Hi there Ichiruki and Byakuya fans! A little late, but here's another update! I will try to make the updates faster starting now ( 1-2 per week).

Right after she received her second glass of drink, Haruna's attention was caught by the voices behind her. It seemed that three shinigamis who had just entered in the bar were caught in a conversation about the rumors of some new enemies.

"I understood that it's about some fugitives…" one of them said.

"I heard they escaped from the prison…" the other one added.

"It can't be the prison…No incident was claimed there …I wonder why the captain is keeping this away from us!" the third one concluded.

Haruna slightly turned so she could see them with the corner of her eye. Then she bowed her chin, hiding her face in the shadow.

"It seems that you don't have much time left, dad…" she whispered and tossed off the drink.

After that she turned her eyes to the window. It was a mechanical gesture. In reality she wasn't seeing anything behind the glass. The only clear things she could distinguish were the details of that day… when she and the young Byakuya were runaway from Yoruichi and they ended up in…

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Flashback

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"Good-bye, you were-cat!" said Byakuya with an evil grin as he grabbed Haruna's hand.

" 3!" Haruna shouted and the next second, the couple disappeared.

As she remained alone, Yoruichi sighed. She knew she can't catch them both, as they had this secret manner of getting away ever since they learned shunpo. Whenever they were in an unpleased situation, they disappeared together in a flashstep. Normally she would have caught them, since they were together and her shunpo skills were far superior…but the smarts devils were holding their hands so their reiatsu would mix in a way that they could be easily mistaken. Then, when each of them was wearing the reaiatsu of the other one, they were splitting and running in different directions. This way It was impossible for the follower to know who was following exactly, and again it would have been impossible to catch them both as they were running in different directions.

What Yoruichi didn't know was that, after a certain time, the smart devils, stopped running and met outside Seireitei in a secret spot of theirs.

"Grandpa will kill me!" Byakya said breathing loudly from all the running.

"No, Ginrei will kill me! Because the whole Kuchiki family knows that I'm the bad influence on you…but since I'm your fiancé, no one will take it hard …so we shouldn't worry!" she answered as they were both lying in grass.

"Whatever! he said. "I'm going home! Yoruichi must be already gone!"

"I don't know…I'm not sure… I'm not coming back! She might kidnap me and take me to Ukitake's office!"

"That's stupid!" he replied annoyed. " And you're stupid, refusing the 13th lieutenant position!"

"Then if you are so smart, take my place and be the lieutenant of the 13th Division, working your ass 12 hours a day!"

"I don't need to take anyone's place! I already have my place as the next Kuchiki leader and you'll see that shortly I'll also become a captain!" he said stiffed.

"Yeah…Bla…Bla..Bla…Whatever!" she said bored.

But Byakuya didn't pay attention to her. He just got up from the grass prepared to shunpo back home. But then with a scared expression she rolled herself on the grass and she grabbed him by one ankle. He immediately lost his equilibrium and fell over her, right in her arms.

Suddenly he found himself, with his face so close's to his Nene-cha, that he could feel her breathing.

"Try once again to go home without me…" she begun with a deep, menacing yet sensual voice as she was piercing with her grey eyes "…And I will kiss you!"

Involuntary his lips begun to startle as he didn't know if he was really scared of that perspective or if he really wanted her to kiss him.

He became more confused as he saw that playful smile appearing on her thick lips….

As she seemed to approach him even more….

And… kiss him…

On his chick!

On his chick?! Why was he so disappointed? Why was she even starting to laugh?

"Don't worry ,Toto…It's not as if I would pick it up on a child!" she said while she got up and couldn't stop laughing.

"I'm not a child!" he riposted with his face all turned red.

" Right!" she said with boredom as she was looking around for something to. "You're very manly… You are tall… You have muscle… You're mature… You're powerful … Any woman would die to have you!"

Byakuya growled annoyed as he knew she was way taller than him and that he didn't have any muscles either.

"Haven't you noticed yet, Toto? She said as she approached the edge of the forest. "This place it's so close to Rukongai…"

Byaukuya got up, removing the grass from his clothes.

"Don't you even think about!" he said as he discovered annoyed a green stain on his expensive yukata.

"Well I'm going…" she said.

"Well…I'm going home then!" he replied stiffed.

