March
Part 4
Wednesday comes. She takes great pains to not dress up, down or differently. She puts on her regular work clothes - a soft blue blouse with a high neckline, brown slacks and comfortable brown flats.
Minus her first client being more subdued than typical and regressing by losing weight, of which they report they are just feeling under-the-weather this week, the day is a normal Wednesday. She arrives about two minutes early to Cisco's and though her hand itches to check her makeup in the visor mirror, she resists the temptation. The parking lot is mostly full, and she spies Madara's car in the lot at least eight or so stalls away.
"Eyes up," she says to herself as a reminder as her face warms. She grabs her purse and heads in.
The place is bustling. There is no 'wait to be seated' sign, instead people come in and out as they please. Most must be regulars since they seem to be greeting each other, although Sakura notices with oddity that everyone looks dressed to the dimes. The men are in slacks, some in ties or bowties and the women are in dresses of a variety of colors with polka dots and hair up-dos. This all confuses Sakura greatly as she hears a muffled trumpet tuning from her spot at the entrance. It's only when she turns into the main room, sees the giant dance floor, that she remembers Madara had said Wednesday nights were for swing.
"Shit." She is not prepared for dancing, she is not prepared at all. For one, she's never 'swung' in her life. Two, Madara is definitely a dance all-nighter.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one with that response," a voice says right next to her ear.
She turns to see a white head of spiky hair she hasn't seen in years. "Kakashi!" She can't contain her energy or enthusiasm. She glomps him in a side hug.
He gives her shoulder a squeeze before breaking away. "Good to see my favorite student, although I'd hoped under much better circumstances. I think if we leave now, we can still escape."
She really wants to take him up on the offer, but as she adjusts her purse, she feels the dvd case. She straightens, she'd get through the night. "Normally, I'd take you up on the offer but I am here to see a friend tonight, and I… I missed the memo. Well I forgot it actually. They had warned me it would be a swing band; I just didn't realize there'd be dancing. "
"I wish I could blame my memory, I knew what I was agreeing to."
"Hah," she says, eyeing him. Kakashi looks no different than his normal teaching attire when giving literature lessons, his slacks are pressed and a simple white button up. No tie of any kind. "Well hopefully it's worth it for you."
"I'm starting to doubt the need for friendship. Who am I kidding, they aren't friends. Look at him, he's definitely up to something." Kakashi points to a dark haired man walking towards them, a sheepish look on his face.
"What did you do, Obito?" Kakashi asks when the man is in range.
The man flushes. "He caught me, we are merging tables."
"No." Kakashi looks horrified. "How are you not dead?"
"Well you see." Obito taps his index fingers together biting his lip before looking at Kakashi, "He's gonna expect you to dance tonight Kakashi, and I really need you to pull through for me. You've got to get on that floor first thing."
"Dammit Obito. Why did you even tell him I was here? I'm leaving, leaving now." Kakashi turns to the exit.
Obito grabs Kakashi's arm and gives a tug. "Nope, best friends for life. You were the excuse for why we are here. You were struck by an indescribable need to dance. He knows I hate big band music; Rin too."
"Abosultely fucking no." Kakashi turns to Sakura, "Excuse my language." As if she's still a child.
Obito finally seems to notice her. "Oh, we don't have room for another one, but I can find a bigger table, maybe. Who is this?"
"An old student of mine, my favorite actually. I'm going to sit with her-"
"I'm here to see a friend, so no worries." Sakura smiles. "I'll leave you to your dancing Kakashi. I don't want to intrude. I expect to see a show." She winks.
"You're no longer my favorite student," he glares.
She sticks out her tongue, "Naruto will always be your favorite, can't fool me. Don't worry," she pitches her voice to be sickeningly sweet, "I'll take pictures and send them to him."
If Kakashi looked ill before, the man looks close to death now.
