Disclaimer: I own neither Kisa nor Hiro Sohma from Fruits Basket. I'd LOVE to be the genius mangaka who thought them up though.
Touched
Hiro looked around the bar dismally, watching the waiters serve their surly customers with gritted teeth, the bartender wipe his glasses with close attention, and an old man play Fur Elise at the piano. "I can play better than that," Hiro smirked inwardly, finishing his glass of wine and waiting impatiently for his turn at the instrument. Having inherited his parents' love for music, Hiro devoted fourteen years of his life to mastering the piano, and writing compositions that made their way to many singers' albums. But Hiro never cared much for fame; he played music because he wanted to, and he was absolutely passionate about it.
When the man left the piano, Hiro stood from his table and sat in front of those black and white keys that were as familiar to him as his own hands. He flexed his fingers, and thought for a moment about what to play. Finally, he settled on a song that had always been dear to him, and to his mother, when she was still alive: Johann Pachelbel's famous Canon. Even as Hiro recalled this, his fingers began playing on their own the notes that wove themselves into that unforgettable melody. Each key that the musician pressed brought him back to the days when his family was still whole...times of great happiness that he would never forget. His emotions swelled to the point that they could no longer be contained, and easily found their way out through his fingertips. The people at the bar were breathless, more because of the pianist's passion than his skillful playing. When Hiro struck the final notes, his listeners were left hypnotized and sighing, hungry for more of the song.
But Hiro no longer wanted to play. He didn't intend to reminisce, and be reminded of everything that will never be again. As he felt his chest tighten, Hiro rose unsteadily from his seat and set out to leave. He was, however, prevented by a person who quickly stepped in his way. Hiro looked up irritatingly to find a beautiful young woman with red hair and the same fiery red eyes standing before him. She was staring timidly at her feet, and her cheeks were tinted a light pink. Taken aback, Hiro peered at her curiously and wondered what she was going to do next.
"Umm..." she began, nervously playing with her scarf and occasionally meeting Hiro's eyes, only to look somewhere else again. "I was just, uhh... Oh wait, I-I'm sorry!" She then thrust a stiff hand in front of Hiro, who was startled once more. "My name is Kisa Tashiro (Author's Note: I had to change her surname for the story). W-what's your name?"
Hiro raised his eye brows and suppressed an urge to laugh. He shook her hand, which was very soft and light. "I'm Hiro Sohma. Can I help you with anything, Tashiro-san?"
"Well, yes, actually," Kisa answered. "You see, Sohma-san, I was, umm...watching you play, and I think you're a brilliant pianist." She smiled for the first time, in that innocent way of hers that Hiro instantly found so charming.
"Oh," Hiro said, smiling rather shyly himself. He's received countless such compliments before, but Kisa's was somehow different. It made him feel truly praised. "Thank you," he added, and prompted her to continue, for she had something else to say.
Swallowing audibly, Kisa said, "I-I was wondering...can you teach me? I mean, uhh, how to play the piano? Because, if you can Sohma-san, it would really mean a lot to me." She looked at him with an apprehensive but hopeful expression.
Hiro had expected a number of things from this young woman, but he never saw her request coming. He was utterly surprised. But quickly, he gathered his thoughts and sadly shook his handsome brown head. "Tashiro-san, I deeply appreciate that you hold my performance a great one, but--" he heaved a sigh "--I am not a teacher. It's not something that I've ever done before, or am likely to do. If you really want to learn how to play the piano, I suggest you go to a music school, and I'm certain that they can help you more than I can."
"I-I see..." she whispered. Kisa looked perfectly crestfallen, and Hiro winced to see her that way. But while he was thinking of some way he can make amends, she brightened. She took a pad of paper and a pen from her backpack, and hastily scribbled her name and phone number. "Here," Kisa said, handing the paper to Hiro. "Sohma-san, I've been to every single music school in Tokyo, but none of them has been able to teach me what I've always needed to learn. So if you ever change your mind, Sohma-san, please, please contact me!" And with that, she inhaled with a determined look and bowed before leaving the bar.
