For disclaimers, look back to chapter 1.

Come One, come all to the merry ball…

Larva was not having it any easier. Lemures was positively enraged as he paced up and down his apartment. "That damned pansy! How do you know he wasn't playing you for a fool? He doubtless knows his effect on females and males alike, it's easy for one like that to confuse others! We didn't even know which side he belonged to in the first place when we saw him! Larva, you have to wake up-"

"Lemures, you don't know him. Slurring him like that hurts me. Like me, he's never felt it before with a man. You didn't see him then-"

Green nails gripped his shoulders painfully. "Don't tell me it's not a moment's folly and confusion, it can't mean more than that…" Lemures collapsed into a beanbag, face buried in his hands. Now mumbling but still in that same disbelieving tone. "With any other, but not with him, not this one…" Faint music could be heard from somewhere far off.

An epiphany came to Larva. He rounded on Lemures, and went down on one knee. Pulling his hands away from his face, he stared into the hooded green eyes. "So you don't mind if I do like a man, but you mind if it's him. You've never condemned others in similar situations, which makes me wonder… are you jealous of him?"

His friend looked positively thunderstruck at the question. And something else he could not identify.

"Larva… promise me not to go to the Queen's Ball. We've all missed you. Don't mention it again, I can't answer that…"

Larva promised to spend that time with his old gang. As he was about to question Lemures further about whether he had told anybody else about the kiss between him and Garline, he noticed his friend swaying in the beanbag. Then those green eyes clouded further, rolled up into his head and he collapsed.

Larva was shocked and he was about to shake Lemures when he heard sweet dulcet tones behind him.

"He's out for now, he'll remember it all as a sweet dream, which consists of what he wants to remember, basically." He whirled around, nails lengthening to face the unknown entity.

Garline was standing in the window, with a slender young girl floating behind him. Her honey-coloured hair was tied into two ponytails with pink flowers, an ocarina held next to her lips and she was wearing… the shortest white skirt Larva had ever seen.

"My servant, Lilith. She apparently snuck here via the last ship. Larva, your friend is not in danger, but he'll have to sleep it off for one night. Her ocarina makes one remember what they wish to and no more, with regards to any incident." Slight regret coloured Garline's voice, which sounded oddly wooden and forced. There was something else in his expression, but it vanished swiftly.

Larva's concern was still evident, for he did not wish to leave Lemures until he awoke. He told Garline and Lilith that he had been about to ask his friend about the whole incident, and whether he had spoken of it to anyone else.

"No, they didn't. Andeas confessed that in um, her sleep. But why would you wish to know that? Ashamed-"

"Lilith!"

Her master's voice was like ice. She cowered back, and his voice was gentle once more.

"We'll return first, don't stay up too long."

Dark chocolate momentarily blocked the window, and then they were gone. Larva felt… he didn't know what to feel. Torn between friends, fearing for the future… did they even have a future? He pondered these questions for the next two hours. Finally ascertaining that Lemures would be all right, he left quietly.


"Still silent? You don't quite approve, I can tell."

His golden companion did not reply.

"You want him too, you can't hide it from me. And unlike you, I'm quite confident that there is at least one part of him that desires me…" One tanned hand laid the small bundle down on the ornate dressing table. Sharp clear nails tore open the package, and a satisfied chuckle surfaced at the sight of the contents.


Lilith was troubled. Standing behind her master as they overlooked the sea from the cliff top, she had to ask. "What about your one dream, with regards to your mother? He will not go and you will not stay, so it will not end well. Unless you give it up…"

He was silent, the cowl pulled over his head and she did not know what he was thinking. Then she saw him lift one hand in the usual gesture. A small sigh was released, before she vanished over the cliff.

Larva saw her go, as he approached. He could see that his dear friend was deep in thought. Walking up behind the hooded figure, he embraced him, resting his head next to Garline's. And felt the warmth of his red-tipped hands enclosing the cold hands that wrapped the purple nails around his.

Garline decided to tell him about his mother. Larva listened and when he was done, only the faint sound of the waves against the rocks could be heard. They were both aware of what lay ahead, and both did not know what to say to the other to ease the pain. The hooded figure turned in his companion's arms. One hand with red-tipped nails pushed the cowl off his head, and slid down to cup his cheek. A purple nail gently traced the outline of his dear friend's pale lips.

