This isn't a Dance; it's Hell with Streamers.

Chapter one: Let the insanity begin!

This is going to be a Halloween based story, and yes I know perfectly well that Halloween was ages ago…I actually had the idea around Halloween…I just had to finish my first story before I could start writing this one. You don't necessarily have to have read my first story, 'My Magical Misadventure' (being my first it probably well sucked) but you need to be familiar with my characters from it.

I'll give you a brief rundown:

Kallayna/Kalla: Knows (and occasionally uses) basically all forms of magic, but is best at using healing magic. Transforms into a dragon or a half dragon/half human if the situation calls for it. Can communicate telepathically. 17 years old.

Icarus/Ike: Parents died when he was young, and so was brought by Oberon and Lexis. (See below) Kalla's best friend, and occasionally her 'partner in crime'. (i.e. to bug Sakura and Li.) Best at using magic to conjure up stuff. Can transform into a giant hawk or a half hawk/half human thing. Can communicate telepathically. 17 years old.

Oberon and Lexis: Kalla's parents. Where King and Queen of planet Tee-el until it was blown up. For obvious reason they now live on Earth. (For more info. See 'My Magical Misadventure'.) Oberon can transform into a wolf or a werewolf. (Half wolf/half human, but minus the whole biting cursing thing that you usually associate with werewolf's.) Lexis, like Kalla, can turn into a dragon or a half dragon/half human. Both possess encyclopedic knowledge of all magic.

Marcus: Oberon's brother, and can turn into a wolf or werewolf if needed.

Trix, Flynn and Sage: Sisters (identical triplets to be exact). Parents unknown. Appear pretty ditsy on the outside, but are actually pretty smart. House maids at Marcus's estate. Don't possess much magic. Mainly use it to make housework easier. Usually seen pestering Li about when he's going to ask Sakura out. Can transform into cats, (all with pitch black fur but Trix has green colored eyes, Flynn has blue, and Sage has purplish colored eyes, kinda like Madison's), or half human/half cat people.

Umm I think that's about it… This ones gonna defiantly have lots of s+s in it…There's not that much in the first chapter, coz I'm leaving that for later on…heh heh heh (evil grin ) ).

Anyway, you know the drill, I don't own nuthin…so no suing allowed!

Please r+r!!

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Sakura's POV: Madison's room

Several months had passed since the battle and consequent defeat of Quillor, and quite a lot had happened. Kalla and Ike had become quite respected members of society, and were seen by the adult community as mature, respectable young adults. Well. Ike was the mature one anyway. Kalla seemed to have a split personality. Sure, she was mature enough when the adults were around, but just wait till they leave, then she acts more immature than us. Lexis and Oberon settled in quickly, and were now living with Marcus. To everyone of the magical community, they were still respected as royalty. To everyone else, they were respected as rich socialites who through a lot of parties. In between the numerous garden parties and social events, Kalla and Ike usually hung out with us. So we had plenty of opportunity to see Kalla's true personality shine.

Like today, for example. Halloween was coming up, and as a result the school was holding an outdoors celebration/fair/party, whatever you wanted to call it. (Funding courtesy of Kalla's parents and Madison's Mum). It was going to have rides (probably mostly haunted castles…yippee) games and prizes, even a 'Haunted Disco' (that name was actually agreed on by class vote…funny, I always thought democracy worked…). And of course, nothing says Halloween like costumes. They were required.

Goody.

It's not that I really minded. Contrary to popular belief, I actually enjoy dressing up. It's just that when Madison's you're designer, costumes have a tendency to be over the top.

So anyway, Kalla and I were over at Madison's, and we were currently discussing the upcoming event.

And by we, of course, I mean Madison and Kalla.

It's not like I have my own opinion or anything.

I sighed and looked down at the growing list of costume possibilities that my two 'fashion consultants' were mulling over.

But it wasn't just for me.

"What about a chicken?"

Kalla's eyes lit up at Madison's suggestion

"Ooh! Ooh! And Li can be a rooster."

I slowly rubbed a hand down my face, as the list kept growing. * uggh and I thought their first ideas were bad, but this is just getting ridiculous. *

Madison chewed on the end of her pen, while Kalla rubbed her chin in thought.

"What about a costume from the Moulin Rouge…Sakura could be courtesan!"

"Yeah! And we can design it just like the ones they wear in the video clip!"

My eyes bugged out and I waved my hands frantically in front of them "OH NO…NUH-UH, NO WAY!"

I'd seen that video clip.

"I don't care what you say, I am not wearing corset…and whatever else they actually wear…or don't wear…"

"But you'll look great Sakura!"

