Disclaimer: I own none of the characters used. =P

Author's Note: Hehehe... hi minna-san! *waves meekly* Yes, again, as I say every time I update, I am alive. *gulps* Please don't be mad. To my few readers who are still following this story... *glomps!* Enjoy!

"I don't love you because I think you're cute. I think you're cute because I love you." ~ Anonymous

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True Soulmates?
Chapter 6 - Desert Noble & Love Goddess: I Danced With You
Author: Krys Yuy
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Minako looked down at her feet after watching Ami leave the room, suddenly very aware of what her princess's announcement implied. She and Makoto were now the only ones left in Rei's room. She looked around, staring at nothing, trying to grasp the concept that the Earth prince was a threat to Usagi.

"The one to my right is Quatre Winner..."

Minako smiled as she remembered the kind blonde man. 'What a cutie,' she thought absently. She was unconsciously drawn to him. He radiated an aura of purity and innocence nearly as blinding as Usagi's. He acted so polite that it made Minako wonder if there was some kind of wild part that wasn't let out very often.

Wait... why was she thinking about another man? Didn't her heart belong to Kevin? He was Kunzite, her past lover and confidant. It was only supposed to be him. There was no room for mere crushes. Kunzite had always been the one she could talk to and share her problems with. He was always so understanding, but if what her princess had announced was true... No, Kevin couldn't be a fraud. It was impossible. They loved each other.

But Quatre...

"I think I need to go outside, too," Minako said suddenly, standing up from her spot on the bed. "It's getting a little hot in here."

"You sure?" Makoto asked worriedly, wondering why everyone was leaving.

"Yeah... I just need some time to think," Minako replied, hugging Makoto before she left Rei's room. She walked around the perimeter of the building until she reached the entrance of the temple. She sat down on the stone steps, tucking her legs under her.

She sighed, quietly looking down at the bustling street slightly below the temple. There were so many people who didn't even realize the evil that lurked around the corners. Sometimes she wished she could be one of them, away from the duty she accepted as hers. Just to escape for a few precious moments...

'I don't know what's real anymore...' she thought silently. 'Is Kevin my soulmate? But if what Usagi said is true... then I have no one.' She paused to take in what that implied. 'What is the truth, then? Who am I to believe?' She looked up to the skies, pleading for an answer. 'Tell me...'

Minako then heard a voice in her head. It was steadily growing louder, and she frowned as she tried to concentrate on the words. She realized it was Rei, and she could also sense the presence of Ami and Makoto. She knew that they were experiencing the same thing she was.

"... Show me the past as it truly was!"

With those words came a blinding light that made Minako close her eyes instinctively. She opened them again to find an image hovering in front of her. Golden glitter and stars surrounded it. The image in the center cleared to reveal Quatre within its depths. He seemed different somehow. He had on a uniform of black and orange, almost similar to that of the generals' pattern. His platinum gold hair still fell at a variety of angles, while his blue eyes were filled with the same kindness she had seen when they met. However, his eyes had lost its blinding innocence, and were instead replaced with knowledge and determination. She puzzled over it, but couldn't help but grin at how gorgeous he still looked. While she did that, the image started to fade away, but not before an orange symbol had flashed on his forehead.

'The Venus insignia?' Minako thought, eyes growing wide. 'Why does Quatre have it?'

Before she could ponder on it further, light wrapped around her form. It was so bright and intense that it felt like it was burning her. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to scream for help, only to find that her voice wasn't working. All that came out was a small squeak of pain.

'What's happening?!' she wondered, wincing.

Minako didn't even want to know what state her body was in if she was feeling this much pain. A flash of orange broke through her thoughts. It dissolved to reveal her crystal wand floating in front of her. It twirled in mid-air, almost begging for her to take it. A voice started to whisper in her head, encouraging her.

"Accept the wand, princess... Take your namesake once more to feel the power of the planet of Love embrace you!"

Needing no further advice, Minako's hand shot out to grip the handle of her wand. The pain disappeared almost immediately, and she grinned in relief. Then her eyes were blank as images from the long past ran through her mind. Image after image came, but she was only able to recognize her fellow Senshi. As memories came speedily through her mind, the orb crystal lifted off her wand and engulfed her in its orange glow. She felt warmth come at all sides as the images ended. The light intensified and then dimmed quickly, leaving no trace of the Senshi of Venus as the wind passed through the temple.

