The Dance

Chapter 3: Learning, and My Thoughts on Love, Revisited

Note: Anything in italics is in their language, but translated to English... Bold italics is Stitch talking, italics alone is Angel.

Lilo grabbed the tricycle, and waited for me to hop on. However, I had already decided that I was walking back with my new cousin, so I waved for Lilo to go ahead. She sighed, and started off.

"So... welcome to Earth," I greeted my cousin, trying not to act as goofy as I had before.

"Earth... Where is that?" the experiment asked me.

"It's a long way from where we were created. Anyways, which experiment are you?"

"Oh, I'm Experiment 624."

"624, eh? That's interesting, one of the last ones to be created."

"And you?"

"I rarely ever go by my number anymore. I was given a name, which is Stitch... I'm sure Lilo will think of a name for you."

624 looked confused.

"Lilo... Is she that little girl that was with you?"

"Ih," I confirmed. "I'm sorry about the way she acted. She's usually not so cold..."

624 shook her head.

"Don't worry about it; I'm used to getting cold welcomes... But yours, that was about the warmest welcome I've ever gotten," she told me, giving me a little smile.

"Well," I admitted, scratching the back of my head, "I did go a little overboard there... You do know that I meant 'very precious' and not 'mate', right?"

"What?! You mean you lied to me? I can't believe... Nah, I'm just kidding..." she reassured me. "It wasn't too hard to tell, especially since I was acting myself, so yeah, I knew you what you meant. I just played along to make it more convincing."

"I see," I noted, nodding. Rubbing my cheek and remembering the lick, I continued, "But you did it very convincingly!"

She blushed slightly, and giggled, then asked, "Really?"

"Ih! You'd make a great actor!"

As it turned out, this would be the biggest understatement I had ever made. I finally realized that we had been wasting quite a bit of time just standing in the back alley and chatting.

"Oh, we should head for home, 624..." I informed her.

"Ummm... Where is that?" she asked.

I held out a hand to her.

"I'll show you."

Smiling, she took my hand, and we started walking home.

"Tell me, what do you like to do, 624?"

"Well... I like to try to get to know others, to try and make friends. I also like to talk and sing. How about you, Stitch?"

"I enjoy trying to find the other experiments, and just having fun in general, even if it does get me in trouble now and then..."

She giggled at the last bit, making me think she liked bad boys. But she became very solemn at my next question:

"So, what is your power, 624?"

She blushed, and looked down at the ground.

"Aaah... Well, it's not really destructive... So does it really matter?"

"Well, I guess not, if you don't want to talk about it."

'Wow, she must be ashamed of her power... Maybe she was a failed experiment?' I wondered.

"And you? What were you designed for, Stitch?"

"More or less, I was designed for general chaos and destruction. But Lilo saved me from being exiled to a desert asteroid."

"Ah... I see."

She sighed and leaned against me. I blushed, but kept walking, still holding her hand.

"So now you are a part of the o'hana, cousin."

"What do you mean, 'cousin'?"

"Oh... I refer to all of the experiments as cousins. Not because we're all related, but because we're all one big o'hana."

"And o'hana means...?"

"Family. And family means no one gets left behind. Or forgotten."

She gave me a sad smile.

"I've never had anyone to rely on before... Thanks Stitch."

"No problem 624. I hope you weren't insulted with the whole booji bu thing. It's just that I don't think love is good for much of anything, so, I'm not really looking for a mate," I explained to her.

But, I withheld a bit of info from her, something she may have liked to hear: 'But if I was, you'd most likely be my choice for a mate...'

"Oh, that's fine. Love is a strange emotion- or so I've been told. I myself couldn't tell you, I've never felt it."

"Ih. I've heard that it hits when you least expect it..."

'And I can vouch for that,' I thought.

I tried to look away from 624, but to no avail. I knew that she saw me ogling her, because her eyes met mine more than once, plus the grin on her face widened when she did. I also heard her giggle when our eyes met.

Even though my words had told her one thing, I knew my actions were silencing my words. She seemed to be waiting for me to do something. But as much as I wanted to lick her cheek in affection, my own words and fears were holding me back.

'I don't even know her that well... But I'll wait and see how things play out.'

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she sighed again.

"You're enjoying this," I noted.

"Yes... You know, as much as you claim to hate love, you seem to be one to indulge in it," 624 countered, grinning.

At this time, we finally arrived home. I wanted to talk with her alone for a bit longer, so I invited her up onto the hammock. I hopped up first, and helped her up. Then we continued talking.

