A/N: Whew! I;m soo happy I managed to finish this chapter in a week.. Sorry folks, I guess the preceding chapters might take some time as a few important deadlines are coming up for me (sad).. But don't worry. I intend to finish this one in due course. Allow me to present.. the new characters in this series.

Enjoy!

Chapter 11-Black and White

He tapped his pen against his notebook, staring at the laptop screen in concentration. For the past hour, he had been trying to come up with the lyrics to match the melody that his brother sent him via electronic mail that late afternoon. But he could not type even a single word.

He closed his eyes as soon as the music started to loop again from the beginning. He should start visualizing the song inside his head instead. He has been too tensed lately with deadlines and demanding clients. Let the music speak for itself while he listens.

His brother has more talent that he ever realized. He liked the tune he was hearing. He liked it so much that he let the melody play again and again and again for the past two hours. This is one of the best pieces he had ever produced so far. It's just that he tends to procrastinate on his work whenever he is distracted by over a lot of frivolous things.

He leaned back on his cream leather chair, using the toes of his shoes to push him back further into the softness of the backrest. He started to hum along the music, which he had memorized by now. All he needed was some words to fit into it, like pieces of jigsaw puzzles. He like being challenged. And this is another hurdle he needed to accomplish.

Still with his eyes closed, his hands hovered in the air, his fingers moving to and fro, lips mumbling incoherent words. Something to rhyme with the tempo of the melody. A vision. A vision appearing in his mind. Taking shape as he hummed along with the music. A whirl of feathers, a woman's sad sigh; a tinkling of bells, the smell of faint perfume of defeat.

And then, he started to type. Rapidly. Furiously. His fingers flew across the keyboard of his laptop, trying to keep up with the words pouring out of him. Never mind the spelling, he can change them later. The only important thing now is to write and obey the music singing to him. Talking to him. Whispering to him, as he tried to fill in the gaps.

Trapped in endless night

Don't you dare know

All things I believe

Don't know where to go

Do you know

Hope is fake in this world.

Despair is

The only truth I've got

Why must I be bleeding

Because it will never end

He stopped typing. The door in front of him opened quietly. His eyes looked up to see his brother walking towards him. His poker face never betraying the mood he was in, but his eyes are glowing with unexplained excitement.

"That's a nice shirt you are wearing." He said eyebrows raised, greeting him, before looking back down at the screen. He was slightly irritated that his absentminded brother is supposed to come back an hour ago after he sent a message to him. He wanted to pick his brother's brain when he was writing the melody. He needed to be sure that he is on the right path while he created the lyrics for their latest song.

"Satsuki, I think I found the perfect muse for you." he announced with a goofy grin on his face.

Trust Natsuki to say randomly weird stuff and not focus on the project at hand. Satsuki almost groaned inwardly.

He watched his brother drop his bag on his desk with a dull thud, the deep blue color of his shirt bringing out the sparkle of mischief in his eyes as he continued to grin at him expectantly.

Satsuki eyed the bag warily, noting that it was probably his brother's laptop that made the noise. He prayed inwardly that the expensive light piece of equipment he paid for would survive his brother's abuse. Natsuki tends to be careless about his things. And he ends up buying a new one to replace the one he had broken previously.

He was about to ask whom his brother is referring to when he noticed him peering critically at his screen.

"Hmmm.." he stood up thoughtfully and dragged a chair near his table and sat on it, facing the backrest where he rested his arms and chin on it.

He did not like what I wrote? He thought incredulously. Whenever Natsuki created a promising tune, he would normally send it to him for additional adjustment and refinement, and call it a day. And he, Satsuki, would be in charge of fine-tuning it, and compose the lyrics that would be appropriate for it. After which, they would include it in the pile of songs they used for their portfolio, where they can negotiate with potential clients who want to use their works for their albums.

They have a steady stream of rock stars, pop stars, soul singers and other artists in the business who they sell their songs to. Some of their original compositions were included in an album compilation as the headliner song. Others use their works for movie themes, soap opera themes, commercials, etc. And they are choosy with their clients. Only they can command the highest price with their extraordinary creativity. And they only part with their works to clients whom they think best represent their songs.

And the choosing on the clients depends on Natsuki's mood.

