Masquerade~ By Rick Wolfe

~.~
Can you sing, can you dance, can you play?
Always, always, always, live for today.

Come to the ball.
Dance through the hall.
A glorious play for all.
A mask is needed for this play.
Hide thine face, so you can stay.

Watch them twirl and dance.
Behind your mask, watch them prance.
Their eyes, oh their eyes, tell a story.
Of better days, of timeless glory.
Look behind those eyes.
Beneath the mask.
See the lies.
Of which we should not ask.

A masquerade, a party, a ball.
Please, come one! Come all!

Love is a dance.
Of exquisite romance.
The truth, or a lie.
Whatever the hopes, the dreams may die.
Perhaps.
Just perhaps, what you ask?
You'll find happiness behind that mask.

So, won't you come with me?
Hidden, behind your mask you see?
To dance and play.
To laugh and sway.
To die, a little more this day.

Come, to the masquerade.
A gaudy ball, a grand parade.
A party, of childrens cheers.
A twisted gather, of morbid fears.
A calvacade, of cheerful cries.
A dark, dark party, full of lies.

~.~

Tired nut-brown eyes scanned over the thick text book in front of him, fingers curling tight around the pencil in his hand. The wood gave off a creak of protest as he pressed the lead hard into a page on his notebook, scratching short hand notes of what he'd read. The quiet murmur of the other occupants, that still littered the campus library this close to midnight, was drowned out as he continued to pump his brain full of the information he'd need for the upcoming test. Being top of class in high-school had put him in a tight spot in college; many countless, sleepless nights trying to keep up with all of his advanced classes. He had no life outside of the classroom, except the dorm and the library. The workload was strenuous, and he had no time to spare for the Mardi Gras party that was going on right about now, a fact that irritated a certain crimson haired best-friend of his and his petite, violent girlfriend. The two didn't seem to understand that school was important to Ichigo, and he'd sacrifice anything to make sure he achieved his goals.

Ichigo ran a lead-smudged hand through his orange spikes, tugging on the tangled strands rather violently as he leaned back in the uncomfortable wooden chair. Turning his head, his gaze flitted over the rows of tables that littered the middle of the library, complete with blue shaded table lamps. There were a few students around, cramming for an upcoming test or just trying to stay ahead of the curve. His gaze passed over one of the darkened aisles of books, catching piercing gold staring back at him, but when he turned to look again, it was gone. All the late nights must have been getting to him, seeing stuff that wasn't there like that.

Ichigo's gaze snapped back to the table when his phone vibrated against the corner of the desk. Grabbing it, he flipped it open, a scowl marring his features as he read over the text message flashing on the screen from his best-friend.

Dude, get the fuck outta that library and come party! Booze and chicks galore, man!

Snapping his phone closed, Ichigo didn't even bother with a reply before getting back to his notes. Rubbing a tired hand over his eyes, he gave off a slight yawn as he tried to focus on the pages before him. He hated Medical Terminology. It was such a pain in the ass trying to remember all those long ass words that someone had to have been high when they created them. Flipping the page in his notebook, brown eyes widened when instead of a crisp white page there was what looked to be a black invitation of sorts. Silver and indigo lines bordered the edges of the paper, matching the intricate writing that lay in the middle.

~.~

"You have been cordially invited to

The Black Masquerade

Attendance is..

Mandatory"

~.~

Sighing in annoyance, Ichigo plucked the card off of his notebook. This had to be Renji's doing, trying to get him to go to that damn party, although he didn't know Renji was planning on a masquerade. Usually the redhead couldn't come up with things like that, meaning Rukia was probably behind it. Shaking his head at his friend's attempt to get him to ditch his school work, Ichigo gripped the invitation hard in both hands before pulling, tearing the paper in two. Setting the two pieces at the far edge of the table, the orange head settled back into his work, not noticing the golden eyes fixed in his direction, narrowed into a harsh glare.

Ichigo nearly jumped out of his skin when the librarian's cheery voice broke out over the speakers in the ceiling, letting everyone know that they would be closing down in ten minutes. Ichigo let out an annoyed groan as he began to gather his books into the black messenger bag resting in the chair next to him. He wasn't done studying for the night, but with nowhere else to go besides the dorm where the party was being held at, he had no choice. Like hell Renji would let him do anymore work tonight.

