I would like to preface this chapter by telling everyone that the Twelve Clans are not real! I made them up. I took the "Dragon Clan" from the show and ran with it. I made all of it up. I was originally going to use the years of the Chinese Zodiac, but I thought the idea of a rooster clan was…well, stupid. And could you imagine being the Pig Clan? Excuse me, Boar? No. So for those of you who have mentioned that you wanted to know where you could find out more, well, you can't. Sorry. Although I must say that it is flattering to think that my work was so well detailed that you all thought it was real. I read somewhere in an unofficial Guide that Dragon Clan, the Clan of ancient warriors had grown too powerful, been asked to leave and deported up to space on an old colony (Episode Zero). So I figured that if there was one Clan full of traditionalists there might just be more, so I picked a number that was easy to work with and it became the Twelve Clans. Then the rest of the story just came from that, what if Sally was part of one and so forth. So that's that. Happy Reading.

~Nightheart.

The morning dawned with all of its fiery brilliance, like the phoenix of legend unfurling its wings and embracing the sky. For a few scant minutes all of Po Village was gilded as the suns rays turned the scarlet tiled rooftops to shining molten gold. Sally wasn't in any mood to enjoy it however. She was still too depressed for all that she was a morning person and generally cheerful at this time of day.

*knocknocknoc*

"Sai-Li? It's me," said her sister Ming from the other side of her door.

"Come in sister," Sally replied. Ming appeared in all of her scarlet robed glory and Sally suppressed the automatic pang of jealousy she got whenever she saw her sisters. They were all petite and perfect with lovely porcelain doll features, and graceful movements. At a tall 5'6 Sally towered over them, and stood out even more with her light hair, eyes, and skin (which was unusual considering that dark hair and eyes were dominant gene traits). Ming and the rest of her female relations were perfect. They could hold a perfect tea, keep a perfect house and pour a perfect cup of tea with movements so perfectly perfect they would leave Sally looking positively gawky in comparison. They even looked lovely in their scarlet robes… Sally had never looked good in scarlet, she liked the earthy tones of her camo's better than the bright oh-shoot-me-now-I'm-a-giant-walking-red-target robes her House favored.

After their embrace Sally asked

"What brings you here?"

"I've come to help you get ready," Ming answered. "I don't think your old wedding robes will fit you any more. Besides, that thing has seen one too many battles."

Sally chuckled. When she had been forced to challenge her suitors in order to keep her freedom, she'd had to fight them in her wedding gown so that just in case they won the two could be married on the spot and Sally couldn't use that quick mind of hers to get around it.

"But with all the money you sent to us via Dirhann-Sensei in secret we have more than enough to afford you several wedding gowns. Even if silk isn't exactly cheap and good scarlet is hard to find, your earlier generosity will help you out now."

"That's not why I gave it."

"I know. You did that because you love us, but still it will come in handy. Come, let's get you ready," said Ming. Her sister began brushing her hair, and told her of her trip to the Outlands with her brother Fa to warn Sally about the meeting and about how they'd found her partner and asked him to come and help her. Sally related everything that had happened in the Council meeting and told her sister her plans for that day. Ming's sharp ears however caught the repressed tears in Sally's voice.

"Sai-Li? Is there something wrong?"

"No… No, I…*sniffle* I'm…*sniffle*" what she was going to say was lost to the sobbing. She just couldn't help it. Ming held her sister while she cried herself out, not asking for an explanation. Sai-Li would explain in time, and it had to be important for Sai-Li; the strongest and bravest person Ming knew, to be brought to tears.

Finally Sai-Li calmed down enough to choke out a convoluted explanation in which the words "honor" and "right" were used too many times.

"I don't understand you sister," Ming said frankly, when Sai-Li was done. "You love him, marry him. A love match is a rare thing here in the Clans."

"But neither of us really live, or even spend most of our time in the Clans. I love him, yes, but not enough to give up my freedom and everything I've worked and fought so hard for. What do I have that's worth tieing himself to me? He wouldn't be happy with me, I'm only a-"

"Don't say it! Don't you dare say that you're only a halfbreed!" scolded Ming. "Aren't you the one who always told me that a person should be judged by what they are able to accomplish with their lives and not by how noble their bloodlines are or what gender they are? Well?"

