Princes of Rock
by Suke

Hoi! This is a really long chapter and well, unlike what the title suggests, no, it's not golden pair, gomen. That will come though. Here, Momo and our favourite snake boy appear!!!

R & R kudasai!

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Chapter 5: Love at First Sight

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For the First Time (Dec 12, 2003, Friday -- Great Reporter Inui)

The preparations for the Christmas concert have finally begun in earnest. The four rock stars performing have arrived in Tokyo and details of the rehearsals have been planned and confirmed.

However, what has gotten everyone most excited is the very first face-to- face meeting of the four singers scheduled to happen tomorrow. If you've always wanted to know what will happen when these four volatile stars meet, your wish has been granted. In an unprecedented move, concert organisers, Banda Fun, have decided that this first meeting will be held in conjunction with the concert's very first press conference.

Will tempers flare (87%)? Will friendships be formed (34%)? Will Banda Fun regret ever having such an unpredictable occasion right in the spotlight of public attention (79%)? Or perhaps could this be just yet another publicity ploy by Banda?

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"You know how sometimes you just see a person for the very first time," Wakato Hiroshi looked away from the camera lens to smile winningly at the reporter who had asked the question and received a blush and dreamy sigh in return. "And you just absolutely hate them?"

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Such a creepy old man.

Takeshi Momoshiro was a mover and shaker in the music industry. He had front row seats to every major concert and was seen at every party worth being seen at. And of course he did! The gorgeous spiky-haired boy was only the agent to the biggest, most talented star ever to grace the rock and roll world, Oishi Shuichiroh.

Currently, seated right beside his famous client, in a room full of excited, over-eager reporters, Momo couldn't quite take his eyes off the creepy old man, also known as the head of Banda Fun, Banji himself. Why won't the man stop smiling?

It wasn't so much that Momo hated joy exhibited by other people, nor that he had anything in particular against old men. It was just that, well, this wasn't exactly the most appropriate time for smiling.

Out of ten, in Momo's opinion, the conference had a 2 for atmosphere, 5 for location and minus 10 for company.

"Shhhhhhh," a boy hissed from the other side of Oishi, as though affirming Momo's feelings. There was the sound of chairs being knocked over and people falling over each other as reporters scrambled desperately backwards to remove themselves from the fearsome gaze of elite bodyguard, Kaidoh Kaoru.

Really, Kaidoh was far too idiotic. He glared terrifyingly at the mass of humanity that timidly edged around the table. And should any rapturous soul, drawn closer unconsciously by the promise of breathing the same air as lovely Oishi, cross that invisible perimeter Kaidoh had marked out, they were immediately arrested by a hiss sufficient to make baby elephants cry.

The faces of the reporters, who looked like they had just come eye-to-eye with the chasm of death, amused Momo slightly. It was not enough, however, to make Momo feel any less annoyed at that creepy Banji who wouldn't stop smiling although there was very little to smile about.

The conference room was large. The air was tense with excitement and hyperbole. Reporters from every notable magazine and newspaper had thronged to the press conference despite the short warning they had. There were four tables aligned along the edge of a stage in front of the room. Reporters stood below the raised tables as though they were devoted worshippers petitioning at altars.

The press conference was scheduled to have begun nearly an hour ago. The main problem was that two of the four altars were missing their gods, so to speak. Oishi had been given the centre table on the right and was currently and, well, strangely, immensely worried about the welfare of the two rock stars who were yet to arrive.

"Has anyone tried to contact them? Could they be in some kind of trouble?" Oishi turned to his agent again.

"Oishi-san," Momo assured him. "You know how these diva types are like. They're coming late on purpose."

"Well, yes," Oishi admitted. "But something might be wrong this time."

"I'll go check," Momo conceded. Oishi really worried far too much.

The goodlooking agent cast a glance at Kaidoh who spared the reporters for a moment to glare back at Momo. Momo took that for acknowledgement and got up and went backstage to find someone to answer his client's questions. Oishi wasn't going to stop his extremely un-rock star-like worrying until the two tardy singers appeared.

