A/N: OMG, how long has it been? a month? two? I am really sorry for the long wait but I had to sort a lot of things in my life. Some are still unresolved and others are still getting in the way but writing is in my top priorities once again so here's a new chapter and I promise that the next one will be released soon and don't worry because you won't have to wait this long anymore.

Anumita. chakrabarty: Thanks for reading.

Syaoran Li Clow: Yup I agree. Dear Kumiko you're so gay for Reina that rainbows look less gay next to you XD. Anyhow, I do have a clear idea about the second and heck, even a third one but are you ready for all the drama?.

Ruelf: Sleeptalking Reina is life. Thanks for reading, I follow your work btw.

dinnca: hahaha well the answer to that is on the next chapter.

Thestral212: Well you know me, I'm all for corn..y [munches on caramel popcorn] hehehe. I am sorry for the wait but here's the next chap and I hope you enjoy it. Si si debo actualizar la teacher, prometo hacerlo pronto.

Aldmagali: Gracias por leer, aqui va el otro capitulo.

SoraSkyWolf: I love Reina, can you tell? Clingy Reina is the true one without the mask.

Masane: I'm not into the KumiSuka train actually but she will be around because Reina needs some trigger to break that mask of hers, although I think that it's very cracked after this chap.

Again sorry for the long wait and here's the new chapter and the next one is already in the works, some surprises are coming. You will have to review to let me know your predictions about the upcoming chap.

Enjoy!

7.- Soul tattoo

Kousaka Reina hadn't slept that good in a long time, although, she didn't quite remember how she got home the previous day. She did recall going to the hospital and getting a splint on her wrist. The trumpeter also remembered taking some painkillers and being leaded home by Kumiko but, after that, everything became blurry.

There was also that dream. Reina felt conflicted because it felt so real and vivid that made her feel even more confused. She dreamed of being held by Kumiko while resting in her bed, she could swear that she could almost feel the euphonium player's breath close to her ear and, the mere thought of it, sent shivers down her spine and that made the trumpeter blush and her heart flutter.

There was no doubt that Reina's feelings were focused more into Kumiko than usual and that wasn't helping the trumpeter's confusing feelings at the moment. Additionally, her sprained wrist had been a very inconvenient occurrence because, according to what she remembered the doctor said, the trumpeter won't be able to practice for several weeks so, if she followed her doctor's instructions, she might be able to play at the auditions before the first competition as a second year.

While looking at her room's white ceiling, Reina sighed with annoyance. She hated feeling helpless and, being in some sort of pain was something she didn't know how to handle properly. It made her mad, frustrated and mostly sad.

I will have to take it easy then, but how do I do that? The only constant thing I've had in my entire life is playing the trumpet. I have lived by and for this instrument since I remember, Reina sighed frustrated while raising her injured wrist, moving it was painful.

Now, I had this dream of a very caring Kumiko, it was so unlike her being that empathetic towards me. It's not like she ignores me but she hasn't been this close in real life, especially after my outburst during the nationals, the trumpeter winced when she tried to move her fingers while sitting on her bed.

Dark tresses fell covering Reina's face while a long sigh escaped her lips. Her phone lit up and her alarm went off. The song playing was one Kumiko got stuck in her head for several days and Reina just chose it randomly as her alarm sound.

Kumiko…

It was almost time to go to school but Reina was still in bed with no desire of leaving her comfy bed. She wasn't known for being lazy but this morning she didn't feel like going to school at all. The trumpeter felt angry at herself for being careless, sad for her now injured wrist and confused about her feelings towards Kumiko.

So, she decided on taking the day off and catch up with schoolwork the next day, before taking the weekend off too.

It is only Thursday and I don't have any pending assignments besides, I need some time alone to…think.

Minutes later, Reina decided on taking a hot bath and relax while in her room, the trumpeter's phone's screen lit up once more showing a text from Kumiko.

Where is she?

Kumiko wondered while looking in all directions. She was growing impatient at the absence of the always punctual trumpeter.

Reina, are you okay? Why aren't you replying to my messages?

The euphonium player was nervous. Dark circles adorned her tired golden eyes. She spent the night tossing and turning and managed to get only a few hours of sleep. The main reason of her insomnia was certain beautiful trumpeter and those words she said in her sleep the day before.

Kumiko I…love…you.

That simple sentence was driving the euphonium player crazy. Every time the auburn haired girl replayed the memory in her head, goosebumps covered her arms and her heart skipped a beat.

She was asleep and probably didn't mean what she said. I wish she did, though…

"What did she say?"

