-I will be back in soon-
She folded the small note and breathed in relief.
"So everything went well", she put the message inside the small cube and sealed it, wrapping the coat around her as the temperature dropped.
I need to give it back to him. She held the fabric closer, protecting her body for the whispers of the wind that found its way through small openings on the carriage, and giving a comforting warmth and perfume that made her feel like she drunk too much wine.
It was getting dangerous, she acknowledged it. If she was not careful enough, she would be too emotionally invested on the tall and handsome noble and would put everything she fought for to waste.
She couldn't allow that, not when she got so far.
She picked her dark blue mask and hid her face, her identity and her heart.
-0-0-0-
Day 4
"Can you find in your heart time to accompany me?", a woman of sensuous voice asked him, a noble from a house that was closely related on business with his family.
Well, it took them long enough.
After 3 days of peace he found odd how he didn't find the daughters of dukes being throw on his way, but now that the others lords could estimate how much wealth he had they seemed to finally start their attack.
He found the situation middle annoying.
He nodded without a word, but didn't give the woman any indications of being interested, despite her not too subtle advances in trying to pick his attention.
How long it will take until she arrives? He thought, bored as another woman took the spot of the lady, after she gave up, starting a uninteresting babbling about her family status, which was something that he already knew.
"Bring the musicians!"
Finally! He almost wanted to say out loud, but remained composed as he patiently waited to see the mysterious violinist, briefly wondering if she was going to perform that night or not.
Ah... There she was, wearing a dark blue dress, with golden details, a necklace that called his attention to her elegant neck, and incrusted comb that held her hair in place.
Today she looked like the Dame of Night herself, being the infinite sky with stars that dazzled onlookers.
Despite wearing a mask he could tell the jealousy or arrogance of some ladies as soon as the violinist entered the room, it amused him to no end how a total stranger like her managed to intimidate these prideful women, who looked at each other with contempt and arrogance.
She didn't feel bothered by the malicious glares, on the contrary, she just smirked and held her stance proudly as she played the violin,glancing towards the offensive women as if daring them to challenge her.
He smiled.
She really had guts.
Like he anticipated, that night it was way harder to get right of inconvenient company as the woman barely drunk wine to forget about him. He tried to intimidate some with his blunt coldness, but there was always one that couldn't get it.
"Please?"
"I don't feel like talking right now", he tried to be as patient as possible as he drank a bit of wine to ease his nerves.
It been at least half an hour since the persistent girl followed him around, and it pissed him to no end as he felt like he was wasting precious time.
"But..."
"This place is too noisy to me", he cut her out, walking away, "I will take a bit of fresh air"
"Let me keep you comp-", she tried to follow him again, but he was quicker and ran to the balcony, shutting the door in her face despite knowing how rude it was.
He sighed in relief, as he finally got hid of his pursuer.
"It seems you're being quite disputed today", the woman giggled, amused.
"It's annoying", he sighed, very irritated, until she noticed something peculiar "... Is that my coat?"
"Yes it is", the fuchsia haired violinist smiled, with the long coat draped around her body and covering her elegant dress, "It's very warm"
She took the coat over her shoulders and gently folded the material, standing up and giving back to him.
"... Thanks for letting me borrow it"
"... Keep it until the end of the night", he gave it back, "It's still cold and I didn't see you bringing anything else with you"
"Well, if you insist", her smile increased as she happily draped the warm fabric around her shoulders, "The night was rough hum?"
"And it's far from ending", he breathed slowly, "I can't believe I need to deal with this for 3 days"
She chuckled as he looked exasperated.
"Don't worry you will be able to endure it", she placed a hand on his shoulder, "It won't take too long until it ends"
"I hope so", he replied, not noticing the change, "... I was wondering if you were even going to perform"
"Why yes, I promised that I would do it right?"
"Did you solve whatever was bothering you yesterday?"
"... Yes", she nodded, "You don't need to worry about me"
"Good to know", he sipped more of his wine.
"Were they so terrible that you're resorting to wine to calm your nerves?", she changed the topic, trying to sound humorous as he gave her a look.
"Different from you I can't just be impolite", he placed the glass of wine on the stone bench.
"You closed the door just now on the face of a poor girl", she pointed, muffling a laughter as he cleared her throat.
"She was driving me mad with her insistence", he crossed his arms as she had a fit of giggles.
"You were totally running away from them", she snorted, picking his glass of wine and sipping on it.
"That's my wine", he deadpanned.
"If you drink too much it will give you a splitting headache. I'm doing a favor to you", she smirked, drinking a bit more until he felt his hand close around her's, gently pulling it away as he gave an intense stare.
She froze on the spot, feeling completely exposed as he held his stare for a couple of minutes.
The corner of his lips turned on a small smirk as he guided her hand(the one holding the glass of wine) closer to him as his lips touched the side of the crystal, taking the last drops of the dark liquid.
"I won't let you win this time", he said, smug as he took the now empty glass from her hand and placed it on the bench.
Her heart thumped loudly on her ears as she slowly retreated her hand, holding it against her chest.
I need to calm down. She told herself, breathing slowly to recompose herself. I can't allow these kind of feelings.
...But then again, why shouldn't she?
"... Is something wrong?", Shun asked, noticing her meditative silence as her lips formed a straight line.
She still stood in total silence, as if she didn't hear him.
