- Chimera of Life -

Story Four: Uneasy Alliances

Chapter Eight

by Heartfire

***

The helicopters weren’t heard until the turbulent air came, flapping their tents, disturbing the peaceful morning. The two patrols instantly ran to their commanders to report and in no time at all, Wufei and Ping were out of the tent, fully dressed, and running towards the direction of two sleek, magnificent aircrafts, about to land. Their patrolling comrades roused the others and they were all dressed, and in perfect formation by the time the black dragonflies landed. 

The sun hadn’t kissed the earth. There were still stars outside, though the telltale light from the east hinted of dawn. The two commanders stopped, a safe distance from the still twirling blades, face forward, shoulders back, feet planted, yet with the wariness in their eyes.

A couple of weeks had gone by since that night. She had woken up and found her music box outside her tent, and life went on like usual. They ate breakfast and dinner within the area, but very far apart. They plotted their routes with a stilted air. Their hands would accidentally touch upon the map, and both would quickly withdraw. Their eyes would meet and hastily look away. It was a game they both know so well, they had thought they’ve outgrown, and yet, they couldn’t help but do.

Yes… Life had gone on without a change… ‘Bull!’ Wufei slanted his eyes as Une was helped out of the helicopter by McGregor. What great timing. Those two are going to check up on them again, and they are going to criticize and put their stinking opinion in the way. As if he didn’t have enough to think about already!

He gave a quick glance at Ping and noted the blush on her freckled cheek from their quick sprint, then he mentally cursed himself once again. The past weeks told him that he had become more attracted to her than before. But how could that be possible with the cold shoulder she was giving him?

“Good morning, Colonel Rossi, Commander Chang.” Une greeted as she pushed her hair back to its usual order while William nodded to both of them.

“Has everything been well?”

Her Uncle directed the question to her and she quickly nodded her head. “Yes sir. We are nearing India’s border and there are still no indications, sir!”

McGregor and Une looked at each other and shook their heads.

“This isn’t good.” Une looked around her. If it wasn’t in India, they will move to Europe. They were wasting too much time. Satellite reports indicated no activity, but even so, there were questionable discrepancies. That was why they have their men- and women- to double check…

“If there’s anything, they will find it, Ms. Une. I am confident, especially with Preventer’s and the Intelligence working together.” McGregor gave a meaningful look towards Ping. A look that showed that he was proud of her and left her a bit confused and happy at the same time.

Wufei, wondering why there were two helicopters, raised a questioning eyebrow at Une.

She received the message. “We’re going to leave the other roth-RA to help with your search. That should cut down on time.”

Ping’s eyes widened while Wufei kept his stoic face, though the pilot in him was itching to get on the control board.

“We need to finish this up. Use it well.” McGregor glanced at his watch then at Une. “We have a conference with the President in seven hours.”

“Yes, of course.” Une nodded as she signaled for one of the soldiers, unloading supplies for the camp. The man saluted, grabbed something from one of the boxes then hurried back to her.

“Ma’am.” The man offered her a stack of papers.

Une took them then passed it to Wufei. “These are the manuals for the Roman Star. It’s the newest model, so keep in mind that there will be some difference from the RD-A, the last one you flew.”

Wufei just took the manuals. He’ll glance through it later. They usually have very little differences- some of which are the brake lever location, or a separate button for the landing functions.

“Do you know how to fly one of these, Colonel Rossi?” Une sent a curious look towards Ping who curtly nodded.

“Yes, ma’am.”

McGregor grinned. Ping was one of the top students in the last Flight Class. “Very well. The supplies have been unloaded. We must to go.” With one last meaningful glance at his niece, he walked back to one of the RA’s and waited for Une.

Une’s eyes shrewdly tried to distinguish what was different about Wufei, and yet she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. With a silent sigh, she nodded to the two. “I want both of you to take the RA for a test flight before you create the schedule. Gas and supplies will come in every week. That is all.”

Wufei and Ping, still in their attentive stance, watched as they boarded the gray model Roman Star. The blades began to move, the wind cut through their faces from the product turbulence of the rotary mount propeller, and then they finally took to the skies with the speed and silence of the highest caliber of its model. Its design inefficiency with regard to maneuverability and speed was greatly compensated by the advance technology, then again, all helicopters are with such problems.

“I’ll get my men to do that.” He heard himself offer without looking at her.

Ping nodded as her gaze fell on the multitude boxes left by Une’s and McGregor’s party, still embarrassed with memories. “Fine. Let’s go over the manual afterwards then take that test flights. I would like to schedule the change of activity as soon as we can.”

