Unsung, Untold
A La Corda D'Oro Fanfiction
Author's Notes: Please do not forget to review after reading!
Warnings and Disclaimers: All La Corda D'Oro names, places, items, and related indicia are copyright to Kure Yuki. The song "Rolling Star" is by Yui, and was used for the anime series "BLEACH" by Kubo Tite. Only the plot, OCs, and writing style are mine. This story is rated M for graphic sexual scenes (in later chapters) and mature content. Not to your liking? Then please push the back button to spare your sanity.
Chapter 4: A Violin's Distress
Kahoko could feel a cold lump of ice, as heavy as a boulder, settle unpleasantly at the bottom of her stomach the moment she saw the broad back and the head of green hair that could only belong to…she wet her suddenly dry mouth. "T-Tsuchiura…kun?"
The way he stiffened at her voice only confirmed her suspicion. Oh Kami no…
He turned around slowly, and Tsuchiura's face came into view, wearing a slight grin. "Hey, Hino."
His deep voice pulled Kahoko out of her shock, and the blood that had been slowly draining out of her face came back in a rush, and she knew she was now blushing a mad red. She was still wearing the cursed dress from hell! She lowered her eyes to the floor, horrified of what she would see on Tsuchiura's face. "I—this—it's not what you think!" she stuttered, her thoughts flying out the window. Her hands would not stay still; they were clenching and unclenching, her fingers wringing themselves until she thought they would snap. But, Kami, she couldn't stop! "This is…I mean, I work here—I…"
"Yeah. I watched your performance. You're really very good."
"Eh?" Her head snapped up, and saw Tsuchiura smiling at her. Not smirking, or laughing. He was smiling. That is good, isn't it? She blinked several times, trying to come up with something to say, but all that came out of her mouth was: "Oh." She could have throttled herself.
"So you know each other?" prompted Kishino, who was grinning from ear to ear, looking first at Kahoko, then Tsuchiura. "Are you class mates by any chance?"
"Ah, no," Kahoko heard Tsuchiura say. "We both belong in the General Course department, though."
"And your other friends?"
"This is Anji." Kahoko looked to see Tsuchiura gesturing to the young man beside him, who grinned and gave her a small wave, which she returned with a small smile. "He's my classmate and friend. The others over there," Tsuchiura pointed at the table next to theirs, "are Houji, Kintaro, and Masai."
They all smiled and bowed in greeting, which she returned in kind. By now Kahoko had calmed somewhat, but a small tinge of pink remained in her cheeks. It felt strange for her to be meeting Tsuchiura's friends—and Tsuchiura himself—wearing a dress that clung to her body and a pair of bat-like wings that made her look like she was cosplaying.
Kahoko felt Kishino's hand pat her shoulder gently. "I'll leave you guys for a while; I still have plenty of customers to look out for. Don't worry, Kaho-chan won't be singing for another half hour or so." She gave Kahoko a wink before leaving.
"Kishino-san!" Kahoko hissed, letting her eyes show panic, pleading for the café owner to get her old hag ass back this instant!
But Kishino only waved back and mouthed "You'll be fine!" before giving her a thumbs-up sign.
Kahoko glared at her, but knew she had no choice. Sighing inwardly, she turned to Tsuchiura, who was already out of his chair, his bag slung over one shoulder. "Huh? You're leaving, Tsuchiura-kun?"
"Er…" Tsuchiura was avoiding eye contact with her, and scratched the back of his head. "I was about to go when the café owner came to introduce you…"
Anji snorted. "Kill joy."
Kahoko saw Tsuchiura frown in Anji's direction, before settling back down into his chair. "I figured you wouldn't be too happy to see me here," he said after a while, his voice quiet.
"Ah," Kahoko gave him a sad smile, as she settled into a chair near Anji. "I was hoping to keep this a secret from everyone. I don't really like having people's attention on me." She's had enough of that before, and had no wish to repeat the experience. By her reckoning, it only attracted trouble.
