Disclaimer: I dun own them. Hell I don't technically own this plot! This story is based on The Chinese Box, one of those low budget movies that I just happened to pass by. I didn't like it as all, so I rewrote it. And I don't own GW or anything.. 'cept maybe the plot changes. Oh well, this is my pride and joy, so have fun reading it!

Pairings: 1+3, so far.
Warnings: OOC, angst! There's, like, ONE lemon scene, a lot of cuss words ('cause Duo's a potty mouth), yaoi. Oh, there's a lotta bad things that happen to some of the characters, so you might get mad. The guys are around 25 or 26-ish years old. Except Duo. He's around 22, 'cause this is an AU story. Shonen Ai so far. Deathficcy Mebbe That's about it, I guess. ^___^


The L2 Box
Part 5


After the semi-disappointing interview with Duo, I decided to go search for the answers myself. Wufie had decided to come along, his interest perked by Duo's one-of-a-kind personality. The first place was to check some of the brothels. Duo had said that he used to work in one, so it would make sense that some of his co-workers would know more about him.

It was harder than I thought. Wufei and I had gone to many and we still didn't have a single lead.

"Yuy, this is becoming a fruitless search. We've gone to at least 10 of the whorehouses and I've had at least 50 offers and 5 bloody noses. I think we should go home before I dehydrate." I had to smile at Wufie's comment. He was lightly trying to tell me to give up the search with a little humor. I wouldn't trade my friends for anything in the world. even if one stole a love of mine.

"This is the last one we're going to, alright? If one more onna gropes me, I'm going to leave right away. I have to stay loyal to my wife, you know." I smirked as we entered the last one. "Besides, you're getting a little pale, I think you need a little rest, Yuy."

There were a bunch of women walking around in the townhouse. Some were sitting on the couch having a drink with some men, laughing at some nonsense like they were paid to do. Others were just lounging around smoking and talking to each other. The smell of alcohol and sex permeated the air, making it thick and oppressing. A little black fog wafted throughout the house from the cigarettes, making my eyes water. I almost gagged as I stepped into the building. The smoke nearly choked me. I thought of the mockery. I could get lung cancer from all this secondhand smoke; and added up with the sickness I already had, I'm pretty sure I'm going to die sometime soon now.

Observing the environment, I cringed at the thought of Duo having to work in these places. These people were low class, giving their bodies for money. He had been desperate to survive. Was it the same situation with these prostitutes? They seem so low and pathetic. They faked everything. They were just paid to do whatever; to laugh, to make conversation, to have sex, to fake orgasms to the buyer could be satisfied. I might be a little bias, but I didn't consider Duo as one of them. He told me on the tape, that when he was a prostitute, he hadn't slept with anyone because they had all been afraid of him. So, I believed that he hadn't been tainted like these others. He was opposite of these people. Like I said before, despite his looks, his whole presence seemed innocent and pure, involuntarily drawing peoples' attention. While he was a bright light, these people represented the dark side of the world, showing all the corruption, greed, and filth. I have never been with a prostitute or an escort, and I will never even think about getting one. Call me old fashioned if you want to, but I look down on these people in the whorehouse. I can understand that some of them have no other way of surviving. But they'd have to do a lot more to earn my respect.

Bright red flashed in front of me and caught my attention. It was a girl, wearing crimson clothes that barely hid anything. Her hair was in tight, dark curls and the heavy make-up she wore, gave her a wicked aura.

"Hey there, you seem a little lost. Are you looking for some entertainment tonight? Or just a quick bang?" She questioned. How people can sleep with these prostitutes is beyond my comprehension.

"We're looking for the head of this brothel." I told her, hoping she could show us the way.

She frowned for a second. "Why go for her? I'm much better and a whole lot cheaper." Her ruby lipstick covered lips curved into a smile. "And just cause you're so cute, I'll give you a 50% discount. And you're friend over there," she motioned to Wufie, "Can join us to, that is, if he's into threesomes."

"Listen, Onna. We're not here for sex. We're here for business. Where's your boss?" Wufie sputtered indignantly.

"No need to get all pissy at me." She rolled her eyes and took a puff of her cigarette. "She's on the top floor, the last door on the left hallway."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"We're looking for someone named Duo, Duo Maxwell." I told the elderly, overweight woman. For the head prostitute, I had been expecting a drop-dead, gorgeous woman. But I was wrong. She was pretty damn ugly. Way too old for my tastes. Old enough for the skin to start rotting, in fact. And her teeth were yellow with little black spots here and there. It suddenly made me have the urge to brush MY own teeth.

"I know what you're thinking, I'm one hideous witch." She said, surprised both Wufei and I. "Look at this" She pulled out a photo album. It was a fairly attractive woman. "That's me, 20 years ago. Pretty hot, huh?"

"Duo Maxwell" Wufei reminded her.

"Right, right, here I'll show you what we have." She brought out stacks of albums. "If he used to work here, he should be in one of these albums. Though, I didn't think you'd swing that way." She observed Wufei. "Contact me if you ever convert, k?" I almost laughed at Wufei's horrified look at having an offer from this not-so appealing woman.

"No thank you. I have a wife." He turned her down and started browsing through the books.

I let him search around as I wandered around the room looking at the photos on the wall. One of them suddenly caught my eye. I'd recognized that unique brown hair and stoic face anywhere.

"Who is this?" I asked, pointing at the picture, trying to confirm my suspicions. The head lady came over and looked at the picture.

"Oh him? He doesn't work here anymore."

"Anymore?" I was surprised.

"Yea, he used to be one of the top sellers around here. Trowa Barton was his name. For a guy, he made a lot of money in this business. One of the very popular ones. It's a shame he gave up his career early. He had natural talent, if you know what I mean."

I was too stunned to say anything.

Trowa..?

on to part 6

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