One Last Breath

~By: Lauren~

D A N C E O F D O O M

Seira tugged one last curl, pulling it back in place behind her ear. Out of her palm she produced a silver clip with a butterfly carved in near the top. Ever so carefully she pushed the clip into the curl, holding it back where she desired it to be. She stepped back so she could see herself entirely in the floor length mirror that stood before her. Seira was clad in a navy blue dress. It was fitted to her form perfectly, showing off her every curve. The dress had two thin straps holding it up over her shoulders while silver cloth draped along the low neckline. Under it was a silver star that clasped the cloth to the dress. In the back the sparkling material draped down loosely past her waist. The rest of the dress was the navy color that seemed to have a glow to it. It pulled in tightly at her waist then flowed freely outward to her ankles. Her hair was scrunched into thousands of curls, each in its selected place, framing her delicate face. She jumped with shock as her doorbell echoed through her room.

"He's here." She let out a nervous breath. Her high heels clicked slightly while her dress rustled as Seira ran to the door, pulling it briskly open.

Sawatari gaped at her; his mouth frozen slightly opened. He was clad in a black and white tuxedo, looking slightly like a penguin but Seira only saw a handsome man, which he was. His blonde hair had been styled but still looked a bit the same as a few strands hung in his eyes. After a moment he regained his composure. "Y-you look beautiful...my angel."

Seira blushed, reaching out her hand, which he gratefully took. He realized he was still holding a single rose in a death grip. He held it out to her. She smiled, taking the rose and breathing in its sweet scent. "Thank you." Seira managed to murmur.

"ANY YEAR NOW!!" An annoyed voice called out behind Sawatari.

Seira squinted so she could see past him. Lina was standing impatiently, her arms crossed in front of her chest. She was wearing a black dress lined with red across the front, the spaghetti straps were red and there was a large bow on the left. The dress was form fitting also but ended at her knees. She was then wearing thin black high heels. A few strands of her blonde hair was held back with a single clip. Behind her stood Asuka Jr., wearing a tuxedo. It looked as if he had made a sorry attempt to spike his hair but it actually came out looking pretty good.

"We're coming! Jeez, don't have a cow!!" Sawatari retorted, glaring behind him. He held out his arm for Seira to take.

Seira smiled, a faint blush lining her cheeks. She slid her arm so that she was linked with his. They both strutted down to where Lina and Asuka Jr. stood while they remained in their own blissful state.

"Now let's get to that dance!" Lina exclaimed excitedly, grabbing onto Asuka Jr.'s arm and pulling him forward. He could only roll his eyes and follow along.

~*~

Meimi stared at herself in a small mirror. The red head was sitting in one of the rusty cars. She had just noticed that from wearing her sunglasses constantly she was beginning to gain a sort of raccoon look. For their were pale circles around her eyes in the exact places the sunglasses covered while the skin past that was tanner. So if she took off her sunglasses it looked like she had a pair of white ones on.

A sudden knock on the car door caused her to lung for her sunglasses on impulse, pushing them back over her eyes. She unlocked the car door, swinging it open for Tammy to enter.

"Hey! How are you?" Meimi smiled brightly.

"I'm good." Tammy nodded her head, smirking slightly. "This is going to be fun. I haven't gone out and done anything this crazy in like...forever!!" The brunette gave Meimi a high five.

"Yeah, party time." Meimi sighed softly. The sigh was mixed with relief and sorrow. "So what is the plan?"

Tammy shrugged, looking outside of the open car door. "Tony thinks we should sneak in, grab some food and then scram. Marie says we should jump in from a window or something, create chaos, take food and then scram before the police get there. Aaron has no preference. His parents have done enough partying to last his lifetime and his kids."

"Which one do you think we should do?" Meimi yawned trying to hid the fact she was getting a bit tired.

"I'm not sure. Tony's sounds like the smart and sensible thing to do but Marie's sounds like more fun." She chuckled. "What do you think Meimi?" Tammy gave her a challenging look, as if to say 'you better answer me honestly right now.'

"Hmm. This takes deep thought. Maybe we should do both?" Meimi suggested.

"Great idea! Tony and Aaron can sneak in and bag the food while us three ladies can have some fuuunnn!!" Tammy wiggled her body in a dancing motion.

"Then let's do it!" Meimi felt her heart race, unsure of whether to do this but when the mental image of Asuka Jr. and Lina slow dancing entered her mind, all doubts were pushed away.

