Chapter 7

Okay, let's have a little more light-heartedness. Just to let you guys know, last chapter left Fujitaka's thoughts unsaid. So you don't think him so unkind, he wasn't upset because of Nadesico. He already made a promise to her not to cry. ; )

I love creating angst. ON WITH THE SHOW!!

"This music will make the house a happier place." Okaasan smiled. The family watched with excitement and some curiosity as the movers brought in an organ piano. It was made of cherry wood and was glossed over. It had copper pipes extending out above the black and ivory keys, and there were three gold pedals below. The fourth mover brought in a matching seat with a velvet cushion which Touya couldn't resist reaching out his hand and swept across the soft material as it went passed him.

"So where did it come from?" he asked, his eyes still fixed on the large instrument. "It's from someone who still cares about us." She said with a smile. "You mean her." Touya responded with a frown. "Yes, and you should be nice to her and stop playing tricks on her. She is family, you know." Okaasan chuckled.

"Tell that to her when she fights with papa." Touya grumbled and reached for his father's hand without thinking. He didn't catch the smile between his parents and went into the bedroom where the organ was placed.

No sound came from the instrument as Touya rested his fingers on the keys. He felt the smooth cool keys one by one, wondering how each one of those keys played a tune that could be sweet and clear. The night before, he had been watching an old movie that a masked man playing music on an organ much bigger than Okaasan's and it had frightened Touya to know such loud and dark tones could be the kind of music she played. Even the image had played around in his head of Okaasan lurking around with a mask on and a swooping cape playing the organ. How ridiculous, he thought afterwards. Still, he was afraid to press down on the black and white keys.

"Don't be afraid, Touya." His mother's voice startled him and his hand came down on multiple keys letting out a horrid sound and made him yelp and jump away from the seat. Okaasan laughed. "Are you okay?"

Touya looked at her as a flash of lightning struck, illuminating her face revealing a blue mask on her face and a dark cape.

"AAAAAAHHH!!!" he yelled.

"AAAAAAHHH!!!" she yelled.

Everything went dark.

"Well, it looks as if the lightning has taken the power lines down. Is everything ok?" Father came into the room with a flashlight in one hand and Sakura in the other. "Yes dear, we are fine." Okaasan replied.

"How is your head?"

"Better, the cooling mask works well."

"That's good. You should tie your robe shut, it will keep you warm."

"Right, oh! Where's Touya?"

He felt the flashlight on his face, but couldn't raise his hand to block it, for it was too busy trying to keep his heart from flying out of his chest.

"That will teach you to watch those scary movies at night when you should be in bed." Father chuckled.

"I wasn't scared." Touya protested putting a glare in for good measure. "Of course." Father patted his head.

"Ready?" Okaasan got there attention. Her back was to them, but she turned her head to the side with a smile. Touya sat with Sakura and his father on the bed waiting to hear Okaasan play.

It was like nothing he had ever heard. Touya listened as a beautiful melody floated out of the copper pipe and into his ears. It was nothing like the scary music from the movie. "Your mother used to play the piano for the high school chorus and plays. After school, she would play for me while we ate our dinners in the music room." His father whispered. "She always plays when she is happy. She plays for the ones she loves." Touya smiled at this. That means she is happy right now, the happiest she could be, he thought.

"I wish—" he caught himself.

"You wish what dear?" Okaasan asked still playing. Touya blushed and looked down. "Would you like to learn how to play?" She asked smiling. Touya only nodded. "Then come here and sit with me."

Touya walked over and sat next to her. He looked into her face and saw her eyes were closed while her fingers moved gracefully across the keys. "How do you know which ones to press? There are so many." He asked. He was already tempted to touch the keys.

She smiled and stopped for a moment to take each one of Touya's hands and placed them on the keyboard. "Place a finger here and here..." she murmured, adjusting his hand placement. Touya allowed her to move him over more to his end and wondered if he could really play with what she told him.

"Then move them back, got it?"

He nodded.

"Okay, ready? One and two and..." they began. He pressed exactly where she told him to and moved them back and forth as she had instructed him. He couldn't believe he was making music with her. It felt great and made a smile appear on his face. "This is fun!" he laughed.

"You both sound great." Father said.

"It comes naturally to you. You should try out at school." Mother said.

"Really?" Touya looked up at her with wonder.

"Of course, they have a chorus, band, and orchestra classes in the afternoon. We can enroll you." Father smiled.

"No organ?" Touya frowned.

"Don't worry about that. You can practice with me. It would be nice if you could try another instrument. That way, we could watch you would have a concert uniform and you'd look so handsome..." Mother sighed.

"I'd do it for you." Touya said.

"We would love that." Father said cheerfully.

"Then I want to start tomorrow." Touya said with enthusiasm. His fingers slipped, hitting a wrong note. It startled everyone. Touya cringed and smiled sheepishly. "It's only my first try."

They entered their home taking their shoes off at the door. They had just returned form Touya's orchestra concert at school and they celebrated afterwards by eating out. After dinner, they presented him with a violin. He was overjoyed, however, he asked where and how could they afford it, but they smiled and told him not to worry, just play beautiful music.

So just for them, he played his heart out just like he did at the concert. It had been more difficult then since there were so many eyes on him. He kept his eyes on the conductor and the music sheets, especially when his solo came. He felt the camera flashes and could hear Sakura's squeal, he did his best to concentrate. He definitely preferred playing for his family; he didn't like all the attention from the strangers. Many parents stopped them and congratulated his parents for having such a talented child. Touya wanted to just leave and didn't care what other parents thought of him. He didn't belong to them, yet, they were giving out information to Okaasan and Otousan about special high schools dedicated to talented children.

"This school is magnificent. If he excels in his academics as well he can get into this school. It will look good on his papers."

"If I were you, I'd start looking now."

"My child will be going there."

"He looks so mature. You should invest in placing him in kendo classes. He is tall and strong looking."

"Have you thought about private schools?"

Touya hated it all. It reminded of him of that terrible morning on the ledge. He had only joined the class because it made Okaasan happy to hear him play. To him that was all that mattered. He finished and they all clapped, even Sakura who kept clapping, enjoying the sound it made. They sat down together and drank tea and talked about the future dig otousan was going to lead for the first time. Touya sat between them with Sakura on his lap and for once she wasn't pulling is hair.

He looked up at his mother and sighed. The thought of what was to come struck him and for some reason his thoughts went to Sakura. She knew nothing of what was about to happen. She was beginning to comprehend most conversations and speak in her dainty voice. Perhaps it was time to start telling her about the spirit world. Touya clutched her a little tighter to him. Yes, he thought with determination, I must teach her and take care of her now. It has to start now.

I'm so glad to have gotten so far in this story. I hope you all enjoy it. I will start to get more into what's happening to Touya. I know some of you are probably wondering if you'll hear anything about Yukito in this story. All I can say is, nothing is impossible. Peachy!!