"Any time before ten at night is good. Wand needs to sleep. I don't need as much sleep as he does...but he's young. He needs sleep," Rand replied, quietly. "I don't know if I'll be able to play well on a keyboard guitar. I have never touched one in all my life. But I suppose we'll see...if I can't...then I can't. And that is that..."

Rand was particularly nervous about trying to learn to play on a keyboard guitar. He preferred a full-fledged piano or electric keyboard, out of old habit. But he was willing to try.

"Right, that's good, plenty of time, then. You actually don't live that far from the studio. 20 minute drive. And don't worry. If you don't pick it up so quickly, we have a brand new, high quality keyboard waiting. Heck, we can engrave your name on it if you like it here." He smiled again, his expression could be heard in his voice. He checked his phone and found it to be 10 o'clock. Time seems to slip away with Shiki. He quickly packed some things needed for the studio in a small black rucksack and headed for his car. They could still talk with Shiki's headset and microphone installed into his Rolls Royce.

"Oh. I didn't know that," Rand admitted, reaching up to scratch his head. He hated talking on the phone. He much rather preferred talking face-to-face. So, he felt awkward at the moment. "Oh..." The mention of a keyboard seemed to relieve Rand. He was the most comfortable with classical pianos, but those did not cut it when it came to rock bands and the like. "That's good...just in case. I have a feeling I'm not going to do well with a keyboard guitar...usually my gut feelings are right on the mark."

He was already dressed and ready to go whenever Shiki wanted, but he quietly shooed his brother away, so he could go and get ready.

Shiki shrugged, that gesture meaningless on the phone. "We'll see what the future holds." He said, turning the key on the ignition, plugging things here and there and Shiki now had his microphone and headset ready, if he needed to talk to Rand about other things. "Right in my car now, driving to your house, anything else we need to talk before I get there?" He asked before stepping on the gas pedal, backing up from the large driveway and driving off to Rand's location.

"Not really, no. I can't think of anything else that needs to be talked about," Rand mused, quietly. His brother could be heard rummaging around in the background, getting ready and complaining about how he couldn't find his favorite dress shirt. Wand, like his brother, hated when things weren't where they were supposed to be. Both were very organized, though Wand was less likely to have his room clean at any given time.

"Alright, I'll be there in a few minutes. Make sure you and your brother have everything before I'm there." Judging by the noises in the background, the two weren't ready. Rule one: Always be prepared before anything. It's not that Shiki was organized, rather he had more of an organized mess and knew where everything was. "See you soon." Shiki said, as he clicked the end button and glanced at the traffic infront of him. He growled as he waited for the bloody light to turn green.

"I'm ready. He isn't, of course. I will see you soon." Rand hung up, and sighed, unwillingly trudging through the house to make sure his brother had everything he needed. Wand would be bringing some of his homework along with him, in case he got bored. Plus, he had to get it done sometime.

Rand only had to grab his messenger bag and something to drink, and he was ready to leave. Wand took a while longer, gathering up random trinkets and shoving them in his backpack to take along. He took enough items to last him a week whenever he went somewhere.

Shiki was nearly a few blocks away, yet the traffic mad it seem like ages before he turned on the next stoplight. The was a boy glancing at him through a window and Shiki quickly put his hood up. He suddenly uttered a small laugh. It was annoying for him to hide away from public now, so he wouldn't have a mass of people following his car. He remembered in his middle school years, he hid away from public because he had been picked on and bullied most of his life. His only good friends were his bandmates today. Odd how people start to like you now that your famous, not when your just a big nothing who sings and can play guitar. Finally, the light had turned green and the traffic was finallymoving. Shiki turned a corner and was a almost at Rand's house. He checked the time. They better be out the door and ready when I get there. He thought to himself. The band would be meeting up soon and he couldn't waste anytime with picking up the new keytarist/keyboardist.

After a few minutes, he had reached the house. It was small, compared to Shiki's house, but he wasn't the one to judge. It was a nice-looking house. He got out of the car, walked up the litte road that led to the door and rang the bell three times.

