Chapter 14: Play Practice

Lei didn't know how it happened, but as he was walking to the drama club's room he slipped on a piece of paper. As luck would have it he slipped into Azami's waiting arms—and breasts. Earning him a well placed punch on the chin that sent him flying to the opposite wall.

"What the hell was that for!" he yelled out, pointing an accusing finger at a still flustered looking Azami. The girl shrugged "Don't play coy with me, I know what you're up to!" her eyes threateningly drilling into his. Lei crept away, slowly.

"This is frustrating." She muttered under hear breath.

Lei opened the doors and turned his head towards Azami. The payonese girl wondered what he was up to. "So, care to come in?" he said with an inviting hand gesture. Azami's shot his a confused and angry look "I don't need your help." she mouthed. The girl elbowed the bemused mage out of the way.

Lei frowned and followed the girl, making sure to keep some distance between them. "o-k-a-y…" he mumbled.

Azami strutted pompously towards her seat when one of the prop guys bumped into her, causing her to slip backwards. Lei quickly broke into a mad dash, seeing as to her wouldn't catch her in time he intentionally fell flat on his back sliding underneath her. He cushioned her fall by using his body as a buffer.

Azami blinked stupidly. How could she lose her balance like that! No it definitely wasn't like her. However she couldn't believe Lei would still help her out after she snubbed him off… She spun around till she could see Lei's flushed face. She bit her lips, how could she apologize after acting so… She suddenly noticed a small group of people around them, this was embarrassing! They actually saw everything happen! She was worried. She looked like some c-movie antagonist, not exactly the reputation she wanted to establish.

Azami stared at Lei, fumbling with her words "I-I.. That is to say…"

The people around them started chuckling, then it eventually grew into a fit or bursting laughter. Azami found herself frozen, afraid and generally helpless. Lei's voice somehow reached her ears despite the nearly overwhelming laughter. "Azami." she snapped out of her stupor.

She couldn't really explain was happened next, in the flurry of the moment she wasn't able to do much. Lei just stood up, he glared at everyone who was laughing.

"Quit laughing damnit! It's NOT funny." He exclaimed with a booming voice. Everyone went silent and returned to what they were previously doing. He sighed and looked over to Azami with an apologetic face.

"It's alright now." he told her in a hushed voice, Azami just nodded in response. He offered her a hand, she reluctantly took it. Azami caught herself before she could say "Thank you." He beamed her a disarming smile "Friends stick up for each other, last time I checked." Azami admired the honesty and warmth in him.

"Ahem!" coughed a familiar red-haired girl behind them.

The two of them looked up to an exhausted Rae carrying a pile of boxes. "Um… Mind helping me Romeus?" she said with a wink and cheerful look on her face. Lei snatched the boxes from her hands "Could you wait awhile Azami-san?" the kendo-girl blushed, gave him a meaningful look and nodded.

"What's wrong with you! You should've said something… anything!" she spitefully told herself as she watched him walk away with that girl clinging unto his arms. She sighed.

Someone tapped her shoulders causing her to quickly spin around "Y-Yukino?" The female mage was dressed in a beautiful pink gown which clung unto her figure very well. "Hey Azami! came to watch?" the girl inquired.

"No, I have to practice for the play too." Azami answered. "Your role?" Yukino asked innocently. The kendo-girl shoved a hand into her pockets pulling out a small strip of paper. "Uhh… soldier number three." she read. Yukino scanned her paper "You only have three lines.' The mage smiled at her "I envy you Azami." The kendo girl sighed. "Yeah." She paused for a moment and looked up "How's Lei?" Yukino sighed "I think he hates acting, but I can't really blame him. He was dragooned into playing the part simply because he was a dead ringer for Romeus."

Yukino suddenly flinched. Someone was pinching her ears and pulling her away. "Practice Ms.Aerahein." the drama club president waved a finger in front of her "No time to dilly-dally."

"Yes, I know." she turned towards Azami "Ill see you later."

The drama-club president clapped her hands twice to catch everyone's attention "This scene is very important! Yukino quit squirming around!" Yukino nodded half-heartedly. This was proving more difficult that she had expected. Lei had her pinned down on the floor and was now supposed to kiss her. The both of them were really uncomfortable with the idea, Lei was sweating profoundly.

The drama-club president had her arms crossed "Yukino you have to stare into his eyes, not avoid them!"

Yukino did so, she swallowed hard. It was unusually hot, must be the lights. "I love you Julliane." he uttered in a low raspy voice.

"Louder!" the president ordered "and more feeling Lei, as if she's your girlfriend." she added with a sinister smile.A frown flittered over his face, but it was quickly replaced with a look full of longing "I love you."

He watched her lips move "Only me?" Yukino asked dreamily.

Azami shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Just a play.' she reminded herself. "It's just… practice." a pang of uncertainty made itself present at the back of her head. 'Why am I affected anyway." she crossed her arms and distracted herself by looking at her shoes "He's just some perverted guy." she muttered angrily through gritted teeth. She tried pushing him away from her train of thoughts but for some reason it was proving very difficult. Before she knew it she was staring at him again.

"Lei closer, your not going to do CPR goddamnit! Your going to kiss her." The drama-club president screamed in frustration.

Lei felt his heart beating wildly, blood was rushing up to his face and the feel of her body registered against his. 'Not good.' He thought as his eyes uncontrollably wandered from her lips to everything else.

"I can't let this continue any further." A green-haired lady muttered from behind the curtains.

"Kiss already!" the drama-club director snarled.

Yukino closed her eyes, lips trembling and heart beating wildly. 'It's just a kiss.' she reminded herself.