Disclaimer: Yuu Watase owns the characters of FY, I merely made the plot and their roles in this story. As far as I know, this story is original. Do tell me what you think of the progression so I can tweak some unnecessary scenes. Finally, the third chapter is up! Enjoy reading!
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The Prelude
by Slavedriver2008
Yui raised the violin between her neck and shoulder. It had been a long time since she played one, six years to be exact. The crowd was silent, waiting for her to strike the first note. She lifted the newly-rosin bow and placed it above the strings.
Her eyes caught a pair of olive green eyes. Don't do this, it said. She smiled at him. He was her boyfriend for the night. But instead of an assuring gaze, she saw nervousness on his eyes. Kaika looked tensed. How could he not? If she played poorly, they will think lowly of him. They meant his mother, his family, the people of his life.
This was a risk for her as well. If her grandfather knew what she's doing – or about to do – he would be mad. She might not be allowed to go home to Kyoto for awhile. Music has no place in her world, but now, it seemed, felt, everything to her.
She closed her eyes and let the movement of her fingers take her away. The melody from the violin reverberated throughout the hall, she couldn't hear anything, couldn't see anything. For a while, she lost herself in the unexplainable lightness of her fingers. She played as if she had been playing for years, she plucked the way her father taught her how, she moved her wrist as swift as the feeling of anger that gently flowed to her body. She used the beating of her heart to dictate the tempo of her music.
Yui breathed each note, each beat, each rhythm. She played with her heart, soul and whatever she emotion she could muster at that moment. Anger, loneliness, sadness, grief. She thought of the night, her grandfather, Kaika's arms, his sad eyes, the way this night started and the way it would end. She let the melody take her away – and it did take her away. Amidst all these, she wanted to cry. Why did it come to this? She asked herself as she played. Why?
Yui played the polonaise roughly, too rough that everyone stood transfixed at the sudden power she created with such a small instrument. It was not a gentle piece. But despite the roughness, the music she created was clear and moving. The last note came and she finished the piece, panting at the sudden surge of emotions she had to control at her fingertips. Her audience was speechless but equally amazed at the quality of music she created. They clapped, one at a time, until the whole hall was filled with applause. She looked at Kaika, he was staring at her with expressionless eyes. Yui looked back.
A man with chestnut hair walked forward to talk to her. He extended a hand and Yui weakly shook it. "Mademoiselle, I'm sorry I did not get your name." He said in English, he has the sound of France in his tongue. She knew this guy, she remembered meeting him once in Nice.
"Hongo. My name is Yui Hongo, Maestro Francois. My father has introduced us before." Yui said and she saw recognition flooded his eyes.
"Ah, yes." He said. "How can I forget Shinji Hongo's beautiful daughter." He remarked and looked at the woman beside her. "Ms. Yui, this is my wife Clarisse, she is an ardent fan of you father. Your father introduced us during his first concerto in Nice."
"It is nice to meet you." She told Clarisse. The woman kissed her cheeks and smiled. Yui saw Kaika's mother slowly walked toward them, her sons and Kaen at her heels.
"You were amazing, Yui." Clarisse told her. "For a moment there, I thought Master Shinji was playing the violin. I play the viola. We played together once, weeks before the concert."
"Was that during..." Yui laughed. "—a brunch in Cannes?" She said the same way the woman did and they giggled together. "I remember you, the blue frock dress and the viola." Yui said. "I loved your solo. It was one of the pieces that I really really really like."
"Kaika never mentioned he had a master's daughter for a girlfriend." Kaika's mother joined the conversation.
Yui raised an eyebrow and raked sharp eyes at him. He was still quiet. "Oh, you must have misunderstood. Kaika and I are only dating. There is no formal relationship between us." She told her. God, she's enjoying this.
The woman looked at her and then to Kaika. "I see…"
"Madam Koutuku, I'm interested to sponsor a concerto. I would like your sons to play, and of course, Ms. Yui." Maestro Francois said.
