I woke up with one hell of a hangover. I ended up spending the rest of the night in my office, completely dejected from this failure. I'd never failed a case before. Never. I was just that good. I guess there's a first time for everything. I should have wired Roddy yesterday to apologize for her husband's death. He's been missing for so long that I figured that he'd been dead. But killed by a Yakuza friend was never the way I thought this would turn out. This underworld is so dirty and I'm almost glad that this case came to an abrupt end.

I stand up from my shitty desk in my equally shitty office and smell myself; rancid. I need to head home or either down to Duo's or something. I need to feel as if I'm worth something before I go crazy with failure reeling in my head. Finally standing without feeling the whole world spin, I make my way down to the Clover, the steps seeming like I'm scaling down Mount Everest.

Finally I reach the Clover and Duo's standing at the door, sweeping again. I swear, he keeps the floors to this bar cleaner than he does his own flat.

"How did you manage to fuck up this case, Tro?" were the first words out of his mouth. The news must have reached the papers. Of course they've reached the papers, the media is worst than any hound dog.

"I don't know, Duo, I figured he was dead. Although this doesn't sit right with me somehow," I trudge into the Clover and take my usual bar stool. Duo follows me in. I notice a dewy-eyed, raven-haired girl working behind the bar and I realize that it's Hilde. I sigh and give him the worst scowl in the world. He simply rolled his eyes and continued to talk, ignoring my scowl.

"What do you mean, this case doesn't sit right with you?"

"I don't think Yuy had anything to do with Chang's disappearance or death. I think he's being set up." In all my years of being Duo's friend, I don't think I've ever seen a look come to his face like this. His violet eyes are showing what looks to be bemusement, while his mouth is twisted into a scowl.

"Trowa, I think you need to lay off the brew," he says, patting me on the back with friendly fervor.  I shrug him off with a growl of disdain.

"Don't patronize me, Duo, I'm serious,"

"I know you're serious, that's what I'm afraid of. Seriously, Trowa, you need to stop chasing a fantasy case and start facing the facts. Yuy did it. He has a motive, he has the means, and more importantly his paws are all over this. Yuy killed the Peacecraft chic and Yuy had Chang killed, it only makes sense. Now I suggest that you go get some sleep, because you have a funeral to attend later today." Duo accentuated his words with a whipping polish to the brass of his bar. I'd almost forgotten that the funeral was this afternoon. I need to get moving, I only have a few hours. I stand defiantly from the barstool and look Duo directly in the eye.

"Okay, the facts may be pointing to Yuy, but I assure you that it wasn't him. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a funeral to attend."

****

Why do all mob funerals look exactly the same? This looks exactly like the Peacecraft sendoff, only this time the Triads are all lined up in front of the casket. I'm not crashing this funeral; I was invited by Roddy herself.  Unlike the Peacecraft engagement, the Chang funeral has perfect weather. The sun is shining, and though it's winter, some ravens are actually making that horrible squawking noise.  I move closer to the funeral, arriving a bit late, not wanting to be a large part. It's Roddy's day today, I know that the loss of her husband, though he was a gruff bastard, is hard for her. I finally see her; she's surrounded by a group of large, burly men. Quatre is holding her hand as they lower the casket into the grave. She steps forward and throws a single, crimson rose over the casket. I see her adjust her hat and a single tear fall from her eye.

"I'm sorry Roddy," I say to myself. And as if she hears me, our eyes meet over the crowd. I walk closer as the crowd starts to disperse. Quatre hugs her, kisses her on the cheek, and whispers some words that seem to comfort her into her ear. He leaves, only nodding cordially in my direction. She is the last person left at the grave and I advance ever so slowly.

"You don't have to walk slowly, I am not angry with you, Trowa," her voice sounds as normal as it could under these circumstances. I look up at her and cannot see her face. She is wearing dark glasses and a large black hat. I know this is covering her sadness. I walk faster, an apology on my lips, but she doesn't want to hear it. She raises her hand to stop me in mid-apology.

"You did the best that you could. I will send a car for you to come collect your money."

"Money? But I didn't…"

"I know. But it just seems right. You figured out who it was that was doing all of these dishonest things and I thank you. I will send a car around seven tonight if that's alright," she walks off before I can even begin to say anything. I realize that I am standing with my mouth gaping open when a small raindrop falls in it. I suppose no funeral can have perfect weather.

****

At exactly seven that night there was a knock on my door. I assumed that it was going to be Lee, the Chang's usual skittish driver. However, it was a completely different fellow. This man was taller, burlier, and as cool as a fan. He greeted me and showed me to the waiting, familiar Triad limo. Again on the ride there my thoughts turned to how beautiful Roddy is. Other than that, I wonder what she's going to do now that her husband is dead. I suppose that she and Quatre can complete their relationship that they'd started those many years ago. Now they can do so without fear of repercussions going Quatre's way. I suppose that they're a good couple: the businessman and the gangster's widow. It seems to work out in a strange sort of way. Winner is used to being in with these sort of scum anyway.  Still, I'm worried about her. I wonder if she'll let me take care of her. Though Roddy doesn't seem like the woman that needs to be taken care of. She does need a bit of love though. She's a bit too hard to be as damn classy as she is, but who am I to judge. I judge all women by the standards of my sister. I really do need to settle down with a nice broad. Hell, even Duo's got himself someone, though she may not be someone that I approve of. Hilde ain't that bad. She's a bit rough around the edges, but ain't everyone.

