[Kyoto] Dancing Leaves

[Kim]

ON> Kyoto War College Early evening

Fall had truly come to Yamatai, the temperature had cooled down and the colors of the season were abundant. Students at the Academy had started wearing jackets as they transitioned between buildings on campus to get to class on time. There were decorative banners everywhere advertising that the theme for this year's fall formal was really a benefit for those affected by the NMX war. Everyone at the Academy was effected by the battles earlier that year and it killed many of them that they were not able to be a part of the defensive force that protected Yamatai, so in their way, they all pitched in to contribute to the various relief funds.

The Academy had built a massive greenhouse and started growing various fruits and vegetables to help sustain itself and alleviate some of the pressure from the Yamatain farmers until food production went back up. Ketsurui Sora was one of the many student officers that was heavily involved with tending the Victory Greenhouse, she had no real experience with gardening but she was good at researching.

Tonight was the night of the formal and the Ketsurui princess was preoccupied with the Victory greenhouse project. She was inside the greenhouse fussing over a bean plant that wasn't growing as well as the others in the row instead of being in her dorm room getting ready for the dance.

Her lips were pursed together in frustration as she ran some wireless scans of the plant's roots and stem. Her hands and the front of her green dress were covered with dirt from her administrations. The princess's thick crimson hair had finally grown back to mid-backlength, which was uncharacteristically bound back in a high ponytail to keep it out of the way while she was in the greenhouse. "This is no good, what are we doing wrong with this one?" She wondered as her datapad processed the plant's vital information to determine the cause of its difficulties thriving.

 

[5tar]

Never too far away from Sora, especially after the invasion of Yamatai--- was her ever watchful protector. Her samurai was returning into the greenhouse from his practices outside, his hand lazily in his robes and the other resting on the hilts of his swords at his belt. He smiled at her question, finding her funny in the way the analyzed the plant as if it was a math problem. "It'll never grow if you treat it like a being without a soul," said Sumaru with a light chuckle on his voice as he moved over to join Sora where she stood tending the weak looking plant. He smiled at her and then glanced down at the problematic one and appraised it with a softness he had scarcely been able to show lately with all the action.

Soft hands that healed any callus away brushed the small leaves tenderly, as Sumaru leaned in close and spoke gently to the plant. "Come little one, you're going to grow big and strong, I know you can," he said encouragingly and using a tone one would use with a child, petting the plant once more.

He stood back up, "everything that lives has a force of life, and that force of life resonates within every soulful being, it's also what makes us so different. This plant here," he turns to look at a similar plant in another pot, "this one is stubborn, but proud, it needs very little but the things the world gives it. Like many other people. But our little friend here is shy, and unsure of himself, so we need to use our energies in our voices and our being to encourage him--- so be can grow to be very big." He turned to look up at the very messy looking Sora and smiled boyishly at her face, "try singing to him, I'm very sure that your singing will revitalize him." He then gestured with a small little nudge for her to do just that.

 

[Kim]

Sora looked at Sumaru incredulously for his suggestion to sing to the plant, her head tilted slightly to the right before she laughed softly. "Do you really think that singing to the little sprout will help it grow?" She blushed lightly as she considered the various scientific research others had done on the growth rate of bean sprouts and music before she shrugged.

A stray strand of hair fell across her cheek and she idly pushed it back behind her ear, effectively smudging dirt across her cheek and hair. Of the things that the young officer had encountered in her military career, being covered with dirt was a sight better than with a close friend's blood. She looked at the little plant and then considered its roots reaching down into the soil for strength and then its tender stem and few leaves reaching upwards for the warmth of the artificial sun. And thus we all struggle, to be strong and seek out the light of an unknown but beautiful star, she thought gently as she lowered herself down to be eye level with the little plant.

The look on her face was both thoughtful and serious as she very softly sang to the bean plant an old children's song about wanting to grow up beautiful and strong. Her voice was a smooth lyrical mezzo-soprano but the song was far too short for the young Ketsurui to really stretch her vocal range. Once she finished she smiled softly at the bean plant, "Grow up strong, Little One."