Tying the straps to his bag, Ichigo flung it over his shoulder before turning to head for the exit to the building. The dorms were about a mile walk from the library, giving him a few more minutes of silence before being bombarded with the crap Renji called music. The redhead's taste was a little eccentric and a whole lot of crazy, in his opinion. Pushing open the heavy, green painted doors to the library, Ichigo didn't notice a pair of eyes on him, burning a hole into the back of his head before disappearing into the shadows once again.

The chilly spring air ruffled orange locks as he headed down the paved pathway that ran the length of the campus grounds. It whistled against his ears, almost as if it were carrying a tune that immediately got stuck inside his head. It was a cross between some morbid funeral procession and a circus act, making a shiver slide down his spine. The wind picked up suddenly, and he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth as he bent his head. The whistle in his ears morphed into what sounded like words, but wind couldn't talk...right?

'...Come...'

Ichigo's footsteps paused, his ears straining to pick up that watery sound again. It had almost sounded like someone was talking, but then again, he was quite tired. Rubbing a hand over the back of his neck, he took one sheepish look at his surroundings before moving again, his steps quickening just slightly. Everything was quiet for awhile, making him let loose a heavy sigh before taking a right where the path branched off between the Mess Hall and the dorms. He shuddered when the wind seemed to wrap around him, cackling against his ears.

'Won't you join us?'

That made him pause, there was no way that could have been a trick of the wind. He heard it, so close to his ear that it made the air around the skin warm as if someone were whispering directly to him. Standing up straight, his eyes darted around, searching for the speaker. There had to be someone around, or he'd finally gone crazy from being over worked.

'Come, the party awaits!'

That damn voice breathed into his ear once again before a sharp, piercing pain erupted against his shoulder. Struggling, he fell to his knees as if some heavy pressure was being forced onto his back. It blurred his vision, his sight dancing with black spots. Just before his entire world dissolved into darkness, Ichigo caught sight of a black shadow and piercing gold. His unconscious body fell limp onto the pavement, illuminated by the moon's rays until a shadow hovered over him.

"Welcome to the Masquerade." A deep, silky baritone rang out through the still night before the shadow disappeared, taking with it an orange haired college student.

~.~

I know the key to secrets never told, they're hidden in your soul
Feelings you hide never wanting me to find, they've always been mine
Release all the madness within, let it all begin
Now you'll see, the dark side of me
In our black masquerade

~.~

A soft groan fell from Ichigo's lips as he blinked hazy eyes open to take in his surroundings. He shot up immediately, finding himself on a bed of the blackest of silks, sheer black curtains fluttering gently around him. Glancing down, he was happy to find himself fully clothed, until he realized the outfit wasn't the one he had been wearing. Black trousers, that clung to his legs, had been tucked into a pair of polished black boots, silver buckles placed close to his ankles. A billowy, nearly sheer crème colored shirt covered his torso, the sleeves just barely brushing the tips of his fingers. It gave off a low v-cut, matching the cut of the tight black vest that showed off every curve he had to offer.

Taking a deep breath to settle his nerves, he crawled off the bed, and onto the hardwood floor of what he imagined was a bedroom. There was scarcely anything in the room, save for a dresser and the bed. Running a nervous hand through his hair, he slowly made his way towards the door, each click of his boots against the floor making him more anxious. He had no idea where the fuck he was, only remembering that he'd left the library God only knows how long ago. Curling his fingers around the brass doorknob, he paused at the sound of barely noticeable music that filtered through the closed door. Was he at Renji's stupid party?

Curiosity got the best of him, and he yanked open the door, reeling back when the sound of the music seemed to amplify ten-fold. With it thundering against his eardrums, he was able to recognize the tune, a sudden sense of deja vu attacking him. That morbid circus tune made cold as ice chills spread throughout his body, making him gulp. A sudden brash decision had him following that music, needing information as to what the fuck was going on.

Expansive white hallways were like a maze as he hurriedly moved through them, dead ends stopping him from time to time. The music seemed to get louder with each step he took as he wandered through the halls with no doors, nothing but white. Pausing to take a breath, he glanced around, nearly jumping out of his skin at the sight of two large, black painted doors to his right. Intricate symbols had been carved into the wood, outlined with silver that seemed to twinkle back at him.

