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As You Wish, Ojou-sama
Chapter 10
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"Another wonderful performance." Misa smiled proudly, giving Mori and Len a brief hug as they entered the dressing room.
"Thank you," Mori and Len answered politely.
Len went to his place and started fixing his violin, while Mori laid her bouquet of flowers beside her things.
"We've gone a long way now." Mori said, watching Len from her mirror.
"I'm so proud of you two," Misa smiled, "It's almost a year since you two have been on this tour. You've both gone a long way."
"There's still so much to learn." Len said, in his usual cold voice.
Mori giggled, "Such a perfectionist."
Len half glared at Mori and Mori stuck her tongue out at him. Misa shook her head at their obviously joking exchange. She sighed, "It's been two years since you two left Japan, always performing together. Fresh talents which the media are crazy for..."
Mori and Len looked at her questioningly. "What are you trying to say, Mother?" Len asked suspiciously as he closed the case of his violin. He knows his mother well enough to sense that there was something more under her statement.
Misa smiled, "Why don't you two get engaged already."
Mori, who was arranging her music sheet, dropped them accidentally on the floor. Len stared at his mother with a blank expression.
"Oh come on." Misa chided like a teenager, "The press are quiet, but on the press conference which you're both going to attend next week, I'm sure they'll ask your relationship status."
"We are just childhood friends and partners." Len answered immediately.
Mori, who was rearranging her notes, paused briefly at his words. She felt a slight pang of pain in her chest at his blunt and quick answer.
Misa shook her head, thinking that Len's denial was just because of embarrassment, "It's nothing to hide. It's just better to have it official than get a scandal because of your close relationship."
"Mother—" Len tried to protest.
"Tut tut," she interrupted, "You two are staying in the same apartment back in Vienna, I'm sure that the press already dug that up."
"You insisted on it." Len said accusingly.
"Mori dear," Misa continued, as if Len never spoke, "What do you think about it? I haven't heard you say a thing."
Mori brushed her dress as she stood up, she blushed as Misa looked at her expectantly.
"I..." she glanced at Len briefly, "I think it's still too soon."
Misa giggled softly as Mori's clearly flustered state, "Alright alright." she laughed, "Well, gather up your things, I'll be waiting in the van."
As soon as Misa closed the door, Len sighed in slight irritation. Mori pinched her cheeks. Len turned to Mori and she immediately opened her mouth to defend herself.
"I'm sorry," Len apologized.
It took her a second before she responded with a small smile, "It's okay."
"Mother—"
"It's okay Len." Mori repeated, but she frowned slightly, "the media IS a problem though. Do you think we should start going our separate ways?"
"No."
Mori looked at him in surprise with his straight answer. "She'll misunderstand." Mori said softly, knowing that Len knows who she's referring to.
"I made a promise, she'll understand."
"She's naive."
"She's changed."
"Len," Mori said exasperatedly.
"I know what I'm doing." Len said shortly.
"Two years. Do you think she still remembers..." Mori trailed off, her own heart clenching. She shook her head as she stuffed her music sheets into her clearbook and she took her bouquet. She grabbed her coat on the way out. She ran out of the room hurriedly, but Len still caught a glimpse of her falling tears.
Len sighed frustratedly. He scolded himself of how he can keep hurting the one person who is beside him and means a lot to him.
The promise...
The promise he made to Kahoko before he left to go to Vienna. He recalled that moment two years ago.
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"Let's go," Mori murmured to Len as their flight number had been called.
"Do you think..." Len let the thought sink.
Mori smiled a small sad smile, "I don't know," she answered honestly, "I couldn't ask Ryou."
Len looked back one last time, where Misa and his father still stood, waving goodbye to them. He sighed, "Alright." he finally said.
"Len!"
Len immediately turned at the familiar voice. As soon as he turned his whole bod around, he felt a heavy impact as arms encircled his neck. "Ojou-sama." he breathed.
Mori moved back a little, seeing Kahoko sob on Len's chest. She suppressed the jealousy she was starting to feel. Unable to take it anymore, she cast her eyes downward.
She suddenly felt someone gently knock on her head. She looked up into a pair of familiar green eyes. "Ryou," she smiled.
"It's been a while," he grinned. "Get that look off your face. It's for him after all, isn't it?"
Mori nodded, she told Ryoutaro everything after all. He knows what she's planning for the future. And she knows Ryoutaro wouldn't interfere nor help, but just let things be as they happen.
"It hurts." Mori murmured.
