DISCLAIMER: Hibike! Euphonium and Hibike! Euphonium 2 are the property of Ayano Takeda and Kyoto Animation. The song "Somewhere Out There," from which the title of this chapter was borrowed, was written by James Horner, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil. The author of this fan fiction does not profit, in any way, from this story. All creative rights to the characters and titles belong to their original creator(s).
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Upon closer inspection, the drama llamas are not really dragons. They have just donned dragon costumes.
Sound! Devotion
Somewhere Out There
After receiving their frantic call from Yuuko, Nozomi and Mizore immediately called Natsuki.
"Nozomi? What's up?" Natsuki asked.
"How are you?" Nozomi asked.
"Fine, getting settled in and waiting for Yuuko to return from shopping. Why?" Natsuki wondered.
"Sit down," Nozomi ordered.
Nozomi could hear Natsuki sitting down.
"Okay, what's going on?" Natsuki asked.
"Yuuko isn't coming back from shopping, she's here in Japan," Nozomi said as calmly as she could.
"Funny Kasaki, but it's not April 1st, so the joke's on you," Natsuki laughed.
"It's not a joke. Yuuko's father tracked her down and had her brought back to Japan. She's here and her father is watching her every move. She asked us to call you," Mizore said.
When Natsuki heard Mizore's voice, her heart sank.
"I need to get back there!" Natsuki yelled.
"NO!" Nozomi yelled, over Natsuki's loud muttering.
"Why not?" Natsuki growled.
"Yuuko's father charged you with kidnapping and Interpol is looking for you. Yuuko wants you to power off your cell phone after this call, so you can't be tracked through it, like she was, and lay low. She's working to have you exonerated. Got it?" Nozomi instructed.
"I got it," Natsuki confirmed.
"Pick up a few of those disposable cell phones and call us every Sunday, collect if you have to, so we can keep in touch," Nozomi said.
"Okay, talk to you Sunday," Natsuki ended the call.
Natsuki powered off her mobile phone, pulled out the battery, and every removable item inside for good measure.
She knew she could not look for work with an arrest warrant hanging over her head, so she worked on settling into the little apartment Yuuko and she adored. It took the couple longer than expected to find a permanent place because Yuuko insisted they "find one that they both like." After two months, Natsuki was ready to settle for the next place Yuuko liked, even if she did not. She was tired of living out of her suitcase. Luckily for her, they both adored the next place they looked at. Granted, it was small, but the small balcony that looked out over the city cinched it for them.
After unpacking and putting away her belongings, Natsuki stared at Yuuko's and wondered if she should unpack them or not. Desperately determined to remain positive, Natsuki took a deep breath and brought Yuuko's suitcase in the bedroom. As soon as she opened it, Yuuko's scent hit her like a ton of bricks. Natsuki crumbled on the bedroom floor, clutching one of Yuuko's shirts and sobbing.
Back in Japan, Natsuki's friends doggedly worked to help exonerate the redhead. Yuuko hounded her father to drop the kidnapping charges against Natsuki, but he refused to budge. She relentlessly checked and worked every angle she could think of.
Nozomi went to the head of the Nakagawa clan to see if they could help in any way. Natsuki's father informed Nozomi the clan disowned his daughter for bringing shame to the clan.
"How did doing her sworn duty shame the Nakagawa clan?" Nozomi challenged.
"Mr. Yoshikawa informed us Natsuki kidnapped his daughter and took her to Canada, before severing his family tie with the clan," Master Nakagawa reported.
"Did Mr. Yoshikawa also tell you why?" Nozomi asked.
Master Nakagawa shook his head.
"Natsuki took Miss Yoshikawa to Canada, because the man she was arranged to marry, tried to rape her at their first meeting," Nozomi stated, omitting the part about their forced elopement.
Nozomi knew she made her point when she saw his eyes widen in surprise.
"I need to bring this information to the clan elders. Do you have any proof?" Master Nakagawa asked.
"How about Miss Yoshikawa herself?" Nozomi answered.