That's Madison for you. She'd probably think I'd look great if I were dressed in a potato sack…as long as it had puffy sleeves of course…

I shot her one of Li's patented glares, which logically, should have made a small section of the room implode. I gritted my teeth. "Hell would have to freeze over first…"

Kalla, staring off into space replied "That can be arranged you know…"

* Why me? *

I buried my face in my hands, as the conversation went back to costumes.

"But what will Li go as?"

Both girls frowned in thought, then Kalla piped up. "He can go as a pimp!"

I my head shot up, mortified "Kalla!"

Thankfully, Madison was on the same wave-link as me. "Naa, wrong character. If Li went as a pimp, Sakura would have to go as a prostitute…"

"…"

Their eyes simultaneously lit up.

* They cannot be serious * I looked up.

Oh yeah, they were serious.

Kalla looked thoughtful for a second. "But isn't a courtesan and a prostitute basically the same thing?"

"Yeah, kinda, but I think a courtesan is more upper class…"

*I can't believe they're actually discussing it…*

I groaned and rubbed my face again, then made a sort of whimper.

"Can't I just use an old battle costume?"

Madison's looked like she was going to have a seizure. Kalla patted her sympathetically on the back. "Of course not. Li's seen them all, we've gotta think of something new."

I flipped. "New?! How can you possibly come up with something new? I've got a different costume for practically every genre imaginable…and you want something new!!"

"Calm down Sakura, you'll give yourself wrinkles if you're stressed out. Li doesn't need to see that until you two grow old together."

* oh dear God, this cannot get any worse. *

I was oh-so-very wrong.

Madison started to flap her hands around like she was having an epileptic fit or something. "Ooooh ooohh! They can go as a bride and groom!"

I blocked my ears and cringed as they started squealing. Several dogs down the street started to bark when it got to a pitch that only they could here.

"This is beyond sad, you two do realize that don't you?"

Mind you, some of their earlier ideas were pretty neat. I was narrowing it down to the ones I thought were the tamest, (which wasn't really saying much if you'd actually seen the earlier ideas). I kinda liked their 'Fairy Princess' idea, which they insisted would not look at all like the 'Fairy Princess' battle costume.

But like the rest, they wanted Li to match.

Somehow I didn't like their chances of getting him into a pair of green spandex tights and pixie wings…

"Explain to me why Li has to wear a costume that matches mine?"

Madison grinned. "Oh c'mon Sakura we told you before, it's so he might get ideas to ask you out" she glanced at my mortified expression "and don't give me that look, we know you like him…"

Now, there is only one thing to do in a situation like this…

Deny, deny, deny.

"I DO NOT!"

"Sure sure…"

My left eye started to twitch all psychotic like. "We're just FRIENDS!"

Kalla rolled her eyes and simpered, "ooh we're just friends…" an evil grin spread across her features "then why do you have his number on speed dial?"

Now my right eye was starting to twitch. I was going to crack any minute now. Then they'd be in trouble. I could practically see the headlines now…

'Two upper-class teenage girls found beaten to a bloody pulp'.

'Rumors spread of a satanic cult as Police release footage of the wand-like weapon used'.

'Culprit still at large; Last seen wearing a strange costume with puffy sleeves…'.

I was so angry, all I could do was splutter. "Wha-you-I have everyone's number on speed dial!"

Kalla picked up my pink cell phone, which was lying on the floor, and waggled it in front of my face.

"Oh yeah, then how come his is number one?"

"I-It's for emergencies!"

She raised an eyebrow, then threw her hand dramatically onto her forehead, putting on a fake woebegone expression. "Oh Li, I've fallen and I can't get up, I need you to come and give me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation…"

"Kalla!"

I swear, I was this close to going ballistic. I made a dive for my cell, which Kalla was doing smoochy noises into, but I missed as she rolled out of the way and jumped up. I shot a pleading glance at Madison, but she was too busy rolling around on the ground laughing to be much help.

I took a deep breath and tried the calm approach. "Kalla…give me the phone…"

She grinned at me "Nope!"

"I mean it Kalla…give it to me."

She hesitated for a second.

Then that glint came into her eyes. That glint, I did not like. That glint, I would be all too happy never to see again in my life.

That look meant only one thing.

She was going to do something evil.

She glanced down at the phone in her hands, then chucked it to me. "Okay! There you go."

I caught it, mildly shocked that she had actually listened to me, when I heard a voice drift out of the phone. "Hello, Li speaking"

* Oh…My…God…*

I almost dropped the damn thing as I fumbled to put it up to my ear. *shit shit shit…she pressed the speed dial!…ooh she is soo going to pay for that…*

"LI!" I coughed, trying to get my voice to go back down to its normal pitch. "Li…err hi…"

"Is that you Sakura? …What's wrong with your voice?"

