The Start of Something New and Mao's debut
Third Time's The Charm“Ahh well Mao-chan I have to go visit the owner and do a bit of talking about the club at a small VIP room upstairs the press will use that to describe the atmosphere of the club.” Toma turned around to speak to Mao, and she was fully ready to be disregarded and thrown into hanging out with her friends, and she probably wouldn’t have minded all that much either but then Toma held onto her hand by his own accord and Mao looked at him.
“Come with me neh?” Yamapi gave Mao thumbs up to go with a cute wink as well Mao added in her head. Maki turned around and shook her head disapprovingly, and then he gave her the middle finger and settled their silent argument both huffing away from each other to their significant others.
Mao laughed, as did Toma as they walked across the club to the area, which would take you to the VIP rooms. Mao glanced back to see how the others were doing and saw Jun immediately disappear to god knows where, what an odd girl, she saw Maki and Shun head towards the bar, god knew they wouldn’t be dancing, and Yamapi and Megumi head to the dance floor.
She felt a slight squeeze of Toma’s hand as they got immersed into a crowd that surrounded the slight pedestal where the elevator, which headed upwards to the VIP rooms, was located.
“Don’t let go,” He spoke to her and even with all the loud music in the room as Mao looked towards him she blushed and she felt herself get hotter and she slowly started breathing in and out as she turned away from him shyly as he guided her finally to the elevator guarded by bouncers.
“Toma Ikuta,” He said showing his ID card in which his picture practically spelt model. They nodded and were about to let both of them pass but then they got a closer look at Mao who looked back angrily and she could swear she actually saw one of them cringe under her powerful gaze. She couldn’t help but grin a huge victory smile at this.
“She’s with me,” And Mao’s throat closed up and her victory smile was wiped off her face and replaced with a more stupid looking one. She nodded and they entered the elevator, which was actually quite small and made for one so she felt her body press up to Toma’s own and surprisingly felt his arms wrap around her waist possessively and she couldn’t help but want to ask why he was suddenly getting so possessive of her in a public environment.
She didn’t seem to realize that well that no one really cared what you did in clubs because that was the one place you were allowed to do anything you wanted and not have strings attached.
But of course the ride was short and the door opened before either of them knew it, and almost too soon Mao’s body separated from Toma’s she felt. She stepped out first and looked to Toma before they opened the door to enter the VIP room where the owner was in.
“Arigato Toma-kun.”
He smiled back at her.
Then shockingly Mao almost squealed and pushed him away he gave her a hug. Toma realized he was savoring the person she was right now, the unknown Mao, the untainted Mao to a certain degree.
Toma’s thoughts were occupied by the fact that this would be the last he saw of the old Mao, the mildly poor Mao, and the ungraceful and terribly impolite Mao. He wanted to support her; he was the only one in their group of friends with true power. This summer he'd finally gotten what he'd wanted forever...power. He wanted to boost Mao up...help her out a bit. He would use it to make her the perfect teen idol, and prove to his father he didn't give birth to a useless son.
But of course the generous thoughts also had his normal hormonal teenage brain involved so he couldn’t stop thinking that he wanted to support her like a bra. He almost laughed which would have ruined the very touching moment. Mao would be his to a certain extent, he promised himself.
He felt Mao’s own arms wrap around his neck and hug him tighter and felt himself relax as if letting himself fall in her responsibility. He realized she often had that effect on him, as if she would take care of everything and he just had to relax in her presence.
“Mao-chan…be careful of what you say in there neh?” He said quietly. He didn’t want her career to get hurt before it even started and he felt Mao lean into his neck and nod.
“Of course Toma-kun I would never do anything to hurt your career.” No one knew this girl, oh sure they were very well acquainted with her outer appearance but no one knew this girl and he would make sure that no one other than those she loved would because if ever they knew this softer, slightly more lovable side of Mao, they would crush it. Just like before.
His memory went back to the first time he met Mao. The last day of the first week of school it had been. He’d remembered seeing her pathetic looks and wanting to at first because of her extreme nerdy like behaviour.
Mao however had been ‘cracked’ by Toma the very first time they’d met but of course he still didn’t know that.
