The Silence Between the Notes

a La Corda D'oro fanfic

by Ongaku no Usagi

Disclaimer: I do not own "La Corda D'oro". This applies to all future chapters of "The Silence Between the Notes".

Movement 1: G dur

It's been almost a year and a half since the last time I saw Tsukimori-kun, since the time after the concert when he stepped out of the taxi and draped his jacket over my shoulders.

It's been over a month since the last time he called me on my cell to let me know that he was about to start working very hard on his debut tour and wouldn't be able to talk as much.

It's been about a week since they last time I got that short little email from him, once again reminding me that he didn't have a lot of time, and telling me that he'd played the fourth note of the sixty-seventh measure of the Beethoven violin sonata half a comma too sharp, and as a result he felt that his entire debut was ruined.

It's been fifty-four hours and fifteen minutes since the last time he texted me and asked me if I was nervous about starting my first semester at music college in Tokyo.

I feel like it's been forever since the last time I heard from him.

But he's right about me being nervous about starting music college. For one thing, I'm sure I wouldn't have ever gotten in if Tsuchiura-kun hadn't forced me to practice like crazy for the month before my audition, and hadn't drilled me every single afternoon on reading music so that I'd pass the exam.

Originally, I'd hoped to get into Seisou College, the one affliated with our old high school. Tsuchiura-kun and I both applied for it; he got in, I didn't. I guess I'm just not there yet. So, in spite of my protestations that he go to Seisou, Tsuchiura-kun insisted to coming with me to my second choice college, which is just a prefectural university with an okay music program.

So that's why I'm here, outside the concrete block of an auditorium, looking around in vain for Tsuchiura-kun and peering nervously at the open glass double-doors, into which a mass of fresh music students are pouring. Where is he? The orientation starts in three minutes!

Buzz buzz said my phone in reply, rattling a tin of mints in my purse. I snatched it up.

Text from Tsuchiura-kun:

Hey, Hino, go ahead without me. I'll meet up with you later.

(end text)

Brilliant, just brilliant. I groaned a little as I replaced the phone and peered back at the open doors of the auditorium, feeling like an abandoned puppy. I have to go in there all by myself now? Ugh...

I inched in carefully and sat in one of the front seats, because all the seats back of the front row were already taken. Great. Now, not only am I alone, I feel completely vulnerable. There's something about not having a row of seats in front of you that makes you feel like the person who comes up on the stage is going to thrust you through with a katana.

I heard a long, irritated sigh from my left as the girl next to me slumped down in her seat and crossed her arms. "Geez," I heard her murmur, "they're taking their time about it. What the heck? Do they think we have nothing better to do than sit here and wait? I have sooo much to do...the Mahler symphony 5 to listen to, a Scriabin piano sonata to analyze...definitely need to get a couple of hours of practice in this afternoon...Don't you?"

Eh? I blinked twice and tried to keep up with her fast pace, even as she immediately plowed into yet another unrelated topic without even bothering to segwey.

"You know what I don't get? Why is the world so crazy about popular music, anyway? It's so boring. They repeat the same chords over and over, just a Pachelbel refrain, it's already been written 320 years ago, and they don't even work over new inversions. Everything's over a root ground bass, and they don't try any counterpoint. How exactly do you write an effective melodic line if you haven't studied counterpoint? Geez...What are you listening to, right now? That's a violin, right? I've been meaning to learn the violin, it would be so handy with composition...it's Mozart, right?"

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. It just so happened that I was thoroughly enjoying the new album out by the British band "Muse". Even though I didn't understand all the words, their stuff was so good! The driving rhythm, and the swells of volume...I loved it. But it was hardly the stuff classical music is made of, was it?

"Well..." I started awkwardly, avoiding looking over into her intense gaze.

I was saved as the director strode up to the stage and, bowing to us all, began to deliver his motivational speech at the podium. Judging from the color of what little hair he had, and the flourishes of his speech and random rabbit-trail stories, I could guess that the general content of his speech had been written about 20 years and had evolved, little by little each year.

Don't worry, I won't bore you to death with his ramblings. I'm not planning on listening to them, either.

