Dancing into the Dark

Chapter Six

Attacked From all Sides

Once again Riku found herself grumbling as she rolled back and forth across her bed. Flopping onto her back she covered her eyes with her arm. "Dark-san." She mumbled to herself, as she remembered what had happened over the weekend.

XXXXX

"We don't just know each other. We've dated." Dark had turned is face away from Riku. She tried to get a good look at his expression by leaning over, but his bangs shaded his face, masking his features.

Riku's blood turned to ice. She hadn't expected such a cold reaction from Dark. During their practices they had grown close to each other. She never would have thought that he would suddenly shut her out like this.

Rika giggled at Riku's flustered expression. "I can't believe you managed to find another partner Dark. You always said no one would be able to replace me." Although her speech was clearly directed at Dark, Riku saw Rika's eyes slide over in her direction. The dark look hidden beneath her thick lashes suggested that Rika knew that Riku could hear the blood pounding in her ears from the jealousy.

"It was easy enough. I just needed to find someone that knew how to feel rhythm. It was something you always failed at." Dark muttered, avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room.

Under different circumstances Riku may have laughed at the insult, but the tension in the room was deadly. Electricity seemed to fill the air, and everyone was eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.

After a few more moments of anticipation Rika turned to leave, "I guess we'll see who's better off at the competition." With that, Rika exited the room, quickly followed by her entourage.

An awkward silence followed in her wake. Dark continued to stare at a small patch of rug while Riku tried to figure out what she could say that would help all of this make sense and ease the strange tightening in her chest. Just as she was about to speak up there was a loud bang.

Riku screeched, covering her ears and falling to her knees. When she looked for the source of the noise, she saw that Dark's fist had made a sizable dent in the wall.

"D-Dark-san?" Riku asked hesitantly. His hair shaded his face, masking any emotion. However, it was clear from the tension radiating off him that he was pissed. Riku reached out to take Dark's hand, faking a chuckle to lessen the tension.

As soon as her fingers brushed against Dark's arm, they were slapped away. Dark turned to her, a dangerous look in his eyes. Riku was afraid, for the first time, of Dark Mousy. Silence descended around the two as Riku scrambled for how to defuse the situation and Dark simmered, leaning into the hole he'd made in the wall.

Standing on unsteady legs Riku tried to approach Dark again. This time she put a hand on his shoulder. Although she felt the muscles in his shoulder tighten underneath his shirt, he didn't brush her off this time. "Dark-san," Riku tried timidly, testing Dark's reaction. With no reaction from Dark she continued, "Let's go to the practice studio. We can dance to some super-fast music and work out all of our stress and put any bad feelings behind us." Dark still hadn't shown any sign he could even hear Riku, and her nerves were getting the best of her. She babbled on, "That's why I would go to that club we met at every chance I could. I love the way dancing allows you to express yourself with your whole being." Dark had turned towards her, but she still couldn't see his eyes, and he remained silent, so she continued on, "You especially have a presence on the dancefloor. I thought I was a good dancer, but to be honest, when you danced with me that first time, I knew I was out of my league. You have command not only of your body, but of those around you. You're capable of leading your partner by the slightest touch. You direct them, and- "

Before she could finish her sentence Riku found herself flat on her back, the wind knocked out of her, and a small ache spreading from the back of her head. Above her Dark's bangs swayed before her eyes teasing her by hiding and revealing Dark's face. She had never seen him like this before. His eyes were glossy, as if he were about to cry and his lip was bleeding from biting them, restraining whatever emotions were threatening to break free.

Riku gulped. She'd only seen situations like this on TV. What was she supposed to do? She went to reach for him, but just as quickly both arms were pinned to either side of her head. Her eyes searched his trying to figure out what was going on and how she could help him. She chewed on her tongue for a moment and then tried, "Dark- "

Then his lips were on hers. Riku had never kissed a guy before. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but heat and the taste of salt were unexpected. Tears had started to fall down Dark's cheeks, which explained the salty taste, but there was something else. His kiss left her breathless. It was hard not to lose herself in the feel of his lips, firm and sure on hers. Heat seemed to radiate off him and Riku felt like she was catching aflame.

