Ebony&Ivory-Chapter 5

*A couple of days later, Luke is getting ready for his interview with Sam*

Illust: * helps Luke straighten his clothes*

Luke: Thanks Illust. How do I look?

Illust: *gives him 2 thumbs up*

Luke: Thanks *pats her head and heads out*

Sam: *was introducing the show* Hello everyone, I'm Sam n ur tuning into "Hot Topicz"! Today's "Hot TOpicz" we have a special guest here, Luke Oliva~! *directs the camera to Luke*

Luke: *waves to the audience as he makes his entrance. He shakes Sam's hand and sit down

Sam: So glad to meet u, Luke! I am one of ur no1 fan~! I've got all ur albums *she talks in tht slightly male falsetto bcoz of being a tranvestite*

Illust: *giggled at the backstage at her voice bt was shushed by Tom*

Luke: Why thank you. It's great to be here

Sam: So how is it going on with ur work? I heard there is going to be a new album going on?

Luke: That;'s right. We're currently in production with the albums. Which will have 12 new songs and 2 covers on it

Sam: Ooh~! I'm so excited~! Isn't this exciting, everyone? *cue for the special effects crew to put in cheering n clapping sounds*

Luke: *is dressed in a white fedora, a black t-shirt with a white jacket and blue jeans and red shoes*

Sam: *asks a few more questions regarding his work before finally getting dwn to the main part* So Luke, what is this abt the Weekly Tabloid case? Is any of Majah's accusation true?

Luke: I don't know how they got ahold the facts, but the only part is true is that I found a young girl. She's been following me for an entire year before I found her. And I came to realize, she had a locket around her neck, which contained a picture of my brother and his wife before they died.

Sam: A year, u say? How is it tht she was able to follow u for a year? Sounds a little stalker-ish, no offence

Luke: She's been sneaking onto the loading trucks where the equipment for the concerts are put. When I saw the locket, I asked my doctor to run a blood test and confirmed that she is, in fact...*nods Illust to come out* my niece

Sam: *gasps, cueing the special effects team to put gasping sound effects as well* Your niece, you say?? Tht is some turn of events! *sees Illust coming out timidly* Ladies n gentlemen, boys n girls, here is the famed little girl everyone's been talking abt *sound effects of cheering n clapping*

Illust: *blushes n cowers close to Luke*

Luke: *takes his niece onto his lap* this is Illust, my 12-year-old niece.

Sam: Oooh~! Aren't u a cute little girl? *tickles her cheek*

Illust: *giggles bt leans close to Luke*

Luke: It's okay. Sam's a nice person

Sam: May I see ur locket, little Illust?

Luke: Go ahead, Illust. Show her

Illust: *takes out the locket n opens it for her*

Sam: Mind if we show it to the camera?

Luke: *shows Illust in direction* there ya go, Illust

Illust: *holds up the locket to the camera*

Sam: Can she not talk?

Luke: Not really. She was tramatized.

Sam: Oh? How so?

Luke: The doctor found bruises on her and found out that some sicko...took advantage of her

Sam: Oh my. Tht is rather brutal to such a young child

Luke: That's why I did some paperwork and I am now her legal guardian. I'm the only family she has left. *looks to the camera* This is to the tabloids. Take all those stories you wrote and shove it up where the sun don't shine. Celebrities don't need you invading their lives and twisting them like you!

Sam: *laughs* Isn't tht chivalrous? Let's give a hand to Luke Oliva~! *sound effects of hands clapping n cheering*

Illust: *grips hard on Luke's shirt, a little scared by his outburst*

Luke: *holds onto his niece, trying not to scare her* And to the fans, keep an eye out on September 15.

Sam: Your new album release, I presume *her eyes twinkling*

Luke: That and I will be at the Mega Music mart to promote it and sign autographs.

Sam: Aiiee~! *squeals like a fangirl* Isn't tht the coolest thing, everyone~?! *sound effects of fangirl squeals*

Illust: *laughs at the sound effects*

Luke: *waves the camera and gives the peace sign with his fingers*

Illust: *copies him*

Sam: Isn't she just the cutest thing~? *sound effects of "Aww~!"*

Luke: *Later on, the show ends and Luke gives a handshake to Sam* thanks Sam

Sam: No problem. I hope it cleared up some things, n hope it'll more or less get those tabloids to bk off

Luke: I hope so. Do you want anything signed since I'm here?

Sam: Do I?! *shoves tons of Luke-related stuff to him* Sign them all to Sammy, pls~!

Illust: *sweatdrops*

Luke: *takes his time siginging all of them*

Sam: *while he signs, played pattycake with Illust*

Luke: *finishes the last item* There we go.

