men huddled together fearfully, watching Kichin as he disappeared into the washrooms nearby. That was when Riku got his stroke of brilliance. And looking around, he had the perfect tools to quickly fashion his tool!

"I have another idea!" Riku quickly outlined the plan to the boys, knowing they had limited time to implement this plan. A quick game of jankenpon later and a relunctant Kuu was pushed in the directions of the washrooms.

"I dun wanna, I dun wanna, I dun wanna!" Kuu screeched, dragging his heels.

"You lost in janken! So you got no choice!" Riku had quickly put his item together and stuffed it inside Kuu's jacket while Kai pushed Kuu towards the washrooms.

"Hinata hates these open-door toilets the most!" Kuu struggled against the blonde but felt himself slowly getting pushed forward as Riku joined Kai in pushing Kuu to the toilets.

"Stop stalling and GET IN!" Kai and Riku gave a last shove, propelling Kuu into the washrooms. If Kai had to go through everything he had to with Ray, Kuu can suffer a little bit in the washrooms! Kuu almost stumbled during his forward momentum but managed to come to a stop before he hit a wall. His sudden entrance surprised Kichin, who gave a little start at Kuu's appearance.

"Osu!" Kuu said carefully.

"Oh." Kichin nodded carefully. Kuu crept over to a urinal a few spots away from Kichin, cringing at the thought of stepping on pee. The feeling of someone watching him made Kuu look over to Kichin. The older man quickly retreated, but he had been leaning over in hopes of catching a glimpse of Kuu's equipment.

'Here goes...' Kuu unzipped the front of his pants and hid his 'equipment' in his hands. Not long after, a slow drizzle of water came flowing out, the soft tinkling sound of liquid hidding porcelain filled the suddenly quiet washroom. After Kuu was done, he shook a few times, tucked his 'equipment' back in and zipped up.

"Osu!" Kuu said cheerfully then skipped over to the sink to wash his hands. Cheerfully, he was out the door and back in the arms of his band.

"How was it?" Riku questioned eagerly.

"Hinata did it perfectly!" Hinata brought out the smal bottle of green tea and the plastic tube that had been forced through the lid of the bottle. Pressing it into Riku's hands, the leader of the group quickly disposed of it in a large empty metal barrel that was currently being used as a garbage bin and not a moment too soon, as Kichin stepped out of the washroom looking seriously puzzled.

"It's true, look!" Kai nodded over to the famous photographer. "He's stopped panting."

But Kai had spoke too soon as Kichin started panting again, like a stubborn motor that just refused to die.

"Not again, mission failed!" Kai's voice held an edge of desperation to it. It was gonna be the end for them!

"Nude!" Kichin exclaimed, catching everybody's attention. "NUDE! Lets take some nude photos!"

Kichin had enveloped the three young men in a bear hug and started pushing them towards the grand piano they were supposed to be posing in front of.

"Stop that!" Kai dug his heels in but it was impossible to stop Kichin's forward momentum.

"I don't wanna!" Riku screeched.

"Let go!"

"I don't wanna!"

"Hentai!"

"Wait a second. We're guys!" Riku craned his neck back to look at Kichin. "Why are you still doing this?"

"Male or female, it doesn't matter any more!" Kichin exclaimed. He had been struck by a vision! Kai and Ray's little scene in the change room had opened his eyes to the possibilities of men, especially gentle men like the boys that made up Persona! It would be subtle, it would be powerful... their skin would glisten against the piano, the light reflecting off their smooth frames... he *could* make this work! Saeko was right, it would be magnificant!

"The three of you have made me, Shiroyama Kichin, go crazy with desire!" Kichin grabbed Kai's jacket and practically ripped it off the blonde's body then went for Kuu's jacket, throwing Kai's aside.

"Everything is perfect!" Kichin's eyes searched out Jiro and pinned him with a look. "Change the lens! Stylists, make sure they're ready to bare it all! We're gonna do this!"

"Got it!" Jiro and the stylists saluted Kichin, his commanding personality not letting them do anything else except obey.

"You've gotta be kidding me." Kai hissed at his fellow bandmates. "We can't do nude! I'm... I'm quitting Persona!"

"What?!" Riku and Kuu gaped at the blonde.

"Kai!" Riku's disappointment was evident and Kai tried not to let that bother him, though it did.

"The idea of making women into men was already a mess!" Kai argued. "And now they want us to do nude? It's impossible! They just want us to quit, right? They wanted to give us hope, then humiliate us by pulling the carpet out from right under our feet!"

"Hinata will strip." Kuu said softly.

"What?" Kai's eyes almost popped out of his head.

"Hinata's afraid of that kind of person losing their temper." Kuu whispered. "Hinata can do it!"

"I'm not letting you do that!" Kai said furiously. "Are you insane? You hate doing stuff like this for perverted men!"