Rand took a few moments to answer the door. He looked presentable, at least. He always wore nice, fashionable, simple dark clothes. "I'm afraid my brother isn't ready yet," he muttered, frowning. "He should be done in a minute or so...there he is."

Rand had heard stomping footsteps coming down the stairs. A small-bodied boy, with his backpack and an old messenger bag, descended from the second floor, hurriedly pushing up his glasses so they wouldn't fall. "Sorry! Sorry! I'm ready, now!" he apologized, frightened that he would be scolded. Rand simply patted his head, sighing, and then stepped outside, ushering him out. He locked the door and then smiled at Shiki. "We're ready, now."

Shiki smiled as he saw Rand in nice looking clothes. He glanced down at a littler version of him and resisted the urge to mess up his hair. "Be sure to be ready before I come." He said, in a slight serious tone, "Rule one: being organized and ready is key. Now let's go." He walked down to where his car was parked. He opened the door for the two and waited for them to get in. Even if he stayed up late at parties, drunk, and had a few puffs of cigars every now and then, he was still raised a gentleman. Once his passenges were inside, he got into the driver's seat, turned the key on the ignition and backed up from the driveway and into the busy street.
He glanced at the two boys sitting behind him through the mirror. They seemed a bit overwhelmed by his expensive car.
"So, how are you, Rand?" He broke the silence, "I forgot to ask, what's your brother's name?"

"Rand didn't give me enough time," the boy huffed, adjusting his glasses again. They seemed like they were a size or two too big for him...it was probably all they could afford. Rand lightly bopped him on the head, rolling his eyes. "I'm fine. His name is Wand. He likes being called 'Squeak,' though, for some reason...I won't call him it..."

Wand scowled at his brother, and then grinned, leaning back on the seat. "That's because you're not a fun person," he retorted, shortly. Rand ignored that, and sighed softly, adjusting his sitting position. "Mm. I don't think you gave me too many details, by the way. I know of your band...but not very well..."

Shiki chuckled a bit at the two bickering. "Squeak. I could get used to calling you that." He laughed. The car had slowly stopped infront of a traffic light, that had turned red suddenly. It was only a few blocks before they arrived to the studios now.
"Ah." He replied to Rand's question, "Well, we're a punk-rocky sort of band. We started in Manchester, played round the whole of England, and then slowly started to tour the world. We're like an other band out there, trying to get our sound out there, but we'll incorporate new sounds into our music." He gave a short explanation. He didn't want to give out so much before they came to the studios. As the lights turned green, Shiki started driving again. "Only a few more blocks before we arrive. It won't be long."

Wand grinned triumphantly, then shot a devious look at his elder brother. "Ha! I told you Squeak is a good name!" Rand snorted, rolling his eyes. "Maybe for a rodent..." He turned back to Shiki, looking a little disorientated. Though the way Rand dressed sometimes contradicted it, he was not a big rocker, though he enjoyed the music--he enjoyed most music...save for really awful rap.

"I see...well...we'll just see how things go..." He leaned back slightly, relaxing.

----------

Wand grinned triumphantly, then shot a devious look at his elder brother. "Ha! I told you Squeak is a good name!" Rand snorted, rolling his eyes. "Maybe for a rodent..." He turned back to Shiki, looking a little disorientated. Though the way Rand dressed sometimes contradicted it, he was not a big rocker, though he enjoyed the music--he enjoyed most music...save for really awful rap.

"I see...well...we'll just see how things go..." He leaned back slightly, relaxing.

Shiki smiled at the two bickering again. He had an older sibling that he fought with a lot, to the point where they couldn't speak. They don't even know the whereabouts of each other, but that was fine with Shiki. As long as he was away from his brother, he was fine. He didn't want to go through another childhood with physical and emotional scars. Pretty soon they had finally reached the recording studio, a modern, white and dark red building with records made from the 80's to present time lining the windows and some walls. Shiki parked the car in the parking lot, got out of the car to open the door for the two boys to get out. Once they got out, he lead them to the door,which he politely opened for them as they stepped inside.

