Did you see the Master?! He's so dreamy!"

"Saysa!" Another girl, probably a maid, hissed. "Watch your mouth!"

Yukari sat in silence as she listened to the maids fawn and prattle. She moved out to the pavilion in hopes of escaping the excessive gushing over Akihiko. Now she's hearing about the dragon of the hour again and her annoyance was increasing tenfold.

Yukari sighed as the other maid tried to silence her friend, swooning over the dragon's handsome looks. Many of the maids and even the harem girls fawned over Akihiko because of his looks. Something about his exotic snow white hair and his muscular build just did something for them. And Yukari had to admit that Akihiko was a pretty boy, but his personality was a quick turn off.

"But Hiraka, you have to admit that the Master is handsome. Especially when he's practicing his sword technique," Saysa squealed.

"Sword technique?" Akihiko doesn't use a sword. According to him, why use a weapon when his fists are deadly enough.

"Stop it, Saysa!"

"Oh, come on. Hiraka! You can't say that you don't find Master Minato the least bit handsome!"

"Minato?" They're talking about Minato? Suddenly her stomach feels like it has dropped twenty feet.

"How I feel about the young Master doesn't matter! What matters is how what you're saying can be perceived."

"What? Are you scared of Yukari?"

The brunette froze. Apparently the other maid did too since there wasn't an instant scolding after. Saysa took that as a sign to continue talking.

"It's okay, Hiraka. It's just a passing fancy. He'll find out how stuck up she is eventually!"

"Saysa!"

"What do you know? You might be able to catch his eye if you put yourself out there more."

The clatter of ceramic against glass startled the two girls. They looked towards the noise, horrified when they saw Yukari walking away from the nearby pavilion.

"Do you think she heard me?" There was an impact of skin against skin after.

She's most definitely going to get in trouble, but really, she'd say this duty was more important. Yes, fetching water was very important. Without water, they couldn't bathe. They wouldn't have anything to drink. They wouldn't be able to water the garden. Missing one or a lot of those dance practices wasn't going to take the water out of somebody's cup or endanger somebody's life.

A deep stream ran around the complex, inside the surrounding forest.

Yukari exhaled once the cover of the trees fell over her. The surrounding woods protected the complex from strangers. Yukari found the cover of the trees peaceful as she's always been more in tune with nature rather than high society. It was one of the reasons why she always went to go fetch the water. Another is that she was one of the only few people who weren't afraid to go into the woods.

She kept walking as she heard the rushing of water getting louder and louder. Just beyond the first two lining of trees, much like a moat to a castle, was the clear stream of water. Clean water is usually extracted from this stream as it was their primary source. It was necessary for someone to fetch water from it every day lest they run out.

She sat the buckets down by the lip of the stream, and sat down on the water's edge. The water was so clear that she could see fish leisurely flapping around in its depths. Maybe she could bring back a bass or two while she's at it. She eased the bucket down into the stream, trying to let the fish naturally flow in…

"What are you doing?"

"Ah!" She jumped, causing her bucket to jerk which in turn startled the fish. They swam away from the rippling interference.

"Urgh! Minato!" She solved the boy who popped up out of the blue. She begrudgingly pulled the bucket back up. "I was trying to catch a fish!"

Minato eyed the scowling girl as she carried on with her task. "I thought you were collecting water."

"The fish could've been an added bonus," she huffed as she picked up another bucket and prepared to fill it up with water as well. "What are you doing here anyway? Dragons aren't allowed to see members of the harem at this time."

"Only if they are at dance practice, which you are not," he responds.

"I already know the dance by heart." Her family had worked under the Kirijos, a family of ice dragons. Because of her family, she was under servitude by extension. She had been taught every dance, every custom, and every taboo of the dragons. They were pretty much burned into her brain.

"Even the courting dance?"

"That was the second one they taught me." She didn't even flinch at the attempt to get a rise out of her. "Why are you asking?"

"The Grand Finale."

The Grand Finale is the final party of a week-long celebration where everyone kisses Winter away and welcomes the coming of Spring. It's a day of a big party and an even bigger feast.

During the final party of that night, a member of the harem is picked to perform a dance in front of all who attends: all the members of the harem, all of the partygoers, and all of the dragons.

"I heard Mitsuru is nominating you."

"Is that why she's been acting so weird lately?" Yukari yelled, dropping the buckets and causing the water to spill back out into the stream. "Ugh!"

Minato stilled her hands before she reached for the buckets again. He placed the buckets upright before pointing his finger out towards the stream and slowly raising it upwards.

The water in the lake rippled then slowly started to rise in a muddled line. Minato then curled his finger inward and the water rose. The water filled up the first bucket that she had knocked over, and then the water filled the other bucket that she hadn't filled yet before he let go and the water returned to the stream.

"You could've done that earlier," Yukari huffed. She picked up two of the buckets and Minato picked up the other two, ignoring Yukari's protest. He started walking towards the complex.

"Seriously, Minato! I can carry these myself!" She yelled at him as she walked faster behind him.

"Can't a friend help a friend, Yukari?"

