Chapter 3: Conversations

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

The words were ringing in her ears as she felt someone pull her away from the throng of students. She looked up to see Ryotaro pulling her into the bell garden. "You should be more careful, especially with all the rumours that have abounded about your family." Said Ryotaro, arms folded, facing her. Kahoko was looking at the ground, suddenly finding it a lot more interesting than to look up at him. "Care to explain why you didn't tell me you were acquainted with music way before the competition?"

Kahoko finally looked up and said, in a slightly quavering voice, "Look class is going to start soon, Tsuchiura-kun, why not talk about this later? See you later..." No sooner had she finished her sentence that she felt his arm gripping hers tightly, turning her to look at him. "You can't avoid this topic because I am going to have an explanation out of you. Besides, we still have 45 minutes to class, you are early today." At his words, she suddenly checked her watch to see that he was right. She mentally kicked herself for forgetting that she had set her watch forward by 30 minutes so that for once she could be on time at school…

"So, what could have compelled you to absolutely give up music? You are bound to have been good if you had been practicing for so long, from such an age." Asked Ryotaro, not letting go of her arm, though his grip had slackened considerably.

"You gave up too right Tsuchiura-kun?" Kahoko answered back, looking straight back at him. She suddenly noticed that their faces were inches away from each other and blushed at the sudden proximity.

He too became aware of the situation and let go of her arm, blushing as he did so, but he didn't move away. "I didn't. I practiced alone, so that no one would see or hear me play. You know that. Don't make excuses to me, Hino. Answer my question." Ryotaro was getting irritated with Hino refusing to give him a straight answer.

Hino looked up at him and gave a small sigh. She looked back at the ground and began, "All right...fine. You are right; you of all people deserve to know. I started learning the piano when I was five, as zia said earlier. I stopped when dad died because I loved the way he made music and I didn't think I could make that kind of music without his guidance. Zia couldn't really take his death, because they were twins and were very close. It tore her apart and she moved to Italy to start afresh. My grandparents moved there as well. Our financial situation started to worsen and well, taking music lessons was a bit too much to ask at that point of time. I got used to being without practicing music. Until I picked up the violin I really didn't realize how much I had missed playing."

She looked up at him to find him shell-shocked at her revelation. "I am sorry..." he mumbled. "Don't be." He looked at Hino to find her smiling at him. "I know this is kinda weird, but I actually feel better now that I told you. It's like a load off my heart. But please keep it to yourself. I don't want anyone else to know about this." He smiled back and nodded. "Your secret's safe with me. I am not telling a word of this." "We should get going. It's almost time for class…what?" asked Kahoko, seeing Ryotaro frown as he suddenly looked past her. She turned, following his line of sight, and came face to face with Azuma and Kazuki, standing behind her, grim looks on their faces.

Afternoon: Lunch break

Whew lunch break…One hellish day alright…thought Kahoko, as she made to the rooftop of the Music Department

FLASHBACK

"Did you just hear me say that, Yunoki senpai, Hihara senpai?" asked Kahoko, her voice quavering under Azuma's unnerving stare and the somewhat unhappy look on Kazuki's face.

"We did." said Azuma.

Azuma opened his mouth to say something, when suddenly the bell rang.

"Eek! I will be late for class...well catch up with you guys later...bye!" Kahoko mentally thanked the timing as she darted past the two upperclassmen and rushed to the General Education building.

END OF FLASHBACK

Saved by a hair's breath is the correct definition...she clutched her hair in both hands and started shaking her head from side to side..Oh why in the world did those two have to hear me...Hihara senpai hearing is fine, but why THAT guy!! She stopped as she slumped to the floor of the roof, staring at the clear blue sky, having few white clouds. She began to immerse herself in her thoughts once more...as if their hearing wasn't enough why did people in my department have to stare like that?? If it were not for Nao and Mio I would have been so screwed today...

She gave a small sigh, and continued staring back at the clouds. My future huh?? To tell you the truth zia I am not sure myself what the hell I am gonna do.

FLASHBACK

"So have you thought about what you are going to proceed with in college?" asked her aunt as she leaned back on her chair and took a sip from the cold crème coffee, her eyes on her niece.

