Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this story is the idea. Natsume and Mikan are definitely not mine even if I wanted them to be

Dance with Me

One more twirl and then … I felt it. I felt I could reach it. Just a little more and …

Crash!

"Fuck!" I said trying to immediately stand. If I could just nail this I was sure I had a chance for that audition. "Shit, I almost had it." And well let's just say the following words were much too colorful to actually write down.

"Ugh," I stood up and headed to my music player. I put it in shuffle and felt the beginnings of a song.

This was what I did when I was in a jam: I continued dancing. Because dancing was the one thing I loved to do the most. And I wanted to get into that school so I that I could finally have even a small school written down for my dancing career.

The beat kept playing, and I kept on dancing. I released all my tension by just moving to the beat doing what was most natural to do.

"Mikan?" I looked up to find my mom peeking into the room. I stopped the music.

"What is it mom?" I asked her.

"Well, someone's on the phone for you."

"Ok, I'll be right out." I grabbed the towel I had draped on my chair and proceeded to wipe the sweat all over my face.

I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair in the messy bun that I tied a while ago, worn ballet shoes, tights, a black tank top and a loose white shirt. I wasn't necessarily pretty but I wasn't ugly either. I was … average. I had hazel eyes and long brown hair, that wasn't anything special.

The same thing applies to my room, which wasn't really my room. It was our previous living room. My mom had sold all of the scarce furniture in exchange for some mirrors that could help me with my dancing. I bought a short length of bar that was now beside one of the mirrors. This was my sanctuary. And I was touched that my mom sacrificed this room in our already cramped little home.

I mean I convinced her not to, I told her that it didn't matter were I practiced, as long as I could dance, I was happy. But she was persistent and I was surprised when one afternoon after returning from school I found what she had done. I think this was in return for not being able to send me to any dancing schools. I didn't really mind. I loved dancing and found every possible way to learn without those expensive dancing schools. That wasn't the only possible way to learn right?

I learned through videos and sneaked into dancing school practices. I did anything just to learn how to dance different dances. When you want something, you'd do anything just to get it.

I draped my towel around my neck and continued to wipe the sweat on my cheeks and forehead. I headed outside to our cramped hallway and grabbed the phone.

"Mikan, speaking." I said to the person on the other line.

"Nice to talk to you too, my sweet kouhai."

"Tsubasa-niisan," I couldn't help the smile that had graced me face. "How's your career doing other there?"

"Truth be told, I'm currently in a slump," I heard him say. "Competition here is harder than I thought."

"I'm sure you'll get through you've always had."

"Awww, my little kouhai is cheering me up," he said in the adoring tone he always used when he was talking about me.

"I'm just stating a fact." I confidently replied to him.

I heard his answering chuckle through the phone. "Anyway, what I actually wanted to say to you was that there was going to be an audition for the Dance Academy you wanted to go to here in Tokyo."

"What?" I said confused. "Wait … really? Tokyo Academy of Dance is having auditions?"

AN: TAD is totally not true okay? I mean, I now for a fact there are dance schools in Tokyo but TAD is something I thought of in the spur of the moment.

"Yup, I sent you a copy of the flyer in your email." I could almost see the smile on his face. "So, are you up to it?"

"You don't even need to ask." I replied to him.

We said our goodbyes and exchanged numbers. When I had finally put the phone down, reality came crashing down on me. I couldn't leave my mother here alone and go marching to Tokyo to audition for a dance academy. I just can't.

"Nuh-uh," I could hear my mother's voice from the kitchen entrance. "I heard every word you said and I'm not letting you let go of this dream of yours. You've been working for it you whole life."

"Mom, I can't just leave you behind."

"You can and you will," She said holding onto my hands "Don't even think that I didn't notice you working part time jobs in between school and practices. I've seen how hard you've practiced. Don't waste that talent of yours and make yourself big."

My mom was just an angel. "I really love you, mom."

And so here I am, with my bags packed, in my car going to Tokyo. I had saved up some money working some odd jobs back home and even though I resisted mom still handed me some of the money she had saved up.

"I'm not letting you go somewhere without even giving you some money." She complained.

"I don't really need it mom," I insisted. "You need it more than I do."

"No," She huffed. "You aren't going to stop me in giving you what you have deserved since you were a little girl. You work too hard let you mom at least feel like a mom once in a while and give you some money."

That had shut me up.

I felt my eyes start to fill with tears but I quickly brushed it away. Mom was supporting me and wanted my dreams to come true.

I stop by Tsubasa's apartment on my way to the academy. He told me his girlfriend could help me get a job and a place to stay. I trusted him as much as I trusted my mom.

As I walked up to his room, I couldn't help my hands from shaking. I've had close encounters with a lot of his girlfriends back home and let me tell you they weren't always nice encounters. I shivered in horror as I remembered some of them.

I took a deep breath and knocked on his door.

A beautiful pink haired girl opened it wearing a white blouse and shorts. I released a big sigh when she smiled at me and I immediately smiled back.

"You're Mikan, right?" She said as she opened the door wider inviting me in. "Tsubasa's kouhai?"

