If you recognise it… I don't own it.

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"Gundam Wing & Detective Conan" – Prologue? Middle? – Not really sure

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Wufei was leaving the Preventers office in Sanq when he got a call on his mobile. He frowned as he glanced at it. He didn't recognise the number.

"Chang." He spoke bluntly into the phone.

"Fei?" Duo's voice came through, "Where are you?"

"Outside the Preventers," Wufei replied quickly, "Where are you? Are you alright? We've been trying to find you for months!"

"I know!" Duo breathed, "That's the problem. Get ready. I'm coming down the street soon. You'll only have a couple of seconds to get in. I'm kinda in a hurry."

Wufei looked around, it was late and the street was almost deserted. So when a blue beetle turned the corner in a hurry it wasn't hard to realize that it had to be Duo.

It only paused for a few moment, barely enough time for Wufei to get in. And certainly not enough time for him to fasten his seat-belt.

"Sorry." Duo said from behind the wheel, "Things have been a little hectic recently."

"We were worried about you!" Wufei snapped as he fastened his belt, "You disappeared. You wouldn't give us a contact number. You wouldn't say where you were. You only phone once a week…"

"I didn't have a choice." Duo retorted, "I couldn't be extracted without danger. I couldn't bring more eyes to watch where I was… There were other people to consider."

"You can slow down, Maxwell."

"No, I can't." Duo replied, "Sorry, but this car was the best I could get hold of… And as for slowing down… Look behind us."

Wufei looked behind them. A car was determinedly following, a black convertible.

"Hold on!" Duo took a corner ridiculously fast.

"Watch it!" Wufei snapped.

"I am!" Duo retorted, "Look, Fei I came to give you the intel I managed to gather. Only it seems that they spotted me before I could… How close are they?"

Wufei turned again to look out the back window.

"They're a worse driver than you!" Wufei breathed in shock and awe.

"No," Duo shook his head, "Better."

"Better?"

"Hasn't crashed yet." Duo retorted, "And she's travelling faster than I would dare. Tighter turns too. I can't loose her."

"She?"

"Call her Cointreau." Duo replied, "The Black Organisation only seems to use alcohol for code names."

"The Black Organisation?" Wufei looked at him, "I don't follow."

"That group you sent me after intel on." Duo stated, "A friend I met calls them the Black Organisation or the Black Org… Or just the Org. They want me dead."

"You got too close."

"Yeah. I got way too close for their liking. They tried to kill me… If it wasn't for pure chance… We wouldn't be talking right now."

"What happened?" Wufei asked.

"Gin and Vodka… Two of the most ruthless guys I've ever met. If OZ had had them working on their side… We wouldn't have won."

"But you survived."

"Barely. I hooked up with a couple of guys also working on taking the Org down. We've been at it since I went off the grid."

"You've got what you needed?"

"Not yet. We're close. But not that close. Not enough for warrants. I came back to warn you… All of you."

"Warn us?"

"You've gotta back off. Stop looking for me. You're raising flags. And the wrong people are reading them."

"What?" Wufei blinked.

"The Org left me for dead! But you kept looking. And they aren't sure any more. The crew I'm with… Most of them are meant to be dead too… You're putting a lot of lives at risk. I told you to back off."

"We had to know that you were safe."

"I was calling! Wasn't that enough?"

"We just wanted you back home."

"Couldn't you just take my word that I couldn't come back yet?"

"We were trying to help. Carry your burden with you."

"You just made it harder to carry." Duo stated, "Damn it! She's going to catch us. I'm heading to the harbour."

"Why? Head towards the centre… More people. She won't be able to do anything there."

"You don't know the Org. They'd kill a whole city to get at me. Best to keep away from potential casualties. How are you for weapons?"

"Fully armed. Three guns. Hip. Back. Ankle."

"Good. I had to leave mine behind."

"You're unarmed?" Wufei stared at Duo.

The surprise wasn't unwarranted. Duo had always been the most fiercely armed of the Pilots. Easily beating even Heero with his paranoia about being armed at all times.

"Couple of knives." Duo shrugged, "But I haven't really been in a position to carry a gun since I went off the grid. Would have attracted too much attention. I've been relying on other things ever since."

"I never thought you'd lay your guns down, unless they were pried from your dead fingers."

"Things change." Duo grinned, "You could say I grew up… Or down. Depending on your point of view."

"Huh?"

"Sorry, in joke with my current crowd." Duo laughed, "It's a long story… One we don't have time for."

