Cherry Blossom: This chapter isn't really that action packed. But I had to put it in for the next part to make any sense whatsoever and besides, I haven't decided what to do about Hilde yet. I mean, Kaze-chan hasn't written the next part to Here Then Gone yet so I can't decided on whether to be mean or nice.
Matteo: You'll be nice. I know you. You can't resist a sappy ending. Plus there's no room for a sequel if you kill her.
Cherry Blossom: Oh, I don't know about that…
Matteo: I don't like that look.
Cherry Blossom: *innocently* What look?
Matteo: That evil look. You know everybody's gonna lynch ya if you kill Hilde.
Cherry Blossom: Che…*laughs nervously* No song in this chapter either. Actually I WAS listening to a beautiful song called Oriental Flower when I wrote this but it's an instrumental. No lyrics. Anyway, researching for this chapter was really hard. I had to search forever to find a good summary of Wufei's past. Which is what this chapter settles on mostly.
Matteo: And Meiran.
Cherry Blossom: Yes. I wanted to look into the character of Wufei's wife and see how she changed his views and blah, blah, blah…plus it intro's the next chapter which, if Matteo isn't being a butt-munch about, will be out soon.
Matteo: Hey!
Cherry Blossom: Speaking of intro's, this one is taking far too long. This is a WufeixHilde romance and if you haven't read the first five parts then I suggest you do so now and refrain from asking yourself silly questions later on. Aside from the central pairing there is YAOI and YURI but none in this chapter.
Matteo: there's also the case of the disclaimer…
Cherry Blossom: Ah, yes. Here we go.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except you. Dance for me, slave.
Cherry Blossom: I've always like that particular disclaimer. *grin* Enjoy! And don't forget to review. Last chapter got almost the same amount of reviews as the first part. So I guess being evil pays off ^__^
Someone Else's Star – Part 6
Wufei shivered and pulled his jacket tighter around his body. The night was black and cold, hazy clouds obstructing the face of the moon, swirling madly in the harsh, biting wind. Snow fell thickly through the air, covering the ground and the treetops with its freezing, crystalline substance. It was not a night to be outside. Yet here he was. A dark shape against the snow. Searching for the one thing that made him feel human again.
Hilde, where _are_ you?
Wufei peered into the darkness of the woods, trying to separate the shadows for any sign of human life. He could find none.
Damn! I must find her. I must. She wouldn't be out here if it weren't for me, if it weren't for my unworthiness.
Memories of Meiran and colony A0206 flooded his mind and the pain that came with those memories almost blinded him.
flashback
Her eyes were black and flashing with defiance. They sparkled more than the glittering tiara that she wore on her head. Her childish face was twisted into a scowl that marred her lovely features and her fingers twisted into the side of her bridal costume in barely disguised contempt. It was almost disrespectful, the way she looked at him. Wufei could tell that this woman would be difficult, if not impossible, to tame. He sighed and adjusted the collar to his own wedding costume, his ebony locks swinging freely over his face, spilling down towards his shoulders in a glossy mane of black ink. As he approached the girl she turned up her nose and sniffed,
"You're that scholar boy."
Wufei tried to control the coldness in his voice as he replied, "You're dissatisfied?"
Why must I marry anyway? All I want is to be able to continue my studies and be left in peace. And it doesn't look like I'll get much of that with this onna. Curse you, Meiran…Meiran's soft lips twisted into a sneer, her eyes radiating the hatred in her heart.
"A person like you has no right to carry on the line of our proud clan."
This was the last straw. Wufei may have to marry to satisfy the elders, but he was damned if would stand here and listen to this…this ONNA insult him. Wufei flung down his hat and robe and shouted angrily,
"Oh? Well, it certainly wasn't my idea. Do as you please!"
And with that last comment he stalked out of the wedding pavilion, leaving the sneering Meiran and the distraught elder's behind him.
flashback
Wufei breathed in the heady scent of the wildflowers, reveling in the peacefulness that they evoked within him. The sun was warm and wonderful against his skin. Wufei lazily leafed through the pages of a book he had brought with him and read a passage that interested him greatly.
Once the Dragon Clan was famed throughout Eurasia as the strongest fighting group. But there came a time when those in power, fearing the Dragon Clan, forced them off of the continent of China, which was their homeland. They were exiled to the aging Colony A0206 which had been built almost 170 years ago.A small bluebird chose this moment to perch precariously on Wufei's shoulder and he regarded it affectionately before returning to his reading.
