"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." - William Shakespeare

XXXII.

Seijuro.

The clear view and the dim light of the moon fitted perfectly for the event. A usual party, my 17th birthday party to be exact, was complete with guests my father fully had associations with.

The lively music suits the sublime and serene residence, I hear nothing but the usual things that would come out of their lips; business.

Some may even approach, greet and try to make a casual conversation with me. Flirt even.

My eyes roamed around the area and my lips twitched up into a smirk when they stopped onto a familiar figure. Ah, I know this man. Father once attempted to arrange me with his sole daughter. I gave it chance - I gave them a chance and I tried to get to know the fine young lady a little longer. But she was the complete opposite of the girl that was in my standards... A girl with dignity.

The complete opposite of Yurika.

The thought of what happened earlier made my smirk stretch even more. And I was sure I look like a mad man smiling to himself.

I glanced at my wristwatch and it was past midnight. I wasted my precious time for 4 straight hours already. I guess I had done enough.

The party that other people call sublime, was tedious to me anyway.

I usually enjoyed my birthdays because I had my picture perfect family. But then fate took the picture off the frame and torn my mother out of it.

I ran my fingers through my hair as a sigh escaped my lips. Then I just found myself walking away from the enormous room, my feet that was kissing the same ground for hours, seem to finally have a destination.

I wonder how is she doing at the moment?

But then, my feet abruptly came into a halt as I heard a sound erupted from the music room. A melody I was very familiar of. A gentle smile crept to my lips as she got a note wrong but nonetheless, I guess that precious melody was familiar to her as well.

Yuri.

A sigh escaped my lips as I pressed a key wrong. Why do I always find myself playing that certain piano piece over and over again?

Reo locked the door behind him then pulled me out in a tight motherly hug once again.

"I can't stay for long, Yuri-chan," He mumbled against my hair. "I just wanna ask you something."

I let out a small smile as I saw Reo's reaction to my statements. Is it really that shocking?

I can faintly hear the sound of the instruments from here and I remembered Akashi-kun once again. And remembering him means also remembering what we did earlier. The passionate kiss we shared earlier...

I felt my cheeks heat up at the memory and my finger automatically went up to my face to trace my lips. I bit my lower lip and buried my face on the keys, creating an unusual sound.

Akashi-kun's party was at full blast and it also seem exciting. I just wish that... I could join the elegant party as well.

But what can I do? I could only sit in here alone and play the piano.

I sighed and cracked my fingers then positioned them once again on the keys. I took a deep breath as I decided to play Ice by Brian Crain. I closed my eyes then got lost in those sea of deep melody.

I stopped when I felt a presence beside me. I opened my eyes then shifted them towards an absolute redhead and my jaw dropped to the floor.

No words can describe how gorgeous he looked tonight. He was wearing a formal black suit and pants. One side of his scarlet hair was slicked backwards, making his crimson eye, that was once golden to show off more and the other eye was slightly covered by the remaining of his bangs. And I was sure, even if I haven't stepped into the party, he was the most fine man out there.

"Akashi-kun..." I mustered up my calm voice but I heard the shakiness drop off by the end. He gave me his gentle smile and I gulped then averted my gaze. I can't take another moment of staring at the man in front for I was sure that I was going to faint, yet again.

"Why did you stop?" His smooth voice rang through my ears and I heard his footsteps getting closer to me.

"I... um... no reason." I stammered. Darn it, why am I stuttering?

My heart beat started to accelerate as he sat beside me and I couldn't dare to look up to see what expression he was wearing at the moment.

"How's the party?" I asked just to make a casual conversation with him. With just him being near me, I didn't mind the silence. However, I did want the nervous feeling that was building up in my chest to subside by talking normally with him. I want to divert my attention away from what we shared earlier.

"Going smoothly, as usual." He replied with that nonchalant yet flawless voice of his.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" I tried to give him a glance to gauge his reaction.

"No," He said straightforwardly and smiled. "That's why I'm here."

My forehead creased and finally looked into his handsome face. "What?"

