A/N::  Well, here ya all go, another installment to our new seasonal fic!  And, we are being purposefully sneaky about who has a crush on Allenby.  *grins*  So, enjoy the next chapter and let us know what ya think!

~Sora/Athena Masterson

"I want to become the wings…"

"FRIENDS"

SOUL HUNTER

I adjusted my fedora, dragging it lower over my eyes.  Which was both good and bad.  Good in that Allenby wouldn't recognize me, bad in that I nearly walked into three people as I navigated my way to the visa checkout counter.  Ah, the things we do for love.

I signaled the clerk who grinned at me in recognition. 

"Heya.  I have the lassie's luggage here if you'd like to take it with you."  He pointed at his feet to a suitcase, marked with Neo-Sweden tags.

I grinned and nodded.  "I can't take it with me now, Sean; I think she might recognize it.  Keep it out of sight until I come back, okay?"

He shrugged.  "Whatever floats your boat.  This is your deal."  He glanced at his watch and said, "You might want to make yourself scarce, I think her flight is due in just a few minutes from now."

I flipped up the lapels on my trench coat and nodded.  "You know what to say, right?"

Sean glared at me.  "I've dealt with actual lost luggage before, boyo.  I think I can handle your lassie."

I waved to him as I hurried off.  I had been up all morning, just waiting for her flight to arrive.  Now, it was three in the afternoon and I was nearly dancing in anticipation.  Even in my own head I sounded kind of obnoxious.  Couldn't help it really, talking to her over the computer did little for my desire to see her.  I needed to be with her, if only to see her sweet smile. 

Which was all that I'd be able to see for about a week.  I had to keep a pretty low profile over the next few days but it didn't stop me from wanting to be near her gate when she arrived.  But after that, I had to make sure she never saw me.  At least, not well enough to make any recognition.

As I waited, I wondered, not for the first time, if I weren't going a bit overboard.  I knew that she'd appreciate the trip, above all else.  I just hoped she wouldn't get too freaked out by the week as it moved on.  I didn't really think so.  The type of woman I'd seen her as would respond to such things like they were a challenge, enjoying the strangeness of them.

That only made me love her more.  That fiery spirit, the inability to back down made her more endearing to me each time I thought about her.  And, she might get a bit angry with me when she found out it was me that set all this up, but I knew, without a doubt, she could forgive me for it.  Which gave me the boost I needed to keep going with my play.

Sean's few minutes turned into a half an hour.  I alternated between sitting and standing, driving more than one person away from me in irritation.  At least, I hoped it was irritation.  More like nervousness.  It didn't help that I looked less than friendly at the moment; a hat slung so low over my eyes you'd think my head had disappeared and a dark trench coat that could have hidden a double-decker bus if I'd tried hard enough.  Boy, I sure knew how to make an impression.

Finally, my wait paid off.  Her flight arrived and she trotted down the gangway, looking as beautiful as ever.  Her eyes were bright and she took everything in with a slight smile on her face.  How she glowed.  This vacation would do more than just reveal my love to her; it would give her the relaxation I knew she so desperately needed. 

From our talks over IM and my own knowledge of her, I knew about her hectic past.  Her stolen childhood and her manipulated fighting.  Having spent most of her life training to be the 'ultimate' fighter, she deserved some time to herself.  Even if it did come with strings attached.

I had to struggle not to run up to her and wrap my arms around her.  In my current appearance, she'd probably try to break my neck.  Not the best way to start a relationship. 

Instead, I had to content myself with following behind her; close enough to keep an eye on her but far enough away to mask suspicion.  At least, I thought so.  Every now and then I could catch her glancing back.  Whether at me or the general populace, I couldn't be sure.  Each time though, I stopped and turned my head away until I was sure the coast was clear.

Eventually, we made it to the visa check line.  And true to his word, Sean went over the script smoothly.

I had to fight a grin when he told her where the luggage had been sent.

"Botswana?" she remarked.  "Are you sure?  How'd it get all the way there?"

Sean responded with a smile and a shrug.  "I'm not sure, lassie.  It's possible that when you boarded your flight, they mistook your bags for another's.  We are tracking them down as quickly as we can.  If you'll leave a number where we can reach you?"
Allenby sighed and dug through her handbag.  "Yeah. This I the hotel I'm staying at, the Neptune Arms.  I don't know the number of my room . . ."

Sean smiled.  "I know the Neptune.  Don't worry, lassie.  The moment we find it, I'll give you a ring."

Allenby sighed again and shrugged her purse up on her shoulder.  "Well, I suppose that's all you can do," she muttered.  She gathered up her visa and tucked it in her purse.  "There's really no chance that it's in Neo-Scotland?"

Sean shrugged.  "I wish it was, lassie.  That I do."

I was a little ashamed of this trick.  After all, all her personal things were in that suitcase, now sitting between Sean's feet.  But, I couldn't help myself.  Hallowe'en was my favorite holiday.  And, it seemed to possess me with this rather bizarre sense of humor.  Unfortunately for Allenby, it meant she had to suffer through my little tricks.  I just hoped she'd appreciate the treat at the end of this trip.

