Finding Balance-50 Stories

The last cord rang the air, fading away into the vast room now grown quiet, as if everyone were holding their breaths. Then, as one, the crowd erupted in cheers. The tall singer closed his eyes, a wide smile across his face, literally soaking in the applause. With a nod of his head, he stood, bowed to the crowd and trotted offstage.

Kyo turned ot his friend. "Ok, Now are you going to tell me what that was all about?" He crossed his arms over his bare chest, tapping his foot impatiently as the other continued to ignore him. "Kaoru!"

The taller man blinked several times, as if just waking from a dream, then slowly turned towards the other. "What?"

"Don't give me that! 'What?'" He growled. " Tell me what just happened here! Why did you come flying up here like... and was he really.... you... ARG!"

"What, Kyo-kun at a lose for words? I'm shocked."

Kyo narrowed falsly colored, white eyes. "Seriously, I could have sworn it looked like he was singing to you! And the way you seemed so... lost.... when he sang." His eyes widened. "Don't tell me you and he-"

"NO." Kaoru barked, perhaps a little too quickly. "No,. it's not what you are thinking. I know who he is, and admire his talent, but before today, I don't even think I'd ever even spoken with him before."

"But-"

"But nothing." Kaoru turned towards the elevator. "All I wanted was to hear his song, see him play it, and not get mugged by thousands of fans in the process." He walked briskly across the room and into the awaiting elevator.

Kyo darted forward to catch up with him."Now hold on just a minute." Kaoru punched the down button, his back to the other man, but Kyo stepped infront of him, forcing their eyes to meet.

"Hey, I didn't say it would be a bad thing, if the two of you... you know." Kaoru's eyes darkened. "I just think you would make an... unlikely pair, that's all." Kyo smiled broadly, revealing somewhat crooked teeth. "Besides, I thought you were mainly interested in chicks?"

"I am!" The older man snapped. "We are not having this conversation. I hardly know him; we are not seeing each other."

Kyo threw his arms up in mock surrender. "Ok, ok, gomen nasai, oh wise leader-sama. Can you ever forgive me?"

The elevator doors flew open and Kaoru stalked out, but slowed after only a few steps. He turned back towards his friend, his face a jumble of emotions. "No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." He looked away, slightly embarressed at the mountain he'd made of this little molehill.

Kyo shrugged and stepped forward. "Eh, it's ok. I just thought... never mind, I don't know." He smiled, then his face grew serious. "But you do know you can always tell me anything, right? My ears are always open. I may not understand fully, or know what to do or how to help, but I'm always here for you."

Kaoru reached out and ruffled the shorter man's black, spiky hair, an act he knew the other disliked. "I know, Kyo-chan, and I thanks. But there really isn't anything to talk about, I promise. He seems like a nice guy, from what little I know of him. That's it."

They started in the direction of their dressing rooms. "Everyone's probably wondering where we are by now." Kyo said as Kaoru nodded, his mind elsewhere. "So...." Kyo stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Are you going to admit to being even a little attracted to him?"

Kaoru swatted at the persistant vocalist, but missed when the quick little man danced out of his reach. "That guy is at least 6 years my junior, hyper-spastic and has the attention span of an eight year old in a toy store."

"You still didn't answer my question."

A small smile crept across Kaoru's lips as they pushed open the door to their dressing room.