Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Fushigi Otome ❯ Masquerade ( Chapter 9 )

Minerva frowned, turning slightly to get a look at the back of her dress. It was navy blue satin with folds in the back. The gown was low cut, thin spagetti scraps. She looked down at her shoes. High heels, she hated high heels. A silver choker drew attention to her neck and silver diamond earings hung from her lobes. From the look of the style it was obvious Quatre had more then something to do with this. Damnit he didn't need to bother, this was embaressing to be getting handouts. She would have to talk to the blonde when she got the chance, but she couldn't be rude. Minerva sighed, finding herself trapped in a corner.

"This feels wierd."

Catherine looked at the girl and smiled. "You've never been in a dress before?"

"I've been in a dress before, nothing this expensive though. It's a small party, they wouldn't be too upset if someone wasn't in the right dress code."

Sally smilled putting in her earings. "Quatre isn't well known for informal. Cheer up, you look elegant."

Minerva grumbled. "These shoes are killing me."

Hilde smiled. "Come on, they'll be waiting for us in the ballroom."

Minerva nodded stealing another glance at the mirror before kicking her shoes beneath it and following Hilde out. She folowed a few steps behind everyone as they talked and laughed. They didn't notice her it was as if she was invisible. Well wasn't that familiar. Everyone had always treated her as if she wasn't there, why should she even get the glimmer of hope that thisplace was any different? Caring was a false dream, they only reason anybody did anything was for selfish reasons, to satisfy their own needs. If those needs happened to benefit her what did it matter? That didn't mean anyone really cared.

"Thats intresting, could you tell me why you feel that way?"

"What?"

Hilde stopped, turning back to Minerva. "What?"

Minerva shook her head. "I'm sorry...I thought I heard something."

Hilde nodded and pushed the doors open as they stepped into the ballroom. Quatre had certainly gone all out on the decor for the room was covered in pale blue colors, a small buffet table pushed up againt the wall with a couch and chairs in another corner. The boys turned around as they entered, staring at them as the music began; some sort of classical waltz. She looked up at Wufei before instantly looking away, she couldn't stand those harsh eyes at the moment. As people began to move around Heero approached. At first she didn't know it, she'd figured Heero would dance with Relena Duo with Hilde and so forth. It was her surprise that the dark haired boy was standing before her arms out as an invitation. timidly she took his and and was immediatly lead onto the floor in a sweeping motion. It was disbelief anyone would be dancing with her and of all people Heero. She looked at him, they eyes just bore into her, serious eyes, this dance wasn't for socialization.

"Who are you?"

So thats what he wanted. "You know who I am."

"I only know what you've told us. You have no past, you know about us. Who are you?"

"I'm not sure you would believe me."

"Hey Heero! Sorry to cut in but Relenas wondering when your going to be joining her." Duo winked at Minerva. "I could swear she was a little jealous."

Heero looked at Duo and nodded, letting go of Minerva to find Relena. Duo grinned, picking up exactly where the perfect soldier had left off.

"Thank you."

Duo smiled. "Hey no prob. Heero tends to be a little paranoid. What did he say to you?"

"He just..."

The room got brighter until she was seeing an intense white.

"Doctor Forest report to psichiatry."

Doctor Forest? "Where am I?"

"Don't you remember? I'm Dr. Patterson. Can you tell me your name?"

"What?"

"I said are you alright? You looked kind of distant."

Minerva shook her head, snapping out of whatever trance she had been in, finding herself back in the ballroom with Duo staring at her. She smiled. "Yea sure. I'm okay."

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The snow was beautiful. Although it was cold outside she liked to watch it fall from the window. It was dark now but when the clouds cleared the snow would be so bright you could hardly see. It was because of this blizzard that prevented anyone from leaving as they had planned. The vehicles were by now buried in snow and would require shovels to dig them out. But that would be after the storm cleared. Right now you couldn't even open the door. The wind was intense and you couldn't see three inches in front of you.

