Rain poured. Outside the windows he could see it fall to the ground in thick, cold sheets.
Wufei sighed, placing the book on the coffee table. His stomach growled.
He stood and paced the room, he couldn't concentrate on the novel. Perhaps he could have followed it better just then if it were in English or Chinese, instead of German--perhaps not.
He placed another log on the fire, sparks went askew for a moment before they turned to faded bits of gray ash, falling like rain.
Wufei returned to his chair. The front door started to open as he began reading. He looked up for only a moment, but brought his eyes back to his novel quickly.
'So, she's decided to return...' he thought.
Meiran folded her umbrella and set it by the door. She wore a hint of a smile as she shook the water off her wet jacket. Her expression dwindled when she noticed her husband scowling into his book. She slipped off her shoes, her expression now as downcast as the sky that evening.
Meiran sat as far away from her husband as she could. She spied a foreign book residing on the coffee table. A Beginners Guide to German: Lebe es die Deutche Sprache!1 was it's title.
Wufei noticed her craning her neck to see the book.
"I got that out for you," he said. "I figured it might be useful to you if you're going to be living here for any length of time."
"Why would I leave?" Meiran asked innocently.
"Why did you leave before Woman?" Wufei shot back. Meiran nodded in understanding, picking up the textbook her husband had so generously retrieved for her.
Carefully, Meiran opened her book and began reading the forward. Hilde, who's fluent, had taught her some of the basics, like how to ask for a bathroom or how to say your name, but that was about it. She was eager to speak it well, but the prospect of learning a third language did not exactly thrill her. At times she found it difficult keeping English and Chinese straight, even though they are so different. 'If Wufei can do it, then so can I,' she thought resolutely.
"I thought you were dead," Wufei said out of nowhere. "We all did."
"Why ever did you think that?" Meiran asked.
The day you left there was an attack on the colony, led by Treize. Your name was on the roster for one of the shuttles that was destroyed. Everyone was killed on that shuttle--everyone, and your name was on the list..." He almost sounded as though he were having to convince himself.
"I wasn't on that shuttle," Meiran said meakly, feeling guilty for all the pain she must have caused.
"I've noticed that Woman," his voice had become cold.
If Wufei actually thought she had been killed, then why had he reacted so casually when she'd returned a week ago? 'I just appeared out of nowhere--back from the dead--his only remaining family...'
"At least you have a family now," Meiran offered.
Wufei grunted, pretending to be absorbed in his book. Meiran shrugged and returned to hers.
"I'll be leaving town for a meeting early in the morning," Wufei announced.
"Hmmm, what a coincidence," Meiran said. "I'll be leaving town early in the morning also?"
"What business could you possibly have outside Constance?" Wufei scoffed.
"I'm accompanying my friend. Her boyfriend is on business and I'm keeping her company while he is on duty."
'How does she know she can trust these people? How do I know she can trust them--how do I know they don't know who she is...'
"Who are these people?" Wufei asked.
"Well, I thank you for your concern, but she was an assistant of mine at the start of the war. I'm fairly sure there is nothing to worry about."
Wufei was silent, though he eyed his wife suspiciously.
"She knows me only as To Meilun," Meiran reassured him. "And I doubt the name Chang Meiran would mean a thing to her."
"You would be surprised at how small the Earth Sphere has become," Wufei warned.
His suspicions could not leave him. He feared Meiran would be found out. Like Sally had said, he couldn't keep her a secret forever.
-------
Dry.
The University of Stuttgart's Auditorium stood warm through the steady stream of cold water falling from the sky.
Wufei removed his jacket and shook his loose black hair dry.
"Are you alright Wufei?" Sally asked.
He grunted, "You needn't be so concerned, Woman. There is nothing you can do."
Sally tried to smile in return, but she was bothered by the late changes in her companion.
'He reminds more of Heero everyday, but knowing his contempt for Heero I wouldn't think it possible.'
"Wilkommen!" came a cheery voice. Sally and Lady Une looked upon her name tag: Student Director of Events: Petra Hilzig
"The University of Stuttgart gladly welcomes you," Petra smiled even more broadly, bowing slightly. "The preventors are being assembled in a conference room before hand. If you will please follow me I will take you there."
She sat silently in the padded swivel chair. Duo sat to her right, with his feet on the table.
Hilde was with her friend in the meeting hall. The two had not been admitted since they were not preventors.
Relena sighed to herself. She would have enjoyed Hilde's company--not that Duo wasn't company enough, he just wasn't the friend she needed.
"So what's this meeting about anyway?" Duo asked.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I was told it was confidential."
