Author's notes ~ God this took forever to write! >__< Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoy the fruit of my labors. Yay for drama!!
Edit: If you have already read this chapter please re-read it, I majorly revamped the final part of it. Enjoy.-----------------------------------------------
Mendol: A Man's World
Chp. 3 Pt. 4
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"Kai... What. The. Hell."
Kai shifted nervously on the couch; sure he was expecting his ass to get chewed when he got home but he hadn't expected his executioner to be Marilyn of all people.
Kuu and Riku watched anxiously from their place at the stairs, like two brothers watching their younger sibling getting yelled at. They dared not say anything lest they wanted to incite the wrath of the normally soft-spoken secretary.
"I can't believe it! I didn't think it was humanly possible to be this DENSE!"
Kai flinched, but fought to keep his eyes leveled on Marilyn's face, crossing his arms in an effort to look unruffled.
Marilyn was positively livid. Between her lover's hurtful antics and the absolute disaster the little blonde tornado had caused at TV Tohto, oh yes, someone was getting it tonight. When they all got home she had been hoping to be able to enjoy a nice calm evening out to smooth over things with Saeko but was faced with dealing with this insanity instead!
"Don't you understand?! Ray is not only Monkey Production's face, she is our COUNTRY's best selling artist! You can't just shoot your mouth off in front of her!"
Kai growled at that and leered at her through narrowed eyes, righteous anger flashing inside him. "She's the one in the wrong! The girl was acting like an insufferable bitch! Her studio crew even thanked me!"
"That's not the issue dammit! Do you know that Sarukawa-Shachou can blacklist you in this industry?! Then Persona won't be able to find ANY work, and if that happens, you'll be a man for the rest of your life!"
Riku and Kuu paled at the revelation, suddenly not feeling as bad for their cohort as they had been. In his bull-headedness, he had risked their womanhood! Riku huffed and crossed his arms as Kuu rolled his eyes at Kai, leaning in a bored fashion against the wall. Kai was definitely on his own with this one.
Kai stood and faced her, his mouth curled into a self-righteous snarl as he glared at her. "That behavior was INEXCUSABLE, she deserved to get slapped! She was lucky all I did was yell at her!"
"Enough."
Saeko came up behind them, the picture of calm as she took her place beside Marilyn. "It seems no matter what you say to a fool, it's useless, like talking to a rock." She frowned, then brandished a black cat 'o nine tails whip.
Kai's eyes widened at the sight of it.
Kuu and Riku gasped in concert. "A whip?! Why does she have that?!" Kuu cried out behind his hands.
Saeko leveled sultry eyes at Marilyn who blushed at the sight of it, intimately familiar with the instrument.
"Marilyn..." She purred, putting the whip in her hands as the secretary looked at her confusedly. "Make his body understand..."
Kai gaped, the reality of what they were going to do dawning on him.
"You people are crazy!" He yelped as he whirled around and attempted to make a run for it.
Saeko immedately jumped forward and grabbed both of his arms as she shoved the young man into a prostrated position on the couch with his ass in the air.
"Hey- Let go!" He cried out angrily, struggling against the president as she held him down with almost inhuman strength.
"Do you get it now?!" She hissed, nodding at Marilyn and giving the secretary the go ahead to proceed.
Marilyn looked unsure but did as she was told, the whip cracking angrily through the air before landing squarely on Kai's buttocks.
"I~TE!!!" He howled as a blinding flash of pain tore through his body, white spots floating across his vision as he threw a murderous glare at Marilyn over his shoulder. She shrugged and offered him an apologetic look in turn.
"Again!" Saeko growled, her eyes leering angrily down at Kai as she held the struggling idol down.
Kai stiffened and braced himself as the whip sliced through the air and cracked over his skin once more.
"GAH!! Efffff....!" Gasping, Kai gripped the couch so tight that every muscle in his arms were taut and outlined.
"If you do something like this again-"
The whip whistled and found its target once more.
"I~TEEEEE!!" Tears stung at the corners of his eyes but he refused to let them fall as he glared up at Shachou.
"You won't be able to sit for a hundred years!" She hissed, her nails digging into Kai's arms.
Kuu and Riku were mesmerized by the sight as they watched lash after lash rain down on Kai's buttocks. The blond was angry and they could see the tears in his eyes, but he was much too proud to let them fall, so instead he would simply cry out, gasp, and curse the President, her secretary and their parentage.
"Should we... Do something?" Kuu asked tentatively, wincing with every crack of the whip. Riku flinched a bit as well, feeling sorry for him, but then quickly remembering that the little blonde's antics could have well had them black-listed and then, god-forbid, they would have been forced to live as men forever. With that in mind, whatever sympathy he had had disappeared.
"It'll be over soon anyway." He said simply, shaking his head as Kai continued to cry out and struggle.
Marilyn shut her eyes, winding up for another lash, feeling abject guilt begin to well in her stomach. However, before the whip could find its mark Saeko lifted a staying hand in the air.
"Consider this a learning experience my 'boy'," She drew out the word condescendingly as Kai glared up at her defiantly, his breath a bit ragged as his buttocks burned like liquid fire. "If you ever want to be a girl again, then you will do 'exactly' as I say, to the letter, or else..."
Kai's stomach dropped at that and he gulped audibly, the reality of the situation dawning on him like a cold splash of water. He was a boy, he couldn't leave even if he wanted, who would take him? His family? Fat chance. His only real shot at getting his life back rested with Shachou. With those humbling thoughts in mind he let his head hang in resignation.
"Good boy." She said, her tone mockingly blithe as she let him go and patted his head like a dog. "Now, in my infinite wisdom, I managed to salvage this travesty by getting you boys an invitation to Fast Club where you'll be keeping Katsuyuki-san company in the VIP lounge for the evening."
Kuu and Riku looked up at that, shock written on their faces. Fast Club was notorious as a sordid playground for the rich and famous. A proverbial Gomorra in the center of Tokyo where only the most beautiful and privileged could hope to even stand in line. Unknowns like them getting vip entry to the club was simply unheard of.
"A-are-itai... You serious?!" Kai exclaimed, gingerly rubbing his abused bottom as he pushed himself to his feet, the punishment momentarily forgotten.
Riku and Kuu stood and joined Kai to stand in front of the president, genuine curiousity written on their faces.
