The Storm Outside: The Spirit of Water[1] By Dark Blaze

Pairings: shonen-ai & het Warning: Spoilers of episode zero. (Revised 06/24/02)

It rains outside.

I suppose that is a statement of the obvious, for there is indeed an enermous storm at the moment, right outside my window.

Indeed, it seems the heaven has opened its gate, and Yu Shih, the Master of Rain himself, is emptying the content of his watering can over Sank. Tien Mu's mirrors dance in her hands, flashing bolts of lightning one after another, as she floats across the sky. Lie Tsu and Lie Kung follow her from a distance, the beats of their drums booming every several seconds in an incomparable epic performance. And among them, the wind flows, sometimes in a whisper, other times in a howl, and even then, at times it seems to remain still. But the wind is never still, for Feng Po never ties up the mouth of his large sack, in which he carries his wind. The wind is like a child, prancing and dancing in whichever direction Feng Po directs her to. [2]

It is difficult to sleep through a storm as magnificent as this. Mei would have called it annoyingly loud. She actually did once, when the Weather Control of our colony decided to experiment with an artificial storm. I suppose it was only logical that they did their experiment at night, considering it was the time when most of the colonists were asleep, people who had never before, not even once in their life, witnessed a storm with its booming thunder and blinding flashes of lightning. Unfortunately, for this very reason as well most of the colonists were jolted awake in the middle of the night during the experiment, adults and children alike cowering in their beds in fear and confusion. Not Mei, though. My brave but disrespectful wife scowled and complained about the deafening noises that had disturbed her sleep. I can easily imagine her abandoning her morning practice the next day in favor of heading for the Weather Control to give them a piece of her mind for interrupting her rest. She was a very spirited woman, for a woman she was, trapped in a child's body.

I never told her how much that storm had entranced me, artificial and short- lasting as it had been. I wish she were still alive to come to Earth with me, so she could see Earth's natural storm with her own eyes. It is much more powerful and majestic than that one and only artificial storm back home. It reminds me much of her, her boldness, bravery, and inner strength. I wonder if she would agree. She always knew her worth as a warrior, but she knew little of her worth - and place - as a woman. She was stubborn, and she often spoke without thinking. It was a quality I admired of her though. I regret that I never had the chance or will to tell her how much I loved and respected her. We were both stubborn and childish.

Another flash of lighting, followed too closely by the booming thunder. The storm is almost right above us now.

I wonder if the others are awake. I know for certain one of them is. Maxwell is drawn to rain and storm more than any of us are. I have seen his face and the withdrawn focus with which he watches the play of thunder and lightning in the middle of the pouring rain. I have always known him to be deeper, stronger, and smarter than anyone has ever given him credit for, but until that night when I saw him watching the storm, I never thought him capable of such single-mindedness. I knew, even as I watched him then, that he was fully aware of my being awake; his training and his past didn't allow him the otherwise. He didn't say anything though, nor did he stiffen as he usually does when waiting for me to break the relative silence with a scowl. It was as if at that moment, nothing else mattered to him but the storm outside. This single-mindedness, more than anything else, kept me silent.

I still don't know for sure what draws him to rain and storm. His fascination is different than mine, though our ways of reacting to this forces of nature are much the same. I have no doubt that at this very moment he is sitting by his window, watching and listening the performance outside as if it were presented for his eyes and ears only, much like I am standing here by the window right now, the cold wind whispering against my face and the droplets of water spraying across my shirt and skin.

Many people today are still supertitious, and I have no doubt that if they were awake and aware of the storm outside right now, they would say it was a bad omen for the ceremony tomorrow. Indeed, it seems as if the gods themselves were enraged and insulted at the moment and were throwing fits and tantrums all over Earth. At least it would seem as much to some. Knowing what I know about Maxwell though, I would think that instead of a sign of rage, this storm is an orchestra created specifically by the Ministry of Storm for him. The thunder may be deafening, and the lightning's flashes sharp, the wind chilling, and the downpour relentless, but the entirety of it is more magnificent, majestic, and powerful than usual. It is frightening to imagine what will happen if the lightning strikes us. Even with all the additional security Maxwell and Yui have added to the palace, I doubt we will be able to survive the assault of pure energy in this magnitude.

This in itself should probably have evoked my concern, but I am not worried in the least. Despite all appearance, this storm feels relatively safe, somehow, and I know we will survive it. Therefore, I'd like to think this as a sign that the gods are rejoicing for my dear friends. It is their gift for him and his soulmate. In my eyes, at least, it appears as much.

The rain is pouring harder now, the water spray soaking me. I suppose I should close the window and go back to sleep. It is already nearly four in the morning after all. I have been awake for approximately three hours now. I probably should return to bed soon, considering tomorrow I will be Maxwell's best man. Relena will mock me if I appear ragged in the ceremony.

I can't help the smile gracing my lips at the notion.

Yui and Maxwell came to me three months ago, not too long after Maxwell's marriage proposal, and told me of their uncertainty about whom to choose among their friends to be their best men. They wanted it to be the three of us, Barton, Winner, and I. After all, they told me, it would not be fair to leave any of us behind, as we were equally important to them.

