Title: 27. with us your hocus-pocus play

Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi, Ayame/Mine

Word Count: 751 words

Summary: Yuki and Machi attempt to avoid Ayame at the wedding, but end up revealing a secret. [Sequel to Ch. 19. Mentions Ch. 26]

A/N: I don't know if Yuki or Machi would do any of these things. This is probably a weird mix of OOC-ness. The chapter title refers to Yuki and Machi's plan to avoid Ayame.

Machi finds Yuki hidden behind a pillar wrapped in sheer green gauze. He jumps when she taps his shoulder and she only sloshes a little of the champagne onto her suede heels. She hands him his glass, keeping her eyes on him as they take a small sip together.

"Do you want to leave?" Machi asks quietly, slipping behind the pillar with him. No one seemed to notice the couple hiding.

Yuki shakes his head, taking a chance to peek at the party from his hiding spot. "Nii-san's guarding the entrance. He hasn't seen me yet, but this... this," Yuki spits out in disgust, lifting a hand to touch his silky hair extensions. "This he'll never let me live down. I can't even pull them out," he sighs, fruitlessly tugging on a lock of silver hair.

Machi swirls the last dregs of her champagne and hands it to Yuki. "Hide out on the balcony. I'll distract him and then you can run out."

"Machi." Yuki pulls her out onto the balcony. They feel the sting of cold wind on warm skin, and Machi lets Yuki curl an arm around her.

She presses her face into his chest, smelling the scent of his soap instead of the glue used for his hair extensions. "This is the signal for you to run," Machi continues, making a great show of tossing back her brown extensions. They shimmer in the moonlight as only fake hair can.

"You can't face Nii-san alone," Yuki protests. "You shouldn't," he adds thoughtfully, hiding a smile. "The last time you did, he put you in his heaviest princess gown."

"I got you into this," Machi insists stubbornly. She pulls away from him and forces his warm fingers to unbend and take her empty champagne flute. Yuki sighs when she succeeds, because he'd rather lose the fight than drop the glass flute.

"Machi, that's not the point-"

"Why don't you want me to talk to Ayame-san?"

"What if he finds out about... you know."

"I'll be fine. He might not even recognize me." Machi changes tactics, raising her eyebrows. "How badly do you want to leave?"

Yuki stares at his girlfriend, feeling useless. "How about this? I'll put back the drinks, and then we'll go out together. Even if we have to talk to my brother." He doesn't leave until Machi nods in agreement. Satisfied, Yuki walks away to find a waiter.

He only turns around once to check on her. Once he resumes walking, Machi makes her way along the side of the ballroom to the entrance. In the shadows, her red dress stands out among the endless selection of pastel gowns. She gets there in time to catch Ayame's latest comment.

"I designed the bride's dress. With a theme like 'Meat Angel' how could I not?"

The women crowded around him simultaneously turn their heads to Komaki, staring at the details of her delicate pink ivory colored gown. Machi finds herself impressed with the dress. She finds new details every few seconds. First there was the nearly transparent sash in the same pink ivory as the rest of the dress that swoops down behind her like wings. Then she notices how the actual fabric of the gown has swirls like marble, most likely to resemble marbled meat, which worries Machi.

"How did you do the sash?"

Ayame randomly grabs Machi's arm, because her dress made her stand out. "I knotted the sash a little higher than normal Western styles. It was almost like a kimono's obi, but thinner." Ayame demonstrates this by tying a strip of fabric Mine hands him around Machi. "Mine was inspired by the brand JESUSDIAMANTE... and now the princess is done!" Ayame twirls his embarrassed model around. "Isn't she pretty?" He looks more closely at Machi, frowning. "Do I know you?"

Machi turns red. "No..."

"Oh. Oh well." Ayame looks away, only to focus on something else. He lifts her hand, examining the ring. "You're getting married? May I design your dress?"

"No, I'm having a small wedding-"

"Wait a minute. Aren't you Yuki's-"

"Nii-san, what are you doing?" Yuki calls out nervously, rushing to Machi's side.

Ayame instantly connects the dots. "You're Yuki's girlfriend! Actually..." He raises Machi and Yuki's hand up high, doing his best to make a loud announcement: "MY LITTLE BROTHER IS GETTING MARRIED!" He turns to whisper to Mine, "Wait 'til I tell Haa-san!"

Yuki covers his face and groans. "At least he hasn't mentioned the hair extensions," Machi whispers.

A/N: Haa-san is Sohma Hatori. JESUSDIAMANTE is a real Japanese label, known for their hime-kei or princess style clothing. So? So? Who was surprised?! Yes, Yuki's already proposed! When will I write the real proposal? Um... that's a long time coming. There's an angst drabble coming up next, so look out for it. I'm almost done with it.