Chapter 13. A Concert?

Taren: "Now that I think about it, you kind of looked like one of those hairless cats! Or a raptor... Or the nine-tails from Naruto, but hariless!"

Luckily it no longer hurt to laugh, but it does hurt when you can't stop. Yuki cleared his throat, clearly trying hard not to laugh. Tohru was siling wide and said,

Tohru: "'He kind of did, didn't he."

Kyo, mean while, was red in the face and grinding his teeth.

Shigure: "Actually, on this topic, Kyo, where's your bracelet?"

Shigure asked, leaning forward to double check he wasn't wearing it. Everyone seemed to realize this as well, and Kyo lifted his left arm.

Kyo: "I guess... it must be at the bottom of the lake. but then why am I not transformed..?"

So it WAS the bracelet that had caused the transformation. Or maybe prevented it? But maybe it was more than that too.

Taren: "Maybe it's mind over matter somehow?"

Realizing that I had said this aloud and everyone was looking at me, I began to blush as well.

Shigure: "How would that be possible?"

Shigure questioned.

Taren: "W-well, maybe since he was always thinking it was there, then it would be..? I don't know, just ignore me."

It was diner time, and since me and Kyo were feeling better we had come downstairs. Rachel still hadn't stopped by, but she had called earlier saying she would be a bit late. Sneezing into my shirt, I pulled the blanket back around me.

Speak of the devil and she will appear. There was a knock on the door and Tohru got up to get it.

Tohru: "Oh! You're here!"

Walking back in, Tohru guided Rachel into the room. Seeing me, she came over and gave me a bear hug.

Rachel: "I'm so glad you are alright."

Rachel said, sitting by me.

Taren: "Tohru said you had something big to tell me?"

Smiling wide Rachel sighed and pushed her hair back.

Rachel: "We have been asked... to go do a concert!"

She said excitedly.

Taren: "...Wait, go TO a concert, or play IN one."

I asked, turning towards her.

Rachel: "To play in one. But..."

Rachel bit her lip lightly and looked at me.

Rachel: "I would be gone for a while."

Taren: "A while?"

I asked.

Rachel: "Ya, like two weeks. And, if it goes good... My producer thinks we could go on tour!"

Letting this sink in, she looked worriedly at me.

Taren: "What, is something wrong?"

I inquired, confused.

Rachel: "I don't want to leave you alone if that happens. If we had relatives nearby I wouldn't care, but..."

She was right. Rachel and the band could be gone for months possibly. Would I be safe or even happy during that time? Then again, she would be making money and enjoying herself. Did I have the right to take that from her?

Taren: "...Go. This is a big opportunity, I won't be the one to hold you up."

Rachel looked at me, surprised.

Rachel: "But, won't you be alone and lonely?"

Taren: "I'll be fine, I can-"

Shigure: "Stay here, of course."

Shigure said, finishing my sentence.

Everyone but Shigure: "Huh?"

Everyone said at the same time.

Shigure: "Why not? That was you don't have to pay for rent and Taren will be safe! We even have space out back in our newly built shed for anything you couldn't leave at the apartment."

Rachel: "But that wouldn't be fair for you, it seems you already have a full house."

Shaking his head cheerfully, Shigure said,

Shigure: "Naw, it's fine! He can take Kyo's room!"

Kyo: "HUH?!"

Kyo yelled, leaning forward.

Yuki: "I like this idea."

Yuki inputed, smiling at us.

"But... Are you sure about this?"

The question was general, but everyone looked at Kyo for the answer. Put under pressure, he looked around at us all and then sighed.

Kyo: "Fine."

Kyo knew he was defeated by the majority.

Rachel: "Thank you."

Rachel sincerely said, and then her phone started ringing.

"Oh, that means I gotta go. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, but I'll let the land lady know you'll need to get in to grab what we left there. I'll put everything that's not your into a storage unit."

She hugged me again, but stood up before I could unwrap myself from the blankets.

Taren: "Love you."

I said hurriedly as she began to leave. Looking back she repeated that sand then she was gone. Silence was on the room until a few moments later when footsteps could be heard running back towards us.

Rachel: "By the way,"

Rachel said, popping her head around the corner.

Rachel: "Don't make him angry, he had a bad streak as a kid."

Realizing what she was about to divulge I hopped up and ran to cover her mouth.

Shigure: "Oho? What was that?"

Shigure asked intrigued. Warding me off, she continued to tell one of my darkest childhood secrets.

Rachel: "It's just a joke now, but when he was young and was being picked on at school..."

I moved in front of her, trying to cut her off in vain.

Rachel: "One day he finally- Stop that!- snapped and, like, turned delinquent."

Rachel's phone rang again, and she checked it.

Rachel: "Oh, gotta go! He'll have to tell you the rest."

Laughing, she left for good this time, and I sighed in relief. It wasn't over yet though; as I turned around everyone was looking at me expectantly.

Taren: "...What?"

I said casually, sitting back down.

Shigure: "So, what was this all? Do share."

Shigure said, folding his arms and smiling.

Taren: "I really don't want to talk about it."

"Oh, come on, you know all about us. It's our turn!"

Blushing, I turned to each of them in turn, looking for backup.

Yuki: "This sound interesting."

Yuki said.

Tohru: "We-well... I wouldn't mind hearing about it either."

Tohru looked away.

Last was Kyo. As I stared at him, he got shifty and averted his gaze.

Kyo: "It does sound interesting..."

Moaning, I laid my head onto the table.

Taren: "Fine! I'll tell you the freaking story."