"What are you doing, little one?" A woman with long brown hair approached a young Mei who fiddled around with a few blue flowers that had recently bloomed in the cold weather, "You're not plucking the flowers, are you?" The woman hunched over and gave the little girl a gentle smile.
"I'm not, Mother. I'm just observing them." The girl kept herself seated atop grass that had begun to dry, not that it bothered nor deterred the girl from pursuing her current activity. She poked and prodded the little blooms, turning towards her mother as she realized that she conveniently left that part out when she answered her question.
"And maybe touching them a little..." She spoke with a hint of insecurity. Looking up, she quickly scanned her mother's face for any signs of an oncoming lecture or approval, but all she found was a loving gaze looking back at her.
"As long as you don't pluck them or?..." The woman quickly answered when she realized that her adorable little daughter had once again forgotten that people weren't mind readers. One of these days, she would need to teach the young girl that she needed to verbalize her questions instead of blindly waiting for an answer. Of course, as a mother, she knew her daughter well and thus could provide answers to unspoken questions.
"...Or Grandfather will scold me again." The little girl sighed knowing full-well how harsh the Aihara patriarch could be, "Does he hate me, Mother?" The girl asked after contemplating on the reason why her own grandfather was so harsh in dealing with her. She had seen how the other children were pampered by their respective grandparents, but not hers. He never spent time with the young Aihara, never paid attention to her, and whatever little conversations they had were mostly him lecturing the young girl.
"Of course not. Your grandfather is just... hmm, how shall we put it?" The woman straightened herself and offered a hand towards the young girl who was still seated, "Strict?" She tilted her head as if to ask Mei what she thought about that description, but the girl didn't answer so she thought of a way to convince her daughter that she wasn't hated.
"Do you like these flowers, Mei?" She asked with a smile as she pulled the girl up on her feet.
"Yes, they're very pretty... no, they're very beautiful." The girl quickly corrected herself.
The woman chuckled at her daughter's silliness, "Do you know what our family name means in your grandfather's native language?" The woman patiently waited for her daughter to answer. She knew very well that it would take some time as the girl had always been stubborn about these things.
The little girl furrowed her eyebrows, clutching tightly at the intricate design that was embroidered into her mother's gown. She thought and thought about any clue which could lead to an answer, but none came. Eventually, she gave up and admitted defeat.
"No..." The young one said with dejection, eyebrows still furrowed in frustration.
"It means 'Indigo Field,' much like the color of these flowers that bloom in winter. Your grandfather had them planted when you were born." The woman smiled as she took her daughter's hand, urging the young girl to walk beside her, "Let's head inside, shall we? It's getting a little chilly."
"Mother..." She tugged at her mother's hand.
"Hmm?" The woman looked down to meet her daughter's begging eyes, "What is it?"
"What's it called?... the flower." The girl asked, returning her gaze into the rows of deep blue flowers that sprung from the center of the courtyard.
"They're called-"
Mei's eyes flung open and swiftly scanned the unfamiliar yet nostalgic room that laid bare before her. Lifting her head off of the pillow, she was met with a variety of preserved flowers and butterflies hung on the wall at the opposite side of the bed. At that point, she remembered that she was not in her own home, instead, in her family home which she had stayed in for the past day and a half.
Realizing that she was still in hell, Mei bitterly dropped her head back into the comforts of the bed - her long raven hair tangled across the sheets. This visit was all she had imagined it to be, if not worse. Having to sit on the train for nearly three hours, then another 30 minutes on the coach, and don't even get her started on the length of time in which the servants insisted on welcoming back their 'beloved lady' as they referred to her.
It was none the better when her grandfather finally got a hold of her. His lectures were still as long as she remembered them to be, but what really got into her nerves was the old man's unparagoned tenacity in inquiring about her affairs, particularly when she planned on getting married.
Discomfort set into the pits of her stomach as she remembered the conversation she and her grandfather had the day she arrived. The discussion started out normal, as always. He inquired about her affairs and she gladly narrated stories of her life, her profession, everything he asked about. Of course, unlike most grandparents who were happy enough to have their grandchild visit them, hers was more interested in starting an argument or belittling her.