****Memory*****
They’d all been sitting in class, quite quietly listening to their English teacher blab on and Mao seemed to be the only one who even concentrated on taking notes on a review lesson.
No one knew that it was because she was a) a student from a public junior high and b) a scholarship student. So not only had she never learnt most of this before she had to prove herself to get high marks in the course if she wanted to keep attending Eitoku. She sighed tired almost slumping but felt her hand still keep moving as the teacher kept talking and for a moment she couldn’t help herself from thinking and hoping that the guy would shut up.
Then she felt a small paper ball thrown at her, this was quite shocking, most people had told her that Eitoku was a friendly place but as soon as she’d entered she’d known that it was all a lie to the outside world. These people were the iest es around! She picked it up and saw what it read.
‘Can’t keep up right?’ She was about to turn around and yell her head off at the person behind her who would even think of throwing this at her.
And then she saw him.
He sat right behind her in the traditional uniform of a gray jacket and white shirt and gorgeous blue tie.
On other people it looked like the dreariest uniform possible but as she stared into this boys face that was smiling with a whimsical look adorning his visage she couldn’t help but think that on him it looked as if it was the uniform of the gods.
She had been sure that he was teasing her that she didn’t deserve to be here like the others who had done so in her first week of school but he seemed to be sincere as if trying to help her out. She realized her hand had stopped moving and so she turned around quickly and continued writing her notes until the end of class. As the teacher finally finished talking she started packing up when she felt another ball thrown at her and looked at it eagerly almost before realizing that made her look like a loser and she opened it calmly and collectedly but as the last fold reached she couldn’t help but flip it back rather quickly.
‘Konichiwa Mao-chan!’
She couldn’t help but turn around and shout accidentally like she would at her old school.
“EHHH how do you know my name?!” She said while everyone was still in the class and staring back at her, including gorgeous-boy who grinned mischievously.
“Ahhh Mao-chan doshtano? You don’t want to be friends with meee? So mean!” He said and immediately Mao blushed and looked at him as if she was going to kill him as she noticed everyone staring at the not-quite-so-private exchange anymore. For some reason this boy was bringing out the ‘hidden’ her…she still wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.
“Oi! You-“
“Inoue-san, Ikuta-san! Please keep your exchanges to a minimum volume please. Other’s are trying to not have their learning environment disrupted.” The teacher said to them in possibly the most complicated English ever for the two words that even Mao knew well, shut up.
“Yes of course Professor.” Mao said in a startlingly good accent, she had been practicing last night when her roommate Megumi Sato had been out of the room. God how she hated that witch, she’d take hours in the washroom and when she came out she would expect Mao to pick up all her stuff as if she was her slave or something. It didn’t help that she’d kicked Mao out on the first night to bring over Akanishi-senpai who had actually been nice to Mao until Megumi had spread around an obvious rumor, well to Mao at least, that now Mao desperately loved him.
Mao didn’t desperately love anyone…other than Shun-kun but of course that boy being the biggest baka ever didn’t even say hi to her anymore. In fact the first time she’d seen him and waved at him he’d run away from her.
She remembered crying that night, as usual Megumi hadn’t been there so it had been less embarrassing as it might have been with Megumi present.
Then gorgeous boy disrupted her rose colored thoughts of Shun now thought. “Of course Professor sorry everyone! I just think Mao-chan is the cutest little poor girl ever!” As if to prove his point or something he bent down to her height and ruffled her hair loosening it from the tight braids she’d had it in.
“OI! Don’t touch me!” She said to him and then the professor looked harshly at them as Mao’s voice had risen again.
“Gomen ne sensei. It’s my fault that Mao-chan hasn’t learnt the ways of Eitoku yet. She still acts like a poor brat. I promise I’ll try to teach her. Really she is hopeless though!” Megumi said and Mao stopped glaring at the gorgeous boy and looked down to the floor. Great she’d thought gorgeous boy wasn’t making fun of her when he was and now Megumi had decidedly insulted her as usual in front of everyone in the class.
The professor didn’t bring any notice to Megumi’s comment because she obviously had power and Mao didn’t and so he couldn’t stand up for Mao over Megumi. She’d quickly learnt the 'rules' of the school and as Mao started to fiddle with her hands she heard gorgeous boy speak up.
