AN: Happy New Year! (but still not there in the story ;_;)

Valentine's Day Part 2

"What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours? Not having that, which, having, makes them short. In love? Out - Of love? Out of her favor, where I am in love." - Romeo, Romeo and Juliet Act 1 Scene 1

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Fool sighed as he was once again tied up in Sora's closet, blindfold included.

Where she gets these tiny blindfolds, he was not so sure. A leer appeared on his face. It was a kinky thought to consider. He heard her rummaging around her drawers and the rustling of clothing as she changed. She yelped out loud, letting out something in Japanese.

"I can help you change again."

He heard her huff. "That monkey suit was the first and last time."

"I didn't pick it out for you."

"But you didn't stop me from going out in that." He heard the closet door open suddenly. "You knew Leon wouldn't have liked it, didn't you?"

He gave an upside down shrug. "How would I have known?"

"You're a spirit that reads tarot cards and crystal balls. How could you not have known?"

"I'm not your personal fortune teller."

He could imagine the rolling her eyes. "I'm going out."

"Wait! Let me loose first!"

The slamming of the door was his answer. He sighed long. At least he didn't have any blood rushing to his head. He began the practiced wiggling and squirming for a while before he was finally free. He tugged the blindfold off, wincing a little as some spirit hair came off with it. It was so strange that he could still feel pain. Right side up, he rolled his shoulders and neck then paused abruptly.

"The monkey suit."

He didn't bring it up. She did.

He put his hands up in a circular fashion as the crystal ball manifested. His fingers moved over the glass as he rotated the heavens, finding Sagittarius. He hummed speculatively. He could actually see some of her constellation peeking through the clouds. But a different cloud was now over Scorpio. That was not good.

A push seemed to be in order.

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The remaining chill from winter continued to linger in the Cape Mary nights.

Sora buttoned up her magenta coat a little more as she came upon the pier. With the holiday the restaurants around added strings of lights to the windows and outside under the eaves. She sighed in contentment. She loved holidays and lights. She walked over to the wooden railing of the pier to wait. The note said 8 PM. In her excitement she had arrived early.

There was always something to do along the pier and Valentine's Day was no exception. There was a man playing the accordion and a woman selling roses close by. She dug into her pocket for some loose change for both of them. She stood by, listening to the music as she looped the small rose through her coat button. A couple of people were swaying nearby. She moved away to give them room.

"It's so nice..."

The smell of the sea brought her closer to the dock. There weren't as many people over here since the restaurants and entertainments were on the other side. She idly looked at the boats tied up, her eyes staying fixed on one. She could almost feel the memory of them, practicing sword fighting out on the wild seas and the rain. Life had been exciting back then with endless opportunities. She was the partner of Layla Hamilton herself. Together, there was nothing they couldn't do...

She closed her eyes with a frown. She didn't want to continue with that memory. Her mind recognized the dangers that laid there, the regret and loss overwhelming the triumph of flying up in the air with her like a pair of wings -

She quickly opened her eyes. She needed something to distract her. Seeing the railing she stepped up to it and just stared at the dark waters. If she stayed quiet she could hear the water splashing underneath. She concentrated on hearing nothing but the water. It was such a soothing sound...

In the corner of her eye, she spied some motion. She lifted her head, seeing that there was a newcomer on the pier. He was standing a good ways to her right near the edge, the sea air making his silver hair float behind him. How close he was to the edge made him daring but also...lonely. Standing out there in the darkness with just the wind for company. He could be doing anything tonight and yet he chose to be out here. The clouds overhead moved, making the moon appear. His hair gleamed bright, transforming his form into something not so brooding and dark. He seemed approachable now.

She hadn't realized she was walking towards him until he turned his head.

She stopped moving. He merely stared at her.

"Sora!"

She snapped her head to the left, seeing Yuri coming towards her. She gave him a wave then realized she hadn't said anything to Leon. But when she looked back he was no longer there. She frowned at that. How could he move so quietly on a creaky pier?

"Happy Valentine's Day Yuri!"

He smiled at her, sporting a nice beige coat and dark scarf - knitted with little tassels at the ends. She frowned a little. The ends of his scarf were under his coat. How did she know about the tassels?

"What brings you out here?"

She eased into a grin. "Oh I don't know. Maybe some dinner?"

"You haven't eaten yet?"

"Nope!"

"Well, this will not do." He extended his arm to the left. "I know a great seafood place down that way."

"Of course you do."

They walked together to the restaurant, making some small talk. Yuri was always so easy to talk to.

"The wait will probably be long," he warned.

"Without plans or a reservation," she played along. "Good thing we are neither."

"What do you mean?"

She gave him a wide smile. "Well, I would think that you made reservations along with sending me that note."

"...What note?"

She lightly laughed at his play of ignorance but only for a couple of seconds. The confusion stayed on his face.

"Did you not send me a note?"

"No." He looked around. "Did someone leave you a note to come here?"

"Oh, well, I thought so.." she looked at the sea blankly as many thoughts collided together at the same time. "But...maybe it was a gag. Like Anna or Mia."

"Ah, well that's not very nice."

"We're all friends! It's fine. Haha. They know how much I love the sea."

She stole a glance back at the end of the pier and then looked forward again.

It couldn't have been him.

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AN: We're pretty much into AU waters. As if you couldn't tell earlier. XD