Fan Fiction ❯ Star Child ❯ Crying Hearts ( Chapter 4 )

    Star Child Chapter #4: Crying Hearts

A loud echo was heard on the young Mexican boy’s head. The sound the door emitted after it was slammed give him chills immediately. He felt sad for many reasons, one- he hates fights, two- he must go to the streets again, and three- Aiko would be angry. “I better start changing back into my old cloths.” He could hear screaming down stairs, but only in the back of his head. The young boy had his mind in his own little world and wasn’t paying attention to the discussion outside.

“So…we have a deal?” He was an expert on convincing people that was why he was the manager of ENICO in the first place. He was born for it.

“Alright, but as long as you pay for the hospital…I can’t afford that and my school tuition.” Hoshiko’s twin accepted knowing his finances weren’t very good.

“You study and I take care of Hoshi- you know how important he is.”

“Too important. You know back then, when we first met, remember?”

“Yes.” He coldly replied while he searches the box of cigarettes on his left pocket.

“Well, it was then when I started hating you. I guess I was jealous because I wasn’t my brother’s #1 person in the world anymore, you know?” Renzo sheepishly smiled, but the cold eyes of Aiko always scared him and his smiled faded.

Aiko then smirked and puffed his now lit up cigarette. “Are you nuts? You were always Hoshiko’s favorite person; you and Takara…I was just…” He avoids looking at Renzo’s eyes so he wouldn’t see his sadness.

“…a special friend.” But he knew Aiko well enough to know he was deeply in love with his twin brother. “You know, he cares for you, but…you should forget about him. He truly loves her.” I already succeeded, there’s someone else in my life now...but still I love my brother dearly.

“I know. Where’re you staying?” Changing the subject was wise or else he would end up breaking down. Not thinking about what hurts him was his way of staying n control. All his life he had managed not to break down by doing so, but for how long would he endured putting a mask on?

“With Takara…she’s very hurt. She told me about the boy- it’s killing her to see him.”

“Now she’s seeing you, what’s the difference?”

“Not the same. He is doing all Hoshi used to…so she is like protective over that, and it’s not helping her seeing a double of her lover all the time, acting, talking, dancing, doing everything just like Hoshi. Try to understand.”

“Oh believe me I understand more than you think.” Aiko tried to smile, but his lips weren’t able to. It was like he had forgotten how to smile a long time ago.

“I guess.” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Still, I want to investigate this boy, what’s his name?”

“Chico.”

“Chico? Chico, what?”

“He doesn’t know anything else…in fact I believe that’s not even his name, just a nickname someone gave him on the streets. So, that’s all I know.”

“No parents or anything?”

“All he said is he once escape an orphan, maybe they know something.”

“Do you know the name of the place?”

“Not a clue, but I’ll ask.”

“Fine, just get all the info you can for me, k?” He waved and stepped out of Aiko’s house thinking about the Mexican boy upstairs.

“C-Ya.” He closed the door and sighed. “That was close.”

~*~

The screaming stopped a wile ago. I wonder what happened. The homeless boy was already dressed with his ragged clothes waiting for Aiko so he can say goodbye and thank you.

Moments later his door was knocked and the tall tight figure of Aiko entered the room. His brown hair was loose and damp like he just got out of a shower; it was messy, but looked silky and beautiful. His cold eyes were placed on him and he nervously looked down. “Why are you dress like that? Didn’t I buy you new clothes? I though you liked them…aren’t they comfortable enough?” He looked disgust and it made the young one quickly stood up and shelter behind his arms like he was trying to protect himself. “What are you doing?”

Aiko’s voice was raised and tremors increased inside the Mexican boy thinking he may hurt him. When he felt the bassist’s hand on his arm he yelled with the fright.

“Don’t hit me, please!” His body trembled and his eyes widened as he met the honey orbs gazing at him coldly. Chico calmed when he noticed he was not harassing him, it was then when he lowered his arms shamefully. “I’m sorry.”

“Why you though I would hurt you? Do I look that bad?” He felt insulted- he had never abused anyone.

“N-No. I-I-I…” Chico sheepishly lowered his face ashamed of even accusing the tall man for something he hasn’t even tried- ever.