As one would expect, he heard about the incident at the bazaar and Mei was forced to play mind games with him. She told him that it was a 'necessity brought on by circumstances.' A fitting description if she did say so herself, yet the old man seemed to have completely and utterly seen through her little charade. It came as an absolute surprise when, despite his obvious suspicion towards Mei's half-lie, he chose to say nothing and merely grunted in acknowledgment as he stroked his white beard.
Mei shuffled on the bed, clearly he knew she wasn't telling the whole truth, which is why it gnawed at her even more. Her grandfather was not the type of person to let such things go. Retribution would probably be brought down on her at some point but for now, all she could be bothered was the anxiety which grew as the minutes ticked on. The ball would be commenced this evening and she could already feel the soreness of her legs coupled with the discomfort of a corset.
Three soft knocks sounded from the door, prompting Mei to listen as a maid greeted her, "Miss Mei, are you awake?"
"Yes, come in." She sat up on the bed, not wanting to be seen in a vulnerable state.
The door swung open, revealing a maid with fiery red hair which danced as she walked inside the room. The girl was around the same age as Mei but her freckled face and wide smile made her look more like an innocent adolescent than a proper adult... there was also the fact that she was short in stature, not much taller than Himeko.
"Good morning, Miss Mei." The red-headed maid greeted her with a thick Irish accent.
"Good morning, Angelica." Mei greeted back as she rose from her bed, "What brings you here so early?" She gently rubbed her eyes, trying to get the last bit of sleep out of them.
"Your gown is all ready, miss. I wanted to bring it over as soon as I could." Angelica smiled at her, "Also, breakfast will be ready soon. Will you be eating with your father and grandfather or would you prefer to eat here, miss?"
Mei paused for a second as she was reminded of another girl who would greet her in such high spirits every morning. A vague remembrance of the home she left back in the city.
"Is something wrong, miss?" Angelica asked after she noticed the youngest Aihara spacing out, which wasn't all that unusual for the doctor but a servant must always consider their master's health.
"No, I was just thinking about someone." Mei swatted the thoughts of flowing blonde hair from her mind before she answered the original question, "I'll take my breakfast here, thank you."
"Oh!?" The maid's smile widened as her eyes twinkled with intrigue.
Mei raised an eyebrow as if to question the girl for the sudden spike in enthusiasm. It seems as though everyone around her had a tendency to suddenly get excited about the most mundane things.
"What are you grinning about?" She asked, obviously annoyed. Sadly, none of her close confidants nor friends seemed to care much for her mood unless she was insatiably angry.
"It's the first time I've seen you preoccupied about a human, miss." Angelica produced one loud clap as she slapped her hands together. The wide smile still present on her freckled face, "Is it a gentleman?" She asked. Her eyes wide with anticipation.
"What are you on about?" Mei scoffed at her.
"That's too bad, miss. I thought we'd finally be seeing some little Aiharas around here." Angelica slumped her shoulders, a little dejected that she wouldn't be seeing little Meis running around the entirety of the 1000-acre estate.
"What is with everyone's obsession with procreation?" Mei rubbed her temples as she approached the small desk that was seated in front of a window. It was so early in the morning and talks of children were already up and about. It displeased her even more that it wasn't just her grandfather who was bringing it up.
Angelica, having noticed Mei's growing displeasure, decided to leave it at that. The Aiharas could be quite temperamental, of course, Sho was an exemption to that but Mei and her grandfather were extremely easy to anger and difficult to calm, "Think nothing of it, miss. I guess we servants are just looking forward to having more people to serve. It can get quite lonely when there's only Mister Sho and the master."
The maid's reasoning was valid. The entirety of the house boasted around 30 rooms which included the servant's quarters, facilities and bedrooms. The Aihara estate was definitely too spacious to be occupied by two people, and her grandfather wasn't getting any younger.
"I understand what you mean, but I have no interest in the subject matter."
