I hope you guys enjoy this! Please review... Flames are welcome!

Disclaimer: I'm so upset today... Last night I owned La Corda, but then my brother whacked me with his pillow and I woke up and realized that I don't own La Corda... (cries)

In advance, I apologize if any of the characters are OOC...

Chapter One

Hino Kahoko was happy.

She had her violin, her family, her great friends, and a boyfriend no one else could even wish to be close to. Or so he says.

Her heart felt like it would burst from the love she felt for all of them, the first, second and last the most. As she walked, her face glowing, to the house she shared with him, she wondered why he had wanted her home so urgently. Maybe he has a surprise for her.

Kahoko giggled to herself as she stepped up to her apartment door. Before she could get her keys out, her longtime boyfriend, Tsuchiura Ryotaro, opened the door, smiling. He was wearing an ivory long-sleeved button-up shirt with a collar. A red tie hung around his neck, proof that he had been struggling to tie it on like he always had been before she arrived.

Then his brow furrowed. "What're you laughing at?" he asked, his deep voice husky and perfect.

Kahoko reached up and ruffled his hair; it was hard, because he was so tall.

"Oh, nothing," she said cheerfully. "Just you."

Ryotaro frowned anxiously. "Is there something wrong with my attire?" he asked.

"What? No! You look fine, Ryo. I was thinking why you would want me back so early, so I thought that you might want to surprise me… and so you did!" she added, fixing his tie properly. "What grown man needs help with his tie?"

Ryotaro relaxed, and laughed. "A grown man who wants his girlfriend to pay more attention to him than her work," he teased, but there was an edge in his voice.

Kahoko frowned. She knew that Ryo disliked her playing with Tsukimori, but this was ridiculous. Tsukimori-kun was her employer, while Ryo was her boyfriend.

"Relax," Ryo told her, softening his features and making her insides melt. "It's okay."

"It'd better be," Kahoko mumbled. "Or I'll be after you."

"That's good. I like girls running after me. Makes me feel more handsome," Ryo said, trying to lighten the atmosphere as he swept her into the apartment.

Kahoko rolled her eyes, and then, as she got a better look around, she gasped in complete shock.

"You've been busy," she accused the green-haired man, her onyx eyes narrowing slightly.

Ryo laughed freely. "Guilty."

The apartment was decorated nicely, and all the lights were off, leaving only scented candles – lavender, her favorite – to light up the place. The room had a mysterious feeling, and it was so romantic.

Kahoko looked appreciatively at her boyfriend. "I never thought you as a romantic person, but today you proved me wrong!"

Ryo growled as Kahoko laughed happily.

"Go sit down," he said abruptly. "I'll get the food."

As he strode off into the kitchen, Kahoko took her place in a ribbon-decorated chair, her gaze wandering around the beautifully decorated living room. There were more flowers than Kahoko left out this morning. Either they decided to start breeding while she was gone or Ryo really wanted this night to be romantic. Her lips twitched upward momentarily.

Before running a hand through her now long, straightened vermilion hair, Kahoko pulled out the pins from her hair and brushed her fluffy fringe from her face.

Ryo came out the kitchen just them, holding up two plates of food waiter style. He set one at her place – steak and potatoes with vegetables on the side, no less – before setting his down and sitting opposite her. Kahoko smiled at her, picking up her fork and knife.

As they ate, they talked about each other's day, and then, when they were done, Ryo picked up their plates and went into the kitchen with them, ignoring Kahoko's protests. She frowned. He soon came back with two translucent wine glasses and a bottle of red wine. He poured out the first one and sat it in front of Kahoko, and poured out some for himself.

Kahoko took a sip of the wine.

Ryo watched her anxiously.

I wonder… he seems so jumpy today, Kahoko mused to herself, taking another sip of the wine.

"How's Tsukimori-kun?" Ryo asked, watching her expression when he said his name. She had no idea why he acted as such. She loved him.

"Oh, he's fine. A little mad because I made two mistakes during the practice, as usual," Kahoko said lightly. "I really think he should loosen up slightly." She took another sip of the wine.

"I agree," Ryotaro said, taking one of her hands and playing with it.

Kahoko tipped her head back to finish the last of the wine when something hard and cold touched her lip.

"Oh!" she cried, turning the glass upside down to examine the beautiful, diamond ring. The band didn't touch; instead, they curled away from each other at the ends and gripped the two, sparkling diamonds.

She dropped the ring on the table, shocked.

Ryo picked it up and went to her, kneeling.

She stared at him like an idiot.

"Hino Kahoko," he began, his voice slow but excited. "Kaho, I love you. Will you marry me?"

She continued to stare at him.

Just say yes, you idiot. He'll be yours, forever.

"Kaho?"

"Yes!" she blurted. Smiling, Ryo first slid the ring onto her fourth finger, and then wiped off the tears she didn't know were rolling down her cheeks.

"You don't have to cry," he murmured.

"I know, but oh! I'm so happy!" She threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. His large hands rubbed her back soothingly, lovingly as she pressed her self against his body.

He is forever mine.