Two weeks had passed since the attack and learning of Jenny. The ClassicaLoid that was an opera singer of her days. Her voice known throughout the lands as the Swedish Nightingale. And like the nightingale, she sang just as beautifully.

It had taken Akira and some of the team from Arkhe Tower as well, to prove that Jenny wasn't a danger to her voice or her Musik like she had presumed. And once that was said, there wasn't a moment that a song wasn't pouring out of her. Either of the past or one of the present, there was a tune leaving her pout lips at any time of the day, and god did it captivate him.

He tried not to be obvious, not to be seen by her or just be spotted sitting around by Kanae but he couldn't help it. He listened to her trill the notes, the lithe French lyrics lifting from her tongue as she moved around the kitchen. He could almost hear the orchestra playing along with her as she continued, the sweet aria she sang within the room. He didn't want to impose, didn't want to disturb the work that was her singing, but the need for coffee and the desire to cook gyoza was starting to grow on him as he listened to her.

Finally gaining enough might, he pushed the door open to see her within, the high C note coming to him as she fell down the scale just to rise back up with the song. How could such a little thing be so talented and beautiful all at once? Her honey brown hair upon her head like a braided crown as her fair skin seemed to glisten with the sun's rays that touched the room. Those sapphire eyes never looked his way as she gracefully made her way around the room, her song never pausing as she came upon its end. He was mesmerized by her, and a small part of him wondered if she knew that.

A small squeak of surprise left her, finally pulling him from the sight and his thoughts.

"Jag är ledsen, Beethes. I didn't see you come in."

"No, it's fine. Just was going to make coffee for myself and maybe some gyoza."

That little smile of hers graced her cheeks, "Alright. If you need anything just tell me."

He nodded at her as he gathered his own things up, wondering what coursed through her mind. Beethes tried to clear his mind of her, as hard as it was, but curiosity got the better of him as he looked over her shoulder.

"Space?"

"Sorry." he apologized, moving away slightly, "What are you making?"

"Kalops." she replied as she stirred the meal within the pot, "And that there is hasslebackspotatis and with it at the end, semla."

"Um...better terms?"

Jenny giggled at him, "Ok then, beef stew, potatoes with thyme and garlic, and a sweet cream roll."

"Understood." he smiled at her, "But gyoza would be better."

"You and gyoza, going to make yourself sick of it if you keep thinking about it so much."

"Never." he proudly stated, "It is my passion to make the perfect gyoza, just the same for coffee."

She shook her head, "You are something."

Well, that wasn't what he was expecting, "How do you mean?"

"Just you Beethes."

Beethes sighed, finally letting her have her peace as he made his coffee. He tried to concentrate, counting each bean yet the small hum that was leaving her was leading his mind elsewhere. He knew that tune, very well in fact.

"Jenny?"

"Sorry, did I disrupt you?"

"Nein, but are you humming what I think you are?"

She paused lightly in her work, refusing to look at him, "I am. I'm sorry Beethes, I didn't mean to ruin it in any way."

Ruin it? Far from it really, "No Jenny, you didn't ruin it. It just shocked me that's all."

"Oh, so I did it right?"

"Yes." his mind pondered on one thing, "But mayhaps you should fully sing it, to let me be the judge of that."

A small giggle left her, "And have the great Ludwig van Beethoven criticize me?"

"Now you talk blasphemy, I would never-"

"You nearly took off Sousuke's head the other day when he attempted to play Fate."

"Alright you have me there, but have you heard the boy?"

That bright smile shined at him, sending a warmth through him, "He is just a boy of sixteen, one that is trying to find his way in the world."

"And I, at that age, was taking care of my family as a court organist."

"And I, performing upon the stage as a lead role." she remarked, "Yet it makes no difference in our pasts and what we did. We still were young and learning about the world. You should be gentler on the boy."

"I was gentle. I told him how to find music within him."

"By stating he was butchering Fate?"

Damn, she was quick with retorts, "Fine, I promise not to say anything."

"How can I trust that?" she gave a mischevious grin.

"If I say something wrong, you can dump my coffee."

Her eyes widened at him, "You really are serious?"

"Do I look like I lie?"

Jenny shook her head at him, moving back to her work as she hummed again. He listened. Waited truly for the rich language he knew so well. After counting again, he heard it. The sharp consonants and mellow vowels of his language as she gave a small performance. Ode de Joy. Her high soprano hitting every piece that he had created as the lyrics left her. He heard the gentle Swedish mix with the harsh German, the similarities, and differences between the languages, yet it was the power she gave it. Not enough to fill a concert hall over the orchestra but enough that everyone would be able to hear.

