Chapter 8 

	Later that afternoon, Taitsukun 
sent out a couple of NyanNyans to tell 
everyone they needed to go in for dinner. 
She showed the men to where they could 
bathe and get dressed, and showed the 
women to where they could go bathe and
 get dressed. (Okay, now all I'm going 
into is what the girls are doing before 
dinner. They're already dressed, just
 picture something Lady Kourin/Nuriko 
would wear for the girls.)

	All the girls were in a room, 
fixing their hair in an attempt to get 
ready. Miaka, Minamida, Fate and Willow 
were crowding around a mirror, and 
managing somehow to get it all in their
 respective styles. 

	Miaka had her long hair down, 
except for two strands from either side 
which were twisted around and tied at the
 back of her head. Minamida had her hair 
swept up on top of her head and held there 
with bobby pins. A few tendrils had slipped 
out and now framed her face. Fate's hair
 was put into two braids, with ribbons
 entwined into each one. Willow had her 
hair swept sideways and tied into a low
 ponytail behind her left ear. 

	Yui placed a ribbon at the nape 
of her neck, brought it up, and tied it
 at the top of her head. The ribbon held
 there nicely, like a headband. Ariana 
had put her hair up like Sailor Moon's. 
Her reply to everyone's comments were, 
"Why not? I doubt any of them even know 
who Sailor Moon is anyway, so what's it
 matter?" Makoto's hair was down, and it
 waved and curled slightly. She braided 
a small bit by each ear, for decoration. 
	
	A NyanNyan knocked then walked into 
the room, "Taitsukun-san says it's time to
 eat." With a cute giggle, she disappeared. 

	"Well, lets go," Yui said, rising 
gracefully. 

	"Yah, but where do we 'go' to?" 
Willow asked. 

	"That's what we're for," a voice
 said from the hallway. Tamahome, Tasuki, and Chichiri, all in their 
nicest clothing, 
were standing in the hall. Tamahome held 
out his arms. Ariana took his right, while 
Makoto took his left. Tasuki had Willow 
on one arm, and Fate on the other. And
 Chichiri had Yui and Miaka on his arms. 
He glanced over at Minamida, who looked
 slightly hurt that she was the only one
 left without anyone to walk with, but 
she quickly hid it with a goofy grin. 

	"I don't know 'bout you all, but
 I'm ready to eat!"  

	"Eat?! You want to actually eat?" 
Fate teased.  

	"What's so bad with that?" 
Miaka asked. 

	Everyone face faulted. 

	Once everyone had recovered, they 
headed into the dining room. Just like 
Hotohori's, Taitsukun's table was filled 
with all sorts of food. Most of which the
 girls had never seen. Taitsukun waited 
patiently while everyone got situated. 
Once they had sufficient time to stare 
hungrily at all the food, she spoke. 

	"Ahem," the old woman cleared
 her throat, "Glad to see you like it.
 Go ahead, eat what you want. Tonight,
 is your night, for whatever you may 
want to do. But tomorrow, that is when 
we get down to business."  With that
 said, she sat down, and nodded for 
everyone to eat. 

	There was a vast assortment of 
foods, much to everyone's delight. 

	"Mina-chan, try some of this
 pastry, it's great!" 

	"Thanks Willow. And could you
 hand me that bowl of strawberries, I 
want to try some of that with this cream." 
	
	"Tasuki, could you hand me 
that almond paste?"

	"Sure Ariana, but only if you 
try some of this Sake with it." 

	"Sake!?" Willow said perking 
up instantly. 

	"Willow!" Everyone else exclaimed. 

	"What?" 

	"Itadakimasu!! This is great stuff, isn't it Chichiri?"

	"Yes, Miaka, it sure is no da." 

	"Mako-chan, have you tried 
any of this cake?"

	"Nope, I haven't yet, Tamahome. 
Hey, have you tried any of this 
raspberry fizzy stuff?" 

	"Yui, isn't this stuff great?"
	
	"No kidding Fate, this is
 wonderful!" 

	And so on and so forth...

	"Ooh, I'm stuffed! What 
say you Chichiri?" 

	"I'm stuffed too, Fate 
no da." 

	"That was so good, wasn't 
it Ariana?" 

	"You betcha Mako-chan!" 

	"I think I ate too much.
 What about you Willow?"

	"Hiccup! I shidn't 
Miaka-chan, but I thinks Tasuki 
had a little hic! too much Shaw kay." 

	"Hiccup! Shez who? Hic! 
And besidesh, wha'bout you huh?" 

	"Minamida, are you totally 
stuffed?"

	"Uh huh, yes I am Yui." 

	"That was so good!" 

	"I agree with Tamahome." One of 
the NyanNyan's said with a giggle. 

	"I'm glad you all like it," 
Taitsukun said, thoroughly pleased. 
"Now, if you don't mind, I was thinking
 a little bit of music might do you all some good." 

	Everyone groaned, but 
instantly brightened when Taitsukun 
glared at them all. 

	A few minutes later, music
 was playing and people were dancing.
 Ariana and Tamahome had partnered up. 
Willow and Tasuki were paired up in the
 jitterbug. It was quite a funny site, 
since Tasuki was totally plastered and 
Willow was slightly tipsy, yet somehow
 they managed to get most of the steps down. 

Makoto had paired up with a NyanNyan
 just for the hell of it. Fate was
 dancing by herself provocatively, 
swinging her hips in time to the 
music, and just having a blast. 
Miaka and Yui danced by themselves 
too, but different than Fate. 

	There was much laughter 
as they all danced and goofed off.
 Suddenly, the music went slower. 
Ariana and Tamahome kept on dancing,
 much to the teasing of the others.
 Everyone else stood back, and watched. 

Makoto grinned mischeviously, and walked
 to the middle of the floor, where 
she proceeded to dance by herself, 
her arms held up as if she had a 
partner. She was quite surprised 
when someone clasped her hands in 
theirs and began to dance in time
 with her. Makoto looked up to see 
Chichiri smiling at her. His grin
 grew wider for an instant, as he 
began twirling in time with her. 

	It was quite a night, full 
of laughter and fun. It was also
 a night that noone would forget. 
Probably because Tamahome had the 
guts to kiss Ariana, while everyone 
was watching...

	Tamahome glanced down at 
Ariana, who was smiling dreamily, 
"Silver Ryou for your thoughts?"

	"Hmm?" Ariana glanced up,
 "Oh, sorry. I just was thinking...
what is it that Taitsukun wants us 
to do tomorrow?"

	"Uh...I'm not sure, really...
but I know we'll find out soon enough." 

	"Oh," Ariana looked down 
at her feet, "Okay." 

	They kept on dancing, until 
Ariana spoke up again. 

	"Y'know, you're a good 
dancer. Where'd you learn to 
dance so well?"

	Tamahome didn't answer. 
He thought back to when he was 
with Miaka, and how she had 
taught him how to dance. And
 now he was dancing with Ariana.

	"Well?"

	"Huh? Oh, well, I just 
kind of picked them up by observing, 
I guess." 

	"Oh. Well, that's nice."
 Ariana managed a small laugh, 
"Damn, I don't know what to say." 

	"Then don't," Tamahome said. 

	And then he kissed her.