Disclaimer- I do not own Kingdom Hearts!

Lead the Way

It was an awkward feeling. No, maybe it was more of a terrifying feeling. No, no maybe it was a feeling of inadequacy. Whatever it was, it was a feeling and Riku did not like it. Not one bit!

He watched as the guests of the Radiant Garden Christmas Party were dancing across the floor in fluent movement. All of them like perfect ballroom dancers, dressed in their best clothes. The men leading their partners across the floor with such gentle yet firm strength. The women blissfully followed them, their long ballroom gowns flowing effortlessly around as if they were floating.

Riku leaned against the wall, his silver blue hair over his eyes. He was also dressed in his best clothes, a dark tuxedo with a silver tie, silver vest, and black shoes. He did not feel that out of place at the party, no he felt out of place on the dance floor. Why, well it was because of one simple little reason. He could not dance.

Grimly, from underneath his bangs he watched a couple glide past him. He vaguely knew them. They did not bother him specifically, it was the couple from across the room that did. He knew he should not be feeling this way. It was his two best friends after all. Yet, he could not help the twinge of jealously he felt. Sora and Kairi were dancing on the other side, looking every bit as gracefully as the other couples.

Riku felt he should be out on that dance floor, dancing with someone in particular. He wanted to cut in between his two friends dance. He wanted to be enjoying his time and quite possibly impress his partner. He watched with bitterness at how gentle Sora held Kairi, twirling her around and causing her pale lavender dress to move. He clenched his fists at her sweet smile that she gave him, which made Sora blush each time.

He hated feeling like this and it was partially his fault for not being able to dance. He blamed himself for having two left feet. In truth, he never even tried to dance. Riku sighed softly. He did not want to cut into their dance because if he tried he would just make a fool of himself. He would just ignore them, maybe even head over to the buffet table and enjoy the cookies, cakes, or whatever other treats that were baked for the party.

“Don’t you want to dance?” a voice asked him.

Riku looked over and saw a pair of silver high-heeled sandals adorn on someone’s dainty feet. His eyes traveled up, following the beautiful satin emerald green dress that clung to the gentle curves of a woman’s body. When his eyes met the face that belonged to the voice, he felt himself flush. His ocean eyes met emerald ones, ones that matched the color of the dress. Her brown hair was tied back with a green ribbon, while her wispy bangs cradled her face.

Aerith Gainsborough smiled at Riku. She knew him through Sora and vise versa. Yet, when they met and since then he had always seen her in pink. Pink dresses, pink ribbons in her hair, and he never saw her in such heels before. He was accustomed to her brown boots, which oddly enough suited her even in dresses. Yet, here she was breathtaking.

“How come you’re not dancing?” she asked, still smiling.

Riku turned away. Her smile was too contagious. He did not want to smile when he felt embarrassed about something. It made him slightly miserable.

“Oh, I see,” she said in a teasing voice. “You can’t dance.”

Riku held his head down, it was not THAT hard to figure out he could not dance. Yet, he wished for people to believe that he was too good to dance. He wanted to portray that he was a rebel even, one who would turn down girls. Well, that idea failed miserably.

“I saw you looking over at Sora and Kairi,” she continued. “They’ll be dancing together all night unless you step in.”

“You said so yourself,” he snapped. “I can’t dance so its better I just stay clear unless I want to make a fool of myself in front of everyone.”

“Everyone can dance,” she ignored his snappish comeback. “You just need the courage to do so.”

“No, seriously I have two left feet.”

Aerith moved in front of him. She had to bend down farther to look into his eyes, since she was actually taller than he was. Of course, he was still a growing teenaged boy while she was already an adult. She smiled again.

“I can teach you.” She insisted.

“No, I’ll look stupid and probably step on your feet.”

“That wouldn’t be the first time someone stepped on my feet.” She giggled. “Trust me, I taught some other people how to dance… so how about it?”

Riku felt his cheeks burning brighter. Her smile, her laugh, everything about this girl was contagious. Maybe that is why he found himself nodding.

