Throughout the next morning and afternoon, Kaya, Skyla, Jenny, and Cypress were being fussed over by Mettaton. He had called Catty and Bratty and informed them of the situation. They accepted gladly, not without some much needed squealing, and told him they'd move all appointments during the time to help the girls with their hair.

They all had fun, chatting with each other and getting to know things they hadn't before. All the while, Mettaton was busy finding a suit for Cypress while Catty, Bratty, and a hairstylist working with them helped prepare them for the dance.

"We really outdid our selves this time, Catty," Bratty said once they were done.

"I so agree, Bratty," Catty replied. "Go ahead! Go look at yourselves, girls!"

Kaya chuckled slightly, and stood from the chair. Her hair looked, and felt, softer than it ever did before. The tips ended off in little curls, and it all looked so healthy. She blushed a little and glanced at the other two.

"I should come to you two more often!" Jenny said, bunching up her large curls. "My hair looks so much better than when I went to any other hairstyler!"

"How often would you usually go to a hairstylist?" Kaya joked.

"So many times you wouldn't believe it. Just because the mayor's my father doesn't mean I have plenty of money to spend. They charge a lower price than they would for anyone else, but it ends up being more than what a normal person would pay. They keep saying they add certain things into my hair to keep it healthy, but instead, I show up not even a week later because my hair feels so terrible."

"Those little money stealers!" Skyla said.

"Well at least now you've found a couple of reliable ones."

"Yeah. I don't have to worry about the others now that I've found the best ones in town."

"Aww, girrl," Catty said. "The pleasure was ours."

"By the way," Bratty asked. "Like, how much longer until that dance starts?"

"Not much longer," Kaya answered.

"Which means I have to get started on your makeup, darlings," Mettaton said, walking in.

"Where's Cy?" Jenny asked, using the nickname she gave him.

"I don't want him to see you before you're all done, dear~. That would ruin certain plans of mine."

Kaya heard her phone buzz and went to check the text.

Gaster: We've got another for you to try

Kaya: What's the point of this again?

Gaster: It's a sort of test to see how much determination you can take

Kaya: But why? What do you expect to come out of this?

Gaster: Useful information that we could use later in case anything happens to you

Kaya: Oh, yay. Aren't I special

Gaster: Just get out of sight so I can give the newest one to you

Kaya: Fine

Let's hope I can slip by, Kaya thought before turning and coming face to face with her uncle.

"Come on, darling~. We, or really, I, need to put makeup on you." With that he gently moved her over to where there was more light and started applying makeup.

"Oh darling!" Mettaton said once he was done. "You look so pretty. I'm sure you'll be caught by your certain someone~"

"U-Uncle Mettaton!" Kaya stuttered, her face turning to purple. "H-how'd you find out?" she added under her breath.

"Remember back at the mall when we were guessing his name? That's how I found out. Now, go on! Into my limo darlings!" he called out to the others.

"How are you going to get home?"

"I can call other people, you know. Now, enough worrying about me and go meet your man at the dance!"

"Can you keep your voice down? And, yeah, fine, I will," Kaya replied, a small smile on her face, which was tinged with purple. She quickly met up with the other two girls and climbed into the limo. Cypress was already there, and Kaya could tell just how much he loved his girlfriend, for he was blushing madly.

Kaya sat down with a sigh and felt her phone buzz again.

Gaster: Did I not just tell you to go somewhere private?

Kaya: I didn't have time to. Maybe you should've planned your timing

Gaster: Fine. I'll give it to you during the dance

How long will he keep trying? Kaya thought. What benefit for me will come out of knowing how much determination I can take?

I'm sure there is good reason behind it, Lyra said, appearing beside her. Now, for more important issues, don't blow it.

How can I blow it when I don't even know if he likes me back?

I just have a feeling that things will work.

Let's hope that feeling of yours is right.

As the silhouette of the university could be seen against the darkening sky, Kaya felt her anxieties rise.

What if he doesn't like me back? What if something happens? What if he's not there at all?!

Kaya! her guardian snapped. Please keep your rush of emotions and fears to yourself. I can't concentrate on anything when your emotions are overpowering mine.

What would you need to watch out for anyways?

Anything. Now pay attention and have as much fun as Gaster will allow.

Fine.

Kaya watched the others climb out of the limo then quickly followed them. The few students waiting outside for their friends shouted compliments and best wishes for them. Mainly best wishes for good fun.

They went through a door, which led straight to the gymnasium after a security check, and were met with both darkness and brightness. Tables were grouped together near their entrance, leaving plenty of space for dancing.

