Disclaimer: Disclaimer for first chapter applies to rest of story. I don't own ballet though...XD

Authoress Note: Thanks so much Rae-chan for the idea! XD! Though... I don't know a thing about ballet... so that part's kinda short. But gomen nasai! Anyway I'm glad everyone liked the spaghetti chapter. That one was fun to write. XD

::Ballet::

Gareas had never thought that public display of affection could be so hard to maintain without completely ruining your reputation. After the spaghetti incident, the faculty of GIS as well as the other pilots and repairers were eyeing Gareas suspiciously. And, for some very odd and unexplainable reason, they didn't do anything to Rio.

What the hell was up with that?

Apparently, they all thought Rio was completely straight considering he was always chasing after other women. They all assumed Gareas to be the 'bad guy' so to speak, trying to convert Rioroute. And the blonde pilot didn't do anything about it either.

So why did it bother Gareas?

Because his repairer was making a BIG deal out of it.

"Gareas Elidd!" Leena called after him. She didn't have to make any repairs to Eeva Leena considering they still hadn't battled. She ran up from behind and grabbed his wrist, forcing him to face her.

"What now?"

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about." Leena scowled. "I saw you and Rioroute. How could you? He's just so innocent, and you're trying to scar him. I know it! If you're so upset about Ernest, take it out on me, and not him."

Gareas' eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

"You're impossible..." Leena calmed down. "There's no getting through to you." And she stormed off.

Gareas blinked once, twice and three times. What was she talking about? Honestly, the woman must be insane. She was speaking in plain English, but Gareas didn't understand a word she'd said. He shrugged it off as jealousy. How could he possibly hurt Rioroute anyway?

After Leena had disappeared around the corner, Gareas continued to trudge down the hallway. Where was that Rioroute anyway? They had gotten separated after Phil dragged him off to wash up. Gareas remembered the scene perfectly...

--

"RIOROUTE!" Came her manly voice. Rio looked up, spaghetti sauce all over his face and Gareas laughing across from him. "You're a MESS! And I've been getting complaints about you hanging around with Garu too much. He's bad news!"

"Aw, come on Phil." Rio rolled his eyes. "It's just spaghetti."

Phil now noticed the reality of the situation. There was only one spaghetti plate and one fork.

"You two weren't... eating that together?"

Gareas grinned. "Bingo. Tell her what she's won, Rioroute."

Before Rio could answer however, Phil was already dragging him off. "I've won Rioroute to myself." She glared long and hard at Gareas. And he only glared back.

--

Gareas couldn't remember where he was going, but a hand from no where shot out and clamped itself over his mouth and the green haired pilot was pulled off to the side. After struggling a bit, he clearly won and made it free, only to find himself in a darkened area.

"What the hell was up with that?" He snapped.

"Sh... Gari-kun, it's only me." Came a familiar voice that Gareas melted to hear.

"Rioroute? And since when have you been calling me Gari-kun?"

"Since now." And he flipped the lights on to reveal a very large and open area. One wall was completely covered in mirrors and a bar was running across the side. The floor was bare and on the opposite wall was a small rack to hang things.

Gareas looked about confused. "What is this place?"

"It's a dance room." Rioroute was beaming now. "I found it when I was hiding from Phil."

Gareas' eyes opened wide. "You were hiding from Phil?"

Rioroute nodded. "Of course. She crabs at me too much. Now..." Rio took Gareas hand. "I want to show you something..."

Rio's sudden closeness to Gareas was making him dizzy, but he followed Rio to the corner where the shelves were. On it rested very odd garments. "And these are...?"

"Spandex! It's for dancing." Rio grinned. "Go on, put them on. I'm going to show you how to dance."

"WHAT?!" Gareas stepped back against the wall. "I am not going to wear that! And I do not dance. Besides how come I have to wear that and you don't?"

"Because..." Rio blushed. "This uniform makes me look like a Pixie already."

The realization of that subject forced Gareas to laugh. "Fine. I'll wear the spandex." After all, if Rio wanted him to do it, why not?

In moments, Gareas was standing in the middle of the room, wearing a solid dark blue spandex outfit. It covered his entire body so only his head was showing. The material was tight on him though, showing his muscles and other portions of Gareas' body that rather embarrassed him. Rio sighed with delight. "Great, now we can dance!"

"Just... what kind of dance did you have in mind?" Gareas was now beginning to feel a little shaky to this prospect.

"It's a kind of ancient dance technique. I hear it's good for grace and it'll help you become a better pilot." Rio grinned. "It's called baa-lay"

"You mean, Ballet."

"You've heard of it!" Rio clapped. "Back... back on my colony." His happy-go-lucky attitude suddenly changed to somber. "Back on my colony, I was taught ballet. And, I haven't brought it back up until now. I... I want to teach you, Gari-kun."

Gareas smiled very softly. "Then I would be honored to learn."

Rioroute's face lit up. "Really? That's so great! We can dance together then, I'll show you!" Rio did a pirouette and landed very gracefully on his feet. He hardly made a noise at all. "Now you try."

Embarrassed, Gareas tried one, but he landed with a thud and it was not quite so graceful at all. Rio didn't give up. His sudden patience in the green haired pilot surprised him. Gareas didn't mind though. He'd never even known this side of Rioroute before. And he didn't hate it one bit. After many different failures, Gareas was able to perfect the first move and from then on, he was a natural.

For the rest of that day, Gareas and Rioroute practiced in that secluded room, until they were both too hot and tired to go on. They had lost track of time and it was getting very late. But there was only one problem. Gareas couldn't get the spandex off. He twisted and turned, but it wouldn't stretch any further.

"Rioroute! Now look! I'll be stuck in this naked suit forever!" He whined, fidgeting with the back.

"I'm so sorry, Gari-kun!" Rio tried to help him pry it off but it was to no avail. "I never meant for this to happen. I might have to cut it off... but you won't be able to wear the spandex anymore."

"I don't care! Just. Get. It. Off!"

Hurt, Rioroute managed to bite a rip in the seam and pry the spandex from Gareas. Once Garu changed back into his normal uniform, he turned to Rio. He looked as torn as the clothing article. And it was then that Gareas realized how much this meant to him. The green haired pilot knelt down next to the blonde and rested a tired hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry Rio..." he started, but when Rio didn't even look up at him, Garu tried again. "I'll make it up to you. Want something to eat?"

That worked.

"Can we get some ice cream?"

Gareas smiled. Rio was acting like a child again. It was that adorable attitude that drew the pilot to him in the first place. He nodded. "If they have any."

Rio hugged Gareas close. "You're the best friend I ever had, Gari-kun."

Gareas froze for a second. All hopes that Rioroute could possibly love him flew off into space. Did Rio only think of him as a friend? Gareas' heart sank as he pulled Rio from him and stood up. "Yeah... you're my best friend too, Rioroute..."

TBC

That turned out... more different than I expected. It's all your fault! *points to Yami Muse *

Yami Muse: What'd I do?

You made me keep them from being too fluffy! I HATE YOU! *chases after him with a pitchfork*

Yami Muse: R&R!