Disclaimer: I do not own Slam Dunk!! *boo hoo!* And, I certainly do not own Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata! ~_~ Life is just so unfair isn't it?? *pouts*
Thankies to the reviewers! =^.^=
Tensaispira: Ano…where are you arh?? O.o China ka? O.o Hahaha… Anyways, enjoy ur hols and c u when u get back ne. =^.^= meow~ :P
Frozenfemale: Er…yea…Kogure! Hahaha… As you can see, the next chappy is here, so no the previous chappy wasn't the last. Hope you enjoy reading! \\^o^//
Hikaru Itsuko: Thanks for reviewing and glad that you like the previous chapter. Well…here's the next chappy, hope you like it. ^_^
NB: … Thoughts
"…" Character's speech
(Numbers) Explanations in akane の teahouse – dun think there's any in this chapter :P
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Chapter 8 – Time Moves Quietly
It was the night which Eien had joined the Japan Philharmonic Symphony for a performance, and Hisae was added into the list on the last minute. In addition, because of the sudden addition of Hisae into the order of musicians performing, a special interlude of a piano and violin duet by the De Laquerre siblings was added to the night's program. Once this news was let out, the demand for the concert's hot selling tickets upped a few notches. Therefore, the night's show was a full house.
Kogure, Mitsui and Ying were being shown to their seats in the VIP box of the national auditorium. They were Hisae's special guests.
"Tell me again. Why the hell do I have to wear this monkey suit!?" Mitsui grunted in annoyance for the nth time.
Kogure patted the scarred boy on the shoulders lightly in attempts to cool his rising temper.
"Maa, maa. Calm down Mitsui, it's not that bad, is it?" The bespectacled boy smiled at his friend.
"Shut up and stop whining will you?" Ying glared at her boyfriend.
"Grr…" Mitsui growled and pulled at his bow tied trying to relief his neck of the strangling pressure.
Kogure watched the indigo head's unkempt behavior and sweat dropped. But…who could blame him since he himself was not that used to such occasions, being dressed up in a tuxedo and all. However, the two boys looked stately in their Armani tuxedos, making them more suave, especially the mild-tempered Kogure. On the other hand, Ying looked stunning in her strapless silver gown by Chanel. Her hair was done up in a French knot that matched the simple yet elegant dress she had on. To top it off, she wore a pair of three inched silver stilettos that built her height up to Mitsui's shoulders, and light make up that made her fine features more prominent.
"You look really nice tonight Ying." Kogure said to distract Mitsui from torturing his bow tie further.
Ying smiled sweetly at the gentle boy. "Why thank you, Kogure-kun."
Mitsui looked at Ying closely for the first time that night, and what he saw blew his mind. Wow! She is gorgeous! His mind screamed.
"Hn. She doesn't look that good." Mitsui snorted in contradiction of his heart. Why did you have to say that Hisashi, you idiot! His kicked himself mentally.
Ying scowled at him. "Look who's talking monkey face." Aww! The nerve of the guy!
"Who're you calling monkey face? You color pallet!" Mitsui shot back with a flushed face. That's not I meant to say…oh hell!
Ying gasped and hissed through clenched teeth, "Who are you calling color pallet? And how exactly do I look like a color pallet?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously at the scarred boy. Hisashi you idiot! Why do you have to be so mean tonight?
"Your face of course, how many different colors did you put on it, and how thick is that layer of flour?" Mitsui smirked rudely. Oh mans, think you've done it that time Hisashi! Argh! Stop it and close your big mouth now!
"Mitsui Hisashi!" Ying growled at him, eyes shooting daggers of pure anger.
Kogure and their guide sweat dropped.
"Ano, guys, we're here, and so, can you please stop fighting?" Kogure said weakly.
The two turned their heads away from each other and humped. "Hn!"
Oh hell, think she's really mad this time. What am I suppose to do… Mitsui's mind screamed desperately.
I will not forgive you that easily this time. You can go to hell for all I care! Ying thought furiously.
Once seated, Ying picked up the program that was placed on the small table beside her seat. She glanced through the night's program and grumbled, "I really have no idea why I let Hisae drag me into coming."
"And I have no idea why I promised you to come in the first place. Look at me! I look like an idiot!" Mitsui grunted again.
Ying rolled her eyes. "You are already an idiot."
"Ooi! Watch it!" Mitsui glared at her. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stop your loud mouth now Hisashi!
"Ano…can you two please stop arguing now? I think the show's about to start." Kogure interjected anxiously.
The bickering pair turned and straightened themselves as they turned their attentions to the stage. Kogure smiled and turned to look at the stage as well.
