Pull Me in Gently
Chapter Ten
Izumi fussed with the sleeves of her dress. It was a tan color and she had made the sleeves long and slit up the side so they would flow as her and Sasori danced the Rumba. He wore soft khakis that were the same color as her dress and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. She wanted them to look like they were as comfortable as possible and as plain as possible so the judges would focus on their dancing.
Keiko stood next to her and added a cream colored flower into Izumi's pinned back tresses. Izumi surveyed the plain maroon dress that Keiko sported that was almost to the floor with an uneven hemline. Her sleeves were long and tight all the way to her wrists. Deidara wore a black shirt that had a maroon collar and cuffs with black pants. Izumi couldn't help but smile at her work. She really had made the perfect outfits for the competition that were not sparkly or eye-catching but the right outfit nonetheless.
Itachi was set to compete with Megumi just before Izumi and he was wearing black pants with a bright green shirt. She had even managed to convince him to roll the sleeves up and leave the shirt unbuttoned a few buttons. She wanted him to be eye catching and it was certainly working. Every girl he walked passed gasped and tried to follow him. He would roll his eyes every time and pull Izumi closer. She had to admit that she loved that.
They were waiting near the backstage area. Itachi was competing first and then Izumi. The two of them were back to back. Keiko was going on after them back to back with the tango. Izumi looked into the stands and noticed that there was a rather large section filled with the Uchihas (Fugaku, Mikoto, Obito, Shisui, and a few others), Naruto, Sakura, Kisame, Hidan, Zetsu, Kakuzu, Pein, Konan, Rin, and Kakashi. They were sitting in the middle of the stands and Izumi smiled to herself. Most of them were there to see her and Itachi. She had been so welcomed into his family and friend group that she thought she might burst.
"Why are they all here?" Sasori rolled his eyes as he too found the group of people in the stands.
"Because they're here to see me, yeah."
"Yeah whatever. If anything they are here to see the girls."
Deidara agreed that Sasori had a point right as Izumi elbowed Keiko. "Is your boyfriend going to read the whole competition?"
Keiko pushed Izumi's elbow away. "He's not my boyfriend. Everyone knows that."
"Actually we all think it's the opposite, yeah." Deidara crossed his arms in an attempt to be intimidating as he interrogated his dance partner.
"Not you too." Keiko rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling. "We're not dating. We barely even talk so can you leave it alone?"
"We'll leave it alone when the two of you stop being so oblivious." Itachi materialized out of nowhere and wrapped his arms around Izumi's waist from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder.
"You're one to talk. The two of you were so oblivious you tried to date other people meanwhile did the steamiest Rumba I've ever seen." Keiko pointed at Itachi who looked a small amount of embarrassed.
"Whatever. We figured it out eventually."
"Thank goodness. I can't have a distracted dance partner!" Sasori griped as the loud speaker sounded and announced the Samba couples to the floor.
"Good luck. You are going to do great if you just remember everything I told you." Izumi kissed Itachi on the cheek and he ran ahead to meet up with Megumi.
The four waiting in the wings moved to the side so they could better see Itachi dance. Before the music started he plastered a goofy grin on his face and Megumi giggled in response. Izumi grinned as well.
"There it is! That's what we taught him, yeah." Deidara smiled at Keiko and she returned it with a 'heck yeah!'
The music started and Itachi and Megumi instantly connected and started working the crowd. You could see it too. There were people standing up and cheering and Itachi even chanced a wink at his mother. Izumi's whole face filled with her smile as everyone ate it up. Soon they were finished and the next level Rumba was called out to perform. Keiko gave Sasori and Izumi quick hugs.
"Good luck out there guys. You are gonna nail it. You have the best chemistry out of everyone."
"Knock 'em dead, yeah."
With that Sasori led Izumi out onto the dance floor. He positioned them right under a spotlight close to the judges table. They instantly got their attention but soon Izumi ignored everything around her except Sasori and the music. They danced, slowly, sensually, and perfect. The crowd held their breath as the couples on the floor danced their heart out. The atmosphere was definitely different than that of the Samba.
