Rich and blind

Fated Encounter

Chapter 1

Pulse Audio buzzed faintly with the hum of electronic music, the fluorescent lights overhead harsh and unforgiving. Kuze’s eyes darted around the shelves, rows of shiny music equipment gleaming like forbidden treasures. His breath came in short bursts, the adrenaline pounding in his ears louder than the faint beat in the background.

“Come on,” Kuze whispered, his voice tight as his fingers worked quickly to unhook the Universal Audio Apollo x8p. The cold metal surface reflected the light, almost taunting him with its sleek perfection.

“Come on, we’re almost there,” Kuze muttered, his hands working feverishly to secure the equipment. Sweat dripped down his face, mixing with the grime of the warehouse.

Yuto kept a watchful eye on the entrance, his nerves frayed. “Hurry up, Kuze! I don’t like this place.”

Before Kuze could respond, the piercing sound of a door slamming open shattered the silence. Panic erupted as the store owner burst in, gun drawn. “Freeze! Get your hands where I can see them!”

Kuze and Yuto’s eyes widened in terror. Yuto grabbed the Apollo x8p, his hands shaking, as they both turned to flee. The store owner’s first gunshot rang out, shattering a nearby light and sending shards of glass scattering across the floor.

“Run!” Kuze shouted, pulling Yuto along as they sprinted toward the exit. Their footsteps echoed in the confined space, a frantic rhythm of desperation. The store owner’s shouts and the sound of gunshots followed them, each shot a reminder of the danger closing in.

Yuto stumbled, his face contorted with pain. “I can’t—” he gasped, but there was no time to help him. The next gunshot struck him with a sickening thud, sending him crashing to the ground. Kuze’s heart stopped as he looked back to see Yuto lying in a widening pool of blood.

“No, Yuto!” Kuze’s scream tore through the chaos, his body jerking to a halt. He tried to reach Yuto, but another shot rang out, narrowly missing him. His hands shook uncontrollably as he turned and ran, tears streaming down his face. He thought to himself I got the Apollo x8p, but at what cost.

Staples center pulsed with energy, the crowd's anticipation reaching a fever pitch as the lights dimmed. The stage, a sprawling expanse of sleek black, suddenly ignited with vibrant colors as Kuze emerged from the shadows. The massive LED screens behind him flashed with the title of his latest hit: Rich and Blind.

The beat dropped, and Kuze exploded into motion, his body moving in sync with the heavy bass that shook the arena. His voice, raw and powerful, filled every corner of the Arena, each word cutting through the air like a blade. The crowd roared in response, a sea of hands waving in rhythm, their energy feeding into his performance.

Dressed in a crisp, purple Moncler jacket that shimmered under the stage lights, Kuze commanded the space with a presence that was both electrifying and magnetic. His eyes, scanned the audience, connecting with fans who knew every lyric by heart. As he launched into the chorus, the intensity of his delivery was palpable, his voice carrying the weight of the song’s message—a gritty anthem about emotional isolation and internal struggles, and the loneliness that often accompanies success.

Kuze’s movements were fluid yet sharp, every step, every gesture perfectly timed to the beat. He held the microphone with a firm grip, his other hand gesturing to the crowd, inviting them to sing along. The chorus hit, and the Arena erupted, the audience shouting the lyrics back at him with fervor. “They say they wanna read my mind/ Do you really wanna read my mind?/ I'm telling you right now all that you will find is a lost soul rich and blind.” The words reverberated through the venue, a powerful declaration of Kuze’s complex journey.

The stage lights danced around him, casting long shadows that seemed to ripple with the music. The energy was electric, each beat reverberating through the floor, the walls, the very air. Kuze fed off the crowd’s energy, his voice growing stronger, his performance more intense with every passing moment.

As the song neared its climax, Kuze dropped to one knee, his voice a raw, emotional cry that filled the vast space. The crowd, caught up in the moment, raised their phones, the light from countless screens creating a twinkling sea of stars. Kuze’s final notes hung in the air, lingering as the beat slowly faded, leaving only the sound of the crowd’s deafening cheers.

Breathless but exhilarated, Kuze rose to his feet, a wide smile breaking across his face as he soaked in the adoration of thousands. He raised his hand in a final salute to the fans, the spotlight catching the glint of sweat on his brow. He went to a table nearby took a bottle of water and headed off stage.

