Rukawa stepped inside the cafe, pulling the straps of his gym bag to lay more securely on his shoulders. Inside there was the usual crowd, drinking and chatting, and some people Rukawa noted were new. He took the usual seat at the back of the room and ordered a cup of cappucino. While he waited, his eyes lazily scanned the room through the wafting smoke of cigarrettes. Rukawa hates the smell of cigarrettes but the table that he has chosen was bearable for his health.

Rukawa took a sip from his drink. It wasn't the perfect capuccino that he has tasted but it has a nice blend of milk and coffee. That was why he tolerated coming here, since he discovered this place existed, when he should be at home sleeping. That and the music.

(A smoky room, a small cafe - They come to hear you play - And drink and dance the night away)

There came a murmur from the patrons making Rukawa look up. There on the once empty stage were three young men. Two of them were holding guitars, pulling up chairs for themselves while the third took his place behind a set of drums. The two looked like men in the young twenties but the other one holding a spanish guitar, Rukawa knows is as young as himself. The fox-eyed boy doubted that the crowd here knows that but even if they do, it wouldn't stop them from jumping up and dancing joyfully to the quick and up-beat music from the redheaded boy with the guitar.

Soon, Rukawa found himself enjoying the catchy music and his feet began to involuntarily tap along with the beat.

When he stumbled upon this place, he was taking shelter from the rain and that was when he saw the redheaded do'aho on the stage with his friends. The raven-haired boy hoped that the redhead wouldn't sing because he knew how terribly loud and rough the aho's voice was. Thankfully, the redhead did not sing but the music that the boy was able to produce with the old looking guitar was unexpectedly beautiful that Rukawa found himself waiting for the song to end, and then the next, and the next...

The redhead didn't know that Rukawa knows about his night-time job and the raven-haired boy has even started to come regularly every week the redhead and his friends chose to play. And Rukawa liked to keep it that way.

After two more fast songs, the three-men band started on a slower tempo. Rukawa put down his nearly-empty cup and leaned back. This is his favourite part.

Now the redhead takes the lead as his quick fingers strummed the strings, creating a slow and soothing flow of notes. Rukawa was mesmerised by the deftness and agility of those fingers, not expecting before that those big, rough hands can not only hold a ball or lay a punch but also make music. Wonderful music. It was not the usual type of music that he favours but this is one of those rare pieces that he finds himself liking. And it was created by the do'aho.

(I sit out in the crowd - And close my eyes - Dream you're mine - But you don't know - You don't even know that I am there)

He took his gaze off of the redheads fingers and closed his blue eyes. He felt the knots on his tense body starting to unravel as he allows himself to relax, lulled by the music. If he was a cat he'd be purring right now.

(I wish I was in your arms - Like that Spanish guitar - And you would play me through the night - 'Till the dawn)

Unlike all the time when his mind would only be filled with basketball and tournaments, in his present state of mild stupor his mind was at a blank, except for some random, silly and unimportant thoughts like, I wonder when Ayako will cut some slack and let Miyagi date her? and Will Mitsui-san get over his dark past? and even When will those noisy girls start to leave me alone? but entwined with those thoughts was the image of the fingers. The fingers which are now fluttering over the strings of the old spanish guitar. The fingers owned by a loud, egotistical redhead. The fingers that can create such mesmerising music.

(I wish you'd hold me in your arms - Like that Spanish guitar - All night long, all night long - I'd be in your song, I'd be your song)

The music stopped and he opened his eyes as the silence broke into an applause. The three musicians thanked their audience before they left the stage, leaving the crowd to enjoy the rest of the night by themselves. Rukawa stood up and paid the bill, slinging his gym bag back on his shoulder and treaded out into the night, the taste of coffee in his mouth and the slow notes of the music lingering in his mind made by those strong but gentle fingers.

(Seal my heart with every note you play - I'll pray you'll look my way - And hold me to your heart someday - I long to be the one that you caress with tenderness - And you don't know - You don't even know that I exist)

~~~~~~~~~~

The young man with the shoulder-lengthed black hair watched his redheaded friend who was distractedly putting away his guitar.

"What's the matter, Sakuragi?" the young man asked.

"I've got this feeling since three weeks ago that someone was watching me on the stage," the redhead told him.

The other young man with a pony tail snorted, "When you're on stage everyone is supposed to watch you."

The redhead shook his head, "No, it's different. It's more... It's..."

Seeing the redhead struggling for words, the brunette slapped his back, "Don't worry about it, Sakuragi. It's late. Let's all go home."

"Hai," the redhead nodded, a bit unhappy, but he covered it up with a grin, "I guess I'm more popular than you guys, eh?"

The pony-tailed guitarist laughed, ruffling the redhead's hair, "In your dreams!"

The three laughed good-heartedly, parting ways when they left the cafe but not before planning on meeting to play again next week. The redhead hugged his guitar tighter and sighed.

Maybe next week I'll know who you are. Maybe...

The End

This fic is based on Toni Braxton's song 'Spanish Guitar' from her album 'The Heat'.