The car comes to a smooth stop; one very different from the edgy driving of Lee. I talk to this guy on my way up to the door and he tells me that his name is Chu. He seems to be nice. At least Roddy took my advice and got herself a new driver. I was starting to worry for her safety with Lee behind the wheel. We enter the Triad mansion and I am escorted through the lofty bamboo of the front courtyard and into the familiar living room. Chu informs me that Roddy will be down soon. The nice maid brings me a cup of ginger tea and I sip until I hear petal-soft footsteps on the carpeted stair. She's radiant as she makes her way down the stairs. Her raven hair is flowing about her shoulders in silken waves. Her eyes, though swollen a bit from earlier weeping, look almost dewy and innocent. And she's wearing a simple red nightgown, complete with silk robe. I notice that she's carrying a checkbook with her and I look away.

"Here is your money, the exact amount that we agreed on, twenty-two and a half large in American dollars. That is since I've already paid you the seventy-five hundred up front," a smile lights her face and I realize that I've never seen her smile like this.  Quickly, I take the check and start for the door so as not to give in to temptation. She shakes her head up and down and starts back up the stair. I can't take it; if I'm going to hell it's going to be with this woman.

"Roddy," my voice sounds unfamiliar to me, so meek and gentle, "how's about I take you out on the town tonight. I know this sounds indecent since your husband was just killed, but I would really like to see you smile. Besides, I just got finished with this job that I screwed up royally and I have some money to burn. Who better to burn it with?" That's got to be the most honest I've ever been when asking a woman out with me. She turns and examines the situation. I can see the gears churning in her head. I can almost feel her response as it drips from her tongue.

"Why Mr. Barton, are you asking me out on a date?" she steps down a single step, slowly making her way towards me. I let out a sigh of breath, nervous at her question.

"Well… I know it sounds wrong… I shouldn't have said anything…I'm sorry I even ask…" she kissed me. I thought she was going to slap me, but her lips met mine in the best kiss that I've ever had. It's lustful and passionate and I can barely think.

"I've been wanting to do that ever since I laid eyes on you," her voice is husky and her hair a bit mussed from my persistent hands roaming through it. It's as silky as I always thought it would be. I'm shocked; she's wanted me as much as I've wanted her.

"Well… I…"

"You're speechless, how cute. Do you want to come upstairs?" she grabs my hand and slowly leads me up the stairs to her bedroom. I'm shocked, but not stupid. As soon as we're out of the view of the servants I pin her to the wall and ravish her there. Kisses everywhere. Tongues entwined, hands everywhere, groping, yearning, caressing, my lips everywhere, her hands on me, our bodies uniting in a hellish act but neither one of us gives a damn. I am in heaven, she is in heaven in this moment, and we're together, making love in heaven.

****

I'm tickling her neck, the only part not covered by the red silk sheets. How did I know that her room would be completely crimson? Everything else that is Triad is red. She giggles slightly and turns over, kissing me childishly. I notice something that I'd never seen, not even in our earlier session of lovemaking.

"You have a tattoo?" I ask, noticing the small, black yin yang being enveloped by the dragon on the small of her back. I notice her shrug away from me, so much so that she turns around completely, hiding the tattoo from my sight.

"All the Triad family members and some of those higher in the family have this tattoo. It's a symbol of unity, balance, and good fortune. With Wufei's death there will be life to some other Triad family, with our sects misfortune someone else will be fortunate and will share that fortune. Unity, balance, good fortune, I never believed that shit. Neither did Wufei, he always believed that you make your own fortune." I wrap my arms tighter around her, holding her close to me trying to make her warm.

"So, does Lee have that tattoo?" I ask, trying to make a joke. It works, she laughs cordially and turns in my arm.

"Of course not, he's just the driver."

"Where is Lee?" I ask, haphazardly, "I was beginning to get used to his edgy driving."

"He's visiting some family in China. I took your advice and gave him a break." She yawns and I can tell that she's close to sleeping. I've never felt happier, never more content that I have this day.

"I want to stay like this for a while, Roddy, if you don't mind," I say into her silky hair. I inhale the fragrance of jasmine and rose and close my eyes. She's already asleep so she didn't hear a word that I said. It's all right, I'll tell her in the morning. Everything seems to be right in the world, I suppose I did do my job. Yuy is in jail, and though Wufei and Peacecraft didn't make it out of this alive, I helped capture the culprit. I suppose I can resign myself to  believing that Yuy did it.