Disclaimer: Um…. steps shyly onto the stage.   Ria is mine.  If for whatever reason you want to use her and or her name, contact me.  Amai, Aranon, Kiko, Alia, Amay, Leona, and Aurelia are also all mine.  Once more, if you wish to use any of these characters, contact me.  This story was inspired by the new movie, “ Spirited Away.”  Those of you who have seen the movie will most likely recognize Haku in my story.  So I could say that I give credit to Miyazaki for Haku. 

Oh and I might start using Gravitation characters… but I’m not sure.  If I do use them, I just want you all to know that they will play small, yet big parts.  The main character though, will be Ria!  Not Tohma, or Shuuichi, or Yuki!

“Self Control” by Laura Branigan I give credit to, because as you will see I did use that song.

Besides this, the rest is also mine, unless I say otherwise. (Also, the first few chapters may be a little boring, but please bear with me.  And I will eventually get to the Haku and spirit world. Well, if you keep on reading, you’ll see.)

Steps shyly off stage

Bobby, Niki, Jordan, Gabi, Ryan, and everyone else (You guys know who you are.) if any of you guys ever stumble upon this. I just want you all to know that you guys R DA BEST & GO AUDIO SUICIDE.  That and I used Audio Suicide as my characters’ band name, and I give you more than full credit for it.

Ria is NOT based on myself, although she sounds A LOT like me.

Waterfarie, Leona remember?

Aramon…. Aranon… need I say more?

Chapter 1:  A New Song to Sing and A New Career to Begin.

            “You’re NOT SERIOUSLY wearing THAT… Are you?”

            “Hm?  What… this?  Yea…”

            “But you’re too young to be wearing that.  Plus you look…”

“I think I look hot, gorgeous, and sexy in this, thank you very much.”

            “Please tell her that she’s too young to be wearing that.”

            “You’re too young to be wearing that.”

            “ I dare you to say that again.”  Ria put her hands on her hips, challenging her older brother, Amai to repeat what he just said.  Amai was sitting on a chair with his eyes closed, his arms across his chest, and he was in deep thought about something.  He opened his eyes and looked at his baby sister.

            “You’re too young to be wearing that.”  He repeated.

            “Amai!  Not you TOO!”  Ria whined.

            “TOLD YOU SO!”  Ria’s other older brother, Aranon shouted joyfully.  He looked proud and satisfied with himself.  He felt like he won this war with his sister.  He smiled.  Ria knowing how her brother felt decided that SHE had to be the winner of this one.  Like any other battle, that is.  She quickly came up with a plan.

            “Oh well.  I am STILL wearing this and you are still the loser, because Amai thinks that I’m not too young to wear this… Right Amai?”  Ria asked stealthily.  Amai nodded.

            “Bro!”  Aranon whined.  He lost and he knew it.  “You’re hopeless…” he stated as he glared at Ria and sighed.

            “I hope you know that I get THAT from you!”  Ria just had to win this one as well.  So far she had won every battle against Aranon, and she wasn’t about to start loosing either.

Ria looked at her two older brothers, observing them.

They were: both beautiful, they both got straight A’s, both were in all honor classes, both had singing talents, and yet…they were both so different.

Amai was the quiet type.  Amai had platinum blond hair with aqua-like eyes.  He was about six feet tall, he was sixteen years old, and he was born on July fourteenth.  He enjoyed:  classical music, art, reading and writing.  He was always level headed and he would always have good advice for any kind of a situation.

Aranon on the other hand, was the athletic and loud kind.  He had black raven hair with royal blue eyes.  He was approximately six feet and two inches tall.  He was born on August twentieth and he was nineteen.  He specialized in math, science, gym, and history.  Language was his worst.  He liked; sports, rock, reggae, rap, girls, and attention.  He was probably the bravest person Ria knew.  He was usually hotheaded and way overprotective.

Ria was a combination of the two.  She, like them, got straight A’s and she was in all honor classes.  She had brown with natural highlight, medium long hair and blue eyes; which tended to change color with her mood.  She was approximately five feet and seven inches tall. She was born on October thirteenth and she was thirteen years old. She enjoyed: any kinds of music, except for the blues, drawing, writing, reading, and attention and guys.

She was usually level headed but could get hot headed…Very.  She did have good advice most of the time and was “wise beyond her years.”  Yet, she loved to act inane (Waterfarie, remember?) and childish. 

            “Yoo-hoo… Ria…” Ria heard a voice sing out.

            “Huh?”  She jumped a little.

            “Wake up!  We’re up next!”  Amai commanded.

As far back as Ria could remember, her brothers and herself, always wanted to be in a rock band.  Even though Amai was more of a classical music lover, he pretty much enjoyed any kinds of music. 

            “What time is it?”  Ria asked suddenly.

            “It’s seven, why?’ Aranon answered slowly.

            “Just wandering.”  Ria replied.

            “We’ve been here for three hours.”  Amai stated.  He sensed that that was what Ria wanted to know. 

Ria could remember herself in the morning.  She was so excited, that after two years of practice and hard work, the stars in the music field could finally recognize her.  Two years of practicing how to sing, dance, choose equipment, fix equipment, and take care of finances, finally came down to this.

