FATE AND FRAILTY
Do not hasten so.
To unravel destiny.
Tread through quietly...
Haiku 7: The Consequences of Impatience
Michiru was buried in tons of paperwork. There were too many things to sort out, and too little time to do so. She preferred it that way though since it kept her busy, and working overtime meant she was paid a lot more. But this sort of lifestyle did not come without a price. She was tired all the time, she had constant headaches... and what was worse-- it kept her from spending time with her daughter.
She looked at the framed picture on the table beside her, and at the smiling face of a dark-haired, violet eyed little girl who stood between herself and Mamoru. 'Oh Hotaru...' She thought with a sad sigh. Any daughter would have resented their mother for being absent in their life all the time. But not little Hotaru. Her daughter always greeted her with a warm and ready smile. The younger girl was so mature for her age... She supposed she got that from her father.
It was dark outside by the time she was done with her work. She supposed she could not avoid going home now. Perhaps, if she was lucky enough, Minako would have worn Mamoru out by the time she got back.
Mamoru...
The thought of him brought even more guilty feelings to the surface. 'You should just leave him.' Her conscience told her. 'You're not happy with him and he knows it. And you're hurting him by staying.' But she could not... She was bound to him in more ways than one-- the biggest reasons being obligation and pity.
She put her coat on, grabbed her purse and left her office. Before she entered the elevator, one of her overtime officemates called out to her, "Leaving early, Kaioh-san?"
She pressed a button for the ground floor. "Yes... My work is done, have a good night Katsuhiko-san." She waved at the other man just before the elevator's doors slid to a close. She did not have a car tonight since it was being impounded for illegal parking and speeding. She really was going to kill Minako for that one.
When she exited the building, two things caught her attention. A very confused and flustered girl was pacing up and down the street, and she was holding a metal pipe in her hand. When the girl saw her, her eyes lit up before approaching her, waving the pipe in a beckoning gesture. Michiru, fearing that she was going to be assaulted, tried to move away quickly but the pleading voice stopped her.
"No, wait! Please, don't leave. My name is Hino Rei, and I was wondering if I could ask you for some directions."
"Put that thing down first." Michiru retorted warily. 'Hino Rei? Isn't that...'
Rei blushed and dropped the pipe immediately, sending it clattering noisily on the pavement. "Err... Right. Sorry."
With the 'weapon' gone, Michiru was confident enough to approach her. She carefully squinted her eyes at the other girl's face before they widened in recognition. "It IS you... I can't believe it. What are you doing out here all by yourself, Hino-san?"
Rei was encouraged by the look of recognition on the other woman's face and wondered if she personally knew her somehow. But considering the fact that her father was a public figure, the celebrity status might extend to Rei herself. "I... got lost." She told the aquamarine-haired woman. "Do I... do I know you?" She frowned at the sympathetic expression that suddenly colored the other's face. The younger suddenly realized then that pity was something she hated to the core. But she set her pride aside because she knew she needed help.
"No you don't, Hino-san. My name is Kaioh Michiru." The taller beauty answered, bowing slightly after her humble introduction. "What is it that you need, Hino-san? Would you like to borrow my cell phone to contact your father?"
"I don't have his number... and I don't remember how to get back home." Rei hated herself. She should have asked her father and Haruka how to contact them in case of emergencies like these. But she was so mad at her father this morning, it never even crossed her mind. "I was wondering if you could show me where TA Gakuen is? My ride is probably waiting for me there." 'I hope...'
"Of course! It's just a few blocks away from here. If you want, I will take you there?" Michiru smiled down at her kindly. "If you don't mind walking, that is."
"Yes," Rei released a relieved sigh, "yes please."
They began walking down the street in silence, which the dark-haired girl was grateful for. Michiru looked like she wanted the quietness to sort out her thoughts, just like Rei herself. Despite her initial impression, the older woman looked like she carried a lot of burdens. The insightful Rei could see through her serene facade the aura of sadness that surrounded Michiru.
The few blocks that the older woman had told her turned out to be two, and no sooner had they emerged through a busy intersection did Rei see the familiar sight of TA's gorgeous gate, and the yellow Mazda Miata in front of it. "Thank god..." She exclaimed then turned to a bemused Michiru beside her. "Oh, and thank you too."
"It's nothing, Hino-san. I'm glad I could help." The beautiful woman told her. She turned around to walk away, but Rei ran after her and stopped her.
