Disclaimer: Though all the GW characters from the series aren't mine, the story is, and so are the other characters. I'll send Heero after anyone who steals them!

Warnings: eventual shounen ai, swearing, magic

Notes: Sorry I haven't posted in an eternity; I haven't been online much and I couldn't write due to medical reasons. Here's the next part, though.

Landlady of the Universe: Hi! Yep, Relena will grow up alright... I can't imagine writing an airhead for more than a couple of chapters. She'll be seeing Heero again soon... you can decide whether that's good or bad. The Maguanacs, though... they're definitely good. I'm trying to work in the Master Quatre thing myself, but it'll probably be natural (if you look back a bit, the servants address all of them as Master **, so yeah.) Thanks for the review!

Mariel Yuy: Hehe, 100 reviews! Hey, have you gotten *any* of the emails I sent? Or have you replied to any but not recieved a reply to the reply? Cos the last email I have from you is dated July, and I have definitely sent you emails since that time. I used to email you from an old address, but my new one is esoteric_expression@yahoo.com. I've been emailing to the one listed on ff.net. If you haven't gotten the emails, I don't mind about Anokiv. He's slick, though, personality-wise, and good-looking in an evil kind of way (smooth springs to mind). Hair dark brown, shoulder-length and down. Sorta like the purple-haired android in D-ball Z, if you've seen it. Dark eyes, pale skin. If you see this, could you email me? This response is getting long. Thanks! :)

Stephanie Yuy: Did you get my email? Thanks for writing and reminding me to get a move on, though I didn't see it until a month after you wrote it. Relena will have to wait, though - I like Wufei better, so I'll write him first. Ah, cosmic unfairness... *sighs* The Maguanacs will probably turn out quite useful, but camping will be a lot harder; as you say, it's a big group. Thanks for reviewing!

Heather: Well, the hands are getting better (that's why you see this chapter), but thanks for your support. I'm sorry about your mother's hands, though - one year is bad enough for me, let alone eleven! And what wouldn't I give to be a real miracle worker... the chapters will fly right from my brain onto the screen... or yours. Hehe! Please keep reading and hope you enjoy!





Part XVIII: Moonlight


They had walked for quite some time, Suri realised suddenly. The sunlight filtered through branches and leaves, turning them into strangely eerie silhouettes but illuminating the trail with a faint redish glow. She felt her eyelids drooping slightly even as her feet continued plodding on. Of course, it doesn't help that we haven't rested properly since... hellfires, I don't even remember. Since Quatre sensed Trowa, at any rate.

The party had had to move on; it would have been too risky to stay, especially since the place they had fought at would almost definitely have been marked and recognised by the Maguanacs' former employer. Rashid had terminated the contract magically, reducing it into the ashes now fluttering invisibly in the breeze, but warned them that the aforementioned employer would be tracking them as soon as he knew of the shift in alliance. The employer's name was not revealed, of course; no mercenary of any reputation would disclose such information. However, the mercenary leader mentioned several facts that left no doubt in their minds that Oz was involved.

After informing both the gypsies and the Maguanacs of the events in Sanq, Zechs had asked Abdul, the Mage, about the massive amounts of energy for the shields during the fight. She had listened intently at that stage; it resembled the shields in the cities too closely to be a coincidence. She was left disappointed. Abdul explained that the mercenary band had been provided with a seemingly infinite source of Magical and Elemental energy, but that none of them had a clue as to where that energy originated from. He did, however, concur that the similarities in the inhuman strength of the varius shields probably did not happen by chance. At that point, Rashid had sighed and muttered something about 'damned contract bonds'.

A yawn sounded beside her, and Suri glanced over at Quatre and flashed him a look of sympathy. He responded with a tired smile and a slight shake of his head, and she realised suddenly that the Healer must be exhausted; he had been awake for longer than she had, having been running around and tracking Trowa's aura while she ans the others were taking a brief rest.

