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"Hm. I dunno. I know that Thor is one of the Avengers...so it might be important. I couldn't tell you, though." Ryu kept wiggling his toes, staring at the cute socks like they were simply the best things ever.

"What kind? Ah...well...heh...I like period anime a lot, but, well, I'm a huge fan of some shojou series, like, um, Sailor Moon." the violinist blushed. It had been one thing talking about it with Naoko, but with Kou, he was almost afraid it might make him seem less manly.

At least, until the man pulled out his knitting.

The moment Ryu saw Kou start to knit, he may as well have had giant hearts floating around his head. It was simply the absolute cutest thing he had ever seen!

"Adorable..." the star murmured, unable to take his eyes off the beautiful host again.

"A...a NEW anime?!" the violinist practically flew out of his bean bag to crouch at Kou's feet like a child being told that Christmas was on its way.

"Oh man! Oh man! I can't wait!" he shook his fists back and forth in front of himself, unable to control his glee at the news.

"But...I really liked Fushigi Yugi..." the star's face fell a little. Of course, his mind went straight to that show when Kimura gave his example as to why he didn't like certain period pieces.

"Yes...adorable. This is...you are...adorable." Ryu smiled, resting his chin on Kou's knee as he watched the man work.

And he doesn't smoke... the vocalist pondered to himself, actually finding that very, very attractive at the moment. One less thing to worry about with a....friend. At least smoking wouldn't kill Kimura Kou.

kawaita tsumori ame ga tsuzunaku katari kakeru
namida wa seijaku ni...samayou yoru ga akeru





Chiyou was frowning when Kai came over. Frankly, he was frustrated. Sure, he knew his lyrics and music by memory and by ear, but it really, really sucked not being able to look at things in actual print. He was so used to it, being able to mark things, take notes, write down ideas...now he had to have Nezumi notate anything he thought of, and he was sure he was missing a lot just because he couldn't see. Actually looking at things made a huge difference. This...it was so much harder.

"Great job, Nakai. I was listening as much as I could while helping Chiyou-kun. It sounds great. We'll get you in the recording room and lay it all down tomorrow, then I'll listen to it and send it to editing as long as nothing needs to be redone." Nezumi commented, his eyes still fixed on Chiyou. He felt...horrible. He hadn't realized just how bad off the young man was going to be with his handicap. Frankly, the mouse had assumed it would be an easy workaround, but no, it was just him making a molehill out of a mountain. Managing Chiyou alone right now was like managing three stars at once, and he had Nakai and Michi to put together as well. Oh well...he'd just have to do it. Really no other choice but to make it work, at any and all costs.

Gritting his teeth, Hideki sank into his chair and put his head in his hands, obviously frustrated beyond belief. Nezumi had left the choice in his hands, whether he should do a small promotional tour or just make a PV. He'd chosen the tour, because he wanted the challenge. Perhaps doing a PV would have been the better idea...Nezumi had even said so. Being as stubborn as he was, though, the young vocalist wouldn't allow himself to admit defeat. Instead, he would just stew in his own personal misery.

"I'm not ready to stop yet. I've barely gotten anything done." the small blond snapped, totally on edge with everything and everyone at the moment.

"Chiyou-kun, I..." the manager began to intervene, but Hideki was hearing none of it.

Pushing himself out of his chair, the kid marched over to the sound equipment and began fumbling around with it until he had managed to turn on the speaker system and the mic.

"Will somebody put my tracks in? I want to try....um...um...play One Way! I want to try that one. I think...I'm kinda feeling that right now." Chiyou grinned.

"Chiyou..." Nezumi tried to protest once more.

"Do it!" the brat of a vocalist yelled at the mouse, making him flinch.

"Very well." the manager tsked, pulling up the music and playing the track.

Chiyou's heart beat a mile a minute. To him, this would prove whether he could do this anymore, whether he still had it or not. If he fell off the small platform he was on, if he messed up the vocals or the blocking...he just didn't think he could stand it. Not after finding out all the things that stood in his way already.

