Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi nor do I own its characters. I am merely borrowing it for this story. It belongs to its creator, Yuu Watase and to those people who bought the rights for it. But I do own Michelle and Ayashi.

Summary: The famous band Scarlet Phoenix is back in Japan from its tour around Europe. The four band members are forced to study in Jonan High while preparing for their next tours and concerts. They bump with two high school girls who, coincidentally, also studies in the same school. Love, friendship and forgotten memories unfold as they get to know each other as well as other people.

Scarlet Phoenix

Chapter 3: Explanations

"Hurry! Hurry up Cinderella! It's almost midnight! Your couch shall turn back into a pumpkin and your houses shall become mice once again if you don't hurry up!" Michelle teased.

"Alright already, fairy godmother!" Ayashi retorted.

"Aww…I'm hurt Ayashi! I made your wish come true and this is the thanks that I get?!" Michelle responded playfully.

"Gee, thanks my dearly beloved fairy godmother!" Ayashi shot back, holding back her giggles.

"Aww..your welcome darling!" Michelle said sweetly, batting her eyelashes.

"Hahaha. Very funny Michelle," Ayashi snapped.

"Hai,hai. I'll stop," Michelle said, raising her hands in defeat.

"Good," Ayashi said, smiling in triumph.

They continued to run towards a white building marked MUSIC STUDIO. Once they reached its entrance, they stopped running and tried to catch their breath.

"That," Michelle said as she gasped for air. "was a real work out."

"Yeah…" Ayashi agreed. "Hey, Michelle?"

"Hmm?"

"Have you…don't you think that boy looked somewhat familiar?" she asked, casting a quick glance at her friend.

"Hmm…" Michelle said thoughtfully. "I don't know…I'm not sure…why do you ask?"

"Huh? Nothing, nothing at all. I just thought…" Ayashi trailed off as they entered the building. They continued to walk until they reached a double-door room marked PIANO ROOM. Michelle knocked on the door before opening it.

"Konnichiwa Subaru-sensei! Michelle greeted cheerfully as she entered the room.

A young woman with long, wavy bluish-white hair and blue-green eyes was standing beside a beautiful piano, tapping her foot impatiently. "You. Two. Are. Late." Subaru said acidly. "And where, do pray tell, have you two been?"

"Oh, gomenasai Subaru-sensei. We had a little …accident…but we're not hurt, ne Ayashi-chan?" Michelle explained calmly, glancing at her friend. 'Oh man…I have to think of something to get us out of this situation!' she thought grimly.

"Uhh…y-yeah…" Ayashi stammered, color rising up her cheeks.

"I see…" Subaru said, raising a questioning eyebrow at Michelle who simply shrugged her shoulders, smiled and winked at her. 'Hmm, something…interesting must have happened…I'll ask Michelle about it later.' She thought as her lips curled up into a smile before she resumed her cool demeanor.

"Alright, alright, Ayashi-san, we better start your practice now. Your recital is near, remember?" she stated calmly. "And Michelle, I believe Hikutsu-san is waiting for you on the other side of the building."

"Hai, Subaru-sensei," they answered in unison.

"I'll see you later Ayashi-chan," Michelle said as she left the room.

"Now then, shall we begin?" Subaru said, motioning for Ayashi to start playing the piano.

"Yes, sensei." Ayashi answered politely.

"Oh and Ayashi-san?"

"Yes sensei?"

"Nice…uhh…outfit…since when did you start wearing such style?" Subaru commented.

Ayashi blushed and stammered as she replied, "Uhh…well…I…this is the first time that I had ever tried this style…I guess I just wanted a new look or something…ehehehehe…"

"Uhh…right…you may begin," Subaru said as a sweat drop appeared on the back of her head.

Ayashi also sweat dropped and began to play the piano.

---On the other side of the building---

Michelle knocked softly on a door marked VIOLIN ROOM. A gentle male voice told her to enter.

