Keiko finishes her song, but, of course, scores less than 100 in the spiritual department. Botan picks up the mic. "Hmmmm... what song. Oh, I like this one. That's a great movie!"
Gaara really has no idea when Botan selects the song. But as it starts, he's surprised that he actually recognizes it. He must have heard it in the nexus sometime or other. At least enough to know how the melody goes. The lyrics he'll have to read.
Oh, he's the one to start singing this duet! Okay, here goes nothing.
"I thought that dreams belonged to other men 'Cause each time I got close They'd fall apart again"
And what would you know, his voice isn't all that bad.
I feared my heart would beat in secrecy I faced the nights alone Oh, how could I have known That all my life I only needed you?
Botan, we know, is a decent singer. Her higher voice is a good compliment to Gaara's much lower one, at least. But the truest part comes from the emotion she's singing with. It's not to put on a show, either.
To be fair, Gaara does need to read the lyrics and is thus a bit occupied with that, but his voice is hardly without feeling. Especially on the chorus they sing together.
Whoa Almost paradise We're knockin' on heaven's door Almost paradise How could we ask for more? I swear that I can see forever in your eyes Paradise
Then he's once again on his own for his part of teh second verse.
It seems like perfect love's so hard to find I'd almost given up You must have read my mind
She does, and this causes her to not even look at the scores. Or anyone else for that manner. Her eyes have been locked on his, and he should see that hers are moist.
He stands in front of her on the platform, holding her hands. The rest of the gang has noticed something's up and has quieted down.
"Botan, first of all, I want to thank you, though I can never thank you enough. I once told you about my history because I thought it would scare you away. But you stayed with me. You have found pieces of me that not even I knew existed. You have left your home and your world for mine. You've fought side by side with my people. You have even helped me reign in the demon that's back in me again. For this I thank you. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
He sinks down on one knee and takes out a ring that looks like it's made of marble with a diamond and two rubies set in it.
"I make this vow to you now, that I will love, cherish and protect you for as long as I live. Botan, will you grant me the honor and joy of being my wife?"
Her breath hitches. Times stops. Everything, everything in the world doesn't matter anymore, but this one man. This one moment.
"Yes. Nothing would make me happier." Tears roll down her cheeks freely now, and she's taken on a light that's never been seen before. "A thousand times yes."
He's back on his feet again in a snap, his arms around her and his lips pressed against hers. There are no more words now. He's not crying, no, but there's a prickling behind his eyelids that tells him he's just a step away from it.
He pulls away, just an inch, to rest his forehead against hers and look into her eyes. That small half-smile is gone and replaced with a wide, genuine and very happy smile that has never ever been seen on Gara before.
She smiles. Her eyes glisten and her heart beats in her cheast.
"I never though this would happen in my temple." A ragged voice comes from a corner. It's the old, wise Genkai. "You young people have made an old hag's day."
"And it is a special game. It measures your spirit energy. Wouldn't you like to see how you stack up?"
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"Could be interesting to know, even if I don't use it like you do."
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I love you
I love you
I lo-ve you
Tuxedo Mirage
Keiko finishes her song, but, of course, scores less than 100 in the spiritual department. Botan picks up the mic. "Hmmmm... what song. Oh, I like this one. That's a great movie!"
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Oh, he's the one to start singing this duet! Okay, here goes nothing.
"I thought that dreams belonged to other men
'Cause each time I got close
They'd fall apart again"
And what would you know, his voice isn't all that bad.
Reply
I faced the nights alone
Oh, how could I have known
That all my life I only needed you?
Botan, we know, is a decent singer. Her higher voice is a good compliment to Gaara's much lower one, at least. But the truest part comes from the emotion she's singing with. It's not to put on a show, either.
Reply
Whoa
Almost paradise
We're knockin' on heaven's door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise
Then he's once again on his own for his part of teh second verse.
It seems like perfect love's so hard to find
I'd almost given up
You must have read my mind
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They're finally coming true
I'll share them all with you
'Cause now we hold the future in our hands
Whoa
Almost paradise
We're knockin' on heaven's door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise
She looks at him. Her voice wavers a bit from her feeling, but she stays the course. They're not too bad. Not the next Sony and Cher, but not too bad.
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It's getting closer
Closer every day
This time he doesn't need to look at the screen as much to get through the chorus and the rest of the song.
It's almost paradise
We're knockin' on heaven's door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise
Whoa
Almost paradise
We're knockin' on heaven's door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise
Paradise
Paradise
And, Botan, you if anyone should pick up on the strange look he has in his eyes.
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He's just decided upon something that he's been thinking about for some time now, but he has to do it now before his courage fails him.
A serious and, yes, scared expression comes over him and he pulls lightly on Botan's hand to lead her over to a platform. "Come.
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"Botan, first of all, I want to thank you, though I can never thank you enough. I once told you about my history because I thought it would scare you away. But you stayed with me. You have found pieces of me that not even I knew existed. You have left your home and your world for mine. You've fought side by side with my people. You have even helped me reign in the demon that's back in me again. For this I thank you. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
He sinks down on one knee and takes out a ring that looks like it's made of marble with a diamond and two rubies set in it.
"I make this vow to you now, that I will love, cherish and protect you for as long as I live. Botan, will you grant me the honor and joy of being my wife?"
Reply
"Yes. Nothing would make me happier." Tears roll down her cheeks freely now, and she's taken on a light that's never been seen before. "A thousand times yes."
Reply
He pulls away, just an inch, to rest his forehead against hers and look into her eyes. That small half-smile is gone and replaced with a wide, genuine and very happy smile that has never ever been seen on Gara before.
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"I never though this would happen in my temple." A ragged voice comes from a corner. It's the old, wise Genkai. "You young people have made an old hag's day."
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And over there, next to Temari, Kankuro's jaw has hit the floor. "...never knew out little bro had it in him."
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