Disclaimer- Geez, are these things really required anymore? Ah well. Shuin and Lenne aren't mine. A certain singer is. You'll know who she is when you read this chapter.

GEEZ! I hate this chapter labeling crap!! Originally, when writing this, the Prologue wasn't labeled as chapter one, but I had no choice while uploading this. Er... so if you payed attention, you'd see that I went from Chapter 2 to Chapter 4... chapter 4 is really chapter 3, I just got confused... so screw it! We're continuing from Chapter 4. I

give up!

OMG!! Sailor Flower! I forgot to mention you last chapter! Thanks for the review! Yeah, you should expect the unexpected ^____^!

...whoa. Cheap Cardcaptor Sakura dub moment *shudders*

*agitated sigh* I can't take this stress... tomorrow I have to take a 13 hour bus ride to B.C. Whoo. Mountains. Guess I'll be sleeping the whole time. Okay. Chapter FIVE. Not four. FIVE. Alright then

Chapter Five- Pulling Strings

     Two weeks flew by fast for Lenne, and before she knew it, the day of the competition had arrived.

     Lenne was brushing her hair when Nazu rushed into her bedroom the morning of the competition.

     "I hope you aren't wearing that." Nazu gaped.

     "I don't see why I shouldn't." Lenne glared, a tad touchy that morning. "What's wrong with it?"

     "Well, besides EVERYTHING." Nazu rolled her eyes.

     Lenne looked down at her assemble. Plaid pink and purple skirt, with tiny white balls hanging from the bottom. She was also wearing a strapless tank top with a singing flower on it, black leather gloves and a denim hat with a giant white pompom on top. "I like it." Lenne stated, looking up at Nazu. "What's the problem?" Laren walked in at that moment. Her eyes widened, her mouth opened a bit, and she turned and walked out.

     Nazu looked smug. "I rest my case."

     Lenne scowled. "Fine. What should I wear?"

     Nazu grinned and rubbed her hands together. "Ahhh Lenne, I thought you'd never ask!"

~*~*~

     Lenne trampled down the stairs. Her skirt had been replaced with a pleaded white skirt with a purple stripe around the bottom. She still wore a strapless tank top, but this time it was deep royal purple. Around her neck was a purple ribbon that tied in the back and left the ruffled ends trailing down her back. A chain around one upper arm, and Nazu grudgingly allowed Lenne to put on the bee barrette, since she had taken her hat. Opal and Laren were waiting for her. Nazu followed, looking pleased.

     "How does she look?" Nazu asked, spinning Lenne around.

     "Like a grape." Lenne remarked dryly, still a bit ticked.

     "Like an angel." Laren and Opal sighed in unison. Lenne looked back and forth between the two of them, her face unreadable.

     "Well... I guess I'll get going then." She said, slightly annoyed with their response. She opened the door in a huff.

     "Uh, Lenne?" Nazu asked. Lenne turned around. Nazu was waving around the keycard for the car. "Remember, I drive?"

     "Er... yeah. I knew that." Lenne replied, slightly embarrassed. "W-Well then! Let's go! Destiny's calling my name!"

~*~*~

     Nazu slowed the car down to drop Lenne off at the front off the theatre.

     "We're going to go park out back and come in and watch you." Nazu explained.

     Lenne nodded, looking an odd shade of green.

     "Lenne, dear, you look positively ghastly." Laren had finally stated the obvious. Lenne looked torn between running far away or throwing up. She opted for jumping in the car instead.

     "Drive like the wind Nazu!" she yelled, drawing several odd looks from surrounding people.

     "Lenne what are you doing?" Opal asked, as Nazu ducked, trying to seem as small as possible. Soon, only her red forehead was visible above the dashboard.

     "I can't do this!" Lenne exclaimed. "What was I thinking? I mean... I can't change who I am in two weeks! I can't learn to sing! People take forever, they have teachers, they have TALENT!"

     "That's not true Lenne!" Laren insisted. "I've heard you practicing! You're amazing Lenne, and you're going to knock them dead!"

     Lenne had brought her knees up to her chest. "You heard me?" she asked in a small voice. "I'm sorry if I was too loud, I was trying to be quiet." She apologized.

