Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam, or Heero, or Duo, or anything else for
that matter.
A Lady's Mask
*******Memories******* "Deuce no!!! You can't leave me!!!" "I have to Duet. for L2, for all the colonies!!! Solo would've wanted me to finish it for him." "Idiot!!! You're needed HERE!!! What about Liz? You think she's gonna like this? Solo wouldn't want you to die, or leave us all leaderless!!!" "Shut up duet! I'm going tomorrow and that's final!!!" "No way!!! Let me go instead!!! I'm so much better than you!!!" "Not a chance little sister!!!" "Why!!! Cuz I'm a girl?" "I'm not gonna do this with you again!!! Go play with Maggie!!!"
*Hah! Go play! You watch big bro, I'm the pilot in this family! Operation Meteor, huh? Well they asked for a Maxwell pilot. I'm a Maxwell too! They didn't ask for a Maxwell BOY.*
Duet Maxwell ran through the slums of L2, her chestnut pigtails streaming behind her. By the time she reached the ruins of the old Maxwell Church she was panting for breath. She raced up the broken stone steps, nearly colliding with her best friend Maggie.
"Duet! Don't run into people like that!" the petite young blonde shouted furiously. Her pale blue eyes were wide with fear.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Duet exclaimed. I'm really worried about Maggie. ever since Solo died. she misses her brother so much! Even more than I do!
"That's all right. Don't do it again." Whispered Maggie.
Duet wanted to help Maggie, but she was too excited. "Guess what Maggie! Deuce got a summons from some Professor G! He's gonna be a pilot!"
"That's awful! He'll die! Just like Solo!" Maggie looked like she'd burst into tears again.
"I know! He's a terrible pilot! That's why.
.I'm going in his place!"
"You're WHAT!!!" shouted Maggie.
"Shhhh! I don't want the whole colony to know! And DON'T tell Deuce until I'm gone, 'cuz he won't let me go either!"
"But. ARE YOU NUTS! You'll die!"
"No I won't! I'm much better than my brother. Besides, he has to stay and take care of the gang, and you and. Liz. I'm not needed here!"
"I lost Solo I'm not gonna lose you too!"
"Either Deuce dies or I MAYBE die. I have a chance. Besides, Solo would've wanted me to do this for him. he knew I was the best pilot. he wouldn't want Deuce to die needlessly when I could fight so much better. Deuce knows that. he just won't admit it. so I HAVE to run away, I HAVE to do this! Are you gonna help me?"
Sigh. She's nuts. "Of course I will. But. you're a girl. you'll never get in! And you're voice is even girly! And! Oh."
"That's why I asked you! You think of everything! Come on! He's leaving tomorrow so I'll have to leave tonight!"
2 hours later.
"TADAAA!!!!" The skinny violet-eyed girl was transformed into a (slightly effeminate) boy. with awkwardly long hair.
"I am not cutting it!!" she shouted.
"Then what's the point of a padded vest? No guy wears pigtails!"
"I promised Solo I'd never cut my hair." I watched helplessly as blood spurted from his mouth. 'Deuce, take care of the gang for me. and. my little sisters. Duet, my little Duet. don't ever cut your hair. wear it long. to remember me by. its so pretty. so pretty.'
Maggie's eyes softened. "Alright then. ummm. wear it in a ponytail.or a braid! That's it!"
In a few moments, the pigtails were unwoven, then redone into a long braid.
"Hah! You look pretty! Umm, I mean cute. uh." Maggie giggled. "So what's your name gonna be?"
"Well. the gang always calls me and Deuce The Duo, so I guess I'm Duo! Ahem (clears throat, then proceeds in deep voice) Hi! I'm Duo Maxwell!"
Duet slipped into the mobile suit hanger, and headed for the Leos. Sneering, she quietly passed the sleeping guards. "What does Deuce think he is? He could never steal food without my help, much less make off with a suit." She had snuck out of the church while Maggie went to find dinner. Her stomach protested loudly, but she knew that her blonde friend was really going to get her sister, and Liz would surely get Deuce.Sigh. "He's so stubborn. He knows it has to be me."
My brother has to take care of the gang, they depend on him to lead them. and. its selfish of me but. I want to be a pilot!. I want my name feared throughout the colonies, I want the girls of Earth to look up to me in awe. no one will hurt me again. they will all tremble in the face of Shinigami!
Duet smirked. Deuce had been appalled when she told him she believed in no god but the God of Death. After living with Father Maxwell for so long, the gang had become Catholics. But he had succumbed to Death as well. But I AM Shinigami. I cannot die!
Duet idly fingered the silver cross around her neck. She only wore it to remember Father Maxwell by, remember the only home she knew. But she had never quite fit in. The gang respected her fighting skills, and the few people close to her awed her ability to keep a cool head. But she had always distanced herself from people who wanted to be friends. On the outside she was an outgoing person, who got along with everyone. But she did not desire companionship. She remembered the school she had been enrolled in for a while.
***"Class we have some new students. From. erm. Maxwell Church." announced the teacher. Whisper whisper whisper. eew they're orphans or something.street kids. don't have parents. stay away from them! The five boys and two girls from the gang put in this particular class fidgeted nervously at the front of the room. They had been scrubbed clean, and wore oversized priest suits, with hemmed black skirts for the girls. The violet eyed boy with shoulder length chestnut hair cleared his throat.
"Hi. Umm. I'm Deuce Maxwell, and this is my sister Duet." The pigtailed girl next to him smiled brightly. She strode up to the redhead in the front seat. "Hi, I'm Duet!" she proclaimed. "This is Deuce, there's Kat, Locks, Scram, Skid, and Dash" pointing out the other five members of their street rat gang that had volunteered to attend school with The Duo. "Umm, hi." Whispered the redhead girl shyly. She smiled as the gang waved to her as they took their seats. Pretty soon, the whole class was chatting easily with its new members, thanks to Duets cheerfulness.