She leaves Kakashi and his friend before Kakashi gets her involved. She looks over her shoulder as Obito tugs Kakashi right, all while Kakashi mouths the words 'Help.' She goes left, up the stairs where some of the tables are positioned to overlook the dance floor. She's definitely getting a picture, but first, Madara.
She dodges a giggling couple and tucks herself into a corner so she can observe the room. The second story is like a giant u, she can see Obito dragging Kakashi on the other side before they vanish into the crowd of people. Below, on the sides of the dance floor are more tables.
While she's technically right on time, she decides to wander, see if she can find him herself. It's not until she's dodged and weaved to the otherside that she spots Kakashi again at an almost full table. He looks ready to bolt, a look of dread in his eyes. Then he sees her and his eyes light up with a plan.
"Well you see, I'm really here to dance with my friend -" Kakashi almost makes it to standing before the woman beside him rips him back into his seat by the back of his shirt. Obito, on his other side, then pins one of Kakashi's arms to the chair's armrest by looping around it with his own.
"A friend, I didn't know you had friends besides Rin and Obito, Kakashi. I'd love to meet them."
Sakura blinks, the words drawing attention to the back of the head across from Kakashi. Well she needn't look any further. The normally spiky hair is tamed with some sort of gel and is tied at the base of the skull instead of his typical loose tie at the bottom. Her face heats a bit at remembering the feel of his hair beneath her fingers. She shakes her head to dislodge the thoughts.
"Madara," she greets, walking closer to the table.
He turns arounds and is out of his seat a moment later. "Sakura, good to see you." He motions to the man Sakura had met earlier, "I got a bit distracted and forgot to check the time. This is my cousin, Obito."
Obito looks more nervous than before, face, an unhealthy parlor.
"This is his wife, Rin," he motions to the woman with a firm sheet of sweat just starting to dribble into her purple eye-shadow, "and -"
"Kakashi," Sakura finishes for him.
Madara's hand twitches, "Ah yes, Kakashi. Have you two met?"
"Kakashi taught several classes at my highschool, and he was lucky enough to get me every semester two times a day."
"I don't know about lucky, you were a packaged deal with Naruto," Kakashi then looks at Obito, "Naruto was the kid that almost burnt down my classroom, every month."
"You love Naruto and Naruto is going to absolutely love watching you dance." Sakura smirks and turns to Madara. "I ran into Kakashi earlier and heard all about how much he wanted to swing dance and how disappointed he'd be if he didn't get his great moves filmed." Well if Obito could use Kakashi, surely she could. She gently taps Madara on the shoulder. "I am so glad you invited me tonight of all nights. I feel this was fate."
She can see it in Madara's eyes. He's well aware that the dancing is a lie, covering what Sakura can only hazard a guess by Obito being 'caught.' He doesn't call it on them, instead he smirks back at her. Before he clears his face of the emotion and turns to the others, "Must be. I myself was thinking of filming the affair."
"Really no need to do that."
"But you sounded so put out, Kakashi." Sakura fakes a pout, "You've done so much for my career, surely I can indulge you in this."
Kakashi looks ready to take a shit while biting a lemon.
Madara pulls out the chair beside him, and motions for her to sit. With his head turned to her, he graces her with a wicked smirk before clearing his face once more of emotion.
"Thanks," she says as he scoots her in.
"I like you a lot," Obito says, "You sound fun."
Rin slugs Obito on the shoulder. Madara and Kakashi both scowl.
"I'm not sure what you mean by fun. She burnt my desk to the ground," Kakashi says.
Sakura holds her head high. "One shouldn't bring smut books into educational institutions and expect there not to be repercussions. The principal approved the end of the year summer bonfire for the senior class." She goes to set her purse on the floor when she sees the dvd case.
"Oh, Madara," she plucks the case out. "I'll definitely forget if I don't hand this over now." She didn't need another excuse to meet with him. "Thank you again for letting me watch it."
He takes the dvd from her with care. "Of course. I'll definitely leave it here if I'm not careful. How about I go drop this off in my car and grab some drinks on the way back. Would you like anything, Sakura?" He asks.