She suddenly turned to him with a menacing look. The consequence of that look was that 15 minutes later, they were both walking on the main street of the 5th District of Runkogai. Haruna looked around full of enthusiasm and curiosity, while Byakua's face was red from anger.

"Why would anyone want to come here? It's dirty…noisy…people have ugly faces and unmannered behavior… they're all poor and… dirty…and noisy!" Byakuya mumbled as he was following her.

"You said before dirty and noisy…" she stated with an impartial voice as her eyes sparkled in front of the Runkogai panorama. "You shouldn't repeat yourself, because I'm not stupid…" she added as she stopped in front a wooden gate. "This is an inn…"

"No that's not an inn…That's a chicken coop…" Byakuya stated annoyed.

"And how would a noble like you, know how a chicken coop look? " she replied untroubled by his manifestations. "I think I'm hungry… aren't you hungry too?"

Byakuya's eyes widened scared as he looked to the wooden gates. He could see clearly a poor and insalubrious building inside them.

"Come on, let's go eat something!" she insisted with a wide smile, but his face turned green only at the thought of entering there.

"I'll wait for you here…" he said.

Haruna looked around with a worried expression. After all, no matter how much she liked playing and going against the rules, she was carrying along in one of the most dangerous regions of Soul Society, the heir of the Kuchiki family,. The main street was full of commoners who watched them with curiosity and greedy eyes… Byakuya, no matter how big his mouth was, he still was, only a defenseless child.

"I think you should better come with me inside… Just look at these people …I can't have you hurt or robbed."

"If you didn't want that, you should have thought about it from the beginning!" he stated annoyed. "I'm staying here you go and enjoy that commoner's dirty lunch!"

Haruna looked at him with wide eyes. If he wasn't her only friend she would have slapped that spoiled child for his words.

"Well go!" he shouted. "I can take care of myself!"

"Fine!" she concluded stiffed and left him in the middle of that agglomerated Rukongai street.

Considering his words, he really deserved to remain there by himself and perhaps having something bad happening to him. 'He need this as a lesson' , Haruna thought as she entered the gates of the inn. She left him without looking back. There were moments when, no matter how much she liked him, she couldn't stand his spoiled and arrogant behavior.

She entered the inn and sat at empty table right in middle, from where she could watch all the other customers. A slight smile appeared on her lips. The room was full with loudly people, talking with their mouths full, gesturing with large movements. She hasd seen nothing like this at home or at the clan's reunions. Those people could have easily been considerate unmannered and yet, as she was watching their careless behavior… as she was noticing a sparkle full of vigor in their eyes, she had to admit that theoe persons were more real and full of life than any other noble of her clan.

These commoners were so many and they didn't seem to notice her presence or her shinigami uniform. And even If they had noticed it, they didn't care about it. Suddenly she felt as a heavy burden was raised from her chest: Indeed, no one knew her here… And no one could have any expectations from her.

"Excuse me, madam…with what can I serve you?" a mellow voice asked her.

Haruna smiled.

"Mmmm… I guess with a place like this to hide every time my responsibilities and duties become a burden…" she whispered.

"I'm s-sorry?" the voice said confused.

Haruna lift her eyes and saw next to her a woman who was waiting to take her order. She had a delicate appearance with dark hair reaching her elbows in frayed strains. Her eyes were colored in a pale violet with a hint of blue. Somehow that look made her think of the fragility itself.

Haruna grinned at her full of confidence.

"Hi, there!" she begun with cheerful voice. "I haven't noticed you…Were you paying attention to my mumbling?...You shouldn't, it's just nonsense…"

The women smiled at her warmly.

"I understand, but with what can I serve you, madam?" she asked again.

"Firstly don't 'madam' me… I'm not old yet, neither married! Haruna said, maintaining her relaxed attitude. "Secondly my name it's Haruna Ryoing. You may call me Haruna. What's yours?"

"My… w-what?" the women asked confused as Haruna spoke too fast.

"Name, darling… Your name. What is it?"

"I'm Hisana…" the women said and made a bow.

"Good!... " she concluded satisfied." Hisana, this means that we are friends now, right?"

Hisana's eyes widened surprised. Then an amused smile appeared on her delicate lips.

"I guess…" she answered.

