Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi nor do I own its characters. I am merely borrowing it for this story. It belongs to its creator, Yuu Watase and to those people who bought the rights for it. But I do own Michelle and Ayashi.

Summary: The famous band Scarlet Phoenix is back in Japan from its tour around Europe. The four band members are forced to study in Jonan High while preparing for their next tours and concerts. They bump with two high school girls who, coincidentally, also studies in the same school. Love, friendship and forgotten memories unfold as they get to know each other as well as other people.

Scarlet Phoenix

Chapter 10: Music Studio

---Saturday---

'I never thought we'd actually finish the tour this week. Well…at least I don't have to worry about that anymore…' Michelle thought as she continued to practice the piece that Hikitsu had given her. She was wearing cream colored Capri pants and a light pink shirt.

---Flashback---

"Hey, why did you blush back then?" Tamahome inquired nonchalantly.

"Huh?" Michelle answered.

"I said, why did you blush back then? You know, when Tokaki-sensei whispered something in your ear…" Tamahome repeated.

"Ohh…it's nothing really…" Michelle replied, flushing lightly.

Tamahome raised a skeptical eyebrow and she sighed in surrender. "Alright, alright. He only said that…I…had grown up…"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, he's such a tease sometimes. We hadn't seen each other for only-what?-two months," she said, laughing.

"But…Tokaki-sensei is a really nice person. He's very kind although he's perverted sometimes…he's like the older brother that I never had…" she continued softly.

Tamahome only glanced at her and said nothing.

---End of Flashback---

Her brows furrowed as she tried to concentrate. 'I have to concentrate…but I can't help but wonder…'

"Michelle." A calm voice interrupted her thoughts. Her eyes shot open as she stared at the one who had called her name.

"S-sensei…" She stammered as she stopped playing the violin. 'Oh. My. God. Did he hear me play? I bet he knows that I wasn't focusing my attention to if he did…'

"Your mind is wandering off again…" Hikitsu commented.

"Uhh…gomen nasai sensei…" She apologized, bowing her head.

"You need to learn to relax…"

"Gomen…"

Hikitsu sighed and said, "I heard you met Tokaki…did he say anything to you…?"

"Ehhh? Uhhh…well…he only said that…that…" She stammered as a blush appeared on her cheeks.

Hikitsu raised an eyebrow.

"He said that I had grown up…"

"That guy," Hikitsu sighed again. "Did he try to do anything again?"

Michelle nodded as a sweat drop appeared on the back of her head.

"Did you tell Subaru?"

Michelle shook her head 'no'.

"You're too nice to him."

"I kicked him hard so now we're equals. Besides, he never got to do what he had wanted to do."

Hikitsu chuckled. "Yeah, he always seems to forget that you know martial arts courtesy of him."

"Yeah, it is kind of weird," Michelle agreed.

"Oh well, that guy will never change," Hikitsu said wearily.

"Don't worry Hikitsu-sensei, he's improving."

"I hope you're right. Anyway, you should take a break. Ayashi is waiting for you outside."

"Really? Arigato sensei," Michelle said, smiling cheerfully.

She carefully returned her violin inside its case and was about to leave the room when Hikitsu suddenly spoke up.

"Michelle…you should try to be more yourself…I know it's hard for you to meet other people's expectations but…you don't need to keep it all to yourself…we're here for you…as your friends and family…" Hikitsu said softly.

Tears threatened to fall from Michelle's eyes when she heard his words. She bit her lower lip and turned around, forcing a smile on her face. "Arigato sensei. I'll remember that…and…I'll try not to be a burden to all of you…"

After saying that, she ran out of the room. Hikitsu sighed wearily as he looked out of the window. 'That girl…she needs to open up…but…I guess it's hard for her…considering her condition…'

---Outside the Music Studio building---

Michelle bent down, leaning her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. 'Hikitsu-sensei is so nice…I guess he's right…they're all there for me…I'm not…alone…'

A sudden tap on her shoulder made her jump in surprise. She whirled around to see a grinning Ayashi behind her. Her eyebrow twitched as she said, "You scared the heck out of me! I know you're Sadako's reincarnation, but honestly! It's the middle of the day! You should still be inside that well of yours!"

Ayashi's eyebrow rose up as she said, "Hey! Someone might hear you! They'll know my real identity!"

"Silly! Everyone knows it already!" Michelle responded, stilling her laughter.

"Alright, alright. I have to ask you about something," Ayashi began.

"No. We can't go shopping. You need to practice," Michelle answered before she could ask.

"Aww, come on! We need to go shopping!" Ayashi whined.

"You promised Subaru-sensei that you'll practice," Michelle reminded her.

"Demo!"

