Chapter Eight

[Tuesday]

"Hey, Hanamichi!"

The imposing figure by the lockers turned around, and Yohei blinked as he walked up to his friend. Was it his imagination, or had the redhead become taller? "Haruko and I are going to check out the new pool place in the next district after school today. Want to come?"

"Eh? Today?"

"Yes, today," Yohei replied firmly. "The last two weeks of school spent doing nothing, and I haven't seen much of you after class hours at all! Where have you been?"

Hanamichi grinned. "Ah, Yohei! That is the genius's secret! But you will find out what it is soon."

Yohei blinked. "A secret?" he pursed his lips and studied his friend doubtfully. "Are you sure it's not anything illegal?"

"Ha, ha, very funny."

The dark-haired boy shrugged. He would find out what it was sooner or later. "So are you joining us later?"

Hanamichi shook his head regretfully. "Got things to do. But tell me all about the new pool place when you've checked it out, okay? Anyway, got to run!" He fled down the corridor, leaving a bemused and thoughtful Yohei looking after him.

Things to do? That's new.

Actually, that's downright strange.

Which was how Yohei and Haruko ended up following Hanamichi after school.

*** ***

He seemed extraordinarily cheerful, whistling loudly and swinging his bag this way and that as he made his way down a side lane, moving towards one of the housing estates that Yohei had never paid much attention to before. Come to think of it, this neighborhood was actually quite close to Shohoku, but it was set a little way apart from the main street, which made it a lot quieter and inconspicuous than the other estates around.

"I'm sorry to make you come along with me like this," he whispered apologetically to his girlfriend, who had a leaf stuck in her thick brown hair as they peered after the redhead from behind the bushes along the sidewalk.

Haruko smiled at him. "It's okay. I know you're worried that he's in trouble."

Yohei shrugged. "I'm having second thoughts. He looks perfectly fine."

Hanamichi disappeared behind a corner, and they scrambled to their feet to follow.

*** ***

In the washroom, Rukawa just barely managed to put the finishing pins on the hair extensions when the door to the studio burst open and he heard a familiar voice greet a booming, cheerful hello to Mrs. Takuhiro. Why had he agreed to schedule this lesson time? It was barely an hour since school had ended, and he had had to rush here in a cab when the last bell had gone.

Oh, right. It was because Ryonan had ended its school term the week before, and Hanamichi had jumped at the chance that his instructor would be free and available after his own school hours.

In any case, at least he had had the time for a quick bath. He checked that his Shohoku uniform and badge were packed securely in the white plastic bag, before bending to put the items into his carry-on. As he straightened, he checked the mirror one last time, critically.

"Ruiya?"

Just a bit more, and it'll be over.

It hit him with a pang, that he would actually miss this.

"Ruiya? Are you all right in there?"

When Hanamichi wasn't looking down on him like a rival, when he himself wasn't looking at the redhead like he thought he had known him all along, everything was different. Rukawa admitted that. His conscience had plagued him, all through his waking hours to his dreams. Bringing him back to the moments when Hanamichi had tried to catch him and stop him from falling. When Hanamichi had held out a hand to help him up. The voice normally raised to Rukawa in shouting now lowered in concern. The broad, natural smile that inexplicably upturned the corners of his own mouth and fill his heart in a strange, touching way.

"Ruiya!"

He jolted to reality, cursing himself under his breath for losing track of himself. "I'm coming out," he called through clenched teeth, reaching down and swiping up his bag.

*** ***

As he stepped into the lesson room, Hanamichi noticed that one of the three lights had blown, making the place dimmer and appearing somehow smaller. Yet, it felt warm and strangely cosy at the same time. He had never taken a good look at this room before, because the mirror that made up one wall had always seemed intimidating. Some of his silliest movements had been recorded on that glass, and he grinned to remember those moments.

He realized that he was trying to distract himself.

Only when the door to the washroom opened, and he saw that familiar face, did Hanamichi reluctantly admit that he had missed her.

