Dedication: Still for Mishini, even though her birthday is long over ^^;

Artworks: I got my friend, Monkey, to do a picture of Amarith. You can link to it from my FanFiction profile page, or go to my deviantArt gallery (username's Shadow-Countess). I'm trying to get her to scan the 2nd picture of Amarith, but it ain't working too well as of now D:

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail and all related characters belong to Hiro Mashima. I own nothing save this plot and my character from the upcoming Revival of the Forgotten, Amarith Sorano. And the random Josh Atwell, Miyako Takashi, Rena, and Evelyn I threw in for fun.

May I have this Dance?
An Amarith Sorano & Hibiki Laytis Three-shot

Chapter II
Beautifully Perfect

By Shadow Countess

~.~.~.~

One dance, one mistake, and one night, was all it took for him to discover her, to see past the layers, to notice the kindred spirit lying beneath the worn out covers. But he couldn't reach out to her the way he wanted to, couldn't hug her close, couldn't call her his. Because she was afraid of him, afraid of getting tangled with his affairs, afraid of getting abandoned and thrown away like a discarded rag doll.

She didn't want to be shattered again.

~.~.~.~

25th October; 23:14

"How is she?" Three lean frames sprang up from the cushioned seats of the private hospital Amarith had been taken to the moment Dr. Porlyusica exited from the room.

Head shook; withered strands of gray and white fluttered. Brows constricted into a tight frown, adding wrinkles to her already lined features. "That foolish brat's been pushing herself too hard; her body can no longer take the strain. She's suffering from clear exhaustion and her feet...I've never seen a pair so tortured before."

"She's a dancer," Eve supplied, "a professional ballroom dancer."

"Whatever. Keep her off her feet till they heal, and make sure that she eats," was the irate, nonchalant reply. Steely eyes of gray glanced at Hibiki. "You may go in if you want, but she's asleep." A curt nod, and she disappeared down the corridor.

A sigh. Hibiki took a quick glimpse of his watch. "You two head back first, I'll stay with her. It isn't nice to leave a lady alone, is it?" The smile curling his lips was tired, weary, and lacking his usual spirits.

Ren bowed his head in a quick nod. "Shall we inform her parents?"

"It's alright. You don't know their numbers, do you?"

An indifferent shrug was Ren's only reply to the question posed.

"Tell Amarith-san that we'll visit her tomorrow, and," Eve hedged uncertainly, "don't lead her on anymore, alright?" With that, he departed with Ren.

A frown of puzzlement flickered over Hibiki's features at Eve's parting words. What did he mean, asking him to not lead Amarith on? Sure, that girl was innocent and, as Eve would put it, pure, but that had never stopped them before.

A shrug. He pushed the door to her room open, stepped past the threshold, and closed it behind him with a soft click. Soundlessly, he crossed the room to perch on the chair beside her bed, ready to spend the night by her side.

Pearly moonlight filtered in through the gap in the thick curtains to caress her delicate physiognomy, throwing all signs of overexertion into sharp relief. Her cheeks were slightly sunken; shades of blackish-blue surrounded her eyes like rough, ugly bruises; and her marble-like skin was ghastly pale, sapped of vitality and drained of life.

It unnerved him.

He had always known of her devotion to dancing—everyone in school did. Yet, he could not formulate the reason that had driven her to the brinks of insanity and made her dance the way she had done. It made no sense whatsoever.

"Miss Sorano...Amarith..." Her name was a low murmur, as though it would shatter under loudness. "Will you please tell me why?" Hibiki frowned, rubbing a thumb over her skeletal hand. Never had he noticed how thin she was: she was like a walking skeleton covered with taut skin.

It surprised him, but guilt and a dull ache wrenched at his heart. He should have said something, should have looked out for her, when he had first noticed the signs of listlessness, instead of tossing them aside. He should have paid her more attention, beyond the usual flowery words and charms.

Although he treated Amarith like any other girl, deep down, he knew she was different. She was odd, weird, and strangely reminiscent of a frail, precarious sparrow. Her attitude and lack of response to his advances intrigued him, for no matter what compliments he paid her, her only reply was a quiet smile and a word of thanks. She neither pushed him away nor accepted him like the other girls did.

And that had kept him on his toes for nearly a year, the longest he had ever cared about a single girl, and had upped his determination to wear down her defenses.

Hence, he had never stopped to look at her.