He paused. He couldn't do anything but hear her, feel the tone and power that she gave in his work. So sublime and perfect she made it, he could still see his vision when he wrote the piece, its meaning, and purpose for the audience and himself, and she brought it to life before him. Yet as quickly as she started, the familiar melody came to its end, leaving a wanting within to hear her sing even more.

Beethes looked over at her, seeing her slightly stiff as she finished her work over the meal she created. Did she really believe she was that bad? Continuing on his own, he waited for the brew to finish as she finally sat down at the table.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"I did horrid, no?"

She was joking, "Horrid? No, Jenny, you did wonderfully, to be honest. It was grand, perfect for an encore to be exact."

She giggled at him, dear god how pretty that was on her, "You are full of it."

"I'm honest."

"Even in speaking the Germanic language?"

He paused, "Well, Swedish and German are alike."

She reached for his cup as he finished filling it. Oh no she wasn't. He grabbed her wrist, removing her dainty hand from the cup as he saved his coffee from utter despair.

"You said if I butchered it, I could dump it."

"Yet I did not say you ruined it. You did great with it, its why I said the languages were close. Now please Jenny."

The sweet smile donned her face as she let it go, just for the gentle floral scent to come over him. How was she so captivating? Her blue eyes caught him once more, how they sparkled when she smiled at him yet it was her voice that got him the most.

"Alright then, I did well. Thank you for the compliment." she said, moving back to the counter.

"Well was not the word for it." he replied.

"So you say, Beethoven."

All Beethes could do was shake his head at her. She was more than he thought before, the silent world she placed herself in suppressed so much of her that he was shocked to really see how she was. That and her wit was a charm he didn't think would awe him either.

"Hey, Lud! Hi Jenny!"

Well, there was only one person that had that big of a mouth. Looking at the door, there stood Motes, grinning like a fool at them just as he made his way to Jenny, peering over her shoulder at the dinner she prepared. It was then he felt a sting in him, one he wasn't sure of what but knew it wasn't the greatest. Motes placed his hand on Jenny as he leaned closer to her and that sting grew more intense.

"Nein." he whispered out.

Nein? To whom and why? What was going on in his head, what was the...it came to him as Jenny pushed Motes away as he cackled loudly at his perverse joke, yet she saw no humor in it.

"Gå och dra något gammalt över dig!" she yelled at him.

Oh, Swedish insult, not good on Motes's part as he knew. When you got Jenny that mad, it was best to run on that note, but it was Motes so it wouldn't go far. Motes let out a shriek of pain as Kanae pulled his ear into the other room, giving him a lecture to leave her be and leave jokes like that out.

Yet that didn't bother him. The feeling was gone but stayed in his head as the truth of it came to him, was he really jealous over Jenny? How could he be jealous? He, of all people, jealous of...ok maybe he was wrong. He was jealous before in younger years or over something that was in his mind better than his but this was different. This was a woman that may or may not even have the same ideas or thoughts as him. She was still even learning about herself, let alone thinking of others, so what could he really do?

Looking down at the unfinished coffee, he pondered his mind as he heard the two women speak, Lizst joining in as well. He watched as she spoke with them, her eyes full of light and life, her voice sweet and gentle, even her stance gave her a graceful demeanor and to him, she was the rich while he was the usual poor, two classes too far apart to even glance at one another.

Downing the rest of the content, he dismissed himself for a walk, doing what he could to clear his head. This was slowly becoming an issue for him. She was on his mind more than his music. Or gyoza. Or fishing. Or coffee. She was just there, almost like a beckoning to him as she would smile his way. It was awful almost, yet he didn't want it to end. He wanted it to last, to see and hear her every day and just hear her sing and be the opera singer Cho told him about. That was another thing he found himself doing a lot of as well. Speaking with Cho about her, anything really that came to his head he would dart for him, begging him almost for that little bit of information about her.

"Get a hold of yourself man, you are a composer of great times, not a lovesick child." he scolded himself.

The sound of the water hitting the pier caught him as he made his way on it, hoping to drown out his thoughts. So many questions yet so few answers.

"Look what I just caught." a sly voice called out.

Turning around, Beethes saw the man from that day, the same smug smile on his face as he spun around that cane of his. There was something dark gleaming in his eyes, and it was targeted at him.

