Dressed to Dance (Khalid, Open)

[Aino Minako]

After mingling with the guests for about an hour wearing her kimono and trying to appear official, Minako slipped from the ballroom and headed to her chambers. Her yellow ball gown was still hanging in her bedroom where she'd left it earlier that evening. She placed a call to the palace department in charge of ensuring Usagi looked fashionable for any press conference, requesting aid in having her dressed zipped up.

Within a minute, a young lady arrived who helped Minako into the gown. A quick glance at her appearance in the mirror to check for any stray hairs that might have come out of her updo, and she was on her way back out the door. The trip back to the ballroom felt like the longest walk she'd ever made. Her heard was pounding so loud she felt her pulse rushing through her head. And despite who he might be or could become, she realized she still hoped Khalid was standing there waiting to sweep her off her feet and onto the dance floor the minute she crossed the threshhold of the ballroom. A strange feeling of deja vu suddenly overtook her as she approached the ballroom doors.

She pushed open the doors and there he was standing there waiting for her. Her general. Her love. Her one and only. The man she swore she would always be with, no matter what. He held an arm out for her, beckoning her to the dance floor. With a smile that reached ear to ear, she crossed the room, sinking into his waiting arms as he swung her out onto the dance floor. He pulled her close, and softly whispered her name in her ear....

"Mirabelle"

Minako stopped short at the sudden memory. Minako had many memories from the Silver Millennium, and new ones often return suddenly, but none had overwhelmed her as strong as the this one just had. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could still feel the way he'd pulled her close as if that dance in the Moon Palace had happened only five minutes ago. And the way he said her name... a small shiver ran down her spine.

She stopped. That was Kunzite. That was a thousand years ago. That man was dead, killed by her own hands as she and the other senshi had combined their powers to finally destroy him. Standing on the other side of that door was Khalid, a completely different person. At least for the moment... Minako though to herself. Regardless, she was too pulled by him to resist now.

With that final thought, she stepped through the doorway and back into the bright lights of the ballroom.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid had managed to shake off the feeling of deja vu. Not being around Nathaniel, Hiroki, Usagi, or Minako, the ache in his chest had calmed down, and the evening had become quite a run-of-the-mill evening of "schmoozing" with influential individuals, making contacts, and establishing network connections. While there were a precious few that he would make this admission to, the fact of the matter was that he hated such necessities.

Khalid had been talking with the most recent President of the former United States of America. The man was fascinating, and Khalid had a great amount of respect for the man, and was glad that he had made it to the New Year's Eve party.

However, when Minako entered the ballroom, Khalid found that he could not breath for a moment. When he managed to take a breath, he nodded to him, "If you'll excuse me."

He bowed to her, "Minako-san, you are a vision of beauty." He took her hand, kissing it, and then stood as he drew her towards the dance floor. "I believe you promised me a dance."

[Aino Minako]

Minako's eyes scanned the ballroom, looking for Khalid. When she saw him, everything around him faded away. She could only focus on him as he crossed the room to meet her. She felt her own breath catch in her throat as he reached her, the compliment causing a smear of red to blush across her cheekbones. The kiss sent a fire up her arm that blazed her heart and her legs nearly melted out from under her.

In a soft voice, she mustered a reply, "I did. I suppose you are here to collect?"

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

"I have, and I hope you will be convinced to grant me more than the one dance you 'owe' me." His smile was slight, but it was there. There was something about the sunny young woman that drew him to her. No one who knew him would have suspected that she would have ever been his "type." After all, she was an idol and not publicly known for serious thoughtfulness. Yet, at least to himself, he had to admit that he was attractive, and even a bit possessive, of her.

The music was a waltz, and while there were few who were aware of just how good a dancer Khalid was, he had every intention to show Minako. He pulled her to him, and began gracefully leading her through the steps of the stance, beginning simply as his hand rested on her waist and he held her right hand.

[Aino Minako]

Minako had never been overly clumsy, but years of idol training had morphed her into a woman of poise and grace. She let Khalid sweep her onto the floor, her left hand placed softly onto his shoulder while her right slipped nicely inside his larger, stronger hand. She held her frame as they bobbed with the music, twisting and turning as Minako yielded to Khalid's lead.

Minako smiled at his words, "Perhaps. Let's see how the first dance goes." There was an element of play in her voice, however, giving hint that she'd likely say yes.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid raised an eyebrow at the "challenge" that Minako offered him, responding by releasing her waist and raising the arm that held her hand to twirl her and then catching her back to himself. He was not going for technical accuracy - though there would be little to fault him for - but that she would enjoy herself and to hold her close.

He spoke softly near her ear, a touch of steel but also warmth in his voice, "I hope that you find that I'm more than up to any challenge you can offer, Minako-san. I will not disappoint." He pulled his head back slightly to look down into her eyes, smirking every so slightly as he watched her beautiful face, as he lead her into a spin turn.

[Aino Minako]

As Khalid twirled her away, pulled her back in, then sent her spinning again, the sense of deja vu that had rocked her earlier as she entered the ballroom returned. Everything about Khalid reminded her of the same grace and poise Kunzite had possessed during the Silver Millennium. Usagi was right, about Khalid. Minako felt her heart thrill as Khalid pulled her close once more.

"Khalid-san, you have already far outdone yourself," Minako replied, flashing him one of her stunning smiles. "Where have you been all my life?" Her tone was light, as though she was making a flirtatious joke, but deep down she was serious. Why had it taken so many years for Kunzite - or some part of him - to find her again?

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

"I'm glad my lady approves." His tone was more teasing than formal, a tone that very few ever heard from the normally stoic man. He glided with her over the floor, amazed at how very right she felt in his arms, at how much her smile brought light into his life. "I take it that means that this will not be our only dance this evening, then?"

