Authoress here.

WOW! Thank you all for the wonderful reception of this story! I opened up my email and saw like, five new reviews. You all don't know how happy that makes me!

And no, MotherChow, I didn't get Toshi's name from Star Wars. I don't even remember the bit you were talking about, but I can assure you- Toshi's name came straight from a Japanese baby name generator.

Onto the second chappie!

Breaking the Tie
Chapter Two: Ears That Have Heard

Toshi Shindou

It took me a lot longer than I thought to clean off my Monte Carlo than I thought it would. There were a couple highly persistent bug splatters that refused to come off for the longest time. That coupled with my anal attentive drive to do the job perfectly made the job about two hours long.

Godfather Hiro was still inside, laughing with my parents. I glanced at my watch.

"Dang." The face was covered in a soapy, sticky residue, and I vaguely remembered dunking my hand wrist deep into the bucket more than once. Wiping away the soap, I saw the hands had stopped moving. Oh well.

I got inside of the car, started the engine, and backed out of the drive. Sugaru lived outside of the City of the Stars, somewhere in the high-rises of Tokyo. Normally, this late in the afternoon, I wouldn't bother driving the half-hour trip to see Sugaru, but I was anxious to get my cables and special amp.

I turned up the radio as I sped alongside other traffic into Tokyo. Mom told me I had a good voice, and I suspected that trait was from Dad. Or maybe Father. I've never heard Father sing, but if it's his DNA that made me, he probably can sing well.

Sound a little confusing? Well, here's the deal. When I was old enough to comprehend what "men and women who love each other" do, Mom, Dad, and Father sat me down and explained why I had an extra daddy. Father was very blunt.

"Your mother, dad and I all had sex at the same time." In fact, he was extremely blunt. "So we don't know who your birth father is, but that doesn't matter."

But as I've grown, I've started to think it does matter.

Outside of the sheltered City of the Stars, there's a world that's got morals. There are people who hate people like my three parents. There are entire races, cultures and religions that will tell me my parents sinned, and I am a byproduct of an evil act. And this isn't just speculation on my part. I've had it happen.

But the main thing is, I do have two men who very well could be my real father. I've taken my Dad, Shuichi's, last name- to the public; my mom is seen as his girlfriend alone. But I could be my Father, Yuki's, son.

I was so lost in my thoughts; the half hour drive went by in what seemed like minutes. I knew the way to Sugaru's like the back of my hand, and it wasn't long before I was at the penthouse entrance, waiting for the elderly butler to open the door and announce my presence to the master of the house.

"Oh, Shindou-sama." The butler's kindly old face peered at me as he opened the door to allow me in. "Terribly sorry, but Sugaru-sama is out for the evening. But he did instruct me to give you a note…if you'll just wait inside…"

I stepped in as the butler hurried off to get the note. I closed my eyes, suddenly aware at how tired I was.

What? A synth? I opened my eyes as the familiar music washed out of a nearby room. My curiosity got the better of me, and I crept over to check out the source of the music. The style sounded almost exactly like Sugaru's- but a little more classic, like how one would play a piano at a recital hall.

Poking my head around the door, I noticed this room was a practice hall at once. The walls were soundproofed, and if the door had not been open this expensive equipment would have stopped all sound completely. There was a baby grand in the far corner, and a couple high-tech electric keyboards sitting along the far wall. Computers and expansive mixers were connected to a few of the keyboards, and in the center of the room was a girl playing the synthesizer.

She reminded me at once of Sugaru how she played, although I doubted there was any relation. Sugaru was a very honorable person, and wouldn't mess around without being married. I don't even remember if he ever dated anyone, so I doubted very much that she was his daughter.

She had shoulder-length black hair, and very open, cute features. Wide set eyes were narrowed in concentration as her hands skimmed over the synth keys, and I saw her tongue poking out of the side of her mouth in the effort. She was indeed very pretty.

Overall, I don't think I have ever fallen in complete head-over-heels fashion any faster before.

"Um…hello?"

The instant the words left my mouth I regretted them; the girl stopped her wonderful music immediately and made as if to leave through another door to her right.

"No, wait- that was really awesome, that music."

She flashed me a tight-lipped smile. "Thanks."

"I swear, when I walked in, I thought that was Sugaru playing."

The next smile she gave me was a little more friendly. "Really?"

"Yeah." I nodded freverently. "You've got his style down well."

"Thanks." Good. She had stopped moving towards the other door, and was now looking at me, interested. "Who're you?"

"Oh." I sat there, stupidly for a moment. I was so used to coming over here, with my dad or by myself; it felt weird having to introduce myself. "I'm Toshi. Er, Shindou, that is. Toshi Shindou."