Suddenly a shadow fell over Wufei's form and he glanced up only to be confronted by a pair of flashing black eyes and an imperious scowl.
"Wufei!" she shouted.
The bird on Wufei's shoulder became startled at the sudden noise and flew away. Wufei sighed heavily and looked back down at his book.
So much for my peaceful day.Meiran pushed some wispy strands of black hair out of her eyes and said,
"You call yourself a man? I thought that, after becoming my partner, you'd change a little. I guess I was completely wrong."
Wufei refused to acknowledge her presence, pretending to be completely absorbed in his book.
Maybe if I don't talk to her, she'll just go away.He chuckled wryly at the thought.
Of course she won't just go away. She's the most stubborn woman on the colony, possibly the whole universe.Meiran's scowl deepened, if that was even possible. Wufei was ignoring her. And she hated being ignored.
"Why don't you ever practice fighting techniques, like the others?"
Hhmph.Again with the fighting. Meiran was always nagging him about not choosing to be a warrior. Truthfully, Wufei would much rather read a book than wield a sword. It wasn't that he was a coward. It was just that he couldn't think of any reason to battle. War was stupid. He couldn't understand his tiny wife's vehemence in regard to fighting. He decided to ask her.
" Why... do you fight?"
The question seemed to take Meiran by surprise. She stumbled about for an answer before replying,
"For justice!"
Wufei closed his book and gave Meiran a piercing stare.
"Justice?" he asked. "You really think there is such a thing?"
Apparently Meiran took the tone of his voice as a challenge because she took a fighting stance and said defiantly,
"Do you want me to show you?"
Wufei's lips curved into a small smile of amusement.
That onna thinks she can best me? You should never underestimate your opponent.- Wufei pulled his glasses from his nose and set them down beside his book, taking his own fighting stance.
"...Go ahead."
Both of them stood still and silent, waiting for the first move. Tension stretched between them like a fishing line, taut and invisible. The sun, which had beamed so brightly before, was now covered by a layer of thick clouds and thunder rumbled in the distance. A sudden flash of lightning distracted Meiran for an instant and in that instant Wufei struck. His left arm swept down in a powerful ark and Meiran had to struggle to lift her right arm for a block in time. Cursing softly under her breath, she executed a quick turn, hoping to catch Wufei off guard. Her right leg came out to sweep her husband off his feet but he anticipated her move and avoided the attack. Thunder vibrated through the air, closer this time. Meiran darted her fist out for a quick punch. Wufei ducked under her advance and then kicked her, hard, just underneath the ribs. At that moment the heavens opened up and wept, the rain hiding Meiran's tears of pain as she knelt, stunned, at Wufei's feet.
"How... how could it be?" Meiran stutters, her breath coming in sharp gasps as she struggles to get up. Her hand pressed to her stomach as she winces at the white-hot knife of pain that shoots through her body. " I am the strongest of our clan..."
Wufei looked down at her, debating on whether to help her to her feet or not. For a moment, sympathy and guilt filed him and he reached out his hand, but anger took over his other emotions and he retracted the pro-offered arm.
Don't let her see that you are weak. This is what she asked for. It's time to teach her a lesson about the real world."You think you're Nataku?" he snapped, cruelly. "You have a lot of nerve, calling yourself by that name. There is no justice, except in individual circumstances. A fight based on such a thing is meaningless."
Using all the strength in her arms, Meiran finally managed to get on her feet. She stood unsteadily; wiping at the dirt that stained her face.
"I understand that!" she shouted over the thunder. "But even so, I have to fight! That's the way of our people!"
Wufei shook his head and walked away, leaving her glaring furiously at his retreating back.
I hate you Chang Wufei! I hate you!As the rain continues to pour down, Wufei's reply rings clearly in his subconscious.
I hate you too, Meiran.flashback
OZ Mobile Suits crashed through the colony's defenses, destroying the beautiful ancient buildings and burning the elegant gardens with malicious ease. Explosions rocked the ground and fire crackled and snapped gleefully as it consumed everything in its path. Meiran jammed a helmet onto her head and climbed up into a Mobile Suit, anxious to get to the battleground.
One of the mechanics spotted her intent and shouted,
"Stop! You can't handle that! It's not something a woman can pilot."
"Then I hereby give up being a woman! I am Nataku!" Meiran called back, impatiently, as she got into the suit and closed it up.
