( AU time again :grins: I like these kind of stories. I am sort of tweaking our heroine's character slightly, mainly because I find the idea of her being shy totally adorable :) And as for her job...well, the seiyuu who plays her has a beautiful voice, so maybe it's not hard to imagine. )


The brightly-lit shop shone like a beacon in the dark evening, the sweet scent wafting from it drawing people to even cross the street to peek in the windows. It was almost closing time but a few customers still lingered over their treats, drinking coffee and chatting with the young woman cleaning the empty tables. One of the passers-by walked in, making the bell above the door jingle and catching everyone's attention. The waitress smiled and waved, gesturing to her apron and the cloth she held. "Not quite ready yet. But I won't be long. I have some leftovers for after dinner again."

"Have you come to take this young lady away?" asked one of the customers, waving his fork at the newcomer. "At least let us look at her a while longer.." The waitress blushed and stared at the polished floor, wringing the cloth between small hands, then scuttled off into the back of the cafe.

Her visitor sighed, running a hand through strawberry-blonde hair. "And there she goes.."

"Did I say something wrong?" The man shrugged, rubbing at a wrinkled cheek. "It isn't every day I get to talk to such a lovely young lady.."

"No, you didn't say anything wrong. It's just the way she is..."

A couple of minutes later the waitress peeked around the corner, wrapped up against the winter weather in hat, scarf and coat and clutching a small paper bag. "Ready.."

"Come on then, let's go home."

The evening was cold but pretty, the sky clear and peppered with stars, and the younger woman beamed happily, blowing out a cloud of frosty breath. "It's a beautiful night.."

"For you it is," her friend said good-naturedly. "I have to work later."

"You're the one who wanted to run a bar. At least I keep more sociable hours."

"Which you don't use to socialise. You should come to the bar one evening. Make more friends."

"I have enough friends."

"Murrue, you only have me and the people you work with. You can't spend your life holed up painting pictures on the walls.." But the younger woman's chin was set, lips pursed...she was going to be typically stubborn about it. She was so painfully shy around strangers she could barely get more than a few words out, let alone look at them, which was a real pity as she was wonderful company, spirited and happy with a wicked sense of humour. But only her family and friends ever get to see that side of her. "What kind of cake did you get?"

"Chocolate tart. Mrs Yamato taught me how to make it."

"So you made that yourself?"

Murrue nodded happily, not noticing her friend's dubious expression. She was pretty artistic, terrific at drawing and painting, but her culinary skills left a lot to be desired. If Mrs. Yamato had kept an eye on her while she'd been making it then it was likely safe to eat, but she resolved to make sure there was a packet of antacids in the apartment.

"Are you getting any more customers?"

"No," Erica sighed glumly. "I don't know what else to try. It's in a good place, and I keep the drinks as cheap as I can...but I don't get enough to justify the money I've spent. If it carries on like this I'll have to pack up.."

"But you spent so long on it. It's not fair.."

"What else can I do? There are too many bars around."

Murrue pursed her lips again. "Maybe you need something they don't. They have jukeboxes, don't they?" At Erica's nod she smiled. "Then what about live music?"

"Can't afford to hire anyone. Good idea though." The two walked through the quiet streets chatting about how their days had gone. Erica working at her bar most nights meant she slept most of the day away while Murrue worked at the cafe, so they didn't get to see each other much. "You hungry?"

Murrue nodded. "Starving. We were so busy today I didn't get much time for lunch."

"Well, I've made enough for us both for now and for me to take with me to work. Spaghetti bolognese."

"You never let me cook.."

Erica ruffled her friend's hair. "Because you always get to doing something else and forget all about it. Burned food doesn't do much for the digestion." Murrue pouted but didn't disagree, scuffing her toe on the pavement, much to her friend's amusement. She probably would be a good cook if she put her mind to it, but she was such a dreamer sometimes she tended to forget she'd left something in the oven or on the stove until it was too late. "What you're going to be like when you get your own place I really don't know." The younger woman grumbled softly at that, keeping quiet until they reached the apartment.

The place was a riot of colour. Murrue's skill at painting had been put to good use, she designing and creating a mural of wildflowers and butterflies on the walls. When she saw something like this Erica always wondered why her friend chose to be a waitress. She could make a fortune as an artist, but she's never let anyone but me see her work.. "How much do you have left to do?"

"Just a couple more butterflies. Does it look okay?"

"It looks like we're outside in springtime. It's beautiful. I..."

"Don't say it," Murrue chided gently. "You always say it. That I could make a living out of it. It's not that good, and it'd look silly someplace else."

"Not on canvas it wouldn't."

"Yes well, I can't afford canvas," she pointed out, squeezing a blob of paint onto her palette. "I can barely afford the paints."

"Don't forget dinner's ready. I'll pop it in the microwave for you."

