Game Day [open]

[Naraku]

"You did really good." Keiko smiles at her as she came back towards him. "But I don't know if I can do it or not..... So many people would be staring at me." He said finally looking down. He slowly reaches up and begins to play with the ends of his long hair as he just sat there and waited to be called on.

[Aiko]

[green]“Thank you,”[/green] Renée laughed, grinning a silly grin down at the purple-haired boy. [green]“I practice a lot,”[/green] she confessed. Listening to what the boy said, and watching as he shifted his eyes downward, the American’s beaming faltered a little bit. The boy seemed worried. She took a minute to understand the unfamiliar words, and then she felt her smile lifting her lips again.

In a friendly sort of way, the girl poked the boy in the arm, even while he fiddled with the ends of his long strands of violet hair. [green]“Hey,”[/green] she said, her voice quieter now, [green]“do not be afraid. You will play well. The people do not matter. You do not have time to think about them when you play. You will be a little afraid at first, it is normal. But when you start to play, let go of the afraid. Do your best job. Play your best game.”[/green] Trying to catch the boy’s eye, the American winked at him, concluding, [green]“You will do well. I know. Do not try a level that is too difficult, and I know you will be good.” [/green]

[Naraku]

He turns back at her not saying much as he just slightly blushes. He looks back up there, watching the others finally finish and walking down the lot. He couldn't help it but he jump seeming he was startled when his name was called. The announcer was already looking around as the first boy walked up there, and Keiko didn't budge yet. "You really, think I can do this?"

[Aiko]

Renée heard the announcer call the next two names, and she half-turned towards the purple-haired boy, sort of wondering which of these names was his. To her surprise, though, he hadn’t gone up to the platform. The American could see another boy heading for the dance platforms already. [green]Is he going to forfeit?[/green] she wondered, and felt a brief pang of panic. She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted the boy to play, and to succeed. Maybe she was just being selfish and wanted him to continue playing, so he could keep talking to her. And maybe she wasn’t really that selfish.

The American looked hard at the boy with the violet hair. She only had a heartbeat to look, but she already knew what her answer was going to be. [green]“Yes, I really think that you can do this. But you must go and play, or you will lose because you do not go up,”[/green] she told him. [green]“Hurry!”[/green] With that, she reached out to his shoulder, gently nudging him in the direction of the platforms. [green]“I believe in you!”[/green]

[Naraku]

He smiles as he moves up towards the stage still unsure as in what to do. This would be his first time playing any kind of game that wasn't from the old country. He took a deep breath not thinking or choosing anything once her was standing on the platform letting the other boy choose everything. Almost about the time he open his eyes though the music had started, and the arrows was moving down the screen. As the first few notes move past him he was slow to catch them letting himself get use to the feel. Keiko slowly begins picking it up though moving from where it missed the first few, but begins to nail all the notes. The beat of the Japanease rock music was able him to link his practice forms into the dance.

Keiko slowly begin forgetting about the people around him and paid no mind to even the screen just the beat and begins moving on his own. Oddly though during this time he never missed a note and was doing more then just the steps his whole body actually was dancing and with the song coming to and ending, Keiko landed on the last button with a spin turning him facing the crowd.

"The winner for this round is Keiko Nightshade." Keiko pauses finally remember the crowd and freezing. he could do nothing but stand there as his face turn bright red since he seem to of completly let loose. he then bolts into the crowd not wanting to stand in the center of them and ran back towards Ren.

[Aiko]

Renée found herself watching the boy as he walked towards the platform, wishing the very best for him. She bit her lip as she crossed her arms, watching as the other boy starting choosing things. [green]Come on, purple-hair guy![/green] Ren was thinking. [green]You can do this![/green] She discovered that she was crossing her fingers, where they were hidden in the crook of her arm. Well, at least he could have a little good luck on his side at the same time.

Her fingernails dug into her arm as she watched the boy begin to falter as soon as the arrows started appearing on the screen. [green]“Come on!”[/green] she whispered, feeling her body tense. And then… something happened. The boy’s steps became surer, more exact, and his body moved gracefully with the rhythm of the music. Ren’s eyes switched between the boy and the screen, and she realized that every button was being hit at the precise time that it came up. Finally, her eyes settled on the boy, and on the boy alone. Once her gaze was on him, she could hardly force herself to look away. He swayed, he moved, he stepped with such grace, with such supple power, that the girl was dumbstruck. Where was the boy who minutes before had been worried about his performance? Hell, this was more performance than playing a game! She could hear the crowd cheering, because they all obviously noticed the boy’s innate talents, and Ren was a little surprised to find that she was cheering, too. Her mouth was turned up in a smile. This boy was amazing!

