A/N: Yeah! Chapter three is finally here! I must apologize for the lateness of this update. I had trouble thinking out some scenes, plus I was a bit distracted so, sorry to keep you waiting~! I also must show my gratitude to your wonderful reviews!
Alright, enough chit-chat let us begin!
Italics represent a character's thoughts, btw.
Chapter 3: The Band-aid
That was the second time Kyouya was late for anything in his life so far. And it was only 1pm.
Kyouya and Akari entered their classroom in a hurry. Their teacher considered them as tardy but only gave them warnings, since he too failed to arrive at the designated time. Both rushed to their seats and acted like nothing happened.
Annoyed, Akari quickly turned off her iPod and untangled her cherry earphones from her hair. She hated it when it tangles up with her curly hair, but she couldn't help it. After that, she concentrated on binging out her orange notebook and a pen and took notes.
Meanwhile, Kyouya couldn't think straight. He was late again. He was absorbed in their conversation, then apparently lost track of time. It was a very good thing the teacher let them off the hook this time. But what if it happens again? No. he wouldn't let something like this happen again. Like his companion, he occupied himself in taking notes, although this particular subject was already all too familiar to him. The host club did an ancient Japan gig and Kyouya was in charge of research.
Damn, I really need to get my head straight.
~X~X~X~
Once again, they were dismissed. Only this time, they were obliged to go back to their respective homes. That afternoon was reserved for teachers' monthly meeting, so classes were cut at 3pm. This morning, the host club opened their doors to their customers, but now they were shut, and the inside was deserted.
Hanagurashi Akari walked alone this time. She wanted to get acquainted with her new surroundings once more. She passed a few corridors, before she got lost. Only a few hours ago, she was given what she considers an impressive tour of the school, except for the slight miscalculation of time and other elements she tries to forget. She turned to a left and found herself surrounded by gold plated white double doors. She remembered such with the tour given earlier by Mr. Ootori's son, but she couldn't remember which door they entered. She passed by a few rooms, which turned out to be study rooms. She wanted to enter one, but it was too noisy and nothing will be of meaning to her trip if she goes inside without learning anything once she gets out. The sight of the noisy student-filled study rooms convinced her that the room she entered earlier was in another corridor, in another set of gold-plated white double doors.
She continued to walk, looking for a quiet place to pass time. She didn't know how to get to Ouran's majestic gardens, and Kyouya already did a lot for her earlier, and she didn't want to be a nuisance to him. She passed by music rooms this time, each plated with gold, like all the other doors. Curiosity stood side by side with her emotions at that time. She couldn't resist the urge to explore, and it was odd for her. She felt like she needed to explore the said corridor. It feels all too familiar to her.
Alright, let's see…
The First Music Room…
She took a peek inside and found that the room was occupied. She assumed it would be an orchestra, getting ready to practice. Although they were incomplete, she could see the woodwind instrument players gather to one side, the percussion to another, while a soloist, she also assumed, was standing in the middle of their improvised stage; trying to explain to his fellow violinist something. Her eyes wandered off to the other performers. She spotted someone whom she assumed to be the conductor of the orchestra, running frantically around, checking up on each and every performer. To Akari, she seemed to be a good conductor, despite the menacing but subtle look in her eyes. Akari would have stuck around to hear them play a piece or two, but she thought she might be interrupting them. As she was leaving, she caught the soloist's attention, which she also noticed. As the soloist approached her, she immediately scrambled to her feet, silently but quickly closed the door behind her and ran for the nearest hiding spot she could find. She was shy and she didn't know how to mingle with others. And besides, she might get in trouble, in case the practice was a closed one, strictly for performers only. She ran to where she came from and ducked for cover from the corner of the hallway. It wasn't the best hiding place, but that would have to do.
She could hear the door creaking open, making her feel agitated. She heard a few footsteps going to the other direction.
"YE-"
She almost jumped for joy, thinking that she was out of the woods, but the sound of footsteps going to her direction made her quiet, and more agitated. She immediately covered her mouth with both of her hands and leaned to the wall; flushed.
I never knew my idiocy could extend to comic proportions!
She heard footsteps gong faster, still going to her direction.
"Hello?" He called out.
He slowed down his pace, almost as if he was sneaking up on her. But when he got no response, he let out a quiet sigh and went back to where he came from.
Just before he entered; only a few inches away from the double doors, he turned back to the direction where Akari was hiding, wearing a stern expression on his face. Akari couldn't see him, but she could feel that his eyes were pinned to her current spot.
"I know you're there."
That sentence made her jump. But it made her question too. If he knew she was hiding here, then why didn't he just go to her immediately?
"I think you're new here. I won't force you to come if you don't want to. But please come over some time. I'd like you to hear us play. Kind of like a second opinion on things."