(After the concert Kuze and Miyamura headed for a bar to spend the rest of the night and relax)

Kuze and his friends lounged around a small, polished table near the bar, its dark wood gleaming under the warm, golden light. The rich hum of low chatter and the soft clinking of glasses wove through the air, creating a cozy buzz that felt both intimate and alive.

Across the room, the marble counter shimmered faintly, its veins of gold catching the soft glow from above. Behind it, rows of top-shelf liquors sparkled like trophies, each bottle meticulously arranged. Kuze leaned back in his chair, his eyes flitting toward the stools at the counter, upholstered in plush burgundy leather. Patrons perched there chatted easily, their laughter mingling with the subtle strains of jazzy music drifting through the space.

Kuze caught sight of a figure under the soft halo of the bar’s lights. Nini. Her long hair fell in loose waves, catching the golden glow as she leaned against the counter, drink in hand. She stood out like a radiant focal point against the glittering backdrop of glass and bottles.

imitating the bottle of Perkys: Hii I’m Perkys and I’m here to take your pain away (he puts the pills into the Henessy bottle)

(Kuze and Miyamura laugh)

Kuze: leans back in his chair, taking a slow sip of Hennessy Paradis "Man, that crowd tonight… they were on fire. I could feel the energy right down to my bones."

Miyamura: grins, clinking his glass against Kuze’s "You killed it, bro. The way you had them eating out of your hand, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The whole place was electric."

Kuze: chuckles, shaking his head "It’s crazy, right? Every time I step on that stage, it’s like nothing else matters. Just me, the music, and them. But tonight… tonight felt different."

Miyamura: nodding thoughtfully "I felt it too. There was something special in the air. Maybe it’s the new tracks, or maybe… it’s just you hitting your stride."

Kuze: smirks, a hint of pride in his eyes "Maybe. Or maybe it’s just that we’re onto something bigger, you know? Like we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible."

Miyamura: leans in, his expression serious "I think you’re right. We’ve got something here that’s more than just music. It’s a movement, man. And tonight? Tonight was proof that we’re unstoppable."

(The effects of the Hennessy and Percs begin to kick in and Kuze enters the clouds)

Kuze: laughs "Yo, man… chuckles this night… it's, like, unreal… pauses, looking around with a dazed expression We’re, like, floating… you feel that? We’re, like, in a dream or some… some crazy-ass trip… laughs softly"

Miyamura: "Yeah, man, you good?"

Kuze: smiling, but with a distant look "Good? I’m… I’m more than good… I’m, like, flying… no, no… I’m… I’m in the clouds, bro, like, pauses like a bird… no, no… like an angel, man… an angel with… giggles with wings made of sound, yeah… wings made of beats and bars…"

Miyamura: "You’re on some next level right now, dude. What’s on your mind?"

Kuze: stares blankly for a moment, then bursts out laughing "What’s on my mind? pauses, thinking intensely Everything… and nothing, bro… it’s like… stumbles over his words like the world’s spinning, but I’m just… I’m just chillin’, you know? But, like, inside… inside I’m… I’m vibing with the universe, bro. Like, suddenly serious I see… I see the music, man… I feel it… in my bones…"

Miyamura: "You’re really deep in it, huh? What do you see?"

Kuze: smiling dreamily, swaying slightly "I see… colors, man… like, laughs like a rainbow, but it’s not just in the sky… it’s… it’s everywhere… and the beats… they’re, like… pauses, swallows hard like they’re alive, man… they’re talking to me… telling me secrets… secrets of the universe, bro… laughs softly"

Kuze stumbled over to her, a lopsided grin plastered on his face, his steps unsteady but filled with a determined charm. His eyes, slightly glazed from the effects of alcohol and the Perkys he’d consumed, struggled to focus on the woman before him. "Hey… hey you…" he mumbled, pausing as if trying to pull the right words from the haze in his mind. "You’re… you’re like…" He laughed softly, the sound almost childlike in its innocence. "Like a dream, you know that? Like… like something outta my mind, but real…"

Nini, smiling, slightly amused by his drunken sincerity, tilted her head. "Oh yeah? What kind of dream?"

