Reunion
Feng chased after She Mei.
She was by the river not far from their cabin, awkward and red-faced.
She grumbles about getting the talk from Luce because now she feels weird around Feng.
She can't even look at the other guys anymore. Feeling weird around them.
'Mei...' She Mei stiffened nervously. 'So...you finally figured it out?'
Feng had been hinting for three years now that he really likes her but she just can't get it until Luce spoke to her into figuring things out. Then again, Feng did NOT miss the fact that whenever he's wearing his top when training under her, she can't help but admire his ripped, well-sculpted body oblivious to the attraction of the opposite sex that she feels.
She Mei looked endearingly awkward.
It was too cute to watch, Feng thought but at the same time, pitiful as they knew the horrible truth behind her while to anyone who didn't know the truth, seeing her this way is cute. She is innocent in the affairs of the heart but very worldly, disillusioned and jaded about the world, having only dealt bad cards in her life.
She Mei never had ANYONE who genuinely wants her as a woman to be loved and treasured as a daughter, sister and wife, not as an easy money ticket and a pawn they could control in politics.
Too bad she's a Cloud and Clouds HATE being controlled.
'I...I...'
'I know, Ai-Mei.' Feng embraced her. No need for words. Its the thought that counts, and action as She Mei got nothing but empty words and promises for years.
He understood his Sky through watching her, and listening to Andy.
'...what's that mean?' She Mei asked him, red-faced. The only chinese she bothered to learn is her alias, and about medicine. That was it.
'Ai means 'love'.' Feng told her causing her to stiffen. 'But if attached to a name, it becomes 'my beloved'.'
She could only look at him in wonder, as if unable to believe it.
Seeing the way she looked at him PAINED him.
'I know, Ai-Mei. You've been hurt so many times you can't even believe what I'm saying...but I really love you.' Feng tried to convince her and used their bond to convey his sincerity in his feelings...because one's own flames through a Guardian Bond were more honest than words.
...and she burst into tears, crying.
He could feel the hurt and hope in their bond, as well as asking if its all for real.
Crying from shock that she was ACTUALLY loved, not as a means to deceive and get close to her for money.
Feng really wants to commit mass murder now, and he wants Andy to give him names and location. NOW.
'Feng...thank you...' She Mei sniffled, shaking in his arms. 'The ones who truly loves me are all dead. Manipulated into getting killed to get them out of the way...so they can't protect me from their betrayal...Andy couldn't even go near me in fear she'll be arranged to die too until she can approach me safely because Teddy is in more danger than I am until she had the chance. She knew what was going on...'
'I know. She told me many things when we talk together.' said Feng as his eyes darkened in lust for blood. 'Can I kill them all for you?'
'No. I want them to pay. Pay for the rest of their lives with their children knowing the true colors of these traitors.' came the growl. 'Killing them will end my revenge.'
Ohhh She Mei knows.
Due to Inflation and Poverty in Magical Britain, the Weasleys died from hunger as Bill, Charlie and George disowned themselves and ditched them out of disgust. Molly had hounded Hermione for money calling on the debt she owed them for taking her in after her parents disowned her. Prices soared that even a meal in the Leaky Cauldron now cost 500 Galleons and above. Even the cheapest books cost so much now that Kreacher ensured no Muggleborn gets into the Wizarding World.
She also had Fleur, whose family has connections to the French Ministry, check on new Muggleborns and ensure they go to Beauxbatons instead, not Hogwarts. That upon detecting Underage Magic, French Authorities will come and 'have the parents' take their children to French Lessons so studying in Beauxbatons will come easy when they turn 11. So money meant for Magical Britain goes to Magical France instead! Too bad for the muggleborns they couldn't get to on time though as when she enacted her revenge, it was already year 1999 and when she got her revenge, it was by Christmas that year. She had talked to the Muggle Prime Minister about the matter and she promised that the Muggle Side will not be included in the fallout.
Then again when inflation hit, she heard many Muggleborns quit Hogwarts anyway. No difference there. And last she checked, there's feelers looking for her but her own self is under Fidelius and put her name and words that have anything to do with her under Taboo, with the cost being HER stealing money from these speakers by getting them fined 200 Galleons per offense. Its no wonder the Weasleys are in the poorhouse. But she ensured Bill, Charlie and George are safe from the Taboo.
'Can they follow you here?'
'No, I made sure of that.' said She Mei. 'I got my happy ending, my rightful dues and all I want is to truly live.'
'I know...can I be a part of your life?'
