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Ukyo stood in the corners of the ballroom and fidgeted with the cuffs of his sleeves with a pained expression on his face. Why in the world did he agree to accompany his coworkers to a masquerade ball? These aforementioned ‘friends’ who had invited him had long gone already, disappearing within the crowd, and Ukyo exhaled faintly, adjusting his mask. Ukyo wasn’t sure what in the world had brought him to agree with their flippant suggestion, but here he was, standing alone in the hall, anxiously averting his eyes at every person that passed by him. Now, he wasn’t one to usually feel flustered like this, but the apparent shame of not having shown up with a partner weighed on his entire being. He sincerely wished that he could melt into the shadows of the pillars, or even just fade out of existence.
He smiled awkwardly at a pair of women who waved at him, curtseying their flashy dresses at him, all the while never meeting the eyes of anyone in the hall. That must’ve been the fourth person who passed him with a pitying smile, or with a condescending grin. With a frustrated sigh, he decided that if he were to stay here, he might as well go somewhere more lively, to make it less evident that he was truly alone.
Ukyo walked through the hall, avoiding the clusters of swaying couples and the groups who simply stood and talked, sparkling champagne in their hands, as he tried to navigate towards the orchestra that played a waltz in three-quarter time for the ones who still danced.
On his way there he was stopped by a butler—a strikingly blond(e) fellow—who offered him one of the drinks on their platter with a small smile. “ Will you care for champagne, sir? It is of the highest quality, chosen by the host himself. “
Hearing their voice, he stopped in his tracks for a bit, eyeing the platter with a pensive look. He wasn’t usually one for drinking, especially in a public setting, but after further contemplation—and considering the feeling of embarrassment he just wished to part with—he took the flute with a sigh. “ Thank you. “
The server nodded, and before he knew it, they had already disappeared in the crowd. Blinking only twice from their sudden disappearance, Ukyo shook his head and continued his trek towards the orchestra, after taking a long sip of champagne, of course. The bubbles from the drink surprised him for a moment, before he inhaled deeply, and continued on his way.
Ukyo's plan was just to stick near the orchestra—the most densely packed area of the ballroom—and simply wait for one of his coworkers to stumble across him. Perhaps they'd be too drunk to function--a peculiar state they seemed to like to be in--, and he could find an excuse to drag them all home. Ukyo chuckled lightly at the image. Then again, worst case scenario he'd just have to listen to waltzes all evening. When he finally made his way to the corners where the orchestra lodged, Ukyo sighed contentedly as he leaned against a pillar, taking a long dredge from his flute.
Oh, how he wished the evening would end. On another occasion—and with a partner—he might’ve thought the evening to be magical, as if it came straight out of a fairytale, but with no one to be with, it was simply quite boring to him. How was he supposed to know that he had to bring a partner to dance with? And how was he to know all his colleagues had a partner of their own?
The mere thought of their laughing (and exasperatingly pitying) faces led him to let out an exasperated groan, shaking his head and taking another drink of champagne. He moved to take another long sip, when he realized that he had finished it all up already. It took him a moment to process this fact as Ukyo stared down at the glass in his hands, and when he did, he let out a small chuckle. For the first time in his life, he felt sorrow from an emptied glass.
With a sigh, he decided to leave and search for the butler again, in the aims to fetch another glass. But how was he supposed to find a single person, in this crowd of dancers and partners? It would take a miracle to appear.
“ On second thought, maybe it’s not worth it, “ he murmured, slinking back to the pillar from before.
He gazed down at the empty flute pensively, once again feeling quite alone, though when he looked up, he realized that someone had been standing in front of him. It was another blond(e) fellow, a man who wore an elaborately detailed mask with his hair tied up. …Wasn't blond hair supposed to be rare in Japan?
Ukyo wasn’t aware of how long he was there, but clearly long enough, as he held what seemed to be an amused grin on their face. “ That’s quite a lonely look you’ve got there. Missing the taste of champagne? “
“ Not in the slightest, “ Ukyo said, quickly moving to hold the glass behind his back.
