Thanks for the reviewers...and to those who will review in the future...

animearchitect - Well, how they grow up...not much will be shown...sorry! I sped this up...but I promise flashbacks will be there!!! I guess a third-party might appear in the later chapter. Please read and find out if your guesses are correct. Hahaha.

Moonshine79 - Yes, they are definitely cute. I've been using Len and Kahoko as their epitome.

Pathetic Rainbow - I love Saori too! She's my treasure. She's my beginning.

Valyruie - Hahaha. That's really cute, ne! Thanks, I'm glad you like the prequels. Yup, Ten music rooms. Now can you imagine how big their mansion is!?!? You could get lost! Just like in the anime "Hayate the Combat Butler", do you watch that? Hahaha.

Hanisakura - Yes, I find those two funny too. Sigh, the wonders of love and having the fruit of your love...

Disclaimer: I don't own La Corda D'oro, but I do own Saori Tomoyo and their kids, plus this story's prequels.

~Having Seen You Again~

"Shinji," Kahoko called.

"I'm going already mom!" he called, running out of the house, closing the door behind him, a toast in his mouth. He grabbed his bicycle and jumped on it as he began paddling to school.

Shinji is now a teenager. His blue hair was silky-looking just like how his father's was when he was the same age as he is now. His eyes were beaming amber, just like his mother's, no longer round, but the eyes that tells you of the intellectual and observant person he is now. The thing about him which will draw you in is his smile, a smile which will be able to make a group of teenage girls faint and sigh. He has his father's good looks but he is more approachable than his father was. More over, he's the girls' crush in campus!

(A/N: Sorry for the speeding up!!! Hahaha.)

As he had promised in his childhood years, he is now studying in Seiso's Music Department. He's already in his second year of high school, and today is his first day as a second year. It's been years ago since Saori and her family had gone. But before they had gone, they had actually stayed back for a few more months since Shinji and Ayumi had grown attach to each other.

Shinji grinned to himself as he recalled for no reason about his childhood with Ayumi before they left and by that time, Ayumi's birthday already passed. That means they were both nine years old before they parted.

"Ne, we'll be seeing each other again right?" Ayumi asked Shinji, no longer shy since she already got used to him. "We will, right mommy?" she said, tugging onto her mother's skirt.

Saori smiled at little Ayumi and assured her, "Yes you will."

"Saori," called Ryoutaro. He was outside the house, placing their luggage inside the car.

"Coming!" Saori called back, she patted Ayumi's head and left the house.

"I'll go help," said Len, well for once, he and Ryoutaro had been getting along fine the past few months they were here. Kahoko nodded and looked at their kids. She gave a soft smile.

"I'll go help too, you two should say your goodbyes okay?" said Kahoko.

Shinji nodded. Kahoko left the room just behind Len. The room was quiet for a moment but it wasn't uncomfortable.

"Remember our promise okay?" said Shinji, grinning.

Ayumi nodded, "Yes. I will."

"Well then, this is a goodbye."

"Yeah. Here," she said, handing him a small package. Shinji took it but questions reflecting in his eyes. Ayumi smiled, "That's something you have to open on your birthday." she said.

Shinji's eyes glowed, "Really? Thank you! A-ah...I don't have anything to give you as an advance birthday gift..." he said hesitantly, "Sorry."

Ayumi thought of it for a while and smiled, "Then, as punishment, you should prepare the gifts and give them to me when I return!"

Shinji and Ayumi laughed, "It's a deal!" he said.

"Ayumi! Let's go!" Saori called from outside.

"Okay then," said Ayumi taking a deep breath and then she ran out, only turning around towards him, still running, when she reached him, she kissed his cheek quickly, Shinji blushed and then she whispered, "I have half of it." then she ran towards the door again.

"Half?" Shinji shouted to her.

"You'll understand soon!" she said, Shinji saw her kiss Len and Kahoko's cheeks. She hopped into the car and gave Shinji one last smile before the car disappeared.

Now, he knows what Ayumi had meant back then, she has half of his heart. That was Ayumi's gift on his birthday. A pendant, heart shaped, but half. He was certain the other half was with Ayumi. He reached the school by the time his flashback has ended. Ayumi hasn't returned yet, but he was sure as long as he studies here, she will come.

