"Playful Love"

Chapter Ten:

Few hours later, Eunice was picked up by her parents. Before going back, she said her opinion about Kahoko and at first, Kaho thought that Eunice will never really liked her but, in the end of the little girl's speech were the words, "I think you two are perfect together" and it only means one thing: that Eunice already accepted her as Len's girlfriend. Before going inside the car, she kissed Len's cheek and hugged Kahoko, saying she'll visit once again.

And then, there she departed.

Kaho yawned and rested her head in the headrest of the couch. She closed her eyes and began to sleep when Len shook her. She groaned, "What is it?"

"Kahoko, it's time for you to go back home. I'll ask the driver to take you back." Len answered.

She yawned again. "But—" she protested then opened her eyes.

"I'm fine now." Len assured and fixed her hair. "I have taken a lot of your time today. You must be tired—let's get you home."

Kahoko finally nodded and fell asleep as Len carried her inside their car and placed her in the backseat. When he, himself, was about to go in he saw a shadow in the nearby tree. "Who's there?"

A lilac haired lad came out with a sly smile on his lips. "Good day, Tsukimori-kun." He gently greeted.

Len narrowed his eyes. "Yunoki-senpai?" he gasped and reminding himself about Kahoko, ordered the driver, "Take her to her usual place. Hino's Residence then wake her up and call her mother to bring her in."

The driver nodded and strode away as Len walked towards his senpai. "Is there anything you need, senpai?"

Yunoki's smile disappeared as he gazed at Len with piercing eyes. "I want to bring you to give my toy back."

Len frowned in confusion. "Toy? What toy?"

Yunoki frowned as well, as if giving Len a warning with his eyes. "You took her from me."

"Her? Who are you—Kahoko?" he guessed and stopped from his tracks. "What do you mean by toy?"

Yunoki sighed. "Kahoko has always been my toy. The girl who always makes me enjoy my day but, since you two became together—it's very rare for me to talk or even see her. You always stay by her side and it's so annoying."

Len gulped. "Is this the true you or are you just acting this out?"

Yunoki shrugged. "I have split personality but, I prefer to use this to those I hate the most."

Len took that as a cue. "And I am one of them because I always stay with Kahoko, who you take as a toy for granted. And you are accusing me of stealing her away just because I became her boyfriend." Len muttered.

Yunoki smirked. "Just what I thought of the prodigy."

Len glared at him. "Well, Yunoki-kun, I won't apologize for stealing her away because I do like her and I hate how you confidently say that she is just your toy and you just enjoy being with her. She is not a thing and stop trying to separate us."

Yunoki shook his head in disbelief. "Oh my, looks like it will be hard for me to break your relationship apart. But, I want to warn you; you'll see, within this week everything between you two will be ruined."

Len flinched with his tone. "What are you pla—" he was cut mid-sentence when a car almost hit him. "What the—!"

Yunoki evilly laughed and went inside the car as it drove away.

I have a bad feeling about this.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

When Monday came, at lunch Len was walking at the practice rooms when he heard running footsteps from behind and when he was about to scold whoever it was, he was caught off guard when Kaho jumped from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kahoko!"

She giggled and went down. "Oops," she pretended to be innocent.

He glared and when it had no effect, he sighed in surrender.

She grinned "You're walking unexpectedly slow; are you thinking of something?"

He made no answer.

She raised an eyebrow then smirked. "Or someone."

He still made no answer.

She grinned. "Who is it? Tell me! Tell me!"

He shook his head and let his eyes fall on the ground. "It's—"

Len familiarize a shadow and glared at it. "Tsuchiura."

Kahoko was quickly taken aback and as Len blocked her from Tsuchiura—she looked up at him. "What? You were thinking of him?" she gasped.

Len frowned and sent a death glare at her. "I will never ever think or miss someone like him. He's my personal hell every day." He complained.

Tsuchiura raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Looks like you two are still together."

Len stood his ground. "As you can see, yes we are still together."

Kahoko's heart thumped loud with the sincerity, seriousness and confidence at Len's spoken words.

Tsuchiura grinned. "I am quite tired right now so, for the meantime—I will stop bugging Hino from my courting. I will continue it when this pest, Len Tsukimori not with you anymore."

Both teenagers in front of the green-haired lad froze. "You mean, you are going to stop on bugging me?" Kaho echoed in silence.

Tsuchiura nodded. "Yes, for the meantime though."

Len's guard fell down as he frowned in understanding. "You will stop from courting her and will stop from trying to separate us?" Len echoed next.

Tsuchiura sighed. "Ok, you two parrots, stop repeating the words you clearly heard earlier. Celebrate for now but," he paused and started walking away as he glanced at his shoulder, "I shall return."

The two teenagers left glanced at each other and soon, their eyes shine. They went in a practice room and Kahoko squealed as she tightly hugged Len in the waist. "Yappari! He finally stopped! The pretend-thing really did affect him. And you really acted as my boyfriend, thank you Len!" she nearly shouts.

Len squirmed a little. "Ok, ok. I understand it! You are welcome!" he panicked as she tightened her hug at his waist. "Uh! Let me go!"

