"Of Loss, Life, & Love"
A Ranma ½ Fanfic by Luna12
Chapter 16: "Dance"

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The best is yet to come, and baby won't it be fine
You think you've seen the sun, but you ain't seen it shine
Wait till the warm-up's underway
Wait till our lips have met
Wait till you see that sunshine day
You ain't seen nothin' yet

~ "The Best is Yet to Come"
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh

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Odd sounds were coming from the Tendo dojo - and that was saying something, as explosions, ki-energy attacks, human and inhuman battles were nearly mundane occurrences.

Yet there had never been a pulsing bass beat and dance music pounding, along with the customary sounds of human limbs making hard contact with the floorboards.

Inside, both Ranma and Akane were barefoot, carefully making sure each step landed firmly on a taped square.

A 6x3 grid was marked on the dojo floor with masking tape, providing the duo a mock dance platform. Akane had brought down an old TV and video recording of the different Dance-Fight-Evolution song levels. It was a cheap workaround to avoid spending a fortune at the arcades. This way, they could still memorize the steps on the various song-levels and perfect their moves on the grid.

After paying their entry fee, the arcade owner gave them a small book on D.A.F.T. rules and approved fighting moves. With money tight, Ranma and Akane set up a corner of the dojo for the bulk of their training. They would fine tune at the arcade, later.

It was awkward fighting in such a confined arena. Adding to the learning curve were restrictions on fighting moves. Throws and flips would automatically disqualify them. Kicks and hits above the knee were forbidden, but they were allowed - and encouraged - to trip an opponent. Brute force gave no advantage, but speed, subtlety, and precision were prized.

Thanks to their Anything Goes discipline, Ranma and Akane approached the fighting rules with some out of the box thinking. Nowhere did the regulations require their feet to hit the marks. Before long, they were trying out intricate hand stands and somersaults in time to the beat, using whatever limb was most convenient to strike the appropriate mark.

The music came to an abrupt end and the video went blank; they had completed over fifty song-levels. Taking a small rest from sparring D.A.F.T. style, Ranma drank from his water bottle. Akane grabbed a small towel and wiped her brow, a pensive expression on her face. She felt fairly confident about the fight portions, but ...

"So now that we're stuck in this tournament…" she began.

Ranma instantly went on the defensive. "Hey, you were just as eager as me when Matsuda got your goat…"

Akane's eyes brightened as she felt her temper rise. "I'm not trying to blame you, baka. I'm just wondering...do you know how to dance?"

Ranma looked chagrined. "Uh, not yet. You?"

Akane shook her head.

Ranma shrugged. "It can't be that hard to figure out, right?"

Akane face palmed, recalling past disasters from Ranma's overconfidence. "Isn't that what you said about ice skating?"

A small knock on the dojo door interrupted before Ranma could retort. Kasumi entered carrying a tray of snacks and tea, her face smiling serenely as usual.

"You two have been working very hard. I thought you might need some refreshments."

Ranma's stomach growled and his face beamed at the food laden tray. "Great! Thanks, Kasumi."

Instead of leaving after setting down the tray, Kasumi casually examined the taped flooring. "My, that looks interesting."

Akane gave Kasumi a brief update on their afternoon. "It won't be hard for us to handle the fight portion, but neither of us knows how to dance."

Kasumi paused, then beamed. "Well that seems easy to fix. Can't you take lessons?"

Akane's eyes widened at the innocent and perfectly logical solution her sister offered. "That's a great idea! I just hope they're not too pricey."

Ranma frowned suspiciously. "From who? I don't want to take instruction to do any sissy twinkle-toe moves." Not to mention, most people in Japan considered Western style dancing as a bit perverted - touching closely with couples in public! Dancing was slowly getting a better reputation, but it was hardly an accepted norm.

Akane rolled her eyes. "Its not like we'll take ballet, Ranma. But let's face it: we don't know the first thing about dancing. Think of it as special training."

Ranma grimaced, but realized Akane was right. It couldn't be worse than learning martial arts dining.

