TADA! I finally had time to write. Make up works sucks! I am still soooooo far behind in school you can't believe it, but I do owe you guys big. I am already working on chapter 7, and I promise to have it out by the end of the week. And what is that in the air? SNIFF SNIFF hmmm maybe not lemon exactly, but I do detect a citrusy smell.

Chapter 6

ShuichiShuichiShuichiShuichiShuichi

Shuichi had thrown up several times that day. His nerves were getting the better of him and there wasn't much he could do about it. Hiro had been in and out of the apartment all day. They packed the van up with their equipment in the afternoon, and that left Shuichi on his own for the biggest part of the day.

He carefully fingered the plain navy shirt he'd picked up for the concert. It looked alright on him, but he couldn't help thinking about his black top and yellow overcoat he used to wear when they did shows. Everything had changed. The rather plain shirt he'd picked this time was just one more way he was preparing himself to fade into the background.

"SHUICHI! Kumagoro attack!" Shuichi smiled and picked the pink bunny off of the floor. Ryuichi was already dressed in a ruffled, white shirt and skintight purple pants. "How come you're not ready yet?"

The pink haired boy shrugged, and pointed to the outfit he had laid out on the bed.

Ryuichi picked it up, and wrinkled his nose. "You can't wear this!"

Shuichi rolled his eyes, and pointed to the closet.

Within seconds, a shower of shirts, pants, and hats came flying from the closet. All the while, the eccentric singer was babbling to himself. It took him several minutes of digging, but he came out with a transparent, black shirt that laced up the sleeves and a pair of red leather pants with a metallic blue belt. Shuichi stared at the outfit for a long time. He'd worn that exact combination a few times when he went to the clubs, but it wasn't an outfit that would make him less noticeable.

Ryuichi pushed him to the bathroom door. "Hurry and change! I can't wait to see you in it! Oooohhhh we should go shopping together." He leaned in and whispered into Shuichi's ear. "I know you won't tell him, but Kumagoro has really bad taste in clothes."

The idea of talking to a stuffed animal made Shuichi laugh. He made a motion as though he was locking his lips….even though it wouldn't do much good…and took the clothes to the bathroom.

RyuichiRyuichiRyuichiRyuichiRyuichiRyuichi

Ryuichi knew this had to be hard for Shuichi. Even the thought of being unable to sing or speak made him cringe. He couldn't imagine opening his mouth and not being able to make a single sound. Hiro had mentioned that their performance at La Rose six years ago had been the last time Shuichi had sung for an audience. This had to be a nightmare, and it stung to know that he was a big part of it. Ryuichi hadn't thought coming into this band could be a bad thing, but in a way it was for Shuichi. Ryuichi was now taking the role that Shuichi had lost. He could feel the boy's eyes on him when they practiced. A few times he had even caught a glimpse of him mouthing the words as Ryuichi sang. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Shuichi envied him. It was amazing that Shucichi didn't seem to resent him. He was always smiling, and so friendly in his way. If I could give you my voice, Ryuichi thought as he stared at the door, I would.

The door opened, and Ryuichi nearly lost it. Shuichi looked gorgeous. His smile was radiant as he took a mock pose before at the end of the bed. Laughing, Ryuichi picked up Kumagoro and mimed taking pictures. "The camera loves you! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! You're beautiful!"

A rosy blush crept to Shuichi's cheeks. He picked up a brown cowboy hat off of the floor and placed it on Ryuichi's head. Shuichi let out a breathy laugh. Ryuichi was beginning to fall in love with that silent laughter. It was so strange, but so enticing. The pink haired young man held out his hand formally, and the two walked arm in arm out to the van.

La Rose was bursting at the seams that night. As they set up their equipment, Ryuichi stared out at the mass of college students. Most of them had pushed their way out on to the dance floor, but there were a few secluded booths that were set slightly above the floor level. Bad Luck's first gig was going to be a night to remember, Ryuichi could feel it. He spared a glance over to Shuichi who was setting up the keyboards. For all the excitement, Shuichi seemed to be doing fairly well, buts the minutes wound down, so did Shuichi's composure.

