Chapter 1


15 years later...

A young lady with cherry red hair walked out of a shop, humming happily to herself. She had a brown bag containing some groceries in one hand and a garnet violin case in another. She skipped happily down the brick red pavement of the market place. Her velvet green skirt swishing as she went along her way.

It was like any usual Sales Day. The stalls were bustling with customers of varying age and size. The sound of bickering and cheerful chatter could be heard even a mile away. Young peasant children ran around without a care in the world. Ladies adorning colourful clothing flustered about, chatting merrily with one other. Carts pulled by horses and bulls were congesting the streets, adding not only to the liveliness of the atmosphere but the smell too.

It was like any other day for Kahoko Hino. The constant noisiness and lively atmosphere of the place made her smile. It was like a reminder that one could have happiness even in the little chaos in life. She chuckled quietly to herself and checked her pocket watch.

Her eyes widen at the realization that she was late. Again.

The watch showed a quarter to one in the afternoon. She was supposed to meet with him thirty minutes ago. Quickening her steps, she hurried to the destined meeting place.

'I'm surely gonna get a earful this time,' Kahoko thought bitterly.

She hiked up her skirt and dashed through the crowd with the speed of a cheetah. She was small and fast. As nimble as a cat, she waded her way through the bustling throng of people.

In less than five minutes, she arrived at her destination. Even though she ran like her life depended on it, she did not even break a sweat. She was standing in front of an antique store. A wooden sign outside at the top of the door had the words, Minami's Antiques, in cursive letters. It may look like any typical old stores in Cental but inside there held many wonders. The dusty glass window showed little of those wonders, even though Kahoko had coaxed Minami to clean it up. If you peered hard enough by pressing your face against the glass window, you can make out the shape of a grand piano inside there. She did that when she was younger, and it earned a hearty laugh from both Minami and her mentor.

Dusting off the dust from her skirt and white blouse, she entered the store. The bell chimed loudly, announcing her presence. Kahoko made her way through the shelves hoarding all sorts of antiques. From a small pebble-like glass until a large picture frame. The piano was at the end of the store, just before the counter.

A man with graying thin hair was behind the counter, his back facing Kahoko. Being as quiet as she could, she put down the groceries and violin case. Kahoko made her way to the counter and tapped Minami lightly on the shoulder.

Surprised, Minami accidentally dropped the box of silverware in his hands. The whole set went clattering noisily onto the floor, creating a mess. He shot Kahoko a glare while she grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry about that, Minami-san,"

"It's alright, Kaho-chan. You can make it up to me by helping me pick all of them up," Minami sighed. Both of them went about cleaning up the mess. Just then, someone decided to grace them with his presence.

"You're late,"

A velvety smooth voice greeted them. Said voice belonged to a clean shaven man, his mauve hair tied back to a ponytail. He was probably in his late 40s, no one really knows. Dressed in a white cotton shirt with a long black cape with midnight blue leather along the collar and on the under side of the long ruched sleeves, as well as along the outside of the bottom. Gold buttons accented the cape. On the right chest was an imprint of a treble clef. The waistband was made of black leather with decorative gold tone medallions. He wore a pair of shiny black boots which made a soft 'tap tap' noise as he walked across the room.

Picking up a silver spoon, he put it on the counter top. Kahoko stood up from her spot as she glared at the gentleman. Despite many years living under his 'care', Kahoko still held a slight distaste for her mentor. She respects him, yes, but at the same time, harbored a slight bit of dislike for him.

"I know I am late, and I apologize for it. So you can just save your breath in rubbing it in my face, Kanazawa-sensei," Kahoko huffed in annoyance.

Smiling while narrowing his eyes, Hiroto Kanazawa gave a curt nod to Minami who returned it back. It was his cue to leave. After Minami left with the box of silverware, Kanazawa gestured Kahoko to sit on the piano seat.

Kanazawa slid a scroll across the piano to Kahoko. She glanced at it wearily before slowly reaching out to pick it. Unrolling it, Kahoko scanned through the text as her 'teacher' began explaining some stuff to her.

"A new 'baggage' will be arriving at the Central in three days time. The Yunoki clan would like to have it as soon as possible. The payment will be given as usual after the 'baggage' has been delivered. Of course, it all depends on how fast you secure it. They were delighted with our previous delivery and hope that it will be as fast,"

"Mm-hmm.."

Sighing dejectedly, Kanazawa scooped into his pockets and laid a blood red bag in front of Kahoko. Weighing the bag in hand, Kahoko smiled in satisfaction.

"You just can't let me have a few coins, can't you?" Kanazawa grunted.

"It's not that I can't but it's just that I won't. I would not let you spend it for your 'entertainment'. It just makes me sick to the core, knowing that the money I earned were being used for useless stuff."

"Whatever I do with it is none of your business, Kaho-chan. We had a deal, remember?"

"Of course. And that so called deal you made with me back then will nullify when I turn twenty-one, remember?" Kahoko retorted back. Sliding the scroll into the straps of her violin case, Kahoko grabbed both the groceries and her case and prepared to leave.

Before she exited, Kanazawa's soft voice caressed her right ear. She bit back a gasp. He had caught her off guard.

Again.

"Is that how you talk to the person who saved your sorry arse back then? Well, don't forget, my dear pupil, the warm clothes, accessories, food and that roof above your head were my gracious gifts to you. Even if our contract is nullified, you are bound to me. Who made and shape you to who you are now? Why, it's none other than me, my sweet."

Controlling her rasp breathing, Kahoko turned around and threw a small blade at Kanazawa. Aiming at his pretty face. He dodged it swiftly and the blade went sailing across the room before lunging itself into the wall. Kanazawa snickered at Kahoko's mad face.

However, he felt a little wetness on his right ear lobe. He touched it and realized it was blood. Kahoko had just given him a small cut at the side of his ear. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Kahoko held up a small blade with a drop of blood on it. The blade was attached to an invisible string around her waist. Smirking in defeat, Kanazawa clapped at her performance.

"Not bad. Well, of course, it's all thanks to the great me,"

"Don't get so full of yourself, sensei," Kahoko chided, "You taught me all the tricks but I myself have innovated a few too,"

"Yes. Yes. I know. So get going now, I want dinner to be set about the time I return. I still have a few errands to run,"

Waving goodbye, Kahoko exited just as Minami came back from the back door. Seeing the blade plunged deeply in the wall, he shook his head and smiled.

"Hiroto, you should really stop pushing her buttons. It won't do you any good anyway. One day, she might just get back at you."

Hiroto Kanazawa let out a small chuckle.

"That will be the day I'm in my grave, Minami. It's really amusing seeing her reaction. She did get me this time. This cut," Kanazawa pointed at the small wound on this right ear, "is proved enough I did not choose wrongly."

"I know, Hiroto-san. Well, what can I say anyway? The best will always train out the best." Minami warbled.

"You got that right, my man. You wanna know what they have been calling her lately?"

Curious, Minami nodded his head. He knew Kahoko Hino was different the moment he laid eyes on her on that rainy day when Hiroto brought her to his store. She was small and frail. Her body was covered in bruises and blood was blossoming at the white shawl wrapped around her forehead. Despite all that, her eyes held a certain flame that many had lost.

It was hope.

Kanazawa took out his pipe and lit it. Puffing out a few smoke, he smirked. His voice was barely a whisper as he said,

"The Deadly Melody."


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