Time Girl

Sometimes I think about her, about what she'd do if she knew it was happening to me. I lie in bed and fantasize about her picking up the rope and hanging herself to death. I was really on one night, I took her clothes, changed my hair and straightened it and wore my sister's clothes. This way I could remember her if I be her.

9:15, I change my clothes, eat breakfast and meet up with the guys at McDonalds. Ony my way there, I saw Wakou, talking to a girl. He must have had a hard life since he was in college. I probably should go and help him. But wait, it's none of my business; he can handle it himself. Outside the pub, I leaned up against the wall, concentrating on writing a new song called "Time Bomb", which reminded me of my older sister Nozomi. She was a free spirited woman who loves to enjoy the taste of freedom and play guitar. When I was nine, she taught me how play the guitar and the bass.

One night, at 10:00 in the evening, my father came home late; he was drunk and he mentally abused my mother. Nozomi tried to help her, but my father continued to hit them both until it was time for a change. Nozomi fought back for the sake of our safety and she allowed herself to be stabbed by the knife my father was holding. My mom started to cry that very night, and my father was arrested.

The next day, I bid a last farewell to Nozomi before being buried six feet under and my mother started to follow my father's footsteps. She started to drink, smoke and gamble every day and night and she would come home and start beating me up until I was given a new life. I found a letter hidden under the desk of Nozomi and the letter was suppose to be given to me whenever something happened to her.

"Dear Shifumi

If you're reading this now, that means something has happened. I know dad would never stop abusing us until we are all broken. If I had to guess correctly, that sooner or later, mom will follow dad's footsteps and do exactly the same thing and that's the one thing I would never allow that to happen to you. I want you to live on and start a new life on your own. On my brief case, you'll find there a uniform I made just for you. It's something that you might wear if ever you were in a band and this way, you'll always dream of who you want to become. Live on and rocks the world

Yours truly

Nozomi"

From that day on, I kept that promise. I promise I would show the world that I can make a difference. From then on, I moved out of my mom's house and lived in a dorm near the famous Tokyo Tower. Then, I started making my hair long and straight, painting my nails black and wore dark clothing in order to forget my past and start a new life as Iyo.

No one in school talked to me or came near me if they wanted to hang out or go shopping. It's because I swore to never allow myself to be manipulated or suffer another abuse; I decided to drop out of school and write songs I want to perform if ever I was invited to play in a band. My life suddenly changed when I met five people at 12:00 noon at McDonalds.

They were very friendly, sweet, gentle and kind and I didn't realized we were also going to the same record company and we laughed, we screamed and we partied shortly after we were introduced to Setsumi; but I had a great suspicion about her. She doesn't seem like any ordinary manager or a record owner. I believe she had something else in her mind more than promoting Silverstone.

And I will know what it is. So far, it's been only two months after we defeated three bands that my band mates were once members; but that isn't the case. What Setsumi said, there are still more threats coming, and she wants to come up with at least twelve songs for the album. Oh and there's Homika eating alone in the park with Wakou and Gouta. When they saw me, they wanted to share their snacks with me but I wasn't sure if I could continue to consider them as my true friends.

"Guys, I have a question to ask."

"What's that Shifumi?" Gouta asks.

"I just want to know why are you guys being so nice to me even on stage.?" I asked them reluctantly to make them reveal their true aspirations and goal. But Wakou answered me directly saying.

"Because we know you're a nice person Shifumi, whatever problems you had in the past, don't let them take over you and make you look guilty because you didn't do anything wrong. So I believe in you and your abilities as the lead guitar. You even surprised us when you played the guitar solo with your teeth. That even impressed the fans. As for me, I'm kinda like getting along in this band."

"Wakou."

"Uh Shifumi? Are you alright? Did I say something wrong?"

And then I burst into tears and I said, "I love you guys." I loved them so much especially Wakou for saying those inspiration words; he was right. It was time to let go of the past, and start a new life, just like what Nozomi said. I deserve the happiness in my life and I think I finally found that happiness.

"You guys are my true happiness. I thank you for that."

"Whoa don't mention it Shifumi, even though you are gothic and silent, you'll always the best." Says Homika.

Luckily, Risa and Takara missed all the fun. Risa asked why was I crying.

"Because you missed all the fun, Wakou here just said inspiring words to me." I said.

"Oh is that so? Maybe Wakou plans on courting you Shifumi." Takara said.

"Hey, That's not true Takara, you better knock it off." Wakou shouted.

And we all enjoyed our laughter, that very afternoon until we Wakou receives a cal from Setsumi.

"Come to the meeting now. It's very important."

If I had to guess, another band in planning threat us again. But what kind of band it is? If it has anything to do with the previous bands we've encountered, then it's just useless. But if it's another one, then I'll just have to say this: "BRING IT ON".

