FIVE
Sutoomu
Everybody say YAY! The ninth chapter is out. This chapter reveals a problem, but also a solution...sort of. Anyhoo, no major spoilers, you'll just have to read it.
AND NOW! A SHOUT OUT TO MY REVIEWERS!
Many incredible and deep heartfelt and giddy and happy thanks to Roxie Faye and phoenixfirekitsune, who were the reviewers from chapter seven I didn't get to thank, so double thank you's to them, and thank you's for HeeroDuo4eva, allie, a new one! Lotus Pixie, twice, anissa32, Celestia, Lady11Occult, summersarebright, jes me, who's back! SanzoGirl, PrincessWolfGoddess, Roxie Faye, WaterDragonfromtheUnderworld, and silvertwighlight! You know, in the beginning I had to double check everyone's names to make sure I spelt them right, 'cause I want to always spell them right, and now, it's second nature, 'cause I know you all! MAJOR HUGGLES/huggles lots n lots n lots n lots n lots n...ahem/
Yes, so here is the ninth chapter. I hope you enjoy it and please, do review at the end and I'll reply, of course. I don't really need to say that at all, because you all always review, and you know I reply but...hey, what if new people come?
/grins insanely/ Enjoy!
"Hey, Wufie, wanna make out?"
Wufei groaned at the new nickname, which Duo had attached to him yesterday, but his groan was cut off as Duo climbed onto his lap and straddled him, connecting their lips passionately.
"Duo!" Wufei pulled away. "My name is Wufei."
"You are what you are," Duo said philosophically, then ordered. "Now shut up so we can make out."
"Only if I get to play with your hair," Wufei murmured. Ever since Duo had let his hair down the first night they had all spent together, almost a week ago, Wufei had an obsession with it. He often startled Duo by pulling off his hairband at random times. It seemed he shared the love of Duo's long tresses with Heero.
"Fine, but then I get to call you Wufie," Duo cooed back, breathing on Wufei's mouth.
"Deal," Wufei said before closing the distance between their mouths. He swept his tongue into Duo's warm cavern, tasting the boy and revelling in it as his hands inched around Duo and began to unbraid his hair. He brushed his fingers through the silky brown strands and leaned back as Duo slid his hands up his shirt. They completely ignored everything else, both lost in the taste of each other.
"Wufei, the phone is for you," Quatre suddenly interrupted them.
"He's busy," Duo paused to breath and mumble, then their lips were back together.
"I can see that," Quatre giggled. "But it's his aunt."
"Memo to myself," Wufei said. "Finish make out session with Duo later." He slipped Duo off his lap onto the couch and stood up. Quatre came over, took a moment to fix Wufei's appearance for him, then let Wufei go to the vid phone. His aunt was on the other end. "Aunt Taia," Wufei smiled.
"Hello, Wufei," Taia returned the smile. "You look happy. And your face is fully healed."
"I am happy, very," Wufei replied, and he unconsciously brushed the side of his face, now smooth and unmarred again. The healing gell did wonders, and did them fast.
"That's good," Taia said. "I..." She broke off as Quatre suddenly squeaked in surprise, distracting them. Wufei looked to see that Duo had pinned Quatre on the floor and was attacking his neck with kisses in his ticklish spots, making the arabian giggle uncontrollably.
"Guys, I'm on the phone," Wufei smiled. He was glad they weren't in view of the vid phone.
"Sorry," Duo whispered sheepishly. "He's just adorable. I can't stand it!"
"What was that?" Taia asked curiously, with a slight look of suspicion.
"Horseplay, Taia," Wufei quickly supplied. "I'm living with four guys. They tend to wrestle and joke around." Wufei knew his uncle assumed he lived with them just to sleep with them, but his aunt didn't believe that. At the moment, she believed what Wufei had told her, that he was living with four of his friends from high school, but Wufei suspected she knew a part of the real truth. She definitely knew he was gay. He didn't mind that, but he wasn't going to confirm anything else unless she outright asked.
"Oh," Taia forced a weak smile. "Well, I was just wondering if you'd meet me at the plaza for lunch. There's something important you have to know."
Wufei frowned at the grave look in his aunt's eyes. He had never seen her this serious before. "Sure. It's sunday, I don't have school or anywhere to be. Where do you want to meet?"
"Chef Tironi's," Taia replied.
