THERE WERE MISTAKES IN THIS CHAPTER! GAH!

I fixed them. Yay. (I think, anyway)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: A Handful of Sand

Metal touched against spinning stone. Sparks flew at the contact, leaping through the air and fizzling harmlessly against the Weapon Master's leather gauntlets.

"It's a beautiful blade," the man said reverently, lifting it to the light and checking its edge.

That was the twenty-sixth time he'd said that.

Wufei had been counting.

"Yeah, it's pretty," Duo answered. The Water Talent had been elected to spend the first few hours with Wufei - they knew he wouldn't be going anywhere until his sword and the scabbard were safely in his hands again. They had other duties to take care of; the General was allowing only the morning hours to be spent in camp. They would be traveling the rest of the day, continuing their journey North.

Duo had bounced around the Weapon Master's tent in his usual manner at first. Now he was sitting on a low stool, leaning against one of the tent poles with his arms folded behind his head. Wufei had a feeling his Second was bored out of his mind, but he liked having one of his Others around too much to do the nice thing and let him leave.

He did, however, stop hovering over the man who held his father's sword. He moved instead to sit on the ground beside Duo, picking up the long braid that was dragging in the dirt and playing with the curly end.

A moment later, and he felt a hand playing with his own ponytail.

"So," Duo said softly, making sure he couldn't be heard over the work the other man in the tent was doing, "how are things going with you and Tro? He makin' any progress?"

Wufei blushed and gave him a half-hearted glare. "That's personal."

"Yeah, I know. So, is he?"

Wufei's blush got darker. "We've - we've kissed a few times."

"Yeah? That's fun, huh? Nothin' like a good smooch."

Wufei shrugged.

Duo frowned. "Dontcha like it, 'Fei-chan?"

"Yes," the little Fire Talent said quickly, "I like it fine."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Who said there was a problem?"

"The pink on your cheeks did," Duo teased.

"There, now!" A third voice distracted them. The Weapon's Master held the sword up again, turning it so it caught the light. "Handle mended, blade polished, edge sharp enough to slice a man in two. Beautiful blade."

"Twenty-seven," Duo and Wufei whispered at the same time, then stared at each other and burst into laughter.

*

"So what now?" Duo asked as they left the tent.

Wufei was cradling the sword, wrapped in a clean, white cloth, like it was a baby. "The leather workers have the scabbard. I know you're probably hungry - you could go eat, I just want to see..."

"Nah, I'll go with you," Duo said easily. None of his Others was willing to leave Wufei all by himself yet. Not for longer than a few minutes. They would have been that way even if they weren't with the Army or had a General so interested in their Fire - new Others were precious and adored and guarded like they were priceless treasure for months, until the relationship settled into an easier, deeply-bonded trust.

"Which way is it, then?" Wufei asked. As far as he was concerned, the Army camp was still an impenetrable, confusing maze. Most of the new members of the vast Alyans Army seemed to feel the same way; he saw a lot of new recruits, and it was easy to tell that they were new because of the half-panicked, half-dazed looks on their faces.

Quatre had promised to get him a drawing of the standard camp setup, saying it would be clearly marked, each tent with a symbol. There would be a 'key', too, telling what the symbols meant. He was supposed to have it by the time they camped tonight.

Wufei was really looking forward to it.

He hated getting lost.

"Lessee - we're in the Weapons Sector, and there's the blacksmith's tent," Duo muttered to himself, "so the leather workers should be... down this row and two tents over. They have brown tents with a needle and thread on them."

"I thought needle and thread was for uniforms and cloth repair?" Wufei grumbled, following him as he darted away.

"Oh, they are, but their tents are blue."

"I think someone made this difficult on purpose."

"Could be," Duo laughed again. "Took me a few days to memorize the whole damn thing. But once you get your bearings, it's pretty easy. Trust me. Look, there's the tent."

'Duo. Wufei.' Heero's 'voice' echoed in their heads before they could go inside.

'Yeah, Hee-chan?'

Wufei could 'hear' Duo's own mental voice perfectly - Heero must have opened the link fully. He could feel Quatre and Trowa's own mental presences, hovering just at the edge of his awareness.

'Come to the North Training Area.'

'Something going on?' Duo asked, immediately changing direction.

Wufei just followed along, listening.

'Training.'

Duo slowed. 'Training? What're we Training for?'

'Katar is here.'

Duo stopped so suddenly that Wufei had to dodge to the side to keep from ramming him.

'The Katar?!'

'Yes.'

'For 'Fei?!'

'Yes.' Heero sounded rather smug.

