"So I think earned to know the reason why you sang against Megumi," said Aoshi as he put down another shot and slammed the glass down on the bar counter.

He and Misao were now sitting at the bar drinking. The applauding crowd died down and resumed to dancing to the traditional DJ music.

Misao ordered one more coke and drank it just the same as Aoshi before gathering herself to answer him, "Aoshi I want you to promise me that you won't get mad, at least not until tomorrow because tonight's not over."

Aoshi had enough of Misao trying to work her way around the question, "Misao."

Misao caught the serious lecturing tone in his voice, "OK. Aoshi when you took me out to dinner and I went to the washroom I ran into Megumi."

Right away Aoshi knew this wasn't going to be good and remained silent waiting for Misao to continue.

"She told me something different then what you did about how you got stuck being manager for her. Now Aoshi before you say anything I want you to know I don't put much faith in Megumi's word but I'm certain she wasn't lying. Remember how you told me about that friend of yours who first got you into the label?"

Aoshi nodded.

"Well…" Misao didn't know how to put this lightly and decided to get it over with and spoke rather quickly, "She said she had your friend wrapped around her finger and when she first came to the label she really liked you. But when she realized you weren't interested in her she decided she'd make your friend lie to you and make you her manager so that she could keep close to you even if you didn't like it."

Aoshi's face was expressionless and cold. He looked away from Misao and stared at the bottles on the wall that distorted his reflection. Misao waited for a response with concern in her eyes, but none came. Aoshi only gestured for another round to the bartender.

Misao lowered her eyes when she spoke again, "That's not all Aoshi."

'Great,' he thought as he shifted his position to face Misao again. 'As if the first half wasn't bad enough.'

Misao blew out some air to prepare, "I decided to challenge Megumi to two events of our own choice. Singing against her was her own challenge and there's still my own…" There was a moment's pause. "And if I win this competition then Megumi will rip up your binding contract. But if I loose I…." Misao couldn't bring herself to say such a disheartening scenario.

"And if you loose you have to stay away from me and break all ties."

Misao looked up to Aoshi wide-eyed, tears brimming in her eyes. She nodded her head as she muffled back a sob.

Aoshi sighed and turned around to his drink and gulped it down. He held the glass in his hand studying it, not wanting to make eye contact with Misao.

"So that was what was bothering you when I drove you home?" he asked distantly.

Misao nodded, the tears started rolling down her cheeks, "Yes," she said quietly.

Misao tried to swallow the lump in her throat. The worst had happened, he was angry and the disappointed tone of his voice only made her feel all the more terrible about keeping this from him.

"Misao you should have told me."

"I know but I didn't know how to explain this without," Misao paused and spoke quietly, "Without loosing you."

It was quiet between them for what seem like forever until the silence was broken by whom you could only guess.

"So there's out little performer," said Megumi as she walked up to the two of them.

Aoshi turned himself back to the bar and slouched over his drink. Misao sat in her seat still looking grimly at the floor.

Megumi put her hands on her hips that were, for the better part, covered by a little silver dress that was covered in sequins. It was probably the shortest length possible and it was suspend by thin spaghetti straps.

"Ooh," she said as she noticed the distance and silence between Aoshi and Misao. She leaned over Aoshi, putting on hand on his back. "I imagine Misao here told you about our gamble." Her voice was sounding sarcastically sympathetic. She made a face that was supposed to look sad and leaned closer to Aoshi, her lips level with his ear, "What's the matter darling?"

Misao looked up and glared at Megumi still whispering in Aoshi's ear. She moved closer, he didn't move. Megumi brought her lips to his ear and weakly kissed them, and lightly bit his ear lobe.

Aoshi instantly jumped up from his seat and put distance between himself and the two women

before him.

Megumi stood smiling slyly. Misao now standing, anxiety etched on her face and rivers running down her cheeks.

Aoshi looked to each of them as he backed away, "I need to get out of here." He looked to Megumi with disgust who didn't seem insulted by this, "You…stay the hell away from me."

Megumi gave a shrill laugh, "Well that will be a little hard to do considering you have to come to work tomorrow."

Aoshi breathed heavily, anger burning in his eyes, he turned quickly and started to walk to the door at a fast pace. Misao moved around Megumi to chase after him but a slender hand grasped her wrist.

"Don't forget, we have something to settle tonight," she said cunningly.

Misao, still distraught, gathered herself. She wouldn't look weak in front of Megumi, "I haven't. Just be prepared to loose."

Misao wrenched her hand from the woman's grasp and ran after Aoshi who just went through the doors.

