Welcome to Gaia! ::

He gave her a reassuring smile as he led her across the dance floor and out the doors. It was late, but the warmth of the day was still holding on, and the stars were bright above them. A picturesque evening to go with the new council's dance. Out here the music was muffled, but they could still feel the beat, and once Seiji had lead her around until they were away from the entrance he stopped, drawing the ghoul back into his arms and lay a soft kiss on her head.

"I'm alright." The nervous tension that lingered stubbornly in his shoulders had nothing to do with anything being wrong. Everything was definitely right, in a way that hadn't been in a very long time. "I just, I wanted to have a little time with just you." And soft nudge to her side would get her swaying, a dance under the moonlight.

Gazing down at her, he watched her features, her eyes. Searching that glowing green. "I love you, Junko." It was warm, soft, but his voice was serious.

She loved him, he knew she did, but...he remembered how painful it had been before, and his chest gave a familiar throb before he could push the memory away. Things were better now, they were better now. Blackened fingers left her side so he could cup the warmth of her cheek, thumb gliding over soft skin, absolutely gentle.

He nodded, turning his head to lay a long kiss against Junko's palm as he looked down at her, smiling. He was tense, but there wasn't anything wrong. Nothing at all.

It wasn't a reminder. He gauged her reaction after the admission, watching those lovely eyes as she looked up at him and assured him she loved him. Only him. It made his heart give a sluggish beat, and his stomach did a nervous little flutter. When she took his hand he brought it up to his mouth, eyes closing as he drank in the warmth through lips, drawing her scent in with every needless breath.

For a long moment he stood like that, eyes closed, features peaceful. He counted, silently, in his own head. When he reached twenty he drew in a deep breath, and opened his eyes again, hands lowering.

His fingers gave a last soft brush over her cheek, then he was reaching into his pocket. "You sure?" He was teasing, but there might have been the tiniest thread of seriousness in his words.

He didn't wait for an answer though, he already knew it. So he gave her hand a squeeze as he drew his left hand back out of his pocket. "I know we said we were going to wait, but..." His gaze dropped to those slender little fingers interlaced with his own, then he was sinking down to one knee, and the ring came up as red eyes met glowing green.

"I know we agreed to wait, but at least for this, why? We can start planning now, and we can get married that much sooner after I graduate." All that nervous tension was seeping into his voice. Old, unfriendly memories trying to needle into the present. "We can get a home, and start our family." His grip on her hand was tight. "We can start making plans now."

His chest rose and fell in a deep breath that shook as it was exhaled. "Will you marry me, Junko?" Please.

He froze as he saw the first glitter of tears in her eyes and his heart throbbed, threatening to sink all over again until he noticed the gentle curve of her lips. That soft little smile, shocked, but happy, as she stared down at the ring, then up at his face. Still, he couldn't help the caution that showed loud and clear on grey features as he watched her, waiting.

When she nodded the 'life' returned to him, and his shoulders sagged as a breath of relief left in an almost dizzying rush. That helpless laugh was echoed. "Is that a yes?" He needed to hear it. It wasn't real until she said it.

When she did speak it made him blink, a little taken aback that what she'd said had not been a resounding 'yes', but he smiled as her actual words sank in.

"Will you marry me?" He indulged her, he always did.

The grip on her hand shifted, sliding down her fingers as he brought the ring up, ready slip it on the second she answered in the affirmative.

There was his 'yes'. Junko shouted it, and he laughed, sliding the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, a lovely little antique thing with loops and small diamonds. Nothing large or flashy, but it fit her, and she loved it.

When she threw her arms around him he teetered, wrapping her up in a tight hug as she peppered his throat with kisses, repeating herself, over and over, before crushing her mouth to his in a kiss that had him falling over with her on top of him.

Seiji was still laughing when she sat up to admire the ring, and he settled hands on her thighs, just watching he for a moment. She seemed so happy, genuinely so, and the tightness that had settled in his chest, through his shoulders, eased.

When she leaned down he brought his hands up to cup her cheeks, holding her to him for that soft kiss before returning the nuzzle. "Do you want to go back inside now?" It was only for the proposal he wanted privacy, now that she'd accepted, they could go celebrate!