"I'll only enjoy if I'm with you."

I felt my heart stop right then and there and I seem to get too attached to those pair of scarlet eyes, that was dancing with too much emotions that I couldn't decipher. And I didn't notice the smile that crept to my lips.

"Going to an elegant birthday party must be nice," I commented and shifted my gaze at the balcony and it had the great view of the smiling moon, the smile never left my lips as I was trying to hide the happiness that was invading my whole system.

"You wish to join?" He asked, a smile evident in his voice.

"I wish," I agreed then sighed.

"No," He said firmly and I darted my head back to him and pouted. "We can have our own party in here." He added then stood up and pulled my hand, taking me by utter surprise.

He smirked as he saw the shock on my face and he pulled my body close to his then whispered something to me. "Dance with me, Yurika,"

My body seem to tense up at that statement. "I-I don't know how to dance." I mumbled with a meek voice.

"Sure you can." He insisted then he placed my arms around his neck while his hands traveled down my waist then we swayed to the faint music from the background. I blushed in sheer embarrassment. "You don't need to be shy." He gave me a smile and I looked away, pouting.

"Don't smile like that," I said in a curt voice. "It's creepy."

"I enjoy the look of embarrassment on your face." He commented and I frowned. "It's incredibly alluring."

"Sadist." I mumbled under my breath.

"I want to do something," He informed me, his tone was now serious.

I looked up to meet his gaze. "What is it?"

He removed his hands from my waist and as a reaction, I did the same. He turned me around and I was feeling bemused but curious at the same time as to what he was attempting to do to me. I felt his hands on my hair, caressing it - no, I don't think so.

"Akashi-kun, what are you-"

"Stay still." He ordered with a firm voice, making me bite my lower lip in dismay.

Then suddenly, I felt blade snipping on my hair and I gasped in shock. The weight on my head decreased as I saw strands of strawberry hair fall to the floor.

He... He cut my hair...

"A-Akashi-kun..." I mumbled in shock.

"I'm not yet finished," He told me as he started doing something again.

"What are you doing?"

"Braiding your hair."

My lips twitched. "You know how to do braids?"

"Of course I do. You think girls are the only ones allowed to do braids?"

My eyes dilated at the trembling question. I... I think I have heard that before...

"Do I love you?"

"Of course you do."

"I don't know..."

"You know..."

"No, what?"

"I don't need those three words to know how much you love me. Because if I kiss you now, you'll probably respond. And that is enough."

"You're pretty confident, aren't you? How can you be so sure?"

"To put simply, my love, I know everything."

"All done." He said and I slowly turned around to look into his eyes. My once hip length hair was now shoulder length and was braided.

"Thank you... I guess." I said with a hint of hesitation in my voice.

He gave me a smile then leaned down and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and feel his lips brush my skin.

"Do you love me?"

"What do you think?"

"Hmm, maybe?"

"You should know the answer by now. Don't ever doubt my feelings for you."

"Will you say it?"

I felt tears form on my eyes and I desperately tried to flutter my eyelids up and down just to make them go away.

"I need to go back." He whispered against my forehead. "You should go back to your room and rest." He pulled away and looked at me as if he was waiting for me to say something.

Please, say it.

I nodded meekly. "Okay,"

Say it.

He gave me one last look before turning on his heels and walked away but he stopped by the doorway and peered over his shoulder to give me a glance.

Will you say it?

"Good night, Yurika." And with that said, he completely walked out of the room, leaving me all alone.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair then glanced on the floor, where strands of my hair were scattered around.

"Good night, Akashi-kun..." I whispered with a bitter smile.

The next few days passed by swiftly, it all seem like a blur and I didn't notice that Christmas was fast approaching.

Everyone must be happy right now spending Christmas with their loved ones.

Someone opened my door and before I could have the time to react, some violethead already tackled me on the bed. "Yurika-sama~! Merry, merry Christmas~!" She sang as she hugged me tight on the bed.

I giggled. "Merry Christmas, Kisa," I greeted back and she sat on the bed with a childish grin plastered on her face.

