From in the closet of the makeup room, Amity watched Nori in the shadows. Her eyes gleamed intriguingly at her new prey. She watched Nori roam the room and wait patiently for her and Renee. When the blonde was not paying attention, Amity slipped out of the closet silently and crept behind the girl. Poking her head over her shoulder, Amity glanced at herself in the mirror while Nori looked at the things on the Vanity. Her breathing was light and the idol surveyed the young woman's every movement. Lowly, Amie whispered, "You smell nice, Nori-chan." After allowing the girl to react, Amity twirled to the couch and sat. Crossing her legs, her eyes watched the blonde like a hawk.

"I've been told many, many things about you. I wonder..." She tilted her head, her face blank of emotions.

"Kyle seems to like you very, very much. Without a doubt, more than me." Her left arm rested on the arm rest and her head rested on the palm of her hand. Amity's aura was dark and foreboding, as if she was trying to debate whether or not Nori deemed fit for her best friend. She had the looks but did she have the heart and the ambition? Did she have the perseverance? Was this young woman ready to sacrifice for her best friend... with a twitch of her lip, Amity thought to herself: only time could tell.

Her mind went back to the most recent time she and Kyle hung out... he had told her that Nori was off limits for her to test. The young idol would huff as she brushed black dye in his hair. Kyle was serious about Nori and she had to respect his wishes... rats! No fun. No fun, at all.

Breaking from her stupor, Amity jumped up happily, excitably, exclaiming, "I trust you won't hurt my Kyle-bear!". Her smile was unsettling as if telling the young woman to treat her friend with respect, or else. When Renee entered the room ready to do Nori's hair and makeup, Amity jumped up and down, ready for the transformation of Nori's life to unfold.

"Do you have anything in mind Miss Haywood? I'm capable of nearly every style you can think of. Here are some examples if you need references." While the two talked, Amity began shoveling macaroons in her mouth. She couldn't wait to see Nori in the dresses she took out... the little idol spent all day deciding the most ideal outfits for her. She was going to make Kyle swoooooooooon!

Some references of hair: ║1║2║3║4║ (and many more)

Some references of makeup: ║1║2║3║4║ (and many more)

---

"You smell nice, Nori-chan," says a voice, warm breath ghosting across the florist's cheek. The hair on the back of her neck starts to stand on end and she cringes, obviously startled by the tiny songstress sneaking up on her.

"Jesus, sweetheart, you scared me," Nori laughs nervously, taking a large step forward to put some much needed space between her and the starlet. The pink haired girl doesn't answer her immediately, instead opting take a seat on a plush couch and crossing her legs. All of the friendliness had drained out of Amity's eyes and in it's stead there was nothing but cold, calculating, indifference. 'Did I do something wrong?' Nori thinks, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"I've been told many, many things about you. I wonder..." Amity trails off, her long locks tumbling over her shoulder as she cocked her head slightly to the side. "Kyle seems to like you very, very much. Without a doubt, more than me," the smaller girl finishes and now all sorts of warning bells are going off in Nori's head. It feels like the temperature of the room has dropped as the florist's eyes dart towards the exit before settling back on Amity just as quickly. 'I've only known Kyle for two days, if you don't count the time I went home. Why would she think he likes me more than her? Aren't they best friends?' the blonde wonders, wrapping the blue robe tighter around herself like it would somehow protect her from this increasingly odd situation. "I trust you won't hurt my Kyle-bear!" Amity chirps, her voice bubbly again like it was in the foyer and beaming at Nori, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes.

At this point, Nori is thoroughly creeped out.

Do you have anything in mind Miss Haywood?" Amity's assistant asks, laying a had on her shoulder and guiding her over to the vanity, arranging the DJ so she is sitting in front of the mirror. "I'm capable of nearly every style you can think of. Here are some examples if you need references," the older blonde explains, setting a binder full of different hair and makeup styles on the counter in front of her.

"I, er, actually, I think I left the coffee pot on back at my place," Nori starts a little lamely, beginning to stand up, but the older woman beats her to it, laying a hand on the florist's shoulder and pressing her back down into the seat.

"Not to fret, Miss Haywood, we'll have someone see to it," the other blonde says, the tone of her voice demanding obedience. "Now, select a style, please," she instructs and Nori nods, using the mirror to see where Amity is standing behind them before averting her gaze back to the notebook and flipping through the pages. The florist wanted nothing more than to run screaming from this mansion, but she was already trapped in the viper's coils and the best she could hope for at this point was a quick, painless death.

"This looks pretty," Nori says quietly, before pointing down at a style of makeup that she likes. ""And I guess this one for the makeup," the florist decides and Amity's assisstant nods, opening a drawer and pulling out the appropriate products. The older woman picks up a foundation brush and Nori stopped her by saying, "Oh no, just the eyes and the lips, if you don't mind. Foundation makes my tattoo look weird," Nori laughs nervously and for a moment the assistant looks like she's going to ignore her, but then she relents, setting the brush down and picking up the lip liner instead.

"Of course, Miss Haywood. Now hold still," she commands and Nori nods before staying as motionless as possible.

After some time has passed the assistant ('Renee,' Nori reminds herself, having learned the other's name during the makeup session) has finished with her face and has moved on to the DJ's hair, her long fingers carding through it and gathering it up into a ponytail. "So," Nori starts, catching sight of Amity in the mirror again. "I actually thought Kyle was married the first time I went to his apartment," she tells the starlet, the corners of her now red lips turning up into a timid smile. "I saw the cake you got him and I jumped to the wrong conclusion," the blonde admits and Renee's hands still in her hair for a moment before they resume their work.

"But, just to be sure, you aren't married to Kyle, right? Or his girlfriend?" Nori asks the other girl, meeting her gaze head on. "Because if he is your Kyle-bear, then I don't want to get in the way of anything," she finishes, trying to be as subtle as possible but still get her point across. 'Sorry, I didn't know he was taken/you'd been pining after him/you wanted to have his babies, I'm not a homewrecker, I swear, please don't eat my soul!'

---

The rest of Kyle's bath had been fairly relaxing, the bath water almost felt like it had melted into his skin and relaxed his muscles considerably, he felt refreshed. When he did finally come out he quickly assembled his attire, putting on everything except the suit jacket, he looked at himself in the mirror and admired just how damn sharp he looked. He had spritzed himself with a little bit of the cologne before settling himself in front of the mirror to mess with his hair. After about 10 frustrating minutes of dissatisfaction no matter where he brushed his hair, he relented and rang the bell. Rupert entered shortly afterward and Kyle sat patiently as the butler styled his hair into something...attractive. When Rupert was finished Kyle inspected the butler's work, he was a very good hair stylist, despite the fact that he was lacking in that department himself. Kyle ran a couple of fingers over a black lock that draped off to the side of his face, framing it very well; it was then that...

Kyle tapped his foot impatiently as Rupert continued to fuss with the young man's tie, "Really Rupert, it was fine to begin with..."

"Nonsense Master Parker, your tie was only a half windsor, you're going to a ball, you need at least a full windsor."

"You do know you did this for my high school prom too right?"

"Yes and you were just as tasteless and classless back then as you are now, no offense of course."

"You bed all the ladies like that Rupert...?" Kyle shook his head and submitted to the compulsive desire the butler had to right Kyle's wrong.

"There," The butler said, a small satisfied smile creeping along his face as he brushed the young man of any dust or lint that might be on him. "The ladies should have finished their baths already, if you are ready, shall we proceed to Miss Amity's chambers?"

Kyle nodded and grabbed the suit jacket, draping it over his arm as they proceeded down the hall. As they neared her room Kyle could swear he was hearing...laughter, it wasn't until the doors were opened into the vanity room that he discovered the source of the booming hilarity. On the floor, rolling around, arms clenched to her stomach was Amity, a very confused looking Nori sat in a chair, her head directed at the pink haired idol, Renee, standing close by his date.

"Uh..." Kyle started as he approached the florist, hoping someone would fill him in.

Amie looks up at Kyle and is like "Dude. She's too cute. She thinks me and you, you and me..." laughs louder, "That's practically incest!"

Despite the loud noises she was making, Renee's voice came in clear as she leaned down to whisper to Nori, "You'll learn soon enough, Miss Haywood."

'Oh...so that what all that was about...' he thought. This wasn't the first time that he and Amity had been considered a couple. Most of the time Kyle just found it to be amusing and laugh it off, but considering it came from Nori, the brief thought that she still didn't think he was single made him feel a little put off. A hurt look flashed across his face, but in the instant it came it just as instantly disappeared, as he turned to look at Nori as the rolling Amity continued to holler with laughter.

"She's not exactly wrong, we've known each other long enough now that considering each other as a relationship potential is..." his face scrunched up a little in thought as his eyes darted around the room as though the words he wanted to say would just magically appear, before settling on "Weird..." At this point Amity had gotten up from the floor and moved over to the macaroons and was shoving the deserts in her face.

---

The next thing she knows Amity is on the floor, laughing hysterically in a way that was very reminiscent of a hyena and Nori doesn't even know what to think. The blonde's face flushes and she feels the sting of humiliation because there is a honest to goodness international superstar rolling around on the ground and laughing at her.

"Dude. She's too cute. She thinks me and you, you and me..." Amity stops here to take a shuddering breath and Nori turns to see that Kyle has entered the room, "That's practically incest!"

If she hadn't been looking Nori might have missed it completely. But as luck would have it she was, so the florist has a front row seat to watch Kyle's handsome features contort into this kicked puppy dog expression before it's wiped away a split second later. 'Breathe, Nori,' she reminds herself and she inhales deep, holding it for a moment before she blows it back out. 'Now let's look at the facts, shall we?'

1. This girl does not like you. She might dress you up and pretend to be friends in front of Kyle, but it's a game. She does not want you here. Why am you here, in her ridiculous mansion, if she doesn't want you here?

2. This is Kyle's best friend. She is always going to play an important part in his life and if you plan on being a part of it you are going to have to deal with her. He will always take her side over yours, and that's understandable, because he's known her longer. It'd be crazy for him to believe you over her, you've only know each other two days.

3. No matter what you do you keep hurting him. Since the arcade you haven't been together longer than four hours without chastising him for something. You're just going to keep letting him down. You need to minimize the damage you're going to cause him.

You need to stop this before anyone gets anymore attached than they already are.'

It's an awful realization, but even though it stings and she doesn't want to admit it, Nori knows it's probably for the best.

"Right," Nori says, getting up from the chair and shrugging Renee's hand off with conviction when she tries to stop her again. "I'm out," she murmurs, jaw flexing a little as she brushes by the pair of friends and retraces her steps back to the foyer. By some small miracle, her shoes, shirt, and long flannel shirt are still on the bench by the front door.

"Miss Haywood?" Iris calls, rounding the corner from the kitchens. "Are you leaving? You'll have to wait until I can fetch your dress, dear, that's Miss Bellerose's favorite robe."

Nori sees red for a moment and she growls, yanking the robe off and throwing it on to the bench, leaving her standing in nothing but her underwear. "Take it," The blonde hisses, tugging on her long flannel shirt and buttoning it up to cover most of her nudity. Iris's eyes widen to near comical levels as Nori stuffs her feet in her flats, bundling up her purse before she rips the door open, storming out onto the lawn. There is a random handyman who is cleaning out the gutters and he looks at Nori like she's insane, nearly falling of the ladder with his blatant gawking. The small DJ just scowls at him before she starts down the stupidly long driveway. Fumbling through her purse Nori pulls out her smart phone and shoots Jen a quick message.

Please come get me. Don't make me ask Dangermouse, he'll never let me live it down.
--Nori

---

Giving the idol a stern look to not say a word that would make things worse, not realizing Amity's face was completely withdrawn, Kyle sprinted after his love interest. Worryingly, Renee asked Amity if she wanted anything. The idol simply asked for time alone. Dismissing herself, Renee closed the door behind her and went to find Luke and Liam. Finding them both debating about politics at the kitchen counter, Liam being the more conservative of the two, Renee interrupted with an out most serious expression.

"Liam, I think Amity deserves some freedom tonight." The manager looked at her annoyingly. Not allowing to have him say no, she explained, "Her parents didn't come for Christmas. Sure, they sent gifts of things she really didn't need or want but-- We are the closest family she has and I can't help notice..."

"I know." Rubbing his forehead, Liam sighed, "I'm going to assume this whole 'Dress-Up' Nori went terribly wrong." Renee nodded, only love and care in her eyes. The assistant could be scary but she had a heart of gold that loved Amity dearly. They all loved their celebrity dearly. Standing up, Liam cracked his neck from strain, "I suppose I do want her to learn independence..."

Chuckling, Luke added, "You also have a goddamn date for once." Intrigue entered Renee's eyes.

"A date?"

Glaring at his brother, Liam corrected, "I simply want to repay her for helping us find Amity" he referred to the Sunday Amity performed at the casino.

"Why don't you enjoy yourself for once? I think we all need a day off. We can give Amity a night to herself and if she needs us, she can call us. Plus, it's not like anyone is going to recognize her. After all, I am a master artist." Reassuringly, Renee winked at Liam and waited for his response. Grabbing his dark coffee, Liam had an internal battle on whether or not he should let his wild idol be free for one night.

---

Sitting now by her Vanity, Amity looked at her face, her eyes completely deadpan and her fingers absentmindedly running through her curls. No matter what she did, she pushed people away. Earnestly, she wouldn't have minded a girlfriend other than Renee, who was basically her mother. Bringing her knees up to her seat, Amity hugged them and buried her face in her legs. Honest to a fault, when she showed people her true self. Maybe that's why she preferred being an actress... people loved her characters, but could never find it in their heart to love her. Was she desperate? She tried not to be.