Riku stilled Kuu's hands on his tie, trying to sooth the young man. "It'll be over for us if you take off your clothes, remember? And if you don't want to do it, we won't let anybody do this to you!"

"Yeah!" Kai growled. "We'll walk! I'll go first!"

"Wait a second!" Riku gripped at Kai's arm, stopping the other man. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"I'm GOING. That's what I'm doing!" Kai pushed at Riku, but the taller boy grabbed hold of Kai, struggling to keep the blonde there.

"If you want to do it, do it alone!" Kai snarled. Their fight had drawn an audience as everyone, including Kichin, stared at the scene unfolding before them, not knowing what was going on since they didn't hear the beginning of the argument. They only heard that Kai wanted to leave. Everyone was frozen to the spot except for one person.

"Stop fighting!" Jiro ran at them and pushed the two away from each other. He hated to see his Aniki and his Aniki's bandmates fighting! Jiro's shove was unexpected and Riku tipped over, falling on his behind.

"Aniki!" Jiro was instantly sorry, but it was too late for him as someone had caught the tail-end of that.

"You..." A growl from the stairwell caught Riku's attention. There was Katsuyuki-san, surrounded by his assistants and looking furious. Rushing forward, he had grabbed Jiro by the front of his shirt and punched the Asahi's childhood friend before anybody could stop him. "What are you doing with Riku?!"

All Riku could do was watch as Katsuyuki-san's assistants pulled the young director back, who was still raring to go and roaring at them to let him finish Jiro off. All Riku could think of as he watched Katsuyuki-san fight against the people holding him back was how incredibly sexy a man could be when he was all fired up to fight for something--

'That's it!' Riku got up to his feet, glaring at his bandmates. He could make this work!

"Don't screw with me!" Riku snarled, storming towards Kai and Kuu. Grabbing the two by the fronts of their shirts, he shoved them back, hard, making them trip and fall to the ground. All eyes were on them again, Ai-chan and Fuu-chan squealing quietly and hugging each other for comfort. Kichin, camera in hand, watched the young men. A strange... feeling was coming over him. It was different from the feeling he got from them before. It was a different kind of excitement that called to him and made his blood boil. Bringing the camera up, he took an experimental shot, capturing the moment. It was powerful, with Riku standing over his two fallen bandmates, his body radiating violence and the stunned disbelief on the other two's faces. It was priceless.

His back to their audience, Riku looked down at his friends, hoping they'd understand.

"You're gonna give up that easily?" Riku goaded them, trying to convey what he meant with his eyes. "Come on! Where's your fighting spirits?!"

Kai and Kuu exchanged looks, then both of them got up and rushed Riku, tumbling him to the ground.

"Is that all you got?" Riku got back up, laughing. "Bring it!"

All hell broke loose as the three young men started fighting in earnest, tussling amongst each other as the camera flashed again and again. Kichin stood at just the edge of the fight, yelling at anybody who tried to stop Persona's in-fighting. This was beautiful! It was perfect! The look in their eyes as they sized each other up, their faces bruised and bloodied. It was beautiful!

The fight didn't last long though, as Kai raised a hand in defeat after a few minutes, leaning against the grand piano and panting hard. Riku, seeing that the blonde was out of the fight, collapsed to one knee, feeling more than a little bit exhausted. Kuu had dragged himelf to the piano bench and the discordant notes from the piano told them Kuu had made the keys his temporary head rest.

"Yes!" Kichin's camera kept flashing as he skirted around the three members of Persona, sprawled in a perfect scene around the piano. "Beautiful! This is it! This is the shot!"

With Kichin shouting excitedly for his staff to fix the lighting and get different filters and lenses for his shot, Kai gave Riku a smile.

"You're brilliant."'

Kuu laughed hoarsely. "Yeah, Riku. You're awesome."

"Thanks, guys." Riku groaned as Kichin scurried forward to reposition them around the piano.

"Come on," Kai held out a hand to Riku and pulled his friend to his feet.

---

"Kai." The three were in their change room, tending to their own cuts and bruises. It was just the three of them and it was finally the end of a day that had been way too long.

"Yeah?" Kai looked up from the small mirror he was using to assess the damage to his face. Thankfully, he only had a bruised lip. All three had pulled their punches and tried to aim a bit when the target was each other's faces.

"What's with you?" Kuu's quiet query caught Riku's attention too. "I mean, we're trying our hardest... and... and you just keep giving up when things get hard."

Riku turned in his seat, wanting to add his two cents. "Yeah. I thought you were all for this, Kai. We started together before Kuu and you've said you wanted to quit twice already--"

"It's just--" Kai frowned, shredding the tissue in his hand he had been using to dab at his lip. "It's just... I don't want to. You know? I don't wanna do things that aren't... me."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..." It was so hard for the blonde to get the words out. "You know, I always wanted to be an idol. Always. But it was always hard. I tried to keep my auditions a secret, but some of my classmates found out when they saw my day planner. Everybody told me that I wasn't idol material and I would never be. And even my family laughed when I told them what I wanted to be."

