Heartstrings and a Melody by Janie Hart
Chapter 2
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"Konnichi wa," Hijiri said politely as he stepped into the office. The room was well-furnished with scrolls and vases, giving the appearance of more than just a simple office.
"Welcome, welcome, Minase-san!" greeted the manager as he ushered the violinist in. There was an older woman lounging on one of the two long couches. "Please, sit down. It's an honor to have such a young prodigy here."
"Good afternoon," said the woman, her voice melodic and low. "Is this the great Minase Hijiri I've heard so much about from Hayai-kun?" Hayai was the manager.
"Indeed, indeed."
"It's nice to be so well-regarded. And are you the singer-san?" Hijiri smiled, taking note of her tiger-like gaze and confidence. Her black hair fell in long ringlets, melting into her liquid black dress, and when she smiled in return for a moment he felt caught in a predator's esteem.
"This is Kashu Shosha, and she is 'singer-san,'" the manager chortled.
Hijiri bowed. "Pleased to meet you, Kashu-san."
She inclined her head. "Likewise, Hijiri-san."
"Let us get started with the details, shall we?"
---
Three hours later, broken by tea and snacks, Hijiri had signed on to play for a special concert with this Kashu Shosha.
Kashu slid her pale hands around Hijiri's own. "Before you go, could you do us the honor and play something for us? If you don't mind, of course."
"O-oh, oh! I wouldn't mind at all!" he squeaked undignifiedly, unconsciously tightening his grip on the handle to his violin case. Hijiri didn't know why he was so nervous around this woman. She seemed kind enough, mature (over ten years his senior), but her deep black eyes threatened to swallow him up forever if he looked too long.
Kashu and her manager allowed him a few minutes to warm up, and when he did, Hijiri played a short song. They watched him, enraptured, and gave an audible sigh when he finished.
"That was beautiful... As a token of my appreciation, and of our new working relationship, I would like to give you a gift," she said, with a small clap.
Hijiri shook his head. "You don't need to..."
"But I insist! Hayai-kun, could you please get the box next to that vase for me?"
Hayai returned with a small, rounded, wooden black box, and handed it to Hijiri. The violinist wondered for a second if it could be jewlery, and opened it. A figure of a dancer inside sprung to life, and gentle music floated from it.
"It's a music box," she murmured to him. "Play it at night, and it will help you sleep."
"I don't know if I should take this," Hijiri insisted, flattered, but motioning the box towards her. "And I sleep fine."
Kashu gave him a secretive smile, stared hypmotically into his green eyes, and cupped Hijiri's other hand over the box to close it. "Please keep it. It is a gift... I'll see you soon?"
He mutely nodded, and then was ushered out the door.
---
Not a block away from the building,k while waiting for a bus, who should come and find Hijiri stuck in a daze?
"Oi! Mi-na-se!" Saionji shouted, stressing each syllable and giving a devious little grin. "What brings you in this area, sempai? Shouldn't you be off playing into the woods, luring all manners of creatures to you?"
"I was just coming from an interview... Saionji, why are you here?" Hijiri said, surprised. He gipped the music box to his side.
"Me? There's nothing wrong with running into a fellow student and saying 'hello,' is there? Besides, my uncle runs the building next door." He smirked. "I saw you walking and thought - why not bless the peons with my presence?"
"Peons?" Hijiri echoed, a touch annoyed.
"What are you hiding there, hmm? New rosin for your bow, maybe? Or - a present from your secret lover!" Saionji was trying to look around Hijiri, but the shorter teen stepped back and held the box in one hand behind him while using his violin case like a shield in the other.
"It's nothing! Hey - stay back," Hijiri protested.
"Aww, come on, let me see. It can't be that great, could it?" Saionji linked arms with Hijiri, twisting it back and around, groping for the box. It tickled, and Hijiri laughed, though he was angry, thinking that he shouldn't have let Saionji get close enough to to that. He didn't let go of the box though the other boy wrestled at his fingers. Before their potions could become TOO embarrassing, Saionji quickly let go.
"Suit yourself," he said, calm and placid as could be, as if he hadn't moved at all.
"Bastard," Hijiri breathed, cradling the music box to his chest. "Don't do that! This is mine!"
Saionji looked crossly at him. "Whatever you have, I probably already have ten of!"
"Then quit bothering me and go home and play with your toys!" he shouted hotly. He despised it when Saionji flaunted his financial assets.
"My parents send me gifts from all their business travels," he said proudly. "You should see it sometime, I bet your unbred mind could barely comprehend it all."
"Well that's great for you," Hijiri snapped. Then he sighed, shook his head, and went quiet. He felt down all of a sudden.
"Sempai? Hey, senpai? Minase?" Saionji asked, aware of some kind of faux pas he had committed. Then, he visibly flinched. "Shit, sorry, I didn't mean to... um..."
Hijiri looked up. "Mean to what?"
"Well, er, your parents." Hijiri was an orphan.
"Oh..."
"Sorry I - "
He cut in. "Don't."
They fell silent, awkward. From the hairs prickling at his neck, Hijiri knew that Saionji - Sainonji - was looking at him with some measure of pity, and again he was annoyed at himself that he would let the other boy bother him so much.
They remained quiet until Hijiri's bus came, to which Saionji muttered a apologetic "Ja ne." And then they parted.
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TBC
Notes: Poo :( That turned unexpectedly depressing at the end! Buttheads.