"Aoshi! Aoshi!" Misao cried as she ran after the tall figure in the parking lot darkness.

Aoshi stopped and turned around. His emotions were out of control, anger, confusion, helplessness…

"Aoshi," breathed Misao, panting as she came up to him. "Please don't go. Please Aoshi. I still have to beat Megumi and… I really need your support on this."

Aoshi face flickered with sympathy, for both of them.

Misao gave a uneasy sigh, "Look I can't do this without you. Shit Aoshi, this was for you." Tears were welling up in her eyes once again, "All of this," she spread her arms out and dropped them to her side again, "Just for you. Look tomorrow, next week or for the whole year, be angry with me OK? I probably deserve it for going behind your back like I did, but please, just for tonight…I need you on this."

Aoshi gazed at Misao. Her pathetic appearance was depressing and it pulled on a heartstring. He still felt for Misao and knew in truth she went out of her way for him. He couldn't let her be in pain like she was without him trying to make it all better. Aoshi took a step closer to Misao, dwarfing her.

Misao lowered her head as he approached. She didn't feel like she was worthy for him anymore, shamed with embarrassment. She could smell his familiar scent as his broad chest stood in front of her. Tears once again broke free of Misao's desperate hold and sobs consumed her.

A hand reached out to Misao's chin and lifted it to gaze into the eyes that were once ice, now still firm but soft with compassion. Misao's breathing became unsteady as Aoshi used his thumb to wipe away some of her tears. Misao's hands moved up and gently wrapped around his that was cradling her face. Misao lifted herself on to the tips of toes and Aoshi tilted and lowered himself. Their lips found each other. It wasn't passionate or strong, only light and soft, like a dream.

Aoshi lifted from Misao and she touched down back to the pavement. Simplistic but deep emotions were vivid in their eyes. Aoshi put his arm around Misao's shoulder and slowly they walked back to the doors of the club

As they opened the double doors a few heads turned as the cold fall air rushed in, but the first face they saw was Megumi who immediately pushed through the crowd to get to them.

"Oh how cute, the bickering couple made up."

She wasn't smiling and sounded bitter.

'They weren't supposed to make up. Oh well, just a wrinkle. There's no way Misao could win against me.'

"So Misao, lets get this over with. What's your challenge?"

Misao felt Aoshi's arm around her tighten slightly but then relax.

"Well Megumi, hope you could hold liquor better than a tune," said Misao as she and Aoshi pushed past Megumi heading for the bar.

Megumi stood there for a moment with a look so terrifying it would scare the children way. She turned on her high heel and followed Misao and Aoshi to the bar.

'So she thinks she could out drink me. Ha! Superstars are notorious for drinking," thought Megumi. But in the back of her mind she recalled, or at least as much as she could remember, the time when she went out binge drinking with a few friends, got drunk and damaged so public property.

Misao took a seat next to the bar with Aoshi standing supportively behind her. Megumi sat at the barstool next to Misao giving her the evil eye. The crowd sensing tension between the two swarmed around them.

After a brief period of staring each other down Megumi slammed her palm on the bar counter that summoned a bartender.

"Drink of choice Misao?" asked Megumi.

"Sake OK with you?" replied Misao.

Megumi leaned over to Misao, close to her face and spoke in a quiet but harsh voice, "It won't make a difference, so drink whatever you please."

The bartender walked further down the bar to get two shot glasses and a few bottles of sake. She turned to head back to the table when Kaoru stepped in front of her.

"Tsubame, let me take care of this," said Kaoru, kindly taking the tray from the timid young woman and took it two Megumi and Misao.

Kaoru set the tray down and started to pour the sake into the glasses.

"Kaoru, what are you doing?" asked Misao.

"What does it look like. I want to be able to say that I served the drinks when you beat Megumi," replied Kaoru as she set the two glasses in front of the women.

Misao smiled gratefully to Kaoru and felt Aoshi's hand rest on her shoulder. Misao put her hand on top of his and looked up to him, "I'll be fine." Aoshi kissed the top of her head.

Misao turned back to face Megumi, both of them with determined looks in their eyes. The crowd started to cheer, "Drink! Drink! Drink!"

Megumi and Misao grabbed their shot glasses and held them tight in their hands, staring each other down once again.

"DRINK! DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!"


A/N: Remember proper manners, read & review! Thanks for all the positive and great reviews, you guys are awsome! Just listening to Madonna right now after going to the mall and buying an outfit, a pretty one too. Well hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Toodles!