The next hour passed by in a blur

Cover Girls

An alternate universe Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic

Chapter Thirteen

"The Edge"

The next hour passed by in a haze. Vaguely, she could remember the elder of her two cousins ordering them to get ready for the next act, something about remaining focused. Yeah right, like she could focus on something other than the fact that Sanosuke had lied to her…again. She couldn't help but wonder what else about him was a lie. There he was, living among some of the poorest people in Tokyo as if he were one them, but to him it was all just an adventure. A rich boy on vacation knowing full well that if things got too rough all he had to do was call his Mommy and he'd be whisked back into the privileged set as if his little adventure had never been in the first place.

Well, fuck him.

Right now she didn't have the time to worry about Sano. No time to beat herself up over the feelings that she still harbored for him in spite of all the lies that he had fed her over the space of a month. No time to torture herself over the fact that he was the son of one of the most beautiful and powerful women on the planet, and certainly no time to realize that she measured up to less than she had previously believed in his eyes. Right now all she was concerned about, was keeping the promise that she had made to her very first love. The clinic wasn't going to go down without a fight.

The stage was dark once more, but even so she could make out the place where the technicians had placed her beloved bass guitar. Lovingly, she scooped it up into her arms, fingers gliding along its surface with even more care than they usually showed to broken human flesh.

"Hey there gorgeous," she crooned.

Misao's smile was truly wicked, "Should I get you two a room?" she snickered.

Megumi turned amused cinnamon eyes in the younger girl's direction, "Do I complain when you practically start humping those drums of yours weasel?" she said smoothly.

"Oi!"

"Sh!" Kaoru quickly chided, "You two are lucky the mikes aren't turned on yet, you're both worse than the kids in my class!"

Both fox and weasel took on slightly miffed looks, but more or less obeyed the request of their lead. "Oh alright," the dj conceded, "But I'm kicking her ass after the show for that last crack."

"Bring it on."

"Sweet Buddha," Kaoru sighed as her shoulders slumped forward in defeat, "At least tell me that you two are ready to perform now?"

"Hai!" both women chirped in unison.

"Thank Kami-sama," she muttered as she nodded to the technicians' box above their heads.

Chou bit his bottom lip in anticipation, he had his doubts about the song they had chosen to sing next, but the girls looked so calm and confident down on the stage that he had no choice but to place his faith in them. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to the young man who they had brought to assist them, not even noticing when his own middle finger crossed over the first.

Shiro nodded once in acknowledgement before he allowed his hands to do their magic. He did the girls justice as he began to create the intro to their song from his place in the technological bowels of the musical facility. The technicians controlling the lights knew the song well, and did a perfect job of synching the pulsing silver lights of the stage to the rhythm that the young dj created.

A sound of a scream filled the air, starting as an undertone to the beat before rising in intensity to overpower the rest of the music. As it cut itself off at its climax, Misao brought her drums to life, her entire body flowing with sensuous movements as she brought her sticks down with a strength that seemed too great for the slender beauty of her arms. Her hair was done up in two braids on either side of her head that doubled back onto themselves to be held in place with bits of thin, black ribbon. She was dressed in a matching black jumpsuit that was cut out in places to give the impression that the silky material had spiraled up her slender curves all on it's own, leaving her right shoulder and most of the flawless expanse of her belly exposed, the only decoration to be found there was a tiny silver ring nestled at the top of her bellybutton, flashing under the brightness of lights with the undulating movements of Misao's body.

Megumi's bass soon joined in the fray, the silken mass of her hair being tossed over her shoulder as she held the crowd hostage under her weapon of choice. The outfit she wore was similar to Misao's, the only real difference being that hers wrapped downwards around her voluptuous body in a dual spiral, crisscrossing over her chest and across her lower back to end in a sleek pair of pants that held on to her every curve as if for dear life itself. On her feet, a pair of knee-high black boots added a few more inches to her already intimidating frame as they kept time with the beat.

At the center, Kaoru watched over the crowd with a teasing, sensual half-smile on her lips. Like her cousin and sister, she wore a variation of the black, one-piece attire that decorated the body more than it hid it from view. Hers had a turtleneck collar and long, slim-fitting sleeves that went all the way down to her wrists and a skirt that flowed down to her knees. Even so, it was the most daring of the three, seeing that a large triangle had been cut out at the front, its base extending over the length of her collar bone, and the apex of it lying at the center of her abdomen, just above the navel. In addition to that, the skirt had been slit up both its sides from hem to hip, leaving her legs for the most part exposed. Her dark-blue eyes were halfway closed, lending her face a look of corporal boredom, an impression that was further achieved by the way that she stood at an angle, exposing her thighs, wrapping her hands around her guitar to draw it just a breath's distance away from her body, her rouge-darkened lips held parted behind her free-handed mike as if teasing it with the promise of a kiss it would never receive. As Misao finished her second count, she threw her head back slightly, drawing in the audible breath that would fuel the fire that she was going to set in the hearts and minds that night.

I've become impossible
Holding on to when
When everything seemed to matter more
The two of us
All used and beaten up
Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose

You and me
We're in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
If the world should break in two
Until the very end of me
Until the very end of you

Her butchered hair fell into her eyes for a moment as she paused with the temporary lull in the music. The entire crowd stopped with her, leaning forward in anticipation for more of what only she could give them.

Their patience was soon rewarded as she looked toward them again, blue eyes flashing with inner flame as her bangs were lifted away by the centrifugal force of her abrupt turn. In the next moment, she began the second verse, her voice bearing down upon them with the intensity of a thunderstorm as her body moved with copious, sensual strides toward the very edge of the stage.

