You spin me right round (Mako/Nate)

[Kino Makoto]

Having found a happy medium between food and alcohol, Makoto managed to stroll to the dance floor, Nathaniel’s hand in hers. She spun around to face him, her arm stretching up to lightly grasp his shoulder. “Shall we dance?”

A light waltz was currently being played by the small orchestra, and Makoto easily found her footing to Nathaniel’s lead. As buzzed as she was, all the steps fell in order. She didn’t trip, or stumble, or bump into any other dancers. The dance felt so natural, it was almost as if she were dancing on air.

Or a very large cloud of Martini & Rossi.

Either way, she was feelin’ good.

Makoto smiled at Nathaniel. “You’re not half bad.” She chuckled. “Apparently, neither am I.”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

"Yes, we shall," Nathaniel answered, easily taking hold of her waist and hand, leading her into a waltz. It was one of the many things that he learned from Carol, including how to properly dance. It certainly wasn't something that could be picked up on the streets, that was for sure. He would be eternally grateful to her for giving him a little culture, especially when it allowed him to have moments like this.

It was really the first time he had thought of his mentor since... well, since he regained his memories. In truth, he owed everything to her, and not just this moment and dance lessons of the past. It was she who told him to come to Tokyo to seek out his destiny, and he was holding it in his arms, provided she would still have him after all was said and done.

Someday, he would like to talk to Makoto about Carol, really the only person he could consider family in this civilian life, even though she had passed away she was still a critical part of his life, who he turned out to be... Without her he would not have regained the other part of his soul, and would have forever languished in the purgatory of amnesia and an incorporeal form.

He kept things easy, no tricky spins or turns, at least just yet, chuckling at her light remark. "We're not half bad," he agreed, just enjoying holding onto her in the sway of the music. Shadows of the past seemed to lurk beneath their happy moment, and he batted them away. She was having too much fun for him to dampen the mood with fragmented memories and eroded good intentions.

"I think this type of thing, this dance... is good enough that it should be made a tradition," he suggested. "In a year, will I get to have another dance?" He was uncertain to where the future would go, where they would be in that time. Perhaps if he could secure a promise this far in advance... it would be good to reflect, once another year came.

[Kino Makoto]

“Not bad at all…” she said with a smile. The dance was simple, but felt so natural she closed her eyes as he led her about the dance floor. Memories of a similar dance from a time long ago flitted through her mind yet again. She smiled to herself, humming the tune of the music as they traveled across the floor.

Makoto’s eyes opened as Nathaniel spoke again. She smiled brightly as he led her through a turn at the corner. Despite being rather tipsy, she knew exactly what he’d meant when he asked about a traditional dance in a year. She skirted the issue by replying, “Why wait a year? I think I can manage squeezing you back into my dance card at least once or twice more this evening.”

Sure, he was handsome. Sure, he was quite the gentleman. Sure, she’d love to be here with him again in a year’s time. But while she didn’t mind dancing and flirting, there were still too many unanswered questions that she’d rather sort out another time. Tonight was a time for new beginnings, not rehashing the past, nor plotting out the future save in the form of resolutions. At least she could try to keep the conversation going in a positive direction. “So tell me Nathaniel, do you have any New Year’s resolutions?”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

He gave her a generic smile, silently cursing himself for asking. Despite her flippant words, the message was loud and clear. Nate could not get too comfortable, nor hope for too much. Tonight might be all he had, perhaps her judgment had been dulled by the alcohol. Or maybe he was being too anxious, reading into it too much. After being in the damn stone for so long, it still felt fresh, and he was afraid it was ephemeral. Could she understand that? Could she sense his desire; the anxiety beneath the surface?

Could she feel the electricity in his grip on her, certain that in a moment their happiness could be eclipsed, like in the past? That if perhaps, he could temper his hold on her, to not be suffocating, but tight enough that she would not slip away in the crashing currents of circumstance?

But this was not the past. He had to remind himself of this, consciously, with each beat of the music and each familiar movement and idiosyncrasy of hers, that echoed of prior stolen moments.

"Of course, I will serve at my lady's pleasure," he whispered in her ear with a smooth smile that hid the turmoil within. If he could not secure a dance in a year, he would be happy to go about as long as her heart contented itself to do so.

Her question about a New Year's resolution made him chuckle, though the first one that came to mind was: to be worthy of you. "To lose weight," he joked with a wink. "Maybe I can pick up one of those half price gym memberships around this time... I'll have to drop a few pounds, because if Lady Mars is to be believed, I'll have some opportunities to taste your food, and I fully expect to eat more than I ought to."