 

[5tar]

Sora's delicate full bodied singing voice was a pleasant surprise to the samurai. Never before had he really heard his lover sing and for that moment, as she sang songs that reflected his childhood he was lost in a thought of seeing Sora as a mother in the way she seemed so nurturing to the plant just there in-front of her. He could see a glow about her he had never noticed before, for just those few measures of time Sumaru forgot himself and a light blush colored his cheeks. 'Sora... and me? A child ---' he shook his head as he came back around to the reality in-front of them. Their relationship was still secret by most means, and such a future together was long lost in his mind. But he could feel somewhere deep inside, a longing to create a real life with Sora...

Sumaru smiled kindly to his princess and with a textile finger he reached out and wiped the dirt away from her cheek, his hand lingering to cradle her cheek a moment as he stared into her eyes. "We... we should get going," he said to remind her, "you did want to attend the formal did you not?" The samurai was still unsure of what was going to become of him with this very public appearance, the two never really did talk over the details. In Sumaru's mind it would be a night of watching some other noble suitor entertain his lover, while he stood watch. The thought had been atonigizing him for days, and as he looked away it showed on his features. "So, who---" his voice drifted, "who have they arranged to attend with you?" he asked, as he glanced downwards, adjusting his clothes to keep his hands busy.

 

[Kim]

Sora leaned her cheek into Sumaru's hand, simply enjoying the feeling of the warmth of his skin against hers. She seemed to consider the notion of not going to the formal for a moment before she remembered that she was asked to help represent the clan at the event, "You're right, we should get ready... They have me presenting the fundraiser funding certificate to the 'Yamatai Remembrance' committee representative with Chui Shep Draven," she replied softly, meeting her lover's worried gaze.

"It's not a date, and as far as I know, he's not escorting me to the dance," she said reassuringly. "He seems like a decent enough officer, I don't have many classes with him, so I never really see him outside of my operations class. I haven't heard too much about him." The young Ketsurui was an object of curiosity but no one really dared to approach her more directly than the love letters since the last incident that someone tried to steal a kiss from Sora last year. It had ended badly and spinning around the princess after a sparring match after the fight was over, was bad form to begin with, the samurai had no idea what the boy was trying to do...

 

[5tar]

Sumaru had been more guarded around the Princess ever since the last time he had to deal with Sora's admirers, after she had knocked out her grabby sparring partner at her last club meeting Sumaru had grown more protective, enplaceing himself between her and most of her unapproved advancers, however not to extreme cases - he understood the need to let Sora breathe, be free and be herself, his job was just to watch out for the other types --- to keep his eyes on her, and protect her from those who would do harm to her. 'Not that isn't isn't good at protecting herself in most cases,' Sumaru mused to himself, remembering the sound of her fist colliding with that one club member's face.

The name of Chui Shep Draven rapidly moved through Sumaru's cybernetic brain as he que'd PANTHEION for any information available to him, being a samurai he had to go through the normal duties of security checks, however as a boyfriend he also had the mind to make sure he knew who was going to be around his love. "So if you're going on official business, I guess I should remain in my robes?" Sumaru asked, actually disappointed he didn't get to use that suit she had set aside for him the first night they were 'together,' though it did look magnificent on her floor with the rest of her garments--- he had hoped to use it in a more practical fashion.

 

[Kim]

"You don't need to wear your robes for this, why don't you come dressed in your suit? I'm not wearing my kimono for this, and I am torn between the uniform or a gown but I guess, a gown would be a better fit?" Sora commented with a smile as she stood back up and wiped her hands together to get some of the dirt from them. "I didn't realize that I had gotten so messy, we'd better head up to shower and change. We still have some time, and I can check on these plants again tomorrow morning before class."