He paused. He was waiting for Akari to answer. He thought he could lure her out, meaning every word he said. His green eyes still fixed to where Akari was hiding. He let out a quiet sigh.
Oh well, better luck next time. I do hope she visits.
"I guess you could say you're welcome here."
When he didn't get any response again, he turned away from the hiding spot and proceeded inside.
Phew, that was close.
A sigh of relief escapes her well curved mouth. She could still feel her cheeks pink from the experience. She made a mental note to herself, to be more careful when exploring certain rooms. She silently walked across the First music room, trying not to attract attention again. She could hear the orchestra playing, the violinist dominating the intoxicating melodies each performed. They were doing a fairly good job, but it was obvious they needed practice.
I guess you could say you're welcome here.
His words echoed on her mind. Was she really welcome there? She leaned on the door, hoping to hear more of the music, but she restrained herself. Now she really was disturbing their practice.
So she walked towards another set of double doors, which was across the first one she visited.
Okay.
The Second Music Room… Hmmm… I wonder…
Curiosity got the better of her once again.
It would seem that I'll never learn…. She chuckled at the thought.
With one controlled push, she tried to push the door open. And unsuccessful pout formed on her lips then she tried once more. No good. This time, she pushed it with all her might and as silently as she could, keeping in mind that the orchestra was across the hall. Even though they were practicing with loud volumes of music, she still wanted to be cautions. She heaved once, heaved twice but to no avail. When she tried turning the handle as silently as she could, she found that it was locked from the inside!
Ah, crap.
So that was why she couldn't open it. She stopped trying to open the locked door and tried to listen to what was going on inside. She heard music, (just as she expected) and concluded that this too was another group of musicians practicing. Maybe that time, that really was a closed practice.
Okay, moving on…
She walked towards the room next to where the playing orchestra was practicing. She was still cautious about her movements, and even pretended she was a ninja on a mission. She smirked at the thought of her pretending to be a soldier of the night once again. She absolutely loved the thought of training in the ways of the ninja and executing the moves effortlessly, as if she'd been doing so for hundreds of years of experience. She wanted to leap, but it might cause noise. She stopped playing ninja and got serious when she got to the gold plated doors of the next room.
Alright, The Third Music Room…
~X~X~X~
"Sempai, would you please do a favor for me?" A certain brown eyed "prince" called out.
"What is it, Haruhi?" The other one questioned.
"Kyouya-sempai, would you please refill our band-aid stocks? It's running low and recently, people are having random cuts." Haruhi simply remarked as she handed Kyouya a pack of bandages.
"Why? What about you?" Kyouya asked monotonously.
"Well, my teacher wanted to speak to me after class, so I'm going to be late."
"Not too late, I hope."
"Alright sempai, I'm off." Haruhi said as she walked away from her sempai.
Kyouya stared at the pack of striped bandages intently. He was pondering for a few short moments. Something was quite off, but Kyouya couldn't seem to put his finger on it.
Kyouya Ootori slowly walked through the massive hallway of Ouran. He was thinking of ways to get more profit out of their future gigs. He subconsciously made a left, still drowned in his thoughts. He was used to this route. In fact, he practically passed by these familiar corridors everyday. He walked passed The First Music Room. The orchestra was starting on another piece again, and it would seem like the Second Music room have been emptied only moments before he had arrived.
He pushed his glasses upward. He sighed as the thought of yet another normal afternoon will go by for him. He reached his destination: the gold plated doors of The Third Music Room. He was in these walls only a few hours ago, but that was a memory he tried to forget. It was all in the past and hopefully he didn't have to deal with another mishap with that perfect doll from his dream. But, as life has proven to be mischievous, it doesn't seem to get tired of proving him wrong.
As he quietly turned the knobs of the double doors he heard faint sounds, as if someone was playing music in there.
Music? I know I shouldn't be surprised, considering this is a music room, but…
He held his breath. He didn't make a single move. The door was still shut for a few seconds. He didn't open the door, but he had a pretty good idea what or who was on the other side.
…Could it be?
Symphonies of various melodies filled the air as Hanagurashi Akari played various tunes with the guitar she found a few minutes ago. She got tired playing with her usual instrument, the cello, so she decided to try something new.
Although she was quite knowledgeable in playing said instrument, but she was what people sometimes regard as rusty. So, accidents couldn't be avoided.
"Ouch!" Akari exclaimed. A string just broke off from the guitar and it hit Akari's fingers. It brushed passed her flesh and onto her perfect yellow uniform. A ripping sound was heard when the runaway string passed trough her sleeve. The thought of explaining the rip in her new uniform made chills run down her spine.
She didn't pay any importance to her crimson stained fingers, and focused her attention on the guitar she borrowed.
She cursed under her breath. She briefly wrapped her bleeding fingers with her handkerchief and quickly retrieved the guitar case where she got the guitar, unknowing that she was being watched.
