Disclaimers: I don't own Skip Beat! or Pride and Prejudice. Also the names Teru and Anise are borrowed from the mangas Dengeki Daisy and Barajou No Kiss respectively.
Chapter Two: A Ball to be Held (Part One)
"So," began Mr. Yukihito Bingley to the general benefit of the two ladies and one other gentleman currently present in the spacious and abundantly decorated drawing-room, "there is a ball to be held at the next assembly."
"And when is it to be held?" asked his older, married sister Yuriko Hurst.
"Not even five days from today!" exclaimed Yukihito.
It honestly annoyed Chiori, Yukihito's younger sister when her brother got too excited. It was hard to get necessary information out of him whenever he was in this absurd state of glee.
"When is it?" she asked, point-blank.
"This Friday; the doors will open at six o' clock."
Though he would certainly never verbally confess to it, all outward appearances and expressions could only serve to highlight the suspicion that Yukihito was ridiculously fond of dances. The young man keenly enjoyed all the entertainment and merriments that only these such events could afford; he particularly embraced the opportunity to meet and intermingle with any of the available young ladies present.
"Shall we make our appearance?" Chiori asked lazily.
"Yes, I really think we must, if we expect to properly merge with our neighbors here—it really can't be avoided, I'm afraid," rejoined Yukihito solemnly, lamely trying to conceal his complete and utter delight at the necessity of attending a local country ball.
"It's only appropriate, I suppose," sighed Yuriko.
"It's all settled then. We are going to the ball." Yukihito could hardly contain himself. Now he must think of what to wear, being considered Meryton's current favorite bachelor under twenty-five was not a title to be taken lightly. I wonder what I'll end up wearing, I cannot disappoint, this will be my debut-
"I don't know that this set of people know of true elevated society," spoke Chiori, interrupting her brother's train of thought. She continued, "Yuki, do you know I lay awake last night for nearly a half-hour after I had repaired to my chamber, trying to call precisely why I have so freely resigned myself in becoming the mistress of a home in such a dull and small neighborhood?"
"That, my dear sister," began Yukihito brightly, "is because either I am the recipient of your very warm and considerate sisterly attentions and affections, or merely because you felt it necessary to flee from a certain Mr.—"
"Oh, Yuki dear, please; don't mention the name of that odious man here," interrupted Chiori with a melodramatic air.
"I can see that he is both a pester-ence and a pestilence to you," smiled Yukihito.
"You can only be so teasing because you are not in my place yourself. If you found yourself constantly dogged and afflicted by the considerations of such a love-sick puppy, you would not be smirking now. But there, I suppose, lies the one major advantage in residing in such a country location as this: relative peace!"
"And so, now that you have come to that conclusion, I sincerely hope you will not have to waste away another half-hour in bed wracking your brains over your situation as the mistress of this house," chuckled her brother.
At this remark, both Chiori and Yuriko had to permit themselves a small giggle (they were giggle-snobs and believed that being so rich would not regularly permit them to such a type of laughter, but for this instance, it was acceptable under the consideration that nearly all those present held immediate family ties).
Yuriko glanced across the room at her brother's friend Ren Darcy, who had thus far remained absolutely silent during their conversation. While the three Bingley siblings had been absorbed in their discussion, he had been engaged in writing a letter to his own sibling. At his young sister Maria's stern request, Ren had been faithfully recounting every detail of the fifty-mile journey to Meryton from his home at Pemberly. He was fulfilling the demand that not only he give account of all the happenings from his departure to his arrival in Hertfordshire, but as well as his state of health and being at the time of his arrival and that of the other four he was with. Now these stipulations may have been too excessive to many people, but Ren felt there wasn't another woman in the world he would hold in higher regard than Maria, and therefore gladly executed his only sister's wishes.
After seventeen pages of accurate descriptions of his journey, Ren began to wrap up his letter, telling Maria that he and the others had arrived safely and in good health, and that he hoped his letter would also find her well. As was his custom as the elder brother, he advised that she continue in the practice of diligently applying herself to her studies in music and martial arts.
Noticing the object of her sister's gaze, Chriori now felt that Ren ought to be brought into their conversation.
"Ren, will you be gracing our small party with the honor of your presence?" she asked.
Ren paused for a moment, allowing himself to finish the last line of his letter to Maria.
"I know that your brother will use every method apart from begging to induce me to come," he answered.
"Oh, but you will enjoy yourself," Yukihito coaxed.
"You know I almost never do. Still I will spare you the vexation of urging me, and simply rest my head on the chopping block now: Yes, I will accompany you all and be attending the ball this Friday."
Yukihito simply smiled and shook his head at Ren. Ren you are a bore, and a surly one at that sometimes. You will be a bore until the end of your days and then you will be a bore in your next life as well, he thought.
Though he loved Ren with as much brotherly affection as such a close friendship could provide, he really couldn't wonder at the reasons why those people outside their friendship marveled at their closeness. Yukihito had an animated demeanor and was very open, he loved to talk and go through all the motions of social life. Ren was the opposite; he was always more reserved and observant, and would be most content if his presence was not even acknowledged. Now while those varying qualities of spirit and liveliness did not totally eclipse any possibility of a close friendship between the two, in the eyes of their acquaintance, it did seem to condemn them to being labeled an odd pairing. Who could imagine such a care-free, sparkling Yukihito Bingley regularly being in cahoots with that serious Ren Darcy?
