Beauty's Beast

Chapter 5-Fading Endlessly

Authors Notes: The new story is up, if you click my user name and access my profile, the story is called "The Phoenix and the Raven". C. Crows song featured is "Mercury" and eesh, I realized this story is kind of dark, or maybe it's just me.

Climbing atop the stand beside the band, Rei steadied herself, catching her balance before offering Minako a hand. Accepting the hand, Minako pulled herself up beside Rei, both of their backs facing the crowd.

Duo licked his lips, grasping a bottle between his hands as he waited for them to start dancing. Wufei sighed, rapping his knuckles atop the bar in front of him. They were wasting their time here.

Somewhere in the crowd, a young, blue haired women leaned against the wall. Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face.

Rei and Minako's arms raised, as they spun around to face the crowd. The rhythm took over their bodies as they danced.

She is trapped inside a month of gray, and they take a little every day

Minako grinned, catching Duo's eyes on her. In her mind this dance was for him.

She is a victim of her own responses, shackled to a heart that wants to settle, and then runs away...

Perhaps Rei was right though, she thought as she spun. Her hips writhed to the beat. Who was she kidding. She wanted the fairytale romance. Like that old movie she always watched as a kid. Beauty and the Beast. She smiled remembering the movie.

It was a very old movie. It was about a girl like her, who didn't have too much but her happiness and a place to stay. She meets a beast at a creepy castle. That girl was then given the task of awakening something in the beast to make him whole again. Then, that beast, with his foul mood and scruffy appearance, turns into the prince of the girls dreams.

Duo was like a beast, broken from war. Spinning her body round she caught another glimpse of him as her hair flowed around her. Those eyes. She'd give it all just to let them understand and not just see. It was at this second she promised herself she was going to awaken this prince. For himself, and not just for her. She made herself promise to catch him. She wouldn't let him fall.

Her mind craved explanation though. This stranger had a hold on her, as captivating as life or death.

It's a sin to be fading endlessly.

Duo turned for a second, flashing his infamous grin to Heero. Heero grunted, shaking his head and staring down at the drink before him. Maxwell craved distraction. Heero struggled with convincing himself that this blond was just another distraction though.

Something in Duo's eyes told him it was more. Perhaps it was infatuation. Seeing Duo turn from the corner of his eye, he glanced up at the dancers.

So he certainly couldn't blame him for becoming distracted. They often didn't have many females around because of the distraction they seemed to cause. The closest Heero had come to a female in his lifetime was Relena, and that was only out of duty.

He'd never been in love. Secretly though sometimes he wondered, before pushing the thoughts from his mind. Love was something for others, but not for him. He took a sip of his beer, before setting it down again. His eyes flicked over the two girls dancing.

His eyes fell on the raven haired one. There was something serious in her eyes, perhaps determination? She'd worn less clothing tonight than she had the night before, and his eyes caught a glimpse of her abs. Her body was toned, more so than the blonds.

He debated with himself whether you could gain that level of muscle from simply dancing.

Yeah, but she's alright with me, she's leaving on a walkway, she's leaving me in disarray

The blue haired woman in the back pushed her back against the wall closer, catching a glimpse of the two dancers. She shifted slightly, men bumping into her on one side as they too danced wildly.

She frowned, her mind drifting back to a previous conversation... "You will recognize them by their beauty, as their strength is not evident.."

Ami Mizuno let a smile creep onto her face.

She'll change so suddenly, she's just like mercury...

Minako jumped off of the bar, catching her breath as she pushed her way through the crowd to the group of guys, Rei closely on her heels. Both girls chest heaved as their hearts raced.

Minako grinned, as Duo extended an arm. She raised her own arm, their hands meeting. Their fingertips temporarily laced together, lingering again each others touch. Their arms fell, and Minako let her fingertips linger just a moment longer, before slowly slipping them away, her eyes never leaving Duo's.

Duo smiled.

Yeah, she's alright with me. Keep some sorrow in your hearts and minds

Heero, realizing his eyes still lingered on Minako's friend even though she had stepped closer, quickly shot to his drink, and he fumbled with it in his hands. He shot up suddenly though, the sound of gunshots echoing in his ears.

Minako's hair flowed as her head spun, facing Rei.

Trowa had already shot from his seat at the bar, darting towards the sound of gunshots. Heero wasn't far behind, and was only behind because Trowa's legs were longer.

His feet grinding against the gravel outside the bar, Trowa's eyes darted wildly up and down the dark street. A group of men stood gathered around something that lay atop the concrete.

Two men stood apart from the group though, guns drawn. Trowa recognized neither. The group of men turned, seeing he and Heero outside the bar. Breaking up and running different ways, they abandoned the crumpled body they had surrounded.

Shooting forward, Trowa crouched down, moving the body slightly. He stifled a gasp, his eyes meeting a face he recognized.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, his eyes scanning the frail girl for injuries. She had none, and she nodded, fear escaping her eyes.

For the things that die before their time, for the restlessly abandoned homes, The tired and weary ramblers bones

Trowa shook his head. The girl must have been ambushed. Probably a random act of violence. This wasn't the best neighborhood.

He crouched down farther, assuring himself she wasn't harmed.

And stay beside me where I lay, she's entwined in me, crazy as can be

He extended a hand to the girl, helping her struggle to her feet.

"Hotaru!" a scream erupted from behind him as Rei, Minako's friend darted forward, enveloping the smaller girl in a hug.

Trowa stifled another gasp. The two girls were nearly identical, save their haircuts. His eyes darted to Heero's.

Minako shot forward also, "Hota, are you okay?" she asked worriedly. Hotaru nodded weakly, her knees shaking. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and she crumpled again.

Trowa shot forward though, catching the girl in his arms before she hit the ground again.

Yeah, she's alright with me...