Chapter Three

Al chiora di Luna

I was running at an unending road of emptiness, all alone. This was a pointless, endless run. I looked around couldn't find anything. I felt nothing. There was no air to breathe in. I could feel my tongue drying up. I could feel my chest burning with pain. I felt exhausted, but I couldn't stop. Instincts told me I must run away from a hidden beast. I don't even know why? How and when did this start? I stumbled and couldn't get back up again. I felt like I was glued on the dark black floor. I was submerging into the dark. I tried to resist but I can't. The darkness looming around me was eating me up. Then I saw fierce golden eyes staring at me, prying. I didn't know where it came from; they just looked at me mercilessly. I felt like a helpless prey waiting for her predator to finally devour her.

My heart was thumping faster now. It was the only sound I heard. Sweat flooded all over me.

'Die.' A hush voice repeated again and again. The second sound I heard. It grew louder and louder. And as its volume increased the rage grew tenser. Then came a loud shriek, covering my ears as though it would help. It didn't, the shrilling scream had penetrated my eardrums and it sent me half dead. I watched the darkness around me crumble into pieces. I felt emptier, lightheaded. This was a sickening psychotic game. I was trembling for the fact that I know nothing about what was happening and for the fact that I was alone.

Suddenly, I heard tapping footsteps. I searched for where it came from, hoping that this was company. Just as I was about to give up on my search there stood a man. I couldn't see his face. It was hidden under and "oni" masked. His presence brought danger more than security. We were silent, just standing before each other.

Then he got something from his pocket, metallic and heavy. He held it before me. A gun. He pushed the trigger slowly. Instinctively, I closed my eyes ready to embrace whatever might befall on me after this. "Die." That was the same hush voice as that from a while ago. He pushed the trigger. [Bang]

Again, she found herself gasping and panting. She was also bathed in her own sweat but this time she woke up at exactly 12:00 in the midnight.

Ding-dong-ding. Her old wall clock chimed as both its short hand and long hand reached the no. 12. She lay on her bed, her thoughts drifting to what had happened that night.

[Flashback]

Kaho and Yunoki stared at each other, their forheads resting on each other. That moment felt like eternity but Kahoko moved away from Yunoki, her tears welling up. How dare he hurt me once more? How dare he play with my emotions again? Her feelings were in havoc. She slapped him hard on his right cheek, causing a mark on his skin. He stood frozen, still looking heralded and proud before Kahoko.

"Stop playing with my feelings, Yunoki." Tears. She ran away getting back inside, looking for Len. But he was no at the table where she had left him. He was nowhere around her sight. Where are you Tsukimori-san? She opened her cell phone about to call him but she noticed a miss call and a text message from him. He has left me She thought and more tears flooded her eyes. She felt so alone, isolated more than she ever was.

[End of Flashback]

Maybe Tsukimori-san did have an emergency call. Kaho sighed, the thorny kiss still stung her.

Then she drifted back to sleep.

Len had not been able to sleep, the images of Kahoko and Yunoki kissing just kept coming back in his thoughts. What do you care about it? It's none of your business if they did kiss. He kept trying himself that, trying to shove away whatever it was in his thoughts. However, it just does not work, the harder he tried to forget the more it stayed in his thoughts. He looked to his right and saw his violin that had always accompanied him in times of loneliness and isolation. Then images of Kahoko flooded his thoughts. It was her image as a violinist- the violinist who had tampered some of Len's perspectives in life. Though, he refuses to admit it. Then the thought of Kahoko not wanting to play the violin ever again disheartened him- she has the heart to play it. Why Kaho? He asked in silence. He reminisced a scene from the past.

[Flashback]

It was the first time Len saw Kahoko. She saw her just staring at her violin. Without a knock, he came in the room causing Kaho to jerk.

"Why are you here?" Len asked harshly. Kahoko stood up and bowed down before him as a greeting. Then she looked up to him.

"W-well, s-sensei told me I could use any practice room I like." She stammered, tensed.

"This is my practice room." He uttered,

"I'll look for another one. Gome Nasai." She stood up nervously, heading to the door.

