Sorry for the delay due to various reasons! I thought I made it so clear! The storyline is rather common, no? Never mind. Just read on then…

Thanks to my dear reviewers!

Because of You, For You and Only You…

Chapter 10

Do You Want To Know?

Unfocused, since she had lost contact with him, Kahoko stared at that black case. Her hand clutched the now crumpled ivory paper. Now and then, a drop or two would tend to fall but she would quickly rub them off. She had to be strong. She wanted to get some clear answers after some time of thinking by herself. Who was her to him? He never really did clarify his feelings though Miyabi had said that she was someone special to him. But in what way? A really close friend? True, he had kissed her but it may be just one of his mischievous pranks. So, what were his feelings towards her?

And, of course, mainly, she wanted to know who had been abusing him. Even as a friend, she wanted to know. She wanted to help. She was just that kind of girl. She would not leave a hurt puppy on the road, what's more, a human whom she dearly treasures, whether it is as a friend or lover.

Her ringing tone of her mobile phone brought her out of her thoughts, not abruptly but gently because it was playing Drigo's 'Serenade'. The gentle music calmed her and soothed her nerves every time she was about the break down, without fail. Perhaps it was because this song held an especially precious memory to her.

"Hello, Miyabi-san." She answered after looking at the name that appeared on the screen. She had her hopes up again but not too high as people usually say, don't keep your hopes to high unless you want your disappointments to be high as well. However, her instinct told her that the girl was calling her for some good news. She took in a deep breath.

"Good afternoon, Kahoko-san. I am calling to tell you that onii-sama has finally returned. He's not in a pretty state but he requested for you." She said in a rather strained voice. Kahoko wondered how bad it was this time but she could imagine the horrible slashes she had seen previously in her mind once again, crystal clear. Then, she realized that Miyabi was waiting for her answer.

"I'll come over immediately!" The violinist exclaimed, unbuttoning her shirt with one hand and another still clutching the phone to her ear because since the younger girl had not hung up, she figured that she might had something more to say. And she was right.

"There's a car to pick you up. I figure it would be at your door by now." True enough, when Kahoko peeped out of her curtains, a sleek black car was parked in front of her gate.

"Thank you, Miyabi-san." She muttered gratefully into the phone. She made a note in mind to thank her face-to-face and give her a hug when they meet later.

"Not at all. Please hurry over." Miyabi said with a rather worried tone. The red haired girl needed no more instructions to hurry. Once she had snapped the phone shut, she went into accelerated speed changing, grabbing her purse and the black case, and running down the stairs two at a time. The chauffeur greeted her with a stiff bow and opened the door for her politely. He had obviously recognized her as when Azuma had offered her a ride a few times. The car sped off without wasting a single second. Kahoko wanted to ask the driver about his young master but figured that if Miyabi-san and Kazuma-san could not tell her what she wanted to know, what's more a mere servant? She kept quiet in the car, fidgeting nervously all the way to the Yunoki estate.

….

Kahoko stood trembling in front of the huge wooden door of the Yunoki house as the servant opened it. Her heart was pounding hard, anticipating yet fearing every single second she still had before meeting him again, the person she love. She wanted to see him badly but she could not help being afraid of what she had seen in her mind before. She had once seen the amount of pain he had suffered before this and this time, she had a feeling it would be much, much worse. And deep down in her gut, she had a feeling that it was partially her fault.

"This way please, miss." The servant led her into the huge compound. Before she could clearly register her surrounding, she was tackled by a girl with long brown hair.

"Miyabi-san!" Kahoko hugged her in return, glad that the warm greeting made her calmer. She felt a cool sensation on her shirt. The poor girl was crying. Kahoko wanted to cry in fear as well but she composed herself. As the older one, she had to set a better example though the younger girl was in many ways, more mature. She was trained to be so, Kahoko told herself.

"I'm sorry for that." The girl unlatched herself from the red head violinist, face looking downwards. Though she was trying to hide it, Kahoko caught glimpses of some red and puffy eyes under her bangs. As if clearing her head, Miyabi shook her head a little before looking up straight into Kahoko's eyes directly. Indeed, her eyes were swollen from crying, not for a while, but some long time. The older girl bit her lips.

"Come. I'll show you to onii-sama's room. He just woke up." She hurriedly pulled Kahoko along with her as if fearing that staying a minute longer in the compound would bring harm to them. Unknown to Kahoko, it surely would bring more trouble to the Yunoki's.

….