Natsuki is an excellent judge of character. He can easily perceived if a person is honest or true to himself. He does it in such a subtle way that the person would never know he is being scrutinized meticulously. Many people automatically assume that it is he, Satsuki, who makes the overall decisions. Because he's the one who handles the contracts, the negotiations and the overall management of their career. And needless to say, Satsuki is excellent in handling their financial portfolio.

Despite this, Satsuki relegated to his brother the final decision whether they would accept a client's offer or not. It was something that the both of them never really talked about since the beginning. It was a natural assumption for the both of them. Natsuki is especially sensitive to other people's true nature given the hardships they had faced when they were growing up. Satsuki just followed his brother's lead without questions. He trust his brother to have enough sense in handling other people, since they managed to survive this long in the business.

Satsuki continued to study his brother, noting the unusual spark in his steps and manner. He immediately sensed that something good must have happened to him. And he is glad that his brother is coping well.

For Satsuki, being a twin is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because he has someone who understands him so well and the bond they share is unbreakable. It is also a curse because Satsuki, having been born six minutes ahead of his brother, is the eldest of the two. And because of this, he took it as his responsibility to look after his brother's welfare. Thus, he grew up as the more serious and mature between the two of them. On the other hand, Natsuki, being the youngest, is the fun-loving brother. They look so much alike that people often mistake them as having the same personalities because of their mirror images. But Satsuki feels a lot more different than his brother than others would have ever realized.

Their father was a world-famous musical composer who won various awards in the international scene for his groundbreaking works. His legendary tunes were still being used in movies, television commercials, and even broadway shows. At first, he and his brother thought they would follow a path different from the one their father chose. They were happy to see their father reap all the honor and recognition.

But then, he died early, leaving behind his entire fortune to them. Unfortunately, their mother was a weak and shallow woman who always falls prey to unscrupulous men out to get their hands on the bulk of the money. Their father, anticipating what might happen, had locked up two-thirds of their assets in a trust fund for his twin sons, leaving behind just enough to cover their expenses modestly with a group of solicitors who oversee their finances. The intricacies of their trust fund was the reason why their mother began to resent them, as she was suddenly forced to take care of two young children with a limited budget.

A year after their father died, when they were just twelve years old, she managed to snag a rich man, willing to finance her luxurious living. Their stepfather detested having to take care of another man's sons, so their mother was forced to pass them around their father's relatives who are willing, albeit reluctantly, to take care of them. But they get passed around every other few months. Most of their father's relatives still bore a grudge because they were missed out in the will.

Through series of physical and verbal abuse from their mother and their father's relatives, Natsuki became withdrawn and quiet. Being a curious and inquisitive kid, he was often punished, and Satsuki would often take some of the blows intended for his brother.

He hated his mother for abandoning them to the wolves. He hated all of their relatives for their shallow-mindedness and greediness. He grew up protecting his younger brother from most of every day's beating, vowing someday that they would be free from their suffering or at the very least find a way to transport his younger brother to a safe haven.

In order to compensate for all the ugliness in life he was subjected to, Natsuki began to appreciate pretty things. He developed a penchant for cooking and baking, gardening and sewing; he would often paint, carve or sculpt with his hands, creating something wonderful from whatever piece of junk or object he chanced upon. He has a weakness for cute little animals, often risking the wrath of their current guardian by bringing home every injured dog, cat or bird he came across.

Satsuki cannot blame his brother. It was the only way his mind can cope. And he let him indulge with his hobbies whenever possible. Natsuki tries to live on his own world, unsullied and protected by a bubble of distance he had created, that stemmed from the years of abuse they both received from whoever is their guardian for the moment. Satsuki is the one who willingly and devotionally serves as his brother's anchor in the real world.

It's thanks to this private world that Natsuki discovered he is able to create such magnificent melodies and tunes. They just turned fifteen when Satsuki realized their potential for songwriting and musical compositions, especially his brother's extraordinary talent for distinguishing sounds. He, in turn, has the talent to write stories and poetry. Songwriting seems the next best option for him.

