Chapter 6: Little Talks & The Princely Role

"Feels nice to be home." Fakir fell back onto his bed.

"Is it really stressing you out that bad?"

"What?" Fakir sat up and saw Ahiru in his doorway.

"Nesu. Practice. Me?"

"To be honest Ahiru, it's getting to me more than it probably should. I can't help but feel like something is…off with him. Not just because he's smitten with-"

"He's just being friendly. I really don't think of him at all-"

"Whatever it is, it's not you Ahiru. It's just before…it didn't bug me. If it did, I could deny it. Even last time around, even Autor was fascinated by you…especially as you became a better dancer. But some of the stuff Nesu says…he makes me wonder…"

"Wonder what?"

"I can't say. I guess not ever knowing if Drosselmeyer is finished is a curse that will always weigh on my mind."

"Should we have returned to the story? Like Mytho and-"

"We decided to stay. We'll handle it one step at a time." Fakir cut in. He was actually afraid that if they returned…he would become the Knight again…he'd only ever succeeded at all in this world. If he returned would he not become the failure again? If all he was was a Knight, could he really be her Prince? At least here he could be just Fakir.

"Okay good." Ahiru sat on the end of his bed. "I'm happy you're not mad at me though."

"Why would I be?"

"I don't know you know…but next time I won't fall into Nesu's arms or something…"

Fakir couldn't help but snicker.

"What?" Ahiru looked to him.

"Stop taking all the blame. How could you possibly avoid that?"

"I don't know. I just don't like it when you're put off like this. I like when your happier Fakir."

Fakir looked at her. She looked concerned for him. He smiled. "Don't worry about me Ahiru. I'll be okay." He took her arm and pulled her in closer to him, hugging her from behind.

"Fakir…you don't think our love story is tragic do you…"

"Huh?" He pulled away slightly.

"Like Romeo and Julliette. I just feel like…with everything…maybe…"

"Don't even say that. If that's what Drosselmeyer intended well we'll rewrite it and change it I promise. We've gotten this far."

"You're right." Ahiru nodded. She leaned back onto his chest. He rested his head on her hair.

"We didn't practice Sleeping Beauty…"

"That's okay just lead me through it tomorrow. You did it before…" Ahiru said.

"If that's what you want." Fakir felt his eyes droop. So little yet so much went on today. "Ahiru I think-"

He stopped. He tilted his head over to see that Ahiru had fallen asleep leaning against him. He sighed. How was he to sleep now? He carefully leaned his back down flat against his pillows, trying not to wake her up.

Even without trying, she already fit the Sleeping Beauty role perfectly.

"I feel terrible that I fell asleep on you last night? Oh you should have just shoved me off of you…" Ahiru hadn't stopped apologizing from the moment she woke until class.

"It's fine. I fell asleep too you know. Surprisingly your quite a quiet sleeper…"

"Surprisingly?!" Ahiru repeated.

"Well…I mean…" Fakir stumbled.

"Okay class. Sleeping beauty was the next one on our agenda. I am well aware that you have seen a performance two years ago? So I expect most of you to be well educated on this dance. Please take your partners. Remember, an eternal slumber divided this pair; there is a Prince and a Princess role. With dancing and performance, comes a character to play. Both must be achieved with a well performed duet."

"Well I hope my restless sleeping didn't keep you awake, because-"

"I just said it didn't Ahiru." Fakir sighed and looked at her. "I'm fine. I didn't mind."

"Right. Well…then lets dance." She said blushing a little.

Fakir nodded.

Fakir knew the last time he'd danced with her Sleeping Beauty, it had rather been by force. But now…it was different.

Ahiru managed to dance with a liveliness, but gracefulness that seemingly had come out of embracing and becoming Tutu. Being truly human. Now that she did dance to his standard he had to push himself harder. A Prince. The one that was supposed to kiss the sleeping princess awake and-

"Stop."

They stopped and looked to Director Setsuna.

"Again, I see much effort in all of you but… there is something missing. The characters have a backstory. You must feel that and emote it. You cannot just perform a ballet." She spoke to all of the class. "Ahiru and Fakir, after you told me that you two had once performed this…Ahiru you had the grace , and the face of a Princess in the arms of a Prince…and yet Fakir…you didn't seem to embrace that role. Something was missing…maybe it was the conviction. If I were to be auditioning for a role, many of you need to think about these things. Next class is the Nutcracker. That too consists of war and the faith from Clara to the Nutcracker. Research these rolls before you practice tonight. Actually how about I give you a day off to do just that. I'll see you all next class." Slowly everyone left, with whispers about the performance.

