Ten year old Relena had been in and out of foster homes for several years now. Currently she and Milliardo were at the orphanage between homes. She had been lucky that she was always placed in the same home with her brother.
Today the orphanage was abuzz with the expected visit of a wealthy family looking to adopt. Relena could care less and had planned to stay out of sight. There was a knock at her door and one of the agants entered with a couple behind her.
"This is the girl I was telling you about," said the adoption agent Donna. "She is well behaived, does well in school, and is the same age as you daughter."
The couple looked Relena over carefully as Donna proded Relena to stand. Relena felt like she was some animal being looked over for purchase.
"She will do," said the father. "Can we take her today?"
"Yes," answered Donna joyfully, "after filling out some paperwork."
The man nodded.
"What about my brother?" blurted out Relena.
The man looked at the agent questioningly.
"She has a sixteen year old brother, and they are very close," Donna answered. "Up untill now they have always been fostered together but that is getting harder and harder to do. Not many people want teenagers."
"I see," the man replied before the group left the room.
Her brother was her lifeline. The thought of going someplace without him frightened her.
Not long after someone came to her door and told her to pack her things because she was going home with the Catalonias.
~@~
Other than the fact her brother had been sent off to millitary school by Mr. Catalonias, living with the Catalonias was not horrible. She had food and clothes even if they did treat her as a second rate citizen most of the time. Relena had learned quickly to do nothing that upstaged or was better than their daughter Dorothy. It always upset her "parents" when their precious daughter came in second. Relena hatted having to hold back on something like piano lessons. Relena had lessons when she was younger and had a talent for music, while Dorothy was all thumbs when it came to playing an instrument. As for Dorothy, Relena accualy got along with her most of the time. She could be a bit prissy and stuckup at times but it was livable.
It was nice to be in one school all the time. Relena was able to make friends and have them longer than a few months. Her best friend was Hilde, and they would always do things together. Hilde had been the first person to dare befriend the "new" girl. Since Relena now had the last name of Catalonias, most people expected her to be stuckup and snobish. Her defence of not interacting with people did not help to banish their notions, but Hilde dared to break through Relena's barier and get to know the girl beneath. Relena was glad that Hilde had. It felt so good to have someone besides her brother who knew her true self and understood her. The second person Relena called friend was Quatre Raberba Winner. She found out later that his father's company was the biggest rivel to her adopted father's company, but she did not care. Quatre was one of the sweetest, kindest, and tender hearted people she had ever meet. Those traits were what helped him slip past Relena's defenses in her early days at the school, for one could not help but like him, unless you were Dorothy. Relena discovered that Quatre and Dorothy had not liked eachother since elementry, at least on Dorothy's part. She even keep in touch with her brother via her own private e-mail account that not many people knew about, expecialy her parents.
~@~
She had been with them for many years now, but in the last few months her adopted father had taken to drinking on the weekends. Dorothy and Relena suspected something had happened at work that he was not telling them. He had been coming home aggravated through the week. Since he started drinking, they had taken to avoiding him. One Saturday night Relena was not so lucky. Dorothy and her mother were out when Relena came home from Hilde's. As soon as she walked in the door he was demanding to know where she had been.
"Where have you been?"
"At Hilde's," she answered calmly.
"What were you doing there?"
"Just hanging out," answered Relena as she was beginning to be perturbed at the unusual questioning. "Mom, knew I was there."
"You should have been home!" he accused.
"Why?" she questioned which was the wrong thing to do.
"Don't' talk back to me. I should have never taken you in!" he growled.
"At times I wish you hadn't then I might still be with my brother," she muttered under her breath but he heard.
He grabbed her locket and yanked it from her neck breaking the chain.
"You need to forget them," he said coldly before storming out of the room.
Relena stood there stunned as he walked off with her most prized possession. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes as the anger welled up in her at his actions.
A few days later Mrs. Catalonias knocked on Relena's door.
"Relena, dear," she called as she entered.
Relena looked up at her mother.
"Your father wanted me to return this to you," she said holding up Relena's locket. "He had the clasp fixed after you broke it."
