The Lanter Holder

Chapter 11

By Aryn

One week later....

Wufei stepped out onto the thick pad and held his katana loosely in his hand as he scrutinized his opponant. Nari stood in one spot, one arm hung loosely at her side while the other held her large broad sword pointing at the ground.

"You sure you're up to this?" he asked her.

"Yes." she answered. "Why do you ask?"

"You're still weak." he stated.

Nari raised her sword and held it at ready. "If we waited till I was strong than we would have this fight a year from now."

Wufei raised his sword, allowing the point to touch hers. He decided to go easy on her.

Nari made the first move, an easy swing just enough to get the dance going. Wufei easily blocked her moves, preparing for an easy victory. But then he realized she was merely studing his techniques. So she was a true swordsman. He smoothly went from defense to offense and studied her techniques. He soon found out that she hid her skills very well. He would have to revert to just attacking her. He lunged towards the left, feigned right and lunged back left. She parried the blow with graceful ease and took a step back, waiting for Wufei to attack again. The Chinese pilot stood facing her, waiting for her attack.

"Well?" he asked.

"I'm waiting." she replied.

Now that's more like it. Wufei thought to himself. With a yell, he lept forward and began his assault. He left no opening whatsoever and kept attacking fast and furious. Nari gritted her teeth and kept blocking the blows, but every hit sapped more of her strength. Wufei could feel her blocks getting weaker and eased back. Then he realized his mistake. Nari noticed how he lessened his attack and took the advantage. Wufei tried to retake his role on the offense, but the fight was interrupted.

"What's going on here?" Sally Po shouted.

The arrival of the doctor startled both fighters. Wufei, thinking that Nari would stop just as he did, lowered his sword and turned to face Sally. Nari figured nothing would distract Wufei and automatically went to block what she predicted Wufei's blow would be. With no sword there to stop hers, Nari's sword went right through Wufei's shoulder.

"Wufei!" Sally and Nari shouted in unision.

"What?" the Chinese boy asked, annoyed at the women's shouting.

"Can't you feel that?" Sally demanded.

Wufei looked down at the sword that had pierced his shoulder and then found Nari's eyes glued to his. Her face was unnatrually calm, but her eyes showed great fear.

"Why can't I feel that?" he asked her.

Slowly, Nari took a step back and pulled the sword out of his arm. Sally rushed over to Wufei and checked his arm.

"There's not a mark." Sally exclaimed.

"I didn't think it was possible." Nari whispered. "I thought Javin was lying."

"About what?" Wufei asked.

"He said that he had two legendary swords that could judge a person's soul. Alumna could deal death blows to the evil. Obsidious does harm to good people." Nari held her sword up and examined to blade. "And I thought it was just another one of his lies."

"Well I'm glad that I was the test subject." Wufei sarcasstically remarked.

"Are you hurt?" Nari asked.

"No." he mummbled.

"Well I'm glad I got here when I did." Sally broke in. "I almost didn't believe Duo when he told me you two were fighting in here. Nari, you are not in the condition to be fighting like this. And Wufei, you should know better as well."

"She said she was fine." he said, before moving away.

Nari avoided Sally's dissapointed stare and took a new interest in her sword.

"I need to see you down in the med lab." Sally told her, softening her voice. She had come to realize that Nari was very sensitive to other people's emotions and it tended to affect her deeply.

"Is there something wrong?" the red head asked.

"I just need to take another blood sample."

"Another one? But I was just down there less than a week ago." Nari asked, following Sally out of the practice room.

"I need to keep updated on your condition."

"But I've been sticking to the schedule you and Iria gave me. I've been very well."

"Yes, you have. But if you over do it than your condition could worsen."

"Condition?" Nari asked, stopping. "We're not talking about my recovery, are we?"

Sally turned around and faced the worried green eyes. Then she realized what was going on.

"Quatre never told you, did he?" Sally asked.

"Never told me what?"

Sally pulled out her communicator. "Quatre, meet me in the med bay now."

________________________________

Nari sat on the side of the med bay bed, hands gripping the side of the bed. She looked up when Quatre walked, and caught the guilt in his blue eyes.

