It had been a long time since Tyki had seen his beloved Lenalee. He was pissed off that she rebuked his offer for marriage, yes, but what really got under his skin was her avoidance of him since. Nearly a week after their spat about the proposal, Tyki had trekked over to the lady's house to have a talk with her. His goal, of course, being that he would convince her that she'd made a mistake and that they should be married at once. But it was not to be. For when he got to the home, there was no one there. He hadn't even been aware that she'd left the town. After asking around, he'd found that no one else had been aware of this fact either and this troubled him. either she was in trouble or she had run away from him...and he was inclined to believe the second one.
Not long after that, her brother returned from his trip. Well, Tyki remembered thinking. She can't be gone forever. She wouldn't just leave her brother here, not like the crazy scientist would let her anyway. Thinking that perhaps Komui would know where Lenalee had gone, Tyki approached the brother. As Komui noticed Tyki approaching, he took a defensive stance and donned a pretty nasty scowl. "I come in peace." Tyki said, raising his hands into in the air in surrender and continued his approach until the two stood face-to-face. "How was your trip?" Tyki asked, trying to work up a conversation. "Terrible. A waste of time. A mistake." Komui went on with quickly veiled resentment and sadness. Tyki decided to ignore and, as he had never been a very patient fellow, moved on to the issue at hand. "I haven't seen your delightful sister around. Do you know where she might be?" Tyki asked, laying on the charm. He had to make a good impression. This was his love interest's guardian after all. Should they get married, he would give her away and the two of them would be related.
Komui's head swiveled around to look at Tyki, giving him a fierce glare. "Lord Tyki Mikk," Komui began with derision, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "My sister will never marry you. She won't be coming back. She'll never be coming back, so give it up!" Tyki was stunned into silence by this outburst which he had not expected from the scientist before him. Using this moment of shock to his advantage, Komui left the man behind and entered his home, locking the door behind him.
Quietly standing there, staring at the area Komui was standing, his words finally sunk into Tyki's head. Lenalee is gone. She's never coming back. Could it be true? Tyki wondered to himself as he wobbled over to a bench and sat down. That crazy scientist never liked me... He never liked anyone who went after my dear Lenalee actually, to which I can at least be grateful. No other men were able to get near her and steal her away from me, but... Tyki sighed exhaustedly, finally getting his bearings. She rejected me and what if he was right? What if she really did leave forever? What then? He already knew the answer to that, he would follow her to the end of the world in order to convince her to marry him. But how to find her? He wasn't deranged enough to think that Komui would simply tell him where she was. Unless...
Later that night, Tyki snuck out to the Lee residence and camped out outside. He had decided earlier that day that if Komui wasn't going to tell him where his sister was, he'd have to eavesdrop and find out for himself. Komui would have to let out information at some time and Tyki was going to be there when he did! Things continued in that way for weeks. Whenever Tyki had a free moment and could get away from his fans and the admiring townspeople (he had a lot, not to brag or anything), he would follow Komui. Follow or watch him, looking to see if he would ever try to communicate with Lenalee, but he did not. Komui was just how Tyki had expected him to be after his announcement that the sister he had viciously protected with his lie was now gone. No, wait, he was worse. Komui was incredibly depressed. He barely ever left his home so Tyki was usually camped out in the yard outside. Then again, he had often times holed himself up in his office for days on end before so the sight of him being so reclusive was not necessarily cause for much concern, but said scientist was a friendly and excitable man. So the sight of him avoiding people in general when he did go out, that was rather disconcerting.
The people of the town never did care much for the Lees who, although kind hearted and nice people, never fit in very well in their perfectly generic little town. Komui was way too excited about his crazy experiments that only outsiders seemed to have an interest in and his sister issues didn't really make him any more of a town favorite. Lenalee was a little less liked than her brother. While Komui was ready and willing to talk with anyone who would listen, Lenalee was more giving and, to an extent, forgiving than her brother, but more emotionally reclusive.