He tugged playfully at her bottom lip with his teeth before pushing himself up, looking down on her beneath him. His face was hidden behind his bangs once again. Riku tried to say something, but in one fluid movement, Dark rose and left the room. Riku laid there a while longer, tracing her lips with her finger and letting herself cool down. When she finally snapped out of it, she sat up and fanned her face, embarrassment setting in. What had just happened? What was she supposed to say to Dark when they met for practice again?

XXXXX

As it so happened, Riku didn't have to worry about seeing Dark at practice because he didn't show up. The competition was only a couple short weeks away and they hadn't started practicing their competition piece.

Riku had gotten home late and immediately locked herself in her room. Staring at the newspaper clipping she kept under her pillow she wondered what had been going through Dark's mind. She thought about the pained expression on his face and the kiss they'd shared. Heat crept up her neck and cheeks. She tried to dispel the thought. It did no good to get excited about a kiss when Dark didn't want to see her.

Her eyes had started to tear up when there was a quiet knock at the door and Risa poked her head in. "Riku?" she asked the darkness.

Hearing the concern in her twin's voice broke the dam that had held her tears back thus far. She cried, unleashing all the frustration and fear.

"Riku!" Risa charged into the room and pulled Riku into a hug. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Riku couldn't speak. Her body shook as she sobbed. Risa, at a loss, just held her twin and patted her back.

After what felt like forever, Riku's tears finally dried up. She asked Risa to get her a glass of water and drained the cup greedily.

Risa watched her before asking. "Do you feel better now?"

Riku nodded, handing the cup back to Risa and wiping at her tear drenched cheeks.

Risa considered her, "Your eyes are swelling already."

Ashamed, Riku clapped her hands over her face and pulled her knees to her chest.

"Are you going to tell me what this was all about now?"

No answer.

"Does it have to do with Dark-san?" Risa guessed.

Still no answer.

"Alright then," Risa stood, "You don't want to tell me, then stay here in the dark and mope by yourself. I think I've fulfilled my sisterly duties by letting you soak my nightgown." With that Risa left the room, leaving Riku back in the dark, alone with her thoughts.

She'd wanted to explain everything to Risa, but it was so much to process. A variety of things happened in such a short amount of time. They'd met competitors, Riku came face to face with Dark's past, a darker side of Dark, and was abandoned after being left utterly confused. Dark at least owed her some answers.

There was a small ping, ping, ping, at her window. Rain? She thought as she glanced out. She gasped and crouched back down. The pinging continued, more insistent now. Riku combed her fingers through hair and scrubbed at her face before peeking through the window again. Down in the yard, throwing rocks at her window, a Dark stood waiting for her in the dim light cast from the house.

When he realized he'd gotten her attention he pointed at himself, then at her and then at his mouth. Riku's cheeks flushed, thinking he was referring to the kiss, but his weird sign language continued. He pointed at her again and then walked two fingers across the opposite palm and Riku finally understood. You and I need to talk. Come out.

She hastily grabbed a light jacket and sneakers before softly padding down the stairs, careful not to make too much noise. If anyone saw this scene, they'd definitely get the wrong idea. After all, there was nothing going on between them, right? The memory of the kiss floated in her mind as she reached Dark.

Unsure how to act around him, Riku flitted her eyes from Dark to her shoes. She twisted her fingers in the hem of her shirt and bit her lip. Then she remembered Dark's playful nip and quickly stopped.

Dark was quiet and still, the opposite of Riku. He finally dragged a hand through his hair, "Sorry to call you out so late."

