I anxiously waited with bated breath, I almost forgot to breath from the anticipation. 'C'mon! Just stop already before I die from lack of oxygen.'
The light seemed to be slowing down until finally coming to a stop. I gasped when I saw who the light was directed on. "Eisuke?!" I blurted out his name, my eyes wide from shock.
"We have our masquerade king. Now it's time for our masquerade Queen!" The same lively voice echoed through the room and at that moment the light started whirring around the room again. I was even more anxious than before. Just thinking of Eisuke being partnered with some other girl got my blood running.
'No, no. I won't allow him to go with any one else...! I...can't.' I dreaded the thought. I knew how I felt about Eisuke but at the same time I told myself I couldn't act on these feelings; not when I had something important to do. Something I've been working on my whole life. I couldn't let myself be distracted, or so I thought. Maybe I just wasn't ready to commit to a relationship yet...
As I was battling with my feelings I failed to realize the light had stopped but was snapped out of my thoughts by the announcers voice, "Would our Masquerade King and Queen please make their way to the stage." At that moment I noticed it was me the light had stopped on.
"What...? No way..."
"We better not keep them waiting." Eisuke offered out his hand to me. I stared at it blankly for a moment before placing my hand in his, still in total disbelief. I allowed Eisuke to guide me in my daze, It all felt so surreal and somewhat nerve-racking as all eyes were on us.
I noticed Joelle in the distance cheering me on and giving me her biggest grin. I instinctively gave her a small grin back, while my mind was still spinning. But then I caught sight of a furious Kat who was glaring at me with contempt. It was obvious she was angry that someone other than her had been crowned queen. I flinched under her glare and averted my gaze, I didn't want her to pick up on who I was. If anyone knew it was me under this mask there is no way I would have been crowned.
Upon reaching the stage the M.C placed tiny silver crowns upon our heads and then we waved out to the audience. I tried my best to keep my heart under control as I thought I might pass out from being so nervous.
"Just relax."
"Huh." I was surprised to hear Eisuke whisper those words to me. He must have noticed my shaky nerves and was trying his best to comfort me while keeping up his front for the crowd, smiling and waving. I was doing the same but it was easy to see I was shaking and nervous as hell. I wished I had Eisuke's confidence at a time like this. It would have made it so much easier to handle the large crowd.
'Maybe I should take classes on arrogance...I do know of a first class teacher, after all.'
Finally it all came to and end and we could leave the stage. I breathed the biggest sigh of relief when I was back on the dance floor.
"My heart can finally relax. I thought It would rip out of my chest." I said as I held my chest with an exasperated look.
Besides me, Eisuke chuckled, "You were a nervous wreck. I thought I'd have to carry you off the stage as you completely froze or passed out." He teased me.
"Hmph. Don't make fun of me now." I poked my tongue out at him and looked away defiantly. And the I felt my hair being messed up, "Wha- Hey! Don't mess up my hair!" I said with a look of indignation.
"The masquerade balls over. It doesn't matter if you get messy now does it?" He said with his usual smug grin.
I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, "Whatever. Let's just get out of here. I can't wait to get back and get out of these clothes."
"I can help you with that if you like." Eisuke leaned in with a teasing grin. My eyes widened before narrowing and my neck snapping in the opposite direction to look away from him, "You wish. Stop joking around and let's hurry up and go." I huffed and started to walk away with a rather fast trot but my feet still hurt and the faster I tried to walk the harder I found it.
"Need some help? You look like an injured animal trying to escape the farm." Eisuke grinned. "Uggh. Why are you always so mean." I rolled my eyes but he was right, I could barely walk any longer in those shoes.
"Let's go." Eisuke's tone changed and he took me by the hand and started to pull me from the room until we were outside. "Wha-?!" As soon as we were outside and out of sight, Eisuke scooped me up in his arms leaving me completely stunned.
"I-I can walk." I protested, my cheeks redder than a strawberry. Eisuke looked amused, "Sure you can. You did an excellent job of convincing me just moments ago. You should win an oscar for such great acting."
"Ugh...!" I didn't know what to say in response to that. Eisuke had me beat and so I was forced to let him carry me no matter how embarrassed I was.
The walk home was a silent and awkward one. Neither of us spoke a word. I was too embarrassed and self conscious to think of anything but I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. 'What is he thinking? Usually he won't shut up with his smug remarks... This silence is killing me.'
And just then he finally spoke, "It's been awhile since I carried you like this. It sure brings back memories." Eisuke said, thinking back to the past, his eyes had gone soft as the memories must be special.
"What? I don't remember you holding me like this..." I said in a panic, my heart speeding up.
The corner of Eisuke's lips curled at my reaction and he glanced at me knowingly, "Of course you wouldn't. You were drunk as a monkey." With a smirk he teased me.
I gasped in horror. It brought back dreadful memories that I rathered forget. I swore I'd never drink alcohol again.
We finally arrived back at the villa. Eisuke gently set me down before heading inside; though I swore I caught a glimpse of a wistful look in his eyes. We both quickly looked around before heading inside.
"Hey! The happy couple is back!" No sooner had we stepped inside the small section of the Villa we all shared were we greeted by an enthusiastic voice.
"Baba, would you keep your voice down. I just came from a dance with outrageously loud music, I don't need my ears to bleed even further." Eisuke chided Baba but he didn't seem bothered in the least.
'Happy couple?' The thought made my cheeks flush, 'Do we really look like that?'
"Oooh, what are you smiling at?"
"Ack!" I jumped back after Ota had suddenly surprised me by leaning in close to my face. 'Was I really smiling?' I fretted, I knew I was bad at keeping my emotions hidden...but that was a pathetic attempt at hiding my feelings.
"How did the night go?" I was surprised to see Soryu ask. He must have returned while Eisuke and I were at the dance.
"We were crowned King and Queen. It was only natural everyone noticed our dignified and upstanding qualities." Eisuke said looking proud, his smirk as big as ever. Though just earlier he had no interest whatsoever in it. 'He really changes his mind fast.' I rolled my eyes and just let him be.
"I think I'm going to head to bed. I have school tomorrow and it's late. Plus I am beat." I finished with a smile and waved everyone off as I started to walk away. "I'll sleep well tonight." I mumbled.
"Goodnight." I heard them all saying their goodnights to me as I tiredly walked away.
As soon as I got to my room I immediately let my hair out and took the crown and placed it on my cabinet. Eisuke had already taken his off earlier and put it in his pocket. I admired my crown with a soft smile. I was so happy to have been crowned with Eisuke. I then quickly stripped from my dress and got into my pajamas and no sooner did I collapse on my bed. It didn't take me long to drift off to sleep; happy thoughts filled my mind after my exciting night with Eisuke. It went better than I had even hoped.
I thought things could only keep getting better from here on and maybe I would continue getting closer to Eisuke and even one day...Well that's a thought for another day. Right now I'd be happy just being by his side and we still had that major contest coming up in a few months. We had to do our best to plan for that. If we won it would be a major step into me finding my sister and maybe even help Eisuke in winning his fathers approval. Little did I know things wouldn't be so simple. It would be a rocky road to reach our goals. In fact something was about to happen that would shake things up in an unexpected way.