"As serious as the plague," She said flatly, leveling serious eyes at her charges. "This night can make us or break us, and so in effect I expect you all to be at your best, so get ready, you leave in an hour."
"An HOUR?!" They yelped in concert, turning tail and rushing up the stairs to their dressing rooms. She couldn't have warned them sooner?!
Marilyn sighed and rubbed her forehead, taking her place at Saeko's side. "... Spankings, really?..."
"You know what they say, spare the rod..." Saeko said dryly, crossing her arms and staring hard into Persona's backs as they disappeared upstairs.
It was then that Marilyn glanced coldly at Saeko from the corner of her eye, gritting her teeth. "... About earlier..." She said, her soft voice belying the anger seething just below the surface.
Saeko suddenly whirled on the secretary and swept her into a rough and passionate kiss. Her mouth locked on hers, her lips soft and her tongue brazen. Marilyn gasped against her lover's mouth as Saeko's passion melted her, as it always did. Her legs turned to rubber. Pulsating warmth radiated low in her belly and she submitted helplessly, her body almost limp as the president threw her on the couch, gently taking the whip from Marilyn's hand as their lips finally parted.
"... Are... You jealous?" Saeko said breathlessly, sinking down on top of her and sliding her body sensuously along the length of Marilyn's until their mouths touched gently.
"... I love you... You know that right...?" Marilyn said against her lips, turning her eyes to the side as her face flushed prettily.
Saeko's expression became gentle and her voice softened with a tenderness reserved specifically for the woman beneath her. "... Forgive me."
"What else can I do...?" Marilyn sighed, her voice soft and resigned.
Saeko cupped the back of the woman's head and crushed her lips in another soul searing kiss as her hands wandered to the hemline of Marilyn's skirt, hiking it up indecently.
Little did the two know that they had a voyeur standing at the top of the stairwell, his jaw slack and his eyes wide.
"What the freak nasty..." Kai said helplessly, gritting his teeth as he shuddered in disgust, clenching his eyes shut and running back to the dressing room. "I feel like I live at a fucking porn studio!"
Kuu and Riku looked up as Kai rushed back into the room and slammed the door behind him, leaning against it and clutching his chest. He was pale as a sheet.
"I thought you were getting a drink of water..." Kuu said wonderingly, holding out a pair of jeans in front of him, comparing the color against his chosen dress shirt.
"Never 'effin mind..." Kai growled out, his voice a bit shaken. God! Why the hell did he have to be afraid to go down to his own living room? Oh yeah, because there was another live freaking L show going on on the couch. "Remind me to burn that couch in the morning..."
"Oh, they're L-ing again huh?" Kuu said, realization dawning on his face as his mouth drew into a mischievous grin. "I wanna see!"
Kai looked at him like he had grown another head. "Kuu no ecchi!! Are you out of-"
Riku grunted audibly, interrupting the two as he rolled his eyes. "Will both of you just get over it and get dressed?!" As he pulled an undershirt over his head, another thought occurred to him and he threw them both a wry smile. "... They'll be done by the time we get down there anyway."
Kuu giggled as Kai turned a sickly color green.
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The darkness of the living room enveloped Ray like a blanket, as if to shroud her shame as she held her cellphone in front of her.
It was on speaker.
"... Say that you hate me, I want to hear it Ray..."She opened her mouth to reply, but her throat clenched painfully.
The phone clicked shut almost of its own volition in her hand.
A torrent of emotion washed over her and she backed up until she fell against the wall, her knees going weak. Gasping in pain, she slid bonelessly to the floor, screwing her eyes shut as she fought back tears.
"Why...?" She croaked, drawing her knees to her chest and clenching her teeth so tightly that she feared they might crack. "Why can't I say it...?" Frustrated, she threw the phone across the room, hearing it crack against the floorboards as the battery case fell apart.
"Honey I'm hoo~me!" A voice called from outside the apartment.
The sudden opening of the front door drew her attention and she looked up to see who it was, only to be suddenly blinded by all of her living room lights coming on at once.
"Ray, why are you sitting in the dark like a vampire? it's creepy!" Mariko huffed, kicking off her shoes at the door and walking into the living room. Her playfully annoyed expression transformed into one of shock when she spied the songstress slumped against the wall. Without thinking twice she rushed to the girl's side.
"Ray honey... Are you okay?!" Her voice was laced with worry as she reached out and soothed her fingers through the girl's hair.
Ray looked up at her, and the expression on her face made Mariko's heart break.
The stylist saw her, not as Japan's number one Diva, but as her best friend, sitting in front of her struggling to retain her composure. But tears were slipping through, burning paths down her cheeks to fall soundlessly into her lap. She wasn't strong enough to keep it in, to hold it back. She was breaking. And soon enough, the floodgates burst open and she wept helplessly, burying her face in her knees.
Mariko immediately took Ray into her arms and the songstress fell into her, the girl's heartwrenching sobs muffled into her best friend's chest. The woman held her, held her as tightly as she could, rocking her gently and feeling her pain, a terrible hurt that couldn't be comforted.
"Don't tell me... You got another call?" The stylist rested her chin on Ray's shoulder, feeling a familiar anger flare within her.
Ray didn't say anything, just clenched her eyes shut and buried her face deeper into Mariko's chest, as if she could hide from the world.
".... I'm so sorry Ray..." Mariko said slowly, her eyes downcast as hopelessness and feelings of futility replaced the anger. She couldn't do anything but be there for Ray... If she could, she would kill the mother fucker herself, but Ray was still helplessly in love, and in the tug of war between the two, that other person always inevitably came out on top.
"Mariko... I want to die..." Ray croaked out, her voice pained and thick with tears. "It hurts... It hurts so much... I don't know how much more I can take..."
Mariko stiffened and her arms tightened protectively around the girl.
"Shh... It's okay, you're okay, I'm here... I'll always be here..." She said soothingly, rubbing Ray's back as the girl sobbed into her. "I know you won't hear it, but that scum bag isn't worth the tears hun... I'll tell you what, how about we get out of here?"
Ray peered up at Mariko, her eyes red and shimmering. "G-*hic*get... out?*hic*" Her voice was broken by intermittent hiccups as Mariko lifted her head up to look down at her, smiling gently.
"You're Japan's Number One Diva for crying out loud, you've sold out venues from Tokyo to Los Angeles, you don't need to sit here crying alone in the dark... Let's go out. Get your mind off things." Mariko offered, hoping to bring the girl's spirits and confidence back to life.
