Hi, thanks for those who reviewed last chapter, hope I was able to reply. ^^
To those anonymous reviewers:
wolveseyes - Yep! ^^ I got it from that one! :D Chapters 1-3 are originally that one. But I felt that it was lacking, so I continued it through this fic ^^ so, what do you think?
Jamila - I hope you haven't forgotten the flow of the story. :)) kidding.
A/N: The name of Kaho's mom, Shuuri, just popped in my head. Suggestions are always welcome ^^
Ah, also, in the last chapter it is revealed that Len's uncle is the eldest, and chose to serve the Hino household for the rest of his life. That means, that the one Len refers to as his father is actually his uncle.
Disclaimer: I don't own La Corda D'oro
As You Wish, Ojou-sama
Chapter 7
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Kahoko sat at the foot of their long stairs which was directly parallel to the main door. She hunched forward, elbows resting on her knees as she rested her chin on the palm of her hands.
She sighed.
She felt like her father just gave her a riddle.
Trust Len.
She trusts him completely even without his father telling her that. Now, her father's words just made her more curious. It seems like there's a big secret, and she's not part of it.
She pouted. Unconsciously going back to her spoiled self.
What could the big secret be? And it seems like it revolves around Len. He's her butler, she should know those kind of things. She had wanted to ask Len herself even though her father told her to wait until Len tells it to her, himself. But it seems like Len was still angry at her. He seemed to be avoiding her, even in school. He always disappeared into one of the music rooms and lock up. She was still in wonder, how he could avoid her, yet perform his duties properly.
Kahoko jumped when the doorbell rang.
She just stared at the door while to other servants reached it.
"Dear, who is it?" came Shuuri's voice from the top of the stairs. She walked down the stairs slowly, as her daughter turned around to look at her.
"I don't know." Kahoko answered, but kissed her mother's cheek when she reached her.
"Mistress," Len's 'father' said, Shuuri saw a slight alarm in his expression, but pretended not to take notice, "the Young Lady from the Manami household is here."
Shuuri smiled, "Yes, I invited her here. Well, let her in." Her butler bowed and went to the door.
"A guest?" Kahoko said in surprise.
"Yes," Shuuri smiled at her daughter, "You'll love her. She's a very well brought up lady."
"Lady Hino."
Kahoko turned around. When she did, it seems like her lungs shut down completely because she couldn't breathe at all. In front of her was the prettiest girl, no, the most elegant model, no, a goddess. Kahoko stared at the girl in awe. She wondered how her mother had met such a beautiful Lady.
Shuuri giggled seeing her daughter speechless, "Kaho dear." she said, quite amused.
Kahoko snapped back in attention and blushed slightly, "I'm sorry." she said to the beautiful girl.
Mori laughed softly. She studied her when she was staring. She thought to herself that this is the Kahoko Hino who was about to take her Len away from her. Aside from the obviously spoiled exterior, she could see that this girl had quite a natural beauty. She had a heartwarming smile, but most of all, she was full of child-like innocence.
She thought back on when Ryoutaro talked about her just the other day.
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"What is she like?" Mori asked, sitting on the couch as soon as Shuuri had taken her leave. Leaving Ryoutaro behind to talk to Mori.
Ryoutaro looked at Mori for a few seconds before taking a seat across her. He brought his hands behind his head as he thought about it. "I haven't seen her for so long. I guess she's more independent compared to when we were younger. She used to be a super spoiled child. Always wanting everything to go according to her wishes, a genuine Ojou-sama." he chuckled.
Mori studied his face as he described Kahoko. She smiled. It was quite obvious that the girl meant so much to him. Then she sighed.
"But if Len is really in love with her— "
"Hey hey," Ryoutaro said, "What happened to the determined answer you gave a while ago?"
"Well you see," Mori said, unable to look him in the eye, "I only said that because I'm sure Lady Hino won't take no for an answer."
Ryoutaro chuckled. He brought his hands back to his sides. "And you figured that out after just meeting her for a few seconds?"
"Ryoutaro," Mori said, voice half pleading, "This seems kind of predictable. What role she's letting me play. And I don't want to. I know that you really want to keep them apart, but if Len really loves her, I won't, I can't. I can't do anything about it, even if I love him so much."
"What about you're aghast statement about their social status?" Ryoutaro said, trying to keep his growing anger down.
"That won't matter if Len chooses to come home, right? I can convince his parents to send him somewhere far, somewhere where they won't be able to see each other, but if Len loves her, he'll be able to find ways to see her."
"Mori,"
"But." Mori said, looking at him with a serious expression, "I want to meet her. Kahoko Hino. I want to see why Len fell for her."
