I apologize profusely for not updating in a good... three months. Any of you who have ever suffered severe writer's block know what kind of torment I've been going through. But, it looks like I busted the hell out of the wall because, look! A new chapter! Granted, it's not very long, but it's still a new chapter! And I started chapter eight last night, so hopefully that'll write itself. We'll see. Anyway, without further ado, here's the long-awaited chapter seven!
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Sighing for the umpteenth time in a half hour, Duo settled back in the seat of their rented Explorer and watched the door to the seedy bar he had been directed to. So far a handful of people had left, but none of them fit the short, blonde, and beautiful description he had received from Trowa. He had to rely on his taller friend's help since all Hiiro had offered up was that she looked 'suspicious.' If he had gone on that alone, Duo would have been following every last person in the damned place! And then he definitely would have had to stop in for a drink.
Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Duo wondered why he had volunteered for the first watch. He wondered why anyone in their right minds would want to work at a bar. He wondered when this damned woman was going to get off of work so he could have a change of scenery when he followed her.
With all of his inner ranting, he almost missed the tiny blonde's exit as she slipped out the door and climbed into a tiny black sports car of some kind. Duo couldn't identify what it was; he never was one for cars. Give him Gundams any day.
Staying a good distance behind her, Duo maneuvered his car through the late night traffic. He parked on the side of the road when she pulled in front of what looked like a shrine. It wasn't until she got out of her car that he got a good look at her. Trowa's description had been dead on: she was gorgeous! Duo briefly wondered if it were okay to ask out the subject of an investigation, but decided against it. The last thing he needed was to be ground up into gunpowder by Hiiro.
Turning his attention back on the matter at hand, Duo watched as Usagi climbed the tower of steps and was greeted by a raven-haired woman, who was gorgeous as well. Damnit! This assignment was so cruel. Having to watch two hot women from afar was not something he was accustomed to doing. The only thing that kept him in the car was the fact that she might very well be out to hurt Relena.
Adjusting the seat to a slightly reclined position, Duo made himself comfortable for a long wait ahead of him.
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Usagi usually crashed at Rei's after working her late night to early morning shifts, so Rei was surprised when the blonde had shown up at the shrine and asked if she could stay the night. Never one to deny her best friend anything, Rei complied and led Usagi to her usual room.
It must have been a rough day for Usagi, Rei mused. She had looked exhausted, even though her shift had ended at midnight. Usagi was usually a night person and could stay up for twenty-four hours at a time, but not lately. It seemed that everything had spun in a downward spiral since that night six months ago when Usagi had called Ami in a fit of tears. All they had learned about that night was that some evil man had broken her heart, and it had changed her.
Usagi had always been easygoing and embraced the world with her whole heart. Now she was guarded, like there was a veil between her and the rest of the population. It wasn't so much extended towards her friends, but Rei still detected the faintest of distances between their once closeness, and it tore her up inside. All she wanted was for Usagi to be happy like she once was, but she just didn't know what she could do.
Brushing her bangs off her forehead in weariness, Rei watched Usagi sleep from a chair at the foot of the bed. She would take care of her friend, as long as she needed it.
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All of the silence was driving Duo crazy! He had been sitting in the car for five hours, and nothing was happening. No movement from anything, save the trees, and they weren't exactly fun to watch. He was so bored!
Grabbing the cell phone from his jacket pocket, he dialed the number to Quatre's mansion, where they were currently staying. After what seemed like forever, someone finally picked up.
"Hello?" asked Quatre in a sleepy voice.
"Quatre, get me the hell out of here!" Duo growled into the phone.
"Duo? What's going on?" Quatre was instantly alert.
"She hasn't left this place for four hours! She must be sleeping. I'm going to be sleeping soon if I don't get the hell out of here!"
"All right, all right. Hold on."
Duo could hear other voices in the background now. No doubt they were arguing over his competence, but he was too tired to care. All he wanted was to sink into his bed and sleep for a good day and a half.
"Duo?" Quatre came back on the line. "Where are you now?"
"In front of the Hikawa shrine. It's about ten minutes' walk from the mansion."
"I know where it is. Hiiro and Trowa are going to take over." Lowering his voice, Quatre told Duo, "I suggested Wufei go, but he flat-out refused to spend any of his precious time following after a stupid woman."
Duo snorted. "Some protector he is. I'll give him flack about it later."
Chuckling, Quatre said, "Can't wait to see that. Now, do you think you can walk home without falling asleep in the middle of the road?"
"Sure. No problem. Just make it soon."
"They're on their way," Quatre promised.
"Better be," Duo growled as he put his phone away. "Damn gorgeous woman," he muttered as he impatiently waited to be relieved of his watch.
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This fic is taking quite a different turn than where I originally planned it to go. Then again, I was only thinking like fic would be like three or four chapters long, so yeah, things change. But I do have ideas on where this is leading, so hopefully that'll keep the dreaded block at bay.
