Hirata glanced over at the red-head. "What?" She asked baffled.
"I said," the red-head's face went strait, as if a hand had wiped the laughter away. "Do you," He pointed to Hirata. "Want to dance," He put his arms and rocked them back and forth as if dancing with someone invisible. "With me?" He pointed to himself, still strait faced.
Hirata burst out laughing as she looked at Sasori. "Sure, sure." She smirked. The red-head bowed his head, grabbed her hand, and led her to the dance floor. They positioned themselves next to Deidara and Miyuki and began to dance. The steps to the song were close to that of a normal ball, just more jumping than one would expect. It was one of the traditional moon festival dances, so everyone in the room new all of the steps except Hirata. "I really don't know how to…" Hirata blushed as she let Sasori twirl her.
"Dance?" Sasori asked. Hirata nodded. "Just follow my lead." He slowed his pace. "One, two, three. One, two, three." Sasori helped her with moving her feet. "And one more and then we jump." He said. Then he place his hand on Hirata's hip and lifted her up into the air and gracefully set her back down. "Next you twirl," He spun her. "And start again. This time with two jumps." They repeated slowly until Hirata got the hang of it and they went with the crowds speed.
Several feet from them Miyuki and Deidara were dancing. Miyuki kept him at arm's length as he babbled on about why she should just dance normally. "Yuki-chan,"
"Miyuki-san please." Miyuki hissed.
"Miyuki-san you would be much more comfortable if you just-"
"After last year?! Not on your life!"
"How was I supposed to know they would do that un?" Deidara whined. "Do you think I would try to lick you on purpose? Honestly you where to much perfume un."
"Shut it or I'm just going to sit down again." Miyuki warned. Deidara sighed and continued to dance.
"There! See you got it!" Sasori smiled at Hirata who blushed and looked away.
"Yeah because I have such a great teacher." She mumbled.
Sasori was about to respond when a loud voice overtook the room. "Attention everyone! The show is about to begin! Could everyone please get to the walls as we prepare tonight's entertainment." Sasori bowed to Hirata and him and the blond returned to the rest of their group in the far corner.
"What's going on?" Hirata asked as her and Miyuki were reunited once more.
"It's the puppet show! My great-uncle always makes these beautiful dolls and shows them off in a show. They're like clock-work people." Miyuki giggled. "They're really cool."
"Oh, sounds neat." Hirata beamed as the two sat on the couch from before.
"Now ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin!" The lights dimmed to almost blackness and a single light was focused in the center. "Long ago, six adventures traveled the land, searching for their kidnapped friend. Their adventures took them to the heart of their kidnappers' lair where they battled one of them…" The voice said. Suddenly a pink haired girl and a purple haired woman appeared and everyone clapped. On closer expectation, Hirata saw all of the places where their bodies could move there were joints. Looking closer she could see that they were wooden people whose faces were painted on but they were wearing real clothes.
The two ladies bowed and the audience clapped. "They didn't even do a story-line and everyone's clapping?" Hirata whispered to Miyuki.
"My great-uncle does a new chapter every year. You've just missed all of the other ones." Miyuki whispered back.
A wooden man dressed in black robes with red hair walked out and the audience gasped. He positioned himself in front of the girls and took a fighting stance. The ladies followed suit and attacked. The three continued to fight for another five minutes, making the audience gasp, sheer, and laugh at some comical parts. It got to the point where it looked as though the red-head would win, but then the purple haired women took out a wooden sword and stabbed him. The red haired man fell dead and then stood up and all three bowed then stopped moving. The lights went back on and the audience clapped and whistled. "That's all for this year! Have a wonderful evening!" An old man called to the room as he walked over to Miyuki and Hirata. "So Yuki-chan, what did you think of it this year?" He asked Miyuki.
"It was really cool. The battle effects were really good, only I'm kind of sad the red-head died…" Miyuki sighed.
"Oh don't worry! He's only a puppet." The old man said then looked at Hirata. "Is this your friend?"
Miyuki nodded. "Hirata-sempai this is my great-uncle who made the puppets."
The old man stuck out his hand. "Nice to meet you Hirata. What did you think of my show?"
"It was wonderful sir. But I have to agree with Miyuki, I wish the red-head didn't die." Hirata mumbled the last part.
"Ok then, I think this might cheer you girls up then." The old man reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. "In my room there is a locked chess. Inside are miniature versions of all my life-size puppets. You each can pick one, even the red head, to keep." The man smiled, handed the key to Miyuki, and walked away. Miyuki grabbed Hirata's arm and led her down the hallway.
"Where are we going Yuki-chan?" Hirata asked.
"Isn't it obvious sempai? It's not every day he lets you take a puppet. Some of my family even says that they make magical things happen!" Miyuki said like a little kid. Hirata rolled her eyes and entered one of the rooms with Miyuki. Miyuki sped towards a chest in a corner and opened it with the key. "Wow! He has everyone in here!" Miyuki giggled with delight. "I'm choosing this guy. He's my brother's favorite and my bro couldn't come tonight, he's sick so this is his present." She said as she grabbed a man in black robes like the red-head and an orange mask on his face. "Which one do you want sempai?"
Hirata grabbed the chest from Miyuki. "I think I'll take this one." She said as she grabbed the miniature red-headed doll.