Chapter 27

A few days would pass, everyone in the house appeared to be busy with one thing or another. Yet it troubled Melee that she couldn't tend to everyone at once. Tempest has his invite only tournament today, Drax and the other children who started a band just got their audition call, Suiryu has needed help as of late to curb his growing hunger. All in all, Melee was torn as to what to do. "It's okay if you don't make it mom, after all, this is a rather private event, I don't even think the public is allow to attend." Tempest explained.

"I'll go," said Garou. "If I get in great, if not… I'll break in."

"DAD!" Tempest protested.

"What? You don't think I can break in discreetly? Please!"

"That's not the point Garou," Melee said in a warning tone. "Tempest doesn't want you to make him appear bad before the others and the sumo federation. If you can't get in, don't break in!" she ordered.

His arms crossed as he pouted. "Take the fun out of it for me," he muttered.

"We're going to go alone too mom, we can't have you, dad or anyone in the family lingering around us, people will know instantly that we are the children of Garou… more or less." Yuuma explained.

"Besides, this is just an audition try out, according to the phone call I got, the twist is going to be announced when we arrive… huh, the contest hasn't even started and Amai is already throwing a twist into the mix…" said Jason.

"We better get going then, good thing we sent the gear ahead of time." Said Yuuma.

As the kids went their separate ways, Melee sighed aloud as she turned to Suiryu. His stomach was grumbling oddly this morning. "You okay?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I'm starving!" he protested. "I ate well yesterday now… I want a lot more,"

Garou sighed aloud. "I'll drop Tempest off at his tournament, perhaps it's best that we take you hunting then, find something big and meaty…"

His stomach quivered. "I think she heard you on that!" he laughed.

Melee gave credit were it's due. Suiryu has always been proud of his physic and right now he looks nothing like his former self, however not once as he complained about it nor cursed the notion that he has to ensure Alley and his child have enough to eat through him. He has taken it all in stride, and rolled with the punches to say the least. "Hey… Melee…" she snapped out of her blank gaze. The house had emptied except for the two of them. She turned to Suiryu who forced a smile. "I'm scared…" he said bluntly. "I… I don't even know what I am doing! How this is effecting everyone… Am I doing enough for her and our baby? I mean… what the hell am I doing!?"

Melee smiled, she helped Suiryu out of the chair and brought him to the couch to sit in comfort. When he was more comfortable, she grabbed a chair and sat across from him. His hands kept resting on his bloated stomach, he really was scared about all of this. "It's terrifying isn't it? To know you have two important people in your life who are depending on you to keep them safe and nourished… it's a lot to take in and accept."

"How did you and Garou do it?" he asked. "I mean, to him it's almost easy!" he paused. "Maybe it's because I am still not use to being what I am just yet…"

"Are you having second thoughts about staying as you are?" Melee asked.

He was silent for a moment, yet Suiryu sighed. "No," he said. "Besides, if I did turn human, I wouldn't be able to hold Alley again… Even that short time I was being human, all I wanted to do was embrace her. She has the best hugs you know!" He paused. "Still, Garou makes this look easy."

She snickered. "Needless to say, Garou and I have been through worst. But we never complained about how we have kids, especially after that incident where we had to take care of Genos, Amai and Snek! But Suiryu, you are going a great job so far, if you weren't. I am certain Alley would be giving you some terrible grief about it!"

"Yeah…" he muttered as he looked down at himself, but then a smirked. "You know, when those girls saw me again out on the streets. I wasn't this big but looked rather large, they were disgusted and turned their noses up at me." He said. "I never realized they were so shallow."

"The moment you gain weight they consider you no longer hot. Bitches man."

He laughed to her comment, however his smile faded. "Am I going to be a good dad? How can I determine I am going to after Boros? I mean, he practically raised himself… well… Luna kept kidnapping him…"

She snickered to the thought of it all, remembering it all too well. "Be that as it may, you think Garou and I were ready for kids when we had Alley and her brothers? Hell, neither one of us knew I was pregnant until Garou accidently enveloped me into himself and Genos figured it out! I think he was more embarrassed to the fact that Genos had to tell him that he was going to be a father than realize it himself."

He merely nodded as his hands caressed his belly once more. "I really need something to eat…"

"I'll make what I can and when Garou returns, we will take you out to get a good meal. Sounds good?"

He smiled and nodded. "Melee… thanks."

