Author's Note: Well, I've seen how many hits and visitors around the world "Watashi No Tenshi-My Angel" has been getting (doesn't the new "Reader Traffic" link ROCK!) that I decided to write a follow up in the Jindai High School universe, using characters from FMP! FUMOFFU, which was based on Gatou-sama's collection of comedic short stories revolving around Sousuke and Kaname's growing high school romance. So I'm trying to write a romantic comedy that would fit the bill. And I did some research to see if Japanese high schools had formal dances like proms but couldn't find anything but the autumn culture festivals so I created a formal event revolving around a holiday in Japan called Bunka no hi (Culture Day November 3). And you know the drill, I don't own FMP or it's characters, they belong to Gatou Shouji and his talented mind.

DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?

PROLOGUE-HEARTS APART

It was a brilliant day in late October at Jindai Municipal High School, and plans for the annual celebration of the Cultural Festival were in full swing. The entire school was abuzz with preparations for all kinds of amusements and entertainments spanning the entire week with the wrap up being the Autumn Leaf Cotillion on November 3rd- Bunka no hi. With tickets going for 30,000 yen it was shaping up to be quite the gala, with the location being the grand ballroom of an elegant five-star hotel in Tokyo. And if that were not impressive enough, the student council secretary Mikihara Ren, whose father's many yakuza connections included those in the entertainment field, had secured the top pop sensation in Japan, the Suppin Girls to perform the music. So it was quite obvious that the excitement level among the student body was in stratospheric heights with the exception of one…

Chidori Kaname, the student council Vice President was seated in the quad behind the cafeteria at a picnic table beneath the multi-colored canopy of a sakura tree eating her lunch alone as she periodically glanced around as if expecting someone to join her. Sighing in annoyance, her usually cheerful demeanor was a mixture of disappointment and dejection; all a product of her frustration with the object of her affection…

Damn that Sousuke she fumed silently what the hell is his problem anyway? I thought that things between us were, well…different…closer…at least after THAT night…

Kaname sighed as she again remembered the night at her place where Sousuke had broken through the barrier that had been between them as Mithril sergeant SRT bodyguard Urzu-7 and Whispered subject Angel and kissed her. Fingering her lips with a dreamy expression she imagined his arms locked around her as he claimed her as his "angel" while she all but melted in his embrace…

Then, for the umpteenth time she remembered what had happened next…and her lovely face became desolate all over again…

After Sousuke had kissed Kaname a second time, he held her silently, reverently as if she were a precious treasure and she clung to him like she never wanted to let him go. Finally, they drew apart, gazing dazedly at each other then the spell was broken as Sousuke seemed to realize that they had crossed that invisible barrier between them and he looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights. He then stammered a perfunctory excuse and beat a path out of her door, leaving Kaname staring after him in absolute stunned dismay…

I don't get it she said sadly. After everything we went through, on the submarine and in Hong Kong, I thought we were ready for a real relationship. When we flew back to Tokyo I even began to think of Sousuke as my boyfriend…he had come back with me after the big battle after all…then those kisses of his, rocking my world…now he's done a complete 180, totally avoiding me…

Toying with her bento box Kaname then thought about how the news of the Autumn Leaf Cotillion had swept the eleventh grade class like a wildfire. And as she glanced around the quad, evidence of the excitement of the class was present as it seemed that everyone was pairing up. Affectionate couples were all surrounding her, acting like veritable lovebirds, billing and cooing to each other, making her feel even more depressed…

Man this sucks…it really sucks Kaname groused. As the student council vice president I'll have to make an appearance to the Cotillion but the way things are going it looks like I'm going to have to go by myself…or maybe Kyoko and Mizuki can go with me, like going to a party together…

Cheered by that thought Kaname smiled and popped a rice ball in her mouth, as she accepted her situation with Sousuke for what it was. But her complacency was short-lived as Mizuki came up to her, bubbling over with excitement with Onodera Kotaro by her side…

"Hi Kaname," Mizuki greeted her as she sat down, her pert features lit up like a Christmas tree. OnoD also sat right beside her, hands linked as they seemed to be nearly bursting with some news.

'Well you guys? You look like you…," Kaname began but Mizuki was ebullient and cut her off excitedly.

"Kaname, OnoD asked me to go with him to the Autumn Leaf Cotillion and I said yes!" She was practically overflowing with joy while OnoD appeared somewhat calmer as he sat there and wore an expression of satisfaction, nonchalantly resting his head in his hands.

"Oh congratulations," Kaname said with a cheery smile that masked her rapidly sinking spirits. Her own situation was becoming bleaker and OnoD's next question was shining a bright light on what she was trying hard to conceal.

"So Chidori, we're going to hire a limo for the party so why don't you and Sagara join us? I'll tell him that the rental for the limo's about 60,000 yen but if we split it with you two and another couple we all ought to be able to do it."

Kaname's carefully fixed smile faded as she replied, "Ah, I don't know, guys." She reached for her bottle of iced green tea to take a drink as she thought how'm I gonna get out of this?

