Part-time, well job, i guess? (shou, open)

[Kukai Hiroshi]

"Breathe, just breathe.."

Kukai, honestly didn't know why he was doing this. It was going to fall threw he just knew it would. He hated this feeling. Feeling that nothing he did would ever change anything. He hated everything that had happened in his lifetime and yet.. he wasn't angry with the world or anyone. He wasn't a cruel person who would hurt people just to get back at them. In truth, the only person Kukai ever hurt was himself. He put so much on his own shoulders it was like a personal destruction.

The cat was normally lazy and laid back however today that was different. He was preforming today. It wasn't much, a small food court in the mall. Kukai knew this was total suicide. No one would care about him playing his piece. It was just a violin player after all. He would get one chance a solo at the beginning of a song called "Black Diamond." Kukai sighed as he tuned his violin. The lead singer was warming up. Apparently, she was well known so a lot of people would probably show up.

Kukai sighed. He would have only one chance. That was what drove him crazy. He had that solo, if it went well he would get his own song at the end. He liked that idea. Kukai sighed but then he concentrated. He would NOT lose this opportunity. He was glad he was dressed up rather weird with black sunglasses on and such. It meant most likely none of his family would recognize him if they weren't really LOOKING.

This wasn't turning out so well after all. Maybe, he shouldn't of done this after all. He was starting to doubt his own capabilities again. That was when he heard the lead singer sing. He smirked to himself. Alright, he could do this. It was then he could hear the speakers as someone started welcoming everyone to the free concert. That was his cue. He heard a lot of screaming. A LOT of people. If Kukai could do this right.. he was set.

He along with the lead singer and the other background players entered the stage while the lights where still low. Slowly the lights lifted. That was Kukai's cue. The stray cat walked forward. He was quiet for only a moment. Then he closed his eyes as music began to fill the area. And.. the best part. It was only from him.

Song he is doing. CLICK HERE!~

[Shou Hiroshi]

Shou yawned slightly as he stood outside of mall. Two friends of his were supposed to arrive any minute now, but they were already about thirty minutes late. The young rabbit was tired of waiting for them. Another yawn forced the rabbit’s small mouth open. He drew lots of ‘aw’s and ‘he’s so cute’ from the passing girls, but he ignored them. Paying attention to them only caused them to approach, and the blunette didn’t want that. Not one bit. A frown settled onto his face as he pulled out his cell phone. His friends were about forty-five minutes late now. They were the ones that set up the trip and forced Shou to come along, and then they had the audacity to be late. ”Where are you two? You promised to be here a while ago.” The young teen’s voice filled the small space around him. It made him feel slightly less alone, but he still felt isolated.

The boy sighed and leaned his head back against the brick of the large building. The mall was a good place to hang out, but it wasn’t any fun alone. Being alone sucked out all the fun in doing something. Another short and inaudible sigh passed through the blunette’s pale lips. His one golden eye was trained on the crowds searching for his two friends, Tadase and Nagihiko. No matter how hard he looked though, he couldn’t find the blonde or other blunette. It was frustrating. The Hiroshi really had no reason to be at the mall. He could have been helping Ryuu-nii out or searching for another family member to play with. Another sigh racked his petite body as a voice reached his ears. ”SHOU!”

One golden eye widened happily as a blonde and blunette approached him from the crowd that seemed larger than normal. A frown was now on the boy’s pale features as his friends came to a halt before him. His cell phone was forgotten in his hand as he watched the two with a narrowed eye and slightly mad-looking frown on his pale face. ”Sorry, Shou. We didn’t mean to be late.” The voice that reached Shou’s ears belonged to Nagihiko, the other blunette. His words were soft, and his breathing was hard. The same held true for Tadase. Shou just sighed and tucked his phone back into his pocket.

”Since you’re finally here… let’s go!” Excitement seemed to ooze off the petite blunette now as he pushed himself off the building. His friends were here, and the mall didn’t seem as daunting anymore. No, the sun didn’t look brighter, and the grass didn’t look greener. The day just seemed to be abuzz with life now. His two friends glanced at each other before hurrying after the small rabbit.

