The Hidden Artist

Part Seventeen: Warning

Allen watched Kanda stalk away to Komui's office after having been assigned to deal with paper work for the ever-absent man. He couldn't forget Kanda's words before they had left the apartments.

Throw that damn picture away. You don't need it.

Don't need it, huh? He couldn't help but wonder just what that was supposed to mean. Did it have something to do with what Allen had unintentionally said just before that? If so...

All that he could remember saying was that Kanda had been his inspiration... And that as he had painted Kanda's form onto the canvas, all he could think was that that was the closest he would likely come to having Kanda in his possession again.

...You don't need it.

As Allen sat down at his piano, he blushed heavily. Had Kanda meant...? His heart thumped excitedly in his chest. He ran his fingers over the keys of the piano, thinking of any number of songs that he could play. A random composition came to mind and so his fingers began playing it automatically, hitting each note perfectly. It was a refreshing sound, encompassing Allen with it's sweet tones. A blissful smile tugged at the Brit's lips.

What about what Kanda had said later, as the two had been leaving the apartment building to go to work? When Allen had been trying to apologize for his rude behavior? He had been saying something along the lines of not being more hospitable, and then waited for Kanda's response.

"You...Do remember, don't you?"

"Obviously it's not important enough for me to remember. All I remember is your ridiculous face when you woke up."

Not important enough to remember. Another example of Kanda being...nice? What an odd man he was. Allen's smile didn't falter as he finished up the composition, the last few notes playing out under his fingers. Regardless of how eccentric the man could be, Allen still cared for him.

Allen mindlessly, blissfully played a few more songs before he was tapped on the shoulder by someone. His playing only faltered a little as he finished off the last few notes.

"Yes?" he asked politely, turning to face the person.

"Good evening, young sir. I heard your beautiful piano-playing and had to come over to introduce myself to you. My name is Tyki Mikk." a tall man said, bowing elegantly at Allen. Allen's grey eyes widened fractionally in surprise. It had been a while since someone had bowed to him like that. He stood up and bowed in return, not quite as elegantly, but he tried.

"Tyki Mikk, my name is Allen Walker. And thank you so much. I try very hard to do my best when playing the piano. It is my favorite past time and the greatest blessing I have." Allen said, smiling up at the man.

"Ahh, I see. Then, would you mind if I listened as you play? I would be deeply honored." Tyki said with a graceful smile. Allen nodded, permitting the man.

"Have you any requests, Tyki?" the Brit asked, stretching his fingers expertly.

"No, I would just like to hear what you wish to play, Allen." Tyki said smoothly, smiling flatteringly down at Allen.

Still remembering Kanda's words, Allen began playing one of the happier compositions in his repertoire, smiling as he did. While he was playing, he looked over towards Komui's office to see Kanda and Lavi standing near each other. Kanda was glaring in Allen's direction -not at Allen himself, the Brit could tell- and Lavi was grinning teasingly. Lavi said something that seemed to irritate Kanda, who snapped something back and then punched Lavi in the side of the head. Kanda stalked off down the hallway out of Allen's line of sight, presumably towards the studio.

Kanda seemed to spend a lot of time there, though Allen had no idea why. It probably had something to do with being a security guard.

As Allen was playing, he was reminded that Komui had called Kanda about a job of some sort. Kanda hadn't specified about the job and had looked like he would have cussed Allen out had the Brit asked.

After Allen finished the piece, Tyki applauded with a polite softness, mixed with some delight.

"You play wonderfully, Allen Walker. I am indeed quite honored! If I could hire you to play in my home, it would be the completion of my life." Tyki said, a slight accent slipping through his gentlemanly tones.

"Ahh? You're Portuguese?" Allen asked, turning to face the tall man.

"Yes, I am, Allen. I'm intrigued that you could tell. How ever did you know?" Tyki asked, leaning slightly against the piano. Allen watched the way the expensive fabric of his suit flowed with his movements with slight envy. If he could afford a suit that nice-!

"I was raised in various countries by my adoptive family, so therefore, I know a great many accents and languages. I cannot speak as many as I can understand, but it's close." Allen admitted, brushing white hair off the nape of his neck. The way Tyki watched him made Allen want to blush. The Portuguese man was giving him looks like a starving man who had just caught sight of a bountiful feast. It was a little unnerving, but also somewhat flattering. Now, if Kanda looked at him like that...

The Brit felt his heart skip a beat at the thought. He coughed into his fist to hide any sign of excessive emotion and pushed his bench away from the piano.

"Well, I have seem to have become rather thirsty. Would you like to accompany me to the cafe, Tyki, for a bit of tea?" Allen asked as he stood up. Tyki smiled widely, as if he had been waiting his whole life for Allen to ask that question and bowed to Allen.

"After you, my dear Allen."

