Theme 11 - Masquerade {Itachi x You}

What a bad idea. It had been a bad idea then and it was a bad idea now.

You were walking down the corridor of what could only be described as a mansion, wearing a dress that would be more suited on a prom-queen, and the mask of a bird covering the top half of your face.

This is not how you had planned to spend your Saturday but yesterday Sakura had shown up at our door telling you to pick a number and throwing a bird-mask at you, then told you to come here and meet your ‘knight in shining armour’.

So here you were, not knowing where you were going - the signs saying ‘this way idiot’ in Sakura’s handwriting being a big help. You arrived at the end of the corridor, stopping in front of a door three times your size. On it was a small white envelope.

‘Well this is very elaborate…even for Sakura’

You opened the envelope and a small note dropped out. You unfolded it and read:

‘Your prince is waiting inside,

But you won’t know who

He is. It’s his job to find you.

Good luck and find true love’

You rolled your eyes, reading the small print.

‘P.s. Put this back in the

Envelope for the next lucky

Girl’

You did as instructed then took hold of the door handles, pulling the door open with unexpected ease. As soon as they were wide enough for you to take in the scene, orchestral music began to play and the bustle of people in conversation and dance hit you.

You looked out onto the scene, wondering how Sakura had managed to organize something like this; something like a masquerade ball.

As soon as you were stood with both feet inside the room the doors shut behind you and trumpets blared out. Everyone on the dance floor turned to look up the vast staircase at you; making you want to run straight back out of the room.

Sakura appeared next to you wearing a sleek red dress that hung to her frame, holding a long piece of paper in her hands. Speaking into the microphone attached to the side of her head, she announced,

“Miss [insert last name]!” as if introducing you to the rest of the room. She gave you a quick glance, grinning at you, the pointed her arms at the stairs with a much grace as she could muster.

You gave her an awkward smile then, sensing all eyes on you, made your way down the staircase.

* * *

The ball was in full swing. It had been an entire hour since you had arrived, and so far nothing extraordinary had happened. Sakura had wandered over a couple of times asking if you’d met anyone nice, but each time you had said no and each time she’d frowned and walked off again.

You were sitting down close to the bar now, watching the dancing couples on the floor. A few of the males at the bar had caught your attention a couple of times, being loud and chatty, but now even they had lost your interest. You were bored. Your chin was resting in your hands. What had been the point in coming?

You sighed, sitting up. You decided to give up and go home, maybe catch the end of Eastenders.

All you had to do was find Sakura in the mass of people. Easy. You put your hand to the mask, taking it off to be able to get a better look around-

“Isn’t the concept of a masquerade-ball to keep the mask on?”

You looked up, startled; the mask still attached to your face, to meet the eyes of one of the men who had been stood at the bar. You glanced over to it instinctively and saw the rest of the males there watching you from behind their own masks. All of a sudden they seemed so much more distant…looming. You turned back to look at the man in front of you.

“It is, but I’m leaving now.”

The man’s eyes seemed to glint.

“Oh really? Well then before you go, would you do me one favour?”

You stared up at him curiously.

“Umm…”

He offered his hand out to you, a graceful smile upon his lips.

“Would you join me in this dance before you leave?”

You were slightly taken aback by his forwardness, but nevertheless you nodded your head, accepting his hand and rising to your feet.

He gave a curt nod to you, raised your hand in line with his shoulder and guided you onto the dance floor where many other couples were dancing together.

As he passed by, the man turned his head to those at the bar and gave a knowing smile to the one on the shark-mask.

He stopped walking as soon as you were both in the very centre of the room, stood below the glitter-ball.

The orchestra started to play and the man dipped in a bow, keeping his head looking at you the whole time.

Those eyes staring at you from behind the mask… there was something about them. Caught in the right light they seemed to glint a darkish red colour- though only a trick of the light of course.

Too busy staring at his eyes, the rest of your body forgot to move so the man, offering you his help, took hold of your hands and placed one on his shoulder, holding the other out to the side of you.

You only seemed to snap from your daze when you felt him pulling you slightly, twirling around the dance floor. You noticed the hold he had around your waist was strong; dominating. He looked down at you, his smile enchanting.

“You look beautiful, ____.”

You smiled, resting your head against his chest slightly. He felt so warm against you. You danced around the room together; an unusual contentment about the pair of yo-

“Wait,” You lifted your head. You stared into the eyes, your eyebrows slightly furrowed. You could tell he knew what you were going to say from the way his lips creased up at the edges slightly. “…how do you know my name?”

He lent forward, brushing his body against yours; his lips tickling your ear.

“Because…” He paused for effect, making you hold your breath in anticipation. “I like you, ____.” Your heart beat against your chest like a stick to a drum. “I’ve been watching you from the side-lines for far too long…” He leant closer, his body flush against yours. He whispered; his voice almost inaudible over the music, “I want you.”

Before you could do much else he forced his lips over yours, cupping the back of your head in his hand. You wanted to protest but those eyes… they wouldn’t let you break away. You pushed your hands up between the pair of you in a feeble attempt to break free, but he only held you closer.

Those eyes…that mask…who was this man?

You only found yourself able to pull away when the man let you. You could do nothing but stare at him for a moment, then the words slowly crept to your lips.

“W-…who are you?”

The same small smile pressed on the edges of his mouth. He seemed to draw in closer to you again, his breath tickling your face. He reached up slowly and placed a hand on his mask, removing it.

“My name is,” he pulled off the mask, revealing the two scars on his face, “Itachi Uchiha.”

Staring into those eyes you felt yourself go weak at the knees; as much as from fear as from adoration. Your tongue had turned dry in your mouth, You couldn’t form words.

In the background of your mind you could hear the music coming to a close and the man in front of you, his eyes still holding you captive; bowed from the waist.

It was when he was back at full height that you found your voice,

“I-Itachi…” The words sank in and then you took a sudden breath, screaming as loud as you could, your eyes filling with panic, “Itachi Uchiha! Akatsuki are here!”

All at once the room was aflame with actions. The males at the bar all smirked in unison, removing their masks one after the other before anyone could react.

Itachi pulled you to him, ripping the mask from your face.

“So long, ____.” He pressed his lips to yours in a harsh manor, holding the back of your head in his hand to stop you from pulling away - even though you were too dumb-struck to even think of backing up.You're body had locked up.

By the time he’d pulled away and you’d regained consciousness of your mind, the man with the red eyes – Itachi Uchiha – was gone, taking those at the bar with him.

The next thing you knew, arms were being thrown around you.

“____, are you alright? Did he do anything to you?”

You looked at Sakura, hardly registering her.

“I’m fine…”

The image of those eyes… that smile… the face behind the mask… Maybe you’d known all along who it was- half a mask doesn’t hide much after all. Not when you can still see the eyes. Maybe he’d put you under a trance… or maybe, just maybe, even knowing who it was, you’d still enjoyed the dance.