Their Relationship
Their Relationship
Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro
Author: Those who were wondering why Sarah became a candidate will find out soon in this chapter.
Chapter 4: Broken
It was colder than usual as rain was expected in Seiso Academy. Kahoko ran and made it to class just in time before the bell rang. As soon as she reached her seat, she swooned from her chair and almost collapsed if not for her desk and Mio. Both her friends were worried about their red-headed friend.
She seemed paler than usual and her body felt hot. She seemed to have a fever, but refused to go to the nurse's office. It was finally lunch time and Kahoko could feel her fever growing worse. Both Mio and Nao were worried and still insisted on bringing Kahoko to the nurse's office. Kahoko then finally gave in.
Len was running which was rather unusual for a guy like him. He panted to himself, "This is the last time I'll ever eat in the cafeteria again." He looked back and forth to see if there was any fan girls that followed him.
None.
He noticed his girlfriend walking away from where the General Department's classrooms are usually located. "Hino-san…" He called in case someone else was listening and then right before his eyes he saw her collapse. "Kahoko!"
Kahoko held her head as she woke up from her slumber. She remembered a faint call of her name before she collapsed. She looked around; she was on a white bed covered by a white curtain. She wondered how she got there when she noticed a weight pressed again the side of her bed. It was Len, who was apparently sleeping.
She smiled warmly as she gazed at his face. He was truly handsome. His pale skin was illuminated in the warm afternoon sun. His lips were pursed like before when he slept on her shoulder. He had long eyelashes for a boy and his eyelids covered the piercing gold eyes that soften only for her. His blue hair covered most of his face and some of it reached near her pillow. Her hand went up to brush his bangs away and was amazed at how soft it felt under her fingertips like silk.
Her action caused him to stir as he opened his eyes looked at her before sitting up, murmuring to himself. He looked up and asked, "How are you feeling, Kahoko?" She smiled, "I'm better, but still a little dizzy." He gave her a rare smile and stood up. "I better go to class." Kahoko nodded then sadly looked away. She had wished that he stayed with her, but she couldn't be selfish, right?
Len looked at her before playing that familiar smirk on his face and pinning her to her bed in a flash, startling her. She blushed that ferocious red again when he said, "Or would you prefer me staying here? I could do wonders for that fever of yours." She stammered and was about to say something when they felt the door swing. It was the nurse. She called out, "Hino-san, are you awake?" She thanked the Lord for the opaque curtain covering the bed.
Kahoko heard Len sigh and left a quick peck on her forehead before rising up and meeting the nurse himself. Kahoko was left at the bed, wondering how much more of this side of his will he show.
Len sighed as he opened the door to his house; he had just left a still sick Kahoko in her house. He noticed that the lights were on in the living room. He approached the door and was surprised to find his parents and his grandparents in the room. His mother motioned him to come inside. He obeyed and took the seat beside his father who looked worried. "Len…" his mother started, "we have news for you."
Kahoko sneezed as her mother placed her in her bed, a thermometer in her hand. Her mother seemed to be examining it as she showed Kahoko her temperature. "102 degrees…" she said to herself. Her mother left the room to give her a bowl of chicken soup. She sighed and decided to rest. She needed her energy and suddenly her cell phone rang.
The loud ringing disturbed the peaceful ambiance of her room and she groaned. She checked the caller ID to see that it was Len. She flipped her phone and said, "Hello?"
His voice came through the other side, "Kahoko."
"Len, what is it?"
A long pause was filled between the two.
"Len?"
"Can I come over tomorrow?"
The question was blunt and abrupt. "W-what?!"
"I'll come by at around 10 o'clock. Goodnight."
Then the line was suddenly cut off. "What was that about?..." Kahoko wondered as she placed the electronic gadget back to its place on her desk. Len placed the phone back to its receiver and he sighed. He'd have to explain it to her tomorrow.
