Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing.... Damn...

Pairings: Eventual 121, maybe some 343.

Warnings: Eventual Shonen Ai, maybe violence, and Rock n' Roll baby.

Notes: Ok, so I hope you like the fic so far. I'm working hard on it, and I just wanted it to be something that everybody could like. Except for the language and violence, there really aren't any warnings attached to the next few parts. Again this is my first 'long' GW fic, and I think that I will improve in my story telling as the story goes along. As a side note, as a musician, I appreciate good music, and since I don't want to publicly post my OWN lyrics as parts of this fic, I have decided that Duo's songs will be songs by other artists. They will be noted at the beginning of each fic, as I do not want it to seem like I stole their music, rather than borrow it for my own purposes. So, with that said, I would like to thank everyone who supports me, and to all the readers I would like to say: Enjoy.

In The Valley Of The Diamond Dogs

By Black Dragon62

Chapter 9: Between Dreams And Reality

Duo stared outside of the airplane window as their plane was nearing the runway. He looked over and saw that everyone was just getting up from their sleep.

Hilde yawned and stretched her arms over her head and rubbed her eyes. "Are we there yet?" She looked at Duo. Her eyes opened fully as she took in Duo's figure. "Are you alright D? You look like crap, didn't you get any sleep?"

Duo winced a little, but forced a grin on his face. "We're almost there, we'll be in the airport in about 15 minutes, give or take a few minutes." He let out a slow breath. "I'm fine Hil, I got some sleep. Not a lot but enough."

Hilde looked at Duo with her eyebrows cocked. "I'm not buying it. What's wrong?"

Duo's grin was now a genuine smile. "Nothing's wrong. Stop worrying about me Hil, you're too young for your hair to be turning gray." He started to chuckle.

"I have to worry about you. It's my job to worry about you."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be arriving at the airport in 5 minutes. It's 12:45pm Italy time. Please remain seated until the aircraft comes to a full stop, please put your seat belts on and return your trays to the upright position. Thank you, and enjoy your stay."

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When they arrived at the airport, everyone looked as tired as they felt. Hilde looked at her watch again. She sighed internally, she knew that the show would have to be on in 32 hours. 'Not much time for a good rest.' She thought as she threw her jacket over her shoulder as they headed out of the airport, and to the nearest private car.

All four of them where in the same black car, and all breathed a sigh of relief, relief that no one had spotted Duo, and relief that no chaos had ensued. Quatre leaned back a bit to look out side of the window. He watched as the Roman architecture and people whizzed by in noticeable blurs. "How long will we be in Rome?" Quatre asked, vaguely trying to conceal his anxiousness.

Hilde smiled, she knew what he was talking about, he wanted to see what was here in Rome for him, And I'm not talking about the art, She thought with a tired smile on her face. "Four days, three nights. We have one show tomorrow night, then it's all just relaxing time till the airplane boards the day after that. Maybe we could do a little sight seeing.... Do some... Wine tasting maybe?" Hilde said with a smile on her face.

Quatre turned a little red. And all had smug looks of satisfaction on their faces, all except Wufei, who had no Idea what everyone was talking about. "What's going on?" He asked, wanting to be let in on the secret. "What is everyone talking about?" He poked Duo in the ribs.

"Oh, it's nothing really." He looked to Quatre, and asked him silently if they should let their friend in on what they were discussing. He saw Quatre give a defeated nod.

"Might as well, we should not keep secrets from each other. He might find out later anyway, might as well explain now." Quatre reasoned, hoping that his friend would not disapprove of him.

Wufei got a smile of victory on his face. "So Maxwell, spill, what is going on?"

Duo smiled. "God Wufei, it's not a secret of national security. It's just that..." He stopped, smiling as he saw Wufei anxious, and also very annoyed that he had to wait for his answer. "It's just that Quatre has a crush on Trowa, who happens to live here in Italy." He said finally, noticing Quatre turn a scarlet color.

"Is that it?" Wufei asked. Everyone looked at him skeptically. Wufei in turn, just looked out of his side of the window. " I thought it was something big. Oh well," He said, and then turned to look at Quatre with a smile on his face. "Good luck in any case."

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They arrived at their hotel. Duo, Quatre and Wufei had agreed to share a room, since they needed more time to 'catch up' on things, and it would be nice for Duo to have some company. Hilde in turn, got her room on a different floor of their hotel, she figured if the three would be together, no doubt in her mind would she be hearing pranks being pulled at all hours of the night. So for her sanity and sleep hours, she opted for a different floor.

Hilde was walking along the hall of Duo's floor. She had the itinerary in her hand, and was mentally going through the day's plan. Hopefully, he won't be too upset at not being able to sleep some of the day away... Hilde thought as she stopped at their door. She knocked once, twice, and on the third she kicked at the door.

"What do you want Hilde?!" A muffled voice yelled from the other side. A smile crept onto her face.

"I've got something for you!" She said in a singy-songy voice.

"NO!" Yelled the voice.

"But Duo! You don't even know what it is!"

"I'm NOT doing an interview! Hell no I won't go!" Duo yelled from the other side of the locked door.

"Please. I forgot all about it..." She lied, in fact, she had been offered the interview 10 minutes ago.

"Shut up liar!" Duo mocked in a hurt tone. "You just want to make me suffer!" At that the door opened and Wufei let her in. "Wufei! You traitor! Why let the enemy in!" He put his hand on his hips.

"If it will keep you quiet, I'm willing to do anything." He said, a smirk appearing on his face.