"Of course it hurts, dummy." Ryoutaro said in a light tone. "Well, you've chosen to be the good Samaritan, swallow it up. Be strong. See it through the end," then he added softly, "Just like your mom did."
Mori nodded, "I know..." but she forced herself to smile, "You've had a change of heart, that must be harder."
"It is. But I know my priorities now. I won't force her, but I know one day she'll look at me for me. I know that one day I'd win her heart. Especially when you get Tsukimori to fall for you on your trip."
"Ryou!" Mori glared at him.
He chuckled, "I'm kidding. I know that's not what your after, but like I said, I'll let things be, and let the chips fall whenever it may. This just means, we don't know what to expect in the future. I'm not going to stop hoping."
"Be happy Ryou," Mori murmured.
"Yeah, you too."
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"Len, Len, Len." Kahoko murmured on his chest.
"Ojou-sama..."
"I'm so sorry," she cried, "I never meant to push you away, but it hurts so much. Can't you just—"
"Shh," Len interrupted, "Please, don't say it. If you ask me to stay, I'd really do it."
"Then—"
"This is my dream. Don't hold me back."
Kahoko it her lower lip when Len said that. She didn't want to hold him back, she wants to cheer him on too. But it just feels empty without him beside her, taking care of her.
"I know you'll do great." Kahoko murmured, "but I'm scared..."
"Scared?"
"I'm scared I won't be able to reach you."
"Ojou-sama—"
"Don't lie." Kahoko said in a hard voice, "I've seen you play, Len. It's in a whole new level. And if you sharpen that talent, the gift, you have, I'll be having a hard time keeping up with you. You'll be famous in no time. I—"
"I promise I'd come back to you."
Kahoko looked at Len in surprise. The way he said it, it was...different. "Len..." Kahoko stared into his eyes.
"I know I'm not in the position to say this, but I'll come back and be someone suitable for you." He held both her hands, "I promise, Kahoko."
Her eyes widen since he said her name...how much she had wanted him to call her name..."Len..."
"I promise I'd come back." he said one last time before letting go of her, "Whatever happens, please, wait for me."
Kahoko nodded. "I will."
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2 More Years Later...
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"Kahoko!" Ryoutaro suddenly barged into Kahoko's room.
He looked around and sighed when he confirmed that she wasn't there. He paused for a while and got an idea as to where she could've gone. And like his guess, he got it right. Kahoko stood in the middle of the music room in the mansion as she played her violin. Ryoutaro opened the door silently, and watched her with wonder.
Four years had passed since she decided to take her violin seriously. The trigger for that is the reason why he came to find her.
"You need to see this." he interrupted. He got the remote controller on a table and opened the mini television suspended on the corner of the ceiling. As soon as he opened it, it showed a group of media and civilians cowering over a certain blue-haired gentleman.
Kahoko's heart constricted at the sight of him. Then the scene changed, into a press conference. The room was filled with media, cameras flashing furiously all around. Len and Mori sat at the table in front quietly.
Then the interviews started.
"So," a reporter began, speaking in Japanese, "Will you be staying in Japan or will you just be visiting for a while?"
"There's hasn't been a final decision yet. Maybe we'll be visiting for only a while. Mother has been asking us to visit since two years ago, but the schedule's hectic."
"Us?" Clearly, this pique the reporter's interest.
Len shrugged, undisturbed. "Of course Mori is coming along."
The reporter did not get swayed by his lack of reaction. She asked, "I hope you won't mind me asking about her," she said, eye-ing Mori, "Well, let me just ask the both of you then." she leaned forward from her chair as the room became very silent. "This is the first press conference you'll be having by your fellow countrymen since the rise of your reputations. We've seen the international newspapers cover you two quite a number of times. They're always praising your talents, but frequently, they're interested in the close relationship you both seem to share. Even though you've denied it a lot of time, are you two dating?"
"I'm sure your team already did your research regarding that, along with more personal matters."
The reporter giggled, "Of course a direct confirmation is better. You two share a close relationship, after all you're childhood friends, both good in the musical field, plus you're always together, not to mention, you live together in your apartment in Vienna."
"Convenience was the only thing we had in mind. Our schedules were all the same, anyway, aunt Misa was the one who decided it." Mori answered.
"Next please," Len said icily, not bothering to let the female reporter continue even though she probably had more to ask.
This time a male reporter asked the questions.
"I heard that you two were planning to be engaged."
Kahoko jumped at the reporter's question. "That's not true." Kahoko instinctively answered.
"Listen to them." Ryoutaro said.
Len and Mori glanced at each other and Len sighed.
"I think we've already cleared that rumor two years ago." Len said.