"Of course, miss." Angelica spoke with a hint of knowing, "Well then, I shall leave your gown here and I will return with breakfast." The girl excused herself, turned on her heel and quietly walked out the door.
Mei, having been left on her own once more, decided to pass the time by reading a book she had chosen the previous evening. Unlike her own home, there were not many activities to be done at her family's estate and as such, she stayed in the bedroom - continuously consuming book after book in an attempt to alleviate her boredom.
Mei furrowed her eyebrows as she remembered the story of how she came to possess the book in her hands. Usually, she would go out and buy her own books but there was one winter evening in which she caught a cold and having nothing else to do, asked Himeko to purchase a book from the local bookshop. Harumi, who was then visiting, insisted on doing the errand for her. Mei didn't immediately agree to the offer. She knew that Harumi wasn't one to take things seriously but she also argued that there was no possible way to make a mistake when purchasing literature.
After accepting her friend's offer, she requested a book titled 'Prometheus Unbound by Percy Bysshe Shelley.' Hours later Harumi came back, a wide grin plastered on her face as she handed Mei the requested object. It was obvious that Harumi was waiting to be praised on a job well done, but what she got was a book to the face. She had purchased 'A Modern Prometheus' by Mary Shelley instead of 'Prometheus Unbound' by Percy, much to the doctor's dismay.
Reading through the first few chapters, Mei immediately regretted her ungrateful actions towards Harumi. The book was fascinating, to say the least. Her excitement only grew as she turned from one page to the next. It was an interesting concept; A mad scientist distraught by his own creation, a creature condemned for his appearance. She didn't quite understand the charm of it, maybe once she reached the final chapters she would have an inkling as to why the narrative was so intriguing. Sadly, that was not going to be today on account of Himeko's shrill cries of panic as she entered inside the doctor's chambers.
"Mei-Mei! It's this late and you haven't gotten ready?!" Himeko ran across the room, gathering parts of Mei's ball attire, "The guests will arrive shortly. It's unlike you to be this irresponsible." The small girl continued as she waddled under the weight of all the items she carried.
Mei would've corrected her on that. It's true that she was rarely late for anything but there were times, like this, when she became so engrossed at her current activity that she forgot about engagements, "I apologize." She said before closing her book; a little ashamed at her own lack of prudence.
She stood up, her eyes bathed by the orange hue that shone from the window, pulling her attention towards the courtyard and onto the isle which separates the inbound and outbound paths that led up to the manor's entrance. It wasn't the beauty of the setting sun nor the magnolia trees which had already finished blooming. Mei peered closer into the window, her hand laying softly against the delicate glass which separated her from the outside. What truly caught her attention were the little plants that populated the aisle, the very same ones from her dream. Since the cold weather had only begun to roll in, the plants were still budding and as hard as she tried, she couldn't remember its name.
"Mei-Mei! Please take this seriously!" Himeko once again bellowed in panic. It was plainly obvious that the girl's adrenaline was running on overdrive just because Mei was being a little more 'out of it' than usual.
Mei, not wanting to cause her housekeeper anymore needless worry, disrobed and allowed the girl to help her into the formal ball gown. You could tell that Himeko was so accustomed to Mei's needs by the way she moved like quicksilver. The girl worked her magic and in as quick as a heartbeat, she had already gotten Mei dressed up and ready to host a grand ball.
"My, Mei-Mei. You look absolutely stunning!" Himeko complimented the doctor with a bit of tear falling from her eyes, presumably from happiness - much like a proud parent.
"It's... a little chilly." Mei tugged on the sleeves of the gown, it's lace-trimmed edge bending to the curve of her torso. Mei had argued back an forth that the dress, being off-shouldered, showed a bit too much skin than she was comfortable with. The dressmaker eventually conceded, but only added a black chiffon layer to cover her neck and shoulders, which truthfully, didn't really do much.
"Nonsense, Mei-Mei. It will get warm once you're dancing, so this is just perfect." Himeko smiled before presenting Mei with a chocker, "If you'll be so kind as to sit down so I can put this on you." The girl asked, a little embarrassed that she was too small to reach Mei's neck.