As he kept vigil by her bedside, her defenses down and his gaze never leaving her profile for more than a few seconds each time, he saw her. Really saw her. He saw someone more than the timid, reticent girl who cared for nothing but books and dancing. Saw someone with unwavering pride and determination. Saw a gentle soul residing, hiding, in a weathered, overused shell. Saw that she was beautiful.

And that, was a breathtaking discovery.

All along, he had known that she was no monster, but her looks had much to be desired. If there was one word used to describe her, it was ordinary. Painfully plain. She was nothing but a flat-chested, spindly girl who would never mature, a side effect of the stringent training she had undergone since a tender age. And her features could not be anymore common. They were delicate, but not eye-catching.

The only characteristic of hers that stood out and caught his attention from the very beginning was her coloration. Alabaster skin, vivid eyes of untainted amaranthine, and long hair that was a striking shade bordering deep blond and pale brown. Yet, that hadn't been enough to enchant him.

But now, despite his sleepiness and lightheadedness, he knew, and was captivated.

Amarith Sorano was like the moon, tender, serene, and holding a precious charm that was impossible to emulate. She was not glorious like the sun, not always visible, not always appreciated, and never the center of attention, but she was always there. Silent, lingering, and quietly striving.

She had everything that was important: charms, brains, poise...Her strength balanced her faults in the most magical way possible, and it was that immaculate balance of flaws and fortes that made her beautifully perfect.

And so, he was content to look at her till slumber too embraced him.

26th October; 07:20

Dragged out of sleep by the harsh, unforgiving sunlight, bleary eyes of hazy purple parted sleepily to find Hibiki on the chair by her bed. His frame was bent over and his head was resting on the edge of the mattress. One hand kept hers covered.

He was so close she could count every lash adorning those closed eyes. He was perfect, heartbreakingly, breathtakingly so, and out of her reach. A slight smile fluttered her lips as she retracted her hand from his, her movement careful and halting.

Yet, the slight movement jolted him awake. With an unsightly yawn and knuckling of eyes, he cast Amarith a glance and found a pair of inscrutable eyes quietly watching him. Her gaze was solemn, steady, and her expression was perfectly enigmatic.

"Good morning," he greeted with a bright smile. "Eve and Ren are coming later."

A nod. "Thank you, and...I'm sorry for being a bother." Embarrassment wrangled with her tone. She would rather faint in an isolated corner and die a painful death than to make a fool of herself in front him him, yet that was what she had done.

"It's alright. Don't fret over it." He would have patted her head and ruffled her hair had there mere stretch of his hand not startle her. Eyes widened like those of a frightened doe before blinking and looking away.

"You shouldn't have spent the whole night here. It'll encourage rumors."

"Do you care?" She hadn't struck him as one who would be bothered by gossips.

"Not really, but it would hurt your reputation. And it's not so much of the rumors, but rather, what they actually do." Brows furrowed at the slip of tongue. She hadn't intended to tell him about that.

An arc of brow. "And what do they do?" He didn't like the way she sounded. It was exhaustion and resignation instead of her usual quietness. A spirit being crushed and defeated. She had given up and was drained, physically and emotionally.

"Petty little things." Bony fingers tangled with fierce strength, bringing a sharp crack of joints. "You don't have to bother." Gaze flittered away.

"Why do you dance so much?" he questioned, wanting to curb his curiosity and change the topic. "You're one of the best dancers out there with your awards, and have reached and surpassed the level of dancing out of mere love for it. So what are you dancing for?"

She drew a breath. "For him," was the almost inaudible whisper. "I have to win a Blackpool for Loke, and to prove them wrong."

"Them?"

"My parents." She could not comprehend the force that compelled her to tell him that, but the invisible charm worked its powers. Words tumbled from her lips. "They threw me away the moment I was born, so I want to make them regret their decision."

"You're an orphan?" He couldn't help the shock lacing his tone as he questioned.

A faint tinge of pink spanned her cheeks as she nodded. "I am..." Head shook. "I just want to prove to them, whoever they are, that I'm not as worthless as they thought I am."

"You're not. Everyone would be proud to have a daughter like you." His assurance was coupled with a disarming smile that sent butterflies flitting through her insides. "Is Loke your lover?"

Lips tilted into a slight smile. "No, he was my best friend and first dance partner; we grew up together."

"What happened?"

"He was killed by a drunk driver last year."

"I-I'm sorry," he mumbled, unnerved by the sadness clouding her features and storming her eyes.

Amarith shrugged and glanced away. "It's alright. Even though I still can't believe he'd left me, I have to dance on and keep his dreams alive, no? Especially since he loved dancing as much as I do."

"Do you love him?"

