Kanra blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the gym. Strobe lights of a seemingly endless rotation of colors flashed in the dark, illuminating the moving figures of the gym. Golden stars hung around the gym, scattered across the white walls like a pale night lit by the moon's light. The deep bass of music resonated through the gym. Closer to the speakers, the bass could be felt deep in your chest, like a pounding heartbeat.

Everyone was dressed up nicely; suits for the guys, and -ranging from tight-fit and low cut, to long, gothic-style- dresses for the girls. The energy radiating off of the almost-out-of-high-school students seemed to spread like wildfire. The center circle of people pounded their fists into the air to the beat of the bass. Laughter and cracking voices attempting to sing bounced off the ceiling.

The smell of sweat and skin, mixed with sugar and smoke, reached the raven haired teen's nose. She wrinkled his nose slightly; red-brown eyes glared out at her surroundings.

Kanra had only agreed to come to the promotion dance for two reasons: one was that her soon-to-be-doctor friend, Shinra Kishitani, had begged her to come along, even offering her a ride to the school. That ride turned out to be in the sidecar of Shinra's roommate's "motorcycle." The Black Rider, Shinra's roommate, did not come as a surprise to Kanra. She already knew, anyways.

The other reason…

Feeling heat rise up to her face, Kanra ducked her head down and turned her reddish gaze to Shinra.

"Hey, Shinra," she shouted over the music, "What now?"

Shinra looked over from chatting to Kadota and smiled. "Walk around, I guess. Enjoy the music! Dance!"

Pushing his glasses back up the ridge of his nose, Shinra all but danced away, beckoning for Kadota and kanra to follow. Kadota frowned-but then again, than was usually his normal expression- and followed the other teen through the outskirts of the center crowd.

And people called Kanra Orihara crazy. Sure, she had an uncanny obsession for watching humans and all, but she didn't flutter away like a freaking fairy while grinning like a madman.

Alright, maybe the last part fit Kanra, but still…

With a small sigh, Kanra followed the other two, making her way past people like water slipping around stones in a river. They made their way through the crowd, occasionally stopping so that Shinra could talk with another student. Kanra stood quietly to the side, watching the other graduating students dance the night away. Absentmindedly, she smoothed out the skirts of her gothic dress. The dark red had black laced roses sewn in; solid black leggings hugged her thin legs. A black, military like cover up was draped over Kanra's shoulders; on her feet were a pair of combat boots that almost reached up to her knees.

Kanra didn't like dressing up, but she really didn't have a choice. Shinra had been a pest the night before, making sure she wore something formal to the dance.

With another small sigh, Kanra's gaze wandered across the crowd, keeping an eye on the humans before her. A small grin tugged up at her lips as she watched the teens dancing with each other.

At least the dance gave her a chance to observe humans. That was a plus.

"Kanra-kun! Dota-chin! Let's go outside, it's getting stuffy in here! Follow me!" Shinra called out to his two friends.

Kadota's eye twitched as they moved to follow Shinra.

"Thanks for that damn nickname, Kanra." he grumbled.

Kanra smiled her usually sadistic smile. "You're welcome, Dota-chin~!"

"Don't call me that- Hey!"

Laughing now, already in a much brighter mood, Kanra skipped off to catch up with Shinra.

#

Shinra rambled on about the brain and its many functions. Kadota acted like he was listening. Kanra stared out at the fading light of the sun. The orange color glanced off Kanra's pale skin like the glowing of a fire. Her eyes were even more vividly red in the sun's light. A cool breeze stirred, and Kanra pushed back her bangs from her face.

Her usually smirk pasted across her face, Kanra turned and walked toward the double doors.

"Come on guys," she stated, "it's boring out here. Let's go back in so I can observe my lovely humans~"

Shinra groaned and said, "Now you're saying you own them? Kanra-kun, really?"

The raven haired girl just laughed in response and pushed open the doors leading back to the pounding music.

Then everything drained into the background, and her smirk turned into an unemotional mask. She felt herself freeze, and her eyes widened just a bit; all Kanra felt was heat in her cheeks and her tight chest, her throat closing up.

He stood there, listening quietly to his friends yell over the music. A small smile spread across his thin lips. The liquid gold-and-honey eyes tinted green from the strobe lights current color. Dirty blond hair tousled with a few stray locks falling in front of his eyes.

Kanra's heart beat painfully, her chest tightening even more.

It hurt.

It hurt to see him.

Him, Shizuo Hewajima.

"Damn it," Kanra whispered.

She instantly regretted ever hoping he would come to the dance tonight; it fucking hurt so much.