"This is my favorite holiday, Yurika-sama!" She exclaimed and clapped her hands in excitement.

I sat up and shrugged. "Figures."

"Young master is calling for you." She informed me when she had calmed down.

"Oh, really?" I asked, a little shock. She nodded her head excitingly. I let out a small smile then stood up and fixed my wrinkled dress. "Do I look okay?"

She gave me a thumbs up. "You look more than okay." She grinned then stood up as well. "Come on now, it's rude to make him wait any longer." She said as she pushed me out of the room.

"Okay, okay." I agreed then proceeded to make my way on the enormous living room.

Once I arrived at the living room, my eyes stopped to a shade of red, and that shade of red belong to none other than the absolute man standing a few feet away from me.

"You called, Akashi-kun?" I asked as I continue to close the gap between us and he watched me do so.

"I did." He confirmed and adjusted his cardigan. Even though he wore anything as simple as this, he still looked handsome as ever. "I just wanted to say, Merry Christmas."

I raised an eyebrow in question. "Seriously? You summoned me just to say that?" I gave him a quizzical look.

He chuckled. "No, not exactly."

He pointed to 6 boxes resting on a table and it was wrapped neatly.

"Are they for me?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

"Yes," He said nonchalantly.

I grinned and started marching towards the presents. I opened Eri's gift first and it revealed to be a strawberry pendant.

Dear Yurika,

Merry Christmas! I hope that it is finally merry for you. Because you usually complain about how cold your Christmas every year, (it's a metaphor) because your parents were never home. I hope you feel the warmth you always desired with *insert cough here* Akashi-kun. *cough cough* I hope we get to hangout some other time! I miss you, Tsunrika!"

Love,
Erika Komori

I smiled at the teasing yet touching letter. Yes, I'll make sure that we'll get to hangout someday.

I opened Yukari's gift next and it was a muffler with strawberry stitches. She also had a letter to me and it was stated that she knitted the muffler herself. And she also teased me like Eri did. I just shook my head in amusement.

Next was Kotaro's, which was a doll with strawberry red hair and hazel eyes. She looked a lot like me. I frowned yet it was quickly replaced with a silly smile. That Kotaro.

I opened Eikichi's present next, which was a cute charm bracelet with a violin and keys of the piano as the charms. I really loved it.

Mayuzumi-san's gift was next, which was a light novel. I scanned through the pages and smiled, he left a note in there saying that if I didn't like it, I should return it to him.

Last was Reo's gift and unlike the gifts that I already opened, this one got me bewildered.

It was a picture of me and Akashi-kun. I was wearing the gray and indigo school uniform with a white veil and holding a bouquet of artificial flowers and there was a crowd of students on the background as the wedded couple on the picture smiled sweetly at the camera. I stared at my smiling face long and hard, I look very happy that time.

I shifted my gaze towards Akashi-kun who was watching me all the time.

"We're married, huh?" I chuckled then stood up to stand in front of him.

I heard him smirk. "We merely practiced."

He pulled out a small white box from his pocket and handed it to me. "This is my Christmas present for you."

I smiled back at him and slowly took the small container from his hands, our fingers accidentally brushed against each other. I opened the box and it was a beautiful silver necklace with a cross pendant.

"A-Akashi-kun," I stuttered as I stare at the beautiful object in awe. "It's so beautiful." I stared at him with wide eyes.

"Do you want me to help you wear it?" He asked with a warm smile.

I nodded. "Yes, please."

He took the necklace while I turned my back to him as he helped me wear the necklace. A smile crept to my lips as my finger traced the cross pendant on my collarbone. I turned around and grinned at him. "Thank you so much." But then my smile vanished just as a thought crossed in my mind.

"What's wrong?" He asked just as he noticed the change of my mood.

"I don't have a present for you." I whispered and looked down on the floor in shame.

His finger went to my chin and gently tilted it up. "It's fine." He reassured me and smiled.

But in the end, I did gave him a Christmas present.

We kissed. But this time, it was me who leaned in.