Chapter 4: Jim

3 weeks ago

Jim's pov

I tapped my head against the top of the piano biting my lip in annoyance. Why? Because I was trying to semi compose a song. Not even that I was giving it my own flair. Normally you played this song on a guitar but since I'm more gifted with a piano as both Hassleberry and Johan have stated before, they agreed I should try it this way.

"Is that where this should go..?" I scratched my head looking over the music sheets. I grabbed my phone brought up YouTube and played the song carefully once again as I placed my fingers on the correct keys on the piano hoping to get the right noise to come out of the acursed thing.

As I made it through the verse I managed to mishit a key and just wanted to slam my head against the top of the piano. "Oh for the love of Christ…" I ran a hand through my face and hair rubbing my eyes in the process as Johan walked in.

"Hey bud. What's the problem?" He looked at me questionably as Taylor swift sang in the background. He was clearly choosing to ignore the song and focus on my situation with said song.

"Just the bloody keys not working in my favor. So what's knawing in your brain, mate?" My one good eye looked the bluenette over as he crossed his arms sighing heavily. He plopped down on the bench next to me dropping his mop of blue hair onto my shoulder.

"It's agonizing man… just seeing him lying there…" he lifted his head from my shoulder to look up at me. "How are you and Alexis?" I could feel him smirking against my shirt sleeve as I gave him a knowing look.

"We've gone over this before haven't we? That kiss in the closet at the sleepover, was just as is. She hasn't brought it up and neither have I." I shrugged him off my shoulder, a pout replacing the smirk on his face as his green eyes narrowed at me.

"And her being your mate means nothing?" My blue eye rose from the keys of the piano to look him dead in the eyes.

"It always has meaning. I'm a proud wolf to know when a lady wants me and actually desires me. Alexis doesn't feel the same, so I refuse to tell her. Same with how you and Judai fell in love first before figuring it out. That's what I want I don't want to trap her in a relationship that she might not want." Johan blinked his eyes his head reeling back to look at me fully surprised etched into his face.

"I didn't realize…" the corners of my mouth rose just a little as I raised my hand to ruffle the top of his blue mop of hair playfully. "Of course you didn't. You shouldn't be worrying about me, Hassleberry or even your brother. You need to focus on you."

Johan smiled at me once more a wide grin he used to have on his face long before everything happened, the same grin he used to wear around Judai. "Thanks Jim… You need help with the song your trying to translate?"

I blink at his words complete having forgotten my original task in favor of attending to my blue haired friend. "Yes, I'm trying to get this song from guitar form to piano. It's very frustrating honestly." I rubbed the back of my head embarrassed as Johan got to his feet and reached for the abandoned guitar that laid behind the piano as he started strumming away.

I smirked and played the song on my phone that I had been working on. Johan occasionally paused the video and would strum the strings on the guitar hitting the notes perfectly and would come check my key placement in reguards of translating it to the piano.

By the end of the day when Hasslberry arrived with dinner the two of us laid sprawled on the ground exhausted and mentally drained from getting the song perfectly synced to the piano.

"So Jim? You gonna tell me the reason yet?" Johan cast his famous smirk my way as the smell of BBQ filled the room from Hassleberry's take out.

"Nah, you'll see some day why." I patted his arm before getting up to help with the food.

{One week ago}

"Well you look nervous." Johan smirked playfully at the door to my room as I leered at him my palms sweating.

"Like you couldn't already smell it…" I grumbled teasingly in his direction as he barked out a laugh. Johan trotted into my room up behind me as his short arms turned me around in place and proceeded to fix the tie I was struggling with for the past 5 minutes.

"Will you chill, Jim. I know your very nervous since Alexis asked you out." Johan chuckled at my nerves as he straightened the tie up.

"Out of the blue I might add…" I shook my palms and wiped into a rag I had beside the full length mirror. My blue haired friend just shook his head smirking. "You look great tho. She's gonna love how you look." He patted my shoulder looking in the mirror at our reflections.

"This is gonna be difficult… She told me she made reservations at her father's music lounge…? Heaven knows what that is." Johan snapped his fingers over my face making me retract from him entirely.

"No negative talk. Go have fun." He shoved me to my bedroom door and waved his hand casually in my direction.

I grabbed my phone keys wallet and my hat and headed to the truck and took off for the music lounge. It didn't take me long to get to it. It was in the more urban part of town next to a pharmacy and a ice cream parlor/bowling alley.

I parked the truck across the street and walked to the music lounge. It was called Seoul Rythm a very nifty name that actually was inventive. I walked inside and saw the very chill mood of the atmosphere. The lighting were a mix of cool colors especially greens and blues. Slow love music was playing on the stage in the back of the restaurant with piano sax and slow base playing in a mixture.

Lost in my awe I don't realize a hostess is trying to get my attention. "Mr. Cook, I presume?" I look down to the short girl who barely reached the ends of my dress shirt smile up at me as she gestures behind her.

"Right this way." I grimanced just slightly as I followed the little lady to a lovely booth where Alexis sat her finger rubbing the rim of her glass, her hair swept up in a messy pony tail that looked amazing.

What she wore was even more amazing as it was a aquatic blue shimmering dress with silver decorating it in fancy little stars. It's like looking at the night sky under the ocean. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding as her hazel/brown eyes looked to me and smiled.