     "Why are you saying sorry?" Laren asked. "I thought you were brilliant!"

     "Really?"

     "I heard you too dear," Opal said, a soft smile on her face. "You have an amazing talent."

     Lenne put her legs down. "You're not lying?"

     "Why would I lie?"

     "The thing is Lenne..." Nazu sat up and turned around. "...you're not living up to your promise. Is this the new, strong you that you were so determined to be?" Lenne blinked. "I think you'll do awesome, and hey, if those official guys don't pick you, it's their loss."

     "Nazu..." Lenne opened the door of the car and brushed herself off. She looked at her family. "Well then!" she smiled. "Wish me luck!" she turned and walked up to the building.

     "GOOD LUUUUCK!" her family chorused in a sing-song tone, drawing even more odd looks. Lenne froze and turned to look at them. She drew her hand across her neck swiftly.

     The three women gulped. If looks could kill, they would have been dead.

~*~*~

     "Aah. It's sponsored by Amy's company." Nazu noted as they entered the theatre after parking. She was looking at the giant sign. "Competition's going to be harsh then. The judges are looking for perfection."

     "Who's Amy?" Opal asked, feeling a twinge of doubt.

     "A big time pop star about Lenne's age. She has her own record company and is very successful. I think her Mom was some big shot singer too." Nazu explained. "This isn't good. The judges are always biased. They're looking for more Amys."

     "How do you know so much, Nazu?" Opal admired.

     Nazu shrugged. "We've taken a couple cases like this but they never get anywhere. Just from people like Lenne who feel the judges didn't give them a fair chance because they weren't trying to be Amy."

     "Oh my. I hope Lenne will do fine." Laren said, concern evident.

     Nazu shook her head. "I hope so Mom. I hope so."

~*~*~

     Lenne looked around backstage, confused. Everyone looked so... flashy. And why were their hair different colors?

     "Hey!" a voice called. Lenne turned around. A tall girl with pink hair in a braid was looking down at her. Lenne pointed to herself. The girl's rose colored eyes narrowed, as her painted lips became a sneer. "Yeah you." The girl confirmed, hand delicately placed on her hip. She wore tight leather pants in bright blue and sport bra-like top that sparkled silver. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"


     "Dressed?" Lenne repeated, looking down at herself. She looked back at the girl. "I am dressed."

     The girl snorted. "Yeah right. Good luck winning."

     Lenne opened her mouth to reply, but someone beat her to it. "What's that supposed to mean?" a voice behind Lenne asked. Lenne turned around. The girl who had spoke up was short, wearing dark sunglasses. Her hair was platinum blonde and was done up in two pigtails. She wore a pink dress that ended at the knees. The top of the dress was done with a sailor collar, and she wore cute buckled boots on her feet. Her pink lipsticked mouth was drawn into a firm line.

     "OBVIOUSLY," the taller girl responded with a tone that clearly made her seem more experienced. "You two have NEVER been to an Amy competition before." She continued.

     Lenne shrugged, and her short ally responded with a "So what?"

     "Well," the tall girl began. "The judges are always looking for someone flashy and beautiful, someone worthy of working and competing with the great Amy."

     Lenne blanched and looked down at her clothes. What had seemed nice before now looked simple and plain next to these girls. And BROWN hair? With a bumblebee barrette? That animal had gone extinct ages ago. The shorter girl noticed her agitation as the tall girl walked off. Lenne reached to remove her barrette but the blonde girl reached up and pushed her hand away.

     "Leave it on." She insisted. "I like it. I'm sure Amy would too."

     "Is she here?" Lenne asked worriedly. The girl shrugged.

     "No idea. But good luck anyway."

     "Yeah, we both need it." Lenne smiled.

     The girl shook her hair. "Oh no, I'm not competing, I'm just here to watch. But..." she reached into a purse Lenne hadn't noticed before. The girl pulled out a silver tube and took off the top, revealing a stick of lipstick. It was the same color as the girls. "Lemme just add a bit of this..." and before Lenne could resist, she had quickly swiped the pink lipstick across her lips. "Okay, now put her lips together like this." The girl demonstrated.