Aerith clapped her hands with delight. She took Riku’s hand, without hesitating and headed to the dance floor, pulling him along. Riku dragged his feet, realizing what he agreed to do. He wanted to grab one of the large pillars to keep himself from being on the dance floor and dance foolishly in front of everyone.

Aerith turned back to him, tugging harder. “Pick up your feet!”

It was an order not a request. Aerith was not going to drag him all the way to the floor. Riku complied, which made the walk that much easier. Once on the floor, Aerith turned to him.

“Hold me!” she instructed.

Riku’s face went tomato red. He was a teenaged boy and he was suppose to hold her. It did not seem to bother Aerith, she was just a dance teacher tonight but this felt slightly awkward to Riku.

Aerith sighed, rolling her eyes at his hesitation. She took his hands and placed the right one on her back, pushing his arm up so that his hand rested on her shoulder blade. His wrist rested near her underarm. Riku felt his hand shake slightly, feeling her soft porcelain skin. She positioned his left hand so that it held hers. Their hands where palm to palm but Aerith noticed that something was off about him.

“Close your fingers,” she said.

Riku complied, sliding his fingers along her skin so they were together. As he did that Aerith positioned herself slightly to the right of him. Riku watched as she positioned her feet offset.

“This is so we won’t be bumping into each other,” she said, as if reading his mind.

She adjusted free hand onto his upper arm. The muscles in his arms flexed involuntary. Aerith seemed to either not notice or chose to ignore it. She moved her herself in position, pulling him closer that now they were touching at the hip and diaphragm.

“Your posture is off, stand up strait,” Aerith continued. “Also, hold me tighter. How do you expect to lead if you hold me so loosely?”

Riku gaped, “Me, lead… that’s it I quit!”

Riku let her go, ready to march off his dance floor. Aerith yanked him back, refusing to let her new pupil give up without trying. She glared at him almost saying to him, “You are going to dance whether you want to or not.” Riku watched the elegant way Aerith kept herself, as if she had done this many times before. He wondered if she actually professionally danced before.

Once, fixing their hold and posture again, Aerith turned to Riku, waiting for him to hold her tighter. He tried, but Aerith was not pleased. Riku felt he if held her too tight he would hurt her.

“I’m not made of glass,” she promised, again with the mind reading. “I promise if you hold me I won’t break.”

“Can you read minds?” he asked before complying.

“I can see it on your face.” She giggled.

Riku held her tighter. He searched her face for any discomfort but there was none. He assumed his face had a mixture of fear, embarrassment, and discomfort. He hoped his nerves would not get worse and something even more embarrassing such as his palms sweating would happen. By now the song that had been playing ended. Aerith waited for the music to begin.

It was a slow ballad. Aerith turned her eyes to Riku and smiled again.

“Just relax and follow the music.” He said.

“I can’t…” he persisted.

Aerith shook her head. “Fine, I’ll lead first and when you get comfortable we’ll switch, alright?”

“Alright,” Riku mumbled.

Aerith switched her hold so now that she was the leader. It took her a few seconds and once she did, she whisked him away. Aerith’s hold on him was firm and Riku found himself moving after her, in baby steps. Aerith on the other hand, was moving in long strides, which caused Riku’s feet to shuffle. When Aerith turned, Riku stumbled, losing himself and forcing Aerith to stop.

Angered at his clumsiness, he let go feeling embarrassed and probably giving the watchers a good reason to laugh behind his back. Aerith refused to let go. She brought him back to her and glared at him again.

“Stop thinking so much about it.” She complained. “If you keep being so tense you will keep tripping, just relax! Also, keep your strides long, it looks better.”

“I’ll step on your toes!” he warned.

Aerith shook her head, “Impossible in this hold. Not even someone who actually has two left feet can step on my feet in this hold. Now, relax and be confident. I promise you won’t step on my toes.”

