J: Okay, so I just realized that the prologue is extremely long….what the hell, Karter?
K: Hey I was shocked, too! I was only planning for it to be, like, three or four pages at the most o.o
J: So would you mind explaining how that turned into SIXTEEN pages!?
K: Hey I get in a zone when I'm writing, and a really didn't want to split the prologue into two parts. It wouldn't have flowed as nicely, would it?
J: Hm, excellent point. Indeed.
K: Thank you.
J: Oh, and we know it says it in the summary, but this WILL change to M rated in the future due to lemon and noncon (thankfully they're two separate incidents). Oh, one more thing! The song!
K: Oh yeah! In the song Allen sings, everything in caps is English. Anything else is understood to be Korean.
J: Karter wrote the song.
K: I'm not very confident in it, since I made MANA out to be this bigger-than-life amazing singer-song-writer so it feels kind of meh to me.
J: *shooshpats Karter*
K: *hisses*
J: I WILL PUNCH YOU.
K: GO THE FUCK AHEAD. So anyways, that's really all we have to say…
J: *punches*…so enjoy the chapter, yes?

Show Biz: Act I

Scene I:
That Which We Call Moyashi By Any Other Name Would Be As Short

Allen groaned when he saw what time it was. He fell back down in bed and covered his face with his arm to shield his eyes from the early morning light streaming in through the cracks of his dark curtains.

'It's been a while since I had a nightmare like that,' he thought as he tried to calm his racing heart. 'Deep breaths. Deep breaths.'

He failed miserably - his hands still shaking after a minute of deep breathing - and threw his covers off in frustration. 'Okay,' he thought, 'I am not going to be able to get back to sleep. Ugh, what now?' he thought as he heard something scratching at his bedroom door. He stretched, lean muscles on his exposed stomach twisting, then dragged himself out of bed and opened the door, his baggy, dark blue sleep pants hanging low on his hips. Cracking the door open, his suspicions were comfirmed. He opened it all the way to allow Timcanpy - Cross' tiny, gold, fluff-ball of a kitten - into the room. Though it was more Allen's cat than Cross'. The man had only gotten him because he heard that ladies found it sexy, then got too lazy to take care of it.

"Come on in, Tim. I could use the company," Allen said as he picked up the kitten, nuzzling his face slightly into his velvety fur, finding comfort in the familiar feeling. Truth be told, they'd had him for years, but it seemed like this was as big as he was getting, stuck forever in a kitten's body. Although he was tiny, he was really fat, and very fluffy, so he looked almost round. Allen plopped Tim onto his bed and stood in the clear space in the middle of his room. "Just stay here while I do my morning exercises."

Tim just stared at him with big green eyes, meowed as if he understood, and curled up to watch. Allen managed a smile before he started, stretching his body thoroughly.

After finishing, Allen decided to work out, take a shower, and eat some breakfast. By the time he was finished it was barely 6 a.m. He was trying to decide what to do when he saw a note from his guardian pinned to the refrigerator that he hadn't noticed earlier when he'd raided the contents:

Hey brat,
I've gone out. Pay the house bills and run if the collectors come.
Get money from your own stash if you want anything.
Don't touch my alcohol, and don't die. Your corpse will stink up the place.
I'll be back in about two weeks.
Cross

"...Figures. Well, I guess I have time to stop by the bank before school," Allen said to himself.

He put on his school uniform - which consisted of black pants, a white long-sleeve, a black blazer and a thin red tie loosely hung around his neck - and set off.

xxxxxxxxxx

"There. That should last me 'til Cross gets back," Allen said as he pocketed the money he had just withdrawn, "Well, I'd better head off to school nOW!" he exclaimed as he bumped into someone.

"Ah!" he heard a feminine voice cry right before papers flew everywhere.

Allen looked down to see a pretty Chinese woman with long black hair picking up the papers she had dropped when they had bumped into each other.

"I'm so sorry, Miss," Allen said as he knelt to help her, "I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you alright?" he asked as he held out the papers he had collected.