Tsuchiura nodded. He hadn't figured Hino as the secretive type, but then, he hadn't thought she would be a really good singer, too. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with us."
"What?" Anji interrupted, startled. "And I was hoping to brag about this to—ow!" He winced and rubbed at his leg. "The hell was that for, Tsuchiura?!" When Tsuchiura only glared at him, he tutted. "Fine…I'll keep my mouth shut about this." He grumbled.
"Sorry, Hino. Anji's really a nice guy, but sometimes he's a bit of a loudmouth."
"Hey!" Anji's voice was indignant. "I am not!" He jumped in surprise when Kahoko suddenly took his hands and bowed her head to him. "Please, Anji-san, don't tell about this to anyone!"
Anji cleared his throat, attempting to hide the blush that warmed his face. "Um…s-sure."
Kahoko sighed, clearly relieved, and smiled warmly at both of them. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me. Oh!" She blushed again, but mildly this time. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hino Kahoko, from class 2-2." She offered her hand to Anji, who gladly took it.
"Just call me Anji. Like Tsuchiura said, I'm his classmate. We went to the same junior high school, too."
"Eh? Really?" Kahoko's eyes swiveled to Tsuchiura. "What school did you go to?"
"The local junior high school in town," Tsuchiura replied, sipping at his drink. "How about you?"
"Me?" Kahoko blinked. "Well, I just moved here during freshman year at the Academy. We lived in Tokyo before that."
"Woah, really?" Anji exclaimed.
Kahoko smiled. "It's really not that big of a deal. And pretty much boring." She looked away, staring into space, her smile slipping. Tsuchiura noticed, and cleared his throat. "So Hino, since when have you been working at this café?"
"Hm? Oh, I just started working here over the summer. Kishino-san and my mother were college friends, so it wasn't hard for me to land a job at Café Melody."
"Do you work here everyday?"
Kahoko shook her head. "My schedule varies. But I'm usually here in the afternoon. I sing on Mondays and Wednesdays."
"Hey, Hino-san," Anji said, "Can we come watch you then?"
"E-eh?" Kahoko was blushing like mad again. "Oh, well, that's not really necessary…sure, if you like. Just don't tell anyone else."
Anji grinned. "Got it."
Kahoko squirmed in her seat, but tried her best to smile at Anji. She just wasn't used to meeting people who admired her singing. And know them, too. It was…weird. Of course it didn't count Mio and Nao; they were her friends. When she turned slightly she saw Tsuchiura staring at her. "Tsuchiura-kun? Is something wrong?"
"I was just admiring your dress."
"M-my dress? Oh, I only wear this when I sing." She tried to laugh, which came out shaky. Inwardly she cringed. "I know it looks a bit weird, but Kishino-san said—"
"It looks great on you."
"—that it's…what?" Kahoko's smile slipped. Had she heard it right? "I…thanks, I guess." Feeling very uncomfortable all of a sudden, she said, "A-anyway, thanks for visiting the café. I have to go now and…and prepare for the next song." She gave them all a last smile and hurried away.
Tsuchiura watched her go, silently cursing himself for saying something so stupid. 'I was just admiring your dress.'
The lamest line of the century.
Anji sighed beside him. "She's really nice. That's it. I am in love with her."
Tsuchiura rolled his eyes. He had gotten used to Anji's reactions when seeing really beautiful girls. "Oh yeah? Then why'd you not ask for her mobile number?"
Anji shrugged. "I can always ask for it in school." He turned to Tsuchiura, wearing an evil grin. "You like her too, don't you?"
"Me? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Come on, man. Complimenting her dress?" Anji wiggled his eyebrows. "And you were practically ogling her, Tsuchiura. She even noticed."
"Get your mind out of the gutter Anji," Tsuchiura growled, taking a huge swallow of his root beer. "You're just seeing things."
