Disclaimers: (look at the previous chapters please!)
Author's note: Okay, I'm back again with chapter six! Yay! I've been kinda preoccupied lately with my other story, The Arrogant One. I'm currently working on chapter eight and am kind of pressured over here. It's my longest attempted chapter yet. Hopefully, this one will reach out to be that long too. (Though I doubt it ^^)
Anyway, it's a Tala/Marron fic; do you seriously want to read that? *shrugs* Oh well, try and stop by sometime and check it out anyway when you have the time. (Maybe drop a review or two for me? *hint**hint*) So with the babble done and over with, here's my usual read, review, and enjoy!
Warnings: TBC means 'To be continued'.
Chapter 6:
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Waltz for the Moon
I tried to look as passive as I could as I marched past the gawking kitchen staff around me to the empty corridors. I soon realized my lungs were aching from the lack of air. I had been holding my breath without realizing it. I quickly exhaled and looked around reflexively.
I can't believe Kai actually had the guts to come apologize to me. He not only apologized, he wanted to make up for it. Did this mean he had never really changes as much as I thought he did?
I lifted my nose in the air and stomped away.
I was starting to hate Kai more and more today. By being nice, he did something none of his glares or insults ever did. He made me feel…sorry about the way I was acting around him. It was slowly eating away my resolution to NOT love him anymore.
I stopped dead in my tracks and stared angrily at the carpeted floor.
This was all so confusing. I was confused about what I really felt. No matter how hard I tried to…I couldn't stop loving Kai. Why? Was it really so hard to do?
It wasn't fair.
You love with all your heart…
But in the end…
They forget you…
They forget you.
And even after they do…
You never forget them…
It hurts.
I felt tears stinging the back of my eyes, but I refused to drop down and cry. I swore long ago, I would never shed another tear for him. Ever.
I continued marching down the corridors and hallways to my room. My sanctuary. Maybe all I needed was a little sleep to help clear my head right now.
~~~~
"Quick! Call an ambulance! The boy's dying!!!" A tall, middle-aged man yelled, carrying a small blue-haired boy in his arms. Blood was dripping freely down his face as his led stuck out in odd angles.
"Uncle Hiwatari, let me come too!!!" A small girl, a year younger than the small boy trailed, holding onto the man's shirt in desperation.
Soon after, ambulance horns began to sound and the boy was placed onto a white stretcher and into the ambulance with his father and the small girl. It was a blur of memories after that.
"Mr. Hiwatari, your son will be fine. He gave us quite a scare though. Loss some blood. But he should be fine with proper bed rest for a while." The doctor said, coming out of the emergency room. Mr. Hiwatari smiled and thanked the doctor as he went in the room to see his son. The small brunette followed him inside and peered at the sleeping little boy.
"Is he…dead?" She said in a hushed tone, tears streaming silently down her face as she clutched the bed railing.
"No. He's fine." Mr. Hiwatari said softly back, stroking the little girls long black hair in a soothing motion.
The little girl smiled at this and laid her head beside Kai's as she stared into his peaceful face as he slept. She slowly closed her eyes and sighed before falling into listless sleep beside him.
~~~~
My eyes blinked open as I sat up. I was thinking about him again. Why can't he even give me just one seconds peace of mind??? Must he constantly haunt my every thought?!
I sighed and got up. I dozed off while I was lying on my bed just a moment ago.
I wonder if Kai ever had these kinds of dreams before? Did my memory torment him like his was tormenting me? Was he like me at all? Did he care for me at all?
I closed my eyes and crossed my arms in dismay.
I just had to stop thinking like this! It would drive my sanity away if I didn't.
I approached a small cabinet to my left and took out pieces of cloth and some needles, also a bundle of thread. I might as well do something to keep my mind busy before it started wandering off to HIM again. I got a scissor and started cutting up some cloth.
I might as well use this time to make my costume. I knew Voltaire was too stuck up to provide one for me and Kai…well, he couldn't care less about me anyway.
~~~~
The days passed by like nothing at all. I hardly ever saw Kai or Voltaire around the house anymore…which is more than I could have wished for.
My happiness subsided though because today was the day of the Hiwatari's masquerade party.
I tried in vain to cover how nervous I was beginning to feel, but soon it would be time for me to get dressed and mingle with all the rich brats my lord Hiwatari had so graciously invited.
As it came to pass, the sun was setting over the horizon as all of the household servants peered from the large windows down to the black limos in the drive as people in formal dresses came marching up the front steps and into the house. I watched with them.
"Ohhhh. Look at that one. Doesn't that look nice?"
Meliana addressed me, pointing towards a young man in some sort of tuxedo. His face covered with a dark mask. She turned and was shocked to still find me there.
"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be getting ready too?" She said, ushering me on. I stared at her and gave a faint smile.
I had no choice. The others also began turning to look at me so I left before the whole staff was at my heel, telling me to go change.
~~~~
I took one nervous glance at the mirror. I had my long hair down in slight waves of ebony. I held my white demi-mask to my head and took one last glance at myself before leaving the safety of my room.