Sam: Oooh~! Thank u, thank u! U will always have a free spot in Hot Topicz anytime

Luke: Thanks Sam. How about during you come by and interview on Sept. 15? I'm giving a live performance of an original song and one of the covers

Sam: Oh, tht would be just wonderful~! I'll cya then~! And I hope to see u too, lil Illust

Illust: *giggled, still finding Sam's falsetto very amusing*

Luke: *the young singer picks up Illust, both waving to Sam as they head out*

Illust: *waves goodbye at Sam, n points at her while smiling at Luke, as if trying to say tht she is a nice lady*

Luke: Yes she is. She is nice. *they head out and get into the limo*

Illust: *sees some paparazzi outside the limo chasing after n flashing cameras*

Luke: Head out, driver

Driver: Yes, sir *drove as quickly as possible*

Illust: *looks at the paparazzi running, trying to catch up bt failed n stuck her tongue out at them*

Luke: *he puts his shades, not wanting to deal with flashing cameras and noisy reporters* *turns on his radio*

Radio: Here's a brand new track from the new pop prince Luke Oliva

Luke: *perks up a bit* Alright!

Radio: It comes from his upcoming new album, here is "Who is That?" *A funk-driven song starts playing*

Illust: Wee~! *claps her hands with glee*

Radio: *The song plays for about 4 minutes and the DJ sounds excited* OH man! That is an awesome song. Looks like he's gonna have a #1 pretty soon! If you wanna request that song, just give us a call!

Luke: *his cell phone rings. he answers it* Hello?

Anita: Hey, Luke~! How did the interview go? I missed it today coz I went grocery shopping

Illust: Nyu? *wondering who was calling*

Luke: Really good! Did you hear the song on the radio?

Anita: Oh yes, I'm listening to it right now on another channel. Congrats, Luke. Looks like ur gonna be a chart topper soon

Luke: I've only had one #1 so far. It's not a big deal

Anita: No big deal? U do knw wat they call u right? Heir to the Pop Throne? Prince of Pop? Next-Gen Pop? It's a no brainer reli

Luke: Yea yea. I'm heading home. I'm gonna head to the studio there

Anita: Alright. Will u be home for supper?

Luke: Yes I Will *hangs up and then hears a song on the radio. it's Better on the Other Side by The Game feat. Chris Brown, Diddy, Boyz II Men, and Usher* *the young singer started to have tears in his eyes*

Illust: Nyu...? *comes up to him n strokes his cheek, worried*

Luke: *looks down* oh nothing. I'm fine.

Radio: This the type of song that make the angels cry,
I look up in the sky and I wonder why?
Why you had to go, go
I know its better on the other side,
You were chosen from the start
Never gon’ let you go

Illust: *hears the song n somehow deep in her heart, she had tht aching feeling n tears just rolled out of her eyes without warning. When one drop fell on her lap, she looked at it n felt the tears came dwn more. She was totally confused. Why was she reacting tht way*

Luke: *the song ends as they arrive at the mansion* Cmon Illust *picks her up and they head up the steps*

Illust: *wipes her tears n buried her face onto Luke's shoulder*

Luke: Illust? That song you heard...it was about him

Illust: *tightened her grip on Luke's sleeve, not wanting to look up*

Luke: *goes up and goes into a gallery* Illust? Look

Illust: *shook her head. She is embarassed tht she was crying ovr nothing*

Luke: I want to show who I was crying over. *lifts her chin up and shows her a picture. It's of him younger with a taller man with smooth black hair and very light skin. He work a black jacket, white shirt and pants and black shoes* That's my inspiration. That's Michael Jackson

Illust: *looks up in surprise at MJ n strokes the face in the picture* Bubbles!

Luke: O_O Y-y-you spoke!

Illust: Bubbles! *points at MJ excitedly*

Luke: *is so happy and hugs her, happily*

Illust: *not reli noticing tht she's speaking, bt desperately reaches ovr to MJ's picture, trying to mean something* Bubbles! Bubbles!

Luke: What are you saying? *points to Michael* That's Michael. What are you trying to tell me, Illust?

Tom: *shows up* Isn't tht MJ's pet chimp's name? Mr. Bubbles or something?

Luke: Yea, I know. Then he gave him away cause he was acting to aggressive

Tom: Then why is Illust calling MJ "Bubbles"?

Luke: I don't know. *Gives her a pen and paper* Here, tell me

Illust: *tries to copy MJ's face, then draws herself hugging a monkey, with MJ patting her head n smiling*

Luke: You knew Michael?

Illust: *nods, then draws her playing in Neverland with MJ*

Luke: You did know him...how long ago was this?

*When he was born, his parents were very close friends with Michael and named Michael the godfather of him and his older brother. But he didn't know Michael knew another little girl*

Tom: I think we reli need to dig deep into ur brother's past to find out more, since Illust is a little incapacitated frm talking*

Luke: *he has it figured out* Wait, Illust...*holds the picture of his brother and a picture of Michael* Who is your dad? Point to him. Please Illust

Illust: *hard to decide, since she nvr knew Luke's brother is her father. To her, Luke's brother is only a picture of man in her locket, so she picked the closest person she was with* Bubbles! *points at MJ*

Tom: *sweatdrops* I don't think she gets the picture

Luke: No she doesn't. Honestly...I just have this feeling I'm more connected to Michael than to my parents...There were sometimes...I wish Michael was my dad. *looks up and sees Anita* Anita?