"Thank you, I'm fine, just in a...hur...ry..." she slowed down, stunned, as she looked up to find that a pure white angel had just helped her pick up her forms. the sun was even angled behind him, creating a halo effect. "Oh...oh my gosh. You're perfect!" the woman shouted as he helped her up. As soon as she was steady on her feet, she clasped his hands in hers and introduced herself. "Hi. My name is Lenalee Lee. Would you be interested in joining our company as an upcoming idol?" she asked suddenly, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

Allen cringed when she said "idol". After all, the memory of his nightmare was still fresh.

"Sorry, I'll have to decline."

He tried to walk around her, but she blocked him. She had a determined, almost pleading look in her amethyst eyes.

"Please! Our company will go under at this rate. Just...give it a try. Please?" she told him earnestly as she handed him two papers: a flyer and an audition form. Then she started to walk away.

Allen was just going to pocket the forms and throw them away later when he noticed the header that had the company name on it. His eyes went wide and he felt his stomach flip when he recognized the name.

"Wait!" he shouted as he grabbed her arm to stop her. "You're the Dark Order...as in...the Dark Order?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused that anyone would know about them.

"You mean, you don't know? D.O. is...this is the company that..." He had to say it. 'Come on, Allen, it's just a name.' "...that MANA started at before he went independent..." He hoped she didn't notice the sudden shake in his voice.

Thankfully, she didn't seem to pick up on it it as she continued, sounding dejected. "...Yes. We are. I guess you don't want to audition now..."

"What?" he asked in surprise. "Why wouldn't I?"

She looked at him strangely. "You mean you don't know? MANA went independent because the owner, Lvellie, was a horrible person who was abusive to his employees and liked to work them to the bone. I though most Koreans knew that. How old are you?" She gasped. "Are you a foreigner?"

"I'm seventeen. I was a bit young when...everything happened." She definitely noticed the shake in his voice this time, but thankfully she didn't comment on it. "And...I'm not exactly a foreigner. I was raised here in Korea."

"Wow, you really are perfect! This must be fate! Ah! But, if you do decide to audition, don't worry! Most people don't know, but Lvellie was replaced by my aunt. But she's a very kind person! So, you'll still audition for us...right?" Lenalee finished after taking a deep breath.

Allen thought deeply about the step he was about to take. It felt like he'd been standing still for so long. Now the gears were starting to turn again. The rust in his bones was fading away, and he felt like thanks to this he could maybe...finally...move forward just a bit. Little by little. And what better direction to move in than the one Mana had gone in? He knew it would hurt...but he felt it in his gut. This was the right thing to do.

"I...I will," Allen told her with new determination. 'Father started there. If I can be like him, then it will be a dream come true. Just watch me, Father. I'll get up again, and keep walking.'

"Great!" Lenalee said with joy, "Oh, sorry, I still don't know your name...?"

"It's Allen." he told her, leaving his last name out. It wouldn't do him any harm to tell her, but it wouldn't do him any good either. And it would probably cause a ruckus that he didn't want. He wanted to do this on his own. To walk on his own to feet, not ride on his father's shoulders anymore.

"Well alright then, Allen. Here, take my card, too! Just contact me if you have any questions. You absolutely must come to the address on the flyer. After school of course. You go to that private school right? I can tell by your uniform. Ah, I must be holding you up, sorry! See you later okay?" she insisted.

"You can count on it."

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After school, Allen immediately rushed to the address she had given him. Of course he took a taxi, otherwise he would have gotten lost. It was one of the many small quirks and habits he had picked up from his father. The taxi pulled up to a small building with a large back section and an older dorms next to it. He braced himself, and walked through the doors. He took a look around at the few other people there, filling out some forms: A boy with roller skates, a woman with long black hair, and a girl in yellow. He took a deep breath, straightened up a bit, the walked up to the front desk where a jittery, nervous-looking woman sat.

"Excuse me-"

The woman jumped, as if he'd shouted. "Ah! Y-y-y-yes? H-how may I h-help you?" she managed to stutter out.

"...Um...I'm here to sign up for the auditions that will take place on Saturday."

"Oh, t-th-that's good. D-do you have an audition f-f-form already?"

"Yes."