Oh my gosh, he is here, Kaya thought, spotting him across the room. He must be doing his sister a favor, she added as she saw the girl who was dancing with him. Even from that distance, she could see the friendly irritation that often appeared on Cypress' skull when Kaya bugged him enough to do something he didn't.

She shook her head to get out of her daze and walked over to a table, not preferring to dance. To her surprise, both Skyla and Jenny came to sit with her. Cypress went off into the crowd.

"Why aren't you two dancing?" Kaya asked.

"Oh, he just wants to talk to his buddies for a bit," Jenny replied. "Besides, the best songs are later into the night."

"Besides," Skyla added. "We want to know what you see in him."

"What? See in my brother?" she tried, hoping to avoid the question.

"You know who, Kaya. Now tell us what you see in him."

"It's just...he's super sweet and nice and supportive for the whole school."

"Not to mention handsome?"

"Y-yeah," Kaya said, blushing, a small smile quickly appearing on her face. She messed with a piece of her hair, twirling it between her fingers.

"Greetings, ladies," a voice said behind her. "May I have a word with my granddaughter?"

"Sure," Jenny said, getting up and dragging Skyla behind her.

"But I wanna-"

"I'll tell you soon. Now come on," she said as they disappeared into the crowd.

"Alright," Kaya sighed, holding out her hand. "How much did you add to this one?"

"Almost as much as an average determination SOUL can contain."

"Are you still sure that this 'data' you guys are collecting is going to be useful?"

"Yes, now take it so we get the data."

"Fine," she said and dumped it into her mouth. She swallowed, and as usual, nothing happened. "There, you have your research, so just go and get on with the next one."

Gaster sighed. "That's fine. We were already working on the next one, but you'll have to wait a bit before the next dosage. Also, no dancing."

"I can't even dance so why tell me that?" She glanced over to where her grandfather was and saw he disappeared.

Teleported away before he could get caught up with chatter. Alright with me.

"Hey, Kaya!" she heard her friend say, and turned away to see her emerging from the crowd. "Do you mind getting us some water?"

"Sure," Kaya replied, and got up to go to the long row of tables up against the nearby wall. Piles of food covered it, and the water jug was over to one side, where the other beverages and cups were.

She took one of the plastic cups and started filling it with water.

"Uh, hey," a voice said behind her.

She squeaked, spilling the drink, and instantly covered her mouth with her now skeletal hand.

OMG! she shouted in her head. IT'S MICKEAL! IT'S MICKEAL AND HE JUST HEARD ME SQUEAK!

"Oh, I'm sorry I scared you," he apologized.

"N-no. I-it's fine," she replied turning around. She found herself staring into his bright, green eyes. His black hair was combed, but it still looked like his normal messy hair. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a black tie and a white, pressed shirt underneath.

"Wow," she heard him whisper, which was barely audible above the music and shouting, but seemed crystal clear to her ears.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen," the dj said into a speaker, temporarily cutting off the music. "We're on our last song for your votes and then we have one more special one from everyone's favorite person. So go find yourselves a partner and start the slow dancin'."

From the speakers came the unforgettable music of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.

"So, uh, c-care to dance with me?" Mickeal asked, holding out his hand, blushing like a tomato.

Grandpa Gaster said not to but... my crush is literally offering his love to me. I can't say no when I feel the same way.

"I...would love to, but I, uh, don't know how to dance," Kaya responded, blushing. "Plus, I don't think I can dance in the middle of a crowd."

"I can teach you," he said, smiling, his hand still outstretched.

She took it and followed him to a more open but secluded spot.

(A/N: Sorry to spoil the mood, but please take note that:
Kaya's voice will be like this, Mickeal's voice will be like this, both of their voices like this, and the song will be like this. Ok, sorry again for interrupting. See ya)

"Heartbeats fast
Colors and promises."

Mickeal took her hands, hesitantly at first, probably still unsure if she liked him back or not, and guided them where to go. She did catch him a couple times staring at her, which only made her blush more furiously.

"How to be brave.
How can I love when I'm afraid
To fall."

He taught her how to slow dance, and what surprised Kaya the most was when he said, "You sound so amazing." She hadn't realized she had been softly singing along.

"But watching you stand
Alone.
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer."

"D-do you want me to keep singing?" Kaya asked softly, staring up into his eyes.

"Yes," he instantly responded. "I-I mean, only if you want to."

Kaya blushed some more, and decided to keep singing.

"I have died everyday
Waiting for you.
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years.
I love you for a thousand
More."

Slowly, and she didn't realize, they were going closer to the rest of the crowd of couples. Of course they didn't know, both of them being lost in each other's eye/eyes.

