Chapter 3:

Discovery!

Utau walked along the beach shore, watching as the waves gently wrapped around her ankles as she moved. She felt the water rise to the sand, then return to the sea. She looked out to the blue ocean. She sighed. It was so beautiful, sparkling under the shining, bright sun. She looked over at the waves, and saw as Kukai surfed happily.

'Was he always this happy when I wasn't around?' She asked herself. When he wasn't near her, he was smiling and laughing, but when he was around her, he always acted sincere and kind. It wasn't that she didn't like him being nice to her, but he never laughed around her, as though he wasn't ever really having fun around her. She sighed again, but deeper. She walked on, ignoring the thought.

A large bell rang, symbolizing dinner. Nagehiko and Rima headed back down to their cabins to dry off and change, along with everyone that was at the beach. People that were already at the cabins headed to the dining area, and people that were hang-gliding landed next to the dining area. As everyone entered, they were given leis, floral tropical necklaces. Everyone looked at the food. There were tropical fruit salads and tropical punch juice. There were fruit kabobs and also a fruit covered cake for desert. There was also iced cream for those that didn't want the cake. Everyone gazed in happiness, as they neared the food. They felt as though they should admire it instead of eat it, but eventually people started to take some, and sat at one of the many bamboo picnic tables that were there. Everyone ate there food happily and talked about what had happened that day while on breaks. For once, everyone was getting along.

After desert, everyone got ready for the nightly entertainment. Tonight they would have a firedancer performing. A firedancer is someone that uses flaming wooden rods as a prop, as they toss them in the air, and caught them as they neared their hands. They would twirl them and swirl them, and they were trained before using them. As everyone sat down in the Ceremonial Circle, the firedancer came on stage. His assistants used torches to light the two sides of his bamboo rod, and he started to perfom. Everyone watched as he fearlessly tossed them into the air, and caught them again, everyone peaking from behind their fingers. Except for Migoto. She found no interest in it. It was simple, just throwing the stick in the air, and catching it. She sighed in boredom. She bet she could do better.

"Simple..." She said, quietly to herself. It just happened to be loud enough for the firedancer to hear it.

"Simple? You think this is... simple? Well let me tell you what, missy. This is actually quite hard, and takes years to perfect. I bet if you tried, you would get hurt." The man said, walking right up to her face.

"Bring it..." Migoto said to his face.

"You asked for it... assistants! Get little miss sour-puss an ensemble ready." He said.

The assistants took Migoto back-stage, where she was changed into a traditional outfit for firedancing. She wore a lightweight, almost loincloth looking skirt, a red bikini like top, a red viel, and some red accesories. It fit her complection. Her black hair and red eyes went with it very nicely. She looked in a mirror. She looked stupid, but she kind of liked it. She walked out, and everyone gazed in wonder. Especially the guys. She was handed the bamboo rod, which the assistants lit the ends. She had a blank expression on her face. She closed her eyes, and tossed it into the air. She kept her eyes closed, and everyone kept watch of her. They watched it fall, and it went passed her hand. Everyone gasped in fear, and the firedancer started laughing.

"See! You can't firdance right off the bat!" He said, laughing at her with his eyes shut in laughter. What nobody knew was that she didn't drop it. It was perfectly balanced on her foot. Everyone opened their eyes, to see that nothing was happening. No fire was burning the place to the ground. The firedancer stopped laughing, and opened his eyes.

"What? This isn't possible! Nobody can just start being able to firedance! It's unreal!" He screamed. Migoto opened her eyes, and kicked the rod into the air. It came down, and she caught it in her right hand, spinning it around in small circles, watching the fire create a circular shape in the air. Everyone gazed in delight, happy to watch. She spun it behind her back, and passed it to her other hand. She spun it around in that hand, and threw it in the air. She caught it, and blew out the sides. Everyone cheered and screamed in joy. The firedancer bowed down to her.

"You are the God of Firedance. Train me, please!" He pleaded at her feet.

"My training is rough, and requires patients. Can you handle it?" She said, looking down at him. Just then she was given her clothes, and dragged away. She was happy to get away from him. He was annoying.

When everyone got back to their cabins, everyone changed into their pajamas. They all got ready for bed. Migoto didn't She changed into a nice purple dress, and walked to the beach. She looked up at the moon, then down at the water. It glistened under the moonlight. She heard someone behind her, and she turned. It was Ikuto. She looked at him, and sighed. He was wearing a purple long sleeve shirt and black pajama bottoms. He was barefoot. He walked over to her.

"Great performance. You showed him." He said, walking closer to her. She backed away every step he took. He had finally managed to make her stummble across a large rock. She was cornered. She looked away from him as he put his face close to her's. His breath was blowing against her neck. She was actually quite scared. He put his hand out, against the rock, and put his face near her's, closer now than it was before. She closed her eyes, and kepther head to the side.

"You looked very nice in that costume." He whispered, his lips close to her left ear.

"Leave me alone..." She said quietly, fearing him. Thy had a rough childhood. He had almost let her die, falling from a building's roof. She was scared of him. He was the one to push her off, and he was also the one to save her. He couldn't handle being the reason someone died. Now she feared him, and she hated his guts.

"Why? We are... teammates... after all." He said, kissing her cheek.

"I said... leave... me... alone!" She said, punching his stomach. He stopped breathing in pain. She held her hands to her mouth and gasped. What had she done? She watched him fall to him knees in pain, and she ran to help him.

"Stay back! I don't want to see you anymore! Go! Leave me alone!" He yelled to her. She stepped back one. She was scared. Tears came to her eyes, and she ran back to her cabin. Once she got there, she ran to her bed, and fell asleep, crying herself to sleep. Ikuto had managed to get up, and walk to his bed in his cabin, and fell asleep in pain, both physical and emotional pain.