But inside the girl just thought 'Good. We're fitting into the school now. The others will be safe, out of my way.'
She never went back to that school. Everyone kept asking for her, for she had become quite popular in that one day. But she did not care. She wore a mask with a painted smile. She did not care for these people. She used them to keep her gang happy. She fit in so easily, but she was really detached from it all. That day, she joked around and played with everyone, but it was all fake. On the outside she seemed open, her eyes showing all of her emotions. But none of it was real. When someone told a joke she would laugh, and her eyes seemed to mirror everyone else's happiness, but on the inside she was cold, unfeeling.***
Duet shook off the memory as she hid in the shadows, making her way to the Leo near the hanger opening
Duet jumped into the Leo while the guard snored away. Within moments she had the mobile suit prepped for launch. She stole away into the night without being noticed.
Shaking nervously Duet landed the Leo on the dark side of L2, where Professor G's lab was hidden. G had left the hangar door open for her. Trembling, she pulled out her knife, and stepped off the Leo. Immediately she found herself on the ground, an arm twisted behind her head.
"Slow. Couldn't even sense me, I bet. Not what I expected at all." "Owww, hey! Let go of me you crazy old geezer!" "Hmmmph. This crazy old geezer just flipped you like a pancake!"
Duet blinked up at her captor. "G?" "Yep. And you're the Maxwell boy I sent for. Hmmm. a bit on the scrawny side. no muscle at all." "Hey I got here didn't I? And I stole a Leo to do it!" "I noticed. Well, it's worth a try. Your bunk is in the west wing. I expect you up at 0500." "Sir, yes sir!"
3 years later.
" 02 this is your new signature weapon. I have trained you on every type of gun, sword, and most other standard weapons. But 02 will always carry the scythe."
Duet held the silver rod in her right hand. She twirled it like a baton, tossing it into the air and catching it. Then she noticed the silver button, totally camouflaged on smooth, cylindrical exterior of the long pole. 3 years of training had taught her suspicion, as G often played tricks on her. However, her curiosity took over and she pushed the button. A blaze of green laser light came out of the end of the rod, nearly taking off her arm. Duet yelped and dropped the rod, as G burst out laughing.
"I really didn't expect you to push that! Then again, your sudden bouts of spontaneous irrationality never cease to amaze me!"
Scowling, Duet picked up the glowing rod. Examining it she noticed that one end was cut diagonally, useful as a spear. The other end had a swivel head that ignited the green blade. Carefully pressing the switch again, she saw that the green light curved to form an arched blade. It formed an effective scythe.
Duet experimented her new weapon by driving it into the steel workbench. It slit through the metal so cleanly she could barely feel any resistance.
Duet smirked as she held the scythe out next to her. Standing in the dim light of the professor's workroom, the dark clad figure holding the blazing scythe made a foreboding sight.
"Now I am truly. .Shinigami!"
*************************************************************
Duet strapped herself into her gundam and began prepping it for launch. She had done this hundreds of times in the past five years but today had special significance. In 0200 hours she would commence phase one in Operation Meteor. Today she would leave L2, and head for Earth. Her mission was of no consequence to her; she didn't care about the colonies or peace on earth. But the war was inevitable, so she might as well start it. She'd go out with a bang, and take as many people as she could down to hell with her.
"Open hangar doors." Called G.
The dull metallic doors slid away to reveal the starry sky all around L2, made even more beautiful by the planet Earth hanging like a glass blue marble.
Duet inhaled sharply. This world was so beautiful from L2. I wonder if this is what the moon looks like from earth. I'll find out soon enough, wont I?
Duet snapped back to reality as G appeared on the screen in front of her. "Deathscythe has coordinates for your landing site. I will send you missions either directly or you will be assigned to work with another faction. or pilot."
Duet raised her eyebrow "Pilot? What use is a pilot that's not taking orders from a faction? I get the vague idea I'm not the only kamikaze kid that "auditioned" for the part as professional assassin." She teased, while she absorbed this little slip. more pilots, huh? Damn, I'll probably have to rescue them all the time or somthin'
"Girl you are the most infuriating kid I've met. I pity any OZ soldier that meets up with you. For all my training, your best attack is still the almighty blabbermouth, annoying your enemies with senseless babbling!" G chuckled.
"Hah. I'll take that as a compliment." Duet smirked as she pushed the thrusters and shot out of the hangar bay.
. suddenly, she realized. "HEY!!! HOW DIDJA KNOW I WAS A GIRL????????
WHY YOU!!!!!
YOU COULDA TOLD ME I WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME DISGUISING MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"heeheeheehee!!! It was fun to see you squirm!!! Besides, you'll need to keep up the boy disguise. The others might not be as nice about it as me!!! Good luck pilot 02!!!" Snickering, G signed out.
"Hey!!! What others!!! Don't cut me off!!! You're messin' with the God of Death here!!! Yo!!! I'm talkin' ta u!!!"
Wing 02 pilot of Gundam Deathscythe flew into the earth's atmosphere, screaming and cursing her mentor the whole way down.
Duet groaned loudly as the infuriating boy click clicked away on his laptop. How she loathed that laptop!!! This Heero, this perfect soldier would not be manipulated.
The blonde Arab, Quatre, with his innocent face and serene eyes had been so easy to fool. He had been so happy to find another pilot to laugh with. His aquamarine eyes showed what a sweet person he was inside, while her violet ones masked her apathy with humor. She had him completely twisted around her finger, for he would never suspect such a cheerful person could be cold inside.
