The Masks They Wear(2XHS, 3XOC, light humor warning sad prts

[Blazing Stalion]

Disclaimer I do not own Gundam Wing


Duo laid awake in bed, he hadn?t had a decent nights sleep in years. Though he never showed it guilt filled him, ?it was my fault, I should have prevented her from coming? he said quietly to himself as he tossed in bed.

And as the night waned on, Duo found himself drifting into what he dreaded most, a deep sleep.


(*dream sequence)

It was a beautiful garden filled with flowers; a humming bird flew and took nectar from one of the flowers before flying away. And in the center of the garden was a beautiful maiden clothed in a white gown with gossamer sleeves and a crown of flowers lay neatly over her navy blue hair. The maiden began to walk, walk towards a man in black with a long brown braid. She stepped past him onto the path as the man took her hand and began to lead on.

On the path their lay many horrors that would turn the course of even the bravest of knights. Yet the man in black, and the beautiful maiden paid no attention to them as they just stared into each others eyes not noticing how the gown was turning into a dark shade of black, and the crown of flowers withered and died.


Half way down the path, claws and drills snatched up the maiden now dressed in black and began to tear away at the body of the maiden. They tore and they cut, making the blood rain down upon the man in black. When the claws had finished they laid the body of the maiden, her hair red with blood and her gown torn, down near the man in black. As the man walked over to the maiden she handed him her heart, it was all that was left of her.


(*end dream sequence)


Duo awoke with a jump, breathing heavily with sweat making his brow heavy. He knew all to well that dream of his, he knew all to well what it meant.

When he looked at the clock, the red digits showed that he had only been asleep for two hours. Duo still shaken by his dream walked slowly to the kitchen, he warmed up a cup of coffee and proceeded to drink it slowly.

?Ah coffee? he said ?is there anything it can?t do.?

?It can?t play the Mexican hat dance? a feminine voice said from the hall way.

Duo spun around in surprise, only to lay eyes upon the maiden from his dream ?Hilde? he said ?what are you doing up so early??

She giggled and said ?don?t you remember silly, today were going with Trowa and Cathy to the antique sale?

?Yeah? Duo responded casually, ?but I said we had to wake up at nine thirty, not four thirty.?

?Oh? Hilde responded slightly embarrassed yet still cheerily.


Duo stared at her, her body had changed since he met her years ago, there was a scar running down her face, as well as on her arms. Her right arm had been badly wounded so it had to be replaced with a cybernetic arm, as well as one of her lungs and an artery in her heart. Yet she still looked beautiful to Duo, nothing could change his mind about that.


?Uh Duo? she said, waving her palm in his face.

?Huh? Duo said with a perplexed look on his face as he snapped back into attention.

Hilde just giggled in response.


?So why are you up so early Hilde? Duo questioned curiously ?I mean it?s not like you to wake up 5 minutes early, let alone 5 hours?

?Oh um uh just excited I guess? Hilde responded evasively

Duo just smirked and said ?come on, tell me. Don?t make me have to tickle it out? he said as he started to wiggle his fingers.

?No really? Hilde said nervously with a smile on her face

?Three? Duo said with a grin as he began the countdown

?I?m serious?

?Two?

?Come on?

?One!? Duo yelped as he started tickling Hilde?s sides

?Hahahhahah? Hilde laughed ?stop it ha-ha Duo?

Duo just grinned and said ?you know how to get me to stop?

?Ha-ha alright ha-ha just stop ha tickling.? She said while trying to withhold her laughter.


With that Duo removed his fingers and waited to hear her excuse for being an extremely early bird.


?Well?? she began to say. ?You see, ever since two days ago I?ve been having trouble sleeping. I keep on having dreams about??

?about what? Duo said, afraid of what she might say?

?About the war? she said sending Duo?s heart into panic

He knew what this meant; she was having the same dream he has been having. The dream that showed that Duo was the cause for her pain in life.

?I see? was all Duo said ?well a few nights won?t kill you. I?m sure you?ll get over it soon though. So while were up, why don?t we have breakfast? Duo said in a chipper voice trying to change the subject, he couldn?t bear to talk about it.


Hilde walked over to the stove and said ?sure why not, what?ll it be shuga?

?my my, your sounding much like a waitress, but I must worn you, I don?t tip well? duo joked, ?now my friend Quatre on the other hand, he?ll give a twenty five percent tip?

