Violin Lessons

Chapter 5:

The Finale of The Maestros!

Disclaimer: Me no own.

I sighed in relief as I played the last note of the song and shakily placed the violin down. During the whole song I was able to play flawlessly, but when I finished, the nervous and wobbly feeling all came down at me full force.

I looked up at Ban-chan and saw a neutral face, then a smile. He clapped cheerfully and draped his long arms around my shoulders. The way he smiled and congratulated me on my performance made me feel good inside. I too began to smile and be happy about what I accomplished. Ban-chan was right, sometimes I need to think about my own self.

"That's was great Ginji. Of course not as great as me, but you're getting there. Ah, you learned from a pro. No surprise that you're really good there," Ban-chan smirked and playfully slapped my back.

The compliment may have sounded like nothing to others; may seem pretty mean and useless, but that was one of the greatest compliments I've ever heard him say. He didn't say 'good' he said 'great' I was 'great!' My feelings right now are beyond words. I felt the joyful tears spill down my ears as I kept replaying Ban-chan's words in my head.

"Yo, bro! No crying. No matter how great you feel you can't… cry…" Ban-chan paused and turned his back to me.

"Ban-chan?"

"Leave me alone. I have some dust in my eyes," Ban-chan began to vigorously rub his eyes.

I giggled a bit then looked away with a jovial look on my face.

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As days went by, I practiced day-by-day. After every mission, I would whoop out that violin and begin to play it like crazy. Ban-chan didn't seem to mind at all. Maybe that was a sign he too enjoyed listening to me play. I memorized every song that Ban-chan taught me that I had nothing to play practically.

Ban-chan then decided to take me to a music store to buy sheet music. Not only to play, but so I can learn to be able to read sheet music. I know how; I think I'm pretty good at it though Ban-chan says not good enough. I need to practice reading it better and not just memorizing what he taught me.

I was able to chose what songs I like, and Ban-chan bought scales, rhythms to and simple things that help you read sheet music faster and more efficiently. I chose songs that interested me and I might be able to play.

The only sad thing about this was the fact that my money was spent to buy all of this. There go my funds. Do you have any idea how long I saved that up? Sheet music is expensive for poor people like me! Ban-chan was mugging me as I carried them, but as I played, his cheery mood seemed to return.

As the days speedily past by and I became better and better, day by day, that when I saw a sort of glint in Ban-chan's eyes. He fingers twitched in anticipation to hold a violin again. No matter how much his mind denied this, his fingers and soul couldn't no matter how much he resented it. They wanted to hold a violin, grasp the bow and slide it against the strings.

"Ban-chan…" I stopped playing the violin and turned to him. "Play," I said.

He gave me a grim look like he knew that I was going to say this. He stood and took the violin from me. He began playing with a frown on his face. No matter what expression he had, the music was fabulous, beyond words. One day, I hope I become have great as Ban-chan.

Then, he started to smile as he connected with the music. He couldn't resist the glee he felt from playing again; he looked up at me as he stroked the violin and smiled. I jumped up in down in happiness from watching and listening to Ban-chan again. I waited for this for a long time and it finally came. I'm in bliss right now.

When he finished and placed the violin back in the case, I hugged him like there was no end. I squeezed his breath away and wouldn't let him go, I squealed his name with glee though he tried to remove my tight grasp from him. Eventually he couldn't take my happiness anymore and pushed me off of him.

After he pushed me off, he ruffled my hair before I became angry and upset with his actions. "Are you happy now, Ginji?" he smiling asked me.

"Of course I'm happy, Ban-chan! Why do you think I was hugging you?" my joy was spilling out like a waterfall.

"To kill me," Ban-chan snorted.

I stared at him then grinned, he'll always find ways to not sound as though he cared.

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I practiced the music until I could play a concerto without a single mistake. I could even read music real quickly and then have to pause frequently to figure out what note it was.

I played for Ban-chan and he played for me. We saved up the cashed we earned so we could buy another violin so we could do duets. We practiced day-by-day and we were so overjoyed by this little time together, we couldn't receive any jobs for a while and don't mind at all.

"Ban-chan, I was thinking about something-"

"Great, you're thinking. Don't hurt yourself," Ban-chan interrupted.

How mean. I can think, I think better them him… sometimes… seldom… the point is I can thinking, done and finished. "Ban-chan!" I whined his name.

"Okay, go on about what you were thinking about," Ban-chan said as he took a puff from his cigarette.