The Chinese warrior, Wufei, had been misled much the same way. It had only taken a few pranks and a lot of "senseless babbling" to make him blow. The stoic pilot had completely lost it after she painted Nataku pink. Duet had to admit, that was a bit much, but she needed to test his self control, as well as how far she could drive him before he started chasing her around the house. Smirking inwardly, she mused at the irony. He always said girls were weak, and whenever someone screwed up he called them a weak "onna", but this onna could manipulate his emotions with a few teases and pranks.
But pilot 03. he was different. Duet momentarily forgot her quest to annoy Heero as her thoughts turned to the pilot of Gundam Heavyarms.
Nanashi, the clown, was almost as annoying as the Perfect Soldier. Duet wore her jesters mask tight when he was around. At times, his lack of emotion rivaled even hers, but when you'd started to believe he was unfeeling, he would smile. He was actually quite handsome when he smiled.
.What!!! She could not afford to think like that! He was the one she would have to be wary of.
"Trowa Barton", as he was called, was too much like Duet for comfort. He, too, watched from afar, separated himself from the world.
He was cold, unspeaking on the outside, his eyes cool and collected, hiding his thoughts. But on rare occasions, he would let his guard down, showing the compassionate human being within. This was what disconcerted her the most he was her exact opposite.
.yet in other ways, he was just the same. They both took their names from someone else, someone long dead. Their only true names were Nanashi and Shinigami.
And he was as much the Nameless One as she was the God of Death. Both were vague about their pasts, but neither had hid it, nor had they hidden their true names.
But they took Nanashi seriously, these other Gundam pilots. They listened carefully to him, those rare times he talked. They respected him. He could make them pay attention to what he had to say. Good thing cuz he had the highest IQ of those four.
Not as high as her of course. She had read the "doctors'" reports on their five assassins. She had the best reaction time and control of her Gundam, highest IQ, most espionage and sabotage experience, and was the master of demolitions for Operation Meteor. Her hacking ability was almost as good as Heero's.
Of course she had altered all that. She kept her demolitions skill barely above the others', but everything else, she was worst at.
It would add to the image she was building. To everyone, she was a lazy, incompetent throwback from the slums of L2. No one believed she was capable of intelligent thought, for the "Duo" Maxwell they knew talked a mile a minute and was the most annoying creature alive.
No one suspected she could have killed the whole base, Maganaucs and all, and made it look like an accident. But what was the fun in that? When she would much rather drive 05 up the wall with her antics?
Absently, Duet walked out of the room and straight into Wufei. "Baka!" he shouted as the Cola he was drinking spilled over his tunic.
Grinning broadly, she looked up at the cursing boy and said in her Duo voice "Aww hey sorry 'bout that Fei-chan!!!"
"Don't call me that Maxwell!" snarled the boy, valiantly trying to wipe off his tunic. "We have a mission."
Duo groaned loudly and plopped onto the sofa, while Duet waited eagerly for the next assignment.
The rest of the team assembled and Wufei gave the microfilm containing the new orders to Heero. He flicked it into his laptop and the image of Doctor J appeared on the screen.
"OZ has several new mobile suits under construction. Our spies suggest they were modeled for Talgeese, and could be a challenge for even the Gundams.
Your mission: obtain blueprints for these new suits, then kill the architects and scientists involved in the project, and destroy the military bases manufacturing them. This must be accomplished simultaneously; one Gundam will attack one base while the other two are attacking the others.
There are three such bases: One in Cairo, Egypt, where OZ has officially announced its plans are stored. 04 and the Maganaucs will destroy that; make sure you have a lot of journalists see you level everything. They don't know that we know that's not where all the blueprints are stored.
The second base is on Midway Island. 05 will take that base.
The last base is on the coast of northern California, in Readington.(x.x) 01, 02, and 03 will be sent there, undercover as students. While 03 is attacking the base, usual style (guns blazing, kill them all before the can finish saying 'it's a Gundam!') 01 will pull out the information. To be sure we leave no traces to let them suspect he was there, 02 will plant detonators around the main computer"
"And wherever else necessary!"
Sigh. "And wherever he feels like. The resulting explosion should eradicate all traces of their presence.
03, you are enrolled in the local public high school as Tori Avalon.(x.x) 01, 02, you will be enrolled in the Elite school. For Reconnaissance. They let students tour the base often.
You are registered as Maxwell Dune and Sakura Yue (x.x).
J out." He promptly disappeared from the screen
Duet blinked, speechless for once. Quatre covered his mouth with his hand to cover his smile. (Howling with laughter) "Who gets to be the onna?" ^~^ (that's wuffie chan) "." ///.x (who else?) Heero did the only rational thing in his mind. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at Duet. You will be Sakura. Or omae o korosu." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (x.x) Nezumi watched Nelvana's dubbed Cardcaptors, cuz we lives in NYC! These li'l Cardcaptors references will show up a lot, cuz cardcaptors is Nezumi's fourth favorite anime, after Gundam Wing, Digimon, and Inuyasha! Nezumi likes to pretend we are bi polar. It makes people look at us funny. Nezumi also cannot write if our life depends on it. ********************************************************
Duet's eyes widened. "Hoe?" (x.x)
"Your new identity. Sakura Yue. You can buy clothes tomorrow. We leave in three days." Heero replied calmly.
Duet quickly overcame her shock. "Whaddaya mean ME? I say YOU can play girlie, since missions are so important to you!"
"I have the gun." He stated coolly.
Well she had no comeback ready for that. The composed Duet Maxwell had gone completely dumb at the absurdity of the situation.
"Ahem. Well you must admit you look more. feminine than Heero, with the long hair. ah. I'll shut up" muttered Quatre as he made a break for the kitchen.
"Make me some coffee!" Duet shouted after him. "I'm gonna need the caffeine...." She mumbled under her breath.