"O-okay, um, I-I'll take it- WAIT! No! You keep it. I'm sorry for my horrible mistaaake!" the woman screeched as she started to sob. Allen looked about frantically, not knowing what to do, then he spotted her nameplate.

"Miss Lotto, it really is fine. No harm, no foul, right?"

She looked up as she calmed down and said, "Ah...yes, of c-course. Here, just fill out th-this additional i-i-i-information, and turn it in when you're f-f-finished."

He took the paper she offered him and thanked her, then walked to a table in the corner and started filling it out there.

Do you have any illnesses or injuries? 'Yes, but it does not impair me.' Do you have any possible schedule conflicts? 'High School and cram school.' Who is your favorite Korean idol (past/current)? 'MANA...' What is the name of your parent/guardian? '...Cross Marian.' Who is the one who scouted you? 'Um...I think her name was...Lenalee Lee.' What is your goal?

Allen thought for a while before he filled out the last one. 'My goal...'

xxxxxxxxxx

Allen finished the last question, then stood up to turn it in. Everyone else was gone; they must have finished while he was filling out his form. He walked over to the secretary and handed her the paper with a smile. "Here you are, Miss Lotto."

"Ah, th-thank you. P-p-please, just call me Miranda. Ah!" Miranda exclaimed as she read over his form. "So y-you're the one Lenalee s-scouted! In that case, just give me a second. She requested that y-y-you meet her b-brother, Komui."

Allen waited a bit as Miranda called this Komui person, confused as to why Lenalee would want him to meet her brother. Miranda finished her call, and almost as soon as she hung up an octopus head stormed into the building from an entrance behind the desk.

"Who is it that my dear Lenalee wants me to train~? I'll make him the best idol ever!" the man, who Allen assumed was Komui, exclaimed flamboyantly.

"I...I think you're talking about me?" Allen told him as he raised his hand, as if being the only person standing there wasn't enough of an indicator.

"You? Hmmm..." Komui mused as he started to circle around Allen, "Body? Check. Complextion and expression? Check. Stance? Check! Face? Oh, cute! Yes, you are of the idol variety. Let's see your forms," Komui continued as he took both of them from Allen and Miranda. "Okay, let's see you're Allen Wa-" Komui suddenly stopped as he looked at the name on the audition form. Then at Allen. Then back to the audition form. And so on. For at least a minute.

"Yes?" Allen said boldly. He knew that since this was where Mana started, it was likely that some of these people knew his last name, even though it had been kept secret from the public. He had put his full name on the form being fully prepared for this. Plus, he doubted they'd accept something with only his first name on it.

"You," Komui said, suddenly serious, "Follow me to the back. Now."

Without further ado, Allen followed Komui through the door he had entered through into the larger part of the building, which turned out to be a sort of dance and training room with mirrors and railing all along the side. As soon as the door snapped shut behind Allen, Komui turned to face him.

"So you're him, huh?" he asked.

"Pardon?"

"You're Walker's son."

"..."

"I'll take that as a yes. I was wondering when you would step into show biz, I suspected that is was only a matter of time, but I never expected you would come to us," Komui stated with an amazed air about him.

"I've decided to keep walking forward in my father's footsteps."

Komui took one look at Allen's determined expression and grinned in return.

"And? What do you want to accomplish here at the Dark Order? What's your goal?" Komui asked, knowing the answer already after reading the form.

"Of course, I'm aiming for the top. And I'll never stop walking 'til I get there," Allen said with full determination.

"Perfect."

xxxxxxxxxx

"So you're telling me that you want to keep the fact that your MANA's son a secret?" Komui asked incredulously from the other side of the table they both sat at. They had re-located to Komui's small office in the dorms.

"Yes."

"But why? His name could get you places that would normally take years in the blink of an eye."

"I don't want to use my father's influence in any way. It wouldn't feel right. I want to do this on my own. So, I'd appreciate it if this was kept on a need to know basis. And of course none of the public could know. I don't think I even told Miss Lee. Here I'm just Allen. Okay?"

Komui was definitely interested in this kid now.

"Okay. Fine. I understand. So that's why Lenalee didn't know who you were. Ah! I'll have to tell the owner after your audition though...But what do they call you in school? Don't the teachers know who you are?"

