Wheels of Steel Book 4 (11 page)

“Retirement plans, charities, and incidentals concerning the maintenance of facilities will not be discussed today. Interested parties can send me a written request for a copy of the full will which will be mailed out within five business days. In addition there are three sealed envelopes with instructions for them to be read privately by the addressee. One is addressed to Miss Aimi Haruto.” The muffled sobs of a woman was heard over the speaker phone and Robin lowered her eyes in respect for the emotions of the people present who knew Akita Tom much better than she did.

“I will hand deliver this letter to you, o-jo-san.” He then walked to Bobby and handed him a thick, cream-colored envelope. The third envelope went to Y. Amberly squeezed his hand and Y placed the envelope into his pocket as if it contained world secrets. 

Hideo began speaking again. “I presented James Edelson with a sealed letter which included instructions for the funeral. With that completed allow me to come to the purpose of this meeting, which is to discuss the distribution of assets of the Estate.”

Hideo opened a folder and cleared his throat as he began to read. The room became so quiet that one could not hear as much as a squeaky chair.

“In the matter of the Estate of Akita Tom, the executors of which are Robert Chancellor, James Edelson and Yagano Kurahara,” Hideo began to read what was included in the estate which was a long list of items including the home that they were in now and another home in the States, two record stores and a host of music and production equipment.

“All items will remain in the Estate accept as set forth as follows: The home in Karuizawa will become the property of Yagano and Amberly Kurahara-“

Amberly bounced in her seat and squeaked before plastering her hand against her lips. Y reached out to lightly rub her arm but other than that he showed no emotion.

“The home in Corolla Tennessee will be willed to Robert and Maribella Chancellor. The record store Genius records will be willed to Christian Brighton who performs under the stage name Hidalgo-“

“Crimey!” Hidalgo’s voice could be heard from the speaker phone. Belinda muffled her responsive chuckle.

Hideo continued. “The record store Ramen Records will be willed to Jason Hamilton and Peter Warrant who go by the name Wheels of Steel.”

Robin looked at Jason whose eyes were wide in surprise.

“The studio and all equipment will remain as part of this estate and shall be operated by James Edelson. James’ salary shall be raised by 2.5 percent within twelve months of my death. The sum of 1.5 million will be made available for the operations of Akita Tom Productions in the event that the named shareholders continue its operations.” Hideo began to read a list of shareholders and Robin was shocked to hear that Yagano’s name was amongst them.

“The shares that previously were the property of Akita Tom will now be split evenly between the following …” Hideo looked up briefly and scanned the room. “Robert Chancellor, Justin Kincade who performs under the name Shim Shu, Christian Brighton aka Hidalgo, Miss Aimi Haruto, James Edelson and Yagano Kurahara.”

Robin saw that Yagano didn’t seem happy about the news. But again, this was not a happy gathering.

Hideo passed out sealed envelopes to Y and James—presumably containing stock and deeds and then finished up by advising that other packages would be mailed out within 72-hours. Hideo then ended the meeting.

Robin looked at J wondering about his thoughts on the proceedings but considering that he and Hideo were in constant contact with each other, he probably already knew everything that was going to happen, including the contents of the sealed letters.

  Hideo was talking with Y and Amberly. Amberly wore a huge smile and bounced happily. Robin couldn’t help smiling. They were getting an amazing house.

Bob was shaking hands with James and he didn’t seem to have a problem with anything that had happened. He and his wife went off with James, probably to discuss tomorrow’s funeral.

Robin hugged Jason. “You are the owner of a record company. What do you think about that?” She asked. He gave her a peck on the lips.

“That’s bad-ass,” he grinned.

Peter wheeled to them, his eyes bright with excitement. “Dude! We own Ramen records!” They high-fived in excitement.

“I need to call my Dad and fax these documents to him.” He and Belinda left and Jason led Robin out to the back gardens where there was a koi pond and traditional bridge that led across its short expanse.

“Babe, we have to talk about this label contract,” Jason said.

“Is it something you want to do?” She asked as they sat on a bench nestled between shade trees.

Jason shrugged. “Peter really wants to. This is his dream.”

“And what’s your dream?”

He looked out thoughtfully into the pond before looking at her again. “I want to be free to make the music that I like. I don’t want to be pressured to do anything beyond that. I know that I can do that without a label deal. The thing is that I can only go so far. The label has the means to get me further.”

Robin nodded. “What if they tell you to produce three albums that sound exactly like Akita’s last one but you have your own sound—that’s different than what they want. Can you still control what you give them if you sign under their label?”

Jason just shook his head. “I don’t know. We need to talk to Mr. Warrant about it. Peter’s dad won’t let us get burned.”

“How in the world are you going to run a record store in Japan?” She laughed.

Jason beamed. “I want to go check it out.”

Ramen Records was smaller than Genius Record store. There was no way that even fifty people could fit inside in order to host a boiler room event. And yet Peter and Jason interrupted the daily business by setting up their turntables and giving an impromptu concert.

