It's finally the day. The day where I part from Kahoko, and Japan.

I look around at my new surroundings. The airport. I had a feeling that this would be the last memories I would ever have of it – standing here, feeling foreign, watching people rush by and hearing all sorts of announcements about check in, boarding, and the likes.

I felt bad that I didn't tell Kahoko when I was leaving. I wanted to leave gradually, I guess.

|~-~|

"Misa-san?"

A groggy Kahoko wakes up to find the famous pianist Hamai Misa around in her room, dragging her out of bed.

"Do you want to see Len off or not?"

Kahoko jerks awake when she hears his name, and looks at Misa.

"I'm coming."

|~-~|

I figure what I'll do is check my bags in early, and walk through the gates that I won't be walking out of. Anytime soon.

The check-in line seems to be quite long. It looks like I'll be waiting here for a while.

|~-~|

Kahoko ran out to the waiting car, Misa right behind her.

Both of them got in, and Misa ordered the driver to put his foot on the pedal and get to the airport as soon as he can.

Kahoko was nearly out of breath. To realise that Len-kun was going to leave without actually saying goodbye to her.

She looked straight ahead, but at nothing in particular.

She was going to show Len-kun a piece of her mind.

|~-~|

Finally, he got near the front of the queue. He looked behind him.

It seemed the queue was never ending for London.

He was heading to London before Vienna – that was what Miyaji had planned. He just went along with it.

He thought of Kahoko, and how most likely she'd be sleeping at this time.

He chuckled to himself, thinking of how cute she was when she slept.

He attracted quite a few odd stares, but he didn't really care. Kahoko was his, and would always be his.

|~-~|

They were finally at the airport. As soon as the car stopped in front of the terminal, Kahoko shot out, looking for a plane going to London.

Along the way, Misa-san had told her the flight number and where it was going.

Kahoko rushed to the check-in counter.

She saw Len-kun there.

And she breathed a sigh of relief.

|~-~|

Len was finally finished with the check-in girl. Holding just his violin in hand, he turned around.

And never expected to see what he saw.

|~-~|

She smiled as he recognised her standing there.

He walked over to her in a daze.

"Kahoko? Why are you...?"

She hit him on the arm. He winced.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving today? Do you think you go on slinking away like this, Len? Don't you understand how I feel when you don't tell me important things like this?"

His eyes widened as he heard all of Kahoko's words. Her look of disbelief made him want to reel back.

"Len, tell me how you would feel if I went away from you without telling you anything."

He thought about it.

"I... I'd feel sad. And I'd wonder why you never told me."

He looked at her. It didn't seem her mood was improving.

"Precisely. I'm feeling sad. I'm wondering why you never told me."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I couldn't say a thing. She would see through all my lousy excuses.

Ashamed, I didn't look at her at all.

|~-~|

Standing inconspicuously in a corner, I watched in amusement as Kahoko told Len off. She reminded me a lot of me, funnily enough.

I was glad that she was doing this. That Len really needs to understand that he needs to let people know what he's doing – especially those most important to him.

Otherwise he'll never open up.

|~-~|

I laughed, seeing Len's downcast face.

"I know it's not your thing, but do keep it in mind, please?"

He looked up at me.

"I will."

I smiled at him. It seemed like my plan of giving him a piece of my mind worked.

I thought to myself – Misa-san is hiding around here somewhere, isn't she. Now... what do I do next...

But before I could even begin to think of that, I heard a girl call Tsukimori's name.

I looked around, and tried not to look downcast as I saw who it was.

Miyaji.

|~-~|

"Are you ready to go?"

I wanted to slap my head with my hand. I had forgotten about her, with Kahoko.

I smiled.

"Ohh? And why is your friend here?"

Kahoko didn't smile at her.

I have a bad feeling about this.

|~-~|

I gritted my teeth. While I knew that I shouldn't blame Miyaji, I was not happy with her calling me "friend".

Len had seen the look on my face. And covered for me.

"I told her when I'd be leaving."

Miyaji raised her eyes.

"I never thought you were a telling person, Tsukimori-kun."

Len glanced at me. I wanted to poke my tongue out at him, but I felt that it probably wasn't the best thing to do.

"Well, you thought wrong."

|~-~|

I tried to not let it show on my face that I was mad another girl had gotten time with Tsukimori-kun. It was hard, though.

Especially when he was covering up for her.

I had a feeling I knew what was going on, but I didn't want to accept it. I never wanted to believe, for an instant, that this girl was more than a friend of his.

All my dreams of going overseas with Tsukimori-kun, and spending time with him – getting him to love me – went down the drain.

And I began to cry.

|~-~|

I was shocked as tears fell down Miyaji's face.

I was frozen as to what I should do. Should I comfort Miyaji?

I looked back at Kahoko.

Her eyes looked like they were blazing, she looked that angry.

I now understand what my mother meant when she said that women are scary people. When I look between Miyaji and Kahoko, I completely understood the sentiment.

|~-~|

I wiped my tears, as people began to look curiously at me.

"I thought... I thought that we could go places together. See the world together. Play together. Until recently, Tsukimori-kun, I had never found an equal for my playing. No one could match up to me. No one was good enough. Everything else sounded like rubbish. Until you."

