Like a Demon

The interview was half over, and Jayne’s band was doing all right. At first they were so nervous Mei had to translate Jayne’s attempted Japanese. Then came the one thing that sent her entire band into a fit of laughter and tears, and from then on they had nothing to hide.

“We have a video from your website, of you all learning a song from this band beside you and giving a message to them, that we are going to watch.” The host announced, motioning to the screen behind them as the video started. Instantly Jayne had her head in her hands, just listening. Drew was in horror, Dex was laughing so hard he thought he would die, and Mei was white, looking from the screen, to the guys, and back the entire time. Especially since the video had been subtitled, so that everyone knew what was being said.

“I hate this band! I honestly, hate this band!” Drew bitched, “Their drummer, can BEEP jump off a BEEP cliff!”

“Don’t be a whiner, Dex.” Mei frowned, tuning her bass.

“Yeah, Shinya stays behind his kit like a good boy. Kyo, on the other hand, wants to make sure anyone who attempts his songs, loses a vocal cord!” Jayne grumbled before turning to the camera, “You hear that Kyo? BEEP you, you over talented BEEP!” she shouted, flipping him off, though they blurred her finger.

“What would you say if they saw this video?” Dex asked curiously.

“They’re never going to see this.” She laughed, rolling her eyes and going back to the microphone after putting her coffee down and letting Drew give a count before they started their cover, only to end in Jayne swearing as Mei’s bass broke a string and hit both girls in the face.

“Okay, that’s it! This band, Dir en Grey or whatever, is a curse! I’m done!” Drew laughed, putting his sticks down and walking away from the camera’s line of sight.

“You’re trying to kill us Dir en Grey! Attempted murderers!” Jayne laughed as Mei walked up to the screen speaking in Japanese and pointing at the camera.

“Shinya, we all know it’s you. The quiet ones always plot the murders… stop trying to kill innocent young women, Shinya! Stop!” she pleaded dramatically while falling to the ground. The last thing that was heard before the camera turned off was Jayne and Dex laughing, and Mei gagging, “I’m dying… Shinya, you killed me… I’ll haunt you, lady-killer!”

All attention turned back to the band, and Jayne was in embarrassed tears, bouncing in laughter with her head in her hands, unable to look up at anyone. Mei had her face down on Jayne’s back, also laughing out of control. Dex was watching the other guys cautiously, and Drew looked like he was about to pass out.

“So, do you have any replies to them?” the host asked the five rock stars who were staring at the now unable to function band.

“Were you drunk?” Die finally asked.

“Yes!” Jayne answered in English.

“A little,” Drew muttered shamefully, “I didn’t mean what I said about you jumping off a cliff, either.” He added, glancing shyly at Shinya.

They were too nervous to realize that every member of Dir en Grey thought the video was hilarious. Even Kyo was smiling at it. After a few minutes they slowly recovered, but Jayne was still messed up.

“She thinks you’re mad at her.” Mei explained to Toshiya, who was sitting beside the now-silent singer.

“We aren’t mad. I think Kyo liked your message a little too much.” Die smirked, nodding to the bulge in the singer’s pants, which was quickly covered by his hand.

Jayne blushed deeper than ever and hid her face in her hands once again, making the crowd laugh.

“I do have a question for you, though. You have performed with Dir en Grey, and now a television interview. Why do we not know the name of your band?” the interviewer questioned, bringing some sanity back to the show.

The band looked awkwardly at each other as Jayne translated for Dex, who answered, “Because it never came up.”

Again laughter filled the room when the answer was translated.

A few minutes after things calmed down fully, a shrill cry filled the room from just off set, and Jayne took off running. The cameras of course followed her as she picked up her son and kissed his fingers lightly, checking for breaks.

“You’re okay, baby. Calm down, okay? Mama’s here, shh, you’re okay.” She soothed, rocking Ray as she held him. Robert looked extremely guilty, and ready to cry as he watched them.

“One moment, I am very sorry. This will only take a moment.” Mei announced quickly before darting off set, pushing Robert out of the way as the rest of the band grouped around the sobbing child.

“Is he okay? Those fingers…” Drew frowned deeply as medical personnel came to look at Ray.

“I’m so sorry, I thought he was out of the way, and I shut the door on his fingers.” Robert confessed, staring shamefully at his feet.