As though he heard her thoughts, Zechs slowed to a halt and glanced around him. There was a shuffle as the remainder of the party stopped, then the prince said, "We will rest here for tonight. Nightfall is approaching, and I doubt we will find another area quite as big as this one before it becomes too dark to travel. Please set up your tents, and we will gather here afterwards to discuss our plans."

Suri glanced around, noting the expanse of grass and the border of trees on one side, and nodded to herself, shrugging a pack of her back. Gods, my shoulders are stiff. I can barely move them. Reaching down with a groan, she hoisted one pole up and unscrewed a small nail, lengthening the object to a suitable height. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned, then grinned. "Hilde! I haven't spoken to you since the fight; you've been huddled at the back of the group."

The gypsy gave her an anwering smile. "We're most useful there. You know we spend half our lives hiding in trees, so it's natural that we'd notice if someone tries to track us by doing so. Did you see the scouts up the front?"

"Scouts?" Suri frowned, then quirked her lips. "They are good, then."

Hilde feigned modesty by bowing slightly, but deliberately and completely ruined the effect by smirking. "I know." She gestured towards the packs. "Need a hand?"

"Don't you have unpacking to do?"

"We travel light." Reaching over her shoulders, Hilde withdrew a compact, net-like bundle and slung one end of it over an overhanging branch before expertly tying the other onto a trunk. "See? Hammocks don't leave stiff shoulders."

Suri shook her head with a slight smile, but she remained quiet, studying the gypsy with guarded silver eyes. She's too cheerful, too... moving. She hasn't stood still since she came up to me. It's like Duo when he's trying to hide. After a moment, it clicked. Lowering her voice, Suri queried, "Hilde, I'll only ask this once if it makes you uncomfortable - are you alright?"

A stunned look, covered instantly by a grin. "Why shouldn't I be? I'm not the one who's moving like a frostbitten camel."

Raising her eyebrows at the rsimile, Suri shook her head again. "But I'm not the one who's taken on the burden of being a rebel leader, either." When the other girl bit her lip, she continued gently, "Your didn't speak to your father, did you? Before leaving?"

Hilde shook her head vehemently. "Never. He doesn't get it; sticking to one-sided neutrality contracts is useless! I'm not going to sit and watch my people die."

Suri grasped her arm. "I know, Hilde. I understand why you left, even though I don't know much about gypsies. I just wanted to let you know... with me, you're a friend, not a leader. If you need an ear, I'm listening. Okay?"

The gypsy gave her a small smile and a single nod. After a moment, she reached down and took a pole, lengthening it as the other girl had done and planting it on the ground. Then, she leaned against it heavily, and murmured, "I don't know whether this is right, Suri. My group is made up of many of the better fighters, and if something happens to the others... they won't be able to defend themselves."

Suri was silent for a moment. "Do you have any way of knowing what is happening with them?"

A nod, then a shake of her head. "Yes, but not in an emergency. We do have messenger birds, though. They carry notes from father to me."

Suri considered it for a moment. "No, that won't work. They can't tell you what they see. Can you spare a scout or two? If you deploy them on a regular basis, you'll have intelligent information. We're going in a single path anyway, so there shouldn't be any problem with them finding their way back."

Hilde's eyes lit up, and she nodded slowly. "That might just work. If I send groups of three, they can even help if things go wrong; three invisible enemies are difficult to track, especially when they can use multi-shot bows to simulate more people." A polite 'Elder?' sounded, and Hilde straightened. "Thanks, Suri. Talk to you later."

Suri smiled back. "Sure. And you're welcome." She felt an unexpected pang as the other girl left. Damn, I forget that she has responsibilties now... a duty to her own people. Glancing at the strangely attired group, she thought, they're pretty amazing, aren't they? But they're so different... I don't think I'll ever understand them completely. Every group around here has such a unique set of rules that only they understand. I wonder where I fit in.