Heero switched on the safety and put the gun in. his spandex. Duet scowled and turned to look at him "You realize there's no way I'm dressin' up like a girl, right?"
"Of course you will. I'll help you."
Three heads snapped towards the pilot of Gundam Heavyarms. Duet's mouth fell open in shock as Trowa walked over to her couch and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.
But she would not lose her composure in front of these irksome males. Straightening her back and grinning broadly at Heero and Wufei, she replied "Okie-dokie then, what's my first lesson, o master?"
Trowa smirked back at her knowingly. Though she didn't show it, Duet was beginning to sweat nervously. From the look in his eyes, she was sure he knew she was a girl. "Tell you tomorrow, young grasshopper!"
O.O (O.O Trowa cracked a funny!!! Alert the press!!!)
"Hey guys five lattes right here I didn't know how much sugar you wanted so I brought the." Quatre blinked as he walked back into the room. Heero and Wufei were gawking at something behind him. He slowly turned around. And saw Duo sitting on the sofa while Trowa stood behind him, leaning forward with his hands on Duo's shoulders. Both wore insane grins on their faces.
"Ummm. guys? Did I miss something!??"
"It's PINK." Duet growled.
"Yes. Pink. It's a girl thing. To wear pink."
"Alright. Why a pink MINISKIRT?!?!?!"
"Its also a girl thing. Miniskirts are the new 'thing'. You cannot draw attention to yourself by being out of style."
"Trowa. I'm. Gonna. Kill. You."
"But first I have to do your make up."
"AAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
Trowa sobered up. "Honestly, Duo, you don't have to hide it from me. I know."
"If you think I ENJOY cross-dressing you've got another think-" Duet began
"I know you're really a girl." Trowa interrupted.
Duet calmly placed the hot pink mini on their shopping car and slowly turned around to face Trowa. "What makes you think that?" she asked coolly.
Trowa met her glare and smiled serenely. "I just do. Now, for shoes."
In one quick motion she moved next to Trowa, pulling him behind a clothing rack and away from the view of the other customers. "Move and die." Duet hissed in his ear, the heap of clothes piled over her arm hiding the gun she was now poking into her comrade's ribcage.
"I don't believe you'll use that."
He was starting to annoy her, with his cool attitude. Unfortunately, he was right. She couldn't shoot him in the middle of a mall. She slipped the gun into its holster in her boot, but kept her hold on his shirt. "If you tell ANYONE."
"Your secret is safe with me." Trowa smiled conspiratorially.
Still glaring at Trowa through slit eyes, Duet snapped. "How? Why?"
"You do not show emotion as others do. The others don't notice because they don't appreciate the value of emotion. I have spent so long not feeling emotions that. I. I can tell when someone is. faking. emotions" he shrugged, and then smiled wanly. "You smile and laugh, but your eyes reveal your true self. And, well, I doubt you've had much experience being, well, feminine. You don't want to be a boy all your life do you? When the war is over, won't you go back to being a girl?" he raised his eyebrows in askance.
Duet snapped back "in the streets its better to be a guy. 'Sides, who knows when this wars gonna end? An' anyway, I'm gonna be killed in battle. I'll die in a blaze o' glory, and take the ones that kill me down with me. That's the only way to die." she was whispering now, her head bowed low.
Trowa wrapped an arm around her, but her mind was numb. She had never thought about what would happen after the war. Would she go home? To Deuce, and Maggie, to the gang?
"Its all right, it'll turn out fine." Trowa whispered soothingly. She began sobbing into his shoulder. People gave them strange looks as they passed, but she couldn't see past her own tears.
"It'll be all right."
"Trowa?"
"Yeah Duo?"
"Call me Duet."
Heero scowled at the watch, then glanced at the door. Maxwell. why couldn't he be on time, just once?
He entered the buzzing classroom, and the chatter came to an abrupt halt.
"Ah, class this is one of our new students, Maxwell Dune."
Heero ignored the awed gazes of the female students, and the ferocious glares of the male ones. He had come to expect this sort of welcome, for he received it at every school, and assumed it was some sort of welcome for new students. He had spent the night at his dorm studying the floor plans of the school so he would be able to find his classes easily. This morning he had woken early as usual, and dressed in baggy black pants and large black t-shirt with a skull on the back. He even added a Yankees cap, worn backward, for good measure. Still scowling, he made his way to the seat appointed to him.
Class had officially begun but still no sign of his partner. Heero doubted it was because he wasn't ready yet. Duo and Trowa had spent every available moment preparing and practicing, though they refused to let anyone see what Duo looked like when he became Sakura Yue. They had become virtually inseparable, and Quatre even pouted that Trowa spent more time with Duo than the Arab.
Heero jerked up as he noticed a sudden hush in the classroom. Slowly, he turned to face the door.
A figure stood in the doorway, half hidden in the shadows.
"Ms. Yue, better late than never. Please come up here."
The figure hesitated slightly, and then boldly stepped into the light.
Heero could feel his jaw dropping as he stared at the apparition before him. She wore a long, flowing black leather trenchcoat, over a black silk top that ended just above her belly button. A silver cross dangling from a silver chain hung from her slender neck, along with a black velvet choker. Her black leather boots came up to her knees, and her black miniskirt was tiger-striped with silver. Silver hoops hung from her ears to her shoulders, and black sunglasses were slipped down her nose to reveal startling violet eyes. Long chestnut tresses framed her tall, graceful body, twirling all about her from a draft in the hall.
As Duet entered, she could feel everyone's eyes on her. She strode boldly up to the teacher, pulled off her sunglasses and tossed her head, letting her hair fly up, then set down in waves around her.
"Hi. I'm Sakura Yue."
Nezumi already posted it oce, took it down, and reposted it. We welcome crticism.
