~ Chapter Four: The masquerade ball ~

Normal P.O.V.

Madison sighed. It was Friday evening, but this time, she wasn't planning on going to the club. No, she was about to go somewhere else. She received an invitation from Mimuri. Madison opened the letter once again and red it out loud.

Sweet Madison,

This Friday, my parents are going to hold a masquerade ball, because my father turns fifty.

I really want you to come along. Riyou and Harayu are coming too.

Please dress up in something formal!

Oh, and don't forget to wear a mask!

My parents hired the ancient castle, here in Tokyo. You know which one I'm talking about, do you?

I hope to see you this Friday, around 9 p.m.

Sincerely, Mimuri.

Madison sighed again. She really liked the idea of the party, but she felt bad that she let Midorikawa down. She promised to come this Friday and know, she didn't show up.

''I'll explain it to him later, next week.'' She said to herself.

She walked towards her mirror and examined herself one last time. She curled her knee-length, blue hair and her big, grey eyes sparkled, because of the make-up. She wore white, glittery eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss. She wore silver diamonds in her ears and her favorite necklace. She also wore a strapless, soft pink halter dress, that boiled up a bit around her waist. The skirt part was soft and silky, the halter part, tight and hard, decorated with white flowers. Underneath it, she wore white pumps. She also wore a white diadem in her hair. She fetched her mask. It was silky white with a white diamond on the spot between the eyes. Furthermore, it was kept simple. She putted it on and let her hair fall over the elastic band. After checking herself one last time, she slowly walked down the stairs and pulled on a white cardigan to keep her warm. Then, she headed towards the ancient castle. When she came there, she already saw many persons in elegant ball gowns. She made her way inside and entered the giant ballroom. Classical music was heard from a giant band and people were dancing formally everywhere. Madison felt like she was in a fairytale. She walked towards the refreshment table and poured some alcohol-free punch in a paper bottle. Slowly, she sipped form it, until someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and looked at a girl with a purple ball gown and a matching purple mask. The girl had knee-length, beige hair.

''Madison, is that you?'' The girl asked.

Madison's P.O.V.

I recognized the voice of my friend.

''Mimuri!'' I said, while I hugged my friend.

''Thank god, it IS you,'' Mimuri said with a smile. ''It's hard to find people in this crowd. Everybody wears a mask of course.''

I smiled.

''Are Harayu and Riyoi already here?'' I asked.

Mimuri nodded and took my hand, while she made her way through the crowd. I ended up in a corner of the ballroom. I saw two girls giggling and talking. One had red, knee-length hair, wore a dark green ball gown and a matching mask. The other one had knee-length, black hair and wore a crème ball gown with a black mask.

''I found her.'' Mimuri said with a smile.

''Madison!'' The two girls exclaimed.

I smiled.

''Hi!'' I greeted them.

''Don't you think this ball room looks lovely?'' Harayu asked me.

I nodded.

''It's like I'm in a fairytale.'' I replied.

''Did you two already danced with someone?'' Mimuri asked the two giggling friends.

They shook their heads.

''Not yet.'' Harayu replied.

''But I hope that's going to change.'' Riyoi added giggling.

Mimuri smiled.

''Wait, there's my boyfriend. I'm going to dance.'' She suddenly said.

She excused herself and walked away.

''Lucky her with her boyfriend.'' Harayu said.

''Well, I don't think it's going to take long now for you to find a boyfriend.'' I said with a wink.

Harayu turned red.

''You pecked Goenji on the cheek last week!'' Riyoi said giggling.

''T-True.'' Harayu replied.

''Awwhh… it's cute.'' I said.

Harayu smiled.

''I hope he feels the same about me.'' She replied.

''And our lucky Riyou already had a boyfriend.'' I said.

Riyoi smiled.

''Y-Yeah, Kazemaru and I are together.'' She mumbled.

I smiled.

''And what about you and Midorikawa?'' Harayu asked me.