"I practice 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. I don't get why a normal student was able to enter the concours. " The insult halted Kahoko. It stung her.

[End of Flashback]

Remembering that day made him regret why he even said those words to her. He stood up and went out to his terrace, bringing his violin. Kahoko dominated his thoughts and to his surprise he played the 'Ave Maria'

That day Kahoko woke up around 5:00 in the morning. She freshened up, the water streaming on her body coldly. Then she remembered Len- his so-called smile. The thought of it made her giggle. She was dressed in her white skirt and pink blouse, ready to go to school but as soon as she was about to leave the house, she realizes it was a weekend.

"Gosh! How could I possibly forget the day?" She asked herself as she went back inside her house. Kahoko then decided to cook something to eat for her breakfast-a ham and cheese omelet. As she ate her breakfast, her thoughts were drifting back to Len's smile- that weird scripted smile. She laughed at the thought.

"What's he doing right now?" She wondered, He had not contacted her yet; she'd been waiting for that darn call from him. She just has to know everything was okay. I hope he'd call.

Her thoughts were shifted when she saw her violin, lifeless and had been untouched. She missed it. She misses the feeling of that magical dreamy sensation that flowed in her once she touches it and starts playing a piece.

Caution. She told herself. She knows if she starts playing once again, she'll become vulnerable, more vulnerable than she ever was. She has become strong over the years and she did not want that to crumble specially not now. One day when she's finally broke those chains that bounded her with her past, she had promised herself she'll play it again but that dream seems so unreachable. Yunoki had shook her world once more. The spark, the magic and the sensation were still there, perfectly jiving to create a havoc of emotions in her heart.

"As usual you still are careless Kaho. Those eyes of yours tells me you stilll are longing for me, for my caress, my kiss. You long for everything of me. You still love me Kaho." Yunoki's voice rang in her thoughts again and again. The way he stares at her and the way she caressed her- they made her heart beat fast once again Am I falling for you the second time around? She hated the fact that she indeed was vulnerable as a lamb before her sly wolf. Tears welled up. She just can't hel but cry. The thought of him disheartened her, a havoc of fathomless feelings. Pain. Love. Hurt. Longing. Remorse. These emotions had been buried deep down, resented for over two years but now it has been dug up and she can't bury it again.

Then 8:000 came, she was about to go out to breath in some fresh air. As she was about to open her door, there came a knock.

Tsukimori-san. She thought and to her surprise she was opening it enthusiastically, wearing a smile on her face.

"Kahochan, Ohayou Gozaimasu." It was not Len to her dismay but still she was glad to see her visitor; a green-haired giddy trumpet player; Hihara.

"Hihara-senpai, it's a pleasure to see you. What brought you here?" She asked.

"Were you going somewhere?" He asked, nervous that he might have disturbed Kahoko.

"Not really. Well, I was on my way to braeth some fresh air. I could attend to your visit." As always Kaho had worn that light anf kind aura around people despite the heavy feelings she had awhile ago.

"I wanted to see you. Yunoki…" He sopped at the mention of his name, trying to see what impact it had on her. She smiled, though deep inside her, hearing that name felt like a sword piercing her slowly. "He told me you came with Tsukimori-san. I didn't get a chance to see you there so I decided to ask Fuyumi-san where you lived. I'm going to Seiso academy today and I'd like to invite you to come along, if you have no other things to be done." Finally after that very long story he has said what he had to.

"Sure. It's a weekend. I have no work so I can." She uttered with a smile. It has been two years since Kaho had not visited her old school and maybe it was best to go there today.

On the road just in front of her a blue motorbike was parked.

"Is that yours Hihara-senpai?" The way she adressed him brought back old times. Hihara had always been her cheerer , he had comforted her in times Yunoki failed her and he always placed a smile on her face but he never soother the pain. Only one person could do that; the cold-hearted blue-haired violinist.

"Hai." He giddily uttered handing a helmet to her as he wore his own helmet on his messy green hair. Then they were hovering off the street.

They did not know someone had been watching them from afar. His sold golden eyes transfixed to them He stood there for a minute.

