The Melancholy Schmaltz

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CHAPTER ONE: CHARADES

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Hino laid on her stomach thinking about what had happened between her and Yunoki. She was confused and chapfallen.

"Was that kiss a part of his charades?" She closed her eyes. "Does that mean something?" She muddled.

The night came and Kahoko ate together with her mother. They were the only ones since Kahoko's sister; brother and father were still out of the house.

Kahoko deeply sighed so her turned to her.

"What's with you, Kahoko?" Her mother asked.

Kahoko tilted her head then closed her eyes. Her mind had been wandering all this time. "Mom, what does a kiss mean?"

"A kiss?" Her mother wondered. "Well, it depends."

"It depends on what?" She curiously asked.

Her mother paused for a second. "A kiss actually means something if it is from the heart and if there is no trace of fakeness in it."

'But what if you don't know?' Kahoko questioned in her thought. She then sighed before sipping her water.

Her mother eyed her. "Kahoko, have you been kissed?" Kahoko's eyes bulged and she was choked in surprised. "Take it easy." She patted her.

"N—no." She denied.

"I was just wondering because you were quite curious." Her mother smiled.

Kahoko blushed. "I am not. My… my friend asked that question to me but I can't answer her so I asked you."

"Really?" Her mother doubted. "But Kahoko, a kiss isn't for fun or something else." She tilted her head and Kahoko turned to her. "The meaning of it is only determined by the giver and it often confuses the receiver." Kahoko tried to absorb that statement. "Love can wait my dear but the dishes cannot, so please wash them." She stood up, leaving her daughter behind.

'But can somebody tell me what that thing means?' She thought. 'Is it love or something else?' She pondered. "I don't get him. I don't get him at all." She stood up then did her chore.

•••

Hino entered the gate with purplish circles below her eyes. She looked so stress. She lazily carried her bag then walked slow. It was as if she was not in school.

"Marching, Hino-chan?" Hihara questioned.

"Hihara-senpai!" She looked to him with a startled face.

"What's wrong Hino-chan? Is something troubling you? Are you sick? Stressed? Or you forgot an assignment?" He nosily asked.

Hino smiled. "No, it's just that I am thinking about something."

"And what is that something Hino?" A very familiar voiced ringed on Hino's ears.

"Yunoki, good morning." Hihara greeted. Yunoki waved to him with his ever sweet smile. Hino stared at him. He was in his good-side again.

"Hino, are you all right?" He asked in a very kind tone. "You look stressed."

"Ah… nothing. If you would excuse me. I have to go." She left in a hurry.

"See you around Hino-chan." Hihara bid. Yunoki eyed her.

The day was mind squeezing and Hino couldn't concentrate during class discussions. She does not know what to say to him and she knew that he will really demand for an answer at any way.

Deceiving, lulling and two-sided were the things that she thought about him. It left her uncertain. She can't get him because of his mask. He is not the Yunoki that everyone knew. He might be kind, gentle, winsome and perfect for others, but for her, he is just the opposite. It is only with her that he is totally different.

She wandered around, trying to find a peaceful place for her to be able to think. She wanted to avoid him so badly so she tried to look for a secluded yet peaceful place. Everywhere she went, she was not find to find that ideal place so she decided to go to some empty music room at the music student's building, thinking that he won't be there because of what she heard. The senior student's, according to them, were taking a special test.

She entered the room and stared at the grand piano. It was beautiful. She then noticed that there was a beautiful couch placed on the edge of the room. The room was a special one and she was sure of that. She neared the couch and sat on it. Room was indeed quiet and nice. It was a great discovery for her since that room was far from the other regular music rooms.

Her eyelids started dropping. She tried to fight the call of sleeping but it was useless since she was sleepless and is very tired. Slowly, she laid herself on the sofa and unknowingly fell asleep.

A beautiful piano piece entered her dreams. It was beautiful and warm to feel. She could see nothing from her dream but all she saw was a bright-lighted place but she was looking for the creator of the music.

She slowly opened her eyes as the melody took its pause. She lifted herself then rubbed her eyes.

"How was your sleep? Did you have a good dream?" Yunoki asked as he continued the keys.

"Yunoki-senpai." She stood up. She then stared at him. He was playing the piano. "You were the one who played the piano?" She asked upon seeing the man she was searching for in her dream.

"Was I able to sweeten up your sleep?" He questioned.

"…" Hino sat down and stared at her palms that had settled on her lap. She knew that he has to answer him something. "Ah—senpai," She sounded unsure. Yunoki continued playing. "I—I"

Yunoki stopped. His face became serious. "What's your answer?"

Hino clenched her hand into a fist. "I can't answer." Yunoki stood up. He startled her. "I still don't understand anything."

"Are you playing naïve?" He looked at her in a displeased way. "Or just dumb?" He walked near.

"I am not DUMB!" She stood up, meeting his face up close. Yunoki stared at her. She returned his gaze with an angry face.

