Just get your guitar and learn how to play

Cut up some jeans, come up with a name

When you're living in a world that you don't understand

Find a few good buddies

Start a band

~Brad Paisley (with Keith Urban) - Start A Band

"Alright this is sick!" Nadeshiko couldn't help speaking out of her usual good charm, either as a boy or a girl, and complain about the concoction she was forced to drink, "What's in this?!"

"I don't remember everything," Yaya admitted, laughing to show she had no pity for Nadeshiko, "I just kind of threw a bunch of stuff on the table into the blender."

"That's about a thousand calories a sip," Rima commented regarding all the junk food she and Amu had bought before the party, making Nadeshiko feel sick to her stomach.

"Isn't truth or dare at a sleep over a bit cliched?" Utau asked, unamused by their antics.

"Oh, lighten up Utau!" Yaya whined playfully, hugging her neck from behind, "Games are only as much fun as you make them!" Yaya was smiling happily, as usual, oblivious to a twitching Utau, who was debating whether or not to knock her senseless.

Amu and Nadeshiko shared a look and shrugged laughing good heartedly at the two. Nadeshiko laughing ceased instantly when she felt two arms snake around her neck, "I say this was a success for the most part," Rima commented with light approval, after mimicking Yaya's actions.

Amu smiled and nodded in agreement, she was glad that the sleep over was a success. Even at three in the morning they were still joking around and having fun, although Amu felt that she was going to pass out at any moment. From her joy, and her sleep deprivation, Amu didn't notice that Nadeshiko had gone cold.

Nope, Nagihiko. He was stiff and frozen in place, not daring to make the slightest movement with Rima actually leaning on him. What kind of situation was this anyway?! Wasn't she just staring intensely at him suspiciously for the past few hours?! Why was she suddenly so friendly?! All these questions were running through his head out of confusion, and just for a distraction from thinking about the fact that a girl was on top of him.

"What's up with you?" Rima asked, feeling how stiff "Nadeshiko" had gotten, trying to sound innocent. Nagihiko caught that bit of challenge in her voice.

"Oh nothing," Nagihiko assured Rima, turning Nadeshiko and her charm back on. He knew she was up to something, he just wasn't sure what. They both gave each other innocent smiles, with a hint of a glare within their eyes that Amu, who was watching them, didn't seem to notice.

"Alright then," Rima answered surrendering this round as she let her hand fall from around Nadeshiko's neck. Nadeshiko released a sigh of relief when Rima began to walk away. "Mind if I change into my pajamas?" Rima asked Amu smiling innocently.

"Are you going to sleep?" Amu asked, hoping in the back of her mind that everyone felt the same.

Rima just shook her head, "No, I just thought I would since it's already three in the morning," Rima reasoned.

"Oh! I want to show you guys my pajamas too!" Yaya agreed with Rima going over to her bag. Nadeshiko just shrugged not really caring until he looked over at Rima, who was beginning to unbutton her blouse.

"Ah?!" Nadeshiko made a sound of shock, nearing falling out of her chair. "Y-you're changing here?!"

"Why not?" Rima asked with more of a victorious smirk than a smile; she knew she had found the blind spot, "It's not like I have anything you haven't seen before." Shit, this is bad, Nagihiko thought willing to give anything to get out of that room.

"Throw me my bag, will you Yaya?" Utau asked getting up from her seat to change as well. Nagihiko was pretty sure there was no way out of here without looking suspicious, but, damn it, he didn't care.

"I-I'm going to go to the bathroom." Nagihiko answered barely managing to keep up his Nadeshiko facade. He quickly grabbed his bag and went towards the bathroom, before he could be asked any question. Behind him, Rima was smiling amused by "Nadeshiko's" reaction.

-

-

Somewhere around two in the morning, the watchmen, seemed to have all fallen asleep in front of the computer screen. Ikuto with his head in his hand leaning against his chair; Kukai arms crossed as a pillow against the desk, gaining radioactive waves from sleeping in front of the computer; even Tadase and Kairi both leaned back in their chairs snoozing. The setting seemed peaceful, until blaring music suddenly began playing.