She is not sure what she wants, but she does know what will make Madara react, "A spicy margarita."
"Yuck," He sticks out his tongue and is up and away after that. He hadn't bothered taking the others' orders.
After he leaves, a strange elbowing between Obito and Rin begins. Sakura watches the affair wide-eyed until eventually they do rock-paper-scissors. Obito wins and Rin gets out of the seat to follow Madara towards the bar and entrance.
"I'm going to run to the restroom while Rin gets us some drinks," Obito says, smacking Kakashi on the back on his way towards the curve of the u, leaving her alone with Kakashi.
"You fed me to the wolves," he accuses the second Obito is out of earshot.
"I was always going to film you."
"You are very lucky you're my favorite student. I'd find a way to make the rest of your terrible troupe leave."
"Ha," unlikely. Should Naruto or Sasuke had caught wind of this they would have been hanging from the ceiling – or crawling in the vents, like they had in freshman year trying to see Kakashi's face underneath the surgical mask. They'd later learned that once flu and strep throat season passed the man removed said mask.
"So last I heard your brother was in big pharma. How's he doing?"
"Sasori is leading an R&D department in Canada. I can't remember the name of the company, it's something weird. They promised just a month and it's been well… ten years since I've seen him. He's always at work. I think he enjoys it."
"Ah, sounds like Sasori."
"Yup," She pops her 'p' and looks off to the side. "It's back in his hometown, where his mom and dad lived. I talk to grandma Chiyo more than him. She reports he's doing alright, he visits her frequently." It had been a rough adjustment for the pre-teen to come live with her family after Chiyo had to go into assisted living, but after several years he'd accepted the offer of adoption. It was just that he was too busy to travel far. Chiyo was just up the road from the research facility. That was all. "He keeps really busy."
She gives a flattened smile as the conversation dies off.
Silence passes with tension between them, striking Sakura with an urge to look at her phone to avoid the scrutiny of Kakashi's gaze. She holds it though, just enough so that she can scrutinize him too. He's older now, definitely more wrinkles than she remembers and a lankness to his hair that he'd never had even on the hottest of days when he'd force them to run for miles in PE.
Eventually Kakashi shifts.
"I'm a bit surprised you're on Madara's radar. He's a different kind of crowd." Kakashi rests his forearms on the table.
She scratches the back of her neck. Ah, well, she hadn't actually expected that but she probably should have. "It's a long story. This isn't really a good place to dive into it." Not that any time would be suitable to tell Kakashi she'd met Madara and Mui in a coffee shop to help them with their marriage. But they'd played a ruse on her. Madara and Mui had faked pretty much everything about themselves. Oh, no, they did end up getting divorced. Their marriage falling apart had been real. Sure this looks suspiciously like a date, but no it's not like it was real counseling, no laws broken here. Sweat trickles down her back. Ugh, no there would never be a proper time to get into it.
"I look forward to hearing it.'' The man turns and looks, his focus on Rin and Madara ordering drinks at the bar. Sakura can just barely see the tops of their heads.
Even though there is almost an entire building away from the man in question, Kakashi leans in, "Look Sakura, Madara is –" Kakashi seems to lack words. Being the teacher who always knew what to say when she'd been a child, the oddity of his silence and gathering of thoughts strikes her.
"For the most part, he's a grade-A asshole. Obito and Rin love him, he's helped them out alot but he doesn't fall on the nice guy spectrum. He's a good man and shitty one all at once. I've personally had my head flushed in a toilet–," Kakashi lacks words again. "Yeah, no, grade-A asshole about sums it up."
Sakura gives a pained laugh and winces as she smiles. Well, if she told Kakashi the truth at least he would believe her… except firmly question her sanity and what the hell she is doing here. Well, that would make two. Her and him.
Kakashi tilts his head to the side at her tense laughter and she can see the question forming on his lips but instead, Obito plops into the chair next to him and rests his arm around the back of Kakashi's chair.
