Kisa glanced at her watch. It was nine in the evening. After Yuki made grand entrance (with Ayame), he made his way towards the dinner table, where he sat the best seat in the house. The guests and the women couldn't do anything but to gape at him while he was eating.

She sighed as she saw Tohru at the guest table with Ayame.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Um… so far so good I guess…" she replied shyly.

"Do you like the dress?"

She nodded silently.

"Do you want me to get you something? A drink perhaps?"

She shook her head quickly.

Ayame smiled as he touched Tohru's small hand. "Tohru-san…"

"Eh?" her head tilted upwards.

"Just a few more moments." He said. "Yuki doesn't really like to eat."

"Eh?" she wondered. "Ne, Ayame-san, don't force him. Let him eat."

"Really, Tohru, after a while he'll stop eating and he'll approach the piano room for a while to cool himself off." He explained. "Trust me, every Sohma does the same routine every year. It will be against Akito's plans if they disobey."

After a few moments, in the middle of the dinner, Yuki stood up and, as Ayame said, he went towards the piano room. Several officials and Sohmas followed in.

"What will happen inside?" she asked.

"That will depend on Yuki." Ayame nodded. "Back when I was eighteen, we went inside there to discuss something about property and power. Mostly Hatori did the understanding. I just nodded and nodded… and finally it is over."

"Will it take that long?"

He chuckled lightly. "Honestly, I can't imagine how excited you are to talk to him!"

"Ah!" she blushed lightly. "N-No it's just that… I need to… It's part of…"

At a nearby place, Kisa was watching everything.

"9:05 pm. Ne-san is sitting with the pervert and… Oh my! She's blushing?!" Kisa almost yelled. "I can't believe she's falling for him!"

"Falling for what?" A voice lurked behind her.

"Shigure-san!" Kisa almost lost her balance but Gure straighten her up. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be inside with Yuki!"

"Yes, I should be, my little simple-minded cousin, but unfortunately I was distracted by a mere simple creatures called women. So I decided to investigate about it."

"You mean harass them, right?" Kisa joked.

"Whatever terms may fit you." Shigure glanced at Ayame. "It seems like Ayame found himself another… friend."

"Actually…" Kisa sweatdropped. "That's ne-san."

"NANI?!"

"Are you ok?" Ayame asked.

"Nothing… it's just that…" she stood up. "May I know where's the ladies room?"

"Ah, yes." Ayame stood up. "Second hall, to the left."

"Thank you, Ayame-san…" she left and he sat down again.

As Tohru left, Shigure grinned at Ayame from afar. Because of this, he got up from his seat and approached his cousin.

"Yes?"

"She looks good." Shigure whispered. "And you did well."

"Thank you." He replied.

"What are you planning?" the inu asked curiously.

"Nothing." He answered. "It's up to Tohru to do the job."

"…what job?"

Tohru hurriedly went inside the ladies room. Okaa-san, he thinks like this is my mission in life! Oh dear! How did I get mixed up here in the first place?!

She looked up and saw a woman pulling the door to open. She pulled and pulled but ended up unsuccessful. "What's wrong with this… door?!" she yelled.

"Um…" Tohru approached her. "Do you need some help?"

"EH?" The mystery woman spun around and smiled at her. "Why thank you. But really you don't have to--"

Tohru slowly opened the door by pushing it. As it opened, she smiled to the woman. "Eh, it's open."

"Wow…" the woman smiled. "You're a guest but you know this house better than I do."

"Well, actually, I lived here once." Tohru whispered truthfully.

"REALLY?!" she cried. "Inside the Sohma mansion? With the Sohmas? You must be really liked by them…"

"Maybe…" I hope…

"I'm Ritsu." She held out her hand and shook Tohru's small one. "I'm pleased to meet someone who knows how to handle herself."

"Hai, I'm Honda Tohru-san." She replied happily.

"H-Honda T-T-Tohru?" Ritsu suddenly panicked as she stared at the onigiri. "Y-You must be the---"

"There you are!" Kagura patted at Tohru's shoulder. "Yuki just got out from his room. Maybe it's time for you to… ahem…" she stared at Ritsu, "…do the job."

"H-Hai, Kagura-san…" she nodded and went to the main hall. Ritsu quickly fell on his knees. "Thank God, I know how to act like a woman."

Kagura shook her head. "I wonder why you feel so different towards women even though you're acting like one."

"I'm sorry, Kagura-san. It's just…" Ristu shook his head. "Hatori told me about this… and so did Aya-san and…"

"I know, I know…" she nodded. "You have never seen someone like her before."

"I wonder if Yuki will like her."

Kagura chuckled heartily. "No, Ritsu."

"Eh?"

She smiled. "He loved her already." She replied. "A mouse is supposed to be fast but… Yuki is a different kind of mouse. He wants to be precise because… he didn't want to lose her again."

Tohru checked in a nearby mirror her reflection. Okay, I'm wearing a mask. He won't see me. He won't see me.

