Music for this chapter: "Last Night, Good Night" cover by Clear & Choucho.
Note: "Shi De" means "Yes" in Chinese

Chapter 10: Last Night, Good Night

In order to save some money, Bernard chose the train as transportation to reach China. Contrary to what might seem, our concert in this country isn't one of our most important concerts. We are the guest artists of an event known as the Silk Tourist Festival, in the city of Suzhou. The tourism brochures talk about this city as one of the largest silk producers in China...

And he's slepping again, lying on his seat. I envy a bit how he can sleep everywhere, no matter what happens. My poor baby sparrow... we couldn't go to bed the last night, and all by my fault.
But now there are something more important to worry about. Mirage's message doesn't let me sleep at all. That damned Doom Syndicate... I thought I finished them in the past, leaving each one of their members in the best prisons of our country... but I was wrong.

"Meeooow?"

"Don't worry, Mozart. Everything is alright..."

I was humming one of the best Bernard's songs (and my favourite), "Be with me", while writing some emails on my laptop. I already sent one to the Justice Knights, the biggest international superhero league, and now I'm writing one to my little buddy. I'm worried for him... Sure Tighten was a big threat, but he was nothing compared to the Doom Syndicate. And the Justice Knights needed an update of their archives... I just forgot to tell them that I'm not dead, and Megamind is now a hero... What an epic fail. God bless the one who created Internet, because I'm not feeling able to face them and say: "Hey guys, missed me? It's me, Metro Man, and I'm alive!". I can't do that.

The scenery is changing slowly. We left behind the warmth of India, and the train passes through mountains and fields. In a couple of days we'll start to see some rice fields, and I can't wait to finish our concert. I wanna explore this country, and discover a little more about his ancient culture. With some luck, I'll get more chances to know more about you.
That night, under the fireworks, I could feel my heart alive. I never felt something like that before (except, perhaps, the first time I played an ukelele, when I was a kid). And you helped me to see those gorgeous fireworks through your eyes, erasing another one of my saddest memories.

"Oh, Wayne, they're so beautiful!", she was smiling, and her eyes were glowing with the lights.

"If you say so... these fireworks just give me headaches later?"

"Awww, hahahahahahahaha!", she laughed, "You can't be serious! You're joking!"

"Yeah, yeah...", I sighed, "I'm just joking..."

Maybe it's time to forget the past, but... I just can't forgive myself.
Not yet.

A zebra can't change its stripes, as Mirage said. But I'd like to live my last years as I've always wanted.
Is that selfish? If a hero can ask ask for a reward, I'd love to, simply, live my life, and have friends as Bernard, Megamind, Minion, Roxy... And enjoy the little delights, as an afternoon in the amusement park, drink hot chocolate with churros in winter, or watch the sunset. A human life.

That's my wish.

With the last notes of my pizzicato, the song reached its end in the middle of the night. Despite the concert is over, the crowd keeps clapping and shouting our names. Definitely they never accept the last song as it is, the "last song". I sigh, a little tired, but Wayne sees my signal: thumbs up. With a smirk, he grabs the microphone.

"Do you want a last song, Suzhou?"

"SHI DE!", is the unanimous answer of the mob, screaming as if they were one soul.

"I can't hear you!", Wayne loves to tease the fans sometimes, "YOU REALLY WANT IT?"

"SHI DEEEEEEEE!", the crowd response sounds like a thunder. A happy one.

"Then, LET'S GO!"

Ugh... It's great to see all the fans happy, but... WHICH SONG? We already sang all our songs!

"Wayne, psstt!", I attempt to warn him, "Wayne!"

"Eh? What's wrong, Bernard?"

The mob keeps screaming our names, with some luck they won't notice this glitch...

"We've run out of songs! What are we going to sing now?"

"Don't worry, my friend. Let them scream, once they realize that we're going to begin our song, they'll shut up."

"I know right! But which song do you have in mind?"

His blue eyes meet my own, and I'll swear, I've never seen so many feelings behind them. Trust, friendship, sincerity and affection. And something more, unknown for me.

"Bernard..."

"Yes?"

Could it be...?

" 'Be with me'. Instrumental version. "

And that was our last song.

For a moment, I believed that he was doing something more that say the name of my song. As if... No, it's impossible. He never would ask me something like that... Why he chose this melody to end our gig? I can't understand his behaviour... One day he acts as my best friend, and later we're just a singer and his manger.

I must admit that I've been alone for a long time. My only family in Metro City is my big sister, Gracelyn, and my niece Jess... and due to the fact that I don't get along very well with my sister, I lived away from my family since several years ago. She lets me spend some time with Jess, though. And she was the helping hand, who helped me to escape from my isolated paradise. Mozart and Jess were my first true friends.
And now, I have Wayne... the boy I've always liked, walking next to me, commenting the silk samples displayed in the exhibition, enjoying all the beauty of this country, as if we were the masters of the world.

