Her moments with Len were running in front of her eyes, like being projected from an old cinema camera,which she could not turn off……..as much as she wanted,she just could not find the switch off button. Kahoko completely exhausted her mind, trying to confine those memories in its furtherest corner. And now they were loosened free ,to take possession of her soul once again….

All was there,to the last detail- his presence,his scent, his voice and his music…Gosh,his music – how she missed all of it.

One by one, all moments were restored in the right order- the first time she saw him,then the first time she heard his performance and also the first time she felt her heart pound faster in his presence. It was then she realized she liked him,despite his cold, uneasy personality. She managed to reach out to him and relate with his soul through the music, get to know him better and finally – to fell in love with him.

But why ?

Only to be rejected in the end, and pushed away in favor of the very music, that ironically brought them together.

No.

She must not blame it on the music.

Kahoko knew very well the real reason – he just could not overcome his overwhelming ambission to reach heights of a great performer. He believed he was born for that purpose and when she appeared in his life- in the end ,she turned out to be a mere distraction in his path to perfection. She knew he loved her and her music in his own way…. Still Len gave up on her in the end.

He was terrified that loving her would cause him lose focus on his way to achieve his purpose.

' I hope you can understand and forgive me one day…….but before that, I might never be able to forgive myself ……The path of perfectioning my music is the only way I have in life. It is my destiny. I know I can not make you happy. You deserve better than me…'

And then his golden-coated blue eyes glistened with tears,that never fell down. Like the most gleaming two little lakes on earth. His lips rested briefly on her forehead and his arms folded around her for the last time in warm embrace. She could clearly hear his heartbeat.

'If that is what you really want.…Then I will be happy too for you. I am perfectly OK...see! I am really fine and I will support your decision'- these were her words back then. She forced a smile on her lips, tried to look cheerful and encourage him.

'This is what I MUST….' he whispered and then turned away and left…..not looking back…not even once.

That was the kind of man he was and that was the way she loved him.

He never tried kissing her lips....not even in those really close moments they shared.

But nevertheless, she was so happy with everything they had done together. He was an excellent dancer – taught her Vienna waltz...The rare time he could be seen laughing was when he was with her. Holding hands when watching the sunset in the park. Playing violin together - well she was completely out of his league,but still they enjoyed every note performed together….Spending hours in talking about important things or casually about silly things…She even showed him how to eat fast food…it was a funny sight when he first tasted a burger. And when the big exhibiton of the great impressionists was in town,they spent all day lost in the world of painters art. After that passionately sharing impressions.

Boy…did she miss that time…………….

How is he now?

Is he doing fine?Of course he misses her too, but he's able to controll his emotions far better than her. In that she sucked.

Len asked her not to keep in touch – the only request he had. May be it was even harder on him, because he was all alone now- only him and his violin .

At least she had Yunoki and all her friends to help her through this lonely time. He only had his dream of the future as great musician.

The only way to be with him in this path was to perform beside him. But that seemed like an impossible thing to do. She could never reach such level to follow him into that world of contests and concerts – only that dream she could not share with him. She always played music because she loved it, and not because she wanted to pursue music perfection.

She sighed.

Here she'd done it again – thinking of him, when already married to the dark prince on her own will.

Kahoko felt she needed her violin….. Only music could put her heart at ease right now….

' You really are improving…This piece sounded much more refined than the last time I listened to it…' familiar friendly voice came to her from the door entrance…….

'Would you grant me the pleasure of me accompaning you on the piano?' his face was bright as the sun, not a trace of insatisfaction or darkness clouding it. He truly seemed free from his anger against the world. Amazing change in such a short period……

'Of course….I would be delighted !' – she smiled at him and blushed in a shyly manner…..

'Nothing more pleasurable than me playing in a duet with my lovely,little wife…Well,...almost nothing…' His eyes sparkled in a quite mischievous way…

The music began flowing, turning into various shapes and colours in her mind…….her eyelids closed,her heart filled with light and delight. She felt connecting with his soul through the world of the wonderful world of sounds. What kind of man was he she could not tell with words, but she could feel in her heart right in this moment.

Yunoki was excellent pianist. Although his major was flute, he had natural talent for piano and matched even to Tsuchiura skills. The first time she witnessed him play, she was amazed, losing her words after his fluent performance…

'Just one more of my little surprises I have for you…' he laughed ,obviously amuzed by her reaction. 'Do you think I deserve a reward?'

'What kind of reward?'

'I'll tell you when the time is right' …………………………..

They spent the rest of the day together – enjoying their music, walking in the park hand in hand, talking about various topics. Yunoki was very educated man, possessing broad knowledge in history, culture and art. Whenever she asked him questions about anything, he would always have an answer or a story on the side. It was actually very interesting and educating to listen to him. She was used to the old ways of him always teasing her and never really talk to her. Now everything was so different…

In the evening they had a nice dinner in Yunoki's favorite resturant. He was polite like a true gentleman and gave her the impression she was a real princess. At the end of the evening they went together to observe the blood shaped sunset on the highest hill in town – the place, where the most beautiful view was at display…Kahoko stayed infront, Yunoki was a little behind her.

She and Len used to come to this place often..But recalling that now, did not seem to bother her much as she expected….Was she more composed and accepting reality…or did she finally started to open up her heart for her husband…

'Thank you Azuma – I really spent a wonderful day…My mind and heart are at ease now…..'

'Anything I can do for you in my power to make you feel better, I will…because seeing you happy is the only thing that fills my heart with joy…..'

She turned and they faced each other, drowning into each others eyes…the air became thinner, time ceased to exist. He pulled her passionately in his arms. Feeling his warm body against hers,his fingers buried in her hair, Hino trembled with excitement and felt dizzy…May be it was the wine?

His breathing turned deep and heavy, his eyes – demanding and piercing through her..…

'I want you….more than any woman in my life…'- his lips were touching her ear as he spoke those words in a deep,somewhat darker voice..

'I am tired of waiting…Tonight I will make you mine Hino Kahoko,…and once and for all you will forget about him….And besides- you still owe me that reward....'

The scattered remnants of her moments with Len began to fade away….She closed her eyes and gave in to this man's strong desire..It seemed her will to resist it, was completelty devoured by his passion..

'Yes…..' she hardly found strength to whisper back….

ENJOY !!!