Awake to the sound as they peel apart the skin
They pick and they pull
Trying to get their fingers in
Well they've got to kill what we found
Well they've got to hate what they fear
Well they've got to make it go away
Well they've got to make it disappear

The farther I fall I'm beside you
As lost as I get I will find you
The deeper the wound I'm inside you
For ever and ever I am a part of…

You and me
We're in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through some how
You and me
If the world should break in two
Until the very end of me
Until the very end of you

All that we were is gone we have to hold on
When all our hope is gone we have to hold on
All that we were is gone but we can hold on

Megumi and Misao's voices echoed her in heated whispers during the vocal bridge. The sound of the three of them repeating the same words over and over just a beat out of time with one another was absolutely intoxicating. The ravers in the crowd seemed just about ready to go ballistic with the pleasure overload that they provided, moving to the sound of the music as if they had no real will of their own.

Gradually, Kaoru's voice increased in volume, overpowering that of her sister and cousin. By the time she had practically screamed the last line into her headset, the audience seemed just about ready to riot. When she transferred her energy from her voice to her guitar, the possibility of such was enough to have every security guard in the facility on edge. The explosion of sound that emanated from the stage drowned out any last whispers of rational thought as Kaoru began to play as if she were possessed, taking every heart and mind that heard her up to the place they longed to go. They were kissing the sun, they were sliding down the backs of rainbows and catching hold of their angel's wings as she began to sing for them once more.

You and me
We're in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me

Even after everything
I'm the queen and you're the king
Nothing else means anything

As the music died down suddenly, so did the lights. Several seconds later they were turned up again, to reveal Kaoru had abandoned her guitar and was now sitting at a grand piano that was previously hidden in a darkened corner of the stage. Sweat slipped down her chin and bare front in beads, some of them getting caught on the ends of her hair, glistening like crystals in the artificial light.

The energy that she had displayed before was still clearly evident in the way that she still breathed heavily, shoulders rising and falling with much more force than that which was normal. Yet, she controlled it completely, fingers moving in a precisely choreographed dance over the keys as she played the contrastingly gentle close to one of the rawest, most intense songs ever written.

After the last key was released, the sound of Kaoru's labored breath was caught by her mike, filling the entire space for a full five seconds before the entire world crashed down around the three in joyful uproar. The crowd whistled, shouted, screamed and cried. Anything to let the girls know that they had won their hearts all over again.

***************************************************

"Huzzah!" Misao cried while punching a fist into the air, "We kicked ass!"

Kaoru only managed a tired smile as a response to her sister's enthusiasm as she handed over her guitar to a darkly-clad technician who had come to prepare the stage for the next act under the cover of darkness. As the three made their way offstage and into the back hallways of the facility, the brightness of the hall lights temporarily blinded them.

Kaoru frowned in distaste as she held a hand over her aching eyes, "Mou," she cursed, "I'm going to need glasses when this is ov….OOF!!"

The force of her bumping into something large and heavy in the blinding brightness of the hall, combined with the stiletto heels of her boots losing contact with the slippery floor sent her toppling backwards for just a moment before a strong pair of hands caught her by the wrist and waist, preventing her fall.

Strong…and somehow very familiar.

With a trembling hand Kaoru reached up to brush the bangs that had fallen into her eyes as she fell, anxious indigo coming to focus on a shade of violet that she had both loathed and missed terribly for over a week.

"Kenshin?" she squeaked.

The red-haired man's smile was both apologetic and a little well….lewd. Understandable, considering that he was holding a half-naked and gloriously sweaty Kaoru in a pretty compromising position. Hey. Who could blame him, really?

Smack!

Oh…right.

"Kenshin no hentai!" Kaoru barked as he lost his own balance under the powerful force of her open palm.

"Che," a gruff voice huffed from further down the hall, "You are so helpless Red."

Megumi barely had time to open her mouth before the owner of that voice had stalked over in her direction and begun to pull her into the darkness beyond the hall.

"Hey!" the kitsune barked angrily, "Lemme go you oaf!"

"Not until I get a chance to explain myself," the rooster said just as stubbornly, "Draw whatever conclusions you want Foxy, but make sure you've got the whole story before you do."

Fuming, but somehow curious to hear what he had to say, the angry fox allowed herself to be led away without too much kicking and screaming.

Further down the hall, a tall, remorseful-looking figure stood with his hands in his pockets, shyly peeking out at the youngest member of the "kitty band" from behind his long eyelashes, while she turned unblinking orbs of blue-green back at him.

Misao looked at Aoshi.

Aoshi looked at Misao.

"Our dressing-room's right down the hall, do you wanna talk there?" the little weasel asked innocently.

"Sure."

"Ok."

Kaoru found herself staring in disbelief as her ranks suddenly scattered. As the fact sunk in, her temper rose considerably. Blood rushed upward to tint her face a vivid shade of red as her fists clenched and her body trembled, a vain attempt at withholding the storm that had resided within her from the moment she had learned of Kenshin's transgression.

By this time, the unfortunate redhead had picked himself up off of the floor to find that he and Kaoru had (mercifully) been left alone. Brushing off the seat of his pants he carefully reformulated the speech that he had been planning to give her over the last several days, explaining the hows and whys of his and Hiko's relationship, his reasons for not telling her earlier and….and….

Gods, did she look angry.

Twin points of ethanoic flame seemed to burn right through him as Kaoru's silent, furious gaze turned toward him. How he wished that she would yell, or slap him again. Anything but just stand there looking so…hurt.

