Hey minna-san! I'm so sorry for not updating earlier! The truth is, I
wanted to wait until we had our music concert. I had most of this chapter
typed, but our concerts always have crazy things happen. The whole first
section of this chapter really happened last night, most of it word for
word. It was insane, but fun ^.^
Yami-eskaflowne-sama: there are saxes, and I know who they are. I just haven't mentined them yet. Guess I'll have to know, ne? Actually, one of the saxes will have a more major role in the upcoming chapters . . .
Diamond Dew: I'm glad you don't hate Emily in this fic anymore. From the beginning I decided she was going to be a helpful character. I can't stand Mariah though. It has something to do with my insane Rei obsession . . . heh -_-;
Anime Fan: ~giggles~ glad you liked those lines! I'm also glad you find this fic amusing!
To everyone else, thanks for the reviews and I'm glad you like this fic! Now on with this chapter!
Warnings: Shounen ai, one swear word and the general insanity that is my life . . .
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. But I do own my life, therefore I own this plot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Musical Feelings: Under The Spotlights
Judy's footsteps echoed through the hall as she stormed towards the music room. She pushed open the door, and yelled "HEY!"
Everyone stopped, uneasy expressions on their faces.
"I don't know where your heads are, but you're suppose to be loaded by now!"
Silence fell over the room. Then,
"SHIT!"
The group bolted for the back door of the room, running down the hall in a mad dash.
"I can't believe this!" Kai grunted. "Why didn't she tell us she wanted us to load?"
"It's not her fault Rei panted, shifting his baritone as he ran. "Judy's under a lot of stress tonight."
"You've got that right!" Max yelled as he ran past. "You should've seen her at dinner!"
The three boys hurried into the stage entrance, Rei freezing in place.
"I was suppose to load stage right, not left!"
The Chinese boy pushed his way past Tyson, running off down the hall.
"Sheesh, Rei should take a chill pill." The trumpeter joked.
"Hey Kai, weren't you suppose to load stage right too?" Max asked hesitantly.
A string of angry words escaped the Japanese boy's mouth as he took off after Rei. The two remaining boys chuckled.
"Ready for this Maxy?"
"You bet. Good luck Tyson. I'll see you on the other side." The blond winked, going up the steps to the percussion section. The section was set up behind the band on a raised platform.
"Same too you, buddy." Tyson slipped into his seat, eyes wondering around the auditorium. A quartet was playing, drawing people in from the intermission. The boy smirked. "It's show time!"
*****
"Who's the best? We are!" Tyson grinned at his friends, raising his trumpet above his head. "We rocked!"
"Hmpf," Emily crossed her arms and shot the blue-haired boy a skeptic look. "Obviously you weren't listening to yourself play."
"Haha. You're a riot Emily." Rolling his eyes, Tyson turned to Max. "Great drumming Maxy!"
"Thanks. You weren't that bad either."
"What about the baritones?" Rei asked, golden eyes dancing with amusement.
Max laughed. "You sounded really good. Your practicing paid off."
Kai paused as he passed, nodding to Rei. "Blondie is right, you sounded great."
"Thanks." Blushing at the compliment, the Chinese boy ducked his head. Kai smirked softly before continuing on his way to the shelves.
"See, even Kai thought you sounded good." teased Max, giving Rei a nudge.
"He's just saying that. No one is a better musician than Kai."
Once more Tyson found himself rolling his eyes. "All hail the mighty Hitawari Kai, master trombonist."
"I heard that Tyson." Kai growled from across the room. "Besides, if I was listening correctly you missed your big solo."
Tyson flushed angerly and turned around with a grunt.
Max and Rei laughed quietly, exchanging looks. At that moment Judy entered the class, waving for everyone to take a seat. The group sat on the floor, being as the chairs were still on stage, quieting as their conductor smiled at them.
"You all sounded great out there, you should be proud." Her eyes flickered over the teens before she spoke again. "I have a surprise for you all. In March there is a music competition held in a city a few hours away from here. We'd arrive on a Friday, and stay until Sunday. You would compete on the Saturday. I think our band has what it takes this year."
Everyone began talking at once, faces alight with grins. Tyson rose to his feet and silenced his classmates.
"All in favor of competing and going on a trip, rise their hand!"
Around the room hands shot up into the air. Judy smiled.
"Then it's settled. Next rehearsal I'll discuss what charts we'll perform. Great work tonight, all of you, even if you were late to load."
