Standard disclaimer applied.

My usual note: Flashbacks and thoughts are italicized. Conversations are separated in paragraphs, depending on the person talking.

Big thanks to 9081, carmelahere, Eirist-chan, cLoTiHeArT, malo, Tin, khryzlekawaii, Nils, mikaro, Tears of a Phoenix Flower, satomika, yanagi-chyan, Daisuke Akio,Wija-chama and Miss Hachigatsu Kuroi for the reviews. :D you guys really inspired me to write more. XD

Uhmm.. sorry for the typos and stuff in chapter two.. I didn't really see it when I proofread it. -sweatdrop- anyway, so I revised it though the changes are not that visible.

Anyway, on with the third chapter!


Rhythm and Blues

Chapter Three

"Kirisawa," he called out, and before he knew it, Fuuko fell off the cliff.

Tokiya's eye widened in horror as he dashed out towards the cliff and went after her. By the time he realized it, he was falling in a never ending height.

o(^^o)

Tokiya's eyes flicked open. 'A dream?' he literally shook his head.

He found himself inside Kagerou's Japanese house, and currently lying on the sofa. His eyes carefully scanned the dark area and found two lone figures, Recca and Domon, both dead-drunk with cards scattered on the floor.

Taking a quick glance at his watch that only replied him with 4:10am, he led out a sigh. He, then, averted his eyes from his watch, and settled them towards the wooden ceiling, who in turn, stared back. He really wanted to close his eyes and fall back to sleep but his system isn't exactly going with him. It practically wants him to get up and grab himself a cup of coffee or two.

o(^^o)

He tossed and turned for a while, hoping that his system would get tired of craving for his favorite coffee, however it seemed like his body was the one who got tired of it.

'So much for not bringing my own futon,' he thought, making a mental note to bring a futon the next time they practice at Kagerou's place, in case the gang decides to have a sleep over.

He lifted his wrist again for another time check. 4:25am. He groaned aloud in defeat and lazily dragged his own body towards the dark kitchen, a headache forming.

The dream about walking at night, that he can take. But dreaming about Fuuko? Oh no no no. Dreaming of that monkey would be the greatest nightmare ever. Making another shake of his head, his mind carefully analyzed the series of events that made him wonder why he dreamt of Fuuko falling off the cliff.

o(^^o)

A groan escaped his lips when he found out that there's no coffee around and his mug missing. Damn, he really needs it now. A dream about Kirisawa is driving him nuts. He didn't know why, and he didn't even bother to know.

He cursed as he continued his search for coffee around the kitchen, but still, to no avail. He could've sworn he left the kitchen last night with his coffee still there and now it's gone like a bubble popping in midair.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, Tokiya walked out of the kitchen, silently praying that he just misplaced his favorite coffee when, suddenly, a faint singing voice entered his ears.

Being a skilled fighter as he is, he immediately found his way through the dark hallway and towards the source of the voice. He stood there, quietly listening to the voice when a very familiar aroma struck his nose.

He stood there, savoring the aroma of what he thinks he knows what.

His forehead furrowed as he quietly pondered on where he had smelled that sensational aroma. He gently closed his eyes, recalling any event with the aroma when realization kicked him. HARD. His eyes widened in shock as he slid the door open, and muttered a short, yet powerful curse with a single thought in mind...

'MY coffee!'

o(^^o)

Fuuko Kirisawa silently sighed as she strummed a few chords on the guitar she's playing. She has been awake since 2am and couldn't sleep since then, making her end up inside the rehearsal room, playing some songs.

She audibly cursed as the slightly old guitar went out of tune for the umpteenth time tonight. She knows that it is not hers, but she seriously has to fix that string. She turned the tuning keys slowly and carefully when…

THUD!

SNAP!

Fuuko's eyes widened in horror as she heard the door slid open and the string snap. She stared at the guitar more with horror like it mutated into something… extraordinary. But her shock didn't end here as she slowly shifted her gaze to the lone figure that opened the door.

Long legs. Long silver hair. Slim body. Pale skin. Baby blue eyes. 'Hmm... Looks exactly like Mi-chan...' she innocently thought as her eyes carefully examined her guest's physical features.

The new guy seemed to be in shock as well, but neither chose to speak. Fuuko's shaking hands slowly reached for the blue mug beside her chair and slowly drank a quarter of its contents.

