Summary: N-G Records has offered to sponsor an American group striving to go to Japan and make it big there. The band ends up being the biggest challenge of Shuichi's career, since (within weeks) they're already rivaling Bad Luck for the top of the charts. However, things are about to get more hectic when Bad Luck finds out the other band's vocalist is… No she can't be--!

The American Band

"You really do intend to bring an American band to the N-G record label?" Miss Kirazaki asked. She was a stunning young interviewer with long black hair and glowing amber eyes from a local music magazine.

"Yes, yes of course. I'm quite serious about bringing these young musicians into N-G records," Tohma Seguchi nodded.

"Forgive me, but you seem to be taking an awfully big risk here."

"I suppose. But I really do see great potential for Aoi Honou1 here in Japan."

"But the band members aren't Japanese - they don't even look it," Kirazaki objected as she flipped through the CD booklet - which Tohma had given to her to look at - from Aoi Honou's only American release.

"They have American accents but they all speak Japanese quite well. And I believe their music to be flawless."

"Certainly not flawless," she scoffed.

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with Aoi Honou," Tohma assured her.

"I notice you have them lined up to play Zepp-Tokyo Clubhouse on the fourteenth as an opening act for Bad Luck. Am I mistaken, or did Bad Luck get their big start opening in the same time and place for ASK?"

"You are correct. In fact, I did it for the exact same irony that you just pointed out," Tohma cracked a smile.

"Do you expect this to be another ASK-Bad Luck relationship?"

"Do you mean to ask if I think Bad Luck and Aoi Honou will be competing against each other for the number one slot until one band drops off the face of the earth?" Tohma paused to sip his drink and then responded to the self-asked question coolly, "Yes, Aoi Honou and Bad Luck will rival each other for the top of the charts. But no, neither one will disappear. Bad Luck is too stubborn for that, as is Aoi Honou."

"Aoi Honou's singer…" she flipped through the booklet again to find the credit page, "Colleen Koran - will I be impressed with her work?"

"Undoubtedly. She has a powerful voice and great moves… and she composes all of her lyrics in Japanese, though she barely spoke a word of it five years ago."

"Impressive indeed, Mister Seguchi… if she's as good as you say she is," Kirazaki agreed dubiously, before grabbing her things. "I'll be at the Clubhouse on the fourteenth. I'm hoping - for your sake - that my doubts are unverified. Goodbye Mister Seguchi."

"Goodbye Miss Kirazaki," Tohma said. "And please remember - if I really found rave reviews so terribly necessary, I could and would have bought your magazine's favor long ago."

Kirazaki was speechless. She had already known that that was true. However, she hadn't expected him to admit to being low enough to bribe when necessary. She quickly shook her head, ridding herself of the deer-in-the-headlights look, took her suitcase, and left the office quietly. Tohma watched her leave and then sat in peaceful solitude for several minutes before the door opened again.

"HI TOHMA!" Ryuichi came bouncing into the room.

"Hello Ryuichi," Tohma couldn't help but smile awkwardly at his unusual band mate.

"Kumagoro says hi too," Ryu flopped down in the chair before Tohma's desk and made Kumagoro wave.

"Hello… Kumagoro," Tohma forced the words out uncomfortably, as if it was his first time speaking to Ryuichi's pink rabbit plushy.

Ryuichi blinked as he picked up the Aoi Honou CD booklet that Kirazaki had left behind. "Aoi Honou," he said to himself as he began to page through. He halted at a picture of the band and pointed at the singer with a jubilantly shaking finger, "Ah, I know her! I know her!"

"I know you do," Tohma nodded with a cheerful grin, uncharacteristic yet very real. "She's getting an N-G record contract."

"N-G record…" Ryuichi's mind slowly processed the information. "Ah, she's coming here!? She's coming here!" Ryu laughed and clasped his hands together.

"I'm glad you're happy, Ryuichi. But please remember that she may be a part of N-G records but she is Nittle Grasper's rival. Much like Mister Shindou."

"Aw…" Ryuichi sighed, a pout curling his lips downward. Then his face lit up and he asked hopefully, "I can still sing with her like I did with Shuichi right?"

"Of course, Ryuichi. I'll arrange for a Nittle Grasper - Aoi Honou dual concert as soon as I'm finished planning Aoi Honou's first solo concert."

"Yay! She's coming! She's coming!" Ryu giggled.

"Actually, Ryu, would you do me a favor?" Tohma asked.

"Sure. Anything, Tohma. What is it?"

"Aoi Honou arrives at the airport in an hour. I would be very grateful if you would take Mister K and go to the airport to welcome Colleen and her band mates."

"YAY!"

"And Ryuichi, don't let K know you're going to pick up Colleen."

"Oh, a surprise! Goody! Bye Tohma!" the hyper brunette made a mad dash from the room and down the hall.

"I wonder if this will be as pleasant a surprise for Mister K…" Tohma mused.

Meanwhile, Ryuichi had already located K and was currently explaining the situation to him in one swift breath.

"HeyK!Listen,Tohmawantsustogototheairporttowelcomehisnewbandandweneedtohurrybecausetheyarriveinanhourandyouknowhowtrafficis!" Ryuichi finished and instantly began panting wildly.

"Come again, Ryuichi?" K blinked.

"New band… at airport… Tohma sending us," Ryuichi summarized between gasping breaths.

"Well why didn't you say so?" K rested a hand on Ryu's shoulder. "Come. The car is out back."

The two boarded the elevator, which they took down to the ground level. They dashed out through the back alley exit and hopped into K's car. K started up the car and within instants they were racing for the airport at top speed.

K and Ryuichi arrived in a little more than a half-hour. This allowed the two a bit of free time before the plane landed, which they opted to spend scarfing down a quick lunch at the food court. By the time they were finished, the plane was about to arrive. They walked to the assigned gate.

"They're late," K tapped his foot impatiently. The plane had already been grounded for nearly fifteen minutes.

"They must be having trouble with their equipment," Ryuichi insisted. "Guitars and keyboards can be quite heavy, I hear."

"Where is this new band coming from, anyway?" K asked.

"America," Ryuichi responded ambiguously, avoiding specifics.

"Oi, Ryuichi-san!" Colleen called as she rushed off the plane, despite the yelling flight attendants. She was weighted down with the heavy bag she carried in her arms, tightly pressed to her chest. Her clumsy movements due to the weighty duffle caused her long blonde hair to swing around in all directions as she ran to meet him. As she approached, her violet eyes began gleaming with joy, "Ohayo gozaimass, Ryu-san!"

"Colleen," Ryuichi threw his arms cheerfully around her for a quick embrace and then pulled back, laughing. "Surprise! Surprise! Here's Colleen! Here's K!"

"Colleen…" K stared, wide-eyed. That was all he could do - speak her name and stare.

"I… hadn't expected Seguchi-san would send you," Colleen cast her head down, occasionally glancing up at K with a look of uncertainty.


1 For anyone who doesn't speak Japanese, I believe Aoi Honou means Blue Fire.


A/N: If anyone cares to try, whoever figures out who Colleen is and states it in their review gets a super-special secret prize (ok it's not so super-special).