The event announcer soon addressed the audience.
"Good evening distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to tonight's special event on the music calendar. We at the Japan Philharmonic Symphony are honored to have the opportunity of the world's best conductor, violinist and pianist joining us on this night." He paused then continued. "Please put your hands together and welcomed the De Laquerre siblings, Alexis and Nicole; also the world famous conductor, Etienne De Laquerre himself."
At the gesture of the announcer, the audiences stood up and clapped their hands as the red curtain draw to reveal the orchestra and their special guests. Hisae stood between her father and brother with her arms hooked on to theirs. The three De Laquerres stepped forward and bowed. The orchestral members followed. Hisae looked up at the box in which her friends were seated and smiled at the waving Ying and the smiling Mitsui and Kogure. She nodded at them in gesture of greeting.
She is beautiful tonight… Kogure thought as he smiled at Hisae.
The De Laquerre males were wearing black designer tuxedos while Hisae was wearing a sleeveless, thin shoulder strapped black suede silk ball gown that clung to her body like second skin. The other musicians on stage were also in black, tuxedos for the males and formal dresses for the females.
"She's wearing her contacts tonight and she has makeup on. Goodness, she looks so different like that. I wouldn't have recognized her if she wasn't announced before. She looks so different, so elegant…" Ying gasped in disbelief at how Hisae had changed under the skilled hand of her makeup artist.
"That shows why women spend so much money on those tiny bottles of chemicals." Mitsui mumbled. His eyes bulged at the totally different Hisae before them.
"Man Kogure, I think you've hit the jackpot." Mitsui said cheekily as he nudged Kogure in the ribs.
Kogure flushed and smiled at his friend.
As the light of the auditorium dimmed, the audience quieted and took their seats. The orchestral members took their seats as Etienne took his place on the conductor stand, Eien took his 'special' seat in front of the string instrumentalists on the left wing, and Hisae took her seat at the grand piano on the right wing of the orchestra. Etienne raised his baton as all eyes fell on him. With a gentle wave, the soft music of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony filled the auditorium capturing the hearts of the audiences.
Ying and Mitsui who were complaining about their situations before were blown away by the grandeur of the orchestra. They held their breaths as they listened to the breathtaking piece. Kogure smiled and shook his head slightly at his friends. He turned his head back to the stage and watched as he listened to the music intently.
This is amazing. She is amazing! Kogure thought as he watched Hisae played the piano with full concentration. A gentle smile curled his lips as he cheered for his loved one silently.
When the moment for the piano and violin duet of Hisae and Eien arrived, the curtain dropped to cover the orchestral members and Etienne stepped off the conductor stand. The spot lights focused onto the siblings. Both stood and bowed to the audience before Hisae took her seat by the piano and Eien stood next to piano. The pair looked and each other and nodded, signaling each other that they are ready to start.
Hisae placed her slender fingers onto the black and white keys of the grand piano and closed her eyes. She regulated her breathing and pressed down on the first key. Thus began Handel's Sonata in D major Op.1, No.13. Eien joined in on the violin after the first bar. He too closed his eyes before he played the first note.
When the piece finished, Hisae looked up at Eien and the siblings smiled at each other. The ladies sitting in the front rows swooned as they saw the ever cool Alexis De Laquerre smiled. If the occasion allowed, those ladies would have screamed their hearts out at Eien. Before the audience had time to catch a breath to lighten their hearts from the intense emotions portray in Handel's piece, the Hisae pressed her fingers on the piano again and began the next piece. The Devil's Trill Sonata of Giuseppe Tartini.
Hisae stood up after the piece while Eien lowered his violin to his side and offered a hand to his sister. Hisae took her brother's hand and the pair walked to the center of the stage and bowed to the audience's applause.
"Encore! Encore!" Some of the audiences shouted.
Hisae and Eien just bowed and smiled at the audience's enthusiasm. They bowed one more time and retreated backstage for a short break before they were due back again with the orchestra. Everyone congratulated them backstage and Etienne hugged his children proudly.
After the short intermittent, the De Laquerres returned to stage with the full orchestra. The audience clapped as they returned to their seats. As Etienne raised his baton once more, the audience quieted and the musicians readied to play their finale, Mozart's Symphony #40 in G minor. All the musicians stood and bowed to the audience's generous applause when they finished the piece.
Kogure, Ying and Mitsui went backstage to look for Hisae. Hisae ran to them when she saw them at the entrance. Kogure caught her in his arms as she arrived and hugged her deeply.
"You were great Hisae." Kogure whispered into her ears.
"Thank you." Hisae whispered back.
The two pulled apart and smiled at each other as they drowned in each other's eyes.