'Feng...you really love me, right? You're so warm...' She Mei snuggled into his arms.
'Haha, I loved you for a long time, I should be warm.' Feng smiled happily. 'Let's stay here for a bit while longer.'
'OK...'
They enjoyed each other's company under a tree by the river in silence.
xxx
'Its alright now but they'll be a no-show until dinnertime tonight.' Luce sighed as she stopped using her powers. 'Poor girl. Those who loved her are arranged to die so she's ripe for the picking. What a terrible conspiracy.' Luce shook her head in dismay. 'But she's alright now. Feng managed to make her believe he's truly there.'
'Well, all that's left is us now.' said Renato. 'Tomorrow we can finally continue lessons.' he sighed. 'While its funny at first, I really don't like my schedule out of whack.'
'Same but she needs rehab and fast or she'll be a liability in missions.' said Lal. 'With Viper's simulations, we have to make sure her conditioning will not compromise the operations and her skills are invaluable incase we lose a limb.'
xxx
When they were back to cook dinner...
The couple are noticeably closer to each other and in a particularly good mood. The food even got more Gourmet-ish, if possible.
But one day, during a meal...
An owl tapped onto the window. And its carrying a package!
'Incredible! An owl that can carry a package more than its own weight?!' Verde exclaimed as the others saw this utter impossibility occur before their eyes.
'Hey there Tweedledee!' She Mei greeted George's owl as she got up to open the windows. 'What does George got for me this time?'
'George?' Feng twitched, jealous that another man sent her a package as She Mei gave the owl a chunk of meat before tearing the package apart.
'I'm the Silent Partner of his Joke Shop but the stuff he makes ended up being usable for escape cover and sabotage instead of the pranks he intends if purchased by our kind...' She Mei chuckled in her explanation. 'He and his late twin received my support since they really planned their future out back when we were in school and they sell well to kids. George sends me their latest work for a check-up before I approve for sale since I get percentage off the profits...and we really don't want a lawsuit.' she twitched. 'If left unchecked, we really WILL get one since George tends to overdo it with Lee.' she took out a letter and a clear glass ball with a small, thin tube sealed with a cork and inside was some sort of two types of fluid that was akin to oil and water, never mixing. And a letter.
'What's it say?' Luce asked her.
'Its worse than a Molotov Cocktail enough to destroy a concrete wall.' She Mei gulped. 'Shake it well then throw at a target. If it can blow up a concrete wall, humans its thrown at are worse off.' they can imagine it now. 'What made those boneheads create this?!' she quickly read the rest of the letter. '...I think we need to rescue them...a mafia famiglia took notice of their Joke Shop in Amsterdam and saw their potential as weapon makers...but the law will start sniffing around if they see the results of this cocktail!'
'We need to see its full power She Mei.' said Verde. 'If its as potent as they say...they might get a visit from 'them' and be in jail forever.'
'Looks like we need to rescue your old friends.' said Lal.
'That, and tell them to relocate.' She Mei swore.
Thus their first mission is personal.
xxx
Amsterdam, three days later...
In front of a store named Joke Shop 'Marauders'...it has a moving mascot of a redheaded freckled robot waving 'hi' to customers.
They went inside to see a lot of teenagers buying a lot of products that are indeed, for juvenile jokes and a black-skinned woman headed the shop, dressed in a goth-punky manner in black, white and purple with hairstyle to match. Its clearly a big-time shop due to how it looked.
'Angelina.' She Mei greeted.
'She Mei.' Angelina greeted her former teammate. 'How did you like the package?'
'Its da bomb.' She Mei chuckled. 'Where are our terrible duo?'
'In their workshop down the basement.' said Angelina. 'I do the Cashier job and they handle production. I never thought that back in school, this would sell well. Too well we could send our kids to a prestigious university and live in comfort.' she said happily. 'But you're kinda young...like you never aged a day since graduation.' she noted as she didn't look past teenage age.
'I took care of my health using all means available in the market but sadly, I'm forever vertically-challenged.' She Mei shook her head. 'These guys are my colleagues and they're here to help me out with the terrible pair. Its about your...unusual customer.'
Angelina looked to see a pregnant woman, a soldier woman, a cloaked person, a doctor, a chinese guy and a man in black, all of whom, gorgeous.
But she didn't like the look in their eyes, making her wonder what has She Mei gotten into this time.