"Madoka-chan was the one who gave us this violin as a present right? Don't you think that she would want a performance or something? We do owe a present in return and I think us playing for hear is a great gift, Ban-chan. So.. are you up to it?" I looked pleading up at Ban-chan. He'd better say yes to this idea because Madoka-chan deserves it. "She has done many things for us and others like Shido; I believe she will enjoy this."

"Ginji… you really can't accept a gift without returning the favor somehow, huh?" Ban-chan spoke nonchalantly as he continued draggling smoking his cig.

"Is that a 'no'? How could you Ban-chan!" I shouted at Ban-chan, I sobbed and was prepared to electrocute some sense into him. If that heartless bastard does not agree with this I'll kill him.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way, idiot! I was just stating that. Sheesh, taking things too seriously. I'm not that much of a heartless bastard." Ban-chan glared at me then went back to puffing his cigarette. … still glaring. He must of known I was thinking he was a heartless bastard with his I-can-read-you-like-a-book thing he does to me.

"I'm sorry Ban-chan. I was just assuming to quickly!" I started shake my arms up and down and squeezed my eyes shut as I shouted an excessive amount of apologizes to him.

Ban-chan grabbed my neck, grinned broadly and said, "C'mon! We need to figure what songs we are going to play."

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The day for us to play from Madoka-chan finally came. Of course we gave her a notice of this ahead of time so she can plan the day since she's a busy person.

As we pulled into her driveway and knocked on her front door, we were amazed to see that Madoka-chan and Shido were seated outside. There was a stage in front of them and many other chairs occupied by animals and our friends. Our friends meaning Kazuki, Pore, HEVN, Emishi, Natsumi and so on.

I appreciate the fact that they came to see us, but this is beyond embarrassing, this is like… not fair, you know?

Ban-chan stared at Madoka-chan in shock. "What the hell are all of you people doing here?" he asked.

"Why isn't it obvious? They're here to see you play, snake-boy," Shido answered mockingly. I hoped an argument wasn't going to stir between them again. Couldn't someone here calm them down some?

"I bet this was your bright idea, monkey tamer," Ban-chan shot back. I could feel, heck, I could see the intensity of the hatred going on between them.

"For once it wasn't me, smart ass! It happened to be Madoka and she thought you two would appreciate them coming to waste their time to see you perform with Ginji. If he went solo, now that would be a show, but with you, I have mixed feelings about that."

Ban-chan glared at Shido then turned to look at Madoka-chan with questioning eyes, it wasn't like she could see them, but she has this gift that let's her just tell somehow.

I just knew that no matter how abrasively Shido explained that to Ban-chan, he held a small case of sincerity as he spoke. Not much of an insult like usual. I think Ban-chan caught onto Shido since he didn't respond spitefully.

I, for one, thought it was an ingenious idea and loved it as seconds flew past. How she was able to get into contact with them is beyond my knowing but that isn't the point, right?

"Madoka-chan!" I screeched as I hugged her breath away.

"I assume you must be enjoying this?" she asked. What kind of question was that? She knew the answer to that!

"Of course we are! Right, Ban-chan!" I exclaimed as I turned to face him and see his face as he answered.

"Hn," he answered gruntingly.(1) We all knew that meant 'Yes but I won't admit it' so no one questioned his answer.

"We don't get a hug either, Gin-chan? And we came here especially for you," Natsumi-chan spoke as though she was hurt. Her eyes told otherwise. I smiled delightfully and went to squeeze the lights out of the others.

"Now," HEVN spoke, "You must begin your elegant performance, Maestro Ginji Amano and Maestro Ban Mido."

"Would you like Juubei and I to do stand-up comedy jokes while you two warm-ups and prepare?" Emishi asked. Juubei looked stunned and annoyed about the fact that his name was included and before I got the chance to answer, everyone else answered… politely. Quick and polite is the way to do it.

"I would enjoy this if some of the females stripped though. Not you, Kazuki, I want real women," Ban-chan teased with a silly grin upon his face.

"Shut up, don't argue and start playing," Pore-san said as he pushed us towards the stage.

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"And when we finished the first song, the way Shido looked in amazement at our solos was priceless. That'll show him for making fun of me!" Ban-chan chuckled in triumphant.

"Don't forget the happy look on Madoka-chan's face. I think it was a nice experience for her to watch her friends play for her instead of the other way around. I know she must have really appreciated it," I said with a smile.

Ban-chan released a puff of his cigarette as he leaned back in his chair and nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, Ginji," he said, "I'm pretty sure she did."

We sat in silence; reminiscing on today's event. Our eyes dazed at the wonderment we felt and saw. My mind was flooded with everything that happened that momentarily, I felt as though I was reliving those moments again. Ban-chan's sneeze woke me up from slowly wandering away from reality.