The sky was now midnight blue as the sun completely vanished from sight. I strolled down the hall to the big room the Hiwataris used for parties. I peered in through the double front doors and glimpsed the mass of people inside and the noise they were emitting.
I was, I decided, more nervous than I looked. This was my first formal party. Voltaire had never ever invited me to any of his gatherings save for this one. And of all the parties he threw, this seemed to be the biggest one.
I couldn't do this. This was just too much. I concluded, watching the other young people far to the left around my age. I had never spoken to anyone near my age before. Except for…Kai.
I watched them joke and laugh with each other. Voltaire had been right all along. This was not my side of the world. I didn't belong here.
I turned my heel, ready to bolt back to my room.
Suddenly, a hand took my own in a firm but not harsh grip. I wheeled around and found myself staring at the same teenage boy we saw stepping out of his black limo a few minutes ago. A black mask was now covering his face, but not his flaming red hair.
"Where do you think you're going, Venus?" He said, smiling at me apparently taking notice to my costume. My god! D-Did his gaze actually linger on my chest or was it just my imagination??? I hid my feelings and smiled up at him politely.
"I was invited, and you?" I countered, gritting my teeth as I realized he was still holding my hand. He threw back his head and laughed.
"I was too. What a coincidence." He replied, his smile widening as he placed my hand on his arm formally. I frowned at this and desperately wanted to pull away and slap that arrogant smile right off the boy's face! Besides, I was more worried about what Kai would think if he saw me going in with this guy, who I didn't know at all.
He led me into the large room adorned with rich tapestries and golden chandeliers and candelabras. I would have made a more vivid memory if I hadn't been forced to squeeze in and out of the mass of bodies on the dance floor.
He stopped just as we reached a couple of seats to the side of the room. He bowed slightly as she motioned me to be seated. I complied as he let go of my hand.
"May I get you something to drink, Venus?" He asked gallantly.
I wanted to say he may as well get lost, but I willed against it because I had to be polite more than because I wanted to be nice.
"Yes, thank you." I said instead.
As he went off to get me something to drink, I whirled around in the opposite direction, hoping to distance myself from him as much as possible.
In my hurry to get away, I collided with someone and almost knocked myself to the floor. I quickly recovered, afraid it might be that redheaded boy, when instead I found myself staring into endless pools of crimson.
"You…" He seethed silently, taking hold of my hand.
I winced, immediately bracing myself for any violence this one boy could evoke. I was taken by surprise as he lifted my hand to his lips and said softly.
"Would you like to dance?"
I couldn't find a voice to reply, so I nodded instead. I finally found the courage to look up at him for the first time this whole night. Kai stood in front of me in a black suit. The collar was unbuttoned and his scarf was gone, but it was replaced with a flowing black cape. He looked so much like Satan, without the devil horns. A black half mask held tightly in his other hand.
I was amazed at how different he looked. He just seemed so…urbane compared to the others. It also made me realize how different I was from all of the people here.
Suddenly, the somber music stopped and all the young couples started moving towards the dance floor. The music was soon replaced by a jovial waltz. He took my hand and put it possessively on his arm as he led me to the dance floor.
He took my hand and placed it on his shoulder as his hand slid around me waist. He guided me effortlessly through the swirling waltz with ease while I only concentrated on making sure I followed the steps right, because I was painfully aware of the curious glances all the other young couples were shooting our way.
"Rena, if you will only look up at me, you will see that I am gazing down at you in a fond way any other person could not possibly mistake as bored indifference. If you keep trying to memorize the shape of my collarbone, I will stop looking at you and begin looking very bored and disgusted. Now look up at me and smile." He said softly to me.
I could have sworn he was almost gentle. I looked up at him and gave a reluctant smile. He smirked back.
"Much better." He stated as he twirled me away and back to him.
"I feel so…out of place here." I said, admitting for the first time how I really felt.
"Why?" He asked, staring intently at me.
"Everyone seems to be watching us and…" I trailed off as he threw back his head and laughed. I glared at him. What was so funny about that?
"They're not watching you. They are watching me and trying to figure out if it really was you who cajoled me into this waltz." He laughed. I couldn't help but smile at his arrogant joke.
"Are they still staring?" He asked almost tenderly.
"No." I smiled back up at him fondly.
I could feel his grip on my waist tightening as he held me closer. I leaned my head on his chest as I looked out the window, firecrackers from a nearby festival creating a beautiful show amidst the black star streaked sky.
The music stopped suddenly as everyone gathered around the windows to admire the fireworks. We still stood there, gazing into each other's eyes.
Kai was so close to me now. Or lips nearly touching. It was another second after though, his head dipped down. For a moment I almost thought he was going to kiss me…
A sigh escaped my lips as I looked down. The fireworks subsided and the jovial music begun again. I might as well enjoy my night with him. After all, he'd be gone right after this final waltz.
TBC (To be continued)…
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Authors Ending Notes:
Bet I surprised you there, right? Anyway, please tell me how this went. I think I was rushing quite a bit though. I should've put more…emphasis on the redheaded dude. Anyways, please review me and tell me how it was!!! Nothing god to say here anymore so, bye and see you in the next chapter!!!