Quiet
Chatter Chapter 5
Meiran POV:
Warning: violent Meiran ahead.
"Wufei told me. . .without knowing it was me. . .It's a long story. But. . .what I wanted to know is, does it still apply?"
"Of course! Why do you think I've had you take care of my son for three years? And doing such a wonderful job too, dear." Wufei and I both found ourselves blushing at that. "Now, I'm going to let your father know about this, Wufei. That is. . .if you'll still go through with the engagement?" Houren gave Wufei a pointed look. Wufei nodded. "Good, its settled then, I'll leave you to get reacquainted." His mother then turned and left. Yet no more than a second later, she was poking her head back in. "And you behave yourself, Wufei. She's still a lady and your expected to treat her like one." She left fully then, leaving Wufei really embarrassed by her words. I couldn't help but feel like my cheeks were still flaming from such words as well. It really was embarrassing to have your future mother-in-law say such a thing to her son and myself. Wufei was nothing short of a monk. He wouldn't know what to do with a woman, even if said woman was throwing herself at him.
"Are you certain, Wufei? I mean, it's been a very long time since we've actually talked together. You may find you hate me," I said softly, slightly afraid of actually having won him. I had dreamed of being with him for so long. Now that I finally had him, I didn't know what to do. He looked at me as if I was stupid.
"Are you stupid, onna?" he asked, confirming what I had thought. "I never do what I don't want to. I thought you knew me better than that." I rolled my eyes. Sometimes he was just too annoying.
"Well excuse me for thinking you were just trying to do something nice for your old friend, Wufei. Sometimes you are more infuriating than anyone else on the face of this planet, not to mention dense as well.
"Why must you do that, onna!" he snapped. I raised an eyebrow before smirking softly.
"Why, what ever do you mean, my husband-to-be?" I asked. He opened his mouth to speak, only to close it once more. He then blinked a couple times before turning wide eyes on me.
"This is really it, isn't it. . .we're going to be married. In other words, we're going to go through with what our mothers had planned together." I sighed and placed my right hand over my left. Hearing him say that, it kind of left me a little cold inside. Sure, he had admitted he loved me, but was it really love, or just fascination for someone he had once cared about? There was so much that happened to me that he had no clue about. Only two people knew about what happened between my mother, step-father, and I moving and my return here. Luckily, I could trust those two to never tell anyone about it. If Wufei ever heard, he'd hate me for the rest of my life, if not longer.
"You can change your mind and stop your mother before she takes this way out of hand," I said quietly, looking away from him. I may have been sick, but I wasn't insane. I would never make someone as wise as him stay with someone like me unless he wanted to. He raised one perfect eyebrow in my direction.
"'Thinking men can not be ruled'," He quoted to me. I sighed. So we had resorted to a quote war, had we?
"Ayn Rand. 'There are two perfectly good men, one dead, and the other unborn'," I shot back. He smirked, leaning closer to me then.
"Chinese Proverb," he came back with. I nodded while he gave his next one. "'What you do speaks so loudly that I can not hear what you say'." I smirked back at him, not backing down.
"Ralph Waldo Emerson," I answered, naming who had said it. I then felt my eyes gleam as I came up with a new one. "'It is the woman who chooses the man who will chose her'." He froze, mere inches from me. While he was a very scholarly young man, he was still lost when it came to modern quotes. Especially when it came to men saying things in favor of women.
"I give. I don't know who said it," he said finally, blinking and looking at me closely. I laughed and shook my head.
"Paul Geraldy. He's a more modern thinker. Seems to believe women are the brains behind every great man." Wufei snorted.
"He obviously hasn't met you yet, has he," he came back with. I laughed, leaning close and placing a kiss across his nose.
"I doubt it. Not too many people have met someone like me." Wufei nodded in agreement.
"I'll agree to that. Thank all that is holy that there is only one of you. I don't think this world could handle any more than one." I hid my hurt at his words. Sometimes Wufei didn't realize he may be smart, but words can hurt as much as the sword he loved to use. Nataku was the name he had given it. It had just shown me how much he loved his books and history. It was his favorite thing, and he had named it after an ancient God, not me. "Seeing as that's the case, I'm glad I get the one and only," he added, softly leaning down a kissing my lips in an almost non-existent caress. Almost instantly my hurt fled. It was times like this that showed exactly why I loved him. He could be very sweet, when he wanted to.
"Thank you," I said softly, feeling my cheeks heat up in answer. He lightly tapped my chin before standing up.
"You are very much welcome." He then bowed to me. "I've got things I need to do. How about we have dinner together tonight. Take some more time to get to know one another." I grinned.
"I'd enjoy that."
"Good. Then I shall see you later," that said, I watched him leave me. I drew in a deep breath and let it out. We were really going to get married. Wufei was dead set on it. I couldn't believe it! Not in all honesty. I settled down into my pillows and decided to give into my tiredness. After all, I'd only get better if I rested, and I didn't want to remain bedridden much longer.