"I thought you were going to be speaking or something."
Relena shook her head. "I was never asked to prepare a speech. Frankly, I do not understand why I am here."
"That makes two of us," Lady Une said, entering the room. Sally, Wufei and two other Preventors from the Constance Base followed her. "I wasn't quite sure what to make of the invitation."
"What?!" Wufei looked angry. "You mean this is not the quarterly meeting?"
Relena smiled kindly at him. "Mr. Chang, if you do recall, the quarterly meeting of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation is not for another month or so."
"Really Wufei, you've been so distracted lately." Sally smiled, attempting to lighten his mood.
He hurled daggers at her through his eyes.
"It's true..." she muttered. Wufei again threw her a threatening glare.
"Are we expecting anyone else," one of the newer preventors, Preventor Pal Legion asked.
"Not unless the others have accepted my invitation," Lady Une said. "Last I heard Mr. Barton was reluctant to leave his position at the circus, even periodically."
"What about Quatre and Heero?" Duo asked. "Have you heard from them?"
"I have not heard anything from Mr. Yuy, though I've sendt him many invitiations, including one to this meeting. An invitation was also delivered to Mr. Winner. His reply said he would try to get away."
"I would like to see all five gundam pilots made preventors," the other new Preventor, Marcus Judas said.
"As would I," Relena nodded in agreement. "It would be a warning to all who wish threaten the peace of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation."
"I quite agree Miss Relena," Lady Une smiled.
Wufei swiveled in his chair, shuddering to himself. The thought of facing the four other gundam pilots every day was frightening.
"I don't know," Duo said. "Getting me on full time is going to be quite a challenge. I like my life in space."
"And since there are hardly any uprisings anymore, additional staff members and not really needed," Wufei added.
The door opened with a creak. The seven occupants of the room all looked to it to receive their visitor.
A security guard in sunglasses escorted in a quiet, meek looking Quatre.
Quatre smiled at the as he filled one of the vacant seats. Wufei kept his eyes suspiciously on the guard, watching him pace from the north to the south walls.
"Quatre!" Duo exclaimed. "You came." "Yes. One of my sisters is filling in for me in my absence."
"Welcome Master Winner," Lady Une greeted him.
Meanwhile, the security guard had inconspicuously slipped the Vice Foreign Minister a note. She watched him retreat to a corner, confused, and slipped it inside her schedule folder.
"Well Miss Dorilan, why have you assembled us here?" Lady Une asked, ready to begin the pre-meeting meeting.
"I was under the impression that you were the one to call us here Miss Une," Relena said, pretending to check her schedule.
Relena, you must get everyone out of this building. It's all just a show.
-Pilot 01
Relena gasped, cupping her hand over her mouth.
"Actually," The security guard stepped from the corner, removing his cap and sunglasses. "it was I who called you here."
"Heero!" Relena gasped.
"Hey Heero!" Duo said. "What's the big idea!"
"I'm not Heero," he said. "But you must listen. This meeting is a show put on by the rebel group--" A series of three explosions rang out from the room, causing the building to shake and shudder. Debris fell from the ceiling in large clumps, one of which fell on Preventor Judas, knocking him out.
Screams were heard and an alarm went off, ringing in the ears of the people.
"Meilun!" Hilde screamed as a large overhang fell and broke into three pieces. Meiran had pushed Hilde out of it's way but had not had time to move herself. A gargantuan piece of wreckage pinned Meiran to the floor. The impact of it's even larger counter part sent Hilde flying into a corner. Hilde screamed, as she landed awkwardly on her right arm.
Lady Une jumped to her feet, as did the other bodies in the room.
'What is this?" Wufei asked himself.
"Hilde!" Duo exclaimed and ran from the room to search for his beloved girlfriend.
"Wait Duo, let me help!" Quatre called after him, and left the room at a steady jog.
"Are you alright Wufei?" Sally asked.
He nodded. "We should search for those responsible."
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to help any victims I can find." The doctor rushed from the room, Wufei at her heels.
"Heero, what's going on?" Relena asked in a panic.
"Heero is dead," was all the boy that was unmistakably Heero Yuy said.
"Come Relena, we must get you out of here."
Relena nodded and followed Lady Une from the room. Heero kept close by, making sure the two escaped safely.
After all had left the room, Preventor Pal Legion knelt over the unconscious Preventor Marcus Judas. Judas's hand was in his jacket pocket. When he pulled out his hand, he discovered that Judas was clasping a small detonator and sighed. He carried the man out of the building and locked him inside the Preventor's Van.
