Washu had slipped a note to each of the pilots.  It read: Good going, this is your first date!

            Trowa crumpled up the note and surveyed the karaoke bar judgmentally.  He never understood the popularity of these places… seemed like an unnecessary opportunity to make a complete fool of yourself.  It was still early in the day, and not many would-be crooners were occupying the bar.  They basically had the place to themselves.

            "I got some drinks." Kiyone returned with a tray.  "I hope nobody is opposed to a little Sake before lunch?"

            Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Wufei pointed at Quatre with good humor.

            "I… I don't drink." Quatre didn't like bringing all the attention to himself.  "Sorry."

            Duo laughed.  "Quatre's too good for Sake, you see.  I'm not, though."

            Kiyone handed him a drink.  "Everybody else is fine with this, though?"

            No objections.

            "Good, because alcohol tends to make the whole karaoke experience less traumatizing.  A requirement, if you will."

            "Well…" Heero looked around.  "Is somebody going to sing, or what?"

            "Go ahead." Tenchi reclined into a comfortable chair.  "Go for it."

            The perfect soldier realized it was a mistake to be the first to mention actually singing.  "Oh, no… no… I was just wondering who wanted to go first."

            "You can." Mihoshi said generously.  "We don't mind."

            'Got to get out of this…' Heero flinched where he sat.  "Er… why doesn't Ayeka go?  She's probably really good, right?"

            "If you like the sound of screeching tires." Ryoko tormented.  "That's what she sounds like."

            "Why you peasant!  I happen to have a lovely singing voice!" The princess countered.

            "Let's hear it!" Duo cheered.  "Sing a fast one!"

            "Alright." Ayeka approached the stage timidly and began looking through the list of songs slowly.  She looked very small and unnerved, the former aggressive qualities washed out with nervousness.  "A… alright.  Are you ready?"

            There were some calls of encouragement from the small audience and a warning about screeching tires.

            The song began and some accompanying words on a TV screen were highlighted in time with the lyrics.  The princess began singing disjointedly, seeming to try to disappear behind the microphone.

            "Speak up!" Trowa critiqued.  "We can't hear you!"

            "Fancy hearing that coming from him." Wufei muttered.

            "She's doing just fine." Heero defended the Jurain girl.  "It's hard being first… I should know, I always had to show you guys how to do everything during the war."

            Ayeka had begun to quiver at the harsh 'speak up' that was demanded of her, but as though an angel had spoken to her the words 'she's doing just fine' drifted into her thoughts, granting confidence.  She found the beat and began vocalizing with the tempo, waving her free arm dramatically, and clinging to the microphone with the other.

            'Hm.' Heero thought.  'She actually does have a nice singing voice.'

            The performer began to enjoy herself, noticing Heero's eyes look almost admiringly at her.  Her voice didn't match the high-energy melody she was singing, but the mismatch seemed to bring out the unique tones she was articulating even more.  And then the song was over and she stepped down, blushing furiously.

            Everybody clapped happily; glad to have that first performance out of the way.

            "That was surprisingly good." Heero encouraged the shyly smiling princess to sit with him.  "I'm impressed."

            She gave him an untrusting glance.  "Thank you."

            "Why don't you go next, cutey?" Duo suggested flirtatiously.

            Kiyone giggled and held up her glass.  "Haven't had enough Sake yet.  Not near enough."

            "Aw, you don't need it.  You've got a great voice!"

            "You've never heard me sing.  And besides, so do you.  Why don't you go next, and impress me?"

            "You want to be impressed?" He smirked at her playfully.

            "Yeah."

            "You want to be really impressed?"

            She leaned forward.  "Yeah."

            "Are you sure?"

            "I'm sure."

            "Then you'll have to ask somebody else." Duo held up his hands.  "I don't karaoke."

            Kiyone laughed and pushed him on the shoulder.  "Stop teasing me, and sing.  I'm waiting, come on!"

            The pilot looked unsure.  "Geez, I don't know if the embarrassment is worth it."

            The Sake was kicking in.  "I could make it worth it… if you just go!"

            Duo looked his beautiful companion over.  "You could, eh?  Well, that's compelling, sweetheart.  You've almost got me convinced!"

