Author: Had to go through so much bull for this chapter XP Well, ta da!
The night grew old and yet the party seemed to have just begun. Though the music was loud, everyone managed a proper conversation without yelling to hear themselves and others during dinner. Horohoro stuffed himself silly with food (as if thinking it would last him until next time he'd eat there), Ryu looked this way and that for Tao Jun (no luck), Yoh and Manta talked about all the crazy decorations and costumes people were wearing (three people they could've sworn were actual werewolves), Sofia soaked in all of the good feelings around her (because the majority of people there really were having a great time).
However, Ren was quite anti-social during dinner (he certainly had good reason). Yoh glanced over at Ren and pouted. He'd barely touched his food and was pretty much ignoring Sofia's presence. The pretend samurai sighed. He'd hinted to Ren that he knew about his crush so that he might just tell her outright. But it looked as if Yoh had just made it worse. Maybe if he'd left him alone, Ren would have at least talked to Sofia how he usually did. Rudely. Sofia seemed to like it when he did for reasons even Yoh was unsure about.
He tapped a finger to his chin while he thought. Yoh couldn't start regretting actions of before. He needed to think of something else.'He just needs a push in the right direction.'Yoh wiped his mouth of the ramen he'd been slurping and got to his feet. "Be right back Manta."
"Bathroom break?" The pretend wizard asked, picking up an egg roll.
"Nope." Yoh grinned. "I'm playing matchmaker." Amidamaru and Manta gave him an incredulous look while watching him walk over to Sofia. "Sofia?" The blonde looked up from her food. "You wanna dance?" She paused for a second, turning to face him. She furrowed her brows and gave a quick turn to Ren.
Sofia soon smiled with a nod, apparently dismissing it or having discovered the catch. "I'd love to." She had the handle cord to her walking stick around her wrist and Yoh led her into the dance floor. Ren noticed the amount of movement from Sofia's seat and looked up, a little surprised to see Yoh walking her out to the crowd for a dance. He glared and looked down at his untouched food.
"He's upset." Sofia said, placing her hands on Yoh's shoulders. He raised an eyebrow; surprised Sofia had caught onto his plan so quickly. But that didn't explain how she had picked up Ren's mood. It only added to the girl's strange quirks. That was when it hit Yoh, how she seemed to know how people felt, and even project it. It made sense. There was also the fact that Sofia was trying to suppress a glare. He wrapped his arms around her waist with a nod.
"Yeah, almost murderous on my part." She laughed.
"Not surprising." Yoh put his head beside hers, resting his chin on her shoulder. Though it may have looked like a sign of affection, he was actually trying to get a better view of Ren. "Uh oh." He quipped. Sofia raised her head a little.
"Was?"
"He's leaving."
"He's leaving?" She repeated, turning a little trying to hear Ren moving. Though failed as the music had raised its own volume. Ren was marching out to the balcony railing connected to the ballroom.
"He's going to the porch. He's not really going anywhere." Yoh explained, a little relieved to see that Ren had indeed stopped at the posts. Merely gazing outside. Sofia suddenly took on a worried look.
"Ohh, he's- he's really upset. I-I should go talk to him." Yoh gave a nod and led her to the arches just a few meters off from Ren.
"Just go straight, and if anything happens just signal over. Okay?" She nodded and aimed herself in the general direction.
"I will, thank you."
Ren leaned down on the railing along the edge of the balcony. He'd had enough of being in there. Yoh knowing was bad enough. But Yoh trying to interfere with such things as Ren's affections for someone was the last straw. His weakness had been revealed.
"Ren?" The vampire froze at the sound of his name. The next thing he heard was the familiar tapping of Sofia's walking stick. She was right behind him.
"What is it?" He asked, his tone sharp. She came up beside him, resting her hands on the ledge, keeping her balance. He turned his head away, certainly not ready to look at her again after what had happened.
Sofia paused, not sure of how or even what to say. Did she come outright or try to do it slow? "Well... well there's something you should know."
"What is it?" He repeated, exterior cold but nervous on the inside. Sofia let out a deep breath.
"I already knew Ren." He knew what she meant, despite her vague explanation. He turned and saw her face, though he knew he shouldn't. It only made him feel more awkward. She looked concerned. Her face was warm from everything going on that her cheeks were tinged red. Hair hanging down to frame her face and lips pursed together in contemplation. The Chinese shaman looked back down from the balcony with a scorn.
"You're an empath, aren't you?"
"Was?" She hesitated, stretching out for something to say. "No—no I just."
"Oh don't treat me like an idiot!" He snapped, still glowering down at the grounds below. "I may not BE an empath but I sure as Hell know when people are lying."
"Okay, you know what?" Sofia threw up her hands in frustration. "YES, I am an empath! That's why I KNOW I make you feel like you have a weakness. And that makes you angry so that's why you got so defensive yesterday."
"So why are you here!" He made a full turn to yell to her face. "Are you here to 'let me down easy', are you going to tell me we're going to be 'just friends' or maybe you're here to just rub it in my face!"
"None of the above!" She yelled back.
"Well then WHY? WHY are you HERE!"
"I'm here to tell you that you're an ass and I like you!"
Ren went to shout back, until he actually realized what she'd said. His eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. Sofia sighed, putting up a grim smile.
"Beyond all reason, I actually like you too, Ren." Her tone was sad, despite the smile. "But if you STILL feel angry about me being a weakness, then I'll leave you alone. We'll go back to just being friends. Barely that."
They stood there with nothing but the background chatter and music. Despite their rather loud argument, no one was really aware of what was going on with the Tao boy or the blind girl. Though Yoh made a good point of keeping an eye on the two.
Ren dipped his head down, his eyes looking up at her from beneath his dark bangs. He had an ashamed look to him.
"You're the empath, you know the answer." He muttered. Sofia started forward, as if trying to figure out something in her head. His own ashamed expression came to her face before dissipating into a thoughtful smile.
"Really?" She asked, flushing red.
"Shut up." Ren glared off to the side and Sofia giggled.
"Aw-"
"Shut up!" She started laughing and fingered at the handle to her walking stick. Ren looked from the balcony, to Sofia, then back to the balcony, then her again. She gave a shrug, as if she already knew what he wanted to say. Despite it, he spoke. "What now?"
Sofia pursed her lips together in contemplation. "Do you... want to dance?" Ren suddenly remembered that there was music playing and that people were actually dancing to it. He glared.
"No." She pouted.
"Nonsense, let's dance."
"We're not dancing! It's stupid."
"You sound like you're four."
"You sound like you've probably made the biggest mistake of your life." Ren folded his arms. Sofia smiled and walked closer.
"Oh it's two minutes of your life, Ren." He rolled his eyes, thought also remember she wouldn't be able to see it.
"I'm NOT dancing. Go dance with Yoh! You liked it with him!" Sofia arched her brows.
"Are we jealous?"
"We are not! We just don't like dancing!"
"Don't make me MAKE you dance, Ren." She said with a mock threatening tone to her voice. He laughed.
"And just what could YOU do?" Sofia smiled wickedly and leaned up to him, closing in only a good few inches from his face.
"I could do MANY things." Ren's jaw tightened and a large, irritated sigh came out.
"Fine! If it'll make you shut up!"