Okay, this chapter took a little longer than I expected. It's just a really, really, really late birthday chapter for Gakupo. And yes, I know I passed Miku's birthday as well. However, I won't be doing another birthday special in a row. Because 1) I already have this chapter, 2) Miku is not really an important character-ish. I think with how bad I've been updating, I'm sure I could fit in Miku's chapter next year, and 3) I need to move on with the plot. School started like two weeks ago and I've been piled up with homework because my teacher expects a lot from the really smart class.
Just to warn you beforehand, the chapter is a little short. With that aside, enjoy!
"Milord, it's time to wake up once again," Luka said calmly as she pushed open the curtains. The morning sun filled the room on this day in July. The Duke just tossed around still tired. "You wouldn't want to miss out on a very important day, would you?" she asked, her lips turning into a small smile.
"And what sort of events would I have on this day that is so important?" Gakupo grumbled half-awake.
"Well, today you'll be meeting with Ms. Sakine to settle some issues with her recent shipment of alcohol from her company," his maid replied putting out the lord's outfit for today. He eventually got up and let the maid dress him.
"Is that what makes this day important?" he asked while getting his coat putted on to complete his look.
Luka chuckled lightly as she tied Gakupo's hair into the usual ponytail. "Of course not, Milord. After that, there will be a little celebration for your birthday. Today is the 31st of July after all."
"Luka, I'm a grown man. You shouldn't hold a little party just for me becoming one year older," he stated heading towards the door and into the hallway.
"I believe you're mistaken, Milord. The rest of the staff and some fellow comrades of yours insisted. They're planning on holding a surprise masquerade party just for you," Luka explained suddenly popping out in front of him out of no where.
"How did you- never mind. If the masquerade was supposed to be a surprise, why are you telling me this?"
"Because it will take the stress off my shoulders knowing that I have one less secret to hold," Luka said before heading down into the kitchens.
"Ms. Sakine, are you sure you don't want any tea? It seems a little bit early in the day to consume that much wine," the pink maid asked once again trying not to snap in front of their guest.
"Oh, that's alright! I can handle my liquor. And I would prefer you to call me Meiko. I think we're on that level of comfort, Luka," the woman winked.
"Very well then. Is there anything else you wish, Ms. Sa- Meiko?" Luka asked.
The woman in red took another sip of her drink. "Ah, yes. Luka, come closer," she ordered.
Luka gave an odd look back at her master. Gakupo gave a curt nod. The maid leaned toward their guest.
"Closer," Meiko whispered. Luka obliged.
"More," she said. The maid leaned in closer until her face was two inches away from the other. Out of nowhere, the drunken woman lunged forward groping the maid's breasts with both of her hands and pushing her down onto the carpeted floor. "What 'mazing breastseses and body you have Miss Luka. Ish a shame that Gaku didn't make a move on you yet. Oh well, that means I'll haves you all to myshelf," the woman laughed, clearly drunk. Before the woman in red could reach under the maid's uniform, Gakupo pulled Meiko off Luka just in time.
"Um…I'll escort Lady Sa- Meiko to one of the guestrooms to rest," the maid said with her face flustered and still embarrassed at the incident before.
The Duke shook his head. "It is fine. I'll have one of the servants do that. I still wonder how a lady like her could run such a successful business," he mumbled the last sentence quietly.
"I heard that!" exclaimed an intoxicated Meiko.
Guests soon arrived at the manor while the duke was still busy getting ready. Gakupo paced back and forth in his room waiting for his maid. He managed to actually dress himself without the help from Luka this time. In the past of getting dressed by the pink maid, what else could the lord do but observe on how to tie shoelaces or button up a shirt. Conversations and laughter could be heard from the party downstairs. There was a tap on the glass window. Surprised, Gakupo opened the window to let his maid in. "I'm terribly sorry Master, but the vendor wouldn't agree to the price I offered," Luka apologized with a bag in her hand.
"Where did you run off to?" Gakupo questioned.
"To the streets on London to shop for masks. We don't have any in the manor so I have to go buy some at the last minute. Does that upset you, Milord?"
"That's fine. I was worried that you disappeared without telling me."
Luka bowed. "Of course, Milord. What kind of maid would I be if I let my master attend a masquerade without a mask, after all? And, you were worried about me, Milord?" she laughed.
"Of course not! I mean, yes because you're my maid and all. However, well-" Gakupo stammered.
"I'm just teasing, Milord. I'm sure I got you a perfect mask to go along with your attire," Luka said grabbing something out of the bag. A silver mask with gray curls and designs adorned it laid in the maid's hands. Luka sighed as she pulled a strand of violet hair out of her master's face. "I've been noticing this a long time, but you really do look like Gabriel," she said with a smile. However, there was a look of longing and misery in Luka's only aquamarine eye.
Gakupo continued to eye his maid while she tied the ribbon of the mask. "Gabriel? You mean my great-"
"Ancestor, yes. You share the same eyes, hair, and everything. Even your great ambition is something Gabriel held as well. I'm sorry, Master. I'm saying his name too casually. You must come downstairs to greet the guests. They have been waiting long enough," Luka said heading for the door.