     "Like... fiis?" Lenne imitated, her speech coming out odd through her closed mouth.

     The girl clapped her hands and gave a squeal. "Marvelous! Those stupid judges won't know what hit them." She smacked Lenne on the shoulder. "I'll be cheering you on! Good luck!"

     "Wait!" Lenne called. "What's you name...?" but the girl had already faded into the crowd of giggling girls. Lenne made her way over to a mirror and studied her face. The lipstick made her look cuter, gave her lip an adorable pouting look. Lenne smiled.

     "Thank you." She whispered.

~*~*~

     "Lenne Marin." One of the judges said into a microphone. "Lenne Marin, will you please make you way onto the stage?"

     "Ah! This is it!" Opal exclaimed in a hushed whisper. Her, Nazu and Laren had decided to sit in the back row, while almost everyone else sat in the front rows, eager to see the performances. Opal watched as Lenne walked out on stage. "Ah no, she looks so nervous."

     "Shh! Don't jinx her!" Nazu hissed.

     "Nazu! Behave!" Laren abolished.

     "Do you know her?" The three of them looked up and noticed the lone girl sitting in the row in front of them. Her hair was blonde and in pigtails.

     "Yes... do you?" Laren asked, finding the girl's sunglasses in the theatre most disrespectful. The girl grinned.

     "Mm! I met her backstage! I don't think you have anything to worry about." She said, trying to ease their worrying. She turned back to stage, where Lenne had grabbed the microphone and was waiting for her cue.

     One of the three judges scribbled something down on his clip board. "Ooookay Ms. Marin..." he said, looking up finally. "You may begin."

     Lenne nodded then took a deep breath. "What can I do for you?" she pointed at one of the judges.

     The music came on suddenly, and Lenne spun in a circle. "What can I do for you? What can I do for you? What can I do for you? I can hear you!"

     "She sounds lovely!" Laren exclaimed as Lenne continued.

     Lenne was twirling and dancing, waving one hand around artistically as she continued her song. "Ano hi kokoro no kanata ni, egaiteta, basho ni iru. Tohou ni kuretetari suru keredo mou modorenai!

     "Yume ne mite... katachi to wa—"

     "Stop, stop Ms. Marin!" a female judge called. Lenne's music died down and Lenne stopped dancing.

     "What?" she asked.

     "What is this?" a judge asked in a steely tone.

     "My song." Lenne answered, feeling dread in the pit of her stomach. "What's wrong with it?"

     "Did you write this... song?" the third judge, a snooty female, asked.

     "Yes, I wrote this song." Lenne replied, putting her hands on her hips. "I don't see a problem with it."

     "Watch your tone Ms. Marin." The snooty woman warned.

     "I'm sorry, but please, tell me the problem." Lenne insisted, overly polite.

     "The problem is Ms. Marin, is—" the male judge began.

     "Is you in general." The other woman interrupted. "You haven't followed the rules at all Ms. Marin. I'd like to ask you to leave now..."

     "What?!" Nazu yelped from the audience. "There are no rules she's broken!" she hissed to her Mom and friend.

     "I won't." Lenne replied. A murmur of voices ran throughout the audience. "I haven't broken any rules at all."

     "Yes you have!" the snobbish judge sputtered. "You've broken our rule of dress code, and songs! It must an Amy song in a bright, enthusiastic outfit! Which yours is not, I might add."

     "My outfit is fine!" Lenne yelled, blushing. "I doubt Amy would dress in some of the outfits some of the outfits THOSE girls are wearing!" she cried, pointing offstage.

     Some audience raised their voice in defense, but a judge silenced them. "You have clearly violated our rules Ms. Marin." He insisted.

     "THERE ARE NO RULES STATING THAT." Lenne replied loudly.

     "Yes—"

     "No, she hasn't." a voice piped up. The girl in front of Lenne's family stood up. She made her way out into the aisle.

     "Who are you?" one woman judge asked, while the other fixed her makeup. The girl was walking down the aisle now, towards the stage.

     "She's broken no rule." The girl insisted.

     "I beg your pardon?" The male judge asked, raising an eyebrow. The girl had made it to the stage and reached up.

