[ He's reluctant, if only for a second before abiding her wish and taking a seat. He can't even say that he wouldn't have done this before living in Nippon, the way his hand lingers in the air after her when she lets go. As if selfishly wishing that this wasn't over yet. It seems that she wasn't the only one who worried over acting childish. From where she stands and where he sits, he flexes his hand as if he could still feel her smaller one fitting in it. He can still feel the way he'd squeeze it when silently telling her things would be okay. This warmth that he feels...it's different from the sweltering heat that made him hardly recognize himself before.
"This is a rather selfish request, but..."
He finally looks up to Ayaka, patiently waiting as his eyes spoke for him. What was she going to do? What did she wish to show him? The Shirasagi Himegimi had once said she'd become well-versed in a myriad of arts and talents. Swordplay, calligraphy, shogi, tea ceremonies, dance... But when she's about to begin, that last one...didn't feel like a duty of the white heron princess.
"Please keep your eyes on me."
Her soft, tender voice reaches him, a tingling sensation from head to toe. Nothing like how chills felt despite the Vision in which she cherishes so dearly. A melody that wordlessly beckons him to do exactly as she said.
Not the Shirasagi Himegimi. Watch Ayaka, Cloud. And don't you dare miss a single thing. ]
.....
[ Even when her movements bring with the falling petals of frozen sakura, they are a peripheral that play second to the woman who bears a piece of herself to him. He sits there, leaning forward in his seat without even realizing it, staring with lips parted, nary a word to escape. His eyes, usually so focused and fueled by fire as a SOLDIER should, have lost that very edge that harkens to his warrior roots. The mercenary was long gone, now. All that remained were the eyes of a man in wonder, feeling like he's truly seeing somebody for the very first time. Cloud from Nibelheim was watching her. He sees her. And he's not looking away. Before he realizes it, while he doesn't dare interfere, their eyes meet for that fleeting instant, urging him to stand up, the hand that once held hers regaining that comforting warmth as it gently clenches.
It was then the snowflake symbol manifests, ice blossoming on high around her and her display coming to a close. Her sole audience was there, trusting her when pure ice meets deeper azure. Her happiness was contagious, resonating with his as the bond they'd begun forming intensifies. Yet, in contrast to the small, beautiful smile that graces her lips... Cloud's expression says it all.
Is this what it felt like? To breath yet feel like he couldn't? If Ayaka was done, he should say something. Tell her how cool her dance was, and the grace in which she used her power to accentuate it all. Clap for her. Tell her how amazing she was, and how grateful he'd been to find her and have a chance to be shown this. ]
...
[ But instead, he closes what little distance remains between them. Much like Ayaka, he'd been fighting against his own yokai urges for her sake. Because he cared more about actually being around her for more than just hungrily claiming her. Because of memories like the first time they met, beneath the grace of a great cherry blossom tree. For moments like the teahouse wherein he helped her feel safe as Ayaka, and not as a title she lived by. What he wanted to do next, and back at the palace gazebo...weren't by some burning magic's grace.
Bolstered by them, it was finally Cloud's choice when his hand reaches up for the side of her face, gently trailing the side of her chin with his thumb brushing her cheek.
He finally kisses her, not daring to move away as they stand in the center of the gazebo as his heart hammers away in his chest. ]
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"This is a rather selfish request, but..."
He finally looks up to Ayaka, patiently waiting as his eyes spoke for him. What was she going to do? What did she wish to show him? The Shirasagi Himegimi had once said she'd become well-versed in a myriad of arts and talents. Swordplay, calligraphy, shogi, tea ceremonies, dance... But when she's about to begin, that last one...didn't feel like a duty of the white heron princess.
"Please keep your eyes on me."
Her soft, tender voice reaches him, a tingling sensation from head to toe. Nothing like how chills felt despite the Vision in which she cherishes so dearly. A melody that wordlessly beckons him to do exactly as she said.
Not the Shirasagi Himegimi. Watch Ayaka, Cloud. And don't you dare miss a single thing. ]
.....
[ Even when her movements bring with the falling petals of frozen sakura, they are a peripheral that play second to the woman who bears a piece of herself to him. He sits there, leaning forward in his seat without even realizing it, staring with lips parted, nary a word to escape. His eyes, usually so focused and fueled by fire as a SOLDIER should, have lost that very edge that harkens to his warrior roots. The mercenary was long gone, now. All that remained were the eyes of a man in wonder, feeling like he's truly seeing somebody for the very first time. Cloud from Nibelheim was watching her. He sees her. And he's not looking away. Before he realizes it, while he doesn't dare interfere, their eyes meet for that fleeting instant, urging him to stand up, the hand that once held hers regaining that comforting warmth as it gently clenches.
It was then the snowflake symbol manifests, ice blossoming on high around her and her display coming to a close. Her sole audience was there, trusting her when pure ice meets deeper azure. Her happiness was contagious, resonating with his as the bond they'd begun forming intensifies. Yet, in contrast to the small, beautiful smile that graces her lips... Cloud's expression says it all.
Is this what it felt like? To breath yet feel like he couldn't? If Ayaka was done, he should say something. Tell her how cool her dance was, and the grace in which she used her power to accentuate it all. Clap for her. Tell her how amazing she was, and how grateful he'd been to find her and have a chance to be shown this. ]
...
[ But instead, he closes what little distance remains between them. Much like Ayaka, he'd been fighting against his own yokai urges for her sake. Because he cared more about actually being around her for more than just hungrily claiming her. Because of memories like the first time they met, beneath the grace of a great cherry blossom tree. For moments like the teahouse wherein he helped her feel safe as Ayaka, and not as a title she lived by. What he wanted to do next, and back at the palace gazebo...weren't by some burning magic's grace.
Bolstered by them, it was finally Cloud's choice when his hand reaches up for the side of her face, gently trailing the side of her chin with his thumb brushing her cheek.
He finally kisses her, not daring to move away as they stand in the center of the gazebo as his heart hammers away in his chest. ]