"Done! You look beautiful!" They cautiously untied Yuki from the chair, afraid she was going to pounce. Her hair was in beautiful curls cascading down her back. They used white clips to pull her bangs out of her face. They also applied very little mascara because Yuki almost bit their hands off.
"Thank you. I didn't realize you two were such beauticians." She remarked, as she slipped on her plain white heels. They were simple little slip on stilettos. No straps.
"And it gets even better! We're your escort!" They each looped an arm around her arms.
"Eh!?" And then they took off. They took a limousine to the ball. Yuki thought it was unnecessary, but they insisted. The twins were acting weird...well, weirder. They kept making jokes and making Yuki laugh and smile. But she could not ignore the sadness in their eyes. They assured her it was nothing.
"Look! Here we are!" They announced in unison. "Put your mask on!" They both struggled to get Yuki's white and purple eye mask on her eyes.
"I can do it myself!" She snapped irritably, snatching it from them and kicking them away. She secured it over her eyes. "You better out yours on." Hikaru put on a blue eye mask, and Kaoru put on an orange one. They climbed out and held the door open for her.
Yuki got out. She noticed Tamaki escorting Haruhi, who was wearing a red dress and mask. She also spotted Hunny with a girl. Yuki assumed it was his fiancé. Mori was escorting Hazuki. Yuki giggled. No sign of Kyoya. She was afraid she wouldn't even recognize him. Crap. How would she be able to if they're all wearing masks?!
The twins linked arms with Yuki and escorted her inside the ballroom. It was like a fairytale. Men in tuxedos and girls in extravagant ball gowns. Everyone wore masks. Yuki could not spot Kyoya. Her eyesight was exceptional, stated by her doctor. Usually she can spot who she's looking for in a crowd. But she could not find Kyoya. Was he here yet? Did he decide to not come because Tamaki told him that Yuki will be there?
Yuki's heart sank. She really only came to face him. And because she was threatened by Hazuki. And the twins were dragging her. Yuki doesn't dance. She doesn't do these fancy balls. She did the host club balls because she was forced to. But in reality, she found them boring. It wasn't the dancing she did. She has danced duets. In fact, she will be doing one at a competition next week. But it wasn't ballroom dancing. It was jazz. Not ballroom.
"Hey, guys." Yuki said to the twins as she released herself from their arms.
"Hm?"
"Someone to make Tamaki-senpai flip out and steal Haruhi from him." Maybe that'll make it more interesting. The twins grinned mischievously and set off into the dance floor as Yuki watched from the bar. It was an open bar. Yes, she was under age, but she drank before. And no one asked for an ID. It was just one glass of wine.
Yuki laughed as Kaoru stepped in between Tamaki and Haruhi and stole Haruhi. Tamaki's jaw dropped and he turned to stone. And then he went to return Haruhi to him, which Tamaki welcomed with open arms. And then Hikaru cut in and stole Haruhi.
"Hey, Yuki!" A cheerful voice called. "What are you doing over here all you yourself?" It was her friend, Nick. Nick had short light brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a white mask and a tuxedo.
"What are you doing here?"
"My friend Karen invited me!" He replied.
"Oh, cool."
"What about you?"
"Same. A friend invited me."
"You shouldn't be drinking. You're underage." He said teasingly. Yuki hit his arm. "Will you let me have the honor of dancing with you?" Yuki sighed.
"Fine." She set her drink aside. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He gently put a hand on her hip and held her hand. Yuki placed a hand on his shoulder. It felt sort of awkward, but they danced well together. They were dancing a lot more advanced as the others, but that's because they were on the same dance competition team.
"Who's Yuki-chan dancing with?" Hunny asked as he danced with Reiko near Tamaki and Haruhi and Mori and Hazuki.
"She shouldn't be dancing with him! It's all wrong!" Tamaki exclaimed.
"I don't know." Haruhi answered.
"That's Nick. He has this major crush on Yuki and dances with her on the competition team." Hazuki replied.
"What the hell is doing here?! He's going to ruin everything!" Tamaki yelled.
"It was already a bad idea, Tamaki." Haruhi said bluntly.
"Okay, everyone! Time to switch it up a bit and dance with someone you haven't dance before for this song!" The announcer said on the stage where a band played beautiful music. Yuki panicked. She didn't want to dance with anyone else. Maybe someone from the host club, but she really preferred to go back to her wine glass...
Nick and Yuki broke away. Nick went off to dance with some masked blonde. Yuki made a break for it. She weaved her way through the crowd, but she collided with a man, but he caught her before she fell down.
