Forgotten Dance; Chapter 4; Waltz in the Fire Pt. 1
Long ago in a village in a north, their lived a prominent family. Among those in the family there was a young girl born into the family. But unlike most, she was believed to be a curse and anyone who came near her would be cursed. Many in the village feared her and most of her family hated her, the girl never knew why she was despised. Even her parents shunned her,
As she grew up she spent most of her days locked away in her house, watching the world from her window where she would sit silently watching the world go by.
The young girl late in her teens sat, confined to her room. She sat in her chair, hands folded neatly on her lap. The fall breeze caressing her face now and then, looking out her window she noticed the birds that had perched on their window ceil, they were blue bird chirping as they pecked around moving their heads now and then,
The young girl look, fascinated and curious as she stared at the creatures. She very seldom got visitors, only going outside with permission from her parents or if she could get a servant to bring her.
"H-Hello" she spoke slowly, softly not to scare them, "Did you come to…" slowly reaching her hands up, fingers slowly stretching wanting to touch them, to touch something. But as she out reached her fingers the birds fluttered, auburn eyes looked almost in fear as the birds looked as though they might flew away,
"No, no don't go!" they fretted, looking over she spotted some bread sitting on a plate on her dresser, a leftover from her breakfast.
"Would you like some bread?" breaking off a few pieces of the bread she carefully sat them on the window ciel near the birds, the little creatures examined the bread before pecking at it eating the treat.
"See its good right" the girl said, "Momma brings it too me every morning, I can't go get it myself" she said absently, "I never get to see birds so close"
"Would you like some more?" breaking more pieces off she placed the bread on the panel watching with fascination as the birds continued to eat.
"When I die I want to be a bird" she said folding her hands again, "Birds can fly, fly away, fly away from all the bad things" as she looked out her window, her eyes reaching the vast sky, those auburn eyes looked down and found green. Standing just below her window was someone, a male. The two stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, she didn't even notice her new friends had flown away.
"You…" as the man spoke the girl's expression seemed to become frantic, her eyes drifting distantly. Without a word she grabbed the shutter of her door closing it shut. She didn't like it when people stared at her, she already knew what they were thinking'
'Monster, freak, abomination' everyone despised her, everyone hated her. Looking back at the screen her hands still on the shutter she contemplated whether she should open it back, shaking her head she declined. It was a trick, as soon as she opened the door she would be pelted with rocks and swears.
"I have to stay inside" this place was her only haven, she never left it unless she was allowed. She was only allowed to when she needed the shower or use the restroom. Sitting back on her chair, folding her hands in her lap and with an exhale she waited until her mother would bring her lunch. One day as the girl was allowed her rare sits in the garden,
"You stay out here" a woman said as the young girl stepped onto the wooden path,
"Do you want to, come and sit with me?" she asked, though the woman remained stoic
"I'll be back in ten minutes, remember don't leave the garden" with that she closed the door leaving the girl alone. Taking a few short steps she took a seat on the cool smooth wood, she stared distantly out into the garden covered in beautiful, vibrant flowers as butterflies and other insects flew around freely. How she envied them…
As she stared out distantly, a figure walked across wooden path. Stopping as they saw the auburn haired female sitting on porch.
"Excuse me?" a voice filled her ears, looking to the side her auburn eyes met green, "It is you. I thought I recognized you" the male smiled, the female blushed
'He talked to me'
"I…I'm sorry I blocking your path" her voice was soft, the walkway was rather thin, leaving only room to move around.
"I'll move, um" looking around she tried to find a way to allow him to pass, she couldn't go inside the door was locked and touching the garden was out the question.
"Are you alright?" he asked seeing the worry on the girls face
'He talk to me again' she blushed
"I'm sorry I'll move" but she couldn't find a way, "If you want you can, walk on me" the male blinked in shock at the others statement
"Walk on you? Why would I do that?"
