Out of Darkness

Tori had Brandon bring her things to her at Alex’s apartment. It was official, she was moving out, and would be living with her boyfriend. Shinya was still taking care of Achilles, and she was extremely thankful that he had gone and adopted him for her. She couldn’t think of anyone else she would trust to care for her friend.

“BREAKFAST!” Amber’s voice called through the apartment as Tori finished typing her reply to Kyo’s letter. Most of it was just describing Kyoto, which was where the band was shooting a promo for the upcoming album. She had so many questions, what did the buildings look like, where were they staying, what was it like in their hotel, since he was visiting family what were they like, and when would she be able to see him and Toshiya again, since she was unable to visit with them when she stayed with Kaoru, Die, and Shinya.

“I’m coming!” she answered, using her cane to find her way to the kitchen until Alex caught and guided her to her seat.

“Pancakes with blueberries and chocolate chips!” Amber chirped happily, setting the food out for everyone.

“You are a damn good cook.” Alex beamed, taking an abnormally large bite and making her laugh at him while Tori ate silently. It wasn’t fair that she couldn’t see what had them laughing so much. She and Brandon didn’t have jokes like that, because she couldn’t see him. She missed her relationship with her baby brother, before the accident.

“Hey cheer up, babe, it’s a good day out! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and we are going to a party!” Alex announced.

“Another one?”

“Well, yeah, it’s what musicians do. You know that, you’re a musician that is friends with rock stars!”

“And they don’t party every night. Most of their time is actually spent working, if you have read the letters. Free time is spent free. Yeah, they party, but not like you.”

“Is there something wrong with a good party?” Amber questioned curiously.

“No, but I’m tired… maybe I will sit this one out.” She sighed.

“No! You’re coming, Tori! Don’t let your eyes let you down, you’re just as capable as the rest of us.” Alex smiled supportively, and kissed her cheek before letting her finish her meal.

As soon as she was done eating Amber was taking her for hair and makeup, as well as dressing her in the new clothes that Alex had gotten her. She had no idea what she looked like, but Alex said she looked “damn hot”.

The day went the same as every day living with Alex. He went to work, Amber played on the computer, and Tori sat in Alex’s room playing guitar or reading the letters she had gotten from the Dir En Grey members, or reading one of the books that Shinya had gotten her as a gift. She had “Alice In Wonderland”, “The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe”, which was a VERY thick book filled with his poetry and stories, and a rare brail copy of “The Man Who Was Magic”. The last book was small, but she was in love with the story. So much so that she now found herself unable to put it down as she sat on the floor under his open window, feeling the sun against her skin and the occasional breeze across her back.

When Alex got home he announced that they only had four hours before the party, and instantly got into the shower. He worked as an auto mechanic and would come home filthy on some days. So much so that Amber would yell at him for boot prints across the floor, which always made Tori giggle.

“You ready to go?” he asked while grabbing his keys, four hours later exactly. Tori sighed and nodded while Amber fixed her hair for her for the sixth time.

They all piled into his car and drove to a club, which was one of Tori’s least favorite places. What fun could a blind girl have in an over crowded, hot, sweaty, stinking room filled with loud music and drunken idiots? She couldn’t ask for help over the throbbing bass, and there was now way in hell she could navigate the floor. All she could do was sit wherever she was put and “Party” with Alex and Amber, until they would dance for a couple of songs, and then she would be alone.

She didn’t hold dancing against them, she understood that they were there to have fun, and didn’t want to be a bother to them. The only thing she hated was the way Alex acted when he crossed the line in his drinking. He was a very sexual person to begin with, but he was a little demanding while intoxicated. He kissed her a lot more, and they were always sloppy and rough.

Tonight was no different. As she sat alone at the bar, not drinking alcohol, she felt Alex’s arms wrap around her from behind, sliding down to hold her as low as he could while he kissed her neck.

“You’re so sexy, you know that? The hottest girl I’ve ever seen.” He whispered into her ear, licking the lobe before kissing her cheek and turning her bar stool so that he could kiss her lips.

“Alex, stop.” She ordered, pushing him off of her, “You know I don’t want that. I’m not ready.”

“Why the fuck not? How long is it going to take for you to trust me?”

“I do trust you.”

“So is it that drummer?” he demanded, venom dripping from every word.

“Shinya? What would he have to do with anything?”