As the group got to their feet, Tyson and Rei turned to Max.
"So that's what you meant by your mom's surprise?" The Chinese youth questioned. "Something tells me you know quite a bit about this trip."
"You're right, I do. Aren't you excited though?"
"Man, this is sweet! Maxy, we're so rooming together, k?"
The blond nodded, blushing as Rei chuckled. The baritone player glanced around the room, catching Kai's eye. He waved the trombonist over eagerly.
"So, what do you think Kai? Excited?"
"Hn." Kai crossed his arms and shrugged. "I'll get back to you once we rehearse. I won't embarrass myself at this competition."
"Aw, is the perfect trombonist embarrassed to by seen with his little band friends." Tyson cooed. "Poor Kai."
"Shut up Tyson."
Max tugged on the trumpet player's arm. "Come on, your grandfather will be waiting for us. He said we could hang out at your place, remember?"
"Yup. Later Rei, Kai."
As the two left, the remaining musicians shook their heads. Smiling at Kai, Rei voiced his silent hope.
"Want to come over for a bit? It's not that late, we could do science homework or something?"
A brief silence crossed between them. Finally Kai nodded his head.
"I guess."
"Great!" Ambers danced happily. "Let's get our stuff then."
Kai followed the Chinese boy from the room, a slight smile flickering across his features. Music may be a 'weak' subject, but at least he got to be with the only person he had ever considered a friend.
*****
"A car that is moving east at 20m/s starts to brake. Its speed drops by 2.5m/s each second. How long does it take the car to stop?" Rei raised his head from the textbook, awaiting Kai's answer.
"Who's in the car?"
"Anou . . . " The raven-haired youth thought for a moment. "Two people, a driver and a passenger."
The Japanese boy watched the baritone player beside him on the floor. The light played over Chinese features, long lashes framing amber pools.
"Names?" He asked, meeting Rei's gaze.
"Tyson and Max?"
"They don't stop, crash, and die."
"Kai!" Rei's eyes widened slightly horror.
The other boy smirked. "I'm just joking."
A small smile crossed Rei's lips. "You, joking? Didn't know it was possible."
"You don't know everything about me." Was Kai's mysterious reply.
"Okay, how about this. Instead of Tyson and Max, say it was you and me in the car. What would happen then?"
"We'd stop in time and survive, but we'd hit some of those band members who couldn't play they're parts."
Rei's head tipped back as he laughed. He wiped away the tears forming in the corners of his eyes, body shaking gently with chuckles. Kai's smirk widened and he reached over to brush away some of Rei's tears with his thumb.
"You find that funny, hm?" The Japanese boy murmured.
Rei felt his cheeks redden as he nodded. Kai paused, crimson orbs drilling into golden ones. The Chinese youth returned his stare equally.
"Kai?"
"Hmm?"
It felt like Rei was drowning. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't. All he could do was stare into Kai's eyes.
"I- Do you want something to eat?"
Blinking, Kai pulled back from Rei. "Oh. Ah, sure."
"What would you like?"
"Whatever."
Rei got to his feet, hurrying into his kitchen. He glanced back quickly, but Kai's attention was on the science textbook. The Chinese boy sighed. They'd been so close, too close even. Grabbing a box of cookies from the cupboard, Rei shook his head.
"It's what I've wanted, so why did I stop it? Wait until Max hears this."
Ambers rolled upwards. How could the blond understand what he went through. Tyson was easy to talk with and hardly uptight. Kai, on the other hand, was a real mystery.
Pushing the door open with his hip, the long-haired musician smiled as he reentered the room.
"Cookies okay Kai?"
"Hn."
"I'll take that as a yes." Rei sat back on the floor, opening the box he held. The youth munched silently for a moment before voicing his thoughts. "Kai? You know that trip that Max's mom was talking about?"
"Hn." Kai nodded curtly, still refusing to look at the Chinese boy.
"I was wondering . . . do you want to . . . room together?"
Slowly the blue-haired head rose. Crimson eyes focused on Rei again, empty of all emotion.
"Well, I know you wouldn't want to room with Tyson or anything, so I-"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes, I'll room with you."
"Really? Y-you don't mind?"
Kai shook his head. "Like you said, I wouldn't want to room with Tyson."
"Great!" Rei didn't stop the grin that spread over his face. "Thanks Kai."
