Dragon Lady: Yay, I got another chapter out. ^_^v

Ken: *waves little flag dully* Well aren't you just typing up a storm.

Trowa: *blinks* What's wrong with you? She's updating a Digimon story too, remember.

Ken: *sighs* I'm bored.

Dragon Lady: Bored? Your not allowed to be bored. You're my muse.

Ken: One of the very reasons that I'm bored right there.

Trowa: You call life with dl boring? ///_^;;;

Dragon Lady: That's not very nice of you. =P

Ken: *shrugs indifferently* Whatever.

Trowa: ///_^;;

Dragon Lady: Um…yes, well. Anyway. I've finally gotten the second chapter of this story out. However, it's been somewhat difficult with ff.net malfunctioning. -_-;; Well, that's okay, though. Just as long as I'm able to post my stories somewhere, I'm happy. ^^;;

Ken: Yes, well, you know the saying simple minds…

Dragon Lady: You're in a surly mood today, muse. =P Go pick a fight with one of my other voices if you're that bored. Preferably not Trowa too, because he'll be helping me with this story.

Trowa: Remember to review…

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The Music Man

By: DigimgonDragonLady

"Well, let me take you down to the city hotel and get you set up," Wufei offered, making as if to rise from the bench on which they were currently seated, but Duo put out a hand to stop him.

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "I haven't decided if I'm staying or not. It all depends." Wufei nodded his understanding and they lapsed into silence for a moment. But Duo was never one to let silence stand long. "So, tell me, what do you talk about here in River City?" he asked.

"Well, the weather," Wufei answered, and then looked up at the clear evening sky overhead. "…When it's in season…"

"Now, Wufei, I need some ideas if I'm going to get your town out of the serious trouble it's in," Duo told him with a completely straight face.

"But, River City isn't in any trouble," Wufei returned.

"Not yet, anyway," Duo waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "We're going to have to create some. Must create a desperate need in your town for a boy's band."

Then Duo frowned and craned his neck to observe a cluster of people peering into a nearby window. "Say," he began curiously, "Why does everybody keep rubbering into the Billiard Parlor?"

Wufei followed his gaze. "They just got in a new pool table," he replied casually.

"Oh, they must have seen a pool table before," Duo laughed in a questioning way, a touch surprised at Wufei's answer.

"No," Wufei shook his head. "Just billiards." [1]

Duo looked thoughtful for a moment, and then snapped his fingers. "That'll do it," he nodded. "You just sit tight and watch me work," he instructed Wufei. "And remember to signal if you see that librarian."

He moved his hands in the air as if he were playing an invisible piano, and Wufei mirrored the movement, uttering an affirmative, "Right."

Duo hurried over to a man wearing a clerks apron, who was standing outside of the General Store. He grabbed the man by the arm to get his attention. "Excuse me, sir, but would you happen to be the owner of this store?"

"Yes, that's me," the man nodded.

"And has it by any chance," Duo continued quickly, "come to your attention that right next door to your fine establishment is a Billiard Parlor that has just gotten a pool table?"

"Well, yes--" he replied in confusion, but was cut off by Duo.

"Well, ya got trouble, my friend," Duo shook his head in sympathy, giving off the impression of grave seriousness. "Right here, I say trouble right here in River City."

When he was sure he had the man's complete attention, he went on. "Sure, I'm a billiard player and I'm always mighty proud to say it. I consider the hours I spend with a cue in my hand as golden. Helps you cultivate horse sense and a cool head and a keen eye. But just as I say it takes judgment, brains and maturity to score in a balk-line game, I say that any boob can take and shove a ball in a pocket. Not a respectable game at all."

At this point Duo was attracting more and more people, customers and townsfolk to listen to his speech about the immoralities of the game of pool. Wufei was impressed with his ability to draw the crowd and easily captivate their complete attention within seconds of opening his mouth. He'd almost forgotten how good Duo was at this. The man was a born actor, and at the moment, was right in his element. Duo could work with people. Any person. He focused back in on what was being said.

"I say, first medicinal wine from a teaspoon, and then beer from a bottle! And the next thing you know your son is playing for money in a pinch-back [2] suit and listenin' to some out-o'-town jasper [3] tell about horse race gamblin'," Duo appealed to the females and mothers in the crowd.

There was some scattered muttering.

