Dance at Okayama

Category: Tenchi Muyo!

Type: Fantasy/Romance

Pairings: Mihoshi/OC, a bit of Tenchi/Ayeka

Disclaimer: I do not own Tenchi Muyo. Any character you have not heard of is mine.

Summary: In an alternate reality Koichi Seiyama is a new student at Okayama High School. On his way to the school on his first day, he crosses paths with a certain blond-haired girl...

Key:

Narration

Speech

Thought

Author Note

Chapter 3: The Question

It's been one week since Koichi had transferred to Okayama High. The 100-year anniversary of the school's opening was this Friday, and Koichi was still unsure if he was gonna ask Mihoshi. At lunch... Let's see, Sasami's going with Shinji, Tenchi's either going with Ryoko or Ayeka, Washu's probably gonna go alone, and Kiyone could go with anyone if she wanted. And Mihoshi... Hmm... C'mon, Koichi! Think! If you were gonna ask Mihoshi, how would she react?

Sasami walks up behind Koichi with a lunch tray. Koichi?

AAAAAHHHHHH! Sasami, don't scare me like that!

Sorry...

Oh, no, it's okay. You needed something?

I was just gonna ask who you were gonna go to the dance with...

Oh! ...Uh, well... I...

Just thought I'd let you know... Mihoshi's still free... Sasami giggles before walking off.

Hmm? Was she just teasing me? Or trying to give me a hint? Huh... All right... I'll do it! I'll ask her at the end of school! Koichi finds a new determination in his heart. Besides, he would be going to the dance with a girl he really liked, so he could wait until then. Meanwhile...

Tenchi stands outside Ayeka's calculus class room. The bell would ring in about 30 seconds. Uh, Ayeka, How would you-- No! That's not it! Um...Ayeka, I'd be honored if you-- No! How do I get this right?

Just then, the bell rings and the students begin to leave for their next class. A certain girl with violet hair walks out among the crowd.

Oh! Ayeka!

Looking aside, Ayeka spots Tenchi and makes her way over to him. Hello, Tenchi. What're you doing here?

Well...I came over to ask you something.

Oh? What's that?

Okay... Here goes... Taking a deep breath, and then exhaling, Tenchi paces himself. Um, Ayeka? Would you...like to go...to the dance with me this Friday?

Suddenly, in that brief moment, Ayeka felt her heart jump. Wha... What did you just ask me?

I, uh...asked you if you'd like to go to the dance with me...

Her heart jumps again. Oh, my... Oh, my... Oh, my... Ayeka was trying desperately not to faint. Oh, Tenchi... I, uh...um... Ayeka's face was flushing at an alarming rate. I... O-Of course, Tenchi... Of course I would! I'd love to! I thought you'd never ask!

You... You do? Oh! Oh, that's great! Um, I'll be by your house on Friday night, okay?

O-Okay... As Tenchi walks off, Ayeka lets go of everything at once...and falls flat on her knees. I don't believe it... I'm going to the dance with Tenchi... Out loud, she was calm, but in her mind, she was shouting it to the heavens. I'M GOING TO THE DANCE WITH TENCHI MASAKI!

Later that day, the final bell had rung and Koichi spots Mihoshi by her locker. Okay... You can do it, Koichi... Just go up to her and ask... If only it were that easy, because as soon he see started making his way over to her...

Hey, there! ...he's stopped in his tracks by Tsume.

You again?

Yeah, me! What, not happy to see me?

Frankly, no. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm in the middle of something... Just as he begins walking again, Tsume drags him back against a locker by the collar.

I think there's something here you just don't get, you little bug! Mihoshi just ain't goin' for someone like you! See, she's going to the dance with me!

You'd better not do anything to hurt Mihoshi or else!

Or else, what! I think you'd best worry more about yourself getting hurt, buddy!

Grrrr...

Yeah, that's what I thought!, Tsume states as he sets Koichi down. Now watch a pro at work!

Looking at him walk over to Mihoshi, Koichi scowls at Tsume behind his back.

As Mihoshi innocently locks her locker, she finds Tsume hovering over her. What do you want?

Your hair smells as nice as ever...

Right... Excuse me--

Wait! I wanted to ask if you wanted to go to the dance with me! Huh? What do you say?

Mihoshi was hoping he wasn't serious. No, thanks... But, suddenly, Tsume grabs her arm. ...Let me go, Tsume.

C'mon, Miho! You don't know what you're turning up here!

Yeah, I do! And don't call me that stupid nickname anymore!

...But it's cute, like you...

Well, I'm tired of it! Now, let go of my arm! Then, Tsume's grip began getting harder on her. Ow! Tsume, you're hurting me!

Tsume!, Koichi yells from across the hallway. She said, let her go!

Yeah? What're YOU gonna do about it?

Koichi runs towards Tsume at his top running speed. Tsume doesn't even see Koichi's fist connect with his own face as he slams on the ground. And that's just the first of many!

Mihoshi suddenly applauds Koichi for his chivalry. Great job, Koichi!

Tsume wipes a bit of blood dripping from his mouth. You just signed your death warrant, punk! Tsume quickly gets up to hit Koichi.

