a/n: after this chapter… things will change… the love triangle will disappear because I will apply the choice of the majority of the poll (and that majority is kinda not-too-majority). Actually, I posted the poll in my website as well as the story and my other supporters are kinda in favor of a RaiFuu one. This isn't good because only a few people voted…

OMG! I forgot the dedication! Here it is:

Dedication: I dedicate this story to a very special person to my heart. That person may not be here to read this fanfiction but this is for that person, whatsoever. If it wasn't for that person, I won't be inspired to create stories that, I hope, the people are interested with. That's all I can say for now…

BTW, enjoy my next chappie… this is kinda dark…

Those who made their reviews, you're the best! You rock!

CHAPTER 5: PAPER FACES ON PARADE

(A/N: Masquerade! Paper faces on parade… masquerade… hide your face so the world will never find you…this is not the haven of POTO fans because it will not be applicable. Anyway, you'll find some relevance of the "Masquerade" scene with one of the events here. Hee hee…)

For a long time, Tokiya didn't show himself in the office, he's on leave. Nobody knew what happened to him, except his friend and secretary, Tametoki.

"Didn't you know that Mr. President drowned himself because of you?" he told Fuuko when he went to her office to have some paperwork done.

"Excuse me?" Fuuko asked, her ears deceiving her. "Mi-chan drowned himself? Because of me?"

Tametoki nodded. "Please don't tell Mr. President about this but he really likes you. No, not like. He loves you."

Fuuko gaped at him, mouth opened. "What do you mean?" She resumed to her work and said, "That's not true. You're joking, aren't you?"

Tametoki dragged her by the hand and pulled her to Tokiya's office. "Don't you want to believe me? I'll prove it to you."

When they entered his room, it was dull and unoccupied. They approached his table and Fuuko saw her own picture. It was the picture frame that was lost when she moved out. She took it with her hands and held it.

"This!" Tametoki shouted in triumph. He showed her a velvet blue box and she took it and opened it.

"How beautiful!" Fuuko exclaimed as she touched the large blue sapphire in the middle of the necklace. It was a sapphire set.

"Tokiya bought that for you. He bought that, expecting you to accept it." Fuuko stared at him as he sighed. "However, you have a fiancée," he said, eyeing Fuuko's engagement ring on her neck.

"Why would someone like him want to give me this?" she asked stupidly.

"I don't know if you're dumb Kirisawa but why would a man help promote an ordinary employee, bring gifts in front of her doorstep everytime she needs it, planned to give her jewels, and drown himself just because he saw with his very own eyes that the woman he loved for all these years is getting married?"

Fuuko looked at the shining treasures with guilt as a teardrop paved its way on the necklace. "He was the one who kept sending dresses for the corporate parties."

Tametoki took the box once again and closed it before placing it gently back to Tokiya's drawers. "I must go. By the way, there will be another corporate party that will be held next week. I think you should be ready by that time because the President will sure arrive."

Fuuko nodded in an awed way as Tametoki left her in the room.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The day of the party approached in an early time. As Fuuko clambered out of the taxi, Yanagi hugged her out of her breath.

"You're here!" she squealed excitedly.

Fuuko smiled with unease and Ganko went out of the taxi. "Smartly dressed," Ganko remarked at Yanagi, she was wearing a pink embroidered doll gown.

Yanagi merely smiled. "Come, I'll take you two inside." She went up the stairs of the hotel and Yanagi opened the door for them. "Best not to talk to strangers. They're too arrogant," she reminded.

When they entered the hall, they took a glance behind the mirrored door. They saw at least two dozens of people dancing in the same prance, their differently colored gowns shining and swirling by the crystal chandelier.

"I feel underdressed," Fuuko confessed.

Yanagi chuckled and said, "Don't be. You look as formal as everybody else. By the way, by 8 PM, we'll be changing to our masquerade costumes. That will be fun!"

"Oh, okay. Then, I don't have any mask!" She arranged herself as the guards opened the door for them.

"Don't worry, I'm all prepared," Yanagi winked.

"By the way, Fuuko, where did you get that gown? It looks nice," Ganko asked.

Yanagi was listening when Fuuko whispered at the corner of her lip, "I really don't know. I saw this at my doorstep when I woke up," she lied.

"Gosh, Fuuko, you get too much on your doorstep."

"Oh, really?" Yanagi asked curiously. Fuuko jumped in surprise. "A secret admirer, isn't it?"