"Oh." She gave me an appraising look. "Yes, I've heard Daddy talking about you."

"Who's your dad?"

She gave me another weird look. "Sugaru."

"What?"

Now I felt really stupid. I've known Sugaru forever, but never had even met his daughter? And just moments ago I had assumed she was no relation.

"Yeah. Adopted." She saw the confusion on my face and explained. "I lived away from the city for most of the time. At school. Private boarding school."

"Oh. That's why I haven't met you." I moved a little closer. Kami-sama, she was beautiful. "Funny, he hasn't mentioned you."

For some reason, she flushed a little. "Oh."

It took me awhile to figure out what I had said sounded pretty rude. Sorry, chick, your dad doesn't act like you exist. Tough, huh?

Smooth. Real smooth.

"Sorry." Now it was my turn to blush.

"Don't worry." She flashed me another smile. "He doesn't like bragging, really. He's really too modest for his own good, and maybe he thinks having a kid, even an adopted one, without a wife isn't cool with society or something…"

I winced a little. If Sugaru thought that his daughter's situation was unhonorable, I had to wonder what he really thought about my parents.I changed the subject.

"What's your name?"

"Keyara." She grinned again, mocking me. "Er, Sugaru, that is. Keyara Sugaru."

I scowled a little, really rather pleased she was teasing me. "Oh, stop it."

She laughed a little- and what a beautiful sound that was. I blushed at the perverse thoughts creeping into my head. She was looking at me oddly, and I realized I must be beet-red by now. Darn it!

"So why are you here?"

Good, she wasn't pursuing my odd and inexplicable redness. "Sugaru said he'd have some cables and an amp I bought special, and-"

"So you're the violin guy."

"I guess so." Wow. Really, really witty answer. Bravo, you idiot.

"That's a pretty cool idea, electric violin."

I couldn't help but swell up a bit at the compliment. I tried to play it modest. "Well, there are other electric violins in the world, but…"

"But what?"

"But I guess I'm the only one stupid enough to try and write rock music for one." I sighed. This was true; I had been laboring under the delusion that violin and pop-rock could mix. I had already written out a few songs out, imagining what drums and guitar would sound like in accompaniment, but lately I've been having my doubts.

"Sounds like a good idea to me." Keyara shrugged. When she saw my disbelieving expression she continued. "No! Just imagine it- it would have to be a bit outlandish, mournful, you know?"

She moved behind the synth again, and set up a small snare pattern.

Tap. Tuh-tuh-tuh-tap. Tap. Tuh-uh-tuh-tap. Tap.

"And some timpani…" Keyara made a few more adjustments, and a low booming sound of timpani accompanied the snare sounds.

"And a gong." A low, sustained gong tone played eerily over the other percussion sounds, adding the perfect amount of spook to the feeling the music created.

"Yeah, maybe…" I was still doubtful.

Keyara flashed me another cute little smile (which I had already pegged as her trademark) and placed her fingers on the synth's keyboard. She had adjusted it so that the piano sounds echoed a bit electronically, working perfectly with the percussion line.

"Now imagine the violin part, and some guitar and bass. Can't you hear it?"

I could. I could and I loved it. I almost started humming my melody when the butler interrupted.

"Pardon, Shindou-sama, Keyara-san." He waited politely for us to notice him before extending a small envelope to me. "Here's what Sugaru-sama left, Shindou-sama."

"Thanks." I took it, and then turned back to Keyara. "I'd better scoot. It's late."

"Scoot away, Toshi." She gave that smile again, and I left, heart pumping.

I was in love.

Not just with the attractive and obviously talented Keyara Sugaru, but with an old idea that was demanding attention. My dream band, electric violin included, was suddenly possible.

I was at my car before I realized I hadn't opened Sugaru's envelope. I ripped it open, and scanned the older man's neat handwriting.

Toshi,

Sorry I missed you, it got too late and I had to leave. Your things are currently at my office. If you can, come by tomorrow and I'll help you set them up.

All the best,
Sugaru

I couldn't wait until morning.

End Chapter

Authoress here.

You'd think that aching wrists and eyes so tired they're twitching might make one stop writing and go to sleep, right?

Hah, shows how much I think. Not so much, because I'm going to sleep now, instead of an hour ago.

For all of you poor unfortunates who have not had the pleasure of getting drunk off of lemonade, (non-alcoholic, mind you) I say go, and get overcome with giggles over a tall glass of the wonderful stuff at your nearby Perkins. Or Denny's. Or Bakers Square. Or wherever they have good lemonade and will let you sit there and giggle stupidly without interruption.

Or maybe not. I'm developing a headache and I suspect it's from the five glasses of non-alcoholic lemonade I had after the Graduation ceremony

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