Author's Note: Here it is at last, the fight between Duo and Wufei on Pay-Per-View. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Warning: slight language, violence

Showdown of the Century

"You can't be fucking serious," Solo barked, his face reddening in anger.

"I am always serious," Wufei retorted, "and last I checked, it was Maxwell that I had challenged, not you. So, Maxwell, what is it going to be? Are you willing to face me like a man or run away like the little rat that you are?"

Duo glowered. As if he had the right to call him names! Even now he didn't understand what made this guy hate him so much but he was sick and tired of it all. He agreed with Wufei on this one: it was time they settled this, once and for all. However, he noticed the small gathering that was watching them and he was still aware that they were on school property. To lay it down here would not be the best thing for anyone.

"Okay, I accept," Duo growled. "But we're not doing this here."

"Having second thoughts?" Wufei sneered.

"No, there's a good chance we'll be interrupted here by the school staff," Duo replied coolly. "I want to settle this just as much as you do but I don't want any interference with it. Do you?"

That seemed to catch Wufei off guard. However, from the look of it, he was considering Duo's words. "So where do you suppose we do this?" he demanded.

Smirking, Duo answered, "I know of a place. Just follow me…"

--

An abandoned, vacant lot was Duo's choice of battleground.

That was where this showdown would take place and settle the score that seemed to exist between Duo Maxwell and Chang Wufei. At least, that's what Duo Maxwell hoped. Still it was a bit encouraging to notice how anxious Wufei had become the closer they had come to the lot.

Maybe it was because this lot was deep in the poorer parts of the city.

Here there weren't rich houses or estates. Instead, there were shanty houses that housed large families that where sometimes bigger than the house. The streets were not smooth but filled with asphalt that patched it up and the occasional pothole that had been missed.

In fact, quite a few of the students that had followed them were uncomfortable with their surroundings. From what few glimpses he had, Duo could have sworn that he saw Quatre with the same queasiness that seemed to infect a good amount of the spectators. Trowa, who was following the Winner like a shadow, seemed unaffected whatsoever by it.

But all that didn't matter to the braided one as he stared down his Chinese opponent, his every muscle tense as he mentally prepped himself for the fight. He was going to need everything he had for this. If he knew anything about the Chang Family, it would be no surprise if Wufei knew some martial arts, if not a whole lot more than he did.

"You sure about this?" Solo asked from behind him, concerned. "I can take him if you want."

"No, Solo," Duo stated without turning around. "This is something I need to do for myself. It's between me and him alone. Got that? I don't care if I'm being beaten to a pulp, don't interfere."

"But—" Solo began to protest.

"No Solo!" Duo nearly snarled. "Promise me you won't interfere. Promise me!"

"Don't make me do that," Solo protested.

"Solo…" Duo warned menacingly.

"Fine," Solo sighed, shoulder slumping. "I promise not to interrupt, alright?"

"Thank you," Duo said, slowly walking towards the Chinese youth.

"Finished with your little drama?" Wufei taunted as he removed his shirt to reveal a blue tank top.

"Are you finished with being a snob?" Duo shot back, falling back into a stance.

Wufei growled but then smirked. "You have no idea of the world of pain you are about to experience," he declared as he fell into his own stance.

It seemed Duo's suspicions were not unfounded. Unlike when he faced Solo, Wufei had less openings revealed and was on the line between going into an offensive assault or into a defensive position.

It wasn't in Duo's style to go rushing ahead. He had learned to be wary or everything and everyone over the course of his life and that wariness that influenced his fighting style. He would let Wufei go first to see how good he really was before mounting a counteroffensive. His heart was already hammering in his chest and nothing had yet to begin.

"Are you waiting for me to make a move first, coward?" Wufei sneered, figuring out Duo's game plan. "I might as well do the honorable thing and not disappoint. Prepare yourself!"

In the next instant, Wufei was right in front of him and Duo's concentration was focused primarily on either dodging or blocking Wufei's rapid attacks. The Chinese wasn't putting all his power into his strikes but he didn't need to as his slices were aimed for sensitive points on his body. From the smirk on Wufei's face, Duo could only surmise that he was holding back, hoping to embarrass him in front of everyone.

Duo would not let that happen. He would make Wufei work for this if he wanted it so badly.

Unfortunately, even with such thoughts, Wufei managed to weave through his defenses just enough to tauntingly slap him. Jerking back more in surprise, Duo eyed Wufei warily, wondering how the Chinese had managed to do that.

Wufei looked smug and wasn't even breathing hard. His body was moving slightly despite remaining in just one place, making him look quite sensual to the untrained eye. This was not good, he would have to literally focus everything on Wufei and not even be able to plan ahead.

It seemed that he was in over his head this time.