He knew he must quickly find a way out for them to become emancipated from their abusive guardians. After slaving away in the library for weeks and months, studying legal technicalities that might help them, he collaborated with the solicitors handling their father's fortune, produced the evidences and documents they needed, and managed to successfully convinced the judge handling their case to award them their independence as soon as they turned seventeen. When they finally got their freedom, Satsuki immediately started to managed their own finances, set up their first real home, and obtained apprenticeship from the country's foremost composers. And in the span of two years, after diligent hard work and lots of inspiration around him, Natsuki began churning out musical compositions by the dozen.

Satsuki twirled the fountain pen he was holding, lost in the past. He did not notice his brother had set up his laptop opposite his open one. After a few taps on the keyboard, Natsuki tweaked a few tunes in the melody he had given him earlier.

"Try this." He said, tossing a thumbdrive to him. Satsuki quickly copied the file and pressed play.

The music he was listening to for the past few hours took on a whole new rich dimension. He could not help but smile satisfactorily. Natsuki has outdone himself this time.

"Let me see the lyrics you have completed, maybe we can combine it with the one I've prepared beforehand." He said. "It just needed a few minor revisions." He snatched the legal pad on his table and began perusing it with an intensity of a scientist about to uncover the secrets of the universe.

Satsuki looked up from the screen and studied his brother with a surprised look on his face, which he did not bother to hide. "Excellent work, Natsuki. I'm impressed." And he really is. His brother is unusually inspired today. He wondered where he got the inspiration to work something like this.

"I've been thinking" Natsuki said slowly, looking up from the paper he was holding, "I've been thinking of offering this song to the producers of Bright Television."

Satsuki paused. Bright Television is one of their biggest clients. Three years ago, the producers had asked them to compose a tune for one of their new afternoon shows. It became an instant hit, as the show expanded to three more seasons. And from there, they have been regular clients ever since, often consulting them for whatever new show or movie they are involved with. A month ago, the head producer had personally called to ask them whether they can come up with an opening song for a new television series they are doing. Their target audiences are high school, college students and young working adults. The producer was anxious in choosing the right song, after he broke the news that they managed to ink a contract with the hottest director to oversee the series.

"I see." Satsuki said slowly. "Then we need to refine this further and present it to them immediately. Director Asagato called me up this morning and casually asked me if there is anything ready for him to listen to. He would be pleased when he hears this song."

His brother nodded. "Give this to him. Get a higher price for this. He won't deny us the extra blunt we are charging. I'm pretty sure he will get this one."

He shrugged. "Sure."

"But I have a few conditions."

His ears perked up. This is the first time that his brother demanded a few conditions with regards to the song he made. He is curious what his brother wants. Today is rather an unusual day for his brother.

"Go on." It would probably some eccentric request that got stuck in his head while writing the melody.

"I want to direct the music video for this one." He began to tick off his conditions one by one on his fingers. "I want to personally choose who will sing the song. I prefer a male singer. Someone special. And I will personally interview them myself."

Satsuki raised his eyebrows. Tough conditions. He wondered whether Director Asagato would agree. But based on the satisfaction rate they have been receiving lately from Bright, he had a 95 percentage that they would agree to Natsuki's conditions.

He shrugged. "Are you sure about being the director? You've got no experience on this one." He did not want to discourage his brother, but it might be hard for him.

"That's not a problem," Natsuki grinned. "What's a couple of weeks of crash course? Besides, I've got my eye on some girl who can portray the leading female. I've got the gist of the story inside my head." He tapped the side of his temple casually.

Satsuki looked a bit doubtful. And then he sighed. When his brother is in this mood, there is no stopping him. He's already anticipating the headache it would cause him. He cannot leave his brother alone in a big project such as this one. It entails a lot of responsibility. He wondered whether it would be such a big risk to allow him this one. But then…

He glanced back at his brother who is now enthusiastically tapping away on his laptop and talking nonstop on the list of musicians that he is including on his list.

"Should I include the guy who scored a Billboard top 8 ranking last year?" Natsuki was mumbling to himself, playing with the buttons of his blue shirt absentmindedly. "What was his name again? Minase Hayase.."

He frowned at his brother, noting the shirt he was wearing. "Natsuki, is that a new shirt?" his absent-minded brother is notorious for shopping clothes and forgetting to pay for them.

There was one incident, his brother played in the park with the schoolchildren and got grass stains on his t-shirt. He went off to get a new one and ended up being held by the department store guards for forgetting to pay. He had to cut short a meeting to resolve the embarrassing situation and bring him home. Not wanting to distress his brother and avoid another situation like that, he made sure that there are a couple of shirts inside his bag every time he went out.

