Honor and Justice

Chapter 10

By Aryn

Mei and Wufei walked in comfortable silence towards the restaurant. For the first time there was no strain or tension between them. They were friends, enjoying one another's presence. It was the first time Mei had actually felt relaxed in a long time. But all that just seemed to dissipate when Mei walked into the restaurant. Mrs. Wu, the owner's dainty little wife stood by the door, ringing her hands and trying to explain to the officer what had happened. The small dining area had been trashed, tables were broken as were some chairs and the windows had been broken out.

"Please, I don't understand Chinese." the officer pleaded with the emotional woman.

"Let me translate." Mei said, immediately stepping in. Mei went over to Mrs. Wu, who saw the girl and just began crying even harder. Mei put a comforting arm around the older woman and spoke in hushed tones to her, getting her calmed down enough to explain what happened. The woman began in very eloquent Chinese, the kind that Wufei had not heard for years. Mei nodded her head in understanding before turning to the police officer.

"She said that there were three young men, dressed in black with masks that broke the windows and door." Mei said.

The woman continued.

"Mr. Wu was busy making food for lunch when they came in and broke the furniture and took the money and beat him."

The older woman said a few more things before lapsing back into hysterics and crying into Mei's shoulder.

"She found her husband beaten, almost dead and called the hospital." Mei finished.

The officer wrote everything down, nodding his head.

"Do you know anything about her husband?" Mei asked the officer.

"No, I don't. The ambulance just took him away."

"What hospital?"

"Central."

"Thank you." Mei said, still holding the woman.

"Thank you for translating. Can you stay around with her for a little bit? If not, I can get a counselor to come in." the Officer suggested.

"No, I can stay." Mei said.

"Do you know how to get to the hospital?" Wufei spoke up.

"Yes, but it's across town." Mei answered.

"I can take you in the patrol car." the officer offered. Mei looked at Wufei hopefully and he nodded his head.

"Thank you very much." Mei said. "That would be greatly appreciated."

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Heero's cell phone rang as he and Arys were walking through the market hand in hand. Slightly annoyed at being interrupted, he pulled out the phone.

"Hello?"

"Heero, it's Wufei. I'm at the Central Hospital with Mei. Mr. Wu was broken into early this morning and he's been hospitalized. Mei's been with his wife, trying to calm her down."

"What are you calling me for?" Heero said, wondering why Wufei thought it was necessary to tell him this.

"I need to get in touch with Noin. Mei's decided to stay here and help Mrs. Wu with the restaurant till she can find someone else. She's also very concerned about Mr. Wu. He's not doing too well."

"I'll tell Noin that." Heero said, getting ready to hang up the phone.

"Wait, there's something else." Wufei said, stopping Heero from hanging up on him.

"What?"

Heero heard Wufei take in a breath of air, preparing himself for what he was about to say. "I'm staying too."

Heero was slightly taken aback by Wufei's statement. "Why?"

"The Wu's are Mei's guardians. They are the ones that take her parent's place. In Chinese culture, they are her parents. It would be dishonor is she leaves them in a time of need."

"That's her worry not yours." Heero said. "Noin expects us to be on earth at New Sanc, to defend it against OZ. We need you."

"You have more than enough pilots. I'm sure you manage without me. Besides," he paused, "Mei needs someone right now."

Arys had leaned next to Heero to hear the conversation. After hearing Wufei's last remark, she gently tugged on her husband's shirt, getting his attention. She mouthed the words, "Let him go."

Heero stared at her for a moment, searching her eyes. They pleaded with him to let Wufei stay with Mei. She saw something in the situation that Heero had somehow overlooked.

"Any other messages you want me to deliver?" Heero finally said. Arys smiled proudly at him.

"Yes, I want Quatre and Nari to take Hana."

"Take her? Where?"

"Someplace safe. Somewhere where no one will able to find her. No one Heero." Wufei insisted.

"All right."

"That's all."

