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Since he arrived to England, there were many places where he felt he did not fit in. Because of his race, because of his social status, because of his behaviours. However, he rarely felt as judged as on that one. Under the pressure of so many stares.
Ryunosuke was holding a glass of champagne, to keep his hands busy so they wouldn't start fidgeting. He occasionally took a sip to avoid speaking. And he didn't move away from Kazuma’s side, not even for an instant. He seemed to have more knowledge of social norms, or at least Ryunosuke thought that.
"Let me tell you something," Kazuma whispered to him. “These ballrooms were much nicer when I had to hide my face and I couldn't talk to anyone.”
Ryunosuke let out a laugh, which he tried to hide behind his glass of champagne. Surely that was also inappropriate.
To his misfortune, a few moments later a woman started a conversation with Kazuma. She chatted with him, completely ignoring Ryunosuke. He couldn't blame her. Kazuma was still somewhat known in that aristocratic society, as Barok's apprentice. Ryunosuke had nothing.
With nothing to do, Ryunosuke found himself looking around for the man who was the reason they were there. Barok had asked Kazuma to accompany him, so he wouldn't have to face this social gathering alone. And Kazuma had dragged Ryunouske along.
And none of the three was having a good time. Not even Barok, who had grown up in this world of prestige and elegance. He was chatting with two men, whom Ryunosuke thought he had seen sometime in the prosecutor's office. But he was tense and didn't talk a lot. His hand on the glass of champagne seemed to be about to break it.
After a few minutes, those two men walked out, and Barok seek for a moment of quiet.
Across the ballroom, his gaze met Ryunosuke's, and the attorney seemed to understand. He pointed to one of the balconies, where they could get some fresh air and rest there for a moment.
They both walked in the same direction, to the door that led to the balcony. But, on their way, they came across a couple who were dancing the waltz. A couple who, in their slow dance, had the opportunity to speak with poisonous tongues.
They should have been whispering. But everyone could hear those cruel words they shared when they passed by Barok.
Ryunosuke, as expressive as he was, couldn't contain his reaction. The two dancers must have noticed his eyes widen on them, his brows furrowing, his lips trembling, searching for something to answer.
There gaps across the room, from other guests who couldn’t believe the disrespect. But most of them remained silent.
Barok had been educated in the manners of that society. And life had taught him to mask emotions well and remain stoic even in the most desperate situation. It was as if he hadn't heard anything.
However, Ryunosuke knew him well. And he could notice the little things. The way his hands tensed under his gloves, or the way his eyes trembled, and turned to the ground, avoiding the gaze of other people.
That happened during the first seconds. But when he lifted his head, and looked at them, his expression looked as stern as ever.
“Pray, forgive the discourtesy for having invaded the trajectory of your dance. Please, allow me to leave.”
And with those words, he turned on his heels and headed for the door. Ryunosuke raised a hand towards him, wanting to follow him. But before he had a chance, he heard one voice rise above the music and the gossip.
“Don't you know how to shut your mouth?! Don't you know how to keep to yourselves those thoughts that you should be ashamed of?!”
Kazuma got the stares of everyone present in the ballroom. And he didn't care at all. He walked with strong steps, until he reached Ryunosuke. He took his arm, and spoke to him, making sure that everyone heard him:
“Let's get out of here.”
And so, they walked to the exit of the ballroom, closing the door behind them. When they were alone in the hallway again, Ryunosuke hunched over and sighed.
“We should look for Barok.”
“This way. I know where he is.”
Kazuma led him down the large stairs, until they were out of the mansion. Then, they moved through the gardens. Until, as Kazuma had said, they found him.
Barok was sitting on one of the stone benches, next to a rose garden, in the moonlight. Ryunosuke wanted to get closer gently. But Kazuma moved faster, putting an arm around his shoulders that made him startled.
“Do you still come to sit in a garden when you are feeling blue?”
Barok looked at him for a moment, then sighed.
“I just wanted to get out of that show of frivolity.”
Ryunosuke went to sit with them, leaving Barok in the middle. He took his hand gently.
“We all would have a better time at home, in peace.”
That made Barok sigh again.
“I know. And yet… Ballrooms are a tradition, and a requirement for young people from society. And… I hoped I could comply. I hoped that, having your company, it would be easier...”
After those words, there were a few moments of silence, with nothing more than small acts of affection. Then, without warning, Kazuma rose to his feet. Under Barok's confused gaze, he bowed exaggeratedly, and finally held out his hand.
“What are you doing, Kazuma?”
“Comply with the traditions. Would you grant me this dance?” he asked, ending his question with a wink.
Barok frowned, and crossed his arms, ignoring his proposition. Calmly, Kazuma shrugged, and instead grabbed Ryunosuke's arm and pulled him up.
He found himself standing on the grass, Kazuma's hands on his wrist and around his waist.
“Come on. Let's have this waltz.”
He spun him around. Ryunosuke was about to trip over his own feet.
“Kazuma. You should know that I’ve never...”
“Come on. You move to my rhythm. The waltz is simpler than it seems.”
Ryunosuke tried. He really did. He looked down at the ground and tried to follow Kazuma's steps in that dance. But he was unable to achieve anything. The dance ended with a shout from Kazuma, because Ryunosuke stepped on his foot by accident.
With a sigh, Barok stood up, and took Ryunosuke's hands.
"Come here," he told him, taking him in the waltz position, bringing his body closer to his. “Follow these three steps.”
He showed it to him, and asked Ryunosuke to repeat it. It took him several tries, but he did it. They danced at the same time, slowly, so that Ryunosuke could follow him.
When Ryunosuke managed to do it, a smile appeared on his lips, which filled Barok with warmth.
But that dance didn't last long, because as soon as they stopped, Kazuma stood between them.
“Well, you have already danced. Now is my turn.”
And he took Barok in a position similar to what the dance required. He made the aristocrat sigh.
"You know, Kazuma," he said. “The waltz is not danced so closely.”
“Oh, it is not?” he said, moving a little closer. And that particular version of the waltz began.
On the bench again, Ryunosuke watched them with a little smile. But he was interrupted, because without warning Kazuma moved towards him and took his hand, and suddenly Ryunosuke found himself being part of that dance.
"I know, I know," Kazuma said, before Barok had a chance to speak. “This is not waltz at all.”
All Barok did was smile. He took Kazuma's and Ryunosuke's hands, and made them spin in that improvised dance. There were no steps, there was no order. But there were little smiles, and giggles, and a warmth that never left them.