Chapter 7

Alana's breath caught in her throat as Momiji led her into his music room. It was painted a soft yellow and one whole wall was a window that gave the room a sunny, cheerful feeling. The window faced a large garden with a fancy old style mansion behind giving a picturesque view to the room. A piano sat on the left side of the room facing the window. Though the light would have been better if the piano had faced the other way, this way gave the player a view to look at if they didn't need to look at sheet music. On the right were bookshelves of music and a number of violin cases rested beside them. It was a sanctuary centered on music and Alana loved it.

"It's a beautiful room." She told him and reached into her purse for her gift. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home." She blushed lightly, handing the paper to him.

Momiji gave her a curious smile as he took it. "I'm glad you like it." He confessed and motioned to the piano. "Feel free to try it out." He untied the ribbon that held the paper in a tube and unrolled the thick, yellowish, old-style artist paper. His breath caught in his throat at the sketch. It was simple, a violin laying on a bed of rose petals, but the details and the emotion in the drawing was amazing. He felt a warm tightness in his chest that bloomed into a wide smile at Alana who was now sitting at the piano a light blush across her cheeks. "Es ist schön. Vielen vielen Dank."

Alana glanced up at him confused, her hands floating over the keys. "What was that?" Momiji's smile widened at the cute tilt of her head and the length of soft red hair that swayed at the movement.

"Sorry. My mother is German. I am fluent in it and sometimes switch without realizing." He chuckled. "I said it was beautiful and thank you very much." He laid the picture down and moved to one of the violin cases.

"It's the first time I've heard you speak it." She watched him as he moved to tighten his bow and check the violin's strings. Her chest felt warm as she watched him move around the room. He had invited her here to his home, to his sanctuary, and she wanted so badly to show him how much it meant to her. Her hands rested on the keys and she began to play. The song wasn't long, or extremely difficult, but it was one that she loved and it's soft chords were cheerful.

"Comptine d'un autre été: L'après-midi." Momiji whispered softly as the song ended.

Alana smiled up at him and he felt a wall that he had built around his heart go tumbling down. "Yes. It's one of my favorites." She set her hands back on the keys and began another song, "Play with me?" She asked as she repeated the chord so he could join in.

With a grin, Momiji laid his bow against the violin. "You heard me play this before, didn't you?"

Alana laughed and continued her fingers drifting softly along the cords of Evanescence's 'Good Enough'. "I have. And I loved listening to you play." She admitted blushing and flicking her hair over her shoulder with a flick of her head. They played in silence, letting the music swell around them. By the time they hit the end of the first verse, Alana had closed her eyes and let her whole body fill with joy at playing with Momiji.

Momiji however, had locked his eyes on Alana. She looked so peaceful, calm, and beautiful sitting there and playing the song that had broken his heart to hear. The song reached a place inside of him that he'd tried to hide from; an insecure place where he wondered if Tohru had chosen Kyo because he wasn't good enough. When the song ended Alana turned to smile at him. His heart skipped a beat at the joy in her smile.

"Thank you so much Momiji-kun. It has been a long time since I've played music with anyone." She sighed a little wistfully and glanced outside. "It's been a long time since I've hung out with anyone like this really."

Momiji sat beside her on the bench and leaned his shoulder into hers. "Same." For a moment they sat in silence, thinking about their lives, their loneliness, and wondering if the other truly understood the impact their friendship made for them.

Finally Alana leaned back into his shoulder and touched the keys gently. Momiji didn't recognize the song as she began to play and he looked down at her, startled, as she began to sing.

Alana felt the words and music of Jon McLaughlin's 'So Close' flowing out of her and let the emotion of the song flow out through her voice and fingers. She knew she didn't have a perfect singing voice, it wasn't the rich voice of Amy Lee or Yuna Ito, but it was in the right pitch and sounded pleasant enough.

Momiji watched her as she sang the heartbreaking song and the emotions that flowed out of her fingers. There was sadness, a loneliness he recognized in himself but there was more, a hope for the future that he'd forgotten he'd been missing. As she trailed off at the end of the song Momiji resisted the sudden urge to lean over and hold her close to him. Instead, he set his violin down gently and bent to look through some sheet music. "How good are you at sight-reading?"

