*Mature for mentions of suicide, forced drug use, swearing, mentions of sex*

How Did The Idol Die?

"Sobata." Troy whispers and I would have missed it if he wasn't leaning on me so heavily. "He knew he was going to die.  He left letters to several people, including us.  They will be given to us after the wake during the reading of his will.  He had a living will, Sobata!  Why does a 22 year old need a living will?" He grabs my shoulders roughly, tears streaming down his face.  "Tell me Sobata!  Why?  What happened to him that made him feel he needed a living god-damned will!"

His last outburst brings the rest of the group over.  Sosaki wraps Troy in his long arms and holds him tightly, trying to calm him down as he continues to come at me over and over.  Tachi takes me by my upper arm and starts to lead me away from the commotion.  "He's not handling this well, I'm sorry.  Once he knew about the letters, he has been trying so hard to find clues in Naka's past behavior and blame someone for not noticing he was hurting.  I did the same thing, am still doing the same."  He sighs heavily and literally falls onto a bench hidden behind some bamboo.

I can only stare down at Tachi, shaking my head and wringing my hands. "Tachi, Naka and I talked almost every night.  I mean, actually talked on the phone or video called.  He gave no indication he was struggling with suicidal thoughts.  He was frustrated and depressed, of course.  The internet bullies were invading his life and he was worried it would affect his ability to continue to grow in the business.  He knew he was talented, but he also was very aware how the public can sway major corporations decisions."

Tachi only nods before taking a deep breath. "Sobata, Naka and I were together every night.  We had been practically living together at my place because it was more secure and we were working on some projects together.  I never noticed anything out of the ordinary about his personality.  He kept it hidden so well.  He seemed to be shrugging off the bullies and ignoring all of the media attention.  He talked to his handler at NB several times a day so they knew he was good and staying 'out of trouble'.  That's why the investigators think someone got that drug cocktail into his apartment or into a food delivery."

I shake my head again and start pacing. "Come on Tachi.  That's just a way to not admit that Naka was struggling.  How was your relationship?  I know you were together a lot but really, how well were you getting along?  Was there jealously, rivalry, stupid fights over little things?"  I know I'm now grasping at things that probably have nothing to do with anything but I didn't want to ignore the fact that Naka was a very strong willed person, if he wanted to kill  himself, he would do it and make sure no one else was involved, in any way.

Tachi laughs and covers his face with his hands.  "Sobata, we were in love.  We didn't fight.  We didn't have time.  Between rehearsals and training and meetings, there just wasn't time.  And before you even suggest it, we didn’t neglect each other.  Any free time we had together was spent in bed, or the bath, or the shower, if you understand what I mean."  He looks at me with raised eyebrows and I can only frown back at him.

"Constant sex doesn't equate to a healthy balanced relationship, Tachi."  I roll my eyes and turn away.  "What about his physical health?  Anything change there recently?"  I question as I turn and sit next to him on the bench.

Tachi squints at the sky in thought. "He had started loosing weight.  He just thought it was the hours and the constant work and stress.  He even cut out some of our training and would go to the NB compound to rehearse and work with the other members.  This was after he went to see one of the staff doctors.  He said they just suggested he concentrate on one thing at a time and since he had just signed with NB, he wanted to put his time and effort towards that."  He shrugs and looks at me.

I hum.  "And did his health get better after that?"  I question.

Tachi's face scrunches up and he shakes his head slowly. "No, not really.  I mean, we were still spending every night together, but, even then, he was so tired, we just slept.  He felt, harder, well, more lean I should say, but not unhealthy."

"So he was taken from the lake, to his home, put in his bathtub and then pronounced dead?  Tachi, what the fuck is going on?  Someone is hiding something and no one seems to want to know the truth.  You know the truth, Tachi!  You were there, you found him.  Why would you let them cover this up?  Say he overdosed and drowned in his bathtub?  That's not what this is, Tachi!  FUCK!" I shout and shoot to my feet. 

I'm just about to get in Tachi's face to get him to tell me what the hell is going on when two very tall and very solid men grab me by my arms and start to drag me away.  "What the hell!  Who the fuck are you guys!  Let me go!  Tachi!  Troy! Sosaki!  Hey, get off me you thugs!" I'm being dragged past a few tables and reach my foot out and snag one of the metal chairs, whipping it around hard enough to crash into the brute on my left.

He trips but doesn't release me as he begins to fall, pulling me and the other wall of a guy, down on top of him.  Luckily, the guy on my right has a little more self-preservation and lets go of my arm, giving me the opportunity to spin around and plant my foot in left guy's crotch,  effectively getting him to let me go.  I twirl away, thank you ballet training, and am able to regain my balance as I shoot back towards Tachi and the group that now surrounds him.

I skid to a stop in front of Tachi who is now standing in front of the bench with a look of disappointment on his face.  The goons behind me have regained their composure and are stomping towards me like angry T-rex parents trying to protect their baby.  I glace over my shoulder just long enough to grimace and look back at Tachi.  "Man, you had better tell me what's going on!"