Kasumi's smile widened. "What good timing. We just got this advertisement in the mail, too." Kasumi pulled out a brochure for "Madame Noa's Dance Academy".

Akane gave her eldest sister a curious look. Kasumi just happened to have a dance brochure on her? If it had been Nabiki making the offer, Akane would have been immediately suspicious. Then again, actual probability ceased to apply to her life once she had met Ranma. Perhaps this was just a turn of good fortune.

Ranma eyed the brochure with caution. It was a little too convenient a solution. "Don't tell me: Nabiki found out about our challenge and has a betting pool set up already?"

Akane scrutinized her sister's face for any tells. Kasumi shrugged and gave a small giggle. "Oh, that sounds like her. She did hand me the brochure and claimed it came in the mail for you two."

Ranma rolled his eyes, but figured Nabiki's machinations were harmless - this time. It was more than likely the girl wanted to secretly change the odds in their favor to get a bigger profit.

Ranma thumbed through the pages. It didn't look too bad. As long as he didn't tell Pop or his mom, he'd be fine with it.

"Look, Akane: first lesson's free. Guess it can't hurt to try it."

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"I should have come as a girl." Ranma grumbled outside Madame Noa's Dance Academy's door. "Damn, why can't I ever get splashed when I want to use my curse?"

Akane shook her head in exasperation.

"Honestly, Ranma. You'd rather have a man touching and dancing with you instead?" Akane's lips curled into a teasing smile.

For a moment, Ranma's complexion took on a greenish hue. "On second thought, I'm fine as a guy."

Akane had called in advance to schedule their introductory lesson. Madame Noa was there herself, a middle-aged woman with streaks of gray hair in her tight bun. After the initial introductions, Noa jumped straight to business.

"Now, what do you two know of dance?"

Ranma opened his mouth first. "Uh, sissy sport, moving your feet to music?"

Akane elbowed him hard and ignored the sharp grunt Ranma gave in return. Baka.

Akane bowed respectfully to Noa-sensei in apology. "We've never danced before, but we are very fast learners."

Noa politely ignored Ranma's earlier comment, and focused on the polite young woman. She was quite used to adventurous girls dragging their unwilling boyfriends for lessons. "Ah. We'll just start from the very beginning, with the box step."

Madame launched into a simple explanation and demonstration.

"As the man, Saotome-san, you are the leader. Tendo-san will follow."

Both pupils nodded and watched attentively.

"First step: The leader - that's you, Saotome-san - will move one step forward with the left foot and close the feet by sliding the right foot up to meet the left, but not transferring the weight on the right foot."

Madame paused and demonstrated.

"Second step: Right foot step sideways to the right. Third step: Left foot step to close the feet. Now, steps 4 through 6 steps are similar: The leader moves one step backwards with the right foot and closes the left foot without weight. To complete the square, the lead will then move two steps to the left: left foot sideways and right foot to close."

Madame gracefully completed the moves.

"Then you should end up where you began, and can start all over again. Make sure to slide your feet! I don't want to see any forced, heavy steps." Madame clasped her hands sharply. "Now, face each other and show me."

Akane saw the bored expression on Ranma's face. "Think of it as a different kata exercise," she whispered.

"A really wimpy kata," Ranma whispered back with a snort.

Akane's mouth twisted into a small smile. She couldn't help but be bemused by his dramatic reluctance.

Madame Noa watched her new pupils. The young lady wasn't exaggerating. They were fast learners. Demonstrating once had been enough for them. Although they weren't particularly graceful; they were moving more like autonomous robots. All the steps were correctly executed, and they were making decent progress at gliding, but there was no real interaction or feeling in the movements.

Noa tapped her finger to her cheek in thought. She turned off the music and readdressed her students. "You're ready to hold each other."

Ranma and Akane's eyes widened. Even though both of them knew it was coming, it still felt odd to hear a stranger command them to touch each other.

Ranma followed Madame's instructions, clasping Akane's right hand in his left and holding it at shoulder height. That part was innocent enough. The next instruction was not.

