Starless Sky
Azuma's attention was caught at Len's entrance with someone he knew very well. "Kaho…" He whispered to himself, keeping his cool composure. He wore his fake smile and approached his newly arrived guests.
Kahoko's heart was beating fast. It felt so uncomfortable. She wanted to go back home but she can't leave alone. Oh please, help. She saw him approaching. He was walking briskly and confidently with his black tuxedo. I hope he doe not come to us She wished helplessly. And when all hopes were drained…
"Tsukimori-san, Hino-san, I'm glad you came." Azuma's deceiving tone shattered her eardrums.
"You are a liar indeed, Azuma-san." Len was straight.
"Dosh'te? [Why?] How could you say such terrible thing?" He kept his cool. "Besides, seeing Hino-san so beautiful, why should I not say I'm glad to see you?" He got Kaho's hand and was about to kiss it, but Kaho snatched it from him before he could do.
"Gome Nasai Azuma-san but I can't allow that." Kaho masked her nervousness with a fierce tone.
"Wakaramash'ta. As always Hino-san, you never fail to impress me." He smirked.
"Yunoki I don't see the point why you invited me." Len can't take his taunts. He hates him; he hated him ever since.
"And I don't see the point why you invited Hino-san as your date. Could it be that you're hoping this would prove to be the end of her love for me?" The statement was full of mockery. Len glared at him.
"Azuma-san, please stop this." Kahoko spoke.
"For you, I will, dear. Enjoy the party." He left them with a disturbing smile. Yunoki had a lot of changes. He became more devious and more deceiving. It was hard to read him. Then the music played; waltz. Pairs started dancing. Len and Kahoko found their way to a table to wit and eat.
"Tsukimori-san…" Kahoko started, breaking the long awkward silence between them. He looked her way, coldly. "Never mind." She dropped the matter. They just sat there silently, awkward.
"Tsukimori-san…" Kaho started again.
"What?" Obviously he was irritated.
"Would you want to dance?" She asked but as soon as she finished the question, she regretted why it even slip from her mouth. Len did not answer her; he was just staring at her coldly. The stern golden eyes never suggested what he really was thinking. She was melting.
"N-never mind…" She stammered.
"I can't dance." Len looked away.
"You don't know how to dance?" She slyly uttered.
"It's none of your business if I can't." Len spoke silently, still not looking at her.
"You can't smile. And you couldn't dance? What good can you do then, Tsukimori-san?" She challenged him. And Kaho was successful. Len stood up and took her up.
"You'll see." He got the bait. He placed his right hand on her hips and held his left hand with her left hand. She felt so soft and fragile in his ruthless arms. Kahoko was never this close to him.
"Ouch!" He had stepped on Kaho's right foot. He looked at her. "Watch your step, Tsukimori-san."
"Ouch!" Len had stepped on her left foot.
"You better be careful." He spoke, not planning to say sorry. Kaho sighed. They danced for a while and Len never failed to step on any of Kaho's foot.
"After this, I doubt if I would still want to dance." She humored. She looked at Len, no sign of laughter but she felt Len's heavy presence turning light.
"I'm tired. Let's sit down." He ordered.
"Okay." She has no choice anyway. As they were heading to their seats, some business associates blocked Len. "Tsukimori-san, I'll just go to the rest room." Len nodded and started talking with his business partners.
Kahoko just wanted to stay away from such crowd. She feels left out. She found the restroom her only escape. As she went in the rest room, he sighed. This has always been her habit ever since. She remembered those times Yunoki would bring her to company parties and once he started talking with business partners he would forget about Kaho's presence. Leaving her left out.
She looked at herself in the mirror, feeling so different. Being in this place once again bought back memories that made her feel more remorseful. She tried to resent whatever was coming but seeing him and hearing his voice again just made her weak. Kaho, this is all going to end. It's just tonight and besides you did not come here alone, Tsukimori-san is here. You are with him. She tried to herself up and decided to join Len again, hoping that whoever those people talking with him were gone
You are not alone. She repeated in her thoughts but as soon as she saw Len still busy talking with some business associates, she felt her thoughts being eaten up. Or Am I? She thought. She decided to go to the garden to escape the high-class society once more.