“Agreed.” Wufei muttered. Scowl in place, he turned and signaled to his patrol while Ping walked back to camp to relay the news to her girls.

Four hours later, with growing misgivings, the two commanders closed the manual then looked at the helicopter. Une had told them that they had to fly it together first before they could use it… Spending four hours together, the longest time they had spent since that night, was already straining both their patience to the brink. Could they last thirty to an hour more in the air?

“Let’s do it.” Wufei muttered as he opened the main pilot’s door then pulled the helmet over his head.

“Right behind you.” Ping muttered under her breath as she walked to the other door. Their troops stood around the craft, ready to disperse and do as commanded, except for Christine and Josh who were positioned in the radio-comm tent.

They strapped on their seatbelts then started the engine. The loud swirling sounds of the propellers above head were blocked by the effective internal design.

Ping tapped on their head device while Wufei checked the control panels. “This is Whiskey Niner Fifo Papa, requesting radio clearance to Red Base. Do you copy?”

Wufei checked the control panels one last time.

“Roger. Red Base copy. Loud and clear.”

“Good. Just checking.” Ping turned to Wufei and gave him a nod. Without another word, her stomach lurched, and they were off.

They planned to stay in the air for forty minutes, moving in the South-Eastern direction. Ping checked the proper location of their night visions, lights, and other equipment while Wufei kept his attention on flying.

Minutes later, she brought out her binoculars and started looking over the endless trees below. They were flying a safe distance above ground so they wouldn’t be heard if there were guerillas, or such, below. One of the innovations of the Star family was that no one could hear them, therefore unless they have a radar or a scout, the people in the Roman Star could easily spy on unsuspecting people...

Her fingers rolled the focus button and she wondered why there was a large, grassy area without trees… Nothing was on it, yet the way it was cut in almost a perfect rectangle was… interesting.

“Your turn.” Wufei said as he tapped her shoulder. It was the first time he had dared to touch her… nothing happened though… maybe because of his gloves? Whatever it was, he’s glad.

Ping nodded as she put away her binoculars. Wufei had the autopilot on so they could switch.

There was little space for them to move around, and it was damn unnerving the way her buttocks had brushed against his manhood while they switched seats. They hadn’t even settled in when they heard a clanging sound…

With frowns on their faces, they looked at each other.

“I’ll check.” Wufei muttered as he stood up from his new seat. “Familiarize yourself with the panel.”

“Fine.” Ping answered, stomping on the familiar anger that came from being ordered. She was about to turn off their autopilot when she heard another set of that soft, almost undetectable metallic sound and then, still without her seatbelt, she was thrown forward.

Wufei, at the edge of the left side door, was pitched forward at the sudden blast. Everything became instinctive as his hands desperately went out for one of the landing gears, grabbed, and held on for life. Equipments from inside the helicopter spilled out above him. Something hit his shoulder and the utmost stinging pain almost made him lose his hold. Wufei looked down and saw how high they were from the ground. His stomach lurched and his heart bumped hard against his chest…

Ping’s head banged against the control panel. Her cheek and helmet took the brunt of it all but tears pricked the sides of her eyes from pain while her hand slowly pushed her body away. Her breasts hurt, too, and it took an effort not to hug herself and shout bloody hell. The static ringing right beside her ear made her pull out her helmet. Her comlink was broken.

“Dammit!” She turned and checked behind her… “Wufei?!” She saw no one. Her heart pounded against her chest as she quickly walked to the back. “Wufei?!!” The wind threatened to force her back, but she stayed her place until she heard his voice…

“Here!”

It came from outside. Her hand reached for the security rope, trying to acquaint herself with the dizzying rotating motion of the helicopter, and then she leaned over only to find Wufei, helplessly dangling… then one hand slipped. “Oh God…” Her hair whipped against her face as she pulled the rope. Years of training showed as she quickly tied it around her waist and then methodically jumped out of the door to suspend right beside him.

A blast from behind her made them look, and they saw their tail burning… smoking…

“Come on!!!” Ping shouted as she wrapped her hands around his waist.

Wufei mentally thanked her while his hands grabbed hold of the rope, already feeling secure. His shoulder hurt and it took an effort to pull himself up, back inside the helicopter, and to pull her in.

She stumbled over him the moment her feet stepped on the metal floor and they both fell down. His hands went around her waist, while her hands went forward to stop their fall, just above his shoulders… Their eyes met in that rare instance ever since that evening and both held their breaths.