When Mihoshi tries to block him, Tsume simply backslaps her to the floor. Oof! Her left leg connects hard with the ground. OWW! As Mihoshi clenches her leg in pain, she sees a look of deep anger in Tsume's eyes.

Stay out of this, Mihoshi!

Tsume..., she mutters, terrified at his expression.

Just as Tsume turned to Koichi, another punch connects and he falls flat on his back again. You know something? Heh... You must've been a REALLY bad boyfriend!

Tsume wipes blood away from his mouth once again. That's it, you little half-pint! You're goin' down!

Just before his fist could connect with Koichi's face, Mr. Katsuhito grabs onto it with his palm. School is out, students... What are you still doing here?

Tsume pulls back his fist. Nothing!

Mr. Katsuhito raises an eyebrow. Really?, he asks, unconvinced. It looked as though you were about to send my student to the emergency ward. Now, leave, or else I'll have to contact the principal. With that, he walks off.

Tsume looks at Mr. Katsuhito walk off, then at Koichi. This isn't over! I'll be back to finish this! With that, Tsume walks off in another huff, but this time, also trying to straight his jaw.

Panting heavily, Koichi kneels down by Mihoshi. Mihoshi, are you okay? Did he hurt you?

Mihoshi looks over at Koichi as she clenches her left leg. I'm okay, but... I think I sprained my ankle... Not too seriously though...

Grrrr... That Tsume! Can you stand, Mihoshi?

I'll try... Struggling to stand, Mihoshi finds it hard to. Oww...

Hmm... I could carry you...

Huh? Mihoshi's face flushes at the notion. Uh, no... That's okay... I can make it on my own... Oww... Or maybe not...

Come on... Upon taking Mihoshi into his arms, his face flushes as well, but shakes it off and carries Mihoshi to the front door of her house. He sets her down gently to her feet. ...So this is where you live?

It's not much, I know, but...

Oh, no, it's nothing like that. It's nice.

Oh... Well, thanks.

Um, Mihoshi?

Yeah, Koichi?

Remember when I said I'd make up for when I kept you waiting at the school last week?

Mihoshi thinks back, and remembers. Um...yeah. Why?

Well, I think I just thought of a way. Koichi slowly paces himself while talking. Would you...like to go with me...to the dance this Friday? Yes! I went through with it! Koichi waits impatiently for an answer.

Oh, Koichi! Mihoshi wraps her arms around him. Of course! I'd love to go with you!

That was quick! Mihoshi slowly lets down her embrace on Koichi. The dance isn't until 7:30 on Friday, so I'll be here to pick you up at 7:15 so we can walk there together, okay?

O-Okay! Thoughts were racing through Mihoshi's mind at supersonic speed as her heart jumped with excitement. See you then!

Until Friday then..., Koichi states, even though he would see Mihoshi again the very next day, Thursday.

Until Friday... Mihoshi slowly closed her front door, put her back to it, and places her hand over her heart. I'm going to the dance with Koichi Seiyama! I can hardly believe it! He's not even a celebrity, and yet I'm so excited! Oh, geez! What am I gonna wear? So many things were going in Mihoshi's head at one time.

Koichi waits until he was about half a block away from Mihoshi's house before... YES! SHE SAID YES! SHE ACTUALLY SAID YES TO ME! ...Naturally, Koichi had never before been this thrilled in his life.

Walking through the front door of his house, Koichi is confronted by his own older sister. Hey, little bro! You seem awfully cheerful today... She had that teasing look in her eyes. Koichi was familiar with this look.

Koichi looks at her with a grin. I know that look... I suppose you want the details, huh?

EVERY insignificant detail!

All right, all right... Okay. Her name's Mihoshi Kirumitzu--

Natsumi was screaming at the top of her lungs in her mind. YES! I KNEW IT!

She has dark skin, blond hair, and the most beautiful cerulean-blue eyes I've ever seen...

Heh! Sounds like something out of a romance novel! Where'd you first meet her?

Remember when I forgot my notebook on my first day?

Can't forget THAT!

Well, I was running to the school and I--

...Bumped into her, right? So classic!, she says, cutting him off.

Hey, who's telling this story!

Oops. Sorry...

Two days later, it was the day of the dance. Koichi couldn't wait until 7:30! He was on his way to school that morning. It ought to be a law having to go to school hours before my first date!

Three shadowy figures in an alley were watching him. That's him... Koichi Seiyama..., one figure says. You know what to do...

Koichi was walking along the sidewalk, when he noticed his shadow on the ground was accompanied by 2 larger shadows. He turns around to see two muscle-bound goons looking down at him, one of them cracking his knuckles. Can I help you two?

Word on the street is, yer goin' to the Okayama School dance with Tsume's ex, right?, one of the goons mentions.

What of it?

Our boss don't take kindly to young punks like you hangin' out with Mihoshi!, the other goon says with horrific grammar.

Uh-huh... If you'll excuse, I'm almost late for class... Unexpectedly, one of the goons blocks Koichi's path. I can see this is gonna get ugly, isn't it...?

You bet it is! Say yer prayers, pipsqueak!

The goon swings his fist at Koichi, which he dodges with ease, and then he dashes for the school. Catch me if ya can!

Get 'im!

TBC...