Disclaimer: You know what I don't own. You don't know, however, that I own Raoul, the piano guy, and the cop. I also own the bloke who runs this seedy joint.

Author's Note: You can't have a good fic without music.

Chapter Twelve

The Sax Heard 'Round the World

LATER THAT NIGHT

Aragorn had somehow found a blender and was mixing fruit together. Faythe had somehow managed to talk Legolas, Jake, and Kurama into having one, but Sara and Hiei wouldn't have any part of it. Sara had just snorted and Hiei had stuck with his original response.

"Oh, well. More for us," Jake said. Legolas nodded in agreement.

Faythe pulled out a bottle of vodka. "Put some of this in it," she told Aragorn.

"Wouldn't tequila go better?"

A saxophonist came in through the window, playing "Tequila."

"Who the hell is that?" Sara asked angrily.

Faythe grinned. "I thought we could use some live entertainment."

Legolas winced. "Does he know any other songs?"

"Yeah!" Faythe said. "Raoul, 'One Note Samba', please."

The saxophonist, who, apparently, was named Raoul, switched songs. "One Note Samba" was slower and more…romantic…than "Tequila." Legolas didn't complain.

Sara and Hiei shared a look. "We have stuff to do. Sorry, Faythe. We're out of here." Sara grabbed Hiei's arm and they left.

Legolas looked at Faythe. "What's with them?"

Faythe shrugged. Jake raided an eyebrow. "Stuff? What kind of stuff?"

Faythe shrugged again. Jake was about to say something, but Kurama jumped in. "I'm sure it's important."

Everyone turned to him. "You know something! What are they doing?"

Kurama smiled at Faythe. "I can't tell you."

Aragorn passed out the smoothies. "Who cares?"

"I care!"

"Faythe, just drink the smoothie."

"I can't. Now I'm curious." Faythe twirled the glass in her hands. Raoul played "The Girl From Ipanema."

Aragorn looked at Faythe. "Hun, how naïve are you? They're…busy. They'll be back later."

Faythe's eyes got wide. "Oooh. I get it!" She grimaced. "Ew!"

Legolas grinned. "Is a piano player waiting to burst through the window, too?"

Faythe looked at him. "I can get one. They'll have to wheel the piano in, though. Why?"

"Just wondering."

Kurama gave Legolas a stern look. "You're not to be doing any more singing."

Legolas sighed. "Damn."

WITH SARA & HIEI

"What do you suppose they think we're doing?"

Sara thought for a moment. "Each other."

"I was being serious!"

"So was I." In spite of popular belief, Sara was teaching Hiei to swim. He was standing waist deep in the pool and wouldn't go any farther.

Sara walked over to him and he sniffed her. "You smell wonderful."

"New shampoo."

"No. It's something else…"

They looked at each other. "Mating season."

Hiei got an odd look in his eyes and Sara took the opportunity to shove him into deeper water. "You're learning how to swim."

"I can't focus on swimming," Hiei replied.

"You'd better try! You only get to have me pull you out of the water once," Sara retorted.

"Why once?" Hiei asked.

"Because we'll never get back in the pool otherwise." They laughed. "Okay, Hiei. First, we're going to learn to tread water…"

10 MINUTES LATER

"That's it, Hiei! You've got it! You can doggy paddle now! Congratulations!" Sara cheered and clapped for him.

"Yeah, uh-huh. Can we please go back to our room now?"

"That doesn't count as swimming!"

"I'm moving forward, aren't I? I'm not drowning."

"But you aren't swimming."

"It's good enough."

Sara thought for a moment. "If you can beat me in a race, we'll call it a night." They raced and Sara won. Of course. "Alright. Next is the front stroke."

WITH FAYTHE

"Put in some oranges this time." Aragorn complied. He turned the blender on and the mixture turned yellowish. He poured it into glasses and passed them out.

"These are pretty good."

"And, there isn't any fruit to choke on." "Brian Wilson" played in the background.

BACK IN THE POOL

Not too much later, Hiei was in pain. His limbs were burning and he'd taken in far too much water. He asked Sara if they could stop, but she insisted they continue.

"You need to know, Hiei," Sara said.

