Mayumi walked down the corridor towards the entrance to the party. She had to get hold of the others, but Julie had the button thing…
Turning a corner, she ran flat into someone, attempted to keep her balance, and found it was no use. He landed on top pf her. Looking up, she gasped.
"You again!"
He got up off of her and glared.
"You're following me," he stated, not offering to help her up. "Who are you? Do you work for the alliance?"
"Look, buddy, I'm not saying anything. Goodbye." They both turned away and began walking the same way.
"Okay, look. You find some other way, cause I'm libel to shoot you by accident I'm so pissed off at you right now," Mayumi growled.
The boy continued walking.
"Okay, fine, Mr. I don't talk, have it your way."
"It's Hiiro."
"What?"
"My name. Its Hiiro," the boy said in a monotone voice.
"Oh…" Mayumi said in a softer voice. Maybe he wasn't all ice…
"I'm Mayumi. Nice to meet you." He looked at her with icy eyes.
She gave a little smile and turned away.
"SHIRIS!!!!!!!!!"
"Yah! What was that?" she muttered, holding her head. Oh, it was the talkies.
"What is it?" the boy asked, having heard the cry.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" They both heard as Shiris screamed. Then more shouting, and then, "who's that with you?" They heard a man's voice in the background.
"Shiris meet someone? She'd supposed to be…shit. What did she do."
"I didn't do anything!" Shiris answered.
Mayumi started-she'd forgotten they could hear her.
"He was the guard I picked to beat up, but he had picked me to beat up! It was a weird coincidence. But Mayumi," she lowered her voice, " they work for the federation,"
Mayumi 's eyes narrowed and she looked at the Hiiro.
"You work for the federation?" she muttered, backing away.
"Yes."
"Hey, did you hook up with someone too? Cause so did Julie…" Shiris said in the background. So Julie had met someone too?
"She must mean Duo. And the other girl must be with Trowa," Hiiro mused.
"What coincidence," Shiris said quietly in Mayumi's head. Yea, what a coincidence.
"Look, we have to meet up. Meet us back at the buffet table, okay?" Mayumi said to both.
"Sure," Shiris replied.
"And Julie, did you crack the password?"
"Yep! It was soooooooo easy!"
"Great. Lets go."
"Okay!" Julie said happily.
Shiris and Trowa left the room, still dressed as guards.
"I have to change back into my dress, so I don't raise attention," she said, heading for the closet.
"Yea, I have to change too. Ill meet you back here in five minutes," and he left. Shiris headed to the closet. She didn't know what to think. He worked for the federation, they couldn't be seen together, they weren't even supposed to be talking, and yet she was attracted to him. Great.
She opened the door and the woman groaned. Shiris kicked her and began changing.
Five minutes later she walked back to their meeting place, fixing her ruby necklace so it fit loosely around her neck. Trowa was already there, dressed handsomely in a suit and tie. Forget the federation, she wanted him.
Trowa turned when he heard heels against the floor, and thanked god he was leaning against a wall. When Shiris came back dressed in the tight, shimmering red dress with that flattering high slit up the side that showed her long and shapely legs, he almost fell.
"All set?" she said cheerily. She had seen the look on his face, and was pleased.
"That's a nice suit," she commented, looking him up and down.
"That is a gorgeous dress," he replied, gazing at her. She smiled and started walking, Trowa next to her.
Julie and Duo started back for the buffet table, which both thought was a great idea. They were starving!
"So you work for the federation?" Julie asked, not bothered at all if he did. She personally had never understood why the two organizations were enemies if they were so alike. Except in the case of Shiris, she couldn't understand why anyone of the alliance members hated the federation.
"Yea, why? Whom do you work for?" Duo replied, unperturbed.
"I work for the alliance, sworn enemy of the federation."
Duo thought about her answer for a minute. Then, "well, I don't mind. I personally don't see why we are sworn enemies. I mean, we obviously have the same agenda," Duo said calmly.
"Yes! I feel that way exactly!" Julie exclaimed, happy that someone else shared her sentiments.
Duo smiled at her. She was also the first person he had ever met that felt that way. Trowa did have a slight thing against the alliance and Hiiro, gods forbid you mention that word in his presence. He would flip out!
Hearing noise, they turned the last corner and came out into the party once again.
"Wow, this is an awesome party!" Julie whispered, wishing she could stay. But no, she had to save the world.
"Yea. Bummer we can't stay." Duo agreed as they wound their way to the buffet table. Next to it, Julie saw Mayumi and Duo saw Hiiro.
"So that's your friend? The mean looking one?" Julie asked, recognizing him.
"Yep! Good ole Hiiro, never a smile on his face!"
"Yea, I saw him earlier in the night. Didn't want to go near him."
"It's best that you don't. When he's on a mission he isn't the most sociable person."
"Yea, Mayumi's the same way."
"Is that the girl with Hiiro?"
"Yep,"
They walked up to the two teens standing at the table trying to act like they fit in.
"Hey Hiiro! And you must be Mayumi!" Duo greeted cordially.
"And you must be Hiiro. I saw you earlier this evening!" Julie said, walking over to him.
Hiiro didn't reply, only glared at her.
"Like I said, he's not very sociable," Duo apologized for his friend.
"Nice to meet you Mayumi," Duo said, shaking her hand.
Mayumi could see why Julie liked Duo. He was cute, funny, and very energetic. Perfect match for her.
"Hey, I'm gonna get some food," Julie said, getting in line.
"Yea, me too. We'll be right back!" Duo said, jumping in line behind Julie.
Mayumi turned back to Hiiro.