And the song was over, and the boy stopped moving. The crowd was still cheering, but Renée blinked and sucked in a little gasp of air. She felt like she’d just been released from hypnosis, only she could remember what had happened. [green]Keiko,[/green] she thought, storing the boy’s name away in her mind. Now she knew his name. [green]Keiko is… I don’t know a word for it! Incredible![/green] And then Keiko’s competitor was heading into the gathered audience, and the purple-haired boy himself was hurrying back towards Ren. The American’s grin was just as huge as ever as he came up.

[green]“Keiko!”[/green] she cried, and not really caring that such a motion was not nearly as accepted in Japan as it was in America, she hugged him fiercely around the shoulders. [green] “You were… you are… wonderful!”[/green] She hugged him tightly for a moment, then released him, laughing from sheer energy. She placed her hands on her hips and grinned down at the boy, but then the announcer was speaking again, and she jerked up her head.

“The next round begins now! Get ready!” The announcer then called up the first two contestants, who seemed a little less enthusiastic about going up than before. Maybe they just knew they couldn’t measure up to Keiko’s brilliant performance. Ren grinned at the boy, then turned her attention to the people as they began playing.

[Naraku]

He said nothing running back into the crowd only to be met by Ren. Her excitement and calling out only causes him to blush more yet he could feel his cheeks burning when she desides to hug him. He let out a soft whisper to her as she did. "Thank you...." He didn't get to loud cause he still couldn't beleiev what he just did himself.

Keiko smiles back at her when she releases him and grins at him. As soon as Renee's attention was back on the game he begins rubbing his cheek as hope to stop the blushing. Keiko stops when he begins looking back up at the people playing the game.

[Aiko]

Noticing movement from the corner of one of her eyes, Renée started to turn in Keiko’s direction, only to see the highly talented boy rubbing his cheeks vigorously. What on this good green earth was he doing? It sort of looked like the boy was trying to wash his face with his vigorous scrubbing, not that it made sense for him to be doing that in the middle of the mall. “O-kay,” Renée mouthed, her eyebrows raised with incredulity as she turned away and looked back at the two competitors who were playing at that moment. The look on her face plainly said, “I’m not even going to go there. I don’t want to know.”

From that moment on, Ren focused on watching the players. She applauded appropriately when the next winner was announced, though she noticed the crowd was less enthusiastic than they had been about Keiko’s victory. The next two people went up without incident, selected their song and their respective levels, and began to play. Realizing she liked the song the two current competitors had chosen, Ren bobbed to the beat of the music, grinning openly. She wasn’t much of a dancer, and her hands were doing something awkward by her sides. Feeling a little self-conscious, she poked Keiko, trying to get him to join her.

Finally, that song was over and the next winner was announced. [green]She was good,[/green] Renée thought of the girl who was walking back towards the remaining competitors, smiling smugly. [green]Definitely better than me.[/green] It wasn’t an encouraging thought. But then Ren’s name was being called, and she jerked her chin up to look at the announcer. Before she went up for her second round, she glanced at Keiko, grinning a little awkwardly. [green] “Wish me good luck, yes?”[/green] she said, and she began to walk towards the game platform, where her opponent was already heading. [green]“I win, and I play you next. Uh oh!”[/green] She laughed, sort of hoping she wouldn’t make it to the point where she’d be embarrassed by sucking completely next to such a brilliant player as Keiko.

And then she was up on the platform with her opponent. [green]“You choose the song,”[/green] she said, setting her level as high as she dared.

[Naraku]

She watches her mostly attracted how she was able to have so much fun with so many eyes on her. He could never stand it or so he thought.

OOC: Crap post I know but I am still sick as hell.

[Aiko]

[ooc: Get well soon! That’s all that matters.]

As her opponent took their merry time in picking out a song, Ren turned to look for the violet hair of Keiko. Trying to catch his eye, she grinned and waved. [green]I’ll never be as awesome as you are,[/green] she told him silently, [green]but hey, this is for fun, right?[/green] The American turned back to the screen to see that her partner had finally decided on a song. Quickly, the tall American girl readied herself to play, shaking her hands a little as her feet almost imperceptibly started to move inside her shoes.

And then the song was starting, and the arrows were flashing up the screen. [green]Hot crap![/green] Ren thought as she reacted a moment too late on the very first step. [green]This is a toughie![/green] It wasn’t a song she recognized, or even liked, as she soon discovered with a feeling of dread. Nevertheless, the American quickly caught on to the rhythm, and her feet were moving with more confidence. Her lips started to twitch up as she felt her body sliding into familiar poses, her feet lightly tapping the necessary buttons. All in all, she did well during the song.

Her opponent just happened to do better.