"Would you like a ride home? I mean... I just want to return something for your kindness."
Michiru looked thoughtful for a moment. Her house was a train ride away. What harm would it do to accept Rei's generous offer? "I would like that, Hino-san. Thank you."
"Great!" The dark-haired girl beamed at her and led her towards the Miata.
Upon seeing the approaching women, Haruka leapt out of the car-- she had a worried and anxious look on her face. "Rei-dono! Where have you been! I've been waiting for you for hours!" When the younger girl was near enough, she rapped a knuckle on top of her head. "What's the purpose of this thing here? Don't you ever use it? You can't remember how to get back! Or did you forget you can't remember anything."
"Haruka-san..." Rei began dangerously.
"Ara..." Haruka's head shot up and she turned to acknowledge the aqua-haired woman beside her. "If it's really too inconvenient, Hino-san, I'll just take the train home."
The handsome blonde woman stared at Michiru for a long and intense time with a strange and unreadable expression on her face before she suddenly erupted indignantly, "Who's this! You shouldn't be accompanying strangers, Rei-dono! That's really gullible of you!"
Rei wanted to slap her forehead. Haruka was really embarrassing and rude... just like her paranoid father. She wondered who influenced who... Her father or Haruka? "This 'stranger' helped me, Haruka-san. If it weren't for her, I would still be lost."
"That's right," Michiru added coolly, put off by this blonde's discourtesy and accusing tone. All of a sudden, she didn't think it would be a great idea to ride with these two after all. "It's been a privilege helping you, Hino-san, but I need to be getting back home now." Without further ado, she gracefully turned around and walked away.
"Haruka-san..." The dark-haired girl hissed, and turned to look at her guardian then paused at the look of agony that flashed in Haruka's features. In a softer tone, she repeated, "Haruka-san?"
There was a slight pause, before the taller woman looked down at Rei with a small and self-deprecating smile. "Faux pas?"
"Stupid." Rei shook her head in exasperation. "Look, let's just go home." She walked ahead towards the car and got in. Haruka slid in beside her a moment later.
"What happened to you anyway?" The blonde asked as she started the car and gunned the engine, before driving out to the street.
The question immediately brought the face of the pervert brunette in her mind which caused Rei's face to flame up with shame and rage. "I don't want to talk about it..."
Michiru's feet were aching by the time she reached her house. She made to open the door when she heard muffled giggles behind it. With a slight frown, she opened it and stepped inside. "Good evening everyone." She called out loudly as she took off her coat and placed it, along with her purse, on the coat rack beside the door.
"Mama!" She heard her daughter shout around the corner, where the dining room was, before an eleven-year-old girl burst through the open doorway to run into her arms. "Mama! I'm glad you're home!"
"Hello, Taru-chan." Michiru's voice was full of love and warmth as she returned the tight embrace. She leaned down slightly to peck Hotaru's forehead before continuing. "Is Minako-chan still here?"
"Uh huh," Hotaru beamed up at her, not quite letting go of her mother just yet. "You want me to call her?"
Michiru shook her head. Instead she, with her small daughter latched onto her waist, moved towards the dining room where she found the grinning blonde and a softly smiling Mamoru in their places around the table. "Hello, Minako-chan. Hi, love."
"Welcome home, Michiru." Her husband offered sincerely.
"Kaioh-san!" Minako chirped brightly as she waved a fork, with some bits of fish stuck on the ends, in her direction. "Mamo-kun and Taru-chan invited me for dinner. You know how I love Mamo-kun's cooking, so I hope you don't mind!"
"It's not a problem, Minako-chan..." The aqua-haired woman nodded before taking her place at the end of the table across from Mamoru. "I thought you went to see Mizuno-chan earlier."
"I did?" Minako looked really confused before the unconcerned blonde shrugged. "I must've changed my mind and went here instead." Why would she even want to go near that horrible school anyway? Not that she wouldn't if Ami had asked her to visit... But she could always hang out with her best friend on the weekends-- preferably away from Juuban and its troublemaking students.
"How was work, dear?" Mamoru asked her. When she turned to her husband, she could see the wariness in his eyes.