Wufei and Sally had split up, hoping to cover more ground. The auditorium had been large, but now that half of the building had been opened up, it was even larger.
"Help!" He heard someone cry as he picked his way through the wreckage. "Please help us!" She screamed.
The voice echoed from one fallen stone structure to another. He couldn't locate its owner.
"Where are you?" he hollered, searching with his eyes, while picking through his brain--trying to settle it. Thoughts were whirring through his head at light speed. Many people truly had been assembling for this faux meeting. They were all here--most of them dead.
"We're in the corner-to the east!" The voice shouted.
Wufei moved toward her, still not able to see her. He had to keep her talking.
"How many of you are there?"
"Only two. Please hurry!"
"Are you injured?" He moved meticulously fast, careful of where he stepped. He gained a great distance though.
"I've only a few cuts and a broken arm, but my friend's wounds are more serious. She's trapped!" The woman's voice became panicked as Wufei reached her.
"Wufei?" she gasped.
"Hilde? What are you doing here?" He surveyed the area, making note of Hilde's injuries and locating her trapped companion.
He knelt to the floor to remove a piece of wreckage from atop Hilde's friend.
"I'm here with Duo, but she shouldn't even be here, it's all my fault." Hilde groaned.
Wufei's heart stopped when he looked upon the face of the girl he was rescuing.
"Meiran!" he cried, throwing the wreckage aside with a burst of adrenaline.
She was bleeding profusely from her side and having trouble breathing. Wufei prayed quickly as he ripped the bottom of her long dress.
"Wufei..." Meiran rasped.
"Shh. Hush Onna, I'll get you out of here." He gently tied off the makeshift bandage and added his jacket for extra pressure.
"Stay awake okay?" He said. She nodded.
Hilde sat bewildered, holding her arm. Wufei tore another piece of Meiran's dress and found a board to temporarily splint Hilde's arm.
"You know Miss To?" Hilde winced as Wufei wrapped her forearm.
"Her name is not To Meilun as she has led you to believe," he hissed, tying the bandage a little tighter than necessary. "Her name is Chang Meiran. She is my wife."
Hilde gasped as Wufei turned and gently scooped Meiran into his arms.
"You mustn't tell anyone about this," he commanded. "Especially not Duo."
Hilde nodded as Wufei led the way outside where ambulances were already waiting. Meiran was immediately taken to the hospital under the name of To Meilun.
Wufei sighed, placing the book on the coffee table. His stomach growled.
He stood and paced the room, he couldn't concentrate on the novel. Perhaps he could have followed it better just then if it were in English or Chinese, instead of German--perhaps not.
He placed another log on the fire, sparks went askew for a moment before they turned to faded bits of gray ash, falling like rain.
Wufei returned to his chair. The front door started to open as he began reading. He looked up for only a moment, but brought his eyes back to his novel quickly.
'So, she's decided to return...' he thought.
Meiran folded her umbrella and set it by the door. She wore a hint of a smile as she shook the water off her wet jacket. Her expression dwindled when she noticed her husband scowling into his book. She slipped off her shoes, her expression now as downcast as the sky that evening.
Meiran sat as far away from her husband as she could. She spied a foreign book residing on the coffee table. A Beginners Guide to German: Lebe es die Deutche Sprache!1 was it's title.
Wufei noticed her craning her neck to see the book.
"I got that out for you," he said. "I figured it might be useful to you if you're going to be living here for any length of time."
"Why would I leave?" Meiran asked innocently.
"Why did you leave before Woman?" Wufei shot back. Meiran nodded in understanding, picking up the textbook her husband had so generously retrieved for her.
Carefully, Meiran opened her book and began reading the forward. Hilde, who's fluent, had taught her some of the basics, like how to ask for a bathroom or how to say your name, but that was about it. She was eager to speak it well, but the prospect of learning a third language did not exactly thrill her. At times she found it difficult keeping English and Chinese straight, even though they are so different. 'If Wufei can do it, then so can I,' she thought resolutely.
"I thought you were dead," Wufei said out of nowhere. "We all did."
"Why ever did you think that?" Meiran asked.
The day you left there was an attack on the colony, led by Treize. Your name was on the roster for one of the shuttles that was destroyed. Everyone was killed on that shuttle--everyone, and your name was on the list..." He almost sounded as though he were having to convince himself.
"I wasn't on that shuttle," Meiran said meakly, feeling guilty for all the pain she must have caused.
"I've noticed that Woman," his voice had become cold.
If Wufei actually thought she had been killed, then why had he reacted so casually when she'd returned a week ago? 'I just appeared out of nowhere--back from the dead--his only remaining family...'