"Nope. I'll get in trouble if I agree. We can go some other time. You'll get stalked again anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"If we go shopping today and a guy approaches you, I swear I won't interfere this time. You'll fend them off yourself. You'll never get your shopping done with them bugging you all the way anyway," Michelle stated matter-of-factly. "Besides, I need to study our new lesson in Math."

Ayashi smirked. "Yeah, good luck with the headache that you're sure to get!"

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me. I hate math. It's the first thing that I hate in my entire life. Second: bugs, third: heights."

"Yeah, you're a coward," Ayashi snickered.

"Thanks," Michelle said sarcastically.

"Why are we studying algebra and Trigonometry again?" Michelle asked.

"Uhhh…cause we need it in college?" Ayashi answered.

"We won't be able to use it when we work anyway. Unless you're going to be an engineer or an architect, which I certainly am not planning to be."

"Alright. Enough complains about Mathematics."

"Just because you're good at it doesn't mean you have to be like that," Michelle grumbled under her breath.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll continue practicing later. I'm taking a break first. Let's go."

"Alright. Where are we going?" Michelle inquired.

"Let's just walk around first," Ayashi suggested.

Michelle nodded her head and they began to walk around the aimlessly.

---Music Studio's parking lot---

A black limousine parks on the empty parking lot. The door opens and Chichiri comes out with a cheerful smile on his face.

"We're here! Come out guys," He chirped as he motioned the other passengers of the car to come out.

"Alright already," Tasuki grumbled as he got out of the car. He stretched his arms and yawned as he leaned on the limousine, unconsciously blocking the way out of the car.

"Baka! Get out of the way! You're blocking the door!" Tamahome yelled as he kicked Tasuki from behind.

Tamahome came out of the car as Tasuki stumbled forward and fell flat on his face. He stood up abruptly and tried to whack Tamahome's head but missed so instead he yelled, "You crazy money-grubbing jerk! What did ya kick me for!?"

"Stupid redhead, you were blocking the door!" Tamahome retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Just because you have an ego the size of the ocean doesn't give you the right to kick me!" Tasuki shouted, gritting his teeth in frustration.

Hotohori stepped out of the car followed by Nuriko. He glanced at his friends and shook his head at their childishness. Nuriko stared at the two and rolled his eyes. What a way to start the day.

"Uhm…ano…Tamahome-kun…Tasuki-kun…we're going to be…uhh…late…no da…" Chichiri said, trying to end their argument.

"Late for what?!" Tasuki snapped.

Nuriko intervened then, hitting Tasuki upside the head. "For the rehearsal, stupid! What did you think we came here for!? A picnic!?"

Tasuki rubbed his head and glared at Nuriko who only glared back at him. He was about to say something when Hotohori spoke up.

"Let's go guys. We might not get there on time."

Not waiting for them to answer, he walked away from the car, leaving them no other choice but to follow him. They walked towards the main building in silence.

---Near the main building---

"Hey…Ayashi…"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Is…"—Michelle hesitated—"Your eighteenth birthday…that'll be next year…right…?"

Ayashi nodded her head absentmindedly.

"Areyougettingmarriedrightwaway?" Michelle said incoherently.

Ayashi stopped walking and turned her head towards her friend. "What?"

Micelle took a deep, shaky breath before repeating her question. "Are…yougettingmarriedrightaway?"

"Am I what?" Ayashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I said, are you getting married right away? After your debut I mean…" Michelle repeated, looking down at the ground.

Ayashi stared at her numbly. She tore her gaze from her friend's face to look up at the sky. A long silence enveloped them. Michelle shifted her head nervously, looking anywhere besides her friend's face. Ayashi continued to stare up at the sky. Finally, Ayashi broke the unbearable silence between them.

"To be honest…I'm not sure…I don't know…maybe, maybe not…all I know is…I have been engaged to the son of father's friend since birth…I don't know what he looks like…I don't know anything about him…I'll only get to meet him on my eighteenth birthday when our engagement is announced to the public…"

She turned her eyes to look at Michelle. Michelle looked up at her and felt pain shoot through her body. Ayashi's eyes were clouded by unshed tears. Michelle reached out and hugged her friend tightly. Ayashi buried her face on Michelle's shoulder, fighting the urge to break down and cry helplessly.