Kuu and Riku sat there quietly, listening to Kai pour his heart out. "They kept saying 'Nami's too boyish' or that 'Nami's not pretty enough' or that I wasn't interesting enough for people to idolize. So I don't ever wanna stray from who I really am. This whole outfit isn't me. I want to be an idol, but I want to do things my way and let people see who I am. I want to be able to give some little girl out there an example of what you can do if you stay true to yourself. I want her to look at me and go 'hey, if that boring, uninteresting, ugly girl can do it, why can't I?'. I know I have to compromise a bit with the situation we're in and I've been nothing but trouble. I'm sorry, guys. I'm... trying my best. But some times I'm like this cuz... I'm just an idiot for being so stubborn, I guess."

There was silence after that heavy confession. So this was Nami's story?

"We don't think you're an idiot." Riku broke the silence.

Kuu nodded, agreeing with Riku. His soft, pleasant voice soothing Kai's ruffled emotions. "I think you're interesting."

"And we think you're boyish--" Kai's glare made Riku and Kuu giggle a bit. "But you can be surprisingly girlish too. And we like you whether you're boyish or girlish."

"I think you're really cool, Kai." Kuu said sincerely. He really, really did. Kai was trying his best and under all of that negativity Kai spoke of before, Kuu knew how hard it was not to be tempted to give up. But Kai persevered. Kai had things that he hated, like all things 'L', yet he was trying his best in his situation with Ray and shachou and Marilyn. The blonde was unbending when it came to things that he felt passionate about like staying true to himself, and Kuu admired that.

"It's good and all to be true to yourself, but we all have to give up something to do this." Riku explained quietly.

"I know." Kai put his hands on his thighs and lowered his head, accepting Riku's admonishments. "It's an image I have to cultivate. We're 'Persona'. Our name implies that we aren't who we say we are. I'll try my best not to disappoint you guys--"

"You didn't disappoint us." Riku shook his head. "We just didn't know why you were coming from and you did a lot, helping us with Ray."

"Yeah," Kuu giggled and shared a grin with Riku. "Kai, you're soooo manly!"

"Shut up!" Kai squealed, slapping them girlishly while shrieking. Kuu and Riku shielded their heads, also shrieking and giggling until there was a rap at the doors.

"Ahem," Riku coughed, deepening his voice again. "Who's there?"

"If it's shachou..." Kai narrowed his eyes at the door, his voice a low growl. Kuu nodded, a slight snarl on his lips. The boys were still pretty worked up from the fight.

"Riku?" Katsuyuki's voice floated through the door. "Can I come in?"

"Ooooo.." Two pairs of eyes watched Riku slyly.

"Stop it!" Riku hissed then raised his voice a bit. "Come in."

"Well, we're going to talk to Kichin about those pictures." Kai grinned, arm around Kuu's waist and Kuu's arm around Kai's shoulders. Companionably, they strolled out of the room together, snickering as Katsuyuki side-stepped them into the room.

"Riku." Katsuyuki watched the young man with the red-streaked hair turn his back to him. For some odd reason, the young director felt a painful stab in his heart when the young idol did that. His heart hurt even more when the young man let out a small noise of discomfort while tending to his bruised cheek.

"Let me help you." Katsuyuki-san strode forward and pulled a chair over. Taking a new piece of cotton swap and water, he dabbed at Riku's face gently. As he helped Riku clean his face, Katsuyuki could feel himself getting a bit angry at the young man and his inventory of bruises and cuts.

"Thank you." Riku coughed. "You know, I really thought of running away. But... seeing you fighting, it got me going too... so... I'm going to fight this battle to the very end. It's hard, but I'm going to keep trying."

"Stop it." Katsuyuki-san packed away the bandages angrily. Was this what would happen? Riku would get hurt? Katsuyuki-san didn't want that! "This is why I worry about you! I can't get you out of my mind. That's why, earlier on, I rushed in to protect you when you were attacked."

What did he mean? Riku blinked, confused. "Katsuyuki-san?"

"Ah, I mean--" Katsuyuki panicked a bit. What had he just said?! "You're our company's merchandise, you know? As director of Sunny Music, it's expected that I show concern for you."

"Oh." Riku was slightly disappointed. He had thought, for just a second, that Katsuyuki-san was saying something else.

"Don't leave marks on your face, okay?" Katsuyuki sighed, looking at the young man. "Seems like not only Kai's hot-tempered, you're a fighter too."

Riku pouted. "Don't group me in with Kai!"

Katsuyuki laughed and patted the singer gently on the shoulder. "You guys are making my life a lot more interesting. I'll see you around, my schedule's packed today and I just wanted to see if you--you guys were doing alright. You guys. Well... uh... see ya."