The scene was chaotic. Meiran sliced through Mobile Suit after Mobile Suit, screaming her triumph to the skies. But something caught her eye. The field of flowers that she had confronted Wufei in only weeks before was now engulfed in flames from the battle.
The flowers. Wufei's flowers…I can't let them burn.- "The flowers are dying," Meiran murmured to herself. "I have to take this fight outside…"
With this thought, Meiran took off into space, goading the rest of the Mobile Suits into following her.
Wufei ran after the Suit, the flower petals swirling around him in a frenzy of brilliant colour. Panic and fear clenched around his heart and his breath came short.
What does she think she is doing? She'll be killed!- "Stop!" he shouted after her. "You don't have the strength to pilot that! Come back!"
"Don't give me orders!" she shouted back. "This is a fight for justice!"
And then she was gone, the Suit flying far off into the dark reaches of space. Wufei stood in the field of flowers, bewildered by the intense pain that closed around him.
Meiran…"Stupid woman!"
How does she think she can uphold justice without any strength!?flashback
Mobile suits surrounded the unfortunate Chinese girl and she glanced around her, a twinge of fear marring her face.
I…can't do this. I_ must_ do this! For the sake of the colony. For the sake of justice!Her look of fear changed to determination and she yelled in once last act of defiance,
"Come and get me! I am justice!"
flashback
Wufei climbed into the cockpit of Shenlon and prepared it for takeoff. Below him, the mechanic in charge of repairing the Shenlon cried out,
"Shenlon doesn't have any weapons..."
"Fine," Wufei cut him off. "I'm not fighting for justice."
"Then why are you going?"
"Because I'm not such a coward that I can stand by while my wife is killed!"
Wufei took off after Meiran at top speed.
Please Ancestors…let me reach her in time.From space, Wufei could see the battlefield on the colony more clearly. He also spotted some Mobile Suits with large metal canisters.
That can only mean…"What's that? Germ warfare!?"
The Federation and OZ would go this far?Anger surfused Wufei's being and he cursed,
"Bastards!!!"
What cowards!! To use such dirty tactics on a defenseless colony. It is dishonorable. They must pay…flashback
Meiran winced as another barrage of bullets pummeled her suit.
I can't take much more of this."I... I won't lose!" she screamed in frustration. "I can't lose to these people!"
Suddenly, another Mobile Suit came onto the scene. Meiran gasped as she recognized the form of the Shenlon Gundam.
"Wu-Wufei…"
I can't believe he came for me. I thought he hated me…"Leave this to me!" Wufei ordered, sliding in front of her and taking the brunt of the attack. The Shenlon shuddered violently under the rain of bullets.
"WUFEI!"
Struggling to keep Meiran out of harms way, Wufei stuttered,
"Hu-hurry up and get the hell out of here!"
Meiran refused to move.
Damn you, listen to me for once!"A wife should listen to her husband!!"
After a long silence, Meiran replied, " ...Hai..." and starts to turn back towards the colony.
Wufei turned to the OZ Mobile Suits and said, "You Oz troops, you are weak cowards with no honor. You sicken me."
One of the OZ pilots angrily replied, "I can't allow His Excellency, Treize's name to be dirtied in a place such as this!"
Treize... That's the name of the man in charge of this?A Mobile Suit headed straight for the retreating Meiran, colliding with her in a huge explosion.
"MEIRAN!!"
No, no it can't be! Please…The small body of the child floats amid the wreckage of her Mobile Suit. Wufei scoops her up gently with one of Shenlon's hands.
"Meiran," Wufei pleads. "Are you alright?"
Meiran opened her eyes and murmured, "Wufei…"
"Hang on, Meiran!"
"I- I'm Nataku..." she protests.
" ...Yeah. You're Nataku. I won't call you Meiran anymore..."
Just please don't die. I'll call you anything you want, only…"You could... praise me a little, you know..." Meiran breathed, coughing raspily. "I protected... that field of... flowers."
Flowers! She thinks I care about flowers!! It's her I care about…"I-idiot..." Wufei half-sobbed.
How could she do this?
Meiran's eyes closed in a weary gesture and she sighed, "Please... take me to that field..."
Wufei complied and brought her back to the colony. He took her to the field where they fought. The fire has been put out and the flowers are still blooming, protected. He placed her down gently, taking care not to jostle her injuries. He then sat down beside her, glancing anxiously at her face.
Meiran smiled at him. The first smile she's ever given him.
"It's... beautiful... isn't it. I've never appreciated flowers like this before."
A silence fell over them for a few minutes. Then Meiran asked, "Wufei..."