'What good would crying do anyway? It won't change anything and Michelle might…she might…no…I won't let that happen…she has always been there for me…she never left my side…not once since we met each other…heck, she doesn't even care about herself…always putting others before herself…'

Michelle gently stroked Ayashi's raven hair, her mind in turmoil. 'What should I do? What can I do? I can't even help Ayashi…I'm so useless…I'm only a burden to others…I'm sure that the only reason she's not crying her eyes out right now is because she's afraid that it might affect me…she has been a good friend to me…my only real friend…'

Michelle mentally shook her head. 'Iie…Tatara-sensei, Tokaki-sensei, Hikitsu-sensei, Subaru-sensei, Taiitsukun-sama and Tomite-sensei…they are all also there for me…and…'

Michelle frowns as her eyebrows furrowed. 'And…who else…? I feel like…like I forgot…someone…one more person…but…who…?'

Composing herself, Ayashi pulled away from the embrace and straightened herself. Michelle broke away from her thoughts and looked at her. Smiling softly, she handed Ayashi a handkerchief. Ayashi accepted it gratefully and wiped the unshed tears from her eyes. Smiling weakly, she returned the handkerchief to Michelle.

"Are you feeling all right now, Aya-chan?" Michelle asked softly.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," Ayashi answered.

Michelle nodded her head; she didn't want to push Ayashi so she didn't ask anything else.

"Let's go back," Ayashi suggested.

Michelle smiled and followed her friend as they made their way back to the studio's main building.

"Let's get some drinks on the vending machine before we go back and practice," Michelle suggested.

"Yes, good idea. I'm thirsty," Ayashi agreed.

The entrance to the main building was now in sight and as they neared it, they heard the faint sound of other footsteps approaching. Curious and not only a little bit shocked by the implication that they were not the only ones in the studio's grounds, they quickened their pace towards the door.

"Hey Michelle…we're the only ones here right?" Ayashi asked anxiously.

"Yes, I think so," Michelle answered calmly.

"Then who could those people be?"

"Why are you asking me? I don't know."

"Are you sure? Did your father send another batch of…?" Ayashi prodded, trailing off.

"I said I don't know!" Michelle snapped, feeling apprehensive.

"Alright…let's just hurry inside."

They were now in front of the main door of the building that would lead them to the lobby. Ayashi reached out and as her hand curled around the door's silver handle, a familiar voice made her whirl around to look behind her. Michelle also whirled around just in time for her to see who were approaching them.

"Hey, isn't that Ayashi and Michelle over there?" Nuriko commented, surprised.

His companions looked at him then looked in front of them to see that Ayashi and Michelle were indeed in front of them, standing by the entrance of the studio's main building.

"Nuriko-san?! What are you guys doing here?" Michelle asked, having regained from the initial shock of seeing the Scarlet Phoenix's band members walking towards them, accompanied by their manager.

"Oh! You're right Nuriko, it is them," Tamahome said, smiling broadly.

"T-tamahome-san…" Ayashi stammered as she pulled her hand away from the door's handle and stepped away from the door followed by Michelle.

"What are you guys doing---?" Michelle started.

The door of the main building opened, cutting her off as she turned her head to look at who had opened the door along with the others.

"Ehh!? What are you doing here?!" Ayashi exclaimed in surprise.

Author's notes:

Hey guys, sorry for the very late update! I got confused and I wasn't sure what should happen on this chapter. No, dash that—I didn't know what to write in this chapter! Really sorry about that. (sweat drops) It seems that I had more ideas for my other story Ice Priestess. Plus, I didn't have much time in my hands. My use of the computer is limited thanks to my onii-chan. I also have to study hard since I have three long tests coming my way this month until January. Stupid NCAE, why does it have to bother me? I don't want to study everything that I had learned in high school all over again! Especially Math. I have no problem with the other subjects. Just this particular subject. I hate it with a passion. At least I'm not the only one who hates it. Right??? (sighs) I also have to research and practice for my exam in Physical Education class…two native folkdance…did I mention that I am absolutely no good at dancing? Heaven help me, how will I survive?! My brain is practically half-dead from fatigue!

Oh well…enough complains out of me…I just had to get that out of my chest…I haven't really complained about it aloud so I poured it out in here…gomen nasai minna-san. Anyway, I hope you guys don't hate me for the late chapter and, probably, for giving you a boring one at that. At least it's long and I just had to get this out of the way. Can any of you guess who came out of the door? And Ayashi is engaged to someone?! Who could it be? I'll wait for your guesses so please send them to me or just leave it on your review! I'll also wait patiently for your comments, complains, criticisms, flames, whatever it is that you want to send me just make sure that you don't curse me or something else that is absolutely horrible. Constructive criticisms, ideas and other opinions are also welcomed. Just please leave a REVIEW!

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ONEGAI MINNA-SAN!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the following who had reviewed the last chapter:

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Arigato gozaimasu! -

P.S. If I get more than five reviews, I swear I'll kick my brother off the computer just so that I could update really early! Promise! I might even update at least two chapters! So please review! T-T