11Author's Note: So. I'm sure it's been almost 3 years or so since I've updated this fic. I just hope my dwindling followers don't dwindle anymore otherwise I'll be the only one left reading my very own fics. (-.-') Talk about depressingly embarrassing..
But, what's more awkward is that, this chapter, albeit a bit shorter than the previous ones, has been written for over a year. *dodges rotten tomatoes*
I have also realized the main reason for me being so unmotivated and lacking in enthusiasm with respect to this fic has to be the extremely limited response I've had. I would be utterly overjoyed if you can take some of your precious time out to give me some sort of constructive criticism. Hence, I've decided to only update when I get, at least, 10 reviews per chapter! I hope you can help me grow as a writer. (^.^)
As for you awesome people who took precious time out to give me some awesome feedback:
lmoon: Thank you! I plan to. =3
yashi14: I'm so glad you like it! Well, tbh, even I have no clue what pairing(s) I'll end up with. You see, I'm making it up as I go, hehe! Funny thing, my #1 OTP nowadays is SasuHina, followed very closely by GaaHina. ;) But I, seriously, can't confirm if that's where I'm headed. Fingers crossed! Aww, thanku thanku THANKU! Well, reading on, you'll be getting more surprises. ;) Hm, I really haven't thought about ANY pairings atm but I'll definitely let you know. Be warned, my fics tend to be Hinata-centric! 3 Please, keep reading! =D
chocolatte-delight: Whoa, thanks SO much! I'm definitely trying my best! And you're getting there. I just gave you a hint in your own review. ;) Haha, wrong! XD What kind of fic would it be without that lovable pervert?! ;) Wow. Thank you so much. I really hope you continue following this story. It's guys like you who make my day and will myself to write! Lol, nah, not imagining it, as lots of people are inclining towards SasuHina. Tbh, I have absolutely no idea what pairing I end up with. It's gonna be a surprise for me, too. =D
Kuroi Bara-676: I'm so happy to read your review! Haha, there's no fun without the Akatsuki. ;) Stay tuned! And the hood'll come off soon enough! Yay! =D
demon scream: Heya! Yes, it is indeed! =D
Now, keep in mind, my writing emphasizes a lot on dialogue. Without further ado, Chapter 3!
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Disclaimer: That does it! Why rub salt on my wounds?! Naruto is Kishimoto's as I own… even this laptop is borrowed, dammit!.
Glossary:
CAPITAL Speech = Exclamation, shout, emphasis on a certain or particular scenario.
ItalicizedSpeech in " " = Whispering, emphasis.
ItalicizedSpeech without " " = Thinking, wondering, inner thoughts, verbs/actions.
Speech in " " = Talking, conversing.
.:{}:. = Change in scene.
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Slam Dunk - A Basketball Romance
Chapter 3: Footwork
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Monday, 9:15 AM
With fifteen more minutes to spare, which seemed more like five hours to all the eyes following every second of the clock's hands, Kurenai was giving the students the most rigorous training exercises ever known to only her dance students.
"Alright, kids, these last fifteen minutes will either make you or break you."
Instead of the clock, all eyes were now watching the dance teacher, apprehensively. They had absolutely no idea what she was talking about so they all, hurriedly, took their places against the portable barres, situated in five columns, almost in the centre of the room, a bit closer to the over-sized windows.
"Shh! Hina-chan!"
Hinata looked over her shoulder at the source of the distraction. Even Tenten, ahead of Hinata, turned around, eyebrow raised.
She couldn't help but be curious. "What is it, Ino-chan?"
"I'm hungry!"
Both girls rolled their eyes at their best friend's antics.
Tenten was shaking her head with mirth "Really? Ino?"
"I thought you knew some insider stuff, Ino-chan!"
"Fufufufu. I heard some seniors talking about an audition today. So, sensei's mysterious air kinda makes sense."
"Hmm. Now that I think about it, almost everyone in the Dance, Music, Art, and Drama Departments seems to be on edge today. What's the audition about, do you know, No-No?"
"Could it be a musical, Ino-chan?"
Just as Ino was about to answer, Kurenai clapped her hands, signaling all dancers to pay attention.
