Disclaimer for this story and all its chapters to come: I do not own.
For Mickey's Sake
Dedicated to Miya who,
I have this gut feeling,
is out there always piled
with an enormous workload
and is still able to fangirl
along side with me.
DO YOUR BEST!
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Part One
The Identity of the Boy Recluse
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Chapter One
Even as a young boy, Riku Akemi showed an uncanny talent for dance.
His gift and inspiration were bestowed upon him by his loving parents who just happened to be nationally recognized ballroom competitors. Their romance that sparked interest in daily star studded gossip television shows often described their relationship as "two lovers brought together by destiny: their fiery dedication to dance."
It was innocent at first, yes. Boy meets Girl. Boy and Girl fall madly in love with each other. Boy and Girl want to spend the rest of their lives together forever and ever…truly romantic indeed.
Though, love is all but a walk in the park, especially in the notorious business of entertainment.
There came a time when the young couple discovered the unpleasant secret of fame and fortune. That there was someone always out to get you; that people who you considered as friends (and even family) were actually not who they were at all. The reality of their once happy world was built upon lies, envy and hate; everything was a fake—everything but the young couple's honest love for one another and their passion for dance.
Mr. Akemi and the soon-to-be Mrs. Akemi came to the conclusion that enough was enough and took hold of their own destiny. Their actions were all over the headline news during the time.
PARTICIPANTS IN 7TH ANUAL BALLROOM DANCE NATIONALS DROP OUT
Rumors of Famous Couple Retiring Circulate the Dance Floor
PRIZE MONEY AT RECENT DANCE COMPETITON MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS
Connection with Famous Ballroom Couple?
MONEY SCANDAL CREATES FAMILY FEUD
Business Tycoon Disowns Daughter
FANS SHAKE THEIR HEAD IN DISAPPROVAL
Dance Idols Vanish, Where Have They Gone?
Indeed, the couple left their high-strung life of fortune and fame for one which they saw more appropriate. It came in the form of an abandoned two story building between an Italian butcher shop and a body building gym. It was certainly not their dream home; that was for sure. It looked dingy and old, it was very aesthetically displeasing. There was a foul smell from within, something like burnt rubber. They discovered with what evidence that was left—a few bills and machines—the building was most likely a small shoes company in the past. Though, even in its decrepit state it was a beautiful start, the young couple thought.
We now fast forward and look upon that same building. It is no longer ugly and in the desolate manner it was five years ago. In fact, through the windowpane glass surrounding the front portion of the first floor we see many people move to a certain beat. They are dancing across the mahogany wooded floors as lights of different colors reflect off the paneled wall mirrors and add to the joyous frenzy. Upon the door, which keeps the burst of music and lively sounds of happiness within, is a dangling sign which reads:
Beautiful Dawn Dance Studio
Lessons for the young and young at heart
Open Monday through Saturday
9 am to 9 pm
(Snacks shall be provided!)
It is easily the most active part of the block when the sun sets. This is not unusual in the least bit, and no one is really bothered by it at all. They peak out through their little windows and smile at the couple who run the Beautiful Dawn Dance Studio because they are one of a kind.
The floor above the studio is just as charming. It is nothing extravagant nor is it uninteresting, but it is everything in between. There are three bedrooms, a kitchen and dinning area which opens up into a family room, and a great bookcase not filled with books but musical records of sorts. There are knick-knacks that have been collected over the span of five years carefully arranged in neat patterns and a family portrait hanging close to the entrance (or in this case, an exit down to the studio). The bedroom which faces the street is elevated for it was the main office of the previous company. Now it is a nautical themed boy's bedroom. There are green curtains imitating the likeness of seaweed, a purple octopus night light in the corner, and a treasure chest filled with toys at the foot of a bed among many other sea related items. There is a bed with fluffy underwater explorer's print comforters, but the little boy who sleeps in it is not there. Instead he is sitting on the bay window watching the street below.
Riku Akemi should be fast asleep actually (it is an hour past his bedtime), but he is waiting for his parents to do their nightly ritual of checking up on him. He does not usually do this, no. He usually waits on his bed.
Tonight, though, he is excited. He wants to tell his parents about what he learned in school that day.