"Ugh" Kumiko's eyes widened and then rolled her eyes "Oh, it's you"

"My, my what a rude way to say hello to your lovely senpai, Oumae~chan" Asuka fixed her glasses, hugged Kumiko from behind and placed her head on the younger girl's shoulder before whispering "besides, you didn't answer my question"

"Ugh…what question?" the auburn haired player took a deep breath. She wasn't prepared to disclose yesterday's events with anyone, especially not with the nosy senpai.

"The one where she said something and you want it to be true" the third-year now stood beside Kumiko and played with one of the latter's curls "my money is on an injured trumpeter and some weird confession"

"Ah…"

How does she know Reina is injured?

"You might be wondering how I know about curvy trumpet's injure" Asuka chuckled at her own joke before patting Kumiko's head twice "well, when the soloist of our band falls down the stairs of course we will know"

"You're retired now, senpai" the auburn haired girl deadpanned.

"I know that my little eupho but the job of a vice-president never ends" Asuka added in a fake dramatic tone and Kumiko couldn't contain her annoyance and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, senpai" the conversation was interrupted when the train got to the station and opened its doors. Asuka observed how Kumiko tensed but didn't move.

"Are you coming, Oumae-chan?"

"Ah…I…" Kumiko checked her phone one more time to see that Reina hadn't replied any of her texts.

"Yeah, let's go" the first-year sighed and looked slightly sad before following Asuka to the train. They still had to go to school even if Kumiko just wanted to run to Reina's place and check if the trumpeter was fine.

After having something easy and harmless to make as a sandwich for breakfast, Reina took a long bath which was a challenge due to her injured wrist. After that, the trumpeter decided on wearing some pajama pants and a loose t-shirt.

Normally, she would play her trumpet for a couple of hours to clear her thoughts but now, with her injured wrist things were more complicated, leaving a very conflicted Reina alone with her thoughts.

So the trumpeter decided on watching some TV. After surfing through channels for twenty minutes, Reina settled for a romantic movie. It was not her kind of film but it was just beginning and she didn't have anything else to do so she gave it a chance.

The more she watched it, the more the trumpeter got caught in it. She even shed some tears during the last half an hour of the film. When the movie finished hours later, Reina turned off the TV and rested on her bed with her eyes open while deep in thought.

The trumpeter was considered cold and distant, unreachable even but, after the film, Kousaka Reina saw things under a different light. Three big lessons were learned by the trumpeter thanks to the movie she just watched.

The first, being more aware about her own feelings. Now Reina believed that she understood them a bit more. All those times around Kumiko, brushing her bed hair, holding hands and even touching her lip with her bare finger meant a lot and now she finally realized the obvious.

I feel attracted to Kumiko.

The second one took her a little more time to grasp and it was quite simple actually: let the other person know your feelings to avoid regrets in the future. This one was hard to digest for the stubborn trumpeter because she wasn't even sure about the depth of her feelings towards Kumiko due to the fact that Taki-sensei was still part of her universe. So, her task now was to sort and define which ones were stronger. Deep inside she knew the answer but she wanted to be completely sure.

I had been infatuated with Taki-sensei for a long time and I really thought that my feelings were deep but they had been dissipating lately. It's like I was surrounded by this thick fog and now I can notice things clearly and Kumiko is all I see at this point, that must mean something.

The third and last lesson was critical: things work out better with people around your age. In fact, the age difference between the main characters in the movie was not even a year and things went well in the end for them, so the trumpeter was starting to see things clearly now and, slowly but surely, Taki-sensei was turning into this distant memory of a past Reina that had nothing to do to this new version of herself.

I need to stop and think things before acting. That confession on the national competition was careless and I don't even think that all those childish feelings are true anymore.

At that time, I just felt like I just needed it out of my chest and now that they are, my feelings are hesitant because one euphonium player that slowly but steadily had been invading my thoughts.

Kumiko.

As if the universe understood the trumpeter's heart, Reina's screen lit up once more, it was a text from Kumiko asking if everything was okay and the stubborn trumpeter couldn't help but smile warmly and her cheeks colored with a soft pink. Her mask was finally falling apart.

It was lunch break and Kumiko's face lit up the moment she got a reply from Reina. It was just like a gust of wind caressed her face and her features were softly hugged by her auburn curls. Reina replies were full of typos due to her right hand's restricted movement and Kumiko was having a hard time to keep a straight face. She thought that the trumpeter was cute being more…human.

"I bet she's texting with Kousaka-san" Midori whispered to herself.

"Why do you think that?" Hazuki replied between bites of her yakisoba bread.

"Haven't you noticed how Kumiko-chan looks happier every time Kousaka-san is around?" Midori commented softly so the distracted euphonium player couldn't hear her.

