Kasumi

Alone and away from everyone, I was out in the garden sitting on the fountain. The water was turned off for the decoration it had all over it and I looked at the reflection in the water.
"Just what the hell was that…?" Remembering the kiss Kyoya did to me, I felt my face burn and covered my mouth gently. The feeling still lingers… I thought. His lips were warm and soft against mine…it felt nothing like I imagined it to be and I was really confused why this all happened. But with this how can I even face him? "Now what of Hikaru," I questioned openly. "He came in so distraught I thought he was going to fall over. But the words he wanted to say about me…what were they?" Can't put the words into my head right and shaking it all out, I was still dumbfounded about Kyoya. When I think about the kiss his words he whispered still linger…

"If I were to ask for you to be mine, would you accept the offer?"

How can anyone answer such a question?! One thing for sure that I know is that Kyoya has fallen for me and I…I think I've perhaps fallen for him as well.
"I can't believe I'm admitting this…" sinking into my hands and drowning in this torment of feelings, I looked up to the moon that was out tonight and saw it to be full tonight. "I like him…"

Hearing footsteps on the stone and looking back, Kim was breathing hard and looking relieved she found me. "Kasumi," she breathed. "I'm glad to have found you," running over and taking a seat next to me, I didn't want to talk to her right now. "Look…about what happened in the nurse's room earlier," I tightened my grip. "I wasn't planning on having it go that far with what happened between you and Kyoya," she says. "I only thought maybe you could realize he has feelings for you and Hikaru as well but—"

"You planned this," sounding darker than I intended it to be, she flinched. "I didn't want to find out my feelings…" oh just great, every teardrop wants to fall and I want to drown myself. "Everything was fine the way they were…I didn't want to know what this feeling was and how to go through with it."

"…Kasumi," her soft voice drawing me in to cry on her shoulder, I refused.

"Why did you have to make it so open now…" a hiccup got in my way of speaking. "I feel so weak…"

"You are not weak Kasumi," she says. "You're very strong and can do nearly the impossible of many situations. But love…" she paused and gave a sweet smile. "Love is something that can make you stronger than before if you accept it."

"But I don't want to accept it," I rebelled. "He makes me feel so weird inside and I can't help but look at him," I say.

"It's the same with me and Kaoru Kasumi," she says. "You opened my eyes to him and I accepted it. I see the way you look with Kyoya and you are happy being around him. Do you not notice that whenever you two are around you create your own atmosphere?"

"….." looking at her through watery eyes, she wiped my tears and pulled me close.

"Kasumi you've been in love for a while now and just don't know how to see it." Hugging me close and saying these words to me, what was I supposed to do now? "During the ballroom dance we are all wearing a mask…why not disguise yourself and see for yourself his feelings?"

"What do you mean," I asked her.

"If Kyoya finds you within the mass of girls and boys, of course against Hikaru, then will you admit to it?"

"….why Hikaru," I asked her.

"He has a thing for you too…but I don't think you've taken notice to him whatsoever this past month."

Actually I haven't. To be honest if I look back on it all I see me and Kim along with Kyoya and how we talk and battle it out with our wits. Is Kim right on this whole matter?

"I'll make you so unrecognizable they would have to really search in order to find you." She smirked. "And also," she pulled me in tighter and was shaking. "I'm sorry for making you cry earlier…I'm sorry if this was too sudden for you to handle."

"….." I hugged her tight and pulled myself together to give her a smile. "I can't hate you…can never ever hate you…" she patted my back to calm me down and it wasn't until a little later when the bell chimed.

"Let's go back inside and not say anything to anyone. I'll do your hair and make-up perfectly and we shall play a game with them."
I calmed down with her being here even when I was upset with everything. But the game part of this was a little nerve-wracking. What would I be doing?

Waltz in Disguise

One hour left till the dance room is open and Kim has been overly planning everything. Since this is her event it was impossible to escape it fully. She picked out the most eluding outfit for me though. She had asked several girls who had the same hair color and body structure like me to play a part in this. They were promised secretive photos of the host club members and agreed to her whims without question. We all wore our hair down, completely straight and with the exact make-up. Our eyes were all red with the contacts and around our eyes was a brilliant shadow Kim did.

"This dress is so pretty Kim-Chan," one of the girls praised. She twirled in it and laughed.

"Be careful how you all act please," Kim spoke. "Kasumi is quiet and almost unapproachable. You know this due to being in the same class as her, please act accordingly." She scolded.

