Koyuki's POV

I was a bit surprise to see Ryusuke asleep on that one vacant bed. He definitely wasn't there when Saku and I went to sleep last night. But I guess I really shouldn't be, I mean, Ryusuke's letter did say we would meet him in Seattle and that's why Taira booked two hotel rooms, he and Chiba were sharing on, Saku and I got the other with that one extra bed.

Ryusuke looked exhausted, he didn't even changed out of his coat. We have rehearsals at nine, but maybe I can leave a note and tell the other guys we should let Ryusuke sleep in and let him catch up a little later.

Tonight is the first gig we have with Beck finally a complete band at Crocodile Café. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I actually ran to him and gave him a hug when we met up with him at Jimi Hendrix's grave. Even Chiba was too surprise to make any of his usual jokes. But I guess I can't only blame my body for moving on its own. I actually did miss him, and I'm not ashamed to admit it... Well, to myself at least.

Beck had come to mean so much to me than I ever expecleave, And Beck wasn't Beck without all five of us together, especially not without the guy who did form the band in the first place. I always knew this, but Ryusuke sure is an amazing guy.

Then I begun to question that since he told us what's he's been up to.

"No shit man," Chiba reacted first, pointing at the newspaper he brought to show. "This is what you've been up to?"

Leon Sykes Arrested

Ryusuke shrugged, his focus mostly on tuning Prudence. "Well, it's not like I planned to get involved, y'know." He pointed out. "It just happened."

"This doesn't" Taira held up the paper. "just happen. What aren't you telling us?"

Was it just me or did Ryusuke look my way for a moment there?

"Naw man, I was seriously just at the wrong place at the wrong time." Ryusuke finally said.

Chiba snorted. "Yeah, like you were at the wrong place at the wrong time when that man fucked you up back then. Come on man," he jabbed his shoulder. "Fill us in. What you do to finally get back on that guy?"

"I'd tell you," Ryusuke took the newspaper. "but we really need to start rehearsals." He went towards the trash bin.

"Come oooon," Chiba rolled his eyes. "even I can tell that was a fucking attempt for a change of topic."

Taira sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, he does have a point though." He said. "We need to start rehearsals." He went towards his bass.

Chiba groaned. "Fiiine, at least let me take a picture before you throw it." He insisted.

I frowned when I felt a nudge on my shoulder.

It was Saku's drumstick. "Hey Koyuki," he said. "you think Ryusuke-kun isn't telling us everything."

"Hm, I wonder about that." I replied.

~o~

A little later, we ended our rehearsal early. Tomorrow we have an early start and moving to the next state, so Chiba, Saku and Taira rented some motor bikes to check out some of the parts they wanted to see before we leave.

Besides, I don't think I imagined the mild tension after seeing that newspaper and having that conversation of Ryusuke possibly keeping something from us.

"Koyuki." Ryusuke walked towards me, just right outside a diner. "You could've gone with them, you know."

I shrugged dimissively, pocketing my hands in my jacket, leaning back to the Diner's wall. "I don't really feel like it." I said. "And you know... I have been in several states with them already anyway."

"I see." Ryusuke seemed to smile, leaning back too. "It really is nice to see you again, too, Koyuki."

I flushed as he saw right through me. "Ye-yeah."

"I mean that, really." Ryusuke said. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

I managed a smile. "Yeah. No kidding... Um, Ryusuke?" I prompt. "Did you... Really have nothing to do with Mr. Sykes getting arrested?"

Ryusuke flinched, sighing. "It's really not much of a big deal, Koyuki." He said. "I never intended to get involve, I wasn't lying about that. I was gonna go through with our deal and didn't plan on showing up to him or any of you again."

I frowned, confused. "Okay... Then... Why did you?" I asked slowly.

"Because you got involved."

I blinked. "I... What?"

"I heard about that deal he offered you." Ryusuke continued. "And that you refused."

"Well, of course I refused. I didn't want to go solo, I wanted to-"

"Well, you should've just accepted it."

"-keep playing with Beck... Wait, what?" I stared at him. "He wanted to shut down Beck. Sure, he offered me a cool guitar but why would I work with a guy like that? Especially since he's actually a murderer, too."

"Because he would've killed you."

"Huuuuuh?!"

"No one ever's gone against Sykes and lived once he finds out. The only reason I didn't get killed was because I got on his Uncle's good side. When you refused him, you basically made it to his list. So I had to get involve because you did, and actually almost got myself killed getting him to admit to the murder."

I would've probably felt grateful if it wasn't for the way he worded it. "Why on earth are you making it sound like it was my fault?" I made a look. "You just shouldn't have stolen from him."

"Oh sure, and leave Beck in his clutches. Great." Ryusuke said, voice coated in sarcasm. "I'm not gonna apologize for that."

I glared at him. "Well, then why don't you apologize for breaking up Beck in the first place?" I snapped.

Ryusuke widened his eyes. I'm aware why. After what happened after our performance in Greatful Sound, we never really did talk about how the mess started because Ryusuke talked down Chiba when he was feeling the pressure. But a part of us all knew it was mostly Ryusuke's fault.

"I was trying to protect the band!"

"You messed Chiba-kun up and put him down, Ryusuke!" I snapped at him, pushing off from the wall and walked away from him. "You don't have to admit to your mistakes word for word. But we are your friends." I called back. "We at least deserved an apology. If you can't do that, then maybe you really should've never come back."

Tbc

A/N: It bothered me a bit that the scene in the theme song where Ryusuke and Koyuki were arguing was never used in any episode in the anime or the fact that Leon Sykes didn't blow up when Koyuki refused him. So I guess this is a fix-it fic.