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She shook her head. Meeting her, meeting Kahoko Hino, it was different from what she initially thought of her. She thought that she didn't have such graceful manners. Ryoutaro described her as being spoiled in the past, she was expecting a different attitude. Her evaluation of her completely changed. This time, she looked at Kahoko with slight pity, this girl had no idea at all about the world.
"Is there something wrong?" Shuuri asked, seeing Mori shake her head.
"Ah!" Mori looked up in surprise, "No, nothing at all." then she looked back at Kahoko, "Hello, you must be Lady Shuuri's daughter. I'm Mori Manami. It's nice to meet you." she said with a smile.
Kahoko smiled back and quickly shook Mori's extended hand, "I'm Kahoko Hino. It's really nice to meet you too."
"Well, come along, let's go to the garden. The weather is beautiful today, and the breeze is cool." Shuuri said, leading the two girls towards the court.
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Mori looked around her admiringly as they stepped into the garden. It was her first time to step into the Hino mansion even though Len was always here when they were kids. The garden had this calming effect on her. She wouldn't have to wonder why Len might want to stay here.
Then she shook her head.
No, Len hadn't really decided yet. Don't get ahead of yourself. The reason you're here is to convince Len that going back to the Tsukimori household is the best decision.
She thought further back to her conversation with Shuuri before she left her and Ryoutaro alone.
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"Maybe you should come to our residence and talk to Len-kun." Shuuri said, sitting down on the couch once again.
Ryoutaro leaned behind the couch, thinking things over. He had convinced Mori that convincing Len to return is the best choice. But, the problem is, they really haven't figured everything out yet. How they will separate the two effectively.
"I… I am not allowed to visit him, right?" Mori said, she perked up at Shuuri's offer, but thought better of it.
"Well, you could go there as my guest. There's nothing wrong about it. I'm sure Len-kun's aware that I have no idea that you're his childhood friend. Everything will just be coincidence."
"But, I am aware that Len is your daughter's butler."
"Oh, don't think too much. Just arrive as my guest." Shuuri said with finality, waving her delicate hand to say that everything will be alright.
Mori looked at Ryoutaro, silently asking for his advice. Ryoutaro slowly looked up from his musings and gave her a small short smile, nodding his head. Mori sighed; she has no idea whether to really trust Shuuri. She seemed like the scheming type, and in Mori's 2 years of experience, slowly handling her parents' work, she saw her type quite a lot of times. But if it's Ryoutaro, she knows she can trust him.
"Alright," Mori finally agreed.
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Mori suppressed a sigh. What had she gotten herself into?
"So, you met her when you went to a mansion of an acquaintance?" Kahoko asked. It seems like Shuuri was telling her about how she met Mori. Kahoko looked back and Mori smiled at her. She smiled back too, she was still admiring the beautiful guest.
"Yes. She was quite a dear." Shuuri smile.
"Is that so," Kahoko said, she wanted to pout right out. Her mother seems to favor Mori a lot even though she just met her.
Shuuri giggled, sensing her daughter's internal distress. "Come on, let's sit down while the servants serve us tea and a little tid-bits." she gestured to the small patio up ahead.
Kahoko looked back, about to invite Mori when she saw that Mori had stopped walking. "Mori-san?" Kahoko called.
When Mori didn't respond, Kahoko immediately went to her. Shuuri also stopped walking and looked at Mori. Could it possibly be that she already saw Len? Shuuri quickly looked around but didn't see a certain blue haired teen. What could've stopped her then? Shuuri walked back to where the two girls were.
Kahoko looked at Mori worriedly, she tried nudging the girl, but she didn't respond. Kahoko tried to wave her hand in front of Mori, but it was like she didn't see anything at all. "Mori-san," she tried calling again.
"Kaho dear, what's wrong?" Shuuri asked, coming up from behind her.
Kahoko looked at her mother with worry, "I think something's wrong. Maybe I should let Len take a look?" she asked, noting that Len had experiences in the medical field.
"That's it!"
Kahoko and Shuuri looked at Mori with surprise when she suddenly responded.
"What's it?" Kahoko asked, clearly confused.
"Don't you hear it?" Mori asked, looking at Kahoko then at Shuuri. When she saw their blank expression she shook her head. "I'm sure of it." Then she started walking to a certain direction.
Kahoko and Shuuri followed. Kahoko looked at her mother, "Is she hallucinating?" Kahoko asked. She didn't want to sound rude and weirded by the girl, but…
Shuuri shook her head, "No, she's just sensitive. It's her gift as a musician."
"A musician?" Kahoko said, interested.
"Yes. I've heard that she's been playing the piano since she was young. Her hearing ability is also amazing. She could hear from quite a distance. Maybe she heard something that peaked her interest?" Shuuri said.
As Kahoko looked at her mother, she felt jealously. She had never seen that look on her mother's face when she was playing the violin. She was now stuck between wanting to befriend Mori or look at her as her rival.
