Robert came across Trowa sitting quietly by the lioness' cage. She purred and leaned into his extended hand as he scratched behind her ear. She nuzzled Trowa's hand and licked his face between the bars. Memories of Rose in a similar position crossed Robert's mind. Both Catherine and Trowa reminded Robert of their mother. Catherine had Rose's exuberance, love of life and people, and her bubbly and energetic personality. It reminded Robert of Rose before the "incident". Trowa on the other hand reminded him of Rose after the "incident." Trowa was quiet, contemplative and there always appeared to be an underlying sadness in his eyes since he was young. The young boy of eleven was not the extravert his sister was, but he did not shy away from people, just appeared to ignore them. He was very alert especially when it appeared that he was not paying attention. Trowa knew more of what was going on around him than he let on, and he liked it that way. Catherine dragged Trowa with her wherever she went and had a tendency to be as much a mother to him as an older sister. Trowa did not seem to mind. He would placidly follow her without a word and she would chatter away at him.
Robert smirked at the memory of the occasionally times Trowa had put his foot down and would not follow his older sister's orders. He could not even remember what she wanted Trowa to do, but Trowa told her no in his unemotional, no argument tone. That was it, end of statement. Catherine looked at Trowa dumfounded. As she opened her mouth to argue the fact, Trowa gracefully walked away. Catherine called his name demanding he come back, before she took off after him. When she got to the corner he had disappeared around, he was no where in sight, vanished like a skilled magician. She fumed about that for days but finally realized there were limits to Trowa's patience and cooperatives.
Robert walked up behind Trowa. Trowa turned and looked at his uncle with Rose's green eyes.
"Aren't you going to the village with you father?" Robert asked.
Trowa nodded his affirmative.
"We are not leaving for 20 more minutes," Trowa informed his uncle.
"In that case, you might want to go wash up after the cat kisses you received, so you will be ready to go," pointed out Robert as he ruffled his nephew's brown hair.
Trowa considered the merit of the suggestion and walked off to his trailer to do just that.
~@~
Jeff Barton located his two children and got them into the vehicle. He drove them down a country road to a village about ten miles away. They were going to see an old childhood friend of his, Beth. They had grown up in the circus together like brother and sister. One day she meet a man by the name of Chang and she married him. They had keep in touch and would visit when the opportunity arose, and now was one such opportunity. They entered the small town that consisted of no more than a dozen or so houses and pulled into the drive of one of them. A woman with brown hair pinned to the top of her head came out to greet them. Her long lightweight skirt moving with her movement. She warmly embraced Jeff in greeting.
"Jeff, it is so good to see you again!" Beth exclaimed as she pulled away and she turned to the children. "Catherine! Trowa! Welcome."
"Hi," said Catherine and Trowa gave Beth a nod.
"You have grown since I saw you last," Beth commented like all adults to when meeting a child again after an extended period of time.
Beth gave them each a hug and escorted them inside. The Barton family found several people setting on the floor at the table. Trowa silently took in the group before him from behind his bang. There were two oriental men who looked very much like each other. The one who was Beth's husband got up and welcomed Jeff and family. The other watched them without expression as he measured up the newcomers. There was an older woman with gray hair that was arranged into a bun on the back of her head. She busied herself with what she was doing. Beside her was a younger woman with dark hair and dark eyes. There was one boy around Trowa's age sitting at the table. His black hair was tightly pulled back and secured at the base of his head. He stared at the two children briefly, making eye contact with each one, before acting uninterested in their presence.
"You know my husband Tsung," said Beth.
Jeff nodded that he did as Tsung offered his hand in greeting. The two men shook hands before the introductions continued.
Tsung introduced his brother Chien, his nephew Wufei, Chien's wife, and their mother to their guests.
After eating lunch, Wufei's mother suggested Wufei show Trowa around. The two boys left the table. The shorter brunet followed Wufei silently as they made their way to the back yard. Wufei eyed the younger boy critically as they stood outside. Trowa was taking in his surroundings before focusing on his companion. Wufei noted that on the surface Trowa's eyes showed nothing but he thought he could see wisdom and hidden knowledge lurking deep in the green eyes. Trowa blinked and it was gone.
"Maybe there is more to this boy than meets the eye," thought Wufei.