"Hey you. Don't you look handsome. Don't tell me Johan had to wrestle you into that thing?" I chuckled at her attempt to ease my nerves as I plotted down in the booth across from her a semi blush burning my cheeks as I look at her.

"Well not all of it. He did have to get this confounded neck belt tied." I struggled to loosen the thing around my neck cursing Johan in my head for tying it so darn tight and difficult.

Alexis burst into a small giggle over my frustration which made me blush more as she reached across the table and loosely untied the knot just enough for me to not only breath properly but to air my neck since I was sweating bullets.

"Thank you darlin'." I saw the small blush sweep across her cheeks as she smiled taking a drink to cut the edge. I quickly jumped to add on. "You look just amazing, I think even satan would be jealous of me sitting here with you." She quickly adverted her gaze away from me, as I took note of the blush burning across her cheeks again as before she could speak the waitress came to interrupt.

"What can I get you lovely people?" She sent smiles at both of us but I could see out of the corner of my eye she was nearly winking at me. Without looking at her I spoke up. "Can I get a root beer?" The waitress nodded before putting down a refill of whatever Alexis had been drinking before walking off.

"Very flattering service we're getting ain't it?" I spoke casually which made Alexis roll her eyes, trying to hide her annoyance at what happened. I reached across the table taking her hand in mine and smiled. "I only got eyes for you, sweetheart so don't get jealous at the petty women."

I don't know where the sudden balls to say such a line when we weren't even an item came from but once I realized what I said and the look on her face had me dropping her hand in half a second with me hiding my face behind my hat while she covers hers, dropping her gaze to her lap.

I don't think we said a word until the waitress broke the ice bringing my root beer and placing it on the table. From the giggle she let out suspected everything I had in mind, we were both blushing heavily from what I said and hadn't recovered. I coughed slightly as I replaced my hat on my head and Alexis gathered her composure to look at me.

"I-I'm surprised… you'd say such a thing. Where did that come from?" Her words didn't catch me off guard but the thought that passed through my head did. 'From you being my gorgeous mate and seeing you jealous of other women is incredibly sexy'

I nearly slammed my head on the table from the passing thought but I manage to keep my cool as I respond. "Just think… that you shouldn't be jealous since i'm on this date with you."

Alexis then smiled warmly at me as she touched my hand this time. "Thank you for accepting this date." I winked at her playfully making her blush in response. "Don't mention it sweetheart."

As the evening passed and we ordered our meal, conversation was a breeze. Alexis said her parents wanted to meet me but couldn't get away from their friends plans to do so. I told her I could meet them another time. Gee from the way her parents sounded eager it's like we have been dating several months, yet this was just a friendly date.

We soon finished eating as I finally took notice that the piano was unoccupied, meaning the live music had taken a break. I casually excused myself from the table under the guise of going to the rest room. I grab the nearest waiter and point to the stage. "Excuse me good fella, is anybody allowed up there besides the band?"

The waiter blinked at where I was pointing for a second before scratching his head. "If you want to sir you can. The band won't be back up for an hour." He walked away after I nod my head at his answer.

I walked back to the table and held my hand out to Alexis a smile playing on my face. She looked up at me her eyes shining with confusion at my gesture. "Jim..?" My smile only grew a bit wider.

"May I play for you, my dear?"

{Now}

I chatted up with conscious brown haired male laying in the hospital bed. "What's the last thing you remember?" The brunette looked down at his hands as he struggled to recall what exactly he could remember.

"Darkness… drowning…? It's like I was trying to save someone… but I don't remember who or what they look like…" From what Johan had explained to me and the brief words I was getting out of Judai I could tell he was referring to when Johan was corrupted by Haou's dark powers and having to help him and restore his mental state.

Syrus squeezed his best friends shoulder worried lines framing his face. "Aniki, don't force yourself okay? Your memory will come back." Judai's soft brown eyes look up at Syrus and smiled at him tho it was strained.

"Are my parents okay?" His brown eyes shifted from me to Syrus in which case we avoided his gaze. The one who had taken care of his parents was his aunt. We had heard that Judai's parents had bawled in joy over the discovery of Haori and their nephew Haou and gladly welcomed them to the family with open arms.

Haori had explained that it was a camping accident that went wrong and Judai was in safe hands as he was at the hospital she worked at. That gave his folks such relieve that they left Judai to his aunt and cousin.

"They're doing fine.. might wanna ask your aunt for details tho." My words made him reassured as Haou returned to the room carrying a tray of food. "You guys have to go for now, the doctor wants to do a full evaluation of him after he has lunch." Syrus nods his head and stands from the chair by the bed as Haou places the tray in front of Judai.

"I'll see you guys later…" Judai sounded down but he kept the smile on his face hoping to see us go with a smile of our own which we gave him as we both wave bye to him with Haou pulling us out of the room for him to rest.

We met Chazz and Johan at the front enterance. "So you guys doing okay?" Syrus piped up seeing the two more relaxed than they were earlier. Johan shrugged a little while Chazz didn't give anything away.

I patted both of their shoulders as I pushed the two of them out the door. "Cmon let's split. I'll make us some good food once we get back to the house."