Even as he said it, Tsuchiura could feel that his heart was still beating rapidly, his face still warm, from the way Hino had smiled at him.
o0o0o0o
Ignoring the raised eyebrows and looks of slight incredulity on the Music Course students she passed, Kahoko sighed, her mind still on what happened last Monday. She had spent Tuesday and Wednesday worrying and waiting for the outburst of rumors and gossip about her working in a shady café, but no rumor came, to her great relief.
She trusted Tsuchiura to keep his promise, but she was not so sure about the others. Clearly she had misjudged; they had apparently kept her secret, and now Kahoko felt great shame whenever she remembered how much she mistrusted Tsuchiura's friends. Maybe she could make up to them by being nicer the next time they watched her sing?
Kahoko took a turn when she reached the corner, and began climbing the stairs up to the rooftop. She had found that practicing there was better than reserving a room in the Practice Hall. Up there, she didn't have to endure Music Course students snooping into her practice. Kahoko's eyebrow twitched at the memory; it made her feel uncomfortable, with eyes weighing her to the inch, trying to gauge if she was up to performing for the concours.
She cautiously opened the gray metal door at the landing and peeked through the slight crack. Seeing no one there, she sighed in relief as she swung the door wider and exited the staircase and onto the rooftop. A strong breeze ruffled her dark red hair, and she took in a deep breath. "Hmm, definitely better than practicing in a stuffy room."
As she put down the violin case and her bag onto one of the stone benches, Kahoko glanced at her wristwatch. It was only five minutes into lunch period; she frowned at the thought of not sharing lunch with Mio and Nao again. She had been skipping free periods whenever she could to practice the violin, and as a result, she had less and less time to enjoy with her friends.
There was no other choice, of course. Kahoko frowned, as she took out the violin and the bow, setting up the music sheet for Gavotte on top of the violin case. If she wanted to prevent making an ass of herself tomorrow, she would have to practice, and practice well.
She positioned herself and played out the first notes of the song, then immediately stopped. "No good, it's no good at all," she muttered to herself, frustrated. "It's not how the song is supposed to sound like!" She tried again, concentrating hard, her eyebrows furrowing with her effort. She reached the right notes, but it still felt wrong.
After about half an hour she stopped, feeling her fingers beginning to numb. Kishino-san told her, when she was complaining of muscle cramps, that it was only natural for beginners to feel pain. Her fingers and her neck would get used to playing the violin, she said. It just takes time. And lots of practice.
Kahoko grumbled, sitting down on the cool bench. Why couldn't she get this song right? "And I played the Ave Maria better, too." She wished Lilly was here to help her out, but where could she find the little music fairy anyway? He just pops out of nowhere without her knowing. Kahoko made a mental note to ask Lilly about it the next time he appeared.
She put the violin back into the case, massaging her hands. Maybe she could take a break while her fingers stopped stinging. She rummaged through her bag for her CD player, and found a slip of paper poking through one of her notebooks. Plucking it out and unfolding it, Kahoko saw that it was the next song she was going to sing at the café.
Kahoko sighed. Kishino had picked a song that was more upbeat than the previous one, to suit her theme, 'Youth'. It wasn't a bad song, really. She had heard it over the radio a few times, and it really had a good rhythm, one you could dance to. The problem came with the dress.
This is what you're wearing! Kishino had pulled out of an inconspicuous bag a not-so-inconspicuous outfit. And what's more, Yuji and his band would be wearing costumes to match yours! Isn't Mio's design just great?!
Kahoko rubbed her face with her hands, wanting to erase the image of what she would be wearing in a few days. Oh, the humiliation she has to endure for the sake of employment…
The door to the rooftop suddenly swung open. Kahoko turned around quickly, hastily stuffing the lyrics into her bag. She was relieved to see it was Hihara-senpai.
The green-haired third year smiled in recognition when he spotted Kahoko, and he immediately made a beeline for her. "Hino-chan! Good afternoon!" Kahoko vaguely wondered how he could turn such a mild greeting into an explosive noise. Hihara-senpai just always seemed to be bursting with energy.
