Title: Dawn's Darkest Hour
Author: Ume Chikuzan
See Part 1 for disclaimers
(Just wanna say thanks for those of you who reviewed so far! You guys rock!)
---
Part 3 - Confessions
---
Left, right, left, left, right, jump, sidle, dip, spin. Left, right, left, left, right, jump, sidle, dip spin. I counted the steps mentally as I watched Buranshe move to the music, keeping the beat running through my head. The graceful angel's timing was flawless as she danced about the layer, flowing through the air like the restraints of gravity didn't affect her.
I took my eyes off of the angel to watch Kaede. She was humming to the music, tapping her finger against her seat. Her focus was completely on her angel. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, the fierceness that only I could see so blinding in its beauty.
The song ended, and Kaede took off the headpiece. She shook out her hair and turned to look at me. "Sai-san, what did you think?"
It took me a moment to reply. "Flawless as usual, Kaede. You're flair for dancing naturally passes to Buranshe when you practice."
She smiled, pleased. "Oh, I'm not that good of a dancer," she murmured, a slight blush reaching her cheeks.
I shook my head. "Don't be modest, Kaede. You've been taking dance since you were seven. I've seen you - it's beautiful when you dance."
"Sai-san doesn't usually flatter me so," she replied, looking up at me. "You dance very well yourself."
I couldn't tell if I was blushing or not, but it was a close call. "Only with you," I said, averting my gaze, finding something very interesting about the way the Layer glowed.
Last year, Kaede had asked me to accompany her to her school dance. I had protested at first, but she had told me she didn't feel comfortable going with anyone else, but she had to make an appearance - her father had insisted she do more school activities and, when he'd heard of the dance, had made extra effort to convince her to go. We'd only danced once while there, and we'd only stayed for an hour, but it was something I had never forgotten.
"It's your turn," Kaede said, motioning for me to take her vacated seat. I did, putting on the headpiece. I placed Shirahime on the Layer, and watched as Kaede went to start the music again.
The first strains of Clair de Lune by Debussy reached my ears, and I started to move Shirahime. But everything seemed off, and for some reason her timing was off.
"Sai-san?" Kaede said in a worried tune, pausing the music. "Is everything all right?"
I could hear my heart thudding in my ears. "No," I replied softly. "I'm not."
"What is it? What's wrong, Sai-san?" She leaned towards me, her dark green eyes staring at me, trying to look through me. I couldn't help but turn red then.
"Kaede," I said suddenly. I felt as if a lightening bolt had hit me. This was it. This was my only chance. "Please put Buranshe on the Layer."
Kaede frowned. "I don't understand, Sai-san. I don't..." she stumbled over her words. "I don't want to fight you now," she managed to get out, looking down.
"Please," I said, meeting her eyes. "Please, Kaede."
Slowly, she went across the Layer and sat. She placed the headpiece on and put Buranshe back on the Layer.
"Sai-san," she said, and I could hear the nervousness in her voice.
I stood and walked over to the CD player. I started the piece over again.
Shirahime opened her eyes. Confidently, gracefully, she walked towards Buranshe, her bells jingling slightly as she went. Buranshe was standing half at guard, unsure of what was happening.
I heard Kaede gasp as Shirahime got down on one knee, head bent to Buranshe. She stood up then, and gathered the small white angel in her arms. Slowly, they began to dance together.
I couldn't bear to look at Kaede. I felt like I was on fire, so foolish and so brash a move I was making. But I had to, I couldn't do otherwise. I could only dance with her, never without.
Buranshe seemed so small in Shirahime's arms as they danced. I knew that Shirahime only had to tighten her grasp, and she could seriously injure the other angel. But this wasn't a battle, and it seemed so right to see them together.
Slowly the music ended, and I had Shirahime step back, step away from the small angel. She jumped out of the layer and I caught her in my hand. I took off my headpiece and stood, studying the creature made of love and metal in my hand. She seemed so fragile at that moment, as if she could shatter at the smallest word.
"Sai-san..."
I looked up to see Kaede had come around the Layer to stand by me. I couldn't understand the look in her eyes.
"I can only dance well with you," I finally said. I looked down at Shirahime again. "I only want to dance with you." The words barely made it out of my mouth, and for a long moment I didn't even know if I had said them. But when I looked up again, I knew that I had, and I knew that she understood what I meant.
"Forget it." I stood up then, refusing to look at her again. "Forget I said anything." I don't know what it was I saw in her face, but it hurt, because I knew that no matter what things couldn't go back to the way they had been. With just seven words I had ruined everything.
I could feel the tears as I started to go.
"Sai-san!" Kaede called, and she reached out and grabbed my hand. "No!"
I winced. "No?" I whispered back to her, refusing to meet her eyes. I wanted to rip my hand away from her, but I couldn't. I craved the contact.
"Don't go," she said. "I only ever want to dance with you too." And before I could say anything, she had reached forward and wrapped her arms around me. "Sai-san, only with you."
And, despite being several inches taller than her, despite my reputation for being emotionless, I let her cradle me in her arms while I broke down and cried.
tbc