Allen blushed, but did well to hide it as he hurried -with dignified grace- past Tyki and towards the cafe.

My dear??

Tyki and Allen sat at a table off to the side of the cafe, talking about countries that they had visited, art and architecture of Europe and Asia, among many other things, drinking tea as they spoke. After some time had passed -Allen wasn't sure exactly how long because Tyki's passionate eyes and mesmerizing smile were quite distracting- Lenalee finally came over, hands on her hips.

"Allen Walker, you have abandoned your post at the piano. You really should get back over there. Excuse me, Mr. Mikk, but Allen does have work to do." the Chinese girl said politely, though Allen could hear the underlying threat aimed at himself. The Portuguese man looked at the watch on his wrist, checking the time as Allen stood up hurriedly, so as not to incur Lenalee's wrath.

"Ahh! I had no clue of the time! I really must be going, Allen my dear. I definitely enjoyed talking to you and I hope that we can spend time together again soon. Farewell, Allen. Until next time." Tyki said, bowing deeply to Allen, smiling that mesmerizing smile and flashing Allen a look that -had it come from Kanda- would have the Brit gasping for air and trying to restart his poor heart.

The tall man walked away, his air of confidence following along behind him like a faithful puppy. Allen watched him go, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Al-len." Lenalee said softly, with a nice deal of venom in her tone. Allen flinched and whirled to face the Chinese girl, grey eyes begging forgiveness.

"Miss Lee, I am so sorry! I just got tired and decided to take a break and I was talking to Tyki and we had such a long discussion that I forgot the time-!" Allen explained, the words falling out in a rush of breath. Lenalee gave him a sharp look, silencing him.

"That is not what I am concerned about, Al-len."

Allen bowed his head a little in slight fear.

"Why are you getting all flushed over this Tyki guy for, when you have Kanda??" she demanded, stomping her foot with emphasis.

"Wh-what?" the Brit asked in surprise.

"You have Kanda, and you like him! Kanda has you and he likes you, too! So why are you all over that guy??" Lenalee demanded, looking angry and slightly perturbed.

"All...Over?"

"He was hitting on you and looking at you like a piece of meat! And you let him!"

"So you mean he was hitting on me....Not me being all over him, right?" Allen asked, trying to clarify the situation. He was rather confused, truthfully. Yeah, Tyki had been looking at him like a "piece of meat", but that kind of flirtation was a compliment. Right?

"Still, Allen! Why didn't you to tell him to buzz off??"

"Because he is a prospective buyer. Komui would kill me if I ran off a costumer. Especially one as impressive and rich as Tyki Mikk." Allen explained. He probably looked as confused as he felt. Lenalee was silent for a while, thinking obviously.

"Still, if he hits on you, go find Kanda. He can probably help you out." she said, a confident look in her dark eyes. Allen arched an eyebrow.

"If he doesn't try to kill me in the process.." he muttered darkly.

"Oh stop complaining, Allen. Go back to playing the piano, okay? I'll deal with your tea cup and Mr. Mikk's..."

"Okay...."

After work, Lenalee insisted that Allen go ahead and leave, since she was going to close up the gallery herself. Allen would have argued, but Lenalee still looked a little irritated towards him and didn't seem like she would take no for an answer. Allen couldn't find Kanda either, much to his surprise, so, after gathering his things, he left the Hidden Artist for his apartment.

It was already dark out, and had been for several hours. The city streets were lit by yellow-tinted lamps, giving the world an odd appearance. Allen walked slowly, enjoying the night air that was blowing in from the north, bringing along a scent of pine trees. There weren't very many cars or pedestrians at that time of night, so Allen could allow his thoughts to wander.

And that they did. Kanda was at the forefront of his mind, as was normal for the Brit. Or if it wasn't already, it was swiftly becoming the norm.

He wondered where Kanda had gone after work. He supposed that he shouldn't concern himself so much with Kanda's where abouts, since the man was the epitome of independent. He shouldn't always think that Kanda would be there.

Allen winced at that idea. He certainly wished that Kanda would always be there and that he himself could always be there for the Japanese man.

But, it wasn't as though Kanda and Allen were actually in a commited relationship. If they were, well, it was news to him. Truthfully, he had no idea what he and Kanda were to each other. He knew that he really cared about Kanda, and that the man was drop-dead gorgeous and a sex god hell-bent on Allen's slow torture. However, what was he to Kanda? Something he definitely wanted to know the answer to.

Caught in his thoughts, Allen failed to hear the roar of an approaching engine. Said engine revved loudly and the car accelerated towards the Brit as he was crossing the street. The car's speed increased greatly as it hurtled down the street at him.

At the last minute, Allen turned, hearing the engine, to see the bright lights of a speeding car heading right to him. His body froze, heart stopping for a moment in time.

The last thought that came to his mind was one word inexpressibly filled with longing and regret:

Kanda!