Relena did not contradict the misspresseption Mrs. Catalonias had and accepted her treasure. After Mrs. Catalonias left the room, Relena aprehensivly opened the locket and found the pictures still inside. She snapped it shut, fassened the chain around her neck, and tucked it under her shirt.
~@~
"Hear from you brother lately," asked Hilde and she and Relena walked home after school.
"I received an e-mail from him yesterday. He is doing well and his friend Treize is checking for legal loopholes so I can go live with him."
Once Milliardo had turned eighteen, he had tried to gain custody of his sister to no avail. The reason given was he was not financially secure. The powers that be told him, Relena was better off where she was. The Catalonias were a well known influential family and could take care of her better than a teenager who only made minimum wage. Milliardo did not give up. He set out to make himself acceptable by working his way through collage and getting a job.
"You know, even if they did find a loophole, your guardians' lawyers would find a way to close it."
"I know," Relena sighed. "I just keep thinking two more years and I can blow this place without looking over my shoulder for someone to drag me back."
"Have you ever thought of leaving now?" asked Hilde.
"I have, but where would I go. The only possible place would be Milliardo's and they would find me there. If I just ran, I could end up in a worse situation than I am in now. For the time being it is bearable," she shrugged.
"You could always run away and join the circus," teased Hilde. "It is in town."
"I can see it now. Relena the lion tamer – gets mulled by cat," she laughs. "I will be on the lookout for positions I can fill when Dorothy and I go tonight."
~@~
That evening when Dorothy and Relena came home after seeing the circus, they were confronted by Mr. Catalonias.
"Where have you been?" he demanded.
"We went to the circus. You gave us tickets, remember," stated Dorothy trying to appease her father.
He was drunk again, and the two girls knew there was no reasoning with him but Dorothy tried anyway. They knew things were not going well with the company even if they did not know what. The more things fell around him at work the more he drank. The more he drank the angrier he became, and he seemed to take it out on Relena. Three months ago he started in with yelling at her, calling her all sorts of names, and lecturing her on what she had done wrong. Relena could handle that. His opinion did not count in her book. She tuned him out and let the comments roll off of her like water, but three weeks ago he started in shaking her for not listening and had escalated to hitting. The first time it happened, it took her by surprise. The worst part was, he seemed to enjoy inflicting pain on her. She could see it in his eyes as he hit her. Dorothy would do her best to warn Relena when he was in one of his moods so she could avoid him, but neither were prepared for him to be in one when they came home.
"Don't give me that!" he roared. "You were out because of Relena. It is always Relena's fault," he declared as he got ready to slap her.
"You told us to go to the circus," repeated Dorothy as she grabbed her fathers hand to prevent the blow to Relena.
"How dare you talk back to me. She has been a bad influence on you."
He struck Dorothy for the first time. She fumbled backwards before falling over the coffee table. Relena started to go to Dorothy's aid when a hand clamped down on her arm. She could not help but wince because of the bruise she still carried there.
"You are always causing trouble. I don't know why I ever took you in!"
Before Relena could stop herself, she retorted, "Then why don't you let me go and live with my brother!"
She knew she should never have said that. He had forbade her any communication with her brother and any talk of him upset him when he was sober not to mention when he was drunk. He lashed out at her quicker than she thought humanly possible. It was over in a matter of minutes and he left the two girls crumpled on the floor as he stormed out muttering about going to the club.
Dorothy was the first to stir. She went to Relena's side and they helped each other up to their room.
"He left you in the worst shape ever," growled Dorothy as she cleaned Relena's wounds. "He is getting worse each day."
"He actually hit you today. You should have not interfered."
"And leave you to be beaten to a pulp."
"It really did not help. Ouch!!" she exclaimed as Dorothy dabbed the cut above Relena's eye with alcohol.
"You are going to look pretty battered for the next few days."
"What gave you that impression," said Relena sarcastically. "I quess
I will be 'sick' again on Monday. Your turn."
Dorothy finished with Relena and handed her the first aid kit.
"Relena, you have got to get out of here before he hurts you more than he already has."
