Kaorin dressed in a rarely used pale dress approached the hall. The flyer said that this was the place, but it wasn't until she saw Chiyo and Osaka lingering around that she knew she was here. After all even with Osaka Chiyo wouldn't get lost. She saw Yomi suddenly pass by, looking annoyed as a boy kept talking.

"What, are you on your own?"

Kaorin just about held in the shriek as she turned to find Sakaki. She just about held her jaw up as she saw the tall girl in a flowing red dress, revealing her shapely figure and legs- tastefully of course.

"M-miss Sakaki! Oh, yeah I didn't find anyone."

"Oh, me neither" replied Sakaki quietly. "I couldn't find anyone."

"I don't know why Sakaki, I'm sure many boys would want to go with you" said Kaorin.

Sakaki shrugged. "Maybe."

"Of course they would. You look great, where did you find that dress."

Sakaki smiled. "Really? You think I look good in this?" she asked. "I thought it was nice, but I didn't know if…"

"You do look good" said Kaorin stopping Sakaki's defensive tactic. At last, a chance to praise Sakaki- but the girl still seemed clueless about her feelings. "You look better then me."

"Don't down yourself Kaorin."

"Fine then Miss Sakaki, sure yeah."

"I hear Tomo didn't find a date either."

"Oh." Take this chance, take this chance, take this chance! Kaorin knew she would never forgive herself if she let this slip. "Why don't we go together?"

"What?"

"Chiyo and Osaka are going. We should go too- we can hang out together. And don't forget we've danced together before!" Kaorin felt sick at using one of her moments of bliss for a joke- but it was worth it when Sakaki smiled.

"Why not? Lets call it a date" said Sakaki.

"Was that a joke?" asked Kaorin grinning. Sakaki nodded and smiled faintly.

Kaorin hooked her arm around Sakaki's arm and the two marched towards the front entrance. Chiyo watched the two walk past and stuck up a thumb. Kaorin grinned and pointed with her free hand. Sakaki! She was with Sakaki! Oh sweet merciful dance, she was with Sakaki. Tomo stood waiting by the door, and perked up when they approached.

"Ooh, look at the happy couple" she joked. Sakaki and Kaorin greeted her and then stepped inside, running into Kimura. He saw the two together, arms locked together. Kaorin and Sakaki together- now that was a beautiful couple- literally. His cute little Kaorin with the sexy (in his opinion) Sakaki was much better then the boy/girl couples.

"Hello there. Have fun at the dance girls, just don't have too much fun" he said winking. Sakaki blushed.

"Of course not" lied Kaorin. Well maybe not tonight, but she certainly hoped that later on they would have fun. The athletic Sakaki with her long legs and cute face and eyes and that body…she just about snapped out of the daydream before the others noticed she was acting weird.

"Well, shall we go in…date?" asked Kaorin. She simply had to add the last word- even if it was unofficial, it still counted for her. Of course if she was to actually go out with Sakaki she wouldn't count this as their first date- since Sakaki had no idea of her intentions. Or at least as far as Kaorin knew. This could maybe count as the one quarter date. She'd have to talk with Sakaki about it…hopefully.

"Very well then Miss Kaorin" said Sakaki, slightly more relaxed then usual. It may have been because they were around few people, but Kaorin liked to believe it was because Sakaki was with her. That would be nice…no more then that it would be wonderful, Miss Sakaki relaxed around her.

They continued walking along the long corridor decorated with bold purple and gold. A crudely designed sign read welcome to the Summer Ball. Currently some very catchy (don't Kaorin wouldn't admit it) J-pop was ringing out from the large hall. Some people found themselves attempting to dance, many content to merely stand and chat. Yukari was already holding a glass of sake in a slightly trembling hand.

"Hello there Kaori, Sakaki" said the teacher with slightly slurred speech. "You seem a bit of an odd couple." She crept up to the two and whispered. "You do know you were supposed to bring a date, as in a boy. Well unless you are inclined to another form of lifestyle."

"Neither of us had a date, so we decided to be dance partners" explained Kaorin.

"Well you can't be any worse then Chiyo and Osaka" said Yukari, pointing back over her shoulder as Chiyo desperately tried to lead, and Osaka desperately tried to stay on her feet. They just about stumbled out of the way of another couple. Tomo walked over as the two (random people from another class) glared at the young girl and the space cadet. Under the fearsome glare of the girl, the two backed away. Chiyo and Osaka suddenly found themselves with plenty of space to enjoy.

