Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro. Yuki Kure does. I simply own this original idea and anything non-canonical.

Pairing/Rating: Len/Kahoko. There is some adult references in this story, and while it's not explicit, it's obvious what's going on.

Prompt:Paramour, from the La Corda fic meme.

Summary: There is passion and there is love, and there is the moment when they come together.

Adultery

He made a promise as a child that the only thing he'd ever love would be music. He has no intention of breaking that promise.

If he did, he'd lose everything that he worked so hard to have.

It was a child's overactive imagination that told him if he ever wanted something other than his violin that she – definitely a she, for his violin was a refined lady of culture and grace and a quick temper – would leave him. She would revolt under his traitorous touch; his fingers would not be allowed to move across her body with the instinctive comfort that he'd had before. She would scream out his infidelity to everyone, the notes turning sharp and angry no matter how gently he moved. She would say her final goodbyes with a cry of broken strings and shredded bow-hair, killing him by destroying herself.

He is an adult now, living on logic rather than whimsy, but deep in his heart he truly believes those childish fears. He wants to feel only her against his fingertips, and he will do nothing to risk the delicate relationship they have.

So when he pushes Kahoko against the wall, pressing his mouth to hers and fueled by a passion that he's never given to anyone but his violin, he doesn't understand why he's doing it. When he dips his head below the neck of her shirt, he decides that he must be insane because she can't be worth what he's about to lose. When he slides his hands under her skirt and over satin-covered skin, he wants to convince himself that this is just a fling and she's just a means to the end and there will be no lasting damage.

But when she brings him to the floor, as she brings him into her, he knows this isn't just a one-night stand and that everything was broken before it even came to this moment. When she whispers his name over and over like a canon in ecstasy, he can't stop from saying hers back. When she lies on his chest, spent and content, he wraps his arms around her and feels something that not even his violin can give him.

And he knows, with a mix of joy and terror, that he can never go back to having only one love in his life.

The next day he's afraid to go to his first love, but he faces her because she deserves his honesty. They've been together for so long that there can be no secrets between them, especially if he's to risk his whole life on her sensitive sound. So he picks up the violin with shaking fingers, finds everything familiar and nothing the same, and prays for forgiveness as he plays.

Her answer surprises him. She sings in a voice that is different from usual; not worse, but layering timbres and tones in ways that he'd never imagined before Kahoko came into his life. The notes fall from her strings as if she's weeping, but the tears she cries are born of joy, not sadness. Anxiety melts into elation as he plays, for he knows that she's not only forgiven him but rejoices in his choice.

She loves him in love.

Author's Notes (11/30/07): I admit that I don't favor Len quite as much as Kazuki or even Ryoutarou, but I love getting into his head. He offers such a unique perspective, so expressive despite being… not. Ah, tis the joy of being an authoress!

Thanks to everyone for reading; I'm so happy that everyone enjoys these drabbles. Since everyone seems to like my writing, I'm gonna keep updating twice a week for as long as I have some shorts on hand. Who knows – maybe I'll try a chaptered La Corda story! See you on Monday.