[La Corda d'Oro] A Step for Andante - Part 2
Disclaimer: La Corda d'Oro and its characters belong to Kure Yuki.
Rating: PG-13.
Characters: Ryoutaro and Len.
Summary:
When Ryoutaro was on the verge of tearing his hair out, unable to decide whether he should offer his help or just let Len fall from being a top rank soloist, he realized that things might not be so simple between them.
A/N: thank you so much to annalisemarie99 who has wonderfully proof-read it, and also to yuliyudo who has spared her time to check on the first six themes.
Read Part 1.
A STEP FOR ANDANTE
~Six to Ten~
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(Shine: the darker the night, the brighter the stars.)
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"You know, you shouldn't let them bother you," Ryoutaro said, putting down his cup of coffee at the pantry table as Len poured his share into his cup. "They're just gossips."
Upon this Len glanced at Ryoutaro for a split second, before sighing and taking a seat at the pantry. "I'm not bothered."
"You are. I can see you are. You should just ignore it," Ryoutaro shook his head, hastily trying to reach the newspaper and throw it into the trash bin, but Len's hand stopped him.
"Are you blind?" Len countered, eyes sharp, and Ryoutaro felt his heart do a salto inside. "What they said about the concert is the fact. Not merely gossips. I thought that much you would have understood."
Ryoutaro opened his mouth slightly, searching for anything to say, but in the end he could only close it again as Len's grip on his hand grew loose. But this time, he was the one who grabbed Len's by the fingers, tight and firm, not willing the violinist's hand to retreat. He locked Len's surprised eyes with his.
"Then why don't you show them that they're wrong?" he pressed, eyebrow raised in a challenging manner, yet the emotions behind those words were such that Len was unable to do anything but stare. "Prove them that you haven't lost your shine, your music, your perfection, that they are still yours!"
For a moment there was only silence descended upon the both of them; tight, sickening, and intense. Len was glaring, lips pressed into a tight line, and Ryoutaro bit his lower lip.
"…Are your deaf?" Len's voice cracked at first, but he managed to control his emotion as he shoved Ryoutaro's hand away, turning on his feet briskly. "You were at the concert," he narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"I was," Ryoutaro simply answered, oddly he could maintain the neutral tone of voice. "I said you were a mess. Your mind wasn't into it."
"As much as I hate it, I admit I was indeed incapable in handling my own emotions," Len closed his eyes, dejected, his fingers threading through his fringe. "You know I-it's been always like that in the past few weeks," he paused, sucking his lower lip inward. "Perhaps I-"
"You can't play the violin anymore?"
Now Len was staring, right into Ryoutaro's light brown orbs, unsurprised at the latter's question, yet couldn't fully mask the pain that had been slipped past his expression. His hands trembled, albeit slightly, and he quickly balled them into fists. Obviously Ryoutaro didn't miss it.
"I can, of course I ca-" Len's voice trailed off at Ryoutaro's sharp gaze. "I will play the violin perfectly again," he corrected himself audibly, glancing sideways.
When the lull blanketed them again, Ryoutaro let out a sigh, pushing himself from the pantry and scratching his head awkwardly.
"You know, it's okay to take your time," he said with a smile. "After all you've just lost your mother."
Len didn't turn at him, nor did he say anything. What he did was only sipping the coffee he had left on the table before, ignoring Ryoutaro until the guy quietly went to the guest room. As he was alone, Len closed his eyes, letting out a wry, soundless laugh.
"I've told you I don't care about her…"
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(Illogical: why is it unstoppable for me to think about you?)
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"Hihara-senpai called."
Len glanced up for a moment, before returning at his notebook screen without care. Ryoutaro took a seat on the sofa besides him, slightly peeking at what Len was working on. But the light in the room was too soft for his liking, making him clench his eyes shut for a moment. The night breeze delicately slipped inside from the opened window.
"And he said Shimizu's getting married. The invitation will be sent later this month."
