Inevitable End

Vastulja Sata Menton

Part Three

The war had ended, and peace had come between Earth and the Colonies. It had taken many months of fighting, and many soldiers had died for the cause. But it was all over, finally over. For the Gundam pilots, it would never be over though. They would forever relive the memories that would haunt them in their dreams. They would remember all of the good times, and all of the bad times that went along. But most of all, they would remember the death their dear friend Duo Maxwell.

Months after his death, and merely weeks after the end of the war, the four ex-soldiers mourned the tragedy for the first time. The funeral was of the best, and many people gathered in the ex-Death Scythe pilot's memory. It was a gloomy day, one that the four pilots knew that Duo would have enjoyed had he been there. The clouds covered the sun, and rain had been predicted for the afternoon.

"We are gathered here on this day to mourn the death of a great man. He fought for a great cause, and will forever be remembered by those who knew him. He was an orphan, but also a brother, a friend, and so much more to many people who knew him. He was a soldier who fought for peace among mankind. To his friends, he was the comical relief to the war. But as things sometimes go, the laughter died with him." The reverend spoke to the crowd of people. Everyone had gathered there to see the young man off. "We will now hear from a few of his closest friends, and comrades from the war." The reverend stepped down from the podium and gave it to whoever felt the need to speak. The first to stand was Quatre.

He made his way to the podium, fighting to hold back tears and keep his composer. "Duo was a great person. He was kind hearted, and was truly passionate for what he fought for. He was always laughing, and making light of the horrible situations that we were always in. Yeah, he sometimes got on your nerves. But you realized in the end that though he did, it got your mind off of what was going on around you. And that was what really mattered the most. I don't think we'll ever know or understand why Duo did what he did. Though we all wish that we could, it is something that we simply do not have the ability to ask. I bid him good look in the next life." His tears began to flow, and he quickly made his way back to his seat. The next to stand was Trowa.

"Duo and I had never been really close. We had only fought beside each other on a few occasions. He was always there for you when you needed him though. He never let you down. Sure, he usually got himself into sticky situations, but he could always get out of them too. He was always joking, but when he needed to be serious, he was at the most important times. I respect him for that. The decision that he made was his own, and I respect that as well. I wish that we could have done more to help him though." There was silence as the tall teen sat down, and they all waited for the next to stand. Heero and Wufei glanced at each other, willing the other to go first. Neither would budge, until finally Wufei stood and made his way to the platform.

"Duo was an obnoxious, annoying, idiotic teenager from L2. But he was my friend, even when I felt like ripping all of his hair out. I never did like his style of fighting, or his view on honor or justice. But I respect him nonetheless. He was who he was. And he made a part of all of us who we are today. He was strong, stealthy, and passionate all bundled up into one person. He was all that, and so much more." It was Heero's turn. He had been waiting for this, and the sheet of paper that he held in his hand told that clearly.

"I have never been one to say a lot, but for Duo I am going to. Duo and I were partners most of the time during the war; we kind of held each other up. We almost killed each other on more than one occasion, deliberately. But in due time we saw that we were on the same side. We roomed together a lot, and most the time I was regretful of it. But I now see that it was a good thing. Because though I was silent, he was not. He filled the silence, which I now realized would have probably drove me insane. Duo was a unique individual…one that few people could really understand. He had a past that very few people knew. He would always call himself Shinigami. I think that we can all see now that he truly was the God of Death. I do not know why Duo took his own life. But I do know that he did it for his own reasons. And though we are all pained by his decision, in his belief we will someday see him again."

There was silence throughout the crowd. Everyone was reflecting on the things that had been said. The service ended in time though, and they all paid their respects. The former Gundam pilots were the last to leave, however. They watched as the casket was lowered into the ground, and as the hole was filled. They each left, one at a time until the last one left was Heero. He stood there, looking at the head stone and the freshly placed dirt. It was finally done. And he had to accept it. Duo was gone. He knelt down, placing a single black rose on the grave.

"I love you, Duo."

OWARI!

AN: Okay…actual end. And it sucks. Doesn't it. I know…it's done though. Be happy. So OOC though. Oh well! I control the story, so I control how OOC they are. Bla! I know, a lot of talking that sucks. But…whatever.