"Class, like I mentioned before, barre exercises include both slow exercises, which stretch and warm up muscles, and fast exercises, which help in strengthening muscles and maintaining technique at any speed. Each barre exercise has a definite purpose, such as strengthening feet, improving extension, enhancing flexibility, and helping you find your ballon, which is the appearance of being lightweight while jumping. I'm hoping the majority of you know what ballon really is, and how it's achieved, as only those have been selected in this dance course who know what dance is all about – the skill, technique, terminology and how to execute them, and determination. Listen up, each one of you needs to focus on the proper placement, as in the positions of feet and arms, and posture in all exercises. That is why the barre helps dancers by providing firmness, steadiness, and balance, especially while learning correct placement. These exercises are often a significant part of the novice dancer's class, but the barre remains to be an integral tool in all levels of dance, specifically Ballet, but every style of dance has the same basic footwork. In addition, barre work can help to prepare dancers for partnering, with the barre simulating the support of a real partner. Barres are an essential tool for beginning pointe dancers, as their ankles may not be strong enough to support them in the center. Hence, it is of utmost importance that all of you focus on these drills, these barre exercises, as they will build you as an impeccable dancer, whether you are leaning toward Ballet or not, because the most important skill in my class, along with attitude, is form and footwork."
Kurenai moved around her students in circles, judging them with respect to their posture and rapidity of breathing, all the while explaining the basics and emphasizing upon the importance of patience.
"Imagine yourself as water, flexible and patient, flowing gracefully wherever the current takes you. That is how I wish my dancers to be, like water. Invisible, yet catching everyone's attention when you move; weightless, yet exerting enough force to push past your obstacles; there, leaving a considerable impression, but then disappear as if you never existed in the first place."
Pin-drop silence. Nobody even dared to breathe as Kurenai elucidated in her smoky voice. The students seemed to absorb whatever she was saying because no one batted their eyelashes, no one even noticed that they had been standing in the same position for the past seven minutes, no one directed their gaze away from the sultry dancer as she took her place right in front of the window.
What the students saw took their breath away. Strangely, the past hour no one seemed to notice her as she incessantly bombarded the young dancers with dance terminology but, now that she was right in front of them, they realized how stunning she truly was. With arms crossed under her breasts, Kurenai sent a heated glare to her students. Majority of the class, including the females, blushed under her scrutiny, among other things.
She wore her shoulder-length, untamed raven hair down, wearing a width-adjustable black stretchy nylon-lycra headband on her forehead, giving it an attractive windblown look. Her most prominent, and unique, feature was her eyes – the irises were red in color, a ring closer to the pupil was a dark red whereas the rest was a shade of crimson, and her pupils were, naturally, constricted. Her make-up was simple, consisting of red lipstick and purple eye shadow. Apart from her natural beauty, she sure knew how to pull an outfit together. Today, she was wearing a custom-made Donna Karan matte jersey (instead of the season's commercial iridescent venetian red silk) faux wrap dress that reached four inches below her thighs; the dress had a V-necked draped neckline, long sleeves with a slit at the cuff and pleated panels on the skirt. The edges of the sleeves had a pattern on it similar to those of rose thorns. On her hands she wore black long lace fingerless gloves, embroidered with intricate damask design on fine fishnet, her nails painted a dark red. Nylon/spandex stretch mesh capri-length tights, with edgy front and back slashes, adorned her long, athletic, dancer's legs. To top the ensemble off, she wore black leatherette 7.5cm Latin/Ballroom heels.
I wanna grow up to be just like her, Ino mused.
Ahead of her, Hinata just could not believe she was this goddess' goddaughter. Even more ahead, Tenten was awestruck for the first time in her life. I'm never awestruck. I invented awestruck! But this… woman… is even more awesome than I am. How is that possible?!
Two rows further down, Sakura was having a battle with Inner Sakura. Shannaro! You need attitude like that! "What the hell?! I have enough attitude" Really? The only attitude I see is bad! You are hotheaded, arrogant, harsh, demanding, and irritable! Not to mention, you abuse the people who actually like you! "W…what?! I'm nice! I'm hot! I'm irresistible, dammit!" Um, yeah, to frisky little boys who like bubblegum pink and tiny, perky... "Shut up!"
Sai was silent. Silently observant. His perverse mind coming up with complex thought processes but settling down on one. So, women aren't that weird at all. They just don't have penises.
Kiba could be seen drooling; his breathing had become quite ragged.
Lee just had eyes for Sakura. However, one could notice how his eyes darted to-and-from his sensei, a light blush dusting his cheeks. Yes, he was a goner.
Safe to say, in those seven minutes, everyone in Kurenai's class had sudden and immense respect for her; she already had them in the palm of her hand.