"Yes, you're right," said Sally, starting to feel more like herself after a good cry (and a firm verbal slap). "I'm just wallowing in self-pity aren't I? Well that's enough of that. There's more than one way to kill a rat after all and I do have other things to think about. Like how I'm going to convince Wufei to put aside his pride long enough to let me defeat him.

"Still sister, for what it's worth…I'm happy you've finally fallen in love. It must be wonderful," said Ming wistfully.

"Yes. Even though it isn't all sunshine and roses, I wouldn't trade it for the world," she said smiling and erasing the last of her tears from her face. Ming finished readying her sister for the upcoming wedding, making final adjustments to her robes, fixing her hair (and that funny crown thing that they always wore to weddings) and when she was done she stepped back to survey the results with a pleased smile. Sally merely sighed and tried to look pleased, she hated wedding robes. They were so damned uncomfortable and this one was no exception. Over the years she'd grown a healthy loathing for the things and it hadn't changed with time.

Sally looked down at her heavy costume. It consisted of about four layers. The inner layer was the most practical, being merely scarlet silk trews embroidered at the ends in gold thread in a band three inches wide, and a wraparound silk top embroidered along the neckline and hem and ties with a simple matching gold sash. The next layer was the dress itself. This consisted of thick, heavy Shantung silk in multiple layers. The first layer covered her from the high collared, heavily embroidered neck, to the wrist in huge billowing butterfly sleeves, to the ankle in a long skirt that was embroidered with more gold climbing up the dress in patterns of sunburst and phoenix-in-glory ten inches from the hem of the dress. The collar of the dress was stiff and tight, the great sleeves that hung all the way to her feet were heavy with the silk and more gold embroidery along the "cuffs." And that was only the first layer of the dress there were two other smaller layers atop it. The next layer was cut slightly smaller but supplied the skirt with more area for embroidery. It was open in the front to show the first later of skirt, but was decorated all down the hem that curved round the sides in more gold, the back was shorter than the front panel as well (so it could show off the embroidery of the first layer) coming only to about mid calf and was embroidered in gold. The sleeves on that layer still butterflied, but only went down to her elbow, it made up for this restraint by boasting more heavy gold embroidery. The top layer had no sleeves, instead was a heavy thick pectoral collar weighted with gold embroidery and a medallion of phoenix and sunbursts pillowed on her breasts, the edges of the shoulders lifted slightly to fit the sleeves underneath so stiff with embroidery it could have stood on its own. There was a "belt" around her midriff too, more heavy shantung silk embroidered so heavily with gold thread that it was impossible to see the silk beneath the gold; the two ends hung down in front so their picture could display itself against the scarlet background with proud relief. To top it all off, Ming had put that heavy marriage crown on her head and Sally's neck was getting sore from supporting its weight. The dress was heavier than any bulletproof vest she'd ever worn and three times as stiff. She could hardly move in the thing.

I think father had it designed this way on purpose just so that I'd lose my fight and have to marry Wufei. After all, to his reasoning, it isn't every day he gets to get such a high placed marriage alliance… A councilor if I recall correctly. That coupled with the added advantage of getting rid of his most stubborn and headstrong thorn-in-his-side and Father must be positively ecstatic; he must be just dancing jigs around his desk right now! Sheesh! How much did Father pay for this thing? I could ransom off a small country for the price of the gold and silk alone!

"Oh Sai-Li!" said Ming smiling in happiness. "You look so beautiful! Your partner would have to be as blind as Old Jing'Tou not to see how beautiful a woman you are. I'm sure seeing you like this would give any man second thoughts about fighting with you."

"Let's hope not," was all Sally said, not wanting to offend her sister with some of the more acidic remarks going through her head at the moment. She eyed the dress with disfavor, outright dislike and scowled.