"And let you have all the fun."
"I mean it! And don't worry about me. If he lays a hand on me again, I have a plan that will bring him to his knees. I just need more time to work out the details, and I am afraid you might not survive in the time I need. You don't deserve this."
Relena knew Dorothy might not be able to play an instrument but she was shrewd in every sence of the word when it came to dealing with people. She could always work things to her advantage when she had to. Relena never wanted to go against her in a business deal.
"No one does."
"I wish I never wanted a sister then you would not be in this mess."
"I might be in something worse," pointed out Relena.
"Is there someplace you can go?" Dorothy asked. "Your brother, maybe?"
"I already though of that. I would be found there in no time flat."
Relena pondered possibilities when Hilde's words drifted through her mind.
"I might have someplace," Relena muttered.
Dorothy looked up at her.
"You thought of someplace?"
"I might have, but it is best if I don't tell you, sorry."
"I understand. You can't tell me your plan for the same reason I can't tell you mine," she smiled understandingly.
"If all goes as plan I will disappear tomorrow."
"Do me a favor and take something with you for me and keep it safe," asked Dorothy.
"I don't know if that will be possible, but I can try."
Dorothy rummaged under her bed and pulled out a small locked box.
"Here is the keys," she said as she pulled a chain with a key off from around her neck and handed it to Relena.
Next she scribbled something down on a single scrap of paper and turned it over to Relena as well.
"It is not set up yet, but check this when you can. The more frequent the better. If something happens to me, you will find a message there, then open the box and it will be clear what I want you to do once you see what is inside. You're my back up, back up plan," Dorothy grinned deviously at Relena.
Relena wondered what Dorothy was planning but did not want to know. Relena looked at what was written on it. It was an e-mail account address and password under the Winner domain.
"How did you get an account at the Winner domain? I thought you and Quatre hated each other?" Relena questioned.
"It appears that way doesn't it," cryptically replied Dorothy.
Relena knew better than to try to figure out what Dorothy and apparently the Winner heir were planning.
~@~
Relena woke up and started placing items in a dufflebag and her backpack. She had been pondering all night the things she would need to take with her. Once she was packed she headed down stairs. It was Saturday and she knew that Mr. Catalonia would still be sleeping off last nights alcohol. She told her mom she was off to Hilde's and left the house hopping she would never return again.
Relena stood by the field where the circus had set up. She watched as things were taken down and packed away. After watching them for thirty minutes, she had an idea what she needed to do. She walked through the hustle and bushel of people loading things up like she belonged there. Relena had discovered if you looked and acted like you belonged someplace, you were rarely stopped and questioned. She peered into the truck trailers as she walked past them until she found one that suited her need. After making sure no one was watching, she walked up the ramp into the truck. It had three animal cages in it with room for one more.
"Lions, how fitting," she told herself.
She walked to the back of the truck and hid among some crates and tarps and awaited the departure. She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, the men had loaded the last cage and finished securing it before shutting the doors. She sat there quietly listening as the men laughed and talked outside the truck.
"That's the last of them. Let's get rolling."
Relena could hear trucks starting around her. She peeked out of the tarp covered side and was greeted by the site of an empty field. After twenty minutes her truck started moving. It lurched forward before starting to move. Relena could tell when the trucks finally made it to the main roadways. She settled in for a long ride and thought about what she was going to do. When they found her missing, they would call the police. They would assume she had been kidnapped or ran away. They would ask around if anyone had seen her. Relena was just ordinary looking and quiet, most people never noticed her when she was in the same room with them so she was sure none would remember seeing her this morning. They would definitely check with her brother. She made a mental note to drop him a line when she could to let him know she was alive. They would check the bus and train stations, taxies, etc. to see if she left town that way. That is what made the circus the perfect way to at least get out of town. The authorities would probably send someone to ask about her at the circus so staying with it like she had originally thought would probably not work. If she was lucky she could hop off unobserved at the next large town and not leave a trail to be followed. The idea of disappearing without a trace appealed to Relena. It would be like the earth opened up and swallowed her. She had to admit that there was a greater chance that someone from the circus would find her. She would just have to leave as little a trail as possible.
