First Performance of the Year{Sia/Open}

[由 Yuna 奈]

Miura Denjiro stepped into the small, hole-in-the-wall cafe that was his usual hangout on Fridays. Although he had frequented Yanaga Cafe for over four years now, he had only begun to play there a year before, at the start of ninth grade. Carrying a large guitar case he slid around a few groups of people, mindful of the low ceiling on the edges of the room. The ceiling was domed, with only a few low-energy bulbs spaced here and there, giving the cafe a soft glow.

It was growing dark out, and he knew it was almost time to start playing. Five o'clock on the dot. He enjoyed performing, not doing it for any money, although the owner, Yanaga Takagi had offered him a meager salary. Den refused, not wanting to play or sing for anything more than the sheer pleasure he got from doing so.

At a particularly low point in the ceiling he swiveled his tall frame slightly to avoid a misplaced beam, stepped on a dropped glass which instantly shattered, and bumped into a girl sitting with her back toward him. Turning so he could face her he bowed slightly. "Gomen nasai," he murmured, his low voice reverberating slightly. "It was an accident."

[Sia]

Haruka Itou had been sitting at the cafe since she had gotten out of school. She had changed from her school clothes, that now lay folded perfectly in her bag, which she had slung over her shoulder. She was now dressed in some black, skinny leg jeans and a long sleeved, billowy, linen black shirt, as well as a Styrofoam cup of tea.

She had been coming to the cafe nearly every night for a two months straight. She had first been introduced to the area when she had found a discarded flier about a poetry night. She had simply watched the people perform, silently passing judgment on them. She liked the feel of the cafe though, and kept coming back. If she had to be somewhere during the daylight hours, it might as well be here. She always had left before it got too dark though- seems like she was running late tonight.

She had gotten up, slowly grimaced as her scolding hot tea splashed onto her hand- as someone bumped into her. She turned slightly to find the reason as to why her hand now throbbed with heat. When she did, her gray eyes met Den's green ones. She shrugged. "It's okay" she said, softly under her breath. She recognized Den from school, and she looked curiously at him, silently wondered why he was here. She eyed his guitar case, and then looked at him again. She walked to the counter, and grabbed a few napkins, as she gently wiped off the tea, gently inhaling some, as the coarse paper rubbed her now sensitive skin. She inhaled some. A flushed color came to her face, as she looked at her wrist- she had never gotten up close enough to Den to see how attractive the boy was.

[由 Yuna 奈]

Den watched the girl...what was her name? He recognized her from school, but he had never talked to her before. But then, he hardly talked to anyone at school; mainly only Yuzu, and he couldn't get away with not talking to her. Almost as soon as he thought of the bubbly girl he spotted her in a corner, waving madly at him. He winced. She was causing a seen... and the guy she was sitting with didn't look very happy about it.

He was tempted to go and apologize again to the girl in black, perhaps offer to buy her a new drink, but he caught Yanaga-san's eye, and instead made his way over to the small stage that was set up, ignoring his friend's waving. Sitting down on the chair already present on the stage he placed his guitar case down, slowly opened it, and took out the polished wood instrument. Slinging the shoulder strap over his arm he began to tune quietly, as the owner made his way up to the stage.

"Good evening, everyone! Welcome to another Friday night performance by Miura Den!" Stepping back he flicked the microphone on, adjusted it so it was in front of Den's chair, and left the stage.

Denjiro, finished tuning, played a few chords before beginning, leaning forward slightly so as to be closer to the mic. "This song is called 'Do What You Want to Do'," he explained. The intro was soft, like many of his songs. After about a minute he began to sing, his voice low and deep.

"Do What You Want
Day after day,
The expectations,
The aspirations,
Never stopping
Never dropping
A roller coaster of dreams

Friends,
Enemies,
Lovers,
Haters,
Live like you wanna live
Never give in to it all
For it’s the monotony of life

Though you have so much you wanna say
You hold it in to afraid to say
That you wanna be yourself
Live your own life,
Do what you want to do

So hard,
To say,
That you don’t wanna live their life
So hard,
To stay,
The way they want you to

Though you have so much you wanna say
You hold it in to afraid to say
That you wanna be yourself
Live your own life,
Do what you wanna do

Escaping will be hard,
But you can do it,
You can do what you wanna do,
Just do what you wanna do…
Do what you wanna do…
Do what you wanna…
…do…

When he finished he opened his eyes and smiled slightly. A man of few words through and through, he said nothing as he watched the audiences' reactions to the song.

