To Kate- Praised! I've been praised by the reader! I was scared people wouldn't like this story for some reason. .;

To MistyPixieGal- Yay! Someone likes my writing style! I'm the happiest girl in the world!

To ZmajGoddess- I'm glad you like this. Like I told Kate, I was a little worried, but the response is good so far!

To Andrea- Yes, I do, don't I?

To Alonelyshadow- Oh, don't worry; I will. Since everyone seems to like this story so much, I'm going to treat it as a highest priority project!

To Robin- Wow, I'm just getting praise left and right on this one, aren't I?

Okay, enough celebrating. Let's get to the story already.


Duo yawned his way through World History II, waiting for lunch. It didn't help that history was the one subject he had absolutely no interest in, or that the teacher sounded like a bored spokesman at a voicebox convention. It especially didn't help that his worst enemy, one Relena Peacecraft, sat right behind him.

Relena Peacecraft was the stereotypical blond cheerleader from any given high school drama, minus the blond. She never did her work, but somehow never failed a single course. She was the queen of the school, had a huge following, and could get any boy she wanted – except Duo.

Yet the dimwit persisted, sticking love letters in his locker, writing him poems, buying him things, and professing her love for him in the lunch room at least once a week. It drove Duo bonkers.

At long last, the bell rang, and Duo bolted. He had about ten minutes to get to the cafeteria, get his lunch, and dash across the courtyard to the library. If he couldn't manage, Relena would bug him all bell, until he escaped her clutches in Russian.

Braid flying behind him, he charged around the corner and headlong into the star of the football team. Half the team must have been clogging the hall. Today was not his day.

"Sorry, dude," He apologized, backing up a bit. "Didn't see you there,"

"I bet." One of the other jocks commented sourly, glaring at Duo as if he'd just killed the dude's dog. "Probably because you were running all over the school like a baboon on crack, not caring if you ran into anyone or not."

"Look, if you wanna beat me up, can it please wait till after school?" Duo asked, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "I'm kind of in a hurry here."

"Let him go this time, Wufei," The player Duo'd bumped into said quietly. "You obviously don't know that Relena's somewhere in these halls, looking for our little friend."

"Sucks to be Maxwell, then," Wufei snorted, stepping aside just enough for Duo to squeeze past.

"I owe ya one!" Duo announced to no one in particular, worming past and taking off again.


Having survived lunch without once encountering Relena, Duo slipped into his Russian I class with a small sigh of relief. He walked over to his desk in the corner – where all his desks seemed to be – and dropped his things. He plopped into his chair with his usual lack of grace and took out his textbook. He was so engrossed in reviewing for the day's quiz that he didn't even notice when someone sat down next to him.

"So we meet again, Mr. Maxwell,"

"Argh!" Duo screamed, almost falling out of his chair. "What the-"

"Sorry; didn't mean to scare you," His new neighbor said. Duo looked up and found himself eye-to-eye with Trowa from math class.

"It's you!" Duo blurted, pulling himself back into a sitting position. "Um… I didn't mean that quite the way it sounded."

"It's okay," Trowa assured him with a curious smile. "I'm used to the reaction. Fancy us having two classes together."

"Yeah," Duo answered, feeling like a moron. He was not one to get all tongue-tied around strangers; especially not strangers around his age. He might not talk much, but he could hold his own in just about any conversation. So why was this one any different?

The bell rang, calling Duo's attention back to reality as the entire class stood to greet the teacher.

"Dobredine," Miss Porivchak said, smiling.

"Dobredine," The class responded.

"Saditen, saditen," Miss Porivchak said, waving for the class to sit. "Kak dila?"

"Harasho," The class responded, taking their seats.

"Stonovava?" Miss P asked. "What's new?"

"Oh! Oh! Me, Miz P!" One of the students in the front exclaimed, waving her arm madly to get the teacher's attention. "I'm going to Ukraine next month!"

"That's nice, Leena," Miss P smiled. The woman was always smiling. It actually creeped Duo out sometimes. "Anyone else?" No one volunteered. "In that case, we have a new student with us today! Mr. Barton, if you'll stand up, please?"

Trowa complied, smiling politely at the teacher. "Stratzvitze, Madam Porivchak," He said, half-bowing. "It's a privilege to finally meet you."

"The same here, Mr. Barton," Miss Porivchak agreed, smiling back. "Now let's get on with today's agenda, shall we?"


The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Trowa truthfully could not remember being so disappointed by that sound. His schedule had been full of Maxwell; first block, fourth block, fifth block, and sixth block, he'd been appointed a seat in front of, next to, or behind Duo, and he was not at all unhappy with that.