The crowd that gathered was so large that the police threatened to shut it down but Y talked to them in quiet tones and the police finally stayed to keep the orderly crowd from getting out of hand.

Belinda stood up on a counter and began to do a go-go style dance that caused the crowd to go wild. She tried to get Robin to climb up with her but Robin was content to just dance alone in the crowd to Jason and Peter’s hip hop mixes.

Amberly joined Belinda on the counter and they danced together while Y roamed the crowd watching everyone and everything. Eventually her curiosity got the better of her and she joined him where he stood in the corner where he could watch what was happening.

“Congratulations on the house and the shares of the company.”

“Thank you. I was surprised about both gifts but they were welcome ones. I’d hate to see anyone else owning Akita’s house and condo living doesn’t appeal to Amberly.”

“I didn’t realize that you were one of the owners of the record label.”

His eyes seemed to tighten but he remained polite. “I just had a small share. It didn’t leave me with much of a say in the company—but then again, I didn’t need to have one back then.”

“Do you think you will need one now?” Robin asked. “A say, that is?”

“Akita was a pure soul. There aren’t that many of those around any more.”

Robin contemplated his response.

What are your thoughts on James?” The both of them were staring out at the crowd of dancers.

“James,” Y began slowly, “was loyal to Akita. But now Akita isn’t around …”

“Hidalgo said that James is after Akita’s unreleased music.”

Y’s brow gathered. “Hidalgo said that?”

Robin nodded. “He said they want the unreleased music that he and Akita made together--same thing with Wheels of Steels and probably anyone else that has ever made music with Akita Tom.”

Y ran his hand through his hair. “I see.”

“James and Hideo have been really pushy about us signing,” she looked at Y. “but I don’t know if I trust them. What do you think?”

Y looked at her. “I don’t know that the label should produce artists. That hasn’t exactly been discussed. But James has the lion’s share of the company and he has obviously made decisions without my input. So, to answer your question, I would remain cautious.”

Y’s cellphone evidently began to vibrate because he retrieved it from his pocket and placed it to his ear. He spoke in short Japanese sentences and then abruptly hung up.

“Speak of the devil,” He said with a grin. “That was James. He has requested you at the studio to go over the music selection for tomorrow.

Robin quickly looked at where Jason was grooving and having the time of his life performing before a camera, which recorded their activities. Y seemed to read her mind.

“I’ll go with you.”

Robin sighed in relief. “You don’t mind? I don’t want to interrupt Jason but I really don’t want to have to field off too many more requests to sign their contract.”

Y began dialing on his cellphone. “Let me just make sure my head of security is in place and I let Amberly know what’s going on.”

Robin looked around and realized that Y had been acting as security. And then she saw men wearing ear mics situated around the room and she suddenly felt better. No one would be mobbing Jason and the others.

One of the security men went to Amberly and spoke to her.

“Let’s go,” Y said without waiting for Amberly’s response. He led her to a waiting Mercedes.

“Akita sure knew how to drive in style.” She stated when he held open the passenger door for her.

“This isn’t Akita’s. It’s one of mine.”

One?

“How did you meet Akita?” Robin asked once they were settled and driving.

“Ah. That’s a long and complicated story.”

“Well how long is the ride to the studio?”

“About half an hour.”

“We got time.”

He glanced at her and chuckled. Y was wearing dark blue slacks and a long sleeved Henley. His sleeves were now pushed up to his elbows and Robin could see the intricate and beautiful tattoos adorning his arm. There were dragons and large Koi fish along with flowing lines that accentuated the designs.

He caught her staring and held his arm out in her direction, rotating it so that she could see the design.

“Your tats are amazing.”

“They hurt like hell.”

Robin touched her neck briefly. “Yeah it does.”

But Y was shaking his head. “No, mine weren’t made by a tattoo gun. Mine are irezumi. It’s where ink is placed under the skin by hand—one pinprick at a time.

“Ouch.”

“Indeed.” He turned on the radio and low pop music began to play. The lyrics were in Japanese but Robin decided she liked it. Y glanced at her bobbing her head. “How do you like Japan so far?”

“I love it! Everything is so full of history and culture and the parts that aren’t seem so trendy. The food is good and the people nice.”

“Good. I know that it’s been hectic but I’d like to show you all more of Japan, and not just the tourist areas.” He seemed to hide a grin. “I can do that now that you and my wife have made amends.”

Robin shot him a look of embarrassment. “You and I didn’t meet under the best circumstances. And still you’ve been very kind to me.”

“As you have been kind to me.” He glanced at her. “You and I have no beef.” Robin was happy about that.

They arrived to the studio, which was in a high-rise building. Y escorted Robin to one of the top floors where Akita Tom Productions was located.

The people working there greeted Y respectfully. Robin liked these offices much better than the one she’d seen during the magazine shoot.

For one, everyone dressed business casual and the walls didn’t seem as if they were glowing. Over-sized pictures of Akita Tom albums adorned the walls and funky white shag rugs covered the floor in the waiting areas.

