1: Prelude The pianist bent over the gleaming keyboard, his fingers flying, his entire being focused on the music in front of him. The music rose to an exuberant crescendo, nearing the end of the piece. A last chord was held, sustenuto, lingering heavy in the air until all echoes died away. The audience remembered to breathe again, standing and cheering wildly for the youth in the black tuxedo. He stood, his features cold and set, as if the passionate music which had erupted from the stage had had nothing to do with him. He bowed slightly, leaning forward and inclining his head minutely, turned sharply and left the stage. He ignored completely the line of fans bearing flowers. The audience cheered louder, hoping that this once he would break tradition and grant the audience an encore. He never did, but the audience remained ever hopeful. His name was Kaede Rukawa and he was an eighteen-year-old prodigy, the rising star among concert pianists around the world. Within the cheering crowd, two lone figures stood out because they remained seated, not even clapping. These two were renowned music critics who wrote under the respective pen names of Taoka and Anzai. Their criticisms were highly regarded within the music world, and simple comments from either could make or break a musician career. he plays for himself only. He is self-centered in his music? Taoka said dismissively. Anzai raised an eyebrow, cut with music, a performer can be so without alienating his audience. He pours himself into the music, and it exposes him to the audience. It is not necessary that he play to an audience; his music will do so regardless. The reason so many people some from all corners to hear him play ?? You mean besides a pretty face??Taoka sneered. It is because of the passion that is evident in his music. He leaves nothing of himself out. His playing moves people. That is where he succeeds? Anzai continued smoothly, as if uninterrupted. But composition, composing music is different. The music must have intent to speak, otherwise it is merely notes scattered to the wind. It may be a technically perfect composition, but it will never have a soul. A composer cannot be selfish. He must intend for the music to have meaning. That is where he will fail.? Taoka replied with confident contempt. He is young yet, but he shows potential. All poets need to find their own inspiration and their own muse? Anzai said cryptically before turning away. Rukawa closed the door behind him with a small sigh, the straight shoulders slumping slightly as the tension flowed out of him. He collapsed onto the couch in the room and closed his eyes wearily. His momentary peace was interrupted by a roll of sheet music whapping him on the head. Get out of that tux first, Kaede! You will ruin yet another tux if you keep abusing them like that. Nice performance, by the way, though when will you ever stop breaking the hearts of your fans and give them an encore?? He cracked open one eye thinly, but he didn’t really need to see the upside-down close-up of Ayako Takahashi’s face to know that it was his cousin-slash-manager-slash-best friend-slash all-around-advisor. You already know why ?I’ve played the pieces I wanted to play, and that it? Why don't you save a piece, then, and when they ask for an encore, play that piece?? They’ve had the same argument countless times, but Ayako still felt compelled to try and get him to improve his relationship with his fans. That roundabout and dishonest? He shrugged slightly, his eye sliding shut again. He didn't really care what his fans thought? He performed because his father wanted him to, and because the performances were good practice for the international piano competitions, which were what he really lived for. He had been raised with the expectation that he’d be the best ? after all, his father was the conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and his mother was prima donna soprano at the Opera House, both internationally famous. He’d already won several international competitions, such as the Chopin Society Competition in Warsaw, the Beethoven Festival Piano Competition in Berlin, and numerous others, but this year was the first time he had been invited to the (¶Ã½X) of piano competitions ?the Versailles Invitational in Paris. It was hosted only once every five years, and it was by invitation only. Hey! hey hey hey! The tux!? Ayako sighed in despair and resignation. It was too late ?he was already deeply asleep. This cousin of hers was incorrigible. She ruffled his dark hair affectionately, but didn't even get a twitch in response. Well, he deserved some rest after playing three hours worth of music, and at his usual intensity. She shook her head, looking at his sleeping face. He was such a child in so many ways, but when he played his music... It was hard to believe that her name little cousin was the source of such intensity and passion, especially considering his typically expressionless features and emotionless attitude. It was as if he poured so much of himself into his music that there wasn't any left over for everyday life. Ayako draped an afghan over the limp form, marveling as usual on his ability to reach a state of total relaxation within seconds of hitting the pillow. Ayako reached over to brush back sweat-soaked bangs, with a wry grin at herself for being in a position that hundreds of his fans would probably kill to be in. In cynical moments, she mused about the fact that his popularity had skyrocketed when he’d hit puberty and had lost the delicate prettiness that had often caused him to be mistaken for a girl as a child. He gained in turn a deeper voice, broader shoulders, height that topped off at 187 cm., and features that were refined and elegant, yet decidedly masculine. She stood and stretched, yawning. Mentally ticking off her checklist of things she had to do, she spared one last glance at her cousin. She had to admit, despite her tendency towards cynicism, that his music had incredible power. She just wondered sometimes, what would happen if her cousin chose a different outlet for that power? --------------- Sorry! Sendoh doesn't appear until chapter 2...