"Err umm nothing! Kalla just err dropped something heavy on my foot and it err…hurt."

I shot her a glare, mouthing the words. 'I'm going to hurt you.' She mouthed back, 'Ask him out!' Madison was trying so hard not to laugh that she was actually snorting.

I turned my attention to the problem at hand. "Uhh you're probably wondering why I called huh?"

"…yeahhhh…"

Kalla tapped me on the shoulder and mouthed enthusiastically 'Ask him to the dance.' I swatted at her with my free hand, in a vain attempt to get her to leave me alone, then mouthed. 'I swear, I will kill you'. Which was probably not the best thing to do.

It just encouraged her.

I saw her trot up to Madison them whisper something in her ear.

"uh Sakura…are you still there?"

I spun around and walked away from the giggling pair…I had almost forgotten about Li, well almost.

"err uh, sorry about that…err Madison was just asking me something…yes anyway…umm well you see…I didn't really mean to call you…it's not that I don't like-err-want to talk to you…uhh"

* ooh yeah, smooth, real smooth Sakura*

"umm it's just that…we were uhh doing something and I accidentally pressed the speed dial for your number…err heh heh heh. Silly me huh!"

I chewed my lip. *Well I just won the award for the lamest excuse in history…*

"…you have my number on speed dial?"

I must have been doing a pretty damn good impression of a lobster right about now. And Kalla and Madison weren't helping. They were now standing right behind me, both grinning.

*uh ohh*

They started to sing.

"Love is in the air…"

Then they started to dance.

"Everywhere I look around"

If I had my wand out, I would have fried them on the spot.

"Love is in the air, every sight and every sound!"

I tried swatting at them again, but the just danced out of the way.

*Please don't let Li hear this, please don't let Li hear this…*

"Is that Madison and Kalla singing?"

*…shit *

"uh no…it's the TV…"

Baaadddd thing to say…

It just made them sing louder.

" And you don't know if you're being foolish!

don't know if you're being wise!
But it's something that you must believe in

and it's there when you look in his eyes…"

I groped around me for something solid, and preferably blunt to hit them with. "Umm, Li could you hold on for a sec…"

"uh okay…"

I dropped the phone on the nearby bed, stooping low so I could grab a pillow, then proceeded to belt the crap out of them.

"OUT OUT, GET OUT!" Giggling, they hopped out of the room. I closed the door behind them and breathed a sigh of relief, then picked up the phone. For some unknown reason, I felt a twinge of guilt.

*…maybe I was too harsh on them…I suppose they were just mucking around...*

I am a really, really slow learner.

This time they didn't just sing…they yelled.

"LOVE IS IN THE AIR! LAA LALA LAA LALA

LOVE IS IN THE AA-AA-AAIIR!

OH OH OH OH AH AH AH AH {AN: They actually wrote the oh-oh-oh-ah bit in the lyrics for that song. Go fig.}

I jerked open the door, ready to do something painful, but they had both disappeared. I sighed again, then closed the door.

"uhh sorry about that Li…apparently they like that song…and they uhh were singing along…"

"oh okay…"

"…"

"…"

"uhh so, umm" *I can't believe I'm going to do this * "are you going to the Halloween dance next week? Coz it would be really good if you did…I mean umm, coz we could go together, umm…as a group I mean…"

*oh my God, I sound like an idiot.*

"…I don't know Sakura…dances aren't really my thing…"

I felt my stomach drop…* ughh stupid, stupid, stupid Sakura * I opened my mouth to reply when I heard what sounded like a struggle, and a very familiar female sounding voice say "Oh for the love of pete, Li, give me that…"

*Was that Mei-lin?!*

"Hey Sakura!"

"Mei-lin!"

"Yep that's me! I'm on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I'm staying at Li's again. So…has he asked you out yet?"

I screamed "what!" at about the same time I heard Li yell "Mei-lin!" This was followed by a brief scuffle, more yelling, this time in Mandarin, then a door being slammed shut.

" Sorry about that Sakura, just had to lock him onto his balcony…" I heard loud banging, then more Mandarin, in what I could only assume was insulting.

"What is he saying?"

"uhh…you don't want to know…anyway, so I hear there is a big Halloween dance thing coming up, so are you two going as a couple?"

"WHAT?! No!…WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!."

I could practically hear her eyes rolling. "Oh don't give me that…"

*Change the subject…must change the subject*

"So anyway, how have you been?"

