<pre>A/N: I'm so sorry I didn't post this last week! I hate Christmas time; everything gets really busy and just kinda runs together. Anyway, to make up for not posting this last week and not being even close to done with the chapter I wanted to post yesterday, I'm posting this and a One Piece (ZoSan) sonnet I wrote for my English class. What would I do without yaoi?
Also, is it just me, or does this story seem to have a ton of SayaXAi hints? I swear they're not intentional! And there's also a lot of One Piece, which is (obviously) my current obsession, though I'm still just barely getting into it (my experience consists mostly of ZoSan fanfiction).
~*~
"Do you really think we're ready for that?" Cho asked DJ Robb a week later, her eyes sparking at the idea of INK3D putting out a debut album.
DJ Robb laughed. Without speaking, he held up a stack of papers: lists and contracts and whatever other paperwork was necessary to get this thing rolling.
Fuji took the stack and began scanning the pristine sheets. I leaned around Ai, who sat between us, and tried to make sense of the tiny black characters that appeared sideways from my angle.
"Is there anything you'd like besides this?" DJ Robb asked, smiling his usual bright smile, "Recommendations for anything? A meeting with someone we sponsor?"
Cho's eyes lit up, but Fuji looked wary.
"What's the catch?" the drummer asked, a hint of suspicion evident in her voice.
"We're just trying to give Cherry Tree a better chance of being the ones to sponsor your talent," he admitted with a shrug.
Fuji shrugged, accepting the explanation. Cho continued to fidget, obviously excited. As soon as the others fell silent, she blurted out, "Can you arrange for us to meet Cinema Bizarre?"
DJ Robb looked surprised; he obviously hadn't anticipated that reply.
"Cinema Bizarre?" he asked, "The German band?"
I nodded, suddenly interested. Cinema Bizarre had been my find, though Cho and Ai adored them as well. Bachiko liked to bash them constantly, but she acted that way towards everyone and actually did like their music. Fuji was neutral about the whole situation.
"I think I can arrange that," DJ Robb agreed, his grin sliding back into place.
As soon as we stepped out of the building, Ai and Cho began cheering. Bachiko tried to look disgusted, but she couldn't wipe the grin from her face. Fuji and I danced our way to the car, excited but still a little confused as to what had just happened. Was it really that easy?
~*~
a few weeks later, we had settled into a large apartment and had even started recording the CD DJ Robb had proposed. Though boxes still littered the rooms and furniture was sparse, the place still had a homey feel to it, and the five of us were beginning to settle in and explore the area.
My mind was deep in the world of Ultimo when the doorbell rang, pulling me away from my haven. Grumbling, I marked my place and left the room.
By the time I could see the door, Cho had opened it to reveal DJ Robb on the other side. The producer sported a ridiculous mushroom hat and a cocky grin. Cho's voice was somewhat scathing as she commented on his choice of headgear, but he seemed unperturbed.
"What are you waiting for?" he called into the apartment, spotting me and Bachiko over Cho's shoulder, "I have a surprise for you guys!"
This brought Ai and Fuji from the kitchen, the former holding a spoon loaded with peanut butter and the latter shooting it dirty looks.
"What is it?" Ai asked, swiping her tongue across her treat.
DJ Robb rolled his eyes. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you," he grumbled.
Somehow he managed to talk us out of the apartment and down to the studio. Having not planned to leave the house, we all wore sweatpants and t-shirts. I wondered what the surprise was, thinking back on the hectic week we'd had.
My question was answered the moment Ai pulled open Cherry Tree's door. Waiting in the lobby, looking as pristine and composed as always, sat a group of young men with multicolored hair and flashy clothing. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Cinema Bizarre.
"You didn't tell us we'd be totally under dressed!" I heard Cho whispering murderously as I stared at the boys.
Strify stood up, brushing his blond bangs out of his crystalline blue eyes. His mouth curved into a smile that lit up his whole face, and I realized that every picture I'd seen of him was nothing compared to the real thing.
"Saya, right?" he asked in his lilting voice, addressing me.
I nodded, smiling as I tried to control my staring. What was I, a kid at the zoo?
"We heard you wanted to see us," Romeo remarked. He was smirking, and there was a note of cocky confidence in his voice.
"They did," Bachiko lied, pointing to the still-gaping bassist and guitarist, "I think you should go to Timbuktu and swim with Piranhas."
There were was a moment of silence as we all stared at her.
"Nooo commento," I said finally, imitating Midori from the Loveless anime.
Ai giggled and the tension around us broke. Our separate groups merged and became one. I felt almost giddy as I stood with them, only fighting off my excited grin by following the conversation Kiro had struck up after noticing my Kingdom Hearts t-shirt.
"Oi, do you guys have any plans for tonight?" Ai asked suddenly, raising her voice to be heard above the babble.
A hush suddenly descended as the boys mentally ran over their schedules and we shut up to hear their answers.
"Nope," Shin said after a minute.
"I think this is the only thing on the agenda all week," Strify told us with a grin.
"And you had to stop and think about it?" Bachiko asked incredulously, half-shouting, half-laughing, "Geez, how stupid are you?"
Ai bopped her over the head.
We ended up spending the entire day with them. The majority of it was spent at the mall, due to Ai and Strify's shopping addiction.
I was humming Katy Perry's "Circle the Drain" under my breath and flipping through a rack of clothes at Wet Seal when Ai suddenly barreled into me. She had a goofy grin on her lips and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"Isn't this ninja?" she asked, using our term for all things fun and/or interesting. Under her breath she added, "He's watching you."
I turned to face her, surprised. She was looking at something over my shoulder. It must have been a person, because after a moment she ducked as if trying to hide behind me, despite the height difference.
"Who?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I watched her antics.
"Strify!" she hissed, peeking around me again.
I laughed. "Right. Let's go look at Rue 21," I told her.
She let me take her hand and lead her from the store. I was back to browsing when she finally spoke again.
