hellooo there :) my first La Corda D'oro story. hm, would love some reviews :) because don't really know if this story is good or not...
Late evening had arrived and Hino had a few hours or so to spend before she had to head home for the day. She made her way to the nearby park where she liked to perform to the beaming faces of the young children and their parents. Upon arrival, Hino knelt down to unpack her violin and bow and stood facing the wind as she readied herself for her most favourite song since she first picked up her violin. The very first song she heard on the violin, played by none other than Tsukimori Len.
Ave Maria.
Immediately she had fallen in love with the piece, and it was never forgotten in the many pieces of work she had to learn over the months. She had played many variations of it; in terms of her mood and the emotions she had been feeling at the time. They were the same notes, written on the same paper, yet each time she played held a different feel. The first time, which was right after she had heard Tsukimori play it, was gracious, as the magic from the violin translated the love in her heart to the brilliant sounds of the violin. When not realizing the connection between the violin and her heart, Hino had trouble reproducing the surprising beauty of the melody that she had done the first time she believed in the magic violin. But later, this had been repeated once more with the stunning duet with the person who accidently introduced her to the piece in the first place.
She positioned herself, ready to play the flowing notes of the piece. Closing her eyes, she let the violin and her mind take over as she effortlessly played Ave Maria. It was improving heaps; thanks to all the hard work she had put herself through, although it had definitely paid off. The notes sung out of the violin as a small crowd gathered around her to listen to her play. A figure hung around at the back, his face hidden by his broad hat and overly large coat. He blended into the crowd, making sure the violinist would not notice him. A smirk formed at the corner of his mouth as the fading light reflected off his glasses mysteriously.
Making his way back home from practice at school, Tsukimori was lost in thought as he rambled down the streets until he heard the faint, but distinctive sound of a violin. Stopping, he listened for a while. There isn't enough power in the bow he criticized in his mind. The blue haired prodigy paused as he listened intently, his feet bringing him closer to the sound of music.
This song… could it be? Ave Maria? That must mean…
It was! Hino Kahoko was playing her violin, although with not the highest level of technique, but with the grace and elegance of a star. He stopped in awe at the sight of her, her body slightly rocking in rhythm with the classical piece. He stayed with the rest of the crowd, planning on talking to her after she was done practicing. Glancing around, Tsukimori smiled at the people already entranced by her music.
She can even affect the people she doesn't know, he mused to himself.
A slow sorrowful note ended the performance as a small round of applause woke Hino from her trance. Smiling so very gracefully, she thanked everyone before turning around to pack up for the day. Her thoughts were interrupted by a man in an overcoat and hat clearing his throat as he stared intently at her.
'H-Hello' She gave him a slightly confused smile.
'Your playing is truly magnificent. But I hope you know that it is not of the highest standard.' The man began.
'Ah? Mm. I know,' Hino smiled at the man, 'I try to practice as much as I can every day'
'Where do you learn the violin? Oh wait, that uniform? Am I not mistaken if I say that you are from Seiso Academy?' He looked emotionlessly at her.
'Ah, um yeah! I'm a second year student from Seiso Academy.' Hino replied, bowing low, 'Nice to meet you.'
The two began to converse about the violin, as the man seemed to know a lot about her school and the concours as well. All the while, Hino and the man were unaware of a cold stare being thrown their way by Tsukimori who had hid himself behind a wall as he eavesdropped on their conversation.
It became casual talk until the man bowed his head and stepped back, giving them considerable distance between the two. He pulled out an object from his pocket and began to fiddle with it casually in his hands.
There was silence, confusing Hino.
'Uh, is something wrong?' She asked.
The man refused to talk until he spoke in a husky whisper that was unlike his normal voice.
'Ah, such a lovely lady here before me. It's such a shame that I will eventually have to…' Pausing, the man lifted his head to reveal a sly smile on his face, '…kill you'
Hino's eyes immediately widened as the man leisurely approached her, revealing the item that he had been fiddling with was actually a knife. He held it up to the light, admiring the smooth sharpness of the metal.