After a few doors with what Shiki described as "music from the gods" coming from them. Many emerging artists/bands recorded their music here, and some were rejected, but most were made into CD's for all to hear, and that was the purpose of Scarlet Heart's prescence. A door that had the number 58 on it was opened slightly to reveal chattering coming from 4 voices. As the three stepped into the room, Shiki greeted the other three members of the band, plus Leia.
"Guys." He started, "This is Rand, the potential new keyboardist of the band. He's still thinking if he wants to stay, so be nice. Oh, and this is his little brother, Wand, or Squeak." He smiled at the two boys. He took Rand's elbow and softly directed him to each mmber of the band.
"The badass over here is Adam. He does drums and sometimes directs some of our music videos. He's a pretty cool guy, and easy to get along with." Shiki explained as the two shook hands. "Hope you have an excellent day today." Adam smiled as he made a firm shake with Rand.
"Over here is Jake, the bassist. He's pretty quiet, but he gets most of the attention in media, somehow." Jake looked up from tuning his bass guitar and nodded to Rand. "And then there's Victoria, or Vikki. She's also guitarist, where she plays the second or main part in our songs, but she's way more better than me at guitar." Shiki laughed as she introduced the girl taking out the dodger blue, v-shape guitar out of it's case. Vikki smiled and playfully punched him in the arm. "Nice to meet you, Rand." She smiled and started tuning her guitar. Shiki hoped that Rand wasn't too overwhelmed by their appearance and the fact that Adam had many tattoos and a couple of piercings here and there.
"Excuuuse me." Another voice sounded in the room, and a redheaded girl with a clipboard trotted up to him and Rand. She stuck out her hand and shook Rand's "He might not have told you, but I'm Leia, the manager. It's such a pleasure to meet you. Be sure to ask questions if this drunkee doesn't explain everything." She said. Shiki growled at her, and turned to Rand and Wand.

"How about I show you the studios, now? Adam and Jake just have to edit a few things from a few songs, so we won't be missing much." He glanced at the many records lining the walls of the recording room. Just in between two was a picture of Hayate, smiling down at them. Shiki felt tears sting his eyes and he quickly excused himself out of the room and into the bathroom, just down the hallway. Everyone had looked up from what they were doing and wondered what had happened. Only Viktoria had seen what had happened and felt some sympathy for him. Him and Hayate were the closest two members of the band, and it had hit Shiki hard after the accident. Even work had been difficult with him when his mind had been occupied about his dead lover.
"Sorry about that." She said to the two boys, "He was pretty depressed and normally quieter than Jake. You seemed to spark something in him, Rand." She smiled and situated herself inside the booth where Adam waited to record some background vocals.

Rand didn't seem to be too intimidated...though he was overwhelmed, since he wasn't too used to being social. Especially with people high up on the social ladder. "Nice...to meet you all..." His appearance didn't let on in the least that he was such a shy, reserved person. When one got to know him, that shyness was shrugged off. He was still reserved, but he was much more eager to speak, and to talk to others.

Wand happily stood with his brother, waving semi-spastically at everyone while pushing up his glasses. They looked slightly broken on one side, as well as being far too big for his little face. Pathetic. Rand rubbed his arm when Vikki punched him, semi-offended since he didn't like to be hit or harmed in any way even if it was playful. This didn't show in his expression, though.

When Shiki ran off, Rand didn't go after him. He felt he needed to be alone for the time being. So, Rand stayed where he was, leaning against the wall and studying the room curiously.

Wand followed Shiki. He was much more action-oriented than his brother could be.

Once Shiki had reached the bathroom, he punched the ceramic silver wall so hard, he had bruised his knuckle and there was a slight tinge of red where Shiki had punched. Why does everything have to remind him of Hayate? It was like a never-ending maze and wherever he turned, his heart ached even more. He buried his face in his hands and sank down to the floor, the wall barely touching his back. He heard no one enter or leave the bathroom, so that was a relief. Regardless if people knew about the accident, seeing and hearing Shiki cry was not the greatest thing Shiki wanted people to see. He thought he would be completely alone, when he heard tiny footsteps coming and closer and closer to Shiki's location. It couldn't be anyone his age, so he guessed it was Wand. Pretty soon, the little boy was standing near him and wondering what had happened. He forced a smile and said "Sorry about that." He got up to the point where he was kneeling and gave Wand a small hug. He didn't want to freak the kid out, so he made the hug small and short. Though he really liked Wand, he had wished it was someone he knew he was more comfortable with that had come to find out what was wrong with him.