"Chef Tironi's? Aunt Taia, that place is really expensive," Wufei said. "Can you afford it?"
"Can you?" Taia raised an eyebrow. "I think we deserve a treat for once."
Wufei laughed. "Absolutely. I'll be there in twenty minutes, if you want."
"That's fine," Taia said. "I'll see you then and there. I love you, Dragon."
"Love you, too, aunt," Wufei blew her a kiss and then hung up. He turned back and smirked at Duo, who had continued to torture Quatre as soon as he had hung up.
"Wufei, help me!" Quatre pleaded, laughing and wriggling under Duo.
Wufei sighed and scooped Duo up. He set the braided boy upright, Duo blinking in surprise at the sudden loss of Quatre under him. Wufei nudged Duo towards the bedroom door. "Go wake up Trowa and Heero." Duo grinned ferally and dashed into the bedroom. Wufei reached down and helped Quatre up.
"Thank you!" Quatre exclaimed. "I love you!" He kissed Wufei suddenly, then hugged him tightly.
"I love you, too, little one," Wufei smiled. "I'm going to lunch with my aunt, okay? So you should only cook for four today."
Quatre nodded and they parted, Wufei going to the bathroom. He had slept in-with Duo and Quatre-this morning, so he hadn't had a chance to clean himself up. Ten minutes later, he came out, decked out in his full makeup, neat hair, and jewelry. He gave Quatre another kiss, then began to leave the apartment, just as he heard a ruckus coming from the bedroom. He paused in the open doorway and met Quatre's eyes.
"I guess Heero and Trowa are awake," Quatre grinned.
"Sounds like Duo pushed them off the bed," Wufei nodded. "I'll be back in an hour or so. Love you."
"See you later, koi," Quatre waved as Wufei shut the door.
Wufei walked out of the building and set off down the street towards the plaza, smiling to himself. Life was good. He was living with four guys who loved him deeply, his aunt seemed to be doing okay with Tao Shen, and everything was good. It would have been better if Taia wasn't with Tao Shen at all, but where would she go if she left him? It was actually okay this way, and Wufei was content with it.
Wufei realized after a while that he had been daydreaming, and he was already at the plaza. Walking in he noticed he was a few minutes early and set out towards Chef Tironi's. It was a rather high quality restaurant with deep colors and somewhat pompous waiters. The food was worth the price, though, as it was incredibly good. Chef Tironi was talented.
"May I help you, sir?"
Wufei blinked, realized he had been gazing about at the restaurant, and replied to the head waiter. "I'm here to meet Taia Chieu. Is she here?"
The man sniffed at Wufei's dark attire and freak style, but checked his books. "Yes. She is in private room four. Follow me, please." The waiter swept Wufei dissaprovingly with his eyes and turned.
"Thank you," Wufei followed the man, wondering if they would charge him with assault if he broke the man's nose and maybe a few fingers. Better not risk it...
"In here," the waiter held open a door. Wufei stepped through it and heard it close behind him.
"Aunt Taia," he said, seeing the woman who had cared for him for nearly ten years. His eyes then caught sight of a regal and obviously important looking chinese man sitting beside her, and Tao Shen all dressed up beside the man.
"Wufei," Taia said as Wufei stared in surprise at Tao Shen. "This is Thao Xing," she introduced the man. "He is an elder of the Long Clan."
"An elder?" Wufei asked, confused. "And why do we have the honor to have an esteemed elder here?" he asked, using the respect he had been taught for elders.
"Have a seat, Wufei," Thao Xing, who didn't look near old enough to be an elder, motioned with his hand.
Wufei came and sat in the last seat, unconsciously edging it further away from Tao Shen on the other side. His uncle seemed to be amiable enough, as he wasn't even glaring at Wufei. He was, in fact, smiling! "What's going on?" Wufei asked. "Aunt Taia said there was something I need to know?"
"Ah, yes," Thai Xing paused to take a sip from his teacup. He set it down and grinned at Wufei. "I think you will be pleased to know that your marriage has been finalized. It has been set for next July sometime. A wonderful month, I think, for a wedding. Your fiancee, Long, Meiran, is pleased with the scheduled date."
Wufei stared. And stared some more. And stared some more, and then blinked because his eyes were hurting from all the staring. He shook his senses back into him, put on his utterly confused look and declared. "What?"