"It was tiresome. But that's how a job is supposed to be." She chuckled and lifted the metallic lid on her plate to reveal the still steaming food inside. Her mouth watered at the sight of fish in sweet and sour sauce, mashed potatoes, and green peas. "But afterwards, " she went on conversationally, surprising herself and Mamoru. She was not usually the one to continue conversations during the dinner table-- let alone with her husband. "Afterwards, I saw Hino Rei. The poor girl didn't know where she was."
"Isn't she...?" Minako leaned forward interestedly.
"Uh huh. Statesman Hino's daughter."
Mamoru looked concerned. "Was she alright?"
"I brought her back to her... friend." The aqua-haired woman made a face at the memory of the rude blonde.
"What a coincidence!" Minako exclaimed and turned to Mamoru beside her. "Did you know I was supposed to perform for the Benefit Hino Rei-san's father organized?"
"You don't say?"
Michiru was content to let the pair continue the topic without her. It was better that way. She wanted to concentrate on her food in peace. However, she was aware of the inquiring violet eyes that were directed at her, and she turned to her side to see Hotaru looking at her oddly. "Yes, Taru-chan?"
"Do you believe in fate, mama?"
Michiru nearly choked on her food. She reached for her glass of water beside her and took a mouthful of it before responding hoarsely. "What made you ask that?"
The little girl shrugged diffidently, and looked at her hands which were fidgeting with the creamy-white table napkin. "I dunno... My sensei said that there are no such things as coincidence and that things happen because it's fated from the beginning."
"That's an interesting philosophy." Michiru smiled slightly and went on in a scholarly tone, "You know what philosophy means, Taru-chan?"
"Philosophy is an examination of basic concepts, a branch of knowledge dedicated to the systematic examination of basic concepts like the truth." The young girl answered thoughtfully, intelligence shining in her eyes. "It also means... a personal belief in something."
"What is your personal belief in fate, Taru-chan?" Michiru continued shrewdly.
"You make it." Hotaru answered confidently. "There's no such thing as a fixed destiny!"
The older woman smiled at her daughter proudly and reached out to brush her bangs away from her eyes. "There's your answer, Taru-chan."
"Hey, what are you guys talking over there?" Mamoru asked them, affection was in his eyes when he gazed at his only child. "Can I join in?"
"This is girl-talk, papa!" Hotaru stuck her tongue out at him and received a laugh in return.
"Hey! I'm a girl! Can't I join in too?" Minako exclaimed as she tried to scoot over towards them.
"Nuh-uh! It's too complicated for you, Mina-onee-san."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
Michiru was done eating. Suddenly, she was not hungry any more. She gathered her plate and her glass before rising to deliver them to the kitchen. She did not notice Mamoru look after her retreating form before following after her. She placed her dirty dish and glass in the sink before she turned around. She nearly fell into her husband's wheelchair if he hadn't reached out to catch her by the hips.
"You seem to be in a good mood tonight, Michiru." He looked up at her hopefully.
"On the contrary, Mamoru..." Michiru had a strained smile on her face. "My head and my feet are aching, and I just want to lie down."
The disappointment was quickly masked by his concern. "Oh? Would you like me to fix you a nice, warm bubble bath?"
"Yeah... I'd like that..." She reached out to cup the side of his handsome face gratefully, instantly feeling him press against her hand as he soaked in the sensation of honest affection in that small gesture.
Witching hour, the dead of the night, the unholy time-- it was three o'clock in the morning. Cheshire was running across the roof, jumping from one to the other in easy pursuit of the black smoke. In fact, there were a handful of sources where the smoke was rising from, and they flew in the air above Cheshire in one direction-- towards Tokyo Tower.
She saw another one rise ahead of her. And when she jumped the small gap between two buildings, she happened to glance down to see a youma. Its head was raised, its jaws were wide open in a silent roar, and at its feet was its smiling catatonic victim. The smoke came from its open mouth.
"Why..." Cheshire cooed, "Maestro Pillar is so careless!" When she reached the tower, she crawled and climbed up its beams with stealth and efficiency-- evading the drowsy guards easily. She found a predictably intoxicated Pillar sitting near the edge, outside the secluded observatory, with her long and exposed legs dangling in mid air. "Working overtime, Maestro Pillar... That is uncharacteristic of you."
Beside the kimono-clad woman was a bright-red oriental lantern--- and it was obviously where all the black smoke was being sucked into. "A-yup!" She answered and giggled loudly. "I want to get it over with in one night so I can 'par-tay' the rest of the week."
