Chapter 10:

Somehow, I managed to make it through those next, agonizing two hours. If you were to ask me how, I swear I couldn't explain.

But they passed. They really did. And there were keys in the door, the handle was turning and...!

"RYOU!"

"Umph!"

Remember how I said a slender girl couldn't possibly tackle a football player? Well, I can attest to that. Twice.

For the second time, I found myself hitting Ryou's rock-solid shoulders and beginning to make the humiliating descent into a pool on the floor, but before I managed that much, I felt his arms close around me tightly.

"You're alive," I mumbled into his ribcage.

"Your powers of observation astound me, Hino." Somehow I could sense his grin. "I knew you could do it," he added softly.

"Sure you did," I said snarkily, relief passing into sarcasm. "I bet you were waiting down there fully confident that you were about to die."

He pulled me up so I could look at him proper. "Yeah, the thought crossed my mind," he admitted. "But you came through, didn't you? Anyway, dying wasn't the scariest thing I thought of down there."

"What was?" I asked.

He rubbed a bit of something green off the end of my nose. "The thought of never seeing you again, Kaho."

An ill-disguised cough broke into our gooey-eyed fest. "Yes, yes, lovely ending to the story," Detective McGraw said briskly. "Now we need to get down to business. Come back in here, and we'll have a sit-down."

Mystified, we let ourselves be herded back into the conference room, and watched as he locked the door, testing it before turning to us.

"Take a seat," he offered, sitting at the head. "Hopefully this won't take too long. Tsuchiura-san, would you hand me the violin, please?"

I watched my violin case, harboring the priceless Guarneri, pass from Ryou to Detective McGraw with a strange sense of regret. As the detective carefully lifted the violin to the light, peering into the F-hole until he was satisfied it was the right instrument, a little knot twisted in my stomach. The musty light glimmered off the wood, taunting, tantalizing, begging to be played.

So beautiful...so deadly. And oh, how I ached to play it again!

Then it was put back into the case, locked away, and that was, perhaps, the last time I ever saw the Guarneri.

"It's authentic," Detective McGraw told us. He smiled a little wistfully. "Actually, I used to play the violin, a long time ago. Although I'm not one of the detectives assigned to this case, of course I've heard of it, and so it piqued my interest. I never thought I'd get to hold the instrument, though." He gave me a knowing glance. Then he cleared his throat.

"Anyway, we'll be taking over from here. Hino-san, what you told me you guys guessed from the names inside the violin is correct, so briefly, I'll fill you in on the rest, although I can't give you all the details.

"In 1960, as you know, there were a series of unexpected assassinations in what was then the Soviet Union. The killers were completely untraceable at first, and nobody could understand why. Some even started to doubt that they really were assassinations in the first place. Gradually, four of the assassins were discovered, through various other 'assignments', but because there were practically no links between the five assassins, no one ever figured out who the fifth was. Meanwhile, the Guarneri itself passed into the hands of the Academy, who, despite discovering the 'secret', decided not to reveal what they knew because of negotiations with the 'fifth assassin', who is, at this moment, in a position of power in Russian politics, and therefore worthwhile to stay on his good side.

"When Tsukimori-san was granted the violin on loan, the Academy tailed him with an agent to keep an eye on him and make sure that if he did discover the 'secret', the instrument would be removed immediately without his notice, and invalidate any protests that he might bring forth. Unfortunately, the Russian politician and his little band didn't trust the Academy completely, so they also tailed him. Both sides witnessed his discovery simultaneously and...well..."

He gave me a look of sympathy, and then passed one on to Ryou, as well.

"That's all I can tell you, for now," he told us. "On behalf of Scotland Yard and the other investigators involved in this case, I'd like to thank you for your bravery and discretion." He gave us a shallow bow. Then he sighed.

"Unfortunately, now we're going to have to make you disappear for awhile," he told us grimly. "I know it's inconvenient, especially with your college and all..."

"Why?" I asked, frowning. "And how long?"

"Until we get these guys. I don't want to think about they'll do if they find out you're not...er...incarcerated."

