"What is wrong with you? Why do you look at me that way? Grow up and become a boy!" Screamed Mr. Shindou. "Why does my son have to look like. like some girl?"

Slapping Shuichi away, Mr. Shindou stammered off, leaving Shuichi alone in the park, the nearby mothers wanting to help, but not wanting to get involved either. Bleeding from his mouth, Shuichi just stood there, numb to the world around him.

A red mark appeared on his face, it was a normal happening in his life, and tears no longer seemed to be able to come to him. Shuichi was used to it by now, his heart no longer seemed to care. He couldn't help it that he looked the way he did. His emotions long ago had left him for dead, the world no longer meant anything to him. Why did he have to live?

A voice behind him said, "ne. if you want to cry, then cry. don't hold it all in, if it was me I'd be bawling right now."

Turning around, a boy stood there, reaching down his hand in an offering of help. Emotions swelled up in Shuichi's heart.. No one has said a nice word to him besides his sister in all his life.. And here in front of him, a perfect stranger, offering soothing comforting words.

Sniffing as he tried to hold back his tears, Shuichi lunged into an embrace of the red haired boy before him. "Arigato. arigato." was all Shuichi could manage before his sobs overcame him.

An hour later, after Shuichi calmed down, he looked up at the taller boy. "Ne. what is your name?"

Grinning, the boy looked down. "Baka. it is normally polite to introduce oneself before asking for someone else's name." Shuichi stood there with his mouth half open, blushing as he forgot his manners.

"Er. I. I am." was all Shuichi could say before the other boy started to laugh out loud. "Oi! It isn't funny!" That caused him to laugh all the harder, Shuichi turning a few more darker shades of red finally started to laugh as well.

"Your name is Shindou-kun, ne?" Looking somewhat confused Shuichi's mouth hanged open, not believing what he was hearing. "I heard your pops call you it before. call me Hiro. and close your mouth before a bug flies in."

Looking up, Shuichi smiled at Hiro. "Sankyou for giving me an encouraging word, I appreciate it."

Smiling, Hiro looked down. "Well, you could always make it up to me you know." Grinning even wider, Shuichi looked up somewhat wary and confused.

"Honto ni? How?"

"Easy easy." Leaning close, up to Shuichi's face he replied. "I am kind of new here, so you have to start hanging out with me as my friend. what do you say?"

Still a little speechless, Shuichi nodded his head. "Hai. I would really like you to be my friend. umm. Hiro."

"That's right. what kind of things do you like to do? I am trying to play guitar."

"Well, I want to be a singer like my idol Sakuma Ryuicchi." voice trainling off as the name is mentioned.

"Oi. Shu-chan, snap out of it. your drooling. OI!"

Looking up and catching himself in time before his mouth started to water. "Ne, since I want to sing and you play the guitar, we should practice and try to become a band. ne ne ne?"

Hiro put his arms around Shuichi's shoulders, "Well, lets see if you are good enough to sing for my band." Laughing wickedly, Hiro started to drag Shuichi around town.

"Ne. where are we going? Ne ne ne. Hiro. ne ne."

"Urusai! We are just going karaoke, karaoke."

"Hoe?"

"Ma ma Shu-chan. karaoke. and it is your turn to sing tonight!" Hiro puts on a big grin as he pushes him in the club Jaxy's, the all night karaoke bar. Shortly afterwards, he enters. "Ok. it is paid for the next two hours. start a singing for me 'Shu-chan'."

Sighing, Shuichi waves his hand at Hiro. "Hai hai. Give me a minute." Looking down near his feet, silence produced itself around the room. The lingering lack of sound was cut sharp as Shuichi picked up the mike. Looking up, his eyes were afire with passion, he remembered all the times he watched Ryuichi. no. how he could be just like him. his idol.

Nothing else mattered, it was like dancing with death, your whole attention was fixated upon the words in your mouth that seemed to creep forth from your lips. How nothing else matters, as long as the song is completed.

Like all things though, the song finally came to an end. Looking up once more, Shuichi smiled at Hiro. "Ne. Am I good enough for you to make me your partner?"

Looking up with a evil grin on his face, Hiro waved at Shuichi. "By looking at your results, I would say yes. He he."

Confused, Shuichi tilted his head towards Hiro. "Hoe?"

"Well. why don't you ask them instead on what they thought about your performance?" He declared as he waved his hands, motioning behind Shuichi.

Slowly turning around, Shuichi was amazed to see the crowd assembled around the window to his booth, what surprised him more, is that they were all clapping. clapping for him.

Feeling his face turn a few shades red, Shuichi turned his face to Hiro. "Hiro! How could you? I feel so embarrassed. what do I do."

Smiling Hiro looked up, "Sing Shuichi. sing. Give them more of what they want to hear. and someday I promise you that we will be even better then Sakuma Ryuichi. better then Nittle Grasper! Wait and see."

Stars lit up in Shuichi's eyes, and then determination. Singing with all his might, the time passed by quickly, song after song, until his throat could no longer manage to shout out his voice.

Collapsing onto the couch in the booth, Shuichi picked up the drink left behind by the previous people.

"Oi. OI! Shuichi. that was sake. Shuichi.?"

Standing up, Shuichi crawled into Hiro's lap. "Hiro. I don't feel too good." His voice was getting quieter by the minute.

Hiro shrugged his shoulders, and leaned in some more. "Nani? Don't you dare fall asleep on me. I am not carrying you home."

Reaching up, Shucichi put his hand at the back of Hiro's head. Hiro being somewhat shocked started opening and closing his mouth. "Oi. I am not like that. OI!"

Bending up, Shuichi kissed Hiro. Hiro's eyes went wide, as the audience still watching showing as much shock as he was. His eyes suddenly went wider, as he rushed out of the booth and into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, a angry Hiro came back into the room to see a sleeping Shuichi. Murder was evident on his mind. "Oi! Wake up! I am not your personal toilet! You got drunk and didn't feel like moving. but that doesn't mean you do that to my mouth. I mean bleh. next time go puke in the toilet!"

Shaking the ever silent Shuichi to no success of waking him up Hiro sighed. Giving up, Hiro picked him up and set him onto his back. "If you do anything like that again, I will drop you. got that?"

Smiling at Shuichi's face, Hiro shook his head. "You really are cute. you know that Shu-chan?"