[center][b]Tea and Honey[/b]

Nine Senses
Loom
Evening[/center]

The [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwdyTtoMI_I]music[/url] was flowing around like the scent of freshly baked bread carried by the wind. The crowd was bathing in the thick melody, inhaling it and getting intoxicated by it and in their hearts the feelings sprouted and grew like an insatiable hunger - love, joy, regret, sorrow, longing... Ibuki's voice was reeling them into his own world, giving them a guide-light and a lifeline in the whirlwind of emotion, giving it a structure and breathing a soul into the music. It was gently stroking their hearts before rising in volume and intensity to allow them a release from the sweet pain. And they screamed. And in those screams the band bathed, their ecstasy bouncing off their public, only to come back stronger and even more powerful. 

Samantha Rule was hitting the drums with her eyes closed, letting herself be abducted into a world of peace and harmony. For once she was happy to follow and not striving to compete. Ibuki's voice flowed sweet and warm like warmth in a winter blizzard, sticking to her soul, sheltering it from the ruthless world beyond. It engulfed her and erased everything beyond itself. Yet that wasn't all. It was honey-coated steel, the Will and strength behind it shining trough only at some syllables that you had to listen closely to to catch. Oh, how she wished to explore that passion, to see it blossom! That soft demand singing straight to her heart reminded her of Sameda's own voice, the most heavenly one she'd ever heard in her life. One she couldn't not follow.
Silk, her mind gave her a hint. Yes, Ibuki's voice was like silk, she agreed, an enlightened grin creeping on her face. She had heard once that silk is not only one of the softest, but also one of the strongest known natural fabrics in the world. Oh, if he would only use that voice for the wrong purpose, she thought, he would be formidable. He could have an army of followers and conquer land not by blade but by song alone, demon lords and angels both bowing their heads before him.
Yet for now what she was getting was enough.It was enough even if she was his sole follower.

But then the voice died down, and so did the music, and just like that the magic faded away. When Sam's eyes opened she saw no miracle but only the plain and mundane world she knew so well. In the end, they were just a bunch of teenagers on the dusty stage of a club with a fading fame.

With a sigh she let her drum sticks fall to her side, the life taken out of them, and just watched as the crowd cheered and reached out for Ibuki and the rest of the band. Someone threw a flower at her feet and she gave them an encouraging smile as she limply picked it up. 

"Come on," someone nudged her "time to go." 

Amused by the daze Ibuki had caused, Sam smiled and followed Ginger behind stage. As she opened her locker with shaky hands she tried to relive the magical emotions from before but that proved impossible. The tranquil feeling was fading and being replaced by a rising restlessness. 

A hand landed on her shoulder and made her turn.
"Hey." She grinned at Ibuki. "Great performance there. You almost broke my heart when you stopped."

The boy laughed. "If I could, I'd never stop."

"One of those days." She reassured, patting his shoulder "You've got an angel's voice and I'm sure one of those days you'll sprout your very own set of wings." She grinned and took pleasure in watching the blush creep to his cheeks.

"I'm just human, Beat, and I don't think I'm turning into anything else anytime soon."

"Cute. That's what you are." She teased, pulling his cheek and removing her hand a second before he attempted to slap it away. They both laughed as Sam sucked her cheeks in, pursed her lips and wiggled her fingers to imitate a (very disturbing) bird.

"We're off to the pub. You coming?"

"Can't. Sorry." She threw the strap of her bag over one shoulder. "Gotta go."

"You have to come with us some day, you know?" 

"I will." She lied. Ignoring Ibuki's disappointed stare Sam slipped her shoes on and left.