"And I'm not talking about a wholesome trottin' race, mind you," Duo warned with the air of someone who was about to bestow dire news. "But a race where they set down right on the horse!" [4]

Several gasps accompanied this statement of his, and the listeners focused on Duo all the more intently. In their eyes, as it hadn't been proven otherwise, Duo was someone with a good upbringing and old fashioned sense warning them of the dangers in the world outside of River City Iowa.

"All week long your River City youth'll be fritterin' away. Noontime, suppertime, chore time, too. I'm thinking' of the kids in the knickerbockers, shirt tailed young ones peekin' in the Pool Hall window after school. Ya got trouble, folks, with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for pool!"

Duo pointed toward the Billiard Parlor, where a bunch of youngsters had already gathered, for emphasis. "Now one fine night they'll leave the Pool Hall headin' for the dance at the Armory. Libertine men and scarlet women, and ragtime[5]. Shameless music that'll grab your son, your daughter into the arms of a jungle animal instinct -- massteria!"

"Mothers of River City, heed this warning before it's too late," Duo advised. "Watch for the tell tale signs of corruption. The minute your son leaves the house, does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee? [6] Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger? A dime novel hidden in he corn crib? Are certain words creeping into his vocabulary? Words like --" Duo paused, "'Swell'? Or, 'so's your old man'?"

He nodded with conviction. "Well, if so, ya got trouble. That game with the fifteen numbered balls is the Devil's tool! Gotta figure out a way to keep the young ones moral after school."

Wufei nodded in admiration, and had to prevent himself from falling under Duo's spell as well. He suddenly remembered his role in all of this, and turned to look at the large library building down the main street, and doing a double take when he saw Heero Yuy coming their way. He slipped through the crowd to a place where he was certain Duo could clearly see him, and intentionally caught his eye. He gave the signal, jerking his head in Heero's direction.

Duo gave a slight nod, and allowed his eyes to travel to the loan figure walking down the road. He had to restrain himself from whistling in appreciation. He looked at his audience and wrapped up his presentation in a hurry.

"Now folks, let me show you what I mean. You've got six pockets in a table. Pockets that mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum, with a capital 'B' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for pool. Remember my friends, listen to me, because I pass this way just once."

With that he allowed the crowd of now concerned townsfolk to argue and debate among themselves while he headed after the librarian.

* * *

Duo walked silently behind the librarian for about half a block, observing him for a while. Duo's mind had already come to the same assessment of the librarian that Wufei had, and agreed that Heero Yuy might indeed be trouble. He decided he'd better do something in a hurry.

Duo moved quickly in around in front of Heero and tipping his hat in friendly greeting, prepared to start up a conversation. But the librarian merely ignored him and continued walking right by. Duo frowned, but he was much too determined to back down.

He pulled out a handkerchief from the breast pocket of his vest and when he had once again caught up, attempted another ploy for Heero's attention.

"Excuses me," he began, "did you drop your--"

"No."

Duo grinned at the stony response. Oh he did love a good challenge now and again, and Heero Yuy was proving to be just that.

"But, didn't I meet you in --"

"No."

Heero turned into the walkway of a house and made his way up the porch steps of his home. Duo paused just outside fence.

"I'll only be in town a short while," he said.

"Good." The front door slammed on him.

"Well, how do you like that." Duo leaned thoughtfully against the white picket fence. "Looks like this one'll be more work then I originally thought."

But an optimistic smile remained as he turned and walked away.

* * *

Heero had arrived home to find his evening pupil, Lucretzia Noin, already seated and practicing at the piano. She looked up expectantly as he came in the door.

"Am I doing all right, Mister. Yuy?" she asked anxiously.

"That's fine, Noin," he nodded absently as he set down a stack of books he was carrying on the table and moved to peer through the sitting room curtains at something outside that rather seemed to be annoying him. His eyes narrowed and he dropped them back into place as Relena entered the room.

"Oh, Heero," she smiled. "You're home. I thought I heard the front door slam."

Noin giggled softly, attempting to muffle the sound with her hand, and Relena winked at the girl as if she were a co-conspirator in some secretive scheme. Heero resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Hard day at the library?" Relena asked sympathetically. "Mrs. Kushrenada giving you trouble again?"

"And a man with a suitcase followed me home," Heero answered, nodding his head in partial agreement with her.

"Oh?" Relena was practically radiating curiosity.

"Hn." Heero grunted, and walked over to stand beside the piano. He needed to be worrying about his student before attempting to satisfy Relena's insatiable curiosity.