So, you were hiding something from me. She thought to herself. She had hoped he wouldn't keep anything from her. She hadn't. She had spent long nights telling him everything she could remember. She even managed to get out the events that had unfolded on the beach. He had symphathetically listened, and offered her his support and love. Nari shut her eyes. He really loved her, she couldn't deny that now. And she realized, a long time ago, that she loved him. That was why she was so free with her words and feelings. She never held anything back. Why did he?

"Nari?" Sally asked quietly. "Are you alright?"

Nari realized she had her eyes closed. Slowly she opened them and looked around the room. "Yes, I'm fine."

"Do you know what Tucker's Syndrome is?" Sally asked.

"Yes, I do." Nari answered. What a horrible way to die. All the infected person did was lie in bed and wait till the heart and brain ceased to function.

"We didn't catch any sign of the disease when the body was brought out of status. What happened was Javin injected the body with the disease, which would lay dormant till the body was brought out of status." Sally explained.

"How long do I have?"

Sally took a deep breath. "Ten years."

"Ten years?" Quatre exclaimed, "You told me twenty."

Sally ignored Quatre for the moment. "The disease is still progressing. By the time your body has been up and functioning long enough for the disease to keep maturing, you could possibly be down to three years."

Nari nodded her bowed head. "I understand."

"There are scientist out there looking for a cure for Tucker's syndrome." Sally told her. But Nari just shook her head.

"There is no cure."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I was one of those doctors."

"Nari, I'm sorry." Sally helplessly shrugged her shoulders.

"There was no way for you to know. I am thankful for being human, even if it last for weeks, months, or maybe years. I'll cherish everyday."

Sally offered her a smile and patted her shoulder before leaving the med bay. She had a feeling that Quatre and Nari still had some things to work out.

Nari looked over at Quatre and found him staring back at her, waiting and wondering what her reaction would be.

"So this is what you kept from me?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you."

Nari nodded her head in agreement, unable to come up with a response. She felt as if she was caught in a storm, being pelted by rain and wind and at a loss for shelter. She had no words to give Quatre, not because she was angry, but because she was hurt. If she allowed her hurt to change into anger, she could lose a close friend like Quatre. Slowly she slid off the bed and walked towards the door.

"Nari?"

"I need to alone, for a little while."

"I understand."

Nari gave him a little smile, hoping to show that she wasn't angry with him. But from the look on his face, he was almost certain she was. But Nari had to get control of herself first. Then she would go back to Quatre and talk to him.

_____________________________

Quatre sat in the confrence room and stared blankly out the window. He had thought that keeping Tucker's Syndrome from Nari would be a good thing, since she was still recovering from being in stasus too long. He had thought he had done the right thing. Letting out a sigh, he hung his head. Never before had he been so wrong.

"The sunset's not till a few more hours."

Quatre turned around in his chair to see who had spoken. Trowa stood by the door, leaning on the doorjam.

"Besides, you could see it better on the beach."

"I wasn't watching the sun." Quatre replied, sitting back in the chair.

Trowa walked over to him and sat down. "What happened?"

Quatre looked over at his friend. "Nari has Tucker's Syndrome."

"I'm sorry."

"And I didn't tell her. She found out through Sally."

"And you think that she's angry at you for not telling her."

Quatre nodded his head and waited for Trowa to say something. But the taller pilot remained silent longer than Quatre wanted. He turned to face his friend and was slightly surprised at Trowa's expression. His green eyes shimmered with tears that wouldn't be shed in Quatre's presence. Quare turned back around and returned his gaze to the window, fighting back his own tears.

"I don't know what to do." the blond finally stated. "When she was searching for a way out of Javin's clutches, I was able to help. When she wanted to be human again, I helped her with that too. I thought I could help her through the disease as well."

"She would have to know about the disease first in order to accept your help."

Quatre lowered his head at Trowa's words. His friend was right. He should have told her, then offered his help and support.

"I just hope that what I've done hasn't totally destroyed our relationship."

Trowa laid a hand on Quatre's shoulder and squeezed, getting the blonde's attention.

"I've seen the way she looks at you. It would take a lot more than this to tear you two apart. She loves you more than you think."

Quatre turned around to ask Trowa how he knew that about Nari. But he didn't have to ask the question. There was a new kind of wisdom behind Trowa's eyes.

"What happened to you in the past few months?"

Trowa offered Quatre a small smile. "Worry about Nari right now. My story can wait."