Tempest

Summary: Kisaragi Aine has woken up and he's taking back what was originally his. His career, his friends and also Haruka. Kisaragi Aine X Nanami Haruka X Mikaze Ai.

Pairings: Kisaragi Aine X Nanami Haruka X Mikaze Ai. Slight!Nanami Haruka X STARISH.

Warnings: Alternate universe, bored STARISH, love triangle and OCC.

A/N: Well this chapter is a little bit boring but fear not! Next chapter is all going to be about Ai and his story. Well, I've been thinking of his story line for a while now so I'll manage… I think. Please, do not judge the characters by what they do— everything happens for a reason (or I'm just giving you a clue because everyone seems to hate Aine) Ai and Aine are going through a lot, okay? And… well, about STARISH in this chapter, please don't hate on them! I… made them do it. They just don't strike me as characters that would let Haruka go without a fight.

P.S. – NO ONE KNOWS THAT AI IS AINE'S REPLACEMENT… yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Uta no Prince-sama or any of its characters. This story is purely fan made and no profit has been made.

Chapter Six: Storm at Bay

"If you are trapped between your feelings and what other people think is right, always go for whatever makes you happy,"

A thirteen year old Aine stared at the cold winter sea. Perhaps with this, everything would be over.

"Unless you want everyone to be happy except for you,"

With an outreached hand he walked towards the water— bittersweet tears running down cheeks, "Haruka."

And then he got swallowed by the waves.

"…ragi… Mister Kisaragi," Aine was snapped out of his daze when he noticed the president staring at him. "Like I've said, since you would be having your comeback concert in three months, I've told Miss Nanami to compose an album for you. Her deadline is two weeks from now so by then, you'll have to appear on various shows in order to promote yourself," it was a standard marketing trick in the show business. Aine didn't really have much of a problem with it. "Mister Kisaragi, you need to make your identity known again," Shining smiled his usual blinding grin— he looked completely the same as far as Aine's memory could tell.

"Shiny, isn't one album too much for just two weeks? Ruka can't possibly work all day long," of course he knew since he came from Shining academy— a natural child prodigy since the start. There was no way a normal person would be able to compose an album in just a short amount of time. Did he mention that an album had more than twelve songs? That meant his composer had to make one song every single day.

Much to his chagrin, Shining only laughed at his statement, "Were talking about Miss Nanami here Mister Kisaragi. She composes for seven idols, eleven if you add Quartet Night. One album is no problem." Aine couldn't help but smile at his assurance. Of course, how could he forget? It was Nanami Haruka for crying out loud. "Now do me a favor and help her get settled in the apartment that I gave you two," he turned around his chair, saying his sentences in a sing-song voice as usual. Aine sighed and nodded before exiting the room — he and Haruka were going to be under the same roof, it was an idea given to them by Shining. Perhaps it was for some kind practice for them to get closer for the sake of the songs, no one really knows.

"I'll see later, prez," the idol turned his heel and walked out of the room. It kind of felt weird seeing the president again. Honestly speaking, there was still that hatred lurking inside Aine— he hated the agency he was in, it was the one who put them in this situation. "Just a little bit more, Aine," walking down the hallway was also one of the strangest things. He had never been in this building before —the company had expanded. Haruka's skills have also improved or so he heard. Haruka. The idol's eyes softened. Perhaps she was the only reason why he was keeping this up.

"No, Nanami you can't,"

Aine was greeted by an argument in front of the wide doors. Ren, Tokiya and Masato were standing in front of the door— which was closed while Natsuki and Syo hung unto their composer's things. Otoya and Cecil were coaxing her with all their might, both pair of eyes looking as if they were just about to burst in tears. "M-Minna-san, haven't we talked about this?" Haruka looked tired, she wasn't really in the mood to deal with this again— it wasn't like she wanted to leave on her own will, she wanted to do this because it was a better choice.

"Give us a reason why you should leave," Syo said looking a bit stern. Cecil winced at the tone of his voice because that wasn't a question. That was a command, Syo needed to know— they all needed to know. "Give us a reason why you would just throw the three years we've all been through just for him," his lines would've passed for a drama with the way he sounded and looked— he was desperate. It was as if they were in a scene you'd see in movies. It was as if everyone played a role.

"Syo-kun," Haruka whispered, her heart breaking when she saw the look on his face. For the members of STARISH, she was never the type to choose between two people. Seeing her want to be with someone, an individual— was an eye opener. There was that burning rage, that jealously. They hated seeing her with someone they didn't know. It would've been easier to accept if it was one of them but… "Please… please, I need you to understand," she knew that the members of STARISH understood. It was just that emotional string which seemed to be a meter thick that kept them tight.

"Three years Nanami," by then Syo was already huffing, not by crying but out of anger. "Three fucking years! You've been with us through thick and thin, you were the one who brought us here!" one would have thought that he was being a bit too emotional but this was Haruka they were talking about. She's not just any other face, she's not just their composer — she was the girl they love. "I hate it so much when you keep things to yourself," like that time she ran away and went back home, like that time she cried and hid it from them so that they wouldn't worry.