"Silly..." Cheshire moved behind her, crouched, and began to run her nails across Pillar's back in lazy and playful strokes. The other woman sighed blissfully and arched towards the teasing scratches. "You're so silly, Maestro Pillar. Why didn't you realize that by rushing this, you are going to catch unwanted attention?" She dug her nails sharply, piercing through the robe to prick the skin. Pillar gasped in pain. "Let their misery out."
"Let me go!" The other woman retorted angrily. She was not mad at Cheshire for hurting her. In fact, things like this normally brought her masochistic satisfaction-- only if she saw it coming. But right now, the unexpected action only served to bring her drunken mind into painful clarity. And she did not take kindly to people who made her sober.
She waved a hand over the lantern. The black smoke stilled before reversing its progress to return to where it originally came from. "Now lemme go!" She whined. "I'm losing my high for chrissakes!"
Cheshire released her then crawled, cat-like, to Pillar's left side. "You are not going to believe what happened earlier, Maestro Pillar." She purred and settled herself to lie on her side, resting her head on her palm, facing the dim lights of the sleeping city. "They met."
When the other Maestro let go of her, Pillar shamelessly opened the top of her kimono and pushed it down to her waist. Her nipples hardened instantly when they were exposed to the cold, night air. She grabbed one of the sake bottles beside her and poured it over her shoulder to anesthetize her wounds. When Cheshire spoke, she stopped and brought the bottle to her lips to take a healthy swig-- determined to regain her happy oblivion.
"They ALL met?" Pillar gasped out, after she pulled the bottle away from her lips. She did not bother to cover herself up again. Why did she have to? She was content to show off her lovely body if Cheshire were interested enough to glance in her way. "That sucks... I was hoping I could enjoy my vices in peace for a couple more weeks."
"We cannot rush, yet we cannot delay." Cheshire answered mysteriously. "Everything should be timed perfectly. But my, my, my... Destiny is definitely rushing. I'm having a hard time trying to keep the balance as it is."
"Yeah about that..." Pillar leaned back lazily to look at the other woman. 'She looks kinda hot in that profile...' She thought drunkenly and licked her lips. "Why'd you help them anyway? And don't give me that balance crap... Are you trying to betray us, Cheshire?"
"Wrong question..." Cheshire rolled onto her back and craned her neck up slightly to look at the upsidedown countenance of the other leering woman. "You should be asking... Why am I not choosing sides? But to answer your first question... I helped them, because the mistress needed them alive."
Pillar took this opportunity to change her posture until she was on all fours and hovering over Cheshire. "Why?" She asked, her voice low and sultry-- the question was meant to be teasing since she didn't really care about continuing the conversation any way. She leaned down and kissed the surface of the mask's grinning mouth. Cheshire did not move. At least, she didn't looked like she did-- until Pillar felt something cold and sharp slide against the back of her neck.
"Don't kiss me... ever... again..." Cheshire's voice was unusually icy and hard.
"Why?" This time Pillar wanted an answer, and her tone was peevish. "Look, Cheshire... Your lover's been dead for a long, long time. Don't you think it's time for you to move on?"
The other woman's hand, that held the kodachi over Pillar's neck, trembled. But instead of slitting the other woman's throat, she grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her away. She shifted into a kneeling position, still holding onto the grimacing Pillar and forcing her to bend back cumbersomely, then leaned her face over hers. "I would be careful with how you word your questions around me, if I were you."
The painful grip on her hair and the hatred that oozed out of the other woman's eyes exhilarated Pillar. When Cheshire saw how lustful the other was becoming, she flung her back and rose to her feet. "You're disgusting, Maestro Pillar." She stated indifferently, before she jumped off the tower and disappeared into the darkness.
"Makoto-san!" Ami cried out in shock and ran to meet her approaching friend. The brunette had a bandage around her head, and the gloomy expression on her face served to alarm the smaller girl even more. "What happened to you?"
"I don't want to talk about it..." Makoto deadpanned, not stopping her sluggish stride towards Juuban. Ami bit her lower lip and walked beside her.
"Are you alright though? Does it hurt?"
"It hurts like a metal pipe was rammed into my skull." She grumbled, gingerly touching where the bruised area was at the side of her head. "If you really wanted to know... I was attacked by a crazy witch last night. She," putting on an incredulous and indignant tone, she continued, "HIT me..."