Unfortunately, the school day had to end sometime, and it followed that time with Duo had to end as well. So Trowa packed up his things, bid goodbye to his Geography teacher, and left for the student parking lot.

He couldn't decide if Fate was toying with him or not when he spotted Duo not far away, heading across the parking lot.

Dammit, no one should be allowed to be that beautiful! He thought irrationally, tossing his backpack into his car and climbing in himself. It was a lovely '64 convertible that Trowa and his father had restored together over the course of seven years before the man had suffered a fatal heart attack, painted black with silver accents and an intricate Chinese symbol on each door, and Trowa's greatest treasure.

Well… maybe not no oneHe amended, smiling to himself as he slid behind the wheel and started the car. After all, we all need eye candy!

"Hey, Duo!" He called, waving to catch the other brunette's attention. "Need a ride?"

Duo jumped slightly and turned towards Trowa. He opened his mouth as if to answer, then stopped, staring at the car.

"A-are you sure it wouldn't be sacrilegious?" He asked finally, shifting his backpack.

"Well…" Trowa said, making a show of acting uncertain, then grinned. "Yeah, she's a beauty, isn't she? A goddess, even. Hop in; she won't mind,"

"With pleasure," Duo said reverently, jumping over the door without opening it. "How the hell can you afford this?"

"It's called a will," Trowa explained, pulling out of the school parking lot and turning left at Duo's indication. "Claudia here was my father's once upon a time; he left her to me when he passed on."

"Oh."

"Hey, don't be embarrassed, dude!" Trowa protested, catching the depressed tone in Duo's voice. "He went the best way possible; in his sleep, painlessly. A hell of a lot better than most. Where do I turn?"

"Next left." Duo answered. "Then the third right. My place is the black one on the right."

"Black?" Trowa repeated, taking the appointed left with a raised eyebrow.

"Not my choice. D- my boss owns the place, not me. She likes unusual stuff. You should see the attic."

"What's she got up there?" Trowa asked with a slight smile, turning right and watching for a black house among the pastel ones lining the street.

"For starters, clothes that would have done Queen Victoria proud, weapons taken during castle sieges, a copy of the Bible she claims dates back to one of the first printings, and a shitload of paintings by famous people," Duo said. "And, we're here." He added, pointing to the appropriate house. There was a red Cadillac parked in the driveway, indicating that someone was home.

"Hey," Trowa said as Duo vaulted the door again.

"Yeah?"

"Think I could meet your boss?" He asked, hoping for a yes.

"Uh…"

"Oh my god, Duo, your friend's got a killer ride!" A female voice exclaimed. A woman with long brown hair pulled into a high ponytail, giant violet eyes, and an overly-ample bosom flew across the lawn, skidding to a stop just short of the hood. "This… this is… You own Claudia?" She asked, an odd catch in her voice as she stared down at the car.

"How do you know about Claudia?" Trowa demanded, killing the engine and pulling himself onto the back of the driver's seat.

"But… if this is Claudia, then you must be…" The woman trailed off, turning to Trowa with a look akin to religious epiphany in her eyes. "I can't believe Aurthor Barton's son is sitting right outside my house! In Claudia! Did you know you're famous, kid!"

"What?" Trowa asked, bewildered. "How am I famous?"

"Aurthor went, Claudia disappeared from the streets, and the heir to the Barton legacy vanished! The whole car world was falling all over itself to find you two! Stay right there!" She turned and ran back into the house, squealing.

"Um…"

"She's a car freak," Duo explained sympathetically. "I didn't pay much attention, but about a year ago, she and all her fellow car freaks went crazy looking for this one car that was supposedly legendary. I'm guessing that car was your car."

"I almost regret giving you a ride now," Trowa joked, smiling over at the other teen.

"I know the feeling,"

"Back!" And indeed she was, clutching a digital camera in both hands. "Hold still!" She exclaimed, snapping a series of pictures before tossing the camera at Duo. "Duo, take one of me on the hood, will you?" She requested, hoisting herself up on the warm metal hood with a slightly moronic grin.

"Oy ve…" Duo muttered, rolling his eyes.


And now Trowa and Death have met! I love Claudia. I'd draw her, but I suck at drawing cars… How do you like Trowa's legacy?

Sorry this chapter is so short, but I wanted to get something out before you all came through the computer and killed me.

Also, in case you were wondering, that's real Russian I used during the Russian class. I'm in Russian I, and I need the practice...