Chapter 17

He Smiled

I was running at an unending road of emptiness, all alone. This was a pointless, endless run. I looked around but I couldn't find anything. I felt nothing. There was no air to breathe in. I was suffocating. I could feel my tongue drying up. I could feel my chest burning with pain. I felt exhausted, but I couldn't stop. Instincts told me I must run away from a hidden beast. I don't even know why? How and when did this start? I stumbled and couldn't get back up again. I felt like I was glued on the dark black floor. I was submerging into the dark. I tried to resist but I can't. The darkness looming around me was eating me up. Then I saw fierce golden eyes staring at me, prying. I didn't know where it came from; they just looked at me mercilessly. I felt like a helpless prey waiting for her predator to finally devour her.

My heart was thumping faster now. It was the first sound I heard since the beginning of this run. Sweat flooded all over me.

'Die.' A hush voice repeated again and again. The second sound I heard. It grew louder and louder. And as its volume increased the rage grew tenser. Then came a loud shriek that caused me to cover my ears as though it would help. It didn't, the shrilling scream had penetrated my eardrums and it sent me half dead. I watched the darkness around me crumble into pieces. I felt emptier, lightheaded. This was a sickening psychotic game. I was trembling for the fact that I know nothing about what was happening and for the fact that I was alone.

Suddenly, I heard tapping footsteps. I searched for where it came from, hoping that this was company. Just as I was about to give up on my search there stood a man. I couldn't see his face. It was hidden under an "oni" masked. His presence brought danger more than security. We were silent, just standing before each other.

Then he got something from his pocket, metallic and heavy. He held it before me. A gun. He pushed the trigger slowly. Instinctively, I closed my eyes ready to embrace whatever might befall on me after this. "Die." That was the same hush voice as that from a while ago. He pushed the trigger. [Bang]

Kahoko woke up breathless, her hair was all messed up and she could feel the uncomfortable pain around her neck. She looked around her blurry surrounding and realized she was not in bed. She was slumped at one of the chairs at the back of the school auditorium. From across her seat, a blue haired man, wearing a white sando was hammering things on stage for the concours. He was sweating but he remained cool.

"Ts-Tsukimori-san?" Kahoko called softly but loud enough for him to hear.

"So you're already awake…" He coldly uttered not taking his eyes off what he was doing.

"H-how l-long h-have I-I b-been a-a-a-a-….. Asleep?" She asked, feeling a bit guilty for letting him do work while she slept.

Len just stared at her blankly, not saying any word at all. Those cold golden orbs made Kahoko awkwardly conscious. "I better go to the rest room first." She uttered as she crept away from him. Len still did not say a word, instead he went back to hammering the decorations.

Now what's wrong with him? Is it even my fault why I fell asleep? Besides if he wanted to rest he could just tell me and I'll be the one doing those stuff he'd been doing… to think I felt guilty… No… I shouldn't be… but… Kaho complained in her thoughts as she entered the comfort room. As soon as she saw her reflection on the mirror… "WAAHH!"

From the auditorium, Len heard her shout. Worried, he immediately jumped off the ladder and ran to the rest room as fast as he could. He slammed the door open, gasping.

"Tsukimori-san, what happened? Daijobu ka?[Are you okay?]" Kahoko asked as she calmly combed her hair, shocked with Tsukimori's sudden appearance.

"I should be asking that to you…" He coldly asked, regaining his stiff composure.

"Huh? Wh…" She looked all clueless. "Oh you mean the shout. That was nothing. Sorry, did I worry you?" Len looked from left to right. Seeing that there was nothing to worry about he left her without a word.

"Was he really worried?" Kahoko asked herself as she allowed water to run on her face. I didn't know a bad hair could alarm him like that… She laughed in her thoughts.

When Kahoko joined Len again, he was already painting the backdrop.

"May I help?" Kahoko asked politely, breaking the still silence.

"You should." His tone was harsh and cold.

"Where do I get the brush?" She asked. He then pointed a basket behind him. Then she squatted across the cold-hearted virtuoso. After minutes of boring silence, Kahoko thought of something fun. "Tsukimori-san, there's something on your forehead."

"Hn?" He looked her way.

"Let me wipe it." She uttered as she placed her painted hands on his forehead, then to his cheeks and then to his nose. "There, you look clean now." Kahoko smiled sweetly. Tsukimori was not dumb not to notice what she did to his face.

"Hino-san, I think you have more paint on your face." He uttered seriously as though it was true.

"What? Where is it?" She asked as she wiped her own dirty hands on her face. "Is it still there?" She asked.

"Now your face is as clean as mine." He uttered. Immediately, Kahoko had realized something and had checked herself on the mirror. "You are so unfair!" Kahoko pouted.

"You started it." He uttered calmly.

"How disrespectful!" Kahoko threw paint on his shirt.

"Hey…" Len monotonically said but Kahoko just childishly stuck her tongue out and threw another paint.

"This is unforgivable." He uttered and threw paint to Kahoko as well. She then stood up and ran away from him, throwing more paint to him. Len also stood up and chased her, hitting her with more paint as well.