It had been a long day indeed and right after their photo shoot, they had a tv recording to go to. It was just a small tv program that talked about young, upcoming idols and Persona had been invited on. Concealer worked wonders for their bruises although the hosts of the show still noticed their injuries and pointed them out. Kuu took that opportunity to talk a little bit about the photo shoot and plug in news about their upcoming single. They were even invited to perform it!

All through this, Saeko watched from the sidelines with Marilyn, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"Those poor boys, they've had a long day." Marilyn cooed.

"But they learned a lot, didn't they?" Saeko leaned over to whisper in Marilyn's ear, giving the secretary's ear a little nibble. Just a little nibble since they were on work time, to hint at things to come tonight. "Today, they've learned to deal with problems that could arise regarding their disguises. And they've learned to deal without me. We can't be there for them 24/7 and in emergencies, well, now I know they can handle them."

"Shachou is amaaaaazing." Marilyn sighed dreamily. And while Saeko and Marilyn watched the boys attentively, cultivating the young talents; someone else was keeping a close eye on their progress too.

"I don't like this." Keiji Sarukawa was in his office, taking a look at the tv program schedules. The new group, Persona, was getting a lot of coverage. Also, they were still getting publicity with that little suicide stunt at the Indies. The news stations were using this to highlight the state of young people nowadays, mentioning Persona a lot and their successful diffusing of the situation. Keiji wished that girl in the pink had really offed herself, then Persona wouldn't be getting all this attention. Already, two of the young talents in his own agency had been pushed aside for segments about Persona.

"That'll change soon..." Keiji muttered, shooting off some nicely worded emails to several of those television stations. Ray was always a seller and ratings went through the roof whenever she appeared on any of those programs. He would just hint that Ray might have made an appearance with her kouhais if their segments were still on. The producers at those stations would know what steps to take to just have a CHANCE at the elusive Diva gracing them with her presence. But of course, Ray would have to be convinced to sit there with her juniors. Keiji couldn't really control his products that well so whenever they got too rowdy, he would cut them off and bring in a new talent. Ray was special, however. She was wildly popular and had brought in more revenue for him than

'And her attachment to Kai is... worrying.' Keiji frowned a bit at the news that was circulating amongst the staff. Soon, it'll get out to the entertainment news hounds and then there would be trouble. He'd have to keep Ray busy so she couldn't slip her handlers any more and go off looking for the blonde from Persona...

It wasn't just the blonde that was worrying. If it was just one of the members of that group, the situation could be dealt with. But unfortunately, the whole group was a problem. Riku of Persona was highly charismatic without knowing it, charming the hell out of the staff and the higher-ups that had met the disarming young man. Hell, it seemed even the young director of Sunny Music, notorious for having a different favourite person every DAY, was slightly attached to the young Riku. Kuu, the newest addition, was also trouble. Keiji had stood outside the room they had booked for recording and heard a bit of what Kuu had composed. It was... breath-taking, really, how good it was.

His computer suddenly chirped out a melody and Keiji smiled upon seeing a reply to the email he had sent out. His smile widened to a grin as he read over the email quickly. The producers at so-and-so station understood Ray's busy schedule and would try to accomodate Monkey Productions... they would also push Persona's TV appearance to their late-night slot.

"Excellent," Keiji chuckled to himself and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on his desk as a prize. The next few seconds saw similar replies from all the people he had sent emails out to. If Keiji was asked about what he thought about Persona's future in the entertainment world, he would have to say that they would be like a shooting star... its appearance brief and possibly brilliant but noticed by few.

---

Riku found himself daydreaming more and more lately. And usually, his dreams featured the handsome Katsuyuki-san. He didn't know why, but he found himself thinking about the tall young director all the time.

"No, no... focus." Riku muttered to himself, doing up the buttons on his shirt.

"Yo, stop zoning out." Kai, in his tanktop and pulling on his trousers, grumbled. Kai was definitely not a morning person and extra grumpy in the morning especially since they've been staying up late in the recording studios. They would have to stop by a radio station for an interview, then Ai-chan and Fuu-chan would be waiting for them at TV Tohto for make-up and THEN a mid-day show. And all of this would be done in a shirt and a tie which the blonde had discovered, he abhorred. Kai had found out that his style of dress leaned more towards the comfortable bagginess of jeans and t-shirts. It would be a hectic morning and Kai was hoping there was nothing after the filming. "Today's an important day."

"Yes, that's right." Kuu had dark circles under his eyes and he was swaying side to side unsteadily as he buttoned up his shirt. The late nights were hitting Kuu especially hard since he was used to early bedtimes before he became an idol. But Kuu was doing his best! "Um... what's happening again?"

"It's the release date of our CD." Kai let out a huge sigh of exasperation.

"So this is the CD pamphlet that's gonna be distributed in music stores." Riku, Kai and Kuu had just gotten a copy of the pamphlet the night before, hot off the press. They were finally somebody! They were doing this! "I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Riku pinched himself experimentally and Kai and Kuu quickly joined in in pinching their leader.

