Act 6~Akt 6—Rehearsals: Day One

Narrator's POV

It was a cool and crisp morning with light snowfall, and at five o'clock in the morning, Fakir was bright eyed and bushy tailed.

"Ahiru! Wake up!"

Fakir hollered, a hand on his hip as he sighed and continued serving their steaming hot bowl of stew for his partner.

"(Yawn) coming!"

Ahiru ran down the stairs, managing enough to get dressed.

"Finally, come on we'll be late, let's eat and go."

Fakir sighed as he pulled out her chair, pushed it in for her after she sat down, and sat at the other side of the table.

"Hmm, thanks for the meal!"

Ahiru clapped her hands together and began eating.

"Mmmm, yummy!"

She cried out joyfully.

"Hmm, glad you like it."

Fakir smiled as he also began eating. They enjoyed eating their food together, washed the dishes and put everything away, got their things and headed towards the academy for their first day of rehearsal.

"Alright everyone, let'sh shee you dance!"

Mr. Cat clapped his hands together as he had all the dancers begin stretching and preparing to rehearse.

"Hmm, ready to stretch, your highness?"

Fakir offered his hand.

"Of course, Prince Siegfried."

They both laughed as they continued to stretch well.

"Ahh, looks as though the Queen and Prince are getting along well."

Pike elbowed at Lillie.

"Ahh yes, and I shall destroy their relationship! Hahahaha!"

Lillie began laughing diabolically.

"You know, just because you got the part for understudy for Rothbart, doesn't mean you have to act evil."

Pike rolled her eyes as she stretched her leg further.

"Well . . . maybe."

Lillie rolled her eyes away as she stretched.

"Hmm, it is a lovely day."

Miranda breathed as she bent herself forward, her hands touching the floor.

"Ya, I guess."

Calypso shrugged as she helped her male partner stretch.

"Hmph."

Georgiana sulked; still upset that she didn't get the lead role.

"Well, I'm excited, we did get the part of a quartet solo of the four swans."

Olive cheered as she stretched herself out.

"Good spirit Olive!"

Miranda encouraged her group as they continued warming up.

The Roles are as follows:

One of the leading boys was chosen to be Rothbart, Lillie was his understudy, though she and Pike were promised a duet solo, Fakir is to be Prince Siegfried, Ahiru was to be the Swan Queen, Georgiana, Calypso, Olive, and Miranda are the quartet of swans with a solo, and there was the ensemble, the jester, the queen, and other individual parts that were dispersed to the class.

"Now, let'sh shee you dance. I'd like to shee the duet, the quartet, enshemble, followed by Rothbart, Prince Shiegfried, Princessh Odile, Princessh Odette, and the Prince with the Shwan Queen."

Mr. Cat got everyone's attention as the groups walked into a private room in order to record the progress. This would go on every rehearsal; he would most often see the lead roles as much as the ensemble if not more.

"Hmm, let's work hard to prove we earned these roles."

Fakir smiled at Ahiru.

"Hmm, alright."

Ahiru nodded. They began to dance, first one would observe the other and give each other advice, as they would switch, then dance together. At times they tried to observe themselves in the mirror, but at times Pike, Lillie, Miranda, Georgiana, Calypso, or Olive would give them constructive criticism. For the most part, when they would simply allow their emotions to guide them, they'd get more compliments than criticism, though using proper methods, stances, confidence, grace, and strength were also necessary. Before they knew it, they felt what almost seemed like tears rolling down their cheeks, but they realized it was sweat. They'd been practicing for hours (with breaks in between) and Mr. Cat was getting ready to call them in.

"All right, I'd like to shee Prince Shiegfried and the Shwan Queen."

Mr. Cat had finally called them in.

"Ok."

Ahiru swallowed hard.

"It'll be fine, just breathe."

Fakir encouraged her; he placed her hand at the small of her back as he led her forward.

"Right, I'd like to shee shtance by shtance."

