Chapter 7 – Sweet Revenge
The next day, an unfortunate event happened.
*Ding Dong!*
The door bell of the Tsukimori Mansion rang. Since the maids were having a day off back then, Len opened the gate by himself. There stood two men in suspicious clothes. The men cornered Len; the other held him and the other knocked him unconscious. Without anyone noticing, Len was kidnapped. He was taken in a hidden place that no one will know.
~ELSEWHERE~
"Yes, boss. He's already here." A man with a hard voice said.
"Good. Where is he? I want to see him." a gentler voice said.
"Over here boss." The man replied. He pointed Len inside a huge cage; his hands and feet were all tied.
The man opened the cage and kicked Len's thigh. "Yo, pretty boy. Boss wants to see 'ya."
Len woke up. He blinked a few times, after that he looked around. He didn't know the place he was in. What is this place? But one person caught his attention was Yunoki Azuma, the boy who was said to be the boss.
"Good morning, Tsukimori-kun." Azuma greeted. Len stayed silent, his mouth was sealed by a tape. "How are you doing? Oh, what am I thinking? Your mouth is sealed, how can you reply? Hmm… what if I do this." Azuma took off the tape harshly.
Len can hardly breathe, he glared at Azuma. "What do you want from me?" he asked coldly.
"Hmm? What do you think?" Azuma asked back.
"Is this about the concours?" Len asked.
"No. it's not really connected with music or the competition. It's more about… how can I call this… LOVE." Azuma said.
"What about it?" Len asked.
"Oh yes, you're my hostage, why am I allowing you to talk?" Azuma sealed Len's mouth again. Azuma was about to exit the cage. "By the way, I'm very envious of you. I love Kahoko as much as you love her, but she picked you instead of me, how pityful. Well I better leave now. Take care, Tsukimori-kun. Ja~"
"You'll be locked here until Kahoko beg for me and set you aside." Azuma said with an evil smirk marked on his face.
~TSUKIMORI MANSION~
"Where is Len? Where is my son?" Hamai Misa asked.
"I can't find him anywhere, Misa-sama." the butler said.
*R-r-r-ring!* Len's phone rang, his mother answered the phone and a girl spoke.
"Hello, Len." The girl said.
"Hino-san, is this you?" Misa asked.
"Oh. Hamai-sama good morning. Where's Tsukimori-kun, can I speak to him?" Kahoko said.
"Actually, Len is not here, do you know where he is?" Misa asked worriedly.
"No… why did something happen?" Kahoko asked back.
"When I woke up, I didn't see him. Even in his room." Misa stated.
"Maybe he went outside to practice." Kahoko guessed.
"No… he left his violin in his room." Misa said.
He never leaves his violin alone without any reason. Kahoko thought.
In that phone conversation, Aoi overheard that Len was missing. He knew who the culprit was, it was Azuma. Aoi ran outside at the exact moment Azuma stepped out of his car. Aoi charged Azuma, he held Azuma's collar and held up his clenched fist.
"Aoi-kun, is there any problem? You look mad." Azuma said.
"You're asking me if there is any problem? You're my problem, you kidnapped him!" Aoi yelled.
"What are you saying, Aoi-kun? I'll never kidnap anyone." Azuma lied. "You're saying such nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Aoi shouted.
Jirou stepped out of the house, he saw Aoi and Azuma. He felt the intense atmosphere. Did something happen? Aoi was about to punch Azuma's face. Jirou ran to stop Aoi. Good thing he seized him before he punch Azuma's pretty face. "Hey, Aoi calm down will 'ya!"
"What's happening here?" Kahoko suddenly showed up.
"Good morning Kahoko." Azuma greeted while he was fixing his polo.
"Good morning. What happened? Aoi-kun, are you okay?" Kahoko asked.
"Azuma, he kidnapped Tsukimori!" Aoi stated.
Len is kidnapped? Kahoko's face became worried. "Is that true, Azuma-nii?"
"No of course I didn't." Azuma lied again.
"Are you sure?" Kahoko reassured. I don't trust his words. I know he hid Len somewhere.
"Why, don't you trust me?" Azuma said.
Darn it! I didn't see that coming! What will I say? "Of course I trust you." Kahoko lied as well.
Is she making an excuse or she really believes him? Aoi thought.
