a/n: ever heard of the song "Dancing Diva" by Tsai Cai Lin? Try to hear that song first, it's fun (though I think the ribbon part is not cool)! Try it online in bolt or youtube. And actually, I would like to say that you'll find a sort of a ripoff in this chapter. Don't worry, you'll experience more ripoffs in my other fic. I'm just preparing you. Anyway, on with the story…

CHAPTER 11:

"Mi-chan!" Fuuko gasped. Tokiya let go of the fight, leaving Chui rooted on the spot, her eyes wide. She was actually the one who was shot. Tokiya backed away from her and ran towards Fuuko, hugging her.

"I thought something bad happened…" he suddenly stopped when Fuuko smacked him on the head.

Fuuko looked at him, her eyes glinting in anger. "Hey! Don't pretend you're worried or anything, you egoistic pig!" she shouted, almost spitting her words out. "What the hell was that 'then do it' thing? Are you going to kill me?"

Tokiya frowned, as though he does not have any idea about that. "Well, Fuuko, even though she would really mean to do that, I know that you could survive." Fuuko gasped when he suddenly held her shoulders and pulled her near to him, his mouth close to his ears. "You're no ordinary woman."

Fuuko felt heat rise up her cheeks. She was actually blushing! To stop herself from lowering down to shame, she said in her usual boyish manner, "Shut up, Mi-chan!" Because of her hand movements, her eyes wandered to the watch that was on her hand, registering the time as 6:30 pm. "Mi-chan, stop flirting and get going back to the hotel!" she suddenly shouted, dragging Tokiya out of the warehouse.

With that, Tokiya also looked at his clock. He came to his senses and suddenly carried Fuuko, bridal style. Because of that, Fuuko became as red as ever. He ran as fast as he could – using his light footsteps – back to his car.

"Do you think we'll be able to reach there and prepare in time?" Fuuko asked in a panicky voice.

"Trust me," Tokiya said, a grin on his face.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yoichiro sighed as he watched the ambulance face with its siren. After a moment of sentimentality, he looked at his watch and cursed. "Enzu!" he called to the assistand who was left with him. "Get up to the room and immediately prepare Fuuko's outfit!"

"Where, sir?" she asked.

"Take the package nee-chan brought and open it. Quickly!" he almost shouted, making the by passers look at him.

Luckily, a van stopped in front of him. It was the staff from the academy. "Yuri-chan?" he said, nodding a little at her.

The woman who was driving the van smiled. The door was opened and five people, hairdressers and make-up artists, went down, carrying their equipment up to the room. When the door was closed and the five stylists made their way up to the hotel, Yuri parked the car and got out.

"You're the best, Yuri-chan," Yoichiro said, playfully pinching Yuri's cheek.

Yuri smirked. "Anything for you, sir…"

They were actually laughing at each other when Yoichiro had to pull Yuri to him when a berserk car stopped right in front of them.

"What the…?" Yoichiro managed to say when the dust around them cleared out. Fuuko got out of the car, slightly spinning because of the ride. Tokiya came out next.

Yoichiro looked again at his watch and said, "Guys, you have an hour to prepare and to go to prepare." Since the function hall where the contest will be held is inside the hotel, they don't have that much problem.

Or maybe they are wrong…

The four of them ran to the elevator but when it opened, and they tried to squeeze themselves inside, a siren rang, signaling overload.

"This is so bad luck!" Yoichiro said in a panicky voice. "Our room is still on top."

Without thinking clearly, Tokiya dragged Fuuko towards the stairs. "Are you crazy?" she asked in hysterics, trying to keep up with his pace. When they arrived on the right floor, they dashed towards the room, only to be welcomed by the "beautification" staff.

"Give us a break!" Fuuko replied as one of them dragged her to the bathroom for a bath.

Tokiya, being a man, finished his dressing session after fifteen minutes (the remaining five minutes devoted to the hair stylist who wants to touch his hair so badly and the other five minutes for the persistent make-up artist who wanted to put some make-up on his face).

"What's taking that woman so long?" he asked one of them, pacing and looking at the time, ten minutes before the start of their contest.

The woman he asked smiled. "You'll be surprised," she said.

They heard high-heeled footsteps and a voice who said, "Can we go now, Mi-chan?"

Tokiya looked up to see Fuuko in her dancing clothes. His eyes wandered from her face down to her feet. She was wearing a royal purple gown with silver lining on the hem, sleeves, and collar. However, he had no time registering her complete looks when the stylists started to push them out of the room.

"Hurry!" one of them said.

Tokiya nodded to Fuuko and they started to go to the elevator. They jumped inside of it, just in time for it to be closed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Down at the hall…

Yoichiro and Yuri, the representative of the Institute for the Latin dances glanced at each other uneasily on their last presentation, the cha-cha. When the man held Yuri closed, he whispered, "Now, where are those two?"

Yuri glanced at the clock and said, "Oh no, ten minutes!"

