- CHAPTER 2 -

Kaoru watched in suffocating apprehension as the rest of his group filed into the large room and gasped in horror as the last to enter before him gave him a swift smack on the behind. He eyed Kyo warily as the man sauntered in with a devilish glint in his eye. There was something so playful and childish about Kyo that sometimes showed through his cool, sarcastic manner... and Kaoru hated it. It drove him crazy. He simply couldn't resist it.

Within the room there was an exceptionally large, round, wooden table with approximately 15 chairs around it. The group of five who had but only just walked in was immediately welcomed with three men already sitting at one section of the table. The men stood.

"Hello, I'm Gackuto Camui. Douzo Yoroshiku," stated the first and definitely most handsome man, making his way to each member of the group and shaking each of their hands in an unusually American way. A short squeal and, "I'm so glad to finally meet you!" was heard from Totchi, who could at this point be easily mistaken for a rabid fangirl. The round of handshakes was soon continued by a Gackt look-a-like named You and one more named Ren.

"I recognize you as Dir en Grey, am I correct?" Gackt asked, smiling genuinely towards them.

"Yes, that's correct. I'm Kaoru, this is Kyo, Die, Toshiya, and Shinya. We're pleased to meet such a well-known celebrity and his… band?" Kaoru stated… though the last word highly resembled a question as he really wasn't sure who exactly the last two men were.

"Hai! I'm actually a big fan, as odd as that sounds!" piped Totchi, clapping his hands together and giving a short bow.

"Arigato gosaimasu! I must say, I am very impressed with your work as well! It is quite amazing to be a band often compared to the legacy of X Japan." Gackt stated, moving his way over to Totchi, "I am honored to meet such a fan!" His smile ignited the room. Even Kyo was taken aback for a moment by its shimmer before composing himself into a bundle of isolation once again.

Totchi and Gackt continued friendly conversation while Kaoru and Die spoke with You and Ren about instruments and such. Both Kyo and Shinya stood awkwardly alone until the room was bombarded by laughter.

"HEE HEE! Masa you're hilarious!" Miyavi cried as both burst into the room like those hideously loud and colorful streamer poppers people use on New Year's.

"GACKUTO! Look! Look who I met! It's Miyavi!" Masa squealed, dragging Miyavi over to his leader as if it were an alien specimen ready for inspection. Miyavi smiled a big, toothy grin and flashed a peace sign.

"Ha ha… yes that's nice Masa. I was wondering what took you so long at the bathroom… Well it's a pleasure Mr. Miyavi!" Gackt said and shook his non-peace sign hand. "As you can see Masa, we have other company…"

"Oh," the two giggle-buddies stated in unison. That seemed to be becoming their new favorite word. Kaoru broke the awkward silence by reintroducing each member of his band and thus instigating a whole new round of handshakes.

After all the introductions, more gorgeous, shiver-inducing sways and hair-flicks by Gackt, and more fangirl squealing by Toshiya, Die posed the ever tormenting and exceedingly blunt question,

"So why are we here, anyway?"

"Uhh… well… I believe it was called a 'creative compilation.'" Gackt stated, obviously not having a sufficient answer.

"Yeah, I think we caught that much," Kyo blurted. He was soon reminded to stay polite by his leader's swift but unnoticed whap to the back of the head. Kyo raised a hand to soothe the now aching spot on the back of his skull. "Ha ha… yes, what I meant was that we received a letter using that same phrase…"

"Yes, speaking of which, where is the director who was supposed to be here with us… 20 minutes ago?" You asked, looking towards Gackt.

"Yeeeeaaaahhh…." Masa whined, latching onto Gackt's arm, "I'm bored…" Gackt smirked.

"Well maybe we should just take a seat and wait, then." Gackt assured, and kissed Masa casually on the head. However this act seemed fairly odd to the non-GacktJob members in the room, and Kaoru could sense a stupid statement coming from Kyo, Die, or Toshiya. All he could do was pray.

"Hey, that's so sweet how you're all so affectionate! Kaoru-San, how come you're not all nice like that?" Totchi whined.

Oh God. Why. Why God, why.

"Er… I dunno... Totchi…" Kaoru muttered. Die chuckled under his breath and Shinya sighed. Gackt just smiled.

Once again the room fell into awkward silence. As each person twiddled their thumbs or grinned in moronic ignorance, a hand shot up in the air.

"I have an idea! I do!" Miyavi pleaded, flailing his arm around like a kindergartener.

"What? What?" begged Masa.

"Well, since we all don't now each other that well, we could go around the table and each say our name, position as an artist, and something not everyone would know about us… like our favorite color or hobby! We used to do this in school… "

"I think it's a good idea." Gackt happily stated.

"YAY! Okay, I'll start!" Miyavi squealed, "My name is Miyavi, I'm a solo singer, and… my favorite color is pink!"

"Uh, well then I suppose I'm next… My name is You, I play guitar and violin for GacktJob, and… I happen to enjoy cooking," You said with a smile.

"Nee! I'm Ren, I play bass for Gakuto-San, and I like to draw!"

"Hai, watashi wa Gackuto, soshite, I'm a singer, and… hm… I enjoy playing billiards… and my favorite colors are black and white. Boring, I know…ha ha," Gackt added with a light yet orgasmic laugh, once again igniting the room in a surge of male hormones.

"WAI! I'm Masa! I play guita-"

WHAM