Title: Shall We Dance?

Author: Caroline ( chibirei @ hotmail.com )

Rating: This part, PG but will eventually be NC-17 >:)

Pairing: 1+2, R+1

Warnings: AU, a tad angsty, Relena bashing, lots of references to dancing

Disclaimers: for some reason I can't quite fathom, I don't own Gundam Wing. I know, strange isn't it? I also don't own the movie 'Shall We Dance?' I make money teaching bratty children. And believe me, you wouldn't be getting much if you sued.



Shall We Dance? - Prelude

"In Japan, ballroom dance is regarded with much suspicion. In a country where married couples don't go out arm in arm, much less say `I love you' out loud, intuitive understanding is everything. The idea that a husband and wife should embrace and dance in front of others is beyond embarrassing. However, to go out dancing with someone else would be misunderstood and prove more shameful. Nonetheless, even for Japanese people, there is a secret wonder about the joys dance can bring." _______________________



Heero clutched wearily at the worn leather strap suspended from the ceiling of the overcrowded train. `Another day, another dollar,' he thought bitterly to himself as he watched the city roll by. `Not that I need it… not with Relena's money,' Still… his job was the only thing that got him out of the museum his wife called a house. And anything that got him out of the house and away from his harpy of a wife was a good thing.

Heero stoically faced the window so as not to have to engage in any mindless conversation with the other passengers on the commute. The sun had set an hour before and now the city was bathed in bright neon. To anyone else, the city of Tokyo at night could be considered beautiful. But to Heero Yuy, it was nothing but a tarnished jewel. The world held no beauty for him anymore.

He sighed impatiently as the train slowed to one of its many stops along the route. He shifted on his feet and clutched his briefcase tighter. All he wanted now was to get home and take a nice, warm shower before falling asleep in one of the empty guestrooms in the house. And hopefully, Relena would be asleep by the time he got home. He looked at his watch. Twenty minutes until his stop. Not soon enough.

A movement from the second floor across the street from the station caught his eye. Looking up, he glanced briefly at the large sign on the side of the building. `Hikawa Dance Studio' it read. Another movement drew his attention away from the sign to the large glass windows beside it. Inside, a couple was dancing. No, several couples he corrected himself as they sailed by the windows, twirling like porcelain figurines in a music box. Heero watched disinterestedly for a moment – until a lone figure moved to open one of the windows.

The young man at the window was dressed in a dancer's leotard over which he wore a slightly baggy cut-off t-shirt. He wasn't Japanese – the long braid of chestnut-gold hair draped over one shoulder told him that much. He looked European or perhaps even American. He had a dancer's build, although a tad on the slender side. And he moved with the gracefulness of a swan through water.

Heero stood transfixed at the vision above him. He'd never seen anyone quite so beautiful in his life. He almost cried out in denial as the train lurched to life, taking him away from the figure that had caught his attention. He watched the window as long as he could until the building was out of sight. Slumping down onto one of the now unoccupied seats, he wondered why the mere sight of a complete stranger had affected him so… and why such a beautiful face could look so sad.



That was terribly short... sorry. ^_^;;