[Kino Makoto]

She was also not so inebriated that she didn’t notice the half-hearted smile he gave her. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be in this same place with him next year. There were just too many variables in the equation to make any half-true promises. Makoto just couldn’t do that to him. What if she’d said yes a million times over and then things turned out where she couldn’t follow through? She was not one to break promises or give false hope, especially when it had come to him. She’d been given just as much of a second chance at this as he had, and she was darn sure going to take it one day at a time, lest she become blindsided by… No. Not going there. Not now.

And then he whispered into her ear, his voice so smooth, the words echoing through her mind. How could he cause her to melt so easily? Her defenses lowered yet again, the alcohol seeped to the surface. Two could play at this game. A light grin played upon her face as she moved her body closer to his over the course of the next few steps. Their bodies swept across the dance floor fluidly. She matched his lead step for step, and though she’d offered more dances with him she wished this one would never end.

Makoto laughed heartily at his ‘resolution’ to lose weight. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I may feed my friends well, but I don’t overstuff them.” Not to mention the fact that he was alllllllllll muscle. At least, if what she’d seen in the magazine ad and on the book cover rang true. A light flush rose to her cheeks again at the thought, and she quickly brushed the thought aside, hoping he wouldn’t notice her embarrassment. Though if given the opportunity… No. Not going there. Not now.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

His smile evolved to one touched with mischief as she moved in closer. He could tell by the look on her face that she knew what she was doing, and he tightened his hold, pulling her closer. Nathaniel was more than happy to through conventional dancing rules out the window, to make this waltz a bit more intimate.

It seemed their relationship would be tinged with humor, as before. He loved the easy way she fell into joking with him, it was such a big part of her charm. "I'm sure that's true, but I have a ravenous appetite." He lowered his voice, leaning in so that his lips were next to the shell of her ear. "Especially for you/"

Why not play her game? As she moved closer, he'd return it. He wanted to see her blush... Wanted her to know she was wanted, in more ways than one.

[Kino Makoto]

Her grin widened as she felt him pull her closer as well. They fit together so perfectly, their movement across the dance floor was as if they were one. She loved the feeling it gave her. It had been so long since she’d had such a well-suited dance partner.

“I bet you d-“ Makoto’s witty retort was promptly cut off by the sultry words whispered into her ear. Her face, neck and chest immediately flushed crimson. Did he really just say that? Was it sincere? Was he just flirting, as she had earlier? Was this what it was like to have someone who wanted you? Would it be wrong if she wanted him just as badly?

Before she had the chance to reply, the waltz had ended and the band struck up another, much slower song. However, there was no way she was going to pull away from him now. She slid her left arm around to hold him closer still, her right hand still gripping his firmly. She tilted her head to whisper back to him, “I hope you don’t mind if I cash in one of those extra dances now, rather than later…”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

Nathaniel smirked as his words cut off her playful retort, making her flush. He slowed his movements down as the music came to a halt, and another song picked up. She moved closer, and he did as well, his hand sliding down her back, resting slightly lower than was entirely appropriate, gently pulling her to him, wanting to feel her form against his in time to the slow turns of the melody.

"I don't mind at all," he replied in a low voice, resisting the urge to clear his throat; the timbre of his voice was a bit more rugged than he was keen on showing.

It was hard to help it, especially as their closeness, and the slow movements of the dance were feeding images in his mind that were not entirely innocent. That lovely blush on her skin, her warmth... He'd love to feel her body without the barrier of her dress, with cotton sheets underneath them, to run his hands over her at his leisure...

"Maybe just one dance..." he found himself saying, sure he'd be in dire straights if he did not break from her embrace eventually. How could he control his remembrances of the past? The siren call of her flesh had greater sway on his mind and memories than reason ever did...

[Kino Makoto]

Her blush deepened (if it were possible) as she felt his hand slide down her back. She could feel eyes upon her, but she refused to care about any of them.

Oh, his voice was so deep and smooth in her ear. It was all she could do to keep from melting right here in his embrace. Reflections of the past rippled through her mind. His touch was so familiar, yet so mysterious it made the hairs on her neck stand on end…in a good way. A very good way.

Makoto’s eyebrow arched and she grinned mischievously. “Just one?” Her voice lowered, her lips were close to his ear again. “With the way you’re holding me, I didn’t think you’d be so willing to let go.”

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

If she knew what she was doing to him... Well, she probably did know. There was a touch of wickedness to that sweet voice that was so near to his ear.

He slipped his right hand out of hers, sliding slowly down her arm and over the arch of her shoulder to settle around her waist, where his other one was. He could pull her even closer now, so that their hips were mere inches away. "You see, that's the point..." He told her in that low, lazy voice full of wishes and desire.

"You see, if we don't stop after one more, I won't be able to let go... I'll want the next dance, but it won't be on the floor..."