"Come now Ren, a very small amount of time spent in such social activity could hardly be detrimental to such a young, healthy man as yourself; frankly I've never your aversion to these events," said Yuriko consolingly.
They might not understand, but Ren certainly had several reasons why he didn't like balls—he ticked them off in his head.
They were tiresome.
They were monotonous.
They were tedious.
He didn't like dancing.
He hated the women who threw "subtly" themselves at him, those women who already had a profile on him, knowing exactly how much he was worth per annum; the ones who made his acquaintance for the sole purpose of starting the process to become THE Mrs. Darcy of THE Pemberly Estate—in essence, every woman he had ever danced a reel, jig, or quadrille with.
Ren decided to obliterate any redundancy in his statement by uniting the first three complaints into one, then following it up with the last two.
"You all know that I have no real fondness for dances in general, they are so repetitive: you dance one dance, you've danced them all. After the thirty-second ball, you discover that the same dull inquiries are made, the same stories repeated, gossip circulates without end of the same types of "shocking" deeds. There is nothing new, and those who pretend that there is, have bought into the farce that is so-called polite, societal behavior. And though I have no taste for balls in general, it's the vulturous women that attend who are the most unsettling."
"I'm so glad that you feel like you can reveal the most genuine of feelings among us; don't hold back," joked Yukihito.
"Heaven help us!" exclaimed Chiori, "He's worse off than I had previously imagined!"
"I cannot bring myself to believe that all your female acquaintance would more concerned with your financial status than your physical figure—you have a lovely face," said Yuriko in an attempt to be comforting, but not helping at all.
"Yes, my dear, you do have such a lovely face. I don't think anyone doubts that. But is a man no more than his face?" joked Yukihito, winking at his best friend.
"Of course, Yuki! Ren, I only meant that some of the ladies must be drawn to Ren by his person rather than his purse. And I must clarify that statement: not being otherwise acquainted with Ren, they are probably unaware of the fact that he earns at least £10,000 a year, and therefore have nothing to be drawn by but his manly appearance. How can they be judged for that?" explained Yuriko.
"You would be right, except Ren is not manly," said Yukihito jovially.
Ren shot an evil smirk at him. One good turn deserves another, and Yukihito's overly-large mouth was bound to get him in a fix sooner or later, and Ren would be there to gladly reap the joy of his friend's suffering. Yukihito got the message from the other end of the room and continued more seriously.
"True, they may not be judged for that if the scenario actually existed. But there will never be any such case because everyone must be introduced by one already in acquaintance with the person in question. And anyone with any knowledge about our dear friend would be aware of his wealth, and would be certain to tell any others inquiring of this monstrous fact."
All revenge plans forgotten, Ren felt a wave of dread bind him as Yukihito explained the ever-recurring sufferings he had endured for so long. Unlike his friend who made £5,000 a year, and could retire to the country for some peace and solitude when he wanted, there was no respite for Ren. There was no solace for him—not even in the country. Ren was so tired of the ambitious people who were always trying to accost him some way or other; if he could be poor(er) and lead a simpler life, he would. Nobody knew who the real Ren Darcy was, they only knew that name as a kind of title that denoted how much money he made, and £10,000 was a mound of money; and that was all anybody ever cared for.
"Well, I suppose I must admit defeat and thank the Lord above that we are not as rich as our dear Ren," sighed Yuriko.
"Yes, you must do both," smiled Ren wryly.
"Is that laze-about husband of yours still asleep?" asked Chiori, feeling the need to change the subject.
"At least I have a husband for you to insult," answered Yuriko with a twinkle in her eye.
"So, he is still 'a-bed', then?"
"Yes, he is. How that man can contrive to sleep so much is beyond me. I wonder that he stayed awake long enough for us to be married!"
"Well, shall we go for a walk, then?"
"Yes, dear sister, why ever not?"
"Because it rained yesterday morning, and the ground is still wet, your hems may get dirty," interrupted Yukihito practically.
"I'm sure it will be fine," said Chiori.
"It has been over twenty and four hours since, Yuki," added Yuriko.
"Fine I will follow you two, and we shall see who is correct and who is complaining. Ren will come too."
Unsure of how he was thrown into the equation, but not unwilling, Ren silently acquiesced, following Yukihito's gesture that signaled him and the Bingley sisters through the drawing-room door.
thanks so much for the reviews and concern for my health (shout out to none sorry)! they were really appreciated. i thought i had gotten the better of my cold, but alas! I'M STILL SICK. but whatever, i hope you enjoyed this chapter! by the way, if you were disappointed about about there being a lack of Bennet girls in this chapter, i've already started on the next, and the Bennets are definitely in it, so never fear! alright, i'm going to go gargle now, please leave a review if you feel so inclined-don't hold back!
keep your eyes peeled, i,
Amtheoneuwant