"Good!...Then as a good friend, since you have already noticed by my clothes and my behavior that I'm not from this region and that I'm obviously not aware of the food that you're serving here, you should make a recommendation!" Haruna spoke and displayed another wide grin.

"Aaamm..A recomandation?..." Hisana said with a thoughtful expression. "Well…the ramen soup it's good…and the fish it's fresh. We just got it this morning."

"Good!...Then I'll have a bowl of ramen! I always wanted to eat that. My father forbidden me, he said it's food for commoners. He's such a blockhead, isn't he? But what can I do? He's my dad and I love him….but you know what? I think I'll make two of them!

"Sorry, two of what?" Hisana asked as she wasn't used with her way of talking, jumping from a topic to another so fast.

"Of ramen, Hisana…Two bowls of ramen!... My fiancé it's waiting outside, but I'm sure he'll finally enter here since he doesn't like being left behind.

"Understood! Two bowls of ramen. I'll bring them right away!" Hisana said and made a bow.

A few minutes later she returned with the bowls. She put one in front of Haruna, but when she noticed the place next to her still empty she stopped:

"The ramen will get cold if it's not eaten right away. I can take it back to the kitchen and gave it to you hot, when your fiancé will return."

"I don't think that would be necessary…since he is already here" Haruna said as she looked to the entrance of the inn. Hisana also turned her eyes to that direction and saw approaching the table a boy who had recently entered in puberty. Then her eyes turned to Haruna who was a young but grown women . She blinked confused, as she couldn't understand how that boy could be her fiancé.

"Yeah….i know" Haruna said with a bored expression as she guessed Hisana's thoughts. "This happens a lot in the nobles families…"

Hisana's eyes widened surprised at the sound of the word "noble", while she watched the boy who sat at the table with a stiffed expression, kipping his chip up and his eyes straight.

"What is it, Toto?" Haruna begun with a malicious voice. "The Rukongai inhabitants scared you?"

"It's not my safety of which I'm concerned, but yours." The boy answered coldly.

"Oh… I see…" she added pretending to take him serious, and then rolled her eyes with boredom as she approached Hisana: "Told you, he'll get bored!"

"I was not bored!" Byakuya shouted.

"Then…perhaps, scared?" Haruna insited.

"Nither!" Byakuya shouted again. "I came here to protect you!"

Haruna burst into laugh and his face turned red. Hisana then approached him and gave him the ramen bowl.

"I believe that's very kind of you to be concerned for your fiancé, Toto-sama" Hisana said.

Hearing the way she called him, Haruna burst into another laugh, louder that the first one, while Byakuya's face turned red as a crimson rose.

"My name it's not Toto!" he shouted embarrassed. "I'm Kuchiki Byakuya, the heir of the Kuchiki clan, next in line as the 28th leader!" he added and raised his chin with an arrogant look, as his face remained red.

Hisana immediately put a hand over her mouth ashamed by the confusion she made and at the same time surprised by the high rank of the boy in front of her. The Kuchikis were a well known family even in Rukongai.

"I'm so sorry, Kuchiki-dono. Pleace accept my apologies …" Hisana said and made a deep bow.

"Ooooooh, my!" Haruna intervened annoyed. "Toto…that's not a proper way to introduce yourself to my new friend! 'The heir of the Kuchiki clan'? Give me a break!" then she turned to Hisana with a friendly smile. " And you shouldn't "Kuchiki-dono" him… I mean look at him… he's still a child…His name it's Byakuya so you should call him Byakuya!"

"Oh, no!" Hisana hissed almost scared."I couldn't…."

"See?" Byakuya intervened with a satisfied grin as he turned to Haruna. "Even the woman doesn't agree to call me by my name…I also think 'Kuchiki-dono' suits me best.

"Shut up and eat your lunch!" Haruna shouted annoyed.

Byakuya bit his tongue as he knew he couldn't reply to Nene-cha when she was raising his voice at him. Like an obedient child he just growled annoyed and turned his eyes to his bowl. He had no appetite.

"You should at least try it…Our ramen it's very good, Kuchiki- dono." Hisana said with her delicate warm voice which for no reason, made Byakuya blush.

"You can drop the "Kuchiki-dono"… You may call me Byakuya…" he mumbled.

