THE PIANO MAN
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
the regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin
The small Café was pretty crowded for a Saturday, crowded with people from different places of the town, some of them are regular customers, and others are trying the place for the first time.
Yugi was sitting in his stool, playing the piano happily. He loved to see the place so full of people chatting animatedly, children laughing, seniors smiling at their own memories, and youngsters talking about their dreams and plans with a faraway look on their faces.
It all had started with his Grandfather's Game Shop. Since he was little, he remembered the happy looks in the children's face once they got out of the shop, and he was always telling his grandpa that when he grew up, he wanted to make people as happy as the old man did.
So when he'd finished college, and began to run the Game Shop, he thought that it'd be a good idea to have a small Café next to it, so parents could sit down and talk while their children were shopping. Ryo, Malik and Jou helped him to set all up and they had their little coffee station in no time.
The small coffee station became incredibly popular, and soon they had to expand it. It became a relatively small Café, medium size really, with a warm and cozy style and green areas, for customers who wanted to eat outside.
Jou and Ryo cooked while Malik and Shizuka were waiters. One day Yugi had started to play the piano, and people liked so much, that they made it a regular show.
Soon they noticed that people went to the Café because of the delicious cupcakes and for Yugi's piano concert. They found out that people came to escape from the loud and monotonous city life, to forget about all problems as they got lost in a delectable fantasy, people went to their Café to be themselves: loud, quiet, bold or shy. No one was judging them, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
and you've got us all feeling all right.
Their clientele was very diverse, but one of their regular costumers always caught Yugi's attention:
He was a business man, and he went to the Café almost every day. Sometimes he had seen him with a pretty girl he'd thought it was his girlfriend, until three months later he had seen a green eyed man caressing her swollen belly, kissing her tenderly.
Aside from them, the business man was always alone.
He particularly liked to sit in a corner next to the wall, very close to the place where Yugi was playing. The boy had even caught the man smiling softly at him while he performed, and he was one of their most generous contributors.
His name was Yami Atemu, and he owned a game designer company that work together with Kaiba Corp.
Of course that Yugi had never spoken to the man, he was too shy for that, but he knew his name thanks to the check the man had handed Malik the first time he visited the café.
Yami was an only child; had a little few friends and no one had ever seen him with a girlfriend (or boyfriend), though his friends said he hadn't dated in years. His house was relatively average size, and he lived alone. He didn't like the night life, and rarely spoke more than necessary.
He held the title of "King of Games", and he gave away the money he won in tournaments to charity. He enjoyed sweets, and good music.
How convenient.
Yugi had suddenly found himself playing for him, to please him, to bring a smile to his face. And while Yugi plays his favorite songs, the business man forgets his computer, his so important papers, the urgent matter than need to be taken care of, and becomes lost in the melody, closes his eyes and dreams about a lovely young man, welcoming him home at night.
But this Saturday was different. Yami had in fact entered the Café, but he sat in the opposite corner of the place, the farthest place in the Café.
He looked so…blue…
Yugi noticed it, and threw Malik a questioning look as he started a new song. He knew it to be Yami's favorite, for every time he played it the young man closed his eyes and smiled, as did Yugi, and for one moment, they connected…
He began to sing "Piano man", and watched Yami look sadly at the brick wall. Scowling, he pointed him to Malik. The Egyptian winked and headed to the figure in the corner.
He saw them talk from the corner of his eye; he saw Yami gesturing and then smiling sadly and Malik patting him on the shoulder.
-Apparently today is his birthday, but all his friends had something else to do, so he is all alone- said his friend once he got the order- It must be sad to spend such an important day alone.
Yugi nodded as his hands continued caressing the keys. No wonder why Yami looked to sad…spend your birthday without any of your family and friends…what could he do to cheer him up?
And the waitress is practicing politics
as the businessman slowly gets stoned
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better than drinking' alone
Yugi continued to think about Yami as he sang, determination slowly growing inside him. He had watched him from afar for almost a year, he felt a connection between them and damn it, he wanted to ask the guy out. He wanted to welcome him home with a big hug, he wanted to share their musical tastes, teach him cool songs, kiss him goodnight, and be with him on lonely nights.
And if he had been waiting for the right moment, well that was it! He had finally found someone to make happy, as he had promised grandpa, and he would make his grandfather proud:
-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please? - Spoke Yugi through the microphone, playing only the melody.
Everyone in the Café looked at him strangely, including the silent man in the corner. Yugi inhaled deeply.
-Yeah…I…wanted to wish to the gentleman right there in the corner…- Yami looked around, hoping to see another lonely man in a corner- Yes, I'm talking about you sir, the one sitting in the corner by himself. I-I wanted to wish him a very happy birthday- Yami's eyes widened and Yugi smiled, locking their eyes.
-On behalf of all your friends, and the personal of the Café, I wish you a happy, happy birthday. A-and also, if you are willing to accept of course, I wanted to invite you a coffee, w-with whipped cream and chocolate chips, a-and also a brownie…if you like them of course. W-when I finish my shift.
Yugi was blushing bright red, but didn't look away as Yami recovered from the surprise; tears appeared in the crimson eyes as the young man nodded enthusiastically, smiling brightly at Yugi.
Everyone in the Café started to clap loudly, seniors raced their cups, some of the girls cried and others kissed their significant ones, all of them encouraging Yugi to end the performance soon so he could start with the date.
He winked to his client as he finished the song. It was four o' clock, and just for today, his shift would end…earlier than usual.
When he finally stood up from his sit and bowed, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Startled, he turned to see Yami smiling sheepishly.
-You know, I'm really in the mood for a coffee right now.
-And I know just the right place…-Yugi returned the smile and led him to the tables outside.-Nice suit, by the way…
-Thank you, nice eyes…they're very beautiful…- Yugi blushed and looked down while Yami smirked.
This had to be the Best. Birthday. Ever.
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
and the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming' to see
to forget about their life for a while.
Wow, this one's old x'D I remember I wrote it after i heard "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Listen to it, it's BEAUTIFUL. So i got kind of sensitive and I wrote this at 2 o'clock in the morning x'D.
This is something like a song fic,because the song gives sense to the story, really. I wanted to make the Café like and idilic place or something like that, i don't know if i succeeded though, you'll have to jugde that x'D
I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or the song "Piano man". And i don't actually remeber what the hell i was thinking when i wrote this xD.
Too weird? I sincerely hope that you like it :').
Thanks to the reviwes and alerts, and please, feedback is apreciated n_n
