That Unusual Sound The throbbing bass and the colored strobe lights that flashed upon the mass of bodies pulsating on the dance floor were things that were a customary sight at the Crimson Dream nightclub. The array of elegant booths that lined the walls of the club, and the tables on the second story of the place, were jammed with enthusiastic youths and classy night life. Outside the ornate double doors a massive bouncer had his arms crossed at a trailing line of people, all who waited patiently for the chance to experience the club's exotic sensations. Inside, large silk tapestries extended from a massive centerpiece iron work chandelier on the ceiling, to come ghosting down the walls like some sort of tent. Scantily clad waitresses dress in black tuxedo bathing suits and bow ties, were serving drinks. A well stocked and modern looking bar was nestled against the back wall. Steel ladders twined upward to form gilded cages where exotic dancers gyrated and entertained. The flashing colored lights shined upon a dj's booth on a dais in front of the vast dance floor. Behind it was a young woman with a cap pulled low over her eyes and loose baseball shirt. Spinning off techno and throbbing dance mixes that sent the mass of bodies moving below, she glanced up and gave a small nod to where the club owner watched her patiently in the back. The man in question was an elegant red head, as elegant as everything else in his sphere of influence, who was at the moment somewhat occupied with three ladies on each arm. Within his booth, he smiled and charmed his way among the six cooing and giggling women, who all looked as if they were wanting to taste more than the fancy alcoholic drinks they held. He gave a nod in return to the young woman who worked on her task to keep the club hopping and vibrant. It would seem she would do well here...her music selection had been quite adequate so far. The matter of her choice of dress was of course was something that needed to be discussed. But all in all, Touga Kiryuu was quite pleased with how well his chain of clubs had been taking off. It gave him a chance to explore his inner creativity through an avenue much to his tastes. He closed his eyes and leaned back into the nuzzling embrace of the girl who called herself 'Angel', and just listened. The music merged into the next song, and suddenly the club slowed as it came on. The bass had slowed into a steady, strong pulsation and the faint sound of a drum keeping beat could be heard. It sounded as though a piano were playing, but what had unexpectedly caught the attention of the dancers and drinkers was the rolling velvet voice of a woman who began singing. I can hear it in the rustling curtains The sound that only shadows have I'm thinking of you baby Can you feel me, maybe? A man shuddered on the dance floor, his eyes closed and his face held in rapt wonderment. That sultry voice seemed to slip across the crowd, making them sigh in pleasure. Then as they seemed to individually regain their senses, they began moving in slow time to the beat, couples appeared and wrapped arms about each other. Foreheads leaned against shoulders and chests, as men and women began slowly swaying in rhythm. Touga's eyes held confusion. What was this song? This...this...purely sensual piece that had captivated his nightclub? He could almost feel the sexual tension soaking the room. He had never heard anything like it! He closed his eyes again and just listened, his recent acquisitions had stilled too, snuggling along his arms and the swell of his chest. Something so hauntingly familiar yet completely alien...it tugged at his mind like nothing ever had before. Timeless...that was what it was... He leaned down to brush lips across the forehead of the blonde, but paused in mid-motion as he looked at her closely. Her eyes were unfocused, and they darted ever so slightly...moving as if they were seeing a vision before them. Odd. What was... He looked at his other women, and found they too had that same slack gaze...as if they were dreaming with their eyes open. It disconcerted him for some reason he couldn't put his finger on. All around him, it was the same. If he had to put a word to it, he'd have to say they were bespelled. But...by the strange woman's voice alone? She was good, yes...but other than that... He didn't see what the strange draw was. In the back of Kiryuu's mind, a warning was buzzing. Something was not right...He used his hand to turn one of his 'friends' to look him in the eye, and spoke to her seductively but firmly. "My dear...is something the matter?" What is happening to you? She seemed to be pulling herself from far away to answer him, a dreamy look on her face, "It's so beautiful...this song...it makes me think of rose-colored bed sheets..." Touga smile widened and he was about to remark a bit on this particular phrasing, when the woman in his right arm sighed contentedly and chimed in, "Yes...and white castles..." He stopped in surprise. Castles?...why on earth... There was nothing even close to such a thing in the lyrics of the song. What on earth made her come up with that odd image? That worried alarm in the back of his mind was beginning to buzz again more anxiously. He turned his head and made to listen more closely to the song again. Was there mention of castles? Maybe he had missed it. Let me pour out my thoughts One last lullaby... The moonlight hidden by the gale A creaking boat without a sail Softly and coolly I whisper Calling back to me Can you hear me baby? I can nearly touch you, maybe... There was no mention of castles or bed sheets or any such thing...the song itself reminded him of the old clubs in the detective movies with the woman in the red dress singing as everyone sipped martinis. In fact, he had given one of his clubs that exact feel. But it wasn't the words that struck him, it was the woman's tone and purring coil in her words. If he closed his eyes and rested his head back, he could almost picture velvet being rubbed along inside his skull. He shuddered as goosebumps ran up his arms and a warm tingle ran down his spine. It was an enjoyable voice. So why was it he suddenly didn't want to listen anymore?... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The last couple had just departed, and Touga had sent his beauties away, pleading lightly that he had business to conduct and he wouldn't wish to bore them. But honestly he simply didn't want to deal with their presence at the moment. He was beginning to feel ill at ease within his own club. Touga was now standing behind his office desk, located in a private room on the second floor of the club. Before him stood the young woman who had just been taken on to be in charge of the club's music. Her ball cap was pushed up and her brown eyes were visible as they steadily waited to hear what her new employer had to say. "Ah yes, Mari Hozumi...I felt that you were quite exceptional in your performance tonight. Remarkable indeed, I would be glad to hire you on to work full time. Of course I'm afraid we must have some manner of dress code, in order to carry on with the theme of the club. I hope you understand..." Mari gave a smile and a nod of acceptance. "Of course, sir." Touga smiled warmly his red silk mane falling gently around his face as he moved to come around the desk to hand her a small stack of papers. "These further explain what your hours would be, your weekly pay, and what all would be required of you. It also lists the benefits that come with your position. I'm pleased to have you aboard." He extended a hand and she took it without hesitation to grasp it in a handshake. He smiled again, "I hope that you will be able to start next week on Thursday. As you can see, for my club's atmosphere I require a competent person to handle the music. Will that be alright with you?" Mari gave a surprised grin, "A-ah yes! That's be fantastic-err I mean, yes sir." Touga gave a chuckle that seemed to dance in the space between them. "Don't be concerned with formalities...I'm certain you will do just fine. Thank you again." Mari gave a bow and made to leave when his voice halted her. "Ah, Hozumi-san...what was that one song you played...the slow one with the woman singing?" Mari looked back, instant recognition on her face, "Oh that one...I'm sorry if it wasn't to your tastes Kiryuu-san...it just happens to be a favorite of mine. I really like the singer. It's called 'Imagination'." Touga's eyebrow gracefully lifted, "I must say, it was quite extraordinary...and who is the artist?" Mari's eyes seemed to go unfocused as she replied, "Her name is Ten...she's the lead singer of a group called Crysanthium Ecstasy...such a lovely voice too... I absolutely adore her!" Shaking her head a bit she came back to herself, looking embarassed. Bowing again, Mari took her leave. Touga sat down behind his desk contemplatively. Ten...an odd stage name to be sure...just what sort of group was Crysanthium Ecstasy anyway? It didn't sound like the sort of music he would normally be interested in... He checked the time and realized it was quite late. He'd need to head back to his apartment and get some sleep if he was to meet with Saionji tomorrow morning. The two of them were supposed to have tea and catch up on old times, but if he knew his childhood friend he'd most likely get roped into a match with the dojo leader. He smiled in anticipation of the thought. Standing and moving to the door, Touga began to make his way home. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx It had slowly become the dark hours of the next morning as he dried his hair from his shower and listened to the messages on his voice mail, he frowned as he kept thinking over the oddness of his club that night. Something was niggling him stubbornly...and it probably wouldn't let him sleep until he sated his curiosity. Moving over into the den, where his desk and computer were set up in one corner, he sat down in the hardwood black chair, and flicked on the monitor. It shouldn't be too hard to see what this Ten woman looked like...in his own mind he pictured a classic beauty with an aristocratic flair to her grace. Typing into the search engine on the internet browser, Touga pushed his hair back over his shoulder as he waited momentarily. With moments, several hundred sites popped up onto his screen, shrines and information places on this musical group...but most of them revolved around 'Ten'. Clicking on one name among the lists, he waited as the page loaded onto the screen...and stared in absolute shock. A face looked back at him, frozen in time...eyes like the clearest skies, but they held disdain and cool rejection for whatever they were staring back at. Rose-tinted pink hair had been cut short and gelled into spikes, and there were several ear piercings to mar that perfect pale skin. She wore a torn sleeveless black shirt with a random band name in red letters smeared across its front. All in all, a rough and uncivilized looking character...but that face...god that face was so damn familiar! He had seen this face before, and he knew in his bones that she had not looked like this before. There was a stabbing sensation behind his eyes...as if something in his mind was breaking and cracking apart, but he paid it no heed. He just stared at the face of this woman, whom he distantly realized was standing in the middle of a group of people...her bandmates he assumed. But it was to her that all eyes turned. It was she that drew the gazes...even her dress and hair style couldn't take away from the breath-taking beauty she possessed. Poised with a dangerous edge...who was this girl? He suddenly felt dizzy, and didn't know why. Something was suddenly wrong with him...what...what was... He stumbled back and fell over onto his back, taking the chair down with him. The chair leg had accidentally looped underneath the power cord, and with an angry zzzzzt the screen blipped out to black. He held his head, trying to regain his composure and senses, but couldn't seem to make anything work right. Holding onto the desk edge like a life line, he managed to drag himself to his feet, but ended up knocking papers off and send them flying like startled white birds. Have to...get to...the phone... He took a sudden lurch forward, and like a drunk man, used the back of the couch to try and keep him upright as he made his way back toward the phone and its answering machine. A crash and a splash of water across his bare feet told him he had shattered the vase of flowers as his hands fumbled for the phone. He managed to grab a hold of the entire cradle and phone, when he pitched forward unexpectedly. His eyes rolled up into his head even before he hit the ground, crumpling awkwardly and without the grace he normally exhibited. Collapsed, with his wrist and arm tangled up in the phone cord, one arm flung outward Touga Kiryuu passed out... ...and dreamed...
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