She sighed. "Okaa-san, guide me tonight."

She slowly walked towards the main hall, where everybody gathered to meet the new leader. Slow, calming music filled the atmosphere and, as if by instinct, one by one, the guests found their partners and danced against the sweet music that surrounds them.

Tohru quietly searched for any Sohma she can meet but they were not there. This was the time when she remembered the scene of a wallflower, a lonely nobody without a partner.

"Hello…" a calm voice was heard behind her. She slowly looked over her shoulder and kept her eyes focused on the young man behind her.

The young man has grayish hair, about her height and was wearing a black tuxedo and a black mask. His eyes focused on hers and he, as she remembered, was with Ayame an hour ago.

"How do you do?" she answered back as calmly as possible. I should be calm but I can't. I can feel my heart beating fast and I sense nervousness inside me. Okaa-san, I think the person in front of me is Yuki!

He chuckled lightly. "Why think of me if you should think about yourself?"

"Eh?" She asked confusedly.

He slowly went towards her and whispered on her ear. "Sorry, if I made you wonder, Tohru-kun…"

Tohru stepped back and stared at him. "Pardon me but… may I know who you are?"

"Certainly not, my dear." He answered proudly. "It would be against the arrangement if we would announce our names this early."

"But… you already know who I am!" He is so annoying!

"Hmm… I didn't say that you're Tohru-kun. I just assumed you are Tohru-kun." He grinned visibly. "You were just the one who revealed the truth behind your mask."

"Ah…" She couldn't reply. For once, she felt annoyed and ashamed at the same time. I didn't know that Yuki is like this.

Yuki noticed her panicking in front of him. I guess I was a bit rough on her.

"My apologies, my dear." He bowed low. "I guess you wouldn't take my annoyance that easily."

"Maybe…" she whispered and looked away. "But you are a bit annoying."

He thought for a moment and smiled at her. "Who do you think I am?"

"You?" she repeated. "You…" she smiled, "…are annoying."

Yuki smiled hastily. "I think you're scared to guess."

"I'm not… because I already know who you are." She smiled. "Your costume is opposite to mine, Yuki."

She recognized me. Yuki sighed happily. "I guess we're even."

"Well, I guess you just revealed the truth behind your mask." She whispered. "I just assumed you are Yuki."

They both laughed at the joke and at the same time, stopped as they heard Kagura made an announcement through the microphone.

"This is for the people out there who thinks that this is their last night. Please give it your all as I support you with this song." She said softly. The light began to dim and a love melody was heard.

"If Kyou-kun was here, he would understand how Kagura loves him." she smiled.

Yuki wasn't even paying attention to Kagura. He was staring at Tohru, thinking that he should do it right now. I need to tell her.

"Tohru…" he held her hand. "May I ask you to dance with me?"

She felt a twitch in her head. "But Yuki… I haven't… danced yet… as in dance…" she explained.

Yuki smiled. "Don't worry." He whispered. "Nobody will notice."

Tohru slowly nodded. Even though they're still wearing masks, it won't be a hindrance since they already knew who it was behind it. They already knew that nobody will stop them from being with each other

As they went to the hall and started to dance, Kagura started to sing.

This is my last dance with you…

This is my only chance to do all I can do

To let you know that what I feel for you is real

This is the last chance for us…

This is the moment that I just cannot let end

Before I know that there's a chance that we're more than friends

So don't let go, let it last all night…

This is my last chance to make you mine…

"See?" Yuki whispered. "You dance perfectly."

"I…I guess so." She replied. But still, in her voice, Yuki can feel she's very insecure.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" he asked. "Like at the balcony… that way, nobody will see, in case… you are insecure with the people around…"

"But… it's your birthday." Tohru whispered. "You should be in a place where people can see you---"

"Then let them find me." He smiled. She slowly nodded and left the hall. Yuki could see that she's very relieved and he was happy about that. At least I find something that can cheer her up.

I kept my feeling so deep

I kept my dreams of you and me somewhere inside

Although I pray that you would see it in my eyes

But this is my last chance to say

What's in my heart before you stay out of my life

And then you'll understand the way I feel inside

So hold me close cause it feels so right

This is my last chance to make it mine

Make this dream reality

So close and you're so far

Gotta find a way into your heart

Gotta speak my mind

Gotta open up to you this time

I can't let you slip away tpnight

This is my last dance with you

This is my only chance to do all I can do

To let you know that what I feel for you is real

So don't let go

Just make it last all night long

This is my last chance to make you…mine…

To make you mine…

An applause rang throughout the hall and Kagura bowed endlessly. After that, a gossip was heard that Yuki went somewhere with a woman. Kagura grinned and went down the stage, where someone was waiting for her.

"K-Kyou…kun?" she stared at the man.

Kyou nodded and whispered, "Please don't laugh and scream in front of everybody."

"What are you…"

"Hey!" Ayame hastily went towards them. "I heard from our dear Kisa that they went to the balcony to have some private time." He grinned. "Do you want to watch?"