“Well you always talk about him, and he’s given you how many gifts? Taken care of your dog? You stay over at his house constantly! Are you ‘ready’ for him when HE asks for it?!”

Without giving it a single thought she slapped him across the face, thrilled that she was actually able to hit him. Who says you can’t fight what you can’t see?

“How fucking dare you?!” she demanded angrily, “I’m not fucking Shinya, I’m not fucking ANYONE! I sure as HELL am not fucking YOU!”

“Cool it,” Amber ordered, stepping between them, “Alex, you’re drunk and a complete prick when this happens. We both know it. Tori ignore him. Come on, we’re going home.” She sighed, and guided Tori out of the club, “Catch a taxi! We’re taking the car!” She shouted back at her fuming brother.

“You’ve been drinking,” Tori stated firmly as they got to the car, refusing to let Amber put her in the passenger seat.

“Yeah but I’m cool to drive. I’ve only had, like, three total tonight. It’s a light night!”

“I don’t care. You’ve been drinking; I’m not getting in that car. Call a taxi.”

“We don’t need a taxi, just get in the car. It’ll be fine! We’re only ten minutes away.”

“Amber, no! We are NOT going to drive home! You’ve been drinking! It doesn’t matter if you’ve had ten, or one, you could still crash!”

“You’re really emotional about this… are you okay?” Amber asked softly as tears slid down from behind Tori’s glasses.

“I’m fine! Just call a taxi!”

“Okay!” Amber snapped and pulled her phone out, “I’m going to give the keys to Alex then so he can get home.”

“He’s not driving either!” Tori announced firmly and waited silently for the taxi to arrive.

Alex didn’t make it home until the next day, and he didn’t speak until that night. Stumbling in at 11:30 am, and JUST getting to bed, he wasn’t in the mood to talk or listen to anyone or anything.

Amber sat with Tori in the living room, watching her favorite show while Tori typed a letter to Toshiya. Mostly ranting about Alex.

“You know he’s a prick when he drinks. He didn’t mean the things he said about you and that guy.” Amber sighed.

“No, but he shouldn’t have said it! I’m trying so hard to keep him happy; to make EVERYONE happy, and it just isn’t working! I haven’t even spoken to my brother in two days; he won’t answer my calls.”

“Chillax, it’ll be okay. So who are you writing to?”

“Toshiya.”

“Who’s that?”

“A friend of mine. He plays bass too, he’s one of the guys in that band I hang out with occasionally.”

“Oh, is he cute?”

“I wouldn’t know, Amber, I can’t see him.”

“Oh, right, I’m sorry.” Amber blushed awkwardly, and turned her attention to the television.

“What are you watching?” Tori asked, sighing when more sounds of drunken people reached her ears.

“Jersey Shore!” Amber answered, clearly annoyed with Tori’s ignorance.

Since she couldn’t see the screen, and there were no good music tracks to listen to, Tori left to call Brandon to remedy her boredom. Just as she went to dial his number though, her phone began playing Toshiya’s ringtone.

“Hello!” she smiled, sitting comfortably beside the window, letting the glass cool the skin on her shoulders and back as she leaned against it.

“Tori-san! How are you today?” he asked happily.

“I’m all right. A little bored.”

“Not anymore!” he beamed, and she could hear the goofy smile in his voice.

“Well, I guess not.” She giggled, “We should all meet again. I miss you guys.”

“We miss you too, Tori-san.”

She smiled and adjusted her glasses while he began to talk about the recordings and upcoming tour. He apologized for not writing to her, explaining that while trying to fix and change the ink strip, he and Die accidentally knocked the typewriter off of the table and broke it. She could tell that he was very upset, and felt terrible, but couldn’t prevent her laughter. His worried apologies were adorable.

“How is Shinya doing? You have told me about everyone except him.” She asked after a while of listening about the life of Dir En Grey since they last saw her.

“He is all right.”

“Please don’t lie to me. I can hear in your voice that something is wrong. Is he okay? Did something happen?” she asked worriedly.

“No, nothing’s happened.” He sighed.

“Toshiya, please, I’m worried.”

“He is having some personal difficulties.”

“Oh,” she nodded, knowing that it must have something to do with that woman he told her about in the studio. The one who was now with someone else.

“How have Alex and Amber been doing?” he asked, changing the subject.

“They’re okay. They spend a lot of time together; they’re really close.”

He made a small noise that sounded almost like disapproval, but didn’t really reply.

