Dance, Dance, Resolution

Unfortunately, Hayami was yet again not paying attention to Oto. She was exhausted, having been meeting with Giles after dark for several nights in a row to study for the upcoming Ball. In that time, she had learned much about not only the villa's layout, but also the curious gathering of mobsters and goons that would soon be walking its halls. The Butler wanted help to take them down or, at the very least, get answers to why his sister was killed. A mission that Hayami had agreed to help with, and as a reward, he would help her gain her freedom.

With every night spent planning, this left her little energy in the morning for the things Oto wanted to do. This was usually not a problem, as they involved walks and photoshoots. But, on this particular morning of dance lessons, when she was supposed to be going left, she was moving right.

“Hayami, I swear you’ve got two left feet today.” He grunted as she stepped on his toes once again. “Must I switch into those leaded boots, or what-have-you? You know, the ones the poors wear for their blue-collar work.”

“Oh, sorry,” Hayami yawned. “My bad, I’ll do better.”

Oto cocked a head to the side as he investigated her face. It was unlike her not to reprimand him for calling people ‘poors’ and even more uncommon for her not to sling some form of insult his way after he noted her mistakes.

Reaching over, he touched her cheek.

“Hayami, are you okay?”

“Whaa?” She shifted her face up, catching sight of his concerned gaze.

Hayami’s cheeks began to suddenly warm against his touch as she realized the intimate position the two of them were in. Fighting the urge to press her face into his hand, she instead pulled away and swatted at him gently.

“I’m fine!” The girl growled, moving back from Oto. “I’m just tired and, yeeeaaa—!"

Not paying attention to where she stepped, Hayami tripped over the jacket she had tossed to the ground behind her at the beginning of their practice. Throwing her arms up, she flailed in a failing attempt to grab hold of anything to stabilize her plummet. But being in the middle of the ballroom where she trained on waltz and foxtrot, there was nothing she could take hold of.

Except for Oto, who had watched the entire thing as it happened. As she began to tumble, without hesitation, he lunged forward to grab her. Sliding into place, he cradled her body against his, catching her in a deep, romantic dip. If anyone had been watching, it would have seemed as though it was part of the training, even though it was nothing more than quick reflexes on the boy’s part. That, and a determination to protect the person he found most dear.

“Hayami,” He gasped, looking down at her body in his grasp. “Are you okay?”

Hayami’s eyes were closed, held tightly in preparation for a fall that didn’t come and as they slowly opened, she looked up into Oto’s concerned gaze. His beautiful blue gaze stared deeply into hers as his face held onto the tense worry that carried in his voice.

“I-I—” She stammered.

One of his arms was wrapped around her waist, fingers gentle against her side and holding her close to him as the other braced her shoulders. The back of her head, cradled against his hand, was held close to his face. He could feel her quickening breath as her body stiffened in his embrace.

Oto's heart began to race as he stared down at her. Something was different this time. There was no frustration in her glare and no anger behind her eyes. Hayami was looking at him, expectantly, her lips quivering with each weak breath.

And then, as the moment lagged on and the time that had slowed began to catch up to them, a strange sensation overtook Oto as it had on the boat.

Leaning in, he kissed Hayami. The warmth of her lips met his, and time froze once more. His grip on her became rigid, firmly embracing Hayami as her body relaxed. Then, she reached up unexpectedly, wrapping a hand behind his head as she pushed herself up against him. With a racing heart, Oto pulled her in tight, remembering the feeling of the previous times they’d kissed, realizing that this one was different. It was passionate. Real.

Loving.

Finally, pulling away, they stared into each other’s eyes again. Hayami’s face was red with passion as she breathed heavily, her gaze glancing back to Oto’s lips. But his remained on her. Focused on the amber eyes as he found courage. The strength to do what he had wanted to do since the first time she had rescued him.

“Hayami,” He spoke softly. “I love you. I—”

Her look hardened in an instant before she reached her hand outward, bringing it back as a forceful slap.

“Oww!” He cried out, dropping her to the floor. “What was that for? I thought we were having a moment!”

“Ack!” She cried out as she hit the ground.

Looking up at him with a hurt glance, she continued. “You can’t love me! You-you don’t even know me, Oto!”

“I do know you! You’re—you’re Hayami! You’re—”

“What you know is what I want you to know.”

Inspecting the hurt and ferocity in her face left Oto conflicted. He both wanted to comfort her and kiss her, but his own confusion stood in the way of deciding. So, he stared, trying to understand what she meant before finally replying.

“Well...of course. Isn’t that how it works?”

“No Oto!” Hayami pushed herself up.

Turning away from the boy, she grabbed her jacket from the ground and threw it over her Henley. Hayami wanted to run. Flee. Escape from the situation that she dreaded. But she was also torn, wanting to tell Oto that she loved him—or at least, thought she did. And, for her to do that, she would first need to be honest with him.

“You—you need to trust someone to love them.”

“But Hayami, I trust you.”

“No, you can’t! You don’t know me.”

“I am so confused! Do I need to know you or trust you to love you? Because I think I know you pretty well. And I’m pretty sure I trust you. So…so I love you. Right?”

“Stop saying that!” She turned to look at him, tears forming at the edges of her eyes. “You don’t know me. You shouldn’t trust me! I—”

She choked on her words and turned away quickly so Oto couldn’t see the tears.

“I don’t deserve your love. Not yet.”

Hayami began to flee, but Oto grabbed at her hand. She turned quickly to lash out. To strike back. But in an unexpected twist, Oto spun her on the dance floor as though he were committing to a waltz. She twirled past him, surprise replacing the despair that had clung to her face.

Reaching the extent of the move, Oto pulled her back with a gentle tug. Her body came to him, their hips forced together as he firmly held onto her hand. With the other, he wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her head to his chest.

“Hayami.” He spoke softly into her ear, feeling the warm tears staining his shirt. “Of course you deserve love.”

Oto could feel her body tense before her foot raised to stomp down on his. With a kick back of his shoe, he slid away, pulling her with him in a dip. Though she was prepared this time, fighting back with a tug away and an attempt once more to flee.

Hayami’s hand escaped his as she slinked from his grasp and raced off. But Oto reached out again, grabbing her other hand and yanking her back into his embrace. She spun once more, twirling as his arms wrapped around her, until she was enveloped in his embrace. Her back was pressed against his chest as both of her arms were bound by his at her hips.

She screamed out, her voice echoing across the ballroom as tears poured down her cheeks and splashed against the jacket.

“Oto, let me go! Let me go!”

“Hayami, tell me what’s wrong.” He pleaded with her. “Please.”

“I can’t love you! I can’t! You don’t know me, Oto. What I’ve done and who I am—”

“So tell me. Tell me so I can tell you it’s okay and that I will always love you.”

Hayami whimpered, her tears now flowing from her eyes like endless rivers of sorrow that threatened to flood the world.

“Oto,” Her words weakly breaking through the pained sobs. “Oto. I’m from a rival mob. My father controls the North Bay Harbour. I was sent to kill you. I-I killed your brother!”

Oto’s heart skipped a beat as his grip weakened on the girl. Slowly, he released her and took a step away.

“Hayami…” He gasped, unable to believe what he had just been told.

She turned to face him. Through blurred eyes, she glanced at the boy. There was no anger or hate, simply confusion as he continued to speak.

“You mean to tell me…” He spoke softly. “That you’re not poor?”