"Wait, you want to do what?!" Tyki Mikk merely chuckled. "Yes, you heard me right."
"There is no way in hell you're going to make me do that!" Allen replied, vehemently.
"You're mistress's best friend demanded it. Are you going to refuse, being a mere butler?" Tyki said, smoothly.
Allen simmered. Why the hell do I have to take orders from this bastard!
Because he's your superior, a little voice nagged. Allen knew he couldn't disobey him, But damn, why did he have to be Mistress's Rhode's toy?!
"I'll get your clothes ready. The maids will assist you if you need any help. Be ready promptly before the ball begins." With those words, Tyki left.
***
"My, my what a beautiful young lady. Her hair almost seems white! But, that scar.." The ladies fanned their faces, whispering..
"I heard it's a birth mark…"
"An accident?"
"A curse!.."
Allen sat in the corner, heedful of the attention paid to him. Damn Tyki and Rhode, he thought grimly. He had to wear this stupid dress & wig, just to dress like a girl. His small frame, and rather feminine face attracted unusual attention, usually from both genders, but this.. this was outrageous!
He was dressed in a pale blue gown, with a long, pale, almost-white blond wig, wearing rather small, satin slippers. Damn, his feet hurt! He just wanted the night over with. Rhode's sadistic humour was not funny, he thought angrily. Just get this ball over and one with. A few more hours, and it would all end..
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ballroom..
"Lord Kanda! Please, you must choose a partner!" Toma begged.
"Che. Why do I have to?" Kanda stood at the balcony, not even bothering to give a glance at the insipid, young, tittering girls gathered in the corner, staring at him, and gossiping in their groups.
"This party is to choose your bride! Your father has said so!"
"Like I could care about Tiedoll." The man forced him to come to this party after all. Why should he care?
"Lord Kanda!" Kanda tuned out Toma's cries, knowing that Tiedoll wouldn't blame the man, a'tall.
As his eyes wandered over the ballroom, Kanda noticed one lone girl sat in the corner, seeing she seemed.. Impatient. So he wasn't the only one that couldn't wait to leave.. Intriguing. He took in her long blonde hair, her blue dress, and her rather tense stance. She wasn't joining the crows of insipid girls, rather, it seemed like she wasn't one of those marriage-minded girls, desperate to catch their husband in their very first seasons. Or any season, actually. Why Tiedoll bothered to pair him up with any of those girls was a mystery.
"Oi.." …a voice whispered. Kanda ignored it.
"Yu"…said, a little louder… Okay, he was a little pissed now.
"YU!" Kanda turned around, knowing that it was that annoying rabbit.
"What do you want?" He said, curt.
"Just the person you're staring at!~" Lavi leaned over, looking at the direction Kanda was looking.. "Oh, that pretty blonde, am I right?~~" Lavi leaned dangerously over the railing, as he peered at the girl. "Not bad, not bad…" Lavi whistled. "Finally, our little Yu's interested in a girl!".
Kanda wanted to stab him, slowly. But he was in public, and it would surely ruin his reputation. Maybe, just dismember him slowly. He tried to consider how to drag Lavi out without anyone noticing, and possibly killing him . After all, the fool always managed to talk his way out of duels.
"Yu, ask her to dance!~"
"No."
"Ask!"
"No."
"Ask for the sake that she's a wallflower." Lavi added slyly. "Be a gentleman.."
"Do it for the sake of shutting Tiedoll up.. He would stop bothering you if you were to dance just once.." Kanda stood abruptly, and stomped over to the dance floor. Lavi knew he had gotten through. Now to watch what would happen~ Lavi was curious to see how Yu would act around a girl. As he shifted his position, he was startled by the sudden voice behind him.
"Hello, May I ask who you are?" Lavi whirled around, surprised. A young lord stepped out from the shadows. Lavi rifled through the vast information in his head. "Lord Tyki Mikk."