The stranger’s smile only seemed to deepen, and turned around, swiftly reaching onto a passing butler’s platter, and taking two flutes. He handed one to Ukyo, who took it hesitatingly. The stranger laughed at his hesitation, before taking a sip from their own glass. “ So, tell me, what are you doing here, sulking alone with a flute in hand? “
Ukyo nearly let out a snort, also moving to take a small dredge of the champagne. “ Many things. There isn’t much fun in a ball, when your friends have deserted you, without having brought a dance partner. “
“ A man such as yourself with no partner? “ the stranger replied with a laugh of disbelief. Ukyo rolled his eyes. “ With those striking green eyes of yours, I’m surprised no one has fallen for you yet. “
“ Bet on it, “ Ukyo shrugged, once again drinking from his glass. “ All these eyes have met so far are looks of pity from passing couples. Sometimes, I wish I was blessed to have been blind. “
From that, the man let out a boisterous laugh, catching the attention of a few people around, who then began to speak to each other in hushed voices. But, the man didn’t pay any attention to them, as he looked into Ukyo’s eyes with a smile that Ukyo felt would never leave his face. “ Tell me, sir, what may I have the pleasure of calling you? “
“ Ukyo. My name... is Ukyo, “ he found himself saying, a small grin on his face. “ And what shall I have the pleasure of addressing the man who has nothing else to do but talk to a lonesome figure standing in the shadows? “
The man simply returned his grin with one of his own, as he knelt down and took Ukyo’s hand in his, leaving on it a small kiss. “ Remember me simply as Ryusui. And I believe the pleasure is all mine. “
Ukyo stared down at Ryusui with wide eyes, slackening his grip on his glass of champagne. Where had he heard that name before? The question stirred in his mind for a bit before he came back to the moment, realizing what the man had done, and dropped his glass. Fortunately, Ryusui had caught it before it fell to the ground, though not before a small amount of it splashed onto him. Ukyo could only watch this spectacle unfold in front of him with a mortified expression. " Oh. Oh God, I am so sorry. "
" It's no problem at all, " he replied with a laugh, handing him the flute as he got up. " I'm just glad the glass didn't shatter onto the floor. "
Ukyo took the glass hesitantly, and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief. He gave it to Ryusui, who had been analyzing the splashes on his suit. He took it with an appreciative smile.
During this, Ukyo could only wince terribly as his face went red. He had already managed to embarrass himself. What a terrific start.
“ My, my, you’ve gone all red, “ Ryusui said with a small laugh, stowing the handkerchief away in his pockets. “ Perhaps you’ve had a glass too many. “
Ukyo closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, before shaking his head and looking back to Ryusui. What was done was done. There was no use dwelling around it. “ What exactly do you want? Doing all this. “
“ Simply a dance, “ he said, doing a curt bow. Ukyo looked at him curiously. “ From the moment I saw you across the hall, I found myself captivated. I desire to dance with you. “
…What? For a moment, Ukyo was left speechless. Though, not exactly of embarrassment. What a dramatic person. Even so, he felt himself being swayed by his words—it felt as if they were taken straight out of a novel—but it was also for that precise reason that he couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
Ryusui stared at him, his expression faltering, and for the first time this evening he seemed almost to have been caught off guard, before his smile returned to his face. “ Is that a yes? “
“ But I don’t know how to dance, “ Ukyo confessed.
Now, it was Ryusui’s turn to laugh. He looked at Ukyo, an exasperated smile coming onto his face as he found himself shaking his head lightly. “ You’ve come to a masquerade ball without a partner, and now, you tell me you don’t know how to dance? “
Ukyo made an embarrassed expression, looking away. “ What can I say? I wasn’t exactly expecting... this. “
“ What were you expecting then? “
Ukyo shrugged. Honestly, he didn’t know what he was expecting. What was he supposed to expect, knowing he was attending a masquerade ball? He looked away, pensively.“ I don’t know. Maybe one with a banquet at least. “
Ryusui let out a laugh.“ Your mind works in wonderful ways, dear Ukyo, “ he said, finishing off the rest of his champagne, as Ukyo flushed at the nickname. No one had ever given him a nickname like that before. He didn’t know how to feel, and tried to ignore the butterflies he felt in his stomach. Ryusui seemed amused at this, and extended his arm. “ But let’s not deviate from the topic. May I have this dance? “
Ukyo frowned, the feeling he had before fading slightly as he waved a hand in refusal. “ Ryusui, thank you for the offer. I’d be delighted, but like I said before I— “
He was cut off by Ryusui taking him by the hand and dragging him into the crowd. He looked up with the intent to say something, though he stopped as he saw Ryusui’s eyes sparkling from behind his mask. “ Delighted was all I needed to hear. “
How could he decline? Simply shaking his head, he let himself be carried along with Ryusui’s antics, as they found themselves intertwined with the crowd. As the orchestra began to play a new piece, the pairs around them seemed to position themselves into well-trained stances, and Ukyo looked up at Ryusui, uneasy. The latter noticed his tense expression, and reassured him with a small smile, leaning toward his ear with a whisper. “ It’s okay. The dance is simple, just follow after me. “
And so he did—not as if he had a choice—following the dance in three-quarter time as Ryusui took his hand, and guided them through. At first, there were some stumbles and a million apologies from Ukyo as he stepped on Ryusui’s shoes—these seeming to probably have cost a fortune—but as time progressed, the dance became easier, and Ukyo was no longer stepping on Ryusui’s expensive shoes. As often.
