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

The Idol's Legacy

"It's convenient that everyone involved is dead, isn't it?  How about the pilot and the coroner?  They still alive and kicking?  Or have they just dropped off the face of the earth as well."  I look at Tachi with disgust.

He laughs loudly and I look around waiting for his goons to show up again.  Maybe they did really leave or they have sights on them and know nothing bad is going on.

"You don't trust me at all, do you Sobata?  It's probably good that you don't." He takes a breath and continues. "So, it wasn't a suicide but it was murder and the murderer is dead so there isn't much we can do.  I didn't like the idea of suicide but it fit into the timeline and the bullying and all of that.  And, we are going after the bullies.  It's all I can do to honor Naka's memory without putting any more people in danger."  He begins to stand up but my hand on his shoulder causes him to settle back onto the bench.

"Tachi, you said the other man was a spy, right?  A spy for whom?  Was his intention to harm Naka as well?  Are Troy and Sosaki in danger now too?  Am I, being here with you?"  My concern was genuine, the urgency in my voice left no question of my actual concern.

Tachi waves his hand in front of his face as if to deter a determined fly.  "No, everyone is safe.  Or will be safe.  I will be announcing my withdrawal from the group for some 'reflection and redirection of my career'.  I will fade into the background and eventually from everyone's memories.  The group will be disbanded but new ones will form.  You know how it is.  The next hot Idol group will make them all forget about me and Naka."  His voice trails off to a whisper as he says Naka's name.

Is that what he really wants?  Everyone to forget.  Does he want to forget?  I'm sure Naka would never want this to fade until it's just another story of some sad young idol who couldn't deal with the stress of being in the public eye.  That wasn't Naka, he wouldn't want to be remembered that way.

"I don't think this should just fade away into the background. I think you can use this opportunity to force change in the industry.  At lease have something positive come from Naka's death." I grip his shoulder tighter and set a determined look on my face. 

Tachi only looks at me with sorrowful eyes and shakes his head.  "You really are that naive, Sobata.  Naka said you never really saw what this industry was, not really anyway." 

I release his shoulder as he stands and I step back a few paces. "I don't know what you mean, Tachi.  What else can this industry be than a platform for young artists to get their start?  To make money for the labels and producers before either fading out or moving on?  I know it's not a perfect system, but it's been working for years."  I finish slightly out of breath.

"Here, Sobata, come see me tomorrow afternoon.  When the events of today have calmed down and we have had time to reflect privately."  Tachi hands me his business card while placing his other hand supportively on my shoulder.  He pats my cheek a few times, gently, almost lovingly, before he turns and shoves his hands into his pockets.

All I can do is watch him walk away.  From the side walkways in the garden, his men slowly fall into step behind him as the two burly men that were guarding the doors, stand aside so Tachi can pass through the doors.  He stops briefly and says something over his shoulder and two of the men fall back and turn towards me.

I'm still in a state of shock and bewilderment when the men approach me.  "Hey, Sobata.  Why don't you come with us.  Let's get a drink and something to eat.  You can ask all the questions you want but Tachi asked us to kinda, fill you in, I guess."  I just nod my head and look at the man speaking to me.  To my shock and surprise, Sosaki and Troy are standing in front of me with their hands gently on my shoulders like I was ready to freak out.

I look at Troy who nods gently at me and winks, a smile slowly forming on his lips.  Sosaki just scoffs and tugs at my sleeve to get my attention.  "Okay, maybe just some food to start with.  Drinking can wait until later, I guess.  I think Troy has probably had enough for now."  I just nod in Sosaki's direction and let my eyes fall to the ground.

What had I missed all these years?  How could I be considered naïve when I was the one that managed most of the business end of things?  What could I have missed that led to Naka's involvement with Tachi and his eventual murder?  Murder…. That's right, we came here for a funeral for a friend that felt death was the only way out, to get away from….. "WAIT!  WAIT ONE FUCKING MINUTE!"

I stop dead in my tracks and jerk my arms away from Troy and Sosaki, my glare trying to burn holes through their faces.  My heart starts racing and my breathing becomes labored.  I'm irate, ready to tear these two new assholes if that's what it takes.  I point a shaking finger at Troy while I grab Sosaki's shirt collar.  Before I can get a word out, I feel a pinch at the back of my neck and stars and black dots appear before my eyes.

"You bassasrdsss!"  I try to spit out with as much venom as I can muster but whatever was injected into my neck was taking affect way to quickly.  Troy rolls his eyes at Sosaki and stammers out, "What the FUCK!  He isn't a threat you dumb……"  that was the last I hear as my mind and body go slack and I fall into complete darkness.

--------

I'm swimming in warmth and comfort.  A gentle breeze blowing past my head, moving my hair slightly and cooling my heated face.  I don't remember going to the beach or sitting by the pool but I can hear water running, bubbling and splashing.  Voices start to become clearer, not so muffled but still hard to really understand the words.  Some of the words sound foreign, even though I can tell some  words in English, Korean and, of course, my native, Japanese.  I must be at the hotel, just napping by the pool.  I really wish everyone would just go somewhere else.  Maybe I should wake up and go back to my room.

I bolt upright into full consciousness at the sound of a fist slamming into a table and a loud but familiar voice, "ENOUGH!"  Tachi screams out and bangs his fists a few more times on the table.  I blink my eyes rapidly, trying to gain focus on the room and its occupants.  I realize that I'm sitting up on a couch, a quite plush and comfortable couch.  The window beside me is open and a cool ocean breeze is blowing through.  My pre-conscious dream makes some sort of sense now.  Really wish I was actually at the pool though.

