Strains of music drifted into the room where Karen was. She looked up, startled. She hadn't thought that there was anyone in the house besides herself. She cocked her head to one side, listening to the music. The sounds of someone playing the piano, a song, a love song, like a faded memory she couldn't quite place. Dreamily, she rose from her seat and began walking towards the source of the music. Unbidden, words came. /Sunlight dances on the sea../ She stopped, before she realised that the voice wasn't hers. A low, husky alto, a voice like a dream. She walked on, now more than ever determined to find out who was singing. Reaching the study, she pushed the door open, quietly, and looked in. A slender boy sat on the stool in front of the piano, singing as he played. /Tender thoughts occur to me../ Then the music stopped, as abruptly the musician realised that he was being watched, and spun around to face the intruder, cheeks flaming. "Karen-san!" He said, flustered. "I didn't realise that you were here." Karen smiled. "I was thinking that the house was deserted, too." "Gomen ne, I must have disturbed you. I'll just keep my scores, now-" "I-ye." Karen said, laying a hand on top of Kamui's, as he prepared to gather the music scores that lay scattered on top of the piano. "Don't worry, you weren't bothering me at all." She picked up one of the sheets, and looked at the title of the piece, gray eyes suddenly alight with interest. "I didn't know you played the piano, Kamui-san." The schoolboy blushed. "I've been taking lessons at school," he muttered. "Sou ka? At school? When did you start?" The schoolboy shrugged. "I don't know. Just- one day, I was with Keiichi-san and Yuzu, and somehow they ended up teaching me how to play." Karen didn't seem to hear his reply. She fingered the ivory keys of the piano absently, staring into space. "Mama used to be a piano teacher." She said, softly. "Pardon? I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch what you said-" Karen looked straight at the younger boy, and smiled. "Do you need any help with your playing, then?" "I wouldn't want to be so much trouble-" "No trouble." She interrupted. "That is, if you don't mind, of course." Kamui nodded in acceptance, gratefully, and she sat down on the stool beside him. "What can you play?" Kamui gestured at the scores scattered around. "Just these. I haven't been playing the piano for very long." "You must be quite a prodigy, then, to be able to play this song so well the first time." Karen said, looking down at the score sheet still clutched in her hands. "Isn't this a very old love song?" He blushed again. "H-hai. A love song. I chose it- because I thought that it sounded particularly beautiful and sad." "Aa. Sou ka." Nothing more was said as they bent over the piano, with the light of the autumn sun streaming in through the open window. /In my mind a dream awakes And my heart begins to break./