Ray roughly swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, ashamed that she had been caught like this. Mariko knew about the harassment but at Ray's insistence had kept her distance. The songstress had always put up a strong front; no tears... But the depression, the loneliness and anger had been slowly chipping away at her, crumbling defenses that had taken years to build.
Her eyes turned to her cell phone, broken on the floor and somehow her resolve strengthened. She needed to forget. Being the damsel in distress just wasn't her style.
"Let's go." She said simply, her voice firming as Mariko grinned, taking the girl's hands as she lifted her up to her feet.
"Hell yeah, let's turn that Diva swag back on." The stylist said, hooking an arm around Ray's shoulders. Ray sniffed and turned up her nose.
"Turn on my swag?" Ray looked scandalized. "It never turns off."
"Oh yeah? Then which
whip are we taking out tonight?" Mariko said, laughing slightly. "The Maserati? Or -oooh... Speaking of swag, how about the Phantom? It's fitting because, if I remember correctly-" She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned. "-
a Diva is a female version of a-"
"Hustler." Ray said, rolling her eyes at the reference to the consummate Diva's anthem as she shook off Mariko's arm and disappeared into the bedroom.
"We're taking the Phantom by the way." She called out from behind the door. "Keys are by the fridge, oh and please, call Sayaka."
Mariko rolled her eyes and sighed, her voice slightly relieved. Ray seemed alright, and dammit if she wasn't going to make sure that her best friend was going to have the time of her life tonight. With her resolve strengthened, Mariko ran to the bathroom to readjust her make-up.
Yep, tonight would definitely be a night they would never forget.
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Kuu bit his lower lip, feeling a bit uncomfortable in their opulent surroundings. He came from a well to do family but this hotel was on a completely different level. The lobby was, for lack of better words, magnificent. It was spacious and modern; set with high vaulted mosaic ceilings, pale off-white marble flooring and trimmed with towering wooden pillars made of solid mahogany adorned with gold accented lamps. They had all arrived by taxi and were honestly a bit embarrassed as the parking attendant opened the door for them while they witnessed other hotel guests arriving in stretch limos and luxurious foreign automobiles. They were all hopelessly out of their element, but at the very least looked dressed for the part they were to play for the evening.
Riku was, as usual, the picture of an affluent gentleman. He wore a grey Burberry suit with peaked lapels paired with a charcoal colored collar-less shirt made from egyptian cotton. His perfectly coifed black, red-streaked hair fell over dark, reflective Prada aviator sunglasses, tying nicely with a tungsten Rolex watch and black patent leather shoes.
Kai, ever the bad-boy, wore a rugged off-black, military style double breasted jacket left open coupled with a black tie, untucked white dress shirt and dark, custom-fit straight leg jeans loosely tucked into stylish, black leather boots. His blonde hair was carelessly tousled and he had a gun-metal colored roman cross strung about his neck.
Kuu, compared with his band mates, took a complete 180 insofar as his style choice. A white leather motorcycle style jacket fell over a white, v-neck graphic tee outlined with renaissance style angels paired with white jeans and taupe colored suede ankle boots. Thick, white rimmed fashion glasses and a platinum, long chained necklace with angel wings tied the look together. All in all, the three, once they were in the hotel, looked like they belonged there.
"I can't do this..." Kai whispered, nudging Riku as he fidgeted nervously. "He's looking at us like we're criminals..."
"Shh..." Riku hissed through his teeth, readjusting his dark rimmed glasses and looking away.
They stood in front of a gold plated elevator with a formally dressed doorman going over a list of names in a binder, looking up at them every now and then skeptically. Fast Club took up the entire top floor of Tokyo's Ritz Carlton Hotel and had an elevator specifically reserved for entry there.
"Ahh... Here we go, 'Persona' right?" The door man said, flipping down a paper in his binder and looking at them pointedly, still a bit skeptical. He had never heard of these guys in his life. How the heck had they gotten a invitation to-
Suddenly, a couple high-pitched squeals resounded from the other side of the lobby and they all looked up simultaneously to see what the commotion was about.
"What the heck...?" Kai mumbled, tilting his head as he saw the couple paparazzo that had been milling about the lobby seem to magically quadruple in number as they rushed the door. The reason for the excitement presented itself in the form of a black Rolls Royce Phantom gliding to a halt at the hotel's entrance.
Kuu's mouth dropped, his eyes almost falling out of his head.
"That car... Is worth $400,000..." He breathed, he had never seen a real Phantom in all his life and was almost sickened by the fact that that much money could be personified in a single object.
"Seriously?!" Kai said, his eyes widening, suddenly very curious as to who was the passenger in that vehicle. His father could have bought their house ten times over with that kind of money!
Riku looked on with an expression of interest. He was impressed for sure, but not shocked, they were, after all, in front of the private entrance to Fast Club, their generation's Studio 54.
Looking through the glass entrance, they spied a tall female driver dressed in a black leather trench coat get out and turn to pull open the rear suicide door. A tall, glamorous woman with short brown hair stepped out of the car, smiling at the cameras and wiggling her immaculately manicured fingers at the paparazzo swarming around her. She was decked out in a tight black shoulder-less dress paired with matching open toe Jimmy Choo stilettos. She turned around and bent to offer her hand to the other passenger in the back seat. A few moments later appeared a graceful, denim enclosed leg adorned with a black, ankle high D&G stiletto boot. As the woman rose out of the car, a wave of excitement seemed to roll through the crowd and they rushed around the vehicle, cameras flashing furiously. Four large men waiting at the entrance of the hotel quickly joined the female bodyguard to form a circle around the two women, obscuring them from Persona's view.
"Ahem... Gentlemen, if you please." The doorman said, gesturing to the now open elevator.
Snapped out of their stupor, the boys quickly shuffled inside.
"You know.. I could have sworn that was Mariko-san..." Kuu mused, putting a finger to his lips as he watched the massive glass doors finally open, the bodyguards pushing through the crowd to make their way to the elevator. The doorman, noticing them, immediately thrust out a hand to hold the elevator's doors open, not even bothering to look at the guest list.
"Nah, you must be- Oh my god..." Kai trailed off, his eyes bugging out as the protective circle around the women parted at the entrance, revealing Mariko and her tall, gorgeous companion.