"That hurts! It hurts!" Riku slapped their hands away. "Stop that!"

"Of course you're not dreaming." Kai grinned, suddenly excited. It was hitting all of them, in fact. Their CD debut! Their first single! "Lets go buy a copy after work!"

"For sure!" Kuu and Riku jumped up and down excitedly. "Lets go! Lets definitely go!"

The sounds of a whip cracking made all of them flinch and try to hide behind each other for shelter. They all KNEW what that sound was, they had all experienced the sharp sting of the whip and had developed an abject FEAR of the object.

"The three of you better hurry up!" Saeko barked, standing at the entrance of their room. "Everyone knows rookies arrive earlier at their appointments at least 20 minutes early!"

"H-HAI!" The three scurried around grabbing shirts, ties and jackets before rushing out of the room, eager to be away from Saeko and the punishment she was so happy to inflict on them with her whip. Within minutes, the boys were sitting in the back of a dark van with tinted windows and Marilyn was driving them to the radio station.

"Okay, remember," Saeko turned around to pin the three members with a piercing look. "You boys have to watch what you say, since you're on live. There are no second takes. Talk about your CD and try your best to be INTERESTING."

"But relax," cooed Marilyn, her eyes studiously on the road. "have fun."

"Try to be as natural as possible." Saeko added. "but not TOO natural. You have to be aware that if you say something stupid--"

"You're scaring us!" Kuu whined.

"Because you SHOULD BE SCARED." Saeko, scary face in place, was freaking out Persona.

"Shachou," Marilyn sighed. It was going to be a long ride to the radio station. Indeed, by the time they had arrived, all three members of Persona were significantly freaked out.

"We can do this." Riku exited the parked van on shaky legs. "We can do this..."

Kai exited the van, looking pale and unwell, Saeko's scare tactics having worked splendidly on the blonde. Kuu also, didn't look well but for another reason altogether. Kuu was a nervous eater and when he was nervous, he needed snacks.

"I'm hungry." Kuu announced. That jolted everyone out of their thoughts and Kai and Riku were at his side attentively.

"You didn't eat, did you?" Kai was glad to concentrate on someone else's problems instead of her own.

"Kuu, you have to eat breakfast, you know?" Riku scoffed. "It's the most important meal of the day!"

"I think the radio station might have some stuff set out for you guys." Marilyn placed a finger to her chin thoughtfully, then glanced at her wristwatch. "And we have plenty of time for a little something to eat!"

"OSU!" The three raised their hands in the air in excitement.

"Well, get something to eat." Saeko tsked. "I'm going to meet with some people and I'll come get you guys later."

The small group entered the building, of which the 33rd floor housed Tokyo's most popular radio station, Toki-Wave FM. Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, GLAY, SMAP; and even foreign stars like Avril Lavigne and one time, Michael Jackson! Arriving on their floor, the elevator doors opened to a reception area where the girls manning the front greeted them politely and one of them lead them to a waiting area where drinks and refreshments had been set out for guests. As they walked through a long corridor, bright lights off to the side caught Kuu's attention. In a side corridor that lead to the kitchen, an American-style vending machine with American-style snacks beckoned to the young man.

"Mmmm..." Kuu skipped over gleefully, forgetting totally that he should be following his friends. Licorice, gummy bears, sour peaches... all the candy that Kuu couldn't get in Japan, was there in that vending machine! And... was it possible... yes, it was... JOLLY RANCHERS!

Before Kuu could get to the machine, however, someone had stepped in front of him and blocked his way. Kuu skidded to a stop, looking at the back of the person in front of him. She was pretty tall, with short, light brown hair. She had on a pair of tight ripped jeans tucked into a pair of fashionably-worn cowboy boots, a cream-coloured peasant top on and necklaces and earrings that made a nice jangling sound every time she moved.

"What to eat, what to eat..." The mystery girl took off her sunglasses and squinted at the goodies inside the vending machine.

"Ano..." Kuu smiled at the woman when she lookd back at him. "What are you looking for? Something salty? Sweet? Sour?"
"Hmm... salty." The woman hung her sunglasses from the front of her shirt.

"Well, these are good." Kuu pointed to the dill and sour cream potato chips then to the hickory smoked potato sticks. "Or these, if you're looking for salty."

"What are you getting?" The woman asked him curiously. Kuu grinned and pointed to the last pack of jolly ranchers in the vending machine. "These! My dad brought some back for me on a trip to America and since we don't sell them in Japan, it's hard to get!"

"Are they really good?"

"They're the best!" Kuu grinned. The woman nodded, taking out a 500yen coin and putting it in the machine, then depressing the button for the jolly ranchers.

"Hey!" Kuu pouted. "I thought you said you wanted something salty!"

