The Concert, The Mission
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As Kaname had suspected, the Arisu Amaya concert was so packed that she and Sousuke ended up pushed right against each other. In one aspect that was exactly what she?d wanted; however, it was also uncomfortable as hell as a direct result of the clothing he had chosen to wear. While Kaname and the majority of the crowd had chosen to wear Techno-dynamic clothing (a new style that combined leather and vinyl with traditional-style clothing and an assortment of belts), Sousuke had decided that a layered, camouflage, combat uniform was appropriate attire. If Kaname hadn?t forgotten her paper fan she would have hit him.
?Soooooosuke!? She cried out over the voices of crowd, ?Why did you wear such a stupid outfit? You stand out like a Bonta-kun in the middle of a busy street!?
?Demo?? Sousuke lowered his gaze a bit in embarrassment, thinking of the Bonta-kun costume he had often donned in the past. ?I?ve already packed all my other clothes.?
Kaname opened and shut her mouth quickly. She bit her lip and turned away, unhappily reminded of the circumstances she was desperately trying to avoid tonight. She remained silent as the crowd pushed forward, allowing herself to be guided and instinctively and unconsciously trusting Sousuke to keep anyone from harming her. As the doors closed she grit her teeth and willed herself to disregard the future and concentrate on now.
Lights began to sweep the crowd; transitioning through the colors of the rainbow and flickering on and off like a strobe. Toward the back of the stage, a huge tower illuminated and the main part of the laser show began. It queued up at the same time as a heavy beat and was soon accompanied by the wild sounds of an electric guitar. The crowd began to cheer, waves of mist flooded onto the huge black platform, and the concert began. However, as intense as this all seemed, it was nothing compared to what happened next. Arisu Amaya walked out, and the amphitheater exploded.
Kaname completely forgot her earlier troubles, caught up in the sights, the sounds and the dancing of the concert. She threw her hands in the air and ignored how Sousuke didn?t move at all. She smiled and when Arisu shouted, ?but I no longer need you,? Kaname joined everyone else (save, of course, Sousuke) in screaming back, ?because time heals all wounds!?
For a solid hour the heard tempo kept Kaname?s adrenaline running and part of her was convinced that Arisu wouldn?t even stop for breath. The laser lights danced back and forth, red and blue, making everything more 3-D than it should have been. Then, only a few seconds before Kaname would have passed out from exertion, the song ended and the crowd began to cheer loudly.
Arisu Ran a hand through her long, black hair, which was lined with electric-blue highlights. She walked slowly toward the center of the stage and bowed, earning her another rowdy round of applause. She smiled, and for the first time Kaname really got to see how pretty Arisu Amaya was when not on a CD cover.
Her eyes matched the streaks in her hair and her skin was a thick, tan-beige. Both of these things were proof of her Caucasian heritage, for it was known that Arisu?s mother had been American. In some ways, she reminded Kaname of Tessa. However, it was impossible to imagine little Miss Teletha Testerossa being so audacious.
?Thank you!? Arisu took another large bow. ?You?ve all been such a wonderful audience! The guys and I have had a blast playing for you, so to end this amazing night I?m going to sing something I wrote before I ever became a super-star. It?s called ?Voiceless.? I love all of you!?
The crowd went wild for a few minutes, but quieted instantly when the deep, breathy voices of the band began to sing. At first, it could have been a temple of monks in prayer for the way that it sounded, as many of the band members had set down their guitars to ding, but as the drums and synthesizer chimed in it gave off a completely different feeling. Kaname could suddenly imagine herself walking on great waves of water.
?When I sing to you, can you hear me?
Do the sounds that I make, mean anything?
In all of my life, I have been all alone
A song in silence,
But when you?re by my side, I have nothing to fear.
No longer voiceless,
I whisper.?
Kaname closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. There was something about this tune that was completely different from everything Arisu Amaya had ever produced before. Yet, it was so enchanting that Kaname wondered why it was ?Voiceless? was never officially recorded. It would have made millions, Kaname thought offhandedly.
?When I come running to you, will you be there?
When I say the things I do, can you even hear?
In all of my life, I have never known love
?Till I met you,
And now I wonder if, you return any of this.
Tell me the truth,
I whisper.?
