Ebony&Ivory-Chapter 12

*A day after the funeral and his birthday, Luke started to get ready* Hey Illust!

Illust: *looking at her wardrobe* Yeah?

Luke: How would you like to come to the rehearsals

Illust: Huh? Me?

Luke: Yes! You'll get to meet the people Michael was working with

Illust: *blushes* I...I'd love to, but...

Luke: What's wrong?

Illust: I knw I said tht I wanna sing one song for ur concert, but...I dunno if I'm good enough...n...well, i dunno if i'd be presentable in front of those who worked with Papa Bubbles...

Luke: That's what I wanna ask. Would you feel better if you sang it on my solo tour with me?

Illust: I'd love to, although I feel like I wanna contribute something for the tribute concert as well. After all, Papa Bubbles was rather close to me

Luke: We'll work on that as well. He showed me the various setlists he was gonna do before he passed

Illust: I hope u dont mind, bt I've listened to some of them

Luke: Cmon, let's go

Illust: *smiles n follows him*

Luke: *They head out to a car he drives* I'll drive

Illust: OK

*as they drove, Illust was deep in thought*

*A hip-hop song was being played during their drive to the Staples Center. He found a place to park and stopped the car*

Illust: *still deep in thought*

Luke: *Takes her inside*

Dancer: Hey! The man is here!

*All the dancers gets excited as Luke walked in*

Dancer2: It's like Michael all over again

Illust: *was impressed at the greeting they were getting*

Dancer 3: Ah, the famous little niece, hey there

Dancer 4: *She kneels down* Aren't you adorable *pats Illust's head*

Illust: *smiles n blushes*

Luke: *A crewman comes out and hands Luke his headset* Thank you *puts it on* How's everyone today!

*Everyone cheers*

Dancer3: Everything's cool, Luke, evn better wen this lil girl's here. C'mere n let me give ya a ally-oop *picks Illust up by the armpits and raised her high in the air*

Illust: *squeals n laughs*

Luke: *Smiles* Shall we start today! *Gets onto the stage and hands his jacket to a crew member*

*Luke cues the band and it starts into a slow song. it's Human Nature*

Illust: *sits in front listening*

Crew assistant: Wanna have a drink, luv? *hands her a bottle of juice*

Illust: *smiles n nods, accepting the drink*

Luke: Why...why...tell them that it's human nature...why...why...must we do it that way? *Luke's sultry voice echoes through the stadium*

Crew assistant: He sings very well, doesn't he?

Luke: *does some of his own slow dance moves*

Illust: *nods in agreement*

Crew assistant: U dont talk much, you?

Illust: *just grins. Being tht she can't talk bk then, she was more used to being the quiet lil girl*

*The song finishes up*

Luke: How about something a bit more upbeat. *tells the band and they all nod. The dancers nod also* 1...2..3! *Black or White is being played

Illust: *lits up. It was her favourite song*

Luke: I took my baby out on a Saturday bang. Boy is that girl with you, yes we're one and the same...

Illust: *bobbed her head to the beat, humming along with it*

Crew assistant: Ah, you like tht song, eh?

Illust: *nods her head happily*

Luke: *He runs to a vent with the guitarist* I'm tired of this devil..I'm tired of this stuff...I'm tired of this business..ooh, when the going gets rough. I'm not scared of your brother. I'm not scared of no sheets. I'm not scared of nobody. Oh when the going gets mean!

*The air from the vent under his feet blew his shirt up, along with his long brown hair. Same goes with the guitarist*

Illust: *laughs. She loved tht part whenever Michael did tht*

Luke: *Pretty soon, the song is finished* Okay, everyone, 10 minute break. Thank you!

Illust: *quickly helped Luke to get his water for him*

*Dancers all clapped before taking a break*

Luke: Thanks Illust. *takes the bottle, puts the headset up* how come you're not talking to everyone

Illust: *shrugs* I just wanna watch. I'm used to not talking. 'Sides... *blushes* I dunno wat to say to them. They're like...of another level par to Papa Bubbles. I feel...unworthy. Out of plc

Luke: Don't be. He's told them all about you when he was here

Illust: Reli? He did? *blushes harder*

Luke: Yes. I was a back-up dancer for this too before

Illust: No wonder u knw ur moves so well. But...But then u should knw abt me way before then

Luke: He taught me and I still remember me. Hey, don't dwell on that

Illust: *looks away* I'm not

Luke: *hugs her* Cmon, my dear niece

Illust: *hugs bk* Luke?

Luke: Yes, Illust?

Illust: *looks up at him with a slightly serious face* When I grow up, I'm gonna be your wife *said this without warning*

Luke: Illust! O_O don't say that. you're my niece. It wouldn't be right

Illust: *looks a little sad for a while, then smiles suddenly* I knw *grins as if this conversation nvr happened as she tore herself away frm him, trotting towards the dancer group to chat with them*

Luke: *Drinks his water and does a sideslide*

Illust: *laughs along with the dancers as they show her their moves n talked abt their escapades with MJ*

Dancer 5: Man, when he did Billie Jean, it was great!

Dancer 4: *laughed* U should've seen the way those fans fought for the hat whenever he throws it. They're like vultures ovr dead meat!

