The Pinnacle of the Story
DISCLAIMER: I don't own La Corda D'oro and the characters involved in this fanfiction except the characters I made up.
Chapter 11- Crying For You
Kaho's POV
The sun is already setting outside, my hands are numb, my body is trembling, both with the temperature and fear and I'm stuck here, together with Saruwatari-san, who's phone is permanently stuck on her face, mumbling French words I can't understand. I feel safe, however, just by thinking that the necklace Len gave me is around my neck. There's nothing to hinder me to speak for now and I could just complain at her, though I don't have any. I can't complain in my state now. My face really hurts from her slaps, and I'm sure there will be some scratches and bruises since she even punched me once. My eyelids wanted to close already, I feel sleepy again, and just staring into space makes me sleepy. Her soprano voice echoed continuously in the room, talking in French on the phone, just a regular teenager, staring at her pink nails adoringly, combing her hair, wearing make-up and chit chatting with whomever in the phone. You will never think that she was the one who started this mayhem.
Kidnapping me? Her fault.
I and Len are both in danger? Her fault.
My violin at risk? Her fault. (My violin case is actually beside her right now)
My face aching? Her fault.
No typical teenager can do that right? Even a typical teenager will be terrified of the idea of being kidnapped by unknown people and end up waking up in an unknown place. I was lucky I'm not even dead by this time. 'I can do something unimaginable.' That's what she said. This is the unimaginable she is talking about. Maybe even her younger sister, Sakura-chan, must be afraid of her. What is she waiting for? All I thought is that she will just destroy my violin (Oh please! Not my violin!), and hit me and everything is done, I'm free. Or is she waiting for her cue to do that to me. Make me suffer. Or worst, kill me. Kami-sama will know what will happen to me. Here comes my knight in shining armor, untying the ropes around me, rescuing me from this damn fate I'm facing right now.
The door creaked open.
"He's here." Saruwatari-san muttered eagerly. Excitement filled her voice. Is she expecting someone? Or is she expecting my death when that door opened? The door opens wider, the sea breeze entering the room, making me shiver in the cold, revealing… Tsukimori Len? "Hino Kahoko, answer me if you're fine."
"Len! Don't come! Please!" I shrieked loudly. And the door on the right side opened, the guys who kidnapped me appeared. I guess their cue is when Len arrives. And I gave them that cue, with all my 'Please! Don't come!' shouting. "Yay! The real show will just start, Hino-san. I'm expecting you to enjoy this show." Saruwatari snickered happily, clapping her hands lively. "Boys, drag him here in front of me." She ordered. Wow, servants. They really did drag Len in front of us. "Len!" I shouted worriedly. He didn't fight them. He just let them drag him to her. "Stop! Don't drag him any further!" I said. Then Saruwatari-san laughed mockingly. "Oh! The show would not start if Len isn't here." She said childishly.
"Kaho! Calm down! Are you okay?"
What will I say? Will I say that I'm slapped to death by Saruwatari-san and she even punched me? That my face is so painful that I believe that there are scratches on them? My body feels so numb and my hands are completely unmoving because of the tight ropes around me? I don't want him to be worried; I promised him that I will not make him worry anymore. But with what happened to me now, I guess his worried to death already. Disappearing suddenly and not showing up a while ago, he must be.
"Len, don't worry, I'm fine. Just don't do anything stupid that will hurt you!"
"Oh come on! Don't be so lovey-dovey in front of me. It's so disgusting!" Saruwatari-san jeered loudly in mockery. Is the only thing she can do is it to mock?
Len is now in front of us, the boys around him, ready for any action. He gazed at me with his worried eyes, filled with anger, misery, pain and guilt. Guilt? For what? It's not his fault I'm all tied up, sitting on an old creaky chair. It's not his fault. No one is at fault. Only the compulsiveness for a guy of this love-crazed freak with brunette hair and emerald eyes. I smirked when she placed her hand on Len's chin, looking at him seductively like he is something to eat alive. "Thanks for coming, Len." She said, averting his gaze from me. He glared with his cold eyes. "I'm here to take Kahoko. I don't intend to see your face." He said coldly. She chuckled. "That's so cold of you Len." She scoffed. "I was intending Hino-san to watch the show." Show? She was mentioning the word 'show' many times already. What is 'show' is she referring to anyway?
