Before the masquerade ball -

"Oh! Lenalee, you're heading out tonight.." Komui, alongside Reever stopped at the door. "A friend of yours, Lenalee?" A young woman of blonde hair and wine red dress stood at the door. Meanwhile Lenalee was being tended to by her maid, her long black hair being combed.

"Hello.." Komui turned to the figure standing aside the door. "Have.." Komui saw himself staring into a pair of sulky gray eyes; with a pentacle shaped scar over her left eye.. Strangely enough, only one other person had such a mark…

Komui stared. Reever stood tired, at the door, holding a pile of paperwork that Komui had yet to fill out. He poked his head over Komui's shoulder, his eyes widening a moment.

"Is that.." Komui started, while Reever had the good sense to keep his mouth shut and averted his eyes, pretending interest in his paperwork.

"Nii-san!" Lenalee said brightly, drawing his attention away. "This is Allison. I don't think you've met before." Komui looked rather doubtful.

"Are you sure.. I mean, isn't this-" Komui saw a glimpse of white hair down the hallway.

"Allen..?" Komui craned his neck out the door, frowning.

"I think Allen said this was his night off. He must've just been leaving, brother!" Komui still looked doubtful. However, As he stared at 'Allison', Lenalee shook her head oh-so-slightly at Reever. That was his cue. As always- Reever sighed, before he leaned up to Komui's ear. The words were unclear but the meaning was clear.

A moment passed by before Komui swiveled his head and looked incredulous. "Right now?" He grabbed Reever's forearm tightly. He seemed uncomfortable, almost as if his pants were one size too small…

Reever nodded, and smirked oh-so-slightly at Lenalee. Lenalee gave a small smile of her own; knowing she could depend on Reever. He was great for her brother, considering his sister-complex and all. It could all be so tiring. However, Reever knew just how to distract her lovable, but strange brother.

Not to mention.. Komui now had an awnward look on his face as he dragged Reever out of the room. Rather hasty in his departure, he didn't bother to give another look to the blonde by the door. The particular blonde had a rather amused smile now.

"What I wouldn't give to know what he said." 'Allison', better off known as Allen, said dryly. Lenalee felt another grin pull at her lips as she applied some extra face powder. The maid was still arranging her hair, and they were a little late... but they could be fashionably late to the ball.

"I don't think you want to know." Lenalee commented while Allen gave her an arched brow. He would let the topic rest… for now. He was moe concerned with the lie Lenalee had managed to miraculously produce on the spot.

"Allison?" The question was going to come up sooner or later. "Where in the world did you learn to lie so easily, Lenalee?"

"You know, that reminds me of someone." Lenalee gave Allen her own questioning look, smiling wickedly. "Maybe I learned it from someone in particular?"

"Learned it from the best." Allen said slyly. If he wasn't careful, Lenalee might pull one over him someday.

"What flattery." Lenalee stood and placed the mask questioningly at her face. "How's the mask, Allen?" Allen leaned in to pat her head. The gesture was so reminiscent of their childhood, Lenalee felt a touch of nostalgia. How long had it been since Allen had treated her like her, well like, her?

"You look beautiful. Don't worry about it." Allen placed a chaste kiss on top of her head, and leaned back. Lenalee had chosen to dress in her native Chinese clothes; a strikingly black and white Chinese dress. Oh, she was so tired of the starched English clothes, so much that she welcomed the chance to dress a little more freely.

However, the outfit by English standards would be considered scandalous for the amount of skin that was revealed at the bodice, and the slit at the side of her legs. But that was nothing, Lenalee thought doubtfully. The English was so deeply suspicious of any sort of pleasure. How staid. The French were so much more agreeable.

Meanwhile Allen's outfit, although not quite masquerade-material but pretty risqué in choice of style and color. The dressmaker had chosen to use na unheard of French style, along with the color of wine red; a color that was difficult to pull off even for the most beautiful. The dress's effect was spectacular, and she mentally thanked her modiste for her quick work.