"Stop trying to change the subject Avalon."

"But don't you still like him?"

"Yeah I suppose I do, even though the marriage was called off, but I kinda see him more as a brother now than anything else. I was pretty obsessed for a while though wasn't I?"

" Just a bit"

She laughed. "But you have to admit, he's pretty darn spunky isn't he?"

"he he oh yeah…I MEAN NO, I MEAN…WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!"

She started laughing again. "hehehe I knew it!" There was a sound of loud banging again…then I faintly felt Li's magic swell up in the distance.

"Oh crap, he can pick locks… hey I gotta go…I think I just lost my phone privileges."

"oh okay… I'll see you later then okay?"

Then I heard the last voice I wanted to hear at the moment.

"Mei-lin! Why don't you come over here, then we can make a costume for you too!"

"MADISON! Have you been listening in the whole time!"

"…"

"Kalla was too…"

"aaaarrgghhh…"

Ignoring me, Madison continued "So anyway, bring Li too, if he doesn't kill you first…"

"Okay! We'll see you in a bit, Bye!"

I hung up and dropped the phone, then ran downstairs, spotting the two culprits huddled next to the other phone. They were once again in hysterics. Growling I lunged forward, grabbing pillows, cushions…anything not bolted to the floor and attacked.

A few minutes later Ike walked into the door, carrying a stack of movies, Kero was perched in his backpack.

We paused. It looked like I was trying to stuff a cushion in Madison's ear (Who was trying to give me a concussion via pillow),; whilst trying to fend off Kalla with my foot; who was in turn trying to smother me with another cushion; whilst trying to keep balance on the back of the couch. She failed and fell out of sight with a loud 'thump'.

Ike slowly dropped the tapes to the ground. "uh did we miss something?"

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Li's POV: Phone conversation with Sakura:

I rubbed the back of my head and blushed "…I don't know Sakura…dances aren't really my thing…" I saw Mei-Lin, who had been intently listening to my side of the conversation since she heard that it was Sakura, get up and grab for the phone. "Oh for the love of pete, Li, give me that…"

"Mei-lin, let go" I struggle ensued resulting in Mei-lin being the victor. I sank onto the couch defeated, while Mei-lin happily continued the phone conversation.

"Hey Sakura!" She grinned as Sakura answered. "Yep that's me! I'm on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I'm staying at Li's again. So…has he asked you out yet?"

I yelled out "Mei-lin!" then leapt up and made a dive for the phone. I'm not really sure how it happened, but somehow I ended up on the balcony, locked out of my own house. "Mei-lin! You better open this door right now" She stuck her tongue out, turned around and ignored me. Luckily, I was speaking in Mandarin, otherwise the neighbors would have had an ear-full. I banged on the door again, then yelled the most insulting things I knew at Mei-lin. Still ignoring me, she flopped on the couch, twirling the phone cord in her fingers. I looked down at the lock. It didn't look that complicated. I concentrated a bit of my magic on the keyhole and twisted. The lock opened with a click. *Finally, one of Kalla's lesson's that was actually useful…*

I slid open the door, glared, and stalked towards the phone.

"Oh crap, he can pick locks… hey I gotta go…I think I just lost my phone privileges."

"You're gonna loose more than that if you don't give me that phone." She grinned, not in the least bit scared of me, then paused. She was listening intently at whatever was being said on the other end of the phone. "Okay! We'll see you in a bit, Bye!" She rolled over, placing the phone back in its' cradle then hopped up. "C'mon Li! We're going to Madison's!"

"What?! Why?!"

She went over to the door and grabbed our jackets. "Coz she wants to make us costumes for the dance!"

"I never said I was going, and who says you're going anyway."

"Oh give it a rest Li, everyone can go. So you're going…and that's final." She ignored my protests and pushed me out the door. "Besides if you don't go, Sakura will be all sad, and you don't want to make her sad do you?"

"WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!"

"You know, you two sure think alike. Sakura said the exact same thing."

I growled then replied through gritted teeth. "Have you ever considered that maybe that's because it's true."

She scowled. "Man you two are both in serious denial that it's just getting sad."

"I AM NOT IN DENIAL!"

"Oh yeah, then why are you blushing. You are obsessed with her."