A pause, and she nodded. "I did."

For some esoteric reason, the somber confession left a bitter taste in his mouth.

~.~.~.~

The days following her discharge could not get anymore awkward.

Hibiki, and occasionally Ren or Eve when the former was held up, had insisted on staying by her side twenty-four seven. She found it truly disconcerting. And the assistance offered varied from carrying her up the stairs—the institute was not fitted with elevators, holding her bag, and telling her that she was beautiful despite her wheelchair.

Nothing she said made any difference, so she simply gave up. Out of exasperation and realization that complying consumed less energy than arguing. That, and she did need help every now and then. No other student was willing to lend her a hand, especially after the rumors that spread like wildfire. In fact, they would have gladly made her life a living hell had Hibiki not been with her.

Crippled and unable to dance, Amarith devoted all her time to watching dance tapes, choreographing for the upcoming nationals, and lending an experienced eye to Hibiki and Miyako as they practiced.

The burning envy strangling at her heart tightened its grip with each passing day. Hibiki was a marvelous dancer—she could watch him all day and not tire, but his potential and skills were wasted on Miyako. While she would do anything and everything to be Hibiki's partner, Miyako wasted much of their practice time on needless flirting and sloppy footworks.

She and Atwell make a good match.

Josh had cheered upon learning that he was given a break due to her injuries, and Amarith had found him a dancing disaster from their first exchange. He was a masculine version of Miyako, unable to lead, refused to train, and with him, her dream of winning Blackpool was all but dashed.

An unreachable dream: winning with Atwell and being Hibiki's partner.

Unreachable, untouchable, unachievable.

During their free time, they talked. With all his attention directed at her, she learnt things about him few others knew, things she would never dream of. He too acquired information from her.

Hibiki had grown up with Eve and Ren, for the Laytis were business partners with the Thylms and Akatsukis. He had first taken up ballroom dancing due to his status, and had become a professional out of love for it. His entire childhood was spent under the care of nurses, and later, had gone on to attend the best schools money and grades could get him into.

Amarith had grown up in a cold and dilapidated orphanage, discarded by parents she would never, and didn't want to, meet. She had no one to call family, and had received her education at Fairy Tail. Ballroom dancing became a part of her life after passing by a television store where a set was playing Dirty Dancing. She had stopped, watched, and fallen in love with it all. She was only six. And she dreamed of finding her own Johnny Castle, someone who would love her and only her.

They learnt about each other, discovered secrets, and remembered information with blackmail potential.

Amarith, in spite of her stoic appearance and practicality, was a softhearted, hopeless romantic; Hibiki preferred mysteries and worshipped Hercules Poirot. She found delight in sappy, brainless Korean dramas and idolized Ji Hoo from Boys over Flowers; he lived and breathed action films. She loved Japanese food; he favored French cuisine. When she cringed at the thought of him eating escargots, he reminded her not so subtly that she ate seafood raw.

She was terrified of creatures with more than four legs. He too hated her, but promised to kill the ones crossing her path. She feared the dark, but loved the stars, for they lit up her night sky. He stargazed whenever he could. She loved poetry; he fancied plays. She loved the discreet, the obscure. So did he.

And they were both dreamers.

It took her two weeks but finally, her feet were healed and she could hit the dance floor once more. Much to Josh's chagrin. But it wasn't just her feet: her heart was mended as well. She had finally found warmth and friends. Though the others treated her with nothing but sheer hatred and disgust, she ignored them like always. And their presences made it every bit easier.

Eve was an endearing sweetheart who never missed a chance to flirt her silly. Ren was adorable to tease and call a tsundere, something she often did. And Hibiki. He was like Loke, someone she was comfortable around. She enjoyed his company and gentlemanly spirit, and tried to be a good sport about things for his sake.

Despite knowing that it was a mirage that would soon fade and disappear, she found herself accepting and clinging onto every second of it.

20th November; 21:30

Curls bounced, laughter sounded, as they danced across the room, feet flying in a perfect show of cha-cha. From the basics of cha-cha-cha chasse to the finale of New Yorker, they mirrored each other perfectly, steps, moves, and expression.

Spins, dips, locksteps...Hips swung, bodies bobbed, and eyes shone with boundless enthusiasm and mirth, as they relished the feeling of dancing with someone of their standard, someone who loved to dance as much as they did. Sapphire locked with amethyst as he twirled her in a series of underarm turns. Dress flared; hair flew.

He swung her back into hold, arms clasped around her thin frame, and came to an abrupt halt. She too stopped despite the music continuing around them, and tipped her perplexed gaze up to meet his. "Hibiki-san?"