''Just friends.'' I said.

''I bet he's waiting in the club now, wondering where you are.'' Riyoi said.

I nodded and sighed.

''I kinda feel guilty.'' I said.

My two friends smiled.

''I think he understands when you explain.'' Harayu said.

Riyoi smiled at me.

''Thanks girls.'' I said, while I smiled back.

Then, I excused myself and went to the bathroom. I smiled happy when I saw my reflection in the mirror. Even though my blue hair was visible, it was hard to recognize me. There were lots of other girls with blue hair in the ball room. After I washed my hands, I walked back. On my way back, I bumped into someone.

''Excuse me.'' I said, while I made a small bow.

The person I bumped into looked at me. He wore a formal tuxedo and a black mask with gold edges.

''No, it was my fault.'' The person replied.

I guessed him around my age. He had green hair. I looked around. There were a lot of boys with green hair. It couldn't be the person I was thinking about. I saw him examining me.

''Would you care for a dance?'' The boy asked me.

''I would love to.'' I replied.

The guy guided me to the dance floor and we started a slow ballroom dance: The English Waltz. His movements felt so amazing and I felt comfortable around him.

''So, miss. What is a lovely lady like you doing all alone in this room?'' He said.

''Well, I'm not alone now, am I?'' I replied giggling.

''That's true, but I've been observing you for quite a while now. You don't like dancing?'' He asked.

I smiled.

''No, I love to dance. It's just that I'm not comfortable around strangers.'' I replied.

The boy smiled.

''Then why did you accept my hand?'' He asked.

I giggled again.'

''I don't know. I just feels right.'' I said.

We made a swirl and the skirt part of my dress twirled elegantly around me.

''Did I already mention you look lovely in that dress?'' The boy asked me.

I blushed.

''Well, now you did.'' I replied.

We made another turn and I felt myself falling in a dance trance. The hours ticked away, but I couldn't stop dancing with this mysterious guy. I felt so happy and comfortable and he was loyal and gentleman-like. He gazed deeply into my eyes. My mind and body were now acting differently. My mind was saying: Don't kiss him! Don't kiss him! Remember what you promised yourself! But my body just ignored it. The boy laid his right arm around my waist and tightened it and he placed his left hand underneath my chin. He guided me towards his lips and I kissed him softly. I felt the heat and softness of his lips and I sunk away in the warm feeling that rushed through my body. Oh god, I kissed him. But … the promise? I pushed him away from me.

''No, this is wrong.'' I said, while I turned my face away from him.

The guy looked shocked at me. At that point, the big tower clock gonged twelve times. Midnight! The time you have to remove your mask. Not at this point! I wanted to walk away, but the boy grabbed my wrist. He removed his mask. My eyes widened totally.

''Mi-Midorikawa?!'' I stammered full of disbelieve.

I could only think of one thing: run! I freed myself from Midorikawa's grip and started to run.

''Wait!'' I heard him shout.

I kept running. I tried to make my way through the crowd. Then, the elastic around my mask snapped and my mask fell onto the ground. I told myself I had no time to pick it up, so I kept running towards the exit. I was relieved when I found it. I ran outside, while tears ran down my cheeks.

''Why him?'' I asked sobbing to myself. ''Why is this happening?''

I kept crying the whole way towards my house. I was relieved when I saw it. I opened the door quickly, ran inside and locked it again. Then, I let my back rest against the door and slowly slid onto the ground, while I kept on sobbing. For some reason, I fell asleep. I woke up a little later. When I looked at the clock in my living room, I saw that it was 3 a.m. Then, I remembered what happened earlier. I felt new tears burning and I slowly made my way upstairs. There, I dressed out of my ball gown, took a hot shower and kept on crying. After that, I brushed my teeth and removed the black line of mascara underneath my eyes. Then, I changed into my pajamas, turned off the lights and crawled into my bed. There, I kept crying silently, until I fell asleep again.

~ End of Chapter Four ~