Midsummer's Ball (Calmay)

[Calmay]

I looked at the princes and shook my head. There was no way she was a male. Well she might look like one now, but that was probably to sneak out of the castle. "No you are definitely a female, Reno. I could tell by my kiss. The feel of your lips and your reaction was definitely one of a female. If you were a male you would have punched me or something after me kissing you like that. But you have not to worry I will not reveal your secret nightly activities to anyone." I kept walking beside her not planing on leaving her side just yet. It was obvious that she wanted me to leave, but that was not in my plans. This was fun. It was not often that I got to talk with a noble that did not want me around. The added bonus was that I was still in disguise so no one knows that it is me saying these things. Oh how much fun I was having.

When she asked me about my powers I remained silent. I knew she was asking about the changing ability but I was wondering if she was going to tell me about where she was going. She did not seem like she was the type to reveal information. After all she had denied being the princess at first. "If you must know it is a terrible story. You see when I was younger I was dating a witch and eventually we broke up. She did not take it as well as I hoped that she would. She cursed me so that when ever I felt any feelings for another person my appearance would change. She told me the more I love that person the uglier I would get. It is a true tragedy." I had said it all with a straight face. How much I loved making up stories. Though there were some people that could see through those lies back home. "Now that I answered your question, it is time for you to answer mine."

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I raised an eyebrow at the prince's reasoning behind him believing me to be a girl. "Wouldn't a girl slap you after that?" I said smirking, wondering how long it would take the prince to just drop the subject. And yet my mind wandered during this and I had to wonder if boy's and girl's lips actually felt different. Why would they? I shook the thoughts from my head, deciding my tiredness was catching up. By the time I was outside on my way to town I would be wide awake and ready to do whatever I wished. "And maybe I'm a guy that's interested in males. Or just guy who doesn't feel like taking out his daggers at this point." I said while feeling the daggers' sheathes hidden in my boots. My parents used to hope I would never learn to use a weapon of any kind. After I started dueling, they gave that hope up. Still, they would not approve if they knew that on top of cross dressing I was carrying two daggers with me at all times. The only one who knew was one of my ladies in waiting that covered for me whenever I needed her to. She had had a heart attack when she first saw them though and always frowned towards me when she saw me putting the sheaths on. I simply raised my eyebrow once again at the prince's lie to my question. "It seems that you don't seem to like me very much seeing as you aren't any uglier." I said, dipping the comment in sarcasm to let the prince know he hadn't fooled me. In the beginning I actually had bought it for a few moments sadly. At his last statement I smiled sweetly. "I'm off to town so I can announce to my mistress that it's our time to run away to another kingdom so I can finally act like the male I am instead of cross dressing for the court." I said with a slightly lower voice that I was sure probably didn't actually sound like a male's. People didn't ever question my voice while dressed like a male because they usually just accepted what their eyes showed them instead of digging into like a certain blue blood that was walking with me. How had he even noticed it was me? Actually the better question was how did he notice I was a girl? My chest was bound and my hair was tucked away. All make up was off and I was wearing the clothing that most guys did. And yet the prince had recognized me in only a minute or two. This night was just getting weirder every few minutes, wasn't it?

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[Calmay]

I thought back to all the times I had kissed a girl without notice. Sure there was a few slaps here and there, but most of them just blushed and remained silent. The slaps did hurt, but that was the risk I liked to take. I looked at her and smiled. There were plenty of ways I could prove that she was a female, but I held myself back at the moment. There was going to be plenty of opportunities to continue this game. "I doubt that you are a male that is into other males or that you have a mistress. You do not look like you are about to run away. And if you were into males you would not have rejected every dance offer you received in during the ball." He continued to walk forward. "Oh, and I was keeping an eye on you the whole night. As I was anyone that is significant in this country." I had to be annoying her shooting down ever excuse to that she was actually a male and not a female.

