It's been some time, and I'm still seated on the quilt watching everyone. No one has approached me, and I'm thankful for it. The sociology behind this event is fascinating, and I'm enjoying soaking it in.

This ends when Enya walks by and notices me. This is the first I'm seeing any of Hanzo's buddies since the introduction, I wonder where they have been?

Enya stumbles up towards me, gets down on one knee, and holds out his hand.

"Alright sweetness, what say you and I take a spin on the dance floor?"

His words were slow and slurred, and I can tell he's had one sake too many.

"Enya, are you okay?"

His glazy eyes appear to shine and a slow smile spreads across his face. "I'd be better if you joined me for a dance. I'll twirl you all around the floor; you'll never want to let me go."

He leans forward, wobbling slightly, and his held out hand strokes my hair.

"Enya, let me get you some water. Why don't you sit down and…"

WHOOSH! Enya leans so far forward that his knee buckles and he's on all fours. He looks a bit surprised, but he realizes quickly that he's eye level with my lap, and he lets out a devilish chuckle.

"Maybe we can skip the dancing, I think I'm hungry. I didn't get enough delicious sweets to eat, and certainly nothing hot and juicy…"

Oh god, I'm sweating. I need to do something but am too stunned to process what.

Suddenly, a hand appears and yanks Enya up by the collar. Enya and I gasp as he's placed back on his feet. I look up and see Hanzo, who hasn't let go of Enya's collar.

"Go get some water as the lady suggests, maybe it'll cool you down." He lets go of Enya's collar and crosses his arms, daring Enya to do otherwise.

Enya struggles to get steady, and shakes his fist at Hanzo. "Ahhh, you're no fun Hanzo. I just wanted to dance!"

Hanzo shakes his head. "If she wants to dance, she'll dance with me."

I will? Where is this coming from? Furthermore, where did he come from? Has he been watching me this whole time?!

Enya laughs. "Damn dude, we about to get into a pissing contest? I'll win you know." With that, Enya puts his hands on his belt buckle. Hanzo's eyes widen.

Just then, Hyosuke appears and slaps his hand down on Enya's shoulder. Hyosuke looks drunk too, but he clearly has a better handle on things than Enya. "Got to be so literal? Ha! C'mon buddy, let's go get some refreshments." He looks at me and winks. "Sorry, beautiful."

Enya's hands drop off his buckle. "So serious in your duties, she'd be having a much better time if I was her escort!" He stares at Hanzo. "Since when do you get all worked up over the ladies? You never cared before!"

Enya clearly wants to say more but Hyosuke pulls him in the opposite direction and Enya blindly follows.

Hanzo sighs, arms still folded, and looks at me. "I apologize. Enya is often the randy one."

I look down and smooth out the quilt. "I see."

Is that his way of saying the only reason his friends would talk to me is because they want some?

I look back up. "Well, thank you, I guess, but he's nothing I couldn't handle."

I realize that's a bold face lie the minute the words leave my lips. I froze yet again, and what would have happened if I had paused one moment longer? Great. Another lie. Another weakness. He's going to call me out again, and I don't want to squabble.

To my surprise, he nods. "A woman like you would know how to deal with men like that."

A woman like me? What does he mean? I'm not used to attention from guys period, today has been way more than I've had in years. Even Dr. Belair threw flirtation my way, so why hadn't that excited me like I thought it would?

Hanzo unfolds his arms and holds out his hand. "You've been watching the dancers for quite some time. It's rude to tease a lady with an offer you don't intend to fulfill."

Ah ha! He HAS been watching me!

I look at his hand, and then back up at him. "Are you asking me to dance?"

He shrugs, his hand still out. "Consider it a polite extension of Enya's offer, only more sober and less tawdry. I'm not much of a dancer, but I'll try."

Part of me thinks this is a bad idea, that we'll only get upset again, but I do want to dance. I take his hand, and he effortlessly pulls me up off the quilt. Though I'm now standing, I realize we're still holding hands. He leads me towards the dance floor. I look at our hands. They are perfectly entwined. I feel my heart race again. What am I doing? I must be a glutton for punishment. Oh, what am I saying? It's just a dance, what harm can one dance do?

We reach the dance floor, positioned beneath the most beautiful cherry blossom trees in this park, and I feel the fast paced music invigorate me. Our hands drop. I look at Hanzo and smile. He gives me a bow, and then holds out his arms. Just as we get ready to match the beat (assuming he can dance of course), then band switches gears and starts playing a slow song with a tender melody.

Sigh, of course. I feel my smile fading; I can't slow dance with this man. I want to, but the feeling isn't mutual. I start to walk off with the other couples who don't wish to be that close to one another.

A hand grabs me. I don't have a chance to stop. The hand gently pulls me back towards the floor, but my earlier momentum in tandem with the pulling lands me smack dab into the person pulling me. I look up. Could it be…

It is, it's Hanzo. For some reason, he still wants to dance. He puts one arm gently around my back, and the other takes my hand in his. I put my free hand up on his shoulder. I can feel myself blushing. Hanzo's trademark look is upon his face, but there's no hint of cold, hard, or stern behind it. He closes his eyes and give me a quick nod, and then we're moving.

I don't believe for one second that this man can't dance. His feet flow effortlessly across the floor. Not knowing what to expect, I put myself in rag doll mode so I wouldn't be tempted to lead, but this was unnecessary. We move smoothly together across the floor, like we had practiced together a thousand time before. Flow into a turn, flow into a spin, it all flows like an undisturbed stream. Other couples around us move, giving us ample space to move. The music continues on, the sounds caressing our bodies into a slow sweetness to match it.

I rest my head against Hanzo's chest, slowly inhaling his soft scent. He smells of sandalwood, which mixes deliciously with the aroma of the cherry blossoms. I feel his arm around my back lengthen so his hand is on my hip, and holds me closer. I close my eyes and feel a smile spread across my face as I get lost in his scent and embrace. I could dance forever with Hanzo, this moment has to last.

Suddenly, I no longer hear music. I open my eyes, and imagine my shock to find that everyone was circling the dance floor. Not only that, but they were all clapping. It must be for the band, but I looked at them, and they were clapping too. My eyes got wide, and I feel a gasp escape from my lips.

In the same moment, Hanzo slowly pulls away from me. He continues to hold my hand, seemingly oblivious to the roaring applause around us. He looks at me, gives a bow, then drops my hand. He walks away, disappearing into the crowd.

The claps and the hoots continue, but I wish they would stop. Why would he leave me like this? I start to follow Hanzo when Dr. Belair blocks my path.

"Ma bichette! That was quite the display. Now what's say we up the tempo and set this floor on fire?"

Dr. Belair wants to dance? Now? If he saw, how can he possibly think anything can top that?

"Dr. Belair…"

He exhales and waves his hand in the air, dismissing the name. "Please, call me Christophe, everyone else is!"

All our years learning together, this is the first time he's asked me to call him that. Is there anything this festival can't do?

I still wish to follow Hanzo, but I don't see him anywhere and Christophe is so excited. I can't let him down.

So we dance. One dance turns into two, and soon, we end up dancing the night away. I had so much fun I almost forgot about Hanzo.

Almost.