Shou lead the way through the maze-like building. Stores with wonderful items stood out while ones with horrible items faded into the background. All the waiting the rabbit had done resulted in his stomach being empty. His friends had a hard time keeping up with the overexcited bunny has he pushed his way through the thickening crowd. With each step they took the crowd seemed to get bigger and harder to move through. It was slowly growing hotter and hotter. The mass of all the people around was suffocating. The rabbit would have been in hysterics if he had claustrophobia. Good thing he didn’t.

Shou’s movement halted as a loud voice assaulted his ears. The rabbit wasn’t fond of concerts, and now that he looked he could see a stage set up. A frown replaced the grin that had once stretched across his face. Tadase and Nagihiko had finally caught up to him again. ”Do you want to come back later?” The blunette could barely hear Nagihiko’s words over the crowd. He just shook his head and started to push his way through the crowd again.

The next sound besides screaming that filled Shou’s hears was a violin. It was a wonderful sound, and it stopped the boy again. He remembered hearing someone else play something like that before. It had been when he was sneaking around one time. It had been the day he followed around the rat and the cat. A small smile once again danced onto his face. That day had been amazing. His spying led him to hearing the cat play, and play the cat did. It had been amazing. The boy still wished that he could hear it again.

One golden eye turned back to the stage. On the stage stood a teenage-looking boy. His blue hair seemed to glow in the spotlights. The smile on Shou’s face twisted downward. The other boy was wearing sunglasses. At the distance Shou stood from the stage, the blunette couldn’t make out if the older boy was Kukai or not. He would have to investigate. His golden eye darted over to Tadase and Nagihiko. The two were discussing what to get about a foot away. ’Perfect.’ Without another look at his friends the blunette plunged into the crowd.

Shou was jostled and hit at every turn as he forced his way toward the stage. Everyone was fighting to get closer. The violin’s solo had ended, and a girl with long blonde hair was singing her heart out. The song sounded completely out of this world to the bunny. It was simply amazing. If he hadn’t been on a mission he would have just stood there in a daze, but he was on a mission. He needed to know if the violinist on stage was Kukai or not. If not then he would just look like a fool. If it was then he would force the older boy to hang out with him. No harm would come out of finding out though.

The rabbit came to a sudden halt at the edge of the stage. The song was still going, and his golden eye was locked on the violinist. He wanted to scream, but the other boy would never be able to hear him with all the noise around him. Dull aches filled his entire body, but for once the bunny wasn’t freaking out. His mind was set on one thing, and everything else was completely irrelevant. It was just there and in his way. For once the blunette couldn’t wait for the song to end.

[Kukai Hiroshi]

"They are shouting, shouting!"

Kukai felt like he was going to die. Just completely and utterly die. He couldn't do this, he couldn't do this. He couldn't stand up to crowds. He hadn't been able to do it in a long time. A very, long time. Ever since he had lost confidence in himself. It was not a good thing at all for the boy as he was readying himself to perform in front of a few number of people. Previously the boy had had his eyes shut tight from anticipation. Now, as he opened up his eyes, he saw it was much more than he could of imagined. He froze completely at the site of so many other people.

Kukai took a step back. He was freaked now. He should of never looked. This was going to be completely and utterly horrible. He could see the lead singer give him a look out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't do this though. He wanted to turn and run. It was when he was about to the scar on his shoulder burned. He stopped instantly. His eyes shook behind his glasses. He knew that mark.. it was the one where he had been forced out of his clan. He had fought of course. It was because of the clan he had gotten hurt.

Kukai's eyes wavered slightly as the past crept into his mind without warning. His memory came back fast as he was taken to a rather calming scene before him. His arm was wrapped with something like a roll of gauze. Not really all that well for the cat whose arm had almost bled him to death the other day. It was wet with blood but it stopped the bleeding at least. The young cat leaned against a tree trying not to hurt his arm any further. He was waiting, waiting for one person. One very special person.

Then he heard a noise and looked up. He had stiffened reflexively and caused pain to shoot up his shoulder. The cat flinched and grabbed at his shoulder. "Are you always so frisky, Kukai?"

