A/N: Hey guys! There's a lot of explaining to do before you read the chapter, so I'll get right to it.

This fic is based around the experiences of a certain Kuga Natsuki in the Fuuka High Marching Band. And so, there's some terminology that I have to get out of the way...

The Pit: Also known formally as the Front Ensemble, but the "Pit" is what most people call it, mostly because it's easier. This section is technically a part of the Drumline, along with the Battery. The Pit is usually set up in front of the band, but in a place that they can see the drum major(s). The usual instruments are mallet instruments like marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, bells, and other auxiliary that the Battery can't march with. Pits can have a wide range of sizes; the one at my school has been as small as 7 people and as big as about 20. The Pit doesn't usually march like the rest of the band, which really sets them apart.

The Color Guard: This is the more visual part of the band. It includes various flags and a weapon line (and sometimes a dance line). While the Guard usually consists of most girls, it is not unheard of or rare for a man to take part. I, personally, really admire teh Color Guard, since when I attend high school, they got a lot of crap (almost as much as the Pit) even though they worked just as hard or harder than the rest of the band. They are quite graceful, but shouldn't be messed with too much.

Drum Majors: These are the conductors for the band; they keep the time, and everyone watches them. They usually stand on high podiums and vary in number, from as low as one to as many as three. Drum Majors report to the Band Directors (the teachers).

Weapon Line: One of the more dangerous parts of Color Guard. They are section within the Guard that specializes primarily in the use of sabers and rifles, though the are also familiar with flags. The members of the Weapon Line are sometimes more prone to injury because of the weapons' weight and how they must throw them and catch them.

Section Leaders:The band consist of many sections (like the Drumline, or trumpet section) and each section has a section leader who manages them. Drumline, however, has a Section Leader for each instrument : Tenors, Basses, Snares, Cymbals, and the Pit. Section Leaders answer to Captains and Drum Majors.

Captains: Like Section Leaders, Captains manage different instruments, but theirs is much more general. There is a Brass, Woodwind, Percussion (Drumline; Battery and Pit) and Color Guard Captain. However, it's common for their to be Color Guard Co-Captains, or a Flagline Captain and a Weapon Line Captain. Captains report to Drum Majors.

Rookies: Another name for beginners in the Band program. Usually defined as middle-schoolers that are first joining the band when entering high school, but there have been occasions when a sophomore or junior in high school has been considered a rookie because they are new to the band. However, this can only occur in the Color Guard, since that is the only section that you can join regardless of whether you have been in the band program before or not.

... Whew. I think I got all of it...? Enjoy~

Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-HiME or Nanoha or any of the songs mentioned!


Present

How did I get here? Natsuki asked herself as she stood high above the 260 people. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins as she raised her hands and tried her best to avoid any unwanted eye contact. Easier said than done…

A sudden wave of nervousness hit the blunette when she felt a certain pair of eyes rest on her. Seriously… just HOW did I manage to get here?

Natsuki shook her head to clear it and focus.

"ONE! TWO!" She shouted as she started to wave her hands in the familiar motion. A cool breeze blew through the mountains, making the August heat more bearable.


15 months ago…

"Oi! Nao!" The said redhead turned around, only to come face-to-face with a severely pissed of Natsuki Kuga. "What the fuck is your problem?"

"I think I should be the one asking that, Mutt," Nao replied, taking a step away from the fuming girl. "Why do I get the feeling that you're about to kill me?"

"Because I am about to kill you! How could you just leave the Pit and try out for Guard without telling me first?"

"It's called a change of pace, Kuga," the redhead scoffed. "I was tired of it, so I did something that looks like fun." Nao shrugged. "I thought you knew… I figured that Mai would have told you or something."

Natsuki quirked a dark brow. "Why would Mai tell me about it?"

"… Oh … um… So really don't know?" Nao asked hesitantly. She couldn't help but slightly wince at the pointed look that the biker was giving her. "Oh boy."

Fortunately, Mai Tokiha walked past just then, only to be tugged back by the blunette.

"Mai, what are you doing up here? And why are you wearing that … Waitaminute! You got to be kidding me! Not you too, Mai!"

"Sorry, Natsuki, but I just had to try out for Color Guard. I've wanted to do it since we joined the marching band when we were freshmen!"

"You're not fooling anyone, Tokiha," Natsuki growled as she released the amble-chested girl's arm. "The only reason that you switched was so you could date Tate." A pained look appeared on the biker's face before it quickly vanished.

