Hi! So…. This will be the last *sigh* Really thanks for supporting me on this story. I appreciate it that much! Swear! Hope you'll like the ending! I will be cutting the 8th chapter into two because my ideas just kept on coming and coming and coming. :p

I just don't know how to execute them all.

My grammar sucks but I promise that I'll do my very best.

(^_^)

AGAIN, Sorry for those who waited for so long.

Expect the update for about 3-4 days. Trust me, I have a better idea. :)

Btw, I made a new story. It's a Hunter X Hunter Fan-fiction. Please see my profile if you're interested.

SO, Back to the story.


Chapter 8.A

The End

The Cotillion Dancers: Before the Dance

Today is no ordinary day. Some are excited but some aren't especially to those who will perform tonight.

*At the auditorium where Law's group planned to meet*

Half Past 7 in the evening, majority of the group are already there. First to arrive on the meeting place is Shirahoshi and Portgas D. Ace. Shirahoshi's Armani Off-Shoulder Lace Dress made her more beautiful and more like a princess. The silhouette of the expensive dress emphasizes Shirahoshi's asset which is her long legs. Emporio Ivankov really got it right. Also, she is wearing a messy updo suited to her long glossy pink hair and a tiny crown resting on the crown part on the top of her head.

As everyone is expecting, Ace looks more hunk on his chosen tuxedo. Ace's suit is the Classical Pikeur Men Tailcoat which no man can wear due to some perfectly build body requirements which Ace possessed. His golden vest matched perfectly on his white trousers. Plus, his deadly wide smile will surely blow up the minds of the ladies.

Ace snatched his hat at his back and bowed like a gentleman to Shirahoshi.

"M'Lady, you look pretty today!"

Shirahoshi smiled sweetly at him and clasped her palms together.

"But.. I'm not your partner, Ace-san!"

He scratched his head and laughed. "I'm just practicing what I'll say to Vivi."

"Vivi will surely looks great today, Ace-san" she replied.

"Yeah! Even Bon Kurei! HAHAHA!" Ace joked and continued on laughing boisterously.

Suddenly, Bon Kurei showed up with his arms crossed.

"Oh my glob!" Ace whispered to himself.

"Portgas D. Ace" Kurei seriously breathed out.

Ace just threw a slant smile.

"Will you marry me?!" Bon Kurei said as he stretched out his arms, planning to give Ace a big hug. Luckily, he managed to avoid this lethal assault created by Kurei. Then, he continued chasing Ace on the auditorium.

"This is madness!" …. "You are just like me!" Ace screamed while he kept on running.

Without further ado, Bon Kurei stopped.

"Come again?"

Ace reached where Shirahoshi is standing and hid behind her. Shirahoshi felt concerned. It is her first time to see her cheerful partner, Kurei, being an austere and humourless.

"I mean, you are a man!" Ace breathed out.

His voice seems to echo all over the room. Bon Kurei startled.

"Look, you are handsome!" Ace said as he pat Kurei's back. He quickly turned back and made a puking manner face.

Honestly, Bon Kurei looks like a real man on his chosen suit. It's just like this tuxedo concealed his lady characteristic and change it on being like a gentleman. Unless if he will act foolishly and super gayish.

Kurei is wearing his Civilain Tailscoat. The red colour clearly describes his character which is vivacious, powerful and high spirited. This made him look handsome rather than beautiful. Honestly, he didn't like that fact. But, for the sake of the dance, he will try to act like a gentleman because of the hard work and efforts exerted by every participant just to make the dance possible.

"Partner! He's saying the truth!" Shirahoshi said as she threw her arms on Bon Kurei's shoulders.

For the first time of his entire life, he felt an awkward and silly thing. He felt his heartbeat beating fast because of a pretty maiden's hug.

Why am I feeling this way?

Kurei noticed that Ace and Shirahoshi is currently waiting for his reply. He cleared his throat.

"Okay. I'll try to act like a real man today." He said, sighing. "It's just…"

Ace's eyes widen. "It's just what?!"

"I should be the most handsome!" he said, winking. (Like the way Duval is winking. LOL)

"Ermm…Fine"

Suddenly, the door of the Auditorium opened wide. Their eyes sparkled when they saw Tashigi coming out and approaching them.

"Wow! You all look good!" she said, smiling sweetly with that scarlet lipstick.

"Sexaaayy! Hello!" Ace said.

Tashigi was flattered. She seems to welcome all the compliments she will receive. Well, she expected that to happen.

