Chapter 3: This Year - December 22

Ahim de Famille sat on a stool in front of the concert hall's grand piano, the ivory white keys glistening under the illumination. She shuffled through her sheet music, attempting to find the piece that she wanted to play. Flipping through tons of papers, she finally found it. Neatly arranging the unwanted sheet music, she placed them on the side and on the piano's stand, lay the sheet music side by side.

Ahim breathed in and straightened out her posture, her hands poised above the keys. Her fingers began to press and dance on the keys, the piano starting its enchanting song.

It had been a week since Ahim had gone with Joe to buy the medicine. There had been no contact between the two since then, and while Ahim was used to being alone, part of her kept on looking at the door hoping for him to walk in. Ahim couldn't explain the feelings that she felt, but she was aware that what she felt was something special, although she wasn't quite sure just why.

Ahim pressed on as she continued to play her music, pouring her heart into each note and attempting to distract herself as she waited for Joe to return to the concert hall.

A group of four stopped and stared up at the grand and imposing looking concert hall, the frost nipping at their faces as they craned their necks.

"Your friend works here, Joe?" Luka asked.

Now fully healthy, at first Luka had been reluctant at first to take the new medicine, wary of how Joe had obtained it. However, Joe had patiently explained the circumstances of the night and Luka took the medicine, gradually becoming better. By the third day, she had insisted on thanking Joe's friend personally and slowly whittled down Joe's sense of secrecy regarding his relationship with Ahim. Joe had finally agreed today to bring her to see Ahim, while Doc and Marvelous said that they would tag along for the rare occasion that Luka would thank someone.

"I've met her twice here," Joe answered, as he strained to hear the familiar sound of Ahim's cello.

"Looks like she's rich," muttered Marvelous, hiding the lower part of his face in his red scarf. He stuffed his hands even further down his jacket as he jogged on the spot in an attempt to get warm. "Can we go in?"

"I guess so," Joe shrugged as he lead the way up the stone steps, his shoes crunching against the snow, packing it in.

"It really does look beautiful," Doc commented as he continued to look at the hall in awe.

Joe reached the door first, turning around to wait for the rest as Marvelous brought up the rear. Finally, he could hear some music, but instead of the deep voice of a cello, he heard the clear staccato of a piano being played. Taking a deep breath and hoping that he wasn't wrong in bringing them here, he took hold of the brass knocker and banged the door three times.

Three times the door was knocked. The first time, Ahim was shocked and her playing stopped. The second, she flinched from the harsh sound it made and by the third knock, she was used to it. However, it didn't stop her from being uneasy. Wishing that she had her bow with her, Ahim gingerly stood up as the door was opened. A cold wind blew into the building, causing her to shiver a bit as she noticed four silhouettes entering.

Thieves, was her first thought as panic swept through her body. Wishing that the piano wasn't so squarely center on the stage, she tensed up and prepared to run before noticing that one of the figures was coming straight towards her.

Without hesitation, Ahim bolted, running as fast as she could away from the man.

"Ahim!" the man called out loudly as soon as he saw her running.

Ahim stopped and looked back carefully. At that moment, the lights switched on, revealing Joe's face. Ahim felt herself flush as she returned meekly to her piano.

"I am so sorry, Joe-san," she apologized, as Joe leapt lightly up the stage and walked to her. "I did not mean to run away from you."

"It's alright," Joe consoled her as he watched her sit down on her stool. Footsteps gathered as Luka, Doc and Marvelous clambered onto the stage and walked towards Joe and Ahim.

"Good evening," Ahim said politely. Turning back to Joe, she asked, "Are they your friends?"

Joe nodded stiffly, now unsure of what to do. The millions of times he had played this moment out in his head had never included a scenario where Ahim would run away from him.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Ahim said, shaking Luka's hand first. "May I ask your names?"

"I'm Luka Milfy," Luka said as she introduced herself.

"Are you the one that Joe was finding the medicine for?" Ahim smiled, as Luka nodded dumbfounded. "I am pleased to find that you are all better now."

"I've been good since day three of taking the medicine," Luka said, finding talking to the other girl easy. "It's just been a matter of persuading Joe to bring me here to thank you."

Ahim glanced over at Joe, who was now staring intently at the piano. Unsure of how to interpret Joe's unwillingness to bring his friends to her, she turned back towards the two men waiting to introduce themselves.

"Marvelous," the first one said, his red scarf dangling from around his neck. "Just Marvelous."

"It is good to meet you, Marvelous-san," Ahim said, causing Marvelous to blink and grin with delight as he heard the honorific.

"I'm Don Dogioer," said the other man, shaking Ahim's hand. "I can't express enough thanks for the medicine."

"We call him 'Doc'," Marvelous commented. "First time we met him, he was playing pretend at school as a doctor."

Ahim smiled knowingly and shook Doc's hand. "Are you still practicing?"

Doc shook his head in embarrassment, "I don't have enough time and money for school between my job and taking care of these guys."

"I see," Ahim said, turning her attention back towards Joe, finally looked away from the keys. "Joe-san, why have you brought your friends here?"

"Well..." Joe shifted uncomfortably. "You said some other time... and Luka wanted to thank you."