Master Nakagawa paused in thought before saying, "I shall contact you."
When Nozomi returned home to the Yoroizuka estate, it took Mizore a few hours to get her to calm down.
On Sunday, as promised, Natsuki called Nozomi's mobile phone collect.
"How's Yuuko?" Natsuki asked.
"She's well and doing everything she can to have the kidnapping charges against you dropped, so hang in there," Nozomi answered.
"Please tell Yuuko I love her," Natsuki sobbed.
"I promise! Take care," Nozomi said and ended the call.
They agreed to keep their calls short, to avoid tracing or tracking, the best they could.
After sectionals practice on Monday, as Nozomi and Mizore exited the school, a frantic Yuuko motioned to them.
"Yuuko, where have you been? What are you doing here?" Mizore asked.
"Did you reach Natsuki? My father won't let me come back to Kitauji. He enrolled me at Rikka. My driver thinks I'm in the diner bathroom," Yuuko frantically answered.
"Yes, we reached Natsuki. We gave her your message and told her to call us collect on Sundays from a disposable cell phone," Nozomi reported.
"Thank you!" Yuuko hugged Nozomi, then Mizore.
Yuuko checked her watch, "I have to go. Thank you again."
Nozomi and Mizore watched Yuuko run off. As they walked home, they brainstormed.
"Do you know anyone at Rikka High School?" Mizore asked.
"No, but maybe Kumiko does. I know some of the graduates from Daikichiyama Kita Middle School went to Rikka High School. I'll ask her tomorrow. If she does, I'll see if she can make the introductions," Nozomi smiled.
The next day after sectionals practice, Nozomi sprinted to Kumiko's practice room, so she would not miss catching the euphonium player. When she arrived, she was out of breath.
"K…K…Kumiko? Can I speak to you?" Nozomi sputtered.
"Yes. Meet me in the instrument storage room in five minutes," Kumiko said.
Five minutes later, Nozomi and Mizore waited in front of the instrument storage room, while Kumiko put her euphonium away.
"Hi, what's up?" Kumiko asked as she exited the instrument storage room.
Nozomi motioned for Kumiko to follow her and Mizore. They entered the girls' restroom to talk.
"Do you know anyone at Rikka High School?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes, Azusa Sasaki. I went to Daikichiyama Kita Middle School with her, why?" Kumiko answered.
"Can you introduce us to her?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes, but why?" Kumiko inquired.
"We don't want to get you…," Nozomi began.
"It's about Natsuki and Yuuko, right?" Kumiko cut off Nozomi.
Nozomi and Mizore nodded.
"I figured it was since Natsuki hasn't been in school and Reina said Yuuko changed schools," Kumiko reported and added, "I want to help."
"You could get in serious trouble," Nozomi warned.
"I'm fine with that," Kumiko smiled.
"Me too," Reina added and startled her three friends.
"Where did you come from?" Kumiko asked.
Reina just smiled.
Nozomi told Kumiko and Reina the entire story, starting from the beginning. By the time she finished, Kumiko's eyes were as big as saucers. Reina was frighteningly unreadable.
"You can still back out," Nozomi offered.
"No, I want to help. I'll introduce you both to Azusa," Kumiko pulled out her mobile phone and called Azusa.
"In an hour? Great! See you there," Kumiko ended the call and said, "We're meeting Azusa in an hour at the diner near her house."
"Thank you both," Nozomi smiled.
They exited the girls' restroom and headed to change their shoes. Once they exited the school gate, Mizore stopped walking and tugged on Nozomi's sleeve.
"Huh?" Nozomi stopped and looked at Mizore.
Mizore motioned for Nozomi to lean down.
"What do we do about him?" Mizore asked.
Nozomi casually glanced around and spotted Kumiko's partner a few feet away. She tapped Kumiko on the shoulder.
"Is there any way we can get rid of Tsukamoto?" Nozomi softly asked.
"I forgot about him," Kumiko yelped.
