Disclaimer: I don't own Cinema Bizarre, or their music. I'm just another loving fan...for now.

A/N: This has been on my computer, in progress, since last summer, when Ai convinced me to write it. At the time, she was working on one featuring Shin X Yu.

-Saya

1-The Silent Place

His hair soaked by the rain, Strify stormed into the apartment he shared with his bandmates, Kiro and Yu. He'd been under seige at the studio all day, due to massive amounts of headache-bringing fangirls. Then, as he walked home, it had begun pouring rain. And of course, he didn't have an umbrella. Stupid weatherman and his "clear skies."

"Hey Strife," Yu called as he passed the living room. The guitarist appeared to be playing a Final Fantasy game with their drummer, Shin. Romeo was lounging on the couch with something in his hands-probably a porn magazine, knowing Romeo. Strify walked right past without so much as a hello.

As he stormed down the hall towards his room, Kiro poked his head out of the kitchen with a concerned look on his narrow face. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, seeing the murderous look on Strify's face.

"Fangirls," Strify growled, brushing past the bassist. Kiro withdrew into the kitchen. It looked like Strify need some time to calm down. He was picking up a jar of peanut butter when his friend's door slammed, rocking the whole apartment. Kiro sighed. They would be getting complaints about that one soon enough.

Once he'd finished making (and devouring) his sandwich, Kiro decided to go see if Strify was feeling better. He currently had absolutely nothing better to do, so even if he got something chucked at his head, he wouldn't be at a loss for something to do.

Tentatively, Kiro turned the knob and pushed the door open. Strify, who had apparently flopped onto the bed, glared up at him through strands of wet hair. So he was still pissed. In an attempt to lighten the mood, Kiro smiled. Unmoved, Strify continued to glare.

Now Kiro was even more concerned. He entered the room and walked over o sit on the edge of Strify's bed. He felt the urge to comfort Strify but resisted, knowing that what he had in mind might give Strify the idea that Kiro had feelings for him. Which, honestly, he did, though Strify didn't need to know that yet. While it was common knowledge by now that Kiro was bi, no one was entirely sure about Strify. Kissing him didn't mean much, at least when it was on stage. That was just for show.

Trying to take his mind off that line of thought, Kiro looked around. Hopefully his mere presence would keep Strify's moodiness at bay for the moment. Then his eyes landed on the hairbrush laying on the wide headboard, and he decided to push his luck. Picking it up, he turned back to Strify.

The singer looked confused for a moment as the bassist separated a lock of damp hair from the rest of the mop and ran the brush along the underside. Picking up the accent he's noticed in most gay stylists, Kiro began to exaggeratedly explain what he was doing.

"Ok Darling, I think this would look best if you just pulled it back," Kiro drawled, somehow managing to keep a straight face.

A smile tugged at the corner of Strify's lips. This was why he was a friend to these insane people, he remembered, they knew how to make him forget even his worst problems. But as Kiro continued to play with his hair, scenes from before began drifting through Strify's mind...

The studio had been nearly empty that day while he was recording the vocals for "Out Of Love," "Touching And Kissing," and "ToyZ." Outside the studio, however, was an entirely different story.

Fangirls crowded as close as they could, forming a tightly packed wall out in the rain. Strify was relieved to see that the weather had taken a toll on their numbers, but there were still enough of them to make his skin crawl. He grimaced as he glanced at the crowd through the windows.

As he stepped out the doors, umbrella-less (damn that weatherman...), a cheer went through the mass of female enthusiasts. Strify sighed to himself, hoping he would be able to get home without incident and sort through his currently tangled web of emotions and attractions.

"Strify! Are you sure you're not gay? What about bi?" he heard someone call. Damn, that was the first step down the wrong road.

"Yeah, you and Kiro would be so cute together!" called another voice, someone who had heard the other comment.

A flash of emotion shot through Strify. He wasn't sure if it was fear, horror, or maybe something nicer, but he knew what it was about.

Had they picked up on his growing attraction to the energetic bassist?

Kiro sensed that Strify had spaced out. His movements gradually slowed to a stop as he watched the younger man. In Kiro's eyes, Strify was perfect--beautiful, outgoing, engergetic...There was no way he'd be able to keep this under control forever. But he was afraid of what would happen if this angelic being rejected him.

Very similar thoughts were going through Strify's head as he slid back to the present. He saw the smile plastered on Kiro's face, knowing that only a fraction of it's warmth reached the hazel eyes. Suddenly he was almost overwhemled by the urge to try and kiss away the doubt he also saw there. But no, he couldn't do that...

"I'm fine now," Strify forced out, knowing he didn't sound the part, "You can go now."

He took th brush from Kiro and they stood together, shoulders brushing. Again, Strify barely resisted the urge to kiss his shorted bandmate.

Kiro smiled again and reached up to ruffle Strify's still-damp hair. "Don't catch pneumonia!" he warned with false cheeriness before skipping out of the room.

Was it just Strify's imagination, or was there a note of real concern in that parting remark?