Disclaimer: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and all its characters are copyright Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu.
The sound was enough to drive a madman sane. If it hadn't have been a family matter, he wouldn't have been there. Money? Ha! It was nothing. Honor was the reason for existing.
This is for the good of the family he reminded himself for the thousandth time since boarding the train.
"Mrow!" A tiny, silver-pelted cat pounced from the baggage hold above to land on Wufei's shoulder.
Wufei had received the cat as a gift from his niece, Shibori. She refused to be denied, stating that Shenlong's mother liked Wufei and that he was who the kitten belonged with. Shenlong was the kitten's name, but Wufei had taken to calling her Nataku since Shibori's death.
The Chinese boy didn't know why his niece had given him Nataku, but he owed it to her to keep the cat.
"No, Nataku," he chided gently. "Not now."
Someone knocked on the door to his private compartment. "Enter."
Two young girls entered, closing the door behind them. The first was in a calico dress with her longish hair done up in two braids that joined in the back. The other had on a slightly more serviceable dress with a leather vest. Her hair nearly reached the floor and she had eyes designed for intimidation.
"Hello," began the first. "I'm Relena Darilan and this is my friend Dorothy Catalonia."
Wufei didn't say anything. The girls looked like trouble. Shenlong let out a meow.
Relena's eyes grew to the size of apples. "Oh! How perfectly darling!" She rushed over to cuddle the small cat.
Wufei was on his feet; hand on the hilt of his sword before she got halfway across the cramped box. No one touches Nataku!
"Miss Relena," Dorothy said in apology as she snatched the younger girl's wrists, forcing her to stop. "It is not wise to make a run on a stranger. I think we should find another booth to ride in."
"No, Dorothy." Relena shook her wrists free. "We haven't even asked yet. Let him decide." Then to Wufei, "Do you mind if we join you?"
The girl didn't know how close to death she came. "Do as you like."
"Wonderful! Sit down, Dorothy."
Women.