4th Song: Appearance

Note: Well sorry for the wait! It's a bit hard to keep up with the updates of so many fictions, (not that I mind by the way) since they are so different from each other it allows me not to get obsessed with the plot of a fiction in particular, it's like a mini break for the brain. :D

Anyways, enjoy!

Shizuru sang nervously, trying to keep her voice in a steady tone while her body tried to move with the rhythm. After a couple of failed tries, Misaki called for a break.

"Are you ok Fujino-san? You seem a bit off today" The manager asked with a concerned face.

"Yes, I'm sorry; I don't know what is wrong with me today." She replied, although the rest of the band knew what was wrong.

"I guess we are all a bit off." Jeanne came in defense of the Ace. "We haven't seen Natsuki in a few days."

Misaki tapped her foot nervously, "Yes, that is true… And to think that we have been asked to sing in that famous club 'Escape' within a week…" the black haired woman ran a hand through her hair in distress. "…This is a great chance to slowly get in track. But we need Natsuki…"

Everyone nodded at this.

"Natsuki has never abandoned the band…" Jeanne informed "…she will definitely come back."

"Natsuki has never been put in this situation however…" Kaito added in a low tone earning a stab in the stomach by Jeanne's elbow.

"I suggest we just trust her." Said Ryû in a calm manner. "If not I'll talk to her."

"Thank you Ryû that would be of great help" Misaki sighed "well then tomorrow, same hour." She said as she made to leave the stage.

Shizuru sighed. I don't know what is wrong with me… am I really that affected by Natsuki's absence? It should be better without her around trying to get on my bad side… And yet… I feel the need for her to approve of me… why?

Her phone made the sound of a small beep. Shizuru pushing her thoughts away pulled her cell from her pocket and read the message that Mai had sent her.

Hey Shizuru,

Everyone has decided to go out tonight to celebrate your new career!

Well… more like Chie looking for an excuse to get drunk…

Anyways, please come! I promise it will be fun!

Mai.

The brunette smiled and she replied a short message: I'll be there.

Stashed her phone back into her pocket. At least going out tonight will get my mind off some things.

Once again the Ace found her thoughts interrupted with some very loud crying. Looking around, she spotted a little girl crying inconsolably on the ground near a big tree. Feeling curious and concerned for the little child she took a few steps to approach her in order to ask what was wrong, when suddenly and out of the blue, someone had gotten there before her causing her to stop in her tracks.

A woman wearing a black leather jacket, dark sunglasses and a hat, kneeled down to be level with the little girl's face "What's wrong?" she asked in a kind tone.

"My-" the girl sobbed "My balloon—it- it got caught in the tree-"

The woman looked up and indeed, a blue balloon was caught between one of the mid-highest branches of the tree.

"Hang on…" said the woman who stood up to stare at the tree, probably calculating the height of the balloon's location.

And then without warning the woman leaped towards the tree, placing while in mid-air, a foot against the tree's trunk in order to give her an extra impulse upwards. Then she stretched out her hand and caught the balloon's thread and placing her foot again against the trunk she pushed herself away from the tree, practically somersaulting backwards, causing her hat to fall off her head, revealing a cascade of midnight blue hair that settled on her shoulders when she landed on her feet again.

The little girl and Shizuru watched this flabbergasted their mouths hanging slightly open in shock. Na-Natsuki?

"That was so cool!" the little girl exclaimed in awe.

"Here you go." Natsuki said extending the balloon to the girl. "Be more careful ok?"

The girl nodded practically hopping in joy "Yes I will! Thank you onee-chan!" she ran off with her balloon following her in the air.

Looks like Natsuki is not all that she seems…

Natsuki watched the girl run away with a smile, and then decided to pick up her hat from the floor. But as soon as she tried to do this she halted her hand in mid air causing it to hover right above the hat for a few seconds.

Shizuru noticing this odd behavior she broke from her previous trance and wondered if to go there and ask Natsuki what was wrong. But she discarded this option as Natsuki picked her hat and walked away.

Maybe it was my imagination?

The night had arrived and Shizuru dressed up for the occasion. She was wearing a red dress that brought out her eyes and marked the curves of her body in a modest way, with a thick black leather belt around the waist giving it almost a 'classy' look. Formal yet casual… perfect… She thought as she buckled her red heels and gave a last glance at the mirror.

Her phone rang.

"Mai, I'll be right down."

"Ok, cool, we're just below your apartment."

Grabbing her purse, she locked her door and headed to the parking lot where Mai was waiting with the rest of the gang in the car.

Nao whistled when she saw Shizuru.

"Someone is going to get la-" but she was interrupted by Mai' warning stare.

"Chie and Aoi went ahead of us, so we'll be meeting at the club." She interjected still glaring at her red haired friend.

Shizuru nodded and entered the car.

When they arrived they could hear the club's loud music, thundering so hard that they could feel the vibrations in their own chests.

Shizuru looked up at the neon lights of the club which shone a bright pink with the word "Escape".

Ara... isn't this the club we will be singing in a few days?

Chie and Aoi waved at them, they were in the line to get in and they were beckoning them towards them with their hands.

After a short wait everyone managed to get inside. Quickly they scanned the area for a free table and sat there while a waiter came over to ask them for their orders.

Shizuru ordered a bloody Mary which caused almost everybody to frown in disgust. Soon they started to abandon the table to dance in the dance floor which was tiled with glowing squares.