I awoke several hours later with my bladder screaming at me to get up and take care of it or it would make my bed a very nasty place to be. I smirked and slowly attempted to get up. I found I had full command of my body now, so I got up and took care of business. I had then pulled something on and pulled my hair back into a high ponytail. I was just about to go in search of Houren to see how Wufei's father had taken the news when I found I didn't have far to go, for as I opened my door, I found my boss, and Wufei's father, standing on the other side, hand poised to knock.
"Mr. Chang! What brings you down here?" I asked in surprise, my eyes wide. He gave me a slight bow.
"Houren told me you were sick. She also told me about what your mother and her had decided." I swallowed. He was looking too serious for my liking.
"Would you rather we forget all about it?" I asked, my voice a little broken despite how much I pushed for indifference.
"No, nothing like that. Seems Houren was able to placate me in a most pleasing manner. Yet I had a stipulation for you." I blinked at his words. A stipulation? Why was it I wasn't liking the sound of this?
"What stipulation?" I asked, my voice back in my control. He glanced away and cleared his throat before continuing.
"At the martial arts tournament that's coming up, we have always taken first place in every event, except for the women's kata. If you can bring us first in that event this year, you can marry my son without any argument. Seeing as he wants this as well, I would hope you would do especially well." I stared at him in surprise and shock. I had never expected him to pretty much give me an ultimatum like this. Yet he had given me the one ultimatum that I would be able to manage without trouble, at least, I hoped without trouble.
"While I've always believed people should marry for love, I will agree to your words. I love your son very much, Mr. Chang. I will do what ever I have to do in order to be able to be with him." He smiled then, holding out his hand to me.
"I'm glad to see we've come to an agreement. If you'll allow a few servants into your room, they can move all your stuff upstairs. It won't do to have my future daughter-in-law down with the maids. Also, from this day foreword, unless you lose, you won't be working for me anymore. You have a dowry, admittedly a small one, but its enough to take care of your school tuition. Wufei does not need another servant. He needs an equal. I believe it's about time you started living like the last surviving Long once more." I stared at him in pure shock, yet I could do nothing more than nod in agreement, shaking his hand. I already knew I would have to eventually go back into the world I had once been a part of, I just never realized it would be this soon.
"As you wish, Mr. Chang." He nodded at my response and turned to leave.
"I shall be looking foreword to the tournament. Until later," he said, leaving me alone. I blinked once more. This was all happening so fast that I really couldn't catch up. Yet I was soon unable to focus on anything as my phone went off. I picked it up and answered with a slightly dazed tone.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Meiran? Its Clarissa. I just thought you might want to know that Duo's at the circus, playing knife thrower." I froze for a single second before losing it.
"WHAT? I thought Trowa did that?" I exclaimed.
"Not tonight, Meiran. He did his disappearing act, causing Johnny to have to call in Duo as a replacement." I growled and looked toward the clock. He would be performing now, but I would be no less pressed to get there as quickly as I could.
"Thanks Clare. I'll talk to you later. I'm going to get my ass over there A.S.A.P." Clarissa laughed.
"Got ya, Dragon Killer. Talk with you then." She hung up before I could and I instantly pushed open my door and almost collided with Wufei. What was it with people standing outside my door when I'm trying to leave? Was it a male Chang family thing? I really didn't know.
"Wufei! Don't do that to me! You've scared me half to death." He blinked and looked at me with an apologetic smile on his lips.
"I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to scare you," he said. I drew in a deep breath to calm myself.
"It's all right. I know it wasn't. Yet I'll have to take a rain check on our dinner. It seems I have an emergency to handle and I can't stay here." Wufei grabbed my arm as I started past him, his eyes serious.
"What if you pass out again? You can't leave on your own," he replied. I sighed.
"Then come with me, Wufei. Yet I can't remain here. I have to go. Now!" He grabbed a jacket from the small coat rack near my door before helping me into it.
"Don't forget this. It's getting late and you're already not well." I smiled at his caring before grabbing his arm and dragging him after me.
"Come on, the bus arrives at the stop in five minutes, which gives us four and a half minutes to get there," I muttered. Wufei paused, pulling me to a stop as his unmovable body wouldn't move with me. "Wufei," I huffed. He merely raised an eyebrow and then smiled at me.
"We can take my car, onna. We'll get where you need to go quicker that way." I almost tackled him for his kindness. Instead, I turned and threw myself into his arms, hugging him close.
"Thank you so much, Wufei," I said before pressing a swift kiss to his lips and leading him to the garage. Once there, we got into his car and drove off, myself giving directions the entire way.
We arrived at the circus in plenty of time to see Duo begin throwing deadly sharp daggers at Catherine with deadly accuracy. I flinched each time one flew into the board she was standing against. My hands found Wufei's arm and began squeezing as Duo got closer and closer to his target. I feared for Duo. He had never wanted to have to throw them at someone who was living. He didn't want to hurt someone. I could see Heero across the way, speaking to Quatre. My heart remained in my throat the entire time. I hated this. Please let it go without incident.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you would. . ." Jonathan's words trailed off as I drew a deep relieved sigh and Duo came walking toward Wufei and myself, my eyes glued to him as I slowly let go of Wufei, knowing he must be hurting just a little after the death grip I had held on him.