Upon arriving at the meeting, I thought Setsumi was going to announce a threat; but it was a useless meeting. It was all about preparations for the album. The meeting lasted until 4:00 in the afternoon, but the meeting wasn't that important because I only laid my eyes on a book called "10:15" which referred to a song originally composed by The Cure one of my favorite gothic rock bands since their formation.  As a matter of fact, I managed to compose a song of my own which would surprise the fans in tonight's gig.

8:00 P.M., everyone gets ready in the dressing room, putting on our make-up and costumes, dodge out from the curtains, performing our songs from our mini album which solded around 14,000 copies in every music store in Japan. Wakou a.k.a. Toho made announcements for the release date of our debut album.

"Alright Dogs! Our debut will hit the stores next month. Just be ready. But now it's party time!"

In the middle of the tempo of the song slash rocker, the time for my guitar solo was about break the fourth wall; the infamous teeth guitar which proved to be the best move I've ever performed. Then, I revealed the song entitled "Time Girl" which . After the show, I made another announcement in the dressing room, regarding my teeth guitar solo.

"Guys, I forgot to tell you about my technique in performing the teeth guitar. It only be performed from someone is actually a loner. And that loner is me. If anyone attempts to perform the technique will only cause tooth ache especially you Takara. You attempted to perform the trick at your dorm when I went to pay you a visit and you almost broke your tooth. But to tell you the truth, even if I had a dark past which will never be told, my Japanese spirit will live on. And thank you all for that. I thank you all for keeping me alive in this group and I love you all. Thank you."

After that speech, the guys shared a group hug and we parted ways to enjoy a celebration night. Wakou visited Shoko, while Takara spent his night alone in a bar with hot chicks. Gouta went on a date with Kim; Homika got laid in a restaurant eating five pieces of fried fish and two bowls of noodles and Risa attended a fashion show. As for me, I walked around the streets of Tokyo, holding the book for one last time. I decided that keeping the book will only make me confused and bored to death.

When the time came, it was finally to let go of the book. So I gave it a kiss and threw it in the garbage and I said.

"Goodbye. Friend."

Saying goodbye to that book was a sad moment for me, but I've been holding that thing for too long. It was to get rid of it, now I have found happiness in my life. At last, I have fulfilled the promise I gave to Nozomi. But the cause of which I have been suffering throughout those years, the book served as my guide.

"I've lost you once. And now my heart feels this pain, I know the nightmare that endured the essence. You sacrificed you're life in trying to protect me from the hands of father. Now it's all over. Mine has just begun, I seek a way to prove myself that I can do things on own and prove to our mother that she is wrong. Bless you, Nozomi."

The next day, I felt alive again on the inside. The song time girl is actually a homage to myself as count the number of times I walk, dance and tap. But that no longer mattered to me. I spent the whole morning at my favourite cafe place called "Moon Dance" one of the best quiet cafe's in the world. I spend most of my time there, reading and talking to my former classmate Hiroshi.

Hiroshi used to comfort me when I was alone back in high school. When we were 17, we started hanging out by ourselves. We go to the mall, play video games and playing tennis. But when I dropped out, I found out he died from pneumonia. I was broken hearted at that time. I was going to tell him that I liked him. The song I composed "The Fantasy Game" is dedicated to him. And only I alone who sings the song.

"Hiroshi, Wherever you are, you are not forgotten. You're always in here, inside my heart. I salute you brother."

Suddenly, Risa showed up and she was shock when she recognized me civilian clothes and not wearing my gothic attire.

"How did you know my face?" I asked.

"Well, your eyes won't fool me. Even if you changed clothes your eyes are still the same." Risa said.

Risa offered me a bet on who gets to go to a free concert of Nightmare. This I wouldn't wanna miss.

"Can you really beat me in a drink?" Risa asked.

"Why don't we find out." I said.

The customers gathered and placed their money's on the table who gets to vote for either me or Risa. Round one is arm wrestling; round 2: cake and round 3, is Vodka.

Risa didn't realized a song was playing inside my head. And that song increased my adrenaline and I drank ten time faster than her. It was all thanks to the song "Super-Charger Heaven by White Zombie." Risa lost after 3 rounds and she handed me the tickets but I showed her mercy and I gave her the other one.

"What was running to your mind?" Risa asked.

"Hmm, Secret." I said.

"What!?" Oh come on, you gotta at least tell me." Risa complained.

"I'm still not telling you. Wanna watch a movie? You can come at my place."

"Really? Sure I'll go." Risa excitedly came to my place when I invited her to watch my favourite movie called "Chasing My Girl." Risa only believed that I only watch gothic movies; she doesn't know, I also watch romance movies. So we both enjoyed ourselves watching the movie and then, at 7:00 P.M. we headed to the Tokyo Dome and watched Nightmare as they performed their hit songs.

What can I say, I love being the lead guitar of the band. I didn't even realized, that the guys were also there. Wakou, Gouta, Takara and Homika. We both saw them in the front row and we waved at them and the partied all night long.

As the light fades away,