With the speed of a striking snake, Wufei's hands cleaved through the air and Duo was forced to do everything he could not to be touched by the slices. He could tell that Wufei had slowed himself down, saving his energy for future use while forcing him, Duo, to expend all of his quickly.

Well, they'd just see about that.

In the midst of parrying a slice, Duo reversed his hand and gripped onto Wufei's wrist and twisted with all his might. However, Wufei was already in the process of twisting his body, his other hand cutting through the air to strike his head. Reacting quickly, Duo caught the chop and forced both captured appendages down behind Wufei's back. The next thing the braided one knew next was that Wufei's knees were suddenly on either side of his head and then everything was a blur until he felt his back impact the ground, his head just barely missing a rock that jutted from the earth.

He felt a foot slam onto his chest and begin to grind into his torso mercilessly as he heard Wufei's voice come somewhere from above. "Had enough yet, loser? You don't stand a chance against me."

Clenching his teeth, Duo crossed his arms, capturing Wufei's ankle between his lower arms and twisted. Wufei was already twisting his body in response, allowing himself to turn his body 180 degrees and drop. Catching movement from his peripheral vision, Duo moved his head barely in time to miss the foot that was coming straight at his head. Fortunately for him, Wufei's aim had been just slightly off and his toes ended up being crushed against the small rock that had been next to Duo's head.

Wufei's face grimaced in pain but he was not about the throw in the towel unlike certain NBA stars. Forcing the pain in his toes to the back of his mind, he flipped his body around so that he was only balancing on his hands and a foot while his other foot had been raised high in the air. Flinging it downwards with all his might, Wufei attempted an odd version of a drop kick. Duo managed to roll out of the way in time and Wufei's heel ended up jarring against the ground.

With his arms still on the ground, Wufei pushed himself back up onto his feet. He had very little time to act as Duo performed a high kick, his foot impacting Wufei's gut. However, like Heero before him, Wufei grabbed Duo's foot but twisted it instead. Duo let himself spin in midair to prevent his leg from being twisted too badly and he was once again reacquainted with the ground once more.

Balancing on his hip, Duo spun himself, temporarily resembling a break-dancer, and kicked Wufei's feet out from underneath him. The Chinese fell but caught himself on his hands and pushed up, performing a flip so that he was more able to regain his footing.

Duo wiped the sweat off his brow as his eyed his more skilled opponent, trying to figure out a way to get an advantage on him. There was no mistaking that Wufei was better, much better than he himself. However, he wasn't as skilled like his uncle was since Deng performed such feats practically everyday in his classes.

Circling the Chinese teen, Duo contemplated what he was going to do next, Wufei also following the circle. He couldn't find an opening on the guy and it was really messing his mojo up. If he could only read his opponent better, perhaps he would be able turn the tables and maybe even beat this guy! The phrase "if wishes were fishes…" popped into his mind and he forced himself to resign to his current situation, even as the muscles in Wufei's arm suddenly tensed…

Wait a second…

Before he could do anything with that piece of info, Wufei was on the attack again, using kicks as well as punches and chops in his barrage. Becoming determined, Duo blocked a few blows and tried to land a few of his own only for Wufei to block or dodge him. As a last ditch effort, Duo twisted his head, letting his braid whip out and smack Wufei lightly on his check.

Surprised by the painless, yet quite unorthodox, attack, Wufei was unable to stop Duo's next blow from impacting his gut. The air rushed out of his body as Duo twisted around and high kicked him on the forehead, causing him to stumble back and land gracelessly on his ass.

Wufei wasn't the only one surprised by what happened. Duo himself was shocked at what he had just done but his confidence gained a boost. Perhaps he could beat down Wufei…

Onyx eyes blazing in uncontrolled fury, Wufei was on his feet and charging at him, crying out in anger as he began his next assault with a chop that was followed by a right hook then a left jab. Duo managed to block all but the jab and that was where Wufei pounced.

Wrapping his arm around Duo's neck, Wufei forced him to bend down forward so that he could land three quick punches to the small of Duo's back. The impacts sent an electrical-like surge up his spinal cord each time one was landed, intense pain instantly following after. A knee to his gut made him forget about those hits though and as he fought to get his breath back, he was uppercutted, stumbling backwards and falling onto his back, dazed.

--

Every muscle in Solo's body was twitching, high strung like a string instrument as he forced himself to remain where he was, despite the fact he wanted to charge in there and rescue Duo. His hands were fisted so tightly that he had white knuckles while his teeth were clenched so hard that he could have sworn that he was close to shattering them.

Yet, he remained faithful and true to his word. He would not leave his post in the audience but that didn't mean that he had to like it.

--

"Had enough yet?" Wufei taunted as he closed the distance between himself and the fallen braided one. Duo panted as he glared the best he could under the circumstances at the towering Chinese whose shadow fell over him.