Tashigi is wearing her white Satin gown. Like what Ivankov is saying, the scoop neckline will help her small breast to look bigger and her body to look sexier. Also, her hair was in big curls. She is a real renaissance woman.

After 3 minutes of Tashigi's arrival, Law was next to hit the attention. When he opened the door, it's just like those person who will look at him will be blinded on the light emitted due to his incredibly charismatic aura. He is a god!

Law looks like a world noble on his exquisite majestic black coat and his unique and glossy silver vest. His hair is obviously wearing a hair wax because of his side swept style. Moreover, he is wearing a Ray Ban Military Aviator Shades which adds more appeal on his today's-more-gentleman-appearance. He looks rich and expensive. Once he smile on those well sculpted face, it is sure that many hearts will flutter in the air.

"Umm. You look all good" he said, smirking on them.

"Law-san! You are undeniably handsome!" Shirahoshi giggled.

"I agree!" Kurei said, showing a double thumbs up. Tashigi and Ace silently nodded.

Law nearly face palmed. It is just he was distracted on the loud footstep from the outside. As the footsteps are nearly approaching the dancers, they would seemed to have a mini-guessing game on which from- Sanji, Robin, Bonney or Zoro that will soon to arrive.

"I think it's Zoro!" Bon giggled while drooling to death as he imagined Zoro wearing his splendid Calvin Klein suit. "Ohhhhh! I wonder what his suit look like!" he continued while his eyes are starting to form a heart shape.

"Maybe it's Robin-san or Bonney-san?" Shirahoshi guessed.

Ace nodded slowly, "Yes, because of the clicking of the heels?"

Law, Ace and Tashigi nodded in approval.

As they intently stared on the Auditorium's entrance, Law's heart seemed to skip a beat. He is excited, but nervous to see Robin wearing more than of that Black Armani Dress that she wore during the audition. If he can't take it on that simple black dress, how much more in the expected-to-be- scintillating-gown?

Suddenly, the magnanimous door of the Auditorium widely opened. Bonney appeared behind the door as she walk gradually to approach the other dancers. Bonney walked in a very elegant manner like a true Princess walking on the aisle of her Kingdom. As expected, her behaviour was caused by her goddess-like appearance for tonight's celebration. She was merely unrecognized by the group because of her head-to-toe transformation. She wore what Ivankov's picked for her, the Mermaid One Shoulder Organza with Ruffles which is indeed, perfect to her. Also, she wore an expensive sterling silver necklace with a G-Clef pendant that adds highlight to her over-all outfit.

Ace whistled.

"H-hey, Ace-san." Bonney shyly giggled.

"So who else is not here yet?" Law butted in.

"Sanji, Robin and Zoro" Tashigi replied while looking on her nude-colored fingernails which she busily painted a while ago.

Law sighed, thinking of what happened to Robin the time she catches her.

Questions seemed to cloud his mind. "Why did she acted like that? Why is she so concerned to Zoro when he passed out?"


*ROBIN'S POV

Minutes ago at Nico Robin's residence

"And this is it." I told to myself as I wait for the assigned driver who will accompany me up to the School's Auditorium.

Again, I looked on the mirror intently to see my reflection. I saw myself wearing a natural light make-up that illuminates my beauty. Seeing that my lipstick is quite fading, I decided to apply again a nude-colored lipstick. I lined, first, my lips with Jordana Lipliner in Toast. Directly from the tube, I applied Clinique Different Lipstick, a light warm brown with enough pinky-peach in it to avoid looking dead. With my finger, I pressed a wee bit of a Pressed Powder.

As of my hair, I decided to make it simple. "Simplicity is still the best" I thought to myself. I let my hair falls past to my shoulders in a fiery hue and realized that this will look gorgeous to me.

The Spaghetti Strapped Organzan fabric also looked so good to me. But I wonder, why Ivankov would choose this design for me. Compared to others, my gown covered with lace, a fine open fabric, typically one of cotton or silk. Also, my figures would definitely been highlighted by the astonishing dress of Emporio Armani. With this exquisite design of my gown, I decided not to wear accessories except to a Crystal & Pearl Pave Chandelier Earrings.

To my contentment, I stopped looking at my face and my gaze focuses on the right side of my leg. I touched it and remembered the day I exchange kisses with Zoro. Hickies are still present there but I concealed it by using a concealer a while ago. It's just I can't stop thinking of him seeing his love bite in my body. As I looked on the mirror again, I saw myself blushing. But, this fantasy thought was interrupted by my Butler as he knocked on my bedroom's door.