[/i] the familiar voice asked of the stray cat. Kukai looked up. "You know me to well, Rat-chan." he said. He was in pain but that didn't stop the smile that formed his face. She smirked in return. "You look happy to see me."[/i] she said in a soft voice. Kukai looked down. "I can never come back, Rat-chan." he said. The girl's eyes softened. "I will find you Kukai. Just promise me one thing. You wont let this bother your life? Of all things.. Kukai.. don't ever let this family ruin your music career. I want to hear you one day on the stage playing your violin. It will be something amazing. "[/i] she said. Kukai had nodded. "I promise, Rat-chan." Kukai answered as the wind blew through the trees.

The stray opened his eyes. The promise he had made to her. The crowd had began growing restless. Kukai taking in his surroundings did something out of nowhere. He kicked a nearby light sending sparks into the air. Then clicked on the center bright lights to form in the center. They changed color and hit him. As soon as they did his violin began its graceful but then toned up and began playing something that sounded like it should belong on a guitar.

He smirked as the crowd instantly started shouting at him. He wasn't playing for them though. He was playing for her, for Rat-chan. His rat-chan. He was fulfilling his dream just like she had asked him too. 'Can you see me now, rat-chan. I'm here.. on stage..' he thought to himself. As the crowd cheered him on he looked out of the corner of his eyes to see the lead singer she was smirking at him. Then Kukai did something that would draw gasps from them.

He hit down on the floor of the stage. Little did the audience know it was a hidden trigger. Smoke started filling the stage making it take on a more magical feel. It was not likely anyone would forget this performance ever. He smiled as she picked up where he left off. He continued his part of the song though he was not in spotlight he was still living his dream in music. It was a change for the boy. He had never experienced anything like this ever. There was a calling in his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Rat-chan had been right. She was always right though. She had said that he would love every moment of playing for others. How right could she of been. Kukai's heart was beating faster and faster every moment he played and heard the melody of his instrument, the others and even the singer's voice blend into one. Together they put on a performance that could not be matched. Not in this lifetime. She was something all right. The lead singer had a lot going for her, a very nice voice to boot.

Kukai sighed as most of the song was already over. It wasn't time to have doubts though. He was up next. The middle of the song was nearing and another part that was just his came. The singing stopped again and it was just instruments and Kukai was leading them. His violin's sound soured over the others. It wasn't just any performance. Kukai put all his feelings into his performance. The sound came out brighter than he could ever expect. That was when something bad happened.

Kukai hadn't been paying attention. Not at all. He had moved to fast and the glasses that had been concealing him fell off. Kukai at first didn't notice. He was having to much fun. Way to much. He opened his eyes then. When the world wasn't dark he realized what was going on. He instantly stepped back into the shadows. It was too late though. If any of his family found out where he was he would be in trouble.

He knew that they had been after him recently. It was because he hadn't stayed in contact. The Hiroshi's hated when anyone who wasn't within there control was loose. That was Kukai to them. An uncontrollable mistake. A mistake that he knew his family probably wanted dead. A cat who was of no use to anyone. A cat that everyone wanted dead because they hated the sad cries it gave because no one cared to leave anything for it and refused any care to the pathetic creature.

Kukai's heart had sunk and it was no longer in the music. Thankfully he was only background right now. It could still be heard in the overall quality though. The song was about to be over. Kukai had to be out of the light for now. His glasses were in the light so he couldn't reach them at the moment. That was when the singer hit them on accident. They crunched under even her light weight.

Kukai grimaced. He was screwed. Totally and completely screwed. They were going to find him. At least there was a fast exit and he hadn't been in the light for long. He was going to be ok. The head singer finished and it was only the music at the end. Kukai could do this. That was when he didn't expect what happened next. The head blonde turned around and held a hand to Kukai who was finishing his last note.

The lights instantly moved over him yet again. Kukai tried to move out of them but there was no where to run. He closed his eyes out of pain because of his sensitive eyes. To everyone else, however, it just looked like a cool thing to do. He opened his eyes again trying the get out of there. He heard the crowd scream their pleasures at them. This was not good. NOT GOOD. He saw a familiar face then in the front row.

'Rabit-kun?' he thought. He was definitively not an enemy. If he was the only one here perhaps everything would be ok after all. Kukai wished that with all his heart. That this would just go away and nothing wrong would happen. It could end like that he knew it. He smiled softly at the boy he knew as Shou. He hadn't seen the kid in forever. Little did the cat know that there was another Hiroshi in the audience. One .. who was not as friendly as the rabbit.