"Ahem!" Mitsui cleared his throat, waking the pair of lovebirds.
The two blushed and turned to their friends. Seeing Ying in her dress, Hisae gasped. "You look great Ying!"
"You think so?" Ying smiled happily, as she held Hisae's hands.
"Yeah!" Hisae replied, equally happy.
"You did well out there Hisae-chan." Mitsui complemented with a smile.
"Arigatou Mitsui-kun." Hisae smiled at him as Ying snubbed the scarred boy.
Sensing the tension between her best friend and her boyfriend, Hisae took a step back and asked Kogure quietly, "What happened between them?"
"Long story. But to cut it short, Mitsui went a little far with their bickering this time." He answered softly.
"I see…"
"Hisae-san, congratulations on the performance tonight." A cold, familiar voice sounded from their right.
They turned and saw two tall males whom they were very familiar with, a red head and a raven head.
"Sakuragi? Rukawa? What are you two doing here?" Mitsui asked the younger boys in surprise.
"Our mothers dragged us here." Sakuragi grumbled.
"Our?" Mitsui asked again now in a confused tone.
"Our mothers are sisters." Rukawa snorted.
"What!?" The four seniors gasped in unison.
"You mean, you two are related!? You are cousins!? Then how come you two are always at each other's neck!?" Mitsui gawked.
The two juniors shrugged without reply.
"Man! What's the world coming to!? We just found out Hisae's a piano prodigy and now you two, the team's troublemakers are cousins!" Mitsui grunted weakly while the two juniors ignored him.
"Thank you for your compliments, Sakuragi-kun, Rukawa-kun." Hisae said softly after she regained her poise.
The two younger boys blushed slightly and scratched their heads mindlessly.
"Eeto, we need to get going. Kaa-san and obasan are looking for us. Ja matta ne." Sakuragi said hurriedly while Rukawa nodded at the seniors emotionlessly.
"Ja ne." The seniors said at various intervals.
The two younger boys hurried to meet up with two women in their late forties. They then left the backstage area together.
"Ne, should we go join the others?" Hisae asked her friends.
They nodded at her and walked into the after-show cocktail that was being held at the convention hall of the auditorium. Just before they entered the convention hall, Kogure halted his steps. Kogure signaled for Ying and Mitsui to go ahead without them.
Hisae looked at him questioningly as their friends disappeared behind the doors. "Doushita?"
"Betsuni." He smiled at her. "Just want to let you know that you were amazing tonight, and you're beautiful."
Hisae blushed slightly and smile. "Doumo arigatou. You don't look too shabby in the tuxedo either."
He stifled a small laugh and pulled her into an embrace. "I know I haven't told you this before, but…aishiteru Hisae, honto."
"Kim-kun!" She gasped happily. "Watashi mou! Aishiteru Kim-kun."
There under the pale moonlight, Kogure confessed his love to Hisae in the corridor of the national auditorium. He tilted her chin upward gently and lowered his head to plant a soft kiss on her ruby lips…
o o o o o
"Hisae-chan, please? I am begging for your help. We really need you to help us." Shohoku music club's president, Morinaga Chitsuko bugged Hisae for the nth time that week.
Hisae looked at her classmate apologetically. "It's not that I don't want to help you Chitsuko-chan, but the rules have it that I'm not allowed to help you. No high school music competitions can incur the help of a professional musician. Besides, if I do help you, it'll be unfair to the other schools. Gomen."
"But can't you help us a little? Just a little?" Chitsuko continued to plead.
Hisae shook her head. "My comments will not matter as long as you and your members do your best. You will be fine." She said with a smile. "Ganbatte ne. I will go and watch the competition with Kim-kun, so don't disappoint us, k?"
Chitsuko sighed and nodded. "OK," She said downheartedly. "I guess I was really annoying for the pass few days huh?"
"Iie. You were just doing your job as the club president, wanting the best for your club."
"Thanks for understanding, Hisae-chan. I promise you that we will do our best."
"Hai. That's the spirit." Hisae smiled encouragingly at her friend.
"Mou, ja matta ne. I need to go and practice then." Chitsuko said and headed to the music room.
"Ja." Hisae replied with a smile.
Ying who had been eavesdropping on the conversation from the corner popped out.
"You've finally got rid of her." She smirked at Hisae mischievously.
"Don't be mean Ying; you would've done the same if it were you."
Ying shrugged and pulled Hisae along.
