"Hmm hmm hmm" Kiyone started on what must have been her thirtieth cookie, observing the swirling, swaying mass on the dance floor.  She absent-mindedly tried to mimic some of their movements, while chewing.  "One and two and… no, that's not it… where'd she learn how to do that?"  She munched away until she noticed something that spelled her eminent destruction.  A figure moving towards her… with a purpose!  "Oh no… don't come over here… don't, don't, don't, hi!  Duo."

            "What are you doing over here all alone?" Duo smiled drunkenly, though he hadn't touched a drink all day.

            She just smiled, mouth stuffed with chocolate.

            "You know, black is my favorite color!" He pointed at her dress approvingly.  "And curves are my favorite anything.  Let's dance!"

            "Oh," She swallowed.  "No thanks, I'm fine."

            "That you are!  I'm not giving up until I get you out there.  So just come quietly, and easily, and I'll go easy on you."

            "I really don't feel like it!" She smiled a huge smile.

            He put his hands on her waist.  "You feel good to me.  Now don't make me break out my scythe."

            "Scythe?" She tried to push him away, but to no avail.  "I'm just not in the mood."

            "Sorry, babe, I warned you!" He started dragging her away.

            "No!  Say, why don't you go get me a drink!  Yeah, be a gentleman and grab me a drink, huh?"

            Duo shook his head playfully.

            "Please!" She patted his cheek.  "Come on… then maybe I'd think about it?"

            "Nope.  I've got my mind set." He stopped in the midst of the other dancers and looked at her expectantly.

            "Anything but this, okay?" She grinned frantically.  "There are other things to be done, besides dancing."

            "No better things, though."

            "Oh, sure there are." Kiyone lowered her voice desperately.  "Get me out of this ballroom and I'll show you."

            He was still waiting for her to start dancing… or at least moving.  "Call me old fashioned, but I'd like this dance first."

            "Duo," She pouted.  "I can't dance.  I don't know how.  I have no rhythm."

            "Stop kidding, you're not getting out of this."

            "I'm dead serious.  It's embarrassing, but I cannot dance.  I'd appreciate it if you just forgot about it."

            He lifted his eyebrows.  "Well… I'm disappointed.  But you're right."

            "Am I?"

            "There are other ways to amuse ourselves, after all." He made an exaggerated sigh.  "I guess I'll just have to make this sacrifice.  So do you have like a queen sized bed or something, because I'm guessing Washu would set you up pretty nicely, considering."

            She stared open mouthed.  "What?!  I've known you for less than three days!"

            'Crap.' Duo chided himself.  "Uh… that's not what I meant.  You see, Washu gave us this horrible room, and the beds might as well be made out of lumpy bricks or something.  And I was just wondering-"

            "No." Kiyone held her hands up, palms facing forward.  "You can't."

            "Listen, I haven't gotten any sleep the last two nights.  I'll just fall right to sleep, and I'm begging you…"

            "Oh, so you're saying you'd just sleep?" She shook her head angrily.

            "I swear that's all I'm thinking.  Don't get mad, you're looking at a sleep-deprived, dimensionally misplaced, misunderstood admirer here, and I don't mean any offense."

            She leaned forward, and pulled down his lower eyelids curiously.  "Hmm.  Your eyes are bloodshot… that could be caused by other things but along with these dark circles, and that tired expression on your face, I am almost inclined to believe you."

            "Yes, do!  Look, I'll prove it to you!  Come to our room, and I'll show you why I'd even bring it up.  Come on?"

            Kiyone sniffled daintily.  "Alright.  It will get me off of this dance floor, anyway.  Let's go see Washu about getting beamed out of this joint."

            "You're back, then?" Ayeka nearly snarled.

            "Yes, and I want you to listen to this." Heero approached her determinedly.  "You are-"

            She looked up in disbelief.  "You're going to insult me?" Tears formed.  "Do you have any idea of how tired I am of being criticized by people?  I don't deserve it and I think you should leave me alone."

            He took a deep breath.  "Let me finish."

            Ayeka choked on her own breath.  "Fine.  What's one more offence anyway?" A sob began.  "After all I'll probably never be rid of them."

            "You are…" He waited for her to stop blowing her nose.  "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.  I can't stop thinking about you, and if you would just dance one dance with me… I would be satisfied with that forever, and I'd leave you alone." He held out his hand.  "Please."

            "Same to you, buddy!" She responded, grief-stricken.  "Wa… wait a minute, what?"

            Heero looked downward, remembering Washu's advice.  "I know I don't deserve you, but would you please?"

            "How could the nicest words be coming from you?" She reluctantly joined him in the dance.  "Now if you could only get a certain somebody else to say that, I think I'd really appreciate you."

            "This is so exciting!" Mihoshi repeated.  "Oh, thank you for asking me!  You're so kind!"

            "No problem." Quatre couldn't believe his partner's enthusiasm.  "Could you maybe stop jumping a little?  I think you're giving me whiplash."

            She calmed down a little bit, but her eyes shined as brightly as ever.  "I can't tell you how glad I am that you came here!  I never stopped thinking that we'd meet again!  It's like it's meant to be, don't you feel that way?  Like it's fate!  Isn't fate exciting?  Don't you think?"

            "Sure.  I mean, it'd be a pretty big coincidence for you to just so happen to pop into my dimension, right?"

            "That's exactly what I mean!" She started hopping again.  "Then you do feel it!  I was kind of worried that I was just making it up in my head!  I'm so lucky."

            A guilty feeling washed over the pilot.  "Well, maybe not."

            "What do you mean?"

            "You don't really know me or anything, so it might not be so lucky for you." He nodded miserably.

            "You always forget that I've watched your life pass by on the TV.  I don't think you could surprise me with anything I wouldn't like.  On the other hand, you've probably seen how stupid I can be on your TV, haven't you?"

            "Stupid?  No.  Honest?" He nodded again.  "You're always honest."

            "So are you!" Mihoshi leaned in for the slow dance.

            "Not always… I'm sorry, Mihoshi, I'm going to bed."

            "You're tired?" She looked terribly disappointed.  "But this is my first ball, and it's still so early.  Maybe we could just go sit down, and you could relax?  Please?"

            "What are you grinning at?!" Wufei picked up Ryo-Ohki by the scruff of the neck.

            She scrambled up his arm to perch on his shoulder.  "Meow wow." She showed off a hideous plaid bow, complete with pink polka dots and mustard colored stripes.

            "Get that off!" He pulled the bow off and let it litter the polished floor.  "You know, that isn't funny."

            "Meow?"

            "That pink-haired woman is mocking me again.  What is the matter with women?  Why are they all insane?!"

            "Meeee?"

            "No, you're different.  Animals are different.  You're not insane, you're just weird."

            "Wow?"

            "Well, I guess you're kind of neat… for a… whatever you are."

            "Mew." She purred happily.