~@~
It was after 9 PM before the caravan pulled over for the night. After getting the traitor set up for the night, Trowa went to check on the cats. He opened the back gate and swung himself up with the ease of much practice. He softly cooed to the cats as he tended to them. He walked to the back of the truck to locate their food when his lantern illuminated a pair of feet. He walked over to the feet a found a girl sleeping on the extra tarps. He could guess why she was here. She looked like she had been in a fight recently. There was the cut above her eye and bruises around it and hand print shaped ones on the side of her face. Trowa gently shook her awake.
Relena was so tired and did not want to get up yet.
"Just five more minutes, Mom," she pleaded.
"I'm not you mom," said a masculine voice she did not recognize.
Relena came awake at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. She found herself staring into the face of a boy about her age with green eyes. The days events came back to her. She recognized him as one of the performers, the one in the knife throwing act.
"Well, I don't have to worry about how to introduce myself now," she thought. "Hello."
The boy did not say anything. He got up and started feeding the cats. When he finished he turned back to her and said, "Come with me!"
Relena picked up her backpack and was about to retrieve her dufflebag but was beet to it by the brunet boy. She followed him to a traitor and he gestured for her to enter. She hesitated and wondered what she had got herself into. She started to bolt when he caught her arm. She winced in pain as his hand closed around bruises that lay under her sleeve.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," the boy apologized and opened the traitor door.
"Trowa, is that you?" called a female voice from within.
"Yes," he replied while allowing Relena to enter.
"Who do we have there?" asked the female as she came from the back of the traitor.
Relena recognized her as the knife thrower.
"I found her in the truck with the lions."
The knife thrower looked Relena over, taking in her battered appearance. Then offered her hand to Relena.
"I'm Catherine, but you can call me Cathy if you like and this is my brother Trowa.
"Nice to meet you," murmured Relena.
She purposely did not give her name and her mind unsecsesfully raced for one if and when they asked for one.
"You look like you could use a warm meal," kindly said Catherine.
"I really don't want to be a bother," said Relena as she glanced around the room. "In fact, if you could just drop me off at the next large town and forget you ever saw me, we would all be better off.
"Nonsense," declared Catherine. "Why don't you go down the hall to the bathroom and wash-up," gently ordered Catherine as she gave Relena a gentle push in the hall's direction. "You will find washcloths and towels in the cabinet."
Trowa watched a small wince of pain quickly shoot across Relena's face as Catherine laid her hand on their visitor's back. Once the new arrival shut the door behind her Catherine turned to her brother, concern showing on her features.
There were always kids who would "run away to join the circus" because of a variety of petty reasons, but after Robert put them to work for their keep they usually decided that home was better than this. Catherine had no sympathy for such runaways, but very occasionally, one in desperate trouble would show up on their door step. This girl was one of those and Catherine took pity on her.
"She is in trouble," stated Cathy. "We have to help her."
Trowa nodded his agreement.
"The bruises on her face look fairly recent."
"There are others elsewhere," stated Trowa. "At least on her arm and back."
Catherine took Trowa's word for it.
"We just have to convince her to stay unless she had someplace safe to go. Who knows what will happen to her if she doesn't."
"Tread softly, Sis," Trowa said as he placed Relena's bag down and left to finish the tasks he had left.
Catherine waited for Relena to return and the two went to the kitchen. Catherine placed a second cutting board and knife on the table and motioned for Relena to sit.
"You can help me cut the vegetables," said Catherine taking the seat she had obviously been at before Trowa had brought Relena in.
Relena picked up the knife and some vegetables and started cutting. She watched Catherine quickly slice up the one she was working on. She was as skillful with knifes in the kitchen as she was in the ring.
As Catherine captured a new item on which to use her skills, she said with out looking at Relena, "You obviously do not want to tell us your name and could not think up a good one earlier so I will give you one."
Relena was unsure how to respond to this even if it was the truth. Catherine propped her chin up in the palm of her hand and looked intently at Relena.
"I think you look like a … Mary."
