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“Come down the auburn path and light my lonely way.

Stay by my side now on from today.

Shimmer in the moonlight, dazzle in the rain

Dance with me in moonlight now upon the fertile plains”

I danced as I sang, my body fluid and hypnotic as I matched Mari’s steps behind me. My arms reached toward the sky and the music paused. A second later the bass exploded from the speakers and our dance switched from slow and sensual to frenetic, balancing on the razor’s edge of control.

“Drain me with your kiss Fuller!

Make me hollow don’t miss Fuller!

Slide into me make me cry Fuller!

Kiss me, miss me don’t wanna die Fuller!

Blind me with your gleam Fuller!

Your valley is obscene Fuller!

Put me in my place Fuller!

Hold me fold me in your cold embrace Fuller!”

I knew my voice was weakening, I could hear it through the music and my vision seemed to have blurred so that everything was swimming. Sweat poured down my face as I willed my body to continue on through the pain of my burning muscles. My thoughts were dull and listless through the throbbing pain of my headache. I spun and swayed my way behind Mari, running my hand over her hip as I passed just behind her, feeling the fabric of her skirt beneath my fingers. It felt a little like silk, I thought absently. It must be very expensive. The music dipped to a low single note echoing in the hall and Mari ran her hand up my belly and rested her fingers between my breasts sensuously, my own hand slid up her arm as we turned our heads away from each other and rested on her shoulder. The music began to thump again, more frenetic than before as Mari began her rap.

“Kunoichi throwing up a blade

Mari gonna make your dreams made

No one gonna know we not gonna show

All the hills and valleys that we roll

Never gonna see us frown

We gonna make you drown

Going up come back down

We gonna wreck this town

Mess your mind, take your time, get down with our sound.

You think you gonna get with me?

Think you got the church key?

Pick my locks? You a fox? Open my box?

Nah, boy, you just a thot.

Time to go home to mama

You just a little wanna

We’re Kunoichi, not your girls

Got no interest in giving you a whirl

You talking to Mari, I’m like a Ferrari

You’re just like a Jalopy

You best get a hobby

Cause you got no shot with me.

Fuller!”

I joined her for the final line and the music dipped, becoming dreamy and subdued, our movements changed to reflect the change in tune and the slow, sensual steps brought us close together once more. I was always amazed at the speed and precision Mari had when she rapped. She knew her lines and sang them with conviction but always with a hint of mischief and playfulness that made everything she sang endearing.

Mari and I danced close, hands brushing down each other’s sides as the purple glow of the floodlights bathed us in cool hues. I was somewhat alarmed that I could barely see Mari’s face. Sweat was pouring into my eyes and it took all of my concentration to keep my feet from getting tangled. I knew I was breathing heavily, I could hear it through the microphone, even though I had it away from my lips. “I can do this!” I thought, my legs feeling like rubber.

“I will do this!” I tried to regain absolute control of my faltering body and will it to do what was needed. I saw the alarm in Mari’s eyes as the choreography demanded the next split but nothing could be done to reassure her. Mari headed to the left, her body moving sensuously while I moved to the right, mimicking her motions. As I began the turn to come back together for the next verse my control bent, strained and snapped. My feet became tangled in themselves and I felt myself begin to tip.

My muscles kept me upright for a moment, their memory of the movements they were supposed to do far superior to my aching mind’s but it was too little too late. I corrected my steps, over corrected, spun in a slow graceless arc, tripped again and began to go down.

Odd, I thought placidly, calmly. It felt like I was watching myself from somewhere slightly above and behind my own body. I look like…hmmm, I thought back. What were those animals I had done a school report on as a second year in high school? A mountain goat? No. Ah! I remembered, now. A takin! I’d liked them because they always looked like they were on the verge of tipping over. Their legs were ungainly and alternated between stiff-legged awkward marching and swaying drunkenly. That’s what I look like, now, I marveled.

Oh, I thought and narrowed my eyes in anticipation. This isn’t good. If I don’t get my arms up this is going to hurt. My reactions were sluggish and though my arms moved I was too slow and scattered with my movements, trying alternately to keep myself from landing hard on my belly or slamming into the wall with my head. In the end I succeeded at neither. Looks like I failed the audition, I thought sadly before the world exploded around me and I lay still.