Chapter XX: Shine

Music cascaded down the empty corridor, seeping through the cracks around the outside of the door. Wakening Yuichiro from his slumber, he opened his eyes and rubbed drool off his chin with the back of one knuckle as a hand rummaged through messy raven hair, blinking at the drawn curtains casting only a shadow of sunlight into the room and upon the bed; it was late afternoon.

Slowly, Yuu sat up and heaved his legs over the side, pushing the black and white linens back. This sandwiched all of them in the middle, for the spot next to him was vacant. A familiar tune that emanated from the corridor, and as he approached the door, the twirling, caressing tones were filled with prolonging loneliness and questioning. The music contracted and molded, inquiring if this was real, endeavoring to dismiss the thoughts in fear that it was all a dream.

A tender feeling encompassed Yuu as he arrived at the end of the corridor to an open living space. He walked deliberately around the instrument, trailing his hands on the frame, vibrating, its cover propped open only slightly. The black grand piano obscured Yuu's view of the one producing the rich sounds until he reached the other side, and Yuu's hands found the pianist's shoulders. Mikaela tensed before relaxing beneath Yuu's grip, fluffy blond hair tickling Yuu's fingers. Yuu leaned over to read the name of piece – The Name of Life by Joe Hisaishi – whilst the main theme returned, reminding him, nostalgically, of a time long in the past. The fluent motion of Mikaela's fingers brought the song to a reminiscent still; an acceptance of all that had come to pass: a happiness… yet uncertainty.

"…Are you nervous?" Yuu asked, his quiet voice loud in the spacious apartment. He bent down, his arms sliding around Mika's neck, and buried his lips in his hair before pressing his cheek against Mika's.

Mikaela shrugged slightly, holding Yuu's wrist with one hand, running his fingers over the tops of the piano keys with the other. "Yeah, kinda…"

"Hey." Yuu let go of Mika momentarily, long enough to circle around the piano bench and seat himself beside Mika. "You'll be great. I know you will."

Mika averted his face away, too overwhelmed by the gentle reassurance on Yuu's face, feeling heat on his cheeks. "I don't know…"

"Believe it, Mika," said Yuu, forcing Mika to look back over at him. "You know I can't lie to you."

Try he might, Mika couldn't argue with that.

Glancing again at the sheet of music on the stand in front of them, Yuu snatched it up, then place it in the pile of sheets on the ledge beside the music stand. Ruffling through them, he asked, "Mind if I join you?"

"Hmm?" Before Mika realized what he was doing, Yuu had placed Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin on the stand between them.

"I'll do the left hand, okay?" Yuu asked – though he had no intention of playing the right hand, especially since having sat on the bass side of the piano bench.

Mika's eyes shot between the sheet of music and the piano, scrambling to find the right hand's first position. "What?! Wait, Yuu –!"

Yuu wasn't waiting. "Ready, go!"

He set the song at a rapid tempo that had Mika struggling to keep up at first, but Mika soon got the hang of it. By the time Yuu's shoulder brushed against Mika's to reach the left hand's share of the piano crawl, Mika finished off each turn with a flourish. He flashed Yuu a challenging glance. When Yuu caught on, smirking, he increased the tempo of his left hand as they repeated the first few lines. Now in a whirlwind of speed, they bumped against each other both out of clumsiness and competition, missing notes, making a racket.

When section two came around, Yuu's left hand bounced all over the place trying to keep up with the tempo he had set, out of rhythm and offkey. Mikaela was already far ahead of him, but now his fingers slipped too, creating a ghoulish tune of smashing noises. They both came to a halt at the same time as their hands cramped, rolling over the keyboard in laughter, reaching for the other.

"We sound terrible!" Mikaela exclaimed.

"Are you kidding?! That was our best Joplin attempt yet!" Yuu chuckled. His arm found Mika's shoulders as Mika's found his.

Mika's laughs subsided as Yuu grinned at him. Unable to stop the pink that colored his cheeks, Mika didn't realize he was staring until Yuu noticed, his smile fading a little. Brightening again, Yuu leaned forward, kissing him on the mouth. Mika's nerves short-circuited and his head reeled at the gesture. He was still caught, dazed, when Yuu jumped up from the piano bench and headed toward their kitchen.

