Until When

Chapter Nine

The night was still and from somewhere near the lake, a song was heard. A melody so soft, so emotional, so melancholic. A melody coming from the heart. A melody from Nagisa's flute.

She put the flute down, closing her eyes. Takamura-san…

"You seem awfully sad tonight, Nagisa-san."

She sighed, a ghost of a smile forming in her lips. Nagisa opened her eyes and regarded her best friend silently. Utako returned the gaze, concern written on her face.

"Nagisa-san, I can hear the melancholy in that song you played. What's wrong?"

The flautist turned her gaze at the scenery surrounding them.

"It's just that Takamura-san always seems so far away from me," she started. "Even when we are together, I can feel that his heart is somewhere else."

Utako blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I can't exactly put it into words. I can just feel as if I'm not the one he loves."

The brunette was confused. "Did you ever tell him about it?"

Nagisa shook her head.

"Why?"

"I was afraid. Afraid that if I ever told him that I somehow doubted him, he would leave me. I'm afraid of the day I would wake up and realize that he doesn't love me anymore. I wouldn't know what to do if that happens, Utako-san."

Utako sighed. Here was she, knowing what was happening, and yet she could not do anything to comfort her best friend's fears. Why did she agree to do this anyway?

For Nagisa. For Suoh. For Nokoru. For three of her closest friends.

But was there any way to do this without hurting any of them?

No.

There was no was no way that two people could share one heart. One was to win. And the other, lose.

She glanced at Nagisa who was unconsciously playing with her engagement ring. She could remember that night when the flautist suddenly appeared on her doorstep, face glowing, holding up the hand that held the ring Suoh had given her. She was, to say the least, in cloud nine.

But now, Nagisa looked as if she was in cloud three.

"Why do you think he asked me to marry him, Utako-san?"

She wanted to say that it was because he loved her but she knew better than to give the flautist false hopes. But before she could think of a suitable answer, they heard something galloping towards them.

They both whirled around instantly, surprised that there was a horse on the loose at that hour. However before both of them could react, they were grabbed by the person riding the horse.

"LET ME GO!" Utako cried out, hitting their kidnapper with her fists. "LET ME GO!"

Seeing that their kidnapper would not budge, she did the most effective way she could think of: she bit him. Hard.

A loud grunt came from their captor's lips, accidentally releasing his grip on Utako, sending her rolling on the grass.

"UTAKO-SAN!!!"

Utako remained on the ground, her breathing ragged. Finally catching her breath, she reached for the mini radio in her pocket.

"Raven, this is Parrot. Phase one is complete."

"Roger," came the voice of Suoh's mother through the radio. "Stand by, Parrot and wait for the signal. Over and out."

"10-4. Over and out," she responded.

Gomen nasai, Nagisa-san. This is the only way…

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"Ah, Hikaru-san! You are as gorgeous as ever."

Hikaru blushed as Nokoru bent to kiss the tip of her hand. "And you flatter me too much as always."

Nokoru smiled. "The truth is never flattery."

She shook her head, unable to counter Nokoru's flattery. She leaned against the railing of the hotel's porch, fixing her eyes on the stars above them.

"The stars are especially beautiful tonight. It makes me a little nostalgic."

Nokoru followed her gaze. Fragments of memories flashed in his mind. Memories he knew would not be best to think about at the moment.

He was twelve, standing near the window of the Elementary Student Council room. He was staring out at the stars, a wistful smile on his lips.

The beautiful stars, he thought. They want to remind us of that night, don't they, Suoh? [1]

"Nokoru-sama, daijoubu desu ka?"

Erasing the sad smile on his lips, he replaced it with an assuring one. "Daijoubu desu, Hikaru-san. Just a bit tired from the meeting I attended. Saa, shall we take a walk? I hear that the view from the cliff side is fantastic."

"But you're tired," she said, concern lacing her voice. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Shimpai suru nai [2], Hikaru-san. I am perfectly fine," he said, extending his right hand to her. "Besides, what better way to relax than to see the beauty of nature with someone equally beautiful by my side?"

She shook her head, wishing that the blush on her cheeks would go away as she took his hand. "Charming as ever, Nokoru-sama. But won't Takamura-sama berate you later for not taking care about yourself?"

The blonde's expression darkened for a moment before returning its cheerful mask. "Suoh's not with me this time. Don't worry. I won't tell him."

She could feel the melancholy that Nokoru tried so hard to keep from everyone else. She saw it in his eyes – his usually bright azure eyes turning into dark sapphire ones – especially when he brought Suoh up.

They had been walking silently for quite a long distance already when Hikaru spoke up, deciding it was better to hear Nokoru talking. At least, it distracted the boy from thinking about the ninja.

"You came here on business, Nokoru-sama?"

He nodded. "Kinomoto Touya-san [3], the head of one of the laboratories in the company I handle, needed me to approve the projects for the autumn season."

