A/N: School's out! Dunno if that means I'll update more frequently; prolly a little bit, like maybe once every three-four weeks instead of once a month. U

More Wufei-ness. Yay! =P

Thanks once again to my most faithful reviewer, HeeroDuo4eva.

SHANGHAI. O603 HOURS.

7 AUGUST. AC 197.

Almost without realizing it, Wufei found himself back inside the garden. He had to admit that it was beautiful this time of year: the grass was green, the flowers lush and in full bloom. As he crossed over the Japanese bridge, he paused briefly to lean over and stare at his reflection in the clear water of the brook. He saw there, staring passively back at him, a seventeen-year-old Chinese boy, pure black hair pulled back into a short ponytail, intense black eyes that were full of hurt, features that were as hard and unreadable as stone.

He saw a monster.

Murderer. Child-killer. Terrorist. The list went on and on in his mind, every single word standing out as if etched into his brain with a laser, glowing with amazing clarity. They burned with a pain beyond his imagination.

And then the image in the water shimmered and began to take on a different form. He stared at it, unable to speak, as his own face warped and changed, until…

Until she was looking up at him, smiling, almost content as she stared at him…

Meiran…

He sprang back from the bridge. His sudden movement caused the image of his wife—if that had indeed been what it was—to shatter but he didn't care; already he was running, scaling the bridge, feet pounding as he flew down the stone path and toward the nearest building. Upon reaching it, he barrelled through the door, losing his balance and falling to his hands and knees onto the cold stone floor.

There were two of Master Zhen's students inside, training with double-edged blades. They ceased their routine and turned upon his entrance, and even as they rushed toward him to provide aid, Wufei clutched his head in his hands and let out a window-shattering scream.

Master Zhen and Xingnan both turned as the echoes reached them where they were still sitting in front of the television screen. Master Zhen frowned at the sound, full of pain and grief.

Xingnan was on his feet in an instant. "Chang-san!" He ran out the door, with Master Zhen following, moving amazingly fast for a man of his age.

They reached the building at the end of the garden in only a few moments. The doors were still open where Wufei had left them, and several students had gathered, drawn by the commotion. As Master Zhen approached, he saw the two students who had been training inside trying to pull the distraught man to his feet. Wufei, however, refused their attempts at consolation. He was curled up on the floor, hands still clutching his head, his entire body trembling. Tears were streaming down his face, and he was murmuring something that Master Zhen could not hear from his distance.

Slowly the old man approached. "He rushed in here and collapsed, Sifu," one of the students said, "We've been trying to talk to him, but it's like he can't hear us."

Master Zhen nodded. "You are right," he said, "He cannot." Coming to a stop beside his fallen student, he knelt down on one knee, listening carefully to what Wufei was whispering. He recognized it almost immediately: a Mandarin prayer chant, used to drive away evil spirits.

He reached out then and gently shook Wufei's shoulder. "Chang-tudi," he said. Wufei made no response; only continued to whisper. Master Zhen shook him a bit harder. "Wufei," he said in a firmer voice. There was still no reply.

Master Zhen straightened then. "It has become serious," he said. For a moment he only stood there, watching his student quietly as the rest of his pupils did the same. All of a sudden, with a move as quick as lightning, he lifted his cane, spun it once, and brought it down, connecting it perfectly with the back of Wufei's neck. The boy shuddered once, fell forward, and lay still. The room fell silent.

Master Zhen turned to the two students who had been originally assisting Wufei. "Take him to the ward," he said, "And make sure he is comfortable." They bowed, a little shaken by his sudden move, and obeyed.