Alana cleared the huskiness out of her throat, that song always made her chest ache but it seemed to have increased with Momiji so close, no pun intended, and her blooming feelings for him. "Pretty good. Give me a minute to scan through it and I should be fine with anything but extremely difficult songs." She answered honestly. Piano was her first foray into the artistic world, having been getting instruction since she was five.

"Ever heard of Requiem for a Dream?" He asked finally finding the folder he wanted absently noting that it was heading toward late afternoon.

"No." She admitted and took the sheet he handed her. Her eyebrows rose at the complex score in front of her but decided she could do it. "'Lux Aeterna'?" She set the score on the piano ledge and danced her fingers in the air over the keys for a moment to check their placement.

"It means 'the eternal light.' Can you play it?" He asked picking his violin back up. "This is one of my favorites."

She nodded and flashed him a bright smile, happy that he was sharing his love with her. She watched him dreamily as he began to play, finally letting his eyes close as he fell into the music. At his nod, she began to play as well, the notes of the piano flowing into the cries of the violin smoothly. She had to keep her eyes on the sheet in front of her, but occasionally the chords would repeat enough that she was able to watch him. She'd tried to keep from staring at him earlier while he played since he'd been watching her but now that he wasn't, it was hard to draw her eyes away from the beautiful sight of him holding his violin and making it sing.

Momiji was a mystery to her, one that she would take pleasure in solving as the two of them got closer. He was so full of contradictions, but they didn't seem like contradictions at the same time. He was bright and cheerful, but there were a few moments when a shadow seemed to cross his eyes as sadder thoughts came so she worked hard to keep that bright look in his eyes that she was rapidly falling in love with.

It scared her a bit, how quickly she was falling for him. They'd only met the day before but a part of her knew, she'd started falling for him when she'd first heard his violin weeks ago. To some it might sound superficial but to those who were musicians, you could tell a lot about what and how a person played an instrument. Alana felt as if she knew him, at least a little, from his music. He was lonely, but not alone; hopeful, yet tired; and so very talented.

They'd crossed a barrier earlier, in sharing their love of music and the comforting touches they'd given each other and Alana felt so happy. As the song wound down Momiji opened his eyes and they smiled at each other as the last note died away.

"That was a beautiful song." Alana told him truthfully. "How did you come across it?" She asked folding the sheets back into place.

"One of my cousins likes western books and when the movie came out he watched it. It's the movie's theme song, apparently the only part of the movie he liked." Momiji laughed softly thinking of Shigure's description of the film. (A/N: I have not read or seen Requiem for a Dream, I've heard and love the song, but all other references to the movie come from the internet. For a quick summary read the bottom of the chapter)

"It's a beautiful song." Alana repeated, smiling wistfully as she set the paper down. She jumped slightly in surprise at the sound of the front door slamming.

"Momiji-onii!" A little voice called in the house and Momiji's face fell into one of his rare, true smiles that made Alana's heart skip a beat.

"That's my sister. Come on, I'll introduce you." He laid his violin on the piano, expecting them to come back and play later. Without thinking about it, he held out his hand for Alana to take and a wave of warmth swept up his hand and filled his whole body when she slid her hand into his. He didn't release it after she'd gotten to her feet and he peered down into her face from inches in front of her trying to decide what the feeling filling his chest was. It was…different from how he'd felt for Tohru, and yet similar. The sound of something thudding in the kitchen brought him and Alana out of their thoughts and made them both blush. He stammered and turned to guide her from the room.

Alana was bright red as she thought of how Momiji had been studying her face. When he turned away, she expected him to drop her hand in embarrassment of the moment that had just passed but he didn't. As he tugged her back to the kitchen, her hand was still held snuggly in his own.

"Momo-chan!" He called as they moved into the large room that was the dining and kitchen area. Alana watched as a young girl turned to face them and was startled at the resemblance between the two. How could anyone not be able to tell they were related? She wondered silently as Momiji dropped her hand to sweep Momo into a hug. He set her down on her feet and turned to urge Alana forward. "This is Alana Takashi. Alana-chan, this is Momo Sohma." His eyes were serious as he introduced them and Alana bowed slightly to the younger girl.