Mei obliged and took a seat, a growl sounding from her throat as the corset tightened a bit more around her. 'Whoever invented these abominations should be considered a torturer, not a designer.' She complained as the so-called torture device continuously restricted her breathing as if to avenge their creator.
Himeko placed the choker on Mei's neck, being careful not to ruffle her gown nor dishevel her hair. Not that she could even if she wanted to. That was the trouble with Mei's Asian bloodline, her hair was far too straight and stubborn that it wouldn't hold to any of the Victorian hairstyles which Himeko had always wanted to try on her.
Updos? curls? Forget about it. Even a wave was difficult to do. So, with quiet resignation, Himeko accepted that the best she could do was to split the long raven-locks into three, use the middle section to create a bun, then braid the other two around it. It was simple, but Mei was beautiful and she didn't really need all these additional frills.
"All right, Mei-Mei. Stand up and twirl once, let me have a good look at you before you go." Himeko lifted both of her arms up and gave a 'come hither' motion to Mei, waiting for her to get off of the chair.
Mei did as she was told. She got up, twirled once and tilted her head as she waited for Himeko to give her approval, "Well?" She asked, a little impatient at how Himeko was bidding her time to reply.
Himeko gave a nod of approval, her lips bursting into a wide grin. "Yes, perfect! That Amethyst brooch on the choker definitely stands out against the black dress. It really brings your eyes out. You look heavenly, Mei-Mei." Himeko cheered and fawned over her mistress.
Mei thought it was counterintuitive to describe her 'heavenly' when she was completely covered in black. "If it's good, then I should go. Grandfather wouldn't take kindly to his own granddaughter being late." She gave Himeko a thank you, then headed for the door.
"Oh wait!" Himeko called on her, so she turned. "You forgot these." The girl offered her a pair of silken black evening gloves which Mei accepted with gratitude.
When Mei arrived at the ballroom, she was relieved to know that none of the guests have arrived and she was just in time to catch her grandfather entering through the large wooden doors. The proper conduct when throwing a ball was to have the host arrive first. It doesn't matter how busy nor how grand you are, unless you're the monarch, you must arrive first. Though it seemed like Mei's father didn't get the memo.
"Where's Sho? The guests will be arriving soon!" Her grandfather seethed with anger.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon, Grandfather." Mei moved towards the windowed side of the ballroom, looking out to see if guests were arriving already, and they were.
Just then, a man bolted through the doorway, his dress-coat fluttered as he quickly paced inside the room "I'm here. Sorry for the delay, I couldn't find my bowtie." He said with a gentle smile on his face.
Mei looked at the man with the same raven hair as hers and the same deep amethyst eyes. He was definitely her father, but how could he be so different from the 'typical' Aihara? Sho was always more... energetic, as some would call him. Mei and her grandfather were both stoic, which was expected of them. Their name carried that impression after all.
With the Aiharas gathered and the guest pooling outside, the ball was set into motion. Each guest was introduced as they entered into the ballroom, it's lavish walls and polished floors ready for an evening of fun and dancing. Mei stood at the very back of the room, each lord, gentleman, and lady coming to wish her a happy birthday; some of them she recognized, most of them she didn't.
Not even an hour passed and Mei was already tired. She couldn't wait to get away from all this but the night was young and even if the greetings and chatter ended, there was still dancing to be had. Ceaseless wishes and compliments where thrown her way, the usual 'congratulations' and 'you're as beautiful as ever,' the former, she didn't mind at all but the latter made her cringe. And yet through it all, she steeled and put on a faux smile as she gave an appreciative thanks.
In her grandfather's domain, he was the law and she didn't dare trample upon his wishes. Mostly because he will nag even more about the issue of marriage, throwing absurd excuses like it will calm her down or some other pathetic reason. As luck would have it, things don't always go as planned and tonight, the world was simply out to get her.
"Hello, Miss Mei." Amemiya came forward, dashing as ever. His brown hair slicked back and his dress-coat prim and sharp. A hand stretched out, waiting for Mei to offer hers.
