Yuki stood, slightly ill at ease in the lavish surroundings. An almost full champagne glass was clutched tightly in one hand. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and looked around.

She knew no one here.

No one but Nishikado Soujiroh

This wasn't the first party they had attended together, but there was something different this time.

Tsukushi liked to cheerfully suggest that Nishikado-san take Yuki, and then she would press until he couldn't find an excuse, and Yuki would wind up sitting alone in a corner, smiling uncertainly whenever anyone came close, until he came to find her to take her home.

Tonight was different, somehow.

When Tsukushi had offered Yuki as Nishikado-san's date this time around, all the while attempting to look innocent, Nishikado-san had agreed nearly before the words were out of her mouth.

And tonight? Well, she was still sitting alone at the moment, while he talked and laughed with people, and girls in skimpier clothes than she had were fawning all over him.

But, every few minutes, he would turn and look. And he would smile - an almost uncertain smile that seemed odd on his handsome face.

Soujiroh, she thought quietly to herself as he turned and looked back at her again. Soujiroh.

This time, she stood up and made her way over. He didn't take his eyes off of her until she was beside him.

He placed his hand over her own small one when she took his arm, and he turned back to his coversation.

Yuki smiled.

END