It was more than a month since Hisae's identity was exposed, and the students had got used to having a piano prodigy in their school. Although this caused some hustle bustle in the first couple of weeks, but the hyperactivity soon died down when the students accepted her as just another student. However, after the performance at the national auditorium, some pesky journalists followed her around which irritated the nerve out of Ying. Ying gave them all a piece of her mind when she grabbed one of the journalists and crushed his precious camera in front of his eyes. Other than Ying, Eien was not a smooth person to deal with either. He kicked a few journalists' butts and warned them to stay away from him and his sister. Therefore, other than the occasional journalistic appointments, their lives were pretty quiet and peaceful.
"How are you and Mitsui-kun? Have you forgiven him yet?"
Ying scowled upon hearing her so-called boyfriend's name. She told Hisae what happened between Mitsui and her before the concert after the after-show cocktail. At that time, she was so furious and somewhat hurt by the indigo head's foolish words. Thus, she and Mitsui had not been speaking for the past weeks. She knew Mitsui felt sorry for what he said to her unintentionally and his mood had been down because of her snubbing him, and refusal of his apologies. Albeit this, she herself wasn't feeling crash hot at making him suffer either. So, her mood had also been on the foul side lately.
"Ying, when are you going to stop hurting him and yourself?" Hisae asked in exasperated concern.
"I know Hisae, but…those words really hurt ne. How could he be so nasty? He of all people!" Ying blurted desolately.
"He's really sorry for what he said Ying. Everything he had done lately shouted out his apologies loud and clear. Why don't you talk to him Ying? That will help you two solve out your problems." Hisae said with a sigh. She really couldn't stand seeing two of her closest friends fighting this meaningless cold war between them anymore.
"I don't know, Hisae. All these are making me think that maybe he and I aren't supposed to be." Ying said weakly.
"Ying, how could you say that?" Hisae gasped in shock.
"Think about it Hisae, when have you not seen us fight when we're together?"
"Demo, have you not thought about why you two always fight? To me, I don't think you two are fighting at all. The fights you two have are just a way to express your feelings for one another."
"Nani?" Ying stared at Hisae, dumbfounded. "You're kidding right?"
Hisae shook her head. "Iie, I'm serious Ying. Think about it, ever since you two have been together, have you or he said anything to each other about what you feel?"
Ying shook her head.
"No right? But without those words, you two are still together. Although you two throw nasty words at each other, you two still walk together hand in hand. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"I…" Ying was speechless at Hisae's detailed analysis of her relationship with Mitsui.
"Go and talk to him, Ying. Solve your differences and you two will be the jolliest couple in school ne." Hisae winked at Ying playfully.
Ying smiled and hugged Hisae thankfully. "Thanks Hisae, for stopping me from further blinding my eyes at the situation."
"You're most welcome. Now go and talk to the poor guy?" Hisae said and hugged Ying back.
When they separated, Ying walked towards Class 3 – 3. She had her heart set on talking to the scarred boy and clear the mess they're in once and for all. If he didn't listen to her, she'd just beat the crap out of him until he listened. Hisae smiled as she watched her best friend stormed into Class 3 – 3 with renewed vigor. Go get him, Ying!
Suddenly, Hisae was pulled backwards into a familiar embrace. Her olfactory system was drowned by the person's fresh scent immediately. He leaned his chin on top of her head lightly.
"That was quite a speech you gave." His uttered with his gentle, velvety voice.
She smiled and turned around, facing him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Impressed?" She said mischievously.
"Very." He chuckled. "I never knew my girlfriend had it in her be to a relationship consultant. And here I thought she's only a piano prodigy."
"Well, guessed you've just discovered something new about me then."
"Hai." Kogure laughed quietly at Hisae's rare playful behavior. "Let's go ne? Lucian's waiting for you to buy him his dinner and…to safe him from Eien-nii's wrath?"
"I don't understand why Lucian likes nii-chan's violin so much…" Hisae frowned and sighed as she thought of the Birman neko's funny behavior. "Of all things, why does he have to play with nii-chan's violin and scratching it furthermore? No wonder nii-chan almost skinned him last time."
"He is a playful one isn't he?"
"I'm afraid so…"
The pair disappeared into the setting sun as they walked to Setsuge-ka En hand in hand.
o o o o o
Etienne was playing with the Birman cat that was lying on his lap whilst Eien was staring daggers at it from the other end of the room. Nagisa rolled her eyes at her husband's childish acts as she watched.
"Papa! Kaa-san! What are you doing here? I though you've gone back?" Hisae exclaimed after she and Kogure entered her condo.
"Welcome home sweetheart." Etienne smiled at his daughter warmly then nodded at Kogure.
Lucian meowed and jumped off Etienne's lap and ran next to Hisae, circling around her feet.
"Konbawa ojisan, obasan." Kogure bowed and greeted Hisae's parents. He then turned and nodded to the expressionless Eien.