"Let's get some breakfast before we head over!"

Despite the brightness of the afternoon and Yuichiro's smile, Mika's stomach clenched.

~Libero~

Packed full of spectators, the concert hall buzzed with excitement. Women in jeweled dresses pointed and laughed while men in tuxedos conversed on genial topics, gesturing effortlessly. Mika wore a tuxedo himself, except it wasn't excitement that his head buzzed with. He adjusted the collar every five seconds, tapped his feet on the floor. He was so nervous that everything felt itchy. Turning away from the heavy, red velvet curtain to peer onstage, Mika raised his fingernails to his mouth, and find Yuu, also in a black tuxedo, standing sideways with a hand in one pocket, face garnished by that attractive, crooked smile. He looked as stunning as ever to Mikaela – in fact, even his unruly raven hair seemed to have an extra shine to it.

"Hey, what did I tell you?" Stepping closer, Yuu put his hand on Mika's shoulder, once again cracking that dazzling smile, this time up close. "You'll do great."

People rushed past them in every direction, shouting things about camera angles and spotlights. Though he was brought back considerably by Yuu's presence, the commotion only made Mika feel more anxious. His arms stuck to his sides as he glanced around the scene, searching for an escape. "I know, but it's just that this is my debut as a concert pianist. If I mess this up –"

Yuu didn't let him finish, a steady finger to Mika's lips, which surprised him. "Shh. If you mess up, no one will notice."

Mika wasn't convinced. Shaking his head, he started, "But –!"

Already knowing what he was going to say, Yuu interrupted, "Mika, you practiced that thing until your hands bled. Do you remember that? You were so concerned about practicing that you forgot to cut your fingernails or even shower, and then your fingers got stuck in between the keys while you were playing! I had to bandage your hands after that."

Mika's cheeks lit up from the embarrassing – and surprisingly painful – memory. He nodded.

"Right," said Yuu, "so there's no way you're gonna mess up." He took Mika's elbows in his hands, pulling him forward until his calm green irises were inches away from Mika's frightened blue ones. Their hair tickled each other's foreheads. "Trust me, Mika. I've heard your worst mistakes and I still love how you play. No one here will be able to tell the difference, so there's nothing to worry about. I promise."

The lights backstage flickered as those in the concert hall dimmed, and the audience hummed to life with applause. Startled by the noise, Mika's gaze broke away from Yuu. His body trembled.

The orchestra was already waiting onstage as the red velvet curtain rose, but as the pianist, Mika had to enter on his own. He pulled away from Yuu's arms and stepped up to the white line on the ground marking the distinction between the dim backstage and the blinding lights onstage visible to the audience. Glancing back, Yuu smiled at him once more. Mika took a deep breath, and strode out onstage.

The lights and applause were more overwhelming than he had ever envisioned in his dreams, but as Mikaela gazed out to the cluster of faces, he was reminded of something. Once, he had thought he would be one of them: an audience member of the highest class, attending such a concert as a social function for business reasons only, trapped in the dreary routine of a cold-hearted businessman, this pure world of emotion a mere glimpse to colorless, lifeless blue eyes. Now, he stood before them, above them, and he saw the faces of the middle class too, sitting in the sections farther back, who had worked to come and enjoy this concert. The shine on their faces outclassed any money they'd spent to be there. And up above on the balcony, before he bowed, another group caught Mika's eye, to which he gave an inward smile. Yoichi and Shiho sat looking humiliated beside Shinoa and Mitsuba who stood at the edge of the balcony, screaming as loudly as they could. Other people stared at the two effervescent girls, but they seemed oblivious. In the rows behind these four were the Director, the former Hyakuya Orphans, and new faces Mika had not yet seen. Yuu had made sure they would all get seats and be there to see him…

Mikaela lifted his head, turned around, and sat down at the piano. The conductor arrived onstage, and then the audience hushed as the orchestra warmed up.

Fluid tones pounded in Mika's ears, and as they died down, everyone moving into position, Mika stared at the ivory piano keys, feeling sicker by the second.

The orchestra began the first movement of Mozart's Concerto For Piano and Orchestra in G Major, K. 453 with notes upbeat, dancing, and sweet. Mika added echoed notes to the orchestra after a lengthy preamble, lilting the music only very finely in the background, one that he could easily hide behind. Even when the music took on a minor key, or when he had solos, the notes were soft and didn't command much attention.