"I know I'm dirty, I'm sorry" she apologized, "But its okay, my body can take it. You can just step on my back and…"
"Now hold on, there no need for that" the male stopped her, auburn eyes widened as his voice raised,
'He's angry' she braced herself for what was about to come, 'It's my fault, I deserve it'
With a motion carefully the two seemed to switch places as he carefully moved around her.
"See now simple right" green eyed male smiled, the girl blushed silent as she stared at him
'Why didn't he hit me?' it was strange to her, people always hit her. Mama, Papa, relatives, villagers; the reasons was not important.
"When I saw you in the window the other day, I wanted to meet you again" he admitted
"Why would you want to meet me?" it was ridiculous that anyone wanted to come see her
"Where are my manners I haven't introduced myself yet, my name is…"
Looking to the side, green eyes noticed figures coming towards them, giving a mental sigh recognizing his 'advisors'
"There you are, we've been looking all over for you!" they called
"Oh boy, sorry I have to go" he said, "It was nice to meet you" with that he moved to go the other way. The girl stood there stunned by the man she had just met,
"He…talked to me" it was a simple gesture, but she it meant more to her then it seem
"Alright class, please listen up" came the voice of Tenge as he called his class attention, "Now then as you all know are first recital is coming up. Each class will be performing one short play" he explained
"Since this is the beginner's course we will doing a piece from an old classic, the Fire Waltz" murmurs filled the classroom.
"Um Mr. Otaro?" came the voice of one of the students
"Yes?" the teacher acknowledged the female student
"What's Fire Waltz?" she asked, the question on everyone's mind, Tenge gave a chuckle
"That's a good question" he smiled, "It's a very unique story, it's about a two individuals falling in love. One is a man born of noble society engaged to marry a female from a prominent family, but falls in love with her cousin of a lower class" he explained
"Oh that sounds so romantic!" a girl squealed
"Are we going to have to do singing?" a boy asked almost grimly
"No, but each student has to audition for a part" he said as he began passing out small books and sheets of paper.
"Now then the books I handed out is the script for the play. You can read over it for the part, which is outlined on the sheets, that you wish to participate in" he explained, "Auditions will be held every day after school starting next week, that should give you time to pick a part"
"Now then let's begin class" he said and class continued as usual.
After class, Tenge was preparing for the next class preforming a series of stretches,
"Um, Mr. Otaro?" stopping his stretches blue eyes turned to see a familiar head of orange walking into the classroom.
"Oh Kyo, did you need something?" he asked noting the look on the others face, it was stern and stubborn like always, but with a dusk of red that he tickled him to see on the juvenile teen. It's not that Kyo was bad, Tenge had heard of his past fights and scuffles, but as he saw it was how the teen expressed himself.
"Well I, I wanted to apologize for about that incident" he murmered not able to look his teacher in the eye
"Incident?" he hummed, "Oh you mean that, its fine"
"No it's not!" Kyo argued, "Damn it, my cousins are such idiots, half the time they wouldn't give too cents about what I do. Man I hate them" he hissed silently cursing his cousins
"Now no need for that" Tenge interrupted, "Your cousins were just worried about you. Though I'm not sure about their assumptions" he said with a short chuckle
"Hmph, like I buy that" he scoffed folding his arms, "I bet those two were just spying on me just to mock me" he accused imaging the smug looks on the two males faces.
"Well for whatever reason, don't hold a grudge, there still family and they care for you" he smiled, but the frown still remained on the teens face.
"Feh, now that's a laugh" he groaned, "Those two…have never once acted like family…" he thought back to when he was a child, when everyone would shun him, taunt him, and curse him. All his 'family', whenever he was hurt, beaten down physically and emotionally, no one was there for him. His mom, she looked at him with pity, she was just as afraid as everyone else making sure his beads never fell from his wrist, not wanting to see the monster she gave birth too. His karate teacher, he was like a father to him, though knowing his father that was a long stretch. But even though he trained and looked after him from time to time, he couldn't help feel a guilt from his motives. And that's what pissed him off, it was all pity. Oh poor Kyo, cat of the family, monster, unlovable. He didn't want pity he refused any kind of pity from anyone.