* * * * *

Quatre left Trowa in a worried state, not only about his antiques, but also about his fellow comrades. As he pondered to which way Duo went, he prayed that they would all get through this. Heero was acting strange, and Wufei was constantly in the training room. Trowa was more distant, and Duo was becoming quieter. Quatre was amazed that he hadn't already gone crazy from the stress he was feeling recently.

Suddenly, he wished he had just stayed in the music room to play the violin longer. It always soothed his nerves in a way nothing else could. 'I don't know what to feel anymore...' he thought silently, shutting his eyes.

He stopped in the middle of the hall as the women from the day before drifted through his mind. Each was unique in their own way, but the blonde with the bow had stood out the most. She was, quite frankly, breathtaking. There really were no words to describe what he felt when he saw her. 'She seemed... cheerful,' he thought, thinking of his first impression of her. 'Somewhat perky, but the look in her eyes... There was so much hope and kindness.'

"Now isn't the time to think about women," he chided himself aloud. "There are more important matters in hand." He began walking down the long corridor again.

Quatre was heading in the direction of the training room, still searching for Duo. There was no sign of him so far, and no sound of breaking glass. Quatre took it as a blessing from the heavens. They spared him that much.

Just as he thought that, he heard a strangled cry just around the corner hall. "Duo!" He exclaimed, worry covering his face. He started to run but then an unmistakable pain struck him.

Quatre stumbled into a wall as he cried out. He felt like his skin was being burned everywhere. He tried leaning against the wall to support himself, but he only ended up sliding to the ground. He failed to notice as an orange glow started to envelop him from bottom to top. A necklace appeared out of thin air, right in front of his face. Attached to it was a circular pendant with stars and sparkles along the edges. In the center, there were two letters etched in deep gold against the orange background: Q & M. A woman with golden hair flashed through his mind, but she vanished within a second.

"You know what you have to do, prince," a voice whispered to him softly. Quatre continued to stare at the necklace intently, but listened to the voice nonetheless even as the pain grew. "Remember the element of light and join your destiny!"

Quatre didn't know how he knew what to do, but he grabbed the necklace quickly, clenching it in his fist. The pain disappeared and his body felt completely relaxed. Then orange beams blinked in and out, taking Quatre with them.

* * * * *

A girl with golden hair sighed as three of her friends approached. "Don't tell me... I don't want to know," she said firmly.

"Minako-chan, you do know this really has to stop, don't you?" asked a girl with green hair, staring pointedly at her.

"I know, Mako-chan, but Serenity-hime can be very, very stubborn," Minako replied, rolling her eyes. She turned to the blue haired girl. "Ami-chan, what does Serenity-sama have to say?" she asked, referring to the queen of the moon.

"She's been very busy as of late, discussing... the future wedding with the Earth's royalty," Ami answered, nodding her head towards the Moon Queen, who was currently talking with said King and Queen of Earth. "The peace treaty is also being drawn up. With so much politics going on..." She trailed off, sighing.

A girl with fiery red hair finished for her. "... the Queen has taken no notice of her daughter's behavior."

Minako turned to the girl who had just spoken. "Rei-chan, do you have any idea where she is?" she inquired, nearly begging for a detail of some sort.

"I'm sorry Mina-chan, but Serenity-hime has vanished once again," Rei replied in a sympathetic tone.

"How long is she going to keep this up?" Makoto groaned. She gestured to the crowded ballroom and the several dancing couples. "She could be practically anywhere!"

"That girl is going to get herself killed one day," Rei muttered in half-annoyance, half-worry.

"I don't know if I'm going to make it through this ball," Minako whispered to herself, eyes already scanning the room for some sort of sign of the silver haired princess.

"She's afraid," Ami suddenly stated out of the blue. All eyes turned to her in curiosity at the unexpected statement.

"Afraid? What on earth does she have to be afraid for?" Makoto questioned, eyebrows drawn together in thought.

