Twee... Dance part two...

"I'm not even going to pretend to understand how that works." –Duke Fabre

"Well, you can't exactly ask Cantabile. She's kinda terrorizing the guy she's after." –Kairi

Chapter 11.4 – Dances With Death
Part 93

One song bled into a second. It was obvious that he wasn't going to let me run off until I'd answered the question, so I decided to be honest.

"I am home... In more than one way."

"Oh?"

"Nephry took me in, and now the Balfours are my Clan, my responsibility. Keterburg is ice, and snow, and the perfect temper for our fire. That's one... The second is fairly similar. Jade, Nephry, Seth, Sync, Dark, Twilight... And Asch. They're all here, on Auldrant. My chosen family is here, in a world so far behind mine technologically and yet so far ahead spiritually. And yes, my mom and a few friends are still on Earth..." I stopped and gave him a warning look. "But I'm technically existing in two places at once, right now. And I'm not talking about Mirage. More like Sync's astral projection, except we're both solid and on completely different worlds."

"I'm not even going to pretend to understand how that works."

"Asch got it after a few tries. And, well... I did skip over all the details."

He chuckled. "I think I'll have him explain it to me sometime... I still have to scold him for not telling me about your homeworld myself."

I sighed. "I think telling you was in the plans somewhere a little further along the way. Luke just complicated things... And now I have to go scold him for tattling. That information could probably do a lot of damage in the wrong hands."

Duke Fabre nodded. "Indeed." We stepped apart and I curtsied again. He headed off to find Asch, while I walked over to where Luke and Tear had been awkwardly attempting a dance and tapped Luke on the shoulder.

"Sorry, Tear. I think I need to borrow your partner for a bit," I said. Luke gave me a look as Tear made a 'go ahead' gesture.

"You know I'm not Asch, right?"

I snorted. "Oh, yes. Asch actually knows what he's doing on a dance floor. Come on."

This time, much to my amusement, I found myself in the odd position of actually leading a dance. Because really, Luke didn't have a clue what he was doing. And I couldn't blame him. He was seven years old, had had enough things to worry about learning already, and Van hadn't been real keen on teaching him this sort of thing after he got out of the manor.

I give him credit for not stepping on my toes at all.

"So."

"Uh-oh. You suddenly look really annoyed with me."

"You spoke of something with your father that you weren't even supposed to know in the first place. Now, I'm not really upset about you knowing about it..." I lifted our joined hands and twirled. "On the other hand, Asch and I were going to tell your father on our own time."

Luke still looked a bit confused.

Then he flinched, bringing a hand up to his forehead. I glanced across the room and glared at Asch, who was scowling at the back of Luke's head.

"Ow..."

I pulled Luke off to the side so we were out of the way. "Asch looks about as pleased as I feel," I noted.

"He knew about you being from another world?" Luke asked. I nodded.

"One of the first people I told."

"Oh..." He suddenly looked sheepish. "Sorry... I knew you probably didn't want me telling anyone, but I thought, if Asch didn't know you weren't born on Auldrant..."

I sighed. "I understand... But you should have taken it to him first, not your father. Asch, or myself."

Luke brushed a stray lock of hair out of his face. "Sorry..."

I sighed. "Have you told anyone else?"

Luke frowned. "Actually... I haven't told her, but I think Aerith might already know. I've been trying to get her to slip up and say something, but... well... You know I'm not really good at that sort of thing."

I sighed. "Let me see what Aerith knows. In the meantime... She looks a bit lonely over there. I might suggest asking her to dance."

Luke gave me a look. "Are you kidding?! I'll step all over her feet, and then who's gonna take over the Sixth Division while Asch and I are dealing with Lorelei?!"

I laughed and gave him a light shove. "You're better than you give yourself credit for. Go!"

Luke rolled his eyes and walked off.

"Did I... just watch you try to set Luke up with my baby sister?"

I couldn't help it, I broke down laughing, both at the question, and the totally befuddled tone in Reighn's voice. Once I was done laughing, I looked up at him and smirked. "Well, they have been spending a lot of time together recently. And let's be honest, here." I looked over at Aerith quite pointedly. Luke was just now getting over to her, and he was fidgeting. "She did look a bit lonely."