Ria woke up quite early that morning.  She could recall herself thinking, “Today, we are going to perform in front of judges and millions of people.  Just to see, if we have what it takes, to be serious music stars.”   She could recall herself seeing this thought now.  Her brothers would play the guitars.  She would sing with Kiko, and Amay would play the drums.  And to top it all off, Alia and Leona would play the synthesizers.

Kiko, Amay, Alia and Leona, were Amai's, Aranon’s, and Ria’s closest friends, ever since they were all kids. 

Kiko was fifteen years old, he, (Yes HE.) had black hair and green emerald eyes.  He was born on September eighteenth and he was about five feet and nine inches tall.  He got A’s and B’s.  He enjoyed music and language.

Amay was sixteen years old. He had red hair with blue eyes.  He was born on July twentieth and he was about five feet and eight inches tall.  He also got A’s and B’s and he loved science, language, and math.

Alia was fourteen and a half years old.  She had blond hair with green cat-like eyes.  She was born on December twenty-seventh and she was about five feet and seven inches tall. She was a straight B student.  She enjoyed math only.

And finally Leona was sixteen years old.  She had dark red hair that looked almost brown form afar and brown eyes.  She was born on November fifth and she was about five feet and eight inches tall.  She was an honors student with straight A’s.  She liked gym only.

Aranon tugged on Ria’s arm.  This meant that they were up next.  Ria checked herself quickly over at a mirror.  She straightened out her red tube top and black mini skirt.  She then checked to see that her white and red high-heeled shoes, wouldn’t give her a problem during performance.  She checked her chocker, rings, earrings, and bracelets.  She was ready.

She looked around.  Everyone was checking himself or herself over.  The girls wore what Ria wore, and the guys, instead of wearing skirts, wore black pants and blue shirts that began buttoning up about six inches from the chin.  The guys wore chokers but no earrings and bracelets.  Except for Kiko, who had one ear pierced.  They also wore either boots or regular shoes, or sneakers.

Kiko, Amay, Leona, Alia, Amai, Aranon, and Ria made a circle before going out.  They put their hands in the middle of the circle. 

            “Alright…. We can do this!”  Ria shouted.

            “YEA!” came the replies.

As they stepped out onto the stage, Ria was getting nervous.  A million questions raced through her mind.  What are they going to think of us?  What are they going to think of our music?  What about our appearance?  Will they ask any questions? What will they ask? Ria was beginning to overreact.  I want to quit.  I want this to end. 

As everyone took their places on the stage, Ria and Kiko stood in front with two microphones in their hands.  Every member was nervous, and they all knew it.  They all felt like quitting, yet seeing their friends there, made the whole group feel better.

Ria glanced around at the audience.  She saw a lot of other musicians.  These would be the people to vote on them, and among those musicians were the judges.  They were hiding just to so that they could see this group’s real performance.

            “Before we begin…” A voice began from somewhere in the audience, although Ria couldn’t see that person.  (The judge.) “We would like to ask you a couple of questions.” 

The auditorium was extremely quiet.

            “First, state your group’s name.”  A voice commanded. 

Ria looked around at her friends.  They all looked at her, only then did she understand, that her group was picking her to be the spokesperson.  Ria glanced ahead at the audience and stepped forward. 

            “Audio Suicide.” Ria choked out into the microphone.

            “Relax dear.” A female voice commented from somewhere.  Ria nodded.

“Why did you choose to be in a rock band?” another voice asked.

            “Why?” Ria asked, as though it was the stupidest question she had ever heard, and it was.  “I believe that I speak for everyone when I say that, the reason is because music is the best!  It was our dream to become rock stars.  We would travel everywhere and perform.  But most of all we would be bringing joy to people, and we would be doing what we loved to do most!”  Ria took a breath.  If these judges thought that this was just another band of teenage kids, boy, were they in for it. 

            “I see.” The voice said approvingly before Ria could go on.

“Now, what about practice, performances, giving up… did you ever experience any of this?” another voice asked.

            “Oh yes!  What group wouldn’t?  We have been practicing to dance, sing, write, choose equipment, fix the equipment, and pay for everything, for the past two years!  We attended talent shows, festivals, dramas, choirs, everything!  And we have thought about quitting… all of us have at one point or another.”

            “And why didn’t you?” An old man’s voice asked.  This voice sounded annoyed yet it sounded as if it approved of our answer.

            “We could never give up our dream.  We have come too far to give up now!  And if we did quit, we would disappoint our group, friends, family, and we would hate ourselves!”  Ria finished.

“What will you do if you are picked?” another female voice asked.

            “We would become famous and travel all around the world, bringing happiness to people.”

“One final question.  Are you ever satisfied with your music?” 

            “No.”  Ria answered sternly. She was going to make it and she was down right deadly serious about this. “If we were ever satisfied with our music, that would mean that we would be through!  I never want this to end, and I know that neither do those people behind me!”

            “Very well then.  You may start.”  A voice said approvingly.

            “We will be singing “Self Control” by Laura Branigan.” Ria said proudly.

Review please.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter.  More coming soon and yes, I am going to get to the Haku and spirit world soon enough. 

Clover.