Fan Fiction ❯ Star Child ❯ Into the Spotlight ( Chapter 2 )

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Star Child

Chapter #2: Into the Spotlight

The entire room suddenly lit up with all the energy produced by the young people inside it. They were filled with so much emotion and excitement that it blinded them completely. With just one real look at the young man before them, they could realize it wasn't their dear Hoshiko but someone else. But at that moment only hope filled their hearts.

"Hoshiko! My dear baby! You're ok! OK!"

The young woman wouldn't let go of the cute boy who responded with a thousand hugs in return as he melted with each squeeze against her breasts.

"This is wonderful, a miracle! Thank God!"

"Ahhhh…" Chico was starting to drool on her chest when she suddenly noticed everyone was looking suspicious to the young man. It was then that she smelled him and noticed the dirt and torn clothing.

"W-who are you??? What happened to Hoshiko? Why is he so dirty and smelly?? Aiko; where did you take him?" Her eyes narrowed as she questioned the manager.

Aiko sighed.

"You just didn't give me a chance to explain."

(Note: Chico's still squeezing his head against Takara's breasts. LOL)

"That guy is NOT Hoshiko; he's just a boy I picked up on the streets."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?????"

She pushed him away harshly.

"How dare you touch me! You idiot!"

A strong slap crashed against the Mexican's cheek, and he immediately fell down with the impact since he wasn't expecting it.

"Get him out of here! How dare you play with my feelings like this? Do you know how much I'm suffering? Why do you have to bring this boy here? He looks…he looks just like my Hoshi, but he's not! I want him out! OUT!"

The slap hurt the homeless boy a bit; the area where it hit had already turned red and he was touching it, trying to take the pain away.

"Ouch… You were the one who started squeezing me lady, so you shouldn't be so rude!" He stood up from the floor a little disgusted with the welcome. "Vieja loca!" ["Old lunatic!"]

"What'd he say? Did he just answer me? I don't want him talking to me!" She walked away to open the door and suddenly turned around.

"And don't call me until he's gone!" she yelled and slammed the door.

Everyone looked amused; no one expected to see such a show. When they were about to laugh, she opened the door again.

"And don't forget to clean the room!!! It smells!"

Another door slam echoed in the room and no one dared to laugh, or even breathe, for a few seconds. It wasn't funny after all.

Silence suddenly descended on the room; no one dared to speak up or even ask Aiko what he had in mind for the boy, but what he wanted to do was quite obvious. After a few minutes of staring at Chico, the guitarist decided to ask.

"So, Aiko…what are you going to do with this bum? I'm telling you I'm not playing your game this time. He's not Hoshi, and I don't think he can even speak English."

"He does speak English… just a little, but he does know some. Besides, we have no other choice. Or do you have a better idea?"

Mieko was silent for a moment, and then spoke up. "It won't work. We have a TV appearance in two days, two days! This guy can't learn a song in two days! He can't learn how to dress, how to talk, how to move... how to be Hoshiko! It's not going to work, Aiko! Besides…there's Takara, this is really hurting her. You can't just ignore her feelings; it's her fiancée were talking about!"

"You think I don't know that?" Aiko shot back. "Just let me take care of the guy, and when I get him ready, you guys tell me what you think."

After all the discussion, Yoshi finally decided to throw his opinion in. "Hey Aiko…" The bassist looked up to him and nodded. "Just make sure to feed the guy…he needs to gain at least 15 pounds."

"Thanks for the advice."

Chico couldn't even move from his position; he felt bad. He never expected to be so harshly welcomed. He thought everyone knew Aiko was looking for a replacement and supported the idea, but with what just happened he realized it was the brunette's idea and not the whole band's.

"Let's go!" Aiko ordered the Mexican boy but he didn't move from his position.

"I said move!"

His words were sharp and ruff and Chico could only follow him.

"We have a lot of work to do, so you better cooperate. I'm taking you to my room for now. You need a bath, a haircut, pierced ears, a tattoo exactly like Hoshiko's… we need to get you clothes, teach you the songs… You need to learn Hoshi's movements and get completely into his character."

Chico didn't answer; he didn't even know how he was supposed to do all than in just 2 days.

'How did I get here?' He thought. In just a few minutes his life had changed, and now he was being ordered around in preparation for… for what? He didn't even know why he accepted.

'Probably because it's better than living my own life…'

~*~

It was 3 a.m. and Chico was still awake watching an ENICO video. He was studying Hoshiko's movements so he could imitate him on the TV show.

