Chapter 2: Revelations...

The afternoon sunlight flowed like a golden river, bathing the courtyard of Seiso Academy in beautiful hues of orange. A Second Year student stood alone at the entrance of the school, trying to gather her thoughts, after the events that took place an hour ago, hoping the twilight would help her in any way possible…

FLASHBACK

"WHAT!!!!"

Screamed out the remaining five former participants of the concours, Kahoko wishing for the umpteenth time that she hadn't forgotten where she was, starting off a conversation so freely with her aunt, slumped further into her chair(as if that was possible),her head in her hands.

"Hino-san sure kept that quiet...to think that she entered the competition with little experience..." said Azuma aloud.

"She DID begin playing last year, she hasn't even touched a violin before that, I know that..She did have experience with playing the..Sweetie do you mind me saying?" Ayame stopped in mid sentence, casting a worried look at her youngest niece, who looked pale as death. "If I don't say it today someone else will you know, and probably make you uncomfortable in the process..." More than you are already at this moment...Ayame thought silently. She waited patiently for Kahoko to respond. Kahoko looked up at her aunt and silently asked her not to reveal too much, while nodding, giving her consent. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the chair. Ayame beamed at her and continued, "As I was saying before, she had prior experience playing the piano. She started playing when she was five. Her father, that is, my brother taught her. She quit when she was nine, due to certain incidents, which I cannot elaborate upon, because I am sure Kahoko wouldn't like me to do so."

The people in the room listened, awestruck.

"Well then let's continue the introductions! First years left I believe?" Ayame said with a smile and clapping her hands together once, looking at Kira, who silently nodded. Though he held up a stoic look, he was as shocked by Ayame's story as everyone else in the room.

END OF FLASHBACK

Her father, that is my brother, taught her..Dad..She silently mused..

"The entire night will pass, sweetie, if you don't get moving soon." Kahoko looked up to find her aunt leaning against the brick walls that made up the school's gates, looking at her, with a smile on her face. "Let's get going, shall we?" She held her hand out as if asking Kahoko to hold it. Kahoko smiled at her and said, "Yeah, you're right, we should get going."

Half an hour later:

" The sunset sure is beautiful isn't it?" asked Ayame, noticing Kahoko hadn't spoken one word since they came to the seaside cafe. Kahoko was silently staring at her cream soda, evidently not in the mood to eat. "Is everything okay dear?" Kahoko looked up at her aunt and nodded, a smile gracing her lips. "Just thinking about Dad..It's been a long time since he..." She couldn't go on anymore, as tears fell unbidden down her cheeks. Soft hands rubbed off the tears gently. She looked up at her aunt to find her crying silently as well.

" I know. I miss him too." She said, making an effort to keep herself calm. "It's hard for me as well because I really loved him a lot..It's not always that you are born with a twin." A sad smile came on her face. " He's the one person I loved the most. I am so glad to know that you took up music again. I really loved your sound..It was so pristine and carefree. I am sure he would have been happy to know that." She finished with a smile on her face, a quiet, happy smile.

Kahoko smiled back. She had always felt comfortable with her aunt, her father's twin sister. She remembered those holidays back in Okinawa, the trips to the beaches in Sicily, the only time she went abroad. Her aunt's family, her cousins and her own family..those holidays were truly beautiful and memorable.

" I got something for you. Do you have your cell phone with you right now?" Asked her aunt, taking out and flipping open her cell. Kahoko said, "Yup! I have it with me. Why do you ask?" "Just open it, I am sending you a picture." Moments later a message showed up on her cell phone, indicating a multimedia file being received. She opened the file and found herself staring at her younger self: It was on one of their last trips to Italy, a year before her father died. She was half sitting on the sea side, one foot bent, holding her youngest cousin Aiyaka. The scene was truly beautiful –eight year old Kahoko, short hair swirling in the wind, hair held back from her face by a white headband, wearing jeans and a white top, holding her six year old cousin, both of them wearing toothy grins. The sight made her really happy. " Dad took it, didn't he?" Ayame nodded in response. "I was supposed to give you this years before, but things have a habit of taking unexpected turns, and I couldn't give it to you back then." "Thanks zia..." They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on things, with Kahoko returning to her usual cheery mood. Both the red heads were unaware of three boys sitting near them, two green heads and a lavender haired guy, all three of them shell-shocked, more than they were that afternoon in the Music Classroom.

THE NEXT MORNING:

Man, I just hope people don't know about zia soon...I am completely screwed today if anyone asks me a word about it today... thought Kahoko worriedly, as she half-ran, half-jogged to school. Their conversation last evening was still prying on her mind. She had slept badly and could feel herself feeling exhausted already. How the hell I am gonna last the entire day, I have no freaking idea...she mused.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she reached the gates, believing she made it in time, AND also noticing that there were not too many people around. She snapped her eyes shut, taking in a breath…

"There she is!" shouted someone.

Her eyes opened instantly at the noise, suddenly finding herself surrounded by a throng of students.

"So is it true Hino -san? Are you really the niece of the famous Ayame Daidouji??" asked someone.

She turned ghost white at those words...when she suddenly felt someone holding her arm, pulling her away from the crowd…

Author's note: Cliffhanger I know... I love them :D

I hope you like this chapter and a big thank you and a muah! to all those who have reviewed my earlier chapter. I hope yoy enjoy reading this one as well. And do review to let me know your views on this fanfic.. by the way, 'zia' is italian for aunt and 'cara mia' stands for 'my dear'. Happy reading!!