The guitar: A fretted musical instrument, wherein the six strings are strung parallel to the neck and plucked to create a sound. The lowest-pitched string is at the top of the instrument and the highest-pitched is at the bottom. It is the primary instrument in blues and rock music.

Natural Inclination

I was always naturally inclined towards music. Maybe it was in my blood – after all, my brother always liked the arts side of the field and I looked up to him more than I did my parents. Not saying I didn't like, love or respect my parents, but a brother is just different. Closer.

I guess it really started when I was four. Mom said that was the first time I banged a wooden spoon against an upside-down pot. No, I don't think that's right. It started the first time I clapped along with one of the tapes I listened to as a kid; a really small kid, hardly even able to walk yet and no where near talking. I remember (I don't know why I can, but I do) being able to clap right along with my favourite song, even if I couldn't articulate anything beyond childish nonsense.

I definitely started as a percussionist. Mom didn't support my musical habits but passed them off as a normal stage of child growth and bought me a plastic drum set for my fifth birthday. She thought I'd grow out of it in no more than a month. I wore the set through. By the time they were thrown out, six months later, they wouldn't even make sound anymore. I hadn't been any good at the set, but I'd loved it. Yuuji took note and got me a plastic recorder to replace my drums.

I don't think I let it go until I was six and a half. All the time, I'd have it with me, and sometimes I'd just pull it out and play around until I got some sort of melody going on. Even then I'm pretty sure Mom didn't approve. Yuuji was really proud, though, when I'd go and see him and play my newest little song. Mom was pushing him in succeeding then, at his schoolwork and everything. Yuuji told me he just wanted to have fun. He never told Mom that.

I met Shuichi when I was nearly nine. He was very different from anyone I'd ever known before. In my house, Mom made the rules and Yuuji and I followed them, for the most part. We did our school work, mine being impressive and his being passable. But Shuichi – he was different. He reminded me of a rock star, probably because even then, and it seems like such a long time ago, he was emulating Sakuma Ryuichi. He sang all the time, whenever there was a song he recognized and sometimes when there was no music at all. I was a little put off by him at first, but not for long. Once I got used to him, I… wanted him around all the time. He was like a sort of vortex, maybe a black hole, pulling everything in close to him.

He told me he wanted to be a rock star. He told everyone, but he told me with another reason in mind. He told me that he wanted me in his band. He said it even before he asked if I played an instrument. He said it before he laughed over my stories about playing drums as kid. He said it before he demanded to see the recorder Yuuji had given me. He said it before he commanded that I take up guitar.

I was lucky enough to be able to do it. And I did it for him, honestly. But in the end, it was for me. I found the instrument that worked best for me. Few people are gifted enough to master several instruments, and fewer still are able to find the one they really belong on.

I had a helping hand. I may not have gotten it right the first time, but getting it right was what mattered. The guitar was for me. I was for the guitar.

I always thought the name Shuichi chose for our band was ironic but I never said a word, because he was so pleased with it. I never said a word because it made him happy. I realised then, I'd do anything to make him happy. Anything.