Disclaimer: I do not own Zodiac PI.

'That was completely random.' Was Lily's first though after Hiro had announced that his aunt worked at the city's local art museum. Upon further discussion she learned that there was going to be a very exclusive art showing received mainly for the artists and rich potential buyers. Apparently she had managed so get Hiro's family in and he decided that it would be a great opportunity to introduce Lili to some culture and class. It took some convincing on his part but he eventually got his friend to go by telling her what a fancy party it was going to be and how some of Japan's most famous would be there.

Now they were standing in front of an abstract sculpture. Since it was a formal dress occasion they had re-used their outfits from the principal's golden statue head case. Hiro, being the gentleman he is, had gotten drinks for Lili and himself.

Lily had been staring at the same thing for the past five minuets. Hiro gave her a meaningful look as he handed her some apple cider. "So tell me, what do you think this particular piece represents?"

"The digestive system." She said with a completely straight face. "It looks like the digestive system."

Lili took a sip of her drink while Hiro sighed. Shaking his head he tried again. "Stop goofing around. What do you think the artist was trying to say? What was he thinking? How does his art make you feel?"

"Hungry."

Hiro shook his head as he pulled her over to another piece of abstract art. "Well what about this one? I think it's about the struggles of man and how he rises above all to reach his goal."

Lili stared at it. She circled it. She gave it a once over. "It's three monkeys fighting over a coconut. So far no ones wining but the second monkey looks like he's planning something so the tables could be turning at any moment."

Hiro stared at her like she was crazy before turning his attention back to the sculpture. He stared. He analyzed. He stared some more. He couldn't see it. How on earth did she see three monkeys fighting over a coconut? "Somehow I seriously doubt that's what the artist was trying to convey when he did this piece."

The two argued about whether or not there were in fact monkeys dueling it out for a coconut and if the second monkey was really planning something. As they argued they failed to notice the figure appear behind them.

"Well, It's so nice seeing young people enjoying my art!"

Lili nearly jumped out of her heels at the sudden voice. Holding a hand to her heart she turned around to find a man standing behind her.

He was tall and looked to be in his thirty. Thin but not skinny he sported a reddish beard and hair from what you could see under his baseball cap. Strange combination wearing a hat with a tux.

"I see your looking at my sculpture." He gestured towards it. "I for one am very proud of it. I'm also proud that the younger generation is getting interested in the arts. I tell you all the teens I've seen are either blasting music out of i-pods or showing off their underwear. I'm grateful to find that some kids have class now a days."

"I'm sorry but do we know you?" Hiro asked as politely as he could, considering this guy had just popped up out of thin air.

The odd man laughed and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I guess I haven't properly introduced myself yet have I?"

The two teens shook their heads.

"Sorry about that." The redhead stuck out his hand in greeting. "I'm Mike Gordon. I made that sculpture you were staring at."

Lili looked from the piece of abstract to the strange man and back again. She pointed to it. "You mean this is yours? As in you made it?"

Mike nodded, clearly pleased with himself. "Yep and it was fun to."

"Since you made it would you mind telling us what you were trying to make it represent?" Hiro asked. "You see before you showed up my and my friend here where discussing it."

"Yeah!" Lili added in with enthusiasm. "I told him what I thought and he wouldn't believe me."

Hiro rolled his eyes and continued on with a slightly sarcastic tone to his voice. "That's because your perspective didn't make any sense. Let Mr. Gordon explain what he really means. He'll settle this for us."

Mike patted Lili on the back. "Don't feel too bad kid. Nobody's been able to guess correctly what it's supposed to represent." He straightened up a bit. "Though I can't for the life of me figure out why. It seems pretty obvious to me."

"I saw it." Hiro raised his glass. "It's a great piece representing man's struggle and how he can accomplish anything if he tries."

The artist shook his head sadly. "That's what everyone says but no."

"No? What do you mean no?" Hiro was confused.

"I mean that's not I had envisioned when I created this." Mike crossed his arms and smiled. "You see what I saw and still see when I look at this is three monkeys fighting over a coconut."

The world was never quieter.

"Hah! I told you that's what it looked like!" While Hiro was wallowing in his confusion and complete shock, Lili wasted no time in pointing out that she was right. Most people believed gloating wasn't a very ladylike quality but no one would dare tell her that. The girl in question turned to the artist with excitement radiating off of her. "And the second monkey looks suspicious? Like he's planning something but we don't know what?"

"That's exactly right!" Mike was starting to get into it. "You understand! I was beginning to think that something was wrong with me."

Lili shook her head. "You're just creative. Besides it's completely obvious."

"That's what I thought but you're the only person I've met so far who gets it." Mike praised. "You have the true eye of an artist."

The two continued talking about artistic perspectives as Hiro stumbled to a nearby chair and collapsed in it. What was the world coming to? What's wrong with people now a days? Was he losing his mind? Great now he had a headache. Looking up he saw Lili waving good-bye to her new artist friend. She looked about the room for a minuet before spotting him. She jogged over to him with a huge smile planted upon her face, "The people here are so nice!"

"They're all crazy." Hiro mumbled under his breath.

Lili gave him a look. "What was that?"

"Nothing." He waved her off and stood up. He jerked a thumb to the refreshment table in the other room. "I'm kind of thirsty. What to get a drink?"

The blond nodded and before she lost her nerve enveloped him in a big unexpected hug. Then pulled away before he started babbling. "Thanks for inviting me to this art exhibit. I'm having a lot of fun."

Hiro was a very interesting shade of red as he tried to speak, "Yeah, uh, no problem. Come on let's get going."

"Sure." Before he could get away from her, Lili laced her arm into his. "Shall we?"

He just nodded nervously.

So the two walked over to the refreshment table where they met up with their dear friend, Mike Gordon, who commented how cute of a couple they were. As Hiro tried to interject with the fact that they were not dating Lili beat him and thanked the artist for saying such a kind thing. While Mike started about how his own little girl was attracting boys Hiro was lost deep in thought. Were they a couple?

Then he caught Lili's eye and decided that even if they weren't that was fine. Besides he could scare off potential suitors until she decided she was ready.

Poor delusional Hiro... he just didn't get the signal that Lili wanted them to be together. Well, if nothing else could be said for the private eye there was this, she was persistent and she'd get him in the end. Even if she had to come to more art shows with confusing abstracts to do it.