     "If you may, Lenne." She asked politely. Lenne walked to the end of the stage and grabbed the girl's hand, pulling her up onto stage. She brushed off her dress and looked up at Lenne. "Hm, they really should dust more often, don't you think?" she asked Lenne sweetly. Lenne simply blinked. What was going on?

     "Get off the stage Ma'am, before I call security!" the snooty woman yelled.

     The girl casually pulled off her glasses and put them in her purse. She blinked her violet eyes and yawned. "Puh-leeeeease. You're going to throw ME offstage?"

     "A-A-A-A-A-Aaaa..." one of the judges stammered.

     "Ms. Amy! Oh my goodness, I had no idea!" the male judge exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

     "Sit down." Amy rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm not asking to be worshiped. Now then," she narrowed her eyes. "It's a good thing I FINALLY decided to pop in and see one of these things."

     "We love you Amy!" the audience gushed.

     "Aw, I know you do!" Amy waved. "As for you three." Her gazed trailed back to the three judges.

     "Miss Amy please listen to our dilemma!" the snob of a judge tried to explain, her voice raving an octave or two.

     "Alright. I'll listen." Amy agreed. The judges let out a sigh of relief. "After you listen to my friend Lenne here sing."

     "What?" the judges cried together.

     "Ms. Amy, this is a violation..." the man pointed out.

     "There IS no violation. This whole thing is a mockery of what I intended." She stamped her foot. "I wanted to give girls a chance to sing!"

     "Miss Amy!" the tall pink haired girl from the backstage incident ran out. She grabbed a surprised Amy's hand and began to shake. "I'm soooooooooo sorry about what I said earlier! Please, forgive me." Amy pulled her hand out and gave a strained grin.

     "Y-Yeah, whatever you say. ANYWAY! As I was saying, you're going to let Lenne sing and you're going to listen! Ah ah ah!" she said when one of the judges tried to speak up. "You get no choice in this."

     "Um... Miss Amy, are you sure?" Lenne asked, biting her lower lip.

     "Of course I'm sure! I liked what you were singing until they stopped you. So then, you! Off stage!" she cried, pushing the tall girl off the stage. "Hit it Mikey! Right where she left off!"

     Lenne tapped her foot for a second the brought the microphone to her lips. "Yume ni mita, katachi to wa—" The music snapped back on, exactly where she left off. "Nanimokamo ga chigau. Genitsu ni... memai sae suruuuu..."

     She started to dance again. "Ria ru na sekai ni yureteru kanjyou. Maketakunai!" offstage, Amy's head bounced to the beat "Mou, tada hashiru shikanai kono mune ni... kikoetekuru, kiiimi wa—hitori jyani..." her music slowed to stop as Lenne finished up. "Er... that's it." She shrugged, feeling embarrassed.

     "But there's more, right?" Amy asked, suddenly beside her.

     "Yeah, but, well, that's the end of my demo tape." Lenne replied a bit sheepishly.

     "Wow." Amy observed. "That's brilliant! I've decided—" she grabbed Lenne's hand and lifted into the air. "—that Lenne's won this contest!"

     "What?!" The judges and most of the audience cried. Lenne's family, however, were cheering.

     "B-But Miss Amy," a judge stammered. "That's... not... fair!"

     Amy brought a finger to her chin, looking thoughtful. "Hmm... well, I'll just pull some strings. Oh, wait." She put her finger down. "I'M the boss. So! Lenne wins the money, aaaaaaaaand," she gave a sly grin. "A record deal with Platinum Highlights Record company!" she finished with a bow. "Thank you. Yes, I know, I am too kind."

     Lenne's mouth dropped. "A-A-A record deal?"

     Amy looked up. "With MY company. So, I guess we'll be working together!" she stood up fully. "Now, if you'll excuse me and my employee!" she grabbed Lenne's hand and began to drag her offstage.

     "M-Miss Amy!" Lenne exclaimed as the shorter, eager girl yanked her away. Shocked girls moved out of the way, making a path for the two girls. Everyone blinked at the empty stage. Suddenly Amy ran out again.