Nodding slightly, Len made clicking sounds with his mouse. "Why would he deliver the news and not Shimizu himself?"
"Because marriage requires two people."
Raising his face, Len merely connected his brows together.
"And the other person is Hihara himself."
Len made a sharp choking sound.
"I was kidding." Laughing, Ryoutaro patted Len on the back, sliding his palm up and down the area when Len could only produce coughs. "Hihara is made the best man. Shimizu will call us soon, though."
"You, insolent. . ."
"I know, I know, my bad," Ryoutaro laughed a bit more. "But I'm glad he called. He reminded me of something I want to try to make tomorrow."
"And I don't think I want to know what it is," Len scoffed, shoving Ryoutaro's hand from his back.
"You don't. But you'll get a taste."
Upon Len's apathetic eyes, Ryoutaro only gave a smirk.
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(Cake: the sweetest thing is to see you here, with me.)
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"This is the thing you wanted to try to make?"
Ryoutaro glanced up, tugging his lips into a slight smirk as he put down his fork. "Sugar is nice sometimes. You know, to cheer up," he said casually.
Len narrowed his eyes, glaring at the strawberry shortcake offered before him with an expression of disbelief. "I don't eat sweets. And I don't need to cheer up."
"Yes you do. You're gonna love this," Ryoutaro pushed the blue crystal plate nearer to Len, clearly amused when Len's nose wrinkled instantly. "Trust me," he added.
Sighing, Len took a fork, slicing the creamy cake into a small part unenthusiastically. When Ryoutaro merely staring at him with an amused smile patched on his lips, Len almost rolled his eyes. He took a bite, intending to just quickly swallow the disgusting sweet before he could taste it, but paused. Because it wasn't disgusting at all.
"How does it taste?" Ryoutaro grinned, wiggling his eyebrows confidently. Seeing his expression shot irritation right to Len's nerves.
"Not bad," Len answered, glancing sideways, clearly refusing to meet Ryoutaro's gaze. The latter chuckled at that, unwavering to Len's half-hearted remark.
"It's not too sweet, huh? I guess I succeeded. "
"Well, should I compliment you for being a good chef rather than a pianist?" Len's eyebrow raised, eyes trained on Ryoutaro again.
"Hey," countered said pianist in sheer disagreement, "I'm quite a successful pianist, too!"
"Then what's this successful pianist doing, leaving all his responsibilities like that?"
At Len's cynical question, Ryoutaro's mouth opened in shock. He cursed soundlessly.
"You knew about my concert, huh." It was his turn to avoid Len's scrutinize now.
When Len didn't give him any answer, though, Ryoutaro eyes slightly widened in realization, before the corners of his lips twitched in a satisfied smile.
"You follow my news," he stated, abnormally feeling a bit too excited; Len's eyebrows tweaked in response.
"I can't help it, can I?"
The smile on Ryoutaro's face never faltered, even if Len started to shower him with his infamous glares. That finally made Len gave up and sighed, muttering his exasperation-which was immediately tuned out by Ryoutaro.
"What an idiot."
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(Sense: give me your hand, I'll make sure to keep it warm.)
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One morning, after they had finished their breakfast and Len had began tying his tie before the full body mirror just besides the main bathroom, Ryoutaro suddenly spoke up while cleaning the table.
"I'm going back to New York tomorrow."
Len was silent, fixing his eyes at Ryoutaro's back through the mirror. Then, those well-defined muscles under the white shirt shifted, letting their owner to stare back at Len's reflection. Said violinist didn't turn away this time.
"About time," he simply said after a short while.
"Uh-huh. My manager's getting more pestering lately," Ryoutaro rolled his eyes, half sitting on the table, arms on his thighs.
"Say . . ." He continued tentatively, pursing his lips as if he was contemplating something. Len's eyebrows arched in question.
"Why don't you come along?"
