28. Light
Darkness. Rin can't see anything, but she can hear it. The low murmur of the crowd. Her pulse jumps erratically, and her hands tighten around her microphone. She breathes evenly to settle the nerves she always gets before a performance, but it doesn't help this time, because Rin knows this is the biggest crowd she's ever sung in front of. Her breath hitches. She feels alone on stage, afraid.
Flash.
A loud click, and suddenly the stage is bathed in light. Rin is almost blinded by the brightness, and through her squinted eyes she can see them. Hundreds- no, thousands of people cheering, screaming, staring at her through the white glare. A flash of fear, adrenaline, and excitement courses through her, and doubts swirl through her head. What if I mess up? What if I trip? What if I drop the mic, or it screeches, or-
"One inevitable scene starts from a coincidence…" A handsome, smooth voice echoes from beside her, and she turns her head to look at the singing blonde boy nearby she had forgotten.
Len's eyes are trained on her, even if his words are pouring out towards the audience, and she shivers slightly, seeing the warmth and affection in his gaze. He's smiling at her, encouraging her as he sings, and Rin feels all her worries dissipate. She smiles back; with Len here, she would be just fine.
"I found a black shadow in the mysterious forest…" Her own words echo out, unstrained and silky. Her newfound confidence shows, and she keeps her eyes locked on Len's. Her heart beats furiously in her chest, and she ignores the audience, the lights, everything but his presence. He keeps her from going too high, from stumbling over her words, from being afraid. And she returns the favor.
"I'm not thinking something like wanting to meet, something like wanting to touch you, something like wanting to talk to you…" Their harmonized voices blend together perfectly, and the crowd cheers wildly.
Dancing with Len, Rin focuses only on him. The lights above cast him in an almost fiery glow, and his eyes reflect thousands of shining stars. They circle one another, murmuring the words, and their close bond shows in their emotional singing.
"I wanted to meet you, I wanted to touch you, I wanted to talk to you, to tell the truth." Len sings, his eyes never wavering from hers. Their hands nearly graze, but shy inches apart. Raw sorrow filters through the words, and Len truly shines under the spotlight, as if he's truly the wolf in love. "The cute you and the gentle me should meet and be united in the end."
Joining him, now completely over her initial terror, Rin gladly joins in her favorite part of the song.
"Countless times, countless times, I made my wish to God. But sadly, sadly…"
The stage darkens, and two are facing each other, fingers outstretched toward the other under twin spotlights.
"...We're the Wolf and Red Riding Hood."
A/N: Song is 'The Wolf That Fell In Love With Little Red Riding Hood'.