"You convinced me to get these." The devilish woman chuckled as she slowly unwrapped a jolly rancher and popped it in her mouth. She made a truly obscene face to show how much she enjoyed the taste of the candy. "Mmmm... It's sooooo good!"

"You're a horrible woman! You're horrible!" Kuu blurted out, almost near tears.

"There, there." The woman patted the top of Kuu's head and the tearful young man jerked his head away. "Would you like one?"

Kuu immediately brightened. "Yes, please!"

"Too bad." In slack-jawed disbelief at the sheer EVILNESS of that short-haired woman, Kuu watched her walk away. It was in this state of stunned anger that Kai and Riku found Kuu.

"Kuu, why'd you wander off?" Riku scolded and was startled to see tears at the corner of Kuu's eyes. "Wha-what'd I say?!"

"Did you get lost?" Kai patted Kuu on the back sympathetically which immediately set off the young man. Bursting into angry tears, Kuu's sob-filled angry babblings were barely understandable.

"You.. candy... what?" Riku frowned, confused as he tried to comfort his friend.

"Jolly ranchers? Evil... woman?" Kai exchanged looks with Riku and they both shrugged. "Come on, Kuu! Pull yourself together, we're on in five!"

Kuu accepted some tissues from Riku, dabbing at his eyes and blowing his nose, still very angry at having his treat stolen. Who the hell was that woman?! How could she have done this?! But he had to put all that aside... they were on!

The recording room was small and there were three chairs set up for them with headphones and mics, with two windows looking into the recording room. One window was connected to the control room and the other window was situated just beside the control room window behind Kai and Riku while Kuu was seated right beside the DJ and able to look out the window. The DJ greeted them quickly, introducing herself as Oshima Mai then ran the boys through a quick test of the equipment and then got the signal from one of the techs in another room that they had ten seconds before they went live.

"And we're back on Toki-Wave FM, Tokyo's number one music station!" Oshima Mai sounded quite professional. "Today we have Persona stopping in for a visit, despite this being a busy day for them since it's the release date of their single, '3 Seconds'. Thanks for coming in, guys."

"It's no problem at all." Riku said demurely as his bandmates echoed his statement. "We're happy to be here."

"Well, why don't you guys introduce yourselves?" Mai smiled at the three young men. Two of them looked quite nervous while one looked like someone had just kicked his dog. She hoped these kids would do alright!

"Well, I'm Riku."

"Kai."

"And Kuu." Kuu growled, still remembering the woman who had stolen his candy.

"We're Persona." Riku added quickly, nudging Kuu with his knee. What was wrong with Kuu? "Wow... well, we were just talking about how we can't believe that we've come to this, you know. Putting out our first single, working on our first CD..."

"Yeah." Kai nodded. "From nothing to something, it took a lot of hard work and a lot of support from a lot of different people for us to get here today."

"How did you guys end up together? What's the story behind it?" Mai leaned over, in a show of interest. "At the beginning, when you guys first came into the public eye, there were only the two of you--Riku and Kai--in Persona. How did the three of you get together?"

"Well..." The three in question exchanged glances and Riku started speaking first. "We had actually met before, we had come in for an audition--"

"--and bombed it." Kai laughed a bit, remembering that fateful day they had met. "But we met each other."

"And me and Kai accidentally stumbled on to an audition where our manager saw us and signed us right away." Riku explained. "It all happened pretty quickly."

"How about Kuu?" Mai turned to the other member of the group. "How come only the two of you were signed?"

"Well, Kuu had another... offer before, but then he rejected it." Riku said carefully. Saeko and Marilyn had come up with a 'first meeting' cover story for them already. The story was close enough to the real story so they wouldn't be too confused.

"I joined up with Riku and Kai after the Indies performance." Kuu said quietly. The tone of his voice, the seriousness drew everyone's attention. "When they helped that girl at the Indies, they really reached out to her. And I thought to myself, 'these guys would be great people to be friends with', you know. They'd be people I'd trust to back me up and be there when I needed someone. And I'd be proud to be counted as one of the people they needed too."

"When you guys saved that girl, you know everybody's calling you heroes," Mai nodded, encouraging her guests to talk.

"We're not heroes." Kai shook his head. "The people who ARE though, are the everyday people that try their best. But it's hard to keep going and we all need someone to tell us that we ARE doing our best."

"And just a quick little sidenote," Riku interrupted with a small smile. "There are people out there who do care and whom you could talk to if you're depressed, lonely and feeling suicidal. You can search for Befrienders, I don't have the webpage address but--"

"--we at Toki-Wave will have that site up on this station's homepage after this show." Mai nodded seriously. "This topic, one of suicide, should be tackled head on and shouldn't be avoided because many people suffer from suicidal thoughts and feelings and we shouldn't push these people aside."

There was a small pause before Mai continued with a slightly lighter tone of voice. "Well, that was a heavy topic that needed to be touched on. I believe after the security at the Indies helped that young girl, you guys sang '3 Seconds' for the first time on that stage. Could we get Persona to sing us a bit of that song to lighten the mood?"