Kahoko returned to knowing where Mori was exactly headed to. Her eyes slowly widen when she realized where Mori was headed to. Could it be, what she heard was…?
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Mori stopped walking as she stood in front of a fountain.
She was certain the sound came from here.
At first, she heard a violin playing, it was very familiar, though she couldn't determine what was familiar about it. Then Kahoko had mentioned Len, and she finally realized it was Len's violin which was playing. The familiar tone each string made when he played it. She was certain that she was headed to the right direction, her sense of hearing was absolute, but how come there was nobody here?
In front of her was just a nicely detailed flowing fountain, in the center of rose bushes. There was a large statue of an angel in the middle of the fountain, holding a jar, where the water was flowing from. Mori stood there motionlessly.
Kahoko and Shuuri stopped a few steps behind Mori. Wondering what was really going on. What did she hear that made her start walking without explaining, much more, wandering into the garden of a mansion which she had never been to.
Mori was about to walk away, and apologize to them when they heard a violin playing again. Mori froze for a moment, then turned around and walked to the other side of the fountain. She had failed to realize that the statue was enough to hide something. And surely she saw him.
Len looked up when he heard a loud gasp. At first he was wondering who was in front of him. A guest of the Young Lady? Then he saw the familiar pair of eyes, staring at him with shock. His eyes widen as recognition hit him. "M—"
Before he could say her name out, she was already running to him. Tears started to fill her blue-green eyes, "Len!" she exclaimed.
Kahoko's eyes widen when she heard Mori say his name. His name. She ran behind the fountain to where Mori was before she was hidden by the statue. The sight before her brought her to a standstill. In front of her, Mori was crying.
While hugging Len.
And what's more was that Len was hugging her back.
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As soon as Mori encircled her arms around his neck as a hug, he didn't know how to react at first. He was too surprised, seeing his childhood friend in front of him. The person he wasn't able to see for a long time. But her familiar warmth and scent resulted to his following action. He hugged her back. Awkwardly. Because he still had his violin and his bow in both hands.
Shuuri walked towards her frozen daughter in her own leisurely pace. When she reached the scene, she couldn't help but smile a little bit. It seems like Len wouldn't need much convincing. Seeing his expression, anybody could tell that the girl in his arms means so much to him.
"I missed you so much!" Mori cried, burying her face on Len's shoulder. It has been too long a time. At first, she could tell the Len didn't recognize her, but she felt relief when it registered to him. He still seems to be the same boy that she remembered in her childhood. She took in his familiar scent.
"Mori," Len murmured. He placed his bow on his other hand together with his violin, and used his free hand to stroke her hair gently. For an instant, he forgot everything. Where he was, what his role was, the different world he was living in. His reason for wanting to stay. He forgot all of those, and just became the Young Master of the Tsukimori household once again. The boy who promised to take care of the girl in his arms.
That was all for an instant.
Because he heard Shuuri calling the name of his Mistress.
Len immediately looked up. Kahoko was turning away, but Len still saw the pained look she had before she ran back to the mansion. He immediately let go of Mori, and pushed her gently.
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She knew it.
As soon as she heard Shuuri call out Kahoko's name, she knew that Len would shift back to his butler mode. She felt him let go of her, and gently push her away from him. She didn't want to let go of him, but she knew she had to if she doesn't want him to get angry at her.
Still, she couldn't resist holding his hand as he was about to ran after Kahoko. She couldn't help but stop him. Because it felt like he was truly leaving her behind, for her.
Len looked at her with surprise when she did that. She remembered her earlier words to Ryoutaro, about letting him go if he truly felt something towards Kahoko. Mori bit her bottom lip and then let him go.
Mori looked at her hand which held his, for a moment.
It feels like she already lost Len to Kahoko. She didn't just win over his affection, but Len, himself. His whole personality seemed to change when he shifted back to duty mode. It scared her for a moment, because she knew Len as the cool boy whole always hid the emotions in his face. But back there, she saw that he was really worried. His composure, no, it seems like he no longer thought of it. He no longer thought about how the world looked at him.
Mori closed her eyes tightly. Holding back the tears threatening to fall.
Defeat.
She haven't felt this way for a long time. She clenched her hand. She wasn't able to taste this sense of defeat for quite a while ever since she decided to become more refined in order to be approved of by everyone. Just so no one will judge her if she wants to be by the side of the heir of the Tsukimori household. She went through a lot. Climbing the top was never easy. But she made it, she was able to get her way, she always excelled in everything she did, always got what she wanted...but now...
"Mori dear."
Mori looked up and met Shuuri's eyes. She stared at them for a moment and then she finally decided.
She won't be defeated.
"Ojou-sama!" Len called, finally closing in on her.