"What?! What?!" Kukai shot up looking around anxiously, the others groaned, complaining not about the music, but Kukai's naturally loud voice shouting. "Where's that coming from?!" Kukai asked to no one in particular as he continued looking around. "Where-?" he was about to ask again, but couldn't form the words after Ikuto shoved a marshmellow in his mouth to keep him quiet.

"Relax." Ikuto answered running a hand through his hair, still trying to wake up, "It's just my phone." he pulled the phone out of his pocket, and flipped it open to answer before even looking at the caller ID. "Hel-?"

"Get me out of here." Nagihiko interrupted his greeting, trying to get in his request with the short amount of time he had in the bathroom.

"Do you know what time it is?" Ikuto asked, wondering what had gotten him so worked up. Out of all of them, he was the one used to spending so much time with girls, his house always being full of dancers. What could shake him with a few younger girls?

"Yes, I know what time it is," Nagihiko answered in a way that Ikuto presumed was as calm as a pissed off Nagihiko could answer, "Which means, my job is pretty much done."

"Who is it?" Kukai asked swallowing the marshmellow in his mouth. Tadase and Kairi were also watching Ikuto for an answer. Instead of responding, Ikuto only shrugged and put his phone on speaker.

"What do you mean your job's done?" Ikuto asked beginning to get curious with Nagihiko's behavior.

"Everyone's going to leave in about four hours," Nagihiko answered getting annoyed by having to explain himself, "If Utau hasn't done anything to Amu at this point, I'm sure she's safe for the night. Meaning, there's no reason for me to be here."

"So going to Amu's place to pick you up at three in the morning isn't suspicious?" Ikuto asked rhetorically.

"I don't care." Nagihiko answered his voice getting louder than a whisper, "Think of something and get me out of here."

"I don't know," Tadase chimed in thinking aloud, "Do you remember the time Utau cut off all the hair of some girl that wouldn't leave you alone a couple years ago?" he was only asking Ikuto, but even Nagihiko heard it on the other line. Nagihiko smacked his forehead and shook his head, promising himself to smack him later for sharing that little story.

"Be strong man." Kukai told him as an attempt to cheer him up, but it only made Nagihiko twitch, with another note to hit him too.

"I don't get what's got you so worked up all of a sudden." Ikuto added, hoping to get him to talk, "Since when does being in a room of girls bother you?"

"Weren't you watching?" Nagihiko asked, not wanting to get into detail as to why it bothered him so much.

"Uh, we fell asleep after you guys were going through magazines," Kukai told honestly, not thinking of the consequences of his answer.

"What?!" Nagihiko shouted into the phone making all the guys jump back in shock. "What the hell?! What's the point if you guys are going to just fall asleep?! I ought to-" before he could continue with his threat, he quickly slapped his hand over his mouth, suddenly realizing that he had been shouting. He waited a few seconds to make sure none of the girls were coming to check on him.

"Uh...," Kukai started, confused as to how he could go off on a fit like that and just stop talking, "Are you ok?"

"No." Nagihiko answered with annoyed sarcasm, but in a softer tone, "I'm at a sleepover wearing skirt damn it, what do you think?"

"What'd they do to you?" Ikuto asked, shocked as an understatement, he had never heard Nagihiko cuss like that. To think spending time with a few girls could make him like that was astonishing to Ikuto. "You're like a different person."

"I'm just tired of getting harassed by Amu's bodyguard," Nagihiko answered bitterly thinking about everything Rima had put him through that night.

"When did she get a bodyguard?" Kukai asked, not getting the analogy.

"I think he means Amu's friend," Kairi answered with the process of elimination; Yaya wasn't a fighter and Utau obviously wasn't one to defend Amu.

"Oh, you mean the four foot Barbie doll?" Kukai asked, not sure how threatening she could really be. Sure she could throw a good glare, but where was the challenge?

"More like the devil with blonde hair." Nagihiko corrected him, "It's been nothing but death glares, tests, and bitter behavior, and she's been suspicious of me from the beginning, I wouldn't be surprised if she did know. Plus, she's starting to sexual harass me."

"O.k, there paranoid much?" Ikuto asked never hearing Nagihiko go off like that, "I'm sure you're blowing this out of proportion."

"Yeah," Kukai agreed, with a different reasoning, "Sexual harassing? I mean, she looks like an elementary school kid, what's she got to sexually harass with?"