"At least is only one song…"

He stopped the videotape and leaned down on the floor with his eyelids closing immediately after. He was so tired; it felt like he'd been awake forever.

"Tengo sueño…" [I'm sleepy.]

But just when he was starting to fall asleep a shout alarmed him.

"WAKE UP!"

O_O He jumped from his position and ended up sitting up straight with eyes popping out and a heart beating fast. "What's wrong?"

"Did you learn the song already? Do you know all Hoshiko's movements and gestures?" It was a cold and bossy tone.

"No."

"Then why are you sleeping?"

"I'm tired, Mr. Aiko."

"Don't call me Mr. Aiko…just Aiko! You better start acting like Hoshiko, he never calls me Mr. Aiko. He just calls me Aiko. Did you learn all the names of your band mates?"

"Yes. Takara is my fiancée, I'm so lucky!" His eyes turned into heart shapes.

"Don't get so excited; she doesn't like you."

"Why? She don't even know me! Besides…I look just like Hoshiko." He smiled.

"She's just afraid. The main reason for her to dislike you is because you look exactly like Hoshi… it's confusing for her, it's like looking at him, but he's not really there… Do you understand?" Chico nodded. "Ok. Don't try to get near her. How about the others?"

"There's Aiko, my manager and bassist-- that would be you, hehe. And there's Mieko, the guitarist, and Yoshi, the drummer. Right?"

"Right." He sat next to him. "How about the song? Did you learn at least something?"

"A little…I can't read very well." He looked down shamefully.

"Oh! You didn't tell me… But, did you at least understand what he's saying?"

"So-so… Some words I don't get. Can't I just lip sing?"

"No. The show goes on live. So you have to sing."

"You haven't heard me singing yet. What if I suck?"

"You better not. Go to bed, we're leaving in a few hours to L.A."

Aiko left to his bedroom and turned off the lights while Chico snuggled on the couch to get some sleep.

He's so bossy! No wonder why he's the manager.

~*~

They reached L.A. safely and all left to the hospital along with Hoshiko, who was being transferred to a hospital in their hometown. All the members ignored Chico; none of them looked, smiled or even said a word to him. Aiko was no different. It was like he was invisible to them, like he was nothing.

'Who am I kidding, that's exactly what I am-- nothing! Is not like being here is going to change who I really am. For them I will always be just a bum, an intruder…I'm just a fool. Why did I come here? Why?'

Chico felt so out of place, so lost, but he had no other choice now. He was trapped with no place to go, no money, no friends, nothing. He was dragged along with them everywhere but was only another bag of their luggage.

When Hoshiko was finally settled, Aiko grabbed his arm and dragged him along.

"Where are we going?"

"Salon. You need a haircut and makeover."

"No kidding." He smiled, but Aiko's face was stony.

"Que amargura traes..." He mumbled. [That bitterness he carries...]

~*~

Chico was finally ready. He looked great, just like Hoshiko though a little more lightweight, and he had also learned the song. The young man's hands were shaking insistently and his stomach wallowed with nervousness. What if he fails? What if he makes a fool of himself in front of the rest of the guys? And what was worst, in front of millions of people??

"What's wrong, Hoshiko?"

He didn't answer-- he wasn't used to being called Hoshiko.

"Hello? Hoshiko? Are you listening?"

"You're talking to me?" He looked up to the tall man with green spiky hair standing beside him.

"Yes, I am. Are you ok?"

The smaller one nodded.

"This is only a rehearsal, you should be nervous in three hours when the show begins." He smiled and patted him on the back, then ran to where his drums were.

"He smiled at me? He did!"

^_______^

"He doesn't hate me!"

Suddenly Takara walked in with a bad mood. "I'm telling you, Aiko, I'm pissed off, so this better be worth it!"

"Just chill. Hoshiko, stand in here for God's sake! What the hell are you doing staring in the corner? Your place is in front of the microphone, understand? Don't make me say this again. You cannot act shyly; you have to be sure, strong, powerful, a star! You have to be a star! You are Hoshiko Enico, so start acting like yourself!"

"But I'm not--"

"Don't talk back! You ARE Hoshiko from this day forward; no one is allowed to call you otherwise, so…your identity is completely changed. Forget who you were, now you're Hoshi--our star."

"Y-yes."

He shyly stepped in front of the microphone.

"I said you have to be bold! You look like a chicken! Hoshi's never a chicken, and you're him. So stop acting foolishly and be a man. Now, can you do it?"