He touched her arm, and it seemed to finally snap her of whatever thought she had.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
"I asked if you're alright", he arched an eyebrow, "You got too quiet all out sudden"
"...Oh, sorry", her lips trembled as she stood up, "I can't concentrate right now"
"Are you going that early?", he blinked.
She seemed to think for a bit, but then shook her head and held the coat he gave her last night close to her body.
"No, I just have things to think about", she tried to reassure him with a smile, "I will borrow your coat meanwhile, but I promise that I will give it back before midnight"
She didn't wait to see his reaction, she slipped away before he could reach her.
-0-0-0-
The garden was silent, contrasting the cheerful and noisy atmosphere of the party she left behind.
She was calmer now, but the feeling of anxiety still remained.
Making sure that there was no one nearby, she sat on the corner of the big fountain and slipped her mask from her head, placing it on the cold granite as she stared her reflection on the water.
It felt weird seeing her face. It's been so long since she saw her whole face that she almost forgot her appearance.
She sighed.
I wonder how long I need to wait until I can fulfill my wish. Her head dropped, feeling suddenly tired. It's something simply, that anyone can achieve, yet...
No, it wasn't like that. She could grant her wish, but then, it would quickly fade away.
What was the best option? To hide and wait for the perfect opportunity that may or may not come? Or was it better to risk it now and then never being able to have it again?
It was a tough decision, something that she always thought about, but could never find an answer. Even if she wanted to risk it there was no guarantee that someone would be willing to go along with her selfish desires.
"What should I do?", she peered again at the fountain, as her reflection only gave an indecisive stare.
"Here you are", a reflection appeared above her, startling her as she quickly turned and covered her face with her hand in a fit of panic.
"W-Who...?", she stuttered as she reached blindly for her mask.
"It's me"
"Kurosaki Shun", she nodded, biting the lower part of her lip, "Wait a minute until..."
Her hand knocked something and for her dismay it was her mask that fell on the fountain.
"Ah! I can't believe it!", she shoved her hand inside the water, still covering her face as her anxiety only increased.
Shun stopped to observe how flustered she was. A total contrast to the way she usually acted. It wouldn't be difficult to finally dig newinformation about her with how vulnerable she was.
But he didn't.
He folded his sleeve and bend over her, dipping his hand on the cold water and reached for the blue mask, taking it out of the water.
"Here", he whispered next to her, placing it on her hand, as she still held her head low, nodding slight and mutteringa thank as she quickly took the wet mask and placed it on her face.
She breathed in relief as she finally covered her face.
"Thanks...", she muttered as she felt cold drops running from her mask and tracing her face, making her blush for her clumsiness as she tried to wipe it with the back of her hand.
She felt her face be gently lifted as a thumb gently wiped the water away.
"Hold still", Shun unfolded the sleeve of his coat, using it to wipe the water running on her face, which made her skin acquire a stronger pink color.
"T-There's no need for that", she stuttered, "I can clean it myself, your sleeve will get wet"
"I don't mind", he shrugged as he continued his work, "Now let me continue"
Seeing as he would continue doing what he wanted despite her protests, she decided toremain quiet as the pace of her heart quickened once more.
"... Done", he nodded in approval, letting go of her face.
"... Did you see my face?", she asked, pressing her lips together in apprehension.
"No, I didn't", he shook his head.
She gave a long stare.
He looked sincere.
"Good", she breathed in relief.
A tense silence followed, she expected him to question her about her actions, but no word escaped from his lips as hequickly turned the other way.
"I will wait for you in the lobby as getting to the balcony will be impossible"
"...I will be leaving in 3 days", she gripped the fabric of her shirt,biting her lower lips.
He stopped, but didn't turn.
"I will vanish like I never existed", she closed her eyes, relaxing her grip as shefinally accepted it.
"..."
"So why?", her voice was soft.
"I didn't do anything", he faced her, "You're the one who approached me"
It was...
"You're lonely"
...True. That was the truth she never wanted to admit, because if she admitted her weakness it would be harder to deny what she really wanted.
"Why you choose me will always be a mystery", he crossed his arms, "Did you think that I wouldn't be able to care?"
He snorted.
"At first I though I wouldn't. You were just an insufferable stranger", he took his mask, revealing his full face as his golden eyes glowed, "Like the others, talking only about yourself"
"I..."
"I only listened to what everyone talked", he admitted, "But with you, It was the first time I talked about myself"
Her eyes widened behind the mask.
"I don't know how someone I know so little about could cause a great impression on me like that", he stood close to her,voice raw, "But congratulations, you managed that"
"Shun", she said his name without thinking.
"I won't forget you", he lifted her chin, faces so close, and breath almost caressing her lips and warmth spreading through her face and neck.
"... I'm sorry", she closed her eyes, avoiding his touch, "I need more time to think"
"Fine", Shun let his hand drop, "I will be waiting for your decision until tomorrow"
"U-Until tomorrow?", she stuttered.
"We don't have much time left", he walked away, "You will decide how we will spend the last days together"
When he disappeared from her line of sight her legs went numb and she fell on the ground, too shocked.
What she would decide on?
...3 days left
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
This chapter was so hard to write, so I hope it's good enough.
It annoys me that I need to use "she" a lot, even if it's pretty obvious who I am talking about, but it won't make sense to just plain muchsay her name until she speaks it herself.
Shun's name is another story, I made clear that she knew about him because people talked non-stop/gossiped about him.