"Madame. The Limousine's driver is already here" he said behind the door.

I looked to the antique wooden clock and learned that it's already seven ten in the evening. The assembly time in the Auditorium is until seven thirty and the Promenade will start in exactly eight o'clock.

I sighed as I reply to my Butler, "I will be there."

As soon as I approached the exit of the Mansion, as expected, a long fancy car was waiting for me with my butler and some of the helpers who bowed to me. The helper's eyes seemed to glow as they saw my appearance for tonight's promenade.

"Oooo-oh! Madame's so beautiful! I bet many would be dying just to have a dance with her!" one of the helper said to the one beside her. It seemed that she failed to whisper it in a right manner so I overheard it. I just smiled at them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone sneaking secretive glances to me. Finally that someone approached me with a wide grin. As closer he approached, the more his grin becoming…..,uh, creepy? Then, I saw this "someone" wearing an elegant notched lapel tailcoat tuxedo. The closer it draws to me, the more I recognize that this man is no other than; Sanji.

"Do you have a band-aid?", he started seriously. "Because I just scrapped my knee falling for you!", he continued as he knelt and grabbed my right hand. His eyes are seriously turned into heart-shape.

I couldn't help but give him a straight smile. "Heh" is the only reply that I can manage. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and my butler whispered, "Should I dispatch him, Madame?"

I shook my head, "He's a comrade, Roche", I exhaled. Then, my gaze focuses on Sanji.

"My-my. What brought you to my residence, Sanji?" I asked him as I slowly kept back my right hand behind my back."

I saw Sanji's face returned to its normal state. He cleared his throat before he answered me.

"I just want to accompany you. Well, can I be your escort for tonight?"

I refused to reply. It's just… I don't know what to say. As he mentioned the word "escort", all I could think is Zoro's image in my mind. Luckily, my Butler broke the silence.

"We will be late, Madame."

I nodded. "Do you want to come with us, Sanji-kun?"

I saw Sanji's eyes popped out, maybe he's expecting for me to come with him but not to come with me, rather. But, he silently nodded afterwards.

The journey from my home to school is not that long. For almost ten minutes, we already arrived to our destination. But, to be honest, I'm not accustomed to Sanji being like this. He's so quiet…. And serious. So, as we reached the school's entrance, I decided to start a conversation as soon as my butler and the driver left.

"You look incredible." I started with a sweet smile.

Sanji smiled back. "You look beautiful…. as always."

I heard my heart beats faster. I don't know what to say. Sanji is so different today. Usually, Sanji would swung and do some weird poses before talking to me. But now, I can feel that what he is saying are all coming from his heart.

Quietly, we started walking to the hallway to reach the Auditorium.

"Robin-san." Sanji breathed out.

"Yes?"

Sanji stopped walking so I imitated him.

"Wha-" I tried to say but my words didn't come out fully because Sanji covered my mouth. It shocked me but Sanji immediately released his hand. Though, I saw the color of my lipstick to his hand.

"I love you, Nico Robin."

My eyes fluttered wide. I honestly don't know what to say. He seemed to notice that I felt awkward so he talked again.

"C-can I be your escort for tonight?", he said, repeating what he had said a while ago before we left my house.

No words can't escape to my mouth.

"I-I" I started with a quiver.

He set his eyes to me.

"I love someone else."

Finally. I said it.

"B-but I don't mean to hurt your fee-", I began, but he interrupted me again.

"It's okay. Thanks." He said blankly and continued walking.

And the few minutes of walking with Sanji seemed to turn into hours. This is so… awkward.


*BACK TO THIRD PERSON POV

"I love someone else." Robin finally said.

As soon as Zoro heard it, he heard the loud thump of his heart. He felt the burning of his cheeks as his thoughts drifted to what had happen to him and Robin to the hospital. Is it me that she love?, he asked himself.

He carefully moved away on where he is hiding for him not to be seen by Robin nor Sanji. It's just, at the time he saw them get down to the Limousine together, he started eyeing them due to the growing curiosity inside him. But, there's no point of following them now. He already heard what he wanted to hear.

He looked up and saw the night sky. It looks like its covered by a dome and the stars appear to be closer and closer as you look at it in a longer time. It reminded him of his beloved. The closer he gets to her, the more he realizes that he truly loves her.

Now he understands it. He fell in love.


P.S: How's the book cover?