Ryotaro: Why are you writing this pairing?! Tsukimori's a jerk.

Yoruko: I wouldn't say that- though, either way you're not one to talk- it's not like you're a perfect angel yourself.

Ryotaro: At least I'm better than him.

Yoruko: You just have different personalities. And the similarities that you do have just so happen to be the sort that make your two personalities clash.

Kahoko: *giggles* That's true.

Yoruko: Hihara, please say the disclaimer.

Kazuki: Okay! Yoruko-chan doesn't own La Corda D'Oro.

Chapter 1: The Secret

"May I ask when you started playing the violin?" Len asked.

'Huh?' thought Kahoko.

"It's just that... I heard that you were a beginner, but..." continued Len, "...It's not an easy instrument to master. So... I just wanted to know the truth."

"Um..." 'Should I tell him?' thought Kahoko, 'I'm sick of all of this hiding and sneaking around. I'm going to tell him.' "We should step back into the practice room and sit down." she said.

"...Alright." 'What's going on? Is something wrong?'

They stepped inside the practice room. Once they sat down, there was silence for a minute. Len didn't mind. He knew that Kahoko was trying to compose herself. Though he wondered what she was going to say that required going to such lengths. He got even more curious when he saw he look up at something that didn't seem to actually be there and glare at it, as if in warning.

"So?" he prompted.

"The truth is... No one could possibly have been more surprised than I was when the list of contestants came out and my name was on it. In short, my life has been filled with chaos and surprises ever since the day before the list came out- though I've since gotten used to it...mostly." began Kahoko.

"Why were you so surprised?" asked Len.

"Because I had never even really touched an instrument before the day the list came out. Let me start from the beginning. Two nights before, I fell asleep at my desk studying. Because of this, I forgot to set my alarm. So the next morning- the day before the list came out- I was nearly late. I also hadn't done my English homework because of this. So I ended up taking some things over to the music school. On my way back to gen. ed... I saw it- the 'fairy' that rumor claimed lives at the school. I hadn't believed in the rumors, fairies didn't exist- or so I thought. But then I met one for myself- a tiny thing named Lili that looked like a person and claimed to be something called a fata; in other words, a music fairy. The next day, found out that I was in the contest. I tried to tell Kanazawa-sensei that it was a mistake, I couldn't even play a single note. But he wouldn't listen. He just said that I was supposed to head to the practice rooms after school- I could apparently find it-meaning Lili- there. He told me that I was in the contest because I was the only one who could see him without him fully unleashing the magic that made him invisible, and gave me my violin- which he said was a magical violin that anyone could play. In the end, I ended up agreeing to participate and found that I truly enjoyed music."

"... I find that hard to believe." said Len, "You aren't lying, are you?"

"I still have trouble believing it myself." said Kahoko, "Lili! Help me out here!"

Suddenly, Len could see it. It looked like a person. But it obviously wasn't. It was no bigger than his hand, blonde, and wearing a blue tunic. It was holding some sort of wand.

"Hiya! I'm Lili!" Lili said, "It's very nice to meet you."

Len didn't respond at first, lost in thought. When he finally responded, he said "Len Tsukimori."

"What kind of answer is that?!" Lili huffed, "All you said was your name!"

"I said what was necessary." said Len.

"Hmph." pouted Lili. 'He's no fun.'

"Lili... was it?" Len said, "I can't say much about your personality."

"Wh-what do you mean?!" said Lili.

"Dragging Kahoko into this mess simply because she could see you... ignoring what she wanted and whether she could play an instrument or not... even worse, using her to test your magic violin and not even helping her find a way to learn how to play on her own... is really quite cruel." said Len.

'Len...' thought Kahoko

Lili hung his head. "The man who built this school saved me... I just... wanted to repay him and get people to feel closer to music..."

"Wouldn't it have been easier to find a gen. ed. student who could already play an instrument?" Len asked.

Lili looked sheepish. "I... never thought of that."

"That much is obvious." Len said. Then out of the blue, Lili left. "Geez... I don't know how you put up with him... he seems aggravating."

"He can be," said Kahoko, "but he's still nice, I guess. So... you don't... mind about this? Or hate me for it?"

"No. In fact, I admire you. There are few who would not only willing and brave enough to go through with this, but are willing and able to put up with that Lili character." he said.

"That... means a lot, Len." Kahoko said. They sat in silence for a minute.

"Kahoko?" said Len.

"Yes?" asked Kahoko.

"If you would like... I could help you out. Give you some pointers." Len said.

Kahoko smiled. "I would like that very much. Thank you, Len."

"Are you going to tell the others?" Len asked.

"Yeah... at some point." said Kahoko, "Though when and how to tell them and how they'll react is a slight problem..."

"I see what you mean." said Len, "Either way, we should each head to class now. I'll see you later."

"You're right. See you, Len."

Then they left the room and parted ways. Little did they know, that this one change in events would change the flow of the story... and add in a factor that under other circumstances would most likely have never entered the scene.

End of Chapter

Pairings: Kahoko/Len, Kagome/Azuma, Shoko/Keichi, Ryotaro/Nami, Kazuki/Miyabi

Warnings: slight language, occasional violence, potential mentions of yaoi

Yoruko: So there's the first chapter.

Ryotaro: Why are you pairing me up with Amou?

Yoruko: *shrugs* I just felt like it.

Lili: Why are you making me sound like a nuisance or a jerk?!

Yoruko: If it seems like that, it's because that's how some people would see you.

Lili: *leaves in a huff, pouting*

Azuma: Oh, dear. You seem to have upset him.

Yoruko: Like you care. You probably found his reaction amusing.

Azuma: So what if I do?

Yoruko: Don't take offense. I don't care. In fact, characters like you tend to be some of my favorites.

Azuma: Characters like me?

Yoruko: Characters who at least seem nice- and usually are to at least some extent- but are actually sadistic to the point that some people think that they're evil or a demon.

Azuma: *raises an eyebrow*

Kahoko: How can you like characters like that?!

Yoruko: I'm not exactly an angel myself.

Kahoko: *thinks 'Oh, no. Not another one.'*