Dance But Never Forget

Chapter 3: The Dance

Disclaimer: AGAIN?! WILL YOU INSANE FREAKS JUST LET ME WRITE IN PEACE?!?!?! I DON'T OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN, OK?!?! ::Ahem::

Lexi: This must be world news. Me, not giving up on a story after the second chapter!!

Sano: I still haven't forgiven you, you know.

Lexi: Whatever. Have some saké.

Sano: YES! VICTORY IS MINE! ::Grabs saké:: ::Sweet smile:: I wuv you Wexi!

Lexi: ::Rolls eyes:: Oh shut up, will you? Anyway, Kaoru might have some more OOC-ness, but she's older and more mature so that's my excuse. But anywho, shall we continue?

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From Last Chapter:

Kaoru hugged her and brought her inside. "I think it's time we had some girl time. We're going to sit down and talk 'till we're blue in the face."

"Can I start?" Misao asked.

"Sure," Kaoru said.

"Are you going out with that guy yet, K-something? The red haired dude."

"Kenshin? Not only that, we're as good as engaged!"

Misao squealed in delight. "Really? Awesome! Kenshin's the coolest!"

"Glad you feel that way. What about you?"

"Well…it's a long story."

"Spill all."

And she did.

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MISAO:

Misao didn't think that she had ever talked more in her life. She told everything to Kaoru, who for once didn't have any sarcastic comments. She told Kaoru about how she really liked Aoshi but he had no emotion, but if she ever admitted to liking him she'd be shunned by all her friends. She told about his mysterious talent at dance and how it seemed he was pouring his soul into the dance. She told about how she had always tried to help him, but he always pushed her away and wouldn't let her. About how much she wanted to make him smile. Wanted to break through the ice and find the warmth. To all this Kaoru listened silently. When Misao finally stopped, she spoke.

"I know what you need."

"What?"

"A major girls-only getaway. Come on, let's go to the spa. My treat."

Misao smiled. She knew her big sister wasn't completely bad.

AOSHI:

Aoshi entered his small apartment. He lived alone. He had noone. But Misao, oh how he wished…he must banish the thoughts. He had found a new method of dealing with his feelings. The dance. Oh, the dance. He would never tell anyone, but when he danced, it was not he dancing, it was his soul dancing. It was just like when he was fighting with his kodachis. The rush of the moment swept through him and the movement was everything.

'You'll never amount to anything, Aoshi…'

His father was dead. He had killed him. He was safe. His foster homes had been tolerable. His face though…his empty expressionless face. It scared them. And then they sent him on. And on again. Never a home.

'A home…'

He had never known a home.

--FLASHBACK--

"And this will be your room!" A cheerful, pink and plump woman beamed.

"Will you send me away too?"

She was flustered. "No, of course not, why?"

"They say I'm a hopeless case. That I'll never amount to anything…"

"Oh you poor dear, of course we won't send you away! You'll love it here!"

Two weeks later he was packed and moving again. They had been the same as the others, always thinking they could "fix" him. They were wrong.

--END FLASHBACK--

He flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV, flipping channels halfheartedly. Nothing good was on, and he turned it off again. He wandered into the kitchen and grabbed a mug, filled it with water, and put it in the microwave. He waited for it to heat before popping a green-tea bag in. Sitting down at the table, he sipped his tea while staring into space. Green tea always helped him calm down. He breathed the steam in deeply. Thank god it was a Friday. He couldn't have faced school. Not like this. He had to go for a walk. Pulling on his trench coat, not bothering to change out of the dance clothes underneath his normal clothes, he put the empty mug on the counter and left the apartment.

The dry leaves blew around him in the wind. He turned up the collar of his coat and shoved his hands into his pocket. The wind played with the hem of the coat, fluttering it and flipping it up. Aoshi didn't notice. He was too deep in thought.

'…never amount to anything…'

'…hopeless case…'

'…why bother trying to help him? He can't feel…'

'…leave him alone, you guys…'

'…I fight my own fights…'

The voices chased around in his head, until he realized that he had ended up in front of the dance studio. He looked around to see if there was anyone in sight, then put long-dormant skills to use and picked the lock. He slipped into the shadowy building and closed the door behind him with a small click. He removed his trench coat and pulled off all of his street clothes, down to the dance attire. Silently he went to the center of the room, and silently he began to dance. It was only he and the moonlight, alone in the room…but then he imagined another shadow. A shadow of his beloved. She spun into his arms, and they entered into a duet, the likes of which this world has never seen.

MISAO:

Back from the spa, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in her bed, twisting bedclothes into odd formations. Finally she gave up. She crept out of bed and changed into her dance clothes to do what she always did on nights that she couldn't sleep. The window stuck, but with a little coaxing it came open. She climbed through and dropped silently and gracefully to the ground. Once she was sure that her sister and mother weren't watching, she started down the street. The wind chilled her, but she kept walking, onwards to the dance studio. Surprisingly, the door was unlocked. She snuck in silently and took off her coat. When she turned around, surprised was an understatement. There was Aoshi, dancing to no music but that in his head. She silently slipped into his arms and began the duet of moonlight, only able to be danced by those truly in love to no music at all. Her hair felt damp, and she stopped the dance. Aoshi stood still, and she saw tears, two single drops, clinging to his face. She kissed each tear, one on each eye, then kissed him full on the lips. He was startled at first, then kissed back, pouring his longing and need into the kiss. Eventually she pulled away, and his tears had transferred to her face. Aoshi gazed at the glistening moisture, shining on her beautiful moonlit face. Looking at her face, wet with his tears, smiling at him, made him smile for the first time since he was five. A smile for her. A smile for the dance.

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Lexi: ::Sniff:: So sweet…

Sano: You didn't even MENTION me in that chapter!

Lexi: Of course not, it's an A / M fic, not an S / M, or an S / anything for that matter.

Sano: Still…

Lexi: Have saké and rejoice.

Sano: ::Rejoicing::

Lexi: And so it ends. A little sappy, I know, but that's the point. A little (er, very...) short, too, but I just can't seem to commit myself to a long fic. Ideas are welcome, though! So ja! And, as always, REVIEW!!!