"Well," Fuuko blushed. "I don't know," she answered guiltily. She still cannot believe that Tokiya kept sending gifts to her even though he knew well that she was engaged.

"Who?" Yanagi asked, giggling at the idea as they sat on one of the empty tables reserved for them.

Ganko interrupted. "The gown-sender is still unknown. In fact, she already had three gowns from that mysterious man!"

Yanagi cut the topic off as she eyed Fuuko's necklace. "Who gave you that?" she asked apprehensively.

Fuuko sighed. "Raiha and I are engaged already." She showed Yanagi her necklace where she placed the engagement ring as a pendant.

Yanagi looked crestfallen but she hid what's running in her mind.

At the next table, however, Tokiya was listening intently. Fuuko continued to speak. "I thank whoever gave me this… you know, this gown is so expensive!"

"I know," Yanagi replied.

"You're a jerk, Tokiya. I told you, make your move! I didn't tell you to apply the "Phantom" effect and give her gifts. What's next, hiding behind her window and talking to her like an angel? Duh!" his mind screamed.

"Well, this is enough for now. I already know what to do next," Tokiya muttered angrily to his brain. "Your sermons are not working."

"Mr. Mikagami, are you alright?" Tametoki asked.

"Well, yes," he replied, cursing his own brain.

Tametoki looked at Tokiya's point of view and saw that he was looking at Fuuko. "Why can't you still forget her, Tokiya?" he asked hopelessly.

"I can't forget her. She should be with me," he said rather aggressively, taking a gulp of wine.

"She's engaged!" Tametoki explained. "Can't you go out and look for another? There should be another girl that is like her."

Tokiya shook his head. "No one is like her. She's the most unique woman and she cannot be replaced."

"So, you're trying to tell me that you'll do something to make her call off the engagement?"

"If that's the thing I need to do, I'll do it," Tokiya said, squeezing the glass to tight that it shattered, making some injuries in Tokiya's hands. Some of the guests gasped at the sight but Tokiya held it tighter, as though he was enjoying himself by hurting himself.

Fuuko turned around as she heard Yanagi gasp. "What is it…?" she asked. However, as she saw the hossible craziness Tokiya was doing, she excused herself to Yanagi and she went out of the hall. Tokiya looked up as she disappeared.

"Come, Mr. President, we have to mend your cut," Tametoki said carefully. He was surprised that Tokiya followed him, standing up, but he was further surprised when he headed the other way. "Where are you going? How about your wounds?"

"I can manage," he snorted arrogantly. Secretly, he followed Fuuko's footsteps.

"Man! You're calling this stalking! S-T-A-L-K-I-N-G as in stalking!"

"Just shut up!" Tokiya hissed. "If I could just remove my brain from my head, I could have done it now!"

He continued following Fuuko, hiding behind this plant and that, until they reached outside. There was a beautiful pool behind the hotel, a perfect view under the shining moonlight.

She sat down to think while holding on to the pendant of the necklace. It was the engagement ring Raiha gave her. Tokiya watched silently, miserably, as she continued to look at it, its shimmer reflecting on Fuuko's sad eyes.

"I think I realized why you love her," his mind remarked. He smiled.

"She's beautiful," Tokiya said dreamily.

Unknown to him, Fuuko has been talking to herself. "He's crazy! Why would he do that in front of hundreds of aristocrats?"

"Well, Fuuko, congratulations. You did that to him. You made his life miserable."

"Then, what do you want me to do? Force myself to love him? Never!"

"I don't know. Maybe someday you'll know the real man for you. there must be something that will make you realize… something…"

She continued to look at the beauty of her own special gift, absent on the noises around her. Accidentally, as Tokiya stood up, he caused a rustle of bushes around him. "Who's that?" Fuuko asked nervously, standing up immediately. Due to shock, she let go of the necklace which fell to the pool. She jumped after it. However, as she tried to swim, her gown held her down and she cannot go up again.

Tokiya watched in horror as his beloved was slowly disappearing beyond his own facet. After a few bubbles went to the surface, there was no sign of her anymore.