Minerva turned her head around and looked at Duo. The boy seemed to be scheming over something for the past few hours. No one seemed to know what he was doing, but everyone agreed that whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

She sighed, standing up and walking away from the room and Duo's schemes to wander around the mansion. Four days here and she still hadn't explored the entire building. She moved down the hall, past Heero and Relena who sat together in a bedroom. She continued past Quatre and Trowa, playing the most beautiful melody she had ever heard. Still she contined walking, glancing into one room after another. She stopped altogether as she looked into the exercise room. At least thats what she called it. A large blue mat was spread down on most of the floor so she imagined it was mulitpurpose for gymnastics and other exercises. It was actually Wufei that caught her eye and she had almost passed him by, not wanting to have any contact with the chinese pilot. The movements he made while practicing with his katana were just so fluid though, it was difficult to remove her eyes from the sight. Everything was so expert, practiced and executed with such skill it was hypnotizing.

"What are you doing here?"

His words caught her by surprise and Minerva jumped as Wufei turned towards her, dark eyes staring her down. Nervously she looked around then grabbed a sword out of haste. "I uh...Just came to practice."

He glanced at the sword then looked back at her. "You can't be serious."

She stammered and held the sword at ready, walking onto the mat. "I am. really, I can fight."

Wufei nodded silently and for awile didn't move at all. Finally his head shot up and he struck without warning, barely giving Minerva a chance to react as she attempted to counter the movements, finally falling back onto the mat as the sword went flying out of her hand.

His blade moved close to her throat and Minerva didn't breathe for fear it would slip. "You hold the sword all wrong. Your movements are clumsy and your weak. Either you are a terrible swordfighter, which is unlikely because even the most inexperinced fighter knows enough to handle a few movements. Or you are lieing, which is the most likely explination. I don't tolerate liers woman."

"How do you know I wasn't lieing? I could have just as easily came here to learn how to fight. Even the most experienced swordsman had to start out without knowing anything at all."

This seemed to amuse Wufei for he removed the katana from Minerva's throat and placed it at his side. "Why would you want to know swordplay? It's an ancient art requiring great discipline. You play a harp well enough after a few amatuer plucks so your obviously a fast learner. But your also impatient, headstrong and stubborn."

So he had been listening to her play With slightly more confidence she stood up to face him. "Well I can understand where you got the headstrong and stubborn. but were do you get impatient?"

"You tried to play a song after five minutes of plucking and failed."

He really had been listening. "I didn't know you liked music." She had suspected.

"Only when it sounds good."

"You think I play good?"

"I never said you were good."

"Then why were you listening?"

"I couldn't help it. The noise sounded through half the mansion. Couldn't get away. What I fail to understand is why you would even make these pathetic attempts."

She looked at him, the way he stared her down. The lack of respect was so obvious in those eyes. It didn't matter, she had been used to that look long before Wufei Chang. Still she refused to admit her attempts as pathetic. "All my life I've wondered what could have been, if I could have done it. I've always been too afraid to do this or try that, sitting in a corner and trying to stay invisible. This is my second life and I don't intend to repeat the same old routine. This time around I want to make things different."

Wufei stared at her for a moment and for awile there was a long pause as he tried to comprehend ehat the girl had meant. Finally he raised his sword again, once again begining those fluid movements that had entranced her earlier. "Go find someone else to bother now. I have other things to do then be disturbed by you."

Minerva scowled as she left the room, putting the sword away. How dare he be so rude? What if she had really wanted to learn? He probably hadn't even been listening to her, another foolish speech no one wanted to hear. Sighing she began to pass the rooms again, past the bedrooms, past the bathroom, past the psichiatric ward. Wait..what was that? Minerva stopped, backing up to get another look at the room she had just passed. Her view was of just a small game room, a pool table and couch that had been pushed up against the wall. That was strange, a moment ago she could have sworn to have seen a long white hall, people in lab coats. She shook her head again, passing the room as quickly as possible. She just needed rest, that was all.

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