tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When; 31 October, evening
Rating; G; may slide to PG in some threads
Characters; Clow, Yuuko, their friends, and whoever crashes
Summary; It's time for the Halloween Masquerade.~
Log;

Halloween was Yuuko's favorite holiday, and that was evident from the way she'd transformed the backyard into a Masquerade setting even royalty would be pleased with. Her efforts had been aided by her housemates, of course-- Clow had put in a great deal of work, whether she would credit it to him or not. Pumpkins carved by Sakura and her friends on Wednesday glimmered around the edge of the yard, their candles charmed not to blow out. There were tables set up for people who wanted to sit, but a large area for dancing. One might wonder if she'd convinced the surrounding trees to step back a little bit and give them room.

As for the hostess herself, she was resplendent in a peacock gown, eyes glittering with good humor behind her matching mask. She'd insisted upon it-- all attendees would receive a mask, even if they hadn't brought one themselves, even if they were a temporary visitor to the City.

The sun began to set; the witching hour approached, and the witch went to greet her guests.

[ooc: I've turned comment emails off for me for this post, so feel free to spam ust as much as you'd like.]

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Despite not finding the murderer that day, among other "unwanted" visits, Kaname still managed to attend Yuuko's party as Yuuki had invited him. He was not someone who would dress up in silly costumes, but he managed to find one similar to the main character of Phantom of the Opera.

A white mask partially covered half of his face, the length of his coat caught the wind as it flowed behind him. He was somehow, in spite of everything, hopeful. Yet he could not help but feel uneasy. There were too many signatures that he did not care to feel for in the City today, but perhaps the mask would help him cover such worries.

He smiled as a few guests bowed their heads towards him. These "visitors"... it was almost like home.

The long gown that trailed to the ground in the back billowed behind Yuuki as she crossed the floor, her simple but beautiful mask disguising her identity to all those who didn't already know her and her costume. Originally she had hoped to go as a Witch or something spooky, but it didn't really fit the occasion. Instead, to look especially nice, her costume in the last minute had switched to that of an angel. Her eyes searched the room automatically for the individual that could be Kaname. She didn't know the attire he had dressed himself in for the day, and so had yet to come across him. Mind full of the events from earlier,she found her thoughts tumbling over them.

Don't think about what those people said. It was difficult when she knew that individuals like Shizuka Hio were in the city. Glancing at her side, her hands clinging to the fabric of his sleeve, Yuuki peeked up at Zero. He was silent, allowing her to lead him in and about the room as she pleased.

If that individual was here, then she didn't want to allow Zero out of her sight. In their world Shizuka was dead. Zero wouldn't go after her even now though, would he...? Her grip tightened, before she stepped ahead of him, halting him in his tracks.

"Zero..." She chastised. "Your mask is crooked." Reaching up, she adjusted it, taking her time as she did so. "You know, it wouldn't hurt to occasionally look the part of a gentleman." If she could break the silence between them for a moment, then maybe the mood would lighten.

He frowned as she fiddled with his mask, annoyed at the usual fussing over him at these sort of functions. This was beyond anything he'd willingly done for her before though, even if it was just part of the costume. The mask practically matching his hair.

As well as the stupid thing she'd talked him into putting in his hair.

"Don't even think about touching the tie," he sighed, refusing to back down from their bargain. He'd wear the stupid wolf ears in exchange for wearing the dress clothes she'd gotten for him as laid back as he possibly could. Meaning untucked, untied, several buttons undone and not looking very dressed up at all in the first place.

"Why don't you go find Kuran?" he bit out in annoyance, his patience already tried to the limit that day. "Since you're dancing around like you can't stand it."

From a short distance away, there Kaname stood, mingling with a few of the guests. He heard Yuuki's voice when she entered the room and it made him smile. It was a bit annoying that she wanted Kiryuu to escort her to the ball, but nevertheless, it gave him time to make sure Rido and Shizuka were no where in the vicinity.

For now anyway. With this many people, who could be sure?

He excused himself from the visitors and walked towards the pair. "She need not look very far, if that was what she so wished." He said, more to Zero than to Yuuki.

Eyes widening before turning into a flustered glare, Yuuki opened her mouth to defend herself when she heard a deep, smooth voice appear from off to her side. Annoyance vanishing from her face, even with the mask that was a voice Yuuki was very familiar with and would never have mistaken.