?Well? Hilde said while turning on the electric stove and throwing on a frying pan, ?I?ll just take a kiss instead then?

?a kiss ey, well for that you?ll have to bring me a breakfast steak, and sing me happy birthday even though there?s a 364 out of 365 chance it isn?t? Duo said as he winked his eye teasingly at Hilde.

Hilde just chuckled shook her head and said ?oh Duo don?t you think of anything else?

?Sure I do, I also think about steak sauce? he said while getting up to set the table, after getting a bottle of steak sauce he labeled ?Our Finest Bottle of Cheatu Le Steak Sauce.?


Later that day, after a steak and steak sauce dinner, Duo and Hilde packed the car with drinks and snacks they?d like for the day. Duo couldn?t stop smiling; it had been nearly a year since he last saw Trowa. Even though they weren?t the best friends, and seemed to have completed opposite personalities, Duo loved to spend time with him.

Hilde looked at her excited boy friend, giggled and said ?perhaps I should drive?

Duo just looked at her with his smile and said ?why?

?I have two rules in my life, the first is to never eat bean curry, and the second never let you drive when you?re hyper.?

Duo just sighed and got in the passenger seat.


An hour later they arrived at the antique sale.

?What?s that sound? Duo said while sticking his head out the window like a dog

?Its old music Duo? Hilde responded ?I know it may be different, but what do you expect them to play at an antique sale?

?This is old music,? Duo responded puzzled ?I thought old music was just that classical stuff they played at fancy places you drag me to?

?Hey? Hilde came back slightly offended, but before she could chide him, Duo continued.

?Man this stuff is awesome, way cooler to what we have on the radio, we?re getting some?

Hilde just smiled and pulled into a parking space.

?Now remember Duo, we?re parked in L4? Hilde said as she climbed out of her seat.

?No? Duo responded with his usual grin ?we?re parked in L2?

Hilde just giggled and said ?oh Duo don?t start with that joke?

?Oh I?m starting that joke? Duo said while controlling him from cracking up laughing.

?You?re taking your coffee black from now on? Hilde said with a smile as big as Duo?s.



As they walked to the fenced in area with tables full of things from past ages, Duo was so awe struck he nearly tripped on Hilde?s feet.

?Sorry about that babe? he said while scratching the back of his head

Hilde just smiled and said ?don?t worry about it.? She then looked at her watch. ?It?s still another 30 minutes until Trowa and Catherine get here, wana?

?You mean we?re actually earlier than Trowa? Duo interrupted in a shocked playful manner.

?Yeah? Hilde giggled, ?you wana hit one of the tables before they get here?

?Sure? Duo said, and looked around for a table ?how about that one with all the old processes??


When they walked over to the table, they saw hundreds of what they thought were old computer processes in plastic casing. Some of them were hooked up to TV?s as monitors.

?Hey you lucky man? a man said to Duo ?care to try Supper Mario 3 for NES, only one dollar?

Duo just grinned and said ?why not? as he handed the man a crumpled dollar bill.

The man turned on one of the processes and one of the monitors.

He handed Duo one of the controllers and said ?this one jumps, this one is start button?

?I?ll figure it out? Duo said to the man as he looked at the screen and saw a little man running around with a turtle shell dressed as a raccoon.

He pressed the button the man said was the start button, and just moved his little guy to the square marked one.

After some confusing movements, Duo began the first level as the man called it

Duo moved his Mario character forward, and jumped over what appeared to be a walking mushroom. ?This is weird? Duo commented. Yet by the end of the level, he was in love with the game.

?Aww this is awesome, how much for it? Duo said with eager anticipation.

The man calculated numbers in his head and said ?5 dollars, yet it also comes with Zelda and another controller?

Duo then rushed eagerly into his pocket and grabbed a crumpled 5 dollar bill, and almost yelled ?deal?

So the man went and put his order in a bag. As he handed it to Duo, he said ?please come by again later, when we have more of our stock in, the truck with all the Xbox?s and PS2?s are late.?

?Sure? Duo said happily, ?I can?t wait to get more of these viva games?

?No? Hilde interjected ?I think he said they were called void gains?

The man just chuckled and said in a slow voice ?they?re called video games?

?Oh? Duo and Hilde responded in unison, as they began to walk away from the booth.


After several minutes of wandering around they went back to the spot were they?d meet Trowa and Catherine, and were surprised too see them there already.

?Trowa what are you doing here? Duo greeted his friend teasingly.