Mr. Cat had the two of them show each stance from each dance they performed individually as well as together. About four hours later, he had them all rest (of course with water and bathroom breaks in between prior to) and he'd have the ensembles from the introduction practicing together next, just to be sure that they were all in sync.

"Ahhh, lunch break."

Ahiru breathed out as Fakir smiled and handed her the boxed lunch he made.

"Wow, that looks good!"

Pike's eyes sparkled; her lunch was a simple salad.

"Oh yes, I'd love to have my lover make my meals for me."

Lillie teased.

"He's not my lover!"

"She's not my lover!"

Fakir and Ahiru exclaimed at once, their faced red with embarrassment.

"Oh, they must still be too shy to admit it."

Pike crossed her arms, as she nodded her head.

"Yes, either that or their relationship is taking a slow course."

Lillie looked mischievous.

"Gee Fakir, this sure is good!"

Ahiru smiled as she began to serve herself, and eat her boxed lunch. There was fried rice, white rice, tempura (shrimp, sweet and regular potato, asparagus, as well as other mixed vegetables), miso soup, sushi (of different origins), and a small salad.

"Wow, is that for two?"

Miranda looked over as she gave a toothy grin.

"Yes, if you must know, I thought it'd be easier so I wouldn't have to wash so many dishes."

Fakir sneered at her.

"Wow, I wish the guys I dated knew how to cook like that. Then maybe I'd have gone out with them for much longer."

Calypso commented, she was clearly jealous of Ahiru.

"Yummy!"

Olive smiled sweetly.

"Hmph, I suppose it looks . . . alright."

Georgiana scoffed.

"Well then, we shouldn't keep you from eating, girls, let's go."

Miranda ordered, the girls followed suit.

"Hmm, what an eventful day!"

Lillie cried as she clasped her hands together, Pike nodded her head, giggled and began eating her simple lunch. Fakir served Ahiru, and than himself, they both had tried to avoid eye contact for the time being.

"Ridiculous, I can't even have lunch in peace."

Fakir huffed; Ahiru was somewhat worried about the fact that he seemed to be so upset.

"Gee Fakir, I'm really sorry that we're causing you so much trouble. Do you want us to have lunch somewhere else?"

Ahiru looked up at him with her honest blue eyes, which at that moment looked rather sad. It pained him to see her make an expression like that.

"Huhh, no, just eat you lunch."

Fakir sighed as he began to eat.

"Ok, thanks for the meal."

Ahiru said in a rather solemn voice.

"Now what?"

Fakir looked to be somewhat frustrated as he rested his hand against his face in a frustrated matter.

"N-nothing."

Ahiru stuttered, as she pursed her lips and turned away.

"Then just start eating, and quit looking so down."

Fakir snapped out his orders.

"Ok, sorry."

Ahiru huffed out as she began eating, though her face seemed more frustrated than it was content.

"Hmm. Hahaha."

Pike and Lillie began to laugh uncontrollably.

"What's with you two?"

Ahiru asked she was clearly confused as to what had caused the two to laugh the way they did.

"It's just, you two are so funny!"

Pike managed to get out, but she continued laughing at them.

"Yes, yes, Fakir and Ahiru are truly the best to have lunch with."

Lillie stammered out as she leaned against Pike, laughing rather loudly.

"You make it sound like we're starring in some comedy."

Fakir's eyebrow began to twitch.

"Hmm, but I guess we do sound kind of ridiculous."

Ahiru smiled as she looked over at him.

"Yes, like an old married couple."

Pike blurted out.

"WHAT!?"

Fakir and Ahiru answered back in unison. Pike and Lillie continued laughing, while Fakir and Ahiru argued how they are NOT like a married couple, especially an old one.

"Now classh, let'sh finish up with a group exercishe. Go to your partner and thank them for all their hard work. Then you can all be dishmisshed."

Mr. Cat smiled as everyone did so.