"I'm honored you recall who I am." Tyki's eyes almost seemed to glow gold in the darkness. "May I entice you in a private game of cards..?" Lavi took a quick peek at Yu. Looked at Tyki. A handsome, young, very sexy guy, or his best friend? Well, what the hell. Lavi grinned, as he nodded. "What's the bet, milord?"
"We'll decide.. Later." No one noticed the two walk away, and would think nothing untowardly, but little they would know..
****
"Oi. You want to dance." When is this party over?
"I'm talking to you. Be a little nicer." The voice, said rather annoyed. Where the hell did Tyki go? I'm gonna quit as soon as I can.
"Ignoring me?" Hey, wait, what--? Allen looked at the speaker, confused. When had the man come?
"You slow or what. I asked you to dance." Allen looked at him. He had long hair like a girls', but he was clearly in a man's suit. This guy, asking him to dance? He looked like tall, dark, and handsome, Lenalee's words exactly. Clearly, a man with high standing.
"No thanks." Allen didn't want to dance with anyone, much less another guy. With clearly, a high rank and station. Even if the guy in question, was attractive, and probably, straight.
"Dance with me. Or I'm gonna look like an idiot for coming down here and getting dumped." He spoke, clearly pissed.
"Look like an idiot. See if I care." Allen said, really not caring. He was jerked off balance, when the 'gentlemen' in question pulled him from his seat.
"I have a reputation to maintain. Just bear with it." He hissed. The jerk.
"For a young lady, you sure don't act like it." Allen took care not to stumble. "Or dance like one." Damn, damn damn! Tyki never told me, I had to dance!
"Look." Allen was too busy concentrating on his steps.
"I said, look." Kanda's voice cut through his concentration, as he looked up, annoyed. "Just follow my lead. I promise, it'll be easier." Kanda stared down at Allen, holding his hand in a firm clasp. Seeing no choice, Allen let his hand relax a little, and slowly let Kanda take the lead. He was surprised to discover it was easier. And a little fun, too, considering he had never danced before. But did he really have to be the girl?
"Better now?" Allen looked up, confused by the sudden words. "You seemed more than nervous enough for a debutante." A hint of a smile touched his lips while Allen felt the tension leaving his body.
"I think I have more reason to be." He joked. Really, the man was attractive when he smiled, Allen thought. Wait, what did he just think?
"More reason?" He looked at Allen questioningly, while Allen panicked to cover the slip.
"You know.. First season and all that." He forced a smile to his lips, hoping that the man would leave it at that. Not like he'd ever meet him again, Allen thought uneasily. Servants and Aristocrats simply did not mix, never would, and he knew better than anyone else. But.. Allen felt a twinge of regret at never meeting this man again. However, it would be better for everyone, as Allen was a man.
His thoughts distracted him from his dancing, and he was discovered to see they were dancing quite well together. He was actually enjoying it.
"Wasn't I right?"
"Yea, being the arrogant jerk, you are." Allen said. As those words exited his mouth, he immediately regretted the words. What had he done? Allen panicked, knowing the man was probably offended. And he might've possibly blown his cover.
Kanda paused, and burst out in laughter. People looked curiously at the pair, while Allen ducked his head in embarrassment.
"A jerk. That's what you think." Kanda said, chuckling. "Feel free to speak your mind."
Speak his mind..? Not like he'd ever meet him again, Allen thought. And if the man wasn't offended, then he could say what he though. "Well, how should I say this..? A rich, handsome, elegant.. Jerk. Yeah, pretty much." Allen said, with obviously held in laughter.
"You do realize, you are talking to one of the best candidates for marriage." He said, smugly.
"Have you heard marriage is like a prison?" Allen said, grinning.
"So, the little princess has fangs. Can you come up with anything better?" Kanda leaned closer, whispering dangerously close to Allen's ear. Allen shivered slightly at the pleasant sensation and the masculine smell that seemed to surround him.
