- Chimera of Life -

Story Four: Uneasy Alliances

Chapter Three

by Heartfire

***

An invisible line appeared on the grassy plane. The small stream that ran from east to west basically screamed 'barrier!' between the two camps. Girls vs. boys… Just like the time when one was a child, but this time- it was war- at least, to the two commanding officers.

"I can't take this!!!" The whispered comment reached everyone's ears. They had all converged in Rene's tent to… well… complain. Of course, Rene knew they wouldn't do anything. Wufei had already knocked Tyrone- their best fighter- out cold with just one blow. Being a Gundam pilot also grabbed at their respect, but there's nothing wrong with complaining!

"I'm gonna go crazy! Crazy I tell you!!!" The hysteria in that person's voice conveyed that he was, indeed, going insane.

"Shut up Ian! Commander Chang will hear you! Do you want another round on the track?!" Rene warned to the poor soul, and made everyone remember the consequence of not being in their tent at this hour. "You all know that this wouldn't happen if you just- just control yourselves!"

"Yeah! Easy for you to say, you abnormal freak! Commander Chang this, Commander Chang that. You probably never liked girls in your whole-"

Something fell on the floor, bodies scrambled to the edges of the tent while struggling noises could be heard from the middle.

"If you can't take the pressure, Malone, then you shouldn't be in this damn mission!"  A stifled cry of pain resounded throughout the tent then the fighting stopped. Nobody knew who was knocked out silent… but they had a pretty good idea that it wasn't Rene.

A groan sounded from the floor.

"Sorry Malone… I didn't mean it."

"Nah, it's cool, Hackett… I didn't mean it either."

"Hey, this is just as hard for me… I just try to control myself… You guys should, too… I mean, we're supposed to be the best! And now, the person training us… He was a Gundam pilot! The one who killed Treize Krushrenada. How cool is that?"

A mumble of agreements echoed.

"Come on… Listen to you! You're complaining like a bunch of grandmothers! Look, when was the last time you were all this fit? I mean, we were all starting to gather fat around the edges because we became lazy! I think my muscles grew an inch already and man! My washboard is back!"

The tension inside the tent slowly eased and the light banters began to emerge. A patch of light filled the tent as one of the men folded the flap.

"Man… wouldn't it be so much fun if we're on that side, though…"

"Yeah… Holy! Guys!!! Side show on Tent Five!!!"

The men scrambled to open the flap and drooled at the sight of a woman's shadow illuminated against the tent's flap by a yellow light, slowly peeling her clothes off.

"I'm gonna die… I'm gonna die… I'm gonna die…"

"Hell! How could Commander Chang not look at any of those bodies when they all have that figure!"

"Damn if I know."

Outside the tent, a fist clutched around the tent cloth. Wufei stood, ready to pounce on his men… the tension in his arm showed his inner fight… All right, he'd been too strict… A silent sigh escaped his lips before he let go of the cloth and slowly stepped back. He'll give the boys this one night… Just this one…

The muffled laughter inside made him think of… well… hanging out… having fun like them…

'No!' Wufei turned, angry at himself for thinking such thoughts. He stalked off to the other side of camp just to be alone. The moon above shone like a silver coin- perfect circle and light moonbeams… He stopped when he entered what could have been a land of vegetation centuries ago, now a meadow with grass as tall as his knees with night flowers abloom and showering its heady fragrance in the air. The soothing sounds of bubbling, crystalline river echoed at one side…

He faced the moon while a hand went inside his pocket and pulled out a small piece of blood stained cloth. A piece of his clothing when Meiran died in his arms. His memories swelled all too clearly as he dropped on both knees, placed the stained cloth a few steps away, stared at it reverently then clapped twice and bowed.

Wufei stayed in that position for a long time, then he finally sat back on his heels, dropped on the ground to sit Indian style and stared at the cloth once again. "I didn't kill Treize… he killed himself." The whisper disappeared with the breeze. Another deep sigh escaped his lips as he remembered those best-forgotten memories.

