MIDNIGHT ILLUSION

Back at Black Heaven pub...

Keax frowned a little as she twirled a glass of Long Isle Lemon Tea in her hand.

Ran observed Keax's behavior carefully. Keax downed another cocktail before slamming the glass onto the teak table top.

"What's his problem?" she muttered to no one in particular.

"He seems to be rather troubled." Ran said calmly.

"I know." Keax replied, staring blankly at a nearby wall.

"Perhaps, you might want to talk to him." Ran continued as he tried his hand at darts.

"What for?" Keax snapped shortly as she carelessly flung a dart at the board. "Bull's eye."

"There's nothing between us, is there?" Ran said with a small grin.

"Of course." Keax chuckled as she beckoned to a waiter to clear the table.

"Right. That's what he's uncertain about."

"He should trust me."

"Trust is easily conquered by fear of losing."

"..."

"Go home."

"OK. But you're coming with me. It's late anyway."

"Sure."

Keax insisted on driving though she was just a little drunk. True to her word, she managed a safe and steady ride all the way back to the Wicked mansion. "Clear things up?" Ran reminded again.

"We'll see." Keax brushed away.

She stumbled in through the front door where another butler waited. Ran sighed as he assisted Keax back to her room carefully.

"Let's go to the utmost North viewing deck." Keax suggested suddenly.

Pulling open a nearby ceiling-high mirror set inside a wall, she revealed a hidden spacious lift. Ran raised an eyebrow at the hundreds of buttons on the control panel. "That one. Leads to the North roof. " Keax motioned.

Up at the top of the mansion, it was a moonless night. But not starless.

Keax pointed at a tight cluster of stars somewhere on her left. "Jin loves that cluster. He said, it reminded him of kinship and companionship. See that lone star in the middle? Yeah...surrounded by many other stars...it's not the only."

Ran heard and felt nothing but the hollow cold wind breezing around.

But he saw the many stars twinkling and shimmering in the distance, high above in the sky. He stretched out a hand unconsciously.

"Wish upon your favorite star." Keax said before closing her eyes.

Ran blinked, before shutting his eyes. "I wish..."

*

Jin took a long cold shower, feeling truly awakened, no longer the sobbing mess he had been. He had heard from Peter that Keax was back. He hesitated on finding her. Glancing at a nearby clock which clearly showed 2:18am.

Not overcome by any desire to sleep, Jin made his way out of his room. He found himself wandering to one of the many grand pianos situated all over mansion. This one was made of fine transparent glass. To him, the keys produced crisp and tuned tones. Sitting down, he started playing. Tune after tune of melodious pieces.

He spotted a few music scores on the ground. Picking them up, he realized they were scores of Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting" . Acting on impulse, he proceeded in playing it, adding in the words with his clear harmonious vocals.

After he finished playing the whole song, he felt a sudden warmth on his back and arms around his neck. He caught a whiff of the familiar tinge of Keax's exclusive shower foam's scent. 'Keax." Keax buried her face in Jin's smooth neck and Jin abruptly heard a muffled apology.

"Were you trying to make me jealous...?" Jin asked as the 2 took a short stroll back to their interconnecting suites.

"No...I was just...too enthusiastic about the arrival of Ran, I guess." Keax answered sheepishly.

"Oh." Jin went a little red.

"What were you doing with Fujima-kun?" Keax glared at Jin.

"Nothing! Fujima was just a little 'high' and overwhelmed by the surroundings, I guess." Jin protested.

"Hmm..." Keax managed a suspicious sneak at Jin.

"I'll show you I'm not lying then." Jin grinned wickedly as he slammed the door close after shoving Keax into his bedroom.

*

The alarm clock went off. Wait, he didn�t set any alarm!! He got up, searching the unfamiliar room for the clock, the irritating sound. It just won�t stop ringing. He peeked under his pillows, glanced through the surrounding areas. No alarm clock and just as he was about to give up, the ringing stopped. Thank goodness. But now, he was too awake to fall asleep. He walked over to the living room which connected his and Fujima�s bedroom. The other boy was up too, perhaps the same thing happened to him. They both abruptly sat on the sofa staring at each other.

�So what happen yesterday� Fujima asked when he saw Sendoh trying to reach for the remote to turn on the TV.

�Nothing, really�� he answered with much disappointment in his voice.

�Liar��

�I swear!!! She was thinking bout Tsu, the whole time.�

�Fine�

Fujima walked to the mini fridge that was placed near the bar and took out a carton of orange juice. He took 2 glasses from behind the counter and poured them half-empty. He then placed the two glasses on the oak coffee table which separated the two of them and sat back on the sofa.

�And what happened to you yesterday?� Sendoh asked in return.

