"Give me your hand." Eisuke stood up and offered me his hand. I nervously took his and he pulled me up. "Let's go to the villa." Eisuke said, making me catch my breath, "I can't go there. What if Kat finds me?" I couldn't help but feel worried. "It'll be fine. Trust me." Eisuke said, I found myself stuck on those two words, 'Trust me? I do trust you.' I thought to myself and nodded. I can't explain it, but I felt safe with him near me. These feelings continued to grow by the day, I didn't quite understand the meaning behind them, but they seemed to grow stronger whenever he was around. My heart ached in his presence. It was as if I yearned to be near him.

'What is this feeling... Just moments ago I thought everything I worked so hard for was over and yet...Eisuke, like my knight in shining armor, came and rescued me from the brink of darkness that was swallowing me up.' I still feared what the future might hold. Nothing was certain. Accepting Eisuke's proposal, I placed all my fears and hopes in him. My time in Crystal Love was over, that was certain. It's true, my life's path may have diverged from the original, but ultimately, it will lead me to the same final destination, my dreams remain unchanged. I will do whatever it takes to get there. That is to bring a smile to the faces of many through the power of my music. Just as someone so dear to me did in the past.

...

"You can come out. Kat isn't here." Eisuke called out to me. I hid behind some trees while he scouted out the surroundings. "Really? That's a relief." I breathed a happy sigh and treaded over to him. "Let's hurry and go in." I said in a hurry as my eyes darted around. Eisuke nodded and we hurried inside. "Whew. Should be safe now." I slumped my shoulders in relief. "Don't worry. Kat doesn't often come here." Eisuke said. We had just stepped into the zone the guys currently used as their dwelling, which is quiet large if I must say.

"Huh? Elli?" Ota had just walked into the lounge room, carrying a paper and pen, he looked surprised to see me. "Hi, Ota." I sheepishly waved at him. 'He's probably wondering why I am here right about now.' "Didn't you have that performance to attend to today? Why are you here?" It seemed nothing got passed him as he stared at me Inquisitivly. "Don't tell me. Eisuke abducted you because he was jealous and wanted you all for himself?" A flamboyant voice suddenly chimed in. "Do you only ever spout nonsense from that mouth of yours?" Eisuke huffed at Baba with a frown on his face. "She got kicked out the band?" A knowing Soryu suddenly showed up. His words felt like a dagger to my still fragile heart.

I turned to the ground with a look of forlorn, "Yes..." I sadly muttered those words and everyone in the room went silent, there was not a smile to be seen. It's not as if they weren't expecting it but for it now to be a reality, they all looked at me sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that..." I heard Soryu mutter. 'Huh?' It came as a surprise as he is usually so serious and not quick to express emotion and yet out of everyone in the room he looked the most saddened by it.

"Yeesh. Way to bring everyone down." Eisuke said, holding a hand to his head as he glanced between the guys in the room, "Ah, I'm sorry!" I quickly replied and gave a awkward smile. "I have an announcement to make." Eisuke stated and everyone was now focused on him, "Starting from today," Eisuke turned towards me and put a hand on my shoulder, "Elli is one of us." He finished and everyone in the room gasped.

"What?"

"Really?"

The room immediately erupted in an uproar, they were all dumbstruck by Eisuke's announcement.

"Is it even possible?" Ota asked. "We don't need a pianist. How will she fit in?" Rubbing his chin, Baba asked curiously. Soryu remained silent, though it was easy to see the confusion on his face. Seeing everyone creating a fuss over the matter, Eisuke chuckled, "It's simple. Elli will sing." Eisuke answered and everyone only got more confused. "What? Sing?" Ota raised an eyebrow. "That's correct. You wouldn't know it, but this stubborn woman has a hidden talent." Eisuke said, looking at me with a teasing grin. "Stubborn?! Look who's talking." I huffed, folding my arms and turned away.

"Elli...can sing?" Soryu spoke, the news leaving him stunned. "From now on, Elli will be singing alongside me. We will create a duet. She will be my partner." Eisuke explained. 'His partner...?' My eyes went wide, 'I've never sung with anyone before. Can I really do this?' I could feel myself growing anxious. I didn't want to let Eisuke down. He expected great things from me and the last thing I wanted to do was fail him. 'I have to do my best. That is all I can do.'

