Chapter 10 And the game goes on

Nanami went back to her sitting place and turned around looking thoroughly disappointed with herself. She took a deep breath and coming to a decision said out loud for everyone to hear although she was addressing Nouzumo who looked quite pleased with himself "Don't even think for a second that I let you off easily, I like destruction but at my own expense. I don't like being bossed around and I don't relish in other's making decisions for me…" and she stopped for a while to take a deep breath but Miyu thought she needed time to brace herself for what she was going to say next and it did surprise everyone else what she did say next "I don't hate you not really" she said that so softly that it wouldn't have been heard except for the silence that had followed her less than unenthusiastic attempt to slap Nouzumo.

'No way not Nanami too, Oh god why are they so intent on hooking up with people I want to avoid.' The mere thought of Nanami dating Nouzumo was quite terrifying to say the least for Miyu. Perhaps lights were playing a trick on eyes but she thought she saw Nanami flush a bit under everyone's stare. As the game went on the environment got a little friendlier than before and finally came the turn Nanami had been waiting for. The bottle stopped such that one end was facing Kanata and the other was facing Mizuki.

"Alright now I know what we can do about this, let's have a faceoff between the best students of the batch" when everyone looked at her in bewilderment she continued relishing the mysterious environment she had created "Mizuki you dance and Kanata you…." She stopped for a while thinking deciding upon the task for him "do whatever you want to and…" "I think I'll pass" Kanata interrupted her but she continued "…Miyu will judge the performance" finished Nanami playing her trump card. She knew Kanata wouldn't back out if Miyu was involved.

"What?" shouted Miyu.

"Listen you can't do anything because of that twisted ankle and lets be honest you hate this game so unless you have a better idea to get yourself involved we are going with mine"

"Hey I can even jump now see" said Miyu jumping up and down in order to prove her point but Nanami ignored her outright. Kanata got up and walked out of the room and Miyu heaved a sigh of relief.

"See even Saionji thinks this is a stupid idea if you really want a winner then take Mizuki since he's still here"

"Do you really think he's walked out" said Nanami jerking her head sideways at her back. Miyu looked around to see Kanata walking back holding a guitar of all the things.

'Is he taking this seriously' she thought. He looked over at Mizuki who looked back at him with equal determination.

'Why are they are taking this so seriously'

"You of all people should know that I never walk away from challenges" he said looking at Miyu who felt as if he had never really looked at her before. Something was burning in his eyes some conviction she didn't understand or maybe she did but didn't want to think about it.

Nanami turned into a DJ and connected her ipod to a buffer and the whole room was filled with crazy loud beats bouncing off the walls while others cleared the room a bit to create enough space for a made up stage for Mizuki to perform. Mizuki began to dance and it was like watching an elastic stick instead of a human. He jumped from one style of dance form to another so effortlessly that it was quite easy to watch him and forget everything else.

'He really is a dancing prodigy' thought Miyu. Her eyes wandered over to Kanata who looked deep in thought. 'I wonder what he's thinking about? I never knew he could sing but then he's probably the most secretive person I know so I guess it is not a surprise. I wonder which song is he going to chose maybe Beautiful soul by Jesse McCartney but that is your favourite song Miyu not his don't day dream you fool' she was busy contemplating when she noticed the change in the tempo of the song and a hand outstretched in front of her. Mizuki was asking her to get up and dance with him.

"I really don't think that is a good idea. I don't dance"

"Trust me Miyu, just trust me and you'll enjoy it"

Shrugging and still in doubt she got up and Mizuki took her arm and rested upon his shoulders while his hands grabbed her at the waist and he began to swirl her around the room as Intoxicated by The Cab played in the back ground. Miyu didn't even feel like she was dancing it really was easy to let Mizuki guide her and she simply forgot to think and wasn't even aware that she was dancing probably for the first time in her life. Mizuki really was a great dancer. As the song came to an end everybody cheered them on and complimented them on how good they looked together. Well everyone except Kanata who stayed back and watched or rather glared at them while others were busy congratulating them. He walked over to them and literally snatched Miyu out of Mizuki's hands. Until then she didn't even realize that he had been holding her when Kanata practically dragged her away from Mizuki and turned around to look at her.

