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Kyuuketsuki Duo
Sanguis Draconis
Part XX
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	The day dawned brightly, but no new ideas dawned with it.  They 
had gathered quietly in the courtyard of their last meeting to inform 
each other of their dearth of further planning with varying degrees of 
solemnity.  Wufei stood isolated on one side, his thoughts elsewhere as 
he familiarized himself with the power that coiled around him.  He would 
need to know it well if he had hope of success.  Meiran watched him from 
afar, responding only absently to Hilde's attempts at drawing her into a 
relaxingly feminine conversation.  It was fortunate the succubus could 
be quite the vacuous conversationalist when she put her mind to it.  Her 
trade sometimes depended on it, after all.

	Quatre had engaged Trowa in conversation as only he could, but 
Duo, leaning subtly against the solidity of Heero's chest from his seat 
on the railing, had to wonder if perhaps Trowa was really the one in 
charge there.  The nearly silent man had found three small stones, and 
was juggling them idly with one hand with the full knowledge that Quatre 
found the movement distracting and soothing.  A corner of the guardian's 
lip lifted in the barest show of amusement.  The rest of his good humor 
was expressed unspoken in the minimal space between him and his partner.  
He was unworried about the state of their affairs, now that he had his 
partner back.  Together, they could get through anything.

	At some point in the uneasy day, Haoxian arrived huffingly into 
their midst.  The little dragon studied their arrangement with a 
critical eye and a bit of a frown before drifting over to plant himself 
on a railing near Wufei.

	Dark, hooded eyes shifted to look at the dragon, an eyebrow 
lifting elegantly to accompany the gesture.

	Haoxian let out a disgruntled snort before curling himself up 
into the deceptively lazy pose he was so good at.  "Fools," he muttered.

	"I hope you refer to your brothers," Wufei said with an 
uncharacteristic drawl.

	"Bah."

	"I take it they will not be joining us."  A disdainful sniff 
confirmed his guess.  "Not one?"

	"They are far too caught up in their 'discussion' to ever put 
anything into action.  Some of them might be interested in joining your 
cause when they're done.  Of course, that might be quite some time from 
now."

	"There were dragons that agreed with our cause.  What of them?"

	Haoxian twitched his shoulders in an approximation of a shrug.  
"All talk, no action."

	"And the other dragons?  The ones we have not seen?"

	The dragon blinked, conveying with that minute gesture that he 
had not considered the rest of his brethren at all.  "What of them?"

	"Would they be willing to help, do you think?"

	"They don't do much of anything."  There was not too much scorn 
in his tone.  It was more a statement of fact, as if this was expected 
of them, unlike what he desired of his brothers.

	Wufei had not thought that the rest of the dragons would be of 
too much assistance.  They had made themselves so scarce that he had no 
idea of their actual numbers or power, yet he had hoped that perhaps 
they might be willing to fight against their oppressor.  Haoxian had 
made earlier mention of how he and his brothers were the only dragons of 
substance left.  Was that simply an elitist opinion, or fact?  And how 
did he quantify 'substance'?  Were they hiding from them because they 
were no more than skittish, unreasoning beasts, or were they only 
provincial and uninformed?  Maybe they were scared?  Would a few words 
convince them to their cause?

	Shenlong could provide no answers.  His memories of his kind 
were as they once were, not as they were now.  He recalled dragons that 
had been able to pass as gods in the olden days.  He remembered a proud, 
powerful people, and if they were even half of what they were, then they 
would be able to match Epyon's numbers, but all testimony indicated that 
they were not.  On the other hand, all testimony had come from Haoxian 
alone.

	Wufei thought about that, ran through all the things that had 
been spoken by the dragons while he had been present, and came to a 
conclusion.  "Are they still gathered in the hall?"

	"No.  They have dispersed for the time being."

	"Where can I find Yazi?"

	The dragon peered at him curiously for a time before deciding to 
answer.  The human apparently had an idea.  He thought it might be 
interesting to see what came of it, even if he believed there to be 
little chance of success.  He knew his brethren, and how far they had 
fallen.  "I can show you."

	Wufei left the company of the others with Haoxian, and followed 
the small dragon to a valley filled with dark greens.  There was no need 
to announce themselves, as they were met near the entrance by a voice 
that rumbled with no particular grace.  "What do you want?"

	"That's Yazi for you," Haoxian answered loudly to his companion.  
"No manners at all."

	The dragon in question ambled forth from its place around a 
gentle curve in his home.  Wufei couldn't quite pin it down, but for 
some reason, Yazi seemed much more serene than he had in conference with 
his brothers.  Perhaps without the rest of them, there was no need to be 
contentious.  

	"Yazi," he greeted, dipping his head in respect.  "You said to 
come back when I had a plan."

	"And you have a plan?"