"... You..." The woman breathed, her eyes wide as she took off her white Chanel sunglasses to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Her stomach squeezed uncomfortably as a frown creased her lips.
"Ray!" They all said together, Kai falling back against the rails of the elevator in surprise. Of all the people to show up tonight... The insufferable Diva had to make an appearance. She 'had' to have hated his guts for the scene he had caused earlier in the day. And why the hell was she with Mariko?!
Ray looked about to say something, but then quickly got in the elevator and turned around, staring out the door and choosing to ignore the three as she gathered her thoughts.
'Interesting...' Sayaka, who stood at the forefront of the group, looked at her quizzically before raising a knowing eyebrow at Kai. It was strange that the normally prickly natured Diva seemed almost... Shy around him. It was an odd, but not unwelcome change of pace. '... Who knows? Maybe things might finally get a little easier around here.' Giving an almost imperceptible smile at the thought, she turned and gave the other bodyguards instructions to stay on the ground floor until the next elevator arrived. Getting inside, she put on her normally stoic facade as she stood in the corner of the elevator.
Kai sighed quietly in relief, looking at the floor as a thousand questions ran through his mind. One, why was she here, how did she know Mariko and how the hell could he get away? And really, what were the odds of meeting arguably the most famous woman in Japan, not once, but twice in the same day immediately after insulting her? But then again, with his karma... Anything was possible.
Mariko rolled her eyes at the three, tossing her purse over her shoulder.
"You gotta be kidding me, isn't it past you kids' bed time?" The stylist said drolly, fighting the urge to laugh as all three blushed simultaneously at the jab.
"Who are you to talk? Don't senior citizens have a curfew?" Kai sniffed, still incensed at the fact that Mariko had never apologized for making fun of his height.
"Look here Pikachu, I'm off working hours and would like to have a nice girls night out, so shut the trap!" She grunted, pushing past the blonde and getting in the elevator as he growled at her.
"P-Pikachu?! Who the HELL are you calling PIKACHU?!" He screeched, his feathers now thoroughly ruffled as Kuu and Riku snorted with laughter behind him. With his blonde hair, short stature and cute, angry red cheeks, he really did look a bit like the little yellow Pokemon.
Mariko looked bored as she lifted a finger and pointed at him. "Ehem, Pikachu, I choose you." She said dryly.
At that, even the ever aloof Sayaka cleared her throat a bit to mask a chuckle.
Kai sputtered and wagged a finger at her but was interrupted by a quiet giggle from behind him followed by the hiss of the elevator doors closing. He blinked and turned to look at Ray who immediately quieted under his gaze though still had the barest hint of a smile on her lips.
"It... It's not funny..." He said lamely, finding the fight draining out of him as his eyes fell on that smile.
He could hear Mariko and his band mates snicker behind him but found himself hopelessly distracted. As his eyes grazed over her he felt his face begin to flush uncomfortably. He couldn't deny that Ray was beautiful -hell, she was gorgeous- and tonight, if it was possible, she seemed even more so.
Her dark hair, long and shimming, fell over her shoulders in a waterfall of midnight. Dark eyeliner and smokey eye-shadow accentuated her naturally dark eyes and pale pink lip gloss drew his attention to her full, luscious lips. A tightly fitted black leather jacket was layered over a low cut white camisole with dark, fashionably ripped skinny jeans that stretched provocatively over her curves with even the slightest movement; black, spike heeled Italian leather ankle boots extended the length of her legs and made him, (if it was even possible.) even more self-concious about his height.
"Really guys? No wonder we haven't moved!" Mariko groused a bit as she noticed that no one had hit the floor button.
"Oops..." Kuu said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as he walked forward and pressed the button. "Thought I did!"
As he turned back from the button panel, he looked at Mariko curiously. "Sooo... How do you two know each other?"
"High school." She said simply, to which Ray snorted derisively.
Kai, however, didn't even notice them talking.
'Look at something else dammit!' He thought desperately, clenching the rails of the elevator and turning his eyes downwards.
Big mistake.
His newly male instincts drew his gaze from her shoes and then slowly up her legs to finally settle on her-
'Oh dear god...' Horrified at what his eyes had settled on, he desperately looked back upwards, cursing his new body as he felt blood rush to his face. He wasn't an L dammit!!! But unfortunately as far as gender preference, this new body seemed straight as a board.
As if feeling his gaze on her, Ray blinked and her eyes flickered curiously toward him.
His stomach lurched in time with the sudden upward movement of the elevator as their stares connected. He bit his lip, finding it impossible to look away.
She gave him an odd look, her cheeks flushing slightly red as she remembered what had transpired in her studio just a few hours before.
"You'll live alone as long as you don't fix that fucking attitude of yours!" His words earlier had shook her to the core. No one, no one, had ever openly criticized her like that. As long as she kept making money, no one had ever needed or cared to... That is, no one except...
Ray suddenly tore her eyes away from Kai, suddenly feeling exceptionally uncomfortable as her heart fluttered in her chest. Though oddly, despite her discomfort she found herself wondering if he was still angry at her.
Mariko stared at the exchange between the two, intrigued. If she hadn't known any better, she could have sworn that Kai had been staring at Ray's moneymaker. And no, she wasn't talking about her face.
Grinning slyly, she leaned over to whisper in Kai's ear. "... Stare all you want, but if you touch it she'll bury you."
'Dammit!' Kai's ears turned red and he turned to look at her in irritation and more than a little embarrassment as he opened his mouth to say something in rebuttal.
Unfortunately before he could make his snappy come back the elevator dinged, announcing it's arrival on the top floor. The blonde blew out a relieved breath as the doors hissed open and he quickly made his exit, eager to get away from the beautiful-
'Ugh! Not beautiful- She's a friggin' spoiled princess remember?!' His thoughts were a jumbled mess and he found himself once again thoroughly hating his life and asking himself what he possibly did to deserve such punishment. In doing so he did what all people in denial did and attempted to rationalize a thoroughly irrational situation.
'I'm a boy, boys like girls. Generally. Boys like attractive girls. Generally. So of course this new body would take to her! It's all against my will. It's all stupid male instinct! Testosterone and all that noise right?' He thought, hitting his fist in his palm with a grin. Yep! That was his story and he was sticking with it. He was definitely NOT an L.
Calming slightly, he looked to the side and saw Riku and Kuu approaching him with matching strange looks on their faces.