'Poor Makoto...' Ami thought and picked up her pace so that she could move in front of her sulking friend, forcing the other girl to stop and look down at her. "Did you have a concussion last night?" She asked professionally. "Where did she hit you? Did you see a doctor?" She tried to touch Makoto's head only to have it pulled back from her reach. She paused to take in the puzzled and unsure look in the other girl's eyes and smiled at her. "Oh don't worry. My mother is a... head doctor. She taught me the basic stuff when it came to head injuries."
"Eeehhh... I'm alright, Ami-san." The brunette shifted uncomfortably, feeling strangely undecided at the thought of Ami touching her. But the blue-haired girl would not take no for an answer, and reached out again-- this time managing to successfully place both hands on each side of Makoto's face.
Inadvertently, their eyes met. Ami felt the familiar flutter in her stomach at the reality of the intimacy of this moment. For Makoto, she was an emotionally confused wreck. Before their thoughts could stray further, the taller girl felt someone jostle her shoulder. "Sorry..." Some distracted girl muttered as she scurried away.
The 'moment' was instantly broken.
Ami quickly pulled her hands away and hid them behind her back. She looked down at her feet and shuffled them nervously. "You um... seem to be fine, Makoto-san."
"Toldja..." The brunette simply muttered, looking at anywhere other than her smaller friend. Suddenly feeling restless, she stalked ahead-- and as usual, Ami followed behind her silently.
'This is going nowhere,' the smaller girl thought. If she wanted to move this relationship with Makoto to a higher level she was going to have to take the initiative because Makoto apparently wouldn't. She knew the other girl must've felt something earlier. She wasn't dense enough to miss the look she had given her. Apparently, Makoto was... And Ami was resolved to help her face the facts.
She had never pursued a person romantically before. But she read a lot of books-- especially romance novels, and knew that the most basic thing to do was to ask the girl for a date. Goodness... It was going to take a lot of smooth subtlety, a LOT of bravery, and a little bit of sneaky manipulation. She had to play her cards right, because Makoto might not be as accepting as she had been when she realized she was attracted to another girl.
She glanced at Makoto to see that she was absorbed in her inner thoughts. 'She's so cute when she's so distracted...' She thought with a smile. This was the perfect opportunity to ask. "Say Makoto-san... Are you free this weekend?"
"Nah..." The brunette mumbled.
"You um..." It was now or never. "You want to see a concert this weekend? My best friend gave me a couple of tickets so..." Well, that was a white lie. Minako always invited her to her concerts for free (if it was around the area)-- and she was pretty well-known among her best friend's crew already. They always let her inside backstage without a second glance. But she didn't want Makoto to know about her link with the blonde Superstar just yet... Her previous experience in her old school taught her that revealing her relationship with Minako only served to attract hypocritical people. Since then, she was very wary with whom to reveal that information to. Maybe after they got a little closer, she would tell her all about her best friend.
Makoto perked up and looked down at Ami with wide eyes. "You don't mean the Aino Minako Benefit concert, do you?"
Ami was genuinely surprised. "Yes, I do. Were you already planning to go?"
"Uh huh." The brunette had an excited glint in her green depths. "My friends were hired as back-up singers by Aino-san. Even if I didn't want to go-- but I really want to-- I'm obligated to be there to watch their big debut."
"Y-you met, Aino-san?" The blue-haired girl swallowed hard.
"You could say that..." Makoto smiled wryly.
This was too good to be true! The taller girl meeting her best friend was tangible proof that she was deeply connected to the brunette's life. The thought warmed Ami and boosted her confidence. It was meant to be, somehow. She was meant to be a part of Makoto's life. It should be, right?
"You want to go together?" Ami lowered her eyes shyly. "I... I bet it's pretty crowded over there, so we should buddy up."
"Sure," Makoto nodded and winked at the other girl, "we don't want the bigger people to trample on poor little you." The blue-haired girl giggled before slapping her friend gently on the shoulder.
Yasujiro was tapping his foot impatiently as he stood outside the door of his daughter's bedroom. He glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time before sighing in exasperation. It was already past six in the morning. "Rei-chan? Are you ready yet?" He called out and started pacing again up and down the hallway again. Haruka watched all this, from where she was leaning against the wall, across the other man with a small amused smile. "We're going to be late. You know I have a meeting later at seven."
"Then go ahead already!" Came the annoyed yell from behind the wooden entrance. "I'll be fine with Haruka-san!"