"No. You should know, his last name was kept a secret from the public. It was part of 'the look' as he put it," Allen replied solemnly.

"Yes, I know...Allen, I'm sorry for bringing this up...but I'm a bit familiar of the events that happened in those few years, and I've always wondered...why didn't you stay with his brother, Neah?" Komui asked solemnly.

Allen looked down then away, outside the window. He was silent for a moment before he spoke. "Ah, that..." he started quietly.

xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx

It was midnight on the day of Mana's funeral.

Allen moved silently around his room as he gathered his things. He didn't have many personal belongings besides his clothes and the ball Mana had gotten him, all of which he packed in a small backpack. he made sure it was snug on his shoulders, since he'd have to use his one good had for the crutch.

He looked around his room one last time, and his eyes rested on one object. The pure black, upright piano that Mana had bought him. It had arrived in the mail right before Mana's funeral, as if to mock him. Allen still hadn't played it yet. He walked slowly over to it and ran his hands across it, light enough not to press the keys, but enough to feel them, cool under his touch. White, black, white, black...he looked at each key as it ran under his fingers, then tiptoed to open up the top part. He peeked in and saw the bright new strings, all perfectly in a line. Like they always would be. If only Allen's life could be like that again. Perfectly in order. But it can't be. Not any more.

He closed the lid and stepped back. Then he took out a note from his pocket. He unfolded it and read it one last time:

Uncle Neah,
Please, don't look for me.
I'm sorry.
Thank you, and Goodbye.
Allen

It was a simple message, but as we know, Allen was a simple boy.

He placed it on the bed, and walked out of the one place he had called home, and never went back.

He was unwelcome anyways.

xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxx

Komui looked at him with sad eyes as Allen continued, "After that, I spent a year in some orphanage. That's when my guardian found me and took me in. He said that he was an old friend of M...of father's. I remembered father talking about him once. He matched the description to a tee, so I had no reason not to believe him. And it's not like I had anywhere else to go. So I went with him."

"Oh...your guardian? Who...?" Komui wondered aloud as he looked at the forms. His eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"I see by your reaction that you know him. I thought you might; he's an infamous informant in the entertainment industry."

"Oh I know him all right...Allen, honestly, I'm surprised you're still sane."

"Me, too," Allen answered frankly.

"Ha! Now to get down to business. Do you play any instruments?" Komui asked.

"I play the piano, and a bit of guitar."

"Good. What kind of training did...ah, did your father give you? Besides piano, that is."

"None whatsoever."

Komui almost fell out of his chair.

"None?"

"None. He always said he'd get to it later. I have a feeling he had second thoughts about dragging me in to show biz."

"Well then, we've got a lot of work to do in the next few days..."

Allen's eyes widened a bit as he glanced out the window behind Komui. He quickly looked back at a confused Komui and tried to keep a smile on his face.

"Actually, Mr. Lee, please stay calm. It's crucial that you don't react to what I'm about to tell you. Behind you, through the window, across the street...There is someone in the alley pointing a gun this way."

"...!"

"Don't move...Don't look..." Allen said calmly with a serious look as he stopped Komui from turning. He gulped and continued, "I'm pretty sure he's aiming at me...I don't think he knows I noticed him yet...Mr. Lee, calm down. It'll be alright. I need you to do something."

"Y-y-yes?" Komui stuttered nervously.

"Scratch 'acting lessons' off of the 'things-to-teach-Allen' list," Allen deadpanned.

"..."

"..."

"...Are you kidding me!? You nearly gave me a heart attack, you little runt!" Komui yelled at Allen, who was laughing his butt off.

"Ahahaha! S-sorry, sorry! My bad, but I wouldn't have convinced you otherwi- wait, runt? How rude! I'll have you know I'm still growing."

"You little- well...darn, okay, you're pretty good. Everything about you told me that there was some psycho in the alleyway. You're a regular drama queen aren't you?"

"Drama queen? Hey!" Allen said, "That's not very nice!"

"Well, neither was what you did!"

"All right all right calm down both of you!" Lenalee said as she came in with two coffee mugs.

"Ah, Thank y-"

"LENALEE~~! Where have you been while your brother was being bullied by this mean mean person~~?"