Riku exchanged looks with his bandmates, both who gave their leader a nod. "Yeah, sure, we can do that."

On the count of three, Persona launched into an a cappella version of '3 Seconds', singing the first part of their song and the chorus for '3 Seconds'. It was unrehearsed and hadn't gone through the machinations of song-making to filter out undesirable sounds like off-key notes or unscripted key-changes. But their raw voices melded well together, each finding a different pitch suited to them and reaching a polyphonic harmony that sounded beautiful, even better than the recorded version.

"That was great!" Mai clapped enthusiastically, and so did the techs in the control room though Kuu was the only one in position to see them. He was also the only one in position to see a certain woman pass by the hallway window, then come back for a double take.

'You!' Kuu narrowed his eyes and glared at the short-haired woman at the window who grinned at him, then walked off again. Two seconds later, a manicured hand holding up an opened package of Jolly Rancher candies popped up from the bottom of the window.

"Wow, you guys." Mai fanned herself a bit. "Three seconds with Persona has made me a fan! And it seems that we have several callers who want to talk to you!"

Kuu watched that package of Jolly Ranchers waving from side to side, murderously intent on the tantalizing multi-coloured treats.

"Kuu, so what do you do for fun?" Kuu whipped his head around to look at Mai intently, who balked at the way Kuu was staring at her.

"I like eating candy." Kuu answered, then turned back to the window, only to find the Jolly Ranchers and the hand holding them up, GONE.

"O-okay... well, we have another caller on the line! Her name is Mariko... Mariko, are you there?" Mai smiled encouragingly, though the listener probably couldn't see her.

"Hi, this question's for the one with the hair with blue streaks." The voice was familiar to Kuu, but he couldn't quite place it...

"Hi." Kuu said hesitantly and tried to loosen up and focus back on this interview. He remembered reading somewhere that people could hear you smile through the phone so he tried that. "That's me! I'm Kuu; the one with the blue streaks."

"Alright, Kuu..." The next thing this person said made her immediately recognizable. "What type of candy do you like?"

The woman was back at the window, waving the package of Jolly Ranchers with one hand and holding her cellphone to her ear with the other. Mai could also see this person in the window and just sat there frozen, not really knowing what to do.

"I. Like. Jolly Ranchers!" Kuu said through gritted teeth, trying to keep a smile on his face.

"Oh, I've never heard of them. Can you tell me more?" Mariko smirked a bit.

"They're American candy and they're hard to get in Japan." Kuu said quickly, his voice high and falsely bright. "And they're my favourite! I *just* found some in this station and some WOMAN took the last pack of them!"

"Wellthat'sallthetimewehavefortoday!" Mai pressed the 'hang-up' button several times, just to make sure their caller was gone. Mariko smirked one last time, blew Kuu a kiss through the window and walked off.

"Thank you Persona, for coming in! We're so happy to have you here at Toki-Wave FM and hope that you guys come back some time soon!" Kai and Riku, a bit confused at Kuu and Mai's strange behaviour, replied with polite thank you's. "And here's Persona's new single, '3 Seconds'!"

As soon as the light that signalled they were live went off, Mai threw off her headphones and turned to Kuu.

"I'm so sorry about that!" Bowing as low as possible to Kuu while sitting in her chair, Mai was on her way to prostrating herself on the ground to her guests.

"No, it wasn't your fault." Kuu tried to take deep steadying breaths. Who the HELL was that woman?!

"What's going on?" Riku looked from Kuu back to Mai, confused.

"Nothing. It's nothing." Kuu shrugged, forcing himself to be calm. He had to let it go. That woman was just trying to get a rise out of him.

"We better get going." Kai took a look at his watch. "We've gotta get to TV Tohto soon." Giving Mai a bow, he flashed the girl an apologetic grin. "Sorry to have to run out."

"No, no, it was great having you guys here, really!" Mai gushed. Indeed, it had been really nice to have these guys here. They were a breath of fresh air, totally without an air of pretense about them. They certainly were new, but the way Kuu had handled Mariko's teasing was quite impressive.

As Persona filed out of the room and hustled back to the waiting room to get their stuff, Kuu kept his eyes opened for that 'Mariko' woman, but she was nowhere to be found. However, while Saeko was hustling them out of the waiting area, a young woman, obviously an assistant of sorts, rushed in to the room, asking if anybody had seen "Mariko-sama's" bottle of Calpis soda.

'REVENGE.' Kuu spotted the bottle on a table... right next to a salt shaker. This was TOO easy. The sweet drink was quickly doctored with the contents of the salt shaker and left it for the assistant to find. After the young woman had rushed out the room, Kuu slipped away from her own group to follow the assistant.

"--getting a lot of guests today!" Mai was back on the air with her latest guest. "Shinoda Mariko's also managed to pop by for a visit! You started off modeling, is that correct?"

