He loved watching her dance. It was his favorite pass time by far, and the fact that she only danced for him made it that much more special. Once, she had danced for others, but now she can only dance for him, for he is the only one who can see her.

Her name had been Gou, and she had danced for the people of her village, danced for the gods. Born with hair and eyes as red as the blood that flowed through the veins of man, she could only belong to one family. The Matsuoka family had been the royal's who ruled the land next to his own for as long as he could recall.

Her brother, the Prince Rin had once stayed in his Kingdom. It was upon Rin's request that his sister traveled to put on a show for the neighboring country, and this is how it all started.

"She should be arriving soon." Rin had been thrilled upon hearing that his sister would honor his request to come see him. The two neighboring countries had been at peace for many years, and so they saw no need for either royal family seeing each other unless that peace was at risk. Rin was different, he wanted to know the country whom they sided with, he wanted to know that there would be no chance of war breaking out when he took to the throne.

Seijuro had already taken his place as King. He had been surprised when Rin came at first, never before had he seen a person with eye's as red as blood before, so he could only wonder what the woman of the royal family looked like.

Rin had told tales at the court of his sister, who the gods had gifted. He told of how when she danced, the water would dance with her. He told of her beauty, how even he, her brother did not think anyone could be more beautiful than her.

Tales of her beauty had spread throughout the kingdom, and news of her arrival had the village folk begging their king that he might allow for them to see her perform. He was a fair King, and if his people wanted to see one person dance so much, he shouldn't refuse.

"She's here!" His younger brother Momo shouted, and Seijuro turned in his place on the balcony to see Rin rushing to where the carriage had come to a stop. When she climbed down he didn't think much, she was wrapped head to toe in a white cloak.

He watched Rin closely, watched how the young prince fussed over his sister. He's own sister had already been wed, she'd was expecting her first child. Yet he'd never been spoken to her the way Rin did Gou.

The sound of Rin's chatter and the loud greeting of Momo brought Seijuro back to attention. The princess had arrived and was standing before him.

His breath caught as their gazes met. Deep red eyes, the same shade of Rin's stared back at him in amusement. "I shall do my best to capture your attention when I dance for you later." Her voice was soft. He had never had a woman catch his interest with just her eye's and voice, but here the princess from the neighboring county had done exactly that.

He grinned. "I look forward to your performance."

She was taken by Rin straight after, and he could only wonder, what did she look like?

When the night came upon them and the night's cool air drifted in, is when the street light lamps were lit. Needing water for her dance, they choose the water fountain located in the center of town. Stands were erected so the all could see and watch the display.

Rin had been seated to his right, Momo to his left and all they could do is wait until she appeared. The music was the sign that the show was underway and the cheers rose high in the night.

She appeared then rushing through the crowd, the jangling of gold echoing as she swirled and danced around the people until finally, she stood upon the water.

Seijuro leaned forward at the sight of her. Before she had been covered in head to toe, now she could be seen. The skirt she wore was slit and hung only in the front, leaving her legs both bare. Her chest was covered by a small piece of fabric that was attached to a gold necklace and her stomach and arms were left exposed. A thin veil covered her lower mouth, yet none of that matter for finally he could see the magnificate red hair. Red hair the same color as a red sunset.

Gold hung in thin chains around her neck, and thick gold bracelets wrapped around her arms, wrists and ankles. The music stopped as she raised her arms, and then with a whirl, it began again. She danced not in the water but upon it, and like Rin had said the water danced with her. With every raise of her arms, the water would rise to meet her movement, mirroring her every move.

It was unlike he had ever seen, unlike anything his people had ever seen, but Rin. Rin had known, he seen what his sister truly was, and although he was allowing Seijuro, and his kingdom to see her, Rin would never allow her to stay.

Even now as she danced, Rin's eye' watched her, never truly leaving her form even when it was hidden behind a curtain of water.

"Has your family always had control over water?" Seijuro asked, looking back at the beauty before them.

Rin answered without taking his eyes from Gou. "No, It's my fault this happened."