"What the heck is wrong with you?" Riku grumbled, looking down at him as he took off his sunglasses and hung them on the lapel of his jacket. "Do you really wanna piss her off again?"
"There's nothing wrong with me! I want to just get on with this stupid party and go home." Kai snapped, crossing his arms irritably as he proceeded into a hallway that was dark except for blue running lights that pulsated with the beat of the music that echoed in the walls.
As they came to the end of the corridor Kuu suddenly grabbed onto Riku's arm as his eyes widened at the sight sprawling out before them. He had had a good feeling about this place since he could literally 'feel' the bass from the dance floor start to reverberate in his chest as soon as he had stepped out of the elevator.
"Wow... This place is... Wow..." He said eloquently, grinning. He loved to dance, and by the sound of it, the DJ was hot tonight. But that was only to be expected at one of the most exclusive night clubs in the world.
"You got that right..." Riku said, whistling in appreciation as he looked around.
The atmosphere was dark and almost surreal under the pulsating lights and the synthesizer-driven chug of music that surrounded them.
Fast Club's motif was contemporary and modern, all clean lines, sharp angles and an assortment of odd, almost otherworldly decor to accentuate the club's space age look. Decor that included a whimsical, brushed aluminum mock-up of a rocket ship hanging from the ceiling with strobe lights streaming from its 'launchers'. And yet, even more astounding than the club's interior were the faces... Faces that included movie stars, celebrity personalities, comedians, millionaires, you name it, they were here tonight.
"Is that... Oh hey is that Oshima Yuko?!" Kuu squealed, jumping up and down as he spied the pretty actress at the bar, winking at the bartender as she took a shot and slammed the cup on the counter as the people around her gawked in surprise. There was a line of four empty shot glasses behind it. "I recognize her from that live action remake of Hot Gimmick!"
Riku's soul froze.
'It can't be... Not twice in the same day...'
He slowly inched his head around to furtively look in the direction Kuu was looking at.
'... Oh no...'
It was then that his worst fears were affirmed. There, in a tight denim mini-skirt, white shoulder-less chiffon top and matching white stilettos was his dimpled rapist.
"Strawberry... Ice cream," He mumbled unconsciously, touching his lips as he bristled inwardly.
Kai and Kuu looked at him strangely, but before they could ask any questions two large hands clapped down on both their shoulders.
"KYAAA!!" They squealed in surprise and jumped backwards only to be met with Katsuyuki's sheepish face as he held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Whoa whoa... What's with the screaming like girls?" He chortled, looking at them with a charming, half cocked grin as he extended out a hand to Riku. "Men amongst men remember?"
"Whoo... You scared us!" Kuu exhaled in relief, clutching his chest.
"Sorry, didn't mean it I promise." He laughed a bit, the sound low and pleasant.
The two boys fought the urge to sigh at the executive director, who was immaculately dressed in a dark, rugged set of jeans, white v-neck t-shirt, and designer grey flannel blazer. Tonight his stylishly permed hair was pulled back into loose rattail, giving him a roguish aura that put a certain edge on his otherwise clean cut demeanor.
Riku returned his own debonair smile as he reached out and gave Katsuyuki a firm, manly handshake. "Nice to see you again Katsuyuki-san, I really wanted to apologize for what happened earlier today..."
The taller man fought the urge to blink as he caught himself staring at that smile and the way Riku's lips upturned his cheeks into just the slightest little dimples.
Katsuyuki's grin also faltered a bit when Riku shook his hand. It had felt like a spark had run its course up and down his arm and he quickly let go, a bit unsettled. "Erm... Uh, no, no problem, all is forgiven, it
was only an accident after all. Anyway, come with me, I have a room in the back where we can all sit, chat, have a couple drinks, you know, fun stuff."
The Executive Director was a bit red faced as he ushered them through the crowd and toward the VIP section... Which, in this place almost seemed like a given, since you needed to be a VIP just to get your foot in the door.
Kai felt exceptionally uncomfortable as he weaved through the sea of dancing bodies. The scent of alcohol and stale smoke was stifling, made worse by someone breezing past him wearing far too much cologne. Almost choking, he buried his nose in his jacket.
'I guess some things never change no matter which club you go to...'
When approached their destination, a large, intimidating bouncer unhooked the velvet rope to the VIP section without even a sidelong glance.
As they finally entered, they found it hard not to gawk slightly. The VIP lounge was, if it was possible, even more impressive than the rest of the club. Tube lights shifting from blue, to purple to red, to green lined black leather and brushed aluminum walls. Several black and white wrap around couches sat around small tables. The bar here was only slightly smaller than the one of the dance floor and outfitted with with black granite counter tops, matching black leather bar stools and glass cabinets that showcased exceptionally expensive alcohol.
The three looked around, trying not to stare too hard at the people in the lounges. Beautiful people, left and right. Almost every face was recognizable in one form or another. But perhaps what was more shocking was their behavior. In just the table next to them they could see someone recognizable as a popular action movie star snorting lines of blow from the table as his equally drunk, equally high entourage howled with laughter. Everywhere there was drugs, alcohol and debauchery.
The boys of Persona were now 'officially' uncomfortable in every way possible.
Katsuyuki seemed unconcerned as he led them to his reserved lounge.
"Anyway, I wanted you to meet the man of the hour," He pulled back the curtain to the lounge and revealed a scene that made all three men turn a lovely shade of red.
There on the couch sat a tall man sipping a glass of champagne as a voluptuous raven haired beauty straddled his hips, nibbling his neck as she ground her body suggestively against him. The man looked up over the rim of his glass as they came in and smiled, giving the girl a quick smack across the ass before he leaned into her ear and whispered something inaudible.
She blushed and giggled vapidly before getting to her feet to leave the room and looking curiously at the boys as she passed. They flustered a bit as her eyes slowly ran their course from their feet to their faces and she smiled, winking and blowing them a kiss on her way out.
Kai growled and caught the kiss, throwing it on the ground like a cigarette and stomping it before wiping his hand on his pants. Kuu and Riku shook their heads in exasperation.
"I swear Azusa, you go through women like socks!" Katsuyuki laughed, not noticing the exchange going on behind him. "Whatever happened to that smokin' hot Brazilian chick from last time?"
"What can I say? I'm a silver-tongued devil whose split more peaches than a porn star." He said roguishly, running a hand through his hair in a nonchalant gesture.
