Author's Note: Okay, I know. It sounds dumb. But that's what I get for watching Moulin Rouge one too many times and listing to the soundtrack as well. Oh well. Enjoy and please no flames.
A Dance to Remember
By: Lady Ava
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Though it is a nice thought to think I do.
Sora stood in the middle of a large stage. All the lights were off and the only form of glow was a single spotlight that was on her. The girl was dressed in a beautiful red sparkle dress and shoes. Sora's hair was up in a fancy assortment of curls and her face was covered with sparkles as well.
As she stood center stage, a loud voice cut through the darkness. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you. The top dancer in the Carishero Dance School, Sora!"
The crowd went wild as Sora smiled broadly. That's when the people began to chant her name over and over again. "Sora! Sora! Sora!"
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"Hey Sora! It's your turn!" A girl with shinning black hair stated, while shaking Sora's shoulder lightly.
Jumping a bit, Sora came out of her daydream. Looking at the girl who was shaking her, she blushed. "Oh. Opps, I must of zoned out there for a second. Thanks Marina." She said, standing up off the floor.
Running to the center of the floor, Sora stopped and slid automatically into fifth position. Smiling, she nodded for the DJ to start the music. As the music began, she slowly began to move into her routine.
For the past four years, Sora had been taking lessons at the Carishero School of Dance and the Arts. She was one of the best students in her class and had taken many different styles of dance. Her first year she studied ballet, then her second year she took tap. Her third year, she began modern dance. But in her now fourth year at the school, the teacher decided to put her in the Spanish dance class.
After finishing her three-minute routine, the class of ten applauded in agreement. Standing up straight, Sora breathed in and out heavily. "Very good, Sora." Her teacher exclaimed in a very heavy Spanish accent. Clapping her hands together, she shouted above the chatter of her other students. "That will be all for today. Class dismissed."
The students grabbed their bags and headed for the main lobby of the large school. Sora walked through the doors and into the entryway as she shoved the remainder of her dance clothes into the bag. She was very tired and felt as if her legs were going to give from being so stretched out. As she walked down the staircase, a familiar voice called to her from the bottom.
"Hey Sora!" A well-known person called to the girl.
Looking up, Sora smiled to see her best friend standing there, covered from head to toe with wet mud. The teen's hair was messed and his goggles hung around his neck loosely, they too covered in the wet earth. His dirty soccer uniform and bag hung heavily on him as he stood waiting for her to come down stairs.
"Let me guess. They made you play in the rain?" She asked jokingly, as she became eye level with her friend.
Nodding, he out Sora's raincoat and umbrella. "I think you might need these." He smiled, his white teeth cutting through the dirt.
Accepting her coat, Sora put it on. Then, taking the umbrella from him, she placed it into his other hand. "Take my umbrella, Tai. I think you need it more than I do." Sora told him, flicking a piece of grass and dirt from the teen's shirt.
Tai rolled his eyes. "Thanks mom." He stated sarcastically.
"You're welcome, son." She shot back. Looking at Tai, Sora raised an eyebrow. "Why did you come to get me? I didn't tell anyone about this practice." She questioned, as she buttoned up her bright red jacket.
Wiping some of the mud from his face, the leader of the former Digidestined smiled. "Your mom told me that you were here. She was at the game with my mom. She said that you have a performance coming up in a few weeks." Tai explained.
"Yea. I'm suppost to do a partner dance with my friend Paul. But he wasn't here today." She complained, adjusting her dance bag's strap. "I have no idea where he is. I tried calling his house, but he wasn't there."
Suddenly, Sora's dance teacher came running down the stairs. "Sora! I'm glad I didn't miss you!" She called as she ran up to the two teens.
"What's up, Sa?" She asked, as both she and Tai turned to face the panting teacher.
Coming face to face with Sora, Sa panted. "I meant to tell you that Paul is no longer your partner."
Sora's eyes widened with fear and shock. "What? What do you mean? He has to be! Paul is the only guy in class who can lift me!" She screamed, her voice sounding very desperate.
"Paul moved back to Canada yesterday. His mother only called to tell me yesterday." The teacher explained sadly. Looking over at Tai, she raised an eyebrow. "Are you always covered in mud like that?" She asked.
Looking down at himself, Tai laughed. "Of course. Aren't you?" He joked, turning to Sora. But the girl wasn't in a very joking mood. Her eyes welled with tears as she walked over to one of the cushioned benches in the center of the room. Flopping down onto the couch, she threw her head in her hands and began to cry. Placing his soccer bag onto the ground, Tai walked over to her and sat as well. "Sora? Are you okay?" He asked softly.
Looking up at the teen, Sora looked into his mud-darkened face. "Without…a partner, I can't perform in the composition in two weeks. And I was looking forward to this composition for four years." She cried, resting her head on her best friend's muddy shoulder.
Wiping the dirt off of his left arm, Tai placed his arm around Sora's shoulders and held her. "It's okay. Don't worry." He whispered.