"I'll have a favor to make, Len."
No response at all.
"Give Kaho up, now."
Was that a favor? It's more of an order. It's not favoring, actually, it's merely 'ordering'. No, not also 'ordering'. Demanding. I looked at Len intently, waiting for his answer.
"No."
Then one of the guys behind him punched him at the abdomen.
"Len!" I shouted worriedly. If my body wasn't numb, I could have protected him from that breath taking punch. "Len, are you okay!? Hey! Tell me!" Tears started to run from my eyes, quelling the pain in my cheeks for a bit. It feels like tonight will be a long one. "I-I'm f-fine." He stuttered breathlessly, clutching his part of his t-shirt which covers the abdomen. "Pardon? I didn't hear your answer." She said sarcastically and angrily.
"I don't like repeating myself. No!" He half-shouted. And another breath taking punch hit him at the face. I can see him, falling to the ground. "Len!! Stop it! STOP IT!!!" I screeched painfully. "Saruwatari-san, please, stop it." I pleaded. She laughed hysterically. "See what I told you? If you just gave him to me then he wouldn't suffer like this." She approached me, leveling her head to mine. "It's—your—fault." She singsong. "Stop it." Tears sped up from eyes. "Please. I'm begging you."
"Don't beg. She wouldn't listen in any way. And I'm not easily giving you up, Kaho." He muttered confidently, standing up from the ground. "Besides, I love you so much and that will motivate me even more to save you from her." I smiled, though it was a sad smile. He can't fight for me! No! What if bad something happens to him, then I can't forgive myself for being weak like this. "If you say that you disagree with me, I'll kill myself, Kaho." He threatened. "So don't you ever say 'no'." He smiled at me, his smile reassuring, confident. I'm right. He's my knight in shining armor. "Don't you dare die." I encouraged. He smiled.
"I'll ask you again Len. Give her up, now."
"When I said that I don't want to repeat myself means I hate it. NO!"
I almost readied myself for shouting but none of the boys around him punched or kicked him. Saruwatari-san started to cry helplessly. She clutched Len's neckline. "PLEASE! Tell me you love me, you like me. Shout that you hate Hino-san and that she's just a person without a great family background or pedigree. Tell me that you will live with me! Tell me that you accept the engagement and now we're fiancés. Why can't you do that?!" She shouted. "That's not achievable. I can't say those because I love her already." He replied, pointing his index finger at me.
"Fine." She said, pushing him away. "Boys, do anything you like to him. After all, he left your precious Miharu-sama bleeding. If I can't have you, Len, then Hino-san can't have you too."
Then the boys started to punch and kick him.
I feel my world stopping and crumbling to a million pieces (and I probably think it can't be repaired again) the moment they started beating him up. My eyes widen in terrible shock. "Len?" I whispered. "Len? Len. Len! LEN!" I shouted. "STOP! STOP! Stop it! Please!!! Please!" I can hear Saruwatari-san laughing happily. I can hear Len's shouts of pains. "Fight back! Len! Don't just let them kick you or punch you."
One of them grabbed a thick wooden stick from the ground.
One of them went behind me and grabbed me. "K-Kaho!!!" He shouted. "D-d-don't touch h-h-her!"
Then they stopped, Len's face was scarred, bruises, scratches, blood. I was relieved that he wasn't any danger of being dead.
"Beg for your life now. Beg to spare you." Saruwatari-san muttered happily.
"No."
"Tell me that you love me."
"No."
She got up from her chair and took the thick wooden stick from one of the boys.
"Please?"
"No."
She glared angrily. Don't tell me? She's going to hit Len with the—?
She prepared herself, trying to position herself, her clutch on the stick was hard.
I bit the guy's hand, stood up from the chair (I wasn't tied to the chair, only my body was tied with the rope) and—
EVERYTHING WENT BLACK. NOT EVEN A SINGLE OUNCE OF LIGHT CAN PENETRATE THE DARKNESS. What happened?
-x-
Len's POV
I heard the crashing sound of the wooden stick, but I didn't feel any pain at all. Not a single ounce of pain. I thought I was going to die there. But nothing happened to me. What happened?