"Why do I need to know?" Hiei asked, nearly exhausted.

"Because I'm not always going to be around to save your ass."

"You're immortal! We're going to be together forever!"

"Oh, yeah." Hiei glared at her, tiredly. "Fine. We're done for tonight."

Hiei smiled, not looking so tired anymore. He swam over to her. Sara was about to point out that he was swimming, but he kissed her before she could. They swam to the ladder and got out of the pool.

"I thought you were tired," Sara said accusingly.

Hiei grinned. "It's mating season, remember?"

Sara grinned back. "How could I forget?"

W/ FAYTHE/ARAGORN/LEGOLAS/JAKE/RAOUL/THE PIANO PLAYER GUY WHO JUST SHOWED UP

Legolas was singing some sappy love song, dancing on the grand piano that had been wheeled into the room. Faythe and Aragorn were dancing. It turns out that Jake could play the acoustic stand-up bass. They had a regular jazz band going.

Aragorn smiled at Faythe. "I'm glad you did this. It really cheers up these drab motel rooms."

Faythe smiled back. "I'm glad I did it, too. This has been a hectic trip."

"Too right. We need to-" he kissed her "-unwind."

Legolas finished his song. Faythe, Aragorn, Jake and Legolas clapped and cheered. Legolas climbed off the piano and bowed. "Thank you, Sydney! Good night!"

Jake hugged him. "You were great! When did you learn to sing like that?"

Legolas hugged back. "All elves can sing. There's a lot you don't know about me, isn't there?"

Jake nodded. "Apparently so. You'll have to tell me, you know. I know enough for right now, but it seems like every day has a new surprise."

Legolas was silent for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about something. Finally, he said, "It should. It should."

Faythe and Aragorn were watching Jake and Legolas. "You know," Faythe said matter-of-factly, "they make a really cute couple."

"They do, don't they?" Aragorn replied. "But then-" he kissed her "-so do we."

"Jeez, I don't know about that one, A. A short, pudgy, clumsy water demon from nowhere and a tall, noble, stern, proud King of Men. Doesn't seem to fit, does it?"

Aragorn was taken aback. "What do you mean by that? You don't want us to be together anymore?"

"No! I'd never say that!" Faythe said. "It's the hormones talking. Lately I feel like I don't deserve you."

Aragorn chuckled softly and held her closer to him. "Is that what's wrong? Faythe, you'll never have to worry about that. Everything that you have, you earned, in some way or another. That includes me, too."

She rested her head on his shoulder and they danced. The band played "Unforgettable," the old Nat King Cole song. It was a very peaceful moment.

A knock on the door-the door to the hallway, not to Sara and Hiei's room-interrupted the dance. The band abruptly stopped and Faythe pulled away from Aragorn. "I'll get it." She went to the door and looked out the peephole. Through a fish-eye lens, she saw a police officer. She opened the door. "How can I help you, officer?"

"Oi, there, Sheila," he said in a thick Australian accent, "we've been 'aving complaints 'bout a party in this hotel. Apparently, the bloke who runs this seedy joint found a couple fornicatin' on the pool deck." He peered intently at Faythe, then past her to the hotel room. "Oi, there, if this is a party, you've lost your guests, Sheila." He sniffed the air. "'ave you been drinkin'?"

"Of course not." Faythe pointed to the pianist. "He was, though."

The officer sniffed again. "That's a lot of alcohol for one person."

"He has a drinking problem?"

The officer looked around and sighed. "Just try to keep it down. Alright, Sheila?"

"Yes, sir." The officer nodded and left. Faythe shut the door and turned to the others.

"Other guests? What other guests?"

"They must have thought we were throwing a party," Aragorn said. He thought for a moment. "I guess live music is louder than a stereo."

Jake scoffed. "You think?" He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. "Anybody else want one?"

"Yo," said the piano guy. "Over here." Jake threw him one and he caught it without missing a beat. "Thanks."

"No problem. Anybody else? Faythe, Aragorn? No? Oh, well. More for me." He chugged the beer. "This is awesome! We need to come to Australia more often. They have great beer."

The piano guy raised his beer a little in a toast. "I'll drink to that!"