"No problem. Now, what are you in the mood for?"

"Anything that's food!"

#

Yuuma and the others made their way to City R. When they got the call, they were told that a van would come by and pick up their equipment for the tryout. Jason was confused by the sudden offer but figured it was perhaps to ensure no one was cheating when it came time to perform.

They made their way to the studio, everyone in their wolf costumes to say the least, yet the moment they walked in, the other bands that were talking about, suddenly fell silent to them. "So, this is them huh?"

"I thought they looked like freaks,"

"Ew, they look so dirty, Amai is going to turn them away instantly!"

Yuuma however was grinning from ear to ear, as his father stated, even if they aren't talking nicely about you, they are still talking about you. The mind games have already begun!

He took in the room and found very few bands caught his interest. There was one keeping to themselves in the far corner, but they all looked and dressed like Zombieman. "Zombie Apocalypse" whispered Jason. He then snickered. "I would have fit in perfectly with them!"

"No shit," giggled Yuuma. "We better sign in."

He went to the front desk and signed in for the band. The moment he passed the clipboard back, did a woman appear. "ATTENTION!" she called. "FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS, PLEASE BE READY FOR YOUR FIRST TWIST. TODAY YOU ARE DOING AN INTRODUCTION SONG, THIS SONG MUST HAVE YOUR BAND NAME IN THE MUSIC!" she said aloud.

Some of the bands were panicking. Whispers began to flood from those who realized they didn't have anything to offer that would have their group's name. Yuuma turned to the others who smiled and nodded. They got a song already.

"ALSO, IF THERE ARE BANDS READY TO GO, WE WILL TAKE YOU NOW, YOU WILL RECEIVE BONUS POINTS FOR QUICK REACTION…"

"WE'RE READY!" Yuuma called the same time as the lead from Zombie Apocalypse. They stared each other down, neither one refusing to back off in a sense.

"Very well, you two with me," They made their way through the masses, until they stood side by side with the zombie band.

The assistant excused herself as she prepared the studios, the led from Zombie Apocalypse turned and glared at Yuuma. "What the hell are you suppose to be?"

Yuuma smiled. "Same thing as you, projecting an image. Name's Alpha."

The guy snorted. "Typical. I'm Rob Zombie, that there is Dead Zombie, then there's Rot Zombie, Cannibal, and Fester."

"Yeah, I got the jiffs of that," muttered Yuuma. "Good luck to you, you will make great rivals for my band and I."

Rob snorted. "If you make it that far."

"Bands, we are ready!" called the assistant. "Raise by wolves, you are in studio A, your equipment is set up. Zombie Apocalypse, studio B. After your song, you will be leaving the studio immediately, we will broadcast the results live next week for the first episode of the show."

"Cheery," whispered Akira.

"Good luck to you all."

With that, the bands went their separate ways. They entered the studio and checked their equipment. With everything in working order, Yuuma gave the nod as he stood before a recording booth. Within were sound technicians and producers. "Okay, raised by wolves, let's see what you got." Called the producer.

Yuuma nodded as he turned to the others, they gave a smile and nod back as they began to play.

How fortunate for them, one of the first songs they listened to on Alley's strange radio was a band called U2, and there happened to be a song of their called 'Raised by Wolves'. Yuuma altered the sound enough so that way he stays true to his own technique. His voice carried a bit of a heavy tone and yet still came across elegant enough to be heard. When the song ended, he turned to the producers who showed no emotion, not even a speck of surprise to say the least. "Thank you, that is all. Take the exit through the back."

"Huh, get ya in, get ya out huh?" said Drax. "Oh well. Let's go."

Now they need to wait a week and see what becomes of it.

They took the back way out and then sighed aloud. "That felt… weird." Said Luna.

"Wait until we start playing in front of people, those guys in the booth have to have a good poker face, they cannot hint if they like someone or not just to keep the playing field level in a sense." Drax explained. "Well, now that is done, what do we do?"

"I think I'll head back home, mom may need help with Suiryu. I haven't really done anything to assist as of late."

"Sounds good. I got to go to the Neo Heroes and check in," said Drax.

"We're just going to hang out and find something to do." Said Eclipsa. "Care to join us Jason?"

He blushed. "What the hell, why not!"

The band went their separate ways, Yuuma was walking home when he heard the monster warning system went off. He smirked as he learned that a very large demonic cow was in the area. "I hope Suiryu likes beef."