Despite the fact that Oishi had actually worn some rock star-esque clothes today, tight black leather pants and velvet choker included, Oishi was still far from behaving anything like the guitar slamming, rabble rousing rocker that Momo was sure was somewhere behind that mild expression.

At the table on the extreme right, another agent was busily pretending to be too busy to speak to the reporters while trying very hard to ensure that they picked up every 'accidental' word that he dropped. The bunch of swooning reporters clustered around the table was being very obliging too.

Fuji Yuuta was so cute. The reporters swooned.

"No," Yuuta snapped in response to a reporter's inane question about whether he preferred chocolate, strawberry or vanilla.

"Maybe," Yuuta's answers were taking on a growl-like quality as the boy grew more and more annoyed. He wished they'd stop asking him stupid questions about his favourite flavour of ice-cream, flower and sleeping attire. He hoped that his clipped answers and unfriendly tone would get them to stop.

"No," Yuuta snapped again to some question about whether he liked girls with long hair or short hair better. Perversely, the reporters disregarded Yuuta's wish for solitude, and his incomprehensible answers, and swooned some more.

For a moment, Yuuta wished that he had a bodyguard like Oishi's creepy hissing guy. But only for a moment.

Mizuki, though, was entirely in his element. Wearing his favourite blindingly purple floral turtle-neck, Mizuki made small talk with this person or that, including frequent one-sided conversations with Yuuta himself, dropping loudly whispered teasing hints about Yuuta's relationship with his aniki, Yuuta's love-life and how he had heard some rumours that Oishi-san over on the other side of the stage was not as quiet or scandal- free as it seemed.

"You know how Oishi-san has been snapped a few times going out with Tezuka Kunimitsu. Yes, the conductor one. I heard he's an ice-block. Well, anyway, they're always trying to hide it, aren't they? No one can be that perfect."

Mizuki had a method of raising his voice while sounding like he was really lowering it. He exercised that special skill now. "I heard from a classical musician friend that those two are, you know, doing it and everyone knows, not that I'm saying anything. These are just rumours. I'm sure Oishi-san is very nice. We're looking forward to working with someone so talented."

"It's so awful what people make up, neh Yuuta? I even heard once that either Oishi or Tezuka has a young daughter in America who they refuse to acknowledge. That's why they came to Japan. That's really irresponsible. Just because you're talented or famous doesn't mean you can treat people like dirt."

The curly-haired agent prattled on while journalists watched him attentively, tape recorders running. He twirled a curl between his fingers. Yes, that's enough dirt about Oishi. Hm, a look at Yuuta showed that the grumpy boy hadn't yet received any dangerous questions, by which Mizuki meant questions that would cause Yuuta to tell the truth and mess up his scheming. He had talked about Atobe and Wakato already, so now that left his very favourite topic, Fuji Syusuke.

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The double doors at the back of the room slammed open. Sunglasses wearing security staff poured into the room, creating a channel of space through the crowd of reporters. After twenty more minutes of arranging this and that, into the space created stepped Atobe Keigo.

Beautiful Atobe swept in, the closest members of his entourage behind him, every member of his staff arrayed in varying greyscale except for Atobe himself who was dressed completely in black, from dramatic trench coat to shiny heeled boots.

He took his seat, languidly surveying the lesser mortals, all sweat-covered and mussed up from waiting nearly two hours for him to arrive.

Wait, something was wrong. On his right was that scruffy punk boy - what's his name - Fuji Syusuke's otouto. On his left was that other singer with the name that made terrible puns - right, Oishi.

Someone was missing.

That fickle mindless wall-flower with the noisy fans. Where was he?

"Uh, Atobe-san," Choutarou said near his ear. "Wakato-san isn't here yet. He's, uh, late."

"What?"

"Wakato --" Choutarou began to repeat himself when he was cut off.

"How dare he? He expects me to wait for him?" Atobe stormed.