"Split more peaches huh? That's a good one!" The executive director barked a laugh, putting his hands on his hips.
'Azusa? Who is this guy? And what the hell does splitting peaches mean?' They all thought, blinking at the man as he stood to his feet.
For a supposed player, the man wasn't exactly imposing in any way. In fact, though a bit tall and dressed in a black suit that was probably a high end designer exclusive, he was slight of build and had a pretty, almost feminine face framed by choppy, sun-lighted brown hair that fell in sweeping pieces in the front and was tapered short in the back.
But the most striking feature about him were his eyes; unmistakably almond shaped but colored a startling hawk grey.
He grinned charmingly at them as Katsuyuki hooked an arm over his shoulders.
"This, my friends, is the great Shimizu Azusa, current chair of Sony Music Japan," He proclaimed, always proud to talk about his best friend. "And half-japanese to boot."
"Oh p'shaw, you give me too much credit, I'm only here because I inherited the position," Azusa humbly brushed off the grand introduction, motioning for the boys to sit as he did so himself. "So... These are the new talents you were talking about?"
As they all sat, Riku in the middle, Azusa reached for the bottle of Dom Perignon and began to pour them each a glass.
"Yep, would you believe that these guys are heroes? At their
debut they saved some crazy chick who tried to kill herself in public!" He said, giving Riku a congratulatory pat on the back and encouraging him to introduce himself.
"Oh I heard about that..." Azusa said, putting a long, slender finger to his lips in thought. "The photos on the news were pretty gruesome... They said she escaped right?"
"Yeah but they never found a body..." Katsuyuki added wonderingly.
Kuu went pale, looking at the floor shame-faced as he subconsciously began to rub his wrists. Kai, frowning as he noticed Kuu's distress, reached over and stroked his back encouragingly with one hand.
Riku almost froze. Azusa was the head of Sony Music? Dear god who was next? The Prime Minister? Trying not to panic he bowed quickly and gave the man his best smile.
"Osu!" He said cheerfully, butterflies in his stomach. "I'm Riku, and this is Kai, and Kuu. " He then gestured first to the short young blonde, then to Kuu as he picked up his glass and sipped at the expensive champagne.
They both nodded their heads respectfully. "Osu." They said, their voices seeming a bit drained.
Azusa gave them an appraising look as he took another sip of Dom. As chairman of Sony Music's board of directors, he rarely, if ever dealt directly with the talent in his company. However, that didn't mean he had no eye for it. Oh no, at heart he was a business man and a damn good one at that. He could already tell that these three were destined for success. Firstly, they were handsome, the pretty kind of handsome that sells albums. Each and every one of them appealed to a different sector of the market and that was definitely a plus for their parent company. On top of that, they were all truly talented. Azusa remembered watching a part of their stunning Indies performance on a newscast, though noted that strangely Kuu wasn't there during the band's debut.
Either way, it was a shame he hadn't signed them up first...
Raising a curious eyebrow at Kuu, he upended the last of the contents of his glass in his mouth. Kuu, still staring down at the floor, didn't notice the man looking at him.
"Anyway it's a pleasure to meet you all!" Azusa said cheerfully, putting his empty glass on the table and filling it up once more. "Now, without further ado, let's get this party started."
Clapping his hands, they all watched as the curtains flew open and a line of scantily dressed girls filed into the room.
"Ooohh... Look at you!" One of the girls in the front who had short, bouncy brown hair and equally bouncy er -assets bound in a tight black corset, rushed to Kuu with two other girls on her heels. The boy looked like a kicked puppy and so had immediately drawn their attention.
Kuu's eyes widened as the girl's formed a circle around him.
"Uh... Um.... Hi?" He squeaked, more than a little freaked out when the brown haired ringleader bent down in front of him, exposing ample cleavage that was practically spilling over the top of her corset as she winked down at the young man.
"He's so cute! Almost like a girl!" She said, glomping him excitedly and smooshing his face into her chest. "He's exactly my style!"
"Emiko! Don't hog him! Sharing is caring after all..." Said a petite, long haired beauty that sidled up next to Kuu, practically purring as she affectionately touched his hair.
"MrrpphhMrrrhhhppHH!!" Kuu flailed his arms, his face turning beet red as he began to suffocate between the woman's massive dirty pillows. Her friend's ministrations were no help either and only served to bring the poor boy ever closer to massive cardiac arrest, or asphyxiation, whichever came first.
"Live it up boys! Tonight's on me!" Katsuyuki proclaimed, grinning as he kissed a pretty brunette on the side of her neck.
"Thanks... A bunch." Riku said sardonically, his eyes widening as an obviously intoxicated long haired hostess flopped into his lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
She batted her eyes prettily at him. "You're a new face... Been here before big boy?"
Riku yelped as he felt her hand slide down his chest to squeeze his inner thigh. "GAHH!! As flattered as I am ma'am you don't-"
She nuzzled her face into his neck at that, giggling slightly. "Ma'am? That's so cute! Ladies it seems we have a gentleman in the building~!"
To Riku's horror, even more girls seemed to gravitate to him at that proclamation and he flustered desperately, trying to politely push the woman off his lap.
"Oh god! Let go of meeee!!" Kai, the shortest of the three, had girls swarming all over him, poking, prodding, kissing, and touching. "Argh! Hentaaiii! Don't touch that!"
"HELP... ME..." Kuu sat pinned underneath at least five girls as they gushed over how cute he was.
"Relllaaaxxxx..." Azusa drawled, grinning like a cheshire cat while wrapping his arms around two beautiful girls as a third one sat between his spread legs, rubbing her face on his thigh suggestively. "Just let it happen..."
The girls continued to gush excitedly among themselves as they picked their favorites and pounced on them.
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"Jesus Christ, what the HELL was that??!!!" Kai swore, stumbling a bit as he tore away from two gorgeous women that were clinging to his jacket. His heart felt like it was about to fall out of his chest and his head was swimming. When he was told that he was to keep Katsuyuki-san company in the VIP lounge he really hadn't known what exactly was in store for him. If he had, he would have just stayed home. Screw whatever Shachou wanted! Crazy L woman... She might as well have been their pimp for all the crap they went through for her.
Apparently, Azusa and Katsuyuki's idea of a good time involved plenty of alcohol and half-naked women. They had all sat there, helpless as the hostess' swarmed all over them, pressing drinks and... Other things into their hands.