It went something like this: Ms. Bell asked her class the infamous question of 'what would you like to be when you grow up?' Many little hands shot up to voice their opinions while others just blurt it out loud. Believing that even at a young age there must be some resemblance of organization, the kind teacher explains to her class that they would share in order of their rows.
Riku Akemi knew he was in the first row and fifth person from the teacher's right. He was generally a nervous and shy child, therefore participating in class discussions would be something new, like riding a big boy's bike (only two wheels!). What was he to do? He was only five years old, how was he to know what he wanted to be for the rest of his life?! It was not fair, he thought.
The first child who shared was Tidus Merrick. Riku knew him on account that the blond boy was the snot-nosed bully who lived next door and had gotten into several scuffles with. He wanted to be a detective. Selphie Tilmitt went next and Riku knew her too. She was very happy and bouncy and loved animals. She wanted to run her family's butcher shop when she grew up.
Riku began to chew on his bottom lip, very aware that there were only two other children before him. He did not know them or their names, but he paid close attention so that maybe he wouldn't be as nervous and scared as he already was. The girl with red hair stood up in a polite manner and said that she would like to be the first female President of Destiny Island. The teacher commented at how lovely and aspiring the little girl was.
Riku frowned. There was one more child before it was his turn. He was a boy with unusually big eyes. It reminded Riku of an owl. He jumped from his seat and exclaimed that he wanted to be a super hero and proceeded to do a reenactment of how he would fight off the villain. All the children, except Riku, laughed at his silliness and Ms. Bell advised him to sit down. The boy with owl eyes scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and scuttled over to his seat. He then turned to Riku, who was still nervously biting his bottom lip, and gave him a big smile accompanied by a thumbs up.
Surprised, Riku Akemi returned a hesitant smile. He did not understand or know the meaning of this, but the random act seemed to calm him down. It was his turn to share and share is what he did. He told his classmates that he would be someone who could make a difference, someone who would make lots of munny. And when he thought about it, the 'getting up in front of the class and talking thing' wasn't all so bad.
Riku looked down from his spot by the window and noticed that lessons were over. It was quite late already, but that was to be expected (Friday nights were Salsa nights and it occasionally ran late). People began exiting the studio below and walking off in the direction of their homes ready to soak their sore feet after a long day's work.
In one swift motion, the little boy jumped down from the window seat to his bed and underneath his aquatic covers and awaited his parents' arrival. However, when a minute passed and another and another and another, Riku fidgeted. He shuffled off his bed and bent down to place his head on the floor. He listened, intent on hearing something, anything.
The little boy did hear something, though it wasn't what he expected. Instead of the upbeat salsa music—that he was sure had been playing minutes ago—there was a floating kind of melody, one he had not heard before.
Tip toeing through the hallway and down the stairs—making sure to hold the railing as he went down (his mother told him countless times to do such as to be careful not to trip and fall)—he reached the door which connected their house to the dance studio below. From there he could hear the music quite clearly, even if he did not know it yet, the music which was playing was for a waltz. He braved a little peek.
Riku Akemi watched in awe as his parents glided around the dance floor with an assortment of colored lights illuminating the room. Blinking from red to blue to green and yellow, Riku had to rub his eyes and blink thrice to adjust to the bright lights.
His father and mother moved with such fluidity and grace, it felt like each step they took had this burning flurry of passion. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Instead of those silly dances his parents were so happy to teach the neighbors (the Macarena and chicken dance), here they were dancing like—and he was very much convinced—like magic.
It was in this moment that Riku Akemi, who was pale and had a case of bad bed hair stood in doorway looking quite short and strange-looking for his age in matching fishy printed pajamas, continued observing with astonished aqua-colored eyes and rightfully decided that a dancer was what he had to be.
The little boy surprised his parents as he ran across the dance floor and joined them with great ease. It was a never ending dance the three of them shared: all laughing and out of breath and overjoyed while dancing to the melodious beat.
Who cared about being a businessman, anyway?
This was way cooler.
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A/N: Gasp! The story may seem slow but bear with me. This is actually the SIXTH time I've re-written the beginning of this fic. I'm really trying for something a bit different. Slow and steady wins the race, right?! Ha-ha. More importantly: I'm looking for a beta reader (for I don't dare to bother my official one because she is busy, methinks). So if you have nothing better to do and find this story the least bit interesting, please do leave a review or email me or can telepathically communicate to me, whatever is easiest for you! OK, till next chapter!!