Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Pain of Loss and Gain ❯ Sakuya's ( Chapter 2 )

Pain of Loss and Gain

`Chapter 2` Sakuya's

By: Gator Ri

Ack! Sorry about this taking a bit longer than I had planned but profs. decided to dump exams on me. And they still aren't all over. -_-

A knock sound at the door.

"Coming!" Sean called from in his bedroom where he had just barely gotten his pants on.

Making his way down the hall, his bare feet sounding rather loud on the hard wood, he reach the door just as another knock sounded.

"I said I'm coming," he said again as he opened the door.

"I know!" chirped Billy as he pushed Sean back and entered the apartment.

"You little…" he trailed of and shook his head at the other man, as he was pushed back from the door. He turned to head back to his bedroom, letting the door close as it would behind him.

He heard a loud whistle from behind him, "My! My! Don't we look hot tonight!" Billy stated loudly taking note of his friend's state of undress, "The boys at the club will loooove you! Hmmmm, Hmmmm, Hmmmm."

Sean felt the fire of the blush quickly over take his face, "Shut up!" he almost wailed as his voice went up a few octaves, hating it when William teased him like that. He turned to face the other, "You know I don't swing that way! And neither do you!"

The teaser rolled his eyes as he blew at his fluffy bangs, "Whatever, can't you even take a joke. Even after all these years."

Sighing, he decided to just give up on the situation as he returned to his room to finish dressing. Grabbing his black dress shirt, that matched the black pants he wore. Buttoning it he tucked it into his pants and then got the plum tie at which he deftly tied it, making sure it was centered and straight. Satisfied that it was he pulled the dark navy sport coat of its hanger and put that on as well, puling his long ponytail out of the back of it as well to let it hang free. Taking out a pair of black socks he pulled them on before slipping on his black loafers, which completed the ensemble.

Walking into the modest living room Sean was just in time to catch William picking on his cat again.

"Will, you please quit picking on him," he scolded, "You're way to old to be doing this stuff and it's cruel."

"Oh! Pish! Posh! A little tape never hurt anyone," he said getting to his feet, "You ready?"

I nodded.

"Okay! Then lets get this show on the road!"

He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Where do you ever get you energy, William," he shook his head at the bundle of energy as they left.

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"I wonder where they are?" a boy with chestnut hair brushed into a ponytail that stuck up questioned his friend. Not too mention this was probably the third time in the last five minutes that he had asked.

"Don't worry, they'll be here," replied the big man in a deep resonating voice, his dark eyes looking around the room patiently.

"I know but Josh will be on soon," the childlike voice of the younger one worried, his large eyes not so calmly looking around the place.

"You know, Zan, for having multiple Ph.D.'s you sure do worry about trivial things," came a very distinct feminine like voice from behind the smaller man.

Turning around the young man's face lit up, "Hey guys! You're just in time!"

"Sorry, but you know how long it takes Sean to get ready," smiled William as he pulled out a chair and took a seat.

"Hey, I was read on time," said the psychologist as he too took a seat, "You came early to pick on my cat," he frowned slightly at this.

William shook his head, "Nuhuh."

"Guys, guys," the short black spiky headed medical doctor intervened, "Come on at least you're here."

"Richard's right," piped Zan.

Sean just grinned as he pulled himself from the conversation, to let the others banter back and forth, and let his gaze wander around the stately club.

Out of all the places that they would go this was Sean's favorite, for here he was able to watch and observe people easily and listen to good music, without the usual clamor. 'Sakuya's' was for Tokyo's higher society folk, thus they took good care of their clientele.

The room was nice and relaxing with little lamps on each of the tables that gave off a dim light, enough to allow for privacy but also enough so that they needed very little lighting elsewhere. There were also different planters situated around the room to help with giving customers an even greater sense of privacy and relaxation, for they were filled with lilac bushes and other greenery, making one feel as if they were in a garden. But they were also placed strategically enough so that no one's view of the stage was blocked.

"Hey! Earth to Sean!"

The doctor blinked his eyes as William waved his hand in the man's face and almost yelling in his ear abruptly brought his consciousness to the table.

"What?"

Billy sat down and rolled his violet eyes, "You are so dense sometimes," he then got a more serious look, "You thinking about that new patient?"

This got Richard's and Zan's attention, as well for they stopped pretending to read the night's program and looked at their friend.