Trowa just looked at Duo casually and said ?it?s good to see you too?

?Hilde? Catherine greeted zealously as she skipped up and hugged her friend ?it? been so long?

Hilde just returned the hug and said ?I know?

After the greetings they began walking and talking about how things were.


?People in the past sure had cool stuff, like this fork holding doohickey? Duo said as they passed a table with kitchen utensils.

?Umm Duo? Catherine said with a giggle ?that?s an egg beater?

?Ohhhhhh? Duo said realizing his mistake. ?I could do that without a fancy pancy machine.?

Catherine and Hilde just giggled at Duos remark, yet Trowa stopped and listened. His ears heard something that he hadn?t heard in many years.

?I know this music? he said softly as he turned to look for its source.

Catherine noticing that Trowa was lagging behind them called out some what confused ?Trowa?

But Trowa began following the music as if it was hypnotically pulling it towards him.

?Trowa? Catherine called again and began to follow, as well as Duo and Hilde

Trowa just followed that music saying the words as he went along.

?ever since I was a young boy I played a silver ball? he recited from memory.

?from shoho down to brighton I must have played them all, but I? ain?t seen anything like him in any amusement hall,

That deaf dumb and blind kid, sure plays a mean pin ball?


He was sure it was the same music he had heard those many years ago


?he stands like a statue, bemomes part of the machine

Feeling all the bumpers always playing clean

He plays be intuition, the digit counters fall

That deaf dumb and blind kid Sure Plays a Mean Pinball?


Those many years ago when he was with the mercenaries, and the captain?


?he?s a pin ball wizard there has to be a twist, a pin ball wizard s?got such a supple wrist?


The captian would play that music when he worked on the machines.


?how do you think he does it? ? What Makes him so good??


Trowa now moved towards the music at a feverish pace nearly knocking down a man carrying an old spice rack.


?he aint got no distractions, can?t hear those buzzers and bells, don?t see lights a flashin, plays by sence of smell

Always has a replay, n never tilts at all

That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pin ball?


The music had gotten significantly louder since he started playing it, he could see a booth with a large speaker on it.


?I thought I was the bally table king

But I just handed my pin ball crown to him?


Trowa reached the table, and looked for the man who was like a father to him in his youth. Yet he did not see him, and was about to turn back when something caught his eye.

A young woman, with long ivy green hair that hung loosely by her shoulders, almond colored eyes, a loose t- shirt, and a worn out pair of jeans.


?even my usual table, he can beat my best

His disciples lead him in, and he just does the rest

He?s got crazy flipper fingers

Never seen him fall

That deaf dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pin ball?


During that last verse of the song Trowa had felt something inside him he had never felt before. It felt like nothing he could describe other than, warm, happy, good.


The young woman turned to Trowa and with a smile said ?hi may I help you?

Trowa then clumsily responded ?who, me, uh, yes, I mean, uh, I mean I was wondering, and uh?? Trowa nervously looked through the corner of his eye to find a scapegoat for what he really wanted to ask ?how much for that uh, who disk?

And the woman sweetly responded ?only 12 bucks, but I?ll make it an even ten cause your cute? she winked her eye at him with saying that.

?Well uh you see,? Trowa then said blindly, he was now more nervous then ever to ask her now. ?Um ok, but um uh, would you, um you see, I kinda uh, wana ask y? the rest she couldn?t here, he had begun to mumble the rest.

She saw what he was trying to ask and said ?just nod, do you wana ask me out?

And Trowa just nodded in agreement as he was told.

?Okay then,? she winked ?I?ll see you at the entrance to the mall in town tomorrow at noon.?

Trowa just nodded with an open stare and began to walk back to his friends, who had lost him in the crowd and now began to call his name.

When he met back up with them, he realized they didn?t get each others names.



?Trowa were did you go? Catherine asked her little brother when she caught up to him

?Ummm? Trowa began to respond ?no where?

Duo just chuckled and said jokingly ?finally, I?m starting to rub off on the boy?

?Duo,? Trowa began somewhat nervously

?Yeah? Duo responded curiously to his friends tone.

?What do you do on dates? Trowa said sheepishly

There was then silence among the three; they could not believe that Trowa ?anti social Trowa- had actually made a date with some random person.

?Okay? Duo said after a while ?just one question. Are they human? Cause I can?t give you advice on a dog.?






Later that day, Duo and Hilde had returned to their house, and Duo was attempting to hook up their newly bought Xbox to their T.V.