"What about Front, Center...I mean...Usa?" Ryou cut in. "She's a friend of ours that we've been staying with. She knows about the violin, too. Will they go after her?"

"We'll keep an eye on her," Detective McGraw answered firmly. "Can I have her address?"

"She doesn't have to 'disappear' too?"

"No, it'll look suspicious. We'll just keep her under watch to make sure nothing happens."

Ryou looked satisfied, but suddenly I didn't.

"But can we at least tell her where we are?" I asked in concern. "She'll be frantic if we go missing."

Detective McGraw shook his head. "I'm afraid that's out of the question."

Ryou's protests overlapped mine. "What?" "Why?"

He sighed heavily. "She'll be safest if she doesn't know. You'll be safer, too. Everything will be revealed in time. Just be patient.

"We'll send you to a safe house up near Aberdeen, Scotland, by the Caledonian Sleeper train this evening. Before that," he nodded to me, "let's get you a shower, and we'll send out to get you some clothing and supplies for your stay. I'll accompany you up to Aberdeen, and after that, we need you to stay in the safe house until we send word that we've closed the case. I don't know how long it will be, but we'll do our best to get you home soon."

"No, you may not join the case," I shot at Ryou, who had a sort of pleading look in his eye. I looked knowingly at Detective McGraw. "He fancies himself a detective," I informed him.

The detective broke out into hearty grin that betrayed his Scottish heritage.

.

That evening, feeling much cleaner, but also a bit burdened, not only by the knowledge that we'd be leaving our loved ones without knowledge of where we were going, but also by the wide-brimmed hats and large sunglasses we were wearing to stay "under cover", though the complete lack of sun made us stand out even more, we boarded a night-bound train to Scotland. Detective McGraw practically stayed at my elbow until he'd deposited us into the tiny little cabin we'd be staying the night in.

"You be careful," he told Ryou sternly, who reddened and replied indignantly, "You don't need to tell me that!"

"And both of you, stay in here as much as possible. Don't go wandering about," he continued. "I'll be in the next room down. The restroom is right around the corner. Please don't leave the window open if you can help it. We'll be arriving at about 7:15 in the morning." He clapped Ryou on the shoulder. "Get some rest. Good night." He skivvied out and closed the door quickly behind him, leaving the two of us awkwardly nose to nose with very little chance of widening that proximity any time that night. Well, more like nose to collarbone, actually, given the height difference.

Ryou heaved a sigh as he dropped the cheap duffel bag containing his new supplies on the floor, and took off his shoes before sitting wearily on the shelf in front of the window. "Well, this sucks," he said pragmatically.

"Do you want top or bottom?" I asked, putting my bag on the bottom bunk without waiting for his reply. I hate heights. Then I joined him at the window.

The train engine heaved itself into motion, speed gradually picking up over a couple of miles, until the clack clack of the wheels on tracks settled into a steady 2/4 beat.

Ryou watched me keenly for a few minutes before asking, "You okay?"

"Yeah..." I sighed, watching my breath fog up the window and tracing in it with my finger. "Just worried about Usa. What's she going to do if we go missing? It might be months, even."

He stared at the foggy window as if he was considering drawing in it, too. "I don't think it'll be that long, really. Detective McGraw seemed pretty confident that they could catch these guys quickly, especially with international help, and with our evidence and the recovery of the Guarneri. As for Front, Center, she'll do what she always does."

He sounded so certain that I passed him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged and leaned forward to draw little circles on top of mine. The trail his finger left was so much wider than mine. "She'll hole up with her piano and music and try to forget as much as she possibly can. She told me once that's how she's dealt with pretty much everything for a long time. Otherwise the loneliness would eat her alive."

"Usa, lonely?" She never seemed that way to me. Hyper, yes. Obnoxious, absolutely. Obsessive out the wazoo. But not lonely.

He shrugged a little. "Has she ever told you anything about her family situation?"

"No." She avoided it as a matter of fact.

"I guess she's not too close to them. She described herself as the 'black sheep'-the sole musician. Feels like none of the rest of them understand her. Well, you know her, she's a drama queen."

I smothered a smile. "Putting it lightly."

"Mm. But a sincere drama queen."