Kai shuddered as he nodded faintly to the bouncer who opened the velvet rope in front of him. Kuu and Riku ran up behind him, out of breath and grateful that they had finally escaped. If they ever saw breasts again it would be too soon!
"Dear god... I thought I was gonna diiiee..." Kuu muttered unhappily, noting that somehow in the last hour they had been there, his jacket had been lost and belt undone.
"Who are you tellin'?" Riku griped, buttoning up his open dress shirt and zipping up his pants. "I need some fresh air, I'll be back."
The tall man huffed in irritation and whirled around, disappearing into the crowd and towards the large, open air balcony on the other side of the club.
Kai blew out an exasperated puff of air. This night, like the rest of his life, seemed to be going down the tubes. "Let's get some water..." He sighed, turning towards the bar.
"Sounds like a plan!" Kuu said cheerily as they sidled up to some bar stools.
An assortment of drinks were already laid out on the bar and Kai immediately latched onto two tall glasses of water and slid one of them down to Kuu.
They both immediately slammed back the glasses into their mouths, chugging deeply and finishing at the same time. After an hour spent fighting off the advances of what had to have been at least twenty scantily clad women they had both built up a powerful thirst.
"Whooo... That hit the spot." Kai sighed in satisfaction, feeling the liquid still sitting cold at the bottom of his stomach.
"Definitely..." Kuu said, bringing his hands to his cheeks as he felt his face heat up for some reason.
"Whoa, take it easy fellas!" The bartender slid over to them, his eyes wide at their empty glasses. "You guys have something to prove?! Those were glasses of vodka on the rocks."
"Say
whaaaatt?!" Kai's mouth dropped in shock. He could already feel the alcohol rushing to his brain like a shot and cursed inwardly. 'Oh fucckk....'
"Ya know wha...? I think... I wanna dance..." Kuu said slowly, really slowly as he got unsteadily to his feet.
"Oh no you don't~!" Kai said, getting up but then immediately feeling the world shift disconcertingly. He cursed as he slumped back against the bar.
It was then that the DJ's booming voice resounded over the hard pumping rap beats blaring over the speakers.
"Where my party people at?! Let me hear a HELL YEAH!" "
HELL YEAH!" Everyone in crowd cheered, some of the men pumping their fists in the air.
"Hell yussshhh!!" Kuu, infected by the crowd's energy, pumped a fist as well, his feet beginning to glide easily with the music.
Kai looked at him with incredulous eyes as the normally flighty, soft-spoken Kuu broke it down like an old pro, his footwork impeccable. The people at the bar raised their glasses and cheered for the young idol as he winked back at them.
"Then let's get this damn thang started!" The DJ shouted back.
The rocket above their heads began to smoke as the strobe lights from its launchers flooded the dance floor. The sound effects for a space shuttle launch played in the background as a new song began.
It was Katy Perry's
E.T. A song that matched perfectly with the club's space age motif.
"I love this SONG!" Kuu cheered, about to drag Kai to dance floor when suddenly, people began to part like the Red Sea, still dancing, but had their attention held rapt by something obscured from the boys' vision.
"So does someone else it seems..." Came a droll voice from behind them and they both turned to see Azusa leaning against the bar next to them, taking a long drag from a cigarette and exhaling slowly as his eyes lazily followed the activity on the dance floor.
"Someone-" Kai began, but was cut off by sudden cheers from the crowd as the song entered its first chorus.
Craning his head, he finally caught sight of the cause of all the commotion and his eyes almost popped out of his head.
There, under the flashing lights and bass driven music was Ray, the charismatic Diva herself, dancing.
"Amazing..." Kuu breathed, mirroring Kai's thoughts as they watched her.
As she danced to the music her body appeared to become one with it. The Diva seemed barely aware of her surroundings as she moved fearlessly, almost recklessly but with purpose in her step. Grace and raw passion permeated each movement and Kai couldn't help but stare at her. But then again, neither could any of the other dancers, --male or female-- who'd gone still to watch her, enthralled.
He once again found himself watching her helplessly. The way her skin shimmered with sweat under the strobe lights while her body undulated provocatively with the rhythm of the music, almost seeming to float as smoke flooded the dance floor.
'Stopstaringstopstaring...' He chanted the mantra in his mind as he tore his eyes downwards. However, almost as soon as his eyes caught the floor the music reached a powerful crescendo and he instinctively looked up.
'Oh crap...'
It was then that she looked in his direction and their stares connected for the second time that night.
His stomach lurched almost painfully and he bit his lips, his head swimming with the alcohol and strange feelings. She smiled at him and he felt his mouth go dry as she began to mouth the lyrics to the song, hooking a finger towards him in a beckoning gesture. Almost involuntarily, his feet began to move toward her.
Hearing the lyrics she was lip-syncing to, he blushed deeply.
"Kiss me, Ki-Ki-Kiss me..." Her lips were upturned into a sexy little smile as he approached her, the crowd whispering excitedly among themselves at the sight of the new dancer.
Azusa's gray eyes narrowed at the blonde's back as thick tendrils of smoke wrapped around his face.
Kai's mind became deplete of conscious thought as she grabbed his tie and roughly pulled him towards her. The bass reverberated in his chest as if the song were penetrating him through and through. He welcomed the invasion as the music infused with his body, his senses emancipated as she danced with him, their bodies moving in perfect symbiosis.
The crowd stared at them, slack jawed and Ray seemed to be drinking in the attention. She was hopelessly inebriated and was now riding a physical and emotional high as she watched the blonde dance. His movements were raw, aggressive but had a certain almost animalistic grace and confidence that held her spellbound... Just like that day he performed on stage.
Kiss me, Ki-Ki-As the last bars of the song began to play, Ray listened to it with interest as a mischievous grin played across her lips. She suddenly yanked his tie and drew his body into her, their faces literally inches apart.
Kai gulped, his eyes widening like a deer in the headlights.
"
Kiss me..." She sang, the notes of her voice falling like silk on his ears.
He blinked at her and his heart suddenly jumped into his throat as he saw her leaning towards him. He needed to move; needed to escape... He could feel her breath tickling his lips, could hear his blood thundering in his ears.
But then, just as suddenly as the song began it ended and Kai snapped out of it. He attempted to pull back, but instead of letting him go, she once again drew him up by his tie and then...
