Puppy Love
Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro.
Chapter 4: Trouble
It was a bright and warm morning. The birds were out playing and the squirrels were out playing. With a cool breeze, it seemed a perfect and peaceful morning. Well, can't say the same for the Hino household though.
"MOM! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!!!!!" Kahoko shouted as she hurriedly descended the stairs, eating the toast and drinking the orange juice her mother held out before she ran out of her house in a mad dash. Her older sister yawned as she smirked lightly, still in her beige pajamas. "Why aren't you dressed up yet, dear? It's quite late already." Their mother asked, as she placed the glass cup in the sink.
"It's okay. I made all the clocks in the house 30 minutes earlier, so Kaho can get to school on time." She replied as she took a carton of milk out from their refrigerator. Their mother giggled as she continued to wash the dishes. She dried them out before wiping her hands in a nearby rag and she whistled. No response.
"You're calling Ren? He doesn't respond to a whistle." Kaho's sister told her, "But, seriously, where could he be? He usually sleeps on the couch in the living room."
Kahoko sighed as she placed her bag on her desk before collapsing on her chair. Mio and Nao laughed as they told her the time when she came in a little too early. "Stupid sister…" she sighed dejectedly as she prepared to open her bag before there was a sudden movement and a bark. Mio and Nao said in unison, "Her bag is moving!" as Kahoko opened her bag quickly and Ren's head popped out as he took a long breath, 'That's the last time I do something this stupid.'
"Ren?! Why are you here?" Kahoko exclaimed before Mio picked him up and gave him a tight hug, "He's soo cute!" Ren yelped, 'Let go of me!' he hacked a little after Mio finally placed him down. Nao leaned her head on her hand, watching Kahoko scan the empty classroom and finally she sighed, "We might as well place your dog on the school grounds, then just find for him later. Dogs aren't allowed inside the classroom." Kahoko nodded before scooping Ren in her arms and running quickly downstairs.
Ren sighed as Kahoko placed him down, petted him slightly before going back to her classroom just before a few more people came in. He slumped on the cool ground, 'That girl should try for a marathon.' He shook his blackish blue fur before padding off on the school grounds. 'Now to find for that fairy…' His best bet was to find him by the statue, but he seems to be somewhere else.
Lili, on the other hand, was in fairy world. After he had kept Len's school bag and violin, he had concluded that he should find a cure for Len before he snaps Lili's head off. He was currently in the library, flying around furiously trying to find for a book. It had been so long since he returned to his hometown, so he had a hard time finding for a book and when he eventually found one, it had been a very thick, dull book with words so little you had to use a magnifying glass to read them. 'This is going to take longer than I expected, No da…"
Ren finally slumped on the roof floor, panting with his pink tongue stinking out. Stupid fairy… he whined in dog language. The sun was already setting and he could hear that Kahoko was practicing her violin in one of the practice rooms. He had somehow memorized the sound of her violin. Each and every violin made a distinct sound that made them their own and Kahoko's violin sounded light and sweet. He shook of the tiredness and padded down the stairs.
Tsuchiura Ryoutaro was grumbling as he checked his ankle again. Thanks to that he wouldn't be able to play soccer for that season; he was grumbling again and now limping towards the stairs when he saw dark blue in front of him…Ren… Wait…he wasn't going crazy too, right? He slapped his dark skin with a hand and shook his head furiously, green hair messing up. When he looked again, sure enough Ren was sitting there staring at him. He could swear that there was a hint of smugness in his big gold eyes, but that was impossible.
With a slight huff from Ren, Tsuchiura scooped up the little pup in one big hand effortlessly and hobbled back to his original destination, the music rooms where he was supposed to meet Kahoko. He tried to walk normally, hoping that Kahoko wouldn't notice it as he padded softly through the long hall of music rooms and he stopped at the room Kahoko had reserved for the day, but stopped shortly when he noticed that she was only standing still, her violin clasped in one hand and the bow in another.
Ren could've sworn that she was crying as crystal like droplets were momentarily seen through the glass.
Kahoko looked at the lone empty desk in front of her. Just a moment ago, she had been walking home with Tsuchiura. She had been rather surprised of his ankle and fervently hoped that it would get better soon. She was even more surprised when she saw Ren, whining in his arms, rather hand. As they were walking home, Tsuchiura limping while Kahoko helped him, she realized that she forgot a book in her classroom.
Tsuchiura offered to take Ren home and she hesitantly agreed. She, after all, really needed that book; there was a big test the next day. She had already gotten her book, and then she came across the borderline between the Music Department and General Ed. She wondered if anybody took some notes or left some things for Tsukimori. She decided to check it out.
Most of the students had already went home considering the time just a few people were left as they loitered around the halls not really minding her although some did stare at her. Then she came across his classroom and his desk. Some of the students' desks were filled with scribbles usually music notes or just doodles. His was as clean as a blank paper, not a trace of anybody occupying it either.
A thin sheet of dust was on the top desk and no traces of books, paper or pencils were inserted in the desk; while other students' were jam packed with it. It was blank…but she was sure it was her desk. When she was out with the cold, Mio or Nao would always leave her class notes and the assigned homework. Tsukimori Len didn't have any friends and always kept everything to himself…no wonder and yet, why did she feel like crying? Why does she pity him when he brought it on to himself? Why was she crying for him? Thoughts like these swirled around her head as she daintily traced her
It was finally Saturday and they were all due to visit the Tsukimori family. Kahoko glumly woke up at dawn, while Ren was curled up near her cotton pillow. Her eyes were red from crying all night. She was glad she didn't wake up her puppy. She grabbed her pink diary and placed it on her mahogany desk before she sat down, quietly pulling the chair.