Kuze laughed again, but this time his expression grew more serious, his eyes glazing over as if lost in a distant memory. "The kind… the kind where… everything’s perfect, you know? Like, you’re just…" He struggled to find the right words, his thoughts sluggish but insistent. "Like, glowing… but not, like, a light… more like… like a vibe, you feel? You’re just…" He touched his chest, right over his heart, as if trying to convey the depth of his feelings. "Right here, like, in my heart, but I only just… just met you, and it’s crazy…" He laughed awkwardly, the sound tinged with a mix of disbelief and sincerity.

Nini, still smiling, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, thanks. You good? You seem… way up there."

Kuze leaned back, his eyes drifting away as if caught in a moment of introspection. His voice softened, the playfulness slipping away to reveal a deeper vulnerability. "You know… sometimes…" He paused, taking a deep breath, as if gathering the courage to continue. "Sometimes life’s a mess…" He chuckled sadly, glancing down at his drink as if it held the answers to his unspoken questions. "I get high… when I’m upset…" He looked up at her, his voice quieter now, more introspective. "I remember when… when me and love didn’t click…" He sighed, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the weight of the memories. "I was searching… searching for something real."

Nini watched him in silence, her confusion clear on her face. She didn’t know how to respond to his sudden shift in tone, the rawness in his voice throwing her off balance. The silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken words and the quiet hum of the bar around them.

But Kuze, sensing the lull, grinned as he regained his playful edge. The sadness in his eyes was momentarily replaced by a mischievous glint. "Well…" He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a renewed intensity. "You remind me of my pinky toe… I just want to bang you on the table."

Nini’s eyes widened in shock, her cheeks flushing with surprise at his boldness. But rather than pulling away, she decided to play along, a grin slowly spreading across her face. "Are you an elevator? Because I want to go up and down with you all night long."

Kuze’s face lit up, ecstatic at her response. Elated and eager to up his game, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Is your body from NASA? Because your ass is out of this world, and I want to explore every inch of your universe."

Nini, caught off guard by his relentless charm, began to blush. A soft, surprised laugh bubbled up from her lips, her amusement growing with each word he spoke.

But just as she was getting into the playful exchange, Kuze’s energy seemed to suddenly drain away. With a contented sigh, his eyelids drooped, and before she knew it, he had fallen asleep, his head gently coming to rest on her shoulder.

Nini blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected turn of events. She looked down at him, his breathing now slow and steady, the lines of his face softened in sleep. For a moment, she was at a loss for what to do, but then a compassionate smile spread across her lips. She reached up, gently patting his head, her fingers brushing through his dreads as she tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

Nini glanced around the bar, catching the eye of one of the bartenders. With a silent signal, she asked for help, and together they carefully maneuvered Kuze out of the bar and into her car. As she settled him into the passenger seat, she fished around in his pockets, eventually finding his wallet. Inside, she discovered a card with his address, and with a sigh of relief, she set off towards his home.

The drive was quiet, save for the soft sound of Kuze’s breathing beside her. When they finally arrived at his place, she couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. Kuze’s house was a sleek, modern building, the kind that spoke of success and style. The exterior was all clean lines and large windows, with soft lights illuminating the pathway to the door. It was the kind of place that suggested someone who had made it in life, but as she stepped inside, she noticed the contrast.

Inside, the house was a mix of luxury and lived-in chaos. The living room was spacious, with high ceilings and polished wood floors, but the furniture was slightly askew, as if Kuze hadn’t bothered to straighten things up in a while. A few expensive-looking gadgets were scattered across the coffee table, alongside empty bottles and discarded clothes. The walls were adorned with modern art pieces, each one bold and striking, but the overall effect was one of a space that was both stylish and neglected.

Nini carefully guided Kuze up the stairs, her arms aching slightly from the effort. When they reached his room, she found it much the same—a mixture of order and disorder. The bed was large, king-sized, with a sleek black headboard and crisp white sheets that had been hastily thrown together. The floor was scattered with shoes, a few stray papers, and more clothes. There was a guitar leaning against the wall, and a laptop sat open on the desk, its screen dark.

She laid him down gently, removing his shoes and shifting him to the center of the bed so he’d be comfortable. She stood up looked at him gently and smiled.

With a quiet sigh, Nini turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.