And then, she ended up with dancing with him. He kept a firm, yet gentle hand on her hip. Yuki hardly had her hand on his shoulder. Yuki kept her head down and watched her feet, making sure not to step on his by accident. She couldn't look at him in the eye. He was a stranger. Yuki was so uncomfortable. She'd at least like to know who she's dancing with.
Wait.
The way he laced her fingers with his...the way her hand fit so perfectly in his...Yuki's throat closed. Holy crap. It's him. She had to be sure it was him... No. She was positive it was him. How could she not realize it before? And why isn't he saying anything? Did his throat close up too? Yuki had to say something. Anything at all. Anything will do. Just say one thing! All her speeches went down the drain. But he's here, freaking dancing with her. She's so close to the finish line.
Yuki took a chance. She looked up at him. Those beautiful onyx eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't wearing a mask. He had glasses. Yuki wanted to just kick herself for being so stupid! Yuki couldn't breathe. She felt so lightheaded. She could just pass out right there. She could just die. She doesn't know what to do. Words just escaped her.
Suddenly, she was dancing with Nick. He had switched partners with Kyoya. Nick pulled Yuki aside to the bar.
"Everything okay?" He asked. "You looked like you were going to faint. But I got you out of there."
"Thanks...I'm fine. Really. I just need some fresh air. That's all." Yuki assured.
"I think you should eat something or drink some water." He stated. Yuki shook her head.
"I need a break. It's hot and stuffy in here. I need fresh air." Yuki spotted a large balcony. She opened the doors out to it and walked to the cement railing, closing the large doors behind her. It was snowing. Yuki did not care. She was happy the balcony was shoveled. She was not cold in the winter night. It was refreshing.
It was Kyoya. She freaking danced with Kyoya. How did she not realize it sooner? She was such an idiot! She should've said anything! Anything! Yuki hit her head repeatedly.
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She sighed and removed her mask. Now what? She can't hide out here forever. He recognized her. He's probably looking for her in there right now. Yuki mentally prepared herself to face him. She had to. But how? Yuki doesn't know what to say or do.
"Yuki." Crap. Yuki turned around and there Kyoya was. He was still wearing those glasses of his. He looked older. And...
"Son of a bitch...you're taller!" She said aloud. As if he wasn't taller than her enough already! Maybe an inch or so. But god damn, was he hot.Those eyes and his hair...Yuki could stare at him all day. He looked so mature! She could just spread him on a cracker.
"That's how you greet me? After all these years?" He looked amused, actually. But there was a mix of shock. "What are you doing here?" She was so close to the finish line. Kyoya was at the end. She was so close to getting to him again!
"Listen, Kyoya. I'm sorry. I love you. I still do. My feelings have never changed. You probably don't believe me. Why should you? But I wrote to you all the time but I never got a response. I tried so hard to get back to Japan. I'm so sorry I left. I was stupid. It was the stupidest thing ever. I never wanted to leave. I realized I loved you, but it was too late-"
"Kyoya!" A...female...voice called. A beautiful woman rushed onto the balcony and hugged his arm. She had long, straight blonde hair and bright green eyes. She wore a green dress and mask. "Found you! And you!" She pointed to Yuki. "You took off your mask!"
"Uh, sorry?"
"Oh, that's okay. I'm just giving you a hard time. Hi, I'm Karen." She released Kyoya and walked to Yuki with an outstretched hand.
"I'm Yuki." Yuki took her hand and shook it briefly before releasing. Please don't let her be...
"You're the girl Nick has a crush on!" She exclaimed. "My friend, Nick, has this huge crush on a girl on his dance team named Yuki. You're an amazing dancer! I've watched you and him and the whole team at nationals! Congrats, by the way! And you have a twin, right? Hazuki? She's a model! I see her in magazines all the time! I'm so glad your here so I can finally get to know the girl Nick's in love with!"
"Oh, thanks..." Yuki was embarrassed. She was not used to this... And she was such a Chatty Cathy... Karen suddenly clasped her hands over Yuki's, startling her.
"So, do you return his feelings? Did he bring you here? You two would look so good together! Oh, I'm being so rude. I shouldn't have told you Nick's feelings, but its pretty obvious anyway. And it doesn't matter that he brought you here. What matters that you're here! And I want to thank you for coming to our party!"
"You're welcome. Is there a special occasion or is it for Christmas or something?" Yuki asked. Karen grinned.
"No, silly! It's me and Kyoya's engagement party!" Yuki tripped before she crossed the finish line. She looked up, and Karen has crossed the finish line to Kyoya before she has. Karen is the winner.