"Then why can't you understand a simple thing?" He asked with a stern look.

"Because I am confused." She replied. "You kissed me without any reason. That kiss does not even prove anything! And now, you are telling me to give you answer? For heaven's sake, the thing that I told you was, I DON'T GET YOU. I also asked you, WHY YOU ARE MEAN TO ME, but instead of answering, you KISSED me."

Yunoki was frustrated by how innocent she was. "You are really dumb. Do you really want me to make you understand?"

"Yes, because I've had enough with your charades. They made me sleepless." She responded.

"Sleepless? Was my kiss that kind of liking that you thought about it throughout the night?" Yunoki grinned.

"Ah—" Hino was speechless.

"But despite of that, you weren't able to understand anything." Yunoki became serious again.

"What should I understand?" She angrily said.

Yunoki stared at her. "Well then," He paused. "Prepare yourself. I am going to make you understand. At any cost, I shall make you realize." The two stared at each other. "Let's go. Well go out."

"What? Where? When?" She questioned.

"Now." He grabbed her hand.

"W—wait!" She halted him. "I can walk alone." Yunoki turned to her. "You don't have to hold my hand."

"I have to hold you because you are a slow poke." He coldly said. "And in addition," He paused. "You will bore me."

"What?!" She wondered.

"Faster. If you don't want me to drag you down. The gate is about to close. You are really troublesome." He walked fast. Hino stood still.

"I will bore him? How would that bore him? What will bore him?" She mumbled.

Yunoki went back. "Slow poke. What on earth are you doing? LET'S GO." He annoyingly said. Hino blinked. "What are you doing? It's already seven-thirty. Blinking your eyes wouldn't get us anywhere." He said in a sarcastic tone.

"How long was I able to sleep?" She asked.

"Five hours." He answered. Hino tilted her head. "Are we going to stare at each other worthlessly? Let's go."

They left.

The two had a very luxurious dinner together.

"What are we doing here?" She asked.

"Eating, isn't it obvious?" He said.

"That's not what I meant." She interrogated.

Yunoki stared at her then grinned. "Why don't you just eat?"

With this answer, Hino got more confused.

After that dinner, Yunoki sent her home.

"Thank you for that dinner." She said.

Yunoki grinned. He then stared at the window. "Is that your mother?" He questioned.

Hino turned to the window. "Yes!" She exclaimed. "Goodness, I'm dead!" She pulled the handle of the door then gestured to push it but Yunoki held her arm and leaned to her. But because she was in panic and she was not able to notice him and as she turned to him, their lips touched. It was just a quick smack but it dazzled them both. Yunoki leaned back, knowing that she was very startled.

"Your mother is waiting." He turned to the window.

"Mm." She nodded. "Good night and thank you once again." She watched him for a short while then slowly went down. When she was out, she pressed her lips.

As she entered the house, Yunoki watched her. He closed his eyes with a smile on his lips. "Let's go." He told his driver.

The driver looked at him through the mirror. "Yes, Sir." He said as he drove.

"Kahoko, where have you been?" Her mother asked.

"I went out for a while with a friend." She smiled.

"Have you eaten?"

"Yes." Kahoko nodded. "I have to retreat. Good night and sweet dreams mom." She smiled.

Her mother watched her. She then noticed something. "Okay. Same to you."

With that, Kahoko went up to her room. She opened her room, quickly closed it then let herself fall to her bed. She was still dazed. "What was that feeling? Why was my heart beating so loud that I can't hardly breathe when I realized that our lips had touched?" She closed her eyes tight.

"Azuma-san, where have you been to arrive this late?" His grandmother questioned.

"Good evening, oba-sama." He bowed. "I went out with a friend." He said.

His grandmother eyed him.

"If you would allow me, I wish to go inside my room." He politely said.

His grandmother nodded.

"Good night." He once again bowed then left.

He entered his room and changed his clothes. After that, he went to the garden and watched the moon. Suddenly, he held his flute up and played a wonderful flute piece. Its melody invaded the serenity of the night. As the wind blew, his music was carried by the wind.

Hino slowly placed her right hand on her lips. The wind suddenly entered her window. She opened her eyes then glanced at the moon.

Yunoki continued playing, trying to dedicate the piece to that beautiful and warm night.

Author's note: I would like to thank the people who reviewed my very first fic. Your comments or shall I say messages had inspired me. But because of that, I started becoming conscious, because you might not like the story anymore. But despite of that, I was challenged to let my imagination wander. Thank you very very very much. I may not be able to thank you that well but thanks a lot. I would like to thank my friend, Verballydeclined for the encouragement.

I hope you liked the chapter one. I really tried my best to make this good but I think my effort isn't enough yet. *sighed* Please look forward to the next update. This first chapter is only an intro so please bear with me. I'll try to make the other updates better and I would love to hear you comments and questions about this. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you and take care always.