Kahoko giggled and released him as she smiled up at him with a warm smile. "Thank you, really."

They gazed at each other for a little while until they realized that their lips already against each other. Len encircled her with his arms as she snaked her arms around his neck and tiptoed to be more capable to kiss him.

They kissed each other for several seconds until Len eased away and released her. He blushed when he realized what he has done. "I-I'm so so—" he was cut off when Kahoko placed a finger in front of his mouth.

"Shh, don't worry. I responded and that's an excuse to say that you aren't in fault. If you do it again, I will respond again—that's all I can say." Kahoko shushed and silently laughed at Len's reddish cheeks. "I will get going now, I will see you later."

Len nodded. "I will still pick you up, ok? We'll continue it for several days until we ease away from each other slowly day after day."

How much it hurts to Kahoko, she slowly nodded and made a fake smile. "I….would love that." She stuttered and walked towards the door. "I'll be going now." She bade and went out.

Len stared at the door for few seconds and when he was about to start practicing, he noticed that she actually left her handkerchief on top of the grand piano. He picked it up and went out without bringing his violin and other things. He saw Kahoko in a corner and when he was about to call her—he stopped himself when he noticed that she is talking to somebody.

He tiptoed towards them and hid behind the wall to listen. He immediately recognized the person she is talking to. Yunoki Azuma. The guy he was thinking about the whole day. He is bothered how Yunoki will start separating them and looks like it is staring right now.

I'm sure Kahoko won't believe him. I know even just a little she believes in me.

"Looks like your pretend game has already ended." Yunoki muttered.

"You know that?" Kahoko gasped.

Len heard Yunoki huffed. "Of course. Who do you think is standing in front of you? I'm Yunoki Azuma and I have many sources."

Kahoko sighed. "What do you want? Say it already."

Yunoki laughed slyly. "Oh nothing, Kahoko—"

Kahoko?

"—I just want to talk to you with Len being your puppet." Yunoki continued.

Len gulped. Puppet? What does he mean?

"Puppet? What are you talking about?"

"Kahoko, Kahoko, Kahoko, you are so naïve. Didn't you notice that you used Len like he's a puppet. You requested for him to pretend for you. He accepted because he has no choice and it as time passed, he started to become your puppet. Doing all you think are right things to do." Yunoki muttered in a tone like: isn't-it-obvious?

Len was expecting that she would defend that it was just necessary because she did know what to do with this pretend relationship but, he was disappointed.

"I suppose you are right. Maybe I did use him as my puppet for my own benefits." She mumbled.

"And you admit it?" Yunoki challenged.

"I—I do." She stuttered.

Len clutched the handkerchief in his hand and clenched his teeth as he stopped himself from popping out from his hiding place and strangle Yunoki or even Kahoko.

So she only saw me as a puppet. Something to manipulate for her own benefits?

Yunoki tsked. "So, it's like you played Tsukimori-kun."

"I never—" she was about to protest when he interrupted her.

"You played him. Like a game to manipulate. You played him until you get what you want and, like a disposal garbage that is already used, you will throw him away like you never asked a favor from him." Yunoki cut in.

"I would never—"

Yunoki huffed. "Don't play dumb with me."

Len bit his lower lip as he waited for her answer.

"I…I think I did. How bad it was, I think I still did." She admitted with guilt in her tone.

Len slid down in the wall and placed his forehead in his palms as he stifles his sobs.

Damn! It hurts. All this revelation hurts…But I couldn't protest—he's telling the whole truth and she actually agrees. I heard it from her own mouth and I am deaf to hear it wrongly.

Yunoki continued. "Then that means he really isn't your boyfriend at all?" he queried.

She was silent for few seconds. "No."

….No more….No more, please….

"No. Len isn't my boyfriend." Kahoko continued.

We're friend right? We are, aren't we?

He heard Yunoki step forward. "Then, what is he right now for you?"

Len bit both his lips now as both of his hands clutch her handkerchief now.

"Len is…my fake boyfriend." She answered in low voice. Len stood up, ran away leaving her handkerchief on the place where he sat and started….to sob.

At dismissal, Kahoko was bother with all the things Yunoki has said to her earlier at lunch. That he actually saw Len with another girl the other day when he was free. That Len was walking in the park with a girl that has brown hair and green eyes. That, maybe, Len is only playing her.

"Cleaners for today, please do stay and clean the classroom." Their adviser shouted as the students went out one by one.

"Kaho-chan," Mio called. "Tsukimori-kun is outside."

Kahoko took a deep breath and walked towards his usual waiting area. "Hi,"

Len looked at her with a blank expression. "I let the car go back home. I want to talk to you after you clean. I will be waiting for you at the wall beside the gate."

Kahoko slowly nodded.

"And bring an umbrella—the weather is bad and I think it will rain so, better to be sure." Len added ad walked away.

Kahoko observed his disappearing figure and narrowed her eyes.

"Maybe he's only playing you. I know you love him but, does he? Maybe he's also a playboy hiding behind a mask of coldness. Why don't you test him if he deserves to be loved at all?" Yunoki's words echoed at her head and she gulped and started to clean with her group mates.

