The Melancholy Schmaltz

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CHAPTER TWELVE: MEASURE FOR MEASURE

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"Manager," Kahoko pulled her traveling bag and neared Kanazawa. "England is really nice, isn't it?" She questioned with eyes glistening.

"Indeed." Kanazawa nodded. "We can do sight seeing first after checking in a hotel."

"Really?" Kahoko said in an excited tone.

"Yeah." He nodded.

After checking-in a five star hotel, Kahoko and Kanazawa wandered around. They went to the famous landmarks of London. Some of the more well known London landmarks that they went to were the Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, The Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Nelsons Column, and Horse Guards Parade.

•

"Is my piece nice?" Kahoko asked her manager.

"It's nice." Kanazawa nodded. "Song to the Moon, isn't it? By Antonín Dvořák?"

"Yeah." She confirmed. "When will the party be again?"

"Three days from now." He replied.

"Oh," She sat back down. "Where will it be held?"

"At Royal Pavilion." He closed his eyes.

"Is that place nice?" She wondered.

"Yeah. It truly is." He said. "You're lucky to play there. It's another exposure for you too."

'Exposure…Every recital I have, it's always an exposure, isn't it?' Kahoko thought.

"Why don't you go to your room and sleep? You'll have to be up early tomorrow for your dress measurement and stuffs." Kanazawa lifted his hand up and shooed her.

"Yes! Finally! I can sleep…" Kahoko placed her violin inside its box and neared the door. "Night-night Manager." She exited.

•

Yunoki was staring at his laptop. He was busy working though it was already two in the morning. He took a break and looked at his window. The moon was high up. He propped his elbow and leaned his head on his hand.

'She had arrived.' He thought. A faint smile was vivid on his lips. The thought was nice of course, and the fact that she's going to be there on his day. She will obviously make his dull day memorable.

Memorable? Pathetic as what he thought but, only she could make a difference to his life. She probably hate him but he wanted won't give up. Not now, when he finally came back.

•

The day finally came. Kahoko had been practicing all day while her manager went out to shop! He was supposed to be with her but he was busying himself with all the stores there in London. She wanted to come but he wouldn't allow her. He actually said she was supposed to keep practicing for that night's performance.

Kahoko kept on practicing. Even if she was frustrated about not coming with her manager to shop, she was supposed to be responsible since she was the one playing, not him, her own manager.

At around five in the afternoon, Kanazawa brought her a huge box.

"What's that? A gift that you bought me?" Kahoko questioned as she dried her hair with a blow drier.

"No, it's your dress. I took it out so you can change." He placed it down the couch. "You better move quick. I will already call the hair stylist so you can beautify that hopeless hair of yours and your make-up artist so you won't terrify the people on that party."

"Hey! I am not that scary! My hair…isn't hopeless too!" Kahoko complained.

"I'm going to change too, Ja~ne!" Kanazawa simpered and closed the door quick.

"That manager." Kahoko mumbled.

•

"You can open your eyes now." The blonde told her as she pulled the blush-on away from her.

Kahoko opened her eyes and blinked. She looked at the make-up artist and turned to the mirror before her. Upon seeing her face, she couldn't believe it was her. She blinked a couple of times just to make sure she was not dreaming.

Kanazawa watched her lazily. He found her amusing.

"You look like a human now." He told her.

"I am a human." She replied but with an inspired tone.

"Your hair evolved too." He added.

"It did. It became more beautiful." Kahoko turned her face side by side. "Wow."

"Wow it later. You better change its six thirty now." He reminded her.

Kahoko stood up and neared the box lying on the couch. She opened it and was amazed to see a beautiful red sweetheart styled bodice gown. It was having glittery things in it. She pulled it out and stared at it.

Kanazawa shook his head in a lazy amazement. "Staring at your gown won't get you anywhere. Wear it now."

Kahoko smiled then ran inside the bathroom. She wore it and stared at herself. It was perfectly beautiful. She got lost in amazement so Kanazawa knocked.

"Fifteen minutes is long enough!" He said.

"I-I'm coming out!" Kahoko opened the door and went outside.

Kanazawa tilted his head and scrutinized her. He walked around her. He rubbed a hand on his chin and raised a brow.

"You can hide behind some red curtains without being noticed." He went away from her.

"What the—" Kahoko wanted to complain when a compliment came.

"You look beautiful Miss Kahoko." Her make-up artist said with pure fluency in British accent.

"Absolutely." Her hairstylist seconded.

"Oh…thanks." Kahoko blushed. "Thank you for your help too." She said in English.

"No problem." They smiled.

"Are we going now?" Kahoko turned to her manager.

Kanazawa turned around and shook his head. "We can't go if you won't wear your sandals."

Kahoko raised a brow. She looked down and stared at her feet. "Oh!" She ran to her bed and picked her shoe box. She opened it and pulled her silver high heels out. She sat on the bed and wore it. "I'm ready." She said as she went back to them.

"Okay." Kanazawa went out. Kahoko followed.

•

The two entered the Royal Pavilion. Kahoko couldn't help but to watched the building with full amazement. Kanazawa just sighed as she looked high up and down.

