A/N: Chapter Two of this darn story.

Night fell after a day at high school. Dark and Link had been getting to know each other all day, and now, it was time to test the blond.

"Guys, this is Link. He's gonna be our singer, and he's auditioning for the music program too. Link, that's Mido, Kafei, and Ganon."

"Sup!" All three band members said at once.

Link smiled. "Hi. Nice to meet you all."

Dark, with his arm around Link's shoulders, invited him to 'show them what he could do'.

(Link's POV)

Nervous, I stepped up to the lonely microphone, which was waiting in the wings and ready for someone, anyone, to make a sound so it would have a chance to amplify it around Ganon's basement.

Taking a deep breath, I thought of what to sing at the last second. It ended up being one of my dad's favorites; 'I'm So Lonesome, I Could Cry'. Johnny Cash.

As the song unfurled, I felt my soul start to ring out. The notes, flowing from my throat and chest and lungs, were an extension of that strong feeling deep inside my being, tucked away in a special corner of my heart where I kept my fondest memories, everything accentuated by my hands and facial expressions. I felt like the song was me, I was the song, and we were one as I drew in the whole room with my voice, bracing the four boys watching, and feeling, with their bated breath.

And I remembered why I loved to sing.

After I finished, a few seconds of silence passed, and then someone started clapping.

I turned. Dark was grinning and applauding, nodding to me in approval.

Kafei, Mido, and Ganon joined in the applause, making me blush and smile.

"Duuuuude!" Ganon put his hands on my shoulders. "We need you!"

I laughed as he shook me. "Really?"

"Really!" Kafei ran up from behind and threw his arms around me in something that reminded me of a panther pouncing, but friendlier. Much friendlier.

Mido and Dark piled on, and we were all hugging, sharing this moment.

Yes, this was going to work out, I thought.

(Dark's POV)

Nothing, I felt, had ever made me happier than I was at that moment.

We were all bunched up in a massive group hug. I had a hand on Kafei, an arm wedged between Link and Mido, and a face full of golden hair that smelled like sunflowers. Link's.

I whispered in his pointy ear, "You're amazing."

A smile spread across his face. "You're too nice."

"No, I'm a total asshole." My chin fell onto his shoulder.

His hand found my hair. "I don't believe you."

"Mmm?"

He turned his head to look me in the eyes. "I think you're the kindest person I know."

We spent our entire session working on auditions. Deciding that, each night, we'd do this; help each other sort out our problems with our pieces. And then, it was on to band matters, where we'd teach Link everything he needed to know, and we'd really become a band.

We decided to work with Ganon first. He played his drum piece for us, and we gave him feedback. Kafei played, and Mido played, and we all provided good advice (if I do say so myself.)

And then it was my turn. I picked up my guitar and stood in front of the other four band members, all sitting cross-legged and staring expectantly at me; and I began.

The opening notes were very strong; the whole song was sort of a throwback to when rock was everyone's favorite kind of music, the punk ages, when everything was spiky and bold and hardcore. And 'Guilty All The Same' was just that; spiky, bold, and hardcore.

The vibration of the strings was a vibration in my heart. My fingers flew deftly, working on their own. I didn't think. I just felt.

I played out my entire piece, feeling its sound match that of my soul, and everything was right and good in the world as my thoughts, my emotions, poured into every shredding note.

When I finished, everyone was silent.

"Dark, you're amazing." Link's voice was a whisper.

I blushed. "Thank you. Now, is anyone going to critique me or am I going to be showered with compliments?"

That made everyone snap out of the spell I'd cast on them. They all laughed.

(Link's POV)

We all told Dark what was good and what he could do better (we couldn't think of much) and then it was my turn.

I felt even more nervous this time than before, for some reason. The microphone seemed to say, 'hey, I remember you' as I adjusted it and took my signature deep breath of exposition.

"'From the day we arrive on this planet, and blinking, step into the sun...'" Instead of just doing, I thought about the lyrics for a moment. I was not singing about a savannah, the birth of a young lion named Simba. No. I was singing about awakening. About the awakening of the spirit in me, the awakening of this massive voice prepared to be released from its cage. To surge through the room like a mighty flood, capture the ears and the emotions of everyone.

"'It's the circle of life!'" And now it was all about living and dying, letting my voice come to life like an Indian in the cupboard, belting full out until the song ended and my sound faded away into the dust of a melody in the ears of my audience.

"... til we find our place... on the path unwinding... in the circle... the circle of life!'"

And that was the key change and now could I really be done? But done I was, and my audience was not cheering and clapping but crying, and I realized that this was the first time I'd ever FELT this song within myself.

It was the first time it felt right.

(Dark's POV)

Still recovering from Link's incredibly moving performance (let's just say nobody had any critiques, except to do that more often), I departed from Ganon's house around eight (not wanting to deal with the same midnight debacle as last night again), flanked by Kafei and Link. Mido was sleeping over at Ganon's.

"See you tomorrow! Great audition pieces!" Kafei waved to Link and I. We waved back, shouting our own goodbyes, and then climbed into my car.

"Thanks for the ride- here and back." Link fiddled with the radio, his adorable face blushing just the slightest bit.

"No prob. This old thing needed someone besides me to carry." Got a problem with my stick shift? No? That's what I thought.

We had a more or less deep conversation for the duration of the drive to Link's house. When we arrived, I was a little reluctant to let Link leave. I briefly considered locking him in and then wondered why I was so messed up.

"Bye, Dark. Thanks again for everything. Not just the ride, but... I think I really like your band."

"Stop thanking me! It's all good." I said it with a smile so Link wouldn't think I was too harsh.

The blonde boy, grinning back at me, hesitated for a moment before leaning over and kissing me right on my cheek.

"Bye," he said. I didn't hear him, though. I only sat dumbly and watched his retreating back until he disappeared through his front door... and then I still sat there in my rattling stick shift, trying to process what had just happened. Did he just kiss me or was it my imagination?

I drove away in a daze.

(Link's POV)

Both parents questioned why I looked so happy when I entered my house, my steps springy and my face smiling.

"Oh, rehearsal with the band was great. I really like them," I offered as an explanation. I'd told them about Dark's proposal this morning, which they said was 'very kind of him', and hoped that I would 'enjoy making music with new friends'.

But I would never tell my unsuspecting parents about the kiss I'd given Dark.

Ever.

In my room, I curled up in bed and buried a squeal in my pillow, hugging my green bedspread. I couldn't believe I'd just done that! Had I really kissed Dark's cheek?

Indeed, I must have, because my lips were tingly in a weird way.

Then I was suddenly afraid. What would he have to say to me tomorrow?

A/N: Well, that was easier than I thought.