Instead of having only 10 minutes for cleaning the classroom—it took almost 25-30 minutes because their adviser asked them to rearranged the books at the back part of the room and place things they don't need to the trash. So, they needed to separate things still needed from those who are useless already. It started raining after 15 minutes of cleaning but, Kaho ignored it.

Len is a cautious guy, I'm sure he is bringing an umbrella. Kahoko's mind's bad side muttered but, she couldn't help herself from looking outside and being worried for the guy she truly loves.

"Hino-san, you can go first. As I heard—you are supposed to meet Tsukimori-kun at the gate right? We'll be fine." Riiko Mayama, the first ranking of the class, sincerely offered.

Kaho shook her head. "I'm sure, he'll understand."

I think.

After doing all the chores given to them, she walked towards the gate and saw a figure in the wall beside it and smiled.

He stayed.

But, when she was near, she realized he wasn't bringing any umbrella with him while she does. He's staring at the ground and his expression tightens her chest.

Kahoko's eyes widened as she realized what mistake she has done. "I'm so sorry Len. I thought I—"

He sat down in the wet ground. "Leave me alone."

"But Len—"

"Leave. Me. Alone. I am just your fake boyfriend right? A guy whom you played so Tsuchiura will stop bugging you. Well, he already stopped. Like you said to Yunoki-senpai; my puppet-like work is done." He snapped.

Her eyes became watery when he walked away soaking wet and without looking back at her. "What had I done?" she rasped to herself and dropped her umbrella as she fell on her knees. She saw Len walked towards the road to their residence and even though a taxi passed by him, he didn't call it but continued walking in the rain like it's not raining at all.

The next day, our worried Kahoko received a call from the Tsukimori's maid saying that their youngmaster Len is sick but, still wants to go to school because he doesn't want to miss a thing. They want her to come to his residence to stop him or else his cold will get worse. Kahoko, not bothering to fix how she dresses quickly grabbed her things and called a taxi to take her to his residence.

How much he doesn't want to see me right now, it won't stop me from loving him. It was my fault so, I must fix it. No, it was my and Yunoki-senpai's fault. He poisoned my mind while I elt my mind to be poisoned by a guy like him. He deceived me before—I should have known he'll do it again to play me. He's the one playing me, not Len. Not Len at all.

She arrived at his house and paid the driver as she took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell.

Len's mind came back to reality when the doorbell rang. He took his things and opened the front door. Only to see Kahoko. The girl who made him restless, sleepless and let his sleeps full of nightmare. About them separating, about them not seeing each other again, about her leaving with Yunoki or one of the concours boys and more.

"If you need anything, tell it to the maid. I have to go—I'll be late." He mumbled coldly and was about to pass by her when she blocked him.

Len raised an eyebrow. "Don't block my way, Hino-san." He hissed as he tried to pass by her in his front door.

Instead of answering, she pushed him back inside the house; wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the lips.

Caught off guard, he was taken aback and stepped backwards few steps until his back is leaning against the wall. He was about to pull away when one of her hands caressed his cheek and kissed him gently this time. Her thumb continued to brush against his cheek and all the pain of yesterday's events came back into his mind. He gulped and then responded to the intimacy. He wrapped his arms around her waist and neared her body to his and then she released him.

"Len," she whispered. "Stop crying." She mumbled and tears ran in her cheeks.

He touched his cheeks and realized he was crying all along.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head in his chest. "I'm yours. I am always yours. I'm so sorry from doubting you. I'm here, forgive me."

Len buried his face in her hair and wrapped her tightly as he stifled his sobs but let his tears flow.

A/N: Waah! What a long update! I made it long so, I can repay the days that passed. I should have update since last week but since I was busy, I wasn't able to. So now, I updated it and it became quite long. They just came out from nowhere.

Guys, thank you very much for all the reviews I received! I appreciate them so much!

I always forget to say that I don't own LCDO.

Sorry for any mistakes.

And I will update again if there will be REVIEWS! PLEASE REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

Here is the awaited sneak peek to the next chapter:

Sneak Peek:

"So, Kaho-chan, do you like Tsukimori-kun?" Mio squealed as she and Nao accompany her in eating her lunch at the rooftop.

Kaho blushed and ate one piece of tempura. "No comment,"

"Kaho, do you?" Nao queried.

"I don't know." She stuttered and sipped her milk tea.

Mio grinned. "Maybe Khao-chan doesn't like him. Maybe she loves him."

Kaho choked her drink and both Mio and Nao giggled then eyes sparkled. "Ah, you do."

"I-I don't!" she denied. Her cheeks as red as her hair.

Her best friends went to her opposite sides. "Oi, what will you—" she was cut off when they began tickling her.

"Say the truth or else!" they threatened at the same time.

Kahoko while laughing stood up and made few steps backward. "Fine! I do love Tsukimori Len!" she shouted.

Both her bestfriends gaped at her and when Kaho turned around Len was there, opening the door of the rooftop. His eyes wide and his expression surprised.

Uh-oh, what will happen next? The truth was revealed. Will he accept her feelings? Reject them or confess as well. Well, we'll know it on the next chapter! See you.