He nodded as he listed to Noin playing her cross hand piece. "So do la re ti mi," he recited along as she played. "A little slower and please keep the fingers curved as nice and high as you possibly can. Don't speed up," he warned her.

"Yes, Mister Yuy."

"So?" Relena pressed. "What was his name?"

"I wouldn't know," Heero responded haughtily. "I didn't ask."

"Of course you didn't," Relena gave a sigh of long suffering and mentally berated herself for having dared to hope. "But if you don't mind my saying so, it wouldn't have hurt you to find out what the gentleman wanted."

"I know what the gentleman wanted, Relena," Heero answered disdainfully. "You'll find it in Balzac [7]."

"Well, excuse me for living, but I never read it," Relena muttered.

"Neither has anyone else in this town --" Heero began in evident frustration.

Relena only shook her head. "There you go again with the same old comment about the low mentality of River City people, and taking it all too much to heart."

"As long as the Madison Public Library was entrusted to me for the purpose of improving River City's cultural level, I can't help my concern that the people of River City keep ignoring all my council and advice," Heero retorted as he listened to Noin's practicing in the background.

"But, Heero, when a woman's got a husband, and a man's got a wife, and you've got neither why should they take advise from you? Even if you can quote Balzac and Shakespeare and all those other high faluting Greeks?" Relena returned.

"Relena, if you don't mind my saying so, you have a bad habit of changing every subject."

"Now, I haven't changed the subject," she protested. "I was talking about that stranger."

"What stranger?"

"With the suitcase. Who may be your very last chance."

Heero looked mildly insulted. "Do you honestly think that I'd allow a --" he broke off angrily and took a deep, calming breath before continuing. "Now, really, Relena! I have my standards where men are concerned, and I have no intention of --"

"Oh, I know all about your standards, cousin," Relena interrupted in evident frustration. "And if you don't mind me saying so, there's not a man alive who could hope to measure up to that blend of Paul Bunyan, Saint Pat and Noah Webster that you've concocted for yourself out of your endless imagination, Iowa stubbornness, and that library full of books!"

Heero was barely aware of Noin finishing her scales as he scowled at Relena. "Well, if that isn't the best I've ever heard," he shot back indignantly.

He would have said more, but it was at that moment that Noin stood from the piano bench and curtsied. "Thank you," she said.

Heero blinked in surprise and looked at Relena in confusion, but his cousin merely shrugged.

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[1]. Billiards was played with three balls (one cue ball and two object balls) on a pocketless table. The game of Pool developed much later than billiards and used a cue ball and 15 object balls on a table with six pockets

[2]. The term "pinch-back suit" came from the word pinchbeck, meaning something serving as an imitation or substitute. "pinchbeck heroism" n : an alloy of copper and zinc that is used in cheap jewelry to imitate gold. Made of pinchbeck; sham; cheap; spurious; unreal.

[3]. Jasper = any male fellow, usually a stranger.

[4]. A trotting race was one with a horse that trots, especially one trained for harness racing, and was considered a very genteel pastime. In a horse race a jockey actually rode on the back of the horse, running much quicker than the trotting race.

[5]. A style of jazz characterized by elaborately syncopated rhythm in the melody and a steadily accented accompaniment.

[6]. Full breeches gathered and banded just below the knee (which is why moving them above the knee is such a shocking thing to do! ^^;;)

[7]. 1799-1850. French writer and a founder of the realist school of fiction. Among the great masters of the novel. Half starving in a Paris garret, he began his career by writing sensational novels to order under a pseudonym. His great work, called The Human Comedy, written over a 20-year period, is a collection of novels and stories recreating French society of the time, picturing in precise detail individuals of every class and profession.

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Dragon Lady: *breathes again* Whew.

Trowa: Oh, come on dl, it didn't take that much effort to get one little chapter out.

Dragon Lady: *sighs* You wouldn't think so. But when you're working on twenty million different stories at once…o.o;;

Ken: Your problem, not ours.

Dragon Lady: *sarcastically* Oh, thanxs, that makes me feel so UNDERappreciated. -.-

Trowa: ///_^;;;

Ken: *shrugs*

Dragon Lady: Well…there's the second chapter, if anyone really cares. I guess I should get to working on more stories now.

Trowa: Yes.

Dragon Lady: Thanks for your time, mina.

Ken: Drop us a review, please.

Dragon Lady: And then I'll see what can be done about chapter three. ^.~