Chapter 7 Crisis 3-1

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Chapter 3 Crisis 3-1 “Like cherry blossoms falling, do you feel the sound?” Sorry, superstar Aaron Kwok, the only song with cherry blossoms I could think of was from your movie “Para Para Sakura,” I’m afraid I have to mangle it for the sake of entertainment. As the drum played, Sakura danced rapidly and provocatively. Maybe the musician was really good, he actually managed to match her rhythm; even if traditional j.a.panese instruments didn’t really work with the para para dance, it was better than the previous performance. Maybe because the para para dance originated in j.a.pan, as Sakura danced her heart out, more people joined her in dancing and moving. The audience’s initial shock had now become appreciation. One young man, dressed in a dark green kimono, didn’t understand the Cantonese she was singing, but managed to repeat the lyrics over and over, he also smiled at her. She returned his smile, while sneaking a look at Harun.o.bu. Harun.o.bu’s face was beet-red, his hands clutched the wine cup so hard his fingers bulged. Yeah! She won! Sakura felt vindicated, now he had to admit she was right. She better follow up even more. She proceeded to dance to the young man in green, handed him a cherry blossom flower, then tapped him with a branch to invite him to dance. The young man in green looked like a dancing expert, he soon understood everything and matched her move for move. His motions became more exaggerated and daring, sometimes even waving his hips back and forth. He also looked back at Harun.o.bu and yelled, “Big brother, come dance too!” Brother? Is this young man Harun.o.bu’s younger brother n.o.bus.h.i.+ge? Sakura was chagrined at the discovery. History books said n.o.bus.h.i.+ge was more gifted in the arts than Harun.o.bu, but never mentioned his dancing prowess. If he lived in her time, she could be his agent and make him into a superstar for sure.  “Thank you, thank you!” The dancing ended amidst much applause and cheering. Sakura let down her hair, skirt, and sleeves, while tossing pink cherry blossom petals into the audience and bowed in thanks. n.o.bus.h.i.+ge and the others yelled “encore,” as a stony-faced Harun.o.bu marched into the crowd, seized Sakura by her wrist and dragged her away to his house.  “Hey, let go!” Sakura was pressed by Harun.o.bu to the floor. She struggled, while Harun.o.bu looked so angry he could spit fire from his eyes. He clutched her shoulders, sending danger signals to her mind.  “How could you dance in such a low-cla.s.s way? Showing off your body to men? You embarra.s.sed me and you looked so happy doing it!”  “Embarra.s.sing? How? The dance is called the para para dance, the more people danced it, the better. You’re the who’s ignorant. If you don’t understand art, then don’t judge. Women are not just submissive morons in front of you!”  “How dare you? If you made me any angrier, I’d make you my woman for real!”  “Takeda Harun.o.bu! If you want to try, go ahead! Are you still a man if you forced me?” Harun.o.bu was stunned at her use of his full name.  “Men should be able to lose and get mad too. No wonder you dad favors your brother and not you!”  “Oh really? Maybe you’re right, n.o.bus.h.i.+ge is better than me at everything. Even you, a woman, could say it.” He let go of Sakura and walked out the room. Watching him leave, Sakura felt her whole body go stiff. He must be acting. He was good at acting, right? He probably wanted to win her over with this tactic, make her fall for him, and then abandon her. It seems as if, no matter if a man was ancient or contemporary, Chinese or j.a.panese, they all knew this trick. But the way he looked while leaving still made her heart ache.