"It's nice to meet you Momo-san." Alana told her with a large smile.

Momo glanced at Momiji from the corner of her eye in curiosity and bowed back, "A pleasure, Alana-san." Momiji was smiling indulgently at the two of them and Momo looked up at the red-head her eyes filled with questions she couldn't ask. Instead she turned to Momiji, "Did I hear playing when I was walking up?" She asked teasingly. It wasn't unusual for the boy she loved like a brother to spend his day playing his violin but the piano was…new. She looked at the stranger with a calculating gaze. It was also new for Momiji to have anyone at his house, even family was rare.

"Yes, Alana is a very accomplished pianist." He told her grinning as Alana began to blush and then scowled at him for making her blush. The phone began to ring and he jumped slightly before moving to grab it. "Hang on a second."

Momo looked up at the tall, beautiful woman and felt shy at the girl's curious gaze. "So…how do you know Momiji-onii?" She asked and then bit her tongue. She hadn't meant to say that.

"Kisa-chan introduced us." Alana told her smilingly and honestly. "Do you play as well?" She asked remembering Momo's question about Momiji's playing.

Momo's face lit up and finally lost the last of its nervousness. "Yes! I heard Momiji-onii play often when I was younger and asked my father to let me learn."

Alana's smile widened a bit at the eagerness that came over the formally shy girl. "While we wait for Momiji-kun, why don't we go look through his music books and look for something the three of us can play?" She chuckled lightly as Momo began to skip down the hall and followed behind her. The girl was very shy, more so than even Kisa, but give her something she loved and she turned into a bundle of energy just like her brother.

Brother…she didn't know that he was her brother; just a boy who she thought of as a brother. It was difficult to wrap her mind around and she hoped one day to hear the whole story but she was willing to wait to hear it. Momiji didn't know all her secrets; there was no reason for her to know his. Momo dove right into the bookshelves searching for something particular and Alana watched with an indulgent smile. Momo was adorable.

When Momiji found them, he paused in the doorway as Momo handed a sheet of music to Alana. Alana nodded in agreement and glanced up to see Momiji standing there. A smile slid across her face at him and he came further into the room. "That was Ayame. He wants us to go over tomorrow. He's finished with Kisa's dress."

"Already?" Alana asked surprised. She'd expected to have to wait until Saturday at least and it was only Wednesday.

"He works very quickly. Especially, if his interest is piqued." Momiji told her laughing. He looked at the sheet music Momo thrust into his hand and winked at her. "Good choice."

He set the music where he could see it and waited until Alana had sat at the piano and Momo held the violin she always claimed. "You singing, Momo?" He asked teasingly.

To his surprise, she nodded firmly. "It's my favorite song." She nodded at Alana who began softly and Momo and Momiji quickly joined in. It wasn't the easiest thing to sing and play an instrument at your throat but Momo did it well. "Tale as old as time…true as it can be…" Her voice was sweet as she sang the Disney song and Alana smiled as she played listening to the voice blending with the piano and violins.

It didn't surprise Alana that Momo wanted to play a Disney Princess song, but she thought it was cute that she had the same taste in music as her mother. She's been at Momiji's for a few hours now and she was having a great day with him. It had surprised her that he had called her earlier today to hang out, she'd thought he would have waited to visit her at work, but it was a wonderful surprise. Spending time just the two of them had been different than spending it with others and they hadn't done much in the way of talking but they had said a lot to each other either way. Overall, Alana thought that they were steadily getting closer, and that made her extremely happy.

When they finished the song Alana smiled at the siblings as Momo bounced on the balls of her feet. "That was great! It was nice having a piano as well." She turned a shy smile at Alana who returned it. When Alana excused herself with directions to the bathroom, Momo turned with a smile to Momiji. "Is she your girlfriend?" She teased.

Momiji blushed bright red and smiled back. "No, but I do like her, an awful lot."

"Ask her out." Momo laughed cheerfully. "I was going to order us take-out; dad said I could stay for dinner since I insisted on coming over before dinner."

