"That boy and his rebellious ways are going to be the end of his career," said Taehyung's mother as she stood in the windowed conference room; her gaze staring out at the afternoon skyline.

In her hand she was currently clutching 8x10 photos of Taehyung's kiss; pictures that were circulating the internet like wildfire. Taehyung's mother looked as if she was about to glare daggers into the back of the mystery woman's head; her recently done fingernails curling the edges of the photos. She wondered if that was what caused him to give her lip a few nights ago when they went out to dinner. He still hadn't apologized for it and she hadn't seen him since. The only correspondence she had been getting after sending Yoongi in to handle the situation were a few odd texts here or there followed by the album sample yesterday.

"Maybe it's time for him to be a bad boy," said the label executives at the table behind her, causing her to whip around so fast she almost wobbled off balance in her eight inch white heels.

The label executive that had said something didn't appeared phased. If anything, he appeared completely relaxed. He was currently reclined in his leather arm chair at the conference table; his arms folded across his gray dress shirt. The dress shirt he was wearing matched his silver hair and eyes. He looked at Taehyung's mother as if she and her antics bored him.

"You think it's good for his image for him to be disrespectful to his elders and date some woman behind all our backs? How are we supposed to minimize the damage if he doesn't tell us? Besides, we don't have time for this. Taehyung is almost international. This kind of thing could ruin him."

"Taehyung may be acting different lately - and while I'm certainly not excusing disrespectfulness Ms. Kim - I must say I am impressed with the tracks that he sent us the other day. I like the new sound. Whoever is the second vocalist on these tracks makes it all feel just right. It feels like some sort of missing piece."

She didn't like the idea of Taehyung's solo career turning into some sort of duet. She had no idea who the mystery vocalist was on the tracks - and while he was a talented singer too - she didn't want to think of her son's light being diminished at all. She didn't see where sharing the limelight in any way would help to increase Taehyung's fame.

"I for one can't wait to meet the owner of this mystery voice," continued the label executive, unaware that Taehyung's mother had zoned out. "I'm glad they are coming in today with your son. We will be able to meet the gentleman and arrange details for a comeback concert."

Taehyung's father was also seated at the table, but like the label executive, he seemed to be unphased by it all. He was looking at the eight tracks on a tracklist that had been sent over to them with the audio samples. It all had a different tone to it now with two voices on it, but he couldn't say he hated it. It was a new direction for Taehyung and he approved of it. He didn't see where having another person on the tracks with him would decrease his fame. All he really wanted to know was who the mystery vocalist was like everyone else. The other voice on the tracks was haunting to him in a way, but he couldn't figure out why.

"Well I for one can wait," said Taehyung's mother, causing him to look down the table at his wife.

"Love, you ought to be open minded about this. This might just be the final thing Taehyung needs to be international. Besides, don't you see how marketable groups of singers are nowadays verses solo singers? This could be a blessing and a smart move. You need to be open to it."

She pursed her lips, not liking that her husband wasn't on her side about the issue. She didn't say anything further on the matter though. Instead she crossed her arms and turned back to look out the window just as the door to the conference room opened. A secretary came in; her hair tied neatly in a bun on the top of her head.

"Taehyung is here with his guest," said the secretary.

"Did he not give his name?" asked the label executive as the secretary shook her head. The label executive smirked at the answer. "Man of mystery still, I see. I'm definitely more than a little intrigued."

"Shall I show them in?" asked the secretary.

"Yes please. Thank you," said the label executive; the woman nodding her head before disappearing back out into the lobby.

'Yoongi should be with them...' thought Taehyung's mother as she continued to stare at the buildings spread across the landscape in front of her. 'I wonder why he failed to do his job and let this get out of control.'

- - -

'I hate fish sauce...' thought Yoongi as he stood in the alleyway between the label's building and an adjacent building.

It had been three days now since Yoongi had switched places with a cat and he doubted that anything would change anytime soon. The day that Jin was supposed to come after work and help him switch back had also been the day when fish sauce had accidentally been spilled on the book. Yoongi still wasn't one hundred precent sure how it happened, but nonetheless it did. The last several days, Jin had tried everything he could think of to preserve the pages and keep the wording legible. However, it still seemed as if it didn't do the trick one hundred precent. As they stood in the alleyway, Jin was using Namjoon like some sort of human rack, having him hold up frail, stained looking pages in his hands.

"Try angling them more towards the sunlight," instructed Jin as Namjoon tried to turn in his place some, holding the papers higher so they were murky brown and translucent all at once.

'Come on,' thought Yoongi as he looked over at Yoongles leaning up against the wall beside him in a dress suit; the leather choke collar hidden beneath the collar of the dress shirt. 'I need to be available incase the meeting upstairs goes south.'

"Alright. Let's try this, but I'm not making any promises since I didn't mean to do it the first time," said Jin as he shot a look Yoongi's way before taking a deep breath.

- - -

"This is it," said Hobi as he sat in the small, cramped waiting room. He was seated in a set of two chairs to the left of the gray room next to Jimin. Taehyung and Jungkook sat side-by-side against the center wall; a giant plant of sorts slapping Jungkook in the forehead with one of its leaves as the fan nearby continued to whirl.

"This is it," affirmed Taehyung as he looked over at Jungkook.

Laylin hadn't been able to come with them due to work and due to the fact that they were trying to keep her hidden from the label for as long as they could. Over the last few days, they had all been made aware of the photos circling the internet. Thankfully Laylin had her back to whoever was taking the photo - and what with her now lime green hair - she would be unrecognizable to paparazzi for now. Jungkook had felt badly about the photos and the rumors that came with it. Taehyung had told Jungkook not to feel badly about it, but he could see that even now he felt bad. It was obvious that Jungkook was feeling bad on top of being nervous. Taehyung moved to put a hand gently on Jungkook's back.

"Are you going to be okay?"

Jungkook nodded, getting smacked by the leaf again in the forehead when he did. Jungkook swatted the leaf out of the way a bit more aggressively this time; causing the vase to rock back and forth. Taehyung couldn't help the sympathetic smile that came across his face.

"You've already faced my parents before," said Taehyung.

"Yes, but you saw how that turned out."

"Doesn't mean that is what will happen this time," assured Taehyung, "But even if it is, I'm here with you this time. We're going to face this together."

Before either of them could say anything more, the secretary that had disappeared on them a minute ago reappeared.

"They are ready for the both of you if you wouldn't mind following me."

"We're here if you need us," said Jimin; the first words he'd really spoken all day after being nervous about this whole thing himself.

Taehyung nodded at Jimin's words, moving to stand at the same time as Jungkook. Walking side-by-side they followed behind the secretary to the conference room. Due to the entire room being surrounded by glass paneling, the two of them were able to see the three occupants of the conference room before they even entered. Taehyung saw that his mother currently had her back to them as she looked out the window towards the outside world. When the secretary opened the door, it was then that she turned. Her eyes filled with disgust at seeing the blue hair that Jungkook was sporting in his body, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the look Taehyung received when her gaze landed upon him and his pink hair.

'Let the fun begin,' thought Taehyung as he stared unphased at his mother; the secretary excusing herself again and shutting the door behind her as she left, leaving the five of them in the room together.