"Oh…"

"What about you, Hikaru-san?"

"I'm here on a three-day-two-night vacation. My family is coming tomorrow to spend it with me."

"It's good that you get to spend time with your family. School takes a lot of time from you to bond with them." He paused and looked at the road ahead. "I think we're getting near."

However before Hikaru could react, a helicopter suddenly appeared above them.

"Is that your helicopter, Noko--"

A gun shot was heard.

"WATCH OUT!" Nokoru unexpectedly pushed her to the ground, his body on top of her – protecting her.

Her eyes widened, alarmed. "Nokoru-sama?!"

But Nokoru was no longer responding.

A rope appeared out of nowhere, encircling the blonde's small waist – taking him away on the helicopter.

"NOKORU-SAMA!!!"

And as sudden as the helicopter appeared, it was out of sight.

After making sure that there was no one around, she fished the mini radio from her pocket.

"Eagle, this is Mocking Bird. Phase two clear."

"Good job, Mocking Bird," responded Rijchou. "Stand by for the next phase."

"10-4. Over and out."

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Sure that their captives were unconscious and quite comfortable, Idomu closed the door and locked it. It might've been too cruel to kidnap Nokoru and Nagisa but that was the only way he could think of. If Suoh heard that the two people he loved more than his life were now captive, he was sure it would bring about the results he hoped to have.

He was about to head to the control room when he saw Akira standing in front of him.

"Ijyuin-kun? Is there anything you need?"

The chef nodded. "Only one thing."

"And that is?"

"Answer my question truthfully."

Idomu blinked. Akira was too serious. "Uh, sure."

"Why are you doing all these?"

A chuckle escaped his lips. "You are all my friends. And I have come to care about my friends."

Akira held his gaze. "That's a lie. You are not telling me your reasons."

Idomu was taken aback but he countered quickly. You needn't know the truth, Ijyuin-kun.

"Why do you want to know, anyway?"

"Don't sway from the topic, Yudaiji-san. We're talking about your reasons, not mine!"

Determination to know the truth was burning in Akira's eyes and the pianist could see it very clearly. He could understand the chef's feeling of wanting to know his reasons. After all, it was strange to see your former enemy suddenly become your ally. He had been Nokoru's greatest rival after all.

Seeing that he had no escape and knowing that the chef deserved an explanation, he cleared his voice.

"I love Nokoru. I always have," he said, wistfulness in his voice.

Akira's eyes widened.

"But I knew that I had no chance of gaining his love. I knew that he was already in love with someone. I didn't want to push myself on him either. I'd rather watch him be happy in another's arms than to have him and know that he really isn't happy with me. That's why I never told him, Ijyuin-kun. And that's the reason why I'm helping you. I love Nokoru and I want to see him happy."

Akira's eyes softened as he smiled. "Call me Akira please."

He couldn't understand it but it felt like he was finally being forgiven for all the problems that he caused before. It was like he was being accepted as a friend.

He returned the smile. "Then call me Idomu please."

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Suoh was staring out in space yet again for the nth time that week.

He had just finished his night training and was supposed to rest as he sat on his porch. But the moment he sat there, his mind just drifted off.

He thought about them again. Nokoru and Nagisa.

He thought about the reasons why he picked Nokoru as his one. Was it only because it felt right? Was it because he was caught in the moment?

He thought about the reasons why he asked Nagisa's hand in marriage. Was it because it was the right thing to do? Or was it because Nagisa was just too beautiful that evening that he was caught in the heat of the moment?

The truth was he didn't really know.

He sighed. It was really pointless to think about it, he told himself as he stood to head inside. But before he could proceed inside, there was a loud knock on their gate followed by a familiar shout.

"TAKAMURA-SAMA!!!"

"Ohkawa-san?"

He quickly headed towards the gate and opened it only to see a breathless Utako.

"Ohkawa-san? Daijoubu desu? What's the matter? Come inside…"

"We have no time. Nagisa-san was kidnapped!"

Suoh's eyes widened. "WHAT?! Tell me what happened!"

But before Utako could continue her story, his cell phone rang. Fishing it from his pocket, he motioned her to come inside.

"Takamura-san?"

The voice seemed familiar. "Hai. Takamura desu."

"This is Kirasagi Hikaru. You remember me, don't you?"

"Hai. I'm sorry but this is a really bad time to …'

"Nokoru-sama has been kidnapped!"

Suoh almost dropped his fone. "WHAT?!"

First his fiancé, now his one. What the hell was happening?!

Tsuzuku…

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Chapter Preview: Now that Nokoru and Nagisa are in Idomu's hands, what does he intend to do next? What will Suoh do now that the two people he loved more than his life was taken away from him? All that in the next chapter!

[1] Episode 5: escape to victory part 1

[2] Don't worry.

[3] This is the same Touya from CCS. There was no special reason why I put him there. I just felt like it.

Disclaimers: CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan still doesn't belong to me.