"Time stand still
Beauty in all she is.
I will be brave.
I will not let anything
Take away
What's standing in front
Of me.
Every breath
Every hour has come to this."

His voice surprised her, although she instantly got sucked into it.

"One step closer.
I have died everyday
Waiting for you.
Darlind didn't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years.
I love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed
I would find you.
Time has brought
Your heart to me.
I have loved you
For a thousand years.
I love you for a thousand more."

People moved out of the way as the two continued dancing. Their friends were watching, they knew, but they didn't pay attention to anything but each other and the music. They were both blushing brightly, like a couple of colored lights, but neither of them dared make a comment anout it.

"One step closer.
One step closer.
I have died everyday
Waiting for you.
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you
For a thousand years.
I love you for a thousand more.
And all along I believed
I would find you.
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you
For a thousand years.
I love you for a thousand more."

Kaya stared up at Mickeal, her heart beating fast in her chest as they stopped dancing. At the same time, she felt at ease while being in his arms, which have moved to her shoulders. Her own have moved down to his arms. He may not be all that muscular, but it was enough for her.

"Alright, love birds," the dj said, breaking their daze. "All of you who don't know Mickeal Derwent personally, have a wonderful rest of the night and we hope to see you all after the weekend's over. For those who do know him, I'm sure you know how personal this song is to him."

Kaya looked back at Mickeal, who now had a much darker gaze than she had seen on him ever before.

"What does he mean by that?" she asked as students started departing around them.

"I'm sure you won't be able to see it," he whispered. "Plus, I don't think you would want to see me again."

"One, I do know you. I...love you. And two, I didn't think you would be into a monster like me." As she said that, tears started to well up in her eye.

"You're no monster. Well, not completely, but you are no monster in that sense."

"Everyone else thinks so."

"I don't. Now, are you sure you want to stay?"

"Yes."

"Alright, just stand a little bit away from me, please?"

Kaya reluctantly nodded and stepped back. She felt the safety she had gained from his touch disappear in an instant.

"When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold.
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the bloods run stale."

Behind him, Kaya could see a large dark figure start to appear. Even as she heard the song, she felt her guardian struggle against something.

"I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide."

Kaya! Lyra growled, getting her full attention.

What's wrong? Kaya asked. She glanced to the side and saw the faint outline of her guardian. What do you think you're doing?

Oh, I'm sorry I decided now to ruin everything for you! she growled sarcasticly.

"No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed.
This is my kingdom come.
This is my kingdom come."

The dark figure behind Mickeal looked annoyed, its form now that of a large wolf. Its shining yellow eyes glowed in the darkness, while its body seemed to melt into it.

"When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close
It's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide."

Wait, is that a wolf? Kaya thought as the figure became clearer. Does he have a guardian as well? But how would that be?

I don't care, and I'm starting to really hate this song, Lyra replied, her form shaking as she tried to fight against the unknown force dragging her out into the world. How come this never happened when you sang it?!

"When the curtains call
It's the last of all.
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl.
So they dug my grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess I made.
Didn't want to let you down
But I am hellbound.
Though this is all for you
Don't wanna hide the truth."

She sang along, which made Mickeal look up, and she knew he could see Lyra, if she could see his own guardian.

"No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come. This is my kingdom come.
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close
It's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide.
They say it's up to fate
I say it's what you make.
It's woven in my soul.
I need to let you go.
Your eyes they shine so bright
I wanna save that light.
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how.
When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close
It's dark inside.
It's where my demons hide.
It's where my demons hide."

When the song ended, both guardians were visible to everyone who had stayed, and both looked equally annoyed.

"So you have one too," Kaya said, looking into Mickeal's eyes once more.

Alright, Lyra interrupted and took a step forward. Before either of you try to guess what is going on, let us explain.

"Wow," Cypress said from among the small crowd. "Didn't know your wolf could speak, sis."

That's because we prefer to only talk with our hosts, a deeper voice said, of which Kaya assumed came from the other wolf. No one else needed to know of our existence.

And yet Cypress knows of both of us. And now, so does everyone else, who at least know one of us. Besides, neither of us bothered to tell out hosts to keep our presence silent. Right, Lune?

Why don't we continue on to the topic at hand, Lyra? Lune growled. Isn't that what you were trying to get to in the first place?

Lyra sighed. Fine, she agreed. All of you over to a table. This will be a lot to take in.

They all walked over to one of the tables, each of the couples decidedly sitting next to each other.

Right, Lyra said, lying on the ground. Should I start off or would you rather state your pack's opinion first, Lune?

I'll start, but I'm not beginning straight away with my own pack's stupid opinion, Lune replied, who was sitting down instead of being in a more comfortable position.