La Corda D'oro ~

Chapter Ten; Memory

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Author's note

Update, update, update.

*By the way, Kahoko celebrated her Christmas with her family right after her date with Len. I forgot to write about that bu whatever :))

Anyways , enjoy this !

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Kahoko's POV

I headed to the music shop today because unfortunately even though I was planning to spend the entire day with Len, I had to work.

I sighed and opened the door, "God, give me a miracle." I muttered to myself, and to my surprise when I entered, I saw Len leaning on the counter with a smirk of his face. I held the door knob for support, "L-Len? What're you doing here?"

Just then my manager, a woman who looks much younger than her actual age and is so kind, got out of the practice rooms and noticed that I've arrived. "Oh, Hino, I was about to call you this morning." I raised an eyebrow, "Why, manager? Is something the matter?" She just shook her head, "No, no. Hino, you should've told me you had a boyfriend. Tsukimori here asked me if you could take a day off. I don't mind, really, go ahead, he also seems to be an amazing violinist." She nodded at Len and Len gave back a small smile, "Thank you. Hino, shall we?" He lent me his hand and my heart started to flutter. I took his hand and thanked the manager, "Thank you so much, take care." before going out of the shop.

Len wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I could feel his warmth even through my hoodie. "Do you feel okay?" He whispered into my ear as he led me to his car. I nodded before we got inside the car, he turned on the heater a bit and I took off my hoodie. Len took off his scarf and held my hand. I was staring at the window and his face, I was eager to know where we were going. "That was really nice, what you did back there Len. I was about to call you but I guess you did it yourself." Len chuckled, I would have to get used to his new revealed personality. "It's time I took care of you now, You've been worrying about me." His last statement sounded more like a question than a fact. I nodded in agreement, "I have been, but mostly because I did want this day to be something I'd want both of us to remember the rest of our lives. Even after we meet again." Len squeezed my hand and we had arrived at our first destination.

It was a wide building that had huge glass windows, it looked like where an ensemble of musicians usually perform before a small audience. Then when we entered, I saw two violin cases placed on a table; Tsukimori's violin case and another one which didn't belong to me. (I didn't bring my violin case right now but I would be more surprised if it ended up here.)

"Are we going to perform before an audience?" I said, completely surprised. I started to get nervous but Len patted my back lightly. "It's okay, we never did have a duet since the training camp not too long ago." He paused, handing me the violin case. "I would want to have a duet with you before I leave. Please?" His face expression was heartwarming nonetheless, his eyebrows lightly pulled together, his eyes molded to the softest state, his lips formed a modest smile; all in all asking me to perform with him. I nodded, "Of course."

I took out the violin out of it's case and positioned myself, Canon in D major, I felt my hands play the light notes and my body twist to the melody. I closed my eyes for a moment and opened it again to be looking straight into a pair of gold eyes. I smiled at him, my teeth showing. Len smiled back at me, I heard his performance and it sounded a little different, a little lighter. Better than his other performances, because in this performance, he sounded more carefree and more happy to me. And as we faced each other, the melodies that we produced from our violins tangled into an elegant and overwhelming song. I felt my eyes tear, everything just felt like a fairytail and Len and I were in it. Happy and content.

I dropped the violin once we ended, tears flowed down to my cheeks as I lowered my head. Embarrased that Len would see this.

I felt Len's worried gaze on me and he pulled me into a hug. He took the violin away from my hands and placed it on the table. I wrapped my arms around his neck and just cried there. Len's hands stroked my hair, his cheek placed on my head while my face was buried on his chest. "I want to regret it, regret telling you to go. A part of me regrets it, a part of me wants you to stay. I-I don't know why but I'm afraid of never being with you again." I said in a tiny voice, I felt my whole body shake and tremble. But Len just kept quiet and listened to my pleas.

After what seemed like a few minutes, I felt tired. Len knew that and scooped me up in his arms back to the car.

When I woke up again, it was sunset. I didn't notice how long I've slept but we arrived in the beach. "Are you finally awake?" Len murmured, it seemed that I've been leaning on his lap the whole time and we were in the backseat. I guessed he parked the car and went beside me to watch me sleep. I felt his cold fingers tangle into my hair, I sat up and saw his blank eyes. I bit my lip, this got too far. "I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to ... cry. I just had to get it off my chest I guess." Len didn't answer, he just looked even more worried. I cupped my hand over his cheek, "I promise, no more breakdowns. I'm fine now, really, I am." I smiled but Len just pulled me again in another hug.

"You know you can tell me anything, no matter what it is." He hid his face again on my shoulder, "I feel regretful too, I think I feel more than you do though." He chuckled to hide his sadness, "Kahoko ..." He pulled away to look at me. I couldn't release my gaze from him, I was trapped. He leaned his forehead on mine, closing his eyes. "I love you. And nothing, absolutely nothing will change that." His pointer finger and thumb caught a strand of my hair and twisted it around before he finally captured my lips. I felt him tense and we laid down on the leather seat. My frail hands moved up to his chest, Len tried his best not to push his entire weight on me but I didn't feel anything at all. It took a lot of effort from me to raise my arms around his neck and pull him closer. Then, when I needed to breathe again, I pulled away with our heads still leaning on each other, we could feel each other's warm breaths.