He knew he was acting like a mother hen, pestering his brother like that, but he could not help but be protective of his only brother who mattered to him the most. He tries his best to be subtle about his meddling, but Natsuki casually takes it in a stride. It left his attention free to ponder on other things he deemed much more important.

His brother nodded, already lost in his list. "Yes..yes I will get him. He would be part of the list."

Satsuki rolled his eyes in exasperation and stood up. He needed to change his shirt too if they are going out for dinner. He left his brother, humming along with the looping music and ran up to his bedroom to take a quick shower.

oOoOoOo

"Hello! I never expected to see you here."

He was about to light a cigarette when someone spoke to him in a familiar tone. He found himself staring down at the face of a young woman standing before him, head barely reaching his shoulders.

He furrowed his brow, surreptitiously glanced at his side to check whether the woman is really addressing him but found no other person standing next to him. So he shrugged and looked down again to the woman who was smiling at him expectantly.

The producers of Bright Television were delighted to accept Natsuki's terms and conditions upon receipt of the theme song he had composed. The writers are already working out the scripts. Shooting for the television series shall commence four months from now. They had agreed to do the music video first as part of the promotional campaign to generate interest and speculation from the mass audience.

Natsuki wasted no time when he learned the good news. He immediately tasked his brother to set up appointments for the shortlisted singers he wanted to interview. And so far, they had seen four in the last three days.

The fifth one, a fast rising rock star named Ren Jinguuji is now closeted with his brother right at this moment, inside one of the VIP rooms of the prestigious three star Michelin restaurant that serve excellent Western food.

"Uh..Hi.." he answered back, trying to rack his brain to make him remember where he met her.

"I was just about to meet my employer for a business meeting he is having, when I saw you walk out of the door." She gestured smilingly.

Satsuki forgot about lighting his cigarette, took the stick from his lips and threw it away, scratching his chin, unsure of what to say. People don't usually approach him in such a friendly manner due to the cold demeanor he often displays. Other people are often intimidated by him, and he did not bother to connect with them, as he only need to be civil towards them, for business purposes only.

The woman in front him did not seemed to mind that he was looking at her strangely. She kept a steady stream of light chatter, asking about him, the weather and where he went to after he left the men's clothing department. Satsuki noted the young woman's age. Nineteen? Twenty? Or maybe fifteen? He settled on fifteen, studying her fragile bone structure. She has high cheekbones, flushed pink despite the lack of cosmetics. Her reddish-gold hair made her porcelain skin glow from within. The color enhanced by the deep emerald color of her blouse. She tied her heavy hair in a careless ponytail, the tendrils escaping from the elastic she used.

But her eyes. Her eyes are her best feature. They have such a rare color. Like bright honey, or amber, with flecks of gold around the irises.

Wolf's eyes.

He had seen eyes like these before. In fact, Natsuki has a whole shelf devoted to females with ethereal eyes such as hers. Sulamith Wulfing was one of his brother's favorite artists. Her illustrations of fey female wood sprites, water nymphs and fairytale princesses are well known. He even bought a large Wulfing-inspired painting from a brilliant artist living in Canada a few months ago.

He was on the point of reaching out to hold her animated face still, so he could stare into her eyes longer, but managed to keep himself in check. What the fuck? What is he thinking, reaching out to touch a complete stranger's face? People might get the wrong idea and label him as a pervert.

He stiffened at the thought of being labeled a pervert. The young woman in front of him has the face of a girl and a body of a woman. Potent combinations for virile males like him.

"Oh, I am sorry for babbling like this. I did not introduce myself first. How rude of me" she gave him a sheepish smile and bowed low. "Haruka Nanami."

Haruka Nanami. Spring Flower. It suits her perfectly.

He took a step back, unsure of what to say. Should he introduce himself too? What the hell is wrong with him? Getting muddled by a mere slip of a girl.

He saw her gave him a puzzled look at his strange behavior. "S-sorry. You must have mistaken me for someone else." He said in a deep voice. He turned on his heel to go back inside the restaurant. He doesn't want to humiliate the girl further.

"Look out!"