I was having fun. Something that I was not normally accustomed to. There were few people that I got to act this way with. The best part was no one would believe Reno about what happened tonight since no one actually saw me in my prince form. "Well maybe I don't like you as much as you expected. It might just be a pointless infatuation that you are crushing with your words. How cruel you are Reno." I looked away appearing to be hurt. "I thought that you might have been different. Well until you pay for hurt my emotions like that I will stay with you. And I relieve all emotions of love I have to you," I was just as stubborn as she was. And who leaves in the middle of a fun time. Let us see who is the better liar of the two of us.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I raised both of my eyebrows now, wondering why the prince had been watching me. Why not my sister, who had probably been sweeping people off their feet? "Oh yes, because the guys full of snobbery and who are simply looking for a higher position in the kingdom are definitely my type." I said, rolling my eyes. Those guys were just as bad as the group of girls except they were wider spread and were usually competitive against each other. I crossed my hands behind my head as I tried to remember this wing of the palace. It was rare for me to even go near this part, where the guests stayed. I hadn't even known it was this big of a hallway. But if this was the main hallway for this wing, which it was because of the size, it would eventually led us to the front entrance of the palace. There I could just watch the prince go out before going to one of the back entrances and going to the stables before the prince could find me again. Sounded easy enough. I held back laughter as he pretended to be hurt by my words. "An infatuation with a person whom you've just met? It really does seem pointless." I said tucking my laughter away and replacing it with a teasing smile. "It seems my mistress has competition if your going to stay with us. Perhaps you could be my best man in the wedding ceremony?" I continued and looked over the prince as if picturing him in the 'wedding' ceremony. After a moment I let out a fake sigh and looked back to the prince's gaze, looking him in the eye. "So what must I do to repay you for my harsh words, cursed prince?" I jokingly asked while wondering if my sister had ever gotten a suitor who had actually said something like this. It seemed too cliche for someone to say and yet here was the prince of Sanchu saying it as we tried to out-lie each other. With my stubbornness I was sure that I could outlast him especially since I couldn't see the prince being used to saying things like this. I did sometimes in the town when a girl would come up to be and, thinking I was an actual male, start to flirt among other things. Luckily I had always wormed my way out of those scenes. How hard could this be compared to those? "Tell me wha-"

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[Calmay]

I listened to her words. Looks like she was still insisting on pretending to be a male. That was fine with me. Well actually it was getting tiring now. Why would she not admit it. Maybe it was time to take it up to the next level. After all she call me a cursed prince. I smiled at her and as she opened her mouth and started to speak the next sentence I pushed her to the wall. I pinned her and kissed her. This time not just on the lips. He mouth being open from just speaking I placed my tongue in her mouth. I might as well give her a more passionate kiss to show that I was serious about how I felt. I held the kiss for a few seconds before releasing her from the kiss. However I kept her pinned to the wall. The smile from my face was gone and that darker tone that had appeared on my face. "You seem to forget princess that I am still a male and have my own desires. You should not underestimate a male with an infatuation. They are the most dangerous of them all." I then kissed her ear and let her go.

I smiled again, letting the mask return. Of course I felt nothing for her, but she did not need to know that. "I'm not like those men in the ballroom. I need not your position. So there is nothing wrong with being infatuated with you." I kept my gaze on her. Looking at her like I saw more then her disguise. Like I could see every part of her. "You should not tempt me like that. I am more then willing to give up my beauty for someone I love." I then used my power and made myself slightly less handsome, even though I did not want to. The game was not over yet. Not by a long shot. "And if you want to call me something call me Yasu." He did not mind being called a prince. The only problem was that he was currently not in his prince form. It would be to confusing for others to hear that he was a prince.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I suddenly felt myself pushed into the nearby wall. My words were choked and I felt someone kissing me. My eyes flew open, being closed from the surprise impact into the wall. The prince pulled away after a few moments and whispered in my ear. I glared at him now, angered. He was not going to just walk over me no matter how he felt about me or not. I didn't care if that was supposed to be a joke or not. My left hand twitched slightly and I felt my shadows crawl out a nearby open door way. They swirled around my hand and I didn't care if he saw them as he spoke. Part of my mind reminded me of what might happen. What had happened before. I had been little then though and now I could control my powers. My hands turned to fists and my nails created half moons in my palms. I ignored the light burning of this and instead focused on the shadows slowly sweeping up my left arm. After a moment they slithered off of my arm and back to the room they had come and I was left facing the prince. "Well Yasu, let me tell you something." I started, fists becoming hands as I gave him a naive smile. I closed the space between us and lifted my face so it was only centimeters from his own. "I may be a girl," I said sweetly, "but that's not going to stop me from doing this." I said and before he could lean in and put our lips together again I drew back. My right arm was drawn back further then the rest of my body for a moment's time before I threw it forward to punch the prince. It wasn't that I was joking about being male anymore. It was that I hated how noble women would just always slap someone. I swear my sister had never punched or kicked another human being except for when she had been in training. The other reason was because I was angered because the prince -- Yasu -- seemed to think that I was just going to go along with whatever he wanted me to do. And, knowing myself well enough, I wasn't going to. Stupid nobles. Stupid me. Of course he was going to be stuck up like the others. No other blue blood was in my position.

