The young woman made her way out onto the platform. The usually unruly audience became stunned by the beauty with short chocolate brown hair, in black and red standing confidently on the small stage. The people in the bar began quieting as the music began and as her voice rang out, the room was nearly silent. Silent; aside from a few dead-drunks shouting unintelligibly in a far corner. She had captivated her audience in a matter of moments.
The young man behind the bar counter was especially drawn in. He set down the glass he had been shining in order to better focus his attention on her. Her… her name was Meiko and it seemed to him that she had the most beautiful voice in the world. His dusky blue eyes stared dreamily at her and he lost himself in the song.
A man hesitantly walked up to the counter, unsure whether it was alright to disturb the young man who seemed entranced by the music… Or the songstress herself. But nevertheless, he was at a bar and he wanted a drink.
"Excuse me…" he said, reluctantly snapping the young bartender out of his trance.
"Ah… Yes? …can I help you?" He muttered. Then he remembered exactly what he was doing behind the counter of a bar. Oh, right… work. He thought to himself. "WORK!" he snapped forward, "What would you like, sir?" and saluted for no apparent reason.
The older man chuckled "At ease soldier, I just want some scotch."
"Oh! Coming right up, sir." He walked over to the shelf with the liquor, his cheeks a soft pink from embarrassment, and brought back a glass and the bottle of scotch. "Here you are."
Just as he said that the lovely young songstress, Meiko, made her way offstage. She strolled toward the bar counter and the bartender straightened up. The older man rose to offer her a seat, she accepted smiling her coquettish performer's smile as she sat.
"Would you like something to drink, my lady?" chimed the older man, wishing to impress.
Her performer smile remained as she accepted, "Some sake, please."
She smiled at the bartender as she was handed her glass and he went back to "shining" glasses. Of course, he couldn't help overhearing. After much small talk the older man took Meiko's hand, asking her a question the bartender didn't quite catch. He bit his lower lip warily; he knew Meiko did not enjoy being touched, much less by strangers.
Her smile faltered as she pulled her hand away from the man roughly and she stormed off, taking her drink with her. The young bartender followed after her, eyeing the man suspiciously as he left. He took a few cautious steps toward her and lightly touched her shoulder.
"…M-Meiko…?" he stuttered.
She was silent for what seemed to him like an eternity. Then she sighed chugging the last of her sake. "What is it, Kaito?" she said, at last facing him.
He smiled, his typical sweet goofy smile, he couldn't help it, he hadn't talked to her all day, but then regained his composure. Should I ask what just happened? he pondered for a moment, but quickly decided against it.
"You… You did great today." He said with a goofy grin on his face and a light pink glow in his cheeks.
Meiko smiled, not that overused façade of a smile she used as a performer, but a genuine smile, that lit the red flecks in her mysterious brown eyes. She ruffled Kaito's blue hair turning her head away slightly.
"Yeah… thanks." she muttered, shyly. And Kaito's smile became even brighter as he nearly blushed crimson.
She walked off happily, feeling a slight stirring in her chest. From the Sake?
Kaito was about to call after her,to ask her something more but the bar manager had now noticed he had abandoned his post at the counter. "KAITO!" he yelled across the bar.
Kaito took one last look back at Meiko and made his way back to the counter. "Coming, sir!"
