Songs Without Words
by: RoyaleDeuce
Chapter titles are inspired by Mendelssohn's 'Songs without Words' Repertoire. Credits of inspiration for the story would go to Yuki Kure for the fabulous creation which prompted me to play the piano again. I think the dust bunnies that gathered on my upright transformed into plot bunnies – thus, this story exists! This is my first La Corda D'oro story, so if you may, please be kind in your reviews. (:))
:Drama & Rated T:
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The Sighing Wind
--Kazuki x Kahoko--
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Nature was refreshing.
With the dancing trees, the sweet scent of the flowerbeds beside her, the gentle wind that blew softly near her ear as if soothing her to forget all aches, and the blue sky that she could choose to stare at all day. The sun shone brilliantly, its radiant rays warming her face, leaving it sun-kissed and absolutely bright.
It was all perfect, really.
Except that she could not bring herself to enjoy it.
As she lay comfortably on the green grass, she could feel the breeze tickling her naked arms and flow inside her orange dress, leaving her hair a scarlet mess. A shiver ran down her spine at the unexpected cold she felt, or it was probably just because she wasn't used to it. There were no arms that would wound its way around her, no chest that would cushion her head, and no hands that would caress her until she fell asleep.
A deep, heavy sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes and envisioned a certain someone lying right beside her, telling her that everything would be alright and that he'd be willing to share her burden.
And then it dawned on her that there was only one thing that could elate her mood at such a moment of loneliness.
She reached for her violin.
The heavenly music coming from her nimble fingers in sync with the slicing motion of the bow reverberated in the hills. And just as the flowers, the grass and the trees danced with the suddenly wayward waltz of the breeze, they swayed for her heart-breaking song, too. She did not know why, but all the high-spirited songs supposedly imprinted in her mind popped like a bubble. All she could bring herself to play were notes that relayed the overwhelming emotions she felt, the sadness flitting inside of her, and the solitude she never sought for.
Sure her fellow concours participants were friendly with her. But their interactions with her, like how Tsuchiura would treat her like his little sister, or how Fuuyumi would say that she idolized her always struck her hard. They adored her, for they were all buying her act that she was indeed a violin virtuoso. It made her wonder how different things would be if ever they discovered her little charade and figured she wasn't who they thought she was.
There were times when she would wake-up to a morning, thinking that her secret was finally revealed. Everyone turning their backs on her was a nightmare she did not want to experience. It was her most dreaded day, but she could not find it in herself to stop thinking about it… to stop worrying… to stop burdening herself with guilt.
She heaved another sigh as she finished her dramatic song.
She lay back down on the green grass, clutched her violin near her chest and shut her eyes close.
Hino Kahoko had never felt so alone.
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Kaho-chan…
It was a breathy mention of her name uttered with such tenderness.
She could feel the warmth tingling all over her body as it travelled around her arms, her face and even her lips. She smiled in her blissful sleep. But her nagging curiosity hindered her to plunge deeper in dreamland. She wondered who had the heart to ease her turmoil and bring her a step closer to heaven.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
…and realized that she was lying on top of someone. That someone's arms were wound securely around her. That someone's chest cushioned her head. That someone's hand was caressing her face and hair with such gentleness as if she was a fragile china doll.
"Oh, Kaho-chan…" came another whisper.
"…Hihara-senpai?"
Hino looked up, only to meet auburn orbs softly gazing back at her. Their faces were only inches apart, their breaths fanning on each other's cheeks.
"Y-Y-You're awake!" he sputtered, sitting up so suddenly that Hino's head dropped on the grass with a loud thud. "Kaho-chan!"
"Ow…" Hino rubbed the side of her head that hit the ground, but went as still as stone when a pair of hands started rubbing her head, too, in attempt to appease the tinge of pain she felt for a moment. "Hihara-senpai…" she breathed as she watched the green-haired boy shower the side of her face with more delicate strokes.
An uncomfortable silence ensued as the two awkwardly fidgeted in their spots after Hihara pulled away and distanced himself away from his kouhai.
"How come you're here?"
"I'm sorry I surprised you."
Both Hino and Hihara laughed when they talked and turned to each other at the same time.
"Ano… I usually play my trumpet here, too… and well, I saw you… and, yeah…" he trailed off sheepishly, avoiding Hino's gaze.
Hino reddened when she was reminded of waking up in Hihara-senpai's arms. "N-No… I-I think I was the one who surprised you… I'm sorry…" she bowed her head.
Hihara flailed his hands and blabbered, "A-Ah! Kaho-chan! Why are you apologizing! Ano… I was the one who carried you in my arms without permission, breathed in your hair, touched your face and kissed you—" He clamped his mouth shut and looked away.
Hino stared wide-eyed at her incredibly red senpai, and was unable to say something coherent for the next several minutes. She too, turned as red as tomato.