"Luka, wait. How much did you love him?" the duke asked suddenly, remembering the story she told him and everyone else that one day. Yet, he was curious on Luka's relationship with his family.
Before taking a step out into the hallway, Luka turned to face her master. "No words can describe the amount of love I had for him. But let's just say that the strongest love is the one that is never returned,"* she said with sadness while still holding a faint smile. And with that, the maid disappeared into the hallway to get ready for the party.
The main floor of the manor was crowded with guests. Several phonographs were placed in corners that fill the rooms up with music. The lord made his way through the crowd making small conversations with people along the way and getting giggles from several women. Despite his mask, Gakupo's bright purple hair is very noticeable and thus made him an easy give-away. Coming out of the kitchen was Len in his white formal attire carrying a tray of snacks. He was followed by his sister holding records for the phonograph and wearing a matching simple white dress. Both siblings are wearing matching gold floral masks. Miku came running after them in a maroon gown adorned with ruffles while she tried to balance 10 drinks on a silver tray and a feathered white mask hid her face. Right behind came Luka which made the crowd stop and stare in awe.
The pink-haired women fled the kitchen dressed in a slim, black off-shouldered gown with a gold corset and golden bangles. Her once flowing soft pink hair was tied into an updo. A black lace mask with gold trims shielded her face with her bangs pushed to the side to cover her right eye. It made sense to Gakupo that wherever Luka goes, everyone just always had to take a second look at her.
"Ah, what a remarkable beauty that woman is!" exclaimed one of the guests. The blonde man, said to be the Viscount Hampden jumped from the crowd and ran toward the pink maid in disguise. "Such an elegant figure, smooth ivory skin, and soft locks of pink. You must be an angel from heaven!" the man said flamboyantly before grabbing Luka's hand and lightly pressed his lips on her fingertips.
"I am far from being an angel," the maid muttered regarding her history with witchcraft.
"What was that, love?" the Viscount asked to oblivious admiring the woman.
"Um, I said I'm flattered being called an angel," Luka said giving him a fake smile.
"Well, will you dance with me, Leon, Viscount of Hampden, my fallen angel?" Leon said dramatically.
Normally, the maid would have declined immediately. However, Luka and the rest of the servants have been ordered to enjoy themselves and please the guests. So hesitantly, the woman agreed and the pair took off dancing.
"Okay, so a horse walks into a pub, right? The bartender says-"
"'So, why the long face?' Meiko, we've heard that joke hundreds of times," Gakupo said to the drunken woman. The other business partners around them sighed and pinched the bridge of their noses.
"My, Mr. Gakupo! It's been so long since out last meeting!" a male voiced said through the crowd. The figure emerged and the duke almost dropped his glass of wine.
Blue hair, blue scarf, and a carefree smile.
Is it him? Could it be?
"Hey, Gakupo! What's with that stupid look? It's Kaito!" the familiar man said happily.
Gakupo just stared at him awestruck. "B-b-but you and dinner th-then what?"
"Oh that? I had last-minute business to take care of. So, I sent my sister, Kaiko, to your house for that. She could to a great impression of me! By the way, I haven't heard back yet from her. What happened?" Kaito asked.
'Oh, crap. How am I supposed to tell him we burned your sister in the incinerator because she desperately wanted my head maid? On the second thought, who is daft enough to send someone looking exactly like you to do your business? He could have to called or sent a telegraph to cancel the meeting! He really worries me sometimes.'
"Your sister? She-er got burnt, accidentally of course, and is at the hospital recovering," Gakupo lied.
"Oh, that's terrible! I hope she didn't do any harm. By the way, do one of your maids have pink hair?" the blue-haired man asked.
The duke raised an eyebrow and shifted his eyes nervously, hoping his intentions weren't the same ones as his so called sister. "Yes, why do you ask?" he replied.
"Because she's dancing with the Viscount and they're drawing a lot of attention," Kaito said pointing with his wine glass to the couple. Bubbling with fury, and possibly jealousy, Gakupo made his way through the crowd and stomped toward the dancing duo.
"My, my I didn't get to catch your name, my little angel. What is it?" the blonde Viscount asked.
Luka blinked. "My name? Oh yes, my name! It's um… Ali Ekegumrun. Yes, Ali Ekegumrun,"* she said nervously. Who would want to give their real name to this creepy yet devilishly handsome stranger?
"That's a…unique name. But that's what makes you different from all the rest of them, besides your one eye. It's such a shame the other one is covered. One gorgeous eye isn't enough. My we've gotten to know each other long enough. May I see your eye?" he asked.
"You're already looking at my eye," Luka replied trying to stall.
"I meant your other eye hiding behind your soft hair."
The woman giggled. "Oh silly me! Well…you can't see it. I've accidentally cut up that eye in a horrible, horrible accident," she lied.
"Oh how tragic! Such a marvelous blue orb destroyed by a tragic encounter!" Viscount exclaimed dramatically.
"Whoops, look at the time. It's almost midnight and I have to go!" Luka said trying to get away from him as possible. It's not that she admired being well, admired, but you would have to roll your eyes at least once at his cliché and poetic lines.
