Shi-chan: Taking a break from "Sadness-Colored Sandglass,"...

The Opening Notes
~By Shimegami-chan
Music: "Cruel Angel Thesis," from Neon Genesis Evangelion

^^^(This is the song that I'm listening to at this moment-sometimes it helps people get the feel of the story)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This was an English assignment on epigrams, and the epigram in question was "If one plays good music people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk." Enjoy!

"A concert?" Heero asked doubtfully. "Since when have you played an instrument?"

Duo looked stricken, his violet eyes betrayed. "I'll have you know that I learned to play the piano when I was eight!"

"I see," Heero mused. "You never told me you played the piano. And Quatre and Trowa are going to play in this concert too?"

"Yeah, it was all Quatre's idea! You know he can get sponsors and everything for it, and he's the best violinist I've ever heard so he's handing it all. Proceeds are going to charity." Duo's wide eyes were sparkling and he brushed chestnut-brown bangs from his face. "Wufei's in it too; he plays the piccolo. I haven't heard him yet. You can be in it too if you want!" Duo suggested in glee. "You could sing!"

"I think not," said Heero. "I'll stick to the audience for now. Besides," he added with a smile, "I wouldn't want to miss anything."

/Duo playing piano?/ Heero shook his head. This was going to be interesting.

Heero had acquired front-row seats to Quatre's small concert, being the only one of the group of friends that was not participating. He sat beside Relena Darlian, an old friend; and on his left was one of Quatre's sisters. The rest of the auditorium was filled with stuffy-looking businessmen and aristocrats.

The young man turned his attention to the stage, where the master of ceremonies was introducing the first act. It was a flute duet, played by Trowa and a girl named Ami. The theatre fell silent save for the scattered whisper and stayed that way until the final bars of the song.

The second act was Duo and his friend Shiseki; Duo playing piano and Seki on a drum kit. The song was upbeat and, to Heero's great irritation, induced him to tap his fingers along with the beat of the base drum. To his dismay he seemed to be the only one enjoying the song, and thus was the first to stand and clap when Duo and Seki smiled and bowed before making their way offstage.

Next, Quatre played a solo on his violin; a sweet and haunting tune that once again captured Heero's full attention, but to his right Relena was yawning and to his left Quatre's sister was holding a heated conversation with her neighbors. By the time he looked back up, the stage was empty and his hands had clapped for the song's end without his consent.

Wufei had then entered and stood center stage, holding a piccolo in one hand and a music stand in the other. He set the stand down and arranged sheet music on it. On either side of Heero, the two girls seemed to be counting the lights on the expansive ceiling. Heero idly wondered what was so interesting about them.

His attention was suddenly captured by the first few squeaks from Wufei's piccolo, and his mouth dropped open in surprise. The sounds coming from the deceptively sweet-looking instrument were indescribably terrible. It was all Heero could do not to cover his ears.

Oblivious, Wufei played on as the shocked audience focused on him, wincing collectively every time he hit a wrong note. Heero caught sight of Duo in the wings, miming being choked to death.

A small eternity later, Wufei removed the offending instrument from his lips and offered a stiff bow to the stunned crowd. Relena, on Heero's right, still gaped at the empty stage until Trowa returned to do his flute solo.

Heero had tilted his head to continue counting the lights on the ceiling, only to hear Quatre's soft voice beside him. "Heero?"

"Oh, hey, Quatre." Heero tore his attention from the twinkling above him. "What brings you down to the audience?"

"Just wondering how things were going," Quatre replied, slipping into the seat Relena had vacated moments before. "Aren't you enjoying the music?"

Heero noticed belatedly that Trowa was almost finished his solo. "Oh, definitely…I'm just having a little trouble paying attention. You guys are doing great. Oh wait, Wufei's not going to play any more, is he?"

"No, no." Quatre shook his head with a smile. "I just thought I'd jar everyone out of the reveries with Wufei. All these bureaucrats are here to look good, not for the music. Pretty soon Trowa's sister is doing a guitar piece."

"Catherine? I've heard Catherine play before, are you sure you want to let her play in *public?*"

Quatre offered Heero a knowing smile. "I fully intend to. You see, Heero, I've learned something about concerts after all these years: If one plays good music people don't listen, and if one plays bad music people don't talk. But if they're listening for the bad music they might even learn to appreciate the good."

Heero's eyes widened at the truth in Quatre's words. He had barely even noticed his own patience and attention span getting smaller and smaller. "I see..."

"Think about it." Quatre smiled and rose to return to the stage. Relena reclaimed her chair and resumed staring at the ceiling.

A moment later Catherine took the stage, and her guitar playing was something Heero could compare to a five-year-old strumming his fingers on a stretched rubber band. But true to Quatre's word, the attention of the entire room was focused on her. Even Relena was staring in unmasked horror. Thankfully, the piece was short and Duo returned to the stage and seated himself at the piano. Heero held his breath.

The violet-eyed boy's fingers hit the keys and produced a slow, mournful melody that seemed to circulate throughout the room in soft echoes. Heero noted that most of the audience seemed to be actually listening-perhaps waiting for Duo to strike a wrong note, but listening all the same. And when Duo stood to bow, the applause was thunderous.

Unable to wipe the smile from his face, Heero checked his program to read about the next piece, catching Quatre's eyes from the wings as he did so. The young violinist smiled and nodded, and Heero smiled back. The audience was completely silent, waiting to see what would come next.

"He had to trick them into listening, but they *are* listening," Heero said aloud.

"Hmm?" Relena turned to look at him, but Heero's gaze was already focused on Quatre and Trowa on the stage.

Heero nodded to himself and sat back in his seat, reflecting on Quatre's earlier words. He was going to enjoy every moment of the music to come.

~end

Shi-chan: That was a little odd. Hope you enjoyed, though.