Suddenly a tyre blew, Duo fought to keep the car on the road and not send it flying into either a building or the sea. After a few seconds he managed to regain control enough to pull the car to a stop.

It wasn't a neat parking. The car was across the lanes of the road, pointing towards the sea.

Cointreau manoeuvred her car so that it was almost parallel to Duo's.

"Lend me a gun." Duo held out a hand, "I'll cover you, 'till you get to a building. I'll follow."

"I will go first." Wufei stated, as he handed over the gun from his back holster.

"No." Duo shook his head, "My side of the car is closer to her. I need you out of the way, before I can get out safely."

"Agreed."

"Agent Maxwell," A sneering voice carried across the distance between the two cars, "Surrender or I'll kill this kid."

Wufei moved to look past Duo. A slender woman, dressed entirely in black, was holding a gun on a small boy, of about six or so. Blond hair and blue clothes. A football was rolling along the ground not far from them.

Wufei could easily put the pieces together. The kid was probably a local kid, who had snuck out to kick a football around in the night-time. An example of poor parenting that he had managed it, but it only meant there was an innocent victim in the situation.

"What do we do?" Duo turned to look at Wufei, "We can't let him die."

"We won't." Wufei laid a hand on Duo.

"Stay in the car," Duo instructed, "She asked for me. Maybe she doesn't know you're in here. I'll try and get her to let the kid go."

Duo got out the car, holding up both hands, the gun loosely clasped in one hand.

"Put the gun down and kick it towards me." Cointreau instructed, "Slowly, Maxwell. As skilled as you are, I doubt even you could kill me before I blow this brat's brains out."

Duo slowly knelt down and put the gun down, before kicking it towards her. He didn't speak at all.

"Cat got your tongue, Maxwell?" Cointreau sneered, "Or do you think that if you do as I say, I won't notice your partner? You too, Agent. Get out slowly. And move around to this side of the car."

Wufei moved slowly, he knew he wasn't in a good position to bluff or resist. He quickly surrendered the gun from his hip holster, kicking it with just enough force to reach the gun Duo had kicked.

"Maxwell," Cointreau smirked, "Kneel down and remove the Agent's gun from his ankle holster… Tut, tut, Agent. Consider that to be your only chance. If you disobey me again, there will be consequences. I only have one target tonight. But if necessary I will kill as many as required to achieve my goal."

"You mean to silence me." Duo spoke up, as he removed Wufei's gun.

The third gun joined the other two. Duo rose once again, his hands back up in the air.

"Precisely. I would say I'm sorry that you got involved in this Agent… But I'm not. Judging by the fact that you seem to know Maxwell, you would have become a nuisance in time."

"Let the kid go." Duo said, "He's not part of your objective. You've got me. Let them go. Fei doesn't know anything."

"Maxwell!" Wufei hissed.

"We can't even see your face from here." Duo continued, "You could just shoot me and get away. Everything would be kept silent then."

"No. I have orders. Nothing quite as simple for you. Agent how many pairs of cuffs are you carrying?"

"One." Wufei stated.

"Good thing I brought extra. Kneel down, put your hands behind your head."

Much to Wufei's surprise, Duo was almost on the floor, before Cointreau had finished speaking. Though he could understand it to some extent, Duo had always had a major soft spot for children. Even if most parents would deplore his manner of dealing with them. He treated them like mini-adults with a larger streak of humour and a slight malicious side. Kids loved him. And he loved them.

Wufei copied moments later.

Catch." Cointreau threw a pair of cuffs towards the two teens, moving the gun from the boy for only the time required to toss them. The kid was too scared to even think about moving.

"What do you want us to do with these?" Wufei asked, picking them up slowly.

"Maxwell is going to get back into the car and do his seat-belt up." Cointreau instructed, "You are then going to cuff his right hand to the wheel. You will also cuff his left ankle to the clutch peddle… Quickly!"

Duo slowly slid back into the car seat, moving his right leg, so that Wufei could have access to his left ankle.

"I've left it fairly loose," Wufei murmured, "You should be able to free your foot easily enough. Bide your time."

"Understood." Duo looked at Wufei intently, "Be careful."

Duo allowed Wufei to restrain his right hand. Though it was clear that Duo wasn't comfortable with it.

"Well done." Cointreau smirked, "Now catch!"

Two more pairs of cuffs came flying through the air, landing not far from Wufei's feet.

"Get in. Do your seat-belt up. And cuff yourself to the oh-my-god-handle. Each hand with a separate cuff."

"The oh-my-god-handle?" Wufei frowned.

