Kazuto straightened his tie and dusted off the cuffs of his suit as he waited on his home's living room couch for the Yuukis to arrive. It was the evening of the Reception, and the day before had passed with a burst of rain. Now, the sky was clear and the stars were shining bright.

"You look dashing, Kazuto." Kazuto's Aunt Midori called from the kitchen. "Enjoy yourself, okay?"

"Sure thing!" Kazuto replied, peering out the window to see the Yuuki family car drive up to the curb. Kazuto gave a wave and exited his house. Asuna, wearing the dress she had chosen, and looking three times as beautiful than before, Kazuto thought, opened the door for him. He sat down next to her, and she took his hand.

"How do I look?" Asuna asked shyly.

"Astonishing, beautiful, gorgeous…" Kazuto replied, smiling as she leaned against him. "I can't put it into words."

Asuna gave him a quick peck on the cheek as they both settled in. As Shouzou began the drive to the hotel that was hosting the reception, Asuna and Kazuto closed their eyes in comfort as they drove to the hotel.

XXXX

"Wow!"

"This is incredible!"

As Shouzou, Kyouko, Asuna, and Kazuto entered the ballroom at the hotel, the younger couple was astounded by the interior decorations. The colors of choice were primarily white, gold, and blue, but there were flower arrangements of every color in the center of each table. A series of tables bearing food and drink were positioned by the windows, and everything was spotless and shining bright.

"Quite an event, wouldn't you say?" Kyouko said. "Our seats are over just over there."

As the four of them sat at their reserved table, Asuna admired the place card that bore her name in elegant black cursive, as she sat next to Kazuto. She was positively buzzing with excitement, and Kazuto couldn't take his eyes off of her.

As time passed and more guests filed in, Kazuto and Asuna saw several boys in their late teens, a few older girls, but there was one girl wearing a purple gown that was near their age. She took a seat near the front of the ballroom, which was cordoned off with signs that read "Reserved for honored Diplomatic Guests" in a set of languages.

"There's lots of people here coming from all over the world." Kazuto noted out loud, seeing three men from the middle east speaking with a stout-faced man with pepper-black hair in the Diplomatic section. "This event must be bigger than I thought."

"You'd be right to say that, Kazuto." Shouzou replied. "Going from the event program, there's diplomats attending from Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, the British Commonwealth, and the United States. It'll be quite a show."

Kazuto nodded, seemingly a bit more nervous than before. Asuna moved and took Kazuto's hand, giving him a reassuring, sweet smile. He smiled weakly, knowing he should just relax and enjoy the moment.

As the last few groups of guests entered, the reception officially began as the dance floor opened up. Asuna and Kazuto left their seats and headed over, Asuna's appearance drawing the attention of a few older boys from the diplomatic section. They started to come towards them with eager faces, clearing wanting to ask for a dance, but Kazuto sent them a look of dissuasion that sent them away.

"Something wrong?" Asuna asked, seeing his slightly annoyed expression.

"Nothing's wrong. Just making my position known." he mumbled the second part, but Asuna still heard him and nudged him in the side.

"It's okay, Kazuto." she said. "No need to be so protective, you're the only one I'd ever want to dance with."

Kazuto smiled gratefully back at her as they and several other couples entered the dance floor. As the nearby band prepared to play a waltz, Asuna placed her left hand into Kazuto's right and her right on his waist, while Kazuto did the same.

"Is this right?" she asked.

"It's fine. Don't worry." he replied as the first notes sounded. "I'll lead."

As they began moving in pace with each other, rocking each other back and forth a few times to the sound of the music, Kazuto felt elated seeing his girlfriend and partner appear as she did right now. He was just lost in her, and from the way Asuna couldn't stop smiling at him and blushing, she felt the same way.

As they moved elegantly through the crowd, the girl in the purple gown watched them from her seat. She gave a sigh before slipping out of the room, towards a door nearby, marked with a sign that read "Atrium/Reception Area".

It seemed like that dance could have lasted forever, but as the music began to wind down, Kazuto twirled Asuna around and embraced her as the music ceased. As applause sounded, Asuna let a tear of joy fall from her eye. They left the floor and returned to their seats, Asuna not wanting to let go of Kazuto's hand.

XXX

They sat down, and Asuna promptly leaned against him, placing her head on his shoulder. Kazuto wrapped his arms around her, and they could have dozed off then and there, but Shouzou came forward, drawing Kazuto's attention.

"That was very well done, Kazuto." he said proudly. "I don't know if I've ever seen Asuna this happy after she came back to us."

"Thank you." Kazuto replied, as Asuna's eyebrows fluttered. "I think we'll try to find somewhere that's a little more quiet for now."

"I think that's a good plan." Shouzou nodded. "We'll find you both when it's time to go."

As Shouzou departed, Kazuto helped Asuna up, and they headed through the open door to the hotel atrium and reception area. As they sat down on a couch that lay near a fireplace in the wall, Asuna curled up as he embraced her tightly, both of them closing their eyes in joy.

"Mhm...Kazuto…" Asuna murmured happily. "That dance was wonderful. I'm...just so happy that you're here with me."

"Of course, and I am too." he replied, rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm really glad I met you, Asuna. After all we've been through...I'm just so happy that you're my girlfriend...my partner. Asuna, I love you so very much."

"I love you, too. More than I can even say." she replied drowsily, beaming in happiness, before she gave a long yawn.

"Are you tired, Asuna?" he asked.

"Yes…" she replied. "I could go to sleep right now, just like this."

It wasn't long before Asuna fell into a light slumber, Kazuto lovingly stroking her cheek. Then, he noticed the girl in the purple gown approach.

"I hope I'm not intruding." she said. "I couldn't help but admire the both of you being like that.."

"It's alright." Kazuto replied. "I'm Kazuto. This is Asuna, my partner."

"I'm Anya Petreiko." she replied. "My father would be the newly-appointed Russian Ambassador to Japan. He believed tonight would be a good way to start things off on the correct path."

"Sounds like a plan." Kazuto replied. "I thought Russia and Japan weren't exactly friends, but I wasn't the best at Social Studies. I could be wrong."

"For the most part, you are correct." Anya replied, shrugging. "The elections last year brought in a new President, and he's trying to reform our position in the world, as he put it. He's normally a bit more...straightforward about it."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Yes, quite so." Anya replied. "President Reveisky is my godparent and a close friend of my father."

"What's it like having the President of Russia as a friend?" Kazuto asked.

"You get a bit more attention from others than normal, but I rarely see him, rarer now that we're in Japan." Anya replied. "Kazuto, if you don't mind, I'd like you to have this."

Kazuto was offered a business card bearing the seal of the Russian Federation, and a phone number.

"If you'd ever like to talk again, you can reach me with that number there. I didn't have many close friends back home." she said.

"It's okay." Kazuto pocketed the card. "And it's not a problem, Anya. You'll make friends in no time at all."

Anya nodded in gratitude before she stood up.

"I'll let you have some privacy." she nodded. "Goodbye for now."

As Anya waved and departed, Asuna roused herself and looked up at Kazuto.

"Who was that you were talking to?" she asked drowsily.

"A new friend." Kazuto replied. "Nothing to worry about."

As they settled back down, they were soon found by Kyouko and Shouzou coming to find them. As they exited the hotel and began the drive home, Asuna finally fell asleep in Kazuto's arms as the moonlight shone down upon them.