Riku wanted to believe her. He wanted to think he would not crush her beautiful, delicate, graceful feet with his big, clumsy, uncoordinated ones. They began again, Aerith looking so graceful and confident while Riku had his head down to the floor watching their feet. Annoyed, Aerith brought her hand to his face forcing him to look up.

“You won’t be able to lead if you look at our feet. You’ll end up crashing into someone.”

“This is stupid,” he said, giving up.

“It’s only stupid because you think you can’t do it. We’ll go slowly, until you get comfortable. Now just RELAX!”

The emphasis on relax was quite clear. Yet, being self-conscious in such an environment was easy. He sighed as Aerith led him around. He felt foolish, he could not bring his eyes to look at his partner, nor could he look anywhere to the crowd. He wondered if Sora and Kairi were watching him now, chuckling at his misfortune.

“No one is watching you,” Aerith whispered.

Riku looked up. They were off to the side, instead of on the dance floor now. He looked at his partner, wondering when did they dance off the floor? Yet he was somewhat relieved and grateful. At least if he tripped and fell flat on his face no one but his teacher would see him.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“Don’t mention it.” She replied. “We can practice here until you feel comfortable.”

“That won’t happen… are you sure you want to dance with me? I bet this isn’t fun for you. Wouldn’t you much rather dance with some other guy?”

He hoped his reasoning would get him out of dancing.

“I could, but then where would that leave you?” she pondered aloud.

Somewhere where no one can see me, he thought miserably.

“I’ll be grading you too.” She announced.

“Grading me?” he mouthed. Great, I’ll get a big fat F for this.

“I grade everyone who I teach.”

“Like who?”

“Well for instance,” she looked around and saw Cloud and Leon, holding the wall up since they refused to dance, “Those two.”

“I bet they are better than me.” He muttered.

“Cloud isn’t a bad dancer, he’s just shy like you. If he had more confidence, I swear he would be great… I gave him a “B.” Leon, oh Leon is secretly the best dancer here. He won’t admit it I think he thinks it will ruin his reputation. I definitely think he deserved his “A” plus, plus! Although, I think he is natural. Maybe I should grade him harder?”

Riku smirked, as they turned. Aerith's left hand slid along Riku’s back, pushing his right hand from her waist, which he placed there since he did not want to look girlie by having it on her arm, higher.

“You know I think Kairi and Sora looked really good dancing together.”

“Sora is pretty good at dancing isn’t he?”

“Well maybe it’s easier to dance with someone you know?” she asked.

Riku shrugged as he found himself moving backwards. Aerith right hand flipped over in his left, lying on top of his. Riku listened to the slow ballad play. It was soothing to hear. Riku stared absently as his teacher turned them around.

“Maybe I am making your uncomfortable?”

“No, I’m just a lousy dancer.”

“Think you can make a longer stride?” Aerith asked. “These slow ones are kind of dull.”

“I guess, as long as I don’t step on you.” He replied.

“Then do it!”

The slow stuttering steps slowly vanished. Aerith smiled devilishly.

“Um, Riku close your fingers.” She instructed.

“Oh, yeah I forgot.”

His fingers slid along her. The satin material left his fingers as he felt the warm soft flesh again. He wondered.

“How come you’re wearing green?”

“Is something wrong with green?”

“No, no I just usually see you in pink.”

“Do you think I look bad in green?”

Aerith frowned slightly moving slightly away but Riku shook his head. He pulled her firmly to him, making sure not to become loose.

“No, green suits you nicely. Makes your eyes…”

Riku blushed causing his teacher to arch and eyebrow. He turned his head slightly, noticing Aerith leading him forward, her back nearing a wall. He turned her the other way, using the hand on her shoulder blade. Riku wondered if his talking was causing her to falter.

“So tell me?” she asked. “I’m curious.”

Riku watched, as they were moving towards a pillar. She would move out of the way this time. However, the woman before him was more curious about what he was going to say than dancing. Riku guided her the other way.

“…it makes your eyes stand out!” he said finally, hoping it would snap her back to dancing. He did not want her hitting a wall or a pillar because he was absentmindedly going to compliment her.