To say the least, Allen was drop-dead stunningly gorgeous, even if he refused to admit it. He'd outshine all the other girls at the party, Lenalee thought smugly.

Once Lenalee was done, she gave the maid a nod, and the butler led the way to the carriage. The servants were too well-trained to pay much attention to Lenalee's friend but there would be gossip under the stairs was for sure. The ball they meant to visit wasn't far. They passed along the bumpy road as Lenalee gave Allen, or 'Allison' a smile.

Allen though, didn't return it. "What do even want me there for, Lenalee?" Allen said in a slightly curious voice.

Lenalee merely had a secretive smile on her face. She was planning something special for Allen. "What if I said I wanted some company? You know a young woman like me could get accosted at such a ball…" Allen stifled a sigh. Lenalee was a match for anyone. What a ridiculous excuse.

Fine then. Allen decided to turn the tables on her instead.

"I suppose…" Allen handed her a glass of champagne from the side-bar. " I wonder who's on the guest list… Wisely, maybe?" Lenelee almost choked on her champagne, her face growing red. Really, there was nothing about that Wisely—she had just met him! "Oh?" Allen said with a raised brow. "I mean—I heard Tyki was invited. You know Tyki is all about his family." Allen smiled sweetly. And of-so-innocently. Lenalee tried to recompose herself but Allen had seen enough. Her composure was just a bit shaken. A black smile crept its way up to Allen's face as she gave him a glare. He looked away, chuckling.

"Dancing with a certain gentleman might be fun, won't it?" Allen held a hand to his face, laughing evilly.

"Cut that out!" Lenalee hit him with a slipper, the slipper bouncing off his head to the ground. Allen sighed and leaned over to snag it towards him. He gestured for Lenalee to lift her foot, which she did reluctantly. He put the slipper back on, his face grinning again. "Hey, hey. Imagine. One day, a certain someone else will be doing this…" He said slyly.

He was met with a kick to the face.

"Enough with this nonsense!" Lenalee turned away, refusing to talk the rest of the trip. Of course she was brooding over the fact that she had even felt momentarily flustered toward Wisely. Silly her, she chided. He was just another gentleman she had met. There was nothing to him… but those magnetic eye. She had found herself fixated y the golden eyes, arrested by his stare. She thought she was used to it, like Tyki but this was strange… She had Kanda, Lavi, Allen, and her brother didn't she?

But don't you feel lonely? Her friends were enough, she told herself.

…. Why was it that it sounded hollow for the first time?

Rhode was pouting at the Noah manor. "Why can't I go?" She whined, shaking the doll she had at Tyki and Wisely. Tyki was pulling on a cravat, and sighed. Wisely merely looked at Tyki.

"Rhode, there's going to be demimondes at every corner, scoundrels and drunkards. Sheryl would kill me if I let you go." Tyki tried to explain one more time. Rhode refused to listen, scowling at her beloved older brother. Although it was more of a hateful look. "But you're going to see Allen! You're going to see Lenalee! Lenalee is.." Rhode didn't finish the sentence as Wisely gave her a look.

"…" Rhode sighed. "Fiiine! I'll stop complaining. Just this once. Bring back souvenirs!" She ordered, as Tyki and Wisely nodded. They were ready to acquiesce to her request since upsetting the poor princess of the family was quite bothersome for days on end. Rhode never easily forgot grudges.

Tyki and Wisely made their ways out the door. Wisely in his much speculated outfit, had come in the original sheikh robes from Arabia. Tyki had taken on the 'gentlemanly' clothes, but he had on the 'mad hatter' outfit. The outfit was topped off with a dark cape and an over towering hat. Lovely. Tyki was known to drive people mad with desire after all, and he didn't give much of a damn what others said. It suited him.

"You really think they're going to be there?" Wisely mentioned as they entered the privacy of their carriage.

"I don't care. All I'm looking for is some precious time with my bunny." Tyki said, smiling, his thoughts distracted about what he'd do to that little bunny when he got his hands a hold of him. The red-haired boy's body was insatiable. Tyki had been hungering for it, refusing to satisfy himself with anyone else. He'd lost any desire to hold other women right now.

