Disclaimer: don't own, don't sue.

A/N: I've changed the title 3 TIMES now.I think they're getting worse and worse.you think so? By the way, sorry for keeping this from you so long.had a lil case of writers' block for the longest time.



Midnight



Chapter 2: Roses with Thorns

~*~

Fuuko's mind went blank, and her brain picked out the best time to shut down on her. Speechless, she stood there gazing into piercing eyes of ice.

Yanagi had left by now, leaving to find Recca. Now, it was only the two of them staring strangely at each other. An uncomfortable silence passed.

His searching eyes showed no recognition, but Fuuko still had that nagging feeling. Maybe it was because she had been in rags the first time he saw her, and now she was in clothes fit for a queen?

"Konban wa, Kirisawa-san." His smooth voice brought chills to her spine.

"Konban wa," she stuttered back. Somehow this man was unnerving to her, as if he could see right through her with those penetrating blue pools.

/It was only this morning.he couldn't have forgotten, could he?/

His eyes would not leave hers, and she soon found that she was caught in his alluring web.

"Oniisan!" a young boy's rang. Recognizing the voice immediately, Mikagami's snapped to the direction of the voice.

He quirked an eyebrow with a slight smile to his lips. "Koganei, I thought you and Mifuyu- niichan were coming later."

"We were.but she convinced otosan to let us go earlier." Then Koganei mimicked his niichan in a high-pitched voice, batting his eyelashes. " 'demo, otosan, I'm going to miss my favorite little brother!' "

Mifuyu walked up to the trio and promptly whacked Koganei upside the head. "Keep it up, Koganei, and *you'll* be my new favorite ototo!"

Koganei gulped, giving Mikagami a 'help-me' glance. Mikagami chuckled slightly watching his siblings banter.

Then remembering that Fuuko was still present, Mikagami introduced her. He switched back to cold politeness. "Niichan, Koganei, this is Fuuko-san, Yanagi-itoko's good friend."

Mifuyu nodded approvingly. "Ah, so you are Fuuko-san! Yanagi has told me much about you, Fuuko!"

Feeling more at ease with this Yanagi-look-alike, than when she was alone with Mikagami, her inner personality shone out.

"And you must be Mifuyu! I'm honored to meet you finally." Tilting her head, she spoke her thoughts. "Ano.have you ever tried to switch identities with Yanagi-chan before?" she said, a mischievous grin appearing on her face.

Enjoying Fuuko's sense of humor, Mifuyu decided that she and her new acquaintance would become good friends. "That's a good idea.I'll have to keep that in mind, won't I *Koganei*?"

The called one rolled his eyes.

Ignoring his silent response, she continued. "Speaking of Yanagi, where is she?"

Fuuko scanned the room. "Well, I think she might have run off to find Recca. She *was* right behind me.then she just decided to leave me back here with your brother."

Mifuyu nodded in understanding. "My brothers aren't very fun to hang around with, ne?"

Fuuko laughed merrily. Oh yes, they were going to be vvvvery good friends. "Come on, let's go find Yanagi. I can introduce you to Recca and my other friends." The two promptly left, as if Koganei and Mikagami weren't even there.

Koganei shook his head in the background. "Women." he muttered.

"Just wait 'til you fall in love with one," Mikagami said, grimacing.

"Ugh.I don't even want to think about that. That's where all the chaos starts. She'll be ordering you around like a monster, and you'll follow her around like a sick puppy." Koganei shuddered.

Mikagami shook his head and chuckled. "Just you wait, Koganei," he said while walking away.

"Hope that day never comes," Koganei grumbled. /Great, now what am I gonna do? Niichan practically ditched me, and Oniisan just left me back here. This is such a waste of time./

The room was getting dark, and the music was turned on. /Geez.not only was I alone without some kind of puzzle or something in a room full of strangers, now I'm alone without some kind of puzzle in a *dark room with loud music* that's full of strangers!/

Just then, someone bumped into him. "Oof," Koganei reacted. It didn't hurt, of course, but it was a habit.

A sweet feminine voice rang through his ears. "Gomen, gomen! Gomen nasai!"

Looking down, he saw a blonde girl with the clearest blue eyes he had ever seen. "It's ok." Her head only came up to his chin, but he was sure she couldn't be more than a few years younger than himself.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Ganko."

"You can call me Koganei."

His eyes stormed for a moment, debating. /I can't believe I'm going to do this. Oh well, it's not like I have anything better to do./

"Would.would you like to dance, Ganko?"

