Just so's ya know, the disclaimer in the first chapter is good for the entire fic. I'm not writing that out every time I post a chapter, mmkay? Enjoy.
Chapter 2 – Seventh Heaven
Less than twenty minutes after opening, the bar was almost full. Kadaj swiped a table with a damp cloth, absently humming to himself. Scooping up a tray full of used glasses, he balanced it precariously as he worked his way back behind the bar and into the kitchen. Still humming, he ran hot water into the sink and began to wash the glasses.
'How're we doing back here?' Yazoo asked, coming in to take another tray of clean dishes.
'Oh, fine. We're always this busy on Fridays,' Kadaj replied, not bothering to turn around.
Yazoo paused before leaving. 'Hey 'Daj… once you're done that set, come out and stand with me behind the bar. I'll teach you how to mix a few new drinks, if you're up to it.'
Kadaj grinned over his shoulder at his brother, flicking his silver bangs out of his eyes. 'Thanks niisan, I'll be there in a sec.'
Within ten minutes he was out front again, curiously leaning over Yazoo's shoulder as his elder brother explained a 'screwdriver' to him. As he watched his brother mix the drink and pass it to a customer, Kadaj caught a glimpse of something – or rather, someone – out of the corner of his eye.
'…whoa.'
Sitting at the end of the bar, casually sipping a white wine spritzer, was a tall, cool blonde with sapphire-blue eyes. Kadaj had never seen her before; she hadn't come into the bar prior to tonight. He felt sure he would have noticed her if she had; the woman was gorgeous. 'Yazoo! Look down there… have you seen her before?'
Yazoo glanced down the bar. 'No, but she seems familiar…'
'That's what I thought.'
As they watched, the female in question turned as a second woman came up to her. The two embraced briefly and the new arrival took a seat next to the blonde at the bar. Having better sight than most in the semi-darkness, Yazoo and Kadaj could see that this woman had short hair the colour of dark chocolate and firm grey eyes. They struck up a conversation with each other, the dark one seemingly in no hurry to get a drink. After a moment, however, the blonde turned and motioned at Yazoo. The bartender shot his younger brother a look that plainly stated watch and learn before he made his way down the bar, casually swiping a glass to wipe with his towel as he went.
Kadaj's keen ears picked up the conversation over the noise of the tenants. He edged a little closer, curious.
'Good evening ladies, what'll it be?' Yazoo's smooth voice carried well.
'Bailey's, on the rocks, for my friend here,' the blonde replied in a clear tone.
The dark-haired woman chuckled. 'You know me too well, 'Ry.'
'I've practically made it my business,' 'Ry' bantered back.
Kadaj jumped a little when Yazoo called out 'Bailey's on the rocks!' at him. His face coloured a little wondering if he'd been caught eavesdropping, but he quickly mixed the drink and brought it down to the guests.
'What brings you ladies here tonight?' Yazoo asked, pretending to clean the counter. 'You have not been here before, I think; I feel certain we would have noticed.'
The flattery was not lost on either of them and both smiled. 'Our usual place is closed for renovations,' the dark one replied. 'We've heard good things about this place and thought we'd try it out.'
'Ry finished her spritzer and twirled her stool to look out at the small dance floor. 'I'm interested to hear the music selection,' she commented. 'There aren't many places that make me want to dance. Think you're up to the challenge?' She glanced over her shoulder at them, winking at Kadaj to show the rebuff was good-natured. The young man blushed. 'Um… I can start the rotations… sometimes we have to hit the jukebox to get it to play good music, but I bet we could get something worth dancing to out of it,' he joked.
'Ry's sapphire eyes flashed in the darkness. 'Excellent.'
'Any particular tastes?'
'Surprise me.'
Kadaj raised an eyebrow. Swift… 'Coming right up,' he replied and dashed off toward the stereo system in the corner.
Back at the bar, the dark-haired one leaned over to whisper in the blonde's ear. 'He's cute!'
'No kidding… we should have come here earlier, Kitty.'
'His friend there isn't bad to look at either… they must be brothers or something,' Kitty muttered, grinning secretively. 'Whatcha think, Kurry?'
Kurry smirked at the young man who was now having an argument with the dysfunctional stereo and losing. 'I think I'll have to hear the music before I make a decision.'
'Fair enough.'
Kadaj finally swore and kicked the stand. The stereo blared to life suddenly, fully operational and playing as though it had never had a problem. Partially deaf because Loz had forgotten to turn the volume down the last time they got it to work, Kadaj made his way back over to the bar where the young women were sitting.
'There you go. It's working now.'
Kurry's foot was tapping absently. 'This isn't a bad tune. I've heard it before.'
Kadaj glanced around; no-one else seemed to be requiring service. He fiddled with a couple of shot glasses, pretending to be busy as he spoke with them. 'Well, we've got all types of music here, I'm sure something will come on.'
He gasped suddenly.
'What's wrong?' Kitty asked.
Kadaj looked somewhat terrified, as though he had just remembered something terrible. 'Um… n-nothing…'
Just then the song changed and Kadaj cringed. However, Kurry's head shot up. 'Heeeeey… this is different…'
'It's… it's not very good…' Kadaj murmured, blushing furiously.
'You don't like this one?' Kitty questioned, a little confused by the young man's strange reaction.
'Um… well, no, it's not one of m-…'
He was interrupted by Kurry. 'Okay, I'm sorry to leave you, but I have to dance to this. It's so different…' She leapt off the stool and headed toward the dance floor.
