Eternal Melody

If I were the rain that binds together the Earth and the sky, whom in all eternity would never mingle. . .Would I be able to bind two hearts together? "

It didn't surprise Atushi when he received the call from Yuhi saying they would come back early. He felt that he understood what Ibuki Sumire was thinking more than anybody here, even more than Yuhi. But that was only because once upon a time he was in love or maybe still is in love with Ibuki Sumire.

Atushi smiled softly at the sight of Yuhi fast asleep on the couch. They only just arrived two hours ago, and yet Yuhi is acting casual. He already heard that something serious happened, but those people are quick to censor the news.

"His nightmares are back, aren't they." Atushi started quietly, not wanting to disrupt the atmosphere around the bar. Everyone else that usually occupied the bar was out doing who knows what. But Yoru and Kija were with the others, so he didn't need to worry too much.

Jae nodded at his statement and sighed. "Yeah. It makes me worry. He hasn't slept properly for the past few weeks."

He turned to look at him and rolled his eyes. "You haven't been sleeping much either, Atushi-san. Are you hunting down those people who hurt our members?"

"You know I have to. Can't let them go around hurting other members of Akagaumi."

"But you're letting it disrupt your sleep." Jae pointed out with a frown.

Atushi reached over and pinched his cheeks.

"Ouch!" Jae whined.

Atushi laughed and messed up his hair, easily earning himself a kick to his arms with his position. The two went back and forth, throwing punches and kicks.

"You two are being noisy. I'm trying to sleep."

Atushi looked down at Yuhi, he still had his eyes closed, but he had a small frown on his lips.

"Oh, please. You weren't even sleeping from the start, Terashima."

He scoffed, pulling on some strands of his disheveled hair. He grunted in response and sat up to stretch like a-.

"Like a lion." Jae finished with a laugh.

Atushi chuckled, and Yuhi looked over at them with a dark look, but before they could exchange any more words, they hear the sound of the bell.

A brunette-haired girl walked in with a rather unbelievable look on her face.

"What happened to you?" Atushi dared ask.

"I'm tired and sleepy...pshuuu."

Pshuu?

Jae chuckled. "It's been a while since I last saw the Princessa like that. Alright, come and relax on my--"

Amid Jae's speech, the brown-haired girl had already positioned herself on the couch; to be precise, she was lying down on Yuhi's lap.

"I'm hurt. King and the Princess's are so close with each other!" Jae said dramatically.

Atushi rolled his eyes. "Come now; you're not a kid."

But he had to admit that indeed it was just a comforting sight watching the two. The black hair boy who had sat up moments ago was now in a rather slouched position as Yuhi ran a hand through the girl's brown locks and hummed a tune. Not like him to start singing, he noted.

Atushi already heard how in the past, he quit the music industry for a bit and indeed thought of it as a legitimate enough excuse. He is more serious now; it must be because of Sumire.

"So why are you so tired? " Atushi asked, knowing that the brown-haired girl was awake.

"Mmm, I worked on a few songs."

Yuhi is a member of Quatro light, no Midnight five now. Since Sumire is the official composer, and the group just debuted, she must have a lot of work to do. But he also heard rumors that she accepted to be on Takashi Yumi's show.

Atushi watched Yuhi carefully and saw him silently fuss over her. Only Yuhi treats Sumire like she is so fragile.

"To think it's finally time, despite the delay?"

Jae chuckles. "Time just goes slowly for you like an old man." He hit the golden hair boy lightly across the head then, "What about you, King? What do you think will happen tomorrow?"

"What you ask," Yuhi said with a deep sigh and pulled a serious face.

"Those guys are performing first huh?"

"Ah, you mean them? Yes. It's quite the honor for them to perform the opening."

Indeed performing the opening was somewhat of a grand matter, which is why the media made such a big deal out of it. Since it isn't one of the senior teams, those guys better make it count, performing the opening and on the first day.

"Wasn't Kusaji having issues before, though? Will he be alright?" Atushi said, recalling the expression he had seen on the boy's face.

"Sumire."

Sumire lifted her hand up and pulled out a marble.

"Atsuro is fine now. Yamaguchi-san managed to talk to him properly. As for Shin-." Sumire trails off. "-he is still an idiot."

His sweatdropped; she's blunt as ever, huh, with that stuff.

"Now now, Princess. Nakara Shin is in a better position than Ichiko, correct?"

"True.. That one is still stormy."

"Just start burning things then."

"Yuhi, you really should learn to be more considerate---hachoo." Sumire's sentence broke off as she sneezed.

"I knew you would catch a cold." Atushi deeply sighed, not surprised at all. "I told you not to go out without your cape at least."

This girl's bad habits don't change. He wonders how Yuhi deals with- Atushi paused in mid-thought. Then again, Yuhi is just as bad as her.

"Right, sorry. I didn't know it would suddenly start snowing out of the blue. Gee Atushi, you act like a parent sometimes."

Ouch, that is a huge blow to his self-esteem, especially considering how he still harbors feelings for her. But he supposed this was fine. He has already heard everything, after all, the things he wanted to know and the things that are still left to be said.

Jae chuckled. "Don't start flirting with you two. King will get jealous----oh my that's bold."

Hmm?

Atushi watches as the silent black hair boy takes one look at the brown-haired girl and rummages with his free hand to the side of the couch. Yuhi pulled out his black leather jacket and wrapped it around the girl.

"You'll get sick. Be careful."

"Yeah, thank you."

Somehow these two seem different than before.

Or have they always been that way? Atushi looked over at Sumire, and his eyes widened. Ah, now he understands. The kindness Yuhi shows her; she is no longer able to reject it, so she can smile naturally.

.......

Once the two had fallen asleep, Jae stops filming with his camera causing him to shake his head. "Those two will kill you when they find out," Atushi commented.

Earlier it looked like Jae was cleaning his camera, but he was secretly filming the two this entire time."

"Now now, there's nothing wrong with documenting memories. Besides, it's been a while since I've last captured something with the Princess figure."

Atushi sighed. "Quit making it sound perverted."

"Oh my, you found out?"

He shook his head and began to wipe another glass. The bar was closed early due to the heavy rain. Usually, on days like this, he would head back to the academy right away. However, the trains had stopped, and there wasn't any way for him to get back. Well, he supposed that in itself was lucky; it felt as though he hadn't been around as much beside her.

Since he, too, was a member of the elite, he knew what was happening with her.