"At least you have a family now," Meiran offered.
Wufei grunted, pretending to be absorbed in his book. Meiran shrugged and returned to hers.
"I'll be leaving town for a meeting early in the morning," Wufei announced.
"Hmmm, what a coincidence," Meiran said. "I'll be leaving town early in the morning also?"
"What business could you possibly have outside Constance?" Wufei scoffed.
"I'm accompanying my friend. Her boyfriend is on business and I'm keeping her company while he is on duty."
'How does she know she can trust these people? How do I know she can trust them--how do I know they don't know who she is...'
"Who are these people?" Wufei asked.
"Well, I thank you for your concern, but she was an assistant of mine at the start of the war. I'm fairly sure there is nothing to worry about."
Wufei was silent, though he eyed his wife suspiciously.
"She knows me only as To Meilun," Meiran reassured him. "And I doubt the name Chang Meiran would mean a thing to her."
"You would be surprised at how small the Earth Sphere has become," Wufei warned.
His suspicions could not leave him. He feared Meiran would be found out. Like Sally had said, he couldn't keep her a secret forever.
-------
Dry.
The University of Stuttgart's Auditorium stood warm through the steady stream of cold water falling from the sky.
Wufei removed his jacket and shook his loose black hair dry.
"Are you alright Wufei?" Sally asked.
He grunted, "You needn't be so concerned, Woman. There is nothing you can do."
Sally tried to smile in return, but she was bothered by the late changes in her companion.
'He reminds more of Heero everyday, but knowing his contempt for Heero I wouldn't think it possible.'
"Wilkommen!" came a cheery voice. Sally and Lady Une looked upon her name tag: Student Director of Events: Petra Hilzig
"The University of Stuttgart gladly welcomes you," Petra smiled even more broadly, bowing slightly. "The preventors are being assembled in a conference room before hand. If you will please follow me I will take you there."
She sat silently in the padded swivel chair. Duo sat to her right, with his feet on the table.
Hilde was with her friend in the meeting hall. The two had not been admitted since they were not preventors.
Relena sighed to herself. She would have enjoyed Hilde's company--not that Duo wasn't company enough, he just wasn't the friend she needed.
"So what's this meeting about anyway?" Duo asked.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I was told it was confidential."
"I thought you were going to be speaking or something."
Relena shook her head. "I was never asked to prepare a speech. Frankly, I do not understand why I am here."
"That makes two of us," Lady Une said, entering the room. Sally, Wufei and two other Preventors from the Constance Base followed her. "I wasn't quite sure what to make of the invitation."
"What?!" Wufei looked angry. "You mean this is not the quarterly meeting?"
Relena smiled kindly at him. "Mr. Chang, if you do recall, the quarterly meeting of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation is not for another month or so."
"Really Wufei, you've been so distracted lately." Sally smiled, attempting to lighten his mood.
He hurled daggers at her through his eyes.
"It's true..." she muttered. Wufei again threw her a threatening glare.
"Are we expecting anyone else," one of the newer preventors, Preventor Pal Legion asked.
"Not unless the others have accepted my invitation," Lady Une said. "Last I heard Mr. Barton was reluctant to leave his position at the circus, even periodically."
"What about Quatre and Heero?" Duo asked. "Have you heard from them?"
"I have not heard anything from Mr. Yuy, though I've sendt him many invitiations, including one to this meeting. An invitation was also delivered to Mr. Winner. His reply said he would try to get away."
"I would like to see all five gundam pilots made preventors," the other new Preventor, Marcus Judas said.
"As would I," Relena nodded in agreement. "It would be a warning to all who wish threaten the peace of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation."
"I quite agree Miss Relena," Lady Une smiled.
Wufei swiveled in his chair, shuddering to himself. The thought of facing the four other gundam pilots every day was frightening.
"I don't know," Duo said. "Getting me on full time is going to be quite a challenge. I like my life in space."
"And since there are hardly any uprisings anymore, additional staff members and not really needed," Wufei added.
The door opened with a creak. The seven occupants of the room all looked to it to receive their visitor.
A security guard in sunglasses escorted in a quiet, meek looking Quatre.
Quatre smiled at the as he filled one of the vacant seats. Wufei kept his eyes suspiciously on the guard, watching him pace from the north to the south walls.
"Quatre!" Duo exclaimed. "You came." "Yes. One of my sisters is filling in for me in my absence."
"Welcome Master Winner," Lady Une greeted him.
Meanwhile, the security guard had inconspicuously slipped the Vice Foreign Minister a note. She watched him retreat to a corner, confused, and slipped it inside her schedule folder.