?Face it Duo? Hilde said while playing her new Game boy ?you don?t know how to hook it up.?

?If I can get the colonies speakers to play happy birthday from my laptop, then I can hook up a video game device.? Duo stated to his defense while holding three colored wires.

Hilde just shook her head ?use the directions?

?Don?t make me crash into you in Mario Kart again? Duo said in reference to earlier

?Oh that was soo funny? Hilde laughed ?you were going really really fast, then crashed into me, I went flat, then you, ha-ha, you went into a wall.?

?I?ve almost got it? Duo said

?I?ll go get the fire extinguisher then.? Hilde joked while getting up to get a bite to eat.

?Hardy har har? Duo said, while turning on the Xbox, and putting in a disk called Halo.


Meanwhile in the kitchen, Hilde opened herself a bag of potato chips for a snack. She thought to herself, ?should I tell him now? Could I tell him now? Ugh this is so confusing, I know what to say and how too, yet I just can?t say it to that face of his. Yet that?s the only way I can say it.?

?Hey Hilde? Duo?s voice rang ?it?s ready?

?Okay? she answered ?just a second?

When she walked back into the room, she could see the Xbox, and on the screen was an image that blew her mind away.

?Whoa? they said in unison at the magnificent sight. ?This is awesome? they both said.

All day, nor during their lives did they see something with that good of a picture; such detail was one of the technologies lost during the minor nuclear war of A.C. 3.

The game caused Hilde to forget the pain that would riddle her heart until she told the man sitting next to her, only for the time being though.



The next evening, Trowa stood at the entrance to the mall, nervous as if he were going into combat. He arrived there an hour early out of a nervous impulse, he had never done something like this before in his life, such fear, such anxiety, yet also such joy, and anticipation.

When he saw her coming he raised his hand to say hello, yet his mouth became dry as a baron dessert.

?Hey there? she said as she walked up to him, while raising her arm which held a medium sized purse, covered in little heart stickers.

?Umm? she began to say ?I forgot your name? she said with a greatly embarrassed look on her face ?sorry, I am terrible, and I mean terrible with names.?

Trowa just smiled lightly and said ?that?s okay, I can?t remember your name either, I?m not sure we even gave each other our names.?

?Well then? she giggled ?let?s introduce ourselves. I am Amber Reylock.?

?A pleasure to meet you Amber? Trowa said with his smile growing ?my name is Trowa Barton?

?Trowa? she said while stepping closer to him ?what a nice name for such a nice person? and with that she lightly kissed him on the cheek.

Trowa didn?t get nervous, like he had the other day; instead he hugged her lifting her a couple inches off the ground while stepping to the side.


As she gave out a gasp of excitement, he knew what he could call this feeling he felt inside himself the other day, what he felt today, it was the feeling of true love. True love at first sight, and nothing had ever felt so wonderful to him before.


The two of them spent the entire day laughing and giggling, quiet simply being the best day of their lives. When they left the mall, they headed to Ambers apartment for coffee.

?So? Trowa said with a smile on his face which had become casual to him. ?I take it you don?t live with your parents.?

?no? she said a second later in a sorrowful voice ?they died in the war, every single one of them? a tear began to fall down her cheek, and before Trowa could wipe it away, she spoke out in rage saying ?I hate you pilot 03?

Trowa was taken aback by this comment of hers; he couldn?t believe he was responsible for the slaughter of her family.

Before he could say something to her, she spoke again, ?I swear I?ll kill him like he did to my family at Corsica.?

?I?m sorry? Trowa said ?I had no idea? as he was about to tell her it was him, she saw her eyes, the most lovely eyes he had ever seen. He couldn?t do it; his heart just couldn?t let him do it. ?I didn?t mean to bring up bad memories.?


She just wiped away her tears and said ?no it?s fine; I rant about this a lot.?

And with that they stopped in front of a brick building.

?Well this is it? she said while changing the mood, ?let?s go.?





Over the next five months, Trowas and Ambers love grew, Trowa had left the circus so he could stay with her in a nearby apartment. As for Duo he had begun to blame himself more and more for Hilde?s pain, yet never showed it, couldn?t show it.


One day, Trowa went into Duo?s house to ask him on his advice.

?Hey Tro? Duo called when he saw his friend.

?Yo Duo? Trowa answered back overjoyed.

?Well you seem happy today? Duo said with his usual smile. ?And to think I had three pieces of good news to tell you guys.?