During the last war, when he was still confused, Mariemaia had called him into her room. While he stood, she circled him. It could have been a funny sight- a child circling a warrior… and yet, instead of the child quaking in fear, it was the warrior who felt that questionable emotion. It wasn't fear… more of… apprehension. It was common knowledge, by then, who had killed Treize, though he knew that that knowledge was false.

And then… she spoke…

"I know you didn't kill my father… I've studied the battle records, so there is no need to look upset, Wufei Chang."

He had kept quiet, though his slanted eyes showed his irate feelings for her. He wished she'd stop circling, but when she finally did, right in front of him, and stared up at him with those unflinching eyes… he suddenly wished that she hadn't stopped.

"You were a worthy adversary… My father chose well."

He couldn't exactly remember the thoughts that flitted in his mind the moment she said those words… but he could remember that confused, angry feeling…

"You may go."

He rarely followed orders, never if it came from a woman, and yet… for the first time in his life, he actually obeyed a female command- a female child.  That was how much power Mariemaia had as a child… even more so, now that she has grown… especially with Une's coaching. She really is her father's child.

"It's been a long time since I last talked to you…" He reached for the cloth then caressed it. Looking after Relena's well-being had kept him busy, but now, especially after hearing his men say those words, he just had to… be alone with her for a moment.

"At least I know that this time around, you will not stop me with one of your arguments." A small grin appeared on Wufei's lips. His eyes held that reminiscing look as he lay down on the meadow's grass and stared at the moon, the cloth in his hands. He had finally laid down his ghosts- oh a long time ago.

Merian was someone he cared for, a lot. Not as a wife… more like… a special friend. They'd never been husband and wife, anyway. Sure they slept in the same room, on the same bed, but they never became… and he's just fine with it. He's at peace with himself. Just that sometimes, like right now, he feels lonely. That feeling had slowly crept in him these past few years… At first, he didn't quite understand it. Lately, though… he did. Yet, how could someone like him who often sought for ways to be alone… be lonely?

He let his mind wonder for a little while longer, about the past that he could remember… then with a grunt, he was on his feet, the piece of memory tucked safely in his pocket and he was walking toward the camp once again, ready to hit his bag.

…

"Nothing?"

"Nothing! I mean, the last time we pulled that show when we went undercover, every single man was howling!"

"And there wasn't even a squeak last night! Not even from their patrolling guard! He wasn't even looking at the tent!"

The girls inside Dawn's tent all sighed.

"Maybe we've lost our touch… Maybe we're not beautiful anymore…"

They all looked at each other, long sad faces stacked upon long sad faces.

"Hey! We're all beautiful."

"Yeah? When was the last time you checked, Drake? We've been out of circulation since we started hunting for a ghost town.  How would we know that men's taste didn't suddenly take a nose dive for somethin'?"

"Hey! We're all talking as if its just looks they're after…"

The glares in everyone's eyes were focused solely on the person responsible for uttering that phrase, effectively cutting off the rest of what she was about to say.

"Uh… okay… so maybe looks does play a huge part…"

Ping shook her head. "Honestly! You all sound as if you've all quit."

"I think that's what we did a few minutes ago."

Their leader rolled her eyes. "Just because you couldn't get what you want doesn't mean you have to quit. You're just used to getting whatever – or whomever – you set your eyes on… maybe it's time you received a challenge… and those boys out there are definitely a challenge."

"What are you talking about?!"

Ping grinned. "Incorporate something new to your strategy, girls… It always helps to keep the man on their toes after you show your interest." That said, she stood up and walked out of the tent. She'd just planted the seeds that would crush Wufei's camp to the ground- at least, she hoped- and now, she's about to give that seed its first taste of water.

Everyone filed out after their fearless leader and saw how she hiked her self-made, tight camouflage skirt up her hips, unhooked two buttons on her blouse from her neck and then tied the ends of her blouse in a sexy knot that showed her small, curvaceous waist. Then she unpinned her curly hair and let it fall down to her shoulders. Ping tried to keep her smile from showing and walked into their supply tent.

