05-July-2001
Title: The Katana Part 3/5
Author: Enigma
Written: June - July, 2001
Rating: PG-13
Gift Fic for the [3x5_5x3list]
Pairings: (5x3/3x5)
Category: Angst Shonen ai Yaoi Sap WAFF
Enigma Story Category: G-Boys High Adventure!
Archive: GW Addiction, Sweet&Sweet
Warnings: Angst, shonen ai, mystery, [due to conclusion being selected by popular vote after the first two parts are published, the final fic may also include: yaoi, death, sap, waff, children, celibacy, lemon, and the gods only know what else! your guess is as good as mine!]
Disclaimers: I don't own a katana or any of the Gundam Wing Universe. I'm not making any money off this story, so please don't sue me.
Important Notes: Chang Wufei's katana defended and protected both himself and those he loved, yet by the end of this deliberately open-ended fic, he will have it no longer. The ultimate choice of *why* he no longer has the blade will be left to the members of the [3x5_5x3list] and their choice will be reflected in the final installment after they get to vote on the matter. Also, in case you're wondering, I made up almost all of the scenes and embellished those I didn't create from whole cloth, but what else is new?
As the breathless moment that seemed to exist outside of time and space passed, Chang Wufei finally opened his eyes and gazed at those assembled in the room for the first time.
Noting many faces he recognized, as well as quite a few that he didn't, his attention was immediately drawn back to the four young men standing by the sacred katana of the dragon clan. With the slightest of nods, he gracefully stepped forward and joined them, moving to stand in the center of the small group of men who were all dressed in black as well, Quatre and Trowa were to his left and Heero and Duo were to his right.
Not having had a chance to see what the exotic man might be wearing for the event ahead of time, Trowa regarded Wufei's apparel with appreciation.
Black silk robes embroidered with barely visible iridescent dragons covered the young oriental man almost to the knees, exposing a pair of black silk pants with the slipper-style shoes he'd worn through the first war. As the emerald eyes trailed back up the dark figure, he noted that Wufei's luxurious almost waist-length hair was bound into a traditional Chinese bun that he'd never seen him wear before. This last change was the only aspect of the smaller man's appearance he found fault with, he preferred to see Wufei's hair down, but overall the effect was stunning.
No words were spoken as an elderly oriental man came forward, rich silk robes trailing behind him as he approached the five former Gundam pilots. Almost as one, the audience rose to its feet, sensing a critical encounter was about to take place and silently anticipating it.
As the man approached, a truly astounding thing took place.
Wufei sank to his knees and bowed deeply until his forehead very nearly touched the floor, remaining there as he awaited the arrival of the old man. This startled almost everyone present, no one had ever seen such a display of obeisance from the proud youth, yet the half-Chinese doctor, Sally Po nodded approvingly from her place in the crowd.
With a rustle of luxurious fabric, the elderly man came to a halt in front of Wufei and reached out a gnarled hand, saying, "Arise, young dragon, stand tall and face your future with the pride and strength worthy of one such as yourself."
"As you wish," Wufei acknowledged and then stood, pausing briefly to insure that his robes were back in place before looking to him for further instructions.
Clearing his throat, the elderly man began to address all those assembled. "As was stated, we are here today to pay homage and witness to the end of an era. I am an elder of the tiger clan, related by ancient ties of fealty as well as blood to the revered dragon clan and hence have sufficient authority to preside over this ceremony. Do you truly wish to give up the name and legacy of the dragons at this time, young one?" he asked of the solemn man in front of him.
In a clear and unwavering voice, Wufei answered him in the same manner that he had answered the day he received the blade years before, "I do."
"And do you intend to set aside the sacred katana of your clan now and for all time?" The elder frowned as he asked this, he had hoped that this question might be avoided, but Wufei had insisted on it.
Nodding yet not smiling, Wufei answered simply, "I do."