Duo let out a big melo-dramatic sigh. "Fine." He said, throwing his hands up in the air. "Let me get a clean shirt on at least." He said as he walked towards the bathroom, pulling off his black dingy shirt in the process, allowing the residents of the room to get a good look at his back.

"Hey Duo..." Quatre began.

"Yeah?"

"When did you get a tattoo?" Quatre said, a bit confused.

"Oh that?" He saw them all nod from his position in the doorway. "I got it after the war ended. You know, after the whole Mariemeia thing."

"What does it say?" Wufei asked, suddenly curious. "And why did you get it?"

"It says Shinigami, God of Death in traditional Japanese Kanji. I got it as a reminder..." He put his dark blue shirt on and began to button the buttons. "As a reminder of what I had to become during the war, and what it left me with. I never want to forget about the peace we fought so hard for, and this way, I'll always know that I am Shinigami, I am the God of Death." He finished the last button, and he stretched his arms out and did a twirl. "Well, I'm ready, how do I look?"

"Marvelous." All said in unison, also rolling their eyes.

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The interview was to be at radio station in middle of the city, and it was supposed to be a quiet matter. And fortunately for them, no one noticed them pull up and step out of the car.

They made their way to the DJ booth. Hilde, Quatre, and Wufei stood on the other side of the glass as Duo entered. He looked at them and smiled. He put the headphones on, and waited for the chubby Italian man to begin.

"Hello Duo, how are you today?" The chubby brown haired man said in a slight Italian accent.

"I'm fine," Duo said honestly. Just get on with it.

"Alright, let's begin. So tell me Duo, how do you like our beautiful city of Roma?"

"I think it's beautiful. I've never been to Italy before, but from what I've seen so far, it's rich in culture and beauty."

"I'm glad you like it so much, how do you expect your show will go tomorrow?"

They talked about his music and set up, meanwhile Hilde and the others watched from the outside. But luckily, they were able to hear what they were talking about. They all held their breaths when the DJ got bold and decided to go on a more personal level.

"So Duo, everyone wants to know; is the anyone special in your life?"

Duo gulped, he hadn't seen this coming, so he merely side stepped the question. "There are a lot of special people in my life. I'm lucky." Everyone outside breathed a sigh of relief.

"What I mean is, is there a lady in your life? You know, a, how you say, girlfriend?" He prodded.

"I can honestly say, there is no woman like that in my life." Duo said truthfully.

"So there is no one you currently love? No one in mind?"

I can't lie! He thought to himself. "I don't really think I should talk about my love life right now." He said, breathing deeply.

"Alright, let's move on." Thank God, Duo thought. "Tell me, what is your inspiration for the songs you write?"

"Truthfully, my life is my inspiration, most of my songs are autobiographical. What I think, feel, and go through, they are all fuel for my songs and music."

"Well thank you, Duo Maxwell. Thank you for joining us today, this has been a special interview with the one and only Duo Maxwell, who's show will light up the stage at the Coliseum tomorrow night." The pudgy man stood as he turned off the 'On Air' sign, and stuck out his hand. "Thank you for joining me today, it was indeed a great pleasure."

Duo shook the man's hand. "Likewise. But I believe I have others to see. Enjoy the show." Duo said as he walked away and out of the radio station. He entered the black car and breathed a sigh of relief. At least that's over with. He thought as he closed his eyes and ears to the hustle and bustle of the world outside.

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Duo opened his violet eyes. Was I walking a minute ago? Where am I? He mentally asked himself as he walked through a long steel corridor. This seems so... real, and familiar... He rounded a corner and ended up in a large hanger. His eyes almost bugged out of his head when he looked upon a very familiar face, the face of one whom he had trusted with his life, the one he achieved peace with. He was looking into the large metallic face of Deathscythe. The black giant was on it's back, it's arms to it's side, peaceful, and calmly it laid on the hanger floor.

He raked his eyes over the figure, But.... I destroyed you.... didn't I? He thought, eyes never leaving the figure. Until his eyes caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. It couldn't be...

He saw Trowa and Heero walk across the hanger together, they stopped by the doors, and Trowa turned to say something, then was gone. Heero stood there, looking at something that Duo could not see from his vantage point.

"You can come over Duo." Heero's baritone voice bounced off of the metal walls.

Duo blinked, and in less that a minute, he was in front of Heero, he hands on his hips. God, he looks so... young... "You know Heero," Duo began, "it's creepy the way you always know when I'm lingering in the shadows. I have a stealth reputation to uphold you know. Lucky for you, I let you know where I was."

"No, your noisy footsteps let me know where you were." Heero said, voice a simple monotone. He sighed and fixed his Prussian blue eyes on Duo's cherubic face. "I have something I want to say..."

"Then say it."

Heero took a deep breath. He let it out slowly as he looked into Duo's face. "We were meant to live... for so much more, but do you think we have lost ourselves? And do you believe that somewhere we live inside?" Heero took a step closer, and leaned in to whisper softly in his ear. His hot breath was giving Duo shivers. "Maybe.... we've been living with our eyes half open.... Maybe.... I'm bent and broken...." His voice began drifting...............

Duo awoke with a start. What the fuck? What? Am I going insane now?! He thought as he got out of his bed, he glanced over and saw that Quatre and Wufei were sound asleep. He walked quietly over to the desk. He took a pen and paper from the hotel's stationary, and began writing...

To Be Continued...........

Did ya like it?! Yes? No? Maybe so? By the way, some private information. Duo's tattoo, is in fact a tattoo I have. I have Shinigami in Kanji tattooed on my back in between my shoulder blades, just thought you might like to know... Leave REVIEWS!!!