"See," Kahoko murmured, looking at Ryoutaro with a smile. But her smile disappeared when he was half glaring at the screen. She immediately looked back, sensing that something wasn't right.
"Yes, you did. But of course, that was two years ago. A lot of things can happen in two years." the reporter grinned, hoping he'd hit home. "There's a rumor going on that you're going back to Japan next week to officially ask for Mori-san's parents' blessing."
"What do you have to say about that, Manami-san?" another reporter chipped in.
"I..." Mori said speechlessly.
"There's also a rumor that Misa-san cancelled her upcoming tour to prepare for the engagement party."
"I! I have a reliable source!" a reporter at the farther back said, all heads turned toward that particular reporter, "My source said that the necklace around your neck, always hidden, hanging onto it is the engagement ring Tsukimori has given you when he proposed."
Instinctively, Mori brought her hand to her chest with a small gasp.
"So, is there any more denial?"
Len sighed and looked back at Mori. Mori bit her lower lip, she brought her hands around her neck to unclasp her necklace. As she pulled it out, just as the reporter had said, hanging on the chain, was a ring.
Suddenly the reporters went crazy.
And the television was suddenly switched off.
Kahoko looked at Ryoutaro with an annoyed expression. "I was watching that!"
"So, are you still going to wait for him?" Ryoutaro asked seriously.
"I promised." she said determinedly.
Ryoutaro sighed as he walked towards the balcony, "I guess I expected your answer, you're just as naive as four years ago. They're engaged now. Promises can be forgotten over time. I guess he decided to look at the bigger picture now."
"That's not true. You didn't let me finish watching! How sure are you that they're engaged? They haven't confirmed anything!" Kahoko said angrily.
"Everything was right in front of you and you're still denying it?"
"Len is a man of his words. I believe in him."
"Then maybe you should hear it from himself, then."
"He's here?" Kahoko's eyes widen.
Ryoutaro shrugged, "He will be. Tonight. Maybe you should go see him and ask the question yourself."
"Maybe I will."
Ryoutaro sighed at her stubborness, "Suit yourself. Here's all the answer you'll be needing." Ryoutaro reached into his back pocket and tossed a small invitation envelope into her surprised hands.
Kahoko's eyes widen.
You are invited to the official engagement ceremony/ party
of
Manami Mori-sama
and
Tsukimori Len-sama
"The details are inside, Mori sent it for you. Get ready, it's going to be tonight." Ryoutaro said without emotion as he left the room.
Kahoko stared at the inscriptions until her sight became glassy and blurry. Finally, her tears flowed.
It couldn't be.
He promised her.
"Len." as she said his name, she could feel her heart shattering.
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Len woke up at the sound of someone calling his name. He opened his eyes and looked around at the unfamiliar place. Then it hit him that he was in a plane.
Yes, after four years, he's going back.
"Len."
Len looked up and had just realized that Mori was sitting across him the whole time, calling out his name gently.
"Hmn?" Len said, rubbing his eyes carefully.
"Is this the right thing?" she murmured, absentmindedly touching the ring around her necklace. "You don't have to do this..."
"It's my choice."
Mori looked at Len with sad eyes, "Len, I don't want to chain you to me."
"It's not chains Mori..." Len said softly.
"I don't want you to lie to your heart." Mori said, tears started to fall from the corner of her eyes.
Len leaned forward and caught the falling tears, "Mori, everything will be alright. This is what I choose."
Mori shook her head, "You wouldn't have chosen this if you never knew about it."
"Knew about what?"
Mori moved away, "You know what I mean."
"Knew about what?" Len asked again.
Mori reached from behind her and pulled out an envelope. Len's eyes widen.
"How—"
"I saw it on top of your suitcase before we left the hotel."
"Mori, I—"
"Stop it Len. Please. I'm not going to be happy even if this happens..."
"It's my choice, Mori. Just, be happy, please? For me?" Len murmured softly. "Just this once, don't think about others, just think about yourself."
Mori shook her head, "I don't want start becoming selfish, Len. Because I won't be able to let you go."
"Then don't let me go."
"Len!" Mori whined, "Please, don't. I love you so much. But you belong to Kahoko."
"Just think about what you want." Len murmured.
Mori shut her eyes tightly. Trying to fight with what she wants and with what was right. But who was she kidding. It's her turn. It's her turn to be happy...right?
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A/N: Time jump much? Review please! I know this wasn't much. And it was confusing, so I'll answer any questions you may have ^^. Please look forward to the next chapter. Wondering why Len suddenly acted this way? Ke ke ke.