Morning arrived with a knock on the door.
"Ten more minutes," Alex mumbled.
Kristi blinked to find Alex snuggled next to her in bed. There were only two beds in the room, so they decided to share one. "Well, least I'm warm," she mumbled.
Sarah fumbled for her glasses and opened the door.
Yohji swept her into his arms planting a kiss on her lips and presented her flowers. "I have come to ask something of you my rare flower."
"Oh?"
"Would you care to blossom and bloom with me at the masquerade this evening?"
Sarah had to process the words before she replied, "yes Yohji. I'll go to the masquerade with you. Wow, that was a 'special' line."
Kristi mumbled and stood, "as long as you guys don't start blossoming and blooming in front of me I'm fine."
Yohji grinned, "I thought you liked to watch."
Kristi just gave him a look.
Ken walked in after Yohji and smacked him. "It's too early in the morning for that kind of talk." He walked over to Alex and sat beside her on the bed. "Good morning."
Alex peeked her head out of the blankets. "Morning already?"
Ken nodded. "Though I am here with you this morning, would you care to accompany me this evening to the ball?"
Alex smiled and came out from the blanket. "Of course."
Ken reached for her hands and kissed them happily.
Ken and Yohji folded their arms and waited for Aya to walk into the room. He motioned for Kristi to walk over to him, so she shrugged and did so whispering, "they're making you do this aren't they?"
Aya shook his head. "No, I want to, just not in front of them. Will you come with me to the ball?"
"Yes," Kristi said, "hopefully with a mask on we'll both feel at home and be able to express ourselves more."
Aya kissed her gently on the cheek and a chorus of 'AWWs' erupted from the room. Everyone was hanging out the door watching. Kristi blushed and Aya glared.
The next several hours were in preparation for the masquerade. They didn't have to work and the guys arranged for them to be pampered at the ship salon.
Sarah entered the room where she would be and relaxed in a plush chair. She was set to have a facial first and she closed her eyes. When she opened them, she discovered Yohji dressed in white and holding the facial lotions.
"Since when do you do facials?"
"Since now," Yohji said, "I am well versed in the ways of the salon. I try to make a visit every couple weeks and I am a licensed massage therapist, though of course Ken and Aya will deny the latter."
"According to my salon pamphlet, entitled "Uncle Yohji's Guide to the Salon" I have to bathe at some point in a 'luxurious island shower,'" Sarah said looking to him expectantly.
"I am a well trained shower assistant," Yohji said with a wide grin.
"Well, then teach me the ways of the salon," Sarah said.
"Another lesson underway," Yohji replied.
Alex enjoyed the salon experience immensely. She had received a facial, a massage, and had just had her nails done. It was a rare treat when she got to go to a salon and she savored every aspect of its ways. She sat in a chair to get her hair done and sighed contently.
Schuldig snuck into the room and placed cucumbers over her eyes. To hide his German accent he spoke in an American accent, "this will make your hair a surprise and help get rid of the bags around your eyes. Your gentleman tells me that he knows exactly the way you want your hair done."
Alex smiled and leaned back to have her hair washed. Hands massaged her head as her hair was shampooed and then continued as her hair was towel dried. Schuldig entered Alex's mind, doing her hair precisely as she envisioned. When he finished he kissed both her cheeks, took a picture, and before he left the room said into your mind I do hope you enjoy my surprise.
Alex gasped as she sat up and the cucumbers fell from her eyes. She was distracted when she saw her hair in the mirror, it was styled just as she had imagined and she was in awe.
Kristi went into the massage area and disrobed to lie on the table, placing the sheet over her body. She was beyond stressed over what she had to do and doubted that even a coveted massage would do any good.
Crawford dimmed the lights in the massage room after 'relieving' the masseuse of his duties. He put on some soft music and a fountain, then removed a little of the sheet to massage Kristi's back. The sudden hands took her by surprise, but she forced herself to enjoy the massage.
"You're so tense," Crawford said in a smooth voice.
Kristi had her eyes closed and they snapped open. She immediately tensed, but strong hands pushed her down and kneaded the tense muscles. She gasped softly as she felt the muscles relax and she rested her head down, ignoring her alarmed thoughts.
