The Dance That Never Was
*** Back in Shina's home ***
"Really, Shina? Sugoi!! A dance!" Aiko exclaimed. "I'm so jealous, Kainan has none of those." (Aiko was a 2nd year student from Kainan)
"Will Rukawa be taking you, then?" Maki asked.
"No, why would he?" She asked. Maki shrugged.
"Shame. He's so handsome!" Aiko gushed. "So who is taking you?"
"Oh, we're going in a big group, nothing of the kind." Shina said crisply.
"Really, Shina. You can make a dance sound so boring!" Aiko said in exasperation.
"Miss Aiko, you have a telephone call," Said a servant by the door.
"It must be Akira," She said, grinning from ear to ear, and left the room.
"So Shina…" Maki's voice trailed.
"Yes?"
"How're things? You know - you and Rukawa."
"There's nothing whatsoever." She replied sharply.
"Well, that's a pity."
"Why?"
"I happen to think he's the good sort," he said thoughtfully, "won't fool around."
"I see you've formed a rather high opinion of him," Shina said, smiling.
"Well yes, when I compare him to Sendoh – that's Aiko's boyfriend."
"Then what's the difference between comparing me with Aiko?" She said incredulously. "I'm not like her. Anyway, I quite pity her boyfriend. She's the frivolous sort, no?"
"You should meet him someday, you know. Akira Sendoh. I'd like to see if his charms would work on you. He's the sweet-talking kind." Maki smiled.
"Oh, those!" Shina rolled her eyes. "Well, then I'd say him and Aiko make quite a good match."
With that, Maki left his sister alone to study. He had nothing much to do these days, while waiting for the approval of his scholarship to America.
*** the night of the dance ***
"Shina-chan! Let me introduce you to Youhei Mito," Sakuragi said with vigor.
Youhei extended out a hand.
"Nice to meet you," he said, smiling.
"Err, hi." Shina said somewhat awkwardly, with a crooked smile.
"So, uhh, I see you're quite casually dressed." Youhei noted.
Shina nodded, a little embarrassed. Everyone was in their best – suits and evening dress – while she was in a plain, knee-length cotton white dress. She'd thought that would suffice (and now, she thought she wanted to die).
"But it's nice," Youhei added quickly, sensing her embarrassment.
Shina smiled.
"Eh? Where's Sakuragi?"
(Sakuragi was somewhere, gloating at the success of his pairing)
Youhei shrugged. "Let's go get something to eat,"
"Shina agreed, and together they went over to the buffet tables.
"Tsk tsk, look at what she's wearing!"
"Say, isn't she the one with the huge glasses?"
"Yeah, lost it overnight. Wonder what happened to them."
Shina tried quite uselessly to smile confidently at Youhei, an attempt at dignity.
"Why not I get the food, you can sit down first," he offered.
(( Shina: Now, that's a gentleman. ))
"Thanks, but I'm quite alright." She replied, and helped herself to the food.
(( Youhei: Wow… she has a huge appetite, but she's so skinny! ))
Shina piled more and more food onto the flimsy paper plate.
"Umm, would you get me another one of those plates, please? Thanks."
She slid the 2nd paper plate below the first one, so there was now "double protection".
She then got a fork and spoon, and told Youhei, "I've got something on, I'm terribly sorry. You could go join Sakuragi and the rest, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself with them. Goodbye, nice meeting you!"
With that, she rushed off.
"……"
(( Youhei: Well, there goes an interesting girl if there ever was one. ))
Shina was a ridiculous sight. She was half-running, half-walking, but not really jogging - brisk-walking, do they call it? Anyway, she was wary of the pile of food she was carrying, and was careful not to drop the plate or spill the food. For once, she didn't care about all the sniggering and mockery that was currently directed at her. She just wanted to get to a place she knew.
Rukawa was training by himself in the stadium. He was so absorbed; it was about 10 minutes before he spotted Shina seated on a chair by the sidelines. He went over and joined her. What was that, a plate of food on her lap?
"I thought you might be hungry," She said earnestly, and passed him the plate, fork and spoon.
He nodded, and finished the food in a little over 15 minutes.
After that, they just sat there in silence for a further 15 minutes, like two idiots.
(( Shina: Hmm? What's he doing? ))
"Is there something in my hair?" She asked, going a little red. He was reaching for the back of her head. Was it a leaf, or something silly like that? Was it – gasp – an insect; a worm of some sort?! Oh, then what a disgraceful sight she must be. She shut her eyes tightly, expecting the worse.
(( Rukawa: What the hell is she thinking about? She looks frightened. Oh well… ))
Shina felt her hair loosen, and it fell in waves. Rukawa handed her a rubber band. He had untied her plaits. Oh. No worms, great.
"You look better like that…" his voice trailed off.
Shina didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet. Silence again.
"Let's go." He said, retrieved his bags and headed out of the stadium. Shina followed.
Ugh, the price of vanity! Her hair was long – about halfway down her back – and it was hot. On the rare occasion of her wearing her hair like that, it had to be a warm night. Everything seemed so wrong.
Nasty voice #1: You can't be pretty, we'll make you feel so warm and sticky that you'll have to tie your hair up and look ugly again, mwahahahaa.
Nasty voice #2: What makes you think you look pretty with your hair down? No! It's the same; he's just humoring you for the love of Mike. Do not be deceived!
Mature voice: REALLY, Shina! I'm so disappointed in you! Who cares if your hair is tied up or let down? Who cares if you're bald? There are more important things going on in the world today! Do you know how much of the world's population does not have access to clean water and sanitation? And here you are worrying about your hair!
She pursed her lips in thought, while Rukawa pedaled. Suddenly, he stopped.
"Your new house… where?"
Then Shina remembered. She lived else where now, and he didn't know the way. So she directed him.
That night, Rukawa felt cared for in a very long time.
Author's note: I am hopelessly un-witty and un-funny. I don't even know why I put this under the "humor" genre! Perhaps it's because of Shina's personality. It'd be more fun if she absolutely detested Rukawa, of course, but that seems too cliche. So, I'm failing terribly in trying to be funny, and I apologise.
Sigh, Alexia, thanks for reviewing my fic time and again! It makes me feel this fic is… worth continuing =) But no… you're wrong about Sendoh, I happen to be a great Sendoh fan as well =x So… he won't be portrayed as a cad, well at least not in the later parts.
Maki's mom? She died. Tsk tsk. Sorry I forgot to mention! =P