Nori was a girl her best friend was interested in. Of course, the little idol would be a jealous, but she didn't mean to push her away. Amity was tempted to tell Kyle that Nori was nothing like his ex, Julia. The only female who took the time to understand her... but she didn't want to build a rift between her and Kyle. The last time that happened, she had a hard time coping with life... lashing out on nearly everyone because she hated herself.

One is the loneliest number. People only took her for face value. Amity Bellerose, the spoiled, rich idol. She can't possibly have a heart, right? Money fixes all her problems. Bringing her head up to stare at herself again, her eyes showed the humanity in her, as they welled up with water.


Trying to make a smile appear on her face, she looked at her appearance and hated what she saw. Her parents could careless about her, both fucking, walking Vanity projects that don't even reside in the same country together. They probably have bastards running around this whole world. Leaving their child in America was the best thing they had ever decided. All their mistakes could be forgotten, right? If they weren't going to be in her life, why did she have to do what they wanted. Her artwork wasted in storage. Even being miles away, they needed control. It didn't matter how old Amity was, as long as she had the Bellerose name, she belonged to them-- was that part of why she wanted to get married so bad? She could act up and ruin her career but she didn't like the feeling of being disowned. At least in this case, she had some kind of recognition. Though, it wasn't exactly what she wanted.

The only other child they acknowledged was her half-brother "Axis", who was a complete asshole. He wanted nothing to do with any of his family, yet made songs to ruin their reputation, especially Amity's.

Then there was her best friend.

Kyle... Kyle Parker. He went to Japan. Their paths pulled them apart, which is why she promised him she'd get there one day. They were unlikely friends, yet somehow they found their way to each other. Coming from two very different social classes, yet he accepted her... no matter how fucked up she could be. He really... cared. Wiping the tears running down her cheeks, her lips pouted as she tasted the salt on her lips.

Here she was, in Shine City, Japan, for him. But all she seemed to accomplish was making his life worse. Why should she continue being in his life? He'd have an easier time with Nori, if she wasn't part of the equation. Amity was a walking disaster, who tried to make a hurricane seem like a mild wind storm. Unfortunately, she couldn't let him go. She needed him. She needed someone, who wasn't Liam, Luke, or Renee.

Celebrities. People who are surrounded by fabricated attention. Everyone loves you!! Can I take a picture with you?! Hey Amity, can I get your autograph? Hey Amity, when will you visit us again? Hey Amity, we love you! Woah, Amity was found in a spa kissing a random stranger (That was a lie)! What a slut! Has Amity found a lover for her young heart? I'm so excited for the new episode of Guardian Angels. Stay tune, where Harmony has to decide: sacrifice her love and erase his memory or choose a life of chaos?! Oh my god, Rain, Rain, Go Away was a tear jerker! Amity truly captured the Goretti Case. That was definitely a monument moment of her career!

They didn't care. They just wanted to sap her dry and then toss her in a dump or drown her in a lake. At least her death would be a headliner.

Grabbing red lipstick, Amity ran it slowly over her face, she started on her cheek, making it to her lips and then scribbled it all over. To be loved, to have a more simpler life... that would be worth dying for.

“Hmm…” Ryoki seems thoughtful for a moment, as she contemplates the offer. “I honestly thought you wanted to take me in instead, but of course, I’ve no problems with letting such a gentlemanly fellow such as yourself take me out. I suppose there’s room for that later.” Ryoki giggles at her vague sexual references, nodding at Yutaro. “Well, tomorrow I’m completely stacked against the wall with deadlines, and the day after I need to do a few more things as well.” She wasn’t going to go into detail on how those things were just excuses to read her newly acquired manga, though she’d been working herself dangerously close to deadlines, lately. The raven believed she deserved some kind of break as a reward, if only for a day.

“So how does Wednesday night sound to you? Anything past the first two days is OK in my book, since I’m sure the release of a new song and it’s debut at Mochavine can surely be adjusted to fit… well, whatever feels best for you, hun~...!”

Yutaro immediately exclaimed with joy when Ryoki accepted, the momentary break in his composure evidence of just how head-over-heels he was for her right now. “Alright! I mean... “ he cleared his throat. “Wednesday’s fine for me. I only work nights on the weekend. I’ll make a reservation for 7:00 and send you the address.”

With her flirting done and dusted, she gives the man a quick blow kiss before walking away slowly. “I better get back to serving customers… Don’t worry, I’ll come back to talk to you, my dear Yutaro~! Teehee!”

Yutaro made a show of catching the kiss mid-air and rubbing it on his cheek. Then he held one hand up like a cat claw and let out a “Nya~” only to immediately bust out laughing. “Sorry, I can not do that with a straight face. Haha! I’ll see you later Ryoki.”

And with that, the femme fatale of Shine City mingled back into the casino’s populace, grinning to herself as she began to serve those whom requested her services.

’Heh. I’m looking forward to how you treat a woman, Mister Otamura… Ehehehe!’

Wednesday, 6:45 PM

Yutaro stood outside Lennocci’s Italian Restaurant wearing his . He always made it a point to show up at least fifteen minutes early for a date, as he couldn’t stand the idea of keeping a lady waiting; he had arrived thirty minutes early for this date because he especially couldn’t stand the idea of keeping Ryoki waiting.

The restaurant was one of the more upscale ones in Shine City, and required reservations well in advance. Yutaro had made theirs on Monday and had just managed to get them a table. The reviews for the place were mostly five-star, with just a few pedestrian restaurant-goers complaining about the dress code. Likewise, the prices were far too high to make Lennocci’s a regular spot for him, but when he really wanted to impress a girl he knew no better place.

Yutaro checked his watch regularly knowing full-well that doing so would somehow affect general relativity and literally make time move slower. He rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets, eagerly anticipating his date and trying to imagine what Ryoki would decide to wear. Surely her dress attire wouldn’t be as provocative as that bunny suit, but somehow he didn’t expect her to show up dressed modestly either. He checked his watch again. The second hand had crawled halfway across the face of the watch since the last time he checked. Although it didn’t show on his cool exterior, his pulse began to quicken as he wound himself up.

Ryoki hadn’t arrived until the clock had wound three minutes past the allocated time, the ticking likely driving the young man mad with anticipation. Her arrival, abrupt and sudden, didn’t deter from her beauty, though.

“Ah! Sorry I’m late! It was a pain trying to get this thing on… and going down hills on Upscale Heights really is annoying with a dress like this.

The poor lady was panting for breath, apparently exhausted, having ran half the way in order to make good time. “I’ve watched enough Date Alive to know that most people try to arrive early to their dates, so I’m really sorry if I made you wait too long! And don’t say you just arrived, because I know that’s a lie!” Despite the tone of voice, Ryoki was smiling, and soon her expression softens as she looks over Yutaro’s attire. “Nice clothes. I guess we’re a matching pair then, huh?” She asks, looking over her own dress. “This is just something I had in case there was some sort of fancy thing I need to attend… Now was as good a time to wear it as ever. I’ll also be wearing it to the ball. Have you heard of that, by the way?”

Like Gandalf the White riding towards the armies of Helms Deep, Ryoki arrived just as Yutaro’s hope began to waver. He knew that three minutes wasn’t that long to wait, but it still felt like three long lifetimes to the eager bachelor. But it was worth the wait seeing that beautiful woman running down the street all for his sake. Even though she was late, her effort put a smile on his face. “Hey, don’t worry about it. It’s only bad if the lady has to wait. We guys just love the suspense. Besides, I can’t really complain if you’re taking the time to put on such a gorgeous dress for me. It looks great on you!” It’d look even better off of you, he thought.

Then Ryoki brought up the subject of the ball. “Yea, the boss had a few invitations and he gave one to me. It sounded like fun so I want to go. I haven’t decided what I’ll wear to it though. Maybe just a tuxedo with a mask… or something. But anyway, let’s not miss our reservation. Shall we?” Yutaro offered Ryoki his arm before leading her into the restaurant. The decor inside featured landscape painting of the Italian countryside and candle-lit lamps offering just enough light to create a romantic atmosphere. Italian opera was playing in the background while many of the city’s wealthiest dined with their business partners, or celebrated their anniversaries.

Yutaro went up to the greeter. “Otamura, reservation for two.” They were promptly escorted by a gentleman wearing a suit even nicer than his own and white gloves to a table in the back of the restaurant. Above them was a picture of a quaint Italian house, and the music could be heard faintly on the other side of the restaurant. The waiter handed them the menus, which were completely in Italian of course, and asked if they would like to start with a drink. “Well,” Yutaro said, “If it’s alright with my date, I’d like to pick our meals first so I can choose the right wine to go with them.” The waiter nodded and listed the specials, then gave them a few minutes to decide.

Yutaro smiled at Ryoki. “So, do you need any help reading it? I studied a bit of Italian at the university so I know what most of it says.”

“Uhh… Yeah, I think I could use a bit of help.” Ryoki looked a little lost. The only italian meals she’d had were the simple stuff you could easily make at home and whatnot, though reading some of the dishes her made it clear they weren’t the same thing. “Damn, you really went all out on this, huh…? Well, if worst comes to worse, I can always just pick something at random and hope for the best! Oh, uh, but I’ll listen to your suggestions first, ehehe!”

The raven sets her purse by her chair as she sat, admiring the restaurant and it’s fanciness. Though she had been in many similar restaurants as a child, either of traditional or western style, she’d never been to an Italian place. Not to mention she hadn’t seen the likes of a restaurant in quite awhile, at least not an especially fancy one, unless you could call some of the places they had down near Shine Junction ‘fancy’. ’This must’ve been a fortune…’ She thought to herself. ’I think I found myself a sugar da- no! Don’t even go there! Not yet, at least… No, that’s still wrong! Ugh! Why are you so dirty…? I need to douse my brain in holy water…’

Yutaro grinned as he leaned over the table with his menu to explain some of it to Ryoki, perhaps a bit too eager to show off. “So, you see here up top where it says ‘antipasti?’ Those are the appetizers. And ‘insalata,’ that’s salad. ‘Vitello’ is veal…” He went on to describe the major components of the menu so that Ryoki would at least be able to pick a meat she liked, and described to her a few of the different sauces they used. He tried to put an Italian spin on the foreign words, but he still pronounced them with a pretty heavy Japanese accent… although nobody but the waiter was likely to know. “If you still need help, just tell me what you like and I can make a recommendation. Your enjoyment is my number one concern tonight.” He gave a little laugh as he waited for her to pick. He wanted Ryoki to choose first so that he could order the same kind of meat and get a wine that complimented both of their dishes.

Ryoki mulled it over, nodding and mumbling to herself about what she wanted. She was a fan of meat, but didn’t really want to make herself out to be some kind of carnivore on the first date. Salads and stuff were a reasonable choice, but alas she didn’t want to seem like a total bore, either. Well, it was unlikely she would be, given her rather distinct “personality” and “traits”, but it still bothered her. “I’m thinking either the special or what you recommend, because trying out new things is good and all… If you get what I mean, hehe!” She giggles a little and winks; once again she picked up on the fact that she thought choosing a salad was ‘boring’ and therefore ‘weird’, yet flirting with someone you barely know and making sexual advances towards them at work was perfectly fine. ’See? This is why you can’t talk to people.’ She humours herself, though gives her full attention to Yutaro as he spoke of what he recommended.

“Well, this certainly seems like a ‘special’ kind of night, so why don’t we go with that.” They would be getting a shrimp risotto for the appetizer, and the entree would be a specialty chicken dish served with a salad on the side. “So, that just leaves the wine. Since we’re getting white meat and seafood, a white wine would go best. Is Pinot Griggio fine with you?” Yutaro takes a look at the wine list. “Ooo, I’ve had that vintage before, we should definitely go with that.”

The waiter came and took their orders, not by writing it on a pad, but by simply listening and memorizing them. Now, with the food decided, they could move on to more normal conversations… or as normal as a conversation with Ryoki could get. “So, have you spoken to the boss yet about getting a gig at the casino?”

Ryoki shook her head. “Nope. Haven’t had the chance to yet, but I should be able to on my next shift. He seems like a nice enough guy to work for, though, so I’m sure it could be arranged. And even if he doesn’t agree, I’m sure a little persuasion could change his mind fairly quickly. I don’t plan on getting up there straight away, though. Maybe once I’ve gotten used to working here. You know, to help get some more future fans and all that?” Ryoki smirks, staring into Yutaro’s eyes with an almost natural softness that he may not have witnessed before. She was actually rather calm tonight, though of course that could change at any moment. “Speaking of music, I’ll be releasing my next song on the web tomorrow. I could send you a link with your number, if you so wish.”

“Hey, now, don’t ‘persuade’ him too much or I might get jealous,” Yutaro said, giving Ryoki a playful smirk. But then he noticed something different in her eyes. They weren’t sultry or seductive as they usually were. He didn’t feel like she was trying to pull him in with some well-laid trap. Her eyes were simply there, and they were beautiful. “Sure, send me the link. I’ll go ahead and check it out.” He found himself almost entranced by that calm, natural look she was giving him, and was only saved from being caught staring by the waiter arriving with their wine. He popped the cork and filled both of their glasses. “So, it’s our first toast. What should we drink to?”

“The moment?” She asks with a smile. “That’s a fallback plan, hehe!” Ryoki then gave a thoughtful look as she pondered what they could toast to. “The casino? Eh, sounds a little weird… Ooh, how about the new year? It doesn’t hurt to toast it a little early, right?” Ryoki nods to herself in a somewhat comical, self-entitled way, as though she’d just thought of the perfect idea. “Or perhaps… our little date with destiny?”

