A/N: I just had prom recently. I had expected it to be an entire disaster, but it was a lot better than I thought. I had a lot of fun with my friends, even if the person I liked never showed. And here is a product of my wishful thinking during the slow songs at prom. Do Japanese schools have prom? Just in case they don't, I'll just call this chapter a dance and leave it up to your imagination. ;D

Enough of my ranting. On with the story.

38# Sensations

Momiji hung out around the upper platform, looking down on the dance floor. The crowds made him uneasy, even though truly he wanted nothing more than to jump down there and join the hundreds of hormonal teenagers dancing the night away. The bunny leaned against the railing and sipped on his punch, occasionally adjusting his bowtie. He had been wearing the boys uniform for quite some time now, but a full-blown tuxedo took a little getting used to. It was hot and constraining, and not nearly as creative or cute as he might have preferred. If it weren't for his hair, Momiji might have completely blended in with the other guys, which was something he always tried to avoid.

Assimilation sucked.

"Hurry up, Tohru! The party's already started!"

"B-but! B-b-but!"

"Oh Tohru, you look fine."

Momiji choked and spluttered when Uo-chan and Hana-chan walked into the room. They were beautiful, but not nearly as stunning as the little flower trailing behind them reluctantly.

Hana-chan paused, her wave radar already activating. "Sohma alert," she mumbled.

"Oh look. It's Momiji," Uo-chan pointed out. She waved at him. "Oi, Momiji! Thank your cousin Ayame for us!"

Ah, that would explain the Lolita goddess they had brought to the party. Tohru fussed with her lacy skirts self-consciously. Her blushing cheeks matched the pale pink of her dress. "H-hello, Momiji," she stammered in embarrassment.

Momiji opened his mouth to say something, but then Uo-chan interrupted as she searched the crowds below. "Aha! I can see that carrot-top even from here! Hmph, he and Sohma are so anti-social. Why are they hanging out way in the corner by themselves?" Uo-chan grinned down at Tohru mischievously. "Come on, Tohru. Let's see if we can get you a dance."

"Ah! N-n-no, I—well er, u-uh!" Tohru stuttered, wringing her gloved hands.

"We're going! See you, Momiji!" Uo-chan called as she and Hana-chan dragged the protesting Tohru down the marble stairs.

"Ah, Tohru-chan! Wait!" Momiji cried. He grabbed her shoulder, afraid that she would get away.

Tohru paused on the steps and looked back curiously. Momiji suddenly got tongue-tied when her lucid eyes fell on him. But he didn't have much time. Uo-chan and Hana-chan were impatient. He managed to choke out, "Tohru, you look . . . beautiful." The word stuck in his throat. His hand unconsciously, slipped down her arm. "So beautiful."

He almost took her hand. Almost held her back so she could not escape. But Uo-chan and Hana-chan were already dragging her away, so his hand only brushed against hers.

"Thank you," Tohru said before they were too far away to hear each other. Damn the loud music! It didn't have to be this loud did it? Tohru said something else, but it was drowned out by the noise. Momiji felt like jogging up to her to ask what she had said, but he restrained herself. She would soon be lost in the crowd, and it wouldn't do to transform now of all times. So he leaned against the railing again and got comfortable, knowing he would be there most of the night.

Tohru looked back in his direction more than once. Momiji always caught her when she did, even when she was all the way on the other side of the room.

He never took his eyes off of her, not once the entire night.