A/N:This is a two-part one shot. As such there will be no heavily thought plot in this. Just hoping to touch your hearts a bit. My first La Corda entry and my first fic after years of being inactive. Hope you'll like it all.

Mandatory Disclaimer: this is a FAN fic. I only own this plot.

When he left, he left real good. She was then aware that music was the only thing still keeping them connected. And now it frightens her to think how it too is going to be taken away and eventually would cause them to drift apart.

..

Tokyo

Ryoutaro Tsuchiaura reached for the cup and took a sip at his freshly served hot coffee. It was still too hot to make out the taste so he gently placed it back to its saucer. For this Sunday morning of the Christmas holiday, his to-do list simply states: have a good breakfast. He had been working hard through his final years in the university as his commitments chase him up. So he promised to do self-reward like this one, every now and then. Well, she actually made him promised after taking note how things were wearing him down, physically. That coming from her.

It was freezing cold outside but the city streets were crowded and noisy today, he observed behind the generous glass window of the coffee house. People were making the most out of their days-off. He too was very free today. As soon as the winter break started, he had locked himself up to finish all the requirements in school. And in time, he was officially schoolwork free, well, except for the regular practice he needs. He did so to attend to his long time friend Hino Kahoko who has left for Vienna recently, as planned.

No, she won't be staying there for a long time. She is there just to see that man once more. How long has it been since she wanted that? Ah. . .since he left, which has been four years. She made a promise to him, and to herself, that one day she would come and see him play the violin again. It was a promise that he thought time would swallow and circumstances would overpower. But clearly, his hope had failed him.

Oh, the great Len Tsukimori. That lucky bastard. . . to be loved so much by Kahoko. He left just when she has grown more attached to him. He was not around when she needed his help the most. Hell, he has not been around the past years to see her worked her ass off just to stay in the music school but leave in the end. But still, she would always have him in her mind. While he, Ryoutaro could only try to replace him in her mind, in her heart.

"Tsuchiura!" a cheery voice raved in front of him. Instantly, he was stopped at his intensifying run of thoughts. There was a little spill of coffee on his table.

"Hih–hihara -senpai." He said in a shaken voice. He was startled to see his senpai already seated across the table and a bit surprised too to see his pancakes already on his grab.

He gave that signature giggle. "Well, you were so spaced out when I walked in."

That's true.

"So, you thinking of her?"

". . .Yeah." A hint of shyness lingered.

"Ryoutaro. . . You think she'll be fine alone?"

"If she's with Len then she'll be fine." He was a bit bitter in that reply.

"Hope they're ok."

He eyed his senpai whose mouth was currently being stuffed with pancakes.

..

A person who pursues music will always be lonely,

because the music requires everything of him.

..

Vienna, Austria

He finished the piece with a spiccato. For a moment, he held his stature and listened as the notes reverberate in the theater. Perfect. He sighed. He casually went down the stage and packed his violin. He picked up his coat laid on a front row seat, put on his scarf then went on to have the rest of the day. The large matted door swung and closed and the auditorium was silent again.

Len Tsukimori finds these days to be the perfect time to have practices, when only a few students would be around in school. The campus was quiet and most of the rooms and the parks he can have it for himself to practice. There were a few professors in the faculty room, some he saw as he passed along the corridor, perhaps busy supervising musical performances for the holiday. He was already at the lobby, about to leave the building when he heard someone called.

"Tsukimori!"

Nobody could call him that way these days. The accent was perfect Japanese. Then he saw this red head lady standing beside the massive column of the façade. She was smiling awkwardly. He stared at her. The lady was in a dark blue caped coat and her face was almost half-buried in her thick gray scarf. She waved her gloved hand at him, almost looking hopeful he'd wave back. Could it be? No, perhaps a lower classmen. One of those who'd follow him around? He brushed the thought off and took off proceeding to walk to the broad staircase.

The girl sighed. She walked with pace to catch him up. But reaching the stairs, she had completely slowed down and after going only a few steps, she screamed,"Cho- chotte matte, Tsukimori-kun!"

At that point, he was already at the bottom of the staircase. Now this got him thinking who she really was. He turned back, adjusted his glasses and narrowed his eyes. The girl was now looking anxious.

"Hi- . . Hino?"

He could see she was panting a bit, "That was mean." A bit pouting too. She carefully went down the stairs while he was just there at the bottom staring at her stunned.

"Is that how you treat your acquaintance now?"

". . . no." He almost whispered.

"Then what was that?" she stopped right before him, a step higher on the stairs. Now he was sure he's not mistaken.

"You're not an acquaintance." He put down his case on the ground and gracefully wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're more than that." She felt a little tense but soon relaxed in his embrace as he felt hands circle on his neck.

/

He had gotten taller. His face has matured. His hair was a bit messed up, but it works with his face. Then everything else seems to be the same for her. Overall, he has gotten really . really. handsome.

