a/n: I am currently watching FoR (yeah, for the hundredth time). I mean, I'm watching it on Animax and I'm trying to revive some memories. BTW, thanks for the good welcome. I'm now thinking of a new story (and yeah, that new one is under construction)…
CHAPTER 3:
Fuuko went to her bed and sighed. "Why in all men?" She took out the picture she kept last night and stared at it. "You know, Mametsuki's right. I would certainly forget you because of this."
No one knows the main reason why the once man-acting Fuuko became a woman of grace, and a good one too. It was a mystery to those who grew up to know Fuuko like her careless attitude why she suddenly gave up her tank tops to ballroom dresses; her sneakers to high-heeled shoes.
The real reason was Mikagami Tokiya. She fell in love with him in their years of seeing each other's face. After he left the country, she secretly discovered that he was studying dance so she decided to do the same, with the hope of someday, he'll be her dance partner.
When she started to dance, she vowed to herself that she would never dance officially if Tokiya will not be her partner. That was the reason why she studied the field with seriousness and eagerness. He past teachers tried to convince her to join in various contest but she turned the offers down because of her life-and-death vow.
Pissed off with those offers following her, she moved to Nashi Dance Institute and decided to teach there. Mametsuki, the dance school owner, returned at the end of that year after dance courses in England and she had taken Fuuko to teach her what she had learned, as a protégée.
And now, she will be dancing in the East Japan Ballroom Contest, paired by Tokiya, who would ask for more? She had accomplished her vow and the only thing that she would have to do is to avoid walking out or stop Tokiya walking out of the hall as her partner.
"If he does not really like me, it would be better for me to impress him," she thought as she went back to bed, closed the lights, and went to sleep.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She arrived at the place early, but not as early as Mametsuki did. She was sitting on a couch in the largest ballroom hall of the institution, tapping her one foot while staring to nothingness. However, when Fuuko opened the door, she immediately stood up and walked towards Fuuko, her shoes making echoed sounds.
"Where is he?" Fuuko tried to ask innocently.
"I told you he's a VIP, Fuuko," Mametsuki joked. "Anyway, want to have a coffee?"
Fuuko agreed and Mametsuki took a small coffee pot from a small table at the side of the hall. Mametsuki sat down on the couch once again, took a last look at Fuuko, and started to sip the coffee. "Fuuko," she called out before the latter was able to drink hers.
"What is it?" Fuuko asked back.
Mametsuki took a deep breath. "You called Tokiya 'Mi-chan' the day before. Do you know him?" she asked.
"Yes, Mame-san. But what is the connection?" Fuuko asked.
"Well, it is quite easier for you to be with him," Mametsuki said, lowering her coffee. "Fuuko, no one understood him before. That's the reason why no one dared to dance with him."
"I don't understand," Fuuko admitted.
"Our dance is the release of our emotion, Fuuko. If you do not know the things your dance partner is thinking about, there would be no life," Mametsuki said.
"But you told me that he was a four-time finalist in Blackpool. I believe that there was a suitable dance partner for him," Fuuko replied.
"Good one. He did have a dance partner. The most suitable one for him. On the dance floor and away from the dance floor," Mametsuki said seriously.
Fuuko accidentally overturned her cup, causing her to whimper. Mametsuki swiftly gave her tissue to wipe the mess. "So clumsy of me," she said loudly.
"As long as you don't do something like this, you'll be okay," Mametsuki said.
"So, who is this dance partner?" Fuuko asked, shifting the topic.
Mametsuki stopped wiping the mess and looked at the coffee dripping off the table. "Well, you…"
She stopped talking when the door once again opened and in came Tokiya. He was looking at the mess with disgust before he sat at the far side of the hall.
"Since your partner's here," Mametsuki announced, standing up, "I might as well tell you that you will start the practice today."
She pulled Fuuko to the middle and looked at Tokiya as though she was ordering him. "We only have a month to practice this stuff, Mikagami Tokiya," she said annoyingly.
Tokiya went walking to the center, dragging his feet. "I'll make sure this is the first and last time I will dance with this monkey, Mametsuki," he threatened the girl, who merely rolled her eyes.
"Whatever you say. So before anything, the reason why I took the two of you in the main hall is because this is the exact replica of the dance floor where the East Japan will be held," Mametsuki said with pride, concerning that she owns the whole hall.
"So, what does that mean?" Fuuko asked her.
"You're not thinking, Fuuko. We have to also direct the positions, the locations, so that you won't hit other dancers on the floor," she explained.
"Of course, would an amateur like her know the rules of an official contest?" Tokiya snorted.
"Can't you just shut up, Tokiya?" Mametsuki requested, although it looked like a threat. Fuuko was surprised that he stopped talking. "I do not like people talking while I am talking, and you know that very well."
Mametsuki continued her introductory talk for the next fifteen minutes. Fuuko's feet were aching by then when she stopped and asked them to dance the piece they did yesterday. Fuuko tried to recall some of the steps but she only managed to do the first figure. After that, Mametsuki decided to assist them, holding their hands in the right way, steering them like they were mannequins, kicking their feet to be in the right position, and almost pouncing on the two of them when she got impatient on their slow pace learning.
"I don't get it," she finally told them at the end of the lesson. "I feel the both of you tensed up. Do you have a hidden grudge against each other or something?" she asked. Tokiya turned away, suppressing a snort, and Fuuko looked at her with disbelief. "Wait, have I said something wrong?"
"Everything is nothing," Tokiya said, leaving the two of them in the room.
a/n: Please review…