Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or plotline of Princess Tutu.
AN: This is the second of three chapters. Enjoy!
Der Junge und das Mädchen
The cobblestone paths turned their footsteps into small clicks, light and perfect. The girl walked with the boy, her fingers playing around in her knotted mess of red hair. They turned around the shops and the school and the houses, minds clear, free of problems.
A day well spent was a day walking, Ahiru pondered. Sometimes it was better to talk on those walks, but others the silence was comfortable. This was the latter circumstance, with a thoughtful quiet around the pair strolling down the way.
The sun was just slightly over the horizon, dipping at such an angle so that the light danced flamboyantly across the ponds and lakes. The clover green tree leaves made the scene so beautiful that it made Fakir wonder if somehow, somewhere, Drosselmeyer had planned this. To Ahiru it had no matter. It was beautiful and that was that.
They stopped just under the gazebo that so many a time had Mytho and Rue been here, dancing or fighting the other pair. After the conflict had been sorted out, it was just a place wiped clean of memories, open to a new future.
Ahiru walked ahead of Fakir and up the steps to the platform. Her red curls pulled back into a braid as usual, she looked just a little more mature than she had been when she was part of the story. Her face was thinned out and features more complex.
Fakir watched her gracefully plop down on the bottom and sigh lightly. Sometimes you needed to get the troubles out of you.
Fakir watched her for a moment, gazing at her beautiful white dress that Raetsel had made for her on her last visit. It was a simple cotton sundress, flowing and cheerful to match Ahiru's personality.
Fakir slowly stepped forward, not arousing Ahiru from her thoughts. He stepped up to the platform and sat down beside her.
"Something the matter?" Fakir asked.
"I'm just thinking," Ahiru replied, her voice still with the edge of childhood but now smoothing out the wrinkles.
"About what?" Fakir pressed on.
"I just miss Mytho and Rue, that's all."
"Idiot," Fakir said. He still enjoyed the way her eyes lit up with soft anger when he called her that. "You'll see them soon. Remember the letter they sent? We'll be able to see them in no time at all."
Ahiru smiled at the comforting words. They two sat together in silence for a while, until the midnight-haired boy spoke once more, in a gentle voice.
"I miss them too, you know."
Ahiru looked up to see his eyes grow dim as they faded into memories.
"Mytho was my best friend since I was a child. It's strange to have a day without seeing him."
Ahiru saw something of a difference in his eyes, something gentle and pure. She lightly rested her head on his shoulder and he stroked her sunny hair. It was all so beautiful.
Ahiru had lightly dozed off for a while and Fakir left her head rested where it fit perfectly in his shoulder. They sat in quiet peace until Fakir gently rubbed her shoulder to wake her.
Her orange hair reflected the sun's rays magnificently as it was slowly making its way up the sky. Fakir stood up and held out his hand to her, and she sleepily looked up at him.
"Come dance with me, Princess," he said, and she slowly rose to her feet. She smiled brightly, graciously accepting his offer.
She placed her hand in his and he led her into a sway and turn, a lift and spin. The backdrop made it a storybook scene, the couple dancing from their hearts, melting their worries and opening their feelings to let the other see.
When the dance came to a slow, Fakir pulled the girl into him slowly. She looked up into his enchanting eyes with a marble gaze.
He whispered softly in her ear, "I'd love to dance like this forever, Princess."
"Me too, my knight," she replied, feeling a warmth then light up her soul, getting rid of all the doubt and pain and sorrow.
And there they were, the boy and the girl, feeling so magical and trapped at the same time.