Chapter 2

"Too nasally," Gakupo interrupted, waving his hand at Kaito dismissively.

Kaito abruptly stopped singing and glared at Gakupo. "Excuse me," he said through gritted teeth, "but this is my song. I think I know how it should sound."

"Ha," Gakupo snorted. "You think you know. But I know what good singing is, thank you very much, and you don't have that. Besides, if you sound like that when we harmonize, it makes me sound bad, too."

"You're the one making it sound bad!" Kaito retorted. "Your voice is too deep, you need to lighten it."

"And sound like you? I think not."

"You, guh!" Kaito ran his hands through hair, making it stick up in odd places. Gakupo nonchalantly examined his nails. "Listen, just work with me here so we can get this over with. You go with my say on my songs, and I go with your say on yours. Deal?"

"No. Any song I sing must sound good," Gakupo replied, levelly meeting his gaze. "You can go with my say on all of the songs."

Kaito's eye twitched. "Excuse me," he uttered, moving past Gakupo and leaving the soundproof recording room. Behind Gakupo, in the large window that took up most of the wall, Kaito appeared looking very aggravated. He grabbed a vase that was sitting on a table in the hallway and hurled it against the wall. It must have made a very loud crash, but as the room was soundproof Gakupo did not hear it. Kaito returned to the room, rolling his stiff shoulders.

"Then what do you suggest?" he asked, lacing his words with poisoned honey.

Gakupo smirked. "Try opening your throat more. It will dissuade the nasal sound you're making and your voice will be fuller."

Kaito blinked and suppressed a sigh. He looked down at his music even though he knew it by heart and started again, keeping Gakupo's advice in mind. "From now on you'll feel ever so good about these illusions / You can take the blindfold off now if you want to spoil the fun."

Kaito assumed he'd gotten the other's approval because he wasn't stopped. Gakupo started on his cue, "As you must feel your arms and legs are bound to chains that won't break free / You gave up, don't break the deal, don't even scream."

"You see this knife right here? It's an outcast that keeps on flickering doubt and lack of faith. / This love you talk about, is just a figment of your dark imagination, can't you see?" Kaito sang.

"A gap in the blindfold is, showing a lantern that is secret and glowing a crimson red. / Shadows are now growing, I never knew of this before it just makes me feel so frightened." Gakupo stopped. "It's good, right? We can record it now."

Kaito looked up at him. "Yeah," he agreed. "It's easy enough, since I wrote it." He moved toward the control console to play the music and ready the recorders.

"It's a good song," Gakupo said.

Kaito froze, then turned back with wide eyes. Gakupo hadn't moved from his spot or raised his eyes. Had he imagined Gakupo saying that? It wasn't something he would say, Kaito decided, shaking his head and turning to the controls.. If Gakupo had said something, Kaito had misheard. He wouldn't bother asking him to repeat it.

As he readied the equipment, Kaito suddenly began thinking about Gakupo's advice. It had actually worked, and made him sound better. He would never admit it aloud, of course. And besides, Gakupo had only told him because he didn't want to work with someone he thought was a bad singer. And Kaito would never admit that he thought Gakupo was cooler than himself. Never.

"It's ready," he said, moving to the microphone.

Gakupo stood as well and took his place, clearing his throat.

"Since you have the first part, you can click the play button whenever you're ready."

Gakupo took the remote and pressed play. Kaito watched him as he sang, feeling a chill as he heard his written words sung in a low, sultry voice. Then he suddenly caught himself. What was he thinking?!

Kaito forced himself to focus on his part, and thought of Gakupo no more. After they had finished recording and listened to it to make sure it was good, Kaito gave him a brisk good-bye and hurried out of the room.

A/N: Song is Trick & Treat. :)

Thanks for reading!