"I'm sorry…" said Hihara after a long silence.
From her peripheral vision, she could see her senpai with such downcast eyes. It pained her to see him look like that… What happened?
"It's just that I heard you playing while I was climbing up… and I never knew… that you were so sad… felt so lonely…" he explained and covered his face with a hand to hide his distress, "and seeing you lying on the ground with tears on your face made me want to comfort you and make things better…" he muttered as if he had committed some grave crime. "Only when you played that song have I understood. All this time, I've been so insensitive to act like there was nothing in the world to worry about… oblivious that my friend deals with so much pain…
A gust of wind sped passed them, sighing.
Hino couldn't stop her tears from falling. Seeing Hihara-senpai so sad made her want to cry, "S-Senpai… please don't look so sad… I never wished to make you sad—"
Hino was surprised when Hihara suddenly pulled her in his arms and buried his face in her hair.
"Oh, Kaho-chan… it seems like you misunderstand some things…" he murmured against his kouhai's scarlet locks. "I may not exactly know what you're experiencing right now, but always remember that you'll never be alone and that I'm always here to make things better…" He grinned at Hino whose face was still glistening with tears. "So please smile!"
"Hihara-senpai…" she breathed against her senpai's chest and clung to his shirt almost desperately.
"Kaho-chan…"
Hino looked up.
Hihara gulped, "Ano… M-May I… kiss you?"
Hino was taken aback by the unusual fire in Hihara's eyes. Determination was evident in his auburn orbs. But open affection was also blatantly ablaze in his gaze. The heavy scrutiny she was receiving from the boy made her blush like crazy!
Tension hung thick in the air as Hihara expectantly waited for her answer.
And then finally, Hino shyly nodded her head, "…okay."
Without wasting another moment, Hihara leaned in and pressed his lips on her face. He left a trail of kisses on both sides of her cheeks, her forehead, her nose and her eyelids, kissing her tears away. Hino closed her eyes and succumbed to the intoxicating sensation, ignoring the hysteric beating of her heart. It wasn't long after when their bodies moved on their own accord, and slowly, they lay on the luscious green grass with Hihara pinning Hino beneath him. And when his lips softly landed on hers, intense warmth burst inside of her as it swept all her sorrows away.
She sighed contentedly as Hihara gently placed his hands on both sides of her face and continued to kiss her with such sweetness.
"You're not alone…" he murmured on her lips as he smothered her face with kisses again.
"Thank you, senpai…" Hino whispered. "… and sorry for being such a bother and burdening you…"
Hihara abruptly pulled away and positioned his palms on the grass on each side of Hino's head, his eyes fixed on hers.
Auburn met gold.
"You dense girl…" Hihara plastered on a bright smile and pecked Hino on her nose before standing.
Hino immediately sat up and saw her senpai already on both feet, with trumpet in hand.
And for the second time that morning, the hills echoed with beautiful music. Only this time, the sound heard in harmony with the dancing breeze was light and cheerful. The music was as bright as the morning sun, its movement like the butterflies hovering above the flowers. The happy tune seeped in her like hot flames, her earlier feelings forgotten. Each note tickled her funny bone that gradually… a smile crept on her face.
"How was that, Kaho-chan?" Hihara asked excitedly right after playing the last note of his song.
Hino clapped, "It was wonderful, senpai!"
Hihara grinned and plopped back down beside Hino, "So you understand, right?"
Hino blushed and shyly smiled at her senpai, "A-Ano… I never knew that you felt that way… But it's good to see you smiling again…"
Hihara inched towards the smiling Hino and gave her another heart-tingling kiss on her lips, "Of course! It's because you're smiling again!"
"Eh? But I smiled because you were smiling…" Hino said.
Hihara laughed and ruffled Hino's hair. Then he leaned towards Hino until their foreheads were touching and their lips only a breath away, "So if you want to see me smile, you have to smile, too, okay?"
Hino nodded her head and put on her biggest and brightest smile, "Mmm…"
The two grinned at each other, their hearts and mind light and unbound from the chains of their fears and worries.
Timidly, she placed a soft, chaste kiss on his lips and pushed him down on the green grass that swayed in the rhythm of the contentedly sighing wind.
They were free… and she smiled with him, just as he had always smiled for her.
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Now this is sappy… or fluffy? Ha-ha! I hope Hino and Hihara weren't too OOC. If you're wondering why it's dramatic again… it's because my life's full of drama at the moment. And it's also for the reason that I always felt for Hino whenever she'd feel guilty about her violin. If I were in her situation, I'm sure I'll give up playing just to escape everything... Anywho! I apologize for the late update! It has been months! It took me time to gain back enough muse to write this one because playing the piano didn't really help. (:() Hopefully, the next one will be out soon...
Up next: Azuma x Kahoko (:))