"Thank you for your hard work today Fakir."

Ahiru bowed before him.

"Yeah, um, thanks for your hard work as well Ahiru."

Fakir smiled, though he did sound honest about it, but also somewhat embarrassed.

"Hmm, let's go home, I could use a bath."

Ahiru scratched the back of her head as he simply nodded, they went to go change, and they were off.

"Bye Ahiru, Fakir! See you two tomorrow!"

Pike and Lillie waved goodbye.

"See ya! Pike! Lillie!"

Ahiru waved goodbye to them.

Moments later . . .

"Huhh, it's great to be home."

Ahiru stretched her arms out as she sighed heavily.

"I'm going to go fix a bath."

Ahiru smiled at Fakir as she went upstairs and began to run the water. As she bathed, Fakir cleaned the dishes, dried them, put them away, and began preparing dinner.

Ahiru came running down, her hair damp, and wearing a simple nightgown.

"Mmmm, smells fantastic Fakir!"

She smiled brilliantly as she took a seat at the table.

"I'm going to go bathe, you go ahead and eat. I made some chicken noodle soup."

Fakir smiled as he nodded at her and headed upstairs.

"Ok."

Ahiru tilted her head as smiled at him thankfully.

"Cute."

Fakir whispered under his breath.

"Hmm, hmm hmm, dinner was yummy! And now, time for bed."

Ahiru hummed as she finished cleaning up her plates and headed for bed.

"Night Fakir, I'm going to bed."

Ahiru knocked on his door, Fakir suddenly opened it, his face flushed, but he seemed to have made up his mind. He pulled Ahiru close to him; her breath got caught in her throat, as she was barely able to move. Her face lit up, her eyes were open wide in shock, and she could feel herself go numb.

"I'm sorry Ahiru, but I can't take this much longer. You have to tell me how you feel . . . about me?"

Fakir breathed out heavily.

"H-h-how I feel?"

Ahiru stuttered out, still in shock. How do I feel? She thought to herself, she did think he was kind, caring, smart, a wonderful dancer, and he was always there for her. He even went as far as writing a story so she could become human again! She wanted so much to thank him, but she often didn't know how.

"I-I-I-I . . . I think, no I know that I'm, I'm, in l-l-l-l-love wi-with y-y-y-y-you!"

She was hardly able to get it out, she felt her entire body shaking from head to toe, but she knew it couldn't be helped, she always felt she was like butter in his hands.

"That's a relief. Because I too . . . I love you Ahiru."

Fakir whispered it out, his words weren't as strong as hers, but she could understand him easily.

"Fakir."

Her eyes began to water.

"I'm sorry it took so long, I can be pretty stubborn about these things. But please, I want you to be by my side, always."

She smiled, tears streaming down lightly, but she felt so content, like she could do anything.

"Of course!"

She wrapped her arms around him as she began to laugh.

"Ahiru!"

Fakir pulled her away just enough so that he could give her their first kiss. It was soft and gentle, just enough to make their hearts stop for a split second. Her lips were soft, moist, and beautiful; his were somewhat chapped, rough, but they felt just right against hers. This was the beginning of their relationship, the day that would mark the rest of their lives together, which would intern become far more complicated.

"We should head to bed now."

Fakir pulled away as he brushed her hair out of her face.

"Ya. But could you, s-sleep with me!"

Ahiru's face went red, as did Fakir's.

"What!?"

He was thoroughly confused.

"Not like that! Just, keep me company; I want to know what it feels like to have you next to me, even while I sleep. You don't think' it's romantic? It's what couples do right?"

Ahiru asked earnestly, nothing impure about it, simply because she wanted to be near him.

"S-sure."

He breathed out as they went up to her bed, which was the larger bed. Ahiru went in first, and then Fakir slipped in after her. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder; he kissed it and whispered in her ear.

"I love you."

"I love you too Fakir."

This would be their routine of saying "goodnight."