Part Two

By Figgy

Email: tura14@hotmail.com

            “Okay… At least I can still sense the others…Grrr… This all Heero’s fault! Wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for Trigger Happy Yuy!” Ruby grumbled as she stomped down the dusty road ignoring the looks the people sent her. Some were muttering ‘Injun’ and the women were going out of their way to NOT look at her. “Stupid people. Stupid, idiotic western snobs.” Ruby closed her eyes briefly, searching for one of the others… It was confusing… She sensed a lot close by, but they were all in different places… Which one should she go after?
             “Oh my! Sorry!” Someone a head of her was apologizing. Ruby jumped up, trying to see over the stupid, tall cowboy, western snobs’ heads. She raised an eyebrow as she glimpsed some woman pushing past, apologizing as her umbrella smacked passing people in the head. “Oops! Sorry! Truly sorry, milord, milady! Sorry!”
             Ruby winced as sand floated in her eyes and she rubbed at them, then stopped. “Somebody’s really close!” She forced her watering eyes open and looked around. Then winced again as something smacked her in the head.
             “Oh, I’m awfully sorry!” It was that woman with her cursed umbrella! Ruby growled; she was tired, irritable, lost, pissed off at snobby cowboys, and now had just been smacked. She snatched the umbrella and snapped it in two, causing several people passing by to gasp and start talking, scornfully, about ill-mannered  ‘Injuns’.
             “Ill-mannered?! At least I’m not an uppity snob western hick!” She glared angrily at them, then jerked as the woman started thanking her!
             “Oh thank you so much! That really was getting in the way… But I didn’t know what to do with it.” Jewel blinked, “You look familiar…”
             Ruby’s mouth dropped open and she closed her eyes again, then reopened them. “Jewel?! I didn’t recognize you! It’s me! Ruby!”
             “Ruby!? But you’re so much… bigger.” Jewel’s eyes traveled up and down the girl, disbelieving. “You aren’t a fairy anymore.”
             “Yeah, well you were a lot taller last time…” Ruby looked around, “Man, we are getting a lot of looks… But then again, it’s not everyday they see an aristocrat talking to an Indian…”
             “An aristocrat? Is that what you are? How strange…”
              Ruby stared at her, “… Tell me you’re kidding.” Then she shook her head, “I forgot, you come from a different world… No, you’re the aristocrat.”
             “Me?! But I’m nothing! An ex-slave!”
             “Not here it seems… Now come on! We have to find the others!” Ruby grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her along. “And if that furry rat is anywhere near Wufei I’ll scalp her.”
 

             Heero wiped a spill off the counter and glared at Hilde who was laughing at him. “You know, you’re adapting really well to your new job! Heehee, when we do go back home, if ya ever need some extra dough you can always start bartending!”
             “Shut up…” He pulled out a mug and slid it down the bar, letting it land into the ready hand of a waiting cowboy.
             Hilde blinked, then watched him appreciatively. “You really are starting to get the hang of this, Heero. Mission failure no more!” Her eyes caught the slight tug of a smile on his lips and she grinned.
             “Yeah… But we shouldn’t be here. We should be finding the others and leaving.” He told her seriously as he wiped one mug clean.
             “Oh whatever! We’re gonna have to stay here for a while and we both can sense the others close by! We can blow some time.” She smiled and took a sip from her mug; he sent her a disapproving look. “What!? I’m thirsty!”
             “Don’t get drunk… A sober Hilde’s bad enough…” Heero muttered, turning so he didn’t the shocked look on her face… Or the grin as she started spluttering.
             “AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?” Several people nearby paled and edged away from her… ‘Lightning Hilde’ had quite a reputation as one of the meanest and fastest gunslingers… Second only to Snake-Eyes Winner and maybe an equal with ‘Smooth’ Maxwell… However, neither she nor Heero knew this yet.
             Before Heero could respond they were startled as a man came into the bar, speaking real calmly. “Gents, if ya want real entertainment then come to the casino house! The music’s started!” There was a rush as men ran from the tavern and Hilde and Heero exchanged looks.
             “Music’s started?” Hilde questioned and Heero shrugged. “Come on, let’s check it out!”
             “No.”
             “Aw, come on!” Hilde suddenly beamed, “The others might be there…” Heero glared at her, but tossed his rag aside and walked around the bar.
             “Fine then.”
 

            Dorothy giggled slightly as she dealt out the cards. “Okay boys!” She held up her own hand and grinned wickedly at the cowboys who were staring at her with puppy dog looks, completely and totally under her spell. “Ready for another round?”
            One leaned close, “Shure, purdy thing.”
             She winked, “Flattery will get you no where! Ok… So got any fives?”
             “Ya got me!” One threw her two fives and she chuckled happily.
             “Got any twos?” Another man asked and she shook her head, a devilish grin on her face.
             “Go fish!” Dorothy suddenly jerked as piano music entered their hearing. “What’s going on?” The men around her were looking even happier and more excited. She noticed more men were coming into the tavern and she raised an eyebrow. “What’s happening?” Her eyes were too busy darting around to notice the blond man two other guys were helping into the place.
 

