Author Fangirling: WARNING: Dry, sarcastic humor ahead! I wrote the bulk of this while I had a high fever and no voice, so it's not my usual style. A lot of elements in this story will make more sense if you're familiar with a wind range of Fushigi Yuugi songs, because I make a lot of references, some subtle, some obvious. For instance, THTC was the Tamahome-Hotohori-Tasuki-Chichiri song done for one of the OVA's. If you really want some of the songs I mentioned, e-mail me- save your reviews for the fic!

Not sure if I'll ever finish this one (there are currenty 4 chapters written). Depends on it's reception and if I can get back into the sick mindset.

Off in the after life, all was not well. Nuriko had just heard THTC's first hit, and was sobbing in disappoint, anger, and general self pity. "Why didn't they invite me to join the band?" he whined rhetorically.

"Because you're dead," Chiriko answered.

"Hotohori's dead, too! But he still got to join- what makes him able to join and not me?" he snapped.

"Well, Hotohori is considered 'one of the guys'. You don't completely fit that description," Mitsukake explained. "Don't feel too bad about it. Chiriko and I aren't part of the in-group either."

Nuriko continued wailing.

"Don't worry," Chiriko offered to qualm his histrionics. "We'll still hang out with you."

"That's right," Mitsukake added. "We're your friends."

"Really?" the deceased seishi sniffled. "Then you'll make a band with me?"

"We will?"

"Thanks, you guys are the best!" Nuriko clung to their necks and hugged them tight enough to kill them (if that hadn't already been done). "We'll make it even better than THTC! We don't need them to tell us if we can or can't be in a band!"

The other two looked at each other with bewildered looks, but they silently agreed to help Nuriko out.

The small group soon began making plans for their band. The first thing they needed was a name.

"How does NCM sound?" Chiriko suggested. "We can use our first initials."

"That's a very good idea," Mitsukake nodded.

"We can't do that- they'd think we're copying them!" protested Nuriko. "We have to do something different."

The youngest one thought for a moment, then said, "How about the ends of our names, then?"

"Perfect idea!" Nuriko snapped his fingers.

Mitsukake tried it out. "Kokoke?"

"On the other hand, NCM sounds great," Nuriko said in response. "Or wait- won't Tama-neko be joining us?"

"I don't think cats are very good at singing," said Chiriko.

"No, he probably won't be," Mitsukake shook his head. "He tends to prefer Chichiri's company, especially considering I'm dead."

"Stupid THTC," Nuriko muttered under his breath. "We need a group image for NCM. Do either of you have any experience with running a band?"

The other two members shook their heads.

"We'll have to find some help from a professional, then."

The next day, Nuriko happily introduced the other members to the agent he found. The agent wore a tan suit and tie, but had long hair and an outrageously decorated face. "This is Tomo. He says he's got a lot of experience in the entertainment industry."

Chiriko gulped and whispered to the others, "I've got a bad feeling about this guy. Haven't we met him before?"

"I've never seen him, but I hear he's good," Nuriko responded.

"I think we would have remembered a face like that," Mitsukake added.

"I guess you're right," the boy nodded.

"If you're done talking, I'd like to get started," Tomo flashed them a smile. "I've already got an image in mind for you!"

"What is it?"

"NCM is going to be one of those smaller boy bands in which the members are always mistaken for girls!"

Nuriko beamed. "That's perfect!!"

"I guess it's alright as long as they still know we're boys," Chiriko shrugged.

"Then it's settled," Tomo would have decided, until he took a look at Mitsukake. Very slowly, he corrected himself, "Never mind that image, then. I'll have to think of something else for you three." Thus, he departed for a short time.

"I hope you're not disappointed," the healer apologized to Nuriko. "I just don't know if I'm the right person to do this."

"Don't say that!" Nuriko shook his head. "This band is about the three of us, not just me."

"He's right," Chiriko pitched in. "I'm sure there's an image for you."

Mitsukake smiled, thankful to have such supportive friends. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, so he would have to do his best. Tomo soon returned enthusiastically.

"I've got it! Mitsukake will work just fine in this image," he gave them a thumb-up. "We'll have the silent boys-energetic lead female set up. Nuriko will take the flashy lead role…"

"That's perfect!" Nuriko cheered.

"…and the other two will take the background positions of the tall, dark, mysterious men."

Mitsukake was quite content that there was a role for him, but Chiriko raised his hand to address a concern. "Tomo, sir? I don't think I'm tall enough."

Tomo took a good look at him, and his smile sunk. "Nevermind then. I'll come back with a better idea."

"Sorry to ruin that for you both," Chiriko sighed. "If I weren't such a child…"

"Don't worry about it," Nuriko put a supportive hand on his shoulder. "You'll grow up soon enough."

Mitsukake silently gestured to Nuriko a "no good, he's dead" message, but it was too late. Chiriko already looked like he was going to cry.

"I'm sorry, Chiriko," Nuriko cuddled him. "But there's no changing what's happened to us."

"He's right," Mitsukake put a hand around them. "All we can do now is work though our challenges with what we have, however little that might be."

"Right," Chiriko sniffled. "We have to do our best."

Tomo, little did they realize, had walked in on them and watched. "It's perfect! Absolutely perfect! I know what NCM's perfect image will be now!"

"What is it? Tell us, tell us!" they all whirled around in anticipation.

"The dysfunctional-family type group."

"….the what?" they asked in unison.

"The group that wants to be a family, but their circumstances aren't socially accepted. You'll draw fangirlish pity from a wide group of listeners. Kekekekeke."

"Is that the same as being popular?" Chiriko asked.

"Yes, if not better."

"I don't think I follow where you're going with this. Could you please clarify this family theme?" Mitsukake asked.

With a sly smirk, Tomo did just that. "Chiriko, for obviously reasons, is the baby of the family. Nuriko is the mommy, but is told he can't do his job as well as a real women can. Mitsukake has always had the desire to support a family as a man, but lacks the confidence to. Won't it be adorable?"

NCM stayed silent.

"Of course, that would imply," their agent continued, "that 'mom' and 'dad' have their own special secret relationship… but the main point would be the struggling to get by when all of society hates you. Not that they'll hate you-they'll love you! Every whiney teenage girl will want to be part of your family!"

NCM was still silent, but growing red, for one reason or another.

"Well, what's the hold up for? Let's go get started."

"Apsolutely not."

"No way in hell."

"No."

Tomo was horrified to turn back around and see their disapproving glances. "What? Why not?"

Immediately, he was bombarded with a flurry of angry reasons 'why not', and couldn't make out anything except that they disapproved of his perfect idea.

"Fine, be that way, but in this industry, you can't act so spoiled. That was the last idea I had for you three."

"We're still going to make a band!" Nuriko argued. "Whether you help us or not!"

"I didn't say you couldn't make a band," clarified Tomo. "But you can't do it with only the three of you."

"Then we need to go kidnap Tamaneko?"

"No no, I've got some ideas for other members. Meet me back here, same time tomorrow. NCM's going to be a hit, I guarantee it!"

"What do we do now?" Chiriko asked.

"We sing the ending theme and wait for the next episode, what else?" Nuriko answered. Thus, the three of them did their best to sing Tokimeki no Doukasen, but found it obvious that they would probably need some voices lessons to harmonize in the future.