" ...What?"
Uncertainty filled her weak voice as she said,
"I... was strong, wasn't I? You weren't ashamed of me as your wife, were you?"
"Yeah..." Wufei agreed. "You're strong. ...Stronger than anyone."
"No...," she protested. "You are... stronger..."
Then she slumped over onto his shoulder, limp and cold.
Wufei started to panic once more. "Hey...?"
Her shook her hard. Once. Twice. No response.
"Hey!? Open your eyes! I haven't yet shown myself worthy of being your husband! NATAKU!"
Meiran's features dissolved into the beautiful smile of one who is finally experiencing true peace. Her chest rose once and then fell, and then never rose again.
No no no no… This can't be happening. You can't be dead. Dammit, you _can't_ leave me!"NATAKU!!!!"
I was too weak, I could not protect you, Nataku.Wufei looked at the body of his wife, and then the solid form of the Shenlon Gundam standing beside him.
But I will protect the rest of the colonies. I promise to bring justice to those who would threaten the peace. I will avenge your death. "Watch Nataku," Wufei shouted to the sky, tears streaming down his face. "I swear I will bring justice!"end of flashbacks
A cold gust of wind brought Wufei back from his thoughts abruptly. He shuddered and swallowed back the hard lump that had lodged itself in his throat.
My weakness has killed all that I love. I cannot permit that to happen again."Wufei? Wufei! Are you there?"
Wufei picked up the com link and said, "What is it Quatre?"
"It's passed the two hour mark. I've already signaled to Dorothy and Catherine to call the emergency services. There's nothing more we can do."
Wufei's eyes narrowed and a sneer crossed his face.
"I'm not coming back without her Quatre."
"But Wufei, you can't stay out here in this type of weather much longer. You'll freeze."
"Then I'll freeze, dammit! The rest of you can all go home but I'm no leaving until I find her and that's final," Wufei shouted and cut the connection before he could hear any more of Quatre's objections.
I'm not giving up. Not yet. I'm not giving up on you, Hilde. So you damn well better be alive when I find you.
Wufei swept the area with his eyes once more, straining to see through the darkness and blinding snow. Something directed his attention to a small gray rock, almost hidden in the snow. His instincts went into overdrive. Wufei left the snowmobile and walked over to the rock, his boots sinking deeply into the soft snow.
This is silly. It is just a rock. I should be looking for Hilde not wasting my time on this stupid rock. So why do I feel like I should take a closer look at it?As Wufei drew closer a fierce gust of wind swept away the snow from the rock's surface and Wufei saw that it wasn't a rock at all. It was a boot. Wufei's heartbeat quickened and he practically ran over to the abandoned piece of footwear, digging it out of the snow hastily.
A boot. A woman's boot. Hilde's boot.Wufei looked frantically around him, his eyes lighting on a strange depression in the snow, underneath one of the pine trees. He ran to the tree, stumbling in anticipation as he went. Slowly, the contents of the trench came into view. A hand….an arm…a face…
"Hilde!"
Wufei jumped into the trench and gathered the limp body into his arms.
She's so cold.- "Oh please be alive. Please…"
Wufei tore off his gloves and pressed his fingers to the chilled flesh of Hilde's neck, searching for a pulse.
Please.There. A pulse! But it was so faint, Wufei couldn't be entirely sure that it wasn't just his imagination.
"I need to get you warm somehow," Wufei muttered.
He was too far away from Quatre's compound to take Hilde back there. She'd die before they even got close.
I remember passing a hunting lodge near here. I can take her there.Wufei lifted Hilde's slight body easily and carried her to his snowmobile. He sent a brief message to Dorothy, telling her that he had found Hilde and relating the location he was taking her to. Then he secured her against his chest and took off at top speed for the lodge.
Hold on. Just hold on a little longer. Don't die on me.Cherry Blossom: And there you have it…
Matteo: But that chapter didn't solve anything!
Cherry Blossom: Of course it did. We learned some vital information about our Wu-kun. And he found Hilde didn't he?
Matteo: Well yeah, but we still don't know if she's alive.
Cherry Blossom: *shrug* Not my problem.
Matteo: Evil!!
Cherry Blossom: Yes, yes I am. REVIEW!! Or I shall go off on holidays for a month and forget all about this fic and shall never know what happens.
Matteo: She's kidding.
Cherry Blossom: I dunno. The Bahamas looked really nice this time of year. ^__^
Jaa!!! Review!!