Jake had started to worry about Shiki, since a few long minutes had gone by and there was no sign of him, or the kid who had followed him. If anyone was taking this accident hard, it was Shiki. He really wish he could help, but he didn't think there was anyway he could help, unless he were to hook Shiki up with someone, but that could easily backfire. He got up from where he was sitting and walked up to Rand, the new member. "Hey," he started "would you care if I started seeing how you play the piano? I was supposed to be doing that anyway." He asked Rand. Not only did Jake do bass, but he also finished all of his exams for piano, so he was a pretty educated guy.

Wand jumped in the hallway when he heard the tile being punched, and hurried his footsteps into a quick scurry. He didn't seem to find the offered hug strange. In fact, he wrapped his arms up around Shiki's neck, affectionately. He was a lot like that loving little child who cared about everyone. He was also a very perceptive young man...very little escaped him. When he finally pulled back, he tilted his head slightly to the side, smiling apologetically.

"That man in the picture. You loved him, didn't you?"

A simple statement and question...

Rand was startled when Jake suddenly approached him, but he eventually nodded, slowly. "All right...I can do that. What would you like me to play? I can play most simple things by ear, but will need to look over sheet music to do anything remotely complicated..."

Shiki nodded his head a few times and went back to his original seating, on the floor, his back against the wall. "Yeah." He said, "He was my...lover." He was lightly afraid that the kid would be slightly afraid of his homosexuality. He sighed and just went on with it. He would have to learn to controlhis emotions sometime soon, or at least that's what his phsychiatrist said.
"We've been dating for at least 10 years, and we were the first two members of the band, if you're interested. He...died in a car accident one day, and I've...been trying to forget about him ever since..." Every pause Shiki made, he had to breath in and out deeply before continuing. At least he managed to get a few phrases about Hayate. He was prgressing quicker than he had thought.
"Ever since the accident, I promised never to love someone other than him again..." He looked down at his shoes and managed to hold back some tears almost escaping his eyes.

Jake nodded and got some sheet music from a pocket in his case. They were sheet music of piano versions of rock songs from bands he really liked. He used them to create some bass chords for some of Scarlet Heart's songs. He picked out something pretty easy, yet interesting to play. It was something from Linkin Park, a pretty and slow piece, one of Jake's favorites to play. He placed the music sheets on the stand near the keyboard.
"It's nothing too difficult." He said, "It's a good band." He played the chorus for a short while and hummed the tune. Then, he stepped away and let Rand sight-read the music.

Wand didn't seem afraid or disgusted at all. His parents were big on such things...his other brother, Velonin, was not. Rand...well...Rand could be very sheltered when it came to other people, sometimes. He was uncomfortable with things he wasn't used to, and had to be eased in.

"But...that doesn't make any sense," he quipped, rather bluntly and pointedly. "If he loved you...he would want you to be happy...wouldn't he? He would want you to love again...to be happy, and content with your life. My other big brother told me that the dead want the ones they love to move on."

Rand quickly studied the music, and then sat down. He played through it, easily, and didn't screw up a single note. When it came to his music, and to academics...he was a perfectionist.

Shiki glanced up at the lit ceiling and sighed. Wand did have a point; he shouldn't be holding on to things that are already gone. He would eventually have to move on, but he doubted anyone would love him for who he was, not just because he was famous and all. He buried his face in his hand again, the one with the bloody knuckle. He hadn't noticed the bleeding, maybe because it hadn't stung so much.
"You're right." Shiki admitted, "Who knows when I'll love again, but you're right. Hayate would've wanted me to move on." He sighed again, stood up and hugged Wand again. He had felt better after talking to the boy, who had more effect on him than his psychiatrist's dumn ideas. "Thanks." he whispered. He looked down the corridor where he heard a piano being played. He had asked Jake to evaluate Rand if he was busy in the recording studios and such. If that was Rand playing, Shiki had the same falling-in-love feeling he had back at the pub. Was he slowly taking a fancy to Rand? He couldn't be moving on that quickly, could he? He stood up from the hug and messed up Wand's hair a bit and smiled
"Come on, Squeak. Let's see what Rand and the guys are up to."