"Well Miss Dorilan, why have you assembled us here?" Lady Une asked, ready to begin the pre-meeting meeting.
"I was under the impression that you were the one to call us here Miss Une," Relena said, pretending to check her schedule.
Relena, you must get everyone out of this building. It's all just a show.
-Pilot 01
Relena gasped, cupping her hand over her mouth.
"Actually," The security guard stepped from the corner, removing his cap and sunglasses. "it was I who called you here."
"Heero!" Relena gasped.
"Hey Heero!" Duo said. "What's the big idea!"
"I'm not Heero," he said. "But you must listen. This meeting is a show put on by the rebel group--" A series of three explosions rang out from the room, causing the building to shake and shudder. Debris fell from the ceiling in large clumps, one of which fell on Preventor Judas, knocking him out.
Screams were heard and an alarm went off, ringing in the ears of the people.
"Meilun!" Hilde screamed as a large overhang fell and broke into three pieces. Meiran had pushed Hilde out of it's way but had not had time to move herself. A gargantuan piece of wreckage pinned Meiran to the floor. The impact of it's even larger counter part sent Hilde flying into a corner. Hilde screamed, as she landed awkwardly on her right arm.
Lady Une jumped to her feet, as did the other bodies in the room.
'What is this?" Wufei asked himself.
"Hilde!" Duo exclaimed and ran from the room to search for his beloved girlfriend.
"Wait Duo, let me help!" Quatre called after him, and left the room at a steady jog.
"Are you alright Wufei?" Sally asked.
He nodded. "We should search for those responsible."
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to help any victims I can find." The doctor rushed from the room, Wufei at her heels.
"Heero, what's going on?" Relena asked in a panic.
"Heero is dead," was all the boy that was unmistakably Heero Yuy said.
"Come Relena, we must get you out of here."
Relena nodded and followed Lady Une from the room. Heero kept close by, making sure the two escaped safely.
After all had left the room, Preventor Pal Legion knelt over the unconscious Preventor Marcus Judas. Judas's hand was in his jacket pocket. When he pulled out his hand, he discovered that Judas was clasping a small detonator and sighed. He carried the man out of the building and locked him inside the Preventor's Van.
Wufei and Sally had split up, hoping to cover more ground. The auditorium had been large, but now that half of the building had been opened up, it was even larger.
"Help!" He heard someone cry as he picked his way through the wreckage. "Please help us!" She screamed.
The voice echoed from one fallen stone structure to another. He couldn't locate its owner.
"Where are you?" he hollered, searching with his eyes, while picking through his brain--trying to settle it. Thoughts were whirring through his head at light speed. Many people truly had been assembling for this faux meeting. They were all here--most of them dead.
"We're in the corner-to the east!" The voice shouted.
Wufei moved toward her, still not able to see her. He had to keep her talking.
"How many of you are there?"
"Only two. Please hurry!"
"Are you injured?" He moved meticulously fast, careful of where he stepped. He gained a great distance though.
"I've only a few cuts and a broken arm, but my friend's wounds are more serious. She's trapped!" The woman's voice became panicked as Wufei reached her.
"Wufei?" she gasped.
"Hilde? What are you doing here?" He surveyed the area, making note of Hilde's injuries and locating her trapped companion.
He knelt to the floor to remove a piece of wreckage from atop Hilde's friend.
"I'm here with Duo, but she shouldn't even be here, it's all my fault." Hilde groaned.
Wufei's heart stopped when he looked upon the face of the girl he was rescuing.
"Meiran!" he cried, throwing the wreckage aside with a burst of adrenaline.
She was bleeding profusely from her side and having trouble breathing. Wufei prayed quickly as he ripped the bottom of her long dress.
"Wufei..." Meiran rasped.
"Shh. Hush Onna, I'll get you out of here." He gently tied off the makeshift bandage and added his jacket for extra pressure.
"Stay awake okay?" He said. She nodded.
Hilde sat bewildered, holding her arm. Wufei tore another piece of Meiran's dress and found a board to temporarily splint Hilde's arm.
"You know Miss To?" Hilde winced as Wufei wrapped her forearm.
"Her name is not To Meilun as she has led you to believe," he hissed, tying the bandage a little tighter than necessary. "Her name is Chang Meiran. She is my wife."
Hilde gasped as Wufei turned and gently scooped Meiran into his arms.
"You mustn't tell anyone about this," he commanded. "Especially not Duo."
Hilde nodded as Wufei led the way outside where ambulances were already waiting. Meiran was immediately taken to the hospital under the name of To Meilun.