Gee Willikers, it's the FINAL CHAPTER! XD
A HUGE thankyou to everybody who has been religiously following and reviewing this story (c'mon, I know you're out there :3) it might not seem like a big deal to some people, but to me it means a lot, so thankyou:'D
All righty then, let's get this party started! X3
You Gotta Get It!
Chapter 4: The Midnight Chime
Usopp stood, stunned, as Sanji removed his fingers from over his lips. He had swung his legs over the edge of the hammock, and was now facing him. He chuckled, shuffling absentmindedly.
"You know what? I think you're right. I should… just stop acting like such a jerk."
He looked up at Usopp, who was still standing there, the feeling of stunned elation now slipping rapidly away.
"We'll go to the party, and I'll apologise to Nami for being late… y' know, despite that little pipsqueak Luffy, I feel like I've gotta good thing going with that girl."
Usopp just stood there. He didn't nod. He didn't even answer. A burning sensation started to grip his throat, and a small, nagging voice began to plague his thoughts- So close. Oh, you were so very close. But he doesn't care for you…
Realising vaguely that he'd been standing there in silence for some time, Usopp turned round to make for the door, Sanji shuffling behind him.
"Right." He said, his voice strained, quavering with the effort not to crack. "Let's go."
"Great!" said Sanji, following him cheerily into the humid night air.
Together they made for the dock, Sanji wandering behind, while Usopp quietly wiped his eyes on the back of his sleeve.
After about ten minutes, the pair reached the venue of the party. It certainly was high-class- held in a huge white mansion, the trees filled with sparkling lights, the flowers giving off a heady, sweet perfume, the bushes filled with cicadas, chirping dreamily. Strains of music and laughter drifted through the warm air. Usopp was almost certain he could hear Luffy yelling about meat in the distance. Sanji looked up the garden towards the house, giving an impressed whistle.
"Whoa! Nice digs!"
They trudged together up the stony path, towards a pair of huge doors flanked by large, surly men. Sanji was now in front, Usopp hanging warily behind. One of the men stepped swiftly in front of the handle, just as Sanji went to reach for it. The cook stepped back, raising an eyebrow.
"S'cuse me, tonnes of fun, but we need to get into that party, and you're kinda blocking the way."
Usopp groaned, and the large man bent down, casting a shadow over the blonde man.
"Are you on the list, sir?"
Sanji snorted.
"List? What list?"
"Only friends of the mayor's may enter the party. Any others are barred entry."
Usopp sighed. He assumed that Nami must have known the mayor- he had heard her talking about him before. Zoro and Luffy must have gotten in because they were with Nami. Sighing again, heavily, Usopp turned on his heel, clumping tiredly across to a large stone fountain that stood on a courtyard in the middle of the lawn. Sanji could still be heard arguing fruitlessly with the doorman.
"No one told us about a list, stupid-ass! Look, if you'll just go inside, ask for Nami, we know her! Then I can prove to you that we aren't freakin' gate crashers!"
The two large men looked at each other, smirking. They opened the door, moving into the brightly lit foyer. The man looked back at Sanji smugly.
"Get lost, blondie. Hats off for trying, but…tough luck. Now, if you don't mind, we're gonna go join the fun. Goodnight, boys."
And with that, the heavy doors slammed loudly in Sanji's face, the doormen's hearty laughter echoing inside the huge hall. Usopp looked at the hunched figure of the cook, who kicked a stone and muttered angrily, turning to join him by the fountain.
Usopp looked over to one of the huge windows. Through it, he could see a room, bathed in golden light from a large crystal chandelier, filled with elegantly dressed people. Amongst the crowd flashed the red satin of Nami's dress, as she cooed and coaxed Luffy to dance with her. The band, seated at one end of the room, struck up a slow, romantic song. Nami wound her arms around the black-haired boys neck, her eyelashes lowered over her cheeks demurely. Luffy smiled warmly, and pressed his forehead against hers, the couple making their way leisurely around the dance floor. Usopp looked away from the scene, and saw that Sanji was stood next to him, also watching the pair. A look of defeat was etched over his entire face. He sat down heavily, not tearing himself away from the sight of the happy couple. A loud, low rumble sounded overhead, and heavy droplets of rain started to pitter-patter down onto the courtyard. They looked a sorry sight- Usopp, his hair steadily turning straight from the wet, picking the flower from his buttonhole to pieces, and Sanji, staring forlornly at the drawing-room window, slouched sadly on the edge of the fountain.
Both sat in silence, listening to the whisper of the rain and the laughter and happiness filling the air.
The band finished the song, and immediately started to play something brighter, faster. He heard Sanji get to his feet, and saw a hand thrust under his gaze.
"Wanna dance?"
Usopp looked up, strands of wet hair stuck to his face.
"What?"
"C'mon, we spent practically the whole day trying to learn, so we might as well put it to good use."
Usopp stared up at the blonde man, whose suit was completely soaked from the downpour. A carefree grin had spread across his dripping face, and Usopp, taking his hand, returned it, his heart swelling with warmth, banishing the pressing cold of the rain from his body.