"You should be thankful that I placed color in your lif." Kahoko threw more paint.

"Well, thank you. And as a token of gratitude, I'm painting your world as well." He attacked her as well. This was fun; a lot better than the painting activity they did earlier. All the while, Len had been smiling.

Kahoko stopped, noticing the mess. "Now look what you've done."

"Me?" Len uttered, beaming his white teeth.

"Now we have to clean it." She complained.

"You should clean yourself first." He teased.

"Now look at you, teasing me and smiling so widely as though…" Kahoko stopped mid-sentence, her golden eyes wide with surprise.

"What?" Tsukimori challenged.

"Oh my Gosh! Tsukimori-san, you're smiling… You are actually smiling. " Kahoko smiled widely as well.

"I am?" Tsukimori uttered in disbelief.

"Yes you are." She was jumping happily as she hugged him, her eyes were teary with joy. She was laughing but she herself could not believe what she is seeing before her.

They stopped. They looked at each other, Kaho's golden eyes met with Len's golden gazes. They realized they were locked aroubd ech other's arms. Immediately, as though the key of the padlock had been bound, they unclasped each other's arms and went far from each other, blushing.

"I-I'm g-going t-to…" He point at the man's restroom.

"I should go as well… I mean to the girl's restroom… I have to wash up." Kaho uttered awkwardly and they went to separate paths. Both were thinking why they were stuttering a while ago.

Len washed off the paint on his face and on his arms. He stared on his face and gave a shy smile. He still could not believe he smiled. Could this be true? This is not a dream, right? Then, he remembered the words Kahoko told him before. You can only put that smile on her face when you yourself could smile for her… Her voice echoed in his thoughts. He smiled all the more. Does this mean I could paint that smile on her face as well? He did not stop looking at the reflection of the smiling Tsukimori Len. He got vain with that shy smile.

Kahoko washed off the paint on her body too. He smiled… Her thoughts were flooded with his shy smile and his old stoic face. She could feel the hot flush forming around her cheeks. That smile brought back so many memories, from the very first time they met up to the days they recently shared together. Her heart was pounding really fast; it was an indescribable feeling, the same feeling she felt for Yunoki two years ago. The thought of Yunoki reminded her of her promise. No… I'm marrying Yunoki… No… Tsukimori is nothing but a friend… a dear friend. But is that really it? Do I really want him just the way we've always been? Friends? She thought but those questions remained unanswered and for all she knew, she was marrying Yunoki. She splashed water into her face and out of the blue Tsukimori Len came into her mind.

A car was parked in front of the school entrance. The owner gracefully walked out of the car and into the auditorium as though he was a prince walking down his grandiose red carpet. His violet hair danced with the wind under the midnight blue azure.

"Kahoko…" He called out her name as he opened the door of the auditorium but was surprised not to find Kahoko instead, Tsukimori stood there, shirtless. "Tsukimori-san?"

"Azuma Yunoki-san…" He breathed out.

"What are you doing here?" Yunoki questioned.

"I should be asking that question to you." Len answered coldly, despising his presence. Their golden orbs fiercely looking at each other.

"Tsukimori-san, Arigatou.[Thank You.] Don't worry; I shall bring this after I wash this." Kahoko came out of the restroom, wearing Tsukimori's shirt, oblivious of the tension and the visitor himself.

"Kaho…" Yunoki made her aware of his presence.

"Y… Yun… A-Azuma? Why are you here?" Kahoko was surprised.

"I am here to fetch my fiancé. Were you surprised, Kaho?" Yunoki uttered proudly.

"Y-Yes… I… I was." She stuttered. "We were actually leaving already." She added.

"I'm glad that is so. I'll bring you home then." Azuma grabbed Kahoko by her hand.

"Adios, Tsukimori-san, I will bring my fiancé now. It's okay with you right? She's my fiancée anyway." He emphasized the phrase, "MY FIANCE", telling Len that Kahoko was his and Len would never have her.

Len did not speak, his eyes glaring intently on the intruder. Azuma pulled Kahoko closer and kissed his forehead as they exited. He showed no expression, just the same old stoic look. However, Azuma knew what he was thinking and what he was feeling. He smiled slyly. She'll never be yours, Tsukimori… Nobody steals anything from Azuma Yunoki. He thought deviously.

When Kahoko was finally alone in her house, hse opened her cabinet and played "Fantasia" and somehow she played it right. She could feel the overflowing mirth within her heart transforming into the music she played, but why was she happy? Then that shy smile ran in her thoughts. She closed her eyes and remembered the very first hearty smile her cold-hearted violinist made.

"He smiled." "I smiled" Kaho and Len chorused as they lay on their own beds.

Kahoko slept with Len's smiling image on her thoughts.

Finally, I finished this chapter. I'm really sorry for the late update since we just finished our tests. Thank you for all the support… To all those who reviewed, speacially Ren Nakamura, Catstop, Rose and ozzyfan, thank you for the reviews. And thank you to all those who added my story to their alert and favorite list. Please keep those reviews coming and I do hope you had fun