"We had to wait for you," Mizuki commented snidely from the neighbouring table but Atobe decided he wasn't worth the time and ignored him. Shishido glared at Mizuki for him.

Atobe was furious and cast a diva-class temper tantrum, summoning the event organisers and his label representatives and all the free members of his entourage to yell at and accuse of not doing their jobs properly. How dare that Wakato try to upstage him? People everywhere adored him! Atobe had tens of thousands of fans. Even Atobe's staff had fanclubs!

Just as Atobe collared one of these said staff, namely pretty Shishido, the doors swung open again.

Completely oblivious to what was transpiring on the stage at that moment, Wakato Hiroshi grinned sheepishly at the reporters, tossing apologies around freely as he headed for his seat on Oishi's left. His agent, Kajimoto, stalked like a dark shadow behind him, warning every reporter with his glare of how far he would go for Wakato-san should any of them write anything less than pleasant in their columns.

"Ah, gomenesai Oishi-san," Wakato gave his neighbour a winning smile. "I couldn't get out of my hotel room today because there were so many fans and we had to wait for more security from my record label to clear the way before I could leave."

"It's okay," Oishi smiled amiably back at him. "I'm just glad that you're fine."

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"I wouldn't even know where to start to be a diva. But anyway don't you think divas are just so Sixties?" Wakato said, casting a charming smile at the collection of reporters.

"Well, I'm just glad I'm not some posturing, mindless wallflower who needs his agent to get him out of every mess he gets into," Atobe drawled.

"Oh, good for you Atobe-san," Wakato beamed but he didn't sound as encouraging as his words would have led one to believe. "And, of course, this concert is to thank my fans who've been so lovely. They've been camping outside my hotel and this time, we have no idea who leaked my whereabouts to the public."

"Of course, my fans are different from yours," Atobe sneered a little. "They wouldn't spend time obscuring traffic and getting in my way."

"That might not be possible, numerically speaking, but I'm sure I wouldn't want to be in your way either if I were one of them. Atobe-san has his quaint ways with his fans and staff after all and I'm not one who enjoys crying."

This one-upping went on for some time. Atobe was still sulky at having to wait for Wakato, even if the tangerine-haired one had arrived only minutes after him. He was so upset that he had demanded a glass of Perrier and lemon before the conference began and made everyone wait another fifteen minutes while he drank it - leisurely.

Oishi, seated between these two, was silent in general, unless asked a direct question, overwhelmed by his more effusive concert-mates. Yuuta was hardly forthcoming either although he received many questions but Mizuki more than made up for it. Now, however, Mizuki had been quiet a while as Atobe and Wakato kept up this barbed conversation but it was not like Mizuki to stay quiet for long.

"Neh, Yuuta, didn't your last single just hit number one on the rock charts this week?" Mizuki begun in a loud conversational tone. "Why don't you tell the reporters about that? I think it knocked off that other song from the top of the charts, one of yours wasn't it, Atobe-san?"

Mizuki smiled an innocent smile and Yuuta sighed.

Thus addressed, Atobe smirked superiorly and began to ask Yuuta about how his dear aniki was doing. "Didn't Fuji Syusuke come back to Japan recently? You must be so glad to have him nearby. I've never really had time to hear your music but I've been to a number of his concerts. You mustn't feel bad about not being as famous. After all, you've done okay too."

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Violet eyes were narrowed in annoyance. Momo was highly agitated by the state of affairs. He didn't like the place. He didn't like the questions. But mostly, he didn't like the people.

Not that Kaidoh was doing any better. When Momo had first met Kaidoh, one look at the relatively slight boy had made Momo seriously doubt the other's abilities as bodyguard. Weren't all bodyguards huge and former wrestlers or something? Could Kaidoh really make it through a physical confrontation with Oishi's vicious fangirls?

Momo was still unapprised of the answer because in the two years they had worked together, Kaidoh had never been in a physical confrontation. One of those mad glares was enough to scare off the most tenacious of fans and reporters -- except this reporter.

