Heeeeey!! Here's chapter Nine of Minako's retreat **starts to cry** it's already chapter nine!!!
This is actually a special chapter I made because **Drum roll** it's my b-day!!! (August 29th) yay ^-^ hehe
Hehe okay, enough dramatics
~*~
Minako adjusted the mask of her face slightly, a touch of annoyance dampening her hidden features. People laughed merrily and talked like old friends. Did none of them stop to think about the deaths ahead of them?
Dancing seemed to be a very serious affair on earth. People paced about with their partners in a dance that seemed to be bringing about death, Minako thought in a satisfied fashion. At least the dancing was appropriate for the situation.
Itasha was out on the dance floor as well, masked in an elaborate mask that matched wonderfully with her dress. Minako turned, and found herself confronted by another man. He gave her a charming smile and asked for a dance. Minako curtly declined and pushed past the man before he could protest.
Finally, she saw who she had been looking for the entire night. Minako admitted somewhat grudgingly that she did look pretty good. Relena Peacecraft stood in the middle of a fair sized crowd, giving a very altered story of how the war had been brought about. People around her gave her comforting replies, as she would occasionally place a kerchief to her eyes as though she was crying.
Relena was wearing a green dress that flowed to the ground. It was strapless though gloves seemed to make up for that. Minako scrunched her nose at the sight of the woman who had been corrupted so easily by power.
Minako suddenly got the impression someone was staring at her. When she turned around, she wasn't very surprised to see Heero watching her without pause. In fact, he didn't even bother to look down when she looked straight at him annoyed her even more.
The man continued to stare at her until Minako finally decided to give up. She turned away from Relena with a weary sigh. The woman meant nothing to her at the moment. Later though…
Minako pushed away thoughts of revenge and began walking towards the balcony.
"May I have the honor of a dance?" Came a warm tone. Minako smiled as she turned around to face Quatre. Even with his mask on, the platinum blond hair was a dead give away.
Minako leaned in slightly, "I have a bit of a confession to make," she said quickly as he began leading her out to the dance floor. Minako debated the possibilities of digging her heels into the floor, but then decided it would probably only make things easier for him to drag her along. The floor was so waxed; they could probably curl on it!
"And what would that be?" Quatre asked as they entered the dance floor. He turned around to face her, placing his hands on her lower back.
"Er…I don't exactly know how to dance…" Minako muttered, glad the mask was hiding her face. Even though she was taught dancing at a very young age, she had never gotten around to learning to dance in an earthly fashion. Venusarians had over a hundred dances of their own to learn!
"If you don't know how to dance at all, just follow my lead, it's quite easy…" Quatre began.
Minako, feeling the need to explain herself, cut in hastily, "I can dance but I don't know any of the dances of earth,"
A small smile slid over Quatre's face, just barely visible under the mask, "Oh good, at least your not completely hopeless,"
Minako opened her mouth to protest, but at the exact moment, Quatre swung her around at an alarming speed. It was all Minako could do not to trip. She suddenly realized they were dancing in time with everyone else. She clung to Quatre quickly pulling herself closer to him. Some of the closer couples did this.
Quatre flushed at their closeness, but not for a moment did he think of pushing her away. In fact, he slowly wrapped his arms more protectively around her small waist.
"That was not funny," Minako growled as she rested her chin on Quatre's shoulder. Quatre in return laid his own head lightly on hers, enjoying the moment. To him, everything had stopped. No one else mattered at the moment. Had a war started at this very moment, Quatre doubted he would have been able to pull away.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly.
Minako felt herself shiver at his tone. In his arms she felt safe from all the things that had made her into a soldier. Her stomach began turning in circles as he turned her again.
"Let's have a signal," Minako suggested, though a part of her felt as though she were in a dream. She barely even remembered opening her mouth to speak.
"A signal?" He repeated. Her scent was intoxicating. He felt as though he was floating.
"Yes, for that spin. How about when we're about to spin, you yell 'spin'. Or something like that,"
Quatre couldn't help but smile at the innocence of her suggestion. God, but this woman could make him turn circles right now, "Spin? That's not very original…"
"True, how about something alone the lines of…"Minako stopped and thought for a second, "Winaino,"
Quatre really did laugh this time. Several people shot him looks, but most admiring. No doubt they thought they were a young couple in love.
