Chapter Text
The ruffles on Izumi's collar were too itchy, his vest was too tight. It was for these reasons that he found himself unable to hide the displeasure in his expression as he sat with his arms crossed on a velvet seat. He was surrounded by fellow nobles, none of which interested him. Izumi scowled, his face darkening by the second as he bounced his leg. An old hand pinched his leg, making Izumi glare up at the man beside him.
"Father?"
Izumi's father smiled softly, "Could you mind your manners, son? The performance will be over soon, there is one final musician."
Izumi rolled his eyes, how he detested stuffy performances like the one he was currently watching. The music was always the same, such a bore.
Izumi nodded as he bit his lip angrily, shutting his eyes and hoping that time could fly by faster. A musician was introduced, he sat down before the piano, cracking his knuckles with a confident grin before he began to play.
Izumi's eyes shot open as a joyous melody drifted into his ears. He could feel a fresh, spring breeze encircling him as the Sun's rays gently kissed his face. Izumi could smell grass and freshly bloomed flowers, the melody had made him enter a whole new world. Before Izumi could pick his jaw up off the floor, the performance was over and the nobles had begun to leave. Izumi spun around on the spot, still dazed from what he had heard. The shower of applause was not loud enough, the praise was less than what the final musician deserved.
Then Izumi saw him. Bright green eyes which sparkled like the emeralds on a wealthy woman's favorite necklace, hair orange...like a carrot. Izumi giggled, but quickly slapped his hand over his mouth to regain his composure. The smiling man messily stuffed his sheet music into his arms, his tongue sticking out as he concentrated on making sure not a single sheet of paper would escape his grasp.
"FATHER!" Izumi pulled his father back with all his strength, his usual frown vanished for a second, instead being replaced by a warm smile. This was Izumi's pleading face.
"Yes, my son?" His father replied, knowing that he would soon have to spend ridiculous amounts of money.
"Father, I want that musician."
His father sighed, "You wish to see another one of his performances?"
"No," Izumi frowned, "I want that musician. Permanently. Mine."
Who on Earth could say no to Izumi Sena? He was spoiled by his parents, but only because he deserved it. With a status comparable to that of the royal family, Izumi could acquire anything he wished with a wave of his hand. It was the least they could do for him. Since his mother passed, Izumi's father had only begun to dote on him more. Buying a "live-in musician" should not prove to be a problem.
A problem it was not.
~~~
Izumi burst into his father's study, the man greeted him with a knowing smile.
"It's been arranged, my son. On the highest tower of the mansion you will find him waiting there for you."
Izumi's lips curved upward, a cruel smile forming on his face. Of course, behind that smile there was not any ill intention, but those who did not know Izumi would often mistake him for being an unkind person. Could he be blamed for how his face muscles worked? How his eyes glinted with a hint of malice?
Izumi ran quickly up the tower, pounding at the door, already out of breath. He heard locks moving, keys jingling, the door opened a crack. An emerald eye blinked at him, widening for a second before squinting into a crescent.
"Come in~!" Exclaimed a cheerful voice as the door swung open. The floor was already a disaster, littered with paper. Blank ink splotches stained the musicians white clothes, a pen tucked behind his ear.
"Name's Leo. Leo Tsukinaga! Although you hired me as a musician...I'm more of a composer, ya' know?"
Izumi's face turned beet red. Never in his life had anyone dared to speak to him in such an informal manner. Who in the entire country, nay, the world, would attempt to introduce themselves to him as if they had grown up on the same farm. Yet Izumi couldn't find it in him to be mad at Leo, he simply glared at him with a scowl.
Seeing that Izumi was not replying, Leo opened the door further, motioning for him to enter.
"I'm guessing that you're the big boss? Pleasure to meet you."
Izumi nodded. The moment he set foot inside, he realized what a pigsty the small room was. Izumi huffed as he kicked a pile of paper across the room. Leo, who was rambling about Lord-knows-what, slid across the floor on his knees and began to pick up the paper frantically. It was a beautiful mess which only he understood.
"Woah!" Leo furrowed his brows as he tried to recall in which order the pages were in. "Careful, I need these for my next concert. The musicians should begin practice by tomorrow, so I need to bring these to them early in the morning or else-"
"You are not going anywhere," Izumi sneered.
Leo dropped his sheets, glancing up at him with a confused expression. His lips trembled as he spoke, trying to maintain his cheerful demeanor, "Huh? Am I not allowed to leave the tower tomorrow?"
Izumi replied with a wave of his hand, "Or the day after tomorrow, or ever. That is, unless you finish the most beautiful piece you have ever made."
Leo shook his head, standing up so he could stare Izumi in the eye, "I don't think I understand...what exactly is it that you wish for me to do here?"
"I need you to compose a piece that feels as if you are floating on clouds, sipping on wine with your lover, drifting asleep in their tender embrace. You are the only composer I have ever met who can convey emotions so well in their music. This is why I would like for you to compose something that would impress my beloved."
Leo stared at him blankly, scratching his head. He wiped his dirty hands on his pants as he gave it some thought.
"I don't think I can. You see, I only write about things I know, but I've never been in love."
Izumi stomped his foot furiously, causing another stack of paper to come tumbling down. The wind which entered from the open window caused the sheets to flutter wildly across the room.
"Oh, but you will," Izumi grabbed a paper which flew by like a dove in the air, he crumpled it up in his hand, "You must. I can triple your pay if you would like, but you must finish this piece before you can be freed."
The composer squeezed his eyes shut tightly, "Mother...and my sister, they need the money. Triple the pay would surely help them greatly."
Izumi tossed the ball of paper at Leo's head, "Will you do it?"
Leo flattened out the ball on his desk, turning to face Izumi with a determined gleam in his eye, "I will."
"Excellent!" Izumi smiled softly, "You may use that sheet of paper to write a letter informing everyone that all of your performances will be canceled until further notice. I heard that you say music is your life, well from today on you live for me."