Fakir sighed. Was it really true…had he not the belief in himself that he could become a Prince character?

"I bet I could take on the Prince role much better than you."

Fakir looked up to see Nesu standing in front.

"I didn't hear her say anything about your dancing." Fakir snapped.

Ahiru looked in between them. It was about to start again.

"How could she…it seems a poor partner takes away from the good one."

Pike backed out of the room on her own.

Fakir's eyes squinted challengingly. "You want to be Ahiru's partner, then prove it."

"Fakir but-" Ahiru persisted.

"I'll show you what I can do." Nesu took Ahiru and suddenly lead her into the Pas-De-Deux.

Ahiru felt a little controlled. Was she just some partner? Some game piece for them to fight over? It felt strange not dancing with Fakir after this long, but Nesu had a talent for dance just the same…but it was different.

Fakir watched. He was strangely well put for a new comer at a dance academy… whatever that meant. But Ahiru…he'd just shoved Ahiru into the position to force her to dance with him. He hadn't even asked. He let Nesu and Ahiru finish, reluctantly.

"If I say so myself, I would say that I-" Nesu started.

"Bravo." Setsuna walked back into the room.

The three of them stared in astonishment.

"I didn't mean to intrude but when I heard the music playing again, I thought I would come to see. Ahiru and Nesu, you are not a normal pairing. All the same, however workable it may have seemed…Nesu…you, like Fakir are lacking something about your dancing that does not come off Prince like."

Fakir and Nesu looked at each other in the corner of their eye for a quick moment.

"Nesu your dancing is too controlled…a little harsh. You need to let Ahiru make her own movements and choises to the dance without overpowering it. Fakir it seems that…well for Romeo it worked, but for a Prince…there was too much…well now that I think of it…it seemed as if you are almost protecting her as you dance. Every step is carefully made so that you can keep a firm grasp on Ahiru…and while a supportive partner is well and ideal, the ballerina must also perform parts by her own. You can support her, but you can't control if she falls during her own arabesque, like yesterday. That is her job to steady herself when you cannot. A Prince supports his Princess, but they are equal. He cannot hold every leg and every arm in the perfect position for her. Think about these things for next time. Ahiru work at dancing on your own with a partner. Partners move together, but that doesn't mean your own style has to be overcome by your male counterpart in the role or vise versa." Setsuna nodded and walked away.

Fakir knew the truth in that. He was a Knight. His tendencies were made to be protective. But if Nesu was harsh and controlling…what did that make him?

"Uhm…I'm going to get changed." Ahiru began to leave the two.

"Wait Ahiru. I'm sorry about that, I shouldn't have pushed you into doing that."

"It's okay Fakir. It was different dancing with another partner. I know you didn't mean any harm in it…to me. I'll meet you back at home."

Fakir sighed and left, ignoring Nesu completely.

Ahiru put on her uniform and left the change room. She looked to see that Fakir had already left. She turned to see Nesu standing outside the Academy doors.

"Why did you do that?" Ahiru asked him standing in front of him, bluntly.

"I was just proving a point." Nesu answered simply.

"Why? To make Fakir angry? Or to hurt Fakir and I? I chose to dance with him you know, I get to choose in the matter!"

"Hurt Fakir and you? Oh please. Can't he handle a little competition…"

"Is that all it is? A competition? Why do you even think that-"

"I know more than you think. Is he really doing you a favor protecting you all the time?"

"Yes…or…well…"

"Think about this. Why do you need to be protected all the time…even the Director said so. It seems he's guarding a precious gem of glass rather a than a living girl."

Ahiru swallowed. Fakir had always protected her. Because he cared…he liked her…or they loved each other and well Fakir was supposed to be a Knight in the original story. Although it had been Fakir's keenness for protection that had caused her curse in the first place, but it had been for Mytho and her own best interest…hadn't it?

"I'm no Prince myself, but I do know more than you think about this town. I am also not one to be as protective like Fakir…acting like some holy Knight… but I did this to prove my point. One day you'll have to see it my way, because you'll realize nothing is black and white Ahiru. However I will be excited to see how you perform in the Nutcracker. It has always been my favorite…next to the Swan Princess of course."

Ahiru felt flustered as Nesu walked off. He compared Fakir to a Knight? Was it that obvious? And his first favourite was the Swan Princess?

Maybe Fakir was right about Nesu…but all the same, she couldn't tell him about the conversation. She'd promised not to talk to him outside of class…and yet this was the second time. Whatever was going on, she'd figure it out this time.