Xen

I cannot believe this is happening. I am actually in Canis Major, on the planet Laeetun, in the high-tech metropolis Light City, going to meet the Raine Ju'dun because I am now a member of his band.

I desperately try to hide my nerves as Vont, my new manager, drives down the street towards JE Entertainment. Light City has been overwhelming and I've only been here for an hour.

First of all, traffic is horrible. There are way too many people crammed into this small city. Like Tokyo but twice as bad and much more loud.

I've never witnessed so many Laeetuni in one place. Their teeth are as sharp as a shark's and when their mouths are closed, I can distinguish them by their pointy ears. Their skin comes in a wide array of brown hues, ranging from light beige to chocolate. They're most similar to humans and I met some on Earth, so I'm pretty comfortable around them.

But I have never seen a Klep in real life. I gaze at Vont's green, webbed hand holding the steering bar. There are lots of informal and disparaging words for Kleps on Earth, like Yodas and Hoggles, which is likely why they never visit. But they're a peaceful race, I hear, so I don't think I'll be discriminated against in the city.

Every now and then, I see a Shillan with moon-white skin in the crowds of pedestrians. It reminds me of Raine. He's never stated what he is, but there are some pretty sound theories in the Milky Way Music Forums.

His only pointed teeth are his canines, just like Shillans. And some of his songs have mentioned living in a cold environment reminiscent of the icy planet. While Shillans have no eyebrows and short eyelashes, Raine's eyebrows are present but light and eyelashes are long and fan-shaped. That partly gives it away that he's not full Shillan. But the major clue is his skin. Every Shillan has skin that blends in with their snowy planet. But Raine's skin is reminiscent of a latte.

Some suspect he's half Laeetuni, his father perhaps being a tourist who visited Shilla's single city to soak in the hot springs or play ice sports. But why would anyone be secretive about that in Light City where diversity is embraced, other fans argue.

Most suspect he's half-Malonian. Malonians are the black sheep of the universe, refusing technology and remaining mostly tribal outside of their small towns with hospitals and universities. Their lightest skinned people are as dark as coffee beans, so mating with a Shillan would be like pouring milk into coffee. Historically, it's rumoured that Malonians have had the highest instances of x-genders compared to the other races.

Skeptics counter that Malonians never leave their planet. But about twenty years ago, a group of Shillans illegally travelled to Malonia to sell black market energy core, violating the interplanetary agreement. There were rumors that in the chaos, many Malonians were murdered or enslaved. The Shillan government never reprimanded the black market dealers and the Malonians had no ships to go to war or retrieve their people. In simpler words, Raine would want to hide the fact that one of his parents was a black market e-core dealer and the other a slave.

As a band member, will I get to learn Raine's secrets? Will he let me know who he is beyond his music?

The hovercar slows as we enter the parking garage of JE Ent and Vont turns in his seat and smiles at me. "Ready?"

I smile back. "As ready as I'll ever be."

I try to pretend like I'm just meeting another classical music colleague or millionaire's child, not Raine Ju'dun, the most captivating living thing I have ever laid eyes on with a voice that sends shivers up my spine. In the flesh. Maybe I'm not ready.

Vont turns around in the wide hallway after noticing I've stopped walking. He smiles. "Don't be nervous. The band is all nice. Well… Raine at least is professional and not... mean?"

I scratch the back of my neck. "Jo'lanae did tell me he could be a difficult person."

"It's true. Raine is definitely Nebula's queen." Vont smiles but it looks pained. I don't think he meant to let that slip through.

I pick my steps back up and a few paces later, we reach a conference room door. He opens it without a moment's hesitation and I step in behind him, quickly lifting the corners of my mouth. If I don't smile, I tend to look unhappy or pissed off since the corners of my mouth naturally point down.

The first to catch my eye is Jo'lanae. She approaches me, beaming. "So great to have you." We both reach our hands out but there's an awkward moment when I go to shake like we do on Earth and she goes for the Laeetunian touching of the backs of the hand. I quickly correct myself and our skin touches.

"It's great to be here." I do my best not to look at the white-haired figure in my periphery.

DG is standing up to greet me, extending a beige hand. His long vibrant red hair is tied into a ponytail and there is an uncountable amount of piercings in his ear. His neck tattoo of ancient Laeetuni glyphs and tattoo sleeve look even cooler in person. "It's great to have you. My pronouns are he/him/his."

I already knew that. I've read enough Laeetuni articles about Nebula to know each of their genders and pronouns. "Same," I say, just for the record.

Leela is next. Her lips lift into a smirk and her chestnut brown midriff is totally exposed. Her curly hair looks really fluffy, reminding me of my aunt's poodle. "Welcome to the band, bro."

"Thanks." My heart starts pounding as the person I've been trying not to look at steps forward. I don't know if I can handle looking into his captivating blue eyes but it'd be rude not to. Raine is just another person, I tell myself. You've been faking shit for years as a Hannachi, you can fake this. I lick my lips and extend my hand for a Laeetuni greeting, smiling. I've read fans estimate his height after attending concerts, but I somehow always pictured him shorter than me. Instead, he's about two centimeters taller which puts him at about 183.

