Dance Lessons

"Ouch! Yoh, you're hurting me!"

Tamao rubbed her right toes vigorously to relieve it of the pain. She had already lost count of the number of times her dance partner had stepped on her small feet. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Queen Keiko and Queen Regent Kino watching them from afar. The latter was shaking her head in disapproval at every little mistake they made.

It was the old queen's idea to train them in the arts of dancing and socializing before they would face the other blue bloods from around the world. Their practice sessions had started three days ago and so far it was an utter disaster. They were already scheduled to leave by ship tomorrow for the Royal Patch Academy's Friendship ball and yet they couldn't even last in the dance floor for a whole minute without her feet getting sore. Dancing was part of her fiancé's royal training and it was a mystery to her why her Yoh kept on having these little accidents. It was even a more clouded mystery why that blond bitch of a maid was doing better than her. The dance training was really meant for that commoner, Anna with no surname, yet she seemed accustomed to the social graces expected from a member of the royal family. It's as if she were a princess herself…

"I'm sorry Tamao…" the Kasai heir scratched his head in embarrassment. He's making a total fool of himself in front of everyone and he's dragging his fiancé along with him. The girl glared at him but he didn't seem to notice. He was completely ignoring her even though she was down on the floor rubbing the soreness away for the umpteenth time. Tamao followed his gaze and fumed when she found out what had been the reason for his lack of concern

Prince Yoh's eyes were affixed at watching his twin brother and his personal maid executing the perfect waltz across the room. The other Kasai prince was wearing his usual cocky smirk while his partner looked as stoic as ever even though he was slowly roaming his hands down towards her ample bottom. As soon as Prince Hao gave her a squeeze, Anna crushed his left foot with all her might. The prince yelped and stepped back away from the glowering girl.

"What a pitiful lot!" old Queen Kino slapped her forehead. She stood up from her chair and waved at the band to stop playing. Everyone in the room froze and looked at her. Truly, she was a woman who possessed the capability to get everyone's attention despite her small stature.

"How can you represent Kasai with such improper decorum?" she scolded. "Do not give the impression to other monarchs that Kasai royals do not have even the slightest etiquette in them. Hao, stop harassing your dance partner! Anna, smile more! Yoh, focus on your partner! Tamao, stop whining at every little foot accident! Oh Great Spirit, please give me the patience."

"If I would be so bold, Mother, I think it would be better to change partners," suggested Queen Keiko. "Hao and Anna have been doing well. Maybe they could guide Yoh and Tamao."

"That would be a splendid idea, my daughter," the queen regent clapped her hands. "Children, do as the queen says."

Prince Yoh's face lit up, his twin groaned, Anna blushed and Tamao looked like she wanted to kill someone. The pink-haired girl stomped her way toward her new dance partner and forcefully grabbed his hand.

"My dear Tamao, couldn't hide your excitement to dance with me eh?" Prince Hao sneered at her. "Let's straighten up those two left feet of yours. It's a surprise that a lowly maid is such a better dancer than you are, PRINCESS." He put an emphasis on the royal title as if to mock her. The other Kasai prince had always been vocal in belittling her because of her non-regal background.

"Don't you dare touch me, Hao," Tamao warned him.

"Oh, don't worry honey. I wouldn't even attempt it. My eye is on a different woman and I think my twin brother also has his eye on her."

Tamao dug her nails into her new partners' shoulder as she spied her fiancé with the commoner.

Prince Yoh reluctantly reached for his personal maid's hand. He was shaking with nervousness but his face was evidently beaming with joy. Anna accepted his then placed her other hand on his shoulder, her heart throbbing the whole time.

"Yoh, Anna, are you disgusted with each other? Move closer together!" old Queen Kino instructed. Her eyes danced with mischief.

The couple blushed furiously as they inched toward each other. The waltz music started to play and the moment was theirs to relish. No words were spoken for about a minute until the blond girl broke the silence with her harsh mentoring.

"Straighten up your body, dimwit. Don't let me take the lead as if I were the man and not you."

"I'm sorry, Anna…" the Kasai heir followed her advice as best as he could. It took quite a while before he took control of the dance and finally got used to being this close to his partner.

"This feels nice..." Prince Yoh whispered.

His dance partner nodded in agreement.

"Would you like… to have at least one dance at the friendship ball with me, Anna?"

"Maybe… if Tamao would allow it…" Anna glanced at the pink head sulking from behind her partner. Every once in a while, the girl was flashing them dagger looks.

"If she doesn't, I guess will just have to find a way then… before you go and find Prince Ren…" the Kasai heir smiled sadly. Their day of parting was fast approaching. Soon they would be saying goodbye to each other forever.

Anna averted her gaze. A few days from now, she would be seeing her fiancé. She would tell him everything that had happened to her. She could go home to Kouku, seek for justice over her parents' murders and assumed her responsibility to the kingdom as queen. Yet, meeting Ren again would mean losing Yoh. They were like two sides of a silver coin. She can only look at one side one at a time. She gazed at her partner who was looking attentively at his feet for fear that he might step on her. She would miss this foolish friend of hers whose dumbness had threatened both of their lives.

A friend from an enemy kingdom…

She repeated the last two words in her mind. It was her mantra for convincing herself that it's no longer safe to stay here.

Is it not truly safe to stay in Yoh's arms? Wait, what in Great Spirit's name did I say?

Anna wanted to slap herself. Good thing she could control her tongue and not blurt out her thoughts recklessly. Imagine the humiliation if the prince would find out that she…

No, since when did this happen?!

No matter how much she denied it, her feelings were too obvious to ignore.

That's crazy Anna. You're a Kyouyama. You have duties to your kingdom!

"Anna, is something bothering you?" her dance partner could sense her uneasiness.

"Nothing, I was just thinking of… how we would ditch our partners to look for Ren during the ball…" It was a half-truth, half-lie.

"Well, my lady, I have the perfect plan for my twin brother although I do think he would kill me if he would find out I did it."

"Oh? Could you share with me that perfect plan of yours?"

Yoh whispered something to her ear.

"Mischievous Yoh!" Anna clicked her tongue. "Where did you get that?"

"Er… Faust gave it to me so that I could use it on Amidamaru when I feel like escaping from the palace."

"How about your fiancée? Knowing Tamao, she wouldn't let you out of her sight."

"Tamao would not be a problem since Pirika is there. They have not met in years so I guess they would be spending more time chatting," Yoh assured her.

"Well, if you say so… Pirika is that the goofy King of Kouri's little sister? I wonder if her partner would allow her to leave for a while and have a chat with Tamao…"

"I guess we just have to find out for ourselves."