Yui's eyes widened. "No, Master Francois, I'd love to but I can't." She said.
"Why not? Your father needs a reason to go home. Last time I heard from him, he wanted to go back to Tokyo. And what's best to welcome him than your first concert?" He said.
'That would be perfect, Master Francois." Kaika's mom said. "My sons would love to play with Ms. Yui." She smiled sweetly at her. "They are very comfortable with each other so they would make a perfect group." Yui sighed, the tides are against her again. So much for sweet revenge.
Yui shook the thoughts away. That was last night. Today was a new day. She has classes to attend and studies to take care of. Her final exams were scheduled next week. She still has that to prepare for—aside from the concert, of course.
She hastily put her notebooks inside the bag. Whatever happened last night was last night. She won't dwell on it, lest her grandfather came banging on her door inquiring the stupidity she has done. Well, he's probably in Kyoto now. Whatever news about the concerto won't reach him. Unless it's written in the newspaper.
A realization came to Yui's senses. She turned on the television and the music channel news welcomed her.
"Maestro Pierre Francois, currently the most regarded concert master in the world has proclaimed he will be sponsoring a concert that features the youngest and most talented musicians in Japan." Yui's heart missed a beat. "Included in the line-up of performers are prodigies Kaika and Shunkaku Koutoku, Chuuin Ryo, and Master Shinji Hongo's daughter, Yui, who have made a surprise performance in last night's party for the Tokyo Annual Classical Music Festival which will be held next week."
Yui gaped. Why hadn't she thought of it? She was stupid to not asked Shun what the party was for. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She muttered as she turned off the television and locked her door. Her only wish at the moment was that her grandfather never saw the news, or else, her happy days in Tokyo are over.
--
"What the hell happened, Yui? We didn't saw each other for just one day and then suddenly you're a violin prodigy?" Miaka told her the moment they entered school. She also saw the news, and she screamed when they met in her house.
"It's a long story." Yui said, she still felt tired from last night's ball.
The brunette smirked. "Right. It's too long that you don't have time to tell your bestfriend about it." Miaka said, annoyed that Yui's keeping things from her.
"I arrived home late last night, I never had the time to call you." Yui explained.
"Another right. You were too busy." Miaka said, stressing the words.
"It's not like I have a choice Miaka. They forced me to do this concert." Yui said, she wanted to just finish the conversation. She doesn't want to explain anything. She was so tired.
"Yeah right." Miaka said. She walked ahead of her, leaving Yui a few paces behind. Yui ran after her.
"Look, I'm sorry okay?" Yui said, she really was. "How about I tell you the details over a luscious chocolate cake at Chocolate Dreams after class?" Yui suggested. "My treat."
Miaka looked at her. Yui raised an eyebrow and smiled at her bestfriend. If there's one thing she loved so much, it was chocolate. "Three slices." Miaka said.
"What?!" Yui missed a step. "That's too much!"
"Then there's nothing to talk about." Miaka walked ahead.
"Two, last bargain." Yui asked. Miaka looked at her.
"Okay." She said, finally. "But with a hot Mexican chocolate drink." Miaka said and Yui laughed.
"Fine." She smiled. "You're no longer mad?" Miaka shook her head. They giggled as they made their way to class.
But of course, the problem didn't stop from there. The whole class, or the whole school, heard the news and everyone's been bugging Yui to spill the juicy details.
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"Are you sure you want to do this?" Miaka asked her, munching on her second slice of chocolate cake. Yui just finished detailing what happened the previous night – how she played at Kaika's party and how she was forced to do a classical music concert with the twins.
"I really don't know." Yui answered.
"Shouldn't you need to be telling your grandfather first?" Miaka asked.
"I can't tell him. Not now." Yui said, sipping plain hot chocolate. "You know how he hates musicians and their 'crafts'. He'll get mad and forget I'm his granddaughter."
"But he'll eventually find out, Yui-chan." Miaka said.
"Yes, but I need time to muster the courage to tell him." Yui sighed. "Besides, publicity would probably start two weeks from now. By then, I'll have a plan."