"A dragon shouldn't be helping a human girl," Yukari soured. She hated downgrading herself to that. Because that's what it is: a downgrade. No matter what anyone else says. "Members of the harem are supposed to serve the dragons."

Minato didn't stop in his stride. "I thought you didn't care for tradition."

"I don't!"

"Then I can carry half the load," he said matter-of-factly.

"Why do boys always have to take their shirts off when they're sparring?" Mitsuru asked.

Akihiko had pulled Minato into a sparring match earlier. They were already fighting when Yukari and Mitsuru joined on the sidelines. Neither had been shirtless before they arrived, but that changed after Akihiko saw Mitsuru watching them. He stopped the fight after Minato dodged his attack. He walked to the side for a glass of water and the next thing they knew the shirt was being pulled over his head.

Minato merely raised an eyebrow until he looked to the side and saw the two of them. He said something to Akihiko that resulted in a punch to his shoulder. The white-haired dragon looked a little red, too.

What neither of them noticed was the little nudge Akihiko gave Minato and his little gesture towards Yukari. The blunette shook his head then returned to his side of the field ignoring the weird look Akihiko was looking at him with.

"Have you picked a dance for the celebration yet?"

"No, because I just found out that I was volunteered to be the dancer."

Mitsuru just smiled as she had no rebuttal. Yukari huffed, knowing she wasn't going to get any kind of apology out of the red-head. "I wonder if it's too late to withdraw."

"It is."

"Great."

They were brought back to the fight at the sound of a loud cry. Minato was charging his water magic into his blade and forced it back out towards Akihiko. The tidal wave sent Akihiko on his back, declaring Minato the victor.

Akihiko sat back up coughing. "What the hell, Minato!?"

The water dragon shrugged and reached a hand out to help him up. "You never said we couldn't use our powers."

"Yeah, right," he grunted as the water dragon helped pull him up. "You're only trying to show off for Yu-"

"Says the one who stripped."

The two of them started bickering, though it was ironically welcoming to see. The Minato she knew at first would rather have just walked off or quietly resumed the fight. It was great to see him warming up to others. As Yukari watched them with a fond smile, she didn't notice Mitsuru watching her with a rather knowing smile.

"You could do that dance."

Yukari's face exploded into red. She knew the dance that she was pertaining to. She wouldn't be the first person to perform the dance at this ceremony. There's a history of women who were picked to perform and chose to do the "courting dance". That history is also full of more rejections than magical happy endings. The girl or boy would put their hearts and feelings out for the dragon they love to accept. More often than not, they were refused. It left many heartbroken, shattered and horribly embarrassed in front of many. Being rejected is one of the biggest embarrassments you can face.

Would Minato reject her like the dragons of the past did?

Mitsuru said nothing to her silence. She nodded and turned away, a slight smile on her face. "I trust you'll come up with the best decision for yourself."

Myriads of clothes were hanging in many of the stalls in the marketplace, each cloth dyed with a different color and a different pattern.

And she liked none of them!

"Well what about this one, Yukari-chan?" Fuuka pulled out a fuschia pink fabric streaked with white lines.

"Not that one." She continued looking through the selection, ignoring Fuuka's shocked expression. It's true she liked the color pink but she felt that the color wasn't right for this occasion. She needed something more, something different.

"Yukari-san, what exactly are you looking for?" That was the million dollar question.

"I don't know," she admitted, pausing in her perusal of the perfect fabric. "I just know that I want it to be special."

Fuuka watched her friend riffle through more fabric before speaking up. "Well maybe it'll be easier to pick something out if I knew what dance you're choosing."

"Uh, I decided to do the courting dance."

"The courting dance…" Fuuka's eyes widened and her cheeks turned rosy when she realized what dance Yukari was talking about. "Oh."

Yukari huffed a laugh. "You're so eloquent, Fuuka."

"Oh! Sorry!" the timid girl squeaked. Her meek nature when they first met rearing its head again. "Are you p-proposing to Minato?"

"A proposal!?"

"W-well isn't the dance kind of like a proposal?"

The century old dance was a tie between the dragon and their beaus. Many who performed it did indeed have intentions to be wed to their intended dragon. The longer she thinks about it, she doesn't really mind being engaged to Minato. A smile came to her face when she came to this realization.

"I guess I am proposing."

"Uh, Yukari-chan," Fuuka called for her attention. She was holding another roll of fabric in her arms. "What about this one?"

Yukari's smile when she saw it. "It's perfect."

The annual party was in full swing. People were rosy-cheeked on drink and good food and music. Many found enjoyment in the harem girls' service too, but they were extra careful to not mistreat them in anyway in fear of invoking the dragons' wrath.

Even Mitsuru was having fun, though that may be because Akihiko had found his way to her side hours ago and hasn't since left.

Minato didn't feel up for the festivities. Instead of going down and enjoying the party, he stationed himself above the party, resting upon cush, soft cushions: his place among the Dragon Elite.

"Yo, bud! Whatcha' doing up here?" Junpei crashed into him. The water dragon wrinkled his nose at the strong odor of alcohol on the fire dragon's breath. He quickly pushed him away.

"Personal space," Minato hissed, successfully pushing the taller dragon away from his person and onto his own set of cushions, which were stationed beside his own.