"The great van Beethoven."

"What do you want?" Beethes asked him.

"Didn't I make that clear before. It's not hard to see what I want."

"Ja, you did. But not for the reason why."

He laughed, "I have my own reasons for what I do, Beethoven."

"Seems you know me yet I don't know you."

"Oh, apologies, I'm Warin Alby."

Finally, a name for the madman, "So, Warin Alby, you think that you are going to just take me away from here?"

"I have ways." he raised his hand.

Within seconds, a flurry of men and women surrounded him, weapons drawn as Warin smiled. He measured it all out, thinking his way out of this issue he found himself in and how to use his Musik to the right point.

"Now, now. Don't think that I know what you are thinking. That Musik will get you free, go ahead. Do it."

Ok, that he wasn't ready for. He watched as they all waited for him, ready to make a move when Warin called it out. Yet he didn't move. It was becoming a now or never move, and he had to take it. With a flick of his wrist, his Musik poured out of him, bringing forth his Violin Sonata Kreutzer. The familiar tune and rift filled the air as he let it all go. The stars and notes flying towards the ones aiming at him, blowing them back asWarin just stood there grinning at him.

"Not bad!" Warin shouted over the Musik, "But let's try this!"

He raised his cane, barely a few centimeters off the ground, just to bring it down with a hard crack. A glow emitted from the top of it, a bluish aura surrounding the stone atop of the handle. Then, his Musik was gone. Stripped from him once more as Warin chuckled cooly.

"You see, I can do as I want, my friend. I can take and give your Musik to you when I please and as I said before, I can take you if I want. But right now I don't."

Wait, what? He wasn't serious, was he? Then why the hell did he cause a ruckus in the open with him if he didn't want to try and take him? He watched as Warin turned the stone on the piece, a strange red glow flowing from it.

"For now, I want you to tell the rest of them what I can do. And that they need to listen. Including my little pet, I know you all have."

Jenny. He meant Jenny and all he could see was red. He heard her tell of her encounter in the lab with him, what he did to them all including herself and what torture he had them endure. He moved towards him, ready to just deck him when he slammed the cane down once more. The power from the piece blew Beethes back, making him land flat on his back as his head spun and ears ring.

"So, Beethoven, let the others know what I am capable of. Little Lind already does, but I'll just send her a reminder with you."

And then, they were all gone, leaving him alone on the pier as people started to come by. What the hell was all that for? Beethes shook his head, knowing he had to make it back to the mansion. He had to tell them all, just had to tell them, and yet his threat to him, well all of them, just didn't sit right. What was he telling or showing them? He had to hurry though before...he paused. The ringing. It didn't leave him like before, it was still lingering. He looked around, noticing more that it all wasn't adding up. He watched the people speak, saw the cars and bikes fly by as everything around him was busy with life, yet the ringing was still there. He saw the glass sitting on the sill of the shop window, he knew he shouldn't but he just had to know. And like a cat, he pushed it off, only to see his worst nightmare was coming true.

Jenny smiled, thinking of that early afternoon with Beethes in the kitchen. She could still see the joy on his face when she sang Ode de Joy, heck even singing Les Oiseaux dans la Charmillebefore hand had him grinning like a schoolboy. Truthfully, it made her feel wonderful that he enjoyed her singing and that she did well in his language as well. Oddly, he somehow gave her confidence a boost that she didn't realize was needed for the home, but he somehow did.

She tried to keep composed around him though, that was a given for her. Being reserved and polite, but with him, she felt more of a comfort. One that she wasn't sure what it really was. A part of her wondered if it was the composer she found entertaining, the aloof man that cook gyoza and brewed coffee like it was a dying thing, yet another believed it was something more. Something she knew deep within her was forbidden.

"Now Jenny, don't be so hasty in your thoughts. He is just a good friend." she told herself, "That happens to just tickle your fancy."

She shook her head at herself, how immature she was being. The streetside was alive with vibrancy and life as people mingled and spoke to one another. Couples doting on each other as little ones ran around the place. Oh, how one day she could repeat her life in England. Just having a family and teaching music once more. Maybe one day.

Picking up her speed, she finally got out of the crowded area and closer to the mansion. Wonder came to her as she thought of the destruction the home could be in. Only Motes could've ruined her dessert over Shuu's head, making her have to repeat the same thing again. Thank goodness the shops weren't too far for her.

"Jenny!" she heard someone yell.