Apparently, the man quickly got back to his senses as he stared at Fuuko, then at the guitar, then at the mug. 'Oh Kami... please don't let it be…'

".God." was all Fuuko could mutter, when she got back to her senses. How stupid of her not to realize that that person staring back at her was the one and only...

…Mikagami Tokiya.

"O-Ohayou M-Mi-ch-chan," she nervously greeted, quite aware of the mess she did. Tokiya only glared back at her then continued staring at the mug she's holding.

Fuuko got conscious of this that she put the mug at her side, quite blocking his view of the said thing. She abruptly cleared her throat.

"So, what brings you here at this early hour, Mi-chan?" she asked, pasting a wide smile on her face. But the man just glared at her and was muttering something between clenched teeth.

"What?" she irritably asked as she drank the contents left from the mug, "I can't hear you well Mi-chan. Please speak louder. It's not as if you'll be waking them up if you speak."

But the muttering continued that she was forced to walk towards him, just to hear him say…

"That. was. MY. coffee. you. baka saru!"

o(^^o)

Tokiya just had the best day of his life ever.

NOT.

First, he found his mug with his coffee being drained down Fuuko's throat, his guitar being used, still by Fuuko, found one of his guitar strings snapped, thanks to Fuuko, and now he's driving home with… you guess… Fuuko.

Damn.

He could only mutter various curses under his breath for no one cares how lucky he was today.

If only Yanagi didn't ask! If only Yanagi didn't ask him to drive Fuuko home, he would've left her then and there and shove land on her face.

Hah! That will surely give him peace. But no! No no no. it didn't happen, BIG thanks to his onee-san's doppelganger's puppy eyes.

The lone body in his passenger seat stirred which made him grunt.

'Just take this as Yanagi-san's request. Take it as her request,' he repeatedly thought as if it's some kind of a mantra he should live with.

o(^^o)

Fuuko opened her left eye as she heard a grunt from the man beside her.

Tokiya never talked to her the whole day.

A frown crept up to her face when she realized what mess she did this morning.

She apologized to him lots of times already before and he accepted it. She wondered why this time he didn't accept it. Her train of thoughts was cut when his car came to an immediate stop. She peered at the window and realized that she's home.

An awkward silence embraced Tokiya and Fuuko when neither of them moved. Arriving to her own senses, Fuuko unbuckled her seatbelt and muttered a short 'thanks' and 'sorry' before opening her door .

Unfortunately, Tokiya was faster than her. He quickly caught her wrist and pulled her back into the car.

"Let's talk first," he said, his eyes not leaving hers. Tokiya didn't know why he said that. All he knows that they need to talk.

Fuuko tensed up a little but settled back to the passenger seat.

"I.." she started, "I think I should put my stuff inside first."

"Matte," he quickly said, his eyes glued back to the road as if he was thinking of something.

"Mi-chan?"

No response.

"Mi-chan?"

Still, no response.

"If you're not going to say anything, then I think I should—"

"I'll pick you up at 7pm here. We seriously need to talk," he quickly said, Fuuko only nodded, quite puzzled on what had just happened.

Tokiya restarted his engine and drove off by the time Fuuko went out of his car.

o(^^o)

"Kagerou-san! Take a look at this!" Yanagi exclaimed as she held out a piece of paper in her hand.

"What is it Yanagi dear?" the older woman inquired.

"Well, I found it here under the table while I was cleaning the room we used. I think it belongs to you?" Yanagi answered as she handed Kagerou the piece of paper she found.

Kagerou took the paper from Yanagi's hand and slowly read through what was written.

Pasting one of her motherly smile at her, Kagerou folded the paper and gently handed it to Yanagi.

"Oh dear. I hate to say this, but this isn't mine. I also don't know who wrote it but this one's nice. You guys could use this in the competition."

Yanagi's brows furrowed as her hands clung unto the folded piece of paper.

Tomorrow, she'll show it to Recca and to the others perhaps.

Whoever wrote it, she must find out.


Author's Notes: So that's it for Chapter 3. Sorry for the late update. I was busy with school and I had to proofread this a million times! LoL! This is my favorite chapter so far... making Mi-chan act like a possessive kid with his favorite toy taken away from him. LoL

And oh yeah! The one who wrote the poem is…. a secret. -ducks to evade dozen tomatoes thrown- But a guess wouldn't hurt. XD who knows? I might reveal it in the next or later chapters. XD

Oooh! Please don't ever forget to drop me a review coz your reviews are my inspiration to write more… oooh there it is! Go on… click the 'Go' button and make me proud! Wahahahahahah!