A slow sobriety dominated the second movement, which again Mikaela spent content in hiding behind the orchestra's lead throughout most of the song. His parts in this movement were even less, though his hands shook the entire time, knowing that the first and second movements were merely preliminary for third movement and finale, when the piano overtook the melody.

As Movement II came to a sluggish halt with the promise of excitement to come, there was another quick pause as everyone got into position. The orchestra set the key signature, and then the tempo, allegretto presto: wicked fast. Precise and playful, this movement was surely worthy of every listener's full attention. The air of the concert hall was alight with anticipation as people sat taller in their seats, craning their necks to commend the task that had been set for each musician. As the orchestra sallied forth, Mika pushed all thoughts to the back of his mind. He focused on his breath, on the silence in the concert hall as he drowned out the music. He focused in his mind on the picture he needed to paint with his fingers, through the limitless void of air all around him. His fingers waited on the keys until the orchestra's introduction had finished and they paused to let him start. Eyes opening, heart pounding, Mika's wrist flicked in the circular motion of the first chord.

His hands started reticent and then rolled upward, bolder, to the feelings of warmth that surrounded him and faded away day by day, lingering on every part of him. Strings set the saccharine tone in certain intervals as he repeated the progression. He tapped the keys in shortened movements of dismissed thoughts, the orchestra serving as his antiphony. He sang again with the orchestra, blaring loudly against everything in song, and it repeated.

Then Mika traveled up and down the piano in triplets while the orchestra took over, giving the wistful feeling of fragmented thoughts. Then his hands split off and he was playing the melody with the orchestra with one hand, the wistful triplets with the other, thrummed like an irritated murmur in the background. He bowed to the outside again while the orchestra picked up the melody, trying to drown him out. Then together, they sang out in a pulsating sound of contending emotions that sang out and faded away with grace.

A gradual start emitted from a single clarinet which the orchestra diverted to be faster in precise counts of six, so the flute picking up where the clarinet had left off, and then an oboe after that, and all three wind instruments and the violins finished up with prompt circumstance. Counting along with his hands in his lap, Mikaela moved into position to start his part, as he too picked up the melody, repeating the motive from the previous part, which made way for the flute, then clarinet and oboe, then flute again.

Mika's fingers pounded lightly at the keyboard until he moved rapidly in the fall of the key.

His arms and shoulders jerked as the new minor tune was me with sinister strings and ominous flute, his own ominous tones creating enough dissonance for him to pause, and the orchestra to copy, louder, louder, and louder! Dissonant, the orchestra added its own voice, until everything dropped.

Then the major key returned, louder, and the music was again bursting with life, all instruments ringing out, then faded for Mika to play.

He trilled with his right hand, the left having taken up the melody, and eventually his right hand slowed to pick it. Dropping down, the orchestra blared up, attempting to sound more ostentatious than him, but Mika answered back with a true refinement that was impossible to match, and even as the orchestra complained, he continued to mutter in the back, feisty and ready for his chance. Finally, the orchestra conceded, and they agreed to share the space of sound.

The violins started, bouncing between the woodwinds, riding faster on their waves of harmony, in the classic Mozart two-note wobble. That's when Mika came in, the woodwinds echoing his every move, trying harder and harder to upend the other, yet enjoying every second of it. Mika certainly was. Though he was sweating, nerve-wracked out of his mind, he was finally excited, fully overtaken in the song – just as one should be on concert day.

He pushed his hands to move faster and faster, not an ounce of stress touching his arms, hands, or expression. Indeed, his eyebrows were knitted into complicated knots, but his teeth gritted with tenacity, his cerulean eyes on fire. He leaned forward and back, flourishing his arms, accompanying to the orchestra as the main voice this time. In the background again, he was the voice of reason, then moved faster and faster, louder and louder, the orchestra and him skipping down, then moving into a faster melody, which he copied speedily, then rang out loudly, and it repeated; starting low, bouncing back, building everyone up to the wonderful climax.

Skipping down again, the third time as it built up, everyone rattled back and forth the harmony of agreeable, contending positions. The first melody returned, and Mika was loud as he asked one more time if this was the end, the orchestra answered yes, to which he asked again, this time cutting the end shorter. The orchestra answered again, longer, ringing "yes!"

