A masquerade for the Carnival… The school tradition this year had adopted the theme of the Venetian Carnival under the principal's orders; the idea was wonderful, the ball gowns and masques might not have been busy to get, though marvelous nonetheless.
As the time for the event approached fast and swiftly, three young women calmly walked around the gardens of the famous school as they fantasized, each in her own way, about the expected upcoming ball.
"How do you think it will be?" mused the only idol of the three, frankly curious and eager.
"I don't know…" muttered (f/n) with a light shrug as she sat down upon a bench nearby the pristine bandstand and the sun upon her. "What about you, Haru-chan?" she mused, closing her (e/c) coloured orbs in na attempt to better feel the soft cooling breeze.
"Maybe… dreamy?!" giggled lightly the shy STARISH composer.
"I guess you're right!" Tomochika chuckled along, soon adding: "Especially for (n/n)-chan!"
"And why is that?" wondered the (h/c) genuinely surprised and curious at her friend's sudden comment.
"You'll see!" giggled both red heads, before falling silent until it was finally time to return to work.
~~~~~
"(N/n)-chan!" a loud familiar voice echoed throughout the room and corridors as said girl entered the dance studio after a while; lacking the energy to react, the (h/c) was suddenly glomped, brought into a rather tight hug and found herself being twirled around by a rather bubbly brunette idol.
"Rei-kun, we have work…" muttered the girl, attempting to hide her light blush with her (h/c) bangs. The man gently placed her back on her feet.
"I'm sorry, (n/n)-chan…" he apologized, apologetically scratching his cheek.
From across the room, the other members of the band, as well as Haruka and SARISH, attentively observed the cute trade between the duo. Suddenly, a flash passed through Reiji's stormy orbs; he had almost forgotten what he had been meaning to ask the girl.
"(F/n)…" the brunette spoke with such seriousness that the surprise almost took everyone's breath away for a moment. "You're going to the Masquerade, right? Are you excited?"
And with the questions, his excitement returned, causing some snorts, a few giggles and a share of sighs to erupt from every presente.
"Of course, Rei-kun!" she smiled brightly in response.
~~~~~
"Amid the peaceful night wind,
One by one, the carriages come to a stop
Clad in its beautiful dress,
The moon smells so sweet"
The night was beautiful, though a bit cool… The stars shone brightly alongside the bright moon high in the night sky, they shed their light upon the earth below with but mere whisps of clouds softly shadowing the brilliant sky.
The main school building of the Academy was heavily decorated, almost resembling an european renaissance fair. One after the other, people began to arrive, girls with large gowns and shiny masques, boys with elegant suits and fitting masques, completing the marvelous environment that had been created.
It wasn't before 10pm that (f/n) finally reached the large gate that represented the main entrance, having only left her quarters after the rest of her friends had….
"It will be all right, don't be afraid
I won't let go of your hand clasped in mine
Welcome to the party!
Allow me to escort you there"
She felt observed as several people turned to gaze at her… She had opted for a magnificent dress with the help of no other than Camus himself; her dress was long and puffy, a bright tone of green with all the additional details in tones of white and a lighter green; her mask had been chosen with the help of yet another person, Jinguji Ren, it featured na owl, the color was bright emerald with details in silver and it shone like the grass under the sun of a bright Spring morning.
As she shifted lightly her weight from one foot to the other and softly twirled her gloved fingers over her lap, (f/n) failed to notice a new presence…
"Excuse me, my lady, but may I escort you inside?" a new, yet familiar, voice sounded.
Warily, she slowly raised her head and (e/c) met with an all too familiar gente, yet stormy, gray, after noticing the newcomer's white gloved hand extended towards her as na invitation as he so courteously bowed before her.
"Do I know you…?" she muttered breathlessly, baffled at the man's elegant appearance; his white suit was complemented with details in a forest green and a bow of the same colour hung around his neck in replacement of the common cravat, over his eyes stood a rather simple masque patterned black and golden, his brown hair was left loose, freely falling over his shoulders… He was stunning, breathtaking, to say the least…
"Perhaps, my lady!" he conceded with a small grin, as she placed her hand upon his rather larger one signalling the acceptance of his invitation. "You will just have to find out later on."
"Welcome to the party!" declared the brunette, smiling softly at his companion who still drowned herself in the recognition of the man which she was apparently unable to identify.
"Concealed within our hearts,
These emotions that cannot put into words,
Once hidden behind a mask,
They can be conveyed"
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, my lady!" mused the man, showing a sweet side to his self.