[Sia]

Haruka let out a quick sigh when he walked away from her. She was just about to get up and walk out of the cafe when she heard a name being called for by a speaker. She never heard anything about them having musical performances. But she had guessed rather easily who it was- after all, Den was holding a guitar case. She sat down on a stool next to the counter, and listened. Her eyes watched him intently, as he sang, and played his insturment. He was gifted, she would give him that. A very soft, nearly nonexistant smile appeared on the girl's lips for a few fleeting moments after he sang. The song wasn't familiar to her. She wondered if he had written it himself. She wouldn't have doubted it.

She stood up, about to head for the door yet again- when it hit her. She had the sudden urge to sing as well. She stood there, trying to let it pass, but when she needed to do something, she needed to. She turned on her heels again, and found the owner, who had been standing near the base of the stage. She pulled him to the side, "After his set... would you mind if I sang some?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow. When he shook his head, she smiled some, nodding in recognition.

She sat back down, closer to the stage. She wanted to hear more of this guy. his talent inspired her. In the back of her mind, she contemplated if that might not be a good thing. But she closed her eyes, waiting for him to start again. His voice was silky smooth and velvet... deep and dark. Her face was stoic now, but in her eyes was a very soft gleam of enjoyment. She breathed in deeply, waiting, and wanting again for his voice to envelop her mind.

[由 Yuna 奈]

{{OOC: First song, written by me. Second from Marmalade Boy. Third from Fushigi Yugi.}}

Yuzu, Den noted, was clapping loudly and wolf-whistling in the corner with her date. Not remotely becoming, and embarrassing for them both. He glared at her briefly and she quieted. The first year also noticed that the girl in black he had bumped into, Itou-san, he remembered, was still there. He also recalled having seen her in the cafe before, but had never seen her stay this long before.

Smiling ever-so-slightly he spoke again. "This is called 'Kareha Iro no Crescendo',". This has a much shorter intro, and the lyrics began almost as soon as he started playing.

Mai ochiru Kareha no naka ni
Kimi no sugata ga Mieru made
Same kaketa Koohii kappu
Boku wa ryoute de Atatameteru

I'm waiting for you, girl
Itsu no koro kara darou? Koushite
Matsu no ga suki ni natta
Just waiting for your love
Jidai ni furi tsumoru Kimi e no
Omoi ni umoretakute

Kiru fuku o Mayotta sei to
Kimi wa hisshi ni Hanasu darou
Boku wa tada Susumi sugiteta
Tokei no sei to Hohoemu darou

I'm waiting for you, girl
Umarete kara zutto Kono hi o
Matte ita ki ga suru yo
Just waiting for your love
Kisetsu o oi koshite Kokoro no
Samusa wa fukaku naru yo

I'm waiting for you, girl
Itsu no koro kara darou? Koushite
Matsu no ga suki ni natta
Just waiting for your love
Jidai ni furi tsumoru Kimi e no
Omoi ni umoretakute

I'm waiting for you, girl
Umarete kara zutto Kono hi o
Matte ita ki ga suru yo
Just waiting for your love
Kisetsu o oi koshite Kokoro no
Samusa wa fukaku naru yo

This time Den paused only briefly, to let the song sink in before he introduced his third and final song. "Memories of the Left Hand."

Rain falls on the mountain peak
Before long, those raindrops return to the heavens.
I met you to love you
then lose you
Am I really fated for only pain?!
The pain
makes my chest tighten.

I couldn't help that one person.
I was alone for a long time, but...

Each time the symbol on this hand opens,
The swirl of the milky way releases love.
Wanting to protect ephemeral lives
Even now,
it shines.

[Instrumental]

[Instrumental]

In the night sky in my heart,
you're the crescent moon, becoming round and full,
shining forth in my heart
as if to tell me
to choose happiness
over sadness,
becoming eternal love.

Still loving that one person,
I finally heal myself...

When the symbol on this hand closes,
who is the saddest one?!
Fleeting life; that is the universe,
the place
where love lives.