Then there was his 'cousins', the beloved prince Yuki and his fateful cow Hatsuharu, the only reason they even butted into his business was to protect the secret of the Sohma family and to them he was their liability.
"Um Kyo are you okay?" Auburn eyes looked up at his teacher, "Yeah fine, just pissed off at those assholes"
"Why don't you have a seat and we can talk a bit" he offered, "My class doesn't start for half an hour, it'll be nice to just have a chat" he smiled warmly, a blush formed on Kyo's face.
'Why am I embarrassed?' he blushed, 'This guy, smiling like an idiot'
"Maybe, just quit smiling like that" he said rather annoyed
"Alright then what should we talk about first" as the two sat down to talk, outside on the roof two figures sat on the roof.
"Damn that guy!" came the voice of an irate Hatsuharu, he and Yuki had been having a discussion about what to do about the dance instructor. Though it was hard to pin, but they knew he had ulterior motives for their cousin.
"Ah I can't stand this!" he yelled,
"You need to calm down" came the voice of Yuki
"Calm down? How can I calm down!?" Hatsuharu seethed, "We need to be doing something about that guy!" he didn't like it, the way he looked at Kyo, the way he touched him hiding behind the excuse of being his instructor.
"And how would you suppose we do that. Wait till he's alone and beat him up?" sarcasm dripped from his voice, but that didn't stop Hatsuharu from thinking about
"Don't start, you know you can't beat up a teacher" he pointed out
"Oh come on, the guy is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Creeps probably waiting to get kitty's guard down, I swear if they guy lays on perverted hand on him I'll…" greeting his teeth he tried to block out the mental images that tried to surface. He had seen Kyo hurt, bloody and cut, crying and bruised, but he didn't do anything, not one damn thing. He didn't run to help him or lend him a shoulder. He tried not to think much of it, but in truth he was afraid, a coward that drowned out the cries and screaming of help. He was no better than a neighbor ignoring the noise of a woman being battered by her husband.
"It is troubling, that man" Yuki didn't trust him, there was something behind those soft blue eyes that unnerved him. What was worse is that he had found a way inside Kyo's walls. Though given Kyo's past it would seem almost understandable that he craved affection. He was the cat, despised and shun by his own family. Even if the two were separated, he knew the minimal about his family. To find someone who showed him friendship could easily manipulate someone like Kyo. Even with his aggressive tendencies, even feral animals could be swayed with withheld affection.
Back in the classroom Tenge and Kyo were still having their conversation. Kyo had heard a lot about Tenge, he was born to a respected family. His father was a business man and his mother was a teacher, he had started dancing when he was around four and had been a professional by the time he fifteen years of age.
"So why did you retire?" Kyo asked
"Well after traveling all over the world and dancing in some of the most acclaimed plays, I wanted to settle down a bit. So after retiring, I decided to dance hoping to help future dancers strive" there was that smile again, it radiated with warmth.
"That seems reasonable I guess, you wanted to teach after you got finished with dancing"
"It's not just that" he said, "I believe everyone deserves a chances to succeed. I also believe everyone has something their great and can strive to be anything they want" Kyo blinked enthralled by the males words,
"Hm, not to kick your philosophy, but sometimes the thought of succeeding is only a notion given those who are likely to make it. Like a prodigy or people of high status, the rest of us…everyone else just take the scarps their given and hope for the best" that was his life, he wasn't given anything, he had to fight and suffer for it with his blood, sweat, and tears he managed to make it this far, but for what. Soon he would be graduating, after that his future was being locked away like an animal until he died or killed himself.