Hiding a sigh and a wistful look, Suri sat down, arms curled around her knees. She wasn't aware of the green eyes watching her carefully from beside another tent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wufei leaned against the stony wall, his clothes sweaty and his breath coming in short, rapid pants. After a few moments of rest, he began pacing slowly; it wasn't healthy to sleep directly after exercise. When he had cooled suficiently, Wufei began to move back towards the building, then paused, his eyes travelling upwards and resting on the full moon. The onyx eyes widened, and the youth stood perfectly still for what seemed like an eternity. Only when a few wisps of grey shifted and obscured Wufei's vision did he heave a nearly inaudible sigh and turn away.

The soft, almost vulnerable expression was replaced abruptly by shock, then irritation, as Wufei caught sight of the figure perched on the stone steps. It was lucky that he was in a somewhat peaceful mood; as it was, he found it amazingly difficult to refrain from bolting or exploding. Noticing his attention, the figure - a female, he realised - stood and approached, stopping an arm's length away and bowing slightly. "I apologise for intruding, but it has been a long time since I last saw the kata executed so flawlessly."

Surprise seeped through the carefully neutral expression, remaining there for an instant before flickering away. Wufei studied the female more closely. Something wasn't quite right - there was discord between the brown braids, the nun's attire and the words uttered so nonchalently. "You have seen the kata?"

The female nodded. "Yes. My sifu was quite experienced in martial arts."

A veiled frown. "Then you are of the clans." It was a statement, not a question. The youth was fully alert now, and had he possessed Empathy, Wufei would have felt the girl's regret at the change and wondered at it. As it was, he merely added, "Your father... 'was'?"

She answered the unspoken question with a simple nod. "He, like the others in my clan, are resting in peace."

Wufei bowed slightly in acknowledgement, but did not say anything; expressing grief for the deaths of people he did not know would be meaningless, but he would accord them with all due respect. Then, he asked, "What clan are you of?"

"Horse." The girl bowed. "I am Po Sally. It is an honour."

"The honour is all mine." The familiar words rolled off his tongue before he could stop them, and he hid his discomfort with a responding bow. "I am Chang Wufei... formerly of Dragon Clan." Sally noted the implication with a small lift of her eyebrow, and though she did not press, Wufei felt obliged to repay her earlier offer of private information with some of his own. "I have done... deeds... that make me unworthy."

The girl regarded him for a moment, then shook her head. "'Mistakes can be rectified, if one puts his heart into undoing the damage and into avoiding the mistake in the future,'" she quoted. "'The most important thing is that the heart is in it.'"

Wufei looked away. "The clan has no need for weaklings."

"I have seen you do the kata. No weak person could do it so gracefully."

He shook his head. "I am... a coward. Cowards have no right to fight."

Sally glanced at him. "I believe we all fight to make ourselves stronger. And it takes courage to admit to a weakness." When he didn't reply, she followed his line of sight to where it rested once more on the silvery moon, and murmured, "The moon is beautiful, though."

He studied her expression quietly, and after a moment of hesitation, gave a brief nod. "I was remembering a poem written by our forefathers." At her questioning gaze, he elaborated, "He wrote in during a journey to a distant land. To him, the moon reminds him of home because no matter where you go, the moon is still the same moon."

"Ah." Homesickness for the sense of belonging that existed in clanlife... she could understand that. Softly, trying not to break the delicate mood, Sally recited, "'Chuang qian ming yue guang/Yi shi di shang shuang/Ju tou wang ming yue/Di tou si gu xiang.'" [1]

Wufei looked at her in surprise, and she smiled. "Father used to read tang si to me when I was young. That was one of the first I learnt." Her voice bore a hint of sadness. [2]

He hesitated, glanced at her once again, then asked quietly, "What happened?"

She regarded him carefully. "How much do you know of clan history?"

"Most of my knowledge is about our forefathers' generation or about the clans that have allied themselves with different kingdoms."

Sally nodded. "Quite understandable. Well... let's see. The Horse clan was a pacifist clan; we were all Healers or herbalists, though there were a few Empaths and Psychics too. All we used for defence was the anti-Healing powers, and because those powers were considered corrupt, they were only to be used in desperate situations." She noticed his expression. "Have you heard of them?"

