A/N: Hello, hello. Just uploading some old stuff here. Kinda been reading too much stuff on Dynasty scans, so if this story plot doesn't seem too original, it's because it isn't! Just a disclaimer explaining that I take a lot of my inspiration from existing things.

Got a few chapters of this fleshed out already, so I'll be updating this every Friday until further notice! Will also update my other stuff over Xmas maybe.

Next update: 24/11/17

Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Chapter 1

Kumiko found herself increasingly anxious as she waited for the morning train. She stood on the platform, shifting her weight from side to side, her hands nervously wringing the nylon handle on her bag. Sighing, she glanced around, from the turnstiles to the clock and then back again. This became a daily ritual for Oumae Kumiko over the past few days, starting when Reina suddenly took a rare day off school.

She could still remember everything so vividly.

It was the first day of fall and there was a distinct chill in the air as she ran full-speed from the station to Reina's house. It was a desperate dash once school was over, when Kumiko realized that something was wrong. It wasn't usual that they wouldn't exchange texts or see each other at least once throughout the day, but it wasn't like they were dating. However, there was one thing that Kumiko could always count on. Reina never missed practice.

Until today.

Kumiko was sure that something as trivial as a cold wouldn't have been enough to keep Reina away from rehearsal. Knowing her, Kumiko couldn't help but think that something must have been terribly terribly wrong.

There was no text, no call, and no one knew where Kousaka Reina was that day. In sheer panic, Kumiko's mind worked in overdrive, piecing everything together, turning her into a nervous mess. Apparently, Reina's parents were overseas for work and she was home alone. The euphonium player shuddered at the thoughts she battled as she frantically made her way to Reina's apartment.

Kumiko took a breath, bringing herself back to the train platform. She didn't want to remember what Reina was like that day. The Reina she saw then wasn't the dazzling girl she obsessed over. No. There was something about the trumpeter that was terribly different. She was sickly and tired, looking almost like the walking dead.

Kumiko lucked out. Someone was just stepping out of the apartment complex as she reached the door. There was a hurried thank you as she barreled through the lobby, jamming the up button on the elevator with her finger. She pressed it frantically. "C'mon….c'mon…why are you so slow!" It was a hiss of a whisper and Kumiko whimpered in frustration. Finally, the chime echoed and the doors slid open. The ride up was absolute torture as the seconds counted down on the way to the 19th floor. As soon as the door opened, Kumiko bolted out, squeezing past the metal panels.

The brunette tore through the corridor, coming to Reina's unit at the end of the hall. Taking a breath, Kumiko stared at the door, her mind blank. She need to know that Reina was alright, that her vivd imagination was just that. Wiping the sweat from her brow, Kumiko pounded on the door, calling out in panicked desperation.

"Reina! Reina, are you in there!? Please open up! It's me, Kumiko!"

There were a few long seconds of silence before Kumiko pressed her ear to the door. She could hear the faint sound of what she presumed was Reina coming out of her room and padding down to the foyer. The footsteps were coming closer, but Kumiko's nerves were still stretched thin.

A voice, a tired voice came from the other side.

"Kumiko…what are you doing here?"

It was muffled, but Kumiko knew it was Reina. She would know that voice anywhere.

"Reina, thank god you're okay. You don't know how worried I was! You didn't show up for school and no one had heard from you and I didn't get a message or-"

The door suddenly clicked open, wide enough for Kumiko to enter the familiar apartment. She had been here many times before, but today, there was something strange about the air. The lights were completely off, the hallway pitch dark even though it was midday outside.

Kumiko swallowed a gulp as she stood in the dim foyer. She motioned to turn on the lights, but Reina's hand shot out to stop her. Kumiko froze, looking down at Reina as the fingers around her wrist tightened before relaxing.

Her hand was ice cold and her grip was vice-like. A dull ache remained and Kumiko winced at the change in pressure.