“She is a really nice woman, and is constantly helping him with his music. I can’t really help him because I can’t play bass, and I can’t see to tell what he is doing wrong. But she is always helping him with things, and keeping me company when he is out. Right now she is watching some show about drunks and sex, I think… I wasn’t really paying much attention to it. There isn’t any interesting music tracks to listen to.” She smiled, trying to fill the silence.

“That’s great!” he beamed.

“I know! They are very close.”

“They seem close.” He nodded, sighing inwardly. They seemed a lot closer than they should be, in his opinion.

“Oh I almost forgot! Kaoru wanted to celebrate the finishing of our album, and thought it would be fun for us to all get together and invite you and Brandon, and Shinya suggested that you bring Alex and Amber as well!”

“You weren’t reminded by that when I told you that I wanted to meet up with you?” she laughed.

“I should have, I don’t know why I wasn’t. Will you want to come? He is thinking of scheduling it for next weekend.”

“What time until what time?”

“Sometime in the evening, until sometime later… that part wasn’t really discussed. Around six pm, until whenever.”

“I would love to go. What kind of celebrating?”

“Drinks, food, music of course, maybe some movies, video games for sure, and Shinya is bringing the dogs.”

“I can’t wait! Who all would be coming?”

“That’s something to ask Kaoru. He’s the leader in all of this. I am simply a messenger on his behalf.”

“All right.” She giggled and continued to talk to him on the phone for another hour until Alex came in and asked if she wanted to go out.

Toshiya overheard their short conversation over the phone and demanded that she repeat the name of the club he was asking her to go to. As soon as she answered, he was six times as excited as he was before.

“We are having an early celebration in a bar a few blocks away! We will come and see you there!”

“I don’t know if that is such a good idea.” She sighed.

“Why not?”

“Alex may not be up to meeting new people.”

“Yet he is going to a nightclub?”

“Well, it’s… this is complicated.”

“Tori-san, is something wrong between the two of you? Forgive me, I know that it isn’t my place to ask.”

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Please don’t lie to me.”

She sighed as he used his words against her and bit her lip, waiting for Alex to go talk to Amber so that he wouldn’t hear her.

“We have been fighting lately about my friendship with Shinya. He doesn’t like that we have become somewhat close.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Yes.”

“Then maybe this is a good thing to get them together so that they can get to know each other, and smooth over any hard feelings?”

“Maybe,” she smiled, really wanting to see the guys again, “call me when you are at the club.”

“Great! I’ll see you tonight!” he shouted, and hung up the phone, making her giggle and walk out to rejoin Alex and Amber.

“Guess what!” Amber shouted as soon as Tori felt her way into the room.

“What?!” Tori gasped, jumping as she threw her arms around her and pulled her into the bathroom.

“I’m going to highlight your hair! I’ll just lighten your natural shade of red. It’ll look so beautiful in your little curls like that!” she gushed.

“No. We aren’t doing anything to bring out any shades of red.” Tori frowned, and pulled away.

“Why not?”

“I hate the colour.”

“You can’t see it!” Amber scoffed as Alex joined them in the bathroom.

“I don’t care! It’s my hair, Amber, please don’t be offended but, I want to keep it the way it is.”

“All right. I was only trying to help.” Amber sighed, “It was Alex’s idea anyway. He thought it would look sexy.”

“Well, we aren’t having sex so I have no need to be ‘sexy’.” Tori replied. Rolling her eyes and feeling her way back into the living room to wait for Amber to decide what she would wear.

“Why do you like this white shirt so much?” Amber questioned as she adjusted the black bow in the back of the simple white shirt.

“Both Shinya and Brandon picked it out at different times, and Kaoru said that it looked very nice on me.” She shrugged, “I guess it’s become a bit of a comfort.”

“It does look nice, but you look kinda professional. More like a business woman and less like a clubber.”

“Well, I’m NOT a clubber.” Tori laughed as Amber tied a flower into her hair and led her out to stand by Alex, who was very impatient.

The entire time they were at the club, Tori was holding her phone waiting for Toshiya’s call. As usual, Amber took off to hang out with some guys, and Alex went to dance with someone and have fun. Tori, sat alone at the bar waiting.

“Hey!” she heard someone shout over the music. She nearly fell out of her seat when someone grabbed her arm, but relaxed when another set of hands caught her and familiar laughter filled her ears.