"B-brother! Get off, you're embarrassing me! Sorry, Allen, this must be awkward..." Lenalee told him as she tried to pry her brother off while holding two cups of coffee.

Allen only smiled a sad, soft smile and said, "Ah, don't worry. I used to know someone like that. You're brother really loves you."

"You bet I do!" Komui said as he clung to his sister, who only looked at Allen with a puzzled look.

"So, Mr. Lee," Allen stated as he took the cups from Lenalee.

"Hm?"

"Should we get to work?" Allen asked with a coy grin as he handed a mug to Komui.

xxxxxxxxxx

"No, no lift your leg a bit higher on the turn. You're bringing it down too soon, it ruins your momentum for the slide at the end," Komui instructed Allen sternly, "Instead of finishing the spin, then trying to slide, you need to join the two moves so they flow. Do it again! ...See? Right there! You put your foot down at the end of the turn!" Komui pointed out, "Instead of doing that, right at the end of the turn slide it to the right just above the ground...balance...do it a bit slower this time, just to get the move down. Use your arms, like I told you...Okay...good...now see how after you do that, you can bring in your left foot. You just finished the slide, see? And you didn't even need to stop after the turn!"

After Komui finished explaining this move to him, Allen commented, "You're a very good instructor, Mr. Lee."

"Thank you, Allen. And enough with the Mr. Lee stuff. Just call me Komui."

"You're all very close here, aren't you?" Allen asked, thinking about how everyone had told him to call them by their first names.

"Yes, we are. We try to establish a sort of family here. I place where you know you can trust everyone."

"Family, huh...?" Allen whispered.

Komui smiled gently and walked over to the boy. "Yes, family. Now, let's get to work on that slide and jump move I wanted to show you."

xxxxxxxxxx

And so, days passed, each one consisting of Allen waking up, going through a monotonous day at school, then hitching a taxi over to the Dark Order for lessons with Komui who, he found out, was an amazing choreographer, 27 years old, 6 years older than his sister, and obsessed with three things: his sister, coffee, and his sister's coffee.

Finally, the day of the audition arrived.

"Remember Allen, I'm giving you this training already, so we can't give you any more special treatment. Make sure you're on time tomorrow! Or else you'll have to pay for your next audition or wait until next year!" Komui had told him the day before. But right now, Allen was in a dire situation...

"...where is it? No no no where is it?" Allen panicked as he searched for the thing he needed most.

His wallet.

Without it, he couldn't afford the taxi, and there was no way he would get there on time if he tried to find where it was. He'd get lost and starve on the streets...okay maybe not, but it would still be just as devastating. Then he remembered advice that Mana had given him.

"Allen, if you ever need to get somewhere, don't TRY to look for it. It's hopeless. Just wander in the general direction you know it's in, you'll find it."

"Thank you, father!" Allen said out loud.

'Okay,' he thought, 'I should be able to walk there, I know it's not too far...' then he looked at his watch '...walk? Did I say walk? I meant RUN!' he thought as he started to sprint in the direction the taxi always went in.

xxxxxxxxxx

Kanda wasn't one to indulge himself.

He didn't own any jewelry, valued quality over quantity, didn't eat junk food (because instant soba was a five-star meal as far as he was concerned), he had no luxurious home, only a nice, gas efficient car, and he never ate candy or sweets of any kind.

So why, do you ask, was he getting himself a present for his nineteenth birthday? Well not getting, more like taking part in.

You see, Kanda Yuu was signing up for the Dark Order auditions for his birthday.

"What?" You may ask. "Why?"

It's very simple really. This is where his idol, MANA, started out.

MANA was amazing. Even Kanda, no, especially Kanda recognized that. Because Kanda had always loved beautiful things. The beauty of black on white. The beauty of the sleek night. The beauty of the sword as it danced through the air. Yes, Kanda had always loved beautiful things. Which is why he instantly loved MANA's music. It was different than all the other pop artists. It made Kanda think they only put him under the K-Pop genre because they didn't exactly know where to place him. It was pop, but it more unique. Rock, but soft. Jazz, but more alive. Stylish, but completely different. It was amazing, it was transcendent. In one word, it was beautiful.