Rei only nodded in understanding, having consulted the Sacred Fire about the actions of her princess. She knew exactly why Serenity seemed to be playing a game of hide-and-seek.

Minako felt clueless as to why her princess would be afraid. "Well, of course, she doesn't want to get married to someone she doesn't even know," she stated the obvious. "Let alone not love."

"No, it's not that," Ami replied, staring into each of their eyes. "She's afraid of actually finding someone."

"But doesn't that usually equal happiness?" Makoto asked in confusion.

"Not always," Minako whispered, thinking of her first love, which was also her first heartbreak.

"She's afraid of responsibility and love. She doesn't want to be like the Queen, who lost her husband and now rules the Silver Millennium alone..." Ami explained quietly. "If she ends up liking this prince, she thinks it will lead down the same path her mother took years ago."

"Foolish girl," Rei murmured softly, staring into the sea of people.

Minako liked to say she knew her princess inside and out, but there would always be a part of her she might never understand. But she definitely understood this. Serenity didn't want to have her heart broken, and neither did Minako. After her first love, Minako continued to flirt, but never went into a relationship seriously. It was sometimes funny, maybe even ironic. Here she was, a daughter of the planet of Love, and yet, she didn't know a thing about her own heart.

"I'll try to find her," she said to her friends. She gave them short good-byes, and lost herself in the crowd.

Minako walked along the edges of the dance floor, her long skirt swishing around her legs. 'I know nothing about love... but... General Winner...'

Thinking of the blonde general made a light blush grace her cheeks and her heart beat a little faster. At their first meeting, he stood out more than the rest for some strange reason. By looking at his face, she could tell he was kind, but that didn't mean he was naive. Appearances always were deceiving. He was the unsaid leader of the Royal Guard of Earth. His stance and subtle gestures said it all. His blue eyes seemed wiser than normal and his spiky blond hair screamed to be touched.

They had spent time together, discussing all kinds of things. In the beginning, it was all about strategy, battle plans, and protection. Then it had turned to music, books, and things they did on their free time. Of course, they also talked about their respective charges and how each aggravated them to no ends. While she was with him, she felt like nothing else really mattered.

That scared her. Was she ready to give up her heart again? Did she want to? Did he want it?

It amazed her how much she could play matchmaker with other people, but she couldn't find the right man for herself. It was so hard to think of being with one person for the rest of her life. 'Why am I worrying about this? It doesn't even matter...' she thought.

Minako jumped slightly when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly to face the penetrating eyes of General 04. "Hi," she said simply, inwardly beating her head against a wall.

"Hi," Quatre replied, cracking a small smile. He bowed slightly and held out his right hand. "Would you grant me the honor... of dancing with you?" he asked softly, keeping his eyes on the ground.

Minako smiled to herself. He looked so cute just standing there. She took his offered hand and curtsied when he looked at her again. "I'd love to, my lord," she whispered.

"Quatre."

"Quatre," she repeated, blushing. She let him lead her to the center of the ballroom, picking up the skirts of her dress slightly so she wouldn't trip.

Quatre twirled her once in the middle of all the other dancing couples. She giggled softly before getting in the right position. She had one hand on his shoulder, while he had one hand on her waist. Their other hands were clasped together tightly.

"Shall we dance?" Quatre murmured lowly, leaning down towards her ear.

"Yes," Minako answered just as quietly, feeling his breath tickle her face.

Then she and Quatre fell in step to the music, which was an elegant waltz. The notes were soothing to their ears and calmed their minds. They danced all around the ballroom floor, paying no heed to anyone else. They certainly didn't notice the giggling forms of Ami, Rei and Makoto. The other three generals had little smirks on their faces as they gazed at their comrade. Ami and Rei had their arms wrapped around their respective boyfriends, while Makoto merely stood close to Duo, stealing small glances at him.

Quatre and Minako failed to notice any of it, and instead basked in each other's warmth. Quatre stared into Minako's alluring blue eyes, mesmerized by the pull he could feel. She was everything he had ever hoped for in a woman. She was smart, courageous, funny, and absolutely beautiful. There were times when she seemed clueless, but it was one of her many quirks he had come to adore. As they danced, Quatre couldn't help but notice as her long golden hair fanned out behind her when they twirled. It made her look like an angel.