"Huh? Really?" Hazuki turned to see a very excited Kumiko glued to her phone and then turned to gape at Midori before muttering "at least she's not texting Tsukamoto-kun"

"I beg your pardon?" Midori couldn't grasp the tuba player's last comment.

"I said that I should give tubacabra a good clean up" Hazuki lied.

"Oh I see" Midori nodded vehemently "maybe I can help you after I finish with George-kun"

"Sure thing" Hazuki smiled with a hint of nervousness. At least Midori didn't see through her lie and the tuba player was relieved about that fact.

When the bell rang, Kumiko sighed slightly annoyed. She spent the last twenty minutes texting with Reina and the latter looked a little less gloomy, as far as text messages could tell. The moment the teacher entered Kumiko's class, she immediately got lost in her world of thoughts plagued by the brunette trumpeter.

Reina seems livelier today and that's good. I was really worried about her yesterday, her wrist looked in a really bad shape and hopefully she will get better sooner than later for her own aspirations to come true.

On the other hand, that sleepy confession took me by surprise. I mean, it is Reina the prim and proper snow queen of my dreams saying the words I've always wanted to hear coming from her mouth but she was sleep talking.

Kumiko sighed deeply while taking notes of a subject she wasn't even paying attention to. Her mind was still a chaos but she decided on cheering Reina up so she planned on surprising the trumpeter by visiting her place after class.

I wish that could be considered a date.

"Oumae-san I am glad you want to have a date but I really appreciate if you come to the board now and solve this problem" her annoyed teacher scolded her and Kumiko covered her mouth with her hands, she blurted her thoughts without noticing again.

The euphonium player approached the front of the class with unsure steps and, the moment she saw the board, she knew that she was doomed. Math had been her nemesis for the longest time and this time wasn't an exception so, with a sigh, she tried to solve the equations with her mind half focused on the task.

I wonder how Reina is doing right now…

On a very elegant house quite distant from Kitauji high school, Kousaka Reina just finished eating her late lunch. It took her double of the time and some broken plates to make it but, stubborn as she was, the trumpeter was determined to succeed even in something as undemanding like making something to eat was.

The trumpeter took her medication and applied ice to her wrist that, fortunately, wasn't that swollen anymore. She sat on one of the fluffy sofas in the living room and soon, she felt the effects of the meds falling asleep while hugging a cushion and secretly wishing it were Kumiko.

Reina dreamed of Mt. Daikichi. This time Kumiko was playing her euphonium alone. As the trumpeter approached, she could see how Kumiko's golden eyes shimmered like stars and the trumpeter's heart skipped a beat. In a moment, the euphonium player looked up and Reina couldn't help but blush when Kumiko smiled with tenderness.

The trumpeter's hands decided on acting on her own cupping Kumiko's face. The touch sent shivers down Reina's spine and goose bumps covered her arms lightly. That spark that could be felt in every fiber of her being was what made dream Reina make a choice.

I want Kumiko to be mine.

And in one instant the magic was gone when clapping sounds were heard from behind. Kumiko left her euphonium on the ground, stood up and walked through the trumpeter to approach the rail where Reina stood once wearing a white dress during the Agata festival.

The difference this time was on whom Kumiko was focusing her attention to and Reina couldn't believe her eyes.

There she was, with those auburn curls being teased by the wind hugging another girl that she was sure it wasn't her because this one was taller and wore glasses.

Wait, glasses?

Not only that, but the girl with glasses lifted Kumiko's face with two fingers and kissed her on the lips while looking at Reina in the eye. The trumpeter felt sick all of a sudden and a chill ran down her limbs. She felt that this was wrong and she wanted to stop it.

In less than two seconds Reina was next to the girls but, when she tried to separate them, her hands went through. It was like she was a ghost. The more she tried to separate them the kisses turned more intense.

Suddenly, Reina felt very exhausted so she took some steps back and sat on the same spot Kumiko was during the Agata festival. Her head started hurting like a ton of bricks just fell on her.

The trumpeter didn't want to continue witnessing that kissing scene so she looked down and her hands covered her now watery eyes. Something inside Reina broke the moment Kumiko let Asuka kiss her.

Is this what it means to be heartbroken?

In an instant, all the thick walls surrounding Reina's heart vanished and her bare heart was exposed to a reality she didn't want to face. She was not Kumiko's girlfriend but all her being ached for her attention, her touch and, mostly, her love. And it was in that moment, when Kousaka Reina realized the biggest truth about her feelings.

I want Kumiko to focus on me only.

Reina looked up to see Kumiko being kissed by Asuka. They looked well together but not as meant to each other as the trumpeter and the euphonium player, according to the former's musings.

I want Kumiko to be mine.