He watched as the blonde moved to the mic. "Now, if you don't mind.. there is one last piece we would like you to hear. " she said. Kukai didn't believe it. What was she doing? She looked at him. "Our violinist and soloist with perform for you a piece that he wrote now." she said. Kukai couldn't believe it. He smiled and nodded. Slowly he started the slow rhythm music. It was nothing like the previous music but it was filled with emotions beyond the last song.

It was special to him. The song he had made with rat-chan. He had never played it for anyone before. His eyes closed slowly. He was no longer in fear of the Hiroshi. He was playing in rat-chan's place. His music drifted through the area as the crowd fell silent. He wasn't all that sure what they were thinking since his eyes were closed. Slowly he reopened them after the song came to an end. He was still in the shadows during the performance. Or at least he had thought he was.

A light had moved over him during his playing. Now the light shown bright as the stray cat waited for the reaction of the crowd. Waited for the truth that was to become of his dream. This was all Kukai had left. His dreams. This was the moment that was finally going to decide it all. It was in that moment that of everything he could of looked at his eyes were trained on one person. That person was Shou and the cat had the happiest smile on his face. The smile no one had seen since his life had been altered.

Song he is doing. CLICK HERE!~

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[Shou Hiroshi]

Music. It was a word that represented the sounds that composers brought together. It was also the same thing that the teen on stage was supposed to be producing. In the rabbit’s golden eyes the male on stage seemed to be hesitating. It was almost like fear was curled around him. The others on stage looked fine. The blonde singer looked more than fine. To the rabbit’s sharp golden eyes she seemed completely at ease. Almost like the stage was her second home. Then again it could have been for all the blunette knew. Everyone on stage seemed to be waiting for the male shrouded in doubt. The blonde singer even seemed to be waiting for the other male to snap out of whatever was bothering him. The blunette didn’t know why. It was beyond his understanding, but how bands worked was generally not something he understood. Another wave of cheers filling the food court. The golden eye had been away from the stage for a minute, and the doubtful teen was now playing his heart out.

Violin. The sound didn’t even sound remotely like a violin to the blunette. It struck him as a more guitar-like sound. The audience was roaring in excitement all around him. All the blunette wanted to do was slip away and rejoin Tadase and Nagihiko, but he desired to know who the violinist was. No matter what the cost was. His golden eye followed the violinist’s every move. Every move the man made reminded the rabbit of the cat. Just the way he moved and played made the teen almost positive of his identity, but he couldn’t be sure. Nezumi-nee was the only one that knew Neko-nii really well. She was the only one, and Shou had always been slightly envious of the pair.

Neko-nii and Nezumi-nee had been close for longer than the blunette could remember. They were inseparable, and the small bunny had always wished he had a relationship like that with someone. Envy was the main reason behind why he used to follow them around all the time. He had wanted to know exactly what they did together. Half the time the blunette was called away from her stalking, and the rest of the time was just listening to them talk. It had been boring following them, and he never learned anything. He felt like he was being cheated, but he didn’t know what by. The blunette couldn’t and still can’t bring himself to blame family. Life was the answer most people gave, but he couldn’t be sure. The blunette could never be sure.

The small rabbit was forced out of his thoughts by the screaming of the crowd. His distraction led him to miss why there was smoke covering the stage. The blonde was singing once again. Her voice sounded familiar in Shou’s ears, but he couldn’t place her. Names were being shouted all around him. The lyrics were almost inaudible to the blunette. The pure power of the fans all around him was fearsome. Dedicated fans had that aura. All around him that aura seemed to be flaring into life. His golden eye couldn’t find one person that wasn’t screaming their head off. That fact made him suddenly feel extremely isolated. A small frown danced onto his pale face as his golden eye returned to the stage. It was more interesting up there than around him.

The audience was all that surrounded the blunette. They were screaming. Screaming loudly. Names. Lyrics. Incoherent confessions. Just about everything that a fan could possible scream, but it was all just a dull roar to the blunette. His golden eye was once again locked on the violinist. The golden cat-like eye watched the other male’s movements as the other started playing again. The moment the glasses fell from the violinist’s face was the moment that Shou knew exactly who was on stage. The violinist was none other than Kukai Hiroshi. The cat of the Zodiac. Nezumi-nee’s closest friend. His cousin. The one that the rest of his family was after.