Yutaro chuckled at her indecisiveness. “That sounds like a lot of complicated ways of saying, ‘To us.’” He raised his glass and wore a warm smile. The date had only just begun and he was already enjoying these few personal moments with Ryoki, and he hoped that they could enjoy many more. “To us,” was certainly a fitting toast in his mind.

“Hmm… Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” She smiles and holds up her wine to clink. “To us,” she grins as she spoke those words, “and to whatever else we probably should be toasting to, but don’t remember.”

Their glasses clinked, accompanying Yutaro’s happy laughter. And at that, their appetizer arrived, a savory shrimp risotto delicately seasoned with fresh cheese and spices. Yutaro took one fork full and was immediately in heaven. “Mmm, I forgot how good the food here tasted. The only downside is that it makes me feel bad about my own cooking.” The rice was cooked perfectly, the shrimp was soft and tender, and the whole bite just melted in his mouth turning flavor into a high art.

For Ryoki, the taste was very much the same - euphoric and delicious. “Mmm! I see what you mean!” She speaks with some food in her mouth, quickly excusing her bad manners. “Oh, that’s right, fancy restaurant. Ehe, sorry.” She then continues eating at a healthy pace, relishing her every bite and taste of the food. “This is amazing! You’re right about the cooking thing, though… I wonder if they make coffee half as good as they make appetizers, though.” The Raven grins. Tonight was turning out to be a good night so far. “Which reminds me: I didn’t know you can cook. I always thought most guys survived off microwave food, though I can understand the need of cooking well enough. All it takes is one look at some of the girls partying in Club LUSH and you know they couldn’t cook to save a life! In fact, they’d probably be the ones taking them!”

“Wow, you sure take your coffee seriously if you’re willing to buy it from a place like this,” Yutaro teased. “But yea, I made it a point to learn some basic cooking. I’m no chef by any means, but you can always make something more nutritious and less expensive by buying the ingredients and cooking it yourself.” The risotto went down easy and all too soon his plate was empty. “So, when you’re not making music or being a sexy bunny, what do you do for fun?”

Ryoki looks at him, surprised. “Who’s to say music isn’t fun?” She asks, before chuckling. “Don’t worry, I get what you mean. Well… Let’s see…” She looks thoughtful for a moment, interrupting her silence with a sip of wine. “Well… Uh… I like watching anime, and playing games. And reading manga… Uh…”

’Oh god… This isn’t going well…’

Yutaro was surprised to see this small bout of awkwardness come from the woman who was always able to one-up him in their banter. Was she actually getting nervous, or was she embarrassed in saying that her primary interests were anime and manga, as if their was something inherently unappealing in them. Yutaro wasn’t much of a fan himself, but he had dabbled a bit in the horror genre and he certainly wouldn’t mind giving it a shot if that’s what Ryoki was into. But for now…

“I’m actually a bit of a gamer myself,” Yutaro said, latching on to the common interest, hoping to pull Ryoki out of her fit of awkwardness. “It’s actually why I decided to get into the casino business. I’ve always loved playing games of all kinds, so the prospect of actually making a career around games was too good to resist. If you’ve ever seen the name ‘LuckyFlush21’ online, then we’ve met.” He gave a little laugh. “Subtle name, I know.”

“Neither is ‘LadyoftheMoon4’, but hey, at least I know you play games now! Ehehe! If you've got a ‘Fog’ account, we could be friends n’ stuff!” She smiles, letting her guard down for the moment, snapping into a state of excitement - it would evolve more-so if the conversation continued this way. “I play a lot of games myself, but I fail to see the link between casinos and- oh, wait, never mind, I just got it.”

She grins a little sheepishly. “Sorry, at home there's not much that I do outside of those things… I'm a bit of an… well… An otaku.” Ah, so that was it. Ryoki’s one flaw in her bundle of perfect, if one could consider it a ‘flaw’. “I can get a little obsessive over things too. It's a dangerous habit, and I really should stop. And the occasional roller coaster mood when I'm alone. Aside from that I'm not a bad person, though, I swear!”

’I’m also obsessive over Kao- stop it! And Iruka- no!’ She mentally slapped herself, smiling unknowingly to herself.

Yutaro gave her a compassionate smile when Ryoki confessed her embarrassing hobby. It was kind of cute seeing her plead for his acceptance, but at the same time he felt honored that she trusted him enough to open up to him like that. “I don’t see that as anything to be ashamed of,” he said at last in a matter-of-fact voice. “I mean, sports fanatics start fires in the streets and flip busses over and stuff. When’s the last time you’ve heard an otaku do something like that?” He gave a light-hearted laugh to try to help her relax. “I know a bit about obsessive behavior, and trust me, I can tell you’ve got it under control. Hell, maybe you can find some shows that we both like. If your dvd collection is as big as you’re making it out to be, then there’s got to be something I can get into.”

At that their dinner came: a succulent chicken cutlet over pasta cooked in a specialty house sauce. The waiter filled up their glasses again and they continued their conversation. Since Ryoki had opened up to him like that, Yutaro decided it was only fair that he shared a little something in return. “If you want a little something to make fun of me for, there is a little project I’ve been doing on the side since high school. It’s a… err… card game. You know, like Wizardry. When I’m done with it I want to send the idea to Inland Sorcerers and see if they’ll bite.” Yutaro rubbed the back of his head, blushing a bit in embarrassment himself this time. “I know, fat chance. But that’s why I’ve got the casino gig going.” He smiled, waiting for her to tease him about his long-shot idea, but he’d rather be embarrassed himself than see her ashamed of her own interests.

Ryoki was especially invested in the conversation after hearing him mention her collection, though was also interested in the topic of his developing card game. “What's the game like?” She asks, curious to know what it was about. It interested her, and she wished to know more - it explained why he was so good with cards, after all.

Yutaro certainly hadn’t expected Ryoki to be interested in his game. In fact, most of the girls he dated never even ended up finding out about it. But if her interest was piqued, he had no problem delving into it. “Well, you know how in Wizadry the goal is basically just to beat the snot out of the other person? Well, I’m working on a system where each player has three separate strongholds and the idea is to take over all of them. I’m worried that it’s a little complex and I’m trying to simplify the rules a bit, but I think the concept works. The biggest hurdle, though, is going to be finding an artist. I suck at drawing, and I need to at least get some concept art before they’ll even look at the idea.” Yutaro shrugged. “But, hey, I’ve got plenty of time for that. Like I said, it’s just a side project.”

“So it’s like a conquest or domination type game in cards? Sounds pretty cool - you’ll have to teach me some time and we can have a game, and perhaps I can help you work on it till then.” She smiles at his mention of a concept artist; Ryoki knew of someone who might be able to help, though she wasn’t quite sure of his skills. “I might just know a guy who can help with that - your artist problem, that is… Well, I’m not sure if his skills are very great yet, but in his free time I’ve caught him sketching and stuff, and I’ve always looked to him to help me find art for the covers of my albums and whatnot. If he can’t do it, then he’ll know someone who can, probably.”

Frankly, Yutaro was stunned that Ryoki was so receptive to the idea. Had he seriously found a girl that had offered to sit down and play a children’s card game with him? You better not screw this one up, Yutaro. “You have no idea how helpful that would be. The art doesn’t have to be perfect, because they’ll hire a team of artists if they decide to print the cards, but I’ll need to have some good concept art to show them. And of course, you’re always welcome to play with me.” The flirtatious tone filled his voice once again. Maybe it was the wine, but after a productive conversation like that he was ready to just goof around with her again, a battle of wits where they were both in their element.

Ryoki took a sip of wine and felt it begin to flow through her, like she could feel it in her blood. It was strange, for alcohol seemed to affect people differently, and for her she was fully aware of where it was in her system. She felt a little heavier, but didn’t let this show nor affect her posture, as she quickly proceeds into the chicken and pasta - the main course special they had ordered.

And oh boy, was it gooooooood…!

“So,” she begins after swallowing a mouthful of pasta, “how much did this cost you, honestly? I feel like I should pay you back, but I don’t think you’d accept charity.” She giggles as she gently brushes away a strand of hair, adding in a devious tone: “Though I’m sure you’d accept other services, right~...?”

You don’t want to know how much this cost, Yutaro thought, somewhat relieved that she recognized this as extravagant and not the norm for him. However, he was more than happy to meet her with a retort. “Well, you’ve certainly racked up quite a bill, but I’m certain we can work out some kind of payment plan after I walk you home.” As he said that, he gave her his signature grin, his cheeks lightly flushed from the alcohol. Part of him hoped that her advances would amount to more than an enjoyable tease this time around.

“Is that all? I imagined you’d want to do a little more than walk me home~!” The Raven winks, before bursting into a fit of childish giggling. “S-sorry, hehehehe! I just feel pretty giggly right now! Ehehe!”

Yutaro leaned forward, chuckling back, Ryoki’s laughter a bit contagious. “Well I did say after didn’t I? You wanted to play cards, so how about we play a little game of poker. Only problem is I’m out of money to bet with, but I do have quite a bit on me…” It was a brazen move, even for Yutaro, but given Ryoki’s personality it would be easy enough to play off as a joke if she refused. If she accepted, though, well… that would just make his night.

Ryoki smirks and mulls the idea over. She knew that one day something like this was bound to happen, and she knew she’d regret acting the way she did. Which she does. Right now. But then again, if it only stayed a fun little game for them both, then maybe, just maybe, she could get out of doing something she’d barely done before.

“Poker sounds like fun; is this the kind where we bet cotton instead of coin?” She asks straightforwardly, as though the idea hadn't fazed her in the slightest. She’d have to keep an eye on how much she drank, if she was going to go through with it. Didn't want to make any bad decisions, now, would she?

She smirks at Yutaro. “So long as we keep within the boundaries of the game, I think a little friendly match could be arranged.” She swallows down her pride and musters up her courage, before adding, leaning in slightly over the table: “Perhaps even a little touching, if the bet is high enough. A little skin-to-skin bonding time never hurt anyone, right~? Ehehe!”

A gleeful grin swept across Yutaro’s face as Ryoki so forwardly accepted his offer. He didn’t care what boundaries she set; strip poker after a first date was a freaking win! “I’ll be betting silk myself,” he said, tugging lightly on the sleeve of his suit and giving a small laugh, “but you’re free to bet whatever you’re willing to lose… or give.” He gave her a wink and another flirtatious laugh. He was taken slightly aback, though, when she mentioned “skin-to-skin bonding time,” and blushed much like when she had offered him her phone. “Well I certainly don’t see any harm in it, especially if it comes at the request of a beautiful woman.” He finished the last bite of his chicken, savoring its flavor, but wondering if he would savor what was yet to come even more.

Ryoki laughs. “You're such an innocent lil’ charmer!” Whether he took that as some kind of compliment or teasing was up to him, but Ryoki seemed happy. She always enjoyed seeing men blush and wriggle in their seat from the nerves - evil, yes, but fun. She dips her head as she slurps up the remainder of her pasta, having finished the meal in short bursts, patting her lips with a napkin to clean off any residue. “Ah, that was amazing…! Remind me to come here again. Maybe next time, I'll invite you?” She asks with a playful grin, as a stray lock of hair falls down her face, resting itself to one side of her nose.

Yutaro smiled back. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m sure I can set aside chivalry for another visit to a place like this.” Indeed, it would be a while before he could afford to come to Lennocci’s again, especially with Christmas so close, but if that offer meant that Ryoki would foot the bill -- and it was actually kind of impressive that she could -- there would be no complaint on his end.

“Ah, but as for our little game…” Ryoki continued. “Well, don't expect to do much more than looking, though if you really want I'll let you touch, just once. Just try and keep it above the belt, m’kay darling~?” With a satisfied look on her face, the Raven pours herself a glass of water, gulping the contents down all at once to rehydrate herself.

Yutaro replied, “Sure thing sweetheart. One needn’t touch the art at the museum to appreciate its beauty. Plus, there’s plenty for me to enjoy above the belt. However... “ He gave Ryoki a lusty grin. “I never did get a chance to take out your phone. It’s been killing me all week wondering what I missed out on…” Then his smile turned friendly again and he leaned back and laughed. For all of Ryoki’s flirtation, Yutaro was getting the feeling that she liked to take things slow, and he was perfectly ok with that. Just spending time with her had already made this one of the best nights he’d had in a long time.

So, they finished the meal and when the bill came, Yutaro snuck his money into the little black folder without letting Ryoki see any of the numbers or answering any of her inquiries to the amount. With that, he put on his coat, thanked the waiter with a quick, “Grazie,” and began to walk Ryoki home.

As they walked, Yutaro took her arm in his and dared to hold her hand, letting their fingers interlock. Suffice it to say, he was in high spirits and chatted happily about what games he had on his Fog account, and asked Ryoki what anime she would recommend if he were to start getting into it. He laughed regularly, keeping the conversation light-hearted and fun, and they eventually arrived at Ryoki’s front door.

“Ryoki, before we start misbehaving, I just want to tell you something real quick…” Yutaro stopped, took both of her hands in his and looked her straight in the eye, his expression gentle, but serious. He didn’t want to taint what he was about to say with ulterior motives. “Tonight has easily been the best night of the year for me, and the meal wasn’t even the best part. If I can be blunt for a moment, I think you’re amazing Ryoki. You’re kind, you’re smart, you know how to have fun, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of taking out. I’ve been with a lot of girls, but this one feels different to me, and no, that’s not a line that I tell every girl I date.” There was nothing but honesty in his eyes as he said this. “What I really want to say is, I hope this lasts…” He smiled, reaching up to tuck a lock of Ryoki’s raven hair behind her ear, and then leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her lips.