Miaka put the remaining slice in her mouth. "Can I have another slice?"
"I can't believe this, we just arrived and you had two slices already!" Yui said.
"Please…." Miaka said. "I won't tell anyone this little secret."
Yui eyed her. "With or without a cake, you're really not supposed to tell anyone, you're my bestfriend, ne?" Miaka made a face.
"Fine, if your grandfather found out, it didn't come from me." Miaka stated.
Yui sighed. "Fine. One last slice, you blackmailer!" Miaka smiled and ordered another piece.
"Leave Sunday open, Yui." Miaka said as she dig the new slice of chocolate cake.
"I'm going back to Kyoto on Saturday." Yui said. "I'm not sure if I can come back early on Sunday. Why?"
Miaka raised her left hand and Yui's eyes widened. On her bestfriend's ring finger was, well, a ring. Specifically, an engagement ring. "Taka and I are getting married."
Yui choked on her drink, some of the chocolate spilled on her uniform. "How the hell did that happen?"
Miaka just smiled. "He proposed to me yesterday. Sorry I didn't tell you." The brunette said. "We're even now."
"Why are you marrying him?" Yui blurted out.
"Duh. Because I love him." Miaka said.
"Did Keisuke and your parents know?" Yui asked.
"No. It's a secret." Miaka looked at her intently. "Do not tell anyone else Yui. Not even Ryuuen."
"This is crazy, Miaka. You're only 18." Yui said. She never knew Miaka was serious about Taka, heck they met only a year ago.
"Look, I'm not as smart as you are Yui, but I know Taka loves me. I don't want to go to college like you. I want to get married and have children. I want to be a housewife." Miaka told her.
Yui sighed. "If that makes you happy, I guess, congratulations." She smiled. "I'm going to miss you."
Miaka giggled. "We're not going to live together yet, baka. Taka's still looking for a job."
"When do you plan to tell your family about it?"
"When the time is right. Maybe when Taka and I can already afford a house." Miaka said. "How about you? No love life yet?" the brunette inquired. "What happened to that light brown haired guy you bumped into at the shopping center?"
Yui gulped. It's time to tell her everything. "Oh, his name is Kaika. He's one of the people I'll work with for the concert. Apparently, he plays the flute."
Miaka laughed. "That's wonderful Yui! I'm marrying Taka and you're getting cozy with this Kaika boy." She giggled. "He's handsome, but my Tama-chan's way hotter." Miaka told her. "I hope you end up with him."
'Weren't you listening to what I was telling you?" Yui rolled her eyes. "Grandfather's having me meet some American doctor this Saturday. I think he wants me to marry him." She sighed and Miaka made a face.
"Arranged marriages are so not the in-thing anymore Yui." Miaka stated. "You should tell your grandfather you're no longer eight years old, ne. You are no longer that dependent."
"I know. I just need time." Yui said.
Miaka finished the chocolate cake. "You don't need time Yui, you need a boyfriend who would take you away from your clannish traditional family." Yui rolled her eyes. Miaka has a point, partly. But she would never admit that. Never.
--
"You are Yui, aren't you." A black car stopped in front of her and a long-haired man slid down the windows to talk to her. She was walking on the way home after eating sweets with Miaka. "Can I give you a ride home?"
Yui felt alarmed. He was decent looking all right, and he has such an expensive-looking car but that doesn't mean he won't take advantage of her. It's not a good idea to trust people these days, especially those on the streets. And who would be decent enough to offer her a ride home in the dead of the night?
"Yes I'm Yui but you may not take me home." She said swiftly. She walked hurriedly at the other direction. She heard the car stopped and she heard him get off the car and walk toward her. Nervousness filled her. He's going to pull me inside the car and abduct me! She thought. As his footsteps came nearer, she hurriedly ran away from him.
As expected, the man ran after her. She wanted to scream but no sound came from her mouth. She can't even look back to check how far he was. She saw a pedestrian lane and ran across the street, it would probably slow him down. Yui did not see a trailer van speeding off the road.