Smirking nastily, Wufei continued, "I shouldn't have expected much from a rat like you. I'm ashamed that I would even stoop to fighting someone as weak as you are." To emphasize his point, he lifted his foot up and smashed it down onto Duo's lower thigh. As Duo cried out in pain, Wufei said apologetically, "Sorry about that. I was aiming for your knee."

However, in order to have done what he had done, Wufei had to move closer to him and despite the pain he was in, Duo took advantage of it as best as he could. He spun his back on the ground and wrapped his legs around Wufei's shins and calves into a leglock. Twisting his hips, he forced Wufei to loose his balance and fall to the ground, catching himself with his hands at the last minute by planting them down onto the ground. Shoving himself upwards, Duo got a hold of the Chinese's torso with one hand while holding the other up in the air before leveling a chop right onto the back of Wufei's neck.

Recovering quickly, Wufei pushed back and twisted his body and landed three repetitive blows into Duo's ribs but failing to dislodge the braided one. Then, by pure accident, Duo swung an arm at Wufei and impacted his elbow into Wufei's nose. This caused the Chinese to let go of any pretense of attacking and fall back while clutching the facial blow. Untangling himself as fast as he could, Duo put some space between himself and Wufei, braced for the Chinese's palpable counterattack.

Not disappointing the braided one, Wufei lunged at him in fury yet Duo caught the signs. Wufei wasn't using finesse or any of his formidable skill in this attack. He was moving just like a street brawler for just a few seconds but that was more than enough for Duo.

Duo let himself fall back before Wufei reached him but shot his feet out to impact the charging teen, his hands grabbing a hold of the other's wrists. With his feet in Wufei's gut, Duo pushed up his legs while rolling onto his back. However, Duo didn't use enough force to send the Chinese flying. Instead, Wufei was impaled on his feet, the appendages digging into his gut and diaphragm, gravity giving him a helping hand this time around.

Bending his knees slightly and pulling Wufei's arms down, Duo brought his knees towards himself, causing Wufei to continue in an arc-like motion to land on his head behind the braided one, momentum and gravity working in sync to cause the rest of Wufei's body to continue moving until his back struck the ground. A gasp of shock rose from their spectators and Duo heard the sound of running feet. He could hear Wufei groan in pain as he pushed and propped himself up onto his hands.

Feeling two hands grab his shoulders tightly, he found himself captured by two concerned, green orbs.

Frowning, Duo asked, "I thought I told you not to get involved."

"The fight looks over to me," Solo stated coolly. "There's no point in staying any longer. C'mon, lets go."

"Don't touch me!" a voice interrupted. Sighing, Duo turned his head to look at the grounded Wufei whose eyes, even though he was in pain, were glaring at him. Refusing any aid from the spectators, he growled, "This is not over Maxwell. Come over here and finish this!"

Shaking his head in negation, Duo simply replied, "I don't think so."

Growling, Wufei snarled, "What, too much of a coward to continue?!"

"No, I'm not like you," Duo answered. "Unlike you, I know when a fight's over. You better get some help and get someone to look at your head. Don't want you dieing from a concussion in your sleep."

"Not until I've grounded you into dust," Wufei growled, not moving though.

Looking up pleadingly at Solo, the blond nodded at the braided one and pulled him to his feet. "I've got better things to do," Duo said, remorseless. "I'm tired. I'm going home."

Not looking back, Duo used Solo as a human crutch and walked away, ignoring the evil glare Wufei leveled at him from behind.

They had only gone a block away from the lot before Solo dared to say, "About what you said to Chang back there…"

"What about it?" Duo cut in, weary.

"Did you mean what you said?" Solo asked bluntly. "Or were you lying through your teeth? You can't tell me you don't want to mop the city with that asshole's face."

"While I will admit that I would like to do that, yes, I was serious," Duo answered.

"But if you wanted to, then why did you lie?" Solo asked, confused.

"Whoever said I lied?" Duo countered. 'I only said I'd like to beat the living crap out of him but I also am tired and I don't like to pick on people who are down. When you know you've got the advantage, why continue? What would be the point?"

"How about emphasizing that you're serious?" Solo said.

"Please, only bullies and pieces of shit do that," Duo stated. "Why should I beat up on Wufei when it's obvious that he's hurt already? That would only make me as bad as Wufei and the last thing I want is to be thought of like that. I'd rather be a nobody who no one pays attention to than to be a somebody who picks on other people just because they can."

"Huh." Solo looked thoughtful but didn't say anything else, obviously considering Duo's words.

Neither of them knew that Quatre and Trowa were behind them, following after their friends quietly.

The silence would eventually be interrupted by Solo one more time as he asked, "Um, Duo? Do you know where we need to go to get out of this place?"