Brows furrowed slightly. "What did I do? I just agreed to be your room mate."
Rei just shrugged and grinned happily. This was turning out to be a great trip already . . .
TBC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yami-eskaflowne-sama: there are saxes, and I know who they are. I just haven't mentined them yet. Guess I'll have to know, ne? Actually, one of the saxes will have a more major role in the upcoming chapters . . .
Diamond Dew: I'm glad you don't hate Emily in this fic anymore. From the beginning I decided she was going to be a helpful character. I can't stand Mariah though. It has something to do with my insane Rei obsession . . . heh -_-;
Anime Fan: ~giggles~ glad you liked those lines! I'm also glad you find this fic amusing!
To everyone else, thanks for the reviews and I'm glad you like this fic! Now on with this chapter!
Warnings: Shounen ai, one swear word and the general insanity that is my life . . .
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. But I do own my life, therefore I own this plot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Musical Feelings: Under The Spotlights
Judy's footsteps echoed through the hall as she stormed towards the music room. She pushed open the door, and yelled "HEY!"
Everyone stopped, uneasy expressions on their faces.
"I don't know where your heads are, but you're suppose to be loaded by now!"
Silence fell over the room. Then,
"SHIT!"
The group bolted for the back door of the room, running down the hall in a mad dash.
"I can't believe this!" Kai grunted. "Why didn't she tell us she wanted us to load?"
"It's not her fault Rei panted, shifting his baritone as he ran. "Judy's under a lot of stress tonight."
"You've got that right!" Max yelled as he ran past. "You should've seen her at dinner!"
The three boys hurried into the stage entrance, Rei freezing in place.
"I was suppose to load stage right, not left!"
The Chinese boy pushed his way past Tyson, running off down the hall.
"Sheesh, Rei should take a chill pill." The trumpeter joked.
"Hey Kai, weren't you suppose to load stage right too?" Max asked hesitantly.
A string of angry words escaped the Japanese boy's mouth as he took off after Rei. The two remaining boys chuckled.
"Ready for this Maxy?"
"You bet. Good luck Tyson. I'll see you on the other side." The blond winked, going up the steps to the percussion section. The section was set up behind the band on a raised platform.
"Same too you, buddy." Tyson slipped into his seat, eyes wondering around the auditorium. A quartet was playing, drawing people in from the intermission. The boy smirked. "It's show time!"
*****
"Who's the best? We are!" Tyson grinned at his friends, raising his trumpet above his head. "We rocked!"
"Hmpf," Emily crossed her arms and shot the blue-haired boy a skeptic look. "Obviously you weren't listening to yourself play."
"Haha. You're a riot Emily." Rolling his eyes, Tyson turned to Max. "Great drumming Maxy!"
"Thanks. You weren't that bad either."
"What about the baritones?" Rei asked, golden eyes dancing with amusement.
Max laughed. "You sounded really good. Your practicing paid off."
Kai paused as he passed, nodding to Rei. "Blondie is right, you sounded great."
"Thanks." Blushing at the compliment, the Chinese boy ducked his head. Kai smirked softly before continuing on his way to the shelves.
"See, even Kai thought you sounded good." teased Max, giving Rei a nudge.
"He's just saying that. No one is a better musician than Kai."
Once more Tyson found himself rolling his eyes. "All hail the mighty Hitawari Kai, master trombonist."
"I heard that Tyson." Kai growled from across the room. "Besides, if I was listening correctly you missed your big solo."
Tyson flushed angerly and turned around with a grunt.
Max and Rei laughed quietly, exchanging looks. At that moment Judy entered the class, waving for everyone to take a seat. The group sat on the floor, being as the chairs were still on stage, quieting as their conductor smiled at them.
"You all sounded great out there, you should be proud." Her eyes flickered over the teens before she spoke again. "I have a surprise for you all. In March there is a music competition held in a city a few hours away from here. We'd arrive on a Friday, and stay until Sunday. You would compete on the Saturday. I think our band has what it takes this year."
Everyone began talking at once, faces alight with grins. Tyson rose to his feet and silenced his classmates.
"All in favor of competing and going on a trip, rise their hand!"
Around the room hands shot up into the air. Judy smiled.
"Then it's settled. Next rehearsal I'll discuss what charts we'll perform. Great work tonight, all of you, even if you were late to load."
As the group got to their feet, Tyson and Rei turned to Max.