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[Calmay]

I was quite surprised when I saw the shadows around her arm. It looked like she could command the shadows. It now made sense why his vision felt strange at that moment. Even though I knew I might be in danger, I was more interested in her ability then what she would do as a reaction to the kiss I had just given her. I had not met many people that had abilities that involved shadows. Not that I went looking for them. That as my parents often said was to dangerous. It was better just to wait and have one approach you one day. I was disappointed when the shadows dispersed. I really wanted to see what she was capable of. I wanted to see how different our abilities really are when it came to the shadows.

When she moved closer to me I out up a full guard. There was no way that the smile she put on was sincere, she was planning something. Even as she brought her face up to me I did nothing. Let her do the first move and then I would defend. She deserved that much after being kissed twice by me in the same night. When I noticed her punch coming, it was to late to dodge, but I could at least soften the blow. I moved my body in the same direction as the blow allowing the impact to lessen. I still fell to to the ground, but with minor injuries. I could not stop the laugh that left my mouth. This girl was interesting. She did not hold back at all. I looked up at her still laughing. What a night I was going to have if I stayed around her. After all not many people would even consider punching him, let along going through with the action.

"I seem to have underestimated you Reno. You are much more interesting then I thought you would be. Thank the heavens you are not like those other insufferable nobles." I looked at her with a serious face. "You don't have to worry about me actually doing that again. I just wanted to admit that you were who you were. You really should have removed the makeshift bandage on you hand before you left. That was how I figured out it was you. That and other things." I then quickly moved my legs towards her hoping to make her lose her footing and join me on the ground. It was not fun looking up at a person all the time. She was going to have to join me on the ground.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I shook my fist to reduce the stinging while I looked down at the prince with a expression that probably showed that I thought him to be crazy at that moment. Not only had he taken my punch but he had also started laughing. I couldn't help but raise a brow -- once again -- when he had said he had underestimated me. What, had he thought me to be like my sister who would only speak? Or like other blue bloods, who would never lay a hand on the 'precious' prince of Sanchu? As he continued to talk I tilted my head slightly to the side before remembering the small bandage on my finger. I looked down at the hand in question and there it was, the white material having a dot of red where I had been wounded by the thorn. I blushed slightly at the obvious mistake and untied the cloth. It stuck slightly where the blood had dried but with a small tug came free. The cut had scabbed over easily and the skin was warmer then the rest from having been covered. I tucked the makeshift bandage into my pocket before showing Yasu the hand. "So how else did you know? Only my sister had been able to recongize me like this besides you." I said feeling better then I had at the ball. Suddenly my feet were swept out from under me. I repressed the urge to scream out in a girly manner. I caught myself with my hands and glared at Yasu. I sat up with my back against the wall. One of my legs were bent while the other was straight out towards the prince in question. "So what are you doing out here anyway?" I asked, actually wondering why the prince was doing out of his room so late. Had that guard been looking for him? So it was actually Yasu's fault at this point, not mine or the person that had been looking for him. I looked at his face, wondering if it would bruise.

((Sorry for the shortness >.<))

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[Calmay]

I was glad that she stayed on the ground with me instead of leaving. I really did not want to follow her. Mouth still hurt from the punch. Well even if it bruised no one would see it. I would just use my ability to keep it hidden, much like any other injury I received while out on the streets. But I could not help but place my hand on it to see how it felt. It stung a little to the touch, but not as much as if I had not moved in the last second. I looked at her and smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You should be more worried if word gets out that you punched visiting royalties. I mean with what you told me about your reputation it would be easy for me to say that you punched me for no reason." Not that I was going to say anything about this indecent. Then my parents would be able to figure out how I sneak out at night or during the day.

"Well there is you physical features. You might change you clothing but your waist size, body type and even face are still the same. With or without make up. You just have to look closer. Not to say I recognized you at first. A business partner of mine would have figured you out much faster. Though he has taught me a few things." I only convinced him to teach me so I could notice dangerous people around me. I also can not help pay attention to details, since I am always looking for was to improve my disguises and that means knowing how to look like others when needed. Though I was pretty sure I could not tell her that she still smelled of the same roses we were sitting by earlier tonight.