Of course, MANA wasn't just his idol for that reason alone. There was another reason too...no, he didn't want to remember those bittersweet things right now.

When he heard MANA had been killed, and that the rumors about his son were true...well he wasn't going to lie. He had cried. Given he was younger, but he - Kanda - actually cried. And although he cried for his own loss of his most precious person, he also cried for the boy. He'd felt a sort of distant kinship with the kid since he'd found out about him through a small newspaper article about his suspected existence. He could only imagine what it could have been like for him. It must have been horrible...

'I wonder where that guy is now?' Kanda thought, feeling oddly nostalgic as he took the form from the stuttering, nervous lady and sat down facing away from the door. As he was about to finish, he heard the door open again. He looked up to see a skinny old man walk in and go to the front.

'Don't tell me he's asking for an audition form? Oh well, not my concern. Less damn competition. That that there's much to begin with,' Kanda thought. He zoned everything else out as he looked back down to finish his form, filled in the last questions, got up, turned it in, and walked out without a second glance.

xxxxxxxxxx

Kanda sat at the Dark Order on the day of the auditions. He had arrived early, and had busted out his phone to listen to the song he'd be performing. He didn't really like the song he was performing - he would have preferred to sing a song by MANA - but he didn't have the right voice type. He admitted to that. Besides, he heard that the judge liked English songs. Hebraska, the owner of the Black Order, would be judging this herself along with either one of the Lee siblings - who would be switching out every couple of performances.

"Okay, N-n-number 3? N-number three i-is up..." the jittery woman called from the desk.

Kanda stood up calmly and entered the dance hall. He looked at Lenalee and then Hebraska, who was sitting in a chair holding a tablet and looking at him with stern eyes, and said, "For future reference, my name is Kanda Yuu. I prefer to be called by Kanda."

Without further ado, he walked over to the stereo, plugged in his phone, found the instrumental, and pressed play...

Dun. Dun Dun Dun. Dun. Dun.

"I'm bringing sexy back."

Allen was running as fast as he could. He had just asked the first person he'd seen if they knew where Dark Order was at. They had said it was nearby and pointed in the direction it was in. Allen thanked them, and now here he was, running like his life depended on it. That's when he saw it! Finally! The Dark Order.

'Yes! Shit, I hope I'm not too late!' he thought.

He burst through the doors and looked around as he tried to catch his breath.

Empty. The lobby was empty.

He had almost given up hope when he heard someone scuffle behind the desk. Miranda poked her head out from underneath it and smiled.

"Ah! Allen! Y-y-y-you s-scared me! I f-f-fell! Here! H-hurry, you're the l-l-last one."

"Oh! Thanks, Miranda!" Allen said as he ran through the doors behind her desk.

As he was going through, he bumped into something and stumbled back a bit. Well, he bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Allen said.

He looked up to see the woman with long hair he had seen the other day.

Except he wasn't a woman.

'It was a guy? My bad. Ah, his hair is so long and dark...'

"Che, move aside moyashi." the long haired man said with an annoyed look.

'Huh? Japanese? Now that I think about it he doesn't look Korean...hey...WAIT A SECOND!'

xxxxxxxxxx

Kanda had just finished his audition. He was a bit sweaty so he wanted to hurry and get home so he could clean up, so he wasn't exactly looking where he was going.

He was walking out as he bumped into someone. Looking down, it turned out to be the old man from yesterday. Well, when he looked closer, he wasn't all that old.

'Che, what the...it's some kid. Why would he bleach his hair white?' Kanda thought in annoyance. Then he noticed there were no roots showing, and the hair didn't seem to be damaged. It actually looked...nice... 'Are you telling me this shit is natural?'

The kid stood up straighter and apologized, that's when Kanda noticed...the distinct height difference.

"Che, move aside moyashi." Kanda said. He stressed the last part. It was a bad habit of his to be rude or gruff with people he first met. Even more so when they didn't get off on the right foot.

"Excuse me?" the white haired boy said incredulously. Then he did something Kanda didn't expect. He replied...in Japanese. Extremely ticked off Japanese. "I'm not a beansprout. Can't you tell idiot? Or are you blind?"

