Drifting on the Waves of Dreams

So I've been obsessing over this Anime/Manga now for some time; thus this was ultimately going to happen eventually: that I'd find myself throwing out a story or two for it.

However, these are mostly going to be attempts at dabbles and maybe even some short stories; that is if I can manage to not write so much.

Also, I'm a bit appalled by the extreme lack of fics involving the two characters who actually share mutual feelings for one another.

I blame the anime. I didn't go very far and left on such an open ended note. So most people don't know how much further the story continues and what events come to pass.

Enough ranting. I came here to create! To write! To give love and life to one of the most adorable couples and most likely my now forever top slot OTP.

WARNING: I'm rating this entire thing as M, just to stay safe; because there will be Mature things written here, at some point in time. I'll probably make the separate chapters so peeps can skip them if they want. Also, there are manga spoilers here. Do yourself the greatest of favors and go read the manga! I can not express this enough.

*~*~*~*
Kuragehime ~ Drifting on the Waves of Dreams
*~*~*~*

She never thought, in a million years, there would be a day like this. She'd written it off and out of her life like so many other things she'd never expected to be granted with. Yet this was happening. It wasn't a dream, she knew, for her feet felt pinched in the shoes she wore. However, this didn't stop her from taking the first step forward, and the next, and the next after that. Slowly, one step at a time, she was moving towards yet another impossible dream.

Her father, whose arm she clung to tightly, didn't seem to have any doubt whether this was reality or a dream. She looked at him, and he gave her a smile back and simply told her that her mother and he had never doubted. The dress she wore was proof of that. Her mother had made it for her; for this day, before she'd passed on.

Uncertainty had crept up in her mind, followed by denial. She couldn't possibly be going through with this. How could she? She was garbage; she was worthless. No, this was simply not happening, and she had tried to stumble out the door before everyone else realized the huge mistake they were making. However, a few choice words from her Maid of Honor snapped her out of her depressing chain of thoughts.

Ultimately, though, it was she herself, and only herself, that took that first step down the long path. One step at a time; path growing shorter. It seemed timeless; this moment. She wondered if she'd ever reach the end.

A heartbeat later and suddenly she stopped. She felt the warmth of her father's arm leave her side and for a second, she felt so very alone. Yet with any second, it passed, and now she felt a new warmth radiating from her hand. It calmed her stormy mind a little; though she was still feeling a bit of trepidation.

Nervously, she glanced up at the one now holding her hand. She figured his almost ever present calm demeanor would help calm her too. This, however, was futile as her gaze met his and her eyes widened. He would appear to be calm to anyone sitting or standing from a distance, yet right now, this close, she could see that he looked like a nervous wreck.

During the entire time they'd seen one another, up until this moment, she'd always seen him as confident, self-sure, seemingly knowing every possible way of presenting what it was to be a so called 'Prince' that she so often compared him to. Yet right now, as she held his gaze, she could see him shaking. He looked unsure, even scared; his eyes were glassy and he looked like we was about to pass out any moment. Yet he was smiling. Not his normal soft smile, nor the rare one of confidence she saw maybe twice. No; this smile could only be described as one thing and one thing only: goofy.

That silly smile, paired with all the feelings she could see in him and herself, and the warmth on her hand was enough to make her momentarily forget how impossible all of this seemed, and her own silly stupid smile found its way across her lips. It was all so silly. The warm hold on her hand tightened just ever so slightly, and she gave a soft short laugh.

She finally realized they'd been standing there starring at one another for probably a little longer than should be necessary, and started to feel nervousness creep its way back in. Wondering why he hadn't moved either, she titled her head ever so lightly. His response was automatic and he bowed just as slightly and lifted her hand up about an inch.

Usually this kind of subtly would fly right over her head. However, these kinds of events made one question every single movement someone made; thus she was probably way over thinking a ton of things. However, this time, she was pretty sure her assessment here was right. He wasn't pulling her. He wasn't raising her up the very last step. He was leaving it up to her. He was giving her the choice to make.

Keeping herself steady, she tightened her hold on his hand just a little, and pushed herself up and forward the mere one inch step; that for all intent and purposes could have been akin to taking a step on Mt. Fuji. And suddenly she felt like she was underwater. All sound drained away, her body seeming to float, the rush of hot and cold, and she felt like she couldn't breath. Once before she'd felt like this. Once before the world had disappeared around them and only the two of them were left. Only this time; he was looking at her.

I do. 'I do', what? What did that mean? What did he do? Everything around her was bright and warm, hazzy and thick. The only thing she knew for certain was that someone had just asked her a question and the feeling of her hand being held firmly. It reminded her of a time similar to this. A question being asked and the feeling of her hand being held. It was still a little scary, and her heart was pounding like before, yet unlike before, this time felt much more different.

Maybe she shouldn't do this. Maybe she should take this one last moment to rethink her actions. Maybe everyone forgot she wasn't meant for something like this; to be a princess. Maybe it would be for the best to leave. Maybe. But, just maybe, she did want this. Even if this wasn't meant for her, maybe she did want this. For once in her life, maybe she wanted something for herself that the world told her she wasn't cut out for. Maybe there were no 'maybes' about it. She wanted to take this chance. She wanted to live in the dream like world being offered to her. She wanted to keep going forward and not look back. She wanted to; she really did.

"I do."

Man, short stories are hard to write. I kept wanting to add in stuff but I had to cut it down. Anywho; did something new-ish with this format. If you can see 'what I did thar' then yay! Here's a cookie. And yes, before you ask, I am a hardcore TsukimiShuu shipper. That does not mean, however, that I hate Kuranosuke. In fact, I like him - expect when he's being a bratty snothead. Tsukimi, I feel, needs both guys in her life for there to be a harmony. I will be writing on that shortly.