Transaction

Disclaimer: You should know by now.

Author’s Notes: I’m sorry! I usually post a chapter at least once a day, but I didn’t yesterday. I went out clubbing and I was going to when I got home, but my friend twisted her foot on a whole glass someone left on the floor and we had to take her to the hospital cause she heard it pop.

Turns out she fractured a bone in her foot, so now she’s in a cast. I didn’t get in until five in the morning, was starving and the boyfriend had to spend the night (which none of our parents likes, but he wasn’t safe to drive).

It was a very long night, and I’m sorry about the chapter, but my friend was more important. And so was sleep! Lol

Enjoy.
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Transaction

Chapter Sixteen
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Finally they made it back to the recording room where Keiko was leaning back in her chair to it was tilted at a dangerous angle against a wall. She looked like the perfect example of bored, arms dangling at her sides, staring at the ceiling.

She slowly looked at them. "Good. Shall we explain on the way?"

Kenji nodded, finally letting go of Haido's hand. His fingers felt cold, and he shoved them deep into his pants pocket. "Yeah... we're going now?" A little bit of surprise, there.

He hadn't thought they'd actually go today. But, he wasn't complaining! The sooner they found out about Taki and Tohma, the sooner they would have something to use against Taki and maybe get him off their backs.

The bliss of the idea alone was almost too much for Kenji to handle.

"Hell, pity card, Kenji," Keiko sighed, getting up from the chair. "C'mon. We'll take the stairs down. More time to explain."

And on top of that, she didn't know where Taki was at the moment and if he'd return anytime soon. Since they were doing this about him, of course they couldn't talk about it where he would find out about it.

Duh.

She headed out, Haido following, hand now slipping his pocket. He kind of missed the moment before.

"So, what exactly is going on?" he asked as they left.

"Kenji's crazy," Keiko said simply.

"I am not!" Kenji protested hotly, scowling at the back of Keiko's head. "Taki's the crazy one! You've seen the way he is! It's insane!"

Kenji would stick by his theory until someone proved it false to him. And the only people who could do that were the people they were trying to find. So, if they found Ken, and Ken didn't give them anything worth another look...

He'd take one anyway. If there was some big secret to Taki's insanity, then there was no way it would come out on the first interrogation!

Maybe they would have to go to America, and track down Ma! That would be so cool. Kenji had never been to America.

Haido seemed thoroughly confused now. "Ok, Aizawa-san is crazy? Why?"

"Kenji thinks there's something between Aizawa and Seguchi-san," Keiko said, starting down the flight of stairs. "And apparently Aizawa's crazy because he works us hard. Go figure. A slacker thinking hard work is crazy..."

Haido laughed, covering his mouth to try and smother it. It didn't work.

"So, wait, what's going on between them?"

Kenji huffed, reaching out to flick Keiko in the back of the head. "It's not just how he works us, but have you seen the way he works with Seguchi? When he's not talking and professional, he's glaring like he's got something sour in his mouth. And the way he talks..."

Shaking his head, the singer rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, disturbing the fine red hairs there. "You just don't TALK like that to the boss, you know? It's like he's just asking to get a rise out of the guy. It's weird."

Did you do that to someone who held your career in their hands? Kenji certainly didn't. He might be loud, abrasive, and particularly foolish, but he had a bit of sense.

Haido looked at Kenji in surprised. Wow, maybe he wasn't so dorky after all. Kenji seemed rather smart, or at least intuitive. It was definitely another side of the other person he'd never seen before.

"Okay, so you think there's something up," Haido said to Kenji. "But what do we need me for?"

There was a good question.

"There's only one other member of ASK still in the country: Ken-chan. He's a synth player, and we need get some information out of him," Keiko explained. "That's where you come in. We think he might be a studio musician here at N-G. We need you to ask the secretary for his schedule because you've always admired him."

Or... something like that.

Kenji nodded his agreement, taking a little bit of pride from Haido's look of astonishment. He liked surprising people. It made life interesting.

"Kei won't let me do it. She says it's not convincing." He rolled his eyes, as if it made no sense to him. And, on some level, it didn't. So what if he sang? It was just a little switch in the music industry.

It wasn't so big of a shock for him to like synthesized music. If he didn't, why would Haido be with them?

He could think of at least one reason, that made his skin feel too hot and his hands itch. Where was he coming up with this stuff?

Haido looked a bit shocked. He couldn't decide if this was good or bad for him. On the one hand, it was interesting, and they needed his help. Since he couldn't play, it was nice to feel useful. Then again... what were they going to do once they were able to track Ken guy down?

Maybe he didn't want to be bothered...

Keiko sighed, coming to the last floor, the other two behind her. The desk was right there in the middle of the quiet lobby (everyone was working).