Kumiko pondered for a bit and came up with a plan. When they arrived at the diner, the hostess seated them in a booth, where they waited for Azusa to arrive. While they waited, with Shuichi seated a few feet away, they gossiped about the romantic entanglements of their bandmates. After Azusa arrived, Kumiko made the introductions. Once everyone bowed and greeted each other, Kumiko suggested they head to the karaoke place down the block. Azusa gave her a confused look, but Kumiko whispered she would explain everything there.
On the short walk to the karaoke place, Reina pondered aloud, "I wonder if it's true?"
"Is what true?" Kumiko asked.
"I heard some karaoke dates turn into make out sessions," Reina smiled, the picture of innocence.
"Reina!" Kumiko yelped.
Nozomi and Mizore quietly giggled, while Azusa nervously laughed.
Once they were inside their karaoke room, away from Shuichi, the four young women relaxed.
Kumiko turned to Azusa and apologized, "I'm sorry about all the espionage, but we needed to ditch Shuichi."
"Oh, that's what we're doing here," Azusa laughed.
After the five young women ordered their drinks, Nozomi asked Azusa if she knew Yuuko Yoshikawa.
"Yes, she's the new transfer student in band," Azusa answered.
"I…we…have a favor to ask you. You can say no if you don't want to," Nozomi started.
"Okay, what's the favor?" Azusa asked, cautiously.
"We need you to deliver messages between us and Yuuko," Nozomi said.
"Why?" Azusa asked.
Nozomi looked at Mizore, Kumiko, and Reina. When all three nodded their heads in agreement, Nozomi took a deep breath and told Azusa why.
Azusa sat silently staring at everyone.
"Azusa, are you okay?" Kumiko asked.
She blinked a few times, wiped her eyes, and exclaimed, "That's horrible! I know Natsuki and she would never kidnap anyone!"
"How do you know Natsuki?" Kumiko asked.
Azusa's facial expression turned dreamy and she sighed, "Natsuki Nakagawa of the Nakagawa clan…she's so cool."
Mizore, Kumiko, and Reina silently stared in disbelief, while Nozomi smiled and shook her head.
"When did you meet Natsuki?" Nozomi asked.
"One day, when I was walking home from elementary school, I disobeyed my mom and took a shortcut home, because I wanted to see a show on television. A molester cornered me. If it weren't for Natsuki…," Azusa shuddered.
"That's our Natsuki," Nozomi laughed and asked, "So you don't mind being our messenger?"
"Of course not!" Azusa smiled.
Nozomi wrote a note for Yuuko and gave it to Azusa.
"Natsuki's reputation is very well-known," Kumiko commented.
"Yes, only fools, idiots, and arrogant men mess with her twice," Nozomi smiled.
"May I ask you something?" Reina asked.
"Sure!" Nozomi cheerfully answered.
"Why is Natsuki known by her full formal title?" Reina inquired.
Nozomi laughed, "It goes back to when she was in pre-school. She saw a super hero show on television and the hero always announced who he was."
"So she wanted to instill fear in her enemies?" Kumiko giggled.
"Something like that," Nozomi laughed.
After exhausting all conversation, the group left the karaoke place and went their separate ways.
As Kumiko and Reina walked together, the trumpet player glanced back at Shuichi.
"That was a good idea," Reina said.
"What?" Kumiko asked.
"Karaoke," Reina smiled.
"It's better than the first idea I had," Kumiko laughed.
"Let me guess…," Reina feigned pondering, "…a love hotel."
Kumiko stopped and incredulously stared at Reina.
"How…," Kumiko uttered.
"Great minds think alike," Reina wickedly smiled.
Kumiko laughed.
"It definitely would've put an end to Tsukamoto's crush on you," Reina laughed.
"But caused all sorts of weird gossip, if anyone saw all of us coming out of one," Kumiko quipped.
The two young women turned, looked directly at Shuichi, and laughed. He looked at the two with a quizzical confused expression.
The next day in band, Azusa introduced herself to Yuuko and handed her the note from Nozomi. Thus began "The Secret Rikka Messenger Line," as they referred to it.