A Lady's Mask
*******Memories******* "Deuce no!!! You can't leave me!!!" "I have to Duet. for L2, for all the colonies!!! Solo would've wanted me to finish it for him." "Idiot!!! You're needed HERE!!! What about Liz? You think she's gonna like this? Solo wouldn't want you to die, or leave us all leaderless!!!" "Shut up duet! I'm going tomorrow and that's final!!!" "No way!!! Let me go instead!!! I'm so much better than you!!!" "Not a chance little sister!!!" "Why!!! Cuz I'm a girl?" "I'm not gonna do this with you again!!! Go play with Maggie!!!"
*Hah! Go play! You watch big bro, I'm the pilot in this family! Operation Meteor, huh? Well they asked for a Maxwell pilot. I'm a Maxwell too! They didn't ask for a Maxwell BOY.*
Duet Maxwell ran through the slums of L2, her chestnut pigtails streaming behind her. By the time she reached the ruins of the old Maxwell Church she was panting for breath. She raced up the broken stone steps, nearly colliding with her best friend Maggie.
"Duet! Don't run into people like that!" the petite young blonde shouted furiously. Her pale blue eyes were wide with fear.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Duet exclaimed. I'm really worried about Maggie. ever since Solo died. she misses her brother so much! Even more than I do!
"That's all right. Don't do it again." Whispered Maggie.
Duet wanted to help Maggie, but she was too excited. "Guess what Maggie! Deuce got a summons from some Professor G! He's gonna be a pilot!"
"That's awful! He'll die! Just like Solo!" Maggie looked like she'd burst into tears again.
"I know! He's a terrible pilot! That's why.
.I'm going in his place!"
"You're WHAT!!!" shouted Maggie.
"Shhhh! I don't want the whole colony to know! And DON'T tell Deuce until I'm gone, 'cuz he won't let me go either!"
"But. ARE YOU NUTS! You'll die!"
"No I won't! I'm much better than my brother. Besides, he has to stay and take care of the gang, and you and. Liz. I'm not needed here!"
"I lost Solo I'm not gonna lose you too!"
"Either Deuce dies or I MAYBE die. I have a chance. Besides, Solo would've wanted me to do this for him. he knew I was the best pilot. he wouldn't want Deuce to die needlessly when I could fight so much better. Deuce knows that. he just won't admit it. so I HAVE to run away, I HAVE to do this! Are you gonna help me?"
Sigh. She's nuts. "Of course I will. But. you're a girl. you'll never get in! And you're voice is even girly! And! Oh."
"That's why I asked you! You think of everything! Come on! He's leaving tomorrow so I'll have to leave tonight!"
2 hours later.
"TADAAA!!!!" The skinny violet-eyed girl was transformed into a (slightly effeminate) boy. with awkwardly long hair.
"I am not cutting it!!" she shouted.
"Then what's the point of a padded vest? No guy wears pigtails!"
"I promised Solo I'd never cut my hair." I watched helplessly as blood spurted from his mouth. 'Deuce, take care of the gang for me. and. my little sisters. Duet, my little Duet. don't ever cut your hair. wear it long. to remember me by. its so pretty. so pretty.'
Maggie's eyes softened. "Alright then. ummm. wear it in a ponytail.or a braid! That's it!"
In a few moments, the pigtails were unwoven, then redone into a long braid.
"Hah! You look pretty! Umm, I mean cute. uh." Maggie giggled. "So what's your name gonna be?"
"Well. the gang always calls me and Deuce The Duo, so I guess I'm Duo! Ahem (clears throat, then proceeds in deep voice) Hi! I'm Duo Maxwell!"
Duet slipped into the mobile suit hanger, and headed for the Leos. Sneering, she quietly passed the sleeping guards. "What does Deuce think he is? He could never steal food without my help, much less make off with a suit." She had snuck out of the church while Maggie went to find dinner. Her stomach protested loudly, but she knew that her blonde friend was really going to get her sister, and Liz would surely get Deuce.Sigh. "He's so stubborn. He knows it has to be me."
My brother has to take care of the gang, they depend on him to lead them. and. its selfish of me but. I want to be a pilot!. I want my name feared throughout the colonies, I want the girls of Earth to look up to me in awe. no one will hurt me again. they will all tremble in the face of Shinigami!
Duet smirked. Deuce had been appalled when she told him she believed in no god but the God of Death. After living with Father Maxwell for so long, the gang had become Catholics. But he had succumbed to Death as well. But I AM Shinigami. I cannot die!
Duet idly fingered the silver cross around her neck. She only wore it to remember Father Maxwell by, remember the only home she knew. But she had never quite fit in. The gang respected her fighting skills, and the few people close to her awed her ability to keep a cool head. But she had always distanced herself from people who wanted to be friends. On the outside she was an outgoing person, who got along with everyone. But she did not desire companionship. She remembered the school she had been enrolled in for a while.
***"Class we have some new students. From. erm. Maxwell Church." announced the teacher. Whisper whisper whisper. eew they're orphans or something.street kids. don't have parents. stay away from them! The five boys and two girls from the gang put in this particular class fidgeted nervously at the front of the room. They had been scrubbed clean, and wore oversized priest suits, with hemmed black skirts for the girls. The violet eyed boy with shoulder length chestnut hair cleared his throat.
"Hi. Umm. I'm Deuce Maxwell, and this is my sister Duet." The pigtailed girl next to him smiled brightly. She strode up to the redhead in the front seat. "Hi, I'm Duet!" she proclaimed. "This is Deuce, there's Kat, Locks, Scram, Skid, and Dash" pointing out the other five members of their street rat gang that had volunteered to attend school with The Duo. "Umm, hi." Whispered the redhead girl shyly. She smiled as the gang waved to her as they took their seats. Pretty soon, the whole class was chatting easily with its new members, thanks to Duets cheerfulness.
