Hey everyone! For all of you who didn't read "Into the Window" (which you should go read right now *cough, cough*), the long break between chapters was due to the fact that I wanted to play around with this story a bit to see if I could take it in a better direction. So now I'm finally back from my trek through the world of editing. Believe me, it's a place none of us want to go, but when I came out I was much happier with my story. I've made some changes, mainly to Cynthia's background, so you might want to go reread at least the first chapter. Otherwise some things in this chapter might not quite make sense to you! Thanks again to Facades and Adelaide Pitman for the amazing advice and encouragement.

As much as I hated having to force myself to sit down and edit this thing, my editing process entailed spending a lot of time with Ikuto, which, I have to admit, I enjoyed immensely. Ikuto-kun, come say hi to all your fans!

Ikuto: ...whatever.

*grabs by collar* Don't just walk away from me! *scratches behind ears*

Ikuto: But I...*purr*

Hehe. All of you fangirls can snap your pictures now.

Recap:

I set my case on the floor beside me and tried to relax as Ikuto Tsukiyomi tuned his violin. But at that moment, waiting for the first notes of his song, I felt like a jumpy little mouse waiting for the cat to strike.

It was torture. Pure torture. Sitting in the waiting room, knowing Ikuto and Sanjo-san were just on the other side of the door, but not knowing what they were talking about, I could still hear the melodies from Ikuto's audition piece in my head.

"Hey, you were pretty good," said a voice from across the coffee table.

I lifted my head from my hands to meet Utau's icy stare.

"You've got some nerve coming here and ruining my chances of singing with Ikuto," she said.

I couldn't stop the smirk from spreading over my face. "It doesn't surprise me that you would stoop to eavesdropping through the door. So you think I played better than Ikuto did, Utau?"

I could tell she wanted to spit. "You have no more right to call me by my first name than you have to even breathe the same air as Ikuto."

"Well, I refuse to be called 'you,'" I fired back. "My name is Cynthia North, and it very well may benefit you to remember that."

"Well then, Cynthia." I could swear she was praying for lightning bolts from heaven to strike me down right then and there. "Ikuto will never be equaled."

"Maybe not," I admitted, returning my head to my hands and wallowing in hopeless surrender. "He was incredible."

Utau sneered. "It's in our blood, I guess. We cannot be beaten."

Our blood? Were they related? That would make the way she had hung all over him even more scandalous. I looked up at her suddenly, my train of thought catching me by surprise. "You're afraid."

"What?" she demanded.

"Why couldn't I see it before?" I shook my head and smiled. "You're not just power-hungry. You're afraid of being beaten. You're afraid to sing with anyone but Ikuto. And you're jealous."

"Of you? Don't make me laugh!"

I continued to smirk. "You're afraid I'm going to keep Ikuto away from you, in one way or another."

"Shut up!" she demanded. "Since when do you have the right to say you're better than him? You think you've already won."

"I do not claim to be a better violinist than Ikuto Tsukiyomi. But I do believe that I am good enough to win this fight."

"We'll soon see," Utau said, shifting her gaze to a spot behind me.

At the click of the door, I wheeled around to see Sanjo-san poke her head out of the audition room. "North-san, please join us," she said.

I quickly stood up, taking my violin with me. I certainly didn't put it past Utau to sabotage my beautiful instrument. Even as I walked back into the dark audition room, I could feel Utau's eyes burning two holes in the back of my head.

"Please," Sanjo-san said, waving to an empty chair as she closed the door behind her. I grudgingly sat, though the chair was much closer to Ikuto than I cared to be at the moment.

"Thank you," I said with a fake smile. Ikuto gave me a little grin, but I had no way to tell if it was a real smile or a triumphant smirk. I did not smile back. See how you like the cold shoulder.

Sanjo-san sat across from us and folded her hands on top of the table. "I'll get right to it, then. North-san, your classical training shines through, and your playing is more precise. The sound that you produce is flawless and emotional." I cheered silently. "However," Drat. "Ikuto-kun, learning on his own, has become well versed in modern music. He also has greater stage presence, and I have reason to believe he'll be very popular with Utau-chan's large female fan base."

At this comment, I couldn't help but hide my giggles and steal a glance at Ikuto, who refused to let his face show any sign of emotion. How like a statuesque, lackadaisical cat.

"I have discussed the arrangements in detail with Ikuto-kun," Sanjo-san continued, "and I've decided that you will be our recording violinist, and he will play in our live concerts." She stood and smiled. "Cynthia North, welcome to Black Diamond."

I grinned back and stole another sideways glance at Ikuto, who didn't look altogether thrilled. "Thank you very much, Sanjo-san."

Sanjo-san led the way to the door. "I'll see you at tomorrow night's concert. Ikuto-kun will be performing, so he can show you the ropes." She glanced at her watch and worry etched her face. "I'm late for a meeting, so I can't show you around the studio. Ikuto-kun, would you give her the tour?"

Ikuto, still seated in his chair, reluctantly stood up, not even bothering to fake a smile. "Sure thing, Yukari-san."

Sanjo-san clapped her hands together. "Great. I'll see you both tomorrow."

With that, she was gone.

Ikuto slowly looked over at me and grinned. "It's just you and me, then, Cynthia."

Please R&R!!! I would appreciate it so much if you told me whether you like the new direction I'm taking with this story.

Are you still taking pictures? You should be. Ikuto fell asleep in my lap - how adorable is that? Yeah, he's a tough character to deal with, but he warms up to you after a while. He's more of a lapcat than my real cat!