"Ah, good afternoon," Kahoko returned the greeting in a milder tone, sweatdropping. He reminded her so much of Keiichi. The thought brought a pang to her chest, but she quickly shrugged it off. She eyed the case in his hands. "You're here to practice, too, Hihara-senpai?"
"M-hm!" He grinned again and nodded. "But I see you've already gotten first dibs."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Kahoko immediately bowed in apology. "I didn't know you always practiced on the rooftop."
Hihara waved it away. "Oh, don't worry about it. I didn't feel much like practicing today, anyway. I still have orchestra club activities later, and I can practice then. Anyway, what are you practicing?"
Kahoko could feel a blush rise to the fore, but she stubbornly stamped it down. "It's…um, Gavotte."
"Eh? That piece?" Hihara smiled. "I've already played that before. It's got a really nice tune."
Kahoko blinked. "You mean, you can play it on the trumpet, too?"
Hihara laughed. "Of course you can! Here, let me show you."
They way he played the song, it was like he wasn't even exerting any effort. Kahoko listened half in awe, half in amusement, as the notes seemed to tickle her ears, jumping in the air. It was exactly how she had heard Gavotte played on the CD.
"How did you manage to play it so well?" Kahoko exclaimed, as Hihara put down his trumpet. "I've been practicing the song for days and it sounded so…forced," she ended lamely. She sighed in frustration. "Oh, I knew I was going to suck at this."
"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself Hino-chan." Hihara gave her a reassuring grin. "Try playing the violin just for fun."
"For fun?"
"Yeah!" Hihara grinned at her even more. "Music is supposed to be enjoyed, isn't it? So you gotta have lots of fun whenever you play!"
Neh, ojou, life is supposed to be enjoyed, right? So I won't let you go around scowling like that and worrying all of us! You should learn to have fun!
There she was again, thinking about Keiichi. She blinked. It's been such a long time since she remembered anything about her past life in Tokyo. Why would she be reminiscing now? Realizing she was spacing out, Kahoko quickly put on a smile, wracking her head for something to say. "Y-you're right, Hihara-senpai. I should try to have fun."
"Just don't overdo it though," he said in a slightly warning tone, then shook his head dejectedly. "My professors always tell me that's my fault. Sometimes I get carried away with enjoying a performance."
Yes, Hihara-senpai was definitely like Keiichi. Kahoko chuckled.
Hihara made a scandalized noise. "Hey, you're laughing at me!"
"But you're too funny," Kahoko laughed, louder this time, feeling tears of mirth gather at the corner of her eyes. She was too busy being amused with Hihara's uncanny similarity with Keiichi-kun that she missed the slight blush on her senpai's face.
When she got her breath back, Kahoko gave Hihara a grateful smile. "I'll remember what you told me, Hihara-senpai." A bell rang somewhere below them, and Kahoko gave a start. "Wow, it's almost time? I'd better get back to class. Later, Hihara-senpai." She gave him a quick wave and a bow, grabbing her bag and violin case in a hurry before disappearing through the door.
She didn't notice the way Hihara had waved almost absently at her, his voice somewhat off, the blush on his cheeks far from fading.
o0o0o0o
It was half past three in the afternoon. Her supposed performance for the three Music Course students wasn't for another thirty minutes. She glanced at her wrist watch again. Damn it, why did she have to go all fidgety now?!
A hand on her shoulder made Kahoko look up. She saw Mio's worried eyes. "Are you alright?"
Kahoko gave her a reassuring smile that did nothing to calm her nerves. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Nao stood beside Mio, watching her. "You could always back out of it, you know. You don't really have to prove anything to those snotty rich-kids."
Listen to me, little Kaho. In this world, a lot of people will be looking down on you just because they think they're better than everyone else. You have to prove them wrong by showing them what you've got! The image of a wrinkled face, with a scar on his left brow, grinning from ear to ear, filled Kahoko's vision. You're not my most favorite granddaughter for nothing! A loud, brazen laugh that filled her ears and warmed her heart. Kahoko shook herself mentally.