Jake's expression was undecipherable, but inside, he was pretty impressed. Even if the song was fairly easy, Rand played 120% better than he would. He accented all of the crescendos and diminuendos when possible, played in a beautiful legato, and played a if he had played this millions of times. Backing away, he took his bass and started to play with Rand. Adam and Vikki had glanced away from what they were doing and slowly walked towards the two playing. Adam took some drumsticks from his pocket and started to tap with the beat of the music against a wall. Vikki hummed the lyrics, and pretty soon, they had formed an interesting version of "My December"

Wand, always a sort of mediator for people he knew and cared about, wrapped his arms willingly around Shiki again, before dropping them. He squeaked, hence the origin of his little nickname, when his hair was ruffled. "Okay! I already hear him playing. He's really good, isn't he?"

Wand reached out and took a hold of his hand. "Your hand is bleeding. Maybe you should patch that up before we head back...don't wanna start a commotion of any kind..."

Rand didn't mind it when he heard other instruments beginning to play in the background. Truth be told, a traditional piano was the best for Rand to play...he could dredge up some interesting sounds out of it on its own. Keyboards were all right...but big old grand pianos were the best for him to play on.

He loved big, classical pianos. And organs, as well--he could play organs like a madman.

"He is really good, isn't he?" Shiki said, more to himself than aloud. He glanced at his hand again, which had lessened in bleeding now. "You're right." He said, and searched for the first aid kit that resided around the edge of the sink basins. Once he found it, he searched for he bandages and wrapped it around his hand. It wasn't the best bandage, but it was decent. He smiled and led Wand back to the recording studio. He glanced at everyone who had took up an instrument and were jamming with Rand. They glanced at the two enterin the studio and had kept quiet. They would rather not play with Shiki's heart for the time being.
"You guys sound awesome." Shiki said, playfully punching Jake's arm.
"I'm not letting you leave the band, Rand." Vikki joked and went back into the sound booth. Shiki glanced at Rand and felt his heart pound again, which he found a bitt odd, since he hadn't felt anything like that in months. Once Rand finished playing, he said "Want me to show you around now?"

Wand decided not to interrupt the two of them, and he sat down in one of the corners of the room, pulling some homework out of his backpack to work on while he was here. Better than just sitting around and doing nothing, after all...

Wand hated to feel useless, much like Rand did--he had raised that into Wand, to make him a hardworking young man.

Once they finished playing, Rand looked up, to see Shiki and his brother returning. He was mildly concerned about where Shiki had run off to, but he didn't ask. He hated to seem like he was prying, since he loathed it when other people tried that on him.

He stood up, brushing himself off lightly. "Sure..."

Shiki smiled and waited for Rand to get himself ready and he led him out of the recording studio. He held te door open for Rand. He walked down the hall and said "This is basically the main hallway, with all the recording studios and such. A lot of greats have been here, but if you ever get lost, our studio is number 58." He turned to the left and then glanced at all the old records hanging on the mahogany walls. "These are some records from way back when. There are a couple of Beatles records here, originals, which I find pretty cool." He took a sneaky look at Rand, and then back at where he was going. He definitely had a small crush on him, but judging by Rand's expressionless motions and such, he didn't know whether he felt the same or not. Shiki went with his gut feeling and thought Rand ust thought he was an acquaintance. He would tell him that he liked him in that way when the time was right, and if Rand didn't feel the same way, Shiki would shrug and maybe find another love. He wouldn't let his broken heart control his life.

Rand adored the Beatles, so he grinned a little at the mention of some original records being here. "That's nice..." He always seemed so taciturn and distant...it was something his parents had pushed onto him and his brothers when they were really little. Rand had fallen into it immediately, and his twin was just a bit more expressive and cheery. Wand had rejected that sort of reserved lifestyle.

So, it wasn't really clear what he was feeling, unless he was scowling in an angry way or smiling...