"Eight more minutes, my little danseurs, and you shall witness your fate! I want you all to reiterate the first barre workout I showed you. Start with the basic positions, from the 1st to the 5th. I want to see how well you execute each position. Be sure the transition from one position to the next is flawless, carried out perfectly, and fluid. Depending on these principal poses, and how well you perform them, you will be graded."
A collective gasp resounded around the large hall. Kurenai gave a barely perceptible smirk, a slight tilt of a side of her full lips, happy to have gotten the point across.
"I know most of you must be planning to focus on Hip Hop or Modern, Jazz or Contemporary, maybe even rarer forms of dance. Hence, it is important for you to know that, whatever dance form you plan to achieve, it is vital that you learn Ballet."
It was Sakura who piped up. "But, sensei, why? Ballet is soooo booooring! Also, I plan on concentrating on Latin so I'm sure it's not necessary to learn Ballet basics, is it?"
If Hinata were not so meek, she would have glared at the pink-haired cheerleader. Then again, she wasn't as meek as to take whatever the ignorant bimbo squawked about; this was personal. Ballet, boring? How dare she! Before Hinata lost her conviction, or even realized what she was about to do, she answered back firmly.
"You may find it indeed a very strict and boring dance form in comparison to the more popular genres but you have no idea how essential it is in order to evolve as something more than just a dancer. Others may find it beautiful yet inaccessible."
The entire hall was silent. Kurenai was trying so hard not to show how proud she truly was of her goddaughter. She had forgotten how passionate Hinata could be when it came to the things she loved, her dreams and ideals. Similar to their sensei, Hinata's best friends were pleasantly surprised. Slowly that surprise changed to understanding, then delight at how she was speaking without faltering. Kurenai gave a barely discernible nod for her goddaughter to continue. Not that she needed it; Hinata was on fire.
It is true, Hinata hid herself in the comfort of baggy sweaters, shapeless hoods, loose jackets, and voluminous pants, but it did not mean she did not know fashion when she saw it. Whatever she wore was loose, yet fashionable in a hip, street-smart, urban way. People sometimes confused her with belonging to those street gangs who would graffiti the town's dingy walls.
She knows when to dress practically, belonging to a clan known for being practical, and dance is no exception. Since she was three, Hinata knew she was born for dancing. Dance was the one time she was able to express what she was truly feeling; she poured her feelings, her all, in to her body and just let it go. Ever since she was old enough to understand, Hinata knew the way she dressed, and represented herself, was very important because it amplified her performance. Hence, with dance, she fell in love with style. Luckily, her best friends thought the same way and completely loved her eye for fashion – under all that bagginess, at least. Today was no exception.
Hinata was wearing an oversized, full bell-sleeved, grey K. D. Dance 80's retro-style, Flashdance-inspired, off-the-shoulder top, which reached her curvy hips; of course, there was a hood attached to keep her hair out of the way. Lower, she was rocking a pair of trendy black jersey harem capri pants, showing off her leanly curved calves which tapered to slender ankles. On her feet was stylish urban form-fitting Capezio dancewear, in black, with strings crisscrossing the entire frame.
As it was the first class for the second semester, Hinata needed to get away from her previous self, and dress more confidently. She promised Ino and Tenten last semster she would. Furthermore, today was special because they start dance! And that fact made her ecstatic. She wanted to make an impression on everyone today that she was serious about this and not doing it for fun. Little did she know, she was doing exactly that.
"Dancing is an art, dancers the medium. We are more than people moving their body to the beat, we are the medium to move people. Revolutionize. Speak without words. Conveying messages without the need for unnecessary methods and violence. We need to be versatile in order for different individuals to understand different ideas in different ways; not everyone is the same so why should the message be conveyed in the same way to everyone? People are individuals and individuals may interpret that same message as something completely different. There is no right or wrong in art. That includes dance."
For the first time in his life, Sai was astounded. He had no clue what he was feeling but he could tell it was close to admiration. He, surprisingly, understood what point she was trying to put across and he seemed to see her, become aware of her, for the first time. He was just about coming to some sort of conclusion when he felt someone poking him from behind. Looking back, he came face-to-face with Kiba's stunned expression. "It must be the first time I've ever heard her talk without stuttering." Sai gave a slight nod, shifting his gaze back to the hooded girl.
"I never knew Hinata-san was so youthful! Her speech brings tears to my eyes!"
