The Mysterious Mansion--Part 2 --

Author’s Note: I don’t know when Relena’s birthday is, so I may have taken some liberty in that regard. However, it’s not crucial to the story.

The man at the ticket window was placing the closed sign up as the group arrived. However, as soon as he saw the small crowd, he smiled and removed it with a flourish.

“You’re just in time. We were about to close for the night,” he informed them. “How many are you?”

Miliardo quickly counted heads. “There are eleven of us.”

The man at the window nodded and grabbed a walkie-talkie. “Frank, we’ve got a few last minute takers.”

There was a cackle of static before the person on the other end replied.

“Okay, Fred,” Frank answered with a sigh. “How many groups?”

The ticket man, Fred, studied the group for a moment. “You said that you had eleven?”

Miliardo nodded. “That is correct.”

“It will be best if you could divide yourselves into four pairs and one group of three,” Fred said. “If you have too many at a time, you’ll miss part of the experience. Then you wouldn’t be getting your money’s worth.”

“I think we can manage,” Sally stated.

With a half-sinking, half-hopeful feeling, Relena turned and studied her friends. Quatre, Trowa, and Catherine would make up the group of three. Three of the pairs would be her brother and Noin, Hilde and Duo, and finally Sally and Wufei. The arrangement left her and Heero to make the fourth and final pair.

Catching Miliardo’s eye, she realized that her brother was aware of the situation as well. ‘And none too happy about it,’ she realized. However, the restraining hand Noin had placed on his arm ensured that her brother would not be making a scene.

“Good,” Fred cried. “The group of three should go first.”

The others watched Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre enter the dark building. The heavy doors slammed ominously behind them. With an almost leering smile, Fred picked up the walkie-talkie.

“Okay, Frank, the first group is heading your way.”

* * * * *

Every five minutes, Fred would order a new group to enter the building. Hilde and Duo had gleefully followed the trio. Sally and Wufei entered as the third group, leaving the remaining two pairs with Fred in the small, spooky courtyard.

Before the next group was suppose to enter, the trio emerge. All three appeared happy, since Catherine and Quatre were chattering and laughing as Trowa actually smiled. Relena had to hide a giggle at Fred’s awed expression.

“Do you enjoy yourselves?” she asked.

Catherine laughed. “Oh, you believe some of the costumes they had in there! Why, that one costume . . .”

She paused when Trowa placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t spoil it for the others, Cathy.”

She smiled. “You’re right, Trowa,” she said, as she turned back to the others. “I’ll think you’ll have fun.”

Heero gave a snort of disbelief.

“You don’t have to go, Yuy,” Miliardo said, ignoring the murderous look Noin was giving him. “I don’t know why you were even invited here in the first place.”

“I invited him,” Noin stated, drawing surprised looks from Miliardo, Heero, and Relena. “I was the one who told Duo to track Heero down. I thought it would be nice for all of us to get together without a war and to celebrate Relena’s birthday.”

“I’ve had a wonderful time, Noin,” Relena said, touched by the other woman’s thoughtfulness. “This has been one of my happiest birthdays ever.”

“Then I’m glad I went through all the trouble to arrange this,” Noin said, smiling.

“Okay, kids, it’s time for the next group,” Fred called from his window. He turned his gaze to Heero. “So, young man, are you going?”

Looking at Noin, he nodded.

“Good,” Fred cried. “Why don’t we let the older couple go first?”

Heero openly smirked as Noin halfway pulled Miliardo to the doors. The elder Peacecraft sibling did not appreciate Fred’s innocent comment. However, judging by the sparkle in the ticket man’s eyes, maybe the comment wasn’t so innocent after all.

Shortly after Miliardo and Noin had disappeared, Duo and Hilde emerge. Both were laughing heartily, earning an astonished look from Fred. As the two joined the others, the ticket man shook his head.

“I just don’t believe it,” he said. “I’ve seen some veterans of the Eve’s War come out of there as white as sheets. I have never seen one person come out of there laughing, never mind a whole group doing that.”

“No kidding,” Duo said, rubbing the back of his head.

Fred cocked his head to the side slightly. “Where are you kids from anyway?”

“Kansas,” Hilde answered, earning a giggle from Relena.

Fred turned to Relena, a suddenly thoughtful expression on his face. “I keep think I know you from somewhere, girl. I just can’t figure out where.”

“I don’t where you would know me from,” Relena said with a gentle smile. “I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

“I’m sure we’ve never met before,” Fred stated. “But I have the feeling that I know you from somewhere.”

“If you can’t remember, then it’s not important,” Heero interjected, standing almost protectively beside Relena. “Isn’t about time for us to enter?”

Checking his watch, Fred nodded. “You’re right, son. It is. Go on ahead. Enjoy.”

As soon as the doors closed behind the final pair, Fred grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Frank, see if you can make these kids stop laughing.”