"Y-yes," she cleared her throat and tried practicing her act as me..
After a little while we all started to look the same. The dress Kim chose for us all was a simple ball gown that was about ankle length and we wore different colors. I was wearing teal blue that made me timid looking. Monika-chan—the girl from my class—was wearing a teal green that also made her look timid. And it was just freaky that they all looked like me with their make-up done and hair pinned right. Tachibana-chan—also from my class was wearing a teal purple; Hara-chan wearing a soft yellow; then there's Kinna-chan wearing a light pink that makes her skin slightly lighter.

"Alright," Kim felt satisfied and looked happy over her work. "Now I want you to start going in the moment the crowd does. Understand? Five to seven feet apart should make them see you guys." Handing us all our masks' and putting them on, I was nervous and felt my chest tighten. "Act as Kasumi does and we shall see where this goes…" she tied the string and put my gloves on me to hide my arms. We all looked the same but completely different…Kim is a wonder to how she accomplished this. "Now go out there and be silent as you dance. Don't talk to anyone or the whole thing will fall apart."

"Yes, we understand," they saluted and took off.

"That goes for you too Kasumi," she sternly spoke to me and I nodded. My nerves would not settle though. I just didn't know how to play this part accordingly without messing it all up.

"I know…" she patted my back for good cheer and I walked off to the ballroom.

The ballroom was glistening with a dark radiance that entranced me. Thanks to the dark lighting it would be hard to find me within the crowd, but it definitely helped that Kim made it a costume ball. Everyone wore a costume and a mask to shield their face. I walked to a small group of male students and held out my hand to dance. The one I outstretched my hand to was named Hijikata-kun if I remember correctly. He's from my class and it was alright dancing with him.

"Shall we," he questioned at first, but with my curt nod he took my hand and walked out to dance. Since no one in the host club has ever laid eyes on me dancing before, I used my years of dancing experience guide me through with Hijikata and he followed strongly with me. Guess it helps he has a dancing background. "You dance marvelously," he complimented. "May I ask for your name," he asked.

Shaking my head kindly and smiling, he sighed in defeat and continued dancing.
From the corner of my eye I could see the host club members dancing with some girls and waltzing to the music. I even saw Kim dancing with Kaoru and being so happy she smiled brilliantly. Honey and Takeshi danced as well and looked so calm and casual when they danced with the girls. However, seeing Hikaru look around for me and being frantic in his search, I didn't think anything of him. I looked to see with my eyes Kyoya but couldn't find him. Am I really hoping he can find me within this crowd?

"May I ask to dance with you a little longer," Hijikata asked. I looked back to him really quickly and smiled while I saw one of my other duplicates switched partners. Taking that initiative as well and gently shaking my head, he smiled in defeat and I moved on to the next person. From my left with Kinna-chan dancing, she was stopped by Hikaru and she politely shook her head. He looked so defeated that it was actually a relief he mistook me for her. But why am I so relieved by that! Be it as it may of love or not I don't think I should think such things!

"Pardon me," hearing his voice behind me, I refused to turn to look at him. "May I have this girl to dance with," he asked.

"Ah, um…" he nodded and I felt Kyoya's hand slide into mine as I was brought to the center dance floor at first to dance before he continued to go outside to the balcony? Being led outside where the sound of music was clearer as it played, he smoothly brought me around to face him and placed a hand on my waist with his hand holding mine.

"Did you really think I wouldn't be able to find you," he spoke calmly with a richness in his voice it threw me off guard. Not saying anything to him and being danced with, I had my eyes down and just stayed quiet. "Kasumi…no matter where you hide, no matter what you dress as," he stopped dancing and had me look into his eyes. Even with the mask on him I could tell his features were serious. "No matter what the reasons may be of you trying to deceive me…I love you."
My heart thumped so loud I thought he could hear it and I went to pull away when he brought me even closer to him.
"Are you against my proposal," he asked me.
His voice was so close to me I could hardly bear it. Then again it was hard to go against him in the first place.

"Kyoya…how did you know," I asked. "How can you tell where I was even though there are other copies of me out there!?" Just how can he tell who I am with all this make-up on and this dress?!

"Isn't it simple," he mused. Tilting my chin up to look into his eyes, he removed my mask and smiled. "Because who would I look at other than you," he says.
I felt my face light up and feel the heat coerce through me as he brought me closer and kissed me gently on the lips. Feeling I should push him away and run, I didn't. Instead of running like I've always done, I wrapped my arms around Kyoya and indulged into his kiss.