Day Six

A/N: It's already Chapter Six, and we're nowhere near 20 reviews. So please tell your friends about this story, and review! Love ya! Okay, this chapter is super short, but the next one will be long, I promise!

"Let's go!" yelled Izzy, bolting from the classroom. Several students stared at her as she flew past them. The hyperactive redhead was way excited about their first rehearsal over at Natsumi's house.

"Hai, hai," grumbled Suki, following her out of the classroom.

-6-

Sakura Petals met up at the front gate and drove away in a white limo.

Natsumi's house was indeed gigantic.

"Wahhh, why can't I be rich?" wailed Izzy.

"Here." Natsumi stopped at a stainless steel door. She pushed it open with a soft click.

"Ohmyprettylittlebutterflies..." said Izzy in awe.

"Wow," breathed the rest of them. The room was completely decked out, from the professionally installed sound equipment, to the beautiful instruments. Gleaming, shining, new guitars, pianos, keyboards, drums, and mics. All decorated in Sakura Petals insignias. Sakuno was the first to notice the other people in the room.

"Senpais!" gasped Sakuno. Indeed, there they were, with their new instruments decked out in Ochibi insignias. Tezuka, who was watching everything with a stone face and folded arms, Oishi, who was fussing over Eiji and Momo, who were fiddling with the equipment, Kaidoh, who stood there with his hands in his pockets, Inui, who was muttering to himself, Ryoma, who was falling asleep on his feet, Taka, who was admiring all the equipment, and Fuji, who was simply smiling.

"Ohaiyou!" they chorused.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. I invited them over to practice," explained Natsumi.

"And who planned this?" asked Beth, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Us!" chimed Fuji and Natsumi. Of course, it was the sadistic freaks.

"Taka-kun!" said Lucy, lightly skipping towards him and tapping his shoulder.

"Yes, Lucy-chan?" replied the Powerhouse of Seigaku. (A/N: Well, who do you think it is? Godzilla?)

"Go to the ball with me?" asked Lucy sweetly.

"99.99% that she would ask him that and he would say yes," muttered Sofie and Inui.

"Yes!" exclaimed Taka.

"99.99% that I would end up with Inui/Sofie..." the two data players were perplexed.

"Nya, nya, I knew you two would end up together!" exclaimed Eiji happily and glomping Inui. Across the room, Sofie was receiving the same treatment.

"So... you'll go to the ball with me?" asked Sofie.

"I suppose, if that's what the data says," mumbled Inui.

"Tezzy-kun!" shouted Mitchiko, stomping up to him. The Regulars gulped. Did this girl want imminent death? But to their utter shock, (and certain mutters of "I must fix my info/data!") Tezuka didn't do anything.

"Kuni-chan, you should really stop being so cold to everyone! Really, two of you friends just got together with the girl of their dreams and all you do is stand around like a block of wood!" she lectured.

"Hn," replied the ever-so-stoic captain.

"I've had enough with your 'Hn's and grunts. You're turning into Echizen!"

"Mada mada dane, senpa-"

"Don't interrupt, my little kouhai!" said Mitchiko cheerfully. This girl really did want death. But Ryoma also let it slide.

"Anyway, because you're so... Tezuka-ish, I've decided to make you my new project- Project MTLAS!" she added with a bright smile.

"What the hell is Project MTLAS?" snapped the irritated Tezuka.

"Make Tezzy-kun Less Anti-Social!" cheered Michiko. (A/N: Yeah, I changed the spelling of her name) "And the first step is to get you out and about. Natsumi's family is having a fundraiser on tomorrow! Why don't you come? In fact, why don't you all come?"

"No," grunted Ryoma and Tezuka. No way were they going to agree to anything this crazy girl had to say.

"Hai," replied the rest of them.

"Great! Arigatou! So you're all coming? Yes you are! Arigatou!" said Michiko, too fast for any of them to protest. "Okay, so it's a fashion show, so girls, get ready to strut down that catwalk!" she winked.

-6-

"I was nurtured, I was sheltered, I was curious and young. I was searching, for that something, trying to find it on the run. Oh and just when I stopped looking I saw just how far I'd come. In this life, in this life!..." The first verse of "In this Life" came out of Sakuno's mouth.

-6-

"I've got the magic in me; everybody knows I've got the magic, in me..." Ryoma's voice rang out.

"Nya, ochibi, you're good!" exclaimed Eiji. Momo nodded.

"Tch, brat," muttered Kaidoh.

"Saa, Echizen, I wonder if it's because you've been practicing with Sakuno-chan?"

SWEATDROP

-6-

"How was your rehearsal, Ryoma-kun?" asked Sakuno as she watched Ryoma do his homework.

"A pain in the ass," he replied.

She giggled. "I never knew you could sing."

He raised an eyebrow. "You heard?"

She nodded.

He groaned. "I was threatened with Inui juice if I didn't sing."

Ugh. Sakuno had to shudder at that idea. Inui's drinks were probably worse than Sofie's. At least she made the disgusting drinks into milkshakes. From what she heard, Inui's special juice could make you faint. "Ew," she said, scrunching up her face.

"Exactly," he nodded.

-6-

Later on, in Ryoma's room, Sakuno lay sprawled on the floor, twirling a lock of hair absently while sketching.

"Ryuzaki."

She jumped at the sound of his voice. "Ryoma-kun!"

"What are you doing?" he asked, his hair messed up and Karupin in his arms.

Sakuno caught her breath. He looked so cute that way!

"Ryuzaki?" he asked.

"Oh! Yeah, I'm designing our band's outfits. Here, tell me what you think of this." She held up her sketchpad. Labeled Izzy, Michiko, Ann, and Lucy, the page had a sketch of a white tank top with a burnt-orange jean skirt, paired with black Converse. An orange headband, a pair of orange double-hoop earrings, and several chunky orange bracelets finished the ensemble. She flipped the page and there was an outfit labeled for Natsumi and Sofie. A faded burnt-orange blouse, a pleated white skirt, black ballet flats, and a gold necklace. The next page had the words Beth and Suki on it, and featured a burnt-orange polo with a pair of jean shorts and white sneakers. Finally, the last page, which was labeled Sakuno. It was a orangey-brown babydoll dress that faded from burnt-orange to white. A pair of black leggings underneath and black wrap-up wedges completed the look.

"Um... I don't know?" Ryoma rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe you should ask someone else." It was quite obvious that Ryoma had no idea whatsoever about fashion.

"Yeah. So, what about your outfits?" asked Sakuno.

"You'll see," he answered grimly.