"Well?" she asked, folding her arms over the "v" neck of her dress.

Kenshin rubbed the back of his neck, "Kaoru," he sighed, "I never meant to hurt you in any way…"

"Really?" she asked scornfully, "Then you must be some kind of prodigy Kenshin, because you succeeded without even trying."

"C'mon Kaoru, please don't say that…"

"You mean, the truth?"

"That's just not fair..."

"Not fair?!!" the tanuki roared with all the force of the hurricane inside, "I'm the one who's out there for a reason, trying to use whatever talent I have to save my own ass from the credit sharks! Hoping to Kami-sama himself that I make it through, just to find out in the end that you're here without even trying and this is all just some big formality so your rich daddy can make you a fucking star?! I'm sorry Kenshin, but for some reason I can't find the heart to forgive you for making me feel like such an ass."

With that she turned away, fully intending to suppress whatever feelings that were popping up in her conscious mind. There'd be plenty of time to cry into her pillow…after she'd beaten the odds.

"Hiko isn't my Dad!" he blurted out clumsily.

That stopped her dead in her tracks, "What?" she said quietly.

The redhead allowed himself a small sigh of relief. "It's true," he insisted, "Hiko married my Mom when I was ten years old. She and my Dad owned a little talent agency with a good reputation. A year after Dad died, Hiko married Mom just so he could absorb what my parents had worked so hard to build into his no-talent colossus of a company. She left the job that she loved just so she could be a good wife to him…all the good that it did her. She ended up dying in childbirth herself a few years later. It was like…like…they never existed in the first place." he sighed, sad violet eyes finding hers once more as she turned to face him in astonishment.

"Hiko wants me to be an heir to Hiten Mitserugi," he continued, "But I don't want that. All I want is to get back what he stole from us when he took advantage of my Mom's feelings, but since he won't give me what I want I'll just have to take it back on my own merit, this contest is just about the only way that I can get into the company honestly."

Kaoru stared, openmouthed at Kenshin's confession. She should have known that there had to be something more to his actions. The way he sang, the look in his eyes when he spoke of his Mom. Kenshin was working every bit as hard as she was toward a goal no less honorable than her own. Shame quickly burned its way through her conscious, softening the crimson anger on her skin to a milder shade more suited to the deep dishonor that she had dealt Kenshin by doubting him for even a minute.

"Kenshin." she heard herself whisper, "I didn't know…"

Kenshin's next breath shook a little but he quickly covered the fact with a bright smile, "The funny thing though," he said, "Is that I've never been angrier with him than when he turned you against me. He can take everything else, but Kaoru, if he takes you away I…" The rest of the sentence remained unsaid, he didn't trust his voice to remain steady enough for him to finish.

Kaoru felt as if she were being torn in two. Of all people in the world, why did she find herself pitted against him? Even though no one had said it aloud, it had been pretty obvious from early on that there were only two real competitors in this contest. The crowd didn't react nearly as violently to any other band than they had to Sakabatou and Ko-Neko-Neko. How could she come to terms with the fact that win or lose, there was no way she could really succeed. If she won, her family's legacy would be safe, but Kenshin's would be lost. She wanted to save what her own parents had struggled to build, but she could not bear the thought of hurting Kenshin either.

"I…" she whispered as her own voice quickly lost its strength, "I've got to go."

With that she put her head down and brushed past him, making her way toward the sanctuary of the dressing-room to have herself a good, long cry.

***********************************************************

Shortly after he left Ko-neko-neko's dressing room, Aoshi was forced to flatten himself against the wall to allow a sniffling Kaoru to run past, oblivious to his presence through her tears. He could not help but wonder what had been said between her and his red-haired friend to have the poor woman so upset. Stupid Kenshin. He just had no clue when it came to talking to women.

"Look who's talking." he thought while fighting the sudden urge to kick himself. In the dressing-room, Misao had been the one doing most of the talking, merely asking him how he was doing and saying she was fine when her question elicited a mechanical repetition of her inquiry from him.

In the silence that followed, he found himself feeling more than a little stupid at his ineffectiveness in the conversation. And, as had been the case with Misao from the very start, all she had to do was turn those gorgeous eyes of hers in his direction and he was like putty in her hands.

"I miss you," he blurted out clumsily under her aquamarine gaze.

"I know." she slowly and calmly replied, "I miss you too."

"Good," he heard himself blurt again, "No. I don't mean "good" I mean I'm glad but…" he closed his eyes in frustration. "You know what?" he finally concluded, "Forget it." With that he coughed and looked away, a distinct blush tainting his cheeks.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her reddened lips, "I know," she repeated in a decidedly amused tone of voice, braids bouncing a little as she cocked her head to the side. She was so cute in that little outfit, the childish hairstyle somehow balancing off what would have otherwise seemed provocative, preserving the appearance of approachability that had first attracted him to her.

"The song was really nice," she finally said, "I think Kaoru and Megumi liked it a lot too."

Her husky tones did much to break the tension in the air and Aoshi found breathing infinitely easier at the sound. "Sagara was the one who suggested it," he admitted, ever so slowly peeling his gaze from the wall, "He…thought it might be appropriate."

Misao raised an eyebrow. "Sou da ne?" she said as she lowered herself onto one of the dressing-table's white, wooden stools.

"Aa," he answered, finally finding her eyes again, "It was hard to master in only a few days, but I believe it was worth it."

Her smile twitched, "Me too." she said.

More silence.

"Um," he began, not certain of what to say, the well-bred part of his mind whispering to return the compliment, "You guys were really great out there. I mean, the record company would have to blind or stupid not see that you're real idol material."