“Thanks.”  Wufei muttered, conflicting emotions running through him.

“I-”

A louder explosion echoed from the back then they started to smell the telltale fumes of an even bigger explosion… The helicopter spun wildly and they were thrown to one of the walls. If they don’t get out of there soon…

They scrambled to a stand, Ping’s hands quickly going to the knot to untie it while Wufei checked their situation.

“I’m going to radio the base!” She shouted as she scrambled to the panel, trying to stay on her feet. She saw a flash of bluish light and heard the crackling sound that hinted on half the controls’ damages.

From the other side, Wufei grimaced as he eyed only one parachute. There were three before. He checked. The others must have fallen off. “Shit.”

“Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. Red Base this is Minx, we have a problem.”

Wufei took the parachute then looked out to check their altitude.

“Kuriko, our controls are down. I cannot give you a pinpoint location, but I want you to use the MIS to track down our frequencies-”

They were losing altitude fast. If it weren’t for the makeshift wings, they would have plunged on the ground a long time ago. He didn’t even have to think about anything else as he ran to the front, grabbed Ping away from the radio and pushed the pack into her arms. “Put it on now!”

“I wasn’t able to give-”

“Now!” Wufei yelled as he twisted her arms into the straps, then without even giving her a chance, he pushed her out of the helicopter.

Ping’s eyes widened as she looked down. Honed instincts made her pull the string and her parachute flapped open. Her breath came out in a gasp as the wind picked the cloth up, she tried to look for Wufei, but her parachute got in the way… until the black contraption came within her line of vision.

It was halfway burnt, wildly revolving without the balance that the tail gives, and Wufei was still in the front…

She frowned, unable to believe her eyes. Why wouldn’t he jump?! What was he trying to do?! Panic started to suffocate her, and she tried to hold on to control but she couldn’t stop the shout that left her lips- “Wufei!!!”

…

He couldn’t do it. He knew a lost cause when he saw one, and this was definitely one of those. If he jumped, it would be suicide, and if he stayed in the helicopter, he’d die. His body would probably never be revived, except for a charcoaled lump.

“Either way, I die.” His lips sarcastically tilted up. He glanced out of the window and saw Ping’s green parachute, gliding over the trees. His feelings lightened. At least he was able to get her out.

Would he feel the impact? Would he burn to death? He never thought that he’d die because of a malfunction.

It made him angry and sad at the same time. A million thoughts fluttered in his mind. What he had wanted to do, what he would have liked to do… If he were in a battlefield, he wouldn’t be thinking this way, but he’s in a damn faulty helicopter. There weren’t any other explanations but a malfunction… and because of that, he’ll die.

The helicopter’s nose tilted forward, and his eyes squinted through the sun’s glare when he caught sight of something that just might save his life… or break his neck.

A lake.

It was close enough.

Smoke started to pour into the cockpit that made his eyes water. Reaching a decision, Wufei moved to the side entrance. The helicopter was above the lake now. If he waited longer, he would be out of range but he was still too high up…

He’ll just risk it.

Clearing his mind, he looked at Ping’s parachute, still gliding, while his hair whipped around him then… he jumped.

…

“No!!!” Ping screamed as she saw Wufei’s plummet- without a parachute. He was too high. The impact alone could kill him! She could only watch until he crash into the lake just as their helicopter finally exploded on impact northwest of the lake.

She couldn’t breathe. It was as if she was the one who was in the lake and not Wufei… The moment was passing and reason entered her mind. She would hope…

Her hands guided the straps to glide towards the crash, intent to save him.

“You better be alive, Chang…” Ping muttered under her breath, trying to keep her anger intact when all along she blamed herself. There could only be one reason why he didn’t jump with a parachute- he didn’t have one… He gave the only one to her and with the small altitude, the parachute cannot hold two people. “Damn you and your honorable hide.”

Trees loomed in her line of vision and her hands went up to shield her face from the many branches and leaves. She felt cuts and imagined bruises then she suddenly stopped. Ping quickly opened her eyes and saw her feet dangling just a couple of feet away from the ground.

Not losing any time, she unfastened her straps and instantly fell on her feet only to have her spring into a breakneck sprint. She was able to land just a few meters away from the lake. Mentally, she thanked her stars for her luck, and that she had on shorts instead of her full ensemble, but just as the thought left her, she tripped and fell down. Ping bit her lower lip to stop the cry of pain that wanted to leave her mouth from the sting she felt on her knee then she pushed herself up and ran once again with one thing in mind- she must get to Wufei.