"We'll call if we need you."

"And I'll come if you do."

Heero hung up the phone and slipped it in his pocket. Arys wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him briefly on the lips.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" he asked her.

"I'm proud of you Heero Yuy."

"Why?" he asked, slightly suspicious.

"Because it's very possible that you have just played a vital role in a relationship."

"Wufei and Mei?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Mei won't put up with him for long." he replied, placing an arm around Arys' shoulder and leading back out into the street.

"That's exactly why the relationship is going to work." Arys replied with a knowing smile.

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Wufei looked into the hospital room and saw Mei curled up in one of the chairs beside Mr. Wu's bed. Her head was nodding every now and again, but she would also snap awake, only to nod off once more. The only signs that the older man was still alive was the steady blip of the heart monitor and the breathing apparatus that he was connected to. Wufei quietly shut the door to the room and pulled up a chair next to Mei's.

"What time is it?" she said wearily, rubbing her eyes.

"It's eleven o'clock." he told her.

"At night?!" she exclaimed standing up.

"Shh." he said, grabbing her wrist. "Sit down. Yes, at night."

"We missed our shuttle!"

"No we didn't. I told Heero that we wouldn't be going back with them."

"Why?"

"Because you were needed here."

"What about Hana?"

"She's going to stay with Quatre and Nari. She'll be safe, don't worry."

Mei sighed in exhaustion and slumped back against the chair. "Thank you once again. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't taken care of those things for me."

"You would be running around like a mad-woman, trying to get too many things done in not enough time." he told her.

"Probably." she agreed, looking sadly at the man in the hospital bed. "I told Mrs. Wu that I would stay with him tonight. She just went home about an hour ago. Why don't you stop by and see if she's doing all right. I'll give you directions on how to get to her house."

Wufei nodded his head a smiled thoughtful as he watched her.

"What?" she asked him when she noticed his intense stare.

"You're one of the kindest people I have ever met."

"Why Mr. Chang is that a compliment?"

"Of course it is woman. What else would it be?" he replied is a short tone. But despite his words, Mei could tell he was teasing.

"With you, I never know." she replied.

"Hm." he said standing up, walking over to the door. "Good night Mei."

"Good night Wufei." she replied softly. He stood by the door and watched her for a few heartbeats, as if he wanted to say something more. But he nodded and left her.

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Quatre sat in big leather chair in the study of MacGregor castle with Hana asleep at his side. He hadn't even finished the Little Lost Dragon before she fell asleep, pillowed against his side. He put the book on the table, and gently brushed a few stands of black hair off her forehead. He wondered what it would feel like if this child happened to his own. He wondered if he would ever have children. Due to Nari's body being in status for five years, some of her body systems had been suspended. Her virus was one of the them, but so was her reproductive system. They had often talked about adoption, but with war still looming on the horizon, the thought of children had to be placed on the back burner. A flash of light briefly lit the room, snapped Quatre out of his thoughts. Nari stood in the doorway, camera in hand and a gentle smile on her face.

"It was a Kodak moment." she said, putting the camera on the shelf and walking over to him.

"Do you want to put her to bed?" he asked her.

"I'd love to." Nari said with a smile. She carefully picked up the little girl, trying not to wake her up and cradled her against her shoulder. This was probably the closest thing Nari would ever get to have a child, unless they adopted, and even that wasn't guaranteed. Pushing back sorrowful tears, and relishing the moment at hand, Nari softly laid Hana in bed and pulled the covers over her. The little girl woke up and groggily looked at the red haired woman.

"Is it bedtime Mrs. Winner?" she yawned.

"Yes it is Hana." Nari said quietly, running a hand over the girl's forehead.

"Good night." she said, closing her eyes again.

"Good night." Nari replied. Maybe, someday soon, she and Quatre would have children. She desperately hoped so. A flash of light startled Nari and she turned and she saw Quatre standing by the door with the camera.

"It was a Kodak moment." he smiled.