'They paid a little TOO well if you ask me...that saved our ass when one of my kids got into a car accident with treatments needed beyond our savings.' Angelina shuddered. 'The fees are horrifying. But George's worried still because of the unusual request and money we got so he sent you the package because its lawsuit potential.'
'Riiight...we be on our way so where's their workshop?'
xxx
The Workshop...
'Hey there, mate! Good to see ya after a decade!' Lee Jordan greeted. Its been ten years indeed since the day She Mei ruined Magical Britain to the Magical International Community.
'Yeah, looks like time's doing ya well.' said George. 'Buuuut.' his eyes' glinted. 'Who's your boyfriend? Do we need the 'big brother' talk?'
'H-huh?! How do you even know I got a boyfriend?' She Mei did a double-take.
'I'd know cuz I'm a married man.' George snorted.
'Don't worry about me.' said She Mei. 'I'm more worried about you guys and this client of yours...Luce, you have the floor.' She Mei told Luce as Luce stepped up.
Their client is a known Mafia Famiglia who wants weapons specialists and they happen to catch their eye through their prank shop. They will do ANYTHING to have these specialists on their payroll. Threat and Blackmail most common that spooked the inventors because that would mean George's wife and children would be used against them. But nobody knows WHY they're gathering talented weapon makers!
'So we are here to essentially erase your existence in their books by dealing with them for you.' said Luce. 'In the meantime, we will deal with them. Verde and I will stay with you so you would know what to make without getting the attention of the wrong people while the rest of us...deal with errants.'
'D-don't tell me...you guys will go to war?' George croaked out.
'Yup, pretty much.' said She Mei.
'Mei, we just started recovering from that.' George deadpanned. 'You'll seriously go back to that kind of life?'
'Don't worry, I'm their doctor. Its been my career for ten years so the others will do the actual fighting but I can't be too far away.' said She Mei.
Well, she's a doctor but they can't go to her as she specializes in nutrition, amputations and illnesses, not what happens to accident victims, they thought. They came to her for illnesses and disease as well as broken bones but not even she can fix crushed organs and such.
xxx
'You lied to those guys.' Lal commented.
'They'll blow their top if I told them I'm fighting with you.' She Mei drawled. 'They're overprotective of me.'
Thus their first unofficial job began. Viper went in first for information as it was his specialty. He also stole a lot of money being the greedy bastard he was.
Once information is at hand...they planned well...and end result, was rubble and a letter of explanation to the Vindice to get their ass out of trouble. All in a day's work...that, and they obtained illegal information NOT to be spread to the public thus the Vindice got it all before they flew back to Amsterdam for the good news.
'Its OK now guys! You're safe now!' She Mei chirped while she and her teammates looked like nothing happened to them. They all had healed up just to hide how rough the job was to keep her civilian friends from freaking out and had a family reunion of some sorts.
Apparently they were her upperclassmen in the same dormitory and also involved in the conflicts on the same side unaware of the conspiracy until too late...but Andromeda Tonks was a snake in the grass and their wild card who taught She Mei how to use her immense 'power' to make her enemies pay, fully-aware that she was set up for her money and got wind her favorite cousin, daughter and son-in-law was set up for murder the woman wanted revenge as well so she helped She Mei and the fallout was HUGE.
George was safe from the 'arranged murder' despite being on She Mei's side because his family couldn't bring themselves to kill him as one, he's their son and second, a money-spinner who earns more than his father and brother Percy ever did in their home country while Bill now no longer helps with house expenses, having a wife and children to support while Charlie helps pay bills but since the conspiracy that disgusted them, no longer. At least they were safe from their own family's arranged murders aided by the others in on the conspiracy...
Everyone else wasn't.
Luce and Verde found out that much though they knew the younger adults were still hiding something.
(they created an edited version of the truth to make it muggle-worthy excuse)
xxx
'She Mei...your friends aren't saying the entire truth but we got the gist of what happened.' said Verde as they were on a 1st class flight back home to Italy. 'A Civil War over the supremacy of inbreeding, really.'
'Yeah, we fought against idiots like that.' said She Mei. 'Sadly, said inbred idiots hold a lot of high positions because of pro-inbreeding. But there are things we can't tell you about just like how you can't fully tell me the truth without agreeing that I become a part of the mafia community too. If there's people like Viper and the Vindice's Omerta...we have Memory Erasers. And some are asshole enough to wipe you clean enough that you're reduced to Homo Erectus. We can't risk it.'
'Hoo...'
The others paused.
They have such a thing?
'Its for your own sakes that we're holding back. We could only give 60% of the full 100.'