He had to admit Trowa had not annoyed him like he had expected. In fact, Trowa was totally different than he had been anticipating. Wufei had feared that the visitors from the circus would be rude, unmannered, and loud, but this boy was not like that at all. He was quiet and reserved. His eyes spoke of sorrow and patience.
Trowa bent down to stroke the mostly white calico as she rubbed against his leg purring. She leaned into his hand as he rubbed along the side of her face to scratch behind her ear. The cat was enjoying Trowa's attention.
"Her name is Cleo," offered Wufei in his first gesture of friendship even though there was no warmth to his voice.
Trowa nodded his acknowledgment of the cat's name.
"Cleo," Trowa breathed.
"Meu," said Cleo looking up at Trowa then rapped herself around Trowa's legs one last time before bounding off to her other tasks.
The two boys walked across the yard to a large rock where they sat watching the animals in the field below. They both seemed content to sit.
"What's it like living at the circus?" Wufei asked breaking the silence.
Trowa considered his answer before speaking.
"Different from living here, yet the same."
That was a cryptic answer if Wufei had ever heard one, and he watched the boy intently to see if he would say any more.
"We are constantly moving, never in one place very long, so it is hard to make friends outside of the circus, but the circus itself is like a small town where everyone knows everyone else and watches out for them. It is a self-contained mobile community. When not packing or setting up, there are chores to do, practices to attend to and school work to do as any boy or girl has."
Put that way, Wufei could see the similarities Trowa was bringing out. The last part sounded much like his day.
"What sort of things do you practice?" inquired Wufei, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Various circus acts," Trowa answered.
"Like walking a tightrope or trapeze?"
"Those and others, such as Catherine throwing knives at me."
The image of someone, especially a girl, throwing knives at him made Wufei's stomach queasy.
"What is you life like?" asked Trowa posing Wufei's own question to him.
"Sounds like it is similar to yours without the moving around. I have schoolwork, chores and practice to attend to."
"What do you practice?"
"Martial arts and the use of a katana."
Trowa nodded at the Chinese boy's response.
After more conversation and a few demonstrations, the boys found themselves in a sparing match. Wufei had shown Trowa a few moves that he picked up rather quickly and their mock battle escalated rather quickly at they each assessed the others skill. Wufei would attack and Trowa would block before they reversed roles. Punch, kick, and jab were blocked, countered, or dodged by he other youth. Wufei thought he had Trowa and was going to knock his feet out from under him, but when his leg sweep through where Trowa's legs should have been it was meet with no resistance. He looked up in time to see Trowa finish back flipping across the yard and settle in a crouched position that reminded Wufei of a cat ready to pounce.
"Enough," said Wufei. "I think we have had enough exercise for one day. You are very good," he complemented as he approached this sparing partner.
"Quick reflexes are a needed asset in the circus," Trowa replied mater of factly as he stood from his crouched position.
The two boys went in for the evening.
~@~
The Barton family stayed the night with Beth and her husband. The next day Trowa and Wufei exited the back door and were making their way across the yard on their way to the woods beyond the field. Catherine had seen the boys exit and followed after them. She was not about to be left behind.
"Where are you going?" asked Catherine from the house door.
"To the woods," answered Trowa.
"Sounds fun. I'm coming too," stated Catherine as she jogged to catch up with them.
"You're not invited. Go away!" snarled Wufei.
Trowa arched an eyebrow at the Chinese youths statement and thought how this was not the right approach to use on his sister and if Wufei continued down this path he would have a fight on his hands.
"Why should I?" demanded Catherine in a determined and challenging voice as she continued to walk with them.
"Because you are a weak onna," stated Wufei as if that explained everything, "and you should stay at the house."
Trowa just rolled his eyes and waited for his sisters wrath to be directed at Wufei for his chauvinistic comments. There was nothing that ticked off Catherine more than someone assuming she could not do something just because of her gender. Catherine's eyes narrowed and her back straitened as she reacted to Wufei's words. She might not have been sure what "onna" meant, but she could take a guess.
"You are not going to change her mind," said Trowa to Wufei. "She can be very stubborn."
Wufei considered his new friend's advice as he eyed Catherine critically. She had not gone away but continued to follow them across the field. There was fire dancing in her eyes as they challenged Wufei to make her leave. Rather than fight a girl, he decided to ignore her and continued to walk.
