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Crescendo con Affectto

By: Yuuna Miyako

oreo (underscore) sprinkles (at) yahoo (dot) com

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Summary: Both Eriol and Tomoyo attend Clow, a conservatory of music and arts. Both have amazing skill, but both have hindrances that prevent them for using their ability to the fullest. When a potential singer and a master pianist meet, what will happen next?

Parings: E x T – S x S

Disclaimers: I don't own the CCS characters and Amazing Grace. --

Authoress Notes: Thank you all for your comments and reviews! I'm really glad you enjoyed the prologue, well; I never expected a lot of you will enjoy it much. But if you are curious about the title: it simply means 'growing (louder) with affection/emotion'. Both Crescendo and con affectto are Italian musical terms. The first chapter is all about auditions. I hope it isn't boring—but I had to somehow write it to point out some points. Anyways, please do criticize me if I've made a mistake. I feel like I have some mistakes—so please do so for my sake!

I. voce nascosta -- -- hidden voice

"Tomoyo-chan! Hurry!" An auburn haired female quickly burst out the glossy black colored limousine. In her right hand she carried a black case, while the other one slowly closed the door of the car. She stepped out the car, running up the steps toward the huge red bricked building. Then she stopped halfway, glancing back at the car.

Then the other door slowly opened, as a bluish-purple haired girl stepped down the car. A small smile was pasted on her face, while the afternoon rays illuminated her pale skin. Her amethyst eyes showed streaks of uneasiness even though she looked quite calm.

Today was the day…

"Tomoyo-chan! It's our audition, we can't get late!" The auburn haired girl called out once more.

So as quickly as possible, Tomoyo Daidouji hurried toward her impatient best friend and cousin, Sakura Kinomoto. They weren't late at all; instead, they arrived quite early. Tomoyo knew why Sakura has this jumpy attitude, and thus, even she felt quite nervous. Both Tomoyo and Sakura are both juniors, and ever since then, they never thought of stepping in this campus.

Clow's Conservatory of Music and Arts is known because of its five year title for topping Japan's school of arts list. This is the school where musical and artistic geniuses attended—from the high school grades through college levels. The school itself was highly funded by the government and by a lot of wealthy families, which clearly shows how highly the place was maintained and equipped. Anyone who wanted to be part of the school had to go through several tests—of course, your usual intelligence level and a special audition, to test your musical or artistic skill.

When Tomoyo reached the side of her cousin, both of them can't help but stare at the building in front of them. The wide red brick building stood in front of them, while two three story buildings stood next to it and in the middle was another building that looked like a concert hall. They call the building in the entrance 'edificio principale' (or main building in English). Tomoyo held her breath as Sakura tightly held her black case.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe were here." Sakura mumbled, who took a quick glimpse towards her cousins direction. For some reason, Tomoyo was paler than she ever was, and her slight smile was wiped off her face. Sakura reached out and squeezed her cousins hand, "Don't worry, I know we could do this."

Tomoyo gave her a weak chuckle, "Yeah."

It's easy for her to say that.

Ever since elementary, Sakura Kinomoto found herself skillful in playing the flute. Usually, it was supposed to be played only for a music class grade, but ever since Sakura learned how, she went to buy her very own flute and played it in her own accord. She then started to take the ability to play the instrument seriously. Then, after years of practice and proper tutoring, Sakura's ability to play could be leveled equal to a master.

Tomoyo in the other hand is different story.

Ever since Tomoyo Daidouji spoke, she sang, that's what her late father always told her. Through her elementary years, she was fairly known because of her angelic voice, a voice no one can ever compare. She sang for productions, programs, choir—so many that it was impossible to count. But an accident will change her life forever…

…her father dies of a car accident.

Since that day, Tomoyo stopped singing for quite sometime. Well, not until Sakura and a handful of friends pushed and encouraged her to start singing again. So with uncertainty, she managed to start singing once more to painfully discover one thing. She can't seem to sing in front of strangers and a crowd of people as well as before. When she does, Tomoyo could only feel fear fill in her and her heart thrashing so loud that she can't hear herself. In the other hand, when she's unaccompanied or with people she knew extremely well, she still was that angel years ago.