"About what you said before, about me indulging in love, even though I claim to hate it... I guess I'm guilty as charged. I guess seeing what it had done to Lilo, and not actually feeling it for myself held me back..."

"Oh? Is she in love with someone, and it's causing you problems?"

"Ow, you cut straight to the point, don't you?!" I attempted to joke. Becoming serious though, I continued, "But yeah... she's got a crush on a local surfer kid. Whenever she tries to get his attention, I'm forgotten... and although I want her to be happy, I hate being left alone for too long. Plus, I don't even think he likes her back. He seems to be more concerned about looking cool than trying to return Lilo's affection."

"Ah. Now I understand why you don't like love... You're scared of it, because you've seen the wacky, bad effects it has on people, and you don't want the same thing to happen to you. But since you're trying to keep yourself from falling in love, you're holding yourself back from enjoying the best part of life..."

I thought about it for a few seconds.

'She raises an interesting point... 624 may have something...'

"I had never thought about it that way..."

"You've got to be more open. Otherwise you'll miss something good right in front of you..." she urged, before sighing dreamily.

I giggled at this, before sniffing. My nose was stuffy, so I decided to pick it with my tongue.

When I did, 624 looked at me questioningly, and asked, "Huh?"

I realized how stupid I looked right then, and how rude that was.

"Oh, excuse me!" I apologized.

She must have thought it was cute, because she went, "Hmmm," in satisfaction, and then mimicked me! I was really excited now.

'Wow, she's got quite the tongue as well! And maybe she likes me like I like her!'

In that moment of excitement, I cried, "Da booji bu!" and grabbed her in a hug.

She was shocked at first, but I noticed a grin cross her face once more as she returned the embrace. Suddenly, I heard a whirring sound.

"That is beautiful!" Pleakley cried from behind me, working an old video camera.

'Oh great... Thanks Pleakley, way to ruin the moment...' I thought, as 624 and I broke off, seeing what he was up to.

"Now move in for the kiss... Feel it." When he realized we weren't going to do as he said, he cried in desperation, "Don't look at the camera! Keep emoting!"

"What are you doing?" Lilo asked him, coming up from behind him.

"I'm making my very own video to send to 'America's Gushiest Home Love Stories!' Let's see, I've got my vocal projection enhancer, directorial skull protector, combination scene marker and finger crusher... AHHH!" he cried, as the scene marker performed its secondary function, and crushed one of his fingers.

This caused 624 and I to chuckle.

After he pulled his finger out, he finished, "And uh... Well, I don't know what this thingy does, but it does make an attractive accessory! And these two," he continued, moving that ancient camera next to me, "make a fascinating subject!"

'Well, Pleakley, you ruined the moment, and now you're trying to invade my space? Bad choice... For I find THIS to be to be far more interesting,' I bitterly thought; growling, barking, and slashing at the annoying camera.

It hit the ground with a satisfying crash, as Lilo and Pleakley winced, and 624 grinned.

Lilo pointed out, "That's not a video camera, it's an antique. And it doesn't even have any film in it!"

"I knew that! I was just, uh, practicing!" Pleakley lied, badly. "I'll bet Jumba has a video camera I can use for the real shoot!"

'No! Can't I just get a little time alone with my booji bu?!' I thought; ready to poke Pleakley in the eye.

"Let's find out," Lilo agreed. In a darker tone, however, she finished, "I wanted to ask him about this little... angel..."

They went back into the house.

"I'm sorry about that... Pleakley's the resident 'Earth expert,'" I explained. "He likes to cross-dress, it's part of his Earth disguise... He also likes to cook, be careful though, he ends up cooking up inedible stuff way too often..."

She nodded, but seemed to be deep in thought.

"Something wrong, angel?"

"Huh? Who are you talking to?"

"I was talking to you... Angel seems to be a fitting name for you, for you are as kind and beautiful as one..."

"Oh Stitch! You really think so?" Angel (as she was now named) inquired.

"Ih, I mean that with my heart."

"Ohhh... you're so sweet!"

Angel hopped down, and motioned for me to do the same. When I did, she grabbed me in a hug, and then gave me a kiss on the lips.

'Wow...!' I thought, grinning like an idiot again.

Right then and there, I took back all my hatred of love. I now enjoyed the feeling of love, and being in it.

"Catch me if you can, Stitch!" she cried, heading back for the house.

"Run while you can, Angel! I'll catch you when I'm ready!"

I ran after her, my heart and soul soaring in happiness beyond what I thought was possible.