Chapter 11

From Afar

He dreamt of a beautiful haven, where all kinds of flower around the globe grew wildly and freely. Its sweet scent traveled through his nostrils evading his senses. The sky was in a perfect shade of blue just like his hair. His cold golden eyes gazed out the far horizon where he spotted a red-haired girl standing so gloriously with her hair dancing with the wind. The white heavenly daffodils that grew on the spot she stood, danced with her. That simple smile was painted on her face, making him want to smile as well but something hindered him. He was incapable of doing so. Then he found himself beside her with his violin clasped on his right hand.

"Tsukimori, why is you face so glum? Could you not see how beautiful the day is?" Kahoko looked his way, her happiness was undeniably unending. He got the violin out. Maybe this was its use? He thought and started playing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The flowers, the wind and the soft rustling of the trees blended with his music perfectly. It made the whole scenario perfectly picturesque. It was far more beautiful than any man could dream of.

What is it this time?

Why is my heart beating faster and louder than the way it usually does?

Why could I feel electricity flowing through the gap that stood between us?

Why do I feel this way when I'm near her?

Speak to me, Kahoko. Please tell me.

Could you hear the thudding of my heart?

Could you see the flush around my cheeks?

Kahoko, please… I need answers to all these.

Len was frustrated. He wanted answers but he could not get them. He had been shouting his questions inside his head but could not voice it out. Then the piece came to an end. He stopped. There was a pregnant pause. Kahoko looked his way, her innocent golden eyes locking his stern golden orbs.

"Why did you sop, Tsukimori-kun?" She asked.

"The piece has ended." He uttered briefly.

"You could start another song, right? How about Beethoven's Moonlight sonata?" She suggested. Len did not speak. He does not know why but he could not decline Kahoko's request. Without any word, he played the piece.

As always, he did justice to the composer's work. Well, he was a virtuoso. I'll let her play the violin… He thought. But as he was about to enter the climax, Kahoko was snatched away from him. It happened fast and the kidnapper passed like a blur. He stopped playing and threw his violin to the ground. His precious treasure was crashing down the hill, broken and shattered. And Kahoko was now at the other side. The two most important things in his life is gone. He could not do anything but sight. Her abductor had a blazing yellow hair, but then he vanished. Kahoko was now left alone and then a man he detests so much appeared at her side. He knew that deceiving aura.

Then his eyes saw what he did not want to see. The red-haired woman was wrapped around a man's arms. It was a man he detests so much. All he could do was watch him hug her tightly. He could not do anything for Kahoko was not his and would never be his.

"She is mine, Tsukimori Len. She is mine." That horrible voice whispered to his ears.

Riing… It was 3:30 am. Tsukimori sat on his bed and gazed to the unending dark azure while the cold mist wrapped around him. It was chilly but Len did not care, he has been prone to it.

'It was a dream…' He thought calmly as he went to his bathroom to take a bath. That beautiful paradise was nothing but a creation of his mind.

He stopped before the mirror and looked at himself. An expressionless blue-haired man stared back at him. It was a reflection, he almost did not recognize. He stared at it, studying every detail on his face. Everything was flawless, except for the fact that he looks stern and scary. Am I really like this? He touched his reflection on the mirror. He sighed, frustrated. He can't even paint a simple smile.

'What is a smile?' He thought to himself. He could not understand why he can't do such simple act of happiness and why others could do it so freely. He searched for the answers but he just could not. The virtuoso helplessly placed a finger on both ends of his lips and curved it upward, but it was the ugliest smile one could ever give. It has marred the perfection of his face.

'She is mine. ' A voice rang in his thoughts. It was that same voice that took Kahoko from him two years ago. He sank into his bathtub, lukewarm water streaming from his tap. Then he succumbed into that loneliness that kept him secure.

After drinking her morning tea, she went out to the yard to check her mail. Something unfamiliar struck her. Among the familiar long white envelopes that contained her bills, there was an elegant carnation pink envelope sealed with a hot pink ribbon. Her name was scripted in perfect curves. She checked the sender whose name was placed on the upper left corner of the envelope. She let go of it right away as though she had accidentally placed her hand on a hot surface. Her eyes were bulged open. She picked it up, hesitantly. What is it this time? She asked herself.

She opened the envelope, her heart pounding fast. She could feel her sweat dropping even if the cold breeze was perfectly dancing around her. It was an invitation from Miyabi, Yunoki's little sister. Yunoki and she might have been separated for two years but their had been constant communication between Miyabi and Kahoko through chats or texts. Now I remember, it's going to be Miyabi's birthday next week… would I go? But this is another Yunoki party. If I go then I'm exposing myself to him… She thought. If she goes, she does not even know what to give her. She has everything a girl would want, fame, fortune and power. If she goes, she does not know what she shall wear. She is no princess who owns a lot of gowns and she does not have any fairy godmother that could give her one. She sighed.

Then her phone rang. It was Kaji. The atmosphere suddenly changed. He put a smile on her face once more.

"Could we go out today? Usual place?" Kaji asked from the other line.

"I have to see my sister today." She uttered.

"Well, tomorrow?" He uttered.

"You are quite insistent." She uttered in a tone of banter.

"Are you pestered?" He asked.

"Not quite. I'll try to see, okay. I could not give you an answer to that yet." She uttered with a soft giggle.

"See you when I could see you then." He was obviously disappointed. But Kahoko had been used to it, ever since they started dating. It's been three weeks now.

Kahoko did not notice Len, outside her gate, watching from a far. That was all he could do. From his dreams to reality, there had been a barricade between the two of them. Whatever precious moments they had shared together was nothing but a dream that came in a blur that no one would even remember the obvious details.

"I could only watch you smile from a far and never would I be the one to paint that precious treasure on your face." He uttered to himself as he turned his back away from her. Things were clear to Tsukimori now, even if he walks a thousand steps never would he be able to reach her for she keeps going farther and farther away from her. She was snatched away from him because he never hold on to her.

Kahoko was dressed in a long white skirt and a pink blouse. Her hair was kept with a pink ribbon. She was simple and yet very stunning. She was heading to see her sister now. As she passed by the city park, she saw a familiar pink convertible. She knew it too well, to get mistaken. It was Miyabi's, no doubt. She saw her but to her surprise someone was with her. It was a man she knew well too. From the shade of his hair down to his stiff posture, it really was him.

Why? Why is he with her? She asked and without any reason, she felt her heart pricked. Something did hurt deep within her chest. She wanted to walk on but her feet were glued on the ground. From a far, she could see them clearly.

"Onegai Tsukimori-kun." She pleaded.

This has been Chapter 11 and I hope you enjoyed it. I apologize for any inconvenience. To all those who reviewed, thank you so much. It means a lot to me. Keep those reviews flooding. And thank you to all those who added my story to their favorite list… I give you a thousand hugs and kisses. See you in the next chapter.