"Kahoko, will you please come with me?" Azuma asked.
Kahoko shuddered. She doesn't want to accept Azuma's invitation, but she's also thinking that Azuma might feel suspicious about her. "O-okay."
Kahoko faked a smile. Azuma accompanied Kahoko in the car, but she distanced him. Aoi in the other hand was still angry at Azuma, but he also thought it's a right time to rescue Len. Aoi called Ryoutarou and Kiriya to meet with him. They met in a place near the base of the kidnappers.
"Can I ask you something?" the red – haired boy asked.
"What?" Aoi asked back.
"WHY THE HELL ARE WE HERE?" the red – haired boy exclaimed.
"Shhh!" Aoi hushed.
"So I came here with no reason?" The red head whispered.
"There is…" Aoi said.
"Then what is the reason you want us here, Kaji?" a green – haired boy asked.
"Ice prince, is kidnapped." Aoi stated.
"Ice prince?" the red head was clueless.
"Tsukimori? How?" the green – haired boy asked.
"I don't know. I think this is revenge." Aoi said.
"Revenge?" the two asked in unison.
"Azuma's revenge for losing to Tsukimori." Aoi stated.
"He did that just for that girl? Geez… does he even have a good taste on girls?" the red head said. The two glared at him. "Whoa, whoa! Relax! Don't worry I'm going to help! Sheesh!"
"When I count one to three, we will enter the base." Aoi said. "One… two…"
"Hey, w-wait." The red head interrupted.
"Three. Go!" Aoi signaled.
"Shoot!" the three ran inside the abandoned house. They fought the guards and the kidnappers. They punched and they kicked them. Even though there is only the three of them, they won against 26 men.
Aoi saw something that sparkled, it was a medallion. It has a Yunoki clan seal. He knew it was Azuma's medallion. "Tell me where's Tsukimori!" Aoi asked angrily.
"H-He's at the b-basement." The man stuttered. The three left the kidnappers lying unconsciously on the floor. They went to the basement they saw Len inside a huge cage. He was locked up. He was handcuffed and his mouth was sealed.
"Where's the key?" Aoi looked.
"Over here." The red head teased. He was swinging the key back and forth on his index finger.
"Give me that." Aoi grabbed the key from Kiriya.
"Oww… that hurts." Kiriya exclaimed.
Aoi unlocked the cage and untied the ropes that tied Len's feet and hands. He also took off the tape that sealed Len's mouth. Len barely breathed.
"Are you okay?" Aoi asked.
"What are you three doing here?" Len asked coldly.
"Is that the right words to say when you're rescued?" Ryoutarou teased.
"Why did you rescue me? How did you know this place?" Len asked. "Are you an ally of Yunoki-senpai?"
"Yunoki-senpai, did all this?" Ryoutarou said with disbelief.
"As I expected, he's the mastermind." Aoi pointed out.
"You mean you know about this?" Kiriya asked.
"Actually no, but I had a feeling that he'll do something to Tsukimori." Aoi said. "Wait, are you making me repeat the words i said a while ago?"
"Where's Kahoko? Is she alright?" Len asked worriedly.
"She's fine but…" Aoi paused.
"But?" Len said.
"She's with Azuma." Aoi felt ashamed.
"What!" Len panicked. Len ran outside, the three followed and they entered Aoi's car. "I'll drive, give me the keys." Len drove really fast. The other three was shocked; they didn't know Len can drive.
"Hey, do you even have a driver's license?" Ryoutarou asked.
"Yeah, I left it at home." Len replied.
"WHAT?" Ryoutarou exclaimed.
"It's not the time for arguments. We better go and find Kahoko." Aoi interrupted.
When they saw Kahoko and Azuma near the lake Len got out of the car. Kahoko saw him; she rushed immediately and hugged him.
"Len are you okay? Did something happen to you? Are you hurt? Hamai-sama and I were so worried about you. Where have you been?" Kahoko asked quickly. Azuma was shocked, but he hid his real emotions and smiled.
"I'm fine Kahoko, you don't need to worry." Len replied.
"Tsukimori-kun, good thing you're okay. Kahoko was worried sick about you." Azuma faked a smile; he was hiding his anger at Aoi. I can't believe Aoi will save Tsukimori-kun. I should've known this. And he also rounded up some recruits.
