///Origami Dream/
 
(...This origami dream is beautiful
But man those wings will never leave the ground
Without a feather and a lottery ticket, now settle down...
                                -Ian "Aesop Rock" Matthias Bavitz; Daylight)
 
//Shake the dust off/
 
Three years ago, she wouldnt've done this work, but three years ago felt like a lifetime away, another Hanako, another girl, another place; and a lot can change in a lifetime.
 
People change, your intentions change, your paradigm definitely changes. All it takes is a vacation to hell and back to get everything in proper order.
 
Well, maybe that and a little luck.
 
And a lot of hurt.
 
But the earth keeps spinning and the day doesn't get any younger. Perhaps it was better that love betrayed her in every corner and she only grow a stronger woman of it.
 
Well, stronger was her paradigm, probably not yours.
 
Right now though, her entire 21 years of life came down to this moment of time. A sensless dream, a child's wish come true and an adult's wild fantasy. Ten thousand people sought her, and only her; of course not counting those who were not in attendance as the Japanese Billboard hot 100 would argue.
 
And she was a better woman for it?
 
She held no 'lead position' nor had the worries of a 'band' or 'associates'. The recording company handled all that, the best musicians and recording artists in all of the Isles summoned to this one night of music. The most important piece though, laid upon her.
 
The opening act, in a cacophany of guitars, drums, smoke, and lights, brought their show to its end. The crowd screamed in frenzie as the members took their praise and bowed to the audience.
 
Now, the real show began.
 
The platform that lifted her to the stage was no larger than she was, only a supporting beam behind her allowed some illusion of safety.
 
"Ikezawa-san, let me adjust your dress"
 
"Ikezawa-chan, just one moment, while I fix the microphone"
 
"Please, hold here, the rest of the band is getting into place."
 
Voices pulsed into her ear fighting the ongoing riot outside. She could feel the sound tech's breath hovering on her neck.
 
But one voice stood out among the rest, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
 
"Hana-chan, are you alright?"
 
As much as she would like to see the face, a technician was taping a wire microphone to her ear.
 
"J-j-just f-fine."
 
No great talent came without some sort of liability, this was on the house of course. The mark of her old self, the manifestation of her problems all in this one person.
 
\"...We were told by your school, Yamaku, was it? The nurse was able to fax us medical history and I assure you, we help our artists, and we see that they recieve the best life possible..."\
 
The recording company set aside a small amount of money for a personal therapist, an older woman with large horned rimmed glasses and an aging face. Her hair was a deep black and she always wore a small grin around, lighting up every room she stood in.
 
The therapist though, was an artifact of her old self, set aside with her were the memories of the orphanage, elementary school...
 
...and high school...
 
But that was an illusion of someone else's life, had in a vivid nightmare.
 
"You're a wonderful girl, Hana-chan. Remember, these people aren't here to stare, they're here to enjoy you and your wonderful voice."
 
She could talk all she wanted. The memories, long hours in her room, going over pictures and taking written tests, talks about her personal history, it would all stay with her therapist.
 
But all that mattered was that she was there.
 
"Ikezawa-san, 60 seconds."
 
"You'll do great! I know you will!"
 
A surrogate mother? That's what they usually called it.
 
No matter, she did her job well.
 
On stage, the booming of the concert intro played, the pianist played gentle notes, above her head, smoke machines hummed softly.
 
Low blue lights shone through the side.
 
"10 seconds"
 
It all went silent.
 
Her first major concert, kicking off her tour around the Yellow Sea.
 
"8"
 
She wasn't ready, a deep pit filled the bottom of her stomach. She wasn't ready...
 
"6"
 
She just wanted to go back to her simple one room efficiency, live the rest of her days in that constant cycle of work.
 
"4"
 
The platform began its slow decent, Hanako put her arms on the small bar behind her. Her heart was going to leap out of her chest.
 
No time to back out now, all she could do was go through with the show...
 
She adjusted her hair, make it look good...
 
When her eyes peered over the stage floor, the crowd erupted with a wall of screams.
 
A smile covered her face, then she pointed to the pianist, as per showmanship.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vOkageaKdk
 
"Hello Tokyo!"