[12/03/16]
It wasn't real, before this. Miyako always looked at him shyly from behind her spectacles, squealed under her breath when she caught his eye. But it was silly, a crush, something Mimi entertained mostly because she was bored. It wasn't even like her and Yamato, who constantly denies being interested in Mimi at all but somehow finds himself hung up on her every single time. She doesn't have a name for that either but she knows it's different to this.
There's still something not quite real about the sight of him even now, with one hand tucked into his dark grey slacks while the other holds a flute of clear, sparkling wine. He laughs at something someone says and for the second their eyes meet, Mimi's swears something has just happened. She carefully tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, eyelashes brushing her cheeks, coy. He doesn't fly to her side immediately and it feels like something completely accidental when they do find themselves within the same circle, hours later. She can't tell what he's thinking about or whether he's thinking about her at all and it doesn't matter if he is; the sight of his clear blue eyes is all the confirmation she needs.
"It's a great party, Mimi," Ken says, toasting their hostess.
"You really outdid yourself this time," Takeru quips, grinning brightly.
She called in a few favours and managed to book a beautiful salon with a spectacular view of the city and Rainbow Bridge, complete with a deck. There's food, entertainment and beautiful decorations to keep them company at dinner and Mimi is rather proud of the results. Her shoulder rises and falls like their words haven't touched her, but they don't miss the flush of satisfaction high on her cheeks.
"It was nothing," she says, plucking modesty like any other accessory. "It's New Year's Eve, we can't keep having parties in Taichi's flat."
"What's wrong with my place?" Taichi asks, puffing up indignantly, turning to Yamato almost instantly. "Don't fucking answer that."
Bristling, Yamato raises one cool eyebrow. "I wasn't going to."
Their bickering continues, falling into the category of background noise just like the lively music she and Miyako have chosen for the occasion, and her attention is drawn quickly back to her guests, the food and numerous glasses of champagne for the next two hours.
It's late, and most have retired for the night. Outside the temperature has dropped considerably and it smells like the snow might start any time now. She drinks the rest of her champagne, considers retiring for the night when she hears his clear, tinkling laughter. She starts when a hand touches the small of her back and when she turns, her smile is lighting up her face.
"Leaving already?"
"I have an early flight," he says, nodding. "Will you be okay on your own?"
"Yes, dad," she laughs, rolling her eyes. "Thanks for coming."
"It really was a great party, Mimi," Yamato says, making her smile wider. "Go easy on the champagne."
She stops in the middle of taking a fresh flute and raises a disdainful shoulder.
"Don't tell me what to do," she says petulantly, but he recognises her teasing tone. "Besides, Ichijouji-kun is here. You'll keep an eye on me, won't you?" she says as he passes by, caught innocently into their squabble. He flushes brightly under her tight hug.
"I was just getting a refill," he says, confused. "For Daisuke."
"You're on Mimi duty," Yamato tells him blandly, ignoring the look of confusion on his face. "If anything happens, I'm holding you responsible."
"Er ... what?"
"Go," Mimi shooes him, laughing. "Before you keep embarrassing me!"
.
.
The snowflakes look beautiful, twinkling under the fairy lights, making the scene look like something plucked out of a fairy-tale. Mimi's eyes are shining and there is something touching and also painful about it, and she isn't quite sure what she's missing for this moment to be perfect. Most everyone is gone and she is loathe to leave the party, too afraid of the silence back home. Her parents are gone for the holidays and Mimi hasn't been alone in a long, long time.
The last of her guests call loudly at her from the doors, drunkenly exclaiming: 'Happy New Year, Mimi-san!' and she waves back enthusiastically, toasting them one last time. A thin coat of white snow covers the balcony and she knows she ought to leave now, before the storm hits, but half of her wants to be there when it does. The weight of a coat on her thin shoulders makes her jump, surprised.
"I thought you had left," she says, an odd expression taking over. "Before, with Daisuke-kun."
Ken shrugs, offering her a light smile.
"I'm on Mimi duty," he jokes. His laugh is cut short when she presses the softest of kisses on the corner of his lips.
"Happy New Year, Ken-kun."
She thinks that they did leave right away but she must've insisted on a detour and Ken has had little experience handling her; she probably took advantage of how sweet he was and how he didn't know how to say 'no' to her yet. It's refreshing, must've been thrilling and she wants to laugh, hiding her smile behind a curtain of fresh curls. They're practically snowed-in for the day and the unfamiliar scenery makes her feel like she is elsewhere, like it was meant to be. She knows everything but love brought her here, but she likes to think that affection is at least partly responsible for it, so she kisses him softly once more.
They spend that morning between the sheets, emerging only for a late brunch. It is mid-afternoon when she slips quietly out of bed, finding her clothes and a non-descript shirt of his before slipping into the bathroom to change. It feels pointless but she realises halfway through she has no interest in waking him up, so she leaves a note on the pillow beside him, written in her neat, curled handwriting.
I took one of your shirts, hope you don't miss it much.
Thanks for brunch,
M.
Author's Note: Like I said, purely experimenting with this pair. I began feeling drawn to them after realising one day that Ken is probably a really, really pretty guy. I'm not talking about handsome-cool like Yamato or Taichi, but really actually beautiful, and it's what prompted me to write him with Mimi, since I've always found/imagined her to be strikingly beautiful as well. Shallow? We'll see.