The audience exploded as Mika sat back with sweat pouring down his face, and immediately the conductor turned around and stood aside with a hand outstretched to him. Bashful and exhausted, Mika stood, taking a bow. Unable to believe the smiles and applause that radiated at him from every direction, he smiled, allowing the energy of a thousand kindred spirits to devour him whole.

~Fine~

The Shinoa Squad and Director came running with tears in their eyes. Well, tears were in Mika's eyes too. He gave them hugs and kisses and thanked them for coming, relieved he hadn't made a fool of himself.

The others exclaimed over and over how brilliant his performance had been, and for once Mika believed their compliments, for he had tasted, breathed, heard, and seen it all in concert hall that night.

Behind everyone else stood Yuichiro. His smile was different from before, Mika noticed, though he barely noticed the bouquet of flowers in Yuu's hands until he lowered his gaze.

"Great job, Mika," said Yuu simply, handing Mika the flowers.

Mika took them and raised them to his face, tried smelling them, but when he looked back up at Yuu, he hugged him without restraint. "Thanks… Yuu."

Slightly stunned, there was only love and admiration in his eyes as he hugged Mika back. "You were great."

"Only thanks to you."

"Aw, look at the lovebirds," Shinoa crooned.

"Like you should talk," Yuu muttered when him and Mika broke apart, referring to her and Mitsuba's linked hands. Unable to come up with a feasible retort, Shinoa turned away, red in the face. Mitsuba giggled. "Someone else came too."

Yuu and Mika turned around to see Mahiru and Asuramaru. "Oh, what a surprised…" Yuu trailed off. The last time was… That warm and windy spring afternoon when they had faced off with the Shindos, ready to fight them hand-in-hand, came to Yuichiro's mind. The singular gunshot that chased Ferid, Krul, and Crowley into oblivion echoed through his ears.

"Yeah," said Mahiru, shrugging her slender shoulders, nonchalant. She wore an elegant, dark azure dress that contrasted with the light lavender locks of hair coiled around her shoulders. When she grinned, her teeth showed white against dark maroon lipstick. Silver earrings dangled against her neck, lighting up her crimson eyes. "You were wonderful, Mika."

He was bashful when he said, "Thanks." His concern was sincere as Mika tactfully asked, "how have you been?"

The short teen beside Mahiru answered instead. "Stuck in the middle of nowhere!" grumbled Asuramaru. "There's barely anything to do in that stupid shack-of-a-house, even if we are right next to Nagoya City. Oh, but I really liked coming out to see you, Mika!"

"Th-thanks," Mika stammered, unsure how to react to so much praise in one day.

"Oh Asura, you're so cute in that little tux!" hummed Shinoa, standing beside him.

"Sh-shuddup!" he cried out of embarrassment.

"I'm afraid she's right, Asuramaru," joined in Yoichi. Lifting the hair covering Asuramaru's left eye, Yoichi grinned as the shorter teen's cheeks reddened. "You look especially cute with that ponytail too!"

Asuramaru staggered away from Shinoa and Yoichi, his hands on his head. "Wh-wha –!"

"Hey, leave the poor kid alone," interjected Shiho coolly.

Eyes shining, Asuramaru turned to him in reverence. "Kimizuki! I knew you would understand what it feels like to be teased for your unconventional fashion style!"

"Wh-what was that?!" Shiho fumed, raising his arms on either side of him.

Shinoa, Mitsuba, Yoichi, Mahiru, Asuramaru, Yuu, and Mika laughed at his sharply timed reaction.

The past Hyakuya Orphans all offered their congratulations to Mikaela, most of them pursuing careers in college now. Chihiro made an especially big deal about it all, shaking Mika's hand until he practically yanked it away, saying she always looked forward to another fencing tournament. As she sauntered away, she winked at Yuu and giving him the thumbs-up, indicating he'd chosen well – to which Akane apologized for. Many of the guests who walked by their group outside the concert hall flitted over to put in a good word to Mika for his piano-playing, which made him blush profusely, a hand behind his head, unable to respond with much other than a humble "Thank you." Even some of the other orchestra members came to clap Mika on the back, congratulating him on his first concert performance. One of them, a high-strung man about two years older than Yuichiro and Mikaela, had his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail that flayed out around the back of his skull. Him and four other associates hovered around Mika for an especially long time, praising him until it was overkill. Finally, they inquired if Mika planned on taking part in their next concert, to which Mika gave a hearty nod. Although he acted a little awkward around them, especially Narumi, the man who had initially come over, Yuu was relieved to see Mika had some other people to talk to in his line of work.