As I formed my facial features into what I hoped was an interested enough look not to draw attention, and proceeded to phase out mentally, I found myself thinking, What is music?

Hm. Good question, Kahoko.

(pats self on back for managing a good question)

In the days when I had the original La Corda violin, music was just...outpouring of what was in my heart. I heard the music in my head, and it came out through my fingers. Afterwards, of course, I found out the hard way that there's a lot more to playing music than imagining the song.

I had to learn how to read music so that I could play the notes right from the page, how to keep from hitting two strings at once with the bow, and the difference between "on pitch"...and not. Tsukimori-kun coached me over the phone on technique, and Tsuchiura taught me theory and analysis during our after-school study sessions together.

There's still so much to learn...it's overwhelming, sometimes, and I feel like I'll never catch up. But Tsukimori-kun made me promise that I wouldn't give up. So I have to keep doing my best.

Tsukimori-kun...

What is music, Tsukimori-kun? Why do you play every single day, for hours and hours on end, but I so rarely see you smile? Shouldn't music be fun? Shouldn't we enjoy it together? Ah...I wish, just once more, that I could play "Ave Maria" with you, and I could see that far-away, yet vulnerable, look in your eyes again. It's been so long...what am I to do?

I didn't notice my name being called over and over until I felt a nudge from the talkative girl next to me, and I looked up, startled.

"Ano...what am I supposed to do?" I whispered to her, and she whispered back, "Announce what instrument you play."

I stood quickly, to the giggles of everyone around me, and stuttered, "Ano...I'm a violin major," lifting my violin case emphatically as if to prove my point, and sat back down again. The girl next to me rolled her eyes and slyly pulled out a thin volume on the music theory of the Ancient Greeks.

The rest of my fellow 1styears stood up and announced their instruments, and the director, beaming, introduced the staff. I won't bore you with names. Besides, I couldn't remember them if I tried.

"And now, I hope that you will all work very hard this semester, to improve your technique, your knowledge, and most importantly, how to enjoy classical music with as much passion," here he shook his fist at us as if to inspire us to more passion, and I heard a laugh from a boy a couple of seats down, "as if you were actually playing with the great composers themselves."

He raised a single eyebrow at the boy who laughed, but the kid just slouched further in his seat with a grin. "Well, in any case," he finished up lamely, "everyone, please work your hardest!"

You don't have to tell me that! I'll have to, even if I don't want to!

.

Wandering a little aimlessly after the orientation, I finally spied Tsuchiura-kun striding toward the library, rather detirminedly, it seemed.

"Hey, Tsuchiura. Where were you during orientation?" I asked as I ran a little to catch up to him. He turned his head to smile at me but didn't stop walking as he answered.

"Eh, it's the same old conflict, you know. Soccer versus music. I'm getting a really good scholarship for soccer, so even if I don't have time, I'll just have to make time." He sighed. "You should have heard the 'encouragement' I received from the music department to give up on the soccer. Not enough to raise my scholarship, though."

"You're getting scholarships in both?"

"Yep."

I thought a little regretfully of all the loans my parents had taken out for me. Even though I had some sizeable scholarships of my own, school was still expensive.

"You're heading to the library already, though? Classes haven't even started up yet!"

He shrugged as he strode up to the glass door and held it open for me. "I have to get a head start. I hate to say it, but I may have to unleash you on your own for a bit. I'm just not going to have very much time."

I felt a little disappointed. I'd really enjoyed studying with him, frantically at times, over the last year, and the fact that we had to end it hadn't occurred to me yet. But he was right, and I knew it.

"Anyway, ganbarimashou, ne?"

"Yup!"

I smiled, trademark, I know. Sometimes a little false enthusiasm doesn't hurt anything. But Tsuchiura-kun wasn't looking at me. He was gazing, frowning a little, even, over at a study carrel in the corner.

Ah, it was that girl from earlier. Now that I could get a better look at her, I could see that she was somewhat plain, neither slender nor volumptuous, with fine, light brown hair that fell over her shoulders messily. She didn't seem to care about what she wore much, or maybe she didn't have a good sense of fashion. Her back was to us, so I couldn't see her face or recall it from earlier, really.