And now, she finds herself standing in front of such a influential school with high expectations.

"Let's go in." Sakura slightly tugged on her hand.

Tomoyo nodded as both of them entered the glass doors of the building.

When both Tomoyo and Sakura entered the white tiled lobby of edificio principale, their eyes widened in awe. The place was indefinable—it looked more like a museum than a school. Paintings of different kinds hung in the walls, and it looked like it was made by students of the school itself. There were two huge trophy cabinets filled with trophies of different sizes and colors. As expected from a lobby, there were chairs and couches where students could stay and mingle with each other. There was one drink machine in that stood on one of the walls. Then from the lobby there were three hallways that went through the left & right. In center of the north wall of room were twin doors that led to the auditorium, the place where the auditions are being held. Currently the building was completely empty because of the fact the school year wasn't even starting yet, and these couple of weeks were strictly for entrance auditions only.

And looking how empty the place was, it seems like Tomoyo and Sakura were the last ones in schedule for this day.

"Sakura-chan—I don't think I could do this." Tomoyo finally said, her voice cracked a little, "I know I'll just mess up—or just freeze."

Sakura patted Tomoyo on her cheek, "Okay then, let's stay here for awhile, and just prep yourself up."

"But really Sakura-chan, I can't." Tomoyo now sounded she was pleading.

"Sing for me Tomoyo-chan…please?"

Tomoyo with a hesitant expression on her face just sighed in defeat, "Okay—but can I just warm up here for a couple of seconds?"

Sakura's expression brightened as she nodded in agreement, "Sure, go ahead, we still have a couple of minutes before our scheduled audition anyway."

Tomoyo took a deep breath as she started singing…

A cerulean haired countenance twitched in surprise a little when he heard a sweet sounding voice, disturbing him from his deep thoughts. The handsome young man was sitting lazily on one of the theater like seats of the seats in the auditorium of edificio principale. His frameless glasses hung down in his plain button up shirt, while his indigo eyes wandered back towards the double doors behind him.

Who was that?

He can't help but wonder—the voice sounded inhuman, and if angels could sing, that voice could pass as one.

"Hey, did you hear that?" He averted his attention to a man next to him. Both of them look awfully alike somehow, but instead the man had longer hair and was wearing silver rimmed glasses. It was no other than Clow Reed himself, the founder of the conservatory and the current headmaster.

"I have a name Eriol Hiiragizawa." Clow slightly chuckled, "And yes, I heard the voice, beautiful isn't it?"

The young man, Eriol Hiiragizawa just nodded in response. He closed his eyes shut as he continued to listen to the beautiful voice. Clow Reed is his mother's brother, which makes the headmaster his very own uncle by blood. Eriol wasn't your typical student. Actually, he is the one currently topping the elite level of the whole campus. He was personally invited to the auditions to help with the judging.

"Reed-sama," A golden haired man who sat next to Clow Reed spoke up, "I think it's one of the last people in line for the auditions. May I call the person in?"

Clow shook his head no, "Tereda-sensei, let her enter whenever she wishes, besides, it seems like her audition doesn't start until a couple of minutes from now."

The voice just continued going on, then it suddenly stopped. A couple of minutes after that, the double doors suddenly swung open. Then two girls of the same age entered the auditorium. Clow randomly pulled one of the last two enrollee's applications.

"Sakura Kinomoto?"

"Here!" A voice called, and then an auburn haired girl headed towards the stage with a black case in hand.

"You play the flute, am I correct?"

"Uh-huh."

"So, would you play for us?"

Sakura nodded her head as she opened her case and pulled out a silver polished flute. She daintily laid the mouth piece in her pink lips and shut her emerald eyes slowly. Then she started playing. The tune was slightly catchy, fitting enough for a bright and sunny day. The tune sounded magical, enough for the young auburn haired lady to pass as the pied piper of Hamelin himself. It quickly filled the room and also lifted some of Tomoyo Daidoji's nervousness. Sakura expertly pressed the silver buttons softly in such incredible speed.

Clow chuckled slightly in how the music lightened his mood. Also Yoshiyuki Tereda broke into a smile after such a tiring day of watching other 'unfitting' auditions. The tune caught Eriol's attention too.

