("Do you really love me, or is it the idea of trying to love someone when you know you can't?")

[Ball Night Ceremony]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome, and thank you for joining–"

As I turned to see her standing beside me, the twinkling lights reflected in those bright eyes of hers, my heart seemed to stop entirely.

"Ikiryo..."

The host's speech came to an end, and, as I moved to face her, the chatter in the ballroom seemed to disappear completely. It felt like I had waited forever for this moment.

"This dance, I'll carry the memory of it wherever I go. I'll carve it into my mind and soul. No matter what path fate takes us on, or even if this is nothing more than a fleeting dream," I lace my fingers with her own. "I'll cling to it as though it were real."

"Our first dance will be a memory I will always carry with me, carved into my mind and soul. No matter what paths fate brings us on, even if this is nothing more than a fleeting dream.." I clasps her hands with his own "I'll cling to it as though it were real."

Any blood, sweat or tears she may cause me to shed in the future will only further solidify my loyalty, my devotion, to her. I look down at her, and smile. She stares back, that same, warm glow in her gaze. 

Putting her hand on my face.

So I ask you:

"Will you be the light to my shadow as I walk in your glow? Will you allow me to call you mine?"

She stares back at me again, this time….

"Mirai.." she begins, her voice echoing around me. Distorted.

"Dance with me one last time."

Crack.

Her face shatters into pieces, shards of a memory I so desperately try to grasp onto.

This shattered pieces disappeared as it goes through my hand.

Fake...