"I wondered why you were here so early. That sounds good to me." Momiji followed her out of the room after grabbing Alana's picture. As she went to the kitchen to dig up a take-out menu Momiji went to find a frame to put her drawing in. Upstairs he had four rooms, a guest room he never used but kept clean, his bedroom, two empty rooms, plus the bathroom between the empty rooms on the left side. He found an old photo frame the right size that he'd expected to fill with photos and took out the generic picture inside. Silently he slid Alana's sketch in and set it beside his bed. He took a few moments to simply study the picture and let his mind wander in thoughts about Alana.

She was wonderful, talented, and considerate. When he'd explained that his sister didn't know him, but was going to come over, she didn't ask any questions, didn't think he was being stupid not telling her; instead she just accepted what he said and went with it. She was being kind to Momo as well and that meant so much to Momiji.

He heard a tap outside his bedroom door and turned to see Alana standing outside. "Momo told me to tell you that food was on the way. Thank you for including me in your dinner plans." Alana blushed slightly and bowed slightly. "I would have understood if you would have preferred I went home."

"I want you here." Momiji told her coming over and letting his hand trail up her cheek as he'd wanted to do since earlier. The skin was soft as silk beneath his fingertips and her eyes looked large bright this close. "Sie sind schön." He whispered softly, a light blush coming and going across his own cheeks.

She looked up at him, her lips tilting in a smile. "What'd you just say?" She asked, lightly touching the back of his hand with her own fingertips.

Momiji moved his hand so that he was gripping her hand and tugged her down the hall back to the kitchen. "I said, 'you're beautiful'." His voice was quiet but Alana heard and felt her heart flutter.

Oh…Alana thought blushing brightly. They reached the kitchen quickly and the three of them fell into easy chatter as they set up a place to eat and waited for their food. Alana jumped slightly as her phone rang.

She peered down at it and Momiji waved her away to answer it. "Moshi, Moshi." She greeted into the phone as she moved a bit away from the other two.

"Hello Alana." Her mother's voice came over the phone and Alana smiled softly. "I got your note that you were at a friend's house. I'm rather excited and curious I have to admit, it has been a long time since you've gone to visit someone."

"Emiko talked about him, didn't she?" Alana accused softly, watching Momiji talk with Momo at the table. He was more relaxed with her and Momo than he had been almost the entire time they'd been out yesterday.

"Of course she did, you know your sister. I'm very happy for you." Her mother's voice proved her words; a quiet happiness was lacing her voice. "When will you bring him by to meet us?"

Alana laughed at the thought of bringing Momiji home to 'meet the parents'. "You can meet him when he brings me home tonight." She conceded, "Don't embarrass me though." Her mother laughed and hung up the phone, probably plotting how best to embarrass Alana.

"Everything alright?" Momiji asked when Alana joined them back at the table.

"Yeah," she smiled at him, "I apologize in advance for anything embarrassing my mother does when you take me home later though." She admitted laughing quietly.

Momo laughed as well, she completely understood what Alana meant. Whenever she brought a new friend home, her parents both went out of their way to welcome them or question them. "Not your father?" She asked thinking that her father was always the worse when she'd brought home male partners for her school projects.

Alana chuckled, shaking her head. "My father is a rather calm man. He won't do anything embarrassing this first meeting. He'll wait until Momiji feels safe." She told Momo in a stage-whisper.

"I'm still right here." Momiji pointed out amused and glad Alana and Momo were getting along so well.

Alana jumped exaggeratedly, "So you are." She admitted. Momo and Momiji laughed and Alana felt a large smile spreading across her face. She rarely felt so relaxed and happy with people outside her family.

They continued to laugh and joke until food arrived. Momo leapt up to answer the door and Momiji went with her to pay. "I really like Alana." Momo told him under her breath as she accepted the food. "You should ask her out."

Momiji looked down at his sister from the corner of his eye and took back his change. "You don't think it's too early for that? We just met yesterday."

Momo tilted her head to the side to think about it but eventually just shook her head. "You don't have to start a serious relationship immediately, but I think going on a few dates would be a good idea."

