Book 3: Heart Strings

Chapter 26: Dancing

Turning Tides

Chapter 26

Dancing

Tang hadn't danced this much since he was at his own wedding some centuries ago. Raya's wedding didn't have dancing, it had a lot of talking and getting to know people. Wolves were very social people. Especially when a bit of wine was involved. He also never seen the Demon bull family dance or even laugh this much ever. When he was on his journey he never thought it possible for these two families to be tied together so sweetly.

The song ended and there were several people clapping. Tang felt a tug on his sleeve. He expected to see Suna. He saw Jade standing there instead. He didn't seem too tired actually, perhaps his chakra was fine and he was...

"Would you honor me with a dance father?" She bowed to him respectfully. Tang looked at Pigsy who picked up Suna and spun her around.

"A bit of a daddy daughter dance then? You hang tight Tona...daddy'll get to you in a minute." Tona waved at him.

"Oh don't worry, I have the camera. I'm getting tons of pictures!" Oh yeah she was the wedding photographer.

"Still got a dance for you too, sweetheart." He called back. Tona rolled her eyes and kept taking pictures.

"She can't dance." Jade told Pigsy.

"No time like the present to learn." Pigsy said and laughed as he spun around. Suna giggled and leaned back.

Jade watched her father intently, for any signs of low energy. The only thing she really caught was the fact that he got dizzy if they spun for too long. In all honesty so did she.

"You alright?" Tang asked. Jade shook her head and cleared her throat.

"Do you get dizzy if you dance too long?" She asked. Tang steered her over to a chair and sat down holding his hands up. Two cups were placed in front of them. Tang took a sip of the drink and cleared his throat and coughed.

"Whoa...thats wine." he cleared his throat again. Jade set her cup down and covered her mouth.

"Yes, it's um...strong." Her cheeks were pink. She must have been embarrassed by it.

"Not our usual choice of drink." Tang admitted before pushing the cup away.

"Your chakra should be running out soon though father. You should let me." She reached out touching his forehead. To anyone on the outside, it would look like she was using her thumb to check his temperature, but Wukong could see what she was doing from where he sat taking a breather.

"Dad?" Yomi called taking his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. She was up to his chest now. She had grown so much since everything started.

"Oh no you don't..." Yomi giggled as she twirled out of Wukongs hands and dipped. Yomi just giggled as she just went at it.

"Yomi!" Tao called out waving from Tyla's arms. Yomi held out her arms and Tao jumped away from his mom and started to dance with his aunt instead.

Tyla sighed and leaned against Macaque.

"Okay I'm going to find some punch." She walked off to the punch bowl.

"Having fun?" She turned at the familiar voice.

"Baryl, hi." She said using her fan. She felt incredibly overheated and sweaty. "Wanna go out on the balcony. I need some fresh air." She didn't even wait for his affirmation. She grabbed a cup of punch and walked outside.

Baryl followed her and watched her in the setting sun.

"You know if your other dad sees me out here I'm probably going to be chucked the other way." Baryl said, sipping the punch.

"Then why are you here?" Tyla asked sitting on one of the many garden tables. There were trees with lights floating in them. It caused the area to glow in the steadily decreasing light.

"Free food." He said honestly. Tyla blushed as she looked at him.

"I uh...sorry...but why? You live on flower fruit mountain. It always has fruit."

"No...you live on flower fruit mountain. I live in a cave in a barren part of the mountain...closer to here then to you." She looked amazed for a moment.

"You live with us." She told him. He almost looked angry. At least until she touched his lip. It seemed that he melted at the touch. "King's orders, he saw us together. As long as you help us...as long as you help...me." She suddenly felt shy.

"I'm not looking for a hand out." He said gruffly. Tyla looked away from him. Her heart felt raw now.

"I am not a hand out." Wait no, that's not what he meant! Yet there she went, back into the party.

"Well that was the worst you could do aside from saying no straight out." He turned to see a wolf man and a monkey woman sitting with two children letting them eat. They were having growth spurts and they were eating a lot.

"Never seen her take someone so well, and then look so pushed away before." Jin said. Raya shrugged.

"I have, with dad...happened a lot actually. Figured she'd be used to it by now. Maybe she really will be alone for the rest of her life." Raya said. The look she gave Baryl wasn't a good one. Actually he felt challenged by her. He almost looked like he was going to square off only to realize that the majority of the seats around them were full of nothing but wolf people. Some sit, others dancing.

"Best go apologize..." The wolf boy in Raya's lap said. The bean bun in his hand exploded as he looked at him.

Baryl ran...