A/N: I had fun writing this x3
3rd Night
Yoru paced uneasily around his hotel room. Kage had been out of character lately, especially around that new manager of theirs. Yoru was rather disgusted by the new manager, Haruto Hideaki aka Mr. Pedophile, as dubbed by his younger brother Akumu.
“Yoru! Get your ass out here!” the familiar crude voice shouted from outside Yoru’s hotel room door. That damn Hideaki. Grudgingly, Yoru swung open the door with an irritated face.
“What do you want, old man?”
“The rest of the group’s waiting. You guys are supposed to record the songs for your new single right?”
“… Oh.”
“Yeah, I guess as much,” Hide replied with distaste, “Now hurry up. Don’t make others wait.” With that the gray-haired man walked off.
“Damn prick,” Yoru muttered as he shut the door and grabbed another top. “Acting all arrogant when he’s the new guy around us. Seriously, what’s wrong with Aka-chan to think that old man’s charming?!” With that, he kicked a nearby chair and left his room.
“Yo, Kuro-nii!” a familiar female voice called.
“Ah, Ayame!” You replied. The purple-haired girl bounced excitedly to him, greeting him cheerfully as Yoru entered the recording room.
“We called her up to give us a hand,” Akatsuki said, “You know how talented she is at various kinds of music instruments.” The purple-haired girl called Ayame grinned in reply to the praise.
“Hey, I’m always more than glad to be of service!” Ayame said, “Being a support musician is fun too.”
“Right,” Yoru said, looking around for the other members, “Where’s the rest?”
“Akumu’s getting some stuff, while Kage-nii and Hiai are talking with Hide-san,” the green-eyed girl said.
“What does he have to talk about?” Yoru muttered irritably.
“See, Aya-chan? Yoru’s jealous of Hide-san~” Akatsuki said teasingly as she played with the younger girl’s purple locks.
“I am not! Why should I be jealous of that old geezer!” Yoru snapped back. Ayame giggled at his reaction.
“Eh? But Hide-san’s really charming! Ne, Fuu-chan?”
“What’s wrong with you females!”
“Aw come on, Yoru. You’re gay, and you love guys, so shouldn’t you have the same taste as us then? Admit it, he is kinda hot.”
Just as Yoru was about to reply with an outcry, the door opened.
“Oh? Do I hear someone praising me?” the rough voice of Hideaki said happily.
“Hey Hide-san!” the girls greeted in a chorus.
“Ah, I’m ever so popular, hey?” Hideaki said. Hiai sighed in what seemed like both disgust and frustration. Seriously, what a smooth-talker.
“Ah! Sorry I’m late!” Akumu rushed in, his arms laden with plastic bags filled with take-away food. “Um… I bought breakfast.”
“It’s past noon already, Akumu,” Kage pointed out as he appeared from behind Hideaki, his aloofness still the same.
“Okay now, let’s eat and get to work now!”
“Hai, hai, Hide-san~!” the girls replied cheerfully again.
“And where are you going?” Yoru asked the older man with a glare.
“I’m your manager; I’m busy and I do tougher work than you lazy asses playing around doing nothing. So don’t give me attitude, young man; I’ve been in the industry longer that you,” Hideaki said sternly, but with a prideful look on his face. Yoru gritted his teeth in anger.
“Hideaki-san’s so mean! Calling us ‘lazy asses’…” the girls wailed, sulking.
“Ah! No! I’m referring to baka Yoru only!” Hideaki assured, giving his signature flashy smile. The girls giggled while Hiai and Akumu could only try to stop themselves from dying at the horrid sight. Kage ignored the whole fuss and had already started writing on his notepad, perhaps writing lyrics rather than pay attention to unnecessary fuss.
“Ch’,” Yoru tsk-ed and grabbed one of the take-away food and sat beside Kage to help him with the work.
Akatsuki and Ayame yawned. Akumu yawned too. They were all tired, and they really did want to finish the whole music writing process quickly. But the process always tired them mentally, and they just had to give in. The whole Eternal Midnight group had been working on the first two songs of their single for almost the whole day now. Hiai glanced at the wall clock. It was already 9pm, and they hadn’t had a break since.
“Hey guys, let’s wrap it up for today,” Hiai said. Akumu and Ayame nodded in eager agreement. Clearly they were tired. Yoru stretched his arms and nodded as well. Akatsuki looked at her brother for his opinion.
“Yeah, I’ll tell Hide-san,” Kage said and stood up. Yoru grabbed his wrist.
“Why not someone else go tell him,” Yoru said, his voice sounding rather aggressive, as if it was an order. Kage looked at him, staring into his eyes as if reading his mind.
“I need to talk to him,” Kage said simply. Yoru seemed dumbstruck by the reply.
“What’s there to talk about?” Yoru continued to probe, his worries escalating.
“Something.”
“Kage!” Yoru called desperately, but Kage was already out of the room. Hurt and frustrated, he kicked the table and left the other members and headed for his hotel room.
“Is there something wrong with Yoru-nii and Kage-san?” Akumu asked worriedly.
“Ah, it’s just a lover’s misunderstanding.” Akatsuki sighed. Ayame looked rather amused.
“I don’t understand those two,” Hiai added, and started to pack up.
“What? Pack up now? Isn’t it too early?” Hideaki said, flipping the papers on his desk.
“We’ve been at it since noon, old man,” Kage replied curtly.
“Fine then,” the older man said. He lifted his legs and landed his heels roughly on the top of his desk, his head and back pulled back to rest on the chair comfortably. He took a cigarette stick to his lips and lit it. He took a long drag at it and exhaled.
“…” Kage remained standing in front of Hideaki’s desk.
“What is it?”
“…” Kage seemed hesitant to speak his mind, then shook his head and turned to the door, "Never mind, you won't listen to me anyway."
“Oi.”
Kage stopped at the door. He felt the taller man behind him, his large hand resting on Kage’s waist. He felt the older man lean towards him, his breath by his left ear.
“Hey,” Hideaki whispered, “Wanna play?”
Kage’s eyes shifted to his left. His cold green eyes staring intently at Hideaki. A smirk formed on his lips as he replied, “Sure, if that's what it takes to make you listen.”