"No, my lord…I…" Hisana said with her face bowed.

"I insist…" Byakuya said imperatively.

"Oh…I see…Thank you for this honor…" she mumbled.

"Then say it!" he insisted.

"I'm sorry?" Hisana said confused.

"Say my name!"

Hisana's lips startled a few times, but as she couldn't escape his insistent look she finally mumbled:

"Thank …you…B-b-bya-kuya-…sama…Byakuya-sama…!..."

"Good!" Haruna suddenly intervened, talking with her mouth full. "Toto seems to let you call him by his name! It means that the three of us are friends now!"

"I never said we are friends!" Byakuya said stiffed.

"Toto, if you don't have any other intelligent things to say, you should shut up and finish you lunch!" Haruna replied him. "And you, Hisana…you should have a seat and join us!"

"No…I couldn't…"

Byakuya suddenly raised his eyes at the sound of that women's name. Their eyes met for a second in a meaningful and strange expression.

"I insist!" Haruna said cheerful with her mouth still full. "Take a bowl of ramen and join us! I'll buy it"

Then Hisana turned her eyes to Haruna. She had a confused expression as if she was woken up from a dream. Byakuya bowed his face and started to eat fast."

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End Flashback

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Neither of them could have guessed, but she did noticed the way those two were looking at each other. Back then she found it amusing. Now , she regretted dragging Byakuya after her in that inn. Despite all the regrets and the pain she was carrying now, back then, she liked a lot that inn. It was the only place in which she could hide from her father's preaching and Ukitake's commandments. She liked spending time with Hisana because she enjoyed watching a way of life with was not as complicated and full of responsibilities as hers. In short time she became close to Hisana. She even remembered that once, she was so drunk that she couldn't stand in her feet. That night, she slept in Hisana's room and they talked until dawn. Hisana confessed her things about her childhood in Rukongai and that she had a little sister which she deserted, as she didn't have the money to raise her. That secret seemed to torment the Rukongai girl a lot, but in that night, as she was drunk, Haruna didn't pay a lot of attention to it. The only thing she could tell her was: "Hisana…you know…I think Toto likes you…"

The irony was, that no matter how much Byakuya liked Haruna's Rukongai friend, there was nothing he enjoyed more than being a high seated shinigami and bringing pride to the Kuchiki clan. That year, as he graduated the Shinigami Academy and he was directly seated the 3rd of the 6th Division, he stopped visiting the Rukongai inn. He was not to return there for many decades. Shortly after that Haruna also stopped going in Rukongai. As a matter a fact she started to be absent from other places too. But her reasons were different from Byakuya's…

"Miss Haruna?...Miss Haruna Ryoing?"

Haruna's string of memories was suddenly interrupted as she heard her name being called repeatedly. She finally turned around and saw next to her a red haired man with tribal tattoos on his forehead. She frowned for a second trying to recognize him: Lieutenant Renji Abarai….Toto's lieutenant…

"I thought it was you, miss Haruna…but I couldn't believe it. What would a fine lady like you, be doing in this barrack?" Renji said cheerful.

'If only I were his lieutenant…I would have also enjoyed being a shinigami…'

"Taicho, haven't come to the office today…I will give him the souvenirs from you tomorrow…" Renji added in the same manner.

'If only…'

"Miss Haruna?..." Renji said. " Are you alright?"

Haruna turned to him, strongly biting her lips, a poor attempt to stop her tears.

"You know Renji…" she mumbled with girlish voice. "I loved him… I really loved him!"

And then she took her face into her palms.

Tangled Renji looked at the beautiful women with a confused expression. He tried figure out about who she was speaking. The only thing that slept in his mind was the obvious fact that she had drunk a few glasses. Then he remembered that her husband died a year ago. He thought the wound was not healed yet.

"I'm sorry, Miss Haruna for your loss…My condolences!" he said with his warmest voice as he put his hand on her shoulder.

The next moment she raised her face from her palm with a confused expression:

"Condolences for what? He's not dead! We spoke this noon!"

Renji also looked at her confused.

"I thought…I mean…you said this morning…."

Haruna suddenly started to laugh.

"Don't tell me you think I'm grieving my dead husband! No..no …no! My story it's much more complicated than that…I'll tell if you want, because I'm sure these are things he never said before …but have a seat next to me first…order a drink… and fro the beginning, tell me more about you, Renji…."

