Prompt 23:
Your Favorite Christmas Song
“Come here.” His extended arm was long and full of grace. She followed it to defined shoulders, thin neck, boyish face, before finally resting on the wistful green eyes. They coaxed her in with a warm invitation disguised as a simple command, not a question, and she was fully aware that he did that on purpose. It was he, even in this lifetime, that shared her admiration of the strength of proper grammar. Somehow, even without his memories, he still remembered this.
Ami took his hand, and almost instantaneously, Yuuto pulled her to him. His other hand swiftly fell lightly upon her waist, forcing hers to his shoulder with the length of his arm. He smiled brightly at her; giving her a chance to protest was his gentle way of asking if she was all right. She didn’t say a word. The position she found herself in was thrilling in the sense that he was still barely touching her, save holding hands at shoulder’s height and a light touch resting on her waist. It was not threatening or forceful, as the other’s always imagined he was with her. In all reality, he was kind and never pushy. He was the only one who made sure she was okay before he took another step.
With her silence, he began to move. Ami’s breath caught in her throat at the ethereal way he led her in a soft swaying. It was clear that he had no formal training; his footsteps followed no pattern, and his hips wiggled a bit more than necessary. However, glimpses of his previous life shone through. His posture was almost perfect, his broad shoulders pulled back as he almost held up her arms with his own. It felt as though if he wanted to, he’d begin to waltz her around the room at any moment.
The pace never changed though. They remained in a small, spinning sway. Ami sighed and placed her head on his chest. His hand moved to her back and let her draw near as Judy Garland sang out around them: Here we are as in olden day, happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more.
“This song is lovely,” he spoke softly. Even at a whisper, his voice was alto and still held the innocence and curiosity of a boy. “I always thought it very bittersweet and a bit haunting. But that, I suppose, is why I like it, now knowing my past.”
“It’s my favorite.” She swore she felt his heart skip a beat.
“Is it?” He inhaled with excitement. He sounded so youthful, so hopeful. “Well, the song has been made more beautiful by those very words, in this very instant.”
Ami felt her eyes well up with tears and a lump form in her throat at the simplicity his spirits were lifted. She swallowed past it, and force more words out. “You have such ease with words, sounding very much like a poet.”
She felt the light chuckle through his chest. “I am no poet, but if you are fond of my words, I’ve been told I can speak forever if no one will stop me.”
Ami giggled at his jest, and felt a tear slip down her cheek. “Why do you find such a lovely song haunting?”
There was a long pause, and he inhaled deeply. “Listen,” he sighed, and she did. After a few circular verses, he scoffed. “Those words always pierced me. ‘Through the years, we all will be together. If the fates allow.’ They’re supposed to be meant for a happy promise, but there is no guarantee. There never is.”
“Do you believe in fate?” She had told him before that she did, but never heard his answer.
“I believe that my concerns of fate do not matter. If there is such a thing at fate, then my opinion of it would not sway it either way.”
Ami pressed into his chest, stopping any movement. Her arms gently rose around his broad shoulders and felt them tense under the sudden change. Only briefly, however, before his arms wrapped around her back instinctively. He held her there until the last few measures of the song, and did not ask what was wrong. This was one of many things that drew her to him; he always let her explain in her own time. She was always being sought out to provide everyone with answers; if something was wrong, she was expected to fix it. With him, she was allowed to just be.
The song faded out into silence, but Ami continued to hold on to him. Her words were a gentle statement in his ear, wavering slightly from discomfort. She never spoke of impossible things being real. Never, save now. “I think the fates allowed us to be together.”
He embraced her tighter, resting his head on hers as he stroked her neck and the end of her blue hair. With the softest of touches, he kissed her forehead. This small sign of affection was very large for her, and she appreciated that he instinctively knew that this was just what she needed. Nothing grand or powerful, just simple and true.
Zoisite, Yuuto, or both sighed. Ami realized she now heard no difference between the two. He was the same as he was then, even without his memories. His words fell sweetly into the silence. “Then let us have a merry little Christmas. This one, and every one to come.”