“Aww but that’s what I find most cute about her Megumi-chan! Look at her eyes when they’re angry don’t you just feel your heart stop?! Oh and her harsh words! They hit right here.” The gorgeous boy said pointing to his heart and Mao looked up shocked and surprised at his words. He offered her a smile and Mao gulped and nodded back, pushing her eyes back onto the floor surprised to find her heart beating fast. He’d stood up for her…why?
Just as Megumi was about to say something hurtful once more the bell rang and the professor quickly yelped “Dismissed!” and left the scene.
One by one the students piled out, even Megumi left giving Mao a stealthy glare until only Mao and the gorgeous boy were left and since it was after school.
“Gomen ne Mao-chan if I shocked you…I’m just usually like that I’m used to having everyone not mind but I didn’t realize that you might have.” He said apologetically but Mao immediately stood up and bowed in front of him shocking him with her movements.
“Arigato gozaimasu. Without you I-well I would have felt really bad,” and probably started working harder on the Megumi voodoo doll she thought jokingly inside her head. “ And thank you for standing up for someone you didn’t even know.” She said and the gorgeous boy grinned as he went behind her and pulled her up from her bow and grasped her shoulders tightly with his hands and looked at her carefully before finally saying.
“Thank me by being friends with me neh? Oh and I don’t like being called you a lot so you should probably learn my name. Ikuta Toma…but don’t you even try to call me Ikuta-san.” And with an arm around her Mao blushed immediately but Toma pretended not to notice as swung his bag over his other shoulder with his hand and let Mao-chan grab her stuff as they exited the school.
And life was never the same for the two of them after that.
******End Memory******
Toma was remembering this moment now compared the Mao in present compared to the one in his memories.
She was so different but she was still just as beautiful.
“Let’s go Mao-chan.”
Mao shook her head as if she wanted to ask him something but they entered the classy looking blue green room with a mini waterfall at the back. There was a huge window where the view was of the people grinding and dancing in movements that Mao would call on a dance floor rather than a dance.
“Toma! Finally I’ve been waiting for you to start with the reporter how do you like the club?” To Mao’s surprise she found out the manager of the club was actually Iwasa Mayuko who was Toma’s co-star on House Husband. She’d never known that the popular star was planning to own a club!
“It’s fabulous Mayuko-chan. I brought along a bunch of my friends and they’re definitely enjoying themselves I’m sure. Thank you for the invitations Mayuko-chan.” He said leaning forward to give her a professional hug and Mao smiled brightly at the girl. Toma broke free from the embrace and introduced Mao.
“Oh this was the girl I was telling you about on set. Remember her?” Mayuko looked confused but then a look of realization came on her face as she offered Mao a one armed hug as well and nodded.
“Of course…little Ms. Eitoku. Your story would make a fabulous drama. Inoue Mao-san am I correct? I’m Iwasa Mayuko.” She said grinning as she offered the hand of friendship to Mao and Toma gave Mayuko a small smile. Things seemed to be going well, both Toma and Mao thought in a relieved manner.
“Pleasure to meet you Mayuko-san, oh can I just call you that it’ll be a lot easier on me, just call me Mao.” She said offering a shy smile and Mayuko nodded in agreement as she held onto Toma’s other arm and Mao took the free one and they headed over to the table where Mao noticed all the actors from House Husband were and Mao almost was afraid she’d be out of place but then she felt Toma’s hands make their way to holding her waist again and she grinned, no she’d never be alone when Toma was around.
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The night continued on…it went from 10, to 12 and now it was one o’clock and Maki was staring at the multiple people around her who were drunk. Shun himself had gotten quite ‘smashed’ and she’d let him which she was now regretting truthfully.
“OH!” Shun spoke suddenly so loudly that the people nearest to them stopped dancing to look at Maki, who’s hair was now completely out of her bun, and Shun who was now looking rather deviant as his white shirt was ed from the top to the middle.
“OH!” She said back and then they both burst into giggles as they stared at each other’s faces, which were looking decidedly stupid. Maki was laughing cause Shun was drunk and Shun was laughing cause he was…well drunk.
It was at that moment that Yamapi and Megumi came back from dancing and Maki stared at Yamapi who was in his standard uniform of black tank and black pants and Megumi had her arms wrapped over his shoulders and Maki swallowed a lump that had unconsciously formed in looking at his exposed muscles.