	"I have the information I promised.  I know of Epyon's location, 
of the number and disposition of his troops.  I can get us there."

	"You don't have a plan."

	Wufei thought he sounded almost disappointed, and took that into 
account.  Yazi had played the devil's advocate more often than not, and 
his outrage at their situation was not to be confused for opposition to 
their goals.  He had showed a strong fighting spirit, an observation 
which Shenlong quietly affirmed; now all that was left was to channel it 
in the right direction.  "I have a mission, and odds that aren't quite 
in my favor, but a battle to be fought nevertheless.  I wish to let 
Epyon continue to dominate your people no more than you do."

	"Of course.  I am not that coward Pulao."

	Haoxian grumbled something beneath his breath that was probably 
agreement.

	Wufei ignored it and calmly filled Yazi in on all of the 
information Duo had shared with them yesterday.  The guardian had also 
managed to piece together some more details on Epyon's camp, which he 
had offered up that morning, and Wufei briefed the dragon on that as 
well.  Haoxian did not appear to be listening, but this was the first 
time he had received this news, and he, too, paid attention.

	The larger dragon's tail swished back and forth idly behind him 
as he contemplated the field layout, and something inside Wufei 
recognized the absent gesture as one of military thought.  Wufei offered 
a facsimile of a plan to him, satisfied when his expectation proved 
true.  Yazi became indignant in the presence of such a flimsy plan, and 
immediately began to offer up his own advice on how best to approach the 
fight.  "How close can your Shinma friend get you?"

	"He can get us anywhere.  The problem is whether or not Epyon 
will be where we choose to be."  Duo could open a path for them through 
the shadows and into the enemy camp almost anywhere he pleased, but 
unless someone went forth on the dangerous task of reconnaissance, they 
would not know for sure what they would find on the other side.

	The dragon extended a claw and traced out a crude map in the 
dirt in front of him.  "If this is where he is likely to be, and his 
troops are arrayed in this fashion around him..."

                              ************

	Shenlong's memories had been accurate: Yazi didn't just fight, 
he fought to win.  He had been helpful in identifying a good entrance 
point and vector of attack, along with providing a few general tips for 
use against demons.  And once in a while, somewhere along the way, he 
referred to the offensive party not as 'you' but 'us'.  He was not a 
dragon filled with empty words as some of his brothers were.  It seemed 
promising that he could be persuaded to join them in their assault.  
Armed with the beginning of a promising plan, Wufei next approached 
Chiwen.  One more dragon was helpful, but the odds would still be 
stacked against them.  Where Chiwen led, however, others often followed.  
He was the eldest left in Shenlong's wake.  Even Haoxian did not call 
out taunts as they entered.

	"What do you want of me?" he asked after Wufei had repeated the 
respectful greeting that he had given Yazi.

	"I wish to discuss our situation.  You want Epyon free no more 
than I.  Now may be our best or only opportunity to put him away.  With 
your help, we can maximize our chances of success."

	"Whether you defeat Epyon, or another, more powerful demon rises 
up to take his place, Epyon will fall.  No demon in the Game holds his 
place forever."

	"You would rather simply wait him out?  What if Epyon should 
wish to return here, to wreak havoc among his people?"

	"There is nothing left for him here," Chiwen answered placidly.  
"He will not return."

	Wufei's eyes narrowed.  The dragon seemed to have lost the 
aggressive part of his passive-aggressive stance.  Did all dragons alter 
their behavior when not in the company of others?  He thought them 
proud, yes, but did their pride force them to maintain an image for the 
rest?  "You spoke of taking up your brother's chosen task, of finishing 
what he started.  What of that?"

	"As I have said, Chang.  Epyon will fall in due time, and 
Shenlong's work will be complete.  It does not matter who destroys him 
in the end.  The result will be the same."

	There was something to be said against being a little too 
philosophical and long-sighted.  "For how long will you allow the 
dragons to be fearful of one of their own?  For how long will you suffer 
Epyon's shadow cast upon this land?"

	"This shadow is not Epyon's doing.  We were in decline long 
before Epyon rose again."

	"And will you simply sit back and watch it continue?"  It 
frustrated him that they all seemed so willing to persist in their 
fallen state.  They were there only because they had lost their will to 
be stronger.  There must be some button that he could press to inspire 
this dragon to the fight.  This was too important to sit on the 
sidelines and only observe.

	Chiwen shrugged slightly.  "We are at peace.  We live our lives 
beyond the influence of the rest of the demons.  We do not seek 
domination or revolution.  What need have we of power when we have no 
desire to flaunt it as the others do?"

	Ah, there was something.  "How much longer do you think this 
'peace' will continue?  You are no longer outside of the Great Game.  
Epyon has brought it to you."

	"Epyon has brought it to himself."  He said the words, but 
something stirred within his eyes.