“Whatever. Take those clothes off and wear something nice, we’re having dinner out. I’m not cooking today.” He walked away and suddenly turns around. “Oh, and throw those clothes away- you won’t need them.” He winked and then left.

“Huh? Did he wink? I though Mr. Ogre was unable to be nice…maybe I don’t understand him…he’s not that bad, if he were…he would never brought me here in the first place.”

The boy went downstairs and Aiko was already waiting for him impatiently. Chico felt weird to go out alone with him and couldn’t stop thinking what the hell would they talk about or if he should say anything at all since Aiko was so reserved, or better yet silent. Maybe he wants me quiet.

“About time.” The bassist stood up after crushing his cigarette on the ashtray.

“Sorry, didn’t know what to wear. Is this ok?” He had long black jeans with a purple silky shirt that reflected the color in his eyes.

Aiko nodded and avoid looking at him much because he though the boy looked beautiful- just like Hoshiko. “Fine. Move; I’m starving.” Even his eye color changes- like my Hoshi. He opened the door and there he was- spiky green hair, blue eyes, twirling drumsticks, and a smile. “What are you doing here?” Aiko was an antisocial person and didn’t like much company.

“Hello!” The drummer smiled. “I came to have dinner with you guys.” He was happy to see them, especially the one he had loved for years.

“Did you call him?” Aiko asked –irritated- to the young boy shrinking by his side- he did call Yoshi, but he said he couldn’t come.

“No!” Chico quickly answers. “I swear.” And his cheeks turned slightly pink. Aiko obviously noticed he was lying.

“He didn’t. I call myself. Going out? Great!” He grabbed Chico’s and Aiko’s arm. “Let’s go!” But Aiko sneaked away with the excuse of lighting a cigarette.

“I’m driving.” The manager called out- he knew how much Yoshi liked driving and he was not a good one.

“Fine, but you should quit it (smoking) – it’s not good for your lungs.” Yoshi smiled and his smiled faded when the cold sharp look in the bassists eyes glare into his. *Gulp* “Sorry.” Then Aiko let go of the smoke breathing it out in the drummer’s face. *cough* “You idiot!” He protested. “You want to kill me too?”

The manager chuckled as he walked away smoking on his dear cigarette.

Chico giggled and giggled until they sat on Aiko’s car, then the bassist turned on the radio and drove away. Yoshi sat in the front seat beside Aiko trying to lean against him with no luck, and Chico sat on the back. The boy noticed the honey gaze that now and then focused on him and it made him nervous. Maybe he wanted to come alone with me…and then kill me! I’m glad Yoshi make it. He was a little exaggerated, Aiko may be cold, but he was a good person- he could never hurt someone, at least not physically. I wish he liked me and didn’t see me as an intruder or the bum I am. Aiko, why you hate me? His face turned sad and Yoshi noticed when he turned around.

“Hey, what’s the sad face for?”

“Nothing.”

“You are not homesick right? OH, you don’t like Aiko’s music- I don’t blame you, me neither.” Chico gave him a disapproval look, he didn’t wanted to provoke Aiko, and it seemed like Yoshi wanted to bug him all the time. “What? You want me to lie and say it’s cool? It’s boring and melancholic!”

The radio was shut off, and no one dare to say another word in the rest of the trip. They knew better than making Aiko mad- it wasn’t pretty.

~*~

After a few hours they returned from the restaurant and the brunette had gone mad with Yoshi’s constant flirting and energetic attitude.

“So fucking annoying!” He cried when he walk into his home relieved of being freed from his band mate Yoshi.

“Don’t you like anyone from the band?” The little one asked as he ran to the TV set happily.

“Don’t even think about it. I’m watching.” His words made the cute boy stop walking and then he turned around frowning.

“But you have one in your room.” He pouted and crossed his arms complaining and wearing the cutest puppy eyes Aiko had ever seen- that really bothered him.

“I like the big screen.” Once again he avoids looking at the boys eyes and sit himself in front of the TV.

He shyly decides to ask. “Hummm…can I watch with you?” I wonder if he’ll approve.

“Alright, but I watch what I want and stay quiet. OH! And sit far away from me.” I just can’t have you near…you remind me so much of him it hurts.

