"ALLEN!" Sanae complained. "Did you sleep?! You're eyes…they have dark circles."

Allen's eyes widened as he brought his fingertips to touch his cheek.

"I-I do?! Oh no…Oh no, Sanae is there anything we can do?" he wailed. This was his first client. Ever.

He wasn't about to mess this one up.

"I think…if we put enough makeup on you…" Sanae began.

"Then do it!! Please, Sanae," Allen pleaded-eyes watering.

"All right, All right! Go wash your face first."

Allen sprinted to the wash basin as fast as he could in his fluttery kimono and 5 inch high sandals.

After he returned he could barely keep still as his makeup was put on.

"Not too much Sanae please, I don't want to seem like some lower class prostitute." Allen complained.

"Allen-kun! Don't say such vulgar things!" Sanae reprimanded.

Allen stayed quiet as a soft pink blush painted his face.

After everything was over, Allen bowed deeply to Sanae.

"I-I'm sorry I was being so rude while you were helping me, that was very selfish of me. It's just that-I'm very nervous. Please understand." He whispered.

Sanae smiled.

"It's nothing, now get up before someone sees you bowing to a lower classmen like me! We'll BOTH get in trouble." She giggled.

Allen smiled and got up.

"Wish me luck?" he chuckled nervously walking out the door.

"Good luck Allen." Sanae whispered with a smile. Her chest welled with pride.

-----

Kanda checked into the classy teahouse and was welcomed by the tea mistress.

He was escorted by the hallway and was left alone outside the sliding paper doors.

He sighed. Was he drunk the night he made the appointment? What if someone saw him? Afterall-they were situated by a cherry tree outside.

He opened the door and walked through another which led to a lush rolling green hill with a cherry tree thriving with pink blooms. And under it was a sight just as
beautiful.

Allen kneeled on his knees behind the tea table and gazed demurely out to the pond nearby.

Kanda bowed slightly and sat down as Allen rose to bow deeply.

"Have I kept you waiting long?" he asked-trying his best to be polite.

"N-No, not at all K-…" Allen froze. What was his name? Oh no. Oh. No. This was already going downhill.

"Kanda-sama." He finished with an inward sigh. Thank goodness. His delicate
hands were clasped in his lap.

Kanda was not sure how to break the long silence that followed.

Allen gracefully lifted the tea pot with two hands, gently pouring the tea into
Kanda's cup without spilling a single drop. He then filled his own cup.

Kanda nodded and picked up the tea, sipping it and setting it back down as Allen did the same.

"It was a very moving performance last night." Kanda stated, trying his best to sound nonchalant.

"Thank you Kanda-sama. I am glad you liked it." The words seemed to flow from
Allen's lips like a babbling brook flowing in harmony with chirping birds.

"Since when have you been at the okiya?"

"As long as I can remember Kanda-sama."

"Do your parents reside there?"

"No, Kanda-sama. My parents are up in heaven." Allen said softly-meeting eyes
and smiling weakly.

Kanda mentally kicked himself for being so insensitive.

"I see…are you Kiseki-san's apprentice?"

"Y-Yes Kanda-sama. Kiseki-sama was ever so kind in adopting me when I was but
a small child." Allen responded.

The conversation flowed freely after that. The subject went from the smell of the
sakura blossoms, to Kanda's rise to power as a prominent business man. Allen
even earned himself the title of: Moyashi for being so thin and delicate looking.

This brought a blush to Allen's face every time it was used.

Finally, a maid came in and removed the tea table. The two leaned against the
sturdy trunk of the elegant tree.

Allen felt like he finally knew what falling in love was like. His heart beats were out
of control and his body felt as if he was sitting by a roaring fire.

Allen had to pinch himself a few times to keep from falling asleep. Kanda-sama
was everything he had stayed up hoping for. Sure he was a bit…stoic at times, but
inside, Allen could tell he had a kind heart.

"Moyashi." Kanda whispered-trying not to wake the sleeping boy.

Allen had succumbed to his tiredness and had fallen asleep on Kanda's shoulder.

"Moyashi." Kanda repeated-hoping the blush on his face would disappear.

Allen's silver eyes slowly fluttered open just as elegantly as the flowers that fell
from the tree.

Kanda looked away. …He's beautiful.

"Ahh! Kanda-sama, I-I-I'm so sorry!" Allen cried-just realizing what had
happened.

He gently straightened out Kanda's suit and sat up abruptly.

For the first time in a long time-Kanda laughed.

This only made Allen more anxious. Why was he laughing? Oh no, had he made a
fool of himself?

"I-I'm so sorry, Kanda-sama…" he whispered a bit more quietly.

Kanda chuckled a bit more and touched a hand to Allen's warm, pink cheek.

Allen had to bite his tongue to keep from crying out in surprise.

Kanda just stared into Allen's deep mercury eyes-trying to affix it to memory.

Allen's eyes finally looked up to meet with fiery blue ones. But quickly averted
them in embarrassment.

"Don't hide those eyes," Kanda stated seriously, "It isn't fair to deprive people of
such beautiful things."

Allen's body trembled as he stared up at the older man and nodded slowly.

Kanda soon had to leave for a business meeting.

Allen watched dreamily as the man in the suit walked out of sight.

One could only hope…that they would meet again.