Kyo stood leaning dangerously against the rusted railing of the stairs outside the studio. The cigarette at the corner of his mouth hung limply from his lips. He removed it, flicking the ashes down onto the street below, while sighing mentally to himself.

The situation didn’t seem to be improving, in fact, it looks like it had gone from bad to worse. Toshiya’s outburst early that evening had send their practice to a halt. They were already held back from Die’s ‘accident’…now this had to happen. It was not long before they had another concert to perform. If they blew it this time, Kyo was worried they would end up performing in livehouses again. That is, if they don’t disband.

Suddenly the door swung open and Shinya stepped out. His face was rather washed-out and his mood was gloomy.

" Hi, Shin-chan," Kyo flicked the cigarette over his shoulders.

" Hi."

" Hey, man, are you okay?" Kyo asked in concern. "You know, about that incident, Toshiya’s just…"

" I know. It has nothing to do with him," Shinya replied as he began to descend the flight of steps; Kyo following behind.

" No? Then what?" Kyo mouthed.

Shinya kept quiet for a while. "Nothing. I’m okay. Positive." Shinya managed a tight smile.

" You sure? I mean, you can confide in me any time. I’ll be here for you," the vocalist said.

The smile brightened a bit. "Sure. Thanks, Kyo." Shinya bid the shorter man farewell and walked off to disappear in the crowd of people.

***

" What do you think you were doing?!" Kaoru snapped at Toshiya the moment the door locked behind them.

" What?! Are you getting angry at me now?" the bassist yelled back at him shrilly.

" I’m not _getting_ angry at you; I _am_ angry at you!" His eyes burned into Toshiya’s.

" Why are you so heated up?! Is it because it’s Shinya?"

" No, I…"

" Of course! What else, huh?"

Kaoru rolled his eyes and reached out for Toshiya’s shoulders. "Don’t be stupid." He turned the bassist to face him.

Toshiya’s eyes were watery and his cheeks were aflame. "Yes, stupid childish immature Toshiya…" he muttered softly, looking down at the maroon carpet. "It doesn’t matter if stupid Toshiya gets hurt as long as pure innocent Shinya is protected from harm ne…It’s all Toshiya’s fault."

" No, that’s not what I wanted to say!" Kaoru was beyond exasperated. "This doesn’t have anything to do with Shinya!!!"

" No? Then what? I didn’t do anything but why do I get all the blame?! Isn’t he the source of all this? He’s the one whoring around!"

" Toshiya!" Kaoru stared wide-eyed at him. "How can you say such things?! Shinya is our friend! Your friend!!!"

" He’s not! My friends don’t screw my boyfriend! Shinya is just a slut of a whore!"

Kaoru lost his temper and sent a slap across Toshiya’s face. The younger man cried out and fell to the floor. Toshiya cradled one cheek in his hand as the other hand supported him from hitting the ground.

-Kaoru hit me…Kaoru hit me for Shinya…- Toshiya stifled his sobs, swallowed his tears.

Their eyes met as he looked up at the guitarist who looked back fearlessly. Toshiya saw only anger, no mercy, no compassion and no love.

" Don’t you say that ever again!" Kaoru told him.

Toshiya lifted his chin and glared at Kaoru. "Fine! If you care so much about him, what are you doing here? Go! Go to your dear Shinya’s side and console him!" Toshiya dared him.

The older man sensed this and his instinct told him to apologise to Toshiya but his pride wouldn’t let him. "You think I don’t dare to do that? You think I won’t??" He looked back at Toshiya with a steely gaze.

Toshiya averted his eyes. "Fine…if that’s how you really feel, then go. I won’t stop you. Our relationship is over!"

Kaoru felt a shock at Toshiya’s declaration. No, he didn’t want to split with Toshiya. He continued looking at his side profile, hoping he would change his mind. But Toshiya didn’t.

" Alright. Remember you were the one who said it," Kaoru hissed and headed for the door.

The door was shook violently as it was slammed shut. The impact made the windows in the apartment vibrate. Then all turned deadly silent. Toshiya stayed on the floor, hiding his face against the wall and began to cry.

***

His car breezed along the road steadily. There was not much vehicles on the road; the traffic was as clear as the sky. Shinya checked his rear-view mirror as he swerved into the other lane. He saw his slightly swollen cheek and puffy eyes.

He was tired of crying. Let Toshiya think what he wants to. It wasn’t his right to say that the bassist was wrong. He couldn’t say whether it was Kaoru’s or his own fault. Personally, he thought both of them were guilty. But what was done was done. The fact now was that both Toshiya and Die hated him, Kaoru was trying to ignore him as much as possible,, leaving the independent Kyo his sole friend in this matter.

He stopped at the red-light. His fingers tapped patiently on the steering wheel as he waited for it to turn green.

Just at the moment the light switched green and he drove out, he heard his cell phone beeping. It was lying on the passenger seat.

" Aw…great," he muttered as he saw the police car behind him.

He made a stop at the side of the road, earning himself a few horns and angry stares from other drivers. Well, at least, the police drove by.

He took a look at the display screen and he felt his heart stop momentarily when he saw Die’s number blinking on the little box.