Kaorin could see that many people were looking at the two of them confused, wondering why the two girls had turned up together. Sakaki kept her head down, while Kaorin almost found herself enjoying being seen with Sakaki. Soon Chiyo and an exhausted looking Osaka joined them, standing on the side enjoying plastic cups of orange.

"Hey Chiyo-Chan, we aren't the only ones who came without a boy" said Osaka. "Look Kaorin is with Sakaki."

"So how it's going?" asked Kaorin.

"Tiring. Trying to dance is hard" replied Osaka. "Really hard. How about you?"

"We haven't tried anything yet" said Kaorin. "Dancing that is, we haven't tried any dancing yet."

"You should try, you make a cute couple" said Osaka. "I bet all the boys would be looking at you two if you started to dance." She was quiet. "I bet all of them would definitely look if you danced erotically."

"Uh, Osaka?"

"I was just saying Kaorin" continued Osaka remaining completely unflustered. "Now if you kissed I bet everyone would look…I'm sorry I was saying things without thinking again wasn't I?"

"A bit" agreed Chiyo.

"Anyway you two do make a cute couple- show that other class how to dance!"

"We'll try" said Kaorin who surprised herself by gripping Sakaki's hand tightly. The taller girl didn't pull away.

---

Tomo spotted Koshi and slowly turned before walking away, picking up speed as she stepped into the large garden area. A large landscape of faint hills, pathways bushes and shrubberies greeted her. She began to walk down a small flight of steps onto the lower level of the garden, hoping to hide from the man.

As she rushed towards a tall set of specially grown bushes, the man grabbed hold of her shoulder.

"Tomo, we need to talk."

"Just leave me alone Koshi."

Koshi shook his index finger. "That's not how you talk to a teacher Miss Takino, it's Mr Koshi to you. Well of course for now anyway. When we get more acquainted I'll let you use my first name" he said winking.

"Just leave me alone!" said Tomo. Now she was out here all alone and far away from the building.

"What's going on here then?"

Both Koshi and Tomo turned to find Kimura.

"Just chatting Kimura, talking about how best to prepare for next term when you should hopefully return."

"Yeah." Tomo didn't want Kimura involved. The man would be just as bad, would probably offer to help.

"Well, ok then." Kimura trudged away dejectedly. Koshi waited for the man to vanish, Tomo running off. The man growled and chased after her. She sprinted past bushes trying to find a place to hide. She yelled out as he gripped hold of her arm.

"I always get what I want."

"You're hurting me" said Tomo as he tightened his grip.

"If I see it, and I like it I have it."

Tap tap. Someone tapped Koshi on the shoulder.

"What?!"

Thwack!

The fist smacked into Koshi's face and the man fell to the floor. Kimura, suddenly looking much fiercer stood above him, holding up his hand gingerly. He looked down at the prone man.

"And that is why they call me Mr Kimura!"

"M-Mr Kimura?" asked a shocked Tomo. She been rescued by Kimura? Kimura actually had a powerful punch?

"Damn straight" replied the man. "Return to the party, I'll take care of this. Then I'll get some ice for my hand, and then I'm going to get my wife back." Punching that creep in the face had reinvigorated Kimura. He decided given the circumstances it was best not to comment on how great Tomo looked in her dress.

---

Tomo soon returned to the main room, a short time before random calls for a dance occurred. Somehow someone had decreed everyone should have one last dance to celebrate the end of the term. Osaka and Chiyo were making their way to the floor (Chiyo pulling Osaka). Nyamo and Yukari had decided to join the students, and were trying to both dance together and outdo one another. Tomo stood watching the couples dance. Of course there was little romance there, the couples having formed in the last few days. But it would have been fun anyway.

"Excuse me?"

"Mr Kimura?" asked Tomo. The man had reappeared, his hand wrapped in a pink handkerchief- his brief appearance as a hero to Tomo had receded already.

"Ah a final dance to end the term and us two stand on the sidelines."

"Yeah." This didn't sound good.

"You know, I was quite the dancer once Tomo."

"Fine then."

"Huh?"

"You helped me so I'll dance with you once- but don't get any ideas!"

"Would I ever do such a thing?"

"Do you really want an answer?"

Kaorin stood with Sakaki, watching Tomo apprehensively approach the other students, many of who gave her shocked looks. She waited for a moment, her and Sakaki the only ones not involved. Finally she turned.

"Well, why don't we go down?" she asked. "And dance."

Sakaki nodded and the two joined the others. Slower music was playing, and the two began to dance, Sakaki finding herself leading. The song continued on for a few more minutes, Kaorin allowing herself to move closer, finding herself within Sakaki's embrace. She could get use to this.