"You said that yesterday, and you went missing for almost an hour! Now just hurry up in there and Ten'ou-kun will drive the both of us together."
"UGH! Just go already, dad! Or else I'll WALK to school!"
"Sir..." Haruka interrupted gently before the man could speak. "I think it's best if we do as she says."
Considering the wisdom in the blonde's words, Yasujiro's shoulders slumped. He was only trying to bridge the gap that had unknowingly grown between him and his daughter, but at the rate he was going, he was aware that he was only going to drive Rei further away. He realized all that since their first major fight yesterday, but he couldn't help it. He nearly lost his daughter. She was the only thing that was left of his beloved, deceased wife... Rei was the life they created together out of their love.
Seeing the forlorn look on his face, Haruka pushed away from the wall to lay a comforting hand on Yasujiro's broad shoulder. "I'll never take my eyes away from her, sir." She told him with genuine regard. "You will have nothing to worry about while I'm on the job."
"Thank you, Ten'ou-kun." He made to leave, when he suddenly remembered something. He opened his briefcase and took out an envelope. "By the way, I want you to have this and give the other one to Rei-chan."
Haruka took the envelope from his hand. She did not have to look inside to know what it contained. "You're not going to attend the concert?"
"God, no!" The older man shook his head. "All that loud music, and sickeningly sweet lyrics about teenage girls in love? It's not for boring politicians like me." The both of them laughed at that. He smiled at his assistant and patted her on the arm. "I want you to accompany Rei-chan in my place. I think it's about time I give her the space she needed anyway."
Minako was brought awake by the insistent nudging on the side of her forearm. She groaned pitifully from her place on the bear skin rug and batted the annoying foot away. "Nud n'w..." She mumbled and turned around to her other side to return to sleep.
Michiru would not give up however, and knelt down awkwardly, as much as her leg-hugging black skirt allowed her to, to begin shaking the daylights out of the blonde. "Minako-chan!" She exclaimed loudly. "You are waking up whether you like it or not! The Benefit is in four days! You have rehearsals to attend to!"
Minako tried to ignore the nagging voice for a moment, but it was inevitable that she was going to take the words into serious account. With a sleepy sigh, she stretched out on the soft rug and yawned girlishly. "It's alr'dy th's w'kend?" She asked her, not quite awake enough to bother with proper diction. She was exhausted from yet another party she had attended last night (right after she left her manager's house) and she was determined to indulge in laziness for the rest of the morning... unless she had a proper cup of coffee, she really was going to loaf in the bear skin rug all morning.
"Yes, it's this weekend." Michiru straightened up and placed her hands to her hips impatiently. "Up and at 'em, Minako-chan. We have a lot to do today. First, you're going to go over the dance steps with the rest of the crew, then you're going to have to promote the Benefit a bit on Agaru TV and sing one song."
"You're kidding me." The obviously energy-consuming activities was going to kill her! The blonde wanted to go back to sleep again. But instead, she struggled to her feet and stretched again-- hearing her spine pop into place when she did so. Her backache was particularely stubborn this morning. She really "should" start sleeping on the bed again. She hadn't been able to for the past few weeks already-- simply stumbling sleepily or drunkenly into whichever comfortable place was the nearest. Maybe she ought to buy a smaller suite? Nah... "I need coffee..." She mumbled drowsily. 'And lots of it!'
She could sense curious eyes on her and she regarded her frowning manager with a sheepish smile. She already knew what the other woman had seen and what she was going to say. It was routine. It was sweet of her really. But she should know by now that this kind of lifestyle was the only thing that made the blonde genuinely happy. Besides, she knew when to stop when she really needed to. "Yeah, I know! I should stop wearing myself down before the concert. Don't worry, last night is the last time!"
"Minako-chan..." There was deep worry in her manager's voice and she immediately whirled around to hug the other woman.
"Relax. I have a lot of energy left. And I'll get a good night's sleep tonight." She assured Michiru then pulled away to grin cockily. "Besides! It's only a one hour concert, Kaioh-san-- which I have four more days to sufficiently prepare for. What's the worst that could happen to me?"
+Author's Note+
I have nothing important to say except:
"THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!" (bows a lot furiously)
...to all my readers. I really appreciate your comments and honest criticism! And if I may be so bold... Please send me more! XD It's good for my ego and productive for my writing.