"I'll tell the other's the plan! Get ready, ok?!" Tammy disappeared out of the car, shutting the door behind her.

Meimi sank back into the seat, remembering her earlier conversation with Tammy. For a moment the red head flashed back into the past, remembering something her mother had once said to her. It was about when her mother first met her father. One of the things he did was give her roses and one day, when Meimi was younger, her mother had told her what she thought while staring at the lovely flowers. Yes, she appreciated them and was gracious for them but she had another thought in mind.

Her mother's voice spoke quietly. "When life hands me roses, I'll eat them. Because I don't want what I'm handed. I only want what I can't have. Eat the roses before they eat you."

Meimi absently wiped away a stray tear. "I'll eat the roses before they eat me." She nodded, not totally sure of what she meant. Diving in the back seat she retrieved the clothing she wanted to wear.

~*~

The cold wind wiped red hair all around a girl's face. Meimi stood up on a rooftop, trying to ignore the memories it brought back. She was wearing black pants along with her black high-heeled boots. She was then wearing a plain white short sleeved shirt with her black trench coat and gray gloves. Her sunglasses covered her eyes and for once she could still see at night, a hard skill she had finally managed to learn. A smile formed on her face as she stared through the glass sky light. For once Meimi was glad the school had used some good money and rented out a nearby dance hall. They had only done it one other time before and it was often only for big dances such as prom. On the roof of the building there were many glass panels forming an elaborate design. Once the famous Saint Tail had to break into this building so Meimi was able to easily guide Tony and Aaron in through a back door so none of the teachers would catch them. They both had managed somehow to find black pants, a white shirt and a black jacket. Tammy stood behind Meimi, an evil grin on her face while she wore black jean pants, a gray shirt and a black jacket. She also had a black artist's hat to top off her chocolate colored hair. Marie was next to Tammy wearing blue jean pants, a black shirt and a black jacket. Obviously the three were trying to blend in with the night sky. It would have been a moonless night except for a thin pearl sliver in the sky. Many of the night stars were blocked out by clouds.

Meimi crawled down on her hands and knees, peering through the glass. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for the people she would know. Near the back of the room and the closest thing to the glass she looked through was a large stage were a band was propped up. It was fully loaded with guitars, a drum set, a main singer and more. After the stage there were flocks of people, a table of snacks and drinks and some chairs near the entrance of the building. The lights had been dimmed except for flashes of random colors that went off and rotated every five seconds. Meimi noticed a group of teenagers hanging out by the punchbowl. She smiled. "Pay back time..." Meimi thought to herself.

Tammy and Marie nudged Meimi, questioning her as what to do.

"Hey guys, why don't we finally have some well-deserved fun?" Meimi whispered to her friends.

The two girls looked at her and instantly knew specifically what she meant. They all gave each other a smile before lining up in a row. They hadn't done this in a while, only once before and it wasn't nearly this high. It was only when they had once had trouble getting inside Georgia's house because the old woman had locked all of them outside, along with herself. The three girls took hold of each other's hands, clinging onto each other tightly. They all stood up straight and then jumped up and forward, crashing painfully through the roof window.

Everyone in the ballroom looked up as they heard shattering glass. Shrieks and screams filled the room as people shielded their faces until the sharp glass wasn't falling anymore. Three figures were crouched down in the center of the dance floor. Slowly, they each stood up tall, brushing off glass and trying not to draw blood.

Meimi was the first to move. She walked right up to her target. Lina. A crooked and broken grin passed across her face as she surveyed the scene. Lina was cowering into Asuka Jr.'s arms while Seira and Sawatari stood behind the pair, both clinging onto each other like drowning kittens. Meimi leaned in to gain a closer look at Lina's face for the lighting was bad. "Well, well...long time no see, huh?" The redhead smiled as she pulled her hand back then brought it sharply across Lina's face. The blonde let out a sob as she clung at the now throbbing red mark on her cheek. "I owed you that." Meimi whispered.

Lina looked at her with fear and anger dwelling in her eyes. Asuka Jr. stood transfixed by what was transpiring in front of his very own eyes.

"I thought you were gone." Lina hissed under her breath. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the other two strange girls along with two boys raiding their food table and grabbing any other valuables.

Meimi shot a glare at her. "I was, but I'm here because I'm keeping a promise to myself." She looked at the rest of the group, letting her eyes linger on Asuka Jr.

