DANCING IN THE DARK

The arctic water spurted down against the smooth expansion of his bare back.

Others would have thought it absolute lunacy to shower in such piercing chillness but Ryu was not even thinking.

Stepping out of the shower wrapped only with a towel, Ryu stood still in the quiet atmosphere of his room.

Diamonds of water crystalized at the ends of his dark straight hair. He combed a hand mindlessly through the strands before throwing on a navy-colored t-shirt the same pair of jeans.

Outside, the rain poured on endlessly. Ryu was once again attacked by yet another pang of loneliness. He had always ignored his seniors� teasing about his singlehood, preferring to lose his heart completely in dance only.

Now, dancing did not seem an ideal companion in such a situation.

He wanted closeness with someone. Someone he can trust and love more than his precious expertise.

Ryu also hid a secret. A fear he was afraid to confront. He always knew, that he was not interested in women.

Living in a boys� hostel also exposed him to the many gay relationships going on under one roof. But there was no one under that very same roof that he felt sparks with. No special someone.

Perhaps what he needed was support and protection. Loneliness had carved a fragile soul in him. And what he could not withstand was if the soul gets shattered into fragments.

--

Ryu flopped onto a couch in the common lounge and he waved a little at a clique of his academy mates who looked set for a night of partying at the gay bar as they went out of the main door in a stampede.

Ryu was comfortable with the fact that most of his juniors, seniors and his own mates were bisexual or gay. Not that he even minded anyway.

He would have joined them in their wild fun every night.

But something just made him unable to cross the line.

Hence, he found himself mostly alone as the hostel is emptied of its occupants and the buzz of noise.

Ryu switched on the television lazily with the remote control.

Bored with the usual dramas and variety shows, he surfed through the channels carelessly.

Then, something caught his eye and made him sit up straight. The news channel was showing its regular Current Affairs program and today�s episode�s guest was none other than the famous Masaya Kuroda of the Kuroda Finance Inc.

Ryu could feel his ears heat up as he recalled the incident this afternoon.

�He�he�s really�really�Ku�Kuroda�No! I made a fool of myself!!! The guy prolly thinks I�m nuts!� Ryu moaned as he whacked himself hard with the Fishing Weekly magazine someone had left lying around.

�Stupid stupid stupid!!!! What did he want from me anyway?! Arrrggghhh!!!�

When he finally calmed down and put the now-tattered magazine aside, he found himself glaring fiercely at Kuroda in the television.

Feeling somewhat foolish, he let out another exasperated groan (�Arrrrrrrgggghhhhhhh!!!�) and switched the TV off.

�My my�in a foul mood?�

Ryu jumped several inches off the couch before landing back and whirling around to yell at the intruder.

But he never managed to get the words out as he found himself flushing under the direct gaze of Masaya Kuroda.

�How�why�you�.I�� Ryu stammered as he pointed a shaking finger at the person leaning easily at the doorway of the lounge.

�Good evening to you too.� Kuroda greeted cheerfully as he started walking towards Ryu who was stepped down unsteadily on the soft couch.

�Wait! Hold it, stay away�how did you get in here?!� Ryu racked his brains as he ran his mind through the pass-scanning device at the gates, the security post behind it and the locked doors of the fully-air-conditioned hostel.

�Man�.Ishiha Dance Academy is rich�I suppose the girls� hostel are furnished as lavishly?� Kuroda fingered the panelled walls with interest. �And by the way, I came in when I met your buddies at the metal gates. They are an interesting bunch. Well, they asked whether I was your boyfriend. To which I said yes of course and I was rather warmly welcomed, I�ll say� and got ushered in at top speed.�

Ryu could only continue gaping as his mind screamed, �Traitors!!! KILL!!!�

�Oh yes, do let me explain the boyfriend part.� Kuroda, in a few sweeping steps, pulled Ryu�s face close to his.

Ryu gasped a little but could not will himself to sturggle as his eyes focused on the soft lips of the man opposite himself and his heart pounded wildly.

He could feel Kuroda�s hot breath on his face and Ryu�s sanity joined his heart in the mad race. He felt intense heat seep through his skin before he was overcame by a wave of grogginess and passed out.


Chapter 4