?Oh really? Trowa said with a chuckle in his voice ?lets hear them.?

?First off? Duo said while raising his finger ?I have now officially beaten Halo on Legendary.?

?No way? Trowa exclaimed to his friend ?that?s next to impossible?

?Ah but I did it? Duo said with a grin before continuing ?two, I have finished building a system to allow our Xboxes to hook up without leaving our places.?

?Alright? Trowa said with joy. ?Now I don?t have to waste all my time here.? He said jokingly.

?Very funny? Duo said, ?Very funny?

Trowa just laughed a bit before saying ?what about three?

?Ah? Duo began, ?well let me show you?

Trowa then began to follow Duo before saying ?why do I have the feeling this is going to end with my hair on fire.?

Duo just laughed in at the memory.


(*flashback)

Duo was playing with a liter, it had no liter liquid in it, yet he enjoyed the clicking sound it made.

?This is fun? he said to Trowa, Hilde, and Amber, as he clicked it some more.

?Try it? he said as he clicked it by Trowas ear. And with that click a tiny flame went out the end and caught fire to Trowa hair.

A second later Duo noticed, ?Holly crap!? Duo exclaimed.

?What? they all asked

?Trowa, your hair is on fire?

?Sure it is? Trowa said disbelievingly.

?Holly crap!? Hilde exclaimed noticing the flame ?Trowa your hair really is on fire?

?Shit!? Trowa exclaimed while rushing to the sink to put it out.


(*end flashback)


When Duo and Trowa stepped into Duo?s living room, Duo turned on his Xbox.

?So what is it? Trowa asked as he stared at the T.V.

But soon his question was answered. ?Oh my gosh? he exclaimed when he saw what it was ?you actually found it.?

?Yup, I found it, it wasn?t easy but I did? Duo exclaimed about his newly obtained Halo 2 game.

?This is awesome? Trowa exclaimed.


?You sure have changed from five months ago? a feminine voice said from the corridor ?five months ago it was hard to get you say two words and crack a smile. Now, now here you are laughing and having a good time.?

?Hey there Hilde? Trowa said in a cheery voice knowing that she was right. ?Oh can I ask you something.?

?What? Hilde responded while taking off her berate.

?Do you know were I can find a good jewelry store?

?Yeah why? Hilde responded with a perplexed look on her face.

?Well, I?m uh? Trowa began nervously.

?Oh good lord? Duo began ?he?s going back into his old habits, snap out of it Trowa? and with that he pulled Trowa?s bangs, and in response Trowa pulled Duo?s braid.

?There we go? Duo said

Hilde then interjected ?why do you want to know?

?I?m proposing to amber tonight? Trowa mumbled

?What?s that? Duo and Hilde responded in unison

?I?m proposing to amber tonight? Trowa said to his two friends.


With hearing this Duo and Hilde were silent with shock. Trowa former anti social Trowa was getting married. Sure it wasn?t? official yet, but they knew how much they loved each other.


?I?ll go get ready for the bachelor party then? Duo said breaking the silence.

Hilde being more serious asked ?will you tell her?? In reference to his secret.

?I don?t know if I can? Trowa responded, ?but if I have to then I will.? Trowa then in a more joyous tone said ?Cathy and the circus are in town again, it?ll be fun too see the looks on their faces when they hear about this.?


Later that night after a romantic dinner, Trowa and Amber returned too her apartment. Amber had plopped herself down on the couch and started flipping through channels on TV. Trowa went to the rest room to freshen up and mentally prepare himself for popping the question.

As he was taking in deep breaths, he heard Amber call from the other room ?hey Trowa, a documentary on the Gundams and their pilots are on?.

With this Trowa?s heart dropped and shattered. ?Finally I?ll know who that despicable 03 is? he heard her call from the other room.

Trowa couldn?t believe he had forgotten he gave a documentary team permission to include him in that documentary.

He then began to rush out of the bathroom to see if he could do something, anything to prevent her from finding out.

As he ran he heard the TV speak ?in this documentary we shall cover the pilots of 01 Heero Yuy, 02 Duo Maxwell, 03?

Trowa just stood there, it was too late.

?Trowa Barton.?

Amber just looked at the screen in shock. ?How? she quivered ?how can this be? tears then began stream down her face, as she pulled a hand gun out from underneath the bed and aimed it at Trowa.

Trowa just stood there, with the gun pointed strait at his heart.