     "Oh yeah, did I mention?" she asked, looking at the judges. "You three are fired. Toodles!" she waved, running off stage again.

     "F-F-F-F-F-F-Fired...?"

~*~*~

     "Oh Lenne, I'm so proud!" Opal hugged the teen tightly outside the theatre. Amy was standing a little ways back on a cell phone.

     "I can't believe our little Lenne is going to be a celebrity!" Laren gushed.

     "Please, guys," Lenne said, pushing Opal away. She was blushing. "Nothing's guaranteed; I mean, Miss Amy probably just said that to get them off my back." Nazu was silent.

     "Oh no, I meant every word of it!" Amy called. "What's that Mummy? Oh yeah, we're waiting. Mm! Okay!" she hung up the phone and put her cell phone away into her purse. People were starting to exit the theatre, and Lenne noticed she was getting some angry looks.

     "Maybe we should go." Lenne suggested.

     "Of course! Here's our ride!" Amy gestured to the bright red limo floating towards them.

     "OUR ride?" Lenne asked, shocked.

     "Mmm-hmm! You hafta come and fill out some papers and stuff, yadda yadda, it's really all boring, but we'll have you up and singing in no time!"

     Nazu was still quiet. Lenne looked at her. "Aren't you... happy for me Nazu?" she asked, scared for a moment.

     Nazu looked up. "Eh? No, no, I'm happy for you... it's just..."

     "What?" Amy pressed. "What's the problem? What what what?" she stared up at Nazu in an 'in-your-face' sort of way. Nazu pushed her away, irritated. "Oww..."

     "Listen, things are just falling into place too easily. Quiet you," Nazu hushed the objecting Amy. "I just don't know if I can trust this."

     "Fine then." Amy pouted before Lenne could even open her mouth. She gave a sniff. "You don't trust me."

     "I don't think she meant it like that Miss Amy." Lenne quickly put in.

     "That's what you think," Nazu murmured under her breath. Lenne elbowed her.

     "Ah, Mikol, we've been expecting you!" Amy exclaimed as the red limo parked and a man got out. "Well, c'mon then Lenne," she said, grabbing Lenne's arm. Lenne gave an awkward wave.

     "Well, then I guess I'll see you all later!" Mikol closed the door after she climbed into the limo. 

     "She grows up so fast." Laren choked up.

     "Mother, please." Nazu rolled her eyes as the limo drove away.

~*~*~

     "Aaah..." Amy squealed as she bounced up and down on the squishy seats of her limo. "Nothing like a ride in Big Red!" she looked at Lenne, who was silently sitting across from her. "What's up? Don't you like Big Red?"

     "What?" Lenne snapped out of her stupor. "O-Oh, of course Miss Amy. Big Red's a very nice, er... car."

     "Please, knock off the formalities." Amy scoffed. "We're all friends here."

     "If you say so Mi—er, Amy. But... can I ask you something?"

     "Shoot." Amy opened a can of root beer.

     "Did you just pick me because you wanted to defy the judges?" Lenne asked, dreading the reply.

     Amy was silent. She took a sip of her drink and swallowed before answering. "I think... I see you in me. I see some sort of determination those other bimbos don't have. You're looking to become yourself, as opposed to becoming me." Amy grinned. "I like that! So don't you worry Lenne! I'm gonna make you a star!"

     "Yeah but... like Nazu said. Isn't this coming together too well? It's so conviniant..."

     Amy leaned forward, putting down her can of root beer. "Listen Lenne. Before you start singing, let me give you some advice: You have to learn to take these chances. No matter how risky, if some by some chance something as perfect as this could happen, then you take it!" Amy smacked her fist into the palm of her other hand. She grinned. "So lighten up! This is supposed to be fun!"

     Her eagerness was contagious; even Lenne couldn't help but smile.

     She glanced out the window as Amy babbled on. 'See that Toad-boy? I'm gonna win this bet for sure!'

AN- *gags* Ugh this chapter wasn't that great. Ah well. Hope you like Amy, cause she's gonna be a main character. I intended her to be the anti-Lenne (Not a Lenne hater, just the opposite), but I guess Lenne's becoming a lot like her, so, so-much-for-that. Eh.