Tsuchiura was already striding in that direction, halting to the side of her and peering at the mountain of books over her shoulder. "Wagner, huh?" he said, tone not exactly derisive, but not exactly polite, either. "Never liked him, myself. His music sounds like three pianists, one playing "In the Hall of the Mountain King", one playing "Moonlight Sonata" movement 3, one playing "Rustles of Spring", all at the same time with all six feet on the sustain pedal."

She snorted as she tossed her head and looked up at him. "It's really none of your business, you know. Besides, I've never researched him yet. I thought it would be interesting. Go away, you're disturbing me."

Not to be uncharitable, but she didn't have the nicest voice; it was somewhat loud and bossy. Her nose wasn't on the small side, and her face was practically round. Her only beauty seemed to be her enormous dark eyes, which reflected passion and drive, but a little insecurity, as well.

Tsuchiura leaned over even more and gave her a withering look that I'd seen him give Tsukimori-kun more than once. "I'm pretty sure I saw you at the piano auditions, yet you aren't a piano major, are you?"

"What business is it of yours? Fine, I'm a comp major. What of it?"

"I thought your piano auditions were above anyone else's, if a little sloppy. Why composition?"

Her face got red and she stood up, shoving the chair away and crossing her arms. "It. Is. None. Of. Your. Business!"

"Shh!" immediately elicited from the entire library. An annoyed looking librarian waltzed over and put a hand on the girl's shoulder, which she shrugged away as if allergic to physical contact. "I'm sorry, but if you can't be quiet, I'll have to ask you to leave the library."

The girl shot Tsuchiura-kun a hell-melting glare before sitting down and giving him her back purposefully. Tsuchiura-kun sighed. "Geez, I was just curious. What's up yours, anyway?" He turned and put a hand on my elbow, his expression telling me that he hadn't been ignoring or forgetting me the entire time. "Come on, Hino-san. I don't think I could study here right now, anyway."

.

Evening arrived, and, after having dinner with Tsuchiura-kun, I said goodnight to him and walked to the dormitory I was staying at. He was staying with his sister, who had graduated from this school and had an apartment in the area. I needed to unwind and unpack a bit, and a little silence wouldn't be terrible.

In the movies, dorm rooms are big and cozy, with enough room for a Hispanic family, abuela included, to fit into. Not so in real life, at least, not on this campus. Nope, here the rooms were all of five meters by three, with two beds on either side of the room, bookshelves up ahead, and desks at the head of the beds.

At least they were on campus. It would suck to have to travel half an hour a day just to get to class. Especially if you forgot books or something.

I took out my keys at the door to my room, but trying the handle, I found it already unlocked. "Ah, my roommate must already be here." I put on a smile. Always best to start on good terms with the person you're going to be living in the same tiny area with for the next semester. I opened the door and gazed around expectantly.

Oh. Crud.

Excuse the English, but I'm sure I have as much need to use it as anyone, particularly right now.

You see, amid piles of books and scattered manuscript, Miss Talkative was scribbling away furiously on some sheet music. She looked up when I entered and raised an eyebrow.

"It's you from earlier."

"Um, yeah. Sorry, we haven't exactly met. I'm Hino Kahoko, and you are...?"

She snorted. Not exactly the personable type. Boy, was this going to be a long semester. "If you'd been listening at the orientation, you would already know."

"Um...sorry?"

She sighed exasperatedly and tossed down her pencil, sitting up from where she'd been reclining on her bed. "I'm Usa."

"Usa?"

"That's what everyone calls me. Dumb nicknames stick the fastest. If you call me by my real name I won't answer, so just call me Usa and it'll all be good." She gave me a rakish smile. "Yoroshiku, Kaho." Then she went back to scribbling.

I have to admit she had a cute smile, for all her arrogance.

"Ah, what time are you getting to sleep? And I really can't work in a messy environment, so try to keep your side of the room clean, okay?" Like she was one to talk. "And that guy you were hanging out with the library, who's he?"