Strong small hands, grabbed his dark coat, as he felt himself being pulled back, while something fast wheezed past his ear. He gave a curse as he stumbled backwards, falling ungracefully on the pavement, as he heard a loud, dull thump followed by a terrific crash.

He lay on his back, sprawled on the hard ground, groaning, as the wind was knock out of him. A few passersby screamed as they threw themselves at the side of the building, looking up with terrified looks on their face. A gondola carrying some heavy paint cans, toolbox and brushes were scattered in front of Satsuki, were he was standing just a few seconds ago. Some of the paint's covers were broken, and white paint gushed on the gutter, along with some broken bottles of solvent.

The restaurant's maitre'd rushed out to help a couple of passersby who were injured when they hit one of the potted plants placed in front of the entrance. The man began to apologize profusely for the accident, while the restaurant's day shift manager rushed out to check the unfortunate incident, all the while calling the painting contractor to urge him to come to the scene and assess the damage. A few uninjured people helped a middle aged couple, and a teenager, including a mother holding a toddler to sit at the side.

"Are you okay?" Haruka asked him, weakly, and he realized that she cushioned part of his fall. She was now holding him protectively, her hands clutching the collars of his jacket, and cradling his head.

"Someone call an ambulance" a large burly man in jeans yelled as he help an old woman to sit up. She was bleeding slightly on the side of her cheek.

Damned it! "I hope you did not hit your head." Satsuki threw a glare at Haruka. "You could've have just pulled me at the side. I could have crushed you with my weight." He scolded.

Despite his harsh tone, she gave him a smile, still lying on her back. "A small bump, I think. But nothing serious."

He gritted his teeth in annoyance. This girl should be more aware of how fragile she is! She's supposed to run for cover and left him to deal with an injury like any other man.

"No need to frown." She said. "A thank you would be enough. I should be angry at you for not paying attention with your surroundings." She closed her eyes.

Satsuki panicked. "Hey! I thought you're not hurt?" He quickly rolled on his side and forced himself to a kneeling position. At the same time, he quickly assessed that he did not sustain any injuries. He could feel no serious pain, except a bruising on his ego. All thanks to this girl.

"Answer me, Haruka! Wake up! You should have told me you were hurt" he said, somewhat angrily.

Her eyelids fluttered open. "I'm not. I'm just feeling faint from all the excitement. I thought I might be too late when I pulled you away. I don't want to see an injured man in front of me. It makes me sick" She gave a shudder. She muttered a cuss word that sounded a lot like French.

His annoyance vanished. She does have delicate sensibilities after all. Thank God for that. And it kind of suits her fragile nature. And to think she also has some spunk. He hated too much fragility in women. It reminds him of crystals that break easily. That's why he never stays in a relationship for too long. They often cling to him shamelessly once they started developing feelings.

He took her hand, marveling at the tiny bones. He could easily crush if he was never too careful; but underneath delicate skin, her pulse is strong, her grip is firm. He found himself hardening at the thought of her hands gripping a certain part of his male anatomy.

"Thanks for saving me" he said, peering into her eyes to make sure she really is all right. She boldly stared right back at him, confusion coloring her eyes at some hidden emotion that she saw in his green eyes. He was on the verge of asking her to come with him so he could bring her to a nearby hospital and have her properly checked when a yell interrupted them.

"Haruka!"

She suddenly pulled the hand he was holding, and he was gruffly pushed away as a broad-shouldered man with long, honey-blond hair engulfs the girl in a hug. A male Goldilocks, he thought feeling annoyed and irritated for the interruption.

"You idiot!" the man said, "I leave my eyes off you for a second and here you are in the middle of another commotion. What am I gonna do to you, mon chere?"

The endearment used on Haruka was not lost on Satsuki, and he narrowed his eyes in a possessive look. Boyfriend?

"I'm fine. And don't you dare lecture me again. I just saved a man's life." She answered proudly, still being hugged by the man. She caught his eye and she winked at him mischievously, embarrassed smile bringing out a dimple in her cheek.

"You should take care of yourself more." He whispered something in her ear and he watch as Haruka's flushed face go even redder than before. "Shut up, Ren!"

Goldilocks gave a chuckle.

"You alright?"