Her hair looked damp, probably from a shower she had taken before coming. She looked slightly flustered, and her eyes appeared bluer than ever against her flushed skin. He rose to his feet, coming forward and reaching out gallantly to take the heavy-looking leather bag from her hands.

"It's all right," she snapped, shifting the bag so that it banged against her hip. And then Ruiya bit her lip, looking down and appearing, weirdly enough, guilty. "I can carry it myself," she mumbled.

He shrugged. "No problem. Can we start?"

She brushed past him, gesturing that she was going to put her bag away and nudging him pointedly towards the middle of the room, indicating that he should go through the steps first. Pathetically enough, all he could think about at that sharp, short contact was how fragrant that wet black hair seemed.

*** ***

His heart was pounding peculiarly as Rukawa headed back towards the lesson room. Predictably enough, it had to do with the earlier accident of Hanamichi offering help with his bag, and then the brief contact between them as he had walked out to place his things under the counter.

As he entered the room, Hanamichi looked up with a smile. "All set?"

Rukawa squashed the feeling of panic as the redhead walked towards him. He didn't think he could deal with the waltz today…Hanamichi's touch was sending crazy, indefinable sensations through his body. Making his balance fluctuate.

He stepped back abruptly.

"We'll do the slow mambo today."

*** ***

She seemed different. As if she was trying to avoid him, of which she was managing brilliantly. Unbidden, the thought came to him.

Don't do this…I want it to be like it was the last time…

He pushed the errant words away and tried to focus on going through the steps Ruiya was outlining. The simplified, slow mambo was a simple variation of the salsa, and he found that he could actually turn his hips correctly now. Back and close. Front and close. Step and spin, side and close.

Of course, Ruiya could still accomplish it more smoothly.

The music for this particular dance felt almost lazy, winding through his hearing and wrapping around his body. He caught on quickly enough, and than spontaneously stepped around so that he was facing Ruiya instead of them standing side by side. He held out his hand.

Her eyes widened at the unspoken challenge, but neither of them broke the beat or the sequence of steps even as she stared at him. Slowly, her hand rose to take his offered one.

"You look really pretty today." The words were out before he could stop them. Amazingly enough, he didn't feel embarrassed at what he was saying.

It seemed natural.

You're just too good to be true.

Can't take my eyes off you.

You'd be like heaven to touch.

I want to hold you so much.

He could see that Ruiya had turned pink even in the dimmer surroundings. She averted her face, letting the black hair fall over her eyes, and her mouth opened, but he couldn't hear anything. Unconsciously, his arm curved more securely around her slim waist, pulling her closer. She radiated heat under his hands.

Pardon the way that I stare.

There's nothing else to compare.

The sight of you leaves me weak.

There are no words left to speak.

"Thanks." Her voice was a choked whisper from beneath the curtain of her fringe.

*** ***

Rukawa cursed the lighting. It was impeding his judgement and normally correct senses. It was making him turn to jelly in the very embrace he had tried to escape, and it was making him see things he shouldn't see.

Things like how Hanamichi's eyes sparkled, a twinkle in those mahogany depths. Things like how the slow smile that curved those red, red lips seemed inviting and sensuous at all once. Things like the strong hands that held him, suddenly guiding him in the dance instead. He remembered what he had told Hanamichi the first day the power forward had come for class.

"The men always lead. Remember that."

Apparently, the redhead –did– remember.

Rukawa Kaede, used to being in charge and retaining that authority, now watched helplessly as it slipped uncontrollably out of his hands.

*** ***

"This is the local recreation club, it seems. But there's another sign here too! Hmm…it says 'Takuhiro Dance Studio', Yohei-kun."

Dark eyes met brown ones for a long second.

"No way. Not possible."

"Sakuragi-kun is learning how to da—?!" her gasp of surprise was quickly stifled by her boyfriend's hand over her mouth.

"Shush! He might hear us!"

She nodded solemnly and he let her go, turning instead to look at the faintly gaudy rose and beige building.