’It begins like a fairy tail…’

That thought rung through Ryoki’s mind as their lips made contact, her own having that soft, almost squishy texture to them - gentle, by the very definition of the word. Ryoki allowed her body to work on it’s own as she wraps an arm up and around his shoulder, the other resting brazenly on his chest. The contact may have been short; nothing more than a few seconds, Ryoki knew, but it felt like an eternity had just passed. No, not quite an eternity. More like a new age - a brand new chapter to a story; the next level. Things felt like they… progressed quickly, and yet, the moment lingered, as time found itself working in a variety of different ways.

’I hope it never ends…’

She found herself breaking the engagement on that thought, looking up at the casino dealer with a smile worth a diamond and a face red like cherry. Her eyes glisten with something that is both happiness and, quite strangely, thankfulness, staring the man down for a moment -- though not a fleeting one -- and lets out a faint giggle. “You know, you’re not so bad yourself.” Ryoki winks. “I’ve never had the best of luck when it comes to picking out boyfriends, believe it or not. The few relationships I’ve had were mostly one-sided and generally pretty… well, let’s just say one of us would control the other. But, as you say, this feels different. Call it chemistry, if you will.” The black-haired beauty allows herself another sweet giggle as she looks up at her place. “I enjoyed this, Yutaro Otamura. I enjoyed this night a lot. And I hope the night continues to bring good fortune upon us both…”

Yutaro couldn’t begin to describe the joy that he felt to hear his feelings reciprocated. He wanted to jump for joy and showboat like a football player who had just scored a touchdown. However, if there was one thing the dealer was good at, it was keeping cool. “Ryoki Mochizuki,” he said, “I can promise you one thing right now. This is definitely not going to be one-sided, and if you ever feel like I’m controlling you, I’d be happy to talk about it. Heh, ever since we met, I’ve been telling myself, ‘Don’t screw this up Yutaro.’ I’m glad to see that I didn’t.” His expression once again turned playful. “But, I think that’s enough mushy stuff. We’ve got a game to play!” He stepped back and waited for the princess to invite him into her castle.

The princess nods and smiles as she opens her castle doors, leading him inside and giving him a basic tour of the apartment building in which she called home. Within a couple of minutes, the two arrive at the front door to her apartment, and Ryoki unlocks the door using her key. “Just so you know, I’m going to get changed into something a little more ‘homely’, unless you want play the game using our current attire. I don’t mind which, honestly.” She smiles and opens the door, taking a step inside and guiding him into her place, closing the door behind them…

“Change into whatever you think will make the game more exciting,” he said, and then added with a little chuckle, “I promise, tempting as it may be, not to peek.”

Inside, Yutaro finds himself presented with a simple yet spacious apartment, at least the main section appears to be. The kitchen and living room were joined together in order to save space, and there were two doors opposite the entrance, both open and revealing that one was her bedroom and the other was the bathroom. In the centre of the living space was a large, comfortable couch, facing a 50 inch plasma screen TV. Both of which looked like they were used regularly. From the entrance, the young casino dealer could make out that Ryoki’s room was somewhat of a mess, and could see that her bed hadn’t been made, there were clothes everywhere, and her computer was still on. Ryoki sighs seeing the state of her room.

“Sorry for the mess. Please, make yourself at home. Would you like anything to drink? I’ve got the best coffee beans in the city, bought straight from Mochavine!”

“Sure, coffee sounds good,” Yutaro said as he took a seat at the table where they would be playing cards. “You know how I like it.” With that he took out a deck of cards from his coat pocket and began shuffling, showing off with a trick shuffle or two when he caught Ryoki looking. He sat at the table with his dealer face on, waiting for his opponent to take her seat whenever she was ready to start.

Ryoki put the kettle on and headed into her room to get changed out of her dress and into something that was a lot more comfortable. She decided on wearing the same outfit she wore when they first met. It was interesting and sexy, at least she thought so. However, she hesitated in taking the scarf. “Screw it, I got this personality from grandma apparently, anyway…”

With a smile, the raven-haired Ryoki exited her room a minute or two later, just in time to catch the boiling kettle. She poured the two a special brew of Mochavine’s famous coffee and soon made her way to the table, sitting opposite him, handing him a mug as she took her seat. “So… Are you ready to begin~?”

Without a word, Yutaro took a sip of the coffee and began dealing. “You know how five card draw works, right? You get five to start, discard up to three cards, and draw again trying to get the best hand. Loser has to pay up.” And with that, Yutaro took a look at his hand, his master poker-face not revealing the slightest clue what he had. Even with the rules as luck-based as they were, Yutaro knew all the best moves to make in every situation, but he decided to take it easy on Ryoki. After all, he wanted the game to be fun for both of them. He took the lead in the first couple of hands, but then intentionally slipped up, altering his skill level so that they were roughly even throughout. Off came his shoes, his suit, his tie, and eventually he was left sitting in his pants and undershirt, grinning at the damage he had done to his opponent.

The damage was quite visual. First came the shoes, followed closely by her scarf. After that was her stockings, and then the overalls. There was a pause as Yutaro let up a little in his assault, however it hadn’t lasted very long. Her skirt was lost, and with this latest move, her shirt. Now Ryoki was starting to feel bare, with barely anything left under the waist, and nothing more than her own undershirt and bra left above. The reveal of the black undershirt had been a cruel one indeed, however it wasn’t like she had infinite clothing on - Yutaro could see she was running out of things to bet.

As they played, Ryoki would engage in conversation and give comments and compliments towards Yutaro in order to make it feel less awkward - silent. Ryoki was pretty much fine in stripping down in front of him, but she wasn’t sure if he felt the same way. Even so, she could see the wolf-like look in his eyes as he stared at her, hidden beneath his calm, dealer’s persona. She had a feeling this was all playing out into his hand, but didn’t want to admit defeat so easily just yet. “Running out of clothes?” She asks with a playful smirk, taking a sip of her coffee. “I hope you’re not feeling too uncomfortable over there, teehee! I might just have to wriggle on over to comfort you~.”

Yutaro laughed at Ryoki’s banter, tugging down on the collar of his undershirt as if adjusting it, but in reality giving her a little preview of what he planned to show her. “I’m more concerned about you. You’ll catch a cold walking around so lightly dressed. I might have to help warm you up.” Despite his confident remarks, he couldn’t help but blush when Ryoki stripped down to her undershirt. While the bunny suit she wore at work was technically more revealing, the excitement of the game, and the fact that he was so close to victory made her look even more alluring. However, fate would not grant him his victory this round. Even though he made the best move, luck gave him the worst cards, and Ryoki proved to have the winning hand.

“Looks like tonight’s your lucky night,” he said, and then he pulled his shirt up over his head. His body, while not muscular, was definitely in shape, but he wasn’t ready to quit just yet. After all, he was still wearing his pants. “I’ve got one more thing I’m willing to bet. Be an angel and give me one more chance.”

Yutaro dealt the cards, no longer holding back. He had an ok start, the beginnings of a straight, but it wasn’t ideal. However, when he discarded and drew, the pendulum of luck swung back in his favor. He laid down a straight flush. “Haha! Let’s see you beat that!”

… However, Ryoki looks up at him with a devious smirk. One that almost cried certain victory for his opponent…!

… Well, until she lowered her head down onto the table and showed her hand: three of a kind! But unfortunately, it wouldn’t be enough. Ryoki would have to pay…

...with her shirt.

However, she didn’t let this get her down, as she raises her head with a smile on her face. “Well, I guess you got the better hand this time, Yutaro.” She smiles, acknowledging his win with a small bow. “And a deal’s a deal. I guess I should show you what’s underneath this shirt, huh?” The Raven already had her hands at the ends of her shirt. Ryoki had lost, fair and square, and thus would put on something of a show for the winner. Just to add a little fun into the mix. It wouldn’t be right to have her straight up remove the shirt, now would it?

However, just as she was about to go through with it, an idea came to mind. “Actually…~” Her voice trails into that oh-so-familiar sexy tone of voice she used almost as often as her common tone. “How about you take it off for me, hmm~? Consider it a bonus for beating me.” Her stare was compelling; it was almost as though she were daring him to walk over and take the challenge…

Yutaro’s heart began to race as Ryoki teased the bottom of her shirt, his grin growing wider and wider. This was truly a prize to revel in, but then she stopped and offered him something else. He raised his eyebrow, and then let out a delighted chuckle. “Well now, can’t exactly say no to that now can I.” His face the portrait of jubilation, Yutaro walked over and gently grabbed the bottom of Ryoki’s shirt. He peeled it up slowly, enjoying his reward inch by inch. As he pulled her shirt up, his hands lightly brushed against her body, entirely on accident of course! Then finally he gave it one last pull, clearing her substantial bosom and clearing her head. Afterwards, he stood close to her, admiring her gorgeous body, a deep blush filling his cheeks. He could just barely feel her breath on his bare chest. And then he let out a low whistle. “I think that’s the best bet I’ve ever won!”



Ryoki looks down at herself, catching on to his staring, and chuckles. “I think I’ll take that as a compliment!” She replied cheerfully, admiring his body also. “Despite the loss, I think the experience alone was well worth it. Especially when seeing him without a shirt.” Her eyes flicker, darting all around before finally finding his face again. It was like a maze trying to get there without being distracted, though. “Well, I hope you enjoyed the game, Yutaro. I know I sure did. Perhaps in the future, after a little while, we can play again? Though perhaps when that happens, we’ll be able to delve into the more… advanced way to play.”

“Ryoki, we can play again anytime, and I’d love to open up the ‘advanced rulebook.’” Yutaro gave a happy laugh. Ryoki was making it clear that this was as far as she was willing to go tonight, but it had still been an amazing night, so Yutaro offered no complaint. He gathered up his clothes and began to dress himself, doing a hasty job but getting every article of clothing back on his body at least. “I’ll call you when I get a chance to listen to that new song of yours.” He walked back over to her and gave her an affectionate look. “Goodnight Ryoki. I’ll see you soon.” He leaned in for one final kiss and then took his leave.

Ryoki was willing to give the man what he wanted - to be fair, she wanted it too, as they engaged in one final act of romance: a parting kiss. She musters a soft “goodbye” as he leaves, and simply stands there for a few moments, staring at the doorway, not quite sure what to think…

… before proceeding to giggle like a Japanese schoolgirl, that is. “Ahhhhhhhh! He’s just so freakin’ good! I love it!” She squirms without shame, half naked in her living room of her apartment, humming to herself a simple melody. Grabbing her clothes, she sets them out on the couch, opting to wear them tomorrow, before headed towards her bathroom. “Wow, you really worked up a sweat, Ryoki! Time to have a shower!” She giggles again, practically prancing about as she turned on the steaming hot water. This was the daily life of Ryoki Mochizukki: a woman who would have extreme highs and extreme lows - a rollercoaster of emotion, creation and energy. She was the kind of woman who couldn’t really be described with a single word. She was the kind of person who could come across as hard to read, yet equally friendly and familiar. Such was the nature of Ryoki, and such was the way she lived her life.

Adjusting the temperature on the shower before she got fully undressed and ready to wash away the day’s troubles, a thought crosses the Raven’s mind.

’You know what…? Today was a good day…!’

The remainder of the week was relatively busy for Ryoki. After such an eventful night, the mistress found herself on a tight music schedule as she had finally uploaded that new song of hers. It was something she found inspiration in only recently, basing it around her experiences in Shine City and, more recently, her love life. Thursday was the upload day, and she was pleased to find that her followers took to this new song well. Perhaps even better than some of her other songs. She doubted she’d created a hit, however, it appeared as though Ryoki’s luck had come a day late. As it just so happened, this new song was being made viral at a rate Ryoki hadn’t even witnessed before, though she wouldn’t come to realise how popular the song had become until the following Saturday. After uploading the song, Ryoki had made early preparations for the ball and helped her sister, Mokyu, pick out something nice for the event. It was fun, yet draining, and was the reason she wasn’t able to check her computer…

Friday was a busy day too. Booking an early schedule at Mochavine, Ryoki played almost all day for the coffee shop, making sure to send a text to all whom may be interested to see her perform. Needless to say, playing music all day, although fun, was pretty draining, and so she sent herself to an early night’s sleep for once. Early Saturday came with the shocking revelation that, apparently, one of her songs had become incredibly popular - that being her newest track, of course. Filled with giddy excitement, things were starting to look up for the aspiring musician.

And so our lady found herself once again at the beginning to a night of wonder and excitement. New Year’s Eve was here, and with it, the ball. She decided on going with the more European vibe, as was the theme and all, with her mask and dress picked out and ready to go. Now all she had to do was wait…

The young dealer’s spirits were noticeably higher after his date with Ryoki. Yumeno at the casino knew Yutaro too well and approached him several times for the “juicy details,” to which Yutaro simply replied, “We just played cards.” However, his giddy smirk revealed that there was more to the story than he was telling. He checked out Ryoki’s new song, as well as some of her others, and sent her some encouraging comments about it. “Love the sax parts,” he said in a text, not realizing that he may have been part of her inspiration for it. He had to admit, she had a beautiful voice and made it a point to see her play at mochavine, but unfortunately she had been too busy for them to spend much time together.

However, his mood began to sour as Christmas approached. A couple of days before he was about to visit his family, his phone rang. It was his mother. “Hey mom… yea I should be able to make it this year… yea, don’t worry, I’ll be there this time…” He frowned and rubbed his temples as she talked. “Yea, I know I haven’t been taking any of his calls… Because I don’t want to talk to him, ok… I won’t bring it up if he doesn’t… yea, I’m writing it now. I’ll stick it in the card so it doesn’t get lost.” Yutaro had his checkbook out in front of him and a check with everything filled out except the amount. “It’s not going to be as much this time… Because I don’t have it… I’m doing fine, I just don’t have as much this time…” Yutaro let out a heavy sigh. “Yea, I know. I’m trying… love you too. See you on Christmas.”

