2
"Wufei!" cried a young woman, also Chinese, as she dashed from the little building. She raced to his side, her hands tentatively going for his arm in attempts relax him.
'Dragonflame' seemed to be biting back some form of anger or pain behind his pristinely white teeth, eyes smouldering. "Meiran, don't fuss."
Fusion had stepped away when the shadowy form had disappeared, instead taking some form of solace near his fairer friend.
"Didja get anything, Cat?" he questioned gently. Cateyes wrapped a pair of hands around Fusion's arm, his pupils again coming into view and sharpening into feline slits as he stared at nothing in particular.
"I think he wanted something," confirmed Cateyes, his voice now taking on unearthly echos in higher pitch. "He... yes, the person was male... and human, but Convert, obviously. He's not so proud as Dragonflame, here... What he wanted... wasn't something tangible. That's questionable, however." At the last word, his voice and eyes became humanly again, appearing as an almost sea-impish creature. Revealing only the slightest shreds of uncertainty, he looked up at his taller comrade. The forest-like being of Fusion returned from Cateyes' shared visions to the reality of the small expanse of grass in front of the Chinese laundry.
"He demanded Altron," confirmed the young Asian man. "I told him no, he'd never find it."
The girl, Meiran, took on a look of sadness, almost pity, marring her childishly beautiful face. "Oh, Wufei, you shouldn't have let him know we have it. Now he'll come back!"
"What's this 'Altron'?" questioned Fusion, stepping forward as Cateyes' hands slipped off of his arm.
Meiran let go of Dragonflame-- Wufei, a feeling of urgency surrounding her. "I'll go get Grandfather," she stated quickly, turning around to dash back into the laundry building.
Wufei sighed, letting his head drop to his fingers, kneading the bridge of his nose in the appearance of distress. "Now she's going to bring Master Long into this..." he muttered quietly. He picked up his head, swiping his palm downward across his face to let them know his displeasure. His eyes were somewhat bored, the coals appearing to cool. "Very well," he began. "Altron is known as the Long clan's guardian spirit. She is believed to reside within our sculpture piece. She is depicted as a dragon bearing two heads, and is cast from iron. If appraised, she would promise a heavy sum."
"He wants a sculpture?" asked Fusion of himself uncertainly.
"Or the power inside it," Cateyes quietly added.
An elder man stumbled with a worn precision from the doorway of the building, wielding before him the statuette in question. Its metallic surface glinted in the lowering sun.
"Master Long!" started Wufei.
Master Long pressed the statuette forward into Fusion's hands, wrapping the young man's fingers about it. "Take her," he said almost breathlessly, "take her with haste, and guard her well. She is no longer safe here!" He pulled up the expensive-feeling fabric from underneath it to wrap around the top of the sculpture and conceal it. "Hide her carefully! You must hurry!"
"Master-!" started Wufei again, but Meiran had appeared to brace his shoulders back in some warning.
"Don't worry," she told Cateyes firmly, "we'll see you again soon!"
Cateyes nodded determinedly. His eyes again began to cloud partially. He took Master Long's hands in his own, emanating strength and some measure of gratitude. "Thank you, sir," he said, the deeper tones of his voice layering only slightly. "We are honored to be chosen for her care. We will guard her well."
Master Long nodded, more tender gratitude shared from him. "Thank you. I am proud to have you here anytime."
"Yes, sir," finished Cateyes with a gentle bow, retreating for the truck. Fusion gripped the creature in his hands more tightly at the exchange. "We will see you again."
TBC