Delicate Matters 5/8
By: Hotaru
Warnings: yaoi, language and Wufei cockyness!
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A short while later, Wufei was heading east. It was a long way to the ocean and he doubted he'd be able to make it there all by horse. /I'll probably have to stop at another town to rest./ Wufei sheilded his eyes from the bright sun. Not much was passing through his mind at the time, other than that he had to get to Duo as soon as possible. He didn't even know where he lived. That would be a problem. All he knew was he was in a fishing town.
/What was it..the name…was it…Maineland..no. Mass…Maine..is that it? Maine?/ Wufei jumped off his horse and sat on the ground. He took out his canteen and took a long gulp. /It will be a lot cooler at night. Maybe I should sleep now and travel when the sun goes down./ Deciding on that, Wufei set up a tent and made sure his horse was secured.
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Duo groaned as his parents pushed him onto the boat they were taking home. "I can't believe you boy! Running off like that!" His father grunted, and he kept pushing until they reached the room they'd stay in. "Your father's right Duo. That was very wrong of you." His mother said quietly. Duo was pushed into a chair. He immediately put his head on his knees and sighed sadly. "I wanted to stay there. Me and Wufei were friends! How come I have to come back?" he asked. It seems like Wufei's cockyness had rubbed off on him.
"What?! What?! Are you talking back to me? Honestly, I forget why we ever took you in sometimes." His father muttered, sitting down on one of the beds. Duo hid his face so they couldn't see his tears. /Oh Wufei..I wish I were back in the garden with you./ he thought sadly. Duo was sea sick by the time they reached the docks. "Come on Duo. We have to get home." Duo's mother said, shuffling towards the boat.
Duo kicked a stone and snorted as he saw a seagull. How could they live by the sea all their lives and not get bored of it? "Yeah. Right." Duo muttered. Duo's father John was greeting the captain. He hurried behind Duo and patted him on the back hard. "Come on boy. There's lots of work to be done. You have to help those slaves again when we return." He said. Duo snorted. "They shouldn't be forced to work dad. It's not right." He said, climbing into the boat.
Duo's mother, Annette, frowned. She didn't speak much, partially because she had a throat illness of some sort and partially because she was afraid of what her husband would do. "Well son. I don't think it's right either but it gets them money, yes?" John said. Duo looked down at his hands. He knew he was lying. He didn't give a rats ass about him rather not the slaves. Duo didn't like to travel with his parents. He didn't like to be with them at all. Amazingly, he prefered to be fishing with the others. [1]
His parents chatted softly, probably about the conference and what not. Duo only thought about Wufei. And how he blurted out his feelings. /I can't believe I said that I love him…but I do. I hope he loves me too…but still. What the hell does it matter? The chances of us ever meeting again..I don't even want to think about that./
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Wufei's hopes were finally beginning to rise as he smelt sea air. /Thank the Gods!/ he sighed. As he neared the water, he heard loud voices, and smelt the salty air more and more. Sea gulls flew all around scavenging for food, and chasing those with some. Wufei hopped off his horse and decided to walk the rest of the way. /Duo…he's going to be so surprised when he see's me./
As Wufei saw the ocean, he couldn't help but smile. It looked so cool and refreshing. The gateway to his..love?! Is that really it? Was he in love with Duo?
Truth was, Wufei didn't know exactly how he was going to find Duo. Granted he actually made it to America before his father dragged him back home for severe punishment. As long as he kept a low profile, he would be able to make it. Wufei reached the docks and headed to a small house with a sign ontop that read. "Boat leaving for American colonies at sunset." Wufei tied his horse to a stake in the ground and went to the small house.
"Can I help you boy?" the man behind the counter asked. Wufei didn't like to be called 'boy'. It was an insult to his maturity. "Yes sir, I would like a seat on the boat leaving this evening." Wufei said. The man, who looked old and raggedy peered at Wufei. "And how do you plan on paying?" he asked, getting quite close to Wufei's face.
Wufei pulled a piece of gold from his pouch and dropped it onto the table. "What can I get for that?" he asked. The man examined the gold quite thoroughly. "It'll pay for the boat ride and all the food you need." The man exclaimed, locking the gold in a secure box. Wufei nodded. "Good then. Is there a place I can bathe here?" he asked. The man nodded slowly and led Wufei to the back where there was a huge basin full of water. "That's all we've got boy. You can use it if ya want."
/I have to get used to this life. I don't ever want to go back. Except maybe to steal some more money./ Although he felt uncomfortable, Wufei managed to clean himself off. The sun was starting to set as Wufei headed back outside. "Hey there boy. Time to go." The man from earlier said. "Excuse me, can you please make sure my horse gets back to this place?" Wufei asked, handing the man a piece of rice paper with the location he received the horse written on it.
"Sure can. My son is the captain of this ship and I'll make sure he takes good care of you." The man smiled and tipped the straw hat he was wearing. "Thank you." Wufei said, bowing respectivly. Wufei headed onboard and sighed. /I'm coming Duo. I don't how soon, but I'll find you./ "Hey you there! Come here for a sec will ya?" Wufei looked up as he saw a man, not too much older than he, motioning in his direction. "Yes?" Wufei asked curiously.
"Are you the one who was waving that gold piece around?" the man asked quietly. Wufei nodded. "Ah. My father told me about you. My family thanks you for the riches you've brought. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Tseng [3]." Wufei smiled and replied, "Wu…Chen. Wu Chen." /You stupid fool! Gods I can't believe I almost gave out my real name. I'd be done for if that ever happened./ Tseng grinned and headed to the front of the boat. "I thought you were going to say Wufei Chang for a minute. That would explain why you have that gold." He said incredously.
Wufei tossed his bags to the floor and smiled. "No. That's not me." He said lamely. Sure it was him. "You don't seem too sure. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret." Tseng said. Wufei started to panic. "I told you, that's not me. I'm no prince." He said angrily. "Okay, okay. Fine, I believe you." Tseng said, although he didn't quite believe it.
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The boat ride home was going to be long and horribly boring. Duo didn't like to be with his parents for more than an hours time. But now he'd be with them for days. While John was down in the kitchen, getting drunk most likely, Duo was resting. His mother sat quietly across the room, knitting or something. "Momma…will we ever go back to China?" Duo asked. Annette sighed deeply. "We, no. Your father and I, perhaps." She replied softly.
Duo moaned and punched the wall. "Why not momma?! I want to go back there and be with 'Fei!" he said angrily. Annette sighed and kept knitting. "Please be quiet Duo. Your father might return soon and you know that after he's been drinking…" Duo snorted. John was strong but not that strong. Duo grumbled to himself and sighed. It's been only a short while since he left, and already his heart is yearning to be with Wufei. /I guess they were right when they said you never know how much you love something until it's gone./
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Hotaru
[1] Duo refers to the slaves as others because he feels like a slave himself.
[2] Tseng ala Final Fantasy VII