"Bless you."

"Thanks."

"I'm the one who should be saying 'thanks' to you. You were the one who accepted the request of having lessons. Without you, none of this would have ever happened!" Every word I said was true. Madoka-chan was kind enough to give us a violin and Ban-chan was willing to give me lessons. This all would never had taken place if I never knew them.

"Oh, be quiet. It isn't that hard to find a violin teacher, so I don't want you thanks," Ban-chan said with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"It may not be hard to find a teacher, but it's hard to find the best," I stated with a grin thus deepening his blush. He's one of the best teachers in the world I bet. People would die to have him teach them Well, they would if he was famous, but it doesn't matter. I brought out the love for the violin in his heart. That was the reason for the lessons you know.

"Do you even know why I taught you?" he asked.

What kind of question was that?

"Because I begged and you secretly missed the violin but didn't want to admit it so you taught me and listen to me play?" I blinked questioningly at him. I was pretty sure that was the answer.

"Um… no." He sounded a little confused about my question/answer. "I did it so you can realize your talents with the violin."

"Me?" I was baffled.

"Every since you saw me play for the first time, you always became dazzled with the violin. Like, you'd stare into the distance if a topic about it came up. I knew you had hidden talents, I just needed to help you make them bloom. The love you had for the violin was hidden deep within your heart, you just, for some reason, never figured it out."

Wow, I'm shocked. Here I was thinking I was helping Ban-chan when it was the other way around. In actuality, he was helping me and I was kind of helping myself.

If I never brought that up he may never had or he wouldn't have waited until forever. Now that I think about it, why didn't he ask me in the first place if he knew all of this?

"Why didn't you offer me lessons if you knew all of this?"

"I had to wait until you were prepared, so I figured you'd ask me yourself, and you did mind you," Ban-chan spoke as if it was no big deal.

I got up and hugged Ban-chan, "You know what?" I asked as I continued hugging him.

"What?" Ban-chan asked as he tried to escape.

"Besides me thank you nonstop for the lessons and helping me discover something, I discovered something about you."

"And what is that?" he was still trying to break away so I tightened my grip.

I secretly unlocked the door and placed my free hand on the handle.

"You're softer than I thought," I spoke in haste, but he was still able to understand, and started nuzzling his face with mine as he went into a mad rage. I ran out of the car as he chased me.

"What'd I tell you?" I screamed laughingly as he chased me. I guess he doesn't like affection. Sheesh. That's harsh, bro.

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1. "He answered gruntingly" I didn't know how to explain how Ban answered with a grunt. So it sounds kind of stupid. My bad.

Moonlight: Finally, the end of this story. I couldn't think of how to end it, so I ended it mushy like. I swear to everyone that this would have been posted sooner if I weren't addicted to Gaia. Eventually I stopped getting on so much, but I got my psp. That there is addicting. I love my psp, but I forced myself to finish this. It's been like 2 months when I lasted post. I'm so sorry.

I think I will have the chance to write more. And now I would like to thank everyone who reviewed. You people are the best and actually stuck with this lame excuse for a writer. You have no idea how much this touched me. I feel so bad for taking so long to update, that I already started on my other two fics and will try to have them up as much time as time permits.

The Sinner of Anger: I have been getting better I think. When I read back to what I first typed, I feel like burning it. xD

Thank you so much for reviewing and thinking I will become a better writer. I would also like to thank you for sticking with this story and no abandoning it like others have done with my past fics. I really appreciate it beyond words.

Sadame X: I really want to change this name, but then people won't recognize me. So it's to late now. XP

It's the thought that counts, right? I'm sure that if those people could afford it, they would've bought you a real flute. Yep, Ginji gave a concert. I wasn't going to do it, but since you are really cool and suggested it, I thought, "Why not?" so it was done.

I made a new friend: I'm happy. And so here is the last chapter with the concert kind of dedicated to you. I hoped you enjoyed it.

Mizukiandrea: Don't flatter me. It's so embarrassing. I'm sorry I haven't had to chance to e-mail you. And I'm from California. Such a great state. -.-

Thank you for reviewing my stories.

ToffeeChew: Yay! I updated. Amazing huh?

Moonlight: Well, I hope you all enjoyed this and maybe even added it to your favorites, or me as your favorite author. Who know? ;D I hope you all stay in tuned for I, Moonlight, may take the time to write another GB fic! You may never know.

I hope you all enjoyed and live peaceful lives. Your lives won't be peaceful until you review though. It'll suck. Badly.