Author's Note:

"Ohayou" means good morning in Japanese. I'm sure I don't have to make a note what "sugoi" means :)

Maria stared up at the dull white walls of her bedroom. She was lying down on her bed with her arms behind her head.

Canaan I…

Suddenly the blonde's cell phone rang. She jolted forward and picked it up. It was Mino.

"Mino! Mino!" Maria cried out loud with joy.

He groaned. "Maria, no need to shout so loud! You are going to make me deaf."

"I'm sorry, Mino. I missed you! How was your date?"

"It went well," he chuckled. "Ayame invited me to a… a masquerade ball. It's being held next week."

"A mask party? Sugoi! Sugoi!"

"The problem is I don't know how to dance," Mino replied embarrassingly.

"Neither do I! But can't you take lessons?"

"Yeah. She offered to teach me private lessons for no charge."

Maria's eyes widened. "She can dance?"

"She's a dance instructor."

"Sugoi! Mino's girlfriend is a dancer!"

"You are making matters worse for me," he replied sarcastically. "She told me I could invite anyone to come with me, including to the festival."

"Who did you invite?"

"You."

The blonde skipped around her bed. "Thank you, Mino! Thank you!"

"I figured you were the festival type."

"When are we going to take lessons?" Maria asked curiously.

"Tomorrow at her house. I'll pick you up at ten in the morning."

The next day...

"Ohayou!" greeted Ayame. The young petite woman wore a purple blouse and a black skirt up to her knees. Her long brown hair was tied back by a rose scrunchie which matched her red glasses. She was a few inches shorter than Maria.

Mino blushed. "Ohayou, Ayame. This is my friend Maria. She's a photographer."

Maria smiled and waved at the woman. "How long have you been dancing?"

"Ever since I was a child," she replied with chuckle.

"You must be good at it!" the blonde exclaimed.

"Of course Ayame is good at dancing! She's a dance teacher," Mino said.

Ayame laughed softly. "My my. You're quite energetic, Maria. I like you already. Do you know what kind of dance I'm going to teach you two today?"

"Uh...."

"The waltz."

Maria's eyes sparkled. "That sounds romantic!"

"Ouch! You call this romantic?" Mino snapped quietly into Maria's ear.

"Sorry Mino!"

The two had continuously stepped on each other's toes for the past hour.

"1, 2, 3… 1, 2, 3!" repeated the dance instructor. Ayame was beginning to sound like a sports coach.

Maria sighed. Her toes were sore and her legs ached so much that she couldn't feel them anymore.

"1, 2, 3… 1- Maria! No slacking off! Put some emotion into that dance!"

The blonde groaned. Ayame was generous and sweet, but Maria also realized how serious and determine she could be.

I guess looks are deceiving.

After the lesson, Maria collapsed onto any chair she could find. She took off her boots and massaged her red toes. Mino did the same.

Ayame brought them two glasses of water. "Good job guys! Not bad for beginners, but you have to put more effort into it. The waltz isn't just any dance; its smooth, elegant, and graceful. You need to show more passion."

"How can I feel passion when she keeps stepping on my toes?" Mino complained.

"It's not my fault, Mino," Maria exclaimed. "You stepped on me more often than I did."

The dance instructor chuckled. "When you two keep practicing, I assure you there will be no more toe stepping. Now, who wants a tour around my house?"

"I do," Mino replied standing up. "Maria, are you coming?"

The blonde winked at Mino. "No thanks."

Maria watched Mino and Ayame walking together. She was happy that Mino found his own light.

The blonde felt a sudden loneliness swimming inside of her. She thought about the time Canaan held her hand under the clear night in the empty streets of the Middle East; when the blonde was together with her hand in hand.

Canaan, do you remember that time too?