The Art of Music
Sorry for the late update, and though this chapter is shorter than most—I'm sure there's still surprises installed for you. Anyway enjoy your summer!
Chapter 9: The Prodigy who Quitted
When I unlocked my door, the least I had expected was to see handsome males in my apartment. Their worried eyes welcomed mine, I gasp as my gaze traveled throughout my living room.
Somehow I didn't like the fact of them being in my apartment like they owned it. But before I could voice my question, I was bombarded head on by theirs.
"Do you know how late it is?"
"Why did you leave the recital?"
"Is something wrong Kaho-chan?"
I stared at them strangely for a second; everything was being process in a slow pace. My mind was still in a daze, so clouded and drunk from the music in the park. The raw sound of the electric violin still made my skin crawl—in a good way—and a pair of crimson eyes flashed in my mind.
"Kaho-chan?" Hihara moved toward me, one hand up and moving from left to right. And then I snapped from that dream world and back to my situation at hand.
I was still shock at the fact of uninvited guests in my apartment, so much, that I fail to realize that Hihara had moved to first name basic.
But what I miss was not applied to the others. Their eyebrows raised or eyes twitching from either surprise or jealousy.
"Ummm…I'm…I'm…huh? Why are you guys here?" I asked randomly, now that my brain was finally working—I started to recognize what I once thought were strangers.
Tsuchiura had his long slender fingers massaging the bridge of his nose, his head lowered in a way that could only appear tired and worn out. He sighed but did not lift his gaze.
Hihara was close—too close—to my face, his eyes filled in pools of concern. It almost made me feel guilty, for whatever I had done, but the fact that I had done nothing wrong only made me more twisted in confusion.
Yunoki on the other hand had an evil smirk masked by a gentleman smile. Like he knew what I did wrong, and wouldn't hesitate in saying it out loud.
Aoi had his eyebrows furrowed, his lips drawn tight into a frown. While Shimizu-kun had half lids eyes, his face peaceful yet sleepy.
Rui had an unreadable expression, but it needed no detective to know he was just as worried as everyone else.
"Sit down first." Amou, who I had failed to notice appeared beside me, and started to move me closer toward the living room once closing the door.
I sat on my leather black couch, and stared up at my friends who seem to tower me like giants.
"First of all, why did you leave all of a sudden?" Amou asked in that very journalist voice she used when interviewing someone. I almost felt caged, and it didn't make me feel any better that I was being interrogated.
"Uh…I was stressed?" I answered, uncertain to why I had left. I mean I couldn't just go and say 'I couldn't breathe, and felt like running away. I recalled memories of my past with a certain fairy…'
Puff, like it will make any sense to them. Not when I didn't understand it myself.
"Where did you go then?" Amou fired her second question, seemly accepting my first answer.
"To a festival held in a park…" I said softly, feeling as if I spoke any louder they might read my mind. Although I'm sure they didn't need such a power when they could just stare at my cheeks and note their redness.
"Do you know how worried you made us?" She exclaimed at last, before jumping toward me and embracing me in a tight hug. She held me there for a minute, and I felt truly glad that I had such a great friend by my side.
I glanced up and there I saw all of my newly made acquaintances, their faces lit in a beautiful smile.
"I'm home." I whispered gently.
"Welcome back." They echoed, and for the first time it wasn't so cold coming back into my apartment.
I shifted from left to right, curling myself into a tight ball. It was too early for me to wake up, and I was just too lazy to lift my heavy eye lids.
My bed was soft and comfortable, the A/C was on and I had a thick blanked to warm me up. It was perfect.
Is not like burn bacons, eggs and toast will wake me up. I wouldn't even lift a finger even if my neighbor's kitchen was lit in fire. Well, maybe I would, because if I don't the fire might even burn my apartment.
Anyway, since there's no yelling and screaming, there's probably no fire.
Silence is peace.
The spell was broken as soon as dishes fell to the floor, making a loud clash between tiled floor and ceramic plates. Before I could even ignore it, another loud thud was heard creating thunder clap as metal met the floor.
There was no excuse, because the burning smell was getting thicker as I ponder and more glass was breaking as I wondered what the hell my neighbor was doing…
And then it finally registered in my mind.