But OnoD was determined. "C'mon Chidori, it's not like Sagara's hurting for cash. I mean, look at the heat he's packing and he always has cash on him." His eyes widened as he added in astonishment, "You don't think he deals in drugs, do ya?"

Kaname was taking a sip of tea from the bottle and sputtered as she spit out the mouthful as she hotly denied, 'O-of course not, OnoD. Why would you even think that?"

"I don't know, Chidori. I just thought…," OnoD was quick to placate her but anxious to defend Sousuke she ran over his words like a ten ton truck.

"Well don't! Because Sousuke's just a major league military nut whose stepfather happens to be loaded. So get that thought out of your head right now," Kaname insisted as she watched the couple's reaction to her over-reaction.

Both Mizuki and Onodera were stunned by her attitude as Mizuki said defensively, "Chill out, he didn't mean anything by it. He was just making a comment while trying to invite you and Sagara to join us. Geez!"

"I'm sorry, guys," Kaname apologized as she inwardly sighed in relief That was close. I wasn't ready to explain that Sousuke's actually a mercenary sergeant at Mithril guarding me because I'm a Whispered…like they'd ever get that… She bowed contritely as she continued sadly, "I appreciate the gesture but to tell you the truth…uh, Sousuke hasn't asked me…yet."

Mizuki's teal eyes widened. "Really? But you two are like…the Class Four couple…I mean you're…always together." She studied Kaname intently as she added, "Except for the last week after you both came back. For that matter, why were you both out of school anyway, huh?"

"Uhh," Kaname began but was rescued by the exuberant summons of her best friend Kyoko who came over with Kazama Shinji trailing behind her.

"Hey Kana-chan!" Kyoko called and waved as the two came over to plop down at the table opposite OnoD and Mizuki who were flanking Kaname. As they sat down their expressions indicated that they had exciting news to spill as well.

"So what's up with you two? It looks like you've got something exciting to tell me," Kaname pointed out as she observed her best friend's manner. Perpetually cheerful Kyoko was always smiling but today she was positively giddy and Kazama was different from his usual studious self, with a somewhat dazed but happy look on his face. She had a strong suspicion, based on the joy emanating from the two that the news was similar to what OnoD and Mizuki had told her.

Kyoko nodded, causing her pigtails to bounce as she replied, "Uh-huh, we do." She reached over and grasped Kazama's hand as he grinned and squeezed it in return.

To Kaname it was pretty obvious what they were going to say and a lonely chill filled her, making her feel empty but she ignored the hollow feeling inside as she smiled and said, "Well don't leave me hanging, out with it."

Kyoko lowered her head demurely as she said, "Shinji asked me to go with him to the Autumn Leaf Cotillion and I said yes."

"Oh wow really?" Mizuki said as she leaned forward, taking hold of OnoD's hand as she added, "Me and OnoD are going too and we're even getting a limo for the night." She glanced at Kaname quickly and went on, "We came to ask Kaname and Sagara to come with us but she just told us that Sagara hasn't asked her yet."

Kyoko eyed her friend in amazement. "Is that true, Kana-chan? Sousuke hasn't asked you?"

The girls were displaying genuine surprise and dismay while the boys just looked uncomfortable in the face of possible female backlash. Kaname scanned the faces of her friends and although she was fighting a rapid descent into despair she brightened up, pasting a smile on her pink lips for their benefit.

"It's okay guys. I'm sure Sousuke will eventually get around to asking me. So don't worry about me, okay?" She got to her feet and gathering the still full bento box, her eyes glistening with unshed tears said with a slight tremor, "I gotta get to my next class so see ya later."

Kaname then took off at a run, leaving the four looking after her, while she ducked into the activities building and hiding under the staircase in the hall allowed the hot rivulets to run from her eyes…

Meanwhile, unknown to her, Kaname had been watched intently while sitting in the quad by none other than Sousuke, who was steeped in agony as well. Surreptitiously observing her from the window of the student council room, which was conveniently overlooking the quad his heart ached with the knowledge of what had transpired between them. However knowing that the circumstance was of his own creation made it far worse as he found himself avoiding the person without which he could not live as he violently cursed himself for being such a fool…

When he arrived back at his apartment after racing away from Kaname's that night Sousuke was completely distressed, inundated by the tempest of emotions lashing at his heart, mind and soul. He was bemused, bewitched, and bewildered as he sought to get himself together and needing some counsel, took his cell phone and dialed up one of his Mithril comrades…

After several rings, a rather annoyed and groggy tenor voice answered, "Yeah?"

"Urzu-6 this is Urzu-7…requesting…"

"Urzu-7…Sousuke? What the hell.."

"Requesting information regarding my present mission, Urzu-6."

Kurz groaned, "Give it a rest, Sousuke. Last I heard you only have part time status with Mithril, by YOUR request. So try talking to me regular, okay?"

Sousuke sighed, "Understood. So can I talk to you? It sounds like I just woke you up."