"Yeah, you've had your panties in a bunch ever since that no-dating-people-of-the-same-section rule came up freshman year." Nao glanced at Natsuki with a worried look.

I was actually surprised that Kuga stayed in the Pit. She was upset over the rule as Mai was, since she has a major crush on Tate, too. I'd say that she's practically in love with him… Nao almost regretted trying out for Guard… Almost.

Truth is that you don't get any attention – no matter how hot you are – if you're in the Pit. Well, at least that's how it is at Fuuka High. Since whoever doesn't make Drumline goes straight to Pit, the entire section is seen as a joke and gets no respect from the rest of the band.

Color Guard girls, however, are known to be the hottest girls in the band, and sometimes even the whole school. Thus, they usually get as many guys – or girls – as they want. In many cases, many members of the guard only date members of the Drumline. Figures, right?

The risqué outfits they have to wear don't hurt their chances either. They don't look asexual like the band kids do in their uniforms.

"Whatever." Natsuki turned and walked in the direction of the band room, which was still a floor down. "Good luck, I guess." She called over her shoulder.

As soon as the biker was out of earshot, Nao turned to Mai with a intense glare on her face. "You're a real bitch sometimes, Tokiha." She knows that she played dirty in order to get Tate from Kuga.

Mai rolled her eyes. "She'll get over it. Natsuki obviously doesn't care about Yuuichi enough to leave the Pit. And he only likes her as a friend, nothing more."

The busty redhead smirked. "He almost considered breaking the no-dating rule for me, you know. But since he's the Section Leader, he felt that he had to set an example."

Nao's eyes narrowed even more. "I feel like I don't even know you right now. What happened to the kind and caring Mai that always put herself and her needs last?"

Mai shrugged and walked off to get her flags. "Hey, that's high school for you, Yuuki."

Lime green eyes watched the other redhead leave before turning to look in the direction that her best friend walked off in. "Now I really wish that I hadn't left." She mumbled.

Nao sighed before walking off to grab her rifle and saber. Better practice if she was going to make Weapon Line during her first year on Color Guard.


Down in the band room, Natsuki picked up four mallets and started playing "Yellow After the Rain" on one of the marimbas, using the Burton four-mallet technique. [1 and 2]

"Oi, Kuga, did you find out where Yuuki-san and Mai went to?" Yuuichi asked as her stopped on the other side of the marimba. He cringed when he recognized the tune she was playing. "Is it really that bad?"

"What do you mean, Tate?"

"You only play that song when you're upset, and whenever I play it you yell at me to stop because it gets stuck in your head easily." Tate smiled when the blunette stopped playing to chuckle.

Natsuki sighed. "They both decided to try out for Guard this year."

"Really?" Yuuichi responded a little too happily. This means that I can finally ask out Mai!

"Yeah. Looks like it's up to us to deal with the rookies." Natsuki didn't like the way the dirty blonde's eyes lit up upon hearing the news.

"Well, the new instructor should be a big help. Mrs. Yumi said that she's really good and that we'll like her a lot."

"We can only hope, right? Wait, isn't she supposed to show up today?"

Just then, a tall redhead with a side ponytail walked through the double doors that came from outside into the band room. The first thing that they heard was her voice.

Both Yuuichi and Natsuki stiffened and thought the same things.

There's no way! Mrs. Yumi was so mad when she quit band. He wouldn't actually hire her as our instructor, would she?

"Umm… Are you two okay?" The two Pit members turned around slowly, finally sighing in relief when they saw that it wasn't who they thought it was. "Did something happen?"

"Uh no, it's just that you sound a lot like a person that we used to know." Natsuki immediately noticed how they looked alike, too, except that this redhead had beautiful blue eyes instead of her grassy green eyes.

"Are you our new Pit instructor?"

The woman smiled. "Yes, I'm Takamachi Nanoha. I look forward to working with you."

She seems nice… and pretty… Natsuki blushed at her own thoughts. At least it wasn't her. I don't think I'm really ready to face her just yet… Even though it's been two whole years since she left.

"Hi, I'm Tate Yuuichi, the Pit Section Leader, and this is Kuga Natsuki. We're both sophomores right now."

"I see… so it's just you two. No juniors or seniors?"

Natsuki flinched at the question because it reminded her of her again. I should really stop calling her her"Well, we did have a senior in the Pit once, but she quit right after our first performance our freshman year. At the time, the Pit consisted of 7 freshman and one sophomore. Three of the other five our either on Drumline or trying out for it, and the remaining two are trying out for Color Guard."

