He was bored out of his skull. He was not one who wastes his time in social functions like this but because he promised his cousin that he would be her chaperone for this stupid masquearade New Year's ball, he had to go. If only he remembered to buy her a cake of gave her money for her birthday, then she wouldn't have found an excuse to make him feel guilty thus prompting him to promise to give her anything she wanted. Thus he wouldn't be stuck here wearing this stupid costume with this stupid mask over his face in this twice stupid masquerade ball.
Rukawa was wearing a white mask over his face decorated with a thin streak of black running from both lower lids of his mask, going across the cheek to the end of the facial accessory as the only decoration on the plain plastic. His black hair fell haphazardly over his forehad as it usually does and the clothes he was wearing made him feel as dorky as that artist formerly known as the Prince.
He might not realise it but the people around him thought otherwise since his physique is definitely not like that of the skinny singer. The billowy white shirt with the silk scarf on the collar complimented Rukawa's solid body and the smart vest with silver embroidery of a fox accentuated his lean chest. The only thing the crowd could hold Rukawa similiar to the singer is the aura of sensuality the dark-haired young man exude as he walked smoothly from one spot to the other with his model-like legs. Every ladies in their medieval costumes and glittering masks wanted to know him but he kept a cold distance away, glaring at them with his dark blue eyes.
Rukawa nearly had had enough and was about to march to where his cousin was flirting with a couple of fake dukes and lancelots when a bright figure caught his attention from the corner of his eyes. Turning to look towards the staircase he could see a person dressed in gold, looking over the party curiously as if it was the first time for the person to be in a function like this. Not few people looked up to see the man in wonder and while he felt relieved that the women turned their interest away from him, he was also staring at the golden stranger with intruige. The newly arrived guests wore a hood over his head, hiding the colour of his hair and the golden robe attached to the hood shifted gracefully over the man's broad shoulders as he walked down the steps to join the crowd. The golden mask covered half his face but the honestly excited grin on the stranger's lips showed Rukawa that however the young man might look like, that smile alone could easily attracted people to him. Oh, the fox-eyed boy have seen and met people like the golden robed stranger before but there was something different about him that made Rukawa want to forget his intention to leave. Is it that smile?
As Rukawa was gazing at the young man from his secluded spot, the stranger lifted his eyes to scan around the hall and grant random smiles in passing. When their eyes met, Rukawa felt his breath stuck in his throat. Hai. It's definitely the smile.
(When I first saw you I fell in love)
The stranger's bright personality was personified by the boisterous laughing and good-natured ribbing from that loud voice and it seemed to Rukawa that nearly everyone already knew who the stranger was when that young man opened his mouth. He was like the heart of the ball and everyone seemed to either want to laugh or quarrel with him. The stranger was their friend or at least an acquaintence and the magic the stranger garnered for himself dissolved for most of the ladies. Rukawa thought he heard the world 'troublemaker' pass from those feminine lips but he wasn't sure. Again Rukawa was the most saught after man but that fact did not interest. Another bright smile from the stranger was passed onto him and his desire to get to know the young man better increased.
As he found himself looking at the golden-robed stranger often than he should, he realised that he was has also caught the attention of the young man. Those brown eyes were giving him glances now and then in open curiosity and interest and he stared back, transmitting his own feelings. But what if he was just imagining things? Could it be that because of his strong admiration to the stranger that he thought the young man was also attracted to him? What if he was deluding himself? Rukawa has never had a reason to feel that way before but tonight seemed different. He wanted to be the golden-robed stranger's source of attention. Just like a moth to a fire. Let the stranger be thinking about him and him alone.
Rukawa shook his head and laughed at himself silently. He just met the guy and already he wanted something that he would never have. That stranger was probably straight. Hell, am I supposed to be as well? thought Rukawa. He did not know because he never remembered being physically attracted to anybody before. Until now. Lifting his fox eyes to look at the stranger again, they met the soft brown ones again and this time he was sure the stranger was looking at him.
Hmmm... a simple test...