(a/n: ave maria… I'm listening to it right now. This background music means that this will be a little tense)

He ran towards the pool while removing his shoes and own clothing and he jumped. The back garden was only lighted by small, delicate lamps outside so he had difficulty finding Fuuko. It became harder for him to look for her because she was like camouflaged in the blue. He was almost out of breath when he noticed a glint from the depths of the water. He swam deeper to the "9-ft" part of the pool, trying to chase Fuuko as her body sank deeper. He reached out his hand and caught hers and he swam upwards. He placed Fuuko gently at the side of the pool.

Fuuko started to whisper in pain gently, "The ring!"

He was reluctant to get the ring for her but he dived again, whatsoever. This time, it was harder to find the small ring but he found it at the deepest part of the pool. He went for it. His brain was clouding, he was about to give up.

Fuuko woke up. "Where am I?" she asked herself. She looked beside her and she saw Tokiya, unconscious, by the pool. "Mi-chan?" she asked groggily. He was holding the necklace in his hands.

She tapped him and there was no reply. She looked at him in horror as she turned him facing up. She gasped because he wasn't wearing anything on top. However, the point is his face was so pale and white and he is cold.

"Oh my God! You can't be dead, Mi-chan!" she prayed loudly as she tried to regain his consciousness by CPR.

He coughed and tried to sit up with difficulty. At that moment, Fuuko noticed a flash of blue on his silver necklace. Before seeing what it is, however, she remembered her own dignity out of place.

"I have to leave," Fuuko said with embarrassment. "Thank you for – for saving my life," she further said as she stood up.

"Wait, Fuuko!" Tokiya exclaimed. She stopped. "You cannot enter the hall like that. I'll ask someone to take you to my hotel room and change."

"His hotel room? What's this? Rape?" her brain further retorted.

Fuuko shook her head politely. "I must go. It's so nice of you to offer."

His voice was commanding but mesmerizing this time. Not the cold voice she was acquainted with. "I insist. Besides, Yanagi will be disappointed with you and Ganko…"

A man approached them and said, "Sir?"

Before the man could speak, Tokiya ordered him to take Fuuko to room 107 and change her clothes." The man offered his hand and led Fuuko inside. "Be sure to use the other way so not to attract too much attention," he reminded. The man nodded. He gave a towel to Fuuko as he led her to the room.

"What happened, Mr. Mikagami?" his assistant asked, approaching him with worry.

Tokiya was only smiling. "I just caught a mermaid," he joked.

His assistant rolled his eyes. "True, that woman looked like a mermaid because of her outfit."

"Really?" Tokiya asked in disbelief. His assistant offered a hand and he assisted him to his own hotel room, just beside the room he gave to Fuuko.

He changed his clothes to a clean set of dark blue suit and wore a sapphire blue necklace around his neck.

"What a laugh, sir," his assistant said sarcastically. He left him and Tokiya emerged from the room fully dressed. Just in time, a woman holding a glittering blue mask on her face looked at him, eye to eye, both their necklaces gleaming on their necks.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The man who assisted Fuuko politely bowed and said, "Please wear the dress in the room, as well as the mask. The masquerade will start in fifteen minutes.

She nodded obediently. "Did Tokiya prepare this?" she approached the mannequin where the dress was and ran her fingers on the delicate cloth. She jumped in surprise as ladies entered, motioning her to sit on the chair in front of the dresser as they arranged her wet hair and put on her make-up.

At last, it was time to wear the gown; she hid her excitement as they helped her put it on. It felt very soft and feather-like. All the ladies giggled as she finished wearing at. She looked at the mirror and marveled at her own appearance. They let her hair down and placed sapphire blue crystals over it.

"And now, mademoiselle, it's time to wear your mask," one of the ladies said. They showed her an embroidered mask, adorned with the same blue crystals, and gave it to her. It was only a mask held with a stick.

The girl who answered her question took a large velvet box and opened it. Fuuko saw once again one of the most glamorous objects she'd ever seen in her life. It was a set of earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace with identical sapphire stones that formed distinct curves that matches her gown. She hadn't marveled at its finest beauty the day Tametoki showed it to her, and now, she appreciated it more. "This should go there," the woman said. "That's so beautiful," she remarked.

"Thanks," Fuuko replied, "but I prefer wearing my own necklace."

"Why don't you wear it on your finger?" she asked.

Fuuko merely smiled as she placed the simple necklace around her neck, the crystal gleaming with the delicate light of the room. "It's a secret. By the way, thank you," she said.

The woman shook her head. "Thank the first man you'll see outside." She gave Fuuko the stick which holds the mask and pushed her gently.

