" Schedule, young boys!" he repeated.

Die blinked then Kyo blinked and then the rest followed. " What schedule?"

" Schedule for practice and recording. I've been so busy lately that I didn't notice how much you all have been slacking behind and after that live at XXX, it was so..." Yoshiki went on and on but they were not paying attention to him.

" Practice...Monday, Tuesday..." Shinya murmured as his eyes scanned a sheet of the paper.

" Time...what the...???" 

" We're gonna practice for *that* long and we only have one day off?!" Toshiya almost shrieked.

" It'll be for a few months only and I might come and review your progress once in a while and I want to see improvements and new stuff instead off all the same monotonous stereotype work. I expect a lot from you," Yoshiki said in a business-like manner.

"  And the studios are available for this stretch of time, I don't see what's the problem..." Yoshiki continued, unaware of the daggers of dissatisfaction he's getting from the looks of the four men. Four; because Kaoru didn't seem bothered with the newly-set schedules.

" There's no problem, Yoshiki-san." The four set of eyes turned towards Kaoru; shock was evident.

" You can't mean it! No, Kaoru!" they said in horror after their producer left.

" Why not?"

" Practice starts at 7.30!!! I can't wake up!" Kyo exclaimed. The crew turned an amused look and stared at them.

" I have to wake up at 5!" Toshiya said.

" You can wake up later if you spend less time fixing your hair and make-up."

" But..."

" See you guys tomorrow okay?" Kaoru could not care less and strode towards the metal door. 

Toshiya, Shinya, Kyo and Die's shoulders slumped down in acceptance of what is inevitable.

" Well, I'd better get going now. Tomorrow's real early," Shinya said as he stretched out an arm for his backpack.

***
The morning wind was freezing. Toshiya shivered as he stood in front of the entrance, waiting. His bass leaned against the cement wall, a bit less cold than he was. He checked his watch.

-Stupid me! To think that *they* would actually come so early!-

Usually, Toshiya would be the last person to arrive but this time was different. Last night, he found that he could not fall into slumber land. This was certainly something new. His mind was hyper-active with a certain guest of honor appearing in his thought more often than not. 

- I wonder how he feels for me...*if* he feels anything for me, that is.-

-But what do I feel for him? This peculiar warm feeling I get whenever I see him...-

-I...-

Toshiya decided not to think about it and gazed far off to the sun which was peeking just slightly above the horizon. Its yellow rays appeared almost warm to the eye.

" Aren't you coming in?" a familiar voice suddenly asked.

Toshiya was slightly surprised to see Kaoru, now walking through the open studio door, not bothering to wait for Toshiya's reply. He had expected Kenji or Miyu or one of the crews to come with the key. Though it was not such a big deal that Yoshiki passed the key to Kaoru since he was the most responsible one of them all.

Mind far off in his own thoughts, he didn't notice the upraised plank that was hammered across the floor a week earlier. As if in slow motion, he felt the front of his foot hit the hard object, lost his balance and found himself  in an undignified descend down the stairs. Giving out a yelp, he closed his eyes tight to prepare for the hard impact. But instead of the solid ground he was expecting, he landed on something that was not really soft, but certainly not the floor.

" What are you doing?!" Kaoru screamed at him.

The blue-haired youth opened his eyes and blinked.

-Ugh!-

Kaoru was his landing pad, not a very good-tempered one though. He got off, fast, from his friend's chest although he found it quite comfy and would have loved to stay there a little longer. A shade of crimson colored his pale cheeks. 

" Go-gomen! Lost my footing!" Toshiya grinned to hide his embarrassment as he apologized.

*Sigh* Kaoru shook  his head. " Never mind."

Hesitant as he was, Toshiya grabbed the sleeve of Kaoru's shirt before he managed to walk off.

" Kaoru..." A brief thought of uncertainty intercepted with his tongue. 

" Kaoru, I...have something to tell you." 

-Please let him feel the same way as I feel for him.-

The words did not come. Toshiya just looked silently at Kaoru, his eyes wanting to tell him all. Kaoru did not pull away.

" Toshiya, is it..." Kaoru didn't have a chance to finish his sentence before Shinya made his entrance.

" Ohayo!" 

Toshiya could not believe in worse timing than now. He wished that he could just kick Shinya out. Of course he didn't voice that out, instead, he released the fabric in his hand.

Bouncing, Shinya went over to Kaoru, ignoring Toshiya as he passed him. Funny how come the drummer seemed to be so cold towards Toshiya. Jealousy crept into the bassist as Shinya leaned forward to whisper something into Kaoru's ear which the guitarist found quite amusing and started laughing softly.

-I don't feel like kicking him out...I feel like killing him now.- Toshiya thought, trying not to show his gritted teeth too obviously.

Just before they started practice at 9( their dear vocalist couldn't wake up), Toshiya caught Shinya casting an evil eye at him.