I want to thank everyone who is still reading this after my loooooooong hiatus, and I promise that I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I possibly can. I love you guys! Please keep reading and reviewing! Oh, and if you want to know when this is updated, leave me your e-mail addy.
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.
Sighing for the umpteenth time in a half hour, Duo settled back in the seat of their rented Explorer and watched the door to the seedy bar he had been directed to. So far a handful of people had left, but none of them fit the short, blonde, and beautiful description he had received from Trowa. He had to rely on his taller friend's help since all Hiiro had offered up was that she looked 'suspicious.' If he had gone on that alone, Duo would have been following every last person in the damned place! And then he definitely would have had to stop in for a drink.
Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Duo wondered why he had volunteered for the first watch. He wondered why anyone in their right minds would want to work at a bar. He wondered when this damned woman was going to get off of work so he could have a change of scenery when he followed her.
With all of his inner ranting, he almost missed the tiny blonde's exit as she slipped out the door and climbed into a tiny black sports car of some kind. Duo couldn't identify what it was; he never was one for cars. Give him Gundams any day.
Staying a good distance behind her, Duo maneuvered his car through the late night traffic. He parked on the side of the road when she pulled in front of what looked like a shrine. It wasn't until she got out of her car that he got a good look at her. Trowa's description had been dead on: she was gorgeous! Duo briefly wondered if it were okay to ask out the subject of an investigation, but decided against it. The last thing he needed was to be ground up into gunpowder by Hiiro.
Turning his attention back on the matter at hand, Duo watched as Usagi climbed the tower of steps and was greeted by a raven-haired woman, who was gorgeous as well. Damnit! This assignment was so cruel. Having to watch two hot women from afar was not something he was accustomed to doing. The only thing that kept him in the car was the fact that she might very well be out to hurt Relena.
Adjusting the seat to a slightly reclined position, Duo made himself comfortable for a long wait ahead of him.
.
.
.
Usagi usually crashed at Rei's after working her late night to early morning shifts, so Rei was surprised when the blonde had shown up at the shrine and asked if she could stay the night. Never one to deny her best friend anything, Rei complied and led Usagi to her usual room.
It must have been a rough day for Usagi, Rei mused. She had looked exhausted, even though her shift had ended at midnight. Usagi was usually a night person and could stay up for twenty-four hours at a time, but not lately. It seemed that everything had spun in a downward spiral since that night six months ago when Usagi had called Ami in a fit of tears. All they had learned about that night was that some evil man had broken her heart, and it had changed her.
Usagi had always been easygoing and embraced the world with her whole heart. Now she was guarded, like there was a veil between her and the rest of the population. It wasn't so much extended towards her friends, but Rei still detected the faintest of distances between their once closeness, and it tore her up inside. All she wanted was for Usagi to be happy like she once was, but she just didn't know what she could do.
Brushing her bangs off her forehead in weariness, Rei watched Usagi sleep from a chair at the foot of the bed. She would take care of her friend, as long as she needed it.
.
.
.
All of the silence was driving Duo crazy! He had been sitting in the car for five hours, and nothing was happening. No movement from anything, save the trees, and they weren't exactly fun to watch. He was so bored!
Grabbing the cell phone from his jacket pocket, he dialed the number to Quatre's mansion, where they were currently staying. After what seemed like forever, someone finally picked up.
"Hello?" asked Quatre in a sleepy voice.
"Quatre, get me the hell out of here!" Duo growled into the phone.
"Duo? What's going on?" Quatre was instantly alert.
"She hasn't left this place for four hours! She must be sleeping. I'm going to be sleeping soon if I don't get the hell out of here!"
"All right, all right. Hold on."
Duo could hear other voices in the background now. No doubt they were arguing over his competence, but he was too tired to care. All he wanted was to sink into his bed and sleep for a good day and a half.
"Duo?" Quatre came back on the line. "Where are you now?"
"In front of the Hikawa shrine. It's about ten minutes' walk from the mansion."
"I know where it is. Hiiro and Trowa are going to take over." Lowering his voice, Quatre told Duo, "I suggested Wufei go, but he flat-out refused to spend any of his precious time following after a stupid woman."
Duo snorted. "Some protector he is. I'll give him flack about it later."
Chuckling, Quatre said, "Can't wait to see that. Now, do you think you can walk home without falling asleep in the middle of the road?"
"Sure. No problem. Just make it soon."
"They're on their way," Quatre promised.
"Better be," Duo growled as he put his phone away. "Damn gorgeous woman," he muttered as he impatiently waited to be relieved of his watch.
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This fic is taking quite a different turn than where I originally planned it to go. Then again, I was only thinking like fic would be like three or four chapters long, so yeah, things change. But I do have ideas on where this is leading, so hopefully that'll keep the dreaded block at bay.
I want to thank everyone who is still reading this after my loooooooong hiatus, and I promise that I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I possibly can. I love you guys! Please keep reading and reviewing! Oh, and if you want to know when this is updated, leave me your e-mail addy.