As Allenby walked off, Sean handed me her satchel.  "You're a cruel one," he said with a grin.

"Not cruel, just tricky."

"Let's hope she doesn't give ya a trick in return," he said, winking at me.

I waved to him as I moved off, easily locating Allenby's dark blue hair.  Farther back now, I kept her in sight as she moved through the crowd, heading for the curb.  Once there, she hailed a cab and slid in.

Luckily, I had made the hotel arrangements and I knew exactly where she was going.  I just had to make sure I made it before she did.  Which was possible with the help of my friend Dan, now driving Allenby off on a very long, unnecessary trip to her hotel.

Which meant I could take my sweet time getting there.  First, I had to stop by my own hotel and drop off a few things.  No need to go encumbered to her hotel.  I picked up a few things while I was there, items that were necessary for my next step.

My need to get there before her was crucial to the rest of my plan.  Everyday, I was planning on leaving a surprise for her, just a little something to keep her thinking.    Just one more example of my strange sense of humor at work.

Once at her hotel, I entered through a back door, left open for me by yet another friend.  If it weren't for all those guys, I doubt I'd be able to pull this off very well. 

Using a pass key, I entered her room and pulled out my surprise.  Placing it on the pillow, I arranged the slip of paper under the dried seahorse, making certain it would be the first thing she'd see.  The number '6' was clearly visible, standing out like a firebrand, oddly enough.  I suppose it would since I'd used a red marker to write it.  As for her luggage, I'd keep hold of that until tomorrow.  Then, I'd just send a courier over with it and the airline's apologies.  No reason for her to go without clean clothes for the entire trip.

Smiling to myself, I reached for the doorknob just as the lock beeped.  I froze.  She couldn't already be here?

"Damn you, Dan," I muttered, as I spun around, searching for a way out.  The room was small, only a little closet near the door and the separate bathroom.  No place to hide.  At least, nowhere to hide that she wouldn't find me in five seconds.

I nearly shouted in relief when I found my way out.  The window!  I lunged for the opening and jumped out to the fire escape, shutting the window behind me.  Once I took a look at where I was, I had a feeling I'd have more luck if I'd tried to hide inside her room.

The fire escape I was currently balancing on had seen better days.  I was four stories up and the last half of the scaffolding was long gone, rotted away by time and who knows what else. 

I kept my back to the building, careful to keep myself out of line of sight from the window.  I hadn't closed the window all the way and I could hear her walking around.  She was on the phone at the moment, most likely checking in with her superiors.  I could hear her telling them about her luggage mishap and discussing the general flight.

Satisfied that she wasn't paying attention to noise outside, I inched my way to the ladder on the scaffolding.  It creaked and groaned, keeping my heart in my throat.  It shuddered with each shift of my weight and if I didn't know any better, I could swear it was sinking downward an inch each time I moved. 

I wasn't sure how I'd get down exactly.  Even though the lower platform was gone, maybe the ladder would still reach.  Hopefully, it would be close enough to the ground that I wouldn't end up killing myself.  Once I stepped down on the last whole scaffold platform, I was a wee bit disappointed.

The ladder ended above the ground all right, but at a distance that was likely to break a leg.  I sighed as I began my descent, stopping on the last rung.  I could hear the ladder creak louder when I finally stopped moving.  Strange, I was really hoping it would stop making noise once I stopped.  It certainly wasn't a good sign.

I glanced downward and frowned.  Oh, I could make a safe landing all right.  In a dumpster.

I looked up just in time to see Allenby peek her head out the window.  With a startled yelp, I let go of the ladder and landed with a thud in the dumpster.  And what a lovely dumpster it was.  As much as I love fish, I don't like smelling like them.  And lucky for me, the Neptune shared a dumpster with the neighboring fish and chips restaurant.  Tonight's menu would have seemed quite appetizing if it weren't for the fact that I was wearing the cast offs of it.

Buried in what I could only label as crap, I looked up to see Allenby searching the alley.  Had she heard me?  Most likely but it didn't stop me from hoping.  She seemed to look everywhere but the dumpster I had to burrow deeper into.  After a few eternally long and rather odorous moments, she ducked back in, locking the window.

I sighed as I scrambled, in a rather undignified manner, out of the dumpster.  The hat and coat were a loss.  I'd have to pick up a new set.  I wadded both up and tossed them away.  Wrinkling my nose at the obvious fish smell that soaked my skin, I made my way out of the alley, heading for my rental car.  It was beginning to look as though Allenby wasn't the only one who'd face a few tricks on this trip.

Phishy – Don't worry about our other fics, they're still getting worked on.  We're just glad you're enjoying all of our work.  *grins*  So, keep an eye out!

Ryan – Doubtful that the other G Gundam fellas will show up.  And we have to keep you in the dark on Allenby's beau, it's part of the whole Hallowe'en suspense!  *grins*  It would take all the fun out of it if you knew right away!

Nuriko Metallium – Glad you're enjoying this one too!  Here's another chapter!

Lady Une-chan – Well, it won't be this chapter that you find out!  *grins*  We're being sneaky, forcing you to read the entire fic to find out.  *snickers*

Anthony – Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out who's behind all this.  *laughs*  Aren't we cruel??