There she goes again, away with another man. Once more you've lost. He gripped the case of his violin tighter. The cold-hearted blue-haired violinist saw her smile to another man again. Tsukimor Len regretted his slowness and walked away.

"Hino-san it's been awhile." Hiroto Kanazawa-sensei and Shinobu Ousaki-sensei greeted her. She was overjoyed at the sight of these people from her past. She was just happy to see them again. Tears of joys came flooding in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Ousaki-sensei asked, worried.

"No. I'm just happy to be here again." She explained, a half smile formed on her face.

"So how's life?" Kanzawa-sensei asked, interested. "New lovelife?" Kaho wiped her tears away, putting on a giddy smile.

"I'm teaching in a school together with Tsukimori-san." With the mention of Len's name associated as a teacher the teachers twitched their faces in disbelief. Hihara was surprised as well.

"Teacher? Tsukimori-san?" The threee laughed finding humor at their new discovery.

"That's simply preposterous." Hihara continued laughing. He never imagined Len as a teacher.

"I pity his students." Kanzawa-sensei commented, knowing how harsh and stern Len could be. Kahoko just smiled in agreement.

"But didn't he have a beautiful career as a violinist? I heard he's really famous in Europe, specially in Italy." Ousaki-sensei uttered. "But why did he resort to teaching?"

"I have no idea. He never said a word about it." Kaho uttered.

"Speaking of professions, I heard Hihara-san here is performing in an orchestra." They shifted their focus on Hihara. He blushed, timidly scratching his green mess hair.

"Senpai, you didn't tell me/" How would he? They never communicated for 2 years. Besides the last concert she watched was Len's at Italy and after that no more.

"Well.. I'm having fun with them, next week we're having a concert and my maestro had given me a solo. Here's an invitation." He handed each to them. It was on a Wednesday.

"Okay. I'll try but I'm not quite sure. It's going to be on a Wednesday, I have to attend the next day." Kahoko explained.

"But I'll still be hoping you'd be there." If there was one guest that shouldn't miss his first solo performance, it was Kahoko. He liked Kahoko a lot even when they were still in high school but of course she had chosen Yunoki and he respected that but it never tampered his feelings for her.

"Could I bring Tsukimori-san along?" Kahoko hesitated but still asked.

"If he'll have the interest. You know him: Hihara uttered. He wasn't really planning to ask him to watch his performance but if it would assure him Kahoko would be there then there' s no way he's not inviting him.

"Why not give us a sample? Ousaki-sensei asked.

"A little teaser. We might drop all our schedule and go to that concert if you're worth watching." Kanazawa-sensei suggested. Hihara looked at Kahoko, asking for an approval. She smiled at him and nodded- it's been years since she last heard him play and she'd like to hear him one more time. Hihara got his trumpet and started playing a Gavotte, the piece they once played together, and a smile was painted on her face again. After Hihara had played the piece the three clapped at his performance, he had grown to be a better musician.

They toured around the school, reminiscing their happy moments together. He had cheered him up again. They had lunch and dinner at the restaurant near the school and then they were hovering home. That time the moon had went up already, illuminating the park she once had played a piece. The trees still stood beautifully there and the wind jived with the music that was so familiar to her ear.

"Senapi, let's park here for a while. I want to see who is playing the violin right now." She requested and of course Hihara had given her what she wanted. The piece was no doubt, Ave Maria, the piece that had always soothed her and is soothing her as of the moment. It was undoubtly him and her eyes, upon seeing him playing at the midst of the trees under the light of the moon, had told her she was right.

"Tsukimori-san?" Hihara was surprised to see him there. Kahoko signaled him to keep quiet and hide under the bushes. She didn't want him to see them, remembering that Len did not want anyone disturbing him once he starts playing. This was enough. To see him play form a far was enough.

Kahoko felt her heart floating in the air, dreaming. By the light of the moon I see you play it. By the light of the moon I hear your music in my ears. Even from afar you have soothed my heart. Arigatou. Tsukimori-san.

By the light of the moon…

Al chiaro di Luna…

Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you'll review this and for my previous reviewers, I thank you so much it means a lot to me.