She started scribbling,
Yesterday, I started to cry for Tsukimori-kun and surprisingly, I can't stop crying. I skipped dinner last night and now, I'm really hungry and worried. We haven't heard anything from Tsukimori-kun since he disappeared. He doesn't call his parents and
Here she paused slightly as she wiped her nose with a hand and began writing again.
I found out that he doesn't have any friends, but why should I be concerned with this? We're not even friends, so why? Why am I so worried? Why do I care so much? Why do I feel like crying right now, even as I write this…what is wrong with me? I miss him and yet it feels more than that at the same time.
She paused again as she flipped through the pages of her diary. For the past week, she had been only writing about Tsukimori, she noticed and Tsuchiura, her boyfriend, was only mentioned when he asked her out. She shook her head and wrote something about him.
Tsuchiura-kun broke his ankle today at practice and he took Ren home for me, because I had to go to school and get a book, but then I sidetracked and found out another thing about Tsukimori-kun. His desk was really clean and
She closed her diary and locked it up. She was writing about Tsukimori-kun again. She placed her diary between some books on a shelf and the key she placed it inside her accessory box. She sighed and headed towards the bathroom, hoping to cool herself down.
Ren woke up to the sound of an opening shower. He could smell a fruity scent coming from the bathroom and ink somewhere else. He didn't like the idea of Tsuchiura bringing him home, especially since he brought him back to Kahoko's home by carrying Ren through his collar. He placed his head on his paws and breathed Kahoko's scent through her pillow. He wondered…what took Kahoko so long yesterday?
By nine o'clock, everybody was assembled before the Tsukimori mansion. Ren was being pulled on a leash that Kahoko's sister bought for him. He was seated before the huge gates of his family's mansion. 'Home sweet home…' He sighed as Hamai Misa opened the doors to welcome her guests. And all walked towards the house.
Hamai Misa's husband was waiting inside the living room as they entered; Len's grandparents were there as well as they all stood up to greet their guests. Misa had allowed them to explore the house and even to go into Len's room, much to Ren's dismay. She dangled a key in front of Kahoko that allowed her to unlock Len's room, while she made snacks.
Kahoko trotted upstairs with two curious green haired men and a very hesitant Ren. She anxious and curious at the same time, wondering what was inside the aloof azure-haired man's room. She unlocked it and with her heart thumping like crazy, opened the door.
A clean scent overpowered Ren's nose as they entered his room. He sniffed around and scanned around as well. His white sheets were neatly arranged on his bed, window closed shut with the white curtains closed as always. His music stand stood folded next to the window, leaning on the pale blue walls. His mahogany desk was tidy as well, books neatly arranged and papers pressed and kept.
The small group stared in awe as they scanned their surroundings. "Are you sure we got the right room?" Tsuchiura remarked. "Not even my room is this clean!" Kahoko exclaimed as she checked the door again. Sure enough, there was a small sign that read Tsukimori Len in neat handwriting by the doorknob. "This way too clean, no wonder Tsukimori-kun always looks so tidy. It's like a girl's room!" Hihara laughed as Tsuchiura chuckled along with him. Ren growled at them for a moment, but Kahoko simply smiled before scooping him, gesturing her companions to follow her as they made their way down.
A little later, Kahoko was up in Len's room again. It was already past noon and Misa had told them they were free to look everywhere. She traced her fingers on the top of his desk and sighed. She was supposed to be looking for Ren who had disappeared while they were talking in the living room. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling that he would be here as she looked up and down the room.
Ren was crouched down under his desk, not wanting to go to the Hino house again. 'I will find that fairy and demand a cure, so that they would stop worrying and they won't barge into my room again.' Suddenly, he smelled rose's dew. 'Yunoki-senpai?' he questioned as the said senior made his way to Kahoko who was searching under the bed.
Kahoko stood up, feeling someone behind her, "Yunoki-senpai?! What are you doing here?" she yelped as tumbled onto the bed behind her. Yunoki chuckled slightly, "My, my Hino-san, you really are clumsy." Kahoko was laughing nervously.
Ren wondered, 'What was that all about?' Then just as suddenly as he had arrived, he pinned Kahoko down on the bed and spoke in his dark voice, "I hate clumsy girls like you." Ren's ears perked up and he looked at the scene again. Yunoki's arms were on either side of Kahoko's face, his eyes holding a dark gleam. 'Y-Yunoki-senpai?!' Ren thought in disbelief as he continued to listen to their conversation. "Why, oh why did you have to lose your dog, then I wouldn't have to help you people look for it." His face placed on a dark smile as he chuckled, "Well, I'll have to give you a punishment for misbehaving, my dear toy." He then swooped down, his long hair covering both their faces as Ren continued to stare on.
After a grueling 30 hours, Lili had finally found the book, but not the result he was hoping for. His trembling little hands dropped the thick book with a resounding echo throughout the library. His blue eyes held horror in them as he reread the page over and over again.
In order to reverse a spell that was placed by accident, the victim must then first chant the ritual (See page 1900), place in two locks of his hair and kill the fairy responsible for the curse…
It went on, but Lili was too afraid to read it any longer. He had also managed to gather that if Ren wasn't changed back to Len by two months, then he would stay like that forever. "What am I going to do, no da…" he pondered, scratching his head.
Author's Note: Whew, it's super hot here! I can't concentrate at all…sorry it took so long. Sorry for any spelling and grammatical errors. Hope you enjoy! Send me some suggestions on what you'd like to expect or how the next chapter should be. Reviews much appreciated.
