I would just like to thank Dass Jemand Besondere & the anonymous Guest for the reviews. Many thanks to those who favored and followed my fic! Here's the update! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 3
One day before the meeting...
"Everything in your bag already, Kaho-chan?"
Kahoko looked over her shoulder at the sound of her mentor's voice. They were in the stable, the orange light of the lanterns along the walls gave the place a soft eerie glow. She fastened her brown saddle on the back of the black horse. It neighed in return and she patted its head softly. Turning to face Kanazawa, Kahoko quirked a curious eyebrow at the small green velvet box in his hand.
"What's that, sensei?" Kahoko inquired. She crossed her arms across her chest. Her wine-colored cloak rustled at her movement.
"Well, I could say this is a little gift from your beloved Yunoki-sama," Hiroto smirked. He tossed the box to Kahoko who caught it swiftly. The young lady opened the box and was not surprised to see what's inside.
In the middle of the box, laid a necklace. The silver chain had tiny studded diamonds decorating the edges. A fiery red ruby crafted in the shape of a treble clef sparkled, the lanterns' glow were reflected softly on its surface. Kahoko shut the lid and threw the box back to her mentor.
"That Duke Azuma really does favor you. Are you still considering his proposal?" Hiroto questioned.
Kahoko smirked, "And join his harem? No thank you. I don't submit myself to men like him. I can't tolerate his whores like, what's her name again? Ah! Mai Tsugawa. Besides, I would hate to be Ayano-hime's rival. It's just too much trouble. I'm better at handling dead people."
"Of course. The dead are better than the living anyway. The baggage won't be arriving until the next two days. Why the hurry?" Kanazawa propped himself against the wall of the stable.
There was a brief silence before Kahoko answered again, "I just want this task over with."
"Alright then. I won't bother you, Kaho-chan. Once this delivery is over, I will hand over what you want. Be careful," Hiroto waved goodbye and strutted out of the stable.
"Aren't I always?" Kahoko mumbled and mounted the dark steed.
Present time...
Azuma Yunoki glanced out the window of his carriage. He rested his head against the glass, listening to the creak of the carriage, the rumbling chatter and occasional laughter of his guards. The forest trees passed by in a blur.
The king had once again awarded him generously. His grandmother would surely be happy to receive the news of his achievement. The VIP invitations to the upcoming Summer Ball to his family would surely please her.
But, he has to be careful. His grandmother had told him to not outshine his two older brothers. One was a general in the war against the Kingdom of Gellert while the other a successful and well-known merchant of the Four Seas. That would explain why the tittle 'Duke' was given to him. He sighed in both frustration and exhaustion.
The carriage hit a rut, jostling him so hard that his head knocked into the window. The light throbbing pain did not hurt. It couldn't compare to what was occupying his mind that moment. All of a sudden, the carriage came to a sudden stop. The horses neighed in protest as the coachman pulled on their reins.
One of the guard rapped on the window and opened the door. The violet haired duke stepped out and smiled at the sight.
A large jet-black steed blocked their path. The rider clad in a wine-colored cloak unmounted herself off the horse and strode towards Azuma. The guards began to unsheathe their swords.
The rider stopped and smirked, "I won't do that if I were you," a feminine voice came from under the cloak. Some of the guards were surprised. Only a few of them who had first hand experience of the very same situation before, put away their swords and ushered the others to do the same.
Duke Yunoki walked over and lifted Kahoko's gloved hand to his lips. He gave a light kiss and grinned at her.
"As lovely as ever, my dear. I was expecting you to show up sooner of later," he teased. He reached out to trail a finger along her jaw.
"Stop with the games, Duke Yunoki. I want my payment," She smacked his hand away from her face.
"Yes, of course. How about a ride in my carriage? It will be a more comfortable ride back," Azuma injected. With a snap of his fingers, his guards began to load the few large sacks to the back of Kahoko's equine.
"No thanks. The last time I did, you nearly tried to steal my virgin lips,"
"I bet now those tantalizing lips aren't much of a virgin anymore, right? How about letting me have a little taste, hmm?"
Kahoko shoved him away roughly and gave him a glare which could kill.
'If only he wasn't an important client, his blood would have soaked the earth a long time ago.'
"No time to chat, Yunoki-sama. I'm taking my leave now," Kahoko turned away and mounted her horse. Before she went on her way, Azuma called out to her.
"Do you like my little gift?"
Without a reply, she rode off. Glancing at her retreating figure, the duke simpered inwardly to himself. His 'sweet toy', whom he likes to tease to rid him out of his boredom over his busy life. She was like a breath of fresh air in his perilous and outrageously monotonous routine.