With a sigh Yutaro hung up the phone, then pulled up Ryoki’s information and decided to give her a call. She was probably busy, since it went to voicemail. “Hey, you’re busy so I’ll make this quick.” His voice didn’t have the usual charm to it, but he didn’t let his stress spill over. “Just wanted to make sure you don’t forget how awesome you are. See you soon.” And that was that. Just a little message to take the bitter taste out of his mouth.

He showed up at his family’s house for Christmas, ate, exchanged cards, handed over the check, and left. It was a quiet evening, and they managed to get through it without a fight.

For the ball Yutaro had found a new getup that looked fun. He had done a search for “Tuxedo with Mask” and this one was apparently very popular. It was complete with a cape that looked like it would be fun to throw about dramatically, and he could definitely use a bit of silliness. And alcohol. He planned on drinking a lot of alcohol at this party. He and Ryoki had agreed that it would be more fun for them to try to pick each other out from the crowd, and that there would be no hard feelings if they messed up. Before leaving for the party, he sent her a text, “See if you can pick your prince charming out from all the hot guys!” And then he was off to the mansion to totally cut loose.

Amity Bellerose

As she entered the town hall, her clear, 4 inch heels resounded through the building. With her newly bought heels, she was just a pinch over 5’6 in height. Having already handed her ticket at the door, Amity was motioned to give her jacket to an attendant that patiently waited by the closet. Strange feelings filled Amity’s little heart as no one followed in after her. For once, she was allowed to have complete freedom. Liam had given her precautions though. Pepper spray, a taser, and a beeper that would directly inform the trio of an emergency.

Putting her hand on her chest, her heart felt conflicted, heavy and excited. Happy to do what she pleased, but upset on what had happened earlier. Getting her mind off of the unfortunate event, Amie looked at a white banner with gold text that read: ”Happy New Years Eve Shine City!” and in smaller print: ”Can you find our special guest?” If someone were to discover Amity, they would win two spa tickets to Paradise. Opening up her small handbag, she saw the golden envelope, which held the prize. Nodding to herself, Amity was going to take on this night, unnoticed and just like everyone else.

After the idol gave her double-breasted flared peacoat, red of color, to the serviceman, thanking him as she did so, she came across a framed mirror. Staring at herself, she thought, “... Renee really out did herself.”

Amity couldn’t even recognize the woman in the mirror. Her pink hair was hidden under a perfectly fitted brown wig. The wig looked soft and gentle, not wild and curly like her actual hair. Her blue eyes were hidden under brown contacts and a gold mask, adorned with diamonds, rested on her delicate, fair skin. She wore a breathtaking, white lace draping shoulder gown that revealed her small bust in the most elegant way.

Taking a deep breath in, she approached the large doors that would lead to where everyone else was. The moment she drew near the doors, two men in their own masks and unwrinkled tuxedos opened the door to reveal an extravagant ballroom with one hell of a fanciful party going on (something she was more than familiar with). Giving them a gracious look, she glided into the room with her dress inches away from touching the ground. Kyle was no where to be in sight... sure, things this afternoon happened so abruptly but she wouldn't have minded seeing him. Her lips curved into a frown but she immediately shook her sadness away. NO!

Her hair bounced with every step she took. Her eyes looked all around her, admiring the venue. Temporary joy was still some sort of happiness she’d accept wholeheartedly. The idol was determined to enjoy herself even if her heart ached.

Tonight, she wasn’t going to be Amity, the bubbly celebrity everyone knew best. Tonight, she was going to be simply Amie and partially act like her quiet character, Satomi, from the big slasher/horror documentary called Rain, Rain Go Away , based on the infamous Goretti case. The main thing Satomi and Amity had in common was they were cheerful, which made them strongly approachable, and passionate in what they believed in. They were also wonderfully personable and loved life. Yet, the difference of the two was how they presented themselves. Amity didn’t mind shining while Satomi wanted to shine subtly. Regardless, the both of them were radiant stars in the night sky.

Maybe tonight, Amie would be able to find someone nice to talk to about the little things… but first! To the bar! She was in need of white wine to put her in a good mood - hell knows she needed a drink. Passing the dessert table, the idol looked at it with desire and whispered to herself, “I will come back for youuuuu.” Slowly but surely, her mood was getting better.

Shou Matsuoka

8:35 PM,
New Year's Eve

The silver haired professor swirled the drink in his hand, drops of deep red swishing and glittering in the elaborate lighting of the room. Whoever organised this event really had outdone themselves. Everything was perfect to a T, and not a single person roamed the floor without a mask obscuring their identity. Even the servers hid mischievous, mysterious smiles behind a set of masks (albeit, these were a lot more uniform, black with accents of silver). Consciously, he raised a hand to the mask he wore, finally some colour to break the monotony of his black and white ensemble, minus the scarlet corsage nestled neatly into the lapels of his suit jacket, the ribbon wrapped around his top-hat, and the matching gem that gleamed in the golden holder for his cravat. His own mask was a slightly darker colour, blood-red with its own golden accents. He had opted to keep his glasses at home (because one would look silly wearing a mask and glasses) and instead, curious brown eyes swept across the room from behind contact lenses. Finding not much of interest, he gave the masked bartender a polite smile before lifting his goblet to his lips, and taking a long sip from the drink. It wasn’t sweet - just how good wines were meant to be. He relished the taste, in a way.

And that’s when he saw her.

Hand immediately growing shaky, he was forced to lower the glass back to the counter, his eyes blinking once, no, twice. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Was he in shock? Perhaps. If anything made it obvious, his knuckles had gone white, and he appeared to be...nervous, in her presence? It couldn’t have been her. There was no way in hell.

Alessandra…?

A woman did, without a doubt, seemingly glide up to the bar, barely two stools away from him, and pleasantly ask the bartender for a drink. There was something about her voice, how serene it was...or was it her hair? A soft brown, brought up and yet cascading down her shoulders. She wore a dress of absolute white, almost…

Almost like a bridal gown.

His breath hitched, and he was forced to take another sip of his drink to steady himself. It wasn’t his first wine of the evening, either. Maybe he was seeing things. He would have just ignored it, on any other day…

But the way her eyes, through the dainty golden mask she wore, caught his. It made his chest tight. He would testify to his heart aching, there and then. And Shou Matsuoka realised in that moment that he needed to speak to this woman.

And so he did.

Hurriedly running a gloved hand through his hair and straightening out his clothes, hoping she wouldn’t see, he took a deep breath. It was difficult with how his heart was racing. Yet, he brought himself to it, shifting a little closer and as nonchalantly as he could manage (drawing strength from the fact that he was masked, still), taking a seat beside her, but not too close. He whispered, voice soft in the otherwise loud gathering of people. If the woman had listened, she might have heard it. Longing, hope, desire, disbelief, doubt, surprise and melancholy, all mixed into the words he next spoke.

“Hello, miss.”

Amity X Shou

Benevolently accepting her glass of nice, Italian Pinot Grigio, Amity smiled to herself and brought the glass close to her lightly glossed lips. Her ears perked up to the sound of an almost inaudible introduction. Turning her head to see who was attempting to talk to her, her expression never wavering from a serene look, she saw… a man of silver hair sitting beside her. His red mask covered most of his upper face but she could tell he was a man with prominent dark circles. He had welcoming chocolate eyes and his attire was naturally suited for his physique. If he stood up she had no doubt he would be handsomely tall. His top hat was decorated with red ribbon and candy which was so genuine and filled with personality. Absolutely adoring the scarlet flower, Amity had to take a moment to admire what she was looking at. She couldn’t lie to herself, this man was extremely attractive even with the mask on.

Drowning out the noise of the party, she focused on this man, and only this man. Giving him an appreciative stare, she responded just as soft as his voice was, hoping maybe, he’d come closer to hear her, “How do you do, Sir?” Rather than jumping into a speech, Amity fed his intrigue slowly but surely by adding a bashful tone to her voice. Perhaps she could inspire him to want to know more about her. Never taking her eyes off of his, she gradually took a sip of the delicious wine, swallowed, and gave him a desirable smile. Was Amity trying to lead this stranger on? She couldn’t tell yet…

“Heh.” Shou felt his head lighten. Up close, her voice was even more delightful than he had heard. He wanted to lean in, closer, ever so slightly, just to hear her better… And, after another long drag from the goblet in his still-trembling hand, he did. Just a little closer, he could smell the light perfume that wafted off her skin. He could only just keep himself from inhaling deeper. His own breath carried a fruity note of the wine he was drinking as he responded, “As well as everyone else here, I'm...soaking in the atmosphere, I suppose. It's a wonderful party.” he bit his bottom lip. Small talk never was his strong suit. “And you, Milady?” he added, lightening up at the medieval analogy. “I apologise; I...hah.” he shook his head, taking another calculated drag. He could drain glass after glass at this rate. “I realise, miss, that you might have heard it many times tonight, but you look beautiful in that dress. I...would I be able to have your hand tonight, for a dance?”

Internally he cringed. He wasn't very...good at most kinds of dancing. He prayed the waltz would do. “Oh, forgive me. I...haven't even stated my name yet. Shou Matsuoka; it's a pleasure…” he let his voice trail away, having gone to say something but being frozen in place as he finally stopped bashfully averting his gaze from her, and chose to look her in the eyes, her transfixing hazel eyes, with a sheepish grin. It was meant to be sheepish, but...his heart skipped another beat. Was it a heart condition? He must have been seeing things…

...this woman looked almost exactly like Alessandra. Was...was it her?

She let him speak, taking in this moment and breathing in his scent...an addiction waiting to happen. The more he talked, the more she got lost in his words. This wasn’t like her past crushes either. All being near her age and immature. This man, who might be a few years older than her, saw her. He was only paying attention to her and it made her feel weak in the knees. For once, someone noticed her, not for her fame, not for her money, and not because she had strange colored hair (well, that was under a wig…). He had this unquenchable yearning seeping through his words. This was an experience, she, Amity Bellerose, did not understand.

Ba-dump.

She did notice he was drinking fast but she wasn’t going to comment on it. It was New Year’s Eve, after all. Everyone deserved to live a little. He began complimenting her dress. Her eyes glanced downward at her white gown as her fingers ran along the lace on her body: it really was an elegant dress.

Finally, he told her his name. His wonderful name. Shou. Shou Matsuoka. She felt giddy inside. That’s all she needed to know to do a background check. That’s all she needed to know to find out what he likes. That’s all she needed to know. Gesturing at him to wait a moment for a response, Amity brought her glass to her lips once more and downed the rest of her wine right in front of him. She wasn’t going to leave a good glass of wine behind. Standing up, Amity offered her hand and teased, “Call me Amie, Milord.”

“Amie…” the silver-haired man repeated to himself. Her giddiness seemed internal, but Shou couldn’t help but lighten up a little more. Hell, he was grinning now, too, as if it was seeping from this young lady and wrapped around him like a pair of wings as white as the dress she wore. He even laughed, a deep-voiced little chuckle, at her downing the wine, and her prompting. Having sufficiently lightened up and, flagging the bartender down and motioning for more of the same red wine for the now-empty glass, he stood up as well, stepping away from the young lady for just a second (in which she may have noticed how he stood about a whole head taller than her) and bowing deeply, top-hat pulled off and the rim resting delicately between his fingers, before he tipped it back on with another little laugh. Perhaps because of the second wine’s influence now, he lowered his body into an effortless kneel before her, taking her hand into his own gloved one and bringing it to his lips, grazing them against the back of it. He lingered there, her skin was so soft...and her hands, so very delicate. He was closer now, and it was undeniable. Especially when he lifted his head to look up into her warm, brown eyes, his cheeks the slightest hue of red and his smile just a little more confident than before.

This woman was...breathtaking.

“It is nothing short of an absolute pleasure, Amie.”

Her cheeks felt hot when he knelt down and kissed her hand. His lips against her skin sent electricity up her body and straight to her head. He made her feel lightheaded, like she was on Cloud 9. The moment lingered. Her heart was now fully convinced: she didn’t want this to end. She didn’t want him to look away from her. As he looked up at her with his umber eyes that penetrated her inner core, Amity focused on keeping her blushing to a minimum. Her mind was fuzzy... To live in this moment was all the idol wanted to do. Without a doubt, this night might become one of the best, absolutely life-changing nights she would ever experience - it was off to a great start.

The truth was, Shou would have liked the moment to last forever, too, evidenced by how reluctant he was to get to his feet. Realising he was standing a little too close that way, he took a gentle, graceful step back, if only to give her some breathing room, but he, admittedly, had been pretty close. He was sure she would have felt his breath on her forehead were it not for him returning to his wine glass, until…

Amity X Shou

The piano music resounded in the hall, perfect for a nice slow, ballroom dance. Feeling his closeness made her want to touch him but she had to resist temptation. “Satomi” was a calm and collected character and that’s exactly what Amity was going to be. The young girl had taken note that this man was truly enjoying himself, he was already on his third glass. If Amity did not get enough alcohol in her, she’d just drink when she got home. The Bellerose Estate’s bar was completely stocked because of the holidays. Maybe… just maybe, Shou would come with her.

Amity knew a few styles of ballroom dances but she decided to stick with the simple Waltz. The young idol then asked him, “Do you know the Waltz? I expect a music change when more guests come.” Since the party was open to the entire community, she knew that the pianist wouldn’t play all night. After people got food and drinks in them, this place was bound to turn into a club. Something she hoped to avoid since she was in no mood for loud music. She sang pop songs all week for people. A break from that scene would be lovely.

