Shinji was in music Heaven. He had come to New Orleans because he had been told it was the birthplace of jazz, his favorite genre of music. The intoxicating sound filled the hot, muggy air and seemed to flow from every bar and storefront lining the old history laden streets. Street musicians performed in Jackson Square or opened up their instrument cases on the corners to play the soothing sounds he loved so much. He had found what could possibly be the most perfect place in the world.
Slamming his black pageboy hat down on his blonde head over his hairstyle of the same name, he inspected his appearance one last time before beginning his adventure to experience the sweetest music mankind ever created. He was dressed in a black dress shirt with a black and white horizontally striped tie. White pants, white shoes,and a gray trench coat completed his ensemble. Hiyori always teased him that he looked like a fashion impaired throw back from 1920. But thankfully, she was not here to irritate the hell out of him or smack him with her rubber flip flops. Rubbing his cheek, he recalled the sting of the hard slap he received when he informed her he was going on vacation and she would be staying with a babysitter. It was the first vacation he had taken in years. He had not left her side since...since their parents were killed in the plane crash. Shaking himself free of the memory quite literally, he walked out of the hotel room before the memories could haunt him any further. The past was not going to ruin his present. Not in this moment.
After walking the streets long enough to dispel the little black cloud that had hovered over him from the unwelcome entrance of pain from the past, Shinji found the place he had liked the most so far. Tonight would be an extra treat since they were featuring the talent of local singers. The club was packed with bodies and was stifling hot due to the excessive humidity not only from the dank New Orleans air but also all of the perspiring bodies. Smoke and alcohol mixed with the smell of sweat created an atmosphere all of it's own. He did not mind and barely seemed to notice at all. Taking a table as close to the front as possible, he seated himself at the small round table for one at the very corner of the stage. He could hardly wait for the beats to roll and the soulful sounds to invade his mind and take over his very consciousness. Maybe that was why he liked jazz so much. The sound seemed to heal him on an emotional level because it was always changing and never the same twice even if performed by the same artist. He liked change and unpredictable things.
Shinji took off his coat to get comfortable as a man walked out onto the stage with a microphone in his hand. His heart speed up as the man announced the first performer.
~...~
Esmerie Labeau peeked around the edge of the heavy red velvet curtain from backstage to survey the crowd. It was a packed house tonight. She did not know why she was surprised. It was always filled to over capacity on amateur nights. This club probably violated more fire codes than she cared to think about. Her eyes drifted to the blue cloud that was forming at the ceiling of the club from the cigarette smoke. It would be a miracle if this place did not burn down one night. She chewed on her glossy red bottom lip not caring if she messed up her make up. Her palms were sweaty so she wiped them down the front of her tight black dress that made her feel like a sausage about ready to pop out of its casing. Her brother had been fussing at her about eating too many beignets lately. She couldn't help it. In her nervous anticipation of her first performance outside of her bedroom, she had taken comfort in the doughy sugar covered confections that encompassed three of the most important aspects of food in the south. It was made out of dough, deep-fried, and covered with enough powdered sugar if one dared to sneeze before taking a bite it would look like a blizzard. That was the closest she would ever get to snow in her life probably having been bred and born in the swamps of Louisiana. Once again sliding her sweat slicked hands down her satiny strapless dress that was beginning to feel like a vise that prevented her from breathing, she felt a heavy warm hand on her shoulder and knew her brother had arrived.
"Kaname," she murmured, turning into his big muscled body that towered over hers. He was the only family she had left, and he was everything to her. She was so glad he came to see her perform. She was not sure he knew just how much it would mean to her that he was here or how his presence brought tranquility to her overworked nerves.
"Baby sister," he returned, hugging her back. His fingers moved through her hair before he patted her on the head like he did when she was a little girl.
"How did you find me?" she asked, sincerely curious as to how her blind brother wiggled his way through all of the performers and employees huddled backstage.
"I followed my nose. You still wear that magnolia perfume that grandmother made for you before she died," he explained, smiling down at her.
"Of course," she giggled. She loved that perfume not only for the smell but because of the story her grandmother had told her about it.
"It's Marie Laveau's own secret recipe. It's her special man-catching fragrance," the ancient toothless woman had told her as she dumped the lovely white blossoms into the simmering black cauldron. "And honey, you need a good man which are few and far between at this latitude."
Esmerie had held her breath to see the gorgeous flowers destroyed in such a ruthless manner. However, she changed her mind when the intoxicating flowery smell filled her grandmother's untidy but clean kitchen. Her grandmother's kitchen was always strewn with jars and pots containing all kinds of mysterious ingredients and littered with recipes and potions scrawled on browning bits of papers that were hopelessly tattered on the edges from age and use. She did not know if was true, but according to Granny all of the recipes and ingredients were given to her by her dear friend, Marie Laveau the legendary voodoo Queen of New Orleans, best friend and hair dresser extraordinaire to Lisette Labeau. She would laugh every time her old Granny made this announcement with pride.
Tears stung her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She missed Granny. She missed her mama and daddy as well. Her body shook from the sob she held back so Kaname would not hear. He did not have to hear her to know something was wrong.
"Hey, don't cry," he said, pulling her against his broad chest that was covered with a white dress shirt.
"Don't. I'll mess up your shirt," she muttered, pushing against him. She really did not want to ruin the shirt with her make up. "Why do you always dress up so?"
"Shhh!" he hissed, pressing his finger to his lips. "If Granny hears you she'll come back from the grave and whip my ass. Besides, I like to look good. Like Granny always said, I have to look good to find a good wife."
