Ch. 8: Don’t Tell Him

I mean, we're in our third year now. Our first priority should be entrance exams, right?"

Hearing this, Yue felt she had to put her two cents in. "Has the band ever been in the way of your studies before?"

Caught off guard from her question, Renji looks at Yue in confusion. "What?"

"Your grades? Has being in the band for the past 2 years affected your grades in a negative way?"

Renji tilts his head back to look up at the ceiling, as he goes through his memories. "No, I guess not."

"Then what's the problem? Don't you enjoy being in the band?"

"Of course, I enjoy it! I was happy when Kikyo asked me to join! It's just…circumstances have changed. I don't think you could understand."

Silence fell over them as Yue thinks about what he meant by her not understanding. While searching for an answer, the opening of the auditorium door broke the awkward silence. Both Yue and Renji were expecting to see Kikyo come through the door, but instead find groups of high school students start to roll in.

"Well, if he's gonna help, they better hurry up and get here fast."

Yue watches as the audience rises in the auditorium and thinks, 'That's something we both can agree on, at the moment.'

Suddenly hearing someone running from backstage, Kikyo finally emerges. "I'm back! And I brought our savior with me!" Unlike my sister, I made a more fashionable entrance and walked camly out on stage. I wasn't expecting for either one of them to not look surprised. Especially Sleeping Beauty, who although tried to hide it, looked more relieved than anything. Renji, on the other hand, was still kinda hard to read.

"So…does this mean he's joining the band?"

"And if I was? You can talk to me, you know. I'm standing right here."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot. Your physical presence is kinda hard to get used to. Your existence has been pretty much like a ghost stuck in limbo, for the past 3 years."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Alright, we're not gonna do this."

"It means that…"

"I SAID…we're not gonna do this, right now!" After yelling at us, Kikyo grabs the sheet music, for the bass part, out of a folder. After handing them to me, she looks at Renji, sympathetically. "Renji. Whatever your issues are. Save them for after. Please. All I'm asking is for you guys to fake it for me, right now, okay?"

"Whatever!" Renji says, no longer making eye contact with either of us. Kikyo then glares at me, waiting for my response.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Now, I'm gonna close the drapes. You just get comfortable and get to memorizing. And from the look of the crowd, you don't have a lot of time. Yue! Come help me!"

"Alright." Sleeping Beauty was so quiet, I nearly forgot that she was here. And maybe I was seeing things, but I could've sworn she was smiling at me, before she followed my sister backstage. It was only a glimpse, but still a gorgeous smile, all the same. But seeing it made me wonder, 'Is she no longer mad at me? I would like to see what other expressions she can make.' I looked down at the sheet music in my hand, and after a quick scan through, I could tell that whoever wrote this had real talent. Almost too good for a mere highschool level. 'Anyway, this isn't going to memorize itself.'

—

With the curtains now closed, drowning out the voices of the audience, the only sound left was the bass piece to the band's new song. Staying some distance away, Yue listened as Kaname played.

"He's a natural, isn't he?" Kikyo whispers in Yue's ear and stands next to her to listen as well. Looking how immersed Yue was in her brother she had to ask, "So when are you gonna stop acting like you don't wanna talk to him?"

"I didn't know I was acting like that. I thought I was acting like someone who's being cautious."

"Call it whatever you want. My brother has an amazing mind, but his attention span is very limited. And you, my friend, already have his attention. But only for so long."

"You told him about me?"

Kikyo smiles at Yue's question. "Not yet. But he has asked about you. I told him I didn't know who he was talking about at the time. But now that he's seen us together, I can't do that the next time he…"

"Don't tell him."

Kikyo's smile disappears. "Don't tell him?" Realizing Yue wasn't going to answer, as she continues to watch her brother, Kikyo sighs at the disappointing outcome. "If that's what you want. It's your decision." Kikyo also continues to listen to Kaname as he plays. "At least, tell me, what you did with his jacket."

Still not saying anything, Yue glances at Kikyo and gives her a heart warming smile. Kikyo wasn't entirely sure what that smile meant, but she returned a smile anyway.

"Kikyo! How are we coming along? Everyone is waiting!" Nana says, showing up out of nowhere.

"We are almost ready! Right, Kaname?!"

Still looking at the sheet music he says, "Yep!"

"Ready, Renji?!"

"I've been ready!" He says as he drums a short lick for us.

"Okay guys! It's about to be showtime in 5!" Kikyo says with excitement, grabbing her guitar.

"I'll let everyone know, then! I can't wait to hear Kaname play!"

"Oh! We're on a first name basis, already?" Kikyo says, teasingly, as Nana leaves the stage.

"And he's not the only one playing!" Renji exclaims.

As the two joke, I go over the notes a few more times to make sure I'm fully prepared. 'It really has been awhile.'

"Mr. Takahashi." After hearing the most gentle voice, I was brought back to reality and found Sleeping Beauty standing next to me. "I'm sure you'll do great."

Still comprehending what just happened, she walks away before I could tell her "Thank you".

"Alright everyone! Let's give it up for our 2 time national winning school band…Trilaxy!!"

After Nana introduces the band, all you hear are the screams of a happy audience. I look at Kikyo, who nods slightly at me for reassurance. 'Looks like it's moment of truth time.'