�I kissed Jin and I couldn�t remember much after that. I knew the bartender helped me into the limo and waking up in my room� he replied casually as if it wasn�t much of a deal.

�You did what???!!!!� Sendoh asked again when he almost choked on his juice

�I KISSED JIN� he said each word, slowly so that Sendoh would register it into his head

�You have a thing for him?� Sendoh asked scratching his head

�Too much alcohol, I don�t know what I was doing. I hope Jin doesn�t take it too seriously.� he gulped the remaining juice and walked back to his room and said something bout bathing and breakfast. Sendoh finished his juice and went running to his room, hoping to catch Fila for breakfast.

*

The butler picked them from their room on the Wheel, he mentioned that breakfast will be served at the garden. Sendoh wasn�t listening much cause he was thinking of what to say to Fila, who to do. How to get her attention and such. Fujima on the contrary, was questioning the butler on the history of the mansion.

They were brought to the south end of the mansion and when the sight of green came into view, they were amazed by the size of the garden. They drove for about a minute or so when they came upon a water fountain of angels dancing and behind it was of a round table. Keax was laughing at something Jin said. Ran was taking a sip of his coffee while Fila was sitting quietly, eating her scrambled eggs. Was she alone???

Sendoh immediately got off the Wheel and took the seat beside her. �Hey pretty, how are you this morning?� she looked at Sendoh, like a small child would and gave him a huge smile.

�I�m good. Did you sleep well?� she asked politely like a good host would. �Yea I did!!!�

Across the table, Fujima was whispering something into Jin�s ears, making him blush even harder and Keax was too busy talking to Ran to notice anything. Fujima and Sendoh were served with breakfast moments later. Scrambled eggs with two slices of French toast and some bacon. Would that be enough for two hungry basketball players? They dug in almost immediately.

�Hey, you the two of you like to join me for a game of basketball? Its boring playing alone.� Jin asked offhandedly, drinking his third cup of juice.

�Definitely!� Sendoh mutter with eggs in his mouth. Fila could only laugh as pieces of the eggs fell out of his mouth. Some pieces got stuck below his lips while the rest dropped on his plate.

�You�ve got eggs there� she pointed at her own lips hoping that Sendoh might mimic her and get rid of that unfavorable sight of eggs. He licked his lips but the eggs remained. She pointed at her own lips again and as before, he licked his lips, slightly lower this time but still, the eggs remained.

�Ahh, let me get it for you.� she took her napkin as wiped the awful sight off his face, causing him to only smile in delight.

Jin, Keax, Fujima and even Ran had their eyes on the two of them, wondering what exactly happened last night.

�Where�s Tsu?� Ran asked breaking the silent barrier.

�He left early this morning. Some important case or something.� flicking her hair.

�Does that mean I have you for the day?� Sendoh chuckled

*

�Here here!!!� Ran said excitedly. He didn�t know how or what he was doing. Or how he got dragged into the game but he was definitely enjoying it.

They had split themselves into two teams. Fujima with Jin and Sendoh with Ran. While the girls were cheering them on, until they too were dragged into the team. Surprisingly, Keax was against Jin while Fila was matched up with Sendoh�s team.

Sendoh was being particularly rough with Fila. Accidentally bumping her, tugging her hands and he actually did try to grab her butt but luckily Fujima came to the rescue-sort-of-way and pushed her out of the way. Ok, so she was injured during the whole process and she wasn�t all that please about losing to Sendoh Akira. Since Fila, had to sit out, Keax too left the game, allowing the boys to have a fair fight and it was to Fujima and Jin�s favour. Since Ran was clueless three, quarters of the game.

�Boy, that was fun� Ran wiped his sweat with the towel that the butler had prepared for them and later swallowed a whole can of 100-plus. Keax ran over to Jin to give him a congratulation kiss.

Fujima could only watch the two love birds and later his eyes drifted to the other two who was sitting at the bench. Sendoh seems to be apologizing to Fila and had his arms around her. She seems to be pushing his arm away, complaining bout his sweaty body and stuff. Later she gave in and let his hand rest there, since he was the stronger of the two.

�Hey, how bout we celebrate our victory over Sendoh Akira at tonight at BlackHeaven?� Jin asked Fujima and also directing the question to everyone else.

�Sure, why not. They are having chill-out theme tonight right?� Fila asked, pushing away Sendoh�s strong arms again.

�Yea and then we can ask Mr. Akira here to song something for you.� Keax answered with a laugh, hoping to put Sendoh at a spot.

�Sure, why not.� he answered in a cool voice.

�No kidding?� she asked him with this huge question mark on her face.

�Yea� now what will Tsu say?� he sneered.

Chapter 9