With her jaws clenched in total repulsion, Mei offered her hand, unable to refuse. It would be rude to, she knew that much. A kiss was planted on the offered hand and despite the unchanging expression on her face, she was sure to make the oaf of a gentleman know that she didn't like his gesture. Not one bit.
"Happy birthday. You will allow me your first dance, will you not?" He goaded her temper.
"Of course, Mister Amemiya." She replied politely though her eyes betrayed her.
"Thank you. I'm honored and I will see you later, m'lady." He gave a mocking half-bow, which annoyed Mei even more. This time she couldn't control her seething anger and it showed in the form of an apoplectic scowl. If her expression lasted any longer than it did, she would've definitely been reprimanded by her grandfather and that cannot happen during a grand ball, so she inhaled sharply and let the negativity go.
A decent amount of pleasantries were exchanged and finally, the ladies were seated. But just before the ball began, a fashionably late Harumi arrived. After all, in the Victorian era, one who arrives late is always the talk of the week. Even more so when you're Harumi Taniguchi, walking along the grand staircase in a be-jeweled lilac gown which had enough jewels to reflect the light from the equally grand chandeliers of the ballroom.
"Miss Harumi Taniguchi" A servant whispered into Mei's ears. It was customary for a host to know everyone who arrives at their parties and as such, there would usually be a servant tasked with reminding their masters who is who and what their position or title is. Of course, no introduction was needed for the plum-haired socialite who reveled in the attention she received from the guests, flaunting her beauty as she descended the stairs.
"Miss Yuzu Romanova" Another name was whispered. 'Romanova? The Russian Empire?' She thought. Confusion was imminent of course, though it wouldn't be farfetched to assume that the blonde was off Russian descent, especially with her appearance. The Romanov surname was not that uncommon after all, hence it didn't necessarily mean that the blonde was a bastard of royal descent. Though everyone in that ballroom would beg to differ once they saw the blonde descending the stairs.
In a scene much like a fantasy, the girl walked right behind Harumi, completely eclipsing the plum-haired girl, at least in Mei's eyes. Her dress was of the icy winters, a pure white satin gown that boasted an impressive tapestry of feathers that decorated the back from the waist down. The front was a bit simpler, choosing to go with a beaded design while more feathers decorated its high collar - just barely touching the blonde's jawline. All eyes were on her and it didn't take long for the gentlemen to scramble about and get the stewards to introduce them to the newcomer.
Even Mei, in all her splendid density and inscrutable disinterest, couldn't tear her eyes off of the blonde.
The conductor, uncaring of the spectacle that just happened, had already begun putting the ball in motion and with it, the men followed suit and approached their respective partners. Amemiya towered in front of Mei and offered his hand as he bowed; inviting her for the first dance. Mei took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor, like a lord and his lady gliding through the intricate marble floors.
With his hand on her shoulder blade and hers on his shoulder, the two danced to the rhythm of Aram Khachaturian's Masquerade Waltz. Such a beautiful and exciting piece. It was too bad that she needed to share it with a twat like Amemiya.
"Enjoying the dance, Mei?" He whispered to her, a wry smile on his face.
"It's rude to whisper while dancing, Mister Amemiya." She answered with animosity. It didn't please her that he would often address her without a title and obviously, she wasn't keen on having a conversation with him either. If she could just be allowed to turn him down, then she would do so a million times over and not regret a single second of it.
"Come now. I plan to woo your grandfather into giving me your hand in marriage tonight. We should celebrate! You can start by smiling more."
"I politely decline your request. And if my grandfather would agree to your proposal, then he may marry you in my stead."
Mei staggered as Amemiya lunged forward a little too quickly. His intention was obviously to catch her off guard and send her tumbling over, but Mei had danced way too many times for that to be of any effect.
"Look around you." He urged her, "See all of those ladies' jealous stares? Why, even the princess would easily swoon to me, would you not agree?" He continued in utter hubris.