“ You’re not as bad as I would’ve expected, “ Ryusui said with a chuckle, after they settled into a comfortable tempo, spinning in rhythm along with the other pairs around them. Ukyo returned his expression with a small smile.
“ I’ve been told I was a fast learner, “ Ukyo said, looking down at his feet, making sure to place them in the right spots. He winced as he stepped on his shoe again. “ Just… I don’t do this often. “
Ryusui simply showed him another grin, as he promptly avoided getting his foot stomped on again. This time, he looked him in the eye. " I’ve yet to ask, but please, tell me. What do you do? Are you an artist? A baker? Or perhaps a teacher? "
Ukyo laughed. He returned his gaze with an amused expression, and suddenly realized how striking his brown eyes were. What kind of man hid behind his mask? In any case, Ukyo brushed off these thoughts as he returned to the topic. " Unfortunately, I am none of those things that you’ve suggested. I am part of the American Marine Forces. I work as a sonar operator. "
As Ukyo spoke of his job, Ryusui’s grip slackened momentarily and he had actually stumbled, the former letting out a greatly bemused fit of laughter as Ryusui coughed, hiding the tinge of embarrassed colour that came on his face. When he took Ukyo’s hand again, he looked at him with a seemingly new perspective, and eyed his face. " I see. I would've never taken you as the... military type. "
Ukyo shrugged, his laughing fit dying down, though he still held a smile on his face. " I've heard that a lot. Some say it's not befitting of my image, but I'd like to say that my assets are useful. "
" Assets? " Ryusui asked, an underlining of curiosity slipping into his tone. His embarrassment had already gone away, and was replaced with another of his charming smiles. …Charming?
" I've been told I have good ears. Perhaps too good at times. Though I suppose it also came with experience. " Ukyo said this as if it was a very casual thing, and found himself amused by the widened eyes that Ryusui showed him. So, the man was able to make an expression that wasn’t just a smile.
Ukyo would've commented further on his expression, but wasn't given much of a chance, as the previous piece ended and a new one began, with a wildly different tempo. It was another type of dance; one Ukyo hadn’t the time to learn. And so, the dancing pairs around them shifted into a dance routine that was unknown to Ukyo and a chorus of delighted gasps and faint cheers resonated in the hall as the dancers began their new choreography. Ukyo could only stare, dazed, as their spinning figures began to make him dizzy. He didn’t have the energy to learn another routine.
Upon seeing Ukyo's unsettled expression, Ryusui’s gaze softened, and he gestured toward the ends of the hall with a flick of his hand. Understanding this, Ukyo followed Ryusui out of the hall.
He led him towards a considerably discreet door to the side of the hall, and as he twisted the knob, it opened with a nearly unnoticeable creak. They slinked through the door, and as Ryusui closed it behind him, Ukyo sagged his shoulders in relief as the deafening cacophony of noise from the ballroom faded behind it.
" Thank you, " Ukyo mused, as Ryusui walked away from the door. “ Did you know beforehand of the doors? “
Ryusui let out a chuckle, and kept walking until he passed him, turning his head as he realized Ukyo wasn't following him. " I know somewhere even better. "
Ukyo raised a brow at his statement, and let a loose smile come onto his face as he decided to follow after him. It baffled him how he managed to find trust in a man he'd barely known the night, without ever seeing the face that hid behind his mask, but yet, he couldn't help the strange sense of familiarity he felt whenever he heard his voice. He just couldn't remember from where.
