Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or Rent.

Thank you so much to my wonderful, supportive reviewers. I've written halfway through 'La Vie Boheme' so far (that's 44 pages!) and I'm trying to post chapters by song. I'll probably post at least a chapter a day.

If you haven't already, please read the list of Important Notes in Chapter 1.

CAST LIST for Chapter 7

Yusuke: Roger Davis (guitarist; former junkie; HIV positive)

Keiko: Mimi Marquez (exotic dancer; junkie; HIV positive)

Hiei: Mark Cohen (filmmaker; Jewish)

Kurama: Tom Collins (gay; teacher; anarchist; addicted to weed; has AIDS)

Touya: Angel Dumott Schunard (street performer; drag queen; has AIDS)

Enjoy and please review!

…………………

The sky outside had darkened considerably. On a city street not too far from the apartments, a strip club had already begun to bustle with activity. The name CAT SCRATCH was lit in colorful lights in the front of the club. Inside, the tables were packed, the stage was crawling with dancers, and music was blaring.

The club's star, Keiko, entered the stage on the top platform in a leopard-print robe. The spotlight landed on her, and the customers cheered.

"What's the time?" she sang. "Well, it's gotta be close to midnight. My body's talking to me, it says, "Time for danger!""

She slid the robe off, and tossed it aside. Underneath was an extremely revealing, black-leather-and-lace outfit. Men hooted and whistled.

She grinned. "It says, "I wanna commit a crime…wanna be the cause of a fight! I wanna put on a tight skirt and flirt with a stranger!""

She slid down a pole and began to dance seductively.

"I've had a knack, from way back, at breaking the rules once I learn the game. Get up, life's too quick, I know someplace sick where this chick'll dance in the flames! We don't need any money—I always get in for free. You can get in too, if you get in with me…let's go out tonight! I have to go out tonight! You wanna play? Let's run away! We won't be back before it's New Year's Day! Take me out tonight—meow…ha!"

Later on in the evening, she left the club for her apartment, but continued to sing the song form her performance:

"When I get a wink from the doorman, do you know how lucky you'll be? That you're on line with the feline of Avenue B! Let's go out tonight! I have to go out tonight! You wanna prowl—be my night owl? Well, take my hand we're gonna howl, out tonight!"

She entered her apartment and took off her coat. She was no longer dressed in her work outfit. Instead, she wore a black mini-dress with fishnet stockings and high-heeled black boots. She went to her window, which opened out onto the fire escape.

"In the evening, I've got to roam—can't sleep in the city of neon and chrome! Feels to damn much like home when I hear the babies cry…"

She climbed out onto the fire escape and leaned over the railing.

"...so let's find a bar so dark we forget who we are! And all the scars of the nevers and maybes die! Let's go out tonight! Have to go out tonight!"

Suddenly she had an idea. She began to slink up the ladder toward Hiei and Yusuke's loft.

"You're sweet! Wanna hit the street? You wanna wail at the moon like a cat in heat? Just take me out tonight!"

She reached the loft. Yusuke was sitting inside alone, strumming his guitar. He turned when he heard something at the window and did a double take when he saw it was her.

"Please take me out tonight!" Keiko begged through the glass.

She pushed an unlocked window open and climbed inside. "Don't forsake me—out tonight!"

Yusuke gaped at her. His mouth twitched in a small smile, but it was gone in an instant.

Not discouraged, she pulled herself onto the table where he was seated and slunk toward him. "I'll let you make me—out tonight! Tonight—tonight—tonight!"

She flung her arms around his neck and began to kiss him deeply. At first he was shocked and didn't respond, but he quickly recoiled and sang in response:

"Who do you think you are barging in on me and my guitar? Little girl, hey! The door is that way! You better go, you know the fire's out anyway. Take your powder, take your candle—your sweet whisper—I just can't handle! Well, take your hair in the moonlight—your brown eyes—goodbye, goodnight!"

He quickly walked to the door and shoved it open. Leaning against the doorframe, he sang softly, "I should tell you, I should tell you…"

She slowly came up behind him.

"I should tell you, I should—NO!" he shouted when he felt her hand on his shoulder. He swung around in anger and sang:

"Another time! Another place! Our temperature would climb—there'd be a long embrace! We'd do another dance—it'd be another play. Looking for romance? Come back another day!"

He ushered her out the door. "Another day!"

"The heart may freeze," Keiko argued, "or it can burn. The pain will ease if I can learn. There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last…"

She grasped his hands and encouraged, "There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today."

Yusuke yanked his hands away. "Excuse me if I'm off track, but if you're so wise then tell me: Why do you need smack? Take your needle, take your fancy prayer—don't forget, get the moonlight out of your hair! Long ago you might've lit up my heart—but the fire's dead and it ain't never gonna start!"

He grabbed her shoulders and forced her onto the staircase. "Another time, another place. The words would only rhyme—we'd be in outer space. It'd be another song—we'd sing another way. You wanna prove me wrong? Come back another day."

After giving him a sincere look of hurt, she descended the stairs.

"Another day!" he yelled after her.

She ran outside and looked up to the loft. He soon came out onto the balcony and was surprised to find her standing in the middle of the street.

"There's only us," she insisted, "only tonight! We must let go to know what's right! No other course, no other way! No day but today!"

Yusuke looked beyond Keiko to see Kurama, Hiei, and Touya walking back to the apartment from their Life Support meeting. The three joined her in singing, "I can't control…"

The guitarist put a hand to his head and sang to himself, "Control your temper…"

"…my destiny."

"She doesn't see!"

"I trust my soul…"

"Who says that there's a soul?"

"…my only goal is just to be."

"Just let me be!" Yusuke shouted, clutching the balcony railing.

Hiei, Kurama, Touya, and Keiko sang, "There's only now, there's only here. Give in to love, or live in fear. No other path, no other way.

At the same time, Yusuke sang, "Who do you think you are barging in on my and my guitar? Little girl, hey! The door is that way!"

"No day but today," Keiko maintained.

"The fire's out anyway!" insisted Yusuke.

"No day but today…"

"Take your powder, take your candle!"

"No day but today…"

"Take your brown eyes, your pretty smile, your silhouette!"

"No day but today…"

"Another time, another place, another rhyme, a warm embrace!"

"No day but today…"

"Another dance! Another way! Another chance! Another day!"

"No day but today!"

As the song finished, Yusuke angrily stormed into the loft and slammed the window shut behind him. Tears began to stream from Keiko's eyes. She turned to Touya, who warmly embraced her.

Hiei, shaking his head in disappointment, said goodnight to Kurama and Touya. He eyed Keiko for a moment. He was sure he had seen her somewhere before…

Trying to place her, he went inside to find Yusuke lying on the couch, refusing to talk about anything that had happened between him and Keiko.