"You have been arranged to marry Meiran to create a bond between the Chang and Long Clans and begin repopulating the Chang Clan," Tao Shen practically giggled. "As soon as Meiran is sixteen next year, you will be married to her. I have given my permission and it has been officialized. You are to meet her and her family tommorrow afternoon and then meet her every sunday afternoon, from now on, to spend lunch with her, and you have no choice in the matter."
"Well, it would be better if you were positive about this," Thao Xing grunted. "But, as Tao Shen says, you do not really have a choice. The elders have chosen and you must go along with our wishes. It is for the best, and I am sure you and Meiran will be happy with each other. We'll have to fix you up a little and make you look presentable, but she should agree with you. And in a few years, we shall see children running about, I am sure." Thao Xing smiled happily at the thought.
The man was insane. So that was why Tao Shen was beaming like a spotlight! He was getting his chance to force Wufei to marry a woman when he knew he was gay and already in love. His uncle probably thought this was a good way to smother the homosexualness out of Wufei, get rid of him through marriage, and restore honor to his own name at the same time by being the assisting force in the re-emergence of a strong clan. And it would work. Wufei was still officially under Tao Shen's gaurdianship. He had no choice. The bastard!
"Aunt Taia...?" Wufei pleaded, looking to his aunt for help, some way to get out of it. Taia looked downwards, averting her gaze.
"Buck up, lad," Thao Xing said, still grinning like a lunatic. Wufei had the suspicion he was on some sort of drug. "Meiran's a wonderful woman. A bit headstrong," Thao Xing visibly shuddered and his eye twitched. "But pleasant enough. Between you and me, of course, I hope you know how to defend yourself. The girl threw a pot at my head once. She gets it from her father. Clan leaders must always be strong."
"You're insane!" Wufei stood, slamming his hands down on the table.
"Wufei...," Tao Shen began, his gaze darkening. Wufei ignored him and turned to leave. The man had to realize he could not intimidate Wufei by the potential threat of violence. Wufei had left him, and was free, and he would not sit here and go through this bullshit!
Wufei fumed, muttering chinese curses under his breath as he stalked through the restaurant. He heard the head waiter scoff at the sight of him and resisted slamming the man's face into the dish he was serving. He walked past him, praising himself on the restraint he had shown, and ran home. He made it to the apartment door, then paused with his hand on the doorknob, calming himself. He really didn't want to bring his anger in with him if he couldn't keep a rein on it. So he calmed himself somewhat and opened the door.
"That was a fast lunch."
Wufei looked over at Quatre. The four of them were all sitting at the table eating soup, all looking at him. Four people who had shown him he didn't have to put up with the bullshti in his life. Four people who loved him and cared about him. Four people he wanted to spend his life with. He didn't want to fucking marry a stranger just to strengthen the clan! The Chang Clan was dead, was he the only one who could see that? It was dead! And the last remaining heir was fucking gay with four men!
Wufei felt the anger rising in him, his meditational hold slipping away. Wufei took a deep breath, walked over to the table, and took all the money he had out of his pockets, putting it beside Quatre. It was about sixty three dollars or so. "Here."
"What's this for?" Quatre asked in confusion, but Wufei had already turned away and made his way to the nearest wall. They watched him as he stared at it, then Quatre gasped as Wufei's fist suddenly came up and smashed into it.
"Shit!" Duo exclaimed, standing up clumsily and running over to Wufei, who had by then smashed his other fist into the wall.
"At least he had the courtesy to pay for it beforehand," Trowa mentioned as he followed Quatre and Heero to Wufei.
"Damnit!" Wufei yelled, pulling back his fist to pound the wall again. It felt so good, to just be able to fucking hit something and not have it hit back! Wufei blinked as Heero grabbed his arm, stopping it. Trowa grabbed him from behind and pulled Wufei close to him, and Quatre suddenly hugged him from the front, Duo having taken Wufei's other side. Wufei swallowed as their warmth enveloped him, and the thought of having to leave them all for some stranger stabbed him. He didn't want to leave them and get married. He loved them, damnit!
Wufei broke down, his legs collapsing on him. Heero and Trowa supported him, taking him to sit down on the couch. Wufei buried his head in his hands and let his tears out, Trowa and Heero sitting beside him, Quatre and Duo in front of him on the floor.
