Story by SinisterMarmalade.
A special thanks to Moonbunny 777 for my first four reviews. I would say you inspired me to write more. I would also like to thank Song Hai for additional encouragement and MissScarlette for her good advice. Thank you all very much, and thanks to all who read my works.
As always, I intend neither disrespect, infringement nor profit of the intellectual properties mentioned herein. On with the show.
Another Strange Love Song: Part Six
Mina pulled up to the Cherry Hill Temple Shrine in a new Miata convertible painted Stormy Blue Mica. While she liked yellow, this color appealed to her in a calm, cool and soothing sense. The balance of cute and sexy in the car's design didn't hurt either. She herself was attired in a yellow sundress that contrasted well with the car's color scheme. Mina reflected to herself that in the height of summer a woman could look formal and still be dressed for the heat, while men generally couldn't get away with formal shorts past elementary school. She dialed Rei's cell phone, then hung up immediately as the aforementioned priestess descended the stairs. She wore a lavender dress with high heels, carrying herself with perfect grace down the long flight of narrow steps from the temple to the driveway. From her car she marveled at how Rei could do that when Mina herself would have tripped twice on the way down. Even when the moment was interrupted by the belated ringtone from Rei's purse the rhythm of her movement continued fluidly. It was almost like music how Rei incorporated the new discord into the overarcing dance and made them fit. The priestess glanced at the offending device and glared in Mina's direction. Her blonde friend, however, had to giggle as the ringtone was the 'Pioneer' theme from Tenchi Muyo. Despite her well ingrained mannerisms, Rei was otaku and failed to hide it.
"You have no patience, Mina-chan," Rei said as she climbed into the car.
"And you have a crush on, let me see, at least seven different anime bishounen. At last count anyway," Mina responded. Rei blushed, and Mina giggled. "Don't worry about it too much, I'd crush on Keiichi Morisato too. Such a nice guy..."
"We should make haste to our appointment. I do not want to drag out this evening any more than we have to," the brunette priestess interrupted, tossing her hair as she spoke.
"Now what I wonder is why you have a plushie of Dark Schneider. What does that say about you, Rei, and should I be worried?"
"Minaaa..." Rei growled as Mina laughed aloud. The blonde put the car in gear and they drove off to their scheduled dinner.
At the Winner mansion Trowa sat next to Ami at the table as Duo watched Rashid bustle in the kitchen (Quatre wouldn't let Duo carry the food to the table after he had changed into his formal attire). Heero leaned nearby, radiating impatience, while Quatre kept himself busy going over last minute details and Wu Fei attempted to hide away in his room with an old book he had managed to save entitled "Cat's Cradle."
Rei thought back to when she first heard of Quatre Raberba Winner. The second emotion connected with him was indignant rage. The first was betrayal.
"I can't believe you would do this!" A young raven haired girl screamed. An open hand swiftly came across her face, leaving an angry red mark, her father's disapproval. As a well respected and ambitious diplomat, he had already sacrificed her mother's will to his own, the fire he married her for long ago gone cold. Later her life would follow, destroyed in assassination as a message her father would only care about as it applied to his goals. In the meantime, he would not have his carefully constructed plans disrupted by a disobedient daughter.
"You will marry this boy. I am sorry if you don't like the idea, but as a child of my blood and a woman of such high standing, you will acquiesce. In time you will come to care for him, and bear him children. This arrangement was made before either of you were born that you two will be married when you are each eighteen years old. We will soon be going to meet him and his father. You can console yourself with the fact you won't need to worry about your marriage for another twelve years." Her father, almost faceless in her memory by now, knelt down to her level and stared into her eyes. "Despite your youth, you will act as a proper woman of august character. You will not embarass me." Rei, ever her own girl, stuck her tongue out at him and raspberried. Again, his hand violently flew across her face.
"Maid, see that make-up is applied to cover any marks on her face. She will look perfect for her future husband. Rei, I'm sure Mr. Winner will be equally surprised as you. I expect, however, that he will respond with proper grace, something you have yet to learn." Her father left the room, the sound of hard leather soles echoed in the expansive hallway.
Words flitted through her mind, 'Things will be alright Rei-chan. None of this unpleasantness will matter, and you will just move forward with your life.' Her mother's voice had drifted away from her memory. A blank mannequin turned away and ascended the stairs. It was ironic that she remembered her father better just because he was belligerent and her mother wasn't.
Rei remembered the party. To indulge the young fiancees, the grounds outside the Winner estate were decorated with balloons and cheerful colors on everything. It was a waste as neither of them seemed to notice the lighter mood. Rei took it as a good sign, however, that Quatre had a little make-up on the side of his face as well, a mark of free thinking rebellion. Drawing him aside, she attempted to make conversation.
"I see this doesn't suit you either. I am Rei Hino," she said with a smile, bowing formally. The young boy looked back at her with a bored expression.
"It doesn't really matter what we think of this. It is simply another meaningless act. In any case, there is no reason to attempt to be friends as we clearly do not relish the thought of spending our lives together."
Rei glared back at him. "I understand that you must be upset, but don't take your anger out on me! I'm not forcing you to marry anyone!"
"Hm. This excercise in controlled civility is a failure, I see. I suppose you should not be so upset, as I imagine any marriage involving a shrew like you could only come about if it were forced," Quatre replied nonchalantly. At this point everyone was watching the two youngsters interact, but neither of them seemed to notice. Rei's face was red with suppressed rage. Quatre smirked.
"I am sorry to say that you have none of the qualities that I was assured in a future wife. I suppose you should pay closer attention to your mother, who at leas..."
SMACK!
The sound reverberated in the air, seeming to hang longer than was actually possible. Rei knew it must have hurt severely, as even her hand was sore and red. The side of Quatre's face looked more as if he had been badly sunburned but in a hand shaped pattern. Still, he had deserved it.
It was as if sound and movement started back up from a pause in film. Rei's father took her roughly by the hand and pulled her to their car, apologizing to Quatre's father on the way. When they were safely back at her parent's home (she never really thought of it as hers) she recieved the most severe beating from her father she had ever experienced. Just the same, she knew if history repeated itself, she would not have changed any of her actions.
"We're here!" exclaimed Mina excitedly. Rei snapped out of her reverie and stretched. She did not look forward to this.