But inside the girl just thought 'Good. We're fitting into the school now. The others will be safe, out of my way.'
She never went back to that school. Everyone kept asking for her, for she had become quite popular in that one day. But she did not care. She wore a mask with a painted smile. She did not care for these people. She used them to keep her gang happy. She fit in so easily, but she was really detached from it all. That day, she joked around and played with everyone, but it was all fake. On the outside she seemed open, her eyes showing all of her emotions. But none of it was real. When someone told a joke she would laugh, and her eyes seemed to mirror everyone else's happiness, but on the inside she was cold, unfeeling.***
Duet shook off the memory as she hid in the shadows, making her way to the Leo near the hanger opening
Duet jumped into the Leo while the guard snored away. Within moments she had the mobile suit prepped for launch. She stole away into the night without being noticed.
Shaking nervously Duet landed the Leo on the dark side of L2, where Professor G's lab was hidden. G had left the hangar door open for her. Trembling, she pulled out her knife, and stepped off the Leo. Immediately she found herself on the ground, an arm twisted behind her head.
"Slow. Couldn't even sense me, I bet. Not what I expected at all." "Owww, hey! Let go of me you crazy old geezer!" "Hmmmph. This crazy old geezer just flipped you like a pancake!"
Duet blinked up at her captor. "G?" "Yep. And you're the Maxwell boy I sent for. Hmmm. a bit on the scrawny side. no muscle at all." "Hey I got here didn't I? And I stole a Leo to do it!" "I noticed. Well, it's worth a try. Your bunk is in the west wing. I expect you up at 0500." "Sir, yes sir!"
3 years later.
" 02 this is your new signature weapon. I have trained you on every type of gun, sword, and most other standard weapons. But 02 will always carry the scythe."
Duet held the silver rod in her right hand. She twirled it like a baton, tossing it into the air and catching it. Then she noticed the silver button, totally camouflaged on smooth, cylindrical exterior of the long pole. 3 years of training had taught her suspicion, as G often played tricks on her. However, her curiosity took over and she pushed the button. A blaze of green laser light came out of the end of the rod, nearly taking off her arm. Duet yelped and dropped the rod, as G burst out laughing.
"I really didn't expect you to push that! Then again, your sudden bouts of spontaneous irrationality never cease to amaze me!"
Scowling, Duet picked up the glowing rod. Examining it she noticed that one end was cut diagonally, useful as a spear. The other end had a swivel head that ignited the green blade. Carefully pressing the switch again, she saw that the green light curved to form an arched blade. It formed an effective scythe.
Duet experimented her new weapon by driving it into the steel workbench. It slit through the metal so cleanly she could barely feel any resistance.
Duet smirked as she held the scythe out next to her. Standing in the dim light of the professor's workroom, the dark clad figure holding the blazing scythe made a foreboding sight.
"Now I am truly. .Shinigami!"
*************************************************************
Duet strapped herself into her gundam and began prepping it for launch. She had done this hundreds of times in the past five years but today had special significance. In 0200 hours she would commence phase one in Operation Meteor. Today she would leave L2, and head for Earth. Her mission was of no consequence to her; she didn't care about the colonies or peace on earth. But the war was inevitable, so she might as well start it. She'd go out with a bang, and take as many people as she could down to hell with her.
"Open hangar doors." Called G.
The dull metallic doors slid away to reveal the starry sky all around L2, made even more beautiful by the planet Earth hanging like a glass blue marble.
Duet inhaled sharply. This world was so beautiful from L2. I wonder if this is what the moon looks like from earth. I'll find out soon enough, wont I?
Duet snapped back to reality as G appeared on the screen in front of her. "Deathscythe has coordinates for your landing site. I will send you missions either directly or you will be assigned to work with another faction. or pilot."
Duet raised her eyebrow "Pilot? What use is a pilot that's not taking orders from a faction? I get the vague idea I'm not the only kamikaze kid that "auditioned" for the part as professional assassin." She teased, while she absorbed this little slip. more pilots, huh? Damn, I'll probably have to rescue them all the time or somthin'
"Girl you are the most infuriating kid I've met. I pity any OZ soldier that meets up with you. For all my training, your best attack is still the almighty blabbermouth, annoying your enemies with senseless babbling!" G chuckled.
"Hah. I'll take that as a compliment." Duet smirked as she pushed the thrusters and shot out of the hangar bay.
. suddenly, she realized. "HEY!!! HOW DIDJA KNOW I WAS A GIRL????????
WHY YOU!!!!!
YOU COULDA TOLD ME I WOULDN'T HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME DISGUISING MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"heeheeheehee!!! It was fun to see you squirm!!! Besides, you'll need to keep up the boy disguise. The others might not be as nice about it as me!!! Good luck pilot 02!!!" Snickering, G signed out.
"Hey!!! What others!!! Don't cut me off!!! You're messin' with the God of Death here!!! Yo!!! I'm talkin' ta u!!!"
Wing 02 pilot of Gundam Deathscythe flew into the earth's atmosphere, screaming and cursing her mentor the whole way down.
Duet groaned loudly as the infuriating boy click clicked away on his laptop. How she loathed that laptop!!! This Heero, this perfect soldier would not be manipulated.
The blonde Arab, Quatre, with his innocent face and serene eyes had been so easy to fool. He had been so happy to find another pilot to laugh with. His aquamarine eyes showed what a sweet person he was inside, while her violet ones masked her apathy with humor. She had him completely twisted around her finger, for he would never suspect such a cheerful person could be cold inside.