A knock resounded on the door as Mrs. Hino ran to get it. It was only 9 o'clock in the morning, so she wondered who it could be. She opened the door and there stood Tsukimori Len in a white buttoned shirt with a pair of blue pants. He bowed respectfully to the older woman and said, "I'm Tsukimori Len. Good morning, ma'am." The woman was stunned, what was he doing here?
As if reading her mind, he told her, "I have a few things I would like to discuss with you, Hino-san. I'm currently dating your daughter, Kahoko." He said those words with a straight and determined face. Mrs. Hino did nothing but welcome him to seat on the small sofa of Hino living room.
Kahoko wanted to get up and get ready so that she can inform her mother on Len's arrival but she still felt tired. She checked the clock to see it was already nine forty-five. She might as well get up. She quickly changed into a blue blouse and white pants. She was tying her hair in a knot when someone opened the door.
Looking at the door, she was surprised to see Len. What surprised her more was her mother was giving him a pat in the back and left. She dropped her hairclip in stunned silence. She felt Len bend down to pick it up and gave it to her before pulling her into a hug. Her brown eyes widened, "…Len?"
"I already told your mother, Kahoko." His voice was muffled as his lips were covered by her messy red hair.
"About us?" She gulped at their close distance. She felt like she could melt in his arms.
"Yes, about our relationship."
"How did she take it?"
She pulled back to look at his expression, "She knew already. She told me that the moment she saw me walking you to your house that night when you became Cinderella, she knew."
"And does she approve?"
Lens smiled, "She gave her best blessings." Kahoko hugged him this time, expressing whatever gratitude she had. His hand pressed against the small of her back as she felt him tremble, "Len?"
"Are you feeling alright?" Len asked as he touched her forehead. She blushed and placed his hand away, "I'm fine." He smiled and told her, "Get ready and fix yourself. We'll be leaving soon." She pouted and pushed him playfully out of the door, "Alright, now leave." As she shut the door, she could have sworn seeing him smirk.
After a wink from her mother, Kahoko and Len both left the house. She had noticed that he brought his violin with him. She was about to ask him why he brought when Kahoko's stomach growled; the question flinging out of her mind. He chuckled as she blushed and playfully hit him as he began to run away from her.
They stopped at a small restaurant. He looked at her warmly as they discussed how he had explained to her mother. He had told her that his parents knew from the start that he liked her and that they were made for each other. He was blushing when he said that which made Kahoko giggle.
She finished her breakfast and both finally left to their destination. They first went to a music store in a mall as Kahoko needed to buy music sheets. Kahoko had playfully brushed some ink on his hand when they went to a shop to buy some rosin for their violins. The ink was for sale to those who need it. Len of course retaliated by dragging her out of the store with their purchase and tickling her through her back.
Finally it was around five o'clock when they finally left the mall as they watched the sun set by the beach. It was then that Len asked her to sit and he brought his violin under his chin and played her favorite, Ave Maria. As each piercing note filled her senses, it somehow seemed to tell a sad tale, different from how Len usually performs it.
When he finished playing, he caught her looking at him with sad eyes. He neared her and sat beside her in the sand. Kahoko looked at him with her bright brown eyes, "Len, your playing was different than usual…" Before she could say anything else, she felt his lips pressed against hers in a sensual kiss.
After parting, both looked at each others eyes as Len spoke, "I was given a scholarship to a music college." Kahoko smiled and said, "That's wonderful, Len…." She stopped when she noticed his sad smile, "Len…?"
"I'm leaving for Australia as soon as we graduate this spring." Kahoko's smile disappeared as stunned silence replaced it. Len continued, "I'll be back in a few years or so, but that's not the worst part…" He could feel her trembling; he knew she was crying. "Campbell-san's father is the principal of the school and I have to be with her. My parents only agreed to have her as my fiancé candidate, because her father insisted."