She reached the lake, hopped on one foot then the other to take off her combat boots, and, finally, she dived into the surprisingly cold water. Her lungs burned and her legs ached. With a quick prayer to whoever was watching at that moment, she checked for Wufei’s location… floating… face down… She spurred her limbs to move faster.

How long had he been lying face down? How long does it take for lack of oxygen to damage the brain? ‘Please God… don’t let me be too late…’ Memories of her parents, lying down on the sidewalk with blood around her assailed her thoughts. They had pushed her away, too… Pushed her and took the bullets themselves…

He was floating near the center of the wide lake, and she finally reached him… finally. Quickly, she turned him around, arranged his head in the desired positioned, then swam back to shore.

It seemed as if the shoreline was nearer this time… or was it because she has Wufei now. It still took her some time, though, and she knew it. When she felt the ground, she only pulled him halfway out of the water. He had been face down in the water far too long.

Ping leaned over his nose and checked his chest for any sign of breathing for a couple of seconds and… saw that he wasn’t. Her hands were shaking, and she could hear her frantic heart pound while she pressed her fingers on his neck, and… felt his slow, almost indecipherable heartbeat…

“Thank God!” The gasp came out and she wanted to bawl but knowing what she must do, she started the needed rescue breathing procedures.

Minutes later, she grounded her hand on the ground. “Wufei… breathe… please…” She leaned down and gave him another deep breath, pinched his nose, and her eyes checked for the slight upheaval of his chest.

She knew that it came through, that everything she did was correct… why wouldn’t he- “Breathe! Damn you!” Her hands went to his shoulders and she started shaking him, not wanting to think of… the inevitable.  Yet after a few seconds more, her frantic actions stopped and she desperately tried to give him another breath…

‘Please… not again… not again.’

Wufei slowly came back to consciousness. He could feel his head thrown back and forth and his shoulder ached where he had been hit… Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe, his only line of air pinched from God knows what… and then something touched his open mouth… a soft, moist something that he instinctively knew was… her…

Maybe it was because he was still slightly unconscious, that’s why his tongue reached up to explore and his hands planted themselves on the back of her head so she wouldn’t get away. When she tried moving, she found that she couldn’t and he only plunged deeper with his exploration-

He was enjoying himself when a gasp of surprise left him and he was smacked back in reality while his lower lip stung with pain. He opened his eyes, squinted from the glare of the sun and saw an incoming fist intended for his face!

Wufei quickly moved to his right while his left hand blocked the punch, then from the corner of his eyes, he saw another aimed for him. His left hand grabbed the hand he blocked while his right caught the other then he quickly looked up and saw Ping’s outraged face.

She was so angry with him! Relieved that he was alive, but so angry! “You blasted son of a-” Ping grunted as she struggled in Wufei’s firm hold.

Wufei’s eyes slanted. He was not sure what the hell was happening but the hold on his patience was gone. He tasted blood from his lips. She had bitten him. Granted, maybe it was because he didn’t let her go when he felt her struggle, but- “What the hell is the matter with you?!”

Ping moved in an action he had seen a thousand times before and he bent his knee to shield his manhood. She had lost it! She was crazy! She was struggling like a mad woman, cursing and shouting names at him and crying at the same time but a look in her haunted green eyes made him check his angry mode.

She was still struggling though, and the only way he could think of stilling her was to- Wufei twisted his body and pushed his weight on top of her body.

“What the hell is the matter?!” He shouted once again at her face. It was a bad move, and he saw it as her eyes glinted dangerously again before he was thrown to his back and she was on him in the same position.

“You’re the matter, you ass! I should have let you drown!”

He had forced a peace between his mind and body. It was the only way he knew he could survive once he had hit the lake. But he also knew that he wouldn’t have lasted long in such a state if no one had plucked him out of the waters. So… she had rescued him. Of course. Wufei rolled their weight again. “If you want a thank you- Thank you! There! If you’re mad because I kissed you-”

“It’s not because of the kiss you idiot!”

Somehow, she was able to escape his grasp, and, once again, she was on top of him. Wufei didn’t know whether to look at her in surprise or befuddlement! She straddled his lower torso and her hands grabbed at his damp collar to shake him like a rag doll… and he let her… God help him, he let her…

“There was only one parachute left wasn’t there?!”

Wufei frowned at her and she pounded her fists against his chest. There was more of an accusation than a question in her words.

When he didn’t answer, she knew she was right. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?! We could have talked it over like reasonable human beings! Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I should be saved first!”