At last, the Director offered one of the home-cooked pumpkin pies that Mika had come to love when he'd stayed at the orphanage his last year of high school, and with thoughts of the past in mind, surrounded by flowers and the aroma of pie, Mika spun in a cloud of vertigo on the car ride back home.

"Mahiru and Asuramaru seem to be getting on well," commented Yuu, hands on the steering wheel, eyes on the road.

"You think so?"

"Yeah."

It was winter, so the world around them was frozen solid and sparkling white. Though it was already incredibly dark, the car lights guided them back to their apartment on the edge of town.

"When we get back, I have something special waiting for you," said Yuu, somewhat embarrassed. "Since you said you didn't want to go out to eat anywhere, even on your big day."

"Oh… Yuu?"

"Hm?" Yuichiro looked at Mikaela, but seeing his gaze was lost in the flowers Yuu, the orphans, and band members had gotten him, Yuu turned back to the car lights on the darkened road, leading on their journey back home. He wanted to ask Mika what he was thinking about, what lay behind those lidded, cerulean eyes, but he knew Mika would tell him with time.

It had begun to snow, so Mika snuggled down in his coat with his food and flowers. He looks like an Eskimo, Yuu chuckled to himself.

Cheeks flushed, Mika took a moment to answer in the silence.

"…Where do you think they are?"

Somehow, Yuu knew exactly whom he meant. By his muted tone, it was obvious to Yuu that Mika was thinking about their junior year. "Who knows… but Guren searched day and night to ensure Ferid, Krul, and Crowley are found. He won't let them escape the next time they turn up. They'll be put behind bars once found. Don't worry, Mika."

Mika took Yuu's assurance as a grain of salt. "You know I still don't trust Guren."

"I know." Yuu paused. Mika's gaze hadn't moved from the brightly pigmented red, pink, and white flower petals hovering just beneath his nose. "But he did save us, back then…"

"It was one time," Mika scoffed.

"Yeah, but if not for that one time, then we…"

Mika knew what Yuu was about to say. When he leaned over, the plastic lining around the flowers crinkled. He pressed a hand to Yuu's cheek. "I know, there may have been a much different outcome that day. I'm thankful to him for intervening at that time, but… I'm afraid of when his ego gets the best of him, and he comes to ask us for the return favor."

Yuu shook his head. "That won't happen."

Mika was worried. "How can you be so sure?"

"It was Mahiru and Shinoa who asked Guren to help us that day," explained Yuu. "If anyone owes him, it's them."

Mika made a face. "That's almost worse."

"They're happy to take the hit for us. And besides, Guren won't ask anything of Mahiru. And since he won't ask anything of Mahiru, he won't ask anything of Shinoa either."

Mika watched the side of Yuu's face as they drove on. The green lights of the tunnel they had entered flickered over his face. How stoic he seemed to Mikaela, his hardened citrine eyes fixed upon the road, sitting with his back so tall…

When they arrived back at the apartment, Yuu presented Mika with his favorite dish: a plate of rice swathed in yellow curry. They ate quietly but comfortably in the dining area beside the grand piano and open kitchen, only the sounds of chewing, occasional gulp of food, and clinking of eating utensils disturbing the silence. About halfway through his plate, Yuu realized Mikaela was eating more meticulously than usual. Yuu set his chopsticks down. "You're still thinking about them, aren't you?"

This startled Mika, who hadn't realized he'd been spacing out. "Huh…? How did you know…?"

Yuu smiled bitterly. "Oh Mika…"

Mika looked down at his plate. "I just can't help but wonder… where they are."