The cat was now in the shadows, but Shou felt extremely nervous. The head had been really adamant in find Kukai recently. The boy’s cheek still smarted from the slap the head had given him. He had refused to search for his cousin, and the head hadn’t taken it very well. One small pale hand reached up to gentle brush the tips of his fingers over the cheek. The slight pressure sent a shudder down the boy’s spine. It still hurt. Not as badly as before, but it was still a wound. Pain was still coming from it, and the blunette didn’t like it. He didn’t like it any more than the jostling and shouting of the audience. It all felt rather unreal. Almost like none of it was really happening. The blunette almost felt like he was getting scolded by Ryuu-nii again. He knew that wasn’t possible, but this situation was hard to comprehend. Very hard, and something just felt terribly off to the petite teen.

The music once again washed over the blunette. His bright golden eye turned back to the stage. The blonde seemed to be preparing for something. He couldn’t tell what, but he could almost see a smirk on her impish features. Fear began to build inside the blunette again. Something bad was going to happen. He just knew it, and it wasn’t often that the rabbit got feelings like that. His right arm was now wrapped snuggly around his stomach as he watched the stage with an anxious cat-like eye. He felt slightly sick. The anxious feeling in his stomach didn’t feel right. Not to him. Not to the normally carefree and overly obnoxious bunny. The crowd seemed almost threatening now as the light once again returned to the cat. In Shou’s eyes Kukai looked just as scared as the blunette felt.

Deafening roars filled the food court as the song finished. The rabbit was finally able to make out words from all the jumbled yells. A chant was starting somewhere in the crowd. It almost sounded like ‘Rii! Rii! Rii!’ The blunette didn’t take his eyes off Kukai though. The song was over, yet the smirk on the blonde’s face earlier suddenly swam into Shou’s mind. His golden eye darted away from the other Hiroshi back to the singer whom he guessed was ‘Rii.’ The smirk was once again resting on her pale lips. Her large violet eyes seemed to be gleaming in amusement. To the blunette the girl looked like she was planning something. Something that hadn’t been known beforehand. The rabbit couldn’t help but gulp as the girl opened her mouth.

”Now, if you don’t mind… there is one last piece that we would like you to hear. Our violinist and soloist will perform for you a piece that he wrote now.” Cheers erupted around Shou as the blonde stepped away from the mic. His golden eye could see the satisfied smirk that had stretched across her face. Butterflies still fluttered around in the blunette’s stomach though. He wished that Tadase or Nagihiko was there with him. Maybe they would have been able to tell him what was wrong. The blunette didn’t understand. Being able to perform was a dream that the cat had always had. The rabbit could remember him telling Nezumi-nee that quite a few times in the past. So why did Shou feel uncomfortable with Kukai playing now? He didn’t know. He just didn’t know.

An awed silence stilled the crowd. All except for three people. Two of those three were Shou’s closest friends from school, Tadase and Nagihiko. They were searching the crowd for the young blunette. After his disappearance the two had bumped right into one of the other Hiroshi family members, and they had immediately begun to worry about their friend. They both knew that Shou was being more and more rebellious with the head on certain issues. What they didn’t know was why there was someone else from the family at the mall?

The other moving person was the same family member that Tadase and Nagihiko had bumped into. The man was making his way toward the stage. His mission was to bring Kukai Hiroshi back to the head, and he would complete his mission. Even if he angered one of the other family members. It was a price the man would pay to stay on the head’s good graces. The head was a scary person after all.

While those three moved Shou was stock still. He was awed by the sound that escaped from the cat’s violin. It was beautiful. Soulful. Mesmerizing. Excellent. Truly outstanding. Astonishing. There were too many words that could apply to the piece that Kukai was playing. The blunette could tell that his cousin’s heart was in his playing. The purity of the notes was proof enough of that. The notes themselves were singing. The audience was deathly silent. It was almost even more unnerving than the wild screaming from not too long ago. A drastic change. But it was a change that matched the change in song. It was suitable, and Shou wasn’t one to complain about the quiet.