Reighn sighed. "Yeah..."

I looked up at him. "So, what are you doing over here?"

He shrugged. "Looking a bit lonely?"

I rolled my eyes and started looking around. "Hmm... Why don't you ask Tear to dance? The cloud queen and the lord of winter." Reighn shot me a look. "You don't have to ask her on a date! It's a dance. And in case you haven't noticed, we're at a ball."

He shook his head exasperatedly and turned to walk off. "Right... By the way, Sync was looking for you."

"I'm looking for green and white, yes?"

"Green, white, and blue. Ion's wearing green, white, and gold."

I groaned, having just found Ion. "Thanks for the warning."

It didn't take me much longer to find Sync and Selenia, who were... um... 'dancing' off to the side. Ah, young love. Kinda reminds me of me and Damon...

The mental image of the Spring Dance from my eighth grade year was quickly shoved out of my mind when Asch, dancing with Natalia, flashed through my peripheral vision. Ah, so his talk with the duke was over...

I made my way over to Sync and Selenia as the most recent song came to a close. The two teens stopped in their little shuffle thing as I stepped up to them. "Sorry to break up this cute little scene, but a winter lord told me one of the winter princes was looking for me."

Selenia giggled. "Not very hard."

Sync bit his lip. "I kept getting distracted." I smiled and pulled my little brother away from Selenia and out onto the dance floor proper. Sync groaned. "This isn't gonna end well, you know that right?"

I shrugged. "You're not that much shorter than me, and you can't be much worse than Damon. Just relax and trust me." Once again, I ended up leading. Sync was only slightly more graceful than Luke. "So... When are you two going on your first date?"

Sync stumbled, but didn't splutter the way I'd expected him to. "Um, actually..."

I groaned. "Oh boy."

"Help?"

I sighed. Yeah, had a feeling that was gonna happen. Well, he was doing one better than Jade, at least... Speaking of which... There was my older brother, dancing with Nephry and looking about ready to flee. Okay, enough getting distracted...

"Well... Selenia's from a heavily military family on both sides, and really, you don't have a lot of money anyway, so you definitely want to keep it simple... First date... Might want to do something like Asch and I did a few weeks back. Find a nice spot, pack a good lunch, go have a picnic." Sync gave me an odd expression, and I tilted my head. "What?"

"Asch? Picnic?"

I giggled a bit and twirled, half a step behind everyone else, but oh well. "Well... There was also some sparring involved, and a bit of splashing around in the water..." We started into the next dance, and I sighed. "Okay, a lot of splashing around in the water, but that wasn't exactly planned... And, to be honest, Selenia's as much of a fighter as the rest of us, so I don't think a little sparring would be a bad idea either. Maybe if you find someplace near St. Binah, take a few extra baskets and collect herbs?"

"Get out of the city, have a little fun, just the two of us, and work a little usefulness in as we go?" Sync summarized. I nodded.

"Basically. Go out and just have some time together... That's kinda the whole point behind dates."

Sync offered up a small smile. "Thanks, Kairi."

I sighed, though this time, I was amused. "Well, you can't exactly ask Cantabile. She's kinda terrorizing the guy she's after."

Sync snorted, and I pointed to Jade, who was not-so-subtly sneaking along the outer edges of the ballroom trying to find someone who wasn't Cantabile to dance with. The snort evolved into full laughter, and as the song came to an end, I let him go.

"I think I'm gonna see if I can't spare my older brother a little grief."

Sync nodded. "I'll try to deter Mom."

He went off one direction, and I made a beeline for Jade, who had come to a halt near a potted tree and was looking around almost frantically.

"You can't keep running from her forever, you know."

He shot me a glare. "This is your fault."

I paused, crossed my arms, and made a face. "How is it my fault?"

"You told her I wouldn't have a partner last time, and she's been after me all night this time."

I smirked. "You haven't noticed the color of your tie, have you?"

Jade suddenly froze and glanced down at it.

It was a dark gray-purple. Just about the same shade as Cantabile's hair.

"Oh, no..."

I giggled, then held out a hand. "I'll keep you safe for one more dance. Then you're on your own."

"Thank you..." Jade muttered, taking my hand and leading me out onto the dance floor. "Though, I must note that you're making your way through dance partners."