Asuka Jr. smiled at her despite what she had done to Lina.

"I...I didn't expect to see you h-here..." He managed to croak, still afraid if this was an illusion or not.

"I guess the gods don't like me, cause you're here." Meimi murmured, letting the words sink into Asuka Jr. She turned her back onto them, walking up to the stage where her group had now gathered after Meimi had finished talking. Meimi grabbed the microphone from the stunned singer while the band scattered quickly. She spoke. "Hey everyone. You all probably don't remember me since it's been two years and all...but I'm back. For now."

Everyone stared ahead as Meimi produced five gleaming knives from one of her pants pockets. She threw them randomly into the different walls, letting them 'thunk' with each target hit. The pale orange walls looked strange with the silver blades protruding from them. The teenagers and teachers started to scream as fear began to grip them. The rest of the group started to tear the place up by grabbing things of value, ripping couches and tipping over the tables. Asuka Jr., Lina, Sawatari and Seira tried to clear the people out while making sure none of the crazy strange teenagers tried to attack them.

"STOP THIS MEIMI!!" Asuka Jr. finally came to his senses, running towards the redhead. He was not going to stand by and let her do something this horrible. What had she become? Meimi stood at the end of the stage, watching closely that no harm came to her friends. Her group.

The redhead spun around to come face to face with Asuka Jr.

He grabbed onto her wrist firmly; afraid she'd run away again. Just like that day.

Suddenly, he pulled her to him, bringing her into a tight yet tender embrace. His warm and strong arms clung onto her frozen and shocked body desperately as he held her so close against him. He could smell her hair. He could feel her breath tingle against his neck. He could feel her heart beating fast against his as his face blushed. "I didn't know what to do back then. I didn't want you to push me away and I didn't know what to do. I'm so sorry. But I finally know. It's ok to cry now Meimi. Let go and cry on my shoulder. I should have been there for you then but I just didn't know. Don't let the Meimi from long ago die. Don't tell me this is what you've become. Let's start over. Don't run away again. Stay with me Meimi...please...." Asuka Jr. whispered into ear, choking back his own tears. "I....I....I love you Meimi...!!!"

Meimi felt her legs go weak as his words filled her heart and his embrace seemed to envelop her forever. Slowly, she pulled her arms up until she had them pressed against his chest. She didn't want to hear those words. They came too late. They held no meaning to her anymore. She didn't know what love was. She had forgotten. All Meimi knew was that love brought pain because you lose everything you love. With a quick motion Meimi pushed him away from her. Asuka Jr. stumbled backwards as he tried to keep his balance. When he finally did he could only stare at her with a lost and hurt expression.

Bewilderment and grief filled Meimi's mind as his broken gaze was permanently etched into her soul. She didn't know what to do. She was so confused after what had just happened that she could only do the one thing that she was so familiar with. Meimi spun around on her heels and made a mad dash for the nearest exit. She didn't care of Asuka Jr. was running after her, mumbling something about him not letting her run away again, that Marie was calling her name, that Aaron and Tony were giving her a strange look and that Tammy was chasing after her next to Asuka Jr. She could only run because it was the only thing she knew. It was the only thing she could depend on.

~*~

Show me the places

Where I can forget your name

I can't find anything

Except a void inside

~*~

Lauren: So what do you think of the chapter? Gaaaaahhhhh.......2 AM....cannot function anymore...*flops over*

Meimi: Must I even SAY it? *clenches fists* Should I even go there? No. I won't waste my energy.

Lauren: Huh? What? Nani?

Meimi: *smacks her forehead* Maybe you would be less tired if you actually went to bed when you are supposed to.

Lauren: But where would be the fun in that? Hehe! Ugh I have so much dumb homework! Did you know Tammy's name was originally going to be Zoey? Thank yooouuuuuuuuu again for all the support!

Meimi: Awwww is the little baby done complaining yet? Good now shut up! See you later everyone! ^__^

Lauren: OH! And if ANYONE has any fanart for my story, feel free to e-mail me it here: watergoddess415@cox.net and I'll happily post it on my web site and fanfiction. I'll love you forever, not that I don't already.

Meimi: Send you fanart? Fanart for this story? Don't make me laugh!

Lauren: Hey, a girl can dream! Anywho, byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Oh and my kitty Skittles says bye too!! Until next time!