Nightmare Melodies

          
With nothing to do while Sakano droned on and on to Shuichi about the seriousness of the band, what with them gaining popularity

after all, seventeen year old Suguru leaned his chin on his palm and stared out the window. The nagging had tugged on memories he

wished he could suppress, and hoped, once a few years had gone by, he could.



          
The breaking point.



~~~Five years previous~~~


          
"Suguru! Suguru! Dammit where IS that boy!?" Mrs. Fujisaki stalked through the expansive house, looking all over for her elusive

eleven year old son. Since she couldn't hear any music, that meant he wasn't practicing, again. If he was home. If he wasn't, she'd

make sure he stayed there until school started up again on Monday. "SUGURU! Don't make me yell for you, it's improper!"




          
Finally, a head of tussled green hair peered over the banister of the main stairs. "Yes, mother?" he asked, his voice soft and low.



          
"Ah. There you are. Come down here, I want to speak with you." Mrs. Fujisaki beckoned to him almost cordially. It wouldn't do

for her to go up to him. She'd just have to go down the stairs again. When he reached her, she patted his hair, then

frowned. "Good. Oh, you didn't brush your hair again!? Honestly, Suguru, you'll never make a good appearance THAT way. And

stand up straight. Don't slouch."



          
"Sorry, mother." Suguru replied, standing up straighter.



          
"Good boy. Now. My good news." His mother immediately beamed, getting that glint in his eyes that always made him nervous.

"I've enrolled you in that Musical Recital at your school! Now you can show off to all of your friends and their family how you're so

much like your cousin, Tohma! You'll be playing this......" She pulled out several sheets of music, and allowed him to look it over.



          
"Mother, it's next week, and I've never seen this before......" Suguru tried, getting a bad feeling about this. He didn't bother to tell

her he didn't have any friends. Let alone need to impress them.



          
Patting his head again, she then dismissed him. "Well, then you'd best be on your way. You'll take all of your meals in your room

until it's perfected."



          
"Yes ... mother." Suguru immediately turned and headed up the stairs again. He could see that he was probably facing no suppers

for a few days.



          
Waving her manicured nails at him, she trilled a last parting shot. "Make me as proud as Auntie Seguchi!"



          
Perfect. Just perfect.


~~~


          
Seven days later, and two pounds lighter, Suguru stood at rigid attention as his mother fussed over every detail of his appearance.

His nerves were shot, he had butterflies in his stomach and his fingers hurt. And, worst of all, his mother had praised about him to

the entire school of how he was just as good as, if not better than, his cousin, TOHMA SEGUCHI!


          
Finally, it was his turn, and he sat down at the grand piano that had been pushed out onto the stage just for him. Managing a shy

smile for those in the audience, Suguru turned to the keys and began playing by rote. Since Tooooohhmmaaaa didn’t need

sheet music, he wasn’t allowed to have any for this either. Which sucked, because he was still having trouble with this one part. The

horrible stage fright wasn’t helping either. The piece was getting closer and…. There it was. The few notes he’d fucked up, just like

every time in practice.


          
Continuing on, since he couldn’t stop now, he didn’t NEED to look to see his mother’s death glare. It wasn’t fair! It just wasn’t,

being compared to a cousin who was already full grown. Not only was he full grown, he was married and .. and… and had Auntie

Seguchi who’d praised his achievements instead of harping on his faults. Swallowing back the tears in his eyes, he finished the piece,

rose to the thunderous applause and stepped backstage. He didn’t even bother listening to the judges announce that he’d won first

place.


          
He’d spend the next two months in his room.




TBC