A couple of weeks later, Shuuhei made it back to see the singer again. He watched as she battered another guy just as she had battered him. When the song ended, she didn't kiss him. Shuuhei smiled when he saw her approach the bar and order a bottle of water.

"You didn't kiss that guy," he said, sitting down next to her.

She looked up at him and smiled. "They asked me not to kiss anyone I bring onstage. Lucky you got the first and only stage kiss."

"I took your advice. I broke up with my girlfriend."

"Not because of my song, I hope."

"Not entirely. Your song just made me realize the truth."

"Oh. Well that's good. Relationships are work but they shouldn't have to be like work."

"I work hard enough as it is," he replied, remembering Megumi's words.

She smiled. "I'll bet you do."

"You aren't here every night."

She shook her head. "Three nights a week. This is just a hobby for me."

"What do you do when you aren't here?"

Hating herself, she looked toward the stage. "Sorry. I have to go. I'm up again soon. Have fun."

...

Shuuhei led his friends to the club the following week. "That singer I told you about performs here," he told Megumi as he glanced at the lineup. "I don't think she's singing tonight."

"Are you crushing on her?" Megumi teased.

Shuuhei laughed. "No. She just sings really well." He looked at Megumi and thought she looked pretty tonight. She'd done something different to her makeup. He couldn't tell what thought. He also noted that she put on earrings, something small that still caught the light when she moved.

"What?" she asked, feeling his eyes on her.

"You look nice tonight," he admitted quietly.

"Thank you," she smiled. "Maybe you should buy me a drink."

They sat at a table while a few of their friends mingled around the room. Megumi saw Renji already flirting with a woman.

"He doesn't take long, does he?" Shuuhei asked as he followed her gaze. He was somewhat relieved the singer wasn't performing tonight. He didn't have to worry about Renji flirting with her. Shuuhei wasn't sure if he was romantically interested in her but he knew he wanted to keep Renji away from her.

Turning his head slightly, he watched Megumi. Every time he'd tried to get her to come here with him, she'd been busy. The only free nights she had clashed with his schedule. He'd changed his schedule for her. The realization of it rocked him. He'd never changed his schedule for a woman but he had for Megumi. He found himself watching her and not the bands onstage.

Megumi applauded when the band finished. It was different watching from this side. "This is a lot of fun," she said as she reached for her glass of wine.

"You seemed to like the last band."

"I do. I love that song."

"You sang along. I've never heard you sing before."

"I wasn't singing that time. I was kind of mumbling the words." She smiled knowing he had heard her sing many times.

"Maybe we should go do karaoke sometime."

"Maybe," Megumi shrugged. If they were going to do karaoke, she would have to tell him sooner or later.

As the waitress came around to check on them, she laid a flyer on the table. Shuuhei picked it up and scanned it.

"That's her," he said, pointing out a picture to Megumi.

"She's pretty."

"She's performing a couple of nights from now. Are you free?"

"Busy. I can't make it."

"You're always busy."

She smiled. "My hobby keeps me busy."

He would have asked her about it but the next band started and he could barely hear his own thoughts.

...

Shuuhei hadn't managed to get Megumi to hear the singer but they'd come back again to listen to some other bands. She liked all kinds of music and Shuuhei liked that about her. He was alone tonight, but it didn't bother him. He got to sit back and listen to her without worrying about what his friends might think.

"He's back," the gruff voice said, cutting through her thoughts.

"Who?"

"That punk looking shinigami. Is he bothering you?"

Megumi looked out at a Shuuhei. "No."

"He came in a couple of times when you weren't here. I would have though he came here for you but he was with some blonde shinigami. Couldn't keep his eyes off her."

"Really?" Megumi asked, trying to hide a grin. "Are you watching out for me?"

He shrugged. "Guy like that has an unforgettable face." He looked over at her. "Who's it going to be tonight?"

Since her goal wasn't to break up any couples, Megumi chose men who appeared to be alone. She did not pick Shuuhei.

After her performance, she headed to the bar for a bottle of water. She shot Shuuhei a look when he held up a bottle.

"Are you stalking me?"

"No. I promise," he smiled. "You're interesting to talk to. You remind me of one of my friends."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We've been here a few times. I keep trying to get her to come on a night when you're here but she's always busy...with her hobby."

The way he looked at her made Megumi wonder if it had clicked for him. "It's too bad she couldn't make it."

"I've yet to see her not like a band that's performed here."

"She has good taste in music it seems."

"Yeah." Shuuhei watched her take a drink from the water bottle. Her nails were painted a rich purple. He smirked at it. "How long have you been performing here?"

She shrugged "Just over six months."

"Why you don't sing professionally? You're really good."

"This is just a hobby and I like my career too much."

"You never told me what your career is."

"I didn't." It was a statement and not a question. The tone was not lost on Shuuhei. "Thanks for the drink. I have to go. I have another song tonight."

Shuuhei nodded. As he watched her walk away, he wondered why his thoughts so often returned to Megumi.

...

Megumi walked into his office and placed her finish assignment on his desk. Shuuhei seemed to be concentrating on what he was reading and she didn't think he noticed her. She turned to walk away and he grabbed her hand.

"You painted your nails," he said, inspecting her fingers.

"I've painted my nails before," Megumi retorted.

"Yeah but nothing like this. Purple is a good color for you."

Megumi stared at him a moment wondering if he'd noticed her nails last night. It was the second time in two days she'd wondered if he'd figured it out. "It's a very popular color right now."

"I like it."

"Thanks. Can I have my hand back?"

Shuuhei grinned at her but still held her hand. "I went out last night."

"Why does that not surprise me? Are you sure you don't have a thing for this singer?"

"No. I like talking to her. She reminds me of you."

"Of me? Why?"

Shuuhei shrugged. "When I talk to her, I feel like I'm talking to you." He paused, waiting for her to reply. "Do you want to go out?"

"Sure. I like listening to all those bands."

"Let me know when you're available and we'll go." He let go of her hand and watched her walk out of the office. Shuuhei wondered if she had noticed the way he asked her out. Grinning to himself, he hoped he wouldn't have to wait long.