Relena wrinkled her nose at that name and Catherine let out a laugh.
"Don't like that one, huh. What do you think of Lisa?"
Relena rolled the name around in her mind. It was not one she would have picked out herself which might work to her advantage, and she did not dislike the name.
"That will work, but I can't promise I will always respond to it," said the newly named Lisa.
"So Lisa, what's you story?" inquired Catherine. "You don't have to tell me," she added at Lisa's hesitation.
Lisa considered what she would tell the cheerful knife thrower.
"As you probably guessed, I am a runaway," Lisa started and Catherine encouraged her to continue. "Home life was getting a bit rough and it was best to leave. They will probably be looking for me by now and will eventually come here asking about me."
"They often do come and ask about runaways," stated Catherine.
"That is why I have to leave before they come and take me back. I can't go back! I just can't!" cried Lisa almost on the verge of hysterics at the thought of what he would do to her when she was returned..
Catherine placed a reassuring hand on Lisa's shoulder.
"No one is going to make you go back," cooed Catherine. "Do you have someplace you are going?" asked Catherine with as much care and compassion as she could get in her voice.
Lisa was embarrassed by her lack of control and near breakdown.
"No," she admitted.
"Then you are staying here with us," stated Catherine in a very motherly tone.
"But, they will find me!" protested Lisa.
"Not if you don't look like you," Catherine nonchalantly pointed out.
Lisa looked confused.
"You just stay in this trailer out of sight and leave the rest to me. It will work out," promised Catherine as she checked the continence of the pots on the stove.
Lisa could not believe her luck. She had left with only an outline of a plan and now she had found an ally, she hoped.
The door opened and Trowa returned followed by another.
"Go get cleaned up!" ordered Catherine before the new arrivals had set foot in the trailer. "Supper is almost ready."
"On our way," answered a deep masculine voice.
Minutes latter two figures entered the kitchen. Jeff took in the appearance of the new girl at his table. Trowa had told his father of his discovery so he was not surprised to see her there, just the state she was in. Trowa had told him of that too, but it always turned Jeff's stomach to see some one abused.
"You must be the new stray my daughter has taken in," lightheartedly commented Jeff with a chuckle. "I'm Jeff Barton."
"Lisa," Lisa supplied very relieved that Catherine had given her a new name.
"Nice to meet you," he smiled trying to ease her apprehension that appeared since they entered the room.
"New stray?" muttered Lisa in quandary at the phrasing as the door opened again and she wondered how many more people would know she was here.
"There is the other 'stray' now," pointed out Jeff as black clad, energetic, dirt smudged boy around Lisa's age came bounding into the room with his long braid bouncing behind him and baseball cap turnd backwards on his head.
"Dinner!" he exclaimed.
"Get cleaned up, first!" demanded Catherine pointing in the direction of the bathroom with a wooden spoon.
"But, I'm hungry," whined the boy.
"Duo, you had better do as she asks, else none of us shall eat tonight," pointed out Jeff.
Duo reluctantly made his way to the indicated room.
"I never had to worry about washing up when I lived by myself," he grumbled as he left.
"And you didn't have someone else fixing you meals either," rebutted Catherine to the retreating figure.
Duo was soon back with a clean face and hands. He plopped into a chair and was ready to attack the food before him when he noticed the new addition.
"Your new!" he observed so profoundly as he pointed to Lisa.
"I wondered how long it would take you to notice," said Trowa with no emotion coloring the statement.
"Lisa, Duo Maxwell, Duo, Lisa." Introduced Catherine. "I think you have meet everyone else."
"No last name?" inquired Duo.
"Not yet," Catherine quickly responded.
Duo arched an eyebrow and looked between Catherine and Lisa before shrugging his shoulders and started passing food.
~@~
The circus halted mid-afternoon and set up the needed items. They were going to wait till tomorrow to set up the rest. Catherine returned to the trailer with a sack from one of the local drugstores.
"Come on, Lisa! I have step one to a changed you," she announced as she pulled the girl into the bathroom.
Catherine ran to her room and brought back an old shirt for Lisa to wear and pulled the contents out of the sack.