"I was going out to explore. My normal escorts advised against it so I decided to sneak out." That was all that I was going to say. I could not tell her that something of importance had been stolen from the castle and I had come to pick it back up. After all my parents wanted to up most secrecy and the ball was the perfect to. Receiving an invitation allowed me to enter the country under normal circumstances. I did not want to cause an international incident getting caught not only within the city but doing something that I should not be doing. So I could not tell her. "What about you? I doubt you are going to meet a mistress."

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I rolled my eyes at the prince's first statement. People wouldn't wouldn't believe that I had simply punched him. No, they would stretch the story carefully until it sounded like I had lost control like I had when I was young. Maybe some of the people in the court that really didn't like me might even suggest to lock me away somewhere even more far from the towns. Maybe I really was following in the footsteps of my grandmother. She hadn't met another noble like Yasu though, instead being blamed for someone's death. "Sadly I can't change what I look like. Fortunately the townspeople have no idea what I actually look like. I'm only allowed out of the castle for dueling and for the social events my parents try to take me too." I said before now wondering how much time he had taken in the rose garden to study me. I didn't pay attention to such things as waist size. "And besides, most people think any of the royal family would never dress as the opposite gender." I continued. Common sense could also blind you to something, which I used to my advantage. If I was a commoner I probably wouldn't suspect the disliked princess would actually come out into the town. I thought about what I wanted to do that night. I would be heading to Obscur, seeing as that was the closest big city, but what did I want to do there? With a smirk I looked at the prince and got an idea. "How about I come with you? I have nothing to do tonight and you don't know your way around." I said, wanting to know what the prince was up to. I stood up, stretching my arms above my head, before bending to check my daggers that were sheathed to my ankles. If we just sat in the hall servants and guards were bound to question our presence. After fixing my hat and tightening it so it couldn't fall off I bent down and offered my hand to the prince. It wasn't everyday I found a blue blood like me and I wanted to see what was so special that he had disguised himself. After all, his guards would probably be happy to take their prince anywhere tomorrow morning or afternoon. How long was Yasu staying anyway? Either way, there must have been something fun or exciting to do if he was keeping it a secret from his guards and his family. "After all, what kind of host would I be if I let one of my guests wander around in such unfamiliar places?"

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[Calmay]

I looked at Reno unamused, it was no fun if we were going to do what I wanted. I wanted to continue to bother her. Yet it looked like she was getting somewhat comfortable with me. Well as long as she did not start to bore me then I was fine with me. "Just so you know it's not like it is always good to be able to change you appearance. It is hard to convince people who you are when they know about the ability." I took her hand and stood up. The problem that was bothering me is if I should take her to where I really wanted to go. It could be quite risky and they might not like that I brought another person, even if it was just for a short time. I looked at her and then started to walk forward again.

"I guess, there is not way to stop you from following me. Though you better not slow me down." Though I was sure she could help me find this place fast. All I had on my was an emblem of the place I was going to. I was not even given a name. But I could do do this during the day. I would arouse to much suspicion. The prince could not be seen walking into such a place, but an unknown person could. That was the whole point of the trip. "Just admit that you want to see where I am going. You don't seem like the type to escort another person around." I then turned around and walked backwards. "So, tell me about you powers. First you grab me at the ball and now that scene earlier. What are you able to do?"

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I followed after the prince wondering exactly where he was going and if his family even knew of it. By the looks of it I had to guess no though. I rolled my eyes once again when he said not to slow him down. I was plenty fast after all my duels and training (much to my parents' dismay) and he probably wouldn't even know his way around. I walked a step behind him to the side while keeping my eye out for any of my ladies in waiting. They, beside Celle who kept my secrets, stopped visitors and other servants constantly and I wasn't up for one of their long rants about "walking through the great palace alone" and how they would "be happy to show us the way to the front door". In the end it would just cause a headache and plenty of wasted time. "'Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back.' meaning that yes, I do want to find out what a prince of another kingdom might be doing. It's not everyday I get to sneak away with someone else. Your only the second time I'm not alone." I said, recalling my sister jumping out of my high window after me. Seeing as I usually use the shadows to catch me she had been hoping I had held them in place. I hadn't even noticed her and had barely caught her before she hit the ground. Though that part was mostly in shock seeing my little sister hop out a window with a short dress on. Though I had nothing against short dresses and had a few in my closet, most nobles saw short dresses as a bad thing, meaning my sister didn't wear them. I almost stopped walking as the prince casually brought up my powers as he began to walk backwards in front of me. Not many people knew about my powers and those who did never brought them up. "You don't need to know about them. All you need to know is that people exaggerate most things." I said, watching the floor between our feet as we moved towards the front. The walk couldn't really be much longer. I was desperate to get off the subject and unconsciously began to chew on my bottom lip again. "So where are we heading?" I asked hoping to take his mind off my powers for the moment. Maybe (but probably not) I would tell them about my shadows another time.

