The Seiso contestants go on a trip to California to experience a different musical way of life: marching band. How will they interact with their host students and what sort of adventure lies ahead for them?

I'm not sure where this story takes place in the general storyline of La Corda d'Oro.

Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda d'Oro; I am just another crazy fan girl of Tsukimori Len!

Feathers and Doorbells

Kahoko couldn't believe how close all the Del Oro band kids were. They spent two hours practicing every morning, hung out in the band room during brunch, ate lunch together, and met up yet again after school in the band room to socialize.

"How was your guys' day?" Kazuki asked as Kahoko, Len, and Ryo followed Jennifer and Alex into the band room.

"It was cool," Ryo answered, looking around.

A guy ran past him. "Hey Ryo! What's up?" Before Ryo could answer him the guy was gone. A few seconds later another guy flew by.

"Hey Ryo! I'd stop and chat, but I have to go kick Rusty's a—"

Jen kicked him in the shins. Hard.

"Ouch! What was that for? You almost tripped me! I could have died!"

"Watch your language," Jen told him with narrowed eyes.

"Oops, my bad. Anyway, I got to go find Rusty. Catch you all later!" He ran off.

Len surveyed the room with a critical eye. "Don't you individually practice after school? Do you have so much free time you can just hang out and do as you please?"

Kahoko winced. That sounded a bit harsh.

Jennifer just laughed. "Len, Len, Len," she said, shaking her head. "All work and no play make band kids a very dull and boring group. Lighten up man," she continued, patting him on the back. "For a group this size to be successful, we have to have fun together outside of marching our show."

Ryo smirked. "Like Len could ever understand that logic."

Len bristled. "Is that so bad? After all, I usually perform alone or in a small group."

"Yeah well, maybe you'll learn how to have fun with us this week," Alex said.

"Heck yes he will!" Alexis promised, coming into the room with Keiichi. They were both eating out of a huge bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos.

"How are they?" Kahoko asked Keiichi, motioning towards the bag.

"They're hot … yet cool … spicy … but they make my mouth feel … as though I have a … symphony inside …" He reached into the bag for more.

"Cool! Can I try some?" Kazuki exclaimed.

Alexis held out the bag to him.

Azuma and Shouko walked over with Brandon.

"What are you guys doing now?" Azuma asked.

"Ian's taking me on a bike ride," Kazuki said, happily munching on Flaming Hot Cheetos. "You?"

"Shouko and I are going bowling with Brandon and Jen," Azuma said.

Ryo looked over at Alex. "What are we doing?"

Alex shrugged. "I don't know. What do you want to do?"

"I don't care."

"I'll figure something out," Alex said.

"Keiichi and I are going to go by this new music store by my house. Then we're going to go get dinner and stock up on more Flaming Hot Cheetos," Alexis said.

"Kahoko and I are babysitting Len while Scott's running errands. We're going to cruise around Loomis as we make our way to my house," Jennifer explained.

Ryo sniggered. Evidently he found the babysitting Len part quite humorous.

Len didn't seem too impressed by Jennifer's choice of words.

A rubber chicken came zooming towards Kazuki's head and he jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the flying fowl.

"What the …" Ryo began.

"Sorry about that," a blonde girl said, rushing over and picking up the fake bird. She turned her head and glared at a small brown-haired boy. "Jacob! You are never going to see this thing again! How many times have I told you that CHICKENS DON'T FLY? Especially rubber ones!" She stalked away.

"Hey! Kelsey! I didn't mean to! I swear! It wasn't my fault! I was just holding it when BAM! It flew right out of my hands!" Jacob ran after Kelsey. "I swear it won't happen again! I'll put Fred on a leash! Really!"

"I think it's time to go," Jennifer said. She motioned at Kahoko and Len. "Grab your stuff and let's get out of here before Boots and Rusty pull out their electronic hamsters."

"This is my elementary school," Jennifer announced.

The trio had walked down the street and stumbled across the local elementary school.

"I spent nine years at this school," she continued, gazing at the campus. "But it was a lot different when I went. This huge parking lot didn't exist. It was just a grassy field and playground. But enough of the history lesson! Let's go play on the playground in the back of the school!"

Before Len could protest too much, she grabbed him and Kahoko by the hand and dragged them behind her.

Kahoko thought it was bit funny that Len was holding hands with a girl, but she was also a little miffed.

"Here we have the playground!" Jennifer said excitedly. "Let's do the monkey bars!"

Kahoko thought that maybe Kazuki would have been a better playground companion then Len.

"Come on!" Jennifer called, swinging across the bars.