Rukawa walked a small distance to the buffett table and as he lifted his refilled wine glass he looked up and locked his gaze with the stranger again. The stranger grinned and Rukawa put down his glass to lick his lips. Instantly, the stranger's smile faltered and although Rukawa was quite a distant away from golden-robed prince of the night, Rukawa thought he saw red flush up the young man's cheeks just below the cover of the mask before the stranger looked away in embarassment. The raven-haired young man needn't wait long for the stranger to turn his brown eyes back to his again and this time Rukawa could see barely repressed desire in them. If it was possible, Rukawa would've crowed in victory for eliciting that honest response but instead he only gave the stranger a look of the same heat.
Suddenly Rukawa wanted to be alone with this mysterious and alluring person, to be close to him and get to know him more than just shy smiles from those playful-looking lips and flirtatious glances from those soft brown orbs peering from behind the golden mask. How would it feel to have those lips close upon his and would those chestnut-coloured eyes still shine once he take off his own mask?
Holding the stranger's eyes with his, he meaningfully motioned to the nearly hidden balcony door with his chin to signal the stranger for a private meet. The stranger bit his lip in hesitation before nodding in assent. As Rukawa turned to leave first, the raven-haired young man held back for a moment when he saw a vase of light pink coloured roses by the wall. After a thought he pulled one out, knowing that the robed-man saw him, and continued to go where he planned to be.
****
The young man followed the blue-eyed stranger to the balcony after taking a much needed sip of wine. One thing for sure, his guest knew how to feed their guests and he wondered why he has never attended one of these soirees before since his love for food rivalled that of his love for basketball. He was also girl-crazy, falling for every cute girl he meets every week but he had yet to acquire himself a girlfriend. He hasn't, however, felt anything like he was feeling at the moment when he first saw the raven-haired stranger, who was now disappearing behind the curtains that led to an obscure outdoor area. When he first came here, he decided that when the clock struck 12 he would be kissing a girl whom he promised to make his partner but now as he made his way to where the dark-haired stranger has gone to he found himself wondering what it would feel like to touch the lips of a man. He thought himself as the straightest guy in all of Japan but when he first found himself gaining the attention of the blue-eyed guest, he couldn't help but feel flattered and when the stranger began to give him signals of a more-than-friendly kind, he felt excited.
(This pure heart cannot lie. I cannot ignore this strong love)
Who was this man who made him feel this way? Was it the grace with which this person moved like a feline unconsious of it's mysterious beauty? Or was it those eyes which gazed at him in desire and need? He was nervous of accepting what he thought made him easy in the eyes of a stranger - a man to add - but he wanted to know who this person was.
When he reached the place of rendezvous, he looked around for the sign of the mysterious blue-eyed stranger. All that he found was a single pale pink rose on the stone balcony, the flower that he saw the stranger pluck from the vase on his way here. Picking it up, he sniffed the sweet scent of the rose as he wondered where the man have gone to. Suddenly he sensed a movement from behind and he turned around, his golden robe flying with his rapid movement. It was that dark-haired stranger looking at him as if he was a morsel to be pounced upon but also with a touch of wariness in those deep blue eyes. Unhesitatingly, the dark-haired man reached up and pulled his hood back and he had to stop himself from panicking. It was a well-known fact that nearly every girl he was attracted to was aversed to his red hair as it branded him odd from the stereotypical Japanese hunks they preferred. At that moment, he expected nothing but the stranger to turn his heels around in horror and scream-
"Beautiful."
The brown eyes blinked under the golden mask. He has never been called beautiful before and he wouldn't believe it if someone told him that but the muffled voice from behind the white mask spoke the stranger's reverence and the fingers running through his red locks relayed the stranger's admiration.
****
When he pushed the young-man's golden hood from his head, Rukawa thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. It was like he has come face to face with Apollo himself - if Apollo has red hair that is. The colour was orange but dark enough to seem red and when the lights hit on it just so, he could see strands of gold in strategic places that helped the illusion of fire.