Misao's expression grew a little mysterious, and she was silent for a moment more. "Well, that would be nice….if we wanted to be idols." she said softly.

Aoshi looked puzzled, "What do you mean?" he asked, "If you're not interested in the contract, then why would you…?"

"Oh," she replied with a look of empty amusement, "Just a little something people in my class call foreclosure. We need the money to save our house and Megumi's clinic, if we lose the bank is going to take them both."

Aoshi's face was beyond stunned, "You're kidding." He finally said.

"Nope."

His eyes widened even further, "You're not kidding." he heard himself whisper. No wonder the girls performed the way that they did, they had a lot more to lose than just a contest and a pat on the back from Hiko. When the girls performed, they gave their all…because it was all they had to give. He was about to open his mouth to say something further when she cut him off.

"If you're planning on feeling sorry for us, don't," she firmly and quietly commanded "There's just no point. We'll get through this, we always do, so don't waste your sympathy where it's not needed." From anyone else, her words would have been quite hostile, but something in the quiet courage of Misao's voice willed it to be otherwise. She wasn't being defensive, only honest. She had wholeheartedly believed every word she'd said.

He watched her in open admiration, "How can you have so much…"

"Faith?" she finished for him, "My Mom taught me." Cocking her head again, she strained to hear the announcement that was being broadcasted over the speaker system.

"Sounds like it's your turn," she announced, "You'd better get going."

"Yeah…right," he said softly, "Listen Misao, I'm coming back as soon as we're finished, we've got to…"

"Talk." she said, doing it yet again. "I know."

"Um, right." a disconcerted Aoshi said before turning toward the door.

"Aoshi?"

"Yes?" he asked, turning around again.

Misao flashed him a subdued smile that made her eyes crinkle at the corners.

"Good luck."

*********************************************************************************

"That's far enough!" Megumi snapped coldly as she wrenched her arm out of Sano's grasp, "Say whatever you've got to say and make it fast."

A shadow of hurt crossed the warm earth tone of Sano's eyes but in her anger, the young doctor missed it completely. A uncharacteristically grim expression on his face, he turned to face her fully, her angry red-brown eyes glaring unblinkingly into his from a shallow angle.

"It's not what you think…"

Megumi's eyes narrowed further, "Great opening," she drawled satirically, "Very original."

One of his hands ran through his spiky hair in frustration, "Look Megumi, it's hard enough for me to say this already so just shut up and let me finish."

Cinnamon eyes widened at the sound of his impudence, but the trick worked, rendering the kitsune speechless long enough for Sano to make his point.

"Megumi," he repeated, his tone somewhat softer and more apologetic this time, "What happened between Sayo and I in the past is just that, the past. Believe me, she's too much of a glitter-fairy to have an honest relationship with anyone. But Meg, what you and I've got is real. I don't want to lose that over a stupid misunderstanding."

Slap!

Angry tears stood in the corners of Megumi's eyes, making them glitter more brightly that jewels in the single shaft of light that pierced the darkness of the backstage.

"Honest?!" she hissed, "Real?! You've got some nerve coming to me with all this self-righteous bullshit Mr. Amery!"

Sano stared down at her, slack-jawed with shock as the meaning of her words ever so slowly sunk in. His muddled mind could barely register the throbbing of his injured cheek as the word "Amery" echoed through his brain like a taunt.

"How did you…" he began, almost unable to form the words to echo the question in his mind. There was no way she could have…unless…

"Sayo." he whispered.

"Bingo," Megumi quickly countered, "You just keep digging yourself deeper and deeper don't you Sano? So when was it that you were going to dump me?" she asked, "Yesterday? Tomorrow? Tonight? When were you going to let the blue-collar bitch know her place?" After all, this is just some fantasy to you isn't it? Why else would the son of a former supermodel give me the time of day? Why…." She faltered as he suddenly moved closer.

Even had she chosen to try and struggle against his touch she would have found it futile to deny her own body what it so badly craved. Sano's kiss was sunlight, water, air. Everything that life was supposed to be without all the extra that one so foolishly allows to clutter up their reality. Her arms hung limply at her sides as he filled every one of her senses as only he could, the rest of her angry sentence lost in the completeness of his touch.

Her eyes fluttered open as he slowly drew away, his own eyes closed in that drunken, sleepy mask of love-lust that overtook his features whenever they touched. He opened them presently, the warmth of their color leaving all of his soul bare to her view.

"That was real," he said huskily, "That was more real to me than anything I've ever felt before, Megumi. I want you to know that."

Mesmerized by the touch of his skin and the meaning of his words, it took Megumi a few seconds to realize that he had turned away from her and was heading toward the stage in long, determined strides. She opened her mouth to call out to him but the sound wouldn't come. The tears were quick to return as a loathed feeling of helplessness overcame her being. Quickly forgetting her calm and educated ways, she kicked at the wall in frustration.

"Damn you Sanosuke!" she swore.

***************************************************************

Kenshin approached the mike in silence, his grim expression mirroring that of his two colleagues as he looked down upon the crowd. He was glad for the distance between them, that way they could not see the glaring sadness in his eyes as he played. Struggling against his emotions, he opened his mouth to say something clever, some witty little tidbit that would have the throng on its toes, open and waiting for what the band could give them. Release, a sense of belonging and maybe to some extent, a bit of unconditional love. However, he found that the words could not come, and with a heavy sigh closed it again. Running his hand through his hair once, he then allowed it to drop down to his guitar, lifting the instrument to his waist even as he began to count softly to cue the other two musicians on the stage.