Anita: I was...just checking to see if ur OK. Supper is almost ready

Luke: Oh okay. Anita...you're a friend of the family...how close were Michael and my parents

Anita: Rather close actually. Wen u were younger, he pays visit a lot to the family

Luke: He was like a father figure when my folks died. He taught me everything

Anita: Yes, he is rather fatherly to you in a way.

Luke: *looks at a picture of him with Michael and his kids* Even though he wasn't related to me at all...he felt like a father, to me

Illust: *giggled at MJ's picture* Bubbles~!

Anita: *gasped* Is Illust talking??

Luke: She started when she saw Michael's picture with me. She keeps calling him Bubbles. *looks at his niece* How come you're calling him BubbleS? *picks her up* Do we still have that homevideo Michael did for Prince's birthday?

Anita: Well, bless her soul. Yes we still do *went to look for it before coming out with it*

Luke: There's something I want to show you, Illust. Cmon, let's head to the movie room. *they head into a big room, almost like a small theater. He gets the tape set up*

Tom: *Gets some popcorn for Illust* Here you go

Illust: *takes the popcorn n smiled at Tom before following behind Luke*

*The home movie starts to play. It shows Michael and Luke making a cake for Prince's birthday*

TV Luke: I can't wait, Michael! Prince is going to love this *It's 2002. Luke was only 10 years old at the time*

Tom: Hey, it's you when you were a squirt

Luke: *blushes*

Illust: *giggles, then looks up as she saw something, pointing at the TV* Bubbles!

TV Michael: I know. *gets the cake into the oven and closes it*

Luke: *he can't help but smile at the screen*

*as they watched, the camera panned to show for a short moment a 6 yr old Illust at one of the rooms playing with Mr Bubbles before changing the view bk to the party*

Luke: Wait!! *rewinds it back and pauses it* Illust?

*Tom&Anita leans in to look as well, seeing clearly the paused image of Illust playing with Mr Bubbles the chimp*

Luke: She did know the monkey. But I thought Michael gave him away cause he was getting too aggressive.

Anita: Refresh my memory here, Tom. When did Michael gave Mr Bubbles away?

Tom: *remembers* It was the early 90s.

Luke: *checks it again* Nevermind..it's a stuffed monkey.

*the movie was played again, then the camera shifted again for a while as Michael approached Illust, talking something tht was inaudible to the camera before Illust giggled n jumped up to hug him, all tht happened in abt 3 minute time frame before the camera panned somewhere else again*

*In the movie, Luke was playing with Michael's kids, Prince and Paris. He was playing horsey with the young girl, riding on his back*

Illust: *giggled in amusement at the sight*

Anita: Wasn't he jsut the sweetest person?

Luke: Who? Michael or me?

Tom: *just smiles at the sight*

Anita: Michael, of course. He's such a good father to the kids. I wonder how are they doing though

Luke: I don't know. I haven't heard from them since the memorial.

*The next is cut to where everyone is at the table, singing happy birthday to Prince. The young blond child blushes and then blows out the candles, followed by everyone cheering*

*6-yr-old Illust was among the crowd, n while thinking no one's looking, stole a cherry frm the cake to eat*

Luke: Lookit you, you sneak *pats his niece's head*

*The movie is now to Prince opening presents. He opens one from Luke, which is a stuffed bear with a tag saying "To Prince". The young boy hugs his godbrother, saying thank you.*

Illust: *sees the stuffed bear in awe*

Anita: Aww, look at how cute u two are *points at Prince n Luke hugging*

Luke: *Blushes and then goes back* I wonder how I didn't notice Illust

Tom: *Shrugs* Maybe you did, but didn't know who she was

*the camera then panned to Michael entertaining other kids, with Illust n the stuffed monkey in her arms*

TV Illust: What name? *shows the monkey to Michael*

TV Michael: His name is Mr. Bubbles, Illust

TV Illust: U reli wanna give me?

TV Michael: Of course. You are my little princess. Anything for my little princess

Luke: Little Princess? *looks to Illust again8

TV Illust: And u are my Papa Bubbles *hugs Michael before joining the kids to play at Neverland*

Illust: *grins* Bubbles!

Luke: So, Bubbles is her nickname for Michael.

*The video cuts to where Luke is learning how to dance to Dangerous*

TV Luke: Like this, Michael?

Anita: Still doesn't explain why Michael would call her his little princess though. I thought Michael treated all the kids equally

Luke: I dunno...people commented how much attention I got. People said I was like him in his younger days

Illust: *reached for the popcorn to eat*

Luke: *Checks his watch* Aw shoot!! It's almost time for the video shoot!

Tom: *checks the schedule* You're right!

Illust: *looks up* Nyu?

Luke: *picks up Illust* I gotta shoot a video for my new single.

Illust: Nyu? *making body poses trying to ask if he was going dancing again*

Luke: Yes, I gotta dance for the video

Illust: *claps her hands n cheered. She always loved watching him dance*

Luke: *turns off the movie and they head out to the van* Time for a video!

*the van drives off to the studios*