He went quiet suddenly, blew into the window, erasing the tracks we'd made.

"How come you know all this about her, anyway?" I asked, feeling the prowling monster "jealousy" rear its scaly green head again. Though I guess it was really that I was jealous that she'd told him and not me. I thought I was supposed to be her closest friend, so why was she more open with him?

"We met up a lot in the library last year," he answered, offhandedly. "I don't know why, but she talked, I listened. Well." He leaned over and grinned in my face. "Forget about her for now. Aren't you excited?"

"About what?"

"You. Me. Locked up together in an old house in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, when's the last time we had a chance to be alone together? Kahoko."

His eyes were taking on "possessive" again. I swallowed hard and met his gaze steadily.

"Yes?" I whispered.

He reached out his hands to take mine, his gaze never faltering as he did so. I felt the frozen tip of his index finger stroking my left palm.

"You were going to say something as you left me behind in the dark, weren't you?" Eyes, serious, determined, plumbing the depths of mine, pleading like the soul of a hound. "Won't you finish it for me, please?"

Yesterday, I was wavering.

Struggling with my heart. It knows Len is gone, yet it can't purge the memory of his smile. Still digging up the interred bones of the past, searching for ghosts, unseen, unreachable. Immaterial as the frozen breath on the window.

Ryou...I'm past that now.

I let my eyes radiate I am yours at him for the first time.

All yours. I won't hold back anymore, I swear.

It should have been like this from the beginning...I knew it all along. Like we were meant to be.

I can trust you with my heart forever.

"Ryou, I love you."

My hands shook in his. Somehow, getting that out there is the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever done.

He released my hands to draw me into his arms. Warm, firm, steady and tender. Like his feelings toward me.

...His cheesiness is rubbing off on me. I guess I don't mind.

He lifted the hair from my ears with the breeze of his reply:

"I know."

We swayed back and forth together, to the steady rocking of the train.

A kiss would be perfect here, wouldn't it?

But this is enough. For now.

.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"There's our wakeup call," Ryou grumbled from the top bunk, sitting up gingerly to avoid the ceiling. "Man alive they're ruthless...You sleep well?"

I smiled blissfully and hopped out from underneath. "Never better." Ha. I dropped off to sleep easily enough, had a deep, satisfying slumber, woke up an hour ago and couldn't get back to sleep. Why?

I said "I love you" to Ryou. At long last. My heart feels as light as a feather. Whee!

A thump and groan from above alerted me to his dropping back onto the hard bunk. "Why are you so chipper?" he grumbled. "I thought you weren't a morning person."

"I'm not," I sang, opening the narrow window to invite the cheerful grey of the coastline morning into the tiny compartment.

"For God's sake...do you have to open that?"

"Are you awake now?"

"Like it or not."

Pause. "Are you okay, Ryou?"

"NO. I had a horrible dream last night that Tsukimori's ghost was chasing me around a storage unit with a conductor's baton." He emerged groggily and sprang straight down to the floor. Apparently he can jump down as gracefully as he can jump up.

I grinned at him. "This space is really small."

"Yeah."

"ATTACK!"

"ACK!"

I pinned him against the wall and buried my head in his chest. He chuckled lightly and rubbed the top of my hair.

"You're like a kid," he told me unnecessarily.

"I'm happy."

"I'm glad you're happy."

"Are you happy?"

"Yeah."

I took a deep breath, inhaling the starched smell of the unlaundered new shirt he was wearing, and tried to memorize his early morning scent.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Ryou reached around me to open the door.

"Breakfast."

"Thanks."

Slam.

He set down the little paper bag on my bunk and smiled down at me. I smiled up at him.

"You haven't shaved in like, three days, have you?" I noted.

He blanched as he rubbed the sides of his face with his hands. "Is it noticeable?"

"Yup."

He looked away, embarrassed. I took his face gently in my hands and guided his gaze back to me.

"It's manly."

"That shade of red is really becoming on you, Ryou."

"Shuddup." He reached for the sides of my face and pinched my cheeks. "I bet your legs are just as bad."

I gasped and swatted him on the shoulder. "What the...why are you even thinking that way? Geez..."

