Thanks a bunch to readers and revierwers! :) I'm so happy because you like this story. Anyway, read and review again! Hehe.
Chapter dedicated to previous reviewers: Pathetic Rainbow, Emjhey, Asianpearl, Saiunkokulover, Maripas, Barbieblair, Anangelwithnoname, and Music3. :] Cheers!
Disclaimer: Do I look like I own La Corda D'Oro?! Important notes below.
"Kaho-chan! Miya-chan! I missed my girls!" Aoi Kaji hugged the girls tightly. It's been a long time, a year to be exact, since they've seen each other. His grandfather decided to transfer him to a special school where he could concentrate on his future course, medicine. Last night, Azuma called because of an important matter.
"Well. You're the one who didn't visit. We've been waiting for your call for so long, and now's the only time you decided to contact us?" Kahoko scolded him, placing her hands on her hips. Since their booth was private, nobody was aware of what's happening. Miyabi chuckled behind Kahoko along with his brother because of Aoi's expression. He looked really afraid.
"E.. Eto. Gomen! I was busy and people in our house were pressuring me with this and that." He slapped his forehead. Kahoko just laughed at him. Aoi looked weird, his voice was loud, and it attracted attention.
"Better lower the volume of your voice Aoi-kun. We do not want the manager of the the shop to ban us here." Azuma said, making Aoi blush from embarassment.
"Fine fine. Anyway, better sit." He pointed out the vacant chairs. The others followed him, and each looked at the menu. Aoi called the waiter.
"Konnichiwa. What can I get you?" The waiter was a girl, her hair short. She was wearing a gray pencil skirt, and white blouse with loose red tie. Azuma flashed her a grin, and she nearly swooned. Kahoko and Miyabi chuckled under their breath.
"One blueberry cheesecake, one black forest, one chocolate mousse, and an oreo cheesecake. For the drinks, two lemonades and two frapuccinos." Aoi ordered for everyone. Good for them, the girl got their orders before completely gushing to her co-worlers about the 'bishounens' who sat on the private booth.
"Kahoko, why don't you join Miyabi buy something." Azuma suggested. Kahoko narrowed her eyes on him, but he didn't react, the smile never leaving his face.
"Hai. Miya-chan. Let's go." She linked hands with the younger girl, and they're off to the boutiques.
"Okay. Let's talk about business since the lovely ladies are out." Aoi started as the waiter placed the coffee in front of them.
"Hm. You see. That stupid blue-head's family come over to dinner last night, and you know how obaa-san acts around them."Azuma said. Aoi nodded his hand as he continued.
"Before that actually, my dear cousin and obaa-san had an argument. That old hag is a lucky bastard. If I'm not afraid to be disowned, I would've hit her. You see, Tsukimori-kun doesn't know that me and Kahoko are cousins. You should've seen his face. He was glaring at our hands the whole dinner." Azuma continued, amused by what he's seen last night. He smiled at the look of the blue-haired violinist, eyes intense as he looked at the linked hands of Kahoko and Azuma.
"Then Kahoko snapped at that woman again and ran away. I thought oba-san is going to faint with the happenings. Misa-sama calmed her down though. Then Tsukimori-kun approached Kahoko at the bridge." His hands were balled, jaw clenched, and it took a lot of control for him not to hit the table. It'll be rude of course, a descendant of Yunoki's hitting an inanimate object in public.
"Their pose. Kahoko was leaning, more like snuggling at his chest. Tsukimori-kun might have forgotten, but his body reacts to Kahoko. Like his body knows her." He took a sip of coffee. Aoi smirked.
"Of course. So I think I know what I have to do. Don't worry, I've already figured it out when you called. You really know who to ask concerning those things." Aoi pointed out. Azuma just snickered at his friend.
"I expect you on Monday then."
---
Miyabi dragged Kahoko to every store. Kahoko just let her, distracted of the sudden appearance of an old friend. They haven't talked properly yet, but she could sense something. Azuma may not know, but Kahoko's fully aware of Aoi's purpose.