Glancing up, she found the source running straight at her, "Sousuke?"

"You gotta bet back here quick, something happened!"

"What did Motes do now?"

"Not Motes!" he shouted back, turning back towards the home, "It's Beethes!"

Beethes? Did something happen to him? Without hesitation, she ran. Bolting through the door with Sousuke, dropping her bags on the floor as something shattered in another room.

"Beethes, stop it!" she heard Kanae yell.

"What the?"

"He's been doing this since he got back here, the place is bad." he led her to the dining room.

Once he threw open the doors, she knew why he said that. There stood the others, trying to talk to Beethes as he chucked another plate at the wall, watching it shatter into thousands of pieces.

"Beethes, I said enough!" Kanae shouted again as Liszt held her back.

"Told you. He went crazy."

"Crazy is not the word Sousuke, did he say anything?" she asked him as another plate shattered.

"Nothing really." Shuu replied for him, "Just about a red stone cane and then this."

Red stone cane, what on earth? Jenny moved from the two men as she tried to grab Beethes attention, watching him grab another plate.

"Beethes, stop it. Just tell us what happened. Beethes!" she shouted.

Yet his eyes were fixed on the destruction as he continued, the arguing from the others getting louder over her own thoughts. She tried to see what was wrong with him, yet he looked the same as earlier, the only thing added was the fear in his eyes and...she watched him again. Right as he flung the plate, he cupped his ear, as if he was waiting for something...or some sound.

"Sousuke! Shuu! You said he talked about a red stone cane, did he do anything else afterward?" she asked.

They looked at each other just to lift their hands in the same style that bastard would, bringing them down to the ground as they said the same thing to her. Dear god, she knew what it was. Only seen it a few times and had it on herself as well. Jenny darted over to Beethes, knowing that all they were doing, all the shouting was null.

"Beethes stop now!" she shouted as the plate smashed against the wall, a stray piece catching her hand.

She was too close at that second, but it finally stopped. She gripped her hand as blood fell to the floor and a mortified gasp filled the room with others finally noticing the issue. The familiar red scarf came to her hand as his fingers once again graced her wrist. There he was, out of his destructive stupor and mortified that he hurt her, yet Jenny paid no mind. She pushed his hands aside as he tried to help her yet she ignored him, the onslaught of German apologies falling from his lips as he tried to bandage her and Jenny finally had enough.

Grabbing his face with her hands, she forced him to look at her, "Ludwig!"

He calmed, for only a moment as his eyes seemed to frantically try to figure out what was going on. Releasing him, she prayed she was wrong in this action, yet she knew the dark truth. She placed her fingers beside his ears, said a silent prayer, and snapped them. She watched him, waited on baited breath for a reaction, yet there wasn't one. She heard the others asking what she was doing yet they were distant and far, for in his eyes, he was lost, almost begging her to end this nightmare he was in.

"Beethes? Ludwig?" she called out to him, "Ludwig, darling?"

Yet all he did was stare at her, small pools welling in those aqua orbs, begging her to change was she knew too well. Her heart clamped up, wondering what she could do but knew the truth was just too much at that moment. She swiped her thumb over his cheek, catching the stray tear that fell.

"My god Beethes, he made your deepest fear come true didn't he?" she asked him.

"Jenny, what are you talking about?" Liszt asked.

"Yes, it doesn't explain his destruction." Kanae added.

Yet she ignored them, just wanting to ask him herself, "Beethes, can you hear me?"

He knew what she said, it was evident when he began to shake lightly. She wanted to crumble, to not only end his nightmare but end her own as well.

"Can you hear me?" she asked again, knowing the answer wouldn't change, "He used your greatest fear on you, didn't he? He took your hearing."

Then Beethes closed his eyes, shaking more as he leaned his head against her shoulder. Jenny gathered him in her arms, feeling the shudders of his emotions pour out of him as the others around them finally understand his actions. She rocked him gently as she tried to remember how to fix the nightmare that the cane created, hoping she could give him back what was lost.

"Jenny?" she heard Sousuke ask, "What happened?"

"The people looking for us must've found him, and he used the cane as a threat."

"The same one that took our Musik?" Cho asked.

"The very one." she sighed, looking at them all, "And each color on that stone means a new torment, and the red one is the deepest fears."

Shuu walked over to them, sadness written on his face as he rested his hand on Beethe's shoulder, knowing the one fear the loud, boisterous man had.

"And now, the fear of being deaf again has come true."