Drosselmeyer's Finale: The Mouse, The Princess and The Curse

Chapter Nine

Chapter 9: The Rise and the Fall

"Fakir!" Ahiru ran up behind him in the court yard. "Did you see Nesu- I mean Nesumir in the library?"

Fakir turned to see Ahiru. "Yes." He said abruptly.

"How did it go?"

"Frankly," He wondered why she had such a hopeful look in her eyes. "He taunted me."

She swallowed her glee down. "Oh, I thought for sure he was going to apologize or something."

Fakir recalled his strange taunting behavior. He really always tried to get on his bad side, and honestly this time was a little extraneous and specific. Even if it was about Ahiru... then why didn't he aim for her more then just him?

"Did you find anything out about The Nutcracker ballet?" Ahiru filled the silence. He'd been too distracted lately.

"A bit." Fakir felt the pages he'd ripped in his notebook in his pocket. He'd look into that stuff another time. "But I think if we practice a bit more I'll be fine."

"Okay, if that's what you want." Ahiru had the feeling there was a bit more to it but she let it be.

If he just wanted to practice tonight, she'd do that for him.

"Okay class, this is the last set of duets before the final, which I will assign next week; A performance that will build on all three of these. Prepare with your partners, and, get ready."

Ahiru and Fakir heard the music start. Marie and the Nutcracker's duet; not the more famed Sugar Plum Princess's Duet...but that made sense; this one was shorter and fit for the class. He breathed out. A Nutcracker was a Knight, kind of...less of a Prince...he could do this.

Ahiru followed along, finding that Fakir actually seemed much more calm then she expected; actually he had been less supportive- well not in a bad way, but letting her use a little more of her own strength. Maybe Director Setsuna's words really did sink in.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Pike still hadn't shown. And as a matter of fact, Nesumir had decided to solo in her absence; although she couldn't place what exact solo he was preforming from the Ballet. Maybe she should have researched this ballet a little more too.

She brought her mind back to the dance. She couldn't let Fakir down just because she had things on her mind.

Fakir felt strangely comfortable in this duet. He let Ahiru dance a little less in his arms, and a little more in her own. He took a deep breath out and-

"Aghhhh!" Fakir muffled the noise of his grunt, as he felt a sharp pain run up his foot, just as he had lifted Ahiru into the air, mid-jete.

His foot was faltering. Ahiru would fall too.

Even if it is his fault, he wouldn't let her down.

Ahiru felt a sudden drop as she found herself on Fakir's lap as they both crash to the floor.

"Stop."

Setsuna walked over and helped Ahiru up. "It was beautiful, Fakir you really seemed to almost become the character, you surely took my advice but, that fall are you alri-" Setsuna paused covering her mouth with her hand at his anguish.

Fakir's head stayed down as his fists tightened in pain. He knew this feeling. Not the pain, but just a feeling...

"...Autor? Would you mind bringing him to the infirmary? I'd hate to see him with a serious injury...you and Ahiru were so well matched in dancing today." Setsuna looked distressed and concerned.

"...If I must." Autor sighed.

"I'll-be-Fine." Fakir pushed himself up as his foot was stricken with another wave of pain, causing him to stumble.

"Fakir, please go." Ahiru looks to him, her eyes scared. Fakir sighs and nods. His foot really isn't worth...well it...it's...not right.

Fakir was relieved by Autor's support. He looked at Autor. He was thankful that Director Setsuna didn't choose Nesumir to help him off.

Autor caught his glance as they left the group. "You know I'm not made for heavy lifting. Your no ballerina so if you could but a bit more weight on it? If it's just a pull or a tear-"

"Just do me a favor and help me back to my place." Fakir said, not letting any of his weight move apart from Autor's complaint.

Autor realized this. "Are you sure?" He pushed his glasses up, as he let down his defense. "If it is serious it can really cause damage to a-"

"I have a feeling it's a bit more than a broken, pulled, or strained ankle." Fakir felt a knot in his chest. He was beginning to feel the presence now, the familiar feeling of the orchestration, and directing of fate.

"If that's what you want then...I'm not sure what other options there are." Autor said, with an undertone of reluctance.

"Get me to my place, and if I'm right, I'll explain all I can."

...

Ahiru was reluctant to see Fakir leave. But Setsuna was probably right.

"I think that's enough for the day, but Nesumir, I must ask, why did you solo?" Setsuna asked, directing Ahiru's thoughts to the studio again.

"It seems Pike has scampered off, and hasn't shown up. I decided to do my own rendition of a solo from the play."

"The Mouse King's solo. Ambitious...however I really think you need to focus more on a duet...if you can't handle a partner, it will be hard to find a new one." Setsuna clapped her hands. "Lets call it a day."

Ahiru went to follow after Fakir and Autor. If she was quick maybe she could catch them at the infirmary.

"Ahiru, why don't you let Fakir rest his ankle for a bit. I have the feeling I may have pushed you two too hard on this one." Setsuna stopped her.

"Oh, I'm sure you didn't Director." Ahiru said politely, although she knew it was somewhat true.

"No, Fakir did wonderfully today. He does everything he can to be a good partner for you Ahiru...I don't remember seeing that kind of dedication in partnerships in a long time."

"I'll make sure to tell him."

"But Ahiru, realize that he might be the almost perfect partner, but you may need to reciprocate a bit more now that Fakir has learned to step back the slightest. The male does not always lead, because when we Ballerina's are on our own, we must support ourselves, and whoever else we are dancing with on the stage by doing this. We each are our own character; today you were Marie and he the Nutcracker, two separate rolls, that must each be different and unite in a single duet."

Ahiru nodded. Setsuna had proven to be by far one of the strongest and smartest directors. Ahiru wondered if maybe she was also right about letting Fakir rest. Fakir was always around her; maybe he needed some time to rest his muscles and his mind. She'd just go home and try to relax herself, and visit him later. All of this was even starting to overwhelm her.

She wondered if life would ever be easy for them, because it always seemed to complicate, just as Setsuna said; they were their own character, and she wasn't sure if they'd ever be able to separate from that.