The expression Len had showed then was such that Ryoutaro had to hurriedly continue his speaking before Len could say something that would wreck hi guts to pieces.
"Europe is great. Awesome, even. But maybe you could learn something in New York, too? It's a hell lot different from Vienna. Guaranteed."
Len sighed, closing his eyes wearily, hands adjusting his tie. "I have to go to London soon, Tsuchiura. My concert in Japan was a disaster and I must not repeat the same mistake in my next recital."
"But can you really play . . . "
"I can," Len cut out, turning his body so that now he was face to face with Ryoutaro. "Well, I must."
Hearing Len's answer-which was undoubtedly a forced one, Ryoutaro munched his lower lip lightly.
"Okay. Yeah, understood," he said worriedly. But when Len was ready to reply, Ryoutaro beat him to it. "Think of me when you're in trouble," he grinned.
To say Len was surprised was not exactly wrong, but he managed to stay still on his place, softened his eyes, as a small smile made a quick, subtle appearance on his face.
"That's the silliest advice I've ever heard."
Ryoutaro was lying if he said he didn't feel the butterfly in his stomach.
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(Immature: I just need one simple answer, you know?)
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"I don't need to be escorted," told Ryoutaro while his hand playing with the strap of his black duffle bag.
"Good," answered Len shortly.
"Yeah, I'll just need to walk to the station and ride a train to Narita."
"Exactly."
"And then I'll just have to wait until-one, before I could board the plane."
"Mm-hm."
"Then I'll be in New York in less than thirteen hours-"
"I know."
"And I'll practice hard and have a concert-"
"On the fifteenth, yes."
"-and will forget you if you don't give me your phone numbers."
Len's face was full of incredulity, while Ryoutaro just stared in anticipation.
"You're asking me now, after days of staying at my apartment?"
"I know! I just didn't get the chance-" he halted as Len grabbed his hand, sliding the glove off, and pulled a pen out of his pocket. "Whoa, why on my palm?"
"Because I want to."
"But it'll be washed out! I have a cellpho-"
Len's ominous eyes stopped him.
"Oh yeah, old-fashioned ways are better sometimes…" He said awkwardly, sheepishly. Len was already working back on his palm, carving numbers and sending tickles to Ryoutaro's entire being. The coldness that was Len's hand was oddly comfortable.
"I doubt it, however," Len suddenly stated, not quite willing to let Ryoutaro's hand go despite his fingers had stopped writing.
"What?"
"That you'll forget me. I'll be on news more often than you," he let Ryoutaro's hand free, and Ryoutaro was more concerned about the missing coldness rather than the sardonic remark. He smiled nonetheless, tightening his grip on the duffel and carefully slipped his other hand-the one with Len's numbers-inside his coat pocket, not bothering to wear the glove again. Len's pale fingers fiddled with said glove for a while before he slid it around his own hand.
"Say that after you make a great come back," Ryoutaro uttered.
At that Len smirked, if only slightly, before retreating inside his apartment door and left Ryoutaro with a simple farewell. Well. The latter couldn't ask for more.
Whistling, Ryoutaro began to walk to the station, quite satisfied with his own self despite having done nothing for Len. The guy's problems had not yet solved, certainly. But Ryoutaro would try-maybe pay a little visit to Len's concert in London, or call him after his own concert…
Idiotically, he grinned to himself, sliding out his hand from the coat's pocket once he had settled his feet on one of the train's compartments. A second later though, he almost banged his head to the door's glass, muttering something like, 'Arrogant bastard'.
On his palm, were no numbers-nothing. Just a simple sentence that read:
'Try harder, idiot.'
(To be continued)
Okay, actually I have written this ages ago, but I only have the time to publish it now. RL is slowly killing my hobbies, I can barely have enough time to enjoy fandom life lately :"(
Anyway, as always, I'll be waiting for your comments. Please help me increase my writing mood? ^^
Last but not least, please look forward to the next chapter~ ;)