**AU Yukiru – Yuki starts out a bit grim in this fic, but he'll get better.   

She sang a beautiful song.  It enchanted him and he couldn't get her out of his head.  He cradled his head in his hands.  He couldn't remember much else about that party except for her.

"Baka neko.  Serving so much alcohol," he said as he shook himself out of his stupor.

         Yuki lay back on his bed and closed his eyes to the offending sunlight.  He was definitely suffering from the world's worst hangover.  He attended the wedding of his cousins, Kyou and Kagura, the day before and at the reception Yuki did nothing but drink.  He knew it would do nothing to ease his mind, but he thought it would at least numb it for a bit. 

**The Night Before**

Yuki watched with disgust as Kyou and Kagura danced.  It was sickening really.  As everyone enjoyed party Yuki sat at his table allowing his bitter hatred for life to consume him even more.  What annoyed him the most was that everyone acted so happy.  There was never true happiness in the Souma family.  This jovial celebration would soon fade away and reality would rear its ugly head.

"Akito will take care of that," he thought with contempt.

         As he wallowed in his miserable state his elder cousin, Shigure, made his way over and sat next to Yuki. 

"Here we go," Yuki thought.

"Are you just going to sit there and drink all night?"

"Yes, is there something wrong with that?"

         Shigure immediately went into his usual melodramatics.

"Yuki-kun used to be such a responsible person," he said feigning surprise.

"And Shigure is still the most annoying person on the planet."

"You're even meaner than Ha-san.  I didn't think that was possible.  Is that the gratitude I get as the wonderful older cousin who let you seek refuge in my house."

"Just once I'd like to throttle you."

"Perhaps I should flag Aya down and ask him to have a seat with us for a while."

         Yuki jumped up out of his seat and grabbed Shigure by the collar.

"If you call him over here I'll tear you limb from limb!" 

         Suddenly the lights went dim and a spotlight illuminated the stage in the front of the large reception hall.

"Sit down Yuki-kun, the next performance is about to start."

         Yuki reluctantly let go and quietly sat down.  That's when he noticed a girl stepping out onto the stage.  She had long brown hair with some strands tied back behind her head.  Her eyes were large, sparkling blue orbs, shining with excitement and anticipation.  She wore a knee length, pale blue dress, which looked to be made out of silk.  A beautiful smile was on her face as she took the microphone in her hand.  It was then that she started to sing.    

sora tooi sora
tsubuyaita koe
anata no yume wa ima

hoshi no sharin wo mawasu…

From just those for lines she had him hooked.  He watched in awe of her grace as she moved about the stage sing the melodic tune. 

watashi itsumo doko ni mo inai
sou kanjite'ta

sono hitomi shiru made wa

mune no katasumi
kaketa tsuki ga hitotsu aru dake
demo donna ni hosoi michi mo 

terasu you ni hikaru

Shigure smiled knowingly at Yuki though the elder Souma knew he was pretty much being ignored.  

"This girl somehow caught Yuki's interest.  Interesting…"

watashi itsuka kono te no hira de 
anata no koto

subete kara mamoritai

atatakai yoru
mada chiisa na tsuki no sumu ie
demo anata ga nemuru toki wa

yasashii akari tomosu no

mune no katasumi
kaketa tsuki ga hitotsu aru dake
demo donna ni hosoi michi mo

terasu you ni hikaru

Shigure eyed Yuki as the song came to a close.  Yuki looked as though he were in a hypnotic trance.  He looked back at the stage following Yuki's gaze.  The girl politely bowed, thanking the audience for their attention.  Then as quickly as she came on stage she was off.  Her disappearance snapped Yuki back into consciousness.  Yuki jumped to his feet in order to try and catch her before she left, ignoring Shigure's protests.  He ran behind the stage curtains to the back door and barely caught a glimpse of her before the door slammed shut.  As he opened the door and peered outside he saw a blue small van drive off.  He then realized that she was gone. 

            Dismayed, Yuki leaned against the doorframe and stared out into the night.  Shigure joined him shortly after, lighting a cigarette as he stepped outside.

"Was it love at first sight Yuki-kun?"

"Shut up."

"You must have seen something you liked."

"Didn't I just tell you to shut up baka inu?"

"Hai, hai.  Temper, temper."

            After a few minutes Shigure finished his smoke and turned to go inside.

"Are you coming in?  The night air is chilly and I doubt Ha-san would be happy if you had an attack."

"I'll come in a minute."

            Shigure went inside and Yuki continued to stare into the darkness.

"That girl," he though, "What was it about her?  I don't understand how she was able to put me in such a trance. "

            He was suddenly reminded of her face.  She had this inviting look of kindness on her face.  Her eyes some how beckoned him to unlock their secrets.

"Who was that girl," he asked himself.

            With one last fleeting look outside he went back inside.

**End of Flashback**

            The rest of the night was a blur.  He remembered returning to his table and he remembered a bunch of girls fussing over him.  After the sixth or seventh drink everything was black.  Next thing he knew he woke up in his bed with a throbbing headache. 

**A/N…Well that's what I got so far.  I just want to stress that by no means is Yuki a drunk or anything.  He's just at a wedding reception drinking a few, though I guess I have him packing it away.  He won't be drinking after this.  The song is Tsuki no Ie from Outlaw Star, which was sung by Arai Akino.