As Lincoln was with Suziko in his mother's room looking at old things before he was born, he saw a CD. It was a Linkin Park CD. Their third album, Minutes to Midnight.
"Mama, you like Linkin Park?!" Lincoln said surprised. "Like Linkin Park? No. I LOVE Linkin Park." Suziko said, "This album is one of the albums that made me who I am today, koibito.". She then held the album in her hands. "Did you know Chester gave me this copy in 2007?" she said to Lincoln. "Really?!" Lincoln said. "Yep. Here, let me tell you the story of your father and I going to a Linkin Park concert. This was after we graduated college but before we got engaged." Suziko said.
FLASHBACK
It was the summer of 2007. Suziko and Antoni decided to go to a Linkin Park concert for a date. They saw the whole band on stage and thought it was an amazing experience! She saw Chester scream his heart out and Mike rap like a maniac. She loved their new album and would share listening with Antoni. Antoni loved the new CD so much that he wouldn't give it to her. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?!" Chester screamed the end of Given Up. The crowd cheered. "Thank you!" he said.
Chester Bennington noticed these two individuals in the crowd. He could faintly hear the white-haired female's voice. "Wow, she's good." Chester said. He then got an idea as he went to Mike. "Hey, Mike. You notice those 2 right there?" he said to his bandmate, Mike Shinoda. "Uh, yeah, why?" Mike asked. "I have an idea." Chester said. "What's that?" Mike asked. "Do you see those two right there? Did you hear their voices?" Chester asked. "Yeah, they were great. Why?" Mike asked. Chester then whispered into his ear. "Hmm... alright. Let's do it. One song from each album." Mike said. Chester nodded and went back to his mic.
"Alright. Who's ready for some guests up here?" Chester asked the crowd. They all roared and cheered. "Alright. You two right there. Come on up here!" he said, pointing to Suziko and Antoni.
Suziko and Antoni were shocked. "US?! HE CHOSE US?!" Suziko said, making sure she heard that correctly. "Well, let's go! Don't keep them waiting!" Antoni said as he grabbed her hand and ran to the stage.
After getting up on the stage, Chester asked them, "So, where are you guys from?". Antoni took the mic and said, "I'm Antoni Robert Nowak. I'm from Poland. I'm 25 years old. This is my lover, Suziko.". He then gave his girlfriend the mic. "Hi, I'm Sumiko Bridgette Weber. Most of my friends and family calls me Suziko. I'm from Japan and I was born in America, and I am 22 years old." Suziko said. "Sumiko and Weber... are you mixed?" Mike asked. "Uh... yeah... my mom is Asian, and my dad is White." she replied. "Really? I'm the other way around! Wow, that's crazy. Another half-white, half-Japanese? It's the name 'Sumiko'." Mike said. "Yep. Japanese." Suziko said before giving back the mic to Chester. "Now, you guys get one song per album. What will you start with?" Chester asked. "Um... let's start with.... with you." Suziko said. "That's a good one." Antoni said. "That is a good one. Suziko, you sing with me. Antoni, you rap with Mike." Chester said. Antoni nodded as he walked over to Mike and shook hands with him.
"Alright, who's ready for "With You"?" Chester asked. The crowd cheered.
Joe Hahn started a scratch sample. Then the rest of the band kicked in.