“Oh!” she blushed. “Thank you, I think you have nice eyes.”

Riku flushed, looking away and turning her from hitting a table that they were about to dance into. In his head, he wished this song would end, it seemed to be taking forever and he was definitely making a fool of himself in front of her.

“How long is this song?” he asked.

“It’ll end soon, I suppose.” She sighed sadly. “I guess you don’t like dancing with me.”

“No, I just… I feel stupid.”

“Why?”

“Because, I am dancing in a corner with you a good dancer afraid I might step on your toes or trip over myself.”

Aerith giggled this time causing Riku to arch an eyebrow.

“What is it?”

“You haven’t stepped on me OR tripped. I say you are doing really well for… being a lousy dancer. Besides you lead really well and I haven’t broken, like I promised.”

“Well that’s… wait a minute… I’M LEADING?”

Aerith laughed as Riku noticed that sometime during their chat Aerith had switched their holds. Riku looked at the girl, whose face hid a sly smile and a twinkle in her eye.

“You… tricked me!” he accused.

“Just a little,” she confirmed. “But it did pay off. Once I got your mind off being a fool, you took control. You did not let me run into any walls. All you had to do was relax!”

Riku blushed, trying to hide a smile. Aerith was a clever one. Yet, he felt comfortable. I guess all he needed to do, as she told him repeatedly, was relax. They were also on the dance floor now, gliding along with the other dancers. Riku thought he would have felt self conscious but once he stopped thinking about it, dancing was not that hard at all.

“Twirl me,” Aerith instructed. “Then let me fly out but don’t let go of my hand and pull me back in gently.”

Riku did as he was told, still holding her right hand, he twirled her under his arm, allowing his left hand to slide away from her. He was surprised that now even touching her did not seem like a big deal. He let her fly away, their arms stretching out, their hands the only thing touching. He then pulled her back and he caught her before she hit his chest.

With her back to him, Aerith smiled, seeing that he was catching on very quickly. Riku twirled her around, and getting back into their hold. Together they danced around the room. Riku even cracked a smile, feeling at ease, since he finally relaxed.

However, the song began to slow down as it was ending. Had he still been nervous, Riku would have been relieved the song was over. It dragged on when they started but now it was ending so quickly. Riku did not want it to end; he was really getting the hang of this!

“Good job my student,” Aerith said. “You get an “A” minus.”

“An “A” minus?” Riku repeated, appalled. “Think I can get some extra credit.”

“The song is ending and unless you can surprise…”

Abruptly, Riku dipped Aerith catching her by surprise. Yet, he did it in such a way that it was right. He moved his hand to her back, supporting her and then brought her back up to him. Aerith looked up at him and the song ended.

“Alright, you get an “A” plus.” She said.

The two dropped their hold, and Riku grinned. As they did, the music began again with another ballad. The two looked at each other, Aerith proud, and Riku relieved. Just then, the two noticed Sora and Kairi dancing not too far from them.

“Excuse me,” he said to Aerith. “Thank you but… I think I want to cut into their dance.”

Riku walked away from his teacher. Aerith smiled as she saw him with a newfound confidence. She then felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She looked over and saw Cloud dressed, possibly reluctantly, in a tuxedo.

“Jealous,” Aerith teased playfully.

Cloud pulled her into the hold and they began to dance.

“No, I just… I want… I want to do better than a “B” at least.”

Aerith grinned, “Then relax.”

X, X, X,

Author Note- I was watching a ballroom dancing and I thought about first writing about Cloud and Aerith since I’m a big fan of Clorith. Then I got the idea of Aerith teaching Sora to dance because he wants to dance with Kairi but then I remembered him thinking about dancing with Kairi in KH2. Therefore, I didn’t think he would be that nervous. So I chose Riku, can you even picture him dancing? Yeah, I know what all of you are thinking, “update your other stories”. Sorry, I will get around to them.

Thanks for reading this snippet, although it was longer than I intended it to be.

Princess~~