"Yes, well… I didn't really expect any upperclassmen. I mean, this is the Front Ensemble after all." Nanoha laughed, which seemed to be contagious. After the three calmed down, they got to business.

Tate and Natsuki showed Nanoha the exercises that they knew, such as Green and Skillet Beans, and talked about logistics with her. Even after all of that, no rookies had shown up for Pit, so they continued to chat. [3]

"So, do you two play anything other than marimba and other percussion instruments?" Nanoha inquired, her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I don't, but Kuga here is practically a musical prodigy! She can play almost anything—"

"I wouldn't say that, Tate." She turned back to Nanoha. "My favorite instruments are guitar, marimba, vibraphone, and piano."

"Hmm… It's good to know that we have a fair amount of talent here. I bet you could be a Drum Major next year, if you play your cards right."

Natsuki smiled at the compliment. "Thanks, but I'm not sure if I'm capable of that. I get nervous when I'm in front of a lot of people, so I don't think I could handle directing over 260 high schoolers."

"We'll see." The redhead looked at her watch. "Oh, it's late. You should head home. I'll see you two tomorrow."

Natsuki and Tate waved as they headed to their respective car and motorcycle, which we're parked at the back of the parking lot.

"So, what do you think of her?" Tate asked as they walked past a flock of drummers and color guard. The two groups just seem to mix naturally.

"She… she reminded me of Midori…" Soft brown eyes rested on emeralds.

"I know you're still hurt from that. Trust me, I am, too. We all looked up to Midori because of her musical genius… But let's face it; we wouldn't have been able to stay friends with her, especially since we were freshmen at the time."

"Yeah, it's just that I was reacted so dramatically." Natsuki ran a hand through her long hair. "She was my idol, and I realize that it wasn't fair of me to do that to her. I even put all the blame on her for all the struggles I went through that year. If it weren't for you, Mai, and Nao, I probably wouldn't be here right now."

Tate grinned. "If it counts for anything, I'm really glad that you're here." He embraced the blunette when they reached their vehicles. Natsuki turned bright red.

"Yeah… well…" The biker quickly stepped away and slipped on her helmet, trying her best to cover up her face. "Don't forget about that test we have in Chemistry tomorrow."

"Aw fuck!" And Tate was off in his old piece-of-crap tin can of a car. Natsuki couldn't help but laugh as she turned on her Ducati.


3 months later (1 year ago)…

Natsuki sighed, a habit that had only started after this morning's rehearsal. Her hands were killing her. Learning Stevens was going to be really hard on her palms.

With Stevens, the end of one mallet is pressed into a crease between your thumb and palm, and rests on the index finger. The second mallet goes between the pinky and ring finger. [4]

Needless to say, it was only the second day of band camp, and Natsuki already had some bad blisters. She winced every time she unconsciously clenched her fists, since that caused pain to shoot up from her tender palms. The biker had pushed herself a lot today, so she had successful rubbed her palms raw along with the sides of some of her fingers.

Better get some of my vet tape and wrap this up. If I don't, I won't be able hold a mallet without wincing. As Natsuki approached her dorm room, she could hear yelling on the other side of her door. [5]

"Why me?" She whined as she took out her room key and unlocked the door. She already was having a rough day; why couldn't she have some peace and quiet in her own dorm room?

"Hey watch where you're swinging that thing! You could really hurt someone—OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" Natsuki raised her eyebrows in surprise; her roommate rarely ever loses her cool.

"THAT was for that jackass comment from you and your drummer buddies during practice today! We are NOT your fucking cheerleaders!" Oh, well that explains it.

"That wasn't my idea! Go talk to—oh, hey Natsuki." Chie automatically cooled down when she saw her roommate. Maybe because she knew that Nao wouldn't dare hit Natsuki?

"Nao, put down the rifle. That thing can easily give someone a concussion." Vibrant green eyes turned and narrowed. "What did you idiots do this time, Harada?"

"You're going to automatically take Nao's side? I can't believe you, Natsuki-chan!" Chie pretended to be hurt.

Nao rolled her eyes, refusing to lower her rifle until some apology was made. "Of course she's going to take my side. If it weren't for Mai being a complete bitch, I would be rooming with Natsuki instead of Mikoto."