"Sorry." Reina angled her face away, her bangs obscuring her expression as she shrank down, shivering. "It's just that the lights hurt my eyes. I have a really horrible migraine and I've been in bed all day."

Kumiko's breathing was short and shallow and for some reason, Reina's explanation, no matter how logical it seemed, didn't reassure her.

"A-Are you sure?" Kumiko could hardly get the words out, her throat feeling tight. She didn't like this atmosphere. "I-I knew this girl…who lived in our building and she had meningitis or something…really bad headache and she hated the bright lights. What if it's that? I heard it's really dangerous, you know? And I'm really-"

"I'm fine. I called a family friend who's a doctor and he came to check me out."

Kumiko swallowed. There was something unsettling about Reina's deadpan voice, and something even more concerning about how she hadn't been able to see Reina's face at all this whole time.

Despite her baser instincts screaming at her to get out of there, Kumiko took a step towards Reina.

Reina flinched, taking a reflexive step backwards.

"I'm really sorry that I worried you, Kumiko. I just…I'm not feeling well. I should get back to bed." Reina turned ever so slightly and for a split second, there was a hint of the caring and considerate Reina there. The apologetic tone, the exasperation, and something else…like a repressed sort of seething.

Reina gnashed her teeth together and Kumiko could see the girl's shoulders tense.

"Reina…I'll stay with you. I'll let you rest, but I'm worried." Kumiko spoke from her heart now, ignoring the tumultuous feelings rising up within her.

There was a moment of silence as Kumiko's words hung in the air.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Kumiko. You can't be here. You just can't…" Bring up a hand to her face, Reina clutched her head, shaking it in disbelief. She laughed, again apologetic. "I just need some time to myself."

Kumiko felt the tears well up in her eyes. It felt like a rejection, something she had pictured a bit differently if she ever were to confess her deepest desires to her best friend. Unconsciously, Kumiko took another step towards Reina. In a fluid movement, the brunette came up behind the shorter girl, wrapping her arms against Reina's front as she held her tightly. With her chin resting on the trumpeter's shoulder, Kumiko breathed in, shuddering at their closeness. "I-I'm just worried about you…you don't know how worried I was to not hear from you…Please let me help or just let me be here with you. I would feel uneasy to know that you're alone when you're not feeling well."

Reina was stiff in Kumiko's arms, an uncommon feeling since their skinship was always so natural. After a stagnant minute, Reina relaxed slightly, turning in the taller girl's embrace. Reina let her arms snake around Kumiko's waist, resting on the small of her back as she clutched Kumiko's uniform in her hands. She breathed deeply as she nuzzled her face against the crook of the brunette's neck. It was so warm and comfortable and…

Reina took in another breath. She knew it. It was undeniable. She confirmed what she suspected after spending so many hours in writhing agony. She needed Kumiko. She wanted her. Taking in another deep breath, Reina savored the euphonium player's scent, a gentle mix of fresh laundry and that apple hair wash Kumiko loved so much. Swallowing hard, Reina hugged Kumiko harder, her breath starting to become uneven and choppy as she pressed her lips against cool skin.

Kumiko became conscious of Reina's lips against her neck, feeling hot breath ghost against her skin. She shuddered at the contact, wishing she could enjoy the intimacy.

"R-Reina, are you alright? You're really warm. Are you-"

Abruptly, Reina pushed herself away, laughing sheepishly as she shook her head.

"Y-yeah. I'm…I'm fine. I just need some sleep. I promise I'll be okay, Kumiko."

Kumiko could see Reina's face now, her eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. Even in such limited lighting, the brunette knew that the girl's face was white as a sheet, paler than anyone she'd ever seen before. Kumiko stared, concern overwhelming her as she noticed the dark circles under Reina's amethyst orbs. Her eyes were still bright and they shone in the darkness, like the eyes of a cat.

Reina smiled, trying to ease Kumiko's obvious skepticism.