"The thing above the door." Duo supplied.

Wufei slowly moved to the other side of the car. He got in and quickly restrained himself as ordered.

"Well done." Cointreau smirked, "You just bought the kid's freedom. Scram brat!"

Wufei and Duo watched as the kid ran off.

"At least he's safe." Duo breathed.

"I can't say the same for you." Cointreau laughed, as she approached the car.

She quickly checked Wufei's restraints, tightening the cuffs slightly, before diving into all his pockets. She took her time, until she found three keys that could unlock cuffs.

"I'll be keeping these." She stated, "Can't let you get away."

She performed a similar search on Duo, frowning when she didn't turn up any cuff keys at all.

"I don't carry cuffs." Duo answered the unasked question, "I find rope works better."

Cointreau nodded slightly, before checking Duo's restraints. Duo hadn't struggled, because of the gun pressed firmly into his side, Cointreau's finger tight on the trigger.

"Tut, tut, Agent." Cointreau tusked, as she noticed Duo's ankle restraint, "You thought you could fool me?"

She tightened both ends of the cuff, so that the cuff was biting so tight into Duo's flesh that it started to draw blood. She did the same to his wrist.

Then in a move that made Wufei jump and yelp, she fired the gun, aimed directly at Duo.

Duo bent over, trying to clutch at his leg.

"I told you there would be consequences, Agent." Cointreau sneered, "I just never said you would be the one to suffer them."

Twisting as much as he could, Wufei could just see blood seeping through Duo's fingers.

Cointreau leaned over Duo, forcing him down onto the steering column. She started the engine, forced the car into first gear and then placed a weight on the gas-peddle. Finally she released the hand-brake.

"Enjoy your death." Cointreau declared as she slammed the driver's door shut.

The car leapt into movement, crashing into the sea before Duo managed to steer away, remove the weight from the gas-peddle or engage the brake. Both air-bags exploded in their faces.

"We need to get out of here." Wufei stated, pushing the air-bag down with his legs.

"I know." Duo replied, "Give me a moment. I've got some picks."

Duo used his left hand to rummage in his hair, one elbow knocking the air out the air-bag. It didn't take him long to remove a pick.

He turned his attention to his wrist first. Wufei watched initially in silence.

"I'm sorry, Maxwell." Wufei glanced at the braided teen's leg, or what little he could see of it, "I did not…"

"Call me Duo." Duo grinned, "And don't worry. I can't feel a thing."

"That's not a good thing." Wufei pointed out.

"It's the water." Duo shrugged, "It's numbing me. I never did like the cold."

The water had reached up to their seats before Duo managed to free his hand. Immediately he twisted to reach for Wufei's cuffs.

"Wufei," Duo panted, from his position half draped over Wufei's lap, "You'll need to watch out for Heero. Don't let him fall to pieces… Trowa should be able to keep Quatre together…"

"You are not going to die." Wufei snapped.

"It's taken me long enough to free one wrist." Duo pointed out, "I reckon I can unlock two more before we run out of air. Yours are easier to get at."

"You can't be certain…"

"No, I can't. But I know my skills. Normally, yeah. I could do this in my sleep. But the water is cold. I haven't slept in nearly two days… I've been running and hiding ever since I went off the grid… I've lost my edge. The Org doesn't know about you. You can go back to your life as if you never left. My contacts will send you intel when they can. You've got to keep Heero from killing himself."

"That has always been your job."

"I won't be able to."

"You will."

"I can't get at my ankle easily. The water isn't clear. I'll be working blind. It'll take me longer to unlock my ankle than it will to do your two. Get out of here. Get to safety. And be careful when you investigate the Org."

"What can you tell me about them?"

"Always use alcoholic codenames, as I said. Always dress in black. They have this untraceable poison called APTX 4869. The highest ranking guy I know of is called Gin. Smoker. Drives a black Porsche 356A. Long hair. Light in colour. Usually in the company of Vodka. Heavy-set. They contact their boss via phone. Phone number is the tune Nanatsu no Ko, eight digits. I don't know what they specialise in. But I have heard of blackmail, extortion, spying, information smuggling, bombings and murders. I don't put anything past them."

A click interrupted Duo, as the first of Wufei's wrists was freed, his right. It was frustrating to Wufei, he wanted to help, but couldn't pick locks, and with his current position, he couldn't even apply pressure to Duo's leg wound. The water was already up to their chests, and rising rapidly.

"Who are your allies?"

"I can't tell you. Their lives depend on my silence. I won't risk them. You have to keep the others together. Keep them safe for me."