"Can we please not talk about Mai? I already have a headache." The blunette made her way over to her desk. "From what I gathered, the drum line made some stupid comment about the guard, didn't they?" She asked as she ripped strips of her blue vet tape and wrap it around her aching fingers and hand.

"Yeah, they called themselves the 'jocks' of the band and said that we're their 'cheerleaders.'"

"Hey hey, don't make it sound like I was involved! It was all Masashi-san's idea!" Chie sighed. "Honestly, I don't know how he of all people became snare captain."

Natsuki grunted to acknowledge that she understood, but she really didn't since she didn't even know who Masashi was. I'll ask Chie later to point out who this Masashi guy is...

The female snare player sprawled out across her bed with another sigh. "So how was your rehearsal today, Natsuki?"

Nao groaned. "Man, I never realized how lucky I had it when I was in Pit. You guys get to lounge around in the air conditioning!"

"Yeah, well don't fret about it too much, Spider. Nanoha-san says that she plans on us being out with you guys on the practice field by tomorrow afternoon." Natsuki hissed when she accidentally touched one of her raw palms. "Besides, I much rather have Nan-san or Haru-san as my instructors than Nanoha-san."

Chie and Nao exchanged looks. Nan was the color guard coach and Haru was the drum line instructor, but both were known for their strictness.

Also, band camp takes up one whole week –the week right before school starts back up from summer vacation. All the band kids arrive on a Sunday and leave the following Saturday after a performance of the show for the families. Even when the show music is simple for the Pit, they still don't usually get outside until Thursday (the 5th) morning, maybe Wednesday (the 4th) night on a good week.

Making it out on Tuesday (the 3rd day) was unheard of for the Pit.

"And yeah, Nanoha-san's that bad. We've actually come up with a nickname for her." Natsuki waited a second, making sure that she had their attention.

"The White Devil." She shuttered just thinking about how they came up the name. Nanoha was the strictest instructor that she had ever met. She's like a monstrous combination of Haru and Nan, except she came out gorgeous. Another shiver ran down the blunette's spine, but she wasn't sure if it was caused by fear or… or what?

"Um… Okay. A little much, don't you think?" Chie asked as she sat up on her bed, effectively breaking Natsuki's train of thought. Nao sat on the edge of the charcoal-haired drummer's mattress.

"How can she think that you'll get out that early in the week? The music this year is super hard, and you guys have at least 12 rookies!" Nao and Chie both used to be in Pit, so they know most of the system.

"Well, she thinks that the rookies can handle it. And no, it isn't too much. I have to learn 12 new warm ups by the end of today, and she's making us learn a new four mallet technique, which she expects us to use for the show… Well, everyone except Tate since he's the Section Leader and can do whatever he wants." The biker's mood abruptly saddened just by the mention of his name.

"…Still taking it pretty hard, huh, Kuga?" Natsuki just nodded.

Now let's backup and clarify.

Every year the band travels to the University of Western Fuuka to have band camp in the mountains; the higher altitude made the August heat much more bearable, which means less people passing out from heat exhaustion. The kids got to stay in the new dorms this year with a few chaperones on each floor.

Anyways, both Mai and Yuuichi arrived early Sunday and somehow ended up becoming a couple before anyone else showed up. Natsuki, who harbored a crush for Tate ever since she met him during freshman year, has been heartbroken ever since she found out.

Clarification over. Let's fast-forward back to the dorm room.

"It… it just makes everything so much more awkward, especially since he still has no idea that I had feelings for him." Natsuki clenched her fist, ignoring the sting.

"'Had'? What do you mean?" Chie said softly.

"I-I'm just trying to get over him, but I'm also trying not to do anything reckless, like accidentally lead someone on or something." Are these feelings that I have for Nanoha part of being reckless? She let out a frustrated sigh and combed her hand through her tresses. "I dunno… Look, I'm going to go play my guitar. I need to think."

Before they could try to comfort their distressed friend, Natsuki fled the room with her knapsack and acoustic guitar. Chie and Nao looked at each other, then the door, and sighed.

"At least she isn't acting like she did when Midori-senpai left." Chie tried to say reassuringly.

"Yeah, that was a nightmare…"

"…What exactly happened between them, anyways?" Nao hesitated.

"Natsuki… Natsuki really looked up to Midori; they had this strong connection since the first time they met. As time went on, they got closer, and Natsuki started trusting Midori more and more. She hasn't realized it yet, but I think Natsuki fell in love with Midori… Of course, it would've never worked out, with Midori being a senior and we were freshmen."

