I had given up on trying to read Remembering Lily; I just felt too horrible. As I watched carefree people come and go by the pool, I felt even worse. Everyone was in a total happy-go-lucky mood, and here I was, as depressed as ever. It irked me to no end.
Suddenly, out of the blue, a hyperactive-looking boy dove head-first into the pool. Curious, I crawled over to the water's edge and watched him shoot beneath the people swimming overhead, almost like a shark would. He then surfaced over at my side of the pool, right under my face. To my surprise, instead of simply ignoring me, he leaped out of the pool beside me. "Why aren't you having any fun? All of the other bijuu are," he questioned me. I remained silent to try to get him to go away, but he continued talking about his experiences with his bijuu friends. He made me laugh many times, and eventually my mental burden lifted.
We finally introduced ourselves to each other, and I found out this guy's name was Dutch. We sat and chatted a bit longer, but I eventually got up and cannon-balled into the pool to stretch my muscles. He joined me, and we both swam around together for a few minutes. When that got boring, we climbed out, toweled off, and left for Dutch's room. Once there, we watched some television and talked a little more. Suddenly, though, some noises caught his attention and he left.
Just like that, my new friend had vanished, as did my sense of having a good time.
I felt that heavy emotional burden position itself on my shoulders once again. I left Dutch's room and decided to wander the cruise ship some more. When I realized I could easily get lost, I found my way to the dining area, where I remained for the rest of the day. I marveled at the exquisite foods prepared for different guests. There was such a large selection of delicacies, it made my stomach scream. Not roar, but scream. Of course, I had to order some food for myself after that. the food was so rich, it took several hours to completely consume what was served to me.
Night had fallen when I returned to my room. It was the perfect time for what I was planning on doing. I changed out of my bikini set and dressed in a more comfortable pair of bras and panties. I wrapped my swimsuit cover-up over that, though, because I didn't want my sundress to be in danger of ruin. I felt a pale shade of red rush up to my face when I looked down at myself and saw that you could see my light blue bra and underwear through the aqua-green cover-up, but it wasn't too bad. I was 17, and I could fight off anyone who approached me in a way I didn't like. Fear Asuka and her two-tailed Red Panda bijuu, Chishio! I couldn't help but giggle at that thought.
At ten twenty-one P.M., I left my cabin and headed for the pool once again. When I arrived, it was deserted, the water glassy smooth. A haunting melody floated up from the lower deck somewhere. This was perfect. I strolled over to the edge of the concrete, then, slowly but surely, placed my foot on the water's surface. When it did not sink, I stepped out farther with my other foot. I grinned. All of that secret chakra training with Chishio had payed off. I could finally use my chakra to walk on water.
But I wasn't here just to walk on water...
I was here to dance on water.
I had always been fascinated with ballet. The ballerinas and their serene grace when they performed jumps and spins made me envy them. I would give anything to be like them. Soon, I was teaching myself basic ballet moves from videos and the such like. When I was 8, my parents enrolled me in ballet classes. At first, I would fail epically at something and return home sulking, but eventually I got the hang of things and became quite good at what I was doing. I quit going to the classes when I turned 12, though, because I said it was "too childish". But I would occasionally practice in secret to keep my skills from rusting.
I waited for a different classical music piece to begin from the lower deck. When it did, I was off across the water's surface in a flurry of spins, leaps, and dashes, leaving a trail of ripples wherever my feet touched water. I was truly having the time of my life. Every one of my inhibitions were thrown to the wind at the moment, and all that was left was the sound of pianos and violins and other instruments pulsating through me. I wished this could last forever.
I thought I heard footsteps behind me, but it must have just been the fact that noises I heard were warped from me spinning around and around. When the sound got louder, though, I froze, afraid to turn and meet whoever had approached me. What were they up here for? Was it just someone that just happened to stumble across me, or was it some sick pervert that was aroused by the fact that they could see my undergarments through my swimsuit cover-up and had followed me here? But the most important question was if whoever was behind me was human or bijuu. With my voice trembling, I inquired, "Who are you?"
Someone please continue!
~Asuka