Tachi raises a hand and looks sternly at the walking walls quickly approaching from behind me.  They stop in an instant and adjust their suits and glasses, stepping to the side and staring directly ahead of them into nothing.  I turn slowly to look at Tachi, narrowing my eyes at him but then notice Troy is missing. "Where's Troy?"  I ask no one in particular.

Sosaki raises his hand like he is in class or something as he moves through the crowd of Tachi's groupmates. "He's sorta passed out.  B-but he's fine.  Really, Sobata.  I woul- well, no one will hurt him, promise."  Sosaki retreats into himself a little bit and gets lost behind the others gathered around.

I turn and raise an eyebrow at Tachi as the realization finally hits me.  I'm not that close to him or his groupmates and all I know about him is from the media and what information is passed between group's labels.  He is a talented dancer and choreographer and I have never heard him sing a solo so maybe that was his only downfall to not being an all-around member, but their group was currently on top.

I settle myself and straighten out my man-handled suit.  I gaze around the group, from one side to the other and back to Tachi.  I let a sinister smile grace my lips and squint my eyes into the most fake smile possible.  I take a step towards Tachi and the whole group moves forward in kind, except for the goons to my sides, they put their hands behind their backs, no doubt gripping their handguns that I'm positive are there.

Stopping, I raise my hands in front of me and Tachi smiles and nods.  Everyone seems to relax.  "Leave!" I boom out with authority causing everyone but Tachi to flinch.  Tachi only huffs out a laugh through is nose and nods his head until he is staring at his lap.  The group slowly dissipates in all directions.  "Leave the garden!  There is only one way in or out so trust me, I'm not going to do anything to your precious member, or should I say, Boss."

Tachi looks up at me and motions to the other side of the bench with his open hands.  "Sit.  We have a lot to talk about I see."  He says with some pain in his voice. 

I stand my ground and slowly put my hands in my pants pockets.  "All I want to know is, did you have Naka killed?  Was he going to go public about his sexuality and your relationship and you were worried it would ruin your influence and standing in, whatever you have yourself messed up in?"

Tachi didn't show any emotion on his face as he leans back and looks at the sky again.  "No.  I truly loved him and I know he loved me but I think he just couldn't come to terms with how we would have to live to be together.  You're right, we couldn't go public but not because of my business or even because of the group's image.  I really could care less about the group, to be honest.  It was something I wanted to master, and I have, so now it really has become such a chore and I'm too recognizable now.  I would have left the group soon anyway."  He says calmly while picking some lint from his jacket.

I sigh and slowly sit next to Tachi, keeping my eyes on  him but staying keenly aware of my surroundings.  I'm positive not everyone has left the garden yet.  "Then what could have been so bad that Naka would want to end his life?"  I really didn't understand.

Tachi continues to stare at the sky for a few more seconds before he closes his eyes.  "You're right, Sobata.  I am involved in some dangerous business.  The operation functions so that no one really knows who is on top, calling the shots, as it were.  That was the only way I could take on this persona.  Otherwise, I would have been killed the first time I took the stage."  He lowers his head and looks me in the eyes.

"Naka didn't have a problem with us keeping our relationship a secrete and away from the public eye.  He didn't care, as long as we were able to be together.  But with that, he would  have to also give up his entertainment career once I did.  I knew he was going to our special place to think everything over and there was supposed to be a detail there to keep watch over him and make sure he was safe."  Tachi finishes and shakes his head from side to side.

I waited a few breaths to see if he was going to continue before I spoke. "Then what happened, Tachi.  You took all these precautions, why is Naka dead?  Why couldn't you say that he died in that beautiful place you gave to him?  He was dead, nothing was going to change that.  You could have made his death have some sort of meaning rather than some senseless suicide that no one is going to believe."  My voice starts cracking as tears once again pool in my eyes.

Tachi nods slowly and shrugs before exhaling slowly.  "The detail was two men.  Not my best but the more athletic ones due to the rugged terrain and distance they would have to hike to get to the place before Naka did.  But it turns out that one of the men was infatuated with Naka and the other man was a spy.  I don't know all of the details but the stalker guy killed the spy guy and then proceeded to somehow convinced Naka to take this drug cocktail.  It wasn't the one the coroner listed as the cause of death.  This was a date rape drug on steroids."   Tachi pauses as if to let me have a minute to digest all of this information while he gets himself under control.

I'm trying to understand how this series of impossible circumstances could have happened under the watch of, what I suspect to be, one of heads of a Yakuza family or some other organized crime organization.  On the other hand, Tachi could be making all of this up because he did have Naka killed for less than just not wanting to deal with him anymore.

I look at Tachi with an expression that implies that I don't believe a word of his story so far.  He holds out his hands in surrender.  "Honestly, this was all found out after I found Naka and got him back to the city.  My men found the spy shot in the head but the cause of death was from his face being smashed in.  From the evidence on the stalker guys body, he must have stomped on the spy guy's face until he died.  More of the drugs were found on stalker guy's body and there was so much disgusting evidence at his apartment as well.  If he hadn't shot himself in the head and died, I surely would have done it for him."