Disclaimer: I do not own La Corda D'Oro. Yuki Kure does. I simply own the original idea and anything non-canonical.

Pairing: Keiichi/Kahoko

Prompt: 'Blue and Gold' from the La Corda fic meme. This was also a requested story by tears-of-redemption. Hope you like.

Summary: In the quiet of the morning, Keiichi offers everything he has.

Dancing Sky

Contrary to popular belief, Keiichi's favorite time of day was the early morning; it was simply unfortunate that he usually slept through it.

Today was different. He had purposefully made himself go to bed at a more reasonable hour the previous night, actually forgoing an extra hour of practice so that he'd be well-rested come morning. When his alarm went off at 6:00 AM, he slid out of bed and dressed in comfortable, warm clothes. Then, pocketing her gifts in his jacket, he headed outside towards the small mountain and began hiking up with sure, steady steps. He'd climbed it many times, and came back every summer to celebrate what had been found there.

Kahoko was already waiting for him when he reached the top.

Ever since the days of Seisou, they had become constant companions. Though she had been close with the other boys, she admitted to Keiichi that what she felt towards them was something akin to respect and friendship rather than affection and love. He had taken that as a positive sign in his favor and gently courted her, taking her to concerts and exhibitions and all sorts of not-dates before she finally made the connection.

Now, on their four-year anniversary, Keiichi had suggested they exchange small gifts to show what all that time together had meant. He'd been waiting for this day for quite some time.

"Hey," she smiled, and gave him a good morning kiss. "I didn't think you were going to make it this morning. You still look sleepy."

"No amount of sleep is more important than being here," he said after returning the favor.

She laughed. "You're such a liar, but awfully sweet. Just for that, you get your present first."

Nearby were some old-fashioned wooden picnic benches, and he spotted Kahoko's violin case behind her. She gestured for him to take a seat, and Keiichi couldn't keep an indulgent smile from his lips as she tuned the violin.

She played 'Canon in D' just as the dawn made itself known, coloring the sky in reds and violets as her song carried across the land. It was a prayer, a promise, a blessing upon the joys that they had shared and the joys that were to come. He watched as she swayed back and forth in time to the music, hair waving like a silken scarf in the mountain wind.

When she looked at him, a quiet smile on her lips and laughter glowing in her eyes, Keiichi fell in love with her all over again.

As the last notes hung in the air, he slowly got to his feet and pulled the violin from her fingers. She opened her mouth to ask, but he silenced her with a finger against her lips. She kissed it, but let him tuck her bow and violin away.

Then he pulled out an iPod and offered her one of the earbuds; she accepted with a breathy giggle and he turned on the music. Keiichi put a hand on her waist, and she immediately rested one on his shoulder. Without a second thought, they began to dance to the 'Ave Maria', performed on solo cello.

They were halfway through the song when he pulled one of her hands into his pocket and whispered, "Marry me," into her ear.

He felt more than heard her gasp, and her fingers tightly clutched the little box. She pulled it out, and with his help managed to flip open the top. Resting on the dark gray velvet was a simple gold ring with a single heart-shaped blue topaz mounted in the center.

"My God…," she breathed.

"I'm sorry that it's not diamond, but the blue reminded me of the sky at dawn-"

"And the first time we dueted. Oh, Keiichi, yes! Yes!"

She pressed her lips against his, sealing the promise as the sun broke through the darkness, and the world was only blues and golds.

Author's Notes (11/16/07): Nothing like a little fluff in the morning, ne?

I've got some more short stories written, and I hope to keep posting on a more regular basis now.

Thanks to everyone who's reading!