“You enjoy doing that, don’t you?” she laughed as the five rock stars sat around her at the bar.

“Enjoy what?” Die asked curiously before ordering his favorite drink.

“Scaring me.” She giggled and continued to sip her water.

Everyone laughed and continued to greet her until a drink was set in front of her. “It’s to apologize for not calling; I didn’t think you would hear the ringer in here.” Toshiya explained.

“Thank you…. I can’t drink this, though.” She sighed sadly.

“Why not?” Kyo asked.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

“None at all?” Die half gasped.

“None at all.”

“Even Shinya drinks occasionally.” Kaoru commented.

“Shinya can still see.” She muttered, not really meaning for her reply to be heard, but it was.

While Tori chatted to his band members, Shinya found it hard to focus on the conversation and let his eyes wander around the club, stopping on Alex grinding with two women that were hardly wearing what he would consider “clothes.” After a short while watching him dancing with the other women, he noticed that he was also touching them in places that he knew would break Tori’s heart. With a heavy sigh he turned back to the conversation to see Kyo staring at him with a questioning look.

Silently Shinya gestured to the oblivious blonde dry humping a short way behind them.

“What’s wrong?” Tori asked suddenly, turning to Kyo.

“What do you mean?” Kaoru questioned.

“He… growled. I’ve only heard him do that a few times, and it was when he was very unhappy with something.” She explained.

“There are just some annoying dancers behind us.” He answered honestly. The rest of the band looked and saw Alex hug the two women and jog over to them.

“Hey baby,” he grinned, throwing his arms around Tori and resting one of his hands very close to her breast, which was quickly shrugged away as she let him push his way between her and Kyo.

“Having fun?” she smiled as he took a sip of her water.

“Always,” he chuckled, kissing her on the cheek, “Why don’t we stay somewhere tonight? You deserve a nice romantic night away.” He smiled warmly.

Though he was being honest, she frowned and leaned slightly closer to Toshiya. “Not tonight, Alex. You know I’m not into all that.” She smiled and sat in quietly awkward silence for most of the night until Toshiya and Die demanded that she dance with them, and carefully led her away to the dance floor.

“I’m warning you now before anything happens. If you hurt her, you will pay for it.” Kyo announced to Alex seriously.

“Is that a threat?”

“It is a warning. She is very close to us, and of course to her brother. Brandon is very protective over her, and we care very much for her. I cannot promise that we will be able to stop Brandon from harming you if you hurt her.” Kaoru clarified.

“She isn’t hurt.” Alex shrugged, “Bit of an ice queen though.” He added.

“I’m sorry?” Kaoru questioned.

“She won’t put out! I’ve been trying for a month, and she just won’t do it! It’s really annoying. I’ll bet she’s tight though. I’d probably be pissed if she wasn’t.” He answered.

“Don’t talk about her that way.” Shinya muttered, disgusted that out of all the things Tori had to offer, the only thing that concerned him at the moment was whether she was tight or not.

“Sorry. But look at her! What do YOU look at when you see her?” He demanded, turning to the drummer after drinking another beer.

“I see a lot of things.” He answered honestly.

“Name one.”

“She’s very trusting.” He answered, looking hard at Alex now, “And will always find the good in people, and place that above all bad in them. Even if there is only a very small part of them that is good.”

“Do you want her?”

“What?”

“Do you want my girlfriend? Is that why you’re all such dicks, because your little drummer bitch is jealous that I’m able to get the girl?” he demanded.

Kyo quickly stood up, and so did Alex, but he had been drinking so much that he was swaying where he stood.

“Enough of this. For the sake of Tori-san let it go.” Shinya sighed and pulled the angry singer back into his seat as Die and Toshiya led Tori back to the others.

“Come on, Tori, we need to get back. I just remembered I have to work in the morning.” Alex stated and tried to pull her out of the club.

“You’re not driving, Alex.” She announced firmly, and pulled herself out of his grasp.

“I’m fine!”

“You’re drunk and you know it! You’re NOT driving!” Tori sighed and reached for his hand, taking the keys away from him the second he grabbed onto her.

He relented and let her call a taxi for them, and waited outside while she said goodbye to her friends before following him out to go home. Quickly falling asleep in his arms as he directed the driver to their apartment. Amber was going to a hotel for the night with one of the guys she had met up with. It turned out that they were close friends in high school, and dated for a while before he moved back to Japan, and they had some “catching up” to do.