”It’s okay if you don’t.” she added, understanding ballroom dancing wasn’t meant for everyone.

“Ah, the Waltz?” the professor’s eyes immediately lit up with an unplaceable excitement. Something about her suggestion, though unbeknownst to her, made him giddy. Alex did love the Waltz so…

Having drained about a quarter of this third glass of wine already (so much for being an elegant man’s drink…), he pushed the glass back towards the bartender’s end of the countertop, before surveying the scene. He saw the orchestra, in their brass and bright gold, standing by as a lone pianist took the spotlight. He was playing an admittedly beautiful piece, and it almost seemed a shame that people still stood by, eating their dainty finger-foods and chatting away to friends new and old, leaving the marble floor before the orchestra mostly vacated. They probably were all waiting for the music change Amie was talking about.

He ran a hand through his hair, before giving her a nonchalant side-glance. ...and a mischievous wink, too. It appeared the drinks were getting to his head…

“Signorina,” he began in an Italian drawl, an undeniable spark in his eyes, “if there’s one dance I do know, it’s definitely the Waltz. Allow me to demonstrate…”

“Balliamo, bell’uomo.” she responded teasingly in Italian, curious if he would be thrown off guard by her ability to speak another language other than Japanese. [Translation: Let us dance, Handsome man.] Hopefully he was fluent in Italian or that would have just flown right on over his head.

“Aah, you speak Italian.” his eyebrow quirked in pleasant surprise, though her compliment caught him a little off guard and he chuckled to himself, scratching the back of his head with a modest smirk. “And I may not be fluent, but you speak it well, Signorina. You will have to tell me after this dance how you came to learn it…”

And with that, he held out his palm for her, leading her onto the marble dancefloor slowly, so that she would not find it difficult in her dress, but if Shou was honest, her hand in his gloved one was a feeling that made his heart swell a little, too. He was bolder now, and though still just a little diffident when he looked upon her lovely face, he held her gaze now, a melancholy longing still about his eyes, clouded and nearly lost with swirls of desire and excitement, as well as the anticipation of a new challenge.

He led her to the dance floor, her tiny hand rested in his large, gloved hand. Amity had no trouble walking in her dress or heels… she had enough practice in her short lifetime to keep her stability. Like a natural performer, Amity’s posture was filled with finesse and her face was welcoming to all those who were looking at them. Perhaps, they would inspire people to learn ballroom dancing or maybe their audience would simply just get lost in their performance. Keeping rhythm was one thing but matching one’s steps with a partner was a whole other ballgame. The Waltz not only required a person to keep up with one’s partner, it also required the dancer to reflect poise and have full control over his or her own movement, while allowing the partner to shine.

The Waltz certainly could be difficult. Impressing Amie, that would be Shou’s challenge for the evening. No, there was no reason to stop at impressing. He would sweep her off her feet, should she want it.

Finally arriving onto the dancefloor, he released her hand, only to step back and bow humbly, deeply, to her, tipping his hat yet again before repositioning it on his head. It would need to stay still, now.

With an unhurried but refined curtsy, Amity rose her head from her bow and gave Shou challenging eyes that read: Show me what you’re made of, Mr. Matsuoka.

And in the same span of time, he closed the distance to the young woman, taking her hand in his again, which appeared to send a warm tingle down his spine each time. He wished to trace her skin with his own fingers, yet the thin fabric of the gloves he wore separated them. Perhaps it was for the better...especially when his hand moved down, and as is customary of a waltz, he placed it on the small of her back, hesitantly at first. The very action immediately made him nearly bite his tongue, cheeks growing warmer again. It would have either been the action, the alcohol, or both, but...he only realised that suddenly he was standingquite close to her, her chest almost pressed up against his, and...

If the Waltz was anything, it could be pretty intimate.

..it was beginning to get a little hot under his collar…

He had to mentally scold himself for letting it get to him so. In Shou’s defense, it wasn’t everyday one would have the opportunity to share a dance with such a fascinating, prepossessing young lady.

Closeness. They were breaching the young idol’s first step of the Waltz: Trusting in your partner. Amity felt like somehow there was a deep connection between the two that would reveal itself in due time. If she wasn’t in this disguise, would he even bother to look at her? Her heart ached with the thought of him not liking her for her, but it was most likely true… she was in a disguise after all. Never letting her smile fade, she gave him a calm expression. She was going to enjoy this moment, real or not. She was happy.

“S-so, Milady...” he cleared his throat ever so slightly, evidently a little...flushed as he fondly called her.

Before he continued, she pressed on his hand and mouthed silently, “Relax.”

To which he responded with by shaking his head and looking his partner right in the eye. Two pools of radiant brown stared back at him, and his heart sunk. How could it be…? They were the same shade as…

The golden mask she wore concealed relatively little, but with or without it, she must have been charming. She carried herself with an aura that pleaded ‘royalty’, even, and Shou Matsuoka did not know that his guess may very well have bordered on the truth.

He leaned in closer to her, lowering his head until his lips were level with her ear, his voice brought down low into a husky whisper meant for her ears alone, “I can't help but be nervous, Miss Amie. It isn't everyday I have the chance to dance with a woman who not only lights a fire in my humble heart, but could burn it to ash in the raging, bewitching inferno that she is.”

And this was the truth. Characterised by the fruity note of wine still on his soft breath as he let his lips brush gently against her soft cheek as he pulled away, if only for a second, yes. But the truth was the truth.

The atmosphere progressed gradually into something romantic. Amity closed her eyes as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear and then her flesh began to burn when he swept his lips on her cheek. Was this considered fast? This was only going to be a dance. It was natural for her to feel incomprehensible feelings… right? The chemistry between her and this man she knew nothing about besides his name was evident and once they take the dance floor, she knew she’d be lost forever without his embrace.

Her breath was short, her lips slightly opened. This man was invading her mind, filling her soul’s empty vessel, capturing her heart and holding it hostage. Her heartbeat picked up with every motion he made. What was even going on with her right now? Steadily, she opened her eyes revealing her confusion, intrigue, and desperation. Under her breath, she quivered, “You’re a romantic, I see.”

“Occasionally…” he responded, eyebrow quirking almost with a mischievous curiosity at the reactions her young body made in response to his touch. Something about them was...endearing. There was no pride, and there was no falsity. She genuinely was...confused? No...ever so slightly desperate.

“...but it does require the right conditions. A-and...being so close to you, being with you, Amie, I...I can feel my head grow light.”

And he was not, in the slightest, exaggerating.

Amity X Shou

Moving the hand up from her waist to gently stroke over her bottom lip with his thumb, fabric soft against velvet, he took a single deep breath as he returned his hand to where it was and attempted to compose himself.

Something about this woman...stirred up feelings within him. Feelings the young professor hadn't felt in...quite a while.
He gave her a minute nod to show her that he'd try to relax, though smiling the whole time, before he spoke again.

“Shall we begin?”

Her response was simple. Putting her trust in him wholeheartedly, she just looked at him tenderly and waited.

Allowing the pianist to enter the next measure, Shou’s hands held Amie slightly closer, tighter even, with a hint of protectiveness about his touch, even as his fingers absently stroked over the fabric of the dress at her small waist.

Her right hand rested in his left while her left hand held her dress up. Her left arm would sway with their bodies as they roamed around the dancefloor. She kept a small distance between them, so that she may gain her composure back.

And as soon as they were ready, he began, sweeping his partner into the dance as he presumed she was experienced, and perhaps better on her feet than he was. He was right, of course, Amie was two steps ahead of him in terms of grace, and once he matched her rhythm and that of the music, he couldn't help but feel elated.

Having seen the couple on the floor, the surrounding guests moved off to clear some space for them courteously, creating a large empty space for the masked duo. It wasn't long before, out of the corner of the eye, Shou noticed that a few more couples took the dance floor. Masked and mysterious, but then again, who wasn't? Somewhere it made him grin - him and Amie must have been inspiring to have others join them, even if just for this song. He gazed down at his partner, and it seemed that as the dance progressed, slow and romantic, that the small distance between them was further diminished, until Shou almost had his arm encircled around the young lady's waist. Her chest was pressed up against his, and his eyes hardly left hers, a dance of their own ensuing on a more metaphysical level.

Not paying attention to the people who joined the dance floor, the space between her and Shou dwindled. Before Amity knew it, she was no longer holding her dress, as she stared at him intently, feverishly… they were inches away from each other. Her left hand moved up his arm and onto his shoulder. They danced like that for a moment, he having full control over the direction they went, full control over her body. Her eyes never looked away from his. She was prepared for anything he threw at her, may it be a dip, a twirl, or even a lift.

Shou’s breath hitched when they entered that short period of languid ecstasy. He could feel her body wrapped around his, entwining almost as if they were one, with the dancefloor forgotten and the space between them nonexistent. Something about her gaze, the look in those fervent brown eyes, drew him in, and he held the idol close as he lowered her in a dip gently, arms wrapped protectively, possessively around her small frame. He could feel his own heart beating twice, thrice, as fast when he looked down at her. Vulnerable, and innocent…his heart raced and his insides throbbed in...warm, pulsating desire for this woman, and to consume her. To run his hands down each inch of her body, and let his lips kiss each inch of her body, and let her rule his however she saw fit.

This woman may very well have asked him to beg for her, and he gladly would, on his knees, his head raised to meet her gaze, eyes desperate for approval, and if she'd further wished it, he'd call her lovingly, devotedly, as ‘mistress’.

...and in that clouded haze, he might as well have been looking down at Alessandra.

Reaching near his upper back, she pulled him closer to her, removing all space in between them completely. Her hand brushed on his naked neck and soon after, rested on it. He held her head gingerly, as if she was some sort of delicate creature that could break if he released. The idol wanted him more and more with every action they made. He made. An encounter she never expected to have, that she never had. Their bodies were rubbing against each other, it was almost as if they were going to kiss. Her gaze drew his head closer to hers, her eyes growing heavy, tempted to close. In this euphoric bliss, her mouth was ajar and her breathing steadied. Was this the Waltz anymore?

The professor didn't know, either.

He held her in the dip, eyes gazing down into hers as her hands moved up, fingers against the delicate skin of his neck making his body sizzle with a fire of want, a fire of need for her. Her eyes were half-shut, inviting, alluring...Shou felt himself unable to resist. He held her closer, always closer, having to plant his feet firmly on the marble floor beneath them as to not lose his footing with how weak she made him.
The rest of the party was drowned out, and to him, only the two of them remained.

He made her feel like she was the only one that existed. In this moment, she was his and he was hers. “Steal me away” the young girl thought, cueing, nearly begging with her eyes for him to touch her, lip to lip. His breath lit her up like a candle. A rush of heat spread throughout her body, reaching every last limb. His eyes were watching Amity’s every move, from the slight twitch of her lip to the pace of her breathing.

He tilted his head down, finally closing the distance between her parted, trembling lips and his own, anticipating. He could feel her soft breaths against his cheek as he teased, taking her bottom lip gently between his own and heightening the tension between them, for it wasn't only her that was desperate.

The silver haired professor felt the same emotion, perhaps to even a greater degree.
Unable to resist her much longer, he finally brought his lips to hers, cautiously, hotly and needing.
They were so soft…

Finally, it happened. He brushed his lips against hers and then pressed on it gradually. With their lips touching, the progression of their kiss grew to pure passion. Love and lust combined. His lips were rough and smooth, perfectly matching her soft, plump ones. He moved them around in circles and her heart swelled. His breathing was deep and loud in her ear. At once the couple’s mouths were moving in concord, as though neither could resist the other, neither could wait any longer. They devoured each other through the kiss of the night, the kiss that would set the rest of the night in motion. Due to the heat of the moment, Amity deepened the kiss and traced her tongue against the contour of his tender lips. Soon enough, she could taste his sweet, wine flavored tongue run across hers.

His hands kept from straying, if only to hold Amie up, but his lips would make up for that. He kissed her gently at first, though lost himself as it progressed.

Needless to say, Shou was surprised when he felt her delicate tongue by his lips. A larger crowd of dancers had gathered on the floor now, each with their respective partner, waltzing to their heart's content. How many songs had passed? One? Two? It seemed like an eternity, an eternity that Shou Matsuoka was happy to lose himself into. He felt her tongue soon against his own, and held himself back, teasingly breaking away to gaze down upon her. She was stunning, especially when she desired him. It made Shou’s loins ache for her.

What a tease! Amity puffed her cheeks when he pulled away from her. Was she being too aggressive? Too needy? It just felt right in the moment. She wanted him, was that so wrong? Maybe she should pull away from his embrace and get another drink in her. More alcohol only meant wiser decisions, right? He obviously didn’t want to take the kiss...

She couldn't have been more wrong.

He didn't leave her in want for long at all, lips meeting hers again and his own tongue finding hers, gently wrapping around and then releasing it, playing with her initially. Until he chose to lose himself into the kiss further, allowing passion to take control. He kissed her deep, and hard, and he kissed her ravenously, tongue only heightening the precious moments between them.

Woah. Amity’s body felt limp as he held her close and furthered the heated kiss. Her body was exposed even when she was completely clothed. Her face was hot and red as the caress of his lips grew voraciously. Bewildered, she could feel his vehement need for her. They swallowed each other, making the kiss even more intense than before. She needed to catch her breath. He was too good to be true.

As soon as she broke away from him, he was hooked. Despite being at the centre of the dance floor still, he couldn't resist her. He let his lips linger, at the corner of her sweet mouth, before moving them languidly to her cheek. She'd be able to feel him softly panting and his eyes shut, experiencing the sensations with only his lips and sense of touch. He pressed his nose into her soft cheek as his lips then found her jaw. Smooth...and so soft. This woman truly was delicate, precious even, not a scar or blemish on her lovely face, and Shou, shamelessly (or just having succumbed to the alcohol’s grip), familiarised himself with each contour.

