Short story: music part III
So here's part three of Cantare
“I’m sorry but no one survived”
“That’s impossible! they can’t all be gone!”
“We found a survivor!”
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“He might never wake up again Shirokawa-san we can only pray”
“He’ll wake up because this boy is strong…. He won’t lose like this”
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“Haru! Your awake thank Kami-sama it’s been months!”
“What’s wrong? Oi! Doctor!”
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“He can’t speak anymore the injury to his vocal cords were severe…. Shirokawa-san the damage was too much. His ears were completely destroyed there’s no hope for them”
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“Haruka I’m sorry, we can’t do anything for you anymore…. Music, it’ll never be the same for you. It won’t exist”
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“Why?! Why?! Did he have to die? Why are you alive when they are dead?! You’re better off dead! Why couldn’t he have lived instead!?”
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“Nee-san you can’t be serious?! How can you abandon him like this? He’s your son!”
“That boy, he’s not my son… my son is dead along with my beloved!”
“Nee-san!”
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“’Haruka from now on you’ll be living with me”’
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“Give it up! There no way you’ll ever play again you idiot!”
“Stupid freak! Are you even listening?!”
“Baka~ how could he? He’s deaf!”
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“Haru…. Give up. Please, it hurts to see you like this”
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“Haruka, hold on! Come on! Why did you do this? Why did you jump? Did you think killing yourself would answer everything?! You Idiot! Baka!”
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“Shirokawa-san it’s amazing but he’s healing so quickly! It near miraculous”
“Thank god”
“Yes, but his eye… it will never heal. It’s blind”
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“Never do that to me again Haruka… No matter what happens, never resort to bereavement, Promise me please. Promise me”
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“Eh? Your pretty good Haru, you should be an artist ne?”
“To Tokyo? Are you sure”
“I-If that what you want”
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“Be careful Haruka, those scars of yours they will always be with you”
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“It’s not fair! How come he gets to try out?! My sister was late and she wasn’t given the chance to audition!”
“god, what is wrong with the world?! The deaf playing music?! What’s next?!”
“He doesn’t deserve this my friend is probably better than him”
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“Hey! Hey! Oh wait you can’t hear me can you? Well read my lips”
“GO HOME!”
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The day of his audition arrived faster than Haruka had wanted it to. He had endured the whispers, but he can’t endure nerves. People did say that one’s own greatest enemy is thyself. Pacing the along the floor he worried his lips until the color turned into a bright red. On a chair Hakuren watched amused as the other walked passed him. They had practiced until early that morning and he for one would not waste what was left of their caffeine induced energy in pacing. Quickly grabbing the others arm he tugged at the appendage until they were face to face.
“Relax, pacing will get you nowhere”
Smiling thankfully Haruka bowed his head sheepishly before turning back when he saw Hakuren nod towards the door.
=Sakura!=
Watching as the other approached him he opened his arms to catch the girl as she threw herself into his arms. Feeling the arms tighten around him he pulled the other away with a laugh.
=Sakura! You’ll ruin my suite!= he signed playfully
“’Oh stop that and let me hug you!”’ She slapped his arm playfully before grinning “’Make me proud ne?”’
=Will do=
Hearing the emcee call for attention he gave Sakura a final embrace before shooing her away towards the audience. Looking back Sakura gave thumbs up before joining the audience behind the curtain. Turning his head towards Hakuren his smile dimmed into a small grimace before looking towards piano and back. He tilted his head lightly in question his single eye staring into his.
Are you ready?
A smile tugging at his lips Hakuren turned to stare into the others eye
“Does it matter if I am?” he asked sarcastically.
Grinning the other shook his head before closing his eye and bowing his head in thanks before looking up to smile earnestly.
Thank you
Giving the other a peace sign he walked towards the stage with his head held up high. Hakuren won’t be joining him until his last piece. Facing the crowd he caught Noboru’s eyes and smiled before bowing to his waist. As required his attire was a formal suite. It was a pure black that tail coat that had silver buttons and a blood red bow around his neck his inner shirt was a pure white with silver chains connecting to his suite and his eye was covered with his usual eye patch while his beautiful golden hair was painstakingly combed to gather at the nape of his and neck held together by a long ribbon the same dye as his bow. His pale skin seem to glow under the spot light and his single blue eye glowed with apprehension and excitement.