"Kaho-chan. What do you think?" It was a halter neck orange dress with wooden ring and turquoise bead detail. It reached Miyabi's knees, and it matched the girl's hair color.
"It looks good on you. You should try it." Kahoko commented. Miyabi beamed and pulled her to another rack of dresses. The dresses though, in this portion, were vintage. Miyabi searched until she found something good.
"Okay. This is perfect for you." It was an olive green strapped dress that would definitely hug her curves. It had a button detail in front, the layered skirt reaching the knees. Perfect, but for what?
"Oh. I forgot to tell you. Kanazawa-sensei called oba-san this morning about the fundraising program your school's up to." Miyabi answered the unspoken question. Upcoming program. Kahoko thought for a while. The last time they had a program was the night before that happened.
"Okay. Well, let's try this on, then go back to the shop." Miyabi agreed with Kahoko as they went to the dressing rooms.
The dress fit her perfectly, just as she imagined. The green complimented her red hair. She looked at her reflection. The girl was thinner than before, dark circles around her eyes because of lack of sleep. Add to that, her amber eyes lifeless. Kahoko sighed. This isn't me. Her door suddenly opened, and Miyabi was smiling at her.
"Perfect! You look great Kaho-chan!" She complimented.
"Arigatou." She blushed, looking down. Whew, That girl could be a handful sometimes. Kahoko changed her clothes and followed Miyabi. They paid for the clothes and found the boys waiting for them outside.
"Are you done?" Azuma asked. Both nodded, and Aoi took Kahoko's hand.
"Let's go."
---
Len sighed for the nth time as he played Ave Maria. Since he found the piece, he practiced it again and again. He got all the notes, and so as the tempo, but there's something missing he couldn't name. He groaned, placing his instrument carefully at the case. What's the problem with me?
He never forgot the dream. Every time he started to play, as he close his eyes, the red-haired girl starred his thoughts. He was really bothered. Never in his life did he acted like this. A well disciplined guy like him, wasting his time to some worthless dream? Len thought it's pathetic. The phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Tsukimori residence." He said in a monotone voice.
"Tsukimori Len? This is Kanazawa-sensei." Len was surprised that he called. Do teachers really call their students at their house?
"What do you need sensei?" He asked politely.
"Well. I called to inform you that we're having a fund raising program, and the principal suggested that the concours participants play. And also, everyone's going to have a duet, and you're with Hino-san." Little did Len know that on the other line, Kanazawa-sensei was smirking evilly. He was doing his best so that Len could remember anything.
"Hino-san? Okay. We'll talk tomorrow at school." He hung up to his teacher and stayed at his room again. He was bored to death. For some reason, he's not in the mood to practice, which is odd for him. He was also thinking about the picture he has seen. He took it from the back of the piece.
Questions raced on his mind. Shouko and Keiichi close together was usual for him. He's been one of those who could see the two practicing together, laughing carefree. One time, he even saw them eating lunch together. Shouko was holding a spoon with some cake, her face as red as Kahoko's hair. Why am I thinking about her again? Then Keiichi lazily opened his mouth, amusement in his eyes.
Tsuchiura-kun and Hihara-senpai acting like crazy was ordinary, but Yunoki-senpai with them? Len raised his eyebrow. Maybe they really got along. Len gave a small smile; even though he's cold to them, he still cared, specially to the one he's with at the picture.
Kahoko and Len looked like a match made in heaven. Blue and red. Cool and warm. Quiet and cheerful. Ice and fire. From what he heard, they are opposites. They also told him he didn't soften up to him easily before. Maybe that's the reason why she's giving me a cold shoulder.
Their closeness in the picture made his eyes wide. Their happy faces, goofy grins, and the position of their hands -- Len couldn't see a hint of sadness and anger that the Kahoko he knew possessed, not even the coldness he had now. It's so unlike them. Like those in the picture were different people from them. Maybe that's the old him?