After a moment, he nodded. "A... friend once lost control of his powers. The kingdom was not aware it existed."

"It is not common knowledge, because unless you are a really powerful Healer, awakening the power is a complicated process." Sally glanced at him sharply, wondering whether the mention of the 'kingdom' was worth pursuing, then decided against it. "Anyway, it was a neutral clan, but during wartime, it would help injured parties from all sides. Some members of the clan were against this, saying it was too dangerous, and after several decades, the clan split. One side formed the clan of the snake; peaceful when left alone, but fanged when attacked."

"I was born in the other, which continued to call themselves the clan of the Horse. However, when I was young, I could not access any Healing powers, and thus had no means of defending myself in danger. After much consideration, I was sent to live temporarily with the Tiger Clan so I could learn some basic martial arts techniques. When I returned, I was taught herbal cures and theories regarding the use of the Healing gift. Then, around a year ago, a group of people attacked my clan. Somehow, they were so well-shielded that nobody could use their gift to defend themselves, so the only person who could fight was myself."

She took a deep breath. "I was beaten, of course; all I learnt was basic moves. However, because I resisted, they decided to keep me alive... the leader... wanted me." A blush rose to her face, though her eyes flashed with something akin to anger. "The rest of my clan was slaughtered. Then, I'm not sure how... I could suddenly feel a powerful source of energy inside me, and I unleashed it at them." A humourless chuckle. "My Healing gift, and with it, the anti-Healing gift, had awakened."

Sally shrugged, then, the anger visibly seeping out of her. "Not much to tell, after that. I had to learn to control the Heaing powers, so I lived alone for a while. Then I found this place, and now I offer basic Healing services in return for food and board, and I continue training myself."

Wufei, who had remained quiet during the entire recount, bowed slightly. "I admire your courage, and thank you for telling me of your past." He faced her. "Do you know who the killers were?"

She shook her head. "They disappeared with the bodies of their companions a few moments after my powers were unleashed."

"Portals..." He gave a single nod. "When this war is over, and if... if all goes well, I will send a message to some... contacts. They will help avenge your clan, if it is posible. What the killers did was dishonourable; attacking anyone who cannot defend themselves, especially pacifists, is cowardly."

"War?"

Wufei gave her a brief explanation of recent events, ommitting his own part in it. She listened carefully, then nodded her thanks, saying, "Thank you. But you don't need to go out of your way; though you have not told me this, I think contacting your 'contacts' will be rather... awkward for you." Onyx eyes flew up at this observation, but she pretended not to notice. "Soon, when I feel I'm ready, I will go and seek the aid of the Tiger clan. They were once close in contact with my clan, and I think the will help."

Wufei glanced at her. "You know where they are?"

"If they have't moved, yes." Sally pointed to some peaks rising beyond the trees. "There's a complex of caves over there, where they usually camp in the colder months." She moved her hands downwards. "And in warmer weather, they hunt and camp in the Atsuari Forests."

He made a mental note of the facts, then glanced up at the moon. "It is late. You should rest."

Seeing no antagonism on his features, she simply nodded and moved off, with a brief 'see you tomorrow'. Then, she stopped, turning to face him once more. "When will you leave?"

Wufei's face became guarded, but he considered the matter for a few moments. "Tomorrow evening, I tink. Night travel suits me." It's less likely hat I will run into... them.

Sally nodded, hesitated, then asked, "Will you say goodbye?"

He regarded her in mild surprise. "If you wish."

She smiled. "Thanks, Wufei. Good night." The, the girl disappeared into the building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What?!"

A slender hand fell onto his arm placatingly, then the girl turned to look at the messenger, who seemed ready to flee. Idiots. Deliberately donning a patient expression, Dorothy requested, "Repeat that, and this time, don't stammer."

The messenger took a deep breath. "We can no longer feel a connection from the Maguanacs to the energy source."