“Do I smell?” He asked confused while he smelled his underarms.

“No. Just don’t like contact.”

Chico hated being treated like the pest even when he knew Aiko was a special case. “You’ll always be lonely.” Then he snapped. OH MY GOD I JUST SAID THAT OUT LOUD!!! “S-sorrrry…I didn’t…” He felt terrible when he saw the sadness reflected on the honey gaze. Chico hurt the tall man. He clearly saw the hurting in the eyes of his keeper and it made him feel pretty bad about it. “Aiko, I didn’t…”

Aiko stood up and coldly replied to the boy he considered nosy and imprudent for what he said. “No one asked you, and you don’t know anything about me.” He left to his room grabbing a bottle of rum before climbing up the stairs and with a cigarette in the other hand.

“What about…? Damn, I blew it! I just want to be your friend.” He sat down sadly looking at the TV, but not really watching. “He’s such a lonely person…so sad and bitter.” He shut off the TV. “He’s killing himself with so much alcohol and smoking.” His eyes turned sad. “Aiko…why are you so sad?”

~*~

A month has passed since Chico joined ENICO, they were about to go on tour in a few days. It’s been so hard for Chico; he had studied music, reading, reading music, dancing, ENICO’s history and all the things he can say on camera and off camera…in fact how to be Hoshiko without a doubt. So many nights of no sleep and hard work that finally were over, at least that’s what he though. He had no idea how hard life on the road was, but he was about to find out.

“Hurry up and eat, we have so much to do. We start in three days our tour, three days. I want to make sure everything is perfect. I need to make a billion calls and have no time. HURRY UP!!!” The manager yelled at the boy who hurriedly chews his breakfast.

“Ok, ok.” He grabbed the glass with juice and gave the last bite to his sandwich and ran off. “Let’s go.”

“You’re not eating on my car.” He advised the boy holding the glass.

“ARRRGGGH!” He drank it quickly and put it down. “Let’s go then!”

“You should’ve wake up half hour ago.” It was just like every day. Aiko yelled and hurried him while Chico fell behind. Many days he had to finish dressing up in the car and many others he had to take a cab because he left him. “You’re so unpunctual.”

“You’re too punctual.” He noticed Aiko was nervous since he was clicking his fingertips on the wheel. “You nervous?”

“Why should I? Everything is going well, and you are ready, or you don’t feel confident?”

“I’m fine.” He replied with a smile, but the older man never smiled back at him for any reason, in fact he had never seen Aiko smile. He’s always so sad and angry…and so obsessed with work.

“You better not blew it, or I’ll kill you with my own hands.”

“Sometimes you really scare me.” *Grin* But nothing, Aiko was unreachable. Damn, why is he so angry at the world? Or is it just me? No…he’s always like that.

Chico became good friends with Yoshi while Aiko disapproved, but had no choice but to keep an eye on him. He had a bad impression about Yoshi when it comes to males. He knew how the drummer loved having lovers and was sure he was after little Chico, at least that’s what he though. Aiko felt responsibility over the boy and in reality wanted to make sure he was ok even when he tried to act indifferent toward him.

“Morning, where’s Mieko?” The manager searched with his eyes but couldn’t see him.

Then he stepped out- he was behind an amp. “Over here!” He waved.

“K, let’s start with this, I need to be off in two hours- I have a reunion with the record company, but you must keep working, k- especially you Hoshi.” He gave him his killing glare.

“I know.” He added annoyed by always being ordered around.

The day went by and Chico came back home pretty late since they were still working. Takara left earlier, but Mieko, Yoshi, and Chico kept working. Yoshi drop him off, after all he lived on the same street, and when he opened the door Aiko was sitting on the couch smoking and drinking with a disgust look on his face, but Chico was used to see him frowning so he didn’t knew he was actually waiting for him. “Hey. I’m so tired, my throat hurts already.”

“I bet it does.” He stood up and looked straight into his eyes with his killing glare. “Where you really working till two in the morning? Takara called hours ago and said the rehearsal was over, where were you?” He walked closer. “You were fucking him, right? You were screwing your dirty ass with him.” He though Yoshi and him were together.

