HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!
“Your seriously Joking....right Ryuu.”
Erin had lifted her deep violet orbs to stare at Ryuu who was currently unable to keep still. Rocking back and forth on his heels, the orange haired fighter was a glow with the thought of the Holidays to come.
“Come one Eri lets do it. All year long we fight. And every fight there is always a chance that we could die. Not many of us live that long. All the more reason to do this!”
Erin sighed and closed her book. Making sure it made a loud noise as she did. She was so happy to have found such a nice spot to read and relax. Since almost anywhere you went in this place someone was exploding something, or creating something far more dangerous to them then the akuma they hunted. She even heard of one director who created a serum that turned his entire staff and exorcists into vampires for a few days. That thought made her shiver visibly.
“Eri?”
Ryuu questioned again. Causing her to lift her gaze and look at him. He looked so happy at this moment. The last fight they had been in cost them both allot. All of it was just death. And those that survived would never be the same. The poor girl with the golden curls.
“Does my answer really matter. I'm sure your going to do it anyway.”
Ryuu instantly stole the seat next to her. Throwing his arms around her, he rocked them both from side to side to the point where Eri may have punched him, if not for the sweet words he said.
“Eri I want you to help me set everything up. Cause I want you to go with me and have some fun.”
Ryuu had no idea the impact of his words. Eri was grateful he was so tall and was not paying attention to her anyway to see the flush creep along her cheeks. Realizing he may see it at some point, she shot upwards quickly. Knocking Ryuu back onto the seat. Staring at her back he watched as she held the book tighter.
“Fine....leave me a list of what you need of me.”
Ryuu rocked forward and onto his feet, throwing one arm over her shoulder. His other arm was lifted at an odd angel. His hand closed and one finger pointing to the sky.
“By my word of honor this Halloween party will be the best thing ever!!!”
As soon as the words left Ryuu, Eri was suddenly regretting the idea but it was to late. Ryuu had skipped off, yelling at the top of his lungs about the Halloween party. She even watched as he grabbed one of the scientists and began to shake him so hard his head flopped forward and back like a bobbled headed doll. The sight was enough to make her laugh. The poor scientist was shaking by the time Ryuu had let him go. Leave it to Ryuu to get everyones spirits up about the party. One way or another by the looks of it.
“Maybe he is right. One night of freedom could be good....for all of us.”
Withing a few hours everyone knew about the Halloween party. There was a whole new air about the overly large manor. People were smiling and laughing. Talking about costumes. Who was going to go with who. It seemed the whole place had done a three sixty. It was so good to see everyone happy. In their line of work there was little to celebrate. Because as soon as one mission was done there was always another. Work just kept piling on. Never enough people to go around. Eri could not help but smile as she looked to everyone she worked with. They were her family. Ryuu had done a good thing with this idea. No matter how annoying he was with it.
“I wonder what I should dress up as.”
Eri thought out loud. Her own thoughts filling her mind. Yet Ryuu had heard. He had been tailing her for some time now. Finding it funny that she had not spun around to strike at him like normal. He found it kinda cute when she got so lost in thought she had no idea of her surroundings. But when he heard her speak he responded quickly.
“How about a sexy vampire.”
As soon as his words came out he jumped back in time to her swinging her arm around. He had caught her off guard. Knowing that it was rather dangerous to do so. It was so rare to catch Eri off guard that when you did and startled her she always lashed out. Her cheeks flushed when she saw him smiling at her. Instantly she lifted her chin slightly, in a failed attempt to play it off. But Ryuu knew and that alone made him chuckle softly.
“Oh Stalking now I see.”
She looked at him with a playful stare. A smile on her lips, her arms crossed under her chest. Ryuu always made her smile, even when she didn't want to. And he always seemed to know what she was feeling. Even scarier, sometimes he even knew what she was thinking. They were far closer then she would ever admit.
“It's not my fault you were not paying attention. Though I must admit, hearing you worry about what to wear. Well that is defiantly something new.”
Eri's cheeks flushed a deeper red as she looked at him. He was teasing her and she was biting. It was obvious with the way she was acting.
“Oh funny. So tell me why were you following me Ryuu.”
Ryuu took a step closer. For a moment she saw his features go serious. A side of him he only used for battle. It left her confused as she watched the different emotions appear on his face. There was an emotion there she was not sure of what it was. But none the less it was odd to see him go serious even for a moment. After all there was nothing to be serious about, not with the idea of party coming up.
“Well since there is going to be a dance soon. I was wondering if you had planed to go with anyone cause I meant what I said earlier Eri.”
Eri stood there and stared at him. She watched as his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. They had been partners for years. Always together, training hard. But this was something new for the both of them. Instantly Eri dropped her gaze. She knew her cheeks were bright red. Seconds stretched into minutes before Ryuu felt as though he said something wrong. Trying to make a save he pulled the only thing he could think of out.
“I meant were partners and all I figured we could go together.”
Ryuu having no idea how his words hurt her, watched something change in her eyes. Slowly she lifted her gaze. A smile on her lips, she appeared happy. But something was wrong. She could only fake so much. And Ryuu realized that somehow he had hurt her.
“Oh of course. Well then that changes things. If you can not find any other then of course I will go with you.”
Without giving Ryuu a chance to explain, she turned and dashed away. Leaving him there with a look on his face that could only be described as saddness. Eri never glanced back to see it. Over the course of the next few weeks. Eri did her best to avoid Ryuu. Sometimes it was more obvious then others. But Ryuu knew the moment she walked away she would do this. He gave her the space she needed. Till the night before the big dance. Eri was in the main ball with Ryuu and a few others. They were working hard to decorate the place.