Wufei’s frown deepened. So this was what it was about? “Well forgive me if I knew we were going down fast and that the parachute could only handle one person with that altitude! Forgive me for not arguing with you, which would have resulted in losing precious time, just to know who should righteously get the only means of escape!”

She stopped shaking him, but the hands on his collar were still in fists… then her head bent and her curls fell down over her face to hide her face. “You thought you were invincible… that’s what you thought. You thought you could save the helicopter even though you knew, deep down inside you, that there wasn’t any chance…”

Wufei felt her hold slacken. He heard her breathe in deeply, tremulously. Maybe what she said was true…

“You didn’t have to save me, you know… you could have saved yourself…”

Her voice was broken, and for the first time, he truly saw her in her weakest state… and it pained him.  His hand went up to her face and he tilted her chin. She looked so lost and hurt. The tears that streamed down her eyes traveled to his hand and he only acted upon instincts when he pulled her down over him… Her eyes met his openly, and then fluttered closed just as he gave her a tender kiss…

She pulled away slightly… “I don’t like owing anyone my life.”

He understood. Something had triggered this suppressed anger and pain… and his hands went around her to hug her trembling body against his. “I’m sure you’ve saved many lives, Ping… Who were they? Who gave their lives for you?”

Her head was anchored at the curve of his neck and the way he gently held her and combed back her hair… “My… parents… they went in front of me… pushed me away… they were the ones who got… shot… instead of me…”

“They loved you…” Wufei whispered as he thought of his own colony… of Merian’s fight… of his mentor’s sacrifice just to save him… “We cannot dictate the actions of another human being… In others, it’s instinctive to save people, even if they know that the odds are against them.”

She pushed herself up and met his eyes. He saw the need for comfort in them. “You knew…” He knew about the parachute…

Wufei nodded as his hand cupped the back of her head once again, then slowly pulled her to his lips. “Yes… I knew…” So what did that mean?  Her tears wiped against his skin and then he felt her body relax against his… He was only going to give her comfort… just that…

Her hands went around his shoulders just as his went around her waist… their bodies meshed. Her legs slowly traveled down his torso to align her body to him and he guided her to a path that came to him…

…

He woke from the slight movement over his body but he was so comfortable that… he didn’t want to wake up, yet… Something tickled him on his chest, and smooth skin bumped against his manhood-

Wufei’s eyes snapped open and he stopped breathing. He suddenly became aware of a splayed hand on his chest, and a leg thrown over his lower torso, something soft with a small, button hard nipple against his left hand… his right hand around a curving waist… and an intimate part… against his hip…

He looked up at the moonlit sky… memories of what happened that afternoon assailed him… and it made him disgusted at himself to the very core of his being. He closed his eyes, tried to shut out everything around him, but he couldn’t. She moved again, and he was suddenly free…

Wufei couldn’t look at her… He quickly stood up, knees trembling from knowledge of what he had done to her, and then walked to the lake, though he knew that no amount of washing would ever make him feel clean, ever again…

He took advantage of her at a time when she had no control… He took when she probably didn’t even know she offered! God! How could he have been… so much like… like…a…

Man…

He stopped. The water lapped against his waist and he had the sudden urge to scream, but knowledge that she was sleeping made him plunge into the cold, dark water and scream his lungs out until they burned.

He thought he was above and beyond… but no. He was a part of the lowest, vile, slimy, slithering ones. He wouldn’t be surprised if she cursed him to the seventh gate of hell, for all he’d care. He’d accept it. He brought it onto himself.

Wufei dropped to his knees again, let the water cover his whole body, and shouted his frustration to the fishes…

On shore, Ping observed him… his actions. She woke up the moment he left her arms, and she felt, more than she saw, his frustration… and she understood. Her honorable Wufei was punishing himself right now, thinking he took advantage of her… It was nice to know he felt guilty, but at the same time, she did not want him to. She was a big girl. She knew what she was doing.

He went under again and she stood and walked to the lake. By the time he broke to the surface, she was only a couple of arms away from him… He basked magnificently under the yellow moonlight, with water droplets glinting, and his damp hair reaching his shoulders… he looked just as handsome as he did in the mornings, though his back was towards her. She swallowed hard and decided to end his frustration. “Wufei…”

He stilled. His mind drew a blank except for one thing… the want to not turn and look at her. He was ashamed of himself.

Ping sighed. This wasn’t going to be easy. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Thank the gods he was able to say it in his usual growl.