The Chinese warrior, Wufei, had been misled much the same way. It had only taken a few pranks and a lot of "senseless babbling" to make him blow. The stoic pilot had completely lost it after she painted Nataku pink. Duet had to admit, that was a bit much, but she needed to test his self control, as well as how far she could drive him before he started chasing her around the house. Smirking inwardly, she mused at the irony. He always said girls were weak, and whenever someone screwed up he called them a weak "onna", but this onna could manipulate his emotions with a few teases and pranks.
But pilot 03. he was different. Duet momentarily forgot her quest to annoy Heero as her thoughts turned to the pilot of Gundam Heavyarms.
Nanashi, the clown, was almost as annoying as the Perfect Soldier. Duet wore her jesters mask tight when he was around. At times, his lack of emotion rivaled even hers, but when you'd started to believe he was unfeeling, he would smile. He was actually quite handsome when he smiled.
.What!!! She could not afford to think like that! He was the one she would have to be wary of.
"Trowa Barton", as he was called, was too much like Duet for comfort. He, too, watched from afar, separated himself from the world.
He was cold, unspeaking on the outside, his eyes cool and collected, hiding his thoughts. But on rare occasions, he would let his guard down, showing the compassionate human being within. This was what disconcerted her the most he was her exact opposite.
.yet in other ways, he was just the same. They both took their names from someone else, someone long dead. Their only true names were Nanashi and Shinigami.
And he was as much the Nameless One as she was the God of Death. Both were vague about their pasts, but neither had hid it, nor had they hidden their true names.
But they took Nanashi seriously, these other Gundam pilots. They listened carefully to him, those rare times he talked. They respected him. He could make them pay attention to what he had to say. Good thing cuz he had the highest IQ of those four.
Not as high as her of course. She had read the "doctors'" reports on their five assassins. She had the best reaction time and control of her Gundam, highest IQ, most espionage and sabotage experience, and was the master of demolitions for Operation Meteor. Her hacking ability was almost as good as Heero's.
Of course she had altered all that. She kept her demolitions skill barely above the others', but everything else, she was worst at.
It would add to the image she was building. To everyone, she was a lazy, incompetent throwback from the slums of L2. No one believed she was capable of intelligent thought, for the "Duo" Maxwell they knew talked a mile a minute and was the most annoying creature alive.
No one suspected she could have killed the whole base, Maganaucs and all, and made it look like an accident. But what was the fun in that? When she would much rather drive 05 up the wall with her antics?
Absently, Duet walked out of the room and straight into Wufei. "Baka!" he shouted as the Cola he was drinking spilled over his tunic.
Grinning broadly, she looked up at the cursing boy and said in her Duo voice "Aww hey sorry 'bout that Fei-chan!!!"
"Don't call me that Maxwell!" snarled the boy, valiantly trying to wipe off his tunic. "We have a mission."
Duo groaned loudly and plopped onto the sofa, while Duet waited eagerly for the next assignment.
The rest of the team assembled and Wufei gave the microfilm containing the new orders to Heero. He flicked it into his laptop and the image of Doctor J appeared on the screen.
"OZ has several new mobile suits under construction. Our spies suggest they were modeled for Talgeese, and could be a challenge for even the Gundams.
Your mission: obtain blueprints for these new suits, then kill the architects and scientists involved in the project, and destroy the military bases manufacturing them. This must be accomplished simultaneously; one Gundam will attack one base while the other two are attacking the others.
There are three such bases: One in Cairo, Egypt, where OZ has officially announced its plans are stored. 04 and the Maganaucs will destroy that; make sure you have a lot of journalists see you level everything. They don't know that we know that's not where all the blueprints are stored.
The second base is on Midway Island. 05 will take that base.
The last base is on the coast of northern California, in Readington.(x.x) 01, 02, and 03 will be sent there, undercover as students. While 03 is attacking the base, usual style (guns blazing, kill them all before the can finish saying 'it's a Gundam!') 01 will pull out the information. To be sure we leave no traces to let them suspect he was there, 02 will plant detonators around the main computer"
"And wherever else necessary!"
Sigh. "And wherever he feels like. The resulting explosion should eradicate all traces of their presence.
03, you are enrolled in the local public high school as Tori Avalon.(x.x) 01, 02, you will be enrolled in the Elite school. For Reconnaissance. They let students tour the base often.
You are registered as Maxwell Dune and Sakura Yue (x.x).
J out." He promptly disappeared from the screen
Duet blinked, speechless for once. Quatre covered his mouth with his hand to cover his smile. (Howling with laughter) "Who gets to be the onna?" ^~^ (that's wuffie chan) "." ///.x (who else?) Heero did the only rational thing in his mind. He pulled out his gun and pointed it at Duet. You will be Sakura. Or omae o korosu." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (x.x) Nezumi watched Nelvana's dubbed Cardcaptors, cuz we lives in NYC! These li'l Cardcaptors references will show up a lot, cuz cardcaptors is Nezumi's fourth favorite anime, after Gundam Wing, Digimon, and Inuyasha! Nezumi likes to pretend we are bi polar. It makes people look at us funny. Nezumi also cannot write if our life depends on it. ********************************************************
Duet's eyes widened. "Hoe?" (x.x)
"Your new identity. Sakura Yue. You can buy clothes tomorrow. We leave in three days." Heero replied calmly.
Duet quickly overcame her shock. "Whaddaya mean ME? I say YOU can play girlie, since missions are so important to you!"
"I have the gun." He stated coolly.
Well she had no comeback ready for that. The composed Duet Maxwell had gone completely dumb at the absurdity of the situation.
"Ahem. Well you must admit you look more. feminine than Heero, with the long hair. ah. I'll shut up" muttered Quatre as he made a break for the kitchen.
"Make me some coffee!" Duet shouted after him. "I'm gonna need the caffeine...." She mumbled under her breath.
