Misaki's notes: Hi Everybody! Teresa Huang just reviewed my fan fiction and she was laughing over the scene where Shiyuan and Shinsani did not notice their hands interlocking together^___^ WHEE~ Thanks! Thanks Mie Sensei for reviewingJ In the meantime, thanks for all your support and rock on!!! Please continue reading and reviewing! I'd be so exhilarated!!!=) Sorry for posting a note as one of my chapters- I had no idea I had violated one of the fanfiction.net rules=| I'll try to develop more of Cherissa's character as time passes. Happy Valentine's day to all!

Chapter 9: The singing trial

" But I do NOT want to dye my hair!!!" Shiyuan screamed. " No, no and NO!!!" She affirmed, frowning furiously in protest. Misaki and Izumi were studying Shiyuan, as if Shiyuan was some kind of buzzing midget insect that lay on a table.

" But you must." Misaki assured her. " Well Mr Cham wanted both of you and Shinsani to dye your hair! Well, maybe not Shinsani, since his natural brown hair is the colour of red. But YOU…your hair is brown…boring brown!" Izumi chimed in.

" Why must that stupid Mr Cham Kam Poo do this to me anyway???" Shiyuan said. " It's not necessary to dye my hair just for silly rehearsals and promotional pictures. After all, it's just a song that we are singing, we're not actresses and actors! Most schools here forbid their students to dye their hair and here I am, forced to dye my hair??? It's outrageous, stupendous, si-" Shiyuan was cut off, as she was pulled forcefully into passion hair Salon.

Three and a half hours later, Shiyuan emerged from passion hair salon, her hands consciously touching her hair. " Mhmmmhmhmhmhmh" She grumbled to herself. Her hair was still her natural black, upon her insistence, with neat sparkling blue strips striped down at the sides of her hair. " At least the hair highlights are temporary!" Misaki said helpfully while Izumi had to run off for her kendo lessons. " Right…as if that would comfort me." Shiyuan scoffed.

After a moment's thought, Shiyuan thought of a brilliant plan. An imaginary light bulb exploded in her head as she skipped off happily to complete her brilliant plan at home. She smiled inwardly at the prospect of the plan.

The next day:

" OMG!!! Shiyuan-san! WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOUR HAIR???" Izumi rushed to her, shrieking. Lessons had not begun and both of them were standing on the walkway into the entrance of Firerose high school. Shiyuan's hair was no longer black with nice blue highlights…rather, her hair was an alarming black minus the blue highlights and Shiyuan's hair –gasp- shone blue under complete sunlight!

" I washed off the temporary highlights with a special shampoo that my mum recommended me for getting rid of ugly highlights and dyes! However, the shampoo seems to have a side effect and that is, my hair will be blue under complete sunlight! Isn't that so cool???" Shiyuan said happily, smirking away, obviously proud of her plan to turn her hair blue, like Kaoru's in the Rurouni Kenshin anime.

As for Izumi, she shook her head, completely in awe at Shiyuan's –urm- brilliance. " Wish you good luck at your first singing practise today!" Izumi concluded as she hurried off to meet Misaki.

At 4pm sharp, Shiyuan and Shinsani met up at the ecstatic singing studio to do some warm-ups before going for their first singing session. Without further ado, they started practising their vocals. " All right…both of you will sing acoustically to me first," Said Cherissa, the choir teacher. " 1,2,3 GO!" She said, tapping her hand on the wooden desk.

Have you ever seen such a beautiful night I could almost kiss the stars for shining so bright

When I see you smile and I go

Oh oh oh

I would never want to miss this

Cuz in my heart I know what this means

Have you ever wondered what life is about?
You could search the world and never figure it out
you don't have to sail all the oceans
no no no
happiness is no mystery and
here now it's you and me

Hey now
Hey now
This is what dreams are made of
Hey now
Hey now
This is what dreams are made of
I've got somewhere i belong
I've got somebody to love
This is what dreams are made of

Shinsani kept tripping on his words while Shiyuan got irritated and as for Cherissa, she sighed at them.

" Why can't you sing properly? You're supposed to sing the first verse! WHAT on earth are you muttering?" Shiyuan asked politely.

" Don't be a big-headed fool all right. Humans make mistakes, unlike you." Shinsani replied with a smug look.

" Are you saying that I'm inhumane???" Shiyuan asked, pouted.

Shinsani pretended to ponder for a moment before affirming his statement. " Why yes, I think so, ma'am."

Shiyuan looked ready to hit Shinsani but Cherissa walked and stood between Shiyuan and Shinsani. " I shan't let the two of you spoil this whole rehearsal squabbling away. Continue rehearsing please. Shinsani, please remember to sing the first verse, Shiyuan, remember to sing the second verse."

The two of them began again. And they somehow got stuck. Shiyuan started singing the first verse together with Shinsani and Shinsani started singing the second verse together with Shiyuan and both did not sing the chorus.

Whacking her head, Cherissa said," Alright alright. This singing practise will end today. I have a bad headache. Remember to rehearse your lines before you come for practise tomorrow and GET YOUR VERSES CORRECT!!!"

She slammed the door behind her and walked off.

Please review!!!=)