A Promise Fulfilled Chapter Three: A Rebellious Daughter

Twelve years after her mysterious illness, Haru Yoshioka was a picture of health. As she walked tall and proud down the corridors of her high school, boys would turn and stare at her, entranced by her aura. Her dreamy brown eyes seemed to be far away as she changed into her soccer uniform for practice. She had no true love for the sport, but continued with it to keep her father off her back. Honestly, the fights she's had with that man…

The tall brunette spotted her best friend warming up with a few other girls. She walked up to them and began stretching as well. The other girls stiffened, afraid to offend the superintendant's daughter. She noticed their unease.

"I can stretch somewhere else, if I'm a distraction."

They shook their heads fast, although they were nodding enthusiastically in their minds.

"It's no problem, Haru-chan." Hiromi said confidently, oblivious to the other girls' discomfort. Haru smiled at her friend and continued stretching. "I hear Machida asked you out again."

The brunette nodded.

"I'm surprised that he hasn't gotten the idea by now that I'm not interested in a relationship."

Hiromi giggled.

"Come on, Haru; if you aren't, than what are the rest of us supposed to do? I'm not half as confidant as you are."

She smiled warmly at the compliment.

"Don't worry about me, Hiromi; I'll be okay. Just focus on Tsuge, and he'll come around."

Another girl dared to speak, noticing how Haru's eyes always faded when boys were brought up.

"I think you've got it bad for someone else."

The whistle blew for practice to begin, but not before everyone saw a deep blush appear on the usually calm schoolgirl's face. She ran towards the field before anyone could question her further on the subject.

Haru smiled at herself while running after the black and white ball. As a matter of fact, she did have it bad for someone else. Someone that no one else even had a clue existed. She shook her head at herself as she stole the ball and scored one on the goalie. Best keep those feelings repressed; the friendship was too valuable to jeopardize.

And he really was too old for her.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Behind a large desk, a middle aged man stretched himself, not enjoying the hours of sitting his job required. His dark brown eyes strayed to the family picture next to the computer. It was taken at the last business party he had taken his wife and daughter to. His wife, Naoko, looked a little Christmas-like, her green dress complimenting her red hair wonderfully. And his daughter…she was growing far too fast, already a beauty like her mother. He sighed, a terrible burden on his shoulders.

It wasn't like he didn't want to tell her the truth. But she was such a strange girl, she might even enjoy learning that her father had- he shook his head, commanding his thoughts into submission. Never. He would never let that happen to his precious girl. If only he was brave enough to tell her why he acted the way he did…

A polite knocking came from his door.

"Come in."

A woman dressed in flowing black came in, her sharp eyes focused on him. He groaned, knowing what she wanted.

"For the last time, Ms. Isho; my daughter will not be quitting the soccer team in favor of your club."

The woman's eyes sharpened further, making the superintendant wonder whether he should pass her a few dull-edged pencils.

"Perhaps you should see this before you shoot me down again."

She pulled a small disc from her pocket and handed it to him. Puzzled, he uploaded the disc onto his laptop. It was an amateur movie, possibly from a spy camera. It was in the deserted drama room, the lights down low. After a few seconds, the door slowly slid open. Haru slipped in fast, shutting the door behind her. For some reason, she had switched out her uniform skirt in favor of her gym shorts. Carefully making sure that no one was outside; she sat on the floor and pulled out a pair of shoes. The man's heart stopped.

They were ballet slippers, fairly worn. Haru expertly tied the ribbons up her legs and pulled an iPod with earphones out of the bag. She put the earphones on, started a song on the iPod, and walked out onto the middle of the cleared floor. She started by a few stretching exercises, similar to the ones that she used before soccer practices.

Then she took over the floor, each movement flowing into the next. She had a surprising amount of grace, when considering the few klutz attacks she's had over the years. But as her father watched her dance, he couldn't help but wonder if they were staged for his benefit.

Oh, the look on her face! She had closed her eyes to hear the music better, but a gorgeous smile seem to spread from her lips to ripple throughout her body as she twirled around. Shouldn't she be getting dizzy from all that spinning? No wonder she had such powerful kicks for soccer. It was beautiful poetry, watching her body move, every muscle working in harmony-

A beautiful garden, with only the moon to lend its light, giving a mystical air to the place.

The man's hand shot out to stop the video, Haru frozen in the air with one leg in front of her body.

"When did this happen?" he asked the dance instructor.

"She's been sneaking into my classroom for months during lunch hour, but the video was made yesterday. Come on, you saw how happy she is when she dances. Her passion for dance far exceeds that for soccer. She could be one of the best-"

"Never. My daughter will never be a dancer, even if I have to break her legs."

The woman gasped.

"But I will give her one more chance to behave herself. You are free to go now."

The woman held her hand out for the disc, but the superintendant's hand remained on the desk. She stiffened, and then stormed out of the room. The man turned back to the computer screen, his eyes full of tears.

"Why, Haru? Don't you know what will happen if you dance? Why won't you obey me?"

'I'm trying to protect you, Sweetheart. Why won't you let me?'