A smile crossed Catherine's face as she realized she had won this round.
~@~
The three youths trekked through the woods admiring the scenery. The sound of moving water made its way to their ears between Catherine's occasional comments. Trowa would nod and occasionally respond to Catherine's observations while Wufei would glare at her. Trowa believed that before their excursion was over, there would be a fight between the two, and he would not interfere. The next few steps brought them to a clearing with a small stream meandering through it. The stream was feed by small ribbons of water trickling down the rockface at one end of the meadow. Wildflowers bloomed across the green plane on either side of the stream.
"It's beautiful," gasped Catherine.
"Yep," agreed Trowa.
"I like to come here and meditate," stated Wufei.
The three youths spread out through the meadow. Wufei and Trowa sat quietly on rocks by the river while Catherine picked a bouquet of flowers to take back. With bouquet in hand she plopped down between the two boys. She offered a flower to Trowa which he accepted and examined its beauty. She didn't bother giving Wufei one as he sat on the rock with legs crossed and eyes closed. The sound of the running water was soothing. Her mind wandered from topic to topic as it pondered various things.
"Don't your legs go numb sitting like that?" she asked Wufei.
He cracked his eyes open and glared at her for interrupting him and asking a silly question.
"Its none of your business," he growled before shutting his eyes again.
"Sorry I asked," she said flippantly.
Wufei let out a grunt at her statement.
Catherine leaned over to Trowa and whispered, "I bet Mr. Grummpy's legs are asleep and he couldn't get up with out falling."
"Onna! Stop you senseless babbling!" growled Wufei.
"It is not senseless babbling," she retorted.
"You have not said one relevant thing since you joined us."
"It is called trying to have a conversation, which you seem to have no clue how to do," said Catherine as she stood and towered over Wufei.
Wufei stood and looked her in the eye. Both determined to put the other in his/her place. Trowa from his perch watched the storm clouds gather between his sister and Wufei. The lighting and thunder had started, he was waiting for it to cut loose and storm.
"You are a stupid weak onna," muttered Wufei.
Before he knew what happened, Catherine's fist contacted his gut and sent him staggering back a few paces into the grass.
"I am not stupid or weak," she declared.
Wufei fought the urge to retaliate.
~@~
Jeff and Beth went in search of the children. Beth suspected she could find them by the stream and wanted to show it to Jeff before he left. They found the children where they had expected. Trowa was perched on a rock by the river. Catherine stood looking defiantly at Wufei, while he looked back at here trying to control his anger. Beth could guess what had transpired between the two.
"It is getting close to lunch time," announced Beth after they entered the clearing.
The contest of wills was broke between Catherine and Wufei at Beth's comment and the trio prepared to head back.
~@~
The smell of smoke filled their nostrils as they moved closer to the forest's edge. Their steps quickened when they could see several large black columns of smoke moving heavenward from the small village. The group froze at the sight of flames caressing the buildings and mobile suits darting through the village causing the damage. Wufei darted out from the woods but was pulled back by a hand on his writs. He looked back and growled.
"Let go of me!" he snarled at Catherine. "I have to go help them."
"And what can you do against a group of mobile suits?" she demanded.
His furry built at her question. He knew there was not much he could do but he could not just stand here and watch the destruction. He pulled free of her grasp with a quick tug of his arm. He turned to go again when a strong hand clamped down over his shoulder.
"She is right," said Jeff. "You would only be throwing your life away if you try to take on a mobile suit. Is that what your father would want?"
Jeff's words slowly penetrated Wufei's battle oriented fogged mind. His father would want him to protect his family with all he had. He did not know if his family had survived but he could protect his aunt. He looked at her. The look of horror and fear on her face was one that would haunt him for a long time.
"Look," pointed Trowa as another group of mobile suits approached.
The group attacking the town took off at the appearance of the second group which belonged to the army. The army pursued the fleeing tourists off into the distance. The group slowly made their way to the remains of the town. As they walked, they saw emergency vehicles of all kinds arrive and people started putting out the fires and helping the injured.
Wufei and Beth quickly found the remains of their houses and searched them for any sign of their loved ones. Beth came across the body of her husband and pulled his limp bloody form into her arms. Sobs shook her body as she slowly rocked back and forth with her dead husband. Jeff gently placed his arms around her after easing her husbands body to the ground. She clung to Jeff and wept into his shoulder.
