J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had just given my last voice lesson for the day. As soon as the student departed, I pulled out my music portfolio. It's time to prepare.

I sang through some old repertoire: "Song to the Moon", "Vissi d'arte", and "Do not utter a word." All arias fit for a dramatic soprano like myself. As soon as I had finished my set, I pulled out some lighter art songs. The door opened just as I hit my starting pitch, and applause wafted into the room.

"That was beautiful!"

I didn't even need to look to know who it was. The timbre of the voice and the sincere tone told me it was Tamaki Suoh.

"What brings you back, Mr. Suoh?" I didn't turn from the piano.

"How'd you know who I was? You didn't even look at me." He sounded amazed in the way a child would who just saw their first magic trick.

"Simple," I replied as I turned and then leaned in the crook of the piano. "Your voice is very distinct. I only need to hear it once in order to recognize you. Every person on the planet has a unique voice."

"And, you can tell who it is just by listening…That's amazing!" He grinned as he walked further into the studio.

"Mr. Suoh, I'm not a fan of people being in the room while I practice." I was uncomfortable. Practicing is the only time I allow myself to make mistakes, the only time I'll admit to those mistakes. As such, I'd prefer no one witness me workshopping.

"Oh, I understand. I just heard a beautiful voice and followed it. I was quite pleasantly surprised to realize it was you." He bowed and began to exit, but as he put his hand on the knob, "Would you like someone to play for you?"

I blinked twice. I'd NEVER had a pianist offer to play for me. NEVER. I'd always been the one begging them. It seemed unorthodox, but I couldn't pass it up.

"Sure. If you'd like." I gestured to the music on the piano. As he sat, I noticed he was trying to be sneaky with his cell. He typed a quick message and set the phone on the bench beside him. Typical.

I gave him something moderately hard at first. He played right through with no mistakes, so I set a full blown aria in front of him. His playing was so thoroughly good that I released myself to the music fully and allowed myself to fully emote and act the story of the poor desperate girl. Tamaki glanced at me for queues, and I watched his reflection in the mirror before me. So engrossed in the music was I, that I didn't notice the figure peering through the slit window of my door. When the last note was played and I allowed my voice to fade out, the figure entered.

I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received a text from Tamaki at four that afternoon. "Meet in studio 238, Music Building." Lucky for him, I was on campus to address some problems with my residency schedule. As always, I knew precisely where he was and why he was there. How exasperating.

When I walked onto the first floor, I heard faint singing and assumed it was a CD being played by the receptionist; but as I approached the staircase, the music grew louder. Maybe the speakers are upstairs.

When I arrived on the second floor, vocal hallway, I noticed that the sound quality was too full to be a recording, even if it was a very loud one. The voice pierced my soul with its beauty; and I then recognized who it was, Miss Judith Mooreson. Is that Tamaki playing with her? That is definitely his passionate style. The closer I got to studio 238, the more all encompassing her voice, the more engrossed I became in the passion of her song. I stood outside the door, staring in the window. I felt the glass of the small pane shake as she sang a soaring high note. I knew the aria and couldn't help but be amazed at her insightful interpretation and Tamaki's as well.

When the last note faded into oblivion, I shook myself from my trance and entered. "Tamaki, what are you doing? We were supposed to meat the guys an hour ago." We really didn't have a set meeting, just a day we normally got together.

"Kyoya, isn't she wonderful?!" Tamaki's enthusiasm positively oozed from every pore.

Miss. Mooreson looked at both of us, and I saw a lightbulb brighten above her head. "I see. So, it was him who you texted. No wonder."

Amusing. "If you think there was an ulterior motive, Miss Mooreson, then I'm afraid you're wrong. Tamaki is incapable of elaborate planning."

She raised an eyebrow. "Thank you for clearing that up, Mr…?" After my 'suggestion,' she didn't look into us?

"Ohtori, Kyoya." I knew I sounded arrogant. I didn't care.

"Tamaki, thank you for a wonderful practice, but I need to be going now." She grabbed her music portfolio from a stand, which I saw also had cello music sitting on it. Maybe she also plays a stringed instrument, but cello wasn't on her résumé.

We followed her into the hall. "Where are you going, Miss," enquired Tamaki.

"To the concert hall. I have a quick rehearsal before the staff recital tonight."

"May we walk with you? It's on our way," Tamaki asked. I shot him a glare. I needed to conclude my business for the day, not play escort to yet another lady; but Tamaki is always trying to find me someone.

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If you'd like, yes." I kept my voice cool and low. No need to take that poorly concealed glare of Kyoya's personally.

"This is my stop," Tamaki said as he walked toward the administration building. "Kyoya still has a way to go. Bye, bye!" He waved and then disappeared.

"…"

"…"

"This has been a lovely walk, Mr. Ohtori. Thank you for delivering me to the hall." I smiled one of my business smiles, the one I save for people I don't like, and then walked through the backstage entrance.

Thank goodness.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This has been a lovely walk, Mr. Ohtori. Thank you for delivering me to the hall." She shot me a very familiar smile, one that I, myself, reserved for people I don't like. Then she walked backstage.

Well, she's amusing. I think maybe I should observe her some more.