"Yep," I said, happy that Tsubasa finally found someone nice for once.

"Well, I'm Misaki," She reached out her hands to hold mine. "Misaki Harada."

And then from out of nowhere I heard Tsubasa-niisan shouting.

"Mikan!" to say I was surprised was an understatement. He almost tackled me and crushed me to the ground if Misaki hadn't been able to pull me towards her.

"Misaki!" Tsubasa-niisan whined from his position on the floor. "Why did you pull her away? I wanted to give her a hug." He continued whining and pouting.

I thought Misaki was going to give into him but when I looked up at her face she was amused. "You're such a baby." She said laughing.

And then after a while Tsubasa joined in chuckling. I didn't really get the joke but I did use this time to look at how much my senpai had changed.

His blue hair had grown longer and there was something different about his face that I couldn't point out. But other than that, he was still the same as ever.

"What time's your audition?" He asked as he stood up and brushed some dust of his jeans.

"It's …" I trailed off as I glanced at my watch. "How many minutes is it from here to the academy?"

"I don't know 20-30 minutes?" He shrugged. "Why?"

"Crap!" I grabbed my purse and headed out. "I'm going to be late."

"Wait up I'll drive you." He kissed Misaki on the cheek and grabbed his wallet and phone. "You'll get lost and even later if I don't."

"Fine," I tossed him my keys. "Let's go."

"Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap …" I continuously said as we reached the academy and Tsubasa parked.

"Calm down, grab your change of clothes and dancing shoes," He said as he patted my head.

I reached behind me and took the messenger bag that had my clothes and shoes and tried to steady my breathing.

"You're going to be fine," He smiled at me. "On second thought, you're going to nail it."

"You always say that," I complained but I eventually smiled at him my nerves decreasing just a bit.

He smiled, "And I always mean it."

"Thanks," I said giving him a quick hug.

"Your welcome," He patted my head.

I rushed into the academy and headed to what I could assume was the information desk.

"Ummm, I'm here for the auditions." I said nervously biting my bottom lip.

She was obnoxiously chewing gum, with earphones lodged into her ears, and barely even looked at me before pointing to the double doors straight behind her.

"Thanks!" I said to her as I rushed to the doors. I definitely didn't like that girl.

I quietly pushed open the doors and found myself a spot among the dancers. They were already stretching but I was confident enough that I wouldn't be left behind.

Dressed in black tights, a pale blue sort of skirt and a black v-neck shirt and I was good to go. I tied my hair up in a bun like all of the other girls and tried to make it as neat as theirs. But with shaky hands, trying was all I could do.

After a few basic steps, we were paired off and had to dance with our partners. After that we took a break and I couldn't help munching on some cookies mom baked for me for my trip. Imagine my surprise when practically every girl in the room glared at me. Oops, I forgot. Eating was a really touchy subject among female dancers. Even back home the teams that I joined, which had girls in them, especially glared at me when I practically stuffed my face. But the thing was, if I starved myself like they did I wouldn't have enough energy to dance. So in the end, I didn't really care about them. As long as I got to dance I was happy.

And then finally we were allowed a minute for an exhibition performance. And I knew this was my chance to impress them. I mean basic steps were important and all but … this was how they made sure you really had what it takes. And I was going to show them I definitely had it.

I felt the music as it practically carried me around the room in twirls, jumps, steps, hops: in everything I did. It moved with me and my body as I finished with a Grand écart and finally into an arabesque. "Thank you, Miss Sakura." I nodded my head and gave them a bow.

I could tell from the great amount papers lining the walls that the results would be posted around tomorrow afternoon. I returned to the main studio were we had to dance with partners and proceeded to get my stuff but when I was about to open the door that led to the main hall someone suddenly hit my shoulder.

I wasn't prepared for it so I lost my balance. I was preparing my mind for the ache of the fall when I felt two arms encircle my waist and look up to find a pair of fiery crimson eyes looking at me. "Natsume~!" A girl with short hair that I immediately recognized to be Luna Koizumi, the girl the instructors praised, started calling out. I heard my savior grunt and steady me on my feet. "Thanks!" I mumbled embarrassed.

He glanced at me for a second then he turned away before Luna could catch up to him.

I was so flustered that I almost didn't pick up on the tingling feeling he had left on my skin. I repeat, almost. I felt my cheeks redden. Natsume … that was his name.

Meanings:

Grand ecart - Literally, great gap. Also known as 'spagat' in German or 'splits' in English, is when the dancer opens his/her legs in 180°, front or sideways.

Arabesque - Arabesque is the position of the body supported on one leg, with the other leg extended behind the body with the knee straight. The standing leg may be either bent in plie or straight. Arabesque is used in both allegro and adagio choreography and generally concludes a phrase of steps, but it is mostly advisable to straighten the supporting leg.

Author's note: Okay so this is my first story and I'm hoping you guys like it. I'm still not sure if I will continue it or not probably depends on the number of reviews ... so,ummm ... please review! XD

Oh and please remember reviews are greatly appreciated if you think this story is even worth continuing.

Review! :D