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Ichigo and Rukia were walking silently side by side.

"I wonder what Inoue it's up to…" he suddenly said.

"Hmmm…" Rukia stated.

"Are you alright?" he insisted.

" I was just thinking that I want to go home…"

"You weren't that eager to go back to Soul Society before…" he stated.

"Tomorrow would have been my sister's birthday…" she replied.

Ichigo turned to her and for a couple of seconds he remained silent.

"I see…" he finally said.

"It's an important day for Nii-sama and I want to be there for him…"

"That is why you insisted to go to Soul Society so fast?"

"Was it a wrong thing to do?..."

"I guess not…" he answered.

They both stopped in front of a two levels building.

"Well we're here! Let's enter!" he said.

They climbed the stairs to the second level. Here Ichigo opened a door and they entered into a training dance hall with mirrors on the front wall.

"You finally arrived!" a lovely voice was heard and the next second in front of them Orihime appeared. Instantly Ichigo's eyes widened and Rukia took a step back.

Orihime was wearing a strong pink colored dress that was pointing out her sensual body. It was the same dress she was wearing on that picture from Ichigo's room. With a generous décolletage, a naked back and a long leg coming out from the slit of the dress she looked like movie star. Rukia never had that feeling, but as she was starring at the ginger hair women she found herself…an ugly duck.

"Inoue… Are we throwing a party?" said Ichigo skeptically.

The girl blinked confused.

"Inoue?... " insisted Ichigo.

"Well…" she finally began. "This morning when I entered the room and you were sleeping I saw Rukia looking at the picture of us… the one taken at the latino dance contest…and she had a strange look upon her face. I thought that she might also want to learn salsa…and bachata… and merenghe…and…"

Ichigo turned to Rukia, as he was sure that the reason for which she had a strange look upon her face on that moment was not her wish to learn salsa. Rukia immediately bowed her face trying to avoid eye contact.

"Am I not it right, Rukia?" Orihime added.

"I…" she tried to answer but she felt so uneasy in that place that she couldn't find her words.

"I'm so happy!" Orhimie burst as she approached Rukia and squeezed her in to her arms. "Don't worry I'll teach you everything you need to know about the latino dances. They're quite simple and guys like them too! When you go back to Soul Society you can also teach Renji or your brother!"

"I'm not…s-sure…" Rukia tried to say, but Orihime pulled her hand in the middle of the room. Then she hurried to press play on the mp3 player. Suddenly the room was filled with music. Rukia remained still as stone as she watched one at a time, Orihime and Ichigo.

"Bachata?" said Ichigo not fully convinced by Orihime's actions.

"Yes!" Orhime replied as she was approaching Rukia. "It's pretty simple and I'm sure it suits Rukia best!"

"It suits Rukia best?" replied ichigo as he started to laugh. "I would rather see you dancing bachata then Rukia!"

Suddenly she turned to him with an annoyed expression.

"And why would that be so?" she shouted.

"You're right, Rukia! Of course you can dance bachata! Come let me show you!... It's 1..2…3…and you lift your hip into the opposite direction of your step!"

Rukia blinked confused. Ichigo bit his lips prepared to watch some funny scenes.

"Come on… 1…2…3 and lift!... 1…2…3 and lift!…1…2…3 and lift!

After she watched a couple of times her sensual and perfect movements, Rukia tried to imitate them. She ended up moving like penguin. From the back Ichigo's laughs were heard.

"Don't worry Rukia, you're doing well!" Orihime said cheerful as she approached and took her by the hand. "1…2…3 and lift!...That's great!...Keep moving your hips!..." and then she slowly started to sing the lyrics of the song that was playing the boxes : "Que casi me entrego…casi respiro…tu dulce aliento…casi te miro…tan cerkitika"

For Ichigo, watching Rukia dancing like a penguin on latino music and listening to Orihime screeching over the lyrics was simply too much. No matter how much he was trying to refrain himself he couldn't help but laughing out loud. He just had to turn on his mobile and take a photo of them.

"Priceless!" he told himself and continued to watch that comedy for almost another half an hour.