Part II Author’s Note: I don’t know when Relena’s birthday is, so I may have taken some liberty in that regard. However, it’s not crucial to the story. The man at the ticket window was placing the closed sign up as the group arrived. However, as soon as he saw the small crowd, he smiled and removed it with a flourish. “You’re just in time. We were about to close for the night,” he informed them. “How many are you?” Miliardo quickly counted heads. “There are eleven of us.” The man at the window nodded and grabbed a walkie-talkie. “Frank, we’ve got a few last minute takers.” There was a cackle of static before the person on the other end replied. “Okay, Fred,” Frank answered with a sigh. “How many groups?” The ticket man, Fred, studied the group for a moment. “You said that you had eleven?” Miliardo nodded. “That is correct.” “It will be best if you could divide yourselves into four pairs and one group of three,” Fred said. “If you have too many at a time, you’ll miss part of the experience. Then you wouldn’t be getting your money’s worth.” “I think we can manage,” Sally stated. With a half-sinking, half-hopeful feeling, Relena turned and studied her friends. Quatre, Trowa, and Catherine would make up the group of three. Three of the pairs would be her brother and Noin, Hilde and Duo, and finally Sally and Wufei. The arrangement left her and Heero to make the fourth and final pair. Catching Miliardo’s eye, she realized that her brother was aware of the situation as well. ‘And none too happy about it,’ she realized. However, the restraining hand Noin had placed on his arm ensured that her brother would not be making a scene. “Good,” Fred cried. “The group of three should go first.” The others watched Catherine, Trowa, and Quatre enter the dark building. The heavy doors slammed ominously behind them. With an almost leering smile, Fred picked up the walkie-talkie. “Okay, Frank, the first group is heading your way.” * * * * * Every five minutes, Fred would order a new group to enter the building. Hilde and Duo had gleefully followed the trio. Sally and Wufei entered as the third group, leaving the remaining two pairs with Fred in the small, spooky courtyard. Before the next group was suppose to enter, the trio emerge. All three appeared happy, since Catherine and Quatre were chattering and laughing as Trowa actually smiled. Relena had to hide a giggle at Fred’s awed expression. “Do you enjoy yourselves?” she asked. Catherine laughed. “Oh, you believe some of the costumes they had in there! Why, that one costume . . .” She paused when Trowa placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t spoil it for the others, Cathy.” She smiled. “You’re right, Trowa,” she said, as she turned back to the others. “I’ll think you’ll have fun.” Heero gave a snort of disbelief. “You don’t have to go, Yuy,” Miliardo said, ignoring the murderous look Noin was giving him. “I don’t know why you were even invited here in the first place.” “I invited him,” Noin stated, drawing surprised looks from Miliardo, Heero, and Relena. “I was the one who told Duo to track Heero down. I thought it would be nice for all of us to get together without a war and to celebrate Relena’s birthday.” “I’ve had a wonderful time, Noin,” Relena said, touched by the other woman’s thoughtfulness. “This has been one of my happiest birthdays ever.” “Then I’m glad I went through all the trouble to arrange this,” Noin said, smiling. “Okay, kids, it’s time for the next group,” Fred called from his window. He turned his gaze to Heero. “So, young man, are you going?” Looking at Noin, he nodded. “Good,” Fred cried. “Why don’t we let the older couple go first?” Heero openly smirked as Noin halfway pulled Miliardo to the doors. The elder Peacecraft sibling did not appreciate Fred’s innocent comment. However, judging by the sparkle in the ticket man’s eyes, maybe the comment wasn’t so innocent after all. Shortly after Miliardo and Noin had disappeared, Duo and Hilde emerge. Both were laughing heartily, earning an astonished look from Fred. As the two joined the others, the ticket man shook his head. “I just don’t believe it,” he said. “I’ve seen some veterans of the Eve’s War come out of there as white as sheets. I have never seen one person come out of there laughing, never mind a whole group doing that.” “No kidding,” Duo said, rubbing the back of his head. Fred cocked his head to the side slightly. “Where are you kids from anyway?” “Kansas,” Hilde answered, earning a giggle from Relena. Fred turned to Relena, a suddenly thoughtful expression on his face. “I keep think I know you from somewhere, girl. I just can’t figure out where.” “I don’t where you would know me from,” Relena said with a gentle smile. “I don’t believe we’ve met before.” “I’m sure we’ve never met before,” Fred stated. “But I have the feeling that I know you from somewhere.” “If you can’t remember, then it’s not important,” Heero interjected, standing almost protectively beside Relena. “Isn’t about time for us to enter?” Checking his watch, Fred nodded. “You’re right, son. It is. Go on ahead. Enjoy.” As soon as the doors closed behind the final pair, Fred grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Frank, see if you can make these kids stop laughing.”


The Mysterious Mansion--Part III Back to Short Fanfics