             “Come on, sir! This is your favorite place!” Somebody was yelling in Quatre’s ear and he growled.
             “Shut up! Stop yelling!” He lurched froward and stumbled into the casino, eyes blurry from drinking too much. “Music.” He gave a dopey grin; “I like music!” He allowed the two men to direct him to his table… “Heehee, I have a table! And it’s all mine!”
             “Uh… Yes, sir… We’ll go now, sir…” They left and Quatre pouted.
             “Now I’m all alone… Nobody likes me!” Quatre sobbed, tearlessly… Then stopped as a barmaid dropped a mug of beer in front of him. He looked up and started turning red as she noticed her lack of clothing... He was drunk, but not that drunk! Yet...
             She winked, “Hello Winner! You’ve been gone for awhile! Didja miss me?” She sat in his lap and toyed with some of his hair. “’Cause we missed you!” She giggled.
             “SONYA! Get back to work!” She pouted as the boss yelled at her and jumped up. She winked at him again, “See ya around, Snake-Eyes!”
             Quatre blinked, “But I don’t like snakes… I like music. Music’s good, snake’s bad…”
 

             “Get out there!” The older girl shoved Relena toward the stairs. “You’re on! Stop being shy!” She gave Relena another push and Relena ran down the stairs… It was else that or fall down them!
             “But! What!? I don’t know! Eek!” Relena was unceremoniously pushed again and stared as every male eye turned to stare at her. She started to turn red and pulled at the bottom of the dress, wishing to hide her legs… But then she showed even more cleavage! She quickly pulled the dress back up. “Hee. Hee. Dear god…”
             “Sing, you idiot!” The girl who’d pushed her hissed and Relena winced as the piano player stared at her expectantly. Oh she remembered what those saloon girls would do and a Vice Foreign Minister did NOT do that kind of stuff! She couldn’t sing! ‘Ah!’ She silently squealed as some of the men began to grumble and hands went to holsters. ‘It’s either sing or die, Relena… Which is it?’
             “I-I-I h-have a dream…” She swallowed as she sang softly, her eyes darting around the room. They widened as she recognized a familiar blond girl wearing an outfit similar to hers. ‘Dorothy!’ Dorothy was watching her with shocked eyes and for a second anger flashed through Relena and she remembered a vague conversation she’d overheard one day.

 “Maybe we should ask Rel along, guys.” Relena stopped as she heard the nickname her friend’s used for her and listened as the girls talked on the other side of the door.
 “I’d like to, but you know Relena! She’s too innocent for her own good! I mean I know she’s seen the harshness of life, but when it comes to some things like sex or seduction she’s like an angel.” Outside Relena’s eyes widened.
 “Oh don’t be so harsh on her, Dorothy! It’s just who she is… She’s the innocent one of the group…” Relena recognized Hilde’s voice.
 “I’m not being harsh! I love Rel, we all do! But it’s the truth! She’s just too shy, too innocent! She’d as soon as seduce a guy as Heero would give us all a strip tease!” Laughter ensued and Relena shook her head and walked on by. ‘Innocent? Am I really that innocent?’

             Relena jerked away from her memories and her eyes narrowed. ‘I’ll prove them wrong! I will! I’m a Queen for goodness sake! I can sing a blasted song and act my role!’ Relena looked around, noticing how once again the cowboys had begun to get rowdy and did something none of them expected.
             Relena carefully, gracefully stepped up onto one of the tables and whistled as loud as she could. The noise stopped and all eyes were once again glued to her. She smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Hello boys.” She winked at the piano player and he got the message, turning and started playing. “Yoo-hoo!” Relena tapped a foot and clasped her hands in front of herself, the picture of innocence… If you ignored her revealing outfit. And began singing softly and sweetly. “Oh I’ve had my share of troubles. I’ve had my share of downs.” She sighed heavily and slowly stepped down off the table. “And my heart’s been broken a time or two. But.” She let a pause filter for a second, then suddenly kicked forward, knocking the hat off a surprised cowboy. She caught the hat and put it on her head. “I won’t let that keep me down!” She sang in a louder tone, twirling and kicking as she winked at her cheering audience. “ My heart may have been broken, but I’m sure I can find a new cowboy to come and tame these flames!” She giggled, “Or maybe fire them up!” That got a round of whistles and briefly Relena caught a glimpse of Dorothy’s face. The poor blond girl looked like she was about to have a stroke.
             “Well I need a man that can keep me feeling right all night.” Relena leaned across a table, smiling flirtatiously at the man across from her. It was the same one she’d kicked the hat off of and he looked vaguely familiar… ‘Oh well, he’s cute and I’m mad at Heero… But why does he look so familiar? I don’t know anyone with a mustache.’ She swung herself up onto the table, not sitting in front of him. “I’m tired of the silent type, I’m tired of the lies!” She leaned even closer, “Now tell me where I can find a cowboy that suits me fine and I’ll show you a woman that can be his every time!” A roar went up and she grinned, tossing her hair again and kicking up a leg.

             Quatre had drank too much… And he had a pretty woman singing on his table… He couldn’t keep the stupid grin off his face as his drunken mind tried to think. Thinking didn’t feel so good right now though. But there was something important… But what? Quatre growled, ‘Shut up mind!’ The girl leaned closer and their lips were an inch apart…