He raised an eyebrow in amusement at her question, though he knew that it was rather standard flirting, he suspected that there might something more to it. "In Abu Dhabi. Though I've also spent some time in the former United States of America and parts of Europe, but mainly in Abu Dhabi. I apologize for any inconvenience I've caused you by not being in Japan." The comment was meant as a jest. "I shall endeavour to avoid that mistake in the future."

[Aino Minako]

She more than approved. Minako felt enthralled by Khalid, a feeling she hadn't experienced in this lifetime. Her only other relationship, which she'd had far too young in life, had produced none of the feeling that Khalid had created in her - and she still hardly knew him! "If you continue to spin me as you've been doing, I'll be far too dizzy to leave your side."

"Abu Dhabi?" she asked, "In the former Middle East." The latter was more a comment to herself as she recalled what little she knew of the area. "Honestly, I don't know much about that area. Perhaps you could tell me about your home? Then I'll forgive you for spending too much time there, and not enough in Japan."

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

"Then I would have succeeded, my lady." He actually gave her a smirk that was pretty close to a real smile. "For I fear that I have found myself not wanting to share you with the rest of world." He was actually surprised that he was admitting that to her, though that did not show in his expression.

He nodded, "In what used to be the United Arab Emirates." He executed a complicated turn with her and smiled, "What would you like to know? If that's all that it takes to gain your forgiveness, then I more than happy to oblige." He smiled down to her, feeling an odd sense that something he had said had been more right than he knew.

"It's a beautiful place, but I'm admittedly biased. Hot and sunny, humid... never as cold as it is here now. Rather traditional values." He smirked, "The idea of a woman ruling the world has sent significant ripples through the former nation. However, I think the Lady Mars has caused more shock by being a religious leader and a woman."

[Aino Minako]

"So wish to keep me here using trickery?" Minako teased. She was enjoying the soft banter between them, especially in it's elegant and formal tone. She could sense traces of their former relationship surfacing, but there were differences as well; Minako found herself eager to learn more about the man Kunzite was now.

"I happen to love hot, sunny weather. Although cold and snow can be fun once in awhile as well, I find I'm far more of a beach lover," Minako replied, hoping she wasn't coming off as a ditzy blond who cared more about tanning and bathing suits, even if that was definitely part of her personality. "I would hope, that in time, your people will not only come to accept Queen Serenity and the rest of us, but that they would grow to respect us as well." Because according to the last time we were in the 30th century, she thought, Usagi had been ruling for a thousand years.

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

Khalid raised an eyebrow, gently but firmly pulling her close to himself, "Who said anything about trickery, Lady Venus?" He knew who she was - after all the whole world did - even if he did not know who he himself was. "I prefer to think of it as a tactically sound strategy."

"Oh, some have. However, as I'm sure that all of you have realized by now, traditions can be very hard to change." He glided with her across the floor. "Those who have had the support for their own power - even if built upon the oppression and repression of others - resent it. However, I understand that some Imams are actually very supportive of the changes." He shrugged, "I fear I'm not entirely current on the religious aspect of it though."

The image of Minako on the beach in a bathing suit was one that Khalid found rather appealing. "I will definitely have to show you the beaches of my home then. They are beautiful, and I would be glad to share them with you."

[Aino Minako]

"Trickery is simply one possible form of strategy, is it not?" Minako replied, leaning her head softly into Khalid's chest to close the gap between them. "And your strategy appears to have worked, not that I'm complaining." She glanced up at Khalid, smiling softly. The longer they dance, the more she found herself attracted to him. What portion of her feelings were fresh and which were memories resurfacing she didn't know, and at the moment, she didn't particularly care.

"I do hope the fundamentalists in the middle east accept the liberation of women," Minako continued, as the conversation shifted to his people and his homeland once again. "I have no problem with the continued policy of freedom of religion, but no one should be ever be forced to follow practices that restrict individual right. I'm sure thousands of years of history and practice can be hard to change for everyone, though. What has the reaction to the policy changes been there?" She was curious. She hadn't kept up as well with the shifting politics, and her new role as Usagi's second required her to start catching up. "Perhaps you could take me, and I can see the beaches and meet the people all in one trip."

[Khalid ibn Maleec]

"It is, but one I prefer to avoid when there are much more sound and honorable tactics available." He felt his heart skip a bit, a feeling of energy running through him when she moved to close the small gap and laid her head upon his chest. It felt familiar and right to hold her close to him like this, for her to rest her head upon his chest and he had to blink as he had a vision of being tangled in sheets with her, with her head resting upon his chest.

"It will take time, Minako. Perhaps even a generation or two, but there are some who are very welcoming of it." He was not religious, did not pretend to be. However, being the heir of one of the most powerful business men in the former Emirates meant that he had been raised with an innate respect of the religion which permeated his culture.

"Again, the reactions tend to vary. The more practical leaders, even the conservative ones, have been impressed by the honor and strength the queen and the rest of you showed in defeating the Old Earthers. That has gone a long way. However, some of the social policies are guaranteed to meet resistance, no matter how right they are. It will take time."

[Aino Minako]

Minako shifted against Khalid as they whirled across the dance floor. She'd hardly noticed that the song had changed, the tempo only slightly faster, the melody of the song a bit sweeter. She was far too focused on the man to even care about the music. Her feet flowed naturally with his, her movements an extension of his lead. She didn't even stop to wonder why she was far better at waltzing than she'd expected - she knew without a doubt that she, and most likely he, were blending their past lives with their presence.

"How easy it is," she remarked, "For those of us so high up in politics to naturally gravitate to the subject. It's interesting, but far too serious for tonight. Instead, I'd like to hear more about you. Tell me what you spend your free time doing?"