"Arg! You're still on that!" The offended dragon settled back on his cushions.

"Trust you to be anti-social even on Yuka-tan's birthday," Junpei huffed before he seemed to perk up at a realization. "Where is Yuka-tan anyway? You've seen her?"

"No." The curt answer threw Junpei for a loop, especially the answer. At the mention of the brunette, Minato usually grew a little softer around the edges.

"Really? Did something happen? You and her are usually joined by the hip. There's no way she didn't come to see you before she disappeared." Then Junpei leaped up from his prior relaxed position. "Wait. Did you two get into a fight or something?"

"No, but she's been distant lately," Minato sighed, slightly deflating from how rigid he was at first. "Agitated too. More so than usual."

"An even angrier Yukari sounds like a nightmare," Junpei said. "Did you say something to her?"

"No. I haven't even seen her since I sparred with Akihiko, and that was a week and a half ago." Before that he'd seen her when she was fetching water for the complex, and now that he thinks about it she did seem more irritable that day. Did something happen prior to them meeting that upset her? She could be upset because he didn't say anything about it, but that isn't like her.

"That long? Dang. Must've been something serious." He braced himself to stand back up. "I can go try to find her for ya and talk to her."

"If you're looking for Yukari, Mitsuru, Fuuka and her are getting dressed. The performance is starting soon." Akihiko joined him and sat on his own set of cushions, bright yellow to represent his station as the electric dragon.

"All three of them? What? Did she buy a ball gown or something?"

"No idea, but I heard she bought the fabric for the dress so they had to rush to make it."

It didn't shock him that she got a new dress. Yukari has always been a fashionista. If she couldn't find a dress she liked, she didn't mind buying a new one. But to make one from scratch on such short notice, it surprised him.

Suddenly all the music came to an end on the floor. In the hush and the quiet, the flute players stepped forward and began to play. The tune carried around the room beautifully, calming the crowd as the grand doors opened.

Mitsuru and Fuuka entered first, both dressed in ceremonial garb. Although Mitsuru's was an electrifying yellow. (He could see Akihiko preening two chairs down). The woman of the hour followed behind them.

Yukari walked through the grand doors… and Minato's jaw dropped to the ground.

Her dress was the embodiment of water. His element.

The dress flowed off of her like tides would to a sandy shore. The fabric was sheer but only gave the illusion of being translucent. She truly looked like a water nymph, leaving the water for the first time to grace this complex with her beauty and her dance.

Yukari made it to the middle of the circle and slowly, gracefully kneeled to her knees. Mitsuru and Fuuka left her side, joining Minato, Akihiko, and Junpei at the cushion and going to their own.

When the girls reached their seats and sat down, the flutes began again and Yukari raised to the dancing melody of the flutes, and started to dance.

Her long sleeves fanned out around her like swirling ribbons and her dress swished with the twist of her hips, revealing the long expanse of her supple leg. His mouth went dry at the sight of the combination.

It suddenly became loud and clear what dance she was performing.

Minato clenched the plush cushion in his fist, his claws ripping into the fabric. It was the best way to keep his dragon instincts in check.

"Is she," he heard Akihiko ask.

"Wow, Yuka-tan is killing it." His friend leaned closer towards him, his mouth twisted in a mischievous smirk. "In your colors, too. Looks like a proposal to me."

On her final twirl, her eyes locked with his and his dragon blood sung.

Yukari fell to her knees in to a deep kneel as the music came to an end. The complex fell into dead silence. It was a tense moment of quiet until someone in the audience clapped, followed by someone else, then someone else until the whole, grand room was awashed in applause.

A hush fell over the room when Minato stood up. The water dragon slowly walked down the steps. The crowd watched his descent with bated breath. The elders waited for the sweet sensation of schadenfreude while the younger generation wondered what the dragon was going. Their friends on the other hand were either smirking or smiling.

Yukari didn't raise her head, not even when his shadow fell over her when he stood before her. She only raised her head when Minato's hand gently met her cheek and urged her to raise her head.

"Stand up, Yukari."

The brunette followed his command, barely aware of her own actions while still having her heart lodged in her throat because he. still. hasn't. answered. her.

Standing before her wasn't her friend, Minato. This was Minato, the water dragon of the Elites.

His hand trailed from her cheek to the span of her arm to hold her hand. Then she almost tripped when he pulled her along with him away from the party and the prying eyes, his grip unyielding. The onlookers were left flabbergasted as they watched the two flee the scene like a couple of star crossed lovers.

They were too shocked to see the rest of the elite dragons silently cheering and high-fiving at their seats.

The door shut sharply behind them and the next thing Yukari knew her back was slammed against the wall, but she barely felt the impact, not with the way Minato was looking at her now. His pupils were narrow slits and his irises glowed a bright, cerulean blue, his draconian features coming to the surface.

"So do you accept my proposal?"

The dragon had enough of his mind still with him to blanch at her cheeky question.

"Ask me that again," he whispers, leaning in close enough that their lips are one tantalizing centimeter away.

"Do you accept my propos- hmph."

It was safe to say that the complex's staff and their friends didn't see them for a few days after that.