"Tsuchiura Ryoutaro...why?"

"If you want to invite him up, don't do it while I'm here. He's the worst kind—the kind that knows it all and has to be first in everything. I can't stand that type."

Once again, like she was one to talk.

"And just to warn you, if I like you I like you, if I don't I don't, and there's not much to do about it. For your sake I hope I like you."

! Who did she think she was?

She tossed me a sympathetic look. "Because I can be nice if I want to be, you know." She sighed a little. "I'm not exactly what you'd call easy to get along with; basically I have no social skills, and I know it, but I've been trying for ages and can't seem to change. Heh, sorry, that seems a little personal. Anyway, I hope you're an early riser." I wasn't. "Theory class starts at 8:00 in the morning."

"WHAT?"

"Every day."

"You're kidding me, right? 8 ams every day of the week? That's just..."

"Part of being a music student. Deal with it. I already found out we're in the same class, so if you like, we can study together. Just don't try to drag me down, okay?"

"Gah..." I collapsed on my bed, not caring that my ear landed on my cellphone. I felt it vibrate, twice, and, with sudden apprehension, picked it up.

1 New Text Message.

I opened the message, breathless with anticipation.

From Tsukimori Len.

Hope orientation is going well. Try not to get on the bad side of your private lesson teachers; they'll make it hell on you if they don't like you. Study hard, or you'll get behind, and don't forget to practice. Just give me a call if you need help on technique, but don't call from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, since I have rehearsal, and try not to call after 7:00 pm, either. Don't forget about the time difference.

I hope you'll have improved by the time I see you next. Ganbatte.

-L

I smiled a little, even at the curtness in his message, and rolled onto my back, rereading the message. Usa looked over with interest.

"That guy from earlier?"

"Mm hm. Wait, no, sorry, different guy."

"So Tsuchiura isn't your boyfriend?"

"Huh? No way!" Not that I wouldn't mind him paying me a little more attention, in an alternate universe, perhaps.

She gave a little secret smile. "So the guy on the phone is your 'one true love', huh?"

I felt my face grow warm. "Well...not really..."

"Yeah, right. You're totally glowing right now. It's cute. Maybe I can grow to like you afterall." Then she did a double take and shook her head. "Sorry. That sounded rude."

You sound rude most of the time.

"So who is this Mr. 'makes my cheeks grow divinest rosy'?"

"A guy I used to know from high school."

"We all have one."

"He's a musician. A really good one."

"We all think that about the ones we like, sweetie."

I shot a pair of daggers from my eyes at her. "No, really. He's like, super famous over in Europe."

"Does he like you back?"

I blinked twice. "That...I don't really know..." True, he'd done confusing things, like grab my hand, and hold me from behind and...but...really, did he?

She shrugged. "Well, not to sound discouraging or anything, but if he's really that amazing, chances are he probably won't go for someone like you."

Ow!

She thought about it for a minute, and then said. "Sorry again. I mean what I say, but it's not always the best thing to say." She reached above her head at the desk and tossed a candy bar at me. "Truce?"

I let the bar hit my arm and then picked it up and started unwrapping it. Oh, my stomach will be the death of me yet. "Truce."

Author's Notes: Konnichiwa, minna-san! Hajimemashite! Ongaku no Usagi here. This is my first La Corda D'oro story, so I'm looking forward to hearing from everybody (hint: REVIEW REVIEW).

A couple of notes: The chapter titles are named after various keys. I think all keys have an individual personality, so I've named the various timbres of the chapters after the keys that seem to fit the right mood. "Dur" means major, and "Mol" means minor. This fic will be pretty heavy on music terminology, so if you have any questions, please ask (hint: REVIEW REVIEW).

Okay, enough of that shameless plug. Hehe.

I've been called up on the carpet before for not adding in translations, so here's what I used this time:

Ganbarimashou: Let's do our best together
Ganbatte: Do your best
Yoroshiku: Nice to meet you

Edit: I am officially rewriting this fic! No big changes; just correcting a few continuity errors, a little less Japanese, that sort of thing. Thank you all for reading!