"Do you mean our Princess? Isn't she a toddler? My, my, I didn't know you fancied that sort of thing, Mister Amemiya." The insult was sharp as Mei's wit. Like needlework, it dug right into Amemiya's pride and he momentarily twisted, eyes vile with hatred.
On that note, the dance ended and Amemiya escorted Mei back to her seat. He smiled as he bowed, but she could see the disdain that hid behind the gentle facade. She had successfully angered him and there was no better feeling than that.
A few more dances were to be had, mostly gentlemen of various houses whom politely escorted Mei in and out of the dance floor. She enjoyed their company much more than Amemiya's, however, she couldn't help but take a few chance glances at the blonde who was as actively invited as she was. The girl danced, her long blonde hair freely flowing with each turn; she was clumsy, that much was obvious, but nonetheless, the gentlemen fawned over her.
"May I have the honors of the next dance, cousin?" A man with brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses offered as he bent down to ask for her hand, a simple greeting.
"Ed? When did you return?" Mei was a little started by her cousin's appearance, "I thought you were still touring through the East?"
"I returned last week," He smiled gently, "Come, we'll talk as we dance." He offered his arm and escorted Mei to the dance floor as they took their positions.
Her cousin chuckled lightly as the music started. His eyes were so full of enjoyment, exactly how she remembered him to be despite the span of time in which they didn't see each other. Being the only family that supported her pursuits, Mei had always enjoyed Ed's company... but that didn't mean he would get off lightly for that laugh he just did.
"What are you laughing about?" She inquired with a brow raised. Her tone a mixture of curiosity and slight apprehension.
"The Waltz of Sleeping Beauty." He uttered, then paused shortly as they turned. "Isn't it quite fitting for you? Perhaps you still sleep in the oddest of places?" His laughter was subdued but much more audible than the previous one.
Mei didn't answer and she knew her cousin took that as silent affirmation. In fact, she had slept through the majority of their commute from the city; It didn't matter if the train was whistling like a devil or it shook as strong as an earthquake, she slept through the entire thing and it was only by Himeko's help that she roused. However, the problem started much younger - the servants would often find her sleeping under a tree, within the bushes and once, she was found fast asleep beside a horse in the stables. She was dubbed as 'sleeping beauty' by the servants and Ed never let it die down, always bringing the whole thing up to Mei's embarrassment.
"8 Years is a long time. You've grown more beautiful."
"And you still say the most ridiculous things. Now, tell me of your trip."
"It was fantastic! I wish you would've gone with me. Sadly, there wouldn't be enough time for us to discuss it within the measly minutes of a dance, however, I brought you an insurmountable amount of books from every country I visited."
Mei's eyes glinted with excitement when she heard of the literature that would soon be added to her collection. A few years ago, her cousin had invited her to join him on a tour across the Asian continent. She asked her grandfather, begged him even, but he expressly forbid it. The old man explained that she was the only successor to the Aihara name, unlike her cousin who was only the second son of the Udagawas and in his family's eyes - expendable.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to treat them well." A faint smile crept on her lips.
"Be sure that you do. I had to go through the eye of a needle for some of those!" He laughed merrily before continuing, "In any case, would you happen to know the blonde lady over there?" He tilted his head into the direction of the woman he was referring to, "She's been glancing in our direction for quite some time now."
Mei followed Ed's motion and immediately saw the blonde he was referring to, "Yes." She answered simply, not wanting to lie about the relationship she shared with the girl.
"I see... I heard the stewards whispering. Yuzu Romanova, was it? Is she part of that Romanov family?"
"Doubtful." She gave another short answer while keeping her eyes on the blonde girl. This time her cousin took a hint and stopped prying further into her matters. She thanked him silently as he walked her back to the chairs.
"I'll come visit you sometime in the next week. We can talk more then." He said before bowing down and thanking Mei for the dance.
Mei's feet were literally killing her at this point. So many dances to be had and so little rest in between. With no one to blame for her current anguish, she cursed at the shoemaker for making her heels too high, then the socialite who decided that 'balls' were to be a necessity and finally, herself for being born and having a birthday. Thankfully the next set would be the final one and at the very least, there were arguably fewer men this year than the previous ones though that might be, in part, due to the blonde who was garnering as much attention as she was.