She rolled her eyes. “Wufei, we did something this afternoon…” She saw him cringe with the way his shoulders made that quick movement as if he was burnt, and she knew she was right with her assumptions.

Wufei bit his lower lip. He knew that they would have to talk about it… eventually. But he wasn’t ready… Damn him! “Ping, I’m sorry… I took advantage of you and… I’m sorry.”

She stifled a sigh of frustration and used an indirect route instead. “Oh… So, I guess that means you didn’t enjoy it.”

Wufei’s jaw slackened from what she said and the moment he was able to move, he turned- “What?!” He instantly stopped once again. His gaze fell on her naked body… full for his eyes to see, and his manhood reacted, badly… It took an effort to look away and turn sideways to stare at the distant trees on the eastern side of the lake instead, but he was able to do it.

“Well, I guess this is better than talking to your back. You know how much I hate that.” Ping hid a grin at his reaction.

“This is all just a joke to you, isn’t it? You take everything in life like a joke- as if its child’s play… well it isn’t.” Wufei muttered, cursing himself and his damn erection.

Her grin disappeared. “No… It isn’t, Wufei.” She kept her eyes on him. Was that how he saw her? “I live my life looking for a silver lining one day at a time. I work hard to be optimistic because I would rather meet the world with a smile than a frown.”

Wufei stiffened. He had hurt her again. Why couldn’t he say something that’s not stupid?! “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it that way.”

“You are a surprise, Wufei. An apology twice in one night?”

Her teasing voice taunted him to look at her, but he didn’t. “Don’t get used to it.”

“I won’t.” Ping answered back while her hand created small waves upon midnight blue lake. She could tell how hard it was for a man as full of pride as him, and she’s willing to work it out. “Wufei, something happened to us this afternoon…”

“I already apologized…”

“Take it back.” She watched his profile and noticed that flustered look.

“What do you mean?” Wufei frowned at the trees. What did she mean?

“I don’t want your apology. I wanted to thank you.”  She saw his head make an action as if about to look at her again, but it was stopped.

Wufei didn’t understand what she was saying! Why-?

“I was emotionally unbalanced this afternoon because you made me remember something that had taken me years to get over with. It just came back, and I was hit from my blind side. You gave me comfort, and I thank you. I’m fine now.”

‘What the hell is this woman talking about?!’ Wufei mentally shouted at himself. “Aren’t you… are you sure… I…” What was he going to say?

Ping smiled. She could be quite sure that this wasn’t something anyone would often see from Wufei… “Won’t you say ‘You’re welcome’, Wufei?”

Should he? Why should he? Still… he found himself muttering- “You’re welcome…”

She nodded. “Turn around and look at me.”

Wufei shook his head. How could she ask that of him? She doesn’t know what she’s asking him to do… Damn his libido… Why’d he have to be attracted to her?!

“We’re both reasonable adults. You’ve seen me naked, I’ve seen you naked.”

What she said was true, and if he didn’t turn and meet her, he would be a coward in both his and her eyes. ‘Damn!’ He was backed into a corner and he couldn’t do anything but… to face her and force his eyes not to look at her body. He focused on somewhere above her head.

Ping stopped her hands from brushing her hair in an irritated gesture. “That’s better…” She walked nearer to him, slightly embarrassed about her nakedness, but she took comfort in the fact that he was also in such a state.

Wufei swallowed, hard. She shouldn’t come any closer… No… she must stop… What is she trying to do?! Her green eyes raked over him and though he was usually proud of his body, this time around, he wanted to hide it under the dark waters.

Ping stopped, just less than an arm’s length away. The waters were to her waist, now, and she was beginning to feel comfortable being naked in front of him. “Wufei, I hope you won’t mind, but I want to check something…”

He was about to ask ‘check?’, but before he could utter the word, her lips were upon him and… they reveled with each other’s taste, though their bodies never touched each other save for their lips.

Minutes later, Ping slowly moved away. Her hair shone exuberantly with the moonbeams and she seemed more beautiful than ever to Wufei as her right hand went up to touch her lips, then to look at him with so much… meaning. And him? He probably had the same look in his eyes…

There was no use hiding from it now. He could be quite sure that she knew, with the way he kissed her back. His right hand reached out to touch her delicate shoulder and the soft smile on her lips encouraged him just as the way she touched his chest made him shudder…

Excruciatingly slow, his hand gently stroked her face and then he saw and felt her move… tilt her head up with eyes opened wide and lips slightly parted… an invitation he couldn’t refuse and he closed the distance between them…