Defiantly this girl is in, besides, it's one of the best performances they heard so far.

Sakura ended her happy little tune with two high notes. Then she took a bow.

Applause broke through the judges and the one and only audiences, Tomoyo.

"I like it." Tereda grinned, "Please, wait for our further notice."

Sakura carefully laid her flute down her case and secured it before she practically jumped down the stage because of the light feeling she had after playing. When she reached her cousin both of them shared a hug while Tomoyo mouthed, 'You were awesome.'

Then Clow flipped over the last enrollee application that was laid on the table.

"Tomoyo Daidouji?"

"Here." A soft, calming voice called out. A lilac haired girl slowly stepped up the stage.

Eriol eyed her carefully. Was she the one singing outside earlier? She must be it, since there were no enrollees left in line. He had to admit she was stunning in physical looks. Her tresses naturally fell from her face while her amethyst colored eyes—

Then it quickly caught his attention…her eyes showed hints of anxiousness.

"It says here you sing." Clow smiled at her warmly, "May you sing for us?"

Tomoyo nodded slowly as she reached for the nearby microphone. Then she opened her mouth—her heart quickly skipped a beat.

Oh god, please not now.

She could see Sakura's worried expression in one of the last rows of the auditorium. Her hands were both clamped up together and she brought it near to her heart. Tomoyo then closed her eyes as she quickly closed her mouth shut. She knew it—she can't sing.

"Daidouji-san?"

"I'm sorry." Tomoyo quickly apologized, "I got scared there. Please, give me one more chance."

"Sure, no worries."

So once more, she tried. Please, just this once.

Amazing grace,

How sweet the sound…

The lilac haired then started singing. Her voice quivered a bit when she started, but she continued beautifully. Well, that's in a regular person's standard. If it's a professional standard, her voice could only level up in a so-so level. It was so different from the voice they heard earlier. Was she really the person they heard minutes ago, or it was just pure imagination? But somehow, her voice sounded it's being repressed and subdued.

But why?

The song gradually ended.

"Thank you very much," Tereda smiled at her, "Please do wait for our further notice."

"You're welcome." Tomoyo then walked down the stage. She then reached her cousins side. Sakura gave her a warm hug as she whispered in her ear, "You did great!" Tomoyo just gave her a thankful look as both of them headed out the auditorium and out the building.

Meanwhile, the three judges gathered the papers and began stamping each enrollee with either a green, blue or red stamp on their application. A red stamp means their application was rejected, a green stamp means they've been accepted to the school as a regular student, while a blue stamp indicates their nomination to the elite level.

A lot of the applications were rejected while a good number was accepted in the regular level. A handful of enrollees found themselves being nominated to the elite level of the campus.

Tereda then spotted the application of the last enrollee who auditioned, Tomoyo Daidoji.

"Reed-sama, how about her?" Tereda-sensei held up Tomoyo's application, "I was disappointed when she sang in front of us. She sounded much, much better when she was singing out the lobby earlier. Now I doubt if she's the same person who sang in the lobby."

"Believe me she is," Clow said slowly, "Isn't she a special one? Have you noticed Eriol?"

Eriol nodded, "Yeah."

"Noticed what?" Tereda asked, slightly confused.

"She was repressing her voice." Eriol said a matter-of-factly, "She sang quite good but still not good enough. But I'm positive she was the same person in the lobby—it's just, somehow she felt uncomfortable when she stepped onstage."

"I've known many singers of her kind that are very successful." Clow added on, "I have to admit, these kinds of singers are really hard to break, or in some cases, we can't break them at all. But once broken, they're absolutely much skillful than other singers."

"Hmm…" Tereda thought out loud, "I think we should let her in, should we? It'll be very interesting to watch her grow and 'break' if that's what you call it."

"Actually, these cases are really challenging. Singers with hidden voices…" Clow's voice faded slowly, "In Italian, voce nascosta."

"Let her in," Eriol stood up as he yawned a bit, "She's definitely a potential. Besides, isn't this school about mastering our skills and talents?" He then walked away, heading out the double doors.

Clow chuckled as he reached for a green stamp and handed it to Yoshiyuki Tereda. Tereda, without hesitation, slowly stamped Tomoyo Daidoji's application.