	"Epyon is a dragon.  Even if he should be defeated tomorrow by 
some other, more powerful demon, a dragon has been recognized as a 
player and a threat.  What will stop the other demons from pursuing the 
rest of your kind?"

	"We pose no threat to them.  We keep to ourselves."

	How could so wise a dragon be so blind?  "How do they know you 
are not plotting something here in your lands?  How do they know there 
are no more Epyons left among you?  How do they know you do not support 
his actions?  What do the demons care?  There is no justice among them, 
no order; they will spring upon you merely because they can.  If nothing 
else than because you are Epyon's people, even if he has repudiated you, 
and to defeat you would be a slight against him, for you are currently 
his.  Every victory brings them power, no matter who their victims.  You 
cannot stay neutral in this battle.  They have been reminded of your 
presence.  They will not soon forget it."

	There was finally a disturbed note in Chiwen's voice.  "If that 
is as you say, Chang, then there is nothing we can do.  It is already 
too late."

	"It is not," Wufei refuted evenly.  Accepting one's fate with 
dignity was one thing.  Running into its arms when there were so many 
other ways to go was quite another.  "You can show the rest of the 
demons that you are not on Epyon's side.  Inaction will not divorce you 
from his actions.  You must remove Epyon from the game yourselves.  Show 
them that he is a rogue, an exception, and show them your power in a 
united front as you do it.  Division within your ranks will only imply 
that there are some that are not committed to the cause, some that may 
very well wish participation in the game.  Show them as one that you 
want nothing to do with them, and show them that you are not to be 
trifled with, should they choose to test your resolve.  Once, long ago, 
Epyon wanted to enter the game.  Shenlong silenced him because of it, 
and years upon years passed without it interfering with your lives.  You 
must do the same now."

	Chiwen stayed silent in consideration for a long time after 
Wufei had spoken his fill.  In the end, he only nodded, and it was clear 
he would say little more of importance.  As Wufei took his leave of 
Chiwen, he informed the dragon that they would be leaving the next 
morning on their mission.

                              ************

	Meiran jumped up to greet him when he re-entered Shenlong's 
estate.  She did not immediately ask how things went, but she made sure 
with her expression that he knew she wanted to ask.

	He shook his head and waited until everyone had settled their 
attention on him before speaking.  "I spoke to Yazi.  He had some 
helpful things to say for refining our plan, such as it is."  He 
outlined the specifics for them, then turned to Duo.  "Does this seem in 
accordance with the layout you provided me?"

	The guardian conferred with his partner for a moment, with 
consultation by their secondary partner, and agreed that Wufei had 
represented the situation accurately to the dragon, and had received a 
plan that seemed sound.

	Wufei nodded in acknowledgment.  "I also spoke to Chiwen.  I 
think I may have succeeded in inspiring him to action, to trying to 
convince the rest of the dragons to join us in our quest, rather than 
just discussing it.  Many of the dragons defer to his judgment.  
Hopefully, he will be able to stir us up an army."

	"Army, as in, more than just the seven of them?" Meiran inquired 
further.

	He resisted the urge to shrug helplessly.  Confidence was what 
was needed now.  "I tried to make contact with some of the other 
dragons.  They refused to come out of hiding, but I did make it a point 
to quite obviously discuss our purpose here with Haoxian when I knew 
they were near.  It was the best I could do.  Perhaps Chiwen will be 
able to do better.  I made it clear that we would need all of the 
dragons working together in this."

	"I thought they were all talk, no action," Quatre said, 
recalling Haoxian's earlier words.

	"That is where Yazi comes in.  Shenlong knew his brothers well.  
I do not believe him incorrect in his characterizations of them.  Yazi 
is a dragon that likes to fight, but has been denied a good battle for a 
while.  Chiwen will do the talking, and Yazi will provide the impetus to 
action.  Haoxian will soon be gathering his brothers to discussion once 
more, and between the three of them, they may well be able to revive the 
spirit of the dragons."

	"How long do you figure that'll take?"

	"We leave tomorrow," Wufei announced point-blank.

	Duo shared laughter with his partner in the privacy of their 
minds, but Quatre was prompted to a startled, "What?  Since when?"

	"I think they will work better with a deadline, a sense of 
urgency.  We had already agreed to go soon, had we not?"

	"Well, yes, but...  Alright."  He realized he had no real 
objections.  They themselves were as ready as they were going to be.  
The sudden decision had simply caught him off-guard.  "With or without 
them?"

	"With or without them," Wufei confirmed.  If the dragons had not 
come to a choice by then, their discussion would only lose momentum as 
time passed.  They would gain nothing by waiting any longer.  He did not 
want to wait any longer.  And neither did Shenlong.



_________________________________________
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been an entirely automated message.
http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~jchew/misc/gw.html

last modified : 8/24/2003 00:24:15 PST