"You will help."

"I won't be around to help."

"You are not dying down here."

"I can't free myself before the whole car is flooded." Duo retorted.

The water was up to their necks, before Duo managed to release Wufei's other wrist with shaking hands.

"Break the window and go." Duo instructed.

"No." Wufei grabbed Duo's wrist, "Together or not at all."

"Fei," Duo's teeth were chattering, "I can't let you die."

"And I cannot live knowing I cost you your life."

"Fei… We don't have time to argue."

"Then you need to get a move on."

"Fei, get them for me. But be careful."

"We will get them together my friend."

"Thank you." Duo turned to his shackle. Taking a deep breath and diving under the water.

Wufei relaxed, his eyes flicking to the surrounding water as he saw a shadow move.

"I'm sorry." Duo's murmured apology reached Wufei's ears only a fraction of a second before the blow on the back of his neck.

Reaching into his back pocket, Duo removed a small scuba-diving piece, good for about four minutes of air. He slipped it into Wufei's mouth, then smashed the window, using the hammer in the glove compartment.

As the water rushed in Duo tried not to panic and held his breath. He held onto Wufei as tightly as he could, keeping the mouthpiece in Wufei's mouth.

Moments later the need for that passed. A wet-suit clad hand reached in and took hold of Wufei, another hand sliding a buddy-breather into Wufei's mouth.

Duo claimed back the small scuba piece and put it in his own mouth. He signalled 'okay' to the diver and watched as Wufei was carefully pulled out of the car.

Once he was clear, Duo returned to the task of freeing his ankle. With the wet and cold it took him almost three times as long as normal. Unclasping his ankle he escaped through the car window. Half-way up through the water he was met by the diver, who quickly leant his buddy-breather to the braided teen.

The pair of them broke the water's surface almost simultaneously, striking out for the shore.

Duo was motioned to climb up the ladder first, then the diver followed.

A small boy of about six, with dark hair was waiting at the top of the ladder. He was sitting on the bonnet of a car, a bag at his feet. As he saw Duo's head peek over the top of the ladder, he jumped down. Rummaging in the bag, he removed two towels, a blond wig falling out as he did so.

"Here." He held the first towel out to Duo, "Your clothes are in the trunk."

"Thanks." Duo started towelling himself off.

The diver stripped himself of his equipment, quickly chucking it in the trunk of the car, after removing the two bags of clothes.

Before long both of the swimmers were partially dry and fully clothed in dry clothes. Duo had claimed a blanket off the car's back seat and had it wrapped around him, as all three boys perched on the bonnet of the car.

"Is Wufei alright?" Duo pulled the blanket around him tighter.

"He'll be fine." The kid nodded, "Dad called from the hospital. There's a touch of hypothermia. And a couple of scrapes. But nothing serious. He'll be up and about by tomorrow. Mum'll be back in a bit to drive us to the airport again. She just needed to ditch Cointreau's car."

"Good. I thought I cut it a little fine." Duo breathed in relief.

"You did." The diver stated, "I wasn't sure you would get out in time."

"He's gonna blame himself, you know." Duo's eyes were firmly fixed on the lake. "Tell me I did the right thing."

"You did." The kid patted Duo slightly, "You did what you had to do, to keep them safe."

"Yeah, well they won't see it that way, Suinichi. And this is gonna kill them inside. I won't be surprised if they hate me when this is all over."

"And you think Ran won't hate me?"

"You call her every so often. She knows you're alive. Just not where you are. And she won't look. Ai doesn't have anyone. And I just died."

"You did the right thing." The diver reminded.

"They won't see it that way, Heiji. They'll say that they can look after themselves."

"Maybe so. But they were endangering those who couldn't. You came up with this plan. You decided this was the best way…"

"Yeah, right up until I saw the look in Wufei's eyes, when he realized that I was going to die to save him. When we find out who is behind the Org… You'd better tranq me… Or I'm going to be indicted for murder. Though I might be able to get away with justifiable homicide."

"Oh, I'm certain it'd be justifiable." Suinichi grinned, "But don't worry. We'll make sure you don't rush into it."

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Please Review.

Once again it's a manga series I only just got into. Detective Conan… Still reading the manga series. Does anyone know where I can get Region 2 DVDs of it? Or should I just go for the Region 0 DVDs in Japanese with subtitles?

Anyway, I liked the idea. And had this image of a little Duo running around with the Detective Boys… But of course the Pilots wouldn't leave Duo out on his own like that.

So, what do you think?