Disclaimer: I own nothing in this fic but what little plot there is and the way I've rearranged and changed the song "The Tango Maureen" from Rent. Thanks for reading and please review because I'd love to hear from you!

The Tango Tohma

Hands in his pockets Shuichi walked into the room cautiously, watching his keyboard player the way a man approached a bomb that was ready to go off at any moment. Damn, Tohma, making him come here to see how Suguru was doing on the new song. He could see that obviously the very frustrated younger man was still stuck and the last thing he wanted was to get his head bit off again. But Tohma would know if he didn't come at at least ask Suguru how things were going. Taking a deep breath he closed the door behind him and coughed loudly to get Suguru's attention.

Suguru :Shuichi?

Shuichi : Hi.

Suguru : I told him not to call you

Shuichi : That's Tohma. But can I help since I'm here?

Suguru: I'm fine, thanks ...

Shuichi, starting to back up : Great!
Well, I'll see you later then.

Suguru gives him a miserable look :Wait!
It's already three hours late
The tempo sounds okay
But the pace --

Shuichi, stops and comes back : Then let's try another way
Play it some way -- anyway

Suguru plays a bit on keyboard

Shuichi : Any way but that

Suguru :This is weird

Shuichi : It's weird

Suguru :Very weird

Shuichi : Fuckin' weird

Suguru : I'm so mad
That I don't know what to do
Fighting with the keyboard
Freezing down to my bones
And to top it all off
I'm with you

Shuichi : Feel like going insane?
Got a fire in your brain?
And you're thinking of drinking gasoline?

Suguru : As a matter of fact --

Shuichi : Buddy, I know this act
It's called the 'Tango Tohma'
The Tango Tohma
It's a dark, dizzy merry-go-round
As he keeps you dangling

Suguru :You're wrong

Shuichi : Your career he is mangling

Suguru : It's different with me

Shuichi : And you toss and you turn
'Cause his cold eyes can burn
Yet you yearn and you curse and redo

Suguru : I think I know what you mean

BOTH : The Tango Tohma

Shuichi : Has he ever curled his lips
And called you 'Baka!'

Suguru : Never

Shuichi : Have you ever doubted a smile or two?

Suguru : This is spooky
Did you shake when he walked through the door?

Shuichi : Every time -- so be cautious

Suguru : Did he compare you to other bands --?

Shuichi : More than compare --

Suguru : I'm getting nauseous

They begin to dance, with Shuichi leading.

Shuichi :Where'd you learn to tango?

Suguru : With the French Ambassador's daughter in her dorm
room when I was at private school. And you?

Shuichi : With Nanoe Himiko. The neighbor's daughter at the
Sihingi Community Center.

They switch, and Suguru leads.

It's hard to do this backwards.

Suguru: Just think what it'd be like in heels!

(pause)

He lied

Shuichi : He lied

Suguru : Tohma lied

Shuichi : Fuckin' lied

Suguru : I'm defeated
I should give up right now

Shuichi : Gotta look on the bright side
With all of your might

Suguru : We're stuck with him, anyhow

BOTH : When you're dancing his dance
You don't stand a chance
His grip on your career
Can't be changed

Shuichi : So you think, 'Might as well'

Suguru : Dance a tango to hell

BOTH : 'At least I'll have tangoed at all'
The Tango Tohma
Gotta dance till your diva is through
You pretend to believe him
Cause in the end -- you can't leave him
But the end it will come
Still you have to play dumb
Till you're glum and you bum
And turn blue

Shuichi : Why does he have to be mean?

Suguru :And he can be so cruel to me

Shuichi : I've got an idea!

Suguru : My Tohma (reverb: ma, ma, ma...)

Shuichi : I think I've got it!

Suguru : Really?

Shuichi :You know -- I feel great now!

Suguru : I feel lousy

BOTH : The Tango Tohma

Looking at each other in silence for a moment they broke out laughing and had to sit down, tears of amusement rolling down their checks as they wrapped their arms around their ribs in defense. It was several minutes before either of them could speak a sentence without breaking back into uncontrollable laughter.

"So you really think you know how to fix it?" Suguru asked, wiping a tear from his face as he grinned at his lead singer, unable to remember at the moment just why Shuichi annoyed him so much.

"Yeah. Want to give it a try?"

"Why not."