Transaction

Disclaimer: We only own the band members of Opium!

Author’s Notes: Yay for chapter three! Thanks to the few reviews we’ve gotten so far. I know the chapters are a bit short now, but they all vary in length. Trying to divvy up chapters from a full length already written out story is harder than I thought. -.-; Thanks Kel.

So, some chapters may be long, long, long, other’s may be a blink of the eye short. Why? Cause that’s how I see fit to break the story into chapters. Bear with me, please!

Thanks and enjoy!
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Transaction

Chapter Three
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Ah, how the young have grown, Tohma thought, closing the recently brought prepaid cell phone. He'd done it specifically for this event, and it worked well seeing as the few texted messages just sent to him by the temp pleased him greatly.

Apparently Taki had either learned his place, or was certainly more cautious. The blond was slightly impressed, but not too much. After all, one had to learn something after being taken to such lengths, no?

Tohma was more impressed with the fact that he had held out so long. Making the blond come and offer him a deal. When he had seen his name in the paper, Tohma assumed he would be one of the first contacted. But, then no calls. Quite disappointing really.

Now it was time to decide:

Send them away as soon as they entered for being late, lead them on and then dump them, or hear them out.

Distinguished, respectable, hated, feared, loved... all these and more described Tohma. So did fair.

He would wait. He would listen. He would make an honest judgment.

Honestly, Taki had some gall. Keeping him waiting like this. And then, without realizing it, making him wait some more! It brought a tiny smile to the blond’s lips. Taki always did have something a little irking and endearing about him. It was no wonder the man did so well in the business world.

The temp knew her roll, and was paid well for it. As soon as the band ascended in the elevator, she got up from the desk. Just in time really, seeing as the usual secretary, two years older and her hair brushing her shoulders now, entered. The chatted for a minute, nothing spoken of what had just occurred and the temp left.

Yet another well placed mind game for the ex-singer when he came back downstairs.

Taki was calm when they reached the door. An icy, artificial calm. Inside, he was still raging. Everything in him wanted to get that bastard back. He turned to Kenji and the others and motioned for them to go in first.

"Go in, Kei."

Keiko, the guitarist, shot Kenji a dirty look. "Fine. Let's go, Haido." She opened the door and stepped inside, the quiet synth player following her in. Kenji entered after, looking a little wary, and Taki came in last, closing the door behind them.

The smile on his face was forced.

"Good afternoon, Seguchi-san." A short bow, in comparison to the much deeper ones from the band members.

Tohma rose from his seat, offering a short bow. He waved a gloved hand at the band, motioning for them to take their seats wherever they wished.

"Good afternoon, Aizawa-san," the blond greeted pleasantly. Like an old friend with whom he had to use the formality with. The smile on his face said likewise.

After they had seated, Tohma took his seat, leaning foward on the reflective wooden table, hands folding neatly. He looked them over in silence long and hard, taking mental notes.

The singer was just like Taki had been, though the maturity level... no, scratch that, just like Taki. No wonder he'd been able to make the band do well; Taki knew how to handle someone like himself. The girl was pretty, not shy, but polite. Possibly like Hiro-kun in a way. The synth player... well, he seemed very quite, very shy and almost uncomfortable.

Certainly not completely like ASK, nor like their used to be rival band BAD LUCK, but a nice in between.

"Well, right off, I'd like to say it's a pleasure to meet you all. I can see Aizawa-san has done a fine job," Tohma commented. "But, I have to admit I'm a little disappointed. You were late. Almost a half an hour so. Aizawa-san, could you please explain?"

All eyes were on Taki now. The large teal eyes focused on the dark haired man were the only things not radiating a happiness that was usually given off. But, it wasn't hate either.

It was all some sick joke.

Taki felt like he'd been transported two years into the past, when Tohma was still ASK's producer, and he was being quizzed on why he hadn't shown up for work, or had recorded something that was not up to par. Giving the wrong answer had almost been fatal back then.

Would Tohma actually kill him this time?

Kenji was starting to look uncomfortable, and Taki gave him a sidelong glance that told him to shut up.

"We had a hair emergency, Seguchi-san. But, as you can see, it's been taken care of." Obviously directed at the singer, who's discomfort seemed to increase.

Good. Taki was feeling particularly malicious toward the young man, who hadn't been spared the speech on why it wouldn't help his career to waste time.

"Mm," Tohma hummed, smiling at the lead singer now. "Are you sure of that? It looks as though the emergency is still there."

The blond chuckled, showing he meant no harm to the man. Though, really, such an unnatural shade... then again, he supposed he was getting on in years.

"Well, you are..." he flipped through the paperwork quickly "Sonoda Kenji? Ah, well Sonoda-san, let me assure you that while looking good is important" he too was very into how he was dressed and looked "you should never leave a man waiting. Take my work for it, right, Aizawa-san?"

Another little chuckle.

"Because, rest assured, you wouldn't be the first band I've turned away as soon as they showed up for the meeting. Lucky for you, Aizawa-san and I have a little history. Of which I'm quite fond of," Tohma said, as though they were such good friends and he was hurt that Taki hadn't called him in the past two years.

"But, chitchat aside, I'd like to get straight down to business," the blonde said, sitting back in his chair. "I've heard your demo. Read the reviews, had others listen to you, and... I must say, I've been hearing good things. So, Aizawa-san, my deal is this: You sign a two year recording contract with N-G Records. In this time, I want to see two albums released. But, only if the first one sells well. If it does, we'll start small shows and touring, another CD, the same deal, and then meet for resigning. Under one small condition I'm sure you won't mind, Aizawa-san..."

Tohma smiled, eyes closed a bit.

"I will be working right along side you."
~~~
Author's Notes: Hey guys! I know, I know. It's seems a bit farfetched, even for Tohma. Well, I write my Tohma devious and evil and world ruler-y, so I take some liberties with what he will and won't do. Like hire a temp to piss off Taki, and disposable cell phones. After all, he wouldn't want a temp to have his number, yeah?

But, other than the few things that we pulled, the story fits together fine. ^.^

And soon you'll realize why we titled this fic 'Transaction'. Soon, soon, soon! Review please!

~Subby