The sound and smell was coming from my kitchen.
I immediately jolted awake like my bed was ice cold instead of soft and warm. I got up with lighting speed and moved toward my kitchen.
I was ready to take the baseball bat and hit whoever the intruder was, that is until I saw a golden head kneeling on the floor.
Said head lifted up to meet my gaze, and I had to gasp as I saw the most beautiful aqua blue irises.
Hold on! Aqua irises? Blonde head? Shimizu-kun!
Abandoning my baseball bat (why is there one in my apartment anyway?) I went to the stove and shut off the fire, then went to the toaster and pressed the button. Bread as black as charcoal popped up, while the bacons on the frying pan were smoking black and so very small, and the eggs? They were as black as the night…
One thing I learned since I woke up: never, ever let Shimizu-kun near the kitchen again.
I kneeled in front of said angel boy, seeing as he was holding his right hand so tenderly. I took his hand into mine and saw that he had cut his thump—nothing bad, but should get cleaned either way.
"Come Shimizu-kun, let's get the cut clean and bandage okay?" I said gently, as I guided him to the sink.
Once the blood was washed off, I took a paper towel and neatly circled around the bleeding finger.
"Hold on, I will go get some bandages and alcohol." I said, before going to the bathroom where the medicine cabinet was.
After all that commotion had passed, I found myself doing the cleaning and then preparing breakfast. My sleep had flown away, and all I could do was sulk as I fried some eggs and bacon.
Shimizu-kun sat at the marble counter, watching at I cook. Somehow fascinated, like cooking could do wonder that magic will never be able to.
I set the plate in front of him, and took my seat beside him at the counter.
I took a sip of my orange juice as I waited for him to take a bite, but instead he said, "Sorry Kaho-sempai, I thought making breakfast will cheer you up…"
Cheer me up?
"…you have been so distant lately…but I guess cooking was a bad idea." Shimizu mumbled in a slow pace, like he was very sleepy and was about to dive head first to the plate in front of him.
I laughed; he was so cute and innocent. Even through all that mess, it still manage to bring a bright smile to my face. Shimizu-kun stared in wonder; somehow with widen eyes like he had just seen an UFO.
"Is there something on my face?" I lifted my hand and ran it across my face.
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
I stared in mild confusion as Shimizu took a bite of bacons. Why will he say thank you?
"If you wanted to cheer me up you could had played your cello." I pointed out, before taking a few bites of my toasted bread.
Shimizu stopped; the fork that was slowly rising to meet his lips paused midway. He turned toward me, his face filled with hope and wonder, like he had never thought about that.
I watched as he slowly turned back to his food and ate quietly.
"Hi teach, how was Spain?" Rui asked casually as he served his teacher a cup of coffee.
"Fine, but I'm slightly disappointed at the Summer Concur." Rui's teacher replied, his face drawn into a frown.
He was a famous violinist, but also a critic in the music industry and a teacher that taught all around the world. He was in his mid forty, with blonde hair, and grey eyes. He sat with an air of nonchalance as he peered at one of his students.
He had been paid by the Waldron family to teach Rui, but even without being paid he would had taught him anyway. Rui had raw talents that needed some polishing, but it won't take long before he shines. Yet Rui is a reckless violinist, always aiming higher and higher—and that flaw could be his downfall. A rash musician, but he could possibly be one to change the world of classical music.
And Tsukimori Len, one of the most amazing violinists he had ever seen. Tsukimori played to perfection, not missing any note or a single mistake to be spot. Without emotion, it won't hinder the play and that itself is a talent.
"Well then, what could possibly not be satisfying? I heard Inez Castro is the now raising violinist in Spain, winning consecutively the Grand Music Competition for three times in a role." Rui pointed out, taking a seat across from his teach.
"You dated her didn't you?" The teacher known as Aaron Falconer questioned, one elegant eyebrow raised.
"Um…is it that obvious?" Rui asked hesitantly, a smile played across his features.
"Yes, and Inez was there at the Summer Concur—though as to how high her talent is…I think the judges had overestimated her. She lacks in her power play, not moving her bow smoothly enough and her style is just too flamboyant." Aaron stated, before taking a sip of the cooled coffee before him.
