Break Apart The Order [Kyoya Ootori]

The Twentieth Song: One's Shadow, Another's Vow

Harumi Fujioka's POV

Do you want to know what I thought of Kizami Sakuraba the first time I met him?

Two words.

Annoying, and Git.

The first time I met him was on the streets of Tokyo. I was performing on a random corner, strumming some random song and singing whatever came to mind. I had been in the city for a few weeks now, crashing at a hotel and trying to earn as much money as I could for food and equipment. He had stayed throughout the show - five hours - without moving or looking away from me. When I was finally finished and had collected my 'paycheck', he was the only one that remained after the crowd dispersed. He had watched me pack all of my things, bid farewell to the other street performers, and not once did he say a word. I finally confronted him when I turned to leave. With an irritated scowl and a glare, I asked," Don't you have anything better to do than just stare like a creep?" At first, he didn't say anything again. I thought he had brain damage or was just lost in his own head.

But then he finally smiled, and asked," Will you join my band?"

I shot him down immediately.

But he never stopped.

This routine continued on and on for weeks to come, no matter where I was he would somehow find me, and at the end he would always ask the same question. I had learned his name through some girls who were fans of mine, and came to hear of the band called Waito Noizu. I learned that though they were successful and popular, they never left the city due to other responsibilities. They played because they loved it and not because they wanted fame and glory. I heard some of their music that consisted of covers, and grew to like them just a bit. I decided to see where this would lead me, and find out if this was the path that would lead me to what I want.

So before Kizami could repeat his question, I asked him," Why me?" He seemed surprised that I hadn't said 'no' or 'get lost' as I normally had until now, but his eyes seemed to shimmer with something along the lines of hope and glee. He gave me a handsome smile that sent shivers down my spine, and he responded," Why not you?" I shot him a dirty look, but then I sighed in defeat. I don't know how much longer I could take him asking the same question like a broken record, but I refuse to let him get what he wants without giving something to me in return. "Buy me dinner." I told him, holding out my amp for him to carry," Beef udon, extra noodles." Kizami took my amp, and he smiled softly with a nod," Alright."

As the months passed, I grew stronger bonds between the members of Waito Noizu. Hiro and I would often bicker, as if the two of us were siblings. But we would also have each other's backs; perhaps out of everyone, he was my best friend. We would often try to sneak away from practice to get a bite to eat or explore some arcades. Atsutomo was like the dad of the group; respectable, hard-working, and was always there to lend a hand or give advice. I often wondered why he decided to be in a band when his future was protecting people in court, but I realized that nothing else fit him quite as well as the drum sticks he always carried around. Yukina was the big sister, and often cared for everyone a bit too well. She was always there to pick people up when they fell, and she's an excellent cook believe it or not; she was the one who taught me how to cook and mend clothing.

As for Kizami? Well...

One day, his annoying question returned. But this time, all he did was smile and say," Marry me."

This went on for months, and it was déjà vu all over again. I constantly told him 'no', and it got to the point that even everyone in the band started to get entertained/annoyed by his pestering. He was such a bother. He was always by my side, his fingers laced with my own or holding me when I slept. He'd help with vocal exercises every day, and he'd bring me everything I wanted. His voice melded with my own like a perfect fit of a puzzle, and his smile was so sweet it was almost nauseating. I would always feel butterflies in my stomach whenever he was around, and I found myself wanting to be by his side despite finding him to be bothersome. Every kiss we shared was seared into my memory, and I had memorized the touch of his hands against my flesh. I was disgusted with myself, falling for a man like Kizami Sakuraba...