"I thought you would make a good brunet. Nothing to dark so we don't have to worry about your eyebrows not matching, but definitely darker than your hair currently is," she informed Lisa as she presented her purchase.
Catherine opened the box and pulled out the instructions. She scanned them briefly.
"You might want to put on one of my old shirts," Catherine suggested.
Lisa was reluctant to change into the short sleeved T-shirt for her arms still carried many testimonies to her recently escaped life.
"What's a matter?" delicately asked Catherine at Lisa's hesitation. "Bruises?"
Lisa nodded her head with eyes down cast. Lisa wondered at herself. Usually she did not let anything bother her or cared what others thought, but when it came to being abused she felt ashamed and didn't want anyone else to know.
"Oh, sweety," cooed Catherine as she gave Lisa a friendly reassuring hug. "It's alright. I suspected there were more than those on your face. We won't let him touch you again," she promised.
Catherine wondered how bad and to what extend Lisa had been abused. She hopped it only was battery and did not include sexual abuse. She continued to comfort the girl in her arms as Lisa burred her face in Catherine's shirt and began to softly cry.
"There, there," she mumbled softly. "You're safe with us."
Lisa could not take it any more and broke down in tears on Catherine's shoulder. She had not realized how much she missed her brother's comforting arms and soothing words until now. Catherine's actions reminded Lisa of how Milliardo consoled her when she was younger. She wished she could see her brother now but knew they would find her if she did. Her anger flared at how Mr. Catalonia had separated them and would not let her see him. Her tears dissolved with the increase of her anger. Before Lisa knew it, she was telling Catherine about her life and frustrations from adoption on. She was sure to not give any names. After bearing her soul to Catherine, Lisa could not believe how much better she felt, and she knew she had a friend she could trust and would accept her as she was.
Lisa changed into the T-shirt.
"First thing we need to do is let you hair down," said Catherine.
Lisa pulled pins and clips from her hair and slowly unbound it from around her head.
"Do you always wear you hair up?" Catherine inquired.
"I have for years," Lisa answered.
She had gotten in the habit of wearing it up and over the years it had grown. When she was adopted she did not wear it down because it made her look too much like Dorothy yet she did not want to cut it. She enjoyed letting it drape around her and down her back when she was alone in her room. It had become her own secret treasure that no one could take from her.
"It's almost as long as Duo's. Does anyone know how long it is?" asked Catherine as she brushed out the long golden brown tresses.
"Not really," Lisa answered.
"Then maybe only a change in the way you wear your hair will be needed," pondered Catherine aloud.
They began the process of dying Lisa's hair. When they were done, Lisa now had hair a shade or two lighter than Duo's. Lisa took in her new appearance. The color looked good on her.
"There you are!" declared Duo as he walked by the open door. "Wow! That's Lisa?" he asked.
Catherine nodded an affirmation.
"You sure had a lot of hair bundled up on top of you head. Who would have guessed?" Duo continued.
"I am hoping that no one will," answered Cathy. "Now to figure out a new style."
"I know," declared Duo and grabbed Lisa's hand.
He pulled her into his room and made her sit in the desk chair. He brushed out her hair and started working with it. Having someone else work with her hair was relaxing. Lisa enjoyed the feeling of Duo's fingers smoothing her hair out and expertly placing it where he wanted. She allowed her eyes to droop closed as he worked. Duo finished his task and placed a hair band at the end of the braid he had created.
"There!" he announced.
Lisa opened her eyes, looked in the mirror, and laughed as her hair fell down her back in a braid like Duo's only around six inches shorter.
"You look like siblings," observed Catherine from her spot on Trowa's bed.
Catherine's eyes sparkled as an idea hit her.
"Duo, you have just found you long lost sister… Lisa Maxwell," announced Catherine.
Four sets of shocked eyes settled on Cathy. Two belonging to Duo and Lisa. The other two belonging to Trowa and Wufei who entered the room as she made her announcement.
"Maxwell can't have a sister. One Maxwell around here is one too many," growled Wufei.