"That's not true" Tenge interjected, "Life is mysterious some may be born better than others, but underneath all the praise and seemly happy life theirs a misery, a dread hidden under gold and glitter that many people can't see"
"Hmph, well I like to see that" Kyo scoffed
"Well take your cousin Yuki for example"
'Of course use his perfect cousin as an example' he shrugged
"While many might see him a good student and model for a good teenager, I bet somewhere deep down he wants to be a normal teenager"
"Feh doubt it" came the scoff of the teen, "That damn rat hasn't had to work for a damn thing. People see him and fall over just to please him. Praising him like he's some kind of royal prince, kissing his feet, and wishing just to be just like him. It makes me sick" he gritted
"Well I'm sure you were given love and affection to"
"Yeah, affection, love" he gave an almost dark chuckle, "Listen teach my life hasn't been rainbow and cotton candy, unlike most people I had to work for everything I ever had. No one gave me anything except out of pity"
"It wasn't easy, I've been knocked down so many time, beaten down where it felt like I couldn't get up. No one care, no one tried to care"
"What about your parents?" he was probably stepping over some line between teacher and student, but he could sense something, a deep, bottled up series of emotions.
"My parents" he paused thinking back to his childhood, "I don't know if I should…" looking up his auburn eyes meet a glowing green. As he stared into those green eyes a familiar daze came over him,
"Now then, please tell me everything about your parents"
"My parents" his voice sounded distant, but he complied, "My mother died when I was young, we were at the train station. When the train was coming she let go of my hand and…threw herself underneath the train" small tears pulled to the side of his eyes, "After that my father blamed me for her death, if I hadn't been born she wouldn't have killed herself. She kill herself because she felt ashamed that she had embarrassed her family for giving birth to me." He took a deep breathe, "And maybe…they were right. Maybe if I hadn't been born, my mother wouldn't have killed herself" he could still see her smile, even as she was crushed under the wheels of the train, smearing blood as people stood screaming. He just stood there, trying to comprehend seeing his mother, who said she loved him, throw herself under a train just to get away from him.
"Kyo…" the green faded returning to their tranquil blue, the haze released for the others eyes and ending the trance like state.
"Huh? What?" Kyo looked confused and a bit dazed, rubbing his cheeks he felt a wetness, "What the hell? Oi Tenge-senpei what…" before he could finish his sentence arms snaked around him pulling into a warm embrace.
"T-Tenge?" he blinked having been hugged by his instructor, "Why are you?"
"It's okay Kyo, its okay" Kyo wanted to break away from the sudden affection, confused at the others actions. It was weird having someone hug him so suddenly, besides maybe his martial arts instructor this was the closets form of affection.
As Tenge looked up tears brimmed in the older males eyes
"Why are you crying!?" Kyo questioned
"I'm sorry Kyo, I…I'm just emotional I guess" he admitted wiping away the tears
"Well stop it, grown men don't look good crying" he stated rather arrogantly, but Tenge smiled
"Yeah we don't do we" he smiled much to the others annoyance
After a minute the teacher seemed to compose himself
"Well I hate to end our meeting, but my class will be starting soon" he apologized
"Yeah well I gotta get to class soon, I don't need to student council president on my ass again"
"Well if that happens I'll right you note!" and there was that happy go lucky smile
"Yeah anyway, thanks I guess" he looked off to the side, "I'll see you at practice"
"Kyo" the male gasped feeling something ruffling his hair,
"Ten..Tenge?"
"I'm real proud of you" Kyo blushed for what seemed like the millionth time
"I…Idoit! Don't do that like I'm some kind of child!" he yelled at his teacher, "I gotta go" with that he left the classroom leaving a rather stunned Tenge.
'Kyo' looking down at his hands he still felt the soft locks, 'Soon I'll erase all the bad memories that has tainted you' he wished only that he had found him sooner and taken him. Taken him far away where no one could hurt him ever again.
'I won't fail, I won't abandon you again' staring down at his desk he noticed the book he had given his students to read; Fire Waltz
Picking up the book, he had read it cover to cover, each page, and every word like a grim reminder of his mistakes. For at the end of the chapter there was no happy ending.
To Be Continued….