Chui Shep Draven was a Nepleslian by birth but had come to Yamatai in YE 28 when he enlisted as a standard infantryman and advanced fairly quickly through the ranks until he was advanced into an officer ranks. He was brought to the War College after his last tour to become a proper officer and pilot at about the same time that Ketsurui Sora returned to the Academy. His military record held no disciplinary problems or incidents and nothing but good marks in his courses. He was a member of mostly piloting and mechanical clubs at the Academy.

 

[5tar]

When she mentioned his suit his worry melted into a warmer smile, "by your orders my lady," he said with a playful tone mocking a bow of acknowledgement, as if she had twisted his sub-atomically rubber arm to make him do so. But something else she said had changed his mood quite dramatically, a impish little smile played out on his lips as she mentioned having enough time to go 'get ready' as it were. "Yes, we should go get a shower," he said happily as he stepped closer up against Sora, one of his hands slid down to rest on her waist, and with his skin vision making sure they wern't seen, he leaned his lips against her ear and whispered something very naughty, and not quite suitable to be posting here. His hot breath against her skin was a much more intimate effect that anything he could accomplish with digital telepathy. With that he glanced towards the door and gestured with a nod of his head for her to lead the way.

All the thoughts about Draven had been set aside for the time being, Sumaru would cross that bridge when it came ahead in his path. for now he had to enjoy the little intimacies that came with traveling the road with a beautiful partner. There was very little time lately for them to to have alone time, so it was pretty much both of their goal to use every second they had as a couple. Shower time was one of those very moments~

 

[Kim]

Sora blushed as Sumaru's suggestion, which made a shiver go down her spine in anticipation. She nodded and left the greenhouse quickly, walking back to her dormroom without too much incident or interruption as sunset approached.

When they opened the door to her dormroom the scent of stargazer lilies and roses filled the air from the large mixed bouquet that had been delivered when they were out. "That's different, I have no idea who those are from but, we'll find out later?" She stared at the flowers disbelievingly and sighed as she turned to face Sumaru. She hoped that were from family but she did not really want to know right now, they had an engagement to get to among other things. She smiled softly as she tugged the ponytail holder out of her hair and let her hair cascade back down her back. "Ready?" She asked softly with a smile.

 

[5tar]

Sumaru followed quickly, there was excitement in his step as he followed his princess back through the halls, every time there wasn't any observers he'd rush up and pinch her behind and take the lead towards their dormitory. The samurai was always pleased to be able to get whatever intimate moment he could with his lover. He had such a bright boyish smile on his face as he played with her, all up until he spotted the flowers waiting on the table. His excitement faded for a lapsed moment as he eyed the grand gesture sitting in the middle of their sanctuary. He felt twists and turns in the depth of his NH27 form, he already knew where those flowers came from, he knew Sora did too. But no matter what, he was not going to allow their moment to be stolen out from under him.

His jealousy was set aside when he looked back to see Sora, who was at this point beginning the process of undressing, just seeing her luscious red hair freely hanging over her shoulders and that smile on her face drew in all of the samurai's focus. He nodded, and once more walked up against her, a curled finger pushed up on the bottom of her chin and aligned her lips to his, and he very happily came down and kissed his lovers lips, not letting her escape his embrace as he passionately began to ravage his Ketsururi princess, clothing being tossed everywhere on their way to the shower --- for right now, she was his to unwrap and enjoy.

 

[Kim]

Sora enthusiastically returned Sumaru's energy and passion as things progressed quickly into the shower. She wasn't lying when she said that they had time to get ready, the formal wasn't set to begin for a couple of hours but there truly was never enough time in the day. It felt at times to the young Ketsurui that there was a sense of timelessness when she was in her lover's embrace. Those moments filled her with a sense a calm and peace that made her forget her doubts and insecurities. She felt truly alive.

Her sense of time came back to her when the alarm on her multi-function bracelet gave her a warning that they only had a half hour left to get ready. The annoyance of the alarm cracked the serenity of the moment for her as she regretfully pulled away from Sumaru again. "Almost time to go," she whispered as she softly kissed Sumaru again before she slipped out of bed and migrated towards her large closet to get dressed.