The others followed and watched as she went inside the 'storage room', or in this case, storage tent, pulled open a crate and grabbed an unopened marmalade bottle from inside then stalked off to the other side. Their eyes widened as they watched her gracefully skip over the small stream. The men still went about with what they were doing, almost as if nobody had intruded.

Ping's heart pounded against her chest as she stopped in front of Commander Chang and Hackett, saluted gracefully, and smiled. "Good morning, Commander Chang."

Wufei frowned at the irritating woman. 'What the hell is she doing here?!'

As if to answer his unsaid question, she held out the bottle in her hands, that sweet smile still on her face. "Would you please open this for us? Nobody seemed to be able to. It's either we open it or break it and eat it with small shards of glass."

Hackett's face turned towards the ground, just to be sure that he wouldn't get scolded for supposedly looking at one of the IA's.

Annoyed that the weak onna couldn't even open a single jar, Wufei quickly grabbed it, opened it in less than a couple of seconds, and then handed it back to her.

Knowing that her troops were all observing her, she swallowed her anger at his superior look and meticulously took her chance as her hand gently brushed against Wufei's. She made sure that he felt that lingering touch then she smiled her best. "It isn't about being weak. It's about being practical."

Wufei's eyebrow rose but she had turned away already, her golden curls catching the sun's rays as it bounced lightly around her shoulders.

With a flip of her hair, Ping gave one last coy look over her shoulder. "Thank you and good day, Commander Chang." She didn't even want to look back until she could be quite sure she had reached Dawn's tent and met the surprised 'I can't believe you did that!' words her friends gushed out.

On the other side of the stream, however, both Wufei's eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. He tried to keep his face schooled to that of his usual scowl, though he did find the situation slightly amusing. Her hands were very soft- Wufei blinked. What the-? Where did that come from? Wufei growled in frustration. "Hackett!!! Get the men ready to move out!"

"Y-yes sir!"

…

For the next few weeks, Wufei watched as woman after woman came in and out of their side of the creek just for some reason such as picking wildflowers, berries, and whatever other silly nonsense! His men, he could see, and hear at nights, were getting edgy!!! He couldn't punish them because he could see for himself that they were doing their best not to look at the girls… but even a man needs a break!

"Hackett!!!"

Rene's back went straight as a ramrod at that tone of voice… he knew it too well… "Yes sir!"

"Take over." Wufei zipped his uniform close as he faced the young troop leader. "I'm going to have a talk with someone who needs a good lesson in discipline!" Or at least, disciplining her troops!

"Yes sir!" The others stopped what they were doing as they watched their commanding officer stomp angrily towards the girls' camp.

"Oh boy… Wonder what he's gonna do…" Someone beside Rene whispered.

"I have no idea…"

It was grating on his nerves… Didn't they agree to leave each other alone? The nearer he was to her tent, the angrier he became. He didn't even give a single cursory glance at the women he passed by. Damn them for making his men confused! Besides, how could the IA give a job like this to a girl her age?! She looked like she's just eighteen or something! He reached her tent and stormed in without bothering to announce his arrival.

"Rossi! I want to talk to y-" Wufei's words stopped in shock as he stared at her naked, golden brown body with droplet's of water making trails down her smooth back from the damp golden curls, matted at the base of her neck.

Ping stilled at the sudden intrusion. She had just taken off her robe, the one she was holding tightly in her fisted hands, when he came in. She was, in a way, thankful her back was to him.

Her head slowly turned to her side and Wufei caught the burning blaze of green fire in those catlike eyes before he was able to move his body in the needed one hundred eighty degree turn. His suddenly parched throat needed water, his lips opened and closed like a fish out of water, and his eyes were still shocked wide open. He had never, in his entire life, been in this situation! The hell is he supposed to do?

Ping breathed in and out deeply. She's going to handle this with grace and dignity. She will. She will. She will. She won't scream at him. She won't. She won't. But how the hell can she be graceful and dignified in such an undignified situation?! "Well! I would say 'come in' but you already took that liberty on yourself."

