Disclaimer: No, I don't own the Gundam Wing boys, I am not gaining any money from these fics, I merely write them for the enjoyment of myself and my friends who then bug me to post them on the internet. evil friends.

A/N: Disclaimer: No, I don't own the Gundam Wing boys, I am not gaining any money from these fics, I merely write them for the enjoyment of myself and my friends who then bug me to post them on the internet. grr evil friends.

A/N: Right, this will be a 1x2 eventually. That means SLASH! Yes, this has been posted before, but ff.net totally screwed it up therefore I've had to post it all again, from the beginning. And I've beta-d it myself.

I need a beta reader!!

Anyone wanna be my beta? Email me at willow1609@yahoo.co.uk OR mention it in your review.

Review!

Willow

After Death dies

"So, you're saying that I've been here for five years. And I'm not insane yet."

"Yes."

"But the room is white!" Duo said, repressing a shudder. "If I've been here for five years…" He bit his lip and counted on his fingers. "That would make me almost 21!" He wrinkled his nose. "Do I look 21 to you? I think not." The figure shook its head. "Why am I here?" He asked, staring blankly at the figure in front of him. The American blinked a few times before finally asking, "And who the hell are you anyway?"

"I'm Death, and you-"

"You're not Death."

"Yes I am."

"You're not Death." Duo repeated calmly.

"Why do you say that?" A sly grin appeared on Duo's face.

"Because I am." The figure (Death) waved a bony hand in dismissal.

"As long as you believe that Maxwell."

"Why am I here then the guy who calls himself Death?"

"Because you're dead."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not!"

"You are."

"Not."

"Are."

"I'm not dead!" Duo said, stamping his foot in frustration. Death nodded.

"You are, and I'll prove it to you." Duo crossed his arms and tapped his foot, one eyebrow raised, the familiar smirk on his face.

"I'm waiting."

"Okay." Death waved one hand and Duo found himself in a graveyard, standing in front of his grave. Duo fell to his knees and shook his head.

"No, no, it's not possible. I can't be dead, I'm only 16!" Duo protested, his voice shaking. Then he stopped speaking and frowned, the cogs in his mind obviously turning. "It worked?" He said finally, his face the image of confusion. "So why am I not in hell?"

"You don't believe me yet?" Death asked, arms crossed, surveying the violet eyed teen from underneath his hood.

 "No, this is just some freaky nightmare… If it had worked, then I'd be in hell. So why am I not in hell?" He asked again. Death just looked at Duo.

"So you don't believe me."

"No."

"What will I have to do to prove this to you?"

"Show me something that proves that you're not some side effect from drugs being pumped through my body. And no messing with my mind!" Duo pointed an accusing finger at Death who swung his scythe back.

"Would I mess with your mind?"

"Yes." Duo answered shortly really quite annoyed that he hadn't woken up from his comatose state yet. "But I'm going to wake up soon so what the hell, give it your best shot. Prove to me I'm dead. No mind games." Death waved his hand and the white room disappeared. Duo looked around and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Quatre's mansion… in Florida…" He whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why am I here?" He whirled on Death. Death didn't reply however, he simply glided up the stairs. Duo followed the cloaked scythe bearer before they stopped outside a door.

"You still don't believe that you're dead, I can see it. We omniscient beings do know some things. Go in there for your proof. No mind games." He motioned towards Quatre's door.

Duo walked in, not needing to open the door. The first thing he saw was Quatre lying on the bed, his face buried in the pillow, his breath coming in wracking sobs. The amethyst-eyed ex-pilot took one look at Quatre and his heart wrenched.

"Q?" Duo asked, stepping closer to the bed. "What's wrong?" But Quatre didn't hear him, Quatre couldn't hear him. Duo put one hand on Quatre's back in an attempt to comfort him, but his hand passed straight through his best friend's back. "Quat! You gotta hear me! Please Quat!" Desperation became the dominant emotion in Duo's voice as he tried to get Quatre to hear him, each attempt failing miserably. "Please Quat, listen to me!" Quatre pulled his face from his pillow and sat up, hugging his knees and hiccuping occasionally. "Quatre?" Quatre looked straight through Duo, past the ghost of his best friend and out the window.

"Duo, why did you leave us? Did you think that we wouldn't find out sooner or later?" Duo stiffened. Had they found out? "Did you think that we wouldn't find out that there was no mission? Suicide Duo? Suicide? Why? What did we do? What did I do?"

"Nothing Quat! You guys did nothing!" Duo wanted nothing more than to hug his best friend and tell him that there was nothing to worry about, that it was all alright, that he had done nothing, and that the other pilots had done nothing… Just like the old days. "Quat, it wasn't your fault!" Duo repeated this in vain as tears filled Quatre's eyes again. But Quatre couldn't hear him. Nor could Quatre see him. And it was tearing Duo's heart apart.

"I'm sorry for whatever it was that I had done, and the others feel the same. I am so sorry Duo, please come back to us, please come back to me. I really miss you. Please come back to us… Please…" Quatre broke down into tears once more and pulled a large novelty pillow to bury his face in. The pillow soaked up his tears and muffled his sobs as Duo rose and turned to Death, his amethyst eyes teary.

"Okay," He said quietly, trying hard to keep the sadness and waver of tears from his voice. "I give, you win… I'm dead. Can we go now?" Death nodded and Duo found himself back in the white nothingness of what he would have to get used to calling home.

"Okay, I think that I have found my replacement." Duo blinked.

"What?"

"Take this." Death held his scythe towards Duo. Duo put one hand on the black wood before long fingers encircled it gently. "And I'll be leaving."

"But-" Death silenced the teen with a bony finger.

"I am old Duo." Duo raised an eyebrow. "Older than time itself." His jaw dropped. "Yes, yes. I am very old." Duo nodded weakly. "So I think that it is time that I retired." Death let go of the scythe fully and stepped back.

"But, but," Duo grabbed the scythe with his other hand and swallowed. "But, well," He took a deep breath. "Yeah, I suppose it's time for you to retire." He continued, more casually. He grinned, running one hand up the perfectly smooth black wood, regarding it with awe. "But why me?"

"You are Shinigami are you not Duo?" Death asked, a hint of surprise in his voice as he looked over his shoulder at Duo, who was swishing the scythe, pleased with the 'swish' sound it made. "Was I wrong?"

"No, you weren't, I am Shinigami, is that why? Because of the nickname I gave myself?" Death began to fade. "Wait!" The fading figure paused. "I want to see my friends." Death tutted and turned round.

"Have you ever heard of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)?" He sighed when Duo shook his head. "It was a television show boy. Hopkirk died, and he was allowed back to earth as a ghost, but only one person could see him. You can do that with your friends, you can let anyone see you who you want to, but be careful, I would only reveal myself to my friends if I were you. Just remember, you have a job to do." Duo beamed.

"Okay." He said, a true smile spreading over his face. "Bye!" Duo waved as Death disappeared. He grasped his scythe tightly before making up his mind where to go first. "Okay… Now to go see Quatre…"

A/N: Cliffhanger! But it's updated! Don't hate me!

Flames accepted, but those who do flame shall have to pay for a new carpet, as they leave nasty scorch marks.

Willow.