My eyes widen. I feel a warm body on my right side. A familiar warmness. Don't tell me?
I slowly looked at the body beside me. Hino Kahoko. My eyes widen in shock, extending my trembling hand at her unmoving body. "Kaho?" I whispered shakily. "Kaho?" I shook her I gently, scooping her into my arms, hugging her tightly. "Hey, you told me not to die, right? And what are you doing?" I said, shaking her. "Don't do this Kaho. Open your eyes." I moved her gently closer to my face. "Kaho, I know you can hear me. Please, open your eyes." I favored. "For me." I look utterly stupid talking to someone who is already unconscious. She can't respond with her state right now. But I'm not taking it. She protected me when I said that I will be the one who will protect.
"Someone's at the door, Miharu-sama."
I looked at the direction of the door, and I thought it was Tsuchiura-san or Kaji-san, but I'm wrong. It's wasn't them.
"Miharu, stop this."
"Ryouji-kun,"
"Please, Miharu? Won't you listen to me?" He said, looking at my direction. "And perhaps you will answer some of my questions?" "No. I'm not a criminal to be suspected like that!" She shouted, crying.
"Why did you become like this?" He said. I'm completely clueless of what they are saying, considering that I am not involved with them.
"That's none of your business already. Just get out of my way."
"Hey! Hey!"
"Where's Hino-san!?"
They made it. Though, I guess we can say that they are absolutely late for the action. They emerged from the iron door from where that Ryouji man is standing.
"Tsukimori? What the hell are you doing sitting on the floor doing nothing?" Tsuchiura-san mocked. I glared at him. It's not time for funny jokes and mocking laughter. Can't he see that Kaho's bleeding to death?! "No time for chatting, Tsuchiura-san. Help Tsukimori-san with Hino-san." Kaji-san muttered.
"Should we fight them, Miharu-sama?" One of the men inquired.
"No. Let them be." She replied. "I have other things to reconsider before making another step. I have done enough for today."
Surprisingly, she walked out of the small warehouse room to the other room beside it, closely followed by that Ryouji person and her men.
"Hey, Tsukimori. What happened!?" Tsuchiura shouted when Saruwatari-san's group disappeared to the other room. I wanted to shout at him for getting angry at me, but I merely wanted to thank them for coming to our rescue. You see, I'm weak, compared to them, who can easily fight. I never trained myself to fight barehanded. I only taught myself to play violin with this hands, and not to fight. "I'm sorry." I said, meekly. I don't know how to say this. "I promised that I will protect Kaho. But did you ever wonder why I called both of you to extend help to us?" Kaji-san smiled at me. He's quite intelligent. He immediately knew the answer. "Because you know that we adore someone like Hino-san and we can do anything for her sake?" He assumed. He's correct with the first reason. But there's another. "There's another reason, actually. To tell you the truth, I'm weak. I never learned to use my hands in combat. I merely know how to produce cold-hearted music from my violin." I said, honest.
"It's rare to see you so humble, Tsukimori. Where did your pride go?" Tsuchiura-san chuckled.
"I'm not in any position to get help from you, but because of my weakness, I hid my pride because it's also for the sake of the person we love. Her." I said.
"Don't worry. Hino must be very proud of what you have done." He replied, carrying her into his arms. "Come. Kabuki-san is waiting outside. And we should immediately bring the both of you to the hospital for treatment." Kaji-san added.
Supported by Kaji-san, I know how hopeless I am already. Proud? How can Kaho be proud of me when I didn't do anything special for me? She was the one who protected me right from the very beginning. My weakness made me a hindrance not only to Kaho, but also to the both of them.
"Bochamma!!!"
"Kabuki-san," I said gratefully.
"Are you fine?" He asked, worried.
I nodded. "Yes. But Kaho's not. Please, bring her immediately to the hospital. I beg of you." I begged. I nearly wanted to kneel on the ground. "Bochamma, I already reserved a room for you and Hino-sama. It's already taken care of." He said, happily. I smiled. Really, this man is so ahead of time. "Thank you, Kabuki-san."
-x-
I sat upright on the chair beside the hospital bed of Kaho. I waited for 2 days already for her to wake up. The doctor said that she's fine and she will wake up in 2-3 days and she appears she doesn't have any traumas after the incident. I can't wait that long. I wanted to ask her. 'Why did you protect me from that stick?' I know she has intentions on why but I can't manage to see her like this, wounded. It just shows how weak I am.