The waltz ended but a new song started, one that had a slow romantic beat. Quatre and Minako had not stopped moving, but instead got even closer. He pulled her into his firm embrace, wrapping both arms around her waist as she hooked her hands behind his neck. They swayed together in a soothing rhythm that had them only thinking of each other.

Minako gave a tiny sigh of contentment, closing her eyes as she rested her head on Quatre's shoulder. Being in his arms felt so right, as if he could protect her from everything in the world. She knew he couldn't, but it really felt like it. When she was near him, she didn't feel afraid at all. All her worries and fears shrunk into nothing.

Quatre was feeling all the same things. This woman made him feel more alive somehow, and gave him a better purpose. He realized that Minako was the one person he couldn't live without, even if he tried to. In the days they had gotten to know each other, she had become his light. She brought out his more protective side and helped him see that there was more to a world than simply doing your duty. There was much more to live for, and it was wrapped tightly in his arms.

The music began to fade away, and Quatre slowly dipped Minako, holding on to her steadily. They locked gazes with each other, silently communicating. Minako finally knew the answers to her previous questions. She was ready to give up her heart and completely wanted to. By the look Quatre was giving her, she knew he would willingly accept it and protect it. She had finally found the right man to be there for her.

The dance had already ended, but it had given them new revelations. It had also given them each other.

* * * * *

Ai shiteru, Minako...

Minako groaned as she opened her eyes, puzzled over her surroundings. There were so many recovered memories that made her head want to spin. However, there was the one memory where her heart finally knew that she wanted to take a risk again. It was while dancing that she found the man she would stay with and love.

For a moment, Minako's vision was only orange before she saw the mist. She staggered as she stood up, and suddenly noticed the absence of her wand. For a moment, she was alarmed before noticing that she now wore a silver ring on her right index finger. She brought it closer to her eyes and smiled when she saw the designs. All along the band were tiny golden stars and an orange colored gem in the center. She slowly slid the ring off her finger and glanced at the inside of the band. 'Minako & Quatre' winked up at her with the light.

Minako's face grew dreamy as thoughts of Quatre ran through her mind. She carefully put the ring back on. "Tre-kun..." she whispered. "Come back to me..."

Ai shiteru, Quatre...

Quatre winced as he came back to reality. His head was slightly pained, but he stood up anyway. He gazed at his surroundings, taking in the white mist that was spread everywhere. He looked for a flash of blonde or maybe the color orange. However, all Quatre could see was the mist and he fought down his disappointment.

As he looked down, he noticed that he was now wearing a pendant. There were golden stars, large and small, scattered across the edges. In the center, the letters Q & M were also engraved in gold and fine script. A tiger appeared then faded before his eyes as he stared at the pendant. That brought back a vision of the blonde haired beauty he had discovered was his.

"Minako..." he murmured, wondering where she could be.

Eternally...

Minako whirled around as the wind brought the whisper of her name. "Quatre?!" she called. "Where are you?"

"Minako?" replied a voice not too far from her.

Minako started running towards the voice. 'He's really here!' she thought in excitement. She was surprised when she ran into a pair of arms that embraced her tightly. After the initial shock wore off, she hugged him back. "Oh Quatre..."

Quatre held onto Minako tightly, unwilling to let her go anytime soon. "I can't believe I didn't see it," he commented, referring to their first meeting. 'We'll be together now...'

"It's really you," Minako whispered, running her hand through his soft blonde locks. 'My soulmate...' A man with long silver hair flashed in her mind. "Oh Kami..." 'Kunzite... I can't believe that I...'

Suddenly, Minako twisted out of Quatre's tight squeeze. Quatre's heart nearly broke with the sudden loss. "Wha- Minako?" he asked, confused. "Why are you-?" A sudden thought made him fill with dread. "Don't you... don't you want to be with me?"

His voice sounded so small that Minako wanted to run in his arms again and comfort him. "I'm sorry, Quatre..." she murmured.

Quatre felt his heart slowly crumbling. "I understand... you don't love me anymore," he stated, saddened.

"What?! Of course I love you!" Minako stated quickly. There was no denying where her feelings lay with a response that fast.

"Then why-?"