(Please let me to love you. Or just let me to care for you.)
He was entranced with the uncovered beauty that he did not realise they have come close in a mere space of breath until the redhead leaned forward and kissed him on his platic mask covering his mouth. When the red-haired stranger pulled away with a delightful blush on his face, Rukawa was still staring at him in surprise.
"Uh... Happy New Year," the redhead said huskily and now Rukawa could distinctly hear the shouts and singing from the crowded room behind the curtains where the two of them were standing, the people rejoicing the coming of the new year.
Suddenly the redhead, probably mortified that he kissed a man, a stranger of all people, and received no favoured response for the spontaneous act, turned around to escape but Rukawa held him tight with a grip on the arm. He wished for the redhead's mouth to touch his and not the mask! No way was he going to let this young man escape without knowing if those lips were soft and unyielding or firm and hard. Gently, Rukawa took the golden mask off and after tracing the pads of his fingers over that harshly structured but handsome face, the raven-haired man ripped the white mask off his own face and waited for the reaction.
(Forgive me for loving you. I hope that you love me too)
****
The redhead sucked in a surprised breath at the handsome face before him. He wouldn't have cared if the brunette looked less than pleasing because once those beautiful blue eyes locked with his, he knew that he was attracted. He was a romantic at heart and believing it to be love at first sight was easy enough. But why this person, he has no answer. Now as he gazed at the bishounen before him he was delighted to note that this mysterious stranger was probably by far the most attractive man he has ever met. Those blue eyes looked more alluring now that he could see the thick lashes framing and accentuating those slanted eyes and the full sensuous lips graced the lower part of the pale face, his chin sharp and smooth.
"Beautiful," murmured the redhead, echoing the brunette's earlier compliment as he brushed his knuckles gently over young man's smooth cheek. Suddenly a firm hand grasped the back of his neck and before he knew it, he was being kissed passionately and deeply that when the raven-haired man let him go, he was in a daze.
(Please let me to love you. Or just let me to care for you.)
His knees has turned jelly and he had to grip the dark-haired man's vest to keep standing. Their heated breath mingled in the cold midnight air and his eyes started to flutter close as the fox-eyed man began licking his open mouth, nibbling and suckling before those starved lips trailed down under his ear and on his neck. As the dark-haired man's mouth worked studiously on forming a hickey on his neck, wandering hands caressed his back and shoulder lovingly like an owner stroking his favourite cat.
"KAE- OH MY GOD!"
Rukawa lifted his head up to glare at his surprised cousin while the redhead tried to detach Rukawa's arms from his own body. Finally relenting to the redhead's struggling, Rukawa released the young man and continued to frown at his girl relative.
"What?" demanded Rukawa.
"I-I just came to wish you Happy New Year," said the young woman distractedly as she stared at the redhead who was trying to control his blushing and at the same time trying to find his mask which Kaede dropped. Feeling suddenly possessive, Rukawa stepped in front of the redhead to give his cousin a look that screams 'Look, but don't touch'. Unperturbed, the young woman smiled mischeviously and asked, "Aren't you going to introduce us, Kaede?"
Rukawa frowned but the redhead did the introductions himself. Stepping around Rukawa, he held out his hand and said, "Sakuragi Hanamichi."
"Ayako," Rukawa's cousin returned, clasping the redhead's hand and giving it a shake, "I didn't know you were good friends with Kaede."
"Umm... yeah..." the redhead mumbled, blushing again.
"So," Ayako purred, slipping her hand around the redhead's arm, ignoring the warning look from her fox-eyed cousin, "Have you already decided your new year's resolution, Hanamichi-kun?"
"Hai," Hanamichi replied as she led him back to where the party was at, "I have."
Glancing back at Rukawa who was following them from behind and giving the redhead a look full of promises, Hanamichi added to himself mentally, and I have just added one more.
(Forgive me for loving you. I hope that you love me too)
~Owari
This fic is inspired by the vid-clip of an Indonesian song called "Kala Cinta Menggoda" by Chrisye.