Sean shook his head and then shrugged as he looked at the table, "Not really…although it's a bit at the back of my mind."

"Is it that bad?" queried Zan in concern.

Sean shrugged his shoulders and again shook his head, he wasn't really sure yet and wasn't really all that willing to discuss, he didn't want to violate the patient doctor confidentiality contract.

"Is there something I could do?" Richard asked, concerned as well.

To this Sean nodded, 'I might send her to you in the next couple of weeks for a physical examination to make sure that there is nothing medically wrong."

The MD nodded his black spiky head, "That will be fine with me. Just make sure to make an appointment."

"Hey, why don't we leave work out of it guys. I mean isn't tonight supposed to be fun?' Zan intervened with a frown.

The others got sheepish looks.

'Yeah, he's right. Lets hear Josh play and then grab him for a movie of something," they looked at Billy as he said this and nodded in agreement, sounded go to them.

A waitress came up to their table and smiled at them, "Hello, guys. The usual's?"

Chuckling and smiling at her they gave a nod, "Sure thing," Billy agreed out loud as well.

With a wave and a girlish giggle she gave them all wink, "Okay it will be up in a few minutes." Turning she walked away with her green curls bouncing in their ponytail holder.

Billy watched her go, following her with his eyes.

"You like her don't you?" Sean asked quietly enough so that the other two couldn't hear.

Billy nodded his head, causing his long bangs to fall in his eyes, as he chewed his bottom lip.

Sean offered his friend a reassuring smile.

"Hey, Josh should be up next," Zan stated as he looked towards the stage.

Sean and Billy looked towards the stage where the current performers were dancing to some classical music.

"Good, it'll be nice to get some life into this place," Billy yawned.

Richard shook his head, "What do you not enjoy Bach?"

Billy wrinkled his nose, "Not really."

"That's because it doesn't have enough swing for his taste," Sean interjected with a slight smile to his lips.

"That's because classical is a high art music brought over from Europe," Zan added, with a wink.

Billy covered his face, "All right, all right… I know this already. You've only told me about a million times."

The other three grinned and chuckled at their friend.

"Then maybe one would be wiser in keeping ones mouth shut," Sean advised.

"Great advice from an outstanding doctor," Richard said with a wink and a smile.

"Ah… But I be not as great of a doctor as thee."

"Well, maybe it's because you both are doctors of different fields," observed Zan.

"Maybe they are teasing each other or more pointedly someone else," Billy half grumped but quickly straightened up as the waitress came with their food.

"Okay, let us see here," she started, "We have wine dipped shrimp with spirits for Dr. Zan Kuhn," she put his plate and drink down in front of the young man with a grin, "Steak cooked medium well for Dr. Richard Epcar with spirits," she set those down. "Next we have fetuccini alfredo for Dr. Sean Mitchell with more sprite than wine," she put those down before turning to Billy, "And lastly for Dear William Hather we have beer battered pan fish with his own special drink." With a wide grin she set his plate down, "Now enjoy yourselves boys and don't forget to behave," with a wink she turned and walked away.

Complete silence fell over the table as they started in on their food.

As he ate Sean though of one of his other favorite things about this particular club, the food. For they didn't just have Japanese but also a few dishes from other countries as well.

The table looked up from their late supper as everyone around them broke out into applause, while the dancers on the stately stage took their bows.

"And now 'Sakuya's' is proud to present one of Tokyo's most popular jazz bands, 'Beaz'!" the voice came from no where really but it was low and calm although the words stirred excitement with in the crowd.

Josh and the other five members walked out on stage, all of them having bright smiles on their faces as they waved at their audience, whom had almost gone wild. Yes even the elite can act like you or me.

Billy whistled loudly as the other just clapped, Billy was the odd ball of the group and they accepted him for that.

Josh's neatly cut dirty blond hair seemed to wave and bristle with excitement but his eyes even more so for the brown orbs seemed to shine like the sun.

Sean couldn't help but smile slightly at the young man, he was always happy and trying to cheer people up with his wooden flute, which perhaps was on of the most unique things about the band. A flute is not a normal jazz instrument much less a wooden one.

The clapping finally died down and then the band started their set, which consisted of almost everything in the genre of jazz, from swing and be bop to dixieland and cool.

Thus much of the night was played away to the delight of the audience, this is what most had come for to hear this artful music from a very skillful band.