The music rose, the beat pounded, and Hideki burst into song as if he were actually on stage, performing in front of fans.




futekusareta hibi　okujou de mawasu　　

shirokute nigai kajitsu
sumiwataru sora to wa urahara ni　bokura　oikomareteta

kakechigaeta botan　　hakichigaeta shudan sa　　yowamushi wa gunjou
kamitsuku　osanai kiba　
yuiitsu no hyougen

hazukashikute　shinobaseteta　　kono yume wo　uchiakeyou ka

hajimete sa　kono kimochi　　karadajuu matotta
netsu, sameyaranu mama　　kawaru　risou he
mitame kara hairu no wa　　sukoshi kowakatta dake

zutto mae no koto

"wake ga wakaran koto bakari nobezuni　shikkari to mae ni narae"
uchiaketa kotae ga　kore desu ka
fungiri wo arigatou

shuumatsusakeberu hako wo sagashite　　te ni ireta katamichi chiketto
mikaesu, wa rippa na riyuu to nari　kimeta

mattete ne　　
ai ni yuku yo　　
mada minu kimi
hirogaru sekai

konosaki ni machiukeru　　soudaina sutoorii no
kyodaina haguruma no oto　　ima　　
shizuka ni
kesahatsu no　hane ni nori　　tobikoeta mirai wa
souzou mo tsukanakute

itsuka　furikaetta toki　　hajinuyou,　nakanuyou
me no mae no yami wa　kate to iikikase　　
warae

hajimete sa　kono kimochi　　karadajuu matotta
netsu, sameyaranu mama　　kawaru　risou he
mitame kara hairu no wa　　sukoshi kowakatta dake

kitto daijoubu sa

kono saki ni machiukeru　　soudaina sutoorii no
kyodaina haguruma no oto　ima　shizuka ni
kesahatsu no　hane ni nori　　tobikoeta mirai wa　souzou mo tsukanai　　
boku wa mada　yume no tochuu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Days I sulked through White and bitter fruits Circling on the rooftop
Contrary to the clear skies We were Being driven into a corner

Buttons done up wrong Mistakenly applied measures Cowards are ultramarine
Snapping Juvenile fangs My only form of expression

This dream That I hid Out of embarrassment Guess I'll reveal it

For the first time This feeling Enveloped my whole being
Without cooling, passion Changes Into ideals
I was just a little afraid of Getting into this based on appearances

But that was a long time ago

"Don't keep speaking of such senseless things And focus on following the examples of those before you"
Is this The answer to my confession Thank you for making up my mind

On weekends Searching for live houses where I can raise my voice I got my hands on a one-way ticket
"I'll show them", became a splendid reason I made my decision

Wait for me I'm coming to meet You whom I've yet to see Broadening horizons

Up ahead A majestic story awaits
The sound of its gigantic cog-wheels Now Hushed
Riding upon wings That departed this morning The future I flew past is one
I can't even begin to imagine

So as not to feel ashamed So as not to cry When you look back Someday
Tell yourself That the darkness before your eyes Is a form of sustenance And laugh

For the first time This feeling Enveloped my whole being
Without cooling, passion Changes Into ideals
I was just a little afraid of Getting into this based on appearances

Surely it'll be alright

Up ahead A majestic story awaits
The sound of its gigantic cog-wheels Now Hushed
Riding upon wings That departed this morning The future I flew past is one
I can't even begin to imagine I am only Midway through my dream




Throughout the song, Chiyou sounded like some sort of rock and roll angel. His voice was amazing. Better than it had ever been, if that could even be said! His blocking was spot on, even if it seemed like he might be nervous, just a bit. At one point, the young star came dangerously close to the edge, one foot slipping off, causing him to teeter a bit, but he caught himself and kept right on going until the very last note.

He did it.

He did it!

"Holy s**t, I did it!" Chiyou shouted, leaping off the platform and jumping right into the only man's arms he could see, Nakai's.

Nezumi stood there, stunned. He really hadn't expected that. The reason he'd protested so much is because he was afraid that Chiyou would fall, or get hurt, or break something, somehow. Since that hadn't happened, all the manager could do was smile, his eyes watering ever so slightly. He was...proud? Impressed? Amazed? Inspired?

Probably a combination of all of the above.

"Well done, Chiyou-kun. Well done." Nezumi said, clapping softly.

It was just as things ended that Yuuji came in.

"No...I haven't seen..." Nezumi began to answer Takagi's question, when another round of claps came from the back of the studio.

"Gomen nasai. Sorry I didn't speak up earlier. I heard you singing, Chiyou-san, and I couldn't resist letting myself in. You did great! I'm thoroughly impressed with your work. Don't ever give up." Suzaku smiled from his seat against the far back wall of the room.

"I'm ready to go when you are, Takagi-san."




karada o tsutau ame ni furueru awai omoi
guren no yuuwaku ni...samayou yoru ga akeru


((OOC: Song is One Way by SID ))

(((OOC: Posted for Az. Your shoutbox went boom...)))














Nakai didn't say anything to the seemingly frustrated Chiyou... nor did he try to stop the young man as Nezumi had tried.
He simply watched, sitting on a table, legs swinging free beneath him.

