Lots of thoughts. Very good to the story, and very critical to sort out what's going on inside of Kaia's little head of hers. I think I should post the next scene as well, shouldn't I? It's rather short. And it sums up the day, if I'm right. I'd have to check the upcoming chapters for that. But oh well.

Happy Reading, and please review! [Again, for all scenes and the story, I do not own KHR.]

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Class ended.

Kaia groaned; not only had the whispers about the classroom continued all day, not only was she dead tired for some reason, but for some reason Kaia didn't want to go back to the apartment yet. The other students left one by one, every once in a while fearfully looking back at Kaia, as if she were an animal in a cage.

No, Soto's going to be waiting for me when I get home…Right? Or just someone…that will…take me away or something, just do something to me…

But, I don't deserve to live either, right? What if they…want to let me have fun before I die? Like, respect for the dead or something. But I'll die either way.

So, should I go home right now? No, it's not home. I have no home, not yet. My apartment. My…apartment

Wednesdays were always…yeah, they were… Those days…

Should I?

Soto isn't here, but it won't hurt to do it. If he comes back and sees that I haven't done anything about it, he'd surely punish me.

Punish me, but not kill me. Agonize my time remaining on earth.

No, I'll just do it here.

She stood up, now the last person to leave the classroom. She walked past the doorway, calmly. She stopped half-way, and looked back into the classroom.

This is where I've…hurt so many people…yesterday…

She looked away, blinking away the guilt in her eyes, and walked on.

Can't I trust them? My life is in their hands now, isn't it? They wish to kill it, right? Yeah, they do, but they aren't doing it yet. They want me to cherish the remaining days of my life, don't they? Then why can't I just follow them, humor them with what they think is best?

No, don't I have a right to control my own life? But it just feels like it was put on a railroad track since the day of my birth…

If I run, what will I do after that? And if I try and run, won't they catch me and punish me?

I'm like a lap-dog, am I.

Tied to a leash, a collar stating who I belong to. Locked indoors, inside the parameter set by the owner. Permitted to only eat the food of the master, drink the water of the master, sleep in the given place by the master, to follow the master's every whim.

But the master would pet me, right? Let me play, be happy, be lazy and just be who I am.

I…Why do I sound like…a doll? Not only am I like a lap-dog, I'm a doll.

I'm…a doll…doll…doll…

Her footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Usually, there would be after-school activities, right? No, not that soon after school. Hibari needs some time to scour the school for any stragglers. Kaia reached her destination, and she turned off, facing a door.

"Music Room," it read.

She turned the knob and entered, then shut the door tightly behind her. She checked her bag – good, they were all there. Kaia walked over to the largest instrument in the room – the piano.

"Kaia, you're starting piano. Today."

"What?! Soto, you never told me anything about that!"

"You are, and you are. So there. I will be teaching you, of course-"

"Because you like to show off, of course."

"Fine. I won't show off this time. Deal? Okay, then, we'll start off with this."

"WHAT?! What's that- that isn't even-"

"You need to know where the keys are. Now sit down on the bench here and watch."

"Yeah, I'm supposed to begin learning piano with an easy piece, like- what's this?! It's just a mess of dots and lines!!"

"Just shut it and listen."

Kaia sighed and sat down on the bench, taking out her books of music. She opened one and set it on the piano, putting the others to the side. The particular one she selected to play was a relatively simple one compared to the one Soto had showed her. But the problem was, it was rather a challenge to a beginner like her. Kaia stared at the song sheet.

Her finger touched upon the first note. The high E.

"So it's…Für Elise?"

"That's what it's called. It's really famous, by a composer I think you have at least heard of – Beethoven."

"Beethoven? Isn't he…that guy that became deaf or something?"

"Y-Yeah, but he wrote a lot of good stuff when he was deaf too. But, we're focusing on this song right here. It's short and simple, and I think you can at least play a little by the end of this week. You think so, Kaia?"

"Uhhh…"

"Okay then. Let's start with what's happening behind the song. Like in movies or something. Sometimes, there'd be a song when someone dies, someone falls in love, someone's gone, someone's in some type of situation. This song is for what kind of situation then, hmm?"

"Who's Elise then?"

"Beethoven's cousin, I think. I'm not sure, but there's a person he loved, whether family or not, and he wrote this for that Elise."

Kaia blinked, her face completely relaxed and somber.

What's happening behind the song…

What's happening behind my song, my story?

But…why is it all about me? Beethoven wrote Für Elise for Elise…

Why can't I think of someone else?

No, I have no-one to think of, isn't it? No. I still have Haruka, don't I? She's still my friend, but…she's likely to have moved on. The phone doesn't work anymore either, and she wouldn't have known what was going on the last few weeks since the move. She would have called a million times, and nobody would have gotten the phone, because it doesn't work.

Aside from Haruka, who else?

Who else can I trust with all my heart?

Who else can I call a true friend?

Soto, Jasmine, Mom, Yamamoto, Tsuna, Hibari, Gokudera, Reborn, the prince, that long-hair guy, Ryohei, Yuuki, Sakura, Rokudo Mukuro…right?… Chrome… And Bianchi, Tsuna's mom Nana…

They're all in it together. All of them who can plot. But, what about the kids – Fuuta, I-Pin, and most of all, Lambo?

No. Their personalities I see are all façades. Fuuta, I-Pin… they are, without question. But Lambo?

Hibari is Lambo's enemy. But Lambo is also Tsuna's ally, and they live under the same roof.

No. He isn't, right?

I-I don't know, he probably doesn't know what's going on, such a small kid… No, he's safe, at least for now.

Kaia shook her head to clear her head of those thoughts. She touched the first key once more; this time, with her pinky. She pressed down.

A clear, unwavering note rang out.

Her ring finger pressed the black key directly to its left, then the high E again.

The string of music flowed out of her, releasing so many emotions Kaia had locked up in her chest.

A love song, isn't it? A love song for Elise, isn't it?

Well this love song is for…well…it's not a love song anymore, right?

It's not a love song. It's a song of tears.

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Yeah, she plays piano. Soto forces her, but Kaia doesn't seem to mind.

And the reason?

Well, Soto's training Kaia. Ria, actually. She uses knives, as you have learned. Playing piano would help her control her hands and make sure she doesn't make any useless movements. When you start to do octaves and tons of little tricks in piano, it gets fast, hard, and very professional-sounding. Which would not tolerate useless movements.

And why Für Elise? Well, it's famous. Most people would know it. I'm not sure about the background information though. I might have to get some confirmation for that, but it's alright if Soto's mistaken. Beethoven lived a long time ago. Everyone makes mistakes. Hey, even I make them. That's why there are betas out here. xD

Anyway, have an awesome summer [break] everyone!