"Thank you," she told the first masked man she saw.

"What?" he asked. "I'm sorry Miss; I don't know what you're talking about."

"Fuuko, you're being too literal. How come you thanked the guard? Besides, you perfectly know that it's the rich guy who gave these." her mind started to say.

"The woman told me to thank the first masked man I see!" Fuuko reasoned.

"That's so dumb!" her mind replied again.

Fuuko walked the other way, trying to go back inside the room because of embarrassment. She placed the mask over her eyes to hide herself. However, as she tried to go back, her eyes met another's.

"Mi-chan?" Fuuko said. "Um… I just want to thank you for these."

The man looked at her for moments and took her hand. He made a formal bow as he kissed her hand. "Your gratitude is not enough. Would you like to be my partner… just for tonight?" Tokiya caught a glimpse of her necklace and the ring and he was like shattered to pieces.

She smiled behind her mask and nodded. He offered his arm as they proceeded downstairs, to the hall. She took the mask from her face as she danced with Tokiya.

"Thank you for saving my life," Fuuko told him.

Tokiya smiled behind the mask. "You are the one who saved my life."

After that number, Fuuko told Tokiya to follow her. "Come," she invited.

They did not proceed to the pool because of the ill-fated accident earlier. They went by the front garden and looked at each other. "Why did you do all of these?" she asked him, turning around.

Tokiya removed his mask. He continued to look at Fuuko and was mesmerized by her movements. She continued walking around the pathway. She took a rose, a champagne rose, from a decorative arc and approached her. "Are you really curious to know?" he asked.

Fuuko gasped in surprise. She didn't turn around but she felt the piercing cold in his voice. She decided not to turn around and breathed heavily.

She turned around and looked eye-to-eye with Tokiya. They stared at each other for moments and Tokiya was about to tell her what he felt about her when he saw her necklace. His anger rose at this sight of it. Angrily, he pulled it, the chain cutting the back of Fuuko's neck. "I shall never allow this to happen! You will only be mine, Fuuko!" he enraged.

Fuuko gasped at his actions. "You're crazy!" she exclaimed and then she ran away from him, tears streaming down her face. Her mind was clouding as she wondered, "What did he do? Why did he remove the necklace? What does he mean when he told me that he wouldn't allow the wedding?"

"Wait!" he shouted hopelessly, trying to explain his uncontrolled actions. "Shit! What did I do? What happened to me?" he thought to himself.

She didn't look back but she continued to run. "Fuuko!" he shouted as a flash of light met the unknowing wind-mistress. As she turned to see what faced her, she screamed and…

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Fuuko!" Yanagi exclaimed as Fuuko woke up.

"Yanagi, where am I? What happened?" Fuuko started asking.

Yanagi sighed sadly as she stood up to get something. "You've been in coma for three months. A truck hit you. If Tokiya wasn't there…" she didn't finish her sentence as she started to cry.

"You mean Tokiya saved me? Once again?"

"Don't cry, Yanagi. I'm okay! See?" Fuuko guaranteed.

Yanagi hugged her tight that Fuuko whined in pain. "Oh! Sorry, Fuuko, you still have an injury."

Fuuko looked puzzled. "Yanagi? I thought you're only here for vacation! It has been three months and you're still here?" she asked.

"Wll, I decided to stay here and take care of you and your little sister, Ganko. By the way, I have to tell her that you woke up. Is it okay for me to leave you? I'll also tell the nurse that you are okay," Yanagi asked.

Fuuko smiled, "I'll be fine. Go on."

After Yanagi closed the door, a nurse entered. "Miss Kirisawa, I think you need some tranquilizers. You will be observed later on so you need to have some rest."

Fuuko nodded obediently as the nurse injected something in her arm. She felt dizzy and the nurse assisted her back to bed.

As Fuuko slept, it was unknowing to her that someone entered her room. He stared at her for a long time as he touched her purple locks gently.

Fuuko moved a little and whispered something that made the man remove his hand in surprise. However, before leaving his angel, he kissed her forehead and held her hand gently.

"Sweet dreams, mon Ange," the man whispered. "Maybe now, I should let you go."

a/n:

The chapter is corny, isn't it? I'm not that inspired to write this but I can tell you that the next chapter is satisfying… kinda!

CLUE: the first guy (name) whom Fuuko will speak of is the winner…You'll find about the result next chapter.

BTW, please r 'n r!

Utara