Victorian Treat

He is right. Dancing is a Human thing. I’ve never really seen our people do it. Or perhaps that is just because of where I come from. I always thought it was just something nobility did.

Partly thanks to Yuuki the young pup eventually managed to calm down following the brief stint with her tail. However she could not completely calm her heart, which was beating a faint bit quicker than normal. Here she was, about to enjoy a dance with a boy that she at least enjoyed the company of. It was like something out of one of her mother’s fairy tales.

Except in this fairy tale the princess is a broken little monster, and the prince an awkward Human. Also they don’t kiss! Because that would be way too embarrassing. But what would happen if they did? It could feel nice. Maybe.

A pink hue returned yet again to her face, although it was much lighter. Her cheeks started to hurt a slight bit as well, as she was decidedly not used to smiling so much. But then she was always great a handling pain, so it was quite easily pushed into the back of her mind. As their fingers interlocked Yuki felt her heart briefly jumping with anticipation, tiny digits squeezing ever so slightly against Yuuki’s. Such intimacy, although very tame, was still quite sudden and shocking to her.

So this is the Waltz. I cannot imagine doing it by one’s self. He is right, it would look incredibly silly.

Her hand was released, falling to her side. Had she made a mistake? Done something wrong to ruin the moment? The smile she wore quickly disappeared, ears drooping to each side of her head worriedly as she stood in place, watching the boy walk away. Thoughts turned to confusion when Yuuki stopped and picked up the log she’d previously stood upon, causing her head to tilt to the right and her left ear to perk up curiously. Her companion returned with the log and it was settled down upon the charred ground. Then, without warning, her hand was taken again! Instantly she cheered up, smile returning and both ears standing up on end. She didn’t even mind it when she was lifted onto the log, tail flailing viciously from side to side behind her.

What am I so worried about?

Yuki turned her gaze briefly down towards the log that she now stood upon, mapping out the size compared to her feet. She fully understood why he’d grabbed it as the boy explained about the close proximity of the dance, although the comment about kissing forced her pink hue into a slightly darker shade. But if they were going to get that close then it meant her eyepatch might get in the way. Making her dancing partner uncomfortable would not be a good start. Besides, she trusted him, or at least she wanted to trust him, to open herself up a little more.

With her free hand Yuki reached up behind her head, fingers nimbly working their way over the cloth straps that held the eyepatch to the left side of her head. Removing the black garment she tossed it away and into the pile made by her sword and the newly purchased shirt, finally revealing her left eye. There was an ‘X’ shaped scar around the eye, having been left from both the traumatic experience which caused its loss and from the operation which ultimately bestowed upon her a new organ. This eye was much like any other person’s, although the iris was gold and a very close look would reveal the faint traces of an artificial origin.

As one hand rested against her hip Yuki stepped in closer, leaving her face quite close to Yuuki’s, while her free hand slid up to rest naturally against the boy’s shoulder. She could feel his breath, smell his scent, even bask within the warmth that he gave off, and it made her heart flutter ever so slightly, for she was not at all used to this sort of closeness. A gentle breeze brushed against their forms, causing her dress to flutter slightly as skies started to darken overhead.

“Do not worry. It will take more than that to hurt me” she responded almost calmly to his warning, although a hint of nervousness pervaded her voice. It was not that she was worried about falling, after all she believed he would probably catch her if such a thing occurred. No, she was simply concerned with ruining their dance. Such was her anxiety that she actually jumped slightly when a chilled droplet of rain impacted against the top of her head, sending a shiver down through her spine and through to the very tip of her tail! At least her embarrassment and their close proximity might keep her warm.

A single step to the side started their dance. Yuuki detailed how it would proceed, and she listened with a level of focus similar to that found when she was in the middle of a fight. Her smile only grew wider as the boy rambled awkwardly about what might occur had they done the dance differently. Of course Yuuki’s grip did not loosen, and the inexperienced Shinigami leaned in closer still until her face rested near the crook of his neck. If they danced this close then they would be able to move a little bit more.

Here we go! Don’t mess this up!

Carefully the wolf took cautious steps, attempting her best to keep in sync with her partner, and initially she had difficulties. On more than one occasion she stumbled, or overstepped which forced her to hurriedly re-shift her foot back into its original position. More droplets of rain fell. It was slow at first, sporadic too, but like their dancing it gradually picked up its pace. The once quieted forest soon played an orchestra of pitter pattering raindrops, providing a serene atmosphere for their inexperienced movements. Of course Yuki was a trained warrior, so balance was not an issue for her. She’d always been quite observant, even with only one eye, which allowed her to avoid falling off the log. Within minutes her awkward stumbling movements had begun to develop into graceful steps.

Yuuki’s compliment brought a slightly heavier shade of red to the young Shinigami’s cheeks. She allowed her body to move away from his, just enough so that they could lock eyes, before she spoke up with a somewhat timid tone.

“You’ll have to tell me.”

By now the rain had started to soak her, causing her normally wild hair to cling to her form, reaching now to just below the back of her knees. The normally bushy tail was quite a bit thinner, the fur soaked through as the appendage reached out behind her, providing her with extra balance. Her dress might have become an issue as well, considering the top half of it was a creamy white and the fact that she did not wear a bra. Like her hair Yuki’s clothes now clinged to her form, although the top of the dress could now be seen, faintly revealing the light pink areola of her breasts. Not that she cared, of course.

It is a little chilly, but I don’t care. This is nice. This entire day has been nice. With any luck, it will continue to be nice, although I don’t know what exactly we should do next. Why am I worried though? We don’t have to stop dancing. We’re out here, alone in the woods, in the rain, with nothing but each other. This is relaxing. I think I could get used to this.