Keitaro sighed, he was in a dark corner of a gallery full of artistes and poseurs alike, people who admired his work... And yet... he felt empty, a feeling that he was familiar with, probably because it was one he felt everyday... He absently looked at the various people who had attended his little premier, most holding crystal glasses, which in turn contained bubbling champagne. Soon after, his eyes drifted to the puffy couch he sat on, a velvety black color...
"Kentaro got these specially made so because the other types clashed with my art too much...or so he says... What a waste of money... I really can't see the difference between this and that other black couch. I suppose all rich people are like that..." Keitaro mused to himself.
"Hey, Keitaro!" Said a familiar voice, causing Keitaro to look up.
"Speak of the devil..."
"Hi Mr. Sakata," Keitaro said, barely noticing the two attractive women hanging from his benefactor's arms...
"Now Keitaro, remember what I said? Kentaro will suffice..." Said the ever smooth playboy.
"Uhh...sorry...Kentaro..."
"It's quite alright... In any case, why aren't you mingling? This is your party after all..."
"Umm... parties aren't my thing, besides, I think I'd bore whoever talks to me..."
"Hm... Well, suit yourself... Oh, I'd like you to meet my friends here... They're big fans of your work. This is Nina." Kentaro indicated the woman on his right, an blonde, attractive, American looking woman wearing a red strapless one-piece dress. "And this this is Aya." Kentaro indicated the woman on his left, she was Japanese, her hair was jet black. She was as attractive as her friend, wearing a very similar outfit, her dress was blue instead of red.
"Umm...hi," Keitaro stated a little shyly, extending his hand for the women to shake.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Urashima," said Nina, shaking Keitaro's hand. Keitaro noted her perfect Japanese, free of accent.
Before his hand could lose the warmth of the woman's hand he just shook, Aya took his hand in a handshake...
"It's a pleasure for me as well, Mr. Urashima..."
Kentaro coughed, getting the attention of the three.
"Ladies, can you excuse us, I must speak to Keitaro here privately..."
"Yes sir," the women responded, before walking walking away.
"What is it?" Keitaro asked.
"I just want you to know, Keitaro..." Kentaro sat on the couch with the young artist, moving close enough to get within whisper range. "Those women, they can keep tonight... If you feel the need"
Keitaro flushed.
"Uhh...ummm.... I appreciate it, but uhh... no thanks..."
Kentaro grinned.
"Are you sure... either one of them would be good," the playboy gestured to the two women looking at one of the many paintings adorning the walls and pillars, the two women waved at the two, before returning their attention the painting." ...but both...it's like heaven... they're wildcats, you wont be able to move the morning after..."
Keitaro's face further reddened.
"Umm...no...thanks..."
"Alright, but the offer still stands... They'll be here all night, so just ask em' if the want to do something after this little exhibition, they'll be more than happy to...entertain you..."
With that, the millionaire stood and left, presumably to mingle with the businesspeople who also happened to appreciate art.
Kitsune sighed, waiting in line outside, in the cold was not a pleasant experience to her, nor was it one that she had to deal with very often, due to the fact that she usually charmed herself past the line and the guards. But the guards here were stern, these guys were obviously paid very well. Not even she could convince the two men to let her and the rest of the Hinata girls into the fine art gallery. And so, Kitsune, Shinobu, Su, Naru, and Motoko waited.
They were all bored to tears. Su yawned and complained, the other kinda just ignored her, they'd been in the line for over fifteen minutes, no one really had the energy to deal with the hyperactive girl... And so, they waited.
Keitaro busied himself with doodles in a green notebook, not really feeling like doing anything else. He looked at his watch and sighed, he'd only been in this place for fifteen minutes already he wanted to go home, take his meds, and go to sleep... Sleep. His only sanctuary, sweet blackness... All thanks to the little red and white pill. It made sure he didn't awake three a.m., screaming. A lot of things were better since he started taking the multitude of subscribed pills, it was alot better than downing two six packs of Sapporo or half a bottle of imported Jack Daniels...no hangover to deal with.
He was snapped out of his reverie by a feminine sounding, melodic voice.
"May I sit here?"
Keitaro looked up to see a very beautiful young woman looking back at him. She had radiant shoulder length silver hair. Her complexion was like that of cream. Her eyes were a piercing red. She looked no older than Keitaro, standing about 5'6 in height. She had a lithe yet curvy build that was accentuated by her outfit, a simple ensemble consisting of denim flares, a pink top, and a short denim jacket.
"So, can I have a sit or are you just gonna stare?" the girl asked. Keitaro snapped out of his gawking.
"Huh?! Oh... Here." Keitaro moved over, signaling for the girl to sit. The girl promptly sat next to the boy on the black velvet loveseat, pulling a book from her black purse.
Keitaro was surprised to see the title of the book, "Punishment of the Unworthy".
