- No collection of Runo's is complete without the ever-famous crack!pairing of Runo × Masquerade!

- CloneGirl; if you happen to be reading this, this one's for you :D

Shadows; they were one of the few things that reminded her of him. It was when she was lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep that she was reminded of him. In the cool darkness of her room, with only thin slivers of moonlight seeping through her window; this was the time when his presence felt the strongest.

Perhaps it was the existence of darkness that connected her to him. Right now, she was seated in the farthest corner, unable to fall asleep. Her room felt much colder with nothing but the darkness to comfort her, but even as she huddled closer to herself she didn't care; she wanted to feel close to him.

As her memories of him floated around in her mind, she still couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt inside. She knew that it was wrong; how could she fall for someone she could never have?

"Hello there, Runo." A cool voice pierced into the darkness, sending a chill throughout her body. She immediately rose to her feet, her eyes darting around the room in search of the person who had spoken.

The voice was unmistakable, one that she thought she had buried away in the corners of her mind. She saw the blonde spikes and the flash of moonlight against his mask before she saw his face.

"M-Masquerade…? Is it… really you?"

"Of course it's me, Runo."

"But how? I thought… Alice told us you had gone for good?"

"Alice was a fool to think that I would just remain a memory." He chuckled.

Runo backed up against the wall as Masquerade stalked closer toward her.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded.

He smirked, a glint evident in his eyes behind the mask.

"Runo… you can't ignore your attraction to me any longer." He said coolly, reaching out for her face. He cupped it in his hand, brushing his fingertips against her cheek.

Runo slapped his hand and ran away, but he continued to follow her.

"Stay away from me, you creep!" She cried.

"I know you want me," he murmured, backing her up against another wall. "And no-one will even know."

He had her trapped in a corner now; there was no way she could escape. Her breath came out in rapid gasps, her heart beating faster against her chest as his face came closer to hers. His lips were smooth against hers, his breath light and airy. She hardened her face against his kiss, refusing to give into her desire. But he was right; this was what she wanted, and now that he was here she was going to give him her all.

Runo opened her eyes slowly, and found herself tucked comfortably into bed. She sat up, but the room was empty apart from the presence of shadows; their dark outlines became formless shapes, snaking their way up the wall.

Was it all… just a dream? She thought to herself. Her lips were tingling like they had been kissed, and they tasted faintly of blood and metal.

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the image of Masquerade; smiling at her from behind his mask still lingered in the corners of her mind.

- Yeah... so I don't really know what a kiss from Masquerade tastes like; I was going for like a battle or war damaged taste. Eh, whatever.

- Review, please?