They tried to get the Ace to dance as well but somehow the drink made Shizuru feel drowsy, so she simply rejected with a shake of her head saying that she rather watch them dance instead.

Taking another sip from her drink she scanned the area. Mai was dancing with Mikoto in a quite childish manner, holding their hands together and running on the spot in circles. Meanwhile Chie was dancing in a rather provocative manner with Aoi and Nao was seen every few minutes dancing with a different guy.

Shizuru sighed and looked away and instead spotted a patch of blue from the corner of her eye.

Frowning she focused on it and noticed that it was no other than Natsuki. Who was sitting with another woman and was having a heated discussion since their gestures seemed very violent. But she was too far so she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Should I dare get any closer?

Ah why not…

Shizuru being the personification of discretion itself slowly moved from table to table till she was sitting right behind Natsuki. Now she could hear some parts of the conversation.

"What you are asking me to do is impossible. It has all been already arranged." Said the other woman frowning.

"Look, it's easy. Just postpone it."

"I can't just postpone a performance. You know that."

Natsuki stomped her fists against the table. "Look I don't care! Just find a way!"

Shizuru frowned as anger rose from her chest. Natsuki was trying to postpone their performance in the club? From all the things Natsuki could do… this was too much.

"Find a way?" Shizuru repeated getting up from her seat to look at Natsuki

"There is no way I will…" Natsuki cut off realizing that it hadn't been the woman in front of her who had spoken, and turned around to look for the person that had spoken. Natsuki visibly paled at the sight of the other ace.

"Shi-Shizuru?" She exclaimed in surprise. As the Kyoto woman turned on her heels to leave the club her eyes watery.

"Wait!" Natsuki got up from her seat to chase her panicking slightly.

At this, Shizuru ran with all her might away from Natsuki.

Once outside the club Shizuru slumped against the wall, tears now trailing down her face.

"Shizuru…" Natsuki called out in a low voice, panting from the effort of having to chase the brunette outside.

"What now? Is it not enough to pester me, that now you must bring the band down?" she exploded at her

"Listen…" the blunette tried to say in a forced calm tone.

"NO! You listen!" Shizuru cried out to her while grabbing her by the collar "You will not interfere with the band's assigned performance and if you have any dignity and consideration to the band left in you, you will come to sing in the club." With this, Shizuru let the other woman go and raised her hand in the air causing a taxi to stop to pick her up.

With last glare at the Ace of spades she entered the vehicle.

"Where to?" asked the driver

"Somewhere away from here." She answered curtly her voice shaky.

Misaki kept clearing her throat in a nervous fashion, checking her watch every five seconds. Her eyes focused on the doors in front of her.

"She will come" Ryû assured her once more.

"Well, I don't know, you said that same thing like an hour ago… she's not here, and there is only thirty minutes left to start our performance."

Shizuru rolled her eyes inwardly. Coward…

The door opened.

Misaki's eyes shimmered for a second but the light died down when she realized it was Jeanne and Kaito entering the room.

"Is she-" Kaito began

"NO." Misaki interrupted irritated. "She's not here! You know that girl almost makes me regret that I quitted smoking." She cleared her throat once more.

"I'm sorry then." Said a husky voice behind them.

The band jumped and turned around to see Natsuki fully dressed and prepared.

"I used the back door, the front one was packed…" she explained apologetically.

Misaki jumped at her almost choking her "I could kill you!" she yelled half laughing half crying.

"Hey." Ryû waved a hand at Natsuki who returned the gesture.

"So we will be performing in 25 minutes" Jeanne informed Natsuki as if she had always been there.

"Ok…"

"The order of the songs will be the same as the performance of the green dome. You remember right?"

"I think so…"

"Don't think, just do!" Misaki said tapping Natsuki's head with her finger.

"OK… ok…" she said shrugging her shoulders in an 'I give up' way.

A pair of green eyes met a pair of crimson for a few seconds which ended with the red orbs adverting from the emerald gaze.

Avoiding me huh…

"Escape is proud to present! SYMPHONIA!"

The band began their performance to a tumultuous applause and cheering from the crowd that soon could be seen dancing to their music.

Shizuru was surprised that despite Natsuki not having rehearsed at all was able to keep up normally as if she had been… she is truly talented… Shizuru thought bitterly.

It all went smooth during the next five songs, until the ace of hearts noticed something strange in her partner.

Natsuki's voice seemed to get out of the rhythm established by Kaito's drums.

Is she trying to boycott us now?

Shizuru slowed down her singing and the band noticing this slowed down as well.

I won't allow it Natsuki.

It took all Shizuru's wit and the band's effort to keep Natsuki's strangeness from showing to the public. And somehow they managed to cover it up and earn themselves a great deal of cheering when they finished.

Natsuki didn't wait for the cheering to die out to leave the stage and head into one of the backrooms.

That action was the last straw. Shizuru was highly furious right now, and took no time to chase Natsuki. She entered the room that her partner did and closed it with a bang.

"How dare you-" she started but was unable to finish as Natsuki looked up from her seat.

She had paled considerably and was sweating in a rather unhealthy manner. And she was clutching her left ankle. As Shizuru's eyes opened wide.

Note: (Pointless note) Review pwease? ('w' for cute effect)

OMAKE:

Asuka: I feel bad for Misaki… Natsuki causing trouble for her and all, poor thing… and Shizuru who can't decide if Natsuki is good or bad. And I don't feel bad for Natsuki because everything is her fault.

Natsuki: HEY!