"I'm sorry," was his terse reply. "Give me a moment." He released her from his grip before stiding over to the bar table. Amarith hesitated, and followed wordlessly.

"We have to talk, son."

The simple, curt sentence froze her in her tracks, eyes wide as she stared at the one who had called Hibiki his son. His father.

She had grown up believing that children took after one, if not both, of their parents, but this encounter proved her wrong. Hibiki was nothing like the couple standing before him. While he shrouded others with warm comfort, they were all prim and properness. The stiff aura overwhelmed her.

"I have to drive her back," Hibiki replied, directing a wary glance at Amarith who stood several feet away. "We can talk later."

"Is she your date?"

Like a doe escaping from a hunter's gun, Amarith took a step back as Hibiki's mother advanced towards her. In spite of old age, Mrs. Laytis was a woman of interminable elegance and grace. Not a single strand of silvery hair was out of place, and not a single line creased her features. She intimidated the dancer to no end.

"What's your name, girl?"

She paused before replying with a shaky whisper. "Amarith Sorano."

"Sorano? I've never heard of it` before. Who are your parents?" Her voice was icy cold and laden with the disdain Amarith had come to know so well.

Trapped, she glanced at Hibiki, silently begging from his help. She had always hated and feared interrogations, and this was no exception. He moved forward, only to be stopped by his expressionless father. She breathed a helpless sigh. "I don't know either. I'm an orphan."

Silence.

And all hell broke loose.

"An orphan? What are you doing with my son?" Amarith was struck dumb by how controlled one could be, for, despite the anger underlining her tone, the older woman was perfectly composed. Voice, clipped and frigid, snapped. "You seduced him for money, didn't you?"

Eyes blinking in surprise, she protested weakly, "I didn't. I'm a fellow dancer from school, and we were practicing."

Hibiki recoiled, dreading the impending doom that would ensue.

"And why with you when he has Miyako?"

"Because..." Because she isn't good enough for him. Amarith softened and trailed away under the exterminatory gleam in those mercury-hued eyes. She did not dare speak her thoughts, for she had long learnt that some questions were meant to be unanswered. And truths were not always welcomed.

"Because Miyako is busy," Hibiki interjected. It wasn't Amarith's fault: She had agreed to come with him out of mere desire to dance a proper dance. He was the one to be blamed for inviting her.

"Then, she wouldn't have complained to her mother about you ignoring her," sounded the retaliation. Mrs. Laytis tipped her head, rounding on Amarith, with lips pressed into a thin line of ill-concealed disapproval. "Please, girl, do us all a favor and stay away from him. You'll only bring him more harm than good."

She could only nod mutely as the Laytis left. Hibiki shot her concerned glances over his shoulder, but she only shook her head in reply. She would fine, and should stay away from them if she wanted to continue being fine.

25th November; 20:00

"Where's the fire?" she questioned coolly, walking over to stand next to him. "I thought there's an emergency?"

"It's the only way to get you out, is it not?" Hibiki turned to lean against the railing of the school corridor. The building would soon close for the day, and was empty save the two of them.

"Your parents don't like us meeting," was the simple reply.

"They've never liked anything I've done." The fleeting glance he offered her was grave and searching. "Are they why you've been avoiding me?"

She arched a brow. "I'm` here, aren't I?" A frown. "Are things alright on your side?"

"I guess so." Unblinking eyes watched the inky skies, not shifting even when she joined him in stargazing. "They told me to pay more attention to Miyako—"

"And stay away from me," Amarith finished. "Which you aren't doing."

Lean shoulders pulled into an indifferent shrug. "I just want to talk to you, nothing more."

She temporized, and sighed quietly. "Hibiki-san, it's alright. You don't have to feel obliged to me or anything, just because we're..." Because we are friends? She wasn't sure what relationship she shared with him, and wasn't willing to foil things with her foolishness.

"After all, I'm the one who owe you for all the kindness you've shown me. Do walk away and leave if you want; you don't have to explain anything to me." Even though my heart would break and my world would stop when you leave.

He turned to stare at her, his features hauntingly broken. "Then, my princess, will you repay your debts?"

Hibiki had turned from addressing Amarith as 'Miss Sorano' to 'my princess' in a blink of the eye, and nothing could convinced him otherwise, not even the enraged glares thrown their way. He was deadly stubborn when he chose to be, and she found the matter annoying and amusing at the same time.