"So Sakura, how did you meet Madara?"
A margarita on the rocks slides in front of Sakura, there are jalapenos floating amidst the ice.
"I asked for extra spice, just for you," Madara explains the drink before sitting down with a beer in hand. Rin passes out beers before sitting as well.
"Sakura and I met over coffee."
Kakashi raises a brow and looks at Sakura.
Well, that had been a lot easier explanation than anything she'd been about to say on the matter. Sakura gives a weak smile and nods. Well she's sticking to that story now. Coffee. Yeah, coffee works and suggests no complication at all in the matter.
"I'm surprised the band is here already," Madara looks from his table and down at the floor. "Normally they don't start setting up for another," he checks his phone, "45 minutes."
"They are going to start before food is served," Obito says.
Madara gives a sharp grin and turns his attention to an older gentleman walking towards them with his arm in a sling. He raises his voice at the man. "Probably won't even get our order taken by the time they start. This establishment doesn't have any good waiters."
"Oh, you injure me, my old friend," the man stands at the table and holds his free hand to his heart before he smiles.
"What did you do this time, Cisco?"
Sakura blinks, the man doesn't stand out amongst the crowd. Did he really own the place?
Cisco gives a chuckle, "I flew over my motorcycle doing forty, pretty sure I got to see my entire life flash before my eyes, and then I woke up on a stretcher to a morphine drip. So not all bad. Not like last time, at least someone kind found me and called an ambulance. I'm having surgery on Friday, they are going to pin my shoulder back in place."
"You've had hell of luck on that bike of yours; 'bout time you put the helmet up."
"I'll ride it till I'm dead."
"Or it kills you."
The man gives a wolfish grin. He squats beside the table. "Look Madara, I could use your help tonight. Would you mic up? Thomas was supposed to come in but called out sick."
Madara's gaze flicks to Sakura. "Look, Cisco -"
And Cisco rises back up and turns his full attention to her. "Ah, hello, my apologies for lack of manner Miss-"
"Haruno," Sakura says.
"You are a new face at my establishment, no?"
"Yes, this is my first time here."
"Splendid. How do you like it so far?"
"It's very nice," she feels sweat trickle down her back as she glances past the man, over the banister where she knows there is a dance floor. "A bit nerve wracking though. I didn't realize there'd be dancing."
"Aha, so you don't know how to dance."
"No, not swing."
"Absolutely perfect. As fate would have it." Cisco puts his one hand back on Madara's shoulder. "If this man here does not teach a lesson, well I'm afraid no one like yourself will enjoy their time here." He squeezes Madara's shoulder. "This is my bread and butter, nobody comes for the food."
"You can find someone else," Madara says.
"Well I suppose there is Randy."
"Dear, no, not Randy. Please anyone but Randy. Put your line chef out there before Randy."
Silence.
"Please don't tell me you've hired the kid on."
"He starts today. And I only hired him because he reminds me of you, in your youth of course."
Madara almost growls. "I was never that annoying."
Cisco laughs, before he turns back to Sakura with a serious expression. "My dear Miss Haruno, would you be so kind as to help Madara with the introductory lesson for swing?"
Sakura's grip on her glass tightens. Help? "I'm sorry, what?"
Madara answers before Sakura. "I'll see what I can do to get Miss Haruno down on the floor tonight, no promises."
"Well if you can't get your date on the floor then I don't expect you to get anyone." Before either of them can correct the old man. He points at Sakura, "If you help with the lesson, your table's food and any more drinks - on the house. Comp'd for saving my business. I need you down on the main floor in 10, Madara."
Sakura gives a strained laugh as the man begins to walk, not waiting for a reply. She turns to Madara.
"I'm going to need another margarita to get in front of anyone," Sakura jokes.
Cisco turns back around for a second, "Done."
"No wait I was only joki-," and the man is gone, "-ng."
It takes less than a minute for a waiter to drop off another margarita, three whole, slitted jalapenos in it, and take their order for food.