"That means the songs we sing will have to undergo a change." Mamoru suddenly brought up. "I know that." Eisuke said. "You have only ever written songs for yourself. This will be a whole new ballgame. Are you prepared?" Baba asked. "Of course. Who do you think I am?" He grinned confidently. 'Wait...what? Eisuke writes all the songs for the band? ...I didn't know that. In Crystal Love it was Joelle who wrote all the songs.' Thinking about Eisuke writing the songs gave me goosebumps. The truth was, I hadn't even watched Tres Spades perform. Not once. I've known them for several months now and Eisuke has seen me perform multiple times yet I can't say the same for him. 'I wonder what he sounds like? Oooh, I can't wait to hear him.' I thought but that thought was immediately tossed to the wayside when I remembered I'll be singing alongside him, 'Ah, I hope I can concentrate and don't get distracted because I'm watching him.' I could feel myself blushing from the thought.

"Elli's blushing!"

"What? No I'm not!" I quickly denied Ota's claim but that didn't stop him from laughing. "Stop picking on me!" I puffed up my cheeks and then Eisuke said something unexpected, "Quit it. Only I am allowed to tease her. Got it?" Eisuke stated, looking at everyone with a stern gaze. 'When did I become his property? I am a free woman! But...' I couldn't stop myself from feeling giddy inside despite his words,' I...I don't mind him being the only one allowed to tease me.' I thought and looked at him from the side of my eye, he looked so handsome and mature. I could feel my heartbeat start to quickn and my cheeks growing even hotter. I quickly looked down, a small smile curled on my lips.

...

Ota now sat on the sofa with a notepad, doodling. While Mamoru laid back on the sofa with his arms under his head as he watched tv, he looked totally relaxed. Soryu was seated at the table with a book in hand, it looked to be a detective novel. And Baba, he was in the kitchen preparing dinner. I could smell the fine scent of curry wafting in the air.

"From now on I would like you to come practice with us." I stood in Eisuke's room after he said he wanted to speak with me in silence. "What if Kat saw me here? I don't want to get you in trouble." I replied, rubbing my arm, plagued with worry. "I told you before. Don't worry." He coolly responded, like it didn't worry him in the least.

"But..."

"I said you to trust me, didn't I?" He said, looking me straight in my eyes, he didn't even show the faintest bit of fear. His eyes brimming with confidence. 'He's right. I should trust him. I will trust him.' With that decided, my face turned to one of conviction. I can't keep letting Kat get me down. She has been the thorn in my side for far too long.

"I look forward to working with you." Eisuke said, walking over to his bed and sitting down. Sitting half on the bed with his chin resting on his knee, it was a vision of sexiness. I nearly lost my breath for a moment. "I...I do too!" I hurriedly replied in a frenzy. "Hahaha. You know, you are the first woman in my life I've ever taken an interest in." Eisuke's words astonish me, "What? With your looks you should be able to get any girl you like." I said and Eisuke's lips curled into a smirk, "That may be so. But no girl has ever made me feel this way before." Eisuke replied. 'What is he talking about? I'm no different from anyone else.' I was utterly confused by the meaning of his words.

"But I'm just your average girl. There is nothing special about me." I remarked and Eisuke looked at me blankly, "That may be how you see yourself. But not I..." Eisuke spoke in an undertone as to not let me hear. "What did you say?" I asked but Eisuke just shrugged, "Nothing important. Now, I want you to start practicing your singing. It's clear you have a wonderful voice but you have put all these years into practicing the piano. If you keep at it, you can go far with that voice of yours." Eisuke said. "You really think so? I will do my best. I promise I won't fail you." I replied in a firm tone, a fire lit in the depths of my eyes. This time, I was not going to fail.

"Eisuke, why did you start a band?" I had suddenly gotten curious and so I decided to ask. He looked surprised by my question, his head snapping up for a moment before his eyes looked away, "No reason." He replied, curtly. 'Huh? It looked like I hit a nerve? Is there something he can't tell me? ...I want to know more about him but it seems he doesn't want to open up to me. I wonder If can break down those walls.' Thinking this made me realize just how little I really knew about him but that only makes me more passionate about trying to discover the person inside, the real Eisuke I've yet to see.