Nathaniel smiled again, a bit more reluctantly, forcing his hands to slide back up before they went too dangerously low. "I think you know, from the past, from now, the sway you have over me... We shouldn't do this, not tonight."

[Kino Makoto]

Makoto lightly flicked her tongue over her lips before biting down on the lower one as Nathaniel traced a path across her skin with his fingers. The trail he left behind tingled with electricity from the excitement that was building within her.

Her eyes met his in a steady gaze and she continued to whisper in a sultry and low manner (like she could speak to him any other way). “I would dance with you wherever you want.” Something seemed awful familiar about that, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. History did have a funny way of repeating itself, even in the most subtle – or not – ways.

She mock pouted as his hands slid back up to her waist. His next comment caused the flush to return just as strongly as before. Sure, the thought had crossed her mind. Ok, it had more than crossed her mind. And here he was, turning it down before the question had even been asked. Despite the close dance they were sharing, she couldn’t help the twinge of insecurity that rose to the surface. All those years of not being good enough, or being too butch, or too tall, or too…whatever. While the two of them shared a past, perhaps their present lives were just too different. What was her problem? He obviously wanted her. He admitted it rather blatantly. So why was she so filled with insecurity all of a sudden??

Reality kicked back in as she felt his hands shift lightly as they moved to the tune of the music. She knew he was still waiting for some sort of response from her, though she wasn’t sure she could even speak. Instead, she nodded lightly and moved to wrap her arms around his neck and rested her head lightly against his collarbone. As long as they stayed close like this, she could forget about all the other things. She just hoped the song was a long one…

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

And here she was practically saying yes... For a moment he just danced, unable to breath, especially after he told her they shouldn't...

She didn't talk. There were no witty retorts this time. Frowning, he held her closer still, wondering what was going on in that lovely auburn head of hers.

"What I mean is..." he finally managed, wondering if it was all coming out wrong, "...is that I am at your mercy. I only have so much resistance. And... You deserve better." He didn't want this to turn into prom redux... They had been drinking, emotions were running high... He wanted them to do it when they knew what they were doing. Alcohol affected judgment, and he wanted her to be sure...

He had spent too long in that damn stone to screw things up by rushing. As tempting as it was now, he wasn't sure how she would feel in the morning.

[Kino Makoto]

Makoto felt, as well as heard, when he began to speak again. She lightly pulled away from him, to better see his face as he spoke. He was such a gentleman, yet confusion reigned in her mind. Were they starting over from the beginning, or picking up where they left off? Why was it so hard to find the right words to say?

She pulled away slightly, enough to free her arm from his shoulder and placed her palm on his cheek. She looked deep into his eyes and offered a sweet smile as she moved her hand across his cheek and lightly through his hair before wrapping her arm back around him and pulling him close to her once again. “It’s ok. After so long, we’ve found ourselves together again. Let’s enjoy this moment for now. When it’s time for other things, we’ll know.”

Sadly, as soon as the words were out of her mouth, the band was wrapping up the song. Reluctantly, she pulled away from him completely, her body quickly cooling down from the air that now flowed freely between them. Still needing some sort of connection to him, she took his hand in hers and held it tightly. “Thank you…For the dance….I….” She smiled, though her heart ached at their separation. “I hope we’ll have at least one more before night’s end.” Her smile turned to a slight frown, as she continued, “I suppose I should go mingle a bit more. I also owe one of my sisters a dance, so I need to get to that as well.” She moved close to him one last time, and though it took standing on her toes for a brief second, she planted a small kiss on his cheek. “Now go enjoy the party. I’ll find you again later, I promise.” With that, she released his hand and quickly slipped back into the crowd. Makoto had to move fast. If left up to what her heart was crying out…If she hadn’t let go right then… she might never have.

[Nathaniel Bernhardt]

She understood. He heaved a sigh of relief, reluctantly parting from her as the song came to a close. "No. Thank you, Makoto. For... for so very many things."

His throat closed for a minute with emotion, but he managed not to let it show, giving her another smile. Nathaniel realized that he was quieter, now, after regaining his memories, that the past had tempered him. He was less cocky, less sure of himself... Perhaps he knew how arrogance, even charm could work against him as well as for him. In his moment, however, he wished he had more of that gumption, even if it was born of naivety.

He was brought out of his own thoughts by her mention of owing a dance to one of her sisters. He wondered how that would work, but supposed he would soon see how.

"I'll let you get back, then. Enjoy it," he said with another smile, relinquishing her hand and standing there, still amongst the couples that were still moving, unable to take his eyes off of her form, until someone moved, blocking his line of vision.

Sighing, he wandered off the dance floor, wondering if he should get another drink for himself.