"I'm gonna have to go now, aren't I," she hisses at the drink.
"Not really, but you'd be a poor sport not too. And I'll personally judge you as a coward," Madara takes his attention off her and to the man in front of him. "Speaking of cowards. What about you, Kakashi, you've never swung before, have you?"
Kakashi, having enjoyed Sakura discomfort enough to have returned to some level of flush in his features, goes pale once more.
"I'll expect you on the floor with me too. In front of everyone, not blending in with the crowd." Madara smiles, "Let's scratch that dancing itch."
Kakashi's eyes widen and he jumps from the table. "Bathroom. Gotta run to the restroom first you know." He yanks from the grips of those around him and vanishes into the crowd.
"He went the wrong way to the restroom," Madara comments dryly, taking a sip of beer.
Obito jumps up then, "Bathroom. I gotta go… again. The one up here has an out of order stall, so I'm gonna go down to the main floor too."
"Really? I didn't notice it earlier," Madara says as Obito hustles, following Kakashi's path.
Madara turns his gaze to Rin and he gives a smile that looks anything but. "Ah, Rin. I was curious about Kakashi sudden-"
"Bathroom," Rin says, draining her beer. "This stuff runs right through me."
Madara's smile turns more natural at her fleeing back and he glances at Sakura. "I'm very good at clearing tables. This is your opportunity too, flee now or be doomed to dance."
Sakura gives a laugh in return. "Well, maybe explain to me how this lesson thing works."
"Most of it really is just a lesson. Very few people voluntarily will come themselves until there's at least twenty or so others. But if you have too many people on the floor, then newcomers can't actually get the lesson they need. So we 'load' the crowd and see if we can harass real newcomers to the stage. In fact, we take bribes from unsuspecting victim's friends or family members who've talked them into coming."
"Oh, was that the plan?"
"You're the one that said Wednesday. Saturday we could have watched Obito yell into a mic safely from up here."
He checks his phone. "Alright I have to head down," He looks at her, "You are more than welcome to join me, that way I won't verbally harass you from downstairs."
"Ha," she says, but there is a gleam in his eye. He'll make good on the threat. She sighs, "You'll do it, won't you?"
"Yes." He extends a hand.
She drains her first margarita and grabs her purse before standing on her own and focusing on his face. Eyes up, she reminds herself. "You owe me."
"Right this way," his hand barely grazes her shoulder as he navigates them through the crowd to the bottom floor. At the entrance to the dance floor, off to the right, is where the soundboard is set up. There are several crew members working on the board, checking mics.
"Thank goodness, thought my father was going to have Randy lead on day one," one of the technicians says as she grabs a hook-on mic from a box.
"Fret not, Susan." Madara removes his jacket, his black suspenders standing out against the white shirt he's wearing. He sets his jacket behind the speaker and motions for Sakura to set down her purse there as well.
"Hah, me fret?" The woman closes the space between them and fondles Madara's ear with a wire and mic and clips his belt with the receptor. "I just don't want that punk to get a big head." She winks at Sakura and then goes back to the soundboard.
Madara turns to Sakura. "I'll apologize now. I didn't know Cisco had injured himself, if I'd known I wouldn't have even suggested we come. But he is one of my older friends, used to compete against him in competitions and all. Got to give a good show."
"How bad is this show going to be?"
"Ah well, now that is probably the best question you've asked all night."
"Oh?"
"Got to make it good if we want people to dance. So it's going to be rough for you and easy for me, though you're a cute face."
She can't help but snort at his innuendo, her heart beating rapidly. This doesn't sound good at all. "Oh really?"
He winks. "I am not like this all the time. Promise. Its the mic."
He turns to Susan. "Are we good to go?"
"Almost, just a minute or two more."
Madara takes a deep breath and shakes out his hands and feet. "Well, at least you'll know how to swing by the end of this."
Sakura wishes she'd brought her second drink down, so she could drain it too.