Luckily, Sora had already decided that she was going to wear a formal gown instead of her uniform, she reasoned that she was not being asked as a Shoi to be involved but as a Ketsurui. A kimono would have also been appropriate but, this was not a traditional Yamataian ceremony nor festival, so the most appropriate thing was a gown. Her Grandmother knew the most skilled seamstresses and had always encouraged her daughters to dress well. Irim had encouraged them to use their bodies as a weapon and to their advantage in any circumstance but she knew that in this dress, that was not what the neko meant.

The young Ketsurui looked at herself critically in the closet's full length mirror, examining the way her dress hugged her curves. It was flattering and simplistic, it was a deep green strapless chiffon and charmeuse dress that gathered at her bust and fell gracefully to the floor in soft layers. The front slit in the dress broke up the line and revealed a well toned bit of leg up to the princess's thigh. "Sumaru, is this too much?" She asked, looking at her lover for a response as she re-secured the delicate chain around her neck that held the ring that Sumaru gave her.

 

[5tar]

Even though he should have been getting ready too, a smiling Sumaru lingered a moment longer in the afterglow of Sora's warmth she left on the bed and the softness of her kiss on his lips, he stayed there in silent awe; following his lovers sultry form as she went about getting ready. He was drinking in her body, commiting to memory each little movement she made as she dressed. Sometimes he still couldn't believe that they were still together after all these years, because everything still felt so new --- so fresh, his love for her was boundless, he worshiped every bit of her.

'Is this too much?' When she asked that, turning around to face him in that sensuous little number, he was already speachless, her beautiful image before him simply took whatever breath he lad left.

It took him a second, as he felt his breath come back aroused in his chest. But he shook his head slightly, rising from the bed to walk over to where she stood. "No, not too much..." he said unfinished, lips stopping to kiss her elegant neck. "But maybe with something like this, I better wear my armor instead of a suit," he whispered in playful jest, suggesting that he may have to fight lots of them off of her tonight. He kissed her cheek softly and then went to get ready himself.

It didn't take him nearly as long to slip into the designer suit Sora had gotten him for these occasions, his deft hands did up the outfit quickly, he even dug around to find a matching piece of green cloth that he folded into his jacket pocket, but despite all this --- Sumaru stood with his black tie undone around his neck. He panicked inwardly, as his memory forsaken him. He could not remember for the life of him which knot carried which meanings, most of that information was filed in the back of his mind, which was now filled the the world of a yojimbo. He tried one knot, shook his head and undid it, then tried another but to no avail. He couldn't decide, and almost like a lost puppy he turned to face his lover, a desperate expression on his face.

 

[Kim]

Sora laughed lightly as she helped tie Sumaru's tie, "At least I can help you with this, it means that all those lessons at home on how to tie these did not go to waste." She had learned how to tie a great number of knots, some of which had no real purpose in her mind and she shuttered to think what some of them would be used for.

Her multifunction bracelet continued to chirp, now from her wrist, letting her know that they would still be able to make it to the auditorium on time. "The formal committee chairman was saying that they were very proud of how much KS they were able to raise for the relief efforts... I had a hard time talking them out of trying to do a date auction. I suspect they will try to argue for one again before I leave the Academy," the young Ketsurui commented with a soft reassuring smile, she had no intention of letting anyone talk her into going on a date with someone else knowing just how upset it would make her lover.

"We should get going," Sora gently kissed Sumaru on the lips after she finished with the half Windsor knot. "I don't want them to try to guilt me into things if we are late," she teased softly.

 

[5tar]

Sumaru look relieved when her hands came to his rescue. The samurai adjusted the knot comfortably, smoothed out his suit and then tied his swords to his side securely. One last glance over everything and he looked like he was ready too. "If they try I might just guilt them into---" he stopped and just laughed it off, "yeah forget it, let's get going." The samurai then mentally commanded the door to open, and waited his Princess to lead the way. Unsure on the inside and downright cold and fierce on the outside, Sumaru began to mentally prepare himself for the night ahead of them.