She sang to herself while she worked. Dark hair tied up under a headscarf, completely absorbed in her work and unaware her friend was watching, her soft voice filled the apartment and beyond, people in the nearby apartments coming out onto their balconies to listen. There are so many things she could do instead of serving tea and cake all day. She could paint, she could sing...but her shyness stops her doing any of that. Unless I do something about it.

"How would you like to earn enough to buy those canvases?"

Halfway through her butterfly Murrue looked up with a wry smile. "If there was a way to do that, I'd have found it by now."

"Unless it's something you haven't considered."

"And that would be?"

"You were the one who suggested live music at the bar, right? Well, that's the way to get us both what we want. You can be the live music."

Murrue stared at her in silence for a few minutes, then flushed absolutely scarlet. "You're kidding."

"No, not at all. If you come sing for me, I'll get more customers, and I can pay you enough money to be able to paint properly. We both win that way."

"That's assuming people even want to listen to me..."

"Sweetie, don't you worry about that. Will you do it for me?"

The younger woman remained silent for a little while, chewing her bottom lip as she thought it over, then looked back up. "There are conditions."

"Fire away."

"One, that the lights are bright enough so I can't see who's watching me, and two, that if I don't like it I don't have to go back."

Erica smiled and ruffled her hair. "No problem. Thanks a lot. And make sure you eat something."


Why the hell did I agree to do this? Thank God the place isn't crowded... Erica had insisted she make herself pretty, so she shivered in the draught from the corridor in her favourite pink dress. There were a few customers at the bar and some at the tables, but that was it, much to her relief. She loved to sing, but not in front of people...if the lights were bright enough she could pretend she was alone.

"Are you ready?"

"No, not really. And what if no-one shows up?"

"They will. Go on now.." Giving her a gentle push Erica opened the door. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out into the bar and up onto the little stage, collecting herself before looking straight ahead. The people in the bar had gone quiet, Erica taking her place behind the counter...it was up to her now. Terrified, but unable to back out now, she curled her hands around the microphone, closed her eyes, and began to sing.

hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete sutete

shimaetara ii no ni ne

genjitsu wa tada zankoku de

sonna toki itsu datte

me o tojireba

waratteru kimi ga iru

It would be nice if we could put away and throw out

everything except what really mattered, but

reality is just cruel.

In such times,

I see you laughing

whenever I close my eyes.

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made

dou ka sono egao ga

taema naku aru you ni

hito wa minna kanashii kara

wasurete yuku ikimono dakedo

aisubeki mono no tame

ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

that smiling face will

have to stay with me without fail.

People are all sad, so

they go and forget, but--

For that which I should love,

For that which gives me love, I will do what I can.

deatta ano koro wa

subete ga bukiyou de

toomawari shita yo ne

kizutsuke atta yo ne

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made

dou ka sono egao ga

taema naku aru you ni

Back then, when we met,

it was all awkward.

We went the long way, didn't we?

We got hurt, didn't we?

Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

that smiling face will

have to stay with me without fail.

deatta ano koro wa

subete ga bukiyou de

toomawari shita yo ne

tadoritsuitan da ne

Back then, when we met,

it was all awkward.

We went the long way, didn't we?

We got there in the end.

Rubbing her eyes as though waking from a long sleep Murrue glanced around the room. To her surprise, and no small amount of trepidation the place was packed, people sitting at every table and leaning against the bar - when had they gotten here? Erica was beaming from ear-to-ear, gesturing around to everyone. Mortified, she nevertheless managed a tiny smile. But when everyone began clapping and cheering it was a little more than she'd been prepared for, and she dived off the stage and through the connecting door, leaning on an open window to get some fresh air.

"You were fantastic."

"Where did all those people come from?"

Erica laughed softly. "They heard you singing and came to watch. I think they'd like you to give them an encore."

She shook her head violently. "No...not tonight. I can't think of anything more to sing.."

"I'll pay you double."

"That's not fair.."

Erica squeezed her shoulder. "One more song, and you can go home. Promise."

Very reluctantly, she trailed out behind her friend, wishing she'd never agreed to this. People clapped again as soon as she came out, a few of them wolf-whistling but falling suddenly silent when her friend glared at them. Rather nervously getting back up on stage, Murrue closed her eyes again, imagining she was back home in her apartment, surrounded by her paints and mural...no-one watching and nothing to be afraid of. Her knees were shaking, the palms of her hands were clammy, but she forced herself to not run away. Instead, she began to sing, quietly at first, then louder as she lost herself in the music.

In a corner of the bar a young man muttered quietly into his mobile phone, violet eyes darting all around to make sure no-one was listening in.

"Hey. Yeah, it's me. I have something I think you'll be interested in. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.."


( Does that even count as a cliffhanger? I don't think it does really.

The song is 'Dearest' by Hamasaki Ayumi, and I don't own it lol. Please read and review! )