Okay, so I was planning on a different Yui-Nak story for this dare but I realized I want to explore more. So instead of the omiai story, I'm doing a random full-length story on them with one-shot chappies. Heehehee.

This story was in response to a January writing dare in Ressha no Kansou. Do visit when you have the time—we're open to writers of any anime.

Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is not mine.

January First

By Slavedriver2008

The chandeliers have been lighted, the champagne glittering like a thousand candles under sepia bulbs, the temperature was cool, starkly different from the lithe drizzle of snow beyond windows frosted by the midnight breeze. Butlers move back and fro, inconspicuously, carrying trays of elegant meals of fine quality. Thousands of colored lights glittered below, cars plying the streets of Tokyo dot the horizon as if it were just another night.

Ryuchi Pendragon turned from the floor-to-ceiling window to a woman sitting across him at the same time she let out a sigh. A deep sigh. Ryuchi straightened and looked through her form: long light brown hair and blue eyes, thin long legs peeking between slits of an expensive evening dress in white. She was beautiful to say the least. As a matter of fact, she was stunning. And the numerous glares she had been receiving since they walked in were proof of the allure she possessed. Everyone seemed to be aware of it—except him.

"In a few more minutes, the fireworks will come and it will be a new year. They say that if lovers are together the time the clock strikes 12, they'll be together forever," she said, looking up to meet his gaze.

"Is that so? Interesting." He raised an eyebrow, eyes boring into hers. He wanted to see her, find the woman he thought he found in her. She looked down, blushing under his gaze. She let out another sigh and instead of giving her the space to gather her composure, or her strength—whatever she needed at the moment—Ryuchi eyed her down.

"I am giving you two options: One, use that few minutes to propose to me," the woman said. Ryuchi smirked, eyes emotionless. "Or you can stand up and walk away and I won't hold anything against you."

He wanted to laugh. She was interesting tonight, vividly different from the usual her who wanted his attention, the her who clung to him like poison ivy, the woman whose presence bore him to the core. She was different tonight and he doesn't know what to make out of it.

"Surely, you did not intend to make me choose between something so easy?" he crooned and her jaws tightened.

"You're only dating me because your father wanted you to," she pointed out in a tight voice. Her composure was slowly melting, he knew. He knew women too much. They were all the same.

"Given."

"I know that you're carrying that 24-carat Harry Winston heirloom diamond ring in your pocket." He raised an eyebrow. Now, this was turning really interesting.

"Probably."

"You don't love me," she said, squeaked. Ryuchi leaned an elbow on the velvet seat, placing the sides of his angular face. She swallowed hard, she knew he was serious now.

"What is your proposal then?" he asked, demanding a prompt reply. The woman, Aiko Sakoyaki, reached for the glass of champagne and emptied it. Rosiness tinged her porcelain skin as she placed the glass down. When she looked up, her demeanor had changed.

Funny how a single glass of wine can differentiate between fear and courage. Blind courage, Ryuchi told himself. He shook his head, he should not be wasting his time for a woman like her. He was a lunatic to even entertain her. If she demanded marriage now, he'll be screwed for life.

"Let's call it quits." Ryuchi's clear blue eyes lightened. "I need a man who can love me with passion—"

"Ah, I see," he responded, relieved. Her face tightened and her fists closed.

"No, you don't see," she heaved, offended and in a defensive streak. "I need to feel you love me. I need to… touch you. But you don't let me—"

Ryuchi's jaws clenched. "Enough." She stopped speaking and cupped her face. When she placed her hands down, her eyes bore a glint of hurt, of rejection.

"Do I look like her?" she asked as a whisper, looking straight at him. His heart palpitated yet the reactions never showed on his face. "Did you accept the engagement because I have her face?"

"Who?"

"Her…" she said, a little louder. "The girl in your dreams…"

"Nonsense," he cut her and she opened her mouth to speak more. But he would not have anymore of it. "Let's call it a night."

Without another word, the distinguished bachelor stood up and turned, walking from the table where she sat, wide-eyed and humiliated. His fists were clenched at his sides and the fierceness in his eyes did not waver even as he left the restaurant, swaggering in those wide muscled shoulders. People bowed as he walked past them and he left nothing but a grunt. His mood changed for the worst. He reached the elevator and the butler bowed to him, very low.

"Where to, Master Pendragon?"

"The penthouse," he snarled as the door closed. The sound of the lift moving up filled him and as the metal doors parted again, his anger had not waned.

