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"Baby Series 3"Written By: Karina Rating: PG Spoilers: None Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine. Pairing: Milliardo + Wu Fei + Duo Notes: Challenge 85. Baby Series 3 #15. Takes
place just after Start Small and The Luxury of Free Time. Many thanks to ShenLong for her work betaing
this fic.
Narrow Path “Qingming. It is a festival where one goes out of doors to celebrate the greenery of springtime. It is also a time when we remember our Ancestors and attend to the graves of the Dead.” Chang inclined his head to view the cloud swept, watery blue peeking through the skylights. “After the winter it is good to enjoy the promise of life Spring brings.” “I need to know more of the culture of your people if they are to reside within the borders of Sanc.” Milliardo absently swirled white wine around his glass. “I don’t get the link between spring greenery and the graves bit.” Duo canted his head to one side. Wu Fei knew it was honest curiosity and therefore did not permit himself to be affronted. He had learned enough of Duo to know when he was serious and when he was indulging his 'devil may care' attitude. “I have never personally practised religious observances beyond lip service. I found religion on the colony to be restrictive. Those who practised it had little indulgence for any view point other than their own. I was not considered to be a model child and my curiosity and wilfulness generally resulted in my being banished from the Elders' presence.” “What about your parents?” Duo questioned. “My parents were considered modernists and contested the ways of the Elders. My mother died soon after I turned three and the last time I saw my father I was five. He was banished by his father on instruction from the Elders, who would no longer tolerate his ideas. I was informed a year or so later of his death. He was killed in an explosion at a mining operation. That I recall, no one mourned for him other than I. The decision was made that I wed Long Meiran at this time and I was given over to my tutors to be prepared for my place in the clan.” “Damn, no wonder you have a stick up your arse.” Duo flipped his braid over his shoulder. “Guess you turned out better than you could have, sticking it to your Elders the way you did.” “I did not approve their rigid, narrow path. It was required one see religion in the manner they instructed, much as one was expected to live in the manner they dictated. I did not see the traditions as rigidly as they determined I should and Meiran was as much a rebel as I. It was not appropriate that she be a mobile suit pilot and warrior, but none in the clan could best her when her temper was fired. Against everyone she stood strong and if only in that one common matter did we agree. The Elders saw only tradition and not the needs of the times. The colony was stagnating, failing. It could have been saved.” Milliardo watched the meagre sunlight brighten the pool. “What does Quingming mean?’’ “Loosely translated, it means Clear and Bright.”
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