"Good morning Sally," Wufei said from the doorway. There he stood, casually leaning against the doorframe in a clean neat Preventors uniform with an apple in one hand.  Sally would have whirled around in surprise, would have that was, if she could have moved in the stiff and heavy marriage gown. She glared at her dress again with the added heat of frustration. There was a moment, when she'd first turned to look at him, that Wufei's expression had suddenly gone blank, or more accurately he just stood there staring and unable to breathe as he looked her up and down, and swallowed against a suddenly dry throat as any and all thought promptly flew out of his ears. However Sally had missed it because she'd been distracted by the robe.

"Ouch!" called her eldest younger brother Lang from the doorway. "That glare's got enough heat in it to send the Phoenix itself into an early rebirth, sister dear."

"You two shouldn't be here!" said Ming in dismay. "It's bad luck."

"Don't worry about it Ming," said Sally reassuringly. "There won't be a wedding anyway. Man, look at these sleeves, I could hide a jeep, a weeks worth of supplies, and a tent in just one of these things, and host Trowa's circus in the other! Stupid dress. Which reminds me Wufei…when I challenge you I need you to throw the fight; it's the only way the both of us will get out of here without formal vows."

"Normally I'd be happy to oblige you," he said. Sally noticed that he was wearing that peculiar expression that he wore on those rare instances when he was about to commit some mischief. "But I've heard some real horror stories around this place about your fighting prowess. There's some heavy betting going on, did you know that?" His tone was casual, too casual. Sally got that uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"There always is," she said warily. "Well are we agreed that you'll throw the match?"

"I don't know," he said, peeling and coring the apple with a small amused smirk. "I'm kinda curious now. Hearing all of this gossip has made me wonder just how good you really are."

"So we can spar for real once we're both safely in the Outlands," she said. "I hope you know that my father's quite serious about this Wufei. I laugh about and make fun of this ridiculous marriage idea all the time behind his back but it's no joke to him. He expects you to marry me if you win and if you, ah, decline the honor he's likely to take grave offense. Even I wouldn't care to cross him in a fit of outrage."

"So there are limits to just how far you'll antagonize him," said her partner in that light bantering tone of his.

"I'm serious here. I don't think I could beat you, especially not in this thing. Are you going to lose or not?"

Wufei copied her look and tone of the previous night as he said

"Well now that is a secret."

"Wufei? Wufei, this isn't funny."

"Yes it is," he said cheerfully.

"No," she said with certainty. "It isn't."

"Well, I'll think about it when the time comes," he said. "Just prepare to put up a good fight." And with that he vacated her doorway and walked off down the hall. Sally was left staring at the spot he'd just left, worried and fuming. Wufei was the only person she knew who could do that to her.

"Aiee! Be careful what you wish for," Ming quoted softly. "You know it sounds to me like he doesn't want to give you up either."

"I doubt that's it," Sally grumbled with a blush. She couldn't help hoping, just a little bit. "It's probably just that male warriors' pride of his. He just wants to know for certain that he's the bravest and the best out there, better than his partner even. I've always avoided fighting with him for that reason. He is the best, and I know it. I didn't want to lose status and face in his eyes when he defeated me in a match so I avoided sparring with him. If he never knew whether he could defeat me or not, I'd still be his equal in all things."

"It seems you're stuck for it now," said Lang. "Good luck sis."

Sally shot him a withering look which he grinned off saying

"We'll get this over with quickly. I'll tell Father you're ready. The fighting circle has been prepared for you so everything's all set."

For a heartbeat Sally's contrary nature told her that she should just do exactly the opposite of what everyone expected and marry her partner without a protest, just to be perverse. But no, that wouldn't be right. She was just going to have to fight him.

I'd better defy the usual tradition of fighting in my wedding robes though, she thought glancing down at the exquisite detail of the heavy gold embroidery. This is too fine a garment for fighting, and I wouldn't be able to move in it. I'll just have to fight in the wraparound and trews, compliments of my sensei I'm sure. Indeed, the silk under-layer exactly matched the pattern for a fighting gi.

