Sorry that this took me so long. I've been sick with mono, and just kind of laying on my couch for the past two weeks. I owe you guys some really quick updates, so I am going to give it my best.
Chapter 5
Hiro Hiro Hiro Hiro Hiro
Hiro never would have expected to find his band mates sprawled out on the floor with crayons. The even more surprising thing was that Shuichi seemed happier than he had been in nearly a month. Laughing, Hiro crouched down and peeked at one of Shuichi's drawings. "Who's this supposed to be?" he asked staring at a blond haired stick figure.
"Yuki," Shuichi spelled with a big smile.
Hiro sighed heavily. Maybe he should watch how much time the pink haired boy spent with Ryuichi. First the nutty singer talks to a stuffed bunny, and now Shuichi had an imaginary friend. Hiro knew that Yuki had to be made up, because Shuichi simply didn't not tell him things. At the moment, he just wasn't going to ask what was going on in that fuzzy brain of his.
"Well, I got us a gig," Hiro announced setting aside the drawing.
"Ooooooohhhhhh, I get to sing?" Ryuichi bounced.
Despite his smile, Hiro saw the flash of pain in Shuichi's eyes. "When and where?"
"Saturday at La Rose," Hiro told him trying to keep his confidence and energy up. They had played La Rose once before. It had been the last time Shuichi had sung before an audience. La Rose had hosted a battle of the bands for the under twenty-one crowd that year. Hiro remembered how perfectly it had gone. Shuichi had been nothing short of amazing that night. Hiro knew what this was going to cost his friend. "Are you ready?" he asked Shuichi with total seriousness.
Shuichi Shuichi Shuichi Shuichi
"Are you ready?"
Shuichi froze. La Rose. He was going to be playing at La Rose again. He took a deep calming breath, and nodded slowly. History was repeating itself. In a way, it was kind of fitting. He was about to start something new at the same place he had ended what had come before.
That night, they only practiced for an hour. Shuichi claimed that he was tired, and for once Hiro didn't question him on it. They said goodbye to Ryuichi before going to their upstairs apartment. After slipping into pajamas with cartoon characters on them, Shuichi stood looking out his window at the city lights for a long time.
"Wanna talk about it?" Hiro asked him from behind.
I do want to talk about it, he thought sadly, and that's the problem. "Just some memories. I'll be fine."
"You have a lot of talent, Shuichi, and this is the only way you're ever going to be able to make it. Who knows maybe when you get out there, you'll love it just as much," Hiro said with a deep sigh. From the look on his face, it was obvious that he didn't even believe that himself.
"I wish I could turn back time."
"I know, but you need to move on."
Shuichi faked a smile. "Let's do it. Let's give them the second best show ever!"
Yuki Yuki Yuki Yuki
He didn't want to answer the door, but he knew that the small, blonde man wouldn't go away until he did. "What do you want Tohma?" Yuki asked lighting another cigarette.
Tohma simply smiled in that boyish way of his. No one would ever have guessed that he was older than Yuki. "Mika sent me," he explained. "She's worried about you and thinks that an evening out would do you good."
"At least you're honest," Yuki quipped.
Despite his smile, Tohma's eyes were serious. "When have I not been honest with you?"
"Fair enough, but I am still not going."
"Even if I am buying the drinks?"
Yuki gave in and put on his long coat. "I have very expensive tastes."
"And you think I can't afford it?" Tohma joked. He owned on of the biggest record labels in the world, and money was no object to him. "Besides, Mika costs me more in grief."
"I didn't tell you to marry her," Yuki grumbled.
"True," Tohma agreed. "We do serve each other's purposes well enough, and there's no point in lamenting it now."
Yuki was surprised to see Sakano sitting in the back of the limo when he opened the door. Tohma's lover was not at all what anyone would expect. He was very average looking, and had an air about him that could best be called "geeky." "Yuki," the dark haired man greeted with a nod. "I was not sure that you would be joining us."
"I didn't give him a choice," Tohma told him with a laugh. He put his hand on the other man's thigh causing a blush to rise in Sakano's cheeks. "Perhaps he will be able to settle our little disagreement."
Perhaps this was not a good idea. "Disagreement?" Yuki inquired.
Sakano cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up. "Yes, we can't seem to agree on a band. I saw them years ago, and they were the most talented young men I had ever seen….barring you, Tohma," he added nervously. "I was going to get Tohma to sign them, but some sort of tragedy happened, and they simply disappeared. Now, they are back with a new lead singer, and I convinced Tohma to come along."
"So what's the disagreement?"
"Well, I happen to know the lead singer, and he is absolutely worthless," Tohma explained coldly.
Yuki sighed. "What's the band called?"
"Bad Luck."