I sighed, trying to calm down. "Mei-lin, could you just drop it." She chuckled, but kept quite anyway, giving me a chance to think. I certain green-eyed, amber haired beauty popped into my mind, causing me to blush even more. {AN: gawd…where do I come up with this stuff….} * Man I really am obsessed… * I wasn't really sure when it had happened, but sometime in the near past I had fallen head-over-heals in love with Sakura. She was just so…perfect. *But I was such a jerk to her when we met. She probably hates me. * My oh-so-annoying other, more optimistic voice popped up. *She doesn't hate you. Sure you were a big jerk, but she saw through that and you're friends now. Maybe if you pull a few smooth moves it could be a bit more than friends, if you know what I mean Wink Wink. *

*Oh just shut up *

*No can do buddy, I'm part of your conscience. * We finally arrived outside of Madison's massive estate, and Mei-lin rang the doorbell on the intercom, pulling me out of my conversation with myself.

A female voice answered through the speaker. "Yes? Who is it?"

"Mei-Lin and Li"

"Okay I'll just open the gate." The gates swung open quietly and we walked on through. Even though I had lived in an estate bigger than this one all my life, Madison's home was still impressive. We walked past the well-manicured gardens and the fountain, then up to the front door. It swung open and a smiling Madison hopped out. "Hi guys! Mei-lin, It's so good to see you again! C'mon there are some people I want you to meet. " She grabbed Mei-lin's hand and both girls trotted up the stairs and through the front door. Kalla popped her head around the door a second later "Are you coming Li, or are you just going to stand out there and practice pick up lines for Sakura all day?" I glared at her, knowing it was pointless trying to argue with her, as the more you protest, the worse she gets. I pushed past her grinning figure and walked into the house. Mei-lin was currently being introduced to Ike, as Kalla bounded in and joined them. Madison led everyone upstairs, I was bringing up the rear. Or so I thought.

"Uh, hi Li" I turned around, even though it wasn't really necessary. I knew that voice off by heart. {AN: # cough cough # corny # cough cough #}

"oh, Hey Sakura" She stepped up so that she was standing on the same step as me and we continued up the stairs. "So umm…how's the costume coming along?"

She smiled ruefully. "Slowly. My two 'fashion consultants' are pretty much keeping it a secret until the dance. I don't even think they'll let me even choose the design."

"Why am I not surprised." She laughed softly. I loved her laugh. It was addictive. * Hello, my name is Li Showron, and I'm a Sakura-holic *

"So, umm, are you going to the dance?"

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Umm yeah. They aren't really giving me much of a choice." I didn't really need to explain who 'they' were. Sakura had to put up with them all morning. She laughed again. "Yeah…so do you have any ideas of what you're going as?"

I grimaced. "Do I really have to dress up?"

"OF course you do. It's a Halloween celebration after all. At least you don't have to wear them every time a card decides to show up and kill something."

"Good point."

"Have you two finished flirting coz we have movies to watch and costumes to design." Madison grinned then arched an eyebrow, as similar expression on the faces of everyone else, whom had stopped at the top of the stairs. Ike was munching on popcorn as Beelzebub – er - Kalla continued. "Then again, this is getting pretty darn interesting. Pass the popcorn please..."

My voice was full of malice, as I growled through gritted teeth for the second time that day. "We weren't flirting" They looked unconvinced.

Kalla paused as everyone else smirked and headed off to Madison's room. "Sure you weren't" I was blushing so much, that I was surprised that I hadn't burst into flames. I pushed past Kalla not wanting to look Sakura in the face. If I had, I would have seen her blushing just as much as I was.

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Sakura's POV

I had never been so embarrassed in my life. *Who needs enemies when you have friends like these…* Kalla could be down right evil when she wanted to be. Fortunately, she left us alone after that. We discussed costume possibilities for a while. Kalla and Madison it seems had decided for me what costume I was to wear, and wouldn't let me se the list. Not that that's a bad thing, because if Li had seen it I would have died. They had headed it "Couples costumes". Li and I were the only ones on the list. The pizza's arrived and we settled down in Madison's entertainment part of the room and watched movies. We were watching The Matrix, (The big gunfight scene, were Neo and Trinity are in the foyer, going to rescue Morpheus. {AN: Like one of my fave scenes in that movie!} when Madison jumped up and clapped her hands together. "I just got the best idea for Li's costume." Kalla looked at her in interest. "Well oh imaginative one, are you going to share." Madison leaned over and whispered into her ear. "Hey that is a good idea…" She wouldn't tell anyone else of course, but for the rest of the movie, they both had these smug expressions on their faces. I really felt sorry for Li. * Poor guy…* He was starting to sweat.

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Well that's it for this chapter. Next chapter: A new card starts to show itself, and all hell breaks loose! Well not quite…but it will mess around with everyone a bit, leaving them all dazed and confused! And it isn't a card seen in the series. (i.e. I'm just making it up) SO stay tuned, dear reader, and all will be well! R+R!

Toodles! (dude…too many exclamation marks… *_* )