Hey! I'm sorry about the mix up with the last chapter ^^' Hopefully this makes up for it. I know the chapters have gotten a bit short lately, but trust me the story picks up in a few chapters. I actually can't wait to post it *squeals*

Also, I wanted to remind everyone that if you draw Mang-mang (or any of my OCs) post it on deviant art and let me know, I'll mention it in the next chapter^^ Someone PMed me today saying that they've drawn her, but they don't have a dA account, so I'm trying to find a way to post it on my own.

Incidentally, my dA icon (which is a chibi Mang) was drawn for me by AnimeMother.

Enjoy and review!

"Oww!"

"Shut it!"

"Both of you!"

Fai shook out his leg and walked in a small circle.

"She keeps stepping on me!"

Mangetsu huphed,

"'Cause you're moving too slow."

Sylvia pursed her lips.

"Maitresse, it's a slow song. We can't do everything at a break neck speed."

"We could, you just won't let us…"

Sylvia ignored her.

"Fai, that was beautiful."

"Thank you."

Mangetsu's head maid had taken it upon herself to teach Mangetsu some basic dances and Fai, being the only one in the palace even close to her height, was the obvious choice for a dance partner. He didn't mind, but the resident goddess hated it.

"I'm never gonna leave these rooms, there isn't any point in doing this."

"Maitresse," Sylvia chastised, "you don't know that-"

"Yeah I do."

"You never know that something won't happen until it's physically impossible for it to happen."

"You're saying that I won't know it's impossible till I'm dead?"

"All young ladies learn this and so will you."

That was the end of it. Fai knew from watching Mangetsu fight that she was capable of poise and grace, sometimes to an intimidating level, but also that she rarely chose to exhibit that kind of effort in anything other than fighting.

She surprised him though, she liked it. Sort of. She liked it provided they moved fast, which was all well and good except for when they had to do slow dances, like the waltz, which, for some reason, made her feel like "accidentally" stepping on him.

Despite that though, he still felt bad about how helpless she must have felt, knowing that she'd probably never leave the palace. As he led her through another three-count of steps, he decided to do something.

"Your Highness?"

Fai wrung his hands. He hated talking to Ashura anymore; it was just too uncomfortable and it made him think about when it wasn't uncomfortable; about when it was the best part of his day and sometimes the only good part at all. Now he had to force himself just to smile.

"Your Highness?" He repeated from the doorway of the study. The King looked up and smiled, ever kind. His eyes were annoyed though. He beckoned and Fai bounced in.

"May I help you Fai?"

"Well… yes, I think so…"

This seemed to catch him off guard.

"Yes?"

"Well, I've been thinking about Mang-mang-"

"Who?"

"Err, Maitresse Seether?"

"Ah."

Fai breathed deep and forced the smile to stay put.

"I was wondering if she could attend the next ball you hosted…"

Ashura started, the smile flickered.

"Why?"

"Well," Fai began to get nervous.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"She's bored. She hasn't left those rooms in years. I really don't think she'd hurt anybody," Alright, a minor lie was not the end of the world, "And I think she'd be a lot less wary of you and a lot happier…" He trailed off, scrutinizing King Ashura's face for anger. Instead, he found a smile. Genuine, if a little self satisfied.

"It's funny you should think of that, I was actually already planning something."

"Your Highness?"

"Next September, only six months from now, I was planning on throwing her a… coming out party. She'd be turning sixteen, and I thought that would be a perfect age to introduce her to some of the Lords of my kingdom and familiarize her with her world. Do you think she'd like that?"

Fai hesitated; it would be better if she could just attend something that was already happening and just talk to people as she saw fit. If something was thrown in her honor she'd be forced to make polite conversation with everyone there. He wasn't entirely sure she could do that; not the talking, but the manners. Still, it was worth a shot.

"I'm sure she'd like love that." Smile, smile.

"Excellent, although," Ashura looked at him pointedly, "you're going to have to work with her on her table manners. Sylvia tells me that she's of the habit of eating with her hands…"

Tell me what you think, and don't get too frustrated, the action is coming and so is the kurofai^^ Thanks so much to my reviewers^*^

ありがとう

ShingetsuXMangetsu