Warning: AU –Second World War

M-Rated!Contains coarse language, violent imaginary related to the context of war, and sex.

I do not own South Park. I do not own anything. I wish I was that f* genius!

Kyle and Kenny followed Token as he opened the staff's door.

The Cat's Hat was the nightclub's name and it was owned by Token's rich uncle. The young man had been blessed with both a wealthy family and an astonishing talent in music. Unlikely Kyle, he never followed music classes at school. He came from a family of musicians, so everything he knew came from his home environment. He learned to play the piano with his mother, who was a teacher and professional. He learned to play the saxophone with his uncle, who played in a Jazz band. He learned to sing in the gospel chorus at his hometown's Evangelic church. Music was something that came naturally to him. Token learned it by instinct. He took in the vast experience his family and friends had in music. He enjoyed experimenting new ideas and sounds. Strict compositions and orthodox teachings did not combine with his innovating ideologies. He was therefore very selective in the choice of musicians for his new-born Jazz band. He favored people who, like him, had learned music naturally. People that weren't "tainted" with the formalities and stiffness of the Conservatory teachings.

However, this violinist, who clearly has a well-educated and academic background, had impressed him. Token had heard his violin's melodic sound for the first time a few days ago. It had been his girlfriend who had told about him. She had encouraged him to listen to his music and was certain he would be a worthy contribution for his band. Token had been sceptic at first. He was certain this was another Conservatory pupil. The fact he was white didn't help either. Finally, violin and Jazz, really? But when Token heard the sound coming out of the instrument, he knew immediately this was no common musician.

What amazed Token in this violinist was that he took a traditional instrument, played classical compositions and gave them a completely new dimension. He interpreted them in his own manner. The redhead had his own style. Loss of any academic strict rules or formality. It was refined and raw at the same time. The compositions that Token was used to label as too well-thought, rigid and calculated, gained a new meaning in the hands of this musician. The old and stuffy compositions gained a spirit, they had emotions and life. But Token was most of all enthralled with the compositions that were completely new for him. These were the ones the violinist played with the most passion. And he improvised a lot, which Token appreciated very much in a musician. For him, those who could improvise were the real professionals. He listened to Kyle during three different afternoons and at the third he was convinced this was a too extraordinary musician to let pass by.

"I never played Jazz in my life." Kyle said uncertain while they entered the empty club. During the day it was closed. Yet there was always somebody jamming. He could hear already the sound of trumpets and drums. They sounded great.

"It's okay. It's not very common to add the violin into a Jazz band, though you do have some groups that do that. I've heard some Jazz violinists but found them absolutely awful." Token said with a smile, while he greeted the musicians. They stopped with the jam session when seeing the boys approaching. Kyle and Kenny switched confused looks.

"If you found it so awful, why invite me then?" Kyle asked perplexed.

"Your style… It has absolutely nothing Jazzy about it!" Token spoke enthusiastically while Kyle and Kenny looked the more lost at the passing minute. To them, what the black musician was saying made absolutely no sense at all. "Which is perfect, because you can adapt your style to ours without letting yourself be influenced by any existing Jazz style! It will be something entirely new. I would like you to jam a bit with us. Accompany our sound but in your own style. Do you think you can do it?"

"You mean, improvise?" Kyle said with a wary smile.

On one hand, the proposal sounded interesting. Jazz was a completely new world for him. It wasn't well received in the Music School spheres, because of its association to folk and popular music. Because it was naturally born from improvisation. Because it never followed the well-though and required canons of the classical world. But it was exactly this that attracted him. On the other side, not having any kind of experience in this genre made him quite uncomfortable. These were deep and unknown waters for him and he feared to make a fool of himself. Because he had no idea how to adapt his music to the sounds he had just listened when he entered.

"Yes. Improvise. Play your own style. There are no rules." Token said while he sat by the piano. "Guys, this is Kyle." He introduced. The dark men smiled and stared at the redhead in a mix of wonder and curiosity. For Token to bring a white violinist to the club, meant he had to be something especial. "Earl here plays the drums and the banjo, Benny and Milles the trumpets. I play the piano and the saxophone. Oh, and I also sing."

"It's a pleasure." Kyle said with a stiff smile and a slight bow.

The men laughed a bit at his formal gesture. This young man was beyond doubt a refined musician with an academic background. Why in Earth Token had showed interest in him was a mystery they wanted to unravel. And would soon, because Token gestured Kyle to climb on the stage and stand beside the piano. Kenny sat by one of the tables, with the company of the bartender, who halted with his cleaning to see what this violinist was capable of. Kyle took his place, glanced over Kenny with a nervous look and his friend encouraged him by giving him thumbs up. The Jew placed the violin under his chin and sighed.