"But my dear, it is only ten in the evening," he corrected her.
A gloved hand reached out from behind and grasped the viscount's shoulder tightly. "If she needs to go then she needs to go," Gakupo growled viciously.
"The Duke himself! Congratulations on the coming of age!" Viscount said quietly feeling the anger in his voice. "I am terribly sorry. I didn't know she was your woman."
"N-no! She's not my lover, Viscount," the Duke said with a blush slowing coming to his cheeks.
"Please, Duke Kamui, we have known each other long enough. Please call me Leon," the Viscount smiled.
We are not even business partners yet alone friends, Gakupo thought irritably. "Now if you would excuse me, I would like to invite the lovely lady to dance," he said calmly stretching out his hand. Without second thoughts, the maid accepted the offer.
Classical music continued to play on the gramophones as the pair swirled slowly. However, the duke blocked all the music from his ears and focused on his maid in front of him. He thought about what Luka said before. The strongest love is the one that is never returned. Gakupo took another look at the woman. She was giving him the warm smile she always has been. The smile she gave to him. The smile she gave to the rest of the members of the household. The smile she gave to everyone. Right now, Gakupo was starting to doubt the pure motherly nature Luka always put on. Could it possibly that the maid was feeling depressed from the unreturned love? Or was it hatred for the Kamui family because of being bound to them forever? Perhaps both sadness and rage were hiding under the cheerful mask all along.
The mask that Gakupo fell in love with.
Of course, the maid was not possible to love him back no matter what he does to impress her. Realizing the fact only scars the duke's heart even more. Seeing the one you care for most every single day, yet that person doesn't return those feelings. Now seeing this, both the master and maid share the same pain over and over again. How back then, she kept seeing the man she loved every day serving as a maid forever until his death.
Come to think of it, is it really love that Gakupo is feeling?
Maybe he wanted to be in Luka's embrace because of her mother-like personality. Or perhaps it was lust that he is feeling due to the maid's attractive appearance. Either way, the attraction between them is only one-sided. The feelings from him keep coming back and hurting him even more. But what does he want more, the love from his maid or getting his love across to her?
"Milord, is there something upsetting you? You've been spacing out now and we only spinning around in circles. And I think I'm about to be sick from the motion," Luka said nervously.
The pair stopped dancing and separated from each other's grips. They stood there awkwardly as some guests started to leave while others stayed to socialize or get even more drunk in Meiko's case. The Viscount insists on staying the night in case his 'angel' were to get hurt during the night, but Gakupo immediately shooed him away and was sent back to his manor. Everything soon settled down until the only ones left in the mansion were the duke and the servants. The gramophones, tables, and food were put away instantly and everyone retreated back to their quarters to rest.
Once the duke was dressed in his nightshirt, Luka turned her heel and headed straight out. Gakupo was going to ask her multiple questions on her relationship with his ancestor. But it was rude to barge into his maid's history not to mention love life. Without any words said, Luka left the room, still in her gown from the party, and into the dark hallway with only the light from her candelabra guiding her the way. She continued to walk passing her own bedroom door and into the manor's large library. The room was silent except the faint howling of the winds coming from outside. There was a rustling coming from inside the library. Carefully, the maid turned around to see a slim and furry figure dash off. Thinking it was some wild animal in the house, she shook it off and walked to the fireplace in the center. With a fireplace poker, she stabbed the hearth and it sunk down to reveal an old flight of stairs leading down to a hidden basement. Going down with her heels clicking behind her, Luka entered a dull and gray chamber. In the center of it all was a glass coffin surrounded by withered flowers and wax drippings. A decaying body in royal garments was in the casket.
"I'm glad to see you haven't left your resting place, your highness," she said calmly, taking a seat next to the glass case. "Gakupo is at that age now. It was just around his age when we first met and fell in love. You remember that, don't you? But I have a feeling something is about to happen that will cause the Duke to fall," the pink woman whispered softly while stroking the glass. She picked up an aged book off the floor and examined the leather cover.
"'Once the moon bleeds a crimson red once again and fades into the night sky, the sinful rose will wilt away in despair as the bonds will break and fall into the pits of hell.' I'm afraid that will happen soon. And everything we once knew will change," Luka said to the dead body as tears start to form. She took off her eye patch and her scarlet tainted tears dripped down from her oddly colored eye and stained her black dress. The maid traced the edges of the casket with her finger as her cheeks continued to be dyed with her red tears.
"Isn't that right, Gabriel?"
Yep, another one out of the way. Notes:
*A rearranged quote from William Somerset Maughem. Which I got the idea from the cover of chapter 11 of Neneko's Kuroshitsuji doujin, Phobia. It's super fantastic-elastically amazing! And I would recomend it...
*Ali Ekegumrun is an anagram of 'Luka Megurine' if you didn't catch that.
And yes, I sorta brought Kaito back to life. I'm sorry if it dosen't really make sense but Kaito is pretty popular and I wanted to use him as a supporting character and a comic relief. So after this, I'll keep on going with the story and I'll try my best to update more often.
Review and you'll get a chance to look at Luka's red eye!