Always either wandering off or daydreaming, she was mostly seen staring off at the clouds as if she expected them to start falling from the sky at any moment and reading book after book as if they were oxygen. Reading and daydreaming, neither a popular pastime around there. She was always polite when talking to someone, but only talked when talked to. In their small town where everyone knows everyone, you can't be like that. However, she meant no harm. That, added to her beauty and charm, helped the townspeople to be forgiving enough of her less-than-desirable behavior for her to not be too much of a social outcast or the subject of too many rumors.
All the women chased after Tyki and, he had to admit, he loved it. Providing they weren't too clingy or annoying. None of the girls after him had a chance, but that didn't stop them from getting upset when he began to court Lenalee. People thought that he only liked her for her beauty and nothing else. And they were right. She was nice (which was nice) and wasn't clingy or obsessive (which he liked) and had a voice like an angel (very pleasant), but what made her his ideal bride was her looks.
(Tyki POV...Tyki POV...Tyki POV...)
Shallow? Of course it was. But, I mean, I was raised by my shallow brother, Sheryl who, like most everyone else I've met in my life, praised and fawned over me for my breathtaking good looks and charm. I may not be particularly honest, but it is not as if I am a liar and I'm amazingly charming. And isn't that what matters in this world? What people think and how they view you?
I will admit that at times it can be lonely knowing you're only worth is that which is on the outside. I'm not who people think I am. That's the worst part, I put up a front; an act. If people knew who I really was inside all of this beauty and politeness and cordiality, would they still fawn over me like they do? No and then I would lose whatever worth I have. After all, I have a short temper, am almost always in a grumpy mood unless I'm laughing at someone else's misfortune (don't judge) and I smoke...a lot. I can't let that happen.
Lenalee...she's never had the burden of having to fit in. Maybe that's why I'm the only man in town that isn't deterred by her unwillingness to act like a complacent housewife or cute maiden. Because even though I put up the polite facade around her too (if only because as much as she hates me, I know she'd hate who I really am even more if I were to show her), I don't quite feel like marrying her would be a lie. I've never told her I loved her just like she's never said that to me. No pretenses of love, so no way to get hurt. Lenalee isn't hot on the idea of marrying me, but I still believe that I can convince her...that this is as good as it's going to get.
(End Tyki POV...End Tyki POV...End Tyki POV...)
That night, using this thought to renew his vigor, Tyki approached the Lee household and knocked. After a long pause in which Tyki was thinking about knocking again, the door opened to reveal a red eyed Komui. Tyki took a nervous step back as a feeling of awkwardness suddenly came to him. It was clear that Komui had been crying. "What, Lord Mikk?" Komui asked moodily, shaking Tyki's inhibitions away. "Forgive me if I am impertinent, but is there something that bothers you?" Tyki asked, his polite facade already up. "Nothing at all. If that's it, then good night.." Komui started to close the door, but before he could, Tyki stuck his foot in the entryway making that impossible. This action surprised Komui because Tyki was very proper, but the forcefulness was nothing new.
"Something I can help you with?" Komui asked again. A devious smirk dominated Tyki's complexion. "I wonder...? Maybe there is something I can help you with?" Tyki questioned gently. Komui was obviously trying to hide his quickly growing panic. "I don't.." "Where's Lenalee?" Tyki interrupted Komui's denial. He wasn't sure why, but Tyki had the feeling that Lenalee was somehow involved. Komui seemed to battle with himself for a while, but the more desperate side of himself seemed to win the fight. Perhaps it was just the fact that Tyki got him when he already seemed to be having a breakdown. Without further restraint, Komui leaned his body against the door frame and began sobbing. He seemed to be using the wall to hold himself up as he got lost in his misery.
Tyki had a blank look on his face as a cover for how lost and shaken he felt at seeing Komui in this state. Komui was usually smiling and unconcerned about things. It didn't feel right, him being like this. Tyki also felt a slight tugging feeling in his chest between the nervousness and bewilderment, but he didn't dwell on it for long. Doing probably the only thing he could at the time, Tyki put his hand on Komui's shaking shoulder trying to comfort him or at least act like it. "Tell me." Was all Tyki said. Komui didn't react and continued sobbing, but Tyki could tell that he had heard him.