They resumed to their dancing spree until the music ended and the judges announced the score. Because they were worried about the two, they did not even hear their number on the finals list (which is included). They were looking at all entrances for the pair.

"And now, we're going to start the next portion of the contest, the waltz!" the announcer said, followed by applause. He started calling all numbers, making Yoichiro and Yuri hold hands in hope that the two will arrive on time.

"… Number 20, pair number 21, pair number 22," the announcer said. At that instant, they saw Fuuko and Tokiya walk towards them hall, their footsteps a little quick.

"Yes!" Yuri gasped, holding Fuuko's cold hands.

"…Pair number 24, pair number 25…"
"Before you go there," Yoichiro started to say, taking out a small vintage box. He took the half pendant and placed it on Fuuko's neck, "Nee-chan told me to let you wear it."

Tokiya looked at the pendant and he grasped his own, chained to his belt. When they heard their number, he held Fuuko's hand and said, "Let's go."

Fuuko smiled, took his hand, and walked towards the center in the most graceful manner…

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Tokiya suddenly squeezed Fuuko's hand, making the girl look at him. "What?" she asked.

Without a word, he started to walk, dragging Fuuko out of the hall. Since she was wearing a long gown, she tripped, making her roll about two steps. She clutched her heel in pain.

"Clumsy girl," Tokiya muttered. But instead of leaving her, he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the hotel, bridal style. He placed her inside his car.

"Where are we going?" she asked again.

"You'll see," Tokiya replied. He pulled over near a house standing beside the beach, the moon glowing at its finest. He stepped out of the car, followed by Fuuko, who seemed to have overcome her heel pain. "What can you say?" he asked her.

Without another word, Fuuko removed her shoes and held them as she ran towards the sea, the peaceful water reflecting the moon. "It's so beautiful here!" she shouted when she reached the edge of the shore.

"I have something to ask you!" Tokiya shouted from the place where he was rooted.

"What?" Fuuko shouted back, her face smiling because she enjoyed the water.

"Come here first!"

"No! You come here first!"

Tokiya rubbed his forehead. "Stubborn woman," he said. He also removed his shoes and started chasing Fuuko.

Fuuko chuckled. "You can't catch me, I've been a track runner since elementary," she said.

"Well, you should know me by now," Tokiya said as though daring her. Finally, after minutes of running, Fuuko slowed down because the water that had touched his gown slowed her down. Tokiya grabbed her wrist and pulled her near to him, causing the two of them to fall to the sand, rolling a few times.

"Oh, that was so annoying," Fuuko said, trying to stand up. Eventually, a large wave passed, wetting the both of them. "And that is more annoying," she said again, looking at her wet clothes.

Tokiya helped her stand up and then she spotted a small cabin afar. "Let's go there!" she said, dragging Tokiya up. Tokiya, before letting himself be dragged by the woman, smirked as he looked at the wooden house.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Achoo!" Fuuko sneezed, hugging the blanket all over her body in a tighter way, trying to use some body friction to make herself warm. She tugged the blanket to her side of the bed.

There was a tug from the other way. "Hey!" Tokiya shouted from the other side of the bed, his voice muffled because he tried to block his sneezing. "Don't you know the meaning of 'share?'"

Fuuko jerked the blanket towards her, leaving Tokiya without – uh – anything on. He made a grab to the blanket. When he was unsuccessful, he went nearer to Fuuko's bedside and he went under the blanket too. "Don't come nearer!" she threatened, edging farther that she fell to the floor. But still, she tried to cover herself with the blanket.

Tokiya crawled on the bed and looked at her. "What are you doing there?" he asked in a playful tone.

"I'm telling you, Mi-chan, don't come near me," Fuuko threatened, pointing at him. That only made Tokiya give her a smirk (a/n). that made Fuuko gulp.

"I think I need to go somewhere else," Tokiya simply said, standing up.

Fuuko gasped. "Can't you walk with anything on?"

"You are the one who took my last bit of clothing away," Tokiya said teasingly. With one last look, he disappeared out of the room, leaving Fuuko, who sighed.

There was a knock on the door.

Fuuko opened the door, but she only stuck her head out. There was a delivery man who was whistling and pacing around the place. "Good morning, ma'am," he greeted. "Are you Kirisawa Fuuko?" he asked, looking at the package.

Fuuko nodded with confusion. It's impossible to receive a package addressed to you when you do not even live in that place.

The man passed the package to Fuuko, who had difficulty receiving it without showing her almost naked body. She thanked the man and hastily closed the door. Then she sat down on one of the chairs and read the note.

Dear Fuuko,

I know you've noticed that you always wear my old dancing clothes everytime you dance. But now, I think its time for me to give you your first dancing dress. It may be a bit revealing but I know that you could handle it, with that goddess appeal of yours.

Anyway, if you feel that there's a need to wear it, then do that. Maybe there's something waiting for you inside…

Good luck on your next contest!