"It's been five years," said Yuu, scooping up a piece of meat with his chopsticks. "If they even think of coming anywhere near you, they'll get one of my prized electric guitars in the face." He popped the piece of beef into his mouth, satisfied with himself. "It'd be a great sacrifice," he continued on, joking, "but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. That freaky pedophile of a butler needs to be put in his place." When Mika gave no reaction to this, Yuu set his elbow on the table, his chopsticks smothered in curry sauce. "You aren't a child anymore, so not even your parents could order them to control you."

Mika jolted a little in his seat. "My parents…"

"Yeah." Lifting his bowl to his face, Yuichiro shoveled rice and curry sauce down his throat.

"…Do you ever think of your parents anymore, Yuu?"

Yuichiro choked a little as he dropped his plate and chopsticks. The look on his face was akin to someone who had just been told their youngest sibling was adopted.

"What?" asked Mika, uncomprehending.

"What kind of question is that?!"

"I don't know," said Mika unsurely, shrugging, now a little embarrassed.

"I think about my parents sometimes," admitted Yuu, "but definitely not as much as I used to. Besides, my mom's been dead for almost eight years now. There's no point in thinking about it."

"What about your dad?" Mika pressed. "He's still in prison, isn't he?"

Yuu wiped his mouth and stared at Mika for a long time in earnest. "Mika, what's bothering you?"

Mika said nothing, combating the lost feelings that had been waging war inside him for a while now.

"Please tell me you're not thinking of contacting your parents," said Yuu. "The parents who ordered servants like Ferid and Krul to take care of you in the first place."

"No, that's not it…"

Yuichiro searched Mikaela's face. He just had an amazing performance, certainly one of the best Yuu had ever heard. They were away from the prying eyes of the public, away from whatever remained of the Shindo Corporation, all alone in the apartment they'd bought not a year ago… Under the protection of Guren, Mahiru, and Shinoa, not even the Hiiragis could bother them. Mika's dream job of becoming a concert pianist was now a reality, something he had never considered a possibility until Yuichiro had repeatedly pushed him in college to pursue it – Mika just wasn't cut out for a job in the detached world of business, despite that had been what he'd been preparing for all his life. They were still paying off college debt. Yuu worked tirelessly selling his music memorabilia, including all of what he had owned at the orphanage. He auctioned those and other gems off on online websites and even had a part-time job, but he still had enough time to pursue his interest in musical composition in his spare time, especially now that Mikaela had his job as a concert pianist.

Sure, Yuu wished they didn't have to live so secretly at times, but there was nothing unbearably constricting about their situation…

Nevertheless, Mika still sat there, fidgeting in his seat, not sure if the uncertainty he felt from his past lifestyle was valid or even real anymore.

Was there something still missing? Something Yuu had forgotten?

…There wasn't.

Yuu's head lowered. In the reflection of one of the wall-length glass windows behind the piano, darkened by night, Yuu's silhouette stood and passed to the other side of the table. Leaning over Mikaela now, one hand on the table, one on the back of Mika's chair, Mika slowly turned his head up toward Yuu, not sure what was going on. Those blue eyes widened when Yuu pushed their lips together, his tongue bypassing Mika's soft lips. Mika took hold of Yuu's shoulders, nearly knocking over his chair, lips covered in saliva. Suddenly sweaty, Mika pushed hungrily into Yuu's mouth, backing them into the wall. Yuu gasped when Mika's hips made contact with his. Mikaela was completely overtaken by the sensation that rattled up and down his body now, the lost memories of before washed away, and he moaned unwarrantedly. Yuu took the opportunity and flipped them around, Mika's back against the wall now. Yuu's lips moved expertly down Mika's neck and jugular, his fingers pinching his shirt to expose Mika's skin, and Mika surrendered himself entirely Yuu, when he moved up again to his chin. Mikaela shuddered and hissed at every jerk of Yuu's lips and fingers, which found his wrists. He held Mika's arms in place, despite efforts to challenge him.

Mika was sure he was beyond the point of no return, but he regained enough clarity to wriggle out from beneath Yuu's hold and looked at him. They surprised the other, their eyes so laced with desire. They stared, not used to having seen each other in such a state.

Ever so slowly, Yuu's grip loosened on Mika's wrists. He saw the marks he had left on Mika's skin and backed away in shame. So Mika took Yuu's hand.