Kyouya opened the door as soon as he heard Akari. He was slightly distressed, but only watched how the events turned out. He was only peeping through a small space on the door, so that he'll pass by unnoticed.
He was lost in his thoughts for a few moments, thinking of nothing but what would have happened if he helped her right then and there. Will she get surprised by the sudden turn of events? Well, he knew he would. But he regained his consciousness once again. He was now watching her tune the guitar. She got lucky, finding that spare string. She worked quickly, desperately tried to cover the mistake she just committed.
Oh dear, just when I thought I was done.
When she was done, she placed the guitar back to its rightful place, only to let go of it a few short inches away. She got startled, but the reflexes she developed from playing ninja came in handy. She caught the guitar case before it collided with the marble floor.
Phew, that was close
For the second time that day, Akari thought of that phrase. She smiled, but then winced when a sharp sudden pain shot through the hand that was holding the guitar. She then realized that the hand that caught the heavy guitar case what her right hand, her injured hand.
"A wounded hand shouldn't be placed under pressure."
"What?" Akari said, turning back to face the person. She winced once more at the pain. She didn't realize her handkerchief had turned crimson and that blood was slowly forming droplets of red rubies, slowly giving in to gravity's pull.
Kyouya took the guitar case from her hand and inspected the handle. No blood yet. Then returned it to where it rightfully belongs.
"Right, let's dress that wound, shall we?"
~X~X~X~
They sat on the table near the window, the same table where they were earlier. Kyouya gently removed the bloody handkerchief from her injured hand. It was covered in blood and the wounds were not easy to spot, so he placed his own handkerchief on the table and set down her hand on it so that his handkerchief cushioned her hand.
"Don't move your hand. I'll only be a moment." He ordered. Akari nodded, feeling a little guilt ridden because she considered herself as a nuisance for Kyouya.
Kyouya came back with a clean towel on one hand, and a basin full of lukewarm water was balanced in the other. Akari wanted to help, but she remembered the order given to her. He set down the basin next to her hand and went off again.
This time, he returned with alcohol, povidone-iodine, and some other agents that would help clean her wounds. He also set it down near her hand.
"You were playing Ave Maria on the guitar, right?" Kyouya questioned as he sat down and cushioned her hand with another towel.
"Y-yeah."
There was a short silence. For a moment, Akari thought that it could go on until he was done cleaning her hand. She didn't realize how wrong she was.
"Ave Maria is a subtle piece. It should be played gently." Kyouya remarked off-handedly as he cleaned Akari's wounds.
I thought it was bad, but I shouldn't have worried so much.
"This will sting a bit." Kyouya warned. He applied a small amount of alcohol to Akari's wounds. Akari winced at the pain but was calmed down when Kyouya gently blew on it. Then he proceeded on cleaning the rest of her palm.
I never thought he could be so gentle.
He silently thanked Haruhi for the multicolored bandages she handed out to him earlier. She was right, people were getting random cuts.
"You played it so roughly. Although I thought it was pretty good, it would be better if you would play it softly next time. I think you placed too much pressure on the string, that's why it snapped." He continued; the slightest bit of concern could be detected from his voice.
Akari was sort of overwhelmed at what the host was showing.
Feelings.
Although it could only make a tiny dent in that emotionless face he tries so very hard to put up, Akari could still sense it. A smile danced along her face. Everything was so surreal.
"I wish it was like this everyday." She suddenly blurted out.
Realizing what she said, heat quickly rushed to her cheeks, making it pink as ripe strawberries. Kyouya was so caught up with cleaning her wounds; he didn't really hear much of what she said, nonetheless he had an idea about it.
"Pardon?" Kyouya said as he looked up and locked eyes with the flushed Akari. He wanted to make sure if what he thought he heard was the thing she said. His onyx eyes were piercing through her cerulean ones, as if he could see her core, maybe even what she was thinking of, or what she just said.
"Ah, n-nothing! Th-thank you for the kindness you've shown to me, Ootori-san. And I'm sorry, I'm being a nuisance to you." Akari replied, trying to look away from him. She then turned her attention to the sparkly marble floor. She wanted to get distracted.
Silence engulfed the room as each turned back to what they were doing.
"No need for the apologies. Please, feel free to call me Kyouya." He said as he held tightly the hand that he just dressed. It was covered with multi-colored-striped bandages. Her attention turned back to him, not noticing that he was still holding her hand. She stared at him intently. Subconsciously, he planted her hand in between his, giving warmth to her wounds, and he did the one thing he hasn't done in a long time.
He smiled.
A/N: Hazaaa~ I have finished chaptah thuree. I am terribly sorry for the late update. I am sorry for the morbid part, there. Old habits die hard. xD
Aya: Have you fainted yet?
Please review! I promise I'll try to update sooner. Please bear with me!
Byebee~!