"So that's what you meant by your mom's surprise?" The Chinese youth questioned. "Something tells me you know quite a bit about this trip."
"You're right, I do. Aren't you excited though?"
"Man, this is sweet! Maxy, we're so rooming together, k?"
The blond nodded, blushing as Rei chuckled. The baritone player glanced around the room, catching Kai's eye. He waved the trombonist over eagerly.
"So, what do you think Kai? Excited?"
"Hn." Kai crossed his arms and shrugged. "I'll get back to you once we rehearse. I won't embarrass myself at this competition."
"Aw, is the perfect trombonist embarrassed to by seen with his little band friends." Tyson cooed. "Poor Kai."
"Shut up Tyson."
Max tugged on the trumpet player's arm. "Come on, your grandfather will be waiting for us. He said we could hang out at your place, remember?"
"Yup. Later Rei, Kai."
As the two left, the remaining musicians shook their heads. Smiling at Kai, Rei voiced his silent hope.
"Want to come over for a bit? It's not that late, we could do science homework or something?"
A brief silence crossed between them. Finally Kai nodded his head.
"I guess."
"Great!" Ambers danced happily. "Let's get our stuff then."
Kai followed the Chinese boy from the room, a slight smile flickering across his features. Music may be a 'weak' subject, but at least he got to be with the only person he had ever considered a friend.
*****
"A car that is moving east at 20m/s starts to brake. Its speed drops by 2.5m/s each second. How long does it take the car to stop?" Rei raised his head from the textbook, awaiting Kai's answer.
"Who's in the car?"
"Anou . . . " The raven-haired youth thought for a moment. "Two people, a driver and a passenger."
The Japanese boy watched the baritone player beside him on the floor. The light played over Chinese features, long lashes framing amber pools.
"Names?" He asked, meeting Rei's gaze.
"Tyson and Max?"
"They don't stop, crash, and die."
"Kai!" Rei's eyes widened slightly horror.
The other boy smirked. "I'm just joking."
A small smile crossed Rei's lips. "You, joking? Didn't know it was possible."
"You don't know everything about me." Was Kai's mysterious reply.
"Okay, how about this. Instead of Tyson and Max, say it was you and me in the car. What would happen then?"
"We'd stop in time and survive, but we'd hit some of those band members who couldn't play they're parts."
Rei's head tipped back as he laughed. He wiped away the tears forming in the corners of his eyes, body shaking gently with chuckles. Kai's smirk widened and he reached over to brush away some of Rei's tears with his thumb.
"You find that funny, hm?" The Japanese boy murmured.
Rei felt his cheeks redden as he nodded. Kai paused, crimson orbs drilling into golden ones. The Chinese youth returned his stare equally.
"Kai?"
"Hmm?"
It felt like Rei was drowning. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't. All he could do was stare into Kai's eyes.
"I- Do you want something to eat?"
Blinking, Kai pulled back from Rei. "Oh. Ah, sure."
"What would you like?"
"Whatever."
Rei got to his feet, hurrying into his kitchen. He glanced back quickly, but Kai's attention was on the science textbook. The Chinese boy sighed. They'd been so close, too close even. Grabbing a box of cookies from the cupboard, Rei shook his head.
"It's what I've wanted, so why did I stop it? Wait until Max hears this."
Ambers rolled upwards. How could the blond understand what he went through. Tyson was easy to talk with and hardly uptight. Kai, on the other hand, was a real mystery.
Pushing the door open with his hip, the long-haired musician smiled as he reentered the room.
"Cookies okay Kai?"
"Hn."
"I'll take that as a yes." Rei sat back on the floor, opening the box he held. The youth munched silently for a moment before voicing his thoughts. "Kai? You know that trip that Max's mom was talking about?"
"Hn." Kai nodded curtly, still refusing to look at the Chinese boy.
"I was wondering . . . do you want to . . . room together?"
Slowly the blue-haired head rose. Crimson eyes focused on Rei again, empty of all emotion.
"Well, I know you wouldn't want to room with Tyson or anything, so I-"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes, I'll room with you."
"Really? Y-you don't mind?"
Kai shook his head. "Like you said, I wouldn't want to room with Tyson."
"Great!" Rei didn't stop the grin that spread over his face. "Thanks Kai."
Brows furrowed slightly. "What did I do? I just agreed to be your room mate."
Rei just shrugged and grinned happily. This was turning out to be a great trip already . . .
TBC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~