"What about Roberto Torres? The son of the famous pianist Senor Torres. I heard he was a great musician." Rui began to wonder if Spain had indeed dropped, having heard that their famous Concurs being 'disappointing'.
"That, could not be described as great." The teach said in a voice of disapproval. "Even though he's the son of Senor Torres, there is an amount of blemished skills. His play of Grande Valse Brillante was tense and rusty. And since you know that Chopin's music pieces are flexible more than power, you can tell immediately Roberto is full with flaws. I would say he needs to learn the rules once again, before attempting to play another piece from Chopin."
Rui whistled, musing that in fact not having teach as one of the Concurs critics was indeed God's wish. If he had been one of the critics he would had been harsh, sending every single one of them into the Gloom of Doom.
"But there was one individual that had sparked my interest." The teach murmured, his eyes seemly looking through the past and not at his student.
"It seems she's quite well known in England…" Aaron gazed calmly at the dark brown coffee, deeply into the dark muddy water, like a prophet would with the crystal ball.
"Her name is Fuyuumi Shoko."
Today there was no practice, but even so my fingers urged me to play. Making music through Corda was something I couldn't stop or put to rest, and therefore I found myself in one of those sound-proof rooms in a music store.
This music store is where I usually worked as a part time job while I studied in high school. Minami's Instrument Shop, was the name of the store. I also knew the owner very well; he was almost like my grandfather.
I first played Canon, my favorite piece. The gentle and elegant sound was barely contained in the room. I closed my eyes, and let my fingers guide me.
The door to the room had half of the side made of glass, to show whether the room was being used or not. And unbeknownst to me, a male with wild chestnut hair stood before the glass side of the door. His piercing crimson eyes studied my every movement as I played.
I opened my eyes, not thinking that I will be facing the door—or to be more specific, the person before me. I gasped, my eyes filled with shock while my hand that held the bow sidetracked.
That single movement caused a scream of terror, nearly destroying my hearing as I flinched. Through that thick glass, Etou stood with an amused smirk. He opened his mouth and muttered something, but it was blocked by the glass. Although there was no need for a detective to discover the unheard words.
Not when I knew after a few seconds of thinking.
'Needs more focus.'
By the time I glanced back at the glass, he was gone. I put my violin and bow away before stepping out of the music room, and headed my way to a chestnut haired male.
"It was your fault for appearing all of a sudden." I said accusingly once I stood beside him.
"Not really," He glanced sideway, before tilting his head toward my way and letting a smirk appear on his handsome face. "you can't blame my good looks, which always seem to turn you into a daze." He continued, his face aloof and indifferent.
"W-what? I'm not dazed! You surprised me." I countered, staring intently at the male that almost appeared like a rock star. Forgetting that he was too close and nearly taking over my personal space.
"Oh really? Then what about now? You are blushing as rich as a cherry." His eyes almost seem to have a predatory glint in them as we gazed at each other. His hands were against the book shelf, leaving me trapped. Slowly he leaned closer, his forearm touching the shelf as his nose met mine.
If I was as red as he said, then right at that moment I must had been boiling like a volcano. What was he trying to do? Tease me like Yunoki, or kiss me? But I'm not ready, it will be my first kiss and—and…oh god!
I was about to close my eyes, just waiting to feel those smooth lips and experience my first time…
But as I said, I was about to, which meant no…it didn't happen—whether it was good timing of bad luck, it didn't matter. Not when the one that caught me was:
"Kahoko?" A smooth voiced called, and in one word I could tell it was shocked beyond words and angry from the very bottom of hell.
Etou and I both turned, the wild haired male looking indifferent and a little pissed for being stopped. While I stood with wide eyes, almost like I was caught on the crime scene.
"Kaji Aoi?"
I turned my amber irises to Etou, wondering how he knew Aoi—but at the same time anxious as I watched a glare being shot from both ways.
"Well, what a surprise meeting the prodigy violinist that quitted the violin."
To be continued…
This chapter was kind of short, and I will try to make it up on the next chapter. Updates are yet to be decided, I know I usually update frequently during summer…but this summer will be a little different so there's no saying as of now.
~Lots of Luvs~