"Your fault?" Momo asked finally tearing his eyes away from the enchanting beauty.

"Our kingdom is located right next to the sea, our people have prayed to the same Sea God for as long as our people have existed. One day, while playing in the sea with my father, I asked if I could one day play with the sea god, who we were told was childless and liked to play games," Rin told. "He told me I couldn't for the god had others things he needed to do and couldn't play with me."

"I still don't understand?" Seijuro said.

"Gou is not my sister by blood, although we look alike we are not of the same family. She was a gift to me from the sea god, so that we could always play together." Rin revealed.

Golden eyes looked back at the girl who danced. "So Gou is...?"

"The child of the Sea God."

"What happens to the child of a sea God?" Seijuro asked knowing that there was something not right about this story.

"She was gifted to me so that we could always play together, but now that I'm no longer a child the reason she was put here is no more."

"So you mean to tell me,"

"There have been other children gifted to the royal family throughout time. One day, when the Sea God wishes it, the child must return to the sea. Gou's time is coming to an end, you see, right there," He pointed.

Srijuro turned back to Gou, not knowing what he meant until he seen it. There in the water, the figure of a person with their arms spread open.

"He's calling to her, calling for her to return home. I had hoped that your priests would know of a way to help her, but.."

Seijuro nodded and stated sadly."We have never heard such tales before, so we couldn't possible help."

"But brother, surely there is something?" Momo pleaded, but Seijuro merely shook his head. "How long then?"

Rin smiled sadly. "I'm afraid that this will probably be the last time you or me, ever see her again."

Seijuro stood shocked. "You mean Tonight?"

"I loved the sea, but when my Father was killed I couldn't love it anymore. She may have got to live longer, only..."He trailed

Momo was up and out of his seat in a rage, grabbing hold of Rin by his clothes and yet still Rin did not look away from Gou."You gave her this faith, you've taken her life from her. All this time you've been saying how much you love her, but really you can't wait to be rid of her!"

Seijuro didn't know what to say because for the first time Rin was looking at someone other then Gou. "The sea God killed my father, why should I care about his child after what he did?"

It was Seijuro's turn to speak. "Because she's out there dancing for you, she probably knows the end is near and yet she came all this way for you. She loves you!"

Rin was silent, the air holding tension. "I loved my father." Is all Rin had to say before he pulled himself free and left their stand.

Two pairs of golden eye's looked back down at the girl dancing. Her eyes were looking at them and even from at distance they could see the tears that fell from her lovely eyes.

When morning came, Rin had disappeared in the night. Leaving behind no trace that he had stayed in the kingdom. All that was left was Gou, who didn't seem at all surprised at the disappearance of her brother.

They accompanied her to the sea themselves, the shadow of a person lingered just beyond the surface. She shed her clothes as her feet touched the warm water of the ocean, leaving herself bare for both princes to see.

"You don't have to go, do you?" Seijuro said, catching her wrist as she walked deeper into the water.

Gou turned to smile at the king, his golden eye's were warm like the sun. She had never known such warmth before, but she could not stay. "The sea calls me home,"

"You could have a home here, with us."

Already the water had begun to swirl around her ankles, beckoning her to return to the depths. Pulling her hand free she pulled from her around her throat a necklace and attached to it was the tiniest of bottles. "Water," She told as she pressed it into Seijuro hand. "From the temple of the Sea God."

Seijuro frowned. "I don't understand."

"The sea and the moon have always been connected, I'm sure because it's you, you'll figure it out."

He'd been unable to say another word for she had turned and continued on into the sea until she had disappeared.

It had taken him quite a bit of time to figure out what she'd meant. It was until a late night bath that the mystery was solved.

When the bottle was placed in line with the moon, Gou's dancing figure would appear. illuminated in the moonlight she would twirl and jump, her red twisting with her ever turn. Seijuro had never believed in love at first sight, but Gou had completely captured his heart.

He couldn't help but wonder, how would the Sea God feel if he asked to marry Gou?