The ever great,

Mametsuki

"What was that?" Tokiya asked, now wearing his now dry clothes. He managed to dry it with a blower.

"From Mame-san," Fuuko said, putting the package aside. "Geez, is she really that psychotic that she was able to track us down?"

Tokiya went to the package and opened it. "Hey, this is a new one. I've never seen this before."

"You really haven't, you idiot," Fuuko said. "That's a new one, not one of those second hand clothes."

"Then wear it," Tokiya said, taking the dress and handing it to her.

"Are you sure?"

"I want to see you wear it," Tokiya said in a firm voice that made Fuuko follow his instructions, no matter how stubborn she is. She took the dress and went inside the room. She went out a minute later, wearing the dress.

"How does it look?" she asked hopefully.

"Ugly," Tokiya replied.

"Huh?"

"It's ugly. Wear some shoes, you lackwit," he said, throwing near to her the pair of shoes enclosed in the package.

Fuuko picked up the shoes and said, "You really don't know how to treat a woman." She slowly placed her foot inside the left shoe and stepped it on the ground for leverage. She quickly looked up at Tokiya when she noticed him looking at her. "Is there something weird in wearing a shoe?"

"No-nothing," Tokiya stuttered. However, he kept on glancing at her foot by that time. When Fuuko glared at him, he immediately turned the other way. He knew better than to stare at Fuuko when she looks at you like that.

"Ow!" she shouted, making Tokiya jump from his couch, in an acting sort of way.

"What was that for?" he asked innocently.

Fuuko sat on the heading of the couch and shook the agonizing shoe. There was a glint and a tinkle. "Hey, what was that?" she asked. She jumped down and looked for the shining stuff that hurt her foot earlier. Tokiya watched as she crawled on the floor.

"Found it!" she shouted, raising that thing overhead, still oblivious to what was it. Before she could even stand up, Tokiya held her raised hand and helped her up while taking the small crystal – yes, it's a ring.

"Kirisawa Fuuko," Tokiya said, taking her hand and opening the crystal case, revealing the ring. "Would you be my dancing partner…" he showed the ring to her – "…for life?"

"Wha-what do you mean?" Fuuko asked, dumbfounded. Tokiya made a gesture that he was ready to put the ring on her finger.

"Was that too fast?" Tokiya asked. "I want you… to be with me… forever…" he said slowly.

"Is this a proposal?" Fuuko asked again.

Tokiya's eyebrow twitched. "Are you trying my patience or something?"

Fuuko made a sly look on her face. "I never expected a proposal to be this way," she said. "Be formal."

"I know that you're demanding but I never expected it to be at this level," Tokiya replied.

"Just do it, dammit!" Fuuko almost shouted.

"Fine! Fine!" Tokiya said in surrender. "This is the most blasted proposal in the world… okay, erase that. This is the most blasted proposal ever and nothing can take that away!" He knelt down and took Fuuko's hand. "Kirisawa Fuuko, will you… will you marry me?" He immediately turned away

Fuuko smiled in reply as she nodded. "But there's no need to be formal, Mi-chan…" she held his chin and slowly made him face her, "…or is it Tokiya now?"

Tokiya slowly stood up as he still looked at Fuuko. She continued to speak. "When I discovered the path you took, I followed you in the hope of seeing you again, Tokiya." She smiled.

"So, you really do feel something for me," Tokiya said softly.

"Yes," Fuuko confessed. "It was always a part of my dream to dance with you… even only as a dance partner and nothing else… But then…"

"But then, you opened my heart once again and made me realize that there's more than the past, Fuuko," Tokiya replied. "And now I realize why I can never forget you." Slowly, their faces began to go nearer and nearer until they ended up in a kiss. In coordination with that, Tokiya slowly slipped the ring on Fuuko's finger.

"Is that a yes?" Tokiya asked, leading Fuuko slowly to the balcony where the moon was reflected by sea.

"Yes… for you know I'll always be…"

"… By your side," Tokiya finished the sentence for her. "I love you." He held her near him.

"Same goes here," Fuuko said.

Tokiya turned away. "Can't you say it yourself?"

Fuuko went to the balcony and shouted, "Mikagami Tokiya, I love you!" She then turned back to him and said, "Is that enough? The world hearing my vow?"

"More than enough," Tokiya said before kissing Fuuko once again.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Five kilometers away…

"I think that's enough for a peep show, Mr. Nashi," Yuri said sternly.

Yoichiro looked at Yuri and said, "Stop it, Yuri. You're running my only hobby. Want to look at it yourself?"

"Whatever," the girl replied. But then, Yoichiro forcefully gave her the binoculars and gave her the right view into the ocean. "It was nice that Ms. Nashi recovered, right?"

Yuri noticed a glint at the view of the binocular. She removed it from her eyes and saw Yoichiro holding up a diamond ring in front of her. She just sighed and smiled in return.