But the kid had been avoiding him. That was for sure, Tyki thought sourly.

"That kid is really something?" Wisely questioned. Although it was more of a statement.

"He's not going to be able to leave my bed for a week when I'm done with him." Tyki said darkly, a bit of a foul mood arising, now that he remembered his repressed desire.

"Ah. I feel sorry for him." Wisely chuckled. Tyki was well known in the family for his insatiable 'pleasure'. Never once in his conquests had he left a woman unsatisfied. Or men in this case, often prompting them to stalk or become persistently annoying. Which was why Tyki frequently dropped them; but this boy was different. He'd be amusing to watch since he tried so adamantly hard to avoid him, and not for the usual womanly ploy.

As for Wisely….. He let his mind wander for a moment. The brunette from the other time had caught his attention, had captivated him actually. She wasn't typical as an English woman nor was she like an Arabian woman. She had the mixture of both, enough sensuality with her movements but an innocent naivete that made him want to soil her... Make her flush, embarssed, and look at him with him in her eyes. Badly.

What a strange reaction this was.

Kanda and Lavi, Lavi who seemed to perpetually stay at Kanda's residence was also getting ready for the party.

Kanda winced as he pulled on his jacket, the wounds from that time still smarting. He had managed to keep it hidden from mostly everybody, especially that stupid rabbit and his doddering idiot of a father. His father would have burst into tears, and cried out hysterically about what happened, and hovered constantly. To say the least, it would've been annoying.

The man was pretty mellow except for when it came to his 'boys'. He wouldn't stop nagging him to get married either. What a pain, Kanda thought with a frown on his face. He pulled on the loose fitting garment with ease though, glad that he wasn't wearing a constricting shirt either. He was dressing like what they called 'samurai', Cloud suggesting the idea when she had come back from her trip across the world. She had brought back the strange garment and pressed him to wear it.

It was pretty comfortable, and his sword hung comfortably from his belt. The outfit was black and blue, colors 'specifically' chosen for him.. He had to give her begrudging thanks for the outfit since it was so comfortable. It also made him different from the rest of those idiots on the floor, who'd be wearing god knows what.

Annoying rabbit was going as… Guess what? A pirate. It suited his eye patch. Wearing an excuse of an outfit, he had thrown on a disheveled shirt and pants, and left his eye patch. The windblown mess of hair was perfect for the occasion.

Lavi burst in on him, and stopped short when he met with Kanda's sword. "Haha… Kanda. You wouldn't really stab me, would you? Kanda circled Lavi as he gave a nervous laugh. When the rabbit seemed to have finally calmed down, he put the sword back in the sheath. "Time to go, Rabi?" Lavi nodded at what was his fond nickname from Yu. Other than stupid rabbit, or idiot that was.

"Off to Wonderland we go~" Lavi skipped out, and then stopped short. "Oh yea, Yu! I heard there were going to be quite an interesting cast.." His eyes glinted with mischief, while Kanda's own narrowed. What exactly did that mean? But the stupid rabbit took the chance to disappear from sight, and knowing him, he'd probably wouldn't spit the words out. He could be surprisingly stubborn about the little things. Che.

Kanda stopped by the study room on the way, as he glanced through the incoming mail for one last time. Throwing aside another perfumed invitation from that Emilia. He threw it in the trash. Another bill, another letter, another… Wait, what? He knew this seal. Kanda's brows furrowed at the indiscriminate handwriting, and turned the envelope around. In the corner was an indiscreet 'Cross Marian'.

….. Well. That bastard could wait. Kanda dropped the envelope on his desk, leaving the room.

I might come back to fanfiction but.. wow, it's been a long time. This was sitting on my computer and I've only worked on it in increments. I suppose I'm just reminiscing about the past, now that I've added just a bit more to this work. I'm still not sure about returning to work on fanfiction, but I wanted to get this off and published at the very least... I'm sure I asked this, but anyone still around?