Don't take it the wrong way, it certainly wasn't everyday Koganei no Ouji asked a stranger for a dance. But there was something captivating about this girl. Was it her magnificent pools of blue? Her smooth, luscious- looking skin? Her wavy golden locks? Or maybe that sweet scent that seemed to linger everywhere she walked?

/Nah, I'm just bored. Yeah, that's right. Just bored. I'm just bored. That's it./

"H-hai," Ganko accepted shyly. This would be her first time dancing with anyone. She must have had a lot of good luck; instead of dreaming of dancing with their Prince Charming, like most girls.her first dance would be with a real Prince Charming.

Koganei wound his arm around her slim waist, and led her toward the center of the ballroom. Ganko blushed at his touch. When they got there, Koganei looked straight into her eyes, and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Ganko brought her arms to his shoulders, leaning in closer by coming around his neck.

Meanwhile, Mikagami scanned the room. He saw Koganei dancing with a pretty blonde girl, and much to Mikagami's surprise, Koganei seemed to be enjoying it very much.

/Maybe that day has already come, ne, Koganei?/ Mikagami mused, remembering their earlier conversation. His line of vision shifted to the woman from earlier, a particular Kirisawa Fuuko. /It's that peasant from this morning, I'm sure of it. She has a madogou, the Fujin, I believe. Why does *she* have it?/

"Is there a reason you're hiding behind me, Niichan?" Mikagami inquired, his eyes never leaving his object of observation.

Mifuyu came out of hiding and joined Mikagami. "Why is it I can never sneak up on you by surprise?" she pouted. "Anyway, what are you doing standing here all alone, Tokiya?"

"Does it matter?"

"Stop being so pessimistic about everything. I'm sure there are plenty of young women at this ball who are more than willing to dance with you."

"I would prefer not to socialize with crazed women with one-digit IQ's."

"Ne, Tokiya, you must not be so harsh upon them. There must be quite a few intelligent women in this room."

Mikagami arched an eyebrow at his sister, seeming to ask her 'Are you kidding me?'

"Okay, fine, maybe only two or three," Mifuyu admitted.

He shot her a smug glance, silently relaying the message, 'See, what did I tell you?'

"Well, that gives you no excuse not to dance. Fuuko-chan over there is an intelligent and crafty young lady. Why don't you dance with her?"

Mikagami glared at Mifuyu, knowing she had him cornered. From what Yanagi had said, Fuuko was an intellectually insightful person, and from what he had seen, there was nothing he could deny her beauty-wise. Though her tanned skin and hands were anything but dainty, her unusual appearance and exotic shade of hair did nothing but add to appeal.

"What for? She's busy talking to Yanagi," he said, trying to untangle himself from this mess.

"She's busy talking because no one's asked her to dance."

"Then why should I be the one to ask?"

"Okay, fine, have it your way, Tokiya, but think about it," she said slyly with a knowing smirk as she walked away.

Mikagami sighed in defeat. /She's going to be the death of me one day./

XXX

Fuuko surveyed the room as he listened to Yanagi drone on and on about Recca (A/N: forgive me, that sounded harsher than I meant! I mean no offense to Yanagi!).

Fuuko smiled as she spotted Ganko dancing with Koganei. Well, if she wasn't having fun, at least she could be happy for her sister's fun, right?

Yanagi stopped talking. When Fuuko's attention snapped back to her friend, she found that Recca had come up and asked for a dance while she had been thinking. Now she was standing all alone.

Her thoughts shifted back to that man she had saw in the morning at the market. /I'm sure it's the same guy. It has to be - what's his name again? Oh yeah! - Mikagami Tokiya./

Her mind was spinning with questions. Did he see her at the market place? He had to have seen her. Does he recognize her here? Does he know? If he does, is he hiding it? Why is he hiding it? Why was he staring at me so intently when Yanagi introduced us? Does he know something? Or was she just going a little paranoid? Maybe it isn't even the same guy.maybe a look-alike.

Maybe.

/.Maybe I should just go out for some fresh air to clear up my mind./

Before she could, however, someone grabbed her wrist and beckoned her to stay. She unconsciously tensed at the voice, which could only belong to one man.

"Dance with me," the husky voice demanded lightly.

***

A/N: Sorry.was that a little (or a lot) OOC? I'm sorry.GOMEN MINNA-SAN!!

Thanks, The Other Person, for the correction about the niisan, oneesan thing.er.(shrugs) I looked it up in a dictionary so I don't really know.I'll be starting Japanese classes soon, tho, so it'll improve. Sorry!!