Midnight Masquerade

Chapter 1

Each foot step was placed carefully, as if the slightest noise was forbidden lest the reality of this dream be broken, not even a breath should disturb it, but the anxiousness in Ogi's feet made it hard to keep his steps quiet. Red painted stone walls added to the exhilaration, and Ogi's heart rate sped up a few beats.

Two more doors

The vocalist knew the other four men waiting for him just down the hall, but only a few weeks hadn't been sufficient enough time to become totally relaxed in their presence, at least not for him. Ogi knew Dakarai long before any of the other members had joined, and it was with the guitarist that things began coming together and inevitably formed the five of them.

Dakarai had discovered Ai at an arts festival, him and Ogi had attended to back in the summer, the effeminate man played a violin like it was a part of his own body, and for his heart to continue beating, he would have to play it as if it were the life source itself. Ogi could tell Daka was mystified and they both agreed violin would be an awesome addition to their sound.

Ogi had quickly jumped at his chance to offer the drummer a place when Mau's first band had disbanded, and he had agreed to play for them after hearing their rough compositions, saying that it sounded awful without drums, but they had quickly learned that it was simply the drummers nature to make such brash comments, and eventually just brushed them off.

A chance meeting was how they found Reiku, the pensive and seemingly shy young man, was softly running his fingers over his bass, the deep hum of the strings carrying out into the street from where he was perched on the railing of the patio to the apartment he was sharing. Ai, having caught the sound on the air, looked up and offered him an audition.

So conclusively they were the five that made up the band now know as Midnight Masquerade, the name taken from one of Ogi's favorite songs that they had written, which was predicted to be their next single. The boys had been a quick find for the label company Red Horse Records, scouting out local bands in clubs and doing indie lives.

The red painted walls was a trade mark of their company, as was the red steel door that the vocalist cautiously pushed open as if on the other side of the door lay his fate, and in a way it did. Sounds of tuning and adjusting and the occasional screech of an amp followed by a 'gomen' poured out through the opening being created as Ogi finally stepped through.

Daka was the first to jump at the small vocalist as he appeared in the room, almost making Ogi want to run back out.

" Hey, nice of you to make an appearance! what happend to you this morning?" Daka inquired, advancing on the vocalist.

Ogi scrunched up his face sheepishly, flushing lightly, " I know, I know so sorry guys, I woke up later then I meant to and missed the bus, so I ran." Ogi suddenly found that the back of head became very itchy and he scratched it with fervor, blushing more brightly.

Daka's hand was suddenly placed on the smaller man's forehead, testing its tempature, " Is that why ur all flushed or is it just your embarrassment?" Daka smirked the usual mischevious twinkle in his dark eyes. Ogi only managed a 'heh'.

Daka laughed heartily, scruffing the much shorter man's hair, and leading him over to the practice stage. Ai was gently craddling his violin in his hands, cleaning it lovingly, when the two approached and the tall thin man turned to greet. "Ohayo! Ogi-chan! Doujibou?" Ogi looked up at the beautiful man and found it hard not to smile back just as brightly, when Ai was smiling so unguardedly. " Good Ai-chan, you?" the violinist's smile dropped a little, " fine, if i could just get rid of these shakes, I must be excited or something." he inspected his slightly shakey hands for a second and then trying not to worry about it, he brushed a chunk of long light brown hair back behind his shoulder gracefully.

Ogi was startled out of his fixation with Ai's hair when a couple of thumps were made above him and to the left of the violinist, Ogi looked over to see Mau's bleached blonde head readjust a snare, and give it a couple more thumps before he grunted, satisfied.

"Ohayo Mau-chan." Ogi called to the gruff but small drummer. "Ohayo." the blonde answered back but seemed to still be distracted and the vocalist knew better then to try anymore conversation with him at the moment. Ogi suddenly began looking around worriedly, until Ai seeing his distress, that he found somewhat amusing, pointed to around the other side of the stage and Ogi peered around looking relieved to see their bassist sitting on the edge, quietly tuning his instrument.

"Reiku -chan! why are you hiding?" Ogi put his hands on his hips in attempt to seem to have some authority but only made Daka and Ai want to burst into looked up almost shocked, seeming to have been lost inside his own head.

"Gomen, Ogi-san, it was quieter back here, i needed to hear, to tune." Reiku's voice almost dragged, and now that the bassist was looking straight at him, he could see that his eyes looked a bit red, and a very faint shadow could be seen underneath. " It's ok Reiku-chan, you dont look like you had very much sleep last night, are you feeling alright?" The raven haired man nodded, Ogi still looked concerned, but Daka broke in, " Ok, then if everyone feels ready lets get this show moving!"

"Hai!" they all agreed and took their places.

After practice Daka invited everyone out for some lunch, and even somehow manage to convience the stubborn drummer to come along and have some fun, but Reiku remained behind pensive as usual. As the taxi pulled up and they started to pile into the back Ogi turned around to Reiku inquisitively, "Arent you coming Reiku?" the bassist lips quirked slightly in an attempt of a smile, but he shook his head. " No, Maybe next time Ogi-san, I'm feeling a bit tired today, I'll see you tomorrow then, have fun." he nodded his dismissile. " Yea, you need some sleep, get some rest and I'll see you in the morning, sayonara!" Ogi climbed in on the other side of the long legged violinist and waved through the glass as the taxi started off. Reiku watched for a minute as the yellow car turned a corner and was out of sight, and he slowly let out a long sigh, making his way back to his apartment.