"Nanami, are we too unbearable?" Haruka lowered her head, hands unconsciously grasping at the hem of her shirt. "Why is it that you want to leave?" when Tokiya placed a hand on his shoulder, the blonde merely shrugged him off and gave him a glare. "Are you tired of us?" it wasn't only Syo's eyes which got a bit teary— Natsuki, Otoya and Cecil's also did. Masato and Tokiya had worried and devastated expressions while Ren refused to look at the scene.

"Syo-kun…. No, that's not the case. I would never—" her sentence was cut off when Ren, out of all people, started walking towards Aine. Haruka's eyes widened while the others' attention shifted unto the pair also looking vexed like the cassanova. "Please…" the pianist pleaded, she obviously didn't want them to fight. If you looked very closely, you would be able to see tears in her eyes. "Jinguji-san…" the incident earlier with Quartet Night had been enough.

"Don't worry little lamb," Ren smiled over his shoulder before he turned to Aine. "I just wanted to talk with him," their height difference of five centimeters was not that much but in that moment, Ren seemed to tower over the idol. "He looks fairly identical to Mikaze or is that also a coincidence?" Aine's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Of course he was referring to the guy who he encountered earlier today. Who else had his face? The irony.

Haruka's eyes widened, "…coincidence?" Tokiya stared at her and narrowed his eyes but kept quiet. Masato also noticed the look on Syo's face— disturbed and bothered. They obviously knew something that the others did not.

"My uncle told me that if he had a son he'd name him Ai,"

Haruka's eyes narrowed at the flashback.

"Kinda similar to my name, right?"

Natsuki blinked at the composer's expression.

"My uncle's kinda strange but he's really smart though. He just loves me too much that he'd name his own son after me,"

The pianist simply stared at the scene in front of her before putting the thoughts at the back of her head.

"I believe that it is only a coincidence. I have never heard of him in my entire life," Aine gave everyone in the room a smile and a good icy stare— Otoya flinched, he looked kind of scary. "Have you been packing your things, Ruka?" when he walked towards her with that change of expression, they all twitched. Who was he to talk to her with such familiarity? And Ruka? "Shiny gave me his orders, told me to help you move out. It's necessary to follow the President's commands, isn't it?" he threw his words at the members of STARISH who seemed persistent in letting her stay.

"Y-You're not talking Nanami anywhere," Otoya who seemed hesitant to speak up after all this time defended. "I'm sure that we can do something about the president's demands. She's our composer, all these years she has always been—" the room became quiet when he was cut off by a reply from Aine.

"She's my composer. Or have you forgotten about her resignation?" when his eyes turned stern, STARISH's hate for him seemed to skyrocket a mile. Who was he to just come in walking and suddenly declare that Haruka was his!? "Don't get me wrong, I've got papers to prove it," the smile on his face seemed sickening in Cecil's eyes— his muse, she was not actually going with a person like him!? "And if were talking about years, since were childhood friends we know each other longer than you guys, nee?" it was that hand that went around Haruka's shoulders that put the prince on the edge. Both him and Cecil needed to be restrained on the spot.

"Get. Your. Filthy. Hands. Off her," the prince's canine abilities seemed to come back with the way he growled— no one has seen Cecil like this before. "You're not in your right mind. You obviously don't know what you're talking about. Kisaragi you're just a manipulative beast," it was safe to say that Otoya had a hard time restraining him. Haruka on the other hand looked crestfallen with the way Cecil spoke— it was this fighting that she hated the most.

"Cecil-san, that's too much… I've passed my letter to the president because it was my choice. It wasn't because Kisaragi-san forced me to do so. I genuinely wanted to be his composer," when she saw the hurt and betrayal flash in front of Cecil's eyes, she gasped and took a step backwards. "I... I don't want to leave STARISH… but when I think about it, you guys have already come so far. At the beginning, I just wanted to write songs… not compete," the room kept quiet when she started to speak— all eyes on her and pained expressions on their faces.

"You guys have grown so much since three years ago that you'll manage without me. Kisaragi-san on the other hand—"

"Wants to take advantage of you," Ren continued her sentence with a rather forbidding tone of voice.

Haruka painfully closed her eyes, "needs my help." Seeing the resolve in her face, Otoya turned his head while the others averted their glance. "Please understand and I know that you're worried about me. I'll be able to take care of myself from now on, I promise," if she left the mansion with bad feelings, she wouldn't be able to sleep at night. STARISH has been her greatest achievement, they played a very big role in her life.

The silence was the most terrifying part. Like before a bomb, it's a time for hope to grow or wither. It is a time for doubt to suddenly grow until it's almost physical. The silence was the most painful part, more painful as you'd wish for it to happen instead of endure the silence. When you do endure the silence you'll wish for pain rather than endure. It was torture. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of heels making contact against the tiled floor and the energetic footsteps it made.

"Haru-chan~! Aine-kun~! Are you ready to move out and embark on a new adventure?" Ringo entered the room with the most enthusiastic and happy smile that everyone had seen throughout the day. When he paused in the middle of the room and no one answered, he blinked and looked at the idols that were silent at his entrance, "Hmm?" the teacher blinked— usually everyone was so eager and full of sunshine.

Ringo grinned, "Geez, you didn't have to be so speechless!" he placed both of his hands on his face and giggled like the usual Ringo he was.

Cecil looked exhausted.

Natsuki faked a smile for once.

And Tokiya… Tokiya just face palmed.