“Good news, there are no broken bones. There will be some bruising, but aside from that he’s perfectly fine.” The medic announced.

“Thank you.” Jayne nodded, still holding her son tightly, “Two options, he comes with me or you finish the interview with me back here with him.” She announced to her band and manager.

“Is he all right?” a worried voice asked from behind them.

“Whoa, where’d you come from?” Drew gasped, turning around and coming face to face with Shinya.

“Over there,” he nodded, gesturing to the set behind him, “They want you to come back. He said you can bring Ray as well.” He explained.

“That answers that question, onward!” Mei smirked, and pushed Jayne, who was still holding Ray, back onto the set. Several “Awe” noises echoed around them as she sat down and let Ray hide his face in her shoulder, not wanting anyone to see that he had been crying.

“Tell us what happened to your brother!” The interviewer ordered, wide eyed as she continued to comfort her son.

“His fingers were caught in the door, but nothing’s broken. He’ll be okay though, he’s a very strong boy.” Jayne smiled without taking her eyes off of Ray, “And he’s not my brother, he’s my son.” She added with a laugh.

Silence.

“You didn’t know she had a son?” Drew asked, slowly growing more confident in his Japanese.

“We had no idea,” The host admitted.

“Those magazines and articles didn’t make it over here. They were only in that area of America, and those websites aren’t where our Japanese fans go for news.” Die explained to the Americans with a shrug.

“Well, now you know Jayne has a son!” Mei laughed.

“Right, well he is a very hansom young man.” The host smiled.

“Thank you.” Ray sniffled as Jayne adjusted him to be facing the audience host, surprising them by knowing how to speak the language, and taking part in the rest of the interview.

“Thank you very much! Before we go I only have one more question, what is your band name?” the host asked as the show came to an end.

“Akuma” they answered together.

“Akuma?”

They all nodded together and started laughing. “It’s the closest to the name we wanted.” Mei explained.

“We wanted to name it ‘Demons’ but the English just didn’t fit right for us. We tried language after language, and then Mei screamed ‘Akuma!’ and we kept it.” Drew explained with a laugh.

After the interview, Jayne carried Ray to their van, only to have him beg and plead to ride with Dir en Grey. She tried to tell him no, but of course Die announced that it was really no problem, and Kaoru and Shinya joined him, resulting in her losing the argument.

“Yeah, so they’re all going home today. We’re staying in the hotel and finishing our Japanese training… who wants to bet we get arrested for real?” Dex smirked as they rode to the hotel again.

“If you get arrested intentionally, like you did when we went to New York, I’m quitting the band and leaving you to rot in Japanese jail.” Jayne answered firmly, laughing when Ray’s little hand came up in the back window of the van in front of them, waving at a stoplight. Two larger hands on either side, and one behind him soon joined his hand.

“Die, Toshiya, and probably Shinya.” She smirked.

“Yeah, so who’s the fourth?” Dex demanded smartly.

“Kyo, it’s flipping us off now.”

“Five must be Karou then?”

“Damn Skippy.” She laughed, as their van started moving again.

“So Robert wants a set list for our first shows here… any suggestions?” Drew yawned ten minutes later, resting his head against the window.

“Have we ever planned a set?” Mei scoffed.

“No, but we’ve never toured with real rock stars before.”

“So we change our band’s behavior as soon as success is within our reach?”

“No we just… grow up a little.”

“I don’t think I need to grow up, I think Robert needs to realize who Akuma is.”

“Guys, enough arguing!” Jayne spat as they finally reached the hotel.

“Well, it’s not my fault I don’t want the band to change,” she frowned.

“Mei, we’re not changing. We’re growing up, just like Drew said.”

“But I don’t want to grow up! I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid!” she sang, dancing around as they got out of the van and made their way back to their room.

“Speaking of kids, I think Die wants to adopt yours.” Dex smirked; pointing out the way the guitarist was carrying the sleeping four year old to the doors ahead of them. Jayne sighed and jogged away from her band to catch up with the group of Japanese men, interrupting their hushed conversation.

“I’ll take him, you don’t have to carry him like that.” She frowned, but he just smiled and shook his head.

“He doesn’t weigh much.”