Larva captured those rose-tinted lips passionately with his own, even as Garline ran his fingers through the short blue strands. Lost in their entwined emotions, it was a long time before Garline pulled away to lay his head against his friend's shoulder. Content in their mutual embrace under the light of the moon, he felt this was not the time to mention the trivial matter of his missing diary.


Larva watched his dearest friend asleep on the bed, chest rising and falling in rhyme with the peaceful breathing. Propped up on his side next to Garline and holding his hand, he had never felt closer, or sadder. He wanted to tell Garline not to go to the ball, for he had the feeling that… it just didn't feel safe.

His emotions were in turmoil, and so were his thoughts. His jealousy at both lords when he saw Garline dazzled by them, his pain that Lemures and the others would not be able to accept all that had happened… And the fear of losing someone he truly respected and treasured for the first time. Whatever happens, he vowed silently, I will not forget him or be without him.

Then he lay down beside him and watched him until he could no longer do so, falling asleep under the soft glitter of the stars.


The subtle scents, the soft strains of the orchestra… Lord Tauron was impressed. It seemed that no expenses had been spared in the preparations of this event. The hundreds of fairy lights suspended in the air was a vision, along with the vast arrays of food laid out on splendid platters. All present were decked out in their best, jewels glittering on the ladies, the subtle sophisticated shine on the men's outfits… his son was no less impressive, judging by the number of admiring glances he had garnered en route to the crowded ballroom.

However, he detected sadness in those lavender eyes, and he did not know why this time. Probably because his good friend Larva could not be here, however there were plenty of ladies to compensate for his absence. He had worried at one time that they had been spending too much time together, but Lord Pazusu had commented that since Garline did not make friends easily, he was likely to better value the ones he had.

Garline just wished the whole damn thing would end.


Olas was commenting as they trudged through the night market. "Maybe I should get a slave for my brother's next birthday, what do you think?" He was twirling his money pouch around one finger as he spoke.

"Too unoriginal. Maybe you could cook, although that might poison him. Not that we would know since we've never had the privilege of tasting that particular talent, or lack of. " Viedel's gray eyes twinkled with amusement at the thought, snagging a peach as they passed by a fruit vendor's stall.

"Careful, you could lose that pouch," was Larva's observation. It felt good to be back among them once more, although he wished that Garline could be here. A slight smile crossed his face as he remembered the exchange between the two of them, while tying his dearest friend's ribbon for the ball.

"Lemures, what did you get Lemunia last year? HEY!" Olas tore after Lemures as he sprinted off with his money pouch. Viedel laughed. "Come on, Larva!" Tearing Larva from his thoughts. They raced after their friends. It was just like old times.


It wasn't so bad. Between all the compliments and the various dances, Garline was actually enjoying himself. He was taking a break from all the attention, and was standing off to one side, chatting to a few elderly ladies-in-waiting to the Queen. They were telling him stories about the Royal family, some of which was actually quite funny. He raised his champagne glass to his lips for a sip, only to realise it was no longer in his hands. The elderly ladies were staring behind him, and as he turned around, nearly slammed into Lord Kai.

"Quite an eye for fashion, lad. It suits you."

Kai was holding a glass in each hand and coolly appraising the youth standing before him. Attired in a pale rose shirt with dark chocolate trousers and matching suit, silver buckles gleamed on the dark shoes. Freshly washed hair was held back with a simple silver ribbon. Those lavender eyes were watching him warily. For some unknown reason, such constant vigilance irritated him.

"Thank you." Garline never failed to be affected each time they met, and Lord Kai had outdone himself this time. The hat was gone, and close-fitting black was still a primary colour. Black breeches matched the wicked- looking boots (knee-high instead of the usual thigh-high ones) that never seemed to make any noise. He had on a black cloak, which seemed to be attached to strips of leather sliding up lace cuffs to criss-cross randomly over a silver shirt. Where had he seen that before? Then he blushed.

"It is always delightful to see a virgin boy blush. Innocence still remains in this world, don't you agree, ladies?" Titters and giggles were rife among the elderly ladies. His very presence had turned them to putty in his hands, and Garline was determined not to show any signs of being similarly affected. Amusement gleamed in fiendish eyes that hid a certain glint.

"Alas, I must leave you. More people to enchant under my wings… See you."

His flush had deepened, not that the elderly ladies noticed, since they were all aflutter from the attention. Then he realized the glass of champagne was in his hand once more. He needed to drink something. As he drained his glass for relief, he absently noted that a bright green olive had replaced the cherry decorating the rim.