A smile stretched across Shou’s face as the song came to a close. His original view of Kukai’s playing had changed. At first the blunette hadn’t thought his cousin was anything special, but after that Shou believed that Kukai was one of the best. The only thing the blunette didn’t like was the light shinning directly down on the cat, but he couldn’t complain about the smile that graced the other boy’s pale face. It was almost as mesmerizing as the song. Not quite, but just about the same amount. Shou couldn’t help but smile even more while that smile was on the cat’s face. It had been a very long time since Shou had seen anyone as happy as Kukai looked.

Sound began to spread through the audience again as a hand clamped down on Shou’s right shoulder. Pain shot through his arm, but all the boy did was jump and yelp softly. A wide golden eye turned to stare into slightly narrowed light blue eyes. The color of the eyes could only match one person, Tadase. A soft sight escaped the blunette’s pale lips, but his relief was short lived. Tadase swooped down and whispered quickly into his ear. The color in Shou’s face immediately drained at Tadase’s words. Nothing good could come from the information the blonde had given him. The feeling from before came back tenfold. The blunette felt extremely ill now. The entire situation was wrong. The bunny boy could feel that to the very core of his being. It was all wrong.

Shou stood there for a few seconds not reacting to anything. Not Tadase’s worried eyes. Not the jostling of the screaming crowd. Not even the person on the mic. Everything had faded out. All Shou could think about was getting to Kukai. Feeling slowly returned to the boy, and fear pushed him into action. His thin arms shoved Tadase aside before he plunged into the crowd. It was painful, but he needed to get to Kukai. Quickly. Swiftly. With the speed of a thousand cheetahs. He just needed to reach his older cousin. Fear made the boy quick. His skin was sickly pale now. His golden eye wide and wild with fright. His body continued to move toward the exit of the stage. He couldn’t help but feel like he would be too late. Maybe just a few seconds late but a few seconds was all that the new threat required. Just a few seconds slow, and Shou didn’t know how fast he would end up being. He just didn’t know. It was all too uncertain. Everything was. Everything always would be. That was a given in life. Something that the blunette wasn’t ready to accept yet. He wouldn’t. He felt like he would be late, but he would make it on time. He couldn’t let Kukai down even though the cat didn’t know what was wrong. No one except for the rabbit and his friends knew, and Shou was going to help Kukai. No matter what.

[Kukai Hiroshi]

"Why do I feel sick?"

Kukai was in a perfect calm. It was something that had taken Rii years to master on stage. It helped that she loved doing it so much. However, Kukai didn't have that pleasure. He didn't have pleasant time to run around and perform everywhere like she had before joining their tiny band. Tiny but good, very good. Kukai liked that fact. The group had formed from something very small and had become something beyond imagination with just a little effort. Rii was truly and amazing singer. Kukai could play both Violin and Piano. He was pretty sure that Rii knew how to play the piano too but he had never found out since he had always offered to play for her while she practiced her songs.

Kukai wasn't all that sure what he thought about the band when they had first come out. They had recorded most of their stuff because of Kukai's "issue". Thankfully Rii had been compliant with him on that matter. He loved the girl for that. She was highly dependable and you could honestly tell her anything and she would never be rude or uncaring to you. The girl was simply amazing in the cats eyes. Simply, and wonderfully amazing. She could take any situation and turn it around as if she was simply turning a pinwheel with the wind. The girl had some talent, not just in the arts but with people too. Kukai had sort of.. gotten a crush on her. He felt embarrassed when he was around her and did anything he could for her at all times.

In his heart of hearts Kukai knew better though. He knew Rii wasn't in his level of status. Rii, was a bird a beautiful bird whose wings glistened in the sunset. She could fly, and fly she did, soaring to heights that a mere man would believe impossible. He, he was a stray cat, beat up and nothing to look at. He was trapped and forced to walk the streets chains cast upon his paws because of all the burdens he had to carry because of his "condition." Kukai knew above all else Rii was off limits. He couldn't get to close to the girl anyway. She was, well A GIRL! Not that the cat had anything against girls.. it was just that he.. well couldn't be hugged by her. Just like every other male in the Hiroshi family. No being touched by girls. No. No NO!

Kukai stirred in his mind as he heard something that amazed him. The dull silence of the crowd had become a unstoppable force to be reckoned with. A huge blast of cheers and other such non-sense. Kukai couldn't believe all this was happening and all so fast. The cat was lucky he didn't spaz right then and there and have a heart attack. He most likely would of if he hadn't of seen Rii motioning to him. The cat instantly came to her call. He was happy to move out of the spotlight. He was greeted by nice remarks by the other guys in the band that had been playing guitars and background, like him. Kukai nodded to them and thanked them.