The squealing of the train brakes, paired with a sudden deceleration, alerted us that we were arriving at our destination and terminated any possibility of Ryou investigating my forests-for-legs. Oh, shame.

"Got everything?" Ryou asked.

I swung the duffel bag full of survival supplies onto my shoulder. Then I grabbed his hand.

"Yup. Everything."

I opened up the door and jumped a foot in the air. Detective McGraw was waiting outside with his nose practically plastered to the door. Yeesh. If you ask a bloodhound to do his job, he does it thoroughly, I guess.

"You ready? Where are your sunglasses? Hurry up and put them on. I have a car waiting just outside the station. We'll be at the safe house in about an hour."

.

Ten breezy minutes later found Ryou and me on the mauve leather seats in the back of a shaded sedan, the warmth of his left hand enveloping my right, alternating between grinning at each other goofily and trying to peer outside at the dreary, heathered scenery outside. The hills rolled very gently, here and there dotted with grazing sheep, before dropping off dramatically into the slate-grey ocean. In other words, there was very little to see, but that little was bleakly lovely, conjuring strange, wistful, nostalgic feelings, even for a foreigner.

McGraw looked up sharply at Ryou through the rearview mirror. "I hope you guys got enough sleep last night."

"Yes, sir," Ryou said meekly. I restrained a giggle. So this is what you get if you stick two "old-fashioned" guys together. I was humoured.

"I hope you don't mind, there's one other person staying here right now." He raised his eyebrows at Ryou, whose expression had sunk into disgruntled.

Fantastic. We have a chaperon. Not humoured anymore.

"I got permission to switch over to this case, by the way," he continued his string of unrelated one-liners. "Since you guys are involved, it's best to have a Japanese speaker on the case. However, I'm afraid that there won't be any internet or phones allowed at the safe house. And I can't send letters by post, either. But I'll keep you updated weekly through the person who will be dropping off supplies. For this reason, we don't have any means of taking care of you if there's an emergency, so try not to get hurt, okay? Hino-san, how is your wrist?"

I touched the stiff ace bandage that was wrapped around my left hand. "It should be okay. It's just a sprain, so hopefully it'll be healed in a week or so."

He nodded. "If it isn't, let the supplier know immediately, okay? Oh, and Tsuchiura-san..." He hesitated.

"Yes?" Ryou prompted after a moment.

"...I'm sorry." His tone was really regretful.

"About what?" Ryou asked curiously.

The wheels of the car ground suddenly on gravel, and the ride became very bumpy. Ahead, I could see a tall, peaked building, Gothic in structure, cloaked by tall poplars. When we got out of the car a few minutes later, I found my mouth dropping open as I looked up, up, at a truly classic manor, grey stone towers reaching their spired hands upwards into an equally grey sky, wings stretching out to the east and the west, and large, shuttered windows yawning across the entire bottom floor. Rows of neglected rosebushes cast their gypsy blossoms wherever whim dictated, and a ruined stone fountain with headless lions in front stood silent.

"It's not much," McGraw-san said, as he unlocked the heavily chained iron gate, studded with diamond-shaped spikes at the top, "but it'll keep you safe here until we settle this case. I'm sorry about the inconvenience, but it's better than you guys ending up getting killed, you know?"

"Thank you so much," I said, tears of gratitude starting to well up in my eyes. "We're such a bother to you but..."

"Not at all," he said, managing a terse smile. "Tsuchiura-san, would you help me with this gate? It's very heavy..."

The two of them grasped the bars and began to push against it with all their might. As the gate began to swing slowly open with a rusty creak, I heard another sound.

An impossible sound.

I stumbled through and stared blankly up at the upper tower above. Its maroon curtains hid the chamber from sight, like a cape around the shoulders of a vampire.

"Kaho? What's wrong?" Ryou asked in surprise, as I anxiously waited for Detective McGraw to open the inner door, carefully locking the gate behind him.

I couldn't answer, even as I dashed inside, bumping my shoulders into the door in my impatience for it to open.

That sound, that impossible sound...

Len's Ave Maria.

Author's Notes:

Review, gosh darn it!