"Wufei!" Quatre suddenly exclaimed. Wufei had a second's moment of clarity in his vision, allowing him to see the tears streaking down Wufei's face. "What's wrong, koi? Wufei, what's hurting you..." Wufei swallowed, knowing Quatre was feeling his pain. He didn't want to hurt the arabian. He didn't want to bring anyone down. But he didn't want to leave them, damnit all!
"What happened, Wufei?" Heero asked. "Was Tao Shen with Taia when you went to meet her for lunch?" Wufei breathed and nodded. Heero's eyed darkened. "Did he hurt you, Wufei? Did he hit you?"
"No," Wufei croaked out. "H-he didn't h-hit me."
"What happened, then?" Duo asked. "It has to be something major and important. People don't punch walls for anything trivial, I know."
Wufei closed his eyes and breathed deeply, meditating again. He had to calm himself down. If he could stay calm, then he could tell them what happened, and then they could figure out what to do. He knew it. Heero always knew what to do! "I've been arranged to marry in July."
There was a moment of silence. "What?" Duo finally exclaimed.
"I went to eat lunch with aunt Taia, and Tao Shen was there, as well, with a man named Thao Xing, an elder of the Long Clan. He told me that the marriage had been finalized, and was set for July next year. I've been arranged to marry Meiran Long as soon as she turns sixteen."
"Is that legal?" Duo asked, violet eyes wide with horror.
"In the clans, marriages are most always arranged, for women always. When the woman of the clans turn sixteen, they are married to a man, preferrably an important one, to strengthen bonds and such. Thao Xing wants the Chang Clan to be revived."
"Do you know this Meiran?" Quatre asked, and Wufei shook his head.
"Don't marry her!" Duo cried out. "You're ours! I'm not going to give you up for a complete stranger! And a woman, no less!"
"I have to, Duo!" Wufei cried. "I'm still under my uncle's gaurdianship! I have no choice. As long as I am under his gaurdianship, I must do as he says."
"You're being forced to marry at the age of seventeen to a girl who's only sixteen just so she can have children and revive a dead clan," Trowa outlined. "Do they know you're gay and living with four lovers?"
"No, but it wouldn't make a difference!" Wufei groaned. "What do I do?"
"Don't marry her," Heero said.
"I can't just refuse to marry her, Heero," Wufei snorted.
"I'm not talking about refusing," Heero said. "You said that you have no choice in the matter because you're under your uncle's gaurdianship, right?" Wufei nodded. "Emancipate yourself, then. Claim responsibility over yourself legally and then no one can force you to marry her. We'll file a petition of emancipation for you and Quatre can get you a lawyer, I'm sure. We'll have to spend some time working on it, but you should be able to claim emancipation, and then you can legally be free of your uncle and he won't be able to force you to marry Meiran."
Wufei gaped. "Would that really work?"
"It should," Heero nodded, already thinking of what they would have to do. "We just have to prove that you can financially support yourself and are living apart from your gaurdians. We'll check out your inheritance. That should help."
"He's a shoo-in!" Duo grinned.
"What happens after we petition?" Wufei asked.
"The court will notify your uncle and order him to attend a hearing with you," Heero said. "That usually happens within thirty days or so, so it won't take that long to get started. Then there should be a few more court dates where we have to persuade them you are capable of being responsible for yourself. Hopefully, we can get you emancipated before next year July."
"How do you know so much about this?" Wufei asked.
"We're all emancipated, Wufei," Heero said. "Duo emancipated himself from the Children Aid's care when he was fourteen, and I emancipated myself from the state last year. Quatre emancipated himself from his gaurdian, his older sister, only three months before we met you, and Trowa emancipated himself from Dekim as soon as he left. We've all been through it."
"And now you're gonna be free, too!" Duo cried, kissing Wufei with energy.
"Just humor your uncle," Heero added. "The less opposition we get in the beginning, the better. We have to surprise him, so don't tell him about what we plan to do. Just go along with whatever he wants for now."
"You just have to stick with your uncle a little longer, and then you can be all ours," Trowa smiled.
Wufei laughed. "I knew you guys would know what to do! You always know what to do."
Well, that chapter was nice and long. Did you like what I made happen? Yeah, well that's not the half of what is to come. And I am sooooo heartbrokenly sad to say that, after the tenth and mabe eleventh chapter, the update times will be lengthened. Cause then is when I have to write some more. But I can do that! I know I can! And I will! If only for my reviewers.../sniffles/ So special!
So, tell me if you liked it. See you next chapter!
Storm