...The elaborate mask of ivory white and gold slipped to the side and strange, dark eyes peer back at you in sheer curiosity before the small rosebud lips quirk into a fascinated smile. They are strange things, those eyes — almond-shaped and neither blue nor gray nor dark brown — but seemed to look at the world and you with a great deal of interest and just a bit of hesitance. Hesitation never seems to part with her demeanor so that she looks mildly confused, almost like she is trying to decide whether to leap or stay every few seconds.

A voice calls out her name and the mask slips back into place before she disappears into the crowd of whirling dancers, her gloved hand tucked firmly into the crook of the elbow of a man with dark, gleaming hair. You see him whisper something in her ear and her shoulders shake in what appears to be suppressed laughter at his remark.

If you follow them closely, you would notice that they have foregone the joys of dancing. And then you hear the murmured whispers of the dowagers to your left. Apparently, Lady Skylight has been found wanting on the dance floor and was a source of amusement every time she was led to dance. Her escort does not seem to mind, though, as he engages her in an animated conversation which she seemed to enjoy quite well.

You continue to watch them as the time came for the unveiling of the masqueraders neared. You smile when you remember the strange eyes that once regarded you with friendly interest. However, you are more interested in the escort. Such a seemingly frail creature as Lady Skylight could only be accompanied by an equally protective presence. You watch closely as her escort laughs as she takes his mask off on her tiptoes to reveal —

Rock Lee!

Or what seemed to resemble Rock Lee from Naruto.

Ah! You gotta love Lee. He’s got heart. Wehehehe.

If you've got the time, do drop by my blog and let me know your thoughts. I'm afraid I've been remiss in updating my old fanfiction (*cough* Marriage of Inconvenience *cough*) and would love to know your thoughts about anything on the matter.