Alex:Welcome back to another chapter! We've been in the future for quite a bit so now for a moment from the past. Enjoy!

XxXxx

Chapter 4:Piano Keys

Mari had just finished practice when she heard it.

A beautiful melody drifting throughout the empty dusk lit hallways like tufts of dandelions dancing on a summer breeze. Curious and ever so enamored, Mariko begins to follow the sweet tune. The emotion of the song was palpable, it told a sorrowful tale. It told of untold loss, a time that was once happy but no longer was, a tragic nightmare that seemed never ending. The blinding agony of heartbreak, betrayal, death.

This was a requiem sung so heartfelt and true.

Mari begins to sway lightly to the composition-it was one unlike anything she had heard before- so transcendent and powerful. Her body shifts pausing just a brief moment to twirl on the spot, her long hair flying wildly around her. Soon after she takes a running leap, her body leaning forward as her form twists before landing right side up once more. No students witnessed her gallivanting along the hallway.

Everyone by this point had returned home for the day, the only souls left remaining were herself, the player of the music, and Hibari Kyoya-wherever he may be lurking. So Mari continued to dance as she followed the trail to the source of that beautifully sad song. Eventually she stops upon reaching the music room. I wonder if someone is preparing for a concert?

The melody was climbing higher and higher creating a crescendo. Green eyes peek through the cracked open door straining to see the mystery student. And past all the desks and chairs, and all the other instruments she sees him.

Hayato Gokudera.

His body was hunched over the grand piano, his fingers sprinting rapidly over whitened keys as if chasing after someone he was about to lose. From where she stood Mari could just barely discern that his eyes were closed. Awestruck she leans a bit closer. I had no idea Gokudera could play the piano, he plays wonderfully. Let this be another thing to add to a list of surprises.

So preoccupied was she on trying to listen even more Mari wobbles suddenly losing her balance. She catches herself though in doing so her hand latches onto the door handle causing it to creak loudly as it's shoved open, the music stops abruptly with a grating discordence.

"Who's there!?" Gokudera shouts bombs already in his hands waiting to be lit by the cigarette in his mouth. When did he have time to light that let alone put it in his mouth!? Mari wonders as a sheepish expression creeps onto her face as she hesitantly pokes her head into the room. Busted.

"That would be me. Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you!" She explains stepping into the room.

"Hime!"

Ah the nickname. She hated it.

"Did you need something, Hime? Or does Juudaime require me?" Gokudera asks his eyes bright, ever ready to please either her or Tsuna. Yeah she was still unsure how to take all this. She blamed Reborn for filling his head with ideas of her marrying Tsuna. Running a hand through tousled locks of toffee, Mari shakes her head as she steps further into the room.

"I heard the music and followed it here. I didn't know you could play." She comments pleasantly thus making Gokudera turn away from her in embarrassment, his cheeks burn a light shade of pink, his hand coming up to rub the back of his head.

Coughing, he scraps together what composure he has. "I don't play often, I was merely bored."

Humming softly Mari moves to sit next to Gokudera on the bench. Resting her bag on the floor her calloused fingers begin to poke randomly at the keys. It's a bunch of nonsense and she knows it as well as she knows Gokudera is watching her closely with inquisitive seeking eyes.

"The song seemed so sad but held a glimmer of hope deep within." The story of the song may have been doleful but Mari heard something else within the notes. Something sanguine. It was bright, endearing, telling her that with time the storm will cease and soon the sky will appear. "I heard it loud and clear."

In truth it was like a chord striking her soul. There was hope. Hope for a second chance, for new beginnings. That no matter what one goes through the sky will be clear. Whatever was covering it up hiding it away will fade at the right moment. Life would continue onwards.

Wasn't she a living incarnation of that?

Stopping her racket, Mari glances at Gokudera with a soft expression. "Whoever taught you the piano must have been truly special. I think whatever hope this person instilled in you you want to share with others. That's inspiring and so I hope you continue to keep playing when you have the time." Mari knew full well Gokudera was dead set on being Tsuna's right hand man, of staying ever and always in the mafia. That was his choice to make. However, she couldn't help but urge him to keep playing his music, to keep sharing.

Gokudera stares with a slack jaw expression, his eyes wide at the words she had uttered to him. It takes several seconds before he can speak but when he does he's an exuberant mess, reaching out and clasping her hands into his own. Mari is surprised to note while her hands were sandwiched together that Gokudera's hands were soft to the touch. Baby soft and delicate.

"I will, Hime! I'll continue."

"Your hands are soft," Mari comments quietly. Honestly never would have figured they would be. "I remember reading in a book once that those with soft hands were great for piano playing." Of course she couldn't quite remember the name of the book she read that held that piece of information but thought it worth mentioning nonetheless.

As if her words were a trigger of some kind, Gokudera's hands drop from her own. His face becomes hardened with deep shadows as his hair blankets his eyes. The hatches are battened down. Intruders were not welcome within the vicinity of Gokudera's emotions. The atmosphere in that second shifted abruptly and Mari felt like a fool. Words have power.

Mentally floundering her hands wave spastically in the air as she tries to think of something to cheer up the silver haired teen. Crap. She didn't mean to upset him.

Slamming her fingers onto the piano keys, a loud startling scream comes from the instrument making her jump in her seat in sudden fright. "Think of life as a piano!" she exclaimed loudly as if declaring a sudden 'Ah-Ha' moment. The sudden shift to her right was enough for her to keep going. "And…...the white keys are the good parts of it." she presses several to get her point across. As her fingers wander along them, her index finger lightly presses a black key. "The black keys are the bad parts of life…..not really fun times but we realize that just like the white keys they also play music. And when combined together a lovely song is produced."

Mari attempts to weave together a melodious sound but struggles greatly, prompting Gokudera to guide her hand to the correct key placements. Together the two create a short song.

"It's okay to feel sorrow," Mari wasn't dumb. What she had said had obviously struck a painful area of his heart. "I feel it too. Everyday I feel it and there are even times I struggle with it. There's a lot of questioning of why. Why did this happen? Why did no one come to save me? Why anything? Why everything? Some days are tougher than others but I don't claim the sorrow as my own. I think when we do, that's when it drags us down to it's depths to drown us. So it's okay, Gokudera. Just don't let it drag you down. Remember you have friends at your side, you're not alone." The song they compose comes to a nectarous end.

Smiling up at the silver-haired boy Mari stands up and stretches out her sore limbs. Scooping up her bag deftly from the floor she proceeds to head out of the room. Just as she's about to take a step out she stops at the threshold to glance back once more.

"One more thing. Thanks for being friends with Tsuna. It's good to know he'll be well taken care of, heh I've always watched over that scrawny pipe cleaner since we were really young so knowing I have someone to help me keep an eye on him makes me happy." Waving at the silver-haired chain smoker, Mari finally takes her leave. From behind her she hears a choked sob filled to the brim with happiness that dazzles as brightly as the sun.

"You're welcome, Hime! I'll protect you and Juudaime both, I swear on my life!"

Silly I'm not getting involved with Vongola but duly noted, Hayato.

XxxXxx

Alex:This became a very emotional chapter but felt it turned out good. I hope you all enjoyed it! Do let me know your thoughts and I'll see you next time:)

Ciao Ciao