"Ple-" Naghiko started, but slapped his hand against his mouth before he could get out his response. What was he about to say?! He was really starting to get crept out now.

Ikuto's ears perked up when he heard Nagihiko begin to respond. "What were you going to say?" he asked with his signature smirk plastered to his face.

"Nothing," Nagihiko responded, mentally smacking himself for saying it defensively, "Alright, alright, you win. I'll stay, but you all owe me." With that he smacked his phone closed an lightly hit head against the bathroom wall.

-

-

"That was so much fun!" Yaya complimented Amu on her party with another breath taking hug to show her appreciation, "We should do this again some time!"

"Sounds good," Amu got out patting Yaya on the back, more to get her to let go than anything else.

"See you guys later!" Yaya said leaving for the bus station with a final wave goodbye.

"I can't believe she never lost any energy," Rima commented, not sure how she was human. After a sleepless night, she thought the girl might have lost some of her prep, but no, she even seemed more hyper than before.

"Well, you know how some people are," Nadeshiko nodded in agreement, not sure how Yaya stayed cheerful after that everything either, "I guess I'll be off. It was nice meeting you Amu-chan." Nadeshiko said politely.

"Come back anytime." Amu answered a kind smile, making Nadeshiko reply with an equal smile.

"Yeah," just like that, there went the smile, right when Rima chimed in, "I'm sure we'll see you again soon."

"Maybe," Nadeshiko tried to fake another smile, "But, I'm due to leave soon, so I'm not going to make any guarantees."

"Alright." Rima answered sarcastically with a smile that said she knew. Nadeshiko only responded with a smile just as intense.

"Bye, Amu-chan." Nadeshiko said before taking off.

"I'll call you later Amu." Rima said with a slight wave before leaving herself.

Amu waved a good bye to both of them, "Well, this was nothing special," Amu nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard someone behind her. She had completely forgotten that Utau was still there, "But I guess it wasn't that bad." Utau gave Amu the closest thing to a compliment with that.

"Thanks," Amu replied with a grateful smile, "We should do it again some time."

"Maybe...," Utau answered determined to keep Amu guessing, "Anyway, I have something to do this afternoon, so I want to make sure that when you're with the band at my house tonight you stay away from my brother." Utau warned her, throwing on her protective sister attitude.

Amu smiled in recognition to the mood swing, "I promise I'll keep my distance Ikuto."

"And, uh," Utau tried to form the words while trying to relax, "Can I hear your song?"

"Huh?" Amu asked not sure what she meant by her song. Did she mean one of the songs in her journal or something?

"The song you wrote for the band. Ikuto said you were going to write them a song for today, and I'm kind of curious." Utau admitted to wanting to know, it was something, maybe the only thing, she and Amu had in common. Utau liked writing songs, and she knew there weren't that maybe people who could be songwriters. She was actually interested in Amu's ability, or lack their of depending on the song, "What's it about?"

Amu smiled at Utau blankly for a moment, making Utau look at her questioningly. "Uh..." she started, still smiling dumbly, before she gave up and just put her hand behind her head and let out some nervous laughter.

"You haven't finished yet, have you?" Utau asked now glaring, "Why did you even have this party if you weren't even done with your work?!"

"Uh..., prior engagement." Amu tried to reason, Utau obviously not buying it, she literally looked like she was going to jump Amu or something, "It's a work in progress. I've got a few hours before I have to see them, so it's no problem."

"Well, you better have it done." Utau told her warningly, "It's like the only thing you have to do. The band is one of the few things Ikuto likes, so don't screw this up."

"What do you mean one of the few things?" Amu asked, not sure what she was talking about.

Realizing what she had let slip, Utau just turned away and started walking, "Never mind, just get the song done."

"Don't worry," Amu assured her as she went farther away, "You can count on me!" I hope, Amu added mentally. She had tried so many times before to put a song down on paper, but there was always the idea of if it wasn't any good, or if guys would want to even play to this song. With a sigh, she went outside and locked the door behind her. Maybe a small walk would give her some inspiration.

