-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 4
Trust
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It took far too long to get to the trees, and Wufei was afraid that Duo would be there before he and Takai reached the spot—or at least, whichever tree that indicated said spot. But he and Takai got there first, stopping at a large oak. He leaned against its solid trunk and breathed deeply, though a little raggedly.
Takai left, walking back over the grassland in long, easy strides. Wufei closed his eyes and began focusing again. He didn't know exactly how much later it was that he heard almost silent footsteps. He opened one eye to see Takai setting down a picnic basket. Wufei stared as the woman started setting out a blanket, half in the sunlight and half in the shade. She sat down, her outer robes spread around her, and she smiled at him .
"What?"
"Feel free to sit down. We should probably wait for Duo to eat, though. He'd appreciate that."
Wufei narrowed his eyes at Takai. "How well do you know Maxwell?" he asked. Takai quietly started pulling plates and utensils from the basket. "Who are you?"
"Erelah Takai."
"You don't look Japanese."
"But that is my Japanese name." She cocked her head. "Duo should be here soon." She set three places on the blanket.
Wufei watched her, but she gave no sign of noticing. After a few minutes, he closed his eyes again. Before he could really meditate, he heard distant steps in the forest. It sounded like Duo.
"Hey, guys. Glad you didn't start without me. Though I didn't know you were bringing lunch, Takai."
She smiled. "It hadn't been the original plan, but…well, things come up."
Duo frowned. "Why did you bring enough for three?"
Takai laughed. "That's ungracious of you, Duo Maxwell."
Duo chuckled. "Sorry, Wufei. I meant, why did you pack for more than two? I thought our meeting was going to be just the two of us. No offence," he added to Wufei.
"It was an emergency," Takai said. "Now, shall we eat? Unless I miss my guess, neither of us have had breakfast yet. If everyone will sit down, we can bless the food and eat."
Duo flopped down on the blanket, and he winced and held his hands carefully. "Come on, Wufei."
"After I check on you." Takai held out a hand, and Duo slowly gave her his own. She shook her head. "Aren't you glad Shenlong wasn't in there very long? Bandages…" She took out a knife and cut some cloth from the end of her ankle-length robe. She removed a small jug from the basket, and she poured water from it onto the cloths, her lips moving silently. She tied the bandages carefully around Duo's hands.
"Thanks." Duo looked at Wufei. "You gonna sit down, pal, or not?" he asked. Wufei hesitated. His legs were aching, and he hadn't eaten since the evening before. Duo was staring at the basket. "And I don't know about you people, but I'm hungry," he muttered. Takai laughed. She brought out Tupperware containers, and she allowed Duo to open them. "Cold chicken. Apples and oranges. Shrimp. Noodles and veggies?" He looked up at her.
"Of course. You need your vegetables, Duo."
"Ooh, worms in the mud."
Takai snatched away the last bowl. "That's for desert. I do hope you will join us, though, Wufei. The noodles are lo mein. I brought milk and herbal tea, as well."
Wufei paused one more minute, then he sat down.
"Duo, would you say grace, please?"
Duo fidgeted with his collar, nodded, and bowed his head and crossed his arms. Wufei watched as he prayed, Takai listening intently. At the end, she added to Duo's "amen" and looked up, unfolding her arms. "Wufei, what would you like?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wufei wasn't sitting in the sun, and he still felt warm. Comfortably warm, though. He had food in his stomach, and a breeze was blowing gently. Everything began to merge, including Takai's rich voice and Duo's strong tones. The landscape melted into green and blue, and Wufei lost consciousness to sleep.
"Good," Takai said quietly.
"What's wrong with him?" Duo asked.
Takai laid a hand on Wufei's forehead. "He still has a fever."
"Did…did you know he was here, Takai?"
"Yes."
"So you brought me here."
"Basically."
"Why not just tell me?"
"I usually work more subtly than that. Most people don't know who I am, Duo, except sometimes when they're dying."
Duo stared at her. "Is Wufei—"
"No. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you. No, Wufei is not in that grave a danger. Yet."
"Yet? What's going on?"
She regarded Wufei, her eyebrows pulled together. She sighed and turned to Duo. "Stay close to him. He will need your strong smile."
"Takai, what's going on?"
"Please. Trust me." Takai stood. "It isn't time."
"What do you mean? Why can't I know? This isn't right!"
Takai started gathering her things, but she paused to look at him. "Duo Maxwell, if you knew everything that was happening in the future, what would you do?"
He hesitated. "Try to make everything right."
"Exactly, and it would be well meant. However, sometimes what a mortal thinks is best is not actually the best thing to do." She smiled sadly. "I promise you this—Chang Wufei is in no immediate danger. Now, I have to be going. You take care of Wufei, please, and I'll be back soon. Okay?"
Duo looked narrowly at Takai for a minute. She matched his gaze steadily. He nodded. "All right. I trust you."
She smiled. "I'll be back, and I'll send Hilde a note so she doesn't worry about you."
"Thank you."