Ukyo followed him down the corridor, casting a sideways glance to his left whenever the noise from the ballroom grew louder, signifying a door that led back to the hall, until finally the noise faded away completely, and they now stood in front of a set of two large, wooden doors.
Ukyo stared at the doors with curious eyes, raising a brow as Ryusui moved to open the door. " Where are you taking me? "
Ryusui said nothing, simply hiding the little impish grin that came onto his face as he opened the doors.
Immediately, Ukyo was greeted with a burst of nocturnal wind, and he couldn't help but let out a contented laugh. He'd long had enough of the ballroom and its stuffy air, and welcomed the outside without hesitation. He quickly ran out of the doors and looked around, finding himself gaping at his surroundings. It was a garden. A beautiful one, at that. An abundance of vines and exotic, flowering plants hung through an elaborate architecture of fencing above them, revealing only small windows of the starry, night sky above them. And that was just what was above them. There were most likely hundreds upon hundreds of varieties of flowers that grew in rows, along with typically yet artistically carved bushes. And among these, little decorations hid among the plants, peeking out only for the discerned eye to find.
He turned around with a bewildered expression on his face, as Ryusui walked up to him, his hands in his pockets, with a charming smile perched on his lips. " It's quite the desiring view, isn't it? "
" How did you know where to find this place? " Ukyo asked, his eyes still exploring the garden. He couldn't help but let a smile onto his face as he spotted a number of gnomes scattered around the garden.
Ryusui shrugged, chuckling at Ukyo's child-like reaction to the decorations. " I know this place like the back of my hand. "
Ukyo stopped in his tracks as the words left Ryusui's mouth, and even he was able to realize the meaning behind his words. But he said nothing, settling instead to sit down on a nearby bench. Ryusui sat beside him, and Ukyo rubbed his nape as he cast his gaze to the ground. A question had floated in his head ever since their first encounter in the hall, and he felt that now with no one around, he was free to ask it, without fear of eavesdropping.
He cast a sideward glance at Ryusui. Now that a certain intimacy surrounded them, he felt it was easier to speak his mind. " Why did you approach me? "
" Hm? Why do you ask? " Ryusui said as he turned toward him with inquisitive eyes. " I already told you, didn't I? "
Ukyo frowned. He didn't get what he was trying to say. "What I meant was your true intentions. I mean, really, did you think that I believed that you simply wanted to dance? "
Ryusui was silent for a moment, before letting out a defeated sigh. He looked away for a brief moment, before moving closer to Ukyo, holding his chin in his fingers. Ukyo opened his mouth to retort, but stopped as Ryusui's gaze fixated on him with a solemn look in his brown eyes. He seemed to be analyzing his face. Ukyo gulped faintly. " From the moment I first saw you, I felt as if I'd seen you before. No, I'm sure I've seen you before, " he said, letting go of his face as he looked away pensively. " I just can't tell from where. "
" Is... is that so, " Ukyo said, tentatively forcing himself to look away. Suddenly, he wasn’t sure if he could tell the difference between discomfort and embarrassment.
Either way, he felt his face heat up and also looked down at the ground, inching away with a flustered expression. Though unfortunately, Ryusui didn't seem to notice his embarrassment, and caught his hands in his. He stared up at him in astonishment, only to see Ryusui hold a serious expression. " I have a desire to know more about you. It intrigued me. Why do you seem so familiar to me? "
Ukyo's mouth went dry. He couldn’t fathom a worthy response. Unfortunately, he didn't return the same feeling--it was truly his first time meeting him. He must have mistaken him for someone else. But he couldn't bear to tell him this, with an inkling of concern that he might leave. Ukyo let a wry laughter ring in his mind as he thought of the irony. His longing to go home had disappeared entirely. How did that happen?
Ukyo smiled gently and averted his gaze away from Ryusui. There was something that drew him toward him. He wasn’t sure if it was the overly dramatized way he spoke, or simply the way he carried himself, but all of it brought a smile to his face, and a light feeling in his chest. Ukyo stared up at his brown eyes again, bringing himself into a daze.