Closing her eyes, Amity’s body trembled with every kiss this man did. He was claiming every part of her. Her heart was beating but, now, only for him. Her breathing was heavy. She focused hard on not releasing an embarrassing moan, especially in a public place, though her body was stuck in a stupor. Oh god. Her ponderous breathing was obvious with her chest moving along with every gasp of air she tried to take. Her eyes opened slightly. The young idol prayed no one was watching. That her and Shou were hidden in the center of the dance floor. This was too much for her little body to handle.

He traced a trail of tiny kisses, down the side of her neck, which the silver haired man only just kept himself from biting. They moved to her collarbone, exposed by the way the dress clung to her body, the soft skin vulnerable, and he buried his face into the small hollow of her neck. He breathed in her heady scent gently. Perfume was a welcoming aroma, but it couldn't so much as compare to the natural, human scent that wafted off her skin, and drove Shou wild.

He further dared to kiss down her exposed right shoulder, and even more to leave a tiny bite on its gentle swell, before pulling away, a small set of rose-coloured bite marks imprinted onto her fair skin staring back at him. He was evidently dishevelled - this lady had him at her every command - but glowing with a new warmth and a newly sparked desire.
With his cheeks warm, dark eyes cloudy as they met hers again, and his lips in a small, sultry smirk, he whispered, “Heh...wow. Signorina, dare I say...you taste divine.”

With a temporary break in character, the young idol jumped into his arms allowing him to hold onto her possessively. Weighing hardly anything, she looked down at him, her eyes penetrating his stare and feet dangling above the ground. Her bottom rested in the crook of his arms.

Shou was evidently a little surprised, though only shifted his arms to hold her more stably, gazing up at her with eyes of admiration and slight surprise, alcohol-fuelled and glossy. His own lips were parted as he still was panting, and it only could have increased as he felt her legs gently wrap around him at his waist. All the things his mind could have raced to of her doing to him…
Of Alex doing...

Gradually and seductively, she made her way to his ear and whispered, ”You’re mine now, Mr. Shou Matsuoka.” This could mean one of two things: He was hers for the rest of the night or she wanted to pursue a relationship with him in the future. If one knew Amity and her whims better, Shou was hers now and forever.

“I always have been…” the intoxicated professor responded submissively, face buried into her neck as she whispered into his ear. Though it was unbeknownst to Amity, reality blurred its lines in Shou’s mind. As far as he was concerned, he was here, with Alessandra.

...and he would never let her go again. Not that he finally had the chance now, to be with her.
Four long years later…
The last notes of the soft waltz faded away in the background, the end of the song very near...

“...Alex.” he whimpered softly, inaudibly, into the young idol’s neck. Nobody could have heard it. Nobody but the man clinging desperately onto the lingering image of the woman he loved.

After giving his ear a little nibble, she let him bring her down and smiled up at him, “I think I need to get on your level.”. She gestured back at the bar, “But also....” resting her hands on her stomach, a growl came out… she was ready for something sweet.

_{(Conclusion to the collaboration by @BeastofDestiny and @Narcotic Dollie)}

The tears are still streaming down his cheeks as Nori unleashes her tirade of insults, he lowers his head and his body begins to shake; he starts to chuckle. When his head raises up again, the same soft smile is still on it, ”Yea, maybe I am a little dense,” he starts to step forward, ”and maybe...just maybe I’m pathetic for even thinking I have a shot with someone as drop dead gorgeous as you. But to be perfectly blunt, you must be just as dense as I am if you think for even a second I’m going to buy that bullshit you just spewed.”

He’s standing barely inches in front of her now, before he wraps his arms around her, pulling her close to him. ”I don’t know what’s going on...to make you want to try and push me away so hard that you’d have to lie to my face about it...but all I know, is that I want you in my life, and no matter how many insults you throw, how hard you hit me, what lies you say, I won’t give up on you. All I want is the truth…and...if it really is something I did, I’d like to know how I wronged you...”

He sees right through her and Nori hates it and is relieved by it all at once. He steps into her space and gathers her up into his arms like she's made of spun silk instead of the girl who just viciously tried to tear him down not even a minute earlier. Kyle's shoulders are so wide that his embrace blocks out everything else and she lets herself relax for just a second, pressing her face into his chest and inhaling deeply.

“I can't say it,” she murmurs quietly, the image of the detective that had promised to protect her flashes into her mind and she can't admit it out loud.

Because then it really happened and she was the reason a good man was gone.

“I'm sorry Kyle, I can't right now. I need some space,” she finishes quietly, her golden eyes shut tight.

”Please…” his voice is almost begging, ”Nori, I’m really scared, scared for you and so fucking lost in the dark here, its unbearable.” His grip tightens on the woman, ”I don’t have to know everything, I just need to know you’re alright, that you’re safe, because I saw your apartment,” the charred husk of her building’s remains, vividly appear in his mind, ”As time went on, I kept thinking, what if you had been in there? ...what if I hadn’t offered for you to stay the night? ...What if...if the weatherman is trying to kill you..?” the image of the weatherman from the documentary flashed in his mind, ”I couldn’t stomach the thoughts...I was so afraid of just...of just losing you, even now that thought terrifies me…” he pauses briefly, ”Whatever is going on...I want to help you with it, I don’t even know what I could do, but you don’t have to do it alone…”

“Hey, cut it out, cowboy,” Nori tells him, her voice soft as she reaches up and wipes away the tears on his face with her thumb. “It’s going to be okay, I swear,” she stops to give him a watery smile, before continuing, “And I know you’ve got my back, but I’m not ready to talk about this yet.” She meets his gaze and pats his cheek gently, trying to reassure him in some way, but she can’t tell if it’s working or not. “I’ll be alright and I’ll always pick up the phone if you call me, but you have to let me do this on my own. There’s something I need to work out, before I can be with anyone.”

“It really is going to be okay, Kyle,” the blonde reiterates, and she feels her cell phone buzz in her purse, but she ignores it for now.

She tried to reassure him that everything was alright, that everything was going to be okay, and when she pressed her hand against his cheek his breath shuddered under her gentle caress; he didn’t want to let go, but wiith a great amount of reluctance, Kyle nodded, ”Okay…”

”I believe you,” he said, ‘...but I don’t’ he thought, ”I’ll trust you to deal with...whatever it is you are dealing with,” he hated this feeling of being lost, but despite saying everything he could think of, there was nothing else more he could go off of, he just...had to accept her decision. With watery eyes he leaned down and planted a tender kiss on her forehead, ”Just..be careful okay? If you get in too over your head, you call and I’ll come running, I promise that.” A serious expression was written across his brow, ”You might want to get back to whoever’s messaging you,” he stated, ”And...I need to get back to her,” another lie, ”I’ll…” he was having a hard time with this one, ”I’ll see you around.” ‘hopefully’

He released his grip on her before he turned and started walking towards the mansion, he couldn’t bear to watch her leave, lest the urge to chase after her and pull her back overwhelmed him again. The tears were welling up again, but he couldn’t let her see them, ’Damn it Parker, get a fucking grip on yourself!’ The words felt useless, so all he could hope to do was pick up his pace a little and that Nori had already started walking away. Nori had things to deal with, things that Kyle couldn’t help with, things that she couldn’t tell him, that hurt more than he could have imagined, especially after bleeding his heart out to her like that. He had to wonder if this all came back to the same theme again, that she didn’t trust him...well...he’d have to trust her to do the right thing and to keep herself safe; Kyle, unfortunately, didn’t think she’d ever allow him to.

8:00 pm, New Years Eve

Having waited for Nori to be gone and refusing to return to Amity's mansion, Kyle had made a quick escape off of the estate and had found himself wandering the streets of Shine Junction. His mind felt like a cloud, aimless, unfocused, his mind constantly replaying the same scene that had just taken place not even an hour or so ago. Was it that long? What time was it even? It didn't matter, time was pointless, there was only the moment, and in that moment, Kyle felt empty.

*Bump* "Damn," he muttered under his breath, he was so busy walking he hadn't really considered paying attention to see if anyone was coming, "Sorry about that I-- Liam?"

Sure enough the red haired manager of his friend was standing before him and so was... a woman? "Uhh..." Looking around Kyle noticed they were standing in front of 'The Tiny Snowflake', Liam having noticed Kyle's confusion gestures for the woman to head in first and he'd follow suit. When the two were alone he clarified to him, "(She's my date for the evening,)" for a second, Liam's cheeks looked almost the same color as his hair before he quickly changed the subject, "(Shouldn't you be at the ball with Nori right now?)" Kyle's hurt expression was all the man needed to see to understand, "(I see...so why are you out here then?)"

"(To be perfectly blunt...I don't know, anywhere seems better than the ball at this point.)"

"(Hm...)" The red head seemed to briefly consider, "(The way I see it, you can either wallow in your misery out here, or....you have a ticket to free alcohol and a night of fun.)"

Drinking? Fun? Was this really coming from Liam? "(Y-you're serious? I don't even have a mask though, I forgot it back at the mansion.)"

Liam considered for a moment again before reaching his hand out to grab at Kyle's tie, with quick motions he expertly untied it and ripped it off the young man, leaving Kyle stunned at the sudden physical contact. Liam then flicked open a pocket knife and cut two eye shaped holes in it before quickly wrapping it on Kyle. "(Well, take a look.)" Liam gestured towards the window.

Looking at his reflection, he inspected Liam's work, it was a little silly having a tie for a mask, it made him look like one of the Pre-Adolescent Radioactive Samurai Reptiles, but a mask was a mask and Kyle couldn't complain. "(Alright, get out of here,)" Liam instructed, "(I have a date to attend to, oh and Kyle,)" He stopped short before entering the restaurant, "(Do make sure to talk to Amity at some point this evening and make up with her, she's going to miss you if you don't.)" With that Liam stepped inside, leaving Kyle to decide on going or not. Pulling the ticket from his pocket, Kyle set his mind to going, having something strong to warm his belly wouldn't kill him and if he got the chance to talk to Amie, he would.

8:25 pm, The Masquerade Ball

Kyle was allowed entrance, his mask was a mask, even though he got a couple of strange looks from it, though he was sure that he wasn't the only going in some kind of impromptu mask. He immediately asked one of the servers where the bar was and was directed towards an area off to the side. As he approached, he noted the silver haired gentleman, it wasn't until he got closer that he recognized him as the Shine Academy Professor, had Kyle not just been dumped, he might have struck up a conversation. Instead, he opted to sit to the far end of the bar, away from Shou, hopefully with the mask and his hair dyed and styled the way it was, he wouldn't be recognizable.

"What can I get for you sir?" The bartender asked, approaching Kyle

"What's the strongest proof you have?" His question was abrupt and to the point

"Uh, well I have some Bacardi 151, but that might be a litt--"

"Give me a shot of that, to the rim and a chaser of wine, merlot."

The masked bartender looked a little shocked at the request but reluctantly went about it, filling up a shot glass with the amber colored rum, a glass of red wine slid across towards him, "There you are sir."

Without hesitation Kyle picked up the shot glass and downed it in one go, his throat felt on fire, the rum incredibly strong as his teeth clenched and his eyes squinted shut. He placed the glass down on the counter and picked up the wine glass, downing three massive gulps before placing the glass down and breathing silently for a moment. Though the glass itself wasn't empty he gestured for the bartender to refill it, Kyle already feeling the effects of the liquor taking hold of him. Normally he'd pace himself, but tonight, he didn't really want to feel things, he didn't want to feel that emptiness, so he'd fill it with rum and wine and whatever other liquors would be allowed down his gullet. In the back of his mind, he knew this was probably a bad idea, but he could give less of a damn right now.

Leaning over the counter he stared down into the crimson liquid, he wondered how he had come to this point, allowing a girl to actually drive him to drink. He laughed softly to himself as his fingers traced the rim of the glass, that wasn't her fault, he knew that, this was his choice, his choice to forget, just for a little bit....already seemed to be working. His head was feeling hazy, the rum having done the trick for him as he took another drink of the wine. Movement caught his eye as he saw the silver haired man appear to compose himself as he slid closer to...Amie? No that couldn't be Amity...could it? He watched with intent eyes as the man wooed the woman before him, their voices were hushed, the conversation low over the sound of the party behind him. it wasn't long until ball room music began to play and the two had found themselves leaving the bar and making their way center of the room.

He didn't know if it was the drink or not, but he couldn't tell if the girl the professor was dancing with was his friend or not..what if it was? There was an instinctive urge to protect the woman from the older gentleman, but what would that accomplish if he was wrong? What would that even accomplish if he was right? So he stayed, and he watched as the two began their dance, their form and grace and movements like pure choreographed chemistry. Their movements felt intimate, as if they had known each other their whole lives...dammit why was Kyle watching this? He turned away, unable to watch the dance anymore, he wasn't entirely sure why he was so bothered by it, though if he had a hunch to go on, it'd be because...

'I wish I was out there with her...'

Kyle lets her go, untangling his arms from their hold on her as he murmurs, “I’ll see you around.”

Nori watches him go, her stomach lurching at the thought of how she had just severed the relationship to the point where she might not be able to stitch it back together. ’It’s better this way, for now. I’d rather be unhappy if it meant he got to stay alive,’ She reminds herself, but it still feels dreadful.

The blonde makes it to the gate and the attendant lets her through without so much as batting an eyelash at her wardrobe. She remembers her phone buzzing earlier and digs it back out, hoping that it was Jen finally texting her back finally. A car flies by and someone rolls down the window to whistle at her, causing Nori to scowl and flip them the bird before unlocking her home screen to check her messages.

