Sorry for the late update. :( Internet connection problems. Amff. Anyway, I updated. I'm really really thankful for the readers of this story. Kinda filler chapter, but contains important clues. Read and review!
Cheers for the reviewers of the previous chapter: Music3, Emjhey, Bychuu, Pathetic Rainbow, Saiunkokulover, Anangelwithnoname, and Quishyle. :]
Disclaimer: I am obviously not the owner of La Corda D'Oro. Read important notes below. :)
Kahoko Hino woke up with her head throbbing. She was already in her bed, her clothes still the same as the ones she wore for dinner. Everything that happened last night rushed on her mind -- shouting at her grandmother twice, Azuma comforting her, Tsukimori's arriving for dinner, and Len holding her tight at the bridge, letting her snuggle in his chest.
The memory just let another round of tears flow. The feeling when he held her in his arms -- it's something she missed for so long now. It's been a long time since the last time he did that. Kahoko was afraid that he already recovered his memories, but then again, it would never happen. If it weren't for that bastard..
Kahoko looked at the clock. It was 5 in the morning. Her mom would wake up around 7, and since it's weekend, she's free to do anything. Again, she replayed last night's happenings in her mind. Len was there; so who carried her and tucked her in bed? Maybe Azuma, because he's the only one capable of carrying her. Her father, impossible. He divorced with her mother and was in America. Len?
She blushed when she realized it could happen. It shouldn't be like that, knowing that Len's attitude to others was cold. Kahoko kept on convincing herself, and she wasted 30 minutes doing that. She shrugged, trying to push back that thought, and took her violin from the case.
Her fingers trailed at the strings of the instrument, remembering the times when she played it with Len. It seemed like it's just yesterday, everything was perfect. Then a certain call made her world crumble. She closed her head and shook her head, as if it could remove that memory. She took the bow, and let her hands play the song that would forever be important to her.
Ave Maria cut through the silence of dawn. As the sun rose, Kahoko's body swayed with the music. When you listened to the song, you'd tell that she played it perfectly. But the emotions behind every note, it was pain, agony, longing, and love. As the last teardrop escaped Kahoko's eyes, her mother walked away from outside her bedroom door, wishing that her daughter's suffering would end.
---
The moon shone brightly as two students in formal wear walked to the balcony. They were holding hands, staring up at the sky with with the red-haired girl's lips turned to a sad smile and the blue-haired boy's lips were in a wide grin. The boy's mask was already removed, while the girl's was still in tact. They leaned at the railing, listening to the music made by the orchestra.
Len recognized the boy as him. He was watching the scene like a movie. He still looked the same, but there is something in his eyes. Love. He then stared at the girl. and the grin turned to a frown.
"What's the problem?" the younger Len asked his companion. The girl didn't look at him. He noticed a lock of hair escape, and he moved it behind her ear. The girl blushed at the contact. The younger Len smiled at the effect of his touch.
"It's just that.. I'll miss you. After tonight, you won't be here anymore. Of course I'm willing to wait, even though have to for eternity, but it seems like a long time." the younger Len noticed something sparkling falling from the mask. Tears. He wiped it and lifted her chin so that she faced him. He stared at those eyes. They're really familiar. Just like Kahoko's.. The real Len blinked; he didn't just think about her, did he?
"Look at me." The younger Len commanded, his eyes honest. "I promised never to forget, right? Whatever happens, I will always remember you and how much you mean to me, how much I love you." In a second, the younger Len vanished. The real Len was standing right in front of the red-haired girl. When their eyes met, the girl's lips was pressed to a line.
"Who are you?" Len lifted his hand and tried to remove the mask. The girl's hand caught his, and electricity rushed to his body. Her touch was gentle but strong.
"I thought you promised never to forget." The girl slowly faded, but Len couldn't do anything but reach for thin air.
Tsukimori-kun quickly sat on his bed, his breathing ragged. Sweat rolled from his forehead. It was like the other nights when he would dream about that particular scene. It was his first closure to the girl though. Before, he'd dream of the girl and his younger version dance. Sometimes, they're laughing, but there are times when they'd just dance and sway to the slow music. The girl was resting her head on the boy's chest, and the boy's head was on top of the girl's. He never heard any of the two talk before; this was the first.
He had thought about the events last night, specially the ones spent with the Kahoko. He was glad because she snapped to her grandmother. It's obvious the woman never cared about anyone. When he saw her at the bridge, trying to punch the hard railing, he ran so fast just to be there on time. He didn't want her to hurt her hand, knowing she's also a violin player. Then the way she fitted to his arms as he cradled her, it's so perfect. He even carried her sleeping form to her bed.
Kahoko. The girl's name made his heartbeat faster. It triggered some kind of hidden emotion. Len was surprised, it was just the first time he saw her, or so he thought. There was something in her that made him want to know about his forgotten past. He was intrigued by her guarded expression every time he's around, or the way she tried not to look at him. The girl's face was always solemn, but the mask broke whenever the concours participants spend time with her.
He tool his violin from the case, and marveled at its beauty. The golden color never faded, though it's been years since he owned it. When he woke up before, the only thing he could remember was how to play the violin perfectly. He still remembered the broken expression of her mother when he told her that the only thing he could recognize was the violin.