Kurz yawned loudly then said, "I just got back from one of Mao's little surprise midnight maneuvers on the beach…I swear that chick's a masochist and gets off on making me work my ass 'til I drop. All she needs is leather hip boots, a black lace teddie with a wonder bra, a spiked collar and a whip…whoa what a hot picture that makes, eh buddy boy?"

Sousuke shook the brief picture of the buxom sergeant major of the SRT unit dressed as a dominatrix from his mind as he sighed again and said, "I highly doubt that Mao would appreciate your placing her as star in your X-rated imagination. Look Kurz I really need to talk to you…so could you put the porno fantasies about our CO on hold?"

"Man, do I have to? Painting little pictures like that in my head makes life worthwhile."

"Kurz..,"

The blond snickered, "Alright, alright, chill will ya." His tone became more serious as he added,"Sure bro, I'm here for ya. So talk to me."

His apartment was void of any real furnishings so Sousuke sank down on the tatani as he sighed again and began his tale. "Kurz, I just did what was probably what you would call THE bonehead blunder of my entire life…and I still don't know why I did it."

Kurz responded, "Man, don't be so hard on yourself. You're a top-notch commando Sousuke, second to none but you're human man…just like the rest of us you're bound to slip up every now and then…so don't have a cow, my friend."

Sousuke said, "Thanks for the vote of confidence but I wasn't talking about a mistake I made in warfare. It's…another type of mistake…one that won't be so easy to correct." He sighed deeply.

"So," Kurz urged. "Spill it, man…what did ya do?"

Sousuke sighed again and replied, "I…kissed Kaname."

Silence met his statement for a split second before Kurz asked, "Come again?"

"I said I kissed Kaname," Sousuke repeated then pulled the phone away as it exploded.

"WHOOO-HOO! Way to go Sousuke my man, and it's about time! So don't leave me hangin', tell me all the juicy details…what else did you do?"

Totally perplexed Sousuke asked, "What are you talking about… details? I just kissed her."

"That's all?"

"Affirmative."

Kurz barely murmured, "Geez, you really are hopeless."

"What was that?" Sousuke demanded.

"Nothing." Kurz sighed and then asked, "Okay, so what did you do?"

Sousuke sighed yet again as he answered, "Like I said, I kissed her…she was making us dinner and I just wanted to hold her…so I snuck up behind her…"

"Ah, an attack from the rear…from a tactical standpoint a good approach," Kurz approved. "Go on…"

Sousuke ignored the allegory and continued, "Anyway, I kissed her…then I kissed her again."

"Sounds good so far, pal. So what kind of kisser is she?" Kurz asked slyly.

Sousuke closed his eyes as he relived the moment he experienced the ecstasy of finally tasting Kaname. "Outstanding…she's…amazing…"

Kurz chuckled, "I bet…she must've been scrumptious. So what else happened?"

Sousuke hesitated as he remembered how he had embraced Kaname, calling her his angel and then it was like he had been floating down to earth and his parachute collapsed, slamming him onto the hard waves of reality. He saw that he may have committed the major gaffe in allowing his emotions to finally surface and as such panicked, fleeing the scene of the crime.

"I…got scared…and I took off," he muttered reluctantly.

The silence of the other end was expected and seemed endless until Kurz said quietly and incredulously, "Let me get this all straight…you freaked out when you were relieved of guarding Kaname…went AWOL in Hong Kong because you missed her so much you couldn't stop thinking about her, blowing off a mission...then said screw you and everything to Mithril to stay in Tokyo with her…finally kissed her…and then after all that you split on her. Is that right?"

Sousuke sighed, "Yeah."

"Well, I have just one thing to say to you, Sousuke…and I hope you'll take it in the manner it's being said, from a close friend who cares about you…"

"Go ahead."

"You're…a damned idiot!"

Sousuke agreed Kurz was right…I am a damned idiot…a real ass…why the hell did I run away from Kaname, right after I kissed her when it was what I've dreamed of doing ever since I first laid eyes on her. And what do I do? I run away from her like she was a hundred man platoon of enemy advancing on me…

He continued gazing at the beautiful girl who had stolen his heart, the sun spattering through the multi-colored spread of sakura leaves on her, enveloping her in vibrant colors, so like her. But even from the second floor window of the student council room Sousuke could spot Kaname's slim shoulders slumped in dejection indicating that the vibrant spirit had seeped from her…and he felt a fresh wave of guilt wash over him…

"Sagara-san?" a soft voice called to Sousuke from the doorway, and he reluctantly turned away from his observation post to see Mikihara Ren and Sempai Hayashimizu Atsunobu waiting.

"So are you ready, Sagara-kun?" Sempai Hayashimizu inquired as he strode over to the window and peered out then leaned back with a knowing expression and a glint in his gentian eyes. He placed a brotherly hand on Sousuke's shoulder.

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

"Yes sir." Sergeant Sagara Sousuke, AKA Urzu-7 snapped a salute and then followed Sempai Hayashimizu and Mikihara out of the student council room…

NEXT…SOUSUKE'S REAL DILEMMA….ENTER TSUBAKI