II

Krad continued to watch the little Niwa, as he liked to call Daisuke, throughout class. Whenever the redhead thought no one was looking, he would glance at Satoshi. It was obvious to the blonde that little Niwa had a crush on his little brother though Satoshi was unaware of it. Krad gathered up his books after Mr. Hageta dismissed them from class and joined his brother, the twins, and Daisuke at the door, all of whom were talking about the concert that was only a day away. The small group had no idea that their lives were about to change.

Meanwhile, a sleek black limousine parked in front of the only luxurious hotel in Azumano. Inside the limo, Dark sighed as the car came to a stop in front of the hotel. There was a crowd of screaming fans already gathered, blocking the entrance. The violet-haired singer stared out the window and then looked to the sandy-haired blonde sitting across from him.

"I don't know about this, Argentine. It looks highly dangerous," the singer said with a devilish smirk.

"I think you're up to the challenge, Dark," the guitarist and fellow lead singer replied.

They both laughed as the chauffer opened the limo's door. Argentine stepped out first, and the screams got louder. The sandy-haired blonde moved aside and Dark stepped out next. The screams of adoration reached a new high, and the lead singer smirked as he waved to the crowd. Security had their hands full, escorting the two most popular members of Kokuyoku into the hotel. Quiet descended once the two singers were inside the hotel lobby.

"Are the doors made out of soundproof glass or what?" Dark wondered out loud as he glanced back at the doors.

Argentine shrugged and walked to the elevator that a bellhop was holding for them. Dark followed the blonde and flashed a grin at the bellhop, making him blush a deep red. Dark chuckled and leaned against the back wall of the elevator until they reached their floor. Dark nodded at Argentine and then closed his door with a soft sigh.

"Finally, some true peace and quiet."

Dark walked over to the bed where a small laptop bag sat on the blanket. The violet-haired singer pulled out a notebook and opened to a page where a slightly wrinkled paper had been taped onto the page. Dark stared at the words written on the page.

Dear Dark,

I know I have very little right to ask you for anything, but I would like you to come live with me. You have a family who wants to meet you. I know I haven't been the father that you deserve, especially since your mother died. I want you to have a stable life where you can continue growing into the young man that you have started to become. My address and telephone are included below. Please feel free to call at any time.

Dark had scribbled out the name signed at the bottom in anger when he received the letter a year ago. The teen flipped to a new page in the notebook and began to write, the anger-fueled words flowing onto the page. Dark was so engrossed in his writing that he didn't hear the door connecting his room to another opening. Argentine walked over to the bed silently, his pale blue eyes narrowing slightly in concern.

*Listen to the rain fallin' day by day

Listen to the rain fallin' day by day by day

Hey

I hear you calling, voices are here again

I hear you whisper, taking control of me

Watch the dancing shadows run away

All alone once again, afraid

"Dark, are you feeling okay?" Argentine spoke quietly.

The lead guitarist's words broke Dark's spell and he jolted in surprise. He looked up at the sandy-haired blond and smiled sheepishly. Argentine sat on the bed and took the notebook from Dark's unresisting hands. Argentine read over what Dark had written and then turned the page back to the letter.

"I'm guessing by how you were acting that you still haven't changed your mind about him. We're in the neighborhood so to speak."

"I don't want to see him, 'Tine."

Argentine frowned slightly, hearing the old childhood nickname.

"Dark, he is your father even if he has been absent from your life. He wants to be a part of your life. You know the saying, 'better late than never', my friend. You'll see some of your stepfamily at the concert anyway.

"WHAT?"

That broke Dark out of his sullen silence and the teen stared at the blonde with wide violet eyes. Argentine shrugged slightly and then grinned a bit.

"Yup, I snuck a look at the names on the backstage passes list. You know how our manager likes to make sure we don't have any fans with bad reputations on the list like back in the States." Argentine remarked with a grin. "Part of a large group, two girls and three guys."

"Just great," Dark groaned, his voice loaded with sarcasm.

Argentine took up Dark's pen and started adding some words to the lyrics on the next page, letting Dark sulk a bit more. The blonde had helped Dark co-write many of their songs.

*All these faces, changing their shapes on me

Isolated in my own world, will it ever be free?

Haunted figures around me, I want em' to stay

There always there to protect me, this is one thing you can't take away

Listen to the rain fallin' day by day

Listen to the rain fallin' day by day by day

Yeah!

"Ah, to the hell with it! Looks like I have no choice but to go with the hand I'm dealt," Dark muttered finally.

Argentine smirked and then set the notebook on the table. The blonde got to his feet and stretched lightly.

"Well, tomorrow night will be interesting to say the least," Argentine said, smirk still in place.

"You're enjoying my discomfort, aren't you?"

"Yup!"

Argentine dodged the pillow that Dark threw at him. Dark threw another pillow which barely missed Argentine's head.

"Careful with those! Okay, fine! I get the hint I'm not wanted."

Argentine walked over to the adjoining door and closed it behind him, leaving Dark alone in his room. The violet-haired teen sighed softly and then lay on his back, staring at the bland ceiling. An idea began to form in his head and he dozed off with a smirk of his own on his lips.

Twilight: Well, Chapter Two is finally up after many revisons. I still don't know if this is a load of crap or a semi-decent piece of work so please review and let me know. Concert day will be in Chapter Three. When that will be is a mystery. Depending on plot bunnies, reviews, and the characters themselves.

Dark/Krad: Plus the lazy author.

Krad: *mutters quietly* So that's why I'm stuck with you...

*Lyrics are from Godsmack's Voices.