For a split second, he was amazed that she was able to run so fast. The usually delicate Young Lady never wanted to run and sweat herself out. But then, that just means that she really wanted to get away as fast as she can.
"Ojo— "
Len ran faster when Kahoko suddenly tripped and fell flat on her face.
When he reached her, she made no effort to stand right back up. Instead, she just stayed on the floor. Her arms were under her face. Len was about to touch her, to help her get up when she suddenly started crying.
"Ojou-sama." He didn't know what to do. Did he have to explain the situation? But then, why should he? It's not like they were a couple or anything. He was having an internal struggle when Kahoko suddenly spoke up.
"She," Kahoko began, still not bothering to look up, "No wonder you'd prefer someone like her. I'm so clumsy, so stupid. I couldn't even do one simple task without alerting the whole mansion. I'm so spoiled and unlady-like. Compared to her, I'm like a rough doll."
"Ojou-sama..." Len said softly, crouching in front of her.
Kahoko slowly looked up, tears still streaming, "Who is she to you? How come you know each other? How come you call each other so intimately. How come you're different."
Len froze as she said that.
Different.
Was it really obvious? But Len wanted to know how she saw him. What she meant by different. He was about to ask her that when she repeated her first question.
"Who is she to you?" Kahoko prompted, finally sitting up.
Len thought it through briefly. Will he tell her the truth? Then that means that his past will be unveiled immediately. But it seems better that he is the one to tell her the truth about himself rather than her hearing it from someone else.
"She,"
Kahoko held her breath.
"She's my childhood friend." Len said.
Even though he hid it quickly, Kahoko still saw the brief flicker of gentleness and affection he felt for Mori as he said that. Right there, she knew there was something more. But then, a childhood friend of his? Someone as poised, well brought up and refined as Mori is his childhood friend? But from just looking at Mori, her parents didn't seem like that type that would allow her to mingle with someone of low status.
Len could see the questions coursing through her eyes and he knew that he had to tell her the whole truth. But for now, he will let her ask her questions. And whatever questions she'll be asking, he won't lie.
"How can that be possible?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice.
"I..." Len sighed, "I'm from the main branch of the Tsukimori household. Having Tsukimori as my surname, it wasn't jut coincidental that I had the same surname as one of the influential people in the country."
Kahoko's eyes widen, "That's impossible! How come you're under my parents? Under me!"
"It's a family tradition. You were suppose to be aware of it a few years ago, but you never had the patience to even study the least bit about your family history, right?" Len said, a bit of irritation shown across his face.
Kahoko wanted to get angry at him. How dare he speak to her like that. But she held her tongue. She was acting like her old self again. Instead, she chose to stay silent and let Len continue his explanation.
"It's traditional that the first son of the main family branch will serve under your family for a period of time. If willing, someone like my uncle can serve under you forever."
"Your uncle?"
"The person you thought is my father, is actually my uncle. We were ordered to keep up that pretense."
Kahoko looked down, trying to digest everything in. Did that mean that what she thought was a fact, was actually fake? Len is actually from a very prestigious and influential family? "D-does that mean that Hamai Misa, the famous pianist, is your mother?" she asked. When he didn't reply, Kahoko slowly looked up to meet his eyes.
She was surprised to see his expression. He was smiling a smile which was filled with pain. Kahoko was about to ask what was wrong when he supplied to answer immediately.
"I wasn't allowed to have any contact with them. They weren't allowed to see me. They were to live as if they never had a son. Seeing them, was forbidden, while I stayed here and performed my role."
Kahoko felt his pain for a moment, but something stronger overrode her sense of pity for him. If it's true that he wasn't allowed to see them, then, "Why is Mori-san here?"
Len shook his head, "I have no idea. And anyway, she is your mother's guest."
"But..."
"Are you implying that we planned this?" Len asked incredulously.
"I..." Kahoko thought back on what she saw. Len was hugging her back. The expression on his face. He looked different. It was an expression she had never seen on him before. An expression of total affection.
Len sighed. He knew it. She won't be able to understand things immediately. She'll misunderstand a lot of things. She's too naive. He shook his head.
Kahoko looked at Len and saw that 'patient' face of his again. He usually have that face when he feels like she's acting like a child, a child who doesn't understand anything that is going on. She hated that face. She had several questions she wanted to ask, but that face just made her angry.
Then, she asked a question that would stop him from seeing her as a child.
"Do you love her?"
Len froze for a second.
Where did that question come from? He looked at his Mistress in the eyes and knew that she was serious. But what did she mean by that? As a friend? As a sister? What? While he was thinking it through, he could see that she was becoming a bit restless. And so he answered her without thinking twice of what she will think about his answer.
"Yes."
A/N: Review please!
This is quite a short chapter, but then, the climax will be here soon. ^^