Suddenly, Sora's teacher reached over and felt Tai's other arm. Then standing up straight, she smiled widely. "You're perfect!"
Tai and Sora looked at the dancer with raised eyebrows. "Who's perfect?" Sora asked.
"Why your friend here." She stated happily. Reaching over, she grabbed Tai's arm roughly, causing him to fall onto the floor. "Look at these muscles. They are perfect to lift a girl your size." She stated. Then, letting go of Tai's arm, Sa reached down and grabbed his ankle. Lifting it up, Tai was resting on the floor by his shoulders. "His leg muscles are strong enough to do the moves required."
Before the woman could continue, Tai scrambled to his feet. Taking a giant step backwards, he held his hands up. "Whoa, wait a sec. Are you suggesting that I replace Sora's partner?" He asked, although he already figured the answer would be yes.
"That's a great idea!" Sora exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
Tai sweatdropped and then began to laugh. "You can't be serious."
"Tai, you can lift me up. You've done it a million times." Sora explained.
"But…" Tai started. But before he could continue, both women were right in front of him. They both had the saddest expressions on their faces that they hoped made Tai feel as if he had to do it. Unfortunately for him, it worked. "Alright…I'll do it."
Clapping her hands together happily, Sa smiled widely. "Excellent. Come back here tomorrow morning at nine and Sora and I will start your lessons." And with that, the woman vanished into the dance studio once again.
Lowering his head, Tai sighed. "How do I get myself into these things?" He asked aloud.
"Aw, come on Tai. It should be fun." Sora laughed happily as she reclaimed her belongs from the floor. "Let's go before the rain gets any heavier."
As the two teens walked out into the rainy weather, Tai opened the umbrella and was very glad that Sora let him take it. For when they walked out into the rain, the heaven's opened upon them. Sora adjusted the hood to her raincoat. "Man, I didn't know the weather would be this bad." She said.
"You're telling me." Tai agreed as they started off towards their apartment building. While the two teens walked along the damp streets of Tokyo, the bearer of Courage looked over at his best friend. "Sora, what exactly do I have to do in order to dance with you?"
Glancing over at Tai, the keeper of Love raised an eyebrow in thought. "Well, you'll have to learn the basic positions. Um, the proper way to lift me so you don't break my ribs, and how to dip me."
"Dip you?"
Sora felt herself blush a bit. Just the thought of Tai holding her in his arms as they danced across the floor together seemed like heaven. "Yea, dip me. That's what they do in Latin dancing."
Tai turned his head forwards again. "Man, how did I manage this one?" He thought out loud.
After a matter of minutes, the two teens arrived at their apartment building. Tai walked Sora to her apartment, mostly because he wanted to be a gentleman and also because he wanted as much time to near Sora as possible. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow at nine, Okay?" Sora asked happily.
"Sure. But Sora, can we keep this between us?" Tai questioned.
Smiling, the brown haired girl nodded. "Of course Tai. I won't tell a soul that you are going to dance. Besides, no one would believe me anyways."
Laughing, Tai and Sora stared at each other for one silent moment. Then they parted ways.
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It was a typical dinner at the Kayima's home. Tai and Mr. Kayima where literally throwing Mrs. Kayima's cooking down their throats as Kari was forced to endure watching it. "Mom, you really out did yourself this time." Tai sang happily as he shoved a coconut shrimp into his mouth.
Mrs. Kayima smiled as she looked up from the stove. "Why, thank you Tai." She said happily.
"So, how did your game go today?" Mr. Kayima asked threw a mouth full of rice.
Swallowing hard on the remaining food in his mouth, Tai grinned widely. "We won. Six to two. I didn't care that I was covered head to toe in mud at the end of it. We won and that's all that matters." He sang happily.
"Did you manage to find the dance school alright Tai?" Mrs. Kayima asked as the thought popped into her head.
Smiling, Tai felt his face grow a bit warm. "Yea, I did." He said, his eyes trailing off to the ground.
"Aw…Tai's blushing!" Kari said loudly as she ran her finger around the edge of her glass.
"I'm not blushing!" Tai shouted at his sister, who still had a large grin on her face.
Suddenly, it was open season on Tai. "Son, what is there to be embarrassed about?" Mr. Kayima taunted.
Jumping out of his chair, Tai became even redder in the face. "Nothing!" He shouted.
Grabbing his dirty dishes, the teen ran over and placed them into the sink. Then, he quickly bowed to his mom. "Mom, could you wake me up tomorrow around eight. I have to go somewhere tomorrow morning."
"Sure honey." She said happily.
Before his family could take anymore cracks at him, Tai vanished into his bedroom and locked the door behind him. Walking over to his bed, the youth fell face first into the soft sheets. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was blushing. Blushing because of the fact that he was now Sora's dance partner. Sora, the girl that he had been friends with ever since he could remember was now his dance partner.
Closing his eyes, Tai pictured Sora in his mind. Her gentle eyes stared into his own. Her soft skin was as sweet smelling as any rare flower and her hair was soft to touch. "Sora…" He murmured as he fell into a deep sleep.
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