Transaction

Disclaimer: We only own made band members of Opium.

Author’s Notes: Another shorty. I apologize for that. But this is where we did a lot of scene cuts and things because so many things are going on at once. There are quite a few turning points coming up soon, so I’ll try to avoid these short ones as long as I can.

Sorry!
~~~
Transaction
~~~
Chapter Seventeen
~~~
The blond walked down the corridors busily working, but at a nice slow pace. He stopped in studios and walked out with demos, or tapes, or CDs. Other times with papers which he kept or delivered elsewhere. Sometimes he stopped in to advise or listen to a few songs, or even give a short performance review. Not only was he catching up on his work, but he was doing it at warp speed.

All the while, Taki was with him pestering him. Not asking for help, more like complaining and begging.

"Aizawa-san," Tohma sighed. "If I could spare a player I would, but I have no one free. I'm the only one left in the build who can play synth who isn't already working with a band, but I can't do it. Why? I have to run a business."

He smiled at an employee walking by, nodding his head.

"You will have to wait until Chiba-san heals, or force him to work now and injure himself more. It's your call."

Taki sighed, running a hand through his hair again in agitation. Following Tohma had not done him any good. All it was doing was straining his leg, but fuck if he was going to let that stop him.

"If we wait until he heals, we'll be weeks behind schedule!" He was protesting, all but whining as he followed the older man.

He couldn't let them get behind schedule. Once behind schedule, there would be no catching up. A substitute would at least allow them to record, move forward. Haido could watch and make suggestions, fix things when his hand healed.

It would be something at least. Something instead of this complete standstill they'd found themselves in.

~x~

Keiko stood there, her mind torn between disgust, anger and just plain shock. Taki did that? For real? Ken was his friend... she looked over at the dark haired man, who looked awkward at the moment. Yeah, he seemed like a person who would've been a good friend. He wouldn’t make this shit up.

It was sick. Or maybe it was just emotions.

Keiko didn't know what to think really.

Haido, on the other hand, was really wishing he hadn't been a part of this at all. He felt weird an awkward hearing these things. Now he had to face that man everyday for the next two years knowing what kind of person he was.

Maybe he'd rest his hand at home for a bit...

"That's sick." Kenji finally whispered. "Really. I knew the bastard was insane, but I didn't think it was that fucking bad." His hands were fisted on his knees, and he shook his head slowly as he stared down at them.

Sure, making the dream come true was a hard road, but it didn't require stooping to measures like that. Taki was a bastard, yeah. A slave driver, sure, and definitely obsessive, but to take it that far? To actually... do that to another human being?

And he had the gall to treat Seguchi that way?

Author’s Notes: See? It been loosely brought up. Opium officially knows what Taki did to Shuichi two years ago. I don’t think it was ever revealed as to what Tohma did in response to Taki’s actions. So, I think Opium doesn’t know that Tohma pushed him in front of a car. I think the only people that actually know, now and forever, are Tohma, Taki, whoever was driving the car (it’s still under much debate) and Suguru. If you’ve watched the anime, Suguru visits Taki in the hospital.

So, there’s a good lot of drama for you right there!

Drop us a line.

~Akuma