"I betrayed you," Minako confessed, tears in her eyes. "I thought Kevin - Kunzite - was my soulmate." She turned away from him in shame and disgust with herself. "Kami-sama, how could I think that?!" Guilt washed over her in waves.

Relief like he had never known flooded Quatre. 'Thank you, Venus. She still loves me.' "Minako, that wasn't your fault," he said softly. "Don't you ever believe that. Even if we didn't remember, our souls knew deep down." He pulled her into his arms, and was happy when she let him. "You were always with me."

"How can you forgive me?" Minako wondered. She had stopped crying but tears tracks had been left behind.

"Never forget my love for you," Quatre whispered in her ear. "Forever..."

Minako felt like she could melt in his arms. "I love you too, Quatre," she replied. Her voice was so sincere that Quatre felt like he was going to fall for her all over again.

Quatre smiled at her and leaned down to capture her lips in a loving kiss. 'This is why I'm here...'

Both blondes became so immersed in their kiss that they didn't notice when they began glowing. An orange radiance started from the tips of their toes to the tops of their heads. As their passion grew, so did the brilliance of the glow. The glow started to separate from their bodies to gather above them in a mass of lights. The lights materialized into a small object that began to spin faster and faster. The wind picked up causing the couple to part from their intense kiss. They discovered an orange tornado swirling around their bodies.

"Am I seeing what I'm seeing?" Minako asked, glancing at Quatre. "I'm not crazy, right?"

Quatre chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "No, don't worry. I'm seeing it, too," he replied with a smile.

With a sudden blinding pop, the tornado stopped and the couple stepped away from each other. The object dropped into their intertwined hands. At closer inspection, the object was a golden looking key. The top part was in the shape of an outlined star. The entire key was encased in an orange bubble that disappeared in a gleam of twinkles.

A memory clicked in Minako's mind and everything started to make a little more sense. "It's the key..." she muttered.

"The keys that will unlock everything..."

"The what?" Quatre asked, confusion in his blue eyes.

"It's the key that will unlock our pasts," Minako stated excitedly. "We can find out what happened! Fill in all the blanks!" She brushed her hand across Quatre's cheek, feeling his smooth skin.

Quatre held Minako's hand to his cheek for a little longer. "How do you know that?" he asked, searching her eyes.

"Serenity-sama came to us girls in a dream. With the key, we would see our lives 'as if we lived it here.' But... I found you. That's all that matters to me," Minako stated with certainty.

Quatre smiled at her declaration. "There still must be something we don't know. Something we have to figure out," he added. He took the key in his hand and held it up. "This is our clue."

"Open the portal..." whispered an unseen voice.

Minako gasped and Quatre pulled her body against his in a flash. "Who's there?!" Quatre demanded.

The voice continued to speak in a rushed tone. "To defeat your foe, discover, learn, and see... Seek new teachings... Good luck, your majesties..." Then it was gone as fast as it had come.

Minako was suddenly overcome with a realization. "I think I know what to do," she stated with a grin. "Let's see if you can remember, Tre-kun..."

Quatre nodded, placing the key on her open palms, and placed his hands under hers.

Minako took a deep breath to steady her nerves before locking eyes with Quatre. "Planet of Love, hear my call!" she exclaimed.

"Planet of Earth, hear my plea! Element of light!"

"Heed our prayer!"

"Answer our wish!"

"Impart us your guidance!"

"Reveal the course of our destiny!"

"Unlock the power of the key we hold as one!" They chanted together.

The mystifying key began to throb with light. It dissolved into two balls of orange sparkles. One was absorbed into Minako's ring, while the other went into Quatre's pendant.

Ai shiteru...

Stars and ribbons of light surrounded the couple from an unknown source, blinding them from seeing anything. The next thing they knew, they were flying through the air before landing roughly on wet grass. Minako screwed up her face in panic, standing up quickly and checking her dress. Quatre's eyes twinkled as he watched her antics and started to stand up as well. As he turned to check their surroundings, he immediately stepped in front of her as he saw four strangers watching them curiously and warily.

"Kento, get Ryo," a blue haired man ordered. He sized up the two people who had fallen from the sky. "We may have a problem..."