"Time for my performance my princess" he said softly leaning down to face her. Her heartbeat quickened as he looked up again and this time Mizuki gave him an understanding look which seemed like signing a pact or something.

'He's so strange. What does he mean by princess and did he really pull me out of Mizuki's hold? Why would he do that?' she looked over to Kanata who was connecting his guitar to a speaker and then he strummed a few chords and the whole room filled with a beautiful melody and everyone looked around to watch him. Nobody had seen him perform earlier and they were eager to watch him perform. Kanata looked straight at the front where Miyu sat in between Nanami and Chris. Though you could have thought he was looking at Chris but Miyu knew he was actually looking at her she just had a feeling that this was something important to him.

'Why is my heart beating like crazy? He's the one performing then why am I getting nervous'

Kanata began to sing and it was the most beautiful voice she had ever heard in her life far better than any of her favourite singers. He was singing David Archuletta's Crush which seemed to convey everything he was feeling right now.

As the song died with the last stroke of the chords everyone erupted in a cheer so loud that it probably woke some poor old animal sleeping in the nearby forest. Everyone cheered on and on as they got up to congratulate him.

Chris declared she had fallen in love again now with his beautiful voice and Santa accused him of being a crappy and never performing in front him. Miyu though simply sat motionless and just stared into the thin air.

'I should probably get up and say something but what should I say. He's definitely far too better than any of us. We work hard to be efficient but for him it's effortless to be naturally good at anything. I should probably just tell him that he's the winner and go back to my room. He must be expecting something. Did he really sing that song for me?'

As she brooded over it more and more she a hard hitting reality crashed down on her. She was falling deeply in love with him. She loved him and she had known that for ages. It was the reason why his every action his every word effected her so deeply. It was the reason she looked forward to everyday just so she could look at him. God she had fallen for him hard and it was terrifying.

'What's wrong with her? Why is she sitting there like statue? Didn't she like it? Is she crying' thought Kanata and walked over to her.

"Miyu are you okay? Why are you crying? Is it your leg? Does it hurt? You shouldn't have danced it wasn't healed properly and then you went ahead and strained it. I told you to let me take you to my doctor. Why aren't you saying something? What's wrong?" he looked worried.

"You're the world's most confusing person I know" she told him and walked away leaving him staring at her back.

'What did I do now? What does she mean by confusing? How can I be confusing? Am I not being plainly obvious? If she wants me to spell it out loud I'll do it just for her as long as she's here with me I'll do anything. I'm done running away hiding away. I'll be what you wanted me to be Akira. I'll take the first step you wanted me take. I wouldn't have known you know. If I hadn't watched Mizuki dance with her I might have left Heiomachi just to keep away from her but then the mere idea of someone else touching her, making her smile is so infuriating that I can't walk away. I was convinced by the time when they stopped dancing that I would never be able to walk away. Not this time. I know I love her and I will do anything to win her over. I know she likes me too. I can see it in her eyes she's just too damn stubborn to realize that she wants me as much as I want her. I can't stand the thought of her being with someone else. I am going to run after you Miyu even if it takes forever I'll follow you till the end because I am not running away. Not this time and I know you won't run away too. I know you love me and if I have to convince you of that then it doesn't matter, I will convince you no matter what'

With that conviction glowing within Kanata looked at the closed door to Miyu's room and thought of ways to get her alone. He laughed at the irony merely less than 24 hours ago he was thinking of ways to keep her away and now all he wanted was to hold her and never let go.

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Sneek peek into the next chapter

"What do you mean by someone, don't you get it" his voice masked with shock and anger and irritation. "Get what" she asked him innocently looking confused.

"You really didn't understand any of it" he said looking at her.

She watched him in confusion eyebrows drawn together and he looked at her in exasperation.

"Sometimes you really are dense Miyu" he said clutching at her arms.

Miyu was surprised at his outburst "I'm sorry Kanata but what's wrong, did I…" she never completed that sentence as his lips closed on hers. She was too stunned to react at all. Before she could do anything he broke that kiss and she sat wondering why her heart had stopped beating all of sudden. His forehead touching hers like they were the same part of two different bodies as they breathed together to calm down their racing hearts, they kept breathing in harmony till their hearts were back to normal.