Unbeknownst to her, the final dance would be the most impactful. Mei stifled a yawn, not wanting to appear rude to those who were around her. Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes and she quickly, but gracefully, wiped them off. In the short span of time in which her eyes were closed, her final dancing partner had approached her.
"May I have the last dance, miss?" The voice spoke. Familiar, yet mysterious.
Mei immediately opened her eyes and looked at the one who addressed her, it was Yuzu. Her emerald eyes beckoned warmly as her outstretched hand waited to be taken. Mei was in a clear state of confusion, dancing with the same gender was not allowed unless there was a clear lack of the opposite gender. She scanned the room, looking to see if that was the case and sure enough, it was.
Unbidden, a sigh escaped her lips. The blonde was really becoming bolder in her actions. To think that she would pull a stunt like this while in the presence of such a large crowd, not to mention her grandfather, was really worrying. Nevertheless, a lady must never turn down an invitation. Taking the offered hand, Mei rose to her feet and took the arm which was offered in kind.
"You look lovely, Miss Aihara." The blonde giggled with flustered cheeks.
"So do you." Mei took notice of the flowers which were woven into the girl's blonde hair. The same flowers that were colored in deep blue-purplish hues with just enough yellows to create a pleasing combination, "In any case... Romanova?" She asked as they readied for the dance, Mei giving a courtesy towards the lead while the latter bowed slightly in reciprocation.
"Oh, Harumi thought it would be proper to use a family name from another country. No one would pry into it, she said." The blonde giggled, placing her right hand on Mei's shoulder blade while offering the other.
'That idiot.' Mei thought. If the blonde was to attract this much attention, then someone would end up looking into her background and in turn, it will become a scandalous issue which she absolutely did not want to be tangled in. "So then, what's your real name?" Mei pried a little deeper. She had been meaning to ask, but she kept forgetting about it.
"Hmm. I'll tell you some other time, miss." The blonde smiled softly as the music started playing.
The tune started, it was slow, warm and tender. A hint of innocence sprung from unsung verses, like a romance waiting to be beheld. It was a new melody, Mei had never heard it before and yet somehow, she felt the emotions so clearly. Little hints of childish clumsiness that somehow emanated from the song were much like the way the blonde struggled with leading.
"Do you not know how to lead?" Mei asked in a gentle whisper.
"N-no, miss. I thought I'd be able to but... it's harder than it looks, isn't it?" The blonde answered nervously before uttering a word of apology and averting her gaze.
Mei gave a disgruntled sigh. She should've known the blonde didn't think this through before acting upon it. "I'll lead." She offered, shifting her hand from a follow to a lead position. The blonde didn't fight it, she allowed Mei to take over, turning as they swapped positions.
She bent down ever so slightly, cueing the blonde on her intent to step forward. Then a step to the right, and a foot back and returning to the left. The blonde followed her so fluidly that she wondered if the girl's previous dancing partners were the issue.
"Miss Aihara." Mei, being a little taller, looked down to meet the eyes of the one who called her with such affection, "I'm happy to see you again." The blonde gave a shy smile, then quickly looked away to break their eye contact.
Mei's heartbeat seemed absent for a moment and she wondered what might've caused it. With not even a second to spare, another foreign feeling soon pervaded her senses - an unexplained warmth, like the rush of summer. "Likewise." She said in a silent whisper, barely audible by all measures of sound, but the smile that lay on the blonde's lips was an indication that no matter how muffled the words were, they were heard.
For the first time, Mei felt electrified. Of the hundreds upon hundreds of dancing partners she's had, none fit her hand better than the blonde's did. It was the first time she ever danced with a woman, but... how should she put it? It felt like they were pieces of the same puzzle, perfectly snug together and somehow, no matter how silly this may sound, it was like they were both exactly where they should be.