That had not been there a moment ago...

A slight hiss filled the air around him, making him break his gaze from the door to look around. His face paled to find that the hall had shrunk, leaving him barely enough room to move around. Brown eyes again turned towards the door which seemed to be his only way out of this creepy nightmare. Inhaling sharply, his hand slowly curled around the doorknob, pulling it open. Immediately, his senses were filled with the smell of dragons blood incense, the sound of music, and excited chatter. Peaking his head inside, he felt his stomach drop at the sight that met him. This definitely wasn't Renji's party.

Dozens of bodies, dressed all in black danced across the room, their faces hidden behind intricately designed masks. Circular tables took up any free space, covered with black tablecloths. Deep blue and black roses rested in crystal vases atop each table, the candles in the chandeliers above matching their color. Those flickering flames were the only light in the room, making the shadows seem that much more alive.

Ichigo let out a yelp when he was suddenly pushed into the room, the door slamming shut behind him. Whirling around, brown eyes widened to the verge of bulging out of his head at the sight of the smooth white wall. Where the hell had the door gone? Resisting the urge to yank at his hair and scream at the top of his lungs, Ichigo turned back towards the dancing figures. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest as his gaze swept over the crowd of people, pausing on a figure lounging on a Victorian, black velvet couch. His eyes drank in the sight of the man, poised as if he owned the place, with men and women alike fawning over him. From the polished toes of his black boots to the styled storm of blue locks that sat atop his head, the man exuded confidence, more so than anyone Ichigo had ever met. And he'd thought Renji was bad.

Ichigo's gaze trailed up the finely pressed black slacks that clung to the bluenet's legs, held up by a deep indigo sash around slim hips, to the white dress shirt covered by a black jacket that fell to his knees. His jacket had been emblazoned with an intricate, swirling design of silver and indigo. Finally lifting his gaze to take in the man's face, Ichigo's breath hitched to find cloudy cyan colored eyes staring back at him from beneath the black mask that covered them, a small swirl of indigo on the left corner of the mask. Ichigo watched with bated breath as long fingers came up to remove the mask, a sly smirk playing at the man's mouth as his eyes scanned over his form. The man licked his lips before grinning, giving the frightened orange head the perfect view of the set of pearly white fangs on display.

At that moment, a crowd of people danced in front of Ichigo, blocking his view of the intriguing bluenet. Straining onto his tip-toes, he tried to catch sight of that mass of blue hair, a scowl tugging at his lips. It only took a few seconds for the crowd to pass by, but when he turned to look back at the couch, the bluenet was nowhere to be found. Orange brows furrowed as Ichigo scanned the room, trying to catch sight of the man. It wasn't possible to just disappear like that.

~.~

Let the moonlight surround you

The game that we play is
The black masquerade
The full moon unmasks the stranger in us all
And the cruel world takes its toll
The shadow is cast on who you used to be
Let me set you free

~.~

As Ichigo made his way through the dense crowd of dancers, he couldn't quite shake the feeling of being watched. Sure, he'd catch the eyes of some of the people, probably curious as to why he wasn't wearing a mask, but this felt different. Heated, as if burning into his very soul. He felt entirely exposed under that gaze, a feeling that didn't sit very well with him. Gnawing on his bottom lip, brown eyes darted around, looking for anything that seemed familiar.

Ichigo gave off a startled gasp as a woman with sea-foam green hair bumped into him, sending him off balance. The woman turned to face him, a bright smile curling onto her face, but with the ram mask she was wearing, it looked almost murderous. Shaking his head, when the woman started to utter apologies in an almost childish voice, Ichigo stuffed his hands into his pockets before turning to squeeze through the crowd behind him. Anything to get away from that overly endowed woman.

Shouldering past the last few people, the orange head let a small smile touch his lips, only to be startled clearly out of his skin when the air around him filled with dark purple smoke and glittering sparks of gold. Coughing, he waved a hand in front of his face to clear the air. His ears rung from the loud applause circling him, making him wonder what the hell was going on. After a few moments, he was able to make out a hazy shape as the smoke began to dissipate.

