-May 2010-

Nobu bumped his elbow into my ribs again as he skipped with me, trying to hop onto each sidewalk crack. His elbows were so sharp all the time, linked with mine as we hopped together. I didn't care, though. I began to sing to the beat of our walking and hopping, my favorite song.

"What's with you and Princess Princess, huh? Are they your favorite? I never got that story before," he laughed, making a funny face and hopping forward. I wasn't about to be out played. I hopped with him, determining his movements. He wasn't going to win this time!

"They're the reason I'm here! Jump!"

"Whoa!" He laughed again, so loud. I laughed louder. I was going to win!

"I like their guitarist, though. What's her name?" He asked, regaining his balance.

"I like her, too! She's why I play guitar! Jump!"

"Hey, tell me her name! Hey, wait, wait!" He doubled over, laughing. "You really are a squirrel! You never stop!"

I made a funny face with my two front teeth showing over my lip, and he laughed even harder.

Even louder laughter rang up in front of us. I looked up, grinning. Nobu extended his long leg forward and I copied him, and we walked in tandem together, kicking out like can-can dancers. My eyes had to be glittering in the high May sun as I watched the love of my life turn to his best friend a few sidewalk squares ahead of us, his facial profile making my heart beat a little quicker.

"You're going to play with Davy, huh? What makes you think he'll want to play drums with you?!" Sana was smiling so much, making fun of Yami again.

"You think Keitaro will show you the secrets of his singing? I bet we'll meet them for five minutes, tops. Mark my words." Yami's face got so close to Sana's. Made my blood start to boil. He better not get so close!

"I'll learn his secrets so I can be the best of all time. I'll get him to show me, just you wait!" Ah, Sana's smile.

"Wah, I can't believe we get to play with Yellow Lizard! I told you entering that contest was the right thing! We won! All thanks to you! We'll be in Nagoya in two weeks, the opening act! You might already be the best of all time, because you won us that spot!" Yami grabbed Sana's hand, and I stopped in my tracks. Nobu went forward a little, accidentally wrenching my wrist.

"Don't think it was just me! You played your heart out, too. All of us did! This is going to be it. You're finally going major! We should celebrate!" Sana's voice almost sang, ringing like a bell. Yami shook Sana's arm vigorously. My lips pressed together, my eyes narrowing. Sana started giggling that adorable giggle.

"Me?! We all are!" Yami grabbed Sana's shoulder, shaking him a little as they laughed together.

I pulled Nobu's arm too hard, starting to walk forward with purpose again.

"What's with that face, huh?" He teased me. "Now you really do look like a squirrel. Your cheeks are all puffed out, like you have nuts in there."

"They're too close. And if you go major, you better bring Hexen with you. Remember your promise."

"Wow, so serious. Of course Hexen is coming with us, are you crazy? You think we could leave our sisters behind?" He began swinging my arm back and forth as we walked, attempting to make a funny walk again, but I wasn't in the mood for playing anymore. This sounded like it was getting serious. If they went major, where would Sana go? I hadn't even told him I liked him yet. "Besides." Nobu's voice went a little lower, calming a bit. "You still have so much to teach me. You're one of the best guitarists I've ever met. If anyone should go major, it's you."

"Ahhh, Nobu!" I growled, pulling him forward.

"What?!" He burst into laughter. "What did I do?!"

A frustrated noise right behind us. "Walk properly, Annie! For goodness sake!" Prima called out, passing us with a huff, holding her boyfriend Tadashi's hand. "We almost bumped into you!" They weren't really boyfriend and girlfriend, but the way they were all over each other all the time they may as well have been.

At that exact moment, Sana's trademark gasp filled my ears, and I stopped again. Nobu was ready this time, though. Sana's bright pink netted gloved hand was over his cute red mouth, his long blonde wig floating in the warm wind, his red bow tails fluttering elegantly as his head moved to follow the person. His bright eyes were following someone hurrying away down the sidewalk toward Nobu and I.

I took the person in fully as he almost ran past, so in a rush that he almost bumped my shoulder, not looking up fast enough. He was checking his watch, breathing hard. He was on the wrong side of the sidewalk, too. The person had short black hair with side swept bangs, wearing a short sleeved, black button up shirt with traditional patterns on it in a dark blue, and loose dark blue jeans. Nothing at all special about him, I thought.

Sana's hand stayed over his pretty mouth, his other beautiful hand over his chest. "He looked at me! Our eyes met, you saw that, right?! Oh, my life!" He was speaking a mile a minute.

"What? What's going on?" Yami asked, just as quickly.

"Aurelia! That was Aurelia! I know it!" Sana was louder than I'd ever heard him, so excited. His hand came off his mouth, and he was grinning so much, his eyes sparkling as Nobu and I walked closer.