As soon as the count was over Aoshi leaned into his drums, building up a strong, seductive beat. Sano's bass soon followed, weaving its way around the rhythm in a way that complimented the hypnotizing effect of Aoshi's drums his entire body swaying under the command of his own instrument. Kenshin's guitar soon hummed its way into the mix, patiently rising up through the layers of sound until it became level with the others for a moment before they all suddenly began to play in unison, the same keys at the exact same time before crashing down into a sonic wave that had the crowd helplessly trapped under its force.

Kenshin closed his eyes as he leaned into the mike, hoping to Kami-sama himself that under the glitter and lights that no-one could tell how he really felt inside.

Love and hate get it wrong
She cut me right back down to size
Sleep the day let it fade
Who was there to take your place

No one knows never will
Mostly me but mostly you
What do you say do you do
When it all comes down

Cause I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this time to find out what I need yeah

I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this all this time

He swallowed the lump that appeared in his throat as he leaned away from the microphone for a moment. Gods, it hurt him to be up here. The crowd oblivious to the inner torment that each of the musicians struggled with internally, swayed to the rhythm of the drum and guitars selfishly demanding more of what they struggled to give in spite of their personal troubles. They all played as well as they ever had but each mirthless expression was a silent testament to the fact that for once in their lives, Sakabatou's hearts lay elsewhere.

There is no blame only shame
When you beg you just complain
The more I come the more I try
All police are paranoid

So am I so's the future
So are you be a creature
What do you say do you do
When it all comes down?

Cause I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this time to find out what I need yeah yeah yeah

I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this all this time

Kaoru burst into the dressing room just as Kenshin's voice began to croon over the speaker system, finding its way down the halls and into what was no longer her sanctuary from the pain of heart-ache.

Misao looked up as she entered, the sister's eyes locking for just a moment. However in that moment, more information passed than could be gleaned from an entire day's conversation. Misao's greenish eyes misted in sympathy at the sight of the tear tracks on her sister's face and without being asked, she rose from the place where she was sitting to hold Kaoru in an embrace of comfort.

"It's alright," she crooned softly, "Everything's going to be alright."

Megumi on the other hand had remained just where Sanosuke had left her, her head buried in her knees as her shoulders shook with childish sobs. Her tears made her even angrier at Sanosuke, as she had promised herself a long time ago that crying was a waste of precious time and that she would never do it again. Why should she break that solemn promise for a lying bastard like him? He just wasn't worth it…or so she told herself. Even so, she could not help herself as she crunched her body more tightly together, unable for the first time in years to hold the disappointment inside.

"Damn you Sano…" she whispered.

Shoot up, shoot up, shoot up you're high

In the quiet moment before the bridge and the last chorus, Kenshin looked out toward the crowd. In their frenzy, a lot of them had produced cigarette lighters and were waving them high above their heads. In the eight seconds of near silence, these lights began to blur out of focus and with some surprise, Kenshin realized that it was because of the moisture standing in his own eyes.

Blinking forcefully to get rid of the involuntary tears, he fell back into the music, Aoshi,. Sano and himself continuing from where they had left off without missing a single beat.

Love and hate get it wrong
She cut me right down to size

Sleep the day let it fade
Who was there to take your place?

No one knows never will
Mostly me but mostly you
What do you say do ya do
When it all comes down?

The original singer had put a lot of emotion into the song for that part. Even so, it barely compared the raw feeling in Kenshin's as the feelings of loss and regret became way too much for him to bear. His voice alone was enough to pull on the fabric of a listener's soul, compelling them to feel at least a little of what he felt. The more he sang, the higher the intensity rose, by the time he reached the chorus again he was practically screaming.

Cause I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this time to find out what I need yeah yeah yeah

I don't want to come back down from this cloud
It's taken me all this all this time

He tore into his guitar with more passion than he had on any other occasion doing more than his fair share to help his comrades create the explosion of sound that would bring their song to its climax. Aoshi and Sano were not left untouched by the ire and it reflected in the single-mindedness with which they played. Aoshi's bangs had long since plastered themselves to his face with sweat, a discomfort he was thankful for, that way no one could see the anger in his eyes as his body held back none of its strength as he played. Sano was no less engrossed in his work, as he seemed to put his entire focus on his instrument, the only indication that his mind lay elsewhere being in the way that ran his tongue over his now dry bottom lip, as if to catch any taste that might still be lingering there.

Why did you?

Why did you?

Why did you? Why did you?! Why did you?! Why did you?!!

The energy was too much for him to channel through his voice and guitar alone. As his words rose to a raw scream his entire body followed with a tantrum that would put most other hardcore rockers to shame. He threw his head back after the last repetition, drawing in a breath that sounded suspiciously more like a sob than anything else. Forcing himself to focus he brought the song to a close, each word reminiscent of a child willing away his uncertainties by repeating his chosen verbal comfort until it had replaced the fear completely.

Comedown

I don't want to come back down from this cloud

This cloud

He closed his eyes when the song ended. He did not want to see when the crowd writhed in pleasure at what they had so greedily taken. On any other night, on any other stage, their happiness would be his. But not tonight.

Closing his ears to their screams he pulled off his guitar and laid it out on the floor for the technicians to take care of. Then without so much as a wave to the oblivious multitude he turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the dressing-rooms.

He knew what he had to do.