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[Calmay]

I sighed when she told me that she was interested where I was going. Well at least she was being honest to me. Though I was beginning to wonder whether she would be interesting. Though I was quite sure I did not know what I really wanted. I really was not accustomed to dealing with people that were similar to me. I was going to have to figure out ho to deal with it. When she told me that she was not going to tell me about her powers I was disappointed. Why should she know about me being able to change my appearance and then not tell me anything about her ability. It was not fair at all. I pouted and crossed my arms. This was completely unfair. Though all this I kept walking forward. I did not want to show my disappointed face to her. Having my back to her I was not able to see how she felt about her powers. Not that I would have changed my description.

When she asked me where I was going I smiled again. Two people can keep a secret. Why should I tell her where I wanted to go if she was not going to tell me about her powers. I knew I was being childish, but I did not get to act like I really wanted often and that was all that mattered to me. I turned around and walked backwards. "Why should I tell you? After isn't it a bigger surprise when you get there." I then then turned around and continued to walk forward. I could see the doors that led out of the castle. I was so excited to be leaving the castle. "I have no need to share information if you do not want to share it yourself." I let out a small laugh and then increased my pace. I knew that I needed her to guide me to where I had to go, but I could not stop myself from wanting to have some fun. After all I found no fun in being the prince. It was nothing more than a job for me. It might have just been just because I lived such a double lifestyle. If I could not change my form I could guess I would be more content with the life I was born in. However, I was not not and that was all that mattered at the moment.

I placed my hand in my pocket and held tight the paper that had the image that I was given. I needed this more than I needed the princess and I did not want her to see it until she needed to see it. So I kept my hand in my pocket keeping the item there.

[{{Roxï-kun-+]

all eyes on me
in the center of the ring

I rolled my eyes at Yasunari after he said that it would be a bigger surprise if I found out once we had gotten there. Was I supposed to think that the prince knew his way around the town? As far as I knew this had to be one of his first visits to the Daika Kingdom. We were almost out of the castle with no run-ins with Basil or another one of my ladies in waiting. Perhaps we were having good luck tonight instead of my normally so-so luck. I threw a slightly irritated look at the prince at his last statement, increasing my pace and brushing past him. "Somethings, you'll find, I never want to speak of." I said, wondering why he even cared. I usually ignored my powers after my parents drilled it into me that I wasn't to speak of them or show them around blue bloods. And, well, I rarely was out of the castle even when I snuck out. I made my way to the doorway, still open from the stream of nobles that had left a few minutes before. "Then I guess we'll be snuck wandering endlessly until you give up and tell me where we're going." I said teasily, wondering if the prince even knew the name or look of the building. Surely he knew one of them but not both. Or maybe he knew both and where it was supposed to be, meaning that he had no idea what was around the building he apparently needed to secretly sneak out before he could go to. Well it couldn't have been the Kingdom of Sanchu's business if the Queen and King didn't know. A personal adventure? By the looks of it, this didn't seem that Prince Yasunari was new to sneaking away undetected. So why were we leaving together at this moment? After I reached outside of the doorway, I decided it didn't matter. I would go to town, see where the prince was going, help him, and then go be on my way until I had to come back right before dawn. I began to walk the way of the horses' pasture where my personal horse could be taken to ride myself and the prince into Obscur. I didn't look back, knowing either the prince was going to follow or just walk there. The pasture wasn't really that far from the castle, being right behind the stables a little ways. My horse easily stood out, being speckled of different colors instead of the standard black or dark color of the kingdom's own horses or the war horses who were kept separately.

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[Calmay]

I continued to walk beside Reno until I saw his fire lizard approach me. I had sent her out to search for the place and come back when the party was over. I had not wanted to cause a commotion during th ball. The bigger question was if she had found the place I was looking for. Before I could ask she shook her head. She always knew what I was going to ask before I asked it. It made life easier for me. It also allowed me to keep the fact that I really had no idea where to go a secret from the princess. We passed the stables which was useless for me since my horse was back home. I had taken a carriage ride here and used a different set of horses that I was not accustomed to. I did not feel comfortable ridding them.

I looked I Reno wondering if she had two horses or where they going to have to share one horse. "I will guess you know the fastest way to get into the cit.y"

(So sorry for the short post. My muse will return one we enter the city.)