'Who is Katar?' Wufei asked, joining the conversation.

'He's a Fire Trainer,' Duo said softly, still keeping their conversation private from the other soldiers passing them. 'He's like - the best Fire Trainer ever.''

Wufei swallowed nervously. 'F-for me? Did the General...?'

'No,' Heero said softly, 'Zechs was speaking to him last night; he only told him that you were an Exotic. Katar volunteered.'

'Why?' Wufei asked, moving reluctantly as Duo started tugging on his arm.

'Because - he's an Exotic, as well. There are - very few of you, Fire. You... know that?'

'Yes. I know,' Wufei replied quietly, moving more easily at that information. 'My father told me.'

'So, what, you guys stick together?' Duo wasn't sure if that was good or not. He wanted his Fifth to get more Training, but he felt like a pouting two-year-old, upset that yet another outsider was going to be monopolizing their Fire's attention. He knew he was being petty and selfish, but he still had to fight the inclination to sulk. This was what was best for Wufei.

He just had to keep telling himself that.

*

When they reached the Training Area, Trowa and Quatre were waiting outside one of the tents. Quatre was smiling, but Duo noticed that Trowa didn't look any happier than he did. The tall Earth Talent immediately moved to Wufei's side, standing close enough to touch without actually making contact.

Duo looked very thoughtful at that.

Wufei didn't seem to notice. He just shifted a little closer, until his shoulder brushed against Trowa's arm.

Trowa relaxed a little.

Duo grinned.

"Come on," Heero said quietly, pushing the flap of the tent aside and gesturing for them to enter. His Others obediently filed inside.

The tent was set up like a good-sized room, rectangular and with a high, flat ceiling instead of the usual triangle shape. It was completely empty except for a few small stacks of wood and other, less flammable materials. It smelled faintly of the chemicals used to make it fire-retardant; it was clearly marked, on the outside wall, as a Fire-Training tent. The ground was bare dirt, and there were two small square holes in the ceiling for light and air.

And to let the smoke out.

Heero fastened the tent flap behind them, so that no one could just barge in. The only other people in the 'room' were Zechs and a short, lean man with iron-grey hair. He turned to look at them, and they saw that he had Wufei's dark, tilted eyes, only narrower and creased at the edges from years of squinting into the harsh light of flames. His face was broader and flatter than Wufei's, but he was quite clearly an Exotic.

Unlike Wufei, he was beaming.

He strode forward, ignoring everyone but the small boy in the Fire Talent uniform. "Chang Wufei," he said, bowing, "I am Katar. I have asked to Train you."

Wufei bowed back. He didn't reply.

Apparently, it wasn't necessary. Katar glanced at Duo, clearly expecting his assistance as Water Talent if anything went wrong, then looked back at Wufei and pointed toward a small stack of wood in the center of the open floor.

"Will you burn this, Chang, so that I may sense your power level?" He asked politely. All Trainers, whether they themselves were Talents or not, had the unique ability to sense how strong another Talent's power was, and how they could help that Talent to harness - or increase - their capabilities. They were, however, only able to sense the level of power when the Talent was actively in use.

Wufei hesitated, then glanced at Heero.

His Others hadn't realized how tense their Spirit was until he let out a breath and relaxed slightly. He nodded, and Wufei turned back to the wood.

Which promptly incinerated in Wufei's usual spectacular manner.

Katar laughed. "Strong, yes - I think strong is not quite the right word." He turned the beaming smile on Wufei, who had cringed at first like he expected to be hit.

That confused his Others a little, since they were certain, from the way Torlin and Wufei had acted around each other, that the Haven Trainer would never have hit one of his students.

Heero mentally added another item to his 'need to ask Wufei about this' list. He couldn't wait for their final Joining - when all their secrets were shared, even what they didn't remember, from the instant their newborn eyes opened on the world until their hands touched for the ritual. Some considered it invasive - it could tear a set of Others apart - drive them to insanity.

And some it made whole.

Complete.

Strong and invincible in the love and knowledge that they had for their spiritual family.

Heero was nearly certain that they would gain the latter. They just needed Wufei to trust them enough to give up his secrets. There was no way they would ever take him blindly into the final, Five-Together Joining. Not without telling him what would happen and what the result would be.

His reaction could kill them all.

Heero shook his head slightly and forced his attention back to the Trainer.

Katar was smiling at Wufei, who was hesitantly returning the look.

"Very good! Strong Fire Talent, like I expected. The Chang Clan always had strong Talents. Now - what have you been taught so far? Lighting, yes, but only fires in safe places?"

