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"Honor Betrayed"Written By: Yanagi Disclaimer: I do not own or hold any rights to
[Gundam Wing]. Those rights belong to Bandai, Sunrise, and the Sotsu
Agency. These fan fictions were written for fun, not profit. However,
this story does belong to me. Please don’t snitch it. Warnings: the usual Pairings: 1x2 But it's Wufei centric [very] Beta note: I think the days in the trip to Shanghai
are messed up. They fly east so they'd arrive in late
afternoon/early evening and Yet another note: There are a lot of FAQ at the
end of the epilogue.
"Honor Betrayed " Chapter 13 The door to the morgue opened to reveal a scene out of every cop movie that showed a morgue. Wufei sighed; after all, trite was usually true. It was just depressing to realize that the Preventer HQ Morgue had more than a hundred of the cold coffins. The attendant came in from a side room and called to Duo. “Agent Maxwell, is your expert here? I've got the gentleman laid out in the viewing room. All you have to do is take him to the comfort room and we can begin.” Duo looked at Wufei who said, “I can't examine him through a pane of glass. I need to be able to move the body and actually see the open wounds.” The attendant tried to scotch that idea before it got a head of steam. “I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to disrespect the gentleman's body in that way.” Wufei let out a soft hiss and Duo got out of the way. He was not eager to be in the line of fire when Wufei made that sound. Wufei drew himself up to his full 5'10” and snarled, “How dare you imply that I would be in any way disrespectful to someone. I do not abuse a corpse. In this case I need to see the blade marks in order to do my job. Abominable attitude. Terrible. Are you trying to stonewall me in the completion of my duties or are you just a bean counter with a superiority complex and a desire to be obstructionistic.” The attendant blinked at Wufei for a moment then crumpled. “I'm sorry. But I was told that you are a ... an expert in Japanese style swords. Not a coroner.” “I am an expert. The reason I wish to examine the cuts is so that I may, perhaps, gain some insight into the skill level of the murderer. So, if you will?” So the attendant, who wasn't wearing a name tag, brought the body back into the main morgue room and asked Duo to help him move it to an examination table. This done, Wufei gently folded the covering back to the man's mid chest. He sighed. “This is bad. Look at this wound in the shoulder. It's as much torn as it is cut. And, lower down on the arm, a defensive wound.” He folded the sheet aside to get a better look, lifting the limb in question and touching the wound. “Not good. If the swordsman was good, I'd expect it to go to the bone. Exceptional and the limb could have been completely severed. Hummm.” Wufei folded the sheet again. “No wounds lower?” “The death stroke was a stab to the heart. Right there.” The attendant pointed. Wufei examined the stab wound with a frown. “Worse and worse. This is not the work of an expert. The person was much more familiar with Western weapons than Oriental. This is butchery. Shameful.” Wufei glanced at Duo. “Can you arrange for a body-double? Ballistic jell, with a skeleton?” “Sure. You going to test the sword. The tsuka is off of it. Probably dismantled by now.” “No, I have no doubt that you've got an appropriate substitute in the armory. See what you can do. Ok?” Duo just pulled out his phone and dialed. He talked for a moment then hung up. “Ten minutes. They've got a body-double already. Seems they keep a few around just for this sort of thing. The armorer said to come up and pick your weapon yourself.” Again, they were on an elevator and Wufei was beginning to feel suffocated, the smell of the industrial cleaner was making his head spin. “ 'Fei? You ok? Did you eat lunch?” Wufei clutched the safety bar and started to shake his head. This didn't go down very well as it made his already spinning head spin worse. “No lunch, I was going to have it with the sponsors at the meeting. I feel dizzy.” Duo just punched the open door button and dragged Wufei off the elevator saying cheerfully, “Well, thank god we're on the cafeteria floor. Come on. I'll get you something.” He motioned to someone in a white mess-hall style uniform and demanded, “Get him something.” Wufei flopped rather gracelessly into a chair and put his head in his hands with his elbows resting on the table. Duo spoke to Une and told her that Wufei hadn't eaten so he was going to eat before