A/N: Gods above, it's been ages since I've posted anything here. Shame on me. This was intended to be a one-shot, but I broke it up into chapters due to its length. I apologize for any OOCness-I wrote this on a bit of a whim. Enjoy!

-Fox

In A Cat's Eyes: Chapter 1

Suguru Fujisaki resisted the urge to sigh for the third time that afternoon. His skills as a master synth player meant that his execution of "The Rage Beat" was usually flawless.

"Usually" did not apply to today. His fingers had once again slipped to the wrong key, causing the whole song to come to a halt as his bandmates cringed away from K's waving magnum.

"Now look here, my sweet little dewdrops. Your next concert is only four days away. You're lucky we scheduled this break in the middle of the tour at all, and I can't have you boys slacking off for a week." Suguru's lips twitched. It was common knowledge that K scheduled a break mid-tour so he could have more time to spend with Judy while she was vacationing in Japan. Although K might have had more free time, the members of Bad Luck certainly did not. While the band was technically on a break from touring, K had scheduled at least one interview or photoshoot a day in addition to regular practice. "Do it again, from the top," K concluded.

"But K," Shuichi whined, "We've done this song a million times today-"

K lowered his gun at Shuichi. "And if you mess it up again, you'll play through the whole setlist until I'm satisfied," K threatened. The accompanying cackle meant he was serious.

Shuichi groaned and turned to look at Suguru. "Come on, Fujisaki, get it together," he pleaded.

Hiro glanced at Suguru as well, his eyes concerned. "Are you feeling all right, Fujisaki?"

Suguru sat straighter, the faintest blush on his cheeks. He was slowing his bandmates down, and that knowledge made his insides burn with irritation and embarrassment. "Yes, Nakano-san. Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine," he said with polite formality. "I'm just a little tired today."

Hiroshi frowned, but let the subject drop. Suguru mentally sighed with relief. Truthfully, he did feel out of sorts, but it was nothing he wanted to trouble his bandmates with. They would only laugh anyway.

"Let's do it again," Suguru announced as he placed his fingers on the synthesizer.

It was going to be a very long day.

Hiroshi Nakano yawned and blinked his heavy eyes sleepily. Setting the book down, he stood and stretched. Time for bed, he decided. The last thing I need is to fall asleep sitting up. Another chapter is not worth an aching back in the morning.

As he walked towards the back of Bad Luck's tour bus, he heard the unmistakable sound of Suguru's voice.

"No, Mika-san, I know you did your best. I never thought she'd run away like that either. She hasn't shown any interest in the outside world since I found her."

Hiro froze. He knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but curiosity overwhelmed his guilt. He knew precious little about the synth player, and he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to learn just the tiniest bit more about him.

"Yes, please call me if you find her." Suguru paused. "No, it's all right. If she doesn't find her way back to me, maybe she will at least find happiness with someone else."

Now Hiro was burning with curiosity. Who was this mystery woman Suguru was talking about? Hiro had always figured Suguru to be rather asexual since he showed absolutely zero romantic interest in anyone. Now it seemed that Suguru had not only been romantically involved with this unknown woman, but had also been dumped by her.

"Yes, of course. Thank you, Mika-san." A beep indicated that Suguru had ended the call.

"Fujisaki, I never knew you had a girlfriend!" Shuichi's voice was filled with both excitement and accusation.

Judging by Suguru's surprised yelp and the clatter of his phone dropping to the ground, Shuichi had been eavesdropping too. As Hiro wondered where his energetic friend had been hiding, he pushed aside the curtain that separated the sleeping quarters from the rest of the bus. There had been a door here once, but after Shuichi broke it for the third time, Sakano had insisted that they make do with a curtain before they went bankrupt from repair costs. As Hiro stepped into the room, Suguru glanced at him and flushed almost imperceptibly.

"It's not what you think, Shindou-san," Suguru began as he bent to pick up his dropped phone.

"Fujisaki, don't be embarrassed. It's okay if you don't want to talk about her. Did she leave you for another guy? Hey, maybe we can help you win her back! Which city does she live in? She can come to one of our concerts and you can confess your love for her to the entire audience, it will be so romantic!" Shuichi babbled.

Suguru's flush darkened the tiniest bit. "Shindou-san, I don't have a girlfriend."

"No, Fujisaki! Don't give up on her yet! What if she's the love of your life? On the other hand, if you're sure she isn't, then don't give up hope. You'll find love, Fujisaki, you will, because there are plenty of fish in the-"

"It's my cat, you idiot!" Suguru snapped.

Silence reigned supreme for several long seconds.

"Your...cat?" Shuichi said blankly.

Suguru turned crimson. "Yes, my cat. Mika-san was watching her while we're on tour, but she ran away a few days ago. Mika-san called to tell me that she hasn't been found yet."

Shuichi blinked. "Oh."

Looking vaguely disappointed, Shuichi mumbled something about calling Yuki and pushed past Hiro.

Silence returned with Shuichi's departure. Suguru was still flushed with embarrassment, and was carefully avoiding Hiro's eyes as he pretended to examine his phone for damage. As Hiro studied Suguru's face, he could see signs of distress on the younger boy's normally placid features. That cat must mean a lot to him, he thought.

"Fujisaki?"

Suguru squared his shoulders and met Hiro's gaze. "Yes, Nakano-san?"

Hiro flashed what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Don't worry so much. I'm sure she'll find her way back to you."

Suguru sat in perplexed contemplation. Why had Hiroshi's warm smile made him feel so at ease the night before? It's not like he knows the future. I may never see Mei-chan again, yet he seemed so confident that I would. Why did that make me feel less worried?

After another minute of consideration, Suguru shook his head. The next concert was now only three days away, and if their latest practice session was any indication of how prepared they were, Suguru was in trouble. He thought K might really shoot him when he missed his entrance on the same song for the fourth time in under an hour.

I'm letting my worries for Mei-chan get the best of me, he thought angrily as he sneezed. I know it's silly to be upset over a cat, but I can't help it. I owe everything to her right now.

On one of the days closely following Tohma's announcement that Suguru would be joining Bad Luck, it had rained heavily. Suguru had gone for a walk, attempting to clear his head of the negative thoughts that had been swirling around since Shuichi blatantly rejected him. Standing in front of a music store with his umbrella in hand, he had just decided that he could never work with someone as impulsive and irrational as Shuichi Shindou, and was putting together what he would say to Tohma when he resigned from Bad Luck, when he heard a pathetic meow at his feet. Purring like a motor and rubbing against his leg was a small tortoiseshell kitten. She was half-starved, soaked from the rain, and favoring one bloody paw, yet she still twined between his ankles as if she had not a care in the world.

Maybe he was touched by her determination and fortitude, but Suguru had not resigned from Bad Luck that night. Instead, he had gently picked up the injured kitten and taken her to a vet. She was viciously abused, he had been told, and had a broken leg and a few broken ribs. She would never be able to see clearly out of one eye. The vet told Suguru that she might be scared of people for a long time, and she would never be a very good pet because she was probably born a stray. Still, Suguru had taken her home, although he could never explain why he did so. As it turned out, the vet was wrong, and Mei-chan was incredibly affectionate. It had been nice to have someone love him unconditionally, and her strong will had given him the determination to stay with Bad Luck, despite Shuichi's initial dislike for him.

Suguru yawned, suddenly feeling exhausted. He looked at the clock, noting that the TV interview that K had scheduled for Bad Luck was still more than three hours away. With nothing better to do, Suguru decided that for once in his life he was going to take a nap.