"I… I…" Wufei clamped his lips shut to stop himself from stuttering. He never stutters! He tried again. "I didn't know that you were-"

Ping didn't know whether to be amused at his reaction, or be angrier. "Naked? We're adults, Commander Chang. I'm sure you've seen a naked woman before." She couldn't help but add- "Besides, if you had announced your arrival, I would have told you."

'Not like this!' His mind screamed. Not when he thought her nothing more but a child and then he found those womanly curves on her! He didn't expect it! She shouldn't have them! 

"I just took my bath." Ping cringed as she donned on the first long shirt she could lay her hands on. What a stupid thing for her to say. It wasn't as if she needed to tell him that.

"Yes. I noticed." Damn! How could he not?

"Turn around, Commander Chang. I'm decent. Although you didn't have to. I could have dressed myself even with you looking at me." Liar! She would have knocked down anybody who could've seen her like that but she had promised herself she would handle every single matter with grace. Damn grace! Of course he wouldn't know that.

"I'm sure you could have." Wufei answered as he turned and stilled once again. She calls that decent?! The shirt didn't even cover half her thighs and it showed her… nipples! He was starting to sweat and that irritated the hell out of him. Actually, what irritated him more was that he couldn't seem to remember whatever he wanted to say!

"What did you want to see me for?" Ping motioned for the makeshift chair at the side of her tent while she sat on one of the crates they made into a table, automatically crossing her legs, not realizing that her shirt hiked up higher on her legs.

Wufei felt another pull in him that he couldn't begin to explain then his frustration on himself finally exploded. "I came here to demand that you instill discipline on your troops!"

Ping's eyebrow shot up. "Discipline, sir? What do you mean by "discipline"?"

Wufei pulled back one of the tent's flaps and motioned to the women outside, cleaning the camp. "Look at them! Don't you people have uniforms?! They're barely in their underwear!!!"

Ping frowned as she took in her troop's shorts, sandals and cropped to the midriff shirts. "I don't see anything wrong with what they are wearing. I require their services, not their taste in fashion."

"You are all acting like a bunch of tourist, ready to see the cultivated Southern India! How could you act professionally if you aren't even dressed properly!? And look at you! You're their supervisor and all you have on is a shirt!"

The disgust in Wufei's voice really nearly broke her patience but she held on to the reigns quite well. "And my panties. In case you've forgotten, Commander Chang, I had to improvise because of your sudden arrival."

Wufei blinked. An image of a plain, white cotton panty underneath that cotton shirt that rode up her long golden thighs- Gah! No! "I demand that you and your patrol put on decent clothing and to stop disturbing my men!!!"

Ping breathed in and gripped her hands. "Two details, Commander. One. Have my women been minding your men's business?" Before Wufei could even answer, she moved on. "We agreed to not mind each other's business. We did not agree that there would be a certain area not to be threaded upon by man or woman. I do not think that they ever asked them what they were doing nor forced their services upon your men." She could see that the argument he was about to say was overruled by what she had said. Good.

"Two." Ping stood up and walked to the other flap to pull at it. "In case you haven't noticed, there's a blazing sun out there. I will not be responsible for dehydration and sudden fainting spells."

Wufei glared at her. She had a good rebuttal to both his arguments. He was sweating too. He just doesn't want to show that it mattered. He'll get her yet. Just she wait. With one last withering look, Wufei turned around and stomped away. He was angrier with himself than at her- but at this moment, he doesn't want to think that he's not angry with her. Not steaming mad. No. That just won't do. Because if he doesn't hold on to anger, his damn head is going to be filled with images of a curving waist and long golden legs under a white cotton shirt!

Ping watched until he was safely on his side then waved her curious troop away. She walked back inside the tent and sighed. "Well… I think I handled that quite well…" Although she didn't like the fact that he saw her naked, the real score was that she made him eat his words.

An amused smile appeared on her lips.

Girls One. Boys None.