Illust: I'd probably be one of them

Dancer 2: The worse one would probably be the one in Bucharest *rolls his eyes* Tht was insane

Dancer 6: I know! Piranhas!

Dancer 1: I still cant get ovr the scene where they had to drag tht girl away frm Mike aftr he hugged her on stage wen he sang "She's Out of My Life". Man, I wish my gf was tht crazy abt me

Illust: *giggles, remember seeing tht in the DVD*

Luke: *listens in* I think I might do that

Dancer3: And have another crazy girl dragging n screaming off stage? *laughs*

Dancer 2: Yeah. Dont torture ur fans

Illust: LOL

Luke: Hey, I'll deal with it. *has the headset back on* What number shall we do next

Dancer 4: Maybe we could work on Bad or Beat It

Illust: *watches them discuss*

Luke: Illust, which one

Dancer3: Go ahead, hon Pick

Illust: *gave a thought for a while then had a witty pun* Go ahead and "beat it"

Luke: Everyone! positions

*all dancers cheered n made their positions*

Luke: *got into the crane, with the signature jacket and the cloak over it. He yells, the intro of Beat It being played

Illust: *yells along with him*

*The infamous riff of the song starts to be heard*

Illust: *clapped her hand to the beat*

*Luke adjusts his headset a bit, making sure it was still working*

Illust: *checking out the equipment with the crew members*

Orianthi: Hi there, cutie. *She spoke with an Austrailian accent as she knelt down to see Illust*

Illust: U talk funny *grins*

Ori: It's cause I'm from Austrailia, hon. Michael talked about you and your uncle quite a bit

Illust: Reli? Wht did he say?

Ori: He said you two were really close and important, just as much as his own kids

Illust: *smiles a little sadly* Too bad I lost my memories aftr the accident, or I would've been with him before his death

Ori: Just be glad you're still here And you'll get them back in time.

Illust: Oh, I remember plenty alright. I remember everything. Just tht I got it too late

Ori: *pats her head* It's okay. *checks8 oh! Time to rehearse

Illust: Can I help?

Ori: Sure What can you do?

Illust: I dunno. I think I'm good at carrying stuff, n I can more or less fix things up

Ori: How about making sure the mics work?

Illust: OK *walks ovr to the mic n tested* Testing 1..2...3... *tweaks the frequency*

Luke: *Luke looks to her* Be careful

Illust: I'm good, dont worry *tweaks the frequency again* Testing...testing... Alright, the mics are working fine

Luke: That's good. cmon

Illust: *follows* Wen will it be my turn to sing?

Luke: Pretty soon

Illust: *went to help the other crew members with their equipment*

*the music for We Are The World starts*

Darryl: *One of the back-up singers hands a mic to Illust*

Illust: *takes the mic* Wha...? *was a little surprised*

Darryl: He wants you to sing this with him

Illust: *blushes* O...OK... *comes up to Luke a little nervously

Luke: There comes a time...when we heed a certain call...

Illust: *quickly got into the moment* When the world...must come together as one

Luke: There are people dying... when it's time to lend a hand to life...the greatest gift of all.

Illust: We can't go on...pretending day by day...that someone somewhere will soon make a change...

Luke: *he cues the back-up singers to come join in...the song makes everyone watching wave their arms in the air*

*the singers came in at Luke's cue*

*the song ends, with a loud applause given to the people who performed it

Illust: *heaved a sigh of relief* Tht was fun

Luke: That's the song I wanted you to sing with me

Illust: Bt I thought I'm allowed to have a solo. U said I could sing You Are Not Alone

Luke: That's the next one. We're doing that tomorrow. *does a pinky promise*

Illust: *reciprocated the pinky promise* OK

Luke: ^_^

Illust: I love u, Luke *hugs him*

Luke: I love you too, Illust..*hugs her* my dear niece

Illust: *her heart ached a little because she had meant the love in another way, bt she kept quiet abt it n hugged him tighter*

Leo: *runs in and hugs Luke*

Luke: Whoa! Leo! What are you doing here?

Leo: I came with big brother!

Tom: Leo! How many times have I told u not to bother Mr Oliva?

Illust: *sees Leo, who was almost a mirror image of Tom*

Leo: Aw cmon. Just this once

Luke: It's okay, Tom

Leo: *He was a boy of 13, really blue eyes like sapphires*

Illust: Whoddat? *looks up at Luke*

Luke: That's Leo, Tom's little brother. He's a big fan

Illust: Hi

Leo: Hi! You're the cute girl that's with Luke

Illust: Umm, yeah *a tint of pink crossed her face; she was overwhelmed by Leo's perkiness tht was the complete opposite of Tom's serious attitude*

Luke: *looks down, noticing her blush*

Tom: Alright, Leo, it's time for Mr Oliva to continue his rehearsal *pulls Leo aside*

Leo: Awww Tommy...