“What are you talking about? Yoshi, Mieko and I were at the studio! R u nuts? I wasn’t fucking! And even if I was, who are you to even ask? It’s my body and MY life. I do what I want!”

“No you don’t! While you are under my care, you do as I say. You come home early and sleep with NO ONE. You eat what I say, you exercise, study and work hard so you’ll be at least half as good as him, so don’t say you’re free. You sell yourself to me the day you sat on my car. Now you do as I say.”

“You’re drunk and NUTS! I’m not a thing! Can’t you see that? Why can’t you look around and see what goes on? People have feelings and you keep hurting everyone.”

“Shut up! You know nothing!”

“Yes I do! I pay attention to what you do, and all you do is push everyone away. You’re so afraid to people and to feel that you don’t even enjoy how it feels to have someone.”

“I have no one! How can I enjoy what I don’t have?”

“You’re lonely and bitter because you want. You have people that love you; you just don’t give them a chance and open your heart to them. They’re right beside you, can’t you see it?”

“All I see is a nosy little boy abusing my hospitality! How dare you raise your voice to the one that took you out of the streets, feed you, dress you and give you a warm bed to sleep in? You are so ungrateful.”

“No I’m not; I just want to help you!”

“I didn’t ask you to help me; all I want is for you to sing.”

“Fine!” Chico finally turned around and ran upstairs.

“Fine!” Aiko yelled to the boy’s back as he watched him got lost. “Prying jerk!”

~*~

The atmosphere was dense between the singer and the bassist. Both eat their breakfast without even gazing once at each other. The table was settled for two and the waffles were on a large bowl from which they served to their respective plates. The bowl was almost empty, only one to go, when both try to get it. “It’s mine!” Chico called out.

“I prepared it, it’s mine!” Aiko protested.

“I pinch it first, it’s mine!”

“No it’s not! Give it to me!” In reality they were arguing for no reason, it didn’t matter to Aiko – he wasn’t even hungry anymore, but just the joy of arguing and wining the argument was enough for him. “This is my house, and this is MY food.”

“FINE!” He let go and crossed his arms frowning. “You surely are not even hungry.” He mumbled knowing Aiko never eats too much.

“Huh!” He chuckled, ate one bite and then left it. “I’m full.” He stood up with his plate on hand to make sure Chico wouldn’t grab the waffle, after all he barely touch it, and then throw it in the trash.

“You jerk, I could have eaten that!”

“Well, you can go ahead and pick it from the trash.” The little one glance at him disgust, his eyes shinned in blue that morning, and threw him his napkin. “What’s the problem, you are too picky now? I really don’t know why it upsets you because you are used to pick food from the trash.”

That was it; he crossed the line. Chico could handle lots of things, but after all he was very sensible. It really bothered him, the mocking tone with a touch of irony and the smirk on his face. So he snapped. “That’s all I am to you, isn’t it? I’m just a naughty bum intruding in your home. No matter how hard I try to please you, you just can’t see it, do you? All I am and will always be is a bum, a looser, an intruder. If that’s the way it is, then I don’t see the reason for me to stay here anymore and take all your shit. All I’m trying is to help you, but all you can see is the bad in me, never the good or the efforts I do to try to be as good as you want. I know I can never replace Hoshiko and I’m not even trying to, all I’m trying is for all of you to accept me and forget that I am just a homeless boy you caught up in the streets, but who am I kidding- that’s who I am…and I will never be able to change that.” He washed away his tears with the back of his hand. “Good luck on your tour, hope is a complete success.” There was a touch of irony in his voice; he knew there was no tour without him, but he wanted to make Aiko see that in fact he needed the bum. He saw the surprised expression on the taller man and smirked knowing he won the argument- finally- and then he took off without another word.

“Hoshi! Hoshi come back!” He ran after him and grabbed his arm. “You can’t go!”

“Oh yes I can. I am free. …And I AM NOT HOSHI! My name is Chico! Chico!” He pulled his arm away and ran down the street carelessly sobbing strongly and painfully.

“Chico…” His eyes blurred with tears. “I made a mistake…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” But it was too late; the boy was far gone.

~*~

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