The beat itself was mind numbing and she danced through the cloud like a ghost, her partners recalling her as a whisper and a sigh before she was gone again, a drunken laugh on her thin lips. Or at least they assumed it was drunken laugh. Better than a pained one, better than one of simple wistfulness. But, in truth, it was neither of these. She couldn't recall exactly who she was, why she came here year after year on this day to dance with every single unaccompanied male and even a few females. She would remember come morning, but right now she was drunk on the atmosphere, the intoxicating beat of the music around her, and the familiar press of bodies against her. In a crowd, yet again, where she felt like a part of something for a moment when they all moved together as one being.
She swirled and swirled, as light on her feet as a child as she danced around the room. Her laugh rang like a bell, enchanting those around her easily. She spun in circles again and again, her slender frame vibrating with the exertion, but she didn't stop dancing for even a moment as she drifted through the crowd like a smoky dream.
He watched her with shallow eyes, marveling at her childish nature among these adults. Marveling at the fact that she could still laugh after all he had done to her over the years. The bartender approached him, smiling a knowing smile.
"That there is Aoko-kun." He said, an Osakan drawl on his lips.
"Hmm?" the man said, leaving his voice pitched to curiosity.
"Don't bother going after her. She'll dance with you, but that's as much as she'll do. She's waiting for someone." The bartender said.
"She is? It's awful late to be waiting." It was almost 2 in the morning by now, but that wasn't what he meant. But this old man didn't need to know that.
"She comes here on this day every year and stays coherent until she hits the dance floor. From then on out, she's like a child. She waits here until closing time for someone to show up, but whoever it is she's waiting for, he never comes. She's sweet girl though. You're better off giving up, son. There's other fish in the sea, ones who don't wait around a hole in the wall night club for 5 years for one guy who obviously doesn't love her enough to come find her." The bartender said.
"I think..." the man trailed off, his blues eyes following the still twirling girl on the dance floor. "I think I'll take my chances. Thanks for the advice though."
"Be careful with her, boy! She may look invincible, but she's brittle as glass. You break her and you'll pay the price!" the old man yelled after him and he raised his hand in acknowledgement as he walked out onto the dance floor.
He made his way to the girl and stole her away as she passed in between partners. She smiled blissfully, her eyes closed as she danced away her worries.
"You shouldn't dance with strangers, Aoko." He said, barely a whisper but her eyes flew open regardlessly.
"K-." she started before screaming as long as she could and tackling him to the floor. "Kaito!"
The music screeched to a halt and all eyes turned to the small nightclub's favorite customer. She had been assaulted before and they all knew what to do.
But she wasn't in any danger this time. "Kaito, Kaito..." she murmured over and over again, as she planted kisses all over his face.
Kaito looked considerably more cheerful, on the floor with the girl on top of him. He turned to the old bartender with mirth in his eyes. "Oi, what happens if she breaks me?"