The trumpeter looked down and teardrops fell from her purple eyes. Reina clenched her fists on her lap until her knuckles turned white. The brunette was devastated and utterly heartbroken.

I am such a fool that I didn't realize this earlier.

Reina looked up the moment she heard Kumiko moan and her heart stopped when she saw Asuka deepening the kiss and touching the auburn haired player in places the trumpeter always wanted to caress.

Now it's too late.

Suddenly, a familiar song came to Reina's ears. The tune was carried by the wind and grew stronger by the second. It was the song she played with Kumiko that time on the same Mount she was in right now.

The same melody that sounded as ringtone every time Kumiko called the trumpeter. Reina felt how her right hand started vibrating and she tilted her head confused due to the lack of a phone in it.

Trying to figure out this new mystery, the trumpeter closed her eyes to organize her thoughts. Next thing she knew, she was back in her house's living room holding a cushion tight and, in her right hand her phone was ringing. It was Kumiko.

Reina was completely confused due to the fact that she didn't recall what her dream was about but her teary eyes told her that whatever it was, the dream was indeed relevant. The trumpeter didn't answer Kumiko's call but she had a strong feeling that she would see her soon.

After washing her face, Reina checked on her messages. There were two from Kumiko. The first one was about practice being cancelled for the day because the new president and vice-president were busy planning the goodbye party for the retiring third years.

The second one made Reina blush slightly. It said that Kumiko was on her way to the trumpeter's home to visit her and the latter panicked. The message was from twenty minutes ago.

So the call must have been to let me know that she must be here soon!

I need to hurry.

What Reina did not know was that even if she wore the most ridiculous outfit, Kumiko would still think that the trumpeter looked like a goddess among mortals. After changing into a more alluring outfit, Reina headed to the front door and opened it like a force beyond comprehension told her that her hunch was right, and it was when she found Kumiko on the other side that jumped back surprised.

"Ack…Re…Reina" the euphonium player stammered with a soft pink adorning her cheeks and the trumpeter assumed it was because Kumiko might have rushed to get to her place.

"Kumiko" the auburn haired girl raised her hands surprised when Reina jumped and wrapped her arms around the former's neck.

What…is happening? A confused Kumiko thought while her heart threatened with jumping out of her chest. If this was a dream, the euphonium player would gladly stay there for all eternity in that reverie wishing she could freeze this moment or at least, tattoo it on her soul until the extinction of the universe.

The euphonium player couldn't help but smile then closed her eyes and inhaled Reina's sweet essence before wrapping her arms around the smaller girl. Even if it was for a few seconds, Kumiko wanted to forget about the reality she lived in where the trumpeter was in love with their teacher and not her.

Reina shivered slightly when she felt Kumiko's arms surrounding her. It felt so right that she just held Kumiko tighter and breathed near the auburn haired girl's ear that almost immediately tinted with a bright shade of pink that Reina didn't see because she had her eyes closed.

It took them almost a minute to realize that they had held each other for too long, so they shyly disentangled from their embrace and blushing heavily. Trying to keep her aloof demeanor, Reina cleared her throat looking away while Kumiko was still speechless gaping at the trumpeter's reaction and outfit.

She was wearing a dark skirt just above her knees, a tight checkered blouse with low cleavage that accentuated her ample chest all matching with white legwarmers and flat checkered sneakers.

Reina looks hot.

"You…said it out loud Kumiko" the trumpeter blushed deeply this time.

"Ack" golden eyes widened and the auburn haired girl covered her mouth with her hands "Sorry Reina"

"Don't be" the trumpeter gave Kumiko a warm smile "I actually enjoy being complimented…by you" the last part was only a whisper and the euphonium player wasn't sure if her mind was playing games on her so she decided to let it pass. Reina quickly entered her house to come back wearing a thick white coat, a black scarf and gloves while a matching purse hung from her right shoulder.

"Are…you planning on going somewhere, Reina?" Kumiko tilted her head confused.

"Yes, we are going out"

"We?"

"Yes, I want to…spend some time with…you" Reina took a deep breath to calm her now racing heart "is that a problem?"

"That's so like you Reina" Kumiko snickered playing along "where do you want to go anyways? It's freezing"

"Somewhere special" Reina flicked her hair before extending her hand to the euphonium player.

"Let's go" Kumiko didn't have to think twice to join the trumpeter who entwined their fingers together but winced slightly, her right hand was still injured. Kumiko took her left instead and they walked to the station in a comfortable silence while both were lost in thoughts and anxiety for the outcome of this outingas friends.

A/N: Next chap will be a light one [or not, considering certain trumpeter and her aloof way] because it will be their "not date", yeah, let's go with that. Thanks again for reading and please review.