No matter what Yuuri did, his mind kept wandering back to fantasies full of yards of silver hair, eyes that looked like gemstones, and a slender body as pale as the moon. The figure haunted him, tortured him. That gentle smile, the way that coral dress had draped over his frame… No, nothing could keep that fairy out of his head. He wondered what he looked like when he laughed, what his voice sounded like… He pictured a clear, sweet laugh and a smooth, deep voice, but the truth was that he had no idea.
Yuuri certainly hoped that it wasn't the case, but the fairy could very well be a mean person for all he knew. So desperately he wanted to get to know him better. What were his interests? Did he have a happy life? Oh, it would break his heart if that lovely fairy was being abused. He rolled over onto his front on his large canopy bed, stomach queasy with worry. He was all too well aware about the conditions that many fairyfolk languished under. The way that they were treated like animals- beaten and sold and mutilated at their master's whim- was horrific.
Yuuri shivered and hugged his embroidered pillow tightly, playing with the golden tassels. He didn't want anything bad to happen to any fairy, but not to that one in particular. He had no clue why, but every time he thought about him his cheeks grew heated and his heart fluttered like wingbeats. In was such an alien feeling, one that left him as light as a feather and giddy. He needed to see him again, that much he was sure about.
But how? Yuuri would have to track down the fairy's owner (unless he was free, but considering the collar that had been fastened around his neck it was unlikely that that was the case), but he had no clue about where to even start. He didn't even know who the hostess had been; his friend Phichit had just dragged him along saying,
"You need to get out more," and, "You should start embracing the high society life," and, "We'll have a grand old time, I promise!" After incessant pestering, he had reluctantly complied to go.
It was not, in fact, a "grand old time." Yuuri wasn't exactly the prime example of a social butterfly. He had put on the only formal suit he owned that kind of fit him properly, and had accompanied Phichit to the party. He did not know a single person there besides his companion, who had kept floating away to chat with other guests. Alone and anxious, with a nauseous feeling in his belly, he'd been about to escape when he saw him from across the room.
Yuuri had thought that the fairy was a mirage at first, for how could someone possibly be that ethereal looking? Almost as if in a hypnotic state, he had begun to step closer to the captivating stranger. The fairy was playing a tall harp with fluid motions, his elegant fingers gliding effortlessly over the strings. The bangles on his wrists chimed quietly with every movement.
That shining platinum hair was absolutely everywhere, flowing down his back and front before pooling in his lap and the chair, then spilling off of it and nearly brushing the floor. Intricate plaits adorned it like a crown far finer than gold. Five-strand braids arched over his head and were arranged in complicated flower-shaped twists in the back that were ornamented with petal-pink pearls. The rest of it was loose, surrounding him like liquid. Huge, shimmering wings that resembled a sea-green swallowtail's were spread out wide in a dazzling display, catching the light. The fairy's pink-orange dress hung low on his shoulders, exposing them. A silver cord cinched it tightly around his waist, tied into a hanging bow.
But the thing that had left Yuuri completely speechless was the fairy's face. His large forehead swept down to angled brows, which were above expressive blue-green eyes. His jawline was sharp and his nose had a gentle slope to it. The lovely creature had such a peaceful countenance, but underneath that calm exterior was a complex storm. His aquamarine-colored eyes had been filled to the brim with insurgency and melancholy, yet there was a smile on his curved cupid's-bow lips.
The fairy had made Yuuri's knees weak, and before he knew it he was stumbling closer and then banging against the metal cage. He had been so humiliated… The high-class strangers around him had been laughing, and he'd wanted to disappear. They hid their mouths behind satin gloves, but their condescending demeanors were clear.
And then Yuuri looked up and met those eyes… His entire body had jolted excitedly, pulse jumping for joy, and the entire world melted away. He'd stared into them so deeply that he felt that he might be swallowed up as if in an endless sea. It seemed that as soon as they had made eye contact, it was broken again by a man that was most definitely not sober yelling at the fairy and shaking the bars. Without a word, the fairy had turned back to his harp and started up a song.
Heat still thumping heavily, Yuuri had just stood there to wait for his mind to catch up.
"Aw look," one woman had snidely remarked to her group of friends, loud enough for Yuuri to hear. "He fancies a fairy." The people within earshot had snickered scornfully, and the Japanese man's cheeks burned. Tears pricking in the corners of his eyes, he had practically ran out of the room and then had a carriage driver take him home. He had been unable to stay there a minute longer.
Yuuri still hadn't apologized to Phichit for leaving without saying anything to him… He kicked his feet in guilt and buried his face into his pillow. 'Phichit probably hates you now,' his anxiety hissed viciously. He shook his head to try and knock the self-degrading thoughts out of it, but the action was in vain. He flipped over onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. Where was the fairy right now? Was he safe? One thing was certain, he had to see him again.
Resolute, Yuuri rolled out of bed and trudged over to his washstand, which had a mirror above the sink. With a sigh, he pushed his tangled hair out of his face and made a mental note to turn his mirror backwards so that he wouldn't have to see his reflection. The shadows under his eyes from sleep deprivation and the chubbiness of his cheeks and belly from bad eating habits only served as physical proof that he was not well. When was the last time that he had eaten? He couldn't seem to recall. Either he was consuming far too much or far too little, it seemed.
Yuuri was still wearing his nightshirt from two nights ago. He splashed water onto his face, then slumped over to his wardrobe and began taking out acceptable attire. It didn't matter anyway, he was ugly in everything. As he held up a blue striped button-down, he pondered if leaving the house was even worth it. But then a visage of that gorgeous creature popped into his head, and determination swelled up inside of him. He was going to find him, otherwise go crazy thinking about him cooped up in this house. Hastily, he removed his bedclothes, fastened up his shirt and then pulled a tweed vest on over it. Somehow, he managed to locate a clean pair of drawers and put them on. Stockings and trousers came next, and then he slipped his feet into his black boots and laced them up securely.
Yuuri exited his room and tapped down the stairs. His coat and hat were hanging on a rack near the exit. Swiftly, he grabbed the paperboy cap and firmly yanked the brim down to cover his eyes a bit. He was about to put an arm through a jacket sleeve when he looked out the window and determined that it was probably warm enough that he didn't need it. He placed one hand on the brass doorknob and gritted his teeth. 'You can do this.' His pulse was elevated and he felt like he was about to throw up. Pushing aside thoughts about all of the judging people outside and the social encounters he would have to make, he steeled himself and turned the handle.
Before he could change his mind, Yuuri stepped out into the sun and closed the door behind him. Hands shaking so hard that he almost dropped the key, he locked the entrance to his residence. The search for the lovely fairy had begun.