"Come and sit down you two. We need to discuss something with you." Nagisa said in a solemn tone.
Hisae and Kogure looked at each other as they exchange a clueless look. Hisae picked Lucian up into her arms and walked over to the lounge with Kogure. They sat down on the sofa in front of Nagisa together.
"What do you want to talk to us about, kaa-san?" Hisae asked as she stroke Lucian's fur absentmindedly.
Nagisa glanced between the pair and opened her mouth. "How serious are you about your feelings for Nicole, Kiminobu?"
Hisae blushed at her mother's question to Kogure. She was about to say something then Kogure stopped her but holding her hand still. He too was stunned by the question at first, but he regained his composure quickly and looked directly at Nagisa.
Etienne observed the bespectacled boy's reaction closely and nodded in approval. A smile grazed his face as his purple eyes glistened with delight.
Nagisa raised an eyebrow at the boy's courage, for not a lot of people dared to look at her with such straightforwardness. Her lips curled slightly.
"I am more serious than you think obasan. I've made Hisae a promise and I intend to keep that promise for as long as I live." Kogure said solemnly.
"Let me ask you this. How do you intend to keep your alleged promise?" Nagisa smirked.
"Kaa-san…"
"Stay out of this Nicole." Nagisa snapped at her daughter.
"Demo…"
"I said stay out of it!" Nagisa said sternly.
Hisae cringed at her mother's harshness and lowered her head as her eyes began to redden. She hugged Lucian tighter as a form of comfort. Kogure's eyes softened at the sight of her. He looked back to Nagisa again and smiled politely.
"I have expected this, but never this early. However, I am still glad that you have sought me out obasan." He said gently. "I know I cannot convince you of my feelings for Hisae with mere words. Therefore, I ask of you to allow me the time to prove my feelings for her to you. I am not the sole heir to my family's fortune, and I don't intend to join my family's business enterprise when I graduate. I will be striving for my own goal of being a medical practitioner, which I have full confidence at achieving. Therefore if you are worrying about our future together, I can guarantee you that there is no need for such distress."
Nagisa was quite taken aback by the young man's words. However, a smile soon broke out on her face, softening her features. Hisae's head shot up at her boyfriend, as she was rendered speechless by his speech.
Smart kid and one who isn't afraid to speak his mind and heart. Nagisa thought as her smile broadened.
You've planned everything, haven't you Kim-kun? Hisae's mind asked softly. "You've planned everything already?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
Kogure smiled and nodded at her and her mother. "Although it may take some time, but it will be worth it. I promise you."
"Very well then. I shall wait and see how you will proof yourself to Nicole and us." Nagisa said while trying to hide her satisfaction.
Etienne smiled gladly for what he'd heard. He was happy for his daughter; for she had found someone, she could depend on in years to come. As for Eien, his reactions were a hopeless grunt and rolling his eyes back at his mother's foolish piece of work.
"You have something you want to say, Alexis?" Nagisa shot her son a glare as she sensed his wayward acts.
Eien scowled and snorted, "Yea, what you did was meaningless. Totally unnecessary. It's dead clear that those two are head of heels in love with each other, and here you are saying this and that. What for? Intimidate the kids? Per-lease mother, they're old enough to think for themselves and know what they're doing, so will you just butt out of their affairs?"
Nagisa's face greened at her son's words. "Alexis Eien De Laquerre! How dare you speak to me like that? Where are your manners?"
"Whatever!" Eien rolled his eyes, stood to his feet, and went into his room.
"You get back here, young man!" Nagisa demanded, but was only to be answered by the closing of her son's bedroom's door. "The nerve of that child!"
Hisae sweat dropped at her brother's behavior as she watched her mother's face turned from green to red. Etienne burst out laughing and Nagisa stared daggers at him. He coughed a couple of times to regain his composure, and then walked over to his wife, pulling her into his embrace. He leaned closed to Nagisa and whispered something into her ears, which caused her to smile and forget about their son's disobedience.
Hisae tugged Kogure's sleeve and make a gesture for them to leave her parents alone. Therefore, she and Kogure went into the study to start their study session with Lucian following them.
The date of the winter examinations grew closer with each day's passing, which indicated the shortening of their time together…
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akane の teahouse…
Hmm…writing this chapter told me one thing. My music knowledge has become extremely rusty; think I can scrap the flakes of rust off my system too easily. *sigh* That just goes and shows how lazy this neko is! LOL~ =^.^=
Anyways…if you've got this far, why don't go a little further and drop me a review ne? ;) Doumo Arigatou! ^_^
The lazy neko signing out~ =^.^=