Kaname blushed deeply, thinking suddenly of how close Sousuke really was. She looked over at him, and noticed he was staring at her intensely. His deep brown eyes were intently locked on hers, but what was really striking was when she noticed that he had caught a strand of her hair in his fingers and was simply holding it. Kaname blushed a shade of red one wouldn?t think imaginable. She opened her mouth to speak, but just then the song came to an end and the crowd erupted, shoving them roughly against one another so that Kaname found her face against Sousuke?s chest. His arms instinctively wrapped around her and the world seemed to pause for a moment as she looked up at him.
?That song was for all you lovers out there!? Arisu Amaya and her band hit a chord and took a deep bow, but her comment earned Sousuke and Kaname a few lewd comments from surrounding fans, instantly causing the two to push as far apart as the large crowd allowed. Now, both of them were red.
Sousuke tried to cover himself first, ?uh?strange that the song had no lyrics, though logically fitting with the title.?
Kaname gave him a flat look, her jaw dropping a few inches. ?Were you paying attention at all? Of course that song had lyrics!?
?Chidori,? Sousuke began just as flatly, now, ?I may have been?distracted?however, I am fully aware of the situation around me at all times, including sights and sounds. That song had no lyrics.?
Kaname blushed so greatly at the beginning of his statement that she completely lost the will to argue her point. She smiled very slightly and scooted closer to him. The crowd made it easy, squashing inwards as Arisu was giving her final speech. Kaname looked upward, as if listening, when really she was reaching her hand outward for his.
Suddenly a sharp ring interrupted her, and Kaname looked over as Sousuke pulled out what resembled a cell phone. She knew instantly what it was and who was on the other line. She retracted her hand abruptly and turned away.
?Moshimoshi?? Sousuke pulled the device up to his ear and listened in, frowning at how Kaname was acting. ?Ah! Captain!?
?Sagara-san,? Teletha Testerossa?s soft voice was barely audible over the loud audience, ?how are preparations coming??
?Well, Captain!? Sagara responded, going stiff. He furrowed his brow, uncomfortable in his lack of understanding as to why she would call him at such a time.
Kaname made a sound of disgust as he did so, and shook her head as the crowd began to clear but he remained standing perfectly still. Making an indignant noise, this time, Kaname stalked away in a huff.
?Sagara-san,? Tessa?s voice dropped into a low and worried tone, causing the frown on his face to turn from one of confusion to worry. ?Not that I mind calling you; however, the reason for my calling is of a rather serious matter. Your presence in Tokyo has been extended for a month and during that time you must be on alert at all times.?
Sousuke walked briskly away from the main section of the building and found a dark corner in which he could talk. ?Captain, what are the circumstances??
?It is our belief,? Tessa said slowly, ?that a rogue Whispered has recently arrived in Tokyo. Our intelligence says that a branch of the American army has already sent a mercenary team to retrieve the rogue. It is your duty to get there first.?
?Understood,? Sousuke said.
?Uruz-6 and Uruz-2 will be joining you at your current residence within a few days.? In her office on board the De Danaan, Tessa rotated her Captains chair. ?Extend your lease for exactly a month and keep Chidori Kaname under close surveillance. We do not know the Whispered?s intentions, so she may be targeted. That?s all. Good luck, Sagara-san.?
As the communications link went down Sousuke grit his teeth and clenched his hand almost hard enough to break the com-device. Chidori was in trouble?that was the last thing he wanted. He glanced up immediately and panicked. He?d left her alone?
Sousuke started up in a run, looking in every direction he could. He called out her name, racing back and froth through the still exiting crowd. She was no where to be seen?damn it!
Kaname was definitely lost. She glanced back and forth, trying to remember where she had come from. However, that seemed unlikely in this gigantic auditorium. So she kept wandering onward until the hallway became dark and narrow.
?Hello?? She called out to see if there was an answer, but only her echo was returned. It was incredibly creepy, but she kept wandering on. It was, after all, a pretty recently populated building. Someone was bound to find her.
She felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder and sighed in relief. Where the hell had Sousuke been this whole time? Kaname bared her teeth thinking of Tessa calling him in the middle of their?night. She whipped around to give him a piece of her mind.
But all that came out was a gasp.
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Well, there it goes, the first real chapter in S3 (as I have dubbed my fic). The lyrics to the Arisu Amaya song I actually wrote and are entirely mine, BTW.
So, please tell me what you thought, because I love feedback and it gives me a reason to write.
Tell me if the characters are staying IN character.
Hehe, and tell me where you think this might be going, I love to know if i'm keeping anyone is suspense or not!
Love and Wishes
Ka-chan