"During the first performance of the season," Nao continued. "Well, you remember how Natsuki's keyboard refused to turn on." Chie nodded. "Well, it hit Kuga pretty hard. She's always been really hard on herself, especially when it comes to music. Midori was the one who comforted Natsuki, and that's when Mutt told Midori how much she looked up to her."

Nao sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "… But… the following Monday, Midori pulled Kuga aside and told her that she was leaving, that she was quitting band, school, everything. Natsuki didn't take it well, but I'm sure you know that much."

"Do you know why Midori-senpai left?"

"She never told me or Mutt why… but we figured that she was going after that professor that she said she looked up to. Kuga always expected that she was in love with him… but I think she also hoped that Midori would learn to care for her more than him. Hell, I was mad when she left, too; Midori was like my older sister sometimes."

"Wow. That was more than I ever heard about it." Chie huffed.

"It was a sensitive subject for everyone involved. What's worse is that we always run into Midori aT some point each year. Last year, she was our school cafeteria, and accidentally ran into Natsuki. She was there for a job recommendation, apparently." Nao go up and walked over the window. She immediately spotted her best friend sitting under the only tree in the small courtyard.

"Didn't Natsuki say something about her new instructor being like Midori?" The taller girl joined the redhead.

"Yeah, she says that they even have the same voice." Nao opened the window and was rewarded with the sound of Natsuki playing her guitar and singing. "It must be a constant reminder of Midori… I wonder how she's handling it." [6]

"She seems to be okay, but we know better by now…"


Why did everything have to be so difficult?

Why did Mai have to go behind my back like that? Twice!

Why can't things just work in my favor for once?

All these questions - and many more – plagued Natsuki's mind as she played one of the first songs she ever learned on guitar: "Dust In the Wind" by Kansas.

It was hot as hell outside, which made her wonder how hot it must be down in Fuuka right now, but the tree's shade kept her nice and cool. Natsuki always liked coming to the mountains for band camp, mostly because of how beautiful it can be.

Sure, the road that she takes on the way home every day after school is nice, but there's something about the mountains that holds more comfort for Natsuki than the ocean does. Probably because that's where Mom died…

The topic of her mother's death didn't bother Natsuki as much as it used to, mostly because when teachers ask about her parents, she always has to explain how and why she doesn't have any.

Bad thoughts, bad thoughts, Natsuki chanted in her mind. She quickly switched songs to one of her favorites to play. [7]

Am I loud and clear, or am I breaking up?
Am I still your charm, or am I just bad luck?
Are we getting closer, or are we just getting more lost?

Natsuki closed her eyes, letting her problems drift off with the breeze.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours first
Let's compare scars, I'll tell you whose is worse
Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words

Since her eyes were closed, the blunette failed to notice that she had an audience.

We live on front porches and swing life away,
We get by just fine here on minimum wage
If love is a labor I'll slave till the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand

I've been here so long, I think that it's time to move
The winter's so cold, summer's over too soon
Let's pack our bags and settle down where palm trees grow

I've got some friends, some that I hardly know
But we've had some times, I wouldn't trade for the world
We chase these days down with talks of the places that we will go

We live on front porches and swing life away,
We get by just fine here on minimum wage
If love is a labor I'll slave till the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand...until you hold my hand

I'll show you mine if you show me yours first
Let's compare scars, I'll tell you whose is worse
Let's unwrite these pages and replace them with our own words

We live on front porches and swing life away,
We get by just fine here on minimum wage
If love is a labor I'll slave till the end,
I won't cross these streets until you hold my hand

Swing life away…. Swing life away… Swing life away~

Swing life away…

Natsuki sighed. If only she could feel this carefree with everything else.

The dark-haired girl opened her eyes when she heard a giggle… a rather familiar giggle.

"Ara, I didn't know that we had such a beautiful guitarist in our band." A gorgeous girl said, but her voice… Dear God… it was unlike anything else Natsuki had ever heard. Like velvet, Natsuki thought.

Natsuki didn't respond however; she was never one for conversation. Then again, she definitely never one to have a conversation with a random and gorgeous girl.

She looks like she's the same age and grade as me, and those eyes… You'd think that I would remember something like that. The biker couldn't help but be stunned by the wine red eyes that seemed to sparkle.

"What is your name?" The stranger smiled, and Natsuki could've sworn that she felt her heart ache. What's wrong with me?