Sighing as he accepted the decision as final, the elder questioned, "Then there is only one final question to be asked of you, do you accept Trowa Barton as your spouse, your partner in this life and the next, and wish to be bound to him for all eternity?"
Wufei finally smiled as he reached out a hand to Trowa who gladly accepted it, coming to stand beside him for the first time, even as he answered, "I do."
As the crowd began to consider applauding, he then added a bit more loudly, "And I also do *not* accept Trowa 'Barton' as my spouse."
A gasp went through not only the audience but also Quatre, Duo, and Heero, all of them caught entirely off-guard by this statement. They had been expecting a wedding of some sort, the two young men involved being sufficiently unpredictable that the entire issue with the blade had been only mildly confusing, but this was beyond them. What was even more strange was that Trowa was beaming as if he had just heard the most wonderful news of his life, a total opposite of hearing that he both was and was not accepted by his mate.
The elder frowned again and looked at both men before asking, "Would you care to explain yourself, young dragon? That was not an answer that I can accept without an explanation."
"Allow me?" Trowa offered with a smile to his beloved and Wufei nodded graciously as the taller of them called out, "Friends, colleagues, comrades," the last was spoken to the three men who stood with them at the front of the room with a reassuring smile. "It is my extreme pleasure to announce that, as of this moment, I am no longer to be known as Trowa Barton. There is no record of my birth name and while I had grown accustomed to this name, I never felt that it was truly mine."
There were murmurs in the audience as some people asked those nearby for clarification of this and received it. Whispers of "Nanashi" and "Triton Bloom" as well as a few other aliases that Trowa had used in his lifetime circulated before quiet overtook the room once more.
"I had considered a final name change to reflect what I consider to be my true self, but would not do so if Wufei didn't want me to. However," he flashed a warm and loving smile at his new husband who nodded at him encouragingly, "it would appear that he has given me his blessing after all. So, as of today, I wish to retain the name of 'Trowa' but change my surname to 'Pax', Latin for 'peace', something I have finally found, thanks to Wufei."
Stopping to look once more upon the smiling face of his soulmate, Trowa received an even greater surprise as Wufei stated firmly, "This is why I did not wish to accept Trowa 'Barton' for my spouse, elder, but it is also why the katana will no longer be mine."
"How so?" The old man asked, utterly baffled as to what unexpected turn the proceedings might take next. "Being married does not make you any less a 'Chang', so why must you give it up? I never did understand that part of your request."
Wufei turned and spoke his answer while gazing into Trowa's eyes, saying simply, "Because, elder, as of this moment, I, too, wish to take a new name. I will retain my common name, 'Wufei', but my surname will also be 'Pax' to reflect my promises to the one that I love."
Spontaneous applause filled the room and even as Trowa gasped in surprise, Wufei leaned over to whisper in his ear, "I do so love you, my angel. Let me share your name as well as your life, wont you?"
"Gladly," Trowa responded and then pulled him in for a passionate kiss that made the applause grow even louder in their ears even though they were beyond hearing it by that point.
The ceremony required them to finally give and receive the vows that each had written for the other, but for the most part this was lost in a blur of formality. The elder of the tiger clan presided over much of it assisted at one point by an elected official that no one even particularly noticed, but it ended with yet another soul-binding kiss. Applause rang out when the two men newly named "Pax" turned to greet their friends as lawfully wedded spouses.
Duo Maxwell was the first to step forwards and he almost shyly asked, "Um, guys? What's with the name change?" Puzzlement was suddenly pushed aside as he then pulled each of them into a warm embrace, adding, "Congrats, by the way! You two make a helluva team!"
Grinning broadly as he released Duo and turned to hug Quatre, Trowa answered, "Well, I've been thinking about this for some time but Fei's decision completely surprises me."
"Hn," Wufei snorted softly as he shook hands with Heero and commented, "I would truly dislike losing the ability to surprise you so early in our lives, angel."
End Part 3
Enigma
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