Authoress here.

Blerrrrgh. I'm glooming today, and I decided the only cure for the gloomishness would be to sit down and write a chapter.

Has anyone read Hana-Kimi? It's my favorite manga as of late, it's just oozing cuteness. I just read the fifth and sixth books, and OH BOY! WHAT DRAMA!

Speaking of drama, this chapter will result in Keyara and Toshi's date. Some of my high intellectually advanced reviewers have made some inferences, and to you that have guessed at the future of this story, all I can say about it is that it will be unexpected. I thought even I was crazy for attempting to do what I have in mind!

This chapter has been mainly inspired by my good friend JewelValentine. She had a rather kawai episode this weekend, and I loved to hear how cute and exciting it all was! And, is this "incredibly shy boy who looks like Johnny Depp" is anything like the character Toshi, this chapter will turn out well. Onto chapter eight!

Breaking the Tie
Chapter Eight: Sweaty Palms, Fleeting Glances

Gravitation

"Huh?"

It was two days after Toshi had gone to Seiya for help, and only about ten days from the big debut. Ever the shrinking violet, Toshi decided to wait until after the show to ask Keyara anything about a date. But apparently, the fiery synth player had different ideas.

"I said, would you like to go to lunch with me?" Keyara repeated, a hint of a smile ghosting across her face.

Toshi quickly closed his mouth after realizing it was hanging open. "Lunch?"

Keyara smiled wider. "Yes, lunch."

Toshi looked over Keyara's shoulder to where Seiya was putting her guitar in its case with extreme concentration. If she felt his eyes, she made no sign of noticing.

"Um…I'd love to." Toshi stammered. Keyara laughed; the beautiful, light sound that made Toshi's knees go weak.

"You're so cute when you're being shy."

Toshi opened his mouth and shut it again, feeling more than slightly foolish, and also ridiculously pleased. "Thanks?"

Keyara laughed again, taking his hand. Her skin was light and cool, and Toshi couldn't believe his luck.

"So, Toshi, is there any place you like?"

They could be going to fish scraps out of a dumpster and Toshi would have been in heaven. "Uh…there's an udon restaurant a couple of minutes away by car."

"I adore udon!" Keyara squeezed his palm with her fingers, eyes sparkling. She smiled again, and ducked her chin. "Would you mind if we walked? It's such a nice day…"

"Of course!" Toshi gulped out. He managed a smile in return, and she started to lead him towards the door of the sound stage they were rehearsing in within NG Studios. At the door she hesitated, and turned to Seiya.

"Excuse me? Seiya?"

"Yes, Princess?"

Keyara flushed a little angrily, but kept the over-sweet voice. "Could you sign us out and lock up? Please?"

Seiya scowled darkly. "I don't do favors for bitc-"

"Seiya?" Toshi cut in. "Please?"

This was a conflict of interests for Seiya. Although Toshi was a good friend, and she knew he was a complete and utter doofus about Keyara's less-than-friendly attitude towards the larger part of humanity, Seiya did not want to help this budding romance along one bit. If Toshi and Keyara started seeing one another, then that only meant Seiya would be a third wheel in Protégé, an idea that held no appeal.

But, with a sigh, she nodded. Toshi was her friend, after all.

"Thanks. You're the best." With a beaming smile, Toshi was swept off towards the exit by Keyara.

Toshi Shindou

If I'm dead, then I know what heaven is.

If I'm dreaming, I have one heck of an imagination.

I'd pinch myself, but Keyara is holding my hand, strolling down a shady sidewalk, chatting like we've known one another for years, instead of months.

The streets are relatively deserted, because everybody in this part of town is still at work. We walk slowly, just talking and laughing, occasionally stopping to window shop. I'm dying to hold her, or something, but I'm too shy to try anything.

The udon shop is just a small place, famous only to the regulars. It's too small and shabby-looking to attract lots of customers, but once you taste the old kansai style kitsune-udon, you're hooked for life.

Keyara was immediately charmed by the old shop owner, who seated us personally. The shop was empty, except for another waiter on a break, sipping water and reading a magazine. I caught a glance at the cover, and smile. Watoshi no Tokyo has a special place in my family's history; a certain cover is framed and hung in our den.

We took a seat by the window that was bathed in sunshine. Keyara and I made idiots of ourselves making the reflections off of the backs of our knives dance on the ceiling. The owner knows me, and delivered our meals speedily. He smiled as Keyara took her first bite, winking at me as he bustled back to the kitchens.

"So, Toshi," Keyara starts, taking a sip of the peach juice in front of her. "How do you feel about-"

Here it comes! Yes, Keyara, I worship you! I -

"-Protégé's chances at a record deal?"

I'd love to go out with you!…Protégé?

"Uh…" I shrugged, vaguely disappointed. "Good. Very good, I'd say."

Keyara nodded, and then snorted disdainfully. "As long as the trailer trash doesn't miss her guitar solo again."