Absentmindedly, he reached for Ryusui's mask, searching for the string tucked behind his ear that kept it in place when he suddenly caught himself, his breath hitching in his throat, and moved to take his hand away. He flinched as Ryusui took his hand gently and guided him to it.
Ukyo felt his heart beat faster at this small, insignificant action and wordlessly pulled the mask off of Ryusui's face. As his disguise fell, Ryusui looked at Ukyo--with his true self--with a nearly saddened smile. Ukyo froze for a moment, unable to help his staring, as he took in the full portrait of Ryusui's face. Then, he looked away, his brows knitted together. " So, you really are Nanami. "
There was a small pause, as Ryusui closed his eyes and did a little nod. " But let's not speak of my family or my heritage for the moment. “ He kept his disheartened front for only a moment longer before he broke into a grin. “ Were you so curious to see my face that you felt compelled to take off my mask? " he asked, his usual banter returning to his tone.
Ukyo let out an exasperated chuckle feeling the stiffer atmosphere from before die down as fast as it came. It really was nearly impossible to feel glum around him. In fact, Ukyo now realized that he found him quite interesting, unlike the rumours he had heard here and there about him. How did they even manage to portray him in such a manner? Anyone would be able to see that none of them were entirely true, after a simple talk with him. It was unfair…
Catching himself before a frown came onto his face, he brushed these thoughts away. It was better not to get caught up in his thoughts right now. Ukyo returned his banter with a smile in the corner of his lips, and shook his head. " You flatter yourself. "
" Do I really? " Ryusui's voice was taunting, and Ukyo could tell he was just amused by the whole situation. Well, it couldn't be helped, could it? He provoked it.
Deciding after all to play along with his antics, Ukyo shrugged, an indifferent look passing on his face. " Yes. And I say this with absolute certainty. "
" But you hardly know me at all. " Ryusui's smile only grew as he continued on. " How can you be so sure? "
Ukyo turned fully towards him, a grin of his own perching onto his lips. " I am fortunate enough to not be blind. You wear your heart on your sleeve. "
" And you in your eyes. "
As Ukyo stilled, stunned at his sudden commentary, Ryusui took advantage of the moment, and before he could react, slipped Ukyo's mask off of his face. He was too shocked to retort or to move, and Ryusui simply let out a small, almost endearing, laugh. " As I thought. Your eyes shine best like this. "
It was just one comment after another that kept making Ukyo's heart flutter. How could one man have so much to say about him in this way? He closed his eyes and winced as he felt his face heat up uncontrollably. He turned his head and planted his gaze on a gnome in the distance. As he saw Ryusui smile at his assumedly reddened cheeks, he sulked. " It's not what you think. It's just an aftereffect from the champagne. "
" Of course. "
Ukyo rolled his eyes at the laugh that underlined his tone, opting to continue to stare down at the garden gnome. Ryusui followed his gaze to the porcelain object, and made a little smile as he observed his intrigue in the garden's residents. " Do they interest you? "
Ukyo blinked, taking a moment before realizing that he was speaking of the gnomes. He kept his eyes planted on the figure, tilting his head slightly. " The gnomes? I suppose you could put it that way. Is there something I should know about them? "
" There are stories, if you're interested, " he started, catching Ukyo's attention as he looked back to Ryusui. When Ukyo did a small nod, Ryusui hummed faintly and looked back at the gnome. " Each of these figures are very dear to me. But this one in particular, I hold very close to me. "
Ukyo raised his brow, finding himself intrigued by Ryusui's comment, and the fond look in his eye. He tilted his head faintly. " How so? "
Ryusui made a small smile, a certain solemnity passing over his face. " They all carry special meaning embedded in their porcelain bodies. Memories from times beyond what I can remember. ''
Ryusui got up, and walked towards the gnome that had been the center of Ukyo's attention until just earlier. He knelt down, his knee against the dirt, and held the porcelain figure gently. " This is Pyotr. He was a gift from my mother, as the first addition to this garden. He was made by a Russian craftsman she knew. "
" I heard she was a very kind woman, " Ukyo blurted out. He hadn’t realized what he had said before Ryusui looked at him with slightly widened eyes. When he did, he winced and shut his eyes, looking away with a crease in his brow as a small pit formed in his chest.