"Thank you! Thank you!" The shadow called out and bowed. Rubbing his eyes, Ichigo blinked them open to meet a pair of icy blue eyes, hidden behind a black and red fox shaped mask, staring intently at him. Now being able to see again, the orange head noticed the shadow was indeed a man. The slim pale skinned body was covered in black like the rest, except for the deep, nearly crimson red of his dress shirt and the lining of the cloak that covered his form. A top-hat sat nestled on top of silver locks, an almost gaudy red flower situated on the left side of the black ribbon that wrapped around the hat. Black cloth gloves covered the man's fingers, that were now shuffling a deck of cards, the back of which were covered with bats and blue flames.

"For my next act, I need a volunteer!" The man called out, slitted eyes scanning the crowd that circled him. An almost demented grin split onto his face when those icy blue orbs landed back on Ichigo. "How abou' you?" He questioned with an innocent tilt of his head. Tilting the brim of his top-hat forward to shade his eyes, he practically danced over to Ichigo, bowing low and spreading the cards out in his hands. Glancing up, with that maniacal grin still in place, the man licked his lips before stating, "Go ahead, pick a card."

Narrowed brown and amused blue locked in an intense stare off, until Ichigo finally gave in with a low groan. Lifting his hand, he took a card out from near the center, but before he could look, the man had plucked it from his fingers and was now standing back in the center of the area. Ichigo's eyes remained on his card as one corner twirled on a gloved index finger. Ichigo's eyes widened in amazement, a card shouldn't be able to move like that, but something else bothered him more. Why wasn't he allowed to see? What sort of trick was this?

"Ya think this just an ordinary trick don't ya?" Ichigo jumped when the man's voice sounded from just behind him, breathing against his neck. When had he moved? Spinning around, wide brown eyes stared up at the silver haired magician who was giving him a coy smile. Not giving him a chance to respond, the man continued, "Wha' if I told ya these cards were special, tha' they could alter your destiny? Tha' they hold your very life in their hands?"

"That's not possible." Ichigo answered rather bluntly, folding his arms over his chest. There was no way he was going to get suckered into the magician's act. None of it was real, magic wasn't real. The magician gave off a hearty laugh before leaning entirely too close to the orange head's face, their noses almost brushing.

"Acceptance is the key to survival, my dear Ichi." The man practically purred before lifting Ichigo's card into sight. Honey brown eyes widened when the card was spun around to reveal a skeleton dressed in tattered black robes. A scythe split the night sky above his head, releasing a torrent of blue and purple lighting that started the ground at his feet on fire. And there, written on the printed scroll on the bottom of the card, Death. "Oh dear, the Death card, how very...unfortunate." The silver haired man taunted before holding out the card towards Ichigo. Orange locks fanned out as Ichigo shook his head, not wanting to take the card.

"Oh, but I insist. This card will release you from the chains that bind you, allow you to join us creatures of the night."

Sighing, Ichigo snatched up the card, stuffing it into his pocket, and nearly blanching at the grin that spread across the magician's face. Fuck, he must've gotten smoke into his eyes, because there was no way that the man's teeth had grown before his very eyes into a pair of sharp, pointed fangs. Before he could question it though, another smoke bomb went off near his feet, sending green smoke into the air. Coughing, Ichigo covered his nose as he tried to reach out for the man, only to be met with empty space. By the time the smoke had cleared, he was disappointed to find the man already gone.

~.~

Come now, come take my hand, then you'll understand
We'll go to that forbidden land
Of our black masquerade
Let the darkness surround you
The game that we play is the black masquerade

~.~

Ichigo sighed as he leaned against the far wall of the ballroom. He'd finally managed to make his way through the crowd, and he didn't want to go back in. The mass of swaying bodies was like a death trap just waiting to happen. Running a tingling hand through his hair, his other slid into the pocket of his trousers to feel the edges of the card the magician had given him. He couldn't explain why, especially since he didn't believe in magic in the least, but that card sent shivers up his spine. He could feel something brewing just out of reach, but he was unable to figure out what.

'Why are you hiding all the way over here, hmm?'

Startled, honey brown orbs widened when someone flitted into view in front of him. A long, black nailed finger pressed against the bottom of his chin, tilting his head up to stare into a pair of glimmering gold on black eyes. Ichigo felt his breath leave him as pale lips curved into a small smirk. The man before him was gorgeous, to put it simply. Long, snowy white hair had been twisted into a braid, tied off with jet black ribbon. White bangs looked as if they had been dipped into the blackest of inks, nearly blending in with his eyes. An entirely white suit covered his form, save for the midnight black dress shirt. In a room full of black, he seemed out of place, but that fact was lost on Ichigo when the man stepped closer, effectively popping his personal bubble.