"Onii-sama, I've brought Kahoko-san." The brown haired girl said softly to the person lying to the bed while Kahoko stood stunned at the doorway. The purple haired man who was on the bed stirred a little before opening his gold eyes, turning to the red haired girl who was trembling in shock again. With much strain, he held up a bandaged hand towards her, smiling gently at the girl. The wide eyed violinist did not need further instruction. She practically ran to catch his wavering hand before it hit hard on the bed, which would cause him more pain. Miyabi sneaked out of the room quietly, leaving the two alone.

"Yunoki-senpai!" She could not control the sudden burst of tears from her eyes. Clear liquid flowed down her cheeks as she held his hand to her face.

"How nice of you to come and visit me, Kahoko…" He said with slight sarcasm in his voice. There was a mischievous glint in those gold eyes of his. The red head violinist stared at him in disbelief for a moment before softening her expression. She could not bear being angry at him for long just by looking at his state.

"What happened? You're in quite a mess up state." He said as he continued to stroke her cheek. Kahoko's facial expression returned to him was shocked. Did he lose his mind under too much torture? But there was that serious, slightly dark glimmer in his expression which only Kahoko could see since she was the only one that was exposed the most to his other nature, telling her that he was still sober, still him.

"Look who's talking…" She tried to scold him but her voice choked, making it came out in a mutter. She was both angry and worried at the same time. Angry at how could he still tease her when he had obviously undergone some terrible treatment. Worried about his degree of injuries.

"And what happened? I just left you for a week or two and you forgot how to greet me?" He pushed himself to sit up. He was not disturbed by the numb, tingling sensation all over his body. Kahoko's hands were fluttering restlessly around him, thinking that he might need help but could not settle on a spot where she could hold him without hurting him. However, he did not need help so she returned her hands to her lap and stared at them as he set himself comfortably leaning against the head board of the bed.

"So?" Azuma questioned the red headed girl. A blush crept up her neck and cheeks but she kept them well hidden from the man. He knew very well though, that her face was turning into that gentle hue of a rose. She parted her lips a little but no words came out. His hand sneaked under her chin, lifting her head to make her look eye to eye with the flutist. Without a warning, he leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her lips. Her eyes were wide with surprise while her mind was a complete blank. The only thing that registered was that soft, velvety feeling that was on her lips. It was a familiar feeling.

"Azuma." He reminded the tomato red girl. She was totally red from her neck to her face and ears. Smirking in glee, he looked away from the horribly embarrassed girl, sparing her from fainting due to over rush of blood to the brain. The purple haired man sniggered quietly as he peeped from the corner of his eyes at the deeply breathing violinist occasionally. After a long pause, when she had finally managed to tone down that deep red color on her cheeks to a gentle pink, she gathered her courage to look at the gold eyes that were just pure cynical.

"Azuma…" She whispered ever so gently, erasing all the older man's previous intention of bullying her further. This time, he smiled kindly in return, pleased. Kahoko could not help but smile back in return. It felt like it had been so long since she had seen him smile sincerely.

"Azuma, how are you?" Worries filled her eyes again as she asked the man silently. Seriousness were noticed in her voice, telling her senior that she was not joking and expected a proper answer.

"Just like how you see me now." He answered. Kahoko's brow twitched. She should have known that she would never get a proper answer from this man.

'Kahoko… Do you want to know what happened?" The injured man asked solemnly, staring at the ceiling. The red haired girl was surprised, both by the fondness in the way he had called her and the sudden change of mood. Inside, she sighed. This man was really unpredictable.

"Is it alright for me to know?" She questioned in return. Deep down, she really wanted to know but if it would cause more trouble to him, she would rather not. She did not want to visit him next in the hospital. Shocked by her own imagination picture, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to blank out her mind. Drawing a few deep breaths, she managed to erase the unpleasant scene from her thoughts.

"I would tell you if you want." He replied.

"Yes. Would you tell me? Would you… tell me everything?" Hesitantly, she mumbled. A sudden burst of courage exploded in her, making her look into the flutist gold eyes without wavering. The purple haired man was astonished by her determination.

'This is indeed my Kahoko…' He thought in his heart. If she have such courage, he must have the strength to answer her questions as well.

"Yes. I would tell you everything you want to know…"

….

Yay! They finally reunite again. And now, I thought of putting the revelations here but it turned out to be too long in one chapter so it will be in the next. I'm sorry for leaving you guys in the dark again!

If you don't review, I'll understand but you know, reviews encourage me to write faster. ^_^

Twilight Cherry