The Melancholy Schmaltz

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN: PRINCE OF ICE

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"How nice…" Kahoko commented then turned to her company. "What made you bring me here?"

Len turned to her. He had just finished checking in. "I have a week off." He said, obviously cautious of his words.

"So you wanted to relax?" Kahoko smiled.

"Perhaps." He took his suit case's handle.

"And spend time with me?" She innocently said.

Len winced. Kahoko chuckled and held her suit case handle.

"Just kidding." She patted him playfully.

"You talk too much." He began walking.

Kahoko can't help but be amaze at him. "Hope you meant it." She enjoyed teasing him.

"Faster. The elevator opened." He told her as he held the elevator door for her.

The two went to their rooms and prepared. After a short while, Len went to her room. Kahoko was wearing a simple jeans and jacket while he wore a crease black pants and a coat. He sat down on the couch.

"Venice is nice." She noted.

"Yeah." He responded.

'He's giving me a one statement one response again!' She thought as she sat beside him. "I heard you've been very stress lately?"

Len leaned back and turned to her with his ever serious look. "I'm not."

Kahoko embraced his arm. "You kept telling me to take care of myself but you're not following your own supervision."

"I'll live." He replied.

"Oh come on, Len." She lazily leaned back without letting his arm go. "Violin is your life but please don't be oblivious about yourself."

"I am not reckless, Kahoko." He said.

"I don't want to lose you, you know." She laid her head on his shoulder.

Len turned to her. He was somewhat amused on that statement. The thought of her invitation in England then went inside his mind, reminding him. "How was England?"

Kahoko was caught off guard. "Fine." She managed to reply.

"I see." He ran his hand to her hair.

"Next week? Where will you be?" She changed topic.

"We're on vacation Kahoko, don't talk about work." He closed his eyes for a second.

"Come to think of it… you're right." Kahoko looked at him and smiled.

"So what do you want to do now?" He wondered.

"It's seven in the evening so… we could preferably eat then stroll around." She said. "What do you think?"

"Let's go." He stood up, took her hand and pulled her up.

They ate at a restaurant and went to wander around the place. Kahoko held his arm but he let her be. He was already use to it.

"Why Venice in all of the places, Len?" She asked, wondering on why he brought her to Venice.

"You said once that you wanted to come here." He answered her.

'I did…but that was long time ago.' Kahoko thought. "So I was right then?"

Len looked at her, curious on what she meant.

"What I meant was… you wanted to come here and spend time with me." She smiled, playfully.

Len did not react. Kahoko was just teasing but she meant the half of it.

"Anyway… I want to ride that gondola." She closed that discussion by switching topic. "Mind if we go and try it?"

"I won't mind." He responded.

He led her to the place where they could ride the gondola. It was beautiful, all so romantic. The moon was shining above, with the two of them in such a wonderful state. Lovers were around too, riding the gondola creating a full romantic mode to the atmosphere.

Kahoko was observing the place. It was beyond beautiful. She turned to Len and was surprise to see him looking at her. She then smiled.

"Have something in mind?" She asked.

Len turned to the bridge they passed under. "No."

Kahoko sensed it. He has something in mind but he won't be telling her that. "I want to hear you play your violin."

He returned his gaze back to her. "I left it in the hotel."

"You don't have to play it now." She placed a hand on his knee. "But upon seeing this place, I felt the want to hear you play your violin."

Len held her hand. "Later." He assured her.

"That's great to hear." She sweetly smiled.

The two of them were actually seated right across each other. After a few minutes, they went down the gondola and walked back to the hotel.

"What piece do you want to hear?" He questioned while holding his violin up to his shoulders.

Kahoko leaned on the fully glass window. "I want to hear your Ave Maria."

Len settled his chin then began playing. Kahoko watched him as he elegantly moved his fingers across each strings. He was indeed a remarkable virtuoso. He was well poised and he well refined.

Gently, he ended the piece delicately.

"Any more request?" He asked.

Kahoko shook her head. "I would love to hear more from you but…you must be tired."

"Not quite." He responded.

"I see." She stood straight and neared him. "You are the best violinist." She smiled. Len watched her.

"You're tired." He placed his violin down. "I must go so you can sleep."

"Len…" She said in a low but audible tone. He just looked at her. "Can you stay?" Hesitation was obvious in her tone. 'I feel pathetic. Asking him to stay is too absurd…but I want him to be with me somehow. It's not like we will do something. I just want him here with me, as simple as that.'

"If you won't feel any inconvenience." He uttered as he walked near his violin case and placed his violin inside.

"No." She shook her head, blushing.

"Let me use the bathroom first. Would that be fine?" He questioned.

"Yes." She answered. "Are you going to take a bath?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Want me to take your clothes here?" She curiously asked.

