Duo took Relena to his room and quickly locked the door. He wanted to be sure no one was listening, so he and Relena sat on the small table set farthest from the door.
"There's no time for small talk, so I'll get right to the point. Zechs was kidnapped."
Duo almost gasped. He stared wide-eyed at Relena.
"...How?... When? Who took him?"
"Calm down. We don't really know who.. but I have a hunch.."
Relena quietly took a piece of paper from her handbag.
"This was on Zech's bed..."
Relena handed the paper to Duo. Duo stared at the words for a minute and looked at Relena.
"No fingerprints...? The company of the typewriter-"
"No prints. The kidnappers used the typewriter in our building."
Relena sighed and leaned back on the chair.
Duo stared at the paper again. Relena quietly observed him and looked around the room and was surprised of how clean it was. She was expecting Duo's room to be messy, but the room reminded her of a clean unused hotel room. The bed was made, books in a neat stack, and windows were clear as crystal.
"....You said they used OZ's typewriter.... They must be a double agent then..."
Relena nodded.
"That's my guess... I've already collected profiles of suspicious soldiers... Here."
Relena handed papers to Duo. Duo stared and smiled at Relena.
"...You can become a detective, jyou-chan."
Relena smiled back.
"Elementary, my dear Watson."
Duo laughed and leaned back on the chair. He looked through the files.
"...I was thinking... Why typewriter?.."
Relena cocked her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Is there any reason why they shouldn't use a computer?"
Relena thought for a while. And suddenly, she stood up from the chair.
"The auto-save system!! All of OZ's computers are set to save everything typed and loaded..."
"Bingo."
Duo pointed at Relena. He started to divide the files.
"..What are you doing?"
Relena sat back on her chair and asked.
"Dividing the trigger-happy from computer geeks. If the kidnappers knew about the auto-saving system, we should check all the techies first."
Relena watched as Duo placed the files in different piles.
"Whoever they are...," Duo began, "..it wasn't well planned.."
Duo's hands continued to work. Relena waited.
"They could have typed the ransom note anywhere.. But instead, they used OZ's... Like it was unexpecting...."
Relena listened quietly as Duo rapidly divided the files. He was thinking and reading the files at the same time, with no mistakes. His face was deep in thought, but his hands never hesitated.
"..Something happened.. Something that made them changed their plans..."
As Duo placed the last file down, he looked at Relena.
"Something like Zechs finding out who they are."
Relena gasped. Duo leaned on the table and took the small ransom note.
"...I don't mean to offend Zechs, but if I really wanted to show OZ that I'm dead serious, I would go for Kushendra.... The Big Kahuna, if you will..."
Relena didn't know what to say. The boy she thought who'd always fool around.. just solved her mystery.. Just like that.
"..Jyou-chan?"
Duo waved his hand, wondering why Relena was just staring at him like that. Relena came to her senses and opened her mouth.
"...Amazing.. Now I know why you were chosen to be a Gundam pilot..."
Duo touched his heart, his face full of pain.
"Why, jyou-chan! I am offended."
Relena giggled and nodded.
"I was wrong about you, and I apologize. But you always act so... childish... you know.. Kind of like.. you have no worries, whatsoever.."
Duo shrugged.
"I have stuff to think about, but I don't show it. Same thing goes with my group, but I'm better at it... Hey, someone gotta be the stupid loudmouth, or we'll all be depressed..."
Relena was speechless. She never knew this side of Duo until now. She always wondered why Duo was one of the Gundam pilot.. He always made mistakes, joked around, never took things seriously... Very immature..
But the truth was, he was the most mature pilot of the group.
"..Sorry, Duo... I never knew you were so... intelligent..."
"....I'm not sure if that's a compliment.."
Relena didn't want to offend Duo, but she couldn't find the right word to use. Duo saw that Relena was quickly trying to think of what to say. He started to laugh.
"I'm kidding, jyou-chan! I'm just glad you finally realized how intelligent I am."
Duo stroked his long bangs and smiled wickedly.
"..Now, if you would just realize how good looking I am-"
"I better go. They might be worried about me.."
Relena interrupted Duo and grabbed her belongings. Duo smiled and sighed. But he looked up at Relena with a serious look.
"I may be intelligent, but Heero's brain is way beyond that. He could be more help to you, and you know it. So why me?"
Duo rested his chin on his hand and waited for an answer. Relena smiled and crossed her arms.
"Do you honestly think he would be willing to save Zechs? Come on Duo, I'm not that na�ve."
"You never know. He might do it for you."
Duo stood up from his chair and followed Relena.
"After he put a bullet through my head.. Besides, don't you owe Zechs?"
Duo froze in the middle of the room. Relena turned around.
"... How'd you know?"
Relena placed her hands on her waist.
"I have my ways."
With that, Relena turned back around and head for the door. Before she could open it, Duo's hand grabbed the knob.
"I'll take you to the door."
"Duo!"
As soon as they reached the living room, Quatre turned from the TV.
"Hey, I'm just showing Relena the way out."
Duo smiled and saw that everyone was watching a movie. Even Heero and Wufei...
"I guess there's first time for everything..."
"Oh, Okay. Nice to see you again, Relena san."
"It was nice seeing you too, Quatre. Bye, everyone."
Relena waved good bye and followed Duo.
"...I wonder what it was about..."
Quatre said quietly, while the others stared at the hallway where the two disappeared.
"So, when is this party, exactly?"
Duo asked, opening the entrance door.
"In two days. 6pm."
Relena stepped out. It was already dark and chilly outside.
"...I guess we don't have much time then... We have to come up with a plan, fast."
Relena turned to Duo.
"We don't need to. I've already got it covered."
Relena winked and started to walk to the car.
"... Relena. Just who exactly is the 'we' in our plan?"
Duo called out. Relena turned around.
"Just you and me, Duo."
Relena smiled and entered the car.
Duo just stood there, mouth hanging open.
He watched as the car drove off...
"Oi, baka, shut the door. You're letting the cool air in."
Duo yelped and turn to see Heero leaning on the wall next to him. Duo quickly closed the door.
"Uhh.. sorry. I was a little hot.. so.."
"Your teeth are chattering."
Heero strictly pointed out. Duo shut his mouth tight.
"As matter of fact, I'm cold. I should go in my room and take a hot bath. Thanks Heero!"
Duo turned back and started for his room.
"What did Relena want?"
Duo froze.
"I knew that was too easy.."
"Uhh.. she said that she told Hilde I was on a important mission so she should forgive me and... so on.. You know girls.. They're so..."
"Hn."
Heero snorted and walked pass Duo, who was obviously hesitating. Duo turned to see Heero gone and sighed.
"I can never lie to that guy!!"
Duo entered his room and sat on the same chair as before. He looked through the files.
"I should check all this by tonight.... I hope jyou-chan knows what she's doing..."
He tossed the files on the table, and took the ransom note. He looked at it over and over.
"...Two days huh? That's more than enough.... Hang on Zechs.. Don't die before I can repay you.."