The 'kid' didn't disappoint, and as the last note left Chiyou's lips, Kai jumped down from the table and clapped. "Bravo, Hi-chan." the blond said with a slight smirk, his arms outstretched suddenly to catch the flying vocalist.

Spinning Chiyou around, Nakai eventually let the 'kid' down and kept his smirk firmly in place. "Glad to see you're not regretting your decision to press forward. It'll be a challenge... but where's the fun in things being easy, ne?" he asked, amber gaze glancing up to Nezumi. "Might take a day or two but I'll try to lay everything down tomorrow. Course this means I need to get home, eat, and get some sleep... especially if..." but his words were interrupted by Yuuji's appearance.



















Dark eyes flickered over to the corner of the room. "Come with me then. There's a car waiting already. I've got work to do on the way... and questions I'll have to have you answer as well, Suzaku-san." politely he bowed to Nezumi, Chiyou, and Nakai before heading back out of the room, hoping Suzaku followed.

It took about five minutes to get to the car thanks to a rather slow elevator, but once both men were seated inside the limo, Yuuji on one side, Suzaku on the other, Takagi's ipad reappeared and Yuuji started asking a few rather important questions.

"So Suzaku-san, I'll just jump right into the questions. Please answer them truthfully because I'll be doing a background check on you after I get home. Now..." dark eyes didn't leave the ipad as he spoke, and it seemed like Yuuji wasn't just asking question... but also typing out emails at the same time!!!

"What is your real name? Age? Hometown and province? Music style preference? What instruments do you play aside from Guitar and Vocals? Have you been a solo artist before or in a band? Any family? Current address? Cell number? Do your lyrics contain explicit material? Do you have a certain style you're wanting to achieve with us? Are you employed elsewhere currently? Have you ever been arrested? If so what for? Have you ever been hospitalized? If so what for? Do you have any health conditions we need to be aware of like anemia or an easily upset inner ear, etc? " Yuuji asked calmly, not even looking at Suzaku as he spoke each question and waited for a response for each.

"Hobbies..." the violinist thought long and hard. There was really nothing outside of music that he really took the time to enjoy anymore. That made him feel a little bit lacking, now that he was aware of it. His life was completely consumed by music, and Naoko. A lot of times, more Naoko than music, and that just wasn't right...

"No. I don't really have any hobbies. Never really thought about it until now..." Ryu frowned, a bit envious that Kou had the time and ability to do something outside of work.

"Teach me? Really? You would do that?" the star tilted his head curiously, as if such an offer were too good to be true. Sure, he wanted to learn! It looked fun, and calming.

"I would love to learn, and I would be honored if you would show me how." Ryu nodded.

So it might seem "strange" for a man to knit, to some. He thought it was pretty cool. Plus, if it meant being able to make your own awesome socks and scarves, then he was hella on board for that!

kawaita tsumori ame ga tsuzunaku katari kakeru
namida wa seijaku ni...samayou yoru ga akeru




Everyone returned the bow to Takagi as he left, except for Chiyou, who was oblivious and was still riding the high of his little musical experiment.

"Let's go home..." Chiyou smiled, snuggling against Kai as hard as he could.

Nezumi nodded, shuffling some papers together and putting them in his briefcase.

"We all need to get home and rest up for tomorrow." he agreed, even though he still had to go back up to his office and make a few notations, schedule a few time slots for this and that, and....check his email, even though he didn't expect to hear anything from anyone...truly important.

"Do you really, really think I did alright?" Hideki asked the guitarist one more time. He was still unsure of himself, but that was to be expected.

"We've got a day or two to work with. Better to be concerned with quality that speed when it comes to this." Nezumi commented.
"I'll see you both back here tomorrow. Be here at ten in the morning and I'll see if we can have a shorter day. Hopefully get out of here by four, if we're lucky." the mouse said as he grabbed up his things and left the room.

"I want....a cheeseburger!" the young vocalist declared all of a sudden, his stomach growling loudly.

At least it had turned out to be a productive day, in the end.







karada o tsutau ame ni furueru awai omoi
guren no yuuwaku ni...samayou yoru ga akeru

It took him a few tries, but Ryu finally got it. Casting the yarn was harder than it looked. The tricky part was getting the hook under the thumb, then pulling the thread so that it didn't come undone while making the loop.

Once he'd done that much, his face lit up like a Christmas light. It was pretty funny, how he was just so proud of himself for doing such a simple little thing.

After Kou showed Ryu how to knit a row, the violinist took off, doing his best to put a few rows together. The stitches seemed to get easier along the way, but Kimura was right, it was hard to make the rows even at first.

"Um...I don't think this is right..." the star held up his green and gold work, which was as lopsided as it could possibly be, with several of the stitches loose and messy.