Ryusui sagged his shoulders down, and a nostalgic smile came to rest on his face. " She was. "
As Ukyo watched his melancholic expression, he suddenly felt quite guilty for having brought up the subject. " I am so sorry. For bringing it up. ...We don't have to continue the topic. "
" No, it is quite alright; I’ve had well enough years to grieve," Ryusui said, as he stood up and brushed a few specks of dirt off of his clothes. He watched Ukyo's unsettled expression for a moment, before he cracked into a grin. " What are you so upset about? A frown doesn't suit your face. "
The abruptness of his commentary left Ukyo's mind blank, and he sat for a moment in silence before he was able to process what he said. The silence that came with his confusion brought Ryusui to let out a chuckle.
“ You are very kind to worry on my part, but believe me. I am okay, " he told him with a reassuring tone. Though, as something seemed to occur to him, he pulled something out of his vest pocket.
It was a watch. Ukyo eyed him curiously as Ryusui seemed to gaze at it for a long moment, before returning it to his pocket with a sigh of dismay. He slowly trudged back to the bench where Ukyo was, and sat down beside him. He looked up through the small patches that revealed the night sky above them. Ukyo couldn't help but do the same.
And so, he stared up. Through the vines that grew with the decorative fence and through the flowers that had barely begun to blossom. As he found himself lured into a trance staring at the night sky dotted with stars, a certain longing had settled itself in his chest. Perhaps it was one of those moments where one could question how everything is, or will be, and how it came to be.
A certain wave of serendipity warded over him when he broke out of his daze, spotting a familiar figure--or rather cluster of stars--in the sky. He sat up, a sparkle appearing in his eyes. " Oh. I wasn't aware you were able to see constellations from here. "
Ryusui noticed his sudden interest with intrigue, as a small, mildly amused smile came into his lips. " The residence is far enough from the city to be spared from the light pollution at night. The stars become a wonderful sight here. "
" Is that so… " Ukyo murmured, continuing his immersive gaze at the world above him.
A small silence settled between them, and wanting to brush away the awkward feeling, Ukyo scoured his mind for something to say. Luckily, he didn’t need to search very far, as Ryusui took his watch out of his pocket once again, taking only one glance at it before closing it with a long sigh. He looked at Ukyo with an equally regretful smile, as he moved to place his mask back on. “ I’m afraid we must cut this short. The night is coming to a close, and I’ve yet to see off my guests. “
Oh. Right. There was a slight feeling of despair that filled Ukyo’s chest, that he tried to chase away by swallowing a lump in his throat. “ Oh… yes. Of course, “ Ukyo nodded, getting up promptly from the bench, doing the same, as he looked around one last time, before he began to follow Ryusui back inside.
As he closed the doors behind him, he let out a sigh, as the closed air inside greeted him again. Realizing that Ryusui had already made quite a long way up the hallway, he jogged a little to catch up to him. When he did, he was met with silence; something he learnt was unusual with Ryusui. Somehow, it made him anxious. He could tell he was preparing to say goodbye. He fidgeted with his hands as he looked for something to say.
" I... Thank you. For showing me the garden. It was refreshing to get a break from the air inside, " he said, facing the ground as he spoke.
Ryusui let out a bemused, sharp exhale of air, and though he couldn't see him, Ukyo knew he wore a smile on his face. " The pleasure is all mine, dear Ukyo. I just hope my company was much more entertaining to you than a single flute of champagne. "
Though he wanted to frown from Ryusui's retort, he couldn't stop the smile that spread on his lips. " Of course. …Thank you. "
" You've said it twice now. I should be the one to thank you, " Ryusui said with a grin, finally turning around. " For both the dance, and the handkerchief. Oh. I suppose I should return that to you. "
Handkerchief? Ukyo had only stared at him in mild confusion, though as Ryusui pulled an all too familiar handkerchief out of his pockets, his memory of his terrible blunder from earlier that night finally came back. He covered his face with his hands, hiding the red in his face as he cringed at the memory. " Oh. …I had completely forgotten. "
" I figured, " Ryusui simply replied with a laugh. Ukyo could already imagine the awful smirk on his face. Just the idea of it made him sulk. After a moment--when he felt that his face was no longer exposing his broken pride--he took the handkerchief back absentmindedly, slipping it into his pocket as Ryusui gripped the handle off the door. He paused in his steps to look back at Ukyo with a smile that was smaller than his previous ones. " I suppose we'll have to part ways here. "
Ah. …He was right. Once they passed these doors, they were going to go their separate ways. The idea of it brought Ukyo an unexpected sense of loneliness, as he looked up at Ryusui. The lively sounds from behind the door brought him back to his senses, as Ukyo swallowed a lump that had developed in his throat. " Right. "
Ryusui nodded, his expression solemn at Ukyo's response, before turning and entering the hall. Ukyo followed after him, and once he closed the door, they faced each other.