Ichigo stared up into those eyes, hidden behind a mask of white and outlined in a deep blood red. He couldn't find it in himself to look away, even when the man leaned closer to whisper in his ear, "Aren't you enjoyin' my party?"

Ichigo shivered at the watery tone that caressed his ears like honey. He'd heard that voice before, the wind if he remembered right. Shaking his head, he glanced off to the side, finding it impossible to find his voice while staring into those haunting gold orbs. "I don't even know why I'm here." He muttered, gnawing on his bottom lip when the other gave off a hearty laugh.

"I invited ya, of course, Ichigo!" The man exclaimed, making orange brows furrow in confusion. Turning to look back at the other, he wasn't prepared for how close the man was.

Pressing his back as far against the wall as he could, he questioned, "H-How do you know m-my name?" A silvery chuckle sounded from the pale man as he reached out to snatch Ichigo's wrist. The man's touch was ice cold, making Ichigo gasp in shock before a pair of cool, petal soft lips pressed against the back of his hand.

Gold on black eyes burned into his as those lips brushed against his skin as the man murmured, "I know a lot of things, and so do you. Ya know who I am don't ya, Ichi?"

Ichigo blanched at the other's taunting words. He knew who this man was? How was that possible when he'd never seen the man before in his entire life? He would have remembered those eyes if that was the case. The pale stranger seemed to realize that Ichigo didn't quite get what he was saying, leaning forward to press their foreheads together. Without a way to escape, Ichigo was forced to look in the other's eyes as they began to glow eerily, "Think hard Ichi, ya know me."

Those eyes, he'd seen them somewhere before, but where? Small flashes of the campus library played through his mind, and it all clicked into place. "You were there...the library, the invitation...it was you, Shirosaki."

Ichigo wasn't sure where that name came from, but if felt right, almost like he'd always known it. A purr escaped from pale lips as the other nuzzled his ear before whispering into it,"See was tha' so hard to remember?"

Not giving the orange head a chance to respond, Shirosaki grabbed his hands, leading him towards the dance floor. Ichigo stood no chance, and before he knew it, they were in the center of the floor, pressed closer than he'd ever been to another person. One hand fell to his lower back, tugging him even closer as the other linked with his fingers. A devious smile flashed on pale lips just as another morbid song began to play, and before Ichigo knew it, they were moving across the floor fluidly. People moved out of their way, watching the pair as they spun around the area, but all was lost on Ichigo, unable to look anywhere but those haunting eyes. Lifting his hand from it's place on the other's shoulder, his fingers traced over the curve of that white mask before lifting it from the other's face. Immediately after he had, pale lips closed over his, sucking his very soul from his body with a heated kiss.

Ichigo's body lit with fire as Shirosaki continued to devour him, teeth nipping and tongue searching. He felt intoxicated, like he'd downed six bottles of wine, making his head spin. Digging his nails into the fabric at the other's shoulders, he let his body fall under the spell that filled the air around him, seeping into his skin. Hazy brown eyes stared up into gold when they broke for air, and Shirosaki gave off a large grin, revealing a set of sharp fangs. His consciousness was screaming at him to run, but his body didn't seem to want to listen, almost as if it was rooted underneath the albino's gaze.

There was no stopping Shirosaki as he leaned forward, pressing an open mouthed kiss to Ichigo's pulse point. Numb hands curved around a pale neck as he was pulled closer against that chilled, hard body. Breathing became a difficult task as pale, black nailed fingers dug into his scalp, and he could feel the pressure of the other's teeth against his neck. A shiver slithered its way down his spine when those teeth broke skin, his mind buzzing with an undeniable pleasure. The crowd of dancers around them seemed to dissolve as he was crushed against Shirosaki, but their voices lingered, singing one line over and over again.

'Welcome to the Masquerade, let the darkness set you free.'

~.~

Release all the madness within, let it all begin
We'll go to that forbidden land
Come let me take you there
Let the moonlight surround you
Don't be afraid, it's the black masquerade

~.~