*******************************************************

Kaoru and Megumi had stopped crying quite some time ago and with some coaxing, Misao got them to change clothes for the final leg of the competition. Although the girls had never looked lovelier, the weighted silence that hung over them as they waited on Chou to call on them for the final time was enough to have the fact overlooked. Kaoru leaned back on the room's one couch, chewing her nails worriedly as her thoughts continuously wandered into dangerous terrain. Megumi on the other hand sat on a stool by the dresser, her head cradled in one hand while the other nervously fiddled with the bristles of her cousin's hairbrush. Misao herself had opted to perch on the edge of the dressing table itself, legs swinging slightly in midair as she awaited Chou's arrival.

All three of them started when the knock on the door was finally heard but Misao was the only one to slide off of her perch to open it. Sure enough, there was Chou on the other side. His eyes widened a little at the sight of the girl's attire, but otherwise he seemed flustered in quite a different way. His shoulders were heaving as if he had run a long way and he was smiling in a way that clearly said "I know something that you don't."

His ruffled exterior was enough to shake Kaoru out of her trance, "Sawaejou-san?" she inquired timidly as she rose from her seat slightly, "What is it?"

Without a word Chou entered the room and walked straight up to the blue-eyed woman. Kaoru looked up at him questioningly as he thrust a plain white envelope into her hands.

"Congratulations," he said with a grin, "It seems that you girls are definitely going to come out winners tonight."

Kaoru frowned in confusion, "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Chou motioned to the object in her hands, "Why don't you open that and see?" he said.

Kaoru looked down at the envelope as if it were volatile. Slowly, her trembling hands fumbled to open it, finally pulling out a single piece of paper. The handwriting on it was a little scrappy as if the writer had been rushed to convey his message. Swallowing the lump that had suddenly appeared in her throat she began to read.

Dear Kaoru,

Aoshi told me the reason why the three of you are going on with this competition. Please don't be harsh with your sister for telling him. It only confirms what I have already decided to do. Sano and Aoshi agree with me as well. They don't want to hurt the girls any more than I'd want to hurt you. Think of us when they give you the trophy tonight.

Kenshin.

The letter fluttered to the floor as Kaoru leaped up to grab Chou by the shoulders. "Where are they?" she demanded almost shaking life out of the broom-haired man.

"Ara," he said nervously, "I just left them in the parking lot about five minutes ago."

Without another word Kaoru tore out of the room, not even looking back when a flustered Chou called out to her saying that they were due to perform in thirty minutes. Her heart and mind were too full to even consider him as she sprinted down the hall toward the exit, praying to every god she knew that Kenshin was still there.

*********************************************

Aoshi strapped on his bike helmet just as Sanosuke packed the last piece of their equipment into Kenshin's 4x4. He looked back at the building for a moment before shaking his head and walking over to the other two men. They all knew that they were doing the right thing, but that didn't make it entirely easy to walk away just like that.

"I guess that's why they call it a sacrifice," he thought to himself.

Sanosuke turned just as he had made his way over to the van. Sano turned and saw him there immediately raising his right hand for Aoshi to grasp, pulling him forward and briefly embracing him with his left. Although the two had their differences, they were purely superficial ones that kept up the camaraderie between them. Aoshi had to admit that in the end, it was Sanosuke's uncultured, easygoing friendship that had saved him from being a snot-nosed aristocrat of his class.

"Well this is it," he said with an air of finality, "It's been real."

Kenshin placed his key into the ignition before walking to the back of the van where his two band-mates stood. "Hey, none of that," he chided, "We're still gonna make it, just not tonight."

"Yeah," Sano said looking up at the canopy of stars above their heads, "I'll tell you one thing though, I wouldn't have lost to anyone else."

"Got that right." Aoshi said looking back for the last time, "Oh well, at least I can turn in early tonight."

Kenshin shrugged, "Guess you're right."

"Wrong."

All three men turned as one to find none other than Kamiya Kaoru standing behind them with one hip thrust out and the keys to Kenshin's van idly dangling from her slender fingers.

"Whoa," Sanosuke managed to say first, "Go Jou-chan."

His open admiration made the young woman blush slightly. In her haste to catch the boys before they left, she had forgotten that she had already changed for their last act. All she wore against the coolness of the night air were a pair of thin blue ribbons, cute box-heeled shoes to match and an iridescent blue mini cheongsam with a metallic gold trim around the edge. Shaking off her embarrassment she turned to Kenshin with a heavy scowl.

"You're not going anywhere." She stated firmly.

Kenshin frowned as well, or made a weak attempt at one. "Kaoru please just give the keys to my van."

Kaoru hid said keys behind her back, shaking her head vigorously from side to side.

"No." she insisted, "I want to win this competition, not have it handed to me."

Aoshi and Sano looked at one another, neither willing to place himself in the middle of this fight.

"Would just stop being so stubborn?"

"Ha! Look who's talking Mr. Chivalry."

"I'm trying to do you a favor."

"A favor that I don't need!"

"Look," Kenshin said while running his hand through his hair in frustration, "This is your big chance so just go out there and take it!"

"No!" she snapped, softening her tone a little when she saw a shadow of hurt cross his violet eyes, "You deserve a fair chance too. If there were a way that both of us could win I'd take it but there's just no other way." Her voice grew very small and she hid her eyes with her long bangs.

"I don't want to hurt you either."

Kenshin searched his brain for the a good response to that but he came up blank. "Kaoru…" he sighed, reciting the only word that seemed to be left.

"Maybe there is a way," a new voice called out from the building's exit. Everyone turned to see the two remaining members of Ko-neko-neko standing there, the shorter of the two grinning from ear to ear.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Misao announced, "I have a plan."

