Sweet Mistake

Succeed

by Seabreeze

A/N: I have to apologize to anyone who took the time to read this ragged story and leave reviews. You guys were amazing, and I just couldn't stick with it. I don't expect anyone to come back (its been 2 years since I started this story… holy cow), but I definitely hope you do, though I don't deserve it.

Sorry, also, 'cause this is a short and boring "connecting" chapter. The next one will be too, but after that… things start heating up.

Disclaimer: No, I still don't own any of the Rurouni Kenshin characters.

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With her weekly ballet classes and Kenshin's daily training sessions, Kaoru began to improve. After 2 or 3 ballet classes, she understood the majority of the terms and could at least attempt the moves they tried. Her kendo was beginning to truly impress Kenshin; she was a very fast learner. VERY fast. They were already a week and a half ahead of his training schedule, and they were only getting farther ahead. He contributed it to her intense concentration and focus, but knew it didn't hurt that she was a natural.

Which was why he decided to begin teaching her hand to hand combat. It was always important to learn as many ways as possible to protect oneself, and Kenshin knew all too well that Kaoru might be thrown into a situation where a sword was not handy. This, too, he learned, Kaoru was very good at. Just as good as she was with a bokken, and Kenshin was so impressed by the advantage that dance gave her that he nearly wanted to sign himself up for it.

After several weeks of this, Kaoru was getting good. So good that Kenshin decided it was definitely time to sign her up for her first competition.

"A competition?" Kaoru asked, letting the tip of her practice sword hit the ground in front of her. Her eyes were wide. "Kenshin, I just began learning the Kamiya Kasshin style, there's no way I can compete-"

"Relax, Miss Kaoru. The competition's not for a few weeks, and we'll train hard for it. As your sensei I am very confident that you will be ready for this competition by then." He smiled at her, and she sighed.

"You'd know best," she said, though she still didn't believe him.

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Tae, Kaoru, and Misao had become great friends in ballet. Tae and Misao were more experienced, and would help Kaoru out whenever she needed it. It wasn't long before Tae suggested that they make a weekly plan to go out for ice cream after ballet. Kaoru agreed readily, but Misao unfortunately had tap right after ballet. Disappointed as she was, she immediately insisted Tae and Kaoru go on without her. So the plans were set, and Kaoru informed both Kenshin and Sano (who frequently picked Kaoru and the little ones up) of the plan.

On their first outing, the two tights-n-leotards wearing girls walked to the ice cream shop, chatting cheerfully. The western-inspired shop was filled with every flavor of icecream imaginable, and the owner was known for mixing anything a person could request. Once seated, Kaoru ordered a smoothie combining every natural fruit flavor in the shop, and Tae ordered a smoothie mixing chocolate, carmel, vanilla, fudge, and marshmallow. They ate their gigantic smoothies and talked easily about dance class and their lives. Tae was very curious about Kaoru's training, and pelted her with questions before the topic was turned back to dance.

About halfway through each girl's smoothie, a beautiful woman entered the shop and ordered a mint-chocolate chip smoothie. Hearing Tae and Kaoru discuss the technicalities of dance, she turned to them, a smile lighting up her face.

"Oh, are you girls ballet dancers? I used to dance a few years ago!" she said. Both girls turned to her, smiling in return.

"Yes, we dance over at Miss Gina's once a week," Tae replied. "Where did you used to dance?"

"I was with the Tokyo ballet until graduate school! Do you mind if I sit down? I haven't talked ballet in so long!" she slid into the seat across from Kaoru, and both girls stared at her with looks of awe.

"The Tokyo Ballet?" Kaoru asked, dumbstruck. "You must've been amazing!"

"Were you en pointe?" Tae demanded, leaning towards their new friend. The woman smiled and nodded.

"Oh, yes. What a feeling! When you were dancing it was the most amazing feeling in the world, but once the music was gone your feet hurt so badly!" she sighed dreamily and sipped on her smoothie as the younger girls exchanged shocked glances.

"I still can't believe you were a member of the Tokyo Ballet… were you ever in the Nutcracker?" Kaoru asked, spellbound. The woman nodded, staring off into the distance.

"My last year there, I played the part of the sugar plum fairy. That was ethereal, girls. I wish I could show you how it felt."

The conversation lasted for a half an hour longer, full of breathless talk about the joy that was Ballet. Kaoru felt a bit left out as she knew very little about ballet compared to Tae and especially their new friend, but she was excited to learn from talking with them. By the time Tae and Kaoru had to leave, the three had decided to meet every week after the girls' ballet class and talk about dance. As the woman was walking out the door, Kaoru stopped her.

"Excuse me, miss, we forgot to ask your name!" she called. The woman turned.

"Tomoe," she replied, giving them a smile as she left. It didn't even occur to Kaoru that the name was the very same as Kenshin's fiancée's name.

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(Long-awaited) Thank you's:

Jurie – thank you, its really nice to hear J I hope I haven't been forgotten.

My Name is R.C – I will be the first to admit that this story is full of weirdness and holes, but I'm glad you liked it anyway. I know I like writing it. Thanks for the review.

Ookami-Hitomi – thank you very much, new readers are always good to get. I hope I haven't lost ya yet.

Iryl – yeah, there's no real point in Kenshin going Battousai in this story. I'm glad you like the details, though I realize now that most of them are kinda B-S. However, ballet is an amazing cardio workout that can benefit probably any other sport. Whew, you sweat in that class. Thanks for reviewing.

Celesta1 – I didn't notice you being grumpy, but thanks for the review and the encouragement!

Crazed T.V. Girl – This story's not too long, so you won't have to wait much for Kenshin and Kaoru to get their heads together. Or maybe you will, because I haven't updated in over a year… sheepish grin thanks for the review.

GreenEyedFloozy – I'm so sorry, I know I'm a terrible writer. Writer's block just has a tendency to completely own me. I'm sorry you had to wait! Hopefully you won't be too angry with me. Thanks for the review.

Steelphoenix – tell me about the premise being unbelievable – I think had I been a more mature writer at the time I conceived this idea I could've pulled it off more convincingly, but c'est la vie. Hopefully from now on it will be less fairy-tale. Thanks for the review.