Riku stiffened. Somehow his voice sounded different. She'd never thought much about the sound of a person's voice before, but Dark's was captivating. Low and soft, it sent delightful shivers down her spine. Clearing her throat and hoping to mask this new sensation, Riku muttered, "It's not a problem."

Then there was silence. Riku, unable to take it anymore, and a small part of her wanting to hear Dark talk again blurted, "Why did you miss practice?"

Dark looked at her, his eyebrows raised. Apparently, this wasn't what he had intended to talk to her about. Feeling foolish she babbled, "You know, the competition day is only ten days away, and we haven't even started to choreograph our piece yet. If we're going to win this thing, we need to put in everything we've got."

When Riku went to take a breath Dark cut her off, "I understand Riku, and I'm sorry."

Riku deflated, the air she had taken in preparation for her rambling rushed out as once again his voice flowed over her. "I called you out here to apologize for my behavior." He paused and Riku saw he was struggling to say whatever came next, "Rika, she… she betrayed me, and I lost my cool." Now it was his turn to stumble over word, "I mean, I know that doesn't excuse my behavior and I know you have nothing to do with Rika. I don't know why I did that, and to my partner of all people. I'm sorry, Riku. Can we just forget that anything happened that day?"

No. The voice inside her head said. There was no way she'd be able to forget the way his lips felt on hers, or the pleasant heat that had spread throughout her body, and she didn't know how to stop her knees from wobbling when he looked at her. Instead of saying all of that though, she replied with a smile, "Of course." It hurt worse than stepping on broken glass. He was calling what they did a mistake and trying to take that moment she'd dwelled on for days away from her.

Dark smiled, pleased by her acceptance and his shoulders noticeably relaxed, though Riku hadn't realized they were tense before. "Thank you." He said almost breathlessly. He'd been truly concerned that she wouldn't forgive him. That thought made Riku feel better, and the small smile he gave her told her she'd made the right choice.

He put a hand on Riku's shoulder, "I'll see you at practice tomorrow. We'll listen to the competition piece and come up with choreography that'll knock the other dancer's out of the water."

Riku put a hand of his, relishing the touch of his skin, "Can't wait."

With that, Dark gave one last smile before pulling away and melting into the night.

XXXXX

The next morning Riku dashed down the stairs, tugging on her socks. "I can't believe I overslept." It was a weekend and the best opportunity for Riku and Dark to practice without school keeping Riku occupied.

A light breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast was spread out on the table. Risa sat, with a glazed expression on her face while she sleepily pushed eggs around on her plate. She turned towards Riku with a bleary stare, then yawned and returned to playing with her food.

Riku was used to Risa's zombie-like morning mood. She wasn't much of a morning person and Riku didn't have time to deal with her anyway. She quickly grabbed a piece of toast before rushing out the door.

Despite her late start, she managed to make it to the Dark Wings studio in record time. Standing outside the door to their practice room Riku fixed her hair and tried her best to appear composed and presentable.

She opened the door into the practice room and found Dark sitting on the floor, stretching. When he saw Riku he stood, as she approached. "Hey." She smiled.

"Hi," she breathed.

His eyes studied her for a minute and his hand came up as if to caress her cheek and Riku squeaked and stepped back.

Both froze before Dark burst out laughing.

Riku's cheeks flamed. "What?"

Dark, clutching his side said, "I was just going to brush off the crumbs on your face."

Riku gaped, horrified. Not only did she see Dark with crumbs on her face, but she'd squeaked when he'd reached for her. How would she manage to dance with him? She brushed at her cheeks, hoping to mask her thoughts and dispel the crumbs.

"The track for our first dance is in." Dark informed her.

Busying herself with setting her bag aside, Riku looked up, a sudden thrill and competitiveness rising within her. "Which song?"

"Heart Attack."

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Hello!

It's been a while! *Looks at last update* Oh, 4 years. Well, time certainly flies by way too quickly. I'm hoping to keep up this a bit more regularly. Sorry for the long wait and welcome back!

Ja ne!

-Akinaxx