Susan gives the thumbs up. "Band's ready, everyones in position." She then begins pointing at the upstairs. "Lady, yellow sundress." She points above her. "Engagement celebration, specifically the father of the bride-to-be. A hundred if you get him on the floor." She motions across the room. "Woman in the pink blouse."
Madara gives a nod. "And our loads?"
"Tania and Leroy," she points towards the curve of the U upstairs. "Akina, yellow blouse, she'll be on the bottom floor, you won't miss her."
Madara turns, inspecting the room. "And our gunner?"
"Randy."
"No."
"Yes, it fits him. Randy's gunner, just put up with it."
Madara sticks out his tongue as if tasting something sour. "Alright. Let's do this." He motions for Sakura to follow him. Once he gets away from the speakers, he gives one more shake of his limbs before turning a knob on the device at his waist.
"Test, test." his voice rings loud and clear via strange echo in the room. "Alright here we go." At the words and new noise, the room begins to quiet down.
He grabs Sakura's hand and tugs her to the dance floor.
Her gaze falls to his firm grip. What she'd thrown out of her head, returns with a vengeance. He's good with his hands, Mui's words echo in her head. Her face flames. Eyes up forgotten.
"Oh hell," she curses.
Her voice rings back at her through the speakers. "Shit." That feedback comes back too. People are at the banisters above them peer down at them as they step upon the dance floor. She's far more important things to worry about than Madara's hands. What the hell had she agreed to?
Madara's chuckle crackles on the speakers.
Their footsteps' tap upon the wooden floor rings in Sakura's ears, it's so quiet. Too quiet. She dares to look up, and gulps. Without the firm pull from Madara she'd have frozen in place, too terrified to move forward.
Madar clears his throat, "As you can all see, I've found my first unwilling victim of the night. May I present to you, Miss Haruno, coming at you with zero Swing experience."
Sakura wants to curl into a ball and die. This is far worse than she ever thought. Why the hell had Madara even used her name.
"To those of you new, my name is Madara."
Laughter comes from the table on the main floor and someone whoops, "Madara's in the house!"
"Thank you. Much appreciated." More laughter ensues. Madara drops her hand. "Tonight Cisco has injured his shoulder riding a motorcycle. Which means tonight, I am your swing teacher."
A loud whooping and heckling follows that.
"Unlike the kind Cisco," more laughter, "I give but one introduction to swing. So if I may have your attention. Thank you, please." He raises his fingers to his lips and the crowd quiets.
"May I have all newcomers on the floor, please. I'm going to be teaching the east coast swing."
There is just an echo. Nothing, no one moves. Is she really the only one who's never danced before? She feels like vomiting.
Madara's hand flicks out and he points to the corner. "Stop Cal, I can see your suspenders from here, you know swing." His finger scans the audience until it pauses. "You, miss, in the yellow sundress." The woman in question, leaning over the arm rail to look at the show unfolding, turns beat red and looks away, "Yes, you. She can all see you now and we all know you can't swing. To the floor please."
All attention is now on said woman. Sakura almost appreciates the fact the spotlight has landed on her.
The woman shakes her head no.
"There is a rule here. You dance or you leave. Are you going to leave, miss?"
She nods her head yes.
The crowd seems to hold its breath until there is the sound of rushed running. A man, white shirt, bowtie, slicked back hair and a rose runs onto the dance floor, slides about two feet on one knee and holds up a rose into the air, in the direction of the women. He is mic'd and he yells out. "Please don't leave me."
And the entire crowd goes, almost as if rehearsed, "Awww."
"Hold yourself together, Randy. Obviously this woman is gathering her things and getting the hell out of town."
"She doesn't love me anymore, I am," the man looks away from the woman and to the crowd. "All alone." The lights go dark. A spotlight falls on the man.
"And here, I shall die for my love." He collapses onto the ground arm outstretched with a rose still extended towards the woman.
"So young and such a waste of breath - I mean waste of life." The crowd bursts into laughter. "Woe to the woman who has done this to you Randy, for she will be forever haunted."
