A/N: Let's do this.

Disclaimer: This is going to be my final disclaimer for this series, let this be the universal disclaimer. I do not own ANYTHING related to Nodame Cantabile and make no profit out of it.

Point in Time: Shortly after the return of Nodame from Egypt

Chapter 11: Meeting Viera

The sounds of an opera rehearsal were in full swing as Maestro Viera led them through their first full run through in costume. Glittering dresses and velvet robes swept across the stage as Viera conducted, bringing what was once a conglomerate of sound into one beautiful piece. It was still a bit off, but for a first dress rehearsal they were doing spectacular.

In the back seats of the opera house, watching over the practice was Chiaki and his long time girlfriend, Nodame. The former rolled his eyes as Nodame 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over the costumes, before a soft look crossed his face as her eyes closed. As per usual the music had taken her to another world, her ears absorbing the sounds echoing throughout the hall.

He had finally decided it was time to introduce her to his long time mentor, felt like he owed the man a meeting with her due to his horrid attitude during her absence. He had been so useless to Viera then, and felt so embarrassed and guilty after finally coming back that he couldn't face him at first. Nodame's disappearance definitely hadn't helped his career at all, but it certainly had strengthened the two of them. And for that, he couldn't regret his actions.

He couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't introduced the two of them sooner. He had plenty of opportunities, and although she was crazy sometimes he hadn't really been embarrassed about their relationship in a while. Maybe he was just nervous of his mentor's opinion, he wasn't quite sure.

The practice came to an end and Chiaki gestured for her to follow him backstage. He tapped on Viera's shoulder to grab his attention and the man turned around to see who needed him, only to meet the glance of his student. He was about to speak to Chiaki, to ask where he had been, when his eyes shifted to rest on the woman behind him.

Immediately, a grin came to his face.

"She's the one, isn't she?" Viera asked, looking over the girl. Chiaki nodded once, face turning red.

'Not the type I expected', Viera thought to himself, highly excited. He had been waiting for the woman to be someone typical for his personality, but he should have known better. The girl before him was cute, although he could tell she was definitely a bit awkward, but her eyes reflected pure determination and an unhindered curiosity as well. He was intrigued, to say the least. 'Only an extraordinary woman could make Chiaki break down the way he did, so just who are you?'

He looked back at Chiaki, having assessed the girl, and the boy finally found it in him to stand by her side, arm wrapping around her waist in an obviously awkward fashion as he opened his mouth to introduce her properly.

"This is Noda Megumi, my girlfriend." He managed to say, and Viera looked back down to the girl who at this point offered him a large, sincere smile.

"Nodame, this is Maestro Viera."

It seemed finishing the introductions had been what she was waiting for, because in a blink of an eye the 'subdued' nature Viera had been experiencing disappeared in a second.

"Nodame has heard so much about you, Maestro." Nodame began, talking louder than he would expect for such a short, adorable looking girl, "Chiaki said he knew you when he was this big" she gestured to her knees, and he saw a twinkle in her eye as she continued "Was Chiaki-senpai cute when he a child? Nodame thinks he had to be ugly, due to being so serious but-gyabo!" her rambling was cut off as Chiaki covered her mouth with his palm, eyebrow ticking in obvious irritation.

"Sorry," he managed to grind out, "She's just…very excited to meet you." 'She thinks I was an ugly child? Nodame…'

Viera couldn't hold it in, his laughter came bellowing out, mind racing as he contemplated just how such a mismatched pair came to be. He couldn't be more intrigued about this entire thing. He smiled at Nodame as he finally calmed down, recalling that his student had mentioned she came to Europe for piano.

"So you like music, then?" he asked, and her face lit up as she forcibly pushed Chiaki's hand off of her mouth, the force sending him back a step.

"Yes, very much! I play piano." She gestured all around her, as if trying to show him something, before twirling around unexpectedly.

"Your music is amazing, Maestro. It made me feel so light and free," Nodame seemed to be in her own world as her fingers played an imaginary keyboard, and Viera felt like he could already understand her a bit. 'What an honest girl' he thought as she opened her eyes. She was almost too honest for the man behind her. He chanced a look at Chiaki, eyes widening minutely as he saw the soft look directed towards Nodame.

More and more, he was intrigued. He wanted to know more.

An idea struck then, he was a genius!

"How about you two come over for dinner tonight?" he asked suddenly, gaining Nodame's undivided attention. "My wife loves meeting new people, and besides."

He looked at Chiaki then, a secretive smile playing on his lips.

"I'd love to get to know the girl who has you wrapped around her finger, Shinchi. She seems interesting. "

Chiaki stuttered, face turning to flame as he tried to deny the accusation as Nodame gripped his arm, obviously pleased. He finally looked down at the girl who was wrapped around him and found himself sighing at the look in her eyes, there was no way he could say no to this.

"Sure," he said, and Viera's smile grew.

"Fabulous! My wife loves guests, especially musical ones." Viera winked at Nodame as her eyes lit up, "How about swinging by around eight? You've been there before, Shinichi." he said before excusing himself, waving goodbye as he walked out of the theater. Nodame released his arm only to grab his hand, swinging their linked hands excitedly as they followed suit to leave.

"Nodame likes him, he's nice, Nodame knew he would be." she stated as they walked down the street.

For some reason, Nodame's approval of her mentor was just as pleasant to him as Viera's had been.