Heero switched on the safety and put the gun in. his spandex. Duet scowled and turned to look at him "You realize there's no way I'm dressin' up like a girl, right?"
"Of course you will. I'll help you."
Three heads snapped towards the pilot of Gundam Heavyarms. Duet's mouth fell open in shock as Trowa walked over to her couch and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.
But she would not lose her composure in front of these irksome males. Straightening her back and grinning broadly at Heero and Wufei, she replied "Okie-dokie then, what's my first lesson, o master?"
Trowa smirked back at her knowingly. Though she didn't show it, Duet was beginning to sweat nervously. From the look in his eyes, she was sure he knew she was a girl. "Tell you tomorrow, young grasshopper!"
O.O (O.O Trowa cracked a funny!!! Alert the press!!!)
"Hey guys five lattes right here I didn't know how much sugar you wanted so I brought the." Quatre blinked as he walked back into the room. Heero and Wufei were gawking at something behind him. He slowly turned around. And saw Duo sitting on the sofa while Trowa stood behind him, leaning forward with his hands on Duo's shoulders. Both wore insane grins on their faces.
"Ummm. guys? Did I miss something!??"
"It's PINK." Duet growled.
"Yes. Pink. It's a girl thing. To wear pink."
"Alright. Why a pink MINISKIRT?!?!?!"
"Its also a girl thing. Miniskirts are the new 'thing'. You cannot draw attention to yourself by being out of style."
"Trowa. I'm. Gonna. Kill. You."
"But first I have to do your make up."
"AAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
Trowa sobered up. "Honestly, Duo, you don't have to hide it from me. I know."
"If you think I ENJOY cross-dressing you've got another think-" Duet began
"I know you're really a girl." Trowa interrupted.
Duet calmly placed the hot pink mini on their shopping car and slowly turned around to face Trowa. "What makes you think that?" she asked coolly.
Trowa met her glare and smiled serenely. "I just do. Now, for shoes."
In one quick motion she moved next to Trowa, pulling him behind a clothing rack and away from the view of the other customers. "Move and die." Duet hissed in his ear, the heap of clothes piled over her arm hiding the gun she was now poking into her comrade's ribcage.
"I don't believe you'll use that."
He was starting to annoy her, with his cool attitude. Unfortunately, he was right. She couldn't shoot him in the middle of a mall. She slipped the gun into its holster in her boot, but kept her hold on his shirt. "If you tell ANYONE."
"Your secret is safe with me." Trowa smiled conspiratorially.
Still glaring at Trowa through slit eyes, Duet snapped. "How? Why?"
"You do not show emotion as others do. The others don't notice because they don't appreciate the value of emotion. I have spent so long not feeling emotions that. I. I can tell when someone is. faking. emotions" he shrugged, and then smiled wanly. "You smile and laugh, but your eyes reveal your true self. And, well, I doubt you've had much experience being, well, feminine. You don't want to be a boy all your life do you? When the war is over, won't you go back to being a girl?" he raised his eyebrows in askance.
Duet snapped back "in the streets its better to be a guy. 'Sides, who knows when this wars gonna end? An' anyway, I'm gonna be killed in battle. I'll die in a blaze o' glory, and take the ones that kill me down with me. That's the only way to die." she was whispering now, her head bowed low.
Trowa wrapped an arm around her, but her mind was numb. She had never thought about what would happen after the war. Would she go home? To Deuce, and Maggie, to the gang?
"Its all right, it'll turn out fine." Trowa whispered soothingly. She began sobbing into his shoulder. People gave them strange looks as they passed, but she couldn't see past her own tears.
"It'll be all right."
"Trowa?"
"Yeah Duo?"
"Call me Duet."
Heero scowled at the watch, then glanced at the door. Maxwell. why couldn't he be on time, just once?
He entered the buzzing classroom, and the chatter came to an abrupt halt.
"Ah, class this is one of our new students, Maxwell Dune."
Heero ignored the awed gazes of the female students, and the ferocious glares of the male ones. He had come to expect this sort of welcome, for he received it at every school, and assumed it was some sort of welcome for new students. He had spent the night at his dorm studying the floor plans of the school so he would be able to find his classes easily. This morning he had woken early as usual, and dressed in baggy black pants and large black t-shirt with a skull on the back. He even added a Yankees cap, worn backward, for good measure. Still scowling, he made his way to the seat appointed to him.
Class had officially begun but still no sign of his partner. Heero doubted it was because he wasn't ready yet. Duo and Trowa had spent every available moment preparing and practicing, though they refused to let anyone see what Duo looked like when he became Sakura Yue. They had become virtually inseparable, and Quatre even pouted that Trowa spent more time with Duo than the Arab.
Heero jerked up as he noticed a sudden hush in the classroom. Slowly, he turned to face the door.
A figure stood in the doorway, half hidden in the shadows.
"Ms. Yue, better late than never. Please come up here."
The figure hesitated slightly, and then boldly stepped into the light.
Heero could feel his jaw dropping as he stared at the apparition before him. She wore a long, flowing black leather trenchcoat, over a black silk top that ended just above her belly button. A silver cross dangling from a silver chain hung from her slender neck, along with a black velvet choker. Her black leather boots came up to her knees, and her black miniskirt was tiger-striped with silver. Silver hoops hung from her ears to her shoulders, and black sunglasses were slipped down her nose to reveal startling violet eyes. Long chestnut tresses framed her tall, graceful body, twirling all about her from a draft in the hall.
As Duet entered, she could feel everyone's eyes on her. She strode boldly up to the teacher, pulled off her sunglasses and tossed her head, letting her hair fly up, then set down in waves around her.
"Hi. I'm Sakura Yue."
Nezumi already posted it oce, took it down, and reposted it. We welcome crticism.