he fell over. The server brought something almost at once. He placed a bowl on the table and a pair of hashi. “I hope this is ok. It's the special, beef bowl. I know you're Chinese but we don't have a Chinese dish on the menu today.” Wufei looked at the bowl and smiled. He bowed from a sitting position and said, “It's fine. It looks delicious and I like the arrangement. The garnish of gari is especially pleasing. Is there any tea?” “Of course. I'll be right back.” The server walked away again and returned almost immediately with a pot. Wufei poured tea for himself and Duo then began to eat. He finished the bowl, scooping the last of the rice into his mouth and suppressing a burp. Duo grinned, “You feel better now?” “I'd actually like another. And more tea. Do we have time?” Duo snorted. “All the time in the world. You're a visiting expert and due the respect such experience earns. More beef bowl coming up.” Wufei took his time with the second bowl and was nearly done with Lady Une came striding in. “Chang? You looked ill on the security feed. I was just informed. What's wrong?” Wufei motioned to a seat, mumbling, “Sit down.” around a mouthful of rice. He swallowed and continued, “I didn't eat lunch, as I was expecting to have it during a meeting. So, low blood sugar combined with excitement and I felt a little dizzy. I'll be fine soon. Tea?” Une declined, but continued to sit. Finally she asked, “What is the motive behind this demonstration?” Wufei didn't bother to equivocate. “No one is going to believe in me until I prove that I know what I'm talking about. So, tameshigiri.” “I see. I'll walk along with you. Are you going to be ok on a full stomach?” “Yes. I'm not going to do any heavy exercising. Just a cut or two.” Une nodded, relieved by the answer. They proceeded to the armory and the head armorer showed them to an area where all sorts of experiments with weapons were carried out. “Well, I'm Hans Gardener, Head Armorer. Since you had to stop to eat something, I took the initiative and brought all the swords I have that I thought were close to the murder weapon. Take your pick.” He motioned to a long table set up against a wall, there were about twenty swords on it. Wufei walked down the length of the table, looking for what he wanted. He found it near the end. It was a common steel sword, mass manufactured, not that there was anything wrong with that. He picked it up, took it to the center of the room and did a simple air cut with it to gauge it's balance. “This one will do quite nicely. In fact, the balance is very similar. But it hasn't been broken. It's about two inches longer than the sword in question.” Hans pointed to the other end of the long room. “There's your target. We're going to put up a shield as that plastic does tend to splinter and we don't need someone getting an eye put out. Here, safety glasses.” He handed them to Wufei and pushed a button on the wall. A shield of plexiglas lowered from the ceiling. Wufei looked at the dummy and saw that it was posed in a protective position, as if holding up an arm to shield its head from a blow. Wufei nodded his approval. “Ok, tell me about the attack. Someone said that the perp just ran up, slashed him then ran off?” An assistant to Lady Une consulted a data pad. “That's right. He was seen running down an alley but they lost him. The only reason we found that sword is the grate was slightly misaligned and one of the officers saw it.” “Hn. I see. Very well. Test one.” Wufei suddenly broke into a run, slashed at the dummy, poked it in the chest then ran on. He circled around, slowed down and returned to the dummy. The slash was almost identical to the injuries to the victim. A swarm of techs descended on the dummy and Wufei. They measured and questioned then announced that they had all the data they needed. Une asked Wufei what his opinion of their perp was. “I think whoever it is, is just some person with a grudge and a sword. Not very skillful, but quick and of average strength.” Hans examined the dummy and exclaimed, “Average strength, not skillful? Shit, I'd love to see what an expert could do.” “I'll be happy to oblige, if you can set up a dummy for me.” Wufei grimaced at the sword, “And give me a decent sword.” Hans nodded to one of the men standing nearby and said, “There's that really nice sword we confiscated a few weeks ago. Go get it.” The man returned with a very fine katana of recent manufacture. Wufei examined it carefully to make sure the blade was up to the stress he was about to subject it to. It was and he longed to look at