"Kaname-senpai--!"

Lifting her own mask up above her eyes as though in respect, she blushed as she turned to him. What had Zero so much crabbier than normal anyway? Saying something like that...a-and Kaname had heard, too.

Hands folding before her she fiddled with her fingers, before falling into a polite bow, rising up quickly as though uncertain as to what to say or do.

"It's...It's good to see you-!"

"Good evening, Yuuki."

Perhaps it was to annoy Zero, or perhaps it was simply a gesture the Phantom of the Opera would do. Nevertheless, he took her hand and gave her fingers a light kiss.

"I hope you are feeling much better this evening?"

It was better to play the charade that nothing was wrong when in truth, he was worried about everything.

Taking a step away from the pair, he gave them a measure of distance to provide them privacy. It was the proper thing to do in the situation. Though he had brought her, he was merely being drug along with because that's just something Yuuki liked to do with him. He was always expected to be nearby at all times.

He'd gotten fairly good at blending into the scenery, to avoid interacting with anyone and remaining the observer without being noticed. Because he wasn't here to have fun or celebrate.

He didn't do those kind of things.

He was only here to protect her.

Cheeks flaming, she felt her pulse race as Kaname's lips ghosted across her gloved hand. Eyes dancing in every which direction, she stumbled over her words, grasping for something appropriate to say.

"Th-Thank you! I'm perfectly fine. I've really looked forward to tonight."

What to say, what to say. She wished that she knew how to just act normal around Kaname and have a casual conversation. Somehow he always managed to make her heart race.

"I...I really like your costume."

At the very least, Zero knew his place. He smiled, "Thank you, Yuuki. You look as beautiful as always."

He would have preferred to dance with only the two of them in the room, but nevertheless, he lowered his gaze, placing his right hand across his chest and bowed.

"Would you care to dance, Tenshi-sama?"

Hands rising to her cheeks, she barely knew what to do as Kaname bowed to her of all people. With someone as magnificent as him it was hard to believe he'd waste any amount of time on her.

Heart fluttering a little she realized abruptly that she was just standing there and had yet to give him a response.

"Ah--"

Bowing deeply abruptly in turn she realized mid-way through that it, in this setting, should be a curtsy. "Uhm..." She stumbled flustered, finally dipping into a curtsy. All of her words were becoming mixed up now too. Finally she managed to spit out a coherent response.

"I...I would be very happy...to dance together..."

He took her hand gently into one of his own. To dance the waltz as they used to in the Chairman's living room, it gave him warmth like no other.

"Do you know..." he said, leaning in to whisper, "about the 'Phantom of the Opera', Yuuki?"

Hand grasped gently within his, she could feel the heat of his palm, even through her gloved hand. The other rested securely across her waist. The difference in their height was great, with Yuuki not even succeeding in reaching the top of his shoulders. Cheeks colored with warmth, she felt happy though. Wrapped within his semi embrace like this for the dance it was almost too easy to forget her worries.

Brows slightly furrowing she thought over his question. It didn’t ring any bells for her, and she wished a little bit that she was more read. It was a book, right…? Shaking her head, she was curious.

“It doesn’t sound familiar to me…” She finally confessed. “Could you…tell me?”

He leaned down slightly speaking in soft, quiet tones... as if he was revealing a secret that only she was allowed to hear.

"The Phantom of the Opera... was a disfigured genius who hid in the Opera House. He was not an evil man, but the world continually judged him, and forced him to extort money from the management for many years."

He turned her once and stepped forward, dipping her carefully... making sure that he supported her small frame.

"One day, a young girl came to the Opera... The Phantom spoke to her from the shadows and she believed he was the Angel of Music. The Phantom eventually found out that she was a musical genius too, but grief kept her revealing her true potential."

Pulling her back up, he held her close to him and continued...

"Thus he revealed to her a little bit of Heaven's Music, so that she could show the world who she truly was. He did everything he could for her because he was completely in love with her."

And when the music faded, their dance ended. He looked deep into her eyes, and whispered, in his own words, a line from the original novel:

"Say you shall share with me one love, one lifetime.
Lead me, save me from my solitude.
Say you shall want me with you here beside you.
Anywhere you go, let me go too.

Yuuki, that is all I ask of you..."

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