"Why?" Momiji asked closing and locking the door before turning.

"Momiji-onii, I've known you all my life, I've known that you lived here alone. The only person you have ever invited to your house was me." Momo told him seriously. She seemed older than her years as she looked up at him and he wondered if it came from all the years she'd watched him secretly. "To me, the fact that you brought Alana here, took her into your music room, means that she's something special. Why not give it a chance?"

Momiji followed Momo as she turned to return to the kitchen, his mind lost in thoughts. It was true. He'd never invited anyone over to his house before. The onetime Tohru had come over, she'd come on her own and never left the main room. He hadn't invited her into his sanctuary, hadn't asked her to come over again later. But when he'd woken up this morning the first thing he'd wanted to do was bring Alana over and play with her, he hadn't even had to think about if he wanted her in his music room.

When they entered the kitchen and Alana turned to smile at them, Momiji felt something settle into place inside him. He didn't know what would happen with the two of them, and in a few ways that did scare him. He didn't want to be hurt again, he wasn't sure he had truly recovered from Tohru breaking his heart. But he didn't want to be scared to try either.

Alana and Momo chattered cheerfully as they set out the food and began to fill their plates. Alana could tell that something was bothering Momiji, but from Momo's cheerful disposition, Alana figured what was bothering him, wasn't something she could help with. Eventually, the shadows cleared from his eyes and the three of them had a fun dinner, chatting about music, art, and school projects they had enjoyed or hated. By the time they'd finished dinner, it was time for Momiji to take Momo and Alana home.

Momo gave them both hugs as they dropped her off at her home and Alana flushed with pleasure that Momo liked her. She hadn't wanted to interfere on her and Momiji's time, she could tell how much their time together meant to each other. She rode in the comfortable silence as he drove towards her home thinking back happily on the day they'd spent together. She knew he was planning on going with her and Kisa to Ayame's the next day but after that, she wasn't sure when she'd see him again. Hopefully soon and often, she thought to herself. As they turned onto her street she turned a shy smile onto Momiji.

"Momiji-kun?" She started nervously. When he glanced at her she flushed lightly. "My family wants to meet you. I apologize again if they embarrass you."

Momiji smiled softly. "I'd love to meet your family. Is there a special reason though?" He asked as he parked outside her house.

"You said you've been a bit of a recluse, to my family I have been as well. I go out and go places, but it's usually just to work or looking at galleries. It's been years since I visited with a friend." Alana confessed without embarrassment. If anyone could understand that, it was Momiji.

He smiled softly as they climbed from the car. "I understand." He touched the back of her hand lightly as they walked up to the door. He felt his heart bloom with pleasure as she turned her hand to link it with his without hesitation. I still don't know how our relationship will go, if we'll end up like Ayame and Mine or if we'll crash and burn like Kagura and Kyo, but…I'm tired of being alone. He snuck a glance at her as she took her hand away to unlock the front door. I like her, she makes me feel happy, excited, things I haven't felt much for years. I want to take a chance. He decided, nodding decisively to himself. He didn't get a chance to ask her out that moment however, as they stepped inside and were greeted with the sight of Alana's family waiting in the main room for them.

Way to appear threatening…Alana thought rolling her eyes. She took a deep breath and smiled as she pulled Momiji further into the room.

And that's the end of the chapter. It's a rather long one by my standards so I hope you are pleased. I have pondered whether or not I am rushing their relationship but I have decided no I'm not. Momiji thinks he only

likes her while Alana is more certain of her feelings. And there is still plenty of things that they will have to go through so I'm happy with the way things are progressing so far.

Anyway, please review!

Requiem for a Dream is a movie based on a novel by the same name by Hubert Selby Jr. It is a story about drug addiction and reality. In it, there are four people who are addicted to drugs, three are friends on heroin, and the other is one of the young adults mother who is addicted to weight control drugs and sedatives. The story is about how the drugs ruin their lives completely. It is rated R and there is an unrated version as well. Since it doesn't have a happy ending, I will not be watching it most likely, so I can't tell you if it's a good movie or not, but for the sake of my story, we'll pretend Shigure was disappointed that it wasn't as good as the novel.