The art of seduction (Private, between EmperorLelouch and myself)
 

Love is such a beautiful thing, is it not?...

Every day was the same old thing for Shiro. Day in and day out, he judged and graded the work of his students, he held the fate of many people in his hands with his judgement if he deemed the work unworthy there was little chance of them getting into a good art school nor making a decent name for themselves. He was a tall and slender man, with pitch black hair. His eyes were piercing at times, but usually possessed the look of kindness and understanding. He possessed the mannerisms of a true gentleman, even when he disliked something he found the kindest words to express his disapproval.

Takatsuki was quite a talented young man, when it came to drawing and painting. Just by looking at his works, a trained eye could easily see the great potential that lay hidden within him. But what Takatsuki lacked was drive. He was literally wasting his talent, by refusing to practice every day. And it was a shame, as his hands would make the most beautiful drawings ever. So realistic, so full of emotion his creations were. And, sometimes, their beauty would surpass even that of the original objects or landscapes he'd use as inspiration.
That was why his parents decided to send him to that prestigious school, for they'd heard of a great man, named Shiro. A person truly worthy of being adressed as Sensei. A person, whom, they hoped, would be able to harvest their son's great potential...

Shiro walked into his classroom, and put his papers on the desk. "Today, I am handing out your grades, but everyone please note that this only the mid-term and you do have time to bring up your grades." He said in firm, but gentle tone. "When I call your name come up here to receive your grade." "Tai, Kai, Sora, Sai," He said handing them their papers and giving them a kind a smile. "Yeah, I got a C, man, I good." A few people said exactly. Soon Shiro reached a name that took his smile away. "Takatsuki." He said in a dark tone. This boy had so much pontential but he didn't have any drive. Shiro hated to watch that talent go to waste. "Takatsuki, you need to stay after class as well." He told the boy in front of the class.

Takatsuki seemed to be rather bored, displaying his usual carefree, and passive attitude. Apparently nothing, no matter how serious or severe, could affect this young man. As though his heart had turned to stone. Or perhaps, it was a stone to begin with?

'Always with that bored expression, I wonder why doesn't he care about this, maybe I should give him something interesting to draw.' He thought to himself as he handed the Takatsuki his grade. He looked upon the boy, trying understand him. He reached two conclusions, either the course wasn't challenging enough or he had something else he wanted to do. Soon class ended. "Takatsuki, don't forget you are to stay after class. Come here and sit." Shiro pointed to the chair in front of desk.

Takatsuki didn't like to be forced into doing things. The words mandatory and compulsory had always been his greatest enemies. He could never fully come to understand the adults, and their strange ways. Why couldn't they just leave him be? They always had to make him do various things.

And sensei was no different from all the other adults. Granted, he had a certain something the others lacked, though Takatsuki couldn't quite figure out what that certain something was. But he liked sensei. To him, that man was special, so, even though he didn't always feel like following orders, he'd always comply with one of Shiro sensei's requests.

"Takatsuki, how are you feeling today?" Shiro asked him in a happy, gentle tone. "You know your grades in here are rather low, and we both know it isn't cause you don't have any artistic skill, no you are perhaps one of the most talented people in the world, but you don't have the drive it seems. So let me ask you Takatsuki do you like art? Or are you being forced into it?" He said with a kind smile as he took his seat in front him and pulled out a small folder. He had a list of the assignments that Takatsuki had completed and it was rather small. But the ones that were in there were simply amazing.

He waited for Takatsuki's answer, while going through some of the pictures he had drawn. So realistic too. This boy had so much potential.

Sensei's gentle voice had somehow managed to pierce through that veil of indifference, and reach his cold heart. Takatsuki felt his cheeks turning red, as he stuttered, attempting to answer the man's question.
"It... it's not that I'm being... forced into it... I... I do like to draw, occasionally, but..."

Shiro looked at the boy and smiled. "There is no need to be shy, Takatsuki." He said pulling out the pictures. "You are truly amazing do you know that, you possess a very rare talent, but you only like to draw occasionally, well I can't just give you an A you know that right? So how about this then, if you help me after class, I can say that is your extra credit, but this is all with your consent." He wasn't going to force the boy to do anything. "But I interrupted you, so continue, what is it?"