"I promise. I'll send you a LINE message every so often, okay?" With that, Reina took Kumiko by the hand, gently leading her towards the door as she politely showed her visitor out.

Kumiko turned as she stepped out the door, her words caught in her throat. She locked eyes with Reina and the trumpeter mustered up her sweetest smile, but it was marred with undeniable exhaustion.

"I'm really glad you came to see me, Kumiko…just don't worry about me. Message me when you get home."

Kumiko stared dumbly and could only manage a nod as Reina smiled again before closing the door. For a moment, Kumiko stood frozen to the spot. She was outside Reina's unit, unsure of what to make of the whole exchange.

She put a hand up to her neck where Reina's lips were. The sensation was burned into her skin and Kumiko wanted nothing but to take advantage of the circumstances. Unfortunately, she wasn't even given that option. Her head swimming with guilt, Kumiko made her way out of the apartment complex, still thinking about Reina's lips.

She thought back to their hike on Mount Daikichi, feeling that this was what it must have been like to be drawn to a beautiful thing despite your fears. It wasn't like she was afraid of Reina, but something about the atmosphere today felt…

Dangerous.

Kumiko was back to the train platform, but her mind still focused on that strange day. Ever since then, Reina did as she promised, sending a message and chatting with Kumiko like nothing was out of the ordinary. However, if anything, Kumiko could feel the longing in the trumpeter's words, sensing that Reina did want her there.

This carried on for four days, and the band was in disarray without their star soloist. However, Reina adamantly insisted that she would be at school today, that she was feeling 100% again.

Kumiko highly doubted this, seeing how sickly the trumpeter looked. Still, she let her eyes dart around frantically, trying to catch a glimpse of Reina's pin-straight hair and trademark thigh highs.

"Kumiko."

The brunette in question jumped, turning around abruptly.

"G-gah! R-Reina?"

She stared for a moment, coming face to face with a more than familiar smirk. There was a silence between them as Kumiko studied the shorter girl's face. She looked fine, completely back to her flawless self.

"Is there something on my face?" Reina laughed, challenging Kumiko's intense gaze.

A wide smile pulling at her lips, Kumiko lurched forward, wrapping Reina in a bear hug.

"Reina! I'm so glad you're alright. You scared me half to death the other day!" Kumiko sighed in relief, comforted by Reina's warmth.

However, Reina stood stock still in the taller girl's embrace, her fists clenched at her side, her teeth gnashed together as she forced her eyes shut. She held her breath, waiting for the contact to be over. Thankfully, after a few seconds, Kumiko stepped away, tilting her head quizzically at the trumpeter.

"Sorry. Was that too much…? I know you must still be recovering. Just tell me if I'm-"

"No!" Reina cut in, forcing a smile to cover up the discomfort she felt. "I'm just still a little bit tired. You know that you're the only one I can be myself with."

"Reina…" Kumiko accepted the explanation, but kept her distance. She felt Reina tense in her arms, something she was far from used to. "It's okay. Don't worry. I'm just glad that you're feeling better.

Reina nodded and at that moment, the announcement for the train echoed overhead. Wordlessly, they went to stand behind the yellow line, with Reina trailing a fraction behind Kumiko. The trumpeter's eyes were fixed on the nape of the taller girl's neck and she swallowed, trying to suppress the animalistic urges that rose up like bile inside her. It was hard enough to approach Kumiko this morning. She spent the last ten minutes standing in the shadows, just watching the euphonium player from afar. She was watching and waiting, trying to gauge her own reactions to seeing the girl she couldn't stop thinking about. It was unnerving that her obsession with Kumiko had been polluted with something darker and more sinister. Reina had always dreamt of kissing Kumiko, but now, instead of her lips, her eyes were drawn more to the slender nape of the brunette's neck, intoxicated by the strong pulsing of blood that coursed through her carotids.

She could smell it.

And she wondered how Kumiko would taste.