“YAMAPI! Let’s have a staring contest again neh?” Shun said leaning forward over Maki and then ending up in her lap as she was sitting on a bar stool, he somehow managed to stay and flop over so that his face was facing hers.
“Oii Shun! Be careful neh? If anything bad were to happen to you I would feel horrible for the whole night!” Maki said pressing her fingers affectionately against his forehead.
The remix for ‘The Way I Are’ by Timberland came on and Maki had now decided to shove Shun off her lap so he fell on the ground shocking quite a few people’s feet away so he had space. He glared at her and Maki stuck her tongue out, as was their peace making bait, at him. Just as he was about to lunge on it for a kiss, she felt herself being dragged away by Megumi and gave Megumi a frown. She tried to catch Yamapi’s expression, but then realized that he wouldn’t have an expression, as he didn’t really care about her. Why should he anyways? She tried to tell herself. They hadn’t talked more than three words to each other. Her thoughts were getting jumbled up but then she remembered the look he’d had on his face as she’d stepped into the lounge room.
Of course now her dress had lost most of its beautiful wrinkles but even now she was almost hoping that he would stare at her and not Megumi.
Of course he hadn’t, he was completely enamored with Megumi.
WAIT but why should she care! She thought as she stepped into the harsh yellow light, which was in contrast to the dark blue light of the club, of the washroom.
“Ahhh Megumi nani? If you want to pee you should pee yourself.” Just then a girl came in and Megumi started laughing wildly at Maki and the girl looked rather confused as she tried to think of what to do in this situation. As Maki looked at her she seemed rather young, fourteen at most so what was she doing here? Maki looked at her outfit and immediately realized, she was staff! She might have been a bartender but then wasn’t she too young?
“Gomen,” Megumi said and the girl nodded as she put up a hand and Megumi leant forward to see her nametag and then pronounced. “Sawajiri Erika-chan! I have a friend with the same name. Of course you seem a lot more different though.”
“Do you want something?” ‘Erika’ finally said and Megumi giggled as well and Maki couldn’t help but think that maybe Megumi was a little drunk too but she couldn’t imagine it because Megumi hadn’t even stayed at the bar for more than two seconds to see her.
As the maybe-bartender left and Maki and Megumi were left alone again Maki slumped beside the wall of the washroom and looked at her friend. “Nani? Why’d you bring me in here Megumi darling?” Maki asked feeling the cool air of the washroom brush past her as it was much cooler in here than out in the club.
“Ahh Makiii! I lovelovelove Toma-kun!” Megumi said and immediately Maki yelped and then Megumi looked at her oddly and Maki started coughing immediately and Megumi looked at her as she finally stopped her coughing fit.
“NANI? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Besides you know that Mao is probably making out with him right now. And there’s like an unwritten rule that guys can’t make out with two girls at once so where is this coming from?” Maki said almost acting frantic before stopping in front of Megumi and taking a deep breath using her hands to calm herself down.
“I don’t love him Maki…I love him for…for bringing me Yamapi.” She said finally and dancing in the washroom and as Maki watched her best friend dance happily, her eyes alight with a joy and her hair lively she felt tears start forming in her eyes, but why it didn’t make sense.
It was the alcohol…yes it was. Maki was going to keep blaming the alcohol. She was crying because she was so happy that Megumi had finally found someone. Yes…that was why…the alcohol was making her overemotional…and then she realized herself that she had not had any alcohol.
Then Megumi, finally calming down from her dance, leant beside her on the wall and turned to look at her happily as she said the words Maki was sure were coming.
“He asked me to be his girlfriend…we were on the dance floor. It was 11:59 and then as if it was New Years he kissed me in front of everyone but no one, it’s hard to explain you know? Then the song went to a slow song and he pulled me into his arms and- I really really like him. It’s too soon to use the L word of course. I'm not commitment girl! Yet..” She added happily at the end and glanced at Maki who’s tears were falling beside her fake smile and Maki hugged Megumi so that she’d be able to hide her face as it was slacking into a frown without her permission.
“I’m really happy for you Megumi.” She said quietly hoping to let slip some fake joy in her voice and Megumi nodded.