"So those flowers..." Sumaru's voice trailed off, he didn't actually get to check the name himself. But he was pretty sure he knew where they came from, he just wanted to confirm it. The samurai knew things like this would happen, their relationship was under the strains of secrecy. However it didn't mean by any stretch that he had to like it.

 

[Kim]

"What flowers?" Sora replied with a smile as she led the way out of the dorm room. She was actually looking forward to leaving the dorm room behind for a room on a starship again. She honestly missed feeling like a part of the military and the stress of it all. Here everything was too clean, too simple and it was easy to feel complacent and miss the bigger picture. It's easy to assume that all is right with the world when other people are fighting for you... it was a much different feeling to be on a mission. She felt that her training her was important but she didn't think it was more important than what she was doing on the Miharu, or the Sakura.

She knew that this formal dance, and the fundraiser were important in this little sheltered world now that the main fighting was won and their dead buried. She wondered if there had been a better option for Yui to chose that would have minimized the civilian casualties but she was not her grandmother and she had to trust her judgement, she was one of the elder Ketsurui and ultimately, her boss.

The Ketsurui princess felt like a little bird, fluttering about in an aviary for people to admire but not doing anything more than looking pretty and singing sweetly, every so often. She smiled softly, despite her feelings of inadequacy.

The walk from the dorms to the auditorium all decked out with banners and floating lights was short. Inside the hall, a live band was playing and the students of the War College were mingling both inside and outside the auditorium in a mixture of regular formal wear their dress uniforms. The new Type 35 duty uniforms had been introduced at the Academy and those wearing them looked extra sharp in the unbroken in uniforms.

"Well, here goes nothing, right, Sumaru-kun?" Sora asked as she turned to face her partner and guardian, smiling nervously.

 

[Kim]

ON>

Sumaru standing beside Sora gave her a affirming nod. "Yeah, here goes," he agreed inwardly thinking; 'nothing--- I hope.' The guardian samurai stepped as he normally did in these situations, just a step behind his princess. How it ached for him to not be able to be there, with her arm in his, for him to be able to be her date for the evening. But alas, the male Neko stood aware and cool with his arms relaxed at his side, frosty blue gaze shifting about the grand auditorium for the normal things - attack points, suspicious people in the crowd, and just his pretty much standard checklist for social situations like this. Though he was quite sure that the only thing he had to worry about was going to be the man who had the pleasure of being his girlfriend's date for the evening.

The pleasures of the room were lost on the samurai for the time being, instead his mind was focused on one thing and though it was not obvious to any on looker as he had the calm facade he had always worn upon him, it would be more noticeable to the woman whom he had been so close to that he was already tense inside. As the chatter got louder, the quieter he had become. Instead letting his bodyguard role become his guise to hide his uneasiness.

Sora's own heart was filled with unease but she still offered Sumaru a small gesture of assurance by lightly touching his shoulder with her hand, her touch as light as a butterfly on a flower petal. She smiled brightly as people started coming up to her and greeting her.


One of the dance committee members, a Geshrin woman named Caitlin Jie with short black hair and bright blue eyes approached them with a smile. Her Duty Uniform was grey paneled and unblemished as the others, gold Shoi Kohesei stripes were on her sleeves. "Ketsurui-hime! Your timing is perfect, Draven-san just got here too!" She grasped Sora's hand politely with a light tug, to indicate that the princess should come with her. "Come this way!"
The crimson haired Ketsurui blushed lightly at the mention of Draven, having hoped that they would have some more time at the dance before having to deal with that issue, but she continued to smile brightly. "Jie-san, is everything all set then? What else do you need me to do?"

"Everything is going according to plan, Ketsurui-hime! We just need you to mingle the crowd with Draven-san and present the speech we prepared for you. There are notes that we sent to your bracelet or we can give you good old fashioned notecards, if you prefer," Caitlin replied rather cheerfully as she guided them through the crowd which was parting to let them pass.