"Act shy," she told Haido and started walking over, dragging him behind her.

The idea was, if they made a bit of a scene making him seem shy, the secretary would probably be more than willing to give a shy little guy like Haido the information.

"C'mon!" Keiko said louder now, tugging on him a bit. "Just go ask! Go!"

She gave him a shove toward the desk. Haido fumbled, still not sure if he wanted to do this. He finished walking towards the desk and didn't really have to act shy. His indecision made it possible.

"U-uh... excuse me?" he asked quietly, trying to get her attention. He looked back at Keiko and Kenji who were watching.

Kenji made hand motions, like they would put Haido's attention back toward the secretary. He mouthed, "Pay attention!" as the secretary turned.

"Can I help you?" She asked, giving Haido a polite stare. After years of working at NG, she was used to putting on a polite face, no matter what mood she may be in.

It was handy, really. Quite useful.

He swallowed hard, nodding as he snapped his head around to the voice. Haido wasn't sure what to ask... Taki. Taki was in a band ASK. So, the logical thing to do would be to ask about it first, right? She was staring at him...

"Uh... I was...," he paused again, fidgeting. "Um... my manager is Aizawa-san and uh... he used to be in this band..."

Haido was feeling his stomach tighten as he spoke, and his hand twitched.

"ASK was the name of it... and, well... their synth player. Ken... I, uh, just wanted to know if maybe there was anyway... that maybe I could find him? And... and possibly meet him?" he asked awkwardly. "I always admired his work so much..."

The polite face flickered, and the secretary found herself smiling. It was almost... cute. He looked so nervous, and he sounded unsure of himself. He had to be from that new band, the one Tohma had taken such pains for.

She hadn't minded any. It had given her a few extra hours off.

"I think we can find him." She turned to the computer to her left, hands going down to the keyboard as she typed in Ken's name for a search of the database. A moment of silence, and she nodded. "He should be in the studio right now. On the seventh floor. Studio B."

Sure, there was a small flicker of suspicion. Why would anyone be looking for old ASK players? They were old news. History! Broken apart and scattered to the four winds. She was certain that Aizawa didn't even know Ken was still employed at NG.

Who would waste their time searching out individual players?

But, it was none of her business if Ken was this young man's idol. She was just happy to help.

Haido gave a small, rushed smile, nodding his head in a slight bow to the secretary. She was smiling, he smiled, and she had the information! She actually gave it to him without question!

"Seventh floor, studio B," he repeated, smile widening. "Thank you so much!"

He nearly ran back over to Keiko and Kenji. This was going to make him so happy!

...

Him? As in Kenji?

Haido slowed his thoughts with his step, and he was almost frowning as he came up to his band mates. Keiko was waving at the secretary, miming things back and forth. Girls could have a conversation no matter what medium they used.

"Alright, whatcha get?" Keiko asked finally, walking over to the elevator.

"Seventh floor, studio B," Haido replied.

Kenji looked ready to hug Haido again, but he held himself back, remembering strongly the last occurrence. Instead, he just smiled widely, following Haido and Keiko to the elevator.

"That's awesome! I can't believe she just gave it to you!" Kenji gave up, because there was no way he could express it without undue physicality.

He gave Haido a hug from behind, halting their progress at his own expense. It was a careful hug, loose and relatively quick. Within seconds, Kenji was pulling back, still smiling.

Haido was confused at the action and Keiko glanced at them, but said nothing. She hit the up button and waited for the lift, minding her own business. Haido had turned around to looked at Kenji for a moment, but just smiled.

"He was too cute being flustered, small and injured. He was perfect for this," Keiko said, stepping into the elevator when it opened.

Haido followed, asking where they were going.

"Seventh floor, studio B, of course," she responded, waiting for Kenji. Once aboard, she hit seven and let the machine take it from there.

Kenji bounced on the balls of his feet, thumbs hooked in his pockets. He was a tall bundle of nervous energy, watching the floors tick by with all the concentration of a small child. "So... we're all going in, right?"

He didn't want to be left out of this part of the process, too. He wanted to hear whatever it was firsthand. It wouldn't be fair to have to deal with second hand information.

Glancing at Haido, Kenji bit the inside of his lip. He would have thought that if he was... gay, it would have shown up before now. Why Haido? What if it was just a fluke? Or, what if it wasn't? But, no... He really did like women. Liked them a lot, actually.

But, Haido... Kenji forced his eyes back up to the numbers as the doors dinged and opened.
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Author’s Notes: Looking back on these chapters where Opium really starts to grow and change and get their own personalities, I really kind of hate myself for what’s going to come in just a few short chapters. I may have to do some major overhauling. I hate screwing with the original version… but the climactic point needs more reason.

Haido will develop a lot more soon. I’m still not sure if it’s good or bad.

Review.

~Subby