'Let's see how I could kill such a passionate violinist like you. Stab in the heart? Slash to the stomach? Various stabs everywhere?' He chuckled to himself as he tossed up options in his head.
Hino couldn't believe what she was hearing. What was he talking about? Killing her?
'W-why?' She spoke in a shaky whisper.
He stopped his menacing advances.
'Why?' He asked amused, 'Why, you ask?'
And just like that, he burst into a series of maniac laughs. His calm physique melted away to show a true psychotic madman.
'BECAUSE I WANT TO!' he spat eagerly, his eyes seemed to be bulging out of his head as he began to swing the knife round and round, dancing in his crazed mind.
Hino was trapped. Her feet only allowed her to back into the fence, but not to run away as her mind yelled at her to.
The man suddenly stopped his dizzying act as he looked at her with bloodshot unblinking eyes. He walked back before abruptly charging at Hino with blade poised, ready for action.
'HINO!'
Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of Tsukimori before feeling two strong arms wrap around her body. A little gasp escaped as she realized it was Tsukimori who had one arm around her waist and his other, protectively holding her head to his neck. She could feel his heavy breaths on her neck as he pulled her closer to his chest. In no more than a few seconds, even before Hino could comprehend how Tsukimori was there and protecting her, she felt his body shudder under her as he threw his head back, screaming out in pain.
'TSUKIMORI-KUN!' Hino cried in horror as she felt his body go slightly limp in her arms. She didn't have the slightest idea of what had happened in the past minute so she reluctantly wrenched herself from him to gently bring him to the ground only to shriek when she saw what had brought her friend to the ground.
The knife had been fully imbedded in his back, a result of when Tsukimori had protected Hino from it stabbing her. The man, now weaponless, began to kneel down to retrieve his knife to plunge it into the right person's body, slightly annoyed at the sudden intrusion.
'NO!' Two hands roughly shoved at the man to the ground as he looked up to see a furious yet teary Hino towering over him.
'WHAT ARE YOU DOING!' The screams were hurled one after the other, not letting him speak once.
'GET UP! GET UP RIGHT NOW!' Grunting the man picked himself up from the ground but only to be stopped from moving further by two strong yet trembling hands on his shoulders.
At first thinking she would engage him in some intimate conduct; he smiled seductively at her before realizing he was completely wrong. A knee connected with his ever most precious region sending him back to the ground, rolling about with sudden pain. Apparently, that didn't stop a fuming Hino who had lost all sense of civilized behaviour from falling to the ground on top of him, pulling his legs apart once more and continuously kneeing him until he was crying like a baby. Two times. Three times. Four times. The pain was unbearable as he struggled from her surprising grip and get up and stagger away from the hysterical girl.
Hino stood up and glared at the direction in which the man disappeared to, her breaths coming out in shaky gasps. Hino suddenly realized what her real priority was as she spun around and ran towards a badly bleeding Tsukimori.
'TSUKIMORI-KUN! Hang in there please! The ambulance is on their way, Tsukimori-kun!' Hino frantically looked for any signs that he might still be conscious when his eyes slightly parted to look at her watery ones.
'H-Hino?' he whispered.
'Tsukimori..kun' She breathed out a relieved sigh, 'Thank goodness you're still alive, but hang in there okay?'
Tsukimori managed a weak nod before his eyes widened as he felt Hino lean her body towards him to envelope his head in a comforting hug. Using the last bit of strength left to stay conscious and not fall into the world of blackness that he knew would soon overcome him, Tsukimori breathed in Hino's scent but winced at the pain accompanying the hypnotic smell of her.
'Hino…' Closing his eyes once more, he finally let darkness consume him believing now, that even though he had a knife protruding from his back, he was happy to slip away in Hino's arms.
..so? did you like it? please please review cos i dont' really know how i went with this. ...there'll be a next chapter...for those who were interested :D