A knock on the door snapped me back. "Come in."
"Ah, Kaho is still asleep?"
It's that Ryouji guy. And why the hell did he call Kaho with her first name. Does this guy know Kaho? (a/n: chapter)
"Tsukimori-kun, it appears you don't know me since you didn't attend the engagement party. I'm Ijichi Ryouji, pleased to meet you. I'm the fiancée of Miharu's sister, Sakura-san."
"Mm." I replied. "Please, have a seat." And he gladly took the other chair beside Kaho's hospital bed. "I'm here to apologize in place of Miharu. Actually, I have some fault also." He muttered, brushing Kaho's cheek. I'm getting all jealous here. Seriously. "You're fault? Why?" I asked.
"I and Miharu are actually lovers during junior high. She was playing the violin at that time while I also play the violin. We participated in a concours during my senior year while she participated during her sophomore year. To tell you the truth, I indeed fell in love with her, and so is she." He said, sighing. Am I going to listen to their oh-so-lovey-dovey love story? "We were together until my first year in high school. But something unexpected happened. My father wanted me to have business rather than music and I was forced to fly to America to continue my studies as a businessman. I never told her about that. I just left secretly. When she knew about it, she quit the violin and flew to France with her family. But Sakura-san went back to Japan after a year."
Similar love story, Ijichi-san's story is similar to mine.
"A year after that, I visited her at France, but I found out that she started opera singing while studying advanced high school and became the childish, spoiled person. The Miharu I loved disappeared. And so, 4 years after that, I returned to Japan. Azuma-san invited me to Miyabi-chan's birthday party and that's when I met Kaho."
2 years ago? That's when I'm not present beside Kaho.
"Kaho was like the Miharu I loved before I left for America. Carefree, clumsy, sweet. Whenever I look at Kaho, she reminds me of my first love. Maybe that's why I am attracted to her."
I am starting to feel jealous already, even for a man. Who would want to talk about the love story of a person if we're both guys?
"But, Tsukimori-kun, Miharu might be in serious trouble. She already filed an annulment papers about your engagement. All is left is the decision of Kaho whether she will or will not sue her for what she did." He muttered, handing me an envelope containing the annulment papers which only needed my signature. "Well, I'm done with I came for. Miharu asked me to deliver those to you. I shall file my annulment papers with Sakura-san about our engagement early tomorrow. That's what Sakura-san asked me to do for her sister." He bid farewell, saying that he will visit some other time again.
I looked at Kaho's sleeping (not to mention angelic) face. "If only you're awake." I whispered.
I slowly stood up from the chair, approached her, and slowly descended to kiss her bandaged forehead. "Sorry, Kaho." I whispered. "I'm sorry." Tears started to fall from my eyes, running from my eyes to my cheeks and to her forehead. I can't believe I'm crying for her. "Kaho, you will never be the person to cry for me because I will be the one crying for you from now on."
"Len?"
I looked behind me, mother and father" were there. I felt embarrassed for crying so suddenly. "Sorry." I merely said, wiping my tears with my bandaged hands. "No, wait. Len, you should go home to rest with your father. I will be the one to take care of Kaho-san." Mother said. "You must be tired, after looking over Kaho-san for two whole days without sleep." I shook my head. "No. I'm not tired at all. I want to be the first person Kaho sees if she wakes up." I contradicted. "I'll be fine. I promise." I said. Father handed me my violin case. "Here, I promised to bring this to you, didn't I?" I smiled. "Thank you." I said.
"So, we will take our leaves Len. Please call us if anything happens, okay?"
I nodded.
Once we're alone, I opened my violin case and retrieved my golden violin and started to play 'Ave Maria'.
A hand grabbed my arm.
"Len…"
~tO bE cOnTinuEd~
A/N: Hope this chapter isn't that bad. (: This chapter is shorter by a thousand words so it's a kind of short. I hope I didn't disappoint you with that. So please wait for the next chapter. Please check out my profile, and add me in any of my accounts there. Arigatou!
~tC guys and gals
_miyako45 *doesn't want to go to school!!!*