Two pairs of eyes followed the whisper, which sounded more like a muffled shout, and noticed their friend indeed had tears in his eyes. Kiba, closer to the green spandex-clad martial-slash-dance-artist, put a hand on his shaking shoulder to comfort him. "Lee, chill. Otherwise, you'll miss the rest of her youthful tirade." A bowl-cut head of hair nodded weakly, wiping its fists against its eyes to clear the tears, and continued watching the obscure dancer.
Three pairs of male eyes, unknowingly, roved over Hinata's small, lithe figure, noting what they had missed so easily before. She had an intriguing presence, as if she wanted everyone to acknowledge her, standing purposefully and having an element of grace nobody else in the room seemed to exude. One not-so-tiny aspect the males had missed before came as a revelation: she was all woman. Her body wasn't like typical dancers; in place of the lean, sinewy muscle was curvature. Hyuuga Hinata had been hiding curves of a Goddess under that loose fitting, flowing clothing. It wasn't obvious, one had to look closely in order to realize how much of a woman Hinata was, but it was there. It was worthy of respect, this girl's modesty. She was a breath of fresh air, unlike those provocatively garbed hussies the males of this university were used to, incredibly appeasing. And innocent. Yes, her innocence was endearing. The puzzles still did not seem to fit in to place as to why she covered herself up so.
Sakura had never been so mortified her entire life. Except for that time in middle school, when she was teased mercilessly because of her hair, and was saved by… Stop thinking about things from the past and pay attention! Sakura rolled her eyes.
"You're just blabbering incessantly, Hoodie. I was asking why Ballet is…"
"And I'm getting there, Sakura-san," Hinata replied without a beat.
A finely plucked pink eyebrow rose in disbelief. Kurenai smiled. "Please continue, Hinata."
"Ballet is the basic foundation for most forms of dance. Whatever you learn in Ballet, it translates to values that can be used to pursue other forms of dance. Let me list the points." Hinata counted on her fingertips. "The alignment and musicality it requires, the development of discipline and dedication, improving posture, improving balance and flexibility, increasing agility," Five fingers were hovering close to Sakura's face.
"Not to mention aural, visual, and kinetic stimulus." When Hinata saw confusion in the faces of her classfellows, she calmly explained, "You learn to connect verbal commands and musical cues with exercise demonstrations and perform them in your body. Different parts of the brain are problem-solving to perform the movements in time to the music," she clarified with a soft smile. "And, finally, confidence."
Kurenai gave a quiet clap, turning towards her goddaughter. "Very good, Hinata. Thank you for making it easier for me to explain the importance of Ballet to Haruno-san."
Hinata blushed and slowly the reality of what she did dawned on her. "Sakura-san! I apologize for being so rude!" With that said, she started bowing for forgiveness.
Ino and Tenten had to pull her back quickly in order to stop her from embarrassing herself. Not to mention, they were delirious with joy over their shy friend's uncharacteristic behavior AND how she snubbed their number one rival in front of the entire class. Whereas, the said rival was at a loss as to what to do.
"Uh, sure, Hinata," mumbled a dejected Sakura.
"Hina, there's nothing to apologize about, silly!" whispered Ino.
Tenten supplied her own two cents, "Yeah, you kicked ass, Hime!"
To say Hinata was horrified was an understatement, if her blush was any indication. She was her usual timid self in an instant. Her best friends sighed and shook their heads.
Kurenai was closely watching the trio and hoped the Hinata she just witnessed would pop-up more often.
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After-notes:
Danseurs – French for Dancers.
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Author's After Note: I know what you all are wondering, wasn't this supposed to be a basketball fic? The answer is yes! It still isa Basketball fic but with a few twists & turns – Dance! You'll just have to wait and read along. I just hope I've managed to write a good-enough chapter. *grins sheepishly*
For the complex Basketball. Dance and Ballet terms, that's what Google's good for! ;)
And for those who haven't noticed: I freakin' love dancing! *squeals like a banshee*
A little rant; I won't be updating this fic unless I have, at least, 20 reviews. The reason I lost motivation to write is because the majority of you readers have not left any sort of comment or constructive criticism and the ones who have – I love you! I would love everyone's input; it would help me grow in terms of writing and realize what my weak points are.
Oh! And, in case anyone wants to see the references for all the characters' outfits, please, let me know. ^.^
Ooooh! Look how the purty Review Button sparkles! Please R&R! I would definitely love your view, opinions, and ideas on the current chapter. Also, for those who voted for Kakashi in my ex-poll, you'll find out later in the fic as to why I hadn't added him to the Poll. Tallyhoo!