"Saotome-san, place your right hand to cup Tendo-san's shoulder blade. Your partner should feel cradled in your arms."

Akane gave Ranma an encouraging nod, letting him know he was not going to get clobbered for his actions.

Ranma's hand went to the small of Akane's back. Through the soft folds of the cotton fabric, he could feel the toned and slightly tense muscle underneath. Ranma felt slightly relieved to know she was a bit nervous. Having her this close to him brought the pleasant and subtle scent of her apple shampoo to his nose.

Akane tried her best to breathe normally and put on a calm air. They were here to learn how to dance and thereby win the D.A.F.T. Touching each other, closely and in public, would require some adjustment.

Ranma's hand was warm and strong on her back, yet also gentle. Akane felt an inner warmth blossom from his touch. This was worlds apart from sparring, yet equally thrilling. Not that she would dare to tell him that.

"Tendo-san," Madame continued, "place your left hand with fingertips at Saotome-san's shoulder seam."

Ranma felt Akane's small hand land gently on his shoulder. It was certainly odd to be exchanging physical contact with Akane outside of sparing. Part of his trained response was to analyze everything about her stance, to read her balance and how to turn it to his advantage. He had to force himself to stop analyzing strengths and weaknesses for self-defense. Once he did, his thoughts wandered to the flecks of gold in Akane's brown eyes, and the curve of her heart-shaped face. Holding Akane so closely in such a non-combative stance felt good. More than good. Ranma felt his heart begin to jackhammer and his body automatically responded to Akane's intimate presence.

Oblivious to any emotional or physical discomfort, Madame examined her pupils for posture and position. She nodded to herself once, satisfied, and turned on the music.

Within moments, Akane stepped on Ranma's toes.

"Ah! Sorry!"

"Heh, figured you'd be a klutz with this, Akane."

It was not the right thing to say.

"What?!" Akane pulled out of the dancing embrace, her face livid.

Before it could escalate further, Madame intervened.

"Tendo-san, you have to let him lead. And you, Saotome-san, need to communicate your intentions."

Ranma gulped. "My intentions?" He prayed his autonomic physical response was not what she meant.

"Dancing is not a surprise attack. You need to communicate the next step." Madame continued calmly. "The woman must feel a part of the man's body. "

Ranma and Akane both blushed crimson.

Noa continued on, ignoring their flustered expressions.

"And do stop pushing with your arms, Saotome-san. Tendo-san should feel your torso moving to that spot on the floor, and it will feel like she's being carried there, instead of pushed."

"Yeah, Ranma." Akane nudged him with her elbow, still feeling hurt over his klutzy comment. Ranma had been pushing with his arms, and it made her feel yanked and shoved around the dance floor.

"And you, Tendo-san, must be more patient! You are forgetting to wait."

"Yeah, Akane." Ranma nudged her in similar fashion.

Akane grumbled low enough so only Ranma could hear. "Right foot back, left foot to the side, slow, quick, quick. I didn't hear any 'wait' in the music between beats."

Madame tsk-tsked softly. She may not have heard the words, but the frustration was evident. "After each and every weight change onto the next foot, you must pause, Tendo-san, until you feel your body being led to the next step."

Akane sighed but nodded in respectful attention. Noa continued. "Leading and following require two totally different sets of skills and mindsets. One requires immediate action, commitment and confidence, while the other requires patience and willing submission to the will of another."

Akane frowned at that phrasing. Immediate action and confidence suited Ranma perfectly. Her task stunk in comparison. Not only was she to wait and follow, she also had to submit her will?!

Ranma tried and failed to completely hold in his reaction, which was to snicker. The image of Akane ever submitting herself to anyone was absurd. It was only made more humorous that she was supposed to with him.

"This isn't funny!" Akane snapped, her patience being stretched to its limits.

Ranma couldn't help himself. "But the look on your face sure is."