As the band ended their last song, which happened to have been a mixture of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. They left the stage to yet even more cat calls and whistles, at which one of the loudest was probably Billy.

"Hey come on guys. Why don't we go see Josh?" Zan suggested as he got to his feet, once the noise quieted down a bit.

"Yeah, lest," Billy agreed loudly as he followed suit.

The other two shrugged as they too go to their feet, "Sure why not," Richard agreed.

They had just gotten into the back hallway where the dress rooms for the performers were, when they noticed that Josh was actually coming towards them.

He waved the usual bright smile on his face, "Hello guys!"

As he came closer Sean couldn't help but admire the young lithe musician. He was so ordinary for his status with faded jeans & shirts, and beat up tennis shoes.

"So what are you guys up to tonight?" he asked as he stopped in front of them.

"Oh you know the usual, bar hopping and hiring the cheapest horror to share while doing drugs dressed in drag," Billy with a nonchalant air.

This caused Josh to laugh as the others rolled their eyes and shook their heads while chuckling.

"Well, maybe you are, William." Sean teased, "But I seem to remember someone suggesting that we just go rent some movies and make popcorn."

"You're know fun!" Billy whined back, causing everyone else to laugh at him all the harder.

"It sounds like fun Billy but I think I'll stick with Sean, Richard, and Zan."

"Where's your sense of adventure!?"

"It died," the others grinned as they turned and started talking about whose place to go to and what movies to rent.

Grumbling about dead beat intellectuals Billy followed after.

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"Miaka!" Keisuke yelled in a whisper, so as not too wake the kids, as he burst through her bedroom door, his eyes looking wild and dark blond hair disheveled.

Coming in he walked over to her bed, "Miaka? Miaka, are you all right?"

The young woman turned pain filled eyes upon her brother, tears staining her cheeks.

Now that he had her attention and didn't have to worry about scaring her, he sat on the bed and pulled her against him in a comforting embrace, "Shhhhh… It's okay," her big brother soothed her as he stroked her damp hair.

She sobbed into that comforting shoulder, like she had done for the past two months every time she had woken up screaming from a dream she couldn't totally remember.

As she finally quieted down she felt that tell tale strain on her body of she couldn't go on living like this.

"Oh, Keisuke," her tone was still watery from the sobbing, "Make them stop, make the nightmares stop."

Okay and now for your lesson of the day, brought to you by the crazy author of this story. XD Actually this is just to specifically define classical music, as well as define the genres of jazz mentioned, and give a bit on Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, two of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. ^___^

Classical: music that is usually considered that of a cultivated tradition although not of it is considered a high art as it has been used for themes such as 'Star Wars' and the musical by George Gershwin, 'Porgy and Bess'.

Swing: A matter of performance that, in part, separates jazz from other styles of music. It is a manner that generates heightened energy and rhythmic vitality.

Bebop: A combo jazz style that emerged in the 1940's. It is characterized by high energy, virtuoso solo improvisation, complex rhythm patterns, and more novel and chromatic harmonies that were used in previous styles.

Cool: An outgrowth of and reaction to bebop style. Cool jazz arrangers and performers strived to maintain the musical qualities of bebop while making their music more accessible to their audience. They adopted many elements from classical music, including use of orchestral instruments not commonly used in jazz, such as the flute, oboe, and French horn.

Dixieland: The first popular jazz style. It was characterized by group improvisation (clarinet, trumpet, and trombone) supported by a steady ragtime rhythm.

Duke Ellington: Is a piano player that also was one of the most successful, as well as, durable jazz composers, arrangers, and big band leaders. One of his things that he said while he was playing the piano was that he was dreaming, he wasn't playing just dreaming.

Louis Armstrong: Was one of the most famous Dixieland musicians, a giant among all transplanted New Orleans musicians. He pursued an illustrious career as a trumpet player, singer, and entertainer well into the 1960's. His primary influences for his career were from the recordings that he made in the 1920's in Chicago with his Hot Five and Hot Seven combos. He did two major things for the jazz genre:The possibility of a jazz musician demonstrating innovative, extended jazz improvisations--or more than a two bar break. The possibility of solo, improvised jazz singing, which is know as scat singing (vocal improvising similar in manner to an instrumentalist improvising)

Improvisation: The act of creating the music while performing.

EEPS! Sorry that ended up so long. @___@;;; hehe…I like jazz can ya tell?