Luke: Wanna go relax, Illust? This one's gonna be a lot of movement

Illust: Um, OK *lets go of Luke*

*it goes dark onstage, a voice speaks before a huge neon sign saying Hotel appears. They see a silloute of Luke before the music kicks on...it's Smooth Criminal*

Illust: *grins, it was also one of her old time fav*

Luke: *Comes out in the signature white gangster outfit and fedora*

*Due to the complicated dance routine, Luke recorded vocals for the song that way, he mime them while performing*

Illust: *knew the trick, but she still liked it anyway*

Luke: You've been hit by, you've been struck by... a smooth criminal *does the signature dance routine with the back-up dancers* Ow!

Illust: *laughs n claps* *steals a look at Leo, who was trying to mimic Luke's dance moves*

Leo: hee-hee *does a spin*

Tom: *chuckles n shakes his head*

*The song ends, with Luke dodging the "bullets" that hit his dancers*

*While it's dark, a curtain is seen, again seeing Luke's siloutte. He spins around a bit, snapping his fingers. The curtain rises*

Luke: Hey, pretty baby with the high heels on...you give me fever like I've never ever known...I Feel your fever for miles around...I'll pick you up in my car and we'll paint the town...just kiss me baby and tell me twice..that you're...the way you make me feel...You really turn me on...knock me off my feet, hee. My lonely days are gone. Ooooh. *he tosses the fedora aside and the song starts*

Illust: *felt as if this was sung for her*

Luke: *he's wearing a blue top with a white shirt and black pants with a white belt. As a tribute to his godfather*

Illust: *watches him, humming along with the song he was singing*

*A female dancer comes onstage and Luke "chases" her as he sings8

Illust: *amused bt at the same time trying to fight the urge to scowl at her for having Luke's attention*

Leo: *goes to Illust*

Tom: *notices the way Illust admires n worships Luke n wonder if there was something going on within her*

Leo: I-Illust?

Illust: *turns to him n reflexively cringed* Um, yeah?

Leo: Whatcha thinking?

Illust: *looks away* Nothing

Leo: you have a crush?

Illust: *blushes beet red* NO!

Leo: Aw cmon...tell me...I won't tell

Illust: *pouts* None of ur business if I'm having a crush on Luke or not...Oops *covers her mouth*

Leo: What?! O_O

Illust: G...Go away *runs off*

Leo: Tommy...Did you hear what she said?

Tom: Yeah...I better have a talk with Mr Oliva abt this

Luke: Break time, everyone!

*everyone cleared for break*

Tom: *approaches Luke*

Luke: *takes his headset off* Yes Tom?

Tom: We need to talk...abt Illust

Luke: Is it about that crush she has on me?

Tom: You knew?

Luke: By the way she acted around me...since I first met her

Tom: Are you....into her?

Luke: Tom, she's my niece. You know I'm going to propose to Anita soon

Tom: Yeah, I knw, bt I dont think Illust acknowledges tht. In fact, she doesnt seem to care abt the blood relation

Luke: She doesn't understand it isn't right

Tom: Maybe u should talk to her abt this

Luke: *heads off to talk to Illust*

Illust: *trying to get the red off her face by washing up at a tap outside*

Luke: How come you have a crush on me

Illust: *bk away* Wht are u talking abt?

Luke: I've known from the minute you've met me...you always blushed around me.

Illust: *looks away* So?

Luke: It's not right, Illust. We're related.

Illust: So wht? Evn cousins get married, evn uncles marry their nieces bk then, why cant we? Besides, evn if u dont like me, is it bad to just pine u frm afar? I'm not hurting anyone

Luke: still...I'm engaged

Illust: En...Engaged?

Luke: Yes, gonna propose to Anita

Illust: *scowled at him, then turned on the tap and splashed a handful of water at his shirt before running off*

Luke: *just stood there, disappointed*

Illust: *ran and ran until she bumped into someone*

Majah: Well, well, look wht the cat dragged in

Luke: Illust! *looks for her*

Illust: *was a little speechless in fear as Majah knelt before her n grabbed her by the shoulders*

Majah: *hissing only for her to hear* U did it, didn't u? U killed my son!

Illust: What...? *confused*

Luke: *finds her, but sees Majah as well. He shoves Majah off him and protects Illust* Get out!

Majah: *glares venomously at Illust* U'll pay for this! U'll pay for wht u did. Same goes with u, Oliva! *stomps off*

Luke: *is confused* Majah, wait *goes to him* What happened to your son?

Majah: *shoves him* Dont get smart with me, Oliva! MY son! The child tht she was carrying before u decided to butcher it out of her! Tht would've been MY SON!

Luke: *remembers* You raped her. And carrying it would've killed her!

Majah: Still, she was carrying my child! I'm not gonna tell u how I found out abt it, bt u! Its ur fault my child is dead! I'm gonna make u pay for it, mark my words! *walked off*

Luke: *Already as planned. His contact at the tabloids already sent the photos to the police as proof that she was raped by Majah*

Illust: *on the ground, dazed*

Luke: *picks up his niece* Cmon

Illust: Wht does he mean...by...?

Luke: The abortion, remember

Illust: Yes...bt wht does he mean by...his son...?

Luke: The baby who was aborted from you...that was his

Illust: Bt...Bt how come I...dont remember being...by him...?

Luke: He drugged you *carries her away bk to the hall where Tom and Leo were waiting*