Ukyo was at a loss of words to say, and he was able to see that Ryusui was the same. Even as the cacophony of sound from before began to surround them, Ukyo barely heard it. It was as if everything faded into the distance, leaving them only the intimacy they had exchanged in the garden. Though, as the bell of the clock chimed, signaling the time, Ryusui looked towards the crowd, a realization dawning over his features, before turning back to Ukyo, a regretful expression settling onto his face. He cleared his throat. " Well then, I believe that's my cue. Have a good night, Ukyo. It was a pleasure to have met you. "
Ukyo watched with a frown as Ryusui turned on his heels right away. It couldn't have ended just like that, right? He had to be sure he would see him again. Unable to help himself, he called out to him. " Ryusui! "
Ryusui stopped momentarily with a rushed look on his face--Ukyo knew he had to say what he needed to say quickly. He simply waved his hand with a smile. " See you again soon. "
As Ukyo said this, Ryusui seemed quite surprised at his words, before his shoulders sagged down, a warm smile passing onto his face. He waved back. " See you. "
And with that, he turned around, and disappeared into the crowd. Ukyo continued to stare at where he had just seen him, the entire evening coming back to him in a blur of memories, filling his chest with certain emotions he wasn't quite sure he understood. He finally averted his gaze, leaving the spot where his feet had previously been glued to. Right. It was time to go.
Ukyo did not stay for the host's--Ryusui's--final words, and though he mildly regretted it, he knew it was better they didn't meet again for the evening. After all, it would make their closing memory awkward. Instead, he made his way to the coat room, and was pleased that he had found his jacket quite quickly, pulling it over his suit. As he stepped outside, Ukyo welcomed the cold air that grazed his cheeks, realizing with a shiver that it was much colder in the parking lot than in the garden.
Buttoning up his coat, he began to hurry through the rows to find their car, a frown coming onto his face as he realized how difficult it would be without the keys. Though, when he jumped over a speed bump, he heard an all too familiar jingle from his pockets. Oh right. He had been chosen to keep the car keys. He shuffled around his pockets for it, when he felt an unfamiliar shape. Ukyo furrowed his brow and moved to take it out. As he set his eyes on it, he paused in his steps.
It was his handkerchief. Though, it had been wrapped around something. He wondered how he hadn't realized when he had taken it from Ryusui. A smile came onto his face and after he had unraveled the cloth, Ukyo let out a small laugh. A small hair clip laid inside, with an intricate design of a dragon perched on the edge. A slip of paper was clamped between it. When did he have the time to do this? Brushing his question aside--he knew he'd never have an answer after all--he let out a sigh and put it back into his pocket. He'd decided it was best to read it later, when he was at home, rather than as he was freezing in a parking lot.
Finally having found the keys, he pressed a button, listening and perking up to the sound of their car's response. Once he found the car, he slipped into the driver's seat and started the car with a sigh, turning the heat on. Knowing his coworkers, they'd probably be too tipsy to drive. Again. It wasn't much of a surprise; they always dragged him along to parties--or anywhere that one could expect the presence of alcohol--to catch a free drive from him when the night was over.
On usual nights, he knew that when they'd hop into the car they'd expect him to say his usual speech, telling them off for dragging him along just to use him like this, but this time, for once, he was glad he had accepted their offer. He'd spare their ears this time. Though as he thought about it, perhaps he'd just have to change his mind about parties and alcohol. A smile stuck onto his face as he ran through the events of the evening again and again, until his friends finally came to the car.