"Winaino? How in the world did you come up with that?"
Minako grinned at her own suggestion, very proud of it, "I put our last names together, Winner and Aino…. Winaino!"
Quatre laughed again. The very thought forced him to laugh harder, "you want me to yell out Winaino when I decide to spin you?"
Minako smiled slightly, "Have a little courtesy! You call yourself a gentleman. I was standing there, totally innocent in the ways of you earth dwellers, when you practically chucked me across the room! It was all I could do to hold on! "Minako said gravely, trying to hide her smile, "I almost died, and when I ask a simple favor of you, you laugh! You're still laughing at me!" Minako tried to foreign anger, but instead found herself laughing.
Quatre too was laughing. Laughing so hard in fact, he was forced to leave the dance floor. After finally fighting down their giggles, they decided to head to the refreshment table.
Quatre sipped at his drink, a smile still on his face "That was the most fun I've ever had at dancing,"
Minako twirled the cup in her hand, "I really don't doubt that. It seems, as though you're earthly dances are much too serious. On ve—er…I mean, where I come from, dancing is always fun."
Quatre sigh wistfully, "On earth, dancing is considered a sign of rank in a way. If you're high born, you learn more elaborate dances. Forced really,"
Minako sighed sadly, "How sad. Dances sound be more happy occasions than that,"
Quatre smiled slightly, "True. Tell me, what kind of dances do you learn where you come from?" he asked curiously.
"Well, we have dances for everything. Dancing has always been considered a great joy where I come from. We have Dances for before dinner, after dinner, festivals, marriages, enticing ones partner…" Minako purposely masked the last one. The venusarian part of her loved to flirt.
"Enticing one's partner?" Quatre repeated.
Minako held her glass up to her lips to hide her smile and drone out her laugh, "of course, you know, it could be before sex, after sex, during sex. At any time. It's a very interesting dance…" Minako stopped to allow the impact of her words sink in, not that she needed to. At the first sign of 'sex' Quatre had spat out his drink in surprise. Minako had expected this and taken a step back. The second 'sex' his face had gone beet red.
Minako took advantage of his surprise and excused herself quickly.
Minako circled the room until she found who she was looking for. Itasha was making her way off the dance floor. Minako began making her way over to the girl, when something else made her stop.
Relena Peacecraft was standing next to Itasha, obviously talking to her. And by the look on Itasha's face it wasn't good.
Minako moved swiftly to get to Itasha's side. Relena stopped talking and looked at her.
"Excuse me, do you mind leaving us for a moment? I was having a small talk with miss Winner," Relena asked curtly.
Minako took Itasha's hand in hers and forced the child to take a step back, "Sorry but Itasha has business else were," Minako excused as she turned and began walking away.
She suddenly heard a small squeak. Minako turned around and saw Relena had grabbed Itasha's arm. The small girl wriggled frantically, trying to loosen Relena's grip on her arm.
"Fine then! "Relena hissed, "I'll say it now. Itasha you're a traitor to your planet! A child like you could never understand…" Relena suddenly faltered. Minako was standing directly over them, and the look on her face would have killed.
Itasha had tears streaming down her face.
Minako wrenched Relena's hand off Itasha's arm forcefully, "How dare you, "Minako hissed angrily, "This child is the bravest person I know. She would do anything for the people she loves. She did what she thought was right, and because of it, fewer people died. You, Relena Peacecraft, she take some lessons from her. Your nothing but a coward. You hide behind your walls while you force everyone else to fight your battles. I think, Relena, you need to grow up before you decide to declare war. The planets don't view you as a threat; they view you as a spoiled little brat who needs a good lesson in etiquette. You're nothing but a joke," Minako laughed coldly, before turned and pulling Itasha away with her.
They stepped out onto the balcony together.
Relena stood staring into nothing before she finally heard someone speak.
"It's a good thing she was there,"
Relena looked up into the kind face of Quatre Winner, one of her faithful gundam pilots. There was something odd about his face though.
"Why is that?"