"It's all right. I will just get my luggages there and put it here." He went to the door and got out.

Kahoko was awed. He had just accepted her invitation of him staying there.

A minute later, Len came inside bringing his suite case. He placed it near her own then opened it. He picked his clothes and walked to the bathroom. Kahoko went out of it and met him on the door.

"Ah, I had just prepared the tub for you." She informed him.

"Thank you." He patted her and went in.

Kahoko went to her bed and took her cell phone which was on the nightstand. She picked it up and saw that there were four missed calls. She scanned them one by one. The missed calls were from Kanazawa, Kaji, her Mom and one from an unknown private number,

'Who could that be?' She thought then ignored it. Slowly, she took the remote control for the room's plasma TV and turned it on. She scanned through it when Len came out of the bathroom wearing a dark blue pajama without any shirt at all. He was drying his hair too.

Kahoko stood up and went to him bringing her pajama pair with her. "I am going to take a shower too okay?"

"Okay." He nodded.

Kahoko went inside the bathroom and locked it. One by one, she took off her clothes and went inside the shower.

'I hope he won't get me wrong. I just want him to be with me. I can't help it though, I miss him,' She closed her eyes as the water flowed to her body. 'And also…I have this guilt inside me. I actually asked him to make me forget my past with Azuma, to think that we've been together for a long time now' She braced herself. 'Why was my past so hard to forget anyway? I am happy with Len and I won't deny that. He might be stiff and hard to understand but Len has a lot of ways of making me feel love. If he didn't our relationship wouldn't have worked. I love Len so I've chosen to leave the mystery of my past along with the person I used to care for.'

Len was scanning the channels while waiting for Kahoko. 'Why can't I take it off my head?' He wryly thought. 'The party at the Royal Pavilion was Yunoki's but Kahoko did not bring this up to me. I'm sure that they met once again and it bothers me. Was he by any chance going after her?'

Len knew that Kahoko went to England to play for a party at Royal Pavilion since Kahoko told him, but he got the information the party was for Yunoki Azuma through his parents who were also asked to attend but couldn't since they already are set to go to Paris for a recital invitation.

'I don't believe that their meetings were by chance.' He thought.

Suddenly, the bathroom door opened. Kahoko went out wearing a white pajama paired with a pink top with small white flower designs. She went to him and sat beside him.

"Are you not going to wear your shirt in sleeping?" She asked.

"No. I will wear it later." He leaned back and continued scanning the channels. 'She doesn't look bothered by it. Is she really over him?' Len stood up and went to wear his dark blue pajama top. He was buttoning his top while going back to Kahoko who was already lying on the bed. He went to her, stood on the side and observed her.

"Aren't you tired?" Kahoko sat up.

"Kahoko," He began. "Do you want me to sleep with you?"

Kahoko blushed then lowered her gaze. "I wish you to stay with me if…if it's okay."

Len was surprised to hear such response.

'I'm pathetic.' She thought, totally embarrassed.

The bed then moved. Len sat beside her. Kahoko slowly looked up and met his gaze.

"We better rest." He gently laid down.

Kahoko was lying down quietly. Len on the other hand was still watching the movie aired. Deliberately Kahoko moved closer and embraced his stomach. Len stared at her surprisingly.

'Being with Yunoki was like living in a world of fantasy while being with Len is full of reality.' She thought. 'I shouldn't compare them for they're two different people. But I can't help but notice their differences.'

"Kahoko," He said so Kahoko looked up to him. "Pathetic as I should say, but I feel like I've failed as your boyfriend."

Failed. He boldly said such word. Kahoko couldn't help but rise up. "Len…" She held his face. "Wha-What made you say that?" She questioned.

"For years that we've been together, I couldn't make you forget him." He looked away.

"No." She placed a finger on his lips. "It's me. I am at fault. I-I was being unfair to you." Kahoko was teary eyed. Len turned to her. "I've chosen to be locked up to my past, even though I'm with you… so please…please…don't say anything that you've failed." Her tears finally fell. "Sorry." She covered her mouth and cried. "I fell in love but was left dubiously. And now that I am with you…I couldn't bear hearing you say such thing to me. You make me happy and I love you."

Len pressed his lips and pulled her to an embrace. "Don't cry."

"Forgive me." She muttered.

He ran a hand to her hair. "Don't cry Kahoko." He whispered as he lifted her face. He wiped her tears and gazed deeply at her eyes. "Knowing that you love me is enough." He caressed her cheeks. "Please let me." He leaned down to her and gave her a kiss on her lips. 'I love you too.' He thought.

A few minutes later, the two were already lying down. Kahoko was snuggling close to him. They were quiet.

"Len," She looked up to him.