But... this isn't a happy dream. It won't have a happy ending, I can feel it. I'm a not a dreamer, as Wayne... and to have the knowledge that there are people who want us dead doesn't help at all. The worst of all this story is, without doubt, the fact that Mozart and me could be used as bait against him. Mirage kidnapped me easily... that only showed how weak I am. And things just can go worse at this point, because Wayne won't cancel our world tour... I don't know if he doesn't want to face the problem, or he didn't get it. But he's smart enough to understand that this is not a joke, so...

"Hey, Bernard, come here! I found something awesome!"

"Yes? Sure you're exaggerating again..."

I follow his steps through dark streets, leaving behind all the lights of the Festival. The noises, the light, the people... everything is fading away...

"Where are we going?", my curious voice dares to ask.

"It's a surprise.", even in the darkness, I can see his smile.

"You and your surprises.", I grumble, trying to seem annoyed, but smiling as well inside my soul.

The city's noises are being replaced with a strange silence. Everything seems so peaceful, that it can't be real.
And more, when he covers my eyes with his hands.

"Wayne...?"

"Shhh... Your eyes are closed now, right?"

I give him a soft nod, since I'm unable to speak. Feel his bare hands against my skin makes me tremble, but I can't allow myself to show again my weakness. Too bad that my cheeks are disagree.
He makes me walk some steps more, until we stop. I can hear his giggles... Something I'm fond of.

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Just a second more... almost... well, are you ready? Open you eyes... now!"

The vision of the Humble Administrator's Garden, one of most beautiful gardens of the city, filled his sight.

"This... this is..."

The full moon gave the garden a magical aura. There were some fireflies flying around us, shining as little stars. One of them decided to rest in my finger for a few seconds. The air was hushed and still.

"I just... I don't know what to say..."

"You're speechless, right?"

He was too amazed to answer. Some plants caught his attention, and a young owl woke up with our presence. With numerous pavilions and bridges which set a maze of connected pools and islands, we spent almost half hour walking in silence, just broken by Bernard's little surprised expressions. He was impressed, and that made me feel truly happy. It was something like return the favor, for his help at the Indian party.

We stood in one of the bridges, watching the reflection of the silver moonlight in the lake. He was trembling a bit, and trying to hide it. Again. Why is he so proud sometimes? He doesn't need to hide anything from me... but I can't force him to trust me.
I left my jacket on his shoulders. At least, he won't catch a cold.

"Thank you."

He's so cute when he's blushing!
Wait, these thoughts again? Oh no... No, of course no. I'm just tired and my mind doesn't want to work properly.
That's right.

"No problem.", I replied.

And the silence is always behind us... until Bernard shows me his MP3.

"Wanna hear some music?"

"Sure, but... it's your MP3. I thought..."

"I know, but I changed my mind. Besides... we'll have to learn two songs for our Japan's performance."

"Two? Holy crab nuggets! How is that possible?"

"There is a tie between two songs, and the fans sent a petition to our website, requesting if we can sing both songs. I don't know so much Japanese, but I can try it. What do you think?"

The Japanese fangirls can be the nightmare of any artist. I understand enough Japanese to know her tastes.
And we must be prepared for the worst scenario possible. At least I'm prepared to accept this challenge, but Bernard... If he could know how dangerous are these girls, I'm plenty sure he wouldn't come, even if I beg him.

But our tour must continue!
I'm sorry, Bernard... I don't want to lie, but...

"It will be amazing! I can speak fluently that language, so don't worry. You're going to love Japan! Our Japanese fans are great!"

Ugh... that lie is already burning my brain... but his little smile is all I wanted to see now.

"That's really impressive. You put everything so easy."

"Because it is.", that's true. His voice sounded different. Maybe...

" I just have a question."

Uh-oh. This sounds bad. Very bad... Please, don't ask me things of my youth... don't do it...

"Yes? What is it?"

"Why do you call me 'Baby Sparrow?'?"

Phew! Saved by the bell... or the sparrow, in this case.

"Ah, sorry, but I won't answer that!", that's my reply, framed by my trademark grin.

"WHAT? I need to know! Tell me why!"

"No no no. I won't tell you that story..." I lean closer to his face, enjoying how those chocolate gems are shining more than the moon itself. "Baby Sparrow!"

"ARG, WAYNE! Sometimes I HATE you!"

He push me away, but he can't help it: his glasses aren't enough to hide those cute rosy cheeks of his.

Maybe I like him.

Just a little bit.