Chapter Seventeen: Mello

Once again the stage was set up for the second interview of the week this time with Mello from Touching Darkness. Everything was running smoothly. Since the interview yesterday, the ratings for their show had sky rocketed to number one which wasn't surprising really. With the only interviews for Touching Darkness of course they were going to be highly rated. No one else was allowed an interview with the members and this was a one time event meaning that the no reporters would be allowed to even breach these topics after this day. Lucky them really. The hostess smiled as they came on air.

"Welcome back to the second day of out Touching Darkness live segment. Today with us we have Setsuna Aoyagi also known as Mello."

Setsuna sat quietly as the crowd went wild with cheers and whistles. Honestly they weren't going to make him act out and go wild himself by doing something like that. Who would even try to act out to be more confident than is necessary in a person? So he reframed from saying anything incriminating.

"Good evening." he said simply.

"Well shall we get started with the all important question?"

Seriously they really wanted to get into their pasts. Setsuna didn't believe that they truly desired to help them with these interviews all it was to them was a segment with ratings that would soar as soon as he opened his mouth to talk about his painful past and memories.

"Go ahead."

"What was your past like Setsuna-san?"

This was it. The moment of truth. Not that he hadn't already told his current band mates but something about telling a live audience and millions of viewers was different. But he had seen Kamijo do the exact same thing only a day before. He had also seen Kamijo after he had returned that night looking as if he had been drained of his energy. Setsuna knew that he would end up in the same state as his boyfriend when he returned home.

Underneath his mask of indifference Setsuna was terrified.

"When I was young I lived in Japan with my mother and father. They were both Japanese and we lived happily together for the first few years."

This was the easy part yet even speaking two sentences was more than Setsuna had ever done before except when in the presence of his friends.

"When I turned six my mother died. After her funeral my father was a wreck. He didn't sleep and hardly ate anything that didn't look like it had been made by my mother."

"A few years later my father suddenly perked up. He had met another woman. I don't dislike her at all. She was kind and caring but wouldn't replace my mother and she knew that. Of course she had two older boys that became my step-brothers. They were anything but nice towards me."

"I will not give you their names for certain reasons. They both despised me and blamed my father and I for their parents divorce. My father would simply be ignored because they didn't want to upset their mother however I was constantly beaten and neglected by them both. It wasn't something that could be changed either since they were family. I don't desire to go into details at this point."

Setsuna had to take a breath to keep himself calm at this point. Sure it was one thing to discuss your past in front of everyone but it was another to discuss it and remember every single torturous detail. But the worst of it was over for now. He could go home and forget it once again with the help of Kamijo.

"As soon as I turned fifteen I made the decision to study in America where I could be rid of my family and that's where I heard of Touching Darkness. One of my friends were part of XMR and brought home an application form however they decided that they wanted me to try for a position since I could play both the bass and guitar. I went to the audition and it just so happened that I tried for bass first and was given the position by Shuichi and his current manager K. A week later I met Kamijo and Shuri and the band was formed."

Finally Setsuna finished his long flashback of painful memories and could focus on something positive his new life with Kamijo and Touching Darkness. Miyuki-chan was very solemn at that time and so was the entire audience. Even though this made him terribly annoyed his face didn't betray any emotion.

"What is your relationship with your other band members?" the hostess asked calmly.

"Chaos, Sorrow and I are really close. Well I really should say Shuichi, Shuri and I are really close. We love to hang out and enjoy each other's company especially when filled with laughs. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for them."

This had been the easiest of the questions to answer. He knew that when talking about his friends nothing could hold him back.

"What about Rage?" Setsuna smiled. He had guessed that this question would be asked after what Kamijo had said last night. Well at least he could try and hide their relationship a bit longer.

"I believe Rage mentioned that last night. We are close and find comfort in each other's company."

Lying to the press was something that Setsuna could do easily.

"Thank you for revealing your past to us Setsuna-san. Tomorrow on the show we shall be having a chat with yet another member of Touching Darkness. Who will it be? Find out on tomorrow's segment."

Applause met Miyuki-chan's words as the program ended.

Setsuna walked into his new apartment. Even though it was a little past twelve at night the lights were still on and welcomed him back into his home. Sure it wasn't much but anything was better than living with his true family.

After the segment had finished, Setsuna had remained behind lost in thought and for that had trouble leaving when everyone decided to wish him well in the future and ask for his autograph. Not having the heart to turn them away, Setsuna had given a few autographs and photos before finally reaching the waiting limo. It had taken the driver half and hour to leave him at the drop off point so he could walk back to his apartement and remain unknown from the public.

Sighing, Setsuna dropped his belongings which consisted of a navy blue bag on the ground before flopping onto a couch. Now that he was at home he could loosen up and relax.

"How are you?"

Jumping slightly at the sudden noise, he sat up to find a person standing in the shadows. Setsuna simply smiled before replying.

"It was nothing I couldn't handle on my own but now...I'm glad to be home."

"Why is that?"

"It's the place where you are, Kamijo. That is all the comfort I need to sleep well. If you are here I need nothing else."

Kamijo walked out of the shadows of their apartment and enveloped Setsuna in a warm hug.

"As long as you are here I have nothing to fear."

And then there was chapter seventeen...seriously this is really going to take forever so sorry if the updates are slow...they should pick up after i've finished their past lives!

Thanks for the reviews...

InkGirl77, Loveless19, jo, RenoBites44, Island Honey, PKS, chochowilliams, Kiduku Desire, RiverSakina

~MidnightEmber