Raine's skin touches mine for a fraction of a second. "Hi. He/they."

"Hi." I'm a huge fan. I've been watching you since you uploaded your first cover to MilkyTube 6 years ago. Your music is what inspired me to step outside of classical. Your voice is amazing and sometimes sounds like sex.

I retreat before any of my thoughts can reach my tongue.

Jo'lanae puts a hand on my shoulder. "DG and partners, why don't you give him a tour and then you four can head to dinner and get to know each other. How does that sound?"

Raine doesn't say anything. Leela nods and DG says, "Sure."

We leave the room in a line then DG comes to walk beside me.

"How was the trip? Is it as excruciating as they say?"

I chuckle. "Six months of doing nothing on a giant ship full of tourists who like to tell their life stories?" I pause. "It was fun. I made lots of friends."

Leela laughs. "So what did you tell them you were coming to Canis for?"

"Temporary work. I couldn't tell them I was immigrating; Earth only allows it on certain dates every few years. People wouldn't be thrilled to know a young guy like me gets to break the rules just because his father's rich."

Leela winces. "Yeah…"

DG stops in front of the elevator. "I heard only 30 people are allowed each time and that by the time they get to Canis... only 3 are left."

The elevator door dings open over the sound of Leela's laughter. "That's gorbilqiq. Everyone knows that's an urban legend."

DG smirks, obviously having been playing around. I probably shouldn't tell them that that urban legend is based on historical fact.

Raine slides by us and enters the elevator first. The rest of us trail in followed by Vont.

He moves to the side then leans over. "Raine, could you press 2? I'll wait for you all in the lobby."

Raine puts his finger to the LED button after pressing the 6. I wonder if he's usually this quiet. Nebula hasn't done many interviews but the ones they have done, he usually speaks just as much as the others.

The first room DG takes me to is the studio. The digital composition, or coding as they call it, equipment is higher tech than we had on Earth. Behind the glass in front of the coding table is a room where several instruments are set up. An e-guitar, stringless as it's not turned on. The collapsible frame of L-drums, a merging of traditional Laeetuni drums, those from Earth, and high technology. There's a real piano. Not electronic in the least, which I'm surprised by but happy to see. There's an e-violin in the corner and as far as I know, I'm the only one who can play the violin. Maybe I should have told Jo'lanae I've only ever played the old fashioned Earth kind. On the other side of the large room of instruments is a smaller room with just one mic.

"So," DG continues his speech about when and who uses the room, "I guess this will be your main headquarters starting tomorrow."

I nod. "Looks amazing."

Leela skips towards the door. "Let me show him our favourite room."

Apparently, their favourite room is the break room. It has couches around the perimeter and in the center is what looks like a ping pong table.

"Do you play hover ball?" Leela asks, putting her hand on my arm.

"I never have but I could learn."

She smiles, satisfied. "I'll kick your butt."

"I'll humbly lose."

Leela slaps my arm playfully and turns back towards the door in time for me to catch Raine's glare. We meet eyes and he runs his hand through his hair from hairline to crown, then turns around. The fans go crazy when he does that with his hair. I thought it was just fanservice but if he's doing it now while glaring, it must just be a habit.

Wait, why is he glaring?

When DG shows me the dance practice room and says, "You can come here to watch Raine, I guess," his glare intensifies.

"I can't believe I have to zoffing dance," he says.

DG chuckles and puts his hands on Raine's shoulder then makes massaging motions. "We'll be there to cheer you on. You'll do great."

The next room is the gym.

"You work out?" DG asks, sitting on a bench and lifting a weight. I glance at his harem pants. I have never seen him wear anything different.

The image of Raine touching DG's abs at least once every concert flashes through my mind.

"Not really," I reply.

"Me either," Leela says. "Looks like you'll still be working out alone, DG."

"Boo." DG pouts. "Once JE Ent expands though, I'm sure whatever new groups or singers will have members who work out with me."

"I'll be wishing on asteroids for you." Leela pats his shoulder.

DG cups his chin. "What else is there to show Xen?"

"Laeetuni cuisine." Leela smirks and links her arm around mine. Laeetuni are way more touchy than Earthians. Though people seem to like me immediately, I've never had someone physically warm up to me so fast.

Raine looks at me expressionlessly. "Are you an omnivore or herbivore?" One of his shoulders is exposed as his jacket has slid off. Another thing I thought was fan service confirmed to be natural. I can see the infamous small, star-shaped birthmark at the top of his arm. I have to glance away.

"Omnivore." Should I be glad that he's taking an interest in me? Maybe he's normally quiet and the Raine that talks is just his public persona.

"Let's go," he says and walks out of the door.

Leela runs up and takes his hand. They walk, hands clasped. I mean, I read about "skinlove," as they call it, between friends. But seeing it with my own eyes is very different. I wonder if one day he'll hold my hand like that too.