“I know…you’ve always wanted me to stop being…well…such a flirt, to put it mildly, and I think…I’m not sure Maki cause I’m a commitment phobe I mean I let go of everything all the time so I’m a little afraid but I think…I’ll stop that.” She said and Maki couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous.
Why should she though? She had Shun! Yes she had HOT, Y, MANLY, MUSCULAR Shun! An extremely viable boy with a hot body, and a hot voice, and hot eyes! He was everything she’d wanted, cause he was HOT! And he was good at math which she so at.
Which was why for the next hour Maki spent her time making out with her boyfriend and getting drunk with multiple shots while Megumi and Yamapi went out to the dance floor.
She snogged him on top of the bar. She got Shun to get her a martini. He looked older than her anyways
She snogged him on a chair. A glass of Gin N’ Tonic, it was a little bitter but it was nothing compared to the taste she'd had in when Megumi broke the news of her new relationsip.
She snogged him pressed up against the wall. A Screaming …actually no she’d had a beer but she had wanted to order one of those but the bartender refused her one. Shun was no longer actually capable of getting drinks so Maki had tried her luck.
And she finally snogged him some other places that were almost unmentionable. A body shot…oh yeah now she was drunk now because the sane, not under the influence Maki?
She would never have done a body shot.
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A/N: DONE! Finally okay so I'm sorry I haven't replied to the people who reviewed yet but I'll reply here neh?
Zing: LMAOO glad you liked it! I know what you mean I love imagining Jun in girly clothes ^.^ Glad you liked it!
Yes galores of Yamaki moments coming up now!
makitear-chan: THANKS!!! I know I thought that was cute too because all three of them have something to do with Maki in real life right now. If I told you that it'd be so confusing...cause what I have planned for all the characters is really really interconnected so it's hard to say right now. BUT! It's definetely one of those three she ends up with. I know what you mean thought I like Maguri and Tomaki fics too so ^.^
Pi is always mean in this story...to Maki at least. T.T Thanks for enjoying it hope you liked this chapter too!
Ichigokut3: OMG You made me feel so happy I swear ^.^ Thanks for always checking for me and hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! Pi is a little bit of a mean guy over all cause he doesn't like getting too close to people. He's happy with the people he has and when he lets someone in it's a big deal. Which is why Toma's all jealous of Megumi!
THANKS! Hope you like the conference coming up!
gl: THANK YOU! I'm glad you enjoyed it too! I hope it matched up with your pairings and stuff (then again there's a lot of pairings coming up anyways so it's bound to match up sometime) Hope you enjoy the commentary below as well!
Sorry for updating a little late T.T
ACTOR CONFERENCE:
Maki: HOLY I CAN'T BE DRUNK!
Shun: Your not supposed to swear either
Toma and Mao: *just kind of looking at each other and smiling*
Jun: *sulking* I wanna go on a date with Mao...
Author: Your a girl.
Jun: I DON'T CARE! *grumbles some more*
Aya: Don't worry Junny-bunny! *jumps on him and bites his ear*
Jun: GET OFF ME! THIS ISN'T HYD YOU KNOW!
Author: Yeah man that was an awesome plot! *dreams about getting the copyright but cries eventually*
Megumi and Yamapi: *staring at each other as well*
Maki and Shun: *both look at each other trying to do the new love thing but it's not working out for them* WHAT THE HELL? I want a new person to fall in love with. I can't be in love with a drunk person!
Author: But ...you guys are so perfect for each other!
Maki and Shun: *shake their heads* We'll come back to each other.
Aya: yoooo they're talking n'sync!
Jun: Isn't that a boy band from times past?
Aya: *gloomy as she gets off his back* Yeah so what? You gonna beat me up that I listen to boy bands now huhh? HUHHH? *does the little gangster move* A girl can't listen to rap all the time you know!
Jun: O.O I didn't really care in the first place!
Everyone (Even the in love couples): *laughing*
Aya: *sticks tongue out* Nobody loves me...I'm the lonely one.
Ryo: I DO!
Author: *kicks him out* NOT YET! I swear I have to boss you guys around so much...can't figure out the plots yourself.
Erika T.: I kind of liked that dude.
Kame and Shota: NO!
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