"Compose yourself." Kanazawa closed his eyes.

"It's wonderful." She said.

"Yeah but please compose yourself." He said. Kahoko frowned and avoided looking like awe.

"Are you Mister Hiroto Kanazawa?" A man neared him.

"Yes, I am." Kanazawa said in English. "And my company here is Miss Kahoko Hino."

"Oh," The man smiled and shook their hands. "Kindly follow me."

The man led them to the party area. The hall was indeed filled with various people. The place was beautiful too.

"You will be playing later, Miss Kahoko." The man said. "Anyway, I am tonight's emcee."

"I see." Kahoko smiled.

"Miss Kahoko, you will be playing during the dinner." He instructed. "I will just call for you. The sequence will be this. You will be playing the Ave Maria first right?"

"Hm," Kahoko nodded. "For the blessing of everything right?"

"Yeah, and your Ave Maria will be there for the blessing. Hm, let's see. Your second piece is Beau Soir?" He said.

"Yes." Kahoko confirmed.

"For the Song to the Moon piece of yours, you will need the orchestra since Mister Kanazawa instructed it, but, you'll still be the main violin player. You will also be doing the Apres Un Reve still with the orchestra…so that it."

"That's right." Kahoko nodded.

"Hey, since your turn will be later, you might as well want to eat and stroll around?" The man questioned.

"That's a brilliant idea." Kanazawa said.

They ate and wandered around. The royal pavilion was indeed wonderful.

Kahoko was then asked to go to the stage and played. Everyone was indeed mesmerized. She enjoyed herself too. She had just awed people once more.

"What a place." Kahoko walked around the garden after she played. Her manager was out of sight. (Maybe he was enjoying his 'journey'.) "Beautiful…" She complimented the huge fountain.

"Beautiful you say?" A voice took her out of her reverie. "I bet that compliment suits you."

Kahoko turned around. "Yunoki? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" He sarcastically questioned.

"Why are you here?" Kahoko clenched her hand into a fist.

"You really are slow, aren't you Kahoko?" He smirked. "For your information, this party is mine."

"What?" She reacted. "It's your birthday?"

"You forgot didn't you?" He questioned.

Kahoko looked away. 'I forgot about this day.'

"Was our past not important?" He neared her.

"I have no time to talk to you." She turned around but he grabbed her arm. He pulled her away. "Let me go!"

"We need to talk privately." He said as he dragged her to a secluded place.

"What are you doing?" Kahoko grabbed her arm.

"We should talk about us."

"There's no more us." She moved away. "You indeed left me." She added. "Perhaps you thought that I'm no good."

Yunoki's eyes narrowed. "Kahoko,"

"I thought about it…" She looked at him straight. "If you want to clarify things up and explain, I think I don't need it anymore. I have decided to leave everything up." Yunoki just listened. "It's been six years and I have someone else. I don't want to be unfair to myself and to Len as well. I love him so please… let's not see each other anymore."

Yunoki pressed his lips.

"I have done my thing and I would like to take my leave." Kahoko turned back. "But before that, Happy Birthday." She left.

She walked away from the garden and bumped into Kanazawa. She was teary-eyed.

"Kahoko…" He said.

"Let's go," She tried to compose herself.

He watched her intently. "Let's go."

They left and headed back to the Hotel.

Kahoko prostrated herself and bit her lower lips. She was disappointed. She can't explain why but somewhere inside her, she was very much disappointed. Didn't she just did the right thing?

Suddenly, a knocked startled her.

"Kahoko…" It was Kanazawa. "Open up." He knocked again. "Kahoko!"

There was no reply.

"Kaho—" He was stopped since the door flew open.

"Kanazawa-san!" She hugged him.

"Kahoko…" He patted her.

•

"It's been six years and I have someone else. I don't want to be unfair to myself and to Len as well. I love him so please… let's not see each other anymore."

The statement kept on repeating on Yunoki's head.

"It's over now…isn't it?" He asked himself. 'So it's confirmed then? Len and Kahoko are together?'

He had heard about Len and Kahoko but did not believe it since the violinist virtuoso was too cold. But miracles indeed happen. He also noticed that Len somehow has eyes for Kahoko. Len tends to be concern to her even before too.

'But I won't give up too soon. Not when I sacrificed for a lot her' He thought. "It will surely be a measure for measure."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Phew... alas! I have updated! But I have not re-read this yet. I am so tried. I have not checked the grammar and stuffs. Probably next time I will redo the error if there is. Make me aware too.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW.

Criticism is always welcome. It makes a writer grow...

Thanks for the Support!

SA-san: Thanks! Your ideas got me thinking and I was happy. You choose Len then? In reality, probably I will settle for him but, what will you do if you will know that Yunoki sacrificed for you? And mind you... Yunoki is persistent. Anyway! Thanks for your undying support! I am so happy. You always let me know what you think. And about our secret... thanks for keeping it.

Jiyuu-san: You are wonderful. Thanks for letting me know about your thoughts. It helped me a lot. I tried reflecting about it. Thanks for the review. it kept me going!