"Hikitsu-sensei? I apologize for being late. How are you today?" she inquired softly.

"It's fine as long as you don't do it again and I'm fine thank you. How about you?" a young man with long brown hair and gray eyes replied.

"I'm also fine, thank you sensei. I promise that it won't happen again," she answered politely.

"Good. Shall we begin? Your violin is on top of that table over there." He said, gesturing towards a mahogany table standing at the end of the room.

Michelle nodded her head and went towards the table. Carefully, she opened the violin's case and lightly ran her on the smooth surface of the beautiful violin inside before taking it with great care. She gently placed on top of her shoulder before starting to play it.

---At the hotel where the band, Scarlet Phoenix, is staying---

"Which school are we going to attend?" Tasuki demanded.

"It's a private school. Don't worry!" Chichiri assured them.

They were all inside the large suite that connected all of their rooms together at the hotel. They were currently sitting on the couch in front of the large fireplace, discussing or rather interrogating Chichiri about the school that they were being forced to attend.

"Don't blame me! It wasn't my idea you know!" Chichiri cried before they could say anything.

"And whose idea was all of this anyway?" Tamahome asked.

"Well…the management of course! I don't know why…it was all Suzaku-sama's idea. I'm not sure why he did this…" Chichiri answered nervously. 'Suzaku-sama! Why me? You've put me in such a difficult situation…' he thought to himself, mentally sighing at his misfortune. He would be lucky if they ended up liking the school. Sure, they were all nice boys and all but he knew that they would much rather perform onstage than be chased by mobs of girls around a school. Especially Tasuki. 'Yeah, Suzaku-sama knew Tasuki hated girls…so why is he doing this then? I don't understand him at all..' he wondered thoughtfully.

"Anyway, according to your ages, all of you will be juniors."

"We don't need to go to school," Tasuki insisted.

"What else Chichiri? Did Suzaku-sama say anything else?" Hotohori asked calmly.

"Well…he enrolled you on a music studio…he said you could practice there…" Chichiri said quietly.

"WHAT!?" Tasuki yelled.

"It's a famous private studio. It's very prestigious so only the most promising and talented train there. At present, I heard that there are only two flautists, a violinist and a pianist studying there right now. One of the flautists came from abroad and will be starting at the same day as you guys are." Chichiri quickly added before Tasuki could yell again.

"Cheer up Tasuki! Who knows, those musicians might actually be very beautiful young women. Besides, it's not the end of the world yet!" Tamahome teased, lightly nudging Tasuki with his elbow.

Tasuki groaned and said, "But—but the school would be co-ed…full of noisy, annoying girls…unless…unless…" He turned to Chichiri in his chibi form, his eyes round and pleading while his face was wistful.

However, Chichiri shook his head in response and said, "Nope. Sorry Tasuki-kun. It's not an all-boys school."

Tasuki gritted his teeth and cried, "Kami-sama! DOUSHITE!?"

Tamahome laughed at him, which made him stop and turn his head to send a deadly glare towards Tamahome.

"It's not all that bad Tasuki-kun." Tamahome chided him. "Don't worry; I'll protect you from all those scary girls."

"Shut. UP!" Tasuki snarled.

"Enough," Hotohori interfered. "It's getting late. We better get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow. And I don't want anyone disturbing my beauty sleep." He finished, sending them a warning glare.

The others sweat dropped as they nodded their nervously before scurrying away towards the safety of their own room.

Author's Notes:

There! That was longer than the last one, right? Whew, I hope you liked it…we're about to go to the more interesting chapters of the story and possible pairings are about to bloom! Reviews, comments, criticisms, recommendations, suggestions, etc. are welcomed except for ill words. I don't take too kindly about it. Suggestions for songs to be used for the story are also welcomed as well as suggestions for the pairings. Please leave a review and thank you very much for reading this story! Anonymous readers can also review this story now; I fixed it up so please kindly review! Please? I would really, really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!