At Hiroto's mansion on Énekes Street...
"Damn that snake of a Duke! I would love to just rip that grin off his face!" Kahoko berated.
Kahoko Hino reached the end of the heavily carpeted hallway. She was tired and her muddy boots created tiny mud puddles on the maroon carpets. The maids will be having a hard time cleaning up the mess she made. Two burly assassins were guarding the doors to Kanayan's study. Feeling sick and furious for many reasons (ones mainly involving a certain duke), she cast a scowl at the both men. Although they were years ahead in terms of experience compared to her, it didn't give them ease at all when they are around her. Experience and status in this hierarchy means nothing.
It's the amount of blood that's shed counts.
With a slight hesitation, the older assassin blocked Kahoko's way. He had slender scars on his face and one long pink gash along his neckline. He hardened his azure eyes at her before continuing.
"He's busy,"
"I'm glad to see you too," she answered, flashing him a forced smile. She strode pass them and flung open the doors to Hiroto Kanazawa's study.
Hiroto was seated at his ostentatious desk. Stacks of papers and a few scrolls plus maps were spread widely on top of it. He was busy having a puff of his cigar when the doors banged open. Without giving a glance to the other presence in the room, he threw the stick into the pan by his side.
Rain was plinking against the windows of the study. Seconds soon turned to minutes. The ancient clock on the mantle piece chimed. It was one o'clock in the afternoon. The tensed silence in the room was thick. Both parties did not speak although one was fuming mad, and the other was blissfully ignorant to the dangerous mad aura emitting from a certain skilled assassin in his room.
Unable to take it anymore, Kahoko finally snapped.
"All that damn bastard's payment is in the treasury. I have completed this task in less than 24 hours. So, just, please, give me the darn letter already!" She slammed her fists against the wall. A slight small dent appeared at where her fist was.
He read the wrath in her eyes. Kanazawa rose from his leather chair and tread around his desk. He gracefully swiped a faded letter off the edge of the table and extended the letter to her. She kept her face blank as she slipped the letter into the leather pouch stripped across her hip.
"He's here," Kanazawa simply said.
Kahoko didn't even cast a glance at him as she walked away.
At Minami's Antiques...
The bell chimed, its pealing echoing clearly throughout the store despite the heavy splattering noise of the rain against the display window.
Kahoko Hino made her way along the shelves. Ignoring the dripping wet mess she was making to the polished wooden floor. She was thoroughly soaked, her cloak did little help in sheltering her from the rain.
She was cold and sticky and wet. After getting the letter from Kanazawa, she had sprinted all the way from the mansion to Central. Despite the weather's harsh conditions, it did not dissolve her will to head to Minami's. She nearly slipped twice on the cobbled street due to its slipperiness. How she would love to have those prim and proper stuck up ladies hear her colorful speech.
'I should consider buying new boots,' Kahoko thought numbly.
Just as she was about to round another corner to head to the counter at the back of the shop, her ears picked up a familiar melody. It was enticing, pure and...
Magical.
Eyes widened in realization, she hurriedly bolted towards the source of the music. It was all too familiar to her. Only one person knows how to play that song. It was their secret tune. They both had stolen a music sheet back then from a passing merchant. It was probably one of the few middle pages in a play or musical. They didn't know. It had no beginning or end. It didn't need one anyway. It was a never-ending piece all by itself.
The soft sound of the piano keys abruptly stopped as saffron clashed with gold. Kahoko bit back a gasp as she stared at the man sitting at the old grand piano in the shop. His tousled emerald hair was the same as ever, only longer. His skin was tanner compared to the last time she saw him which was ten years ago. He was taller and leaner, she noticed.
The young boy she once knew had become to a man.
He rose from the cushioned seat and strode over to her. His chiseled face wore both joy and relief upon seeing her. It had been ten long years. Ten long years of separation with the stoic but teary-eyed fiery young girl on that fateful day. Gathering her slender figure into his arms, he didn't care if she soaked his tailored cotton forest green cloak. All that mattered was she was safe and sound. He breathed in the smell of rain from the hood of her cloak with a hint of sunshine and butterflies.
The young girl he once knew had become a woman.
Kahoko clutched tightly onto his large frame and buried her face in his chest. In that damp and serene shop, she mumbled softly:
"Welcome home, Ryotarou."
A/N: Sorry if I'm evil for not letting Len meet Kaho yet. They will soon :) Hope you all enjoyed it and I will update sooner (or later -_-)
