SWEET: The Demon's Orchestra

The party for the duke's debut was nothing short of extravagant.

Everything had been prepared to perfection, from the palace decorations to the mermaid orchestra, and of course the beautiful attendees.

Yuki heard a knock and as she opened her bedroom door she saw Kaede's worried face.

He was wearing a black suit with gold accents, looking as exquisitely handsome as always.

"I'm sorry, I got worried and knocked," Kaede's face showed relief like a heavy stone was lifted from his chest.

For a moment, fear had gripped him that something terrible had happened to Yuki, for the party was about to start and she had not yet left her room.

"I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting?" Yuki asked as a blush formed on her cheeks. Truth be told, she had been unable to leave her room for fear of disappointing her escort.

She felt like an ordinary rock among the shining gemstones of beautiful mermaids who were sure to attend the duke's debut.

"Not at all. I can wait forever if it means being your date." Kaede smiled, his voice hinting at a teasing tone she felt strangely familiar with.

Déjà vu. The scene somehow felt familiar to Yuki's confused mind.

"Stop kidding around." Yuki punched his arm, surprising herself. Even her reaction felt familiar, and yet she was sure she had not been with the demon fox except when she first woke up in Atlantis.

"Who said anything about making a joke? I'm the luckiest one to be your date, Yuki." For a while, the demon fox forgot about the dangerous scheme of lies and deceit he felt compelled to play to keep her safe.

It felt familiar, and it felt real. Like he has been brought back to that same moment with her once again. Rewind to the night when he first felt sure he had fallen in love with her.

Without thinking, Kaede's hand caressed Yuki's face. Transferring the heat from the palm of his hand to her beautiful crimson cheeks.

If I can tell you, Yuki. If only I can tell you everything. Will you hate me once again? Will I never have a chance to see you again like this?

Yuki's eyes widened when Kaede suddenly pulled her close in an embrace. She felt his heart steadily beating in his chest as she tried to push him away.

But Kaede did not let go, he whispered in her ear, "Please just for now, please stay like this with me. I missed you. So much. I missed you so much, Yuki."

Hearing his words, and feeling his sincerity, Yuki was unable to move. She stood unmoving as she let herself remain in the embrace.

She couldn't understand how it could be, how she could feel this way towards a stranger. And yet she couldn't deny the way he made her feel. It was a deep, unsettling feeling that somehow warmed her heart and made her feel trapped at that moment with him.

She felt like crying for some reason, especially when she heard him say, "Is it so wrong to want to keep you? Why does it have to be so wrong to need you? Will I be more of a monster than I already am, if I fall in love with you all over again?"

********************

Yuki took Kaede's offered hand as she tried to calm her fast-beating heart. Never had she felt this way before for anyone, not even for the man she professed to love.

As they walked into the grand ballroom, all eyes turned to focus on the unusual pair.

The crown prince of the light faes together with a human girl. It was something to talk about indeed.

The mermaids were green with envy, while the mermen were astonished at how the pair had come to be.

"Why are they staring at us?" Yuki asked in a trembling voice. She always has been an introvert, someone who would prefer to be alone than be lost in a crowd.

"They stare because they envy me, the demon who can stay by your side even just for tonight," Kaede tried to assure her as he noticed her grip tighten on his arms. An observation that nearly made him smile.

That's right, hold on to me. Hold on tight, I never would mind, were the words that were never spoken that night.

"Never mind them, princess. Focus on me instead. I want your eyes on me, and only me. The way my eyes are just on you," Kaede whispered in her ear as he pulled her closer to him.

Kaede felt lucky to have an opportunity to keep her close to him without her knowing his deepest motivations.

Yuki looked at Kaede's handsome face, and she realized it had been a bad decision to listen to him after all. She felt an unquenchable thirst for the man beside her.

She realized she wanted nothing else but to be pulled closer to him and to stay by his side.

Throughout this ordeal, the prince's expression couldn't be read. His composure was perfect, even as they waited for the duke to walk down the stairs to be introduced to society.

When the blue-haired merman finally came out, his eyes searched the crowd and finding the odd pair, forced himself to smile if only for the prince's sake.

After the duke's introduction, a celebratory toast was made.

Standing on the podium, the duke lifted his glass and spoke. "Thank you to everyone who came tonight to celebrate my debut, and most especially to my friend, the lost crown prince of Aurora, who has finally graced these lands with his presence."

Yuki struggled to free her hand, but Kaede's hand was on hers, not letting go. "I'll explain later," he whispered in her ears as he lifted his other hand to acknowledge the duke in return.

After the speech, the orchestra started to play a sweet, melodious song, signaling the start of dancing for the couples in attendance, and as a way for the duke to be acquainted with the mermaids of the kingdom.

Kaede knelt and bowed down to Yuki. He offered a hand to her as he asked her, with a smile on his lips, "May I have the honor of dancing with the most beautiful woman here tonight?"

Yuki, aware that everyone's eyes were on them, nodded silently.

The crown prince led her to the dance floor, his blue eyes never leaving hers, as the soft lyrics of an unfamiliar love song floated in the air.

'How cruel can fate be... the only way to keep you is to hurt you, and the only way to make you happy is to let you go.'