"So that's Duo. He seems very nice," she said, trying to make conversation. It would seem strange if they weren't talking yet standing together.
"Yes. A very annoying person, as is that friend of yours. Julie, was it?"
Mayumi glared at him ferociously. He was stepping over the line by insulting her friend.
"Watch it. Don't ever insult one of my friends." She growled, eyes narrowed.
Hiiro didn't reply. In truth, he was a little taken aback. She was really pissed, and he didn't want to provoke her any further. He might actually get hurt.
Just then Shiris and Trowa walked up.
"Hey Mayumi!" Shiris greeted, and presented Trowa.
"This is Trowa. And you are Hiiro, right?" she said, nodding at Hiiro.
"Yes. Nice to meet you," he answered. He thought this girl was a little bit more level headed.
"Nice to meet you Trowa," Mayumi said, holding out her hand.
"Nice to meet you as well," he replied, shaking her hand.
"Where's Julie?" Shiris asked, looking around. "Wait, let me guess. She's in the food line?"
"Not anymore!" came the cheerful reply. Turning, Shiris saw Julie standing next to her.
"Hey! This must be Trowa!" Julie said, holding out her free hand to him.
"Hey, I remember you!" Shiris exclaimed to Duo, who nodded with a slight blush.
"Yep. I remember you too. Now I know why you seemed distracted, with voices talking in your ear," he laughed. Shiris smiled.
"Yea, it was kind of disconcerting when two certain someone's began having a fight in my ear," she glanced at her friends. They seemed to be fascinated with the floor.
"Excuse me, but may I remind you that we are not supposed to be talking?" Hiiro reminded them.
Julie and Duo looked puzzled. "Why not?" They asked at the same time.
"Because," Mayumi continued, being of the same mind, "we belong to different organizations."
"Oh, that's right," Julie said quietly. Even though she felt one way, Mayumi felt the other way, which meant that her way was out.
"That doesn't matter," Duo protested, putting an arm around Julie, who immediately brightened. "If we become friends, its not our fault!"
"Yes, it is. We are leaving, now," Hiiro said menacingly.
"Wait a minute! We just met at a party! What so wrong about that?" Shiris demanded, facing Hiiro.
He glared at her. "Even if we did, we can't associate. I haven't fallen victim to you yet, but obviously Trowa and Duo have. Who knows what information you could coerce them into giving you."
"Hey! Are you suggesting Julie and I are seducing them?" Shiris almost shouted, extremely offended.
"Possibly. We don't know what you are capable of."
Trowa grabbed Shiris' arms as she lunged forward.
"Come on, let's go," Mayumi said sternly, eyes boring a hole in Hiiro's head. He had now insulted both of her friends with one comment. She didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore.
"Leaving so soon?" a deep voice said form behind her. Startled, she came face to face with the minister.
Shit! She thought, and furiously tried to think of something to say.
"Yes, I'm afraid we have to go minister," Shiris said apologetically, coming to the rescue.
Julie mentally kicked herself. She should have been checking her mirror to see where he was!
"Oh, but please, don't leave yet. I haven't seen you on the dance floor all night, and I'm sure these nice men would love to have you for a dance, am I right?" the minister said cheerily. His advisors had told him to try and be nice to all his guests. It would be good for his image.
Duo immediately began nodding furiously. Trowa cast a sideways glance at Shiris, who looked stunned. That was not the answer she was expecting.
"Uh…umm…of...of course! If that pleases you, of course!" She smiled nervously and turned back to the others, face becoming apologetic. Nodding happily, the minister walked away, pleased with his social skills.
"Lets go!" Duo cried, pulling Julie onto the dance floor. She didn't object one bit.
"No." Hiiro and Mayumi said firmly as Trowa and Shiris looked at them.
"Charkovky's body will be found any minute. We can't risk getting stuck in here. Security will lock us all in if something happens…" Mayumi warned.
Trowa looked at Shiris. Screw protocol.
"Trowa," Hiiro said threateningly when he saw the look Trowa was giving Shiris. When he saw her looked at him with a small smile, he knew it was over.
Glancing apologetically at Mayumi, she and Trowa walked over to the dance floor.
"Come on, let's go," Mayumi sighed after a moment's silence.
Hiiro stared at her, shock registering on his face. Was she crazy?
"We look very suspicious standing here, after he told up to dance. So come on."
He knew she was right. Not saying anything, he started for the dance floor. Shaking her head, she hurried to catch up with him.
The band was playing a waltz, something Shiris had always wanted to dance to. When Trowa swept her into the dance, she got completely lost in the rhythm. She forgot why she was there, why they had to leave, why they were enemies. They only thing that stayed clear as crystal to her was the man she was dancing with. He held her firmly, arm on her back and holding her right hand with his left. They quickly fell into a rhythm and didn't have to concentrate on where they were going. Looking over his shoulder, she saw Julie and Duo go sailing by. she was close to him, her head on his shoulder. Then Mayumi and Hiiro went by, standing stiffly together.
Neither talked during the dance. Neither wanted to ruin the moment, which very could be their first and last. Shiris felt herself slowly melting as he held her closer and closer until they were completely together, like Duo and Julie. She gazed up into his face, and fell into a trance when she met his sparkling emerald eyes.
His in turn melted when they met her dazzling chocolate brown. They were unlike anything he'd ever seen before, big and dark, with thick dark eyelashes. They gazed alluringly at him. He felt himself reaching down, down, to meet her lips, which were inches away.
Shiris rose to meet him as he bent down. Their lips were so close…
"HE'S DEAD!"