I shrugged. "Asch had a problem with his mask, so I was dancing with Reighn to pass the time, then I got a dance with Asch, then I found out from his father that Luke blabbed about me being from another world—"

"He knows?" Jade interrupted, surprised.

"Only that I'm from another world. Blame Zion for that. But anyway, I got to talk to my maybe-future-father-in-law about that, then went off and scolded Luke, then had to give Sync dating advice... By the way, if you need any—"

"No thank you."

I laughed. "If you insist. And since our conversation led to you and Cantabile... Well, I decided to come help you out while he tried to deter his mother... Which doesn't appear to be working all that well..." The dance ended, and I curtsied. "All yours, Cantabile."

Jade made a startled sound and moved to run off, only to have an arm snatched by the God-General in question.

Asch found me a few measures into the next song, and we easily fell into step with the people around us. "Well, I'm having a rather eventful night," I said. Asch chuckled.

"I noticed. Though I'm grateful to be the one person who's had the pleasure of dancing with you a second time so far."

I offered up a smile. "Sorry?"

He smiled. "Don't be. I got a bit distracted myself. Dark asked me to dance with Natalia while he went outside to talk to Sorylle's mother."

"That's right, most of the ligers are in the pine forests around Keterburg now..."

"Yeah. Sounds like Sorylle and Twilight are having fun running around with their families for a little while." Asch looked amused, even past the mask. "Natalia was a bit upset that he didn't take her with him until he reminded her of all the snow. He also admitted that he didn't stay with them as long as he'd have liked because of it."

I smiled. "Yeah. Dark may have spent a few years living just north of here, but that doesn't mean he likes the cold any more than I do."

Asch lifted my hand for a twirl as the song came to a close, and Luke walked over. "Asch? Mom wants to talk to you."

Asch sighed and looked at me, and I smiled.

"I'm going to go find a window to sit down by. Come find me when you two are done talking."

He smiled gratefully, and Luke gave me a grateful glance as well because I wasn't making him dance with me since he'd called my partner away.

I didn't make it to the window, though.

A hand caught my arm, surprisingly gently, given the calluses I could feel under the white gloves. I turned to look at the man who'd grabbed me, and had to frown. Dark, rust-auburn hair. And it was mostly long, too, though some of it spiked away from his head wildly. The semi-controlled ponytail hung over his left shoulder. His mask was primarily black, with gold and light but olive green details. His suit was the same, black with green lapels and cuffs, and gold buttons. Bright, lime green eyes bore into mine.

It was odd. He almost matched me.

"I've seen you a few times tonight, fair lady. This is the first time I've managed to find you without a partner," he said, voice deep and rough and strangely familiar.

"I have many friends who apparently can't keep a partner any longer than I can," I replied. He offered up a smile. It was insincere.

"A shame. May I have the next dance?"

"You may," I answered automatically. But I was wary now. This man was familiar... and not in a good way. I just couldn't remember...

As the dance neared its end, my until-then silent partner spoke.

"My employer is giving you one last chance before he starts taking drastic measures."

Oh boy. I knew that tone.

And I had a feeling I knew exactly whom I was dancing with all of a sudden.

"And sending your apprentice to kidnap me wasn't a drastic measure, Ryndor?"

The assassin grunted. "That was Zion's foolish attempt to keep you from meddling. He should have just acted early instead of waiting."

I snorted. "Tell me something I haven't already figured out." A twirl. "You know you'll never get me out of here, as crowded as it is, yes?"

Ryndor tilted his head to the side. "I don't need to. I'm under orders to have you come willingly."

I scowled. "My answer is the same as always. Burn in hell."

Ryndor smirked. "Very well. If you would have a fire, so be it."

The music ended, and he bowed and walked away. I finally made it over to a window, almost wanting the chill to cool me down.

As Asch joined me, I saw the flames.

Keterburg was burning.

Fun Fact: Poor Jade. There's a funny little blurb about Jade and Cantabile on a NaNoWriMo forum. Rather amusing, really. Doesn't help that my brain's trapped seventeen years in the future with little Aris. He's such a cutie... And the only member of his family that's not a total terror. Yet. He is only six, after all.