Harumi remained seated with a wide grin on her face. She noted how the two were like night and day melding together in perfect harmony. They completely commanded the entire dance floor, flowing so well together that the guests had gone silent and watched in gaped awe as the two glided across the room. Even their fellow dancers, no matter how much they tried not to, were all distracted by their splendor.
The romantic mood set by the music amplified the undeniable chemistry between the doctor garbed in total darkness and her patient bathed in stark white. Harumi couldn't help but widen her grin as she entertained the thoughts of how there might be hope for Mei yet.
As the tune kept on, Mei and Yuzu remained lost in their world. They resonated with the melody, each turn and step perfectly matching the other's - a strong testament to how much they complimented each other.
Harumi herself stared in amazement at this point. A prince and a princess's dance held no candle to the current spectacle, it was too mystical and captivating. She never thought she would see the day when Mei smiled happily as she danced. 'What a great day to be alive.' Harumi chuckled as her once wide grin turned into a gentler smile.
"You're smiling, miss." The girl teased as she courtesied at the end of the music.
"Yes." Mei didn't care to object this time, she was far too amused by a memory that resurfaced. "I just remembered what these flowers are called." She continued while looking at the blooms that were woven into her partner's blonde hair, bowing as she did.
Having switched from follow to lead, Mei offered her arm to accompany the blonde across the floor. The blonde smiled and took it gladly, allowing Mei to escort her back to her seat.
"They're called Irises." Her mother's voice sounded in her mind, almost forgotten in memory.
"Irises?" A young Mei echoed.
"That's right. Or Iris for singular."
"Iris." The little girl echoed once more.
"Would you like to learn of what it means?" The woman asked her daughter as they continued walking towards the house.
The little girl looked up at her mother and wordlessly nodded in reply, eliciting a slight chuckle from the woman.
"Well, it depends on the color of the bloom. For example, a white iris would mean purity and a yellow would mean passion."
"And this one?" The little girl trotted along as she waited for an answer.
"These are special." The woman smiled gently, "They symbolize faith and hope."
Notes:
*Dies*
I rewrote this chapter a lot until I was happy with it. I feel like I tend to make unnecessary scenes sometimes and a lot of those got thrown out through revisions. It's still fairly long but eh- these all belong in the same place so excuse the wall of text that you just read. LOL.
Ah, a shit ton of research went into this chapter, which is why it took so long to write. Now I can safely assume that I can throw a grand ball with the amount of reading I did on that subject matter. Though honestly, I didn't follow some of the actual necessities of it and you'll have to excuse me for that as well as the time period for the two mentioned scores.
Anyway, the dance between Mei and Yuzu, I didn't mention the score because it didn't feel right to put it in the narrative. I'm sure everyone has their own songs in mind, but for those who are curious, I actually wrote this in tune with the classical version of Beauty and the Beast (I recommend the Philharmonics version if you'd like to listen to it). It's just such a beautiful piece and I thought it suited the two of them well in this case.
Not that either of them could count as a beast, but I assume everyone gets the point. Haha!
I started regretting this setting when I realized I would have to describe ball gowns on this chapter. I can't even properly sort out my clothing and then I had to describe parts of a gown which I have zero idea on whatchamacallits. It was fun though!
Come on, guys! Let's forget about the disease for now and just drown in the fluffs. We'll eventually get there! Actually, I don't want to say partly because I feel like it shouldn't be discussed this early on. I mean, I get the feeling of wanting to know but I also think that it kind of takes away from the overall story if I were to confirm anything about it.
I'm not saying it'll be Moulin Rouge, simply that it takes from the experience? I guess? I don't know how to put it in words exactly.
To Guest, I never thought of character accuracy, to be honest. I'm glad that it portrays their character well though and I apologize in advance if they start straying from that path. (༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ)
Thanks to everyone who's reading and enjoying this. I mean, you guys keep on thanking me for the chapters but it's kind of give and take between us; I make silly stories and all of you enjoy the silly stories I write which in turn, motivates me because there are people out there who are enjoying it. ≖‿≖
Now, I'll need to be excused because I'll start with Caught in a Web again. I left that one at such a bad time. It wasn't intentional, I swear.