At some point annoyed, Rukia turned to him and shouted:

"If you are such a smart ass … why don't you come here and shake your hips on the rhythm?"

"Firstly, you don't have to shake them…but to lift one at a time… And secondly do you think I'm afraid to show you some bachata moves? I just don't want to humiliate you!" he replied with an arrogant gaze.

Rukia frowned her forehead annoyed.

"If you forgot, Orihime told you earlier that we won on contest two years ago…" he added with a bored air, as he was lolled over the small bench.

Orhime suddenly stopped with an enlightened expression.

"That's a great idea!" she said. "Why won't we show Rukia one of the dances we had in the contest program?"

Ichigo's eyes widened.

"No, I don't think so…"

"Why not, Kurosaki-kun?... It will be fun…we haven't dance in a while…"

"Exactly…that's why…" he replied.

"Well … I also believe it's a good idea!" Rukia added with her specific evil grin. " After making fun of me during the last hour, let's see if he can do better than me!"

"Ha!" he shouted. " You don't know what you're saying!"

"Then show me!" she invited him with a malicious smile. "Or did your feet lost the rhythm?"

Ichigo growled annoyed and then he suddenly got up from the bench.

"Yahooo!" exclaimed Orihime as she clapped her hands exited. "What choreography would you like to choose?"

"It doesn't matter...I have the rhythm in my veins!" he said as he passed beside Rukia and gave her another arrogant look.

She rolled her eyes with boredom and took his place on the bench.

"I know…Let's dance that tchu tcha tcha…" Orihime said cheerful.

In response, as she pressed play she offered his hand and pulled her close. From that moment Rukia's eyes widened and her stomach started to ache:

Ichigo started to lead the dance while Orihime begun to wave her hips on the rhythm of the music. Those were not simple movements… that was not a simple dance… Ichigo was pulling her away and she was approaching him back in sensual pirouettes. They were close again and Ichigo's hands were wandering on her naked back…on her hips… Rukia put a hand over her aching stomach. Their legs were across and their hips were moving at the time…

Somehow Ichigo really knew how to dance…Somehow, he really knew how to make her jealous. She bit her lips. Jealousy? She had no right to be jealous!... Again those sensual movements!...Orihime turned her back was against his lap as their feet were moving on the rhythm. Rukia wanted to turn away her face! She didn't wanted to watch this!...She couldn't!...And yet her eyes seemed glued on the sensual couple: Orihime looked like she had just told him something. Due to the loud music Rukia didn't heard, But Ichigo seemed to find her words funny, because he started to laugh. They really looked happy. They really looked made for each other. She just wanted to stop watching… but then as the music seemed to become wildly sensual, Orihime leaned on her back until her hair reached the floor and he as he was holding her, he leaned over her, his chin touching her chest.

Rukia's breath stopped. That's it! She needed to get out of here!

Another hips waving….another pirouette and the music finally stopped. When it was finally over, their laughs and words could be clearly heard.

"Told you you'll remember the steps!" Orihime said.

" But have you noticed? I almost stepped on you on that last pirouette!" Ichigo answered.

"I believe it was pretty good after 6 months in which you lack the practice!"

Ichigo grinned full of himself.

"Oi! Rukia! What were you saying about me, not knowing how to dance?" he said, but no answer came to him. "Rukia?" He called her name once again. When he turned to the bench he found it empty and the door wide opened.

"Rukia left?" Orihime asked confused.

Ichigo bowed his face as all his cheeriness disappeared. It has been just a silly dance. He had put all the effort only to prove her that he can dance better than her. In the end he had crossed the line again and forced her to watch a scene on which he was leaning over Orihime's chest! He had pulled his far too long. He had to end it. Now!

He let go of Orihime's hand and took a step back. She immediately turned to him with surprised eyes.

"Inoue…" he begun with a deep voice. "I need to tell you something. On the beginning you might misunderstand it but at least… you deserve to know the truth… Rukia and i…"

"I know!" Orihime interrupted.

His eyes widened.

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Thank you in advance for reading!

Well , if bachata confused you a little… you should look for it on youtube. It's a very sensual dance.

I used for this chapter lyrics from: "tchu tcha tcha -joão lucas e Marcelo" and "toby love- casi casi" ( just in case you are interested).

I believe that's all for the moment! Until next time R&R