"Hino." She was cut off of her trail of thought, and also of her staring.

"Yes?" she responded quickly in reflex. She realized that they have stopped and already at the gate of the school. Had she been starring at him the whole time they walked together? That would explain why his voice came up more like a command.

"Do you have plans for today?"

"Yes!" she delightedly replied. She stepped in front of him, "I was planning to hang-out with you then dinner with you!" she paused, realized how tactless she'd spoke. "Well, that's if you don't have plans for today."

Then he chuckled. Her face just lit up the moment he asked her that question then sulked right after comprehending just how she laid it out. "A date it is!" He teased, or rather, straightened up, still chortling. Her cheeks went pink in instant. She just had subconsciously put herself into an embarrassing position.

"Hey, I came all the way here to see you and you're just gonna laugh about my idea of hanging out?" She explained herself.

"I'm sorry." He tried to hold back. "It's just that I was about to ask you out too." Still calming himself.

She froze for a second. Her blushing just went a shade deeper. She seems not to be used to this apparent Len. She was stirred when he took her hand in his, "So, where should we go first?" He asked while looking around hoping to remember a good place in town. She smiled like almost content.

..

Kahoko first met him in high school, sophomore year. She was a bit terrified, to be honest. The air around him easily reads: apathetic. self-centered. aristocrat. But today, when she saw him walking along the corridor, she could now moderate those words into: indifferent, snobbish and well off. But those impressions don't mean much when she's with him. Now that she's walking along with him catching up for the years missed.

The whole day they spent checking the local tourist spots and city parks. They were expectedly, more people than usual in those places. But really, nothing catches her attention more than his stories. And it seems the same to him as well. She would ask him about his school and what it's like in this place. Then he would ask her about their friends. The conversation was stuck on Ryoutaro at one point though. He was probably perplexed at how they could "cross paths" so often.

When they reached the park, it was late in the afternoon already. They ate some street foods as they continue trading stories on a bench. She'd remember the last time they sat together like this. When he told her he'll be studying in abroad. And even made it clear it's for a long time.

That time, she was confused. She didn't know how to feel about it. She knows she should be happy for him, yet a part of her won't let her. But things were made clearer to her. "Your feeling should not matter, and that you should spare him a thought." Those were the words of a friend. And she believed in those. Up to now, that's what she opted to do: spare him a thought.

He asked her one night, "Would you continue playing the violin?"

"Yes."

"Len." She spoke unintentionally cutting him off in his story.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing." she grinned at him knowing how bizarre she came up.

"So that one day. . . "

Later after dawn, they found a decent restaurant near the park. There were a good number of people there to dine but the ambiance remained relaxing as so far has their day has been. A waiter ushered them to their table. They got the table beside the glass windows. Perfect. They sat down and sighed in chorus as they could finally rest their feet.

"So, what do you think of Vienna?" he asked while looking out at the window.

"Wonderful." Her face lit up in confirmation. She was enjoying the fact that his face was open for more gazes from her.

"It's nice that you have come here for the holiday."

". . . . And it's nice to see you again."

He really missed that smile. She have gotten prettier over time. She gained weight a little but just right to make her look healthy and her hair was now longer and better kept. He used to tie those frizzy locks a few times way back. Now she was modestly wearing a hair pin to keep it from her face.

"Uhumm" a man interrupted.

Heat crawled up his cheeks as he was embarrassed had he been staring at her more than enough. He straightened himself in his seat gaining composure.

"What would you like to order sir, ma'am?" the waiter announced.

Great timing.

/

There were not so many people in the street anymore. Probably they are in their homes opening gifts, sharing stories with their love ones and seating by their fireplaces. Tonight, she is a thousand miles away from her family, she has no gifts to open but surely she was with someone she cared so much. As they walk in the brightly lighted walkways of the city, out in the cold weather of the season, their stories were the source of their warmth and their little laughs the buildings would echo. She was happy. She recognizes the feeling in her heart for it has been so long she felt this lightness.

"Kahoko."

This cut her run of thoughts.

"Come with me to the concert." His hand quickly rummaged all his coat's and trouser's pockets for an item. When he thought he felt it in the insides of his coat, he pulled in out and handed like a formal invitation it was, to Kahoko.

She picked it out of his hand and read the details. She was silent for a few seconds and he watched as her face turned that of an anxious. "Am I supposed to wear something formal?"

He laughed at her trifle predicament. She still is the Hino not accustomed to such events. He recalled how she was in their first performance in the concours. She was definitely under pressure that day. "For you, any dress would do." He smiled at her trying to cheer her up. He pulled one of her hand in his, holding it as they continued to walk. They soon parted ways for the night when they reached Hino's place but not without a kiss and a 'goodnight'.

..