Then the boy shoved past Kanda, actually managing to make him stumble a bit from the force, and left him stunned. Not that he would show that though.

"Che...annoying," Kanda muttered as he walked out to his car.

xxxxxxxxxx

Allen walked to the center of the room and noticed that only one person was judging him. Hebraska.

'Figures. I'm too familiar with Komui and Lenalee,' Allen thought as he gave his introduction.

Walking over to the stereo, he plugged in his phone to play the music for the dance part. He was choosing to do two separate pieces for the dancing and singing parts. He could have made them into one, but he was planning something...a bit special for the singing portion.

He took the time to catch his breath as he finished, the last notes of SHINee's Lucifer ringing through the dance hall. He smiled internally. He hadn't gotten everything perfect, but it was a difficult song, and he'd only messed up on the synch of the hand and feet movements a couple of times. Nothing major. All that practicing had paid off.

Once he'd caught his breath, he picked up one of the acoustic guitars provided - a suggestion from Lenalee, since she knew Allen didn't own one of his own. Really, how much did he owe her? - and adjusted the strings before starting to play.

Hebraska's eyes widened in shock when she heard the intro to the song that Allen had chosen.

'This kid has guts to be singing a song by MANA...this should be interesting.'

This was the tricky part. He'd been practicing on his own since he decided to audition, but the fact was, he hadn't sung in nearly a decade. Not even to hum along to a tune in a car. It's not that it had been overly traumatic - though that was the case at first - only that he'd gotten used to it. That absence of music. In a way, it was how he'd coped. How he'd kept his emotions at bay long enough for them to settle somewhat. But the time for silence was over.

And so, for the first time in eight years... Allen Walker started to sing.

"If you ever feel alone
remember the blue sky
that beautiful horizon
that connects you and I

Even if we part
We'll be together soon
We are under the same sun
and under the same moon

JUST HOLD ME CLOSE
IN YOUR HEART
and we'll never
truly be apart

If you ever need a shoulder
to cry on I'll be there
feelings like these
don't come out of thin air

Even if we part
We'll be together soon
We are under the same sun
and under the same moon

JUST HOLD ME CLOSE
IN YOUR HEART
and we'll never
truly be apart

Even if we part
We'll be together soon
We are under the same sun
and under the same moon

I'll hold you close too
like I always do
JUST HOLD ME CLOSE
IN YOUR HEART
so we'll never
ever be apart"

Allen was overcome with emotions as the soft melody washed over him, seeming to fill him from within. Memories of the past began to claw their way out, only to have him shove them roughly back down. On the last line he almost flinched as his voice cracked and a tear slid down his face. He'd been doing so well too. Hopefully Hebraska wasn't the type to mind such a thing.

Hebraska just sat there looking at him. She hadn't written anything down on her notepad. She only looked at him with tears in her eyes and a small smile on her face. It was starnge, this nostalgic feeling that had washed over her as she saw the boy perform. It was almost as if she was watching a young MANA up there. She even thought, just for a brief moment before she blinked, that his hair was a sandy blonde instead of white. And that the hand on the neck of the guitar had black nails.

She shook her head. She must be tired, to be seeing such things.

"Thank you, you may go."

"Ah," Allen answered stiffly as he walked out, past Miranda who tried to call out to him, through the doors, and out to sidewalk. He called a taxi, and luckily he was able to convince him that he had money at home. When they arrived, he paid the man, then went to his room and collapsed, exhausted, onto his bed.

"So how did I do, father?" he whispered, as he closed his eyes, and sleep cradled him in its warm embrace.

[ Scene End. ]

T. B. C.

J: You made Kanda perform Sexy Back?
K: Hey I think we all know that he's sexy enough, confident enough, and smug enough to do it. Even if he doesn't really want to.
J: That...is very, very true.
K: He knows how to work the bishie booty
J: ... I DON'T FUCKING KNOW YOU.
K: SHHHHHHH U LOVE ME
J: SOMETIMES.
K: BITCH.
J: Ignore Karter, he's dumb. Anyways, thank you all for reading!
K: Review, favorite, or follow if you liked it!