"Ready?" Token asked while he played the first slow notes. Kyle gave a barely audible "yes" and the dark young man smiled. "Start playing when I say so, okay?" Another almost silent "yes" was whispered while the notes streamed from the piano. "Boys, Colors On The Floor!" He announced the song they were playing and the instruments followed the piano lead.

Kyle could feel his heartbeat rise as he listened to the music. He became increasingly nervous and insecure about this. How in Earth was he supposed to accompany a song he never heard before in his life? He didn't know the notes, the melody, the chorus. The Jew breathed deep and forced himself to calm down. It was only a try-out. These guys didn't know him from anywhere, it was not like he would see them again if he wouldn't succeed, right? So, there wasn't really any harm, was there? After all, he wasn't being evaluated buy a strict teacher. He wasn't playing in an orchestra for a large public. Hell, he was asked to play the way he wanted. At his own manner. He relaxed a bit at his own thoughts and convinced himself he should try to enjoy this opportunity instead of freaking out. He closed his eyes and listened to the piano's lead. To the trumpets accords. To the drums basic rhythm. He listened to the music and let himself be immersed in it. In order to feel the notes form a melody. To sense the melody form a story. To let the story flow in his veins and travel to his fingers. He was so concentrated, he did not hear Token tell him to start playing. The music halted and he opened his eyes startled.

"Kyle." Token called him. "It's your turn."

"I-I'm so sorry…I didn't hear you." The apologized while he felt the heat of embarrassment reach his cheeks.

"It's okay. We'll go back to the second quarter. You'll start at the third. Be alert."

Kyle nodded while he gulped dryly. He didn't want to know what the others were thinking about him. Probably that he was nervous, which was the truth. He closed his eyes and listened to that one last part again. He concentrated, knowing soon Token would call him to play. He breathed deep. Let the nerves drift away, allow the music to flow in. He heard Token's voice and this time his hand moved. The first notes were slow and hesitant. His brow furrowed as he concentrated at the sound surrounding him. The music told a story. A story of colors. And in his mind's eyes, he saw the colors flash before him. In forms of lights, of large windows open to the sky, of trees and flower fields, of cities with tall skyscrapers, of people rushing around.

His hands and his fingers moved according to these colors. Bright and shallow, happy and saddened, deep and full of life. And his violin created sounds that complemented the other sounds. The violin did duets with the piano. The violin defied the trumpets. The violin was steered by the drums. Until the other sounds became lesser and the violin's became all. Kyle played a solo, reproducing the melody the other instruments had produced. But it did not imitate them. It was the same melody, but in his own refined but raw style. Of low and high, of slow and fast, of soft and hard, of mellow and explosive, of sad and happy. He stopped, when he felt he had played all colors he could play. He stopped and opened his eyes, realizing the world had become silent around him. His heart started racing madly. He had lost himself in the music and hadn't noticed the others had stopped. How rude of him. How imprudent, arrogant and dominant he must have sounded. He truly had messed things up. He turned to face Token. His dark eyes were wide and his expression startled. Kyle gulped painfully and turned to the others. Earl, Benny and Miles. The three of them looked shocked.

"I-I'm sorry…I let myself be carried away." He awkwardly apologized.

Suddenly, he heard a slow clapping coming from behind him. He turned around to face the audience and expected to see Kenny applauding. Instead, it was the bartender. His applause became louder and more energetic. As he stood up, his expression was one of profound reverence. Then he heard more clapping. He turned to the three musicians behind him and saw Earl, Benny and Milles hitting their hands together vigorously. Token started applauding too and he stood up, his smile being one of pure triumph. Kenny finally cheered with one of his typical loud "woo-hoooos" and the room was filled with the sound of hands clapping for Kyle and only for Kyle. It was an overwhelming ovation.

"You liked it?" Kyle asked, looking astounded at Token.

"Are you kidding?" Token replied in a chuckle. Was this guys this humble? Was he so naïve about his own talent? "That was absolutely amazing!"

"You were incredible!" Benny said. "I mean, reeeeealy incredible!"

"So boys, what do you think? Should he join our band?" Token asked already knowing the answer.

"Definitely!" Milles said and the others nodded. Kyle smiled widely, not believing this was actually happening. He just passed a spontaneous audition with nothing but pure improvisation and was accepted in the band. He released and involuntary giggle while his right hand's fingers brushed his curls.

"Welcome to Suburban Excuses!" Token said and Kyle smiled at the band's name. It sounded really cool. "When can you start?"

