Delivery in B-minor

A fluffy one-shot, dedicated to my fellow feline author and most trusted reviewer, Kat.
Thanks for sticking by me through all my stories, it's always nice to read your comments(they often make me laugh even more than what I wrote).
I hope, you'll enjoy this here little ficlet and will remain a faithful reader for as long as I write.

Domo arigatou gozaimashita and ganbatte kudasai!^^

Felidae

Disclaimer: I don't own zip, neither the characters nor the song used in this fic(Takahashi and Lobo do), so sueing is totally pointless

Summary: Valentine's day is up(yes, I know I'm early, give me a break!), and this time it's not necessarily romantic. Or is it?

 Reviews: Meowwrr, well, since you already read it...

 Archive:
Absolutely not. If I catch this story anywhere else than here or over at ff.net, I'm going to sic each and every muse I have at my dispense on you(last time I counted, there were thirteen or fourteen of those), and have you reported for stealing. I'm serious about this.

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 Delivery in B-minor

"Okay, minna-san, as you all know, our annual Valentine Day's Festival is up in three weeks!"
The girls giggled, the boys groaned.
Unerringly, the teacher continued:
"Now, the school forum decided on something different than usual. Instead of crafting or buying a present or writing a song or poem for your koi, aibou, or whatever, you are asked to reveal one of your lesser known talents. There is no need for the presents and surprises to be even remotely romantic, just original, since you are to use them to surprise a random classmate, who's name you're
going to pull from this-Valentine's cask!"
She held up a large box wrapped in shiny metallic gift paper, adorned with hearts, and smiled brightly.
This time, the groan was collective.

Jou felt like crying.
A lesser know talent?
Yeah, right, as if he had any worth showing, let alone impress the classmate he picked.
He could dance(streetdance and waltz, thought he didn't intend to tell anyone about the latter), duel(duh!), do a backflip(he cringed, imaginating the reaction he would most likely get), cook(okonomyaki and white miso soup), draw("Hey Jou! Is that a horse or did you REBD collide with a train?") and that's that.
Except..except...
The faintest spark of hope shone in the blond's amber eyes.

Slamming the door closed behind him, Jou rushed up the stairs to his room and started searching through his dresser, cupboard, wardrobe, ect, without success.
Exhausted and disappointed, Jou finally slumped on his futon and sighed miserably, thinking:
'I probably threw it out long ago- or my old man sold it to pay the bills.'
That's when his eyes fell on the large, rectangle shadow on top of his wardrobe.
Grinning widely, Jou rose from where he lay to retrieve his forgotten treasure.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The 'Valentine Day Festival' had been a success so far.
Anzu had knitted a scarf for Yugi(she had tried for a sweater, but there had not been enough time), Hiroto had some Capoiera moves in store for Ryou, who in turn juggled knives for Otogi(although everybody had the distinct feeling, Bakura was doing the juggling, and moved as far away from the stage as possible).
The dice master prooved to be a rather good cook, at least according to Jou, who ate the whole triple-layer-banana-cream-chocolate cake Otogi had made for him in one go.
Yugi was quite the acrobat, Honda had to admit, but the duelist extraordinaire didn't think it too funny, when the brunet opted to rent him out to the circus.
And who would have thought, Kaiba would make for a good King Lear? Anzu was very touched by the way the CEO delivered the insane monarch's final monologue, and she wasn't the only one, seeing how the audience sniffled and weeped quietly.

Slowly, the festival came to an end, and the only one, who hadn't received anything yet, was Kaiba.
The other students whispered behind his back, casting him sidelong, mostly pityful glances.
Which unnerved the tall brunet to no end.

And then Jou appeared on the stage.

Carrying a chair in one hand, a small, brown suitcase in the other and an ominous black coffin on his back, Jou grabbed the microphone and announced:
"Check, check- sorry, minna-san for runnin' late, it took me a while t' get my stuff together."
He took place on the chair, readjusted the micro, then turned the brown box towards the
audience, revealing it as pignose.
Upon opening the large black cask, everybody present gasped at the sight of the accustic guitar Jou withdrew and connected with the enhancer.
It was old and battered, but beautifully polished and well-kempt.
Letting his fingers glide experimentally over the strings, Jou cleared his throat and declared:
"I-uhh, picked Kaiba's name, and this song's dedicated to him. Hope ya like it."
Without any further ado, his soft tenor floated through the ballroom, accompanied by the notes dripping like pearls from the strings.

When I saw you standing there
I about fell off my chair
And when you moved your mouth to speak
I felt the blood go to my feet

Now it took time for me to know
What you tried so not to show
And something in my soul just cried
I see the want in your blue eyes
Baby

 I'd love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmhmhh baby

You'd love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you'd only let it be

 You told yourself years ago
You never let your feelings show
The obligation that you made
For the title that they gave
Baby

I'd love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmhmhh baby

You'd love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you'd only let it be

Now it took time for me to know
What you tried so not to show
But something in my soul just cried
I see the want in your blue eyes
Baby

I'd love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmhmhh baby

You'd love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you'd only let it be

Oohhoho-oo baby

 I'd love you to want me
The way that I want you
The way that it should be
Mmhmhh baby

You'd love me to want you
The way that I want to
If you'd only let it be

Jou let the song fade out, then packed his belongings and left without another word.
It was then, that the audience finally woke from it's awed daze and started roaring in applause.

He had waited, until every last student had left.
Only then he dared to come out of his hiding place in the janitor's closet and walk through the empty halls.
As he passed the lockers, the sound of clapping drew his attention.
Kaiba stepped out of the shadows, still applauding, a semi-mocking grin on his face.

"Honto de,
inu, I must admit, that was not bad. Although it makes one wonder-were you just
declaring your undying love for me out there?"
Jou gave the CEO a look that read 'who the hell let you out of the asylum'.
Then the blond shook his head and, giving an amused chuckle, replied:
"Just how conceited can one get?"
Amber bore into azure, as he continued:
"I picked this song because it fit you best and it's one of the few I can sing and play without messin' up. As for the meanin' behind it- take it any way you want."
Shifting the weight on his shoulders, Jou patted the brunet's cheek in a rather patronizing manner and stated:
"For somebody who claims to know everythin', you know quiet little, moneybags."
With that, he was on his way, humming the song as he did, leaving Kaiba standing there, wondering.
 

The blond's voice kept playing in the CEO's head for days to come.

Fin

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And don't worry, Kat, my other fics will be updated, sometime soon(I guess..hope..^^')!