Who is this?

--Detective Holland

Nori stops walking and goes completely still, her mouth suddenly dry. Yellow eyes blink down at her screen, dumbfounded for a moment, before she starts typing briskly, her thumbs bumping into each other when her rapid pace makes them clumsy.

Detective Holland? Thank God, you never called after the fire and I thought the Weatherman had gotten you. Where did you go? I was worried. Are you at your office? I have some questions and I'd like to hear what happened during the stakeout.

--Nori

---

He had been reclining in his chair when his phone beeped again, the screen casting a light through the darkness, his bandaged face obscured in shadow. Interesting. He had not expected a reply so soon.

Raising the device to his eyes, he read the message, his brows furrowing together as he tried to make sense of what she said. The words seemed familiar, sparked something fierce in his mind, much like recalling a bad memory.

I...don’t remember. Merely...awoke, bathed in flames. Stumbled back to my apartment and patched my self up with a pair of pliers and some morphine. Not sure if I still have shards of glass in my arm, but I don’t trust you enough to come help, “Nori.”

-- Detective Holland

Of course, Holland had added the quotation marks to make a point. He didn’t know who this girl was, what her agenda entailed, and so on and so forth.

He paused.

Oliver this. Oliver that. Detective Holland?

What…

“Fuck, my head!” He growled in anguish, falling to a knee as a mind splitting headache wracked his skull.

By God, he could feel his flesh starting to burn again.

---

She hasn’t gotten very much farther down the road when her phone goes off again and as she reads it she starts to feel sick.

You’re not serious, right? Why haven’t you gone to the hospital? Jesus, you’re going to get an infection.

Nori stops and gnaws at her bottom lip, not really sure what to do in this situation. If what he said was true then there was no way he shouldn’t be in an emergency room. But he was acting strange. Why did he put quotation marks by her name? Her fingers begin to move again, typing out the rest of her message and hitting the send button.

I’m coming to your office. If this is some kind of joke I will set you on fire myself, Detective Holland.

--Nori

The blonde switches directions, heading towards the side of town where Shine City Investigation Services was located.

---

He tossed the empty bottle of tylenol to the floor, the empty container falling on the hardwood with an audible ‘clack.’

Six pills, and he still didn’t feel any better.

“Fuckin’ shitty ass Jap products.” He grumbled, staring at his phone as it vibrated again. His eyes scanned over the message, then promptly widened as he began to comprehend its contents.

This woman was coming over to his office?

Without knowing her intentions, he couldn’t take any chances.

Let her come. He thought, I’ll be waiting.

The lights went off in his office, and he slinked back into the darkness.

Just what could he do now with such a nerve rendering case of amnesia?

Just my fucking luck.

---

Thirty five minutes and multiple double takes from strangers later, Nori was standing in front of Detective Holland’s door, but it was locked and all the lights were out, just like it had been the night before. “Detective?” she calls, knocking on the door, but there isn’t a response. “Are you there?”

No one answers.

Nori shifts anxiously, pulling her phone out again and shooting off another text.

’I don’t know who this is, but stop messing with me. There isn’t anyone here.

--Nori

The blonde knocks on the door one more time, but it remains silent and dark in his office. The DJ is unbelievably frustrated because she thought everything was going to be alright and that Oliver had just taken a secret vacation or something. She growls and kicks at the door hard, causing the ‘Welcome’ mat under her foot to shift just a touch with the momentum of it, revealing something shining on the old hardwoods.

’Is that the key?’ she thinks, dropping down to pick up the the object and sure enough, that’s exactly what it is. ’Do people still leave stuff out like this?’ she muses as she gets back to her feet and moves closer to the door, sliding the key into the door knob and turning it until she hears the lock give a quiet, ‘click’.

“Detective Holland?” she calls again, pushing the door open and taking a tentative step inside. It’s so dark that she can’t hardly make out anything. All of a sudden Nori starts to get a nervous feeling like something isn’t right, but she just takes a deep breath and takes another step forward. She had to be sure that he wasn’t here or she would never stop thinking about it.

Holland saw her come in through the front door, surprising even himself. He knew he should’ve hid that key in a better location. For a detective, he really was that fucking obvious and easy to figure out.

Two steps and he was on her, pressing a loaded gun into her head as he pulled the action back with a metallic ‘clack.’

“That’s far enough. Identify yourself, and maybe I won’t have to refurbish my wooden floorings with your brains.” He growled, pressing the barrel in deeper just to prove a point.

“No--Nori Haywood,” she says quickly, stumbling over her words as she yanks her hands up in an obvious, ‘Please, for the love of God, don’t shoot me’ gesture.

“The woman on the phone.” He stated aloud to no one in particular, as if informing the house rather than himself. “I understand now. I thought I told you to stay away. I just got burned alive and can’t recall a damn thing beyond that.”

He loosened his grip on his handgun, raising the weapon away slightly from her forehead.

“What’s your relation to that?” Holland once again inquired, “Quickly now.”

He takes the barrel off her forehead but keeps it trained on her and Nori can feel herself trembling. She’d never been on the other end of a loaded firearm before and the overwhelming feeling of fear was making it harder and harder to stay steady.

“You took a case for me,” the DJ tells him and her eyes are slowly beginning to adjust to the darkness. “There was a word written on the door to my apartment in blood. I didn’t have a lot of money, but you took the case anyways,” she explains and now she can see that his entire face is covered in red stained gauze.

“You really did get set on fire,” Nori whimpers, her eyes going hot as she realizes the gravity of what happened to him. “Oh God,” she wheezes, her stomach churning now that she knows what she’s done to him.

His resolve falters as he begins to notice the tears, slowly lowering his weapon before holstering it all together. “I believe you.” He states flatly, turning away from her and bringing a hand to his chin.

“You were the florist at that little ma and pa corner shop, I remember now.” He contemplates aloud, his bloodshot eyes darting from the floor to the bawling DJ in front of him. “It seems I had severely underestimated him this time.”

He coughed, flecks of blood covering his bandaged hand as he continues. “As expected of the star of ‘Horror Happenings: Shrine City.’ “

Holland had been chasing the Weatherman for years. But unlike the weather, the man was unpredictable.

“Why are you crying?” He asks. “I’m the one that failed you.”

“I’m crying because you’re hurt, idiot,” she hisses through her tears, wiping her face on the sleeve of her button down shirt before she sniffs, trying to get herself under control. “Have you been to the hospital at all? Your bandages are soaked through,” Nori tells him, coming closer so she can better see how badly he’s injured.

There are parts of him that aren’t wrapped as well, and the blonde can see the angry blisters peering back at her. “Why aren’t you in the emergency room? What if you had gone into shock?”

“I already have.” Oliver retorted, stepping away from her as she approached. “What part of just awoke didn’t you understand? I pass out, and it’s already goddamn New Year’s Eve. I haven’t even celebrated Christmas yet.”

He tightened his bandages, a trickle of blood seeping through the cracks and trailing down his forearm. “We both know what would happen if I went outside. I’d be stuck in intensive care for months. I can’t afford that shit, not with my salary.”

He sticks a thumb towards his chest.

“I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, you’ve told me that before, right before you got yourself set on goddamn fire!” she responds, her eyes zeroed in on the line of blood that has started to run it’s way down his arm. “You’re going to get an infection if you keep wearing the same filthy bandages, you have to change them! Do you even have any food in here? How are you going to feed yourself if you can’t go to the grocery store?”

Suddenly, Nori realizes that she’s been yelling at the man who is covered in third degree burn because he tried to help her and she is appalled at herself. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs, taking another step closer to him. “I’m just worried about you. Even though you agreed to take this case for me, I’m still partly to blame here. Let me help you, Detective Holland.”

The Burned Man stares at her for a good long while, looking at her up and down, searching for any indication of malice or insidiousness. Upon finding nothing but genuine concern, he relents with a sigh.

“Fine. Have it your way. But the minute you do your ‘help,’ you are outta here, you got that?” He asks, his lips contorting into a frown as he turns away.

“You’re barely clothed, and the AC is on. My room is down the hall to the left, go put something on. If you wanna stay here then by God you are gonna live under my rules. Is that clear, Miss Haywood?”

Abruptly turning on his heel, he saunters off to find that spare roll of gauze he put somewhere. The damn kid didn’t know what she was getting herself into.

The detective relents and Nori let’s out a sigh, relaxing as some of the tension drains from the situation. “Yes, dad,” she mumbles before she turns and stumbles towards where he indicated his bedroom is. When she gets there the DJ has to paw around in the darkness to find the light switch and when she turns it on the room is flooded with brightness.

The bed is in all sorts of disarray and there is blood splattered all over it. ’It looks like he slaughtered an animal in here,’ she thinks, wincing at the sheer amount of it. ’That must be agony.’

Nori shakes herself to stop that train of thought and starts to dig through his clothes. For the most part everything is way too big, but she does eventually find a faded pair of blue pajama pants. The pale DJ shimmies into them, pulling the drawstring as tight as possible, but they still ride pretty low on her hips. ’It’s better than nothing.’ she decides, taking off her plaid shirt and pulling on one of his white undershirts. ’It’s frickin’ freezing in here.’ Nori decides to put the flannel back on over this one to better layer up, but forgoes the buttons for now.

“Can we turn on the lights in here, Detective Holland?” she calls as she comes back into the main office area. “I won’t be much help with your injuries if I can’t see.”

“Turn on the lights?” Holland repeats, glancing upwards and noticing that the lights were, indeed, off. “That explains a lot.” He mutters, walking over to the corner of the room and flipping on the switch.

Of course, it felt like someone had shoved two red hot pokers into his eye sockets, but it got brighter. Tears streaming down his face, he dabbed them away with his rolled up sleeves of his shirt, blinking away the pain as his eyes got adjusted.

“This place ain’t actually that bad.” He spoke to himself, acknowledging that it was probably because he was unconscious for the better part of a few days. Turning, he noticed that the girl had finally changed, and he couldn’t help but look on approvingly. After all, the heater was broke in his apartment. Pretty damn ironic all things considering.

“So, Miss Haywood,” He began, taking a seat at the counter. “You really want to help that much, eh? Admirable I suppose, but you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t utilize you as much as you would like.”

He may be burned but by God he was still a fully grown adult man.

“Can you cook?”

“I can use a cellphone and order take out,” Nori says instead of straight up answering him, but it’s a very obvious, ‘no’.

“Huh.” Oliver grunts, crossing his arms. “You’re lucky I can, then. I’m assuming you’re staying over for dinner?”

“I’m not planning on leaving until we get you squared away and we figure out what went wrong at the shop,” she starts, her eyebrows knitting together as she studied him in the artificial lights of the apartment. He looked like his bandages were more red than white at this point. “So I guess so.”

“Then I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs.” He replied, uncrossing his arms and turning to the stove. “Despite livin’ in this country I ain’t a fan of their foods.”

He pointed towards the pantry, “Pick your favorite noodle and grab a jar of sauce. Shit’s real easy to cook if you can take five minutes out of your day.”

He paused.

“We can talk more of your extended stay over the table, after I change these bandages, of course.”

She’d already begun to pull out the thin spaghetti noodles when he said that last bit and she stopped for a second before reaching back into the pantry and retrieving the sauce. “Okay. I’m not trying to coddle you, but you said something about you might have glass in you earlier on the phone. Do you need me to check it out or do you have it handled?”

“I won’t expose you to that sort of biological hazard.” He chuckled, lifting up his arms. “But I do suppose that’s why they keep bleeding….mom.”

“It’s good to see the fire didn’t affect your humor, smartass,” she answers back, almost arguing with his refusal of her help in checking out his injuries, but thinks better of it. “So….I just boil the water, right? Do I put this in microwave or something?” she asks, shaking the jar of tomato sauce at him.

Oliver could only stare at her like she was stupid. Oh wait, that’s because she was. “No, Haywood, no.” He rubs his temples, pointing to the stove. “Get two pots, fill one with water and the other with the sauce. Literally look on the back of the box.”

Nori flips the jar around and studies it for a second before moving on to the box of noodles. “Woah. That’s helpful,” Nori hums. Who knew? “I think I can handle it now, detective, go get cleaned up. If you’re not back by the time I finish I’ll come check on you, cool?”

Oliver ignores her, too busy ripping a shard of glass from his arm. “You say something?” He says through gritted teeth, reaching for a bottle of rubbing alcohol he got out earlier. “Can you bring that suturing kit over here?”

’Oh. Okay, we’re gonna do this right here,’ Nori realizes before nodding and fetching the kit for him. She can see at least three hunks of glass stabbed into the gnarled flesh of his forearm and she winces in sympathy. “How did you get all this glass in you?” The blonde asks, setting the med kit down next to him.

“Well, it was your window after all. I didn’t exactly choose the apartment with the windows that break into shards the size of fucking broadswords.” He shot back, popping open the med kit and retrieving a needle. “Makin’ dinner and cleanin’ wounds, the fuckin’ American way.”

“Nah, it’s only the American way if you have your gun out too. And a three legged dog,” she replies, trying not to dwell on the fact that he’d had to jump through her window to escape the fire. The vision of him engulfed in flames to the point where the only solution he could see was to jump out of the second story apartment made her stomach twist in guilt. “It’s not sanitary, though, for sure.”

“I’d never consider it to be.” Oliver nodded, yanking another shard from his forearm. “Although I will have to admit, I had to make an appointment with the acupuncture person last month anyway. Don’t think I need to see them now.” He glanced up, monitoring her progress on the food.

“Oh shit, Nori!” He cried out, “The water is rising, turn it off!”