…

The following weeks were quite life-changing. Only a month ago Kyle was just a regular guy surviving with two jobs, enjoying his favorite hobby and dreaming of a promissory career in music. Now, Kyle was playing in the evenings from Thursday to Sunday in the Cat's Hat. He managed to ask his boss in the supermarket to work part-time, but had to give up the accounting job, which he thought was a shame because it was well-paid. But Kyle quickly realized he had to make a choice. One between financial stability and his life dream. He chose for the latter. But while he chose to earn less, he knew he was investing his time in something he truly loved. In something he wanted to build up, a future. By the time Kyle restarted music classes in September, he was forced to give up his job in the supermarket too. He earned just enough to pay his daily costs thanks to the club's commissions he received as salary, which was determined by the flux of clients.

The Cat's Hat was an average Jazz club with its own circle of loyal clients. Sometimes new folk would pop by more out of curiosity. But the addition of the violin in the band had ensured that people started talking about the nightclub. In just a few weeks, word had been spread about this new Jazz-progressive band that didn't play in the traditional way, but had introduced a new sound. A hybrid sound that combined Jazz with Rhythm and Blues, Gospel and even a little bit of Classical music. Token was the brains behind the whole concept of Suburban Excuses. He wanted to merge the different styles he grew up with. He wanted to make Jazz less popularized and less commercial. He wanted Jazz to be made to be listened, to be enjoyed and to be felt. Token wanted to bring Jazz to a new and higher level and Kyle's Conservatory background only solidified this ambition. Because Token had forbidden the redhead from ever copying the Jazz sounds, so his natural style remained untouched and genuine.

In the short period of weeks, Token and Kyle stood out as the Suburban Excuses's gifted musicians. More and more people talked about them. More and more people went to the nightclub only to listen to them. There were even people that didn't quite enjoy Jazz and went to the Cat's Hat just to see for themselves if this duo was as phenomenal as many said, only to become their greatest fans. By November, the Suburban Excuses were the Cat's Hat leading band, the one that filled the nightclub every night they played. They became so notorious that requests and invitations to play in parties and small-scaled shows became more and more frequent. In December the band was asked to play in a well-known Evangelic church in Christmas Eve, together with a prestigious choral from New York.

Fate finally seemed to smile at Kyle. His future was bright and colored. His passion had become his main occupation. The more he played the better he became, the more he loved it and the more addicted he was to music. Kenny followed his friend's development closely, being his number one fan and supporter. And it was exactly because they were so close that Kenny knew that, despite all the Jew's great successes, he wasn't really happy.

Kyle tried, that the blonde knew for sure. Kyle desperately thrived for happiness. That was the reason the Jew put all his time, energy and soul in music. Because music had become his refuge, his safe harbor. The one and only thing that allowed him to forget momentarily Eric Cartman's death. Kenny knew, when the redhead played the violin, music soothed a bit the permanent pain that resided in his heart. It made him feel complete, even if it was just for some moments. Kenny didn't understand Kyle's pain because he never had known love way his friend had, so he had no idea how it was to lose something like that. It was truly an unfair fate. He could understand his friend needed time for grieving and mourning. Needed time to heal the pain of loss.

But after six long months there still wasn't a day his friend's façade of happiness wouldn't falter, even if it was for just some seconds. There was always this subtle gloom of melancholy surrounding the violinist. And Kenny decided, half a year was more than enough time to grieve. He decided it was time Kyle started living life properly. It was time for him to forget his pains and enjoy the joys of the present. To think about building a future. But not alone. Kenny decided it was time for Kyle to start dating.

A/N

This is some info I found on the net about Jazz (I swear, I know nothing about this genre):

«In the early 1940s , "bebop" emerged. It divorced itself from dance music and was meant to be listened to. Beboppers introduced new forms of chromaticism and dissonance into jazz. The style of drumming shifted as well to a more elusive and explosive style. In the late 1940s there was a revival of "Dixieland" music, harkening back to the original contrapuntal New Orleans style.

In the first half of the 1950s, cool jazz dominated the music tendency, sounds of, which favoured long, linear melodic lines. It emerged in New York City, as a result of the mixture of the styles of predominantly white jazz musicians and black bebop musicians. Hard bop, an extension of bebop (or "bop") music that incorporates influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano playing, developed in the mid-1950s, partly in response to the vogue for cool jazz in the early 1950s.»

So my idea is, since the story is currently placed in 1947, heading to 1948; Token and Kyle's band would be like the "inventors" or predecessors of Cool Jazz that became the dominant style in Jazz half way the 50's. Probably not really very accurate historically, but close enough. Again, I know nothing about Jazz, so if I someway offended any Jazz lover or connoisseur, please, do not crucify me. This is just the results of my crazy creativity cells in my brains ;)