Each time the symbol on this hand opens,
The swirl of the milky way releases love.
Wanting to protect ephemeral lives
Even now,
it shines.

When he finished that song too he stood, turned off the microphone, and bowed. "Arigatou," he addressed the audience in his quiet manner, before stepping down from the stage amidst the applause and going over to the counter to pick up the glass of water that the owner always had waiting for him. Picking up the water glass and drank deeply.

[Sia]

((OOC:THESE LYRICS ARE MY OWN))

Haru had paused for a moment, and allowed his music to sink in. She had tried ot breathe, but his sound was just so rich, that it was hard to injest. She let out a deep sigh getting over the butterflies his performance has caused her. She gently shook this off. She quietly approached the young man, a friendly gaze was found in her eyes though no such look came across her lips. She turned, hovering some around th stairs as the owner introduced her too to the stage. She quietly and slowly assended the stairs.

She hadn't had her guitar on her this fine night- no, she was going to sing a capella. She walked to the microphone humbly, and softly tapped it with her idex finger. Her eyes were closed as she waited for a reverb. Content with the echo back, a very soft smile appeared on her face. One that from the back of the room wouldn't have been noticed. Her eyes remained closed, as she invisioned herself alone. She just wanted to sing... Den's voice had inspired her. She waited until there was silence. She had said nothing- no title, no intro, nothing. She simply snapped her fingers, to obtain a tempo and beat, and she began.

Her voice was crisp and clear as she sang, but it too had a rich velvetiness- as if she had been performing on the stage her whole life. She looked like no neverous ameture. She was strong, yet soft in her lyrics. Her voice a perfectly balanced, beautiful contradiction, freely, and efortlessly hitting the top notes as she pleased- her voice ebbed and flowed, like calm waves slowly hitting the sand.

"We don't have to sort this out violently,"
Pleading with you, said she.
Looking back now, I'm sure you'll see
That she saw the best in everything.

Still we're desperately learning to cry,
Already mourning those who will insensibly die.
Refusing to utter hello instead of goodbye.

Still like a bull, all you had was red in your sight,
As you threw her to the ground, she begged still not to fight-
Softly pleading, even at its height,
Though you didn't then, now you know she's right.

Still we're desperately learning to cry,
Already mourning those who will insensibly die.
Refusing to utter hello instead of goodbye.

The Power Struggle wouldn't begin
If we all just admitted to commiting the Sin.
Just tell me if we can let the pacifist win;
Opening up, to let the logic in.

Still we're desperately learning to cry,
Already mourning those who will insensibly die.
Refusing to utter hello instead of goodbye.

Maybe if all were willling to bend,
The one pleading wouldn't be dead.
The hearts once beating wouldn't sink like lead.
We could look at a begining and not just see an end.

It's never too late to finally try,
To set your ambitions toward the sky;
And ask the world around you, "why"?

She took an ever so audible breath to signify she was finished. She smiled softly again- she was content now that she had gotten her urge to sing out. Without lingering on the stage, she mutely came down, as if she had done nothing at all. Bipassing the water that the owner had set up for her, she calmly grabbed her bag, that she had left at the table, and quietly walked out of the cafe. She had blocked out any response that she had gotten from the audience.

It was a tad bit nipper outside- and she had felt a shiver go down her spine as a cold wind hit her face. She inhaled the sent of the wind, as she rested on the wall for a moment. The night was beautiful.

[由 Yuna 奈]

Denjiro was surprised to say the least when Itou-san was announced to sing as well. He didn't know she could sing. And when she had finished his opinions had changed about her even more. Before he hadn't thought much of her, just that she seemed like a quiet person, like himself. But now he sensed much deeper things from her--much greater emotions.

After saying goodbye to the owner he grabbed his guitar case and left, following her out. Once outside he looked around a bit until he spotted her nearby, leaning against a wall. He was glad she hadn't gone far. Stepping up toward her, slowly so as to not frighten the girl, he smiled a little. He had never thought he would find another good singer at Yanaga Cafe. Although the place had become much more popular in the past year, there were few who actually performed there. A few did poetry readings, but other then those and himself, he knew of none.

But then, Den didn't go to the cafe every day, so he didn't know that for sure. Stopping a few feet away from her he spoke, "Sumimasen, Itou-san. I wanted to thank you for your performance. Your song was quite beautiful."