"Oh," Ahim looked back at Luka with smiling eyes, "There's no need to thank me, Luka-san."

Joe cleared his throat from behind, "Ahim, could I talk to you in private please?"

Ahim turned slightly red and nodded.

"I guess we'll be leaving then," Luka called out, a sly look in her eyes. "Come on, you two," she said as she grabbed Marvelous and Doc by their collars and walked towards the door.

"Are we really going?" Marvelous whispered to Luka, trying to right himself.

"No," hissed Luka. "But Joe wants to be alone with her and I want to see what's going to happen."

"You want to-!" Doc almost said before Marvelous clamped his hand over his mouth.

"Yes, I want to spy on them," Luka admitted. She opened the door and looked back at the couple who were just awkwardly standing there, looking at them.

She waved cheerfully before she opened the door and walked out, leaving an unnoticeable crack in the doorway from which to peep in.

Joe waited until his friends were out of sight before he turned back over to Ahim, who was staring at him expectantly.

"Sorry about that," he said looking at her in the eyes for the first time that night.

"Do not be," Ahim smiled at him as she walked back towards the piano. "I was pleased to see that you brought them with you this time."

"I wish you hadn't called me a thief when we came in, though," Joe teased her, causing Ahim to turn red.

"It was only because it was dark," Ahim covered smoothly. "I could not see your face.

"In any case, it is because I have come to expect Joe-san to announce his presence with applause," said Ahim with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, my apologies," Joe quickly clapped a few times as Ahim took a gracious bow. "Are you happy now, your majesty?"

"Quite so, thank you," Ahim answered, her voice grave. Ahim sat back down on her piano stool and played a few notes in succession, while Joe listened.

"I didn't know you could play the piano," Joe commented.

"Mhm, my father wanted me to learn the piano first before I learned any other instruments," Ahim told him. "After I mastered the piano to a suitable degree, I moved onto the string instruments."

Joe watched Ahim play a while longer before he sat down on the edge of the stool. Ahim glanced over at him and noticed in amusement that Joe was attempting to copy her actions on the keyboard.

"What are you doing?" Ahim said, trying to hide her laughter.

Joe quickly withdrew his hands and grasped them together, "Nothing," he mumbled.

Smiling, Ahim got up and pulled Joe over to where she had been sitting. She put her hands atop the keys, "Like this," she said as she began to teach Joe. Awkwardly, Joe copied the posture.

"Fingers further apart, Joe-san," Ahim corrected him, taking her own fingers and placing them between his, feeling the roughness of his skin against the smooth and slimness of her own. Unconsciously, she closed her fingers around Joe's, with Joe following suit. Without hesitation, Ahim buried her head into Joe's shoulder.

"Ahim?" Joe asked, unsure of what to make of their still entwined hands and her head resting on his shoulders. He could feel his heart pounding as he felt Ahim against his back. Ahim didn't respond, so he tried again. This time, Ahim let out a little sound of acknowledgment.

"You okay?" Joe asked her.

Ahim nodded, wrinkling Joe's jacket. "I am fine," she answered him. "I am feeling better than I have in a long time."

Joe didn't question her any further, and merely nuzzled the top of her head, basking in the moment.

"Joe-san."

"Hmm?"

Ahim lifted her head up, "Would you like to have dinner tonight?"

Joe looked at Ahim, their faces just inches apart. "Where?"

"I know a great cafe nearby," Ahim said, feeling her blush growing. "The food is great and the staff are really welcoming!"

"What is it called?" Joe asked her.

"Kizuna," whispered Ahim.

"Doesn't it mean 'bond'?" Slight confusion crossed Joe's face. "I've never heard of it."

Ahim nodded slightly, "My friend recently bought it and renamed it. The chef there does wonders with food and the staff there are friendly and professional."
Joe smiled warmly and nodded, "I'd be happy to have dinner with you tonight."

Outside in the cold, Luka smiled. "Nice job, Joe."

"I can't see anything," Marvelous grumbled below her.

"Me too," complained Doc.

"Doesn't matter," Luka said as she stood back up. Once again, she grabbed the boys by the collars and dragged them away. "We're going home."

"Oi, why are you smiling?" Marvelous demanded. "Tell us what you saw!"

"Only for a price," Luka said, determined to keep her secret.

"All you need to know is that everything is going fine."

Haha, well. I've managed to include a reference here to one of the greatest, in my opinion, TakeruxMako stories in here. Of course, I did it without permission, but I did PM MidnightRosebud, so if she doesn't like it, I'll be replacing the restaurant with a different one. Hurhur.

So after helping out Joe, Ahim is back at the concert hall and the rest of the team comes. Luka's kinda tactful and leaves the two... Of course... cute moments ensue hurhur. And Ahim teaches Joe how to play the piano... kinda ;D

CAN ANYONE ELSE PICTURE THIS OR IS IT JUST ME?!

Please leave a comment behind~

As well, I got into Kamen Rider again with Wizard, and Fourze too... HAS ANYONE ELSE REALIZE THE AMOUNT OF SHIPPING THAT HAPPENS IN THOSE TWO SHOWS ALONE.

GOD.

So... when this is done, I'll be doing some Kamen Rider fanfics again.

THIS IS WHAT SHIPPING DOES TO ME.