"It was my pleasure, kind sir!" she giggled softly; however, distracted with the entire environment that had been created in the inside of the building, she failed to notice the small glint of happiness that suddenly crossed the male's features for a moment.
"Now, shall we dance?
Forgetting everything
Even this fleeting love
If it's even possible now…"
Almost immediately, he politely asked her for the honor of a dance and she, of course, acquiesced to his request.
(F/n) wasn't the swiftest of people when it came to dancing, she was actually quite a klutz; luckily however, the man was swift on his feet and didn't seem to mind, apparently even happily taking the chance to help his companion learn how to truly waltz as he skillfully led her around the room.
Together, the two ignored everything else around them, even other people… For endless hours, they danced together, ignoring the feelings that slowly raised from each other, whether recognition or love, but simultaneously letting themselves being taken over by those same feelings.
"An eternal masquerade
I'll find you!
Ah… This warmth
Will show the way"
"RanRan, have you seen (n/n)-chan?" inquired the brunette, having found his friend leaning upon the wall in a corner alone, as was usual.
"Have you lost your date?" mocked the albino.
"She said she needed to go to the bathroom, but hasn't come back yet…" whimpered the older of the two, pretending to cry.
"No, I haven't seen her." Waved off the rocker.
After a while more looking, a certain feeling, a hunch, overcame his mind and body; following said sensation, he let his feet guide him over to the garden, to the stand beside the large lake, where he finally found the one he had been looking for.
"Casting aside everything else,
I want to be able to tell you!
"Tonight, in this world of dreams,"
I'll touch your heart…
I'll steal your heart…
Your passing figure on the steps,
Your aloof hearts closed off from something
As lovely as an angel,
I want to carry you away"
As he observed her angelic figure bathed by the pale silver light of the full moon, he felt his body light as a feather, he felt his brain cease working, he felt his breath stuck in his throat, he felt his heart stop for a second inside his chest… He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was and how he wished her heart belonged to him alone, but he was scared…
Obtaining some courage, he stepped forward and called out to her, telling her he had been worried about her whereabouts. She apologized as she simply wanted to take a breather, but said she would return back inside with him if that appeased his mind.
On the way back, the brunette, for a moment, had wished that he could just plainly kiss her, tell her of his feelings and carry her in his arms the rest of the way to make sure she wouldn't slip away from him again; but he was too afraid to act…
"Every person's innermost hearts
Remain unseen behind a mask
As someone plays,
They dance to the song like clowns"
Back inside, everyone danced, almost like marionettes in a show for someone's entertainment, at the rhythmic and compassed sound.
And like two new marionettes, the two joined the mysterious dance…
"As these gentle hours
Begin to doze off,
It seems at most this time is…
Even so, it's just a mirage
In a classical un, deux, trois,
It's fine if you're clumsy
I just want you to be
Just the way you are"
As hours passed by, some people began to feel tired, (f/n) was a good example of such; however, she refused to stop, she refused to lose this moments with him just because she was starting to feel tired.
As exhaustion took over her a bit more, she began to miss her steps which caused her to once again look more clumsy and step on her companion's feet; this caused the brunette, who somehow still held energy, to carefully start leading the (h/c) across the tricky dancefloor once again.
"An eternal masquerade
I'll tell you!
Ah… The night wears on,
Growing more hazy
In an endless dance
As we are,
"Tonight, in this world of dreams,"
This dancing night…"
Most had stopped by now, but the two of them could not… Sleep and exhaustion could not take them while their gazes remained linked, while gray and (e/c) remained locked, in an eternal waltz of dreams.
"Revealing my true colors,
Leaving behind this sinful romance
In a kiss upon your brow,
I've just stolen away your heart"
They kept on dancing until… morning came at last, exhaustion had began to take them both, to the point where they almost could not move any longer.
With strong arms, he kept her from falling and supported her smaller frame. Carefully, he picked her up and carried her away.
~~~~~
As he sat her beside him upon one of the benches of the garden stand, catching her atention.
"Will you tell me now who you are?"
"Can you not tell?" he chuckled.
"You seem… familiar, but I am not sure." She confessed.
Then he softly placed a Light kiss upon her brow, then on the tip of her nose, her forehead, and finally… her lips…
The girl was left dumbfounded as he moved backwards and took off his masque, revealing a face she knew oh-so-well.
"Reiji…" she muttered as a dark blush covered her features.
"Yes, my princess!" he nodded, kneeling down before her and taking her left hand on his right one. "I apologize for not having told you sooner, but I was afraid."
"Afraid…" she echoed soundlessly, before calling out: "But, Reiji?"
"Yes?" he wondered, lifting his eyes to meet hers.
"I love you too!"