(Mike and Antoni)
I woke up in a dream today
To the cold of the static and put my cold feet on the floor
Forgot all about yesterday
Remembering I'm pretending to be where I'm not anymore
A little taste of hypocrisy
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react
Even though you're so close to me
You're still so distant and I can't bring you back
(Chester and Suziko)
It's true
The way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you're not with meI'm with you
(Mike and Antoni)
You now I see
Keeping everything inside (with you)
You now I see
Even when I close my eyes
(Mike and Antoni)
I hit you and you hit me back
We fall to the floor, the rest of the day stands still
Fine line between this and that
When things go wrong I pretend that the past isn't real
Now I'm trapped in this memory
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react
So even though you're close to me
You're still so distant and I can't bring you back
(Chester and Suziko)
It's true
The way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you're not with meI'm with you
(Mike and Antoni)
You now I see
Keeping everything inside (with you)
You now I see
Even when I close my eyes
I'm with you
You now I see
Keeping everything inside (with you)
You now I see
Even when I close my eyes
Joe Hahn plays a little scratch sample
(Chester and Suziko)
No, no matter how far we've come
I can't wait to see tomorrow
No matter how far we've come I
I can't wait to see tomorrow
(Mike and Antoni)
With you
You now I see
Keeping everything inside (with you)
You now I see
Even when I close my eyes
With you
You now I see
Keeping everything inside (with you)
You now I see
Even when I close my eyes
The song ends and everyone cheers. "Wow! That was amazing!" Mike said, "You sound like you could fill in for me when I'm sick!". Antoni laughed at his comment. "Now, there is no way I could replace a legend like you." Antoni said. "Alright, I picked for Hybrid Theory. I will now let Antoni choose for Meteora. "Meteora? Um, let's see... one of my favorites. Somewhere I Belong." Antoni said. "That's one of my favorites." Chester said, "Alright, everyone. Who is ready to go "Somewhere they Belong"?". The crowd cheered as the song begins.
Joe played a sample. Brad Delson started playing a small note on his guitar. The heaviness then kicked in. After it mellowed down, Joe scratched a sample. Then, the lyrics came in.
(Chester and Suziko)
When this began
(Mike and Antoni)
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
(Chester and Suziko)
(I was confused)
(Mike and Antoni)
And I let it all out to find
That I'm not the only person with these things in mind
(Chester and Suziko)
(Inside of me)
(Mike and Antoni)
But all that they can see the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I've got left to feel
(Chester and Suziko)
(Nothing to lose)
(Mike and Antoni)
Just stuck, hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own
(Chester and Suziko)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long
(Mike and Antoni)
(Erase all the pain 'til it's gone)
(Chester and Suziko)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real
I wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong
(Mike and Antoni)
And I've got nothing to say
I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face
(Chester and Suziko)
(I was confused)
(Mike and Antoni)
Looking everywhere only to find
That it's not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
(Chester and Suziko)
(So what am I?)
(Mike and Antoni)
What do I have but negativity
'Cause I can't justify the way, everyone is looking at me
(Chester and Suziko)
(Nothing to lose)
(Mike and Antoni)
Nothing to gain, hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own
(Chester and Suziko)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long
(Mike and Antoni)
(Erase all the pain 'til it's gone)
(Chester and Suziko)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real
I wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belongI will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything 'til I break away from me
I will break away, I'll find myself todayI wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long
(Mike and Antoni)
(Erase all the pain 'til it's gone)
(Chester and Suziko)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something realI wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong
(I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm)
Somewhere I belong
(I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm)
Somewhere I belongSomewhere I belong
The song ends as the crowd cheers. "Wonderful, wonderful... you guys got one song left, what will it be?" Mike asked. "What do you want to play, kochane?" Antoni asked. "Let's do... Bleed It Out!" Suziko said. "You think you can handle rapping Bleed It Out?" Chester asked Antoni. "Let's find out." Antoni said. The crowd cheered and the song started.
Brad started off by playing the notes. Then, the lyrics came in.
(Mike and Antoni)
Yeah, here we go for the hundredth time
Hand grenade pins in every line
Throw 'em up and let something shine
Going out of my fucking mindFilthy mouth, no excuse
Find a new place to hang this noose
String me up from atop these roofs
Knot it tight so I won't get looseTruth is, you can stop and stare
Bled myself out and no one cares
Dug a trench out, laid down there
With a shovel up out of reach somewhereYeah, someone pour it in
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When they bring that chorus in
(Chester and Suziko)
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it awayI bleed it out
(Mike and Antoni)
Go, stop the show
Choppy words in a sloppy flow
Shotgun opera, lock and loadCock it back and then watch it go
Mama, help me, I've been cursed
Death is rolling in every verse
Candy paint on his brand new hearseCan't contain him
He knows he works
Fuck, this hurts, I won't lie
Doesn't matter how hard I try
Half the words don't mean a thingAnd I know that I won't be satisfied
So why try ignoring him?
