CinderWHAT! Chapter 3 – The eve
Disclaimer: Yamato Nadeshiko Shici Henge (also known as wallflower) will never belong to me otherwise it won't b as good as it is now. Now on with the story!!
Previously on CinderWHAT!: Kyohei lived as the poor CinderBoy, powerless against the influence of his step family. Struggling to find a way out of he stumbled across an opportunity - the Grand Ball. Aided by his two kind step brothers Kyohei slowly started to regain the pride he lost a long time ago. Will he be able to find what he is looking for in the Ball? Ponder as CinderWHAT continues...
Her black velvet gown caressed the ground gently as she swirled around the dance floor. Pale, the mysterious yet irresistible creature had her gaze on none other but her mesmerising partner, a silver moon drawn to the heat of the sun. Together they seemed but an impossible duo, for to the outside world they represent two different poles, two opposing pawns on a chessboard. None could've guessed the intense hunger hidden beneath the young princess and the unknown gentleman, for their eyes were fooled by mere appearances and outward beauty. The pair spun faster and faster as the music crescendoed, until the whole hall vanished and the couple were left breathless, lost in the depth of each other's eyes. The man reached for the princess' petite face, his eyes flaming with desire. Closing the last bit of space between them they embraced for one last time, for their fate has been decided long before they met on this starless night.
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Princess Nakahara Sunako woke up drenched in sweat, her ragged breathing forming white clouds in the warm chamber. She glanced around fearfully, searching for a sign of movement in her empty room. After sending away a terrified chamber maid, Sunako laid back on her mahogany bed, her hands grasping for a piece of parchment stowed underneath her pillows. Her hands trembled in frustration as she scanned over the hastily written journal she started on the day her vile mother announced the cursed ball. It was always the same dream – a glimpse of the princess dancing with an unknown young man, his beauty incomparable to those peasants loitering around her every time she dared to breathe.
I am certainly going out my mind. Mother must have dripped some bezoar in my drink, no doubt thinking that I would never notice her wretched deed. But my plan shall not fail! It mustn't!
And so it won't my dear. Sunako smiled reverently as she heard the low voice she has been so well acquainted with since the day that lowlife broke her heart. "Voice-sama", a name she often referred to him as, has always been her constant companion, never failing to present himself in her direst need.
Voice-sama, what should I do? At this rate that dream shall consume me and, heaven forbid, I would start believing its very lies. Guide me, o wise one! The voice seemed to pause for a moment before continuing in its melodious voice.
Be at peace, dear one, for those under my wings shall never receive anything but what they desire most. You will be well content I assure you. Now rest, for tomorrow shall be a taxing day for both you and I. Preparations must be well underway for our plan to truly succeed.
Calmed by her invisible protector Sunako closed her eyes, aware of an unspeakable darkness growing near an empty chair where her beloved Akira used to reside. She snarled at the memory of watching him dragged away helplessly to who-knows-where, alone and hated by everyone. Akira-kun and I share a great pain of being shunned by others, of being looked at like a piece of dirt. He will never abandon me like my parents did. He loves me. Slowly Sunako drifted back to an uneasy sleep, letting herself fall into the endless turmoil that is her heart.
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"Ouch! Can you not stab me?!" A blonde haired young man protested angrily, shielding himself from the extremely eager seam mistress as she hounded on the poor boy with bobbin pins. Surrounded by an array of colourful garbs, Kyohei looked like an awkward jester waiting for his first show – his long legs were plastered with delicate cloths, all ordered especially from the neighbouring kingdoms. Yuki strolled around the room, talking to the head seamstress earnestly, while Ranmaru propped himself on a Moroccan poufs with the daily news in his hands. Occasionally he looked up and smirked, enjoying the tortured dagger look Kyohei shot him every so often.
"Seriously guys, must I be put in this disgraceful ordeal? As if yesterday wasn't bad enough" Kyohei shuddered, remembering the hours of labour spent on dancing classes the brothers insisted on him.
They didn't even give me enough time to decide - bloody dragged me into that stupid dancing hall with those stupid instructors wearing those stupid costumes. How did I manage to get myself in this shitty hole?
GOOD question, let's see shall we. First there was the ridiculous letter sent by that pompous Queen and the underage Princess; and then there's YOU, o genius one, hopping like a five year old declaring to the whole wide world that you're going. Do you want me to go through the entire list? It could take a while. Kyohei grunted in exasperation but couldn't argue against the voice, which always seemed to have a sarcastic viewpoint on anything that happened in Kyohei's life. Yuki, who noticed Kyohei's lack of complaints turned from his discussion. The pained look on Kyohei was enough to make him die of laughter, yet out of love for his best friend he controlled himself and instead enquired after the attacking seamstress.
"How is the fitting, Madame Lafelle? Have you found a suitable material for him?" The seam mistress shook her head, nearly choking Kyohei with her measuring tape in the process. Yuki sighed in disappointment, imagining another hour of polite conversation he must endure. Glancing around the shop for a way to escape Madame Thierry's endless gossip he noticed a white suit stuffed inside a mahogany trunk, the garment left half out. Curious, he inspected the garment, marking its distinction from all the other suits he has ever seen.
Contrary to the embroidered sleeves popular to the current fashion, the suit hosts narrow long sleeves adorned with nothing but two buttons on each side. Instead of a silk tunic there was a buttoned vest cool to the touch, and a strange looking neck decoration shaped in the form of butterfly wings, which Yuki discarded as a plain trinket. Apart from the vest and the neck embellishment the suit was pure white, as pure as the snow found only in the forbidden mountains by the West End. Fixated, Yuki handed the garment to Madame Thierry, who held it gingerly with a hint of wariness.
"Madame Thierry, from what country is this suit bought? I have never seen something so odd yet extremely exquisite in my life." The lady – a chatty but pleasant woman, fidgeted uncomfortably, still holding on to the suit.
"To be honest Master Yuki, I do not recall having purchased this from any trader. Yet it had been here since I can remember, and no one seemed to want to acquire it, for its design is rather...peculiar. But I can always arrange a suitable price for this if you wish. I would be glad to see it leaves my sight once and for all."
Yuki pondered, stroking the smooth fabric, which left no crease despite the way it has been treated. The material glittered as sunlight touched it, and a sudden thought occured to him. Walking back to Kyohei he waited until Kyohei was fully untangled before revealing the suit to him.
"Why don't you try this? It might be thing we've been looking for." Roughly grabbing the outfit Kyohei stomped to the changing chamber, mumbling curses rude enough to make the foulest rouge blush. There was a lot of shaking and muffled yelling in the other corner of the shop, with Kyohei exclaiming "how am I supposed to wear this THING?!" After a long five minutes he emerged, his face red and sweaty. Both brothers and seamstress could only stare as Kyohei played with the sleeve, tugging it down to make it go past his right hand. To Kyohei's utter surprise both sleeves magically grew, as if it was enchanted. It appeared to fit him perfectly, each crooks and nooks designed so intricately that it could be mistaken as part of Kyohei's skin.
Yuki was the first to find his voice, quietly asking, "How much for the suit Madame?"
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The stage has been set, the players chosen. Now for the catalyst...
Thank you thank you thank you for all the reviews!!! Hopefully this chapter is as good as the other ones :) I'll get started on chapter 4 asap I'm thinking of doing at least 2 other chapters before the Finale. Don't forget to review and give suggestions to the plot! Thanks :)