"Hello, Yuki!" Kagura greeted. "Happy birthday!!!"

Yuki was staring off to space, his hands were firmly clasped at his sides as he stared out of the balcony. It took a few minutes for Yuki to turn around and smile in reply.

"Hello, Kagura-san…"

"You seem pretty sad today…" she stared at him. "What wrong?"

He sighed unhappily and shook his head. "Nothing. Maybe I don't feel like 18 years old today."

"Really?" she gaped in an unusual tone. Yuki laughed in reply.

"I'm fine, Kagura. I really am." He sounded convincing so she nodded.

"Good. Remember, masquerade ball tonight. With a mask, ok?"

"Right." Is this what Akito wanted? Does he want me to dance all of those women just to be famous, and not letting them know my name?

I guess he doesn't want to repeat what happened to Hatori back at his time… the time when he met Kana on his birthday…

"I'll be just out there---"

"Just be careful." Hatori assured. "You're still wounded."

"I will. I won't be long." Tohru smiled for the last time. "I'll just be visiting some people." With that, she left Ayame's house.

"Where is she going?" Aya asked as he approached the doctor.

"Somewhere. But I'm a bit concerned---"

"Daijobu, Hatori-san. Nothing will happen." The snake assured as he raised a simple white house dress for Hatori to see.

He stared at it. "What do you want me to do? Wear it?"

"No, silly!" Ayame giggled. "This is what Tohru used to wear when she stayed here in my house."

"I see…"

"I'll just copy the measurements and poof!" he explained. "The magic begins."
Hatori grinned at his cousin. "What do you mean the magic begins?"

"Anything the Tohru wears becomes enchanted." Ayame grinned. "You'll see…"

"Tohru-kun!!!" Uotani embraced her friend happily. "I'm happy that you're back!"

"SO am I!" she answered. After a long hug, she looked around for Hanjima. "Where is she?"

"Oh, scaring customers as usual…"

Tohru wondered. "Customers?"

"Well, you see, we're running out of budget so we decided to put up a simple business on our own." Uo said proudly. "I put an inn while she… well, plans to be a psychic."

"Oh…" the onigiri wondered, visualizing her friend in a long black robe with a crystal ball on one hand and tarot cards on the other.

"SO…" Uo smiled. "What brings you here?"

Before they continued their conversation, a man approached Uotani and bowed. "Your dresses are finished, madam. I left them on your room." He said quickly.

"Thank you." She smiled. "You may leave."

Tohru giggled. "I never knew that you wear dresses, Uo-san."

"Silly! I won't wear those dresses now!" Uo laughed. "They're for the ball."

"Ball?"

"Don't you know??? It's the handsome Sohma's 18th birthday! Now even we peasants are invited… as long as you have a dress and have a mask." Uotani twirled happily.

"A Masquerade ball? I didn't know that you're interested in parties either!"

"I'm not! I'm just there to witness those silly girls who are over those Sohmas. Plus," Uo added. "It was Hanajima's request."

"Hana-san?"

"He wanted to touch the celebrant's hands." She explained. "She explains that she could predict the town's future through that. If it ends up to be bad, we are leaving this place."

"Oh…" Tohru sighed. They must be talking about Yuki. That's right. It's his birthday tonight. And…

"Are you coming, Tohru-kun?" A question came. That's the one-million-dollar question for Tohru. Am I coming?

"I…" she started to speak.

"Oh yes!" Uotani spoke. "Your mother left something. I bet you'll love it!" she rushed back inside the house and at the same time, a man approached her.

"You must be Uotani's friend."

"Hai." Tohru smiled. "I'm Honda Tohru."

"Honda… Tohru?" the man repeated. "Are you the one who's the close friend of Ayame Sohma?"

"Hai!" she replied happily. "DO you know him?"

"Of course I do." The man brushed his silvery hair back and smiled. "He's a close friend of mine."

"Really?" she smiled.

"No wonder why he likes you."

"Who?"

"Yuki." The man whispered, almost like air but at all costs, Tohru heard it. She stepped back for a moment before she bumped to another person.

"Hey!" Uo growled. "Slow down, man! You almost wrecked the dress!"

"Huh?" Tohru turned around and saw Uotani carrying a gown that was about her size. It was pale white from the sleeves to the end of the dress with silvery beads and white stitches around the frontal part of the dress.

"Your mother wore this when the Sohmas had a ball years ago." She explained. "She handed this to me for me to wear but,,, she doesn't know that I hate dresses so… since you're her daughter, I'll hand this to you."

"Eh?" she held the dress near her. "I-I don't know if it's in my size---?"

"Wear it on the ball." Uo winked. "Good luck. I'll be meeting you there."

"B-But…" Before she could even reply, a carriage stopped in front of them.

"Onee-san!" Kisa called out. "Aya-san needs you now!"

"Now?" Tohru asked.

Uo leaned against her friend. "Keep the dress and go."

"Eh?" the onigiri asked confusedly. Before she could even react, Kisa pulled her inside and went on their way.

"Nan de…" Uo watched as her friend was taken away. "Who was that girl anyway???"

"Kisa Sohma…" the man murmured.