"What, Aurelia?!" I gasped, looking behind us. He was still there, running like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.

"No way. Can't be. He wouldn't be just on the street like that with nobody with him." Yami made an X with his arms.

"No, it was! I swear! I'd know his face anywhere! Even without makeup! He has a very distinctive nose! He's supposed to be in Osaka doing a show- oh, it's almost five! I bet he's going to rehearsal! Ahh, isn't the venue around here? Ahh, Yami!" His hands were over his mouth again, smiling so much that his sweet eyes were smiling, too. I'd never seen him this happy. He was so adorable. He was almost jumping on his heels.

"Why aren't you going to his show, then?! You've been waiting for him to come to Osaka again!" Yami was almost angry. I could never use that tone with Sana. He was too cute. I'd never make him frown.

"It's too expensive. It's 7,000 yen. I don't have money like that. Ah, but, just seeing him so close! I know we locked eyes! Ah, that's even better than going to his show!" His hands clasped together as he briefly gazed up at the sky, as if thanking the gods.

"Sana! I have 7,000 yen! Why didn't you tell me? I would have bought us tickets! I'm so mad at you!" Yami turned and started walking away.

"Yami! Don't be mad! Wait!"

Sana took off after him, but I had a different plan. Sana wanted a ticket? Was that his heart's desire? Where Yami failed, I would succeed. Now we'd see who was getting too close.

"Wait here, Nobu, I'll be right back!" I unlinked my arm from his, and launched off, so glad I wore my good sneakers today.

"Huh?!" Nobu watched me run off in the opposite direction, so shocked. But, they're the ones who'd be surprised. I'd show up at the pub and make Sana so happy. I couldn't wait. I'd get to see that smile that lit up all of my days.

My hair was streaming behind me as light as cotton candy in the breeze as I ran full tilt down the hill. I didn't care if I lost control and tumbled all the way down it to him. I was going to catch Aurelia like a fish! My sweat was running down my temples already in the humid evening sun as I saw his figure getting larger and larger in front of me. It reminded me of an anime, the heroine in pursuit of a mysterious figure.

As I got closer, I screamed at him. "Wait! Wait, wait! Wait! AURELIAAA!" I waved my arm over my head, trying so hard.

"What the-!" He cried out, turning so fast and stopping like he had brakes. His red face was full of his large, flashing eyes and open mouth.

I reached him, doubled over, my hands on my knees as I breathed so hard. "Wait, wait a minute," I gasped for air, straightening up. My finger went in the air, begging him for just one minute of his time. He glanced at his watch again, his teeth showing in his hesitancy.

"I'm not Aurelia! You must have me confused for someone else!" He breathed just as hard as me, having stopped so suddenly in his rush.

"I know you're Aurelia. My friend up there knows," I said quickly, thrusting my finger up the street, at Sana who we couldn't see now.

"What?!" His eyes were terrified.

"Please, please give me a ticket to your show tonight! My friend is your biggest fan! You have to give me a ticket! Just one ticket!" My finger was in his face, emphasizing that I just needed one.

His eyes went softer. They really were hypnotizing. The more I looked at his face, the more I recognized him. Sana had been right, even seeing him that briefly. He looked completely the opposite from Aurelia, but their faces were the same. It was amazing. He leaned in to me a little, his hand bending at the wrist, almost touching his chin, pulling me into a confidence. I leaned in, too. This was it.

"I'm really sorry, but I can't do that. I really appreciate your friend being such a fan, though. I'm really impressed. No one has recognized me without makeup before."

DARN IT.

He smiled, grinning like he often did on stage. No doubt about it, this smile. This person was Aurelia in the flesh. "I'll be here for two more nights, though. I hope he can come to one of those days. I'm playing at the venue over there, just around the corner. Unfortunately, I really must go now. I'm late for rehearsal. I appreciate you both so much, though. I'm sorry I have to rush away." He bowed a little to me, so proper. Honestly, I was surprised he was so short. He was barely taller than me. He looked so tall on stage in the DVD's Sana had shown me.

I bowed back to him. "I'm sorry to have taken up your time," I said, trying to match his properness. Admittedly, he was making my chest squeeze a little bit. He always reminded me of some kind of supernatural being on stage, and that was arising now with him acting like this.

"Not at all," he grinned again. He waved to me, and took off running immediately.

I was left standing there like a dunce. After about a minute, as he disappeared out of sight around the corner, I kicked at the ground, swearing so hard that if Prima heard me she'd slap my ear in embarrassment. I bit my lips, making fists, so mad that I couldn't make Sana happy yet again.