Upside Down 54 Chapter 52: Ryuichi

[Sunday, May 31st]

[Ryuichi's POV]

'I hate going to these things!' I think when grandfather calls to tell me about the party. Most of the adults are either snobs or want nothing more than to brag about how important they are. I want nothing to do with people like that. The kids are just as bad. The boys tend to be self-important pricks, and the girls stuck-up bitches.

We have two girls that are exactly like them in school. They might be extremely pretty, but once you see their true personalities, not only no, but hell no! Those two are constantly after me to take them out. Though I have no idea why.

Regardless, I'm stuck between the conflicting desires of my father and grandfather. I love my father's dojo. Further developing my abilities and teaching martial arts to the younger students is something I enjoy. At the same time, I love learning about grandfather's photonics business. I find it fascinating.

The constant badgering from the both of them I could do without. I have no idea what I want to do with my life at this point and them hounding me isn't making it any easier for me to find out.

All of this aside, grandfather will be picking me up at 8 to attend the party. He always makes a late appearance in these. He says, 'All the important people show up late.' I simply think it's rude to the host. As if anything I think will change his mind about it.

Another evening spent in this hateful tuxedo. Mother says I look handsome in it. Me, I find it uncomfortable.

Arriving around 8:30, I stay by grandfather as he talks to his business acquaintances since I don't feel like listening to the blowhards and bitches my age.

I feel a soft touch on my arm and turn to see a gorgeous redhead smiling at me. I'm stunned and it takes me a few moments to even gather my wits enough to even realize she asked me if I would like to dance. A smile creeps up on my face as I tell her I'd love to and excuse myself.

I continually sneak glances at her as we make our way to the dance floor. 'Thank you grandfather for making me take those dance lessons!' I think.

I've never seen her before, but she's gorgeous enough to take my breath away. Elegantly dressed and quite poised for a girl our age. I'm wondering who she is, when it occurs to me I hadn't introduced myself.

As we begin dancing, I introduce myself, "Oh yes, I'm Ryuichi Ueno."

Her radiant smile lights up the room. "Sora Kobayashi. Pleased to meet you."

Kobayashi? It couldn't be the same family, could it? "You as well. Kobayashi? Do you know Chinatsu Kobayashi?"

"Certainly, she's my sister."

"Chinatsu doesn't have a sister."

She shrugs slightly before she replies, "She does now. My sister and I were adopted by the Kobayashis'."

Damn, did I just step on a landmine? "Oh, I didn't know that. Sorry, that must have sounded as if I was calling you a liar."

She tilts her head while smiling gently at me. "I didn't take it that way. I doubt you could have known. After all, it's only been a little more than a month and she's been out of school taking care of me."

This is odd. I have no idea why, but somehow I feel as if I know her. Though I know I'd remember meeting someone like her before.

"Had something happened to you, Ms. Kobayashi?"

She smiles sunnily at me. "Please, call me Sora. Yes, I was in a coma for about a month after I was hurt escaping from a fire."

Seeing her smile like this brings a smile to my lips as well. "Then you can call me Ryuichi. Actually, I'd prefer it if you call me Ryu. I'm sorry to hear about you getting hurt. Are you better now?"

"Not quite, I'm weak and tire easily still, but I'm working on it."

Without thinking, I say, "You look just fine to me."

She giggles. "Thank you, should I take that as a compliment?"

I blush slightly. "Umm, yes. After all, you're quite lovely." Gah! Just how corny can I get? This girl has me completely off balance.

Releasing me for a moment, she curtsies slightly. "Thank you very much, Ryu. You're not so bad yourself," and winks at me.

My heart jumps up in my throat leaving me unable to speak. How can one girl be this cute? She doesn't seem to be stuck on herself like so many other girls that are as pretty as she is. Her being this sweet doesn't seem to be fake either, I'm usually really good at spotting those types.

She steps back into my arms, only a little closer to me this time, and we begin dancing again. She openly stares at me as we dance with a thoughtful expression. When I finally look her in the eye, she smiles coquettishly without looking away. This girl isn't shy by any means, since most would have blushed and looked away. The more I learn about her, the more I want to know.

She doesn't look around us, she simply looks at me while smiling. Trusting me to keep us from running into anyone which is rather hard since my eyes keep making their way back to her.

When the band takes a break, she takes my hand between both of her small hands while smiling angelically. "Thank you Ryu. I enjoyed our dances very, very much."

"I enjoyed them as well, Sora."

She grins at me. "That's the first time you've called me by name Ryu."

"Really?"

