The dim rays of light from the dying sun reflected off the ebony piano cover, making it gleam softly with an ethereal glow. Silently, you trailed your fingers slowly over the black and white keys, a feather-like touch as gentle as a lover's caress. Your hands twitched over each key, seeking the strength to press them down and hear the sweet notes rising into the air, fragile as soap bubbles. You longed to hear the familiar melody once more, but you knew the pianist would no longer be able to play that tune.
"Gokudera-san?"
You popped your head around the door, grinning cheerfully at the dismal bomber as he froze, turning around so that he was no longer facing the piano. With his trademark scowl, Gokudera growled. "What do you want, woman? Sneaking up on me like that, don't you have anything better to do?"
Ignoring his discouraging tone, you sat next to him, planting your face in your hands. "Play me a song!" You said, beaming up at him brightly. "A happy one!"
The silver-haired Italian sighed in irritation. He had been playing the piano again, the only song he could remember his mother playing. Even though he never said anything, you knew that even now, the mere thought of her gave him indescribable grief and his sadness was plainly expressed in the melody he had been playing before you walk in.
"Tch, if it'll shut you up." Grumbling, Gokudera faced the piano once more and cracked his knuckles with an audible pop, drawing in a deep breath as his hands hovered over the keys.
And then he started to play.
You were instantly transfixed. His fingers were flying over the gleaming keys, a fluid, languid motion that resembled a bird in flight, his eyes slowly beginning to drift shut as the air filled with swirling notes, forming a beautiful rhapsody. He had the smooth, elegant poise of a dancer, and you could no longer separate the music from the musician.
All too soon, the song ended. The music lingered in the room, the last note floating away into vague echoes. The pianist was as still as his instrument, over which his head was bowed. The melody was still playing in both of your hearts, a bittersweet taste in your mouths.
"What's the name of the song?" You whispered, your voice quivering with emotion. You didn't dare to move. You felt that if you lifted even a single finger, the world would shatter into smithereens and this magical moment would be lost forever.
After what seemed like an eternity, Gokudera finally lifted his head and stared you right in the eye. You stared back. You could have sworn, at that very moment, that there was a solitary tear making its way down the man's face, but you didn't blink or look away.
"This song is called Threnody."
Your fingers finally pressed down on a key, a single, perfect note, as clear and sharp as breaking glass, but still no match for the song your lover had once played for you.
That one note broke through your stony armour. After so many days, you laid your head on the piano and let the tears flow at last.
You cried, tears of reminiscence as you thought off what you once had. You cried, tears of loneliness as you thought of the bleak days to come. You cried, tears of pain as you thought of the precious person lost to you forever.
You cried, tears of anguish and heartbreak as you thought of the death of Gokudera Hayato, the man who made you smile, the man who gave you happiness, the man whose grief you failed to take away.
The man you loved, and will always love.