Sometimes. They really do!

On a week's notice, I was able to get 3 days off work, my friends gave me a ride to LA for free and let me stay in their hotel room, I had a credit with Alaska Airlines to fly back to Portland, and another friend stepped in to cover the rebooking fee... and... I saw X, live.

Not just /saw/ X live. I went backstage and met them.

See, Yoshiki announced - only a week in advance, as per usual - that he was going to be hosting a Yoshiki Foundation charity benefit event in Los Angeles on July 1st at Club Nokia. That's cool in and of itself, and I wanted to go as soon as I realized that it was Anime Expo weekend AND only two blocks from the Los Angeles Convention Center, where AX was being held, since I knew that lent me a better chance of finding friends sympathetic to my plight - my lack of funds, but desperate desire to see this event.

Then the announcements kept getting bigger. They'd be screening the new PVs shot in January. They'd play an acoustic set. There would be a costume contest. They would be filming a BRAND NEW PV - and the contest winner would meet Yoshiki and/or be in the PV.

At this point, I knew I had to go, and I dropped /everything/ to take off on this mad trip to LA.

July 1st, early in the day, I was loitering around Club Nokia after going to a movie screening of Kai-Ki: Tales of Terror from Japan (an event that, if attended, would give you a "fast pass" into the Yoshiki event). I saw two stellar cosplayers from Japan, a Yoshiki and a hide, who came all the way from Japan for this event. And I thought I was dedicated. Got some cute photos, but Bady has them all since I didn't have a camera and my phone crapped out too. (Getting a new one Monday.) Anyway - a while after the cosplayers left, I was standing around talking to Brit and Robyn, who were cosplaying Hizaki and Kyo, respectively. They were facing one way and I was facing another, talking animatedly. Suddenly they went silent and their eyes, wide. Slowly, I turned around.

Yoshiki. Was walking right toward and past me. In person. Yeah, about two feet from me.

He looked at me - in cosplay dressed AS HIM - smiled and waved. And like the always-put-together person I am, I went slackjawed and simply gaped at him, too paralyzed to even manage a smile at first. As he walked away, I smiled weakly, eyes wide, and raised my hand in a wave, but I'm afraid his back was already to me at that point. Haha!

Ran back to the hotel to drop some stuff off, among my loot, a Yoshikitty plushie I was lucky enough to find at the Yoshikitty booth at Club Nokia at 9:00 AM - they had only six! - and grab a bite to eat, before jetting straight back to Club Nokia to get in line for the Yoshiki event. Even with a fast pass, I would take no chances.

Upon entry to the quickly-filling venue, we were notified that anyone who wanted to enter the contest had to go to the side and get photos taken of them. After, they told us that Yoshiki himself would be judging the photos.

Great. Yoshiki was judging my cosplay, which was a cosplay OF HIM, and earlier in the day I fish-faced at him. Uhhhhh.....

Well, while we were waiting for the results, there was much to be seen. They screened the new PVs filmed in Hollywood, one for Rusty Nail and one for I.V., then showed us a couple of video clips from the newest PV to be finished that night. They showed us a video explaining Yoshiki Foundation, and why Yoshiki felt it was so important to start, then Yoshiki and representatives of Meals on Wheels, Make a Wish foundation, and the Grammy foundation went on stage for the presenting of the giant checks. Yoshiki, so cute, says "Well, I'm not very good at talking, but... I am good at doing... so..." and was fidgeting somewhat. Playing with the collar of his shirt. I was very close; two people from the front of the stage.

After that, they unveiled the new collaboration fashion line designed by Yoshiki and h. NAOTO, called NY, and did a fashion show. Everyone was getting revved up by this time. For cosplayers, our feet hurt and our costumes were uncomfortable, and the only painkiller we wanted was X on stage.

But before X went on, they announced the contest winners. Six finalists instead of five (out of an estimated thirty who entered? Maybe more. I was there relatively early and already #18 in the photos). They announced them from #6 to #1.

Number six - Roze Murray, in a homemade VK-style maroon dress with corset and cool contacts.
Number five - Robyn Mokry, my friend the incredible Kyo cosplayer.
Number four - Brittany Chard, my other friend the Hizaki cosplayer.
Number three - Sheila Rodgers, in some kind of punky outfit with... cat ears?
Number two - Brian Villaluz, in an original design that looked like it belonged in a VK PV.

At this point, I was excited for my friends, but my heart sank and I nearly cried. I thought, there was no way I would get number one, and the others were already announced, so, it was fun and a great try, but... better luck next time.

Then I heard the MC... Number one - Corissa Meadors. Me. As Princess Cinderella Yoshiki.

I shrieked in a most undignified way, but redeemed myself in a very dignified entrance to the stage. The prizes for all of us were a piece of Yoshikitty merchandise - for me, a giant Yoshikitty pillow - and a copy of The Last Live DVD, as well as the opportunity to go backstage, which is where we were all promptly ushered.

For now, I have to go to work - but I will try and finish the rest later. Some of it is a blur, and I will have only general paraphrasing, no quotations. Please do not quote my quotes! Hahaha. I was star-struck and in awe for the rest of the night, at this point, just as a warning (but I did behave myself and didn't do anything embarrassing).