Author's Note: *The men in little white coats pull up in a truck, and toss someone in a straight jacket out of the back before speeding off* Hi! *Pegged with random pies* … Sorry it's taken so long to update… I've been a bad llama… I'll be quiet now.
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
A Tale Re-Told
Chapter Nine: You Won't get Away from Me so Easily…
London, England:
"Whoa, this place is really nice, Quatre!" Usagi exclaimed as she walked into the house they would be staying at. "It must cost a lot to keep this place clean."
Quatre blushed and looked down at the floor, "Yes it does Usa," he said, "But this place was originally in Mina's family. My grandfather bought it from them when he got married."
Mina set her bags on the floor in the main hall. She looked around her to see paintings on the walls with a flower print wallpaper on the top, and mahogany paneling under it. One painting in particular caught her attention. It was of a young girl who bore a striking resemblance to Mina. The girl's hair was a golden color and was piled on top of her head with little ringlets framing her face. She wore a pastel blue Victorian-style gown with lace trimming the neckline and tight fitting bodice. Her clear blue eyes stared back at Mina as if she knew everything.
"That's the woman that Wufei originally fell in love with." Duo had come to stand behind her while she had been staring at the beautiful painting. "She bears a striking resemblance to you, doesn't she?" he said.
"She's breathtaking," Mina said, "What was her name?"
"Minako Aino. Her friends, and love, referred to her as Mina."
"Wow, Mina! Look at that dress! It's gorgeous!" Exclaimed Usagi, who had come to stand by her friend.
"Yeah, it is." Mina stepped closer to the painting, admiring the exquisite detail the painter had painfully expressed through every curve and color in the portrait. She reached towards the painting, wishing to touch the soft fabric of the dress. The moment her fingers pressed against the painting, Mina felt herself fall to the floor instantly.
"Oh my god! Quatre! Trowa! Get over here!" Duo knelt down next to Mina's unconscious figure. He gently placed two fingers on her neck, checking for a pulse.
"Duo, what happened!?" Quatre asked, as he knelt next to Duo on the floor.
"I'm not sure. She just collapsed!" Sup replied, taking his fingers from the spot on her neck.
"Is she hurt?" Trowa asked, while comforting a distraught Usagi.
"Her pulse is normal, and she doesn't seem to have sustained any physical damage when she fainted, but what caused her to suddenly collapse?"
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Images flashed before Mina's eyes as the sensation of falling overtook her. Pictures of blood dripping to the floor filled her mind as she continued to fall. Following the images of blood, pictures of her friends in pain flashed before her. Trowa screaming in agony as he held the limp body of Usagi close to his chest. Duo and Quatre screaming in pain as each bone in their body was broken; one by one. Rei's teeth sinking into the exposed flesh of Heero's neck. In a silent plea, Mina closed her eyes and begged for the images of pain and sorrow to stop. Would this happen to her friends if she continued to run from him?
The images stopped abruptly; along with the sensation of falling. Opening her eyes, Mina found herself in a dark room made completely of stone. A giant round table stood in the center of the room. Candles flickered from old brass fixings on the walls. The only visible exit she could see was a heavy door made from some sort of black wood. Glancing around the room again, Mina's eyes rested on a large wooden coffin with deeply ornate carvings upon it. Walking towards the coffin with the intention to get a better look at it, Mina realized that these weren't normal carvings. They reminded her of the images that decorated the tombs of Egypt's pharaoh's. Each image was like a miniature story and they all had the same morbid story to tell: death and suffering.
As Mina reached out to touch one of the many carvings, the lid of the coffin opened. Inside, the body of Wufei slept peacefully. Mina's eye's traveled over every feature on Wufei's coldly handsome face. Unable to resist, Mina caressed his cheek gently with her hand. The moment her hand came into contact with Wufei's skin, his eyes snapped open. Grabbing Mina's wrist, Wufei rose from the coffin.
"My love," Wufei whispered as he brought Mina's hand to rest against his lips.
"Wha-- what am I doing here? Who are you? What do you want with--" Mina's questions we silenced when a finger was placed to her lips.
"Hush, my love. We will soon be together." Wufei's hand caressed her cheek softly before he pulled Mina closer to him, pressing her body to his. "You friends will not be able to keep you from me. We are destined for each other…"
"Mina! Mina please wake up! Please!" Mina faintly heard Usagi's pleading voice, asking her to wake up.
"What.."
"Shhh… my darling. I will come to you soon. Wait for me." Wufei leaned towards Mina and kissed her.
Mina's mind exploded with desire as Wufei kissed her. The sweet sensation of his lips pressed against hers made her knees weak. The world around her disappeared as the kiss Mina and Wufei shared deepened.
"C'mon Mina! Wake up! Please!"
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Mina's eye's opened abruptly. She glanced at the worried faces around her, "What happened?"
"We're not sure, Mina." Quatre said. "The moment you touched the painting you collapsed. Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, Quatre. I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Are you able to stand?" Duo asked, "We can get you to a room where you can rest. Unless you'd rather stay on the floor, of corse."
"Duo!" Quatre slapped his friend's shoulder lightly.
"Yeah, yeah. Sorry Mina."
"It's ok. Thanks Duo, Quatre." Mina smiled weakly at the two boys. "I'd love to get some rest."
When Mina had reached the room Quatre had led her to, she collapsed onto the soft bed.
"Mina?"
Mina turned to see Heero standing in the doorway. "Yes, Heero?"
"You saw him, didn't you."
Startled, Mina stared at Heero in shock, "How did you know."
"I guessed," Turning to leave, Heero stopped. "Be careful, Mina." Heero closed the door softly before Mina could reply.
Resting her head on one of the soft pillows, Mina closed her eyes. As she drifted into sleep, a soft voice caressed her mind.
"Hush, my love. We will soon be together… it is meant to be."
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A/N: Wahoo!!! I actually updated!!! Well, thanks to my slave driver, the next chapter of this story has been posted. Hope you liked it. ^_^