"DUO! How could you do something like that?" I cried out, launching myself into his arms as he stood next to me. He hugged me, patting the top of my head.
"Hey, Mei-Mei. Clarissa told me you were sick. I'm glad to see your feeling better. I wasn't expecting to see you here." I pulled back and swiftly smacked him.
"Don't Mei-Mei me! Do you realize how worried I was about you? If you had done something stupid because of Trowa having to vanish once again, I would have killed you first, and him second," I growled. Duo held one hand to his cheek, his expression contrite. Wufei seemed to smirk from his place behind me. It was obvious he was enjoying the discomfort Duo was experiencing by being near me. Oh, he would be facing it as well, if he didn't quit taking delight at Duo's torture.
"Come on, Mei. I didn't do it because I wanted to. It was in my contract. Catherine won't throw them at anyone but Trowa. I had to be the one throwing them. It was the only way we could keep the show going," Duo argued, yet he didn't seem at all upset over the slap. After all, it happened fairly regularly between us and I never hit him as sharply as I could hit someone. Wufei was the only one to ever face the full fury of my hits.
"Oh really, well we'll see about that. Wufei's lawyers will clear this mess up." He jumped, glancing at me with a look of conceit. Oh, that was the Wufei I really remembered.
"Who said you could use my lawyers?" he asked tautly. I turned to him, only instead of using my fists, I used the one weapon I knew worked. I gave him the biggest tearful expression I knew I could pull off.
"Please Wufei! You can't leave him like this. If he hurts someone he'll be hurting ten times worse and then I'll be hurting," I pleaded. He sighed and grumbled under his breath before answering.
"Fine. . .if we must." I turned and threw myself into his arms, cuddling him a moment before turning back to Duo. I was fairly certain he was knocked off balance by that, but I had other things to focus on at the moment.
"See, so we can clear this up and correct it fairly quickly," I told him. Duo dropped his hand and gave me a wide smile. I couldn't help but smile in return as I finally was able to relax entirely and not feel fear clog my throat. He opened his arms and I threw myself into them, holding him close. Quietly, so hopefully no one could hear me but Duo, I added, "Don't ever do that again. I refuse to have you fear a repeat of what had to happen for me." He hugged me and kissed my cheek before setting me back down, of which I hadn't realized I was off my feet, and nodding.
"I know this, Mei. That's why I took a lot of care before I acted. Don't go paranoid on me, Mei-Mei. All's cool. Catherine is really good at remaining still. I didn't fear it as much as if it had been Heero, who had volunteered for that place, I might add. So don't over react." I sighed and found myself leaning back in complete relief. I glanced back as I felt a warm presence at my back and I smiled up at Wufei.
"Thank you, Wufei. Thank you so much for getting me here. For humoring me. And most of all, for being here for me right now." He nodded, not saying anything. Duo gave me a questioning look and I, in turn, grinned at him. I wouldn't let him know if things were perfect for the two of us or not. After all, I still had to win the women's kata at the tournament later this month in order to win Wufei's father's permission. Yet for now, things were as good as they could be at this very moment. There would come a time when Wufei would have to know what Duo, Trowa, and I already knew. Tonight wasn't that time though. Tonight was simply a time for friends to enjoy themselves. "How about we all go get something to eat, Duo's treat," I said. Duo tried to look hurt by my words, but I knew he was pleased by them as well.
"I refuse to allow Maxwell to pay for anything for me," Wufei grumbled. I chuckled while Duo gave Wufei the eye.
"What's the matter, Wuffles, afraid I'll actually go broke on your expensive appetite?" he asked. He glared over at Duo from behind me, one possessive arm coming to rest across my waist.
"Fine, pay for us, Maxwell. When you do go broke, don't cry to me," Wufei snarled, obviously hating that nickname. It was the perfect opportunity to tease him.
"Wuffles? I didn't know you were named after a breakfast food," I said, a smirk on my lips. Wufei turned his glare on me then.
"Don't even, onna. I may have no control over Maxwell, but I have some say about what you say." I laughed loudly, sharing a look with Duo, who was laughing outright.
"Yeah right, Wuffles. The day she listens to a man is the day I go straight." Wufei blinked while I tried not to fall over laughing. In other words, it would never happen, and Wufei and I both knew it. I wasn't one to listen to someone telling me not to do something. In fact, I usually did the very opposite. It was the curse of us Long women. We were stubborn to the core.
"Come on. Lets go get Heero and Quatre, as well as find Trowa and see if we can't all go enjoy some good food," I said, leading the way around the back of the tent to the others, in a way, hoping we'd all be going. Wufei needed to interact with people more, I needed to do something crazy to calm down completely, and I was certain Duo wanted to unwind from the nerves he had built up during the show. All in all, it was the best idea I could come up with.