Satsuki looked up and saw his brother peering down at him, concern written all over his face. He nodded without blinking, humbled by the show of love and support that his brother is bestowing on him. His warm hand is resting on his shoulder and he helped him get up, dusting off dirt from his jacket and pants. They both ignored the fiasco behind them, as the injured passersbys were given chairs to sit on and glasses of water, as they waited for the ambulance.

They stood side by side like stone sentinels, watching the tender scene before them. Goldilocks still hugging Haruka, trying to feel with his fingers to check whether she had anything broken. Finally, he stood up and helped her on her feet.

They face the both of them, too. The man was tall, if not as tall as him, a trifle taller if his calculations are correct. He has a thin, handsome face and a straight nose. His high cheekbones seemed to sharpen his looks even more. The black, long sleeved polo shirt stretch across his chest, giving him a darkly sensual aura. Sleek, like a panther. A formidable foe, indeed.

Satsuki can see that the man who hugged Haruka so intimately was Ren Jinguuji.

The same Ren Jingguiji that his brother was interviewing that day.

"Oh…."Haruka said, eyes widening when it finally registered what she was seeing in front of her. Two halves of a mirror. One wearing a dark blue shirt and black jacket, and the other a casual olive green shirt and jeans. The same face, the same hair. The same sad, half-smile. The same eyes the color of green leaves, wetted by summer rain.

"You're twins.." she said. She was looking at him now, embarrassment evident on her face. And then her eyes flickered to Satsuki's side, recognition lighting up her eyes. "I did not know… But I hope you like the shirt."

She met Natsuki. Satsuki realized. It was Natsuki. And she was the one who bought the shirt for his brother.

He stole a glance at his right side, and saw his brother smiling sunnily and bowed in apology. "Hello. I am sorry for leaving you at that time. I was in the middle of composing a song, you see. I was struck by sudden inspiration and had to leave. I am Natsuki Shinomiya. This is my brother, Satsuki."

"Haruka Nanami."

Out of the corner of his eyes, Satsuki saw Haruka gave him a shy smile. "I am sorry for being such an idiot. I did not understand why you are looking at me as if I was deranged. I just thought.. Well, your brother did not spoke to me the whole time when we first met."

"No worries, there." He addressed her formally, the sudden chill in his voice surprising him. Her felt his brother stiffen a bit, and turned to look at him with hooded eyes. Natsuki is bound to find out what he is feeling now, and he does not want a confrontation in front of the girl. "Everybody makes the same mistake."

Ren, who was left out of the conversation, interrupted. "I am sorry to cut things short, Natsuki. I need to bring Haruka to the hospital. I want to make sure she is completely unscathed from the heroic acts she displayed today." He stressed the word unscathed, and Satsuki instinctively picked out the warning sign that the man had just given out. Do not come near her again.

"Sure." Natsuki answered, noting the jealousy-laced words. "We can re-arrange another appointment date." They watch as the two bid their goodbyes, Haruka looking back at the both of them a second longer, a puzzled look on her face. She must have sensed the sudden tension exchanged between Satsuki and Ren, but she could not understand why.

Ren carefully deposited Haruka in the passenger seat of his car, gave a curt nod at them and roared the engine to life. A few seconds later and they were gone.

"I've decided to choose him." Natsuki said quietly.

He looked at his brother, expecting contradiction from him, but Satsuki shrugged carelessly. Natsuki can do damned well he pleases. He does not understand why he was angry all of a sudden. It felt like someone had snatched his newly discovered toy right when he was about to play with it.

"Fine, then." Natsuki said, turning around and started to walk back to the restaurant. "I'll be using Haruka Nanami as the female lead star for the music video. This must be fate then." He gave a soft laugh.

"What do you mean?" he is not amused with his brother's sense of humor right now. He felt like raging, wanting to grip someone else's throat.

"Remember the night when I said I found a muse for you?" Natsuki said, glancing back at his brother.

Satsuki stopped in his tracks. Haruka Nanami.

"Yes, Satsuki." Natsuki said, giving him a half-smile. "I meant Haruka Nanami."

oOoOoOo

A/N: And the sotry gets even more exciting now that another character has been introduced..

By the way, please check out my latest one-shot, Meet Me at Four. And drop a review to let me know what you think about it (grins).

Now, how about some lovely reviews for my effort? hehehe