He led Yuu down the hall, where musical equipment littered the floors of their bedroom, covers and pillows scattered about the bed. He coaxed Yuu gently, and wrapped in the other's warmth, the litany of their souls gradually sang out in the cold moonlight, an elegy of sharp cries and heated whispers. Yuichiro felt complete when Mika's body was close to his.

Labored breaths in his ears, Yuu's eyes fluttered open, and Mika smiled warmly at him, panting too, lightly stroking his chin. And their lips connected again, reigniting the flames between them.

Yuu thought he wanted to live life alone, surrounded by a purity he couldn't even touch. No matter how hard he tried to convince himself that he knew what he wanted, a life free of any personal ties or anything that would anchor him to the pain of his past, the music that had been his only friend all those years simply wouldn't let him. It reached out to him, begging him to understand, but those glazed, citrine eyes had glanced hopelessly upon the orphanage each passing day, the wind whipping his hair in his face, doing its best to tear him down.

This was not the pure life he had imagined back then on that lonely street. It wasn't the life he'd imagined when the notes of Mikaela's soul had enveloped him that early fall afternoon in the school.

No. This was so much more.

Music was second best.

This fanfiction was a joke when I started it. Just another fanfic for my OTP, me trying to understand how romantic relationships work in literature, since I'm not particularly romance-savvy in real life. The idea hit me by random. I was playing the piano, Silver-Haired Lullaby by Yoshihiro Hirano, and out of nowhere, an image of Mikaela sitting at a piano suddenly came to mind. I tried to push the idea away, since I was busy with schoolwork, tragedy that had occurred over the summer, and my past MikaYuu fic, but subconsciously, I began to construct a grand design of this world in which Mikaela was the lonely pianist whose emotions came out clearest in his beautiful music.

By the time I thought about how Yuichiro would react to Mika playing piano, I was losing my mind, so I started the first chapter. The deeper I delved into this world, populated by the alternates of OnS characters, I found myself writing situations that had happened to me. It stopped being about the romance… but how I, through Mika and Yuu, was going to get past these things in my life. I knew how closely my fanfiction aligned with my thoughts before, but Ebony & Ivory ramped this up tenfold, for it was all I had during my junior year of high school.

Throughout the course of this story, I've lost so many people who were important to me. And I have come to realize and accept so many things about myself that I could have never imagined. My writing has grown a great deal over the past year thanks to Ebony & Ivory, but the benefit I have reaped out of it is so much more than that.

To spoil it for you, this was a story about recovery. There will always be things and people you cannot change, but learning to deal with them rather than ignore them, you will eventually find your inner peace. I'm not quite there yet… but don't let the bad things drag you down. Accept them for what they are, and move on. Acceptance is the hardest step, but you can do it. I believe in you.

I would love to hear your personal takeaways from the fic, what "morals of the story" you have uncovered, and why, if you can provide it! Every opinion I've heard thus far has been so interesting! And so, for the final time, I would like to ask you for your feedback. This story is very dear to me, but it is always my first objective to improve my writing – and perhaps myself – with every chapter.

This was originally an "After Someone Reads Your Book" list of questions, but even if you don't fill out all of them, I would appreciate any input you could give on the entirety of the story, characters, plot, or anything else.

1. At what point did you feel like "Ah, now the story has really begun!"

2. What were the points you found yourself skimming?

3. Which setting in the fic was clearest to you as you were reading it? Which do you remember the best? (PLEASE ANSWER THIS ONE I AM SO CURIOUS.)

4. Which character would you most like to meet and get to know, and why?

5. What was the most suspenseful moment in the fic?

6. If you had to pick one character to get rid of, who would you ax, and why?

7. Was there a situation in the fic that reminded you of something in your own life?

8. Where did you stop reading the first time you clicked on the webpage?

9. What was the last fanfiction you read before this? And what did you think of it/in relation to this fic?

10. Finish this sentence: "I kept reading because…"

My next fanfiction for Seraph of the End will likely be my long postponed update of Lacrimosa, my Assassin's Creed AU, or the Mitsunoa fic that I've been planning, titled The Spirit of the River. I'm still working on both and have been quite busy.

Half the reason I've gotten this far is thanks to my readers, who have encouraged and stuck with me on this journey of self-discovery and recovery. It's been a wild ride.

Thank you all, for everything.

[Fin]