A/n: Well this is the SEQUEL to Obligation. That's all you need to know. Now enjoy the story. =) and of course. Review.
Accountability
Chapter One
-Stress-
A young, pink haired woman, sat almost dead at a table at the corner Starbucks. There were papers sprawled out over the flat service, an open laptop, and a half filled cup of black coffee. She had her head on the table, half asleep and half exhausted. She managed to sit up and prop her head on her open palm, not bothering to attempt to fix her short messy hair. She was dressed in a pair of loose black sweat pants and a sweatshirt with her college logo. She was in her second year of pre-med at the University of California, and it was literally killing her. The small bell on the front door rang and she glanced over, seeing the woman she was waiting for walk in.
She was a very beautiful girl, with long ebony hair, bright blue streaks in it that stopped just before her butt and brilliant cerulean eyes. She had on a dark purple, almost black, tube top that barely contained her large breasts and exposed her bare midriff and small studded belly button ring. She also wore a small, skimpy skirt that matched the top, and black leggings that stopped mid-thigh, giving her a hint of modesty, if you could even call it that. Bracelets adorned her wrists and as she walked there was a click to her steps. Natsumi glanced down to the stripper heels her friend was wearing and sighed. Her jade gaze shifted back up and locked onto the ink that stained her skin on her right hip. It was a tattoo, made up of three beautiful swallows.
She stopped at the table, a bright smile plastered on her face. She sat down and waved excitedly. "Hi Natsumi!"
"Hey Minako," she replied tiredly. "When did you get that tattoo?" she asked, finally sitting up fully and looking across the table at her face.
"Oh, like three weeks ago. My friend Gina took me to this parlor and told me to pick whatever I wanted! Isn't it amazing?" she squealed, clapping her hands together.
"I don't know if I'd go with amazing…but…it's um…"
"You look tired." Minako interjected, cutting the pink haired woman off.
Natsumi sighed. "Well I am, I have this awful term paper and I'm about to bleed out my ears."
The other woman gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. Man, am I glad I'm done with college." She said with a smile, leaning back in her chair and hanging her arms over it. Her gaze turned thoughtful then. "You need to go out and party. Relieve some of that stress you're feeling. If you would just go with me to the clubs every now and then and loosen up it wouldn't be this bad."
"Yeah, not that that doesn't sound awesome and all Minako, but I have so much homework, and if I don't ace my mid-term I'm going to have to retake the class, and I can't afford that. I'm on a time basis, but if I can't find some way to relax I think I'm going to snap in half." Natsumi sighed, running her hand through her hair. "I've tried yoga, acupuncture, and I've even attempted sleeping pills. But nothing works."
Minako perked up suddenly. "I know! Toshiro's band is coming back from their tour tomorrow night and putting on a show at this place I know of. You should come with me to the concert!" she declared.
There was a long silence and a frown etched across Natsumi's face. "Minako…why on earth would I go to see my brother's rebel band? They're nothing but lazy boys who didn't want to finish college and just like to piss people off. Mainly, their parents."
"Maybe cause' you haven't seen him in like three years?" the ebony haired girl smiled timidly.
Natsumi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I haven't seen him because he dropped out of college and pretty much slapped my dad in the face."
"But your mom still talks to him." She pointed out.
"Yeah but she likes him more." She snapped, picking up her pencil and writing down some notes. "It doesn't matter." She shook her head. "I guess I'm just a daddy's girl. He wouldn't be happy if I went."
"Well, what daddy doesn't know won't hurt him." Minako said with a smirk. "Come on, it's just one concert. They're really talented, and I know it would make him happy to see you." She pleaded.
Natsumi looked down, and tapped at her coffee. "I doubt it. Last time I talked to him, he said he hated me. You know since I took dad's side and all."
"Well, things change. Besides, you guys are a family, you should support each other." She said. "Besides, not only is the lead singer is a hunk, so are the bass guitarist and the keyboarder. And I'm guessing at that snobby school you go to you don't see much eye candy."
The pink haired woman focused her glare on her friend, almost in a threatening manner. "I take that offensively, just FYI." She said, shutting her laptop down and sliding it into her bag. "I don't want to go Minako. I don't want to see my brother. I don't want to go to some crazy concert where there are crazy people, smoking and taking God knows what." She grabbed her papers and shoved them into the pocket of her bag.
"Look, I didn't mean to offend you." Minako said. "But you never come do anything with me anymore. You don't even come by my studio loft to check out my new paintings. You don't do anything fun anymore." She actually looked worried. "I don't want you to become so stressed out that you crash and burn. Sometimes, too much studying isn't healthy."
Natsumi just groaned, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Minako, I know I haven't really been able to do anything for a while and I'm sorry I haven't been by it's just…I'm so busy with school and trying to find a good hospital to do my internship with." As she continued she frowned, seeing Minako starting to give her a pout. "Oh ho ho ho no. No, no, no! Minako no! Don't you pull your sympathetic look on me!" she pointed accusingly.
"Oh come on Natty! Come with me pleeeeeeeeeeeease!" Minako stood and started chasing after her stingy friend.
"No!" she cried out, running out of the coffee shop.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" the ebony haired girl snickered, running out after her the best she could. "If you don't Natty I'll just go tell your daddy about that spring break we took in Cancun."
Natsumi stopped abruptly, her eyes wide as saucers. "You wouldn't!" she gasped, turning around on her heels and marching back to the other.
"You know I would." Minako crossed her arms. "If you can drop schoolwork for a week to have some fun, surely you can for just one night. Besides, it's a Saturday. Just study half the day, take a break, and get ready for the concert." She reasoned.
"Fine. But only because you're blackmailing me." She huffed, pointing her finger in her face. "What time?"
"I'll come by your place around six. The concert doesn't start until seven-thirty, but I need to make sure that your outfit is acceptable. Since you're a little rusty on the party factor." She snickered.
"Rusty?" Natsumi blinked. "I'm not rusty."
Minako rolled her eyes. "Please. You haven't been anywhere in over six months. That is way over the waiting limit before rustiness sets in."
"Yeah…well fine." She sighed, crossing her arms stubbornly.
The ebony haired girl smiled and hugged her friend. "Yay!" she squealed. "I'm so excited! You won't be sorry Natsumi, the concert is going to be amazing." She released her friend. "And I can't wait to show Toshiro my new tattoo, and my new paintings, and my new hair." She smiled and nodded. "Oh yeah, I am so getting laid tomorrow."
Natsumi just gave her a blank stare and shook her head. "You are such a freak." She said before walking off.
"And you're such a virgin Natty, don't knock it till you try it." She snickered.
Natsumi stopped once more and glared back at her friend, a dark red blush covering her face. She stomped up to Minako and pointed her finger in her face once more. "Will you not yell that in the middle of the streets?"
She rolled her eyes. "You're such a prude. But fine, I won't taint your virgin ears with my slander." She smiled.
"Nyah! Just shush! Jeez, I'll see you tomorrow you dirty skank." Natsumi stuck her tongue out at the girl and turned around, heading off once more, waving as she disappeared in the crowd.
Minako chuckled to herself and turned to walk the other way, back to her loft apartment. She ignored the stares and whistles that followed her, used to them by now. A wave of excitement shot through her as she pulled out her sunglasses and put them on. It had been a while since she had seen her redheaded beau and stoic best friend, and she just couldn't wait.