How this had happened, Chiaki wasn't sure. The dinner had commenced normally, elegantly even. They had met Viera's wife, Isabelle, a beauty who didn't speak much but obviously adored him. The conversations had been subdued as they began to eat, and he was quite pleased at Nodame's serious behavior. But then halfway through Nodame caught sight of some animal toy on one of their shelves, and that's when it all went down hill.

Viera and Nodame were now currently in the sitting room, chatting loudly about toys and cartoons as if it wasn't abnormal for an over forty year old man and a woman in her twenties to do so. Chiaki sat on the couch, watching the two, and tried to understand just what they were talking about. It seemed like a different language to him, almost. He knew about Puri Gorota and a few other series due to his insane girlfriend's obsession with immaturity, but whatever this was, he was lost.

"I love seeing him this happy," Isabelle commented out of the blue, taking a place next to Chiaki. She offered him a glass of wine, and he took it gratefully. She crossed her legs and took a sip of her drink before continuing.

"It's rare, you know. People like them." her eyes softened as she watched her husband laugh, "I could see the similarities between them the minute she walked in the door." She tore her gaze from her lover to look at the man beside her, an understanding smile on her face, "I understand your infatuation completely."

"How'd you two meet?" he questioned curiously, keeping an eye on Nodame as she explained something that had just happened in a series they had begun to discuss.

"Music, how else?" she laughed, "I was a singer, a soprano. He was older than me, too much older for my friends to understand." she paused then, a smile growing on her face as she remembered her not so long ago youth.

"He was so persistent, though. And so much fun. No one approved of us in the beginning, and I remember trying to stop myself from falling for him so many times," then she shrugged, and her hand went to her chest, laying over her heart, "But the heart knows what it wants. I'm glad I listened to it, now."

"No regrets?" he found him asking, and Isabelle knew it was more for him than anything. So the boy was worried about his future with the eccentric young lady, was he?

"None. He's silly sometimes, forgets things constantly and has some horrid habits but he loves me so much. Everyday with him is an adventure, has been since the day I met him." she said without a bit of hesitance.

He mused over that, trying to absorb the information to calm his personal worries. He could say the same about Nodame, everyday with her was an adventure. Well, maybe a TV drama more than anything, but it was practically the same.

"You have a piano?!" Nodame asked, her voice echoing loud enough for everyone to hear. Viera nodded with a chuckle and stood, leading her to a different room. Chiaki quickly stood to follow them, Isabelle directly behind him.

"Isabelle plays from time to time, and so do I." Viera explained as he lifted up the cover, gesturing to it, "Play me something, if you would."

Nodame glanced back at Chiaki, obviously searching for some form of approval, and he just nodded helplessly. He wondered what Viera would think of his girlfriend's playing, wondered if he would see what Chiaki saw every time she played.

She sat down and looked around at the room, before hitting a key, letting the sound envelope the room, before she began to play.

Chiaki listened to Nodame's playing, Pachelbel, and allowed himself to be soothed. He could hear every note, every tiny jump and every mistake that always followed her performances, but found himself lost regardless. When didn't he find himself lost in her music? He glanced at Viera, wondering what his mentor thought, only to see wide eyes directed at the girl lost in her own world.

Her playing was all it took for Viera to fully understand why his student had been so drawn to the girl. Her music sang of the same personality and life that she exhibited everyday. Each note struck a chord in his heart, and Viera could just picture Chiaki hearing her play for the first time. This beautiful sound would've drawn him in like a moth to the flame, his usual cold student easily trapped by her sounds.

When she finished, the three listeners clapped, and Viera laughed as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I can see now why he likes you so much! Have you ever performed professionally?" he asked, and she nodded.

"I played with Milch in London about a month ago." she answered.

Viera found himself short of words as Chiaki quickly corrected 'Milch' with 'Stresemann'. So the girl he had been hearing about for the last few weeks was her? He found himself laughing once more as he released her shoulder.

"I couldn't approve of you more if I tried. One day, we need to perform together." he said casually, truly meaning it. She stood up, eyes lit up, and hugged him without a thought.

"Mukya!"

Chiaki just shook his head, imagining any performance the two would do together would be unpredictable from beginning to end. He took a moment to glance at the clock and knew they'd have to get going, both of them needed to get on the train back to Paris soon. She had make up classes coming up and he had the Roux Marlett still.

"Nodame," he called, grabbing her attention, "We have to go now."

She gave him a pitiable look, obviously wanting to stick around a bit longer, but he just glared at her in reaction. As per usual, that's the thing that prompted her into action. They prepared to head out, and while they walked to the door they said their goodbyes. Isabelle watched from the door as the two of them walked down the street, while wrapping her arms around her husband's waist.

"They remind me of us, a bit." she stated, and he grinned down at her.

"Really?" he asked, his tone showing his agreement but wanting to hear more of what she had to say.

"She's spontaneous, most likely reckless, and honest to a fault." she started, and he continued for her.

"And he's composed, difficult, and completely head over heels for her."

"Not so different," she commented, amused eyes glinting up at him. He smiled softly as he brought her close.

"We have twenty years under our belts, if they're anything like us they have quite an adventure ahead of then." he looked over her head towards the fading figures, and silently cheered for his student when he saw him reach out for Nodame's hand. He really couldn't have chosen better.

Finally a chapter with more dialogue! I'm still getting used to writing again, since to be honest I haven't really written anything for a long time. Review if you want to, I appreciate ideas or comments! They keep me going especially in this tiny fandom. :D