"Yes?" He responded.

She shook her head. "I thought you were asleep."

"Kahoko," He began.

"Hm?"

"Do you by chance thought that by staying this close, it's dangerous?" He questioned.

Kahoko was surprised. "Uhm…I-I never thought about it."

'I am a man Kahoko.' Len closed his eyes and gave a silent sigh.

"But I know one thing." She closed her eyes. "You will never do something forceful."

Len opened his eyes. The statement awed him.

Kahoko fell asleep. Len kept his gaze on her. She moved him somehow. He was right to have taken her into his life. Showing too much love wasn't his forte. He was not famous for silvery talking too but she fell for him. In what way? He couldn't tell.

Kahoko was not really a dazzling beauty but her attitude is one in a million. She was the only person who could move him. She was also the kindest person whom he had ever met.

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"Venice?" Yunoki mumbled.

He had just heard that Kahoko and Len are together in Venice, taking the week off. He pressed his lips and stared at the portrait before him.

"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."

He hated those words. He despised it so much. He picked her portrait up and brought it closer to him.

'I want you.' He thought as he stared at the smile on her lips. 'I never meant to leave you, so I will do my best to win you back.'

Suddenly, his office door opened.

"Onii-sama!" Miyabi popped put of the door.

Yunoki was surprised to see her there but he managed to smile back. "Miyabi, what brought you here to England?"

"I came for a vacation." She neared his table. Yunoki moved Kahoko's portrait and put it down.

Miyabi caught that. "Onii-sama…" She looked at the picture. Upon seeing it, she returned her gaze back to her brother. Slowly, she walked to him and embraced him. "Onii-sama no baka…" She mumbled. 'You left her and now you couldn't have her.'

"Miyabi." Yunoki said.

"Tell her you love her." She urged.

"She has someone else and she loves him." He replied.

"You are an idiot... First you left the music school, and second, left Kahoko just to comply to grandmother's wish." She said. "Now, grandmother is gone. How long will you stay in the aviary?"

Azuma was manipulated. His fate was already decided and he was ought to follow his fate no matter what the cause is.

"You love her so tell her. I don't want you to be tied to someone you don't even like." She told him.

Miyabi wished her brother to do something for himself. She loves him so much and it pained her to know that her brother was not doing anything to have something that he truly wants.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is for Len. Relationship is about trust and honesty, isn't it? Len admitted to her that he was feeling that way and Kahoko got the thought that he was feeling that way. The two were obviously trying to keep their relationship strong by being open to each other. Kahoko gave her piece too and Len understood her. Wouldn't it be nice if it's like that? I mean, no matter how cold you partner is, he has feelings too and as a girlfriend, you have the right to know what he's feelings and make a compromise. Being in a relationship isn't a joke. You go into a relationship because you found comfortable with your partner and because you love him/her. If it is only because you are comfortable having him/her in your bed without any love at all, then, that's a different story.

I made a new UPDATE! I tried my best to update really fast. I am tired but knowing that you guys wanted me to update real soon, I was urged to do it! I love what I am doing though since you wanted me to continue. Thanks for your UNDYING support. I love you all.

Please let me know what you have in mind. You know guys, your reviews really helps. If you have insights, I would love to hear them too. You may criticize my story. I need it for me to grow up as a writer.

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L'archangel:I am a fan of Len too. These two are on my top list. Thanks for liking my fic. You made me very happy. Oh! You have questions…thanks! But I want you to see them in my updates. You are not barricading me. I am actually honored. I really like how you paid attention to the details of my story. Your questions surely helped! It awaked me. Thanks L'archangel-san! You're a true angel! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Please continue supporting me. Take Care!

Shadow's Tears : Wow! Thanks for liking my fic! You made me happy. You are right Len can never be Azuma. In real life, we meet people whom we will love. We will be happy with them and would be hurt by them, but we aren't really sure if they'll stay with us forever. Soon we'll meet another and adjust to them. In short, we can't compare our former boyfriend to our new one, right? No matter how awesome your former one, your new is different. Like Kahoko's situation. Thanks for reading and reviewing! Please continue supporting me. Take Care!

Sa-san: Yeah, I am updating frequently recently but don't worry about me. I am strong! Hahahahaha Well, I am happy to make you guys happy so you don't have to worry. Thanks for your concern! You're the BEST! Anyway, I am relaxed. I am always at home so I have nothing to do so I update because if I don't laziness might eat me.

You always tell me your insights! I love them! You are awesome! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Please continue supporting me. Take Care!

deceivingpurplehimesama: I am glad you like it. Hope you give me your insights. Thanks though! Please continue supporting me. Take Care!

ARISU: You are sweet! Thanks for reading my Prologue! Glad it caught you! Take Care!