(A/N: Quite opposite ne, the guy is the one waiting here. Hahaha)

Shinji's POV

When I entered my assigned classroom, my best friend, Kazuya greeted me. "Hey Shinji." he said, grinning, "We're classmates again this year."

I grinned back at him. This is Kazuya Hihara, and yes, he is Uncle Kazuki's child. He and his new wife, Aunt Mizuki's, child - adopted child of course. He's my best friend, the one I always hang out with ever since Ayumi had gone. He has also met Ayumi once back then when Uncle Kazuki and his family visited us.

"Well that's nice." I told him, I randomly sat at the chair beside him, there's no seat arrangements given anyway.

"Hey, I've got news for you." he said in a grave tone.

"Someone killed a cat?" I asked teasingly.

Kazuya smoothed out his face and looked serious. This time I was sure he was serious. He got his cheerful nature from Uncle Kazuki of course. Kazuya sat straight on his seat and looked at me directly in the eye. "She's back." was all he said to make me understand.

"Really!?" I said, standing up, "Well where is she?" I got excited, but Kazuya grabbed my arm from his seat. "What?" I said, looking at him.

He shook his head, "I don't think you should see her...it's a bad idea."

"Why? I mean, she's really here! She's back! How come she didn't call me? Wow man, you have no idea-"

"Shinji!" Kazuya said.

"What?" I asked, irritated. I wanted to see her. I want to see Ayumi again after seven years!

Kazuya searched his eyes and sighed. He stood up, he towered Shinji a little. "I guess there's no stopping you. Well then, I'm coming with you in case it becomes too much."

I rolled my eyes, "You're so weird today Kazuya. It's Ayumi! She's not some weird person or anything. So, where is she and how come you know about it first?"

"Sources." was all he said, "She's in the Gen-Ed Department."

"What?" I said, "Maybe you made some mistake."

Kazuya sighed tiredly again, "No, I saw her awhile ago. Now, no questions and just follow me to her class." Kazuya left the classroom and I followed behind him. At the same time, I wonder what's going on.

People were looking at us when we entered the Gen-Ed department. Well, that's not such a surprise. It's like there's a certain form of racism in here. Finally we reached a certain classroom. Kazuya talked to one of the students there and then Kazuya looked at me, "Come on, she's here."

I entered the classroom. There, I saw a girl alone, reading a book. She was alone, and it seems like no one wants to approach her at all, the student Kazuya talked to, approached her and said something, she looked up and then to us. I felt myself frozen. It was her...it was Ayumi, but a different one. She still had her blackish-blue hair, it was mid-long, and it was now layered. It was clear her feminine features had been pronounced already. She was a dazzling sight. But something pierced through me, her eyes. Her once shining emerald eyes were now dull and empty. What had happened?

"Shinji?" she said.

I breathed in a little relief, she still had her accent, but then, something troubled me, her voice. It was...lifeless. I just nodded at her. She gave a half-smile and I realized instantly it was a fake smile.

"Ayumi. What happened?" I asked.

Kazuya nudged me. I looked at him and he shook his head, telling me not to ask that particular question. Does he know something I still don't know?

"Let's talk later." she said, then she looked back on her book.

I was frozen there. Ayumi has changed. What must've happened that I didn't know about? Kazuya said thank you to the one he talked to earlier and he pulled my arm out of the classroom. When we reached our department that was when I snapped out of my shock.

"What happened to her?" I demanded.

Kazuya shook his head, "I'm sorry, but I'm in no position to tell you. She'll tell it to you later. Just as she had said."

"Later?"

"She meant when you get home."

"Why does it seem like you know her better than I do?" I asked, suddenly furious.

Kazuya gave me once sad look before he walked towards our classroom, leaving me there without answering a single question.

