Fandom: NARUTO
Pairing: Hayete/Genma
Author on LJ: Duelist's Journal Although it hasn't been updated in years.
Length: 2445 words
Author website: Kimi on Ficwad
Why this must be read:

If I were able .. and had lots more time, I'd rec over 20 of Kimi no Vanilla's fics. She has a deft hand at looking inside a character and finding something different, something never before apparent to the audience. But once you've read her fic, ah, then the character has that trait no matter what other fic you read or episode you watch. And her ficlets touch on the many cast of thousands of Naruto often glanced over with depth and warmth.

Dance is the story of Hayete, the coughing jounnin from the Chuunin Exams who joined the Naruto cast for so short a time and Genma, who replaced him.

When you go, leave behind something beautiful.

If you like this story, also try The Art of Concealment, Anniversary, or In Shadow as extra treats. You won't regret it. But have hankies at the ready.

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Buffy/Spike
Author on LJ: --
Length: 30,000+ words.
Author website: Dark Dreams

Why this must be read:
To Dream Again has one of the most masterfully constructed plots I ever read on BtVS fandom. Premise: in season 3 Spike returns to Sunnydale two months earlier. He goes to Joyce to complain about life and she lets drunk Spike sleep in Buffy's room, because she still thinks he's her bandmate. Pissed off, Buffy goes to Bronze, meets Halfrek and impulsively wishes that Spike weren’t a vampire so that she could call the cops and get him arrested. When she returns home, she discovers human William who quickly falls in love with her. Giles sends him back in time but time paradox happens nevertheless. Back in XIX century William can't forget Buffy so he finds Angelus to sire him because it's the only way to cross the ocean of time and meet Buffy again. When he meets her in a new, "reloaded" universe, everything goes differently - and yet so many things stay the same...
Using tried-and-true technique of "take two", Ariane reworks practically all the crucial plot points of later seasons, including Buffy's voyage to heaven after her death. Writer adapts all canonical events to the new reality yet keeps the story very close to canon. Characters are sharply drawn and recognizable, pace is quick (Ariane avoids long descriptions that readers usually skip, and that's a big bonus), and, among all the angst, twists and turns there is a lot of humor.

( Excerpt: )

To Dream Again

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Cassandra Cain (very brief mentions of Bruce/Selina, Bruce/J'onn, and Tim/Cass, but really gen)
Author on LJ: icarus_chained 
Length: 1600 words
Author website: N/A
Why this must be read:

icarus_chained  doesn't self-promote much, to my chagrin, although I'm more than happy to promote her myself. She's one of my absolute favorite authors in the DC fandom, and this short story (really more of an introspective reflection) is a good example why. If you love any of the characters listed above, you'll probably like this story, which details Alfred's experiences teaching each member of the Batclan to dance over the years.  Icarus's stories are always suffused with deep respect and love for all the characters, and a graceful hand with language.  Above all, this is a story for Alfred, a character who too often (if understandably) becomes merely a piece of the scenery in stories.  I love stories that explore Alfred's past, and this one touches on it in ways that make me smile and love him even more.

Alfred had taught them all to dance. He had gone through the steps with each one, given them the basics, taught them something of the rhythm. Tried so hard with each to give them something of the joy, the power. With each, he had succeeded, at least in part. There was not a one of them that couldn't at least go through the motions, and make it look convincing. It would probably have to be enough. There were times when Alfred was just happy to take what triumphs he could get. And for the times when he wasn't ... there were always the dances he kept for himself.

Dancing Lessons