Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Hearts in time ❯ Dancing with an Angel ( Chapter 7 )

Hearts In time part seven: Dancing with an angel
By
Lance the Flamesniper

The night air was crisp and cool, with just a hint of rain to it when Lance helped Setsuna out of the car. It was a perfect night despite the hint of coming rain. The moon was full, the stars were gleaming brightly and the white brick building that was Chez Martine seemed to simply glow. Chez Martine was a two-floor restaurant that was more like an elegant nightclub. It possessed a dance floor complete with a classical orchestra, plus a mahjong parlor as well as the restaurant. To Lance and the others it looked perfect. The four went in and got their seats and began browsing the menu, or at least Amara and Michelle did. Setsuna and Lance, they'd noticed, seemed more interested in staring at each other.

"Could I convince you two to stop looking at each other just long enough to order?" Amara asked testily.

Both Lance and Setsuna blinked than looked away from each other. Unknown to each they were both thinking the same thing. What's wrong with me? Why can't I pull my eyes away...? The two quickly ordered their food while trying to sort this problem out.

"I uh...couldn't help noticing that necklace you're wearing," Lance began.

"Oh?" Setsuna asked, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "What do you think of it?"

"It's beautiful.... Like the woman who wears it."

Setsuna blushed. "You are far too kind."

"I'd like to think that I'm just being honest, oh earth bound angel."

Setsuna's blush deepened. "Careful, Lance. You place me on too lofty a pedestal and even one as handsome and strong as you could not reach."

Now it was Lance's turn to blush. "I would then be truly heartbroken. So where did you find this wondrous necklace?"

"It was a gift from a friend, from many lifetimes ago...Figuratively speaking of course," Setsuna added as she noticed the look of shocked panic on Amara's face.

"I see," Lance replied as dinner was served.

*****
Amara was beside herself. That admission could've been damaging, yet Setsuna was talking like this man could be trusted. Granted he was one of several people killing Youmas. But other than that, they didn't know why or how they did this. For all they knew this could be a plot to get close to the senshi by some enemy in order to deal to them a final, crushing blow.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. She started a bit then realized it was only Michelle. On look into those azure eyes and that soft smile, she found herself realizing that no harm was really done. With that minor panic out of the way Amara Ten'ou went back to her meal.

********

"So tell me a little about yourself," Setsuna began as she sipped some green tea.

"Such a boorish topic. I fear there's not much about me to be told. I'd much rather talk about you," Lance said softly.

"A man who doesn't want to talk about himself?" Amara replied. "That's a first!"

"Amara, be nice," Michelle warned.

"It's just that I don't find myself to be all that interesting or important to constantly crow about," Lance replied as he sipped at his own cup of tea.

"Oh, but I want to hear about you," Setsuna calmly stated, while giving Amara a look clearly meant to silence her.

"Very well, but I must insist on a fair trade here. I'll tell you about me if you tell me about you. What makes Setsuna Meioh so very enchanting?"

Setsuna felt that blush creeping up on her again. There was something about this man who made her feel like she was five thousand years younger. "Fair enough. But you go first."

Lance sighed. "Very well. I'm a lonely soul who's family owned an ancient katana. In many ways that sword influenced my life. For some reason it fascinated me. So, when I was old enough, I took the Katana in my hands and began to practice. I'd taken martial arts for a while now and had handled swords before but this was different. This blade felt like it was made just for me, even though it was so very old. Eventually I went off to college and the sword went with me. For some reason I never had luck in love, and even less luck really fitting in. I met Wraith and Matt and after several months I found myself dreaming of a places that were strange to me as well as people I never met. Those dreams led me to Japan," Lance said with a flourished wave of his hand. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't QUITE the truth either. Unnoticed to him was the way that Setsuna's eyes had caught and followed the hand motions and the glimmerings of the garnet stone cufflinks.

Those cuff links! I gave them to the warrior prince! But how did this man get them? "I guess it's my turn now? Very well. I'm a child of parents who aren't around anymore. I've lived a life with little love and even fewer friends. I have friends now. But, love has always escaped me."

"Love escapes you?" Lance asked. "You mean you've never gotten a date?"

"There was a man once... but that was a very long time ago. He died protecting me."

"That's so sad," Lance said all the while feeling as if his heart was breaking. Without thinking he took her hand. "Perhaps, if you are willing to let me try, we can fill the voids in our lives. Together."

"I...I would very much like that," Setsuna said once more feeling like a schoolgirl.

With that Lance smiled. It sent a jolt through Setsuna as she noticed for the first time that that strange resonating music in her soul seemed to grow louder with his touch. She also noticed that Lance seemed to be feeling it too.

"Would you care to dance Milady?" He asked.

"I was hoping you would ask me, Lance," Setsuna answered her eyes sparkling.

With no more talking the two walked onto the dance floor under the watchful eyes of Amara and Michelle. For a brief instant they both saw something other than two people in the spring of a fledgling relationship, as Lance's clothes seemed to take on the gleam of mail next to Setsuna's revealing gown. The two joined hands and in the position of an old style waltz and within moments seemed lost in the rhythm of the music.

*******

For Setsuna, this was something amazing. From the moment their hands joined to go onto the floor she felt transported back to the Millennium. His eye locked with hers and she knew this was a moment from a dream. His eyes were only for her. Hers for this night and forever they seemed to promise. Unknown to her, her eyes were making those same promises. In that moment, she felt the urge, no, the need to kiss him.

As their body began to move in time with each other in the rhythm of the waltz, Lance got lost in Setsuna's eyes. They seemed to shine with the promise of a loyal and true love, if that love is returned. "This feels...strangely familiar," He said softly.

"Yes, it does for me too. Like we've done this before," she replied inadvertently leaning in close to him.

By Chronos, I think she wants me to kiss her. And heavens help me, I want to.... Lance thought as his arm tightened around her waist gently, his face getting closer. "We shouldn't do this...not on the first date..."

"I know.... but it feels strangely right for this to happen," Setsuna said her gaze taking on a dusky look, her eyes closing halfway.

"Just one kiss..." Lance conceded. A small kiss won't hurt.... he thought.

"Just one kiss..," Suna echoed as her lips moved closer. Their lips met in a soft kiss, only meant to be for a second.... one second that led to two seconds, then five as Setsuna's arms slowly snaked around his neck. The kiss lasted until nothing else in the world seemed to exist. For them, now, that was enough.


TBC
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