I knew that I was blabbering, but I wanted to get this out. To understand for once and for all my position in his life.

"I... I wanted to fall in love with you, Tsukimori-kun"

|~-~|

I tensed up instantly as I heard the last line. I had never thought that Miyaji would be interested in him.

But, I had fallen for him for the same reason. Hearing Schubert's Ave Maria, and the beauty contained within that song. And the way he played it.

For me, he was so far away. In another world of his own.

Yet he fell in love with me. My music, on levels below his. I couldn't help but feel happy, deep down.

But I wanted an answer from Len first. And I wanted it now.

|~-~|

I took a deep breath as I began to compose my reply to her sudden confession.

"I'm sorry, Miyaji. I already have someone I love."

I looked at Kahoko as I said it, and smiled at her. I walked over to where she was and put my hands around her shoulder.

Miyaji's eyes widened.

"Is she... the one?"

I nodded.

"Yes, Kahoko is the one I love."

|~-~|

I felt so embarrassed, and yet so happy at the same time. Len actually saying it out loud, that he loved me.

Miyaji's expression when she looked at me was pure hatred.

I wanted to poke my tongue out at her, and say – see, I'm the lucky girlfriend of Len Tsukimori.

But I bit my tongue and my instinct. I didn't want to brag, in case Len didn't like it.

I just looked up at Len, and put one of my hands on top of one of his.

|~-~|

Deep breaths. I've got to take this easy.

Let's face it – I never expected I'd be dumped at the airport. I thought it was a match in heaven. Two violins that could match each other, that were so suited to playing together.

But I looked at Tsukimori-kun and his girlfriend exchanging glances.

They looked so happy, and I guess, deep down I was happy too. It meant that I could go on this trip and not have a single worry in the world.

But, for now, I need to take deep breaths.

Until I calm down.

|~-~|

Watching Mijayi breathing, I wanted to reach out to her. To tell her, maybe we don't have to end things this bad.

"We're still friends though, right?"

She looked at me with the weirdest look on her face. And raised her fist.

"We're violin rivals!"

She walked away from me, and into the check-in queue.

Which left Kahoko and me alone once again.

|~-~|

I looked at him, and smiled.

"It seems that she's a strong person."

I nodded back at her. Miyaji had ruined the good moment between us, and I wanted to have it back again as soon as possible.

We hadn't been able to go on a date. It didn't make me feel so good.

"Ohh, before I forget!"

My thoughts disappeared and I looked at her.

She held out her mobile.

"Please put your mobile number and email address in, Len! So that we can keep in touch!"

I smiled at her as she handed over her phone. I put my mobile and email address in, and held out the phone for her.

Before she grabbed it, I used my free hand to grab her palm and put it to my lips. And I kissed it softly.

She blushed.

I then put my mobile in her hands.

"Please do the same for my mobile."

She smiled at me and put in her details. I just got my phone safely back in my arms when I felt her hands on my face.

My eyes were wide in surprise as Kahoko moved her face closer to mine. Before I knew what was happening, she had kissed me.

|~-~|

The kiss was as I had imagined it. Soft, sweet, and lingering.

It felt like it was going to last forever. I opened my eyes slowly while kissing Len. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be enjoying it.

Eventually, I heard over the PA.

"All passengers for British Airways flight 6 to London Heathrow please make sure that you are fully checked in and ready to head to gate 16. Your flight is boarding in 15 minutes."

Our kiss broke as we both heard the PA.

I looked at Len, who looked like he was in a trance.

"Something for you to remember me by."

|~-~|

Misa had decided it was finally time to say goodbye to her son. She and her husband walked up to the pair.

"Len, we wish you good luck on your journey, and hope that you keep in touch with us."

Len was shocked to see his parents.

"Mother. Father. What are you..?"

Misa looked at Kahoko, who looked back at her. Misa laughed.

"We're here to see you off, of course."

"Go do us proud, son. Wear the Tsukimori name with pride."

I looked at my father, who was beaming at me. I smiled in return.

I looked towards Kahoko.

"I'll definitely be in touch with you. I promise."

Kahoko nodded at me. I looked to the gate, and back at the three of them standing there. They all nodded.

I finally turned around fully, and walked off. As I headed towards the area for passengers, I looked back. They were all waving.

Sheepishly, I waved back at them.

|~-~|

Miyaji was already in the passenger area.

"I've been waiting for you, Tsukimori-kun."

I looked at the big airplane that was going to take me out of Japan.

I thought back to Kahoko, and how I finally had a chance to say goodbye to her.

I'm finally ready for this.

|~-~|

Someone was calling my mobile phone. I grabbed it, and answered.

"Moshimoshi"

The person on the other end of the line was Tsuchiura-kun.

"Hino."

"Tsuchiura-kun!"

"I heard that he's leaving."

I looked back towards the gates which he had entered.

"Yes, he has left."

I tried not to let tears fall down. I was happy for him. Really, I was. Yet I was also sad.

"That stupid Tsukimori... leaving you behind here. It sounds just like him."

I laughed. Trust Tsuchiura-kun to still have something against Len.

"But, it's alright. I'm right here for you. No matter what."

I smiled at no one in particular. I had Len's love and Tsuchiura-kun's kindness. I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world.