"Yes, it started as a part-time job, but it branched out to something a lot more full-time."

"But now you're doing a bit of acting, right? You've been in a couple of dramas before, but I hear you've gotten a starring role in a new movie coming out."

Kuu didn't hear the reply, even though there were speakers outside of the recording room allowing anybody looking in through the window to listen in. He was too focused on the drink in Shinoda Mariko, that evil woman's, hand. Mariko was in a very good position. She was sitting to the right of Mai, facing the window to the hallway, but was too intent on what Mai was saying to notice Kuu at the window right away.

'REVENGE.' Kuu glared daggers at Mariko when she finally caught sight of him. Smirking a bit, the model raised her bottle of calpis soda at him in a little 'cheers' motion, placed the bottle to her lips and tilted her head back to drink. In a few short seconds, Mariko had sprayed the doctored calpis soda all over the floor, thankfully missing Mai completely.

Only then did Kuu allow himself an evil smirk of his own, meeting Mariko's furious eyes as he watched her wipe soda from her chin.

"Steal my candy? That's what you get." Kuu let out a low, evil chuckle and blew Mariko a little kiss of his own before running off to find his bandmates.

---

"It was scary yesterday, my heart was racing." Riku whispered to Kai. Finally, they had a little down time after hustling over to TV Tohto from Toki-Wave FM where they had lost Kuu several times. Now, the the three young men that made up Persona plus Saeko and Marilyn were traveling up the elevator to their tv shoot and the boys decided to take this time to go over what had happened yesterday night. Yesterday, after the photo shoot, Persona had decided they needed a break. Putting away their boy disguises, they had gone out dressed up like normal girls and gone to an arcade to have fun. Little did they know that the snakeguy who had tried to take Asahi's purupuru was there and had started after them when he had spotted them! "I thought I was going to die!"

"I know." Kai frowned, seriously worried. Those guys had guns! "I wonder what that snakeguy wants from us. I wonder why he's chasing us."

'Don't tell me..." Riku slipped out his cellphone, fingering the purupuru doll that was hanging from his cellphone. "it's because of this?"

"It can't be." Kai said stubbornly. "What the hell would an old man want with a purupuru?"

Riku nodded. Kai was right. What would an old man want with a purupuru anyways? Sure, it was limited edition and hard to find...

As the two members of the group pondered this dangerous person stalking them, the elevator chimed, signaling a stop. The sudden appearance of the VERY man that was stalking them almost made Riku and Kai's heart stop as they tried their best not to gape at their pursuer. Seeing the elevator door closing behind him, Riku and Kai tried to dodge around the guy and escape, but they pulled back from the closing doors, leaving them trapped in the small cramped elevator with him.

"Help us--!"

"That's dangerous." Kuroda said gruffly to the two young boys. Really, at their age and playing on elevators? Riku and Kuu looked over at their pursuer in disbelief and he gave them a small nod and a smile. He didn't recognize them!

"Thank you very much," Saeko thanked the tall man demurely, while reaching out pinching fingers towards her two rowdy boys. "Really, they're a bunch of reckless kids."

"I-te-teee!...OSU!" Riku and Kai clenched their teeth and bore the pain admirably. Kuu, standing quietly in the corner, remained silent. The elevator ride continued on in silence until they all got off on the same floor.

"Haaaa... THANK GODDD!" Kai and Riku watched until their pursuer disappeared around the corridor and breathed a sigh of relief. Their relief was short-lived as Saeko took hold of their ears and pinched them hard, stopping Riku and Kai in their tracks.

"That guy just now," Saeko growled, "That's the one chasing the two of you, right? What the hell did you two dooooo..."

Saeko twisted their ears painfully and the two young men could only flail about helplessly.

"That hurts--we REALLY don't know!" Kai hissed.

"We didn't do anything at all!"

"Well, it's none of my business." Saeko glowered at them. "But if I find out you two are causing trouble, it's a hundred strokes for the both of you!"

"Hai." Kai and Riku sighed, resigned to their fate.

"Ara," Marilyn's confused exclamation caught their attention. "This is bad... Kuu's missing!"

The elevator suddenly chimed behind them and the doors opened to reveal a sleepy-eyed Kuu.

"I'm sorry," Kuu yawned, plodding slowly up to Marilyn. "I overslept!"

"You were sleeping with you eyes open?" Kai gaped at the taller boy who shrugged and grinned sheepishly.

"It's a talent, I guess."

"Stop disappearing on us!" Kai sighed. "Really, Kuu."

"Yes," Marilyn glanced at her watch and let out a tiny gasp. "Come on, quickly! We're going to be late!"

"OSU!"

I love AKB48 whole heartily.
I love writing stories and draw manga.
Fanfic:Blood Curse
One Shots
Mendol x AKB48

Like to go Japan someday and met them in person.

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