The garden felt so cold and dark, very silent and a true picture of loneliness. It contrasted the party hall: bright, warm and full of chatters. She liked it better in the garden; at least here she would not be forced to pretend things were okay when she knew they were not. Again she heaved a sigh regretting why she was not able to refuse Len when he told her to go with him in this party. But qualms were of no use now; she's already here. She looked up the sky but found no great view, there were no stars and no moon, just clouds and the midnight azure. Kaho reminisced the day when he proposed to her, when their silent mutual understanding was finally put to words.
[Flashback]
Kaho was heading out of the practice room she rented every now and then. Ever since Yunoki left for England, she had less interest in playing the violin. It's been a week now and she misses him a lot. Well, he has not contacted her. He does not really have to tell me, well who am I to him anyway? I'm just a friend, nothing more. I don't have the right to mandate him to report everything to me. I'm not his girlfriend. He might even already one that's why he is not calling, but why do I even care? Her thoughts resented the feelings. She tried to tell herself, she is not hurt but the truth is, she is deeply hurt. Yunoki and she formed a bond that had exceeded the pact of friendship. She loves him and she knows he's aware of those feelings, even if she has not spoke of it. And she could feel he's interested in her-why would he spent much of his time with her when he does not like her in the first place? It hurts her. There was no commitment that was why they were so free on doing what they want. They were so free to flirt with others.
How could he do this? How could Yunoki do this? She could never forget him, not like this, not this way, not like what he's doing. He's not just somebody he admires, somebody he likes and somebody he idolizes like Tsukimori Len. She loves Yunoki. As she turned to the last corner of the long of the long hallway, she heard the violin, it was Tsukimori, no doubt. He was playing a Sergei Rachmaninov: Vocalise. And as usual he played it excellently beautiful. What do you expect from a prodigy? He had made her calm once again, drifting those worries out of her and just as she was at the peak of her cloud 9 he stopped. Why now? She complained in her thoughts.
"You're disturbing me, Hino-san." Len opened the door of his practice rooom. Probably, he caught a sight of Kahoko outside and it obviously bothered him. Kahoko was snapped out of her dreaminess. She smiled at him, apologetic.
"Gome Nasai, Tsukimori-san. I did not mean to disturb you." She uttered.
"I don't like anyone listening while I'm you want to hear performances from musicians go and watch a concert. I have to concentrate here." He was so snobbish and strict. He always had been, ever since Kaho met him.
"Hai." She was still gleaming that ever so sweet sile. Len went back inside the practice room and locked it. That's why I never liked him like him; he's much of a snob She thought, not realizing where she was heading, up the roof top of Seiso academy. She was surprised when she opened the door and felt the wind brushing through her face. Serenity. Alas, there was a place to be quiet and alone. She sat on a bench, looking around her surroundings. The cool breeze, slowly caused her eyes to close. She was then asleep.
Kahoko had not raelized the time, her slumber was too deep and beautiful. It was already night time when she finally woke up. It was dark and the sky felt so dull; there was no moon and there were no stars, just the clouds and the midnight azure.
"Finally, you're awake Hino." Someone whispered into her right ear. Immediately, she re cognized that voice; she'd recognize that anywhere. She looked over her right shoulder and saw what her eyes would dare not believe.
"Am I dreaming?" She was in deep shock, forcing herself not to blink, fearing that if she would the image in front of her would vanish.
A smile formed on his lips. He carressed her cheeks with his hands and cupped her chin, drawing her closer and closer to him. Kahoko closed her eyes insincttively. They were just and inch away, thir lips so near. His fragrant scent traveled to her nostrils. Then he kissed her forhead. His lips soft, tender and warm.
"I know you missed me so much." He smiled.
"Yunoki-san." Kahoko blushed, that was all he could say. The sound of his name from her mouth was a music to her own ears. She just can't believe this, the man whom she thought had forgotten her, the man whom she thought had desserted her and the man whom she thought was in England, was now here in front of her. She could feel his presence again and it drifted all her complaints away. Azuma wrapped her around his arms, pullling her closer to his chest. She could feel and herar the sound of his heartbeat, so calm. How coukd he possibly have such rythmic heartbeat while mine has gone abnormally fast? But his hug felt so warm and comfortable, pushing back whatever Kahoko has in mind right now. Still hugging her; he was starting to play with her hair now, twining and untwining aroundhis finges. For quite a while they remained like that, silen and motionless, savoring the moment they shared.