A spotlight finds and follows the woman as she is making her way off of the upper decks, a young girl about twelve follows her, laughing. Startled by the spotlight the woman looks over the banister.
"You are part of the show now dear, regardless if you want to. You either can save the day and be a hero or make this man die and the crowd cry."
The woman's scowl deepens into fury.
"Look on, little girl, your mother is a murderer, she has killed a man."
The girl has to bite her fist at her laughter. The crowd starts making sobbing noises.
The woman freezes in spot, hands on her hips, fury in her gaze at Madara. "Fine! But I'm not dancing." She yells out.
A deep breath is heard echoing from the mic and the man rises from the floor. "I have been restored by the power of love."
"Awwww." The crowd cheers and claps as the sundress lady and her daughter make their way to the floor.
Madara turns his attention back to the upper railing. His fingers scan, and pause. "You there," the show begins again. He harrasses several more people into coming down the stairs. Using a finger gun to shoot Randy into collapsing and dying and reviving each time someone denies going down but ends up coming when the crowd sobs at them. And several staff pull others from the crowd onto the dance floor.
The bride-to-be is the one who gets her father on the floor, not Madara. Although he made a good attempt for three minutes. Sakura wonders if he'll still get the hundred.
"Kakashi," Madara raises his voice, "I swear if you sneak out those exit doors that trigger the fire alarm, the mob in this building will want your head. Yes, I see you. Please make your way here, you can stand by Miss Haruno if you prefer."
At the end of it, it's not a large group, but Sakura feels a bit more comfortable not being the only one out. And having Kakashi look ashen and pale next to her, cheers her spirits immensely.
The show of course doesn't end. Madara continues with the humor and extravaganza and humor. Nobody is allowed to dance with those they came with, instead people from the crowd come down who know how to swing to help teach the others. Sakura ends up on the arm of Obito and a lady who must be in her eighties has grabbed Kakashi, her head only coming up to his chest.
Sakura tilts her head a bit in confusion at Obito. "I thought you didn't like the music."
"I may not like it, but I do know how to dance to it," he tells her. He then winks. "Rin's going to film Kakashi."
Madara makes a show of correcting the spacing of people and where they place their hands. "Not on her ass, that will get you slapped the next time you do it, arms up. This isn't a tango, keep it G, I want space between you two—space. We've a highschool teacher in our midst and I'm sure he keeps a ruler somewhere. Now let's try this again - 1 and 2 and -"
By the end, even those red in the face from embarrassment end up laughing and having some enjoyment. Kakashi is chuckling over whatever the old lady is saying and Obito turns out to be fairly pleasant company. "Madara has been to this joint so often he knows the lines by heart. Usually Cisco does this. Sort of trademarked." Obito gives a nod to the beaming young girl laughing with Randy. "I bet that girl set up her mom."
Sakura does learn to swing dance. And by the way the old lady is demanding to be twirled a bit faster, Kakashi is getting there.
A trumpet sounds.
"Here we go, people. Start them off with something good. Kick it."
The music starts, there is the clattering of feet to the dance floor. Instead of watching the newcomers, the crowd descends upon the floor.
The music helps, the people help. By the start of the next song, Obito has passed her off to Madara, whose mic is gone. Madara has more flourishes and control than Obito and there is little time for talk in the fast number and the fact she is being tilted, twirled and moved across the dancefloor as if there isn't a bundle of people everywhere.
The difference in skill is evident, and her skin warms at the exercise and touches upon her shoulder blade and hands.
When the music dies down, Madara pulls them to the side of the floor and he points out into the crowd where Kakashi is still with the old woman. The veins on her hands pop against her skin as she clutches to him, not letting him leave. "Thank you for being a good sport. I owe you dinner."
"I thought I was getting this one for free already."
"Well that is from Cisco, he honestly would have comped the meal if it had just been me who got on that stage. But I'll owe you another dinner, someplace you don't have to work for it."