Ryuchi stepped out, hands inside the pockets of expensive gabardine. Cold wind brushed through his face, slinging the fringes on his forehead to every part of his face. Luckily, he had his hair tied in a low ponytail or it would have been completely swept away. Long strides ushered him to the balcony, and he found himself standing near the ledge of the penthouse, overlooking the shimmering lights of Tokyo under his feet.

He clutched a small velvet box inside his pocket, his deep blue eyes scanning the outline of the city underneath the cloudy starless sky. The railings prohibited him from stepping further and he was briefly thankful for its presence. Or else, he would have jumped to his death. He smirked, crafting a headline for tomorrow's banner story. Young Billionaire Jumps From Top Floor Of Hotel. Billionaire Kills Self, Jumps From Building.

People have been leaving one at a time but he stayed rooted in the spot he occupied. Some looked through him but instead of acknowledging them, he stared at the dark skies. From afar he could see a countdown to the New Year. Below, a crowd gathered, waiting as a rock band entertained them for another five minutes.

"Marry me…" A man's voice came somewhere behind him and Ryuchi smirked. Another proposal at the penthouse, how pathetic. When his father started the hotel, he never anticipated it to become a spot for proposals. He sighed and looked down, deciding to leave the couple alone.

"I—" The woman's voice fleeted in the air and he stilled when it reached his ears. He turned slightly to the direction of the voice, not meaning to see them but to hear further. "I'm sorry…" she whispered and Ryuchi's hand tightened on the box. "I can't…"

"Is it him again?" the man asked and Ryuchi closed his eyes. Her voice was familiar, he knew as much. He tried to put a face to the voice. He had heard it before. But where? Was it from one of his travels or in the boardroom perhaps?

"No, no." She sighed. "I… I don't think I can… Not right now…" The wind blew harshly, swallowing her voice. He sensed a shiver in them, probably from hesitation.

"I guess after all these years…" The man probably shook his head before eventually bowing down in defeat. "I'll take you home…?"

"I… I want to stay longer…" she told him. "Alone."

"I see…Think about it…"

"I will. Thank you, I really will."

Ryuchi heard footsteps as he opened his eyes and he resisted the urge to turn to the girl. A heavy sigh left her. It then occurred to him how close she had been, probably a few meters from him. Ryuchi shook his head and turned, intending to leave the penthouse to give her solitude.

When he turned, their eyes met. And locked. Time stopped. Teal eyes, short dusty blonde hair, and a familiar almost ethereal face. He saw recognition in her eyes and when her lips parted, he felt the urge to walk forward and lean down to close them with his mouth.

"I'm sorry I'm staring… Excuse me—" she stammered, looking away.

She touched her temple and turned away, flushed. He stopped her, his fingers brushed through the soft skin on her arms. He pulled his hand away, cutting the electricity that coursed through her skin to his. She turned. Their eyes met again. They were lovely. Very lovely.

"Have we met before?" he asked, groaned.

"I…" Hesitation filled those cerulean orbs and she shook her head, very slowly. "Probably not…" she whispered, masking the break in her voice. But Ryuchi heard it; he was a man who notices the littlest things.

"I see," he whispered. He raised a hand for her. "My name is Ryuchi Pendragon. And you are?" She hesitantly took his hand and an eternity seemed to have passed when their palms met. A pleasant warmth coursed through his veins and his breath caught when she finally spoke.

"Hongou… Hongou Yui…" she whispered.

A loud sound crackled in the night and then, magic happened. The sky was showered with lights of different colors—blue, red, white, yellow, green. It reflected in her eyes, those lovely teal eyes he had seen somewhere, sometime, in a memory as distant as his dreams. Eruptions filled the air around them and he satisfied himself with the numerous colors that lit her face. A sole blue earring caught his attention, starkly similar to the one he had at home.

A lifetime probably passed before the celebration stopped, since the lights last came. Slowly, against his will, he let go of her hand and immediately felt cold without them. Ryuchi let out a breath he never knew he was holding.

"I have a table downstairs. Would you… I was wondering if you would be kind enough to dine with me… I'm alone, on a New Year…" he told her, in a voice that fell just a bit short of begging. "I would greatly appreciate your presence, Yui-sama."

"I—I…" Color rose to her cheeks and a startled expression filled her face. Then her eyes softened and she smiled. A lovely breathtaking smile. "Hai… Dinner sounds… nice."

A/N: Please do leave reviews and join our writing forum Ressha no Kansou! :D