"Ara, surely you have a name…" The blunette merely lifted a brow, her expression still stoic. "You certainly are not mute because you were just singing—"

"BUBUZUKE! WHERE ARE YOU?" Natsuki had to refrain from yelling "baka" at the approaching blonde, who she also didn't recognize.

How is it that I recognize neither of these girls, yet they are both in band and in my grade? Am I just oblivious or something? Natsuki glared at her thoughts, but turned her eyes to the obnoxiously loud blonde. You know, it doesn't actually surprise me that I don't know her. She seems like someone that I would avoid. If it weren't her inability to speak at a normal level, I'd find her rather attractive.

Natsuki almost slapped herself across the face. What's the deal with her? She wasn't into girls, right?

…Right?

Rather than stick around, the biker got up and headed back to her room, never bothering to look back as she walked away.

As soon as she entered the dorm, Natsuki was greeted by Chie and Nao screeching to a halt in front of her. They were panting, so she could only wonder why they just ran down three flights of stairs.

"You… uh… you guys okay?" Emerald shifted from the red to black hair, since they were bended over, trying to catch their breath.

"Do… do you realize… whew, who you were just sitting with?" Chie asked between breaths. Natsuki yawned before walking around the two.

"Do you realize that there's an elevator for a reason?" Natsuki smirked at the annoyed look on Nao's face. "What's the rush anyways?"

"Yeah, what is the rush, Harada? You made me run down three fucking flights of stairs just so you could ask Mutt if she knew some girl? You're so lucky that I left my weapons in your room." Chie cringed.

"So neither of you know who that person was?" Chie said, astonished. Natsuki and Nao exchanged glances before snickering.

"Chie, you've known us since middle school… Do we seem like the type to care about rumors and all that other shit that you and Senou gush over?" Nao responded before laughing at the very idea.

Chie's shocked face faltered. "Well… no, but—" A chaperone walked up to the trio, successfully interrupting the drummer.

"Kuga Natsuki-san?" She asked.

"Yes?"

"Takamachi-san wanted us to round up the entire Pit and send them over to the Rehearsal Hall."

Natsuki groaned. "It's not even Tuesday and she's already calling us for extra practices! Okay, do you want me to help you gather everyone?"

"No, Tate-san is already assisting us. You should go ahead. Takamachi-san said something about needing to talk to you anyway." The blunette nodded. She gave her guitar to Chie and Nao before walking out of the building (opposite side of the courtyard) and proceeded to the Rehearsal Hall.

As she walked, Natsuki's thoughts drifted back to that girl under the tree.

I've never seen someone so beautiful… and those eyes… and that voice… Wow, she seems perfect.

Just then, a memory caused the girl to stop in her tracks in shock.

She knew who that person was. Anyone and everyone that attends Fuuka High knows those red eyes... And you either adore them, or fear them.

Fujino Shizuru, the idol of Fuuka High and the talented Weapon Line Captain.


A/N: Did you like it? Review and let me know!

So... I hope no one was like "WTF! Natsuki x Midori?" or anything, because it was unexpected by me too... I needed a character that seems flighty and had a reason to leave, so... yeah. Oh, and sorry for the Mai bashing... and the Natsuki x Yuuichi... I'm not saying sorry anymore! :3

Numbers!~

[1] "Yellow After the Rain" (by Mitchell Peters) is actually a pretty well-known marimba song. Look it up on youtube.

[2] Burton is a four mallet grip by Gary Burton.

[3] Green is a common mallet warm up, while I'm not sure if Skillet Beans is. Green is based off of scales and the Circle of Fourths. (- Some Music Theory for ya!)

[4] There are sooooo many better ways to explain this than I did... Look up "Leigh Howard Stevens" and "four mallets". You'll find a good tutorial at

[5] Vet tape is veterinarian tape that is commonly used on horses. It lessens the friction caused by the mallets, so it's sometimes used by people in the Pit. Another way to get rid of blisters is to stick your hands in rubbing alcohol, but I wouldn't recommend it since it hurts like a bitch. Keep in mind that blisters are a good sign when playing mallets, because blisters eventually lead to calluses, which make playing with mallets a lot easier.

[6] Did you guys know that in the Japanese version, both Midori Sugiura (Mai-HiME) and Nanoha Takamachi (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) are voiced by Yukari Tamura? Yup, same person. That's why this makes sense.

[7] "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against

Well, I really hoped you liked it~ Review if you can!

~Wolf Of Wind