            "I don't know why I'm doing this," Kiyone wrapped her slender fingers under Duo's collar, gripping the fabric firmly.  "But I just have to see you perform." She pulled him towards her, using gentle but irresistible force.  She allowed their faces to hover slightly apart for a moment, knowing she was torturing her victim with the hesitation, and then gave him a quick kiss.

            Duo thanked god for the Sake and grinned lecherously.  "Alright, you've convinced me.  I'll do it if you let me go."

            Kiyone released him with a tiny shove.  "Do a good job… there's more where that came from."

            He winked boldly.  "I know." He strode to the stage bravely and then turned to his audience.  "Any requests?"

            "Oops I did it Again!" Wufei called obnoxiously.  Everybody had witnessed the display at Duo's table, but Wufei was particularly annoyed.

            Duo stuck his tongue out at Wufei and picked a moody song.  He started singing… unprofessionally, but he was getting the job done.

            "Is Kiyone always… like that?" Quatre turned to Mihoshi secretively.

            Mihoshi was happy for the attention.  "Must be the drinks.  I get a little silly myself, you know!" She tilted her own drink carelessly.

            "Alcohol…" Quatre shook his head.

            "You don't mind, do you?" She looked concerned, putting the Sake down.

            "It just makes people act out of character… and then you can't tell who's being honest anymore."

            "Oh, is that all?" Mihoshi smiled widely.  "I'd be flirting with you whether I was drunk or not!"

            He cringed.  "Just don't make me go up and sing, okay?"

            "You're not going to sing?!"

            "No!  It's so… embarrassing!  Just look at him!"

            Duo was really getting into his song, taking every opportunity to make eyes at Kiyone, or basically flirt at every chance.  He looked like a fool to everybody else, but Kiyone looked amused.

            "He's just having fun." Mihoshi said.  "We wouldn't make fun of you, you know!"

            Heero shook his head.  "This is terrible.  You were much better."

            "This is going to sound rather vain," Ayeka blinked at the performance.  "But I have to agree with you."

            Washu laughed out loud.  "Now this is karaoke!"

            Duo's time on stage seemed to degrade straight through to the end of the song.  He even ended on a completely wrong note.  Everybody laughed, but clapped anyway.

            "That was horrible!" Ryoko called out jokingly, enjoying the laugh.

            "Eh, not very impressive, was it?" Duo half frowned.

            Kiyone welcomed him back to his seat.  "On the contrary, I'm impressed at how bad you were!  You were very good at being terrible.  Have a drink, get over it!"

            He accepted a new glass gratefully and downed it in one go.  "Well… was it worth it?"

            "What can I say," She shrugged.  "I give points for the effort.  And that pitiful expression on your face just pushes me over the edge." She beckoned him with a finger, wondering what in the world made her act so careless with a complete stranger.

            "You know, you're really cute." He felt a little dizzy after the effort on the stage and the quickly drained alcohol, but accepted the invitation.

            "Look Wufei," Washu kicked the back of Wufei's seat forcefully.  "Duo's going for extra credit, and you haven't even begun working on your assignment, have you?"

            Wufei made a face at the kissing couple.  "I hate you, I hate your assignment, and I hate the fact that Maxwell makes himself look like a complete moron but the girl still wants him!" He slumped into his chair and shielded his eyes.  "Girls are such pushovers."

            Washu kicked the chair again, causing it to topple over.  "Who's pushed over now?  Start working on your final!"

            "Look, Wufei wants to go next!" Sasami pointed at the sprawled figure.

            "No… I don't.  This is so stupid." Wufei righted himself, and glared daggers at the giggling scientist.

            The morning disappeared and afternoon began to wear on.  Eventually, everyone was convinced to get on stage an attempt a little entertaining.  Unsurprisingly, Trowa mostly just tapped his foot, and didn't do any actual 'singing.'  Wufei probably sang about three lines, but he mumbled over the lyrics so nobody could agree for sure.  By the time Mihoshi got her turn, she was so drunk that Quatre had to run up to the stage and save her from a potentially humiliating strip dance.  She had tried to insist that she was fine and wanted to finish the song, but he said no.  Heero actually did a decent job, and some in the audience suspected that he might have done this before.  Regardless, they all left the bar a little happier and tipsier.