Cataracta's Notes: Okay, this came out later than I would have hoped. Ah, well. Writer's block's a bitch, after all. By the way, what other characters would you guys like to see? I was thinking Tachibana X Cammy (Tammy?), but I'm not sure who else. Let me know!

Disclaimer: Sigh - these damn things are the bane of my existence - I do NOT own s-CRY-ed.

Summary: It was a dance to remember those lost. For the living, it was a chance to find something missing.

Chapter Pairing: Kazuma X Older Kanami

Kanami would be the first to admit that Kazuma wasn't perfect. In fact, he was far from it. Kazuma was reckless, irresponsible, and a liability to property, but he was also kind-hearted, generous and protective. He was crude, but in his own way he was more polite than many. His actions spoke much louder than his words; they nearly screamed. But that's what she loved about him.

She smiled softly as he fidgeted with his tie for the hundredth time that night. They were standing off to the side of the spacious, intricately decorated room. Tables set with delicate centerpieces filled a large portion of the room, and everywhere everything was draped in somber fabric. Even the people filling the room were dressed in their finest.

Kanami herself was draped in a slightly dark green silk dress. It V-ed down between her chest while connecting around her neck to leave her back exposed. The dress was formfitting, and draped around her legs in slight folds. Around the waist was a sash that was connected just under her navel by a silver, star-shaped pin.

Her hair was pulled up into a bun at the top of her head, though the bun was more of a twist. A section of her hair had been left loose and hung just to the side of her right eye. A ribbon the same shade of her dress was weaved into the bun, though part of it was left to trail to the beginnings of her shoulders.

Kazuma was also dressed for the occasion in a simple black tuxedo and tie, though he looked uncomfortable in it. Kanami turned to look at him and he tried to smile, but she could tell that he didn't want to be here. She understood that very well.

This brought up painful memories for him; memories of people he had failed to save from the mainland. He blamed himself for their deaths, she knew, and that made it very difficult for him to be here.

Gently, Kanami raised a hand and placed it on Kazuma's cheek. She smiled serenely at him and some of the tension in his stance and eyes faded away. When he smiled this time, it was a true smile that had Kanami's own widening. Kazuma looked away suddenly, his gaze traveling over the couples swaying to the music on the floor. Turning back to Kanami he shifted uneasily.

"Would you…I mean…" Kazuma faltered.

Kanami stopped him by stroking his cheek and then placing her hand in his own, "I'd love to."

Kazuma looked shocked for a moment, then smiled slightly and led her to the floor. Tentatively, he placed his hands on her waist and shivered slightly as she wound her hands around his neck. They began to dance as the sounds of the orchestra drowned out the rest of the noise.

They stayed like this for a while, before Kazuma let out a quiet cry and pulled Kanami closer to him. He crushed her to his body as he buried his head into her neck and sobbed. Kanami gasped at the sudden movement, then slowly wrapped her arms around him as she stroked his hair with one hand.

"Why couldn't I?" Kazuma cried softly, "Why couldn't I save them, Kanami? Why'd they have to die?"

"It's all right, Kazuma," Kanami whispered softly, squeezing him gently, "It's all right."

"I couldn't…I couldn't save them!" Kazuma berated himself harshly, "Ayase, Kimishima…I couldn't save any of them!"

"You saved me," Kanami reminded him tenderly, "You saved the Lost Ground."

"But-" Kazuma began.

Kanami didn't let him finish, "Kazuma, it's not your fault." She told him kindly but firmly, "You did your best. Ayase, Kimishima, you tried your best for them and they knew that. You couldn't have done anymore."

"What's the point," Kazuma had stopped crying now, his voice harsh, "What's the point of having all this power if I can't save anyone with it?"

For a moment Kanami was silent. After, she placed a hand under Kazuma's chin and forced him to meet her eyes. She searched his eyes for a moment before leaning her cheek against his forehead and holding him to her. He didn't respond, though she could feel his hot tears against her skin.

"I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you, Kazuma," Kanami said softly, "Don't forget that."

She could feel Kazuma tense beneath her hands, then relax so that he was leaning against her. Kanami supported him lightly; content just to hold him as he exhausted the rest of his emotions. When he had finished, he slowly raised his head to look into her eyes.

"Kanami," He whispered.

Dipping his head to hers, he captured her lips in a soft kiss. Kanami froze in surprise momentarily before she lifted one of her hands to the back of his neck and let the other clutch his shoulder. She could taste the salt of his tears and felt her heart surge as her own eyes filled.

