Warning: we are getting to some sort of a plot here but it's not there yet?

Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own a thing.

5th thread

April 21 198

-Block G, level 2, dormitory, UPA-

Quatre was not one to dismiss other people's insecurities. Duo, on the other hand... Let's just say he was too trusting of people (the irony of that was what Heero never understood). Wufei might consider in respect of others but it was not likely he would believe (thus, defeating the whole purpose of seeking his help). Trowa, if he was not part of the picture, would choose not to comment, granted, he would help with everything he's got, only if one ask.

Why had Heero not though of it earlier? He ruffled his own hair in exasperation. Anything to happen to any of the five pilots, Quatre would be the first to know. Trowa included.

As expected, Quatre was caught up with some serious work and could afford only little time. He apologized profusely for not being able to help, despite Heero's desperate attempts to alleviate his guilt. Heero could only conclude Quatre was still being Quatre.

"You will be there when I call you back, won't you?" Quatre said over the dorm's private phone.

"Yeah, I will, by then I will have more concrete a stand, or at least a less vague understanding of my current circumstance." Heero could picture Quatre's face over the other side, holding up with an awkward smile.

"I am so, so sorry for not being able to help."

"It's okay. Besides, it's a long and messy story I have yet to sort out." Heero attempted fate again.

"Sorry that I can't help." Heero smirked at that. Yes, nothing could fight it.

"I am the one calling at the spur of the moment. Now, we are only delaying your time with your apologies, you know?" Heero tried to sound lighter, as teasing a tone he could get.

"Oh no, I am so sorry, I better get back to work." A pause. "Wait for my call?"

"Yeah"

"Um... Take care." The line went dead.

The call ended awkwardly and, not to mention, fruitlessly (since he had not even asked or told a single thing) but it only fueled Heero's determination to handled it on his own. First, to dig out the reason Trowa's circus ended up "gone".

April 23 198

-Block E, level 4, class 10, UPA-

Heero spent the whole of yesterday hacking into databases via the university's computer lab. Nothing significant turned up. And he missed the Thursday meeting of the Political Studies Club. That was too bad. However, he had managed to narrow his search to the remaining clues.

First, Trowa's circus had not gone in that metaphorical sense. There were no reports or coverage on deaths (bless them) of any traveling circus. So, it's either the circus was disbanded or there was a big, no HUGE, in capital letters, cover-up of the whole incident in which they missed the most critical witness, Trowa. However plausible the latter was, the chances of the cover-up happening in times of peace without being found out was near to... for the lack of better comparison, no one figured out Duo had a haircut when his braid was gone.

Second, since it was obvious that the circus was called off, disbanded or ended, why was it so? A trivial thing like disbanding circus would not have international coverage or hit headlines on newspapers, but surely some newspaper would report these tidbits of daily life (or whatever they like to call news for families). It was kept hushed and had Trowa boiled with an alarming rate of resentment of the whole affair when Heero prodded Trowa for more information of the 'gone' circus in the library last week. The secrecy of the whole event, plus Trowa's anger, was to be highly noted. Perhaps he could look for Catherine for information if Trowa was so tight-lipped about it. But he needed time to find Catherine, tact to approach the matter without much fuss (thus not drawing unnecessary attention) and most importantly, sensitivity to not provoke Catherine with the matter, whatever it was.

Today he turned up. (He noted Dorothy's and Trowa's absence, though.)

This time, David did not cajole him into joining the club, but rather, he treated Heero like one of them. So did the other members. And no one questioned his absence yesterday. Heero frowned. He never did say he wanted to join their club permanently, did he?

"Heero," David spoke up, jolting Heero from his thoughts "You missed out on a lot yesterday, so we would like to let you in on the ride, as well as, recap everything for sub-com."

David held a seemingly stern expression, pausing as he opened his file on the table, head down, eyes reading searching on the papers.

He spoke. "We have found out from an inside source, some 'on goings' of the Relena's faction. Some pretty scandal-clad 'on goings'." And paused.

Heero flinched. He did not like the sound of things. More, he did not like the look David had on his face.

"What that would essentially be a critical hit to Relena's faction if exposed." That smirk did no justice to reflect David's evil scheming shadow.

A/N: all 5 chapters revised and checked for errors. Note the dates are all changed.