Len got out of the car and pulled me with him. "Let's just take a stroll around." He got my hand and intertwined our fingers. Our footsteps leaving a trail that were easily erased by the wind. We sat down on the smooth sand. We talked and talked for hours. Talked about our plans for the next few years aside from our goals to follow each other through music courses. Talked about how we could call each other all the time and how beautiful the sunset looked. All those things, we talked for as long as we can since this was the only day we could spend together.

But sadly, the day had to end but it also had to end on happy note. We had dinner in a fine restaurant, talked some more and finally he had to drive me home.

He walked me up to my front door in silence, we held both hands and our foreheads together again, as if we could read each others minds. I felt like tearing up again, "You'll be with me when I go?" Len whispered, trying not to alert my mother who was still watching t.v. inside. "You bet, I'll be there bright up and early." I looked at his golden eyes, "I love you too. And I'll miss you like hell." We laughed quietly. He stroked my cheek before kissing my forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Kaho." Our hands were raised now, still tangled together. "Okay, I have to go. My mom will notice I'm late." I giggled, and when I pulled away Len caught my wrist and hugged me once more. I hugged him closer and kissed his forehead too. "Good night, sleep well Len. I'll always be with you ..." Len let go and smiled before going back to his car and driving away. I felt my entire face blush then I unlocked my door and skipped inside.

I skipped to my mom and hugged her tightly, "Oh, Kaho ! Wow, you seem to be in a good mood. How was your day? Did you work hard today?"

I hesitated, I got off the hook today. "Uhm, Len asked the manager if I could take the day off cause well, today's his last day in Japan. Tomorow morning he'll leave right away for Europe." I looked at my mother if she got upset but she had a worried look at me, "Kaho, are you okay with this ? I know you and Tsukimori are close now, more than friends I guessed, are you okay?" she said. I smiled at my beloved mother, I nodded.

"This is what I've decided and he's decided too. I love him and I'll let him do what he wants. He loves music so much, Mom. If you only see the way he is towards his music. It's ... breathtaking. And I'm so lucky to have met someone like him and plus , this isn't goodbye." I paused and smiled at myself, proud I had found some courage inside me.

"We'll see each other again."

The next day, Airport; (Len's POV)

Ousaki-sensei told me that he'd be the one to drive Kaho to the airport with everyone else. I was a bit irritated that all of them were coming when all I wanted was Kaho but I guess it's too late for that. I already had my things with me and my plane ticket and all I need ...

"Tsukimori !!" Hihara called my name out loud (the others behind him but Kaho was nowhere in sight yet,) and I glared at him. But he continued to laugh and smile as he walked towards me. He patted my shoulder and turned sad, "Aw, Tsukimori, just when we were about to start being seniors and all that highschool too. But anyways, you deserve this. Good luck !" I nodded, "Thank you, Hihara."

Yunoki and Shimizu came next, "Good luck, Tsukimori, you'll do great there. You're an incredible violinist." Yunoki said, "Sempai, good luck on your Europe trip. We wish you all the best." Shimizu said, sounding sleepy. I thanked both of them.

Fuyumi came next, Kanazawa sensei, Ousaki sensei and Kaji. I thanked all of them;

"Tsukimori," I heard a low voice behind me, I turned around and saw Tsuchiura. I composed myself and kept quiet, he sighed. "I guess, I'd have to wish you good luck." He laughed and turned serious, "If you weren't so serious towards music, you would've been such a jerk right now to leave Hino but since you are and Hino let you, I guess it's allowable." I didn't respond. "I know you'll do well there, I'll take care of Hino for you even." He teased and I just stared at him. "Thank you, I think." I said, Tsuchiura shrugged. "Sure."

Then a red haired girl came from behind him, her head lowered hiding her flushed face. I went to her instantly and cupped my hand under her chin to lift it up so that she could face me. Her face was exposed and I felt a tear touch my finger, she's been crying. "Oh, Kaho."

"Don't mind me, I'm f-fine. I just got stuff in my eyes." She rubbed it but I grabbed her hands and pulled her in a tight hug. She sobbed and stained my jacket but for once, I didn't mind. "It's not okay and I can't bear to not mind you. How could I when your face doesn't have the same smile it usually has." I lifted her face again, her eyes were shining amongst all the tears. "Smile for me, please."

She stepped back and took my hand away from my face, "I really can't do that right now." She laughed and took a deep breath, "Well, good luck and I'll miss you a lot." She shrugged but smiled anyway, "Really, don't mind me. This means a lot to you and if you mean that much to me, I would let you pursue your dreams as much as you want me to pursue mine." She held my face with both hands, "I'm really fine, I'll be okay here, I'll call you everyday, from time to time. You won't even notice that we're away." She smiled widely now, her bright white teeth showing. We hugged again and I whispered in her ear, "I love you."

She sobbed and whispered in my ear, "I love you too, remember that." She kissed both my cheeks and I headed to the plane now. I stopped and took a last glance at her, waving. She waved back with her other hand cupped over her mouth.

'I love you, Kahoko.'