Playfully pecked his nose.
The blonde stilled his struggles at the tiny little kiss, his body heating up unbearably. He opened his mouth to protest but no words were forthcoming.
"Still mad at me...?" She giggled, and Kai could tell right away that she was tanked.
"I think it's time to go home Miss Diva." He said, his voice a bit shaken as he finally pulled away from her.
"Buh I dun wannaaa..." She whined and he winced in response, not used to seeing the usually graceful woman so...
Drunk.
"Well, well, well, small world isn't it?" Came a drawling voice from behind them. Kai blinked and looked over his shoulder, catching sight of Azusa.
"Oh hey Azusa... Have you met-"
"Ray? Oh of course, we're long time friends aren't we...?" He said, flashing her a rakish, toothy grin.
Ray froze at the sight of him. Her mouth opening, then closing.
"I..." She said, her voice so soft that it was barely audible.
Azusa suddenly brushed past Kai, grabbing the Diva's wrist and pulling her towards him. She gasped, looking away from him as her chest clenched painfully. He smirked at her reaction and bent his head to her ear.
"Say it..." He whispered, his breath blowing gently over her skin. "That I'm a cheater, a rogue, that I go through women like water, say that you hate me..."
Shadows played over his gray depths, almost turning them to black as a glare wrinkled the corner of his eyes. It wasn't fair that they only made him better looking instead of haggard.
"You can't say it can you...?" He purred, taking his free hand and stroking her hair. "So then that means..." He gasped sardonically, making her wince slightly as his voice fell into a husky whisper that sent mutinous shivers down her back. "
... The big bad Diva still loves me?"
"Screw you Azusa..." She said, her voice barely audible as she glared at him halfheartedly. The bravado however, was fleeting at best and she could feel the last vestiges of her courage starting to flee her as she watched his smug expression turn dark.
Ray stared at him, feeling her heart thump as heat rose to her cheeks. Her stomach churned and her wrist started to ache from the unbearably tight grip he still had on it. She tried to act like she wasn't intimidated, refused to flinch even when he leaned so close that he could have kissed her if he wanted. She could smell him, count the number of his eyelashes and see how his gray eyes stormed with a familiar, terrifying anger.
Kai could see fear written on the Diva's face as the man talked to her and then suddenly put two and two together.
"Azusa, that's enough!" He growled, anger flashing like fire inside him. "Let go of her. Now." He must have been the one she was talking to on the phone that day on the roof!
"And who are you to talk?" Azusa snapped back, not taking his eyes off of Ray as she wilted beneath his gaze, defeated. "Ray, let's go, I think we're overdue for a nice
long chat."
"Azusa... I-" She began, but before she could say any more Kai suddenly cut in between them, protective instincts on overdrive.
"Get. The fuck. Away from her." Kai snarled as Ray stared into his back in surprise.
"Oh-ho... So kitty has claws." Azusa chuckled derisively. "You sure you wanna piss someone like me off...?"
"Oh I'll do more than piss you off..." Kai said, his voice low and dark.
"Like I said before... Who the hell are you to speak for her?" Asuza leveled a cold gaze down at the enraged blonde.
Without thinking Kai blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.
"Her boyfriend! I'm her boyfriend..." His voice trailed off slightly at the end, as if he couldn't believe what he just said.
The crowd began to whisper among themselves excitedly and a few whipped out their cell phones and started to take pictures. Kai began to sweat bullets at that... Why did he have to go and open his big stupid mouth?
"You don't sound too sure about that..." Azusa said, his voice mockingly skeptical as he looked over the blonde's shoulder into Ray shocked face. "Ray... I guess you uh... Changed your preferences?"
Ray flushed deeply, looking around at the cameras fearfully as she realized that the man was out for blood... And was now proceeding to try and publicly humiliate her.
Kai mulled over what Azusa said for a couple seconds and then promptly glared at the man. He was trying to imply that Ray had become a lesbian! And that Kai was a girl! (Which was true... But still.)
"Hey screw you brother, at least I ain't built like a friggin' ballerina!" Kai's hackles rose, sure he was a girl at heart but even
he didn't appreciate having his new-found manhood insulted.
Azusa laughed inwardly as he bent down to whisper in Kai's ear. "Oh you didn't know about your own girlfriend's personal tastes...?" The man was having fun playing this little cat and mouse game, and Kai was proving to be an exceptionally entertaining new toy. "Tsk Tsk..."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kai snarled, his face set into a dark glare. What the hell kind of personal taste was he talking about?!
"I'll give you a hint, I'm her ex..." Still whispering, Azusa let his voice raise about two octaves higher, still fairly deep, but undeniably...
Feminine.
Kai's eyes went wide. Azusa was a girl?! That meant that... Oh dear god was Ray an... He couldn't even bring himself to think it as he attempted to keep his eyes leveled on Azusa's face. How could he not have known?! The man's face was pretty, far too pretty... And he lacked an Adam's apple.
He couldn't bring himself to look back at Ray, suddenly feeling cornered.
Ray looked at Azusa's coldly smug expression and then down at Kai. His shoulders were shaking... The reality of the situation began to play in her mind and she realized that the two knew each other and so in effect, Kai had to have known who Azusa was before he had even stepped into their argument. And so, even armed with the knowledge that the man was a power to be reckoned with in the music industry, Kai, a newbie just starting his career, put himself out on the line for her... An act like that took either a lot of courage, or a great deal of stupidity.
The implications of Azusa's declaration had been true. Ray liked girls, she had never, ever been in a long term relationship with a man in her life. That was why her career had always stayed relatively scandal (and relationship) free.
But still, seeing him standing there, trying to protect her... She suddenly found the courage within her to return Azusa's smug smile.
A flicker of confusion ran over Azusa's eyes that was quickly replaced by an expression of utter shock as the Diva all at once stepped forward, grabbed the boy's face and claimed his lips in a soft, passionate kiss.
A roar of excitement rippled through the crowd and cell phone cameras flashed furiously around them as their lips connected.
Kuu fought his way through the multitudes of people until he finally found a place to see what was going on. The scene that he came upon made his jaw fall to the floor.
"What... the hell..."
Which were exactly the last words that ran through Kai's mind before his thought processes began to shut down.
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TBC (Ahahahaha.....)
Topic: A Man's World - chap 10 [AKB48 x Mendol] 3/11/2011 (Read 53282 times)