"There, that's better," Crawford said as his glasses glinted from the candlelight.
Some time passed and the girls were pampered whether they wanted to be or not. Yohji escorted Sarah to a room and unveiled her gown for later in the evening. Sarah stared at it in wonder. It was a masquerade type gown, with the flowing bottom and puffed out sleeves. The dress' main color was black, but golden designs snaked about the bottom of the dress and the bodice. Golden thread was laced about the dress, giving it an ivy-like design.
"Yohji, it's beautiful," Sarah said. She examined the black mask with golden designs, creating a dangling ivy effect.
"It was made to compliment your beauty, for you are the rare treasure that every man wishes to find," Yohji said smoothly.
Sarah was about to comment that the line wasn't going to work, but she was far too distracted by the dress. Yohji unveiled his outfit as well and she was amazed at how well his outfit complimented hers. . .no wonder he was the best dressed member of Weiss.
Alex walked into another room after her hair was done and paused at what she saw. Ken was dressed in an ornately designed suit and smiled to Alex.
"I have your dress for tonight," he said. "Yohji helped me pick it out."
Alex gulped and thought, Yohji helped him pick it out? By the gods, I'm going to end up naked at this ball.
Schuldig was in another room and chuckled as he listened in on Alex's thoughts. "One can only wish."
Ken displayed the dress and smiled as Alex's eyes widened in awe.
"It's lovely Ken," Alex said.
The dress was an icy blue and silver thread mingled with the blue to create winged designs. While the inlaid silver designs appeared random, if you looked closely you could notice varying wings of different creatures such as a butterfly, dragon, and phoenix.
Alex reverently touched the gown and was pleased to note that Ken matched with her nicely. The mask for the dress matched the theme with silver and blue feathers in a winged pattern.
Kristi blinked her eyes open on the massage table.
"By the gods, I fell asleep."
She put the robe back on and stumbled out of the room, feeling oddly relaxed. Walking into the next room she was surprised to see a very dressed up Aya.
"Am I still dreaming?"
Aya displayed her gown. "Perhaps."
Kristi's jaw dropped. The dress was a deep red, with black lace about the bottom, neckline, and sleeves. Black thread interlaced with red fabric to create subtle rose designs on the dress. She picked up the red mask, which had a black and red rose on it and black lace about the edges.
"This is amazing Aya," Kristi said in awe.
"I'm glad you like it."
Once Kristi finished getting dressed he placed a mask about his face. The mask had a red rose and he extended his hand, "Let us go to the others."
The three didn't get to see each other until they were at the entrance of the ball.
Sarah removed her mask. "Alex?"
Alex blinked. "Sarah?"
"That dress really lights you up," Sarah said.
"Yeah, it gives you a glow," Kristi said chiming in.
Alex and Sarah looked around confused wondering who said that. Kristi rolled her eyes and removed the mask.
"Over here guys."
They just stared, along with the other Weiss guys. Aya hadn't stopped staring.
Kristi shifted. "What? Do I look that bad?"
Sarah shook her head. "No, you look that damn good."
"Yes," Alex said nodding, "red is your color."
Kristi looked to Alex's hair, "nice hair." She raised an eyebrow when she
blushed.
Alex looked to Sarah. "You look soooo good."
Yohji was very quiet as he stared at Sarah's chest and raised his eyes when Ken nudged him.
Kristi looked to Sarah. "You'll be turning some heads this evening," she said winking and placing the mask back on.
Alex smiled. "And I must say the guys clean up nicely."
Sarah stifled a chuckle as she thought about the words 'clean up nicely.' She nudged Yohji when he started to chuckle. Ken smiled and Aya feigned disinterest, until Kristi held his hand. Fortunately for him, no one noticed his smile except Kristi.
"Too bad Omi couldn't come along," Alex said. "I think he would liked seeing the dancers."
"He's in his room monitoring surveillance," Ken said, "just in case the drug lord shows his face here."
The music started and they headed into the grand ballroom, reserved for special occasions.
Author's Note: The more I read this, the more I realize that Kristi, Sarah, and Alex would act like this, lol. Scary ne? Or amusing perhaps?