A/N: Dedicated to my beta Azzie(Inkfire) and Wolves Run Free for beta'ing and reviewing respectively. :D

Lyrics are "Poison" by Groove Coverage and I know they're in English and the anime is set in Japan, as is this story. They're from America, and there are people who speak English in Japan, I'm sure. And it's a fanfiction. :P

We're Human Too!

Chapter Seven: Entranced:

Akahana strode confidently onto the stage, feeling power rush through her body as the opening chords rang over the now-silent auditorium.

She stopped, planting her feet, and waited for her cue. She didn't need to look at Ayame and Fuyu to know they would follow and do their parts. They knew this routine by heart.

The downbeat hit, and Akahana raised her arms, looking out at the top of the auditorium, keeping the confidently sassy look in her eyes and expression.

"Your cruel device, Your blood, like ice, One look could kill, My pain, your thrill..." Akahana felt her body start moving on its own, as if by instinct, as her muscle memory took over. She strutted, leapt, and twirled across the stage, feeling the meaning flow over her in a new way...This song could fit her and Kisshu perfectly...Except I want nothing to do with him! NO-THING!

"I want to love you but I better not touch, I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop, I want to kiss you but I want it too much, I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison..."
Kisshu stared up at the stage through the flashing bright lights that some crazy people were waving around on the scene. They were distracting him! And he couldn't get distracted...this was a side of his little flame he'd never seen before. Confident, strong. It was clear she loved music. A lot.

"You're poison running through my veins, You're poison, I don't want to break these chains..."
She leapt back to the center of the stage and planted her feet again, swaying slightly before thrusting her arms out in front of her to start the next verse.

"Your mouth, so hot, Your web, I'm caught, Your skin, so wet, Black lace on sweat..."

Twisting again, she flowed smoothly into the chorus as the crowd began standing up and cheering. Some were singing along. Her voice soared above them all, ringing through the air.

Kisshu couldn't believe it. Not only did she perform, it looked like she was very popular, if not famous! Why hadn't he known this before?
"I want to love you but I better not touch, I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop, I want to kiss you but I want it too much, I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison..."
"Ryou-san?" he whispered.

"What?" the older male hissed back, clearly annoyed.

"How long has she been famous?"

"Since just after she moved here. I heard her singing one day, and told Zakuro-san, who set up an audition for her. She doesn't like people knowing she's famous, she keeps her identities separate, except for the Mews."

"Why not?" Kisshu asked, confused. Ryou shot him an exasperated look.

"You're poison running through my veins, You're poison, I don't want to break these chains..."
"Think about it." Ryou muttered. "If people knew her true identity-she's already famous for her survival, and that makes people suspicious. They think the survivors are aliens-how else would they survive something that killed so many others? What makes them special?"

"Run deep inside my veins, Its burning deep inside my veins, One look could kill, My pain, your thrill..."
"And if people knew, all kinds of boys would be chasing her, forcing her into situations she'd rather avoid at all costs. She wants someone who loves her, not her fame or money."

Kisshu nodded. He could understand that. Fake love wasn't worth anything.

"I want to love you but I better not touch, I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop, I want to kiss you but I want it too much, I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison..."
They watched the climax of the song in silence, Akahana sent flying through the air by someone Kisshu now recognized as Fuyu. Ayame was off to the side as well, doing her own routine that reflected the movements of the other two. She ran up and joined them as they posed for the ending.

"You're poison running through my veins, You're poison, I don't want to break these chains...Poison...I want to love you but I better not touch, I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop, I want to kiss you but I want it too much, I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison...You're poison running through my veins, You're poison, I don't want to break these chains..."
Applause rang throughout the auditorium as the last notes faded, ringing clearly through the air. Ryou and Kisshu stood up as well.

As Akahana held perfectly still, supported from below by Fuyu, and holding tightly to Ayame, beside her, Kisshu realized this was the first time he'd seen her truly happy. Amused, yes, but happy? She looked beautiful, her eyes sparkling in the lights, smiling with this carefree look, like she believed she could do anything.

He'd give anything to see her look like this more often. To see that look in her eyes when she saw him.

Sighing, Kisshu admitted to himself that probably wasn't going to happen.

"Say hello to our next band..." the announcer cried. Ryou tugged on Kisshu's arm.

"They're done, let's go."

"What? Only one song?" Kisshu asked. He didn't know much about human concerts, but he was pretty sure one song wasn't enough.

"It's a competition. They might get an encore later." Ryou explained.

"Oh."

"Come on!" Ryou pulled Kisshu backstage, and the security guards waved them past again.

Back to the room full of clothes...except that now the three stars were there.