"Ok, what're you lookin' at?!" the girl said, a little irritated.
Keitaro noticed he was gawking again.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing... Just... You really paid 61,179 yen to buy tickets for this event, and yet you're reading?"
"Oh... Well funny thing is, I only came here because a friend told me that the author of this" The silver haired beauty indicated the object in her hands. "book was using a pen name, so I came here to see if I could meet him and maybe get an autograph. Also, I though it would be interesting to see his art. From what I can see, he has some good stuff... a little scary though... Man, the guy wrote this book is morbid, but I can't seem to stop reading... Too bad I can't find the author... you know, more than anything, I really want to ask him if the stuff he writes is based on his own life... I'd feel sorry for him if he did... Have you seen him around?"
Keitaro's heartbeat quickened...
"Uhh...no, I haven't seen him... You know, guys like that are usually the type to wear dark colors, maybe he's over there?" Keitaro pointed out a group of gothic looking people.
"You think so?"
"I guess..."
"Okay then... nice to meet you Mister..."
"Urashima, Keitaro Urashima."
"Mr. Urashima... maybe we'll see eachother again sometime... Oh, and just so you know, my name is Rika..."
Rika stood to leave, when Kentaro walked up to Keitaro, a group of important looking people walking with him.
"Hey Keitaro, if it's not too much, do you think that you could speak to some friends of mine? They like your work and was wondering if you'd sell any of them."
Keitaro's heart rate sudden increased. He looked to see if the silver haired girl had heard his rich friend's comments, to his relief, she was already walking away. He turned to face Kentaro's friends.
"Huh? I'll part with one of my paintings. I gotta eat, I suppose... You can pick."
"One? Well that's a stiff bargain. It suits me fine though, I'll buy that painting over there" One of the group, a balding portly Japanese man, pointed to a nearby painting.
"Okay, that's the only one I'll sell..."
"I'll pay you 100,000 yen"
A woman in her early thirties piped in.
"I'll pay you 150,000"
Soon the other members of the group made their offers.
The bidding war began...
The Hinata group had finally made it into the art gallery, they gasped at what they saw. Even in the sea of people in the building, the paintings were easily seen by the group. They were surprised at the surrealism and morbidity of each painting.
"Okay gang, this is the plan, fan out and try and find the target. Do not confront him! This is a pretty big crowd, so there'll be some trouble spotting him. I advise that you guys at least pretend to look at his paintings, we don't wanna look suspicious. When you spot the target, use the 'Silent Caller'. Don't crowd, just get close enough so that you spot him, clear?"
Kitsune waited for the affirmation.
"Yes!" the girls responded.
With that, the group broke apart...
Keitaro had sold his painting, and he had 1,000,000 yen to show for it, roughly 8000 U.S. Dollars. He sighed, sitting on the loveseat once more, waiting for the clock to strike ten, so that he could go home.
"1,000,000 yen... that oughta pay off the necessities for a month or two...maybe I should've offered more... Why am I so stupid?! They're just paintings... And they remind me too much of Hinata House... I should've just sold off all of them... Why is it so hard to part with them?"
Naru was captured by a particular painting she couldn't help but gawk. It was a painting of a faceless woman. She wore no clothes, though the painting ended about mid waist and her arms covered most of her chest in a position in which her hands were clasped together . She had long light brown hair and was well endowed. A striking feature were folded angel wings on her back. The background was reminiscent of what one would perceive as the Bible's Eden. It was a very beautiful picture...and a very disturbing one. The wings, hands, and face of the angel were caked in a light layer of a slightly crusty reddish brown substance. It didn't seem like it was any type of paint...
"Is that...blood?!"
Motoko looked at the painting before her. It was a picture of a faceless woman. She had long raven hair, her outfit consisted a red Hakama and white Gi. There was also a young man in the painting he had a bowl haircut and glasses, though he had no face. He wore what appeared to be khaki slacks and a white shirt. The most striking feature of the young man was the katana imbedded in his stomach, sticking out from his back. A light layer of a slightly crusty reddish brown substance covered the katana which the girl held. Specks of reddish brown was on the woman's face, chest, and arms. Massive amounts of the substance stained the young man's shirt...
"What...What is this?"
A/N: Well that's the end of that chapter. Sorry I took too long, or if this chapter was too short. I was trapped in writer's block's infernal cage. Updates from me should come sooner now though... I hope you guys like the story so far. If you flame because you don't, remember to do so as cruelly, as possible. Remember not to mindlessly insult. Thank you for all those who are reading this and are about to review. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes that was the Rika from "Snapped"
I'll be waiting by the window for your smile to come through, -Michelle Branch, "Leap of Faith"
and I'll be waiting in the darkness when I call out to you,
and I'll remember when you told me,
I could trust in you"