In the end, all the five of us gathered to discuss this. We decided that if the "bride" and the groom wanted the three of us as their best men, they shall have that. So it comes that I am Maxwell's best men, and Barton and Winner are Yui's. Maxwell gave me the wedding ring for safe-keeping two days ago. It has never left my person since. Reaching into my pocket now, I can feel two velvet boxes, one red and round, the other deep blue and squarish. The red box belongs to my best friend. The other one...

Maxwell would laugh at me if he ever found out. I have carried the box with me for two weeks now but have yet to gather up my courage to offer my own proposal. It is not that I am afraid she will refuse. I have known her enough to know it will make her happy, and I have known her enough to know our marriage will work, if she accepts me. She may have once been spoiled and childish, but she has changed, and I do not hold her past against her, contrary to what many think. I was once childish and arrogant as well. I have no right to judge her for past mistakes.

She has grown a lot through the years we known each other. She has matured, though still maintaining the inner strength and vitality that I admire of her. She is as stubborn as I am, driven, and full of wits. She may not have been a soldier, but she has witnessed the horrors of war first hand, and she is as much a war child as any of us are. She has had her own share of hardship in life, and like us, she has prevailed in her own way.

Today she works among politicians, the type that Maxwell despises the most, and yet somehow, though having to play their games of wits and word manipulations and petty arguments everyday, she manages not to become one of them. She is truly the gem of Hope in the government for every single one of the poor and the orphans she battles for.

And yet, despite all these, I still find her able to smile genuinely and appreciate the little things in life. When the opportunity represents itself and she is able to step down her throne and takes the cloak of leadership off her shoulders, she will laugh like any youth her age, and she willingly plays in the mud with us commoners as if she were a commoner herself. She is a princess in every sense, and I love her for it.

Knowing this then, why am I still hesitant to ask for her hand?

Mei truly would laugh at me and tell me I am such a typical for men, that I am all words but have no courage for things that matter. Of course, if she were alive, she would know as I do that that is really not the case. That hardly matters, though. She would say it still, if only to provoke me into doing what I am hesitant to do.

I can't help but smile at what I imagine would be her reaction. Tomorrow after the ceremony, if not tonight, I will, I promise her spirit. I can almost hear her laughter and her assurance that she will make sure I fulfill that promise.

I am starting to close the window when I hear the door knocked. Maybe it is Yui having the pre-wedding jitter, though I doubt it.

"Come in."

The door is opened. It is Relena.

"Hey." She smiles, slightly hesitant, showing her true age.

I smile back, letting her know her presence is welcomed.

She closes the door and approaches the window and me.

"Unable to sleep?"

She shakes her head slightly, her hair, still long though without the bangs now, swaying softly. "It's nearly impossible to sleep through a storm like this." She stops by my side. "You?"

"I couldn't either."

She nods slightly, her eyes staring outside, and for a while she is silent. "..I hope it will stop before the ceremony tomorrow."

"It will." I can't help but smile again. She has come a long way from the spoiled youth who chased Yui in a desperate attempt to find her personal hero and anchor in her crumbling world, to the mature and open-minded lady that she is, whom everyone relies upon today.

The thunder flashes again outside, though it sounds a bit distant now. The worst of the storm has almost passed.

"Lie Kung," she exclaims quietly, almost as if it were unintentional.

I know better. I glance at her, see her smile, and feel my own lips pull to an answering smile. "I would think that was Lie Tsu."

She shakes her head and looks at me through the corner of her eyes, her mirth sparkling within the blue of her eyes. "It sounded too brash, the sign of the arrogance of the youth."

"Oh? It sounded more like the pride and arrogance of age to me."

She laughs then. "You are supposed to show respect to your elders, Chang Wufei."

I smile at her. The verbal exchange has become a common sport between the two of us long enough that neither of us take offense anymore. "I do show my respect, in my own way."

She grins and looks at me fully, her lips parted as if to reply with another witty remark, but something she sees catches the words, and her grin fades away. "Fei..."

My own mirth dissipates. This is the moment I was waiting for. I can feel Mei nudging me and insisting that I do this now. Strange, how nervous I feel, even knowing what her response most likely will be.

"Relena..." I have to pause to recompose my voice. I know now how Maxwell felt those months ago. "I have something for you."

She doesn't say anything, though her expression speaks volumes. She looks as anxious as I feel.

I pull the square box out of my pocket and place it in her hand. The world stops.

I watch in silence as she slowly opens it, her hand slightly unsteady. It seems a century has passed before she finally has the box fully opened and its content unveiled for her full view. It takes another century before she finally looks back at me, her eyes all too bright.

And suddenly the words flow easily on their own past my constricted throat.

"Will you marry me?"

She nods. At her smile, the world starts to rotate again.

I lift the golden ring from its box, and she offers me her left hand. It is still slightly unsteady as I slip the ring through her finger. Her eyes and her smile though, they let me know that the trembling is not born out of unhappiness or uncertainly.

I feel more than hear Mei's pleased laughter. She would be happy for me, I know. Outside, the Ministry of Storm dance and prace in celebration, even as they glide away until only Yu Shih remains.

I don't know yet what the future will bring. I have yet to discuss with my fiance when our wedding will be. I know though, that when the time comes for my own ceremony, my four friends will be there as well, just like I have been and will be there for theirs. After all, we are the best of friends and family.

~OWARI~

[1] In Chinese mythology, the spirits of water are the dragons.

[2] These are the Ministry of the Storm, according to the Chinese mythology. Information about them can be found at http://www2.newpaltz.edu/~porath68/