He turned back to Rii then. What had she called him for? His face, he could tell, was turning a little red at the thought of Rii complementing him. That was when something else caught his eyes. It was the spot where shou-kun had been. He had wanted to talk to him after the performance. Perhaps he had to go? No, he had been there a few seconds ago? Where had the boy run off to now? Could he have been hurt or something along those lines? Instantly, Kukai's heart started to speed up. If anyone he wanted to protect from his family it was Rat-chan and the tiny rabbit. After all, he knew about the stalking the bunny had done on he and rat-chan. The boy would of normally gotten away with it but the cat's ears were much better than normal and they had given the bunny away.

Not that the cat had been mad or anything. He didn't mind the bunny's silent accompaniment. He had never told rat-chan about it but he had always wanted to talk to the small bunny about actually accompanying them without hiding. It was always when the cat would try to find the small stalker that the bunny would disappear on him. Kukai had always been sad about that. He had wanted Shou-kun to hang out with them. Kukai had finally got the chance and now, yet again, the bunny had disappeared. Kukai sighed inwardly. He wanted to talk to Shou really bad. That was when he saw a small blur. His eyes traced its figure instantly. It was shou, or at least it looked like him. He was moving as fast as he could trying to break through the crowd.

Kukai tilted his head to the side as his thoughts blanked of everything but curiosity and a little bit of worry. He wondered what was up with him. Kukai watched him. He looked.. almost desperate. He saw which way he was going then. The end of the stage?! He was coming to him? Kukai's thoughts brightened a bit. The bunny hadn't left after all. He was simply coming over to talk to him. Or was he? Kukai understood that he had been away for a long time but was there really a need to rush like Shou was doing? Kukai didn't think so.. but then again.. he wasn't the one who had a Zodiac of a hyperactive rabbit. Thank God. Not that there was anything wrong with that.. but still.

Kukai kept revolving the thought around in his head. There must of been something else. Even Shou-kun wouldn't be that desperate to get to him. Kukai tilted his head again as he walked over to the edge of the stage. His embarrassment and all other thoughts about Rii and the others momentarily forgotten. He wasn't all that sure what the bunny wanted but perhaps it was best meeting him half way. He walked as far as he could and bent down with his knees to a squat-like position. If his mathematics was right, Shou should reach him in about 10 seconds. He wasn't all that sure what was going on. He was hidden behind a small curtain at that moment but from the position Shou was he could still see him.

Kukai tilted his head. When Shou was close enough for his own persona safety did Kukai finally speak. "Nice to see you again Shou-kun. Now .. whats got you in such a hurry. Other than the obvious reasons of course." Kukai asked the kid. By obvious however, he didn't mean what normal people would of thought. It was obvious to Kukai and Shou though.. because they were both the same. Both possessed by vengeful spirits. So of course what Kukai said had everything to do with the curse that was on the small bunny.

[Shou Hiroshi]

The bunny boy’s small form easily slid through the cracks within the crowd. Yes, there were times when a female almost got her arms around him. The blunette had been too quick on his feet for that. He had easily ducked away and kept on going. The damage to his person was minimal. His pride was a bit scared, but he never had much of that. He didn’t care for the prideful snotty ways. It got under his skin really to watch or listen to them. All they ever talked about was themselves or what was happening in their life. It grated on his nerves. They never understood anything. They wouldn’t have been able to understand the fear in Shou’s heart. The dread in his veins. The overwhelming need to be quick. They wouldn’t have understood Shou’s situation at all. It would have been amusing watching them trying to figure it all out though. Their scrunched up faces. Completely irrelevant answers. It would have been amusing if adrenaline wasn’t pouring through the blunette’s veins, and worry wasn’t eating away at his heat. Yes, it would have been very amusing if those two factors weren’t in play.