Kazuma pulled back to look at her and his brow furrowed in confusion as noticed her tears. He reached up to brush one away with his thumb and Kanami captured his hand to hold it with both of her own. She slowly turned it over and examined his palm, noticing the calluses and the scars.

"Kanami?" Kazuma asked softly.

She could feel the tears as they streamed down her cheeks, and could hear the worried tone in his voice. Reaching up to wipe the tears away, Kanami smiled at him, and trailed the hand that had clutched his shoulder to his cheek. She stepped closer to him and leaned against his chest, listening to his breathing.

"I'm just glad," Kanami paused as Kazuma's breath caught, "I'm glad that you're sharing your emotions with me. I was worried that you were going to try to shoulder everything by yourself."

Kazuma wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she could feel his lips against her hair, "I was." He admitted.

Kanami didn't respond. Instead she listened to his heart as it beat; reminding her that he was here with her…that he wasn't going to leave her. She smiled against his chest and she could feel as he slowly trailed his hands down her back, caressing the smooth skin lightly.

"Kanami," Kazuma whispered suddenly, pulling back to look at her, "Could I…have a few minutes? I just…need to get my thoughts back in some kind of order."

Kanami nodded and stepped away from him. For a moment, it looked like the loss of Kanami's warmth was enough to change his mind, but after hesitating he turned and walked away. She watched for a moment, then smiled and turned as she caught sight of Tachibana and Cammy.

x

Kazuma leaned against the balcony rail and sighed. He loosened his tie and placed his head in his hands; he could feel the streaks of the dried tears on his cheeks. Feeling like a fool, he rubbed his face viciously and shook his head to clear it.

He felt like an idiot, but he felt so horrible. Here he was, alive and breathing, while Ayase and Kimishima, and the others were dead. He had failed them. The though of Kimishima was enough to make Kazuma's jaw clench in anger and depression. Reaching down, Kazuma wrapped his fingers around a small pendant nestled in his pocket.

"It's perfect for her, Kazuma!" Kimishima argued, dangling an emerald pendant in front of his face.

Kazuma watched it swing, then waved a hand in its direction, "Kanami doesn't need it."

Kimishima didn't relent, "C'mon Kazuma! She'd love it!"

Kazuma hesitated, "Who's gonna pay? We don't have money!"

"The money from that job?" Kimishima retorted.

Kazuma had eventually relented and bought the pendant. It had then spent the rest of its time hidden away, as he'd been too nervous to give it to her. Today, though, seeing Kanami in her dress with her hair up, Kazuma had seen what Kimishima had meant. She looked stunning, and he knew that the pendant would accent her eyes perfectly.

Taking the pendant out of his pocket, Kazuma held it in front of him. It swung in the slight breeze, and the emerald glittered as the light from the moon shone on its facets. For a moment, Kazuma was reminded of Kanami's eyes. Stroking the pendant with a thumb, he smiled and reached to place it back in his pocket.

"Kazuma?" Kanami's soft voice startled him.

He spun around sharply and had to catch himself as he laid eyes on her. Kanami in the light of the room had been beautiful; Kanami in the moonlight was ethereal. She smiled at him and came to stand beside him, her small hands resting on the rail. Kazuma forced his thoughts into some semblance of order and came to join her.

"It's beautiful out here," Kanami breathed.

"Yeah," Kazuma agreed awkwardly.

He could feel the weight of the emerald pendant in his pocket, and could distinctly remember the way it shone in the moonlight. Kanami's eyes shone as well. She turned to glance at him and his breath caught.

Without thinking, Kazuma reached forward and placed his hand on her cheek. Kanami looked startled, but clasped her hand around his. Leaning towards him, she slid her free hand around his neck and pulled him towards her. Kazuma buried his head in her shoulder and wrapped his arm around her back.

Kanami gasped as the cool metal of the emerald pendant touched her bare skin. She pulled away from him and tilted her head to stare at the pendant now clasped around her neck. Kazuma watched as her eyes brightened with tears.

"I've been meaning to give this to you for a while," He admitted quietly.

Kazuma's eyes widened as he felt Kanami's lips against his. She kissed him sweetly as Kazuma grasped her elbows and pulled her closer. The emerald pendant pressed against his chest, and he smiled against her lips.

The pulled away slightly and Kazuma clasped the pendant, holding it against her chest, "I love you."

"I love you, too," Kanami whispered.

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

Sir Francis Bacon

Cataracta's Notes: So there it was! The second oneshot chapter of Dance Softly, Love. Drop me a review! I feed on them!