MIDNIGHT ILLUSION

"I think there's something going on between Fila and Sendoh." Keax deadpanned as she walked along the long corridor back to her suite with Jin.

"What were you talking to Fujima about just now?"

Jin was taken aback as he stammered, "Well...er...ac..actually...we..I.."

Keax narrowed her eyes, "You're scaring me, Soi-kun."

"Actually, I just apologized to him for the kiss last night..." Fujima appeared around the corner.

Keax flashed him a grin, "You caused problems, Kenji-kun."

"Everything's blown over, yeah?" Jin put an arm around Keax good-naturedly.

"Sure." the other 2 responded in unison before all 3 laughed.

*

Fila hummed a light tune as she flitted around one of the Mansion's grape vineyards, plucking and tasting the sweet and sour grapes. So engrossed was she in sampling the grapes, she missed seeing Sendoh creeping behind her. She felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned in surprise to see a beaming Sendoh, newly showered and smelling fresh.

"Sendoh-kun! Here, try our home-grown grapes!" Fila said enthusiastically before offering a grape to Sendoh.

Sendoh's eyes brightened as Fila put it at his lips. He delicately took it into his mouth. Eyes twinkling, he declared, "Sweet!"

Fila smiled happily, "Oh really? We use them for our wine-brewing..."

Sendoh raised his eyebrows, impressed.

"Is there gonna be a big celebration at Black Heaven tonight?"

"Perhaps...that's gonna depend all on Jin...maybe Keax might think of something..." Fila said before popping another grape into a delighted Sendoh's mouth.

*

"I think Sendoh has something up his sleeve." Keax said bluntly as Jin played his violin, interrupting his practice and stopping her own cocktail-mixing experiments. Jin smiled, enjoying the serious expression on Keax's face,

"Actually, so do I. I believe he's sort of attracted to Fila."

"I know. Which means Tsu-kun must be watching his pace and keeping his guard up." Keax mentioned dryly. "After all, everyone knows Sendoh's rather a flirt."

"You don't dislike Sendoh-kun though...why the worry?" Jin grinned.

"Maybe. But I guess perhaps something might happen. Some bad feeling." Keax shrugged, before bouncing onto a long sofa, "What's the theme for tonight's party at Black Heaven?"

"I was thinking just a plain 'ol party would do." Jin commented.

"Eureka! How about a Blue-and-Green themed party in honor of our 2 guests?"

Keax snapped her fingers. "Everyone's gotta be wearing something more or less formal and something blue or green to enter Black Heaven! Let's send out the announcement to the city!"

*

Sendoh's eyes sparkled yet again as Fila stepped out of her suite in a simple short blue silk dress decorated with a lighter shade of blue lace and crystal studs. On her neck was a thin silver chain on which a matching sapphire hung from.

"You look awesome like always. Especially more since you're wearing Ryonan's colors." Sendoh whispered as he offered his arm to Fila to lead her to the main hall where they were meeting the rest.

Fila giggled before smiling graciously, "Thank you."

"And I'm glad I'm your partner for tonight's party." Sendoh said. He was dressed in long black leather pants and a navy blue long-sleeved shirt.

They met Fujima who was similarly dressed as Sendoh except for the shady green color of his shirt. Jin wore a white shirt and a pair of tight blue jeans with a navy blue tie hanging loosely around the open collar. Ran had on a black and green pin-striped shirt, black pants while Keax threw on a
blue loose shirt, brown leather jacket and khaki slacks.

Stepping together into one of their long limousines, they swerved smoothly to Black Heaven where as expected, a long queue had already formed at the entrance. Moving in, instead of going to the private VIP area, the 6 of them chose to join the noisy crowd. Keax hopped behind the bar. "A Bronx." Fujima requested.

"Sure."

"Sendoh sure seems to be enjoying his time with Fila." Fujima said as he took the glass of newly-shook Bronx, gesturing at the pair burning up the dance floor. Keax nodded as she entertained another party-goer's order of a Martini,

"I thought he was supposed to sing for Fila?"

"I guess so..." Fujima laughed as he eyed the butt of a nearby guy.

"Not bad..." Ran said as he sipped the Tequila Keax mixed for him.

"The butt?" Keax raised an amused eyebrow.

"You think so too?..." Fujima asked wickedly.

Ran spluttered a little before coughing wildly, "I mean, the cocktail..." earning laughs from Keax and Fujima.

Jin took over the mike from the DJ as he stopped the music and announced laughingly, "One of our guests, Akira Sendoh-san would like to serenade someone tonight. And that lucky female is none other than Fila!"

Whoops and catcalls went up in the bar as everyone turned their attention to the stage. Jin surrendered the mike to Sendoh who looked totally relaxed.

"A French 75 for you, Soi-kun?" Keax said as she tossed the shaker into the air to mix the sugar syrup, lemon juice and brandy together. She handed the glass to Jin after decorating it with a twist of lemon peel.

"Let's see what trick Sendoh's up to." Keax grinned as she prepared the ingredients for a non-alcoholic Eye of the Hurricane for herself.

�One for me too!� watching Keax toss the shaker, above and around. Fila then spun the stool around to watch Sendoh who was at the moment whispering to the live band. After which, he took the center of the stage as the spot lights shone brightly upon him.

�This is especially for Fila� beaming as she was smiling back at him.

The music stared playing a familiar tune and Sendoh started singing�.

