Pairings? Yukiru or Kyoru? You can pick… maybe Yukchi? I don't say…

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE SONGS OR SINGERS!

Tonight:

Yuki – If you're not the one : Daniel Begingfield

Tohru: Underneath this smile : Hilary Duff

Kagura: Broken Vow : Laura Fabian

Kisa: The first Cut is the Deepest : Sheryl Crow

Uo: Take me Away: Barlow Girl

The Next time:

Hiro: Breathe: Lifehouse

Kureno: It ends Tonight : All American Rejects

Haru: Its not over : Daughtry

Rin: I need you to Love me : Barlow Girl

Kyo- Take my Away : Lifehouse

Yuki's soft voice filled the room. He was singing in an almost questioning tone.

If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?
If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?

The lyrics only a small fragment of how he felt. The pain of questions unanswered stabbing at his delicate heart. His quest for answers had only just begun.

I never know what the future brings
But I know you are here with me now
We'll make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with

Deep down, he wasn't as confident as these lyrics. He wasn't positive on anything not even if she felt the same as he did. Yuki was too scared to confess. Maybe she didn't but he didn't want to think about that, not yet. He'd put off the realization and pain as long as possible.

I don't wanna run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

chorus

Arms, an embrace from the girl he loved would be the most precious gift he would ever receive. But that hug was something he couldn't have. There wasn't any way without transforming, at least not yet.


If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?

He wondered this himself. Yuki tried to count how many times he laid awake in the dark endless nights searching for an answer. The answer never seemed to find its way to him no matter how long he waited. He was beginning to think that maybe, there was no answer, no destiny to unwind, just life and love to take boldly.


I don't know why you're so far away
But I know that this much is true
We'll make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be the one I die with
And I'm praying you're the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life

Wishes, hopes, desires. Those feelings seemed to be the only thing that pulled him through onto the next day, with the added boost of the opportunity to see her smile. How a little thing like that could brighten up his otherwise dark heart was still a mystery to him.


chorus x 1

'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today
'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
You know my heart is by your side
chorus x 1

He finished off the song smiling faintly. On the stage in front of thousands of people reality struck him. Love didn't have an answer, it wasn't a beautiful fairytale but a heart wrenching story filled with despair. But he'd chase after it with all his might anyways because she was worth it, he knew that much.

What was it about heart breaks that lured people in? And made them cry and upset? The audience seemed to get a kick from the pain each of the juunishi felt but at least they were applauding.

"Yun's performance was so… so beautiful! Five… no ten out of five stars!!!!!!!!!! Toto-chan is up next!!!!!!"

Yuki shook his head as he stepped off the stage and out of the spotlight as fast as possible. As she passed Tohru he gave her a smile whispering to her that he knew she'd do great. She blushed and nodded before finishing her way up the stairs to the stage. Tohru stood there smiling until the music drifted out of the speakers. Her voice slowly made its way out to join the tune.

What I'm standing on is sinking in
And I don't have a clue how to get off of it
But when I look at you there is hope
It's like you see the sadness in my eyes
You read the blue between the lines
You could be the one to hold me when I wanna cry

Tohru's voice held such sad sorrow. How many times had she felt the tears ready to burst? How many times had she held them back, afraid to let them show? How many times did he come to comfort her and help her smile again?


Underneath this smile
My world is slowly caving in
All the while
I'm hanging on
Cause that is all I know
Could you be the one to save me from every bad habit that has helped me dig this hole?
I've been hiding out for miles
Underneath this smile

chorus

She remembered Kyo telling her its okay to let her emotions show. She remembered Yuki wiping away her tears. Everything the Sohmas have done for her made her feel at ease with them but she still didn't want to stop smiling for them.


I have walked this earth with broken bones
I've been keeping secrets under all these lights
But when you're around my defenses go
You don't let me run away from you
You don't let me twist and turn the truth
It feels as if I'm naked when you're standing in the room

chorus x 1
Underneath this smile
Oh, yeah

Why didn't he ever just let her believe they all thought she was happy? Why wasn't he satisfied with her fake smiles? Maybe she should be focusing on why she wasn't content with her sad smiles.


chorus x 1
Could you be the one to save me from every bad habit that has helped me dig this hole?
I've been hiding down for miles
Underneath this
Underneath this
Underneath this
Smile
Oh,oh,oh

What I'm standing on is sinking in

A smile, a true one with no sadness spread across her face. From then on, she decided not to hide her emotions anymore. Determination was another quality viewers tended to like, but not as much as pain, both seen in Tohru's performance.

"… It'll be a hard vote tonight! Now is Kagura-chan!"

Kagura ran up to the stage draping her arms around Tohru, hugging her friend before they took each other's spots. Tohru laughed feeling a lot better after her song. She patted Kagura's back giving her a thumbs up before climbing down the stairs. Almost instantly the sweet murmurs of a piano started.

Tell me her name

I want to know

The way she looks

And where you go

I need to see her face

I need to understand

Why you and I came to an end

Tell me again

I want to hear

Who broke my faith in all these years

Who lays with you at night

When I'm here all alone

Remembering when I was your own

Kagura's voice cradled such despair. Half the time she wondered what she had done wrong. Was there a reason why Kyo didn't love her as much as she loved him?