When Sora's hand touched his shoulder, he could feel her touch warm his whole being, lessening his tension, but not by far getting rid of it. Especially with this this 'Draven' encounter being so much sooner than he had hoped. But despite everything, Sumaru knew he had to be there for his Sora too. Feeling a little selfish with his anxieties he slowly began to move aside his feelings of such fierce jealousy and just let his confidence in his and Sora's relationship fill him up with reassurance. 'Don't worry, I'll be here the whole time - you'll do great, you always do,' his words came in telepathic form, unable to express anything else at the time. He quietly followed as the crowd parted, his eyes on Sora but his vision extending always through his skin to let him to watch everything else.

Caitlin and Sora's path ended beside the main stage where a tall Nepleslian man with short blonde hair, frosty blue eyes and a large grin on his face stood, wearing a nicely pressed Type 35 duty uniform with blue pilot's panels and a Chui's gold stripes on his sleeves.

"Evening, Princess! Sorry, I meant to come by to pick you up from your dorm but it seems you beat me here," the Nepleslian said with a heavy Southern accent, he probably came from somewhere on the Chusset continent of Nepleslia Prime. "And evening to you as well, Sumaru," His tone was friendly but polite as he addressed the samurai.

Sora returned the smile rather shyly, "Evening Draven-san, my apologies, I did not realize you were planning to pick me up.... I merely wished to arrive earlier to help with any final preparations."

"Princess, please, call me Shep, we know each other better than that," Shep replied with a grin that didn't seem to fade. "It'll be a long night if ya keep on plannin' on being so formal."

Sora blushed again but nodded, "Then Shep it is. Jie-san, when are we supposed to give this speech and present the certificate?"

Caitlin seemed rather amused, "Such a lovely couple... but in about a hour, Ketsurui-hime. We'll let you know but I'll leave you to go mingle! Thank you so much for agreeing to help out!" The Cadet bowed deeply to Sora and scampered off into the crowd, locating someone else she was supposed to greet.


When the Nepleslian man greeted Sumaru by his given name, a very small irk of uncomfortably might have hinted on the corner of his face, but it was quickly overcame by the same hardened samurai expression which was so common amongst the male neko's station. He wasn't as diplomatic as Sora, but he understood his need to remain as neutral as he could, as he was her yojimbo now. "Konbanwa Draven-Chui," replied the stoic samurai in greeting with a bow of his head, choosing to use the man's rank as a form of remaining businesslike in his conversation. Caitlin's comment didn't help either, but Sumaru had learned to let things like that pass him by, they had after all--- been here a while.

"Let's get to it then, eh? They want us to go 'mingle' so I guess at some point we should go dance. I hear you are a pretty good at moving your body, so I'd love to see you at work," Shep said cheerfully as he offered Sora his arm.

Sora looked startled at the way Shep had worded his statement and was unsure what he actually meant but simply smiled with a light blush on her cheeks. "I think it means they want us to go talk to the other guests, Shep. Hasegawa-san is a great dancer as well, his combat training makes him especially graceful," she added with a touch of pride as she accepted the Nepleslian's arm.

Shep looked at Sumaru curiously but nodded. "I can imagine that might be an un-intended benefit to combat training. I still can't get past the whole Yamataian-Neko strength versus body mass thing even with all of my time here. I still see scrawny looking things lifting 250 kg without breaking a sweat and am amazed."

"The key in these situations is to not underestimate things simply by appearances," the Samurai commented plainly. Then that's where his half of the conversation ended, as Sumaru followed them to the edge of the dance floor, but remained there as if the floor itself was a barrier keeping him from entering.

Instead he watched from afar, finding himself beside a strangely familiar character. There was a very feminine looking Yamataian at the edge, his hair done up and his threads very out-there and fashion forward, this boy was a Shoi staring longingly at Caitlin, as he looked like he was going to take a step, but something was holding him back. "Don't hold back," Sumaru's manly tone surprised the well-dressed cadet.

"W-what S-samurai-san? Did you, did you talk to me?" he asked glancing back up at Sumaru's statuesque figure, seemingly astounded that a Ketsurui guardian would bother to give him any notice.

