Sorry, I know I took forever with this, but I've just not been in the mood to write hurt/comfort. I mean, angst in Christmas season? Anyway, I finally dragged my lazy arse to my computer and wrote something... I'm just not sure it's any good.
Chapter 2
The priest was going on and on about something. Kazuki was barely listening. He was sitting right in front, sandwiched in between Ryoutaro and Azuma, wearing his brightest smile, his shoulders stiff.
"...if anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot be legally joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace..."
I do! His fists clenched tight. Isn't there anyone else here who objects to this? Anyone... just stand up and interrupt! What made it hurt more was the knowledge that – I-I... can't.
He closed his eyes. He heard Kahoko's voice in his head again. "I'm so happy, Kazuki!"
The priest moved on. No! Just wait for a moment... maybe someone... His last, futile hope broke.
"Len Tsukimori, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?" "I do."
"Kahoko Hino, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?" "I do."
"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
He watched as Len lifted up her veil and Kahoko threw her arms around his neck. He watched as their mouths came closer and closer... and they kissed.
Of all the things to fight about, they fought on who was to sleep on the sofa.
"Senpai should be the one to sleep on the bed!"
"No, I'm your senpai and you my kouhai, so you sleep on the bed!"
They were both pulling on the ends of the same pillow. It didn't last long. The pillow burst, and the room was suddenly filled with feathers swirling in the air. They both fell back in opposite directions.
Kazuki expected to feel the hard ground behind him and he had just braced himself for the impact when he heard a voice, "Kazuki-senpai!" and felt a hand grasping his. He let it pull him back, and momentum carried its course. He fell face forward and just managed to support himself on his hands, when he saw shocked golden eyes staring back at him. His eyes took in the slight red tinge on her cheeks. And slowly, they moved down to her red, inviting lips, half-open in shock. They were just so close...
His head lowered slightly, to close that centimetre-long gap. And then he felt a rough hand on his shoulder, pulling him back up. He turned to see Ryoutaro. "Just how long were you planning to stay in that position anyway?" It was only then that the position they had been in sunk in. His face went red immediately, and he turned back to apologize to her. A hand had slowly crept up to cover her mouth. "Sorry, Hino-chan!" he burst out.
"It's nothing." She was already getting up, her face shadowed by her scarlet locks. "I was the one who pulled you." "Um... I didn't mean to..." He was interrupted by her soft voice. "It's getting late, so..." She started walking towards the door. And all he could do was stare, as she walked away from him.
He didn't know then, but it was forever.
All the people around him started cheering. Ryoutaro gave a loud wolf-whistle. Azuma was clapping politely. Only Kazuki sat stock-still, face stricken, his heart still refusing to believe what his brain told him. It's over.
Azuma bent towards him, and said softly, "You're supposed to clap at this part." Kazuki slowly turned towards him, but Azuma had already turned away. His hands lifted to give a few weak claps.
The entire church was on its feet now. The happy couple came down the aisle, and Kahoko threw her bouquet into the crowd. Maybe... if Ryoutaro hadn't pulled me back... if I'd actually kissed her then...
0o0o0
It was their reception. He was sitting in the dining hall, at the table where the couple's closest friends were seated, in a place of honour on the bride's left hand. He laughed, joked, seemed in prime form... and nobody saw through his mask.
Ryoutaro stood up. Time for the speech by the best man. He talked for a minute or two, and then ended with, "...I don't want to bore you any longer. But before ending, I'd just like to say that we, all of us, would probably never have met normally. It was the concours which brought us together, and to pay tribute to it, we'd all like to play something." It was his cue. He, Shimizu, Azuma and Shoko left the table to fetch their respective instruments, while Ryoutaro settled at the piano at one end of the room.
He cracked his fingers in his customary manner and began to play Chopin's 'The Revolutionary Etude'. It was what he had played for the third selection, the theme being 'Irreplaceable Parts'. Even though Kazuki had heard his music several times, he still couldn't help marvelling at the beauty of Ryoutaro's music.
He kept listening as Shimizu, and then Shoko, played. Each had chosen music which best expressed their feelings towards the two. Then came Azuma. The notes for 'Morning Mood' seemed to fill the room with the freshness and hope of a new morning.
The music of the flute died away, and Azuma walked away from the centre of the room. Finally, it was his turn. He grasped his trumpet a little more tightly than was necessary, and walked up to the recently-vacated spot. He put the opening to his mouth and began to play.
Do you remember this, Kahoko? We played this together in the park, when we went to the training camp after the third selection.
Kahoko, this is for you. Your music has always inspired me... just as Paganini inspired Liszt.
He started playing Gavotte.
He closed his eyes, putting his entire soul into the music, remembering every single moment he had spent with Kahoko. Every word they'd exchanged over the years, starting from the very beginning.
As the last note rang through the air, he opened his eyes, and looked straight at her. I love you. And I know you'll never be mine, but I remember every instant I spent with you... and somehow, I think that will be enough.
He didn't notice all the other guests stand up and clap. He didn't hear the shouts for an encore. His eyes were trained on only one person. She met his green gaze with her golden eyes. And slowly, her lips split into a smile.
He bowed and moved away from the centre. Keeping his beloved trumpet with the other instruments, he caught up with her. The music was starting up from the back again. He took hold of her hand. "May I have the honour of a dance?" She looked back up at him. "Do you really need to ask?"
