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Chapter One
Papa Death
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Duo and Une had just lead Helena out the door when the computer beeped. Trowa sighed, he had just been about to pour himself another cup of coffee. Walking to the living room, he saw that it wasn't an incoming message, but a warning beep from Duo's locator program. All the children that had been "adopted" by the couple had been given a necklace with a homing device hidden in a simple charm. Duo's idea, and Trowa had thought only to humor him. Howard had done a good job, developing the device. They had only been set off by accident once.
Trowa brought up the map and alarm information. It was Gina's, and was emanating from an alleyway downtown, where she would have passed on her way to school. Trowa scribbled a note to Duo and stuck it on the dining room table, grabbed his jacket, an ran out the door.
They had officially adopted Gina when she was four. The child's mother had died at the clinic, a heart attack according to Ben. She had been staying with Duo and Trowa since, and had left early this morning to start a school project. As he ran, Trowa pulled out his cell phone and called the school. He didn't have hope that the charm had just fallen off and the child was safely in her classroom, but he had to check.
"Good Morning, Belford Elementary School. How may I help you?" Michelle answered the phone.
"This is Trowa Barton. I'm just checking to see if Gina Kozlyk made it to class today."
"I'm sorry Mr. Barton. Our records indicate that your daughter is absent this morning. Should I call the truancy officer?" The woman's voice was concerned, but Trowa clenched his teeth anyway. The truancy officer was the only one to call that would actually show up, but it still irritated him.
"No, that's alright. She walked to school on her own this morning, she's only just been old enough. She probably took a wrong turn. Could you please excuse the absence, I'll just be taking her home once I find her."
"Of course Mr. Barton. I'll send her assignments home with one of the other children."
"Thank you Michelle."
He ended the call as he rounded the corner and looked into the alleyway. It was a dirty, smelly place, like all big-city alleys, and Trowa felt his stomach drop at the thought of his sweet little daughter in this place. She was afraid of rats, and wouldn't have come in here willingly. His eyes adjusted after a moment, and Trowa began scanning the asphalt for the simple gold disk, finding it almost immediately, glinting next to a discarded beach towel near the dumpster. There was so much trash and grime on everything, that even if he had been able to collect evidence, to find out what had happened, it wouldn't have done any good without a full crime scene team. Trowa clenched his fist and went to collect the charm. As an afterthought, he stood on his toes and looked into the dumpster.
The kidnappers hadn't even bothered to cover what little track they had left behind. The customary contents of Gina's pockets were in a heap on top of a large, full trash bag. Trowa collected the small pile as well. Surveying the alley, he saw nothing else that could positively be connected to Gina. His shoulders slumped and he began the trek home, as quickly as he could.
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Duo walked back into his house, after wishing Helena a good day at school and telling her to relax, to find a note from Trowa instead of the man himself.
Locator program alarm. Going to investigate. ~T.
It was odd. Trowa didn't like the locator program, and had just agreed to help set it up because Duo had begged and pleaded for months on end. The charms had been entirely Duo's idea, his "working" name proudly displayed on the children he was determined to keep safe. Just as Duo was going to look at the program himself, Trowa walked in through the front door. His face was pale and tense, bringing out the worry lines in his forehead, and his green eyes looked dim and troubled. For a moment, Duo was struck by how old his beloved looked, tired and weighed down. Without another thought, Duo walked up to him and pulled him into his arms. Trowa returned the embrace with surprising strength, taking deep shuddering breaths. They were silent for long minutes, until Duo's curiosity and worry got the better of his instinct to comfort.
"What it is, Love?" Without a word, Trowa pressed what he was holding into Duo's hand. It was one of the locator charms, the simple gold disk winking in the light, Duo's moniker engraved on one side. "Shinigami." It was supposed to be a threat to the people harming his children, but seeing it filled Duo with a dread. "Who?" He asked in a tight whisper.
"Gina. She never made it to school. I found the charm in an alley on her rout. This stuff was in a dumpster, and I couldn't tell if the signs of a struggle were recent or not." Trowa held out his other hand, it held a piece of gum, some coins, and Gina's ID card. Duo felt the rage and despair wash through him, overwhelming for an instant, then it passed, washing away everything but what made him Shinigami.
Nobody went after his children.
Looking into fearful and determined green eyes, Duo saw a rage comparable to his own.
Nobody went after their children.
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end part one
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Ah, it's so good to be posting again, and apologies that it took so long. You'd think I could get enough writing time in a month, wouldn't you? Sigh. Anyway, please let me know what you think, either by reviewing or sending me a note at fate@unseelie.zzn.com because you know how I love feedback! ^_~