What was it with her and reminiscing today?!
She looked at Nao and smiled. "I won't back out," she said, her voice firm. "And I want to do this."
"Are you sure?"
"Yup!" She nodded and gave them both a grin. She stood up from her seat and began to walk towards the classroom door. The room was empty now except for themselves.
"Where are you going?" asked Mio.
"Bathroom. I'll only be a moment." Kahoko waved at them before turning towards the direction of the girls' bathroom, her footsteps loud in the emptying hallway.
When she was there Kahoko went in front of a mirror and stared at her face, frowning slightly. First it had been Keiichi-kun, and now her grandfather. She fingered the mobile phone in her pocket. How was her grandfather now? And her big brother?
A pang of guilt and sadness washed over her. She had not been able to properly give her goodbyes when her mother dragged both Kahoko and her elder sister out of Tokyo. There had not been much time, given the circumstances. And they had no choice. Kahoko closed her eyes as the memories began flooding in a dizzying rush, memories she had kept tightly locked in a corner of her mind.
"Hino Kahoko, is something the matter?"
Kahoko whirled around quickly, her eyes wide. "Lilly! Kami, you almost frightened me to death!" She clutched at her chest, feeling her heart that threatened to jump out of her ribcage. "Mou, you could have knocked or something!"
The music fairy frowned worriedly at her, his translucent wings fluttering. "I wanted to see you before you perform out on the courtyard today." He tilted his head. "You look pale. And sad."
"It's nothing," Kahoko shook her head slightly, faking a smile. "Just nerves." She avoided further questions by turning around to face the mirror again and leaned over to wash her face. Her blouse hiked up just a bit on her back.
Lilly flew a little closer to her now-exposed lower back. "What does this mean?"
"What?" Kahoko wiped the water off her face and shifted to look behind her. "What does what mean?"
The little fairy rose a few inches until he was directly in her line of sight. "The tattoo on your back. I saw a bit of it. It looks like some sort of mon…wasn't it?"
Kahoko smiled bitterly. "Yeah, it is."
"What does it mean?"
Kahoko hesitated. She had never told anyone about this, not even Mio and Nao. They would not understand, and even if she hated to admit it, Kahoko was afraid of what they would say. But then, Lilly was a fairy, and although she did not know much about him, Kahoko felt he was trustworthy enough with this secret. Hadn't Lilly entrusted a secret of his own to her, too? "Lilly, can you keep a secret?"
"A secret?" Lilly's face suddenly alighted with interest, but he frowned as he noticed Kahoko's expression. "Of course," he said solemnly.
"The mon…it represents the Sumiyoshi-rengo." Kahoko watched Lilly's face for any sign of recognition, but there was none. Only calm patience, waiting for her to continue. Kahoko raised an eyebrow. "You don't know, do you?"
"About what?"
"The Sumiyoshi-rengo." When Lilly shook his head, Kahoko added, "They're also known as the Sumiyoshi-kai."
She watched the music fairy frown, thinking. "What's the Sumiyoshi-kai?"
Kahoko sighed. She looked at Lilly. "The Sumiyoshi-kai is the second largest Yakuza family in Japan." The bitter smile crept onto her lips again, and she looked at herself in the mirror, her words soft and sharp at the same time.
"The Sumiyoshi-kai is my family."
o0o0o0o
Ojou – a term that means "lady", used by a person of lower rank to address a woman who is nobly born. Nowadays, it's used by servants in a great household to address women of the family they serve.
Mon – a crest that symbolizes a clan, family, or in this case, a Yakuza clan.
Sumiyoshi-rengo – (Sumiyoshi-kai) they really are the second largest Yakua family in Japan, with approximately 10,000 members divided into 177 clans. Information from the Yakuza families and other details were researched on the internet on various sites, more prominently wikipedia.
I must stress out that this is a work of fiction. Names of my OCs are entirely fictional, and is in no way intended to represent actual people or (God forbid) actual Yakuza members.