Dance Steps
by Chiharu Tanaka
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A/n: Finally, after over 2 years of R&R (reading and reviewing, not rest and relaxation) on , I have decided to come back! Haha not that any of you know me, I'm not popular in Anyway, let's just move on shall we? ;;
Disclaimer: I own only the plot and...some stuff at home.
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Chapter 1: Dance Class
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The radiating rays of the sun lightly shined through the window and into the elegant room. Birds were chirping harmoniously that early summer morning. An innocuous maiden of fifteen lay asleep on her bed. Her shoulder length red-brown hair was spread out in all directions. The bangs that cover part of her cheeks brought out her natural, chaste self.
"Risa!"
Another young girl of fifteen opened the door and walked inside. She resembled the other girl a lot, for they are twins. Her short, red hair was cut that way to differentiate herself from her sister.
"Mou-she's asleep...and she was the one who wanted cooking lessons..."
The short haired twin, Harada Riku, walked towards the large glass door that leads to the balcony and tugged it open to let the warm summer breeze ventilate through the room.
After doing so, she returned her attention back to her sleeping twin sister.
"Risa, wake up! It's morning!"
"Nani yo- Riku, I want to sleep," mumbled the younger Harada.
"Hey- I'm going to see Daisuke-kun this afternoon, so if you want me to teach you how to cook, hurry and get dressed!"
"Cook?"
The younger Harada twin, Risa, quickly got up from the bed and rushed towards the bathroom to get ready for her cooking lessons from her sister.
"This will take a while..." mumbled Riku, crossing her arms against her chest.
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"That's it..."
Riku sighed as Risa finally cooked the breakfast without burning anything- like she did the last time. Pancakes with syrup and some eggs were served.
"Itadakimasu!" said the twins in unison.
After finishing the breakfast, they both washed the dishes. "You know, those pancakes were pretty good," commented Riku.
"Honto ni? Arigatou, Riku-chan!" replied Risa.
Silence. Only the sounds of plates clattering and the flowing water were audible.
"So...what are you going to do for the rest of the summer?" asked Risa.
"Nothing much, I guess. Apart from the occasional slumber parties and picnics with friends as well as dates with Daisuke-kun, I guess I'm not doing anything else...much. What about you?"
"I...don't know..."
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"Okaa-san..."
"No buts. My clients who were the ones holding the ball and the cruise-and they are hoping to see both of you there. It would be nice for you two to socialize a bit."
"Demo, okaa-san, neither Riku nor I can dance!"
"That problem will soon be fixed. I got you two places at a famous dancing school near home, and students there complete their normal courses within 2 weeks! The ball is also in 2 weeks time-so by then, you should be able to dance, ne?"
"Hai...I understand."
"There's another place left there-and I booked it for Niwa-kun. He's invited too, by the way, so that Riku and him can come as a couple. Classes are to be attended everyday- except Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m."
"Hai."
"Inform your sister and Niwa-kun, will you? Thanks. And your father and I will be home 2 days before the cruise. I've to go now- got a meeting in 5 minutes. Take care- bye!"
The line went dead. Slowly, Risa put down the phone with a frown on her face.
"Riku-chan!!!" she yelled.
"Nani yo, Risa?" asked Riku as she stepped out of the laundry room.
"Okaa-san called just now. She said..."
"Said...what?"
"She said that we were supposed to attend one of her client's ball on his or her cruise ship. The ship's going to Hong Kong."
"What?! B-but, what for?"
The twins walked towards the living room then sat on the sofa.
"Her 'faithful' clients wanted to see us at the ball...she couldn't let them down...so..."
"Let me guess, we're stuck going to some ball where lots of gossiping adult snobs will be attending, and we're all gonna eat with silverware and wear all those expensive clothing?"
"If you want to put it that way, yes."
"Aren't people supposed to dance at a ball?" asked Riku.
"Yes, I know what you're thinking. We both can't dance. Mom quickly solved that problem though. She got us- and Niwa-kun, since mom invited him as well- places at the dancing school in town."
"I knew mom was going to do this to us someday. Daisuke's invited, right?"
"Hai."
"Good. If they do partners at that school- which I think they do, at least I can get him as a partner..."
"............"
"When's the ball anyway?"
"17 days from today."
"At least we'll only be spending part of our summer dancing...and when are the classes, anyway?"
"2 to 4 p.m. everyday, except Sunday."
"That many times a week?"
"It's a shortcut course. Only 12 classes and we're done."
"Fine...I'm going to ring Daisuke up and tell him."
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"D-dancing classes?"
"Onegai, Daisuke-kun...I wouldn't want to dissapoint my mom..."
"Um...uh...I guess I'll follow. Though my mom and Towa-chan won't stop crooning over me when I tell them later..."
"Ehehe...anyway, classes are everyday, starting tomorrow, 2 to 4 p.m. and you'd have to get...dancing shoes or something. Risa and I will pick you up at your house."
"So- why am I going for this class again?"
"You're invited to the ball, silly! My mom knows about us, and she thought it'll be a nice opportunity to show us off...I think..."
"Ok, ok...I'll go tell my mom. See you tomorrow, then."
"Sankyuu! See you then!"
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'Here we are...' thought Risa.
"Wow- that's a big dancing school!" exclaimed Riku.
Daisuke sighed as all three of them entered the big, brown building.
"Ah- konnichiwa! You must be the Harada twins- and Niwa-kun, no?" said the instructor, greeting them at the front door with her thick Spanish accent.
"H-hai..."
"Hajimemashite! I am Maria Rodriguez, your instructor. You can just call me Maria," she said, full of enthusiasm.
"Hajimemashite," said the trio, bowing down.
After bowing down as well, Maria led them to the area where they change their shoes (?). The area was empty, since everybody had came earlier than the three.
"Okay, Harada Riku- your mother specified for you to be paired up with Niwa-kun, no?" asked Maria while they were putting on their dancing shoes.
"Hai, Maria-sensei," she replied.
"So that leaves Risa alone...let's see..." said Maria, checking her clip-on board.
"Ok, come on in, you three," she said and opened the door.
Inside the hall, the trio gaped with amazement. They knew how dancing studios looked like, but never imagined it to be so...big. There were so many young girls and boys, more or less 30 of them, from kids to teenagers in there.
"This is the beginner's studio. Mix in while I get the microphone," said Maria before leaving.
Riku and Daisuke went to the huge mirrors to see themselves in the mirror- just for fun. Risa tagged along with them, but she didn't bother to look up, instead, she just stared at the floor.
"Attention, attention, students!" boomed Maria's voice from the speaker.
The students turned their attention to Maria, who was standing on the stage.
"Okay, you all know me, Maria, and I will be your instructor while you go through this beginner's class. I'm very glad to meet you all here. Now, I will pick your partners, so when your name is called, step on the stage, wait for your partner to come up, then go down the stage through the other staircase on my left. Line up on the right side of the studio. Understand?"
All the students nod their heads.
"Niwa Daisuke."
"Harada Riku."
The two stepped up onto the stage then went down and dissapeared into the crowd.
After calling out a few names, Maria coughed a bit then resumed her "partner-picking".
"Harada Risa."
Risa quickly stepped up on to the stage, nervously wondering who her partner would be. 'I hope he's friendly...'
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To be continued...
A/n: MUAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA!!!! I just love cliffies!!! XD
Risa: Mou, you're mean.
Me: I don't care, just keep in touch with the fic to find out who Risa's partner is