If that's so, then the red-haired in my dreams is Kahoko?
---
Len saw his younger version again. He was wearing a black tuxedo with light green polo and dark green tie. His mask was black with green details. The younger Len was pacing back and forth in front of a big door, which he assumed is the dressing room. Suddenly, the door opened and it revealed the red-haired girl wearing a green tube ballgown with stones decorating the skirt part. Her mask was green, but it was glittered. She looked.. Beautiful. She tapped the shoulder of the younger Len.
"You think it's too much?" She asked, twirling around. The younger Len was speechless, his mouth slightly agape. The girl giggled at him.
"Hey. Are you alright?" The girl waved her hand in front of his face, and he shook his head. He quickly took her by her waist, and gave her a kiss at the forehead.
"I was just stunned by your beauty." He said. The girl blushed, but couldn't cover her face.
"May I escort you inside, my lady?" The younger Len offered a hand, and the girl took it. Two guards opened the door, and it revealed a room full of couples standing by the side. As if they're waiting for them. They walked to the middle of the room, and a soft music played. The older Len watched them from the door.
The couple danced gracefully, looking comfortable in each other's arms. The girl was beaming, and there's a rare smile for the public in the younger's Len face. Once, the younger Len even kissed the girl. When the younger Len was cupped the girl's face, the scene changed. The older Len was now the one cupping the girl's face.
"Are you Ka.. Hino-san?" He asked, almost forgetting to be formal. The girl gave him a sad smile.
"You still forgot." Everything started to vanish as darkness took over.
Len woke up from his sleep. It was 6 in the morning, just in time. He shook his head. He had dreamed about the mysterious girl again, but now he got the courage to ask her if she's Kahoko. She just replied that he forgot, which made him frustrated. He groaned before getting out of the bed.
The warm water from the shower helped him relax his back muscles. It's Monday, and classes were resumed. For sure he couldn't escape her today. Len was sure that she'll ignore him, and add the recent things that happened, it just made him more curious. Who is she in my life? Is she a big part of it.. before? Unfortunately, time was fast. He quickly prepared for school, ate breakfast, and told the driver to drive him to school.
When he arrived at school, he thought he's got time to think. Luck seemed to avoid him today. Standing near the school gates were the concour participants with Kahoko. Worse, there's some tall blonde guy holding her close in her waist. Jealousy rushed on him as he tried to avoid he walked away from the group.
good or not so good?
Okaaay. Reviewers! :D
Pathetic Rainbow - Len forgot his memories including Kahoko. He recovered some, but not everything.
Emjhey - This is the update. :]
Asianpearl - I'm surprised I could touch people with my story. :) And you're right about the villain. About Ryoutaro, gomen but he's already taken by Amou in the story.
Saiunkokulover - Yep. It's the other way around. :] Thanks for reviewing!
Maripas - Kaji will be around from now on. Hehe.
Barbieblair - Glad you like the twists!
Anangelwithnoname - Thank yooou!
Music3 - Len's birthday is tomoorow?! Aha! Thanks for reminding me! I have an idea. Wuu~
A piece of my mind. :) So there, Aoi Kaji entered my story. Did you get what Azuma's planning? It's kinda easy. I'm giving you more of Len here because I adore him so much. He's already remembering things/filling the gaps from his lost memories. Len is observant; it's normal for him to be curious about the picture. And that picture.. I really love the way I made them pose. (evil laugh) Anybody who like the Shouko x Keiichi thing? Then the dream again. The older Len watching the younger him kissing some girl, haha! So OOC, I think, so apologies. And lastly, the ending of this chapter. Jealous Len! And do note kill me for describing what they're wearing, specially the dresses.
Queries, comments, violent reactions, constructive criticism, PM or review! Promise, I won't bite. I'm a good girl. :)
Stay tuned for moooooore~:]