Saturday, December 14th

            "OH MY GOD!  I'M GOING TO SEE MATT ISHIDA!  IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE!"  TK grimaced as the fan girl next to him screamed in his ear.

            "You'd think that they would have heard that he was unavailable by now," Kari commented.

            "Matt tries to keep Sora out of the spotlight," TK explained.  They were both in line, waiting to get into the last concert of the session for the Lone Wolves.  Matt had sent TK, Kari, Davis, Ken and Yolei all front row tickets.

            "Does Sora like the fact that there are girls all over Japan drooling over her boy?" Yolei asked archly.  Ken chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

            "She doesn't exactly have room to complain, now does she?" Ken countered.  Yolei started to make a comment and then closed her mouth and felt her cheeks redden as the double meaning of Ken's remark sank in.

            "Let's just try and get inside, can we?" Davis demanded.  "All these girls and not a one of them for poor old me."  He threw his hands up dramatically.

            "Really?" TK asked, arching an eyebrow.  "What were you doing last night that had you stumble in the front door at four in the morning?"  Davis' face reddened as Ken and Yolei began to laugh.  He didn't have to respond because by then they had made it to the front of the line.  They showed their tickets and were escorted to their seats, next to Tai and Sora.  The group made small talk amongst themselves until the lights began to dim.

            "Hello Odiba!  How are you doing?"  A massive cheer answered Matt's question as the stage lights turned on and illuminated the band.

            "It feels great to be able to finish our tour this year where it all started, here in the great city of Odiba.  I want to thank you all for coming out to see us today, and I hope that we can, in some small way, brighten up your day."  And with that the first cord was struck and the music started.  Matt and the band played the best concert of the season that afternoon. The crowed loved the entire performance.  After the last song the band did a bow as the curtains began to lower.

            "Thank you all for a great afternoon!  Have a good year!" Matt yelled as the curtain settled in place.  TK and the others waited for the crowds to thin out before they made their way backstage.

            "Matt you guys were great.  This was the best show of then year," the groups manager, a slightly paunch, greasy man named Stan Crodful, gushed.  "You guys killed them out there.  Especially that encore.  Matt that was pure genius."

            "Whatever," Matt replied from where he sat.

            "Mr. Ishida?"  Matt looked up at one of the security guards.  "You have some visitors, sir."

            "Not more screaming girls who want to marry me," Matt groaned.

            "I sure as hell don't want to marry you," Kari replied.

            "And I AM marrying you, mister," Sora added.  Matt grinned and launched himself at Sora.  The two remained in an embrace for a few moments before they broke apart.

            "God, I missed you."

            "You saw me this morning before you left," Sora smiled.

            "And I missed you from the moment I got here," Matt countered.

            "If this gets any more cloying I'm going to throw up," Tai interrupted.

            "Try putting your head between your legs," Ken suggested.

            "Alright, enough," Matt laughed.  "I'm out of here you guys," he said turning towards his band-mates.  Have a good year.  I'll give you a call when the date is set, alright?"

            "Take care of yourself," the drummer replied as the other two nodded.

            "Matt, I need to talk to you before you leave," their manager interjected.

            "What is it?" Matt asked.

            "Well it's about your next album.  When do you boys want to hit the studio to begin recording?"

            "Not until late next year at the earliest," Matt replied.

            "But you need to get your next album out before the fire of your career burns down," the manager replied shrilly.

            "Look, I just don't have any time to do it before then," Matt explained.  "I've got a brother I need to spend some time with, a bunch of friends who I haven't seen in months and a girl to marry.  I'm swamped."  Matt shrugged before turning and walking out the door.

            "You're committing career suicide," the manager shouted after him.

            "Bull shit," TK reassured his brother.  "Now where do you want to go eat?"