The name of the winner was announced, and it wasn’t Ren’s name. [green]Okay then,[/green] she thought, turning and striding back into the crowd of people watching. She barely realized how her cheeks were flushed, and not just from the exercise. [green]I kinda wished I could play against Keiko, though,[/green] she mused. [green]I kinda really wished that.[/green] More than that, she kinda really wished she hadn’t lost. She tried not to think of it. She pushed through the audience, making her way away from the game. She didn’t want to watch anymore. She’d already lost, so what was the point.

She’d reached the edge of the people who were watching the game and started to merge with the rest of the mall crowd, the people who were just shopping and didn’t care about some dumb video game. Ren started to walk with them, but then she glanced back towards the giant screen. She could still see it above the heads of the gathered people. [green]Keiko will probably be playing now,[/green] she realized. And with that, she sighed and started pushing back into the throng of the people watching.

[Naraku]

Before she could make her way back into the center of the crowd Keiko was already standing in front of her as he followed her out. "You okay, Ren?" He walks over to her, ignoring the rest of the crowd. "You know if you really like the game, and wanted to get better. I could buy it for you."Keiko smiles which was brighter then normal, since he hasn't actually got along with anyone here since he moved here. "I know they have those mini verisons in the stores since I seen them but if you want I can get you one like they are playing now. Besides in truth..." He looks down to the ground ligthly blushing. "I think the game would be better if I was able to play you, it doesn't interest me to play with any of these people."

[Aiko]

Ren almost jumped as she heard Keiko’s now-familiar voice. She spun to face him, her green eyes flaring wide. She hadn’t expected to see him here! Feeling embarrassed, the American tucked a loose strand of hair behind an ear. She stood a little awkwardly, still somewhat distracted with her below-par performance that she had offered, but then she had to focus on what Keiko was saying. Since Japanese wasn’t her first language, and she hadn’t even been speaking it for a full year yet, she really had to take her time with figuring out what someone was saying. The girl managed to understand most of what the boy was saying, but even after he had finished speaking, she took a moment to gather the words she needed in her mind before herself speaking.

She felt herself smiling just a little, and she willed the tiny grin to grow. [green]“Thank you,”[/green] she said. [green]“I am okay. Truthfully, I am. Thank you for your… worry? Concern? Concern, yes, concern.”[/green] Of course, that’s what she said, because she didn’t have the vocabulary necessary to articulate her disappointment in herself, her frustration, how she was absolutely certain her opponent had psychic powers that allowed them to figure out the song that would make Ren lose, and all the other stuff that was on the tall girl’s mind.

[green]“But… buy? Buy the game for me?”[/green] Of its own will now, the girl’s smile broadened, and a giggle escaped from between her lips. [green]“That is silly, Keiko-san! Do not waste your money on me!”[/green] Renée shook her head, exasperated with and smiling because of the ridiculousness of the offer. [green]“Because you do not know me well.”[/green]

[green]“But if you do not want to play the game now,”[/green] Ren said then, hearing the announcer calling for Keiko,[green] “you should go away from here, so they do not get mad at you.”[/green] Crossing her arms, she smiled conspiratorially. [green]“Would you like to come and do something with me, or do you want to play the game some more?”[/green]

[Naraku]

He smiles as he clears his throat and begin to speak in english. "You don't need to try so hard, besides most of the kids today speak english and doesn't even know japanease. And I am offering to buy it cause I don't ever spend the money so its pointless for me to really save it. Besides it may give us the chance to play one another." He smiles closing his eyes in the same process. "Its just I wouldn't want to play the game alone so thats why i am offering it to you."

[Aiko]

Renée threw up her hands in exasperation. Was there a person in Japan she was going to meet who didn’t speak the English language? It just made her feel even stupider, not knowing how to speak well in Japanese. [green]“I need to learn the language because I should know it!”[/green] she grumbled to herself, though she grumbled it in her native tongue. As Keiko continued speaking, Ren’s eyes traveled over his shoulder, where she could see the announcer through the crowd, looking annoyed as she called the boy’s name. [green]“Walk and talk, kid,”[/green] she muttered to Keiko, pulling on his arm while walking away from the game. The crowd was confused about why the game had stopped, but soon enough, some anxious soul would find Keiko and try to force him into playing to prolong the game.

She smiled, though, as she pulled the purple-haired boy through the crowd. He did, in fact, have some logic to his decision… or would have had logic, had they been close friends or something like that. Again, though, they’d barely met. [green]“Then why don’t you buy the game for yourself, and invite people over to play it with you?”[/green] she suggested as they reached the edge of the crowd. [green]“You could play against whoever you want, then.”[/green]

[Naraku]

He glances down but continues to walk. "But I can't.... I don't have any friends. I just moved here too from the other side of Japan, but even there I didn't really have any friends. Not for the way I am....." he looks back over towards her as he still spoke." I would of most likly been made fun of, if I didn't master the ways of the sword, and become famous in the lower reigons, but even so noone still wanted anything to do with me."