Y led her through a door and down a short corridor to a double set of doors—these were glass. There was a small reception area that was currently empty. Across from that was a final set of wooden doors that led to the studio.

James was there with seven other men. Hideo was missing and Robin hoped that he was too busy delivering little cream-colored envelopes to bother her about contracts.

James greeted her enthusiastically and then introduced her to the other people present. Robin didn’t know them from a hole in the wall until Y filled in the blanks and explained that two of the men did the recordings for the studio while two others were popular protégés of Akita and had worked on several projects with him. There was a musician that could play piano or guitar as needed and the final was one of the music producers of the popular anime show The Bushido Code.

Robin tried not to act like a deer caught in the headlights at being amongst industry professionals. Someone poured her a glass of champagne but she declined and asked for bottled water instead.

A white guy with long dreds turned down the music that they had been listening to. “Robin, it’s nice to meet you. I’ve been hearing your voice for months being flipped onto tracks. Your voice is all over London, Japan and the US.”

Trying not to show her amazement at the announcement she nodded. “Jason told me that one sentence I sang in
Love’s End
was being sampled a lot.”

“It has a nostalgic and yet youthful sound.” The man from The Bushido Code added.” He handed her a card. “When the timing is better please contact our office. We’d like to talk to you about doing something on the show.”

This time she did smile. “Okay. I’ll do that.”

James smiled tightly. “Well, lets get started, shall we?”

Robin ignored James for a moment. He had no say and whom she talked to concerning her future endeavors.

“I’ll definitely call you Mr. Flynn.”

“Call me Jerry.”

“Thank you Jerry.”

Another man began speaking. “We’ve been thinking about the song you should sing, Robin.”

Another man continued. “Songs like
Stairway to Heaven, or Somewhere Over the Rainbow
-“

“I think it should be Jeff Buckley’s
Satisfied Mind
.” Jerry said while crossing his arms in front of himself.

Robin’s brow drew together. “Uh …what about a gospel song? That’s what we sing at funerals back home.”

Everyone looked at her. “But Akita practiced Buddhism, not Christianity.” One of the music techs said.

“Besides, we don’t want people curled up in the aisles crying.” Someone else stated.

Robin became thoughtful. “Well that puts a new spin on the use of gospel music … ”

Y spoke. “What about
Never Would Have Made It
, by Marvin Sapp?”

Robin’s head snapped to him. Everyone else just looked confused but Y continued to speak to Robin.

“Maybe you could sing it as if you’re singing it to Akita. There are so many of us that would not have made it without him. I’m one of those people. Akita’s kindness spread to touch people that many will never know about and that suited Akita just find. Akita …” he sighed. “Akita saved me. So, if it’s not disrespectful to sing it to Akita then it might be a good choice.”

“Someone pull it up on the computer,” James instructed.

“Do you know it?” Y asked Robin, tuning everyone else out.

“I know it,” she said, still in awe of his suggestion.

Y walked into the recording area where there was a piano set up. He began to play and Robin blinked her eyes in amazement that he was such a beautifully accomplished pianist. Robin joined him and ignoring the microphone she began to sing. Soon the song began to take life in Robin and as often happened with her, she began to forget her surroundings as the song and lyrics began to move her. She sang as if she was speaking to Akita, thanking him for what he’d done for the many people who love and respected him.

When she finished and looked up everyone was busily moving about on the opposite side of the large glass window. James pressed a button and she could hear them talking.

“We got all of your voice recorded and it’s perfect,” the man said in excitement. “Yagano can always re-record the opening piano but it was beautiful, Robin, love! Simply beautiful! You must perform it for tomorrow’s wake.”

She smiled shyly and nodded, but then turned to look at Y who was watching her closely. His eyes shifted away and the shadow of a smile tugged at his lips before he finally turned to look at her again.

“It was perfect, Robin. But I don’t think there is anything that you wouldn’t be able to sing perfectly—even their selection of funeral songs.”

Robin walked over to stand beside Y. “It doesn’t matter to me. As long as it brings honor to Akita’s memory. But how in the world do you know enough about gospel music to play it on the piano? You sound as good as Old Miss Rushmore playing the organ back at my old church!”

“Well, I love music, specifically American soul and blues. It was a dream come true to work for Akita Tom and to be around so many different musical influences.”

Before she could ask him more questions, James asked her if she would be interested in adding her voice to a few more tunes. She told him that she couldn’t stay too much longer because of tonight’s party. She wanted to get changed and rest up but that she would be happy to sing him a few more songs.

Jason and the others had already returned to the house and as Y and Robin drove back home, Y answered the question that she had asked earlier.

“Do you know what
sokaiya
is?” he asked.

“Uh … is it something we ate in Tokyo?”

He grinned. “No.” Y hesitated. “I met Akita about seven years ago. He was just becoming popular and his music had already been featured in several anime cartoons.