Pairings: Taki/Shuichi, one sided Shuichi/Eiri, HiroxAyaka, Tohma/Eiri, Ma-kun/Mika.

Chapter 21

"What on earth made you think this was a good idea?" Mika's fists were clenched. "I know that marrying Eiri is the most distasteful idea in the history of this world." And as much as she loved her brother, she meant it. How anyone, especially someone as smart as Tohma could put up with someone that high maintenance was beyond her. "But a scam like this?"

"It was for a good cause." Ayaka looked down at her feet, looking a little pensive. "And I am not the only one who has married for the convenience of someone else." She looked at Mika meaningfully. "Tatsuha's told me all about you and Seguchi-san. Well, what he thought it probably was."

Mika was so going to kill her little brother. "That's exactly why I'm telling you this. I speak from experience." She took Ayaka's hand into her own. "I know it seems like it's a good idea now and there will be good times. As long as the man is good, there will be plenty of good times, but it's not the same. It's not the same as something real between two people."

"We agreed when we made the contract that we would get a divorce once things blew over and our parents gave up. Besides, eventually, I'll be an adult and my parents won't be able to pressure me to do anything." Ayaka gave a small laugh. "Actually, I doubt they want anything to do with me now."

Mika eyes lit up for a moment, thinking she had found a way to reason with the girl. "That's exactly why you should stop this now. You still have time to go to your parents and tell them it was just a mistake. Tell them you were manipulated by Tatsuha and Tohma. I'm sure they'll forgive you."

Ayaka shook her head. "No, it was my decision. I am not going to lie just to suit them. They have to accept that I am a big girl now."

By now, Mika's head was really beginning to hurt. "I'm not saying that you aren't, but do you have to do this? Couldn't you have found another way?"

"I guess I just wanted to have a little adventure in my life." She smiled innocently.

"Adventure?" Mika sighed to herself. Eiri's books had really done a number on the girl's brain. "Have you ever heard the saying, "I curse you to live in interesting times?"

"I think so." She looked confused. "Why?"

"Because I think someone might have decided to curse me that way." Mika found herself sitting down on the couch as she said this, suddenly overwhelmed.

Taki knew he had said he'd give Ma-kun his support, but he was still not happy about this new development. Even if Seguchi was a major fruit, that didn't make stealing the man's wife any less harmless. Nor did Ma-kun's being in 'love' make Taki feel particularly sympathetic. He didn't want to dwell on it much and was hoping to find Ken soon, so that they could come up with some contingency plan should worse come to worse. That and he was sure his sunglass wearing friend needed to have his nerves soothed a little. Taki suspected that Ken had probably headed for the lounge and was sulking.

And sure enough, there Ken was, looking broody as ever, well Taki had always thought the sunglasses made him look that way. The singer slid into the chair on the opposite side of the table quietly, making eye contact. "I'm sorry about yelling at you. It's just hard enough arguing with Ma-kun without having to argue with you at."

Ken said nothing, downing one can of pop, then popping open another. He'd probably be having who knows how many beers when he got home. Taki sighed to himself in frustration. "Listen we didn't mean anything by it. It really had nothing to do with you."

"Yeah, that's kind of the problem isn't it? It never has anything to do with me."

"Ken…" Taki looked down a minute. "That's not what I meant."

"It's always you and him. Even though we're all supposed to be a team, it's always like that." Ken's tone was bitter, as if he had been brooding over this for a long time.

"It is not always like that. If anything it used to be the other way sometimes, it was always him and you and I was the one trying to fit in. You guys used to treat me like shit when we first met." Oh yes, he could remember how badly they had bullied him back in middle school.

Ken guiltily looked away, embarrassed now. "We were just kids back then. Besides, you got over it."

"Exactly. Which is why I don't want to hear you whining over what's going on right now." Ken scoffed, but Taki ignored him, leaning back in his chair, sighing. "I mean, now isn't the time for us to be at each others throats."

"That's really encouraging coming from you of all people." Ken sounded sarcastic, causing Taki to feel defensive.

"Hey, it's Ma-kun's fault, not mine."

"Oh and you and Shindou wouldn't cause a problem if it got out?"

"This ain't about me or him. Not like there is an us even…" He felt a little bitter now. He had nearly forgot about how annoying the Shindou problem was.

"But unless you lose all interest in him, no matter if it's good or bad, it's going to get out eventually."