"Don't make any excuse Azuma! You're the one who locked him up." Aoi said.
"What in the world are you saying, Aoi-kun?" Azuma lied.
"Don't lie Yunoki-senpai, you kidnapped Tsukimori." Ryoutarou approved.
"What do you mean don't lie?" Azuma lied again. "Tell me Kahoko, am I lying?"
"Huh?" Kahoko was speechless. What will I say? I really don't know anything. But there are witnesses. Kahoko gulped, she can't say anything. It's like her voice was gone.
"Yes…" Kahoko answered courageously. They all looked at her. Her face showed bravery and trust to her friends. Azuma's face turned murderous.
"You're kidding me, Kahoko." Azuma laughed.
"No, I'm not joking." She replied.
She faked a smile all along. She's a very good actress. Azuma thought. "Do you have any evidence?"
"Yes, we have." Aoi dared. He pulled out a something from his pocket. It was a medallion.
Azuma knows that was his. He left it to the abandoned house, he entrusted it to his men. How did he get it? I knew my men hid it somewhere.
"Maybe you're guessing how I found it, well… it was really that hidden." Aoi said.
"That's not even my medallion, Aoi-kun." Azuma lied. "I do not own such a thing."
"Oh really, then why does it have a Yunoki clan seal at the back of it?" Aoi asked.
Azuma gulped. But fortunately he thought of an excuse. "I was trying to protect Kahoko from Tsukimori-kun. He just might hurt her because music is more important to him than love. He's a cold – hearted person, he will never take care of Kahoko."
"What do you mean by cold – hearted?" Kahoko said, her eyes were filled sadness. All of them looked at Kahoko, especially Len. "Do you even know him!"
Azuma became quiet, he can't reply to Kahoko's demand.
"Don't you understand?" Kahoko started to cry. "I… I love him!"
"Stop crying now dear." A gentle and motherly voice spoke. They all looked back and there they saw a blue – haired woman, it was Len's mother. She approached Kahoko and gave her a motherly hug. She looked at Azuma with a scolding face. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself? You hurted your own cousin. And you even judged a person without knowing him well."
"Tell me Azuma, are you still jealous?" Aoi asked. "Aren't ashamed of yourself?"
Azuma felt guilty. He made Kahoko cry. "I'm sorry Kahoko." Azuma apologized. "I can't just accept the fact that I'm not the person you love. You can call the police and put me to jail, if you want."
"There's no need for that." Len said.
Azuma looked at Len. "Why?"
"The important thing is you know your mistake." Len replied.
"Tsukimori, what are you thinking? It's just like your letting him to do something wrong again." Aoi objected.
"That doesn't matter anymore." Len said.
"I think he's right, Aoi. Besides, the old lady might do something really bad to him if she knew about this." Kiriya finally spoke.
Aoi remembered their grandmother. She will definitely punish Azuma when she knew about the incident. "Yeah, I think you're right."
"Tsuchiura-kun, Kaji-Kun and Etou-kun, I want to thank you for saving my son." Hamai Misa thanked.
"No need to thank us, Hamai-sama." Ryoutarou said.
"The pleasure is ours." Aoi and Kiriya bowed. Ryoutarou bowed with them to give respect.
"As the sign of my gratitude we will take care of Hino-san, I mean Kahoko for two days." Misa smiled. "Is it alright?"
"Uhhh… well… what do you think Kahoko?" Aoi turned asked Kahoko.
"Me? Uhhh… well…" she paused. Just accept the offer! Your mother won't mind! Besides it's the house of your boyfriend for Pete's sake! "Okay."
"Very well then, I already told your mother about this and she agreed. The last one who suppose to agree is…" she looked at Len. Len was not looking at her.
Kiriya poked Len's arm. Len looked at response. "What?" he coldly said.
"Your mother is asking you something." Kiriya said.
Len looked at his mother with curiosity etched on his face. His mother understood Len's facial expression.
"Kahoko is going to live with us for 2 days; do you agree with that my son?" Len just nodded in agreement.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN LA CORDA D'ORO.
Sky-alchemist056: Sorry if I haven't said this earlier. I'm sorry for Yunoki-senpai's fans about the bad guy thingy about him, but don't worry this is only at first. Oh yeah Chiyoh Mi helped me with this, she edited some of the parts of this chapter. By the way please review, thanks for reading.