---

It's bugging me so much. I began thinking, as I rode my bike home. When the bell rang indicating the school had ended, Kazuya immediately disappeared, I went to Ayumi's classroom and she had gone already too. What's going on? What had I miss? I just thought of those things until I got home, there in front of our house, I saw a familiar red car. So, Aunt Saori and Uncle Ryoutaro are here. So Ayumi must be there already too! I quickly parked my bike at the garage and fished out my keys. I opened the door quickly and ran into the house, not bothering to take off my shoes.

I head small murmurs when I entered the living room. There, Aunt Shouko and her family was there, Uncle Kazuki and his family too, Kazuya was there already. Uncle Azuma was there too?! Uncle Ryoutaro was there, seated beside Ayumi. Her head hung low. I could feel a sense of loss in here. What's going on. Mother realized my presence, she looked at me, her face pale.

"Sh-Shinji, welcome home." she said.

"What's going on? Why is everyone here? And why does it feel heavy in here?" I asked, I know it was rude, but I couldn't help myself.

Suddenly Aunt Shouko cried, and so did Mai and Mother. Ayumi was just there, I couldn't see her face, her hair covered it. I just stared at her, when I felt Father's hand on my shoulder. "It's your Aunt Saori." he said in a low voice.

My eyes widen. What? What had happened to her? I finally realized that she wasn't with her family. What happened to Aunt Saori? Father felt my body tense up, he gripped my shoulder lightly and said, "Calm down. It's not what you think. She's in the hospital, still alive, but in a coma..."

The air around me suddenly felt scarce. I needed air, but air was lacking. I couldn't breathe properly. Does that mean, the reason for Ayumi's change was because Aunt Saori was in a coma? She felt deep loss? Ayumi. Ayumi. I looked at her.

Father saw me look at her and he shook his head. "There's nothing we can do for her." he whispered.

"W-what happened?" I asked in a shaky voice.

Uncle Ryoutaro brought his hands onto his face, "She was on her way to meet us in the airport a few months ago, we were coming back already. But it was pouring that day, Saori had no idea that the driver, driving the cab was drunk. She only knew it when he spoke, and she was already in the car. Saori had called me then. I told her to stay put, the driver was going to bring her to the airport anyway, but Saori was panicked, and so was I. She said the driver was swerving on the road. I was trying to keep her calm, everything -" He took a deep breath, "Everything was so fast. She was panicked and then she was talking on the phone. And suddenly I heard the car screeching and then glass breaking, people shouting." he stopped talking.

"I lost a brother." Ayumi suddenly spoke. She was still not looking up, but I saw tears trickling down. Dropping onto her lap.

"Sh-She was pregnant?" Aunt Shouko said, she was still sobbing.

"The little guy," Uncle Ryoutaro's voice was hoarse, "He was about to be brought into this world already..." he said in a whisper.

This was all to much. So much...loss. Ayumi has been feeling that pain and wasn't there for her. Wait, how come Kazuya knew? No, I have no time to know that. All I know is Ayumi is in deep pain, I took a step forward towards her. Father held me tightly. I looked at him pleadingly, but his eyes won't meet mine. Mother saw our gesture and exchange.

"Ayumi is going through a lot of pain...and she couldn't just take all of it..." Kahoko whispered.

"She was very traumatized, she fell ill for a month. I thought there was nothing the doctors could do. Ayumi was said to have partial amnesia because of her sudden trauma...and..." Kazuya said.

Uncle Kazuki raised his arm in front of Kazuya to silence him, he shook his head, at the same time giving him a warning glare.

"I..I know about that..." Ayumi whispered, "I know I've lost some of my memories, I could feel them...but sometimes...even if Father told me I was like this, I was like that. I don't seem to feel I used to be like that. And most of all, I hate it. I hate music."

Everyone in the room was silent. They were looking at me, Ayumi was still looking down, she really refuses to look up, to look at me. Has she forgotten our promise then? Her last words pierced my heart. She hates music...why? Is it because it had taken her mother away from her? I can't take this. No. She can't hate music. Music is part of her life as it is part of mine....no. I barged out of the room. I could feel tears in my eyes, I dare not to cry in front of everyone. That night, I felt my other half shattering.

A/N: Please don't flame me....REVIEW PLEASE! I want to know what you think, but please, not too harsh...*currently crying after rereading this chapter*