You�re just too good to be true
Can�t take my eyes off you
You�d be like heaven to touch
I want to hold you so much

At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I�m alive
You�re just too good to be true
Can�t take my eyes off you

�I�ve never seen Fila blush so much� Keax laughed at the hilarious blushing Fila. Jin couldn�t help but join Keax.

�Look at that red face!! it�s a contrast to her blue dress.� Keax continued chuckling till her sides hurt.

�Stop it! Stop making fun of me!� she looked rather angry but her red face was just too reddishly comical which made Keax burst into more laughter.

Pardon the way that I stare
There�s nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak

But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it�s real
You�re just too good to be true
Can�t take my eyes off you

Sendoh walked seductively across the pub, talking a rose from one of the tables and handed it to Fila. Then he jumped around the pub and went back to where he started.

I love you baby
And if it�s quite all right
I need you baby
To warm my lonely night I love you baby
Trust in me when I say

Oh, pretty baby
Don�t bring me down I pray oh, pretty baby
Now that I found you, stay and let me love you
Baby let me love you...

Just when they though things couldn�t get any worst, Sendoh was on his knees crooning to Fila and her face was by now pinkish red like the ripest tomatoes in spring.. Looking at her face, Keax erupted with another series of guffaw.

You�re just too good to be true
Can�t take my eyes off you
You�d be like heaven to touch
I want to hold you so much

At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I�m alive
You�re just too good to be true
Can�t take my eyes off you

I love you baby
And if it�s quite all right
I need you baby
To warm my lonely night I love you baby
Trust in me when I say

Oh, pretty baby
Don�t bring me down I pray oh, pretty baby
Now that I found you, stay and let me love you
Baby let me love you...

No one suspected that Sendoh had such nice vocals. Fila went over to give Sendoh a well deserved hug. Sendoh then pulled her closer and gave her a long passionate kiss. Everyone fixed their eyes on the two. While some started to give thunderous applause and screams of encore, the others were saying on what a nice looking couple they were with �aww�s and �ahh�s.

�I think its Fila who has something up her sleeves.� Keax and Jin looked at Ran.

�Jigs told me that I should be careful of her. She�s not what she seems. So I think Fila�s up to something. Not Sendoh� he didn�t know if that stumped the two but that surely made them think a little.

�Your sort of right Ran� I�ve never seen her been so nice to boys, especially flirty boys. She did tell me she hated flirty boys, once before.� Keax had her hand on her chin like she was trying to solve some mystery but Jin pulled her to the dance floor before she could come up with anything else.

Fujima was sitting beside Jin the whole time and pretend as if he didn�t hear anything. �So is Fila just playing with Sendoh�s heart? I have to warn him about this�, making a mental note. Just as he was about to tell Sendoh some interesting new finds, Ran stretched out his hand, in front of Fujima. �Let�s dance. I know you�ve been eyeing on my butt too.� Fujima smirked and grabbed Ran hand, following him to the dance floor.

*

�Thank you. That was wonderful. I never had anyone sing to me before.� her face was still rather flushed from the �you might call it� embarrassing moment.

�Never? Not even Tsuzuki?� questioning her in disbelief.

�Nope, never.� shaking her head

�And where is Mr. Tsuzuki by the way?�

�He�s still at work I guess.� she answered looking away.

They were at Fila�s room, sitting outside her balcony as they drank earl gray that she prepared earlier.

�It�s a beautiful night, isn�t it Sendoh?� she took of her boots and sat on the edge of the balcony.

�Akira.� he joined her at the ledge.

�Huh?�

�Akira, call me Akira.�

�Akira��

�I love the way my name sounds on your lips.� he touched her chin as he lean forward to plant a kiss but she moved away.

�Its getting late. I think you should go back , now.� she climbed down from the ledge.

�Do you need me to call Peter to show you back to your room?� she asked politely and picked up the receiver.

�No, its alright. I�ll find my way.� he shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and kissed Fila lightly on her forehead and hoped off with this huge grin on his face.

*

She closed the door behind her, relieved that the kiss did not follow though but the ringing of the phone cause her to jump a little and then she hurried over to answer it.

�Jigs!!!�

*

Yet again, he was somewhere unknown. He didn�t know where he was and how to get back. He should have just called Peter when he had the chance. �Baka� he cursed himself, looking at his surroundings, hoping to find something familiar.

He came upon a large metal doors, like one of those you would find in an old castle. Hoping to meet someone behind those doors and get help in finding his way back, he pushed the large metal, revealing a staircase leading to the basement, perhaps. He could see a small glow at the end of the stairs and decided to go down and take a look see.

It was rather eerie and a little creepy when he found his way to the end of the stairs. It had lead to a large brick wall room. There were chains hanging from the center of the space and at the extreme left of the room was a wooden cupboard. He went over to see what it contained.

He opened the fragile looking cupboard and was stunned by the contents. There were hand cuffs, leather whips, some rings and bottles and tubes of lubricant. It also had this some dildos, in many colours. Pink, skin colored ones and those you could pump to the size you wish.

The other side of the cupboard were some other things he didn�t know exist and wondered what they were used for. He immediately closed it, still rather amazed by the things he just found. Why would they keep this things? He wondered and he slowly backed away from the brittle cupboard.

He bumped onto something that was on the opposite wall. It was flimsy looking glass case attached to the wall. Looking through it, he saw another rather weird? Item. A glass dildo. A glass dildo??? �ok this is getting too weird for me� he quickly went up the stairs and closed the metal doors behind him. He leaned his body against the door and it was just his luck when Peter passed by in the Wheel.

�Peter, could you please, bring me back to my room?�

Chapter 10