"We should look for the others," he whispered.
She nodded her understanding as she tried to control her grief as they followed Wufei among the debris.
Wufei poked among the rubble and found his father barely alive. His leg was pinned under a rafter and a pool of blood was forming beside him. Wufei rushed to his side. When his father saw him, he stretched out a hand to his son. Beth and Jeff were soon beside Wufei. Wufei and Jeff were going to try to move the rafter but Chien motioned for them to leave it and come to him.
"Wufei, my son," managed to voice. "Take care of you aunt!"
Wufei moved his head in acceptance of his father's charge.
"Jeff," Chien said calling to the circus performer, "you are a good man and like a brother to Beth, take care of them both!"
"I will," promised Jeff.
Chien turned his attention back to Wufei.
"You will go with Jeff!"
"Yes, father," quietly said Wufei as he knew his father did not think he had long to live and was making arraignments for his family's wellbeing.
"Good," said Chien and let them go back to the task of moving the chunk of wood.
Wufei and Jeff tried to move the obstacle. Soon some of the rescue workers were helping them and they got Chien free. A medical team were trying to treat him when he took his last breath.
"We lost him," one of the medics said.
"No," groaned Beth.
Wufei gathered his grieving aunt into his arms to comfort and protect her while he promised his father and himself that one day he would find who had done this and make them pay for the injustice of their actions.
People continued to hustle around to aid those in need. While waiting they learned about who had attacked the town. It was a small group called Plague who were into trying to take over the country by making threats and destroying everything in their path. The government had found many of Plague's strongholds and had destroyed them, but there were still a few cells out there who were retaliating for the loss of their comrades.
~@~
It was late as they pulled into the circus. They had spent hours talking with the authorities and sorting through debris. It had been decided that at least for tonight, Beth would sleep in Catherine's room and Wufei in Trowa's while Catherine and Trowa moved over to their uncles for the night.
The next day they returned to see what Beth and Wufei might be able to salvage. There was not much left of their former home. Wufei found his blackened katana. With a bit of work it would be like new again. Beth found her cracked wooden box of treasures. It contained letters form her husband when they were dating and a few pictures. Other than those items, they did not find much else. As they prepared to leave Cleo made an appearance and was rubbing against Trowa's leg. He scooped the cat up and handed her to Beth at her exclamation of delight upon seeing the cat.
~@~
Beth and Wufei moved into a trailer of their own and started to put their lives back together. The old way of life quickly came back to Beth as she settled in. The familiarity of constant moving and the feeling of being surrounded by family helped raise her spirits quickly. There was always something she could help with and it helped fight off the moments of sadness. Wufei on the other hand found circus life different and a large adjustment. Even though he would not let it show, he did not know how he fit in to this new environment. He had no experience with most of what they did and often felt he was in the way of a well oiled machine. His aunt saw Wufei's dilemma but knew better than to offer comfort that would wound his pride. She was thankful when Trowa and Catherine took the defensive boy under their wings and taught him what he needed to know. Wufei would always quibble with Catherine when she would teach him anything but would patiently listen if it was Jeff, Robert, or Trowa. That did not stop Catherine from having a hand in his education. In fact, she thrived on the challenge Wufei posed. He was on her turf now and she let him know it. Their hostility for one another faded and was replaced by grudging respect and friendship even though the verbal volleys continued.
Beth found Wufei and Catherine's bickering comical and knew that their was a bond of friendship hidden under it. Wufei had never been one to make friends or admit that he needed them. The fact that the quiet Trowa and the friendly outspoken Catherine were determined to be his friends and had broke down Wufei's defenses made her happy. She had feared that Wufei would become withdrawn and more defensive with the loss of his family and the new surroundings.
Time moved forward and soon it was almost two years since the attack on their village. They had both settled into routines and made friends among the other performers. Beth even found love again. Over a year after they came, Beth and Robert started dating and were married several months later with Wufei's blessing.
Author's Note: I just seem to be killing everyone off in this
story, don't I. I had originally planned on only Trowa, Catherine and Wufei
surviving, but one person who reviewed said he/she liked my new characters
and hoped I would not kill them off. So I revised my story line a bit.
I think for the better, and I am not planning on killing anyone else off.