He smiles wickedly. "I'll need to save Kakashi from Nora. But figured as an early payment, I'd let you watch a bit without having to dance."
Sakura is glad he does. Kakashi is trying to be the perfect gentleman but is stiff and frigid on the dance floor in the arms of a woman who may be old but moves with more style than even Madara. "Nora taught me back when I first started ballroom. She's the best dancer here and a firecracker. Her husband passed away a couple months back; so I'll owe her a dance or two before plopping her on some other unsuspecting soul. Probably someone new, she's good at teaching."
"It's a bit like a community here, huh? You all know each other by name?"
"Well, this is one of the few dance halls in several cities and the only one that does swing. So people who love it tend to come from quite a few miles. Afterwhile you recognize faces, get to know the people until eventually the more dramatic ones want to be a part of the show. And then if you're in the show, people want to talk to you afterward."
"So have you slid across the floor before, rose in hand?"
Madara laughs, "I'm not that much of a casanova." He then gives her arm a squeeze before stepping away. "Alright, one more minute, then I'll save him."
Sakura enjoys the scene. Kakashi is somewhat smiling by the end, but the look of relief is evident when Madara steps in.
Kakashi walks off the dance floor to her and they both watch from the sidelines. "Now she slows down," Kakashi mutters under his breath.
Madara and Nora are taking it slower, less twists and twirls, and are chatting about something.
"Quick, let's get upstairs before we get pulled into this madness again. Also we should reprieve Rin from watching our stuff so she can go dance with Obito."
"Sounds good." She fetches her purse and follows Kakashi upstairs.
She sits back down at the table, in Madara's spot, out of breath from having to dodge dancing people and laughing with Kakashi. Rin leaves to find Obito. From the vantage point, she can see Madara and Nora pick up speed and begin to look like real pros, the room dims and a spotlight falls on them while everyone begins hooting and hollering.
The room claps when it's finished and Madara bows.
"Another hand everyone for the great Nora Riley," one of the trumpeters says into a standing mic.
The whistles start and the quaint old lady beams into the bright lights.
The lights turn on and the music starts again. Madara kisses Nora's cheek before leaving the dance floor. He stops at a table with the sundress lady who's returned to her seat. They shake hands and talk for a few minutes.
"Well we were all pretty sure Cisco paid Madara on the side to keep people happy. Now, it's guaranteed."
"Oh?"
"Yes, the man probably would have been a dance instructor if he wasn't so damn good at snooping on others."
Sakura laughs, sipping at her second margarita. "Well if he taught on the side I wouldn't be surprised. He seemed to enjoy the spotlight and show."
"Probably not as much as you might think," Obito says, returning with Rin. "But having been on stage quite a bit steels your nerves. He's pretty much been on the dance floor his entire life. Now, I saw him give a presentation at a conference and it was cringe worthy, so - this is pretty much the only public speaking he does. Everything else sucks."
"You are always so kind, Obito," Madara says.
Sakura holds in a laugh and is about to stand, but Madara rests a hand on her shoulder. "I've been to a lot of dances, Sakura, keep the better seat." He takes her old chair and plucks his beer from the old spot.
"Figured you'd be out there all night," Obito laughs, and scratches the back of his neck. Sakura blinks at the action and looks at the move she'd always associated with Kakashi.
"Well, I'd hoped to talk Sakura into another dance towards the end. It's rude to invite someone and not hang out with them, Obito. You must think I'm a danceaholic or something."
Sakura smiles, "I'm more than happy to watch the table if you all want to dance."
"Nope," Kakashi says quickly, at a head tilt from Madara and jab at his ribs from Obito, "My indescribable need to dance is gone. I'm pretty sure I'll not have it for the rest of my life."
A loud buzz and vibration rumbles the thin table.
Sakura blinks, realizing it had come from her phone. "Sorry about that." She quickly plucks it off the table to turn it off when she sees the text.
Sakura
It buzzes again.
Sakura
The incoming contact, Sai.
Her stomach drops.