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When they bring that chorus in
(Chester and Suziko)
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it awayI bleed it out
I've opened up these scars
I'll make you face this
I've pulled myself so far
I'll make you face this nowI bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it awayI bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out
Digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it awayI bleed it out
I bleed it out
I bleed it out
The song ended as the crowd roared. "Wow! That was amazing! You guys were so great! Might I add, Suziko, beautiful voice you have there." Chester said as the crowd cheered. "Aww, thank you!" Suziko said. "Now, anything else?" Mike asked. "Yes, thank you so much for allowing us up here!" Suziko said as the crowd cheered, "We will definitely remember this!".
Present day.
"Wow... that must've been legendary!" Lincoln said. "It was for us." Suziko said, "That wasn't even my favorite part.". "What was it, Mama?" Lincoln asked. "After the show was done, me and your father were about to leave. But Chester pulled us in the back." Suziko said.
FLASHBACK
"This was probably one of the most memorable nights in our lives, Antoni!" Suziko said. "It definitely was." Antoni said as he grabbed her hand. They then walked holding hands. Suziko then felt a hand on her shoulder. They turned to see Chester. "Hello, I was wondering if you could meet me backstage really quick before you go. Tonight, was awesome and I want to give you guys a gift before you go." he said. Suziko and Antoni smiled at each other before Suziko said, "Sure!".
It cuts to backstage where Suziko and Antoni are. "Here you go! Minutes to Midnight CD autographed by me!" Chester said, giving the autographed copy to Antoni, "You know, we really put a lot of work into this CD. We hope you enjoyed it.". "We think this is your best. This has to be your peak work so far." Suziko said. "I'm happy you like it. We got a lot of hate because it was something different." Chester said. "Don't listen to those assholes." Antoni said. Chester chuckled at his remark and said, "Yeah. Fuck 'em.". They all chuckled. "Before we go..." Suziko said, she then hugged Chester, "Thank you, Chester, for this concert.". "You're welcome, miss. I hope you enjoy life." Chester said hugging her too before breaking it up.
Present day.
"Who knew it would only be a decade later that he would die?" Suziko said. "I cried so hard that day finding out about his death. Linkin Park saved me from ending it. Him dying really crushed me." Suziko said, "I played this album and A Thousand Suns for a week straight.".
"It saved me too." Lincoln said. "What?" Suziko asked. "Linkin Park was the band that Luna introduced me to when I was 5. She gave me a copy of Living Things. I loved it and played over and over for the next year until it stopped working. I thought I knew Luna but she's just a cold-hearted bitch. It's funny, you know? You think you know somebody, but they stab you in the back and you wonder if they just turned or if they were faking it the whole entire time." Lincoln said. "I'm sorry to hear that. I've been there too. WAY too many times." Suziko said, she then thought of something, "Hey, honey, how about you keep this CD?". "Really?" Lincoln asked. "Yep. You deserve it." Suziko said. "No, Mama, I can't just take this from you like that. How about this? It's OURS." Lincoln said. "Ok. I like that. Deal." Suziko said, "You and I are a lot more a like than you think, honey.". "You think so?" Lincoln asked. "Yep. You have a lot more of your mother in you than you think. I never realized how much you look like me too." She said. Lincoln smiled at this. Lincoln then hugged her. "I love you, Mama." he said. "I love you too, koibito." Suziko said, hugging back.
To be continued...
End of chapter 67. Hope you all enjoyed!
Peace out!
A/N: Rest in peace, Chester Bennington. One of the best vocalists to ever live. Can't be the only one who thinks he was murdered.