"Hino, I love you." He broke the silence. She was surprised. She was trying to decipher what he really meant. There was that hesitation inside of her. Yes she dreamt of this to come one day but for all she knows this might not be what she expected.
"Is this another joke, Yunoki-san?" Kaho asked. Asuma had spoke those three words to her before. She believed him, though at that time Kaho did not really understood her feeelings for him. When she told him she loved him back as a brother he laughed at her. Why had he laugh? What had been so funny? Was it my fault he found my answer too naïve? Kahoko thought.
She saw him sliyly grinning at he placed his mouth near her ear, letting her feel ever breath. It tickled her and at the same time weakened her.
"I love you, Hino. What more must I say to let you realize that? And I know you love me too. Hino, you've always been my girl. We just have to make it official now." Yunoki uttered. She surrendered, finally ready to tell him what she really feels towards him. But before she could speak, Yunoki cupped her chin and fave her a kiss, warm, passionate and full of emotions. "I love you, Hino." He said it again, resting his forhead on hers, his scent smelled so fragrant. Hino's heart was thumping fast and she knows, sooner or later this emotion she's been keeping would burst.
"I love you too, Yunoki." Finally, she sais it. Yunoki smiled and kissed her forhead. Then he hugged her.
"You are only mine, Kaho. No one could steal you away from me." Yunoki is selfish, no doubt about that.
[End of Flashback]
Kaho sighed. Why am I thinking of that day again? A starless night and yet so beautiful. Suddenly, Len's images earlier flashed into her head; how he tried to force a smile on his face and how he tried to dance. She smiled at the thought of it. She hates to admit it but Len once again soothed the discomfort in her.
"I bet you're thinking of me all this time, Kaho." She knew the voice right away. She'd recognize that anywhere. She did not look at him, avoiding any contact posseble. She was masking her hurt, she has to.
"I'm sorry to dissapoint you, Azuma-san, but no." She lied partially. She did not realize Yunoki had been right behind her until he placed his arms on her bare shoulder. A grin was painted on his face.
"Why are you so tensed, Kaho?" This time his mouth was near her ears, sending shivers to her spined and making her heart pound faster. He turned her to face him. She tried to look down but Yunoki cupped her chin with his right hand, steadying her to look into his eyes while the his free hand was locked around her waist, pulling her close to him. "As usual you still are careless Kaho. Those eyes of yours tells me you stilll are longing for me, for my caress, my kiss. You long for everything of me. You still love me Kaho." That was the truth.
"No." Kaho resented her own feelings. She tried to look away from him but Yunoki's grip was strong. He locked her gaze with his, he was controlling her no matter what. Yunoki's pheromone were drawing each other nearer. Then it was there, that magical kiss came once more, bringing with it buried emotions. Yunoki never forgot the formula and as usual Kaho fell for it one more time.
Tsukimori got worried about Kahoko. Why had she not come back? He thought to himself as he excused himself from his business partners. He looked around and still did not see her. It's been a while since she had been in the restroom. He was getting impatient. He wanted to burst in but manner and logic told him not to. Where are you, Hino? What made him worried more is the fact that Azuma was nowhere in the place as well. Could it be? He did not continue his speculations. He realized, Kahoko is not in the comfort room already, probably she went out to the garden but it was dark, he thought she would not go there. However, he could not risk. He just has to find her to be sure that she's okay. At first he saw nothing but darkness in the garden. He was stepping down the last stair when he saw two figures. Len recognized it right away. They were Azuma and Kahoko, to his surprise they were kissing.
He could not move for a minute, deciphering what it was that he saw and what it meant. Then it was clear to him, clear as daylight. He still loves him He concluded, proving his speculations right. He decided to leave. He knew Kaho had silenced her phone and it was slumped inside her purple pouch, that would mean he would not disturb her if he texted her and he did.
URGENT. I have to leave. I was not able to see you. Just go home on your own.
They parted their lips. Yunoki was resting his forehead on hers. Kahoko's emotions came vehemently, sweeping everything in her thoughts. For a while they remained that way.
Even in texts Len could be harsh. Now what do you think would happen next? Does this end the love between Kaho and Len when it has not even started yet? Continue reading and I hope you'll keep those reviews coming. That means a lot to me. I thank all of you for reading this, especially those who reviewed: Beautiful dreaming goddess, oozzyfan97 and himeno08 and moonlight nocturn.