"Since how long ago?"

"Um... two candlemarks, sir."

Anokiv glared dangerously. "And why wasn't I informed?"

"Uh, you said not to disturb you..." He gulped.

"Incompetent fools, all of you." The words came out as a snarl, and he waved an arm dismissively. "Get out of my sight."

The messenger fairly flew out of the room. When he was gone, Anokiv closed his eyes in concentation. "Damn, he's right." He turned to the blonde. "The question is why."

"Deserted?"

He frowned, and rummaged around a small container, withdrawing a sealed parchment. With a gesture, a flame licked at the seal, melting it, and Anokiv unfolded the contract. "Shit."

She raised an eyebrow, delicately snagging the sheet, and responded, "Indeed." The black ink dictating the conditions of employment was sill there, on top of them, a single word was printed in red. 'Void'. "The same question, then. Why, and also, how."

A humourless chuckle. "Oh, 'how' is simple; you burn one contract, and the other is automatically voided. They're alive, then. 'Why', though... is considerably more curious." His equilibrium was returning, though his eyes still glinted furiously. "And for us, 'what' should also be considered." He paused. "Our retalliation, now that the Windriders are still alive. What will it be?"

"Could they be together?"

"Very... possible."

"Hmm. I'd give a lot to know why, but the spies will uncover the facts, with time."

The voice was deceptively calm. "My dear Dorothy, the fact is this - we don't have much time. By the time my father controls the king, we have to have Sanq."

The division of goals again. Dorothy held back a sigh of exasperation, suggesting mildly, "Task force B is close to the Mt Sera cloister."

"And?"

"They'll stop there tomorrow, surely?"

"Ah." The Mage smiled darkly. "Ah, yes. That might just work."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Someone cleared his throat behind her, and Suri spun around. "Who..." Noticing the brown-haired youth disentangling himself from the trees, she relaxed. "Oh. Hi, Trowa... how long have you been there?"

Trowa studied her face briefly. "Almost two candlemarks."

Suri's eyes flew up, noting the position of the silvery moon, then lowered again as she stared at the youth before her. That's almost as long as I've been out here... A small chuckle escaped from her throat. "Damn. I forget how amazing you guys are, sometimes." Her face became serious. "Do you need anything?"

His one visible eye regarded her calmly. "Do you need anything?"

Suri frowned. "What do you mean?"

The voice was measured. "Something is bothering you. Otherwise, you would not choose solitude over sleep when you are exhausted."

She curved her lips in a grin. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just wanted some time out, that's all."

Trowa raised an eyebrow slightly, though his face was otherwise expressionless. "You suppose I believe that?"

Silver eyes locked with emerald, and for a long moment, neither spoke. Then, Suri sighed softly. "I'm alright, serious. I was just trying to sort some things out."

Closing the remaining distance between them, Trowa gestured towards a fallen trunk, offering quietly, "Maybe you would like to talk about it?"

She glanced at the taller youth. He was already seated, and after a brief hesitation, she did the same. Then, she turned to face him. "Why, Trowa?" Why are you doing all this?

Her companion returned the gaze evenly. "Why do you find it so difficult to accept that your friends care about you?"

That stumped her. There was another long silence. Then, Suri murmured, "Sometimes... sometimes, it's very easy to feel alone." She looked up, meeting his eyes for an instant before turning away. "The Maguanacs, the gypsies, you guys... each group is bonded by something." She bit her lips. "It sounds selfish, but sometimes, I feel left out... " Her eyes flickered to his. "I'm just a nameless orphan."

The taller youth remained absolutely still for an eternity before shaking his head. "Not *just* an orphan, Suri... never that." With those almost inaudible words, he lowered his shields in a soundless invitation.

Suri stared at him, her eyes widening with shock. "I can't..." she trailed off. Never, in all the time she had known him, had Trowa made an impulsive move... except when it concerned Quatre. Oh gods, that means he's letting me... gods. He nodded, as though in confirmation, and she took a deep breath. Slowly, tentatively, she probed into the youth's mind, carefully avoiding the shielded areas. Then, there was a loud gasp as she yanked herself away.

