For some reason 7 wasn't as tense as 9 thought she would be. He was the tense one. They've danced only once before to this song but this dance felt different somehow.
"Well this was nice of them," 9 finally tried to speak as fluently as possible. All language was somehow lost to him.
"I agree. The scene is almost perfect."
"Almost?" He tilted his head. What couldn't be more perfect about this? Romantic music was playing. The sun was down just enough for the light to shine every perfect angle on her face. What about it wasn't right?
"We have 3 pairs of eyes watching us." She nodded over to the three trying to hide but watch them at the same time.
9 chuckled softly.
"Wonder why they would do a thing like this."
If 9 could blush he imagined he would in that moment. Once while 7 was comforting 0 he had mentioned to 3 and 4 how jealous he was and how stupid it seemed that he should be jealous over 0 getting all of 7's attention. However, 9 just shrugged. "Who knows?"
They spun in slow circles. The stars started to come out just as the last of the sun's rays were setting. The colored wax burned low only lighting a certain area that the sun's fingers couldn't touch.
"Aww, what a touching moment."
The voice wasn't familiar to 9 or 7. They stopped short and spun around toward the gramophone where a silhouette stood. The song ended softly.
"Claire de Lune. It really is a romantic song." The stranger took the needle off of the record before jumping down. He was made from burlap and red string. He had no numbers anywhere on his body and on his chest was a button. He was made to look like 1 but he was too burly for that.
They had no weapons but the stranger did. He carried a sword that looked a lot like the one 7 made for 0. Actually, as 9 looked closer he realized, it was the exact same one she made for 0.
7 turned around to look for 0, 3, and 4. By her sigh of relief 9 could guess that they were gone.
9 stepped in front of 7. "Who are you?" He demanded.
"Me? Oh why should that matter? I thought you would be pleased to find another one of your kind." The stranger stepped closer. Instinctively 9 stepped back. "You are scared of me." He mused aloud.
"9, doesn't he look familiar?" 7 whispered to him.
"No, should he?"
"He looks like the one in 0's drawings." She continued to whisper while they slowly backed away but with each step they took back the stranger took two forward with his sword out until the tip reached 9's chest.
"Where is the one you call 0?" He demanded.
"Why would we tell you a thing like that?" 7 growled.
The stranger moved the tip from 9 to 7, grinning. "Well don't we have a feisty cat? Because if you don't bring me 0 I cannot promise your family getting out alive."
9 was so close. He could grab the sword. He did. 9 grabbed it and tried to yank it away but the stranger was too strong for him alone. The stranger yanked back his sword and swung it at 9's arm nearly cutting it clean.
"That was just a warning. I don't miss twice, 9." He spit out the name as if it were some form of poison. "Bring me 0 by sundown or you'll be one person short. I think I'll start with those bratty twins." He started to back away.
"Who are you?" 9 demanded again.
He just smirked. "Ask 0. I think she's given me a name. You can tell me when you ask." Then he disappeared into the shadows and into the night. When his presence was gone 7 bolted for the direction they last saw the others with 9 just behind her. When they found them 0 was holding 3 and 4 protectively with her eyes closed tightly.
"0, it's me." 7 said gently before putting a hand on hers.
0's eyes snapped open and she looked up at 7 and 9.