The song ended and Sasori very slowly spun Izumi out and they were the last couple still out on the floor bowing. Everyone clapped and screamed for them. Izumi looked up in the crowd and saw Sakura with hearts in her eyes and Rin standing on her feet. She giggled at Mikoto's smile and then they headed off the stage.
"That was fantastic! Itachi made it to the second round so he's going out on the floor. He wanted me to tell you that he couldn't keep his eyes off of you and that he had no idea you two were that mesmerizing." Keiko smiled at Izumi and gave her a big hug.
The competition continued and the finals in both the Samba and the Rumba finished. All of the couples were standing on the dance floor. Izumi stood in-between Sasori and Itachi. Itachi held her hand as they both anxiously waited for the results. The results of the Samba were first.
"And now the winners of the Samba. . ." There was a heavy silence in the room as everyone waited to see who the winners were. Izumi could feel the Uchihas and everyone else in the group behind her holding their breath. "Itachi Uchiha and Megumi Otto!"
Izumi squealed and was instantly caught up in a tight hug with Itachi. He kissed her fully on the mouth and then headed to the front to receive his trophy. Izumi was breathless and was standing with her mouth agape. Sasori laughed and leaned over.
"Was that your first kiss in public with Itachi?" Izumi could only nod her head. Itachi turned around and beamed at everyone in the room before his gaze landed on Izumi. He took in her expression and then seemed to remember what he had done in his excitement. His ears colored the smallest amount and Sasori laughed harder.
"And now for the Samba." Izumi grabbed Sasori's hand and the two of them took a deep breath looking at each other.
Third place was announced and their grip grew tighter. Izumi's eyes met with Itachi and he smiled at her. "You got this." He mouthed to her and she nodded. She was feeling so good. Even if her and Sasori got second she would still be ecstatic.
"And now the winners of the Rumba. . ." Izumi closed her eyes. "Sasori Akasuna and Izumi Uchiha!" Izumi squealed and hugged Sasori with all her might as the two of them made their way forward. They shook hands with the other winners and then accepted their trophy. Izumi was all smiles.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners for the Samba and the Rumba!" The room exploded in claps and cheers and once everyone quieted down Izumi made her way over to Itachi. He grabbed her in a hug and spun her around a few times. Then he set her down gently and once again reclaimed her lips in a kiss.
Izumi felt like she might melt into the floor with the contact but the feeling was broken as she heard a wolf whistle. "Get it!" She tore away from Itachi and the two of them chuckled as they saw Hidan standing and swirling his jacket around.
"Maybe we should take our seats."
"That sounds like a good idea." Izumi chuckled at Itachi and the two of them headed to the bleachers. Izumi took the seat to the right of Kakashi and Itachi sat next to her. Sasori sat behind them next to Kisame.
"You two were absolutely fantastic!" Mikoto made her way to them the instant they took their seats. She hugged them both tightly and Izumi laughed at her antics. There were cheers from the others in their section and several people patted Izumi on the back and shouted their congratulations as well. Izumi felt like a rockstar and couldn't help beaming even more.
"Thank you mother."
"And thanks everyone else too!"
"I knew the minute you were on the floor which couples would win. You definitely picked well when you chose Izumi as your dance tutor." Mikoto winked as she made her way back to her seat.
"You really did pick the right tutor." Izumi turned to look at Rin who had her tongue sticking out in a childish fashion.
"Will the competitors of the Paso Doble please enter the floor." Izumi snickered as Kakashi instantly shut his book and placed it in his lap. Obviously somebody was only here for Keiko. Rin turned her attention to the floor as well. I zumi shook her head and focused on the people walking onto the dance floor.
Deidara lead Keiko out on the floor and Izumi was instantly drawn into their performance. They were already in character and the music hadn't started. Deidara threw his arm and Keiko spun into place. The two of them had intense looks on their faces and a hush fell over the room. The music started and Keiko and Deidara instantly flew into a passionate fight for dominance. Izumi's eyes widened as she watched her best friend dance beautifully.