Trowa waited patiently for her breathing to slow before saying quietly, "You see? We are more alike than you thnk." He pushed his bangs back in a single, fluid motion, meeting her bewildered gaze for an instant. "You were the one who showed me that it didn't matter."

Dazedly, Suri heard herself asking, "How?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, staring up into the night sky. "You know I was adopted; I told you when we met. But 'the guys', as you refer to them, are all of noble birth. The emotions you just felt... they used to be very familiar." Trowa lowered his gaze again. "But when you arrived, I saw them accept you, and felt myself doing the same. I realised then that none of my concerns really mattered."

He took a deep breath, unaccustomed to long speeches, then added softly, "Don't let Heero get to you, Suri. He's as confused as you are, perhaps even more so."

She nodded in acceptance of the last sentence before focusing on the earlier words, trying to absorb them. "You accept me..."

Trowa nodded. "All of us." He glanced at her, one corner of his lips tilting upwards. "And making Wufei accept a female is quite an achievement."

She let out a surprised chuckle before shaking her head slowly. "He's a better person than he realises." Then, earnestly, "Thanks, Trowa. That means a lot to me."

"I know." He nodded once, rising gracefully to his feet and offering a hand to help her up. When she, too, was standing, Trowa said, "Go and rest, Suri. Good night... and sweet dreams." He turned and began to move away.

"Wait!" Suri grasped ay his arm. "Trowa... you're a better person than you realise as well. Quatre knows that. You past doesn't matter to him any more than mine does to you."

The youth froze in his tracks.

Suri moved so she could meet the emerald eyes. "There's a bond between you that's unlike any other bond I've seen. You care for each other as more than brothers or friends."

Trowa's heart was thumping so loudly that he was surprised he could still hear her. "Suri, don't..." He swallowed, then finished in a whisper, "Don't tell him. Please."

She gave him a soft smile. "I won't. But he cares too. I just thought you should know that."

He shook his head. "He deserves something better... he's a prince. I'm a commoner." With a mild flush, he remembered his earlier words, and looked at her almost pleadingly. "Suri... this is different. To be a friend, a companion... I can handle that. Anything more..."

She regarded him silently. "I don't think there is anything better, Trowa. To him, you're the best. He is more concerned about his own inadequacies than about yours."

Trowa glanced at her. "He doesn't have any..." He paused. "Not to me."

"I know. And you don't, not to him." Her voice was gentle. "Shouldn't you trust his heart? I know I do." Trowa's hands were clenched tightly at his sides, though his face was as unreadable as ever. Suri reached over and coaxed the fists apart, then took them in her own hand and met his eyes as she finished, "Quatre loves you, Trowa. Go to sleep. I think he's still lying awake, waiting, though he will pretend otherwise." She released his hands. "Good night, Tro. Thank you for caring."

With that, she flitted off towards the tents.






Notes:

[1] - The poem is 'Jing Ye Si' by 'Li Bai'. For those who do not understand Chinese, I will attempt a translation, though all the poetic devices will no doubt be lost. Here goes: Bright moonlight before my bed/ Hoardrost on the ground/ I raise my head and look at the bright moon/ I lower my head and think of home.

[2] - A form of Chinese poetry.

I'm moving onto one of my favourite parts... can anyone guess where it will be set? Several major bits of plot and character development will happen there, and a decent portion of angst. A hint here, it will have a lot to do with one of the two characters who haven't yet starred (in my opinion). The people are gathering, though... I promise, there'll be more action coming up. On several fronts...

Next chapter... hmm, if my reviewers haven't died or given up on me, what does too weeks sound like? Too long? Nooooooooooo...... of course it isn'! *smiles brightly* By the way, if anyone wants alerts in the future, drop a note in a review. I'll also send out notices if I can't write for any prolonged period of time, ie. a month or more.

¡@