Kahoko was crying. She could feel it as tears rolled down her cheeks, dampening them. Words left her lips before she could comprehend, "You're leaving me?" She was sobbing and he hated it. He bowed his head as he looked at the sand, "My parents had already accepted it before I got home from school yesterday…"
Kahoko gave him a sad teary smile, "It's best for you, Len…" He could see the sadness in her eyes. He sighed, "I can't let you commit yourself to me, Kahoko. I-I might not come back and I might not be able to see you again…But even at that fact will you still wait and see what will happen?" She sat there as silence filled the air. No words were exchanged from the two as Len finally got up, "It was nice to know, Kahoko, that I was your first boyfriend and I'm happy that you chose me of all people." He started.
"I'll take the silence as our break up…I'll bring you home now." He offered a hand to the auburn haired woman but she just sat there, her eyes still watering. He hesitated to leave her in the cold, but he decided it was best. He placed his jacket around her shoulders as he left her to sit there. "Goodnight…"
Tears still rolled from her eyes. She wanted to scream to him and the world that she didn't want him to leave; he didn't want him to break up with her. Though she pondered it herself, was she ready for life-long commitment? She still thought of it as she watched the wave crash against the shore line. She remembered when they had stayed there before his mother's concert. Finally, she left the cold and deserted beach.
The days seemed to past by slowly as Kahoko's mood dampened more and more. Her friends worried about her even the mischievous fairy, Lili. It was finally their graduation, but neither of the two violinist participants was happy. All have heard of Len leaving as the new set of girls picked out yet another male idol from the remaining sophomores. This time it was Keiichi Shimizu.
Kahoko was still downhearted as the participants had planned to accompany Len in last few moments in Japan. All his fan girls would be there to. She gave each of them a sad and weary smile as she trekked to a restaurant with her relatives to celebrate her graduation. She still pondered why she didn't speak to Len about her feelings yet. Is it because she was unsure of her feelings? She loved him. She blushed and said it under her breath, "I love Tuskimori Len…" Her mouth turned into a beautiful smile as her lips curled up. She finally realized it and celebrated joyfully with her family as she will tell her decision to him tomorrow.
The next day, a very much annoyed Len looked as he stared at those who came to say goodbye to him. Tsuchiura had a smirk on his face. Hihara, Yunoki and Shimizu were giving their best regards as Fuyuumi looked around to find Kahoko, but she no where in sight. In a taxi, Kahoko almost yelled at the driver when he missed her stop at the airport and went overboard. She was late!
An announcer's voice sounded throughout the airport, "Passengers for the flight to Australia please board in gate A7. I repeat…" Len sighed as he checked the crowd that had formed to wave him goodbye. His parents and grandparents stood in front of the crowd; the participants followed next then his fan girls, but still no Kahoko in sight. He was about to board the plane when a voice caught his attention.
"LEN!!"
He turned back and gold eyes widened as Hino Kahoko ran to his direction. People here and there were dumbfounded. "Did Hino just…?" Tsuchiura started as he and everybody else gave a confused look. Kahoko came and panted as she stood in front of Len who was just as stunned. Then with a determined look in her eyes, she told him, "Len, I don't care how long I have to wait for your return. I don't care if you'll love another and never come back to me." Her eyes were getting watery again.
"All I care is that…"Tears rolled down, "I love you!" Len's eyes widened and his lips pursed into a smile as he hugged her in front of everybody and whispered words only she can and will hear. He then pulled back and gave her a small red box. He then told her, "Please don't open it until I and everyone else leaves."
She nodded and sharing a final kiss, Len walked away. As soon as he left, questions here and there were asked. She patiently answered each and every one of them before finally the crowd dispersed and she was left alone in the airport.
She then sat on one of the many chairs of the airport and opened the small box, gasping. Inside the red box, a ring was located. A small ruby sat in the middle and two slightly smaller brown gems were beside each side of it. The base was made of gold and what was inscribed in the box made her cry even more, remembering the words he had told her before he left.
"I love you." As a stray tear rolled down her cheek, the airport's ambiance contemplated with her mood.
Author: Wow…I'm sorry if you will get confused with this chapter. It was confusing to type as well. Sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors. As for those who were asking about Sarah, her father is principal and she's filthy rich though I don't think that the Tsukimori's would do anything about… Anyways, thanks for your support, don't worry I won't leave it at that.