Kahoko laughed and jogged over to join her.

"Len!" Jennifer yelled at him. "You're missing out on all the fun!"

He stared at her. "You two may be short enough to move around comfortably on that structure, but I am taller then you."

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Fine. We'll go on the swings then. And don't even try to pull the too tall excuse on us."

The girls hurried over to the swings and jumped on.

"I haven't been on the swings in forever," Kahoko breathed. "I forgot how much fun they are!"

Jennifer smiled. "The swings were always my favorite part of the playground." She glared over at Len, who still hadn't moved. "Kahoko, something must be done about that guy. He needs to loosen up. He's kind of on a vacation now, he should relax and have fun."

Kahoko thought for a second. "I don't know if he knows how," she replied honestly.

An evil glint came into Jennifer's eyes. Kahoko knew she was up to something. Her thoughts were confirmed when Jennifer said something to her, loud enough for her to hear, but quiet enough that Len didn't notice.

The two girls jumped off the swings and walked over to Len.

"Ready to go?" Kahoko asked.

"Yes." Len turned to walk away.

"NOW!" Jennifer cried.

Kahoko and Jennifer each grabbed one of Len's arms and dragged him to the swings. Before he could quite comprehend what was happening they shoved him down on one of the swings.

"Quick!" Kahoko exclaimed. "Give him a push!"

Both girls leaned forward and together gave Len a huge shove in the back. He began to swing back and forth.

"What the … what do you think you're doing?!" he demanded angrily. Rather then waiting for the swing to stop moving he jumped off.

The girls cheered.

"Len got on the swings!" Kahoko grinned.

"And he even jumped off!" Jennifer laughed.

"Yay for Len!" they cried in unison.

Len refused to talk to them during the twenty-minute walk back to Jennifer's house. He followed, radiating a frosty aura of extreme irritation.

"Welcome to my living quarters," Jennifer said, kicking of her shoes. Kahoko and Len followed her lead.

"Are you guys thirsty? Hungry? Should I break out the after school snacks?" she asked them.

"Water is fine," Len said coldly.

"How about you Kahoko? I've got milk, water, apple juice, orange soda …" her voice trailed off.

"Apple juice sounds good."

Jennifer got a water and two apple juices and joined Len and Kahoko at the table. The she jumped back up and ran back to the refrigerator. She returned to the table with a huge bowl of grapes.

"I love grapes," she said, munching happily.

Kahoko grabbed a few and popped them in her mouth. Mmmm. These ones were nice and sweet. She made a move to push the bowl towards Len, but he shook his head.

"I don't know what time Scott's going to come by so who knows how much time we have to kill," Jennifer said, getting up to refill her cup. She sat back down. "What do you guys want to do?"

"You don't have homework?" Kahoko asked curiously.

Jennifer grinned. "Nope! I don't get homework in any of my classes this term. Well, I have to practice my trumpet, but that's it."

Kahoko figured Len was wondering what kind of grades Jennifer got, but he probably thought it was none of his business to ask. She wasn't completely certain, but something was telling her that Jennifer was one of those students who didn't really study but still managed to get high scores in her classes.

Jennifer jumped up. "Let's go outside! I'll introduce you to Joe!" She herded Len and Kahoko outside to the backyard.

Kahoko glanced around, expecting to see a dog, or perhaps a cat.

"Joe!" Jennifer called.

From around the corner of the house came a small, white … chicken? Kahoko blinked. Yeah, that was a chicken. Well, a rooster to be exact.

"Hey Joe," Jennifer said, squatting down. Joe walked right up to her and stuck his feathery head into her hand. "Did you have a nice day?" She scooped him up in her arms and turned to face a surprised Kahoko and Len. "This is Kahoko," she told Joe. "And the guy over there wearing the grumpy-pants is Len."

"You have a rooster?" Kahoko asked, fascinated.

"Yup," Jennifer said proudly. "He's my buddy. My family found him wandering around the neighborhood and no one claimed him so he's been living with us ever since. Let him touch your hand," she said. "The he'll know you're a friend."

Kahoko looked nervously at Joe's cruel looking beak.

"It's okay," Jennifer assured her. "He's a gentle little guy."

Kahoko hesitantly stuck her hand out at Joe. He leaned towards it and gently pecked at it. "That tickles!" she giggled.

"Aww, Joe gave you a kiss on the hand," Jennifer smiled. She looked over at Len. "Your turn." She walked right next to him.

With a look clearly saying he'd rather be doing anything except petting a chicken, he stuck his hand out. Joe pecked it lightly and then without warning beat his wings and hopped out of Jennifer's arms into Len's.