“Really though, it isn’t your responsibility. You aren’t his mother.”

“I really hope not! Die would have a lot of explaining to us if that was true.” Toshiya cut in.

“Really, I can carry him.” She laughed, frowning though when Die turned and walked through the door that Karou was holding open, still carrying her son.

“We don’t him to wake up.” Shinya explained, “His hand is still very painful, and he was crying because of it earlier. We all agreed that he should get some rest.”

“That’s very kind of you.” She smiled as her band joined them.

“Hey, I don’t think Kaoru wants to hold this door all day, come on!” Kyo ordered sharply.

“Coming!” Jayne smiled sweetly, quickly following and thanking Kaoru as she passed him.

As soon as they got into the room, Jayne talked Die through lying Ray down without waking him, which was more complicated than he thought it would have been. After Ray was safely tucked in, they went to join their bands in sitting quietly and relaxing in comfortable silence until Mei’s phone rang.

With a happy squeak she ran into the bathroom and locked the door before engaging in excited Japanese conversation. “Michio.” Jayne, Dex, and Drew explained together before laughing quietly.

The guys nodded, and gave a few smiles, but remained comfortably silent. By the time Mei came out of the bathroom, Kyo had left to his room, Karou was on the phone with their manager talking about something to do with the tour, Dex and Drew were building a tower with Ray’s blocks in the corner, and calling Die “Godzilla” when he walked by and knocked it down accidentally when he stepped too close. Toshiya was asleep in the chair, and Jayne was curled up in a ball, sleeping on Shinya who was also dozing off.

Mei said nothing as she walked over to where Kaoru was sitting, plugged her phone up to charge, and rested her head on the table after sitting on the floor.

“What is wrong?” he questioned, having just ended his business call.

Mei just sighed and gave a quiet laugh. That laugh was enough to end Dex and Drew’s teasing against Die, and wake Jayne from her light sleep. All three musicians remained silent as Karou continued to try and see what was bothering his new friend.

“I’ll be all right. Don’t worry.” She muttered, but kept her head down on the table. Jayne gave a small tired whimper of disapproval, and wriggled away from the tired drummer that held her, and pulled Mei up by the back of her shirt before tugging her into the room Ray slept in.

“Emergency band meeting?” Dex questioned, but Drew didn’t know the answer.

“Jay! Band meeting?” Drew called out, receiving an answer in Japanese from Mei before both boys stood up and chased after their band members.

“Do you think they are all right?” Die asked worriedly.

“I don’t know. She seemed upset over something.” Karou frowned.

Shinya’s frown deepened as he looked at the door that was now closed to give privacy to the band meeting being held on the other side. “Do you think something happened between Mei and Michio?” he asked softly.

“I don’t know. It isn’t our business, let’s just focus on getting ready to go home and relax before this tour.” Karou answered and went back to his previous tasks of making sure everything was set up.

When Jayne came out of the room, without her band, only Kaoru and Kyo were in the suite. “Is everything all right?” Kaoru questioned, honest concert written all over his face.

“Yeah,” she laughed, “We’re fine.”

“You’ve been crying.” Kyo pointed out.

“Yes.” She nodded, taking a seat in one of the unoccupied chairs.

“Why?” Karou pushed.

“We’re all just… homesick, I guess. Already.” She laughed, “This tour is going to be harder than we thought. Mei misses Michio, Ray woke up, he misses Jun, Dex misses his girlfriend, and Drew misses his mom.”

“Who are you missing?” Kyo asked curiously.

She just laughed more and turned her eyes away from him; “No one.”

“There is no one back home you wish was with you? I find that hard to believe.” He scoffed, “What about your parents? Siblings? Ray’s father?”

“Ray’s father, is nothing to me, or Ray. Ray doesn’t even know his name, and he never will!” she answered sharply, “As for my family, I’m an only child, and was disowned by my parents when they found out I was pregnant with Ray. They don’t even know their grandson’s name. No, Kyo, I left no one behind. Everyone I have in my ‘family’ is here, in that room.”

“So why were you crying?” he demanded.

“When your son is crying, and hurting, and you can do nothing to help him, it’s heartbreaking. You wouldn’t know anything about that. Judging from what I know of you personally, you’ve never had to care for anyone like that, not even a friend.” She spat, standing when he did.