The ballroom was grand in size. And most of the time they just used the place for storage. Since parties were normally the last thing on anyones mind. But today the group was working to stack boxes against the walls to make the floor clear. Once the boxes were stacked they all began to clean. The floor was caked in dust. Yet everyone was still happy. The work was going by allot faster since everyone was so excited about the event. By the morning hours only Eri and Ryuu were left. Finishing the last touch of decorations.
The ball room now had streams along the walls that came together in the center of the room. Where there once was a chandelier now hung a jack o lantern. A playful grin on its bright face. There was a small stage build and off to the side for the DJ of the night to play his tunes. Tons of fake spider webs decorated the corners as home made spiders crawled in them. A fog machine was set in the front of the room. So that a fog would cover the floor. Hanging skeletons added to the effect. The whole room was set to detail, and everything was perfect. The two stood there looking around admiring their work.
“You know it all really came together in the end.”
Eri said as she placed her hands on her hips. Since they had began the work to change this once storage room into something worth having a party in. She seemed to have forgotten she had been avoiding for some time now. Her long indigo locks were pulled up into a messy ponytail. Dressed in simple black pants and a tank top. Plain sneakers and covered in dust. Yet she was standing there smiling and Ryuu could not stop staring. Little by little Ryuu was starting to see Eri in a different light. Even if he refused to believe it, he knew deep down it was true.
“Yes It did. Thanks to your help Eri.”
Eri blinked and looked at him. She was pretty sure it was a group effort let alone to give credit to one person. Shaking her head she smiled at him.
“I didn't do much. Allot of this is thanks to you. Your making allot of people happy with this. You always go out of your way for people. Ryuu promise me you will never change.”
Standing there Ryuu was left with his two toned eyes wide. A warm feeling filled his chest. And for a moment he could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. Words rushed to his mouth yet he never got them out. She started to talk again.
“Well I'm heading to bed. Looks like we will have another long night ahead of us and I'm going to need some sleep. See you at the dance!”
At that she turned and left Ryuu standing there to do nothing more then stare. He didn't understand his feelings fully. So he never knew to chase after her. One hand ruffled his untamed locks. Messy and damp with sweat from the work they had done today. What he needed was a shower some food and some rest. Maybe things will be clear when he woke. Cause lately he had no idea what he was thinking. Leaving the ball room behind he to made his way to bed. Both laid their heads down with thoughts of the other. Such foolish pride they had. All they had to do was speak from the heart. Such fools can love make.
The morning came to soon. Well more like afternoon for those who stayed up to get the ballroom ready for the party that night. Everyone was alive. The whole manor a buzz about the party. The day just seemed like it could not go fast enough. And when six o' clock hit everyone was done with their duties and dressing up in their costumes. By the time Eri got down to the party is was close to eight. She had spent the last two weeks making her vampire costume. Taking Ryuu's idea she went with it. Wondering what he would be dressed up as. The music was loud enough that she felt it threw her heels as she reached the long hallway that lead to the ballroom. People standing just outside the door laughing dressed up as monsters and fairy's. She bumped into someone dressed as a mummy and giggled as she looked to the center of the ballroom.
People were dancing and some even singing to a song she could not seem to remember but knew some how. Passing by people she said her greetings. Yet she could not find Ryuu anywhere. So many people had masks on that it was hard to find him. Brushing the lace away from her legs she thought she looked good. Half of her indigo locks were pulled up while the other half was curled and fell about her waist. The gown hugged her figure nicely. Falling just above the knee, where sheer black lace fell like a gown. The dress was strapless, yet she had lace over her arms that belled open where her hands were. Dark makeup and teeth to match. She gave up her search and went towards the refreshments table. A figure though moved in front of her.
“For something so evil, you look so beautiful tonight.”
She knew that voice all to well. Her eyes slowly moved up his body. Dressed is a nice tux, with a cloak on his shoulders. Her eyes looked with his two toned ones. A mask covering half his face. She knew who is was portraying instantly. Her blood red lips pulled into a smile as looked him over once more.
“Not half bad you clean up well. Good thing you went for the mask, maybe now you can get a girl.”
They both laughed. This was how it was between them. Jokes and laughters. The last few weeks had been confusing. But here and now they did not have to worry. Simple enjoy the night for what it was. Soon they were dancing, others they new joined in. Pictures were taken to capture the night and all of its glory. Nothing could have been better. Till the last song of the night came on. To end every dance with a slow song was in fact clesha. Yet the song played. Eri saw people pair up, and moved. Slowly making her way off the floor. A warm hand slid into hers. Pulling her back. Stumbling her weight was caught by a hand around her waist. Glancing up she saw Ryuu.
“You still owe me one more dance.”
With a smile the two began their last dance of the night. Each lost in the moment of the other in their arms. Tomorrow would come and everything would go back to normal. But this dance had been more then just a holiday escape. Tonight would be the first change in how they saw one another. Though they face life and death every day, it only made them more aware of things others could take for granted. Like the love of person.
The song had ended yet they still danced, till they realized they were all that was left. Unsure of how to say goodnight to looked away from one other. Unbelieving that they had been so caught up in their moment. Ryuu made the move first. Reaching for her hand he pressed a kiss to her it gentle. Bowing over, like the men had done so very long ago. She felt her cheeks warm as she watched him. His lips were soft, causing her to gasp.
“Goodnight my princess.”
With a wave of a hand she spun. Drawing his cape over him. A smile plastered to his lips. One that Eri never got to see. One step in the right direction he thought as he left a flustered Eri to gape from her hand to him.
Oh tomorrow would be so much fun.....