"What fierce determination," Hiro muttered, carelessly shoving the piece of paper in his pocket. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was just 9:30; the night was still young. He hasn't even started drinking yet. Hiro then left the empty place in search of another bar, preferably a livelier one, with more people. He only had to walk about fifteen minutes when he found a bright music bar filled with the buzz of customers. Just the place, he thought. At least I won't be able to think with all the noise.
A slender, pretty waitress instantly welcomed him when he entered. She led him to an empty table and asked if he wanted anything to drink. He ordered a can of beer, then directed his attention to the stage, where a man was playing his saxophone. Hiro tried drawing every fiber of his attention towards the performance, but failed--still his cherished memories haunted his thoughts, but that horrible incident made a much stronger impression. It's been a year now, and still... Hiro shook his head, as though doing it can cause his thoughts to fall out of his mind.
Finished with his song, the saxophonist bowed and beamed at his audience, from whom came a generous applause. Then, the man grabbed a microphone and said, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, our lovely pianist, Kisa Tashiro."
Hiro was surprised, yet again, by this beautiful woman whom he met by accident. So she can play the piano after all. Hiro smiled despite of himself, leaning forward eagerly to watch her performance.
Kisa, now in a lovely dress that showed her shapely figure but preserved her conservative taste, quietly entered the stage. She smiled shyly at her audience and sat in front of the piano. Hiro noticed that her fingers were trembling as she took the mic to her lips. "Hello, everyone," she said in her soft voice. "I'll be playing one of my favorites today, and I hope you'll like it. It's called Canon."
Again, Hiro had to raise his eye brows at her. Everything faded away but Kisa and the piano as she proceeded to play a different rendition of the song. At first everyone was absorbed by her performance, but their attention soon drifted away. And Hiro knew why: the song somehow sounded... empty, when she played it. The music became a very technical thing. When Kisa finished, he clapped loudly to make her feel she had not been disliked. The way Kisa looked showed she knew she didn't perform well, though. Nevertheless, she bowed and smiled to her audience.
Hiro brought a hand to his chin and thought that this might be what she said she needed to learn: real fire and passion to lend to her music. And this is why she needed a teacher like him. What, he thought, are you actually going to say yes, Hiro? And is passion even something that you can teach? Still, she does need help. Inspiration. But she can get that elsewhere, can't she? And why are you thinking so much of her anyway?
"So-Sohma-san!"
Instantly disrupted in his thinking, Hiro looked up to see Kisa standing in front of him, her eyes wide with surprise and embarrassment. "Oh, hi, Tashiro-san. I, uhh, saw your performance," he said quickly with a friendly smile. She looked like she was about to cry.
"What do you think...?" she asked softly. She was staring at her feet again.
"Well," Hiro began. He struggled, not wanting to be dishonest or rude. In the end, though, he resolved to say the truth. "Well, technically you played the song very well. It was perfect, looking at it that way."
"But...?" Kisa prompted rather sheepishly.
"But the song sounded hollow, if you know what I mean. You see, music isn't just about playing an instrument or singing a song well. It needs to have you in it. The music and the musician need to be as one," he explained gently.
"Sohma-san..." she whispered. Hiro felt that she really was going to cry, but then she smiled. "I don't think you'd be a bad teacher at all. You already sound like one."
Hiro was about to say something against this, but found that she was perfectly right. He began to feel differently about teaching music as well. Suddenly he had an urge to just...go for it. Hiro knew that this could also act as a diversion from his shattered memories. And besides, isn't talent something that should be shared unselfishly to others?
"I-I'll think about it."
At that Kisa flashed him an expectant smile, and then gave a small, musical laugh. When she turned around, and Hiro saw that smile a second time in his mind, he called out to her. "Tashiro-san."
"Yes, Sohma-san?" she asked, puzzled.
He then offered her a hand, and said, in a resolute voice, "I'll do it."
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OK. Hmm. So, first chapter. I'm not sure how that went XD. That's why I'd love to hear from you guys. I'd really appreciate your reviews . Cya all!