"Oh look! Joe made a new friend!" Kahoko laughed.

Jennifer pulled a camera out of her pocket and snapped a few pictures.

Len gave her a death glare.

Jennifer glared back. "Don't worry, these pictures are just for Joe. I'll print them out and decorate his chicken coop with them since I'm sure he's going to miss you when you leave."

Len stared at her, his glare replaced by a look of slight confusion. "You're going to put pictures up in his chicken coop? Does that even make sense?"

"It makes perfect sense," Jennifer replied. Then she smiled. "You and Joe look so cute." She peered at Joe. "Aww! He fell asleep in your arms! That's so adorable!" she cried, snapping more pictures. She leaned towards Kahoko. "I'll make copies for you," she promised.

Len looked frustrated, but he was too much of a gentleman to disturb the sleeping bird in his arms.

"So how was it?" Scott asked as Len on the way out of Jennifer's house.

"Come back and visit Joe again one of these days!" Jennifer yelled at Len's retreating back from her front porch.

Scott laughed. "She introduced you to Joe? I've met him, but for some reason he doesn't like me. He actually chased me around the yard and I swear he gives me death glares. How was he with you?"

"He hopped out of Jennifer's arms into mine and then promptly fell asleep," Len replied frigidly.

"No way!" Scott said. "That's awesome! I wish he liked me … Do you have any pets at home?" he asked.

"No," Len said.

"Maybe you should get a chicken," Scott suggested. "I mean, if Joe a.k.a. the devil chicken of Satan likes you, I'm sure every chicken does. You could be the chicken whisperer and talk to chickens. Maybe you could play your violin for them," he added.

Len shot him a look.

"Or not," Scott said.

"Hey Kahoko, do you like horror movies?" Jennifer asked.

"They're … um … okay," Kahoko replied. "Why?"

"I have this one I want to see, but I don't want to watch it by myself. I'm a huge coward when it comes to scary movies. Want to watch it with me?"

"Actually, I'm a huge coward when it comes to horror movies too," Kahoko admitted. "But they're fun to watch with a friend." She glanced outside. "And it's still light out so we should be okay, right?"

"Cool!" Jennifer exclaimed. She hunted around for the DVD and stuck it in the player. She and Kahoko curled up on opposite sides of the couch.

By the end of the movie they were both huddled together in the middle of the couch, covering their eyes yet peering out between the cracks in their fingers.

"Oh my god," Kahoko said. "He's at her door getting ready to ring the doorbell!"

"Whatever you do: don't answer the door when the doorbells rings!" Jennifer yelled at the screen.

DING DONG! DING DONG!

Both girls let out bloodcurdling shrieks of terror and jumped about five feet into the air.

"My doorbell is ringing," Jennifer said dumbly.

"Don't answer it!" Kahoko cried.

Both girls clutched on to each other tighter.

DING DONG!

They screamed again.

"Jennifer!" Alex called from the porch. "Are you guys alright?"

"Kahoko!" Ryo yelled. "What are you guys doing?"

The girls stared at each other.

Jennifer got up and opened the door. "What the heck is wrong with you guys? We're watching a horror movie! Don't you ever ring my doorbell when someone's about to be murdered! Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am," the guys said timidly.

"What are you here for anyway?" Kahoko asked, coming up from behind Jennifer. "And I paused the movie," she added.

"I need to pick up those music books I loaned you," Alex said to Jennifer.

"Oh, okay." She grabbed a few books off the counter and put them into Alex's arms. "Here you go."

"Um, I guess we'll let you guys get back to your murderer," Ryo said.

"Sounds like a plan," Jennifer said.

"See you guys at school tomorrow!" Kahoko said, waving goodbye.

Jennifer shut the door and made sure it was locked. "Just in case," she said to Kahoko.

"I understand," Kahoko replied.

The girls looked at each other and raced back to the couch.

DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG!

This time the sound came from the movie screen.

The girls jumped five feet in the air and released some more banshee screams.

From the car outside Alex and Ryo just looked at each other and laughed.

Another chapter written and done! What did you think? Is Len acting Len enough, or is he turning into someone else? Chicken Joe is based off my pet rooster. He's my buddy; we hang out together in the backyard and eat corn chips together. I love that chicken.

The next chapter is going to be cool! The Seiso students are going to perform at both lunches for the Del Oro students and then go to the night band practice held every Tuesday night (finally some music)! Do I sense more Del Oro fan girls for the Seiso guys?

Until next time!