Kadaj blanched. '…um?'
Kitty laughed. 'Well, Kurry would know…'
The silver-haired male blinked. 'Oh, so that's her name…'
Kitty smiled. 'Yes, I'm sorry, we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Kitty, and the dancing fiend is Kurry. She's always searching for a new beat… we're really interested in any sort of new music.' She winked. 'I'm going to go dance too. Warn us before the bar closes, we're going to be thirsty later.' A pause, then, '…what's your name, by the way?'
Kadaj blinked, thoroughly stunned by the rapid discourse. 'Um… Kadaj.'
Grey eyes glinted with amusement. 'It's a pleasure to meet you, Kadaj. See you around.'
There was something in her tone that Kadaj found expressly intriguing. He couldn't help gazing after her as she joined her friend on the dance floor.
Yazoo came back over and nudged his brother, grinning gleefully. 'Well, well, what do we have here…?'
Kadaj blushed at his elder brother's tone. 'Oh shuttup, 'Zoo.'
Yazoo glanced at the ceiling, or more specifically, the speakers. 'Hey, isn't that one of your tunes playing?'
Kadaj nodded. 'Yeah… I can't believe she likes this one. It sucks… I forgot it was in there…' He looked sheepish.
Yazoo sighed. 'Honestly brother… don't beat yourself up for the failures. Your music is great, it just needs work. And I need you to take the garbage out.'
Kadaj echoed his brother's sigh. 'A bartender's work is never done.'
Yazoo ruffled his ototousan's hair. 'You can take a break after you do that, if you want one. Have a drink yourself and relax, I'm not a slave driver. But not too much alcohol.'
'Thanks 'Zoo. I know. Any trouble with Loz yet?'
Yazoo chuckled, looking surprised at the very suggestion. 'Loz? Trouble? Remember the last guy who thought Loz was a pushover?'
Kadaj covered his mouth to muffle his laughter. 'Of course. How stupid of me.'
'That got around town pretty fast. Nobody messes with Loz anymore.' Yazoo noticed a couple of patrons making their way toward the bar. 'Anyway, garbage and then break. I've got more people to serve.'
Kadaj finished putting away the glasses he had been cleaning and then made his way to the back, grabbing the behind-bar trash bins on the way. He smiled a little to himself, thinking about his brothers. Yazoo always looked out for them, and Kadaj looked to him for guidance about a lot of things. Loz might be annoying, but he had a cheerful soul, something that Kadaj envied at times. Even when they fought, or teased each other mercilessly about some stupid thing or another, Kadaj knew he wouldn't trade his brothers for anything on the planet.
The garbage collected and bagged, Kadaj returned the bins to the bar and poured himself a sherry. Then he sat on the barstool at the very end, a little out of the way, and just observed the scene.
People came to Seventh Heaven for relaxation, good times and Yazoo's excellent drinks. The mood in the place was always charmed with an air that helped the patrons unwind, and it did the same for Kadaj. He often got inspiration for songs while in the bar; the auras of so many people intermingling with the sights, smells and sounds in the room stimulated his mind. Music was always about some form of human nature; it was meant to appeal to some part of a person's soul. Where better to gain ideas for such an appeal than among the very people it was meant to appeal to?
His aqua-coloured eyes roved over the crowd; turnout was good tonight. Tifa would be pleased when she heard that. Kadaj sipped his sherry, savouring the warm, soothing taste. He swirled the liquid in the glass, admiring the rich colour. As he did so, a reflective flash caught his eye. He glanced up and his gaze fell on the source.
Kurry.
She was dancing to his music.
She probably didn't even realise it was Yazoo singing; his brother had a decent voice and had been willing to record this particular song just so that Kadaj could hear what it would sound like. Although Kadaj liked his brother's voice, it was an amateur recording at best and he knew the wording and most of the music needed work. He could not believe that the woman was actually dancing to it. She looked pleased as well, eyes partially closed as though savouring every pulse. Kitty was dancing as well nearby, looking more interested in the white-haired young man a few feet beyond them than the beat. Kadaj smiled thoughtfully; perhaps he'd have to pull this song out of the files and take another look at it…
As he took another sip of his sherry, something Kitty had said earlier passed almost randomly through his mind. She's always searching for a new beat… we're really interested in any sort of new music… The words sparked recognition in him. He, too, was always looking for the right music; the rhythm that would inspire people to dance. The only difference was that he wanted to write it, while she wanted to dance to it…
His motion paused, the glass halfway back to the table. An almost luminescent glow came to Kadaj's feline eyes, the cogs behind them working progressively faster as the thought became fully formed. A song… a song about song… a song about the rhythm he was searching for… what they were all searching for…
…was it possible?
Kadaj stood abruptly, abandoning his unfinished sherry. Weaving his way through the crowd, he passed behind the bar and into the back kitchen where Yazoo was refilling the ice tub.
'…'Zoo…'
His elder brother turned. 'Hm?' At the look on Kadaj's face, he groaned a little. 'Oh no… can't it wait until we're done…?'
'I can work if I can write at the same time. I won't let it get in the way, but 'Zoo… I've got to get this down…'
Yazoo sighed and good-naturedly rolled his eyes. 'Alright, alright… your notepad is in the drawer…'
In a flash of silver Kadaj was gone with the pad. Yazoo's lips twitched.
'Artists…'