She nods. "Really. I rather like the way you say my name." She then steps to my side and takes my elbow, holding it lightly, waiting for me to lead her back to her table.

I can't help but shake my head in wonder. I'd never imagine meeting someone like her here in this den of bitchiness. Well, this makes it so much easier for me, I definitely want to get to know her better, if she'll let me.

When we reach her table, she releases my arm. "Thank you for escorting me to my table." while looking at me expectantly.

"Sora, would you mind if I came to ask you to dance again?"

Her smile lights up her face making her even more gorgeous than she already is. "I was hoping you'd want to, I'd love it if you would."

I smile. "Then I'll do that when the band starts up again. See you soon."

She gestures for me to bend down and when I do she whispers in my ear, "You had best keep your promise unless you want to see me cry." and giggles at my incredulous expression.

I shake my head in wonder as I walk back to where my grandfather is standing. Everytime I glance in her direction, she's looking at me. Smiling at me when she sees me look at her, she turns to her sister and begins talking. I look at her appreciatively, admiring how well built she is. Long, shapely legs; slim waist; small perky butt; it's hard to tell exactly how big her breasts are with the type of dress she is wearing, but she isn't small; full lips that are quick to smile and liquid eyes that are easy to get lost in. All put together, simply gorgeous, and she came to ask me to dance out of everyone here. I don't get it, but I'm happy that she did.

Soon enough, the band comes back to play again and smiling in anticipation, I make my way over to her. When I reach her side, I extend my hand to help her stand, and ask, "Ready, Sora?"

She smiles as she places her small hand in mine and stands. "Definitely. Thank you for coming back, Ryu. I wasn't looking forward to having to play whack-mole again if you didn't."

The girls laugh at my confused expression. She takes my elbow again and I lead us back to the dance floor.

"Whack-mole is my way of saying slapping the boys' hands when they try to grab my butt." She explains.

I chuckle. "Okay, that makes sense now."

After we begin dancing again, with her even closer to me this time. "Sora, if you don't mind my asking, would you tell me about the fire?"

Her smile diminishes somewhat, but she nods. "I originally lived in Fukuoka, my father died when I was still really young, so it was just my mother, my older sister and me. Early one morning the house caught on fire, the smell of smoke woke me up, and I went to find my mother and sister. I ran into my sister in the hallway and we went to my mother's room to find her surrounded by flames."

Tears begin falling as she continues, "I tried to get to her, but my sister stopped me. She started screaming when the fire reached her and my sister dragged me away down the hallway. The stairway was already burning so we couldn't get out that way. We went to my room and opened the window and she and I jumped. I must have landed badly because I hit my head. I woke up about a month later in the hospital. No other relatives wanted to take us in, so the government was about to place us in an orphanage when the Kobayashis' stepped in and adopted us. That's pretty much the whole story."

I take out my handkerchief and dab away her tears. "Sora, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked you about that and brought all that back up."

I have no idea how she was able to do it, but she smiles at me and shakes her head. "It's okay. It's something I have to come to terms with. As my therapist says, I do that by talking about it. It still hurts quite a lot though."

I did it without even thinking when I pulled her to me and hug her right then and there in the middle of the dance floor. Far from shoving me away, she hugs me back while resting her head against my chest. As we stand there I notice she smells of cherry blossoms and faintly of vanilla.

A couple of minutes later she steps back. "Thank you Ryu. I needed that."

Concerned she may need a little more time, I ask, "Sora would you like to sit down for a little while?"

She shakes her head slightly. "No, I'd much rather dance with you."

I take her hand again and we begin dancing. Not more than a minute later she is up against me while we dance causing me to blush even as I smile. A moment later she smiles sheepishly and steps back a little.

As we dance we ask each other a thousand and one questions, when the band takes a break we choose the closest empty table and continue talking until the band starts up again. I don't think she ever notices all the attention she draws from the boys since she never looks away from me. I didn't fail to see their jealous looks aimed at me. Until finally, we were surprised when the band announced, "This is the final song of the night."

After we finish the final dance, I ask, "Sora?"

"Yes?"

"Would you mind giving me your phone number?"

A beatific smile lights up her gorgeous face. "I was hoping you'd ask me for it."

After we exchange numbers, she looks up at me. "Ryu, you had best call me soon or I'll never forgive you." She tells me while grinning coyly. "Thank you for a wonderful evening. You made this truly enjoyable."

Without waiting for me to respond, she turns on her heel and heads to her family. Leaving me to stand there awestruck as I watch the graceful sway of her hips as she walks away.

Chapter end