"Flirting with someone like that? You've got to have better skills than that." Allen said, keeping his face averted. Embarrassment..? Kanda thought, wolfishly..
Heck no, Kanda thought ashis foot was stepped on. Hard.
"Maybe, you'll learn to keep your hands to yourself", Allen said sweetly. Vixen, Kanda thought, wincing at the pain. Damn, high heels were a formidable weapon.
"Regretting that?" Allen gave him a smug grin.
"No. I can do better." Kanda said, as he leaned back. The girl was entertaining. He had never seen one so.. Well, need he say? She seemed different from all the other stuffy, noble aristocrats in the room that usually tried to kiss ass with him.
Allen didn't like that smile, and discovered why, when the man waltzed him over and whisked him out to the balcony.
"Some time alone..?" Kanda put on his courteous smile for the benefit of the people who were still staring at the. Allen smiled, while inwardly, mentally cursing himself and the man with the long, black hair into a rather precarious situation.
"Of course." He said, through his teeth.
"Would you like to see the gallery?" He offered his hand to Allen.
"How could I refuse?" Allen said, with underlying sarcasm that a passer-by wouldn't notice. He took Kanda's hand, smiling, all the while seething underneath.
As they entered the silent gallery, Allen turned to Kanda, sarcastic, "So, is this the part where you compromise me and we're forced to marry?" Allen said, reminding Kanda of the unnecessary business of finding a wife.
"I was merely answering your challenge." Kanda looked down at Allen, noticing the delicate features, and the pouting expression on 'her' face. "Do you mind..?" Allen only looked away. Kanda took that as a 'no', and smirked. The kid was really cute, with a tint of red on his cheeks, but not like he'd actually say that aloud. Innocent too. Usually, he stayed away from those types, but this one exuded an aura that it made a wolf want to pounce on a poor, defenseless rabbit. The rabbit, being the girl. Attractive too. It was clear that the girl was attracted to him, even if she tried to hide it, he thought, grinning.
"What are you, looking so smu--" Allen's eyes widened, as his words were cut off when he felt Kanda's mouth cover his own, and felt his hands wrap around Allen's face. The imbecile--, Oh, the man was definitely a good kisser, Allen thought. As Kanda lifted his lips briefly, Allen pushed him away; "Wait, hold on--" He was interrupted again, barely given a chance to breath before Kanda was on him again.
Allen clutched the waist of Kanda's coat, unsure of what to do with this dizzy, pleasant sensation. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, or rather, the man shouldn't be doing this, but it felt amazingly good. Could a kiss really be like that?
Kanda lifted his lips, his fingers brushing the silky, soft skin, as he looked down at the girl below him. He pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head on his chest.
Did I just do what I think I did?
I just compromised the girl. Shit, do I have to propose marriage?
He felt the girl push away, and fumble with her clothes and dress. "Um. Just forget this ever happened."
Wait, what? What kinda debutante would give up the chance for marriage?
Allen didn't quite know how to put a girl's clothes back in place, so he just tried to smooth his hair, and pull the bodice in place.
"Um, Lord..?" Allen waited for his name.
"Kanda." He answered.
"Just forget it. I won't tell anyone, and neither will you." Allen knew it had gone too far, and with any luck, he wouldn't run into the man again.
This was too suspicious, Kanda thought. Was there something he missed? "Milady..?"
Allen caught sight of a young, Chinese, black-haired girl, and an older man entering. Oh shit.
"I have to go." Kanda's arm shot out, firmly holding her upper arm. "Wait, what about this.." He turned to the sound of approaching voices, distracted, softening his grip slightly. Allen chose that moment to jerk his arm away, and run down the stairs.
"I told the girl to wait!" Kanda thought frustrated. "What the hell was wrong with her?". Kanda thought aloud, as he spotted a necklace on the ground, with a pendant in the center. It was a crest of a strange cross. Peculiar. Did it belong to her? He held the necklace in his hands, and belated realized.. He didn't even ask her name.
Fuck.