They didn't know how long the two stayed like that before Komui was able to control himself enough to stop and Tyki withdrew his hand. Both men were secretly feeling very embarrassed after things calmed down. After all, they rather hated each other and barely talked or even stayed around each other. Nothing in their relationship prior warranted that little moment together, even if they weren't really thinking about that in such a moment of high emotion and stress. However, they were men with pride and as such could not afford to let their embarrassed and awkward feelings be seen so they covered it up by getting to the heart of the problem.
"Lenalee is gone." Komui started, his voice melancholy. Yes. That much you told me. Tyki thought in an irritated manner, but allowed the inventor to continue. "I was kidnapped by a monster during my journey. He lives in a castle, you see." Tyki was starting to think Komui had hit his head during his trip; hard. "Lenalee traded her freedom for mine. She is now a prisoner to that monster." Komui finished, an air of bitterness surrounding him.
Tyki opened his mouth, more than ready to either try and ask for the truth again or insist Komui talk to a doctor about his delusions, but closed his mouth soon after as a thought struck him. "And where is this castle, Sir?" Komui looked startled for a moment. Perhaps he thought that Tyki wouldn't believe him enough to even follow up on it or he could have been surprised at himself for not having mentioned where all this nasty business had gone down which is possibly the most important part. Maybe both.
"In the abandoned town beyond the woods. To get there, you off the main road when the forest comes into view and go straight through the forest until the woods recede and a cliff overlooking the castle shows up." Komui told of the location like he was giving instructions. He did not know the town as Mater, of course.
"I shall go see about this town and castle." Tyki said after a moment of debate. "R-Really?" Komui emitted a sound somewhere between excitement and surprise. He would brace such a dangerous place to save my Lenalee? Maybe I've been wrong about Mikk this whole time. I should have gone slightly easier on him. Slightly. Interrupting his musings, Tyki smiled his leads creepy smile and answered merrily. "But, of course. I shall go there and if what you say is true, I will slay the beast and bring back the innocent and fair Lenalee." He paused, thinking, then continued. "And when I do, can I trust in your cooperation with getting Ms. Lee to marry me?"
"I couldn't..." Komui began in the missing girl's defense. Before he could finish, a fear crept into his mind and robbed him of the ability to voice his upset. Knowing Tyki, if Komui said the wrong thing or denied him still when he had not yet left to find Lenalee, he might not go. He may demand he help persuade Lenalee or worse, demand their marriage as soon as they return, or else he won't look for her. Or worse! He could say he'll bring her back and rescue her. Then, instead of bringing her home, they could elope together, get married anyway and he'll never see his precious sister again!
During Komui's mental diatribe about the horrible "what if"s of the situation, Tyki just stood there and watched Komui unravel. He'd figured out a while ago that whatever Komui would come up with in his head using his own fears was worse than whatever Tyki could say. Tyki straightened up as Komui seemed to have an epiphany moment and came back to reality. "You may have your way, Lord Mikk." Komui said in a purposely studious tone. "If you find Lenalee and save her from that beast, then I'll see if I can get her to marry her savior." Tyki smiled a truly happy smile in satisfaction. "Dear inventor, it would be my pleasure." He said, his formality no longer forced; he was much too happy. "I shall leave at once."
Komui looked a little troubled at having spilled everything that he had been trying to keep hidden, but the dominating emotion was clearly relief. Looks like I did the right thing by telling Tyki, after all. I think everything will be okay... Thinking this, Komui bid Tyki good night and entered his house to have the best nights sleep he's had in days. Tyki stood outside for a while after, contemplating the situation. The most beautiful girl in town (yes, marrying her would serve to feed his already very healthy ego) for his wife and all he had to do was slay a beast and rescue her from a castle. Fair enough, Tyki thought. That night, Tyki left and, by morning, he was long gone with no one to know where he went except a silent inventor with a smile that spoke volumes.