Still, Ranma could sympathize a little with his tomboy's frustration. Martial arts didn't have a leader-follower relationship between sparring pairs. There were often master-student relationships, but that was entirely different. The only thing Ranma could see in common between ballroom dance and martial arts was the physical acting and reacting. However, the Art demanded spontaneity to outmaneuver the opponent. It was a game of physical chess, not a mirrored partnership.

Madame had the couple resume the starting position. Ranma started to move his left leg forward but Akane just stood there. "Aren't you supposed to move now?" he asked impatiently.

"I can't feel you," was her immediate response, and then her cheeks pinked as her brain registered how her words sounded.

"I can't move, or I'll run you over," was Ranma's retort. Both were annoyed and feeling entirely out of their element, stuck at a standstill.

Madame made a small "hmmm" noise to herself and gracefully walked to a cabinet in a corner of the room. When she returned, her hand held out a long white silk scarf and tied it around Akane's eyes.

"The lady has to trust the gentleman completely, without hesitation."

Akane swallowed. She abhorred being blind and the subsequent vulnerability that came with it. Putting her trust entirely into another person was difficult for her. The part of her that knew Ranma always came to her rescue did trust him. It was the other lingering doubts she had to squash.

Akane purposely let out a deep breath and tried to get her tense muscles to relax. Ranma could read how difficult this was for her. "You know you can trust me, right?" he asked gently.

Ranma's smooth voice, and the sincerity behind it, melted most of Akane's anxiety. Ranma would never consciously hurt her or allow herself to be hurt. She knew that. The gentle reminder brought back a flood of memories. There were so many times he went out of his way to protect her.

Akane gave him a tentative smile. "Yes...I trust you."

Ranma felt his heart leap at her open admission and soft voice. His previous hesitation left him, replaced by steely determination. Akane was trusting him to do this, and he was not going to let her down.

Madame shut off the music, forcing her pupils to prioritize their sense of touch over sight and sound. "Wait for her to come. Then take her firmly." Ranma swallowed hard, trying to ignore the double entendre.

Akane stepped forward, blind but determined. Ranma's left hand gathered her right hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze before raising it into position. His right hand returned to the sweet space at the small of her back, and with Ranma's guidance their torsos were pressed tightly together into position.

Ranma focused on sending his frame forward, and did his best to ignore the pleasant, but distracting sensation of Akane's breasts pressed up against his firm chest. With all the strength and confidence he normally put into the Art, Ranma took a big stride with his right leg, avoiding any pushing with his arms. Akane responded instantly, following his movement properly in the reverse direction. No feet were trampled. The two of them continued to move around the floor as a perfect unit.

Instead of obeying the music and the pattern, Akane kept her body in tune with Ranma's momentum. The slightest instinctual change in any direction from his body now triggered her own body to do the same thing. Ranma lost his precautionary tendency to "waddle" around her feet. Akane was almost magically out of his way as she responded to him and traveled backwards. Ranma discovered that he was able to take larger, freer steps. It really did feel like gliding, as if he were effortlessly carrying Akane along with him on the dance floor. He would never allow himself to admit it aloud, but this was fun.

As if reading his thoughts, Akane whispered to him. "This is sort of fun...even with the blindfold."

Ranma felt a euphoric high that he tried to suppress. He couldn't let Akane know how much he enjoyed this...right? Or maybe, just maybe, he could. A little.

"It's not so bad," he replied neutrally, grateful that Akane couldn't see the grin on his face. Regardless, Akane heard the lift in his voice, and her own face broke into a warm smile that nearly made him lose his footing.

No, he thought as the music resumed and floated around them…Dancing with Akane wasn't bad at all.

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Author's notes:

Thanks again to Angela Jewell, my awesome beta-reader.

I highly recommend people watch the 1996 Japanese film "Shall we ダンス?".

The review challenge and incentive remains. 100 new reviews = early chapter release! That's less than 1 review per person signed up as a follower. Very doable.

Original post date: 8-21-2014. Reviews at time of posting: 219

And yes… it's a little evil to lead with a song that mentions lips meeting and not have a kiss scene...yet! It's coming. I promise. The best is yet to come.