The tall, skinny man in black-rimmed, square-framed glasses actually stood next to Kaidoh, leaning slightly against the table, and was asking Kaidoh questions about being the bodyguard and close friend of Oishi Shuichiroh. And Kaidoh actually looked somewhat discomfited.

While this amused Momo greatly - who knew that snake boy could blush? - it also meant that the reporters were now free of that fearsome glare and were thronging ever more enthusiastically towards his client. And Momo became aware that his own fearsome glare was not really so fearsome.

Out of ten, Momo gave it a 5 for location, 2 for atmosphere, 3 for the questions and minus 10 for the company. Well, what do you know? That made the conference an overall zero.

"Oishi-san," a reporter asked, raising her hand to get the rock star's attention. "What do you think of your fellow rock stars here? Are you getting along?" She motioned to Atobe, Wakato and Mizuki in heated conversation. Was the woman blind?

Oishi smiled however and said: "well, it's a bit too early to tell I think. Everyone's just getting to know each other."

"Everyone seems to be having a great time though. Would you call it maybe love at first sight?"

Momo couldn't help but choke. Love at first sight? Only in tennis terms.

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Pressing Conferences (Dec 13, 2003, Saturday -- Great Reporter Inui)

Tickets for the much-harped upon Christmas concert, starring the four greatest rock stars in the industry, are completely sold out as of yesterday 5pm. If you haven't been able to get tickets, there's no need to worry. Due to the overwhelming response, Banda Fun has decided to move the concert to a larger location to accommodate a larger audience. There are also talks with several cable channels about broadcasting the concert live.

And if you have bought your tickets, you will not be disappointed if today's press conference was anything to go by.

The excitement was palpable as reporters watched their favourite rock stars react to each other. As expected (96%), Atobe Keigo and Wakato Hiroshi were the most vocal of the four. They hit it off immediately and were constantly teasing each other throughout the conference. They did not leave Fuji Yuuta out either and were surprisingly updated on Yuuta's background and life, asking concerned questions about his brother and their relationship.

Oishi Shuichiroh was not to be outshone either. Although less talkative than his companions, his amazing presence alone made reporters swoon. Magazine articles are bound (94%) to be rife with gushing over his clothes, languid rock-star behaviour and sexy choker.

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What do you think? Please review and let me know.

/* A/N: Oishi in leather pants is such a pretty picture. */

Next Chapter: Our favourite rock stars play dress-up, or rather, they try on their costumes for the concert, designed by a really famous fashion designer - guess who. Haha, it's so impossible and unbelievable, you'll never guess who it is. Mada mada dane...

As for votes, I hope I counted right because I'm in a bit of a rush. FujiTezu is now in the lead!!! TezuAto is about 4 behind. Other highly requested pairings are MomoRyo and AtoJiroh! This is really exciting but I'll have to close this voting soon to start writing the chapters LOL. Final tally of votes when the next chapter goes up on Monday.

Thank you everyone who reviewed!!! D-12! Regatto! Squidgykid! Yukirei! Miki- chan! Jo-jo-chan-chan! Nataku! Witty Phantom! Cheeseburger of Doom! Mew mew! Chrysan! Hikaruchi! Naoko! Babyfluffy! Hellen! Kusanagiluv! Suke-san was on a review high because of all of you and will now write lots of review high-induced fluffiness! (Suke-san is passing the blame) Thank you for your comments and suggestions. I'm seriously considering them.

Squidgykid: Ooh, I love golden pair too! A Mizuki-Atobe? Oh my, how lovely! I so want to write that now ^_^

Jo-jo-chan-chan: *beams* Love Davide-Bane fluffiness too but I think they'll make the oddest couple since Bane keeps kicking Davide. Gomen, will try to squeeze in as many pairings as possible but it's a bit hard so if not, maybe just short cameos or a future fic.

Naoko: Hee, don't worry! Your review's mere presence makes it useful already! It makes me happy ^_^