"I did," Sumaru said, his eyes still trained on Sora as another man held her in his arms, the feeling inside cringing his NH-27 structure. "If you hold back, you'll find that you will never get anywhere in life. If you put your everything into something, you will get a result. If it's not a result you were hoping for. Then you'll know that it was not your fate, but don't give up until you've done everything you possibly can--- if you give up, then you don't deserve her in the first place," the samurai said with great wisdom, feeling a kinship for this young Shoi.

"What do you mean?!" the Yamataian said, getting quickly offended. "Are you saying I'm not good enough!?" the fire was building inside this boy, it only caused Sumaru cracked a smirk.

"I'm not the one you have to prove it to," Sumaru said glancing off towards the girl in the Shoi's eyes. "If you truly want something, go for it with all your being." With that Sumaru moved off elsewhere to move about the room and get a feel for the evening, but never once did he not know where Sora was.

The girly Shoi? He was fired up enough that he was going to get Caitlin to notice him, he was going to do it for sure! ...After a drink or two.

Caitlin was busy talking up the crowd and complimenting couples on their outfits. She was being a good hostess and social butterfly, trying to make everyone feel welcome at the dance. A wireless device embedded in an earring kept her informed of her schedule for the evening. She noticed the young Shoi talking to Sumaru and smiled for a moment before she went about her business of entertaining the crowd.

~*~*~*~*

Sora cast a glance at Sumaru as she led around the dance floor; the Nepleslian was a fairly good dancer and an incredibly strong lead. It was a moderate paced song and she was easily able to keep up with her partner. She was grateful for the faster pacing and the lack of time that it provided for any sort of conversation.

Shep was playing the perfect gentleman, he was not making any untoward moves towards Sora but he watched her move with a sense of awe and wonderment. It was not often that he got to watch a nekovalkyrja dance outside of combat or power armor. He just never spent the time at dance clubs. He led the Ketsurui through a moderate paced swing dance type of movement and decided to mix it up a bit by spinning Sora into a move called a hammerlock whip.

Sora spun around and ended the move pulled extremely close to Shep's chest as the song ended. She stared up into his blue eyes and felt like Sumaru should be the one staring back at her. She blushed softly. "Perhaps we should go mingle with the crowd?" She suggested softly, unsure of herself with this man so close but she took a step backwards to a more comfortable distance.

Sumaru edged closer to the edge of the dance floor once more, this time standing on the other side. He saw the unsure expression on Sora's face but didn't want to jump ahead of himself, to be too smothering when she looked like she was at least in her own bit of fun. He held back a moment longer but felt his resolve begin to weaken.

Meanwhile the Shoi from before finished his second fruity mixed drink, and not fighting the liquid courage he made his way with steady steps across the room towards the busy butterfly which caught his eye. "Go for it with all your being," he whispered to himself a couple times before he caught up to the Geshrin. "H-hey Caitlin-san. Do you, I mean--- if you're open, can you--- do you mind?" he paused trying to pull himself together. "I mean, you might not remember me. But that time when you needed someone to fix your communicator, and you were going to take it in--- that was me. My name is Yamata Shin, I- I would like to ask you to dance, if you think you'd like to!" he said the last bit a little rushed and a little fast, awkwardly bowing heavily at the waist.

Caitlin stared at Yamata strangely, completely caught off guard by him. "Shin-san, I do remember you." She looked around for a moment to see if someone else was watching them, she felt like she was being targeted for a prank or something. When her bright blue eyes saw none watching, she returned her gaze fully on the awkward and fashionable young man in front of her. "Um, sure, I'd be more than happy to dance with you." She offered Yamata a friendly smile and waited for him to move back towards the dance floor.

*~*~

Shep leaned forward a little and spoke very softly but Sora was still able to hear him despite the noise of the crowd around them, "Please, let me enjoy one more dance with you before we leave the dance floor. It is a pleasure to have such a beautiful partner."
Sora blushed again and nodded, "Thank you, one more then?" The band started to play a slow, romantic love song and the Ketsurui felt her cheeks flush a deeper shade of red as she was led into a slow dance.