Sanji struck a pose, in one swift move tearing his tie from around his neck, flinging to the floor. Usopp laughed, both of them now grinning from ear to ear, and together they danced in the rain next to the fountain, roaring with laughter, Sanji singing loudly and raucously to the music, Usopp kicking up the huge puddles, soaking himself even more.
Sanji moved quickly and gracefully through the intricate steps of the dance, secretly delighting in the way that Usopp's raven hair, free from it's bandana, clung to his face, hanging, in an oddly alluring way, in front of his eyes, his rain soaked collar framing a graceful tanned throat. The cook caught him around the waist, spinning them both around and around, the world becoming a glorious, dizzying blur, a world where there was just the two of them, intoxicated with swirling colour and music.
The band finished on a blaring, drawn out note, and the two men slowed to a stop, their breath ripping out in uneven gasps. Usopp was almost too tired to register Sanji's forehead resting against his own brow, but was started out of his dizzy stupor by hot breath playing across his face.
"At least… I know now… you were paying… attention!" gasped Sanji, and Usopp stared at his sky-blue eye, so close now that he could see the rain clinging to every eyelash. Sanji's head slipped down from Usopp's forehead to his collarbone, still desperately out of breath, Usopp's face now turning a violent shade of crimson.
"I think I need to sit down."
Suddenly, a clock on the front of the building clunked, gradually reaching a new hour. Usopp looked up, blinking the rain from his eyes. Midnight? Already? People inside began to chatter excitedly, and started to pair off. He closed his eyes momentarily, feeling the weight of the Sanji's head rested on his shoulder. Oh yeah…that's right. How could I forget? The cook stood up slowly, smiling.
"It's New Years Eve. You know what that means?"
Usopp looked through the window, and saw Nami clasping Luffy's hands, both of them gazing wistfully at one another. He saw Zoro being accosted by a short, fat old duchess, but a young, black haired woman Usopp didn't recognise soon rescued him. Sanji spoke again.
"At the stroke of midnight, you have to find someone to kiss."
Usopp suddenly felt flustered.
'Uh…well… I guess we could sneak into the party now. I'm sure you could find some cute girl who'll be up for it! I'll, uh… I'll just stand in the corner and finish up the punch while you're at it."
Usopp laughed nervously, and tried to refasten his tie.
12… 11... 10…
"I don't want to go in there. Well… not anymore."
He smiled distantly, watching the clock, it's hands set dead straight on midnight.
9… 8…
Usopp made an effort to sound casual.
"Why… why not?"
Sanji turned to him.
"What were you going to say to me, back on the ship? I interrupted you. What was it?"
7…6….
Usopp gulped, determinedly returning the cook's gaze. He thought about laughing the question off, but he didn't feel like being a coward. Not tonight.
The rain continued to pour down, his hair falling in dripping strands about his face. Sanji continued to gaze at him. Usopp looked down, again playing with the hem of his jacket. He let out another nervous laugh.
"Jeez. I'm always such a tactless loser, I thought you'd probably have figured out the answer already."
"…Maybe I have."
5…4…
Usopp whipped round.
"Huh?"
Sanji moved in closer.
He resumed the position that he taken just after their dance, his forehead resting against Usopp's. A wave of heat rushed through the curly haired young man, and he gulped, closing his eyes. He was shivering, but not from the cold of the rain. He opened his eyes again, and they met with the warm gaze of the cook. His heart suddenly felt light, even though it was thundering, faster and faster. That smile… it warmed his whole being. Usopp began to feel hot tears welling in his eyes, coursing down his cheeks as freely as the heavy droplets from the sky.
3… 2…
Sanji shifted his head slightly to the side, his eyes half closed, lips gently parted.
He was so close.
Usopp took in a shuddering, ecstatic breath, tears now mingling with the rain from Sanji's face.
"Sanji… I… "
1.
"…I love you."
Fireworks.
The rain had come to a stop, and great arcs of starry rainbows flew through the sky, illuminating the scene below…
Through the window, Nami pulled back in embarrassment as Luffy accidentally kissed her hard and painfully on the nose, and Zoro was locked in an embrace with the black haired girl that didn't look like it would end too soon.
But there was a couple that no one noticed, standing, soaked to the skin, beneath the glittering sky, immersed in a world of their own.
Their arms wound tentatively around each other's bodies, their soaking strands of hair entwined, black against blonde. Eyes softly closed in ecstasy, and all the while, shy and gentle kisses.
Long after the last chime had echoed out across the courtyard, the two young men went to head back to the Going Merry.
For them, the night had only just begun…
The End
Notes from the Illustrious Writer!
WAHOO! FINISHED FINISHED FINISHED! It wasn't an anticlimax, was it? I'm afraid that it was a bad ending… I shall be flaaaamed! Sob… I'm sorry that it ended, actually. I had a lot of fun writing it! Yush, Usopp has sexy hair XD What do you guys think of the whole story? Did you like it? I sure hope you did, because your opinions matter, people! Please please please REVIEW! PLEASE! Aw, c'mon, I said please… all right, I'm being annoying now. But it would be nice if you reviewed it:3 Make this girl squeal for joy at your loverly comments! Would you guys like to see more UsoSan loveliness from moi? Because if you do, then REQUEST! YOU MUST REQUEST FOR THE GLORY THAT IS USOSAN! THANKYOU!