Chapter 6: Yami no Sonata, part 1

I cry myself to sleep, mostly, nowadays.

I knew it, I knew I shouldn't have let my feelings get carried away, after all, I'm a good six years older than that boy, and looks decades older, but...but...!

Ever since I saw him with Neon-sama, he's been avoiding me. Even if he happens to come into the same room as me, he halts suddenly and flees. Actually flees. As if he's embarassed just to be around me.

I should be happy for him. I ought to be glad that he's found someone he likes someone that he can touch with joy, someone he...he...

I choke. No, no, those thoughts must go away. Away, Senritsu!

I clear my mind with some effort. But suddenly the anguish hits again and a new wave of tears starts. Not only have I lost him...which I never had...I've also lost my best friend, in a sense. Bashou talks to me sometimes, but it's not the same. Of course I can't talk to Neon-sama.

My phone rings and I, letting it ring a couple of times to compose myself, pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Senritsu? It's me, Darren. I've found a new lead for that Sonata you've been looking for."

My thoughts change completely. The goal that I've been working towards for the last seven years. Yes, that is what my original intentions were. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure. As a matter of fact...you might say that this could be the chance that might never come again."

He gives me the particulars, and then adds, "But be careful, Senritsu. This...this is far more dangerous than anything you've ever tried before."

"I'll keep that in mind," I say, but heavily, I know that as long as I accomplish my goal, the destroying of the Yami no Sonata, it won't matter if I live or die.

What's to live on for past that?

I sigh and start packing.

In the evening, I quietly leave the mansion, having mentioned to Bashou beforehand my intentions. The train ride...the airship ride...another train...and...

A horse ride?

My journey has taken me to a remote place in Mongolia. The only way to get where I want is by a horse.

Not so sure about it. I take the night at a hotel to think it over.

In the middle of a night, a soft knock on the door.

I stopped caring about molesters years ago. Who would want anything with me? So I open the door confidently, and then stand there in shock.

My mouth drops open as I see the blond standing there in front of me. Something inside of me instinctively closes the door.

Not fast enough. He puts a foot between the door and the frame, and then, his strength overcoming mine, pushes his way into the room.

I gasp and back away. "Senritsu...Senritsu, what's the matter with you?" he asks, coming closer to me very quickly. Before I can escape, he grabs my chin and forces me to look up at him. I can only take a minute of it before looking away. His eyes have turned red. I can only assume he's angry at me.

But he releases me after a minute and then sits on the bed with a sigh. "Senritsu, please. Why did you suddenly leave like that?"

"The...the Sonata..." I sit down next to him.

"I know!" He looks back up, eyes red again, blazing. Then he calms himself. "I know," he repeats. "But why...why are you doing something so dangerous by yourself? Why in the world didn't you ask me to come with you?"

Finally, I find the courage to ask. But it's not how I wanted. Normally...I don't get angry! Normally, I am nothing but serene. But he...he...he's breaking through that.

I slap him with all my force. "Idiot!" I shout at the top of my voice. "Did you honestly think I wanted to put you in danger? Especially when you have your little girlfriend waiting for you back home? If I'm the one being secretive, what about you? Huh? How come you never told me?"

He has gotten over the startled look he first put on when he found himself, not only being slapped by the peaceful Senritsu, but now yelled at by the peaceful Senritsu. Before I know what's happening, he grabs both of my wrists.

"That...that was nothing!" he shouts back, face inches from mine. "Don't you understand? Do you think I would do THAT with a girl like that?"

I wince, partially because of the misunderstanding but mostly because even for a normal person, let alone for a sensitive Music-Hunter, his voice is way, way too loud.

I pull away and cover my ears. He calms down. "I'm sorry, I should have known I'd hurt your ears," he says, releasing his hold. He looks away from me. "I'm sorry, Senritsu."

Something clicks. God, you're slow, Senritsu. "So...you and Neon-sama...?"

He shakes his head.

I heave a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness! I was afraid the sky had fallen and all logic had come to an end."

Now he cracks a smile, gets up, walks towards the door. "I'm going to check into a room across from you," he says. "Rest up, we'll need it tomorrow."

"We?"

He flashes me a rare "aren't you dumb" look. "Of course, we. Did you think I came all this way to yell at you?"

"Can't be too sure," I say. He merely smiles and closes the door behind him.