*********************************************************************

"Have you lost your mind?!!"

Misao shrugged, unfazed by her sister's outburst, "No more than usual," she quipped, "Admit it. It's the most logical choice we have."

"That's all well and good Misao-chan," Kenshin said quietly, "But this is a competition and competitions have rules. Surely we'll be breaking them by attempting something this…unorthodox."

Misao grinned, "That's the beauty of it!" she said triumphantly, "Hiten Mitserugi made one mistake when they set up this competition. They never dreamed that a situation like this would come up where there's money and fame at stake, so they neglected to write it out of the rule book!"

Aoshi gave a smile that was equal parts shock and admiration. Misao certainly was full of surprises and this was most certainly a pleasant one.

Sano grinned from ear to ear, punching his right hand into his left. "Weasel, I like the way you think."

Misao's lips twitched with a suppressed smile, "Don't call me "weasel" rooster head." She said.

Megumi, who had so far been sitting quietly on the end of the dressing-room's couch, as far away from Sanosuke as she could get, with a distinct scowl on her scarlet lips.

"No." she said firmly.

Misao turned to her, eyes pleading, "Aw, c'mon cuz," she begged, "It's the only way!"

Megumi slit her eyes at the carpet, keeping her arms tightly folded to her chest, "Not the only way,' she said, "We can still go out there and do our thing just as we always have. Anything's better than lowering myself any further than I already have."

"Megumi!" Kaoru gasped before a large hand rested gently on her shoulder.

"Easy Jou-chan," Sano said softly, "She has her reasons."

"Damn right I do." the fox muttered under her breath. However as soon as she'd finished her defiant statement, she felt a weight settle on the carpet in front of her and when she turned to look, Sano was on the floor, on his knees, literally at her feet.

"Foxy, don't be selfish," he chided, "I know how much that clinic must mean to you and believe me I know how much a place like that can mean to some people. I didn't just come to the lower side for an adventure, if you don't believe me just ask my Mom. I can't live the way she lives or do what she does, I'm happier where I am. I love those people too, Megumi. Please let me do this for them."

There was a long moment of silence before Megumi sniffed indignantly, but those who knew her best knew it was just for show. Although Sanosuke had lied to her in the past, she needed no confirmation to accept at least some of what he said as true. The clinic meant more to the lower income families of Tokyo than it did even to her. She loved the place out of duty, but they needed it just to survive. It wouldn't be fair to deny them that for a sense of false pride. However much she disliked Sano at the moment, she would be the bigger person to set that aside and focus on what was really at stake.

"Fine," she finally said, "I can do this…just this once."

**************************************************************

"They're going to WHAT?!!"

Chou squirmed most unhappily in Hiko Seijuro's iron grip. In his surprise the larger man had grabbed the blonde by the shoulders, shaking life out of him from about a foot off of the ground.

"I-it's t-t-true sir," Chou stuttered, "We neglected to put any rules in place to prevent such a situation from occurring, so I had no choice but allow them to go ahead with it."

Sayo Amakusa looked on at the two with a smirk of unholy glee on her face. "Well I'll be…" she said tapping a finger thoughtfully against her bottom lip, "Seems like that son of yours has more tricks up his sleeve than you give him credit for, ne Hiko-sama?"

Hiko gave the cheeky young woman a short glare. Although he was not a judge for the finals, he had hoped that the boy would have been disappointed so he could come to his senses and take the position that he had made for him in the company. But no. The child was still as stubborn as ever! He was just like…just like…

"Anata, if you sign on that no-talent group of noisemakers to the company, I'll burn the contract along with those tacky green socks that you like so much."

He never could win an argument with a red-head.

"Shit!" he swore in frustration.

"Was bezaubernde Sprache, die Sie benutzen." a richly accented, feminine voice called out from behind him.

Hiko blushed despite himself. There was only one woman alive who managed to walk into a room only and only when he lost all composure. Or was it the other way around?

Setting Chou on his feet he calmly dismissed both him and Sayo before turning to face the new woman. " Sind hallo Leyna," he said calmly enough, "Wie Sie gewesen?"

A small smile played on her lips as she stood with her feet slightly apart, hip thrust out slightly, her long, auburn hair cascading down her back in polished waves over a mini skirted power-suit that could not have looked better on a woman half her age. "I daresay that at the moment, I'm faring better than you are at the moment, Hiko," she said in richly accented Japanese.

Hiko cleared his throat again in embarrassment, "Yes, well…" he stalled watching her literally slink over to the glass window that overlooked the stage, "I take it that you're here to see your son perform?"

"Ja," she quickly responded, shifting her weight to her other foot in a fluid, sultry movement, "A mother should always support her baby in whatever he might choose to do, do you not agree?"

That caught him by surprise. He suddenly wondered just how much of the conversation she had picked up on before she had made herself known to him. "Only if you are fortunate enough not to have a foolish one." He grumbled.

Leyna's warm, brown gaze found his. "Even so," she said with a smile, "Is it not a blessing to be young and foolish, if only just for once?" She motioned for Hiko to come closer to the window. A commotion began in the crowd below the V.I.P box as Sayo appeared on the side stage provided for announcers, the last act of the night was about to begin, and what a surprise it promised to be!

****************************************************

On the stage a bass guitar began to play in the darkness, closely followed by the lighter strains of an electric one. After two counts a single spotlight revealed Kenshin at the middle of the stage in front of a standing mike. Without any further introduction he began to sing in the deep, rich voice that the crowd had come to love.

Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

I'm closer to where I started I'm chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you

I'm letting go of all I've held on to

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

A second pool of light formed next to Kenshin and the crowd gave an audible gasp to their blue-eyed siren standing on the opposite side of the mike. She wrapped one hand around the mike's stand as she looked directly into Kenshin's eyes as she sang with him, singing more to him than the restless crowd below.

Forgetting all I'm lacking completely incomplete

I'll take your invitation

You take all of me

As soon as the last word left her mouth all the lights on the stage suddenly came on all at once, revealing all the other members of Sakaabatou and Ko-neko-neko playing side by side as if it had been that way from the very beginning. Aoshi and Misao were sitting back to back on a drum set that was obviously made for two, playing in perfect unison. They both seemed to be having the time of their lives too, both wearing the same bright smile of excitement that must have come from the thrill of playing together. Megumi too had lost her sad look and now played bass alongside Sano with a newfound gusto. Sano himself was grinning from ear to ear, the laughter in his eyes infecting the very core of her being, coaxing a smile from her as well. Kenshin and Kaoru at the forefront played their guitars with perfect timing, creating a sound far more wonderful than either could achieve alone.

I'm falling even more in love with you

I'm letting go of all I've held on to

I'm standing here until you make move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running

and not quite sure where to go

and I don't know what I'm diving into

just hanging by a moment here with you

To the crowd's delight, Kenshin and Kaoru weren't the only ones singing. During the chorus it became obvious that their other band mates made for some excellent backup, providing the extra richness that separated the sound from the rest of the song. As it ended Kenshin and Kaoru leaned toward each other, the mike the only thing separating them from each other as they closed their eyes and sang.

There's nothing else to lose

There's nothing else to find

There's nothing in the world

That can change my mind

There is nothing else

As the last line was sung, all the members stopped playing, allowing the echo of their instruments to resonate for a count of four. The guitars then began playing again, returning once more to the place where they had begun.

Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

I'm closer to where I started chasing after you

In the moment of near silence that followed, time seemed to slow down as each person looked to their counterpart, silent messages of understanding passing between them before they all burst into song again. Only this time they weren't doing it for money or fame. This time they weren't afraid. This time, the sound came purely from the heart.

I'm falling even more in love with you

I'm letting go of all I've held on to

I'm standing here until you make move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you

Just hanging by a moment

Hanging by a moment

Hanging by a moment here with you.

This time the crowd didn't wait for the sound of the instruments to fade away before they began screaming. The sound was so deafening that they barely noticed when Sayo re-appeared on stage to announce what everyone present already knew.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she shouted above the din, "It looks like Hiten Mitserugi has two winners tonight. Sakabatou and Ko-neko-neko!"

If possible, the crowd screamed even louder than before, shouts of "Sakabatou and Ko-neko-neko forever!" rang up and down the halls. In the technician's booth, Shiro and Chou had their arms around each other, jumping up and down and screaming like schoolgirls as the discarded sheets from Chou's clip-board scattered around the room.

On stage, Misao got up and practically threw herself into Aoshi's waiting arms. The blue-eyed man laughed carelessly as he swung the little dj around in a circle. Megumi took off her bass guitar and set it on the ground beside her as Sano did the same. She looked at him warily for a moment before breaking out into a huge smile and gripping a surprised Sanosuke by the waist.

"Thanks Sano." she muttered into his shirt.

Slowly, his shock waned into pleasure as he lowered his arms around her, "Anytime, Foxy," he gladly replied, "Anytime."

Kenshin and Kaoru looked out onto the crowd with mixed looks of joy and amazement. After a moment they turned to each other and Kaoru gave him that big, bright, beautiful smile that he had been missing.

"We did it." she said disbelievingly.

"Aa," Kenshin replied with a smile of his own.

Kaoru's smile turned into a grin as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. On seeing that the crowd broke out into a frenzy of wolf-whistles and cat-calls.

"Oro…" Kenshin said as he was released, "Does that mean that I'm forgiven?"

Kaoru smiled at that. How wonderfully silly he could be sometimes. Finding no verbal response fitting to the question she did the only thing that seemed to come to mind.

She kissed him again.

*****************************************************

"Well now," Leyna said from her place by the window, "It seems that both our foolish boys have done pretty well for themselves."

Hiko looked down to the place where the young Kamiya girl had engaged his son in another kiss and he could not help but smile. He had called the boy every single kind of fool there was, but it would seem that in the end that what was foolish for some, worked out pretty well for others.

"Yes," he said, "I suppose that you're right."

Leyna smiled knowingly before clapping her hands once. "I think that a victory party is in order, ne?" she asked, "I trust that you all organized for one."

Hiko smiled and offered his arm, "If you would allow me to escort you."

There was a twinkle in her eyes as she narrowed them at him playfully.

"Versuchen Sie zu seduce mich?" she asked playfully.

Hiko gave her a suave grin, "Maybe I am Leyna," he said, "Maybe I am."

Leyna gave him an all out grin, but before she allowed him to lead her away she glanced back through the window to where her son was now cradling his pretty raven-haired girl in his arms as she swung her about in a circle himself. She smiled.

"Glückwünsche Liebling."

END.

************************************************************

German-speak

Was bezaubernde Sprache, die Sie benutzen - What charming language you use.

Sind hallo Leyna, wie sie gewesen? - Hello Leyna, how are you?

Versuchen Sie zu seduce mich?" - Are you trying to seduce me?

Glückwünsche Liebling - Congratulations Darling

*******************************************************************

Songs Used:

The End of Me - Nine Inch Nails

Comedown - Bush

And of course, Hanging by a Moment - Lifehouse.

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