Bad news at the office today. Hope it doesn't interfere with Shuichi's plan...
And none of these characters are mine, btw.

Yuki hadn't woken up when Shuichi entered the bedroom to shower and change. He made no special effort to be quiet, as Yuki was an incredibly heavy sleeper when he actually took time to do it. Once he was finished, he headed off to work. The musician almost gave in to the temptation to momentarily rouse the novelist for a kiss, but the full ash tray on the bedside table stopped him.

"Let him wonder," Shuichi whispered, blowing a kiss through the air. Knowing Yuki, he'd wake up and have completely forgotten last night. But with any luck...

"You're late." K leveled his choice weapon of the day- an AK-47- at Shuichi's head when he barreled through the door at two minutes past eight, panting from a sprint into the studio.

"Traffic! It was the traffic!" He looked to Hiro, standing a few feet away, for support and assistance. The guitarist shrugged and played a few more chords on the electric guitar he'd strapped on. Of course this never happened to him.

K made no motion to lower his weapon, but the door behind Shuichi was once again forcibly thrown open, knocking him to the ground just below the assault rifle.

"You're late!" K now looked severely ticked off as Suguru stood there, calmly staring down the barrel of the gun.

"Sorry to have kept everyone waiting," Suguru moved to the side and allowed his cousin to enter. "You can put that away now, K."

"Yes, sir." Without another word, he shrugged and slung the gun across his back. Suguru and Shuichi both heaved sighs of relief.

"Don't think you're getting off that easy, boys. He may be pulling that out again shortly." The musicians all exchanged confused looks. Even K raised an eyebrow. "Let me explain. It would seem that Blah Blah, which I'm sure you know has been the most critical major magazine for promoting Bad Luck, has mistakenly misprinted the release date of your next album. In fact, according to their latest issue, it is due to be released at the end of this week; that's an entire month before originally scheduled."

"I don't see where the problem is for us. Have them reprint it." Hiro spoke sagely as he returned to plucking out chords for the track they'd be laying down today.

"You're a smart boy, Hiroshi. Now tell me, what is the major purpose of any company, if any business?"

"To make money," Suguru had a horrible expression on his face as he began to put things together.

"And do you think Blah Blah would be happy after being burdened with the expense of reprinting and shipping an entire issue? They might blame it on Bad Luck. And an unhappy sponsor isn't good for an up and coming band." He let the last sentence hang in the air as a silent threat.

Hiro's hand suddenly slipped, striking a bad chord. "But we've only laid down one track so far!"

"Then I suggest you get busy. You have three days to get this album together in time to distribute." Tohma flashed them all another smile and turned, pausing beside K on his way out. "Don't let them leave until all 14 tracks are recorded perfectly." K smiled over at the three members of Bad Luck, all dumbfounded.

"You can count on me, sir."

"I never doubted it. I'll send Sakano with food once you've got track four down." With that, he closed and locked the doors.

Shuichi, who'd been watching the happenings in confusion and shock, snapped out of his silence. "What the hell do you think you're doing? We can't record 13 tracks in three days! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

Once again he found the AK-47 pointed at his head as he attempted to launch himself past K.

"I think you must have missed something my friend. It's not negotiable."

"I didn't ask to negotiate! I want out! Tohma, you bastard, get your ass back here!"

K raised his gun and fired it just above Shuichi's head, blowing a hold in the wall behind him. "I think you need to calm down."

"Calm? I'm not shooting off bullets you jack ass! Yuki! HELP ME YUKI!"

"Oh, you think lover boy will come to the rescue? I'd love to show him my gun!" K shot off a few more bullets and laughed.

"You stay away from my Yuki!" Shuichi roared, latching on to the barrel of the firearm. K continued to tease him until the pink haired singer has dissolved into an angry, teary-eyed mess. Hiro and Suguru tried to ignore them.

"We should have seen this coming." Hiro sighed, setting up his equipment. Suguru mutely followed his example, though he looked like he might breakdown at any moment. How they were going to lay down 13 perfect tracks in half a week was beyond all of them.

I see this as really sucking for the good old members of Bad Luck. Will Yuki be thrilled to have lost his main annoyance? Come back for chapter three!