"Kisa? Really?" Uotani grinned. "A Sohma eh? Seems like Tohru found her way to fame and fortune." She turned to look at him. "You seemed to know a lot."

"I'm updated." He grinned.

"See you around then." Uo smiled. "Will you be staying for the night?"

"Iie, I need to find some clothes for the party tonight."

"Ah, ok, see you around, Kazuma-san." She replied.

He grinned mysteriously. I only won't be seeing YOU around. He turned to leave. I'll also be seeing her…

"Onee-san…" Kisa whispered. "DO you know that guy?"

"What guy?"

"The one that you talked to a while ago." She asked.

Tohru smiled. "No, I haven't seen him before. Why?"

"…he looked very familiar." Kisa replied as she wondered again.

"He knows a lot…" the onigiri smiled. "about Sohmas… the ball… About yuki…and me…"

"Really?" Kisa asked. "That means he had been friends with Sohmas before. No wonder he knows a lot." She looked down at the dress Tohru was holding. "What's that?"

"Oh," she held it up. "My mom's dress. Uo-san mentioned something about Sohma ball and she forced me to go."

"Ne-san, you have to go, silly~!" Kisa nudged her in the elbow. "This is Yuki's birthday!"

"I… I know but…" she looked away.

"Just go there! It's a masquerade ball. He can't tell you among the other two hundred women!"

"Y-You're right, Kisa-san…" She's right. A masquerade ball. I'll be wearing a mask… the only thing that can separate me and Yuki-kun. Once I wear it, he won't know it's me.

Besides, it's only a party. What could happen in a party if me and Yuki-kun are involved?

"It's PERFECT!!!" Ayame twirled the dress around. "This is the dress of your mother?"

"Hai." She smiled. "I've never seen my mother wear it---"

"It's magnificent. This will be the one." He exclaimed.

"Eh?"

"You'll be wearing this tonight at the ball!"

"NANI?!" Tohru stepped back and almost tripped at Hatori.

"Slow down." Hatori held her shoulders before she would even fall at him. "It's a masquerade ball and also Yuki's birthday. Whether you like it or not, you're coming."

"B-But…" Tohru stood still and looked at the two older men. "I-I'm… not invited…"

"Whoever is close to Yuki gets a free pass…" Ayame winked. "…without permission or not."

"You have to be there." Hatori repeated again.

"B-But… I-I…"

"What's the matter Tohru-san? It's a masquerade ball." The snake said softly. "And it's just a party."

"I don't have a gift." She said quickly.

"Being there for him is the best gift he'll receive for tonight." Hatori said.

"W-what do you mean? Am…" she looked up. "Am I really that special?"

"To him, yes." Aya replied. "It's his birthday and he's looking forward to celebrate it with you. Please just be there…"

"But…"

"Ne-san, you shouldn't worry." Kisa held her hand. "You already had the clothes and the mask and the invitation. Just be there."

"I…I don't know the things people like you used to do!" she cried. "If it's a ball, there are manners and formal food and… dancing!"

Hatori smiled at her warmly. "You'll be fine."

"Hai, you'll just learn to blend in, Tohru-san." Ayame smiled.

"I don't know…" She looked down.

They let her sit on the couch and think for a while Why me? Yuki-kun… why me?

"Tohru…" Hatori knelt beside her. "3 hours"

"What?"

"3 hours… no, even 2 hours." He corrected. "Just be there for 2 hours. If you want to stay after that, then you may. If you want to leave, no one's stopping you."

"Hatori-san…" for two hours only? Tohru thought.

"It would be much better if you even just talk to Yuki…" the dragon said. "…even with your mask on."

"But it would be a better option if you take it off and smile at him---"

"Ayame, don't push Tohru too hard." Hatori reminded him. "Tohru, just be there in the party for two hours, talk to him with your mask on and leave the mansion if you want to."

"Really?" Tohru asked again.

"Just do that… think of it as a favor." The doctor smiled again.

"…ok…"

"That's the spirit!" Ayame raised her dress. "Let's see if this suits you well…"

Yuki stood before the mirror, wearing his best black suit and carrying his black mask in one hand. He stared at his reflection and kept his face blank. Tonight, I will turn eighteen… the age when I will legally rule over the Sohma property. Eigteen-year-old Yuki Sohma shall make a difference…

He wore the mask and stared at his reflection. If Tohru will be here tonight, I hope she'll recognize me behind this mask… and I hope I'll also recognize her.

Kami-sama, please don't let us be apart. I wanted to see her tonight…

I want to tell her how I really feel…

Tohru…

Tohru stared at her reflection at the tall glass mirror. She looked down at her mother's dress that she's wearing and the white feathery mask in her hand. She again looked at her reflection. Okaa-san, tonight is the night that I won't forget. Tonight is the night that for once I'll act as a princess… and Yuki as a prince…

She wore the white mask and smiled at her reflection. She twirled around one time. Kisa-chan, Hatori-san, Ayame-san, Uo-san… thank you for everything. For once, I'll be looking up to happiness and… I'll be with Yuki.

I hope Yuki recognizes me in this outfit…

---Kekeke, I really like this stuff

---The masquerade ball will officially start next chapter. Ja ne! :)