Life and Soul Reunited

by CypherCA

Well, here’s ch. 6. Now, I don’t own the Ronins, Max’s Opera Cafe, or any Andrew Lloyd Webber songs (though I wish I did). Enjoy!

Chapter 6: At The Opera Cafe

<This place looks expensive.> was Rowen’s first thought as he looked around the restaurant. He saw the Maitre-de and headed for him. “Excuse me,” Rowen said when he arrived at the podium.

“Yes?”

“Um, I have a meeting with a Richard. He arrived around eleven?”

“Yes, he told me he was expecting company. Please follow me.” The Maitre-de led Rowen towards the pianist. “Here is the booth.”

Rowen just stared at the empty booth a moment before taking a seat. “Do you know where he is?”

“He said he’d be back shortly. Your waiter will be around to take your order when he returns to the table.”

“Okay.” The Maitre-de left just as a waitress went up on stage to sing. Unfortunately, Ro was facing away from the stage, otherwise he would have recognized a certain student standing behind the piano.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Alice and I will be singing Only he from Starlight Express.” She took off the microphone and signaled the pianist to start. The pianist didn’t even notice the young man sneaking to the synthesizer and extra microphone. Rowen started to listen in because he thought the title sounded familiar, but he didn’t know from where.

“Look at me a women, common, in control.
No fancy girl whose head’s always turning.
Nobody would guess that, deep inside my soul,
A brand new flame is burning.
Only He, has the power to move me.
And together we’ll make the whole world move in sympathy,
What I couldn’t see before.
That only He, has the power to move me. “I am the starlight.”

The waitress and pianist didn’t stop, but they both looked at the boy who added the accompaniment. He smiled at them and indicated that everything was fine.

Take me, hold me, mold me,
change me, and improve me,
It’s not funny anymore.
Only He can make my burden light,
Only He can make a wrong seem right.
Only He can make the shadows light
And make the darkness clean and light!

<I wish I had that kind of talent,> Rowen thought to himself. <Speaking of talent, where’s Richard?>

The song finally ended and the singer turned to the boy and smiled. “Thank you,” she said.

“No, thank you for letting me do that. I know that you normally don’t allow that.”

“Oh, it was actually kind of fun with a partner. You’re a great singer. Keep it up and maybe you can be a professional.”

“I’ll keep it in mind. See you later and thanks again.” Richard was so busy talking to the waitress that he didn’t notice a certain blue-haired teen sitting across from him for a moment. Then, “Oh, I’m sorry. I must be in the wrong booth.” He got up to leave.

“No, it’s okay. I’d actually like some company. I’m supposed to meet someone here, but there’s no sign of him.”

He sat back down. “Well, maybe I know them. I’ve been here since ten. What do they look like, um...?”

“Sorry. Rowen.” As the words were uttered, Richard froze, stunned for a minute that he didn’t recognize his brother.

“Hello?” Rowen asked, worried.

“Rowen?”

“Yes.”

“Rowen Hashiba?” He was starting to tremble.

“Yes. How do you know......Richard?!”

“Ro?”

“Rich!”

“Ro!”

They stood up and hugged each other, tears of happiness sliding down their cheeks. When they sat back down, their waiter was there, giving them a very strange look. “Are you ready to order?”

“Well, I am, how’s `bout you Ro?”

“Why don’t you just order something for me. You’ve obviously bee here before.”

“Okay.” He ordered and they started catching up with each other’s lives. After the food came, Rowen finally asked the question that had been on his mind for the past few minutes.

“How come you never talked to me at school? I saw you often, so you must have seen me.”

“Well, to be totally honest, I thought that you were some gang member or something because you left your hair its natural color. I reasoned that you would dye your hair like I did; to fit in.”

“Oh.” They both just chewed for a few moments. “Why weren’t announced at the assembly like the other exchange students? And why were you talking to Cye?” Richard nearly choked at the mention of the auburn-haired boy.

“Well, I reasoned with the principal that since I might be leaving shortly, there was no reason to get to know everybody. Don’t worry, that was only if I hadn’t found you there. And Cye,” Richard shifted slightly nervously. “Well, I met after getting out of the assembly. That lunch though, he started to ask a bunch of questions and I didn’t want to answer them. After that, I continued to avoid him. How do you know him?”

“Um, you’re not going to believe this, but he’s one of the friends I live with. “At this, Richard was unable to control his reflexes and he spit the water he was drinking right into Rowen’s face. “Guess that came as a shock.”

“Sorry! Really, I am. It’s just that...well.....I.....you.....um.....oh boy.”

“It’s okay. I’m just going to wash up. Then, why don’t we go for a walk.” He got up and started heading for the men’s room. He called back to Rich over his shoulder as he went, “Don’t bother to get a doggie bag for my food.”

Okay, I don’t know if they actually do have a Max’s Opera Cafe, but that’s where I’d go in this situation. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve started a second fic, so please, check in out and send me feed back please. Thank you.