Esmerie chuckled, wiping the tears from her face. To be such a quiet, serious man he would say some of the funniest things just to make her laugh. Neither one of them had noticed that their grandmother seemed excessively preoccupied with their marital status during their teenage years while she raised them. The poor woman would be turning over in her grave to know they were nearly in their thirties and still not married.
"You'll be great tonight. Think of mama and do her memory proud," he encouraged her, kissing her forehead.
Esmerie looked up at her brother, surprised by his words. She was not even his real sister. She had been an unwanted child who had been left on the family's doorstep. Did he even know she was white? It had never mattered to the family what her skin color was and they had loved her and raised her despite the raised eyebrows of the white families in the community. Her adoptive mother was an amazing singer who had taught her daughter to sing. Their parents had died in a plane crash on the way home from their mother signing her first real singing contract. Her mother became a popular artist posthumously which had provided them with the means to live while their Granny raised them.
"Esmerie Labeau!" the announcer bellowed with zeal.
Esmerie resisted the urge to faint and ignored the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Raising her nose high into the air, she took a deep breath and sashayed onto the stage. This was it. Her big moment.
~...~
Shinji sipped at his third drink patiently waiting for the next singer. So far the singers had been good but nothing that really moved him and sent him to place he was seeking. His eyes watched the woman with midnight black curls that flowed to her waist while she confidently strode onto the stage. He could not see the color of her eyes but he hoped they were green since they had a unique cat like shape. She was a bit on the 'healthy' side with big breasts and voluptuous curves. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. His eyes did not move from her face as a faint, inviting smile graced her blood red lips that were a stunning contrast to her milky white skin. Most of the women he had seen had golden brown skin or some shade of tan. The women here were lovely and exotic and she was no exception. His fingers gripped the edge of the table as the piano player began and her lips parted. He was instantly hooked by her low, slightly raspy voice.
"There's a somebody I'm longing to see, I hope that he turns out to be someone to watch over me*," she sang out not knowing the words hit his brain like bullet and took him to that place he wanted to go.
Shinji realized with disturbing clarity that he wanted to be that someone to watch over her. He had never believed in such a preposterous notion such as love at first sight but he thought it had just happened to him. His mind drifted away to another place and time. He pictured them both in an orchard of cherry trees, the pinkish white blossoms fluttering around them like fragrant snow. Holding her in a lover's embrace, he brought his lips to hers. The sound of clapping invaded his fantasy, alerting him that her performance was over. Jumping up from his chair, he looked for a door that appeared to be the entrance to the backstage area. He had to get to her.
~...~
Kaname smelled his sister coming before he could hear the familiar rhythm of her heels tapping on the cement floor of the club. Reaching out for her, he turned and led her to the door to take her home. He thought she had done an amazing job and had heard the thunderous applause of the crowd along with requests for another song. However, he also knew his sister had been a nervous wreck and would be ready to go home.
Esmerie was grateful for her brother's thoughtfulness and calming presence as he confidently led her to the door with his strong hands on her shoulders. For him to be a blind man, he had a better sense of direction and ability to get from one place to another with more speed than people with two good eyes. Keeping her breathing controlled to avoid hyperventilating, she chided herself for having an anxiety attack since the difficult part was done and the performance was over. She smiled when she recalled how receptive the patrons had been of her singing.
"I think I made mama proud, Kaname," she said as he ushered her through the door.
"I know you made me proud, Baby Sister," he rejoined, leading her into the narrow alleyway between the jazz club and the bar next door.
"Excuse me," a voice called behind them only to be ignored. "Dammit," Shinji growled, resorting to running after them. "Hey!"
"What do you want, asshole?" Kaname demanded, whirling around to face the owner of the voice after hearing the approaching steps.
Shinji stared up at the incredibly tall dark-skinned man wondering why he was wearing sunglasses at night. Backing away slowly, he was beginning to think he had made a serious error in judgment by running after them and yelling like a maniac.
"Um, I-I j-just w-wanted to pay the singer a compliment," he stuttered before gaining control over his voice.
Esmerie stood behind her brother, peeking around his broad back to look at the strange man. He seemed harmless but then again Kaname accused her of being naïve and too trusting. Hiding behind her brother, she tugged on one his long braids he always kept gathered in a ponytail that went halfway down his back.
"Stop it," he grumbled at her.
"I don't think he wants to hurt me," she whispered loudly.
"What would you know? You'd probably think a serial killer was a nice man," he shot back.
"Kaname! That's not fair! I'm not that dumb!" she yelled angrily, stepping around him.
"Hey, Ezzie!" he exclaimed, grabbing her by the wrist.
Shaking him off, Esmerie looked at the blonde stranger who removed his hat respectfully when she smiled at him.
"I didn't mean to upset your boyfriend. You're an incredible singer. I'll be going now," Shinji said feeling his heart turn to stone and begin sinking in his chest.
"Sir, he's not my boyfriend. He's an overprotective brother," she informed him, hoping he would turn around to talk to her.
"Oh, a brother," he returned, feeling hope rising inside of him and bringing his heart with it. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"Sure. Come with us and you can buy me dinner," she invited hoping her brother would go home instead of being a third wheel.
"I know just the place to go," Kaname helpfully added from behind her.
'Dammit,' both the blonde man and raven haired woman were thinking as they smiled nervously at each other. What an awkward way to begin things.
*Lyrics are from George Gershwin's jazz ballad, Someone to Watch Over Me