The blunette’s body seemed to slip and slide through the crowd like water. He paid no heed to the screaming fans around him. Their happy yells and shouts were only distractions. He could hear someone on the mic. It wasn’t anyone from Kukai’s band. It was the MC. His voice was loud and booming. It was easily heard over the cheering crowd. Another band was getting prepared to close off for Neko Piero. Neko Clown, huh? Funny name for a band. The small boy’s lips quirked up into a smile as his feet carried him closer and closer to his target. Adrenaline made his senses sharper and feet quicker. It really was a blessed thing. Since he could now make out his cousin sitting near the edge of the stage. Hidden from view. A thankful smile now covered the boy’s face as he collided with the stage.

Pain invaded the boy’s senses. But for once it was easily ignored. His cousin’s voice had barely reached his ears before, but he could remember the words. They still rung clearly within his mind as the next band began to play. ”Nice to see you again, Shou-kun. Now … what’s got you in a hurry. Other than the obvious reasons of course.” His face was still contorted in pain as he pushed his body away from the stage. The crowd was once again cheering like mad. The singer this time was male. His voice was soothing to the bunny though. But soothing wasn’t what the blunette needed. His one golden eye was still clouded with worry as he took in his cousin’s appearance.

Thankfully nothing was out of place. His cousin still looked fine. The other boy had probably seen better days, but it wasn’t anything big. The thankful smile from returned in full force. His golden colored eye now gleamed in excitement. His thin arms were instantly thrown around the older boy in his relieved excitement. Adrenaline no longer coursed through his veins. The worry from before seemed to wash away. There was still a being inside his mind telling him to keep moving. Take Kukai away. Far away. Out of reach from the head. Away from the danger that was following the bunny’s trail. It was a being that Shou was only barely conscious of now.

”I’m so happy to see you, Kai-neko. I missed you more than you would probably believe. Actually I don’t believe I missed you that much. It felt like you were gone forever. Have you been doing alright? How did you come to join Neko Piero? Doesn’t that mean ‘Cat Clown’? Who came up with the name? Is Rii the singer’s real name? She seemed really cool. Can you introduce me to her? When will you visit again? I really missed you. I’m not sure about everyone else though. I bet they would be happy to see you. Just avoid the head. I think she’s a bit angry with you. Well… she’s a bit angry with me as well. Do you have anything to do now? Are you free? Can you come hang out with me? I’m sure Tadase and Nagihiko won’t care if I leave the shopping to them. They were late after all. It was even their idea. Can you believe that, Kai-neko? How have you been? Do you have somewhere good to stay? Do you stay with anyone in your band? How is the band doing? Can you play your violin some more? Do you miss anyone from the family?” The blunette’s words had been coming out nonstop since his arms had locked around his cousin’s right leg. The last question sent a danger signal throughout Shou’s brain. All the worry from earlier came crashing back down on the blunette. His body suddenly stiffened, and his arms fell back to his side.

A small frown had now appeared on the pale boy’s face. He slowly turned around and cast his golden eye around the crowd. He still couldn’t see the person that Tadase had warned him about. Fear had once again settled down within the blunette. All his earlier carefree feelings and actions had disappeared. His face was now contorted in worry. His left hand was wrapped securely around his upper right arm. His eyes darted from face to face. His heart was pounding within his chest. Finally! His eye spotted the approaching person. Fear finally shone through on the blunette’s face. The man was slowly getting closer and closer. He was fighting the still screaming crowd trying to reach the pair. That fact alone gave the blunette a couple of seconds to get his warning across and start the getaway.

The blunette whirled around to face his cousin. His eye was wide in fright. His lips turned down into a worried frown. His face even paler than normal. His entire body was taunt. Ready to run. Yet staying still if only for a moment. His mouth once again opened. ”Kai-neko, we’ve got to run. One of those really uptight family members is approaching. Tadase told me. You’ve got to get away. He’s coming here for you. The head wants to see. Oh, she’ll do something awful if you go see her, Kai-neko. We need to get away.” The golden eyed boy’s words were now rushed and full of fear. His expression never changed as his hands slashed through the air trying to illuminate his point. One finger was even pointing toward the approaching man. He was now closer, and he was steadily drawing even closer. Each second brought him closer to his target. It also brought more fear to Shou’s heart.

Golden cat-like eyes stared pleadingly up at Kukai. His left hand was once again wrapped around the upper part of his right arm. His upper teeth biting lightly on his lower lip. He was very close to bolting. ”We need to move, Kai-neko. Fast.”