"I will...How?" she breathed in response. If he wanted to steal a kiss, or even, a night, from her, she would say yes. Even though it would be her first. Because she owned him that much.

A draw of breath. "Please, be my dance partner."

The request, and the heartbreaking plea in his tone, caught her off guard. She would have stumbled backwards and run to a deserted corner to seek solace had he not grabbed her by her arm and pulled her into his embrace. He was so sturdy despite being so thin...

"Please," he repeated, "be my partner."

Her mind reeled. It was impossible to think with his breath falling onto her hair, his chin resting on her crown, and his fingers ghosting her skin. "I-I can't. I'm Standard and you're Latin," she reminded quaveringly before worming out of his grasp. She had to think.

Cerulean blue eyes held hers. "But you can dance Latin like nobody's business, and I can do Standard if I want to," was his implore.

"I know you're a prodigy, but...Why are you so desperate to go against your parents' wishes? They would only make our lives difficult."

"They've agreed." Gaze lowered. "They've ruined my entire dance career with their rules; I don't want them to ruin the last months I have here."

Those eyes of pure amethyst flew wide at his comment. "You're leaving?"

Hibiki nodded reluctantly. "After next year's Blackpool, so I thought I'll try and win it for once. I want to leave without regrets, and Miyako's not going to make that happen."

"Why...You don't want to dance anymore?"

"Not me. My parents. They want me to stop frolicking and wasting my life on something so useless." HIs smile was one of dark melancholy. "You see, Princess, for people like me, our futures are fixed. We don't have the chance to fully explore the world or do the things we want to. I'll have to take over the company, even if I don't want to."

With a quiet sigh, she rested a hand on his arm. "You're dancing and having fun now, aren't you? So why not live by the day and enjoy it while it lasts, instead of dreading the future? And maybe, it's not all that bad. I wish I have more security in my life, something to fall back on. You can get tired of dancing and not suffer; I can't."

He laughed. She flinched at the sound: It was not the velvety music she had come to appreciate and love; it was harsh, ridiculing, and jarring to the ear. She found it decidedly creepy. "If you're a bird, would you rather be locked up in a cage with food and water, or spread your wings, fly, and find your own food?"

"The latter," she admitted quietly, "but it's better to be happy than sad if you have to be locked up. Hibiki-san, you have everything in this world: looks, money, status...So why don't you stop, appreciate them, and be happy?"

"'Cause I don't want them. Amarith, look at me and tell me which part of me is real. My looks are the works of hairstylists, nutritionists, manicurists, and the other beauticians in this world. Money, status, are all my father's. What do I have to offer the world? Nothing," he proclaimed with a slight sneer.

"Everything," came the retort. "One day, you'll find the person you love, she'll be your whole world, and you'll give you heart to her. With your heart comes everything." She cast him the quiet, enigmatic smile that never failed to captivate him. "Find the key to your cage and free yourself. You're not a quitter, are you?"

He returned her smile and stretched a hand towards her. "Will you help me?"

She took it, clasping both hands around his larger one. "I'll try. And, I've always wanted to do competitive Latin." A smirk.

He chuckled. "Thank you, my princess."

Summary for Chapter III

'One day, you'll find the person you love, she'll be your whole world, and you'll give your heart to her. With your heart comes everything."

He wanted her to be that person, the person he gave his heart and world to. She wanted to be that person, the person who received his heart and world. But things never happen the way one wants it to, for fate, parents, and distrust, are always around to interfere and tear them apart. And he could only watch as she slipped away from his grasp.

Authoress' Note: Forgive me for the late (and extremely overdue) update. I wrote this a long while ago, but never found the time to retype it for the final time. This chapter was originally combined with the following one, but the word count was too high (and the next part is full of flaws), so I decided to separate them. The fic's now a three-shot.

Anyhow, a million thanks to those who have added said fic to favorites and alerts, but...Please review? It's my first time working on an AU fic and dabbling with Hibiki, so I'm kind of unsure about how things are turning out. Also, I'm in no way experienced with ballroom dancing, so whatever little reference to it are done with research on the net. If there's any mistakes, feel free to point them out.

On a side note, I'm currently infatuated with Boys over Flowers, Ji Hoo, Yi Jeong and Woo Bin (yes, I'm a little fickle, but they are all rich tycoons with lovely smiles and awesome personalities), and spend what little free time I have fangirling over Kim Hyun Joong (and occasionally, Kim Bum) while juggling revision for tomorrow's French exam, a science project presentation, and loads of homework.

Still, it's lovely. 'Cause he's totally worth the failed mark ^^ Heh.