"Hey!" I protested. "Seiya just was nervous."

"You have a point." Keyara set down her chopsticks to take my hand. "I see why Daddy likes you so much."

"What?" I was confused at the abrupt change in conversation.

"You're so kind-hearted." Keyara smiled gently. "So…human."

This wasn't exactly how a guy wants to be described. Handsome, sensitive, sexy, maybe, but human?

"Daddy always spoke so highly of you." Keyara broke into my silence. "Actually, I feel like I've known you forever, the way he talks."

I swallowed, with some difficulty. "W-What did he say about me?" This conversation was turning out very strange.

"That you were so pure. Talented. A really great person, despite the circumstances and prejudice your parents may suffer."

I tried really hard to watch her eyes as she spoke, but her lips were far too enticing. The way they moved, and how her bubblegum-pink tongue moistened them gently.

She was still holding my hand, and I jumped a little as she brought it to her lips and brushed my knuckles with her perfect mouth.

"K-Keyara…"

She gave me a look, and my mouth went dry. She was leaning forewords, moving across the table, looking at my eyes steadily. Some irresistible force had me by the back of the head and was pushing me towards her.

Oh…

And then I was kissing her. Drinking her in softly, our touch was the barest of brushes that made my entire mind light on fire. I don't know who pulled back first, but I could feel her breath misting on my lips.

We sat back, picked up our chopsticks, and resumed talking.

"So," Keyara said. "What song should we do at the concert? I don't think we should do Scream…"

"Why not?" I suggested after a hot mouthful of udon. "It got us the gig."

"It's raunchy." Keyara shrugged. She pushed a noodle around in her bowl. "And maybe we should do something building off of Bad Luck."

I nodded; there was logic in that. The crowd was largely at a concert because of a genre of music. The people attending the Bad Luck concert would be fans of pop and light rock. "Well, then we have to get working on our only other one, the no-name song."

"Yes. The lyrics, especially."

I sighed, resting my chin on my palm, envisioning a repeat of our last unsuccessful lyric session. "Can't lie, but I'm not looking forewords to that."

"Why?" Keyara sat up, giving me a cute little look of honest confusion that made me smile uncontrollably.

"Well, the last time we all tried to come up with lyrics-"

"We?"

"Uh…yeah." I wasn't quite sure what she meant.

"But I thought you wrote the lyrics for Protégé." She tilted her head slightly, eyes wide.

"What?"

"Well, seeing as you did such a wonderful job last time, I thought it would only be smart if you continued to write them."

I was ataken back at her generous compliment. "Thanks, Keyara. You know, I think I'll get started on those when I get home."

She graced me with a sweet look, where her perfect lips turned up at the pink corners. "You're the best, Toshi."

Yeah, when I'm with you.

"So, what do you think of Daddy?"

The question was so random I didn't quite catch what she was asking. "What?"

"Well, Daddy did get us the audition, and probably will be very active in our career," Keyara sipped at her peach juice, "and I wanted to know what you thought of him."

"He's…. nice." It was an awkward answer, but the question was weird. I've known Fujisaki Suguru for all my life. Mom told me he babysat for me once, when I was four, and we ate too much and both were sick. I mean, the man was more like an uncle to me than anything else. And, with a lot of uncles, you don't know them very well, just what your parents tell you about their childhood and how he acts around you at family parties. It's hard to really get to know those sorts of family members for their true personality, and the same was true with Suguru.

I got the impression from Keyara's face that that was not enough of an answer for her. She opened her mouth, and then closed it, apparently deciding not to press the topic further.

We finished our excellent lunch, and I put enough on the table for that and a good tip. If I had liked this place before Keyara kissed me, I loved it now.

We walked the couple of blocks to my car. Keyara didn't have her license yet, so Suguru had a car waiting for her. I could see it coming around the corner, and I knew I had to act fast. I took her into a hug, murmuring "I had a really nice time" into her ear. Then, I pulled back and kissed her again, on the cheek.

She smiled, hugged me back, and got into the door the driver held open for her. I waved as the car pulled away, feeling slightly disappointed. I almost went to her lips, but I just felt so embarrassed! Maybe I was going too fast…? Even though we had known each other for the past four months, a kiss of the first date maybe was pushing it.

I got into my Monte Carlo and headed for home, a ridiculous smile pasted on my face that I couldn't wipe off.

End Chapter

Authoress here.

Thanks to DarklessVaison who caught my error last chapter- she pointed out that it isn't "reison," it's actually "rosin," and it's used for something completely different than what I said it did…Whoops! That's why I don't play violin….I'd be dreadful at it… Viva la saxophone!

And just a special note- Today was the actual birthday of my horse, Ranger. Technically, horses have their birthdays on New Year's no matter when their date of birth was, it's just to simplify things. But today, Ranger is officially six, even though he's been technically six since the start of 2005. Confusing? Yes. Review? Also a yes.