He led her to the centre of the floor again, which was now filled with dancing couples. They cut a path across the room wherever they went, the rest of the people giving way before them.
Away from them, Len looked on. He knew, when he asked her to marry him, that her heart would always remain divided among all of them. She loved them all, deeply and in equal measure.
0o0o0
A year and a half later...
C'mon, it isn't that hard. Kazuki was staring at the phone in his hand. Speed dial 1, wait for her to pick up, and talk. Hi Kaho-chan, I'm back in Japan. I know I said I'd keep in touch with you... look, I'm doing so much better already. Last time I said that, we talked after five years... this time it's one and a half. He shook his head. Pathetic.
He took a breath and jabbed at the 1 on the keypad of his phone. Three rings. Four. Five. Ten. Finally someone picked up. "Hello?" He furrowed his eyebrows. That wasn't Kahoko.
"Hello, this is Kazuki Hihara... can I talk to Kahoko Hi-" He caught himself. "Uh, can I talk to Kahoko, please?"
"Oh, you've come back to Japan. That's good. This is Kahoko's mother speaking. Actually, Kahoko's in hospital right now, but she'll be discharged tomorrow."
Kazuki felt like the entire world just broke down on him. "Kaho – w-what?" He stammered. "Where is she? Which hospital is she in?"
"The City Hospital. Don't wo-"
Kazuki cut her off. "Thanks a lot!" He grabbed his car keys and ran down the stairs of his house. He slammed the door shut without even bothering to lock it, and rushed to his car. He started the engine, backed it out and drove towards the hospital, taking sharp turns, breaking all speed limits and nearly getting into an accident. Several times.
He drove into the parking lot, jumped out of the car and ran towards the reception as if a hundred rabid dogs were chasing him.
"Excuse me! Which room is Kahoko Hi-Tsukimori in?" He almost shouted at the receptionist. "Tsukimori... wait a minute. Do you know which ward she's in?" Which ward? He didn't even know what had happened to her.
"No..." The receptionist pursed her lips. She typed something into the computer before her and peered at the screen. "Hmm... Kahoko Tsukimori... OK, Room 2403M." She looked at him.
"Are you the father?" "Wha-" Kazuki was barely listening to her. "Room 2403M?"
"Yes. Um..." Before she could say anything else, Kazuki was almost gone. She saw him asking a nurse ahead. He's asked the right person at any rate. She's a nurse in Maternity.
Kazuki was practically dragging the nurse along with him. "Slow down, son! She isn't running away anywhere." Kazuki stopped for the first time and looked at the nurse. Probably in her late fifties, she was short and motherly. "What's wrong with her?" The nurse gave a small laugh.
"What's wrong with her? Nothing's wrong at all. She's fine."
"So why's she in hospital if she's fine?"
The nurse put a hand on his shoulder. "Have you seen the ward you're in?" Kazuki slowly looked around. He saw women... everywhere. And then his eyes fell upon a board reading 'Maternity'.
"Kaho-chan was..." He was speechless. "Yes." The nurse steered him towards a room. "And she's in there." She opened the door, and he walked in.
There were three beds in the room. Kahoko had the one beside the window on the far side of the room. Her vivid hair was distinguishable from a long distance. Beside her, Len, recognizable through his bright blue hair, sat at her side. He walked towards them. Len was saying something.
"- I am not going to name him Ryoutaro, Kahoko. Can you imagine a Ryoutaro Tsukimori?"
"Well then, I'm going to name him Kazuki!"
Kazuki gave a small sneeze. He tried to muffle the sound but Kahoko and Len were already looking back. He gave a sheepish smile. "I guess the old superstition is true then. People sneeze when you remember them." He walked towards the bed.
"Kazuki!" Kahoko gave a delighted laugh. "You came! Where have you been all these days?"
Len got up. "Hello Hihara."
"Congratulations, both of you." Kazuki smiled towards them. He bent over and gathered Kahoko into his arms. She flung her arms around his neck, and they shared a long hug.
He finally released her and stood back. "I almost wrecked my car coming here; you had me in such a worry! The first thing I heard from your mother is that Kahoko's in the hospital and I didn't even know what for!"
Kahoko gave a small frown. "Didn't she tell you what happened?"
He gave an embarrassed smile. "I – uh, might have cut her off while she was saying that, actually..." They both laughed.
"So, where's the future Kazuki Tsukimori?" he asked. "Here."Kahoko sat up. He walked around to the other side of the bed, and gently held the tiny bundle that Kahoko put into his hands.
The little hair that Kazuki could see was definitely Len's. That horrible shade of blue. Just then, the baby opened his eyes, and Kazuki saw himself staring into Kahoko's golden eyes.
"Hi there Kazuki..." he whispered.
0o0o0
Woah... it's over. Finally. Yay me!
I'd like to thank kazuki-senpai, Jiyu22 and tentsubasa for reviewing Chapter 1.
Thanks to Jiyu22 and tentsubasa for pointing out that Kazuki would call her Kaho-chan. Sorry, I'm too lazy to go back and edit Chapter 1, but hopefully this chapter is alright.
Finally, do you guys want me to write an epilogue where Kazuki finally moves on and finds a girl for himself? If yes, I'm going to need some suggestions for names... I hate naming people. I think "This name's good, but then so is that and that..." So you see, I'm pretty much hopeless.
I've got some ideas for this, but I won't write the chapter unless people want me to. So tell me!
Love it or hate it? Let me know. Just press the Review button down there, and make my day!