"I know that." Taki snapped harshly. In all honesty, that had been one of the reasons he'd kept it secret for as long as he had. "But that's not our current problem right now."

"Well, you know, it's not that bad, is it? The whole Ma-kun and Seguchi's wife thing. Worst Seguchi can do is fire us. But otherwise, it's great publicity, you know. At least, that's what the old you would have said."

"It's not about that!" Taki clenched his fists and unclenched them. "It's about the fact that he's not even thinking about the consequences. He doesn't think Ken-chan! Or rather, he does think but it's with his fucking dick!"

"So are you're angry because he followed lust instead of logic, even though you have screwed us over a million times because you like to ignore your conscious?"

Taki glared at Ken and then got up. "Fine. Whatever. He can go fuck himself and you can go brood yourself to death for all I care." And before Ken could get in another word, Taki left the lounge, grumbling to himself.

Bad Luck's studio had been tense as both boys sat in contemplation, Hiro about Ayaka, Shuichi about Taki and Yuki. There were choices for both to make and they weren't easy ones. But they needed to be made. So when the studio doors opened they were both annoyed and a little relieved at the same time. In walked Sakano with a young boy following behind him. The kid had to be sixteen, if even that, if one could judge by that baby face.

"I have an important announcement from Seguchi-san." Sakano looked nervous and a little fretful despite the smile on his face. Both Hiro and Shuichi sat up, wondering what new demand was going to be made of them. "This is Fujisaki Suguru, your new keyboardist. He shall also be doing the arrangements for Bad Luck from now on."

"What?" Shuichi jumped, shock making his whole body rigid.

The boy, Suguru bowed. "Hello. I hope I we will all get along well and even be friends."

Hiro got up cautiously, knowing that this was bad already. "Hello. I'm Hiroshi Nakano, it's a pleasure to meet you." Seeing that Shuichi was still in shock, Hiro pulled him forward and dipped his head down. "Say hello, you idiot." He whispered harshly into his friend's ear.

"Hello. Shindou Shuichi." Reving a bit, Shuichi grabbed Sakano and drug him out of the room, slamming the door. "What do you mean by new keyboardist?"

Sakano was starting to shake by now. "Seguchi-san said, he said that it was needed for the sake of the band. Ukai-san can't stay on forever, so he felt it would be best to have a new talent."

"What about the arrangements though?"

"Well, Seguchi-san feels that your skills, while passable, aren't enough to move Bad Luck forward. So that's why…" Shuichi dropped him and ran off in the direction of the elevators. "Shindou-san you aren't going to.. NO! You mustn't! You can't go yell at the Sachou!" By the time Sakano had reached the elevators though, the doors had already closed and the elevator was going upwards. Sakano lay against the doors and began to cry fitfully. "I'm ruined…"

Tohma had laid his head on his desk and was attempting to have a nice nap, but to no avail. His head hurt and he was still worried over the whole Eiri situation. Tohma, you need to be more on the ball here, or else he will win.

The door slammed open loudly at that moment, causing him to sit up abruptly. There stood Shindou Shuichi, huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. "Shindou-san, can I help you?" Tohma's voice had a hard edge to it and it was obvious, very obvious how annoyed he was by this.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Of what?" Tohma creased his forehead in annoyance. He was not in the mood to be dealing with a spoiled brat.

"Sending some dweeb to take my place! I'm the one who does the arrangements, me!" He pointed at himself repeatedly.

"You mean Fujisaki?" Tohma sighed. "It's because he is needed. In fact, I would have put him in sooner, but he had been hesitant to accept the job and there was some parental opposition."

"But why? You think I'm not good enough?" The teenager's teeth were clenched viciously.

"You hit it right on the button. You are not good enough. Passable yes, but that is not enough to help Bad Luck move ahead."

"You…" Shuichi's hands were shaking. "Fine, whatever." Shuichi turned around and started to stomp out the door.

"Shindou-san?" Shuichi stopped and turned to look at him. "Please, be nice to my cousin."

"Your… Cousin?"

To Be Continued…

Taki and Shuichi meet up again, both facing their own stresses. Tohma seeks out Mika for advice, only to find her unwilling to talk with him. And Suguru settles in or tries to.

Man, didn't get much accomplished, did I? The man purpose of this chapter was actually introducing Suguru. And no, he's not getting paired with anyone. He's going to have enough difficulty fitting in with the others without dealing with romance problems.