04-Dec-2000
And here we go, brand spanking new Part five! Well, not that new... it's been sitting around for a couple weeks, but I get online pending Mother's good will.... heh heh....
"Ah, Karma", or A Fic for Lina! Part 5
Author: Emi-chan (Emi-chan)
Archived: I think at GW Addiction....
Warnings: light yaoi, no lemons
Back at the NYC Winner mansion, the phone rang jarringly on the desk of the now empty office, still strewn with papers. It rang four times, then stopped. Five minutes later, Trowa dialed the number again, his eyes searching the dark and forbidding street around him. He stood in a phone booth under an oasis of light from a lamppost, one of the few still working on the street. He let the phone ring four times again, but there was still no answer.
'Where could Quatre be?' Trowa wondered, hanging up the silent receiver and turning away from the booth. He stuck his hands deep in his pants pockets and made his way down the dark street. He would go over to the flat where Heero and Duo had set up base, and see if he couldn't find the golden haired boy there.
Elsewhere...
The young man in question was sitting in a well-lighted, well- decorated apartment, surrounded by several young women and staring in partial shock at the newest pair to arrive at his sister's party: a ravishing fiery-haired woman and none other than Duo Maxwell himself. Who, incidentally, was also sharing the shock at seeing Quatre there, although he should have expected it as the hostess' name WAS Winner. There was a flash of "let's pretend not to know each other" between the two boys, and introductions began in earnest.
"Sam, you're here!" cried Paige, rushing to give the red-head a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Duo, this is Paige Winner; Paige, this is my good friend Duo," introduced Sammy. The two of them shook hands.
"And this is my baby brother Quatre!" grinned Paige, gesturing Quatre to the front. He smiled a bit sheepishly at the "baby", but shook Sam and Duo's hands graciously enough. Duo slipped a discreet wink at him, to which Quatre smiled. They parted as several other people were introduced.
Ten or so minutes later, Duo and Sam were comfortable seated on one of the many couches. Enough people had arrived to the impromptu party to give them privacy, and so they were pretty much left to themselves to talk.
"So, Duo, the Winner heir ought to be able to give you a hand," Sammy said around a sip of wine cooler. Duo shook his head.
"No good, Sam. Quatre's lookin' for the same thing I am."
"Really?.. Damn."
Duo sighed and fell back into the soft cushions of the couch. "Don't tell me he was your only lead."
Sam shrugged. "He was my first guess. If I had more information about this 'Lina Inverse', I might be able to tell you which people here would know something."
Fishing around in his pocket, Duo pulled out a cell phone. "Well, that's easily solved. Lemme make a call real quick."
On the other side of town....
Heero was wide-eyed and glassy from staring at the laptop screen for hours on end. He had a crick in the neck, a sore back, and to top it all off... he was getting hungry. But there was no time for bodily concerns. Heero had made a breakthrough, and found a list of all online aliases having anything to do with "Lina Inverse." Once again, he was amazed at the immense anime fan base on the 'Net. It was almost frightening how totally some people immersed themselves in these cartoo--
Heero's stomach complained loudly. He sighed and succumbed to the flesh, getting out of his chair and walking to the small dingy kitchen that came with the flat. A quick look around showed nothing edible evident on the counters. A look in the refrigerator showed the same thing: nothing. Heero broke off the door handle of the 'fridge in frustration. Turning out of the kitchen, he grabbed his wallet and a coat, and stalked through the living room to the door with the intent to go out for some food. He opened the door...
And there Trowa stood with a surprised expression, his hand poised to knock. Heero stared at the taller boy for a moment.
"Trowa, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom. If he didn't get food soon, there would be hell to pay.
"I came looking for Quatre..." Trowa trailed off, noticing the feral look in Heero Yuy's eyes. "Heero, are you hungry?"
"Yes."
Trowa handed Heero the white paper bag he had been carrying under this coat. "I got this for Quatre, but since he apparently isn't here, you can have it."
It was snatched out of his hand with a speed that was frightening.
"What is it?"
"A sandwich, from Au Bon Pain..."
Heero tore open the package like an wolverine and had a mouth full of chicken and fresh bread in seconds. In the second after that, he was back at the laptop, searching through lists of names. Trowa shrugged and walked in, closing the door behind him.
TBC
~Emi-chan
Owner of the Daijiin no Shinigami (daijiinnoshinigami.cjb.net)
Please send comments to: Emi-chan