The trio left the stage and waited to be announced.

ShuichiShuichiShuichiShuichi

His throat felt tight. It was too late! There was no way to get out of this now, but he wanted to run. Why had he let Hiro talk him into this? Shuichi stood in the wings looking frantically around the room. Panic had set in. Please, just let this be over, he begged silently.

Something soft touched his cheek, and he was suddenly face to face with a bunny. "Kumagoro kisses!" Ryuichi babbled. "He's good luck."

Shuichi rewarded his efforts with a smile, but he was still shaking.

"For the first time in six years….." the owner announced dramatically, "La Rose is proud to present BAD LUCK!"

They rushed on stage and into position as the crowd cheered. The first song in their set was entitled "Rage Beat." Ryuichi introduced it, and glanced to Hiro and finally to Shuichi. Please, don't make me do this! The world spun out of control.

But then it stopped. Shuichi was staring at the most beautiful amber eyes. Yuki's face the only thing he could see. It was if the blonde was telling him that he had better do this right.

With a new rush of energy, Shuichi gave Ryuichi a thumbs up.

YukiYukiYukiYukiYukiYuki

Yuki grimaced at the patrons of La Rose. He never went to college dives like this. There wasn't a single thing about them that he cared for; not the music, not the people, not the poorly mixed drinks. If it hadn't been for the fact that he respected Tohma, he would never have come.

The irony of the evening was not lost on Yuki. He had spent the past weeks trying to purge the image of the pink haired nightmare out of his mind, and here he was sitting in a club he hated waiting to watch the boy perform. When Sakano had told him about something "tragic" happening with Bad Luck, he knew instantly what had happened. He could have told them about it, but he decided not to bother. After all, why should he?

The owner of the club stepped up to the mic and did one of those all too obnoxious intros, before the band came on stage. Instantly, he knew something was wrong with the little moron. His eyes were wide with fear.

Though he didn't know why, Yuki stood up and walked to the center of the room. His gaze locked with the boys. If this is your dream, Yuki thought, don't you dare chicken out! It seemed that Shuichi heard this, and the boy straightened up.

TohmaTohmaTohmaTohma

It was the one and only time in Tohma's entire career that he had ever truly been entranced by a band like this. The three on stage were magic. The guitar player bounced around the stage getting the audience into it. What really was so intriguing about them though was the pink haired boy at the keyboards. He was so charismatic that he seemed to command his own part of the show, which was something keyboard players rarely did if at all. And then there was Ryuichi. Ryuichi sang so perfectly! Maybe even better than he had ten years ago. He floated over the stage. Energy coursed through La Rose like a wave.

Tohma was so captured that he almost forgot. He could almost forgive Ryuichi for what he had stolen from him. Almost. Tohma the feeling human being wanted to crush them all, and take away the dreams that he had lost himself ten years ago. He hated the other two simply because of their proximity to Ryuichi.

Luckily for Bad Luck, Tohma was also a well schooled, unfeeling entrepreneur. "Well, Sakano, you win, but I am having nothing to do with them. You will handle them, not me."

Sakano smiled. "I am honored that you have faith in me."

"I do….maybe more than I should. After all, you did get me to sign those assholes in ASK. Can I give you some advice though?" Tohma asked staring at the man he so bitterly hated.

"You know I listen to everything you tell me."

Tohma turned back to Sakano, and smiled seductively. Though he had a "wife," he loved Sakano with all of his heart. The bespectacled man may claim to be under Tohma's tumb, but Tohma would argue that point. He sighed. "If I were you, I would call K."

A guilty look flashed over Sakano's face, and he pulled at his collar. "I hope you don't mind….I already did. I knew we would need someone to put a leash on Ryuichi."

Tohma didn't like to acknowledge that he'd been wrong, but he nodded anyway. Things were going to get very interesting, very quickly.