the mei. But taking apart a sword that didn't belong to you was such bad manners that he even felt a bit guilty for thinking it. He turned from his examination when Une cleared her throat. “Ah! Are you ready for me?” “Yes.” Hans didn't get another word out. Wufei whirled and charged the dummy like a freight train. Full out, he cut the head off, batted it out of the way with the flat and cut one arm off at the shoulder and the other at the wrist. “There. That's what I can do.” Wufei bowed, sheathed his sword then handed it off to the man who'd brought it to him. “Do be sure to oil the blade before you put it away.” “Yes, sir.” The man took the sword and went away. Wufei glanced at Une who nodded. He turned to Duo who just motioned for him to follow. “We done?” “As far as I know. You've told us everything you can and demonstrated that you know what you're talking about. We can go as soon as I get a nod from Une.” Duo leaned against the wall so Wufei leaned right next to him. They waited for about five minutes then Une came over. “You have been very helpful. Thank you. If you're ready, you may leave. Maxwell, make sure he makes it home.” With that she walked away. Duo mumbled, “Like I'm gonna let you get lost between here and home. Feh!” Wufei just snickered and followed him into yet another elevator. This one took them back down to the garage level and they made their way home. . Wufei was exhausted and flopped down on the couch in the common room, turned on the tv and watched with absent interest as some nature show unfolded. Heero came in a bit later and flopped down next to him. “Seems you've made quite a stir. You spoke to someone on an elevator and they've spread the word that you've made major reforms in your opinions. About what? I'm not sure. And that demonstration has all the trainers flipping out. As well as everyone who's seen it. And it was filmed, so that's almost everyone who is anyone, or has access to the file. Congratulations.” Wufei gave him a sharp look but detected no sarcasm. “Thanks. Did it help?” “Yes, they've got a suspect already. That broken point and the fact that the boshi is ill formed was sent out over the area. Memo's to all the pawn shops and sharpening places. Some knife sharpening shop called in. They fixed the point and remembered it, because they tried to send him to a proper polisher but he just wanted it reground. The locals are running him to ground now.” “What was his motive?” Wufei turned off the tv and settled back for a good conversation. “The man was a judge. Seems he sent the little shit to jail for something or other. He took offense and decided to go all samurai on him. Idiot.” Their conversation wandered off into various subjects and they spent a pleasant afternoon, especially after Duo joined them. His lively intelligence and quick wit added to the conversation. Finally Wufei stretched and yawned. “I better get up to the kitchen and start cooking or we're eating bran flakes for supper.” Duo made a gagging noise. “Bran flakes? Who eats that?” Heero swatted him in the back of the head. “I do. Shut up.” Duo helped Wufei by peeling potatoes, while Heero set the table. Wufei had decided on a simple meal of comfort food. In other words, potato soup and grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches. They lingered over supper with a bit of light hearted conversation, mostly about food. Heero cleaned the kitchen while Duo policed the sitting area. Wufei went to take a bath, soaking for quite a while. He came back out into the sitting area and caught Heero and Duo kissing on the couch. “You two! You have a room, use it.” Duo whined, “Aww, 'Fei.” “Then go down to the common room.” Heero grumbled, “Then it takes too long to get back up here.” Wufei gave them a fond look. “You're both idiots.” Duo grinned back at him then said softly, “Yeah, but ya love us anyway. We're family, right?” Wufei froze for a moment then gave a jerky nod. “Yes, we're family. Dysfunctional, but family.” Heero nodded once. “Yes. We are.” He nodded again then turned to Duo. “Bedroom.” Duo jumped up and exclaimed, “Right behind you, pal.” With that they disappeared into their bedroom for the rest of the night. Wufei didn't mind, he just found a book he hadn't read yet, in Duo's library no less. He wrote the particulars on a piece of paper and stuck it in where the book belonged and took it up. He changed into pajamas and climbed into bed. He read until he fell asleep and never noticed when Heero came in to check on him, took the book and put it on the night stand. ~ * ~ tbc... |