The van honked loudly and she panicked. Her legs couldn't move, she was stuck at the middle of the street. She closed her eyes, readying herself for the collision. This will really hurt. Oh, what a bad way to die, she thought. She would be bloodied and dirty and disgusting-looking after the accident. Yui saw vehicular accidents before and the victims looked horrible.
A force pushed her and she felt her body fall on the pavement. Her savior lay on top of her. She opened her eyes and saw black eyes looked down on her. Strands of his raven-black hair flowed to her face. Great, she was just saved by the same man she was running away from – and he had her pinned to the ground.
"What's wrong with you? Were you trying to kill yourself?" He asked, his features momentarily tightened. Yui blushed, he was handsome. His lips were thin with a natural pink sheen and she can't help but wondered how soft his lips… The man smiled at her, reading her thoughts. She blushed, again.
"Can you get off me?" She asked, that was the first thing that came to mind. He was quite heavy and their position is not really a pleasant one. Teasing your abductees was not really a good idea.
"Not unless you tell me you won't run away." He said.
"Why should I not run away from you?" Yui said, still red. "I don't even know you and you're offering me a ride home! For all I know, you might be planning to rape me!" She said. Oopps, bad thing to say when she's already under him.
The man looked at her then laughed. "Rape you?" His eyes glistened in the night. If it weren't for the voice, Yui thought he'd pass for a woman. "My name is Chuuin Ryo."
Chuuin Ryo. Familiar name. She gasped. "You're—"
He smiled. "The cellist. I'll be playing with you on the concert." He looked at her. "I was at the party last night, you left even before I had the chance to introduce myself."
"Oh, nice to meet you then." She smiled and he smiled back. "Now that we know each other, can you get off me now?" She asked, sweetly.
Chuuin laughed. "You won't run?"
Yui shook her head. "Not this time." He hastily stood up and helped her get up. Chuuin also helped her pick up her books and her bag. "How about that ride?" She asked and Chuuin laughed.
"Are you sure, you'll ride with me?"
"Of course. If we're going to play together, we must know each other right?" She blushed again. Did she just flirt with him?
He laughed. "Right." They walked to his car and he opened the door for her. "So where can I drop you off?" He asked.
Yui gave the address and he started the engine. They were quiet while on the road. "Ahm…Chuuin…"
"Tomo, you can call me Tomo." He cut her.
"Okay, Tomo-san, have you already heard from Master Francois?" she asked.
"Yes, of course. I am one of his apprentices." He swerved the wheel to the right. "He also asked me to contact you. Apparently nobody knew where you live or your number, even the twins."
"Oh, I did forgot to leave my number." She told him.
"It's a good thing Shun remembered you're from Jounan. I have to wait for the classes to end." Yui blushed. That was sweet. She bet not even Kaika could do it for her. Kaika again? She shook the thought away. She promised not to think of him since last night.
"You mean you've been following me since I left school?" She asked.
"No. I sort of lost you. I only chanced upon you while you were on your way home. This must be my lucky night I guess." He glanced at her and gave her a smile. She blushed. "There will be a meeting tomorrow for the concert."
"Where would it be held and what time?" She asked.
"Dinner. Around seven. The place is not yet decided. I can pick you from school or from your house if you like." Tomo offered.
She smiled. "Are you sure it's okay?"
"Of course. We're here now." He stopped the car and pulled his mobile phone from his jacket. "Can I get your number?"
Yui gave her number and opened the door. "I'll just see you tomorrow then." She told him.
"Yes, tomorrow." Tomo smiled at her one last time and sped off. Yui sighed. It's going to be another long night tomorrow.
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Author's Notes: I hope you liked this chapter, though there's not much Yui-Kaika thing here. Thanks to dianapotter for the reviews they left in the last chapter. Your reviews really encourage me to continue this story. Thanks again! And don't forget to leave your comments or violent reactions!
