Disclaimer: I don't own Tsubasa.
I would really appreciate any feedback on my characterization of Kurogane, as I thought it got a bit shaky towards the end. Of course, if you don't feel like it all and any reviews are good . KuroFai.
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If, last year, you had asked me what I would have been doing in a year's time, I would have told you fighting or working or something along those lines.
And if you had told me I'd be dancing, I'd have laughed in your face.
But here I am. My life is an endless rhythm, filled with feints and twirls and believe me, there's no room for a misstep.
Because my dance partner, well, he's a master.
Every time I take a step forward, with a smile and a laugh he's slipped away to where I can't find him. Our hands touch for the briefest moment, and he spins away with a grace I can never master.
But I'm learning. I can't outstep him, not yet, but I've learned to follow his movements to the dark places I know he'd rather I didn't see.
It irks me, though, that I have to dance to his tune. He knows every step by heart and can perform them flawlessly without a single thought, and I stumble along beside him. It's driving me insane.
You can't sleep while you dance.
'Fai?' A step forward.
'Yes, Kuro-chii?' The move mirrors my own.
'Are you alright?' A bolder move, and one I wouldn't have attempted if I wasn't tired and sore and desperate for relief from the relentless tapping and drumming of the dance.
'I'm fine, why do you ask?' A smile and a deflection so perfect he flits immediately away from my touch.
His eyes are bright and there's a smudge of red high on each cheekbone. He loves this. He lives for this.
'You look…' I search for the right word. A stumble. My heart sinks and I know I'm never going to recover this time.
'Tired,' I finish up lamely. He laughs breathlessly, and for a moment I'm savagely glad I'm not the only one worn out by the constant restless movement.
'No more than you, Kuro-pon. You should rest,' An elegant sidestep, and again he's leading.
'I'm… fine,' I rub a hand over my face. I know I must look terrible. Keeping this up would take its toll on anybody. By now I'm beyond any pretence of sophistication. I don't know who I'm trying to kid. I can't dance.
I feel a cool hand against my cheek, and open my eyes wide in surprise. Fai rubs a thumb over my cheekbone. He frowns.
'You're awfully hot, Kuro-rin…' His hand trails down my cheek before falling back to his side.
'…' I say. Once again I've stumbled, fallen.
'You need sleep,' Before I can react, he's pulled me back against his chest and I'm lying half on top of him. I look round, but Sakura and Syaoran are already fast asleep. I breathe a sigh of relief.
'Go to sleep,' There's a hint of insistence in his voice, so I lean back and try to ignore the music in my head. To my relief, I find the steady beat of Fai's heart matches the blood beating in my own ears.
It's almost like he's dancing with me.
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If you enjoyed this, look out for the sequels coming soon.