Itachi intertwined his fingers with hers and she leaned onto his arm a little. It felt so nice to be here with Itachi after all the crap that happened. Itachi smiled down at Izumi as she rested in his arms. The dance finished and the room exploded in cheers again. Kakashi clapped loudly and Rin stood up and whooped. Izumi clapped and she watched as Deidara and Keiko kept up their facade. They were the best out there no doubt about it.
"Wasn't my cousin fantastic? And super hot?" Rin leaned over and nudged Kakashi who was still watching Keiko walk off the floor with Deidara. Izumi laughed as Itachi leaned forward and whispered in her ear.
"Rin is absolutely ridiculous. Why is she trying to matchmake them so much?"
Izumi kept her gaze on Kakashi as she answered. "I honestly want to say it's because she is so happy with Obito that she wants those around her to be happy too. But, I think she might just be bored and want to mess with her best friends."
Itachi nodded and watched Kakashi as well. He had yet to answer Rin's statement. It was silent as Rin just stared at Kakashi. "Well?"
"Rin, leave it alone." Kakashi rolled his eyes and pulled out his book again.
"See? He's agitated." Izumi sank further into Itachi's arm. He shook his head.
"I disagree. He likes her but he's not sure what to do about it and Rin isn't helping anything."
Someone cleared their throat to Izumi's left and she turned her head from looking at Itachi to Kakashi. He regarded her over the edge of his book. "I can hear you two you know."
Izumi colored and had the decency to look sheepish. Itachi however just sat there smirking. "I hit the nail on the head didn't I?"
Kakashi sighed and shut his book and then turned slightly toward the pair of them. "What if you did? So what?"
"So what? This is my best friend's love life we're talking about! I want her to be happy." Izumi narrowed her eyes at him. Itachi chuckled.
"We were just observing. Move at your own pace and do your own thing. After all we'd be hypocritical to say anything else."
Kakashi snorted at Itachi. "You think this was completely your own doing? Who was it that got the two of you hooked up for dancing in the first place?"
Izumi thought about it for a minute and then it hit her. Rin. Rin had set this whole thing up and when she confronted her about it there was something in her smile that wasn't right. Not to mention the way she was acting earlier with her teasing. "No way. You planned this whole thing?!" Izumi leaned over Kakashi and pulled on Rin's arm.
Rin stuck her tongue out again then smirked at her. "Of course I planned this. The two of you are perfect for each other and you cannot deny that. Look at ya!" Izumi turned her head and looked at the chuckling face of Itachi. Sure Rin had set this up but they were extremely happy and it was working out. So who really cared?
"Keiko and Deidara are dancing again so if you wouldn't mind getting off me?" Kakashi nudged Izumi who smiled mischievously as she leaned back into her seat and against Itachi's side as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Oh, Kakashi really had it bad for her best friend.
Keiko and Deidara made it into the finals and were now standing on the floor clutching each others hand tightly as they awaited their results. Everyone in the stands was doing the same. "And now the winners of the Paso Doble. . ." Izumi held her breath. "Deidara Iwa and Keiko Nohara!" Izumi shouted and with everyone else was on her feet clapping. Kakashi clapped with full vigor even though he wasn't shouting she could see the joy on his face. Sasori was screaming artistic insults as he stood.
Keiko and Deidara turned around with their trophy and posed to get the crowd laughing. It was the perfect ending to their day of dance competition. Everyone sat back down as they waited for Deidara and Keiko to make their way to the stands. Itachi watched all the people on the dance floor moving around and talking. Izumi smiled at him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Who would have thought that ballroom dancing would have brought me you? Crazy to think that the competition is finally over and now all there is is the final test. Thank you Izumi for being willing to help me out."
"Of course. It was a lot of fun." Izumi smiled brightly just as Deidara and Keiko entered the stands. There were a few more cheers and everyone hugged them.
"Okay, Okay, since we have five dance champions and one of the largest cheering sections I have ever seen we are going to close Akatsuki down for a private party today for all of you!" Kisame shouted over the noise. Everyone cheered again and Kakuzu mumbled something about losing money because of this. Izumi smiled as she headed outside into Itachi's car.