Sumaru was almost to the point of relying on sutra to keep his feet from leading him from his spot as he watched Shep and Sora. But somehow his samurai training or his raw willpower kept him from doing something he wanted to so bad. But he felt himself needing to show that he wasn't some sort of jealous boyfriend, but was trying so hard to hold back the right thing to do? Did it seem like he didn't care? Sumaru was getting confused by his own internal monologue that he wasn't sure what he wanted.

Shin, however, looked like he was on top of the world, he delicately took Caitlin’s hand in his and with more pizzazz he stepped out onto the floor and took Caitlin into a deep sweeping step, the romantic song becoming a backdrop to a well-practiced ballroom lead of this Shoi who had lots of alone time to practice with a broom, dreaming of this night. But it all paid off, he was the king of the floor as a spot light fell down to the couple and it was just for that moment, a dream come true.

Sumaru on the side smirked once more, feeling inspired now he stepped out on the floor, firm steps broke the crowd as the samurai in his well-dressed suit was on a mission. His slender arm reached in-between the princess and her partner. His icy gaze matched up with the frosty blue Nepleslian transplant's as Sumaru then said, "Excuse me, I think I'd like to cut in." His eyes shifting to Sora's in that moment, searching her for a reaction, and searching deeply for validation.

Shep nodded to Sumaru meeting the male neko's gaze and understood the expression in them. He let go and took a step back to allow the samurai to cut in. The Nepleslian seemed to get the impression of the samurai's feelings towards his charge, although he was uncertain if the princess felt the same. To him, Sora was a closed book that he was not able to truly read.

Sora's expression brightened as her emerald green eyes met Sumaru's icy blue ones. She stepped forward and placed her hands on her partner's left shoulder and grasped his right hand in hers. "I'm all yours," she whispered softly as she leaned in closer to Sumaru, so only he could hear.


Caitlin was actually enjoying herself, amazed at how good of a dancer that Shin actually was. She just never expected it out of him. She thought that she might have misjudged the Shoi and his odd mannerisms that made him... unique. "You dance extremely well, Shin-san. Where did you learn to dance?"

Shin was in his prime; her complement only did more as to make him shine. But still humble the classy Shin lowered his eyes in their step somewhere between a stride and a turn and smiled cutely, eyes flicking back up to meet Caitlin's. "Honestly? I've been watching videos and practicing ever since I heard about this dance, so that---" he paused and twirled his partner out at arm’s length, then pulled her in close so her back was up against his front and his lips could be at her ear. "---so that I could know what to do, when I'd ask you to dance with me." Like anything else in his life, he studied hard, he dedicated everything he could to learning something, and it showed.

Caitlin smiled again with a blush, not quite believing that Shin had learned to dance merely to ask her to dance. "That's crazy but I'm flattered you did this for me," she laughed lightly, as she was held there, pressed against him for a moment before she slowly turned to face him again. She was lost in the moment and the movement; she did not notice the princess and the samurai dancing.


Meanwhile with much more modest steps, the Samurai pulled in the Princess close. Closer than he had ever really pulled her in public, and in those measures in four beats time, a magical sort of spell befell Sumaru and Sora, at least for that moment as the live band played out a ballad of some great reprise; they were alone with all the eyes cast on the amazing couple at the center of the light, and Sumaru? He was more than okay with that. He leaned in closely, his voice hushed so low as it was only meant for her, "Sora..." he spoke her name lovingly, and without any honorific.

The crimson haired Ketsurui felt very aware of her body for the first time since they arrived at the dance. She felt each gentle touch against her bare arms sent chills down her spine and the song gave way to the sounds of their hearts beating. Her eyes searched Sumaru's, his lips were so close to hers but…"Sumaru."

Sora simply placed her hand against Sumaru's face and gently touched a finger to his lips as the song ended. She wanted to kiss him but she knew she couldn't right this moment, it was a promise that she meant to keep.

PAUSE