Straightening his back he sat on the piano and waited for his signal to begin. Getting his cue Haruka’s eyes stared up to the ceiling before he took a deep breath closing his eyes. Releasing his breath, his hands lowered unto the keys, relishing the feel of the smooth surface against his callused fingertips. A true smile tugged at his lips before his eye opened and he began to play.
His first piece was Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu. Quickly his fingers danced along the keys faster and faster while his foot pressed unto the pedals gracefully. He played with a certain mystery to his stance swaying and bobbing with the melody a soft smile still in place across his lips as the song mellowed and his strokes became gentler like a lover gently caressing his beloved he played. In all truth he had a hard time playing this piece, there were too many high notes. He could barely feel the vibration against his fingers as he played but it didn’t matter because at that moment his full focus was centered unto his arms. Every note was a splash of color beneath his eye lids bright and dark like fireworks flickering across his vision. This was his music.
Panting as he came to the slow ending his fingers softly touched each key before he came to a stop sweat glistening across his face. Eyes opening he took another deep breath before shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Playfully he began the introduction of his next piece.
Grieg’s Anrita’s Dance arranged for the piano was a playful piece. As the title suggested the music danced around them in slow and fast intervals. It awed the audience as they watched in complete silence. It was impossible to think that the boy playing was deaf. There was so much emotion on his music that every heart was moved. The song slowly became darker more mysterious before relaxing once again into a cheerful tempo beguiling them. The boy was truly an enchanter.
Slowly as the piece ended abruptly the crowd began to clap and cheer. It was loud enough to shake the stage Haruka stood on and with wide eyes he turned towards his listeners and smiled before standing and stretching out his left arm to beckon Hakuren unto the stage. Calmly Hakuren entered the stage the spotlight highlighting his figure, clad in the clothes same as the other only his was colored white, immediately and bowed towards the audience as well before turning to his partner and nodding his head with a calm smile.
It had been a challenge to synchronize their play in five days but they had done it. Approaching the blonde he settled his violin between his chin and shoulder and smiled.
“Are you ready?”
Smiling back the other nodded
As I can be
And then everything came to life. The loud entrance of the piano and the shrill singing of the violence caught the audience by surprise but most recognized the piece.
Brahms Sonata no.3, op.108 , IV. Presto Agitato
Music reverberated around them seeping into their very soul. Haruka’s dynamic entrance caused the tie of his eye patch to loosen and slowly the cloth fell to ground and his scar seemed to glow against his skin. But he couldn’t be bothered with it. Opening both his eyes, scared green ones stared blankly while the bright blue one was clouded in pain. He wasn’t proud to have this scar but it was proof. Proof of his rebirth, of his sacrifices and of all his hardships.
‘Natsu-jii you were right, my scars will always be with me… but it’s because of their pain that I could live again’
Hakuren on another hand played like nothing they had ever seen before. It was often said that Hakuren’s style was beautiful yet lacked passion but now he played with as much raw emotion as the other as if he was sharing his pain and reveling in it.
Truly the piece suited them, like the light and the dark contrasting and forever fighting, crawling up against each other and swaying before exploding into another conflict yet somehow retaining an understanding between them.
Among the audience Noboru smiled ‘You found it, what makes music so beautiful Haku’
Near the doors Natsu listened with eyes closed as tears welled within them. Haruka was so persistent and he couldn’t help but thank god that the boy didn’t listen to him.
‘This was where he was meant to be, just like my brother forever engrained with music’
On stage Haruka and Hakuren continued to play. It was their world, their life, their love, their hate. Their very being and meaning for existence and unknowingly their thoughts synchronized into single thought.
‘For isn’t music the very soul of life? There’s nothing more I can ask the world than be forever in this realm where I can do nothing but play to my heart’s content’
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It was a unanimous decision that he was allowed to enter the music division. Haruka knew that his hardships would only grow from then on. A single performance was not enough to quell those whispers, people were people after all, it was human nature to isolate those they found ugly, scared and deformed. But he was prepared. He had friends by his side that understood and that was all he needed.
Smiling towards Hakuren he let tears fall for the first time in years as he stared out into the crowd seeing every face and every being that applauded him. He would continue fighting, he would continue striving because he loved music and right now…
He was taking his first baby steps into the world that he chose. The world that he loved, and maybe someday his own world won’t only be of silence.
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