She wasn't sure how far she had been walking, just knowing it wasn't far enough. Her ideas were repetitive, and she was tiptoeing on her feelings. She didn't want to reveal too many details about herself within the song. But she just couldn't write one without some emotion added into it. Amu avoided thinking about song topics and just took in her surroundings, the colored leaves beginning to fall with the breeze, younger kids playing on swings, someone relaxing on a bench.

Wait, huh?! Amu took a closer look at the familiar person on the bench, "Huh?! What are you doing here!?" she asked screaming practically from surprise. She never would have guessed she was going to see Ikuto just lounging around at what she realized was a park.

Ikuto looked over at her lazily, cocking an eyebrow at her wondering what she was yelling about, "Good to see you too."

"You didn't answer the question!" Amu said still freaked out that he was here.

"What's got you so worked up?" he asked, she did seem more spastic than usual, and this was before he even did anything, "You do something wrong?"

"I..." Amu didn't want to admit to him that her song still wasn't written, but she didn't really have the ability to give a convincing lie, "I can honestly say I didn't do anything." stretching the truth a little never hurt though.

"O.k," Ikuto say questioningly at her confident answer, "So, what didn't you do?"

"Uh...." Amu froze not sure how to answer, she ended up just giving him nervous laughter that gave her away.

"You're not done yet are you?" Ikuto asked, already knowing by her expression he was right.

"It's...a work in progress?" Amu tried to answer, but Ikuto's look made her know that neither sibling was gullible, "I got nothin'." Amu admitted sighing into the seat on the bench.

"Nothing?" Ikuto asked not really helping, making Amu slouch lower in shame, "Didn't you start something earlier?" Ikuto asked remembering when they decided she would be the one to write the song in the first place.

"No." Amu answered too quickly, causing suspicion.

"You sure?" Ikuto asked messing with her, as usual, "I distinctly remember something that went like-"

"O.k," Amu said before he could say anything else, "I didn't like how it went."

"How come?"

"It's..." Amu didn't want to admit it, but she already knew he'd get it out of her eventually, "Kind of embarrassing." Amu answered with her cheeks just blushing without her consent.

"Embarrassing?" Ikuto asked, trying hard not to laugh at that reason. Of course he was unsuccessful, receiving a glare from Amu, that didn't have it's usual effect with pink cheeks. "How is that embarrassing?"

"You guys don't need to know stuff," Amu answered putting her cool attitude on in her stubbornness.

"Well, then say it's about a friend or something," Ikuto suggested, only getting another glare from Amu, "Fine, but most of the best songs come from true emotions, you know?" Amu looked at him for a moment, then it was her turn to burst into laughter. Ikuto just looked at her confused, what was up with her?

"Th-that was so lame!" Amu got out her explanation still laughing.

"So that's how it is." Ikuto said taken aback and not sure what he should think of that reasoning, "Just trying to help."

"I-I'm sorry," Amu said quieting her laughter, "I just don't think what I was writing was something you guys would want to play."

"At this point we just want something to play," Ikuto told her shaking his head, "Don't worry about whether we'll like it or not, just write what you want. If you stop before you finish you'll never know what we think anyway, and you'll never unlock your hidden potential."

Amu wanted to laugh again, it was just too weird hearing Ikuto say stuff like that, but something he said caught her attention, "Unlock my potential?" she whispered to herself thinking. Ikuto looked over at her curiously, not sure what she was thinking about. "Unlock...my heart? ...and you will see, the me I want to be...? I got it!"

Ikuto jumped back shocked by her suddenly yelling, "Got what?"

"Lyrics, an idea, something to work with. I got to go home and write this down before I forget," she took off towards the direction before turning around to go back, "I'll have it done by practice. Thank you so much." she told him in her excitement and even hugged him quickly before running off again, "See you at noon!" she called back with a wave before running out of sight.

"You're welcome?" Ikuto said after she was gone, looking confused, "What just happened?"

A/N:

I'm back...well, online anyway. I've been grounded for a while, with no access to Internet, tv, phone, game systems, or my books or manga...do you know what that left me with? Nothing but studying...although I do have an A in math for the first time ever. Well, I've missed fanfiction a lot, and my plan of getting a lot of chapters updated over fall break was an epic failure. Just letting people know I was grounded, not having writer's block or giving up on the story. Happy Belated Halloween, and Belated Day of the Dead!