Quatre turned and gave her a very stern look, "Because had I have been there, I would have killed you,"
Relena's mouth fell open, "W-what? You can't do that,"
"I think you mistake me Relena. Let me put this in words you understand. If you ever touch my daughter again, I will kill you," Quatre said in a calm dangerous voice.
"You can't do that! That's treason!" Relena gasped.
"What's your point?" he asked coldly before leaving to the balcony.
Relena found herself staring at his retreating figure. She couldn't believe that was the kind-hearted pilot she had known. What had happened to him? Relena sighed and composed herself. Grow up indeed. She would show that bitch she didn't need to grow up to declare a war.
Minako dabbed daintily at Itasha's tear stained face, "Don't listen to her," Minako cooed gently to the upset child, "You're most defiantly not a traitor. In fact, you saved many lives that night,"
Itasha sniffled slightly but said nothing so Minako quickly began explaining, "Itasha, if we hadn't of known the ship was going to blow up, we would have died "She stated, "But thanks to you, a lot of us managed to get away. Now imagine what would have happened if the Queen of Venus was killed in the explosion? Obviously the Queen of the moon would have been enraged right?"
Itasha nodded slowly, realizing where Minako was going with this, "Y-you mean because of me, the war is still preventable?"
Minako nodded, "Once the Moon Queen finds out the Queen of Venus Is still alive… well, everything will be okay," Minako finished lamely.
"I never thought of it like that,"
Minako looked up at Quatre, who was leaning against the balcony frame. Itasha looked at her Daddy first then Minako. Without another word she took off into the house.
Minako watched her for a minute before turning back to Quatre, "I'm surprised you hadn't thought of that," she admitted.
Quatre shrugged, "I was so caught up in the fact that a war was coming, I forgot all about prevention,"
Minako sighed and stood up. She turned her back to Quatre and stared out into the world, "I wish the war was preventable. If anything, it can only be detained. But like all things, sooner or later it will start,"
Quatre sighed as he stepped up beside her, "Sometimes you need to fight to achieve peace," he said softly.
"I agree, but this is something we shouldn't have to fight in. It can be resolved by talking. If Relena would only listen, I'm sure the Queens of Venus and the Moon would be more than happy to parley with her." Minako stated.
"You think so?" Quatre asked mildly.
A sly smile crossed her face, "I know so."
Quatre turned to face Minako. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever known. She had such a light attitude towards everything as well. In the moonlight though, she seemed to glow radiantly.
"You can see Venus from here," Minako said softly. Suddenly she realized Quatre was staring at her. She turned around quickly to return his look when she stopped.
"Quatre…?" Minako whispered slightly. Suddenly it occurred to her she couldn't find her voice.
Quatre's arms reached out and wrapped around her slender waist. Minako's breath was caught in her chest. She closed her eyes slowly and tilted her head, ready to taste his lips on hers. Her whole body went still. Her mind went blank.
"Quatre!"
Minako doubted she had ever been so startled in her life. Her eyes snapped open as she turned to face a blonde woman she had never seen before.
Quatre looked at the woman in surprise, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks.
The woman held an annoyed look to her as she spoke to Quatre, "My flight came in early tonight so I decided to surprise you by dropping in,"
"I see," Quatre, muttered, "What a wonderful surprise," he said as he composed himself.
The woman turned to Minako with a slight sneer to her lips, "Aren't you going to introduce us?" she asked placidly.
Quatre coughed slightly, "Er, Minako this is Dorothy, Dorothy this is Minako…." He faded off slightly, "My…er…"
Dorothy quickly cut in, "His fiancée"
~*~
0.0;;; SICK.
^-^ sorry! That was the twist I was talking about.
Anywho, I'm glad I had this chapter finished in advance; I really don't have much time to do my stories any longer.
The fires really getting worse not to mention it's moving closer, so far over 40 000 ppl have been evacuated from their homes and 244 homes have been burnt down. We have so many ppl staying at our house right now, and more to come.
It's one of the biggest fire's Canada's ever had in a long time apparently, we're having to get ppl from other provinces come over to help us and they haven't even got the fire under control yet.
So if I mysteriously stop updating my stories you know the reason okay!!!
Thanks for the reviews and the support!!
~Ceso