Kyo spat an insult, she growled a retort, he raised his fist, and she raised her voice. He threw a punch, and so did she, and right as Toshiya, Shinya, and Die returned with Robert and some dinner, Karou grabbed Kyo by the hair and Jayne by the arm, pulled them apart, and started yelling at the both of them.

“Jayne! What the fuck is going on?!” Robert demanded in English, noticing blood dripping from the faces of both singers. “Kyo, what did you say?” Toshiya demanded, ignoring the fact Kaoru was still yelling, and now Jayne’s band was coming to investigate.

“Mama what happened?!” Ray squeaked.

“I think… she got into a fight with Kyo,” Dex answered, since Ray was speaking in English.

“Kyo hurt Mama?” he asked wide eyed.

“Dex you asshole!” Mei growled, noticing the death stare the four-year-old was giving the agitated Japanese man.

Kaoru was finally calming down, and was quiet enough to for Ray’s demand to know why Kyo hurt his mama be heard as he walked to stand directly in front of him.

“Because she’s a bitch.” He answered bitterly, not thinking about the fact he was speaking to a four-year-old.

In the next few seconds, Kyo was on the ground, gripping between his legs after being punched in his most sensitive area by the furious child. “YOU are a bitch.” He spat before crawling into Jayne’s lap.

She was laughing too much to discipline him, as was Mei, Dex had no idea what was said, but could not believe Kyo was on the ground because of Ray, and Drew was in shock for a few seconds.

“Ray! Apologize, that is not acceptable! No, it is NEVER acceptable to hit!” he scolded, receiving a nod of thanks as he took Ray away from Jayne. “He hit Mama! Mama hit him too!” he argued.

“I don’t care. WE do not hit! Now say you’re sorry.”

“NO!”

“Ray,”

“NO! You say sorry!”

“I love watching people argue with Ray.” Dex giggled.

“I am not sorry! He is a bad mean man!”

“That does not matter. We don’t hit, and YOU don’t swear! Bitch is a bad word, Ray. A very, very bad word. Do you understand?”

“Michio call Mei it!”

“Mei likes it.”

“DREW!” she squeaked

Jayne was now recovered enough to deal with her own child, and pushed Drew out of the way before kneeling down to his level.

“Ray, look at me.” She ordered.

He obeyed silently.

“Sometimes grown ups fight, because we have a lot of stress. Kyo is not a bad person; he is just under a lot of stress, just like Jun’s mommy and daddy. They said things they didn’t mean, and it hurt us a little bit, but that doesn’t mean they are bad people, are they?”

“No,” he answered quietly, “But they didn’t hit!”

“No, but Ray, I started yelling at Kyo too. I hit Kyo because I was mad at him, just like you, and I am going to say sorry, just like you are. Do you understand? We can’t just hit because we are mad, people get hurt that way.”

“He hurt you!”

“And we both hurt him… look.” It took everything she had not to laugh at the way Kyo was glaring at them, now on his knees, still holding himself.

Ray sighed and looked shamefully at his feet, realizing that he had hurt one of his favorite people in the whole world. “I am very sorry. Please forgive me, it will never happen again.” He frowned, switching languages and bowing to Kyo, who held a victorious smirk until Karou kicked him in the side.

“I forgive you.” He sighed.

Jayne just gave a short bow and nod, but was flipped off when Ray wasn’t looking. She returned the gesture and left with a smile.

“You know, now you two are friends right?” Mei asked after everything calmed down.

“How?” Kyo demanded.

“You hit her.” Drew laughed.

“How does that make them become friends?” Shinya asked, clearly disapproving of the situation still.

“He didn’t treat her like she’s made of glass. She likes that. If you two kept fighting, and Kaoru didn’t pull you apart, it would have ended in her laughing, and you earning her highest respect.”

“So… we all need to punch her in the face?” Die joked.

“Hah! No, I think Robert and Kaoru would both kill us all for that.”

“As it is, you drew blood when you grabbed her by the shirt, you caught skin too.” Mei smirked to the now guilty looking guitarist.

“Not as much as Kyo’s blow to the lip!” Drew beamed.

“But her hit to the face was a gusher!” Mei laughed as the bands ate dinner without Jayne, since she had gone to bed after the fight.