"Yeees." His voice was shaky.

"Can you do it?"

"Yes." But still the voice sounded insecure.

"I said, can you do it?!" (Louder)

"YES I CAN!" He was starting to get pissed off.

"Good. Let's begin."

The music started and like magic he fit in perfectly. His voice sounded pretty good for his first time, but still a bit shy. He didn't move from his position; he was more concerned about his singing and forgot all about gestures and movements, but no one stopped playing. After the song ended the criticism began.

"You're stiff!" Takara yelled, annoyed. "Hoshi is never still! This is NOT going to work."

"Chill… He did pretty well for his first time; he just needs to loosen up a bit," Yoshi yelled from behind his drums. "Hey Hoshi! You're doing ok, you just need some confidence. Loosen up and move your muscles. You'll be fine."

"Thanks Yoshi…" he shyly replied with a little smile.

"If you weren't so shy…" Mieko said a little annoyed. "And better increase the sound, I can hardly hear you."

"Ok." Chico was feeling a little weird since Aiko hadn't yelled anything yet. "What do you think, Aiko?" He shyly asked.

"Crap! You sounded like crap!"

"I'm with you!" Takara smiled.

"Your voice was too soft and shy. You need to increase volume, like Mieko suggested, and feel the groove. Just project it with energy. And yeah, you're static and need to move. Dance, feel the beat. You worked on those movements I told you about?"

"Yeah."

"Then do it! We're going to do this again, and you better be great, we only have two hours left."

"Ok…you want power and energy, I'll give it to ya,!" He smiled energetically and got in position.

"Let's kick it!"

"That's my boy!" Yoshi yelled, excited.

They did it again, and this time everyone was shocked. It was like suddenly Hoshiko was there with them singing and dancing just like before.

"EXCELLENT!" Yoshi exclaimed happily. "You were awesome! Awesome!" He was so happy he went there and hugged the guy. "Aiko, you're a genius, no one would know the difference."

"He did better," Mieko accepted. "But still needs lots of work."

"I'm out of here," said Takara with blurry eyes. It hurt her to see Yoshi accepting the new guy, but what hurt her most was the resemblance between them. The way Chico sang and moved reminded her so much of her beloved Hoshiko… She couldn't stay there any longer without breaking down.

"See ya in an hour."

She quickly ran off.

"I'm leaving too. I'm hungry." Mieko left as well, and Yoshi followed to catch a bite to eat with him.

"Wait up, Mieko!!" The drummer caught up with him and wrapped an arm around the guitarist's shoulders as they walked away.

Chico looked up to Aiko, still waiting for his opinion, but he said nothing and walked away leaving him behind.

"Where should I go?" He asked to himself. "Bola de locos!" ["You mad people!"]

~*~

They were backstage waiting for their cue to start playing; all the members were there except for Hoshiko. Yoshi was getting impatient and with the excuse of asking a question got near the bassist.

"Where is he?" he whispered while he leaned into the other's ear. "Aiko, where'd you leave Hoshi?"

The bassist quickly moved away. "He's in the dressing room…probably vomiting."

"Oh. Hope he'll be fine for the show."

"He will. Get ready."

"Yes."

They were all in position and the show began. A few minutes after the introduction of the show, ENICO was announced. The music started; all of them looked nervous since Hoshiko wasn't there and no one knew how this guy would turn out. But then there was an abrupt explosion, and from below the stage the small body of Chico flew onstage right at the same instant he was supposed to begin singing. The audience yelled with excitement when they laid eyes on the one they thought was their beloved Hoshiko--the star of the band. Chico smiled when he came onstage and grinned even more when he heard the cheering from the public. He felt a strong energy running through his veins, giving him all he needed to fool everyone.

No one noticed it was someone else. There was a difference between Hoshiko's performance and Chico's, but no one would doubt it was the real thing. They looked exactly the same; it was like Hoshiko's reflection was on stage while he slept.

~*~

In New York…

"Turn on the TV, my brother is singing tonight!" A voiced yelled from the shower. "Is he on?"

"He is! But…he looks different. He lost so much weight!"

"It was probably the accident…I'll be there in a sec."

He ran quickly to the bedroom wrapping a towel around his waist, sitting next to his friend. His eyes widened when he saw the young man on TV and suddenly felt it.

"That…that guy…that's not Hoshiko!"

~*~

End of Chapter #2

Thank you 'b' for editing my mess! ^__^