I survey the room and see that half a dozen of Tachi's men are standing back from the table that Tachi had been beating on.  The water decanter is in pieces and water is flowing over the edges and onto the floor, making gentle pattering noises.  Troy and Sosaki are standing between me and the rest of the room but the attention isn't on me, I don't feel I'm the center of the conflict or attention at the moment.

I lean back to get a better look at Tachi leaning over the table, fuming like an angry dragon about to light his cave on fire and be done with everyone and every thing.  He takes a few deep breaths with his eyes closed before rising, straightening his suit and sitting back down in his high back chair.  Placing his hands gently back on the table, palms open and down against the dark grained wood. 

He looks up and nods, signaling everyone else to take their seats, now that he has swallowed down his fireball, for now.  Once everyone is seated, Tachi notices that I have returned to the land of the conscious.  His shoulders deflate slightly as he nods in my directions.  "Looks like our prince has awakened." 

All eyes turn towards me and I raise a hand in a weak gesture, showing that I am indeed awake and aware of my surroundings.  Troy almost falls out of his chair in his rush to get to me.  His hands touching and squeezing all over my body.  "Hey hey!  It's not like I was in a car accident, right?  I wasn't in an accident was I?"  I look past Troy to Tachi who just rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

"No.  You were drugged by one of my overzealous men."  Tachi says while glaring at what has to be the biggest Asian man I have ever seen.  I just nod towards the man while trying to get Troy to stop molesting me. 

"Ha, ah, no worries.  I was getting a little, er, excited maybe?  It was better than being punched, right?"  I stammer out jokingly but that doesn't seem to change the mood in the room one bit.

Tachi sighs and turns back to the men at the table. "Right, okay, I need publicity to come up with my exit speech and determine when the best timeslot for an on-air statement would be.  I will also announce the 'Suicide Prevention Program' I will start, with my one funds, in memory of Naka."  He finishes and fold his hands together on the table.

I stand abruptly, brushing Troy off me and causing him to yelp as he lands on the carpet. "Tachi.  I have already told you that we can't let this suicide story be Naka's legacy.  There has to be some other way!"  I'm physically cut off from reaching the conference table and Tachi.  That large man sure is quick and quiet on his feet.

I glare up at the gargoyle of a man, and try to plaster the most intimidating sneer on my face.  He just chuckles and brushes his thumb over my lips.  "You really are quite cute." He says in his deep sweeping bass voice and looks over his shoulder at Tachi, "Can I keep 'em, Boss?  I promise to take good care of him."  He turns back, looking at me with the sweetest smile that goes all the way to his eyes, causing them to scrunch up into little squints.

"For the love of…. Barney!  Stop it!  I don’t have the time or patience for your games right now."  Tachi scowls out and places his hands over his face. 

I look at Barney sweetly and place my hands on his chest, patting him playfully.  He is quite solid under his suit jacket.  "Oh sweety, I don't bottom.  And I like my bottoms a little less, uh, bulky."  Barney's face falls as he stares straight ahead, trying to accept my rejection.  I let my hand trail over his chest and arm as I round his bulky frame and make my way to Tachi. 

Tachi is grinning like he just won the lottery and he holds out his hand to me.  I grasp his hand and pull him into a hug. "Look, Tachi.  I understand that you need to preserve your reputation or the secrecy of… whatever you are involved in, but I can't let Naka be put to rest this way."  I smile gently and take the seat to the right of Tachi's.

Tachi only nods and sits down once again.  He sighs heavily and looks at everyone seated at the table.  He raises an eyebrow and opens his hands, palm up, as if waiting for something to be placed in them.  "Ideas anyone?  You are all muscle but you were hired for your business experience as well.  The only information the public knows is that Naka was found dead in his apartment after having no contact with anyone for 3 days."  He states and everyone starts to frantically write on their legal pads sitting in front of them.

Tachi sits back in his chair, leans his head back against the back of his chair and closes his eyes.  Troy has finally composed himself and sits at the far end of the conference table, also writing.  Barney has also recovered and is now hovering behind me causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.  I involuntarily shiver and rub the back of my neck trying to rid myself of the strange feeling.

I lean towards Tachi.  "Tachi." I whisper.  He hums in response but doesn't open his eyes.  "Um, I have a flight to catch soon, I think.  Uh, I don't even know what time it is." I realize and look at my watch.  I have certainly missed my flight and I groan and flop back in my chair.

Tachi sits up and opens his eyes, turning to look at me.  "No worries.  I will have my charter take you where ever you need to go, after."  He says as he looks at his own watch.  He taps his watch face a few times before Barney is suddenly by his other side, leaning down so Tachi can speak quietly to him.

Barney firmly nods his head once, turns on his heals and leaves the conference room.  I allow myself to relax a little now that my 'stalker' has left the room.  I mean, I have had an adventurous sex life, but there is no way I would ever let that man's naked body near me!  Tachi chuckles and leans towards me, gesturing for me to do the same.  "He is actually doesn’t have a preference…. I think your rejection hurt his feelings."

I pull back quickly as my face reddens just as fast.  "Oh my gods, Tachi!" I spit out louder than I had intended.  The entire table erupts in fits of laughter at my expense.