"Come on Wu-man," Duo said in a slightly hurt tone. "You know you like me and would not know what to do with out me around."
Wufei glared at Duo and snapped, "Don't call me that!"
"Anyway, we all know you don't have any family," added Wufei before his noticed Lisa who was standing behind Duo.
Lisa was not sure how to take this new boy. He came off very rough and highly agitatable. She thought it best to stay where she was, behind Duo. When Duo noticed Wufei's eyes were now focused on the girl behind him, he gently moved Lisa in front of him and introduced her.
"Wufei, this is Lisa. Lisa, Wufei."
Trowa and Catherine had informed him of the stray they had taken in and her appearance, but it had not prepared him for the battered figure he saw before him. His sharp eyes took in the faint bruising along her fore arms and was sure there was more hidden by the sleeves. The ones on her face were just beginning to heal. Wufei had seen worse, but it always angered him to see anyone abused in such a way. He did not let his anger at the person who had done this show on his face but he could not completely hide it from his voice.
"Hello," he said rather more irritably than he had planned.
"Don't let him fool you. He is all growl and no bite," Duo whispered in her ear reassuringly.
"Nice to meet you," said Lisa.
"Now all she needs is tented lenses to make her eyes violet," observed Trowa.
"It would probably help if she had some form of ID and a bit of history recorded someplace," added Wufei.
"I know just the man for the job," stated Duo before he went to the other room to use the phone.
Duo punched in some numbers and soon a young man with dark brown hair and Prussian blue eyes appeared on the screen.
"Hello," answered the young man in a monotone voice.
"Heero," enthusiastically greeted Duo, "I need a favor."
"It will cost you."
"It always does," Duo sighed. "How much or what do you want for trade?"
"It depends on what you need."
"I am in the market for a new ID with a bit of history for someone."
"How much history?" asked Heero.
"Enough to pass a general background check."
"Easy enough."
"And a pair of violet tented contacts," added Duo.
The two bickered about the amount and form of payment for five minutes before both were satisfied.
Since they had to pick the ID up from Heero in person the five piled into the car and headed off for Heero's which was a hour away. Lisa sat in the back with Trowa and Duo while Catherine drove and Wufei occasionally made comments from the passenger seat. She had only known them for less than a day, yet, she already felt comfortable with them.
They pulled into Heero's. They knocked on his door and he let the group in without a word. The first thing he did was hand Duo a case with the contacts in it. Duo turned and handed them to Lisa and instructed her on how to put them in. She cautiously placed the colored plastic disks in her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror. She was amazed at what changing the color of ones hair and eyes did to change ones appearance. She bet even Hilde would have to do a double take before realizing who she was. She turned and faced her awaiting audience. Violet eyes starring at them from beneath brown bangs.
"She could pass for Maxwell's sister," said Wufei with awe.
"But you said he has no family," pointed out Lisa. "Won't the others know I am not who I claim to be?"
"They probably will not believe you are Duo's sister but they will never voice it as an untruth especially to anyone from outside the circus who might ask," assured Cathy. "Especially when they see how you were treated before you fled," she mentally added.
"I take it that she is the one in need of a new life," stated Heero.
The group confirmed his observation.
"Then let's get started," he said as he sat at his computer. "Name?"
"Lisa Maxwell, sister to Duo Maxwell," supplied Catherine.
"I am sorry they are relating you to that trouble maker," said Heero with no inflection.
Lisa was taken aback at the statement without a hint of humor or jest in the voice as it was spoken.
Duo fained hurt at the the jab before he noticed Lisa's bewilderment.
"Heero, don't frighten the girl with your dry sence of humor," reprimanded Duo.
They continued to create details and facts for Lisa's made-up life. Once completed Heero distributed them in appropriate locations and provided her with a valid ID for her new persona.
"It should pass for any basic background check," said Heero.
They thanked Heero and prepared to go.
"Wufei," spoke Heero and through him a manila envelope, "some new info on our mutual friends."
Wufei caught the item and nodded to Heero before they walked out the door.
By the time they got back to the circus it was late and they all crashed
into their beds.