He put the instrument back to the case and closed it. There's no school today, and his dad already left for a concert after they got home, and his mother was out. Len opened the drawer of his side table and saw a black folder. He opened it, and read the title of the song quietly. Ave Maria. It was so familiar, and there's something that forces him to look for more. He scanned every page and studied every note. He reached the last page, and his eyes widened.
Stuck at the last page was a group picture of the concour participants. Shouko and Keiichi were standing side by side. Shouko was blushing, while Keiichi's head was resting on her shoulder, his arm holding her waist. Hihara, Ryoutaro, and Azuma were grinning happily and posing the same way. The position of the last members of the group shocked him.
The two looked oblivious to the picture taking happening. Their foreheads rested on each others, and both wore goofy grins. It was odd for Len to do that. His hands were on the girl's waist, and the girl's hands were on his shoulders. What surprised him most was the fact that the girl was none other than Hino Kahoko.
---
Azuma was dragging her sister and Kahoko at the mall. The smirk didn't leave his face, but the girls didn't notice. Miyabi was wearing a black polka-dot dress with a red ribbon at the middle. It reached her thigh. Kahoko was wearing a pink fitted shirt with a vest design and black skirt.
"No need to run onii-san. Can't you see we're wearing high heels?" Miyabi complained, pointing at her black stilettos and Kahoko's red ones. Azuma slowed down so the girls could relax.
This morning, Kahoko was surprised when she saw the siblings eating breakfast with her mother. Her mom explained that they're fetching her for a surprise. Since that moment, Kahoko was suspicious of Azuma. Miyabi looked innocent from his brother's plans, so she didn't mention it.
"Gomen. I'm just excited, since this is something for both of you." He explained, taking their hands and walking to a coffee shop. The waiter bowed at them and led the way to their table.
"Oh. My. Gosh." Miyabi whispered as she ran and gave the person sitting at bear hug. The person prepared himself and hugged the brunette back.
"Miss you dear." He whispered, and Miyabi laughed. She was so glad; he still remembered the way they used to call each other. Kahoko smiled big, and approached the person to give him a hug.
"Aoi-kun!" She squealed as he hugged her back.
---
Hamai Misa sat at the waiting area, clutching her bag tightly. She was at the hospital, and she was going to talk to the doctor who was in charge of his son. Len may not know, but his mother could hear his shouts every night. It hurt her more, because he wasn't supposed to be that. If he's not in Vienna studying, he might be having a good time with her friends and Kahoko, and his son might be asking about all those lovey-dovey stuff.
Last night, when she saw the two at the bridge, she nearly cried. His son was holding the love of his life in his arms, looking content and happy. The smile she rarely sees from him was present. Like the old Len was back.
"Mrs. Tsukimori." The nurse called from the door. Hamai Misa looked up, smiling at the caller as she entered the office. It never change, still looked the same since the last time she entered there. Before, she entered there because the doctor wanted to tell her the worst news she had received. Today. she was there to tell him about a change.
"Doctor. It's nice to see you again." She greeted the man in white. The doctor smiled, and motioned her to take a seat.
"So, to what do I owe this visit from the great pianist?" Hamai Misa was used to this praises, so she ignored it.
"It's about my son." The doctor looked up from the paper he's reading. "Every night, he was shouting. As if he's having nightmares. I do not ask him about this, but I know it's about his past. Last night, my theories were proven. He shouted 'Who are you?' What's happening to him?" She looked at him, her eyes pleading. The doctor felt bad for the musician.
"Do you remember when I told you your son might recover from his amnesia?" Hamai Misa nodded. "Well. I think he's recovering. There's something in his dreams that makes him remember things. Tell me, is there something different that happened this past few days?" He asked. Hamai Misa paused for a while, then nodded.
"He met her again. She finally decided to come back to Seisou. I was actually delighted when I first heard the rumors, because I'm sure she's the only one who could help him. Then she's at the same class as him. Their music teacher, Hiroto Kanazawa, informed me that he successfully made her sit beside him." She happily shared the information. The doctor smiled, and nodded in understanding, He already knew the answer.
"I shouldn't have allowed that woman separate them. It killed her. He never looked alive." Hamai Misa rubbed her head.
"We couldn't do anything before. But now, we can." The doctor said, determination evident in his voice.
good or not so good?
Reviewers! :D
Music3 - Thanks for reading and reviewing! :]
Emjhey - Len's remembering something. :) But he doesn't know why he remember those things.
Bychuu - YES for both questions. :]
Pathetic Rainbow - Yup. That part. :)
Saiunkokulover - Kaji-kun is the one Azuma called. And Len & Kahoko? You have to read to find out more.
Anangelwithnoname - Here's the update!
Quishyle - Yup. Amnesia. But no, it's not Ryoutaro. Anyway, thanks for reviewing! :]
Okay. Rant time. :) The internet connection gave me a hard time. Amf. :[ I'm so pissed when I opened the comp then 'The page cannot be displayed"! Okaay. It's Kaji Aoi people! Hehe. More from him on the next chapter. I focused on Len's, Kahoko's, and Hamai Misa's thoughts about last chapters happenings. Hmm. Do you like the picture thingy? Then the doctor's and Hamai Misa's talk. Like it? Who's the bastard on Kahoko's thoughts? Weee. Then the dream. You'll know more about it soon.
Comments, suggestions, questions, and violent reactions, fell free to speak up by reviewing or sending PM. :D
Stay tuned for moooooore~ :]