I'll let you go

I'll let you fly

Why do I keep asking why?

I'll let you go

Now that I found

A way to keep somehow

More than a broken vow

chorus

Maybe, it was best to let him go. No matter how many times she told herself to be strong the pain still stung deeply in her heart. But it was the right decision, wasn't it? So why did it have to hurt so much. She just wanted him to be happy but was that worth her own happiness?

Tell me the words I never said

Show me the tears you never shed

Give me the touch

That one you promised to be mine

Or has it vanished for all time

Chorus x 1

Was there still a chance that he could love her? Kagura choked back the tears that tried to break out.

I close my eyes

And dream of you and I

And then I realize

There's more to life than only bitterness and lies

I close my eyes

I'd give away my soul

To hold you once again

And never let this promise end

Chorus x 1

Remembering when I was your own…

It was too late; she had to learn that already. All these years the only thing she had done was drive him away. Besides, how could Kyo love her, the violent boar? The tiniest smile formed on her mouth as she allowed a single tear to trail down. This was going to be the last tear she shed over him she decided. There was no point in pushing a one-sided love.

Again, the agony filled lyrics won over the audience. Kagura didn't seem to care anymore. She ran off the stage, not to the couches where everyone was waiting but out the doors in the back. She didn't want to see Kyo, she couldn't handle it.

"Dum dum dum…. DRAMA! Kyonkichi should go after her…"

"Wha- Why me?!" Kyo snapped.

"Because…. Anyhoo Kisa is next!"

Shyly Kisa stood up on her toes to reach the microphone and remove it from its stand. The music started immediately to divert everyone's mind from Kagura's departure.

I would have given you all of my heart
But there's someone who's torn it apart
And he's taken just all that I have
But if you want I'll try to love again
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

It wasn't a he who tore out her heart and twisted it around. Kisa learned it was more so herself who had inflicted the most damage. The way she let the snickers of her classmates affect her deep down.


The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

She learned she couldn't change the way she looked or that she couldn't even defend herself physically but she didn't have to take their rudeness seriously.


I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
And I'm sure gonna give you a try
If you want I'll try to love again, (try)
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

Then there was Hiro. He wasn't exactly there for her when she needed him to comfort her. But when he told her that he cared for her, she instantly felt better.


OOHHH,
The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
But when it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

chorus

Cursed… Kisa beamed faintly at this part. She was cursed and so was he, maybe in a different manner then the artist of this song intended but it was still a curse. It was still something that tied her down and kept her from being able to live her life to the fullest. A barrier that kept her locked inside.


I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
But I'm sure gonna give you a try
Cuz if you want I'll try to love again
(Try to love again, try to love again)
Baby, I'll try to love again but I know, OOHHH...
chorus x 1

OHHHH, the first cut is the deepest
Baby I know (baby I know)
The first cut is the deepest
Try to love again...

Kisa would never stop trying, for Hiro, for Tohru, for Haru and for Yuki… So many people didn't want her to give up so she wouldn't let them down. She couldn't let them down when they put so much faith in her.

Cute little girls singing their hearts out score points with judges as well. Who in the right mind could resist an adorable little girl?

"Kisa-chan did wonderful! Uo-chan is up next! Wacha! The last performance of the night!"

Uo flicked her bangs out of her face before taking the microphone from Kisa's small hands. Next to Kisa Uo looked even taller then usual. Kisa bowed slightly before making her way off the stage and back to her seat between Hiro and Tohru. Uo smirked before starting off her song.

Pushing my way through these crowded streets
Trying not to be swept away
Fighting just to keep this crowd from
Hiding you another day

Countless times looking at the door from her job at the convenience store, praying wishing that whoever opened the door next would be him. It never was though. He never walked through the automatic doors again.


So maybe this time I'll find you
And maybe this time I'll push through
To see you today, today

She lost track of how many trips she had made down the road where she had found him that sunny day or to that restaurant, anxiously hoping that maybe he'd be there.


Won't you take me away
Won't you take me away
'Cause I need some time to get away
Where only you could ever
Take me away, away, away

chorus

Uo had tried to get away from him. Quitting her job focusing on her friends but none of that worked. Her mind always found itself drifting back to Kureno.


Too many days I've been distracted
Watched these crowds push you away
I'm so tired of feeling empty
Without you I waste these days

Funny, how could one song perfectly portray how you felt? The words she had struggled to find were just there coming out of her mouth in the form of a song.


So maybe this time I'll find you
Just don't stop calling me to you
And I'll find my way today

chorus x 1

So maybe this time I'll find you

Find you today, today

chorus x 1

Her efforts weren't wasted she realized as she found herself staring off at his direction. Kureno gave her a smile in return and she just dropped the microphone on the phone and ran back to his side.

"Beautiful closure! Vote!"

Vote!!!! Kya! Wondering why Yuki's part is so much longer? Its because I was feeling depressed when I wrote his:3 so it fit nicely

Yuki: 5! (duh)

Tohru: 4

Kisa/ Kagura: 3.5

Uo: 3