"Yeah, well I have been thinking about proceeding with Archaeology. I visited Uncle Fujitaka a couple of weeks back, and I really liked the way he taught. He even let me sit in his class at the University, so that I could get a better perspective of things. Sakura-chan is really lucky to have a father like him...so patient and kind..." replied Kahoko, her thoughts drifting once again to her father.

"Yes, well, Fujitaka has always been that patient. But are you sure about your decision cara? Because something tells me that this is not what you really would like to do."

Kahoko looked up at her aunt, startled. She then broke into a smile. "You are really perceptive you know zia."

"As always." Ayame replied with a wink. "So are you taking professional lessons in the violin? Satsuki (Kahoko's mom) didn't quite elaborate on that, when I called her last week."

"No, but I am looking for a teacher. I was training under Ousaki senpai but he went to Vienna to take part in a competition. Tsukimori-kun, a classmate of mine, helped me out for a while, but then he went to Germany a couple of months back to study there. So right now I am looking for a teacher and practicing by myself." Replied Kahoko.

"Isn't Zaoyinu sensei here? I heard he was back." Asked Ayame, a bit surprised. "I haven't heard you play, but I am sure you have got that same sound as before." She stopped and suddenly found that some things don't add up. "What are you not telling me Kaho? Are you telling me that you participated in the concours without any formal training?" she asked in disbelief.

Kahoko sighed. Her aunt's ability to size up any situation never stopped to amaze her. "Yeah, you can take it like that..." she mumbled.

Her aunt just simply stared back at her in shock and amazement. Then she broke into a smile. "Well, I gotta say, it's in your blood, so I am not that surprised."

Kahoko looked at her in shock. "Well, those piano lessons from before helped a lot when it came to the sheet music. But what do you mean by 'It's in your blood'??" I know dad played the piano, but.."

"Your father was a professional piano player. He quit because our grandmother didn't allow the both of us to pursue music." Ayame cut in. " He quit so that I wouldn't face any opposition when I wanted to take up music professionally. Actually he was my accompanist when I participated in the concours in my time." She said with a smile. " Satsuki didn't exactly tell did she?"

Kahoko felt numb. Slowly she shook her head.

"You still haven't answered my question,mia cara." Ayame asked her, jerking her out of her thoughts.

" I…I need to think, you know zia…"

END OF FLASHBACK

Kahoko sighed for what seemed like the umpteenth time, recalling her conversation with her aunt the evening before.

"Penny for your thoughts."

The voice jerked her out of her reverie, and she looked up to see Azuma,leaning on the wall, arms folded, a wicked smile on his face.

"Wha..wha..what are you doing here Yunoki senpai?" she stammered as she mentally kicked herself for being so oblivious to her surroundings.

"No one said that the rooftop was off-limits to the students. If that were so, then I don't think even you would be here, isn't that right Kahoko?" asked Azuma, with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

" I…I am sorry but my class will be starting soon , .." She got up as hastily as the words she had uttered and tried to dodge past him, but an arm reached out and wound itself around her waist, hauling her against his lean frame.

"What's the rush? It's still 15 minutes until break time is over..and at any rate, am I such bad company?" He purred softly, and looked straight into her eyes, as his free hand played with her hair. Azuma smiled inwardly at the effect he was having on Kahoko ,who looked like a red apple AND entranced.

His lips skimmed her neck, as he murmured, " The eternal escapist aren't you? I thought it was me you were avoiding, but no, it seems like it is second nature to you…escaping things…"

His words broke her out of her trance like state and enraged her no less. She almost pushed him back when she noticed someone standing at the door to the stairways, staring at them.

" Yu…Yunoki senpai?"

Author's note: Yay!! Third chapter done!!This is my longest chappie yet.. Tell me how you liked it, so do review..another cliffie, I know..I love them.. Tell me if I can improve on certain places and pass me any ideas you might get on reading this fanfic, I will try to incorporate them in the story. Happy reading!! :)

P.S. A big thank you once again to all those who reviewed my fanfic.

oreofudge'DD

C. Isabel

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astigzBFF07

And yeah, I did mention some of the characters from CCS. This isn't actually a crossover story since they are just mentioned and not really involved in the story.