It was a few minutes later when another escort (of ten guards this time) arrived to convey her to the Pledging Circle. Ming followed one step behind her as Sally walked down the halls and into the central courtyard of Po Village, flanked on both sides by five armed guards.

If he makes one single comment about me finally learning to dress as a proper woman should, and partner or not friend or not, I'm going to deck him good! she promised herself. Then all thought promptly fled as she saw her partner. Someone had made him a marriage robe (not as elaborate as her own) of emerald green silk, the color of his Clan. Sally nearly blushed the same scarlet as the silk of her robes. How dare he look that handsome when it was difficult enough trying to convince herself to let him go! The robe seemed cut to show off his superb physique, his broad shoulders, well muscled arms, lean fighters build. If Sally hadn't been accustomed to hiding her reactions around him she was certain that someone would have seen her staring. As it was her sister teased her quietly.

"I think someone's blushing," teased Ming.

"I am not," said Sally, but her voice was breathy, as if she was having trouble breathing.

"See something you like perhaps?" Ming continued, grinning broadly.

"You're not helping," Sally gritted.

Ming just laughed, and then went solemn as they approached the circle. The guards marched off as Sally came to stand beside her father and face her partner across the pledging circle. Before the priest could say anything, Sally said

"I challenge you."

"You do indeed," said Wufei affably. "What has that to do with anything?"

Sally chuckled with him in amusement and clarified

"I mean I challenge you to a fight."

"Well I didn't think you were going to challenge me to have tea and biscuits with you," he replied.

Great, she thought. He's in one of his moods. Sally knew she only had herself to blame for that one, after all, she was the one who'd taught him the fun one could have with banter and teasing.

"No of course not; you don't drink tea Wufei," she answered in kind. "Now do be a dear and hold still while I beat the stuffing out of you."

"I would love to," he said, his tone still light. "Truly. But weddings aren't supposed to involve the kind of brawling best reserved for the insides of bars."

"Well I'm not playing rock scissors paper for the marriage so you can forget it. Besides, you cheat."

"That's subjective. I never cheat… I may, however, expand the context of the game on occasion…"

"As I said, you cheat. We don't have all day, do you accept or forfeit?"

"Since I've heard about how you tend to introduce men's noses to the altar if they try to marry you without letting you pummel them like bread dough first, I accept your challenge."

"Wufei, precious," she said facetiously with a smile. "I'm going to wipe that smirk off your face."

"If you wanted to kiss me that badly why didn't you just ask?"

"Dragons are a trifle scaly for my taste," was her bantering reply. It was as if they'd never left the Outlands, and Sally was glad for a taste of normalcy in a situation that had up until this point seemed almost too incredible to believe, like a dream. They were interrupted by her sensei before Wufei could get in his next shot.

"Enough, you two. I do wonder why you are bothering to challenge him Sai-Li," said her sensei with a kind smile. "You sound as though you are already married."

"I think she's married to her work, not me," Wufei spoke with a mock-rueful look. "Perhaps in the end it is the same thing."

"Oh Auturo, Prince of Irony," she replied. "You have no room the throw stones since you work just as hard as I do."

"Yes, well I-"

"Enough! We'll never get to the match if you two don't stop arguing with one another."

Wufei and Sally grinned like unrepentant children and disposed themselves to listen.

"The match will take place in one hour at the fighting circle. You have until then to prepare," Sally's mentor looked at her sharply and then smiled the smile of a teacher who was going to put another straw on the back of his favored student and see how well she coped with it. "Furthermore, since there is but one contestant today, there will be no time limit. The match will go until there is a winner."

"Nuts," said Sally, but didn't contest it. That had been how she'd defeated many of her other opponents, simply out fought them and counted on her endurance and agility to keep her on her feet until they tired or they ran out of time. She looked at Wufei.

"I'll see you in an hour 'Fei-kun." And with a last teasing laugh she was off.

"I look forward to it," he called to her retreating backside.

* * *

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. The show and its characters are the sole creative property of Sunrise, Bandai and Sotsu Agency as well as its creators Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Matate. The Twelve Clans and all of its affiliated work is the sole creative property of me. Yeah, I made it up.