?Amber, I? he began but couldn?t finish, he couldn?t say anything. All he could do was get down on his knees and ask ?amber will you marry me??

Amber was taken aback by this as she realized that she loved him too much to ever harm him. So out of confusion, shock, and a mixture of many other emotions, she did all that her mind told her too do.

She took the gun and aimed it at her head.

?No? Trowa said in fear ?don?t do it Amber?

But it was too late; she fired a shot that echoed loudly, sending a piece of led through her head ending her life, leaving Trowa alone in the room, and the world.

Trowa stood their in shock before he placed his ring on the table, and turned to go to the circus, too soothe his pain.



Meanwhile at Duo and Hilde?s house, Duo and Hilde were playing Halo 2, Duo who seemed to be enjoying himself was actually mentally exhausted, his dream and his true feelings were on the edge of bursting out. Yet Duo withheld them, he couldn?t allow himself to do so.

As he fired his rocket launcher in the game he didn?t realize Hilde was in the cross fire.

?aww? she moaned almost playfully ?you killed me?

This was the final bursting point on Duo?s heart, he couldn?t withhold his feelings any more.

He began to cry, and not a few tears, nay he cried hard.

?Duo? Hilde began not realizing what was going on. ?it?s okay Duo it?s only a game? she said as she reached out to comfort Duo.

?no? Duo said, ?it?s my fault. It?s all my fault.?

?what?s your fault? Hilde asked more concerned.

?your pain? he began ?all the pain you felt during the war was my fault?

Hilde was taken aback by this ?Duo? she stated ?you don?t really believe that?

?it?s true? Duo sobbed ?if it weren?t for me you?d be fine, living peacefully. Yet I lead you down the path of war and? he couldn?t go on any more, his tears were too great for him to speak through now.

Hilde moved closer to him, ?Duo? she said tears beginning to run down her face ?it?s not true, it can?t be true! I would had died if it weren?t for you, you lead me away from the false promises of Oz and the white fang, you helped me to see the truth, in life and in my heart!? she then kissed him hard.

Duo was taken aback by all this, ?Hilde?? he stated in disbelief as she removed her lips from his.

?and what was the cost!? she almost yelled ?a cheep metal arm, some surgery, I?d say that?s a good price for just my life, not to mention finding truth and the love of my life!?

Duo was speechless, as Hilde began to sob into his chest, he didn?t know what to say, yet everything made sense to him now.

?Hilde? he said as he stroked her head ?I love you too?


While Duo and Hilde were finding their true feelings, and starting a new life together, Trowa was in the elephant cages preparing to end his.

He walked up to one of the elephants and saying ?ungoova? the command to raise it?s foot.

He placed his head underneath it thinking ?it has to end this way?

The command for the elephant to release it?s foot and take his life hung on the tip of his tongue. Every life he took flashed through his mind, every ounce of pain caused by every bullet he fired weighed heavy in his heart.

He opened his mouth to say his final word, yet he stopped when he heard a familiar frantic voice.

?Trowa what are you doing!?

Trowa turned around too see Catherine standing there with eyes of shock.

?where?s Amber?? she inquired since she thought they would be inseparable after tonight.

Yet her words cut through Trowa as if they were a razor sharp ax.

Tears began to stream down his face ?oh Catherine? he cried as he ran to her and sobbed into her shirt.



The End

[takisha16]

ok....that was way too sad!!
I can't believe Hilde has a metal arm?! Weird!
I feel bad for them in this one-shot! I mean all the pain, and of course Trowa!
I can't believe Amber shot herself! That girl must have really been hurt!
Now I am all sad!
Even if Duo admitted his love to her, Trowa's potential girlfriend died!
Although, I gotta admit, he could've just shot himself, dying under an elephant's leg is way cooler!
I liked Amber, cool new character.
I still can't believe her family got killed by Trowa, Oh well they did kill alot of people!
It's not a small world after all!
Kudos on the angst.

[Blazing Stalion]

thanks for the reply, that made my day
but yeah, i gave Hilde a metal arm in this fic kinda as something to keep reminding Duo what he thought he did to her, (cause he felt it was his fault that she got involved in the war)
oh and it wasnt' Trowas potential girl friend, it was his most likely going to be wife, he was proposing to her,
and the reason he was killing himself under the elephents leg, is because he felt that all the pain he felt originated in the barrel of a gun, so he wanted a way out that wouldn't cause himself pain
any way thanks again for the comment.