"Yes," Wufei answered quietly. "I can't do small things. It - goes badly. But I know my Heating. Torlin taught me that much."

Katar nodded. "I have heard of him - good Trainer. I don't know what he might be doing in a tiny little North village. Ah, well, I ask him when I see him. Now, little Dragon - you must learn Control."

"Control?" Duo dared to interrupt - but Duo usually would. "Why that, first? Control is fine-tuning."

The wiry little Trainer nodded again. "Yes, but he is a Chang. Your family, very powerful, but they lose control of their Talents easily. I say, if you tried lighting something little, like a torch or a candle - boom?"

"Boom," Wufei heartily agreed.

His Others all grinned.

"Your family, before they were gone," Katar continued, lsoing his own grin. "They taught you to meditate? Any at all?"

"Yes," Wufei nodded.

"Are you strong in this?"

Wufei shrugged. "I don't know."

"He can keep me out when he's meditating," Heero said softly.

Katar's grin found its regular home. "Ah, ha! Good! Now then..." he turned and picked up a box, walking out onto the dirt and sitting calmly down. He opened the lid, took out a handful of candles, and began pushing them firmly into the ground.

"You, you are Earth?" he asked suddenly, looking at Trowa.

The tall boy nodded.

"Good. You can make it hold these firm, then? They can't fall over."

"I'll take care of it."

"Good! Now, little Dragon Chang, you come and light these for me."

Wufei's eyes widened. "But..."

"Don't worry, your Others are here for a reason. Spirit can keep them from exploding - right?" The last question was directed at Heero, who nodded. A small bit of his Talent, wrapped around the wax - even if they did explode, he would be able to push them back together before they were combing wax from their hair like Alvin had claimed he once did.

Wufei handed his sword to Trowa, who took it carefully, then the Fire Talent reluctantly moved across the room and sat down where Katar indicated.

"Now - you use the techniques of meditation you learned. Close your eyes."

Wufei obeyed. Katar closed his own, as well - after giving a quick look to Heero and Duo.

"Now - you picture your Talent. Picture it as sand... not a great beach full of sand, nor a desert. A handful of sand."

"A handful," Wufei repeated, nodding.

"Sand is hard to keep in your hand; your Talent is hard to keep in proper bounds. You must keep all the sand in your grasp - only release the amount that you want to free. Understand?"

"...yes."

"Good." Katar ignored the hesitation. "Then gather your Talent into your hand, little Dragon - and light the first candle."

Wufei opened his eyes, looked at the candle - bit his lip -

- and the candle exploded.

"Ha!" Katar laughed. "Not easy, is it?" He gave Heero an appreciative nod; the candle had only gone out a half an inch before slamming back into a whole taper. "That's all right, Chang. It is not going to happen instantly. Close your eyes, gather your Talent."

Wufei frowned, but obeyed.

"Light the next candle."

Heero was a little quicker this time - it only blew out half an inch before he'd fixed it.

"Again."

*

Two hours later, Wufei was soaking wet with sweat, Heero was beginning to droop slightly, and Quatre and Duo had fallen asleep. Zechs was stretched out on his side, his head on his elbow, watching with sleepy blue eyes. Trowa was edging closer to Wufei, still keeping the candles solid in their earthen candle-holder.

Katar was still grinning. He looked as fresh and energetic as he'd looked when they first set eyes on him.

The candles were still exploding, but their deaths were getting less violent.

"Again," Katar said, earning some scowls.

Not from Wufei, though - despite looking bone-tired, he only nodded and his eyes closed briefly.

One of the candles wobbled and began to melt.

"Much better!" Katar said. "No explosion - eh, Spirit?"

"No, no explosion," Heero said, dredging up a smile for his Fire. It was an improvement.

"Again."

Heero groaned.

*

"Heero," a soft voice whispered, and a hand touched his shoulder.

Blue eyes blinked open, staring up into black. "Wufei?"

"We can go now. The Army left, but Katar says the General kept back a guard and fast horses for us. We can catch up."

Heero sat up sharply. "I fell asleep - I'm sorry, Wufei. How long was I out?"

"About two hours," Wufei said.

Heero stared, suddenly noticing that he was smiling. "...Fire? What..."

Wufei's smile broadened slightly, and he pointed to his right.

Heero's eyes slid over Duo and Quatre, curled up in their usual impression of kittens; past Trowa, who was asleep sitting up, and past Zechs, who was nodding but not quite gone. Past Katar, who was grinning like a madman.

His gaze settled on the six candles propped up in the dirt.

Every one was lit with a tiny, wavering flame.