Assassin! Ishimaru Kiyotaka

A Dinner Date With Disaster

Mondo awoke from a particularly deep sleep to the distant sounds of a hauntingly beautiful melody flowing through the dusty morning air.
At first, he wasn't sure if he was dreaming still or not.
But as the sun struck his irises, falling in dazzling rays across his room, and his mind cleared of the foggy dream state that dripped from his psyche, he realized it was, in fact, the sound of someone playing the piano echoing from down the hall. Intrigued, he stumbled out of the cocoon of blankets he had wrapped around himself in the restless tossing and turning and threw on clothes, not bothering to be anything other than casual and comfortable.
He tried to recall where he had seen a piano before, but probably due to the early morning fog that still covered his logical side, his memory was hazy.
He wasn't sure if he even saw one.
Yet, the soothing tune continued.
Down the hall, he followed, like a snake charmed into submission.
Past the gym, through the kitchen, down the stairs and at last, into the sitting room beside the library.
Lavish chairs cushioned the pale yellow walls, the high ceiling only adding to the ambience of each note rolling together into a cacophony of music.

Mondo caught sight of Kiyotaka through the open archway, positioned so elegantly on the piano bench. He was so entranced with his current action, that he hadn't realized the audience it gathered.
Mondo stepped quietly into the room, shoving his hands in the loose pockets of his sweatpants and leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, choosing not to spook Kiyotaka out of his stupor yet.

His eyes were only open a sliver, his lashes fluttering softly as he peered down at the black and white keys, swaying back and forth to the tempo he produced.
Black wire framed glasses sat perched on the edge of his nose, seeming like they would slip off at any moment.

His thin fingers danced to and fro across the ivory keys, a slow and methodical plugging away at the same patterns. Dissonant tones of a piano long since taken care of paired with the quiet squeak of the damper pedal heightened the vintage movie aesthetics of the moment.

He looked at peace.

"I didn't know ya played."

Mondo finally spoke up, clearing his throat, causing the smaller man to jump suddenly, the last note falling off into a loud pluck. His eyes flew open, his hands retracting off the keys and tucking into his chest, looking as if he had been caught committing murder.

"A-ah, Mondo! You... um. I'm sorry, I didn't wake you, did i?"

The worry in his voice was touching, a soft expression of embarrassment tinged the edges of his ears pink.

"Nah.'

The gang leader nonchalantly rolled off Kiyotaka's apology, pushing off the soft carved trim and moved to stand closer to him.

"That was real pretty."

"Oh, thank you." Kiyotaka turned back to the worn piano, laughing softly to himself
"I haven't played in so long."

He put his hands back on the keys, letting his muscle memory pick up again, flowing out the soft song into the morning air,
"I used to have lessons, as a child, before my academics required my full attention and I had to stop. I do miss it, every now and then."

A sort of sadness draped over the nostalgic glow he held,

"I wish I had the time to further my knowledge."

Mondo sat down on the bench with a deep sigh,

"Yeah, ya seem like the heavy academic type."

Kiyotaka chuckled, turning to glance for a moment at the still-bedraggled gang leader, a quizzitive smile creeping across his lips,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I dunno, yer just smart n' all. Prim an' proper. The kinda douche I'd probably beat up in high school."